US1697038A - Dispensing device for towels and the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,038

H. o. YEHLEN DISPNSING DEVICE FOR TOWELS AND THE LIKE yed Nov. 9, 1925 9) 4, .K

Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. YEI-ILEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR LINEN & TOWEL SERVICE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION y0F MISSOURI.

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR TOWELS .AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,824.

` as well as ornamental ones; the provision of a ydevice of the type described which posi tively feeds individual towels consecutively into a position where they may be readily grasped by a user; the provision of such a device as described which'will not jam or stick, which is readily and easily filled for use, and one which will prevent'unauthorized removal ofv towels and the like therefrom. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists of the elementsand combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will'be exemplified in the structure hereinafter describedV and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. y

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. lis a top plan view of the dispensing i cabinet showing the top thereof folded back;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the to-p closed and the device in dispensing position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 showing parts in section, and shows the top closed in an .alternate position; n Y

Fig. 4 is an illustrativedetail of a locking collar; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a follower on its rails or guides. Y

Similar reference characters indicate cors responding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is designated at 1, asubstantially vertical frame comprising uprights 3 and .5, and an upper lateral paneled frame 7. The frame 1 is held in a stable upright position by means On the front edges of the uprights 3 and 5 i are formed supporting braces 13 and 15 respectively. These braces support a substantially horizontal floor or bottom 17 of an upper supply chamber. The floor 17 is placed at about the center of the paneled frame 7 although the construction is not limited to such a position of the floor.

The braces 13 and 15 are provided with upward extensions or coninuations 19 and 21 respectively which form the sides of said upper sup-ply chamber. The upper portion of the panel 23 which is set fintoy the upper frame 7, forms the rearward side of said chamber. The upper cross-member of frame 7 also forms part of the rear of the upper chamber.

The front ofthe supply chamber is only partially closed in permanently by means of a piece 25. f

f The cover for the supply chamber com prises a lid 27 hinged to the top of the' frame 1. Hinged to the front edge of said lid 27 is a framed mirror 29. This mirror is adapted to fold fiat against the under side of the lid 27 when the lid, is in an open position (see Fig. 3). This folding action facilitates access to the interior of the cabinet, for refilling purposes and the like. It may be noted that opening the lid with the mirror thereon, clears the topf and front of the cabinet for loading purposes. Nothing stands in the way; not even a top front portion of the supply chamber itself, as the mirror formed such portion when the lid was closed. The last statement holds true because the mirror is also adapted to take a position at right angles to said lid, whereupon when the lid is closed the lower portion of the mirror and its frame partially close in the supply chamber. A'

when in closed position, whereby a practicable and usable area. is given to the mirror. The mirror is mounted at a height such that a standing person of ordinary stature may approximately view his own head and shoulders therein. It should be noted that the mirror is braced against swing in either direction (when the lid is closed) by the lid itself and the upper portions 19 and 21 of braces 13 and 15.

lVithin the supply chamber and on the upper cross-member of frame 7, is centrally formed a clip or brace 35, to which is removably pinned and/or locked a forwardly sloping bar or rod 37. The rod 37 passes out of the notch 31 at the front of the cabinet and has outwardly fastened thereto a chain 39. The maximum diameter of the chain is not more than that of the rod 37. It is of such length that its lower end may rest on the bottom 11 of the receiving chamber 9. At its lower end it carries a shortrod 41, equal in diameter to the rod 37.

Adapted to be locked to the rods 37 and 41 are lock collars 43. Predetermined positioned holes in said rods govern the positions at which the collars are locked. The collars are locked by means of a key and bolt for each (see Figs. 3 and 4).

As indicated in Fig. 3 towels 45 or the like provided with upward cent-rally located holes 47 may be threaded on the rod 37, either by way of the chain 39 or the rear of the rod, that is if proper and authorized removal of either of the lock collars 43 is accomplished. The rod 37 may be unclipped or unlocked from the clip 35 for this described loading purpose. f

The towels, prior to loading, have had their lower ends folded upwardly (by ironing or otherwise) until the lower edges are posi tioned just beneath the holes 47. The rod 37 maybe threaded through the towels while they are in a pile and folded as described, this facilitating the operation of threading.

The foremost towel, after the threading and mounting of rod 37 is accomplished, is adapted to rest against the piece 25, with its upwardly folded lower edge at the opening 33. Here the said edge may be grasped by a user and the towel withdrawn for use. The towel is used while threaded on the chain, on to which it is slipped as it is withdrawn. After use thereof, it is dropped and slides along the chain and down into the receiving chamber 9. It is obvious that the holes 47 may be provided with proper eyelets, or otherwise lined to prevent wear therein. Figs. 2 and 3 indicate how the closed-down lid and mirror assembly hold the top of the towels in an upright position before their consecutive withdrawal.

It is almost obvious that after all the towels have been used and deposited in the chamber 9, that authorized removal thereof may be made from the chain 39, hy unlocking and removing the lower lock collar 43 on rod 41. Unauthorized removal may not normally be accomplished from either the rod 37 or chain 39. It is to be understood the rod 37 is to be locked to its clip 35, and/or the lidmirror assembly may be locked shut. Hence unauthorized removal of the towels, rod 37 and chain 39, as auunit is forestalled. hfeans for locking the rod 37 to its clip is indicated at numeral 38. It is thought that there is no novelty in lock 33 per se and detailed construction thereof is therefore not indicated. It should be noted that if desired, oelivery of a loaded chain and rod 37 may be made to the machine by opening lock 38 only. Hence a towel supply company may control the collar keys, while a rental customer controls the key to lock 33. By this means no towels could be lost at the rental custcmers cabinet or at the hands of dishonest er careless delivery men.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide positive means for bringing each towel into a withdrawable position. This is accomplished by the provision of two side rails 49 which slant in the general direction of therod 37, and run from clamped portions 51 in upper portion of the supply chamber to aligning portions 53in the lower forward piece 25. The rails or guides 49 are adapted to pass at either side of the towels mounted on the rod 37.

Slidably mounted on the rails 49, by means of sidewardly and downwardly fashioned hooks 55 is a preferably wooden follower 57.

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This follower normally tends to slide down f y the guides 49, to press the towels together and against the front piece 25. By this means a fresh towel is positively fed into receivable position every time the first towel in the line is withdrawn. It may be noted that the follower 57 is suspended at an axis above its center of gravity and thereby is prevented from sticking. It is self-aligning. It may be made of other material besides that above stated. In fact the complete device may be made of any suitable material, and yet comprise the elements of novelty herein described.

The rods 49 that carry the follower 57 are mechanicallyl separate from the rod 37 that carries the towels, whereby objectionable interference with that of the towels is avoided.

In view of the above, it is believed that the various features of this invention will be clear without further elaboration, and it will be seen that with the apparatus herein described, the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying `out the above construction without departing from'the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a. limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A supply cabinet conipi'ising a supply chamber for towels and the like, a forward passage in said chamber for the consecutive delivery of towels therethrough, a stationary piece for forming the lower edge of said passage, a hinged mirrored piece for forming the upper edge tliereof,said upper and lower edges being spaced apart a substantial distance to form said passage, and a lid hinged to the rear of said chamber for closing it, said lid carrying said mirrored piece hinged forwardly thereof, the upper edge of the mirrored piece being positioned a substantial distance above the hinge line with the lid, whereby the area of the mirror may be increased.

2. Means for consecutively withdrawing articles such as towels and the like from a chainber provided with an opening in the front thereof, a bar fastened within the chamber and sloping to the opening, and a pressure de vice foi pressing the lower folded portions of the articles against the opening comprising a slidable piece and forwardly sloping rails therefor adapted to guide said piece against the articles, said rails being below said bar and having a greater slope than said bar.

3. Means for consecutively withdrawing articles such as towels and the like from a chamber provided with an opening in the front thereof, a bar fastened within the chamber and sloping downwardly to the opening, and a pressure device for pressing the lower folded portions of the articles against the opening comprising a slidable piece and forwardly sloping rails therefor adapted to guide said piece against the articles, said rails being mounted at the sides of the articles and below said chamber, and having a greater slope than said bar.

4. A dispensing cabinet for towels and the like comprising a chamber provided with an opening in the front thereof, a removable sloping rod located upwardly in said chamber for mounting articles to be dispensed, downward sloping guides in said chamber below said rod for aligning the towels and a follower slidably suspended from said guides adapted to press the articles to a dispensing position by the action of gravity, the guides and follower being in a non-interfering position for loading the chamber and adapted to align and guide the towels, said sideward sloping guides having a greater slope than said removable rod.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication this 5th day of November, 1925.

HENRY O. YEHLEN.

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