US2113461A - Tantalus set - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1938. A. CRAVARITIS TANTALUS SET Filed July 24, 1937 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TANTALUS SET Application July 24, 1937, Serial No. 155,427

5 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to Tantalus sets.

By the term Tantalus set, as used herein and in the appended claims, I intend to refer to an assembly of parts consisting of one or more stoppered bottles, and a holder comprising a base plate adapted to support the bottle or bottles thereon, and a top plate adapted to snugly overlie the bottle or bottles. Usually, a set of this character comprises two bottles of substantially rectangular cross-section, arranged side by side, and each bottle is usually provided with a removable stopper of square cross-section. For illustrative purposes, I have, therefore, chosen to illustrate and describe my invention in con.- nection with a set of two bottles of this type.

It is a general object of my invention to pro-- vide a new and unique means for locking the bottles against unauthorized withdrawal.

Briefly, my invention is characterized by the provision of a flange on either the base plate or the top plate, the flange comprising a fixed portion and a complementary adjustable portion, these flange portions normally serving, conjointly, to encircle the adjacent end of the bottle or bottles to prevent withdrawal of the latter. I provide means whereby the adjustable portion may be swung aside to permit lateral withdrawal of the bottle or bottles; and I also providea means for locking the adjustable flange portion in its normal position.

In the preferred embodiment, the flange is assoeiated with the base plate.

A feature of my invention lies in arranging the adjustable flange portion in hinged relation to the plate, so that the flange portion may be swung outwardly into the plane of the plate when it is desired to effect a lateral withdrawal of the bottle.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a 'I'antalus set embodying the features of my present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1, with parts broken away for the sake of compactness of illustration;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken sub stantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

I have illustratively shown two rectangular bottles and II, the necks accommodating the removable stoppers I2 and I3, respectively. These bottles are adapted to stand side by side upon a base plate l4 which is preferably provided with feet l5. Snugly overlying the stoppered bottles is the top plate I6 which forms the upper portion of a continuous strap whose side portions ll extend downwardly and are permanently secured at their lower ends to the base plate M.

In accordance with my invention, I have shown in Figures 1-3 a flange mounted upon the base plate M and consisting of the fixed portions I8, 89, and 2t, and the complementary adjustable portion 2!. The lower ends of the strap II are preferably secured to the fixed flange portions l8 and 20, as indicated most clearly in Figures 1 and 3.

The adjustable flange portion 2| is hinged, as at 22, to the base plate M so that it may be swung from the normal full-line position of Figure 2 to the open dot-and-dash position of this figure. When the portion 2! is in its normal position it serves, conjointly with the fixed portions IE, it, and 20, to snugly encircle the bottles l0 and H. This prevents unauthorized removal of the bottles. When the portion 2| is swung aside, as indicated in Figure 2, either or both of the bottles may be withdrawn laterally from the device and may be replaced in the same manner.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a means for locking the adjustable flange portion 2! in its normal position. I accomplish this by mounting a tongue 23 on the base plate Hi, this tongue comprising a relatively narrow strip of material, preferably metal, arranged in a plane perpendicular to the base plate l4 and projecting outwardly beyond one edge of the plate M. In the illustrated embodiment, the tongue has a perforation 24 adapted to receive a small padlock 25. The flange portion 2| is provided with a slot 26 adapted to permit passage of the tongue through it.

When the padlock 25 is in position, the flange portion 2| cannot be swung aside; but when the padlock 25 is removed, the flange portion 2i may be freely swung into the dot-and-dash position of Figure 2.

Where the Tantalus set comprises two bottles, side by side, as indicated in the drawing, the tongue 23 is preferably arranged between the bottles.

The invention is equally applicable to the top plate l6, as indicated in Figure 4. In this figure, I have applied the same reference numerals In, H, l2, and I3 to the stoppered bottles. The base plate 21 is in this case provided with no flange at all, or with the very shallow ornamental flange shown in Figure 4. Secured to the base plate are the upwardly extending straps 28 merging at the top with the top plate 29 which snugly overlies the bottles. In this embodiment, a flange is secure-d to the top plate 29, and consists of the fixed portion 3|] and the adjustable flange portion 3|. The latter is preferably hinged, as at 32, and is adapted to be swung outwardly to permit lateral withdrawal of one or both bottles. Normally, the adjustable flange portion 3|, conjointly with the fixed flange portions 30, serves snugly to encircle the upper ends of the stoppered bottles, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of the bottles.

As in the previous embodiment, a tongue 33 is adapted to project its end through a slot in the flange portion 3|, and I have shown the tongue provided with a perforation 34 adapted to receive a padlock.

In order to facilitate the grasping of the device of Figure 4, a handle 35 is preferably mounted on the top plate 29.

The present construction is particularly advantageous because of its inconspicuous character. Not only are cumbersome manipulations unnecessary, but the entire appearance of the set remains unimpaired.

While I have shown the tongue in each case provided with a perforation adapted to receive a padlock, it will be understood that other locking means may, if desired, be resorted to. It is contemplated that any suitable locking means may be caused to engage with the projecting end of the tongue in order to prevent swinging of the adjustable flange portion.

It will also .be understood that the device is equally applicable to a single bottle, or to a set of bottles greater than two in number. Accordingly, in the appended claims, it is intended that the term bottle include within its significance either one, two, or more bottles. Also in the appended claims, I have used the term stoppered bottle, and by this term I intend to allude to the entire bottle, including the stopper.

While I have illustratively shown rectangular bottles with rectangular stoppers, it will be understood that bottles of other shapes and stoppers of other shapes may be employed. In general, it will be understood that changes in the details, here-in described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a Tantalus set, the combination with a stoppered bottle, of a base plate adapted to support the bottle thereon, a top plate, connecting means at opposite edge portions of the top plate and the base plate for supporting the top plate and cooperating therewith to encircle the upper portion of the bottle with the top plate in position to snugly overlie the bottle stopper, a flange on one of said plates comprising a fixed portion and a complementary adjustable portion, said flange portions normally serving conjointly to encircle the adjacent end of the bottle to prevent withdrawal of the latter, said adjustable portion being adapted to be swung aside to permit lateral withdrawal of the bottle, and means for locking said adjustable flange portion in normal position.

2. In a Tantalus set, the combination with a stoppered bottle, of a base plate adapted to support the bottle thereon, a top plate, connecting means at opposite edge portions of the top plate and the base plate for supporting the top plate and cooperating therewith to encircle the upper portion of the bottle with the top plate in position to snugly overlie the bottle stopper, a flange on one of said plates comprising a fixed portion and a complementary adjustable portion, said flange portions normally serving conjointly to encircle the adjacent end of the bottle to prevent withdrawal of the latter, said adjustable portion being adapted to be swung aside to permit lateral withdrawal of the bottle, and means for locking said adjustable flange portion in normal position, said means comprising a tongue mounted on said plate closely adjacent to the bottle, a slot in the adjustable flange portion to receive said tongue through it, and releasable locking means engaging the end of said tongue.

3. In a Tantalus set, the combination with a stoppered bottle, of a base plate adapted to support the bottle thereon, a top plate, connecting means at opposite edge portions of the top plate and the base plate for supporting the top plate and cooperating therewith to encircle the upper portion of the bottle with the top plate in position to snugly overlie the bottle stopper, a flange on one of said plates comprising a fixed portion and a complementary adjustable portion, said flange. portions normally serving conjointly to encircle the adjacent end of the bottle to prevent withdrawal of the latter, said adjustable portion being adapted to be swung aside to permit lateral withdrawal of the bottle, and means for locking said adjustable flange portion in normal position, said means comprising a perforated tongue mounted on said plate, a slot in the adjustable flange portion to receive said tongue through it, and a lock engageable within the perforation of said tongue.

4. In a Tantalus set, the combination with a stoppered bottle, of a base plate adapted to support the bottle thereon, a continuous strap attached to opposite edge portions of the base plate and encircling the upper portion of the bottle snugly overlying the bottle stopper, a flange on the base plate comprising a fixed portion and a complementary adjustable portion, said flange portions normally serving conjointly to encircle the bottom of the bottle to prevent withdrawal of the latter, said adjustable portion being adapted to be swung aside to permit lateral withdrawal of the bottle, and means for locking said adjustable flange portion in normal position.

5. In a Tantalus set, the combination with a stoppered bottle, of a base plate adapted to support the bottle thereon, a continuous strap attached to opposite edge portions of the base plate and encircling the upper portion of the bottle snugly overlying the bottle stopper, a flange on the base plate comprising a fixed portion and a complementary adjustable portion, said flange portions normally serving conjointly to encircle the bottom of the bottle to prevent withdrawal of the latter, said adjustable portion being adapted to be swung aside to permit lateral withdrawal of the bottle, and means for locking said adjustable flange portion in normal position, said means comprising a perforated tongue mounted on said base plate closely adjacent to the bottle, a slot in the adjustable flange portion to receive said tongue through it, and a lock engageable within the perforation of said tongue.

ANDREW CRAVARITIS.

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