US988372A - Ash-trap. - Google Patents

Description

S. F. MYERS.

ASH TRAP.

APPLIOATION Hum MAY 13. 1909.

988,372. Ptented p ,1911.

JmM/Zyz/J:

rn: Mum": Firs" can. wAsklNuYo-V. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. MYERS, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ASH-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Ash-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel construction of ash trap or cover for ash pits more particularly designed for employment in open fire places.

To this end the invention comprises a sheet iron frame and an ash plate mounted for swinging movement within the frame upon a rod located forwardly of the middle of the plate whereby the plate will be overbalanced, the ashes being collected upon the portion of the plate to the rear of the rod within the fire place and this portion being held against dropping by the medium of a lug or similar element stamped out of the frame in which the plate is mounted the ashes being dumped by swinging down the forward end of the plate whereby to raise its rear end.

In the accompanying drawings ;Figure 1 is a plan view of an ash trap constructed in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough taken from front to rear and on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the ash trap embodying the present invention is shown as comprised of a frame and an ash plate which is hingedly mounted in the frame and this frame, indicated in general by the reference character A, is preferably formed of sheet metal with a flat body and a peripheral depending flange 5, the edge of which rests upon the fire place and supports the body of the frame. The front of this frame is indicated by the numeral 6, its rear by the numeral 7 and its ends by the numeral 8, the frame being preferably rectangular.

The ash plate above referred to is inclicated by the numeral 9 and is preferably formed of sheet metal and of a size to fit within the rectangular opening in the frame A. Each end 8 of the frame of the device is cut with parallel slits 10 which are located adjacent the front thereof and the metal between these slits is stamped or struck down as at 11 to afford a hinge member, the function of which will be presently described. In a similar manner, the ash plate 9 is provided with like hinge members 12 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1909.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Serial No. 495,660.

correspondingly located; and engaging all of the hinge members and the under sides of the ends 8 of the frame A and of the ash plate 9, is a hinge rod 13, this rod serving to hingedly support the ash plate 9 in the frame A as will be readily understood and being, by reason of the location of the hinge members, positioned forwardly of the longitudinal median line of the plate 9 and retained from dislocation by the side flanges In other words, the plate is hingedly mounted of? center within the frame, its major portion lying to the rear of the hinge rod 13 and its minor portion forward of the said hinge rod. It will thus be understood that the rear end or side of the plate 9 has a tendency to swing down, and this tendency is arrested and the said end of the plate supported normally through the medium of a lip 14 which is formed in the rear side 7 of the frame A by striking from the said portion of the frame a tongue which is bent to extend beneath the said portion 7 of the frame and forwardly beyond the edge of the opening therein as shown.

As will be readily understood, the plate, when the device is in position beneath the fuel basket of an open fire place, will receive the ashes dropping from the basket. When it is desired to discharge these ashes into the ash pit which is covered by the device embodying the invention, a poker or like implement is engaged with that portion of the plate 9 which lies forward of the hinge rod 13 and this side of the plate is depressed, thereby bringing the plate substantially to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings in which position the ashes will slide down and off from the plate and into the ash pit. Upon release of the plate, it will automatically drop or return to normal position with its rear edge portion resting upon the lip 14.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen that there is provided an extremely simple device of this class and one which may be readily manipulated to discharge the ashes collecting there on and which may be stamped from sheet metal with practically no waste of material and with but little trouble.

Aside from the fact that sheet metal members are much cheaper in construction than castings and less likely to be broken by the heat from the ashes, it is also cheaper to form the hinge elements and the lip as deing left by the lug 14 this opening will not be objectionable because it is at the rear of the fire place out of sight and out of the way. When the device is opened as above described there is no ledge exposed within the frame upon which the ashes accumulate to prevent the plate from reseating itself so as to close the frame nicely, because what particles rest on the lug 14 make little if any difference. The matter of the insertion of the rod-13 is not provided for in this-specification, but once in place the side flanges 5 will'hold it against displacement and hence themembers 11 and 12 need not embraceit tightly, and the plate can turnon the rod or it can turn with the rod and thelatter can turn in the members 11. v The size and proportion of parts is immaterial.

What is claimed is W In an ash trap, the combination with a frame havinga'rec'tangular opening and a depending peripheral flange, the sides of the frame having pairs of slits and the metal between each two slits depressed near the front of the frame to form a hinge member, and the back of the frame provided with a lip extending beneath the frame and into its opening; of a sheet metalplate filling said opening and having pairs of slits with the metal between each two slits depressed to form a hingemember alined with those in the frame, and a rod engaging said members and standing against the lower face of the plate and frame between the side flanges of the latter.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing-as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL F. MYERS.

Witnesses MAUD MYERS, MARIE BISHOP.

Copies of this patent-may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtomi). G.

Images