US1952494A - Support - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1934. A, GAFFORD 1,952,494

SUPPORT Filed Dec. 29, 1932 Ill ' INVENTOR. Gewye di /wand 64/75/221 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1934 SUPPORT George Armand Gafiord, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 29, 1932, Serial No. 649,349

3 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to a support, more particularly an extensible support for trays, platters and the like.

Important objects of the invention are to pro- 5 vide a device of this character which is especially adapted to support hot trays, platters and the like in heat insulating relation to a table or other support; which is exensible to provide a support of variable area for supporting large trays or platters or a plurality of small plates; which is contractible into a small area when not in use; which is of simple, but rugged construction, and which is highly efiicient for the purposes for which it is intended to be used. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the support when substantially completely extended; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the support shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the support when substantially completely contracted; Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, and showing on an enlarged scale one of the joints between the members at which one of the supporting studs is secured; and Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, and showing on an enlarged scale one of the other joints between the members. Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the support comprises a number of bars assembled and interconnected in compound lazytong arrangement, and capable of being extended for use as shown in Fig. 1 or contracted into relatively small space when not in use, as shown in Fig. 3. 4s One of the lazytongs, designated generally by reference character A, consists of pairs of short bars 1 and longer bars 2 which are pivoted together at the middle and hinged to one another at the ends by means of vertically extending studs 3. The other lazytongs, designated generally by reference character B, consists of pairs of bars 4, pivoted together at the middle by means of vertically extending rivets or pins 5 and hinged to one another at the ends by means of vertically extending studs 6, which are similar in all respects to the studs 3. The lazytongs A and B are interconnected by means of vertically extending rivets or pins 7 which are similar in all respects to the rivets 5. The studs 3 and 5 constitute legs for supporting the device in a horizontal position on 0 i a table or other support and in spaced relation thereto. If desired, the studs may be provided with tips 8 of rubber or other heat insulating material.

With the device in expanded condition, as in Fig. 1, hot trays, platters and the like may be positioned on the device without danger of scorching or burning the table top or other support on which the device is positioned. Such scorching or burning is effectively prevented by the air between the bottom of the tray or platter and the table top or other support, such air constituting an excellent heat insulator and retarding the cooling of the contents of the tray or platter.

Owing to the relatively large open areas between the bars, when the support is in expanded condition, the area of contact between the hot tray or platter and these members is reduced to a minimum, and only a slight amount of heat will therefore be transmitted to these members by conduction. Consequently, very little heat reaches the studs so that there is little likelihood of scorching or burning of the table top by these studs. The rubber tips 8 not only pre vent marring of the table top, but also prevent transfer of any heat in the studs to the table top.

The device is simple and rugged in construction, and, when fully contracted, occupies very little space. When made of plated bars or" steel or brass, it presents a pleasing and attractive appearance.

A particular advantage of the device is its extensibility to provide a horizontal support of variable area. This feature enables the device to be properly supported on table tops of various dimensions and shapes and makes it adaptable for trays or platters of various sizes or for a plurality of small platesor the like.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention.

1. A support of the character described comprising a pair of lazytongs; one of said lazytongs consisting of pairs of pivotally connected end lid.

bars and pairs of pivotally connected intermediate bars, said intermediate bars being of greater length than the end bars and being pivotally connected thereto, and the other of said lazytongs consisting of pairs of pivotally connected bars of the same length as the said intermediate bars and being pivotally connected. intermediate their ends to said intermediate bars at points intermediate the ends of the latter.

2. A support of the character described comprising a pair of lazytongs; one of said lazytongs consisting of pairs of short pivotally connected end bars and pivotally connected pairs of longer intermediate bars, the bars in each pair of intermediate bars being pivotally connected to the end bars and to each other at points spaced from their points of pivotal connection with the end bars a distance substantially equal to the length of the end bars, and the other of said lazytongs consisting of pivotally connected pairs of bars of the same length as said intermediate bars and pivotally connected to said intermediate bars at points intermediate the points of pivotal connection of the intermediate bars with each other and with the end bars.

3. A support of the character described com prising a pair of lazytongs; one of said lazytongs consisting of pairs of short end bars the bars in each pair being pivotally connected to each other at one end thereof and pivotally connected pairs of longer bars, the bars in each pair of longer bars being pivotally connected to the short bars at one end thereof and being crossed and pivoted to each other at points spaced from their points of pivotal connection with the short bars a distance substantially equal to the length of said short bars, and the other of said lazytongs consisting of pivotally connected pairs of bars of the same length as said longer bars, each of the bars in said second lazytongs being pivotally connected to the longer bars in said first lazytongs.

GEORGE ARMAND GAFFORD.

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