US2527407A - Mixer cabinet - Google Patents

Description

met, 24, 1950 w DUNN 2,527,407

MIXER CABINET Filed Sept. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 33 E !3 I h K I I6 & :7 6 i /3 Fig.2

t V l .-II I 23 5 0 so i 27-- 12 E I I I 31 42 3 L l I F lg 5 INVENTOR.

Zg/LLIAM E. DUNN MM? ATTORNEY Oct 2 1950 w. E DUNN 2,527,407

MIXER CABINET- Filed Sept. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6 WILLIAM E. DUNN yMM ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE MIXER CABINET William E. Dunn, Westwood, Colo.

' i "Application September 4, 1948, Serial N 0.- 47,881

, 3 Claims. (o1. 3112- -23) 1 This invention relates to prefabricated housing or cabinet units of a general type commonly employed in multiple arrangements as kitchen, pantry, and like facilities, and more particularly to such units particularly adapted to house and operatively support electric mixers and similar equipment units in-a manner susceptible of integration with other conventional cabinets, and has-as an object to provide an improved such cabinet unit. I A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of elements constituting af'cabinet for the housing and operative support of an electric mixer;

A further object of the, invention is toprovide an improved cabinet characterized by an altitudinally-reciprocable mounting platform automatically responsive to manipulation of a cabinet hinged end closure. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet susceptible of convenient manipulation to house and enclose an electric mixer within itsupper portion-and to alterna-- tively position and operatively support said mixer in readily-accessible projection thereabove.

A'further object of the invention is to provide improved means for operatively interrelating an altitudinally-reciprocable platform and a hinged end closure in a cabinet to automatically reflect articulation of saidcover as corresponding, pro portional adjustment of said platform.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet for the housing and operative support of an electric mixer that is simple and relatively inexpensive of manufacture, susceptible of production in a wide range of particular sizes, proportionsjmaterials, and finishes, that adaptable to use either as an independent unit or in assembled correlation with other cabinet units, that is positive and eificient in operation,

long-lived in. use, and characterized by marked utilitarian advantage. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed outinmyclaims, and

illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in

disclose otherwise concealed construction. Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail. section, on an en-,

larged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 33 of Figure 2 with the cover and platform of the unit in intermediate positions of their actuation range. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail,

bottom plan view, partly in section, of automatic latch means operatively associated with the movable platform of the unit. Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail section taken substantially on the indicated line 5--5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a viewsimilar to Figure 3 illustrating a somewhat modified, alternative construction of the elements interengaging the unit cover and platform. Figure 7 is a section, similar-to Figure 1, through an alternative, modified unit construction embodying the principles of the invention, the electric mixer being omitted. Figure 8 is a front elevation,

partly in section, of the construction according to Figure 7 as opened and extended for operative positioning of I a mixer. Figure 9 is a fragmentary, detail section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 99 of Figure '7- with the movable elements of the unit in an intermediate position of their actuation range.

Electric mixers are in common and wide-spread use-in a variety of particular makes and constructions, such appliances requiring storage space when not in use and an operative base or position to which they may be transferred for practical employment. Iogether with the advent of electric mixers, it has become a general practice to supply prefabricated cabinet units in a variety of sizes, arrangements, and proportions suscep tible of interrelation to constitute counters, tables, and the like, adapted to function as kitchen and pantry facilities with marked conservation of space. Given the problem of electric mixer storage and operative positioning and the availability of multiunit cabinet installations, it is desirable and wholly feasible to provide a cabinet unit particularly arranged to house and operatively support a mixer appliance with conservation of space and enhanced convenience, and the instant in- -'material, and particular proportions is shown as a hollow assembly, open at its upper end, comprised from rigidly interrelated side walls It], front wall ll, rear wall I2, and bottom [3. A base l4 may be provided in'inwardly- -offset relation with the front wall H to elevate the bottom l3 somewhat above the surface supportin the cabinet, as

is common practice, and a cover I5 is hinged at one of its margins to the rear wall I2 in position to engage and close over upper margins of the walls I and II, at times, and to be swung upwardly out of engagement with said wall I8 and H margins and into substantially coplanar relation with wall I2 to fully open and expose the cabinet unit upper end, at other times, as is also conventional practice in the construction of cabinets of various types. Since, in accordance with the concept of the invention, only an upper portion of the cabinet interior is utilized for storage of the electric mixer, an access opening closable by a hinged door It is formed through the lower portion of the front wall II, and the interior of the cabinet served by said access openlng may be furnished with transverse partitions; or shelves H, in any convenient or desired arrangement, adapting the cabinet lower interior for storage uses.

A rigid platform I8 is sized to. fit transversely within, to substantially fill, and to reciprocate altitudinally of the cabinet upper portion defined by the walls II], II and |'2, said platform being preferably furnished with guide arms or blocks I9 fixedly depending therefrom adjacent and for sliding engagement with inner surfaces of the walls, II and I2, whereby tilting of said platform I8 out of a position substantially perpendicular to the walls I and I2 is inhibited. The platform I 8 serves as a mounting and support for an. electric mixer 20, of any desired make or construction, whereof the base may rest upon or be secured to the upper platform surface in any desired or convenient relation.

The invention contemplates that the platform I8 carrying the mixer 20 shall react altitudinally to opening and closing of the cabinet end cover I for retraction of the mixer Wholly within the cabinet upper end when said cover is closed and for elevation of said mixer into projected relation above the cabinet upper end when said cover is opened, the platform It; registering with the upper end of the cabinet to position the mixer for use., To give effect to the contemplation of the invention, an L-shaped fitting 2| is secured to and depends below each side of the platform I8 with one of its legs inwardly paralleling the adjacent side wall I0, said fittings 2| being spaced along the platform side margins like distances forwardly from the cabinet rear wall I2, and a bracket arm 22 is secured to the inner surface of the cover I5 adjacent each side thereof to depend adjacent and parallel to'the cabinet side Wall II inner surfaces when said cover is closed relative to the cabinet, said arms 22 hence lying, in approximately the same planes as the vertical legs of the respective fittings 2| and being movable with the cover I5. A link 23 hingedly connects between the free end of each bracket 22 and the vertical web of the fitting 2| on the same side of the platform I8, clearance for said links 23- being provided between side margins of the platform and the adjacent cabinet side walls, and

the lengths of the so-related brackets 22 and links 23 are proportioned and correlated to lower the platform interiorly of the cabinet a distance sufficient for accommodation-of the mixer 20 between. said platform and the cover I5 when the latter is closed, and to elevate said platform into approximate registration with the cabinet open end when the cover I5 is swung into substantially coplanar relation with the cabinet rear wall |2, itv being obvious that the location of the fitting 2| along the platform side margins, the particular 4 shape and length of the bracket 22 and location of said bracket relative to the hinge axis of the cover I5, as well as the link 23, are all susceptible of variation and adjustment to provide the desired range of platform l8 altitudinal travel.

To minimize the effort necessary for elevation of the platform I8 and its mixer 20 through manipulation of the cover I5, the weight of said platform and mixer is largely counterbalanced through any practical arrangement of means effective for such purpose, one such arrangement being illustrated as comprising a lever arm 24 hinged at one of its ends to each of the side walls It] below the lowermost travel limit of the platform I8 and to swing through a vertical arc paralleling the side wall to which it is attached. A link 25, suitably proportioned in length, hingedly engages between the fitting 2| and an intermediate point of the associated arm 24, and a retractile coil spring '26 operatively connects between the free end of the arm 24 and a pointon the link 25 adjacent its connection with the fit- 7 ting 2 I, saidspring 26 hence constituting the hypotenuse of a triangle whereof the legs are the link 25 and the end of the arm 24 beyond said link on the side of the latter remote from the-arm attachment to the wall l0, said hypotenuse increasing. in length as the arm 24 and link 25 are the platform I'B beneath the approximate center line. of the latter in perpendicularly-bridging. re lationbetween the cabinet walls H and I2, said bar 21 preferably engaging through elongate loop guides/28v carried by the platform under surface adjacent the bar endsv to limit oscillation of said 7 bar about its pivotin either'direction of its movement. An expansive coil spring 29 acts between one side of the bar 2'!v and anabutment lug. 3U

fixed to the platform |8 under'surface in'laterally-spaced relation with said bar to normally and yield'ably hold said bar at one limit of its oscillatory range, and latch plates 3| are fixed toinner surfaces. and adjacent the upper ends of thecabinet walls II and I;2.for engagement by ends of. the bar 21' projecting beyond. the platform I8 margins when said platform is. elevated-L to registration with the cabinet upper end. The latchplates 31 are formed with notches-opening in their upper margins-engageable bythe bar 2'! ends in the normal, spring-positioned disposition of said bar, andlaterally-directed margins of said platesv 3| are oppositely inclined or beveled downwardly and away from the path ofbar 21 upwardtravel for engagement with the margins ofthe-bar ends as the latter ascend with the platform I8, said latch plate inclined margins open-- ating to-swing the latch bar ends against the pressure of the: spring 29- as the platform ap-- preaches-its upper limit, said latch bar: being-free. to. react to the pressure-of its spring for: engage ment ofiits endsinthe latchplate notches when. said bar endshave cleared the uppermost points,

75, ofLthe-latch plate margins. Theendofthe latch,-

bar 2] adjacent the cabinet front wall II is formed as or furnished withan actuating finger 32 fixedly ;upstanding therefrom past ,the for ward' margin of the platform I 8, said finger .32 proyiding means formanual shift of the latch bar 2'! against; the pressure of its spring 29 and release of its engagement with the latch plate 3I notcheswhen it is desired to close the cover I5 andretract-the platform I8 and mixer 20 within the cabinet. a

To avoid complications resulting from intrusion of the counterbalance or other mechanisms within the storage space ofthe cabinet lower interior, side panels 33 may befixed to bridge be tween lower portions of the cabinet walls I I and I2 ininwardly-spaced parallelism with theiadjacent side walls Ill, thereby'to form upwardlyopening pockets, along said side walls' for thereception 'ofthe actuating mechanism, and the storage shelves I] may in such case engage with and close between said panels 33; it ,being convenient in such an arrangement to notch. upper corners of the panels 33 adjacent the walls II and I2 for seated reception of the fingers I9 when the platform I8 is at its inner, or lowermost, position. a

The alternative construction illustrated by Figure Gis in all essential operative respects the equivalent of that shown in the preceding figures and hereinabove described, .the only difference presented by the embodiment of Figure 6 being structural in' an actuating arrangement permitting the .use of arelatively'much shorter member in substitution for the bracket 22 secured to the cover I5. As shown in Figure 6, a relatively quite short bracket 34 is fixed to the cover I5 under surface more closely adjacent the hinge axis of said cover than the bracket' 22, and a link 35 hingedly connects with and depends from the free' end of the bracket 34 between. platform I8 side margins and'the adjacent cabinet" walls In to hinged'connection at its lower end with an in-' terme'diatepoint of a lever .arm 36 hingedly projecting from the cabinet rear wall I2 below the platform I8 lowermost position for actuation in a vertical are along the adjacent cabinet side wall In; the link 23 hingedly: depending fromthe,

fitting 2I to hinged connection of its free end with the corresponding free end of the arm 36, so that said latter arm operates as a lever of the third class to elevate or retract the platform I8 through the agency of the link 23 as the link 35 is actuated to less degree through the displacement of the short bracket 34 consequent upon articulation of the cover I5 about its hinge axis.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 typify an alternative construction and arrangement of elements adapted to give effect to the principles of the invention in association with a relatively narrow cabinet having its cover I5 hinged to the upper margin of one of the side walls II] for actuation between perpendicular and coplanar relation with said side wall; narrow cabinets of the type illustrated being practical for association with other cabinet units of like height and depth, while the sidehinging cover I5 requires a rearrangement of the elements for actuating the platform I8 in order to eliminate obstruction of the platform forward margin and access to the platform-supported mixer when the cover I5 is open. a I In the alternative construction, a rigid yoke 31, generally U-shaped in plan, is hinged at its base by means of fittings 38 to and transversely of the cabinet rear wall beneath th lowermost position of the platform I8 to dispose its generally parallel arms 31 for actuation in vertical arcs inward- 6 1 ly paralleling the cabinet side walls III beiieat said platform. The yoke arms 31f extend forwardly within the cabinet to hinged engagement of their forward ends with the lower endsof links 23 hingedly depending from the platform fittings 2I, so that oscillation of the yoke 31 basejin its fittings 31 is reflected as altitudinal adjustment of the platform I8 interiorly of the cabinet, Linking the yoke 31 to and for reaction to manip-, ulation of the cover I5, a relativelyeshort bracket 34 is secured adjacent a rear margin of the cov er I5 to project perpendicularly fromthehnder surface of saidcover in a minimum spacing-from the cover hinge axis, and an arm 39-is hinged at its upper end to said bracket and depends there: from between the cover-mounting side wall Illand adjacent margin of platform I8 downwardlypast the adjacent yoke arm 31', and a link 40 hingedly connects th lower end of said arm.39 with, a point on the adjacent yoke arm 3I,spaced for: wardly of the cabinet from the hingedly mounted yoke base, the linkages and connections above described being proportioned in an I obvious man-: ner to accomplish the desired travelcf the plate form 'IB in response to opening and closing-0f the cabinet cover I5. As is indicated int-he drawings; the alternative construction just above described is adapted for operative association with counter-g balancing means of the type and construction; illustrated in the preceding views andhereinabove. explained. I

In any of the illustrated embodiments, orin other analogous constructions, the improvement provides a useful and highly adaptable facility for the storage and operative support of electric mixers and comparable appliances in a manner con;- servative of space and user energy; the cabinet cover I5 completing a secure protective housing for the appliance'when closed to provide a smooth, horizontal Working area available for many purposes, the latch bar positively and securely p'osi tioning the platform and its supported appliances in position for use of the latter, and the upright disposition of the opened cover I5-introducing a minimum of interference when the appliance is positioned for use. 3

Since many changes, variations, and modifica tions in the specific form, constructionfand arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing'from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my inventioni 1. In a mixer cabinet having an open-top housing defining a straight-walled well in its upper portion and a cover hinged to said housing for actuation through a vertical are between opening and closing relation with th housing top, a platform laterally of and reciprocable altitudinal- 1y within said well, connections between said cover and platform operable as an incident of cover actuation to elevate th platform to the housing top when the cover is fully open and to depress the platform within the housing well in spaced parallelism with the cover when th latter is closed, and selectively-releasable means automatically operable as an incident of platform upward travel to latch said platform in its uppermost position, means for counterbalancing the weight of said platform and its load operatively engaging between said housing and platform, said means comprising like arms similarly hinged to inner faces of opposed housing walls beneath the platamigo? rem lowermost "position for actuation in vertical ares paralleling said faces, like links 'hingedly 'depenc'lingfrom platform side margins above said to hinged connection of their lower ends wlthlpoints' of the corresponding arms spaced inweirdly from the arm free ends, and a retractile spring operatively between each arm free end and the end of the associated link adjacent the platform. a

2. Ina mixer cabinet having an open-top housingdefining a straight-walled well in its upper portionand a cover hinged to said housing for actuation through a vertical are between opening and closing relation with the housing top, a platfarm laterally of and reciprocable altitudinally within said well, means for counterbalancing the weight of said platform and its load operatively engaging between said housing and platform, and selectively-releasable means automatically operable as an incident of platform upward travel to latch'said platform in its uppermost position, connections between said coverand platform operabl'e as an incident of cover actuation to elevate the platform to the housing top when the cover is fully open and to depress the platform within the housing well in spaced parallelism with the cover when'thelatter is closed, said connections comprising a single, relatively-short bracket fixedly projecting perpendicularly from the cover inner face near the cover hinge axis and adjacent one of the cover side margins for free oscillation throughthe top of the housing well, a U-shaped yoke hinged at its base to one of the housing side walls belowthe platform lowermost position for actuation of its arms through vertical arcs underlying the platform margins paralleling the cover hinge axis and about an axis perpendicular to that of the cover hinge, links hingedly connecting the yoke'arm free ends with intermediate points of the overhanging platform margins, a link hinged-1y depending from the free end of said bracket past and below the adjacent yoke arm, and a link hingedly connecting the lower end of the bracket-engaged link with a point on the adjacent yoke arm spacedly adjacent the yoke hinge axis.

3. in a mixer cabinet having an open-top housing defining a straight-walled well in its upper 8 portion ahd 'a cover-hinged to said housing for actuation tlsnr'cu'gh a vertical-arc between openmg and closing relation with the housing top, a platform laterally of and reciprccabl'e altitudinally within 'said wellmeans for "counterbalancin'g the weightofsaidplatform and its load operatively engaging betweensaid housing and platform,'and connections between said cover and platform operable as an incident of cover actuation to elevate the platform to the housing top when the cover is fully open and to depress the "platform within the housing well in spaced parallelism with the cover when the latter is closed, selectively-releasable means automatically operable 'as an incident "of platform upward travel to latch said platform in itsuppermost-position, said means comprising a latch bar perpendicul-aflytraversing and'pivoted atits center to the under face of said platform in and projection beyond the intersected platform inargins, st'opsfiliiriiting oscillation or saidbar about its pivot in 0ne""direc'tion, a spring yielda'bly .nrging "said bar'to theoscillat-ory limit determined by said stops, notched plates fixed adj a'cent the housing wall inner face tops 'inthe reciprocatory path of the bar "end projections, inclined margins on said plates engageable with the bar end projetionsduring platform upward travel to oscillate said bar about its pivot against the pressure of said "spring, said inclined margins leading to the notch "openingsof said plates, and :an actuating finger "upstanding from one 'of 'the loar end projections across and beyond the platform margin remote "from the cover hinge axis WILLIAM E. DUNN;

REFERENCES C-IITED The following 'refe'rences are of record in the file of this-patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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