US2462816A - Dispensing cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 22, 1949. c. scHNER, JR., ET AL 2,462,816

DISPENS ING CABINET Filed Aug. 10, 194e a o o o o u o o o o o oc ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNlTED S'i'i'lES RTENT ilFFlCE DISPENSING CABINET New York Application August 10, 1946, Serial No. 689,752

l. Claim. 1

This invention relates to cabinets for dispensing buttons and the like.

The sale of buttons and the like in department and dry goods stores has long presented problems which heretofore have not been solved satisfactorily. Originally loose buttons were merely placed in suitable containers such as boxes, drawers, etc., sometimes with a sample displayed thereon, but this was unsatisfactory for the buttons were inadequately displayed, and if left within reach of customers, were frequently mixed by being placed in the wrong containers.

More recently it has been the custom to mount buttons on cards, usually with a plurality of buttons affixed to each card sold as a unit. Such cards may be displayed on sales counters to better advantage than loose buttons, but again, if the cards are handled by customers, they become soiled and bent, and are frequently misplaced. Moreover, the number of buttons affixed to the card frequently differs from the number desired by the customer. For example, if the buttons are arranged three to a card, as is frequently the case, and if the customer desires four buttons, it is necessary for the customer to purchase two cards, thus wasting two buttons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cabinet adapted to contain strips of separable button cards, each having a button affixed thereto, which said cabinet provides a display table on which the buttons may be adequately displayed, and provides means permitting any desired number of button cards to be Withdrawn from the cabinet and detached from the strip.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the cabinet on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a detail cross section showing the guideways.

Figure 4 is a plan View showing a preferred form of button strip.

Referring to the drawings, the cabinet comprises an oblong, rectangular box l of any desired dimensions, having a top or lid 2 hinged thereto by hinges 3. The inside of the box is divided into a plurality of separate compartments by partitions 4 extending from the front wall to the back Wall, each of said compartments being adapted Z to receive a strip of button cards, preferably in the form of a roll 5.

The nature of the strip and of the individual, separable button cards is illustrated in Figure 4, said strip being provided with transverse weakened lines, such as lines of perforations 6 dividing the strip into a plurality of easily separable cards l, each having a button 8 affixed thereto by a wire staple projecting upwardly through the card and button or otherwise affixed thereto in any suitable manner. if desired, the edges of the strip may be provided With notches 9 aligned with the lines of perforations which said notches facilitate the tearing of the cards from the strip along the lines of perforations.

The top or lid l provides a table on which the buttons may be displayed, and is provided with a slot le? through which the ends of the strips may lead from the interior of the box. Extending across the top from front to back are a plurality of guide flanges l l. One of such guide anges is mounted at either end of the box, and one over each of the partitions d, whereby a pair of such guide flanges being provided for each strip, said guide flanges being spaced so that their edges overlay the edges of the strip, thus holding the strip parallel to the table but permitting the strip to slide along the flanges when the end is pulled.

The rear ends of the guide flanges behind the slot lil may be used to receive and hold price cards l2 on which may be printed price marks indicating the pri-ce of the buttons on each strip.

Mounted inside the box and supported on the ends thereof is a guide rod It which may or may not be mounted for rotation. Said rod is mounted behind said slot and reasonably close to said lid, so that regardless of the size of the roll, the strip has a fair lead to the table. Each of the strips is passed around the rod i3 before being passed through the slot l0, and is guided by the rod so that it feeds easily into the guide flanges. Furthermore, due to the resilience of the strip, the guide rod tends to cause the strip to bulge upwardly against the overlying portions of said guide flanges so as to close the slot, thereby preventing dust and dirt from entering the cabinet through the slot.

The front edge lll of the table is preferably a square edge so as to present a tearing edge along which the button cards may be detached. In the embodiment illustrated, the front of the table projects beyond the front of the box, thereby providing an overhang which permits easy manipulation of the botton cards which are to be detached.

In preparing the cabinet for use, the top is swung upwardly on its hinges and a rolled strip of button cards is placed in each of the partitioned compartments in the box. Then, while the top is still open, the end of each strip is led around the guide rod i3, then through the slot Hl, then under the guide anges Il, being pulled along the table until the leading edge of the rst button card is opposite the tearing edge I4. TheY hinged top is then closed to display the buttons. When the strips are uniformly arranged in this manner, a large number of buttons are displayed and the display is neat and attractive as the buttons are aligned and evenly spaced.

When a customer selects a certain style of button, the desired number of button cards may be withdrawn by pulling the end of the strip and detaching them by tearing along the tearing edge, thus leaving the remainder of the strip properly positioned. Whenever a strip is used up, it may be replaced by another.

It is important that the proper relation be preserved between the size of the. button cards, the openings lll through which they are drawn and the location of the guide bar or roller I3. For example, in one embodiment of the invention each button card is 11/2 inches wide and 1 inch long, i. e., between perforations. The opening in the table is Wider than 11/2 inches by enough to afford clearance and is llg inches from front to back. The axis of the guide bar or roller, which is l inch in diameter, is located inch below and 3A; inch to the rear of the rear edge of the opening. By thus proportioning and locating the several elements referred to the strip of button cards will be guided easily to and through the opening and the opening will be substantially closed at all times.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claim.

We claim as our invention:

In a cabinet from which are dispensed in Strip sponding to each strip a slot through which said strip passes, and means within said box for guiding each strip to its particular slot, a plurality of anges mounted on said cover in such manner that two of such flanges co-operate with each slot, said anges extending rearwardly of each slot far enough to overlie and hold in place a card indicating the price of the article being dispensed from that slot, and extending forwardly of each slot far enough to position a strip as it emerges from its slot, and regulate its path across the cover to the front edge thereof, whence the number of articles desired by a customer may be severed from the main body of the strip.

CHARLES SCHNER, JR. FRANK ZEISER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES `PAkilrlllTS Marcuse Dec. 20, 1921

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