US2627312A - Case for condition indicating device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1953 T. G. HANEY CASE FOR CONDITION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1949 WWW (921mm 0mm Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE 2,627,312 CASE ma ooNnirioN INDICATING DEvicE Thomas Haney, Eau Ciaire, Wis assignor to National Pressure, Cooker Company, Eau Claire, Wis, a. corporation of Wisconsin Application apart-16, 1949, Serial No. 76,672 3 earns. (01. 16l.l5)

My invention relates to a case and, more particularly, to an improved case for a condition indicating device such as a timer.

Among others, the objects of my invention are to provide a case of modern appearance'which the additional advantages of being easy to form and inexpensive to manufacture; to provide a case which is lightweight but yet sturdy and protective of the mechanism' which it is adapted to encase; and to provide a case which is capable of being easily and securely gripped for lifting and carrying it, even though the hands of the user be Wet or greasy. I I

Other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent, or be obvious, from the following description, when'taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is atop plan view of the case of my invention shown, for illustrative purposes, with associated timing device;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the case of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the case of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the case shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the case shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 65 of Figure 2, certain portions of the device being shown in elevation.

Although the case of my invention may be employed for various types of condition indicating devices, it is illustrated here in connection with a timing device. The case, indicated generally by the reference numeral I, is U-shaped, as may be readily seen in Figure 3, with the bight portion 3 forming the upper portion of the case and with the legs 5 and 1 extending downwardly therefrom. It will be seen, therefore, that the case is of an inverted U-shape which is open at its sides and bottom and provides a generally square front surface 9 which has an embossed portion H on which there is adapted to be disposed a dial face, such as the dial face iii. The embossed portion Il may comprise the circular portion for the dial face 13 and a small panel 55 for carrying instructions, illustrations or a manufacturers name, for example. It will be appreciated that the embossed portion it may take other shapes. As may be seen from Figure 6, the front leg 5 on its inner surface has a recessed portion ll corresponding to the embossed portion H on the front surface of the front leg The rear leg I of the case i has an aperture 19 (see Figures 4 and 6) positioned rearwardly of the embossed portion ll of the front leg 5.

The timing device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 2 i, comprise a combined pointer and handle 23 and works which are enclosed in a housing 25. The housing 25 and its works are adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the front leg5 by fastening means, such as the screws 2'! (see Figures 3 and 5) which pass through the front leg 5 and which have their heads concealed beneath the circular flange 25 of the pointer 23. The combination pointer and handle 23 is connected to a shaft 29 which extends through an opening 3i in the front leg 5 and is then connected with the works internally of housing 25. .The works and housing 23 are adapted to extend rearwardly through the aperture iii in the rear leg 7. While, in the preferred form of the casing, the spacing between the legs 5 and I will be such that the center of gravity of the works of the condition indicating device will be on a vertical line positioned between the legs 5 and 7, that is, within the casing, that is not a prerequisite, since the feet 33 which connect the free ends of the legs 5 and 1 together in spaced apart relation may extend rearwardly, as shown, beyond the rear leg I and rearwardly of the center of gravity of the works. While the feet 33 are shown as being cylindrical, it will be apparent that they may take other shapes. Also, it will be apparent that the case I is adapted to be employed without the use of feet 33.

It will be seen from the drawings, particularly Figure 3, that if the fingers of the user are placed along the side edges of the walls 5 and i and beneath the bight 3 that the pads of the fingers will extend inwardly and obtain a secure grip of the case so that it may be lifted and carried about, even though the users fingers are wet or greasy. Thas is a decided advantage where the timer is being used in or about kitchens or the like.

It will be readily apparent that, by forming the casing from sheet metal, and in the U-shape which is shown, manufacturing costs may be considerably lowered while, at the same time, an attractive and modern casing is provided. Although the case is preferably formed from sheet metal, other methods of manufacture, such as casting, may be employed.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not intend to be limited thereto, except in so far as the appended claims are so limited, since various suggestions for change or modification coming within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art in view of my disclosure.

I claim:

1. A case for a condition indicating instrument, which instrument includes a works, a pointer shaft and a pointer carried by the shaft, com-- prising a fiat generally rectangular piece of sheet material formed in an inverted U-shape open at its sides and bottom, each leg of said U-shaped sheet presenting a generally rectangular surface both dimensions of which are greater than the distance between said legs, said legs being spaced apart a relatively slight distance whereby the pads of the fingers of a user may be pressed inwardly of the side edges of said legs and of the bight portion of said U-shaped sheet to provide a slip-free grip for lifting and carrying the case, one leg of said U-shaped sheet having an embossed portion on the outer surface thereof and having a substantially central aperture therein adapted for the passage of the instrument shaft, said embossed portion of said one leg being adapted to carry a dial face for cooperation with the pointer carried by the'instrument shaft, the other leg of said U-shaped sheet having an enlarged substantially central aperture therein adapted for the reception and passage of the instrument works, said one leg of said U-shaped sheet being adapted for the securement thereto of the instrument works on the inner surface thereof, said enlarged aperture in said other leg of said U-shaped sheet being adapted to accommodate extension of the instrument works therethrough when the instrument works is secured to the inner surface of said one leg, and a foot disposed adjacent each side of said U-shaped sheet at the bottom thereof, said feet extending transversely of and interconnecting the legs of said U-shaped sheet and extending beyond said other leg.

2. An instrument case comprising a flat generally rectangular piece of sheet material formed in an inverted U-shape open at its sides and bottom, each leg of said U-shaped sheet presenting a generally rectangular surface both dimensions of which are greater than the distance between said legs, one of said legs having an enlarged aperture therein substantially centrally thereof, and a housing extending through said enlarged aperture in said one leg and secured to the inner surface of the other leg of said U-shaped sheet, said other leg having an embossed portion on the outer surface thereof adapted for the reception of an instrument dial face, said legs being spaced apart a relatively slight distance whereby the pads of the fingers of a user may be pressed inwardly of the side edges of said legs and of the bight portion of said U-shaped sheet to provide a slip-free grip for lifting and carrying the case.

3. An instrument case according to claim 2, including a supporting foot disposed adjacent each side of said U-shaped sheet at the bottom thereof, said feet extending transversely of the planes of said legs and interconnecting said legs.

THOMAS G. HANEY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 60 272,737 McLewee Feb. 20, 1883 560, 13 Schieifer May 12, 1896 1,566,890 Lux Dec. 22, 1925 1,910,149 Carlson May 23, 1933 1,921,847 Spear Aug. 8, 1933 2,087,698 Mooney July 20, 1937 2,224,737 Lockwood Dec. 10, 1940 2,422,212 Shann June 17, 1947 2,490,638 Kubec Dec. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Number Country Date 91,175 Switzerland Oct. 17, 1921 534,088 France Dec. 27, 1921

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