US2659486A - Cash tray - Google Patents

Description

P. KRUPIN CASH TRAY Nov. 17, 1953 Filed Nov. 16, 1949 Phi/ip K rup/n INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y CASH TRAY Philip Krupin, Orange, N. Application November 16, 1949, Serial No. 127,667

(Cl. 20G-74) 1 Claim. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in cash trays, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described which embodies in its construction means for retaining or clamping money in position on the tray and also, means for soliciting payment upon presentation of a bill and expressing gratitude when the bill is paid.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its pleasing appearance, and its convenient use, and in it adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bracket used in the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a cash tray designated generally by the reference character I0, this embodying in its construction a dishshaped receptacle I2 including a bottom I4 and an upwardly extending marginal flange I6, it being noted that a portion I8 of this flange at the back of the receptacle is substantially increased in thickness and is provided on its inner surface with a, pair of spaced vertically extending ribs 20.

A plate or bracket 22 is positioned against the inner surface of the thickened flange portion I8 and is angulated so as to provide a pair of spaced, vertically extending channels 24 for the reception of the ribs 20, whereby this bracket or plate is located on the flange. Suitable screws 26 extend through the bracket into the flange portion I8 to secure the bracket in position.

ture 35 in the bracket 22 A horizontal hinge pin 28 extends through the channels 24 of the bracket 22 and through the ribs 20, this pin being disposed adjacent the bottom I4 of the receptacle I2 and having mounted thereon the lower end portion of asubstantially T-shaped arm 30 which is thereby swingable from a substantially horizontal, clamping position on the bottom I4 as shown at 32 to a substantially upright position wherein it abuts the intermediate portion of the bracket 22.

The lower end portion of the arm 30 is recessed to accommodate a helical spring 34 which is positioned on the hinge pin 28, one end portion of this spring extending through an aperinto the flange portion I8 as indicated at 38', while its remaining end portion is anchored in a blind bore 40 provided in the arm 30 (see Figure 2).

The spring 34 is coiled in such manner that it urges the arm 30 to its upright position, but means are provided for releasably retaining the arm in its horizontal clamping position against the resiliency of the spring. These means simply consist of a resilient catch 42 which has one end portion thereof secured by a screw 44 to the bottom I4 while its remaining end portion affords a depressable linger piece 46. The intermediate portion of the catch 42 is angulated so as to provide a detent 48 which is engageable with the arm 30 to retain the latter in its clamping position. However, by simply depressing the finger piece as illustrated at 50 in Figure 4, the detent 48 is disengaged from the arm and the latter is free to swing upwardly by the resiliency of the spring 34.

The upper portion of the arm 30 may be inscribed on the one surface thereof with a suitable legend, such as for example, Please Pay Server, while the rear surface of the upper portion of the arm 30 may be inscribed with another legend, such as for example Thank You. These two legends are indicated at 52, 54 respectively, in Figure 1.

When the invention is placed in use, such as for example, in a restaurant where a waiter is about to tender a bill to a customer, the bill is placed before the customer on the tray while the arm 30 is upraised, thus soliciting, by the legend 52, payment of the bill. Thereupon, when the customer deposits money on the tray, the arm 30 may be depressed to its clamping position 32 so y as to frictionally retain the money on the bottom of the tray, and at the same time, the rear side of the arm 30 will effectively display the Thank You inscription.

Ultimately, when the waiter returns with whatever change there may be, the arm 30 is again used for clamping the change in position on the tray and the Thank You legend on the rear surface of the arm will effectively express gratitude to the customer for whatever tip he may leave.

It is believed that the advantages and use o1 the invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure., and accordingly,4 further descriptionv thereof `at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, tion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit'and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed asxnew is:

Ina cash tray, the combination of Aa. dishshaped receptacle including a bottom and an upturned marginal flange, a bracket secured .to

`combina-y 4 said hinge pin to said bracket and swingable from a substantially horizontal clamping position wherein it lies flat on said bottom to a substantially upright position, said bracket affording a stop for said arm in its upright position, a coil spring positioned on said hinge pin and bearing against said arm for swinging the same upwardly, and a resilient catch mounted on said bottom and engageable with said arm when the theflatter is nits clampingposltion, said catch comprising a strip having a'baseportion secured to said bottom, an angulated intermediate portion movable in and out of engagement with said arm, and a depressible finger piece provided on said intermediate portion and spaced above Vsaid` base portion.

PHILIP KRUPIN.

References Cited in the le of this patent

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