US3591049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle storage and dispensing unit
Assignee: PTC Aerospace Inc
•
Filing: 1969-11-06
•
Granted: 1971-07-06
•
Expires: 1989-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A bottle storage and dispensing unit utilizing a frame adapted to be suspended from below a cart or counter work surface. The frame in turn holds a looped belt which is supported over spaced upper roller surfaces and attaches at one end to a lower positioned spring loaded roller so as to provide a means for holding and counterbalancing the weight of a plurality of bottles stacked horizontally therein. A preferred construction provides that the upper roller supports for the belt will be spring biased in a lateral direction to hold the top bottle, as well as the stack, from being lifted up and out of the frame; however, the supports are such that they can be spread apart laterally by a lifter means to permit the bottles to be removed one at a time. Also, a preferred lifter means construction has a dual function in being designed to be lockable to prevent bottle removal as well as being usable to assist in lifting an uppermost bottle.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas A Auriemma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:41
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F1/00; A47F1/04; A47F1/06; A47B; A47B73/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A container storage and dispensing unit particularly adapted for the handling of bottles stacked in a horizontal positioning below a work surface, which comprises in combination, a belt supporting frame adapted to depend vertically from a work surface and having a first belt supporting rod member connecting to and extending along one upper side portion of said frame and a second belt supporting rod member connecting to and extending parallel to the first said belt supporting member along the opposing upper portion thereof in a manner whereby containers may be lifted and removed from between the rod members, a spring-biased rotatable belt holding spool connecting to and positioned at the lower portion of said frame in a longitudinal manner parallel to said belt supporting rod members, an extended container supporting belt having one end connected to said rotatable belt spool and the opposing end connected to first said supporting rod, while intermediately such rod and the belt spool said belt is looped over said second belt supporting rod member and downwardly in said frame between said rod members whereby a plurality of stacked containers may be held therein below the work surface, and movable container lifter means connecting at the top of said unit effecting at least the partial movement of a top container, whereby an uppermost container is removable from the stack thereof in said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A container storage and dispensing unit particularly adapted for the handling of bottles stacked in a horizontal positioning below a work surface, which comprises in combination, a belt supporting frame adapted to depend vertically from a work surface and having a first belt supporting rod member connecting to and extending along one upper side portion of said frame and a second belt supporting rod member connecting to and extending parallel to the first said belt supporting member along the opposing upper portion thereof in a manner whereby containers may be lifted and removed from between the rod members, a spring-biased rotatable belt holding spool connecting to and positioned at the lower portion of said frame in a longitudinal manner parallel to said belt supporting rod members, an extended container supporting belt having one end connected to said rotatable belt spool and the opposing end connected to first said supporting rod, while intermediately such rod and the belt spool said belt is looped over said second belt supporting rod member and downwardly in said frame between said rod members whereby a plurality of stacked containers may be held therein below the work surface, and movable container lifter means connecting at the top of said unit effecting at least the partial movement of a top container, whereby an uppermost container is removable from the stack thereof in said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 1 further characterized in that said supporting rod members are spaced apart within end slot support means in said frame and are biased by spring means toward one another in the slots at the ends of said frame whereby such rod members are in a spaced positioning to hold an uppermost container in said dispensing unit while at the same time said slot support means and said spring-biasing means will permit the spreading apart of said rod members such that an uppermost container may be removed from the space therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 2 further characterized in that said supporting rod members are connected to each other at Each end of the belt supporting frame of said unit with tension spring members as said spring means, whereby the rod members are normally urged toward one another in said end slot support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 1 further characterized in that said lifter means comprises a slotted plate member with at least one depending leg means extending for a distance capable of reaching under an uppermost container, and said slotted plate is pivotally connected to the upper portion of said unit whereby the portion of the plate away from the depending leg means will be lifted and provide for the latter means to project under an uppermost container and lift such container at least partially through the slotted portion of the plate for subsequent manual removal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 4 further characterized in that a peripheral top positioned escutcheon plate is provided around the top portion of said unit and said slotted plate member provided as said lifter means is pivotally connected to side portions of said escutcheon plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 5 further characterized in that said plate member as said lifter means is provided with an additional end portion overlapping an end portion of said escutcheon plate and such end portion thereof is provided with a small slot sized to fit over and be in alignment with an open loop member connecting to said escutcheon plate, whereby locking means may be provided through said loop in a manner to preclude movement of the plate member and any undesired container removal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 1 further characterized in that said rotatable belt holding spool is provided with an elongated coiled spring member to provide the spring biasing for such spool, a rotatable external winding means connects through one end of said spool to said spring member, and a locking member from said support frame engageable with said winder means holds the latter in place to provide a desired tensioning adjustment for the spring biasing of said rotatable belt holding spool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The container storage-dispensing unit of claim 1 further characterized in that inventory marks are provided on said container-supporting belt at spaced distances which correspond to the movement of the belt for the addition or removal of a container into the loop portion of the belt in said frame and such marks are movable past a reference point on said supporting frame whereby the number of containers stored within said frame may be observed externally of the unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |