U.S. patent number 3,652,972 [Application Number 05/109,592] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-28 for turntable device.
Invention is credited to James W. Kreider.
United States Patent |
3,652,972 |
Kreider |
March 28, 1972 |
TURNTABLE DEVICE
Abstract
A turntable device for supporting a plurality of household
appliances and including electrical plug receptacles maintained in
a continuous state of energization during rotational movement of
the device.
Inventors: |
Kreider; James W. (Newton,
MA) |
Family
ID: |
22328505 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/109,592 |
Filed: |
January 25, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/21; 439/30;
248/349.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
39/64 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
39/64 (20060101); H01R 39/00 (20060101); H01r
039/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/349,45
;339/3,5,8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moore; Richard E.
Claims
What is claimed is
1. A turntable device comprising:
a. a rotatable platform defining a plurality of receptacles, the
spacing between the outer periphery of said platform and said
receptacles being substantially greater than the spacing between
said receptacles and the rotational axis of said platform, and the
overall dimensions of said platform being suitable for mounting
thereof on a counter of a type conventionally used in household
kitchens;
b. a pair of electrical receptor contacts disposed in each of said
receptacles, said receptor contacts being shaped and adapted to
receive multi-pronged electrical plugs of the type used with
conventional household appliances;
c. a movable electrical slip contact means mounted for rotation
with said platform and connected to said electrical receptor
contacts;
d. a fixed electrical slip contact means mounted for sliding
engagement with said movable contact means during rotation of said
platform, said fixed electrical slip contact means being in
continuous electrical connection with each of said electrical
receptor contacts during rotation of said platform; and
e. electrical connector means for connecting said fixed electrical
slip contact means to a source of electrical energy.
2. A turntable device according to claim 1 wherein said receptacles
are disposed in the top surface of said platform directly adjacent
the rotational axis thereof.
3. A turntable device according to claim 2 including a base, and
roller bearing means straddled by said base and said platform and
radially disposed between said receptacles and the outer periphery
of said platform.
4. A turntable device according to claim 3 wherein said platform
comprises a table top that defines said receptacles and an
insulator disc mounted below said table top and supporting said
receptor contacts.
5. A turntable device according to claim 4 wherein said fixed slip
contact means comprise a pair of spaced apart concentric slip rings
mounted on said base, and said movable slip contact means comprise
spring contacts supported by said insulator disc and adapted for
sliding contact with said slip rings.
6. A turntable device according to claim 1 including a base, and
rotatable bearing means straddled by said base and said platform
and radially disposed between said receptacles and the outer
periphery of said platform.
7. A turntable device according to claim 6 wherein said platform
comprises a table top that defines said receptacles and an
insulator disc mounted below said table top and supporting said
receptor contacts.
8. A turntable device according to claim 7 wherein said fixed slip
contact means comprise a pair of spaced apart concentric slip rings
mounted on said base, and said movable slip contact means comprise
spring contacts supported by said insulator disc and adapted for
sliding contact with said slip rings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a turntable device and, more
particularly, relates to a turntable device specifically suited for
supporting conventional household appliances.
The number of electrical, counter-top appliances used by the
typical household has increased dramatically through the years.
Such appliances include, for example, mixers, blenders, shredders,
grinders, toasters, coffee makers, knife sharpeners, juicers, ice
crushers, etc. Although improving substantially both the efficiency
and overall capability of the homemaker, these appliances have also
introduced certain annoyances. Because of their number, the various
appliances are normally maintained in a storage cabinet from which
a selected unit is moved to a readily accessible counter location
for use. The frequent shifting of the individual appliances is a
cumbersome procedure made even more difficult by the electrical
cords associated with each device.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to simplify the handling
and use of the many electrical counter-top appliances utilized in
the modern home.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is characterized by the provision of a turntable
device including a rotatable platform that defines a plurality of
electrical plug receptacles, movable slip contacts mounted for
rotation with the platform and electrically connected to the plug
receptacles, fixed electrical slip contacts mounted for sliding
engagement with the movable slip contacts so as to be in continuous
connection with each of said receptacles during rotation of the
platform, and electrical connector means for connecting the fixed
contacts to a source of electrical energy. Electrical appliances
mounted on a rotatable platform and plugged into the receptacles
therein are prepared for use and can be conveniently rotated into a
readily accessible position.
One feature of the invention is a provision of a turntable device
of the above type wherein the spacing between the outer periphery
of the platform and the plug receptacles is substantially greater
than the spacing between the receptacles and the rotational axis of
the platform. With this embodiment, the electrical cords associated
with a group of applicances annularly arranged on the platform can
be maintained toward the inner portion of the platform and thereby
isolated from the work area.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a turntable
device of the above featured type wherein the receptacles are
disposed in the top surface of the platform directly adjacent the
rotational axis thereof. In addition to the advantages noted above,
this arrangement minimizes the sizes of the electrical slip
connectors required thereby reducing material cost.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a turntable
device of the above featured types including a base and a plurality
of roller bearings straddled by the base and the platform and
radially disposed between the plug receptacles and the outer
periphery of the platform. The roller bearings located at the outer
periphery of the rotatable platform improves greatly the stability
of the device.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a turntable
device of the above featured types wherein the platform includes a
table top defining the receptacles and a subjacent insulator disc
supporting the electrical receptor contacts accommodated by the
receptacles. Also mounted on the insulator disc and electrically
connected to the receptor contacts are spring contacts adapted for
continuous sliding contact with spaced apart circular slip rings
mounted on the base. This arrangement provides the desired
continuous energization of the plug receptacles in a highly
efficient and effective manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1 taken along lines 2--2; and
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1 taken along lines 3--3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the FIGS., there is shown the turntable 11
including the platform assembly 12 and the base unit 13. Forming
the base unit 13 are the concentrically disposed circular mounting
plate 14 and supported circular insulating block 15. Extending
through central apertures in the plate 14 and the block 15 is the
shaft 16 formed, for example, by a rivet.
The top surface of the insulator block 15 contains circular spaced
apart slots 17 which are concentric with the shaft 16. Retained
within the slots 17 are the fixed slip rings 18 formed of a
suitable electrically conductive material such as brass. The recess
19 formed on the outer periphery of the insulator block 15
accommodates the electrical leads 21 connected to the slip rings
18. As shown in FIG. 1, the opposite ends of the electrical leads
21 and insulator covering 22 terminate at the two-pronged plug 23
adapted for insertion into a conventional household wall
socket.
Supported from the top surface of the insulator block 15 by the
spring leaf contacts 25 and the spacer disc 20 is the circular
insulator disc 26. The disc 26 is concentric with the insulator
block 15 and similarly receives the rivet 16 through a central
aperture. Preferably, the spring leaf contacts 25 are made of
copper. Mounted on the top surface of the insulator disc 26 are the
circumferentially spaced pairs of receptor contacts 27 made of a
suitable electrically conductive material such as brass. Securing
the receptor contacts 27 and spring leaf contacts 25 to the
insulator disc 26 and providing an electrical connection
therebetween are the conductive rivets 28.
The table top 31 is supported above the insulator disc 26 by the
ball bearing assembly 32 shown in FIG. 3. The bearing assembly 32
comprises the annular ball bearing retainers 33 positioned between
the bottom surface of the table top 31 and the top surface of the
mounting plate 14. A plurality of ball bearings 34 are disposed
between the bearing retainers 33 and extend into circular slots 35
provided in the bottom surface of the table top 31 and the top
surface of the mounting plate 14. The table top 31 and the
insulator disc 26 together comprise the platform assembly 12.
Extending through the table top 31 are a plurality of receptacle
cavities 37. The lower openings of the cavities 37 receive the
receptor contacts 27 supported by the insulator disc 26 while the
upper openings thereof are adapted to receive the prongs of
conventional electrical household plugs. As shown in FIG. 1, there
are six plug receptacles equally spaced about the axis of the table
top 31. Rotary motion of the table top 31 is imparted to the
insulator disc 26 by the studs 40 that engage fitted openings 41
therein.
During typical use, the turntable 11 is installed in a desired
location as, for example, on a kitchen counter and the plug 23
inserted into a conventional electrical outlet. Selected counter
top appliances (not shown) such as mixers, blenders, toasters,
juicers, etc. are then arrayed in a circle around the table top 31.
The plugs on the electrical cords connected to the selected
appliances are inserted in the receptacles 37. The voltage on input
lines 21 is also present between the fixed slip rings 18 which are
connected thereto. This same voltage is continuously available
between each pair of receptor contacts 37 for any position of the
table top 31 because of the unbroken electrical contact maintained
between the spring leaf contacts 25 and the slip rings 18 during
rotation of the platform 12. Thus, electrical energy is available
for each appliance plugged into the receptacles 37 regardless of
the platform's position. Because of the continuous electrical
contact maintained, a user is able to rotate the platform 12 into a
position wherein a selected appliance on the table top 31 is
readily accessible. The selected appliance is then activated and
operated in a conventional manner.
It will be appreciated that because of the location of the
receptacles 37 near the center of the table top 31, the electrical
cords associated with the appliances on the table can be maintained
within the circle of appliances and therefore out of the way of the
appliance operator. A further advantage provided by the internally
located receptacles is that the required diameters of the insulator
block 15, the insulator disc 26 and the fixed slip rings 18 is
maintained at a minimum thereby reducing material costs.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example
only, the turntable device 11 can be used in applications other
than those specifically described. One such application is an
electrically powered tool holder for shop and industry. It is to be
understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims
the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
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