Self-leveling Dispenser

Abstract

A tongs type self-leveling dispenser having a main compression spring has releasable torsion springs for each of its tongs to provide additional rates of resistance.

Description

This invention relates to a self-leveling dispenser, and more particularly, to a tongs type self-leveling dispenser provided with releasable torsion springs for each of its tongs to provide additional rates of resistance.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken away view of one of the torsion springs.

In the drawings is shown a tongs type self-leveling dispenser having a base frame 10 and a table frame 11. Table frame 11 is spaced above base frame 10 and the two frames are interconnected by tongs 12. The frames are generally rectangular in shape and tongs are provided for each of its sides.

A main coiled compression spring 13 is positioned between the frames and acts directly against their central portions to bias the table frame away from the base frame.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the table frame 11 is conventionally provided with a table top, the device can be enclosed on its sides, and wheels or castors can be provided on the base frame to make the device portable. However, the device can also be used in a fixed installation, as in a serving counter.

The main spring 13 provides one rate of resistance or travel per unit load. In my invention I provide a torsion spring 14 for each of the four tongs so that the dispenser has from 1 to 5 rates of resistance or travel per unit load.

As shown in FIG. 1, the torsion springs are positioned in the plane of the top frame 11 at the corners thereof in a direction perpendicular to their respective tongs. However, it should be appreciated that the torsion springs could be positioned at the bottom, or at the top and bottom.

The torsion springs have a central coiled part and at their outer opposite ends have integral radially extending arms 14' and 14". The outer arms 14' are aligned with the extremity 12' of one of the arms of the tongs 12 and fixed thereto by a generally U-shaped bracket 15. Bracket 15 is fixed to tong extremity 12' and is apertured to receive the torsion spring arm 14'.

The other end of the torsion spring extends through an aperture formed in an L-shaped cross-piece part 11' of the table frame so that its arm 14" extends along the table frame part 11'. An L-shaped block 16 is mounted on the table frame part 11' by a winged thumb bolt 17 which passes through a slot 18 formed in table frame part 11'.

In operation of the device, in order to make torsion spring 14 effective the block 16 is moved to the left when considering FIG. 2, so as to cause the tab 16' of the block to move beneath the arm 14" to prevent it from turning clockwise. After the bolt 17 is tightened the inner end 14" of the torsion spring is releasably connected to the table frame 11 by being trapped between the tab 16' and the overhanging top of the L-shaped part 11'. In order to release the inner end of the torsion spring the bolt 17 is loosened and the block 16 is slid to the right so that the arm 14" clears the tab 16'.

It will now be seen that the invention provides a low cost and uncomplicated multiple rate self-leveling dispenser. The invention can be readily incorporated into existing tong type self-leveling dispensers, and the device can be readily manually adjusted.

Claims

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a self-leveling dispenser comprising a base frame, a table frame positioned above said base frame, a plurality of tongs interconnecting said frames, and a main spring positioned between said frames for biasing said frames away from each other, the improvement of a releasable torsion spring positioned in the plane of one of said frames, one end of said torsion spring being connected to one of said tongs and the other end of said torsion spring being connected to said one frame, wherein said frames are generally rectangular in shape and there are four of said tongs interconnecting the respective sides of said frames, said main spring comprising a coiled spring acting directly against the central portion of said frames; and there are four of said torsion springs, one for each of said tongs; said torsion springs comprising coiled springs having integral radially extending arms formed at the opposite outer ends thereof, said torsion springs being positioned in the four corners of said one frame in a direction perpendicular to the plane of its respective tongs and having one of its arms fixed to the extremity of its respective tongs and its other arm releasably connected to said one frame.