US2954143A - Cigarette dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27; 1960 C. C. ADAMS CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Gee ILL CI fldams INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1960 c. c. ADAMS CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III I! 'I'IIIIIIIII I! II '1 I v I! I! I I I. III) I II I '1', I! II III! IIIIII I, Jill I IIIIIIIIII a a M/ v 45 M m -3 2 6 7. 9 s m 5 a 6 a A. J Hf J 400.M ,m/ as f II Ilhl ll 5 7 5 7 aflx m T 6R 0 mm flm C 0 l 6 w G J m 3 M 2 1 5 u a -3 5 8 .MJ H OI 1 w i 3 M W ATTORNEYS p 9 0 c. c. ADAMS 2,954,143

CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept 27,1950

CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Cecil C. Adams, Rte, 1', Box 87, Lovelady, Tex. Filed Apr. 24, 1957, Ser. No. 660,435 1 Claim. (Cl. 22 1.24)

This invention relates to a cigarette dispensing device, and has as its primary object the provision of means associated with a receptacle for holding cigarettes, for dispensing a single cigarette at a time and serving theso dispensed cigarette to a smoker in a convenient posmon for ready grasping of the cigarette.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be adapted for use in a vehicle, such as an automobile, or the like, which may be readily operated with one hand, thus avoiding the necessity of fumbling in a cigarette package. with both hands, and'leaving one hand free for attention to the driving of the vehicle.

An additional object of the invention is the provisionof such a device which is novel in appearance, enter-..

taining in effect, and which has means in simulation of a bird, animal, or human figure, which is movable to Withdraw the cigarette.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is constructed of transparent material, sothat the quantity of cigarettes in the receptacle may be readily determined at a glance.

A still further object of the invention resides inthe provision of a device of this nature which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. f

Additional objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of one form of device embodying features of this inventive concept.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device of Figure 1 as viewed from the right.

Figure 3 is a similar end elevational view of the device of Figure 1 as viewed from the left.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3 as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 4 as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Figure 8, as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the parts in a different position of adjustment.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line S8 of Figures 1 and 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line ltlfltl of Figure 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along theline 11-11 of Figure 8.

' FigurelZ is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1212 of Figure 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention, generally indicated at 20 comprises a hollow base member including a bottom wall 21, end walls 22, and side walls 23 and 24 respectively. A top plate 25 closes the base receptacle 20, and is provided adjacent one end with a transversely extending relatively wide opening 26, and at a point adjacent its other end with a longitudinally extending slot 27, the purpose of which opening and slot will be more fully described hereinafter.

A cigarette container 29 is mounted on one end of the base receptacle, and includes front and rear walls 30, side walls 31 and a removable top 32. The top 32 is provided with side flanges 33 and an end flange 34 having a cutaway portion 35 to afford a finger grip for facilitating removal and replacement thereof.

The interior of cigarette container 29 is provided with a plurality of inclined baflles or guides 36 extending the full transverse width of the container, to provide a tortuous path for the feeding of cigarettes downwardly, the'lowermost bafile 37 terminating at a spaced point above a slidable tray 33, which is provided with a front Wall 39, which closes a transversely extending opening in the 'lower portion of container 29 immediately adjacent top plate 25. The tray 38 is provided adjacent the vertical closure member- 39 with a trough 4 1, which has therein a pair of rearwardly and downwardly inclined spaced apart baflles 42.

The-arrangement issuch that the lowermost cigarette between the lowermost baflle 36 and battle 37 rests against the partitions 42, and seats in the trough 41. When the tray 38 is extended forwardly out of container 2%, in a manner and for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter, the cigarette seated in the trough 41 passes out of the container, but the width of the opening 40 is insuflicient to permit a cigarette resting on the tray 38 rearwardly of trough 41 to pass therethrough, and in con: sequence only one cigarette is passed out of the container at a time. i

A pair of journal members 45 are carried by the top plate 25 on the opposite sides thereof in alignment with the opening 26, and have mounted for rotation therein an axle 46, which is surrounded by a relatively large roller member 47. The lower portion of the roller 47 extends through opening 26 into the base receptacle, and is provided on its lower portion interiorly of the receptacle with a depending lug 48, which is apertured to accommodate the upwardly extending end 49 of a substantially U-shaped wire, which includes a bight portion 50, and an upwardly extending in an eye 52 spaced from the lug 48.

The eye 52 is engaged by an eye 53 carried by one end of a link 54, which includes an arcuate portion 55 (see Fig. 5) lying in a horizontal plane, and extending to one end of a lever 56, which is pivoted on a shaft 57 which extends between internal journal blocks 58 carried portion 51 terminating A pair of spaced rods have their ends .66 suitably embedded in roller 47 (see Fig. 8) and at their opposite ends are suitably connected to a transversely extending operating rod or bar 68, which extends outwardly through an arcuate slot 69 in side Wall 24 of the base receptacle and terminates in an operating knob exteriorly of the base receptacle. It will thus be seen that move ment of the operating knob 70 from the position of Figure l rearwardly in arcuate slot 69 will rotate the roller 47, for a purpose now to be described. A finger hold 71 is suitably secured to the outer side of wall 24,

whereby operating knob 70 and finger hold 71 may be grasped between the forefinger and thumb to move the knob 70 and its associated operating rod 68 in one direction Within the slot 69.

A body portion 75 of a simulated figure, generally indicated at '76 is fixedly secured to the top of roller 4-7, in diametri'cal opposition to lug 48, and has a bore 77 extending therethrough in alignment with a bore 77a in roller 47, through which bores the rod or wire 49 extends. The body-75 is provided with a centrally positioned recess or chamber 78, and the rod 4-9 extends into a head portion 79, within which it is fixedly secured.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown the simulated figure 76 is that of a bird, the head portion 79 being provided with an elongated bill 80, which is split as at 81, at its extremity. While the form shown is that of a bird, it will be obvious that any other simulated figure may be substituted therefor, such as a human figure having projecting arms, with the hands taking the place of the separated bill, or other suitable ornamental device.

It will thus be seen that rotation of the rod 49, by means of the link 54, which link 54 will be moved when the arms 65 are moved by operating handle 70 to rotate roller 47, will cause the head 79 to rotate from the position shown, for example in Figure l,v wherein the head is tilted to the side, to the position of Figure 7, wherein the bill 80 extends straight downwardly into the trough 41, previously described.

The simulated figure 76 is also provided with a movable tail portion 82, which is mounted on the end of a rod 83 which extends through a suitable bore 84 extending transversely of the body 75, and which is mounted on an axle 85 for oscillatory movement, the wire 83 being looped around the axle, and extending into recess 78 where it terminates in an eye 86 looped around rod 49.

Positioned within the recess 78 and secured to rod 49 is an eccentric 90, which upon rotation of rod 49 is adapted to engage a raised portion 91 carried by eye 86, to provide an oscillatory movement of wire 83 about axle 85, which in turn imparts a vertical reciprocation of tail portion 82 relative to the body 75, upon rotation of rod 49 in the manner previously described.

Referring again to base receptacle 20 there is provided an elongated coil spring 96, which is secured at one end to a projection 97 adjacent the base of one end wall 22, and extends forwardly, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 through a lower opening 98 in lever 56 below its axle 57, to operating rod 68, to which it is secured, the arrangement being such as normally to bias roller 47 and its associated figure 76 to upright position, as shown in Figure 1.

A double eye has one of its loops 100 secured about rod 68, while the other end 101 engages about a loop 102 formed at one end of a link 103.

The eye 104 of link 103 surrounds an eye 105 carried by a depending pin 106, which extends upwardly through the slot 27 and engages in the bottom of tray 38.

A tension spring 107 engages about pin 106, and is secured at its ends to suitable projections 108 carried by the adjacent end wall 22 of the base receptacle 20. The spring 107, through its engagement with pin 106 serves normally to bias the tray 38 interiorly of cigarette container 29, in retracted position.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now be readily understandable. When the cover 32 is removed, container 29 is filled with cigarettes, which pass tortuously over bafiles 36 and 37, until the foremost is adjacent baffles 42, and rests'in the trough 41.

When the operating handle '70 is moved in arcuate slot 69 from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 7, the roller 47 is rotated about stub axles 46 to move the body 75, through the linkage previously described to the inclined position of Figure 7. At the same time the tray '58 is extended, by means of the pin 106, and the head 79* is rotated by rotation of the rod 49 through the linkage previously described, to upright position. As the bill moves downwardly, a cigarette is wedgingly engaged by the space 81 between the ends of the bill. The release of handle 70 then occasions through the action of spring 96, retraction of the body 76 to upright position, with the cigarette still grasped firmly within the bill portion 81, and simultaneously through the action of spring 107 on tray 38 retracts the tray 38 into position to receive the next cigarette resting against the front wall 30 of container 29'. Simultaneously the head, through the action of lever 56 and the associated spring 96 is turned outwardly in a direction toward the operator, to present the cigarette to him in a convenient position for grasping with the fingers.

The device may be employed in the home as a cigarette server, or may be secured to any suitable loca tion, such as the dash of a motor vehicle. Any suitable securing means may be employed if desired, but in the illustrative embodiment, permanent magnets 110 are suitably secured at spaced intervals about base 21, for securing the device in a desired position.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved cigarette dispensing device which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility, and has additionally a relatively high entertainment value.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as various modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a cigarette dispensing device, the combination of a base receptacle having a top, bottom, side walls and end walls, a cigarette container carried by the top of said base receptacle, a tray slidable in said container to expose a cigarette exteriorly of said container on the top of said base receptacle, said top having a slot adjacent one end thereof and a transverse opening adjacent the other end thereof, a pin secured to said tray extending through said slot into said receptacle, a roller mounted exteriorly of said top over said opening, a simulated figure including a body portion and an extending cigarette grasping portion mounted on said roller, a rod extending from said roller into said receptacle, an operating arm connected to said roller, a side wall of said receptacle having an arcuate slot therein, a portion of said operating arm extending out of said receptacle through said arcuate slot for manual manipulation, a link connecting said arm with said pin simultaneously to move said pin to extend said tray and move said rod upon rotation of said roller by said arm to tilt said figure to engage said cigarette grasping portion into engaging relation with a cigarette in said tray, said rod being rotatably extended through said roller and rotatable in said body about an axis lying in a vertical plane and fixed in said cigarette grasping portion, linkage connected between said operating arm, said receptacle, and said rod and movable by said operating arm to rotate said rod and hence said cigarette grasping portion simultaneously with the tilting of said figure, and

spring means for returning said figure to upright position and simultaneously returning said tray to retracted position upon release of said operating arm, said simulated figure being in the form of a bird and the cigarette grasping portion in the form 10f a birds head having a cleft bill, said figure being provided with a separate movable tail portion, and means operable by rotation of said rod for moving said tail portion, said means including a collar on said rod, a cam surface on said collar, said body having a recess therein, and a lever pivoted in said recess, 10

one end of said lever being secured to said tail portion, and the other end engaging said cam surface, whereby rotation of said collar moves said cam surface to move said lever and hence said tail portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Amadeo July 8, Fey Apr. 26, Miller Nov. 23, Furr Sept. 12, King Apr. 10,

FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Apr. 14, Switzerland Aug. 16,

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