Patent Publication Number: US-3877600-A

Title: Closure assembly

Description:
D United States Patent 1 91 [111 3,877,600  
 Bell 1 Apr. 15, 1975 [54] CLOSURE ASSEMBLY 3,009,473 11/1961 Hennen 220 35 3,217,949 11 1965 D 220 31.5 [75] Inventor: Valenti E Bell, Eden 3,591,073 7/1971 13:11:15 2201205 [73] Assignee: lllg/lctlgolnallilI l;roducts Corporation, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 139,091 2 1920 United Kingdom 220/35 [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 84,943 12/1920 Germany 220/35 21 A 1.N .:2 6,031 l 1 pp 0 9 Primary ExaminerW1ll1am 1. Pr1ce Assistant ExaminerAllan N. Shoap [52] U.S. Cl. 220/334; 131/242; 220/20.5; A r Agent, or Firm--Christel &amp; Bean 220/200 [51] Int. Cl... B65d 51/18; B65d 43/16; A24f 19/00 [58] Field of Search 220/29, 35, 20.5, 24 GC, [57] ABSTRACT 220/1 131/242 A receptacle closure assembly having a pair of plvoted blades. A spring extending across the underside of [56] References Cited each blade between the pivot axis and closing edge UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof maintains the blades tightly closed and holds them agalnst rattllng. 2,582,109 1/1952 De Fee 220/35 2,821,322 l/l958 Stockburger 220/20.5 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 64 y i f I] 76 I E l J I E 3 2,  
 CLOSURE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an ash receptacle and, more particularly, to a closure assembly for an ash receptacle.  
  Many known cigar and cigarette ash receptacles are provided with closure devices incorporating normally closed blade members which are mounted for pivotal movement in opposite directions into an open position for discharging ashes and refuse into the receptacle. The blade members often are weighted in such a manner as to be closed entirely by the force of gravity. These types of ash receptacles are commonly used in moving vehicles, such as in the cabs of trucks and heavy mobile equipment for example, and can be annoying to the driver or operator because of the noise caused by the rattling of the loosely mounted blade members during vehicle movement. Moreover, when such ash receptales are accidently tipped or when tilted, such as occurs in the tilting of the cab of a tractor rig during the servicing thereof, the blade members sometimes swing apart to discharge the receptacle contents.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved closure assembly for an ash receptacle having means for maintaining the movable parts thereof in a snug, tightened relation for quietness in use.  
  It is another object of this invention to provide the foregoing closure assembly with means for maintaining the closure sections closed under varying conditions of use and orientation.  
  The ash receptacle closure assembly of the present invention is characterized by the provision of a pair of springs, each extending across a closure section between the pivot axis and abutting edge thereof and in spaced relation to the latter for biasing such sections closed and for maintaining the movable parts in a snug, tightened relation.  
  The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and characterizing features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of an ash receptacle closure assembly of this invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof on a receptacle partially broken away to more clearly illustrate the closure assembly;  
  FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the closure assembly of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the closure sections in an open position;  
  FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the ash receptacle and closure assembly, with parts thereof broken away, showing the closure assembly in an open position; and  
  FIG. 6 is a view similar&#39;to FIG. 5 but showing the closure assembly in a closed position.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 is a closure assembly, generally designated l0, constructed in accordance with this invention, and adapted to be fitted on the open end of an ash receptacle 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Receptacle 12 is a bowl comprising a body having a cylindrical side wall 14 closed at its lower end by a bottom wall 16 formed integral therewith and open at its upper end. The terms upper, lower, top, bottom, upwardly, downwardly and the like, as used herein, are applied only for convenience of description with reference to FIG. 2, and are not used in a limiting sense.  
  The sheet metal or other suitable material forming side wall 14 is reversely bent at the upper end thereof and folded against the outer surface thereof to form a peripheral bead 18 along the upper, open end. While receptacle 10 of the illustrated embodiment is cylindrical in shape, it should be understood that receptacle 10 may taken any desired shape and that in lieu of sheet metal, receptacle 10 can be formed of any suitable material, as desired.  
  Closure assembly 12 comprises an annular body 20 of a generally inverted U-shaped configuration having an annular top flange 22 adapted to seat on the upper edge of peripheral bead l8, and annular depending outer wall 24 overlying peripheral bead 18 with a tight friction fit, and an annular inner wall 26 depending from the inner edge of top flange 22 in spaced and parallel relation to side wall 14 of receptacle 10. The lower edge of inner wall 26 terminates in an inturned, horizontally extending flange 28 serving as a seat for a pair of closure sections or blades 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, flange 28 is interrupted at diametrically opposed regions by notches 34 for a purpose to be explained.  
  Inner wall 26 is provided with diametrically opposed wall portions 36 adjacent notches 34, each wall portion 36 having a pair of circumferentially spaced openings 38 therein. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each wall portion 36 has an irregularly shaped bottom edge 40 having a channel shaped lug 42 formed integral therewith and located approximately centrally of wall portion 36. Each lug 42 extends radially outwardly from wall portion 36 toward outer wall 24 for mounting springs thereon as will presently appear.  
  Closure blades 30 comprise semi-circular, bowlshaped bodies 44 terminating in straight, parting edges 46 arranged in an abutting relation when sections 30 are in their closed position, as shown in FIG. 1. Bodies 44 also are provided with generally horizontally extending marginal rims 48 adapted to rest on flange seat 28 when sections 30 are in their closed position. A pair of aligned projections 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extend radially outwardly from marginal rim 48 of each closure section 30, providing pivot pins for insertion into opposed openings 38 of wall portions 36. These aligned projections 50 define a pivot axis, as shown in dashed line 52 in FIG. 3, about which each closure section 30 pivots or rocks between open and closed positions. Such pivot axes 52 extend parallel to but spaced from parting edges 46 and are disposed inwardly of the center of gravity of closure sections 30 so that the forces of gravity are effective upon the heavier portions of sections 30 located outwardly of pivot axes 52 to urge sections 30 toward each other into closed position when receptacle is disposed in its normal upright position, as shown in FIG. 2.  
  A manually operated actuating member 54 is mounted on the upper surface of the marginal rim 48 of one of the closure sections 30 adjacent edge 46 thereof for rocking or pivoting sections 30 into an open position. As shown in FIG. 6, actuating member 54 comprises a body of generally triangular shape in side elevation formed of plastic or any other suitable material and having a bottom edge 56, an inclined forward edge 58, and an inclined rear edge 60 extending from edge 58 at an angle relative thereto in a diverging relation towards bottom edge 56 and joined thereto by a short vertical edge portion 62. Bottom edge 56 is riveted or otherwise fixedly secured to rim 48 of one section 30 and is joined to vertical edge 56 by a curved portion 64 which slightly overlies the adjacent rim 48 of the other closure section 30. The juncture of edges 58 and 60 forms an apex 66 which is manually depressed for rocking the associated closure section 30 about its pivot axis 52 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. Simultaneously, curved portion 64 engages the upper face of rim 48 of the other closure section 30 adjacent straight edge 46 thereof to rock such other section 30 about its pivot axis 52 a corresponding amount in an opposite direction. Both closure sections 30 are pivoted approximately the same amount into an open position, such as illustrated in FIG. 5. The tilting or pivotal movement of closure sections 30 in opposite directions is limited by edge 58 of actuating member 54, which serves as a stop engaging rim 48 of the other closure section 30 when sections 30 are opened to the position shown in FIG. 5. Notches 34, which define interruptions in flange seat 28, provide spaces in which the inner adjacent edge portions of marginal rims 48 can move about projections 50 downwardly past the lower end of inner wall 26 during the opening of closure sections 30 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.  
  Upon release of pressure from actuating member 54, closure sections 30 will return to their closed position by gravity due to the weight of those portions of closure sections 30 located outwardly of pivot axes 52 being greater than the weight of the section portions disposed inwardly of pivot axes 52.  
  It is a feature of this invention that closure assembly 12 is provided with means for securing the movable parts thereof in a tight relation and to positively maintain closure sections 30 closed at all times except upon actuation of member 54. Such means include a pair of elongated helical compression springs 70 extending along the undersides of the bowl-shaped bodies 44 intermediate their respective closing edge 46 and pivot axis 52. The opposite ends of each spring 70 are provided with hooks 72 one of which is engaged through opening 38 in a wall portion 36 and the other of which is ingaged in lug 42 of the opposite wall portions 36, the points of engagement of one spring being reversed relative to the other, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hooks 72 attached to lugs 42 have an elongated portion 74 disposed within the channel defined by lug 42 with the hooked end curved around and beneath the outer surface of lug 42.  
  The springs 70 are slightly stretched across the underside of blades 30 in their closed position. Orienting each spring 70 inwardly of the associated pivot axis 52,  
 Le. between pivot axis 52 and closing edge 46 of each blade 30 provides a closing bias which increses as blades 30 open, and which urges blades 30 together into abutting relation along their respective edges 46, thus maintaining sections 30 closed, even when receptacle 10 is inverted. Also, springs being normally slightly stretched, hold blades 30 snugly engaged, both against each other and also against annular body 20, and thereby maintain the entire closure assembly tight, preventing relative movement between the parts to avoid rattling thereof when subjected to vibrations and other forces.  
  To prevent possible slippage of springs 70 off the undersides of closure sections 30 when pivoted into an open position because of the relatively short distances between pivot axes 52 and edges 46 of sections 30 of the illustrative embodiment, one hook 72 of each spring 70 is mounted in opening 38 causing spring 70 to be oriented at a slight angle relative to edge 46 as shwon in FIGS. 2 and 3. This precludes slippage of spring 70 off body 44 while locating the axis of spring 70 interiorly of pivot axis 52 to effect the proper bias maintaining sections 30 closed with the adjacent edges 46 thereof held in tight abutting relation. In large closure assemblies 10 wherein pivot axis 52 is spaced a relatively large distance from edge 46, the opposite ends of the associated spring 70 can be mounted in a manner orienting spring 70 parallel to edge 46, the only criterion being that spring 70 be located interiorly of pivot axis 52 between the latter and edge 46.  
  An upstanding bracket 76 (FIG. 2) is rigidly mounted on top flange 22 of annular body 20 and is formed with a pair of U-shaped grooves 76 to provide holders or rests for cigarettes, cigars and the like. The number of brackets 74 mounted on flange 22 and the number of grooves 76 formed in each bracket can vary, as desired.  
  In use, closure sections 30 are normally closed to provide a tray at the top of receptacle 12 for supporting cigarettes and cigars either in holder grooves 76 or on top of flange 22 with the lit portion of the cigarette or cigar overlying the section bodies 44. This tray receives ashes removed or wiped from the ends of the cigarettes or cigars, the inner edge of marginal rims 48 along the peripheries of bodies 44 serving as suitable wiping edges for this purpose. The ashes, cigarette and cigar tubs and other debris are readily dumped into receptacle 12 by actuating member 54 to open closure sections 30 in the manner described above.  
  From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention accomplishes its intended objects. The provision of springs 70, which are stretched across the underside of blades 30 between pivot axes 52 and parting edges 46 provide a bias urging closure blades 30 positively closed until actuated and maintain the movable parts in a snug, tightened relation preventing relative movement or play therebetweeen.  
  A preferred form of this invention having been described in detail, it is to be understood that this has been done by way of illustration only.  
 I claim:  
  I. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closure sections having inner abutting edges and outer marginal rims; means for mounting said closure sections on a receptacle for pivotal movement about pivot axes between open and closed positions; said receptacle having means defining a seat on which said rims of said closure sections rest when said sections are in a closed position; said pivot axes extending generally parallel to said edges in closely spaced relation thereto; spring means operatively connected to said mounting means and operatively engaging said sections for normally maintaining said sections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abutting closed relation preventing relative movement therebetween and with said rims tightly against said seat preventing relative movement therebetween; said spring means comprisingv a pair of elongated springs extending across the undersides of said sections, each spring being disposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof is between the pivot axis and the edge in spaced relation to the edge of the corresponding closure section, said springs being stretched to provide a bias to maintain said edges in said tightly abutting closed relation and said rims tightly against said seat; and means for pivoting said closure sections away from each other into an open position against the force of said spring means.  
  2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises aligned projections extending radially outwardly from each of said closure sections and defining said pivot axis about which the associated section is pivoted.  
  3. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closure sections having inner abutting edges; means for mounting said closure sections on a receptacle for pivotal movement about pivot axes betwen open and closed positions; said pivot axes extending generally parallel to said edges in closely spaced relation thereto; spring means operatively connected to said mounting means and operatively engaging said sections for normally maintaining said sections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abutting closed relation preventing relative movement therebetween; said spring means comprising a pair of elongated springs extending across the undersides of said sections between said pivot axes and said edges in spaced relation to said edges. said springs extending in a direction generally parallel to said edges; and means for pivoting said closure sections away from each other into an open position against the force of said spring means.  
  4. A closure assembly according to claim 3 wherein said springs each extend tightly across the underside of a closure section.  
  5. A closure assembly according to claim 4 wherein said springs extend generally in the direction of said axes.  
  6. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closure sections having inner abutting edges; means for mounting said closure sections on a receptacle for pivotal movement about pivot axes between open and closed positions; said mounting means comprising an annular body of a generally inverted U- shaped configuration having an inner wall provided at the lower end thereof with a radially inwardly, generally horizontally extending flange serving as a seat for said closure sections; said pivot axes extending generally parallel to said edges in closely spaced relation thereto; spring means operatively connected to said mounting means and operatively engaging said sections for normally maintaining said sections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abutting closed relation preventing relative movement therebetween; and means for pivoting said closure sections away from each other into an open position against the force of said spring means.  
  7. A closure assembly according to claim 6 wherein said mounting means further comprises a bowl-shaped body surrounded by a marginal rim adapted to rest on said inwardly extending flange of said inner wall.  
  8. A closure assembly according to claim 7 wherein said mounting means further comprise aligned projections extending redially outwardly from each of said closure sections and defining said pivot axes about which said closure sections move; said maintaining means comprising a pair of elongated coil springs mounted on said annular body and extending across the undersides of said closure sections between said pivot axes and said abutting edges in spaced relation to the latter.