Improvements in or relating to Stands for Supporting Drinking Vessels and for Counting the Number of Filled Vessels Supplied.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stands for Supporting Drinking
Vessels and for Counting the Number of Filled Vessels Supplied.
We, FRANZ KRAATZ, of Bahnof, Karow, in the German Empire, Victualler, and
FRITZ BOSSMEYER, of Kloster Oesede, near Osnabrück in the German Empire,
Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
--
The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to stands for
supporting drinking vessels, the purpose of the invention being to provide such
stands with a checking device, which being always visible, indicates the number
of filled vessels supplied, so that disputes are avoided. In contradistinction
to devices serving for a similar purpose, the present invention provides .balls
for the purpose of checking which are inserted into a chamber in connection
with the stand and which are always visible, so that special manipulations for
ascertaining the number of drinks supplied are dispensed with in the present
checking device. A special, generally closed, opening is provided for the exit
of the balls from the chamber, a key which remains in the possession of the
victualler serving for the purpose of opening said chamber.
We will now proceed to describe our invention more fully, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows an inverted plan of our improved stand for supporting drinking
vessels, part of the casing being removed to illustrate the interior arrangement.
Fig. 2 is a plan of part of our improved stand, showing the checking arrange-
ment, and
Fig. 3 is a section on line xa of Fig. 2.
The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as
will be more fully explained hereinafter.
The stand a which is made of any suitable and desired material and shape is
provided at a suitable place, in the instance shown in the edge portion of the
stand, with a chamber 6, which is provided with a glass cover c. A short guide
tube d leads into the interior of the chamber b. The guide tube d projects into
the chamber 6 so that the lower end of the tube stands apart from the bottom f
of the chamber a little more than the diameter of the balls employed. The
bottom f is provided at one end of the chamber 6 with an exit opening g for the
balls, which is ordinarily kept closed by means of the slide h. This slide his
in connection with a lock i of any well known and suitable construction in such
a manner that on opening the lock the slide h uncovers the exit opening g, thus
permitting the removal of the checking balls from the chamber b. These
balls may be made of any suitable material and by colouring them differently
may serve for indicating the nature of the drink supplied, or the price of the
drink respectively.
On using the improved stand with checking device as described, the person
delivering the drink to the customer inserts a ball in accordance with the

page_text: price or nature of the respective drink through the guide tube d into the
chamber b. By virtue of the glass cover c the customer is enabled to check the
number of drinks supplied and on counting up the waiter will be enabled to
easily calculate the drinks, so that mistakes or disputes are completely avoided.
Fraudulent removal of the balls inserted 'in the chamber is. impossible, owing
to the small space between the bottom of the chamber and the inner end
of the guide tube c.
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To remove the balls k from the chamber after settling with one customer,
the victualler or person in possession of the key operates the lock i thereby
moving the slide h so that the opening g is uncovered. By shaking the stand a
or bringing it into an inclined position, the balls k will escape through the
opening g and may be allowed to drop into the hand of the respective person.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
3
1.) An improved stand for drinking vessels with checking device, for the, num-
ber of filled vessels supplied, having a chamber b for the reception of the check-
ing balls arranged at a suitable part of the stand, substantially as set forth.
2.) In an improved stand for drinking vessels with checking device for the
number of filled vessels supplied constructed substantially as described the com-
bination with the chamber for the reception of the checking balls of an exit
opening for the balls in connection with a slide for closing said opening; said
slide being operated by means of a lock and suitable key, substantially as set
forth.
3.) In an improved stand for drinking vessels with checking device for the
number of filled vessels supplied constructed substantially as described, the com-
bination with the chamber for the reception of the checking balls of a guide tube
for the introduction of the balls, the-bottom end of said guide tube being slightly
more than the diameter of the balls employed apart from the bottom of the
chamber to prevent fraudulent removal of the balls from the chamber substan-
tially as set forth.
4.) An improved stand for drinking vessels with checking device for the num-
ber of filled vessels supplied comprising in combination the stand proper, a ball
reception chamber provided at a suitable part of the stand, a glass cover for the
said ball reception chamber, a guide tube for the insertion of the checking balls
into the chamber, an exit opening for the balls, a slide operated by means of
a suitable lock and key for covering the exit opening, and checking balls, sub-
stantially as set forth."
5.) An improved stand for drinking vessels with checking device for the num-
ber of filled vessels supplied, the whole arranged, constructed and adapted to
operate substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of July 1899
B. REICHHOLD,
International Patent Office,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany, Agent for the Applicants.