US3794952A

US3794952A - Lazy susan assembly

Info

Publication number: US3794952A
Application number: US00292392A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Dowis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-26
Filing date: 1972-09-26
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26

Abstract

A rotatable platform is provided with a centrally disposed stanchion and a number of electrical kitchen appliances are grouped about the stanchion in a circular array. The platform is rotatably supported from a base about the axis of the stanchion and electrical connection to the appliances may be completed by pushing them inwardly toward the stanchion. An electrical outlet plug and cord extends to the base and a pair of electrical conductor rings and brushes complete the connection between the base and the platform so that the platform may be rotated to any desired position without interrupting the electrical circuit.

Description

United States Patent [191 Dowis Feb. 26, 1974 1 LAZY SUSAN ASSEMBLY [76] lnventor: James W. Dowis, 127 Cambridge Ct., Hampton, Ga. 30228 22 Filed: Sept. 26, 1972 21 App1.No.: 292,392

[52] US. Cl 339/5 P, 211/78, 339/147 P [51] Int. Cl H011 39/00 [58] Field of Search i. 211/78, 163; 339/5, 8, 147,

339/159, 182 RS; 259/D1G. 25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,226,209 12/1940 Rizzuto 339/5 P X 2,492,241 12/1949 Schillinger 3,479,632 11/1969 Galles 339/5 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 190,089 12/1922 Great Britain 211/78 240,844 10/1962 Australia .,339/5P Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A rotatable platform is provided with a centrally disposed stanchion and a number of electrical kitchen appliances are grouped about the stanchion in a circular array. The platform is rotatably supported from a base about the axis of the stanchion and electrical connection to the appliances may be completed by pushing them inwardly toward the stanchion. An electrical outlet plug and cord extends to the base and a pair of electrical conductor rings and brushes complete the connection between the base and the platform so that the platform may be rotated to any desired position without interrupting the electrical circult.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures LAZY SUSAN ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lazy susan type of device whereby any one of a number of electrical kitchen appliances may be made readily accessible, the electrical appliances being separate and complete entities capable of bodily removal from the assembly and the electrical connections to the individual appliances being completed by pushing them inwardly toward a central stanchion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a base member rotatably mounts a platform upon which a circular array of electrical appliances is arranged and the platform includes a vertically extending stanchion centrally disposed thereon which presents a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced apertures for receiving prongs or electrical conductors protruding radially inwardly from the appliances. The support and guide arrangement between the platform and base is such as to provide a labyrinth passage effectively sealing the assembly against the entry of foreign material and within the confines of this annular labyrinth type seal there is provided commutator means for establishing electrical connection between the base and the platform in any position of the latter. The stanchion is provided with a pair of annular contact bars snugly received therewithin and with which the conductors or prongs of the appliances may engage for electrical connection therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly in section illustrating details of the internal construction of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference at this time more particularly to FIG. I, the reference character 10 indicates a base plate or member having a platform 12 surmounting same, the platform being provided with a centrally disposed stanchion 14 about which a circular array of individual electrical appliances such as the toaster indicated by the reference character 16, the blender l8 and the coffee maker 20 are arranged, substantially as is shown.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the base 10 is provided with a pair of concentrically disposed and upstanding flanges as indicated by the

reference characters

22 and 24 and the platform 10 is provided with a circular depending skirt portion 26 which projects into and between these

flanges

22 and 24. The lower face of the skirt 26 is provided with a trough or groove 28 receiving the balls 30 whereby the platform 12 is supported in anti-friction fashion from the base 10 for relative rotation with respect thereto. The

flanges

22, 24, and the skirt 26 acting therebetween, form in effect a labyrinth seal effectively to prevent the ingress of foreign material such as dust, dirt, moisture and the like into the interior of the assemblage.

The base 10 is provided a pair of

concentric conductor rings

32 and 34 which are connected to the

individual leads

36 and 38 of the extension cord 40 having the usual connector plug 42 associated therewith so that when the assemblage is plugged in, the two

rings

32 and 34 are energized. The

rings

32 and 34 are centered on the axis of the stanchion l4 and the platform 12 carries a pair of spring urged

contact brushes

44 and 46 engaging the

respective rings

32 and 34 so as continually to complete the electrical connection between the base and platform 12 irrespective of the rotational position of the latter. The

brushes

44 and 46 are connected by means of

leads

48 and 50 to the annular contact bars 52 and 54 respectively which are located within the in terior of the stanchion 14.

The stanchion 14 is of cylindrical configuration presenting a hollow interior as shown and within which the bars 52 and 54 snugly are received. Preferably, the bars 52 and 54 are permanently affixed to the stanchion 14. The stanchion 14 is provided with a plurality of pairs of openings, ports or apertures such as the vertically spaced pair of

openings

56 and 58 and each appliance is provided with a pair or protruding prongs or electrical conductors 60 and 62 as is illustrated in FIG. 2 which, when the appliance is resting on the platform 12, may be aligned with and pushed into one pair of

openings

56, 58. The bars 52 and 54 are at the respective heights of the

openings

56 and 58 and may be provided with tapered recesses or openings in alignment therewith, as indicated by the reference character 64 for example which can be snugly engaged with the tapered clips 66 of the conductors 60, 62 whereby electrical contact is completed to the associated appliance. Normally, the appliances are spaced somewhat radially outwardly from the stanchion 14 and when an appliance is desired to be used, it is simply pushed radially inwardly to engage the conductor 60, 62 through the associated pair of

openings

56 and 58 into electrical engagement with the bars 52 and 54.

The appliances may have individual controls associated therewith, as for example the timer setting 68 of the toaster as is indicated in FIG. 1 or the individual speed buttons 70 for the blender 18 as is also indicated in FIG. 1. Each appliance may be bodily removed from the assemblage for cleaning, repairing or other purposes and when selected for use, simply pushed in as aforesaid to complete its electrical connection. The assemblage may be rotated about the axis of the stanchion 14 to position any particular appliance at a desired position at the discretion of the user.

What is claimed is:

l. A lazy susan type of electrical kitchen appliance whereby any one of a number of individual electrical appliances may be brought to a desired position, comprising in combination:

a platform having a centrally disposed, upstanding stanchion and a circular array of electrical appliances grouped around said stanchion, each of said appliances having a pair of electrical connectors and said stanchion having openings for receiving said connectors whereby said appliances may be pushed inwardly toward said stanchion to obtain electrical energization thereof;

contact means within said stanchion for electrical connection respectively with each of said pair of electrical connectors of the appliances;

a base rotatably supporting said platform about the axis of said stanchion; and,

means coacting between said base and said platform for electrically energizing said contact means irrespective of the rotational position of said platform on said base.

2. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said stanchion is in the form of a hollow cylinder and said contact means comprises a pair of vertically spaced annular contact bars snugly received in said stanchion.

3. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a pair of concentric conductor rings concentric with said axis of the stanchion and a pair of contact brushes engaging said conductor rings.

4. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said base is provided with a pair of concentric, upstanding annular flanges centered in said axis and said platform includes an annular, depending skirt received between said flanges.

5. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for electrically energizing said contact means is disposed inwardly of the labyrinth provided by said flanges and said skirt.

a plurality of sector-shaped electrical applicances supported on said platform, each having a pair of electrical connectors projecting horizontally therefrom in alignment with a pair'of said ports;

separate electrical contact means within said stanchion at each pair of said ports; and

means coacting between said base and said platform for electrically energizing said conductor means irrespective of the rotational position of said platform on said base. 8. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said stanchion is in the form of a hollow cylinder and said contact means comprises a pair of verti cally spaced annular contact bars snugly received in said stanchion.

9. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a pair of concentric conductor rings concentric withsaid axis of the stanchion and a pair of contact brushes engaging said conductor rings. 10. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said base is provided with a pair of concentric, upstanding annular flanges centered on said axis and said platformincludes an annular, depending skirt received between, said flanges.

11. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for electrically energizing said contact means is disposed inwardly of the labyrinth provided by said flanges and said skirt.

12. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 11 including ball bearing means interposed between said skirt and said base.

Claims

1. A lazy susan type of electrical kitchen appliance whereby any one of a number of individual electrical appliances may be brought to a desired position, comprising in combination: a platform having a centrally disposed, upstanding stanchion and a circular array of electrical appliances grouped around said stanchion, each of said appliances having a pair of electrical connectors and said stanchion having openings for receiving said connectors whereby said appliances may be pushed inwardly toward said stanchion to obtain electrical energization thereof; contact means within said stanchion for electrical connection respectively with each of said pair of electrical connectors of the appliances; a base rotatably supporting said platform about the axis of said stanchion; and, means coacting between said base and said platform for electrically energizing said contact means irrespective of the rotational position of said platform on said base.

6. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 5 including ball bearing means interposed between said skirt and said base.

7. A lazy susan electrical kitchen appliance assembly comprising, in combination: a base and a platform surmounting said base; means for guiding and supporting said platform on said base for rotation about a vertical axis; a stanchion fixed to said platform and upstanding therefrom in alignment with said axis of rotation, said stanchion having a plurality of pairs of electrical connection ports disposed in horizontally spaced relation therearound; a plurality of sector-shaped electrical applicances supported on said platform, each having a pair of electrical connectors projecting horizontally therefrom in alignment with a pair of said ports; separate electrical contact means within said stanchion at each pair of said ports; and means coacting between said base and said platform for electrically energizing said conductor means irrespective of the rotational position of said platform on said base.

8. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said stanchion is in the form of a hollow cylinder and said contact means comprises a pair of vertically spaced annular contact bars snugly received in said stanchion.

9. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a pair of concentric conductor rings concentric with said axis of the stanchion and a pair of contact brushes engaging said conductor rings.

10. The lazy susan assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said base is provided with a pair of concentric, upstanding annular flanges centered on said axis and said platform includes an annular, depending skirt received between said flanges.