Tray

Application filed August 15, 1928. Serial No. 299,864. a side elevation of the device attached to a supporting surface, the lower portion of the device being shown in section.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a receptacle of glass or other suitable hard material, in the iorm of a cup or bowl. The member 1 is set into a cup-shaped member 2 of flexible rubber, the cavity in which may normally be slightly smaller than the external dimensions of the receptacle, so that when the latter is pressed into the holder it is held firmly gripped in the latter.

At the top of the holder is an annular, internally-directed flange 3 that extends across the upper edge of the receptacle. The sides of the holder are preferably thickened outwardly toward the lower end to form a thick flange-like part 4 to produce a base of much larger diameter than the diameter of the bottom of the receptacle. The bottom face of the holder, as indicated at 5, is concave, rising gradually from the periphery of the base to the center. The central portion of the bottom of the holder is preferably made comparatively thin, as indicated at 6. ⁷⁵

It will be seen that if the device is set upon a polished table or the like and is pressed down as indicated in Fig. 3, the central portion of the bottom of the holder will be depressed until the bottom face of the holder is ⁸⁰substantially flat ; thus driving the air between the supporting surface and the underside of the holder out past the periphery of the holder. Then, when the downward pressure is gradually released? the holder tends to resume its normal condition, creating a partial vacuum between the same and the supporting surface, and causing the device to be firmly held in place. Because of the downward pressure of the surrounding air, the bottom of the holder may not return to the position indicated in Fig. 2 while a partial vacuum is being maintained, but may remain more or less flattened as indicated in Fig. 3. The bottom face of the receptacle

The present invention relates to devices adapted to be placed on a desk and contain pins, clips or other small articles and has for its object to produce a device of this kind 5 that will be free from the objections inherent in ordinary trays or receptacles intended for this purpose.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a cup-shaped receptacle of glass or other stiff 10 material, and set the same in a holder of flexible rubber flanged at the top to overlie the upper edge of the receptacle. Consequently, in the event that the device is dropped, the receptacle is protected by the rubber and the danger of breakage is reduced to a minimum.

Therefore, viewed in one of its aspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel tray of glass or other fragile material so enclosed in a rubber sheathing that it will .be protected against breaking. ₍

The lower portion of the rubber holder is preferably made comparatively thick at the sides, while the bottom face is dished. When the device is pressed firmly down against a flat surface and then the pressure is gradually released, a partial vacuum will be created between the bottom of the device and the supporting surface, so that the device will remain firmly attached to the support.

Viewed in one of its aspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel tray or the like that may be firmly attached to a smooth supporting surface by merely pressing the same against such surface and without in any way marring the latter.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device may be made concave, as indicated at 7, so arranged in accordance with my invention; that ordinarily the receptacle will not touch Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the the thin central area of the bottom of the device in its normal condition; and Fig. 3*is holder, and the latter may stretch freely, 100

1,753,611 without rubbing against the receptacle, when the device is tessed down to flatten the bottom of the holder.

It will be seen that if the device is dropped ₆ on the floor and happens to strike on the open side, the glass receptacle will not be damaged because it is cushioned by the overlying lip or flange on the holder. Of course, if it strikes the floor while in any other posil₀ tion, the shock is also borne by the rubber. It will also be seen that my improved device has a wide base so that it will not tip over even if it is simply set on a table. However, when the device is placed on a table having a 15 polished surface it can be fixed thereto so that it will always be in one place. It will also be seen that,, by reason of the fact that the surfaces that engage with a supporting surface are rubber, there is no danger of mar20 ring the surface finish of a table or the like by placing my improved device thereon.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to 25 the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.