US2739857A - Fixture for use in the parking space of drive-in restaurants - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1956 E. FISHER ETAL 2,739,857

FIXTURE FOR USE IN THE PARKING SPACE OF DRIVE-IN RESTURANTS Filed Jan. 2, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l COUNTER MASTER CONTROL I SI'ATION Lye-9 up- I IO N IO FIG. 1

INVENTORS ELMER L. FISHER ATTORN EY Mar h 7, 1956 E. FISHER ETAL FIXTURE FOR USE IN THE PARKING SPACE 0F DRIVE-INRESTURANTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1953 l lL Fla. 8

INVENTOR5 ELMER L. FISHER BY R ERT R. PARADISE March 27, 1956 E. FISHER ETAL FIXTURE FOR USE IN THE PARKING SPACE 0F DRIVE-INRESTURANTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 2, 1953 FIQ- 9 INVENTOR. ELMER L. FISHER B RO ERT R. PARADISE ATT RN Y United States Patent O FIXTURE FOR USE IN THE PARKING SPACE OF DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS Elmer L. Fisher, Mayfield Heights, and Robert R. Paradise, Lyndhurst, Ohio Application January 2, 1953, Serial No. 329,396 7 Claims. (Cl. 311--2) This invention relates to a system for drive-in restaurants and more particularly to a container 'or fixture for use in such systems.

At the present time, many restaurants in which parking space is available cater to patrons who desire to be served in their own cars. In such restaurants, considerable difficulty is experienced in rendering prompt service unless a comparatively large number of waitresses are employed. If an attempt is made to economize by employing a smaller number of waitresses, the patrons often experience considerable delay in being served and in waiting for their trays to be removed after their meals or lunches have been consumed. Such delays are not only annoying to patrons who are in a hurry but while they are waiting, they occupy valuable parking space which frequently may be desired by other patrons.

When cars drive into the parking space provided by such restaurants, it is the practice at the present time for the waitress to first come to the car and take the patrons order. She then gives the order to the cook or chef and after the order is prepared, she takes it to the car on a tray equipped with brackets so that it may be fastened to the door of the car when the window is open. 'After the patron has finished with his meal or lunch, it is then necessary for her to return to the car and remove the tray with the empty dishes. It is therefore costly to maintain prompt service in such restaurants and in this connection, it will be particularly noted that the waitress must make the same number of trips even when the patrons order only light lunches, such as sandwiches and coffee.

In an attempt to overcome such difiiculties, elaborate systems have heretofore been suggested to automatically deliver trays containing food and beverages to patrons seated in their own cars. Such systems, however, are costly to provide and maintain, and have only been adopted in isolated cases where parking space is unlimited and high prices may be charged for refreshments.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved system for use in drive-in restaurants in which the parking space available may be utilized to good advantage, the patrons orders may be taken by an order clerk in the restaurant and delivered by a comparatively small number of waitresses, and the patrons may leave promptly after they have finished their lunches or meals, thereby e'liminating'annoyance incident to delay and relieving congestion in the parking space. An improved service container is also provided for use in such systems that may be constructed in a simple'and economical manner-and which is provided with a'pair of supports or slides on which trays brought by the waitress may be deposited and, upon at least one of which supports or slides trays containing dishes may be deposited by the patrons after they have finished their lunches or meals.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for drive-in restaurants by means of which the patrons may give their orders prompt- 1y without the'necessity' o'fa waitress being present and which eliminates delay after the patrons have finished their lunches or meals.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved fixture for use in drive-in systems including a standard supported by and extending upwardly from the ground and a container supported by said standard for providing a plurality of trays, one of which extends from or is movable in one direction from a plane passing through the axis of the standard and the central portion of the container and the other of which extends from or is movable in the other direction from a plane passing through the axis of the standard and the central portion of the container.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved service container for use in drive-in restaurants in which means are provided for giving the patrons order promptly to the restaurant and in which two slides are provided, one for the use of a patron in one car and the other for use of a patron in an adjacent car and in which each slide is arranged at such height that it may be utilized by a patron when the window adjacent his side of the car is open.

Another object of our invention is to provide an im proved service container provided with upper and lower slides, one of which is slidable in one direction and the other of which is slidable in the opposite direction and in which the upper slide may be utilized as a depository for the trays and dishes after the refreshments have been consumed.

A still further object of our invention is to provide in combination with a service container for use in drivein restaurants, a refuse container for receiving paper dishes, paper napkins, fragments of food, or other waste material.

Our invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a drive-in system, showing a plurality of service containers arranged in proximity to a drive-in restaurant;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of one of the service containers;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the standard or support for the service container;

Fig. 4 is a detailview of the flange for the support or standard of the service container;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper slide of the service container;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a modified form of a service container showing a refuse container associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another modification of our improved container;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an end elevational view of the container shown in Figs. 9 and 10, showing the support or standard; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view on theline 1212 of Fig. 9, showing parts in section.

As illustrated in the drawings, Fig. l discloses diagrammatically a portion of a drive-in restaurant 1 provided with a master control system 2 and acounter 3, it being understood that the kitchen, not shown, extends rearwardly from the counter.

Outside of the restaurant are a plurality ofservice containers 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, etc., which are arranged in such manner that acar 5, 5A, or 5B, may drive in between two containers. The service containers are preferably rectangular in shape and may be formed of any desirable material, such as metal, plastic, or wood. As shown, each service container is formed of wood and consists of a top wall 6, a bottom wall 7, arear end wall 8 provided with an elongated opening 8A, andside walls 9 and 9A arranged to provide a front open end portion, and slidably mounted in the container are a pair ofslides 10 and 11 which are supported for inward and outward movement in any desirable manner. As shown in the drawings, slide ll is spaced fromslide 10 by means of a pair ofcleats 12 and 13 secured toside wall 9 and a pair ofcleats 12A and 13A arranged in opposed relation tocleats 12 and 13, respectively, and secured toside wall 9A. The cleats may be secured to the side walls by any convenient means, such as nails or an adhesive.Slide 10 has its side margins extending betweencleats 12 and 12A and cleats l3 and 13A and is provided with a knob 15 by means of which it may be pulled outwardly through the front opening of the service container toward the window-opening of the door of one car and slide 11 which has its opposite end margins arranged betweencleats 12 and 12A and the bottom of the container is provided with aknob 16 forpulling it in the opposite direction through the elongated opening 8A in the rear end wall so that it will extend adjacent the window-opening of the door of another car. It will be noted that the front portion of the service container is provided with astrip 14 which is secured to the bottom and side walls.Strip 14 extends upwardly from the bottom wall and is provided withside extensions 14A and 14B which abutend walls 9 and 9A, respectively.Strip 14 not only conceals the lower slide andcleats 12 and 12A but forms an additional support and guiding means forslide 10.

Any suitable means may be provided to limit the in- If.

ward and outward movement ofslides 10 and 11. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, a block 17 is secured to the lower rear portion ofslide 10adjacent cleat 13 and asimilar block 17A is secured to slide 10adjacent cleat 13A and asslide 10 is pulled outwardly block 17 engages a pin extending inwardly fromcleat 13 andblock 17A engages apin 18A extending inwardly fromcleat 13A. In a like manner, slide 11 is provided withblocks 19 and 19A secured at the rear portion thereof adjacent cleats i2 and 12A, respectively, each of which engages a pin 2i), one of which pins extends inwardly fromcleat 12 and the other of which extends inwardly fromcleat 12A. The inward movement ofslide 10 is limited by knob 15 and the inward movement of slide 11 is limited byknob 16, although if the slides are long enough, the inward movement ofslide 10 will be limited by therear wall 8 and the inward movement of slide 11 will be limited by thefront strip 14.

The service container is rotatably supported in any desired manner. As illustrated in the drawings a standard 21 in the form of a hollow post is provided which is embedded in theground 22 and a flange orplate 23 provided with a downwardly extendingtube 23A, is secured to the bottom wall of the service container by suitable means, such asscrews 24, and tube 25A is rotatably mounted in the hollow post or standard 21.

When the container is not in use, means are provided to resiliently support the container at a position above standard 21. For this purpose, aspring 25 is arranged withintube 23A, the upper portion of which abutsflange 23 and the lower portion of which abuts a pair ofscrews 26 and 26A threaded through openings in the standard 21. As thus supported, it will be apparent that the service container is rotatably in the standard and consequently it a car driving between two of the containers should strike one of the containers, the container struck by the car will freely rotate on its axis and will not be damaged. To prevent marring of the container, the corners of the bottom portion of the container which faces the driveway are provided withrubber bumpers 27.

Arranged within the container aboveslide 10 and adjacent toend wall 9 which faces the driveway is a communicating instrument 28, such as a microphone or a telephone, which is electrically connected in any desired manner to a master control station 2 or a switch board arranged in the restaurant, it being understood that such master control system or switch board in the restaurant has suitablecontacts by means of which it may baconnected to each service station. The instrument 28 may be supported adjacent to a side wall of the container in any suitable manner, such as by means of a bracket, or if a microphone is utilized, as shown, it may be fastened interiorly of the container adjacent a side wall by suitable means, such as screws. The instrument 28 is located above theslide 10 and is preferably arranged adjacent to theside wall 9 facing the driveway so as to be readily accessible to the driver of the car as he drives between two service containers. It. is also desirable that the instrument shall be arranged adjacent one side wall of the coir, tainer as shown to provide space within the container for trays and dishes which the driver deposits upon the slide it) before he departs. a

While the communicating instrument 28-may be elec- I trically connected to the master control system or switch board 2 in the restaurant in any desirable manner, to provide a neat compact arrangement, acable 29 containing 7 the insulated conductors extends below theside wall 9 and a portion of the bottom wall 7 of the service container 4 and through aslot 30 inflange 23 to acentral opening 31 inflange 23 and from thence throughtube 23A, the standard 21 and ahollow passageway 31A which I, extends to the front of the building in which the restaurant is located and the cable is connected at its opposite end to the master control station or switch board 2 within the restaurant. The master control station or switch board arranged within the restaurant may be of any desirable commercial form.

With the service container constructed and arranged in the manner described and withslides 10 and 11 mounted within the service container, it isapparent that acar 5 may be driven between two containers. The driver then consults the menu, a plurality of which may be deposited uponslide 10, and gives another menu to hiscompanion, He then pressesbutton 32 which illuminates a signal at the master control system and the order clerk then connects an instrument at the master control system with theinstrument 32 in the container. The patron now gives his order to the order cierk who may be one of the waitresses who is not busy at that particular time. u

The patron or the waitress may then adjust the con-,

tainer to the desired level. This may be eifected by lowering or raising the container to the desired leveland 4 setting it in its adjusted position by suitable means, such as a threadedbolt 33 which extends through standard 21 and frictionally engagestube 23A. The spring 25v enables the service container to be easily raised. The

driver then lowers the window on his side ofcar 5 and pulls slide 10 of container 4 adjacent thedoor 34 and his I companion pulls slide 11 of the adjacent container in proximity to the opening on her side of the car when the window is open. The waitress brings the check with the lunches or meals and collects the money. After the patrons have finished with their lunches or.imeals, -the driver places both trays with the dishes thereon onthega slide 10 and pushes the slide into the container. His

companion pushes slide 11 back intocontainer 4A and u the car may then be driven away without further attcntion of the waitress.Screw 30 may then be threaded outwardly by the waitress and thespring 25 raises or the weight of the container lowers the container to its' original position in which it may be rotated without damage, or if desired, screw 32 may be left in frictional contact withtube 23A and if a car accidently hits the container, it will rotate the container against. the fri'c l tional resistance of the inner portion of screw 33' with thetube 23A; The trays and dishes in the service container may be collected by the waitress at her leisure or when delivering the next ordex.

Another modification of our invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in which the instrument, such as a microphone provided with both transmitting and receiving apparatus, is arranged in an auxiliary compartment or in an auxiliary container secured to one of the end walls of the service container, preferably to theside wall 9 facing the driveway. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the auxiliary container which consists of top, bottom, side, andrear walls 35, 36, 37, and 38, respectively, may be secured toside wall 9 of the service container in any suitable manner, such as by nails or an adhesive, and aninstrument 40 which may be a telephone, or a microphone as shown, is supported by means of awire 41 provided with ahook 42 which extends over the outer portion of anarm 43 which is urged upwardly by means of aspring 44 having its lower end supported by abracket 45. The weight of the microphone is suflicient to maintainarm 43 in its lower inoperative position but when the driver removes the microphone,arm 43 is moved upwardly byspring 44, making electrical circuit between the microphone adjacent the service container and the master control station in the restaurant.

Because the service container shown in the drawings must be maintained in an elevated position, it is particularly adapted to be utilized in combination with a refuse container indicated generally by the numeral 47 in Fig. 7 of the drawings. While the refuse container may be formed of metal, plastic, or wood, and may be of any desired shape, as illustrated, it is formed of wood and consists of top, bottom, side, rear, andfront walls 48, 49, 59, 51 and 52, respectively. It will of course be understood that the top wall of the refuse container must be maintained at a sufficient distance below the service container to enable the service container to be adjusted to the desired height.

Therefuse container 47 is provided with afront door 53 arranged adjacent its upper portion, or it may be provided with both front and rear doors at its upper portion, which enables refuse, such as paper napkins, paper dishes, fragments of food, or the like, to be deposited in the container. Thedoor 53 is hinged as indicated by the numeral 54 to the upper portion of the front wall and as it is pushed inwardly, it strikes the standard 21. After the refuse has been deposited, thedoor 53 will swing to its closed position. Thedoor 53 is provided with a knob 55 which permits thedoor 53 to be opened outwardly so that the waitress may extend her hand through the door and adjust the service container to the desired height in the manner previously described. Alarger door 56 which is hinged at 57 to the refuse container is arranged belowdoor 53 to provide access for removing refuse fromcontainer 45 at desired intervals.

The remainder of the service container 4 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is similar to that shown in Figs. 2 to 6 and consequently the same reference numerals have been applied and in this connection, it may be stated that if desired, the refuse container shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be applied to the service container shown in Figs. 2 to 6.

Another modification of our invention is shown in Figs. 9 to 12 in which a standard 58 in the form of a tubular post, such as steel, provides a support for acontainer 59. While thecontainer 59 may be supported upon standard 58 in any desired manner, as illustrated, it is provided with a bottom wall 60 to which is secured the flange or plate 61 of a downwardly extendingtubular member 62 which is slidable in thetubular standard 58. The flange 61 extends inwardly fromtubular member 62 and provides an abutment for the upper portion of a spring 63, the lower portion of the spring being supported by screws 63A extending inwardly below the spring.

According to our invention, thecontainer 59 .is provided with a centrally arrangedhollow post 64, the inner the bottom wall of the container with the central chamber interiorly of standard 58, or if desired, thetubular post 64 may constitute a continuation of thetubular standard 59. As shown, thepost 64 has an outwardly extendingannular flange 65 which is secured by suitable means, such as screws, to the upper face of bottom wall 60, and abuttingpost 64 arepartition walls 66 and 67 which divide the container into twocompartments 68 and 69 which form supports for the trays delivered by the waitress to the service container. On the central post 64- is arranged an instrument, such as a microphone provided with a transmitter and receiver, or the central post may support atelephone 70, as shown, the cord for which may be inserted in the hollow post, and conductors for which are provided which extend through thehollow post 64 and standard 58.

To prevent the trays from being pushed fromsupport 68, a wall orside board 71 is provided, one end of which terminates flush or substantially flush with the outer edge ofsupport 68 and the other end of which abuts thecentral partition 66. Thesupport 69 is also provided with a wall orside board 72 which is arranged on the edge of the bottom wall which is opposite to theedge on whichside board 71 is supported. One end ofside board 72 is secured to thecentral portion 67 and the other end extends to the outer edge ofsupport 69.

Theside board 71 is provided with aswitch 73 of the ordinary push button type which when pushed inwardly establishes a circuit betweenconductors 74 and a buzzer system arranged at the central station which may also be of the usual type.Conductors 74 extend through an aperture insupport 68 and below bottom wall 61 and through aslot 30 in flange 61 which flange is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In a like manner, theside board 72 is provided with aswitch 75 of the ordinary push button type which when pushed inwardly establishes a circuit betweenconductors 76 whichare inserted through an aperture insupport 69 adjacent theside board 72 and beneath bottom wall 60 of thecontainer 59 and through the slot of flange 61. The conductors from the telephone extending throughtube 64 and the conductors from the twoswitches 73 and 75 may be combined in the form of acable 77 which extends throughtube 62 and post 38 and through aconduit 31A leading to the master control station in the restaurant as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 1. Thetelephone 70 may be connected to the switch board in the central station and theconductors 74 and 76 may be connectedv to an ordinary buzzer system at the service station which if desired may illuminate a bulb in a manner well known in the art.

Thecontainer 59 may be set in the desired position so that it will be at the proper height by moving thecontainer 59 downwardly against the force of spring 63 and setting it in position, ascrew 78 which extends through standard 58 and frictionally engages theinner tube 62 being provided for this purpose. If it is desired to set the container at a higher level, the spring 63 assists in moving the container upwardly to the desired height at which position it may be set byscrew 78.

Because the tray supports disclosed in Figs. 9 to 12 are exposed to the weather, compartments 79 and 80 for holding menus may be provided. These compartments are formed by means of side walls 80A, abottom wall 81, and aninner end wall 82, the sides and inner wall being secured to the bottom wall of the container and the bottom wall being secured to the side 'walls As shown, compart ment 79 is arranged belowswitch 73 and compartment by suitable means, such as nails.

80 is arranged belowswitch 75.

Containers 59 of the type shown in Figs; 9 to 12 may. be arranged in the parking's'tation at a suflicient dist,

tanee apart to permit a car to drive between two containers or they may be arranged at a suflicient distance apart to enable two cars to drive between two containers. Assuming that a car drives on the side of the container from whichside board 71 extends, the patron consults the menu, and removes the instrument from the post which may be atelephone 70 as shown, or a microphone provided with transmitting and receiving apparatus. He then pushes the button ofswitch 73 which rings a bell or sounds a buzzer at a central station within the restaurant; The order clerk then answers the telephone, gives the order to the cook or chef, and when the order is ready, she takes the order to the patron, deposits it onsupport 69, collects the money, and when the patron departs, he pushes his tray with the empty dishes onsupport 69, theside board 72 preventing the tray from sliding oif the opposite end of the support. The same procedure is followed when a patron drives along the opposite side of the container. In that event, be Iifts'the telephone or microphone frompost 64, pushes thebutton controlling switch 75 and gives his order to the clerk in the restaurant. the waitress deposits the tray uponsupport 68, collects the money for the order, and when the patron has finished with his meal or lunch, he pushes the tray with the empty dishes on to support 68, the movement of the tray in this instance being stopped by theside board 71.

It will of course be understood that the fixture disclosed in Figs. 9 to 12, if desired, may be provided with a refuse container as disclosed in Figs. 5 to 8 and the'container 59 may be provided withrubber bumpers 83 as shown, it being apparent that the container may be revolved even when the set screw is in frictional engagement with thetube 62.

What is claimed is:

l. A fixture for use in the parking space of drive-in restaurants, said fixture including a tray support, a tubular standard for maintaining said tray support at a predetermined distance above the ground and said tray support comprising a substantially rectangularly-shaped bottom wall having its opposite side and end portions extending outwardly beyond all portions of said standard, a 'wall mounted on the bottom wall of the tray support and extending upwardly therefrom for supporting a communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors, and means for mounting said tray support on said standard comprising a plate secured to substantially the central bottom portion of said tray support, said plate being provided with a tubular member extending downwardly therefrom into the tubular standard for rotation therein when a car strikes the tray support and with a central opening in alignment with the openings in said standard and tubular member and with a slot extending from the outer periphery of the plate to the central opening therein to provide a passageway for conductors extending from the communicating instrument to the openings in said tubular member and said standard to conduit means in the ground.

2. A fixture for use in the parking space of a drive-in restaurant, said fixture including a tray support, a tubular standard for maintaining said tray support at a predetermined distance above the ground, said standard having a lower end portion for insertion in the ground and said tray support comprising a substantially fiat rectangularly-shaped bottom wall having its opposite side and end portions extending outwardly beyond all por tions of said standard, a first wall mounted on one side margin of the bottom wall of said tray support and extending upwardly therefrom which first side wall has one end terminating midway between the ends of the support and its other end terminating at one end of the bottom wall of the tray support for supporting a communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors and for preventing trays slid on to the bottom wall of the tray support from the opposite side of said in this instance,

8 5. fixture from sliding off the bottom Wallfpf" the tray support, and a second wall mounted on theoopposite side margin of the bottom wall of said tray support having one end terminating substantially midway be tween the ends of the tray support and its other extending to the opposite end of the bottom wall of the tray support for supporting a second communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors and for preventing trays slid on to the bottom wall of the tray support from the opposite side of the fixture from sliding ed the opposite side of the bottom wall of the tray support, a plate secured to substantially the central portion of the bottom wall of said tray support, said plate being provided with a tubular member extending within the tubular standard and being rotatable therein when a car strikes the tray suppoit, and said plate being provided with a central opening in alignment with the openings in said standard and said tubular member and with a slot extending from the outer periphery of the plate to the central opening therein to provide a passageway for the conductors extending from said instruments to the opening in the tubular member and the standard to conduit means in the ground.

3. A fixture for use in the parking space of a drivein restaurant, said fixture including a tray support, a tubular standard for maintaining said tray support at a predetermined distance above the ground, said standard having a lower end portion for insertion in the ground and said tray support comprising a substantially flat rectangularly-shaped bottom wall provided with a central opening and having its opposite side and end portions extending outwardly beyond all portions of said standard, a first wall mounted on one side margin of said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom which side wall has one end terminating midway between the endsof the bottom wall and its other end terminating at one end of said bottom wall for supporting a communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors and for preventing trays slid on to said bottom wall from the opposite side of said fixture from sliding off the other side of said bottom wall, a second wall mounted on the opposite side margin of said bottom wall having one end terminating substantially midway between the ends of said bottom wall and its other end extending to the opposite end of said bottom wall for supporting a second communicating instrument provided with conductors and for preventing trays slid on to said bottom wall from the opposite side of said fixture from sliding off the opposite side of said bottom wall, a tubular post surrounding the central opening in said bottom wall and extending upwardly from the bottom wall for supporting a third communicating instrument, and said plate being provided with a slot extending from its outer periphery to the central opening therein to provide a passageway for conductors extending from the first and second communicating instruments to the openings in said tubular member and said standard.

4. A fixture for use in the parking space of drive-in restaurants, said fixture comprising a tray support, a tubular Standard for maintaining said tray support at a predetermined distance from the ground, said standard having a lower end portion for insertion in the ground and said tray support comprising a rectangularly-shaped bottom wall having its opposite side and end portions extending outwardly beyond all portions of said standard, means mounted upon and extending upwardly from the tray support for supporting a communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors, and means for mounting the central portion of said bottom wall upon said standard including a plate having a downwardly extending annular portion secured to said standard and said plate having a central opening in alignment with the opening in said standard for providing a passageway for conductors from the communicating instrument through the tubular standard to conduit means in the ground.

5. A fixture for use in the parking space of drive-in restaurants, said fixture comprising a tray support, a tubular standard for maintaining said tray support at a predetermined distance above the ground, said standard having a lower end portion for insertion in the ground and said tray support including a substantially rectangularly-shaped bottom wall having its opposite side and end portions extending outwardly beyond said standard, and said tray support being provided with a wall mounted on one side margin of said bottom Wall, one end of which terminates substantially midway between the ends of the tray support for supporting a communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors and for preventing trays slid on to the tray support from the side of the fixture opposite said side wall from sliding the opposite side of said bottom wall and said tray support being provided with a second wall mounted on the opposite side margin of said bottom wall which extends from the other end of said bottom wall and terminates at a position substantially midway between the ends of the tray support for supporting a second communicating instrument provided with electrical conductors and for preventing trays slid on the tray support from the side of the fixture opposite the second wall from sliding olf said bottom wall, and means for mounting said tray support upon said standard including a central plate having a downwardly extending annular portion secured to the upper portion of said standard, and said plate being provided with means including a central opening in alignment with the opening in said standard for providing a passageway for the conductors from said instruments through the central opening in said plate and said tubular standard to conduit means arranged below the ground.

6. A fixture for use in drive-in restaurants including a standard having a lower end portion for insertion in the ground and a tray support, means for mounting said tray support on the upper end of said standard for maintaining said tray support at a predetermined distance from the ground and said tray support including a substantially rectangularly-shaped bottom wall having its opposite side and end portions extending outwardly beyond said standard, and the upper side of said tray support having partition means arranged substantially midway between its ends and extending from one side to the opposite side of said bottom wall to provide first and second substantially level tray supports, a first wall extending upwardly from one side margin of said bottom wall having one end adjacent one end of said partition means and its other end extending to one end of said bottom wall for preventing trays slid on to the first tray support from one side of said fixture from sliding ofi the opposite side of said bottom wall and a second wall extending upwardly from the opposite side margin of said bottom wall having one end portion adjacent the other end of said central partition and its opposite end extending to the other end of the bottom wall for preventing trays slid on to said second tray support from sliding off the opposite side of the bottom wall.

7.A fixture for use in drive-in restaurants including a tubular standard having a lower end portion for insertion in the ground to provide a passageway for conductors leading to conduit means arranged below the surface of the ground, and a tray support, means for mounting said tray support on the upper end portion of said standard including a plate secured to said standard, said tray support being provided with a substantially rectangular bottom wall having side and end portions extending outwardly beyond said standard, partition means extending upwardly substantially midway between the ends of said bottom wall for dividing the upper surface of the bottom wall into first and second substantially level tray supports, a first side wall extending upwardly from one side margin of said bottom wall having one end portion adjacent one end portion of said partition means and its other end extending to one end of said bottom wall for supporting a communicating instrument provided with conductors and for preventing trays slid on the first tray support from one side of said fixture from sliding off the opposite side of the first tray support and a second wall extending upwardly from the opposite side margin of said bottom wall having one end portion adjacent the opposite end of the central partition means and its opposite end extending to the other end of the bottom wall to prevent trays slid on to said second tray support from the opposite side of said fixture from sliding oit the opposite side of said bottom wall, and said plate having means including an opening in alignment with the opening in the tubular standard for providing a passageway for the conductors from the instruments through said tubular standard to conduit means arranged below the surface of the ground.

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