US2627993A - Freezer divider - Google Patents

Description

0. B. HAFNER FREEZER DIVIDER Feb. 10, 1953 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed April 29, 1950 1 7 2 1/e n for: Uli/er B.' J a/ner off/gs.

0. B. HAFNER FREEZER DIVIDER Feb. 10, 1953 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 29, 1950 I UZi/TB uYd/"ner mm w/mz i Patented Feb. 10, 1953 FREEZER DIVIDER Oliver B. Hafner, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application April 29, 1950, Serial No. 159,030

Claims. 1

The present invention has to do with a divider for a freezer.

As is generally known, a freezer is so constructed that it is opened at the top instead of at the side, so that the cold air in the freezer does not readily escape when the freezer is opened. Because the freezer is opened at the top, it is impracticable to provide shelves, and instead, vertically disposed dividers are provided for segmenting the freezer into sections.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel construction divider for a freezer so constructed that it can be readily inserted into or removed from the freezer, and when it is inserted it will remain in true vertical position.

More specifically, the invention embodies a construction having ledges on the side walls of the interior of the freezer and a divider mounted on and supported by the ledges, the ledges having grooves for receiving elements of the divider whereby the divider is retained against sidewise displacement by the articles stacked in the freezer.

Still another object is the provision of a construction including a divider and means for mounting the divider, in which it is not necessary to provide anchoring means at the bottom of the divider, for example, for retaining the divider in upright position.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various elements of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, poin ed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective cutaway view of a freezer to which the construction of the present invention is applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view taken on line 2-? of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the details of the means for securing the supporting channels in the freezer;

Figure 6 is a view from the right of Figure 5, with the securing means removed;

Figure 7 is an enlarged View taken on line l'i of Figure 1, illustrating an alternate type of divider, and

Figure 8 is a view oriented similarly to Figure 1 but showing a modified form of mounting channel.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates at 12 a freezer as a whole, to which my invention is applied, including a cabinet structure having the usual outer case I4, inner liner l6, and insulation l8 therebetween. The elements just referred to constitute insulated walls of the freezer cabinet structure and the inner liner defines the interior space of the freezer which opens upwardly. Refrigerant coils are disposed in contact with the outer surface of the liner is as is usual in refrigerating machines. The refrigerating apparatus does not constitute a part of the present invention, and it is believed that further reference thereto is unnecessary. A cover 22 is hinged to the cabinet to close down over the open top of the interior space.

Mounted on the inner surface of each of opposite side walls is a channel 24 having a web 26, an inner flange 28 and an outer flange 30. The channels 24 are arranged with their open sides down, with the flange 30 in engagement with respective side wall; the channels 24 may also be referred to as ledges, in accordance with their function and purpose.

The inner flange 28 of each channel is provided with a plurality of holes 32 (Figures 1 and 6) spaced longitudinally along the channel, and in line with the holes 32 are holes or horizontally disposed slots 34 formed in the outer flange 30. The means for mounting the channels 24 on the side wall of the interior space of the cabinet consists in a machine screw 36, provided with a lock washer 38, inserted through the holes 34 and then threaded into a lock nut which is spot welded to inner surface of the liner iii in line with an appropriate opening in the liner. In the present case the nut has a reduced portion extending through the opening in the liner and directly engages the outer flange 30 of the channel. The holes 32 enable the screws 36 to be easily inserted therethrough, the holes 32 being sufficiently large for that purpose, and for the purpose of extending a screw driver therethrough for turning the screws in. The screw means 36 may be provided at any desired spacing necessary for proper support for the channels.

Each channel 24 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 42 cut through a portion of the web element 26 and vertically through the inner flange 23. The slots 42 are arranged transversely to the length of the channel so that the slots in opposite channels are in longitudinal alignment with each other, and the vertically disposed portions of the slots in the flanges 28 in opposite channels are disposed in a common plane.

A reinforcing and supporting member 44 is secured across the vertical portion of each slot on the inner side of the flange 28. The member i t is in the form of a strip having its ends abutted flat against the flange (Figure 4) on opposite sides of the slot and spot welded thereto as indicated at 46. The central portion of the strip 45. is bent inwardly to form a loop 48 in line with the slot; the bottom edge of the strip is preferably flushwith the bottom edge of the flange 28, but the top edge of the strip is spaced downwardly from the web 26 of the channel. The loops 48 form grooves, and the slots: 42 above the strips 44 3 may also be considered as grooves, i. e., horizontal grooves.

The numeral 50 indicates a divider which in cludes a. top horizontal member 52 in the form of a rod of a length to extend substantially across the interior of the cabinet.

The divider also includes vertical members or rods 54 adjacent the ends of the rod 52, the rods 54 being integral with a bottom segment or rod 56. The upper ends of the rods or menibers 54 are welded to the top horizontal rod 52, with the end surfaces of the rods 54 abutted against the top rod. A plurality of intermediate rods 58 interconnect the top rod 52 and the bottom segment 54 for eompleting the divider, forming a grillworli. The rods 55 may also bewelded to the main part; of thediiiider.

The numeral fill indiate'sl a modified form of divider which includes anti the elements referred to in connection with the divider 56' indicated bylike reference numeralswith some markings. The divider So also includes aportion extending above the horizontal rod 52 the outermost vertical elements of which are indicated at The topportion of the divider to is substantially identical and svmnietriea'l with the bottom portion, the divider 50 being substantially twide the vertical height of the divider 5B. 7 w W w 7 v The numeral 64 ind icatesa basket which may also be employed in-the freezer.

Figure 8 illustrates a mcdified form of channel formation for supporting the divider The construction in Figure 8 is similar to that in- Figu-ree but instead at providing thereinf orcing stiips' M,-the material-of theflange 28 is formed in a die and bent inwardly to produce a loop to corresponding to the loop 48-. The loop 56 is of substantially the same vertical height as the strip :4," and'the web of the channel and the upper portion of the flange flare provided with slots in line with the loops 65 similar to the slots 62- referred to above; r

The divider suchas Edisinserted in'thefreezer by-loweringitin place after positioningthe vertical rodstdinthe grooves formed-bythe loops B8. The divider is-lowered to theposition wherein the ends of the horizontal rod 5% are in serted through the slots 4 2 and rest on the reinforeing stripsid. With-the vertical rods Mbeingthus disposed in the grooves formed by the loops the divider is restrained against any sidewiseswinging or displacement due to the vertical dimension of the loops; The ends ofthe tophcriaontal rod 52 as shown clearly in Fig. Z-are disposedentirely below the'web 25 of the channels, and a pleasing appearance results.

It is unnecessary to provide any anchoring: means such as at the bottom of the interior space for securing the lower ends ofthe dividersagainst displacement, or swinging out of true vertical I position;

The-result is the'same"in conneotion-wi-th the divider so; since the vertical-'rods-M' engage the loops 28 therein; wherebythe latter prevent dis placement-of the divider.-

It is understood, ofcourse; that the basket 5&- maybe used or not; asrdesired; but when itisused ordinarily itis only usedin connection with the dividers-5o. However,-for purposes-of illustrating all-oi the-different items, they are arranged-as in Figure 1=because theyare most easily viewed in that-arrangement.

Itwill be understood thatthe yer tical mem bers 54' he in a common plane with the top hori- 4 zontal member 52, so that when the top horizontal member is in the grooves formed by the slots 42 the vertical members are disposed in the grooves formed by the loops 48 which are in a common plane with the slots.

The use of each of the dividers 50 and is the same as described above in connection with the loops illustrated in Figure 8.

Brom ne above it will be seen that we have provided a construction whereby the dividers can be readily inserted into and removed from the interior of the freezer, and when they are inserted in place they are securely held against displacement by no other securing means than the members for supportingthe dividers.

While I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of inven: tion, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modi fieations may be made; and 1 therefore contemplate by the claims appended hereto to cover any. such modifications or substitutions of mechanical equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interior space and vertical side walls, the combination msmminga ledge" on each of opposite eide wane, said ledges having oppositely racingsiots out there n, siibfiort members depending from eac'liled'ge and tontiorled below said slots, the" edges ofeaoh slot and the associate support member forming an upwardly opening saddle, said a support members having portions thereof foiilriifigvertically extending' grooves, a divider elementihaving a horizontal member and vertical members, said horizontal member being supported at its ends by the of saddles opposite ledges, and said vertical members being positioned in said vertically extending grooves.

21 A device as' set forthin claim l wherein each upwardly opening saddle is associated with a verticallyextending groove, said upwardly opening saume na associated vertically extending o e n osbie e e riis sla e- 3- A er Pe n n ton a it? can laim wherein portionsof said dividereleinent extend upwardly from said horizontal: member. t, u

4. In a divider constructitni for use in acabinet having aninterior space and vertical sidewalls, the combination comprising,a-ledgeoneach of opposite side walls extending-from said'side walls inwardly into said interior space, upwardly opening saddles formed in saidledges, vertically extending grooves formed in said ledges and facing inwardly into said interior space-each'saidverticallyextending groove beingpositioned below oneofsaid upwardly opening saddles, a divider 5; A device as recited incl'aim' 4' wherein-said vertical extending grooves are' spaced from'the adjacent side walls, said'vertical members'ot the divider element being positioned inwardly of the ends of said horizontalmember; and the ends" of' said-horizontal member, which ends extend outwardly oi said vertical members; being sup ported by said upwardlyopening saddles.

6. In a: dividerconstructionfor use in acab'inet invitees manor space and viiiensiaewaus';

the combination comprising, a downwardly facing channel member secured to each of two opposite side walls, means for securing one leg of said channel to the adjacent wall, a plurality of slots cut in the web of said channel and in the leg of said channel spaced from the wall, said spaced leg of the channel having portions thereof bent to form loops which extend toward the Wall leg of said channel, said loop portions being positioned beneath each slot in the channel web, the upper edge of said loop being spaced below said. web, the edges of each slot in the channel web and the upper edge of the corresponding loop forming an upwardly opening saddle, the walls of each loop defining a laterally opening groove which extends dovmwardly along the length of the loop, and a divider element having a horizontal member and upright members, said horizontal member being supported by a pair of saddles in said opposite channels, and said upright members being positioned in said laterally opening grooves.

7. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interior space and vertical side walls,

the combination comprising a downwardly facing channel member secured to each of two opposite side walls, means for securing one leg of said channel to the adjacent wall, a plurality of slots out in the web of said channel and through the entire length of the channel leg spaced from the corresponding wall, a plurality of members each bent in the form of loops being secured to said spaced leg of the channel and bridging the slots therein, said loop members extending toward the Wall leg of said channel, the upper edge of said loop members being spaced below said channel web, the edges of each slot in the channel web and the upper edge of the corresponding loop member forming an upwardly opening saddle, each loop member defining a laterally opening groove which extends downwardly along the length of the loop member, a divider element having a horizontal member and upright members, said horizontal member being supported by a pair of saddles in said opposite channels, and

said upright members being positioned in said laterally opening grooves.

8. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interior space and vertical side walls,

the combination comprising, a horizontal supporting member secured to each of two opposite side walls in the interior of the cabinet, each supporting member having a horizontal top surface and a downwardly extending flange spaced inwardly from the respective side wall, the top surfaces of said supporting member having longitudinally aligned slots cut therethrough and said flanges having vertical slots cut therethrough in register with said top slots, a reinforcing member secured to each flange across the vertical slot therein and bent to form a loop in register with the vertical slot, said loop forming grooves, and a divider having a horizontal member and vertical members adjacent the ends of the horizontal member, the ends of said horizontal member being positioned in said top slots and resting on said loops with said vertical members fitted in the grooves formed by said loops.

9. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interior space and vertical side walls, the combination comprising, a horizontal supporting member secured to each of two opposite side walls in the interior of the cabinet, each supporting member having a horizontal top surface and a downwardly extending flange spaced inwardly from the respective side wall, the top surfaces of said supporting members having longitudinally aligned slots out therethrough, and said flanges having vertical slots cut therethrough in register with said top slots, a reinforcing member secured to each flange across the vertical slot therein and bent to form a loop in register with the vertical slot, said loops extending from the flanges toward the respective side walls of the cabinet and forming grooves opening toward each other, the upper edges of said reinforcing members terminating below said top surfaces of the supporting members, and a divider having a horizontal member and vertical members adjacent the ends of the horizontal member, the ends of said horizontal member being positioned in said top slots and resting on said loops with said vertical members fitted in the grooves formed by said loops.

10. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interior space and vertical side walls, the combination comprising, a horizontal supporting member secured to each of two opposite side walls in the interior of the cabinet, each supporting member having a horizontal top surface and a downwardly extending-flange spaced inwardly from the respective side wall, the top surfaces of said supporting members having longitudinally aligned slots cut therethrough, said flanges being bent inwardly toward the respective sidewalls to form loops in register with said slots, said loops forming grooves facing each other, and a divider having a horizontal member and vertical members adjacent the ends of the horizontal member, the ends of said horizontal member being positioned in said top slots and resting on said loops with said vertical members fitted in the grooves formed by said loops.

OLIVER B. I-IAFNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,116,184 Weiss Nov. 3, 1914 1,120,283 Clarkson Dec. 8, 1914 1,523,136 OConnor Jan. 15, 1925 1,644,472 Hatch Oct. 4, 1927 1,692,865 Riederer et a1 Nov. 27, 1928 1,979,514 Wilson Nov. 6, 1934 2,221,024 Hood Nov. 12, 1940

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