US1567867A - Lever lock for refrigerator doors - Google Patents

Description

T. O. SCHRADER LEVER LOCK FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS Dec. 29, l925 Filed July 25 1925 Patented Dec. 29, 192.5.

UNITED STATES I 1,561,867 PA'ri-:Nr OFFICE.

THOMAS 0. BCHRADEB, Ol'l ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T0 DENT HARD- WKABE CO., F IULLEBTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPDRATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

LEVER LOCK FOB BEFRIGERATOR DOORS.

Application led July 25, 1925. Serial No. 45,984.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS O. SGHRADER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvanim'have invented a certain new and useful" LeverLock for Refrigerator Doors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a lever lockfor application to refrigerator and `vother doors constructively desi ed so that in position locking the door t rough a slight pressure exerted a ainst the door and this irrespective of w at the position of the lever may be rior to a closed condition of the door.

y invention further embraces a lever I lock constructively arranged so that through slight energ exerted from the l.under *side to elevate t e same will cause the closed door to become ajar or assume a partially open osition.

M invention still further embraces a lever ock constructively considered that permits by slight energy exerted from the upper side to cause the door in either the partially open or the actually closed condition to be wed ed firmly so as to assume an airtight con ition with vrespect to fixed surroundings with which the door is in bearing contact.

To which foregoing ends, my invention, stated in general terms, consists of a vlever lock of the character defined and constructively arran ed in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and sco of the invention will be more fully un erstood from the following description taken in connection with the accompan ing drawings forming part hereof, in whic Fig. l, is a front elevational view of a fragmentary rtion of a refrigerator door and surrounding framework, showing a le ver-lock embodying constructively the main features of my invention in a wedgingly locked position thereto.

Fig. 2, is an end view of the same.`4

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary front view of the door and surroundings, with the said lever lock shown in an elevated position and with the doorajar or in a partially open position; and l Fig. 4, is an end view of the, same.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawin s one form thereof which is at present pre. erred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, a, represent/s a fragmentary portion of a door; and a1 the surrounding jamb.

b, is the keeper of the lever lock of my invention, secured to the jamb a1. This keeper consists of an inclined surface projection b1, with a recessed tongue b2, of cone shape, in longitudinal section. The keeper is securely fastened to the j amb a1.

c, is a bell crank lever-arm of the said lever lock, provided with a base c1, suitably fastened to the door and having a struck-up bearin c2, positioned at an acute angle to a vertica plane through thesaid base. This lever c, 1s bent upward, as at c, from the bifurcated bearing portion c2, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and terminating in a long arm or handle c. The opposite end of the lever from the bearing portion o2, is formed into a contracted or narrowed formation c, arranged so as to readily ride the inclined formation b1, of thekeeper and take under the notched tongue b2, of the said keeper Z), as clearly shown in Fig. 1, by simply exerting a slight pressure against the door tending to a closed conditionof the same, which is completed coincidently by the action of the bell crank lever to cause the door to assume the position, for example, as shown in Fig. 2, with the door closed.

The underside of said part 'c5 is curved convexl as at 0 and the upper face is flat as at c. hen by a slight manual downward movement exerted on the lever-lock, the door is closed securely against the jamb a1, in a thoroughly airtight condition. Again, by slightly elevating the lever c, for example, into the position as shown in Fig. 3, thereby causing the door a, to become lajar or partially open, as clearly shown in stituting the locking device of my invention is such as that the keeper will cause the lever to close the door, whether the long handle occupies aperpendicular or horizontal osition. In a Word, the said device provldes a self closing lock for a refrigerator, Whether of the household or cold storage type, by a slight pressure manually exerted against the door and with the lever lock, for example, occupying a position such as shown in Fig.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,'is:y

A device of the character stated comprising a housing, a door therefor, a keeper for said housing comprising a plate secured thereto projected from which plate is a member provided with an inclined surface b1 and a recessed tongue b2 of cone-shape in longitudinal section, a lever-lock comprising a base late secured to said door and having a bi urcated bearing portion, a lever pivoted between |the forks of said bearing, the said lever terminating at one end in a handle curved from its pivot point upwardly as at o and terminating at its opposite end in a contracted or` narrow formation the under face of which is convexly curved at c and the upper face of which is fiat as at c.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto A signed my name.

THOMAS O. SCHRADER.

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