US1920007A - Frame for refrigerator doors - Google Patents

Description

JY 25, H933., K. J. DURANT Er Al.

FRAME FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS Filed oct. 2o, 1931 Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH DURANT AND CARL F. HILLDRING, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN HARD RUBBER COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application led October 20, 1931.

This invention relates to the construction of frames for refrigerator doors of the display or show case type, or to other refrigerator parts such as lids, sashes or Stiles. The object of the invention is to provide a sturdy non-warpingframe construction for such refrigerator parts, which frame structure will afford the greatest possible degree of sanitation, avoiding the cracks or joints usually found in such structures wherein moisture may penetrate and create warping of the frame structure, or afford a place for the lodgement of food particles and the like which tend to create odors and which result in an insanitary structure.

The objects of the invention are attained by utilizing a seamless, non-warpin moulded hard-rubber frame casing for t e frame structure wherein the formation of joints or cracks is avoided -and an entirely sanitary structure is provided. Such casing, in combination with associated novel constructional features hereinafter described, produces a smooth, neat frame of clean-cut appearance and sturdiness.

The preferred embodiments of our invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a refrigerator door or panel made in laccordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2f-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,'looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View` through the frame; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly in section of a modiied structure.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 6 indicates the frame casing which may be of anydesired shape to suit the particular use to which it is to be put. In hereafter referring to said frame as a door frame, we Wish to be understood as meaning also, any fixed or movable frame structure .forming part of a refrigerator, or a lid for an ice cream cabinet or any similar structure.

The .frame casing shown at 6 consists of a moulded structure of hard-rubber whih FRAME FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS Serial No. 569,934.

extends over and wholly encloses a Iiller or inner frame 7 that conforms to the shape of the casing and is preferably composed of solid wood, laminated wood, plywood, compressed wood, cork, fibre or other like structure of non-warping characteristics. Three of the sides of the frame casing, namely the outer edge 8, and the inner and outer aces 9 and 10, are of hard, impenetrable rubber, whereas the inner edge 11 of the frame, while preferably moulded as in integral portion of the frame casing, is of a softer texture of rubber and is readily penetrable by nails or similar .fastening elements. The longitudinal side edges of the hard rubber frame casing 6 are longitudinally grooved, as at 12, to t over and slide on rails on the refrigerator. These grooves 12, being suitably lubricated with a graphite compound or similar lubricant will permit the door to slide easily with a minimum amount of friotion on the rails without theuse of rollers or bearings.

The frame, thus composed of the inner laminated wood filler 7 and the outer moulded hard rubber casing 6, receives and holds several spaced glass panels or panes 13 and 14. These glass panels or panes are held in the frame in spaced relationship to provide an air-space 15 between them to aid in providing the maximum of heat insulation. The edges of the glass panels 13 and 14 rest against the softer rubber wall 11 of the frame casing Vand said panels are held in place in the lframe by means of strips 16 and 17. The-strip 16is a spacing member and holds the two glass panels in their separated position and also acts to hold the outer glass panel 13 in the frame by holding it against a sloulder 18 integrally formed on the frame casing 6. Said strip 16 is secured in -place by means of nails 19 or similar fastening elements, which are driven through sai strip and through the penetrable rubber wall 11 provided on the frame casing 6.

These nails readily penetrate the laminated wooden frame or filler 7 and are firmly anchored therein, although being readily manually removable for the replacement of abroken glass panel.

Similarly, the strip 17 holds the inner glass panel 14 in place, this strip 17 being secured in position by nails 20 which penetrate the Wall 11 and enter into the Wooden filler.

While it is herein stated that the inner Wooden frame or filler 7 may be shaped to conform to and wholly fill the inside of the hard-rubber casing 6, it is alsopossible to provide a frame structure wherein such a continuous reinforcement of the hard-rubber frame casing by the Wooden frame is un,

necessary. In such a case, it may be found desirable to provide spaced reinforcing blocks 21 located at intervals Within the hollow hard-rubber frame casing as disclosed in Fig. 5. It Will be there seen that the moulded hard-rubber casing is provided internally With numerous spaced blocks 2l which may be of laminated construction or solid Wood. It Will, of course, be linderstood that .the frame casing may be internally reinforced by such laminated or other Wooden blocks Wherever required, either for the reception of the nails used in attaching the strips 17 and 18, or to permit the secure fastening of a door handle, hinges, or the like, on the'door.

The frame provided, being of seamless, non-warping construction, is very sturdy and provides a maximum of heat insulation atl a minimum of construction cost.

While We have shown our improved frame used in conjunction with glass panels, it will be understood that such a frame structure can Well form part of a solid door having no glass panels. It is also possible to utilize some moldable substance other than hard rubber as an .outer covering, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in this art.

What We claim is 1. A frame for refrigerator doors and the like having a-hollow frame-casino provided With several Walls composed ofj hard rubber and having a Wall of penetrable rubber, a penetrable filler located Within the frame-casing and enclosed thereby, a panel held in the frame-casing with its edge located adjacent to the penetrable Wall, a strip for holding said panel in position, said strip being secured in place by a securing member passing through the strip and through the penetrablewall of the framecasing and entering into the filler.

2. A frame for refrigerator doors and the like having a laminated Wood base enclosed by a hardrubber covering, one of the Walls of said covering being softer than the other Walls thereof and being penetrable by -nails or like fastening elements, panels held in the frame, strips for holding said panels in place, and securing members for fastening said strips in position, said securing members extending through the penetrable wall of the covering and projecting into the laminated Wood base.

3. AV frame portion for refrigerators consisting of a casing having several of its walls composed of a molded material, said casing holding panels, a penetrable filler Within said casing, and a wall of molded material formed on said casing and penetrable by fastening elements, said wall being disposed about the edges of the panels.

4. A frame portion for refrigerators consisting of a casing receiving and holding spaced panels, sections of laminated Wood disposed Within and confined by the casing, said casing having several of its Walls composed of hard-rubber and also having an inner Wall composed of a softer rubber penetrable to nails or similar fastening elements, and means for retaining the panels Within the frame comprising strips held in space by nails passing through the strips and penetrating the penetrable wall and entering into the laminated Wood sections. f

5. A frame for'refrigerators comprising a casing yfor receiving panels, said casing having several wall portions of moulded hard rubber and having a softer Wall ortion against which the edges of said pane s rest,

7. A frame for refrigerator doors hav-` ing a hollow hard-rubber casing rovided with one relatively soft and penetra le Wall,

and spaced sections of a penetrable filler located Within and enclosed by the casing. KENNETH J. DURANT. CARL F. HILLDRING.

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