US2256206A

US2256206A - Refrigerator cabinet

Info

Publication number: US2256206A
Application number: US200394A
Authority: US
Inventors: James L Knight
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1938-04-06
Filing date: 1938-04-06
Publication date: 1941-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-16

Description

Sept. 16, 1941. J. L. KNIGHT REFRIGERATOR CABINET -Filed April 6, 1938 Inventor: James LKnghb.

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 2,256,206 REFRIGERATOR CABINET James L. Knight, Erie, Pa.,

assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application April e, 193s, serial 10.200.394

(o1. zzo-9) Claims.

My invention relates to a refrigerator construction and more particularly to a breaker strip and gasket to be used in connection with refrigerator doors or other closure members.

The objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will' be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

lFor a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a front view of a refrigerator embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view partly in section of a portion of my refrigerator. l

Referring to the drawing, I have shown a refrigerator I0 of the household type having a foody compartment closed by a door II and a machinery compartment closed by a door being of the full-width type.

I have provided a thermally resistant breaker strip i3 of relatively flexible material such as rubber to close the opening between an inner shell I4 and an outer shell I5 of a cabinet side Wall. A door sealing gasket I6 is made integral with the strip I3. Inasmuch as the material used for this combination breaker strip and gasket must be soft enough to meet gasket requirements, the strip is preferably reinforced to prevent collapse inwardly when subjected to pressure. Therefore, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing an vopen groove or channel, the width of which is approximately the same as the distance between the shells, is provided material, preferably non-metallic and nonhygroscopic, which serves to reinforce the strip and give a finished appearance to the door iamb,

the reinforcing member being exposed to view I2, the doors in the surface of the strip tov retain a reinforcing member of relatively stiff to form a flange I8.

one end may be bolted tending between adjacent 4 relatively wide channel against portion I9 of the outer shell and flange 20.

Breaker strip I3 is suitably formed, as by extrusion, with a' pair of longitudinal grooves adapted to engage'fianges I8 and 20 thus closing the opening between the inner and outer shells.

pair of outstanding opposing

ribs

23 and 24 is rormed in theouter surface of the strip thus forming a longitudinal groove or channel to receive the reinforcement member Il. As mentioned above, this member Il is preferably made from a non-metallic non-hygroscopic material. Resinous products, such as those known under the trade-names Textolite, Bakelite, etc., are well adapted to this purpose.

In order to rigidly support the inner and Vouter shells of the cabinet in the desired spaced relationship, the shells are connected by a plurality of jumper blocks 2l within the construction. These blocks are preferably of non-metallic, non-hygroscopic material to minimize heat loss between the shells. Blocks 2| may be fastened in any suitable manner. For example, to brackets 22 which in turn may be welded to ange I9 of the outer wall I5 while the other end of the blocks may be bolted tothe inner shell I4.

The door or front wall II of the cabinet illustrated is lprovided, with inner and

outer shells

21 and 28 having opposing flanges 25 and `2li respectively supported in spaced relationship by jumper blocks. The opening between ilanges 25y and 26 is closed by a breaker strip 29 of suitableV material. Y

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a specific refrigerator door construction, other modiflcations will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art. I do not there` fore desire my invention to be limited to the specific' arrangement shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as `new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the 'United States is:

l. In combination with a cabinet having a door opening and a door forclo'sing said opening, a wall construction including inner and outer metallic shells and insulating material therebetween, thermally resistant breaker strip of relatively -iresilient non-hygroscopic material exedges ofsaid shells, a in the outer surface of said breaker strip, said breaker strip being provided with a reinforcing member of relatively wide channel in the outer surface thereofY dis-` posed intermediate the side edges thereof, an in- -tegral door sealing portion, .and a reinforcing member of relatively stiff material ln said channel and exposed to view when the door is opened.

3.l In combination with a cabinet having a door opening and a door for closingysaid opening, a wall construction including inner and outer metallic shells and insulating material between said shells, a breaker strip of relatively resilient nonhygroscopic material between adjacent edges of said shells, a laterally offset sealing portion integral with said'breaker strip, an open channel in the outer surface of said breaker strip, said channel having a width approximately equal to the distance between said shells, and a reinforcing member of relatively still! material lodged in said channel and ,exposed to view when the door is opened.

4. In a refrigerator, a wall construction including inner and outer shells and insulating material therebetween, a breaker strip of relatively resilientv non-hygroscopic material between adjacent-edges of said shells, said breaker strip having a longitudinal groove along each edge, eachl groove receiving the adjacent edge of the adjacent shell to close the space therebetween, a pair of outstanding oppositely directed longitudinai ribs dening a channel in the outer surface of said strip, a reinforcing strip of relatively stii material adapted to be positioned within said channel, and a sealing portion integralwith said breakerstrip. I

5. In a refrigerator having a door opening and a door for closing said opening, a wall construction including inner and outer shells and insulating material therebetween, a breaker strip of relatively resilient non-hygroscoplc material extending between the adjacent edges of said shells, said breaker strip having a longitudinal groove along each edge thereof, each of said grooves rc-` Aceiving the edge of one of said shells and conforming to said edge of said one of said shells, said breaker strip also being provided with .an open channel in the outer surface thereof, and a reinforcing member of relatively stiff material disposed in said channel and exposed to view JAMES L. KNIGHT.

' when the door is open.