US2286109A

US2286109A - Refrigerator construction

Info

Publication number: US2286109A
Application number: US348593A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore W Rundell
Original assignee: Philco Ford Corp
Current assignee: Space Systems Loral LLC
Priority date: 1940-07-30
Filing date: 1940-07-30
Publication date: 1942-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-09

Description

June 9, 1942.

'r. w.' R UNDELL REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jul so, 1940 5 3 if, i J. I v 7 w i Q J J m m M w W F W Z 1 W /W Patented June 9, 1942 REFRIGERATOR. CONSTRUCTION Theodore W. Rundell, Jenkintown, Pa.,

by mesne assignments,

Philadelphia, Pa., a co vania assignor,

to Philco Corporation, rporation of Pennsyl- Application July 30, 1940, Serial No. 348,593

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cabinet construction for domestic refrigerators and more particularly to novel means for joining together the ends of the breaker strips generally employed to provide thermal insulation between the edges of the refrigerator cabinet casing and lining shells at the front of the refrigerator.

When fiat breaker strips are used in a domestic refrigerator cabinet it is necessary that the separate lengths or sections of the breaker strip be joined along their adjacent end edges by a device which will overlap the end edge portions of adjacent breaker strip sections and at the same time secure said sections relative to each other. It is equally essential that such a device be of simple construction and of neat appearance so as to harmonize with the attractive design and appearance of present day domestic refrigerators. The foregoing is particularly true in the case of refrigerator cabinets having flat breaker strips the several sections of which are disposed in a common plane providing a fiat front surface surrounding the opening to the food storage compartment of the refrigerator.

With these observations in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a device in the form of a novel clip element which may be einployed to join together the edges of adjacent breaker strip sections and secure said sections relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip element of the character set forth which is relatively easy to install and which has a portion arranged to outwardly overlie the outer surface edge portion of adjacent breaker strip sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip element of the character set forth which may be readily installed without the use of screw fastenings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel clip element of the type set forth which is neat and attractive in appearance and of relatively simple construction, being relatively inexpensive to manufacture. v

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a refrigerator cabinet, the door thereof having been removed to show the invention.

lower left hand cornerof Figure 1 with the clip removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a clip element embodying the present invention.

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on line 5--5, Figure 1.

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of the sections of a two part clip element made according to the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a view in section taken on line 88, Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawable heat insulating material 5 (see Figure 3).

In the particular cabinet illustrated, the inturned front flanges of the casing 3 and lining 4 which surround the door opening to the food compartment 2 reside in substantially the same vertical plane and the space between these edges is closed by the usual breaker strip 6 which provides a fiat front surface surrounding the aforesaid door opening. Preferably the breaker strip 6 is composed of heat insulating material and comprises a plurality of independent sections, one each for the sides, top and bottom of the cabinet about the opening to the food storage compartment.

As shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, these sections of the breaker strip 6 are secured in place by flanging the front edge portion 1 of the casing 3 to provide an inturned channel 8 to receive the outer edge of the breaker strip sections and by providing a substantially S-shaped clip 9 having oppositely facing channels arranged respectively to receive the other or outer edge of said breaker strip sections and the inturned flange portion I!) of the cabinet lining 4.

It will be observed that the sections of the breaker strip 6 do not extend the full depth of the casing recesses thus provided so that a breaker strip section Figure 2 is a large fragmentary view of the may be mounted merely by inserting the outer edge thereof into the recess 8 far enough to enable the S-shaped clip 9 on the inner edge to be engaged over the said lining flange ID in the relation shown in Figure 3 of the draw- 8 and suificient clearance is ing. In order to bias the breaker strip section and its S-clip firmly against the edge of the lining flange ID a series of bow springs or the 4 rounding the food storage compartment opening and consequently there is a gap or break in the continuity of the breaker strip intermediate each such section thereof adjacent the four corners of the cabinet front face. This likewise is true of the S-clips 9 with the result that this gap at each comer of the cabinet front face between adjacent breaker strip sections and their S-clips presents a decidedly unfinished appearance as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

'Hence it is necessary in order to provide a finished appearance to the cabinet front face, that a'suitable device be provided for joining together the adjacent sections of the breaker strip so as to close the gaps therebetween and at the same time secure said sections against longitudinal movement relative to each. other, and in accordance with the present invention for this purpose I provide a novel clip element ll comprising a breaker strip connecting portion l2 and a portion l3 for connecting and overlying the adjacent portions of their s-clips 9 (see Figure 4).

The breaker strip connecting portion l2 of this clip H is substantially H-shaped in cross section throughout the greater portion of its length thus providing oppositely facing longitudinal recesses ll for engagement with the edge portions of adjacent breaker strip sections.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, the upper surface of the clip element is flat and overlies the outer surface of the edge portions of adjacent breaker strip sections while the portions l5 of said clip II which engage beneath said edge portions of said breaker strip sections are of concave-convex cross section configuration thereby providing a more firm engagement of the clip with the said edge portions of the adjacent sections of the breaker strip 6.

On the other hand, the portion i3 of the clip and provide a connection between the end portions of the S-clip members 9 carried by adjacent sections of the breaker strip 8 as shown in Figure l of the drawing. Too, the engagement of this yoke portion I 6 over the members 9 provide an interlock between the clips and the refrigerator cabinet structure which serves to secure the clips against displacement from their connecting position between the adjacent breaker strip sections 6.

To install the clip II it is only necessary to slidably insert said clip into the gap between adjacent sections of the breaker strip 6 with the edge portions thereof in engagement with the oppositely facing longitudinal recesses ll of the clip portion [2 as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, the clip being pushed inwardly in this manner until the arcuate channel l6 of the clip portion I3 is in position to be engaged over and connect the adjacent end portions of the breaker the gap between adjacent sections of the breaker strip 6, it may be desirable to form the clip element in sections, for example, such as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing, wherein the breaker strip connecting portion is comprised in one section I21: and the arcuate inverted channel for engagement over the ends of the S-clip members 8 of adjacent breaker strip sections is comprised in the other section I30.

In this form of the invention the breaker strip engaging section l2a likewise is of H-shape cross section throughout the greater portion of its length and is inserted and connected between adjacent sections of the breaker strip 8 in the same manner and relation described in connection with the clip 8 shown in Figure 4 of the drawing.

As shown in Figure l of the drawing, the sections I211 and Na comprising this form of clip are arrangedto slidably telescope one anotherv and for this purpose the'width or height of the recesses Ila is slightly greater than in the case of the clip 8 in order that the neck ll of the arcuate channel section a may slidably telescope over the external or top portion of the section i2a as shown in Figure 8 of the drawing. [In instances where the breaker strip sections are arranged so that they are angularly disposed, for example as shown at the two lower corners of the cabinet in Figure 1 of the drawing, the

' inner ends of the clips may be pointed as at I! From the foregoing description it will be seenthat the present invention provides a breaker strip clip which may be employed effectively to join together with each of the adjacent breaker strip sections and secure said sections relative to each other. Also, the clip is of relatively simple construction, easy to install, and of especially neat and attractive appearance commensurate with the attractive design and appearance of present day refrigerator cabinets. Furthermore, the clip of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and may be employed in conjunction with a breaker strip assembly without the use of screw fastenings.

While certain embodiments of the present in- -vention have been herein illustrated and detogether and securing the end edge portions f adjacent breakerstrip sections, said clip comprising a breakerstrip engaging portion of substantially H-shape in cross-section along at least a portion of its length inserted between adjacent breakerstrip sections with the end edge portions of the later engaged in the oppositely facing recesses formed by the H-cross-section shape of said clip portion, and a yoke portion of inverted channel cross-section shape interlockingly engaged over the trim strips at the inner edges of the breakerstrip sections to secure the clip against displacement from between adjacent breakerstrip sections.

2. In a refrigerator having spaced inner and outer shells, breakerstrip sections closing the space between said shells, and means securing said breakerstrip sections to the shells including trim strips extending along the inner edges of the breakerstrip sections; a clip connecting together and securing the end edge portions of adiacent breakerstrip sections, said clip comprising a breakerstrip engaging portion of substantially H-shape in cross-section along at least a portion of its length inserted between adjacent breakerstrip sections with the end edge portions of the latter engaged in the oppositely facing recesses formed by the H-cross-section shape of said clip portion, and a yoke portion of inverted channel cross-section shape slidably telescoping with the breakerstrip engaging portion and interlockingly engaged over the trim strips at the inner edges of the breakerstrip sections to secure the clip against displacement from between adjacent breakerstrip sections.

3. In a refrigerator oi the type described having an outer shell, an inner lining, said shell and lining having spaced front edge portions lying substantially in the same plane, breakerstrips extending peripherally about said inner lining and bridging the space between the edged portions of said shell and lining, means securing the breakerstrips to the outer shell, and means including trim strips serving to hold said breakerstrlps to said lining, said trim strips being configured to provide a raised surface extending forwardly of said breakerstrips; a clip member securing the end edge portions of adjacent breakerstrips, said clip member comprising a; breakerstrip engaging portion of substantially H-shaped cross-section along at least a portion of its length constructed and arranged to receive the opposite edge portions of adjacent breakerstrips within the recesses formed by its H-shaped cross-section, and said clip including a yoke of inverted channel cross-section shape arranged to engage over the raised surface provided by said trim strips to secure said clip against longitudlnal'displacement from engagement with the breaker-strips.

4. A clip of the character described comprising an elongated body portion and an arcuate yoke portion at one end thereof, said body portion being substantially H-shape in cross-section for at least a portion of its length and providing at opposite sides thereof laterally facing outwardly opening channels, and said arcuate yoke portion being of inverted channel shape in crosssection with its opposite end portions extending laterally beyond the side edges of the body portion.

5. A clip of the character described comprising an elongated body portion and an end portion telescoping slidably with the body portion. facing outwardly opening channels, and said end portion embodying an arcuate yoke of inverted channel shape in cross-section having its opposite end portions extending laterally beyond the said body portion being substantially H-shape in and providing at opposite sides thereof laterally cross-section for at least a portion of its length side edges of the body portion.

THEODORE W. RUNDELL.