US2306815A

US2306815A - Lid construction

Info

Publication number: US2306815A
Application number: US378420A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adrianus A Kooyman
Original assignee: International Harverster Corp
Current assignee: Navistar Inc
Priority date: 1941-02-10
Filing date: 1941-02-10
Publication date: 1942-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1959-12-29

Description

Dec. 29, 1942. v

A. A. KOOYMAN LID CONSTRUCTION I Filed Feb. 10, 1941 :s Sheets-Sheet 1' llllll |uu MWvQW/ MM Q w .wc

Dec. 29, 1942. A. A. KooYMAN LID CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LID CONSTRUCTION Adrianus A. Kooyman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey 4 Claims.

This application is filed to take the place of the application of Adrianus A. Kooyman, Serial Number 218,160, filed July 8, 1938, which became abandoned.

This invention relates to a lid construction. More specifically, it relates to an arrangement applicable to a-pair of lids of a refrigerator or the like for locking the one lid to prevent its being opened while the other is open.

It is often desirable, in cases Where there are separate lids for adjacent compartments, that the one compartment be closed while the other is open. In refrigerator construction, for example, where there are adjacent compartments for food and refrigerant, it is extremely desirable that the lid to only one compartment be allowed to open at one time. Constructions have already been devised for locking one lid while an adjacent lid is open, but they have been complicated and generally unsatisfactory.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction by which the opening of one lid of a pair of adjacent lids prevents the opening of the other lid.

Another object is the provision of a lid construction in which one lid is positively locked against opening while the other lid is open.

A further object is to provide in connection with a lid construction an arrangement for releasing the counterbalancing action of a spring 1.

intended to hold open a lid.

Still another object is the provision of a release mechanism for a counterbalancing spring in connection with a double lid construction.

A further object is to provide a lid construction in which the opening of one lid prevents the opening of an adjacent lid, there being provided release mechanisms for counterbalancing springs associated with the lids.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

According to the present invention, a pair of containers, one within the other, provide adjacent compartments suitable for food and refrigerant. Lids for the compartments are pivotally attached on alined aXes to extend in the same direction fromthe axes in closed position. Arouate straps extend from the inner sides of lids and are slotted adjacent the lids. A pin extends between the straps with its ends partially in the slots. When the one lid is opened, the end of .the pin moves out of the slot and the pin is moved longitudinally by contact with the strap further into the slot in the other strap, so that movement of the latter strap to release the pin from engagement with the slot is impossible and the lid is locked in closed position against the compartment. Counterbalancing springs are connected to the lids and containers, so as to hold the lids ,in open position. A mechanism is provided for releasing the action of the ccunterbalancing springs when the doors are moved nearly into closed position.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional View taken along the line I---I of Figure 3, but with the lids closed;

Figure 2 is a similar section with one lid in open position;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, but with the same lid partially open;

Figure 4 shows in detail a locking pin;

Figure 5 shows a sleeve for the locking pin;

Figure 6 shows a bell-crank member for re-,

leasing a counterbalancing spring;

Figure 7 is a detail, showing a member on which the locking pin is mounted;

Figure 8 is a perspective view, showing how the locking pin is mounted; and,

Figure 9 is a detail, showing a connecting piece for a counterbalancing spring.

A dry tank I for food is mounted within a refrigerant tank II in a manner not completely shown, since it forms no part of the present invention. In any event, the tanks are so arranged as to form separate compartments for food and refrigerant. A lid l3 covers the food compartment, and a lid M, the refrigerant compartment. The lids are hinged on alined axes, as at l5. Secured to the under side of the lids l3 and M, respectively, are arcuate straps l1 and I8, the centers of which fall on the alined pivot axes l of the lids. Each strap is slotted near its point of attachment to the lid, as at [9, with a sloping groove extending from the slot on the surface facing the other .strap.

The dry tank I!) has a flange 2|, by means of which the tank is supported at one side on a pair of angle irons 22 and 23, having end portions 22' and 23' resting on the refrigerant tank I]. As shown in Figure 7 for the angle iron 22, the angle iron 23 being similarly formed, there is a threaded opening 24 and an elongated slot 25 with a circular portion 26 at one end. Secured opposite this circular portion to angle iron 23 is a U-shaped member 28 with a registering opening and a slot 29 receiving the arcuate strap [8, as shown in Figure 8. A short tubular section 30 is secured in the opening 26 of the angle members 22 and 23 and the registering opening of the U-shaped member 28, and is almost as long as the distance between the straps H and I8,

There is an elongated opening 3| in the tubular section 33 nearer the end which is opposite the strap H (see Figures 3 and 5). 33 is positioned within the tubular section and has an opening 34 opposite the opening 3| in the tubular section. There are reduced

ends

35 and 36 on the locking pin 33, which extend partly through the slots l9 in the arcuate straps I1 and 18 when the lids are both in closed position. ,A spring member 38 extends into the opening 34 in the pin 33 and has an eye portion 39, through which a bolt 46 extends and is secured to the angle members 22 and 23, securing the spring member thereto. The spring member tends to retain the locking pin 33 in a central position between the straps 3'? and 38, and yet allows it some movement along its length into and out of the slots :3 in the arcuate members ii and [8.

Clips 41 are welded to the ends of the members l1 and i3 and retain, by means of pins 42 passing through holes 42 in legs 43, bolts 44 fastened to one end of counterbalancing springs 45. Bolts 46 connect the other end of the springs and brackets 41, secured to the angle members 22 and 23. The arrangement is such that either lid tends to stay in the open position of Figure 2, for in this position the clips 43 are closest to the brackets 41. When the lid is shut, the spring is caused to elongate and resist the movement to closed position. In order that the counterbalancing action may be released in closed position, bell-crank member shown in detail in Figure 6, and nut 5| on bolt 44 are provided. The bellerank member 5B is pivoted on the angle members 22 and 23, as at 52. As the lid l4 moves to closed position, the end of the arcuate strap [8 strikes an end portion 54 of the bell-crank member 50, which is spaced a considerable distance from the pivot at 52. The bolt 44 passes between legs 55 with the nut 5| resting against the legs when closed position has been reached. In this position, the distance between the contact of the nut 5| and legs 55 and pivot point 52 is small in comparison with the distance between pivot point 52 and. the point of contact of strap I8 on end portion 54 of the bell-crank member. Consequently, in the closed position or in the approach to closed position, the effective lever arm at which the spring 45 acts is small in comparison with the lever arm on which pressure applied to the cover acts, and the ability of the spring to resist closing force to the cover is considerably reduced. The mechanical advantage of the lid in respect to the spring is considerable.

When the lids are in closed position, the locking pin 33 occupies a mid-position between the straps I1 and I8 because of the action of the spring 38, with the

ends

35 and 36 extending through the openings [9 in the straps l1 and I8 to a point opposite the sloping grooves 20. When lid [4, for example, as shown in Figure 3, is raised, the reduced end 36 of the pin 33 is able to slide out of the holes I9 of the strap I8 by passing along sloping groove 20. However, as this happens, the locking pin 33 is moved longitudinally farther into the opening 19 of strap ll beyond the groove 20. If an attempt is now made to raise lid (3, the end portion 35 of pin 33 is not in a position to slide out of hole E9 of strap I! by passing over sloping portion 20, and consequently strap I! and lid l3 are locked against movement. If now lid I4 is lowered to closed position, end portion'36 of locking pin 33 moves back into hole IQ of strap [8, and end portion 35, partially out of hole IQ of strap ll. Now,

A locking pin lid [3 may be raised, since end portion 35 of pin 33 is in a position to slide out of hole I9 along sloping groove 20. When this happens, locking pin 33 is moved far enough into strap [8 to lock it and lid 14 against movement.

It may be considered that the sloping groove 20 adjacent the hole IS in one strap [8 constitutes means for displacing the end of the pin 33 in the hole to bring the other end of the pin into locked engagement with the hole I9 in the other arcuate strap 18.

In the open position of lid l4 of Figure 2, clip 4| contacts U-shaped member 28 and lid l4 rests against a stop 51. Thus, the opening of the lid is limited. A similar stop for limiting the movement of lid [3 is also provided.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that a novel structure has been provided in which one lid of a pair of lids is locked in closed position, while the other lid is open, and the counterbalancing action of springs on the lids is reduced as the lids are closed. The invention has been shown in connection with a refrigerator, but it is to be understood that the invention is applicable wherever lids or closures are used.

The invention is to be limited only to the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids positioned in side-by-side relation and extending in the same direction from alined pivot axes on the container, a pair of arcuate members extending from the under side of the lids with their centers of curvature on the alined pivot axes of the lids and having alined holes in their closed position, a pin extending between the arcuate members with its ends extending partially through the holes in the members, and means supporting the pin and tending to maintain it in a mid-position between the arcuate members, each arcuate member having adjacent the hole therein means for displacing the end of the pin in the hole to bring the other end of the pin into locked engagement with the hole in the other arcuate member.

2. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids positioned in side-by-side relation and extending in the same direction from alined pivot axes on the container, a pair of arcuate members extending from the under side of the lids on centers of curvature coinciding with the pivot axes of the lids regardless of the position of the lids and having alined holes in closed position and shallow sloping grooves extending from the holes on the surfaces toward one another in a direction away from the lids, a pin extending between the lids with its ends extending partially through the holes in the arcuate members in the closed position of the lids, and means supporting the pin and tending to hold it in a mid-position between the arcuate members.

3. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids hinged on the container on alined axes and extending in the same direction from the axes in closed position, a pair of arcuate straps extending inwardly from the lids with centers of curvature along the alined hinge axes and having slots adjacent the lids, a pin extending between the straps with its ends partially extending through the slots in the straps, means connecting the container and the pin for maintaining the pin in a central position with respect to the straps, and a sleeve surrounding the pin and extending between the straps, each arcuate member having adjacent the slot therein means for displacing the end of the pin in the slot to bring the other end of the pin into locked engagement with the slot in the other arcuate member.

4. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids positioned in side-by-side relation and pivoted on the container, a pair of rigid members extending from the lids into the containers and having alined pin-receiving portions in the closed position of the lids, a pin extending between the 10