US2328467A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1943. J, LA CASSE 2,328,467

REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 31, 1943- w. J. LA CASSE REFRIGERATOR 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6

Patented Aeg. 31, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,328,467 REFRIGERATOR William J. La Casse,

The Coolerator Com poration of Minnesota Application November 6, 1939, Serial No. 302,999 1 Claim. (CL 20-35) This invention relates to a. refrigerator and to a refrigerator door and door frame construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved breaker strip construction in a refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved breaker strip construction by means of which warping of the breaker strips surrounding the door opening in the refrigerator, due to moisture absorption or temperature changes, is prevented While at the same time provision is made for allowing for expansion and contraction of said breaker strips due to temperature changes.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide in a refrigerator door a new and improved breaker strip construction which is materially less expensive than breaker strip constructions which have been employed heretofore in refrigerators and by means of which the flexible sealing strips embodied in the door construction may be readily removed and replaced when worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a refrigerator door frame, a new and improved and relatively simple and inexpensive constuction for mounting breaker strips in the door opening of a refrigerator.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in a refrigerator door a novel sound-deadening construction and a new and improved construction for supporting the inner metal wall or sheating of the door from the outer metal wall or sheathing.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a refrigerator door a new and improved breaker strip construction which provides for expansion and contraction of the breaker strips due to temperature changes or moisture.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claim and are illustrated in the y accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best modes in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes nay be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention Lnd the purview of the appended claim.

In the drawings,

Duluth, Minn., assigner to Duluth, Minn., a cor- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the upper portion of one of the doors which are embodied in the new refrigerator construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the doors which are embodied in the new refrigerator construction;

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view on line 5"-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 in Fig. 4

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body of the new refrigerator illustrating a preferred manner in which the breaker strips are a refrigerator according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8 8 in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

A refrigerator embodying the novel features of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein it is generally indicated at I0, and comprises a body II which is provided with a door opening I2 which leads into an upper ice or cooling compartment I3 and with a second door opening I4 which leads into a lower or food compartment I5.

The upper and cooling or ice compartment I3 is provided with a hinged door I6 and the lower and food compartment I5 is provided with a hinged door Il.

It will be noted. by reference to Figs 3 and 4, A*

that one end portion of each of the breaker 'strips 21 is fastened to the inwardly extending flange 2l of the inner metal wall or sheathing 22 of the door I1, by means of aluminum or like metal rivets 28, and that the other end portion 28 of each of the breaker strips 21 projects into a groove 30 which is formed in a flexible or resilient sealing strip 32 which is preferably formed of soft rubber or like material.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will also be noted that each of the flexible sealing strips 32 has a portion 50 which projects under and extends parallel to one of the breaker strips 21 and this portion 50 has a channel or groove 33 formed therein. The new breaker strip construction on the door I1 includes a supporting member or strip 35, which is preferably metallic, and this supporting member 35 includes an arm 5I which extends parallel to but inwardly of the arm 53 of the adjacent sealing strip 32. The arm I of the supporting member 35 includes an inner end portion 34 which projects into the channel or groove 33 in the sealing strip 32.

The supporting member 35 also includes a channel-shaped portion 36 which encloses a correspondingly shaped portion 3I formed on each of the sealing strips 32. The supporting member 35 has a portion 31 which extends upwardly inside of, and which bears against the inwardly and generally vertically extending flange 2B of the metal wall or sheathing 23 of the door I1 (Fig. 3). Thus, the supporting member being so positioned, with respect to the flange 26 and the breaker strip, there is provided a shallow recess. The dimensions of this said recess are such that the base or rear portion of the sealing bead 38 fits snugly therein, as shown, see Figs. 3 and 5. It will also be noted, by reference to Fig. 3, that each of the flexible sealing strips 32 includes a flexible or resilient sealing portion 38 which is adapted to engage against the frame 39 so as to seal the door opening I4, The end portions of the breaker strips 21 are spaced from each other, as at 42, (Fig. 6) so as to allow for expansion and contraction due to moisture absorption and temperature changes, and said end portions of the breaker strips 21 are interconnected by metal clips 40. It will be noted, by reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, that the outer end portions of the metal clips 40 are secured to the breaker strips 21 and to the flexible sealing strips 32, and to the' metal supporting member 35 by screws 4I, which are preferably made of stainless steel, whereas the inner end portions of the metal clips 40 are secured to the inwardly extending flange 25 of the inner metal wall or sheathing 22 by means of metal rivets 28 which are preferably formed of aluminum or similar metal.

It will thus be seen that the inner metal wall or sheathing 22 of the door I1 is supported from the outer metal wall or sheathing by the conjoint action of the metal clips 40 and the metal supporting member 35 which also cooperates to retain the flexible or rubber sealingstrips 32 in sealing position.

Another important advantage of the new door construction resides in the fact that the sealing strips 32-38 may be readily removed and replaced when worn by merely removing the screws 4I at the four corners of the door whereupon the inner metal wall or sheathing 22 and ther four corner clips 40 and the breaker strips 21 and the sealing strips 324-38 may be removed as a unit. The flexible sealing strips 32-38 may then be slipped of! of the end portions 23 of the'breaker strips 21 and replaced, whereupon the inner metal wall or sheathing 22, the corner clips 40, the breaker strips 21 and the new sealing strips 32-38 may be inserted into position of use and secured therein by replacing the screws 4 I It will likewise be observed that the breaker strips 21 function effectively as breaker strips to prevent heat transfer by conduction between the inner metal wall or sheathing 22 and the outer wall or sheathing 23 of the door I1.

It will be noted that by utilizing the relatively inexpensive aluminum rivets 28 for securing the breaker strips 21 to the inwardly extending flange 25 of the inner metal wall or sheathing 22 of the door I1 a distinct economy in construction is effected inasmuch as these aluminum rivets are relatively inexpensive when or as compared to screws, such as the stainless steel screws 4 I, which are employed only to fasten the outer end portions of the metal clips 40, the outer end portions of the breaker strips 21, the exible sealing strips 32, and the metal supporting member or strip together. It will likewise be seen, in this connection, that since only two employed in connection witheach of the metal clips 40, the 'number of the same which is employed in the construction of the door I1 is materially reduced and minimized so that a distinct economy in construction is thus effected.

Indicated at 54 (Fig. 2) is a mass of tar or analogous material which is poured while in a molten state upon and allowed to solidify upon l the inner sides of the front walls or sheathings i bottom-members of the of the doors I6 and I1 and which in use serves to u deaden the metallic sound produced by said walls when Struck or vibrated and to prevent the passage of such sounds through the doors.

By reference to Figs. '1, 8 and 9 it will be noted that breaker strips 52 are mounted upon the wooden frame 39 which surrounds the door opening I4 in a new and improved manner which will now be described.

Thus, it will be noted that the sides, top and frame 39 for the door each provided with a groove 43 (Fig. 8) and removably inserted into each of these grooves 43 is one arm 44 of a metal supporting member in the form of an angle iron 45. Each of the breaker strips 52 is secured to, and is mounted upon,the other arm 46 of one of the metal supporting members or angle irons 45 by means of metal rivets 41 which are preferably made of aluminum or other suitable and relatively inexpensive non-corrosive metal.

It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 9 that the adjacent end portions of the breaker strips 52 are spaced from each other, as at 48, to allow for expansion and contraction of the breaker strips 52 due to temperature changes or moisture absorption and consequent swelling. A metal clip 49 is arranged over and conceals each of these spaces 48 and is secured in position thereover by means of a fastening element which is preferably in the form of a stainless steel screw 53 which is inserted into the wooden frame 39 of the door opening I4.

It will thus be seen that the breaker strips 52 are mounted upon and secured in position of use by the metal supporting members or angle arms 44--45-46 in such a manner that they are effectively held in position of use and are prevented from warping due to moisture absorption or temperature changes while, at the same time, provision is made, by way of the spaces 48, for alopening I4 are of these screws 4I are lowing for contraction and expansion of these breaker strips 52 due to, temperature changes or moisture absorption and consequent swelling.

It Will also be noted, by reference to Figs. '1, 8 and 9, that inasmuch as the breaker strips 52 are attached to the metal supporting members or angle irons 44-45-46 by means of the relatively inexpensive aluminum rivets 41, at all points eX- cept the points where the stainless steel screws 59 are employed, a distinct economy is effected in the manufacture of the frame 39 for the door opening and in the breaker strip construction associated therewith, since the rivets 41 are, as stated above, relatively inexpensive compared to stainless steel screws such as the screws 50.

While the breaker strips, such as 21 and 52, may be made of any suitable material, which possesses low heat conductivity and is substantially non-hydroscopic, a preferred material for this purpose may be composed of a base of pressed vegetable ber coated with a resinous paint or other suitable coating material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable `\of variation and modication, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claim:

I claim:

A refrigerator door including spaced parallel inner and outer metal walls, and a breaker strip which outlines a substantial portion of the marginal edges of the door, and a flexible sealing strip, said inner wall having an inwardly directed substantially right angle iiange to which the breaker strip is permanently secured thereby forming a. unitary inner wall and breaker strip, the latter thus having a free edge, said outer wall having a flange which is substantially'at a right angle to the first mentioned Ilangeand which ange is directed inwardly toward and spaced from the extreme free edge of the breaker strip, a onepiece supporting member, said supporting member being of substantially right angle construction and having a portion thereof engaging and paralleling the inner side of the second mentioned flange and continuing inwardly in the same plane and thus with the said inwardly directed flange portion of the outer wall forming a shouldered sealing strip seat and the said supporting member further continuing to its juncture whereat an inset channel is formed, and another portion of the said supporting member extending beneath the free edge portion of the breaker strip, the sealing strip consisting of a web portion and an enlarged sealing bead portion, the latter portion being co-extensive with and shaped to snugly engage the said shouldered seat and having a portion of the web thereof positioned in the channel of the supporting member and extending therefrom intermediate the portion of the supporting member beneath the breaker strip and the underside free edge portion of the breaker strip and in contact and co-extensive with both the said portion of the breaker strip and the last said portion of the supporting member, the extreme free edge portlon of the` breaker strip being positioned in the channel construction and contacting that portion of the sealing strip therein, and removable means for detachably securing the free end portion of the breaker strip, the said sealing strip and the supporting member together, whereby the inner wall with its permanently secured breaker strip is removable; thereby permitting ready replacement of a worn sealing strip.

WILLIAM J. LA CASSE.

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