US2350875A

US2350875A - Method of manufacturing refrigerator shelves

Info

Publication number: US2350875A
Application number: US426656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford R Carney
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1940-04-25
Filing date: 1942-01-14
Publication date: 1944-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1961-06-06

Description

June 6, 1944.

c. R. CARNEY 2,350,875

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING REFRIGERATOR SHELVES OriginaI'Filed April 25, 1940 J I EM INVENTOR ()Z 72 (2279 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 6, 1944 METHOD OF MANUFACTURING REFRIGERATOR SHELVES Clifford n. Carney, Detroit, Mich., assignor t6 General Motors Corporation,

corporation of Delaware April 25, 1940. Serial No.

Original application Detroit, Micla, a

331,497. Divided and this application January 14, 1942, Serial No. 426,656

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-160) This invention relates to an improved method or process of manufacturing shelves such, for example, as refrigerator shelves and the like.

The present application is a division of my pending application Serial No. 331.497 filed April 25, 1940, now issued as Patent No. 2,274,125, coverihg a refrigerator shelf or similar article of manufacture. No claim is here made to such an article per se.

Oneof the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved method or process for producing a refrigerator shelf or the like in which the shelf consists of cross members and side members or rails which are secured together or united to form an integral structure or unit without the necessity of welding the parts together, and one which permits the formation of such a shelf from materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, or the like which are diflicult to weld.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method or process of the foregoing character capable of producing a refrigerator shelf in which the side or end members or rails of the shelf are formed from a relatively hard metal and the cross members from a relatively softer metal, and in which said process effects the mechanical uniting of the cross members at or adjacent their opposite end portions to the side or end members to produce a unitary shelf; said process also contemplating the uniting or securing together of side members or rails and cross members which may be formed of the same materials or from different materials by the application of mechanical pressures.

A' further object of the invention is to provide an improved method or process of forming or manufacturing a refrigerator shelf in which the shelf consists of supporting rails or members formed from a relatively hard metal and cross or interconnecting members formed from relatively narrow strips of anodized aluminum or aluminum wire which may be secured or united together mechanically.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method or process of forming a refrigerator shelf in which themetal of the side members or rails of the shelf is relatively harder than the metal from which the cross members are formed. and in which the harder metal will bite into the softer metal upon the mechanical uniting or securing together of the Parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method or process of manufacturing a refrigerator shelf formed from metals havtively simple and inexpensive series of steps or ing different degrees of hardness and difierent characteristics to produce a shelf of attractive appearance due to the inherent diil'erences in color ofthe diflerent metals from which it is formed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method or process of forming a refrigerator shelf orthe like which shelf possesses the characteristics of strength, durability and simplicity and one which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture by virtue of a relaoperations.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when considerad in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawing:

. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shelf made in accordance with the method or process embodying the .present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, look-- ing in the direction of the arrows and illustrating one of the steps of the method for producing the shelf shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a further modification of the present invention and'illustrates one step in the method of producing a shelf in accordance with said modiflcation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary edge view or side elevation of a further modified form of shelf embodying the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, partlyin elevation, of the shelf of Fig. 6, illustrating one of the steps of the method employed to produce said shelf. M

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a shelf embodygig a further modification of the present invenon. v Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the lineS-Q of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of an improved shelf em fldying a further modified form of the 68 present invention; and

rows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention itis-to understood that the inven tion is not application tothe details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since, i

the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understoodthat the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description'f and'not-of'limi tation.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown one form of shelf which is produced by the method or process embodying the present'invention. In this form a pair of side members or rails 52 preferably formed from a relatively hard metal, has a series of longitudinally spaced substantially rectangularopenings .53 formed therein intermediate the opposite longitudinal edges of each member. As in the preceding forms, the side members are adapted to receive and support the end portions of a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members or bars. In the present form these cross members are shown at 54 as being substantially rectangular in cross section and are preferably formed from some relatively softer metal than the side members, such for example as anodized aluminum, or the like.

As seen in Fig. 3, the walls of the openings 53 are preferably tapered inwardly in a direction ,away from the end faces of bars 54 and at least the size of the end portions of the cross members or bars is slightly greater than the widest portion intermediate walls of the openings 53. The parts are preferably assembled by subjecting the cross members 54 to pressures longitudinally thereof as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, to force the end portions thereof into the holes or openings 53 to produce a tight union of the parts as shown at 55 in this figure. After assembly of the parts the exposed ends 56 of the cross members 54 may be peened to provide a relatively smooth surface. It will be understood also that since the metal of the side members 52 is relatively harder than that from which the cross members 54 are formed, the metal of the side members surrounding the end portions of the cross members will bite into the cross members to secure the parts together as a unit.

Referring ,now particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown a modified form embodying the present invention. The shelf of the present form is composed of side members or supporting rails 60 formed from a relatively hard metal, such as steel or stainless steel. Each side member is provided with a transverse slot or opening 6| which extends inwardly from one longitudinal edge of shown, the end portions of the cross members 53 are inserted between the ears or flanges 62 formed from the side members and pressure is then applied, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, to force the end portions of the cross members into the slots Bl. Thereafter the .ears or flanges 52 are-subjected to pressure or a force suihcient to return them to their original position, as best .seen at 64 in Fig. 4. By forcing the end portions of the cross members 63 into the slots, the metal of the side rails adjacent said slots will be caused to i bite into the adjacent surfaces of the cross vmembers to provide a tight union of the parts.

I By flattening the ears 62 which underlie the adthe side member to a point beyond the longitudinal center thereof. The metal at opposite sides of each of the slots adjacent the open end thereof is pressed outwardly to provide a pair of angularly disposed ears or flanges 52.

The slots 6| are adapted to receive and support the opposite end portions of cross members or bars 63. These bars are of slightly greater cross section than the slots 5| and are preferably formed from a metal which is relatively softer than the cross members or rails 50, such as from aluminum, or the like. I

Thecross members 63 may be assembled wit the side rails 60 in any suitable manner. AS

.jacent' edgesof the .cross members, an additional securing together or bonding of the parts is effected. The result of the method of assembling the cross members 83 with the rails60 in accordance with the present form of the invention is clearly illustrated at 65 in Fig. 5. If desired, the exposed ends of the members 83 may be peened, as seen at 68.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, there is shown therein another modified form embodying the present irrven'tion. In this form of the invention a pair of sidemembers or supporting rails Ill are provided with a series of preferably round holes or openings 'll' located in longitudinally spaced relation. The rails are preferably formed from a relatively hard metal such as stainless steel or the like. The holes or openings 'II are adapted to receive and support the end portions of cross members or rods 12 formed from a relatively softer metal, such as aluminum or the like. As seen in Fig. '7, the holes or openingsll are slightly tapered. As shown, the diameter of the rods 12 is somewhat greater than the largest diameter of the holes 'II. The cross members are assembled with the side members I0 by applying pressures longitudinally of the cross members of sufficient magnitude to force the end portions of said members into the openings II to provide a tight union or joint between the parts such as that shown at 13 in Fig. 7. By virtue of the fact that the side members or rails are formed from harder metal than the cross members, the metal of said side members surrounding the holes or openings II will. firmly grip and bite into the adjacent. surfaces of the cross members to lock the parts together. If desired, the exposed ends of the rods or wires 12 may be peened. after their assembly with the side rails. The arrow in Fig. 7 indicates the direction of the application of pressure to the parts during the method of assembly.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a further modified form embodying the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention side members or rails are provided which, as shown, are of T-shaped cross section, each rail having a base portion 8| and a substantially centrally disposed upstanding web or flange 82. The flanges or webs 82 of the cross members are' provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes or openings 83 which are adapted to receive and support the opposite end portions of cross members or bars 84. The parts are assembled by inserting the end portions of the bars in opposed pairs of openings 83, after which the assembled parts are placed in a press or other apparatus and subjected to pressures of suflicient magnitude to cause a tight union between the parts. By subjecting the shelf to pressure, as mentioned, and by virtue of the fact that the side members are formed from a relatively harder metal than the cross members, the metal of said side members surrounding the openings 89 will be caused to bite into the adjacent surfaces of the end portions of the cross members 84 to firmly lock the parts together as a unit.

As in the preceding forms the end members 80 may be formed of'steel, such as stainless steel or the like, and the cross members 84 from aluminum, aluminum alloy or the like.

Referring now to Figs. and 11 of the drawing, there is shown a further modified form of the present invention. In this form the shelf is provided with a frame shown as a whole at 90, which frame has spaced opposed side portions 9i and spaced opposed end portions 92. As seen in Fig. 10 the frame may be formed from two substantially U-shaped' sections with the abutting ends thereof being secured together at 93 in any suitable manner, as by butt welding. As shown in Fig. 11, the frame is preferably T-shaped in cross section having a base portion 94'and an intermediate upstanding web or flange portion 95. The shelf of the present form of the invention is" adapted for use in a refrigerator or the like whose depth from front toback is greater than its width. If desired and to facilitate the easy removal of articles from the shelf, the front end 92 of the shelf, shown at the left of these figures, may be reduced inheight as indicated at 96, Fig. 11.

The frame 99 is provided in the side portions 9| of its upstanding web or flange 95 with a plurality of longitudinally spaced and opposed substantially rectangular openings 91 which are adapted to receive and support the end portions of cross members or bars 98. One method of assembling the parts of the present form of the invention is to insert the end portions of the cross member 99 in the opposed openings 91 and to place the assembled parts into a press and subject them to pressures of sufllcient magnitude to cause the relatively harder metal of the web or flange 95 at portions surrounding the cross members 98, to bite into the latter and securely lock the parts together 'to provide a unitary and, in effect, an integral structure.

While I have disclosed herein several methods for assembling shelves in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the side members or supporting rails, as well as the supporting frame of Figs. 10 and 11, may be assembled with the cross members in any suitable and convenient manner or by any method capable of performing a mechanical uniting of the parts. In all forms of the invention it will be understood that by applying mechanical pressures to the parts the relatively. harder metal of ing any of the foregoing disclosures may be formed of any suitable material and that the side rails or members may, if desired, be formed of materials of the same kind. In this event, the parts will be united when one or the other is deformed under pressure and they will be held in their assembled positions by a mechanical union of th parts.

By virtue of the present invention metal of lighter gauge may be employed in the manufacture of shelves in accordance with said invention, and moreover, because of the fact that a materially lesser quantity of metal is used to produce said shelves, it is possible to employ metals of higher grade having finished external surfaces, and thus produce superior and improved shelves at a manufacturing cost which is comparable to, or perhaps even lower than the cost of shelves heretofore made from lower grade unfinished metals.

The shelf when completed may be finished in any desired manner as by polishing, bufiing, plating, etc. v

. Iclaim:

1. The method of manufacturing. shelves or the like having supporting side rails formed from a hard metal and interconnecting cross members formed from relatively softer metal, which comprises the steps of providing the side rails with a plurality of opposed openings entirely circumscribed by walls and in which the size of the openings is somewhat smaller than the initial sizeof the end portions of the cross members, assembling the parts with the opposite end portions of the cross members aligned with said openings, moving the parts so aligned in a direction longitudinally of the cross members to bring them into engagement with one another, and

thereafter deforming'the end portions of saidcross members by forcing them into said openlugs to effect a mechanical union between th side rails and the cross members.

2. Themetho'd of manufacturing shelves or the like having supporting side rails formed from a hard metal and interconnecting cross members formed from relatively softer metal, which comprises the steps of providing the side rails with a plurality of opposed openings entirely circumscribed by walls and in which ,the walls of the openings taper inwardlyin a direction away from the end faces of the cross members and in which the size of the end portions of the cross members is greater than thewidest portion intermediate walls of the openings, assembling the parts with the opposite end portions of the cross members aligned with said openings, moving the parts so aligned in a direction longitudinally of the cross members to bring them into engagement with one another, and thereafter deforming the end portions of said cross members by forcing them into said openings and causing the walls of the openings to bite into said end portions for effecting a mechanical union between the side rails and the cross members.

CLIFFORD R. CARNEY.