US2606806A

US2606806A - Refrigerator cabinet shelf

Info

Publication number: US2606806A
Application number: US728749A
Authority: US
Inventors: Giffard Whitney
Original assignee: Nash Kelvinator Corp
Current assignee: American Motors Corp
Priority date: 1947-02-15
Filing date: 1947-02-15
Publication date: 1952-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-12

Description

Patenta& Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATE'S' PATENT oFFc-a I i %06,806 si i i e i REFRIGERATOR CABINET SHEL Whitney Giifard, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., i a eorporation of Maryland e Application February 15, 1947,`S erial No. 7 28,'74,9

iclaims.

, e 1 This nvention relates generally to refrigerating apparatus and'more particularly to' refrigerator cabinet shelves." j

It, is an objectof the present invention to provide for refrigerator cabinets, an improved perforated' shelf which is rigid and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to' provide a refrigerator cabinet shelf which may be readily lifted out of the cabinet, yet one which is firmly supported therein against accidental movement without need of attaching means.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved refrigerator cabinet shelf for supporting a fresh Vegetable container. `Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a prefer-red form of the present invention is clearly shown.

' Fig. 1 is a front elev'ational View of a refrigerator cabinet, embodying 'features of my invention; v

'Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional View of the cabinet, taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a shelf of the cabinet, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. -4 is an enlarged, ra'gmentary sectional View of the refrigerator cabinet, taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Figure 2 of a modied construction of shelf for the cabinet;

Fig, 6, is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the refrigerator-cabinet and modified shelf, taken along the line '6-6 of Figure 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the cabinet and modified shelf, taken along the line l-l of Figura 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged ragmentary sectional view of the shelf, taken along the line 8-8 of i ura 6; and

Fig. 9 is a Vertical cross sectional View, taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the refrigerator cabinet shown comprises in general, an outer metal casing 20 and a metal liner 2-2. Between the casing 20 and the liner 22, heat insulation 24 is provided which may be cork, or any other suitable type of heat insulation. The inner liner 22 together with an access door 23 defines a cooling, food storage compart ment 26 including a top wall 28, rear wall 30 'and opposite side walls 32. A-cooling element or evaporator 34 isproyided in the food storage compartment 26 and, as shown, may be Suspended ironi the cabinet top wall 28 or the evaporator 34 may be arranged and supported in any other suitable manner in the cabinet.

In the food storage compartment 26 beneath comprising, a lower shelf 36 and upper, spaced shelves 38 for supporting articles to be refrigerated. The lower shelf 36 and the upper shelves 38 are of general rectanguiar shape extending substantially to the liner 22 of the cabinet and h to the inner side of the 'access door 23. The upper shelves 38, may be and preferably are al'ke. The 'lower shelf 36, in addition to supporting articles to be refrigerated on its upper surface, also supports a fresh Vegetable container 40 suspended therebeneath on spaed hangers or slideways 42. These slideways 42 are secured to the shelf 36, extending between the access door 23 and rear wall 38 of the cabinet. Preferably, the

shelves

36 and 38 are made of sheet metal 'material for good heat conductivity and to make inexpensive, light weight shelves, -I prefer to use aluminum. As shown, the

shelves

36 and 38 ;are each provided with downturned, reinforcng flanges around their peripheries comprising, a front edge flange 44, side edge flanges 46 and a rear edge `flange 48. The .front edge flange 44 of each of the shelves is preferably rounded'to reduce obstruction to the placing of articles on or'beneath the shelves. At their rear edges the shelves 36 and 38 'are each inwardly offset, asat 49, to provide for circulation of air between the rear wall liner and the shelves.

In order to stiffen the sheet metal shelf 35, 'I provide it with a vplurality of spaced elongated ribs .or corrugations 50 extending widthwise of the shelf. These ribs 50 are in substantially parallel relationship, spaced substantially over the entire area of theshelf between oppositeside edges thereof. In addition to stifiening the-sheet metal shelf, the ribs 50 present a reduced supporting surface for articles which may be sli'd thereon with reduced friction. The shel f'36is perforated, as at 52, to allow circulating air to flow from one side thereof to the otherythis shell being perforated only in 'the portion jthereof which is laterally disposed of thefresh Vegetable container 40, as shown. The perforations 52.'are preferably closely spaced, elongated apertures extending widthwise of the shell", terminatingat their opposite ends preferably slightly inwardly from respective opposite ends of the, ribs 50. Thes elongated apertures 52 are alternately arranged with respect to a number of the ribsat the opposite side of the shelf from the Vegetable container 40. When perforating the shel f, 'the material around the elongated apertures 52 is pressed downwardly forming a continuous reinv forcing fiange 54 around each of the elongated apertures 52 on the underside or other s'ideof the shelf from the ribs 50. The portion of the i shelf 36 immediately overlying the Vegetable container 40 is imperforate serving as a cover therefor.

ach of the

shelves

36, 36 is supported at the rear thereof on a pair of horizontally spaced, supporting members or pins 60 and is supported at its sides on a pair of similar. supporting members or pins 62. These

pins

60, 62 are Secured to the cabinet liner 22, extending slightly beyond the inner surface thereof to receive the shelves. Outwardly of the oiTset 49 in the rear edge flanges 48 of each of the

shelves

36, 38 is provided a pair of holes 58 respectively adjacent each side edge of the shelves for respectively receiving a pair of the supporting pins 66 carried by the rear wall iiner. These holes 58 are made sufiiciently large and may be horizontally elongated to easily locate and fit over the pins 69.

The Vegetable container slideway 42 nearest one side edge of the shelf 36 rests at its lower edge ontthe adjacent supporting pin 62 carried by the adjacent side Wall liner. Front and rear movement of the shelf is restrained when it is resting on the supporting pins 62, by a stop 41, preferably a downwardly directed extended portion of the outer slideway, located to engage rearwardly of or behind the pin 62. In order to have a shelf which may be readily removed by lifting it from the cabinet and yet one which firmly rests on the

pins

60, 62 in the cabnet, I provide an inwardly directed notch or recess 64 in the shelf side flange farthest removed from the Vegetable container to receive the adjacent supporting pin 62. This recess 64 is provided by pressing in a portion of the shelf side flange 46 so that. it faces or extends inwardly and downwardly at an angle so as to effect a wedging action with the end of the suporting pin 46.

This angled recess 64 not only provides for' firmly supporting the shelf 36 so that it will not be jarred from side to side, but also restrains sliding movement of the shelf forwardly and rearwardly in the cabinet. As a result, to remove the shelf 36 it is first necessary to raise the front edge thereof until the stop 41 and notch 64 disen gage from or Will clear the pins 62, after which the shelf is free to be lifted orwardly out of the cabinet.-

Referring now to the shelves 38, these shelves are similar to the lower shelf 35 and therefore like parts are designated by like numerals to avoid unnecessary repetition description. These upper shelves 38 differ from the lower shelf 36 t in that the elongated apertures 52 are spaced entirely across its width to effect good circulation of air throughout the region of the food compartment above the fresh Vegetable container. As shown, the elongated apertures 52 and the ribs 56' are alternately arranged. Further the shelves 38 have the Wedge type recesses 64 in both side flanges 46 thereof to engage on the supporting pins 62 in the liner sides of the cabinet'. i

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that I have provided improved refrigerator shelves which are rigid although of light Weight perforated construction. It will be further noted that I have provided shelves which can be readily lifted out`of the cabinet yet seat firmly therein against accidental movement.

Although'preferred and modified forms have been illustrated, and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made therein without *departing from the spirit of the invention or fromthe scope of the appended claims. :claim:

1. A shelf for mounting on a support compris'- ing, a plate member, a recess in an edge of said plate member to receive a supporting member, and an inwardly and downwardly inclined seat within said recess to rest on the supporting member.

2. A removable shelf for support on a plurality of supports comprising, a plate member having one edge for support unattachedly on one of the supports, a recess in an opposite edge of said plate member to receive a second of the supports, and an inclined seat on said plate member within said recess and inclined downwardly and inwardly to seat on the second of the supports with a wedging action.

3. A removable rectangular shelf for support on a pair of horizontally spaced forwardly projecting pins on a storage compartment rear' wall and for support on a laterally extending pin on each of opposite side walls of the compartment, comprising a sheet metal member having downturned rear and side fianges, a pair of horizontaliy spaced apertures in said rear flange to receive loosely and respectively the pins on the compartment rear wall, said apertures being sufficiently larger than the rear wall pins so that they may fit easily thereon, a downwardly racing recess in one of said side fianges to receive one of the side wall pins, and an inclined seat formed out of said one flange in said recess inclined inwardly and downwardly from said one flange to rest on the said one side wall pin.

4. A rectangular shelf for support on a pair of horizontally spaced forwardly projecting pins on a storage compartment rear wall and for support on a laterally projecting pinon each of opposite-side walls of the compartment, comprising, a sheet metal member having downturned rear and side fianges, a pair of horizontally spaced apertures in said rear flange to receive loosely and respectively the pins on the compartment rear wall, said apertures beingsuficiently larger than the rear wall pins so that they may fit easily thereon, a downwardly facing recess in one of said side fianges to receive one of the side Wall pins, an inclined seat formed out of said one flange in said recess and inclined inwardly and downwardly to rest with a wedging action on the said one side wall pin, a container slideway Secured to the other of said side wall flanges, and a depending stop on said slideway below said recess to engage behind the other of said side wall pins.

WHITNEY GIFFARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenoes are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Mar. 5, 1928