US2622584A - Stove construction - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1952 H. M. REEVES STOVE CONSTRUCTION NVEQNTQHM erbemi'. meeves Filed Aug. 27, 1948 qfl-rrommav/ Patented Dec. 23, 1952 STOVE CONSTRUCTION Herbert M. Reeves, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to Florence Stove Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 27, 1948, Serial No. 46,405

3 Claims. 1

The invention concerns improvements in the construction of cookstoves, and more particularly to cookstoves of the. type in which the stove body is made up of a chassis and panels fabricated from sheet metal.

One object of the invention is to simplify the assembly of the end panels with the chassis and provide for removal and replacement of the panels without requiring disconnection of the stove or its movement away from the wall or other structure against which it is installed.

Another object is to provide fastening means for securing the end panels to the chassis, which means is very simple in construction, quick and easy acting, and which minimizes the stresses imposed on the panels both in shipment and in use, thereby avoiding damage to the enamel coating of the panels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a cookstove embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cookstove chassis.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the chassis and one end panel taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of one of the end panels and the means for securing it to the chassis.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a horizontal plane substantially on the line 6-6 of Fi 1.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration, the invention has been shown as applied to a table-type cookstove having a body I0 (Fig. 1) supported on a base II and adapted to be mounted flush against an upright wall l2. The stove body It) comprises a rigid generally rectangular frame or chassis l3 (Fig. 2) closed at opposite ends by sheet metal end panels I4. The panels M as well as other exposed parts of the stove are usually finished with a coating of vitreous enamel.

In the exemplary stove the chassis I3 is constructed largely of sheet metal stampings designed to provide maximum strength and rigidity with minimum weight. As shown in Fig. 2, the chassis [3 comprises a fiat rear member l5 and a front member l6 formed with large laterally spaced openings IT for the oven, broiler and utility compartments of the stove. The front and rear members are connected at opposite ends adjacent their upper edges by elongated end members l8, herein shown as channel-shaped in cross-section. Other end members l9, preferably of Z-shaped cross-section, connect the front and rear members adjacent their lower edges. It will be understood of course that the various members of the chassis are welded or otherwise secured together to form a rigid structure.

In accordance with the invention, the chassis l3 and the end panels [4 are constructed so as to facilitate the assembly of the end panels with and their removal from the chassis, and to minimize the strains imposed on the panels when assembled with the chassis. The panels H, except for being shaped for right and left-hand mounting, respectively, are alike in construction. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of thedrawings, the panels 14 are generally rectangular and each has its upper edge extended as at [8' adjacent the rear edge of the panel to provide a support and end closure for a splasher back l9. Preferably the panels are made somewhat wider than the front to rear dimensions of the chassis l3 and are mounted so as to project at the rear thereof to define with the rear chassis member [5 and the wall l2, an insulating space for protection of the wall.

As herein shown, each panel M comprises a generally rectangular face portion 20 with integral flanges along its four side edges. Thus each panel has a flange 2| at its upper edge, a flange 22 at its front edge, a flange 23 at its rear edge, and a flange 24 at its lower edge. These flanges extend substantially at right angle to the face of the panel, and the flanges 2 I, 22' and 24 have their marginal edges turned inwardly into a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the face of the panel.

In addition to stiffening the panel M, the flanges 2l24 serve as a part of the means for securing the panels to the chassis 13. To this end the chassis is provided at its front corners with anchoring members herein shown as vertically disposed forwardly projecting flanges for cooperation with the flanges 22 of the panels, the flanges 25, in this instance being formed at opposite ends of the front chassis member I6. The end members I8 of the chassis are likewise provided with horizontally disposed upwardly projecting flanges 26 for cooperation with the panel flanges 2|. The flanges 26 extend along the upper edges of the end members and are disposed in the same planes as the companion flanges 25 and are thus positioned for engagement with the panel flanges 22 and 23 when the panels are assembled with the chassis.

Cooperating fastening elements are provided on one of the panel flanges and on the chassis for securing each panel to the chassis adjacent its rear edges and for maintaining the front panel and chassis flanges in interlocking engagement. The fastening elements at each end of the stove body include an upwardly projecting hook element carried by an elongated fastening member 3| secured to the end member l8. As herein shown, the member 3| is channel-shaped in crosssection and is spot welded at one end to the end member I8. The hook element I6 is formed as an upstanding lug on the opposite or free end of the fastening member and is spaced rearwardly of the chassis so as to aline with the rear flange 23 of the panel I4 when the latter is assembled with the chassis. The rear end portion of the member 3| is offset outwardly from the member I8 so as to locate the hook element 30 closely adjacent the plane of the chassis flanges 25 and 26. A diagonal brace 32 extending between the free end of the fastening member and a gusset plate 33 anchored in the lower forward corner of the chassis assists in holding the fastening member rigid.

For cooperation with the hook elements 30, each of the panels I4 is provided with a suitable hook-engaging element. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the hook-engaging element is formed by offsetting inwardly a section 35 of the rear panel flange 23 and cutting away the lower portion of the section to form a slot 36 positioned to receive the hook.

To facilitate the engagement of the hook element 30 in the slot 36, the element 30 is tapered to a relatively sharp point 31. Preferably this taper is formed by inclining the rear edg 38 of the element as shown in Fig. 5. The inclined edge serves the additional purpose of urging the panel rearwardly and thus establishing a flrm locking engagement between the front flange 22 of the panel and the companion flange 25 of the chassis when the panel is assembled therewith.

With the construction above described, an end panel may be assembled with the chassis by simply hooking the front flange 22 over the flange 25 while the panel is held in a slightly elevated position, and then shifting the panel downwardly to engage the upper flange 2| with the flange 26 and the hook element 30 in the slot 36. The limit position of the panel is determined by the flange of the cross-member I9 upon which the lower flange 24 of the panel is adapted to rest, and by engagement of the inwardly turned edge portion of the flange 22 with the upper web of the end member I8. The panel may then be permanently secured to the stove by means of screws or bolts inserted through the member I9 and flange 24 and through the flange 26 and panel flange 2|. The last-mentioned screws or bolts are concealed from sight by the cooking or working top plate 40, which in the final stove assembly is supported on the cross-members I8.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a stove chassis and panel construction of novel and advantageous character. The chassis and the panels embody coacting fastening means of a very simple character, which greatly simplifies the assembly of the parts and which provides an effective vibrationless connection while imposing a minimum of stress upon the panels. Damage to the enamel coating of the panels is thus greatly reduced in the handling of the stoves during shipment or installation.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a stove chassis having generally rectangular front and rear members connected at opposite ends adjacent their upper edges by elongated end members, vertically disposed forwardly projecting flanges at opposite ends of the front member, horizontally disposed upwardly projecting flanges extending along the upper edges of said end members, end panels having inwardly turned flanges along their front and upper edges positioned for cooperative engagement respectively with the vertical and horizontal flanges of said chassis members, a fastening member at each end of the chassis presenting an upwardly projecting hook element, and a member rigid with each panel having a downwardly facing slot positioned to receive the associated hook element as the panel is shifted downwardly to engage the cooperating flanges, said hook element having a tapered nose portion engageable with the slotted member and tending to urge the panel rearwardly of the chassis whereby to firmly lock the cooperating panel and chassis flanges together.

2. The combination with a stove chassis having generally rectangular front and rear members connected at opposite ends adjacent their upper edges by elongated end members, vertically disposed forwardly projecting flanges at opposite ends of the front member, horizontally disposed upwardly projecting flanges extending along the upper edges of said end members, end panels having inwardly turned flanges along their front and upper edges positioned for cooperative engagement respectively with the vertical and horizontal flanges of said chassis members, a fastening member at each end of the chassis presenting an upwardly projecting hook element, a member rigid with each panel having a downwardly facing slot positioned to receive the associated hook element as the panel is shifted downwardly to engage the cooperating flanges, and cross-members extending between the ends of said front and back chassis members adjacent their lower edges defining supports for said panels.

3. The combination with a stove chassis having generally rectangular front and rear members connected at opposite ends adjacent their upper edges by elongated end members, vertically disposed forwardly projecting flanges at opposite ends of the front member, horizontally disposed upwardly projecting flanges extending along the upper edges of said end members, end panels having inwardly turned flanges along their front and upper edges position for cooperative engagement respectively with the vertical and horizontal flanges of said chassis members, a fastening member at each end of the chassis presenting an upwardly projecting hook element, a member rigid with each panel having a downwardly facing slot positioned to receive the associated hook element as the panel is shifted downwardly to engage the cooperating flanges, cross-members extending between the ends of the front and back chassis members adjacent their lower edges, said panels having inturned flanges extending along their lower edges resting on said cross-members, and fasteners rigidly securing the last-mentioned flanges to said cross-members.

HERBERT M. REEVES.

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

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schaffert Nov. 7, 1911 Sielofi May 11, 1926 Rogers Mar. 1, 1932 Pickup July 24, 1934 Tinnerman May 5, 1936 Stockstrom June 6, 193.6 Grindle Oct. 7, 1941 Stoddard Sept. 8, 1942 Bing Sept. 15, 1942 Cook Dec. 12, 1944 Rogers Jan. 20, 1948 Haden Nov. 9, 1948

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