US2634465A

US2634465A - Door biasing structure

Info

Publication number: US2634465A
Application number: US151902A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard J Carbary
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1950-03-25
Filing date: 1950-03-25
Publication date: 1953-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-14

Description

- Patented Apr. 14, 1953 DOOR BIASING STRUCTURE Richard J Carbary, Erie, Pa., .assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 25, 1950, Serial No. 151,902

8 Claims.

My invention relates to door biasing structures and more particularly to spring structures for biasing doors to predetermined positions.

It is an object of my invention to provide a door biasing construction including an improved arrangement for biasing a door to both its open and closed positions or to only one of these positions.

It is another object of my invention to provide a door biasing spring assembly including an improved arrangement for readily changing from a position for biasing a door to its closed position to one for biasing a door to both its open and closed positions.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention an assembly is provided including a spring and an element secured thereto. The element includes two portions each of which is adapted to selectively engage a single opening in a stationary structure for effecting a biasing of a door. When one of these portions is arranged to enga e the opening the door is biased toward both open and closed positions and when the other of these portions is arranged to engage t e opening the door is biased toward on y one of these positions.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanyin drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a portion of a refrigerator; Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a view sim lar to Fig. 2 showing the spring assembly in a different position.

Referring to the drawin there is shown a refrigerator cabinet I which includes an outer wall 2 and a spaced inner wall or liner 3. The space between the walls is filled with a suitable heatinsulating material 4, and a breaker strip 5 of a material of low thermal conductivity closes the space between the walls adjacent the access opening of the refrigerator.

In the upper portion of the food storage compartment 6 which is defined by the liner 3 there is provided an evaporator I for cooling the food storage compartment. The access opening of the evaporator 1 is adapted to be closed by a door 8. A door support bracket 9 is secured to, the liner 3, and the door 8 is mounted for swinging movement on the bracket by hinges in having pivot points or axes I I. In order to limit the swinging movement of the door in the open position a bumper l2 of rubber or another suitable shockabsorbing material is secured between the liner 3 and the breaker strip 5. I

It is common practice to provide evaporator doors with an 'overcenter spring arrangement so that the doors are biased to both the open and the closed positions. This insures that the door is closed against the front of the evaporator under normal conditions so as to assist in mainposition when desired so as to permit easy access to the interior of the evaporator. With an evaporator position and evaporator door arrangement such as that shown in thedrawing little difficulty arises when the main refrigerator door'is hinged at the right-hand side of the cabinet. It can be seen that under such conditions, if the evaporator door is inadvertently left openlat the time the refrigerator door is moved toward its closed position, the evaporator door will be moved to its closed position bv the refrigerator door. However, it is sometimes necessary for particular kitchen arrangements to employ a refrigerator door which is hinged at the left-hand side of the refrigerator. With this arrangement, if the evaporator door is inadvertently left open it may be distorted and damaged by the refrigerator door as the refrigerator door swings to its closed position. Accordingly, it may be desirable to.

bias the evaporator door so that it always moves toward its closed position and it will be impossible to leave the evaporator door inadvertently in the open position. By my invention an arrangement is provided whereby the change from one condition wherein the evaporator door is biased to both open and closed positions to a second condition wherein the evaporator door is biased to a closed position only can be easily effected by the user.

The door biasing assembly includes an elongated tension spring l3 and a Z-shaped element i4 secured to one end l5 of the spring. The upper surface of the evaporator door 8 includes an opening l6, and an end I! of the spring engages theopening It. The Z-shapedelement l4 includes a first leg l8 which is. generally in line with the lon itudinal axis or line of action of the spring l3 and a second leg I!) which is laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis or line of action of the spring I 3. The first leg [9 includes a portion or hook 20 whichis adapted to engage an opening 2! in the inner liner or stationary structur 3. and the second leg i9 similarly includes a portion or hook 22 which also'is adapted to engage the opening 2|.

Because of the displaced relationship of the hooks or

members

20 and 22 relative to the longitudinal axis of the spring a different biasing arrangement is secured when the hook 22 engages the opening in the liner or stationary structure 3 than when the hook 20 engages this opening. In

Fig. 2 the assembly is shown in the position wherein the hook 22 engages the opening 2| and, in thisp'osition of the assembly, the evaporator door is biased at all times toward its closed position. Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that in the closed position of the evaporater door the spring I3 is so positioned that its longitudinal axis or line of action is positioned to the left of a line extending between the opening 2| and the pivot points ll of the hinges l0. When the door has been moved to the full open position in engagement with the bumper l2, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the longitudinal axis or line of action of the spring is still positioned to the left of a line extending between the opening 2| and the pivot points H of the evaporator door. Accordingly, throughout the swinging movement of the door, the biasing assembly exerts a force tending'to move the door in a clockwise direction'toward the closed position.

If it is desired to have the door biased to both itsop'en and closed positions the biasing assembly 'is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the hook 20 engages the opening 2| in the liner or stationary structure 3. The hook 20 and the leg 'lB-of the member M, as explained previously, are generally in line with the longitudinal axis of the elongated tension spring l3 rather than displaced laterally therefrom as in the case of the leg l9 and the hook 22. Because of this construction, when the hook 2|) is placed in engagement with the opening 2| the line of action of the spring is so located that it moves from one side to the other of a line extending between the opening 2| and the pivot points II at some point in the swinging movement of the evaporator door 8. Referring to Fig. 3, it can be seen that when the evaporator door is in the closed, or solid line, position the longitudinal axis or line of action of the spring |3 is located to the left of a line extending through the opening 2| and the pivot points II, and the door is accordingly biased by the spring in a clockwise direction toward its closed position. On the other hand, when the door has been moved to the full open position against the bumper l2, as illustrated'by the dotted line position in Fig. 3, the

longitudinal axis or line of action of the spring I3 is located to the right of a line extending through the opening 2| and the pivot points H, and accordingly the evaporator door 8 is biased in a counterclockwise direction toward its open position. It can be seen therefore, that the door biasing assembly can be easily shifted from an arrangement in which the door is biased toward both its openand closed positions to an arrangement wherein the door is biased toward only one of these positions merely by shifting the biasing assembly so that the hook 22 rather than the hook 20. engages the opening 2|.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A door biasing construction comprising a stationary structure having an opening therein, an elongated spring having one end adapted to engage a door for biasing the door, and means for mounting said spring in a first position wherein the line of action of said spring is main tained on one side of the pivot point of the door throughout the swing of the door whereby the door is 'biased toward one position only and in a second position wherein said line of action of said spring moves over center at one point in the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward its open position on one side of said one point and toward its closed position on the other side of said one point, said means including an element secured to the other end of said spring, said element including one portion generally in line with said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in one of said positions, said element including a second portion laterally displaced from said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in the other of said positions, said element being shiftable between positions in which one or the other of said portions engages said opening, said spring retaining said portions in resilient engagement with sai opening.

2. A door biasing construction comprising a stationary structure having an opening therein, an elongated spring having one end adapted to engage a door for biasing the door, and means for mounting said spring in a first position wherein the line of action of said spring is maintained on one side of the pivot point of the door throughout the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward one position only and in a second position wherein said line of action of said spring moves over center at one point in the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward its open position on one side of said one point and toward its closed position on the other side of said one point, said means including an element secured to the other end of said spring, said element including one portion generally in line with said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in said second position, said element including a second portion laterally displaced from said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in said first position, said element being shiftable between positions in which one or the other of said portions engages said opening, said spring retaining said portions in resilient engagement with said opening.

3. A door biasing construction comprising a stationary structure having an opening therein, an elongated spring having one end adapted to engage a door for biasing the door, and means for mounting said spring in a first position wherein the line of action of said spring is maintained on one side of the pivot point of the door throughout the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward its closed position only and in a second position wherein said line of action of said spring moves over center at one point in the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward its open position on one side of said one point and toward its closed position on the other side of said one point, said means including an element secured to the other end of said spring, said element including one portion generally in line with said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in said second position, said element including a second portion laterally displaced from said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in said first position, said element being shiftable between positions in which one or the other of said portions engages said opening, said spring retaining said portions in resilient engagement with said opening.

4. A door biasing construction comprising a' engage a door for biasing the door, and means for mounting said spring in a first position wherein the line of action of said spring is maintained on one side of the pivot point of the door throughout the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward one position only and in a second position wherein said line of action of said spring moves over center at one point in the swing of the door whereby the door is biased toward its open position on one side of said one point and toward its closed position on the other side of said one point, said means including an element secured to the other end of said spring, said element including a first hook generally in line with said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in said second position, said element including a second hook laterally displaced from said line of action of said spring for engaging said opening to dispose said spring in said first position, said element being shiftable between positions in which one or the other of said hooks engages said opening, said spring retaining said hooks in resilient engagement with said opening.

5. A door biasing assembly comprising an elongated spring havin one end adapted to engage a door and a generally Z-shaped element secured to the other end of said spring, said element including a first leg having a hook formed thereon adapted to engage an opening in a stationary structure to bias the door to its closed position only, said element including a second leg laterally displaced from said first leg and having a second hook formed thereon adapted to engage the opening in the stationary structure to bias the door toward its open position during one portion of the swing of the door and toward its closed position during another portion of the swing of the door, said second leg of said element being generally in line with the longitudinal axis of said spring, said first leg of said element being displaced laterally from said longitudinal axis of said spring.

6. A door biasing construction comprising a stationary structure having an opening therein, an elongated spring having one end adapted to engage a door for biasing said door, and means for mounting the spring in a first position in which it biases the door to its closed position only and in a second position in which it biases the door toward its open position during one portion of the swing of the door and toward its closed position during another portion of the swing of the door, said means including a Z- shaped element secured to the other end of said spring, said Z-shaped element including a first leg generally in line with the line of action of said spring and having a hook thereon for engaging said opening in the second position of said spring, said Z-shaped element including a second leg laterally displaced from said line of action of said spring and including a hook for engaging said opening in the first position of said spring, said Z-shaped element being shiftable between positions in which the hook on one or the other of said legs engages said opening, said spring retaining said hooks in resilient engagement with said opening.

7. A door biasing construction comprising an elongated spring having one end for engaging a door, a stationary structure having an opening therein, and an element secured to the other end of said spring for connecting said spring to said stationary structure, said element including a first member for engaging said opening to bias the door to its closed position only, said element including a second member for engaging said opening to bias the door to its open position durin one portion of the swing of the door and toward its closed position during another portion of the swing of the door, said second member being generally in line with the line of action of said spring, said first member being displaced laterally from said line of action of said spring, said element being shiftable between positions in which one or the other of said members engages said opening, said spring retaining said members in resilient engagement with said opening.

8. A door biasin construction comprising a stationary structure, a door, a hinge for mounting said door for swinging movement on said stationary structure, means for limiting the swinging movement of said door, an elongated tension spring for biasing said door, means for connecting one end of said spring to said door, said stationary structure having a single opening therein, and means for connecting the other end of said spring in engagement with said opening, said last-named means including a member for engaging said opening, said member being so positioned relative to said spring that the line of action of said spring is disposed on one side of a line extending through said opening and the pivot point of said hinge throughout the swinging movement of said door whereby said door is biased toward one position only, said last-named means including a second member displaced laterally from said first member for engaging said opening, said second member being so positioned relative to said spring that the line of action of said spring crosses the line extending through said opening and said pivot point of said hinge at a predetermined point in the swinging movement of said door whereby said door is biased toward its open position on one side of said predetermined point and toward its closed position on the other side of said predetermined point, said last-named means being shiftable between positions in which one or the other of said members engages said opening, said spring retaining said members in resilient engagement with said opening.

RICHARD J. CARBARY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 214,169 Merrill Apr. 8, 1879 660,106 Gross Oct. 23, 1910 1,326,841 Bousquet Dec. 30, 1919 1,819,187 McFerren Aug. 18, 1931 2,011,694 Stevens Aug. 20, 1935 2,030,324 Schmidt Feb. 11, 1936 2,124,258 Moecker July 19, 1938 2,514,033 Dean July 4, 1950