US2690799A - Cabinet closure member - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1954 J. H. GERSTENMAIER CABINET CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Sept. 28, 1950 FIG.:L

FIG.2

INVENTOR. JOHN H. GERSTENMAIER ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 5, 1954 CABINET CLOSURE MEMBER John H. Gerstenmaier, St. Marys, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a corporation of Ohio Application September 28, 1950, Serial No. 187,261

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved type of lid or closure member for freezer or cooler cabinets and the like such, for example, as those used to store ice cream, frozen foods, etc. More particularly, it relates to a novel form of closure member for a cabinet having access openings on the top of the cabinet,

One object of this invention is to provide a lid that is simple in construction and, at the same time, very sturdy and durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid of substantially unitary construction that has no fastening devices of any kind in the finished lid.

A particular object of the invention is to provide one modification which embodies a hinge element between the lid members that is an integral part of the lid structure,

A still further object of the invention is to provide an integral hinge element in the closure member that will not cause condensate to form thereon and subsequently drip into the contents of the chamber on which the closure is employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid structure that is easily assembled from the component parts into the finished product with a minimum amount of effort and a minimum number of parts.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a lid structure that will be sanitary and readily maintained in a sanitary condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereinafter as the description thereof proceeds, the novel features, arrangements and combinations being clearly pointed out in the specification as well as in the claim thereunto appended.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a double lid embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line IIII of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken along line lIIHI of Fig. 2.

Freezer or cooler cabinets of various types are very common nowadays for the temporary storage of perishable merchandise of all kinds. Such cabinets are advantageously employed to hold frozen foods, ice cream, candy, drugs, medicines and, in many instances, the customer serves himself by personally removing his requirements from the cabinet through the access openings. Because of the low temperatures maintained in these cabinets, it is desirable to keep the access openings therein closed tightly for as much of the time as possible. At the same time, however, the closure member employed for this purpose should be so constructed that it may be easily removed or opened when access to the cabinet is desired but provides a positive seal when closed.

Many constructions for closure members for use in freezer cabinets have been suggested and used in the past but all have included the use of fastening devices of some type to hold the component parts of the door together, By the elimination of fastening devices, the sources of probable contamination and corrosion are reduced to a minimum. This invention represents an improved construction that eliminates the use of any separate fastening means in the assembly of the closure member.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a double lid commonly referred to as a flip flop lid, is represented by the numeral l8 and is made up of two sections, l9 and 20, joined in a side-by-side relationship by a flexible hinge element 2 I. The lid Is as shown in Fig. 2 fits into the opening of the cabinet 22. The hinge element 2| as illustrated is a reinforcement element or strip of fabric coated with a flexible plastic material such as rubber and preferably should be a material that is compatible with the material used in the frameworks of the sections [9 and 20.

The lid sections I9 and 20 have a framework 23 of flexible plastic material with the bottom panel member 24 integrally joined with the framework during the vulcanization or molding of the rubber. Panel member 24 is formed preferably of a thin metal sheet such as aluminum or stainless steel so as to prevent corrosion from any condensate that may form thereon in the use of the lid [8. In the preferred form of the invention the edges of the panel member 24 are turned upwardly and have perforations therethrough at spaced intervals to allow the rubber material of the framework 23 to flow through during vulcanization and mechanically interlock the panel member 24 with the rubber of the framework. A lip 25 is formed around the upper and outer periphery of the three sides of the framework 23 of each section that contact the sides of the opening of the freezer cabinet. The lip 25 is substantially coextensive with the outer periphery of the assembled sections [8 and i9 so as to engage the top surface of the freezer cabinet to assist in sealing the opening of the cabinet.

The sections l9 and 20 are joined in side-byside relationship with the hinge element 2| of a flexible material and molded integrally with the frameworks 23 of the sections l9 and 20 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The hinge element assumes the general shape of an inverted U and may be of any flexible material. In the preferred form is a fabric-reinforced material such, for example, as rubber-coated nylon fabric in order that it may withstand the innumerable fiexings to which it is subjected in use. The hinge element 21 as shown extends across the width of the frameworks 23 between the sections 19 and 20 and is positioned with the bight of the U, substantially flush with the uppermost face of the framework so that the exposed surface of the lid is smooth. The legs of the U-shaped hinge element 21 are firmly embedded in the framework 23 as shown in Fig. 3.

By reason of the use of a fabricated reinforced hinge element 2| the condensate will not form on the hinge element, moreover since the hinge element 2| is coextensive with the width of the framework, the possibility of any foreign matter or condensate falling into the freezer cabinet is eliminated. After the framework 23 and hinge element 2| have been vulcanized with the bottom panel members 24 in place a layer 26 of insulating material, such as glass, wool, cork or any other suitable material, is placed within the framework and over the panel member 25. The top panel member 21, preferably of stainless steel, is then inserted into the framework 23 to complete the structure. The panel member 21 as shown has downwardly and outwardly extend ing edge portions which interfit with the groove formed in the upper and inner periphery of the framework and serve to hold the panel member 21 in position. The panel member 21 is more easily inserted while the framework 23 still retains some of the residual heat of vulcanization but can be done later if desired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 hinges 23 and 20 are formed as an integral part of the framework 23 with a corresponding recess formed in the panel members 21. The handle 23 on lid section 20 is offset transversely from the handle 29 on lid section IS. The ofisetting of handles 28, 2% permits either section 19 or 20 to be opened for access to a portion of the cooler cabinet and in each case the open section will be disposed in substantially parallel relation to the other section.

As is readily apparent from the foregoing description of the invention, no fastening elements of any type are used in the lid structures described and a minimum of separate component parts are used for constructing the lid. Structures such as these are more economical to construct and assemble and require less attention and upkeep than conventional structures.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a closure member for the access opening in a freezer cabinet and the like embodying a framework of flexible plastic material having a pair of similar sections joined in contiguous coplanar relationship for sealable engagement with the margins of said opening, a panel member molded integrally into each of said sections and a demountable panel member removably mounted in each of said sections in spaced opposed relation to the first-mentioned panel member, a hinge member comprising an inverted U-shaped plastic-coated nylon element extending between and forming a hinge between the oppositely disposed portions of the contiguous sections, the legs of the U having spaced openings therein and being embedded in the plastic framework of the adjacent portions of the contiguous sections of the lid with the plastic material through said openings to firmly anchor the hinge in integral relationship with said sections, said element forming the sole hinge between the sections with the bight of the U being substantially flush with the uppermost face of the framework to provide a substantially continuous unbroken upper surface and forming the axis of the hinge, whereby each section is adapted to be folded back into substantially superposed relation to the other section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,196,244 Kinoshita Aug. 29, 1916 2,242,421 Dodge May 20, 1941 2,283,448 Malek May 19, 1942 2,331,512 Siedschlag Oct. 12, 1943 2,507,965 Eichner May 16, 1950 2,607,411 Van Vliet Aug. 19, 1952

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