US2724628A

US2724628A - Refrigerator hydrator and movable cover

Info

Publication number: US2724628A
Application number: US216627A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milford J Schrader
Original assignee: GIBSON REFRIGERATOR CO
Current assignee: GIBSON REFRIGERATOR Co
Priority date: 1951-03-20
Filing date: 1951-03-20
Publication date: 1955-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-22

Description

Nov. 22, 1955 M. J. SCHRADER 2,724,623

REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER Filed March 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l WWJINVENTOR.

Nov. 22, 1955 M. J. SCHRADER REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed March 20, 1951 INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 22, 1955 M. J. SCHRADER 2,724,628

REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER Filed March 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER Milford J. Schrader, Greenvillc,:Mich., assignor to Gibson Refrigerator Company, Greenville, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 20, 1951, Serial No.216,627

p 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-27il) This invention relates toarefrigerator hydrator and movable cover.

This invention relates to household refrigerators, and especially to a swinging hydrator bin or bins for household refrigerators. The invention is particularly useful in connection with householdrefrigerators having refrigeratedstorage space extending substantially from the top to the bottom of the refrigerator and having in the lower rear portion thereof an offset within which the compressorof a well-known refrigerator system is placed. In this preferable construction, the swinging hydrator bin or bins occupy the refrigerated storage space forward of the aforementioned offset and provide therein accessible means for the storage of foodstuffs requiring high humidity refrigeration.

It will be understood that the swinging hydrator bins may be formed in different shapes and may be used in other locations within a household refrigerator and that similar bins may be used in storage cabinets other than refrigerators. t

In the operation of the movably-mounted hydrator bins, it is of great importance that the lid or cover of each bin be in place upon the hydrator bin when the same is moved into the refrigerated space. Since the bin often contains bulky articles, it is easy for the lid to be misplaced upon the bins and there is often a failure to properly close the bin. The result is excessive dehydration of the vegetables or other materials in the bins. It also happens that when the bin is wholly removed from the refrigerator cabinet, the lid is left off when the bin is returned to position, thus resulting in excessive dehydration. Further, when the lid is left in position and the bin is swung rearwardly into the refrigerated space, the lid often strikes an object within the space and is tilted or swung out of position to expose the bin therebelow.

An object of this invention is to provide a hydrator bin structure within a refrigerator in which the lid is maintained within there'frigerated space and is automatically placed in position when the bin is swung to closed position. A further object is to provide a hydrator structure for a refrigerator in which the lid for the hydrator bin is moved in a generally vertical plane to permit the removal of the bin in open or exposed condi tion to provide ready access thereto while upon the return of the bin the lid automatically moves into position for closing the bin. A still further object is to provide a structure in which a lid is supported in the upper portion of the refrigerated space for generally vertical movement, whereby, when the hydrator bin is swung to a position within the space, the lid is raised and then dropped upon the hydrator bin to close the same. A still further object is to provide in such a structure means for limiting the downward movement of the hydrator lid and further for supporting it at an angle to permit the lid to be automatically raised when the hydrator bin is swung inwardly. Yet another object is to equip a hydrator lid with antifriction means for engaging the hydrator bin to effect 3 marring the same.

raising and lowering of the. lid without scratching or Yet another object is to provide an improved hydrator bin structure with novel hinging means, permitting the bin to be easily removed for cleaning, etc. and novel lid-supporting means for permitting relative movement in different planes of the hydrator bin and lid.

it Other specific objects and advantages will appear as. the

specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in an illustrative embodiment by the accompanying drawing,.in which- Figure 1 is a front view in elevation, a portion of the refrigerator near the bottom being broken away to show the hydrator bins; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation, a portion of the refrigerator near the bottom being cut away to expose the side of the hydrator bin; Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the bin, lid therefor and rack or tray thereabove; Fig. 4, a broken side elevational view showing the hydrator bin and means for supporting the lid thereon, a portion of the structure being shown in section; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the bin in its outer or open position; and Fig. 6, a sectional view of the end of the tray opposite the end shown in Fig. 5 and showing the supporting means for that end of the lid.

In the illustration given, designates a refrigerator provided in its bottom or lower portion with an offset wall or partition 11 providing a rear compartment 12. The space in the rear compartment 12 may be occupied by refrigerating machinery, and since such structure is well known, a detailed description is herein believed unnecessary.

Forward of the partition or wall 11 is a refrigerated space 13, as shown best in Fig. 2, and in this space are mounted the hydrator bins 14. Each of the bins is pivotally mounted at its outer forward corner so as to permit the bin to swing along an arcuate path out of and into the refrigerated space. The lower portion of the refrigerator is equipped with a pivot pin 15 which enters a recess 16 in the lower portion of the bin 14, as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Mounted in the refrigerator above the space 13is a rack or tray 17 which provides a shelf above space 13; The tray 17 is provided with a depending pivot pin 13 which is received within an arcuate slot 19 formed in the corner portion 20 of the bin 14. The slot for receiving the pivot pin 18 is more clearly shown in Fig. 3 and the arcuate formationof the slot is such as to permit the pin to be disengaged from the slot when it is desired to remove the bin bodily for cleaning, etc. In normal operation, the pin lies within the inner portion of the slot and serves as an ordinary pivot to permitinward and outward swinging of the bin.

The bin 14 is provided preferably at its forward side with a horizontally-extending apron 21 and at its rear side with a similar apron extension 22. The bin may be formed of plastic or other suitable material and the

structures

21 and 22 may be formed of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material.

Above the bin 14, as shown best in Fig. 3, is a lid or cover 23, which is preferably formed of plastic but may be formed of any other suitable material. The tray is shown equipped with a border portion 24 and with arcuate ribs or track ridges 25 adapted to be engaged by the

bin portions

21 and 22 when the lid is being raised, as will be later described.

integrally formed with the lid 23 at one end is a boss 25 provided with a deep recess 27. The recess 27 of the lid 23 is engaged by a hook or guide member 28, preferably welded at its upper end to the rack 17. The hook serves the double purpose of supporting the lid, as illustrated best in Fig. 5, while at the same time guiding the tion illustrated in Fig. when the bin'14i'sswungttroutbn position;

It will beundrstbeddhat the melt orslielf lfl maybe of any suitalil'e construction, being iinperforat'e or' perforate, as desired; and the-structureis sosecured within the refrigerator as to provide supports for the pin 18- and the guide-menibers=28 and' 322 Y 7 Operation in the: operation ofistructure, when. one of: the bins 14 is. swung: outwardly; the: hint is exposed: at its top so thatthe vegetables, fruits; etc; therein may. be-readily removed. The lid or cover 23" remains within. the: refrigerated: space and: occupies; the" tilted. position. shown in Fig. It is supported: in. thisv position. by the members- 28 and 31. After the vegetableszhavet been. removed or. replaced within the bin, the housewife pushes the bin rearwardly in'to theirefrigerated space: The hydrators' top portion engages the-tilted lid 23 and" asitswingstin an: arcuateplane, travels along. the thin ridges 25v of'thelid, causing: the lid to-be slightly raisedt. When the: bin-has reached its final? position within the' refrigerated space, the lid 23 rests squarely across the top of the. bin 14,. as:- illustrated best in Fig; 4, and forms a closure: therefor. The tilting; of. the lid- 23 is not only effective in providing acam for raising the lid when the hydrator bin is swung. inwardly, but the tilting; of the bin further exposes the. inner portion of. the bin, asshownmore clearly in Fig. 5, since the forward portion of the lid swings upwardly to at position immediately under the shelfor rack- 17'.

While I have shown a hydrator constructed with a. specific form of pivot member, it. will be understood. that the pivoting or means for m-ovably supporting. the. bin may be varied widely. The. bin may be guided; for-slid-- ing' movement, ormoved upon horizontal pivots, or constructed in a variety of ways while still. raising; and loweringthe lid for the-entrance of the bin into the refrigerated space'and for the'closure' of. the lidvthereon. I have found that the form. of bin. illustrated is particularly efiicient in that. the short arc of. movement provided by the pivot: structure is: highly effective in raising the lid gently and smoothly as the bin swings inwardly anda thenv allowing. the lid to seat firmly uponthe bin.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set. out a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the details of structure so shown may be varied widely by those skilled in the art' without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a cabinet structure providing a storage space, a bin having an open top and being mounted for horizontal swinging movement into and out. of said. space, and a. cover for said bin supported in the upper portion of said space for both vertical and pivotal movement and beingsupported at off-center points so as to cause said cover to tilt upwardly at its forwardend when said bin is swung outwardly, the pivotal axis of said cover being below the topofsaid binwhen the bin is swung out of said' space, said cover being equipped with a plurality of spaced-apart ribs extending generally along the path of movement of said bin, said bin being provided adjacent the open top thereof with border portions extending laterally from the bin and being adapted to engage said ribs during movement of. the bin and toform' a seal Withithfl" edges of the cover when said bin is-within said space.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said bin, is supported upon a pivotal. axis extending through a corner portion of the bin.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet having a storage space, a bin mounted for. horizontal movementrinto;anttoutrofsaid space, a cover mounted within said. space and being adapted to form a sealing closure about said bin when the bin is within said space, shelf means above said cover, and means for supporting said cover upon said shelf, said means comprising a guidemember securedto said shelf means and depending therefrom, a boss carried by said cover and being'provided' with a recess for receiving: said guide member therein; a l-J-shaped' member secured to said shelf means and having' upwardly-extending legs; and'bosses provided by said cover andhaving wells-therein aligned with said l'egs and receiving thesametherein.

4-. Thestructure of claim 3 in which said guidemember is arcuate and-is equipped with a free end portion extend ingupwardly and into the recess provided by said first"- mentionedboss.

5. The structure of claim 4 inwhich said second-menti'oned bossesare spaced apart andinwhich said wells extend generally along the path of movement of said bin:

6. In a refrigerator cabinet having acompartment therein, a shelf mounted withins-aid compartment and providing a storage space therebel'ow, an open-topped binmount'ed within said space about a verticall y oriented pivotal axis for swinging movementinto and out of said space, a cover mounted within said space and bei'ngadapted to: rest upon and being supported primarily by said bin when the same is within said space, and means forsupport-- ing said cover for pivotal and vertical movement, said means comprising a boss alongone side of said'coverand providing an upwardly extending recess elongated transversely of said bin, an arcuate' guide member carriedby said shelf and having an upwardly-turned endportionreceivable within said recess, apair of bosses provided by said: cover and being spaced apart transversely along said bin, said bosses each having an upwardlyextending well therein elongated longitudinally of said bin, and a- U- shaped member-secured to said shelfand having upwardlyextending.v legs alignable with and receivable within said wells, said first-mentioned boss and said second-mentioned bosses providing the pivotal axis for said cover and being oifset from the center of the cover to cause the forward portion of'the' cover to tip-upwardly when said bin is withdrawn. from said space, said guide member: and said legs being freely movablevertically respectively within said recess and wells.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 217,563 West July 15, 1879 43 83,486 Pearson et al Oct, 14,, 1890' 601,921 Whitted Apr.. 5,, 1.898. 740,677 Monsen. et al' Oct.. 6,, 1.903. 988,594 Ralston Apr. 4,, 1911 2,517,725 Schweller Aug. 8, 1950. 2,644,737 Davis July 7,v 1.953.