US2735927A

US2735927A - Refrigerator illuminating device

Info

Publication number: US2735927A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1956 R, w BR EFRIGERATOR ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1953 INVENTOR. ROBERT W. BRACE ATTY.

United States Patent REFRIGERATOR ILLUMINATING DEVICE Robert William Brace, Evansville, Ind., assiguor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 11, 1953, Serial No. 373,480

7 Claims. (Cl. 240-4) This invention relates generally to refrigerator cabinet constructions and more specifically to novel means for simultaneously opening a refrigerator door and energizing a refrigerator cabinet light.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple mechanism for opening a refrigerator door and for lighting a refrigerator cabinet lamp when the door is unlatched by means of a foot pedal.

It is a feature of this invention that a spring loaded plunger is compressed when the refrigerator door is closed to provide the power necessary to open the refrigerator door at a later time.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawing of which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet and door having portions thereof cut away to show the various elements of the present invention; and,

Figure 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the latching mechanism of the refrigerator door.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

For a detailed description of the invention reference is made to the drawing. The refrigerator cabinet comprises an outer liner having an inner liner 11 disposed therein and spaced some distance from the walls thereof, as is well known in the art. The space between the inner liner 11 and the outer liner 10 is filled with some form of insulation (not shown). The inner liner 11 is formed to have an outwardly extending flange 12 at the marginal edges thereof. The outer liner 10 has a rolled section 13 formed at the marginal edges thereof and extending in an inward direction toward said inner liner 11. To maintain the inner liner 11 properly spaced from the outer liner 10 and to structurally strengthen the refrigerator cabinet as a unit, tie brackets 14 are mounted across the space between the inner and outer liners and fastened thereto by any means well known in the art. Further, as is well known in the art, a breaker strip 15 is provided. The breaker strip 15 is maintained within the rolled section 13 of the outer liner 10 and against the flange 12 of the inner liner 11 by spring or clip means (not shown).

The refrigerator door 16 is pivotally mounted over the open side of the refrigerator cabinet. Only a small portion of the refrigerator door 16 is shown since its construction is well known in the art. The refrigerator door 16 comprises an outer door panel 17 and an inner door panel 18. The inner door panel 18 is spaced some distance from the outer door panel 17 and insulation (not shown) is disposed therebetween to properly insulate the door. in order to prevent heat from being conducted from the outer door panel 17 to the inner door panel 18, a combined breaker strip and gasket 19 is provided. The breaker strip and gasket 19 serves as a heat break between the outer door panel 17 and the inner door panel 18 and also serves as a resilient gasket about the edge of the refrigerator door 16. The outer door panel 17, the inner panel 18, and the element 19 are fastened together by any means well known in the art. To maintain the refrigerator door 16 in its closed position a latch 20 is provided. The latch 20 which may easily be seen in Figure 2 is pivotally mounted within the refrigerator door 16, and a portion thereof extends outwardly from the refrigerator door 16 through an opening 21 in the refrigerator door 16. A resilient spring 22 is connected to the latch 20 and to the inner door panel 18 and is tensioned to bias the latch 20 in a downward direction. A cooperating opening 23 is provided in the rolled section 13 of the outer liner 10, and with the latch 20 positioned through the opening 23, the refrigerator door 16 is securely maintained in the closed position, as can easily be seen in Figure 2. To release the latch 20 in order that the door 16 may be opened, a foot pedal 24 is provided. The foot pedal 24 is pivotally mounted to the outer liner 10, and a portion thereof extends through the outer liner 10 to the space between the outer liner 10 and the inner liner 11. The inwardly projecting portion of the foot pedal 24 is connected to a rod 25 and a spring 26. The rod 25 is slidably mounted within a bracket 27. The spring 26 is tensioned to bias the inwardly projecting portion of the foot pedal 24 in a downward direction. The upper end of the rod 25 abuts a portion of the latch 21), and as the outwardly extending portion of the foot pedal 23.is depressed, the rod 25 will be projected upwardly to in turn pivot the latch 20 about its mounting means in an upward direction, thereby releasing the latch 20 from cooperation with the outer liner 10. The refrigerator door 16 will then be released from its latching engagement with the outer liner 10 and the refrigerator door 16 may then be opened.

In order to illuminate the interior of the refrigerator, a lamp 28 is provided. The lamp 28 is mounted in some portion of the inner liner 11 so that the interior of the refrigerator cabinet may be properly illuminated when the lamp 28 is lit. Lamp receptacle 29 is provided for the lamp 28 and a length of electrical cord 30 is connected thereto. The cord 30 is shown as having a broken section 31 to indicate that the cord 30 may be of any length sufficient to allow placement of the lamp 28 in any portion of the refrigerator cabinet, and that the cord 30 may be connected'to a power source (not shown) for the lamp 28.

A mechanism 32 is provided to simultaneously cause the refrigerator door 16 to open and the lamp 28 to light when the foot pedal 24 has been depressed to release the latch 20. The mechanism 32 comprises three essential parts, a bumper element 33, a spring-loaded element 34,

and a switch 35.

element 34 comprises a cylinder 39, a plunger 40, a coiled spring 41 and a pin 42. The cylinder 39, which is shown in section in Figure 1 has a flange formed at the open end thereof and extending in an outwardly direction. as can:

easily be seen in Figure 1. The screws 37 are threaded through the U-shaped element 36 and into and through the flange of the cylinder 39 to maintain the cylinder 39 mounted to the U-shaped element 36. The plunger 40 is positioned partially within the cylinder 39 and the forward end thereof extends through an opening provided in. the breaker strip 15. The portion of the plunger 40 which. is positioned within the cylinder 39 is smaller in diameter than the remainder of the plunger 40 so that the coiled spring 41 may be mounted about that portion ofthe plunger 40. The rearward end of the plunger 40 projects through an opening in one end of cylinder 39 and a pin 42 is mounted through a hole in the end of the plunger 40 to limit the outward movement of the plunger 40. The coiled spring 41 is wound about the portion of the plunger 40 within the cylinder 39 and is partially compressed to bias the plunger 40 outward from the cylinder 39. The outward portion of the plunger 4%) is rounded as can easily be seen in Figure 1. be seen that when the plunger 40 is projected rearwardly into the cylinder 39, the coiled spring 41 is additionally compressed, and as the plunger 40 is released, the coiled spring 41 will force the plunger outward to cause it to assume the position shown in Figure 1.

A bumper 33 formed of a material which can withstand the shock of the plunger 40 is mounted to the inner door panel 18 by any means well known in the art. The bumper 33 is positioned in the inner door panel 18 normal to the axis along which the plunger 40 is movable when the door 16 is closed. Thus it may be seen that when the refrigerator door 16 is closed, the bumper 33 will project against the rounded end of the plunger 40 and will cause the plunger 40 to be projected within the cylinder 39 compressing the coiled spring 41. Further, as the refrigerator door 16 is closed, the beveled surface of the latch 20 will slide upon the lower surface of the opening 23 in the outer liner 10. When the door is in the fully closed position, the coiled spring 22 will draw the latch 20 downward to cause the latch 20 to catch upon the lower edge of the opening 23 to maintain the refrigerator door 16 in the closed position. At this time the plunger 40 will be fully projected within the cylinder 39, and the coiled spring 41 will be compressed to a maximum. If the foot pedal 24 is then depressed, the latch 20 will be released as previously described, and the forward portion of the plunger 40 will be forced from the cylinder 39 by the coiled spring 41 to thereby open the refrigerator door 16.

The switch element 35 is connected to one end of the cord 30 in series with the power source and the lamp 28. The switch element 35 is operated by the plunger 43. The details of the switch element 35 are not shown since these switch elements are well known in the art. It is believed sufficient to note that the switch element 35 will close the aforementioned circuit across the ends of the cord 30 connected thereto when the plunger 43 is allowed to move outwardly from the switch element 35, and the connection between the ends of the cord 30 connected to the switch element 35 will be opened or broken when the plunger 43 is forced into the switch element 35. Further, a spring (not shown) is mounted within the switch element 35 to normally bias the plunger 43 to the fully extended position. To mount the switch mechanism 35 in cooperation with the other elements of the mechanism 32, two

brackets

44 and 45 are provided. The bracket 44 is generally C-shaped as can easily be seen in Figure l. The forward edge of the bracket 44 has a pair of flanges thereon through which the screws 37 are threaded to maintain the bracket 44 rigidly mounted in a cooperating realtionship with the bracket 36. The bracket 44 extends through an opening in the flange 12 of the inner liner 11. The rearward portion of the bracket 44 has an opening therein. The bracket 45 is also generally C-shaped and has a cylindrical projection at the forward edge thereof which is mounted through the opening in the bracket 44 and is fastened thereto such as by a turning of the end of the cylindrical portion. The switch mechanism 35 is mounted within the bracket 45, and the plunger 43 is positioned to extend through the cylindrical portion of the bracket 45 and the opening of the bracket 44. The rearward portion of the bracket 45 is bent against the rearward portion of the switch portion 35 to rigidly maintain the switch mechanism 35 mounted within Thus it can the bracket 45. The plunger 43 is positioned in axial alignment to the rearward end of the plunger 40 so that the rearward end of the plunger 40 will project the plunger 43 into the switch mechanism when the plunger is moved rearwardly. When the refrigerator door 16 is opened, allowing the plunger 49 to be moved under the power of the coiled compressed spring 41, the rearward end of the plunger 40 will release the plunger 43 and allow the plunger 43 to move outwardly from the switch mechanism 35. Thus it can be seen that as the foot pedal 24 is depressed to cause the refrigerator door 16 to be unlatched, the plunger 40 will cause the refrigerator door to open and will cause the switch mechanism 35 to operate to in turn cause the lamp 28 to light. As the refrigerator door is closed the coiled spring 41 will be compressed and the lamp 28 will be extinguished.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator door pivotally mounted over an open side of said refrigerator cabinet, a lamp mounted within said refrigerator cabinet, latching means operable to unlatch said refrigerator door from said refrigerator cabinet and restorable to latch said refrigerator door to said refrigerator cabinet, and means operating responsive to the operation of said latching means for simultaneously forcing said refrigerator door to the open position and causing said lamp to be illuminated and operating responsive to the restoration of said latching means for extinguishing said lamp, said last mentioned means comprising a plunger slidably mounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet and projectable against said refrigerator door when said refrigerator door is in the closed position, switching means mounted in said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet in operative engagement with said plunger, power means associated with said plunger and operating responsive to the operation of said latching means for causing said plunger to be projected against said refrigerator door whereby said refrigerator door is forced to the open position, said switching means formed to engage said plunger so that when said plunger is projected against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position said switching means operates to cause the illumination of said lamp, said switching means further formed to engage said plunger so that when said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position said plunger restores said switching means whereby said lamp is extinguished.

2. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator door pivotally mounted over an open side of said refrigerator cabinet, a lamp mounted within said refrigerator cabinet, latching means operable to unlatch said refrigerator door from said refrigerator cabinet and restorable to latch said refrigerator door to said refrigerator cabinet, a cylinder mounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidably mounted within said cylinder along an axis whereby said plunger is projectible against said refrigerator door when said refrigerator door is in the closed position, a compressed coiled spring disposed about a portion of said plunger within said cylinder and cooperating with said plunger and said cylinder so that one end of said plunger is biased against said refrigerator door when said refrigerator door is in the closedposition, said coiled spring projecting said one end of said plunger against said refrigerator door responsive to the operation of said latching means whereby said refrigerator door is forced to the open position, switching means mounted-in said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet in operative engagement with the other end of said plunger, said switching means formed to en gage said other end of said plunger so that when said one end of said plunger is projected against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position said switching meansoperates to cause the illumination of said lamp, said switching means further formed to engage the other end of said plunger so that when said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position and said latiching means is restored said plunger restores said switching means whereby said lamp is extinguished.

3. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator door pivotally mounted over an open side of said refrigerator cabinet, a lamp mounted within said refrigerator cabinet, latching means operable to unlatch said refrigerator door from said refrigerator cabinet and restorable to latch said refrigerator door to said refrigerator cabinet, a cylinder mounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidably mounted within said cylinder along an axis normal to the plane of said refrigerator door whereby said plunger is projectable against said refrigerator door, a compressed coiled spring disposed about a portion of said plunger within said cylinder and cooperating with said plunger and said cylinder so that one end of said plunger is biased toward said refrigerator door, said compressed coiled spring projecting said one end of said plunger against said refrigerator door responsive to the operation of said latching means whereby said refrigerator door is forced to the open position, a switch mounted within said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet and connected to said lamp for the operation thereof, a second plunger connected to said switch, said second plunger formed to be slidable along the same axis as said first plunger is slidable, said second plunger positioned to abut the other end of said first plunger so that said second plunger moves to cause said switch to operate to illuminate said lamp when said one end of said first plunger is projected against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position, said second plunger further positioned to abut the other end of said first plunger so that said first plunger moves said second plunger to cause said switch to extinguish said lamp when said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position and said latching means is restored.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and having a lamp mounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing the refrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lamp when the refrigerator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lamp when said door is closed, said means comprising a plunger mounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, switching means mounted within said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet in cooperation with said plunger and said lamp, power means mounted in cooperation with said plunger for causing said plunger to be projected against said refrigerator door when said refrigerator door is unlatched, whereby said refrigerator door is forced to the open position, said switching means operating responsive to the projection of said plunger against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position for illuminating said lamp,

means for restoring said plunger when said refrigerator door is latched, said switching means operating responsive to the restoration of said plunger for extinguishing said lamp.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and having a lamp mounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing the refrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lamp when the refrig erator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lamp when said door is closed, said means comprising a cylinder mounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidably mounted within said cylinder so as to be projectable against said refrigerator door, a compressed coiled spring mounted about a portion of said plunger within said cylinder, said compressed coiled spring biasing said plunger toward said refrigerator door, said bias of said compressed coiled spring being suflicient to project said plunger against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position when said refrigerator door is unlatched, means for restoring said plunger when said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position, switching means mounted within said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet in cooperation with said plunger and said lamp, said switching means operating responsive to the projection of said plunger against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position for illuminating said lamp, said switching means operating responsive to the restoration of said plunger for extinguishing said lamp.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and a lamp mounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing the refrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lamp when the refrigerator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lamp when said door is closed, said means comprising a plunger slidably mounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, power means associated with said plunger and operating responsive to the unlatching of said refrigerator door for projecting said plunger against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position, said power means restoring responsive to the restoration of said plunger responsive to a closing of said refrigerator door, a switch connected to said lamp for the operation thereof, a second plunger slidably connected to said switch and slidably abutting said first plunger, said second plunger sliding responsive to the projection of said first plunger against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position to cause said switch to operate to illuminate said lamp, and said second plunger sliding responsive to the restoration of said plunger to cause said switch to restore to extinguish said lamp.

7. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and having a lamp mounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing the refrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lamp when the refrigerator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lamp when said door is closed, said means comprising a cylinder mounted Within one Wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidably mounted within said cylinder so as to be projectable against said refrigerator door, a compressed coiled spring mounted about a portion of said plunger within said cylinder, said compressed coil spring biasing said plunger towards said refrigerator door, said bias of said compressed coiled spring being sufiicient to project said plunger against said refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open position when said refrigerator door is unlatched, said refrigerator door being formed to restore said plunger when said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position, a switch mounted within said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet for the operation of said lamp, a second plunger slidably associated with said first plunger and connected to said switch and positioned to be slidable along the same axis as said first plunger is slidable, said second plunger sliding responsive to the projection of said first plunger against said refrigerator door to cause said switch to operate to illuminate said lamp, and said second plunger sliding responsive to the restoration of said first plunger to cause said switch to restore to extinguish said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,290 Lippincott June 15, 1915 1,424,650 Kubik Aug. 1, 1922 1,976,269 Stewert Oct. 9, 1934 2,093,317 Gates Sept. 14, 1937 2,156,443 Zook May 2, 1939