US2842075A - Door fastener - Google Patents

Description

F. l. RATAICZAK I July s, 1958 DOOR FASTENER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1954 INVENTOR. garzcz's J. flrfaiczal His ATTORNEY.

July 8, 1958 F. l. RATAICZAK DOOR FASTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1954 INVENTOR.

$021023 J. fidaicza BY HIS ATTORNEY.

July 8, 1958 F. 1. RATAICZAK 2,842,075

DOOR FASTENER Filed Aug. 11, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

I HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent DOOR FASTEN ER Francis I. Rataiczak, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1954, Serial No. 449,072

4 Claims. (Cl. 109-635) This invention relates to door fasteners for hinged doors of refrigerators or the like and particularly to improvements in safety fasteners.

It is to be appreciated that children do not as a rule become trapped in the food storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet so long as the compartment is being cooled and utilized for the preservation of food products because foods stored in the compartment and on supporting shelves therein render it difiicult if not impossible for a child to enter the compartment. In most instances of children being trapped in refrigerators and becoming suffocated the refrigerator cabinet has been stripped of its food compartment shelves and other parts thereof and the cabinet has been discarded without first removing the food compartment door latch. I therefore contemplate the association with a refrigerator cabinet food compartment door fastener or latching mechanism of a means which will insure the fastener or latch mechanism becoming inoperative for locking the door tightly shut after the cabinet has been discarded or abandoned to eliminate the hazard of a child entering and being trapped in the compartment of the cabinet.

An object of my invention is to provide a door fastener or latch on a refrigerator cabinet which responds to a natural instinct, habit or manner of a child upon being trapped in the cabinet for permitting the child to extricate himself or herself from the interior thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet door latch with means which permits the door to be opened and closed in the ordinary manner, by manipulating a handle on the exterior of the door, while the cabinet is being used for the preservation of foods and which means prevents the latch fromlocking the door tightly closed when the cabinet is discarded.

A further object of my invention is to associate an electrical means with a door latch of a refrigerator cabinet or the like which is energized and deenergized each time the door is opened by the latch handle for insuring locking of the door in closed position with a strong force and to render the latch inoperative for locking the door in response to an interruption in the electric current leading to the electrical means While at the same time permitting the door to be latched to the cabinet with a relatively small force.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object of my invention to provide a latching mechanism for the food compartment door of a refrigerator cabinet which will overcome the resistance of a resilient gasket on the door or cabinet with a great force to lock the door tightly closed, will render the latching mechanism ineffective for this purpose when the electric circuit comprising the detachable extension cord leading from a source of electric current to the refrigerator is disconnected therefrom and will thereafter permit latching of the door to the cabinet with only a small force that can be easily overcome by a pushing on the door from within the compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention 2,842,075 Patented July 8, 1958 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and Zand shows a spring-pressed jaw-like device of the latch mechanism closed upon the keeper element to tightly lock the refrigerator cabinet closed;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 and shows the jaw-like device of the latch mechanism locked by the electrical means associated therewith;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 showing the relationship of parts of the latch mechanism;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1 showing rollers on the jaw-like device of the latch mechanism; and,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic showing of an electric circuit for the electrically energized elements associated with a refrigerator having my invention incorporated therein.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I show in Figure 1 thereof an insulated side wall 11 of a refrigerator cabinet structure having a door jamb provided with a flat surface or. panel 12 at the front of the cabinet adjacent to an access opening leading to a food storage compartment provided in the cabinet. A door structure, generally represented by the reference character 14, has an outer surface or metal panel 15 spaced from an inner panel (not shown) and insulating material 16 is disposed between the door panels. One side of door structure 14 is hingedly mounted upon the refrigerator cabinet structure for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto and is adapted to have its other side fastened or locked to the cabinet. Door 14 is formed with an edge portion overlapping the door jamb front surface 12 of the cabinet and has a resilient compressible rubber-like gasket 17 mounted thereon in any suitable manner for sealingly engaging the cabinet surface 12 to close the food storage compartment in. a substantially air-tight manner all of which is conventional in the art and readily understood by those skilled therein.

The fastening means for locking door structure 14 tightly closed against the refrigerator cabinet structure to seal the food compartment access opening comprises a latch mechanism including a rigid metal keeper part or element 21 projects through a suitable slot provided in.

the wall surface 12 of the cabinet door jamb and is adapted to extend through a suitable slot provided in panel 15 of door 14. The latching mechanism includes another part mounted on door 14 for receiving and interlockingly engaging the keeper element 21. This other part of the latch mechanism is located in a U-shaped metal box or frame structure within door 14 and secured to panel 15 thereof in any suitable or desirable manner. The U-shaped frame structure or mechanism 3. housing includes two upright side walls 31 and an integral lower connecting wall 32. One of the side walls 31 is broken away to more clearly show elements of this other part of the latch mechanism. A plurality of stationary shafts or studs 33, 34, 35 and 36 are riveted to the side walls 31 of the metal frame structure and form a rigid tie therebetween. The lower end of a metal arm 37, having an elongated opening 38 therein fitting over stud 33, extends through a slot 39 provided in the horizontal bottom wall 32 of the latch frame or housing. Arm 37 carries a shaft or stud 41 and a strong coil spring 42 surrounds arm 37 and is held compressed between the shafts or studs 33 and 41. The upper end of arm 37 has a shaft or stud 43 thereon carrying a roller 44. An inverted U-shaped arm 46 is pivotally mounted on stationary shaft or stud 34 and has its one end 47 pivotally attached to the shaft or stud 41 carried on arm 37. The other end 48 of arm 46 carries a stud 49 upon which is mounted two depending sheet metal pieces 51 spaced apart by a roller 52 also mounted on stud 49. These depending metal pieces 51 are each provided with a vertically elongated opening 53 fitting over the stationary stud 36 and an integral off-set portion 54 carries a stud 55. A roller 56 is mounted on stud 36 intermediate the lower ends of metal pieces 51. Another stud f) riveted to arm 46 has a Ushaped trigger or look member 57 pivotally mounted thereon. Lock member 57 is adapted to rest against stationary stud 35 (see Figure l) and a spring 58 coiled around shaft or stud 50 has its one end engaging arm 46 and its other end bearing against member 57 to bias the stop or trigger member 57 toward stud 35. The arms 37 and 46 together with their mountings on the studs 33 and 34 and their cooperation with one another form'a cockable and trippable toggle-joint contrivance. The arm 46 together with rollers 52 and 56 provide the latch mechanism with a movable jaw-like device. Trigger member 57 when engaging stud 35 locks both the toggle-joint ccntrivance and the jaw-like device of the latch mechanism and must be released from this stud to permit operation of the mechanism.

When the door structure 14 is closed to lock the door against the refrigerator cabinet and to compress gasket 17 into tight sealing engagement with panel or surface 12 (see Figure 3) the toggle-joint contrivance is released by keeper element 21 and the jaw-like device of the mechanism is closed upon keeper 21 under the influence of the strong spring 42. In order to open door 14 spring 42 must be compressed to permit moving or opening of the jaw-like device of the latch from the position thereof shown in Figure 3 of the drawings to the position shown in Figure 1. Spring 42 is compressed and the togglejoint contrivance is cocked open by a series of levers extending through door structure 14 and connected to a latch handle (not shown) located on the exterior side of the door. Any conventional leverage linkage extending from the handle on the outside of door 14 may engage or be suitably connected to a lever 61 pivotally mounted upon a stud 62 riveted to upstanding ears 63 on the upright sides 31 of the U-shaped latch housing or frame for swinging the short end of this lever 61 into engagement with the roller 44 to move arm 37 downwardly and to compress spring 42. Such downward movement of arm 37 causes arm 46 to pivot about stud 34 whereupon the end 48 of arm 46 will be elevated relative to the position thereof shown in Figure 3 to its position shown in Figure 1. As the end 48 of arm 46 moves upward it carries the metal pieces 51, roller 52 and movable stud 55 upwardly. Stud 55 engages the underside of end 24 of keeper element 21 to tilt same about pin 23 whereupon the hook 26 on element 21 is moved into a position (see Figure 4) to be passed over stationary roller 56. Keeper element 21 having been released from the jawlike device, rollers 52 and 56, of the latch mechanism a forward pull on door 14 will now ride the underside of end 24 of element 21 over roller 56 and permit door 14 to open for affording access to the food storage compartment within the refrigerator cabinet. As the end 24 of keeper 21 moves out of the jaw-like device portion of the latch mechanism spring 58 rotates trigger or lock member 57 into engagement with stud 35 to lock the toggle-joint contrivance of the latch mechanism in the position thereof shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Upon closing door 14 the widest portion of the inclined edge surfaces of the arrowhead-shaped end 24 of keeper element 21 will enter the jaw-like device to move roller 52; upwardly relative to roller 56 and arm 46 consequently lifts trigger or stop member 57 off stud 35. Continned closing movement of door 14 causes the end 24 of keeper element 21 to move member 57 away from stud 35 (see Figure 2). At this moment the togglejoint contrivance is tripped or released and the strong force of spring 42 causes the jaw-like device, rollers 52 and 56, of the mechanism to close and lock upon keeper 21 (see Figure 3). The inclination of hook 26 on keeper element 21, riding over roller 56, draws or compresses the gasket 17 tightly between the cabinet structure and the door structure 14- (see Fi ure 3). Door 14 remains tightly locked against the cabinet and it cannot be opened by force applied thereto unless the exterior latch handle is again manipulated to force open the latch mechanism. The construction of the latch mechanism thus far disclosed and its action is conventional, is normal and is presently employed on the food storage compartment door of refrigerator cabinets obtainable on the open market. It should therefore be obvious that if a child would enter the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinet provided with the latch mechanism as described and the door then be closed the child would be trapped in the cabinet with no means of eXtricating himself or herself therefrom.

Since the presently disclosed do r latch is highly desirable and practical particularly from the standpoint of compressing the door gasket and providing a tight and uniform seal about the food storage compartment access opening I desire to modify such a latch mechanism to overcome the hazard of a child being trapped in a discarded refrigerator cabinet equipped with this type of latch. In accordance with my invention I associate an electrically energized means with the latch mechanism disclosed and this means includes a suitable or conventional spring pressed snap acting electric switch, generally represented by the reference character 65, mounted on and carried by the trigger or stop member 57 (see Figure 1). Switch 65 comprises a button 66 projecting through a suitable hole in the bight portion of U-shaped member 57 and engaging an inclined cover plate 67 secured to member 57 and movable relative thereto. The electrically energized means also includes a solenoid, generally represented by the reference character 69, suitably mounted on a side wall 31 of the latch housing or frame (see Figures 5 and 6) and having a rotary plunger associated therewith which carries a pin 71. Such rotary type solenoids are now conventional and may be obtained on the open market. The plunger 72 of solenoid 69 (see Figure 7) is biased away from windings thereof by a spring 73. Solenoid 69 is so located on the latch housing that spring 73 causes, when the solenoid is deenergized, pin 71 to engage a side edge of arm 37 of the latch mechanism. A cut-out notch 74 provided in this side edge of arm 37 is adapted to receive the pin 71 and wedge the same between arm 37 and the lower wall 32 of the latch housing for a purpose to be presently described.

The electrically energized means associated with the latch mechanism includes a portion of a detachable electric circuit connected to a source of electric current supply and leading therefrom to an electrically operated refrigerant translating unit such, for example, as a motorcompressor-condenser unit of a closed refrigerating systemassociated with the refrigerator cabinet. This circuit comprises the detachable extension electric cord supplied with a refrigerator and plugable into a wall or the like receptacle connected to a source of electric current for rendering the refrigerating system in the cabinet operative. The closed refrigerating system also includes a refrigerant evaporator (not shown) for cooling the interior of the food storage compartment of the refrigerator cabinet and suitable conduits interconnecting the refrigerant translating unit with the evaporator.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the drawings, the elements in the detachable electric circuit include a refrigerant translating unit such as a sealed unit 76 containing an electric motor and a refrigerant compressor driven thereby. One wire 77 of the detachable or disconnectable circuit has a branch wire 78 leading to one side of the winding of the electric motor in unit 76. The other side of the winding in motor of unit 76 is connected by wire 79 to a thermostatic switch 81 and to the other wire 82 of the detachable electric circuit or extension cord of the refrigerator. Thermostatic switch 81 controls starting and stopping of unit 76 in response to temperatures within the food storage compartment of the refrigerator as is common in the art. The detachable electric circuit may also include a food compartment illuminating lamp 83 and a door operated switch 84 therefor connected across the wires 77 and 82 by a branch wire 86 for energizing and deenergizing lamp 83 upon opening and closing movements of door 14. The remainder of this circuit includes the winding of solenoid 69 connected at one end to wire 82 and having its other end adapted to be connected to wire 77 under the control of push button switch 65 contained in the latch mechanism herein disclosed. The wire connections of elements in the detachable electric circuit have been omitted from the structural views in the drawings for the sake of clarifying these views. 6

It is to be understood that when the refrigerator is in use and the handle on the exterior of door structure 14 is actuated to release the latch mechanism and permit door 14 to be pulled open the leverage connection between this exterior door handle =and lever 61 causes movement of elements of the latch mechanism from the position thereof disclosed in Figure 3 to the position illustrated in Figure 1. That is arm 37 is depressed against the force of spring 42 causing arm 46 to pivot about stud 34 to raise roller 52, metal pieces 51 and lock or trigger member 57. At this time spring 58 biases member 57 into locked engagement with stud 35 and the biasing spring 73 of the solenoid 69 pulls pin 71 into the notch 74 of arm 37 and into engagement with the bottom wall 32 of the latch housing box (see Figure 1). Strong spring 42 is compressed and the toggle-joint contrivance of the latching mechanism is cooked and locked in open position by lock member 57 resting on stud 35. The jaw-like device of the latching mechanism comprising arm 46 and rollers 52 and 56 is also locked in open position. Upon closing door 14 the arrowheadshaped end 24 of keeper element 21 enters the jaw-like device portion of the latch between rollers 52 and 56 as shown in Figure 1. Continued closing movement of door 14 will cause the inclined edge portions of the arrowhead-shaped end 24 of keeper element 21 to spread rollers 52 and 56 apart and simultaneously cause trigger or lock member 57 to be elevated off of stud 35 (see Figure 2). Substantially at this same time the end 24 of keeper element 21 moves into engagement with and depresses the cover 67 to consequently depress button 66 of the electric switch carried on member 57 for closing same. This completes the electric circuit from wire 77 to wire 82 through switch 65 and the solenoid 69 to energize same and draw its rotatable plunger 72 thereinto against the tension of spring 73. Pin 71, carried on plunger 72 of solenoid 69, moves out of the notch 74 in arm 37 (see Figure 2) and strong spring 42 then elevates arm 37 to cause arm 46 to pivot about stud 34 and close the jaw-like device, rollers 52 and 56, upon the arrowhead-shaped end 24 of keeper element21 (see' past the cover 67 on member 57 onto the lower portion of this member 57 and the spring loaded button 66 of electric switch 65 again pushes cover member 67 outwardly relative to member 57 for breaking the circuit, wires 77 and 82, to solenoid69. Pin 71, under the influence of spring 73, will be pulled into engagement with arm 37 at a point below the notch 74 therein.

Door 14 may be unlocked or unlatched exteriorly thereof for opening movement relative to the cabinet as hereinbefore described to bring elements of the latching mechanism into the position thereof disclosed in Figure l regardless of whether or not the detachable electric circuit is connected with the source of electric current supply. However if this detachable circuit is disconnected from the source of electric current for any reason such, for example, as when the refrigerator cabinet is to be discarded and the cabinet door 14 is subsequently opened, to move elements of the latching mechanism from the position thereof shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1, spring 73 will pull pin 71 into the notch 74 of arm 37 when this arm is moved down by manipulation of the exterior latch handle. The toggle-joint contrivance of the door latching mechanism is blocked in the open F position shown in Figures 1 and 4 and its jaw-like device is now incapable of being influenced by the strong spring 42 whereby keeper element 21 is prevented from being interlocked with roller 56. Even if door 14 is slammed shut with considerable force the keeper element 21 cannot trip the toggle-joint contrivance while it is blocked by pin 71. Should a child enter the food compartment of the refrigerator cabinet after this subsequent opening of door 14 and the door then closed the toggle-joint contrivance being blocked, by pin 71 fitting in notch 74 of arm 37 and abutting the wall 32 of the latch housing, prevents the jaw-like device of the fastener or latch mechanism from closing or locking upon the keeper element 21. This closing of door 14 causes the arrowheadshaped end 24 of keeper 21 to enter the jaw-like device between the rollers 52 and 56 (see Figure 4) and the door gasket 17 is uncompressed and may be spaced slightly from the surface 12 of the refrigerator cabinet. The small space between the uncompressed gasket 17 and face 12 of the refrigerator cabinet presents the advantage of permitting some light and air to enter the food compartment thus reducing the likelihood of a child trapped in the compartment becoming panicky or being suffocated. It will be noted that in this latched position of door 14 the tip of hook portion 26 on keeper 21 has ridden over the stationary roller 56 and come to rest on stud 55. By virtue of arm 37 being locked in its lower position together with the increased leverage now afforded thereto by arm 46 the lower tip of hook portion 26 of keeper element 21 may be readily forced back over the top of roller 56 with a minimum of effort to open door 14 without actuating the latch handle on the exterior of the door. In fact a small force, capable of being exerted by a child trapped in the food compartment of the refrigerator cabinet, applied directly to door 14 will ride the lower tip of hook portion 26 on keeper element 21 back over stationary roller 56 and cause the door to swing open about its hinged mounting. When this force is applied to door 14 keeper element 21 tilts upwardly about its pivotal mounting stud 23 against the tension of light spring 28. Thus I provide a latching mechanism for a door of a refrigerator cabinet which becomes inoperative to hold the door locked in closed position when the refrigerator is disconnected from a source of electric current and is to be discarded or abandoned. Reference to locking door 14 as herein employed is to be distinguished from locking the door with a key. As herein employed locking of door 14 is the normal closing of the door which latches the same shut against being opened by pressure applied to the door in order that the door will tightly compress gasket 17.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that I have provided an improved door fastener or latching 1116C}- anism which insures that the compressive resistance of a door gasket will be overcome upon closing the door to insure an effective and uniform sealing of the food compartment access opening of a refrigerator cabinet, while the same is being used for the preservation of foods, and which mechanism becomes inoperative automatically for locking the door closed with a strong force after the refrigerator has been disconnected from a source of electric current supply. My improved door fastener or latching mechanism when rendered inoperative for holding the door locked will respond to natural instincts of a child, upon being trapped in the refrigerator cabinet, and permit the child to push on the door and extricate himself or herself from, within the cabinet. The im proved door latch eliminates the necessity of drafting laws or ordinances forbidding the discarding of an old refrigerator before removing the door, its hinges and/or its latch and obviates the hazard of children becoming. trapped in a discarded refrigerator cabinet even if such laws are violated.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as here in disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.'

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet structure having a compartment therein provided with an access opening and a door structure adapted to close said opening, a refrigerating system associated with said refrigerator including an electrically operated refrigerant translating unit mounted therein, an electric circuit detachably connected to a source of electric current and leading therefrom to said unit, a fastening device for said door structure, said fastening device comprising a keeper element on one of said structures and a manually actuated latch mechanism carried by the other of said structures including a keeper latching means normally interlockable with p the keeper element for latching said door structure in tightly closed position against said cabinet structure, a lever on one of said structures for actuating said latch mechanism to break the interlock between said keeper latching means and said keeper element to open said door, electrically operable means incorporated in said manual latch mechanism having a connection with said electric circuit, means for controlling said electrically operable means, said unit,'said circuit, said electrically operable means and said control means all being movable with the portable refrigerator upon transporting same from one locality to another, said electrically operable means being energized solely in response to engagement of said keeper element with said control means upon moving the door into closed association with said cabinet to cause said keeper latching means to mechanically interlock with the keeper element for latching the door closed after being opened by said lever, and said electrically operable means being deenergized by disconnecting said detachable circuit from said source of electric current for rendering said keeper latching means ineffective to interlock with said keeper element to. prevent latching of the door tightly closed whereby said door thereafter remains in an ajar position with respect to said cabinet.

2. A refrigerator of the type defined in claim 1 in which the door is openable by a pressure applied thereto from within the compartment while the keeper latching means is noninterlockable with the keeper element.

3. in a portable refrigerator, a cabinet structure having a compartment therein provided with an access opening and a door structure adapted to close said opening, a resilient gasket on one of said structures for substantially sealing said opening, a refrigerating system associated with said refrigerator including an electrically operated refrigerant translating unit mounted therein, an electric circuit detachably connected to a source of elec tric current and leading therefrom to said unit, a fastening device for said door structure, said fastening device comprising a keeper element on one of said structures and a manually actuated latch mechanism carried by the other of said structures including a keeper latching means normally interlockable with the keeper element for latching said door structure in tightly closed position against said cabinet structure to compress said gasket between the structures, a lever on one of said structures for actuating said latch mechanism to break the interlock between said keeper latching means and said keeper element to open said door, electrically operable means incorporated in said manual latch mechanism having a connection with said electric circuit, means for controlling said electrically operable means, said unit, said circuit, said electrically operable means and said control means all being movable with the portable refrigerator upon transporting same from one locality to another, said electrically operable means being energized solely in response to engagement of said keeper element with said control means upon moving the door into closed association with said cabinet to cause said keeper latching means to mechanically interlock with the keeper element for latching the door closed after being opened. by said lever, and said electrically operable means being deenergized by disconnecting said detachable circuit from said source of electric current for rendering said keeper latching means ineffective to interlock with said keeper element to prevent compression of said gasket between the structures and latching of the door tightly closed whereby said door thereafter remains in an ajar position with respect to said cabinet.

4. A refrigerator of the type defined in claim 3 in which the door is openable by a pressure applied thereto from within the compartment at all times the keeper latching means is noninterlockable with the keeper element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,317 Dulczewski Dec. 7, 1920 2,253,252 Smith Aug. 19, 1941 2,461,426 King Feb. 8, 1949 2,467,815 Curtiss Apr. 19, 1949 2,584,480 Mantling Feb. 5, 1952 2,655,395 Groeger Oct. 13, 1953 2,662,787 Horvay Dec. 15, 1953 2,727,772 Hamilton Dec. 20, 1955 2,752,188 Bachi June 26, 1956

Images