US2955891A - Domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1960 'LE ROY McDoNNoLD DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30. 1959 Fig. 2

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Oct. l1, 1960 LE ROY McnoNNoLD 2,955,891

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed June 30. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. LeRoy McDo/mold 7d His Af/orn y United States Patent hice Patented Oct. 1l, 1960 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Le Roy McDonnold, West Carrollton, Ohio, assgnor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 30, 1959, Ser. No. 824,055

4 Claims. (Cl. S12-242) This invention relates to cooking appliances and particularly to unitary built-in wall oven structures.

In some installations of unitary built-in wall oven structures supportingly inserted into a cavity provided in an upright wall of a kitchen or a cupboard therein,

the form or size of the unitary structure as compared to the cavity opening, its fit in the cavity together with the weight thereof has been relied upon to hold the structure against being shifted relative to the cavity or wall in which the cavity is located. Since the size of a cavity opening or wall thereof for a particular dimensioned wall oven unit or structure may vary considerably from house `to house, such built-in wall oven unit installations have not been entirely satisfactory. In this type of oven unit or structure installations, the unit or structure becomes, after usage thereof, shifted out of alignment with bounding walls of a cavity or relative to its opening and thereby renders the installation objectionable in appearance resulting in service calls to realign the oven structure With respect to edges of the cavity opening or to push the oven unit back into the cavity. I contemplate a wall oven installation which will prevent shifting of an oven structure supportedly inserted into a cavity provided in a kitchen wall or cupboard relative thereto irrespective of building tolerances between walls of a cavity or edges of the opening thereof so as to eliminate the likelihood of the installation thereafter becoming unsightly and to dispense with service calls for the purpose described.

An object of my invention is to provide on an oven structure to be built -in a wall means for facilitating and reducing the time required to install the structure in a cavity of the Wall.

Another object of my invention is 'to provide for the installation of a unitary oven structure into a cavity Ain a room Wall and the locking of same therein without dismantling parts thereof or removing the oven doors therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide a iirst member, such as a unitary oven structure, with means for anchoring same in a cavity in a second member or kitchen Wall after placing or inserting the first member or structure into supported relationship within the cavity of the second member or wall lfor preventing shifting movement therebetween.

A further object of my invention is to provide a unitary oven structure adapted to be inserted into a supported position in a cavity of a kitchen wall or the like with means which is operable from exteriorly of the structure and the wall after the oven structure has been supported in the cavity for preventing shifting movement of ythe structure relative thereto and which is also adjustable to permit removal of the structure from the cavity.

A still further object of my invention is to provide opposed fastening devices on an oven structure that are normally inside the periphery of bounding walls of the oven to permit insertion of the structure as a unit into a supported position in a cavity therefor and which devices include or comprise a clamping element pivotally mounted thereon and a locking adjustable member operable through a front wall or the forward surface of the structure for moving or swinging the clamping element about its mounting laterally away from walls of the oven to forcefully wedge and lock a part of the element against a wall portion of the cavity inwardly of its opening to prevent shifting of the oven structure in and relative to the cavity.

In carrying out the foregoing object, it is still a further and more specic object of my invention to conceal an opening in the front wall of an oven structure which provides access to the adjustable member of the opposed fastening devices `by a removable cover snapped in retained position over the opening and normally hidden from view at the front of the structure by the oven doors thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a kitchen wall and cabinetwork showing a unitary oven structure mounted in a cavity in the wall and having the present inventionv associated therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View` oven structure supported in the wall cavity with a clamping element of one of two opposed fastening devices in a normal nonobstructing position prior to moving or swinging the element into clamping or wedging engagement` against a Wall of a cavity;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 showing parts of the fastening device and their association with one another;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a fastening device taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a view ysimilar to Figure 2 showing a part of a clamping element of one of two opposed fastening devices wedged and locked against a masonry or the like inner surface of a side wall of 4a cavity in a room or kitchen Wall.

Referring to the drawings, I show in Figure 1 thereof a portion of a room, such as a kitchen 1U, having an upright wall 11 spaced from outer walls of the kitchen, an upright Wall 12 adjoining an outer kitchen wall and wall 11, a work counter or ledge 13, sliding drawers 14 and swingable doors 16 of a cupboard or cabinet beneath the work ledge and at the lower portion of the wall 11. The front of drawers 14 and doors 16 are substantially flush with the forward surface of the inner kitchen subwall '11. Wall 11has a cavity 17 (see Figure 2) roughed therein above the kitchen oor at one side of work ledge 13 and this cavity is provided with suitable supporting braces or structural reinforcements (not shown) at its bottom as is conventional in the art. A unitary cabinet-like structure, generally represented by the reference numeral 20, is inserted as a unit into cavity 17 in wall 11 and supported therein 'by the braces or structural reinforcements thereof. The unitary structure 20 is mounted in cavity 17 with the kitchen walls 3 enclosing and concealing all sides thereof except its front which is exposed to the interior of kitchen 10. Unitary cabinet Vstructure 20 is a built-in wall oven member, and the cayity 17 in wall 111 provides or forms a support member therefon In accordance with my invention, it isjdesirable toV provide an arrangementforianchoring the firstr member, srtructure20, upon orV in a. cavity in a secondmembergwall .11, after the members are placed in supported relationship with one another andk forl preventing `relative Vshifting movement therebetween, VThe unitary oven structure or'irst member includes a front wall or surface21 havingA an openingvtherein,Vv a metal box-like liner forming inner walls 2 2 of a Ifront opening cooking oven 23 and an outernretalV shell. formingr walls 24, spaced fromN the ovenl innerwallsfl22.Y Any` suitable ory desirableV insulating` material 26 is disposed between the doubleV bounding walls 22 and 24 of oven 23 (see Figure 2),. Lineror walls 22 and walls 24 are weldedor, joined to front wall 21 in any suitable or conventional manner, and wall 21 is provided with a peripheral portion anged as at 27, Vwhich anged portionV is adapted'to overlap and conceal edges of the cavity 17Y formed in wall 1'1. This flanged portion 27 of structure 20,form,s a recess in theY front thereof and a door or doors, such as the double doors 28, are suitably hinged thereinrfor horizontal swinging movement and normally close the open front of oven 23. While I show double oven doors, which may be provided with means for simultaneously opening them, Ait is to be understood that a single drop or other opening type door may be employed on the structure insofar as the-present invention is concerned. Oven structure 20 also includes an upper compartment closed by a front panel 31 which has. a timer mehcanism andan electric switch (not shown) secured to its back side and located in this upper compartment. 33 Y(see Figure l) are mounted on panel 31 for controlling-.the Itimer and switch respectively to thereby ener'gize and regulate therdur'ation and intensity of enervgization of suitableror conventional electricY heating units (not shown) disposedV inthe upper and lower portions of oven 23 to thereby provide a cookingY appliance inV the cavity 17. of wall Y11.

As before stated, it is desired-to facilitate installation of the unitary structure 20 within cavity 17 and to anchor Vsame therein for preventing movement thereof relativeV to the ca vity and to room or kitchen wall 11' and for binding flange 27 on structure 20to this wall. It is alsoN desirable to provide an anchoring means on structure 20 which does not require the same to be man-Y ually ,held or retained in; an out of the way position thereon during the act of inserting structure 20Yinto theV wall cavity 17;` For this purpose, I provide on unitary oven structure l20 opposed fastening devices, generally indicated by the reference numeral 35 in Figurel of .theV drawings,A which 'include parts movable or operable from exteriorly of the oven structure after the structure has Y been inserted into cavity17. VReferring now more particularly to Figuresl, 3, 4, andr'5, it will be noted that each opposed fastening device 35 comprises'two elongated L-Shaped metal pieces Yhaving a base portion V41 and a Vright angled portion 42. The portion 42 ofthe L-shaped metal pieces 'of each fasteningV device is securedY together by a stud 43 riveted thereto, which stud spacesroneend-,of the metal-pieces apart; Another movable stud 44, having a hole 464 therethrough, isv supplied with'trunnions v47 'fitted in round openings provided in the portion 42 Vof the L-shaped metal pieces at theotherY endthe'reof. Stud r44.merely spaces theV L-shaped metal pieces apart until such time as the base portion 4 1 thereof. can `be-rigidly mounted on structure 20. A pair of rel,-V

atively-v shorter at metal pieces 49A are secured together by astud 51,*1iveted thereto, which-stud spacesthe-pieces. 49apar`t. A stud 52,-having-a tapped-or thl'edtldOpeli-Y Operating vknobs and dials 32 and` ing 53 extending therethrough, is supplied with trunnions 54 fitted in holes provided in `an olset part of the right angled portion 4-'2 of metal pieces 49.A The secured together metal pieces 49 form a clamping element for each of the fastening devices and one end of this element is pivotally mounted to portion 42 of the L-shaped metal pieces .inV any's'uitable or desirable manner, such as by aV stud or cotter pin 56. The other end of the secured together metal pieces 49 forming the clamping element are `rshaped to provide arrowhead-like points 57V thereatl Each of the fastening devices also comprise an adjustable member which is herein disclosed as being in the form of a threaded screwk 5S having a head 59 provided with a screw driver receiving slot or the like therein and interposed between the L- shaped metal pieces and the clamping element. Screw 58 is loosely passed or slipped through hole 46 in stud 44,and is threaded into-.the tapped hole 53 of the stud 52 (see Figure4) to retain the adjustable member on a fastening device. Head 59Y of the adjustable member or screw 5S abuts, when this screw is rotated, against stud v44 and by virtue of screw 58.being threaded into stud 52 pulls on this stud to move or swing the clamping element relative tothe L-shaped metal pieces of a fastening device. The unit soa'ssembledtogether provides an inexpensive sheet metal vfastening device, and the L-shaped,piecesrthereof-form a mounting bracket therefor. This secured-together., two part mounting bracket of a fastening device of the type disclosed is welded, riveted or otherwise rigidly secured, in a horizontal position, to an inner wall portion-of a recess 61 provided in walls 24 near the front of each of the opposed sides .of oven structure. 20. The forward Wall 21 of structure 20 inwardly of the anged periphery thereof is provided with round openings 63 each aligned with head 59 of the adjustable member of the fastening devices. These openings provide access to the adjustable-member from exteriorly of structure 20 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A sheet metal button 64, of conventional, snap-in-place type, is snapped into engagement with the wallY of openings 63Y to provide covers therefor so as to conceal the adjustable member of the i fastening devices from view at the front of structure 20 even when the oven doors28 are opened. All parts of the two opposed .fastening devicesare normally held within the recess r61 of walls 24 about the insulating material26 so that these devices ,willrnot form obstructions on the oven structure 20 during insertion Vthereof into cavity 17 of wall 1.1. Walls-24 have a cut out portion at 66 adjacent the fastening devices and substantially in alignment with openings 63 in the oven front wall 21' 'to-permit the clamping element and theV adjustable member of the fastening devices to be swung outwardly away from Vwalls of the oven structure.

In installing the wall oven into'cavity 17 in wall V11V of kitchen 10, the unitary cabinet structure 20, with oven doors 28 closed, is elevated and aligned with the cavity opening. The clampingelement of fastening devices 35 is retained in the `recessed portion 61 of the ovenrwallsY 24 in a positionV paralleling these walls; Should oven structure 20 be tilted, while aligningit with the cavity opening, to one side or the other tending to cause movement of the clamping elementrof devices 35, head 59 on screw 58 will strike button 64 andthus prevent such premature movement of the clamping elements. The structure 20 is thentinserted or slid intoY cavity 17 ,and supported therein with the front ange 27 abutted against wall 11. Thereafter oven doors V28 are opened and a screw driver or the like tool is employed to remove the snap buttons L64VV from wall 21 'of the supported structure 20 to provide `access to head 59 of the screw 58 or adjuste able` member. through openings 63.v The ,screw driver ing the screw S8, in a clockwise direction, it threads along the threads of tapped hole or opening 53 in stud 52. The underside of head 59 of screw 58 bears against stud 54 during feeding or screwing of screw 58 through the stud 52. This action of screw 58 pulls downwardly and outwardly on stud 52 and thereby swings or rotates the clamping element of a fastening device about its pivotal mounting, cotter pin 56, with respect to the bracket thereof. Movement of stud 52 swings the clamping element laterally out of recess 61 away from walls of oven Z3 and causes the arrowhead-like end points 57 on the clamping element to forcefully engage the inner surface of wall 11. In other words, the arrowhead-like points 57 on the metal pieces 49 are forcefully wedged against wall 11 of kitchen 10 to bind the flanged portion 27 of front wall 21 of unit or structure 20 to this Wall and for preventing shifting of member or structure 20 relative to its support member or wall 11. The interpositioning of screw 58 between the clamping element and the mounting bracket portion of each fastening device 35 in the manner disclosed provides a locking means for the adjustable member or means thereof. By virtue of screw 58 being threadably connected to the clamping element and applying force to stud 54 upon being rotated, the adjustable means on fastening devices 35 are constructed and arranged to cooperate with other parts thereof so as to at all times lock the clamping element in any one of a plurality of moved positions about its pivotal mounting. It is to be understood that the fastening devices 35 are separately operated to uniformly draw, bind and lock the structure 20 within the cavity 17 after insertion thereof thereinto. The unitary structure 2t) is removably locked within cavity 17 and in order to withdraw or remove the structure from the cavity the operations described are merely reversed.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, I show enclosing walls of a cavity formed of masonry material which may -be any type, such, for example, as plastered walls 67. This disclosure illustrates that my fastening devices 35 are universally applicable to different types of cavity wall structures. It will be noted by reference to Figure 6 that the adjustable member or screw 58 has been threaded into stud 52 only far enough to cause the arrowhead-like points 57 on the clamping element of a fastening device 35 to engage and be forcefully embedded in the plastered side wall 67 of cavity 17. By forcing the pointed ends 57 of the clamping element of device 35 into the plastered inner wall 67, oven or cabinet structure 2t) is prevented from being shifted within or relative to the cavity 17. Thus the construction of wall 11 and walls of the cavity therein need not be of a particular or prespecified character to render the fastening devices 35 herein disclosed applicable thereto.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that I have provided an improved arrangement for anchoring a cabinet or wall oven structure and the like member in a wall cavity or support member. The fastening devices on my improved wall oven structure do not interfere with insertion of the structure as a-unit into a cavity and the adjustable means or member of the devices cooperate with other parts of the devices to lock the clamping element thereof in any one of a plurality of moved positions. The devices and the operating means or adjustable member thereof are concealed from view to thus improve the exterior appearance of a built-in wall oven structure. My present arrangement eliminates the necessity of removing a door or doors from a wall oven structure at the time of installing same in a cavity of a room wall and thereby simplifies and reduces the time required by a service man to make such an installation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

6, Y What is claimed is as follows v 1. A cabinet structure having a plurality of walls deHJ ning a chamber therein and a forward wall bounding said chamber adapted to be inserted 4as a unit into a' supported position within a cavity provided in an upright wall portion of a room or the like, means for preventing shifting of said supported cabinet relative to the cavity in said room wall, said means comprising a bracket carried by and secured to said cabinet structure inwardly of the forward wall thereof, a clamping element pivotally mounted upon said bracket and an adjustable member interposed between the bracket and said clamping element, said adjustable member being rotatably connected to the clamping element, said cabinet forward wall having an opening therein substantially aligned with a part of said adjustable member and closed by a cover, said part of said adjustable member normally abutting a portion of said cover to hold said clamping element against swinging movement about its pivotal mounting on said bracket during the act of inserting said unit into the cavity of said room wall, said cover being movable with respect to the forward wall of said cabinet structure after insertion of the unit into said cavity to uncover the opening in said cabinet forward wall and provide access therethrough to said part of said adjustable member for operating same, the operation of said member rotating same about its rotatable connection with said clamping element to swing the element about its pivotal mounting outwardly away from said cabinet structure to forcefully wedge the element into engagement with a wall portion of said cavity inwardly of the room Wall, and said rotatable connection of the adjustable member with said clamping element locking the element in said wedged position thereof.

2.. An arrangement for anchoring a first structure having a forward wall and other walls extending perpendicular thereto in a supported position upon a second support structure therefor including, a fastening device carried -by said rst structure, lsaid device comprising a bracket secured to a perpendicular wall of said first structure inwardly of the forward wall thereof, a clamping element pivotally mounted upon said bracket and an adjustable member interposed between the bracket and said clamping element, said -adjustable member being rotatably connected to the clamping element, the forward wall of said iirst structure having an opening therein substantially aligned with an end part of said adjustable member and closed by a cover attached to said forward wall, said end part of said adjustable member normally abutting a portion of said cover to hold said clamping element against swinging movement about its pivotal mounting on said bracket during the act of placing said structures in supported relationship, said cover being movable with respect to the forward wall of said first structure to uncover the opening therein and provide access therethrough to said end part of said adjustable member for operating same, the operation of said member rotatting same about its rotatable connection with said clamping element to swing the element about its pivotal mount- 'ing outwardly away from said perpendicular wall of said lfirst structure to forcefully wedge the element into engagement with a wall portion of said support structure, and said rotatable connection of the adjustable member with said clamping element of said fastening device locking the element in said wedged position for preventing shifting of the structures relative to one another.

3. A structure having a forward wall and a plurality of insulated walls of predetermined thickness extending therefrom dening a front opening oven adapted to be inserted as a unit into a supported posit-ion within a cavity provided in `an upright wall of a room or the like, means for preventing shifting of said unit supported in the cavity relative to said room wall, said means including a fastening device carried by said structure and inset in one of the insulated walls of said oven so as to be justablefrnember interposed between the bracket and said clamping element, said adjustable member being rotatably connectedto the clamping element, said forward wall ofV said oven structure having an opening thereintsubstantially aligned with an end part of saidradjustable mem-ber* and closed by a detachable button, said end part ofsaid vadjustable memberY normally abutting a portion ot'saidV detachable button to hold said clamping element against` swinging movement `about its pivotal mounting onlsada bracket during the act of inserting said unit intolthaV cavity of said room wall, said button being removable from the forward wall of said oven structure after insertion of the unit into said cavity. to open the opening in said forward wallV and provide access therethrough to :said end part vof said adjustable member foropenating same, the operation of said member rotating same about its rotatable connection with said clamping element to swing the element about its pivotal mounting out-of thev inset in said one oven insulated wall beyond the predetermined thickness thereof to forcefully wedge the element into engagement with a wall portion of saidcavity inwardly of the room wall, and said Yrotatable connection of the adjustable member of said fastening device with said clamping element thereof locking the element in said' wedged position.V Y

4. A structure provided with a forward wall and a plurality of insulated walls of predetermined thickness extending therefrom deiining a front opening oven having door means closing the open front thereof adapted to beV inserted las a unit `into a supported position within a cavity in an upright wall of a room or the like, means for preventing'shifting of said unit supported in the cavity relative to said room wall, said means including a fastening device carried byv said structurey `and inset inV one of the insulated walls of 'said oven so as to be wholly lOl disposed within said predetermined thickness thereof, said device comprisinga bracket secured to said structure inwardly of the forward wall thereof, a clampingelement pivotally mounted uponV said bracket and"anadjustable member interposed between the bracket and said clamping element, said adjustable memberbeingrotatably connected to the clamping element, said; forward .walliof said oven structure having an openingthereinrsubstantially 'aligned with anV endLpart'of said adjustabley member and closed by a cover, said endpart of saidV adjustable member normally abutting a portion of said `coveryto holdY said clamping element against swinging movement about its pivot-a1 mounting on said bracketzduring the` iactof inserting said .unit into the cavity otsaid room: wall, said door means being openable andsaid cover being movable with respectV tothe forward wall of said oven structure after insertion of the unit into said cavity to uncover the Iopening in saidforwal-d wall and provide `access therethrough to said end part of said adjustable member Afor operating same, the operation'of 'saidl member rotating same Vabout its rotatable connection with-said clamping element to swing the element about its pivotal mounting outwardly away from said one insulated oven wall to forcefully wedge the elementy `into engagement with a wall portion of said cavity inwardly of the room wall, said rotatable connection of the adjustable member with said clamping element locking the element in said wedged position thereof,V said cover thereafter being movable to close the opening in said forward wall of said oven structure, and YVs-aid door rneansrwhenV moved shut closing the open front of said oven .and concealing ,said cover.

References Citedin therle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,340,823 Scott Feb. 1, 1944 2,439,664 Marchand Apr. 13, 1948 2,739,584 Hupp Mar. 27, 1956 2,908,416V Rudolph Oct. 13, 1959

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