US3033967A

US3033967A - Defrosting device

Info

Publication number: US3033967A
Application number: US854751A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert W Hird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-11-23
Filing date: 1959-11-23
Publication date: 1962-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-08

Description

y 1962 R. w. HlRD 3,033,967

DEFROSTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1959 INVEN TOR. BoZerf v.2 Hz'ni BY M @Ma United states Patent @1 3,933,967 DEFROSTING DEVICE Robert W. Hird, 2412 Rosamond, Apt. 114, Houston, Tex. Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 854,751 Claims. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a defrosting device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for defrosting refrigerators, and the like, having novel means for introducing steam into the freezing area of the refrigerator to quickly and thoroughly melt the ice and frost from the refrigerator coils and the walls of the compartment.

The common method of defrosting home use refrigerators at the present time consists of turning the control dial of the unit to defrost and permitting the refrigerator to remain out of use for a suflicient time to permit the ice on the refrigerating mechanism to melt, which often imperils the perishable items requiring refrigeration and often in order to speed the defrosting action, hot water is employed, and scraping and chipping of the ice is resorted to, all of which is slow, laborious and disagreeable, and is dangerous to the mechanism of the refrigerator. It is an object of this invention to provide a fast, efiicient and safe means of accomplishing the task of defrosting such a refrigerator with a minimum of labor required.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device of novel design, providing easy storage in the compartment to be defrosted and which is safe and simple in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of operation, con struction and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the device, in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the View shown in FIG- URE l, and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a framework formed of light sheet metal or plastic, in substantially inverted V shape, having suitable gripping means 2, 2, which may be of an insulated material, such as hard rubber, and having

suitable feet

3, 3 also formed of an insulated material such as hard rubber.

Mounted in the framework 1 is a tubular container 4, formed in a curve so that each end thereof is turned upwardly and is open and a heating element as 5 is mounted in the container 4 in any suitable manner such as by anchoring same to the area forming the bottom of the container 4. A port 6 is formed in the bottom of the container 4 through which the electric conduit 7 extends and suitable packing means such as a flexible washer and nut 8 seal the port 6.

In use, the container 4 is filled with Water and the device is lifted by the user by means of the

grips

2, 2, and placed in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator, the conduit 7 being of the usual size of conduit employed with household appliances, will permit the refrigerator door to close, the usual insulation material sealing the door of the refiigerator yielding to permit the door to be closed without interfering with the conduit, and the free end of the conduit 7 connected to the usual female outlet for a supply of electricity to the heating element 5. The water in the container 4 will be quickly heated and steam Will be formed therein and pass outwardly from the open ends of the container 4 and over the refrigerator coils and the Walls of the compartment, melting the ice and frost thereon.

Patented May 8, 1962 While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework having a horizontal upper portion and downwardly and outwardly extending lower portions forming an inverted-V, the upper portion of said framework form a handle, a tubular container mounted in said framework beneath said handle and having its ends open and extended upwardly, water in said container, a heating element in said container for converting the water therein to steam to be discharged from said open ends.

2. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework having a horizontal upper portion and outwardly and downwardly extending lower portions forming an inverted-V, the upper portion of said framework forming a handle a tubular container mounted in said framework beneath said handle and having its ends open and extended upwardly, water in said container, a heating element in said container for converting the Water therein to steam.

3. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework having a horizontal upper portion and downwardly and outwardly extending lower portions forming an inverted-V, the upper portion of said framework forming a handle, a tubular container mounted in said framework and having its ends open and extended upwardly, water in said container, a heating element in said container for converting the water therein to steam to be discharged from said open ends and insulated feet on the lower ends of said framework.

4. In a defrosting device, a portable framework having a horizontal upper portion and downwardly and outwardly extending lower portions, ports in said framework, a curved tubular water container mounted through said ports in said framework, the respective ends of said container extending upwardly and being open to permit steam to escape therefrom and an electrical heating element mounted in said container having an electrical conduit extending through said container to a source of supply outside of the device being defrosted.

5. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework formed of a flat rectangular sheet of rigid material and having a horizontal upper portion and bent forming a downwardly and outwardly extending lower portion depending from each end of said upper portion, ports in said lower portions, an upwardly extending arced tubular water container mounted in said framework and extending through said ports, the upper ends of said arced tubular water container being open and being substantially on the same horizontal plane as said upper portion of said framework, a heating element in said tubular container for converting water in said container to steam, said steam escaping through the open ends of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 938,237 Hunnewell Oct. 26, 1909 1,656,150 Little Jan. 10, 1928 1,982,418 Carmichael Nov. 27, 1934 1,986,247 Borden Jan. 1, 1935 1,996,761 Gould et a1. Apr. 9, 1935 2,271,038 Shaver Jan. 27, 1942 2,323,846 Saltsman July 6, 1943 2,466,479 Roach Apr. 5, 1949 2,500,219 Troupe Mar. 14, 1950 2,542,529 Hunt Feb. 20, 1951 2,772,063 Remstein Nov. 27, 1956 2,822,459 Kamin Feb. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 892,952 France Ian. 17, 1944