US3068811A

US3068811A - Safety device for refrigerators

Info

Publication number: US3068811A
Application number: US769415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank A Jenne; Clarence A Jenne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-10-24
Filing date: 1958-10-24
Publication date: 1962-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 F. A. JENNE ETAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Oct. 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank .4. Jenna Clarence A. Jenna INVENTORS 405'.

BY i 3% F. A. JENNE ETAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS Dec. 18, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, l958 Fig.

M Q a/ I I I I g;

Clarence A. Jenna INVENTORS BY I, Among:

Dec. 18, 1962 F. A. JENNE ETAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 24, 1958 Fig.7

Frank A. Jenna Clarence A. Jenna INVENTORS Dec. 18, 1962 F. A. JENNE ETAL 3,068,811

SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Oct. 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FI'gJO I I 1 -53 a 5 Frank A. Jenna 1 2/4 7 Clarence A. Jenna x 1 INVENTORS 220 Q g 8 BY mdfiwayfiw Unitd States 3,068,811 SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS Frank A. Jeane and Clarence A. Jenne, both of 1519 Woods Road, Florence, S.C. Filed Oct. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 769,415 12 Claims. (Cl. 109-635) This invention relates to safety devices and more particularly to safety devices which prevent unfortunate accidents caused by suffocation of children in refrigerators, usually abandoned refrigerators.

An object of the invention is to provide means by which to eliminate the danger of children becoming trapped within a refrigerator or like cabinet, by one or more structures preventing the refrigerator door from closing. In one example, all of the shelves must remain in the refri erator at which time it is presumed to be impossible for a child to enter the refrigerator and either close the door behind him or have someone else close the door with the child in the refrigerator.

The realistic danger of a child becoming captive within a refrigerator has received public notoriety due to a number of unfortunate accidents which have received national publicity. In each instance the accidents could have been prevented if the child were unable to enter the refrigerator. Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to make it virtually impossible for a child to enter a refrigerator and have the door close behind the child due to the existence of automatic means in the refrigerator which prevents the door from closing tightly behind the child should he enter the refrigerator.

Although there has been some local legislation requiring that the locks or doors of abandoned refrigerators be removed, this is an indirect approach to the problem. This invention would have installed in each refrigerator as an integral part of the construction thereof, positively acting means rendered operative in response to several stimuli for providing an abutment in the path of travel of a part of the door or an attachment on the door so that the door could not be completely or even partially latched.

As an example of the nature and substance of the invention, there is a structural assembly built in one side of the refrigerator cabinet and operatively connected with the tray in the refrigerator. When any one of the plurality of trays is removed, a plunger is automatically projected outwardly of the cabinet of the refrigerator and forms an abutment preventing the door from closing. When magnetic locks are used on the door of the refrigerator, the plunger functions very effectively preventing the door from approaching the magnetic field where the strength is sulficient to pull the door closed and hold it locked. Where mechanical latches are used, the door is sufliciently far open to prevent the latch from becoming engaged. However, when the trays, that is, when each tray is installed in the refrigerator, the plunger is retracted enabling the refrigerator, cabinet structure and door to function properly.

The presumption is that when all trays are returned to their proper place in the refrigeratro, the child cannot enter the cabinet. It is noted that even with the presence of a safety device in the refrigerator, the trays are not in any way interfered with. They may be removed for cleaning and replaced or may be slid in and out, such as with refrigerators having rolling type trays, racks or the like Without interference from and by the safety device.

The safety device may be made to function in response to other condition responsive means, maneuvers or adjustments of the refrigerator. For instance if the refrigerator is about to be abandoned, it would ordinarily be lifted and carried away. One of the embodiments of this invention sets the plunger into operation at the instant that the refrigerator is lifted above a predetermined height. This enables the refrigerator to be lifted slightly for cleaning or for any other normal purpose. But when the refrigerator is lifted a considerable height, for instance an inch, the stop plunger is automatically projected outward so that the door of the refrigerator cannot become fully closed.

Further, the safety device may be made to function when the refrigerator is tilted through an angle greater than it would ordinarily be rocked or moved in normal use of the refrigerator. Here again, in the process of abandoning, storing or otherwise placing the refrigerator in a non-use condition, the refrigerator is ordinarily tilted when it is being lifted and carried. Therefore, an inclinometer type of mechanism is operatively connected with the plunger for releasing the plunger so that it may be projected to a position at which it prevents the refrigerator door from becoming fully closed.

The above are but a few of the contemplated modes of operation of the invention and practical embodiments with which the invention may be practiced. Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a plunger in a refrigerator which is adapted to be projected into the path of travel of the door or the refrigerator or a part of the door or an attachment on the door, the plunger being rendered operative in response to one or more of a variety of condition responsive means to release the plunger so that it promptly occupies a blocking position to prevent the door from completely closing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical holding circuit to be used in connection with the safety device or devices in the refrigerator whereby power must be available to electrically withdraw locking pins in order to reset the plunger. This is of importance in an abandoned refrigerator where ordinarily no power is available. The construction of the mechanical means for re-v leasing the plunger enabling it to be spring projected into the path of travel of the door or an-attachment on the door are so constructed that they operate only in one' direction that is, when the shelves in the refrigerator are being withdrawn. When the shelves are being returned, electrical energy is necessary in order to electrically withdraw the locking pins associatedwith each shelf operated mechanism in order to electrically reset the safety device as well as mechanically reset it. The holding circuit is exceedingly simple but its presence makes it impossible to frustrate the object of the safety device in the absence of electrical potential which is ordinarily unavailable where a refrigerator is abandoned.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside inthe details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like immerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having the safety device therein.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2'2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the details of the refrigerator door closing preventing structure in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an-enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of the safety device.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerator showing a further modification.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

line 99 of FIGURE 8.

3 FIGURE is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

' FIGURE 12 is a'partly elevational and partly sectional mounted byhinges on side 16. Shelves 22, 24 and 26 serve-the same purpose as conventional shelves and may be made as wire racks or wire racks and glass panels or in any other Way. The sides of the refrigerator cabinet are each made of an outer panel and an inner panel with insulation 28 therebetween. For instance, side 14 (FIGURE 3) has outer panel 30 and inner panel 32 between which insulation 28 is disposed. The space between panels is ideally suited for a safety device 34 made of a cylinder 38 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 whose open front end is in registry with aperture 40 (FIGURE 4) in the narrow panel 42 at the front of the refrigerator cabinet and joined to

panels

30 and 32. Conical seat 44 is in the open end of cylinder 38 to accept stop 46 that is attached to the inner surface of door 18 and which is in alignment with the opening 40. The stop is in the shape of a truncated cone to fit into the open end of cylinder 38 and conical seat 44.

Stop plunger 48 is axially slidably disposed in cylinder 38 and has an abutment collar 50 fixed to it between its inner and outer ends. The inner end of the plunger has a centering disk 52 thereon adjacent to cap 54 at the inner extremity of cylinder 38. A spring reaction disk 56 is attached to plunger 48 between abutment 50 and centering collar 52, and it has one end of spring 58 in engagement with it. The opposite end of the same spring is in contact with a partition wall 60 extending across cylinder 38 and having a central aperture through which the plunger rod 48 is slidable. Accordingly, the compression in spring 58 is in adirection tending to eject the outer end of plunger rod 48 through opening 40 to occupy the space between seat 44 and aperture 40 whereby attachment 46 cannot enter the aperture 40 and seat 44, this preventing door 18 from becoming latched regardless of the type of latch used on the refrigerator. It is Within the contemplation of the invention to omit the attachment 46 and simply lengthen the rod 48 so that it has its outer end directly contact the door 18 and serve the same purpose.

The normal retracted position of the rod 48 is disclosed in FIGURE 4. It is retained withdrawn within cylinder 38 by means of a means, latch stop or stop pin 64 located on one side of abutment 50. When on the other side of abutment 50, stop pin 64 prevents rod 48 from being returned to the normal position. This stop pin is disposed in a solenoid case 66 which is secured to cylinder 38 and which has its axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. An opening 68 in a wall of cylinder 38 enables the latch 64 to enter the bore of cylinder 38 and to become disposed in front of abutment 50 to limit movement of the plunger (FIGURE 4). Latch 64 not only functions to prevent extension of the plunger but it is also under control of latch control means for preventing full retraction of the plunger from an extended position and hence constitutes the spring biased armature of a power operated solenoid 70. The solenoid has a winding 72 in solenoid case 66 to produce the electromagnetic fiield for armature 64 in order to withdraw the armature, that is, latch 64 from the path of travel of abutment 50 so as to render the pin 64 inoperative or disable it as a plunger holding means. Spring 74 which is seated on the upper end of pin 64 and enclosed within a wall of case 66, reacts on pin 64 projecting it into the bore of cylinder 38.

If the stop pin 64 is withdrawn from cylinder 38 by some condition responsive release means which shall be described subsequently, spring 58 projects the outer end of plunger 48 into the path of travel of abutment 46 with cam on plunger 48 striking partition wall 60 and limiting the extent of movement of plunger 48 in a direction outwardly of the cylinder. In moving to this position the cam 80 momentarily closes solenoid latch control switch 82 and then permits the normally open switch to return to its open position. Switch 82 has a fixed contact 84 attached to insulating block 86 on cylinder 38. Movable contact 88 is also attached to block 86 and is made of a spring arm. Switch operator, consisting of leaf spring arm 89 is attached at one end inside cylinder 38 and has a projection 90 thereon which is engaged by cam 80. A pin 92 passing through a hole in the wall of cylinder 38, is pushed by switch operator 89;

and in turn, it pushes the spring arm movable contact 88 so that the

contacts

88 and 84 touch.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate one form of condition responsive release means including the mechanical shelf release means for lifting pin 64 to release the stop plunger 48. Typical shelf 22 is mounted in a pair of tracks attached to the inside surface ofthe refrigerator cabinet 12 in the usual manner. The bottom of typical track 100 has an opening 102 in which rocker 104 is mounted for pivotal movement. The rocker has a fork 106 at one end within which pin 108 is disposed. The opposite end of the rocker has a cam 110 formed thereon and projected through opening 102 into the track 100. Lift rod 112 is rendered operative as a condition responsive release means by carrying a pin 108 mounted vertically above case 66. The lift rod is passed through an opening (FIG- URE 4) in the top of case 66 and is attached to the latch pin 64.

An approximately Z-shaped cam operator 114 is se-- cured to the edge channel of shelf 22 so that when the shelf is pulled out of the refrigerator a portion 116 of the Z-shaped cam operator 114 strikes cam 110 and oscillates it counter-clockwise as viewed in the orientation of FIGURE 2. This lifts fork 106 and lift rod 112, thereby lifting the pin 64 against the bias of spring 74. A similar lift rod operating mechanism is provided for each shelf of the refrigerator regardless of the number of shelves for cooperation with the lift rod 112. Further, as seen in FIGURE 2 there is a normally open power supply control switch 120 at the inner extremity of track 100. A push-button 122 constitutes part of switch 120 and is permitted to extend from the switch casing when the shelf is withdrawn. This switch 120 is,

therefore, open when the shelf 22 is withdrawn from the refrigerator. 7

Reference is now made to FIGURE 13 showing one form of selectively conditioned reset means for a three shelf refrigerator including normally open power supply control switches 120, 120a and 12% connected in series, there being one for each shelf. As is evident from inspection of FIGURES 13, each shelf must be in the refrigerator, closing each

switch

120, 120a and 12011 before coil 72 of the solenoid including its control switch 82 (FIGURE 4) is capable of being energized. The power lines 126 are operatively attached to the line power for the refrigerator making it a requirement that power be available before the plunger 48 can be reset or returned after it has once been extended by removalof any one of the shelves.

Accordingly, all shelves have to be returned to the refrigerator in order to close the three

switches

120, 120a switch 82 and sufficient to energize the circuit of FIGURE- 13 and cause the solenoid to lift the armature, namely pin 64, so that abutment 50 may pass thereunder. Further movement of the plunger 48 inwardly of cylinder 38 causes the plunger to again occupy the position shown in FIGURE 4, upon opening of switch 82 so as to lock the plunger in retracted position. Thus, the shelf actuated switches together with the solenoid control switch condition the solenoid for resetting the plunger to the retracted position for subsequent release by either the shelf release mechanism hereinbefore described or by other release mechanism to be hereafter described.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5 and 6 showing another type of condition responsive release or alternate for the structural organization of FIGURE 4. These figures illustrate means for releasing plunger 48' in response to the lifting of the refrigerator cabinet above a predetermined height. Otherwise considered, FIGURES 5 and 6 show substitute means for those operated by the removal of the shelves. When using the refrigerator lift mechanism in place of the shelf release mechanism as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, the solenoid 70 itself as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 remains unchanged as to structure and function for which reason the solenoid casing illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 remains labeled by reference numeral 66. However, modification of the plunger 48 and its abutment 50 is necessitated. It will therefore be noted that since the plunger is held retracted by condition responsive latch pin 134 in FIGURE 5 rather than by pin 64, the length of the abutment is extended as compared to that in FIGURE 4 and hence is referred to byreference numeral 50. The pin 64 in FIGURE 5 is therefore retracted only by the solenoid 70 for resetting purposes as described with respect to FIG- URES 1 through 4. If desired, the pin 64 may also be rendered operative to latch the abutment 50'. when the plunger is in extended position as shown in dotted line in FIGURE 5, requiring suitable modification to avoid contact of the pin 64 with the spring tending to project the plunger. The plunger release mechanism therefore consists of a tube 130 rigidly attached to the bottom of cylinder 38, for instance by having a clamp collar 132 attached to the tube and to the cylinder, by welding or by any other fastener. The pin 134 constitutes the condition responsive release latch which is structurally independent of the plunger holding latch 64 and is axially slidable in tube 130 and has a spring 136 seated thereon. The spring is also seated on a shoulder 138 fixed in tube 130 as clearly seen in FIGURE 5, and the bias of the spring is in a direction to project the locking pin 134 through an opening 140 in the wall of cylinder 38 and into the bore of the cylinder in front of abutment 50. This is the normal position of the locking pin 134. It is withdrawn by spring 142 which is seated on the foot 144 of the refrigerator attached to one end of rod 146 that is also axially slidably disposed in tube 130. Shoulder 148 in tube 130 provides a reaction surface for spring 142, the latter spring being heavier than spring 136 but held compressed by the weight of the refrigerator. Rod 146 has a passage 150 through which a reduced diameter part of pin 134 travels. A transverse pin 152 is in a pair of opposed openings in the hollow part of rod 146, extending across passage 150 and through a slot 154 in the reduced diameter part of locking pin 140. The operation is now evident. The refrigerator may be lifted a distance equal to the length of slot 154 and rod 146 will be withdrawn without afiecting locking pin 134. However, when the distance of slot 154 is exceeded in the lifting of the refrigerator, the locking pin is withdrawn by pin 152 contacting the lower end of slot 154, spring 142 all the time biasing the rod 146 outwardly of tube 130 and ultimately withdrawing locking pin 134 from its position in the path of travel of abutment 50 on plunger 48. It will also be apparent that after extension of the plunger 48', the abutment 50 must prevent latching of the pin 134 so that the plunger may be reset.

FIGURE 12 illustrates still further alternate condition responsive release means of releasing the plunger 48' and is therefore also used in conjunction with the shelf operated plunger release mechanism. It will be understood that the tilt release mechanism of FIGURE 12 cooperates with the plunger 48 as does the release mechanism of FIGURES 5 and 6. In FIGURE 12 there is a tube attached to cylinder 38 and in alignment with an opening 162 therein. Locking pin 164 axially slidably moveable in tube 160 is movable between an extended and retracted position. Spring 166 is disposed in a part of tube 160, being seated on shoulder 168 in tube 160 and seated on the lower surface of an enlarged part of locking pin 164 that is, the part which has a normal position blocking the spring caused movement of plunger 48 by engaging abutment 50'. Thus FIGURES 5 and 12 differ from FIGURE 4 in the use of separate latch members for limiting movement of the plunger. FIGURE 12 difiers from FIGURE 5 on the other hand in that a weight 170 is secured to a rod 172 that has a semispherical head 174 mounted on a flange at its upper end and located in seat 176 at the lower extremity of tube 160; The chain 178 is attached to head 174 and is attached to the lower end of locking pin 164. The weight and arm 172 function as an inclinometer. When the refrigerator is tilted beyond a certain angle, weight 170 remaining vertical, causes the chain 178 to pull locking pin 164 against the yielding opposition of spring 166 and retract the locking pin 164 from the front face of abutment 50. Restoring the refrigerator to a level position after extension of the plunger 48' would not permit rel'atching of the pin 164 because of the modified plunger abutment 50' as shown in FIGURE 12.

In FIGURES 7-1l there is a modification of the shelf operated release mechanism. The ultimate operation of this form of the invention is precisely the same as that described in connection with that disclosed in FIGURES 14. The refrigerator 200 has a side wall 202, a door 204 and other associated parts. The wall 202 has a housing 206 in which there is a vertically movable channel 208 having side Walls and a transverse wall 210. The transverse wall: 210 has a tongue 212 struck from it (FIGURE 8) adapted to be contacted by rocker arm 214. The rocker arm is mounted on a pivot 216 carried j by the side of housing 206 and has a cam 218 at one extremity. The cam contacts tongue 212 and lifts the channel 208 through the action of spring 220. The spring is secured at one end to a part of the housing 206 and secured at the other end to rocker 214 on the side of pivot 216 opposite to that which has cam 218. The

push rod 224 is secured to rocker arm 214 by a pivot pin 2'26 and is engaged by the channel 228 along the edge of shelf 22. When shelf 22 is removed, the rod 224 is extended inwardly by the action of spring 220 and at the same time there is the accompanying lifting of channel 208. For smoothness of operation there is a spring finger 230 (FIGURE 9) on the channel 228 of shelf 22, and it is the spring finger which engages push rod 224 augmenting spring-biased movement of arm 214.

The lower end of channel 208 has a lift rod 240 which functions in the manner identical to the lift rod 112 as described with respect: to FIGURES 1 through 4, and hence is connected to the locking pin 242 of solenoid 244. The solenoid locking pin 242 is actually the armature of the solenoid, and there is an external loaded pin holddown spring 246 seated on the solenoid case 248 and seated on the lower extremity of channel 208. The spring 246 is therefore arranged to be compressed by the weight of the channel 208 when released for downward movement by the arm 214 occasioned by insertion of shelf 22. In this compressed state, the spring 246 will assist any upward displacing force applied to channel 208.

Switch 250 (FIGURE 10) is precisely the same in function and practically the same in construction as switch 82 in FIGURE 4. The plunger 252 which corresponds to plunger 48, islocated in the cylinder 254; However, there is a tension spring 256, instead of a compression spring like spring 58 and the tension spring is secured to' seat 258 and to plunger guide collar 260 attached to the plunger and slidably disposed in cylinder 254. A spring, guide 262 accommodatesspring 256 and is attached to the collar 26f). The tension spring 256 operates in a direction tending to pull the plunger outwardly of cylinder 254, however, the plunger. is held in the extended position by means of a one way camming abutment 266 as illustrated in FIGURE 10, that is secured to the guide 262 including a back edge for abutting pin 242 when the plunger 252:

is in its extended position.

As soon as a shelf is removed, the combined bias of spring 220 acting on arm 21 4 and the upward bias of the spring 246 in its compressed state will suificiently counteract the weight of channel 2118 so that spring 256 will be operative to extend the plunger with the camming abutments 266 camming the pin 242 and channel 208 upwardly as it passes thereunder to finally occupy the latch position shown in vFIGURE by solid lines. The return of the plunger 252 enabling the door 204 of the refrigerator to be closed is accomplished in precisely the same way as the return of the door 18 of refrigerator 10 includingpr-ior replacement of the shelves so as to close switch 272. The

switch 250 is the complete counterpart of switch 82 enabling relatching of pin 242'in the retracted position of plunger 252 by momentarily closing of switch 250 by means of cam 270 on the plunger to energize the solenoid 244 for withdrawing the pin 242. Switches 272 at the inner part of the refrigerator and in alignment with shelves 22, are the complete functional counterparts of

switches

120, 128a and 12%. V

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,

means is prevented from retraction beyond an initial amount from an extended position, resilient means biasing the plunger means into said extended position, abutment means connected to said plunger means, latch means operative for engagement :with said abutment meansto limit movement of the plunger means, condition responsive release means operatively connected to said latch means for rendering the latch means inoperative, to permit extension of the plunger means by the resilient means, latch control means operatively connected to said latch means and effective to render the latch means operative for preventing retraction of the plunger means beyond said initial amount from said extended position, and selectively conditioned reset means operatively connected to the latch control means for temporarily rendering the latch control means ineffective in responsive to retraction of the plunger means said initial amount to permit full retraction of the plunger means. p

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said latch control means comprises biasing said latch means into a position for engagement by said abutment means and power operated means for retracting saidlatch means from engagement with the abutment means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said selectively conditioned reset means comprises power supply control means rendered operative to supply power to the latch 8 control means, for rendering the latter ineffective, and plunger displacement responsive control means operatively connecting said power supply control meansto the latch control means for momentarily disabling the latch control means when the power supply control means is rendered operative. p a.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said power supply control means comprises a plurality of normally open switches connected in series, said power operated means being a normally deenergized solenoid energized by a supply of current in a path rendered conductive byclosing of all of said switches.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said power supply control means further includes refrigerator shelfmounted switch actuators. 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said condition responsive release means comprises, a latch control member independent of said latch control means, means operatively connecting said latch control member to the latch means and responsive to a predetermined displacement of the refrigerator for Withdrawing the latch means.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said selectively conditioned reset means comprises power supply control means rendered operative to supply power to the latch controlmeans, for rendering the latter ineffective, and plunger displacement responsive control means operatively connecting said power supply control means to the latch control means for momentarily disabling the latch control means when the power supply control means is rendered operative.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said powei";

supply control means includes refrigerator shelf-mounted switch actuators.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the condition responsive release means comprises, mechanical means operatively engageable with said latch means to effect withdrawal thereof independent of the reset means and means responsive .to withdrawal of a refrigerator shelf from the refrigerator for rendering the mechanical means operative to prevent withdrawal of the latch means.

10. The combination of claim 11, wherein said condition responsive release means comprises, a latch control member independent of said latch control means, means oper- .atively connecting said latch control member to the latch means and responsive to a predetermined displacement of the refrigerator for withdrawing the latch means.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said selectively conditioned reset means comprises'power supply control means rendered operative to supply power to the latch control means, for rendering the latter inelfective,

and plunger displacement responsive control means operatively connecting said power supply control means to the latch control means for momentarily disabling the retraction holding means when the power supply control means is rendered operative.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said power supply control means further includes refrigerator shelfmounted switch actuators.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS