US3105595A - Metal shelf construction - Google Patents

Description

G. R. KIMBALL ETAL METAL SHELF CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Feb. 20, 1959 NIMH( "unrnunwwf Win United States Patent O 3,105,595 METAL SHELF CNS'IRUCTION George R. Kimball, Cedar Falls, iowa, and Nicholas L. Etten, deceased, late of Cedar Falls, Iowa, by Eileen Etten, execntrix, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assgiors to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa @riginal application Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,624, now Patent No. 3,037,267, dated June 5, 1962. Divided and this application Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,972

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-153) This invention relates to improvements in shelf structures and more particularly relates toan improved shelf structure particularly adapted for refrigerators `and lthe like and is `a division of application Serial Number 794,- 624, filed February 20, 1959, now U.S. Patent 3,037,267 granted June 5, 1962.

Heretofore refrigerator shelf structures have consisted in spaced longitudinal bars and round :cross-wires connecting the bars together by riveting or by threading the ends of the wires to the longitudinal bars and by heading the ends of the wires to the end bars and by crimping the Wires to the intermediate bar. The riveted ends of the wires have been concealed by an ornamental bounding frame extending about the shelf structure or -by ornamental frame structures enclosing the ends and sides fof the frame.

With such she-lf structures, the riveting or threading operations are objectionable, due to the difficulty in riveting and threading the wires to the end Ibars, resulting in an expensive operation vand making it necessary to conceal the riveted or threaded ends of the wires by an ornarnental frame of one form or another.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel 'and improved form of shelf structure arranged with `a View toward utmost simplicity in construction and ease in assembly.

A lfurther object of the invention is to provide ya fabricated shelf structure that is extremely simple and economical in construction and highly functional and decorative in use and has a smooth uninterrupted support structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide la simple and more economical shelf structure for refrigerators `and the like eliminating the necessity of riveting the `crosswires to the end and intermediate bars of the shelf and concealing the ends :of the cross-wires by the integrally fot-.fined end bars of the shelf structure.

A still further object of the yinvention resides in the provision of va decorative fabricated shelf structure suitable for use in refrigerators and the like, wherein three parallel spaced longitudinally extending bars, channel-like in cross-section, are slotted to receive round wires and wherein the round Wires are recessed within the slotted portions of the channel-like longitudinal bars and secured thereto by simple staking operations.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time las the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary plan view of :a refrigerator shelf structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through a metal strip forming one of the end bars of the shelf structure, prior to forming `of the bar in a ichannel-like form, and illustrating a wire receiving slot formed therein prior to forming of the bar to its channel-like form;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a metal strip forming the center bar of the shelf structure, and illustrating the configuration `of Ithe slots formed therein;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a formed intermediate bar of the shelf structure;

FIGUREV 5 is a fragmentary generally diagrammatic View illustrating the steps of assembling the shelf structure;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line VII-VI of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is la fragmentary sectional View taken substantially falong line VII-VII of FIGURE 1; `and FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end view, illustrating one end of the refrigerator shel-f structure and the staking of a cross-wire to an end bar of the structure.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE l1 a refrigerator shelf structure including longitudinally extending parallel spaced side bars 10, 10, an intermediate or center bar 11, land round rods or wires 12 connecting the fbars 10, 10 and 11 together in accordance with the principles fof the invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 fand 3, the longitudinally extending side bars 10, 10 are each formed from a at plate or strip of metal, `such as steel, aluminum or any other suitable metal, and yare slotted while in strip form by a punching or like operation, Iproviding 4a plurality of parallel spaced slots 13 in the flat metal strip lor plate, having rounded ends 15 conforming -to substantially onehalf of the circumference of the rounded cross-wires 12.

rllhe strip when slotted is then bent into a channel-like form having a web 16 fand parallel spaced legs lor flanges 17 and 19 extending therefrom, with the rounded end portions 15 of the slots `13 in said legs and forming generally semi-circular recesses to receive fthe cross-wires or rods 12.

During the operation of forming or bending the side bar 10, the leg 19 is bent outwardly intermediate lthe ends thereof and is then bent backwardly parallel to fthe leg 19, to provide a shielding portion 20 extending parallel to the leg portion 19, yand spaced outwardly ltherefrom. The end portion of the shielding portion 20 is then bent outwardly as indicated by reference character 21 to provide `a lip extending for the length of the side |bar, which may readily be gripped by the fingers. 'Ihe lip portion 21 may be bent to any desired configuration fno form a gripping surface for fthe hands or lingers and to entrance the decorative features of the shelf.

The center or intermediate bar 1'1 may be formed from a liat metal `strip or plate like the end bars 10, and is shown in FIGURE 4 as having a web 23 having parallel spaced legs or flanges 24 having slots 25 formed in the web of the bar, and having :generally semi-circular end portions 26 forming downward oontinuations Iof the slots 25 and receiving substantially half of the wires for rods 12.

In assembling the shelf structure `after fthe slotting and forming of the end bar-S10 and the center bar 111, the rods or wires 12 may first be located on a platen or mandrel 27 in parallel relation with respect to each other. The end bars or rails 10, land the intermediate bar 11 may then be inverted and the yslots 13 and 25 located on the Wires 12 and pressed thereon, with the inner sides of fthe shielding portions 20 in abutting engagement with the ends of the wires. A die or a series of dies (not shown) may then be moved downwardly into engagement with the wires 12, to stake the Wires outwardly between the flanges of the side rails 10 and center rail 11, land form laterally projecting staked portions 29 on the cross-wires, engaging the underside of the webs of the channels of the side bars 11, 11 and 'the intermediate bar 10.

These staking operations complete the assembly off the shelf structure, providing a simple and eflicient shelf structure sufficiently stiff for use in household refrigerators and produced with fewer parts and in -a far simpler manner than refrigerator shelves have heretofore been produced.

It will be understood that modifications `and variations 3 of the invention may he effected without departing from the spirit :and scope of the novel yconcepts thereof.

What fis claimed is:

1. A shelf structure for refrigerators and the like comprising v (a) a plurality of parallel spaced side and intermediate Ihars, channel-like in cross-section, each having la web and flanges extending from opposite lsides thereof,

('b) a plurality of `parallel slots extending transversely across the webs of said bars and into the llanges extending fom said webs,

(c) la plurality `of cross-wires recessed within the slotted pontions of said bars,

(d) integrally formed projections extending laterally from said cross-wires engageable with the undersides of the webs of said side bars and retaining said side bars in parallel relation with respect to each other (e) opposite side bars having integrally formed shielding portions bent outwardly and upwardly to extend over the ends of said cross-wires, and having gripping ange-s extending laterally ltherefrom.

2. A shelf structure for refrigerators and the like comprising (a) a plurality of parallel spaced side and intermediate bars, channel-like in cross-section, each having a web and flanges extending from opposite sides thereof,

(b) ia plurality of round cross wires forming the supporting structure of the shelf,

(c) a plurality of equally spaced parallel slots extending transversely across said Webs and downwardly into said ilanges,

(d) said slots having rounded bottoms conforming to said -cnoss Wires, for receiving said cross wires,

(e) oppositeside `:bars having integrally formed shielding portions bent outwardly and upwardly to extend over the ends of said cross-wires, and having :gripping flanges extending laterally therefrom.

References Cited in the lfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,684 Weygand Ian. 16, 1912 1,620,846 Wells Mar. 15, 1927 1,951,653 Green Mar. 20, 1934 1,961,852 Green June 5, 1934 2,634,867 Shields Apr. 14, 1953 3,037,267 Kimball lune 5, 1962 man "Ibai

Claims (1)

1. 2. A SHELF STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SPACED SIDE AND INTERMEDIATE BARS, CHANNEL-LIKE IN CROSS-SECTION, EACH HAVING A WEB AND FLANGES EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, (B) A PLURALITY OF ROUND CROSS WIRES FORMING THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF THE SHELF, (C) A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED PARALLEL SLOTS EXTEND-

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