US3178061A - Refrigerator door canteen - Google Patents

Description

Ap 1965 J. J. GIACALONE ETAL REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 5 5 w mmm Na E C U wwm W m d. A J.V 5 nm WW I 04 a JMY my 4 B M mm m m April 13, 1965 J. J. GIACALONE ETAL 3,178,061

REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 p 13, 1955 J. J. GIACALONE ETAL 3,178,061

REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 INVENTOR. JOSEPH J. G/flCflLO/VE [7147771514 M NARC/1E7 BY United States Patent 3,178,061 REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN Joseph J. Giacaloue and Matthew V. Marchetti, both of 1207 E. 59th St, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Dec. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 331,581 Claims. (Cl. 222-76) This invention relates generally to refrigerators and more particularly to a liquid cooler and dispenser on the door of a refrigerator.

Heretofore attempts have been made to provide a juice or liquid dispenser with a refrigerator door. These devices were designed to fulfill the need of a container which would keep the juice or liquids cool and at the same time provide an easily accessible outlet from the container. These attempts in many instances have resulted in elaborate devices frequently associated with a tube extending from the interior to the exterior of the door. These structures are comparatively expensive and are often a source of trouble because of mechanical failure in some of the working parts associated therewith. In these more elaborate structures, it is also diflicult to maintain the desired standard of cleanliness when the dispenser is used for juices, milk or other types of liquids.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cooler and dispenser on the inside of a refrigerator door, thereby making it possible to obtain cool juices or liquids conveniently with a minimum of effort.

Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a liquid or juice container or containers releasably attached to the inner liner of a refrigerator door and having a discharge spout in engagement with a spring-loaded push bar which when actuated permits flow of liquid or juice through the spout into a drinking glass or other receptacle placed adjacent the spout. In the course of its movement, the spring-loaded push bar engages a spring-loaded valve which controls the flow of liquid or juice from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid or juice container which may be filled while assembled on a refrigerator door and which may be readily removed and dissassembled for cleaning purposes.

A specific object of the invention is to so position a liquid or juice container or containers in a refrigerator door and exposed to the temperature within the refigerator in such a manner that said container or containers will occupy little space within the food chamber and is readily accessible to one desiring to draw off liquid from a faucet or the like, with which the container is provided, by the mere opening of the refrigerator door, or the container or containers may be quickly and easily removed from the refrigerator for filling and cleaning and may be moved to a position where the faucet may be positioned for dispensing the contents of the container or containers.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container for mounting on a refrigreator door which is of simple construction, easy to operate, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a re frigerator showing the door in open position, embodying one form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 22 of FIG. 1.

3,178,061 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of one of the containers of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view through the faucet.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary disassembled view of the door wall and socket mounting for the container, the socket being partially broken away.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the socket mounting.

FIG. 6 is a disassembled view of a refrigerator door and a container embodying a modified form of the invention, the door being shown in section and the containing in elevation, with parts broken away.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connecting plug shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the connecting plug of FIG. 6 in operative position.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of a modified form of mounting device for the containers.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a container embodying yet another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 1ll11 of FIG. 10, with the cover of the container in separated condition.

FIG. 12 is a disassembled front perspective view of part of the container of FIG. 10 showing the electrical and mechanical connection between the cover and body of the container.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 1313 of FIG. 12, with the cover in closed condition.

FIG. 14 is a circuit digram of the parts of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a part sectional and part elevational view of a modified form of switch mechanism for actuating the outlet valve in the faucet for use with the container of FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a valve actuating tube of FIG. 15, showing the end of the tube in open condition in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a part of the wall of a container showing a modized form of socket mounting.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings wherein similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts throughout the views, in FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a domestic refrigerator or cooling cabinet Ill having a food storage and cooling compartment 12 therein, the food compartment being closed by a hinged door 14. The door includes the inner metal shell 16 and the outer metal shell 18, which shells are firmly united with any preferred type of insulation 20 confined therebetween.

In accordance with the invention, a pair of upper and lower horizontal shelves 22 and 24, respectively, are suitably mounted on the rear shell 16 of the door. The upper shelf is spaced a considerable distance from the top of the door and is formed with an upstanding flange 26 along the free outer edge thereof. The top edge of the flange is formed with spaced notches 23. The lower shelf 24 is also formed with an upstanding flange 30 along the outer free edge thereof whereby the shelf may be used for supporting bottles, containers or various items of food.

A plurality of containers 34 are shown supported side by side on the top shelf 22. While a plurality of containers are shown, the invention contemplates using only a single container 34, if desired.

The containers are similar in construction and each container is formed of suitable plastic material, but may be made of sheet metal, glass or the like. If the container is composed of metal, it is to be understood that the-Wall of the container may be treated with porcelain, lacquer or other suitable material both inside and outside to produce a receptacle conforming in appearance to that of the interior of the refrigerator and which may be maintaind 'iii'a' clean,'sanitary condition. Each container is semi-round in top plan, with a curved front wall 36, flat back wall 38 and flat bottom wall 40, the top being open" to permit ready filling of the container andthe cleaning of the interior thereof. The open top is closed by a rern'oyable 'cover 42 which is semi-round in shape to genial-mm the shape of the body of the container. A hble 441s formed in the center of thecover. The cover includes a downwardly, extending flange 46 as viewed "in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom free end 48 of the flange being offset inwardly of the remainder of the flahg'e' so as to form a shoulder 50 adapted to seat on the mileage of the walls of the body of the container, in order to seal the coyer to the body. A pair of curved sdlid lugs 52 extends from the upper end ofthe rear wall 38, at the sides thereof, and a single solid lug 514 extends from the rear wall at thebottomfcenter thereof. These lugs are disposed in'triangular arrangement and constitute plugs, i v

' The container is also provided with an aperture 60 in thec'ni'rvei d front wall 36 adjacent the lower end thereof for the r e ception' of a suitable faucet 62. This faucet may be ofan y suitable construction and consists of a tubular body portion 64 having one end reduced in diameter and extending into the opening 6}? in the wall 35 and is clamped td the front wallby a nut 66 The inner end of the body is provided With a tapered valve seat in communication with an inner chamber of the body 64. A valve 68 is mounted upon the inner ends of the valve stem 70 whichextends outwardly through the chamber of'the body 64. The valve is 'yieldingly maintained in contact with the valve seat by means of a spring 72 posi tioned on the outer end of the valve stem 70 between a shoulder provided on the body 6 4 and a push button 74 secured to the outer end of stem 30.

' Another important feature of the present invention is the means for agitating the contents of the container 34. For this purpose, we have providedan elongatedrod S carried by the cover 42, with a pair of blades 82 secured to the free endthereof. One end of the rod extends throughthe opening 44 in the coyer42. The end is threaded to receive a corrugated knob, 8 4 threaded to the end of the rod, and seated loosely on the top of the cover for rotating the rod and blades in order to stir .the contents, A washer 86 is mounted on they rod inside of aridadiacerit to the cover. The rod is readily rotated. by-

nianually rotating the knob 84, whereby the blades 82 willls tir up and agitate, the contentsof the container. 7

The container 34 is releasably mountedionthe door 14 byinserting the plugs 52 into. spaced pairs of socket structures formed in the door adjacent the'top thereof, and'into a single socket structureformed in the door just above the shelf22, .Eachfsocketstructure includes a" hole 94 formed in the inner shell. 16 of the door 14 and finclu'des'a curved recess or pocket .96, formed in the insulation material 20, of the door behindeach hole 94. The recess or pocket Q6 conforms in shapeto the shape of the plug 52 so that the plug fits therein. rec e s s;9, a socket member. 9, 7 having a curvedhollow body'99f'shape d to conform to, the shape of therecess is'inserted. The socket member has an annular flange or base 101 engaging the surface of. shell 16 with adhesive 98 on its adjacent surface maintaining'it in contact with the, shell 16, The base 101 has adhesive 103 on its opposite surface'for adherenceto the rear wall 38 of the container3 4 From the foregoing, it will be apparentthat while the containers 34 are located outside of the cooling chamber 12 of the refrigerator, the contents of thecontainers will 'be' as readily maintained in a cool sanitary condition as though the containers were positioned wholly within the cooling chamber and, without the disadvantage of occupying space inor limiting the capacity of the food orlcooling chamber. i

Into the.

F her t wil be r ed t at. by m unting he, can,

tainers on the door as illustrated, the contents of the containers may be very readily withdrawn when the door is in an open or partially open position, into a pitcher, drinking glass or other receptacle without it being necessary to disturb the contents of:the.c0oling.charnber. V

in FIGS 6 and 7, a modified form of releasable means for mounting the container 34 on the door 14 is shown. This means comprises an elongated lug structure including an annular flange or base 104, a solid lug member 52 extending from one sidethereof with the horned end thereof extending downwardly, and another solid lug52 extending from the other side thereof Wtih the horned end 162 extending upwardly. In using this elongated lug structure, the rear wall 38 of the container 34 is provided with pairs of spaced holes. 9.4 at the top adjacent the sides thereof, and with a single hole 94, at the bottom center of. the rear wall. In each of the, holes 9,4, a curved hollow socket structure 106 is inserted with the curved body thereof positioned so that its horned end extends upwardly as shown in FIG. 6 and with the base 198 thereof impinging againstthe, outer surface'of the Wall 38 In FIG. 8, one lug 52' of theelongated plug is shown inserted in operative position in the socket member 97' of the door 14 and the other plug 52 thereof is shown inserted inthe socket 106 in the rear wall' 38'. whereby the container is releasably supported on the door-14'. Y

"InFIG. 9, the containers 34" are shown positioned side by side and. attached to each other by a pair of. top. and bottom flat boards or slats 112and114, respectively. The boards or slats are formed with pairs of holes 116 in the'upper board or slat 112 andwith spaced singleholes 118. in the bottom board or slat114 to receive the lugs 53" and 54", respectively. This produces a unitary structure facilitating mounting and demounting of the containers, on the refrigerator. door, the slats beingsuit-- ablyfastened. to the inner surface of thedoor.

FIGS. '10 to 13, inclusive, illustrate modifiedactuating apparatus for operating the faucet62. By reason of this apparatus, the operation of the faucet is electrically actuated. The apparatus consists, of a hollow cylindrical casing 120 mou nted1on-the,cover 42 centrally thereof and, suitably fixed; thereto. The, casing comprises a side wall 12 a bottom wall 124 and a top wall 126. An

electric motor is housed in the bottom of: the casing and;a rechargeable electric battery 132 in the top thereof supported ona shelf 134. The motor isroperatively and electrically connected to the batterywhereby the motoris actuated. The battery is springpressedihtoelectrioalconnection with the motorv bymeans of a spring .136. An opening 128. is formed in the centerof the bottom wall 124 of. the. casing aligned with. an opening 129' in the body ofthe cover 42 A rod Bo -extends through the alignedv openings 128 and 12? and is operatively con nected to the motor 130 atone end, the other end ofthe rod extendinginto the interior of the. casing 34 with opposed blades 82 fixed on the inner free end thereof.- A pair of spaced metal plugs 138-is mounted on the top wall 126.and electrically connected to the battery for recharging/the battery. The plugs are adapted to be plugged into a socket ofa source ofelectric motor power, such as the house supply. A pair. of conductors 140,

140 lead from the battery acrossthetop of the cover42 and downwardlyv through a slot142 formed in an enlarg ernent 144. formed on the periphery.of-therfiange 46 The conductors are covered-by an insuof the cover. lating strip 146 extending into.the.slot. A pairof spaced metal plugs 148, 148 is connected to the ends of the conductors 140, 140. Theplugs extend outwardly of the bottom. end .of the slot. 142.

The top end of the front wall- 36* of the container is alsoformedwithan .enlargement150in line with the enlargement 144 on the cover. Metal sockets 152, 1-52are embedded in the enlargement 150 and connected to the sockets 152, 152 are conductors 154, 154 leading downwardly along the front wall and being covered by an insulating strip 156. Adjacent the bottom end of the front wall and in line with the enlargement 150 there is an insulating box 158 releasably supported by a curved lug 160 projecting from the box 158 and projecting into a hole 162 formed in the wall behind the box. An electrical switch is housed in the box including a stationary switch member 163 and a movable switch member 165. A lever 164 depends from the box and is formed with a forked end 166 at the bottom for interlocking with the stem 70 of the switch 68. The upper end of the lever is pivotally mounted by means of pivot pin 166 journalled in the sides of the box 158. Lever 164 carries the movable switch member 165. In operation, when the cover 42 is placed in closed position on the body of the container 34 the plugs 148 extend into the sockets 152 and electrically connect the switch.

When button 74 is manually pushed inwardly lever 64 is moved inwardly moving switch member 165 into contact with switch member 163 thereby closing the circuit through the motor 130 whereby rod 80* is rotated stirring up and agitating the contents of the container. At the same time, the valve 68 is moved ofif of its seat and the liquid in the container is discharged through the faucet 6%.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, a modified form of faucet 178 is shown having a hollow casing 172 with spout 174 at one end. A box-like enlargement 176 is formed on the top of the casing above the spout and fitted in this enlargement is a switch 178 with a movable switch member 180 extending outwardly of the box-like enlargement into the hollow body of the casing. Conductors 182 lead into the switch 178. A valve controlling the discharge of liquid is mounted in the casing with a movable part 184 thereof projecting outwardly of the casing in the path of movement of a handle or lever 186. In the center of the casing 172, there is a flexible tube member 183 having an open end stretched over the end of a tube 190. The other end of the tube member 188 is formed of flexible flaps 192 that are normally in closed condition as shown in FIG. 15. The switch member 180 of switch 178 is in the path of upward opening movement of the flaps 192 so that when the handle 186 is manually pressed down, the water valve is opened, permitting water to flow through the tube members 190 and 188 opening out the flaps 192 and forcing the movable switch member 180 upwardly to close the switch 178 for actuating the faucet.

In FIG. 17, a modified form of mounting the curved hollow sockets 106* on the back wall 38' of the container 34 In this form, instead of an annular base such as the base 108 of FIG. 6, the body of the socket curves upwardly as indicated at 198 into the recess formed by the reduction in diameter of the flange of the cover 42*.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including a cabinet provided with a cooling compartment, a door for the compartment hingedly con nected to the cabinet, and a shelf across the inner surface of the door, said dispenser including a plurality of liquid containers on the shelf, each container having a curved front wall, a fiat back wall, and an open top, a removable cover for said open top, each said container having an outlet opening in the front wall, said back wall having spaced openings therein, a faucet connected to each outlet opening whereby the contents of the container may be readily withdrawn when the door is in an open position, and means for removably securing each container to the door including elongated lug members, each lug member being oppositely curved at its ends, one end engaging in an opening in the door and the other end engaging in an opening in the respective container.

2. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including a cabinet provided with a cooling compartment, and a door for the compartment hingedly connected to the cabinet, said dispenser including a plurality of liquid containers in side by side relation, said containers each having a fiat wall with spaced curved lugs projecting from said wall, spaced slats across the rear flat walls of the containers, said slats having spaced holes to receive the curved lugs, said slats being secured to the rear walls forming a unitary structure, said containers each having an open top, a removable cover for said open top, each of said containers having an outlet opening in the front wall, a faucet connected to each outlet opening, whereby the contents of the container may be readily withdrawn when the door is in an open position, said slats being secured to the inner surface of the door.

3. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including a cabinet provided with a cooling compartment, a door for the compartment hingedly connected to the cabinet, and a shelf across the inner surf-ace of the door, said dispenser including at least one liquid container removably mounted on the shelf, said container having a front curved wall, a fiat back wall, an open top, a removable cover for the open top, said container having an outlet opening in the front wall at the bottom thereof, a faucet connected to the outlet opening whereby the contents of the container may be readily withdrawn when the door is in open position, and means for agitating the contents of the container, said agitating means including a hollow cylindrical casing on the cover, an electrical motor in the casing, a battery in the casing operatively connected to the motor, an electric switch in said connection, a rotatable rod operatively connected to the motor and depending into the interior of the container, and means associated with the faucet whereby upon opening of the faucet for discharging the contents the circuit through the motor is closed and the rod rotated for agitating the contents.

4. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including a cabinet provided with a cooling compartment, a door for the compartment hingedly connected to the cabinet, and a shelf across the inner surface of the door at said dispenser including at least one liquid container removably mounted on the shelf, said con tainer having a front curved wall, a fiat back Wall, an open top, a removable cover for the open top, said container having an outlet opening in the front wall at the bottom thereof, a faucet assembly connected to the out let opening whereby the contents of the container may be readily withdrawn when the door is in an open position, said faucet assembly including a movable valve member, a movable stem carrying the valve member and a push button for manually moving said stem and means for agitating the contents of the container, said agitating means including a hollow cylindrical casing on the cover, an electrical motor in the casing, a battery in the casing operatively connected to the motor, an electric switch in said connection, a rotatable rod operatively connected to the motor and depending into the interior of the container, said switch including a stationary switch member and a movable switch member, a pivoted lever connected to the movable switch member, said lever having a bifurcated end in contact with said push button whereupon movement of the push button closes the circuit through the motor for rotating the rod to agitate the contents.

5 A combined liquid coolenand'dispenser fora re frigerator includingia cabinet provided with a cooling compartmentfia door-for the compartmentv hingedlyf 'connected to the cabinetgand' a shelfacross the inner surface of the door, said-dispenser includingaplurality of liquid containers onthe shelf; each container "having; an open top;a removable cover forsaid *op'e'nj top; each said;con-- tainer havingwin-inletbpening and fan-outlet" opening 'a tents; of the: container may-the readily Withdrawn when dodnfor rem'ovably securing the "containers on the shelf,;

said {door having spaced socket openings'in the inner" surfacethereof; curved lugs projecti-n'g from'each con tairier removablyinterlocked; with theedgesy' of said sockeflopening's; a --rotat-ab1erod-depending from each cover-into} the interior 'of eachcontainer, blades-on the inn'er'endbf thef-rodfof-agitating" the 'contents and means forr'otatingsaid'rod consisting of a'casing on top of the L of the faucet.

References Cited by therExaminera P UNITED" STATES PATENTS 1,039361. 9/12-.=Dehn-: 248774116X, 2,031,283 H 2/36 Scofield 222- 184 2,052,466 8/36 Heise-et a1, 62-377 2,408,704 :10[46 Tay1or 222-132 X 2,775,877- 2 1/57 Bruntjen- 62-+392 3,096,913 7/63 C0r1ey- 222+181.X

V FOREIGNJPATENTS 678,906 4/30' Fr-anceg LOUIS J. DEMBRO, PrimaryExdmine'r';

Claims (1)

1. A COMBINED LIQUID COOLER AND DISPENSER FOR A REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING A CABINET PROVIDED WITH A COOLING COMPARTMENT, A DOOR FOR THE COMPARTMENT HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE CABINET, AND A SHELF ACROSS THE INNER SURFACE OF THE DOOR, SAID DISPENSER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID CONTAINERS ON THE SHELF, EACH CONTAINER HAVING A CURVED FRONT WALL, A FLAT BACK WALL, AND AN OPEN TOP, A REMOVABLE COVER FOR SAID OPEN TOP, EACH SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING IN THE FRONT WALL, SAID BACK WALL HAVING

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