US3178832A

US3178832A - Vertically adjustable and fluidly refrigerated shelf

Info

Publication number: US3178832A
Application number: US242804A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis F Barroero
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-12-06
Filing date: 1962-12-06
Publication date: 1965-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-20

Description

April 20, 1965 L. F. BARROERO 3,178,832

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND FLUIDLY REFRIGERATED SHELF Filed Dec. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I /z 5 23 /6 I, A 1 w v L/ I I k l u 2:: :j 3 L4 5 a H 2 I L K a u) I L, Z5Z-2 Z/ 23' j L1; 400/: 5 5/22/2452 BY 1 if 5 M W April 20, 1965 L. F. BARROERO 3,178,832

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND FLUIDLY REFRIGERATED SHELF Filed Dec. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR; lay/5 A 542 9052 United States Patent Office 3,178,832 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 3 178 832 vnRrroALLY Anrrrsrhntn AND FLUIDLY RErnroEaArEn snare Louis F. Barroero, 1585 Daniels Drive,

San Leandro, Calif. Filed Dec. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 242,804 9 Claims. (Cl. 34-237) This invention relates to refrigerating shelf structures such as those shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,962,875. More particularly this invention involves an apparatus for adjustably mounting such a shelf structure from vertical air ducts or rear supporting panels.

Briefly, the invention herein described provides an apparatus including means for adjustably supporting the hollow and air-refrigerated shelf relative to an air duct in one of several vertical positions, while retaining said shelf in fiuid communication with the air ducts. Although it is realized that shelf structures generally have been provided with means for positioning them in one of several vertical positions, a unique problem presents itself in producing a suitable support that permits vertical adjustment of the shelf and simultaneously retains sealed, fluid communication between the supported shelf and an air duct. More especially, the apparatus now contemplated comprises an air duct having a vertical opening, a hollow shelf formed with a vertical opening in a peripheral edge thereof which may be fluidly communicated with the air duct opening, means for adjustably supporting the shelf relative to the air duct in more than one vertical position while retaining the air shelf in fluid communication with the air duct opening, and means for sealing the air duct opening circumferentially of said shelf opening while the shelf is supported at various positions of vertical adjustment.

This invention especially contemplates a sealing means between the air duct and the shelf comprising a vertical seal plate mounted on or formed integrally with the shelf, said plate having vertical surface portions extending, respectively, above and below the shelf opening. A continuous sealing gasket is secured to the air duct and circumscribing the air duct opening. It will be seen that the means provided for adjustably supporting the air shelf will position the vertical seal plate into abutting contact with the sealing gasket for each vertical position into which the shelf may be positioned.

This invention further provides an extremely simple supporting means that allows each shelf structure to be independently hung, adjusted or even removed from its mounting. For this purpose each support shelf is provided with a vertical plate having a substantially vertical slot that may be engaged with a mounting pin secured to a support member. The vertical plate is also equipped with a support pin which is mateable with a catch opening formed in the same support member.

It is to be particularly noted that the vertical slot of the shelf plate includes a vertically inclined portion extending from an opening in the lower edge of said plate and directed generally forward and rearward relative to said shelf. This configuration of slots permits the shelf to be mounted with the utmost ease by holding the shelf with its front edge slightly depending and moving the peripheral edge of the shelf rearwardly into contact with the air duct, thereby effecting simultaneous fluid communication between the interior of the shelf and the air duct.

In view of the above brief description of the invention, it will be apparent that the primary object of this invention is to provide apparatus including a hollow support shelf and means for adjustably supporting the shelf in one of several vertical positions while retaining the shelf in fluid communication with an air duct.

Another object is to provide supporting apparatus for a hollow shelf structure including means to permit the shelf to be vertically adjusted without the aid of tools or equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting apparatus for a hollow shelf structure that may be simultaneously placed into fluid communication with an air duct or retained in communication with such an air duct while the vertical position of the shelf is adjusted.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent in view of the drawings and the following detailed description.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hollow refrigerating shelf structure mounted upon a pair of air ducts in a' preferred manner as contemplated by this invention and including a support means for adjustably supporting the shelf relative to the air ducts.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a substantially horizontal section taken on line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a substantially horizontal section taken on line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view and section taken on line 8-43 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a detail view and section taken on line 99 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 in particular, there is illustrated a pair of spaced air ducts 1t) and 11 from which is supported a hollow refrigerated shelf 12, constructed generally in accordance with the teachings of United States l 'atent No. 2,962,875. In this respect, the shelf 12 is partitioned into upper and lower compartments by a centrally disposed imperforate member 15, said shelf further including an upper perforated plate member 16, and lower perforated plate member 17. The centrally disposed imperforate member 15 is formed with an integral depressed ramp 15a and a raised inclined ramp 15b, each ramp being contoured and defining a passage-way connecting one of the interior air compartments of the shelf with

openings

18 and 19, respectively, formed in the peripheral edge of said shelf, as shown in FIGS. 3 and In addition to

plate members

15, 16, 17 the shelf 12 comprises a continuous framework of die-cast parts which define the peripheral edge of the shelf. This framework is generally rectangular and comprise a front edge member 20, symmetrical

side edge members

21 and 22, a rear edge member 23 and symmetrically formed

corner edge pieces

24 and 25. Each of the edge members and parts 243-25 are formed with tongie and groove portions allowing them to be rapidly assembled into the continuous framework. In addition, and most importantly, these members and parts, when assembled, provide continuous grooves for receiving the edges of partition member 15 and the

plate members

16 and 17.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, it will be evident that the

peripheral openings

18 and 19 of air shelf 12 are defined by the

corner plate members

24 and 25, respectively.

Plate members

24 and 25 are held into abutting engagement with gaskets or seal rings 26 mounted to the air ducts, and each plate member includes upper and

lower flange portions

24a, 24b and 25a, 25b, respectively. The flange portions provide relatively flat or planar surfaces that may be placed into abutting contact with the sealing gaskets 26 for various" vertical positions into which the shelf structure may be supported. For example, while the shelf structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is positioned such that the

plates

24 and 25 engage their seal rings 26' while

openings

18 and 19 are proximate'the lower edge of V 5 each gasket, it is possible to raise shelf. 12 to aipo'sition' where the

openings

18 and 19 are more nearly proximate i to the upper edge of the 'seal' rings 2 6. in each of these positions fluid communication is pr-ovidedlbetween the compartments 13 and 14and the air "ducts. 1i and 11, respectively. It will'be noted that openings lttand 19 are comprises a vertical plate providedon said shelf, said platehavingvertical surface portions, respectively, above 1 and below'said shelf'opening, and a continuous sealing substantially'smaller in the vertical dirriensionthan the openings defined by the gaskets 26 to permit this operation. a Each side of shelf 12 is supported upon a bifurcated mounting strip 27 that forms a part and extends vertically along the front side of air ducts 10' and 11. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6-8, the mounting stri-pls 27 comprisea pair of flange strips each of which serves as a support member for the sides of laterally adjacent shelves. Each sup port member is formed with vertically aligned and spaced" openings 28, '29. and 30, and a mounting pin 31 is secured thereto in' vertically spaced relationship. I

Side edge members 21 and '22 of shelf 12 are each integrally formed with'a' vertical .plate 32 extending above and below the

plate members

16 and 17. Plates 32 are of a yoke shaped'cross-section, as shown in FIGS. 6-8, and straddle one of the support member of bifurcated strip 27 Plates 32 are further formed with substantially vertical slots33 that may be engaged'with the mounting pin 31, and plate openings 34 are provided for alignment with one of the vertically aligned and space openings 28- 30. A spring-pressed'pin 35 is' retractably mounted in the openings 34 of plate 32 and a spring membe 35'normally urges pin 35 into a locking position, shown in figure eight.

Referring to FIG. 2, slot 33 extends from the lower edge of plate 32 and includes a vertically inclined portion leading to the lower edge of said plate and directed gengasket secured tosaid air duct circumscribing the air duct opening, surfaces ofv said vertical" plate being placed into abutting contact with saidsealing gasket for each vertical position into which-s aid shelf may be supported.

3; The apparatus of claim ;1 wherein said supporting means comprises a support member having vertically aligned and spaced openings and a mounting pin secured tov said membjer in vertically spaced relationship to said openings, ajvertical' plate provided on said shelf, said plate having a substantially vertical slot adapted to be engaged with said mounting pin and a plate opening that may be aligned with one a of the vertically aligned and spaced openings ofsaidsupport membenthe engagement of said mounting pin and slot permitting vertical adjustment of said shelf to align said plate openingfwith' another of said vertically,.aligned and spaced openings of saidsupport member, and 'a support pin insertable'through aligned openingsof said support member and plate;

4. Th'ejapparatus of claim 3 and further wherein the slot of. said vertical plate includes a; vertically-inclined portion-extending from an opening in the lower edge of said-plate and directed generally forward and upward-relative to said shelf, permitting the mounting pin to be enerally forward and upward relative to the self. This configuration of slot 33 permitssaid slot to beengaged with the mounting pin 31 by holding the shelf with its front edge slightly depending and moving the shelf downwardl' and against the

air ducts

10 and 11. It will be noted that this construction permits mating alignment and engag ment between the slots 33 and pins 31 without as yet placing a. substantial sur facearea of seal plates against the sealing gaskets 26. Thus, once slots 33 have initially been mated with their respective pins 31 the shelf can be moved vertically as a whole to a position of adjustment where the opening 34 and pin will comeinto alignment with one of the

openings

28, 29 or 30. Such an alignment is. preferably made by initially lifting the shelf as a whole while in an inclined position, and then pivoting the shelf by lifting its front edgeuntil the top plate 16 is disposed in a horizontal plane. While so positioning the shelf in the horizontal, the sealing surface of seal plate 25 is placed into compressive contact with the sealing gasket 26. I

It is to be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention as'shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example ofthe same. Furthermore, various changes may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims 7 (-1)) a hollow shelf structure having a vertical opening formed in a peripheral edge thereof, said shelf opening fluidlycommunicatingwith said air duct opening,

and having a smaller vertical dimension than the 7 opening of said air duct; 7 r (0) means for adjustably supporting said shelf relative to said air duct in more than one vertical position gaged with the slot by holding said shelf with its front edge slightly depending and movingsaid peripheral edge toward said air duct. I V

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a second air 'duct having an opening, said shelf structure including means defining upper and lower air'compartmentsseparated by an imperforate member and having .the first-named shelf openingand a second vertical shelf opening formed in said peripheral edge, each opening fluidly communicating with respective air duct openings and respective upper and lower air compartments, said second shelf openinghaving a smaller. vertical dimension than the opening of said second air duct; and means for sealing the second duct opening while said shelf is supported in positions of vertical adjustment.

6. Apparatus of the kind'described, comprising:

(a) first and second air ducts, each air duct having a vertical opening; I V r (b) ahollow shelf structure including means defining upper and. lower air compartments separated by an imperforate member and having; a first and Ya second vertical'opening formedin a peripheral edge thereof, said first and second openings fluidly com mu'nicating with respective first and second air duct openings and having smaller vertical dimensions than the opening of said air duct with which it communicates;

(0) means for adjustably supporting said shelf relative to said air ducts in more than one vertical position while retaining said :shelf openings in fluid communication with respective air duct openings, said'supporting means comprising a pair. of support members respectively secured to said first and second air ducts, each support member having vertically. aligned and spaced openings and a mounting pindisposed in vertically spaced relationship to said openings, a pair of vertical plates provided on said shelf and disposed in complemental relationship to said support members, respectively, each plate having a substantially vertical slot adapted to be'engaged' with the mounting pin of respective support members and an opening that may be aligned with one of the vertically aligned and spaced openings of the respective support members, whereby the engagement of said mounting pins and said slots permits vertical adjustment of said shelf to align said plate openings with another of said vertically aligned and spaced openings of respective support members, and a pair of support pins insertable through respectively aligned openings of said support members and plates.

7. A shelf structure of the kind described, comprising:

(a) a continuous framework formed with three continuous grooves, two grooves being spaced apart the approximate thickness of said shelf and the third groove being intermediate said two;

(1)) a first relatively planar plate member having a continuous edge disposed within and received by one of said two grooves;

(c) a second relatively planar plate member having a continuous edge disposed within and received by the other of said two grooves; and

(d) a third plate member having a continuous edge disposed within and received by said third groove.

8. The shelf structure of claim 7 wherein said framework includes two corner edge pieces, each edge piece having a lateral opening intermediate one of said two grooves and said third groove, the openings of said corner edge pieces being intermediate different grooves of said two grooves to provide duct leads of enlarged size and communicating said openings with interior compartments above and below said third plate member.

9. The shelf structure of claim 7 wherein each of said two corner edge pieces provide a vertical plate having vertical surface portions extending respectively above and below its lateral opening, said surfaces being adapted for placement into abutting contact with sealing gaskets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,288 11/82 Walker 34-237 277,685 5/83 Crozier 34193 361,075 4/87 Owens 34-237 20 2,962,875 12/60 Barroero 62-25 6 3,009,333 11/61 Rainwater 62--256 NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS OF THE KIND DESCRIBED, COMPRISING: (A) AN AIR DUCT HAVING A VERTICAL OPENING; (B) A HOLLOW SHELF STRUCTURE HAVING A VERTICAL OPENING FORMED IN A PERIPHERAL EDGE THEREOF, SAID SHELF OPENING FLUIDLY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID AIR DUCT OPENING AND HAVING A SMALLER VERTICAL DIMENSION THAN THE OPENING OF SAID AIR DUCT;