US3233276A

US3233276A - Counterbalance for a movable member

Info

Publication number: US3233276A
Application number: US208544A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald F Swanson; Wynn G Winkler
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1962-07-09
Filing date: 1962-07-09
Publication date: 1966-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-08

Description

Feb 8, 1966 D. F. SWANSON ETAL 3,233,276

COUNTERBALANCE FOR A MOVABLE MEMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1962 Feb. 8, 1966 D. F. swANsoN ET AL 3,233,276

COUNTERBALANCE FOR A MOVABLE MEMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1962 United States Patent Oiiice 3,233,276 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 3,233,276 COUNTERBALANCE FDR A MVABLE MEMBER Donald F. Swanson and Wynn G. Winkler, St. Paul,

Minn., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed `l'uly 9, 1962, Ser. No. 208,544 10 Claims. (Cl. 16-1) This invention relates to a counterbalance structure for a movable member such as a hinged lid.

The counterbalance structure of this invention serves to provide a counterbalance force urging a movable member suc-h as a hinged lid in a direction opposite to its normal closing direction. Thus, the structure of this invention is particularly adapted for gravity movable closures or lids and is especially useful with relatively heavy lids such as the insulated lids for upwardly opening freezer cabinets.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved counterbalance structure for a movable member such as a weighted lid for a cabinet with the structure being of simple construction but efficient in operation and preferably constructed so that it can be completely contained within the closure or lid so that no projections from the lid are produced.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one ernbodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a top opening freezer 'having a lid provided with a counterbalance embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a si-de elevation of the freezer.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the rear top of the lid taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 partially broken away for clarity of illustration and foreshortened FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIGURE 3 and with portions broken away for clarity of illustration.

The top opening freezer illustrated in the drawings comprises a cabinet body normally closed with a lid 11 which is provided at the front with an operating handle 12. The lid, as can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, is relatively thick as is customary and is provided with a hollow interior as illustrated at 13. The end portions of the cabinet 10 at the top thereof are also each provided with a hollow interior section as illustrated at 14.

Located within the hollow interior sections 13 14 at each end of the cabinet is a hinge 15 each having a downwardly projecting stem 16 extending through aligned openings 17, 18 and 19 in the top of the cabinet body 10 and an arched portion 2i) extending upwardly from the stem portion 16 through an opening 21 in the bottom panel 53 of the lid 11 and then curving downwardly from the top of the hinge toward the rear wall 54 of the lid 11. From the arched portion 20 a mounting portion 22 at the end of the hinge 15 extends at right angles to the remainder of the hinge and adjacent the wall 54. These mounting portions 22 on which the lid actually turns are substantially against the rear wall 54 and extend toward each other. The lid is mounted on each of the portions 22 by means of internal brackets 23. Each bracket is provide-d with a cut-out looped tongue portion 24 against the rear wall 54 and closely embracing the mounting portion 22 of a hinge on the innerside thereof for approximately 180, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 4. Above the mounting portions 22 of the hinges the brackets 23 are provided with top portions 25.

The stem portion 16 of each hinge 15 is adjustably locked in place within the openings 17-19 in the cabinet body by means of a clevis 26 provided with a pair of openings 27 adjacent the openings 1S and 19 and through which the stem 16 extends. The clevis has substantially parallel side arms 28 containing the openings 27 andv with these arms being located adjacent the parallel sides 29 of a clevis holding bracket 31D. The clevis 26 is slidable within these sides and is caused to move and be locked in position by means of a bolt 31 having a head 32 accessible from the exterior of the cabinet and a nut 33 threaded on the bolt 31. As can be seen in FIGURE 4, the bolt 31 extends through the base of the bracket 30 and the base of the clevis 26 with the nut 33 being on the side of the clevis opposite the bolt head 32. With this construction, when the bolt is turned by means of its head 32, pressure is applied or released on the hinge stem 16 to lock it in position or release' it for movement relative to the cabinet. With this arrangement, it is easy to regulate the spacing between the cabinet body 10 and the lid 11 so as to apply desired pressure on the sealing gasket 52 customarily provided between the cabinet body and the lid.

In order to counterbalance the weight of the lid 11l so that it will be easier to open, there is provided a counterbalance structure including a pair of

torsion bars

34 and 35 located entirely within the lid 11.

The torsion bar 35 is provided with a hooked end 36 hooked over one hinge 15 at the portion 37 inwardly of the Ihinge mounting portion 22. This hook portion 36 is held in place on the hinge portion 37 by engaging a notch 38 in the top of the hinge portion 37. The torsion bar 35 then extends to the left, as viewed in FIG- URES 3 and 5, and is provided on its opposite end with a generally right angled end portion 39 that is located against the inner surface of t-he opposite end 40 of the lid. Torsion bar 34 is provided with a hooked end 41 similar to the hooked end 36 of the other bar and similarly fastened in place over the other hinge 15. This torsion bar 35 extends to the opposite end 55 of the lid` and is similarly provided with a generally right angled end portion 42 that is similar to the end portion 39 of the torsion bar 34. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, the

torsion bars

34 and 35 are positioned adjacent each other within the lid 11 and are completely enclosed within the lid.

The torsion bar 35 is held against substantial lateral displacement not only by its engagement with the notch 38 in the hinge po1tion 37 but also by its retention on top of a notched bracket 43 on the inner surface of the lid adjacent the rear wall 54. Torsion bar 34 is similarly held against substantial lateral displacement by a similar bracket 44 and similar notch in the other hinge 15. As can-be seen, each torsion bar is thusly held against lateral displacement at opposite ends of the bar.

With the

bars

34 and 35 so mounted they are arranged under torsion stress so that the weight of the lid resists the stress with the result that the stress tends to raise the lid about the hinge portions 22. This raising force isaccomplished by having the end portion 42 of torsion bar 34 held beneath a movable nut 45 that is movable on rotation of a threaded bolt 46 in the lid 11 adjacent the end 55 thereof. This bolt is rotatably mounted by means of a head 47 on the lower end accessible from the bottom of the lid 11 and a riveted head 4S on the exterior of the top portion 25 of the bracket 23. The bolt 46 extends generally vertically when the lid is closed and the end portion 42 of the bar 34 is held beneath the nut 45 and between the bolt 46 and the adjacent side 55 of the lid as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The torsion in the bar 34 and thus the counterbalance force is regulated by turning the bolt 46 to position the nut 45 upwardly or downwardly. Obviously, when the nut 45 is moved downwardly the torsion stress in the bar 34 is increased so as to increase the counterbalance lifting reaction. Movement of the nut 45 in the opposite direction has the opposite action. The end portion 39 of torsion bar 35 is similarly located beneath a similar nut 49 that is movably mounted on a similar bolt 46 which extends through bracket 23.

In installing each

torsion bar

34 and 35 within the lid 11, the following procedure is followed as exemplified by the torsion bar 34. The hooked end 41 is placed over its hinge and locked in place thereon in the manner described. The bar 34 is long enough so that the end portion 42 is outside the lid and extending generally upwardly and generally away from the nut 45 and bolt 46. The end portion 42 is then twisted to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, and down to apply the torsion stress to the bar. The bar 34 is then placed on the bracket 43 and the end portion 42 is then placed beneath the nut 45 and adjacent the lid end 21 and slowly released so that the bar portion 42 moves upwardly between the bolt 46 and the side 21 to bear against the bottom of the bolt 45, as viewed in FIGURE 4. The torsion bar 34 is then locked in position and because of the stress in the bar provides the counterbalance force to this side of the lid. As is shown in FIGURE 4, the force is transmitted through the end portion 42 to the lid 11 at a point (the nut 45) spaced forwardly from the hinge axis 51.

As can be seen from this description of the installation, the installing of the torsion bar 34 within the lid is relatively easy, and this ease of installation is achieved because of the great length of the torsion bar 34 as it extends substantially the full interior length of the lid itself. During the installation of the torsion bar 34 and before the end portion 42 is released the bar is placed on top of the bracket 43 which together with the notch 38 aids in holding the bar 34 against substantial lateral displacement.

The other torsion bar 35 is installed within the lid in the same manner. The torsion bars are of course installed prior to the time that the bottom of the lid is closed otf by the installation of the liner 53.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A counterbalance structure for a movable member having means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: a pair of spaced hinge means on which said member is movably mounted, each hinge having a portion in said section; a pair of torsion bars in said section; means for attaching a first area of each of said bars directly to said hinge means portion in said section; means for attaching a second area of each bar that is spaced from said iirst area to said movable member, each of said bars normally being stressed between said first and second areas to provide a counterbalance to said member; and means for adjusting the stress of each bar from the exterior of said member.

2. A counterbalance structure for a movable member having means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: a pair of spaced hinge means on which said member is movably mounted, each hinge having a portion in said section; a pair of torsion bars substantially completely within said section; means for attaching one end of each bar to said hinge portion; and means for attaching the other end of each bar to said movable member, each said bar being stressed between its ends to provide a counterbalance to said member` 3. A counterbalance structure for a lid having means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: a pair of spaced hinge means on which said lid is movably mounted, each hinge having a portion in said section; a pair of torsion oars in said section; means for attaching one end of each bar to a hinge; a pair of threaded bolts in said interior each rotatable from the exterior of said lid; a threaded block on each said bolt movable along the bolt on rotation thereof; and means for retaining the other end of each bar against a block, each said bar being stressed between its ends to provide a counterbalance to said lid and each block opposing the stress in its respective bar, each said block being located forwardly of the mounting of said lid on said hinge.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said other end of each bar is retained between a bolt, its block and an adjacent portion of said means forming said hollow section.

5. A counterbalance structure for a movable member having means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: hinge means on which said member is movably mounted; a pair of elongated torsion bars substantially entirely within said hollow section; means in said hollow section for anchoring a iirst area of each bar against movement relative to said movable member; and means in said hollow section for attaching a second area of each bar that is spaced from said first area to said movable member, each of said bars normally being stressed between said irst and second areas to provide a counterbalance to said member.

6. A hinge and conuterbalance structure for a lid having opposite ends and means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: hinge means on which said lid is movably mounted; a pair of elongated torsion bars substantially entirely within said hollow section; means in said hollow section for anchoring one end of each bar against movement relative to said lid; and means in said hollow section for attaching the other end of each bar to said lid at an area spaced from said hinge means, each bar being stressed between its ends to provide a counterbalance to said lid and each of said ends of said bars being located substantially entirely within said lid and adjacent one of said ends of said lid.

'7. A hinge and counterbalance structure for a lid having opposite ends and means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: hinge means on which said lid is movably mounted; a pair of elongated torsion bars substantially entirely within said hollow section; means in said hollow section for anchoring one end of each bar against movement relative to said lid; a pair of threaded bolts in said interior each rotatable from the exterior of said lid; a threaded block on each said bolt movable along the bolt on rotation thereof; means for retaining the other end of each bar against a block, each said bar being stressed between its ends to provide a counterbalance to said member and each block opposing the stress in its respective bar, each said block being located forwardly of the mounting of said lid on said hinge, each of said bar ends, each of said bolts and each of said blocks being located adjacent a lid end; and means including a bracket in said hollow interior section for fixing each bar against substantial lateral displacement.

8. A hinge and counterbalance structure for a lid having opposite ends and means forming a hollow interior section, comprising: hinge means on which said lid is movably mounted; a pair of elongated torsion bars substantially entirely within said hollow section; means in said hollow section for anchoring one end of each bar to said hinge means; a pair of threaded bolts in said interior each rotatable from the exterior of said lid; a threaded block on each said bolt movable along the bolt on rotation thereof; means for retaining the other end of each bar against a block, each said bar being stressed between its ends to provide a counterbalance to said lid and each block opposing the stress in its respective bar, each said block being located forwardly of the mounting of said lid on said hinge means to exert an opening force on said lid; and means including a pair of brackets in said hollow section each located between the opposite ends of a bar and engaging said bar for preventing substantial lateral displacement of its bar at substantially all positions of said lid.

9. A counterbalance structure for a movable member, comprising: fixed hinge means on which said member is movably mounted; a pair of torsion bars; means for attaching a rst area of each of said bars directly to said hinge means; and means for attaching a second area of each bar that is spaced from said tirst area to said movable member at a point forwardly of the mounting of said member on said hinge means to exert a leveraged force on said movable member, each of said bars normally being stressed between said iirst and second areas to provide a counterbalance to said member.

10. A counterbalance structure for a movable member, comprising: fixed hinge means on which said member is movably mounted; a pair of torsion bars; means for attaching a rst area of each of said bars directly to said hinge means; means for attaching a second area of each bar that is spaced from said first area to said movable member, each of said bars normally being stressed between said first and second areas to provide a counterbalance to said member, at least one of said means for attaching being movably mounted; and means for moving said movably mounted means for attaching to regulate the stress in the respective bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,957 7/1952 Anderson 16-180 2,871,505 2/1959 Clark et al 16-180 2,894,277 7/1957 Bogater et al 16-180 2,916,763 12/1959 Wagner 16-180 3,061,871 11/1962 Swanson 16-180 3,153,255 10/1964 Bostwick 16-180 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

Claims

1. A COUNTERBALANCE STRUCTURE FOR A MOVABLE MEMBER HAVING MEANS FORMING A HOLLOW INTERIOR SECTION, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF SPACED HINGE MEANS ON WHICH SAID MEMBER IS MOVABLY MOUNTED, EACH HINGE HAVING A PORTION IN SAID SECTION; A PAIR OF TORSION BARS IN SAID SECTION; MEANS FOR ATTACHING A FIRST AREA OF EACH OF SAID BARS DIRECTLY TO SAID HINGE MEANS PORTION IN SAID SECTION; MEANS FOR ATTACHING A SECOND AREA OF EACH BAR THAT IS SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AREA TO SAID MOVABLE MEMBER, EACH OF SAID BARS NORMALLY BEING STRESSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND AREAS TO PROVIDE A COUNTERBALANCE TO SAID MEMBER; AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE STRESS OF EACH BAR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID MEMBER.