US3294462A

US3294462A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3294462A
Application number: US442984A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith K Kesling
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1965-03-26
Filing date: 1965-03-26
Publication date: 1966-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-27
Also published as: BE677662A; GB1107545A

Description

K. K. KESLING 3,294,462

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 72 2 2 INVENTOR.

His Afforfl ey Dec. 27, 1966 K. K. KESLING 3,

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Keir/1 K. Kes/mg His A/orney Uited States Patent f 3,294,462 REFREGERATENG APPARATUFi ieith K. IIesling, Dayton, @hio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 442,984 9 Claims. (Cl. 312-214) This invention pertains to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an improved and simplified refrigerator cabinet construction.

Refrigerator cabinet construction has been simplified from time to time through the years accompanied by changes in appearance and style. With the advent of increased competition and foam insulation, it is desirable to restudy the construction to obtain greater advantage from the use of the foam insulation together with greater efficiency, simplicity, lower cost and improved styling and appearance. The throat construction where the inher walls join the outer walls has been a diflicult proble involving high material and labor costs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive throat construction for a refrigerator cabinet which in a simple inexpensive manner provides paramagnetic material for cooperation with a magnetic door seal upon the door without the use of multiple fastening devices such as screws.

it is another object of this invention to provide a simple inexpensive throat construction for a refrigerator cabinet having a plastic inner liner which will also provide a simple way in which a magnetic door seal may be effectively used upon the door.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple inexpensive throat construction for a refrigerator cabinet which will provide a moisture barrier for the insulation space which will remain sealed despite variations in thickness of materials and temperature variations.

These and other objects are attained in the form shown in the drawings in which the outer shell extends in a substantially straight line forwardly and terminates substantially in a raw edge at the front. This outer shell may be made either of metal or of plastic resin. The inner liner may also be made of plastic resin and provided with an integral offset throat arrangement at the front which extends in close adjacency to the front edge of the outer shell and terminates in a raw edge at substantially the same point. If both the outer shell and inner liner are of plastic resin, there is no need for a sealing strip in between. However, if the outer shell is of metal, it is preferable to provide a compressible sealing strip in between the adjacent front edge portions of the outer shell and inner liner to provide a moisture barrier and also to prevent any undesirable bimetal effect caused by the difference in expansion of the outer shell and the inner liner under changes in temperature.

Also in accordance with my invention there is provided an ornamental trim strip having a U-shaped portion extending around and concealing the raw front edges of the outer shell and inner liner and having a laterally extending portion of paramagnetic material extending over the offset portion and cooperating with the magnetic door seal mounted upon the door for holding the door closed and providing an air tight seal for the door opening. To further prevent undesirable effects from the temperature variations, a parting agent is provided upon the surfaces of the inner liner adjacent the throat and also adjacent any protuberances such as shelf supports provided in the inner liner to prevent adherence of the liner to the foam insulation in areas of high stress. The insulation space between the inner liner and the outer Patented Dec. 27, 1966 shell is substantially filled with a plastic resin foam insulation such as polyurethane foam or an epoxy foam.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet embodying one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the wall portion of FIG. 1, but having an outer shell of plastic resin instead of metal; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the plastic inner liner showing the areas in which the parting agent is applied.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet 20 provided with a front door 22 surrounded by an ornamental trim strip 24 located at the front edges of the sidewalls 26 and a top wall 28. The sidewalls 26 and the top wall 28 are a part of the outer sheet metal shell of the cabinet which is featured by a sheet metal wall formed as shown in FIG. 2 in which the sheet metal of the side wall 26 extends forwardly straight to the raw front edge 32. Within the outer metal shell including the side walls 26 and the top wall 28, there is provided an inner liner 36 of plastic resin such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, vinylchloride polymer, or polyethylene or polypropylene. This liner may be provided with inwardly extending protuberances 38 for shelf supports upon the sidewalls 4i and an outwardly extending offset 42 at the throat portion at the front which joins to a forwardly extending integral flange 44. This flange 44 extends closely adjacent the outer sheet metal shell and terminates in a raw edge at the side of the edge 32. The offset 42 provides the connection between the flange 44 and the sidewalls itl as well as the top and bottom

inner walls

46 and 48. The liner also has a rear wall 50.

According to my invention in order to minimize the effect of temperature variations upon the cabinet structure and particularly between the outer metal shell and the inner liner 36, I apply by spraying, brushing or roling a parting agent 52 which extends entirely around the outer front portion of the inner liner 36 including the forward flange 4,4, the offset portion 42. and the adjacent portions of the sidewalls 40, the top and

bottom walls

46 and 48. Such a parting agent may be polyvinyl alcohol or a silicone wax. In addition I provide the parting agent on the outside of the inner liner 36 in the form of bands 54 on the outside surface at and adjacent the protuherances 38. These bands 54 may also continue across the back Wall St) to connect the bands on the opposite sides. As a further precaution against the bimetal temperature effect between the forward flange 44 of the inner liner 36 and the front edge of the outer shell 26, I provide a compressible strip 56 in between their front edges all around the door opening as shown in FIG. 2. This compressible strip may be formed of foamed polyethylene or polyurethane or other foamed plastic resin. It adds to the width of the trim strip 24, making it more pleasing in appearance.

The front edges of the sidewalls 40, the top and

bottom walls

46 and 48 as well as the front edges of the outer shell are held together by a U-shaped section 60 of the ornamental trim strip 24 having an outer flange portion 62 on the outside of the outer shell and an inner flange .portion 64 on the inside of the forwardly extending flange 4-4 of the inner liner 36. This U-shaped section 60 prefera ably has connected to it and at a right angle to it a laterally extending flange 66 extending over and resting against the outwardly extending offset 42 throughout its entire periphery. This flange 66 is of paramagnetic material and preferably is of the 300 series of stainless steels such as those containing 17% chrome without any substantial amounts of nickel. The U-shaped section 60 is preferably made integral with the flange portion 66 of the same stainless steel. However, if desired other steel coated with either chrome plating or some other ornamental surface and having paramagnetic properties may be used instead. The flange 66 preferably extends entirely around the offset portion 42 and extends inwardly far enough to cooperate with the magnetic door seal 68 extending entirely around the inner face 70 of the outer periphery of the door 22 to magnetically hold the door closed and to maintain a substantially air tight seal.

As shown, the door 22 has an outer sheet metal structure 72 having an inwardly turned flange 74 upon which rests the outwardly turned flange 76 of the inner door pan 78. The magnetic door seal 68 is held in place by the metal clamps 80 which in turn are held in place by the screws 82. The interior of the door is filled with cast polyurethane foam insulation 86. To prevent problems from temperature variations and the bimetal effect of the difference in materials under temperature differences, the inner surface of the inner door pan 78 may likewise be provided with a parting agent such as one of those previously mentioned. The insulation space between the inner liner 36 and the outer shell 26 is likewise preferably filled with polyurethane foam insulation 34. The polyurethane foam insulation is light weight, strong and efficient and provides a good bond wherever desired with the outer shell and the inner liner to provide a rigid structural unit.

In the form shown in FIG. 3, the inner liner 136 is of the same configuration and materials as the inner liner 36 in FIG. 2. In this form, however, the outer shell 125 is of plastic resin which may be of the same composition as the inner liners 1'36 and 36. The inner liner 136 has an outwardly extending offset portion 142 connecting directly with a forwardly extending flange portion 144. This portion 144 extends alongside the front portion 145 of the outer shell 125. Each terminates at the front in a raw edge. Because of the nature of these materials, they can be held together in a substantially air tight arrangement by the trim strip 124 which may be identical to the trim strip 24 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this trim strip the U-shaped portion includes an outer flange portion 162 upon the outer face of the outer shell 125 and an inner flange portion .164 on the inner face of the fonwardly extending flange 144 together with a connecting portion 160 which extends over the front edges of the

portions

144 and 145. As in FIG. 2, there is provided at a right angle to the flange 164 an inwardly extending flange i166 which overlies and rests against the offset portion 142 and is of paramagnetic material so as to cooperate with the magnetic door seal upon the door such as the seal 68. 'Preferably the entire trim strip is made of a paramagnetic stainless steel such as the 300 series containing substantially no nickel and about 17% chromium.

This particular refrigerator cabinet construction with the parting agent, the seal strip and the particular trim strip which holds the front edges of the inner liner and outer wall in an ornamental U-shaped trim having an integral flange cooperating with the magnetic door seal provides a very desirable arrangement extremely easy to assemble without the use of screws and other common fastening devices which require considerable labor. Because of the absence of screws and such fastening devices, it is very neat and attractive and saves much labor.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges, a trim member having a first portion extending around said edges and the adjacent portions of said outer shell and said outer portion, a door for said cabinet provided with a magnetic member, said trim member having a paramagnetic second portion extending inwardly from said first portion cooperating with said magnetic member to hold the door closed.

2. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges, a trim member having a first portion extending around said edges and the adjacent portions of said outer shell and said outer portion, a door for said cabinet provided with a magnetic door seal, said trim member having a paramagnetic flange extending inwardly from said first portion cooperating with said door seal.

3. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner 'wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges, and terminating in an adjacent edge and a laterally extending portion intermediate and extending between said inner and outer portions, a trim member having a generally U-shaped portion extending around said edges and over an adjacent portion of the outer face of said outer shell and the adjacent portion of the outer portion of said inner wall, a door for said cabinet provided with a magnetic member, said trim member having a paramagnetic inwardly extending portion overlying said laterally extending portion of said inner wall cooperating with said magnetic member upon said door.

4. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges and terminating in an adjacent edge and a laterally extending portion intermediate and extending between said inner and outer portions, a trim member having a generally U-shaped portion extending around said edges and over an adjacent portion of the outer face of said outer shell and the adjacent portion of the outer portion of said inner wall, a door for said cabinet provided with a magnetic member, with a magnetic door seal, said trim member having alongside said generally U-shaped portion a laterally extending flange of paramagnetic material overlying a part of said laterally extending portion of said inner wall cooperating with said magnetic door seal.

5. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges, a compressible sealing strip extending between said portions of said outer shell and inner liner in close adjacency, a trim member extending around said edges and the adjacent portions of said outer shell and said outer portion, said trim member 24 constituting the sole means for holding said compressible sealing strip between the closely adjacent portions of said outer shell and said inner wall.

6. A refrigerator cabinet as specified in claim 5 in which said strip is of plastic resin foam.

7. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall Within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges and terminating in an adjacent edge and a laterally extending portion intermediate and extending between said inner andouter portions, a trim member having a generally U-shaped portion extending around said edges and over an adjacent portion of the outer face of said outer shell and the adjacent portion of the outer portion of said inner wall, cast plastic resin foam between said inner wall and said outer shell, portions of the inner surface of said inner wall being provided with a parting agent.

8. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell pro vided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges, and terminating in an adjacent edge and a laterally extending portion intermediate and extending between said inner and outer portions, a trim member having a generally U-shaped portion extending around said edges and over an adjacent portion of the outer face of said outer shell and the adjacent portion of the outer portion of said inner wall, cast plastic resin foam between said inner wall and said outer shell, the inner surfaces of said laterally extending portions of said inner wall being provided with a parting agent.

9. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer shell provided with a door opening at the front, said shell having side and top walls with edges at the front extending forwardly generally in alignment with said side and top walls, an inner wall within said outer shell having an inner portion spaced inwardly from said outer shell and an outer portion extending into close adjacency with the inner side of said edges and terminating in an adjacent edge and a laterally extending portion intermediate and extending between said inner and outer portions, a trim member having a generally U-shaped portion extending around said edges and over an adjacent portion of the outer face of said outer shell and the adjacent portion of the outer portion of said inner wall, said inner wall being provided with inwardly extending protuberances providing supports for a shelf, cast resin foam between said inner Wall and outer shell, the inner surfaces of said inner wall at and adjacent said protuberances being provided with a parting agent.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,678,750 5/1954 King 22080 x 2,958,210 11/1960 Rill 312214 X 3,006,708 10/1961 Saunders 312214 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,966 4/1947 Australia. 840,855 7/ 1960 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

Claims

5. A REFRIGERATOR CABINET INCLUDING AN OUTER SHELL PROVIDED WITH A DOOR OPENING AT THE FRONT, SAID SHELL HAVING SIDE AND TOP WALLS WITH EDGES AT THE FRONT EXTENDING FORWARDLY GENERALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SIDE AND TOP WALLS, AN INNER WALL WITHIN SAID OUTER SHELL HAVING AN INNER PORTION SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID OUTER SHELL AND AN OUTER PORTION EXTENDING INTO CLOSE ADJACENCY WITH THE INNER SIDE OF SAID EDGES, A COMPRESSIBLE SEALING STRIP EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PORTIONS OF SAID OUTER SHELL AND INNER LINER IN CLOSE ADJACENCY, A TRIM MEMBER EXTENDING AROUND SAID EDGES AND THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID OUTET SHELL AND SAID OUTER PORTION, SAID TRIM MEMBER 24 CONSTITUTING THE SOLE MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID COMPRESSIBLE SEALING STRIP BETWEEN THE CLOSELY ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID OUTER SHELL AND SAID INNER WALL.