US2363591A - Refrigerator cabinet construction - Google Patents

Description

W. R. HOWARD V REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed June 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIII'II'IIIIIIIIIIIIIA 1,,

'Nov. 28, 1944.

W. R. HOWARD REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed June 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 28, 1944 REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Wallace Ray Howard, Connersville, Ind., assignor to Rex Manufacturing 00., Inc., Conner-sville, Ind.

Application June 17, 1940, Serial No. 341,040

1 Claim. 01. 220-9) This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets,

particularly to that portion or a cabinet where the spaced outer and inner walls have their marginal edges joined or connected in non-heat-conducting relation-and which is generally around the food compartment and the outer edge or boundary of the door.

An object of the invention is to provide an im-' proved combined breaker and trim or finish strip and coasting wall construction applicable to both the cabinet and door, which materially contributes to simplicity and economy in cabinet manufacture while at the same time maintaining durability and a high degree of thermal efliciency.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of breaker strip also functioning as a trim or finish strip, which may be easily and quickly applied to the spaced marginal edges of the outer and inner walls of the cabinet and which results in favor andsimpler parts and consequently less expense in manufacture of the cabinet.

Another object oi! the invention is to provide a breaker strip of the "snapn" type so constructed as to facilitate its manufacture from certain desirable materials, particularly material capable of being extruded through a die to obtain the desired shape.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, comprises an outer wall or shell l having its outer marginal portion shaped to provide an overlapping edge Ma and then tumed inwardly at I02), and an inner wall or door pan s I I having its marginal edge overlapping the edge 10b of. the outer wall and connected to the latter by means of screws or the like with a door gasket l2 interposed therebetween.

The cabinet proper comprises an outer wall or shell l3 having an intumed marginal edge Ba, and an inner wall or food compartment liner l4 having an inturned marginal edge or flange a complementary to the flange 13a of the outer wall l3. l

The improved combined breaker and-trim strip is generally indicated at 5, note particularly Fig. 3, and comprises a strip of relatively thin sheet material having its opposite edges shaped to provide longitudinal hook-shaped channels or grooves I I8 and lid, the body portion of the strip preterably being bowed outwardly to facilitate mounting of the strip. This strip may be made of sheet material of relatively thin cross section to reduce heat conductivity. The material should also have a good insulation value. In actual practice, cellulose acetate material such as that sold under the trade name of Tenite has proved highly satisfactory. Since the strip has a uniform cross section throughout its length, it may be readily extruded. The material should embody a certain Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a refrigerator cabinet constructed in-accordance with the feat-- tures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transversesection taken substantially on the line 2-4 oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the improved combined breaker and trim strip or member;

Fig. 4 is a view in face elevation of one of the upper corner portions 01' the cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the to both the door and the cabinet; and

Figs. 7 and 9. are sectional views showing modifications in structure.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a refri erator cabinet .is generally indicated at C in Fig.

1 and has a door D ailording access to the food compartment 0 and another door (1 affording access to the machinery department.

The door in the type 01 cabinet illustrated in amount of spring or resiliency so that when the strip is applied, it may be deformed to cause the edges or channels to and I811 to engage the coacting flanges lid and Ma of the outer and inner walls of the cabinet, and when released will snugly engage said edges.

There are preferably tour strips i5 used to connect the outer and inner walls around. the door opening, each strip being substantially straight 40 throughout its-length. The contiguous end edges of the strips]may be joined by corner plates or brackets l1, note Fig.- 4, the edges of the strip being connected to said bracket by means of screws or'analogous fastenings I8. In this manner, the strips i5 constitute a complete connected improved combined trim and breaker strip applied the latter may be connected at each comer of the food compartment by means of brackets 3,. one

5 of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that this type of breaker strip and trim member obviates the use. of wood or analogous framework. The-outer and inner walls [3 and I4 may be of the usual sheet metal construction, or the outer wall of sheet metal and the food compartment liner M of moldable material having a high insulating value. .Fig. 6 shows the combined breaker and trim strip applied to both the door and the cabinet. In this instance, the outer wall of the cabinet is indicated at 20, the inner wall or f ood compartmcnt liner at 2! and the trim strip connecting these liners at I511. The door outer wall or shell is indicated at 22, the inner wall or door pan at 23 and the combined trim and breaker strip connecting these walls at I512. The strips Mia. and. l5b may be similar to the strip IS in Fig. 3 and applied in a likemannerf The outer and inner Walls of the, door are shown connected and reinforced at the corners by brackets, one of which is shown in dotted-lines at 24.

In Fig. 7 the same shape of combined trim and breaker strip may be usedas in the previous installations, the strip being indicated at 15c.

However, in this instance the outer and inner walls, indicated at 25 and 26, are insulated from the channels of the strip'lSc by means of gaskets or gasket material 21 permitting the strip to be made of sheet metal. In Fig. 8 a modified type of breaker strip and trim member is shown and generally indicated at 30. In this instance, the strip is formed with an' outwardly facing longitudinal channel or groove 3| at its opposite edge. The outer wall or shell of the cabinet, indicated at 33, has its marginal edge doubled back upon itself providing an'inwardly facing channel 34 in which the tongue 32 engages, while the inner wall or. food compartment liner 35 is formed with an inturned flange which engages in the groove 3| of the strip. It will be noted that this strip is non uniform in transverse cross section and is therefore better adapted for fabrication from Bakelite, phenolic condensate or like material capable of being molded in contradistinction to extrusion, rolling or pressing to ob ain the desired shape. The door at Fig. R comprises an outer wall or shell 36 and an inner wall or door pan walls of the cabinet and door may be adopted to obtain the desired results without departing and said breaker strip when so attached to the flanges remaining in a state of tension in an arc and projecting outwardly from said flanges.

WALLACE RAY HOWARD.

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