Refrigerator door construction

• US 4,145,844 A
• Filed: 12/16/1977
• Issued: 03/27/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ardco Holdings, Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ardco, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaspar, Melvin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kannan, Philip C.
• Application Number:
  US05/861,272
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 49/386, 49/70, 49/478, 49/501, 49/504, 403/401, 403/402, 403/231, 160/381
• US Class Current: 49/386
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/123 with a torsion bar
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/202 for display cabinets, e.g. for refrigerated cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/65 Miter joints
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4602 Corner joint

Abstract

A rectangular glass panel refrigerator door is provided with a mitered frame construction. The door frame has two vertical side frame members and two horizontal cross frame members. Each frame member is generally channel-shaped and has a front wall, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall which together form a substantially U-shaped channel. The end of each frame member is angled at 45 degrees to form a miter joint with another frame member perpendicular thereto. A right angle corner brace is provided at each miter joint and has one leg lying along the inner wall of the horizontal cross frame member and another leg lying along the inner wall of the vertical frame member. Projecting outwardly from the inner wall of the vertical side frame member is a lug having a threaded aperture therein. A screw is disposed within the outer wall of the horizontal cross frame member with the screw head bearing against the outer wall and with the screw shank extending between the sidewalls of the vertical side frame member and threadingly engaged in the threaded aperture of the lug extending from the inner sidewall of the vertical side frame member. A nut is threadingly engaged on the screw shank and bears against the first leg of the corner member so that the two frame members forming a mi joint are maintained in the miter joint configuration and are prevented from moving relative to one another. A torsion bar hinge assembly is provided with the torsion bar held against rotation at one point in the vertical side frame member by a set screw.

Claims

1. A rectangular refrigerator door frame comprising:

first and second parallel side frame members;

first and second parallel cross frame members perpendicular to said side frame members;

said first cross frame member connecting one end of said first side frame member to one end of said second side frame member, said second cross frame member connecting the other end of said first side frame member to the other end of said second side frame member;

at least said first side frame member and said first cross frame member each being generally channel-shaped and each having a front wall and an inner and outer sidewall projecting from said front wall, said walls together defining a primary channel therebetween, the outer sidewall of said first cross frame member defining an unthreaded aperture adjacent one end;

said first side frame member and said first cross frame member each having an end abutting surface angled at substantially 45 degrees with respect to the length of each member and forming a miter joint therebetween;

a right angle corner member having a first leg and a second leg substantially perpendicular to said first leg, said first leg secured to the inner sidewall of said first cross frame member and said second leg disposed in said primary channel of said first side frame member adjacent the inner sidewall therein whereby outward movement of said first side frame member away from said first cross frame member is prevented;

a lug extending into said primary channel of said first side frame member from the inner sidewall, said lug defining a threaded aperture in alignment with said unthreaded aperture of said first cross frame member;

a screw disposed in said unthreaded aperture of said first cross frame member with the screw head bearing against the outer sidewall and with the screw shank extending into the primary channel between the sidewalls of said first side frame member, said screw being theadingly engaged in said threaded aperture of said lug extending from said inner sidewall of said first side frame member whereby said first cross frame member and said first side frame member are maintained in a miter joint configuration and are prevented from moving relative to each other; and

a nut threadingly engaging said screw shank and bearing against said first leg of said corner member to lock said screw against rotation relative to said frame members.

2. A rectangular refrigerator door frame comprising:

first and second parallel side frame members;

first and second parallel cross frame members perpendicular to said side frame members;

said first cross frame member connecting one end of said first side frame member to one end of said second side frame member, said second cross frame member connecting the other end of said first side frame member to the other end of said second side frame member;

at least said first side frame member and said first cross frame member each being generally channel-shaped and each having a front wall and an inner and outer sidewall projecting from said front wall, said walls together defining a primary channel therebetween, the outer sidewall of said first cross frame member defining an unthreaded aperture adjacent one end;

said first side frame member and said first cross frame member each having an end abutting surface angled at substantially 45 degrees with respect to the length of each member and forming a miter joint therebetween;

a right angle corner member having a first leg and a second leg substantially perpendicular to said first leg, said first leg secured to the inner sidewall of said first cross frame member and said second leg disposed in said primary channel of said first side frame member adjacent the inner sidewall therein whereby outward movement of said first side frame member away from said first cross frame member is prevented;

said inner sidewall of said first side frame member having a flange on the distal end generally parallel to said front wall and said corner member second leg bearing against said flange to provide increased joint rigidity;

a lug extending into said primary channel of said first side frame member from the inner sidewall, said lug defining a threaded aperture in alignment with said unthreaded aperture of said first cross frame member; and

a screw disposed in said unthreaded aperture of said first cross frame member with the screw head bearing against the outer sidewall and with the screw shank extending into the primary channel between the sidewalls of said first side frame member, said screw being threadingly engaged in said threaded aperture of said lug extending from said inner sidewall of said first side frame member whereby said first cross frame member and said first side frame member are maintained in a miter joint configuration and are prevented from moving relative to each other.

3. A refrigerator door construction comprising:

a door mounting frame;

a door swingable in said frame;

said door having a plurality of rectangularly related frame members, two of said frame members being parallel first and second cross frame members and two of said frame members being parallel first and second side frame members perpendicular to said cross frame members;

each of said frame members being generally channel-shaped and each having a front wall and an inner and outer sidewall projecting from said front wall, said walls together defining a primary channel therebetween, the outer sidewall of said first cross frame member defining first and second unthreaded apertures adjacent one end;

said first side frame member further having an intermediate wall projecting from said front wall between said inner and outer sidewalls for defining a secondary channel between said outer sidewall and said intermediate sidewall;

said first side frame member and said first cross frame member each having an end-abutting surface angled at substantially 45 degrees with respect to the length of each member and forming a miter joint therebetween;

a right angle corner member having a first leg and a second leg substantially perpendicular to said first leg, said first leg secured to the inner sidewall of said first cross frame member and said second leg disposed in said primary channel of said first side frame member adjacent the inner sidewall therein whereby outward movement of said first side frame member away from said first cross frame member is prevented;

a lug extending into said channel of said first side frame member from the inner sidewall, said lug defining a threaded aperture in alignment with said first unthreaded aperture of said first cross frame member;

a first screw disposed in said first unthreaded aperture of said first cross frame member with the screw head bearing against the outer sidewall thereof and with the first screw shank extending between the sidewalls of said first side frame member, said first screw being threadingly engaged in said threaded aperture of said lug extending from said inner sidewall of said first side frame member;

a hinge member disposed within said second unthreaded aperture, said hinge member having a non-circular element projecting from said outer sidewall of said first cross frame member and restrained in said door mounting frame against rotation relative thereto, said hinge member further having a cylindrical element projecting inwardly from said outer sidewall of said first cross frame member into said secondary channel of said first side frame member, said cylindrical portion having an annular channel at one end;

a deformation in said intermediate wall in a region adjacent said annular channel and projecting therein to prevent removal of said hinge member from said door;

a torsion bar extending from said cylindrical portion of said hinge member in said secondary channel; and

a second screw threadingly engaged in the outer wall of said first side frame member and projecting into said secondary channel for forcing a portion of said torsion bar against said intermediate wall for preventing rotation of said torsion bar at that point whereby said door is urged from an open position to a closed position by the torsion in said torsion bar.