US2638400A - Round refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1953 spo'r'rs 2,638,400

' ROUND REFRIGERATQR 7 Filed Sept. 27, 1948 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Lee E. Spa/rs Wm WWW y 1953 E. SPOTTS ROUND REFRIGERATOR Fi led Sept. 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Lee E. Spot/s I 72 74 B; m

MM W

Patented May 12, .1953

ROUND REFRIGERATOR Lee E. Spotts, Slater, Mo., assignor of one-half to William H. Ferguson, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 27, 1948, Serial No. 51,375

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a round refrigerator and more specifically pertains to a novel construction of refrigerator having circular, axially rotatable, removable trays therein.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator which shall be of compact construction, and smooth internal and external surfaces to minimize accumulation of dirt thereon, and wherein greater access may be had to all of the storage shelf space within the refrigerator. An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a cylindrical type of refrigerator having an arcuate door therefor, together with a removable axially disposed supporting rod within the refrigerating chamber, and with a compartment below the refrigerating chamber for housing the motor compressor unit of the circulating refrigeratory system.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a, refrigerator as set forth in the foregoing feature, wherein the axial support rod is provided with a longitudinally slidable and telescoping fastening member whereby the rod may be readily mounted in the refrigerator in a rotating manner, or removed therefrom with ease and celerity.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a refrigerator as set forth in the foregoing paragraphs wherein the support rod is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed support shoulders, for selectively supporting a plurality of circular shelves or trays for storing articles within the refrigerator, and wherein the trays are rotatable to bring any desired portion thereof into register with the door of the refrigerator for easy removal or insertion of articles for storage in the refrigerator.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved, circular tray having semi-circular pivoted sections which may be selectively clamped upon the axial support rod 1 Claim. (01. 312-305) Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view through the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 3-3 of F gure 2; I

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective group assembly view of one of the pivoted, removable trays, together with brace rods therefor; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 6-6 of Figure 2 and illustrating the construction of the detachable rod fastening means.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the numeral I0 indicates the housing or casing forming the refrigeration which preferably consists of a'substantially cylindrical member which if desired may be provided with a fiat top wall [2 which is preferably integral therewith, and

with an arcuately shaped door [4 mounted as by hinges 16 upon the casing or housing l0 and provided with any suitable form of latch and handle means l8.

As will be seen best by reference to Figure 2, the refrigerator housing or casing I0 is provided with an internal lining 20 of insulating material of any suitable type and construction, together with an inner shell 22 which may be of metallic composition, enamelled or otherwise conditioned, the insulating lining being retained between the outer casing l0 and the inner lining 22. This cuter shell, inner shell and insulating lining may be of any one of various known constructions suitable for heat insulating and refrigerating purposes.

Similarly, the door I4 is provided with an insulating lining 24, and an inner metallic coating 26. The door is preferably provided with a marginal flange 28 which may be slightly inturned, to assist in retaining and compressing a gasket 30 between the flange of the door and the wall of the casing l0 adjacent the door opening, to provide an insulating seal of a compressible nature at this location, in accordance with well known.

practice.

The lower end of the refrigerator casing or housing I0 is open, as will be seen from Figure 2, and is preferably provided with a partition indicated at 32 which consists of inner and outer metallic walls 34 and 36, between which is interposed insulating coating or lining 38, substantially similar to the other insulated wall construction of the device. This partition 32 is secured in any desired manner in the chambered interior of the cylindrical casing l and preferably upwardly or vertically above the lower extremity thereof, which extremity is closed as by a flanged annular metal plate 40, the flange 42 of which maybe secured'in anyi.desire'cl=..mannere:on the inner "surface of the casing to. 'The-space between the bottom 40 and the partition 32 forms a chamber 44 in which is housed the motor compressor unit indicated by the numeralw ifi-s-for -circulating a refrigerant or coolant throughoutthe circulatory system of the refrigerator, notishown, all this construction being of conventionap design, this unit having a coolingianditl which passes cooling air through the chamber '44 for cooling the mechanism housed thereingby'imeans of a screen at the fback of the refrigerator randzas-louvered front wall 'EZat therfrontside athereof.

=IDisposed vertically, -.centraliy and axially of :the ecylindrical chamber -.of the refrigerator housing to is a support rod r58 wwhose lower iend -is rdetaohably r-received (in an axially --.disp'osed :sccket :m-ember s56 suitably mounted upon the partition 32, while the upper .endis-detachably nreceived win ..a :similar..soc1ret=-58 secured .to :;the

mndersurtace of the top wall it. *In order :to

facilitate the insertion of -.the support and Iinto. itslretaining-socketsltfi and 58, and is remov- ..ab-le-.'therefrom-.-as-desired, :a detachable fastening .is .provided whose -tconstruction is indicatedin detailintFig-iirefi. This fastening consists of a sleeve 60 of sufiicient length to telescopeover the supper end of athezrod 154, :this .sleeve having a .chamberdiZ within which :is. received a compressioncspring t l which-yieldingly. urges tthe sleeve =60 eupwardlywith respect 'toathe IOdciid. At. its ,upper end; the sleeve 60 1s, provided with a diametricallytreduced extremity 36 which slid- :ablyreceived.in theaaxial bore v ta lor the-socket tmemhercfi8. xThe=proportioned-the partszis such sthat by-gpressing the .sleeve 452 vdownwardly upon (the rod-54, thereby compressing the spring .64: in its chamber 2, athe upper end of .the reduced portion 66 of the fastener will be lowered :and withdrawn from .the .bore: Eraser-the .rupper: socket L-member .58, whereby the rod may he wi frorn-dts upper-socket andlthereby' from: the lower .lsocket. Qbviouslyf thereverse-operation permits installation of. the .rod: as desired, rand it will: he .seenathat the rod :may be :rotatably secured. in

lathe sockets by i this .manner, although. if rotation v is..notidesired.one end oflthe rod-could hes uared .a acorrespondinglyshapedsocket -to prevent .rotation lthereof.

,jAt yarious longitudinally spaced positions along'its length, the rod'54 is preferably provided with integral .or rigidlyattached .col-lars. or shoulders :10 which .serve to .support annular-trays whoseconstruction.isnow-to be described.

Referrin chiefly to Figure -5,.-it will' be .seen that l the .annular trays Q disclosed in connection 'with'this invention, and indicated, generally by the .nnmeral 112, are circular-aim shape :and; pro- .yided with marginalupstanding-side.walls. The base .;of these ltrays comprises .a pair of semicirciilarmembers M, preferably iormedotstifi secured ithereto 'Lto form ,a supporting \and :re- 1 taining surface. but ,permitthe .reaclyfiow 10f lair andliquids therethrough, .the semiecircular .rim :or the bases "T4 let .the atrays having rigidly .wire .or the like, with .screen or ,grille material 4 attached semi-circular side walls 76. The bottom rims i8 together with the top rims of the two semi-circular tray sections, are provided with eyes or loops 82 at their ends for receiving 5 a hinge pin 84, of any suitable construction,

about which the tray sections may be moved pivotally to open or close the sections, which may be retained by any suitable type of snap fastener ifiion'theseh'ds 6f the wellls' ilWWliibh are opposite the hinge 8d. "The bottom rim lfidi 'the tray sections, upon their diametrical edges and at "their centers, are provided with concaved, looped tor .oifsetportions 88 which in their entirety define a circular opening which may be received upon' ithefro'd 5A, iIhus, to apply a tray to the :support':rcd754,2it is merely necessary to open the refrigerator door It, to open the tray sections about'their pivot "hinge 84, insert the tray, each section .at a time through the opening, which may thereby be of less "width than the diameter .of =the.assembled tray, thereafter. clamp the-tray .hhout -.the..rod. ahov.e .the proper support .lcollar it thereon andtcloselthelatchtfi, whereby :the tray -is.-.assernhied retained, .ro tatably, ,upon the support rod. To assist .in steadyingt-andreinforcingathe tray in. its positiom. a. pair of 1 diarmetricall-y disposed brace rods J90 ..are provided r-having. central. looped .or coiled portions .92 .that canv-belrotatably. received .uponthe...rod EM .above the .tray, and with downwardly .turned snapped fastening hook portions .94 which may be: snapped v.cn .the upper. rim 86 0f .thetray sections to. therebyv supportand steady the .trayupon the. support .rod. Thus theltray. has. actual.v contact =.with .the support red ..at .its central supporting .loops .88, 'd 1 the. reinforcinglloops 92, to thereby .steady e -tray upon .thezsupport .rodand ,perrnit free .rotatiormf the tray .thereon.

'As shown in Figure ..2,. ad,i.acentitsupper. end, and .if desired .dependingliirom the top it of ..the .re'frigeratonis-a refrigerating .or. freezing. chamber.or compartment .of ..any..conventionaldesign indicated. bythe numeral 945, and whichis connected to ..the circulatory refrigerating system, by conduits .nothhown. Extending radially inwardlyfrom theinterior-wallof the-refrigerator, below the "freezing ..compar.tment 1M3 are plurality of inwardly extending .Llugs or. projections T918, which serve toremovably support agenerally circular ,grilledshelf mil which may be of wire .screening or .mesh provided ,with a .marginal wire rim 116.2 which i-slreceivable upon the .lugs Preferably, the'shelf Hi0 isprovided-witlra "cutaway ..p.ortion .Ulii adapted .:to underlie the freezing chamber 35.

LETon-fthe."foregoing, the construction, opera-- tionand advantages .of the. device will Joe readily app arent and further. explanations is .believed .-to be unnecessary.

However, since rnimerous modifications and changes twillreadily.occurto.thcseskilledm the .-.ar.t afterla. consideration of the foregoing speciheation and accompanying drawings; it 2.13 not A desired .to limit the invention to the exact;- con-- struction .shownend described, .but all .--.s.uitable modifications:andmquivalents maycbe resorted to ltalling ivithin' :thBsSCQDE .0f "-the ;.app endcd-fclaim. -Having described the rinvention, what ".is ,claimedesnew is:

A refrigerator- .comprising a "cylindrical vhousing, .--an. axiali support .rod in'. said housing aiplurality of rigidly attached tray supporting:shoul- .ders ton ...said .rod, annular strays adetachably mounted .onrsaid shoulders .anderotatable xabout said rod, each of said-traysincludingel-pairaof 5 semi-circular sections of material pervious to fluids, said sections being hinged together at one end and detachably fastened at the opposite end, each section being provided at their centers with an offset portion, said ofiset portions defining a circular opening receiving the rod, tray reinforcing brace rods including central portions embracing the support rod and rotatable thereon, and end fastening portions engaging the rim of said trays at opposite points.

LEE E. SPO'I'IS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 6 Name Date Pearson May 17, 1892 Joyce Mar. 28, 1911 Roppeneker Feb. 13, 1912 Goldsmith Apr. 20, 1915 Babione Dec. 26, 1916 Banks Jan. 14, 1919 McClanahan Mar. 26, 1929 Limerick Dec. 24, 1935 Passmore Aug. 13, 1936 Clare 1- May 15, 1945 Roberts Oct. 18, 1949 Jackson Oct. 2 1, 1950

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