US2031701A - Cabinet construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb- 25, 1936- G. F. FoRsTHoEl-EL CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2,4 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Gama F. Fans-morera..

WITNESSES:

ATTO EY Feb- 25, 1936. G. F. FoRsTHoEl-'EL 2,031,701

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 WITNEssEs: |NvENToR l GRn-Gef. F'ore srHoEFsL d 7n. La L?! 26 y I l @W ATTO Patented Feb. 25, 193s CABINET. CONSTRUC'ION Gregg F. Forsthoefel, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 2, 1934, Serial No. 723,433

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a refrigerator cabinet and particularly to a dispensing cabinet, which may be used, for example, for cooling bottled beverages.

It is an object of my invention to provide a bottle cooler cabinet in which a frameless structure for supporting various portions of the cabinet is used.

vIt is another object of the invention to provide a heat insulated container or tank for a bottle cooler cabinet, the heat insulation of which is effectively sealed from the atmosphere.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a frameless bottle cooler cabinet of sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand the service for which it is intended.

It is another object of my invention to provide a method of assembly for a bottle cooler cabinet which is adapted to a cabinet of the frameless type and which is adaptable to large production methods. y

Itis still another object of my invention to provide a bottle cooler cabinet which is attractive in appearance and which provides for the use of ice cooling or mechanical refrigeration and also provides space for dry storage of bottles.

These and other objects are effected by my invention, as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my bottle cooler cabinet;y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of my bottle cooler cabinet taken on line II-II of Fig. 4, and showing thel bottle container and heat insulation in section; p

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of my bottle cooler cabinet taken on line III- III of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 4 is a second vertical sectional -view of the cabinet taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of my invention, numeral I designates generally a cabinet for use in cooling and dispensing bottled beverages. y,

The cabinet is formed of a plurality of vertically-extending outer sheet `metal walls including end Walls 2, a front wall 3 and a rear wall 4. The end walls 2 are provided withvan outwardly stamped panel 5 which forms a reenforcing rib 6 andincidentally improves the appearance of theV cabinet. The end walls 2 extend 'downwardly a greater distance than the front wall 3 and rear wall 4. 'I'he front wal13 and rear wall 4 are provided with an underlapping flange 1 at the side edges thereof which cooperate with overlapping flanges 3 on the side edges of the end walls 2. The flanges 1 and 8 are secured together by any suitable means, such as by welding, to form a vertically extending sheet metal envelope. Suitable sealing means, such as an asphalt compound, is applied to the joint thus formed. The flanges 8 on side Walls 2 extend to the bottom of the side walls and are again flanged inwardly at I0 as shown in Fig. 4. y

The upper ends of the front wall 3 and back wall 4 are rounded and flattened as shown at II and are provided with downwardly turned anges 9. The side walls 2 are also bentto form horizontal fiat portions II and likewise are provided with downwardly turned flanges I2. The front wall 3 and back wall 4 are further provided with inturned flanges I3 at the bottom thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

After the outer envelope comprising the sheet metal , walls 2, 3, and 4 is fabricated, the assembly is turned upside down and a galvanized metal tub or bottle container I4 is positioned within the walls 2, 3, and 4. The tub I4 is open at 23 at the top thereof and the peripheral edge of the tub at the opening 26 rests on the inner side of the flat portions Il of the side walls 2, 3, and 4. The flanges 9 and I2 overlap the edges of the tub I4 and are spaced slightly therefrom.

Insulation I5 of any suitable type is disposed between the outer walls 23, and 4 and the vertical walls of the tub I4. Insulation I6, preferably of the solid type, is disposed at the bottom of the tub I4. An asphalt compound, shown at I6a is poured on the surface of the insulation I6 adjacent the tub I4. Ribbed strips of metal I1 for supporting the tub I4 and insulation I5 and I6 are attached to the flanges I3 of the front and back Walls 3 and 4by any suitable means, such as by welding. A drain connectionla extends through the insulation I6 and the` bottom of the tub I4 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and is provided with a spigot I 9 positioned slightly in front of the front wall 3.

` After the insulation and drain are in `proper position, and the supporting strips I'I attached to the walls 3 and 4, a hot sealing compound, preferably of an asphalt compound, shown at 2|, 'is poured on the bottom of the insulation I6. Such compounds harden when they cool. Asphalt compound is also poured between the downturnedanges 9 and I2 and the edges of the tub I4, as shown at 22, thus-effectively sealing the insulation I5 and I6 from the outside atmosphere.

Struts or connecting members 23 are attached at the bottoms of the sidewalls 2, preferably by welding to the flanges 8. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the connecting members 23 are provided with flanges 24 along the top thereof. Ribbed supporting members 25 for supporting cases of bottles or a refrlgerating mechanism, or both, are attached to the flanges 25, preferably by welding. Glider legs 2S are attached to the strut members 23 and to some of the case supporting members 25.

'Ihe opening between the front wall 3 and the front strut member 23 is preferably closed by a removable panel 26a. The opening in the back of the cabinet is similarly covered by a panel (not shown) provided with louvers for the circulation of air over a refrigerating unit which may be positioned o n the supporting members 25.

A gasket 21 is fastened by any suitable means, such as by cementing, tothe at anges l0 and Il at the tops of the front and rear walls 3 and 4 and of the side walls 2. An insulated cover 28, hinged preferably at 29, is supported on the gasket 2l so that access may be obtained to the container I4. Handles 30 are provided on the cover 28. Y

A bottle opener 3| for crown bottle caps is provided on the front of the cabinet, and a removable bottle cap catcher 32 is also provided. 'Ihe cap catcher 32 preferably also covers the spigot I3, thereby improving the appearance of the cabinet.

A removable tube guard 34 is provided on the rear wall 4 of the cabinet. Conduits 33 may be connected to a compressor-condenser unit (not shown) beneath the container Il or in some remote position,. and to an evaporator (not shown) in the container.

The design of the beverage cabinet shown in Figure 1 of the drawings is fully disclosed and claimed in the design patent to E. Worthington, #92.639, and assigned to the Coca-Cola. Cornpany.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a strong, frameless refrigerator cabinet for cooling and dispensing bottled beverages, which cabinet is pleasing in appearance. The cabinet is also well adapted to be made by largeproductlon methods and a novel method of construction is utilized. The cabinet is adaptable to either ice or mechanical cooling.

While I `have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of `various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore; that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. An open topped cabinet for articles to be cooled comprising a plurality of vertically extending and connected sheet metal front, back,

and end walls, said end walls extending below the front and back walls and forming a supporting structure for the cabinet, ancpen topped container disposed within the confines of said wall members with its top substantially coinciding with the open top of said cabinet, said container extending downwardly approximately to the bottom of said front and back wall members, inturned flanges on said front and back wall.

members, means extending between and supported by said flanges for supporting said container, rigid connecting members extending between said end wall members adjacent the bottoms thereof and in substantial vertical alinement with said front and back wall members, inturned anges on said rigid connecting members, and a platform carried below said container by the inturned anges of said rigid connecting members.

2. An open topped cabinet for articles to be cooled comprising a plurality of vertically extending` and connected sheet metal front, back, and end walls, said end walls extending below the front and back walls and forming a supporting structure for the cabinet, an open topped container disposed within the confines of said wall members with its top substantially coinciding ,with the open top of said cabinet, said container extending downwardly approximately to the bottom of said front and back wall members, inturned anges provided on the front and back wall members, means extending between and supported by said flanges for supporting said container, rigid connecting members extending between said end wall members adjacent the bottoms thereof and in substantial vertical alinement with said front and back wall members, a platform carried below said container by said rigid connecting members, and feet members attached to said rigid connecting members and to said platform member.

3. An open topped cabinet for articles to be cooled comprising a plurality of vertically extending and connected sheet metal front, back, and end walls, said end walls extending below the front and back walls and forming a supporting structure for the cabinet, an open topped container disposed within the confines of said wall members with its top substantially coinciding with the open top of said cabinet, said container extending'downwardly approximately to the bottom of said front and back wall members, inturned flanges on said front and back wall members, means extending between and supported by said flanges for supporting said container, rigid connecting members extending between said end wall members adjacent the bottoms thereof and in substantial vertical alinement with said front and back wall members, a plurality of strut members extending between said rigid connecting members, and feet members connected to said rigid connecting members and to some of said strut members.

GREGG F. FORS'I'HOEFEL.

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