US2661118A - Housing closure - Google Patents

Description

1953 R. R. BENNIGHOF 2,661,118

HOUSING CLOSURE Filed July 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESIES: FIGS INVENTOR RALPH R. BENNlGHOF A TORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 R. R. BENNIGHOF 2,661,118

' HOUSING CLOSURE Filed July 25, 1950 S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA.

WITNESSES:

' INVENTOR RALPH R.BENNIGHOF BYwy ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSING CLOSURE Application July 25, 1950, Serial No. 175,753

Claims. 1

This invention relates to sheet material housings in general and more particularly to sheet metal housings for small appliances.

An object of the invention is to provide a housing in which a flanged opening may be closed by a cover member which may be installed with a minimum of time and effort.

Another object is to provide a housing in which a flanged opening may be closed by a cover member held securely in position with a minimum number of screws.

A further object is to reduce the labor necessary to provide a closure for a housing, thereby efiecting a reduction in cost.

These and other objects are effected by the 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 front perspective view of an electric hot-plate embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hot-plate, in

inverted position and with parts in section, showing a stage in the assembly;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hot-plate, in inverted position, showing a stage in the assembly; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the completed assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail and especially to Fig. 1, there is shown an electric hotplate, embodying the invention, and having a plurality of surface heating units l2 mounted in a sheet metal platform [4. The platform I4 is superimposed on a body member IS on which are mounted switches 18 for controlling the operation of the surface heating units l2, as well understood in the art.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the body 16 has an open bottom end 20 which is closed by a flat bottom cover member 22 conforming generally in size and shape to the bottom of the body. The body I6 is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed walls 23 and 24 and a second pair of oppositely disposed walls 25. The walls 23 and 24 have their end portions bent inwardly to provide flanges 26 and 21, respectively, and the walls 25 have their end portions disposed inwardly to provide a pair of flanges 28. The flanges 26, 21 and 28 are discontinuous, there being a cut-away portion 29 adjacent each corner of the body It.

The cover member 22 is preferably made of flexible sheet metal and is provided with a plurality of integral tongues 30 which may be formed therein by lancing. Although any number of tongues may be provided as desired, I have shown the cover as having four tongues, one pair of tongues being disposed in each of a pair of oppositely disposed edges 32. The tongues may be offset with respect to the plane of the cover and are substantially longer than the width of the flanges 28 for a purpose which will be subsequently described.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the cover may be mounted on the body l6 by bowing the cover temporarily to permit partial insertion of the tongues 39 under the flanges 28 of the body. On releasing the cover it will return to its normal flat shape, causing the tongues to be further inserted below the flanges 28 as best shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the cover is initially applied to the body slightly out of registry with the open end 23. Thus, the cover has one edge portion 33 spaced from the flange 26, while the opposite edge portion 34 overlies the flange 2'! and overhangs the wall 24. By moving the cover in the direction of the arrow and exerting a downward force on the edge portion 33 thereof, such edge portion may be inserted below the flange 26, as shown in Fig. 5 and the cover is brought into registry with the open end 20. The edge portion 34 of the cover 22 abuts the upper surface of the flange 21 of the (body and the cover is rigidly held to the body by the locking engagement of the tongues 30 with the flanges 28 and the frictional engagement of its edge 33 with the flange 26. Although not entirely essential, if desired, the edge 34 may be detachably secured to the flange 2! by a screw 35 or other locking means.

The cover 22 may be removed from the body l6, if necessary for servicing purposes, by reversing the above sequence of operations.

The cover may also be provided with a plurality of insulated supporting feet 36, located adjacent the corners of the cover plate 22, to prevent scratching or overheating of a polished table surface when the hot-plate is placed thereon.

It will now be seen that there has been provided a sheet metal cover member which may be attached to a body with a minimum of labor and time. Critical alignment of the numerous holes usually required in the cover and body for screws is substantially reduced by the omission of all but one pair of holes. Also, a considerable saving is effected by the substantial reduction in the number of screws required. The invention lends

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