US2036569A - Gasket - Google Patents

Description

April 7, 1936. L. H. DARBYSHIRE GASKET Original Filed Aug. 8, 1932 Patented Apr. 7., 1936 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE GASKET Original application August 8, 1932, Serial No.

Divided and this application August 13, 1934, Serial No. 739,611

3 Claims.

This application is a division of an application for Gasket filed August 8, 1932, and bearing Serial Number 627,865., which has matured into Patent No. 1,995,379.

This invention relates to freezer construction for mechanical refrigerators and has special reference to the elimination of air circulation into a. quick freezing compartment used for the production of ice cubes and frozen desserts.

I have found that when air circulation is permitted into the rquick freezing compartment thatfrost is deposited on the walls and containers therein, causing the containers to stick and preventing easy removal thereof. The air circulation also carries food odors into the compartment to contaminate the water or delicate confections being frozen with unpalatable foreign flavors. It has been heretofore proposed to use a door over the end of the compartment, but even that is insuii'icient to prevent deposition of frost around the mouth of the compartment, due to the extreme low temperatures maintained therein which serve to condense the moisture in the air attracted to the low temperature area. I have discovered that it requires the provision of a highly efficient air seal toeliminate condensation and frosting so that it is an object of this invention to provide such a seal.

It is another object of this invention to provide an air seal or gasket that can be applied to the shell of the quick freezing compartment and that will be yieldingly interposed between the end of the shell and a spring closed door.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an elastic gasket engaging both the periphery and edge of an open ended compartment whereby to maintain the gasket in position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for sealing the freezer compartment of a refrigerator from the food storage compartment, independent of operation of the door for said food storage compartment.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be aparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of an open refrigerator showing the shield and door covering the freezing unit and ice tray receptacle or sleeve;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the 55 front end of the freezer sleeve with a gasket ap- 1pilied thereto embodying one form of this inven- Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, adding the door thereto; and

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3, embodying a modified form of gasket.

As shown on the drawing;

The top portion of an opened refrigerator compartment III is shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate the location of a freezer unit behind a shield I I apertured for entry to the open end of a freezer sleeve I2 into which trays are inserted to produce ice cubes or-frozen confections. The shield aperture is closed by a door I3 normally held shut by spring hinges I4.

The freezer sleeve I2 is formed as rectangular in section to accommodate a stack of ice trays and may be slightly enlarged to form'a shoulder I5 back of the open end I6 to facilitate access to and removal of selected trays. It may also be advantageous to roll back the edge of the entrance end as shown at I1 in Fig. 3, although if desired, the end may be arranged otherwise as, for example, flared as at I8 in Fig. 4.

An endless gasket ring of resilient or elastic material I9 is shaped to conform to the profile of the enlarged part of the shell, with a front bead portion 20 overlapping the edge of the opening and a rear portion 2I seating behind the shoulder formed by the enlarged part of the shell. The ring is stretched to snap over the shell, the stretching causing a tension in cross section which causes the front and rear portions to snugly t the corresponding parts of the shell to retain the gasket in place, the front bead 20 serving as a bumper and seal against the inner surface of the door. It is desirable to slightly undercut the front bead to form a reentrant inner surface 22 for the lip 23 of the bumper.

While I have described thepreferred form of gasket shown in Fig. 3 as made of resilient or elastic material, I desire to have it understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the use of solid livel rubber, since other materials may be utilized to support the front bead forming the bumper and gasket seal.

A modified form. of gasket construction as shown in Fig. 4 comprises a bead 24 adapted to engage over the flared end of the shell, an inner clip 25 holding the bead in place.

It will thus be seen that I have invented an improved closure sealing gasket particularly adapted. for use in sealing the quick freezing compartment from contaminating air circulation and in the prevention of frosting and sticlnng 'of the trays inserted'therein, my sealing gasket being adapted to retain its eective position without interfering with the insertion or removai of the trays. Y j

The cabinet III is provided with a Ydoor 30 for closing the food storage compartment,y and which door operates independently of the freezer com'- partment closure member I 3;: i

While several specic embodiments of my f nvention have been iilustrated and described, it must be appreciated that many modications may be made inthe construction thereof with-- out departing from the scope of the invention, and for that reason I do not desire to be limited to any particular form or arrangement except in so far as such limitationse'are included in the ,following claims.

I claim: n

1. The combination with a freezer compartment formed by a compartment member provided with an access opening and a closure member spaced from said compartment member but cooperating with said compartment member to close said access opening, of a yieiding sealing element supported by lone of said members and engageable with the other of said members so as to be positioned between said members around the periphery of said access opening to prevent the entrance of air into said compartment member and retard transmission of cold from said compartment member to said closure member, a heat insulated compartment surrounding said compartment and closure members, said insulated compartment having a door opening rendering said closure and compartment members accessible, and a door for said insulated compartment operable independently of said closure member. t

2.A The combination with a freezer compartment formed by a sleeve member having an open end to provide an access opening, and a closure member spaced from the open end of said sleeve memof said sleeve member bei* but cooperating with said sleeve member to close said access opening, of a resilient sealing strip embracing the periphery of the open end and projecting into engagement with said closure member so as to be positioned betweenrr said members to prevent the entrance of air into said sleeve member and retard transmission of cold from said sleeve member to saidgclosure member, a heat insulated coinpartment surrounding said sleeve and ciosure members, said insulated compartment having a door opening rendering said closure and sleeve 'members accessible, and a door for said insulated compartment operable independently of said closure member.

3. 'I'he combination with a freezer compartment formed by a sleeve member provided with an access opening, and a closure member spaced from said sleeve member but cooperating with said sleeve member to close said access opening, or a yieldable sealing element supported by one of said members and engageable with the other of said members so as to be positioned between said vmembers around the periphery of said access opening to prevent the entrance of air into said sleeve member and retard transmission of cold from said sleeve member to said closure member, a heat insulated compartment surrounding said sleeve member and provided with a door opening rendering said closure member accessible, a'shield adjacent said door opening and said sleeve member, said shield having an opening adjacent said access opening to render Y said sleeve member accessible and being spaced rom said sleeve member, said closure member being pivotally supported by said shield to provide for closing the opening in said shield when positioned to close said access opening, and a :'ioor for said insulated compartment operable inriependently of said closure member.

LEONARD H. DARBYSHIRE.

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