US2126491A - Refrigerated liquid dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1938.

H. C. MCCARTHA REFRIGERATED LQUID DI SPENSER Filed Nov. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 9, 1938, H. c. MccARTHA REFRIGERATED LIQUID DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 3. 1937 v Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRJGERATED LIQUID DISPENSER Harry C. McCartha, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application November 3, 1937, Serial No. 172,641

(CL 62;-A-ll41) The present invention relates to refrigerators of the type provided with means for storing, cooling,

11 Claims.

and dispensing drinking water or other liquids.

An object of the invention is the provision of a water receptacle positioned adjacent the cooling unit of a refrigerator and having a faucet capable of movement from aninoperative position within the refrigerator, to an operative position exterior of the refrigerator casing.

A further feature includes a small auxiliary opening in a wall of the refrigerator through which the faucet may project, a closure for the opening connected to the faucet to move the latter unit.

cleaning.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the linvention will now be more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator showingv my invention applied to the refrigerator door.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 2 -2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is' a horizont 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the valve connection between the water receptacle and faucet. Figure 5 is a modified form of the invention showing the water receptacle detachably` posial section taken on line A still further object contemplates the provision of an insulated refrigerator door or wall having a grooved recess, and a water receptacle having an insulated tongue receivable in the groove and forming therewith an insulated joint between the receptacle and refrigerator wall or door, as well as a detachable connection for allowing the receptacle to be easily and quickly removed for tioned in a side wall of the refrigerator.

Figure 6 is a section taken 0n line 6-6 of Figure 5.

frigerator door'and,

. Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures l to 4, the numeral i designates a refrigerator having a front door Il connected to the body of the refrigerator by hinges i2 in the usual manner. This refrigerator may be either of the mechanical or ice-box type and is provided with inner and outer spaced walls i3 and i4 respectively, between which is placed suitable insulating material i5. The door Il is insulated in 'the samemanner and this insulated section i6 has formed therein a substantially U- shaped recessed portion or depression il extending to the top of the door.

A water or other liquid containing tank or receptacle i8 is slidably and detachably mounted in the recessed portion llLof the door. This tank conforms to the contour of the recess I1 and is provided with a solid or insulated continuous tongue i9 engageable in a continuous groove 20 formed in the wall of the recessed portion l1.

As shown in Figure 3, the tongue and groove are substantially square shaped in cross section, but may be of any desired formation so long as it constitutes a tight seal for preventing the escape of cold air from the interior of the refrigerator. The water receptacle is provided with a hinged lid 2l and the entire receptacle may be quickly removed for cleaning and as easily inserted Yin the recess il where the water or other liquid in the tank will be readily chilled or cooled.

In order that the contents of the receptacle may be conveniently discharged without opening the refrigerator door i I, I provide a faucet-22 pivotally and swingably mounted on the lower front wall of the receptacle. The receptacle, at this point, is provided with a vertically extending recess 23 opening outwardly and aligning and com vmu-nicating with an opening 24 in the front of the refrigerator door. As shown in Figure 2, this arrangement permits the faucet 22 to be moved from its inoperative dotted line position to its operative full line position. In this latter position, the liquid will ow from the tank through the faucet whereas, in its upper closed positionthe flow of liquid is cut oif. I'his is accomplished by providing a rotary valve 25 including a valve casing 26 and a valve member 21 rotatably mounted in the casing and carrying the faucet 22. The casing 26 has a spud 28 passing through an opening in the front of the receptacle I8. A- nut 29 threadedly engages the spud and securely clamps the valve casing to the receptacle. The spud is provided with a passage 30 communicating with the interior of the receptacle and the valve member 2".I has an opening 3l movable into register with the passage 30 when the valve is in its lower operative tion.

position (see Figure 4). However, when the faucet is moved to its upper position within the recess 23, the opening 3| will be moved out of register with the passage 30 and thus cut off the flow of fluid from the receptacle.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be observed that a spring 32 connects the faucet and valve. This spring is substantially U-shaped in formation having a centrally disposed faucet engaging portion. Each of the legs of the spring terminates in a coil 33 surrounding the valve member 21 on each side of the casing 26 and having its extreme end portion 34 contacting the wall of the recess 23 on one side of the spud 28. This spring has the double function of normally urging the faucet 22 into inoperative position in the recess 23 and also providing a tight t between the casing 26 and valve member 21. The valve member and casing are slightly tapered and the reduced end of the valve member is threaded to receive a nut 35 and a washer 36. Thus, by tightening the nut 35, the coiled ends 33 of the spring will be compressed and effect a tight fit between the valve elements.

A door or closure 31 is hinged to the lower side of the opening 24 and is adapted to close the opening when moved to an upward position above its pivot. For the purpose of automatically moving the faucet to operative position as the closure 31 is opened, I provide a flexible cord or chain 3B detachably connecting these two members. With the cord in operative position, and assuming that the door 31 is in closed position, the spring 32 will normally maintain the faucet in its dotted line position in Figure 2. However, when the closure 31 is swung to open position about its pivot, the cord or connection 38 will move the faucet 22 to its operative position against the tension of the spring 32. The closure is sufficiently heavy, when open, to maintain the faucet in operative position against the tension of the spring 32. When the door is moved to closed position, the flexible cord 38 will permit the spring 32 to return the faucet to its inoperative position within the recess 23.

A slab of insulating material 39 is secured to the inner face of the closure and is adaptedto be received within and seal the opening 24 against the escape of cold air when the door is closed. The flexible cord 38 is detachably connected to either the closure or faucet to permit the receptacle I8 and the faucet to be removed from the refrigerator. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the cord is shown as being detachably connected to the closure 31,. This is accomplished by providing a slotted cup-shaped element 4U receiving a head 4i on the end of the cord, with the cord engaging the slotted portion of the cup. The tension of the spring maintains the head lll in the cup 40 when the closure is open, but the head may be easily detached by moving the closure and the faucet toward each other or by merely returning the closure to a partially closed posi- Either movement will remove the tension of the spring on the cord and allow the head to be disengaged from the cup. With the cord detached from the closure 31, the spring 32 will maintain both the faucet and the cord within the recess 23 and the receptacle i8 may then be quickly slipped out of the recess l1 when the refrigerator door H is opened. The closure is provided with a knob or handle 42 and a spring catch or clip 43 which is engageable with aheaded element 44 located in the top of the opening 24, to retain the closure in closed position.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated' a modified form of the invention wherein the water tank or receptacle is positioned in a side Wall of the refrigerator. In this connection, the side wall 45 of the refrigerator 46 is provided with a recessed position 41 for the reception of the water receptacle 48. Both the receptacle and recess are shown as being substantially rectangular in formation, but may have any other desired configuration. As in the previously described form, the front wall 49 of the receptacle is recessed as at 50 to provide a housing for the faucet 5I and the valve 52. These elements will not be described in detail as they are similar to those shown in Figures 1 to 4.

A finish strip 53 is secured to the front wall 49 and overlaps the edges of the wall so as to provide a tight seal and contact with the front wall 54 of the refrigerator. The lower portion of the strip 53 is provided with an opening 55 aligning with the recessed portion 5U and thereby permitting the faucet 5I to be moved outwardly through the opening to an operative position. A closure 56 similar to the closure 31 is hinged to the finish strip 53 and is connected to the faucet by a flexible detachable cord 51. A handle 58 is positioned above the opening 55 for facilitating the removal and introduction of the receptacle in the wall 45. While the tongue and groove arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 is not shown in this modification, it is to be understood that these elements may be applied to the receptacle 48 and recess 41, if desired.

In Figures 7 and 8, there is disclosed a further modification wherein the water receptacle 59 is permanently mounted in the refrigerator door 6D. In this connection, the walls 6I of the receptacle also constitute means for retaining the insulation 62 in place in the door. A hinged lid 63 closes the top of the receptacle and is of suicient size to permit the receptacle to be easily cleaned. In this modification, similar to the other two forms of the invention, the receptacle is provided with a front recess 64 receiving a swinging faucet 65, and valve 66. A U-shaped spring 61 engages the faucet and valve and has the double function of normally retaining the faucet in the recess E4 and of also maintaining the valve elements in tight association. In this form, however, a vertically swinging closure is provided and this is not connected to the faucet. 1

The water or liquid receptacle in the modications illustrated in Figures l and '1 may be of any desired configuration, but is preferably of the shape disclosed, that is, substantially U-shaped with the bottom being curved. This eliminates any sharp corners or pockets which might collect particles of dirt and therefore provides a sanltary construction which is easy to keep clean. Furthermore, the curvature of the bottom wall facilitates the discharge of the contents of the receptable.

In the claims it is to be understood that the term refrigerator wall is to be broadly interpreted as constituting any portion of the refrigerator casing including the refrigerator door which in most refrigerator constructions comprises the greater portion of the front wall of the refrigerator. It is to be further understood that such variations from the construction herein shown and described as are within the skill of a.

vthe source of water supply, said refrigerator having an opening leading to theexterior of the same and so associated with the faucet that the latter may be moved to an operative position adjacent the opening, means for urging 'and normally maintaining the faucet in an inoperative position,'and means for moving and maintaining the faucet in an operative position against the action of said first mentioned means.

2. In a refrigerator, a source of water supply located within the refrigerator, a faucet swingably carried by said refrigerator and connected to the source of water supply, said refrigerator having an opening leading to the exterior of the same and associated with said faucet whereby the faucet may be swung through the opening to an operative position, means for Aurging and normally maintaining the faucet in an inoperative position within the opening, and a closure' for said opening associated with said faucet and .adapted to move the latter outwardly through located within the refrigerator, a faucet swing- Y ably carried by said refrigerator and connected to the source of water supply, said refrigerator i having an opening leading to the exterior of the same and associated with said faucet wherebythe faucet may be swung through the opening to an operative position, a spring carriedby the refrigerator within the opening and operatively y connected to the faucet for urging the latter to an inoperative position within the opening,'and a closure for said opening connected to the faucet to move the latter outwardly through the opening to anoperative position against the tension of said spring, said closure being sumciently -heavy to retain the faucet in operative position against the tension of said spring.

d. In a refrigerator, a source of water supply located within'the refrigerator, aA faucet swingably carried by said refrigerator and connected to the source of water supply, said refrigerator having an opening leading to the exterior of the same and associated with said faucet whereby the faucet may be swung through the opening to an operative position, a spring carried by the `refrigerator within the opening and operatively connected to the faucet for urging the latter to an inoperative position within the opening, a pivoted closure normally closing the opening, and a exible connection between the faucet and closure adapted to swing the faucet to operative position through the opening against the tension of the spring when the closure is moved toppen position, said exible connection permitting the spring to swing the faucet to inoperative position within the opening when the closure 'is returned to closed position.

5. In a refrigerator, a liquid receptacle mounted in a wail of the refrigerator, a faucet swingably mounted on the receptacle and communieating with the interior of the same, saidwall y having an opening leading to the exterior of the refrigerator and positioned adjacent the faucet whereby the latter may be swung "through the opening -to an operativev position, a spring carried by the receptacle and operatively connected v to the faucet for urging the latter to 'an inoperative position within the opening, a closure pivotally mounted on the refrigerator wall 'and nor-'-- mally closing the opening, and a flexibleA cord connecting the faucet and closure and adapted to 5" swing the faucet to operative positionz through the opening against the tension of the spring', when the closurevis moved to open position, said. cord permitting the spring to swing the faucet. to inoperative position within the opening when. 1o

` the closure is returned to closed position.

6. In a refrigerator, a liquid receptacle removably mounted in a wall of the refrigeratorfand provided with a recess in one of its walls, a faucet pivotally mounted on the receptacle to swing' m15 an inoperative position wholly withinthe recessv and communicating with the interior of the rel ceptacle, said refrigerator wall having an opening. aligning with the recess in the receptacle wall` whereby the faucet may be swung from an inop- 2o erative position within the recess to an operativeV position through the opening, and a closure .mounted on the refrigerator wall to normally4 close the opening.

7. In a refrigerator, a'liquid receptacle remov- 2g ably mounted in a wall of the refrigerator and provided with a recess in one of its walls,a4 faucet pivotally mounted on the receptacle to swing toi an inoperative position wholly within the recess and communicating with the interior of there-gg ceptacle, said refrigerator wail having anopen-l ing aligning with the` recess in the receptacle wall whereby the faucet may be swung from its inoperative position within the recess to an operative position through the opening, a closure mountedv 35 on the refrigerator wall to normally close the* opening, and a flexible cord connecting the faucet and closure to swing the faucet to operative position through the opening when the closure is moved to open position, said cord being detach-'40 ably connected to the closure to permit the re-y ceptacle, faucet and cord to be removed asfa unit from the refrigerator wail. I

- d. In a refrigerator, a liquid receptacle re` movabiy mounted in a wali of the refrigerator and provided with a recess infone of its wa1ls,av faucet pivotally mounted on the receptacle to` swing to an inoperative position wholly within" the recess and communicating with the interior of the receptacle, said refrigerator wall having an opening aligning with the recess in the receptacle I wall 'whereby the faucet may be'swung from its inoperative position within the recess to an operative position through the opening,` a' spring` mounted in the recess and operatively connectedto the faucet for urging the latter to its inopea tive position within the recess, a closure Vmdnn'teci on, the refrigerator wail to normally close the opening, and a dexibie cord connecting the faucet and closure and adapted to swing the faucet'to operative position through the opening against the tension of the spring when the closure is moved to open position, said cord. being detachably connected to the closure to permit the receptacle, faucet and cord to be removed as a unit" .35

from the refrigerator. f I V 9. In a refrigerator, a liquid receptacle' mounted in a. wall of the refrigerator, a valve,i casing mounted on a wall of the receptacle and having a passage communicating with the. 'lin-70 exterior of the refrigerator and positioned in alignment with the valve elements, a faucet carried by the valve member and swingable to an operativeposition through the opening, and a spring connecting the faucet and engaging the valve casing and member to retain them in liquid tight relation, said spring normally urging the faucet to inoperative position within the opening.

10. In a refrigerator, a liquid receptacle mounted in a wall of the refrigerator, a valve casing mounted on a wall of the receptacle and having a passage communicating with the interior thereof, a valve member rotatable in the casing and having an opening adapted to register with the passage to place the valve member in communication with the receptacle, said refrigerator wall having an opening leading to the exterior of the refrigerator and positioned in alignment with the valve elements, a faucet carried by the valve member and swingable to an operative position through the opening, and a spring of substantially U-shaped formation having an intermediate portion engaging the faucet to normally urge the latter to inoperative position Within the opening, the ends of said spring being coiled around opposite ends of the valve member and engageable with the valve casing to maintain the casing and valve member in liquid tight relation.

11. In a refrigerator, an insulated door having a recessed portion extending to an edge of the door and provided with a continuous groove, and a water receptacle having walls provided with a continuous insulated tongue slidably engageable with the groove to form a detachable connection and insulated joint between the receptacle and door.

HARRY C. MCCARTHA.

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