Nov. 16, 1965
`
`Filed Feb. 21, 1962
`
`w. c. FREHSE
`SEALING DEVICE
`
`3,217,921
`
`2 Sheets—Shee:t 1
`
`INVENTOR
`
`We/fer 6.’ /‘;’e/756'
`
`I5»/";
`
`ATTORNEYS
`
`BY
`
`Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
`Exhibit 1032
`
`Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
`Exhibit 1032
`
`

`
`N0V- 16, 1965
`
`Filed Feb. 21, 1962
`
`w. c. FREHSE
`SEALING DEVICE
`
`3,217,921
`
`2' Sheets-Sheet. 2
`
`
`i INVENTOR
`
`42
`
`II
`
`W4/ta/* C /E/‘<9/I58
`
`BY /éw», /Zéw,
`
`ATTORNEYS
`
`

`
`United States Patent Office
`3,217,921
`Patented Nov. 16, 1965
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3,217,921
`SEALING DEVICE
`Walter C. Frehse, Wabash, Ind, assignor to The General
`Tire 3: Rubber Company, a corporation of Ohio
`Filed Feb. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 174,883
`It Clams.
`(Cl. 220-46)
`
`This invention relates to scaling devices, and more
`particularly,
`it concerns a gasket adapted to provide a
`highly effective and improved fluid seal between a recep-
`tacle and closure therefor, such as, for example, the cabi-
`net and door respectively on a front-loading dishwasher.
`iFront-loading appliances such as clothes washers and
`dishwashers have become increasingly popular in recent
`years principally because -appliances of this type may be
`incorporated as modular units in kitchen counters, they
`may be stacked or arranged one over the other to save
`space and for other reasons. Anyone who has seen such
`a front-loading clothes washing machine or dishwasher in
`operation will appreciate the importance of an effective
`fluid seal between the door and the appliance cabinet to
`prevent. water from within the cabinet from leaking out
`about the edges of the door.
`In early models, the prob-
`lem of providing an effective seal between the door locat-
`ed on the side or front of such an appliance was overcome
`by the use of a circular door, thereby enabling a gently
`curved, unpuckered or undistorted, continuous gasket to
`be inserted about the door opening to provide the neces-
`sary fluid seal. More recently, and particularly, in front-
`opening dishwashers, square or rectangular doors have
`been found to be desirable from the standpoint of provid-
`ing a large access to the dishwasher cabinet interior. The
`sharp turns or short radius curves at the corners of such
`rectangular openings, however, complicate the sealing
`problem because of the ditficulty in achieving an undis-
`torted seal through the corners of the opening.
`In the
`past, various solutions to this problem have been ad-
`vanced, such as by gently rounding the corners of the
`square or rectangular opening with relatively large radius
`curves or by using a fabricated or non-continuous seal;
`the former mitigating to some extent the desirability of
`the rectangular door while the latter gives rise to sub-
`stantial expenses in achieving the necessary fluid seal.
`Furthermore,
`the problems of achieving the necessary
`seal are additionally complicated by the existence of high-
`er fluid pressures within the cabinet, particularly in dish-
`washers, due to the high temperatures, spraying pressures
`and the like to which the water within the cabinet is sub-
`jected.
`Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention
`is to provide a highly effective sealing device or gasket for
`use about a receptacle closure, and particularly, between
`the door and cabinet of a front~loading dishwasher by
`which the aforementioned problems are substantially and
`effectively overcome.
`Another object of this invention is the provision of a
`flexible gasket or sealing device by which. a highly effec-
`tive fluid pressure seal may be achieved in a receptacle
`closure assembly for an opening having corners defined by
`small radius curves.
`A further object of this invention is that of providing
`a gasket of the type referred to which may be used to
`provide a distortion free, continuous seal
`throughout
`small radius curves at the corners between a rectangular
`door and the cabinet of front-loading dishwasher.
`Another object of this invention is the provision of a
`gasket of the type referred to which takes the form of
`an elongated strip of rubber-like material capable of being
`flexed without distortion to accommodate the small radi-
`us curves at the corners of a rectangular, front-loading
`dishwasher door assembly and further, which serves as
`an alignment agent for the door in the assembly.
`
`CS!
`
`1.0
`
`20
`
`35
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`70
`
`A still further object of this invention is that of provid-
`ing a gasket of the type aforementioned which may be
`economically formed by extruding such rubber-like mate-
`rial as vinyl chloride polymers.
`Other objects in further scope of applicability of the
`present invention will become apparent from the detailed
`description given hereinafter.
`It should be understood,
`however, that the detailed description, while indicating a
`preferred embodiment of the invention,
`is given by way
`of illustration only, since it will become apparent
`to
`those skilledin the art from this description that various
`changes and modifications can be made without -departing
`from the true spirit in scope of this invention.
`In general,
`the aforementioned objects are accom-
`plished by a gasket in the form of an elongated strip of
`rubber-like material having a substantially planar base
`adapted to seat in fluid tight relation within the cabinet
`or receptacle opening throughout the inside of small radi-
`us curves at the corners thereof, and a generally wedge
`shaped sealing portion converging toward the forward
`edge -of the base. The sealing portion is provided with
`a plurality of longitudinal ribs of saw-tooth cros-s-section-
`al configuration, which ribs are engageable by a surface
`on the door to be deflected slightly inwardly thereby en-
`abling relatively high pressures internally of the cabinet
`in which the seal is to be used to urge the ribs into tighter
`sealing engagement with the door surface. The Wedge
`shaped sealing portion has a bulbous bumper rib at its
`rearward edge which, in turn, forms with the rearward
`portion of the strip body, a channel for receiving a gen-
`erally L-shaped mounting device. Further, the dimen-
`sions of the gasket and particularly the sealing ribs there-
`on are correlated with the small radius curves at the cor--
`ners of the cabinet opening so as to be distortion free
`throughout these curves.
`A more complete understanding of the sealing device
`of the present invention and its method of use may be
`by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG.
`1
`is a perspective view illustrating the short
`length of a preferred form of the gasket of this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating
`the gasket assembled in a rectangular opening of a front-
`loading dishwasher at one upper corner thereof;
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
`line 3——3 of FIG. 2 with the addition of a door portion
`slightly before closing; and
`FIG. 4 is a cross section similar to that shown in FIG.
`3 but wherein the door member is closed.
`Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1
`thereof, the gasket of this invention is shown to be in
`the form of an elongated strip of extruded rubber-like
`material and designated generally by the reference nu-
`meral 10. While any suitably flexible rubber-like ma-
`terial may be employed, it is preferred that the sealing
`strip 10 be formed from such vinyl chloride polymers
`as copolymers with vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride
`polymers, vinyl -ester polymers and the like.
`In cross-
`section, the sealing strip 10 includes a body portion 12
`having a substantially planar base 14 and a generally
`Wedge shaped sealing portion 16 projecting from the body
`portion and converging toward the forward edge 18
`of the base.
`In the embodiment illustrated,
`the -upper
`or contacting surface (as shown in FIG. 1) of the seal-
`ing portion is provided with a plurality of longitudinal
`sealing ribs 20, 22 and 24 to define generally, a saw-
`tooth cross
`sectional configuration. Thus,
`it will be
`noted that each of the ribs 20, 22 and 24 are defined by
`a pair of oppositely inclined, intersecting planar surfaces
`25 diverging toward or in the direction of the base 14.
`Toward the rear of the sealing portion 16 is a rela-
`tively large, =bulbous, bumper rib 26 having a rearwardly
`inclined arcuate front surface 28 and a planar rear sur-
`
`

`
`3,217,921
`
`3
`inclined rearwardly to make a small angle a
`face 3!)
`with the vertical or with a plane normal to the base 14.
`It
`is preferred that
`the angle a is approximately 3°
`though it
`is contemplated that slight deviations from
`this specific angle may he used. The body portion 12,
`rearwardly of the surface 30,
`is formed having a sub-
`stantially planar surface 32 generally parallel
`to the
`base 14 which terminates rearwardly in an upstanding
`rib 34.
`in-
`The manner in which the gasket of the present
`vention in the -form of the sealing strip 10 is fitted to
`a closure assembly and particularly within the door
`assembly of a front: opening dishwasher will be under-
`stood by reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing.
`As shown, the gasket is mounted such that the base 14
`thereof seats in fluid tight relation with the peripheral
`edge 36 of the opening in the dishwasher cabinet shell
`38,
`the peripheral edge of the opening having curves
`at the corners thereof of a small radius R. To retain
`the gasket firmly against the peripheral edge surface 36,
`a metallic mounting strip of L-shaped cross-section hav-
`ing walls 40 and 42 is received in a channel defined by
`the rib 34, surface 32 and surface 30 in the strip 10.
`Suitable means such as self-tapping screws 44 are em-
`ployed to draw the metallic mounting strip inwardly
`against
`the surface 36. When so mounted,
`the gasket
`provides an excellent seal between the dishwasher casing
`and a door 46 preferably of the type having a seal-engag-
`ing surface 48 on an inwardly projecting ridge or head 50.
`One of the principal features to which effectiveness
`of the gasket may be attributed is the manner in which
`it may be flexed to seat within the curved corners of a
`small radius R without distortion and consequent loss
`of scaling properties of the critical parts of the sealing
`portion 16. Hence, as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3,
`the ribs 20 and 22 retain substantially their initial shape
`Without distortion throughout the small radius curves.
`While this characteristic may be achieved with various
`shapes and sizes of gaskets formed from various types
`of material, it has been found that where the radius R
`is approximately 3/21 of an inch and where a gasket of
`the cross-sectional shape of the strip 10 in FIG.
`1 was
`formed from an extruded vinyl chloride polymer, par-
`ticularly good results were obtained with the dimensions
`tabulated below -under columns A and B, which respec-
`tively, relate to the dimension reference letters shown
`in FIG. 1 and the corresponding dimension in inches.
`
`A
`
`wt
`wg
`mg
`an
`7/U5
`w;
`wy
`via
`
`B
`
`1. 520
`. 575
`.342
`. 300
`. 255
`. 206
`. 150
`. 100
`
`A
`
`In
`fig
`fig
`In
`IL5
`ha
`In
`
`13
`
`. 520
`. 340
`. 243
`. 197
`. 177
`. 173
`. 110
`
`It will be noted from the above table of dimensions
`that the distance of maximum projection of the rib 22
`from the base 14-
`(123)
`is .243” or, slightly less than 1/3
`the radius of curvature R where R is equal to 3%i’’. The
`rib 24, however, -exceeds this amount of projection from
`the base 14 and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is dis-
`torted into a substantially serpentine shape. Also,
`the
`bumper rib 26 will be distorted; however, because of the
`generally rearwardly inclined shape of the rib 26 a sub-
`stantial amount of the distortion therein is restricted by
`the wall 42 in the metallic mounting strip. Also,
`the
`serpentine shape taken by the rib 24 will have little or
`no atfect on the scaling properties of the gasket as will
`be understood from the description which follows below.
`In use, after the sealing strip has been mounted as
`above mentioned, when the door 4-6 is moved to a close
`position as shown in FIG. 4, the surface 48 on the head
`
`CT!
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2.0
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`70
`
`:3,
`50 engages the undistorted ribs 29 and 22 deflecting them
`slightly inward. Also,
`the rib 24, which as aforemen-
`tioned, is distorted somewhat due to the radius of curve-
`ture R in the corners of the door opening,
`is engaged
`by the nose portion of the head 50 to make sealing con-
`tact therewith and to be displaced out of its distorted con-
`figuration by positioning between the head 59 and the front
`face 28 of the bumper rib 26. The rib 24 will, of course,
`be undistorted along the straight portions of the opening
`and operate in substantially the same manner as the ribs
`20 and 22 along these straight portions.
`It will be noted,
`therefore, that any elevated pressures existing within the
`cabinet will operate to urge the sealing ribs 20, 22 and 24
`into tighter sealing engagement with the respective por-
`tions of the door 46. Further, because of the generally
`wedge shaped configuration of the sealing portion 16,
`the door is constrained to a central position within the
`cabinet opening. Also, the provision of the bumper rib
`26 backed up by the wall 42 in the L-shaped mounting
`member assures a positive but resilient limiting means for
`inward movement of the door.
`Thus, it will be seen that by the gasket of this inven-
`tion a highly effective seal may be provided in a receptacle
`such as a dishwasher cabinet throughout the corners of a
`generally rectangular door opening therein, which corners
`are provided with an extremely small radius of curvature.
`This result obtains principally because of the distortion
`free nature of at least two of the sealing ribs 20 and 22
`completely throughout the small radius curvature. More-
`over, while the third rib 24 undergoes some distortion in
`the curves, it nevertheless is available along the straight
`portions of the closure assembly and further, as described
`above, is deflected even in the corner to provide an addi-
`tional sealing surface.
`It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art
`that various modifications of the invention are possible
`such as for example, providing only one sealing rib in
`place of the ribs 20 and 22. Also, while the gasket is
`particularly suitable for use in front-loading dishwashers,
`it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it will
`find application in other types of closure assemblies. For
`this reason, it is to be distinctly understood that the above-
`given description is illustrative only and that the true
`spirit and scope of the invention is to be determined by
`the appended claims.
`I claim:
`1. In combination a closure member and a polygonal
`receptacle having an opening with small radius curves be-
`tween the straight portions thereof, a gasket mounted in
`said opening and conforming to said curves providing a
`fluid seal between said closure member and said opening,
`said gasket comprising: an elongated solid strip of rubber-
`like material including a body portion having a substan-
`tially planar mounting surface, and a generally wedge-
`shaped sealing portion projecting from said body portion,
`said sealing portion converging with said mounting sur-
`face at one edge of said strip and including at least one
`longitudinal rib defined by a pair of inclined, intersecting
`surfaces diverging toward said mounting surface, said rib
`projecting away from said mounting surface a distance
`less than one third the radii of the small radius curves
`in the receptacle opening, whereby the mounting surface
`adjacent said rib engages the small radius curves to pro-
`vide an undistorted line seal throughout said small radius
`curves of said opening.
`2. The gasket in accordance with claim 1 including fur-
`ther, a bumper rib at the rear of said sealing portion and
`projecting from said base farther than said longitudinal
`ribs, said bumper rib having a rearwardly inclined, gener-
`ally arcuate front surface and a substantially planar rear
`surface, said body portion rearwardly of said sealing por-
`tion defining with sald planar rear surface, means for
`receiving a generally L-shaped mounting strip.
`3. The sealing device recited in claim 2 in which said
`
`

`
`3,_2i7,92i
`
`5
`planar rear surface is inclined rearwardly with respect to
`a plane normal to said base.
`4. In combination a closure member and a polygonal
`receptacle having an opening with small radius curves
`between the straight portions thereof, a gasket mounted 5
`in said opening and conforming to said curves providing
`a fluid seal between said closure member and said open-
`ing, said gasket comprising:
`an elongated strip of rubber—like material including a
`body portion having a substantially planar base pro- 10
`viding a seal in fluid tight relationship against the
`peripheral edges of the opening throughout the small
`radius curves in the corners thereof, and a generally
`wedge~shaped sealing portion projecting from said
`body portion and converging toward the forward edge 15
`of said base, said sealing portion having a plurality of
`longitudinal ribs of saw-tooth cross-sectional con-
`figuration engaged by contacting surfaces on said clo-
`sure member and a bulbous bumper rim extending
`longitudinally at the rearward edge of said scaling 20
`portion, at least the two forwardmost of said ribs of
`saw—tooth cross section projecting from said base a
`distance less than one third of the radii of the small
`
`ti
`radius curves whereby the mounting surface adjacent
`said ribs engages the small radius curves to provide
`an undistorted line seai throughout the small radius
`curve of said opening.
`
`1,689,194
`1,888,358
`1,889,439
`2,099,597
`2,122,608
`2,734,239
`§’§Z§’§3§
`2’910’312
`3’058’527
`3,065,517
`
`References Cit“! by the Examinei‘
`UNITED STATES PATENT5;
`10/1928 Clark.
`11/1932 Palenske.
`11/ 1932 Greenwald.
`11/1937 Carr.
`7/1938 Harlow.
`2/1956 Lombardi.
`iiliil
`itifgtiid“““““““““““““ 53312
`lb/1959 P In
`““““““““““ ‘“ 220__46
`10/1962 DZDEE """""""'“ 220__46
`11/1962 Dower.
`.
`11/1963 Daims‘
`3’110’065
`THERON E. CONDON Primary Emn,”-Her.
`’
`EARLE 3- DRUMMOND, EXl1ml7'i€r-