Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
COMBINATION: FOOD FREEZER/DINI~G TABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE I~VENTION
This invention relates to a combination food freezer
and dining table, including features adapting a food freezer
for this purpose.
~ ood freezers are capable of storing large amounts of
frozen foods. They are generally used in large households
to store frozen foods bought at quantity discounts in order
to take advantage of sales, etc. They are also useful ~or
storing large items, such as turkeys, which are not readily
accepted in combination refrigerator/freezers. Food freezers
are also useful appliances for people who cannot shop often
and have to buy large amounts of food on each shopping trip,
or for people who have food delivered to their residences~
In general, more foods are b~ing packed in frozen form, and
particularly there are now available many prepackaged frozen
foods suitable for quickly prepared meals, including very high
quality and sophisticated menu items. Additionally, the
capability of quickly preparing frozen foods has increasecl
markedly with the availability and use of microwave ovens.
Perhaps the biggest drawback of food freezers is that
they require a substantial amount of space. Freezers are often
kept in basements, utility rooms, garages and sometimes in a
kitchen if the kitchen is quite large. Thus, the advantages
of food freezers are often effectively denied to apartment
dwellers, condominum owners, an~ others who have limited available
space. These people are often the ones who have active, busy lifes-tyles
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which could benefit from the Use of a food freezer, particularly
to eliminate the necessity of frequent shopping trips and also
to store prepared frozen foods of the type useful in quick prepa-
ration of meals.
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SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTI`ON
It is a principal ob~ect of the inventio~ herein to make
efficient use of the space required by a food freezer.
It is an~additional obJect of the~invention herein to
adapt a food ~reezer to function as the base of a table, including
providing for the comfort of persons sitting at the table.
According to the invention herein, a food freezer functions
as a base for a dining table. More particularly, table surfaces
are mounted to and extend peripherally outward from the food
freeæer. In one embodlment, a table top is secured to a lid of
a chest-type food freezer with the table top extending outwardly
from at least one side of the food freezer, whereby space is pro-
vided under the overhanging portion of the table top to accomo-
date users~ legs when sitting at the table. If the combination
food freezer/dining table is to be used in a room where it may be
positioned spaced away from the walls, the table top preferably
overhangs on all sides of the food freezer, wherein the~people
may sit all around the table. If the combination freezer/
dining table is to be placed against the wall, the table top
preferably overhangs on three sidès but does not overhang on the
side at which the lid of the food freezer is hinged to its body,
whereby the combination food freezer/dining table may be placed
against the wall. The tension in the spring loading mechanism
of the freezer lid may be increased to compensate for the addi-
tional weight of the table top, and counterweights can be added
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in the table top, if and as required.
The combination food freezer~dining table is also adapted
to provide ~or the comfort of tho'se us~in~ it as a table. Some
exterior side and end walls of a food f'réezer can become warm as
a result of the operation of the food freezer because the heat
coils of the food freezer are generally positioned in contact with
these freezer walls and the freezer walls are used to dissipate
heat. In order that the users ? knees do not contact warm freezer
walls, a periphe'ral decorative knee barrier is mounted to the
exterior freezer walls at approximately knee height. The knee-
barrier is spaced apart from the freezer walls, so that air flow
may occur behind the knee-barrier for heat dissipation purposes.
The peripheral decorative knee-barrier is also preferably remov-
ably mounted so that it can be taken off for cleaning both the
knee-barrier itself and the food freezer side walls behind it.
In another embodiment, table leaves are hingedly mounted
to respective side walls of the rood freezer, and are adapted to
be pivoted to and secured in horizontal orientation extending
outwardly from the side walls. The leaves fold into verti.cal
orientation ad~acent the side walls when not in use. In this
embodiment, a table top is also preferably mounted to the freezer
lid itself, but has only a small overhang. A secondary side wall
is mounted spaced-apart from the' freezer side wall and air flow
between the secondary~ side wall and the freezer side wall achieves
heat dissipation.
Another source of potential discomfort is the heat from
the freezer compressor, which is usually vented through slots in
a recessed kick plate of the ~reezer~ Heated air is expelled by
a fan, and creates a subsfantial flow of warm air. This problem
is alleviated by providing a restricted air-per~ious barrier about
the base of the food freezer, the barrier being adapted to vent
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the hot air evenly about the base of the freezer and thereb~
eliminate a localized flow of warm air.
The combination food freezer/dining table requires approx-
imately the same or little morè space than a conventional dining
table. Accordingly, it can ~e placed in a dining room, kitchen
or other eating area in place of a conventional dining table.
A food freezer can thereby be added to a residence without usurp-
ing additional floor sDace~ With proper attention to design, the
combination food freez'er~dining table can be an aktractive unit
which is satisfactory in its function as a piece of furniture.
Other and more specific ob~ects and features of the
invention herein will in part be obvious and will in part appear
from a perusal of the following description of the preferred
embodiments and the claims together with the drawings.
DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combination food
freezer/dining table according to the invention herein;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the combination food
freezer/dining table of Figure 1 shown open for access to the
food storage cavity,
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the combination food
freezer/dining table of Figure 1 taken along the lines 3-3
of Figure l;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end view of the combination
food freezer~dini,ng table of Figure 1 with the knee-barrier
; removed from the end wall;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, partially cut away, of
the base of the combination food freezer/dining table of
Figure l;
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another combination
food/freezer dining table according to the invention herein;
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FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another combination
food freezer/dining ~,able according to the invention herein;
and
FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the food
~reezer/dining table o~ Figure 9.
The same reference numerals refer to the same elements
throughout the ~arious Figures.
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DF,SCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODII~ENTS
With reference to Figures 1 - 5, a comblnation food
freezer/dining table 10 according to the invention herein is
illustrated. The food freezer/dining table 10 generally
comprises a food freezer 20 having a table top 40 secured to
the lid thereo~, a peripheral protective knee-barrier 5Q
mounted to the side and end walls of the freezer 20~ and an
air-pervious kick plate 70 disposed about the base of the
food freezer 20. These elements are combined to form a
comfortable and attractive dining table wi-th the food ~reezer
acting as the base thereof, whereby the food freeæer is
ac~ommodated in the space normally utilized by a dining table
alone.
The food freezer 20 is of the chest type, having a
body 21 and a lid 30. The body 21 has exterior end walls 22
and 23, an exterior front wall 24 and an exterior back wall
25. Tne body 21 also has corresponding interior walls spaced
apart from the foregoing exterior walls, and the interior
walls define an open topped cavity 26 for accepting frozen
food items. The lid 30 is hinged to the body 21 of the food
freezer adjacent the bak wall, and pivots from the closed
position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 to the open position
shown in Figure 2 providing access to the ~reezer cavity 26.
The hinge mechanism (not shown) connecting the lid 30 with the
body 21 has springs designed to counterbalance the weight of
the lid when the lid is open and to bias the lid to its closed
position. The outside dimensions of the chest type food
freezer are typically about sixty inches long, thirty inches
wide and thirty inches high, although the dimensions, of
course, vary with the capacity of the food freezer. In
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general, the food freezer 20 is o~ the type commonly available
on the commercial market, and is modified as hereinafter
described as necessary to function as an element of the
invention herein.
The table top 40 is secured to the lid 30 of the
food freezer 20, whereby it is supported in a horizontal plane
on the lid when the lid is closed and tilts with the lid when
the lid is opened, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.
The combination food freezer/dining table 10 is intended for
use spaced apart ~rom the walls of a room, and thereEore, the
table top 40 extends outwardly from all sides of the freezer.
The overhang of the table top is pre~erably at least eight
inches and generally in the range o~ eight to twelve inches
from the front and back walls 24 and 25 of the food freezer
lS and may be as large as desired with consideration for the
space available. The overhang beyond the end walls 22 and 23
of the food freezer may be somewhat less, for example in the
ranye of six to ten inches. Thus, the overall dimensions of
the cor~ination food freezer/dining table 10 may be
approxim~tely seventy-two inches by forty-eight inches, which
provides a large dining surface.
The table top 40 itself comprises a rectangular
panel 41, which may be wood or may be a "sandwich panel"
having a foamed or honeycombed core between two skins for high
strength and light weight. The table top 40 further comprises
an apron 42 depending ~rom the peripheral edges of the
rectangular panel 41, thereby gi~ing the table top 40 the
appearance of greater thickness and substance. The panel 41
may be secured to the lid 30 of the food freezer by any
suitable means, and in Figures 3 and 4 it is shown secured by
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L-brackets 45 which are bolted or rivete~ to the lid 30 and
wnich are screwed to the panel 41. It is preferable that the
securing means for the table top 40 be such that the table
top is removable for passing the food freezer through
doorways, etc,
It will be appreciated that the table top 40 adds
weight to the lid 30 of the food freezer and that the added
weiyht must be compensated for to maintain the normal
operation of the lid 30. This can be accomplished in many
instances by simply adjusting the springs in the hin~e
mechanism of the food freezer 20~ e.g. the spring ~orce is
increased so that the lid 30 and table top 40 are supported
in an open position for the insertion and removal of food
items from the freezer cavity 26. When re~uired, a weight 43
lS can be secured to the bottom of the panel 41, inside the
apron 4~ and spaced apart from the back wall 25 of the food
freezer 20. The ~eight 43 assists in counterbalancing the
weight of the table top both when the lid is open and when the
lid is closed. The latter condition is governed by the
federal regulations which require that the lld can be opened
by a maximum Eorce o~ approximately ifteen -to twenty pounds
as a safety feature so that children could not be trapped
within the ~reezer by accident.
The combination food freezer/dining table lO fur-ther
comprises peripheral protective knee-barriers 50. The knee-
barriers 50 are provided for the comfort of the user at the
table and more particularly to prevent the users' knees from
contacting the exterior walls of the food freezer 20. These
walls become warm as the food freezer is operated because the
heat coils of the freezer are placed in close contact with the
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exterior walls for dissipation of heat. The knee-barriers
also enhance the appearance of the combination food freezer/
dining table 10. The peripheral protective knee-barrier 50
preferably comprises four individual knee-barriers 51 - 54,
each of the individual knee-barriers being deployed respectively
adjacent one of the exterior walls of the food freezer 20.
Each of the individual knee-barriers 51 - 54 comprises an
elongated rectangular panel, which may be wood or any other
suitable material. The knee-barrier is preferably quite thin
to preserve knee room under the table top 40. As best seen
in Fi~ure 4, a plurality of female brackets 55 are secured to
the exterior walls of the ~ood freezer 20, and each of these
brackets 55 defines an upwardly openin~ pocket opening 56.
Cooperating brackets 57 are secured to the back side of the
individual knee-barriers and include a horizontal leg 58 for
spacing the knee-barriers away from the exterior walls of ~he
food freezer and a tongue 59 which is received in the pocket
opening 56 o~ the bxacket 55. I'hus, the individual knee-
barriers 51 - 54 are adapted to be supported adjacent to and
~0 spaced apart ~rom the exterior walls of the freezer 20, and
to be removed therefrom for cleanin~ the exterior sides of the
food freezer and the knee-barriers themselves. Because the
knee-barriers are spaced apart from the exterior walls of the
freezer, a convection air flow is established between the
exterior sides of the freezer and the knee-barriers to provide
the requisite heat dissipation, The peripheral protective
knee-barrier 50 may be finished to coordinate with the decor
established by the table top 40.
'rhe combination food ~reezer/dining table 10 is
further provided with an air-pervious base barrier 70. With
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reference to Figure 5, the food freezer 20 has a recessed kick
plate 28, which may be provided with louvers 29 ~or exhausting
air from the compressor. Additional air flow from the
compressor may escape under the kick plate 28, which is spaced
apart from thP floor so that the food freezer 20 may be moved
on its rollers 35. In order to prevent a localized flow of
hot air, the air-pervious base barrier 70 is secured to the
freezer paralLel to and spaced apart from the recessed kick
plate 28. The air-pervious base barrier 7a is preferably
fabricated of open-celled flexible foam having relatively fine
air openings therethrough. Thus, the volume of air from the
compressor does not pass through the air-pervious base barrier
at a localized area, but is instead evenly distributed about
the base of the food freezer 20. The air-per~ious base
barrier 70 is dimensioned to touch the floor, and the air-
pervious base barrier is preferably somewhat flexible so that
it may maintain contact with the floor, compensa-ting for
irregularities caused by carpeting and the like, and not be
bent or broken as the combination food freezer/dining table
10 is moved.
The food freezer/dining table lO, as an example, may
have a top finished in butcherblock style plastia laminate, and
the peripheral protective knee-barrier may also be finished with
a matching butcherblock style plastic laminate tc provide a
coordinated design. The exterior walls of the food freezer
may be provided with a finish somewhat different than the
conventional appliance finishes, as desired for aesthetic
reasons.
With reference to Figure 6, another combination Eood
freezer/dining table 80 according to the invention herein is
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shown. It differs from the combination food freezer/dining table
10 described above in that its table top 81 is oval in con~igura-
tion and also in that its peripheral protective knee-barrier 82
is provided with a padded vinyl face 83. This illustrates how
combination food freezers/dining tables according to the inven-
tion herein can be adapted for different style and decor.
Another combination food freezer/dining table 90 according
to the inventlon herein is shown in Figure 7. It will be noted
that its table top 91 overhangs the food freezer on three sides
only, and does not overhang the food freezer at its back side
where the lid is hinged to the freezer body. Thus, the combina-
tion food rreezer/dining table 90 is adapted to be placed against
the wall and ~o accommodate diners on three sides thereof. It
will be appreciated that the table top could also be designed to
overhang the freezer on only one side or on only two sides, as
desired for the particular room in which the combination food
freezer/dining table is to be used.
With reference to Figures 8 and 9, there is illustrated a
combination food freezer/dining table 100 which is another embodi-
ment of the invention herein. The food freezer/dining table 100
generally comprises a food freezer 2Q having a freezer body 21
and lid 30, and a plurality of table leaves 110, 115, 120 and 125
respectively hingedly mounted to the side walls of the freezer
body and pivotal between an operative position extending hori-
zontally outwardly from the freezer body and a storage position
vertically ad~acent to the freezer body. A table top 140 may be
secured to the freezer lid with a small overhang. The dining
surface of the rood freezer/dining table 100 is provided by the
leaves in their horizontal operative oposition and the table top
140 provides a central serving area. The table leaves 110 prefer
ably extend approximately 30 inches outwardly from the secondary
side wall 160, which provides an adequate dining surface.
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~ ith reference to Figure 9, the construction of the food
freezer/dining table 100 is shown in more detail. The table leaf
110 is mounted to side wall 24 of the freezer body 21 by means
of a hinge mechanism generally indicated at 150. The hinge
mechanism includes two pivotally-connected hinge brackets 151 and
152, the first of which is fastened to the freezer wall 24 and
the second of which is secured to the underside of the table
leaf 110. A folding strut 155 has one end secured to the freezer
wall at 156, and has its other end secured to the underside of
the table leaf 110 at 157. The folding strut 155 is made of two
pivotally connected links. It "locks" in its extended position
to support the table leaf 110 in its horizontal operative posi-
tion, and it folds to permit the table lea~ 110 to pivot to its
storage position in which it is vertically oriented adjacent to
the freezer wall, such as is illustrated by the position of table
lea~ 115 in Figure 8. There are two hinge mechanisms 150 per
table leaf, one near each end thereo~. The other table leaves
115, 120 and 125 are similarly respectively mounted to the other
freezer side walls.
The freezer body 21 is also provided with secondary side
walls, only two of which, designated by reference numerals 160
and 161, are seen in Figure 8. With reference to ~igure 9, the
secondary side wall 160 is mounted spaced apart from the freezer
side wall 24 on mounting blocks 165. The mounting blocks may be
either small individual blocks or vertically oriented strips,
whereby in either event air flow is permitted between the freezer
side wall 24 and the secondary side wall 160. A corner post 163
(Figure 8) joins the secondary side wa~ls 160, 161 at the corner
of the freezer body. The secondary side walls function to pre-
vent contact between the user's knees and the freezer side wall,
and also provide a decorative function in that the secondary side
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~alls can have a grained wood surface or ~he like. The secondary
side walls are slotted, e.g., slot 164 in secondary side wall 160,
to provide the clearance for the hinge mechanism 150 and particu-
larly the folding strut 155.
The table top 140 may be secured to the freezer lid 30 by
any suitable means, including brackets, the table top 140 may
include a top panel 141 and a vertically depending skirt 142,
wherein the skirt slightly overhangs the secondary side wall 160
to provide a grip for lifting the freeger lid and also for con-
cealing the top opening of the space between the secondary side
walls and the freezer side walls.
The base of the combinatioIl food freezer/dining table 100
may be provided with an air-pervious base barrier 70 as described
above.
It will be appreciated that the structure shown in Figure
9, i.e., the table leaf 110, hinge mechanism 150 and secondary
side wall 160 is also present on the additional sides of the food
freezer/dining table 100, as desired, and that the particular
type o~ hinge mechanism is not a limiting feature o~ the inven-
tion herein.
Accordingly, there have been described above combination
food freezers/dining tables which admirably achieve the ob~ects
of the invention herein, and in particular, adapt food freezers
for efficient space utilization. It will be appreciated that
various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred
embodiments described above by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein,
which is limited only by the following claims.
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