FIELD OF THE DEVICE
The present concept generally relates to a refrigerator having a mullion assembly, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having an adjustable mullion assembly that is configured to selectively divide a refrigerated compartment.
BACKGROUND
A conventional refrigerator typically includes one or more cold storage compartments, including both a freezer portion or compartment and a fresh food or refrigerator portion or compartment. The compartments may be arranged side-by-side or top-to-bottom, and separated by an insulated shelf, or mullion wall. The refrigerator may also include one or more shelves and drawers for separating the compartments and providing area and surfaces for storing food. In addition, a conventional refrigerator typically includes one or more doors for accessing the storage compartments and for sealing the compartments to prevent cold air leakage. A way to selectively divide a compartment in a manner that provides a sealed division of the compartment is desired.
SUMMARY
In at least one aspect, a refrigerator is described and includes a cabinet having at least one refrigerated compartment defined by first and second sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and an open front portion. A door is movably coupled to the refrigerated compartment for accessing the refrigerated compartment. The door is operable between open and closed positions with respect to the open front portion of the refrigerated compartment. The door further includes an inner surface. A shelf assembly includes first and second shelf members that are operably coupled to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, between upright and deployed positions. The first and second shelf members each include front-facing surfaces having outwardly extending gasket members. The outwardly extending gasket members of the first and second shelf members seal against the inner surface of the door when the door is in the closed position.
In at least another aspect, a refrigerator is described and includes a refrigerated compartment having first and second sidewalls interconnected by a rear wall. The refrigerated compartment includes an open front portion, to which a door is operably coupled between open and closed positions. The refrigerator further includes a shelf assembly having a first shelf member pivotally coupled to the first sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and operable between vertical and horizontal positions. A second shelf member is pivotally coupled to the second sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and is also operable between vertical and horizontal positions. A gasket assembly, having portions disposed on both the first and second shelf members, seals against an inner surface of the door when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position and the door is in the closed position.
In at least another aspect, a refrigerator is described and includes a refrigerated compartment having first and second sidewalls and an open front portion. A door is operably coupled to the refrigerated compartment between open and closed positions relative to the open front portion. A shelf assembly is disposed within the refrigerated compartment and includes a first shelf member pivotally coupled to the first sidewall of the refrigerated compartment. A second shelf member is pivotally coupled to the second sidewall of the refrigerated compartment. The first and second shelf members are both operable between vertical and horizontal positions. The first and second shelf members divide the refrigerated compartment into upper and lower portions in an air-tight manner when both the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present device will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a refrigerator, according to an embodiment described herein;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with a front door removed to reveal an inner door in a closed position according to an embodiment described herein;
FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 2 with the inner door shown in an open position to reveal a shelf assembly, according to an embodiment described herein;
FIG. 4 is a partial top perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 3 with a shelf member in a vertical position, according to an embodiment described herein;
FIG. 5 is a partial top perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 4 with two shelf members in vertical positions, according to an embodiment described herein;
FIG. 6 is a partial top perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 5 with the two shelf members in horizontal positions and showing relative movement of the shelf members, according to an embodiment described herein;
FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of the shelf members and the inner door of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 2 taken at line VIIA.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the concept as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the concept may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 10 is shown having an exterior cabinet 12 with an exterior door 14. The exterior door 14 includes a handle 15 disposed on an outer surface thereof to be engaged by a user to move the exterior door 14 between open and closed positions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the exterior door 14 is in a closed position relative to the exterior cabinet 12.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the refrigerator 10 is shown having the exterior door 14 removed therefrom to reveal a storage compartment 16. The storage compartment 16 may be divided into several sub compartments which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, includes a first refrigerated compartment 18 and a second refrigerated compartment 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it is contemplated that the first refrigerated compartment 18 may be a refrigerator compartment for storing fresh food items. The second refrigerated compartment 20 is referred to herein as a refrigerated compartment, while it is contemplated that this compartment may be a freezer compartment that is independently controlled relative to the first refrigerated compartment 18 for storing frozen items. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first refrigerated compartment 18 includes a number of vertically adjustable wire shelves 22 and a lower storage space 24 which may be configured to receive a drawer. As further shown in FIG. 2, the second refrigerated compartment 20 includes an inner door 30 having upper and lower portions 32, 34 which may open and close either independently or together to access the second refrigerated compartment 20. The upper and lower portions 32, 34 of the inner door 30 include handles 32A, 34A, respectively that can be engaged by a user to open and close the entire inner door 30, or selectively open and close the upper portion 32 or lower portion 34 alone, depending on the overall configuration of the inner door 30.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the inner door 30 is shown in an open position to reveal an interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. In FIG. 3, the interior space 26 is divided into upper and lower portions 27, 28 by a shelf assembly 40. The functionality of the shelf assembly 40 is further described below. The interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 is defined by first and second sidewalls 35, 36 that are spaced-apart a distance D and interconnected by a bottom wall 37 a rear wall 38 and a top wall 39. The second refrigerated compartment 20 further includes an open front portion 21 with a sealing surface 21A disposed therearound. In use, the inner door 30 seals to the sealing surface 21A of the second refrigerated compartment 20 when the inner door 30 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the inner door 30 is movably coupled to the second refrigerated compartment 20 at the open front portion 21 thereof between open and closed positions (FIGS. 2 and 3). The inner door 30 includes an inner surface 31 which seals against the sealing surface 21A of the second refrigerated compartment 20 via a gasket assembly which may be disposed on the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30, or the sealing surface 21A of the second refrigerated compartment 20, or both.
As further shown in FIG. 3, the shelf assembly 40 includes first and second shelf members 42, 44. The first and second shelf members 42, 44 are pivotally coupled to the first and second sidewalls 35, 36, respectively, of the second refrigerated compartment 20, such that the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are operable between vertical and horizontal positions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the horizontal position, such that the second refrigerated compartment 20 is divided between upper and lower portions 27, 28 by the first and second shelf members 42, 44 spanning the distance D between the first and second sidewalls 35, 36 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. As further described below, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 can be moved from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 32 to vertical positions to provide for a unitary interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. The first and second shelf members 42, 44 each include upper surfaces 46, 48 and oppositely disposed undersurfaces 50, 52 respectively. Between the upper surfaces 46, 48 and the undersurfaces 50, 52, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 each include insulated core portions 54, 56, respectively, which may also be referred to herein as insulated interior cavities. As such, the shelf assembly 40 defines a mullion assembly for the refrigerated compartment 20 dividing the interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 into the upper and lower portions 27, 28 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the horizontal or deployed positions, as shown in FIG. 3. Typically, a mullion assembly defines a divider for a particular space, and specifically, within the refrigeration industry, a mullion assembly typically provides a sealing surface for that particular space. As used with the present concept, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 define an adjustable mullion assembly by dividing the second refrigerated compartment 20, and further provide a sealing surface for the inner door 30, as further described below.
With the insulated interior cavities 54, 56 of the first and second shelf members 42, 44, the divided interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 provides for independently controlled cold storage compartments at the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. For instance, a cooling component 60 is shown in FIG. 3 encased by the cabinet 12 of the refrigerator 10 and disposed behind the refrigerated compartment 20. The cooling component 60 is contemplated to include the necessary subcomponents (such as a condenser, evaporator, heat exchanger and other such componentry) to condition and cool the second refrigerated compartment 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, ports 38A and 38B are shown disposed on the rear wall 38 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 and are provided to separately and independently cool the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 of the shelf assembly 40 are in the deployed position to subdivide the interior space 26. In this way, the cooling component 60 is in fluid communication with both the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 and is contemplated to be programmable to independently control respective temperatures of the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cooling component 60 is shown disposed behind the second refrigerated compartment 20, however, it is contemplated that the cooling component 60 can be disposed in any portion of the refrigerator 10, so long as the cooling component 60 is in fluid communication with the second refrigerated compartment 20, and more particularly, in fluid communication with both the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. In the divided second refrigerated compartment 20, items can be stored on the flat upper surfaces 46, 48 of the first and second shelf members 42, 44 in the upper portion 27, and also stored on the flat bottom wall 37 of the lower portion 28.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the second shelf member 44 is shown in an upright or stowed position having pivoted from the horizontal position (shown in FIG. 3) along a path as indicated by arrow 62. Thus, the second shelf member 44 is pivotally coupled to the sidewall 36 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 for articulation between the horizontal or deployed position and the vertical or upright or stowed position. With the second shelf member 44 in the upright stowed position, the second refrigerated compartment 20 is no longer completely divided into upper and lower portions 27, 28 and can accommodate larger sized food items on a right-hand side thereof. Further, with the second shelf member 44 in the upright stowed position, a support member 64 is revealed. The support member 64 outwardly extends from the rear wall 38 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 into the interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the support member 64 is substantially positioned at a center portion of the rear wall 38, such that the support member 64 can support both the first and second shelf members 42, 44 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the deployed position (as shown in FIG. 3). Specifically, the support member 64 supports the first and second shelf members 42, 44 at the undersurfaces 50, 52 thereof at an upper abutment surface 66 of the support member 64. In this way, the support member 64 serves as a stop member to limit the rotational movement of the first and second shelf members 42, 44 and ensures that the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are properly aligned within the second refrigerated compartment 20 to seal against an inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the deployed position as shown in FIG. 3. It is contemplated that the support member 64 extends into the second refrigerated compartment 20 a minimal amount, so as not to interfere with the positioning of food items stored in the second refrigerated compartment 20, while still providing an adequate landing surface in the upper abutment surface 66 to sufficiently support the first and second shelf members 42, 44 in the horizontal or deployed position.
As further shown in FIG. 4, the first shelf member 42 includes an inside edge 68 having a support flange 70 extending outwardly therefrom. The support flange 70 includes an upper abutment surface 72 which is configured to support the second shelf member 44 at the undersurface 52 thereof when the second shelf member 44 is in the horizontal or deployed position. Thus, when moving the first and second shelf members 42, 44 to the horizontal deployed position, the first shelf member 42 will first rotate downward to the deployed position in a manner in which the first shelf member 42 is supported on the support member 64 at the undersurface 50 of the first shelf member 42. With the first shelf member 42 moved to the downward deployed position, as shown in FIG. 4, the support flange 70 is prepared to receive the undersurface 52 of the second shelf member 44 as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. It is contemplated that the support flange 70 can be disposed on either the first shelf member 42 or the second shelf member 44 for abuttingly supporting the opposite shelf member in a deployed position at a reciprocal inner edge thereof.
As further shown in FIG. 4, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 each include front facing surfaces 74, 76, respectively. The front facing surfaces 74, 76 further include outwardly extending gasket members 78, 80, respectively. The outwardly extending gasket members 78, 80 are configured to seal against the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the deployed position and the inner door 30 is in the closed position. In this way, the sealed division of the second refrigerated compartment 20 provides for independently temperature controlled upper and lower portions 27, 28. The sealing relationship between the first and second shelf members 42, 44 and the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 via gasket members 78, 80 is further described below with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. The outwardly extending gasket members 78, 80 may be considered independent portions of an overall gasket assembly 82 that seals against the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 to divide the second refrigerated compartment 20 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the horizontal position and the inner door 30 is in the closed position.
As further shown in FIG. 4, the inside edge 68 of the first shelf member 42 further includes an inner gasket member 69 which is configured to seal the against a reciprocal inner edge of the second shelf member 44 when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the horizontal position as specifically shown in FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the first shelf member 42 is shown in the upright stowed position, also referred to herein as the vertical position. In FIG. 5, relative movement of the first shelf member 42 is indicated by arrow 63. With both the first and second shelf members 42, 44 in the upright stowed position, the interior space 26 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 is entirely accessible. As shown in FIG. 5, with the first and second shelf members 42, 44 in the vertical position, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are substantially parallel to the respective sidewalls 35, 36 to which the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are coupled. With both the first and second shelf members 42, 44 in the vertical position, a seal member 84 is shown disposed on the rear wall 38 of the second refrigerated compartment 20. The seal member 84 is contemplated to extend around the first and second sidewalls 35, 36 of the second refrigerated compartment 20, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. With seal member 84 in place, rear and side edges of the first and second shelf members 42, 44 can be sealed along with the inner edges and front facing surfaces 74, 76 of the first and second shelf members 42, 44. In this way, the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 are completely sealed in an air-tight manner when the first and second shelf members 42, 44 are in the horizontal or deployed position with the inner door 30 shut.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the first and second shelf members 42, 44 have been moved from the upright vertical positions (shown in FIG. 5) to the downwardly folded horizontal positions along the path as indicated by arrows 63, 62, respectively. Movement of the first and second shelf members 42, 44 may be provided by any type of hinge assembly known in the art and used to couple one rigid member to another in a pivoting manner.
Referring now to FIG. 7A, the second refrigerated compartment 20 is shown with the inner door 30 in an open position and the first and second shelf members 42, 44 disposed in the horizontal position. The gasket members 78, 80 of the gasket assembly 82 are shown outwardly extending from the front facing surfaces 74, 76 of the first and second shelf members 42, 44 and are contemplated to be flexibly resilient members. The inner door 30 is configured to be closed along the path as indicated by arrow 85 such that the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 seals against the gasket assembly 82 as shown in FIG. 7B. With specific reference to FIG. 7B, the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 is shown pressing against the gasket member 78 of the first shelf member 42 in a sealing manner, such that the upper and lower portions 27, 28 of the second refrigerated compartment 20 are divided in an air-tight sealed manner via the shelf assembly 40. In FIG. 7B, seal member 78 is shown deformed against the inner surface 31 of the inner door 30 to provide a sealed engagement.
For purposes of this disclosure, it is contemplated that the refrigerated compartment 20 can be any type of cold storage compartment, such as an all-freezer compartment or an all-refrigerator compartment, or a subcomponent of a divided refrigerator. Further, it is contemplated that the shelf assembly 40 of the present concept could be used in a configuration wherein the refrigerator does not have an inner door such as inner door 30 described above. In such a configuration, it is contemplated that the gasket assembly 82 of the shelf assembly 40 what is seal against an inner surface of an exterior door, such as exterior door 14 shown in FIG. 1.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described device and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the device disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present device. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Patent Application
20180363974
