Patent Application
20240200851
The present disclosure generally relates to a door storage assembly, and more specifically, to a door storage assembly for an appliance.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum insulated refrigerated appliance includes a cabinet having an insulation cavity defined between a wrapper and a liner. An appliance door is coupled to the cabinet. The appliance door includes a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity. Support features are coupled to an inner surface of the appliance door. A storage assembly is coupled to the support features. The storage assembly includes a housing defining an interior storage space and a bin coupled to the housing. The bin is operable between a storage position and an access position. An assembly door is coupled to the bin. The assembly door is operable between a closed position, engaging a latch on the housing, and an opened position. The bin is configured to move to the access position and the assembly door is configured to move to the opened position in response to a gravitational force when the assembly door is released from the latch.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a storage assembly for an appliance door includes a housing having opposing sidewalls extending from a rear wall. The housing includes hangers for engaging a door support feature. The rear wall includes a stopper extending into an interior storage space. A bin is rotatably coupled to the sidewalls of the housing. The bin is configured to rotate between a storage position and an access position. The access position is defined by an engagement of the bin with the stopper. A door has coupling brackets defining slots. Each slot is configured to receive a pin extending from the bin. The door is configured to move between a closed position and an opened position where the pins are disposed at first ends of the slots when the door is in the closed position and at second ends of the slots when the door is in the opened position.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a door storage assembly includes a housing defining an interior storage space. The housing includes sidewalls. A bin is disposed within the interior storage space. The bin is rotatably coupled to the sidewalls to rotate between a storage position and an access position. A door is coupled to the bin. The door defines slots configured to receive pins extending from the bin. A latch is coupled to the housing. The latch is configured to engage the door when the door is in a closed position. The door is configured to rotate to an opened position and the bin is configured to rotate to the access position upon release of the door from the latch.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a door storage assembly. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
With reference to
Referring to
The cabinet 12 of the appliance 10 is generally an insulated structure having the wrapper 16 and the liner 18 with the insulation cavity 14 defined therebetween. The door 20 may also be vacuum insulated, forming a vacuum insulated panel. The door 20 includes the structural wrapper 22, which may be configured as a door wrapper and a door liner. The structural wrapper 22 defines the insulating cavity 24 therein.
Referring still to
The wrapper 16 and the liner 18 of the cabinet 12 and the structural wrapper 22 of the door 20 are generally constructed from a material that is at least partially resistant to bending, deformation, or otherwise being deformed in response to an inward compressive force. These materials for the wrapper 16, the liner 18, and the structural wrapper 22 may include, but are not limited to, metals, polymers, metal alloys, combinations thereof, and/or other similar substantially rigid materials that can be used for vacuum insulated structures.
An at least partial vacuum is defined within each of the insulating cavity 24 of the door 20 and the insulation cavity 14 of the cabinet 12. The at least partial vacuum defines a pressure differential between an exterior area and the insulating cavities. For the cabinet 12, the pressure differential serves to define an inward compressive force that is exerted on both the wrapper 16 and the liner 18 and tends to bias the wrapper 16 and liner 18 toward the insulation cavity 14. Similarly, for the door 20, the pressure differential serves to define the inward compressive force that is exerted on the structural wrapper 22 which tends to bias the structural wrapper 22 toward the insulating cavity 24.
Over time, gas can infiltrate the insulating cavity 24 and/or the insulation cavity 14 from an area outside of the appliance 10, which can diminish the at least partial vacuum. The infiltration of gases is sometimes referred to as gas permeation, which can result in the at least partial vacuum decreasing over time. The outer wrapper 16 defines an evacuation port, providing an opening into the insulation cavity 14, and the structural wrapper 22 defines an evacuation port, providing an opening into the insulating cavity 24. The at least partial vacuum is typically defined by evacuation of the door 20 and the cabinet 12 through the respective evacuation ports to expel gas from the insulating cavity 24 and insulation cavity 14, respectively. While described herein as the vacuum insulated appliance 10 with the vacuum insulated door 20, the storage assembly 30 may be used with appliances 10 or doors 20 having other types of insulation, without departing from the teachings herein.
Referring to
The storage assembly 30 includes the housing 32 having sidewalls 70, 72 extending from a rear wall 74 and an upper wall 76 extending between the sidewalls 70, 72 and over the interior storage space 34. Hangers 80 are coupled to the housing 32 and extend away from the interior storage space 34 toward the inner surface 28 of the door 20. The hangers 80 are generally configured to engage the support features 26, such as by extending through apertures 82 defined by the support features 26. The hangers 80 allow the storage assembly 30 to be supported by or hang on the support features 26. The rear wall 74 of the housing 32 may at least partially abut the inner surface 28 of the door 20. Additionally or alternatively, the rear wall 74 may abut the storage features and be spaced from the inner surface 28. The engagement between the rear wall 74 and the inner surface 28 and/or the support features 26 may provide additional support or stability to the storage assembly 30.
Referring still to
The housing 32 includes a retaining member 92 that extends along at least a portion of a perimeter of the upper wall 76. Generally, the retaining member 92 extends along three edges of the upper wall 76 with the inner surface 28 of the door 20 providing the retaining aspect along a fourth edge. The retaining member 92 extends vertically from the upper wall 76 and extends away from the interior storage space 34 to define the shelf area 90. The retaining member 92 is configured to assist with retaining items disposed on the upper wall 76.
The retaining member 92 may include a viewing portion 94, which may be substantially transparent or clear. The viewing portion 94 may be advantageous for viewing labels on items stored in the shelf area 90 without having to remove the items from the shelf area 90 or otherwise adjust the items. In the illustrated example of
Referring to
The lock assembly 100 is configured to retain the door 42 in the closed position 44, which is generally a vertical position. The lock assembly 100 may be configured as a push-push lock. In this way, a user may push or press the door 42 toward the housing 32 to lock the lock assembly 100, retaining the door 42 in the closed position 44, and again push the door 42 toward the housing 32 to release the lock feature 102 from the latch 46, allowing the door 42 to open. The lock assembly 100 is illustrated in an upper center location of the storage assembly 30 but may be disposed in any practicable location for selectively retaining and releasing the door 42.
Referring to
The bin 36 is rotatably coupled to the sidewalls 70, 72 of the housing 32. In various aspects, rotation members 128 are configured to engage the sides 112, 114 of the bin 36 and the sidewalls 70, 72 of the housing 32 to guide rotation of the bin 36. In various aspects, the rotation members 128 are configured as rotary dampers 130 coupled to an inside surface 132 of the sidewalls 70, 72. Accordingly, the bin 36 is coupled to the housing 32 via the rotary dampers 130.
The rotary dampers 130 are configured to allow for rotation of the bin 36 between the storage position 38 and the access position 40 about a rotational axis 134 defined by the rotary dampers 130. The sides 112, 114 of the bin 36 may define apertures or other engagement features for receiving and/or engaging the rotary dampers 130. The rotary dampers 130 are configured to maintain a connection with both the sides 112, 114 of the bin 36 and the sidewalls 70, 72 of the housing 32, respectively. Moreover, the rotary dampers 130 are configured to control and/or slow the rotation of the bin 36. It is also contemplated that the rotary dampers 130 may be coupled to the bin 36 and engage features of the sidewalls 70, 72 without departing from the teachings herein.
Referring still to
Referring still to
The housing 32 includes a stopper 150 coupled to and extending from an inner surface 152 of the rear wall 74. In this way, the stopper 150 extends into the interior storage space 34 toward the bin 36. The stopper 150 is generally wedge-shaped defining an angled abutting surface 154, which extends at an obtuse angle relative to the inner surface 152 of the rear wall 74.
An inner edge 156 of the base 116 of the bin 36 is configured to engage the abutting surface 154 of the stopper 150 to stop the rotation of the bin 36 and to retain the bin 36 in the access position 40. While the stopper 150 is configured to stop the rotation of the bin 36 after the bin 36 has rotated the first degree of rotation α, the stopper 150 does not substantially impinge on the rotation until the bin 36 reaches the access position 40. Accordingly, the bin 36 has generally free rotation, controlled by the rotary dampers 130, between the storage position 38 and the access position 40.
Referring to
The brackets 166, 168 each define a slot 170, which generally have arced shapes. The bin 36 includes pins 172 that extend from the sides 112, 114 towards the sidewalls 70, 72 of the housing 32. The pins 172 are received within the slots 170 to couple the bin 36 with the door 42. The door 42 is configured to move to the opened position 48, while the bin 36 is in the access position 40 based on the movement of the slots 170 relative to the pins 172. In this way, the engagement between the slots 170 and the pins 172 defines at least a portion of the movement path of the door 42. When the door 42 is in the closed position 44, the pins 172 are positioned at first ends 174 of the slots 170, and when the door 42 is in the opened position 48, the pins 172 are disposed at second opposing ends 176 of the slots 170. The pins 172 disposed at the second ends 176 of the slots 170 act as a second stopper 178 for stopping the rotation of the door 42 and retaining the door 42 in the opened position 48.
Referring still to
The door 42 is configured to rotate from the closed position 44, which is substantially vertical, to the opened position 48, which is substantially horizontal and generally perpendicular to the inner surface 28 of the door 42. The door 42 is configured to rotate a second degree of rotation β, which is greater than the first degree of rotation α. The second degree of rotation β is about 90° (i.e., a second angle β) relative to the closed position 44. When rotating or moving between the closed and opened positions 44, 48, the door 42 is configured to move along the arcuate path due to the arced slots 170 moving relative to the pins 172 on the bin 36.
With reference still to
When the door 42 is in the opened position 48, the door 42 provides a generally horizontal support surface 180. When the bin 36 is in the access position 40, the bin 36 is configured to “present” the bottles in the bin 36, providing increased access to the items in the bin 36. The bin 36 and door 42 configuration may provide presentation of bottles and the surface 180 to support glasses. For example, a glass or cup may be positioned on the support surface 180 while the user takes a bottle from the bin 36 to pour the beverage into the glass. The storage assembly 30 then provides storage, presentation, and a tray or table surface 180 for the items in the bin 36.
Referring again to
The items in the bin 36 may be accessed and removed from the bin 36 when the bin 36 is in the storage position 38 and when the bin 36 is in the access position 40. The access position 40 may present the items in the bin 36 and provide for more ergonomic grasping of the item. Additionally, while the bin 36 is illustrated as having grooves 120 and dividers 124 for supporting bottles, it is contemplated that other configurations of the bin 36 may be utilized with the storage assembly 30. In this way, other types of items may be supported in the bin 36. Further, when the beverages are being presented due to the bin 36 being in the access position 40, the door 42 provides the support surface 180 configured to be utilized as a tray to place containers and to serve beverages.
In operation, the user may open the door 20 of the appliance 10 to access the storage assembly 30. The user may adjust the position of the storage assembly 30 along the support features 26 by removing and re-engaging the hangers 80 along a height or a width of the support features 26 depending on the configuration of the support features 26 along the inner surface 28 of the door 20. The user may access items stored in the upper shelf area 90 on the upper wall 76 of the storage assembly 30.
The user may press the door 42 towards the housing 32 (e.g., apply force towards the inner surface 28 of the door 42). Generally, the user may press an upper center area of the door 42 proximate to the lock feature 102 to push the door 42 toward the latch 46 to disengage the door 42 from the latch 46. Upon release of the door 42 from the latch 46, the gravitational forces, weights of various components (e.g., the bin 36, the door 42, and items in the bin 36), and the off-center rotational axis 134 facilitate automatic rotation of the bin 36 and the door 42. The bin 36 and the door 42 begin rotating from the storage position 38 and the closed position 44, respectively, about the off-center rotational axis 134 and away from the inner surface 28 of the door 42. The bin 36 and the door 42 continue to rotate until the bin 36 engages the stopper 150 after the first degree of rotation α, which retains the bin 36 in the angled access position 40.
The door 42 is configured to continue to rotate along the arcuate path, moving the slots 170 defined in the brackets 166, 168 relative to the pins 172 of the door 42. In this way, the door 42 continues to rotate the second degree of rotation β until the pins 172 are at the second ends 176 of the slots 170 acting as stoppers 178. The door 42 is retained in the opened position 48 by the engagement between the pins 172 and the slots 170 to provide the horizontal support surface 180 or tray. It is contemplated that the bin 36 and the door 42 may move generally together until the bin 36 reaches the access position 40. Alternatively, the door 42 may rotate independently of the bin 36. As the door 42 and the bin 36 rotate, the rotary dampers 130 are configured to control and slow rotation of the bin 36.
To return the storage assembly 30 to the closed state, the user is configured to rotate the door 42 toward the closed position 44. As the door 42 rotates, the inner surface 28 of the door 42 will abut or engage the outer support 110 of the bin 36. The movement of the door 42 pushes or causes the rotation of the bin 36 back toward the storage position 38. The user may then press the door 42 against the latch 46 to reengage the latch 46 retaining the door 42 in the closed position 44 and the bin 36 in the storage position 38.
Use of the present device may provide for a variety of advantages. For example, the storage assembly 30 may be used on vacuum insulated doors 20, maintaining the vacuum insulated cavity within the door 20. Further, the storage assembly 30 provides multiple storage spaces, including the upper shelf area 90, the interior storage space 34, and the support surface 180 formed by the door 42. Moreover, the bin 36 and the door 42 are configured to automatically rotate upon release of the door 42, with rotation being slowed or dampened by the rotation members 128 (e.g., the rotary dampers 130). Further, the access position 40 of the bin 36 provides ergonomic access to the items within the bin 36, such as bottles, and presents the items in the bin 36 to the user. Accordingly, the storage assembly 30 may be configured as a beverage compartment. Additionally, the door 42 of the storage assembly 30 provides the tray or support surface 180 for items, which may relate to the items within the storage bin 36, such as glasses or cups. Moreover, the bin 36 may define grooves 120 and dividers 124 for supporting and further stabilizing bottles and similarly shaped items during rotation of the bin 36. Additional benefits and/or advantages may be realized and/or achieved.
The device disclosed herein is further summarized in the following paragraphs and is further characterized by combinations of any and all of the various aspects described therein.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum insulated refrigerated appliance includes a cabinet having an insulation cavity defined between a wrapper and a liner. An appliance door is coupled to the cabinet. The appliance door includes a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity. Support features are coupled to an inner surface of the appliance door. A storage assembly is coupled to the support features. The storage assembly includes a housing defining an interior storage space and a bin coupled to the housing. The bin is operable between a storage position and an access position. An assembly door is coupled to the bin. The assembly door is operable between a closed position, engaging a latch on the housing, and an opened position. The bin is configured to move to the access position and the assembly door is configured to move to the opened position in response to a gravitational force when the assembly door is released from the latch.
According to another aspect, a housing includes an upper wall that extends over an interior storage space. A retaining member extends along at least a portion a perimeter of the upper wall to form a shelf area on the upper wall.
According to yet another aspect, a bin is coupled to a housing via rotary dampers. The rotary dampers are off-center relative to a center of mass of the bin.
According to another aspect, rotary dampers are coupled to a bin proximate to a rear wall of a housing to facilitate rotation of the bin in response to a gravitational force.
According to yet another aspect, a bin includes a holder that defines grooves for supporting bottles.
According to another aspect, a housing includes a stopper. A base of a bin is configured to engage the stopper to stop movement of the bin and to retain the bin in an access position.
According to yet another aspect, an assembly door defines slots that are configured to receive pins that extend from a bin. The assembly door is configured to move relative to the bin by adjusting the slots relative to the pins.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a storage assembly for an appliance door includes a housing having opposing sidewalls extending from a rear wall. The housing includes hangers for engaging a door support feature. The rear wall includes a stopper extending into an interior storage space. A bin is rotatably coupled to the sidewalls of the housing. The bin is configured to rotate between a storage position and an access position. The access position is defined by an engagement of the bin with the stopper. A door has coupling brackets defining slots. Each slot is configured to receive a pin extending from the bin. The door is configured to move between a closed position and an opened position where the pins are disposed at first ends of the slots when the door is in the closed position and at second ends of the slots when the door is in the opened position.
According to yet another aspect, a bin is configured to rotate a first degree of rotation from a storage position to an access position. A door is configured to rotate a second degree of rotation from a closed position to an opened position. The second degree of rotation is greater than the first degree of rotation.
According to another aspect, a first degree of rotation defines an acute angle for providing increased access to a bin. A second degree of rotation is 90 degrees from a closed position to an opened position to provide a support surface.
According to yet another aspect, a latch is coupled to a housing and is configured to engage a door. A bin and the door are configured to rotate in response to a gravitational force when the door is released from the latch.
According to another aspect, an inner edge of a base of a bin engages an angled abutting surface of a stopper in an access position.
According to yet another aspect, a housing includes an upper wall that extends over an interior storage space. A retaining member is coupled to the upper wall to define a shelf area above the interior storage space.
According to another aspect, a bin defines grooves for receiving bottles.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a door storage assembly includes a housing defining an interior storage space. The housing includes sidewalls. A bin is disposed within the interior storage space. The bin is rotatably coupled to the sidewalls to rotate between a storage position and an access position. A door is coupled to the bin. The door defines slots configured to receive pins extending from the bin. A latch is coupled to the housing. The latch is configured to engage the door when the door is in a closed position. The door is configured to rotate to an opened position and the bin is configured to rotate to the access position upon release of the door from the latch.
According to another aspect, a rotational axis of a bin is offset from a center of mass of the bin. The bin is configured to rotate in response to a gravitational force and based on the offset position of the rotational axis.
According to yet another aspect, a bin is configured to rotate a first degree of rotation with a door. The bin is configured to engage a stopper at an access position.
According to another aspect, a door is configured to move to an opened position by moving slots relative to pins when a bin is in an access position.
According to yet another aspect, a housing includes a first stopper for engaging a bin in an access position. An engagement between slots and pins defines a second stopper for retaining a door in an opened position.
According to another aspect, a door is configured to move along an arced path to an opened position to provide a horizontal support surface.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure 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 disclosure 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 disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
