REFRIGERATOR HAVING A DOOR WITH INTEGRATED CONTROL PANEL

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control panel carried by the door. A plurality of wires is in electrical communication with the control panel. The plurality of wires passing through the door and exits a lower portion of the door. A hinge bracket is carried by the cabinet and supports the door at a hinge pin. The plurality of wires passes immediately below the hinge bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a refrigerator having a door with an integrated control panel according to the present teachings, the door mounted for pivoting about a right hand pivot axis.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 4 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings further illustrating a hinge side of the door.

FIG. 5 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, a trim portion of the door removed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings with a trim portion of the door removed and further illustrating the cord retaining feature of the door.

FIG. 7 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 8 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, a cord retaining member shown displaced from a cooperating bracket for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 9 shows another bottom perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, further illustrating a door support member located at the side of the door opposite the hinge.

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present teachings, the refrigerator shown partially exploded and with the door removed, the refrigerator further shown to be adapted to mount the door for pivoting about a left hand pivot axis.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a door of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a control assembly of the refrigerator according to the present teachings.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cord support member according to the present teachings.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a lower hinge bracket according to the present teachings.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet;a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis;a control panel carried by the door; anda plurality of wires adapted to electrically communication the control panel with a power board carried by the cabinet;wherein the door may be selectively mounted to the cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot and a left hand pivot.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a hinge bracket carried proximate a lower portion of the cabinet and supporting the door for pivotal movement.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the hinge bracket at least partially defines a channel through which the plurality of wires pass.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the pivot axis passes through the channel.

5. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a cord support member coupled to the hinge bracket, the cord support member and the hinge bracket defining a channel through which the plurality of wires pass, the pivot axis intersecting the channel.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door includes a frame, the control panel connected to the frame proximate a tip portion of the frame.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires extend from the control panel, through the door, and exit at the lower portion of the door.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the door includes a frame having a portion defining a retention feature for retaining the plurality of wires.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the frame further includes a bottom cap secured to a lower portion of the frame and covering the plurality of wires.

10. A method of selectively mounting a door of a refrigerator to a cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot axis and a left hand pivot axis, the door including a control panel and a plurality of wires in electrical communication with the control panel; mounting a first bracket to a lower portion of the cabinet proximate a right side of the cabinet;mounting a second bracket to the lower portion of the cabinet proximate a left side of the cabinet;pivotally supporting the door on one of the first and second brackets for rotation about a pivot axis; androuting the plurality of wires immediately below the one of the first and second brackets such that the pivot axis intersects the plurality of wires.