US20110083464A1

US20110083464A1 - Refrigerator with a Pullout Refrigerator Compartment

Info

Publication number: US20110083464A1
Application number: US12/577,472
Authority: US
Inventors: Craig Kettles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-12
Filing date: 2009-10-12
Publication date: 2011-04-14

Abstract

Refrigerators with at least one pullout refrigerator compartment that provides side access to one or more refrigerated items are disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to refrigerators, and methods of making and using refrigerators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of refrigerator configurations exist on the market today—bottom mounted freezers, top mounted freezers, side-by-side refrigerator and freezer compartments, bottom mounted freezer compartments with French-style door refrigeration compartments as well as configurations that include refrigerator and freezer drawers. All of the above-mentioned refrigerator configurations provide access to one or more refrigerated items, but typically do not attempt to minimize the loss of refrigerated air while accessing the one or more refrigerated items.
There exists a need in the art for refrigerator designs, which reduce the loss of refrigerated air while accessing one or more items within the refrigerator. Further, there exists a need in the art for energy efficient refrigerators, which provide at least one separate compartment specifically designed for maximizing storage, accessibility and energy efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to refrigerators. The refrigerators of the present invention provide one or more of the following features: (i) side access to one or more refrigerated items, (ii) ease of operation for the user, and (iii) enhanced energy efficiency as measured by a loss of refrigerated air while accessing the one or more refrigerated items.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerators of the present invention comprise a refrigerator section and at least one pullout refrigerator compartment providing limited access to the refrigerator section, the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprising two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) being operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves, the refrigerator section being further accessible via at least one hinged refrigerator door. Typically, the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items from opposing sides of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment.
In another exemplary embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises (I) a single pullout refrigerator compartment that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume, (ii) a single refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume, the second inner refrigerated volume being partitioned from and adjacent to the first inner refrigerated volume, and (iii) a freezer volume positioned below and partitioned from the first and second inner refrigerated volumes. In some embodiments, the single pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the single pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the single pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment being operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
The present invention is further directed to methods of making and using the disclosed energy efficient refrigerators. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention is even further directed to methods of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces. Typically, the step of pulling the pullout refrigerator compartment out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator does not disrupt refrigerated air within other refrigerated sections of the refrigerator.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention is also directed to methods of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and a pullout refrigerator compartment for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and a pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprising two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described with reference to the appended figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator showing an exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment in its extended state;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the exemplary refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a single shelf of the exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment showing storage of gallon jugs, wine bottles, and ½ gallon containers as viewed along line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a single shelf of the exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment showing soda cans or bottles standing up as viewed along line B-B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a single shelf of the pullout refrigerator compartment showing soda cans laying on their side as viewed along line C-C of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 7A-7B are schematic frontal views of exemplary refrigerator interior configurations suitable for the exemplary refrigerator shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to refrigerators. The present invention is further directed to methods of making refrigerators and methods of using refrigerators. The refrigerators of the present invention provide easy energy-efficient access to one or more refrigerated items as discussed below.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the disclosed refrigerators comprise a cabinet assembly constructed with one or more freezer drawers on a lower section, and a refrigeration section positioned above at least one side of the freezer drawer(s) alongside a unique pull-out, relatively narrow width, refrigerator compartment accessible from either side when pulled out from the frame of the refrigerator. The disclosed design provides for optimum storage and easy access for all items in the pullout refrigerator compartment. For example, storage of tall beverage containers (e.g., a re-corked wine bottle in the upright position) in conventional refrigerators requires shelves within the refrigerator section to be positioned high enough to accommodate the tallest object, resulting in unused refrigerated space above the shorter objects on the shelf. By providing a unique pullout refrigerator compartment, the present invention substantially reduces the unused refrigerated space as it relates to tall containers. In some embodiment, the disclosed configuration also allows for individual temperature settings for the general refrigeration compartment and the pullout refrigerator compartment. By creating a separate compartment for specific refrigerated items, such as beverages/condiments, energy is saved by maintaining the temperature in the unopened compartment of the refrigerator when the other compartment is opened.
With reference to FIG. 1, exemplary refrigerator 1 is divided into multiple compartments: a freezer compartment 40, which can be accessed through one or more freezer compartment drawers 4 (note: although only one freezer drawer 4 is shown, the present invention does not preclude the use of multiple freezer drawers); a typical refrigerator compartment 30, which can be accessed through a refrigerator door 3; and a slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2, which can be accessed on either side by pulling forward on a handle 7 attached to the front panel 10 of exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 slides freely along guide rails 6 positioned below exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 and within refrigerator 1. Optional guide rails 5 may also be utilized above exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 so as to provide added stability. Guide rails 5 may be positioned over the frame top 11 of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 (as shown in FIG. 1) or along opposite sides of frame top 11 of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 (not shown). Likewise, guide rails 6 may be positioned under the frame bottom 8 of exemplary pullout compartment 2 (as shown in FIG. 1) or along opposite sides of frame bottom 8 of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 (not shown).
With reference to FIG. 2, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 may be accessed on either side by pulling forward on a handle 7 attached to front panel 10 of exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 to slide exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 out of exemplary refrigerator 1. Although not shown in FIG. 2, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 further comprises a seal member along an inner surface of front panel 10 (referred to below as “refrigerator compartment front surface 32”). The seal member may be any conventional material or mechanical member utilized to enhance a temporary bond between front panel 10 and exemplary refrigerator 1.
Typically, the width of exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 is no wider than what is necessary to store a one gallon milk container. In some embodiments, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a width of at least about 15.2 cm. In some embodiments, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a width ranging from about 15.2 cm to about 30.5 cm. In most embodiments, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a width that is less than half of an overall width of a given refrigerator (e.g., exemplary refrigerator 1). Further, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a length that is less than an overall length of a given refrigerator (e.g., exemplary refrigerator 1).
With reference to FIG. 3, a side view of exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 depicts basic components of exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2: frame top 9 (with attached guide rail connecting members not shown), frame bottom 8 (with attached guide rail connecting members not shown), front panel 10, handle 7 attached to front panel 10, back frame wall 12, a plurality of adjustable height shelves 13 attached to front panel 10 and back frame wall 12, and a plurality of adjustable height rails 14 extending from front panel 10 to back frame wall 12 Rails 14 may be attached to (i) shelves 13, (ii) front panel 10 and back frame wall 12, or (iii) both (i) and (ii). Exemplary shelves 13 represent one possible configuration for the orderly storage of a mixture of beverages and condiments within exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2.
FIG. 4 provides a top view of a single shelf 13 of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 showing storage of gallon jugs, wine bottles, and ½ gallon containers (collectively referred to herein as one or more refrigerated items 51) as viewed along line A-A shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 provides the ability to store both large containers such as a one gallon milk jug and tall containers such as wine bottles with minimal unused space above these one or more refrigerated items 51.
FIG. 5 provides a top view of a single shelf 13 of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 showing soda cans or bottles standing up as viewed along line B-B shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 provides a schematic top view of a single shelf 13 of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 showing soda cans laying on their side as viewed along line C-C shown in FIG. 3. As shown in each of FIGS. 4-6, exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 provides access to one or more refrigerated items 51 from either side of exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2.
Referring to FIGS. 3-4, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 may be further described as comprising a refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (ii) a rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) a top surface 36, and (v) a bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36. Within refrigerator compartment volume 31 are typically positioned two or more shelves 13 extending from refrigerator compartment front surface 32 to rear surface 33 and between opposing side surfaces 34 and 35. Exemplary shelves 13 are positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and are each operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items 51 positioned along shelves 13. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, shelves 13 are typically operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items 51 from both of opposing side surfaces 34 and 35, but not from top surface 36, bottom surface 37, front surface 32, or rear surface 33.
FIGS. 7A-7B provide schematic frontal views of exemplary refrigerator interior configurations suitable for exemplary refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 7A, exemplary refrigerator 1 may have an interior configuration comprising a single freezer compartment 40 and a single refrigerator compartment 30. As shown in FIG. 7B, in some embodiments, exemplary refrigerator 1 may have an interior configuration comprising a single freezer compartment 40, a first refrigerator compartment 30, and a second refrigerator compartment 50. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, exemplary pullout compartment 2 is separated from the remaining refrigerator and freezer compartment(s) by means of partition 52. Further, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, second refrigerator compartment 50 is sized to receive exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2 with first refrigerator compartment 30 being adjacent to second refrigerator compartment 50. When present, first refrigerator compartment 30 typically has an inner refrigerated volume that is larger than an inner refrigerated volume of second refrigerator compartment 50.
In one desired embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50), and (ii) a single hinged refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume (e.g., first refrigerator compartment 30).
In a further desired embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50), (ii) a single hinged refrigerator door (e.g., door 39) positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume (e.g., first refrigerator compartment 30), the second inner refrigerated volume being partitioned from and adjacent to the first inner refrigerated volume, and (iii) a freezer volume (e.g., freezer compartment 40) positioned below and partitioned from the first and second inner refrigerated volumes. As discussed above, typically, the pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., exemplary one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces 34 and 35, but not from top surface 36, bottom surface 37, front surface 32, or rear surface 33.
The present invention is further directed to methods of making and using the disclosed energy efficient refrigerators. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing one or more pullout refrigerator compartments (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2), wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) refrigerator compartment front surface 32 having a grasping member thereon (e.g., handle 7), (ii) rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) top surface 36, and (v) bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces (e.g., opposing side surfaces 34 and 35), but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces (e.g., surfaces 36, 37, 32, and 33).
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2), wherein the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves (e.g., one or more shelves 13) positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention also encompasses methods of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) refrigerator compartment front surface 32 having a grasping member thereon (e.g., handle 7), (ii) rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) top surface 36, and (v) bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces (e.g., opposing side surfaces 34 and 35), but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces (e.g., surfaces 36, 37, 32, and 33). In embodiments such as, for example, shown in FIG. 7B, the step of pulling the pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50) does not disrupt refrigerated air within other refrigerated sections of the refrigerator (e.g., first refrigerator compartment 30).
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50), wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves (e.g., one or more shelves 13) positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention also encompasses methods of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2), wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) refrigerator compartment front surface 32 having a grasping member thereon (e.g., handle 7), (ii) rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) top surface 36, and (v) bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the at least one pullout compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces (e.g., opposing side surfaces 34 and 35), but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces (e.g., surfaces 36, 37, 32, and 33).
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) (i) comprising two or more shelves (e.g., one or more shelves 13) positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along the two or more shelves.
While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator section and at least one pullout refrigerator compartment providing limited access to said refrigerator section, said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprising two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) being operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along said two or more shelves, said refrigerator section being further accessible via at least one hinged refrigerator door.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite said refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between said refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite said top surface.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted to provide access to the one or more refrigerated items from both of said opposing side surfaces, but not from said top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein said opposing side surfaces are spaced from one another by a distance ranging from about 15.2 cm to about 30.5 cm.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said refrigerator comprises an upper refrigerated section and a lower freezer section, and said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is positioned within said upper refrigerated section.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment occupies less than half of a volume represented by said upper refrigerator section.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said refrigerator section comprises a first inner refrigerated volume sized to receive said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment, said first inner refrigerated volume being adjacent to a second inner refrigerated volume.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein said second inner refrigerated volume is partitioned from said first inner refrigerated volume.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein said second inner refrigerated volume is larger than said first inner refrigerated volume.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein said refrigerator comprises (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment that is positioned so as to be movable within said first inner refrigerated volume, and (ii) a single hinged refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to said second inner refrigerated volume.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said refrigerator comprises a single pullout refrigerator compartment.

12. A refrigerator comprising (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume, (ii) a single refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume, said second inner refrigerated volume being partitioned from and adjacent to said first inner refrigerated volume, and (iii) a freezer volume positioned below and partitioned from said first and second inner refrigerated volumes.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein said single pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite said refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between said refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite said top surface, said single pullout refrigerator compartment being operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of said single pullout refrigerator compartment from both of said opposing side surfaces, but not from said top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein said opposing side surfaces are spaced from one another by a distance ranging from about 15.2 cm to about 30.5 cm.

15. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a first surface area of a front surface of said single pullout refrigerator compartment is smaller than a second surface area of said single refrigerator door.

16. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein said single pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along said two or more shelves.

17. A refrigerator comprising an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below said upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing said upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite said refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between said refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite said top surface, said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment being operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of said opposing side surfaces, but not from said top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along said two or more shelves.

19. A method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator, said method comprising:

pulling the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator of claim 17 out of the upper refrigerated section of the refrigerator.

20. A method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user, said method comprising:

providing the refrigerator of claim 17 to the user.