CA2453684A1 - Refrigerator crisper air flow control assembly - Google Patents
Refrigerator crisper air flow control assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2453684A1 CA2453684A1 CA 2453684 CA2453684A CA2453684A1 CA 2453684 A1 CA2453684 A1 CA 2453684A1 CA 2453684 CA2453684 CA 2453684 CA 2453684 A CA2453684 A CA 2453684A CA 2453684 A1 CA2453684 A1 CA 2453684A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air flow
- lip
- crisper
- forward edge
- wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/045—Air flow control arrangements
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
- F25D25/024—Slidable shelves
- F25D25/025—Drawers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/061—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation through special compartments
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2325/00—Charging, supporting or discharging the articles to be cooled, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2325/022—Shelves made of glass or ceramic
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/04—Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
Abstract
A crisper drawer assembly has a crisper frame that has a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting lip.
The lip has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion. A trim cover is secured between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity. First air flow ports extend along the lip and forward edge wall portion. Second air flow ports extend along the front wall and lip. A flow dividing wall extends vertically from the lip, between the first and second ports, to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity. The flow dividing wall has notches adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels.
The lip has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion. A trim cover is secured between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity. First air flow ports extend along the lip and forward edge wall portion. Second air flow ports extend along the front wall and lip. A flow dividing wall extends vertically from the lip, between the first and second ports, to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity. The flow dividing wall has notches adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels.
Description
REFRIGERATOR CRISPER AIR FLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLY
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a household refrigerator crisper drawer assembly wherein there is an arrangement for controlling and adjusting the level of humidity within the crisper drawers where the assembly of the air flow control handle in the crisper cover is simplified.
Background of the Invention Household refrigerators typically include combination refrigerators, that is, a refrigerator including a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment, with one of the two compartments located above the other and both of which are cooled via circulating air from the two compartments over an evaporator employing a fan to accomplish the circulation.
Combination refrigerators, including an evaporator and a fan for circulating air from the freezer and fresh food compartments over the evaporator are well known. In the operation of such refrigerators, a major portion of the refrigerated air from the evaporator is directed into the freezer compartment while a smaller portion is directed into the fresh food compartment. When cold air from the freezer compartment is used to cool the fresh food compartment, such air, because of its relative dryness, should not directly contact the fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables as they will become dried out and lose their freshness. The fresh foods are desirably isolated from the desicating effect of the cooler air so that they may be kept cool, yet moist. Sealed compartments or drawers have been used for this purpose. It is desirable, however, that such drawers have the humidity inside the drawer adjustable or controllable by the user to provide the desired humidity, depending on the type of food load. The food load is the source of moisture inside the drawer. Certain types of food have more moisture and will raise the humidity inside the drawer as compared to other types of food.
Moreover, certain types of food, such as green vegetables, should best be stored at a high relative humidity, while others such as fruit should not.
Also, different degrees of humidity are desirable according to the amount of food placed in the drawer. Small loads tend to dry out more so than larger loads.
Various arrangements in the prior art have been used to adjust drawer ventilation and therefore, the humidity inside the drawer.
One arrangement for adjusting the drawer ventilation and therefore controlling the humidity within the drawer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,013,434 issued March 22, 1977 to Kronenberger et al. In this arrangement the drawers have guides along the side of the drawer cover that have vents which are covered by a rotatable damper having a plurality of positions and rotation thereof controls the ventilation of the drawers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,118 issued December 10, 1985 to Pink et al has an arrangement wherein there is a passageway all along the rear of the drawer which is unsealed and therefore continuously open to allow air to enter into the drawer through that opening. The front of the cover has a passageway with a slide gate for the user to vary the amount of ventilation of the drawer.
The assembly requires a slide gate to be held on the rigid frame while a casing strip is mounted to the frame. The casing strip has a slotted opening through which the neck of a slide knob must then be inserted for assembly with the slide gate. This assembly procedure is cumbersome and somewhat labor intensive.
By this invention there is provided a household refrigerator crisper drawer assembly that provides a slide gate or shutter for controlling air flow into the crisper drawer that does not require extraordinary assembly of parts through the casing strip or trim cover mounted to the crisper frame and the extra cost associated therewith. Further the present invention provides a crisper drawer assembly that permits only for indirect air flow into the crisper drawer through the assembly.
Summanr Of The Invention The present invention relates to a crisper drawer assembly for providing a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment. The assembly has a crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment. The frame is adapted to carry the drawer. The frame has a front horizontal support member that has a front wall with a forward projecting lip. The lip has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion. A trim cover is secured between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity. At least one first port extends along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment. At least one second port extends along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer. A flow dividing wall extends vertically from the lip between the first and second ports. The flow dividing wall extends from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity. The flow dividing wall has at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels. The provision of the flow dividing wall creates a redirection in the air flow so that air does not flow directly through the cavity between the ports. This provides for better humidity control within the drawer.
A shutter is provided that is slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the first port to control air flow into the drawer.
In one embodiment the shutter is formed as one piece and has an actuator arm that extends through an opening in the forward edge wall portion below the trim cover. The trim cover provides an upper boundary for this opening when the trim cover is secured to the front wall and the forward edge wall portion.
This arrangement has the advantage of not requiring any slots to be cut in the trim cover and not requiring an additional assembly step of securing a control knob to the shutter through a slot cut out into the trim cover.
In one embodiment the forward edge portion has a series of notches spaced along the opening in the forward edge portion for receiving the actuator arm. These notches provide for graduated controlled sliding of the shutter by the user.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a crisper drawer assembly for providing a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment. The assembly comprises a drawer having a bottom wall, side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, and the said side walls each having an outwardly extending flange. The assembly comprises a crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment. The frame has underside parallel slide channels for receiving the flanges wherein the drawer is slidably engageable in the slide channels to a closed position underneath the frame. The frame has a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting lip. The lip has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion.
The assembly has a trim cover securable between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity between the trim cover, front wall, lip and forward edge wall portion. At least one first port extends along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment. At least one second port extends along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer. A flow dividing wall extends vertically from the lip between the first and second ports. The flow dividing wall also extends from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity. The flow dividing wall has at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels. The assembly has a shutter slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the first port to control air flow into the drawer.
Brief Description Of The Drawings For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference may be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator having a crisper assembly;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the crisper frame and cover seal;
Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the crisper assembly;
Figure 4 is a front sectional view of a portion of the crisper assembly;
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the sealing between the crisper drawers and the crisper frame;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of showing the air flow into the front of the crisper assembly;
Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the mounting of the crisper assembly to the rear wall of the refrigerator;
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting of the crisper assembly to one of the side walls of the refrigerator; and, Figure 9 is a plan view of the crisper frame showing a shortened guide rail for the middle support rail of the crisper frame.
Detailed Descriation Of The Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator crisper air flow control handle and, in particular to the assembly of the air flow control handle in the crisper cover.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown one embodiment _6_ cwc-24a of the present invention in the form of a household refrigerator 10, including an upper freezer compartment 12 and a lower fresh food compartment 14 separated from the freezer compartment by an insulated mullion partition 16.
While the embodiment of the refrigerator illustrated is for a top mount refrigerator, it should be understood that the invention is also applicable for bottom mount refrigerators where the freezer compartment is located below the fresh food compartment. The respective compartments 12, 14 are also separated from the outer cabinet walls 17 and the spaces between the compartments and these walls are filled with thermal insulation (not shown). A
hinged door 18 permits access to the freezer compartment 12 and a hinged door 20 permits access to the fresh food compartment 14.
As is common to refrigerators of this design, the compartments 12, 14 are maintained at the desired refrigerating temperatures by means of a single evaporator (not shown) which operates at a below freezing temperature. Air cooled by the evaporator is directed into the two compartments 12, 14 by a forced air circulating system. Most of the air passes into the freezer compartment 12 while a portion of the cooled air is directed by air duct means 22 located either at the rear of the compartments, or in the mullion 16 separating the compartments, downwardly into the fresh food compartment 14.
In household refrigerators 10, it is desirable to provide a crisper drawer and in the case of the present invention two side by side crisper drawers 24 in the fresh food compartment 14 in which fresh fruits and vegetables may be kept. As shown in Figure 1, the crisper drawers 24 are positioned side by side and are of the same size. In alternative embodiments, the crisper drawers 24 may have different widths. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention both crisper drawers 24 are supported by a rigid frame 26 in such a manner that the crisper drawers 24 may slide in and out relative to the rigid frame 26. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the rigid frame 26 is attached at its rear to spaced vertical slotted tracks 28 which are suitably secured to the back wall 30 of finer 32 of the fresh food compartment 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the rigid frame 26 is supported at the front by means of support members 34 that are secured to each of the side walls 36 of the fresh food compartment 14 whereby the front portion of the rigid frame 26 rests on the support members 34.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the crisper drawers 24 are supported by the rigid frame 26 and have a back wall 38, a front wall 40, side walls 42, bottom wall 44 (Figure 3) and an open top having a periphery 46. Along the periphery 46 of the open top at the junction of the side walls 42 there are outwardly and downwardly depending flanges 48 and 50 that generally extend along the length of the top portion of the side walls 42. On the front wall 40 of each of the crisper drawers 24 there is a recess 52 with an outwardly depending flange 54 to allow the user to grip the crisper drawer 24 for moving it in and out relative to the rigid frame 26.
The rigid unitary frame 26 is molded from plastic and extends nearly the entire width of the fresh food compartment 14. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the molded plastic unitary frame 26 has the front horizontal support member 56 that has a downwardly depending sealing flange portion 58 extending along the front horizontal support member 56 for sealing engagement with the front wall 40 of the crisper drawers 24 to restrict air flow past the flange 58 and into the crisper drawer 24.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 5, the unitary frame 26 is molded to have a rear horizontal support member 60 that has a downwardly depending solid rear wall 62 and one downwardly depending flexible wall portion 64 spaced inwardly of the solid rear wall 62. The flexible wall portion 64 seats against the back wall 38 of the crisper drawers 24 when the drawer is closed to restrict air flow past the flexible wall portion 64 and into the crisper drawer 24. The flexible wall 64 is thinning converging flange wall 64 that abuts against a rear flange 39 that extends outwardly from the back wall 38 adjacent open periphery 46.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the molded unitary frame 26 is shown to have two side horizontal support members 66 and a intermediate horizontal support _g_ member 68. The two side horizontal support members 66 and the intermediate horizontal support member 68 each span the distance between the front and rear horizontal support members 56, 60 and each have a downwardly depending slide carrier 70 having a horizontal channel 72 to receive the crisper drawer flanges 48, 50 and support the crisper drawers 24 thereon. The intermediate member 68 has a central or intermediate downwardly depending slide carrier 74 that has horizontal channels 76 on opposing sides of the carrier 74. Channels 72 and 76 are underside parallel slide channels.
The crisper assembly 23 has a cover 78 for the crisper drawer assembly is a removable cover which is made from tempered glass or plastic and is supported by the rigid frame 26. This removable cover 78 also acts as a shelf in the fresh food compartment 14 so that items to be refrigerated may be placed on top of the cover 78.
The rigid frame 26 has integrally formed from the rear horizontal support member 60 three spaced apart post projections 80 which engage the slots 184 in the tracks 28 (Figure 7) to thereby retain the frame 26 and the crisper drawers 24 with the rear of the fresh food compartment 14. The rear horizontal member 60 has footings 82 for spacing the rear horizontal member 60 from the vertical tracks 28. One post 80 extends from each the footings 82 into slotted openings in the vertical tracks 28. The posts 80 are rectangular in cross-section. Alternatively, the posts 80 may be of another shape such as a square shape.
The rigid frame 26 is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 to be supported at the front by means of support members 34 that are secured to the side walls 36 of the fresh food compartment 14. The front horizontal support member 56 of the rigid frame 26 rests on the support members 34. The front horizontal support member 56 has an elongated slotted aperture 84 for receiving a reinforcing bar 86 that extends along the length of the front horizontal support member 56. The elongated slotted aperture 84 of the front horizontal member 56 has two side walls 88 with hook shaped locking tabs 90 (Figure 6) extending into the slotted aperture 84 for holding or grasping the reinforcing support bar 86 when snap fitted into the slotted aperture 84 past tabs 90. End portions 92 (Figure 8) of the reinforcing bar 86 are supported or rest on the protruding side members 34. The front horizontal support member 56 has rounded walls 94 located below the slotted aperture 84 at the end portions 92 of the front horizontal member 56 for receiving the protruding support members 34 to hold the unitary rigid frame 26 within the fresh food compartment 14 thereby preventing forward and rearward movement of the crisper assembly 23 relative to the fresh food compartment 14. Alternatively, walls 94 may be square or rectangular in shape.
The crisper assembly 23 has a feature that facilitates the removal of the crisper drawers 24, and in particular, the crisper drawer 24 positioned in the fresh food compartment 14 closest to the door 20. This feature relates to the slide carriers 70 for supporting the crisper drawers 24. As shown in Figure 9, the two side horizontal support members 66 and the intermediate horizontal support member 68 each span the distance between the front and rear horizontal support members 56, 60. The two side horizontal support members 66 each have a downwardly depending slide carrier 70 having a side end horizontal channel 72 extending between the front and rear support members 56, 60 to receive the crisper drawer flanges 48, 50. The intermediate slide carrier 68 has a side carrier 74 with opposing center located horizontal channels 76 that also receive the crisper drawer flanges.
The opposing center located horizontal channels 70 extend from the rear horizontal support member 60 and terminate a first predetermined distance 98 from the front horizontal support member 56. This predetermined distance 98 is chosen to permit the drawer 24 closest to the door 20 to be pulled forward and at the same time rotated towards the center of the fresh food compartment 14 for removal from the slide carriers 70, 74 when the door cannot be opened beyond a 90 degree angle.
To prevent the crisper drawers 23 from being inadvertently pulled from the frame 26, the side end horizontal channels 72 and the opposing channels 74 each include a downwardly depending projection 102 (see Figures 2 and 3} spaced the same second predetermined distance 104 from the rear support member 60. This second predetermined distance 104 is slightly more than half way towards the front support member 56 from the rear support member 60. Each of the crisper drawers 24 carry upwardly extending stops 106 (see Figures 3 and 4} located on the flange 48 adjacent the back wall 38 of the crisper drawer 24. The stops 106 engage the depending projections 102 and limit forward sliding of the crisper drawers 24 along the two side and intermediate slide carriers 70, 74. The crisper drawers 24 can be removed from the slide carriers 70, 74 by advancing the drawers 24 forward until the stops 106 engages the depending projections 102 and then temporarily lifting up the front of the drawer 24 and pulling the drawer 24 forward until the stops 106 pass under the projections 102.
Each of the crisper drawers 24 in the crisper drawer assembly 23 provides a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment 14. Air flow into the closed drawers 24 is provided through the front horizontal support member 56 of the rigid frame 26 as shown by arrows 111 in Figure 6. The front horizontal support member 56 has a front wall 108 that has a raised flange portion 110 and a forward horizontally projecting lip 112. The lip 112 has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion 114 provided with a hook shaped barb 116. Front sealing flange 58 depends downwardly from the lip 112.
Referring to Figures 2 and 6, a plastic trim cover 118 is secure between the front wall 108 and the forward edge wall portion 114. The trim cover 118 has curved ends 120 that fasten or grasp the raised flange 110 of the front wall portion 108 and the hook shaped barb 116 of the forward edge wall portion 114. When the trim cover 118 is secured to the front horizontal support member 56 there is defined an air flow cavity 122 between the trim cover 118, front wall 108, lip 112, and forward edge wall portion 114.
The forward edge wall portion 114 has a plurality of spaced apart first ports 124 cut out from the corner where the lip 112 and forward edge wall portion 114 meet to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity 122 and the refrigerator fresh food compartment 14. The front wall 108 has a plurality of spaced apart second ports 126 cut out from the corner where the front wall 108 and lip 112 meet to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity 122 and the drawer 24.
A flow dividing wall 128 extends vertically into cavity 122 from the lip 112 between the first and second ports 124, 126. The flow dividing wall 128 extends from the lip 112 to contact the trim cover 118 to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels 130, 132 within the cavity 122. The flow dividing wall 128 has a plurality of spaced apart notches 134 each located adjacent the trim cover 118 to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels 130, 132. This indirect air flow limits the air flow between the fresh food compartment 14 and the drawer 24 to better control humidity within the drawer 24.
A vertically extending single piece shutter 136 is slidable along the forward channel 130 to selectively open and close the first ports 124 to control air flow into the drawer 24. The shutter 136 is formed as one piece having an actuator arm 138 that extends through an opening 140 (see Figure 2) in the forward edge wall portion 114 below the trim cover 118. The trim cover 118 provides an upper boundary for the opening 140 in the forward edge portion 114 when the trim cover 118 is secured to the front wall 108 and the forward edge wall portion 114. This permits for ease of assembly whereby the shutter 136 can simply be placed in the forward channel 130 with the actuator 138 extending forward of the assembly. Next the trim cover 118 is secured on the front horizontal support member 56. The trim cover 118 does not require a slot to be cut out therein for the actuator 138. Also, the actuator 138 is formed of a single piece eliminating the need to glue on the actuator to the shutter after the trim cover 118 is secured.
The forward edge wall portion 114 has a series of notches 144 (see Figure 2) spaced along the opening 140 for receiving the actuator arm 138.
The shutter 136 extends along the forward channel 130 vertically adjacent the flow dividing wall 128. Shutter 136 is movable horizontally along the forward channel 130 by a user moving actuator arm 138. The horizontal displacement of the shutter is limited by the side walls 150 of opening 140 engaging actuator 138. The shutter 136 has an angled top portion 146 adapted to close the top of the first port openings 124.
While the invention has been described in terms of very specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a household refrigerator crisper drawer assembly wherein there is an arrangement for controlling and adjusting the level of humidity within the crisper drawers where the assembly of the air flow control handle in the crisper cover is simplified.
Background of the Invention Household refrigerators typically include combination refrigerators, that is, a refrigerator including a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment, with one of the two compartments located above the other and both of which are cooled via circulating air from the two compartments over an evaporator employing a fan to accomplish the circulation.
Combination refrigerators, including an evaporator and a fan for circulating air from the freezer and fresh food compartments over the evaporator are well known. In the operation of such refrigerators, a major portion of the refrigerated air from the evaporator is directed into the freezer compartment while a smaller portion is directed into the fresh food compartment. When cold air from the freezer compartment is used to cool the fresh food compartment, such air, because of its relative dryness, should not directly contact the fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables as they will become dried out and lose their freshness. The fresh foods are desirably isolated from the desicating effect of the cooler air so that they may be kept cool, yet moist. Sealed compartments or drawers have been used for this purpose. It is desirable, however, that such drawers have the humidity inside the drawer adjustable or controllable by the user to provide the desired humidity, depending on the type of food load. The food load is the source of moisture inside the drawer. Certain types of food have more moisture and will raise the humidity inside the drawer as compared to other types of food.
Moreover, certain types of food, such as green vegetables, should best be stored at a high relative humidity, while others such as fruit should not.
Also, different degrees of humidity are desirable according to the amount of food placed in the drawer. Small loads tend to dry out more so than larger loads.
Various arrangements in the prior art have been used to adjust drawer ventilation and therefore, the humidity inside the drawer.
One arrangement for adjusting the drawer ventilation and therefore controlling the humidity within the drawer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,013,434 issued March 22, 1977 to Kronenberger et al. In this arrangement the drawers have guides along the side of the drawer cover that have vents which are covered by a rotatable damper having a plurality of positions and rotation thereof controls the ventilation of the drawers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,118 issued December 10, 1985 to Pink et al has an arrangement wherein there is a passageway all along the rear of the drawer which is unsealed and therefore continuously open to allow air to enter into the drawer through that opening. The front of the cover has a passageway with a slide gate for the user to vary the amount of ventilation of the drawer.
The assembly requires a slide gate to be held on the rigid frame while a casing strip is mounted to the frame. The casing strip has a slotted opening through which the neck of a slide knob must then be inserted for assembly with the slide gate. This assembly procedure is cumbersome and somewhat labor intensive.
By this invention there is provided a household refrigerator crisper drawer assembly that provides a slide gate or shutter for controlling air flow into the crisper drawer that does not require extraordinary assembly of parts through the casing strip or trim cover mounted to the crisper frame and the extra cost associated therewith. Further the present invention provides a crisper drawer assembly that permits only for indirect air flow into the crisper drawer through the assembly.
Summanr Of The Invention The present invention relates to a crisper drawer assembly for providing a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment. The assembly has a crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment. The frame is adapted to carry the drawer. The frame has a front horizontal support member that has a front wall with a forward projecting lip. The lip has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion. A trim cover is secured between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity. At least one first port extends along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment. At least one second port extends along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer. A flow dividing wall extends vertically from the lip between the first and second ports. The flow dividing wall extends from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity. The flow dividing wall has at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels. The provision of the flow dividing wall creates a redirection in the air flow so that air does not flow directly through the cavity between the ports. This provides for better humidity control within the drawer.
A shutter is provided that is slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the first port to control air flow into the drawer.
In one embodiment the shutter is formed as one piece and has an actuator arm that extends through an opening in the forward edge wall portion below the trim cover. The trim cover provides an upper boundary for this opening when the trim cover is secured to the front wall and the forward edge wall portion.
This arrangement has the advantage of not requiring any slots to be cut in the trim cover and not requiring an additional assembly step of securing a control knob to the shutter through a slot cut out into the trim cover.
In one embodiment the forward edge portion has a series of notches spaced along the opening in the forward edge portion for receiving the actuator arm. These notches provide for graduated controlled sliding of the shutter by the user.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a crisper drawer assembly for providing a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment. The assembly comprises a drawer having a bottom wall, side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, and the said side walls each having an outwardly extending flange. The assembly comprises a crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment. The frame has underside parallel slide channels for receiving the flanges wherein the drawer is slidably engageable in the slide channels to a closed position underneath the frame. The frame has a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting lip. The lip has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion.
The assembly has a trim cover securable between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity between the trim cover, front wall, lip and forward edge wall portion. At least one first port extends along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment. At least one second port extends along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer. A flow dividing wall extends vertically from the lip between the first and second ports. The flow dividing wall also extends from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity. The flow dividing wall has at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels. The assembly has a shutter slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the first port to control air flow into the drawer.
Brief Description Of The Drawings For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference may be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator having a crisper assembly;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the crisper frame and cover seal;
Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the crisper assembly;
Figure 4 is a front sectional view of a portion of the crisper assembly;
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the sealing between the crisper drawers and the crisper frame;
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of showing the air flow into the front of the crisper assembly;
Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the mounting of the crisper assembly to the rear wall of the refrigerator;
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting of the crisper assembly to one of the side walls of the refrigerator; and, Figure 9 is a plan view of the crisper frame showing a shortened guide rail for the middle support rail of the crisper frame.
Detailed Descriation Of The Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator crisper air flow control handle and, in particular to the assembly of the air flow control handle in the crisper cover.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown one embodiment _6_ cwc-24a of the present invention in the form of a household refrigerator 10, including an upper freezer compartment 12 and a lower fresh food compartment 14 separated from the freezer compartment by an insulated mullion partition 16.
While the embodiment of the refrigerator illustrated is for a top mount refrigerator, it should be understood that the invention is also applicable for bottom mount refrigerators where the freezer compartment is located below the fresh food compartment. The respective compartments 12, 14 are also separated from the outer cabinet walls 17 and the spaces between the compartments and these walls are filled with thermal insulation (not shown). A
hinged door 18 permits access to the freezer compartment 12 and a hinged door 20 permits access to the fresh food compartment 14.
As is common to refrigerators of this design, the compartments 12, 14 are maintained at the desired refrigerating temperatures by means of a single evaporator (not shown) which operates at a below freezing temperature. Air cooled by the evaporator is directed into the two compartments 12, 14 by a forced air circulating system. Most of the air passes into the freezer compartment 12 while a portion of the cooled air is directed by air duct means 22 located either at the rear of the compartments, or in the mullion 16 separating the compartments, downwardly into the fresh food compartment 14.
In household refrigerators 10, it is desirable to provide a crisper drawer and in the case of the present invention two side by side crisper drawers 24 in the fresh food compartment 14 in which fresh fruits and vegetables may be kept. As shown in Figure 1, the crisper drawers 24 are positioned side by side and are of the same size. In alternative embodiments, the crisper drawers 24 may have different widths. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention both crisper drawers 24 are supported by a rigid frame 26 in such a manner that the crisper drawers 24 may slide in and out relative to the rigid frame 26. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the rigid frame 26 is attached at its rear to spaced vertical slotted tracks 28 which are suitably secured to the back wall 30 of finer 32 of the fresh food compartment 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the rigid frame 26 is supported at the front by means of support members 34 that are secured to each of the side walls 36 of the fresh food compartment 14 whereby the front portion of the rigid frame 26 rests on the support members 34.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the crisper drawers 24 are supported by the rigid frame 26 and have a back wall 38, a front wall 40, side walls 42, bottom wall 44 (Figure 3) and an open top having a periphery 46. Along the periphery 46 of the open top at the junction of the side walls 42 there are outwardly and downwardly depending flanges 48 and 50 that generally extend along the length of the top portion of the side walls 42. On the front wall 40 of each of the crisper drawers 24 there is a recess 52 with an outwardly depending flange 54 to allow the user to grip the crisper drawer 24 for moving it in and out relative to the rigid frame 26.
The rigid unitary frame 26 is molded from plastic and extends nearly the entire width of the fresh food compartment 14. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the molded plastic unitary frame 26 has the front horizontal support member 56 that has a downwardly depending sealing flange portion 58 extending along the front horizontal support member 56 for sealing engagement with the front wall 40 of the crisper drawers 24 to restrict air flow past the flange 58 and into the crisper drawer 24.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 5, the unitary frame 26 is molded to have a rear horizontal support member 60 that has a downwardly depending solid rear wall 62 and one downwardly depending flexible wall portion 64 spaced inwardly of the solid rear wall 62. The flexible wall portion 64 seats against the back wall 38 of the crisper drawers 24 when the drawer is closed to restrict air flow past the flexible wall portion 64 and into the crisper drawer 24. The flexible wall 64 is thinning converging flange wall 64 that abuts against a rear flange 39 that extends outwardly from the back wall 38 adjacent open periphery 46.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the molded unitary frame 26 is shown to have two side horizontal support members 66 and a intermediate horizontal support _g_ member 68. The two side horizontal support members 66 and the intermediate horizontal support member 68 each span the distance between the front and rear horizontal support members 56, 60 and each have a downwardly depending slide carrier 70 having a horizontal channel 72 to receive the crisper drawer flanges 48, 50 and support the crisper drawers 24 thereon. The intermediate member 68 has a central or intermediate downwardly depending slide carrier 74 that has horizontal channels 76 on opposing sides of the carrier 74. Channels 72 and 76 are underside parallel slide channels.
The crisper assembly 23 has a cover 78 for the crisper drawer assembly is a removable cover which is made from tempered glass or plastic and is supported by the rigid frame 26. This removable cover 78 also acts as a shelf in the fresh food compartment 14 so that items to be refrigerated may be placed on top of the cover 78.
The rigid frame 26 has integrally formed from the rear horizontal support member 60 three spaced apart post projections 80 which engage the slots 184 in the tracks 28 (Figure 7) to thereby retain the frame 26 and the crisper drawers 24 with the rear of the fresh food compartment 14. The rear horizontal member 60 has footings 82 for spacing the rear horizontal member 60 from the vertical tracks 28. One post 80 extends from each the footings 82 into slotted openings in the vertical tracks 28. The posts 80 are rectangular in cross-section. Alternatively, the posts 80 may be of another shape such as a square shape.
The rigid frame 26 is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 to be supported at the front by means of support members 34 that are secured to the side walls 36 of the fresh food compartment 14. The front horizontal support member 56 of the rigid frame 26 rests on the support members 34. The front horizontal support member 56 has an elongated slotted aperture 84 for receiving a reinforcing bar 86 that extends along the length of the front horizontal support member 56. The elongated slotted aperture 84 of the front horizontal member 56 has two side walls 88 with hook shaped locking tabs 90 (Figure 6) extending into the slotted aperture 84 for holding or grasping the reinforcing support bar 86 when snap fitted into the slotted aperture 84 past tabs 90. End portions 92 (Figure 8) of the reinforcing bar 86 are supported or rest on the protruding side members 34. The front horizontal support member 56 has rounded walls 94 located below the slotted aperture 84 at the end portions 92 of the front horizontal member 56 for receiving the protruding support members 34 to hold the unitary rigid frame 26 within the fresh food compartment 14 thereby preventing forward and rearward movement of the crisper assembly 23 relative to the fresh food compartment 14. Alternatively, walls 94 may be square or rectangular in shape.
The crisper assembly 23 has a feature that facilitates the removal of the crisper drawers 24, and in particular, the crisper drawer 24 positioned in the fresh food compartment 14 closest to the door 20. This feature relates to the slide carriers 70 for supporting the crisper drawers 24. As shown in Figure 9, the two side horizontal support members 66 and the intermediate horizontal support member 68 each span the distance between the front and rear horizontal support members 56, 60. The two side horizontal support members 66 each have a downwardly depending slide carrier 70 having a side end horizontal channel 72 extending between the front and rear support members 56, 60 to receive the crisper drawer flanges 48, 50. The intermediate slide carrier 68 has a side carrier 74 with opposing center located horizontal channels 76 that also receive the crisper drawer flanges.
The opposing center located horizontal channels 70 extend from the rear horizontal support member 60 and terminate a first predetermined distance 98 from the front horizontal support member 56. This predetermined distance 98 is chosen to permit the drawer 24 closest to the door 20 to be pulled forward and at the same time rotated towards the center of the fresh food compartment 14 for removal from the slide carriers 70, 74 when the door cannot be opened beyond a 90 degree angle.
To prevent the crisper drawers 23 from being inadvertently pulled from the frame 26, the side end horizontal channels 72 and the opposing channels 74 each include a downwardly depending projection 102 (see Figures 2 and 3} spaced the same second predetermined distance 104 from the rear support member 60. This second predetermined distance 104 is slightly more than half way towards the front support member 56 from the rear support member 60. Each of the crisper drawers 24 carry upwardly extending stops 106 (see Figures 3 and 4} located on the flange 48 adjacent the back wall 38 of the crisper drawer 24. The stops 106 engage the depending projections 102 and limit forward sliding of the crisper drawers 24 along the two side and intermediate slide carriers 70, 74. The crisper drawers 24 can be removed from the slide carriers 70, 74 by advancing the drawers 24 forward until the stops 106 engages the depending projections 102 and then temporarily lifting up the front of the drawer 24 and pulling the drawer 24 forward until the stops 106 pass under the projections 102.
Each of the crisper drawers 24 in the crisper drawer assembly 23 provides a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment 14. Air flow into the closed drawers 24 is provided through the front horizontal support member 56 of the rigid frame 26 as shown by arrows 111 in Figure 6. The front horizontal support member 56 has a front wall 108 that has a raised flange portion 110 and a forward horizontally projecting lip 112. The lip 112 has a vertically extending forward edge wall portion 114 provided with a hook shaped barb 116. Front sealing flange 58 depends downwardly from the lip 112.
Referring to Figures 2 and 6, a plastic trim cover 118 is secure between the front wall 108 and the forward edge wall portion 114. The trim cover 118 has curved ends 120 that fasten or grasp the raised flange 110 of the front wall portion 108 and the hook shaped barb 116 of the forward edge wall portion 114. When the trim cover 118 is secured to the front horizontal support member 56 there is defined an air flow cavity 122 between the trim cover 118, front wall 108, lip 112, and forward edge wall portion 114.
The forward edge wall portion 114 has a plurality of spaced apart first ports 124 cut out from the corner where the lip 112 and forward edge wall portion 114 meet to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity 122 and the refrigerator fresh food compartment 14. The front wall 108 has a plurality of spaced apart second ports 126 cut out from the corner where the front wall 108 and lip 112 meet to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity 122 and the drawer 24.
A flow dividing wall 128 extends vertically into cavity 122 from the lip 112 between the first and second ports 124, 126. The flow dividing wall 128 extends from the lip 112 to contact the trim cover 118 to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels 130, 132 within the cavity 122. The flow dividing wall 128 has a plurality of spaced apart notches 134 each located adjacent the trim cover 118 to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels 130, 132. This indirect air flow limits the air flow between the fresh food compartment 14 and the drawer 24 to better control humidity within the drawer 24.
A vertically extending single piece shutter 136 is slidable along the forward channel 130 to selectively open and close the first ports 124 to control air flow into the drawer 24. The shutter 136 is formed as one piece having an actuator arm 138 that extends through an opening 140 (see Figure 2) in the forward edge wall portion 114 below the trim cover 118. The trim cover 118 provides an upper boundary for the opening 140 in the forward edge portion 114 when the trim cover 118 is secured to the front wall 108 and the forward edge wall portion 114. This permits for ease of assembly whereby the shutter 136 can simply be placed in the forward channel 130 with the actuator 138 extending forward of the assembly. Next the trim cover 118 is secured on the front horizontal support member 56. The trim cover 118 does not require a slot to be cut out therein for the actuator 138. Also, the actuator 138 is formed of a single piece eliminating the need to glue on the actuator to the shutter after the trim cover 118 is secured.
The forward edge wall portion 114 has a series of notches 144 (see Figure 2) spaced along the opening 140 for receiving the actuator arm 138.
The shutter 136 extends along the forward channel 130 vertically adjacent the flow dividing wall 128. Shutter 136 is movable horizontally along the forward channel 130 by a user moving actuator arm 138. The horizontal displacement of the shutter is limited by the side walls 150 of opening 140 engaging actuator 138. The shutter 136 has an angled top portion 146 adapted to close the top of the first port openings 124.
While the invention has been described in terms of very specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims (9)
1. A crisper drawer assembly for providing a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment, comprising:
a drawer having a bottom wall, side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, and the said side walls each having an outwardly extending flange;
a crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment, the frame having underside parallel slide channels for receiving the flanges wherein the drawer is slidably engageable in the slide channels to a closed position underneath the frame, and the frame having a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting tip, and the lip having a vertically extending forward edge wall portion;
a trim cover securable between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity between the trim cover, front wall, lip and forward edge wall portion;
at least one first port extending along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment;
at least one second port extending along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer;
a flow dividing wall extending vertically from the lip between the first and second ports, the flow dividing wall extending from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity, the flow dividing wall having at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels; and, a shutter slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the first port to control air flow into the drawer.
a drawer having a bottom wall, side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, and the said side walls each having an outwardly extending flange;
a crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment, the frame having underside parallel slide channels for receiving the flanges wherein the drawer is slidably engageable in the slide channels to a closed position underneath the frame, and the frame having a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting tip, and the lip having a vertically extending forward edge wall portion;
a trim cover securable between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity between the trim cover, front wall, lip and forward edge wall portion;
at least one first port extending along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment;
at least one second port extending along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer;
a flow dividing wall extending vertically from the lip between the first and second ports, the flow dividing wall extending from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity, the flow dividing wall having at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels; and, a shutter slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the first port to control air flow into the drawer.
2. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein the shutter is formed as one piece having an actuator arm that extends through an opening in the forward edge wall portion below the trim cover and the trim cover providing an upper boundary for the opening in the forward edge portion when secured to the front wall and the forward edge wall portion.
3. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein the forward edge portion has a series of notches spaced along the opening in the forward edge portion for receiving the actuator arm.
4. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 1 where the shutter extends along the forward channel vertically adjacent the flow dividing wall.
5. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 1 wherein the shutter has an angled top portion.
6. A crisper drawer assembly for providing a controlled humidity storage region in a refrigerator fresh food compartment, comprising:
a drawer having a bottom wall, side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, the side walls each having an outwardly extending flange;
a unitary rigid crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment, the frame having underside parallel slide channels for receiving the flanges wherein the drawer is slidably engageable in the slide channels to a closed position underneath the frame, and the frame having a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting lip and the lip having a vertically extending forward edge wall portion;
a trim cover securable between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity between the trim cover, front wall, lip and forward edge wall portion;
at least one first port extending along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment;
at least one second port extending along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer;
a flow dividing wall extending vertically from the lip between the first and second ports, the flow dividing wall extending from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity, the flow dividing wall having at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels; and, a vertically extending single piece shutter slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the forward ports to control air flow into the drawer, the single piece shutter having an actuator arm that extends through an opening in the forward edge wall portion below the trim cover where the trim cover provides an upper boundary for the opening in the forward edge portion when secured with the front wall and the forward edge wall portion.
a drawer having a bottom wall, side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, the side walls each having an outwardly extending flange;
a unitary rigid crisper frame adapted for mounting horizontally near the bottom of said refrigerator compartment, the frame having underside parallel slide channels for receiving the flanges wherein the drawer is slidably engageable in the slide channels to a closed position underneath the frame, and the frame having a front horizontal support member having a front wall with a forward projecting lip and the lip having a vertically extending forward edge wall portion;
a trim cover securable between the front wall and the forward edge wall portion to define an air flow cavity between the trim cover, front wall, lip and forward edge wall portion;
at least one first port extending along at least one of the lip, forward edge wall portion and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the refrigerator fresh food compartment;
at least one second port extending along at least one of the front wall, lip and both to provide air flow communication between the air flow cavity and the drawer;
a flow dividing wall extending vertically from the lip between the first and second ports, the flow dividing wall extending from the lip to contact the trim cover to define separate and distinct forward and rearward channels within the cavity, the flow dividing wall having at least one notch adjacent the trim cover to redirect air flow therethrough between the forward and rearward channels; and, a vertically extending single piece shutter slidable along the forward channel to selectively open and close the forward ports to control air flow into the drawer, the single piece shutter having an actuator arm that extends through an opening in the forward edge wall portion below the trim cover where the trim cover provides an upper boundary for the opening in the forward edge portion when secured with the front wall and the forward edge wall portion.
7. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 6 further including a cover mounted on top of the rigid frame.
8. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 7 wherein the cover is one selected from tempered glass and plastic.
9. The crisper drawer assembly of claim 6 wherein the rigid unitary frame is molded plastic.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453684 CA2453684A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2003-12-18 | Refrigerator crisper air flow control assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453684 CA2453684A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2003-12-18 | Refrigerator crisper air flow control assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2453684A1 true CA2453684A1 (en) | 2005-06-18 |
Family
ID=34658586
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453684 Abandoned CA2453684A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2003-12-18 | Refrigerator crisper air flow control assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2453684A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009083388A3 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2009-12-03 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A cooling device |
| CN104501519A (en) * | 2014-11-19 | 2015-04-08 | 青岛海尔股份有限公司 | Sealing box and refrigerator with same |
| EP1929225B1 (en) | 2005-09-22 | 2017-03-15 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Drawer box for a refrigeration device |
| CN109341171A (en) * | 2018-09-13 | 2019-02-15 | 海信（山东）冰箱有限公司 | A kind of refrigerator with humidity regulation drawer |
| CN111043810A (en) * | 2019-12-31 | 2020-04-21 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerator with humidity-adjustable drawer |
-
2003
- 2003-12-18 CA CA 2453684 patent/CA2453684A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1929225B1 (en) | 2005-09-22 | 2017-03-15 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Drawer box for a refrigeration device |
| EP1929225B2 (en) † | 2005-09-22 | 2020-02-26 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Drawer box for a refrigeration device |
| WO2009083388A3 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2009-12-03 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A cooling device |
| CN104501519A (en) * | 2014-11-19 | 2015-04-08 | 青岛海尔股份有限公司 | Sealing box and refrigerator with same |
| CN109341171A (en) * | 2018-09-13 | 2019-02-15 | 海信（山东）冰箱有限公司 | A kind of refrigerator with humidity regulation drawer |
| CN109341171B (en) * | 2018-09-13 | 2021-08-10 | 海信（山东）冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerator with humidity control drawer |
| CN111043810A (en) * | 2019-12-31 | 2020-04-21 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerator with humidity-adjustable drawer |
| CN111043810B (en) * | 2019-12-31 | 2022-02-22 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerator with humidity-adjustable drawer |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |