CA2453763A1 - Refrigerator door bin - Google Patents
Refrigerator door bin Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2453763A1 CA2453763A1 CA 2453763 CA2453763A CA2453763A1 CA 2453763 A1 CA2453763 A1 CA 2453763A1 CA 2453763 CA2453763 CA 2453763 CA 2453763 A CA2453763 A CA 2453763A CA 2453763 A1 CA2453763 A1 CA 2453763A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- bin
- door
- wall portion
- freezer
- inner liner
- 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
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
- F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
- A47B96/16—Drawers or movable shelves coupled to doors
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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)
- Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
Abstract
A bottom mount refrigerator has a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet to swing between an open position and closed position.
The freezer door has an inner liner wall portion onto which a plurality of spaced apart brackets are mounted. The spaced apart brackets have upwardly extending support tabs. A bin is removably mounted onto the support tabs for support from the freezer door. The bin has a front boundary portion that extends outwardly away from the inner liner wall portion of the refrigerator door and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed so as to locate the front boundary portion of the bin adjacent the rear boundary portion of the freezer compartment. By mounting of a bin directly onto the freezer door, food articles contained in the bin will be readily accessible to the user when the door is opened.
The freezer door has an inner liner wall portion onto which a plurality of spaced apart brackets are mounted. The spaced apart brackets have upwardly extending support tabs. A bin is removably mounted onto the support tabs for support from the freezer door. The bin has a front boundary portion that extends outwardly away from the inner liner wall portion of the refrigerator door and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed so as to locate the front boundary portion of the bin adjacent the rear boundary portion of the freezer compartment. By mounting of a bin directly onto the freezer door, food articles contained in the bin will be readily accessible to the user when the door is opened.
Description
REFRIGERATOR DOOR BiN
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bottom mount refrigerator having a food basket or bin removably mounted to the freezer door.
Backctround of the Invention Bottom mount refrigerators having a fresh food compartment located vertically above a freezer compartment have a clear advantage to accessing food articles in the fresh food compartment over top mount refrigerators. This is particularly advantageous in instances in which access to the freezer compartment is of lesser importance to a user. However, what is gained in accessibility to the fresh food compartment reduces the accessibility to the freezer compartment.
The bottom mount refrigerators that have hinged doors currently on the market typically include a basket mounted inside the freezer compartment.
The basket is located above the bottom floor of the freezer compartment and is either supported on side track ways mounted to the inner side walls of the freezer compartment or runs on guide rollers placed on the floor of the freezer compartment. The basket is able to be pulled through the front opening of the freezer compartment to allow a user easy access to the food artictes stored in the basket when the freezer door is open. In some cases, the freezer compartment includes means to support one or more ice trays and this typically results in a stationary shelf that extends laterally across the freezer _2_ compartment above the basket. Alternatively, another sliding shelf may be mounted across the upper portion of the freezer. Typically, the freezer door swings between an open and a closed position to allow the bottom basket to be pulled out from the refrigerator. However, in instances where the door cannot be opened greater than a 90 degree angle, it is difficult to have the lower freezer basket pulled from the freezer as the door provides an encumbrance to the removal of the sliding basket from the freezer compartment. Also, removal of the basket from the guide rollers for cleaning purposes is not possible when the door cannot be opened beyond 90 degrees.
There is a need to improve the access to the food articles contained in the freezer in a bottom mount refrigerator without effecting the space design requirements for the freezer compartment and without necessarily having the freezer door having to be opened to an angle greater than 90 degrees.
Summary Of The Invention The present invention relates to a bottom mount refrigerator having a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet which is movable to swing between an open position and closed position to sealingly close the freezer compartment. The freezer door has an inner liner wall portion onto which a plurality of spaced apart brackets are mounted. The spaced apart brackets preferably have upwardly extending support tabs. A bin is removably mounted onto the support tabs for support from the freezer door.
The bin has a front boundary portion that extends outwardly away from the inner liner wall portion of the refrigerator door and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed so as to locate the front boundary portion of the bin adjacent the rear wall portion of the freezer compartment. By mounting of a bin directly onto the swinging freezer door, every time the freezer door is opened, food articles contained in the door mounted bin will be readily accessible to the user. Further, it is not necessary that the door open to any angle beyond 90 degrees in order to allow access to food articles contained in the freezer compartment. By having a removable bin mounted to the door, it is. possible to readily remove the bin from the door for the purposes of cleaning the bin without having to open the door beyond a 90° angle.
In one embodiment the bin has two inwardly curving and converging side boundary portions such that the front boundary portion extends between the two inwardly curving and converging side boundary portions of the bin.
The bin extends from the inner wall liner portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed so as to position the curved side boundary portions of the bin to each extend adjacent to a corresponding one of the side walls of freezer compartment and to curve further away from the corresponding side walls adjacent a juncture to where the side boundary portion of the bin meets the front boundary portion of the bin. By having such a curvature on the side wall portions, it is possible for the bin to exfiend substantially across the width of the inner liner wall portion of the refrigerator door and still be able to have sufficient clearance to be inserted into the freezer compartment without contacting the opposing side walls of the freezer compartment. Further, it is possible to remove the bin when the door is swung open at an angle slightly less than 90° relative to the refrigerator cabinet.
In one embodiment, the bin camprises a wire basket having a top rim defining a periphery for the wire basket. The wire basket also has wire slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define the curving and converging side boundary portions and the front boundary portion of the bin. In this aspect, the side wall and front boundary portions are in effect defined by the slats and the open spaces between the slats. The top rim further has a rear boundary portion that is adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs.
In another embodiment the freezer door liner has a lower flange extending outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position. The wire basket has rear slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define a rear wall portion. The rear slats extend parallel to the inner liner wall portion and are bent at an angle to extend forward of the lower flange of the door liner in non-contacting relation therewith. The bent slats prevent the bin from placing undue stress on the lower flange of the door liner.
In an alternative embodiment, the bin comprises a solid basket having - a top rim defining a periphery for the solid basket and the top rim having a rear boundary portion adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs. By a solid basket it is meant that the side, front, rear and floor boundary portions of the bin comprise solid wall and floor portions.
In one embodiment the freezer door liner has a lower flange that extends outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position. The solid basket has a rear boundary portion that extends parallel to the inner liner wall portion. The rear boundary portion meets the floor portion of the solid basket at a notched corner whereby the notched corner of the solid basket is adapted to rest on a lower flange of the freezer door. It is permissible to have the solid wall rest on the inner liner flange as the solid wall evenly displaces forces associated with food articles along the surface of the flange.
In one embodiment the freezer door further has an outer door panel to which the inner liner wall portion is secured. The door has a pair of spaced apart reinforcing brace member secured within the door. Each of the brace members has a forward central portion and recessed opposing wing end portions extending from the forward central portion. The wing end portions are secured within the door. The forward central portions of the brace members have outward facing surfaces each positioned against the inner liner wall portion and have spaced apart mounting support apertures for securement with a corresponding one of the brackets. Insulation positioned between the inner liner wall portion and the outer.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bottom mount refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment located vertically below the fresh food compartment. The freezer compartment has opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the opposing side walls. The refrigerator further comprises a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet and moveable between an open position and a closed position, sealingly closing the freezer compartment. The freezer door has an inner liner wall portion facing the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed. A plurality of spaced apart brackets are mounted to the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door. The brackets are positioned horizontally relative to each other and have supporting tabs. A bin is removably mounted onto the supporting tabs for support from the freezer door. The bin has a front boundary portion and the bin extends from the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed to position the front boundary portion adjacent the rear wall of the freezer compartment.
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 perspective view of a bottom mount refrigerator having the door mounted removable bin of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the door mounted removable bin shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the basket shown mounted to the door with the inner finer removed for the purposes of illustration; and, Figure 4 is a view of an alternative door mounted removable bin having solid wall and floor portions.
Detailed Description Of The Invention The present invention relates to a bottom mount refrigerator having a food basket or bin removably mounted to the freezer door.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a bottom mount refrigerator 10 having a fresh food compartment 12 and a freezer compartment 14 located vertically below the fresh food compartment 12. The fresh food compartment 12 is closed by a door 16 pivotally mounted by hinges (not shown) to the refrigerator cabinet 18. A freezer door 20 is located pivotally mounted by hinges (not shown) to the refrigerator cabinet 18 for closing the freezer compartment 14. The doors 16 and 20 are provided with sealing gaskets (not shown) that seal against the refrigerator cabinet 18 when the doors 16, 20 are closed.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the freezer door 20 has a generally fiat inner liner wall portion 24 surrounded by a peripheral flange 26. The peripheral flange 26 has a lower flange portion 28 that extends outwardly from the inner liner wall portion 24 into the fresh food compartment 14 when the freezer door 20 is closed.
A pair of horizontally spaced apart brackets 30 are each mounted by four screws (only two shown) 32 to the freezer door 20. In particular, the screws 32 fasten through the inner finer wall portion 24 and secure against a reinforcing member such as a metal frame (not shown) behind the door liner 24. The brackets 32 are each provided with upstanding supporting tabs 34.
In Figures 1 and 2, a bin 40 is shown removably mounted to the supporting brackets 30. The bin 40 comprises a basket having a forward boundary portion 42 defined by forward slats 44 and the spaces between the forward slats 44. The bin 40 further has curved side boundary portions 46 defined by the side slats 48 and the spaces between side slats 48. The bin 40 has a bottom boundary or floor 49 provided by the slats 50 and a rear boundary portion 51 defined by the rear slats 52 and the open spaces between slats 52. It should be understood that a flat plastic or metal insert (not shown) may be inserted onto the floor 49 of the bin 40 to provide a closed floor in the event the openings in the floor slats are too large for food items.
The slats 44, 48, and 52 all depend downwardly from a peripheral rim or top rim 60 which extends around the circumference of the bin 40 to define the basket. The bin 40 is positioned with opposing side boundary portions 46 which curve toward each other or converge as they extend further away from rear boundary portion 51. During door closure, the curved side boundary portions 46 have sufficient clearance from the freezer opposing side walls 70 so that the bin 40 does not contact the opposing side walls 70 of the freezer compartment 14. As the door 20 is swung, or pivoted about its hinges, closed in the direction of arrow 72, the front boundary portion 42 of bin 40 comes to rest closely adjacent the rear wall 74 of the freezer compartment. The bin 40 is positioned above the floor 76 of the freezer compartment 14 and below a sliding shelf 78 in the freezer compartment 14. It should be understood that the sliding shelf 78 may alternatively be a stationary shelf. Alternatively, no such shelf 78 may be present in the freezer compartment 14 and the bin 40 may have a depth that extends the entire depth of the freezer compartment 14.
The rear slats 52 of the bin 40 have bent forward portions 52a which meet with the bottom slats 50. The purpose of the bent or angled portions 50a is to keep the bin 40 clear of lower flange portion 28 of the freezer door 20 so that the slats 52 and 52a do not contact the flange 28. The bin 40 has a floor or bottom boundary 49 which is positioned parallel and adjacent the lower flange portion 28 of freezer door 20, and is positioned just above the floor 78 of freezer compartment 14 when the door 20 is closed.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the construction of the freezer door 20 is shown. In Figure 3, the inner liner wail portion 24 has been removed for illustration purposes to show the interior structure of the door 20. The door has an outer panel 110 that has side walls 112. The outer panel 110 comprises a generally flat metal. The side walls 112 have in-turned flanges 114 that extend substantially parallel to the outer panel 110. It is to these _g_ flanges 114 that the peripheral flange 26 of the inner liner wall portion 24 is attached.
A pair of spaced apart reinforcing brace members 116 are secured within the door 20. Each of the brace members 116 has a forward central portion 118 and recessed opposing wing end portions 120 extending from the forward central portion118. The wing end portions 120 are secured within the door 20 at their end portions. The forward central portions 118 of the brace members 116 have outward facing surfaces 122 each positioned against the inner liner wall portion 24. The outward facing surfaces 122 are substantially flush in abutting relation with the inner liner wall portion 24.The surfaces have mounting support apertures 124 for screws or fasteners (not shown) to fasten the mounting brackets 30 thereto with the inner liner wall portion 24 therebetween (not shown in Figure 3). The brace member 116 has an additional rear supporting bracket 121 on its rear face for receiving the fasteners passing through the bracket 30 and surface 122. The rear bracket 121 provides additional support for the bin 40. insulation, not shown, is positioned between the inner liner wall portion 24 and the outer door panel 110.
Each of the recessed wing end portions 120 slopes into the door 20 away from the inner liner 24 and is surrounded by insulation. The brace members 120 comprise a glass reinforced nylon in this embodiment.
Alternatively, the brace members 120 may comprise a metal body with plastic ends to limit heat transfer into the body of the door.
The brackets 30 are supported from the from the door 20 by the spaced apart brace members 116 with the inner finer wall portion 24 sandwiched therebetween.
Referring to Figure 4, a solid bin 80 having solid side wall portions is shown. The solid bin 80 has a solid front boundary portion 82, curving and converging side wall portions 84 and a rear portion 86. A peripheral rim 88 extends around the bin and also has a top rim rear portion 90 that is adapted to hook onto the support tabs 30 (not shown in Figure 4). The rear wall _g.
portion 86 meets a floor 92 of the bin 80 at a notched juncture 94. This notched juncture 94 is adapted to provide a surface 95 that rests on the lower flange portion 28 of the refrigerator, door liner 20 for keeping the bin straight.
In this embodiment, the generally fiat inner liner wall portion 24 of the freezer door 20 is shown to be provided with a series of ribs 100 and recesses 102.
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 modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bottom mount refrigerator having a food basket or bin removably mounted to the freezer door.
Backctround of the Invention Bottom mount refrigerators having a fresh food compartment located vertically above a freezer compartment have a clear advantage to accessing food articles in the fresh food compartment over top mount refrigerators. This is particularly advantageous in instances in which access to the freezer compartment is of lesser importance to a user. However, what is gained in accessibility to the fresh food compartment reduces the accessibility to the freezer compartment.
The bottom mount refrigerators that have hinged doors currently on the market typically include a basket mounted inside the freezer compartment.
The basket is located above the bottom floor of the freezer compartment and is either supported on side track ways mounted to the inner side walls of the freezer compartment or runs on guide rollers placed on the floor of the freezer compartment. The basket is able to be pulled through the front opening of the freezer compartment to allow a user easy access to the food artictes stored in the basket when the freezer door is open. In some cases, the freezer compartment includes means to support one or more ice trays and this typically results in a stationary shelf that extends laterally across the freezer _2_ compartment above the basket. Alternatively, another sliding shelf may be mounted across the upper portion of the freezer. Typically, the freezer door swings between an open and a closed position to allow the bottom basket to be pulled out from the refrigerator. However, in instances where the door cannot be opened greater than a 90 degree angle, it is difficult to have the lower freezer basket pulled from the freezer as the door provides an encumbrance to the removal of the sliding basket from the freezer compartment. Also, removal of the basket from the guide rollers for cleaning purposes is not possible when the door cannot be opened beyond 90 degrees.
There is a need to improve the access to the food articles contained in the freezer in a bottom mount refrigerator without effecting the space design requirements for the freezer compartment and without necessarily having the freezer door having to be opened to an angle greater than 90 degrees.
Summary Of The Invention The present invention relates to a bottom mount refrigerator having a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet which is movable to swing between an open position and closed position to sealingly close the freezer compartment. The freezer door has an inner liner wall portion onto which a plurality of spaced apart brackets are mounted. The spaced apart brackets preferably have upwardly extending support tabs. A bin is removably mounted onto the support tabs for support from the freezer door.
The bin has a front boundary portion that extends outwardly away from the inner liner wall portion of the refrigerator door and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed so as to locate the front boundary portion of the bin adjacent the rear wall portion of the freezer compartment. By mounting of a bin directly onto the swinging freezer door, every time the freezer door is opened, food articles contained in the door mounted bin will be readily accessible to the user. Further, it is not necessary that the door open to any angle beyond 90 degrees in order to allow access to food articles contained in the freezer compartment. By having a removable bin mounted to the door, it is. possible to readily remove the bin from the door for the purposes of cleaning the bin without having to open the door beyond a 90° angle.
In one embodiment the bin has two inwardly curving and converging side boundary portions such that the front boundary portion extends between the two inwardly curving and converging side boundary portions of the bin.
The bin extends from the inner wall liner portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed so as to position the curved side boundary portions of the bin to each extend adjacent to a corresponding one of the side walls of freezer compartment and to curve further away from the corresponding side walls adjacent a juncture to where the side boundary portion of the bin meets the front boundary portion of the bin. By having such a curvature on the side wall portions, it is possible for the bin to exfiend substantially across the width of the inner liner wall portion of the refrigerator door and still be able to have sufficient clearance to be inserted into the freezer compartment without contacting the opposing side walls of the freezer compartment. Further, it is possible to remove the bin when the door is swung open at an angle slightly less than 90° relative to the refrigerator cabinet.
In one embodiment, the bin camprises a wire basket having a top rim defining a periphery for the wire basket. The wire basket also has wire slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define the curving and converging side boundary portions and the front boundary portion of the bin. In this aspect, the side wall and front boundary portions are in effect defined by the slats and the open spaces between the slats. The top rim further has a rear boundary portion that is adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs.
In another embodiment the freezer door liner has a lower flange extending outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position. The wire basket has rear slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define a rear wall portion. The rear slats extend parallel to the inner liner wall portion and are bent at an angle to extend forward of the lower flange of the door liner in non-contacting relation therewith. The bent slats prevent the bin from placing undue stress on the lower flange of the door liner.
In an alternative embodiment, the bin comprises a solid basket having - a top rim defining a periphery for the solid basket and the top rim having a rear boundary portion adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs. By a solid basket it is meant that the side, front, rear and floor boundary portions of the bin comprise solid wall and floor portions.
In one embodiment the freezer door liner has a lower flange that extends outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position. The solid basket has a rear boundary portion that extends parallel to the inner liner wall portion. The rear boundary portion meets the floor portion of the solid basket at a notched corner whereby the notched corner of the solid basket is adapted to rest on a lower flange of the freezer door. It is permissible to have the solid wall rest on the inner liner flange as the solid wall evenly displaces forces associated with food articles along the surface of the flange.
In one embodiment the freezer door further has an outer door panel to which the inner liner wall portion is secured. The door has a pair of spaced apart reinforcing brace member secured within the door. Each of the brace members has a forward central portion and recessed opposing wing end portions extending from the forward central portion. The wing end portions are secured within the door. The forward central portions of the brace members have outward facing surfaces each positioned against the inner liner wall portion and have spaced apart mounting support apertures for securement with a corresponding one of the brackets. Insulation positioned between the inner liner wall portion and the outer.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bottom mount refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment located vertically below the fresh food compartment. The freezer compartment has opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the opposing side walls. The refrigerator further comprises a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet and moveable between an open position and a closed position, sealingly closing the freezer compartment. The freezer door has an inner liner wall portion facing the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed. A plurality of spaced apart brackets are mounted to the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door. The brackets are positioned horizontally relative to each other and have supporting tabs. A bin is removably mounted onto the supporting tabs for support from the freezer door. The bin has a front boundary portion and the bin extends from the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed to position the front boundary portion adjacent the rear wall of the freezer compartment.
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 perspective view of a bottom mount refrigerator having the door mounted removable bin of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the door mounted removable bin shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the basket shown mounted to the door with the inner finer removed for the purposes of illustration; and, Figure 4 is a view of an alternative door mounted removable bin having solid wall and floor portions.
Detailed Description Of The Invention The present invention relates to a bottom mount refrigerator having a food basket or bin removably mounted to the freezer door.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a bottom mount refrigerator 10 having a fresh food compartment 12 and a freezer compartment 14 located vertically below the fresh food compartment 12. The fresh food compartment 12 is closed by a door 16 pivotally mounted by hinges (not shown) to the refrigerator cabinet 18. A freezer door 20 is located pivotally mounted by hinges (not shown) to the refrigerator cabinet 18 for closing the freezer compartment 14. The doors 16 and 20 are provided with sealing gaskets (not shown) that seal against the refrigerator cabinet 18 when the doors 16, 20 are closed.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the freezer door 20 has a generally fiat inner liner wall portion 24 surrounded by a peripheral flange 26. The peripheral flange 26 has a lower flange portion 28 that extends outwardly from the inner liner wall portion 24 into the fresh food compartment 14 when the freezer door 20 is closed.
A pair of horizontally spaced apart brackets 30 are each mounted by four screws (only two shown) 32 to the freezer door 20. In particular, the screws 32 fasten through the inner finer wall portion 24 and secure against a reinforcing member such as a metal frame (not shown) behind the door liner 24. The brackets 32 are each provided with upstanding supporting tabs 34.
In Figures 1 and 2, a bin 40 is shown removably mounted to the supporting brackets 30. The bin 40 comprises a basket having a forward boundary portion 42 defined by forward slats 44 and the spaces between the forward slats 44. The bin 40 further has curved side boundary portions 46 defined by the side slats 48 and the spaces between side slats 48. The bin 40 has a bottom boundary or floor 49 provided by the slats 50 and a rear boundary portion 51 defined by the rear slats 52 and the open spaces between slats 52. It should be understood that a flat plastic or metal insert (not shown) may be inserted onto the floor 49 of the bin 40 to provide a closed floor in the event the openings in the floor slats are too large for food items.
The slats 44, 48, and 52 all depend downwardly from a peripheral rim or top rim 60 which extends around the circumference of the bin 40 to define the basket. The bin 40 is positioned with opposing side boundary portions 46 which curve toward each other or converge as they extend further away from rear boundary portion 51. During door closure, the curved side boundary portions 46 have sufficient clearance from the freezer opposing side walls 70 so that the bin 40 does not contact the opposing side walls 70 of the freezer compartment 14. As the door 20 is swung, or pivoted about its hinges, closed in the direction of arrow 72, the front boundary portion 42 of bin 40 comes to rest closely adjacent the rear wall 74 of the freezer compartment. The bin 40 is positioned above the floor 76 of the freezer compartment 14 and below a sliding shelf 78 in the freezer compartment 14. It should be understood that the sliding shelf 78 may alternatively be a stationary shelf. Alternatively, no such shelf 78 may be present in the freezer compartment 14 and the bin 40 may have a depth that extends the entire depth of the freezer compartment 14.
The rear slats 52 of the bin 40 have bent forward portions 52a which meet with the bottom slats 50. The purpose of the bent or angled portions 50a is to keep the bin 40 clear of lower flange portion 28 of the freezer door 20 so that the slats 52 and 52a do not contact the flange 28. The bin 40 has a floor or bottom boundary 49 which is positioned parallel and adjacent the lower flange portion 28 of freezer door 20, and is positioned just above the floor 78 of freezer compartment 14 when the door 20 is closed.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the construction of the freezer door 20 is shown. In Figure 3, the inner liner wail portion 24 has been removed for illustration purposes to show the interior structure of the door 20. The door has an outer panel 110 that has side walls 112. The outer panel 110 comprises a generally flat metal. The side walls 112 have in-turned flanges 114 that extend substantially parallel to the outer panel 110. It is to these _g_ flanges 114 that the peripheral flange 26 of the inner liner wall portion 24 is attached.
A pair of spaced apart reinforcing brace members 116 are secured within the door 20. Each of the brace members 116 has a forward central portion 118 and recessed opposing wing end portions 120 extending from the forward central portion118. The wing end portions 120 are secured within the door 20 at their end portions. The forward central portions 118 of the brace members 116 have outward facing surfaces 122 each positioned against the inner liner wall portion 24. The outward facing surfaces 122 are substantially flush in abutting relation with the inner liner wall portion 24.The surfaces have mounting support apertures 124 for screws or fasteners (not shown) to fasten the mounting brackets 30 thereto with the inner liner wall portion 24 therebetween (not shown in Figure 3). The brace member 116 has an additional rear supporting bracket 121 on its rear face for receiving the fasteners passing through the bracket 30 and surface 122. The rear bracket 121 provides additional support for the bin 40. insulation, not shown, is positioned between the inner liner wall portion 24 and the outer door panel 110.
Each of the recessed wing end portions 120 slopes into the door 20 away from the inner liner 24 and is surrounded by insulation. The brace members 120 comprise a glass reinforced nylon in this embodiment.
Alternatively, the brace members 120 may comprise a metal body with plastic ends to limit heat transfer into the body of the door.
The brackets 30 are supported from the from the door 20 by the spaced apart brace members 116 with the inner finer wall portion 24 sandwiched therebetween.
Referring to Figure 4, a solid bin 80 having solid side wall portions is shown. The solid bin 80 has a solid front boundary portion 82, curving and converging side wall portions 84 and a rear portion 86. A peripheral rim 88 extends around the bin and also has a top rim rear portion 90 that is adapted to hook onto the support tabs 30 (not shown in Figure 4). The rear wall _g.
portion 86 meets a floor 92 of the bin 80 at a notched juncture 94. This notched juncture 94 is adapted to provide a surface 95 that rests on the lower flange portion 28 of the refrigerator, door liner 20 for keeping the bin straight.
In this embodiment, the generally fiat inner liner wall portion 24 of the freezer door 20 is shown to be provided with a series of ribs 100 and recesses 102.
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 modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims (20)
1. ~A bottom mount refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment located vertically below the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment having opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the opposing side walls;
a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet and moveable between an open position and a closed position sealingly closing the freezer compartment, the freezer door having an inner liner wall portion facing the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed;
a plurality of spaced apart brackets mounted to the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door, the brackets being oriented horizontally relative to each other and having supporting tabs;
a bin removably mounted onto the supporting tabs for support from the freezer door, the bin having a front boundary portion, and the bin extending from the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed to position the front boundary portion adjacent the rear wall of the freezer compartment.
a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment located vertically below the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment having opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the opposing side walls;
a freezer door pivotally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet and moveable between an open position and a closed position sealingly closing the freezer compartment, the freezer door having an inner liner wall portion facing the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed;
a plurality of spaced apart brackets mounted to the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door, the brackets being oriented horizontally relative to each other and having supporting tabs;
a bin removably mounted onto the supporting tabs for support from the freezer door, the bin having a front boundary portion, and the bin extending from the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed to position the front boundary portion adjacent the rear wall of the freezer compartment.
2. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the bin has two inwardly curving and converging side boundary portions and the front boundary portion extends between the two inwardly curving and converging side wall portions, and the bin extends from the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed to position the curved side boundary portions of the bin to extend adjacent to a corresponding one of the side walls of the freezer compartment and to curve further away from the corresponding one side wall adjacent a juncture where the side boundary portion of the bin meets the front boundary portion of the bin.
3. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the inner liner wall portion has a width, and the bin extends substantially across the width of the inner liner wall portion.
4. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the supporting tabs extend upwardly from the support brackets and the bin comprises a wire basket having a top rim defining a periphery for the wire basket with a portion of the top rim fitted over the upwardly extending supporting tabs, the wire basket having wire slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define the curving and converging side boundary portions and the front wall portion, and the top rim having a rear boundary portion adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs.
5. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the freezer door liner has a lower flange extending outwardly therefrom below the inner liner waif portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position, and the wire basket having rear slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define the rear wall portion, the rear slats extending parallel to the inner liner wall portion and bent at an angle to extend forward of the lower flange of the door liner in non-contacting relation therewith.
6. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the supporting tabs extend upwardly from the supporting brackets and wherein the bin comprises a solid basket having a top rim defining a periphery for the solid basket, and the top rim having a rear boundary portion adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs.
7. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the freezer door liner has a lower flange extending outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position, and the solid basket having a rear wall portion extending parallel to the inner liner wall portion, the rear wall portion meeting a floor portion of the solid basket at a notched corner whereby the notched corner of the solid basket is adapted to rest on the lower flange of the freezer door.
8. ~The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the freezer compartment supports a shelf in the upper portion of the freezer compartment and the bin is positioned below the shelf when the freezer door is closed.
-12-~
-12-~
9. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the freezer door further comprises:
an outer door panel having side walls to which the inner liner wall portion is secured, a pair of spaced apart reinforcing brace member secured within the door; each of the brace members having a forward central portion and recessed opposing wing end portions extending from the forward central portion, the wing end portions being secured within the door, the forward central portions of the brace members having outward facing surfaces each positioned against the inner liner wall portion and having spaced apart mounting support apertures for securement with a corresponding one of the brackets, and, insulation positioned between the inner liner wall portion and the outer door panel.
an outer door panel having side walls to which the inner liner wall portion is secured, a pair of spaced apart reinforcing brace member secured within the door; each of the brace members having a forward central portion and recessed opposing wing end portions extending from the forward central portion, the wing end portions being secured within the door, the forward central portions of the brace members having outward facing surfaces each positioned against the inner liner wall portion and having spaced apart mounting support apertures for securement with a corresponding one of the brackets, and, insulation positioned between the inner liner wall portion and the outer door panel.
10. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the outward facing surface is substantially flush in abutting relation with the inner liner wall portion.
11. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein each of the recessed wing end portions slopes into the door away from the inner liner and is surrounded by insulation.
12. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the brace members comprise a glass reinforced nylon.
13. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein outer door panel comprises a generally flat metal sheet with rearwardly extending side walls and in-turned flanges extending generally parallel to the flat sheet and wherein the inner liner wall portion is secured with the in-turned flanges of the outer door panel.
14. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the bin has two inwardly curving and converging side boundary portions and the front boundary portion extends between the two inwardly curving and converging side wall portions, and the bin extends from the inner liner wall portion of the freezer door into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is closed to position the curved side boundary portions of the bin to extend adjacent to a corresponding one of the side walls of the freezer compartment and to curve further away from the corresponding one side wall adjacent a juncture where the side boundary portion of the bin meets the front boundary portion of the bin.
15. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the inner liner wall portion has a width, and the bin extends substantially across the width of the inner liner wall portion.
16. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the supporting tabs extend upwardly from the support brackets and the bin comprises a wire basket having a top rim defining a periphery for the wire basket with a portion of the top rim fitted over the upwardly extending supporting tabs, the wire basket having wire slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define the curving and converging side boundary portions and the front wall portion, and the top rim having a rear boundary portion adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs.
17. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the freezer door liner has a lower flange extending outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position, and the wire basket having rear slats extending downwardly from the top rim to define the rear wall portion, the rear slats extending parallel to the inner liner wall portion and bent at an angle to extend forward of the lower flange of the door liner in non-contacting relation therewith.
18. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the supporting tabs extend upwardly from the supporting brackets and wherein the bin comprises a solid basket having a top rim defining a periphery for the solid basket, and the top rim having a rear boundary portion adapted to hook onto the supporting tabs.
19. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 17 wherein the freezer door liner has a lower flange extending outwardly therefrom below the inner liner wall portion and into the freezer compartment when the freezer door is in its closed position, and the solid basket having a rear wall portion extending parallel to the inner liner wall portion, the rear wall portion meeting a floor portion of the solid basket at a notched corner whereby the notched corner of the solid basket is adapted to rest on the lower flange of the freezer door.
20. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the freezer compartment supports a shelf in the upper portion of the freezer compartment and the bin is positioned below the shelf when the freezer door is closed.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453763 CA2453763A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2003-12-18 | Refrigerator door bin |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453763 CA2453763A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2003-12-18 | Refrigerator door bin |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2453763A1 true CA2453763A1 (en) | 2005-06-18 |
Family
ID=34658597
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2453763 Abandoned CA2453763A1 (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2003-12-18 | Refrigerator door bin |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2453763A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2356388A2 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2011-08-17 | LG Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator related technology |
| CN111442604A (en) * | 2020-04-10 | 2020-07-24 | 海信集团有限公司 | Refrigerator and control method thereof |
-
2003
- 2003-12-18 CA CA 2453763 patent/CA2453763A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2356388A2 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2011-08-17 | LG Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator related technology |
| EP2356388A4 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2014-03-12 | Lg Electronics Inc | Refrigerator related technology |
| CN111442604A (en) * | 2020-04-10 | 2020-07-24 | 海信集团有限公司 | Refrigerator and control method thereof |
| CN111442604B (en) * | 2020-04-10 | 2021-10-08 | 海信集团有限公司 | Refrigerator and control method thereof |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |