Refrigerator door mullion apparatus and system

a refrigerator and mullion technology, applied in the field of refrigerators, can solve the problems of reducing the contact area available magnetic seals, affecting the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator interior, and varying the resistance to the motion of the french-style doors felt by users

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-03-29
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

During such engagement and corresponding mullion bar rotation, an amount of resistance to motion of the French-style door felt by the user varies, or is inconsistent.
Additionally, on some refrigerators, the striker may reduce the available magnetic seal contact area, disrupt the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator interior, and interfere with the user's line of site to refrigerator controls or other portions of the interior of the refrigerator.

Method used

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  • Refrigerator door mullion apparatus and system
  • Refrigerator door mullion apparatus and system
  • Refrigerator door mullion apparatus and system

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator 100 incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are generally directed towards a refrigerator having French-style doors, at least one of which incorporates a rotating mullion bar. The rotation of the mullion bar is provided automatically by an actuator, independent of the motion of the French-style door, and may be activated by one of the doors, a switch, or a combination of both.

[0018]As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 includes food storage compartments, such as a fresh food compartment 102 and a bottom-mounted freezer compartment 104. The refrigerator 100 may be coolable by a conventional vapor-compression temperature control circuit (not shown).

[0019]The fresh food compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 104 are arranged in a bottom mount configuration where the freezer compartment 104 is disposed or arranged beneath or below the fresh food com...

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PUM

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Abstract

A French-style refrigerator door is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an actuator and a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the door. The mullion bar is responsive to the actuator to automatically rotate from a first position to a second position upon actuation of the actuator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present disclosure relates generally to a refrigerator including French-style doors. More particularly, aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a French-style door having a rotating mullion.[0002]In general, refrigerators having French-style doors are known. Typically, two French-style doors are used in side-by-side configurations to seal fresh food and freezer compartments. With the growing popularity of bottom mount freezers, manufacturers are now finding it desirable to provide French-style doors for the upper fresh food compartment.[0003]French-style doors are desirable for a number of reasons, including for example, weight reduction. The doors divide an opening in half such that each French-style door is approximately half the weight of a conventional door. Additionally, the use of French-style doors enhances the arrangement for storing, as well as the accessibility to, a wide variety of objects within the refrigerator. Accordingly, w...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F25D23/02
CPCF25D2323/021F25D23/028
Inventor DAVIS, MATTHEW WILLIAMBROWN, SCOTT GABRIEL
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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