Insulated and Charged To-Go Bins for a Refrigerator Appliance

Abstract

A storage bin for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The storage bin defines a storage compartment for receiving food articles and may be removably received within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may further include a carrying handle, such that it is easily portable outside the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may have cold pack material and / or insulating material in its walls such that the storage compartment remains cool for a period of time after the storage bin is removed from the refrigerator appliance. Due to the fact that the storage bin is chilled and easily portable, it is ideal for grocery shopping, for taking on a picnic, or for any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances, and more particularly to chilled and portable storage bins for refrigerator appliances.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage. The refrigerator appliances can also include various storage components mounted within the chilled chamber and designed to facilitate storage of food items therein. Such storage components can include racks, bins, shelves, or drawers that receive food items and assist with organizing and arranging of such food items within the chilled chamber.[0003]However, conventional storage components are fixed within the refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the process of transporting cold food items from chilled storage at the grocery store to a home refrigerator appliance can involve significant handling, movement, and sorting of the food items. For ex...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a storage bin for a refrigerator appliance that can be easily removed from the refrigerator and used separately. The storage bin has insulating material and a cold pack material in its walls to keep the food articles cool for a period of time after removal from the refrigerator. The storage bin is portable and ideal for grocery shopping, picnics, or any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport. The technical effects of the invention are that it provides an efficient and convenient way to cool and transport food articles while maintaining their freshness.

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, the process of transporting cold food items from chilled storage at the grocery store to a home refrigerator appliance can involve significant handling, movement, and sorting of the food items.

Therefore, the current method for transporting cold food items from chilled storage at grocery store to the consumer's home refrigerator involves a substantial amount of handling, transporting, and sorting of food items.

Not only does this require additional bags for transportation and increase the risk of damage to the food items, but the food items are not chilled or insulated during transport.

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