Refrigeration appliance having a door with an endcap assembly

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance (110) comprising: a body (118) defining a compartment (114) for storing food items in a refrigerated environment; a door (116) for engaging with the body (118) and selectively closing the compartment (114), the door (116) having a front panel (130) and a rear panel (132), the front panel (130) disposed outwardly from the compartment (114) and the rear panel (132) facing the compartment (114) when the door (116) is engaged with the body (114); and a door end closure assembly (140) providing an end of the door (116) adjacent to each of the front panel (130) and the rear panel (132), the door end closure assembly (140) including an endcap (142) extending between the front panel (130) and the rear panel (132), wherein the endcap (142) includes at least two holes (154), a cover (156), and a bushing (155), wherein the at least two holes (154) are configured to receive the cover (156) and the bushing (155), wherein the bushing (155) includes a hinge reception area (155a) configured to receive and rotationally support a hinge pin, and wherein the hinge reception area (155a) is further configured to receive the cover (156) when the hinge pin is not received within the hinge reception area (155a).

Description

REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE HAVING A DOOR WITH AN ENDCAP ASSEMBLYField of the Invention

[0001] This application relates generally to an endcap assembly for a vertically upper or lower end of a door of a refrigeration appliance, and more particularly to an endcap having holes for a bushing and a cover.Background of the Invention

[0002] Conventional refrigeration appliances, such as domestic refrigerators, have one or more compartments, and typically have both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment or section. The fresh food compartment is where food items such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages are stored and the freezer compartment is where food items that are to be kept in a frozen condition are stored. The refrigerators are provided with a refrigeration system that maintains the fresh food compartment at temperatures above 0 °C, such as between 0.25 °C and 4.5 °C and the freezer compartments at temperatures below 0 °C, such as between 0 °C and -20 °C.

[0003] The arrangements of the fresh food and freezer compartments with respect to one another in such refrigerators vary. For example, in some cases, the freezer compartment is located above the fresh food compartment and in other cases the freezer compartment is located below the fresh food compartment. Whatever arrangement of the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment is employed, typically, separate access and thus separate doors are provided for the compartments so that either compartment may be accessed without exposing the other compartment to the ambient air.

[0004] Conventional closure for these compartments can include hinged doors, drawer doors, or any combination thereof. Typically, a hinged door is hinged either on a left side or a right side of the door and it is difficult for a user to switch this hinging direction without specialized tools or service from a professional.

[0005] Each door conventionally includes at least a front panel, a rear panel, upper and lower endcap assemblies. A bushing and a bushing hole cover are typically found on one or both of the endcaps. The bushings are used to receive a hinge pin to pivotally attach the door to the refrigeration appliance. These bushings bear the weight of the door and the goods received within door compartments.Brief Summary of the Invention

[0006] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects described in the detailed description. This summary is not an extensive overview. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope of the disclosure. The sole purpose of the summary is to present some concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0007] In accordance with one aspect, a refrigeration appliance includes a body defining a compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment, and a door for engaging with the body and selectively closing the compartment. The door has a front panel and a rear panel, with the front panel disposed outwardly from the compartment and the rear panel facing the compartment when the door is engaged with the body. A door end closure assembly provides an end of the door adjacent to each of the front panel and the rear panel. The door end closure assembly includes an endcap extending between the front panel and the rear panel. The endcap includes at least two holes, a cover, and a bushing. The at least two holes receive the cover and the bushing. The bushing includes a hinge reception area that receives and rotationally supports a hinge pin. The hinge reception area further receives the cover when the hinge pin is not received within the hinge reception area.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of reversing a hinging direction of a door of a refrigeration appliance. The method includes removing the door from a body of the refrigeration appliance, where the door of the refrigeration appliance comprises an endcap. The endcap has a cover, a bushing, a first hole located at a first end of the endcap, and a second hole located at a second end of the endcap. The cover is then removed from the first hole, and the cover is aligned coaxially with a hinge reception area of the bushing located in the second hole. The cover is translated towards and into the hinge reception area. The cover is coupled to the bushing via engagement within the hinge reception area of the bushing. The cover and the bushing are removed from the second hole, and the cover is separated from the bushing. The bushing is then aligned coaxially with the first hole and then translated towards and into the first hole. The cover is placed into the second hole and the door is reinstalled onto the body of the refrigeration appliance.

[0009] The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompany drawings.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, show various aspects of the disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a partial front perspective view of a household two-door, top mount refrigerator according to the present disclosure, showing doors of the bottom fresh food compartment and of the top freezer compartment slightly ajar;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the doors of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, unmounted, and separate from the body of the refrigerator;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the door of the bottom compartment of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the top endcap of the door of the bottom compartment of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 ;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectioned view of the top endcap of FIG. 4 taken from the right side along line 5-5;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectioned view of the top endcap of FIG. 4 taken from the left side along line 6-6;

[0017] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the cover of the endcap of FIG. 4;

[0018] FIG. 7B is a side view of the cover of FIG. 7A;

[0019] FIG. 7C is a perspective bottom view of the cover of FIG. 7A;

[0020] FIG. 8 A is a perspective view of the bushing of the endcap of FIG. 4;

[0021] FIG. 8B is a side view of the bushing of FIG. 8 A;

[0022] FIG. 8C is a bottom view of the bushing of FIG. 8 A;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectioned view of the endcap of FIG. 4 along line 9-9.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectioned view of a cover inserted into a bushing within a hole of the endcap of FIG. 4; and

[0025] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectioned view of a cover inserted into a bushing removed from the hole of the endcap of FIG. 4.Description of Example Embodiments

[0026] Embodiments of a refrigerator or a component thereof now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0027] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a refrigeration appliance in the form of a domestic refrigerator, indicated generally at 110. Although the detailed description that follows concerns a domestic refrigerator 110, the invention can be embodied by refrigeration appliances other than with a domestic refrigerator 110. Specifically, the door end closure assembly described below also has utility for use with commercial refrigeration appliances, dishwashers, microwaves, or other kitchen appliances.

[0028] Further, an embodiment is described in detail below, and shown in the figures as a top-mount configuration of a refrigerator 110, including a body 118 containing a fresh food compartment 114 disposed vertically below a freezer compartment 112. However, the refrigerator 110 can have any desired configuration including at least a fresh food compartment 114 and / or a freezer compartment 112, such as a bottom mount refrigerator (freezer disposed below the fresh food compartment), a side-by-side refrigerator (fresh food compartment is laterally next to the freezer compartment), a standalone refrigerator or freezer, etc.

[0029] In a bottom mount refrigerator, a drawer assembly (not shown) including one or more freezer baskets (not shown) can be withdrawn from the freezer compartment 112 to grant a user access to food items stored in the freezer compartment 112. The drawer assembly can be coupled to a freezer door 116 that includes a handle. When a user grasps the handle and pulls the freezer door 116 open, at least one or more of the freezer baskets is caused to be at least partially withdrawn from the freezer compartment 112.

[0030] In alternative embodiments, an ice maker is located within the freezer compartment. In this configuration, although still disposed within the freezer compartment, at least the ice maker (and possibly an ice bin) is mounted to an interior surface of the freezer door. It is contemplated that an ice mold and ice bin can be separate elements, in which one remains within the freezer compartment and the other is on the freezer door.

[0031] The freezer compartment 112 is used to freeze and / or maintain articles of food stored in the freezer compartment 112 in a frozen condition. For this purpose, the freezer compartment 112 is in thermal communication with a freezer evaporator (not shown) that removes thermal energy from the freezer compartment 112 to maintain the temperature therein at a temperature of 0 °C or less during operation of the refrigerator 110, preferably between 0 °C and -50 °C, more preferably between 0 °C and -30 °C and even more preferably between 0 °C and -20 °C.

[0032] Referring again to FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment the freezer compartment 112 is arranged vertically above the fresh food compartment 114. The refrigerator 110 includes an interior liner 119a that defines the freezer compartment 112 andan interior liner 119b that defines the fresh food compartment 114. The fresh food compartment 114 is located in the lower portion of the refrigerator 110 in this example and serves to minimize spoiling of articles of food stored therein. The fresh food compartment 114 accomplishes this by maintaining the temperature in the fresh food compartment 114 at a cool temperature that is typically above 0 °C, so as not to freeze the articles of food in the fresh food compartment 114. It is contemplated that the cool temperature preferably is between 0 °C and 10 °C, more preferably between 0 °C and 5 °C and even more preferably between 0.25 °C and 4.5 °C. According to some embodiments, cool air from which thermal energy has been removed by the freezer evaporator can also be blown into the fresh food compartment 114 to maintain the temperature therein greater than 0 °C preferably between 0 °C and 10 °C, more preferably between 0 °C and 5 °C and even more preferably between 0.25 °C and 4.5 °C. For alternate embodiments, a separate fresh food evaporator can optionally be dedicated to separately maintaining the temperature within the fresh food compartment 114 independent of the freezer compartment 112. According to an embodiment, the temperature in the fresh food compartment 114 can be maintained at a cool temperature within a close tolerance of a range between 0 °C and 4.5 °C, including any subranges and any individual temperatures falling with that range. For example, other embodiments can optionally maintain the cool temperature within the fresh food compartment 114 within a reasonably close tolerance of a temperature between 0.25 °C and 4 °C.

[0033] The refrigerator 110 includes a set of vertically-separated doors 116 that engage with the body 118. The lower door 116 is provided for selectively closing (and thus also allow for selective opening of) the fresh food compartment 114. The upper door 116 is provided for selective closing and opening of the freezer compartment 112. The illustrated embodiment of the refrigerator 100 shows both doors 116 being hinge-mounted to the body 118 of the refrigerator 110 and liners 119a, 119b mounted to the body 118. As will be appreciated, either door 116 can be hinge-mounted on either of the left or right side.

[0034] In other embodiments, one or more of the doors 116 may be attached to a drawer that is at least one of slidable or tiltable relative to the body 118 to allow for access to the respective compartment 112 or 114.

[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the description provided below is directed towards the lower door 116 of the fresh food compartment 114 but is equally-applicable to the upper door 116 of the freezer compartment and also equally-applicable to a drawer-mounted door.

[0036] The depicted lower door 116 includes a front panel 130 and a rear panel 132. The front panel 130 is formed integrally with side edges 116a, 116b that curve or bend towardsthe rear panel 132 to encapsulate an inner area within the panels 130, 132. The front panel 130 is disposed outwardly from the fresh food compartment 114. The rear panel 132 includes the liner 119b and faces the compartment 114 when the door 116 is engaged with the body 118. A plurality of food storage compartments (not shown) may be formed integrally with the liner 119b. The plurality of food storage compartments include shelves, drawers, or other storage means for receiving foodstuffs. A plurality of food storage compartments may also be formed integrally with the liner 119a of the freezer compartment 112.

[0037] Generally, the front panel 130 and side edges 116a, 116b are formed of metal while the rear panel 132 and the liner 119b are formed of a plastic material. The panels 130 and 132 extend vertically from top portions 134 to bottom portions 136 and are spaced from one another at least at these top and bottom portions 134, 136. The tops and bottoms of the door 116 are closed by door end closure assemblies 140 that extend between the front and rear panels 130 and 132 to couple these panels 130 and 132 to one another. The door end closure assemblies are generally formed of a plastic material. In some embodiments, the door end closure assemblies will be different at the top and bottoms of each door. After assembly, an insulating foam is injected into the interior of the door to provide thermal insulation and structural rigidity to the door.

[0038] In some embodiments, the bottom door end assembly may be omitted. In some embodiments, a door end closure assembly 140 may be used alternatively or additionally at one or both sides of the door 116. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that while the door end closure assembly 140 at the top of the door 116 is described below, the description may be equally-applicable to another door or location of end closure assembly on the door 116 or on another door.

[0039] It is further contemplated that the invention described herein may also be used on a door that does not include a separate end cover. For example, the sheet metal that forms the front of the door can be bent over to thereby form a top edge of the refrigerator door. In such a configuration, there is no separate end cover element. Even so, the user interface construction described herein could readily be applied to such a non-endcap construction. For example, the metal forming the top edge of the door can have a suitable cut-out for installing the user interface therein.

[0040] Likewise, although not a top edge of the door, the invention described herein could also be used on other portions of the door, such as a side edge or bottom edge formed by folding over the sheet metal without the use of a separate end cover element.

[0041] Turning to FIGS. 3-4, the door end closure assembly 140 of the door 116 includes an endcap 142 extending between the front panel 130 and the rear panel 132 to couple the front panel 130 to the rear panel 132. A front edge 144 of the endcap 142 is mounted to the front panel 130, while a rear edge 146 (FIG. 4) of the endcap 142 is mounted to the rear panel 132. Between the front and rear edges 144 and 146, the endcap 142 extends along a thickness direction 143 of the door 116 that is generally orthogonal to a vertical axis 145 of the door 116 and is attached to the side edges of the door.

[0042] In a direction generally orthogonal to each of the thickness direction 143 and to the vertical axis 145, the endcap 142 extends along a length between opposing longitudinal ends 150 and 152 of the endcap 142 (i.e., along the width of the door). As shown, the endcap 142 extends a full length of the top of the door 116, although in other embodiments, the endcap 142 may have a different length.

[0043] The right end 152 (with reference to the illustration of FIG. 4), includes a hole 154 that may be either a blind hole as shown, or alternatively a through hole, for allowing receipt of a hinge shaft. A bushing 155 is received at the right hole 154. A hole 154 at the opposite left end 150 is closed by a cover 156, and may be used for oppositely opening hingemounted doors. Preferably, the holes 154 at both sides of the door are substantially identical so that the bushing 155 can be installed into either hole interchangeably.

[0044] Optionally, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, the endcap 142 may defines at least a portion of a recessed pocket handle gap 160 that is configured to receive at least a portion of a user’ s hand to allow for the selective opening of the fresh food compartment 114. The handle gap 160 is a gap that extends between the front and rear edges 144 and 146 of the endcap 142, and along at least a portion of the length of the endcap 142 between the opposing longitudinal ends 150 and 152.

[0045] For example, the illustrated endcap 142 shows the handle gap 160 being at least a portion of a grasping cavity 162 that extends along a depth to a cavity bottom surface in the door 116, between the front and rear panels 130 and 132. The grasping cavity 162 extends along a longitudinal length of the endcap 142. The handle gap 160, and thereby the grasping cavity 162, allows a user room to place their hand, and specifically their fingers, to grasp a front ridge 164 of the endcap 142. This front ridge 164 defines a front portion of the grasping cavity 162 and of the handle gap 160 and serves as a handle in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5.

[0046] However, it is contemplated that the bushing and cover construction described herein can be used with an endcap that does not include a recessed pocket handle, or even witha door that does not include a separate endcap along the top edge and also that does not include a recessed pocket handle. For example, the endcap (or non-endcap top edge of the door) could have a substantially flat and / or uniform surface which can have a suitable through-hole for installing the bushing and / or cover therein.

[0047] Still referring to FIG. 4, but also to FIG. 5, the door end closure assembly 140 optionally may include an engagement member 230 engaged between the endcap 142 and the front panel 130 to aid in mounting the endcap 142 to the front panel 130. The engagement member 230 can be separate from the endcap 142, or can be integrally formed with the endcap 142 so that the the endcap 142 can be coupled directly to the front panel 130.

[0048] During assembly of the door 116, the endcap 142, front panel 130 and rear panel 132 are mounted to one another and the internal space therebetween is filled with insulation that cures into a rigid structural and insulating foam. The insulation typically is fluidly injected, such as foamed, into the insulation space, which aids in retaining the endcap 142, front panel 130 and rear panel 132 mounted to one another.

[0049] Turning specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, cross sections of the left and right ends 150, 152, respectively, of the door end closure assembly 140 are illustrated. The hole 154 at the left end 150 houses the cover 156, while the hole 154 at the right end 152 houses the bushing 155. As the bushing 155 is configured to receive and rotationally support a hinge pin (not shown), the bushing 155 is located at a hinged side of the door 116, while the cover 156 is located at the opposite end (i.e., non-hinged side of the door 116). The cover 156 is used to conceal the otherwise open and unused hole 154 in the top surface of the endcap 142. The bushing 155 and the cover 156 are able to be received within both, or all, holes 154, as both the bushing 155 and the cover 156 have similar cross sections that conform to the shape of the holes 154. The structure of the bushing 155 and the cover 156 coupled with the above-described method allows for a user to reverse a hinging direction of the door 116 without the need for specialized tools or service. When it is desired to switch the hinge direction of the door (i.e., right-side hinge or left-side hinge), the cover 156 and the bushing 155 may be removed from their respective hole 154 and switched to be received within the opposite hole 154.

[0050] Turning to FIGS. 7A-7C, the structure of the cover 156 will be described. A top portion 156a is configured to preferably sit flush with the surface of the endcap 142 when the cover 156 is housed within the hole 154, although in other embodiments may be recessed into or extend upwards from the surface of the endcap 142. The top portion 156a substantially conforms to the size and shape of a cross-section of the hole 154 with the exception of a removal slot 156b, thereby enabling the cover 156 to substantially conceal the hole 154 fromview with the cover 156 is installed therein. Preferably, the cover 156 is integrally molded of plastic as a monolithic body. The cover 156 is held within the hole 154 by an interference fit, or friction against the inner surface of the hole 154.

[0051] A user may remove the cover 156 by inserting a tool, for example, a flathead screwdriver, into the removal slot 156b between the cover 156 and an inner wall of the hole 154. The removal slot 156b, configured to receive a tool, is relatively straight and extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 156x of the cover 156. The removal slot 156b may optionally include an at least partially slanted surface 156b 1 that extends downward from the top portion 156a and inwards towards the longitudinal axis 156x of the cover 156. The slanted surface 156b 1 is configured to provide leverage for a user when removing the cover 156 from the hole 154. The slanted surface 156b 1 extends between a pair of parallel walls 156b2 that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 156x of the cover 156.

[0052] A flange surface 156c extends from the top portion 156a towards a pair of resilient prongs 156d. The flange surface 156c extends in a circumferential direction relative to the top portion 156a and conforms to the shape of the hole 154. The flange surface 156c at least partially overlaps with the pair of prongs 156d in the longitudinal direction. A bottom portion of the flange surface 156c abuts an annular portion 154b (FIG. 6) of the hole 154 to prevent the cover 156 from extending too far within the hole 154. A cutout 156e is provided within the flange surface 156c and is configured to receive a user’s finger when the cover 156 is being used to remove the bushing 155, described further below.

[0053] The flange surface 156c is reinforced by at least one support 156cl formed on an underside of the top portion 156a and extending in the longitudinal direction and extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The support 156cl may extend an entire length (i.e., height) of the flange surface 156c as illustrated in FIG. 7C, or along a partial length of the flange surface 156c.

[0054] The pair of resilient prongs 156d extend generally in the longitudinal direction and are resiliently flexible so as to bend towards and away from the longitudinal axis 156x. Preferably, the pair of resilient prongs 156d are angled away from each other relative to the longitudinal axis 156x. At a distal end of the prongs 156d, each prong 156d has a projection 156dl. The projection 156dl generally includes three parts, a shelf 156dla, a peripheral portion 156dlb, and a slanted portion 156dlc, described further below. The resilient nature of the prongs 156d presents the distal end thereof being generally outwards and away from the longitudinal axis 156x.

[0055] Turning to FIGS. 8A-8C, the structure of the bushing 155 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the bushing 155 contains a hinge reception area 155a, a flange 155b, a shaft 155c, a planar surface 155d, and a locking arm 155e. The bushing 155 is generally cylindrical in shape and the flange 155b is designed to substantially conform to the shape and size of the inner surface of the hole 154. The hinge reception area 155a is a hollow cavity extending along a longitudinal axis 155x of the bushing 155. The hinge reception area 155a is configured to receive a hinge pin (not shown) secured to the body of the refrigerator 110 in order to pivotally attach the door 116 to the refrigerator 110. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the hinge reception area 155a is a blind hole, although optionally it can also be a through hole.

[0056] The flange 155b extends radially beyond the shaft 155c. The planar surface 155d substantially corresponds to and aligns with a shape and depth of an upper portion 154u of the hole 154 having corresponding, mating geometry. The planar surface 155d in the flange 155b and the corresponding geometry of the hole 154 promotes fast installation, as the bushing 155 cannot be misaligned with respect to the hole 154. The planar surface 155d includes a recessed area 155d 1 into which a tool, such as a flat head screwdriver, can be inserted to assist with removal of the bushing 155 from the hole 154.

[0057] The shaft 155c substantially conforms to a geometry of a lower portion 1541 of the hole 154. The locking arm 155e is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft 155c. Preferably, the locking arm 155e is integrally molded with the bushing 155 as a monolithic body. The locking arm 155e is resiliently movable in a radial direction of the bushing 155, and is biased away from the longitudinal axis 155x. As described further below, the locking arm 155e has a radially protruding projection 155el configured to engage a lip 154a (FIG. 9) located within the hole 154. The radially protruding projection 155el may be rounded, angled, or have any other shape suitable for engagement with the lip 154a. In one example, a curved protruding projection 155el can make it easier to smoothly pull out the bushing 155 from the hole 154 without the projection 155el getting stuck. The lip 154a protrudes inwards towards a center of the hole 154. As illustrated in FIG. 8C, an underside of the flange 155b includes a plurality of recesses 155g configured to reinforce the bushing 155.

[0058] During installation of the bushing 155, the bushing 155 is disposed vertically above a top surface of the endcap 142 and aligned coaxially with the hole 154. The bushing 155 is rotated such that the planar surface 155d is aligned with the corresponding, mating geometry of the hole 154. Thereafter, the bushing 155 is translated downwards and into the hole 154 until the projection 155el of the locking arm 155e engages with the lip 154a of the hole 154 such that the locking arm 155e is forcibly moved radially inwards. The bushing 155continues to be pushed downwards into the hole until the projection 155el clears the lip 154a in the vertical direction, and the locking arm 155e reverts back to its original position via an inherent biasing force. In this position, the engagement between the projection 155e 1 and the lip 154a creates a snap-lock that prevents accidental removal of the bushing 155.

[0059] When it is desired to switch the swing-direction of the door 116, the following procedure can be used. First, the door 116 must be removed from the body 118 of the refrigerator 110. In doing so, the hinge pin is removed from the bushing 155. Before removal of the bushing 155, a user removes the cover 156 from its hole 154 by inserting a tool, such as a flathead screwdriver, into the removal slot 156b and biasing the cover 156 upwards and out of the hole 154. This upward movement of the cover 156 causes the pair of resilient prongs 156d to bend inwards towards one another and thus the cover 156 is free to slide upwards and out of the hole 154.

[0060] The cover 156 is then aligned coaxially with and above the bushing 155 installed within the endcap 142. The cover 156 is translated downwards and into the hinge reception area 155a of the bushing 155. The prongs 156d are resiliently movable in a radial direction of the cover 156. The slanted portions 156dlc of the projections 156dl slide along the circumference of the top of the hinge reception area 155a until the prongs 156d are biased inwards towards one another so that the peripheral portions 156dlb of the projections 156dl are parallel with the inner circumferential surface of the hinge reception area 155a.

[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the cover 156 is slid further into the hinge reception area 155a until the projections 156dl of the prongs 156d encounter engagement slots 155f located within the surface of the shaft 155c of the bushing 155. The prongs 156d and thus the projections 156dl return to their original outwardly protruding positions via an inherent biasing force. In this position, the shelf 156dla of the projections 156dl are able to lockingly engage with an upper surface 155fl of the engagement slots 155f

[0062] A user then inserts a tool or a finger into the cutout 156e of the cover 156 and pulls upwards to urge both the cover 156 and the bushing 155 attached thereto out of the hole 154. As the cover 156 and bushing 155 are pulled upwards, the radially protruding projection 155el of the locking arm 155e of the bushing 155 is forcibly moved radially inwards until the projection 155el clears the lip 154a within the hole 154. The bushing 155 is then free to be removed from the hole 154.

[0063] When both the cover 156 and the bushing are removed from the hole 154, as seen in FIG. 11, the cover 156 is then rotated by a user relative to the bushing 155 so that the prongs 156d and therefore the projections 156dl no longer engage with the engagement slots155f. The cover 156 can then be upwardly removed from the hinge reception area 155a of the bushing 155, and placed within the hole 154 that will no longer be used with the hinge pin. The bushing 155 is then inserted into the opposite hole 154 of the door. The door 116 is then reinstalled onto the body 118 of the refrigerator 110 and the hinge pin is inserted into the newly positioned bushing 155. Therefore, the hinge direction of the door 116 has been reversed.

[0064] The endcap of the instant application is advantageous because a user may install a hinge pin of a refrigerator within either hole of the endcap and therefore reverse a hinging direction of the refrigerator door based on a desired orientation. This desired orientation may vary based on room size, layout, and adjacent cupboards or appliances. Moreover, it is advantageous to be able to perform the hinge direction reversal without needing additional specialized tools or specialized service workers. Further, manufacture of the endcap and therefore the refrigerator is simplified due to both holes being identical.

[0065] The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Examples embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A refrigeration appliance (110) comprising: a body (118) defining a compartment (114) for storing food items in a refrigerated environment; a door (116) for engaging with the body (118) and selectively closing the compartment (114), the door (116) having a front panel (130) and a rear panel (132), the front panel (130) disposed outwardly from the compartment (114) and the rear panel (132) facing the compartment (114) when the door (116) is engaged with the body (114); and a door end closure assembly (140) providing an end of the door (116) adjacent to each of the front panel (130) and the rear panel (132), the door end closure assembly (140) including an endcap (142) extending between the front panel (130) and the rear panel (132), wherein the endcap (142) includes at least two holes (154), a cover (156), and a bushing (155), wherein the at least two holes (154) are configured to receive the cover (156) and the bushing (155), wherein the bushing (155) includes a hinge reception area (155a) configured to receive and rotationally support a hinge pin, and wherein the hinge reception area (155a) is further configured to receive the cover (156) when the hinge pin is not received within the hinge reception area (155a).

2. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 1, wherein the at least two holes (154) are formed as blind holes or through holes.

3. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 1, wherein the cover (156) includes a pair of resilient prongs (156d) extending therefrom at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cover (156).

4. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 3, wherein the pair of resilient prongs ( 156d) is configured to be received within the hinge reception area (155a) of the bushing (155).

5. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 3, wherein each prong of the pair of prongs (156d) includes a projection (156dl).

6. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 5, wherein the projection (156dl) is configured to lockingly engage an engagement slot (155f) formed within a shaft (155c) of the bushing (155).

7. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 1, wherein the bushing (155) includes a locking arm (155e) having a radially protruding projection (155e 1).

8. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 7, wherein each of the at least two holes (154) include a radially projecting lip (154a).

9. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 8, wherein the radially protruding projection (155el) of the locking arm (155e) of the bushing (155) is configured to engage the radially projecting lip (154a) of one of the at least two holes (154).

10. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 1, wherein the bushing (155) includes a flange (155b) having a planar surface (155d), the planar surface (155d) corresponding to a shape of an upper portion of the at least two holes (154).

11. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 1, wherein the at least two holes (154) are located on opposite ends (150, 152) of the endcap (142).

12. The refrigeration appliance (110) of claim 1, wherein the bushing (155) and the cover (156) are interchangeably received within the at least two holes (154).

13. A method of reversing a hinging direction of a door (116) of a refrigeration appliance (110), the method comprising the steps of: removing the door (116) from a body (118) of the refrigeration appliance (110), the door (116) of the refrigeration appliance (110) comprising an endcap (142) having a cover (156), a bushing (155), a first hole (154) located at a first end (150) of the endcap, and a second hole (154) located at a second end (152) of the endcap (142), removing the cover (156) from the first hole (154),aligning the cover (156) coaxially with a hinge reception area (155a) of the bushing (155) located in the second hole (154), translating the cover (156) towards and into the hinge reception area (155a), coupling the cover (156) to the bushing (155) via engagement within the hinge reception area (155a) of the bushing (155), removing the cover (156) and the bushing (155) from the second hole (154), separating the cover (156) from the bushing (155), aligning the bushing (155) coaxially with the first hole (154), translating the bushing (155) towards and into the first hole (154), placing the cover (156) into the second hole (154), and reinstalling the door (116) onto the body (118) of the refrigeration appliance (110).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of coupling the cover (156) to the bushing (155) further includes biasing a pair of prongs (156d) of the cover (156) radially inwards and lockingly engaging a pair of engagement slots (155f) in the bushing (155) with the pair of prongs (156d), and wherein the step of aligning the bushing (155) coaxially with the first hole (154) further includes rotating the bushing (155) such that a planar surface (155d) of the bushing (155) aligns with a mating geometry of the first hole (154), wherein the step of translating the bushing (155) towards and into the first hole (154) further includes biasing a locking arm (155e) of the bushing (155) radially inwards and engaging a projection (155el) of the bushing (155) with a lip (154a) of the first hole (154).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of separating the cover (156) from the bushing (155) further includes rotating the cover (156) with respect to the bushing (155) to thereby disengage the pair of engagement slots (155f), and pulling upwardly and removing the cover (156) from the hinge reception area (155a) of the bushing (155).

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