Refrigerator with multi-piece mullion having stepped offset

• US 20060152125A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Wing, Forrest F., Anderson, Troy M., Pohl, Douglas A., Schuchert, Eugene H., Helming, Garnett S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,410,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/406.200
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/065 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator

Abstract

A side-by-side refrigerator includes a cabinet defining fresh food and freezer compartments, each having upper and lower sections which vary in width and volume, preferably along with corresponding fresh food and freezer doors that vary in width. The fresh food and freezer compartments are spaced by an offset mullion assembly against which the doors seal. In accordance with the present invention, the offset mullion assembly includes a first longitudinal member, a second longitudinal member, a laterally extending brace and a cosmetic cover. The offset mullion assembly provides strength to the cabinet while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform sealing surface for the fresh food and freezer doors.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet defining laterally spaced fresh food and freezer compartments separated by a fore-to-aft extending divider wall, with each of the fresh food and freezer compartments having varying width sections and an open frontal zone;

fresh food and freezer doors pivotally mounted to the cabinet between open and closed positions for accessing and sealing the fresh food and freezer compartments respectively; and

a mullion assembly positioned between the fresh food and freezer compartments, said mullion assembly including a first elongated mullion member, a second elongated mullion member, and a brace, said first and second mullion members being laterally offset and interconnected by the brace.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mullion members are also vertically offset in relation to one another.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the brace includes first and second leg portions interconnected by a laterally extending portion.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein first and second mullion members at least partially overlap the first and second leg portions of the brace respectively.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the first and second mullion members include connecting members securing the first and second mullion members to the brace.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the connecting members provide snap-fit connections between the first and second mullion members and the brace.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein each of the first and second mullion members includes a lip portion that at least partially overlaps the laterally extending portion of the brace.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the mullion assembly further comprises a cosmetic cover.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the cosmetic cover includes a body portion having first and second lip receiving recesses, the lip receiving recesses sandwiching the lip portions of the first and second mullion members between the cosmetic cover and the brace.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the cosmetic cover includes at least one snap-fit member securing the cover to the brace.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the snap-fit member includes at least one tab extending substantially perpendicularly from the body portion of the cosmetic cover and engaging the brace.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second mullion members includes a body portion, as well as first and second wall portions extending substantially perpendicularly from the body portion, with said first and second wall portions defining a laterally opening channel.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein each of the first and second mullion members includes a lip portion.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the mullion assembly further comprises a cosmetic cover.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the cosmetic cover is snap-fit to the brace.

16. A method of assembling a side-by-side refrigerator comprising:

forming a cabinet to include at least laterally spaced side panels interconnected by a top panel;

attaching a multi-piece mullion assembly to the cabinet to establish side-by-side fresh food and freezer areas through an interconnection of upper and lower, laterally offset mullion members with a laterally extending central brace; and

pivotally attaching fresh food and freezer doors, each having varying widths, to the cabinet at the fresh food and freezer areas respectively.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

snap-fitting each of the upper and lower mullion members to the brace.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

attaching a cover to the brace, with the cover spanning laterally between the upper and lower mullion members.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

snap-fittingly attaching the cover to the brace.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

overlapping each of the upper and lower mullion members with the cover, thereby sandwiching portions of the upper and lower mullion members between the brace and the cover.