REFRIGERATOR WITH STORAGE BIN

• US 20060250063A1
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Czach, Matthew G., Franck, Marcus W., Meese, David L., Whah, Kenneth N., Mills, Richard B., Van Dore, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/405.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/60 Tiltably- or pivotally-arranged drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/00 Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled

Abstract

A storage bin assembly for mounting to a household refrigerator door comprises a storage bin defining a recess and having an opening to provide access to the recess. The storage bin is movably mounted to the door for movement between an opened position where the recess can be accessed through the opening and a closed position where the opening is sealed with the door. The door can comprise a housing that supports the storage bin and seals with the storage bin when the storage bin is in the closed position. The storage bin can comprise a peripheral wall that defines the recess and terminates at an upper edge defining the opening.

Claims

1. A modular storage bin assembly for mounting to a household refrigerator door, the modular storage bin assembly comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to the refrigerator door; and

a storage bin defining a recess and having an opening to provide access to the recess, the storage bin movably mounted to the housing for movement between an opened position where the recess can be accessed through the opening and a closed position where the opening is sealed with the housing.

2. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing is removably mounted to the refrigerator door.

3. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 2, wherein the housing comprises at least one lug that mates with a corresponding at least one lug on the refrigerator door to removably support the housing on the refrigerator door.

4. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the storage bin comprises a peripheral wall that terminates at an upper edge that defines the opening and abuts the housing to form the seal when the storage bin is in the closed position.

5. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a shelf with an upper surface and a lower surface that the upper edge abuts against to form the seal.

6. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 5 and further comprising a second storage bin supported by the upper surface of the shelf.

7. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the storage bin is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between the opened and the closed positions.

8. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 7 and further comprising at least one lock to secure the storage bin to the housing in the closed position.

9. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one divider to divide the recess into multiple storage compartments.

10. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 9, wherein the at least one divider is removable.

11. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one storage caddy removably mounted in the recess of the storage bin.

12. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the storage bin comprises a bottom wall and a drain plate spaced from the bottom wall to support food items placed in the storage bin above the bottom wall.

13. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 12, wherein the drain plate is removably mounted to the storage bin.

14. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the storage bin comprises a handle to facilitate movement of the storage bin between the opened and closed positions.

15. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the storage bin comprises a peripheral wall, and at least a portion of the peripheral wall is translucent.

16. A household refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet that defines at least one chilled chamber with an open face;

a door movably mounted to the cabinet to selectively close the open face of the chilled chamber and having an inner surface facing the chilled chamber when the door closes the chilled chamber; and

a storage bin having a peripheral wall that defines a recess and terminates at an upper edge defining an opening, the storage bin movably mounted to the door for movement between an opened position where the recess can be accessed through the opening and a closed position where the opening is sealed with the door.

17. The household refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the door comprises a shelf that seals with the upper edge when the storage bin is in the closed position.

18. The modular storage bin assembly according to claim 17 and further comprising a second storage bin mounted to the shelf.

19. The household refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the storage bin is pivotally mounted to the door for movement between the opened and closed positions.

20. The household refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the door comprises a housing, and the storage bin is pivotally mounted to the housing.

21. The household refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein the housing is removably mounted to the door.

22. The household refrigerator according to claim 16 and further comprising at least one divider to divide the recess into multiple storage compartments.

23. The household refrigerator according to claim 16 and further comprising at least one storage caddy removably mounted in recess of the storage bin.

24. The household refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the storage bin comprises a bottom wall and a drain plate spaced from the bottom wall to support food items placed in the storage bin above the bottom wall.

25. The household refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the peripheral wall is translucent.