Unitary front face frame for a refrigerator cabinet
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
- an outer cabinet shell including a pair of laterally spaced, upright side walls and a top wall, each of said side and top walls including a respective forward portion;
a first liner defining a first refrigerated compartment arranged within the outer cabinet shell;
a second liner defining a second refrigerated compartment arranged adjacent the first liner in the outer cabinet shell; and
a face frame integrally formed from a single material sheet mounted to the outer cabinet shell at the forward portion of each of the opposing side and top walls, said face frame including top, bottom and opposing side frame members, along with a mullion member extending between one of the top and bottom frame members and the opposing side frame members, said mullion member establishing first and second openings leading into the first and second refrigerated compartments respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator includes cabinet shell including a pair of laterally spaced, upright side walls and a top wall, each of which includes a respective forward portion. A face frame, integrally formed from a single, bent material sheet, is mounted to the forward portion of each of the opposing side and top walls. The face frame includes top, bottom and opposing side frame members, along with a mullion member that extends between either the top and bottom frame members or the opposing side frame members, depending upon desired refrigerator configuration. The mullion member establishes first and second openings that lead into first and second refrigerated compartments or the refrigerator.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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an outer cabinet shell including a pair of laterally spaced, upright side walls and a top wall, each of said side and top walls including a respective forward portion; a first liner defining a first refrigerated compartment arranged within the outer cabinet shell; a second liner defining a second refrigerated compartment arranged adjacent the first liner in the outer cabinet shell; and a face frame integrally formed from a single material sheet mounted to the outer cabinet shell at the forward portion of each of the opposing side and top walls, said face frame including top, bottom and opposing side frame members, along with a mullion member extending between one of the top and bottom frame members and the opposing side frame members, said mullion member establishing first and second openings leading into the first and second refrigerated compartments respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of assembling a refrigerator comprising:
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forming an outer cabinet shell having a pair of laterally spaced, upright side walls and a top wall, each of said side and top walls including a respective forward portion; positioning a first liner in the outer cabinet shell to establish a first refrigerated compartment; arranging a second liner in the outer cabinet shell adjacent the first liner to establish a second refrigerated compartment; and mounting a face frame, which is integrally formed from a single sheet of material to establish top, bottom and opposing side frame members, along with a mullion member extending between one of the top and bottom frame members and the opposing side frame members, to the outer cabinet shell at the forward portion of each of the opposing side and top walls, with said mullion member establishing first and second openings leading into the first and second refrigerated compartments respectively. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification