REFRIGERATOR PANTRY COMPARTMENT

• US 20150241117A1
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: KARANJIKAR, ANANT RAVINDRA, MARTIN, DEAN A., BURKE, JULIA B., GOGAD, ASHISH DONGARMAL
• Granted Patent: US 9,228,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/065 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators

Abstract

A compartment for storing items in a mullion wall separating refrigerated compartments is provided. One exemplary embodiment provides a refrigerator with a first refrigerated compartment selectively coverable by a first door and a second refrigerated compartment selectively coverable by a second door. A mullion separates the first and second refrigerated compartments. A storage compartment is located in the mullion and separable from the first refrigerated compartment by a selectively closeable lid.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a first upper compartment selectively coverable by a first door and a second lower refrigerated compartment selectively coverable by a second door;

a mullion between the first and second compartments;

a storage compartment located adjacent the mullion, the compartment having a bottom wall with generally upstanding side walls terminating at the mullion;

wherein the mullion is separated from the first compartment by a selectively closeable lid;

wherein the bottom wall of the storage compartment comprises an internal wall of the second lower refrigerated compartment.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the storage compartment is located behind the mullion.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the first compartment comprises a refrigerated compartment and the second compartment comprises a refrigerated pantry compartment.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the first compartment comprises a freezer compartment and the second compartment comprises a refrigerated pantry compartment.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the first compartment comprises a refrigerated pantry compartment.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the selectively closeable lid comprises a pair of intersliding doors.

7. A refrigerator comprising:

two or more refrigerated compartments selectively coverable by one or more doors;

a mullion located between the two or more refrigerated compartments;

a storage compartment formed in part by a set of compartment walls circumscribing an opening within the mullion, the set of compartment walls terminating at a bottom wall comprising at least one upper wall of a lower one of the two or more refrigerated compartments; and

a selectively closeable lid disposed over the opening for separating the storage compartment from one of the two or more refrigerated compartments.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the selectively closeable lid comprises one or more sliding doors.

9. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the mullion comprises a generally upward facing wall, wherein the selectively closable lid is disposed over the opening in the generally upward facing wall.

10. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the storage compartment comprises a bottom wall generally adjacent a bottom wall of the mullion.

11. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the mullion is located between a fresh food compartment and a pantry compartment.

12. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the upward facing wall forms a bottom wall of one of the two or mores refrigerated compartment.

13. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the refrigerator comprises a four door bottom mount refrigerator.

14. A refrigerator comprising:

a fresh food compartment selectively coverable by one or more doors;

a fresh food drawer disposed beneath the fresh food compartment;

a mullion disposed between the fresh food compartment and the fresh food drawer, the mullion having a top wall;

a food storage compartment disposed within the mullion, the food storage compartment having a bottom wall and side walls terminating in an opening disposed generally in the top wall of the mullion, wherein the bottom wall of the food storage compartment comprises an upper wall of the fresh food drawer; and

a cover selectable between open and closed positions disposed over the opening of the food storage compartment.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the mullion further comprises a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall forms a top surface of a pantry compartment configured to receive the fresh food drawer.

16. The refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the food storage compartment is formed in part by a set of compartment walls circumscribing the opening disposed within the top wall of the mullion.

17. The refrigerator of claim 14 wherein a portion of the top wall of the mullion is formed by the cover.

18. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the food storage compartment is disposed generally between the top and bottom wall of the mullion.

19. The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the set of compartment walls are disposed beneath the top wall of the mullion.

20. The refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the cover comprises a pair of intersliding doors.