APPLIANCE MODULAR SYSTEM FOR INCORPORATING A PANTRY COMPARTMENT WITHIN AN APPLIANCE

• US 20170115051A1
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Ramm, Axel Julio, Richards, Michael S., Wadke, Rahul, Wittes, Joshua J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,006,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/175 Refrigerators or freezers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/067 Supporting elements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/021 French doors
• 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: F25D 25/025 Drawers

Abstract

A refrigerating appliance includes an interior volume divided by a medial wall into refrigerating and freezing compartments. A horizontal false mullion extends through one of the compartments, parallel with the medial wall to define a pantry compartment in thermal communication with at least one of the refrigerating and freezing compartments. A center vertical mullion is removably engaged with the medial wall and divides the pantry compartment into first and second pantry sub compartments. First and second outer drawer glides are positioned on the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment and opposite first and second inner drawer glides of the center vertical mullion. The first inner and first outer drawer glides partially define the first pantry sub compartment. The second inner and second outer drawer glides partially define the second pantry sub compartment. First and second pantry drawers are slidably engaged with first and second pantry sub compartments, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a refrigerating appliance, the method including steps of:

providing a refrigerating appliance including a cabinet structure having a plurality of sidewalls and a medial wall that define an interior volume, the interior volume divided by the medial wall into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;

providing a modular pantry compartment system including a horizontal false mullion, a center vertical mullion and first and second outer drawer glides, wherein the modular pantry compartment system is manufactured separately from the refrigerating appliance;

installing the horizontal false mullion within one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, wherein the horizontal false mullion is oriented parallel with the medial wall, and wherein the medial wall and the horizontal false mullion define a pantry compartment, the pantry compartment in thermal communication with at least one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment;

installing the center vertical mullion between the horizontal false mullion and the medial wall, wherein the center vertical mullion extends vertically from the medial wall to the horizontal false mullion, wherein first and second inner drawer glides are defined on opposing sides of the center vertical mullion, the center vertical mullion dividing the pantry compartment to define first and second pantry sub compartments;

installing first and second outer drawer glides positioned proximate opposing internal vertical surfaces of the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment and positioned opposite the first and second inner drawer glides, respectively, wherein the first inner and first outer drawer glides partially define the first pantry sub compartment, and wherein the second inner and second outer drawer glides partially define the second pantry sub compartment;

installing a first pantry drawer within the first pantry sub compartment, wherein the first pantry drawer is slidably engaged with the first inner and first outer drawer glides and operable within the first pantry sub compartment to define open and closed positions of the first pantry sub compartment; and

installing a second pantry drawer within the second pantry sub compartment, wherein the second pantry drawer is slidably engaged with the second inner and second outer drawer glides and operable within the second pantry sub compartment between open and closed positions of the second pantry sub compartment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of installing the center vertical mullion includes installing a vertical fascia plate on a front edge of the center vertical mullion and a lateral surface of the horizontal false mullion, wherein the vertical fascia plate includes a plurality of fascia tabs that engage tab receptacles defined at least within the front edge of the center vertical mullion and the lateral surface of the horizontal false mullion, wherein the vertical fascia plate includes a fascia outer surface that is substantially coplanar with outward surfaces of the horizontal false mullion and the medial wall when the vertical fascia plate is installed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second outer drawer glides are defined within first and second side adapters that are installed against the opposing internal vertical surfaces of the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment such that the center vertical mullion is positioned between and parallel with the first and second side adapters.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

providing a pantry refrigeration system for the modular pantry compartment system;

providing a control configured to be in communication with the pantry refrigeration system;

installing the pantry refrigeration system within a portion of the modular pantry compartment system;

coupling the pantry refrigeration system with an appliance refrigeration system of the appliance, wherein the pantry refrigeration system is in thermal communication with the appliance refrigeration system;

installing the control within a portion of the modular pantry compartment system wherein the control is in communication with the pantry refrigeration system, wherein the control operates the pantry refrigeration system to selectively and independently maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at respective first and second temperatures, wherein a pantry refrigeration system includes ducts that selectively deliver cooled air from at least one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment to the pantry compartment, wherein the control operates the ducts to maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at the first and second temperatures.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

providing a pantry cover and a false floor assembly as part of the modular pantry compartment system;

installing the pantry cover and the false floor assembly proximate the horizontal false mullion and the center vertical mullion, and wherein the pantry cover and the false floor assembly define a horizontal boundary between the refrigerating compartment and the pantry compartment, wherein a portion of the false floor assembly rests upon the center vertical mullion, and wherein the pantry cover, the false floor assembly and the horizontal false mullion cooperate to define a floor of the refrigerating compartment.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the cabinet structure of the refrigerating appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner and an insulating cavity disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner, wherein the inner liner of a premanufactured refrigerating appliance includes a pantry receptacle configured to securely receive the first and second side adapters, the center vertical mullion and the horizontal false mullion, wherein engagement of the pantry receptacle with the first and second side adapters, the center vertical mullion and the horizontal false mullion defines a surface engagement that is free of penetrations that extend into the insulating cavity of the cabinet structure.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the insulating cavity is manufactured as a hermetically sealed insulating cavity, and wherein installation of the first and second side adapters, the center vertical mullion and the horizontal false mullion substantially maintains the insulating cavity as a hermetically sealed cavity during installation of the modular pantry compartment system.

8. A method for converting a refrigerated appliance to include a refrigerated pantry compartment, the method comprising steps of:

providing a premanufactured refrigerating appliance having an interior compartment that is in communication with an appliance refrigeration system;

providing a refrigerated pantry conversion kit for dividing the interior compartment into a plurality of compartments, wherein at least a portion of the refrigerated pantry conversion kit includes first and second side adapters, a horizontal false mullion, at least one pantry drawer and a pantry refrigeration system;

installing the first and second side adapters within the interior compartment within opposing interior vertical surfaces of the premanufactured refrigerating appliance, wherein the first and second side adapters include respective first and second outer drawer glides;

installing the horizontal false mullion between the opposing interior vertical surfaces and adjacent a front portion of the first and second side adapters, wherein the first and second side adapters and the horizontal false mullion at least partially divides the interior compartment to define an undivided pantry compartment and a refrigerated compartment, wherein the first and second outer drawer glides are positioned within the undivided pantry compartment;

and installing the at least one pantry drawer to engage at least one of the first and second outer drawer glides; and

connecting the pantry refrigeration system to be in communication with the appliance refrigeration system of the premanufactured refrigerating appliance, wherein the appliance refrigeration system is in communication with the undivided pantry compartment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the premanufactured refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet structure having an outer wrapper, an inner liner and an insulating cavity disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner, the insulating cavity being manufactured as a hermetically sealed insulating cavity, wherein the inner liner of premanufactured refrigerating appliance includes a pantry receptacle configured to securely receive the first and second side adapters and the horizontal false mullion, wherein engagement of the pantry receptacle with the first and second side adapters and the horizontal false mullion defines a surface engagement that is free of penetrations that extend into the insulating cavity of the cabinet structure, and wherein installation of the first and second side adapters and the horizontal false mullion maintains the insulating cavity as a hermetically sealed cavity during installation of the refrigerated pantry conversion kit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one pantry drawer includes a full-width pantry drawer, wherein when the full-width pantry drawer is installed within the undivided pantry compartment, the full-width pantry drawer engages the first and second outer drawer glides.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the full-width pantry drawer includes a control in operable communication with the pantry refrigeration system, wherein the step of installing the at least one pantry drawer includes placing the control in operable communication with the pantry refrigeration system, wherein the control operates the pantry refrigeration system to maintain the undivided pantry compartment at a predetermined pantry temperature.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a pantry cover as part of the refrigerated pantry conversion kit; and

installing the pantry cover proximate the horizontal false mullion and the first and second side adapters, and wherein the horizontal false mullion and the pantry cover define a horizontal boundary between the undivided pantry compartment and the refrigerated compartment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pantry refrigeration system is at least partially disposed within the pantry cover.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the premanufactured refrigerating appliance includes a water delivery system, and wherein the pantry cover includes at least one of a water filter, a water tank and a pantry ice maker, wherein the step of installing the pantry cover includes placing the pantry cover in communication with the water delivery system of the premanufactured refrigerating appliance.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a false floor assembly as part of the refrigerated pantry conversion kit; and

installing the false floor assembly proximate the horizontal false mullion and the first and second side adapters, and wherein the horizontal false mullion and the false floor assembly define a horizontal boundary between the undivided pantry compartment and the refrigerated compartment.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a refrigerated pantry conversion kit includes providing a center vertical mullion having first and second inner drawer glides disposed thereon and wherein the at least one pantry drawer includes first and second pantry drawers, wherein the first pantry drawer is configured to engage the first inner and first outer drawer glides, and the second pantry drawer is configured to engage the second inner and second outer drawer glides, the method further including steps of:

installing the center vertical mullion between the first and second side adapters, wherein the center vertical mullion divides the undivided pantry compartment into first and second pantry sub compartments; and

installing the first pantry drawer into the first pantry sub compartment and installing the second pantry drawer into the second pantry sub compartment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the refrigerated pantry conversion kit includes a control disposed within a portion thereof, wherein the control is in communication with the pantry refrigeration system to selectively and independently maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at respective first and second temperatures.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control includes a first pantry control disposed proximate the first pantry drawer and in communication with the pantry refrigeration system to maintain the first pantry sub compartment at a first temperature and second pantry control disposed proximate the second pantry drawer and in communication with the pantry refrigeration system to maintain the second pantry sub compartment at a second temperature.

19. A method for converting a refrigerated pantry compartment to include a plurality of pantry sub compartments, the method comprising steps of:

providing a premanufactured refrigerating appliance having a pantry compartment that is in communication with an appliance refrigeration system, wherein the pantry compartment includes first and second outer drawer glides;

providing a refrigerated pantry conversion kit for dividing the pantry compartment into a plurality of pantry sub compartments, wherein at least a portion of the refrigerated pantry conversion kit includes a center vertical mullion, first and second pantry drawers, and a pantry refrigeration system, wherein the center vertical mullion includes first and second inner drawer glides;

installing the center vertical mullion within the pantry compartment to define first and second pantry sub compartments within the interior pantry compartment, wherein the first inner and outer drawer glides are positioned within the first pantry sub compartment to receive the first pantry drawer, and wherein the second inner and outer drawer glides are positioned within the second pantry sub compartment to receive the second pantry drawer;

installing the first and second pantry drawers into the respective first and second pantry sub compartments; and

connecting the pantry refrigeration system to be in communication with the appliance refrigeration system, wherein the appliance refrigeration system is in communication with the first and second pantry sub compartments.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the premanufactured refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet structure having an outer wrapper, an inner liner and an insulating cavity disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner, the insulating cavity being manufactured as a hermetically sealed insulating cavity, wherein the inner liner of the premanufactured refrigerating appliance includes a pantry receptacle configured to securely receive the center vertical mullion, wherein engagement of the central vertical mullion and the pantry receptacle defines a surface engagement that is free of penetrations that extend into the insulating cavity of the cabinet structure, and wherein installation of the center vertical mullion maintains the insulating cavity as a hermetically sealed cavity during installation of the refrigerated pantry conversion kit.