Refrigerator door assembly and method
First Claim
1. A refrigerator door assembly adapted to be mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit comprisinga thermo-pane,a door frame composed of a molded and solid unitary plastic material and having said thermo-pane mounted and sealed therein by said plastic material,vertically aligned upper and lower hinge means integrally molded within the plastic material composing said door frame for mounting said door assembly for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis on the stationary frame of said refrigeration unit, the plastic material composing said door frame entirely encapsulating and sealing the entire periphery of said thermopane thereintorsion means, including a torsion bar having a main body and sheath means at least covering said main body for permitting said main body to twist relative to said sheath means, connected to at least one of said upper and lower hinge means for constantly applying a closing force on said door frame to pivot said door assembly about said common pivot axis, the plastic material composing said door frame encapsulation and integrally securing said sheath means within said door frame to permit the main body of said torsion bar to twist relative to said sheath means and said door frame.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator door assembly is mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit and comprises a door frame integrally molded about a thermo-pane in sealing relationship therewith. The door frame is hingedly mounted on the stationary frame of the refrigeration unit by a pair of upper and lower hinge pins. A torsion bar, integrally molded within the door frame and secured to one of the hinge pins, functions to constantly apply a closing force on the door frame to move the door assembly into sealing contact with the stationary frame of the refrigeration unit.
48 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A refrigerator door assembly adapted to be mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit comprising
a thermo-pane, a door frame composed of a molded and solid unitary plastic material and having said thermo-pane mounted and sealed therein by said plastic material, vertically aligned upper and lower hinge means integrally molded within the plastic material composing said door frame for mounting said door assembly for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis on the stationary frame of said refrigeration unit, the plastic material composing said door frame entirely encapsulating and sealing the entire periphery of said thermopane therein torsion means, including a torsion bar having a main body and sheath means at least covering said main body for permitting said main body to twist relative to said sheath means, connected to at least one of said upper and lower hinge means for constantly applying a closing force on said door frame to pivot said door assembly about said common pivot axis, the plastic material composing said door frame encapsulation and integrally securing said sheath means within said door frame to permit the main body of said torsion bar to twist relative to said sheath means and said door frame.
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8. A refrigerator door assembly hingedly mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit by vertically aligned upper and lower hinge brackets, secured on said frame, for movement between closed and open positions, said door assembly comprising
a door frame composed of a molded and solid unitary plastic material, vertically aligned upper and lower hinge pin means integrally molded within the plastic material composing said door frame and mounting said door assembly for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis on said upper and lower hinge brackets, respectively, and torsion means connected to at least one of said upper and lower hinge pin means for constantly applying a closing force on said door frame to pivot said door assembly about said common pivot axis and into sealing relationship against said stationary frame, said torsion means comprising a torsion bar having a main body and sheath means at least covering the main body of said torsion bar and entirely encapsulated within and integrally secured to the plastic material composing said door frame to permit said torsion bar to twist relative to said sheath means and said door frame.
Specification