Appliance system with exterior access
First Claim
1. In a building including an exterior wall constituting a side of the building, an appliance system comprising:
- an exterior door provided in the exterior wall, said exterior door leading to an interior portion of the building and having an exposed outer surface material which simulates and is substantially flush with an exterior surface material of the exterior wall such that the exterior door blends into and is camouflaged within the side of the building;
a first appliance positioned in the interior portion of the building, said first appliance defining a refrigerator unit including fresh food and freezer compartments both of which are exposable from outside the building upon opening of the exterior door and from inside the building; and
a second appliance positioned in the interior portion of the building, said second appliance defining an oven unit including at least one oven compartment which is spaced from the fresh food and freezer compartments and exposable from outside the building upon opening of the exterior door and from inside the building.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A building includes an exterior wall provided with a door which can be opened to expose a plurality of compartments for receiving a wide range of deliverable products. The compartments are defined as sections of one or more appliances. Preferably, the exterior door can be used to expose both fresh food and freezer compartments of a refrigerator, as well as one or more compartments of an oven unit. Each of the compartments is also accessible from an interior of the building through an associated inner door. The inner and outer doors can be electronically latched and are linked together such that at least the exterior door is prevented from being opened whenever a specified interior door is open.
42 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. In a building including an exterior wall constituting a side of the building, an appliance system comprising:
-
an exterior door provided in the exterior wall, said exterior door leading to an interior portion of the building and having an exposed outer surface material which simulates and is substantially flush with an exterior surface material of the exterior wall such that the exterior door blends into and is camouflaged within the side of the building;
a first appliance positioned in the interior portion of the building, said first appliance defining a refrigerator unit including fresh food and freezer compartments both of which are exposable from outside the building upon opening of the exterior door and from inside the building; and
a second appliance positioned in the interior portion of the building, said second appliance defining an oven unit including at least one oven compartment which is spaced from the fresh food and freezer compartments and exposable from outside the building upon opening of the exterior door and from inside the building. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
at least one inner door for one of the first and second appliances;
a locking assembly including a first latching unit for locking the inner door in a closed position and a second latching unit for locking the exterior door in a closed position; and
means, interconnecting the first and second latching units, for preventing opening of the exterior door when the inner door is open.
-
-
7. The appliance system according to claim 6, wherein said preventing means includes an electronic latching assembly.
-
8. The appliance system according to claim 7, wherein said preventing means includes a controller and means for providing signals indicative of the position of the inner door.
-
9. The appliance system according to claim 8, wherein said preventing means further comprises:
-
an outer door switch for signaling the positioning of the exterior door to the controller; and
an inner door switch for signaling the position of the inner door to the controller.
-
-
10. The appliance system according to claim 8, further comprising:
an electronic punch pad, linked to the controller, for entering an access code to unlock the exterior door.
-
11. The appliance system according to claim 10, further comprising:
- a pivotable flap adapted to cover said electronic punch pad, said flap including an outer siding material which simulates an exterior surface material of the exterior wall of the building.
-
12. In a building including an exterior wall constituting a side of the building, an appliance system comprising:
-
an exterior door provided in the exterior wall, said exterior door leading to an interior portion of the building, said exterior door has an exposed outer surface material which simulates and is substantially flush with an exterior surface material of the exterior wall such that the exterior door blends into and is camouflaged within the side of the building; and
an appliance assembly positioned in the interior portion of the building, said appliance assembly including a refrigerator provided with a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, with each of the fresh food and freezer compartments being exposable both from outside the building upon opening of the exterior door and from inside the building. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
an exposed cabinet storage zone separate and distinct from the appliance assembly, which is exposed upon opening said exterior door.
-
-
15. The appliance system according to claim 12, further comprising:
-
at least one inner door for the appliance assembly;
a locking assembly including a first latching unit for locking the inner door in a closed position and a second latching unit for locking the exterior door in a closed position; and
means, interconnecting the first and second latching units, for preventing opening of the exterior door when the inner door is open.
-
-
16. The appliance system according to claim 15, wherein said preventing means includes an electronic latching assembly.
-
17. The appliance system according to claim 16, wherein said preventing means includes a controller and means for providing signals indicative of the position of the inner door.
-
18. The appliance system according to claim 17, wherein said preventing means further comprises:
-
an outer door switch for signaling the positioning of the exterior door to the controller; and
an inner door switch for signaling the position of the inner door to the controller.
-
-
19. The appliance system according to claim 18, further comprising:
an electronic punch pad, linked to the controller, for entering an access code to unlock the exterior door.
-
20. In a building including an exterior wall constituting a side of the building, an appliance system comprising:
-
an exterior door provided in the exterior wall, said exterior door opening into an interior portion of the building, said exterior door has an exposed outer surface material which simulates and is substantially flush with an exterior surface material of the exterior wall such that the exterior door blends into and is camouflaged within the side of the building; and
a heating appliance assembly positioned in the interior portion of the building, said heating appliance assembly including at least one oven compartment which is exposable both from outside the building upon opening of the exterior door and from inside the building. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
at least one inner door for the appliance assembly;
a locking assembly including a first latching unit for locking the inner door in a closed position and a second latching unit for locking the exterior door in a closed position; and
means, interconnecting the first and second latching units, for preventing opening of the exterior door when the inner door is open.
-
-
25. The appliance system according to claim 24, wherein said preventing means includes an electronic latching assembly.
-
26. The appliance system according to claim 25, wherein said preventing means includes a controller and means for providing signals indicative of the position of the inner door.
-
27. The appliance system according to claim 26, wherein said preventing means further comprises:
-
an outer door switch for signaling the positioning of the exterior door to the controller; and
an inner door switch for signaling the position of the inner door to the controller.
-
-
28. The appliance system according to claim 27, further comprising:
an electronic punch pad, linked to the controller, for entering an access code to unlock the exterior door.
Specification