Refrigerator mullion
First Claim
1. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet comprising:
- (a) an exterior metallic cabinet shell having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls providing an open side;
(b) an interior liner adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell, said interior liner defining two interior cavities with a space therebetween, (c) an energy efficient mullion assembly interconnecting the two interior cavities at the open side, the mullion assembly comprising;
(i) the interior cavities each having adjacent edge wall members extending toward the open side of the cabinet, the edge wall members each having a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and each having a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side, and at least one of the edge wall members having a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members;
(ii) a metallic mullion bar extending between the pair of edge wall members having a flat wall portion against which another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet seals, the mullion bar having rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members; and
, (iii) an insulation member mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities, the insulation member being held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the at least one locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mullion assembly for a refrigerator cabinet has a pair of adjacent edge wall insulating gasket members extending toward the open side of the cabinet. The edge wall members each have a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side. One of the edge wall members has a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members. A metallic mullion bar extends between the pair of edge wall members and has a flat wall portion against which seals another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet. The mullion bar has rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members. A block of fiberglass insulation is mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities. The insulation member is held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member. This assembly has reduced thermal transfer from outside ambient to the interior cavity of the cabinet through the metallic mullion bar.
70 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet comprising:
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(a) an exterior metallic cabinet shell having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls providing an open side;
(b) an interior liner adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell, said interior liner defining two interior cavities with a space therebetween, (c) an energy efficient mullion assembly interconnecting the two interior cavities at the open side, the mullion assembly comprising;
(i) the interior cavities each having adjacent edge wall members extending toward the open side of the cabinet, the edge wall members each having a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and each having a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side, and at least one of the edge wall members having a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members;
(ii) a metallic mullion bar extending between the pair of edge wall members having a flat wall portion against which another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet seals, the mullion bar having rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members; and
,(iii) an insulation member mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities, the insulation member being held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the at least one locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet comprising:
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(a) an exterior metallic cabinet shell having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls providing an open side;
(b) an interior plastic liner adapted to fit within the exterior cabinet shell, said interior liner defining two interior cavities with a space therebetween, (c) an energy efficient mullion assembly interconnecting the two interior cavities at the open side, the mullion assembly comprising;
(i) a pair of edge wall insulated gasket members each connected to a corresponding interior cavity adjacent the mullion assembly;
the edge wall gasket members each extending forward toward the open side of the cabinet and each having a forward surface extending flush to the open side for supporting a portion of a door sealing gasket and each having a recessed channel extending rearwardly of the open side, and at least one of the edge wall members having a locating flange member with an edge portion extending toward the other one of the edge wall members;
(ii) a metallic mullion bar extending between the pair of edge wall members having a flat wall portion against which another portion of the door sealing gasket carrying a magnet seals, the mullion bar having rearwardly extending flanges extending into and supported by interference fit with a respective one of the recessed channels of the edge wall members; and
,(iii) an insulation member mounted rearwardly of the metallic mullion bar within the space between the interior cavities, the insulation member being held in engagement by and between the pair of edge wall members by the at least one locating flange member edge portion urging the insulation member against the other edge wall member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification