Notched mullion retainer arrangement for a refrigerator cabinet

• US 7,407,240 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Tiemeier, Jonathan J., Olberding, David J., Collins, Clint J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/033,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 312/257.1, 312/263, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 312/407, 312/401, 312/406.2, 312/406, 220/592.01, 220/592.02, 220/592.09, 220/592.1, 622/77, 624/40
• US Class Current: 312/407
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/063 formed by an assembly of panels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion

Abstract

A mullion is attached to a cabinet shell of a refrigerator through the use of a retainer that includes a laterally extending portion positioned between primary and secondary flanges of the cabinet shell, and a longitudinally extending portion that is interengaged with additional flange structure defined by the mullion. Clips formed on the retainer engage wall portions formed by the mullion flange structure to secure the retainer to the mullion. A tab formed on the retainer engages a keyhole formed in the secondary flange of the cabinet shell, thereby aiding in securing the retainer to the cabinet and preventing the mullion from undesirably shifting in either a horizontal or vertical manner.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet shell including flange structure having at least a primary flange and a secondary flange separated by a gap, said secondary flange being formed with a keyhole;

a mullion including opposing first and second flange structures;

a retainer interconnecting the mullion to the cabinet shell, said retainer including a first body portion engaged with the mullion, a second body portion positioned in the gap and a tab, extending from the second body portion, received within the keyhole; and

at least one clip member extending from the first body portion of the retainer, with said at least one clip member extending about a portion of the mullion to interconnect the retainer and the mullion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first body portion constitutes at least one longitudinally extending member and the second body portion constitutes a laterally extending member.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the at least one longitudinally extending member constitutes first and second spaced longitudinal members and the at least one clip member constitutes first and second clip members, with said first clip member projecting from the first longitudinal member and the second clip member projecting from the second longitudinal member.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the flange structures of the mullion define first and second elongated slots, said first and second longitudinal members being received in the first and second slots respectively.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising:

a flange portion extending along each of the first and second longitudinal members laterally outwardly of a respective one of the first and second elongated slots.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the flange portion on each of the first and second longitudinal members extends into the laterally extending member.

7. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet shell including flange structure having at least a primary flange and a secondary flange separated by a gap, said secondary flange being formed with a keyhole;

a mullion including opposing first and second flange structures; and

a retainer interconnecting the mullion to the cabinet shell, said retainer including a first body portion engaged with the mullion, a second body portion positioned in the gap and a tab, extending from the second body portion, received within the keyhole, wherein the second body portion of the retainer engages each of the primary and secondary flanges.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the second body portion is frictionally held between the primary and secondary flanges, while the tab is snugly received in the keyhole to substantially prevent lateral shifting of the mullion relative to the cabinet shell.

9. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet shell including flange structure having at least a primary flange and a secondary flange separated by a gap, said secondary flange being formed with a keyhole;

a mullion including opposing first and second flange structures;

a retainer interconnecting the mullion to the cabinet shell, said retainer including a first body portion engaged with the mullion, a second body portion positioned in the gap and a tab, extending from the second body portion, received within the keyhole; and

a finger member projecting from the second body portion, with said finger member directly engaging the primary flange, while a section of the second body portion, spaced from the tab, directly engages the secondary flange, to interconnect the retainer to the cabinet shell.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the mullion further includes a lip portion that extends into the gap.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the lip portion is positioned directly below the finger member within the gap.

12. A retainer for interconnecting a mullion to a cabinet shell having primary and secondary flanges separated by a gap and a keyhole formed in the secondary flange comprising:

a first body portion adapted to engage the mullion;

a second body portion adapted to be positioned in the gap;

a tab, extending from the second body portion, adapted to be received within the keyhole; and

at least one clip member extending from the first body portion of the retainer, with said at least one clip member being adapted to extend about a portion of the mullion to interconnect the retainer to the mullion, wherein the first body portion constitutes first and second longitudinally extending members, the second body portion constitutes a laterally extending member and the at least one clip member constitutes first and second clip members, with said first clip member projecting from the first longitudinal member and the second clip member projecting from the second longitudinal member.

13. A retainer for interconnecting a mullion to a cabinet shell having primary and secondary flanges separated by a gap and a keyhole formed in the secondary flange comprising:

a first body portion adapted to engage the mullion;

a second body portion adapted to be positioned in the gap;

a tab, extending from the second body portion, adapted to be received within the keyhole; and

a finger member projecting from the second body portion, with said finger member being adapted to directly engage the primary flange, while a section of the second body portion, spaced from the tab, is adapted to directly engage the secondary flange, for interconnecting the retainer to the cabinet shell.

14. A method for interconnecting a mullion to a refrigerator cabinet shell comprising:

attaching a first body portion of a retainer to a mullion;

inserting a second body portion of the retainer in a gap defined between a primary flange and a secondary flange of a cabinet shell;

fitting a tab on the second body portion into a keyhole formed in the secondary flange concurrently with the insertion of the second body portion into the gap; and

clipping at least one clip member on the first body portion of the retainer to the mullion, such that the at least one clip member extends about a portion of the mullion, upon attaching the first body portion of the retainer to the mullion.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

extending a lip portion on the mullion into the gap concurrently with the insertion of the second body portion of the retainer into the gap.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

abutting a finger member extending from the second body portion against the primary flange while inserting the second body portion into the gap.