Lighting for shelf divider in refrigerator
First Claim
1. A refrigerator storage assembly for an interior of or on a door of a refrigerator cabinet of a refrigerator comprising:
- a. a generally horizontal supporting surface in the interior of the cabinet or in the door, the supporting surface having a perimeter and a top defining a volume of storage space above it, wherein the supporting surface comprises a part of a shelf, drawer, bin or basket in any of a fresh food compartment, freezer compartment, or door of the cabinet, and the supporting surface is moveable relative to the cabinet;
b. a generally vertical divider member for the supporting surface, the divider member having a wall with a thickness defined by opposite sides, a top at a height greater than the thickness, and a length elongated along a longitudinal axis, the divider member extending at, above, and across substantially all of and within the perimeter of the top of the supporting surface to physically separate and partition lateral portions of the supporting surface and at least part of the storage space above it and expose the opposite sides of the divider to the physically separated lateral portions of the supporting surface;
c. a light source sub-assembly mounted in, to or at the divider member comprising one or more light sources along at least part of the divider'"'"'s length across the supporting surface and having a light output distribution pattern adapted to distribute light at and laterally to the physically separated lateral portions of the supporting surface; and
d. an electrical connection from the light source sub-assembly adapted for operative connection to an electrical power source connection in the cabinet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for illuminating the interior of a refrigerated appliance such as refrigerator, freezer or combination includes storage shelf or surface in the appliance, a divider positioned relative at shelf or storage surface, and a divider lighting subassembly on the divider. Electrical power is provided from an electrical power source in the appliance to the divider lighting subassembly on the divider. Light sources of the divided light subassembly can be selected to illuminate from a position on the divider. Different lighting schemes can be instructed to the light sources. The light sources can be LEDs.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A refrigerator storage assembly for an interior of or on a door of a refrigerator cabinet of a refrigerator comprising:
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a. a generally horizontal supporting surface in the interior of the cabinet or in the door, the supporting surface having a perimeter and a top defining a volume of storage space above it, wherein the supporting surface comprises a part of a shelf, drawer, bin or basket in any of a fresh food compartment, freezer compartment, or door of the cabinet, and the supporting surface is moveable relative to the cabinet; b. a generally vertical divider member for the supporting surface, the divider member having a wall with a thickness defined by opposite sides, a top at a height greater than the thickness, and a length elongated along a longitudinal axis, the divider member extending at, above, and across substantially all of and within the perimeter of the top of the supporting surface to physically separate and partition lateral portions of the supporting surface and at least part of the storage space above it and expose the opposite sides of the divider to the physically separated lateral portions of the supporting surface; c. a light source sub-assembly mounted in, to or at the divider member comprising one or more light sources along at least part of the divider'"'"'s length across the supporting surface and having a light output distribution pattern adapted to distribute light at and laterally to the physically separated lateral portions of the supporting surface; and d. an electrical connection from the light source sub-assembly adapted for operative connection to an electrical power source connection in the cabinet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for illumination of at least a part of an interior of or on a door of a refrigerated appliance comprising:
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a. a storage space in the interior of or on the door of the refrigerated appliance defined by a liner, the liner positioned within a cabinet of the refrigerated appliance; b. a supporting surface having a perimeter positioned in the storage space, wherein the supporting surface comprises a part of a shelf, drawer, bin or basket in any of a fresh food compartment, freezer compartment, or door of the cabinet, and the supporting surface is moveable relative to the cabinet; c. a divider member having a length, width, and height positioned at, above, and across at least part of the supporting surface physically separating lateral portions of the supporting surface within the perimeter of the supporting surface;
wherein the height of the divider member is greater than the width;d. a light source subassembly in, on, or at the divider operatively connectable to an electrical power source to emit a light distribution output that illuminates at least a part of the storage space of at least one of the physically separated lateral portions of the supporting surface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of illumination of at least a portion of an interior of or on a door of a refrigerated appliance comprising:
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a. positioning an illumination source on a divider member positioned at, above, and across and physically separating lateral portions of a supporting surface of a shelf, drawer, or bin, in the interior of or on the door of the refrigerated appliance, wherein the supporting surface comprises a part of a shelf, drawer, bin or basket in any of a fresh food compartment, freezer compartment, or door of a cabinet of the refrigerated appliance, and the supporting surface is moveable relative to the cabinet; b. operating the illumination source to illuminate the lateral portions of the supporting surface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification