Refrigerator appliances with passive storage compartments
First Claim
1. A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;
a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the fresh food door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the fresh food door rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door; and
a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment, the compartment door movable between an open position and a closed position,wherein the passive storage compartment maintains a temperature greater than a fresh food chamber temperature and less than an ambient temperature when the fresh food door and compartment door are closed and the refrigerator appliance is operational,wherein the fresh food door further defines a vent aperture in selective fluid communication between the passive storage compartment and one of the fresh food chamber or an ambient environment to facilitate adjustments in temperature within the fresh food compartment,wherein a vent door is mounted on the fresh food door and movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and the closed position preventing fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, andwherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a moisture filter disposed within the vent aperture and preventing moisture transmission therethrough between the passive storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber. The fresh food door includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The fresh food door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The refrigerator appliance further includes a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door, and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment. The compartment door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The passive storage compartment maintains a temperature greater than a fresh food chamber temperature and less than an ambient temperature when the fresh food door and compartment door are closed and the refrigerator appliance is operational.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
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a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber; a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the fresh food door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the fresh food door rotatable between an open position and a closed position; a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door; and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment, the compartment door movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the passive storage compartment maintains a temperature greater than a fresh food chamber temperature and less than an ambient temperature when the fresh food door and compartment door are closed and the refrigerator appliance is operational, wherein the fresh food door further defines a vent aperture in selective fluid communication between the passive storage compartment and one of the fresh food chamber or an ambient environment to facilitate adjustments in temperature within the fresh food compartment, wherein a vent door is mounted on the fresh food door and movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and the closed position preventing fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a moisture filter disposed within the vent aperture and preventing moisture transmission therethrough between the passive storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
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a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber; a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the fresh food door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the fresh food door rotatable between an open position and a closed position; a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door; and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment, the compartment door movable between an open position and a closed position; and a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer, the first insulation layer disposed between the passive storage compartment and one of the inner surface or the outer surface, the second insulation layer disposed within the compartment door, wherein the first insulation layer defines a vent aperture in selective fluid communication between the passive storage compartment and one of the fresh food chamber or an ambient environment to facilitate adjustments in temperature within the fresh food compartment, wherein a vent door is mounted on the fresh food door and movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and the closed position preventing fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a moisture filter disposed within the vent aperture and preventing moisture transmission therethrough between the passive storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
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a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber; a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the fresh food door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the fresh food door rotatable between an open position and a closed position; a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door; and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment, the compartment door movable between an open position and a closed position; and a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer, the first insulation layer disposed between the passive storage compartment and one of the inner surface or the outer surface, the second insulation layer disposed within the compartment door, wherein the first insulation layer comprises a foamed insulation defining a vent aperture in selective fluid communication between the passive storage compartment and one of the fresh food chamber or an ambient environment to facilitate adjustments in temperature within the fresh food compartment, wherein a vent door is mounted on the fresh food door and movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and the closed position preventing fluid communication between the storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment, and wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a moisture filter disposed within the vent aperture and preventing moisture transmission therethrough between the passive storage compartment and the one of the fresh food chamber or the ambient environment.
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Specification