Refrigerator having a camera selectively enclosed by a rotating mullion assembly
First Claim
1. A refrigerator, comprising:
- a storage compartment having an open front portion;
first and second doors operable between open and closed positions with respect to the open front portion of the storage compartment;
a mullion assembly pivotally coupled to one of the first and second doors by at least one hinge assembly, such that the mullion assembly is operable between retracted and deployed positions, and further wherein the mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess; and
at least one camera device mounted on the at least one hinge assembly and vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, wherein the at least one camera device includes a lens assembly facing into the storage compartment when the door to which the mullion assembly is mounted is in the closed position, and further wherein the at least one camera device is at least partially received in the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment with a door pivotally coupled the cabinet between open and closed positions. A mullion assembly is operably coupled to the door between retracted and deployed positions relative to the door. The mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess disposed on an inner surface thereof. At least one camera device is mounted on an inside edge of the door and vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, such that the camera device faces into the storage compartment when the first door is in the closed position, and is received in the receiving recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position. The camera device may also be mounted to a fixed portion of a hinge assembly that interconnects the mullion assembly and the door.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A refrigerator, comprising:
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a storage compartment having an open front portion; first and second doors operable between open and closed positions with respect to the open front portion of the storage compartment; a mullion assembly pivotally coupled to one of the first and second doors by at least one hinge assembly, such that the mullion assembly is operable between retracted and deployed positions, and further wherein the mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess; and at least one camera device mounted on the at least one hinge assembly and vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, wherein the at least one camera device includes a lens assembly facing into the storage compartment when the door to which the mullion assembly is mounted is in the closed position, and further wherein the at least one camera device is at least partially received in the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A refrigerator, comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage compartment; first and second doors operably coupled to the cabinet between open and closed positions, the first and second doors each having inner edges spaced-apart from one another when the first and second doors are in the closed position; a hinge assembly having a first hinge element mounted to the first door, wherein the hinge assembly further includes a second hinge element pivotally coupled to the first hinge element; a mullion assembly having a mullion bar coupled to the second hinge element of the hinge assembly for movement between retracted and deployed positions, wherein the mullion bar is substantially perpendicular to the first door when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position, and further wherein the mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess; and a camera device mounted on the first hinge element and vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the mullion bar, wherein the camera device faces into the storage compartment when the first door is in the closed position, and further wherein the camera device is at least partially received in the at least one receiving recess of the mullion bar when the mullion bar is in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A refrigerator, comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage compartment; a door pivotally coupled the cabinet between open and closed positions to selectively provide access to the storage compartment; a mullion assembly operably coupled to the door between retracted and deployed positions relative to the door, wherein the mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess disposed in an inner surface thereof; and at least one camera device mounted on an inner edge of the door and vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, wherein the at least one camera device faces into the storage compartment when the first door is in the closed position, and further wherein the at least one camera device is received in the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification