Refrigerator with glass door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10295248-B2
Application number	US-201715401908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2017
Priority date	Jan 9, 2017
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet that defines a storage compartment. A door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet and is movable between a closed position for closing the storage compartment and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment. The door includes an inner surface and an outer surface. An opening extends between the inner surface and the outer surface. A window is disposed within the opening. The window optionally includes a lower portion that is non-transparent. A storage bin is attachable to a lower portion of the inner surface of the door wherein the non-transparent portion of the window obstructs viewing of the storage bin when the door is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage compartment; and
a door pivotably coupled to the cabinet and movable between a closed position for closing the storage compartment and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment, the door including:
an inner surface;
an outer surface;
an opening extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a window covering the opening, the window including a lower portion that is non-transparent;
a storage bin on a lower portion of the door, wherein the lower portion of the window obstructs viewing of the storage bin through the window when the door is in the closed position;
a sensor for detecting a presence of an object at a predetermined location proximate the door, the sensor operable to provide a signal to a controller indicative of the presence of the object at the predetermined location; and
a light for illuminating a position of the predetermined location on a floor proximate the door.

2. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , further comprising an interior light in the cabinet, wherein the window is tinted to hinder viewing through the window when the interior light is not energized.

3. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the storage bin is removable from the door.

4. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame assembly disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface of the door, the frame assembly comprising:
a pair of vertical frame members each dimensioned to receive a preformed insulating element, and
a lower support assembly attached to a lower portion of each of the pair of vertical frame members, the lower support assembly including a first horizontal frame member having distal ends attachable to each of the pair of vertical frame members wherein the first horizontal frame member is dimensioned to receive a preformed insulating element, and

an upper frame member having distal ends attachable to an upper end of the pair of vertical frame members, the upper frame member dimensioned to receive a preformed insulating element.

5. The refrigeration appliance of claim 4 , wherein the lower support assembly further comprises:
a second horizontal frame member spaced from the first horizontal frame member, the second horizontal frame member having distal ends attachable to each of the pair of vertical frame members and dimensioned to receive a preformed insulating element, and
an insulation element extending between the first horizontal frame member and the second horizontal frame member.

6. The refrigeration appliance of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the pair of vertical frame members, the first horizontal frame member and the upper frame member is an extruded plastic rail.

7. The refrigeration appliance of claim 6 , wherein the extruded plastic rail includes an elongated inner cavity.

8. The refrigeration appliance of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the pair of vertical frame members includes an elongated tab extending along one side and at least one the distal ends of the first horizontal frame member and the upper frame member includes a slot dimensioned to receive a corresponding elongated tab of the at least one of the pair of vertical frame members.

9. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is attached to a bottom surface of the door.

10. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

11. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the light is configured to display at least one image on the floor and the image is at least one of a symbol, a word, a letter, a number, a picture, a time-of-day/clock/date and a countdown timer.

12. A door for a refrigeration appliance, the door pivotably coupled to a cabinet of the refrigeration appliance and movable between a closed position for closing a storage compartment of the cabinet and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment, the door comprising:
an inner surface;
an outer surface;
an opening extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a window covering the opening;
a frame assembly disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, the frame assembly comprising:
a pair of vertical frame members each receiving a preformed insulating element, and
a lower support assembly attached to lower portion of each of the pair of vertical frame members, the lower support assembly including a first horizontal frame member having distal ends attachable to each of the pair of vertical frame members wherein the first horizontal frame member receives a preformed insulating element, and

an upper frame member having distal ends attachable to an upper end of the pair of vertical frame members, the upper frame member receiving a preformed insulating element.

13. The door of claim 12 , wherein the lower support assembly further comprises:
a second horizontal frame member spaced from the first horizontal frame member, the second horizontal frame member having distal ends attachable to at least one of the pair of vertical frame members and dimensioned to receive a preformed insulating element, and
an insulation element extending between the first horizontal frame member and the second horizontal frame member.

14. The door of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the pair of vertical frame members, the first horizontal frame member and the upper frame member is an extruded plastic rail.

15. The door of claim 14 , wherein the extruded plastic rail includes an elongated inner cavity.

16. The door of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the pair of vertical frame members includes an elongated tab extending along one side and at least one of the distal ends of the first horizontal frame member, and the upper frame member includes a slot dimensioned to receive a corresponding elongated tab of the at least one of the pair of vertical frame members.

17. The door of claim 12 , further comprising:
a storage bin on a lower portion of the door,
wherein the window includes a lower portion that is non-transparent for obstructing viewing of the storage bin when the door is in the closed position.

18. The door of claim 17 , wherein the storage bin is removable from the door.

19. The door of claim 12 , further comprising an interior light in the cabinet, wherein the window is tinted to hinder viewing through the window when the interior light is not energized.

20. The door of claim 12 , further comprising a sensor including:
a sensor for detecting a presence of an object at a predetermined location proximate the door, the sensor operable to provide a signal to a controller indicative of the presence of the object at the predetermined location; and
a light for illuminating a position of the predetermined location.

21. A door for a refrigeration appliance, the door pivotably coupled to a cabinet of the refrigeration appliance and movable between a closed position for closing a storage compartment of the cabinet and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment, the door comprising:
an inner surface;
an outer surface;
an opening extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a window covering the opening;
a frame assembly disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, the frame assembly comprising:
a pair of vertical frame members each receiving a preformed insulating element, and
a lower support assembly attached to lower por

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Miller Orin
• Burgan Ricky
• Burnett Doug
• Valentino Miranda
• Riddell Joel
• Rajasekaran Varun
• Macias Jose
• Sexton Terry Lynn
• Hanson Josh
• Zhou Ran
• Comsa Cornel
• Edge Matthew Elexy
• Campbell Billy Seth Lon

Classifications

• F25D2700/06

  Sensors detecting the presence of a product · CPC title

• A47F3/043

  Doors, covers (A47F3/0434 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D27/005 Primary

  combined with control means · CPC title

• F25D23/04

  with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners · CPC title

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title