Door warmer for a refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12078404-B2
Application number	US-201816971902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2018
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A door warmer for a refrigerator includes a liner defining a compartment. The liner includes a front face circumscribing the compartment, a flange extending outwards from the front face, and a recessed pocket formed into the flange. An inner retention lug is positioned adjacent to, and extends a first distance over, the recessed pocket. An outer retention lug is positioned adjacent to, and extends a second distance over, the recessed pocket and located on a side of the recessed pocket opposite from the inner retention lug. A heat pipe is disposed within the recessed pocket and secured therein by the inner and outer retention lugs. In another embodiment, the refrigerator includes a basket having a storage space therein, and a divider disposed within the storage space. The divider is selectively moveable upon a pair of carriages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drawer assembly for a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cooled compartment comprising opposed, first and second interior walls;
a basket configured to move relative to the cooled compartment, comprising:
a body having a storage space therein for storing food, the storage space defined by a front wall, a rear wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom wall, the opposing side walls being adjacent the first and second interior walls of the cooled compartment;
a pair of slots formed lengthwise into the front and rear walls of the body, respectively, the pair of slots being apertures formed into and extending completely through the front and rear walls, respectively;
a pair of ridges extending along the pair of slots, respectively, wherein each ridge of the pair of ridges protrudes directly outwards from an external surface of the corresponding front or rear wall, and wherein respective surfaces of the pair of ridges defines a pair of tracks, which extend outwards away from the storage space in a lateral direction with respect to the front and rear walls;
a divider disposed within the storage space for dividing the storage space into at least two storage areas, the divider comprising a main surface positioned perpendicular to and extending between the front and rear walls, and a pair of ends, wherein the divider further includes a pair of carriages and wherein one carriage of the pair of carriages is secured to each end of the pair of ends; and
a pair of caps secured to the pair of ridges, respectively, so as to enclose the pair of slots from outside of the body,
wherein the pair of carriages are positioned within the pair of slots, respectively, and enclosed therein from outside of the body via the pair of caps, and wherein said pair of carriages engage with and travel along the pair of tracks so as to promote movement of the divider within the storage space to thereby selectively increase and/or decrease the relative sizes of the at least two storage areas.

2. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein each carriage of the pair of carriages includes at least one wheel, and wherein the wheel engages the track.

3. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the divider further comprises a first side portion and second side portion, where said first and second side portions are perpendicular to the main surface and extend along a direction being parallel to the front and rear walls, respectively.

4. The drawer assembly of claim 3 , wherein bearings are disposed on each of the first and second side portions of the divider and engage with an interior surface of the front and rear walls, respectively.

5. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the divider further comprises a first divider member and a second divider member that are separable from one another such that, in a separated state, the storage space is divided into three storage areas.

6. The drawer assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first and second divider members are selectively securable to one another such that, in an attached state, movement of the first divider member will simultaneously result in movement of the second divider member.

7. The drawer assembly of claim 6 , wherein in said attached state, a storage area defined between the first and second divider members is fixed at a predetermined size.

8. The drawer of claim 1 , wherein the pair of ends of the divider further include a first side portion and a second side portion, respectively, that are perpendicular to the main surface and extend along a direction being parallel to the front and rear walls of the body.

9. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein each ridge of the pair of ridges circumscribes a corresponding slot of the pair of slots.

Assignees

• Electrolux Do Brasil Sa

Inventors

• Leidens Rafael
• Mercer Israel
• Voltarelli Antonio
• Colecha Alcione
• Picanço Guilherme

Classifications

• F25D23/069

  Cooling space dividing partitions · CPC title

• F25D25/025 Primary

  Drawers · CPC title

• F25D2600/04

  Controlling heat transfer · CPC title

• F25D11/02

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• A47B2210/175

  Refrigerators or freezers · CPC title