Leaf spring flipper mullion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018155-A1
Application number	US-201414331783-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator assembly includes a cabinet having one or more compartments and a door configured to provide access to the one or more compartments. The refrigerator assembly further includes a mullion portion movably attached with respect the door and a hinge assembly attaching the mullion portion to the door such that the mullion portion is rotatably movable with respect to the door about a rotational axis between a first position and a second position. The refrigerator assembly further includes a leaf spring and a cam structure. The cam structure includes a first recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the first position. The cam structure further includes a second recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator assembly comprising:
a cabinet comprising one or more compartments; a door configured to provide access to the one or more compartments; a mullion portion movably attached with respect the door; a hinge assembly attaching the mullion portion to the door such that the mullion portion is rotatably movable with respect to the door about a rotational axis between a first position and a second position; and a leaf spring and a cam structure oppositely provided on the hinge assembly and the mullion portion, the cam structure comprising a first recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the first position, the cam structure further comprising a second recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the second position.

2 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises the leaf spring and the mullion portion comprises the cam structure.

3 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second recess is positioned approximately 90° from the first recess about the rotational axis, and the cam structure comprises a stopper that is positioned between the first recess and second recess.

4 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the stopper projects outwardly more from the rotational axis than both the first recess and the second recess.

5 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 3 , wherein rotation of the mullion portion between the first position and the second position causes the stopper to press against the leaf spring.

6 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the leaf spring substantially matches a shape of the first recess and the second recess such that the leaf spring can be removably received within the first recess and the second recess.

7 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring, the first recess, and the second recess each comprise a substantially arcuate shape.

8 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring comprises a free end and a fixed end, wherein the fixed end is fixed relative to a hinge plate of the hinge assembly and the free end is movable relative to the hinge plate.

9 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the free end is provided within a recess of the hinge plate.

10 . The refrigerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring projects from a hinge plate of the hinge assembly in a direction toward the rotational axis.

11 . A mullion assembly for a refrigerator assembly comprising one or more compartments and a door configured to provide access to the one or more compartments, the mullion assembly comprising:
a mullion portion; a hinge assembly for movably attaching the mullion portion to the door, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a hinge plate and is configured such that the mullion portion is rotatably movable with respect to the hinge plate about a rotational axis between a first position and a second position; and a leaf spring and a cam structure oppositely provided on the hinge assembly and the mullion portion, the cam structure comprising a first recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the first position, the cam structure further comprising a second recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the second position.

12 . The mullion assembly of claim 11 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises the leaf spring and the mullion portion comprises the cam structure.

13 . The mullion assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second recess is positioned approximately 90° from the first recess about the rotational axis, and the cam structure comprises a stopper that is positioned between the first recess and second recess.

14 . The mullion assembly of claim 13 , wherein the stopper projects outwardly more from the rotational axis than both the first recess and the second recess.

15 . The mullion assembly of claim 13 , wherein rotation of the mullion portion between the first position and the second position causes the stopper to press against the leaf spring.

16 . The mullion assembly of claim 11 , wherein a shape of the leaf spring substantially matches a shape of the first recess and the second recess such that the leaf spring can be removably received within the first recess and the second recess.

17 . The mullion assembly of claim 11 , wherein the leaf spring, the first recess, and the second recess each comprise a substantially arcuate shape.

18 . The mullion assembly of claim 11 , wherein the leaf spring comprises a free end and a fixed end, wherein the fixed end is fixed relative to a hinge plate of the hinge assembly and the free end is movable relative to the hinge plate.

19 . The mullion assembly of claim 18 , wherein the free end is provided within a recess of the hinge plate.

20 . The mullion assembly of claim 11 , wherein the leaf spring projects from a hinge plate of the hinge assembly in a direction toward the rotational axis.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Dubina Paul
• Ellis Adam

Classifications

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title

• F25D23/025

  Secondary closures · CPC title