Refrigerator, freezer and icemaker gap gauges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9599394-B2
Application number	US-201514675831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

An example functional member of a refrigerator, freezer or icemaker having two closing members intended to be separated by a first distance includes a structure to implement a function for the refrigerator, freezer or icemaker, and a gap gauge dimensioned for use in aligning the two closing members apart by the first distance. An example functional member is a divider, a hinge cover or a scoop having a gap gauge with a blade-shaped, an oval or a rectangular cross-section, where a dimension of the cross-section is the first distance. An example gap gauge may be further dimensioned for use in aligning one of the two closing members and a third closing members, or two additional closing members apart by a second different distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A functional member of a refrigerator, freezer or icemaker having two closing members intended to be separated by a first distance, the functional member comprising:
a structure to implement a function for the refrigerator, freezer or icemaker; and
a gap gauge dimensioned for use in aligning the two closing members apart by the first distance.

2. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the gap gauge extends from the structure.

3. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the gap gauge comprises a dimension of a portion of the structure.

4. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the gap gauge is further dimensioned for use in aligning one of the two closing members and a third closing member, or two additional closing members apart by a second different distance.

5. A functional member as defined in claim 4 , wherein the functional member comprises a divider, a hinge cover or a scoop, and the gap gauge has a rectangular or an oval cross-section, wherein the cross-section has a first dimension in a first direction corresponding to the first distance, and a second dimension in a second different dimension corresponding to the second distance.

6. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the functional member comprises a divider.

7. A functional member as defined in claim 6 , wherein the gap gauge has a rectangular or an oval cross-section, wherein a dimension of the cross-section is the first distance.

8. A functional member as defined in claim 6 , wherein the gap gauge has a structure having a dimension corresponding to the first distance.

9. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the functional member comprises a scoop.

10. A functional member as defined in claim 9 , wherein the gap gauge has a rectangular or oval cross-section, wherein a dimension of the cross-section is the first distance.

11. A functional member as defined in claim 9 , wherein the gap gauge has a structure having a dimension corresponding to the first distance.

12. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the functional member comprises a hinge cover.

13. A functional member as defined in claim 12 , wherein the gap gauge has a rectangular, an oval, or a circular cross-section, wherein a dimension of the cross-section is the first distance.

14. A functional member as defined in claim 12 , wherein the gap gauge has a blade-shaped cross-section, wherein a dimension of the cross-section is the first distance.

15. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the function comprises at least one of a covering function, a holding function, a dividing function, a supporting function, and/or a decorative function.

16. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the gap gauge has an ornamental or decorative shape.

17. A functional member as defined in claim 16 , wherein the shape comprises a cross-section corresponding to a rectangle, a blade-shaped, a cross, a circle, an oval, an ellipse, a crescent, a curvilinear triangle, a quatrefoil, a parallelogram, a square, a trapezoid, a trapezium, a triangle, a kite, a rhombus, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon, or a decagon cross-section.

18. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein the functional member comprises at least one of a toe kick, a handle, a shelf mount, a dispenser drip trap, a water filter, a liner, a mat, a door, and/or an air filter.

19. A functional member as defined in claim 1 , wherein a dimension of the gap gauge is the first distance.

20. A method of aligning two closing members of a refrigerator, freezer or icemaker to be separated by a first distance, the method comprising:
removing a functional member from the refrigerator, freezer or icemaker;
positioning a gap gauge portion of the functional member between the closing members;
adjusting the alignment of the closing members according to the gap gauge portion positioned between the closing members; and
returning the functional member to the refrigerator, freezer or icemaker.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kobos Duane M
• Tunzi Todd J

Classifications

• B23P19/00

  Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation {(connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K)}; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes (hand tools in general B25) · CPC title

• B01D35/02

  Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) · CPC title

• F25D23/10 Primary

  Arrangements for mounting in particular locations, e.g. for built-in type, for corner type · CPC title

• F25D25/024

  Slidable shelves · CPC title

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title