초록 ▼

A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air i

A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. A tunnel insert is positioned in a mullion zone defined between fresh food and freezer liners of the refrigerator, with the tunnel insert being formed with a through hole for directing the flow of cooling air into the food storage system, a channel for directing an exhaust flow of cooling air from the food storage system out of the fresh food compartment within the mullion zone and an enlarged opening defining a return air passage for the overall fresh food compartment. The tunnel insert, within the mullion zone, channels the exhaust air from the food storage system to the return air passage. The channel is preferably defined by four walls, three of which are created by a groove formed in the tunnel insert and the fourth wall being defined by a portion of the fresh food compartment liner which seats against the tunnel insert. An air inlet cover is provided to extend over supply air openings formed in a freezer liner of the refrigerator, with the inlet cover including forwardly angled louvers to assist in directing a flow of cooling air to the food storage system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A side-by-side refrigerator comprising:first and second liners defining fresh food and freezer compartments respectively, said first and second liners being separated by a dividing mullion zone;a food storage system including at least one food receptacle slidably mounted within t

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A side-by-side refrigerator comprising:first and second liners defining fresh food and freezer compartments respectively, said first and second liners being separated by a dividing mullion zone;a food storage system including at least one food receptacle slidably mounted within the fresh food compartment for movement between extended and retracted positions, said food storage system having an associated cooling air inlet and an associated cooling air outlet;a first passage fluidly interconnecting the freezer compartment with the fresh food compartment for introducing a flow of cooling air from the freezer compartment into the fresh food compartment;a second passage fluidly interconnecting the freezer compartment with the food storage system for providing a flow of cooling air for the food storage system; anda third passage fluidly interconnecting the fresh food compartment with the freezer compartment for permitting a flow of return air from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment, each of said second and third passages being defined, at least in part, by a tunnel insert positioned in the mullion zone, said tunnel insert including a first through hole in fluid communication with the cooling air inlet of the food storage system and an enlarged opening forming part of the third passage.