초록 ▼

A refrigerator cabinet includes a shell having first and second laterally spaced, upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of the walls includes an in-turned front edge portion defining a liner receiving cavity. The shell further includes a mullion bar, which partitions the

A refrigerator cabinet includes a shell having first and second laterally spaced, upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of the walls includes an in-turned front edge portion defining a liner receiving cavity. The shell further includes a mullion bar, which partitions the shell into first and second liner cavities, and a base member. Both the mullion bar and base member have respective liner receiving portions. With this arrangement, first and second liners are adapted to be inserted into their respective cavities and flexed such that three sides are inserted into the liner receiving cavities, while the remaining side is positioned against a land of the mullion bar or base member. Once in place, the liners are secured through a mullion bar cover and a base member cover. This construction combines the benefits of a front-load process with that of a flex-load process, lowering assembly time without the need to reinforce the liner.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A refrigerator cabinet assembly comprising: a shell including first and second laterally spaced upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of said first and second side walls and said top wall including front edge portions being in-turned to form respective front

We claim: 1. A refrigerator cabinet assembly comprising: a shell including first and second laterally spaced upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of said first and second side walls and said top wall including front edge portions being in-turned to form respective front face portions of said shell, each of said front face portions leading to a return flange that defines a liner receiving cavity opening laterally inward; a base member extending between and interconnecting the first and second side walls; a mullion bar partitioning the shell into first and second liner receiving portions, said mullion bar including first and second horizontally extending shoulder portions which define first and second opposing liner rim receiving lands; first and second liners each having outwardly projecting edge portions generally defining a peripheral rim, said first liner being positioned in the first liner receiving portion to define a freezer compartment, with a plurality of the edge portions of the first liner being arranged in respective ones of the receiving cavities and at least one of the edge portions extending along the first liner rim receiving land, said second liner being positioned in the second liner receiving portion to define a fresh food compartment, with a plurality of the edge portions of the second liner being arranged in respective ones of the receiving cavities and at least one of the edge portions extending along the second liner rim receiving land; and a mullion bar cover being adapted to be engaged with the mullion bar and extending over at least a portion of each of the first and second liner rim receiving lands. 2. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the liner rim receiving lands are directly exposed from a front of the shell prior to mounting of the liners. 3. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mullion bar has a main body portion, said opposing liner rim receiving lands being recessed from the main body portion. 4. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 3, wherein the mullion bar cover is arranged substantially flush with the main body portion of the mullion bar. 5. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 4, wherein the mullion cover includes opposing in-turned edge portions extending along a length of the mullion cover. 6. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 5, wherein the in-turned edge portions of the mullion cover abut the liner. 7. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: a pair of attachment brackets interconnecting the mullion bar to the shell. 8. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the attachment brackets includes first and second end portions joined by a connecting portion, said first end portion being attached to the shell and the second end portion being connected to the mullion bar. 9. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portion of each attachment bracket is curved. 10. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 9, wherein the connecting portion spans a gap established between the mullion bar and the shell, said mullion cover projecting into the gap. 11. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 8, further comprising: a reinforcing brace secured to a rear surface portion of the mullion bar. 12. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 11, further comprising: a spacer element fixedly mounted to an inside surface of a respective one of the front face portions. 13. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 12, further comprising: a bridge member interconnecting the reinforcing brace and the spacer element. 14. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: a yoder tube located behind the main body portion and between the opposing lands. 15. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member includes a recessed portion defining a liner receiving ledge and wherein another one of the edge portions of the second liner is arranged in the recess portion and extends along the liner receiving ledge. 16. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 15, further comprising: a base cover extending across the base member between the front face portions of said shell. 17. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 16, wherein the liner receiving ledge includes at least two in-turned sections which define first and second recessed ledge portions, said another one of the edge portions is positioned at the first recessed ledge portion and said base cover is positioned at the second recessed ledge portion. 18. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 17, wherein the first recessed ledge portion is positioned rearward of the second recessed ledge portion. 19. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 16, further comprising: a pair of attachment brackets interconnecting the base member to the shell. 20. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 19, wherein each of the attachment brackets includes first and second end portions joined by a connecting portion, said first end portion being attached to the shell and the second end portion being connected to the base member. 21. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 20, wherein the connecting portion of each attachment bracket is curved. 22. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 21, wherein the connecting portion spans a gap established between the base member and the shell, said base cover projecting into the gap. 23. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 20, further comprising: a reinforcing brace secured to a rear surface portion of the base member. 24. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 23, further comprising: a spacer element fixedly mounted to an inside surface of a respective one of the front face portions. 25. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 24, further comprising: a bridge member interconnecting the reinforcing brace and the spacer element. 26. The refrigerator cabinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mullion bar extends between and interconnects the side walls of the shell at a position spaced above and substantially parallel to the base member.