Appliance modular system for incorporating a pantry compartment within an appliance
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-025/02
F25D-029/00
F25D-023/00
출원번호
US-0920034
(2015-10-22)
등록번호
US-9759479
(2017-09-12)
발명자
/ 주소
Ramm, Axel Julio
Richards, Michael S.
Wadke, Rahul
Wittes, Joshua J.
출원인 / 주소
Whirlpool Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Price Heneveld LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
7인용 특허 :
27
초록▼
A refrigerating appliance includes an interior volume divided by a medial wall into refrigerating and freezing compartments. A horizontal false mullion extends through one of the compartments, parallel with the medial wall to define a pantry compartment in thermal communication with at least one of
A refrigerating appliance includes an interior volume divided by a medial wall into refrigerating and freezing compartments. A horizontal false mullion extends through one of the compartments, parallel with the medial wall to define a pantry compartment in thermal communication with at least one of the refrigerating and freezing compartments. A center vertical mullion is removably engaged with the medial wall and divides the pantry compartment into first and second pantry sub compartments. First and second outer drawer glides are positioned on the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment and opposite first and second inner drawer glides of the center vertical mullion. The first inner and first outer drawer glides partially define the first pantry sub compartment. The second inner and second outer drawer glides partially define the second pantry sub compartment. First and second pantry drawers are slidably engaged with first and second pantry sub compartments, respectively.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerating appliance comprising: a cabinet structure having a plurality of sidewalls and a medial wall that define an interior volume, the interior volume divided by the medial wall into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;a horizontal false mullion extending through a fro
1. A refrigerating appliance comprising: a cabinet structure having a plurality of sidewalls and a medial wall that define an interior volume, the interior volume divided by the medial wall into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;a horizontal false mullion extending through a front portion of one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, wherein the horizontal false mullion is a separate member attached to the cabinet structure and is oriented parallel with the medial wall, and wherein the medial wall and the horizontal false mullion define a pantry compartment, the pantry compartment in selective and alternative thermal communication with the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment;a center vertical mullion removably engaged with the medial wall and extending vertically to the horizontal false mullion, wherein first and second inner drawer glides are defined on opposing sides of the center vertical mullion, the center vertical mullion dividing the pantry compartment to define first and second pantry sub compartments;first and second outer drawer glides positioned proximate opposing internal vertical surfaces of the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment and positioned opposite the first and second inner drawer glides, respectively, wherein the first inner and first outer drawer glides partially define the first pantry sub compartment, and wherein the second inner and second outer drawer glides partially define the second pantry sub compartment;a first pantry drawer slidably engaged with the first inner and first outer drawer glides and operable within the first pantry sub compartment to define first open and closed positions of the first pantry sub compartment, and a second pantry drawer slidably engaged with the second inner and second outer drawer glides and operable within the second pantry sub compartment to define second open and closed positions of the second pantry sub compartment;a pantry cover positioned between the horizontal false mullion and a mullion protrusion of the center vertical mullion, the pantry cover including a top cover surface that at least partially defines the refrigerating compartment, and wherein a portion of the pantry cover rests upon the center vertical mullion; anda false floor assembly that defines a horizontal boundary between the refrigerating compartment and the pantry compartment, wherein a portion of the false floor assembly rests upon the center vertical mullion and the mullion protrusion, and wherein the pantry cover, the false floor assembly and the horizontal false mullion are separate members that cooperate to define a floor of the refrigerating compartment. 2. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1, further comprising: first and second side adapters removably positioned against the opposing internal vertical surfaces of the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment such that the center vertical mullion is positioned between and parallel with the first and second side adapters, wherein the first outer drawer glide is coupled with the first side adapter and wherein the second outer drawer glide is coupled with the second side adapter. 3. The refrigerating appliance of claim 2, wherein the center vertical mullion and the first and second side adapters are selectively inserted to define a divided state of the pantry compartment, the divided state being defined by the pantry compartment divided into the first and second pantry sub compartments, and wherein the center vertical mullion and the first and second side adapters can be alternatively removed to define an undivided state of the pantry compartment, wherein the refrigerating appliance includes a full-width pantry drawer that is slidably engaged with the pantry compartment in the undivided state. 4. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a control in communication with a pantry refrigeration system, wherein the control operates the pantry refrigeration system to selectively and independently maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at respective first and second temperatures, wherein the pantry refrigeration system includes ducts that selectively deliver cooled air from the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment to the pantry compartment, wherein the control operates the ducts to maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at the first and second temperatures. 5. A refrigerating appliance comprising: a cabinet structure including an outer wrapper and an inner liner that define an insulating cavity, wherein an insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity;a medial wall at least partially defined by the inner liner of the cabinet structure, the medial wall extending through an interior volume defined by the cabinet structure, the medial wall and the inner liner defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;a horizontal false mullion being a separate member attached to the cabinet structure and extending through a front portion of the refrigerating compartment, wherein the horizontal false mullion is oriented parallel with the medial wall, and wherein the medial wall and the horizontal false mullion define a pantry compartment, the pantry compartment in selective thermal communication with the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment;a center vertical mullion removably disposed on the medial wall and extending upward to the horizontal false mullion, the center vertical mullion having a mullion protrusion that engages a back surface of the horizontal false mullion;first and second side adapters removably positioned against opposing vertical surfaces of the inner liner within the pantry compartment such that the center vertical mullion is positioned between and parallel with the first and second side adapters, wherein the first side adapter and the center vertical mullion define a first pantry sub compartment in selective and alternative thermal communication with the refrigerating and freezing compartments, and wherein the second side adapter and the center vertical mullion define a second pantry sub compartment in selective and alternative thermal communication with the refrigerating and freezing compartments;a first pantry drawer slidably engaged with the first pantry sub compartment, and a second pantry drawer slidably engaged with the second pantry sub compartment;a pantry cover positioned between the horizontal false mullion and the mullion protrusion, the pantry cover including a top cover surface that at least partially defines the refrigerating compartment, and wherein a portion of the pantry cover rests upon the center vertical mullion; anda false floor assembly that defines a horizontal boundary between the refrigerating compartment and the pantry compartment, wherein a portion of the false floor assembly rests upon the center vertical mullion and the mullion protrusion, and wherein the pantry cover, the false floor assembly and the horizontal false mullion are separate members that cooperate to define a floor of the refrigerating compartment. 6. The refrigerating appliance of claim 5, wherein the center vertical mullion extends at least partially under the horizontal false mullion, wherein the center vertical mullion includes an alignment surface that engages at least a bottom of the horizontal false mullion such that a front edge of the center vertical mullion is substantially coplanar with a front face of the horizontal false mullion. 7. The refrigerating appliance of claim 5, wherein the pantry cover includes at least one of a partially transparent panel that places the refrigerating compartment in visual communication with the pantry compartment, wherein the pantry compartment is at least partially visible through the floor of the refrigerating compartment. 8. The refrigerating appliance of claim 5, wherein the pantry cover includes a plurality of cover walls that define a pantry cover interstitial space that is in communication with a water system, and wherein the pantry cover interstitial space houses at least one of a water filter and a pantry ice maker. 9. The refrigerating appliance of claim 5, wherein the center vertical mullion extends between the horizontal false mullion and a back surface of the inner liner, wherein the center vertical mullion, the pantry cover and the false floor assembly define the first and second pantry sub compartments as separate volumes, wherein the first and second pantry sub compartments are in communication with a control that is in independent and selective communication with each of the first and second pantry sub compartments. 10. The refrigerating appliance of claim 9, wherein the center vertical mullion defines an inner mullion volume and the insulating material is further disposed within the inner mullion volume, and wherein the center vertical mullion defines an at least partial thermal barrier between the first and second pantry sub compartments. 11. The refrigerating appliance of claim 5, wherein the center vertical mullion can be selectively inserted to define a divided state of the pantry compartment defined by the first and second pantry sub compartments, and wherein the center vertical mullion can be alternatively removed to define an undivided state of the pantry compartment, wherein the refrigerating appliance includes a full-width pantry drawer that is slidably engaged with the pantry compartment in the undivided state. 12. A refrigerated pantry conversion kit for dividing a refrigerated pantry compartment into a plurality of pantry sub compartments, the refrigerated pantry conversion kit comprising: an insulated cabinet structure having an inner liner that defines an interior volume and a medial wall extending through the interior volume to define a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;a horizontal false mullion extending through the refrigerating compartment, wherein the horizontal false mullion is a separate member attached proximate a forward portion of the insulated cabinet structure and oriented parallel with the medial wall, and wherein the medial wall and the horizontal false mullion define a pantry compartment, the pantry compartment in thermal communication with the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment;a center vertical mullion removably disposed on the medial wall and extending upward to and at least partially around the horizontal false mullion, the center vertical mullion selectively removeable from the pantry compartment to alternatively define a divided state of the pantry compartment wherein the center vertical mullion defines first and second pantry sub compartments, and an undivided state of the pantry compartment;first and second outer drawer glides disposed proximate opposing vertical surfaces of the inner liner within the pantry compartment, wherein a full-width pantry drawer is slidably engaged with the first and second outer drawer glides when the pantry compartment is in the undivided state;first and second inner drawer glides engaged with opposite sides of the center vertical mullion, wherein the first and second inner drawer glides further define the first and second pantry sub compartments when the pantry compartment is in the divided state;first and second pantry drawers that are slidably disposed with the first and second pantry sub compartments, respectively, when the pantry compartment is in the divided state;a pantry cover positioned adjacent to the horizontal false mullion, the pantry cover including a top cover surface that at least partially defines a floor of the refrigerating compartment, and wherein a portion of the pantry cover rests upon the center vertical mullion and is disposed between the horizontal false mullion and a mullion protrusion of the center vertical mullion when the pantry compartment is in the divided state; anda false floor assembly that defines a horizontal boundary between the refrigerating compartment and the pantry compartment, wherein a portion of the false floor assembly rests upon the center vertical mullion and the mullion protrusion when the pantry compartment is in the divided state and wherein the pantry cover, the false floor assembly and the horizontal false mullion cooperate to define the floor of the refrigerating compartment, and wherein at least one of the pantry cover and the false floor assembly are selectively removable to accommodate conversion of the pantry compartment between the divided and undivided states. 13. The refrigerated pantry conversion kit of claim 12, wherein the center vertical mullion extends between the horizontal false mullion and a back surface of the inner liner, wherein the center vertical mullion, the pantry cover and the false floor assembly are separate members that define the first and second pantry sub compartments as separate volumes when the pantry compartment is in the divided state. 14. The refrigerated pantry conversion kit of claim 12, further comprising: a control in communication with a pantry refrigeration system, wherein the control operates the pantry refrigeration system to maintain the pantry compartment at a pantry temperature when the pantry compartment is in the undivided state, and wherein the divided state of the pantry compartment is defined by the control operating the pantry refrigeration system to selectively and independently maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at respective first and second temperatures. 15. The refrigerated pantry conversion kit of claim 14, wherein the pantry refrigeration system includes ducts that selectively deliver cooled air from at least one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment to the pantry compartment, wherein the control operates the ducts to maintain the pantry compartment at the pantry temperature when the pantry compartment is in the undivided state, and maintain the first and second pantry sub compartments at the first and second temperatures when the pantry compartment is in the divided state. 16. The refrigerated pantry conversion kit of claim 12, wherein the pantry cover includes at least one of a partially transparent panel that places the refrigerating compartment in visual communication with the pantry compartment, wherein the pantry compartment is at least partially visible through the floor of the refrigerating compartment. 17. The refrigerated pantry conversion kit of claim 12, wherein the pantry cover includes a plurality of cover walls that define a pantry cover interstitial space that is in communication with a water system, and wherein the pantry cover interstitial space houses at least one of a water filter and a pantry ice maker. 18. The refrigerated pantry conversion kit of claim 12, wherein the center vertical mullion defines an inner mullion volume and an insulating material is disposed within the inner mullion volume, and wherein the center vertical mullion defines an at least partial thermal barrier between the first and second pantry sub compartments, and wherein the center vertical mullion includes a plurality of slots that allow for lateral airflow between the first and second pantry sub compartments.
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