U.S. patent application number 13/099614 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-08 for fresh food compartment ice box door.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to Umakant Suresh Katu, Steven D. Paul, Eric Lloyd Scalf, Craig Robert Vitan.
Application Number | 20120279247 13/099614 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47089301 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120279247 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katu; Umakant Suresh ; et
al. |
November 8, 2012 |
FRESH FOOD COMPARTMENT ICE BOX DOOR
Abstract
A refrigerator has a compartment defined by a liner. A door is
configured to provide access into the compartment. A
sub-compartment is mounted in the door. The sub-compartment has an
access door that opens to provide access into the sub-compartment.
The access door includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel,
and a vacuum insulation panel disposed between the inner and outer
door panels.
Inventors: |
Katu; Umakant Suresh;
(Hyderabad, IN) ; Vitan; Craig Robert;
(Louisville, KY) ; Paul; Steven D.; (Louisville,
KY) ; Scalf; Eric Lloyd; (Louisville, KY) |
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
47089301 |
Appl. No.: |
13/099614 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/344 ;
62/441 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2201/14 20130101;
F25C 5/22 20180101; F25D 23/04 20130101; F25D 11/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/344 ;
62/441 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/18 20060101
F25C005/18; F25D 11/02 20060101 F25D011/02 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a compartment defined by a liner; a
door configured to provide access into said compartment; a
sub-compartment mounted in said door, said sub-compartment having
an access door that opens to provide access into said
sub-compartment, said access door further comprising: an inner door
panel; an outer door panel; and a vacuum insulation panel disposed
between said inner door panel and said outer door panel.
2. The refrigerator as in claim 1, wherein said compartment is a
fresh food compartment and said sub-compartment comprises a freezer
sub-compartment with an icemaker and ice cube storage bin.
3. The refrigerator as in claim 1, wherein said access door has a
total thickness of less than 0.5 inches.
4. The refrigerator as in claim 1, further comprising an additional
insulation material disposed against said vacuum insulation
panel.
5. The refrigerator as in claim 4, wherein said vacuum insulation
panel and said additional insulation material have a combined
thickness of less than 1.0 inch.
6. The refrigerator as in claim 5, wherein said vacuum insulation
panel and said additional insulation material have a combined
thickness of about 0.5 inches.
7. The refrigerator as in claim 6, wherein said access door has a
total thickness of less than 0.75 inches.
8. The refrigerator as in claim 4, wherein said additional
insulation material comprises a spray foam that is injected between
said inner and outer door panels, said vacuum insulation panel
disposed against said inner door panel, said foam injected between
said vacuum insulation panel and said outer panel door and formed
around a periphery of said vacuum insulation panel.
9. The refrigerator as in claim 8, wherein said access door has a
total thickness of less than 0.75 inches.
10. The refrigerator as in claim 8, wherein said inner door panel
comprises a raised bed on which said vacuum insulation panel is
attached, said foamed formed around the periphery of said vacuum
insulation panel and said raised bed.
11. The refrigerator as in claim 4, wherein said additional
insulation material comprises a pre-formed sheet material, said
vacuum insulation panel disposed against said inner door panel and
said pre-formed sheet material disposed between said vacuum
insulation panel and said outer panel door.
12. The refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein said access door has a
total thickness of less than 0.75 inches.
13. The refrigerator as in claim 12, wherein said pre-formed sheet
material comprises a closed-cell polystyrene foam sheet.
14. The refrigerator as in claim 12, wherein said pre-formed sheet
material comprises a cast polyurethane sheet.
15. The refrigerator as in claim 1, further comprising a gasket
seal disposed around an opening to said sub-compartment, said
vacuum insulation panel having dimensions so as to extend outboard
of a periphery of said gasket seal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to
refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator with a
freezer sub-compartment in the fresh food section.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Generally, a refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and
a fresh food compartment, which are partitioned from each other to
store various foods at appropriate low temperatures.
[0003] It is a common practice to provide an automatic
icemaker/water dispenser with a refrigerator. In a "side-by-side"
type of refrigerator where the freezer compartment is arranged to
the side of the fresh food compartment, the icemaker is usually
disposed in the freezer compartment and, thus, utilizes the cold
air in the freezer compartment, which typically includes an
evaporator disposed in the freezer compartment.
[0004] In a "bottom freezer" type of refrigerator where the freezer
compartment is arranged beneath a top mounted fresh food
compartment, convenience necessitates that the icemaker is disposed
in a thermally insulated sub-compartment (often referred to as an
"icebox") configured in one of the top mounted fresh food
compartment doors, with ice delivered through an opening on the
door. In such an arrangement, provision must be made for providing
adequate cooling to the icebox to enable the icemaker to form and
store the ice.
[0005] An access door is typically provided on the icebox to allow
the consumer to access the internal ice bucket and icemaker. This
door is typically insulated with foam between inner and outer door
panels. Unfortunately, the access door is relatively thick and
valuable space in the fresh food compartment is sacrificed to
accommodate the insulated door.
[0006] The conventional design of the icebox access door is
problematic from another standpoint. The temperature differential
between the icebox and the fresh food compartment is substantial,
often resulting in significant condensation ("sweating")
accumulating on the outer surface of the icebox door. This
condensation is a highly visible and unsightly irritant to
consumers when they open the fresh food compartment, and generates
an impression of inferior appliance quality.
[0007] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an icebox door
assembly that eliminates the sweating problem of conventional doors
without increasing the depth of the door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator is provided with
a compartment defined by a liner, for example a fresh food
compartment defined by a fresh food liner. A door is configured
with the compartment to provide access into the compartment and to
seal the compartment in the closed position of the door. A
sub-compartment is mounted in the door. This sub-compartment may,
in one particular embodiment, constitute a freezer sub-compartment
with an icemaker and an ice storage bin. The sub-compartment has an
access door that opens to provide access into the sub-compartment.
The access door may be variously configured in accordance with
aspects of the invention. In a particular embodiment, the access
door includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel, and a
vacuum insulation panel disposed between the inner and outer door
panels. The type and thickness of the vacuum insulation panel is
selected so as to provide desired thermal insulating
characteristics to the access door, particularly a thin profile
that also prevents or at least significantly reduces sweating on
the outer door panel. In a particular embodiment, the access door
has a total thickness of less than 0.5 inches, with the vacuum
insulation panel having a thickness of about 0.2 inches.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the access door includes an
additional insulation material disposed against the vacuum
insulation panel between the door panels. The vacuum insulation
panel and the additional insulation material may have a combined
thickness of less than 1.0 inch, for example a combined thickness
of about 0.5 inches. In this embodiment, the access door may have a
total thickness of less than 0.75 inches.
[0011] The additional insulation material may be a spray foam that
is injected between the inner and outer door panels, with the
vacuum insulation panel disposed against the inner door panel and
the foam injected between the vacuum insulation panel and the outer
panel door and formed around a periphery of the vacuum insulation
panel. In this embodiment, the access door may have a total
thickness of less than 0.75 inches. In other embodiments, the
vacuum insulation panel may be disposed against the outer door
panel, with the foam injected between the inner door panel and the
vacuum insulation panel. The vacuum insulation panel may be spaced
from both of the inner and outer door panels with the foam
essentially encasing the vacuum insulation panel in still other
embodiments.
[0012] In another embodiment, the additional insulation material
may be a pre-formed sheet material, with the vacuum insulation
panel disposed against the inner door panel and the pre-formed
sheet material disposed between the vacuum insulation panel and the
outer panel door. The pre-formed sheet material may be, for
example, a closed-cell polystyrene foam sheet, or a cast
polyurethane sheet.
[0013] A gasket seal may be disposed around an opening to the
sub-compartment, with the inner panel of the access door sealing
against the gasket seal in a closed position of the access door.
The vacuum insulation panel may have dimensions so as to extend
outboard of a periphery of the gasket seal.
[0014] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator
that may incorporate aspects of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sub-compartment configured
on a fresh food compartment door of a refrigerator;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sub-compartment with the
access door in an open position;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a component view of a particular embodiment of an
access door;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the access door of FIG.
4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an
access door;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a component view of another embodiment of an
access door; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the access door of FIG.
7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0025] FIG. 1 depicts a refrigerator 10 in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the invention. The refrigerator 10 has an
outer casing 12 and inner liner 24 (FIG. 2) that define an upper
fresh food compartment 14 with a frontal access opening through
doors 16 and 18, and a lower freezer compartment 20 a frontal
access opening through door 22. The type of refrigerator depicted
in FIG. 1 is generally referred to as a French-style refrigerator
wherein the fresh food compartment 12 is configured above the
freezer compartment 20 and includes two French doors 16, 18. In an
alternate embodiment, a single door can be used instead of the dual
doors 16, 18.
[0026] It should be appreciated that the present invention is not
limited to any particular type or style of refrigerator, and that
the refrigerator 10 depicted in FIG. 1 is for illustrative purposes
only.
[0027] An ice/water dispenser 26 is configured in the door 18 of
the fresh food compartment 14. This dispenser 26 is serviced by a
freezer sub-compartment 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3) mounted on the back side
of the door 18. This compartment 28 is often referred to as an
"icebox." Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the sub-compartment 28
includes end walls 30 (top and bottom) and side walls 32 that
extend into the fresh food compartment 14 in the closed position of
the door 18. An icemaker 34 and ice storage bin 36 (partially
visible in FIG. 3) are typically housed within the sub-compartment
28.
[0028] An opening 38 is defined in one of the side walls 32 of the
sub-compartment 28 and is configured for mating to a cold air
supply in the fresh food compartment liner 24 in a closed position
of the door 18. Any manner of suitable gasket is provided around
the opening 38 to compress and seal against the liner wall when the
door 18 is closed. In order to provide a source of cold air to the
sub-compartment 28, a cold plate assembly (not visible in the
figures) is disposed within (behind) the liner 24 with an outlet in
the compartment side wall that mates with the opening 38 in the
closed position of the door 18. A fan may be provided in the
sub-compartment 28 to draw the cold air into the compartment.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, sub-compartment 28 has a front opening
42 defined by a front rim wall 43. Any manner of suitable gasket
material 62 is provided around the opening 42 on the front rim wall
43. An access door 40 is hinged to the front rim wall 43 by any
manner of suitable hinge mechanism 44. The access door 40 seals
against the gasket material 62 in a closed position of the access
door 40. It should be appreciated that the gasket material 62 may
be provided on the door 40 to seal around the front rim wall 43 in
the closed position of the door 40. Any manner of suitable latch 64
is configured with the sub-compartment 28 to maintain the access
door 40 in the closed position. The latch 64 may be actuated by the
consumer in order to open the access door 40 for providing access
into the internal space of the sub-compartment 28.
[0030] The access door 40 may be variously constructed. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the access door 40 includes an inner
door panel 46, an outer door panel 48, and a vacuum insulation
panel 50 disposed between the door panels 46, 48, for example
against the inner door panel 46, against the outer door panel 48,
or intermediate and spaded from both of the door panels 46, 48. The
door panels 46, 48, may be formed of any suitable material,
including metal, molded plastic components, and the like. In the
illustrated embodiment, the panels 46, 48 are defined by separate
components that are eventually configured together to form the door
40. It should be appreciated, however, that other constructions are
also possible. For example, the panels 46, 48 may be formed
together as a unitary component with a space between the members,
such as in a pouch or envelope construction, with the panels 46, 48
defining the inner and outer sides or walls of the door 40.
[0031] In the particular non-limiting embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer door panel 48 includes a circumferential
lip 49 that extends over the inner door panel 46, as particularly
illustrated in FIG. 5. The door panels 46, 48 may be attached
together by any suitable means, including adhesives, mechanical
fasteners, and the like.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 5 in particular, it may be desirable in
certain embodiments for the inner door panel 46 to include a raised
bed 58 defined by a shoulder 60. The vacuum insulation panel 50 may
be disposed against the raised bed 58, as particularly illustrated
in FIG. 5, and sandwiched between the raised bed 58 and the inner
surface of the outer door panel 48.
[0033] The construction and function of vacuum insulation panels is
well known by those skilled in the art and need not be described in
detail herein. Vacuum insulation panels are readily obtainable from
any number of commercial sources and can be provided with precise
dimensions as needed. The type and thickness of the vacuum
insulation panel 50 is selected so as to provide desired thermal
insulation characteristics to the access door 40. Desirably, the
thickness of the vacuum insulation panel is selected so as to
provide the access door 40 with a relatively thin profile yet
prevent or at least significantly reduce sweating on the outer door
panel 48. In a particular embodiment, the access door 40 has a
total thickness of less than 0.5 inches, with the vacuum insulation
panel 50 having a thickness of about 0.2 inches.
[0034] In additional embodiments of the access door 40, an
additional insulation material 52 may also be provided between the
inner door panel 46 and the outer door panel 48. For example,
referring to FIG. 6, the additional insulation material 52 may
comprise a spray polyurethane foam (SPF). Use of SPF's for
insulation purposes in consumer appliances is a common practice.
After the access door 40 is assembled with the vacuum insulation
panel 50 between the door panels 46, 48, for example adhered
against the inner door panel 46, the SPF may be injected into the
remaining space between the panels 46, 48 via any manner of port or
injection hole 55 (FIG. 4). The spray foam migrates throughout the
interior volume of the door 40 and forms around the periphery of
the vacuum insulation panel 50, as well as in the planar space
defined by the opposing surfaces of the vacuum insulation panel 50
in the inner surface of the outer door panel 48, as particularly
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0035] It should be appreciated that the use of an SPF may serve
additional benefits. The foam, when cured, serves to further bond
the components of the access door 40 together, and adds significant
structural rigidity to the access door 40.
[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the
additional insulation material 52 may be a pre-formed sheet of
insulation material having defined dimensions, thickness, and
insulation properties. For example, the sheet 56 of additional
insulation material may be a cast polyurethane sheet, a closed-cell
expanded polystyrene foam sheet, and the like.
[0037] In the embodiments wherein the access door 40 includes the
additional insulation material 52, the vacuum insulation panel 50
and the additional insulation material 52 may have a combined
thickness of less than 1.0 inch, for example a combined thickness
of about 0.5 inches. In a particular embodiment, the access door 40
has a total thickness (including the vacuum insulation panel 50 and
the additional insulation material 52) of less than 0.5 inches.
[0038] As can be readily seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the gasket seal
62 is disposed around the opening 42 in the sub-compartment 28 and
the inner panel 46 of the access door 40 seals against the gasket
62 in a closed position of the door 40. In this particular
embodiment, the vacuum insulation panel 50 that is disposed against
the inner surface of the door panel 46 has dimensions so as to
circumferentially extend outboard of the periphery of the gasket
seal 62, as particularly seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8.
[0039] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *