U.S. patent application number 15/966801 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-18 for refrigerator having a camera selectively enclosed by a rotating mullion assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Matthew Ebrom, Neomar Giacomini, Donald Gilmore.
Application Number | 20190113276 15/966801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62485750 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190113276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ebrom; Matthew ; et
al. |
April 18, 2019 |
REFRIGERATOR HAVING A CAMERA SELECTIVELY ENCLOSED BY A ROTATING
MULLION ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment
with a door pivotally coupled the cabinet between open and closed
positions. A mullion assembly is operably coupled to the door
between retracted and deployed positions relative to the door. The
mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess disposed on
an inner surface thereof. At least one camera device is mounted on
an inside edge of the door and vertically aligned with the at least
one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, such that the camera
device faces into the storage compartment when the first door is in
the closed position, and is received in the receiving recess of the
mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted
position. The camera device may also be mounted to a fixed portion
of a hinge assembly that interconnects the mullion assembly and the
door.
Inventors: |
Ebrom; Matthew; (Holland,
MI) ; Giacomini; Neomar; (St. Joseph, MI) ;
Gilmore; Donald; (Berrien Springs, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION |
BENTON HARBOR |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
BENTON HARBOR
MI
|
Family ID: |
62485750 |
Appl. No.: |
15/966801 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15782144 |
Oct 12, 2017 |
9995528 |
|
|
15966801 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2323/024 20130101;
F25D 2400/06 20130101; G03B 17/04 20130101; H04N 5/23222 20130101;
F25D 29/00 20130101; F25D 2700/02 20130101; F25D 23/04 20130101;
F25D 2323/021 20130101; F25D 2500/06 20130101; F25D 29/005
20130101; G03B 29/00 20130101; F25D 21/04 20130101; F25D 23/069
20130101; F25D 23/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 29/00 20060101
F25D029/00; F25D 23/04 20060101 F25D023/04; F25D 23/06 20060101
F25D023/06; H04N 5/232 20060101 H04N005/232; F25D 21/04 20060101
F25D021/04 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a mullion assembly pivotally coupled
to a refrigerator door by a hinge assembly, wherein the mullion
assembly is operable between retracted and deployed positions, and
further wherein the mullion assembly includes a receiving recess;
and a camera device mounted on the hinge assembly and vertically
aligned with the receiving recess of the mullion assembly, wherein
the camera device is at least partially received in the receiving
recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the
retracted position.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the camera device includes
a lens assembly facing into a storage compartment of the
refrigerator when the refrigerator door is in a closed
position.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the lens assembly of the
camera device is covered by an inner wall of the receiving recess
when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the hinge assembly includes
a first hinge element coupled to an inner edge of the refrigerator
door.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the mullion assembly is
mounted to the first hinge element of the hinge assembly.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the hinge assembly includes
a second hinge element coupled between the first hinge element and
the mullion assembly.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the second hinge element of
the hinge assembly pivots with the mullion assembly relative to the
first hinge element as the mullion assembly moves between the
retracted and deployed positions.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the first hinge element of
the hinge assembly is fixedly mounted to the inner edge of the
refrigerator door.
9. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet having a storage
compartment; first and second doors operably coupled to the cabinet
between open and closed positions, the first and second doors each
having inner edges that are spaced-apart from one another when the
first and second doors are in the closed position; a hinge assembly
having a first hinge element mounted to the first door, wherein the
hinge assembly further includes a second hinge element pivotally
coupled to the first hinge element; a mullion assembly having a
mullion bar coupled to the second hinge element of the hinge
assembly for movement between retracted and deployed positions,
wherein the mullion assembly includes at least one receiving
recess; and a camera device mounted on the first hinge element and
vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the
mullion bar, wherein the camera device faces into the storage
compartment when the first door is in the closed position, and
further wherein the camera device is at least partially received in
the at least one receiving recess of the mullion bar when the
mullion bar is in the retracted position, and further wherein the
camera device is positioned outside of the at least one receiving
recess of the mullion bar when the mullion bar is in the deployed
position.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the at least one receiving
recess includes an inner wall.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the camera device
includes a lens assembly, and further wherein the lens assembly is
at least partially covered by the inner wall of the at least one
receiving recess when the first door is in the open position.
12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the camera device
includes a lens assembly, and further wherein the lens assembly is
at least partially covered by the inner wall of the at least one
receiving recess of the mullion bar when the mullion bar is in the
retracted position.
13. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the first hinge element is
fixedly mounted to an inner edge of the first door.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein an inner surface of the
mullion bar rotates inwardly towards the inner edge of the first
door when the mullion bar rotates from the deployed position to the
retracted position, and further wherein the mullion bar rotates
from the deployed position to the retracted position when the first
door moves from the closed position to the open position.
15. A refrigerator, comprising: a door; a mullion assembly
pivotally coupled to the door between deployed and retracted
positions, the mullion assembly having at least one receiving
recess; and at least one camera device mounted on the door and
vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the
mullion assembly, wherein the at least one camera device is at
least partially received in the at least one receiving recess of
the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted
position.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the mullion assembly
rotates inwardly towards an inner edge of the door from the
deployed position to the retracted position when the door moves
from a closed position to an open position.
17. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the at least one camera
device includes a plurality of camera devices mounted on the
door.
18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the at least one
receiving recess includes a plurality of receiving recess disposed
along the mullion assembly.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein each camera device of the
plurality of camera devices is at least partially received in an
associated receiving recess of the plurality of receiving recesses
disposed along the mullion assembly when the door is in an open
position.
20. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the at least one camera
device includes a lens assembly that is at least partially received
in the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly when
the mullion assembly is in the retracted position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/782,144, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, entitled
REFRIGERATOR HAVING A CAMERA SELECTIVELY ENCLOSED BY A ROTATING
MULLION ASSEMBLY, the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Bottom mount refrigerators often include French-style doors
to enhance access to a refrigerated storage compartment. Some
refrigerators also include image sensors, such as cameras, for
viewing images of the storage compartment. These images sensors can
be mounted of the sidewalls of the storage compartment or on the
doors of the refrigerator. In the cold environment of a
refrigerated storage compartment, cameras are exposed to
condensation when warmer humid air enters the storage compartment
when opening the refrigerator doors. Exposed camera lenses can
become foggy due to the condensation, thereby affecting the quality
of the image taken by the camera. Even when the doors are closed,
the condensation can take a considerable amount of time to
dissipate from the camera lens in the cold environment of the
refrigerated storage compartment. Thus, a system for enclosing a
camera assembly when the doors of a refrigerator are opened is
desired. Further, an accessible location for the cameras is desired
to increase access to the cameras for servicing.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator
includes a storage compartment having an open front portion with
first and second doors operable between open and closed positions
with respect to the open front portion of the storage compartment.
A mullion assembly is pivotally coupled to one of the first and
second doors by at least one hinge assembly, such that the mullion
assembly is operable between retracted and deployed positions. The
mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess. At least
one camera device is mounted on the at least one hinge assembly and
vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the
mullion assembly. The at least one camera device includes a lens
assembly facing into the storage compartment when the door to which
the mullion assembly is mounted is in the closed position. The at
least one camera device is at least partially received in the at
least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion
assembly is in the retracted position.
[0004] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment with
first and second doors operably coupled to the cabinet between open
and closed positions. The first and second doors each include inner
edges spaced-apart from one another when the first and second doors
are in the closed position. A hinge assembly having a first hinge
element is mounted to the first door, wherein the hinge assembly
further includes a second hinge element pivotally coupled to the
first hinge element. A mullion assembly includes a mullion bar
coupled to the second hinge element of the hinge assembly for
movement between retracted and deployed positions. The mullion bar
is substantially perpendicular to the first door when the mullion
assembly is in the retracted position, and the mullion assembly
includes at least one receiving recess. A camera device is mounted
on the first hinge element and vertically aligned with the
receiving recess of the mullion bar. The camera device faces into
the storage compartment when the first door is in the closed
position, and the camera device is at least partially received in
the receiving recess of the mullion bar when the mullion bar is in
the retracted position.
[0005] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a
refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment with a
door pivotally coupled the cabinet between open and closed
positions to selectively provide access to the storage compartment.
A mullion assembly is operably coupled to the door between
retracted and deployed positions relative to the door, wherein the
mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess disposed on
an inner surface thereof. At least one camera device is mounted on
an inside edge of the door and vertically aligned with the at least
one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, such that the camera
device faces into the storage compartment when the first door is in
the closed position, and is received in the receiving recess of the
mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted
position.
[0006] These and other features, advantages, and objects of the
present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by
those skilled in the art by reference to the following
specification, claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the disclosure, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the disclosure, certain examples are shown in the
drawings. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is
not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities
shown. Drawings are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of
the disclosure may be exaggerated in scale or shown in schematic
form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a bottom mount
refrigerator having first and second French-style doors shown in an
open position and a mullion assembly coupled to the first door;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the first door of FIG. 1
as removed from the refrigerator and an exploded view of the
mullion assembly;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the first door
of FIG. 2 and an exploded view of an upper portion of mullion
assembly having an image sensor;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the first and second
French-style doors and the mullion assembly of FIG. 1 in a closed
position, with an image sensor facing inwardly;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the doors and mullion assembly
of FIG. 4 showing the first door moving towards an open position
with the second door remaining in a closed position, and further
showing rotation of the mullion assembly towards an inwardly
rotated position over the image sensor;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the doors and mullion assembly
of FIG. 5 showing the first door moving further towards the open
position with the second door remaining in the closed position, and
the mullion assembly rotated further towards the inwardly rotated
position over the image sensor;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the first door and mullion
assembly of FIG. 6 showing the first door in the open position, and
the mullion assembly fully rotated to the inwardly rotated
position, thereby covering the image sensor;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the first and second
French-style doors and the mullion assembly of FIG. 1 in a closed
position, with an image sensor mounted to the first door and facing
inwardly;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the doors and mullion assembly
of FIG. 8 showing the first door moving towards an open position
with the second door remaining in a closed position, and further
showing rotation of the mullion assembly towards an inwardly
rotated position;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the doors and mullion assembly
of FIG. 9 showing the first door moving further towards the open
position with the second door remaining in the closed position, and
the mullion assembly rotated further towards the inwardly rotated
position; and
[0018] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the first door and mullion
assembly of FIG. 6 showing the first door in the open position, and
the mullion assembly fully rotated to the inwardly rotated
position, wherein the image sensor is received in a recess disposed
on the mullion assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] As required, detailed examples of the present disclosure are
disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the
disclosed examples are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may
be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not
necessarily to a detailed design and some schematics may be
exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present
disclosure.
[0020] As used herein, the term "and/or," when used in a list of
two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be
employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed
items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described
as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can
contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C
in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in
combination.
[0021] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not
limited to the particular examples described below, as variations
of the particular examples may be made and still fall within the
scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the
terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular
examples, and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of
the present disclosure will be established by the appended
claims.
[0022] For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper,"
"lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical,"
"horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the
disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1, unless stated otherwise. However,
it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various
alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the
contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and
processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in
the following specification, are simply exemplary examples of the
inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific
dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the
examples disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,
unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 general
designates a bottom-mount refrigerator for use with the present
concept. The refrigerator 2 includes a cabinet 4 having a top wall
6, a bottom wall 7, opposing sidewalls 8 and 9, and a rear wall 10
which cooperate to define first and second compartments 12 and 14.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first compartment 12 is
disposed above the second compartment 14. As shown, the first
compartment 12 includes a liner 15 having a top wall 16, a bottom
wall 17, opposing sidewalls 18 and 19 and a rear wall 20. A first
guide member 22 is shown disposed on a front portion of top wall
16, and a second guide member 24 is shown disposed on a front
portion of the bottom wall 17. The first and second guide members
22, 24 define upper and lower guide members for guiding rotational
movement of a mullion assembly as further described below.
[0024] Although not specifically identified, the refrigerator 2
includes a refrigeration system for providing above and below
freezing temperatures in compartments 12 and 14, respectively.
Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, it is contemplated that the
first compartment 12 is a fresh food storage compartment, while the
second compartment 14 is a freezer compartment. It is further
contemplated that the open space configuration of the first
compartment 12 may include various shelves, drawers and bins for
dividing the open space and for storing items to be refrigerated in
a manner known in the art. In FIG. 1, the second compartment 14 is
selectively accessed via a door 30 which may be a sliding
drawer-style door. Thus, the refrigerator 2 is a bottom mount
refrigerator with lower freezer door 30 being adapted to slide in
and out of the cabinet 4 to provide access to frozen items stored
within second compartment 14.
[0025] As further shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 2 includes an
upper door assembly 26 which, is shown in a French-style door
configuration including first and second doors 28 and 29. The first
and second doors 28 and 29 are provided with respective handles 32,
33 to enable a consumer to open the first and second doors 28, 29
to selectively provide access to the first compartment 12.
Specifically, the first and second doors 28, 29 are pivotally
coupled to the cabinet 4 at upper and lower hinge assemblies 35 and
36, 37 and 38, respectively. The first and second doors 28, 29 are
adapted to seal against an open front face portion 40 of the
cabinet 4 in an air-tight manner to prevent cold air from escaping
the first compartment 12. Specifically, the first and second doors
28, 29 seal against the open front face 40 of the cabinet 4 via
flexible gasket assemblies 42, 43, respectively, which may be
elastomeric assemblies that may include sealing magnetic members
disposed therein.
[0026] Except as otherwise identified below, the structure of each
of the first and second doors 28, 29 is substantially identical,
however, reversed in configuration as known in the art. Therefore,
a detailed description of the basic structure of the first door 28
is herein provided and it is to be understood that the second door
29 has a reciprocal structure. As shown in FIG. 1, the first door
28 includes a door liner 50 having an outwardly projecting top
portion 52, and outwardly projecting first and second side portions
54, 56 disposed on opposite sides of the top portion 52. A rear
portion 58 interconnects the top portion 52 and the first and
second side portions 54, 56 to collectively define a storage cavity
60. Within the storage cavity 60, it is contemplated that a variety
of shelf members, i.e. adjustable shelves, bins, storage units and
the like, can be positioned within the storage cavity 60 as
supported between the opposing side portions 54, 56.
[0027] As further shown in FIG. 1, the first and second doors
include inside edges 62, 64, respectively, which are configured to
seal against a mullion assembly 70 when the doors 28, 29 are in a
closed position. The mullion assembly 70 is shown in an inwardly
rotated position, which is provided by the first and second guide
members 22, 24 interacting with the mullion assembly 70 as the
first door 28 moves to the open position. Thus, the mullion
assembly 70 is pivotally coupled to the first door 28 for rotation
between retracted and deployed positions, as further described
below. While the mullion assembly 70 is shown coupled to the first
door 28, it is also contemplated that the mullion assembly 70 can
be mounted to the second door 29, such that the present concept is
not to be limited to a specific right or left door mounting of the
mullion assembly 70.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, the mullion assembly 70 is shown in
an exploded view and includes a multi-part mullion bar 72 comprised
of first and second cover members 72A, 72B, which are preferably
comprised of molded plastic. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2,
the second cover member 72B defines an inner portion of the mullion
bar 72 and includes a first end 74, a second end 76, and an
interconnecting transverse web portion 75. The first end 74 is
provided with an outwardly extending guide pin 74B for use as
further described below. The second cover member 72B further
includes inner and outer edges 78, 79, wherein the inner edge 78
includes a plurality of receiving recesses 80, 82 disposed
therealong with a receiving slot 81 disposed therebetween. The
second cover member 72B further includes a plurality of mounting
apertures 83 disposed through the transverse web portion 75. As
used throughout this disclosure, the mullion assembly 70 and the
mullion bar 72 may be described as being operable between retracted
and deployed positions. The retracted and deployed positions of the
mullion assembly 70 is meant to convey the pivoting movement of the
mullion bar 72 as a main feature of the mullion assembly 70.
[0029] As further shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first
cover member 72A defines an outer portion of the mullion bar 72 and
includes a first end 84, a second end 86, and an interconnecting
transverse web portion 85. As providing an outer portion of the
mullion bar 72, the first cover member 72A defines a sealing
surface at an outer surface 87 of the transverse web portion 85 for
the gasket assemblies 42, 43 of the first and second doors 28, 29
to seal against when the first and second doors 28, 29 are closed
and the mullion bar 72 is in the deployed position. The first end
84 of the first cover member 72A is provided with an outwardly
extending guide pin portion 74A for use as further described below.
The first cover member 72A further includes inner and outer edges
88, 89, wherein the inner edge 88 includes a plurality of
engagement members 90, 92 disposed therealong. The first cover
member 72A further includes a plurality of mounting bosses 93
disposed through the transverse web portion 85. In assembly, the
first and second cover members 72A, 72B are configured to couple to
one another to define a unitary mullion bar 72. The first and
second cover members 72A, 72B couple to one another using fasteners
94 which are received through mounting apertures 83 of the second
cover member 72B and threadingly engage mounting bosses 93 of the
first cover member 72A. When the first and second cover members
72A, 72B are coupled to one another, the inner and outer edges 78,
88 and 79, 89 thereof aligned with one another as well as the first
and second ends 74, 84 and 76, 86 thereof. The outwardly extending
guide pins portions 74A, 74B of the first and second cover members
72A, 72B also aligned to provide a unitary guide pin for engaging
the guide member 22 disposed on the top wall 16 of the liner 15
shown in FIG. 1. The unitary guide pin engages the guide member 22
to induce rotational movement of the mullion bar 72 between the
retracted position and the deployed position, in a manner as known
in the art, when the first door 28 (to which the mullion bar 72 is
hingedly coupled) is moved between open and closed positions. It is
further contemplated that a lower guide pin assembly can be
disposed on the second ends 86, 76 of the first and second cover
members 72A, 72B, respectively for engage guide member 24 disposed
on the bottom wall 17 of the liner 15 (FIG. 1) for further guiding
rotational movement of the mullion assembly 70.
[0030] As further shown in FIG. 2, an insulating member 100 is
configured to be received between the first and second cover
members 72A, 72B when the first and second cover members 72A, 72B
are coupled to one another. The insulating member 100 includes a
plurality of receiving apertures 103 through which fasteners 94 are
received through when coupling the first and second cover members
72A, 72B to one another. The insulating member 100 further includes
an inner edge 102 having a plurality of recesses 104, 106 and 108
disposed therealong. When the first and second cover members 72A,
72B are coupled to one another, the receiving recesses 80, 82 of
the second cover member 726 align with the recesses 104, 108 of the
insulating member 100. Recess 106 of the insulating member 100 is
configured to receive a portion of a pivot member as further
described below. Further, when the first and second cover members
72A, 72B are coupled to one another, the engagement members 90, 92
of the first cover member 72A are also aligned with the receiving
recesses 80, 82 of the second cover member 72B. In coupling the
mullion bar 72 to the first door 28, a number of hinge assemblies
110, 112 are used to interconnect the first door 28 to the mullion
bar 72. While two hinge assemblies (110, 112) are shown in the
embodiment of FIG. 2, it is contemplated that more or fewer hinge
assemblies may be used to couple the mullion bar 72 to the first
door 28 in a pivoting manner, without departing from the present
concept.
[0031] As further shown in FIG. 2, the hinge assemblies 110, 112
define upper and lower hinge assemblies for pivotally coupling the
mullion bar 72 to the first door 28. Specifically, the hinge
assemblies 110, 112 are configured to mount the mullion bar 72 to
the outwardly projecting first side portion 54 of the liner 50 of
the first door 28 at dovetail connectors 113, such that the mullion
bar 72 is pivotally mounted adjacent to the inside edge 62 of the
first door 28. A pivot member 122 is shown disposed between the
first and second hinge assemblies 110, 112. The pivot member 122
includes a cover plate 124 in an outwardly extending pivot feature
126A having a curved outer pivot surface 128A extending outwardly
from the cover plate 124 by a sleeve 130A. The sleeve 130A opens
through the cover plate 124 at access aperture 132A. In this way,
the sleeve 130A can be used to provide access for a control wire to
power electrical features of the mullion bar 72, such as a heating
element. In assembly, the pivot member 122 is mounted to an access
aperture 115 disposed on the outwardly projecting first side 54 of
the liner 50 of the first door 28. The sleeve 130A is further
configured to be received through the receiving slot 81 of the
second cover member 72B, such that the mullion bar 72 can pivot
around the stationary pivot feature 126A, as engaged therewith at
the curved outer pivoting surface 128A thereof.
[0032] As further shown in FIG. 2, the first and second hinge
assemblies 110, 112 each include a first hinge element 114, a
second hinge element 116, and a biasing mechanism 118 shown in the
embodiment of FIG. 2 in the form of a coil spring. In use, the
biasing mechanism 118 is configured to provide a biasing force to
hold the second hinge element 116 against the first hinge element
114 as the second hinge element 116 rotates with the mullion bar
72, as coupled thereto. The first and second hinge assemblies 110,
112 are contemplated to be similar or identical in configuration,
such that the description of the first hinge assembly 110 provided
below with reference to FIG. 3 will also described the features of
the second hinge assembly 112. As further shown in FIG. 2, each
hinge assembly 110, 112 includes a camera device 120 mounted on the
first hinge element 114. The camera device 120 is contemplated to
be any type of image capturing device configured to take or record
an image of the first compartment 12 (FIG. 1) and the contents
stored by a user therein. It is further contemplated that more than
one camera device 120 can be mounted on the hinge assemblies 112
for providing multiple views of the first compartment 12 from the
same location. As noted above, the mullion assembly 70 can include
more hinge assemblies than those shown in FIG. 2. Thus, it is
further contemplated that all of the hinge assemblies, or select
hinge assemblies of a plurality thereof, used to mount the mullion
assembly 70 to the first door 28 can include a camera device, such
as camera device 120, for viewing the first compartment 12 in a
plurality of positions along the mullion assembly 70. Thus, a
plurality of hinge assemblies, such as hinge assemblies 110, 112
can be mounted on the first door 28, and each assembly may include
a camera device, such as camera devices 120. Further, the first
door 28 may include a plurality of camera devices 120 fixedly
mounted to the inside edge 62 of the first door 28 as further
described below. It is contemplated that each camera device 120 of
the plurality of camera devices is received in an associated
receiving recess 80 of a plurality of receiving recesses disposed
along the mullion assembly 70.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 3, the first hinge assembly 110 is
shown with the first hinge element 114 having a base portion 124A
interconnected with a first multi-lobed cam member 126 having an
upper cam surface 128. In the embodiment shown, a hinge pin 130
projects upwardly from the first multi-lobed cam member 126 and is
spaced-apart from first multi-lobed cam member 126 by an interior
cavity 132. The first hinge assembly 110 is secured to the first
door 28 by sliding the base portion 124A over the dovetailed
connector 113 positioned on the first outwardly projecting side
portion 54 of the first door 28 to fixedly mount the first hinge
element 114 to the first door 28. As further shown in FIG. 3 the
second hinge element 116 includes a second multi-lobed cam member
134 having a lower cam surface 136 and a downwardly extending base
portion 138. The second multi-lobed cam member 134 further includes
a mounting flange 140 adapted to interconnect with the mullion
assembly 70 at the engagement member 90 of the first cover member
72A. The base portion 138 of the second hinge element 116 is shown
as a cylindrical base portion adapted to be received in the
interior cavity 132 of first hinge element 114. Specifically, the
hinge pin 130 of the first hinge element 114 is configured to be
received in the base portion 138 of the second hinge element, such
that the first and second multi-lobed cam members 126, 134 can nest
one within the other.
[0034] As further shown in FIG. 3, the biasing mechanism 118,
preferably a coil spring, is adapted to provide a biasing force for
holding the second hinge element 116 against the first hinge
element 114, such that the upper and lower cam surfaces 128, 136
are in contact with another as the mullion assembly 70 moves
between the retracted and deployed positions. As coupled to the
mullion assembly 70, the second hinge element 116 is configured to
pivot relative to the first hinge element 114. As mounted to the
outwardly projecting side portion 54 of the first door 28, the
first hinge element 114 is fixedly mounted to the first door 28 and
is stationary during movement of the mullion assembly 70. As
mounted to the first hinge element 114, the camera device 120 is
also stationary during movement of the mullion assembly 70. The
camera device 120 includes a body portion 140 having an inwardly
facing front surface 142 with a lens assembly 144 disposed thereon.
As configured in this manner, the camera device 120 faces inwardly
into the first compartment 12 of the refrigerator 2 when the first
door 28 is in the closed position. Further, it is contemplated that
portions of the first hinge assembly 110 are received within the
receiving recess 80 including the camera device 120, as further
described below. As further shown in FIG. 3, the receiving recess
80 includes an inner wall 80A which is configured to cover the
camera device 120 when the mullion assembly 70 is in the retracted
position, as further described below.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 4, the first and second doors 28, 29
are shown in a closed position, such that the inside edges 62, 64
thereof are disposed adjacent to one another. The outer surface 87
of the mullion assembly 70 is shown providing a sealing surface for
the first and second doors 28, 29 at the inside edges 62, 64
thereof. Thus, mullion assembly bridges a gap defined between inner
edges 62, 64 of the first and second doors 28, 29 when the mullion
assembly 70 is in the deployed position and the first and second
doors 28, 29 are in the closed position. It is contemplated that
the gasket assemblies 42, 43 surrounding the first and second doors
28, 29 are positioned between the first and second doors 28, 29 (as
coupled thereto) and the sealing surface 87 of the mullion assembly
70 when the mullion assembly 70 is in the deployed position and the
first and second doors 28, 29 are in the closed position. Thus, in
FIG. 4, the mullion assembly 70 is in the deployed position,
wherein the mullion bar 72 is fully extended outwardly from the
first hinge element 114 of the first hinge assembly 110 to seal
against the first and second doors 28, 29. With the mullion
assembly 70 in the deployed position, the camera device 120 is
exposed, such that the front surface 142 and the lens assembly 144
having an unimpeded view into the first compartment 12 in the
direction as indicated by arrow 146. As further shown in FIG. 4,
portions of the first hinge assembly 112 are shown received within
the recess 80 of the mullion bar 72 of the mullion assembly 70. The
first hinge assembly 110 is shown mounted to the outwardly
projecting side portion 54 of the first door 28. In the embodiment
of FIG. 4, the outwardly projecting side portion 54 of the first
door 28 makes up a portion of the inside edge 62 of the first door
28.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 5, as the first door 28 moves towards
the open position from the closed position shown in FIG. 4, the
mullion bar 72 may contact the inner portion 64 of the second door
29 to rotate the mullion assembly 70 from the deployed position
(shown in FIG. 4) towards the retracted position. Further, it is
contemplated that the unitary guide pin defined by the first and
second guide pin portions 74A, 74B of the first and second cover
members 72A, 72B of the mullion bar 72 can interact with the guide
member 22 disposed within the first compartment 12 to move the
mullion assembly 70 towards the retracted position as the first
door 28 opens, in a manner as known in the art. Moving the mullion
assembly 70 towards the retracted position involves in an inward
rotational movement of the mullion assembly 70 towards the inside
edge 62 of the door 28 along the path as indicated by arrow
150.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 6, the mullion assembly 70 continues
to move along the inwardly directed rotational path as indicated by
arrow 150 towards the retracted position, while portions of the
first hinge assembly 110 and the camera device 120 are shielded
within the receiving recess 80 of the mullion bar 72.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 7, the mullion assembly 70 is shown in
the fully retracted position, such that the first door 28 is
contemplated to be moved away from the cabinet 4 of the
refrigerator 2 to the open position as shown in FIG. 1. When the
mullion assembly 70 is in the retracted position, the mullion
assembly 70 is substantially perpendicular to the first door 28.
With the mullion assembly 70 in the fully retracted position, the
camera device 120, along with the lens assembly 144 thereof, is
fully received within the receiving recess 80 of the mullion bar
72, such that the camera device 120 is protected by the mullion
assembly 70 from the warmer humid air of the external environment
surrounding the refrigerator 2. Specifically, the camera device 120
is covered by the inner wall 80A of the recess 80 when the mullion
assembly 70 is in the fully retracted position. In this way, the
camera device 120 is less susceptible to condensation by exposure
to the external environment of the refrigerator 2 when the first
door 28 is in the open position. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, the
camera device 120 remains stationary as mounted to the first hinge
assembly 110 at the fixedly mounted first hinge element 114 thereof
as the mullion assembly 70 rotates. Thus, the camera device 120
moves with the first door 28 as the first door 28 rotates between
open and closed positions, but the camera device 120 does not
change orientation with respect to the first door 28 as mounted to
a fixed portion (the first hinge element 114) thereof.
[0039] As noted above, the camera device 120 is positioned within
the storage cabinet 112, such that the lens assembly 144 is pointed
inwardly into the first compartment 12 in the direction as
indicated by arrow 146 in FIG. 4. With the camera device 120
exposed to the first compartment 12, the camera device is cooled,
much like the items stored in the first compartment 12, by the
refrigeration system of the refrigerator 2. As such, when the first
door 28 is opened, the camera device 120 is susceptible to exposure
to the warm humid air of the external environment of the
refrigerator 2 as compared to the cooled air of the first
compartment 12. With the mullion assembly 70 shielding the camera
device 120 from the external environment, condensation is less
likely to develop on the cooled camera device 120 when the first
door 28 is opened. In this way, when the first door 28 is closed
and the mullion assembly 70 returns to the deployed position (FIG.
4) as guided by the guide member 22 and the guide pin portions 74A,
74B, the camera device 120 will again be position with an inward
view of the first compartment 12 and will be prepared for immediate
viewing of the first compartment 12 having avoided significant
condensation development on the lens assembly 144 thereof. With
further reference to FIG. 7, the camera device 120 is substantially
concealed by the mullion assembly 70 as received in the receiving
recess 80 thereof when the mullion assembly 70 is in the retracted
position.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 8, the first and second doors 28, 29
are again shown in a closed position, such that the inside edges
62, 64 thereof are disposed adjacent to one another. The outer
surface 87 of the mullion assembly 70 is shown providing a sealing
surface for the first and second doors 28, 29 at the inside edges
62, 64 thereof. Thus, in FIG. 8, the mullion assembly 70 is in the
deployed position, wherein the mullion bar 72 is fully extended
outwardly from the first hinge element 114 of the first hinge
assembly 110. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the camera device 120 is
mounted directly to the outwardly projecting side portion 54 of the
first door 28 at an inwardly disposed location relative to the
first hinge assembly 110 and mullion assembly 70. In the embodiment
of FIG. 8, the outwardly projecting side portion 54 of the first
door 28 makes up a portion of the inside edge 62 of the first door
28. Thus, in this mounting configuration, the camera device 120 is
exposed, such that the front surface 142 and the lens assembly 144
thereof having an unimpeded view into the first compartment 12 of
the refrigerator 2 in the direction as indicated by arrow 146.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 9, as the first door 28 moves towards
the open position from the closed position shown in FIG. 4, the
mullion bar 72 may contact the inner portion 64 of the second door
29 to rotate the mullion assembly 70 from the fully deployed
position (shown in FIG. 8) towards the retracted position. As noted
above, the unitary guide pin defined by the first and second guide
pin portions 74A, 74B of the first and second cover members 72A,
72B of the mullion bar 72 can interact with the guide member 22
disposed within the first compartment 12 to move the mullion
assembly 70 towards the retracted position as the first door 28
opens, in a manner as known in the art. As noted above, the mullion
assembly 70 moves towards the retracted position with an inward
rotational movement along the path as indicated by arrow 150.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 10, the mullion assembly 70 continues
to move along the inwardly directed rotational path as indicated by
arrow 150 towards the retracted position.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 11, the mullion assembly 70 is shown
in the fully retracted position, such that the first door 28 is
contemplated to be moved away from the cabinet 4 and the second
door 29 of the refrigerator 2 to the open position as shown in FIG.
1. With the mullion assembly 70 in the fully retracted position,
the camera device 120, along with the lens assembly 144 thereof, is
fully received within the receiving recess 80 of the mullion bar
72, such that the camera device 120 is protected by the mullion
assembly 70 from the warmer humid air of the external environment
surrounding the refrigerator 2. Specifically, the camera device 120
is covered by the inner wall 80A of the recess 80 when the mullion
assembly 70 is in the fully retracted position. In this way, the
camera device 120 is less susceptible to condensation by exposure
to the external environment of the refrigerator 2 as explained
above. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 8-11, the camera device 120 remains
stationary as mounted to the first door 28 at the outwardly
projecting side portion 54 thereof as the mullion assembly 70
rotates inwardly to cover the camera device 120 in the retracted
position. Again, the camera device 120 moves with the first door 28
as the first door 28 rotates between open and closed positions, but
the camera device 120 does not change orientation with respect to
the first door 28 as fixedly mounted to the outwardly projecting
side portion 54 thereof. With further reference to FIG. 11, the
camera device 120 is substantially concealed by the mullion
assembly 70 as received in the receiving recess 80 thereof when the
mullion assembly 70 is in the retracted position.
[0044] It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the
art that construction of the described invention and other
components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary
examples of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a
wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
[0045] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" (in all
of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the
joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or
indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature
or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two
components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional
intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary
body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may
be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature
unless otherwise stated.
[0046] Furthermore, any arrangement of components to achieve the
same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the
desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein
combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as
"associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is
achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.
Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as
being "operably connected" or "operably coupled" to each other to
achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable
of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably
couplable" to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Some
examples of operably couplable include, but are not limited to,
physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or
wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components
and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable
components.
[0047] It is also important to note that the construction and
arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the
exemplary examples is illustrative only. Although only a few
examples of the present innovations have been described in detail
in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this
disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are
possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes
and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters,
mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations,
etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and
advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements
shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or
elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the
operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied,
the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector
or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number
of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be
varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of
the system might be constructed from any of a wide variety of
materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of
a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly,
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications,
changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating
conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary
examples without departing from the spirit of the present
innovations.
[0048] It will be understood that any described processes or steps
within described processes may be combined with other disclosed
processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the
present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed
herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as
limiting.
[0049] It is also to be understood that variations and
modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and
methods without departing from the concepts of the present
invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts
are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these
claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
* * * * *