Refrigerator Cabinet Construction

Abstract

In a household refrigerator having first and second compartments separated by a partition, a face element of the partition is constructed for maintaining walls of the partition at spaced-apart locations and connecting the face element to the walls and to foam insulation within the walls.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the construction of a household refrigerator, it is often desirable to provide a partition within the refrigerator for separating the refrigerator into first and second compartments such as a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment, for example. It is further desirable to have the partition constructed in such a manner that the partition is formed of spaced-apart walls, thereby forming a cavity within which foam insulation is formed in situ and connects the various elements of the partition together to form a unitary insulated partition.

U.S Pat. Nos. 3,478,135-Randall and 3,632,012-Kitson show first and second walls having a foam insulation positioned between the walls to form a composite structure with a face element extending over an edge of the composite structure.

Where the structure being formed is a partition of a refrigerator, such as for top-mount or side-by-side types of freezer and fresh food compartments having separate access doors, it is desirable to provide mullion heaters along the partition edge and a construction in which the various elements are physically connected by in situ formed foam insulation, thereby resulting in a unitary insulated partition of sturdy construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a household refrigerator has opposed walls and first and second compartments separated by a partition. The partition has an edge and first and second spaced-apart walls for forming a cavity therebetween. A first material is positioned within the cavity and substantially covers the first and second walls. A face element extends from within the cavity to a location overlying at least a portion of the walls along the partition edge. Heating means is positioned between the walls along the partition edge. Foam insulating material is positioned within the cavity between and adhering to the first material of the first and second walls. Each of the first and second walls have a flange portion extending along the length of the partition edge. The flange portions are directed generally toward and spaced from one another in the assembled position. The face element has opposed end portions and is enfolded to form a planar face, first and second opposed channels, and first and second outwardly extending flanges. The first and second channels have an associated wall flange nested therein and at least one heating means nested in one of the channels between the face element and the associated wall flange. The first and second outwardly extending flanges contact the first material and adhere to the foam insulating material. Means is provided for connecting opposed ends of the face channel to opposed walls of the refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic frontal view of a refrigerator having the partition of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the partition, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of the face element and connecting means of the partition of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a household refrigerator 10 has opposed walls 12, 14 and first and second compartments 16, 18 defined by a partition 20 connected to and extending between said refrigerator walls 12, 14.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the partition has an edge 22 and first and second spaced-apart partition walls 24, 26 defining a cavity 28.

Each of the first and second walls 24, 26 has a flange 30, 32 which extends along a portion of the length of the partition edge 22. To provide a rigid construction, it is preferred that the flanges 30, 32 each extend along substantially the entire length of the respective wall.

The flanges 30, 32, are each directed generally toward one another and terminate at a location spaced one from the other in the erected position of the partition 20.

A first material 34, for example, fiberglass, is positioned within the cavity 28 and substantially completely covers and is attached to the inner surface of the first and second wall 24, 26.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4, a face element 36 has opposed end portions 38, 40 and is enfolded along its length to form a planar face 42, first and second opposed channels 44, 46, and first and second outwardly extending flanges 48, 50.

In the assembled position, an associated wall flange 30, 32 is nested in a respective channel 44, 46. One or more heating means 52, 52' are respectfully nested in at least one, preferably both, of the channels 44, 46, each at a location between the face element 36 and the associated wall flange. The first and second outwardly extending flanges 48, 50 of the face element 36 are contacting the first material 34 along the length of the partition 20.

Foam insulation is formed in situ within the defined cavity 28 and is adhering to the face element flanges 48, 50 and to the walls 24, 26 through the first material 34 for connecting the elements one to the other and forming a unitary, insulated partition 20 that is of sturdy construction.

Connecting means 54, such as brackets 56, 56' and fastening means 58, 58', are associated with the end portions 38, 40 of the face element 36 for connecting the partition to opposed walls 12, 14 of the refrigerator 10.

The flanges 30, 32 of the walls 24, 26 have flange end portions 60, 62 extending along the heating means 52, 52'.

In the preferred embodiment, one end portion 38 of the face element has a tongue 64 and a latching means 65 thereon for latching into a bracket 56 of the connecting means 54. The other end 40 of the face element 36 has fastening means such as a screw 66 for insertion into a movable nut 68, thereby providing for vertical adjustment of the face element 36.

By so constructing the apparatus, the number of elements are reduced, the resultant partition is sturdy and well insulated, and waste of materials and power for constructing the partition and operating the heating elements are reduced.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a household refrigerator having opposed walls and first and second compartments separated by a partition, said partition having an edge first and second spaced-apart walls forming a cavity therebetween, a first material within the cavity and substantially covering the first and second walls, a face element extending from within the cavity to a location overlying at least a portion of the walls along said partition edge, heating means positioned between the walls along the partition edge, and foam insulation material within the cavity between and adhering to the first material of the first and second walls, the improvement comprising:

each of said first and second walls having a flange portion extending along the length of the partition edge and being directed generally toward and spaced from one another in the assembled position;

said face element having opposed end portions and being enfolded to form a planar face, first and second opposed channels, and first and second outwardly extending flanges, said first and second channels having an associated wall flange nested therein, the heating means nested in one of the channels between the face element and the associated wall flange, and said first and second outwardly extending flanges contacting the first material and adhering to the foam insulating material; and

means for connecting opposed ends of the face channel to opposed walls of the refrigerator.

2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a heating means extends through each of the channels.

3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first material is fiberglass.

4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wall flanges each have an end portion extending along the heating means.

5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein an end portion of the face element has a tongue having a latching means thereon.