Refrigerator with a Pullout Refrigerator Compartment
Refrigerators with at least one pullout refrigerator compartment that provides side access to one or more refrigerated items are disclosed.
The present invention pertains to refrigerators, and methods of making and using refrigerators.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany types of refrigerator configurations exist on the market today—bottom mounted freezers, top mounted freezers, side-by-side refrigerator and freezer compartments, bottom mounted freezer compartments with French-style door refrigeration compartments as well as configurations that include refrigerator and freezer drawers. All of the above-mentioned refrigerator configurations provide access to one or more refrigerated items, but typically do not attempt to minimize the loss of refrigerated air while accessing the one or more refrigerated items.
There exists a need in the art for refrigerator designs, which reduce the loss of refrigerated air while accessing one or more items within the refrigerator. Further, there exists a need in the art for energy efficient refrigerators, which provide at least one separate compartment specifically designed for maximizing storage, accessibility and energy efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to refrigerators. The refrigerators of the present invention provide one or more of the following features: (i) side access to one or more refrigerated items, (ii) ease of operation for the user, and (iii) enhanced energy efficiency as measured by a loss of refrigerated air while accessing the one or more refrigerated items.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerators of the present invention comprise a refrigerator section and at least one pullout refrigerator compartment providing limited access to the refrigerator section, the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprising two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) being operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves, the refrigerator section being further accessible via at least one hinged refrigerator door. Typically, the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items from opposing sides of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment.
In another exemplary embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises (I) a single pullout refrigerator compartment that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume, (ii) a single refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume, the second inner refrigerated volume being partitioned from and adjacent to the first inner refrigerated volume, and (iii) a freezer volume positioned below and partitioned from the first and second inner refrigerated volumes. In some embodiments, the single pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the single pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the single pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment being operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
The present invention is further directed to methods of making and using the disclosed energy efficient refrigerators. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention is even further directed to methods of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces. Typically, the step of pulling the pullout refrigerator compartment out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator does not disrupt refrigerated air within other refrigerated sections of the refrigerator.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention is also directed to methods of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and a pullout refrigerator compartment for accessing the upper refrigerator section, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of the pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces, but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below the upper refrigerator section, and a pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprising two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along the two or more shelves.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.
The present invention is further described with reference to the appended figures, wherein:
The present invention is directed to refrigerators. The present invention is further directed to methods of making refrigerators and methods of using refrigerators. The refrigerators of the present invention provide easy energy-efficient access to one or more refrigerated items as discussed below.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the disclosed refrigerators comprise a cabinet assembly constructed with one or more freezer drawers on a lower section, and a refrigeration section positioned above at least one side of the freezer drawer(s) alongside a unique pull-out, relatively narrow width, refrigerator compartment accessible from either side when pulled out from the frame of the refrigerator. The disclosed design provides for optimum storage and easy access for all items in the pullout refrigerator compartment. For example, storage of tall beverage containers (e.g., a re-corked wine bottle in the upright position) in conventional refrigerators requires shelves within the refrigerator section to be positioned high enough to accommodate the tallest object, resulting in unused refrigerated space above the shorter objects on the shelf. By providing a unique pullout refrigerator compartment, the present invention substantially reduces the unused refrigerated space as it relates to tall containers. In some embodiment, the disclosed configuration also allows for individual temperature settings for the general refrigeration compartment and the pullout refrigerator compartment. By creating a separate compartment for specific refrigerated items, such as beverages/condiments, energy is saved by maintaining the temperature in the unopened compartment of the refrigerator when the other compartment is opened.
With reference to
As shown in
With reference to
Typically, the width of exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 is no wider than what is necessary to store a one gallon milk container. In some embodiments, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a width of at least about 15.2 cm. In some embodiments, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a width ranging from about 15.2 cm to about 30.5 cm. In most embodiments, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a width that is less than half of an overall width of a given refrigerator (e.g., exemplary refrigerator 1). Further, exemplary slidable pullout refrigerator compartment 2 has a length that is less than an overall length of a given refrigerator (e.g., exemplary refrigerator 1).
With reference to
Referring to
In one desired embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50), and (ii) a single hinged refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume (e.g., first refrigerator compartment 30).
In a further desired embodiment, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50), (ii) a single hinged refrigerator door (e.g., door 39) positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume (e.g., first refrigerator compartment 30), the second inner refrigerated volume being partitioned from and adjacent to the first inner refrigerated volume, and (iii) a freezer volume (e.g., freezer compartment 40) positioned below and partitioned from the first and second inner refrigerated volumes. As discussed above, typically, the pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite the refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between the refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., exemplary one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces 34 and 35, but not from top surface 36, bottom surface 37, front surface 32, or rear surface 33.
The present invention is further directed to methods of making and using the disclosed energy efficient refrigerators. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing one or more pullout refrigerator compartments (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2), wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) refrigerator compartment front surface 32 having a grasping member thereon (e.g., handle 7), (ii) rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) top surface 36, and (v) bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces (e.g., opposing side surfaces 34 and 35), but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces (e.g., surfaces 36, 37, 32, and 33).
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of making a refrigerator comprises providing at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2), wherein the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves (e.g., one or more shelves 13) positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention also encompasses methods of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator, wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) refrigerator compartment front surface 32 having a grasping member thereon (e.g., handle 7), (ii) rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) top surface 36, and (v) bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces (e.g., opposing side surfaces 34 and 35), but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces (e.g., surfaces 36, 37, 32, and 33). In embodiments such as, for example, shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator comprises pulling a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) out of a refrigerated section of a refrigerator (e.g., second refrigerator compartment 50), wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves (e.g., one or more shelves 13) positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along the two or more shelves.
The present invention also encompasses methods of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2), wherein the pullout refrigerator compartment comprises refrigerator compartment volume 31 bound by (i) refrigerator compartment front surface 32 having a grasping member thereon (e.g., handle 7), (ii) rear surface 33 opposite refrigerator compartment front surface 32, (iii) opposing side surfaces 34 and 35 extending between refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces 32 and 33 respectively, (iv) top surface 36, and (v) bottom surface 37 opposite top surface 36, and the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface (e.g., one or more shelves 13) of the at least one pullout compartment from both of the opposing side surfaces (e.g., opposing side surfaces 34 and 35), but not from the top, bottom, front or rear surfaces (e.g., surfaces 36, 37, 32, and 33).
In another exemplary embodiment, the method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user comprises providing a refrigerator to the user, wherein the refrigerator comprises a pullout refrigerator compartment (e.g., exemplary pullout refrigerator compartment 2) (i) comprising two or more shelves (e.g., one or more shelves 13) positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items (e.g., one or more refrigerated items 51) positioned along the two or more shelves.
While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator section and at least one pullout refrigerator compartment providing limited access to said refrigerator section, said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprising two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) being operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along said two or more shelves, said refrigerator section being further accessible via at least one hinged refrigerator door.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite said refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between said refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite said top surface.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is operatively adapted to provide access to the one or more refrigerated items from both of said opposing side surfaces, but not from said top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein said opposing side surfaces are spaced from one another by a distance ranging from about 15.2 cm to about 30.5 cm.
5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said refrigerator comprises an upper refrigerated section and a lower freezer section, and said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment is positioned within said upper refrigerated section.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment occupies less than half of a volume represented by said upper refrigerator section.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said refrigerator section comprises a first inner refrigerated volume sized to receive said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment, said first inner refrigerated volume being adjacent to a second inner refrigerated volume.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein said second inner refrigerated volume is partitioned from said first inner refrigerated volume.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein said second inner refrigerated volume is larger than said first inner refrigerated volume.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein said refrigerator comprises (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment that is positioned so as to be movable within said first inner refrigerated volume, and (ii) a single hinged refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to said second inner refrigerated volume.
11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein said refrigerator comprises a single pullout refrigerator compartment.
12. A refrigerator comprising (i) a single pullout refrigerator compartment that is positioned so as to be movable within a first inner refrigerated volume, (ii) a single refrigerator door positioned so as to provide access to a second inner refrigerated volume, said second inner refrigerated volume being partitioned from and adjacent to said first inner refrigerated volume, and (iii) a freezer volume positioned below and partitioned from said first and second inner refrigerated volumes.
13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein said single pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface, (ii) a rear surface opposite said refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between said refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite said top surface, said single pullout refrigerator compartment being operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of said single pullout refrigerator compartment from both of said opposing side surfaces, but not from said top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein said opposing side surfaces are spaced from one another by a distance ranging from about 15.2 cm to about 30.5 cm.
15. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a first surface area of a front surface of said single pullout refrigerator compartment is smaller than a second surface area of said single refrigerator door.
16. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein said single pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along said two or more shelves.
17. A refrigerator comprising an upper refrigerator section, a lower freezer section positioned below said upper refrigerator section, and one or more pullout refrigerator compartments for accessing said upper refrigerator section, wherein at least one pullout refrigerator compartment comprises a refrigerator compartment volume bound by (i) a refrigerator compartment front surface having a grasping member thereon, (ii) a rear surface opposite said refrigerator compartment front surface, (iii) opposing side surfaces extending between said refrigerator compartment front and rear surfaces, (iv) a top surface, and (v) a bottom surface opposite said top surface, said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment being operatively adapted and sized so as to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along an inner surface of said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment from both of said opposing side surfaces, but not from said top, bottom, front or rear surfaces.
18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein said at least one pullout refrigerator compartment (i) comprises two or more shelves positioned within substantially parallel horizontally extending planes, and (ii) is operatively adapted to provide access to one or more refrigerated items positioned along said two or more shelves.
19. A method of accessing one or more refrigerated items positioned within a refrigerator, said method comprising:
- pulling the at least one pullout refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator of claim 17 out of the upper refrigerated section of the refrigerator.
20. A method of providing one or more refrigerated items to a user, said method comprising:
- providing the refrigerator of claim 17 to the user.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2011
Inventor: Craig Kettles (Lakemont, GA)
Application Number: 12/577,472
International Classification: F25D 13/02 (20060101); F25D 23/02 (20060101);