Abstract: A side-by-side refrigerator includes a cabinet defining fresh food and freezer compartments, each having upper and lower sections which vary in width and volume, preferably along with corresponding fresh food and freezer doors that vary in width. The fresh food and freezer compartments are spaced by an offset mullion assembly against which the doors seal. In accordance with the present invention, the offset mullion assembly includes a first longitudinal member, a second longitudinal member, a laterally extending brace and a cosmetic cover. The offset mullion assembly provides strength to the cabinet while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform sealing surface for the fresh food and freezer doors.

Abstract: A side-by-side refrigerator includes a cabinet defining fresh food and freezer compartments, with each compartment preferably having upper and lower sections which vary in width and volume and corresponding fresh food and freezer doors that vary in width. The fresh food and freezer compartments are spaced by a mullion against which the doors seal. In accordance with the present invention, the mullion is bowed such that the longitudinal curvature of the mullion compensates for thermal bowing of the fresh food and freezer doors, thereby assuring a proper seal between the mullion and the fresh food and freezer doors.

Abstract: An upper hinge assembly for pivotally mounting a door to a refrigerator cabinet includes an aligning plate fixedly secured atop a hinge plate to the cabinet. Once the hinge and aligning plates are factory set in position, with tight tolerances between fasteners and holes in the aligning plate, the aligning plate is separately fixed to the hinge plate. The hinge plate can be subsequently detached from the cabinet, with the aligning plate remaining affixed to the hinge plate, and then reattached in a manner which enables the desired factory preset position to be reestablished, thereby assuring that a seal between the door and the cabinet can be effectively maintained.

Abstract: A side-by-side refrigerator includes fresh food and freezer compartments, each having upper and lower sections which vary in width and volume. Doors, each having corresponding upper and lower sections that vary in width, are provided to selectively seal the fresh food and freezer compartments respectively. Each door includes an outer lateral portion pivotally mounted to the side-by-side refrigerator about a substantially vertical axis and an inner lateral portion defined by laterally offset sections that form the varying width portions. In accordance with the invention, a door brace member is provided at the laterally offset sections. The door brace member includes first and second substantially vertical portions interconnected by a lateral portion that is shaped to conform to and reinforce the laterally offset sections of the door to increase the overall structural integrity of the door.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a multiple slide crisper system. More specifically, a universal crisper pan and support frame for a refrigerator can be used with various, distinct glide arrangements, including friction, roller or ball bearing glides. For frictional sliding movement, crisper pan side walls slide directly upon molded inner rails on the frame. With the roller system, various rollers are fitted to a rear portion of the crisper pan through the use of pins, while commensurate rollers are mounted at front portions of the frame. When using ball bearing glides for a precision slide support, the glides are preferably mounted to the support frame at an acute angle to the axis of travel of the friction and roller glide systems.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly in a refrigerator freezer includes a fill tube for transporting liquid to a mold. The freezer includes an outer wall spaced apart from an inner wall, with a plenum formed therebetween. An opening is formed within the inner wall, through which the fill tube extends with a clearance. Warm air generated by a defrost cycle passes through the clearance in the inner wall and around the fill tube, thereby warming the fill tube. In addition, the fill tube includes vents formed therein to allow active ventilation of the fill tube and to prevent ice formation within the fill tube.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly in a refrigerator freezer includes a fill tube for transporting liquid to a mold. The freezer includes an outer wall spaced apart from an inner wall, with a plenum formed therebetween. An opening is formed within the inner wall, through which the fill tube extends with a clearance. Warm air generated by a defrost cycle passes through the clearance in the inner wall and around the fill tube, thereby warming the fill tube. In addition, the fill tube includes vents formed therein to allow active ventilation of the fill tube and to prevent ice formation within the fill tube.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet includes a shell having first and second laterally spaced, upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of the walls includes an in-turned front edge portion defining a liner receiving cavity. The shell further includes a mullion bar, which partitions the shell into first and second liner cavities, and a base member. Both the mullion bar and base member have respective liner receiving portions. With this arrangement, first and second liners are adapted to be inserted into their respective cavities and flexed such that three sides are inserted into the liner receiving cavities, while the remaining side is positioned against a land of the mullion bar or base member. Once in place, the liners are secured through a mullion bar cover and a base member cover. This construction combines the benefits of a front-load process with that of a flex-load process, lowering assembly time without the need to reinforce the liner.

Abstract: An upper hinge assembly for pivotally mounting a door to a refrigerator cabinet includes an aligning plate fixedly secured atop a hinge plate to the cabinet. Once the hinge and aligning plates are factory set in position, with tight tolerances between fasteners and holes in the aligning plate, the aligning plate is separately fixed to the hinge plate. The hinge plate can be subsequently detached from the cabinet, with the aligning plate remaining affixed to the hinge plate, and then reattached in a manner which enables the desired factory preset position to be reestablished, thereby assuring that a seal between the door and the cabinet can be effectively maintained.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly in a refrigerator freezer includes a fill tube for transporting liquid to a mold. The freezer includes an outer wall spaced apart from an inner wall, with a plenum formed therebetween. An opening is formed within the inner wall, through which the fill tube extends with a clearance. Warm air generated by a defrost cycle passes through the clearance in the inner wall and around the fill tube, thereby warming the fill tube. In addition, the fill tube includes vents formed therein to allow active ventilation of the fill tube and to prevent ice formation within the fill tube.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly in a refrigerator freezer includes a fill tube for transporting liquid to a mold. The freezer includes an outer wall spaced apart from an inner wall, with a plenum formed therebetween. An opening is formed within the inner wall, through which the fill tube extends with a clearance. Warm air generated by a defrost cycle passes through the clearance in the inner wall and around the fill tube, thereby warming the fill tube. In addition, the fill tube includes vents formed therein to allow active ventilation of the fill tube and to prevent ice formation within the fill tube.

Abstract: A refrigerator handle assembly includes a base plate which is initially attached to the face of the refrigerator, such as through the use of screws or the like. The base plate includes tapered surfaces, preferably at longitudinally spaced positions. Once the base plate is secured, a portion of the handle is placed over the base plate and slid relative to the base plate whereupon the tapered surfaces coact with structure on the handle such that an interference fit is developed to draw the handle tight to the face of the door. With the handle in this position, one or more mechanical fasteners are driven into a body portion of the handle from a back side of the door.

Abstract: A refrigerator handle assembly includes a base plate which is initially attached to the face of the refrigerator, such as through the use of screws or the like. The base plate includes tapered surfaces, preferably at longitudinally spaced positions. Once the base plate is secured, a portion of the handle is placed over the base plate and slid relative to the base plate whereupon the tapered surfaces coact with structure on the handle such that an interference fit is developed to draw the handle tight to the face of the door. With the handle in this position, one or more mechanical fasteners are driven into a body portion of the handle from a back side of the door.

Abstract: A top mount refrigerator having a freezer door pivotally mounted to a cabinet at a position spaced above a fresh food compartment door is provided with a dispenser assembly mounted in the freezer door. A water supply line for the dispenser assembly is routed to the freezer door through a center hinge unit for the two doors. In the preferred embodiment, the water supply line, which preferably leads from a water storage tank housed within the fresh food compartment, is routed to the center hinge unit through a lower hinge unit upon which the fresh food door is pivotally mounted and a conduit that is foamed in-situ within the fresh food door. In models incorporating a dispenser assembly requiring a supply of electrical power, wires are lead into the freezer door through an upper hinge unit associated with the freezer door.

Abstract: A pair of cross brace members are diagonally positioned within an internal cavity of a refrigerator door shell that is defined by an outer front panel, side walls and in-turned, return flanges. The cross brace members are generally L-shaped in cross-section and are interengaged at central portions thereof which are specifically configured with respective cut-out connection portions to aid in assembly and positioning of the cross brace members. The cross brace members have tabs at terminal ends thereof which extend above planes defined by generally horizontally extending upper sections of the cross brace members. These tabs are adapted to rest upon respective ones of the return flanges to initially mount the cross brace members within the door shell. Once the cross brace members are appropriately positioned within the door shell, insulation foam is supplied into the internal cavity.

Abstract: A refrigerator door tray assembly is disclosed in which the inner door panel has opposite sidewalls defining a space, a tray having support surfaces on opposite sides of the tray and a mounting device to removably and adjustably attach the tray to the door such that the tray is located between the opposite sidewalls of the door and such that its position may be easily adjusted, or the tray removed from the door. The mounting of the tray on the door is accomplished by a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the opposite sidewalls of the door, each rib having first and second rib surfaces which extend at acute angles to the support surfaces on the tray, and a third rib surface which extends substantially parallel to the support surfaces.

Abstract: A riding mower is provided having a generally conventional engine, seat, frame, cutting deck and hydrostatic transmission. The cutting deck may be vertically adjusted for a plurality of cutting height settings, and may be locked in its uppermost setting and returned to the pre-selected cutting height, by selective operation of a foot-operated pedal. Linkage connects the pedal to the deck and to a variable-height adjustment link. A transmission speed control includes a handle protruding upwardly adjacent the seat, connected to a transverse control rod with a distal end operatively secured to the conventional speed adjustment mechanism of the transmission. Positioned adjacent the distal end of the control rod is a friction-generating device which engages the rod and prevents unintentional movement thereof. A grass collection bag is included with a blower mounted on the cutting deck for providind an enhanced airflow from the cutting deck through the duct leading to the bag.