Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a casing in the form of a shell that defines an internal storage compartment, such as a freezer or fresh-food section. A door is configured on the casing to provide access to the storage compartment, with the door closing on front edges of the casing. A hinge assembly connects the door to the casing and includes a hinge bracket having an insert end that extends through one of the front edges, for example the top front edge, and is fixed to an internal surface of the casing. The hinge bracket has an opposite end that is rotationally connected to the door for hinged support of the door on the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for automatic centrifugal engagement of a clutch incorporating a friction disk that expands when rotated above a threshold speed. The apparatus may include a clutch basket, a clutch pack capable of coupling the clutch basket with a center clutch, a pressure plate that may be easily adjusted to create a gap between the pressure plate and the clutch pack and an expanding friction disk assembly that may take the place of one or more friction disks. The assembly expands under centrifugal force to provide automatic engagement of the clutch. A mechanism is provided to manually override the automatic engagement of the clutch with a clutch lever and with improved operational performance of the clutch lever versus previous automatic clutch systems.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable tray that can be moved into a retracted position and an extended position away from a recess surface, and a cover with a surface positioned in conjunction with the extendable tray so as to bridge a gap between the recess surface and the tray when the tray is in the extended position to provide a uniform appearance. Also included is a latch apparatus that includes a latch arm that engages a stop to limit horizontal translation of the tray past an extended position, a handle that, when depressed, disengages the latch arm, enabling removal of the tray past the extended position, a pivot that provides a rotational axis by which the handle is attached to the tray, and a spring arm that controls a pivot angle of the handle, ensuring that latch arm engages the stop. A refrigerator incorporating the structures is also disclosed.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a casing in the form of a shell that defines an internal storage compartment, such as a freezer or fresh-food section. A door is configured on the casing to provide access to the storage compartment, with the door closing on front edges of the casing. A hinge assembly connects the door to the casing and includes a hinge bracket having an insert end that extends through one of the front edges, for example the top front edge, and is fixed to an internal surface of the casing. The hinge bracket has an opposite end that is rotationally connected to the door for hinged support of the door on the casing.

Abstract: A French-style refrigerator door is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an actuator and a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the door. The mullion bar is responsive to the actuator to automatically rotate from a first position to a second position upon actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus is disclosed having concentrically spaced inner and outer clutches. The inner and outer clutches are coupled for rotation via a coupling ring. The present invention is well suited to a configuration wherein one of the clutches is dynamically actuated and one of the clutches is manually disengageable by the operator using a clutch lever. In this configuration, the operation of the clutch lever by the operator is unaffected by the dynamically actuated clutch. The concentric configuration of the clutches is beneficial in allowing the improved clutch to occupy a similar space compared to a traditional clutch mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for automatic centrifugal engagement of a clutch incorporating a friction disk that expands when rotated above a threshold speed. The apparatus may include a clutch basket, a clutch pack capable of coupling the clutch basket with a center clutch, a pressure plate that may be easily adjusted to create a gap between the pressure plate and the clutch pack and an expanding friction disk assembly that may take the place of one or more friction disks. The assembly expands under centrifugal force to provide automatic engagement of the clutch. A mechanism is provided to manually override the automatic engagement of the clutch with a clutch lever and with improved operational performance of the clutch lever versus previous automatic clutch systems.