Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a storage compartment with a drawer assembly disposed therein. One or more storage compartment doors are pivotally coupled to the cabinet to restrict or gain access to the storage compartment. At least one of the doors defines an opening that is shaped and dimensioned to enable the drawer assembly to be extended and retracted through the opening.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a storage compartment with a drawer assembly disposed therein. One or more storage compartment doors are pivotally coupled to the cabinet to restrict or gain access to the storage compartment. At least one of the doors defines an opening that is shaped and dimensioned to enable the drawer assembly to be extended and retracted through the opening.

Abstract: An appliance drawer assembly configured to redirect airflow from a cold air dispensing unit. The drawer assembly includes at least one drawer, a top cover, and a pivot assembly. The drawer includes a first and second side wall, a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall that together define an open storage area therein. The pivot assembly is configured to pivot the rear wall from a first position to a second position. The pivot assembly can include a grip portion and an arm portion slidably coupled to the top of the first side wall, or a pin coupled to the first side wall to engage the rear wall. The drawer can also include at least one integral scoop.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a liner defining a compartment within a cabinet, and a storage bin that is slidably disposed within the compartment. A sliding assembly permits the storage bin to slide with respect to a support surface. The sliding assembly includes a support bracket having an elongated channel that includes opposing arm channel portions, and a guide rail extending downwards from a bottom wall of the storage bin. The guide rail is located at a central position of the bottom wall of the storage bin with respect to opposing side walls of the storage bin and includes opposing arm members. The guide rail is at least partially disposed within the elongated channel such that the opposing arm members engage arm guiding surfaces in the opposing arm channel portions to slidingly guide the storage bin between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly provided for pivotally connecting a door to a main body of a refrigerator. The hinge assembly is configured such that the door is translationally moved with respect to the main body in response to a pivot motion of the door. The hinge assembly comprises a housing having a first slot, a second slot, and a protrusion. A primary gear is attached to the door and slidably positioned within the first slot of the housing such that a pivot motion of the door rotates the primary gear in a first rotational direction. Additionally, a secondary gear, rotationally engaging the primary gear, is slidably positioned within the second slot of the housing. The secondary gear further comprises a cam profile adjacent to the protrusion.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion mechanism for a drawer assembly of an enclosure includes first and second racks and first and second pinions. The pinions are engaged with the racks via pinion teeth and rack teeth. The pinions are coaxially aligned and rotatable about a rotational axis that translates as the pinions are rotated and translate along the racks. The rack-and-pinion mechanism further includes a timing bar having a first end coupled to the first pinion and a second end coupled to the second pinion. A first pin is inserted into at least one of the first pinion and the first end of the timing bar. A second pin is inserted into at least one of the second pinion and the second end of the timing bar. The pins are configured to substantially inhibit translational movement of the timing bar relative to the pinions along the rotational axis.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for pivotally mounting a door on a refrigerator cabinet. The refrigerator cabinet includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side walls extending between the bottom and top wall, and a face that is normal to the top wall, bottom wall, and opposed side walls. The hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket, hinge pin, and door stop member. The hinge bracket is attachable to the cabinet and includes a threaded aperture having a first end and a second end. The hinge pin defines an axis about which the door can rotate and is threadably insertable into either end of the threaded aperture. The door stop member is configured to rotate about the axis and prohibit rotation of the door beyond a certain position.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an enclosure. The enclosure is bounded by a lower surface, a pair of opposing side surfaces and an upper surface. The apparatus further includes a door for providing selective access to the enclosure that is slidable relative to the cabinet between an open and a closed position, the door being slidably coupled to the cabinet by a slide assembly located externally of the enclosure.

Abstract: A drawer assembly is provided for a refrigeration appliance. The drawer assembly comprises a unitary storage bin configured to move relative to the cooled compartment. The storage bin is defined by a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls that are arranged substantially parallel to the first and second interior walls of the cooled compartment. An uppermost portion of each of the opposed sidewalls comprises a projecting edge. The rear wall comprises a reinforced edge that inhibits deflection. A pair of linear motion elements is installed to enable movement of the storage bin in and out of the cooled compartment. A pair of support brackets couples the pair of linear motion elements.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a cabinet having a bottom mounted freezer container, a separate bearing on left and right sides of the refrigerator cabinet adapted to support the container for movement in and out of a freezer compartment of the cabinet, the container bearings being disposed outside of a freezer liner forming the freezer compartment.

Abstract: A drawer assembly is provided for a refrigeration appliance. The drawer assembly comprises a unitary storage bin configured to move relative to the cooled compartment. The storage bin is defined by a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls that are arranged substantially parallel to the first and second interior walls of the cooled compartment. An uppermost portion of each of the opposed sidewalls comprises a projecting edge. The rear wall comprises a reinforced edge that inhibits deflection. A pair of linear motion elements is installed to enable movement of the storage bin in and out of the cooled compartment. A pair of support brackets couples the pair of linear motion elements.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a cabinet having a bottom mounted freezer container, a separate bearing on left and right sides of the refrigerator cabinet adapted to support the container for movement in and out of a freezer compartment of the cabinet, the container bearings being disposed outside of a freezer liner forming the freezer compartment.

Abstract: An alignment guide and method of assembling an apparatus with an alignment guide is provided. The alignment guide comprises a body having a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface. The apparatus comprises a cabinet defining an enclosure, a door, and a coupling mechanism for movably coupling the door to the cabinet to permit translational movement of the door relative the cabinet. The method comprises aligning the door relative to the cabinet with the alignment guide by abutting the first abutment surface of the alignment guide against a surface of the cabinet while abutting the second abutment surface of the alignment guide against a surface of the door. The method further comprises fixedly coupling the door to a support member of the coupling mechanism while the door is aligned to the cabinet with the alignment guide.

Abstract: A drawer assembly is provided for a refrigeration appliance. The drawer assembly comprises a unitary storage bin configured to move relative to the cooled compartment. The storage bin is defined by a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls that are arranged substantially parallel to the first and second interior walls of the cooled compartment. An uppermost portion of each of the opposed sidewalls comprises a projecting edge. The rear wall comprises a reinforced edge that inhibits deflection. A pair of linear motion elements is installed to enable movement of the storage bin in and out of the cooled compartment. A pair of support brackets couples the pair of linear motion elements.

Abstract: An alignment guide and method of assembling an apparatus with an alignment guide is provided. The alignment guide comprises a body having a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface. The apparatus comprises a cabinet defining an enclosure, a door, and a coupling mechanism for movably coupling the door to the cabinet to permit translational movement of the door relative the cabinet. The method comprises aligning the door relative to the cabinet with the alignment guide by abutting the first abutment surface of the alignment guide against a surface of the cabinet while abutting the second abutment surface of the alignment guide against a surface of the door. The method further comprises fixedly coupling the door to a support member of the coupling mechanism while the door is aligned to the cabinet with the alignment guide.

Abstract: A drawer assembly is provided for a refrigeration appliance. The drawer assembly comprises a unitary storage bin configured to move relative to the cooled compartment. The storage bin is defined by a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls that are arranged substantially parallel to the first and second interior walls of the cooled compartment. An uppermost portion of each of the opposed sidewalls comprises a projecting edge. The rear wall comprises a reinforced edge that inhibits deflection. A pair of linear motion elements is installed to enable movement of the storage bin in and out of the cooled compartment. A pair of support brackets couples the pair of linear motion elements.

Abstract: A refrigerator assembly includes a cabinet having one or more compartments and a door configured to provide access to the one or more compartments. The refrigerator assembly further includes a mullion portion movably attached with respect the door and a hinge assembly attaching the mullion portion to the door such that the mullion portion is rotatably movable with respect to the door about a rotational axis between a first position and a second position. The refrigerator assembly further includes a leaf spring and a cam structure. The cam structure includes a first recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the first position. The cam structure further includes a second recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the second position.

Abstract: A refrigerator assembly includes a cabinet having one or more compartments and a door configured to provide access to the one or more compartments. The refrigerator assembly further includes a mullion portion movably attached with respect the door and a hinge assembly attaching the mullion portion to the door such that the mullion portion is rotatably movable with respect to the door about a rotational axis between a first position and a second position. The refrigerator assembly further includes a leaf spring and a cam structure. The cam structure includes a first recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the first position. The cam structure further includes a second recess for receiving the leaf spring when the mullion portion is in the second position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for pivotally mounting a door on a refrigerator cabinet. The refrigerator cabinet includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side walls extending between the bottom and top wall, and a face that is normal to the top wall, bottom wall, and opposed side walls. The hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket, hinge pin, and door stop member. The hinge bracket is attachable to the cabinet and includes a threaded aperture having a first end and a second end. The hinge pin defines an axis about which the door can rotate and is threadably insertable into either end of the threaded aperture. The door stop member is configured to rotate about the axis and prohibit rotation of the door beyond a certain position.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for an appliance includes a shelf panel comprising a generally planar support surface and a rear edge including a raised profile extending away from the support surface. A frame is configured to be mounted to an appliance to support the shelf panel with the support surface extending generally along a horizontal plane. The frame includes an elongated rear support member. A support channel extends at least partially into the rear support member, and is configured to removably receive and capture the rear edge of the shelf panel to inhibit removal of the shelf panel from the frame in the direction of the horizontal plane. The shelf panel is selectively removable from the support channel by tilting a front edge of the shelf panel upwards to a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane. A slide latch can selectively and lockingly engage corresponding support structure of an appliance.