Insulated and Charged To-Go Bins for a Refrigerator Appliance

Abstract

A storage bin for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The storage bin defines a storage compartment for receiving food articles and may be removably received within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may further include a carrying handle, such that it is easily portable outside the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may have cold pack material and/or insulating material in its walls such that the storage compartment remains cool for a period of time after the storage bin is removed from the refrigerator appliance. Due to the fact that the storage bin is chilled and easily portable, it is ideal for grocery shopping, for taking on a picnic, or for any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances, and more particularly to chilled and portable storage bins for refrigerator appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage. The refrigerator appliances can also include various storage components mounted within the chilled chamber and designed to facilitate storage of food items therein. Such storage components can include racks, bins, shelves, or drawers that receive food items and assist with organizing and arranging of such food items within the chilled chamber.

However, conventional storage components are fixed within the refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the process of transporting cold food items from chilled storage at the grocery store to a home refrigerator appliance can involve significant handling, movement, and sorting of the food items. For example, a typical consumer shopping for cold food items must go to the grocery store, remove the items from chilled storage at the grocery store, and place those items in a shopping cart. During checkout, each item must be transferred from the cart to a grocery bag. The grocery bags are typically placed in the back of the consumer's vehicle and transported home before they are once again removed and placed/sorted in the refrigerator.

Therefore, the current method for transporting cold food items from chilled storage at grocery store to the consumer's home refrigerator involves a substantial amount of handling, transporting, and sorting of food items. Not only does this require additional bags for transportation and increase the risk of damage to the food items, but the food items are not chilled or insulated during transport. Therefore, throughout the entire shopping and transporting process, the temperature of cold food items will slowly rise to the temperature of the ambient environment.

Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with features for improving the transportation and storage of cold food items would be useful. More particularly, a refrigerator appliance with storage bins or other components that are versatile, easily portable, and that remain cool for a period of time after being removed from the refrigerator appliance would be particularly beneficial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter provides a storage bin for a refrigerator appliance. The storage bin defines a storage compartment for receiving food articles and may be removably received within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may further include a carrying handle, such that it is easily portable outside the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may have cold pack material and/or insulating material in its walls such that the storage compartment remains cool for a period of time after the storage bin is removed from the refrigerator appliance. Due to the fact that the storage bin is chilled and easily portable, it is ideal for grocery shopping, for taking on a picnic, or for any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, and a storage bin being removably positioned within the chilled chamber. The storage bin includes an outer shell, an inner shell joined with the outer shell to form a cavity, and an cold pack material filling the cavity.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a storage bin for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The storage bin includes an outer shell defining a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls, an insulating material positioned adjacent the outer shell, a cold pack material positioned adjacent the insulating material, and an inner shell positioned adjacent the cold pack material and joined with the outer shell to encapsulate the insulating material and the cold pack material, the inner shell being configured for receiving food articles.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, with the doors of the fresh food chamber shown in an open position.

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of a storage bin according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 provides a cross sectional view of the exemplary storage bin of FIG. 3, taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A provides a top view of the exemplary storage bin of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5B provides a side view of the exemplary storage bin of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 provides a partial perspective view of a storage bin according to an alternative embodiment of the present subject matter, the storage bin having a recessed storage slot for the carrying handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Refrigerator appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 102 that extends between a top 104 and a bottom 106 along a vertical direction V, between a first side 108 and a second side 110 along a lateral direction L, and between a front side 112 and a rear side 114 along a transverse direction T. Each of the vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular to one another.

Housing 102 defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, housing 102 defines fresh food chamber 122 positioned at or adjacent top 104 of housing 102 and a freezer chamber 124 arranged at or adjacent bottom 106 of housing 102. As such, refrigerator appliance 100 is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top mount refrigerator appliance or a side-by-side style refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular refrigerator chamber configuration.

Refrigerator doors 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing 102 for selectively accessing fresh food chamber 122. In addition, a freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 128 for selectively accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124. Refrigerator doors 128 and freezer door 130 are shown in the closed configuration in FIG. 1. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other chamber and door configurations are possible and within the scope of the present invention.

Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a dispensing assembly 140 for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly 140 includes a dispenser 142 positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance 100, e.g., on one of refrigerator doors 128. Dispenser 142 includes a discharging outlet 144 for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism 146, shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet 144 for operating dispenser 142. In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser 142. For example, dispenser 142 can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A control panel 148 is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel 148 includes a plurality of user inputs (not labeled), such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice.

Discharging outlet 144 and actuating mechanism 146 are an external part of dispenser 142 and are mounted in a dispenser recess 150. Dispenser recess 150 is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to open refrigerator doors 128. In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess 150 is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. Refrigerator door 128 may define an icebox compartment housing an icemaker and an ice storage bin (not shown) that are configured to supply ice to dispenser recess 150.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of refrigerator appliance 100 shown with refrigerator doors 128 in the open position. As shown in FIG. 2, various storage components are mounted within fresh food chamber 122 to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components may include bins 160 and shelves 162. Each of these storage components are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items.

As illustrated, bins 160 may be mounted on refrigerator doors 128 or may slide into a receiving space in fresh food chamber 122. In addition, bins 160 may be simply placed on shelves 162 within fresh food chamber 122. As will be described in detail below, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, bins 160 may also include cold pack material and/or insulating material, such that they can be used as portable, insulated, and charged to-go bins that consumers can carry with them to the supermarket, on a picnic, to a dinner party, or during any other time when traveling with food items that must remain cool during transport.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the illustrated storage components are used only for the purpose of explanation. Other storage components may be used and may have different sizes, shapes, and configurations. Aspects of the present disclosure may be incorporated to such other storage components and may remain within the scope of the present subject matter. In addition, storage components such as bins 160 may be used in fresh food chamber 122, freezer chamber 124, or in any other suitable location within refrigerator appliance 100.

Storage bin 160 may generally include a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls. For example, according to the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, storage bin 160 includes a bottom wall 170, a front wall 172, a rear wall 174, a first sidewall 176, and a second sidewall 178. Together, walls 170-178 define a storage compartment 180, which may be configured for receiving cold food items for storage. As illustrated, storage bin 160 is substantially rectangular in cross-section, but one skilled in the art will appreciate that other shapes, sizes, and configurations of storage chamber 160 may be used and remain within the scope of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the exemplary storage bin of FIG. 3, taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 3. According to this illustrated example embodiment, storage bin 160 may include an outer shell 182 and an inner shell 184. Outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 may be joined together to define a cavity 186. In addition, as will be described in detail below, a cold pack material 188 and/or an insulating material 190 may be placed within cavity 186 to enable storage bin 160 to be chilled and portable.

Outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 may be constructed of or with any suitable materials. In addition, outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 may be formed from the same or different materials, and may be formed as a single integral piece or from multiple parts that are joined together. For example, outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 may be constructed as a single, integral piece, or may be constructed from several parts that are connected together using any suitable mechanical fastener, such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. Similarly, glue, bonding, friction welding, snap-fit mechanisms, interference-fit mechanisms, or any suitable combination thereof be used to join outer shell 182 and inner shell 184. Other joining means are also possible.

According to the illustrated embodiment, both outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 are formed of a suitable plastic material. For example, outer shell 182 may be made from injection-molded plastic such as HIPS (high impact polystyrene—injection molding grade) or ABS (injection molding grade). Alternatively, outer shell 182 may be a thermoformed liner or any other suitably rigid material. Preferably, outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 are constructed of a waterproof material that is easy to clean. Regardless of the material used, outer shell 182 may define a rigid frame for storage bin 160 and may define the general shape of storage compartment 180.

Inner shell 184 may be constructed from the same material or in the same manner as outer shell 182. However, according to the illustrated embodiment, inner shell 184 is formed from a thinner plastic material than outer shell 182. For example, inner shell 184 may be made from a thin thermoformed liner or a thin layer of polypropylene fabric. In this manner, by reducing thickness of inner shell 184, cold pack material 188 may be in closer proximity to storage compartment 180. In addition, the cost of materials and the weight of storage bin 160 may be reduced.

Referring now to FIG. 4, cold pack material 188 may be placed within cavity 186 to assist maintaining a chilled storage compartment 180 for at least some amount of time after storage bin 160 has been removed from fresh food chamber 122. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, ambient air within fresh food chamber 122 is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to keep cold food items fresh for an extended period of time. Notably, by placing storage bin 160 inside fresh food chamber 122, cold pack material 188 eventually reaches the same temperature as fresh food chamber 122, or any other chamber in which storage bin 160 is placed, e.g., freezer chamber 124.

Cold pack material 188 is generally any material that may be chilled when placed in fresh food chamber 122 and can absorb heat from the ambient environment to prevent that heat energy from raising the temperature within storage compartment 180. Cold pack material 188 may be, for example, an antifreeze liquid or gel, and is typically storage in a plastic container to prevent leakage. Cold pack material 188 is preferably a non-toxic material. For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, cold pack material 188 may have the following composition: water (60 to 70 percent), propylene glycol (20 to 35 percent), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (less than 5 percent).

According to another alternative embodiment, cold pack material 188 may be a phase change material (“PCM”). For example, cold pack materials 188 may be PCMs having different compositions depending on the temperature of the compartments in which they are used. For example, PCMs comprised of paraffin wax and fatty acids are available that freeze at temperatures common to fresh food chamber 122. Similarly, water/ethylene and propylene glycol types of PCM materials may be used in freezer chamber 124. One skilled in the art will appreciate that these compositions are only exemplary, that a variety of phase change materials are available depending on the application, and such materials are within the scope of the present subject matter.

Cold pack material 188 may be contained within a thin plastic cover, e.g., made from polypropylene or another thermoplastic polymer. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials may be used for cold pack material 188, and such materials are within the scope of the present subject matter.

According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, insulating material 190 may also be placed within cavity 186 to assist with insulating storage compartment 180 from the ambient environment. For example, insulating material 190 may be foam panels may be attached to each wall 170-178 of outer shell 182 using an adhesive. Alternatively, expandable foam can be sprayed into cavity 186 formed by outer shell 182 and inner shell 184. For example, sprayed polyurethane foam may be injected into cavity 186 after outer shell 182 and inner shell 184 are assembled and either before or after cold pack material 188 has been installed.

As shown in FIG. 6, storage bin 160 may further include a lid 192 that is configured to permit selective access to storage compartment 180 and to insulate storage compartment 180 from the ambient environment. According to the exemplary embodiment, lid 192 is detachable and insulated. Lid 192 may be stored inside or outside of fresh food chamber 122. If lid 192 is stored inside fresh food chamber 122, it may further include cold pack material 188 and may be constructed similar to walls 170-178 of storage bin 160. Other configurations of lid 192 are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter.

According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, storage bin 160 may further include a carrying handle 200 for easy transportation of storage bin 160. Referring now generally to FIGS. 3 through 5, the manner in which carrying handle 200 is mounted to storage bin 160 will be described in more detail. Carrying handle 200 may be rotatably mounted to storage bin 160 by a hinge assembly on each side of storage bin 160. According to the illustrated embodiments, carrying handle 200 simply pivots down into storage compartment 180 when not in use.

For example, according to the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 3 through 5, carrying handle 200 may be pivotally mounted to storage bin 160 and using any suitable connection mechanism. According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, carrying handle 200 is pivotally connected using a pin joint 202. More specifically, each end of carrying handle 200 may define an aperture 204 configured to receive a pin 206. Pin 206 may pass through storage bin 160, e.g., through outer shell 182 and inner shell 184, through aperture 204 to pivotally secure carrying handle 200 to storage bin 160. Although the illustrated embodiment illustrates carrying handle 200 being connected to storage bin 160 using a simple pin joint 202, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any other suitable hinge mechanism may be used according to alternative embodiments.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, carrying handle 200 is a U-shaped handle pivotally connected at approximately the center of each of first sidewall 176 and second sidewall 178. However, carrying handle 200 may be any other suitable shape and may be connected to storage bin 160 at any other suitable location and in any other suitable manner. Indeed, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the size, geometry, positioning, and even number of carrying handles 200 may be adjusted as needed to simplify portability of storage bin 160. For example, according to an alternative embodiment two carrying handles may be used. The first handle may be connected between sidewalls 176, 178 proximate the front wall 172, the second handle may be connected between sidewalls 176, 178 proximate the rear wall 174, and each handle may be configured to fold into storage compartment 180. Other handle configurations are also possible.

As shown in FIG. 6, a storage bin 210 according to an alternative embodiment of the present subject matter may include a recessed storage slot 212 for receiving a carrying handle 214. More specifically, storage bin 210 may define recessed storage slot 212 that extends around an upper edge 216 of storage bin 210 and is configured to receive carrying handle 214 when it is pivoted toward upper edge 216 of storage bin 210. In this manner, recessed storage slot 212 may provide quick and convenient storage of carrying handle 214 such that carrying handle 214 does not interfere with use of storage compartment 218. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other methods and configurations for storing carrying handles 200, 214 are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter.

Storage bins 160, 210 may be configured in a variety of ways to improve portability and convenience of use. Easy storage and removal of storage bins 160, 210 within fresh food chamber 122 is important for achieving this portability and convenience. Therefore, storage bins 160, 210 may be configured to sit on a shelf 162 or may be received within a separate plastic bin within fresh food chamber 122. For example, such a plastic bin may be permanently fixed in fresh food chamber 122 and storage bin 160 may fit snugly within the permanent plastic bin. In this manner, for example, before going to the grocery store, a consumer may remove old food items from storage bin 160 and leave them in the permanent plastic bin while making a trip to the store. After returning from the store with new food items (which will be on the bottom of storage compartment 180) the consumer will replace the old food items back into storage compartment 180 on top of the new items before replacing storage bin 160 back into the permanent plastic bin. In this manner, a consumer will know to eat the older items first before consuming the new items, thereby reducing spoilage and deteriorated food quality.

Storage bin 160 may also be slidably received within fresh food chamber 122. In this regard, for example, housing 102 may define bin supports on opposite sides of fresh food chamber 122. Storage bin 160 may be slidably received by such bin supports. According to an exemplary embodiment, the bin supports may be integrally formed with the sides of housing 102. However, according to alternative exemplary embodiments, bin supports may instead be a single part or a multi-part assembly formed from metal, plastic, or any other suitably rigid material.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the above described embodiment is used only for the purpose of explanation. Modifications and variations may be applied, other configurations may be used, and the resulting configurations may remain within the scope of the invention. For example, a different construction of storage bin 160 may be used, more than one carrying handle 194 may be used, and the geometry and position of storage bin 160 within refrigerator appliance 100 could be changed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that such modification and variations may remain within the scope of the present subject matter.

Although the description above describes storage bin 160 as being configured inside fresh food chamber 122 of refrigerator appliance 100, one skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present subject matter may be alternatively employed in freezer chamber 124 or any other suitable refrigerator compartment. Indeed, other applications and modifications of the present subject matter are possible and such applications are considered to be within the scope of the present subject matter.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;

a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber; and

a storage bin being removably positioned within the chilled chamber, the storage bin comprising: an outer shell defining one solid barrier configured to prevent the flow of air through the outer shell; an inner shell joined with the outer shell to form a cavity; and a cold pack material filling the cavity.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the cold pack material is an antifreeze liquid or gel.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the storage bin further comprises an insulating material positioned within the cavity.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 3, wherein the insulating material is insulating foam.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 3, wherein the insulating material forms an outer foam insulation layer positioned adjacent the outer shell and the cold pack material forms an inner cold pack material layer positioned adjacent the inner shell.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the storage bin further comprises a detachable, insulated lid.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the storage bin further comprises a carrying handle that is received within a recess defined by the storage bin when not in use.

8. (canceled)

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are formed from a waterproof material.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet of the refrigerator appliance defines storage bin supports for removably receiving the storage bin.

11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a separate solid plastic bin configured for removably receiving the storage bin.

12. A storage bin for a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, the storage bin comprising:

an outer shell defining a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls to define one solid barrier configured to prevent the flow of air through the outer shell;

an insulating material positioned adjacent the outer shell;

a cold pack material positioned adjacent the insulating material; and

an inner shell positioned adjacent the cold pack material and joined with the outer shell to encapsulate the insulating material and the cold pack material, the inner shell being configured for receiving food articles.

13. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the cold pack material is an antifreeze liquid or gel.

14. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the insulating material is insulating foam.

15. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the storage bin further comprises a detachable, insulated lid.

16. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the storage bin further comprises a carrying handle that is received within a recess defined by the storage bin when not in use.

17. (canceled)

18. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are formed from a waterproof material.

19. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the cabinet of the refrigerator appliance defines storage bin supports for removably receiving the storage bin.

20. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a separate solid plastic bin configured for removably receiving the storage bin.

21. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the inner shell comprises a thin layer of polypropylene fabric.

22. The storage bin of claim 12, wherein the inner shell comprises a thin layer of polypropylene fabric.