REFRIGERATOR CABINET HAVING REVERSABLE DOOR

Abstract

A refrigerator has a cabinet. The cabinet has an opening therein to provide access to the cabinet. The opening is defined by a frame forming a face of the cabinet about the opening. The frame has a first face corner, a second face corner, a third face corner and a fourth corner; each face corner having a respective securing means thereon. A door has a first edge. A first recess is formed at an end portion of the first edge. A second recessed corner is disposed at a second end point of the first edge; away from the first corner. A first hinge is disposed in the first recess. A second hinge is disposed in the second recess. The door is hingedly affixed to the cabinet for selectively sealing the cabinet when the first hinge is affixed to one of the securing means of the first corner and the second corner, and the second hinge is affixed to one of the securing means of the second corner and third corner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator cabinet having a door which can easily be reversibly mounted to a cabinet in situ, while preserving the aesthetics of the door and refrigerator as a whole.

Refrigerators are well known in the art; dating back over a century. They come in all shapes and sizes. All have a door affixed along one side of the cabinet, and many have a handle disposed adjacent the opposed side of the door. This structure has existed since the beginning of refrigerator construction.

As society has become more affluent, refrigerators have not only changed in purpose, but are viewed stylistically. Therefore refrigerators, have evolved to include mini-fridges, mini bars, even wine or beer “fridges”; separate from the more utilitarian kitchen refrigerator used for keeping everyday foodstuffs fresh.

Where once these second refrigerators were stand-alone items, hidden in the garage, basement, or even in a dorm room, they are now openly incorporated into the kitchen or bar area of the home; in plain sight. Therefore, the aesthetics of the refrigerator have become as important as the functionality.

Additionally, whereas primary refrigerators have a dedicated space, or alcove, in which they are positioned, these secondary refrigerators are positioned undercounter at a position dictated by both aesthetics and function. Therefore, conventional undercounter refrigerators suffer from the shortcoming that, because of limitations in space, when the refrigerator is opened, the handle often interferes with adjacent structure such as a dishwasher, preventing fully opening of either the dishwasher, the refrigerator, or both. The same is true of under counter refrigerators positioned adjacent a wall, in which the door handle continuously bangs the wall when opened, and the wall, in turn, preventing the door from being fully opened.

To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, it is known in the art to manufacture both left and right handed opening doors for undercounter refrigerators. However, this suffers from the disadvantage that it requires a stockpile of both left handed and right handed opening doors to meet demand; and if predictions are off, results in a large stockpile of one type of door and perhaps not enough of another.

Accordingly, a refrigerator cabinet and door which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A refrigerator has a cabinet. The cabinet has an opening therein to provide access to the cabinet. The opening is defined by a frame forming a face of the cabinet about the opening. The frame has a first face corner, a second face corner, a third face corner, and a fourth face corner; each face corner having a respective securing means thereon.

A door has a first edge, and a first recess is formed at an end portion of the first edge. A second recess is disposed at a second end point of the first edge; away from the first corner. A first hinge is disposed in the first recess. A second hinge is disposed in the second recess. The door is hingedly affixed to the cabinet for selectively sealing the cabinet when the first hinge is affixed to one of the securing means disposed in the first corner and disposed in the second corner, and the second hinge is affixed to one of the securing means of the second corner and third corner.

In a preferred non limiting embodiment, the door has a second edge along an opposed side of the door from the first edge. A handle is affixed to the door adjacent the second edge; the handle being symmetrical in appearance along an axis parallel to the second edge. An emblem is releasably mounted on the door, so that the emblem may be selectively rotated one hundred and eighty degrees.

In yet another embodiment a lock system is disposed on the refrigerator. The lock system includes a flange being mounted to the frame at one of the securing means at the second corner face and the securing means at the third corner face. The door having a rear face for contacting the frame. The door having an opening therein for receiving the flange; the opening being disposed at a corner of the door away from each recessed corner. A lock is disposed on the door to selectively engage the flange when the flange is within the recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective exploded view of a refrigerator, showing the same door in both a left handed and right handed orientation, constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the refrigerator door constructed in accordance with the invention, in the left handed orientation;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the invention showing the door removed in the left handed orientation;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the invention showing the door removed in the right handed orientation;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of an emblem constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of the door constructed in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, upon reading the below description, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For instance, well known operation or techniques may not be shown in detail. Technical and scientific terms used in this description have the same meaning as commonly understood to one or ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter belongs.

As used throughout this application, the term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is understood to convey that an element may be either X, Y, Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated.

References herein to the positions of elements (i.e., “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right, “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the figures. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. However generally, for the door “left” means an orientation when the handle is along a left edge of the door when viewed in front plan view and “right” means an orientation when the handle is along a right edge of the door when viewed in front plan view.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 wherein a refrigerator 10 constructed in accordance with the invention is shown. Like numerals are used to indicate like structure across the drawings. Refrigerator 10 includes an open faced cabinet 12, having a floor 14, a first sidewall 16, and an opposed sidewall 18, each extending from floor 14. A top 20 is disposed on sides 16, 18 and a rear wall 26 seals cabinet 12 with an opening 22. Because each of floor 14, first sidewall 16, opposed sidewall 18, and top 20 have width, a frame 24 is formed about opening 22.

As seen more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, frame 24 has four corners, more particularly a first corner 41, a second corner 42, third corner 43, and fourth corner 44. As readily seen first corner 41 is along a same edge of cabinet 12, and in turn frame 24, as second corner 42, but cattycorner, across opening 22, from fourth corner 44 of frame 24. Similarly, third corner 43 is along a same edge of cabinet 12, and in turn frame 24, as fourth corner 44, but cattycorner, across opening 22, from second corner 42 of frame 24.

Securing structure in the form of holes 51-54 is disposed adjacent a respective corner 41-44 of frame 24. In a preferred non limiting embodiment holes 51-54 are a pair of holes at each corner 41-44 for receiving and anchoring screws, or other reusable releasable securing structure, therein. Additionally, for symmetry each of the holes are positioned relative (distance and direction from) to an adjacent corner exactly as the holes of their cattycorner pair is positioned relative to its corner. Specifically, holes 51 are positioned relative to corner 41 as holes 54 are positioned relative to corner 44. Similarly, holes 52 are positioned relative to corner 42 as holes 53 are positioned relative to corner 43.

A flange 110 is releasably affixed to frame 24 at one of corner 42 and corner 43. Flange 110, in a non limiting preferred embodiment is secured at a respective one of holes 52, 53 using screws, or such other reusable reversable fastening device.

As is known in the art, a plurality of shelves 30 such as wine racks, food shelves, beer shelves or the like are disposed within cabinet 12 and accessible through opening 22. Additionally, cabinet 12 may include a temperature control 32, as known in the art.

Reference is now also made to FIGS. 2 and 3 in which a door 70 is shown in the left handed orientation of the invention. Door 70 has a front face 72, a rear face 172 and an edge 74. Like cabinet 12, door 70 is formed with corners; specifically, a first corner 81, a second corner 82, a third corner 83, and fourth corner 84. First corner 81 is disposed catty corner from fourth corner 84 and second corner 82 is disposed catty corner from third corner 84. First corner 81 and second corner 83 are not cattycorner form each other but along a same edge 86 of door 70.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first recess 76 is formed in part in edge 74 and in part in edge 86 at corner 81. Similarly, a second recess 78 is formed in part in edge 86, and a bottom edge (not shown) at corner 82. As seen in FIG. 2 a first hinge is fixedly mounted in recess 76 and a second hinge 94 is fixedly mounted in second recess 78. In the preferred non limiting embodiments hinges 92, 94 do not extend beyond edge 86, when disposed in respective recesses 76, 78 and preferably are flush with edge 74, and the lower edge (not shown) to attach to frame 24 as will be described below. A seal 200 is disposed about rear surface 172 of door 70 to engage frame 24 to seal refrigerator 10 when door 72 is in the closed position.

A handle 96 is disposed on door 70 on front face 72. Handle 96 is disposed on door 70, away from recesses 76,78; between corners 83, 84. Additionally, in a preferred non limiting embodiment, handle 96 is symmetrical about a centerline across the height of door 70 so that door 70 can be easily opened whether in the right handed or left handed orientation. In the preferred non limiting example, handle 96 is formed as a rod 97, extending substantially the height of door 70, and is supported by struts 99a, 99b, equidistant from a respective end of rod 97 and substantially equidistant from a centerline across door 70 in the height direction. In this way the same amount of force applied at the same position along handle 96 relative to a top in either the left handed or right handed door orientation will have the same results and feel to the user opening or closing door 70.

As is known in the art in some embodiments, such as wine refrigerators, door 78 may include a window 98 therein to provide viewing of the contents without having to open door 70. Additionally, a lock 100 is disposed within door 70 and positioned to engage flange 110 when received within slot 112 of door 70 when mounted to cabinet 12 and in a closed position.

A logo may be affixed to door 70 as known in the art, however, when door 70 is rotated form a right hand orientation to a left hand orientation, the logo would be upside down; harming the aesthetics of the refrigerator 10. Again, this is currently solved in the art by keeping an inventory of left handed doors and right handed doors with correctly oriented emblem/logo. In accordance with the present invention, an ornament 120 which may be decorative such as the bird silhouette in FIG. 5 or a brand name/logo, is releasably affixed to door 70.

Door 70 is formed with holes 130 disposed, in a preferred non limiting embodiment, at substantially a right angle relative to handle 96, and between second corner 82 and fourth corner 84 in the shown embodiment. Magnets 132 are disposed adjacent holes 130. Ornament 120 is formed having a body 122 made of a material attracted to magnets. Projections 124 extend from body 122 and are positioned and dimensioned to be received by holes 130, and body 122 is dimensioned to be attracted to magnets 132 when projections 124 are received within holes 130. In this way, ornament 120 is releasably anchored in place by magnets 132 and holes 130. Furthermore, holes 130 and magnets 132 are oriented to each other, such that projections 124 are received within holes 130 whether ornament 120 is oriented as described above, or rotated one hundred and eight degrees relative thereto.

During use one benefit of the disclosed refrigerator 10 is the ability to assemble either a right handed or left handed door refrigerator in situ, without duplicative materials; such as two doors. Therefore, upon arrival of refrigerator 10, a decision can be made as to which way the door 70 will open.

Assembly will now be described for a left handed door orientation. During assembly flanges 92, 94 are affixed within a respective recess 76, 78 at opposed corners 81, 82 of door 70. It should be noted that, in a preferred nonlimiting embodiment, flanges 92, 94 may be installed at the factory and shipped as attached, rather than on site, facilitating faster installation, with fewer parts to assemble or lose. Flanges 92, 94, may be affixed to door 70 by screws, bolts, or the like, or even welded if prefabricated.

Door 70 is mounted to frame 24 of cabinet 12 by aligning flange 76 with holes 51 of corner 41 and aligning flange 78 with holes 52 of corner 42. Each of flange 76, 78 has holes for receiving screws, bolts or other structure to be releasably received and secured within a respective hole. As can be seen flanges 76,78 are jointed to act as door hinges.

If ornament 120 was not pre-mounted to door 70, projections 124 of ornament 120 are inserted into holes 130. Magnets 132 hold ornament 120 with magnetic force against door 70. In this way ornament is held and anchored to door 70.

Changing the orientation of door 70 to a right hand opening door is accomplished by rotating door 70 one hundred and eighty degrees. In this way door handle 96 is on the right side of the door. During assembly flanges 92, 94 are affixed within a respective recess 76, 78 at opposed corners 81, 82 of door 70. Again, in a preferred nonlimiting embodiment, flanges 92, 94 may be installed at the factory and shipped as attached, rather than on site, facilitating faster installation, with fewer parts to assemble or lose. Flanges 92, 94, may be affixed to door 70 by screws, bolts, or the like, or even welded if prefabricated.

Flange 110 is moved catty corner from corner 43 to corner 42 so as not to interfere with flange 78 during mounting. Holes 52, 53 may also be used for affixing flange 110 to frame 24 of cabinet 12.

Door 70 is mounted to frame 24 of cabinet 12 by aligning flange 76 with holes 54 of corner 44 and aligning flange 78 with holes 53 of corner 43. Again, each of flange 76, 78 has holes for receiving screws, bolts or other structure to be releasably received and secured within a respective hole. Because holes 53, 54 are positioned relative to corners 43, 44 in a manner substantially identical to holes 51, 52 to corners 41,42, the flanges 76,78 are automatically aligned for attachment in either orientation.

Again because of the orientation of holes 52, 53 to corners 42, 43 respectively, when mounted at either corner, flange 110 is positioned to be received by slot 112 of door 70 when mounted to cabinet 12 and in a closed position. Lock 100 will also be in a position to engage flange 100 to lock door 70 in the right handed orientation.

Ornament 120 would now be in an upside down orientation. Ornament 120 is withdrawn by hand or with a tool such as a screw or the like. Ornament 120 is then rotated one hundred and eighty degrees and reattached as described above. The door 70 is now attached and aesthetically pleasing in the right handed orientation. It should also be understood that in either orientation hinges 76, 78 may be disconnected from frame 24 once attached, so that the orientation of door 70 may be changed to suit taste (left handed or right handed) over time; the door is selectively releasably affixed to the frame just as ornament 120 is selectively releasably affixed to door 70.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these described embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet, the cabinet having an opening to provide access to an interior of the cabinet, the opening being defined by a frame forming a face of the cabinet; the frame having a first face corner, a second face corner, a third face corner and a fourth face corner; each face corner having a respective securing means formed thereon;

a door, having a first edge, a first recessed corner being disposed at an end point of the first edge; a second recessed corner being disposed at a second endpoint of the first edge, the second recessed corner being spaced from the first recessed corner;

a first hinge disposed in the first recessed corner; and

a second hinge disposed in the second recessed corner; the door being hingedly affixed to the cabinet for selectively sealing the cabinet when the first hinge is affixed to one of securing means of the first face corner and the fourth face corner, and the second hinge is affixed to one of the securing means of the second face corner and the third face corner.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a flange affixed to the cabinet at one of the first corner and second corner; the door having an opening therein at a corner away from either the first recess and second recess for receiving the flange therein.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a lock mounted on the door, for selectively engaging the flange when the flange is received within the opening.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising an ornament, the door having a second edge parallel to the first edge, the ornament being removably affixed to the door between the first edge and the second edge.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, further comprising a magnet disposed on the door, the ornament being formed at least in part of a material attracted to magnets.

6. The refrigerator of claim 4, further comprising projections extending from the ornament, and openings on the door for releasably receiving the projections.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door has a second edged, spaced from and parallel with the first edge, and the refrigerator further comprising a glass panel disposed within the door between the first edge and the second edge, and providing viewing access to an interior of the refrigerator when the door is affixed to the cabinet.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a handle; the door a second edged, spaced from and parallel with the first edge; and the handle being disposed adjacent the second edge.