Including Exterior-access Drawer Patents (Class 312/402)
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Patent number: 8544970Abstract: In a guide rail attaching structure for a sliding door and a refrigerator using the same, the structure includes a support member coupled to an inner plate of a door of a refrigerator main body and having support coupling portions, and a pair of guide rails each having a guide rail coupling portion coupled to the corresponding support coupling portion, and slidable with respect to the refrigerator main body, wherein the support coupling portion and the corresponding guide rail coupling portion are coupled to each other by a hinge, whereby a force applied to the guide rail can be minimized to prevent warping of the guide rail even if the sliding door is open in any direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yongki Jung, Jaehun Jung
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Patent number: 8511767Abstract: A consumer appliance, such as a refrigerator, is provided with a compartment with a basket assembly, which may be configured on a pull-out drawer so as to move into and out of the compartment with the pull-out drawer. The basket assembly includes a first basket component and a second basket component releasably engaged with the first basket component along mating edges of the respective basket components, wherein in an engaged state, the first and second basket components define a singular continuous wall basket. At least one of the first or second basket components is releasable and removable from the pull-out drawer.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Omar Haidar, Bagawathkumar Chellappan, James Bryan Rawson, Mukta Marwah, Jonathan Michael Cepress
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Patent number: 8474928Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slidably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lawrence J. Ertz, Pawan Mansukhlal Gandhi, Todd E. Kniffen
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Patent number: 8459759Abstract: A refrigerator and a drawer opening/closing apparatus for a refrigerator wherein a main drawer and an auxiliary drawer are drawn at the same time or independently, the convenience of use is advantageously improved because it is possible for an user to automatically open the auxiliary drawer without directly opening the auxiliary drawer.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Byeong-Gyu Kang, Jae-Youl Lee, Ki-Hoon Song, Jeong-Ho Shin
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Patent number: 8434837Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator that has a slider and chain units that are coupled in a manner that allows rotation. The slider and chain units define a cable chain that covers a wire. Curve guide portions are positioned between the slider and a chain unit, and a rotation restricting portion is positioned between the chain units. The cable chain may curve in the same direction regardless of the force applied so as to reduce potential damage on the wire due to scratches by peripheral components and mis-operation of a refrigerator door. Also, a buffer may be installed at an end of a fixed rail to provide additional safety, a protection cover is installed at a driving motor to reduce potential for separation of the wire, and a door switch is installed at a rail guide to facilitate detachment of the door switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seungmok Lee, Bonggun Jung
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Patent number: 8408663Abstract: A consumer appliance, for example a refrigeration appliance, includes a compartment with a pull-out drawer. A slide member is configured on each opposite side of the compartment, with the drawer having a slide bracket mounted to each respective slide member for movement of pull-out drawer into and out of the compartment. A gear rail is configured on each opposite side of the compartment adjacent to the slide member. A gear assembly is mounted to each slide bracket and includes a first gear engaged with the gear rail and a pinion gear engaged with the first gear. The pinion gear has a rotational axis that is vertically displaced from the rotational axis of the first gear. A cross bar is connected between the pinion gears.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bagawathkumar Chellappan, James Bryan Rawson, Manivannan Loganathan
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Publication number: 20130043780Abstract: In a refrigerator, rail devices are connected below the center of a pull-out door in a vertical direction, and connected to two ends thereof in a horizontal direction, and rail holding members are arranged on an inner casing in a heat-insulating material so as to hold both the right and left ends of the bottom of a container.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Satoshi Ootsuka, Masahiro Ogawa, Shinya Nagahata, Tomoyuki Kato, Junichi Kurita
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Patent number: 8376481Abstract: Provided is a rail assembly of a refrigerator. The rail assembly includes a pair of extendable rails, a rack, pinions, and restricting units. The rails are disposed at left and right sides of an inner wall of a storage space. The rack is disposed under the rails. The rack includes teeth continuously formed in a length direction of the rails and a flat alignment part disposed at a front side of the rack. The pinions are respectively disposed at the rails and movable in mesh with the teeth of the rack. The restricting units are disposed at sides of the rails for restricting a movement of the rails when the rails are extended, so as to prevent the pinions from departing from the rack. When the rails are maximally extended, the pinions are placed at the alignment part.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Chang Lim Lee
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Patent number: 8360539Abstract: A drawer assembly is provided for an enclosure which includes a first interior surface and a second interior surface which are opposite one another. The drawer assembly includes a drawer, a first rack, a second rack, a first linear motion element and a second linear motion element. The drawer is configured to be insertable in the enclosure. The first rack and the second rack are mounted respectively near the first interior surface and the second interior surface. The first linear motion element and the second linear motion element are mounted respectively near the first interior surface and the second interior surface. Each of the linear motion elements is configured to enable movement of the drawer in and out of the enclosure. Each of the linear motion elements includes a pinion configured to rotate along a corresponding rack as the drawer is moved in and out of the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Andrew D. Brown, Michael Bayne
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Patent number: 8333447Abstract: An appliance is provided that includes a storage compartment comprising a first storage bin and a second storage bin configured to move relative to the storage compartment along a parallel path of movement, a first tab located on the first storage bin, and a second tab located within a perimeter of a surface of the second storage bin. The second tab is in a location that is configured to interact with the first tab at a point along the parallel path of movement. The second storage bin moves simultaneously with the first storage bin while the first tab interacts with the second tab. Either the first storage bin or the second storage bin can be placed in the storage compartment in at least a first orientation and a second orientation, where the second orientation disables the second storage bin from moving simultaneously with the first storage bin.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventor: William Lee Moody
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Patent number: 8328301Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator including a main body cabinet forming a storage compartment including a front opening, and a drawer type door entering and exiting the storage compartment to open and close the front opening, the drawer type door including: a basket entering and exiting the storage compartment; a door main body coupled to a front area of the basket to open and close the front opening of the storage compartment; a pocket unit formed at an upper wall surface of the door main body to receive a user's hand; a handle member adjacent to the pocket unit to rotate in forward and backward directions with respect to the door main body; and a pair of sliders reciprocating between an opening position and a closing position.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Suk-Min Lee, Hyun-Tae Chu, Young-gwi Park
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Patent number: 8317280Abstract: A storage compartment comprises a container defining an access aperture closable by a closure that can be sealed to the container around the aperture and that can be opened by relative movement between the container and the closure in a lateral direction with respect to the aperture, the container having a first sealing loop around the aperture and the closure having a second sealing loop co-operable by alignment with the first sealing loop to maintain a seal when the closure closes the aperture. The sealing loops are moved into and out of mutual alignment by said relative movement between the container and the closure and at least one of the sealing loops includes magnetic means for attracting the other of the sealing loops to maintain a seal when the sealing loops are mutually aligned.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Applied Design and Engineering LimitedInventor: Ian David Wood
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Patent number: 8282177Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide for a refrigerator includes a slide assembly operable between an expanded position and a non-expanded position and having first and second slides that are slidably engaged. The first slide is removably attached directly or indirectly to the interior wall of the refrigerator. An actuator is operably coupled to the second slide. A modular self-closing mechanism is releasably attached to an interior wall of the refrigerator separate from the slide assembly. A slider is attached to a spring and slidably engaged with the self-closing mechanism. The slider is positionable by the actuator between an extended position and a retracted position. The slider is adapted to be disengaged from the extended position by the actuator, which allows the slider to move toward the retracted position under force of the spring and which consequently pulls the actuator and a third slide, causing the slide assembly to move toward the non-expanded position.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Chad J. Rotter
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Publication number: 20120240612Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigeration apparatus having improved access to ice comprising a freezer compartment, a freezer drawer occupying a portion of the freezer compartment and configured to open to an extended position, an ice bin moveable with the freezer drawer and occupying at least a portion of the freezer drawer, and a stationary ice maker attached to the freezer compartment and located above the portion of the freezer drawer, wherein when the freezer drawer is pulled opened to the extended position, access to the ice bin is unobstructed by the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: HAIER AMERICA REFRIGERATORS COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Edward P. Wuesthoff, Dongning Wang
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Publication number: 20120242212Abstract: A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: CHAD J. ROTTER, LESTER J. OTT, STEVEN G. HERNDON
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Patent number: 8246130Abstract: A door assembly of a refrigerator, preventing damage from occurring on a handle holder thereof. The door assembly includes a door opening and closing the refrigerator, a handle provided on a side of the door, a plurality of handle holders each having an end fixed to the door and another end attached to the handle, and a supporting member provided on each of the handle holders and preventing damage from occurring on the handle holder.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Nam Seon Cho
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Patent number: 8231190Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slideably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lawrence J. Ertz, Pawan Mansukhlal Gandhi, Todd E. Kniffen
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Patent number: 8220887Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a compartment, a first container, a second container, a door, and a selection device. The first container is located in the compartment and configured to be movable in a first direction. The second container is located in the compartment and configured to be movable in the first direction. The door is operably connected to the second container and configured to provide access to at least one of the first container and the second container of the compartment when the door is moved to an open position. The door is also configured to inhibit access to the compartment when the door is moved to a closed position. The selection device is located on the refrigerator and configured for inputting a selection of either the first container or the second container. The selected container is presented in an accessible position when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Russell Watts, James S. Fowler, Jr., Christian P. Detlefsen
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Patent number: 8220886Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a storage space; a door installed at the refrigerator main body to open and close the storage space; and a receiving device including a storage basket which is accommodated in the storage space and has a storage chamber to store a product and an auxiliary basket which is installed to be spaced from a bottom of the storage basket and has an insertion groove to receive a thin product such that the thin product is stored in the storage chamber in a standing state. According to the refrigerator, since a product having a large width and a small thickness can be stored in a standing state, it is possible to conveniently store a product such as a pizza box and efficiently use a storage space.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Myung Han, Jae Hoon Lim
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Patent number: 8215730Abstract: In one aspect, an assembly includes an enclosure with an opening and a door for closing the opening. A first joining member is secured to the enclosure and a second joining member is secured to the door. The first and second joining members can be mechanically joined to one another in any one of a plurality of attitudes relative to one another and to be separated from one another. A third joining member is joined to at least one of the first and second joining members to establish an alignment position for the first and second joining members relative to one another. Following the separation of the first and second joining members, the alignment position established by the third joining member allows the first and second joining members to be rejoined in the same attitude as the attitude in which they were joined prior to being separated.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Brown, Michael Christopher Bayne
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Patent number: 8210625Abstract: A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Chad J. Rotter, Lester J. Ott, Steven G. Herndon
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Patent number: 8210371Abstract: In order to accomplish the prevention of the shaking of the basket provided in a refrigerator, the fall prevention of the basket, the safe support of foods, the improvement of safety of the supporting portion of the basket, the improvement of user's sanitation and the improvement of appearance, the present invention discloses a mounting apparatus for a basket for a refrigerator comprising: a telescopic mounted on the wall of the refrigerator to be retractable; a connect member engaged with the telescopic; and a basket firmly seated on the upper surface of the connect member and provided with a plurality of bent wires, wherein, in order to support the position of the basket, the connect member comprises a right and left shake preventing part preventing right and left shakings of the basket; a front and rear shake preventing part preventing front and rear shakings of the basket; and a up and down shake preventing part preventing up and down shakings of the basket.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Do-Hyung Kim
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Patent number: 8162422Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a plurality of drawers that partitions a space of a storage chamber and can be selectively withdrawn. In this refrigerator, a user can efficiently utilize the storage space of the storage chamber, and a desired drawer can be opened to easily store and dispense foods.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Seong Wook Kim
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Patent number: 8157338Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a drawer type door withdrawably disposed on the cabinet, the drawer type door opening and closing the storage space, a lower receiving member connected to the drawer type door, the lower receiving member being withdrawn together with the drawer type door, an upper receiving member withdrawably disposed above the lower receiving member, and a restraint member disposed on the drawer type door, the restraint member being rotated according to a user's selection to selectively restrain the upper receiving member and to allow the upper receiving member to be selectively interlocked with the drawer type door, thereby selectively withdrawing the upper receiving member.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Woon Kyu Seo, Jung Yeon Hwang, Han Jin Jung
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Patent number: 8151595Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a home-bar and a dispenser. The refrigerator includes a body in which storage compartments are formed, a body door selectively opening/closing the storage compartments, a home-bar door provided in the body door, and a dispenser located directly in the home-bar door.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Hyeong-Il Kim
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Patent number: 8152254Abstract: A connection structure, for a refrigerator having a drawer door, of an anti-wobbling means which prevents the shaking phenomenon of a door is provided. There are advantages in that structural elements constituting the anti-wobbling means are easily connected to each other, and that a detachment between the structural elements is not occurred.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Jun Hee Kim
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Publication number: 20120079845Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a first storage chamber including a first storage space, a second storage chamber including a second storage space, a machinery chamber, a first door to selectively open and close the first storage space, a second door to selectively open and close the second storage space, a storage container received in the second storage chamber, a cover to open and close the storage container, and a hanger to support the storage container. The hanger is comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form to receive and support the storage container at an inner side of the hanger, and the frames are respectively arranged, at opposite sides thereof, with slide rails so that the hanger is slidably moved relative to the second storage chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Bae Hong, Hyun Tae Chu, Kwon Chul Yun
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Patent number: 8147013Abstract: In a rail assembly structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a shaking prevention member preventing the shaking of a storage container is provided at a position lower than a rail member so that the upper volume and the lower volume of the storage container received in the storage space of the refrigerator is increased as compared to the conventional refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Hyung-Kyu Park
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Patent number: 8141968Abstract: A cabinet drawer support beam is provided, and may include on an upper part of such beam, a rail or longitudinal sliding mechanism. An alignment mechanism may be fastened to the rail or longitudinal mechanism. The alignment mechanism may include a pinion that runs in the rack of the lower part of the support beam, and the support beam may be fastened to the cabinet wall by way of barrels and/or fasteners. At least two beams per cabinet may be included.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Mabe, S.A. de C.V.Inventors: Victor Gerardo Cabal Velarde, Alan Federico Camacho Velazquez, Ignacio MarÃn Ahumada, Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros Fernández
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Patent number: 8104852Abstract: Refrigerator for enabling putting in or taking out food to/from a basket (55) therein with of lowering a position of the user, such as bending oneself, and enabling the user to look into an inside of the basket (55) conveniently as the basket (55) is tilted in a lifted up state.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Hwan Oh, Kyung Han Jeong, Sang Oh Kim
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Patent number: 8100486Abstract: A drawer seal includes a magnetic coupler, a bellows filled or substantially filled with a vibration dampening material and which is affixed to either a drawer or cabinet by a base member. The base member can be embodied as a dart that extends into a hole formed into the drawer or cabinet. A refrigerated food storage cabinet includes a self-closing drawer provided with the drawer seal whereby the drawer is less likely to rebound open.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Prince Castle, LLCInventor: Loren Veltrop
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Publication number: 20110285266Abstract: A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: CHAD J. ROTTER, LESTER J. OTT, STEVEN G. HERNDON
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Patent number: 8061790Abstract: An appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a drawer mounted within a cabinet for movement between an opened position and a closed position. A driving mechanism, including an electric motor and a transmission assembly, connects to the drawer for driving the drawer between the opened position and the closed position. The driving mechanism has an engaged state wherein the drawer is power driven by the driving mechanism between the opened and closed positions and a disengaged state wherein the drawer is manually movable between the opened and closed positions.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sanjay Manohar Anikhindi, Mark W. Wilson, Solomon Muthumani
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Patent number: 8033622Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body having a compartment in the body and a door for opening and closing the compartment, an electrical device movable with respect to the body along a first direction, a conductor electrically connecting the electrical device with the body, and a winding device to apply a tension to the conductor in the first direction toward the compartment.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Hwan Oh, Kyung Han Jeong, Sang Oh Kim
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Patent number: 8029081Abstract: A refrigerator can prevent torsion of a rail member guiding withdrawal of a storage box to stably withdraw the storage box. The refrigerator includes a body, a movable storage box, a rail member, and a supporting member. The body includes a storing compartment. The movable storage box is provided inside the body. The rail member is provided in at least one side of the storage box and guides a movement of the storage box. The supporting member is disposed between the rail member and the body and allows the rail member to be tiltably supported with respect to the body. Therefore, the usability of the refrigerator is improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Kyong Sok Oh
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Patent number: 7997667Abstract: A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Chad J. Rotter, Lester J. Ott, Steven G. Herndon
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Patent number: 7997668Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and an assembling method thereof that enable a storage member provided in a drawer-type storage space to be securely withdrawn and inserted, that improve the external appearance of a storage member when withdrawn and inserted, and that allow easier assembly and installation of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body provided with a storage space, a storage member in the main body and capable of being withdrawn and inserted, an extendable rail member between the storage member and the main body to guide withdrawal and insertion of the storage member, and a cover member at one side of the rail member to cover the rail member. Thus, external appearance is improved, as is assembling convenience.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Chang Lim Lee
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Patent number: 7950754Abstract: A pull-out drawer assembly for a refrigerator bottom freezer. The assembly includes upper and lower baskets slidably mounted one above the other. The bottom basket has a drawer face mounted to its front edge. The upper basket has a magnet which cooperates with an engagement device that is mounted on the lower basket and is attractable to the magnet so that, when the drawer is pulled out of the freezer compartment, both drawers travel as a unit. The upper drawer can then be pushed back to disengage the engagement device from the magnet and provide access to the lower basket.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Andrew D. Brown, Michael Bayne
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Patent number: 7914094Abstract: A storage compartment comprises a container defining an access aperture closable by a closure that can be sealed to the container around the aperture and that can be opened by relative movement between the container and the closure in a lateral direction with respect to the aperture, the container having a first sealing loop around the aperture and the closure having a second sealing loop co-operable by alignment with the first sealing loop to maintain a seal when the closure closes the aperture. The sealing loops are moved into and out of mutual alignment by said relative movement between the container and the closure and at least one of the sealing loops includes magnetic means for attracting the other of the sealing loops to maintain a seal when the sealing loops are mutually aligned.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Applied Design and Engineering LimitedInventor: Ian David Wood
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Publication number: 20110050065Abstract: Disclosed herein are an automatic door opening/closing apparatus to automatically open or close a door without applying any manual force to the door, and a refrigerator having the same. The automatic door opening/closing apparatus devised to automatically open or close a sliding door that is mounted, in a drawer manner, to a refrigerator body, includes a drive device coupled to the sliding door to automatically open or close the sliding door with respect to the refrigerator body, an input part to receive an user input and to operate the drive device based on the user input, a sensing part to sense an open or closed state of the sliding door, and a controller to operate the drive device based on signals from the input part and signals from the sensing part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jong Dal LEE, Jae Hoon KIM
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Publication number: 20110018414Abstract: A refrigerator drawer and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator drawer includes a storage box forwardly movable in a storage chamber provided in a cabinet; and a supporting member provided in the storage chamber to support the storage box; a guide member provided between the supporting member and the storage box, the guide member secured to the storage box, with relatively-movable with respect to the storage box and the supporting member, wherein the guide member is movably connected to the storage box and the guide member comprises at least one guiding slot configured to guide the relative-motion with the storage box.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jun Hee KIM, Ki Hong PARK, Min Hun KIM, Sang Hu PARK
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Publication number: 20110006655Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a drawer type door withdrawably disposed on the cabinet, the drawer type door opening and closing the storage space, a lower receiving member connected to the drawer type door, the lower receiving member being withdrawn together with the drawer type door, an upper receiving member withdrawably disposed above the lower receiving member, and a restraint member disposed on the drawer type door, the restraint member being rotated according to a user's selection to selectively restrain the upper receiving member and to allow the upper receiving member to be selectively interlocked with the drawer type door, thereby selectively withdrawing the upper receiving member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Woon Kyu SEO, Jung Yeon HWANG, Han Jin JUNG
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Publication number: 20100320890Abstract: The refrigerator includes a main body provided with a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, vertically divided from each other. a first storage compartment door and a second storage compartment door are vertically disposed so as to open and close the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment of the main body. an illumination unit is provided at least one of the lower end portion of the first storage compartment door and the upper portion of the second storage compartment. Also an input unit is provided to input operation data of the illumination unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sang Gyu Jung, Ji Man Kim, Chang Yong Kim, Yun Ho Yang, Sang Woon Jeon, Jae Moon Lee
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Patent number: 7815268Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for tilting a door for a refrigerator. The apparatus includes: the door selectively opening and closing a storage chamber; a basket frame provided on a rear surface of the door and having a basket detachably installed on the basket frame; a tilting hinge connecting the door to the basket frame so that the door is tilted by a desired angle; and a tilting prevention pin having one end extending through a side of the tilting hinge and the other end supported by a side of the basket frame, for restricting and allowing the tilting of the door.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2006Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Chang Lim Lee, Young Nam Kim, Gi-Yong Moon
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Patent number: 7810891Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having cooling chambers for keeping food items therein, a base frame disposed to be movable in outward and inward directions in a lower cooling chamber disposed at a lower portion of the main body, and having a basket door at its front side, a lift frame disposed on the base frame, on which the basket is put, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted at the base frame and connected to the lift frame to lift the lift frame, and an fluid compressor connected to the fluid pressure cylinder by an fluid supply pipe and supplying compressed fluid to the fluid pressure cylinder. Accordingly, as the basket is lifted when being drawn out, a user can take out food items kept in the basket without bending his/her back, which enhances user's convenience.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Myung-Ryul Lee, Seong-Jae Kim, Seung-Hwan Oh
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Patent number: 7784888Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body; a compartment within the body; a container within the compartment, the container being moveable along a first direction; an electrical device, the electrical device moving along with the container in the first direction when the container moves along the first direction; and a conductor for providing an electrical signal to the electrical device, the conductor being extendable and retractable in the first direction when the electrical device moves along the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Hwan Oh, Kyung Han Jeong, Sang Oh Kim, Myung Ryul Lee
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Patent number: 7757511Abstract: A refrigerated appliance includes a cabinet including a drawer and a refrigeration system having at least a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. An icemaker unit is mounted in the drawer and includes a housing and an ice cube mold. The evaporator includes a coil mounted below the housing proximate to the ice cube mold. A mounting plate is attached to the housing with the evaporator coil sandwiched therebetween. With this arrangement, the evaporator coil is selectively operated to provide freezing temperatures to form ice cubes in the ice cube mold and establish refrigerated temperatures in the refrigerated compartment. That is, the refrigeration system is selectively operated to chill the evaporator in both an ice production mode and a refrigeration mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas D. LeClear, Jim J. Pastryk
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Patent number: 7753459Abstract: A closure assembly configured to urge a drawer of a refrigerator from an open position that permits access to an interior of the drawer toward a closed position that impedes access to the interior of the drawer. The closure assembly includes a cam block configured to be disposed on one of the drawer and a portion of the refrigerator other than the drawer. The cam block includes a cam surface. A cam member is configured to be disposed on the other one of the drawer and the portion of the refrigerator other than the drawer. The cam member includes a contact surface configured to contact the cam surface to urge the drawer from the open position toward the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jerrod Aaron Kappler, Mark Anthony Rinaudo, Justin P. Todd, Steven Paul, Brandon Wayne Coats
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Patent number: 7744173Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a cabinet having a door that is openable by a user to provide access to a refrigeration compartment. A storage bin is located in the refrigeration compartment and accessible upon the opening of the cabinet door. A mounting system is arranged for the storage bin, supporting the storage bin for movement into and out of the refrigeration compartment. A latch is carried on the cabinet door to be selectively engaged by the user with a latch receiving portion of the storage bin. When the latch is engaged with the latch receiving portion, the storage bin will be pulled out of the refrigerator upon the opening of the cabinet door, and when the latch is disengaged from the latch receiving portion, the storage bin will remain in the refrigeration compartment, unless manually moved by the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Frank Weston Maglinger, Martin Shawn Egan, Aidan C. Kunkle, Richard Bruce Mills
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Patent number: 7740331Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator receptacle including a first tray adapted to move into/out of a storage space like a drawer, a reception space being defined in the first tray, the reception space having an upward opening; a second tray adapted to move in an inward/outward movement direction of the first tray, a reception space being defined in the second tray, the reception space having an upward opening; a guide member for guiding movement of the second tray, an insertion groove being formed on the guide member, an upper end of both lateral surfaces of the first tray being inserted into the insertion groove; and a fastener extending through one of the first tray and the guide member so as to be fastened to other of the first tray and the guide member.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Min Bon Koo