Unit Includes Movable Wall Section, E.g., Door Patents (Class 62/449)
  • Publication number: 20140216096
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. A door is pivotally coupled with the cabinet. A cooling system is disposed solely in the door and is in fluid communication with the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. The cooling system maintains a temperature of the refrigerator compartment at a different temperature than the freezer compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: DOUGLAS D. LECLEAR, ANDREW D. LITCH, GUOLIAN WU
  • Publication number: 20140196496
    Abstract: A delivery container for temperature sensitive goods is provided having sidewalls, a rear wall, top and bottom walls all of a heat insulated construction, an upright access opening opposite the rear wall and a door assembly for selectively closing the access opening. Multiple generally upright cavities are associated with the sidewalls and rear wall. A cooling gas distribution arrangement includes a refrigerant receiving recess (12) provided in a refrigerant support tray having surfaces (15) inclined downwardly towards an upper region of the sidewalls and rear wall for distributing cooling gases generated by refrigerant located in the refrigerant receiving recess (12) to openings communicating with the multiple upright cavities, in use. The door assembly preferably includes an uppermost panel (35) that opens separately from the balance (36, 37, 38) of the door to provide access to the refrigerant receiving recess (12) for installing or removing refrigerant whilst the rest of the door assembly remains closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Gary Wayne Ferguson, Keith Wyness
  • Patent number: 8752400
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor to compress refrigerant, a condenser to liquefy the refrigerant supplied from the compressor, a capillary tube to decompress and expand the refrigerant supplied from the condenser, an evaporator to vaporize the refrigerant supplied from the capillary tube, a shutoff valve installed at an inlet of the capillary tube so as to prevent the refrigerant in the condenser during stoppage of the compressor from being moved to the evaporator, and a control unit to enable the shutoff valve to be blocked together so as to prevent movement of the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator during stoppage of the compressor, and to enable the shutoff valve to be opened together so as to move the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator during starting of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jee Hoon Lee, Sang Gyu Jung, Seung Yong Yang, Jae Sek Oh, Kae Hum Lee, Sung Cheul Park, Jong Nam Lee, Ho June Jeon
  • Patent number: 8746006
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprises: a body having a storage chamber; a door for selectively shielding the storage chamber; a hinge coupling portion for hinge-coupling the door to the body; and a height control unit for lifting up or lowering the door by repeatedly opening and closing the door. Since the door has a controllable height by being opened and closed, a moment arm becomes longer than when using the conventional tool such as a spanner. This may allow the height of the door to be controlled by using less force. Since the height of the door is controllable at a user's eye height, the user may control the height of the door more rapidly and precisely without errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seok-Ro Kim
  • Publication number: 20140150472
    Abstract: A refrigerator may include a refrigerator cabinet in at least one enclosure that can be mounted in different locations within the cabinet. The enclosure also can have targeted, independently controlled temperature provided to it. This allows the refrigerator to be highly customizable and reconfigurable according to desire or need. For example, an ice maker ice bin can be mounted in different positions within the cabinet, including door mount, refrigerated food compartment mount or freezer mount. Alternatively, specialized enclosures for such things as can chilling, milk chilling, meat chilling, or even thawing can be placed in multiple locations in the cabinet according to need or desire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
  • Patent number: 8701436
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided to prevent sustaining of injuries by users, and which is capable of being hygienically used. The refrigerator prevents users sustaining injuries from inadvertently bumping into a dispenser or a tray when passing by the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeon Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8677776
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body having a storage chamber, a door provided to the main body to selectively open or close the storage chamber, the door including an outer door defining a front external appearance of the door, and a door liner defining a rear external appearance of the door, the door liner including support steps vertically extending along both sides of the door liner, a liner plate interconnecting the support steps, and a seating step horizontally extending from the door liner, the support steps and the seating step defining an installation space, an ice bank removably located on the door liner, and an ice maker cover located above the ice bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung-Soo Kim, Yoo-Min Park, Oh-Chul Kwon, Jong-Gon Kim, Bon-Young Koo, Young-Hoon Gwak, Hyeon-Po Cho
  • Patent number: 8677778
    Abstract: A refrigerator in which a right door that a user more frequently opens has a width less than that of a left door and a dispenser and a display unit are mounted at the center of a front surface of the refrigerator, resulting in enhanced usability. In the refrigerator, furthermore, a door handle is hidden and a drawer type storage container is installed below the dispenser and the display unit to enhance usability of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Woon Jeon, Sei Ill Jeon, Yun Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 8656731
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a main body defining a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, a door selectively closing the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, respectively, a plurality of receiving members spaced apart vertically from each other in the refrigerator compartment, and a dispenser between upper and lower spaces of the receiving members, the dispenser supplying drinking water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8653767
    Abstract: The embodiment relates to a method for controlling a refrigerator. The method for controlling a refrigerator including: inputting an opening signal to open a selected door of a plurality of doors; rotating a driving motor to open a selected door; and opening the selected door by pushing the selected door of the plurality of doors by one of a plurality of push members by the rotation of the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Myung Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8567210
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator configured to improve the structure of an ice-making chamber provided to a refrigerator door, thereby efficiently supplying cool air into the ice-making chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage chamber, a refrigerator door rotatably coupled to the main body, an ice-making device provided to the refrigerator door and configured to make ice, an ice-making unit provided to the ice-making device and including a cool air introduction part, a freezing core vertically arranged in the ice-making unit and cooled by cool air, and an ice tray configured to receive at least one portion of the freezing core therein, wherein the cool air introduction part is provided on an upper side of the freezing core. Cool air is efficiently introduced into the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing the amount of ice made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Hee Park, Tae-Hee Lee, Joon-Hwan Oh, Young-Jin Kim, Ho-Youn Lee
  • Publication number: 20130276474
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a storage room defined in the main body, and a cooling device configured to cool the storage room. The refrigerator also includes a door rotatably connected to the main body and configured to open and close the storage room. The refrigerator also includes a door storage mounted to the door and having a side storage portion that is accessible when the door is open to an acute opening angle. In addition, the refrigerator includes a door locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the door at the acute opening angle at which the side storage portion is exposed between the main body and the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sanghun KIM, Seonkyu KIM, Minsup KIM
  • Publication number: 20130255283
    Abstract: An automated, ultra-low temperature freezer having multiple structural features that reduce heat transfer into the freezer, protect its internal mechanical devices against low temperature mechanical binding of their movements, allow defrosting and autoclaving as a result of only minimal changes to the conventional CO2 emergency backup system. A group of freezers are arranged so they can simultaneously provide an HVAC function. A vial management system allows biological samples or vials to be automatically placed in and recovered from the freezer and associates the temperature history with each sample or vial that it was subjected to during its storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBAL COOLING, INC.
    Inventor: David M. Berchowitz
  • Patent number: 8534092
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner is provided. A width of the indoor unit of the air conditioner may be varied based on whether or not the indoor unit of the air conditioner is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juhyoung Lee, Deok Huh, Seongwon Bae, Kiwon Seo
  • Patent number: 8534091
    Abstract: A refrigerator, in which an evaporator and a cold air fan are horizontally arranged in a cold air generating compartment positioned at an upper portion of the refrigerator. The evaporator and the cold air fan extend along a depth of the refrigerator in forward and rearward directions of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youn Seok Lee, Jang Seok Lee, Min Kyu Oh, Kyeong Yun Kim, Su Nam Chae
  • Patent number: 8523374
    Abstract: This present embodiment relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an exterior member which defines the appearance of the refrigerator and in which a transmissive part, through which light is passed, is formed; a decoration member provided at a rear side of the exterior member; and a light-emitting unit which emits light toward the decoration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chanju Pae
  • Publication number: 20130199232
    Abstract: A high performance freezer includes a deck and a cabinet supported above the deck and having a cabinet housing defining a generally cylindrical shape. The freezer includes a door supported by the cabinet housing that moves between open and closed positions by sliding or pivoting generally along the side wall of the cabinet. The freezer further includes a refrigeration system mounted at least partially within the deck and partially within the cabinet to refrigerate an inner chamber of the freezer. The cylindrical shape of the cabinet enables rotation of shelves within the inner chamber and a maximized storage space with a minimal floor space required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC (ASHEVILLE) LLC
    Inventors: Mahesh Natarajan, Tushar Ingle, Rajendra Khadtkar
  • Patent number: 8495891
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator including a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber. The refrigerator also includes a refrigerating chamber door positioned at the refrigerator main body and configured to open and close at least a portion of a refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator further includes an ice chamber disposed at an inner surface of the refrigerating chamber door containing ice. In addition, the refrigerator includes a door basket configured to be attached to an outer surface of the ice chamber and having a non-contact portion positioned at a surface facing the ice chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Jeong Kim, Bong-Jin Kim, Chang-Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 8490426
    Abstract: Provided is a door basket of a refrigerator including a lighting device capable of emitting light. According to above-described configuration, illumination can be improved at the door basket, and an outer appearance thereof can be elegant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8474283
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a mixing box detachably provided on a refrigerator door. Due to the mixing box, a user can conveniently utilize a beverage having a slushy shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8464549
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body portion having an air supply and an air return, a door hinged to the body portion, and an icemaking unit located on the door and having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and air outlet are adjacent the air supply and air return, respectively, when the door is closed, to receive and return chilled air therefrom and thereto. At least a first sealing member is located at the air supply, the air return, the air inlet, and/or the air outlet. The at least first sealing member includes a first membrane with a slit formed therein, and a first projecting member. The slit and the first projecting member are configured and dimensioned such that the slit is closed when the door is in an open position and that the slit is opened when the door is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew William Davis, Wayne Edward Lawson, Krzysztof Struminski
  • Patent number: 8453476
    Abstract: An elongated spine extends vertically within a refrigerated cabinet, freezer cabinet, or doors and includes ductwork for the transmission of fluids within the spine as well as operating power and/or electrical control or data signals. The spine includes a mounting channel having inwardly extending edges. Modules mate with the spine for the physical mounting of the modules at any desired location within the continuously extending channel and are provided with a flange which fits within the spine and mounts the module in a cantilevered fashion to the refrigerator. Such construction facilitates the distribution of fluids, such as hot or cold air within the refrigerator, and the manufacturing of a refrigerator by providing a readily attached spine and allowing modular construction of a refrigerator with infinite adjustability for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Kendall, Todd A. Zeilinger
  • Patent number: 8429929
    Abstract: A flexible door panel cold storage door system incorporates a flexible movable door panel having an internal support frame assembly and the door panel has a plurality of gasket sections removably attached to a cold space surface of a door panel jacket with each gasket section having at least one ferrous gasket target and the gasket sections are aligned and cooperate with a plurality of electromagnets that are mounted in a doorframe assembly when the door panel is in a closed position. The electromagnets are mounted in wells in the doorframe assembly and are powered on when the door panel is in the closed position and the wells are interconnected by a ventilation channel that conducts air heated by operation of the electromagnets through the ventilation channel and into and through a bottom sweep assembly of the door panel in a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cold Chain, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel M. Aragon
  • Publication number: 20130098082
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a vertical mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: NIHAT CUR, STEVEN J. KUEHL, ANDREW D. LITCH, LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, GUOLIAN WU
  • Publication number: 20130081423
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that may include a refrigerator body having at least one cooling chamber, and at least one cooling chamber door that opens or closes the at least one cooling chamber. The cooling chamber door may include a first door configured to open or close the at least one cooling chamber, a second door configured to open or close an open portion formed in the first door, and a support provided at the open portion that supports articles or food. The second door may be rotated around a rotational shaft that extends in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the at least one cooling chamber door. With this structure, food may be supported using the support when the second door is opened, thereby facilitating the putting in and taking out of food from the open portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Hyokku KWON, Seonkyu KIM, Hangbok LEE
  • Publication number: 20130059047
    Abstract: A crisper drawer for postponing postharvest produce deterioration having a drawer housing that substantially defines the size and shape of the crisper drawer and fits within a residential refrigerator. A chamber within the drawer housing is cooled by the refrigerator. An ozone generator provides gaseous ozone to the chamber, and an ethylene scrubber reduces levels of ethylene in the chamber. An ozone level control with the ozone generator controls ozone levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventor: Vincent M. Arrigo
  • Patent number: 8371136
    Abstract: A method of forming ice in a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes cooling a first storage compartment to a first temperature, cooling a second storage compartment to a second temperature, cooling an interior volume defined in a door to a third temperature, wherein the door permits and impedes access to the second storage compartment, operating a fan disposed in the interior volume to circulate cool air through the interior volume, and cooling water to form ice in the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Patent number: 8302424
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include an evaporator that generates cold air supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a first fan that supplies the cold air generated by the evaporator to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber of the refrigerator, and a second fan that circulates the cold air within the refrigerating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Ho Seo, Dong Jeong Kim
  • Patent number: 8281610
    Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice maker for making ice, which is provided on a backside of a door of the refrigerator; and an ice maker cover for selectively opening or closing the ice maker. Fixing recesses are formed to be open downwardly on outsides of both sides of the ice maker cover, and receive fixing protrusions provided at corresponding positions on opposite sides of a pair of support steps that protrude rearward from both side ends of the backside of the door by a predetermined length and are formed to be elongated in an up and down direction. Play prevention steps are provided at lower ends of both sides of the ice maker cover and are seated on play prevention ribs provided to be elongated in a horizontal direction at corresponding positions of the opposite sides of the support steps below the fixing protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung-Soo Kim, Yoon-Min Park, Oh-Chul Kwon, Jong-Gon Kim, Bon-Young Koo, Young-Hoon Gwak, Hyeon-Po Cho
  • Patent number: 8250880
    Abstract: A dispenser has a dispenser cover having an accommodating space with an open front surface, a tray slidably retracted in the dispenser cover, and a protrusion elastically contacted with one of the dispenser cover and the tray to thusly be relatively moved. Accordingly, the sliding of the tray can smoothly be performed, and an unexpected tray separation due to a small external force applied thereto upon opening/closing the refrigerator door can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gi-Yong Moon
  • Patent number: 8234880
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage space and a door selectively opening or closing the storage space. The ice-making device includes an ice maker installed on a backside of the door for making ice; a cold air duct provided in one side of the storage space and supplying the ice maker with a portion of cold air supplied to the storage space; an ice maker cover detachably installed on the backside of the door to selectively open or close the ice maker; and an ice bank detachably installed on the backside of the door below the ice maker, the ice bank storing ice made in the ice maker and transferring it to a dispenser provided on the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung-Soo Kim, Yoo-Min Park, Oh-Chul Kwon, Jong-Gon Kim, Bon-Young Koo, Young-Hoon Gwak, Hyeon-Po Cho
  • Patent number: 8230696
    Abstract: To prevent incorrect operation of an operating member provided in an electric component box without giving complicated processing on a front panel. An opening formed in the front portion of a housing (11) to correspond to a machine room (14) is closed with a front panel (20). A suction louver (25) and a delivery louver (26) are formed in the front panel (20). An inserting/withdrawing opening (28) used for inserting/withdrawing a filter (34) is opened above the position for forming the suction louver (25) in the front panel (20). A base portion (38) being fitted in the inserting/withdrawing opening (28) to close the opening (28) is formed above the filter (34). A power switch (43) and a service switch (44) are provided on the front of the electric component box (42) arranged in the machine room (14). The portion for arranging the power switch (43) and the service switch (44) in the electric component box (42) opposes the rear of the inserting/withdrawing opening (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Masaaki Kawasumi, Seiji Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Sanada
  • Publication number: 20120186273
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a produce chamber having an outer housing with a first panel, a second panel, and a base plate inter-dispersed between both panels. A door is placed between both panels to deposit and remove produce. Positioned within the first panel is a refrigeration system, which includes both ammonium absorption (AAF) system and a Peltier thermoelectric plate (TE) system. The AAF system includes a contact plate which communicates with a series of ducts having a first and second channel. The first channel circulates ammonia, while the second draws and then cools outside air for introduction into the produce chamber. The TE system is positioned proximate the contact plate to afford additional cooling, which has a plurality of parallel thermoelectric plates. A digital controller operates both the AAAF and TEC systems. Such controller also operates a scrubber, which includes zeolite powder, to remove ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Vincent Arrigo, Glenn Akhavein, Richard T. Herbst, JR., Robert Brady
  • Publication number: 20120167611
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compartment defined by a liner, with a door configured to provide access into the compartment. A sub-compartment is mounted in the door and extends into the compartment in the closed position of the door. A cold plate assembly is operably configured within the liner to supply cold air to the sub-compartment. A raised embossment is defined in a compartment side wall of the liner at a location opposite from the cold plate assembly. The embossment is defined by a circumferentially extending ridge and a front face that extends into the compartment in a plane that is spaced from a plane of the compartment side wall. A receiver is configured in a wall of the sub-compartment and seals around the embossment in a closed position of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kristin Marie Weirich, Robert Thomas Mills, Craig Robert Vitan, Ratnakar Sahasrabudhe
  • Patent number: 8176746
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an open storage space and including a door with an exterior side and an interior side adapted to receive a modular component. The modular component includes a base removably connected to the interior side and has a first edge and a second edge. A component door is hingedly-connected to the first edge of the base and is operable between an open position and a closed position. The base and component door define a sealed compartment when the component door is in the closed position. First fasteners are disposed on the component door, and second fasteners are disposed on the base. The second fasteners engage the first fasteners to create an airtight seal between the component door and the base. A vacuum device is in communication with the sealed compartment and a heat sealer is disposed on the base or the component door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Douglas D. Leclear, Karen J. Querfurth, Andrew M. Tenbarge, John J. Vonderhaar, Michele E. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8161768
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an open storage space and including a door having an interior side adapted to receive a modular component. The modular component has a base removably connected to the interior side of the door. A component door is hingedly-connected to the base and includes a viewing area. The component door is operable between an open position and a closed position and the base and the component door define a sealed compartment when the component door is in the closed position. An air hose extends from the modular component. The air hose has a proximal end and a distal end. A fastener system is disposed on one of the component door and the base. The fastener system is adapted to engage with the first fasteners to create a seal between the component door and the base. A heat sealer is disposed on one of the base and the component door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Douglas D. Leclear, Andrew M. Tenbarge, John J. Vonderhaar, Michele E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20120073321
    Abstract: A French-style refrigerator door is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an actuator and a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the door. The mullion bar is responsive to the actuator to automatically rotate from a first position to a second position upon actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew William DAVIS, Scott Gabriel Brown
  • Publication number: 20120047917
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a sealed system, a cooling recipient, and a heat pipe. To transport cooling capacity to the cooling recipient, evaporator in the sealed system includes a cold plate section with heat transfer surface. A cold end of the heat pipe is attached to the cold plate section of the evaporator. An internal refrigerating or freezing compartment, an external compartment, an ice maker, or an ice-making cabinet could be a recipient of cooling capacity. Air flowing around a warm end of the heat pipe brings cooling potential to the internal and/or external compartments. Icemaker and/or ice-making cabinet can be located in the freezing compartment, in the freezing compartment door, in refrigerating compartment, or in refrigerating compartment door. To facilitate heat transfer the warm end of the heat pipe is in heat transfer contact with an ice making cavity that receives and freezes water to ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander Rafalovich
  • Publication number: 20120042671
    Abstract: A refrigerator in which a right door that a user more frequently opens has a width less than that of a left door and a dispenser and a display unit are mounted at the center of a front surface of the refrigerator, resulting in enhanced usability. In the refrigerator, furthermore, a door handle is hidden and a drawer type storage container is installed below the dispenser and the display unit to enhance usability of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sang Woon Jeon, Sei Ill Jeon, Yun Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 8117865
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes the ability to mount a variety of modules requiring utilities, such as electricity and fluids, within adjustable locations in the door of the refrigerator. The door includes a conduit extending in at least one direction and including one or more plug-in connectors for allowing a module with a mating connector to be positioned on the door for supplying operating utilities to the module. This allows the purchaser of the refrigerator to add components and accessories to the refrigerator after purchase or select desired features at the time of purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, James W. Kendall, Alan S. Lucas, Andrew M. Tenbarge, John J. Vonderhaar, Guolian Wu
  • Publication number: 20120031138
    Abstract: A water supply apparatus arranged in a door of a refrigerator, for conveying water to an icemaker of the refrigerator. The apparatus has a water tube for delivering water from a water source, a support block attached to an inner surface of the door, a fill tube assembled to the support block and in fluid communication with the water tube, and a gasket disposed between the support block and the door for sealing an insulator in the door. The gasket has a hole through which the fill tube extends to convey the water from the water tube to the icemaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher David Hunter
  • Publication number: 20120023971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to refrigerators, and a method for controlling the same. The refrigerator includes a body, a door rotatably coupled to the body, a storage space in the body for storing goods therein, a camera unit mounted in the storage space for sensing an infrared ray from the stored goods to visualize a surface temperature distribution of the stored goods, a memory unit for storing the surface temperature distribution of the stored goods visualized thus by the camera unit therein, and a control unit for determining whether the stored goods are damaged or not with reference to a difference of the surface temperature distributions of the stored goods stored in the memory unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Deulre MIN, Eunyoung Park
  • Publication number: 20120023986
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a heat transfer unit, which transfers heat generated from a machine room within a refrigerator main body to a periphery of a home bar so as to remove dew formed at the periphery of the home bar, and an insulating unit for surrounding an outer circumference of the heat transfer unit. The refrigerator further includes a heating unit installed to be thermally conductive with the heat transfer unit, and a non-conductive cover for covering the heat transfer unit and the heating unit. Consequently, waste heat generated from the machine room, other than a separate power supply unit, can be used to prevent dew formation at the periphery of the home bar, so as to remarkably reduce power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Sunam Chae, Juyeong Heo, Sung Jhee, Chanho Jeon
  • Publication number: 20120017631
    Abstract: A refrigerator (1) comprising a thermally insulated refrigerator compartment (15), a refrigeration machine by means of which the refrigerator compartment (15) can be cooled to a temperature below ambient temperature, and at least one door (3, 4) through which the refrigerator compartment (15) can be accessed from outside is further provided with a bottle cooler (9) the interior of which is designed to accommodate at least one bottle and can be cooled to a temperature below ambient temperature and whose opening (10) for placing a bottle therein and removing a bottle is preferably arranged in the top side of the refrigerator (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: RED BULL GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Brenneis, Rainer Vogt, Giuseppe Margarino, Marco Reposo
  • Patent number: 8099970
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a door opening device to easily open a door and a control method thereof are disclosed. The device opens doors using rotation of a driving motor, returns to an initial state without rotating the driving motor in reverse after opening doors, and opens doors using only forward and reverse rotation of driving motor when doors are sequentially opened. Moreover, position of rotation cam is detected at initial state when power is supplied or during operation to determine whether the device is malfunctioning. In the early time when position of the rotation cam is detected, the driving motor is rotated by force so that malfunction of driving motor due to chattering is prevented. Frequency of opening doors by a door opening signal is determined and the device is driven in a mode so that damage is prevented due to excessive operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Ho Cho, Jae Koog An, Chang Hem Lee
  • Publication number: 20120011880
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can be installed in a refrigerating chamber or a refrigerating chamber door and stably store food in a non-frozen state. A cooling apparatus includes a freezing chamber, a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber door, a refrigerating chamber door, and a non-freezing apparatus installed in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door and storing food in a non-frozen state. In the non-freezing apparatus, since a lower space is cooled by the cool air introduced from the freezing chamber and an upper space is cooled by the atmosphere of the refrigerating chamber, it is possible to reduce a heating value of a heater which is operated to maintain the temperature of the upper space to be higher than that of the lower space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Won-Young Chung, Jae-Hyun Soh, Deok-Hyun Youn, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Ju-Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20120000744
    Abstract: The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include an ambient compartment with at least one ambient product therein, a temperature controlled compartment with at least one temperature controlled product therein, and a vending module in communication with the temperature controlled compartment such that the vending module dispenses a temperature controlled product in response to an ambient product being placed in the vending module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Bart Carpentier, David Pas, Michael J. Kline
  • Publication number: 20110302944
    Abstract: A modular door system is provided including at least one substantially transparent panel and a frame extending about a perimeter of the panel. The frame includes a pair of horizontal frame elements and a pair of vertical frame elements. One vertical frame element is configured to pivot about a pivot axis so that the other vertical frame element is movable between an open and a closed position. The modular door system further includes at least one receptacle disposed in the frame and a first cartridge removably receivable in the receptacle to facilitate pivoting the one vertical frame element about the pivot axis. The first cartridge is replaceable or interchangeable with at least a second cartridge. The cartridges may provide for the modular door system to be post-formation customized to change, add, or remove certain functionalities or features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Larry C. Howington, Steven O. Stubblefield
  • Publication number: 20110302952
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can stably store a liquid in a container in a supercooled state by maintaining an upper space receiving an upper portion of the container at a higher temperature than a lower space receiving a lower portion of the container. A cooling apparatus includes a cooling space, a door opening and closing the cooling space, and a non-freezing apparatus installed in the cooling space or the door, an upper space thereof being maintained in a higher temperature region than a lower space thereof. The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus includes a separation film formed between the upper space of a high temperature and the lower space of a low temperature and limiting the heat exchange between the upper space and the lower space, thereby stably maintaining the liquid in the supercooled state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Won-Young Chung, Jae-Hyun Soh, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Ju-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8061150
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for supercooling and a method of operating the same which can solve supercooling release of a supercooled space and prevent external exposure of energy such as an electric field. The apparatus for supercooling includes a space cooled by cool air, for maintaining an inside object in a supercooled state by supply of energy preventing the object from being converted into a solid phase, a sensing unit for sensing supercooling release of the space or the object, and a heater engaged with the sensing unit, for applying heat to the space or the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Cheong Kim, Jong-Min Shin, Su-Won Lee, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Yong-Chol Kwon, Ku-Young Son