Modular fascia for refrigerator storage assemblies and methods of making same
A multi-component fascia assembly for refrigerator storage assemblies is provided. The fascia generally includes a face plate having a pair of end caps attached to the ends thereof. The fascia assembly can be attached to a support member to form a storage unit for a refrigerator. A refrigerator comprising a storage assembly having a multi-component fascia assembly also is provided. Additionally, a method of making a refrigerator storage assembly is provided and includes extruding an intermediate extrusion and cutting it to a predetermined length to form a face plate. The method also encompasses attaching end caps to the face plate to form a fascia which then can be attached to a support member to form a storage unit. One or more storage units can be formed and combined to create a refrigerator storage assembly.
1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cooling compartment comprising a top wall a bottom wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall;
a storage assembly disposed in the cooling compartment, wherein the storage assembly comprises a support member and a multi-component fascia attached to the support member and aligned distal to the rear wall within the cooling compartment, wherein the multi-component fascia comprises a face plate having opposed ends and a pair of end caps attached to said opposed ends.
2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the face plate is formed of metal.
3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the multi-component fascia further comprises a translucent plate attached to said face plate.
4 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the face plate includes a channel formed therein for receiving said translucent plate.
5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein said multi-component fascia further comprises a cap attached to each of said pair of end caps.
6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein said cap is formed of metal.
7 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the multi-component fascia further comprises at least one fastener connecting said cap to at least one of said pair of end caps.
8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of end caps is formed of a polymeric material.
9 . A fascia assembly for a refrigerator storage assembly comprising:
a face plate having opposed ends and a channel formed therein;
a pair of end caps attached to said opposed ends of said face plate;
a second plate disposed in said channel of said face plate; and
a cap attached to each of said pair of end caps.
10 . The fascia assembly of claim 9 , wherein said face plate is formed of metal.
11 . The fascia assembly of claim 9 , wherein said cap is formed of metal.
12 . The fascia assembly of claim 9 , wherein said pair of end caps is formed of polymeric material.
13 . The fascia assembly of claim 9 , wherein said second plate is translucent.
14 . A method of making a refrigerator storage unit comprising:
feeding a material to an extruder, wherein the material is a metal or a polymeric material;
extruding the material through a die of the extruder to form an intermediate extrusion;
cutting the intermediate extrusion to a predetermined length to form a face plate;
attaching a pair of end caps to the ends of the face plate to form a fascia assembly; and
attaching the fascia assembly to a support member to form a refrigerator storage unit.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pair of end caps are formed of a polymeric material by injection molding.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
disposing a translucent plate between the pair of end caps.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
extruding an intermediate cap extrusion.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
cutting the intermediate cap extrusion to a predetermined length to form a cap.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
attaching the cap to the pair of end caps.
20 . A method of forming a refrigerator storage assembly comprising:
feeding a material to an extruder;
extruding the material through a die of the extruder to form a first intermediate extrusion;
cutting the first intermediate extrusion to a first predetermined length to form a first face plate;
injection molding a first pair of end caps;
attaching the first pair of end caps to the ends of the first face plate to form a first fascia;
attaching the first fascia to a first support member to form a first storage unit;
forming a second intermediate extrusion by extruding the material through the die;
cutting the second intermediate extrusion to a second predetermined length to form a second face plate, wherein the first predetermined length is unequal to the second predetermined length;
attaching a second pair of end caps to the ends of the second face plate to form a second fascia;
attaching the second fascia to a second support member to form a second storage unit; and
mounting the first and the second storage units in a refrigerator cabinet to form the refrigerator storage assembly.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the material is a polymeric composition selected from polyvinyl chlorides, polycarbonates, polyesters, chlorinated polyethylenes, acrylics, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, nylons and combinations thereof.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the material is a metal selected from aluminum, copper and steel.
23 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
aligning a translucent plate in a channel formed in the first face plate and engaging the ends of the translucent plate with the first pair of end caps.
24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
disposing a cap over the translucent plate and engaging the ends of the cap with the first pair of end caps.
25 . The method of claim 20 , wherein one of the first pair of end caps is substantially identical to one of the second pair of end caps.