IP Library Patent Application 11654342
Patent Application
App. No. 11/654,342

Information card and holder for refrigerator

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/654,342
Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator body, an information card, and at least one door pivotally coupled to the refrigerator body. The refrigerator body includes a recess configured to receive the information card, the recess having an interior portion that substantially conforms to the exterior of the information card.

Claims (36)

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator body;

an information card; and

at least one door pivotally coupled to the refrigerator body;

wherein the refrigerator body includes a recess configured to receive the information card, the recess having an interior portion that substantially conforms to the exterior of the information card.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator body further comprises a spacer, the spacer including a panel and an insert that are secured together in a snap fit fashion and define the recess.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , further comprising at least one storage compartment coupled to the spacer.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising:

a hinge assembly that pivotally couples the door to the body;

wherein the refrigerator body includes opposing wall portions, and the spacer is located on the same wall portion as the hinge assembly.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the panel and the insert are made of a thermoplastic material.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the recess is not viewable from the exterior of the refrigerator when the door is in a closed position.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the recess has a first length and at least a portion of the information card has a second length, the second length being greater than the first length such that the at least a portion of the information card extends beyond the recess when the information card is held in the recess.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the information card comprises at least one rounded corner configured to facilitate inserting the information card into the recess.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the information card provides at least one of a graphical illustration of the refrigerator, operating instructions for the refrigerator, maintenance instructions for the refrigerator, contact information for a service provider, or a combination thereof.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the information card is foldable to a folded position, and the interior portion of the recess substantially conforms to the information card in the folded position.

11 . An appliance, comprising:

an interior surface having at least one sidewall;

a card holder attached to the at least one sidewall, the card holder having a cavity; and

an information card removably inserted into the cavity.

12 . The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the card holder comprises a panel and an insert that define the cavity, the panel and the insert being coupled in a snap fit fashion.

13 . The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the at least one sidewall defines an interior, the interior opening to a front surface of the appliance, wherein the cavity opens toward the front surface.

14 . The appliance of claim 11 , further comprising:

a hinge;

wherein the at least one sidewall comprises first and second opposing sidewalls, the spacer and the hinge being attached to the first sidewall.

15 . The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the appliance is a refrigerator.

16 . An information card and holder for an appliance, comprising:

a spacer; and

an information card;

wherein the spacer includes a cavity configured to receive the information card; and

wherein the spacer comprises a panel and an insert that define the cavity.

17 . The information card and holder of claim 16 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of cross members, wherein at least a portion of the cross members are recessed cross members that define at least a portion of the cavity.

18 . The information card and holder of claim 17 , wherein the recessed cross members comprise a low-friction surface configured to slidably engage the information card.

19 . The information card and holder of claim 16 , wherein the appliance is one of a refrigerator and a freezer.

20 . The information card and holder of claim 16 , further comprising:

a retainer coupled to the information card and the spacer.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 29, 2007
From: SUB-ZERO FREEZER COMPANY, INC.
To: SUB-ZERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 019489/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2007
From: WOHLRAB, CHAD A.; CRUVER IV, CURTIS L.
To: SUB-ZERO FREEZER COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 018830/0815 →