IP Library Granted Patent US 9,546,809
Granted Patent B2
US 9,546,809 · App. 14/096,487 · Granted Jan 17, 2017

Refrigerator appliance

Inventor: Brent Alden Junge (Evansville, IN)
Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
F25D21/04F25D23/02F25D2323/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,546,809
App. No.
14/096,487
Granted
Jan 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Refrigerator appliances are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The refrigerator appliance further includes a freezer door connected to the cabinet for accessing the freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a mullion, the mullion comprising an outer surface, and a fan mounted within one of the mullion, the fresh food door, or the freezer door, the fan configured to flow ambient air across the mullion.

Claims (18)

1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;

a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;

a freezer door connected to the cabinet for accessing the freezer chamber;

a mullion dividing the fresh food chamber along a generally vertical direction, the mullion comprising an outer surface, the mullion being connected to the fresh food door; and

a fan mounted within the mullion, the fan configured to flow ambient air across the mullion.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a duct disposed within the one of the mullion, the fresh food door, or the freezer door, the duct defining an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the fan flows ambient air through the passage.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein the duct is disposed within the mullion.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein flowing the ambient air through the passage flows the ambient air across the mullion.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein the ambient air flowed through the passage is exhausted through the outlet and flowed across the outer surface of the mullion.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in operable communication with the fan, the controller operable to control a speed of the fan.

7. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;

a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;

a freezer door connected to the cabinet for accessing the freezer chamber;

a mullion dividing the fresh food chamber along a generally vertical direction, the mullion comprising an outer surface, the mullion being connected to the fresh food door;

a duct disposed within the mullion, the duct defining an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet;

a fan mounted within the mullion, the fan configured to flow ambient air through the passage.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038952/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2013
From: JUNGE, BRENT ALDEN
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 031714/0931 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150153093A1 · Jun 4, 2015