Heated door for a refrigerator appliance
A refrigerator appliance having an articulating mullion includes features for reducing localized condensation on the mullion of the refrigerator appliance. The door and the articulated mullion of the refrigerator appliance include features that can reduce the formation of condensation by providing heat to specific areas of the door or mullion.
1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet comprising a first wall and a second wall, laterally spaced from the first wall, defining a lateral dimension of a chamber, a top and a bottom, vertically spaced from the top, defining a vertical dimension of the chamber;
a door comprising:
a first inner surface and a first outer surface spaced apart from the first inner surface;
a first side connecting a first edge of the first inner surface with a first edge of the first outer surface and a second side connecting a second edge of the first inner surface with a second edge of the first outer surface;
a first heating element positioned adjacent to the second edge of the first inner surface, wherein the first heating element is in direct contact with the first inner surface and the second side;
a second heating element directly affixed to the second side, wherein the second heating element is generally perpendicular to the first inner surface; and
an articulating mullion rotatably hinged at the second side and supported in rotation between a first position when the door is in a closed position and a second position when the door is in an open position, the articulating mullion having a front face;
the door rotatably mounted at the first side to the first wall for rotation between the closed position in which the door sealingly encloses at least a portion of the chamber and the open position in which the chamber is not enclosed; and
wherein the front face of the articulating mullion is adjacent to the first heating element and the second heating element when the articulating mullion is in the first position.
2 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element is in thermal communication with the front face when the articulating mullion is in at least the first position.
3 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element comprises a resistance wire.
4 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element is electrically powered.
5 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 4 , wherein an electrical power supply is selectively applied to the first heating element.
6 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the second heating element comprises a resistance wire.
7 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the second heating element is electrically powered.
8 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein an electrical power supply is selectively applied to the second heating element.