Mullion bar assembly with enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics
US5349832A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2400/04
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A mullion bar assembly having enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics is disclosed wherein the liners defining the freezer and the fresh food compartments define non-magnetic gasket sealing surfaces against which the magnetic door gaskets seal. Since the liners are typically made of plastic material, permanent magnets are disposed behind the liners so as to attract the magnetic gasket seals into sealing contact with their respective non-magnetic sealing surfaces. The non-magnetic sealing surfaces are spaced apart and the mullion bar is located between them such that it extends between opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet and only between the spaced apart, non-magnetic sealing surfaces. No part of the mullion bar is exposed to either the freezer compartment or the fresh food compartment. Since the mullion bar extends only between the spaced apart sealing surfaces, the door gaskets prevent any exposure of the mullion bar to the compartment interiors, thereby preventing any direct heat transfer between the ambient atmosphere and the respective compartments via the mullion bar.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.