Air flow for refrigerator food storage system
US6223553A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2700/121
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. A tunnel insert is positioned in a mullion zone defined between fresh food and freezer liners of the refrigerator, with the tunnel insert being formed with a through hole for directing the flow of cooling air into the food storage system, a channel for directing an exhaust flow of cooling air from the food storage system out of the fresh food compartment within the mullion zone and an enlarged opening defining a return air passage for the overall fresh food compartment. The tunnel insert, within the mullion zone, channels the exhaust air from the food storage system to the return air passage. The channel is preferably defined by four walls, three of which are created by a groove formed in the tunnel insert and the fourth wall being defined by a portion of the fresh food compartment liner which seats against the tunnel inse…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.