Refrigerator incorporating french doors with rotating mullion bar
US7008032B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2400/04
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A refrigerator includes French-style doors and a rotating mullion. The rotating mullion is mounted to one of the French-style doors through first and second hinge members. Each of the first and second hinge members include first and second hinge elements having corresponding cam members. The cam members include multiple lobes and extend about hinge pins that define an axis of rotation for the mullion. The multiple lobes actually define first and second detent positions for the rotating mullion. A spring biases the first cam member against the second cam member so that the rotating mullion is positively maintained in either the first or second position. The mullion is formed from mating halves, each including a portion of an integrally formed pin element. The pin element travels within a guide element to automatically rotate the mullion between the first and second positions during use.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.