Fresh food compartment ice box door

Abstract

A refrigerator has a compartment defined by a liner. A door is configured to provide access into the compartment. A sub-compartment is mounted in the door. The sub-compartment has an access door that opens to provide access into the sub-compartment. The access door includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel, and a vacuum insulation panel disposed between the inner and outer door panels.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator with a freezer sub-compartment in the fresh food section.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Generally, a refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment, which are partitioned from each other to store various foods at appropriate low temperatures.[0003]It is a common practice to provide an automatic icemaker / water dispenser with a refrigerator. In a “side-by-side” type of refrigerator where the freezer compartment is arranged to the side of the fresh food compartment, the icemaker is usually disposed in the freezer compartment and, thus, utilizes the cold air in the freezer compartment, which typically includes an evaporator disposed in the freezer compartment.[0004]In a “bottom freezer” type of refrigerator where the freezer compartment is arranged beneath a top mounted fresh food compartment, convenience necessitates that the ice...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In an exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator is provided with a compartment defined by a liner, for example a fresh food compartment defined by a fresh food liner. A door is configured with the compartment to provide access into the compartment and to seal the compartment in the closed position of the door. A sub-compartment is mounted in the door. This sub-compartment may, in one particular embodiment, constitute a freezer sub-compartment with an icemaker and an ice storage bin. The sub-compartment has an access door that opens to provide access into the sub-compartment. The access door may be variously configured in accordance with aspects of the invention. In a particular embodiment, the access door includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel, and a vacuum insulation panel disposed between the inner and outer door panels. The type and thickness of the vacuum insulation panel is selected so as to provide desired thermal insulating characteristics to the access door, particularly a thin profile that also prevents or at least significantly reduces sweating on the outer door panel. In a particular embodiment, the access door has a total thickness of less than 0.5 inches, with the vacuum insulation panel having a thickness of about 0.2 inches.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the access door is relatively thick and valuable space in the fresh food compartment is sacrificed to accommodate the insulated door.

The conventional design of the icebox access door is problematic from another standpoint.

The temperature differential between the icebox and the fresh food compartment is substantial, often resulting in significant condensation (“sweating”) accumulating on the outer surface of the icebox door.

This condensation is a highly visible and unsightly irritant to consumers when they open the fresh food compartment, and generates an impression of inferior appliance quality.

Images