Patent ID: 7628461
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: A47B,F25D

Abstract:
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a liner arranged within the cabinet, said liner defining a fresh food compartment arranged within the cabinet; a freezer compartment arranged within the cabinet, said freezer compartment being positioned below the fresh food compartment; a fresh food door movably mounted relative to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the fresh food compartment; a freezer door shiftably mounted relative to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the freezer compartment, the freezer door including a main portion and a basket support wall, said basket wall projecting from the main portion; a freezer basket attached to the freezer door for concurrent sliding movement relative to the cabinet; and a lifting mechanism coupled to the freezer basket and including at least one lifting member arranged between the basket support wall and the freezer basket, said lifting mechanism being selectively employed to shift the freezer basket from a first or lowered position to a second or raised position, upon opening of the freezer door, to facilitate removal of items from the freezer basket, wherein the at least one lifting member includes a cylinder portion and a plunger portion, said cylinder portion being pivotally mounted to the basket support wall, with the plunger portion being pivotally attached to the freezer basket, said plunger portion extending and retracting relative to the cylinder portion upon shifting of the freezer basket between the first and second positions.