Abstract:
A universal trim piece system for a refrigerator door having a decorative panel can be employed with either a front mounted door handle or a side mounted door handle. When employing the front mounted handle, the door is provided with a top trim piece, a bottom trim piece and first and second side trim pieces. When employing the side mounted handle, the door is provided with the top trim piece, the bottom trim piece and only the first side trim piece, with the side mounted handle replacing the second side trim piece. Interchanging the handles/decorative panels just requires loosening the top and bottom trim pieces, exchanging the handles and possibly the decorative panels, providing a second side trim piece or handle, and re-secure the top and bottom trim pieces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a trim piece system that can be incorporated into a refrigerator employing door handles mounted to either a front face portion of a refrigerator door or side edge portions of the refrigerator door. 
   2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   Refrigerators of various models and sizes are well known in the art. Typical refrigerator models include top mount, bottom mount and side-by-side versions. In addition, many refrigerators are available in a variety of standard or custom colors to match a consumers particular kitchen décor. However, in today&#39;s market, it is becoming more popular to recess refrigerators between adjacent cabinetry or the like in a kitchen area in order to provide a built-in look which is considered by many to be aesthetically appealing. Often times, the refrigerator will include wood or wood-like decorative panels that help the appliance to further blend with adjacent cabinetry. Since front doors of a refrigerator must be spaced from any adjacent structure in order to enable unobstructed movement, the refrigerator must project outward from the adjacent structure to some degree. Unfortunately, the outward projection of the refrigerator cabinet in this manner exposes, to a certain degree, frontal portions of the side walls of the cabinet and/or outer peripheral edges of the door(s). The exposed side walls and/or outer peripheral edge is considered to detract from the built-in appearance. 
   In order to minimize the appearance of the exposed portions of the cabinet and/or doors, it has been proposed to provide cosmetic trim pieces along exposed side portions of the cabinet and/or doors thereby establishing a more finished appearance, as well as serving as structure that retains the decorative panels on the doors. In addition to trim pieces, handles must also be fastened to the doors to allow a consumer to readily gain access to refrigerated compartments. The handles are typically secured to front face portions of the outer, decorative panels or along side edge portions of the door depending upon the particular model refrigerator. That is, refrigerators that employ outer, decorative wood panels are typically provided with door pulls that match the adjacent cabinetry, while other models may include a door handle that extends along an edge portion of the door. Of course, models that employ decorative wood panels can also include a door handle that extends along an outer edge portion of the door. 
   Unfortunately, the two different style handles require different door structure. More specifically, depending upon the door handle employed, the refrigerator door will require upper and lower trim pieces tailored for use with the specific handle. Doors that include decorative wood panels or the like require trim pieces that extend substantially an entire length of the upper and lower edge portions of the door. In contrast, doors that include handles that extend along side edge portions of the door require a shorter trim piece on the upper and lower edge portions of the door. The shorter trim pieces are required to accommodate caps or covers that hide exposed end portions of the side-mounted handle. 
   The two, unique trim pieces present a problem for manufacturers or, more accurately, consumers. A consumer who chooses one or the other style door cannot readily change that decision once the refrigerator is constructed. That is, given that wiring, plumbing and the like typically pass through upper and/or lower portions of the door, particularly at hinge points, exchanging longer and shorter trim pieces cannot be readily accomplished in the field. Thus, unless the consumer can afford the expense associated with essentially rebuilding or purchasing a completely new refrigerator door, once the refrigerator arrives in the home, it can no longer be readily modified to suit the consumers existing or future requirements. 
   Based on the above, there exists a need for a universal trim piece arrangement for refrigerator doors. More specifically, there exists a need for a universal trim piece system that can be mounted to upper and lower edge portions of a refrigerator door and employed in connection with doors having either front mounted handles or handles mounted along side edge portions of the door. Most importantly, the universal trim piece system can be readily employed with either door configuration without with requiring significant changes to the door itself, such as if a change in handles is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a universal trim piece system for a refrigerator door having top, bottom and opposing side edges that collectively define an inner surface and an outer surface. An inner liner is secured to the inner surface of the door panel and an outer, decorative panel is secured to the outer surface. In accordance with the invention, the door is available with one of at least two distinct door handle configurations. The first constitutes a front mounted handle that is secured to the outer decorative panel and the second constitutes a side mounted handle that is mounted to, and extends substantially an entire length of, one of the opposing side edges of the door panel. 
   When employing the front mounted handle, the door is provided with a top trim piece, a bottom trim piece and first and second side trim pieces. The trim pieces are secured to the top, bottom and opposing side edges respectively. When employing the side mounted handle, the door is provided with the top trim piece, the bottom trim piece and only one of the first and second side trim pieces. Likewise, the trim pieces are secured to respective ones of the top, bottom and one of the opposing side edges. With this arrangement, the door handle itself constitutes the other of the first and second side trim pieces. If a handle change is desired, a customer or service person need simply loosen the top and bottom trim pieces, remove the side trim piece, exchange the handles and then re-secure the top and bottom trim pieces to the door. When switching from a side mounted handle to a front mounted handle, a new side trim piece and often times a new decorative panel are required. When switching from a front mounted handle to a side mounted handle, the side trim piece is exchanged for the side mounted handle and the decorative panel is also replaced. In this manner, the door does not require any significant disassembly to change door handles and can actually be accomplished by someone with only moderate skills. 
   Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an upper left perspective view of a built-in side-by-side refrigerator incorporating a universal trim piece system constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a freezer compartment door of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  configured with a side mounted handle and the universal trim piece system constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial view of the freezer compartment door of  FIG. 2  illustrating the universal trim piece system mating with an upper portion of the side mounted handle; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a freezer compartment door configured with a front mounted handle and the universal trim piece system constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a partial view of the freezer compartment door of  FIG. 4  illustrating the universal trim piece system mating with an upper portion of a side trim piece. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator, generally indicated at  2 , includes a cabinet  4  having a liner  6  that defines a fresh food compartment  8 . Refrigerator  2  also includes another liner (not shown) that defines a freezer compartment  11 . In the embodiment shown, refrigerator  2  constitutes a built-in model which is recessed into a wall adjacent cabinetry  13  that includes a plurality of cabinet doors  15 - 20 . Refrigerator  2  includes a fresh food compartment door  30  pivotally mounted to cabinet  4 , as well as a freezer compartment door  31  having arranged therein a dispenser  34 . In addition to fresh food and freezer compartment doors  30  and  31 , refrigerator  2  also includes an upper, mechanical compartment door  37  behind which are arranged various components of a refrigeration system (not shown). With this construction, refrigerator  2  constitutes a side-by-side model. However, it should be understood that the present invention can also be incorporated into other models, such as top mount, bottom mount and French-Door Style door units. 
   As shown, fresh food door  30  includes an outer decorative panel  40  that provides a finished appearance for refrigerator  2 . Likewise, freezer door  31  is provided with a similar, outer decorative panel  41 . Outer decorative panel  40  is held in place by top, bottom and opposing side trim pieces  42 - 45 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , side trim piece  45  defines a handle  46  for fresh food door  30 . In a similar manner, outer decorative panel  41  is held in place through top, bottom and opposing side trim pieces  49 - 52 , with side trim piece  52  defining a handle  53 . At this point, it should be understood that each door  30 ,  31  is similarly constructed such that a detailed description will continue with reference to door  31  with an understanding that door  30  includes corresponding structure. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 2 , freezer door  30  includes a frame  62  including top, bottom and opposing side edge portions  63 - 66  that define a front face portion (not shown) to which is mounted outer decorative panel  41  and an inner face portion (not shown) to which is mounted an inner liner  67 . As described above, outer decorative panel  41  is held in place by the plurality of trim pieces  49 - 52  which are secured to top, bottom and opposing side edge portions  63 - 66  respectively. As shown, top trim piece  49  includes a first end  70  that extends to a second end  71  through an intermediate portion  72 . Arranged at first end  70  are a first plurality of openings  74  that are designed to receive a hinge assembly (not shown). Trim piece is held in place or secured to top edge portion  63  by a plurality of mechanical fasteners (not shown) that extend through a second plurality of openings  77 - 79  arranged along intermediate portion  72 . In addition, trim piece  49  is shown to include first and second notches  81  and  82  arranged at first and second ends  70  and  71  respectively, as well as inner and outer lip portions  83  and  84  which, as will be described more fully below, extend between first and second end portions  70  and  71  and retain outer decorative panel  41  against frame  62 . 
   In a similar fashion, bottom trim piece  50  includes a first end  85  that extends to a second end  86  through an intermediate portion  87 . Bottom trim piece  50  also includes a first plurality of openings  89  arranged at first end  85 , as well as a second plurality of openings  91 - 92  which extend through intermediate portion  87  and are designed to receive mechanical fasteners (not shown) that secure bottom trim piece  50  to bottom edge portion  64 . In addition, bottom trim piece  50  includes an opening or passage  93  that enables a water conduit and electrical cables to pass into freezer door  30 . Finally, in a manner also similar to that described above, bottom trim piece  50  includes first and second notches  96  and  97  that are arranged at first and second ends  85  and  86  respectively, as well as opposing lip portions  99  and  100  that extend between first and second ends  85  and  86 . 
   Also shown in  FIG. 2 , side trim piece  51  includes a first end  104  that extends to a second end  105  through an intermediate portion  106 . Intermediate portion  106  is provided with a plurality of openings  108 - 113  that are designed to receive mechanical fasteners (not shown) that secure side trim piece  51  to side edge portion  65 . Similarly, side trim piece  52  includes a first end  115  that extends to a second end  116  through an intermediate portion  117 . Intermediate portion  117  includes a plurality of openings  119 - 122  that likewise receive mechanical fasteners (not shown) to secure side trim piece  52  to side edge portion  66 . As shown, openings  119 - 122  are formed in a recessed channel  123  that extend longitudinally, substantially an entire length of trim piece  52 . With this construction, once trim piece  52  is secured to door  30 , a decorative trim cover  125  is snap-fittingly secured over channel  123  to provide a more finished or seamless appearance. Finally, each side trim piece  51 ,  52  is shown to include a respective flange member  127 ,  128  which serves as structure that retains outer decorative panel  41 . 
   In accordance with the invention, top and bottom trim pieces  49  and  50  are actually universal trim pieces that can be employed when door  30  is configured with a side-mounted handle as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  or with a front-mounted handle as shown in  FIG. 4 . More specifically,  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate door  30  configured with an outer decorative panel  160  made of wood, metal, plastic or the like and designed to blend in with adjacent cabinetry  13 . In this configuration, handle  170  is secured to outer decorative panel  160 , with handle  170  preferably matching cabinet pulls on cabinetry  13 . In this configuration, side trim piece  52  is replaced with a side trim piece  180  which, as shown, more closely mimics side trim piece  51 . More specifically, side trim piece  180  includes a first end  181  that extends to a second end  182  through an intermediate portion  183 . In a manner and location directly corresponding to that described above with respect to side trim piece  52 , side trim piece  180  includes a plurality of openings  185 - 188  that are formed within a channel  192 . Upon securing side trim piece  180  to door  30  with mechanical fasteners (not shown), a trim cover  200  is snap-fittingly mounted in channel  192  to provide a more finished appearance for door  30 . However, in contrast to that described above, instead of a handle, side trim piece  180  is provided with a flange  204  that serves as structure to help retain outer decorative panel  160 . 
   As best shown in  FIG. 3 , when refrigerator  2  is configured with a side-mounted handle  46 , universal trim piece  49  extends over side trim piece  52  with lip portions  83  and  84  overlapping outer decorative panel  41  and frame  62  so as to terminate flush with the majority of side trim piece  52  and trim cover  125 . As further shown in  FIG. 3 , notch  82  is configured to receive an upper portion (not separately labeled) of handle  53 , while notch  81  accommodates flange  127  ( FIG. 2 ), in order to provide a more finished appearance for door  30 . If, after having door  30  configured with a side mounted handle  46 , a consumer wants to employ front mounted handle  170  that matches existing cabinet hardware and outer decorative panel  160 , universal trim pieces  49  and  50  are simply loosened and slightly removed from door  30  thereby allowing decorative panel  41  to be exchanged or replaced with decorative panel  160  having attached thereto front mounted handle  170 , as well as replacement of trim piece  52  with trim piece  180 . At this point, universal trim piece  49  is re-secured to frame  62 , with first end  71  extending over side trim piece  180  and notch  82  configured to cooperate with flange  204  to ensure a finished appearance for refrigerator  2 . With this overall configuration, a consumer can easily choose to employ a side-mounted handle or a front-mounted handle configuration for refrigerator  2 . However, unlike in the past where changing handle configurations or an overall appearance of doors  30  and  31  would be impossible or at least a costly procedure requiring complete door replacement, the present invention enables a consumer or a technician to readily replace outer decorative panels and handles to accommodate a consumer&#39;s particular needs without a costly service call or complete door reconstruction. 
   Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.