Refrigerator appliance with flexible door-in-door compartments

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. A plurality of flexible chambers are defined within the door. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sealed system configured for generating chilled air. The sealed system is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of flexible chambers to selectively provide the chilled air to at least one of the plurality of flexible chambers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to refrigerator appliances. In particular, the present disclosure relates to refrigerator appliances having flexible door-in-door compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. One or more insulated, sealing doors are provided for selectively enclosing the chilled food storage chambers. Consumers generally prefer chilled chambers that facilitate visibility and accessibility of food items stored therein.

In certain refrigerator appliances, commonly referred to as side-by-side style refrigerator appliance, the fresh food chamber is positioned next to the freezer chamber within the cabinet. Such a configuration can permit easy access to food items stored on doors of the refrigerator appliances. However, the cabinet can be deep and narrow such that accessing food items at a back of the fresh food chamber and/or freezer chamber is difficult.

In other refrigerator appliances, the freezer chamber is positioned either above or below the fresh food chamber in the cabinet, which are commonly referred to as top mount or bottom mount refrigerator appliances. Such a configuration can provide a relatively wide fresh food chamber and/or freezer chamber, e.g., as compared to the side-by-side configuration. However, the depth of the fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber can make accessing food items at a back of the refrigerator appliance difficult.

Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with features for assisting with accessing food items stored therein would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet extending from a top to a bottom along the vertical direction. The cabinet also extends from a left side to a right side along the lateral direction. The cabinet defines a fresh food chamber. The fresh food chamber extends along the vertical direction between the top and bottom of the cabinet, along the lateral direction between the left side and the right side of the cabinet, and along the transverse direction between a front portion and a back portion. The front portion of the fresh food storage chamber defines an opening for receipt of food items. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at the front portion of the fresh food storage chamber such that the door rotates between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses at least a portion of the fresh food storage chamber and an open position to permit access to the fresh food chamber. The door includes an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall that defines a plurality of flexible chambers within the outer casing and a front panel rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the plurality of flexible chambers when the door is in the closed position. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sealed system configured for generating chilled air. The sealed system is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of flexible chambers and selectively provides the chilled air to at least one of the plurality of flexible chambers.

In another exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. The chilled chamber includes a front portion and an opening for receipt of food items. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at the front portion of the chilled chamber such that the door rotates between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses the at least a portion of the chilled chamber and an open position to permit access to the chilled chamber. The door includes an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall that defines a plurality of flexible chambers within the outer casing and a front panel rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the plurality of flexible chambers when the door is in the closed position. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sealed system configured for generating chilled air. The sealed system is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of flexible chambers to selectively provide the chilled air to at least one of the plurality of flexible chambers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. Terms such as “inner” and “outer” refer to relative directions with respect to the interior and exterior of the refrigerator appliance, and in particular the food storage chamber(s) defined therein. For example, “inner” or “inward” refers to the direction towards the interior of the refrigerator appliance. Terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” or “bottom” are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing the refrigerator appliance. For example, a user stands in front of the refrigerator to open the doors and reaches into the food storage chamber(s) to access items therein.

As used herein, terms of approximation such as “generally,” “about,” or “approximately” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees either clockwise or counterclockwise with the vertical direction V.

FIG. 1provides a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator appliance100according to one or more embodiments of the present subject matter.

Refrigerator appliance100defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each mutually perpendicular to one another. As may be seen in, e.g.,FIG. 1, refrigerator appliance100includes a cabinet or housing120that extends between a top101and a bottom102along a vertical direction V, between a left side104and a right side106along the lateral direction L, and between a front108and a rear110along the transverse direction T. Housing120defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. As used herein, a chamber may be “chilled” in that the chamber is operable at temperatures below room temperature, e.g., less than about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit (75° F.). In the exemplary embodiment, housing120also defines a mechanical compartment at or near the bottom102of the cabinet120for receipt of a sealed cooling system60. One or more conduits, e.g., conduits54,56, and58as illustrated for example inFIG. 1may extend between the cooling system60and the chilled chambers to provide fluid communication therebetween, e.g., to provide chilled air from the sealed cooling system to one or more of the chilled chambers. The structure and function of such sealed systems are understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and are not described in further detail herein for the sake of brevity and clarity.

In particular, housing120defines a fresh food chamber122and a freezer chamber124spaced apart from the fresh food chamber122along the vertical direction V. For example, in the illustrated embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2, fresh food chamber122is positioned at or adjacent top101of housing120and freezer chamber124is arranged at or adjacent bottom102of housing120. As such, refrigerator appliance100is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure may apply to other types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top mount refrigerator appliance, or a side-by-side style refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular refrigerator chamber configuration.

As may be seen inFIG. 2, the fresh food chamber122extends along the vertical direction V between the top101and the bottom102of the cabinet120and along the lateral direction L between the left side104and the right side106of the cabinet120. The fresh food chamber122also extends along the transverse direction T between a front portion134and a back portion136. The front portion134of the fresh food storage chamber122defines an opening138for receipt of food items.

Refrigerator doors126and128are rotatably mounted, e.g., hinged, to an edge of housing120for selectively accessing fresh food chamber122. Since refrigerator doors126and128correspond to the fresh food chamber122, the refrigerator doors126and128may also be referred to as fresh food chamber doors. Refrigerator doors126and128may be mounted to the housing120at or near the front portion134of the fresh food storage chamber122such that the doors126and128rotate between a closed position (FIG. 1) where the doors126and128cooperatively sealingly enclose the fresh food storage chamber122and an open position (FIG. 2) to permit access to the fresh food chamber122. The doors126and128may be generally mirrored, e.g., the overall shape and size of each door126,128may be the same as the other door126,128, with possible internal variations. In addition, a freezer door130is arranged below refrigerator doors126and128for selectively accessing freezer chamber124. Freezer door130is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber124. Refrigerator doors126,128and freezer door130are shown in the closed configuration inFIG. 1.

As shown for example inFIGS. 1 and 2, various storage components are mounted within the chilled chambers to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components may include various combinations of bins202, drawers204, and shelves206mounted within one or more of the chilled chambers. Bins202, drawers204, and shelves206are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items.

In addition to the fresh food chamber122and the freezer chamber124, one or more chilled chambers may be defined in one or both of the door126and128. For example, one or both of the refrigerator doors, e.g., both right door126and left door128as in the illustrated example, may include an outer casing121(FIG. 2) comprising a thermally insulated wall125(FIG. 2) that defines one or more chilled chambers therein. For example, the right door126may include one or more fresh food storage chambers123and the left door128may include at least one flexible chamber, e.g., one or more storage chambers which are operable at a selected temperature within a wide range of temperatures, including temperatures both above and below the freezing point of water. In the example illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the left door128includes a first flexible chamber300, a second flexible chamber301, and a third flexible chamber302. The flexible chambers300,301, and302are separated and partially defined by thermally insulated partitions304. The thermally insulated partitions304may at least partially thermally isolate each flexible chamber300,301, and302from an adjacent flexible chamber or chambers, allowing the flexible chambers300,301, and302to be operated at distinct temperatures. As shown, each door126and128may include a front panel127rotatably mounted to the outer casing121of each door126and128such that the front panel127permits access to the chilled chambers within the respective door, e.g., the fresh food storage chamber(s)123in right door126and the plurality of flexible chambers300,301, and302in left door128, when the door126or128is in the closed position, as shown for example inFIG. 1.

The sealed system60may be in fluid communication with the various chilled chambers to provide the chilled air to the chambers separately or in various combinations. In particular, the sealed system60may be selectively in fluid communication with one or more of the flexible chambers300,301, and302. For example, a first conduit54may extend between and provide fluid communication from the sealed system60to the fresh food storage chambers122and123, a second conduit56may extend between and provide fluid communication from the sealed system60to the freezer chamber124, and a third conduit58may extend between and provide fluid communication from the sealed system60to the plurality of flexible chambers300,301, and302. Selective fluid communication from the sealed system60to one or more of the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be provided by a valve (embodiments of which are described in more detail below) between the sealed system60and the flexible chambers300,301, and302.

In various embodiments, the fresh food storage chambers122and123may be selectively operable within a first temperature range and the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be selectively operable within a second temperature range wider than the first temperature range. For example, the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operable at a temperature lower than the temperature of the fresh food storage chambers122or123, including temperatures at or below the freezing point of water, such that one or more of the flexible chambers300,301, and302may serve as an in-door freezer chamber. As another example, the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operable at a temperature higher than the temperature of the fresh food storage chambers122and123, such as for chilling wine, certain vegetables, etc.

For example, the first temperature range of the fresh food chamber122may be between approximately thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit (33° F.) and approximately forty (40° F.) degrees Fahrenheit, such as between approximately thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit (35° F.) and approximately thirty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (38° F.). Also by way of example, the second temperature range may include temperatures less than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32° F.), such as about ten degrees Fahrenheit (10° F.), such as about zero degrees Fahrenheit (0° F.), and temperatures greater than forty degrees Fahrenheit (40° F.), such as about forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (45° F.) or higher, such as about sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60° F.) or higher, such as about seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70° F.). Still further, it should be understood that fresh food storage chambers122and123and flexible chambers300,301, and302may be selectively operable at any number of various temperatures and/or temperature ranges as desired or required per application.

The flexible chambers300,301, and302may be selectively operable as either fresh food storage chambers or freezer chambers. For example, the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operable as fresh food storage chambers wherein the flexible chambers300,301, and302each provide an internal temperature within one or more of the fresh food storage temperature ranges described above, e.g., above the freezing point of water and below room temperature, such as between approximately thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit (33° F.) and approximately sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60° F.). The flexible chambers300,301, and302may also be selectively operable to provide internal temperatures below the freezing point of water, e.g., between approximately thirty degrees Fahrenheit (30° F.) and approximately zero degrees Fahrenheit (0° F.), as described above.

As mentioned above, the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operated at distinct temperatures. For example, when flexible chambers300,301, and302are operating as fresh food storage chambers, one of the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operable at a relatively warm temperature, such as about fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50° F.), e.g., for chilling wine, and another of the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operable at a relatively cool temperature, such as about thirty-seven degrees Fahrenheit (37° F.), e.g., for storing produce. As another example, one of the flexible chambers300,301, and302may be operated as a fresh food storage chamber, e.g., within a temperature range above the freezing point of water and below room temperature, as described above, while another of the flexible chambers300,301, and302is operated as a freezer chamber, e.g., within a temperature range including temperatures below the freezing point of water, as described above. Such distinct temperatures may be provided, for example, by using a valve312to selectively direct chilled air from the sealed system60to a selected one or more of the flexible chambers300,301, and/or302.

Turning now toFIGS. 3 through 19, in various embodiments, the refrigerator appliance100may include a plurality of ducts304,306, and308extending between the sealed system60and the flexible chambers300,301, and302. For example, each duct304,306, and308may extend to an outlet305,307, and309, (FIG. 6) respectively, in a corresponding one of the plurality of flexible chambers300,301, and302. A valve312may be provided, e.g., downstream of the third conduit58and upstream of the plurality of ducts304,306, and308to selectively direct the chilled air1000from the sealed system60to one or more of the plurality of flexible chambers300,301, and302. Thus, in some embodiments, ducts304,306, and308may extend from the valve312to each respective outlet305,307, and309.

In some embodiments, for example, as shown inFIGS. 3 through 5, the valve312may comprise a rotary damper including a pair of rotating wiper arms314. The rotary damper312(which is an embodiment of the valve312) may be disposed in a housing313. The housing313may include an inlet310in fluid communication with, e.g., fluidly connected to, the sealed system60, such as via the third conduit58. As shown, chilled air1000may enter the housing313at the inlet310and may selectively be directed from the housing313via one of the ducts304,306, and/or308to one or more of the flexible chambers300,301, and302. For example, the housing may include a plurality of outlets316,318, and320. Each outlet of the plurality of outlets316,318, and320may be in fluid communication with, e.g., fluidly connected to, a corresponding one of the plurality of ducts304,306, and308. The rotatable damper312may be rotatable to selectively provide fluid communication from the inlet310of the housing313to at least one of the plurality of outlets316,318, and320of the housing313. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the rotary damper312may be rotated to a first position providing fluid communication from the inlet310of the housing313to the first outlet316and first duct304. As shown inFIG. 5, the rotary damper312may be rotated to a second position providing fluid communication from the inlet310of the housing313to the second outlet318and second duct306. As shown inFIG. 4, the rotary damper312may be rotated to a third position providing fluid communication from the inlet310of the housing313to the first outlet316, the second outlet318and the third outlet320.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 6, the valve312may include a cylindrical body defining an axial direction A, a radial direction R perpendicular to the axial direction A, and a circumferential direction C (FIGS. 7-19) extending around the axial direction A. The cylindrical body312(which is an embodiment of the valve312) may include an axially-oriented inlet336(FIG. 7) defined in an end face338of the cylindrical body312and a plurality of radially-oriented outlets defined in a side surface340(FIGS. 8-11) of the cylindrical body312. In such embodiments, the ducts304,306, and308may be spaced apart along the axial direction A and the plurality of radially-oriented outlets may be spaced apart along the axial direction A such that each of the plurality of radially-oriented outlets is aligned with one of the plurality of ducts304,306, and308along the axial direction A. A motor345may be connected to the valve312and operable to rotate the valve312about the axial direction A. Also as shown inFIG. 6, the refrigerator appliance100may include a plurality of temperature sensors350, e.g., thermistors, disposed in each flexible chamber300,301, and302and configured for sensing a temperature within each of the flexible chambers300,301, and302.

As may be seen inFIGS. 7 through 19, the plurality of radially-oriented outlets may be spaced apart along the circumferential direction C such that rotating the valve312about the axial direction A selectively provides fluid communication from at least one of the radially-oriented outlets to at least one corresponding duct of the plurality of ducts304,306, and308. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7, the valve312includes a plurality of radially-oriented outlets324,326,330, and332, which are spaced apart along the circumferential direction C.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 8-11, the valve312includes a first radially-oriented outlet324axially aligned with the first duct304, a second radially-oriented outlet326axially aligned with the second duct306, a third radially-oriented outlet328axially aligned with the third duct308, a fourth radially-oriented outlet330axially aligned with the first duct304, a fifth radially-oriented outlet332axially aligned with the second duct306, and a sixth radially-oriented outlet334axially aligned with the third duct308. In some embodiments, the radially-oriented outlets may be spaced apart along the circumferential direction by about ninety degrees (90°). In such embodiments, the valve312may be rotatable between at least four positions, for example as illustrated inFIGS. 8-11. For example, as shown inFIG. 8, the valve312may be rotatable, e.g., by the motor345, to a first position where the first radially-oriented outlet324is in fluid communication with the first duct304. As shown inFIG. 9, the valve312may also be rotatable to a second position, about ninety degrees (90°) from the first position ofFIG. 8along the circumferential direction C, where the second radially-oriented outlet326is in fluid communication with the second duct306. As shown inFIG. 10, a further ninety degree (90°) rotation brings the valve312to a third position, where the third radially-oriented outlet328is in fluid communication with the third duct308. In various embodiments, one or more of the fourth radially-oriented outlet330, fifth radially-oriented outlet332, and sixth radially-oriented outlet334may be provided. In such embodiments, a further ninety degree (90°) rotation from the position shown inFIG. 10brings the valve312to a fourth position, as shown inFIG. 11, where chilled air1000may be provided to a combination of the ducts304,306, and308, such as to all three ducts304,306, and308, via the fourth radially-oriented outlet330, the fifth radially-oriented outlet332, and the sixth radially-oriented outlet334, respectively.

As may be seen fromFIGS. 8 through 11, the first, second, and third radially-oriented outlets324,326, and328are each spaced apart from each other along the axial direction A and the circumferential direction C. Also as may be seen fromFIGS. 8-11, the fourth, fifth, and sixth radially-oriented outlets330,332, and334are each spaced apart from each other along the axial direction A and are mutually aligned along the circumferential direction C while being spaced apart from the first, second, and third radially-oriented outlets324,326, and328along the circumferential direction C. For example, each circumferential spacing may be about ninety degrees) (90° along the circumferential direction C. Thus, the first radially-oriented outlet324may be about ninety degrees (90°) from the second radially-oriented outlet326in a first direction along the circumferential direction C, and about ninety degrees (90°) from each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth radially-oriented outlets330,332, and334in a second direction along the circumferential direction C opposite from the first direction. Also, the first radially-oriented outlet324may be about one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) from the third radially-oriented outlet328along the circumferential direction C and the second radially-oriented outlet326may be about one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) from each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth radially-oriented outlets330,332, and334along the circumferential direction C.

As illustrated inFIGS. 12 through 19, in some embodiments, the radially-oriented outlets may be spaced apart by about ninety degrees (90°), and the motor345(FIG. 6) may be operable to rotate the valve312in increments of about forty-five degrees (45°). Thus the valve312may be selectively rotatable to one of eight positions, each position about forty-five degrees (45°) from a next preceding or subsequent position, to provide chilled air1000to one or more of the flexible chambers300,301, and/or302, based on the location and configuration of the radially-oriented outlets in the valve312.

FIGS. 12 through 19provide transverse sectional views through the valve312and one of the ducts, e.g., first duct304, looking towards the remaining ducts306and308(FIG. 6). As shown inFIGS. 12 through 19, in some embodiments, the valve312may include at least the first radially-oriented outlet324aligned with the first duct304along the axial direction A, the second radially-oriented outlet326spaced apart from the first radially-oriented outlet324by about ninety degrees (90°) along the circumferential direction C and aligned with one of the second duct306and the third duct308(which are behind the first duct304in the view ofFIGS. 12 through 19) along the axial direction A, the third radially-oriented outlet328which may be spaced apart from the second radially-oriented outlet326by about ninety degrees (90°) along the circumferential direction C, spaced apart from the first radially-oriented outlet324by about one hundred eighty degrees (180°) along the circumferential direction C and aligned with one of the second duct306and the third duct308along the axial direction A, and the fourth radially-oriented outlet330which may be spaced apart from the first and third radially-oriented outlets324and328by about ninety degrees) (90° in opposite directions along the circumferential direction C, spaced apart from the second radially-oriented outlet326by about one hundred eighty degrees (180°) along the circumferential direction C and aligned with one of the first duct304along the axial direction A. In such embodiments, additional radially oriented outlets may also be provided, e.g., which are aligned with any one of the illustrated radially-oriented outlets324,326,328, and330along the circumferential direction C and spaced from the one of the illustrated radially-oriented outlets324,326,328, and330along the axial direction A such that the additional radially-oriented outlet(s), if provided, may be aligned with one of the plurality of ducts, e.g., one of the second duct306and the third duct308, which are behind the first duct304in the view ofFIGS. 12 through 19.

As shown inFIG. 12, the valve312may be rotatable to a first position where the first radially-oriented outlet324is in fluid communication with the first duct304to provide chilled air1000to the first flexible chamber301. In additional embodiments, one or more additional radially-oriented outlets may be provided which are circumferentially aligned with the first radially-oriented outlet324and axially aligned with one of the second duct306and the third duct308to provide chilled air1000thereto when the valve312is in the first position.

As shown inFIG. 13, the ducts may be wide enough to accommodate two outlets from the valve312when the valve312is rotated by forty-five degrees (45°) along the circumferential direction C. Thus, the valve12may be rotatable to a second position, shown inFIG. 13, where the first radially-oriented outlet324and the second radially-oriented outlet326are each in fluid communication with a corresponding duct304,306, or308and flexible chamber300,301, or302.

As shown inFIG. 14, the valve312may further be rotatable to a third position wherein the second radially-oriented outlet326is in fluid communication with a corresponding duct, e.g., one of the second duct306and the third duct308. In some embodiments, an additional radially-oriented outlet may be provided which is circumferentially aligned with the second radially-oriented outlet326and axially aligned with the other of the second duct306and the third duct308, e.g., where the second radially-oriented outlet326is axially aligned with the second duct306, an additional radially-oriented outlet may be provided which is circumferentially aligned with the second radially-oriented outlet326and axially aligned with the third duct308.

As shown inFIG. 15, the valve312may further be rotatable to a fourth position wherein the second outlet326is in fluid communication with a corresponding duct, e.g., one of the second duct306and the third duct308, and the third outlet328is in fluid communication with the first duct304.

As shown inFIG. 16, the valve312may further be rotatable to a fifth position wherein the third outlet328is in fluid communication with the first duct304.

As shown inFIG. 17, the valve312may further be rotatable to a sixth position where the third outlet328is in fluid communication with the first duct304and the fourth outlet330is in fluid communication with a corresponding duct, e.g., one of the second duct306and the third duct308. In additional embodiments, one or more additional radially-oriented outlets may be provided which are circumferentially aligned with the third radially-oriented outlet328and axially aligned with one of the second duct306and the third duct308to provide chilled air1000thereto when the valve312is in the fifth position and the sixth position.

As shown inFIG. 18, the valve312may further be rotatable to a seventh position where the fourth outlet330is in fluid communication with the corresponding duct.

As shown inFIG. 19, the valve312may further be rotatable to an eighth position where the where the fourth outlet330is in fluid communication with the corresponding duct and the first outlet324is in fluid communication with the first duct304.

Providing the valve312according to one or more of the above-described embodiments permits the flexible chambers300,301, and302to be selectively adjustable over a wide range of operating temperatures. The valve312of the present subject matter advantageously provide a desired amount of chilled air1000to each flexible chamber300,301, and302to control the temperature of each flexible chamber300,301, and302as desired for a wide range of possible uses.

Providing access to the flexible chambers300,301, and302via the front panel127of the door128may advantageously increase accessibility of food items stored in the flexible chambers300,301, and302. For example, smaller food items such as a bag of frozen vegetables or a single-serving beverage container may be stored in the flexible chambers300,301, and302to prevent or reduce such items from being obscured under or behind larger items such as a frozen turkey, frozen pizza, gallon of milk, etc., as compared to when only a single chamber or portion of the refrigerator appliance100is provided for storing fresh food or frozen items. Additionally, reducing the number of times the door128is opened may also advantageously reduce the energy consumption of the refrigerator appliance, where the relatively smaller volume of the flexible chambers300,301, and302can be more readily chilled after opening the front panel127only as compared to chilling the entire fresh food storage chamber122after opening the door128.