Abstract:
An elongated spine extends vertically within a refrigerated cabinet, freezer cabinet, or doors and includes ductwork for the transmission of fluids within the spine as well as operating power and/or electrical control or data signals. The spine includes a mounting channel having inwardly extending edges. Modules mate with the spine for the physical mounting of the modules at any desired location within the continuously extending channel and are provided with a flange which fits within the spine and mounts the module in a cantilevered fashion to the refrigerator. Such construction facilitates the distribution of fluids, such as hot or cold air within the refrigerator, and the manufacturing of a refrigerator by providing a readily attached spine and allowing modular construction of a refrigerator with infinite adjustability for the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to refrigerated cabinets and particularly to a system for mounting various modules, shelves, and bins at selected locations within the cabinets and for receiving utilities for the modules. 
     Typical refrigerators include adjustable shelves and bins with finite adjustment locations usually defined by either slotted tracks formed in a rear wall or grooves or other mounting structure formed along the sides of the refrigerator cabinets at spaced locations. This allows some adjustability of shelves for varying items being stored in the refrigerator and allows the consumer to select shelf heights for different items to be refrigerated. The refrigerator doors also frequently include bins which are incrementally adjustable at different but predetermined locations. 
     Newer concepts in refrigeration have included modular units which fit within a refrigerated cabinet and which provide the user with unique features, such as instant cooling, quick defrost, ice makers and water dispensers, and other features which can be selectably installed within a refrigerator and which frequently require utilities, such as a coolant fluid, electrical power, or electrical data signals for controlling the module. Examples of such improved modular refrigerator constructions which allow the owner new features which can be purchased with a refrigerator or subsequently added to a refrigerator are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/402,559 entitled V ACUUM  F OOD  P RESERVATION  S YSTEM;  12/402,747 entitled C HILLING AND  T HAWING  M ODULAR  A PPLIANCE  S YSTEM ; and 12/402,731 entitled M ODULAR  D OOR  M OUNTED  C LIMATE  C ONTROLLED  M EDICINE  C OMPARTMENT , all of which were filed on Mar. 12, 2009, and the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Although such modules are themselves a great convenience for the users of the refrigerators so equipped, there remains a need for allowing the owner the flexibility of selecting a preferred location anywhere within the refrigerated cabinets for the installation of one or more such modules. Also it would be desirable to allow the consumer the flexibility of positioning shelves and bins at any desired height location instead of limiting the choice to incremental positions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The system of the present invention satisfies this need by providing an elongated mounting member or spine supported by the refrigerator cabinet and including a continuously extending mechanical connector. The spine includes at least one of an electrical conductor or a fluid conduit. The system includes at least one module having a mating mechanical connector for coupling the module to the mechanical connector of the spine at a selected location. The module includes an additional connector for coupling to the spine for receiving operating power, data, or fluids from the spine at the selected location. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the spine extends vertically within at least one of the refrigerated cabinet, the freezer cabinet, and the doors and includes at least one duct for the transmission of fluids within the spine as well as electrical operating power and/or electrical control or data signals. The mechanical connector of the spine in one embodiment includes is a channel having inwardly extending edges, and the modules, shelves and bins which mate with the spine are provided with a mating mounting structure such as a flange for the physical mounting of the modules at any desired location within the continuously extending channel. 
     Such construction allows the modules, shelves, and beams to be mounted anywhere along the spine in a cantilevered fashion. The spines can be readily mounted to any wall of refrigerator cabinets and doors and provides a continuously adjustable mounting location for modules, bins, and/or shelves. This structure also facilitates the distribution of utilities contained within the spine to locations in the refrigerator cabinets. It also facilitates the manufacturing of a refrigerator by providing a readily attached spine allowing the modular construction of a refrigerator with greatly improved adjustability for the user. 
     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the refrigerator/freezer shown in  FIG. 1  with the modules largely removed to illustrate the location of spines therein; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a spine, illustrating the assembly of the spine to a wall of the refrigerator cabinet or door; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective cutaway view of the mounting of a shelf to a spine embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is horizontal cross-sectional view of a module mounted to the spine 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shelf and bracket which can be mounted to a spine of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective fragmentary view of the floor of a module including electrical contacts which mate with the spine; 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mounting of a shelf to the spine; 
         FIG. 9  is fragmentary perspective view illustrating the completion of the mounting of the shelf to the spine; 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary perspective view of the spine showing several shelves at selected locations; 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary perspective view of a door showing several door bins mounted to the spine shown therein; and 
         FIG. 12  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of one of the door bins shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a refrigerator  10 , which comprises a side-by-side refrigerator and freezer section with a refrigerated cabinet  12  shown on the right side and a freezer cabinet  14  shown on the left side. Each of the cabinets  12 ,  14  are selectively enclosed by doors  16  and  18  respectively. Although a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention is not limited to a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer or even a refrigerator with a freezer but can be used with any configuration of a refrigerator, a freezer and/or refrigerator/freezer including those with a freezer drawer on the bottom, a single door freezer, or a single door refrigerator. Thus, the system of the present invention can be employed with any configuration of a refrigerator, a freezer, and/or a refrigerator/freezer to provide the flexibility and convenience obtained with the system of the present invention. 
     The refrigerator  10 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 , includes an elongated vertically extending spine  20  in the refrigerator compartment  12  which extends continuously from the top  11  of cabinet  12  to the floor  13 , although in some embodiments, the spine need not extend the entire height of the refrigerator. Similarly, the freezer compartment  14  includes a spine  30  which likewise extends from the top wall  31  continuously to the floor  33 . Doors  16  and  18  also can include spines, such as spine  40 , shown in door  16  and extending from the top edge  41  to the bottom edge  43 , while freezer door  18  also may include a spine, such as spine  50  extending from the top edge  51  to the lower edge  53  of the door. Each of the spines  20 ,  30 ,  40 , and  50  can be of substantially similar construction, typically extruded, formed, or molded of a suitable material typically used in the manufacture of refrigerators including extruded aluminum or sheet steel, or extruded or molded polymeric materials such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, or polystyrene. 
     The refrigerator  10  includes several modules including, for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a first module  22  positioned at a lower end near the floor  13  of cabinet  12  and a second module  24  positioned adjacent and above module  22 . Both modules may receive utilities such as fluids and electrical power or signals from the spine  20 , as described in greater detail below. Refrigerator cabinet  12  also includes a plurality of shelves  25 - 27  which can be placed in infinitely adjustable vertically spaced relationship depending upon the desire of the user. 
     Similarly, the freezer compartment  14  includes modules  32  and  34 , which are vertically stacked and located near the floor  33  of the freezer compartment and are coupled to the spine  30  for potentially receiving cold air, fluid such as water if the modules is an ice maker, and electrical operating power for an ice making auger, as an example. The freezer compartment  14  also may include a plurality of shelves  35 - 37 , which likewise are infinitely adjustable to any height selected by the user. Doors  16  and  18  include spines which can receive bins, such as bins  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  47  and  48 , again infinitely adjustably positioned on spine  40 . Freezer door  18  likewise may include modules such as an ice maker/water dispenser  52  coupled to spine  50  for receiving water and electrical power for operating the ice maker/water dispenser, an upper storage bin  54 , intermediate bins or shelves  56  and  58 , for the storage of particular items in a user-selected location anywhere along the vertical height of spine  50 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the mounting of one of the spines, such as spine  20  to the rear wall  15  of refrigerator cabinet  12 , it being understood that a similar mounting arrangement is employed for each of the cabinets of the refrigerator as well as the doors. Cabinet  12  includes, as best seen in  FIG. 3 , a rear wall  15  and side walls  17  and  19 . The refrigerator  10  includes an outer cabinet  60  typically made of metal and an insulating layer  62  extending between the liner including the walls  15 ,  17 , and  19 , and the outer cabinet  60 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3-5 , the spine  20  includes a continuously extending mounting member which in the preferred embodiment is a channel  70  for receiving mating mounting member such as a flange  90  of each of the shelves and/or modules which are mounted to the various spines. It should be understood that the respective mounting structures or connectors could be reversed with the spine including a continuously extending T-shaped outwardly extending flange and the shelves and modules including a mating channel-like member. 
     Channel  70  is defined, as best seen in  FIG. 3 , by a rear wall  72 , side edges  71  and  73  extending outwardly therefrom, inwardly turned edges  74  and  75  which communicate with an outwardly extending lip  76  and  77  integrally formed with the remaining sections of channel  70 . The spine also preferably integrally includes laterally outwardly extending flanges  78  and  79  substantially parallel with the edges  74  and  75  and rearwardly extending flanges  80  and  81  terminating in rearwardly extending an edge elongated tabs  82  and  84 , respectively, which fit within and mate in elongated slots  21  and  23  in rear wall  15  of the refrigerator cabinet  12 . The mating of edges  82  and  84  within slots  21  and  23  assist in positioning and stabilizing the vertically extending spine  20 , which can be mounted to the liner or rear wall  15  of refrigerated cabinet  12  by a plurality of Christmas-tree type press-fit fasteners  85 . Fasteners  85  extend through apertures  65  in wall  72  of spine  20  and fit within apertures  87  in reinforcing backing plate  88  positioned on the side of wall  15  opposite spine  20  to provide a secure coupling of the spine to the rear wall of the refrigerated cabinet. Similar spine construction and mounting construction is employed for the spines  30 ,  40  and  50  mounted to the freezer cabinet and the inside of the doors  16  and  18 . 
     The spines, when mounted to the rear wall of cabinets  12 ,  14 , define, as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a fluid flow path or conduits  89  and  91  in the spine for distributing cold air from plenums  29  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) at the top of cabinets  12 ,  14  through a plurality of spaced outlets  95  formed in flanges  80  and  81  of the spine  20 . These conduits  91  and  89  may also, however, provide space for receiving other fluid conduits, such as conduit  83  ( FIG. 4 ) for water, a liquid coolant or gasses including, a vacuum line, air or inert gases, depending on the need for supplying particular modules with such utilities. Also, conduits  89  and  91 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and the spine  20  itself may be insulated with insulation material  62 , such that fluids transmitted through the conduits are not affected by the environment of the inside of the refrigerator. 
     In addition to the conduits  89  and  91  at the edges of mounting channel  70  of spine  20 , spine  20  includes on the inner surface of edges  74  and  75  electrical conductors, such as conductors  100 ,  102 ,  104 , and  106  ( FIG. 3 ), which can be screen-printed in a conventional manner on the surface of the spine, if the spine is a nonconductive material. If the spine is made a Mylar layer is first position on the spine followed by the strips of conductive material to define the conductors for providing operating electrical power or electrical control signals for any of the modules secured to the spine  20 . Thus, for example, module  22  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7  may include contacts  100 ′, 102 ′, 104 ′ and  106 ′ that engage and electrically connect to conductive strips  100 , 102 , 104 , and  106  respectively powering or otherwise controlling a particular module such as module  22 . 
       FIGS. 6-9  illustrate the manner by which modules and shelves are secured within the channel  70  of spine  20  and similar modules and shelves within the remaining spines of the refrigerator  10 . The shelves and modules are mounted in a cantilevered manner by utilization of a T-shaped beam or flange, such as flange  90  shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . For a shelf such as shelf  140  in  FIG. 6  will include a support platform  142  and a generally T-shaped flange  90  having a central section  96  and extensions  97  and  98  which fit within the slots or channels  70  of the spine  20 , as best seen in FIGS.  4 , 5  and  8 - 10 . The edges  97  and  98  similarly, in modules which require electrical operating power, include conductors  100 ′,  102 ′,  104 ′ and  106 ′ ( FIG. 7 ), which mate with the correspondingly numbered conductors on the inner walls of edges  74  and  75  of the spine to provide electrical contact therebetween when the module, such as module  22  is installed on the spine, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Each of the modules, such as module  22 , or shelf, such as shelf  140 , includes a T-shaped flange  90  with extensions or extending edges  97  and  98  defining opposed semicircular openings  93  and  99  to surround edges  76  and  77  of the spine, as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 8  and  9 . 
     Each of the modules and shelves further include an integral downwardly extending tang or support, as, for example,  124  and  144  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 6 , respectively, which is somewhat wider than the width of channel  70  and which rests on the outer surface of sections  78  and  79  of the spines to support the modules and shelves in a cantilevered fashion. Typically, the support structure or backbones  142  and  122  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  will support either a glass shelf, such as shelf  145  shown in  FIG. 6 , or the floor of a generally rectangular module typically comprising a bin and a drawer, such as  22  or  24  and shown in  FIG. 1   
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8-9  the shelves and modules are installed by first canting the underlying support, such as supports  142  and  122  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , at an angle such that the flange  90  clears lips  76  and  77  of channel  70  and, subsequently, rotate the shelf or module counterclockwise in the direction indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 9  until the shelf or module is in a horizontal position, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In this position any electrical contacts are made and the downwardly extending tang or support  124  or  144  ( FIGS. 6-7 ) rests against surfaces  78  and  79  of the spine  20 . These supports are canted at a slight angle to provide the horizontal orientation of the shelves and modules with respect to the interior of the refrigerator. 
     The conduits  89  and  91  of spines  20  and  30  are employed for exhausting cold air from outlets  95 , as indicated by arrows B in  FIG. 10 , to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet  12 . Spine  30  in the freezer similarly expels colder air to the interior of freezer cabinet  14 . 
     A similar mounting arrangement can be employed for mounting bins, such as bins  150  of  FIG. 11 , and modules  52 ,  54 , and  58  ( FIG. 1 ) for the doors  16  and  18 , respectively, within spines  40  and  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , spine  40  has a construction substantially identical to spine  20  and similarly labeled elements. The door spines may not need to be as robust as the spines used for the cabinets  12  and  14  inasmuch as the bins and modules associated therewith will typically be somewhat smaller. The bins likewise include a vertically extending support extending from rear wall  151  of bin  150 , for example, and a horizontally extending flange  160  having extensions  161  and  162 , which extend within the slot channel  70  of spine  40  as seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , with the C-shaped slots  163  and  165  circumscribing the edges of the channel of spine  40  with the vertically extending support resting against the outer surfaces  78  and  79  of the spine  40  as in the prior embodiments. If, as for example, either of the doors includes modules requiring power and/or liquid, such as water, the spine channels can be insulated, as illustrated by the spine as shown in  FIG. 4 , to provide an insulated conduit for separate water lines and/or for the flow of a fluid other than cold air. 
     Thus, by providing elongated spines which extend generally vertically the height of the refrigerator in whatever configuration a refrigerator takes, a virtually infinite number of positions of adjustability are provided for both shelves and for modules which may require utilities, such as electricity, water or other liquids or fluids, or electrical control signals, is provided. This provides the purchaser of the refrigerator a great deal of flexibility in not only adjusting an existing refrigerator but also the ability to purchase additional modules for subsequent addition to an existing refrigerator with a spine system as disclosed herein. Additionally, the spine system facilitates the manufacture of a refrigerator utilizing the spine not only as conduits for the various fluids and electrical utilities but also a robust mount for the shelves and operating modules for the refrigerator. 
     It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiments of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.