Patent Publication Number: US-9841221-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a refrigeration appliance, and more particularly to a refrigerator comprising one or more slidable doors for providing an access to the interior of the refrigerator. 
     Background 
     The manufacturing of the freezer refrigerator may require a plurality of components be assembled. Each of the plurality of components may be manufactured with a predetermined tolerance. On the other hand, the components are typically assembled into the freezer refrigerator with minimum level of total tolerance. For example, the freezer door may need to be fully aligned with the enclosure of the freezer refrigerator without being protruded for aesthetic and operational viewpoints. 
     When the freezer refrigerator is under repair, one or more faulty components may be separately detached from the freezer refrigerator for repair or replacement. In one example, a broken or damaged sealing surface may need to be replaced with a new sealing surface, which may require disassembling the freezer door for an easy removal of the broken or damaged sealing surface and subsequently easy installation of the new sealing surface. When the new freezer door is reassembled after the new sealing surface is installed, the freezer door may not be fully aligned with other neighboring components due to the tolerance of the freezer door. For example, the freezer door may be distorted after assembled to the guide rail, and may not be fully slidable between an open position and a closed position, which would be undesirable for the operation of the freezer refrigerator and may result in the damage of the freezer door or abutting components. As such, the freezer door may need to be provided with an adjustment mechanism for maintaining the alignment of the freezer door relative to the freezer refrigerator. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following sets forth a simplified summary of examples of the present invention for the purpose of providing a basic understanding of selected aspects of the invention. The summary does not constitute an extensive overview of all the aspects or embodiments of the invention. Neither is the summary intended to identify critical aspects or delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of the summary is to present selected aspects of the invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description of the embodiments and examples of the invention that follows the summary. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an assembly is provided that comprises an enclosure comprising an opening providing access to an interior of the enclosure, and a freezer door configured to open or close the opening in the enclosure at least in part by translational movement of the door relative to the opening and the door comprising a first aperture for receiving a first fastener. The assembly also comprises a drawer slide assembly supported by the enclosure and coupled to the freezer door to support the freezer door when the freezer door is moved between an open position and a closed position. The drawer slide assembly comprises an outer extender and an inner extender in a telescopic relationship with each other. The inner extender comprises a second aperture, and a recess formed in the inner extender. The assembly further comprises a joining member adjustably coupling the freezer door to the drawer slide assembly. The joining member comprises a first portion coupled to the freezer door. The first portion comprises a third aperture aligned with the first aperture for receiving the first fastener in the first and third apertures. The joining member comprises a second portion coupled to the inner extender. The second portion comprises an embossment formed in the second portion for forming the recess in the inner extender engaged with the embossment formed in the second portion, and a fourth aperture formed in the second portion of the joining member and aligned with the second aperture for receiving a second fastener in the second and fourth apertures for adjustably engaging the second portion of the joining member with the inner extender. At least one of the second and fourth apertures are oversized relative to a cross-sectional area of the second fastener. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for assembling an assembly comprising a cabinet having an opening providing an access to an interior of the enclosure; a freezer door slidable between an open position and a closed position and comprising a plurality of first apertures formed in the freezer door; a drawer slide assembly supported by the cabinet and coupled to the freezer door to support the freezer door for sliding the freezer door at least in part between the open position and the closed position, the inner extender comprising a plurality of second apertures formed in the inner extender; and a mounting bracket adjustably securing the freezer door to the inner extender, the mounting bracket comprising a first portion coupled to the freezer door and comprising a plurality of third apertures aligned with the plurality of first apertures for receiving a plurality of the first fasteners in the first and third apertures; and a second portion coupled to the inner extender and comprising one or more embossments formed in the second portion, and a plurality of fourth apertures formed in the second portion and aligned with the plurality of second apertures, wherein at least one set of the plurality of the second and fourth apertures are oversized relative to a cross-sectional area of the second fasteners. The method includes the step of engaging the first portion of the mounting bracket with the freezer door. The method also includes the step of lightly engaging the second portion of the mounting bracket with the inner extender. The method further includes the step of adjusting the position of the mounting bracket relative to the inner extender. The method still further includes the step of fully securing the second portion of the mounting bracket to the inner extender by fully tightening the plurality of the second fasteners for forming one or more corresponding recesses on the inner extender corresponding to the positions of the embossments. The method still yet includes the step of disassembling the second portion of the mounting bracket from the freezer door. The method still includes the step of aligning the embossments of the mounting bracket with the recesses already formed in the inner extender. The method still further includes the step of fully securing the second portion of the mounting bracket to the inner extender by fully tightening the plurality of the second fasteners. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the detailed descriptions of examples of aspects and embodiments of the invention that follow with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used in the several figures to refer to the same parts or elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a bottom mount refrigerator with a door of a freezer compartment slidable between an open and closed positions and supported by a drawer slide assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the freezer compartment illustrating a joining member coupled to the freezer door and the drawer slide assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is an another perspective view of the joining member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the joining member, an inner extender, a support and a plurality of fasteners according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 5(A)-5(C)  are schematic front views of a portion of the inner extender including a plurality of first apertures formed in the inner extender according to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure:  FIG. 5(A)  shows circular apertures,  FIG. 5(B)  shows elongated oval shaped apertures, and  FIG. 5(C)  shows rectangular shaped apertures; 
         FIGS. 6(A)-6(C)  are schematic front views of the joining members including a plurality of second apertures formed in the joining member according to still further yet another embodiment of the present disclosure:  FIG. 6(A)  shows circular apertures,  FIG. 6(B)  shows elongated oval shaped apertures, and  FIG. 6(C)  shows oval shaped apertures; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the joining member according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is an another perspective view of the joining member of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the joining member coupled to the inner extender according to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is an another perspective view of the joining member coupled to the inner extender of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a plain view of the freezer door coupled to the inner extender by the joining member, with the freezer door aligned relative to the inner extender according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 12(A)-12(C)  are cross-sectional views showing the relative positions between embossments in the joining member and the inner extender along line  12  of  FIG. 11 , (A) when the embossments and the inner extender are lightly engaged to each other by lightly fastening the fastener, (B) when the embossments and the inner extender are fully engaged to each other by tightly fastening the fastener, and (C) when the embossments and the inner extender are disengaged from each other; 
         FIGS. 13(A)-13(C)  are cross-sectional views showing the relative positions of the joining member and the inner extender along line  13  of  FIG. 11 , (A) when the joining member and the inner extender are lightly fastened to each other by lightly fastening the fastener, (B) when the joining member and the inner extender are fully engaged to each other by tightly fastening the fastener, and (C) when the joining member and the inner extender are disengaged from each other; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating a method of assembling the freezer door to the enclosure according to a still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of the present invention are described below with references, in certain respects, to the accompanying drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be a limitation on the present invention. Thus, for example, in some instances, one or more examples of the present invention described with reference to one aspect or embodiment can be utilized in other aspects and embodiments. Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form. 
     It is noted that the phrases “coupled” may be used in describing one object that is movably or fixedly coupled to another object. Similarly, phrases such as “engaged” “fastened”, “mounted” or “secured” may also be used in describing one object movably or fixedly coupled to another object. On the other hand, another phrases, such as “adjustably” “loosely”, or “partially” may be used in combination with “coupled”, “fastened”, “mounted” or “secured” to especially describe one object that is movably coupled to another object. Similarly, another phase, such as “fixedly”, “fully” or “tightly” may be used in combination with “coupled”, “fastened”, “mounted”, “engaged” or “secured” to describe one object that is non-movably coupled to another object. 
     It is also noted that the phrases “recess” may be used in describing a hollow space formed relative to a surface. Similarly, phrase such as “opening” or “aperture” may also be used in describing a hollow space relative to a surface to receive an object in that hollow space, and may be interchangeably used with “recess.” 
     Referring to the example of  FIG. 1 , an exemplary refrigerator  10  is shown according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The exemplary refrigerator  10  in the present disclosure is a bottom mount refrigerator, however, it is also possible to have other embodiments of a refrigerator or freezer assembly that includes a slidable door or a slidable container, including, but not limited to, a drawer-style refrigerator, a French-door refrigerator and side-by-side refrigerator. The refrigerator  10  may include an enclosure  12  in the form of a cabinet defining an interior of the cabinet, which may at least include a top wall  14 , a rear wall  16 , a bottom wall  18  and a pair of side walls  20 . An upper portion of the interior may include a fresh food compartment that is typically maintained at or greater than 32° Fahrenheit, and a lower portion of the interior may include a freezer compartment that is typically maintained below 32° Fahrenheit. A door  22  may be hingedly provided at one side of the cabinet  12  opposite a handle  24  and close off an opening at the front of the fresh food compartment through which access can be made to the interior of the fresh food compartment. 
     The freezer compartment may include a freezer door  28  to selectively open or close the freezer compartment. The freezer door  28  may close off an opening  30  at the front of the freezer compartment through which access can be made to the interior of the freezer compartment. The freezer door  28  may be supported by drawer slide assembly  29  located at each side of the freezer door  28  and mounted to an inner side wall  34  of the freezer compartment in a manner familiar to those having ordinary skill in the art so that the freezer compartment can be opened by sliding the freezer door  28  out from the opening  30  and closed by sliding the freezer door  28  in toward the opening  30  by means of the drawer slide assembly  29 . In one embodiment, the drawer slide assembly  29  may include telescoping drawer slide assembly. For example, the drawer slide assembly  29  may include one or more extenders that may be configured to extend from or recede to the telescoping extender when the freezer door  28  slides between the open position and the closed position. 
     A handle  40  may be provided to the freezer door  28  to move the freezer door  28  between an open position and closed position. One or more storage bins  42  and storage baskets  44  may be provided within the freezer compartment of the refrigerator  10  for storing food articles within the storage bins  42  and storage baskets  44 . The storage bins  42  and storage baskets  44  may be coupled to the freezer door  28  and supported by telescoping drawer slide assembly  29  or other sliding mechanisms so that the storage bins  42  and storage baskets  44  may travel with the freezer door  28  as the freezer door  28  is opened and closed. Alternatively, the bins  42  and baskets  44  may be free of the door so that they may be brought outwardly and returned inwardly of the freezer compartment interior separately from the freezer door  28  on telescoping drawer slide assembly or other sliding mechanisms from which they are supported. The freezer door  28 , bins  42  and baskets  44  may be supported by sliding or gliding mechanisms of various types including telescoping, drawer slide assembly mechanisms. 
     A sealing surface  46  may surround the opening  30  in the enclosure  12  or freezer compartment, and the freezer door  28  at its back side, which is not visible in  FIG. 1 , may include a door sealing surface that is complementary with the sealing surface  46  that surround the opening  30  in the freezer compartment. The sealing surface  46  and the door sealing surface may engage one another when the opening  30  is closed by the freezer door  28  so that the interior of the freezer compartment is sealed off from the exterior of the refrigerator  10 . Rubber or plastic gaskets or seals or the like may be provided at the sealing surface  46  and at the complementary door sealing surface at the back side of the freezer door  28  in order to more certainly seal the freezer compartment interior from the outside environment. 
     As noted above, the freezer door  28  may be supported from the drawer slide assembly  29  located at each side of the freezer compartment. A separable and adjustable joining member  50  may be provided between the drawer slide assembly  29  and the freezer door  28  for mechanically coupling the drawer slide assembly  29  with the freezer door  28 . As will be further described below, the joining member  50  may be separable at least in the sense that the joining member  50  can be disassembled and the freezer door  28  is separated from the drawer slide assembly  29 , and removed from the front of the freezer compartment. And the joining member  50  may be adjustable at least in the sense that the attitude of the freezer door  28  in relation to the opening  30  and the enclosure  12 , and the attitude of the sealing surface  46  in relation to the complementary door sealing surface at the back side of the freezer door  28  can be adjusted. In one example, the joining member  50  may comprise a mount bracket. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the joining member  50  with respect to the freezer door  28  and the drawer slide assembly  29  is shown. It is understood that, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the top and side wall of the freezer compartment are omitted for clearly illustrating the joining member  50 . The joining member  50  may be coupled to both the drawer slide assembly  29  and the freezer door  28 . As shown, the joining member  50  may be coupled to both the drawer slide assembly  29  and a support  52  that may extend from the freezer door  28 . The drawer slide assembly  29  may comprise an outer extender  31  and an inner extender  36  in the form of a guide rail. In another embodiment, the drawer slide assembly  29  may include more than two extenders. The outer extender  31  may be in a telescopic relationship with the inner extender  36 . The inner extender  36  and the outer extender  31  may be slidably coupled to each other by a sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism may include roller, toothed chain, or the like. The inner extender  36  may be received by the outer extender  31  during opening or closing of the freezer door  28 . The outer extender  31  may be stationary while the inner extender  36  is slidable. In another example, both the outer extender  31  and the inner extender  36  may be slidable during opening or closing of the freezer door  28 . 
     A proximate end  54  of the joining member  50  may be mechanically coupled to the support  52  of the freezer door  28  by sliding an open slotted opening  58  of the joining member  50  into a protrusion  60  formed on the support  52  of the freezer door  28 , while one or more fasteners may be used in coupling the freezer door  28  and the joining member  50 . Instead of being coupled to the support  52 , in another embodiment, the proximate end  54  may be directly coupled to the freezer door  28 . A distal end  56  of the joining member  50  may be coupled to the inner extender  36  by using one or more fasteners as will be further described below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the assembly including the support  52 , the joining member  50 , the inner extender  36 , and fasteners according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The support  52  may include first and second surfaces  62 ,  64 , and one or more first apertures  66  for receiving one or more fasteners  67  in the corresponding first apertures  66 . The fasteners  67  may include a screw or bolt/nut, each including thread and/or shank. The support  52  may also include one or more protrusions  60  formed on the first surface  62  for allowing engagement with the open slotted opening  58 . 
     The inner extender  36  may include a first plate  68  including a first surface  70  and a second surface  72  that is opposite to the first surface  70 . The inner extender  36  may further include a second plate  74  fastened to the first plate  68  in a predetermined angular relationship. In one example, the first plate  68  may be perpendicular to the second plate  74 , and may be configured to receive one or more rollers, or to telescopically coupling with other parts of the inner extender  36 . 
     The inner extender  36  may include one or more apertures  76  for receiving one or more fasteners  78  in the one or more corresponding apertures  76 . The fasteners  78  may include a screw or bolt/nut, each including thread and/or shank. The one or more apertures  76  may be an exact fit to the fasteners  78  while, in another embodiment, the one or more apertures  76  may be oversized relative to the size of the fasteners  78  such that the fasteners  78  may move around within the apertures  76  before the fasteners  78  are fully secured to the inner extender  36 . 
       FIGS. 5(A)-5(C)  illustrate examples of the apertures  76  formed in the inner extender  36 . As shown, the shape and dimension of the apertures  76  may be designed to allow the fastener  78  to freely move within the apertures  76 . For example, a shank  130  or a thread of the fastener  78  may move within the apertures  76  in at least one of x and y directions. The shape of the apertures  76  may include a circle, an ellipse (an elongated oval) and a rectangle, while other shapes may also be used for the apertures  76  in the inner extender  36 . In one example, as shown in  FIG. 5(A) , the fastener  78  may be positioned away from the center  80  of the apertures  76  in both x and y direction before the fastener  78  is fully secured to the inner extender  36 . In another example, the fasteners  78  may move in one of x and y directions. For example, the fasteners  78  in  FIG. 5(B)  may move only in y-direction within the elongated oval shaped opening  76  before the fastener  78  is secured to the inner extender  36 .  FIG. 5(C)  shows rectangular apertures  76  where the fasteners  78  may move in at least one of x and y directions. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the joining member  50  may include a first portion  100 , typically including a flat plate and comprising a first surface  102  and a second surface  104  that is opposite to the first surface  102 . The first portion  100  may also include one or more apertures  111  which may be aligned with the apertures  66  in the support  52  for receiving corresponding numbers of fasteners  67  in the apertures  111 ,  66  to secure the first portion  100  to the support  52 . The first portion  100  may further include the open slotted opening  58  for slidably coupling the first portion  100  to the protrusion  60  of the support  52  as already shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The joining member  50  may further include a second portion  108  that may also be a flat plate having a first surface  110  and a second surface  112  opposite to the first surface  110 . The second portion  108  may be raised with respect to the first portion  100  by a predetermined distance  116 , by which a third portion  120  is defined. The second portion  108  may include one or more apertures  124  for receiving fasteners  78  in the apertures  124 , and may be aligned with the apertures  76  formed in the inner extender  36 . The second portion  108  may include two opposing end portions  126 ,  128  with the apertures  124  formed in each of the opposing end portions  126 ,  128 . The opposing end portions  126 ,  128  may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a reference line  125 , while arrangement of the end portions  126 ,  128  may be unsymmetrical in another embodiment. Additional aperture  124  may be formed between two opposing apertures  124  formed in the opposing end portions  126 ,  128 . 
     The one or more apertures  124  in the second portion  108  may be oversized relative to the fasteners  78  to allow the fasteners  78  move around within the apertures  124 . In one example, a cross-sectional area of the shank or thread of the fasteners  78  may be designed such that the fasteners  78  may move around within the apertures  124  before the fasteners  78  fully secures the second portion  108  of the joining member  50  to the inner extender  36 . The apertures  124  may be in the form of a circle, an ellipse (an elongated oval) and a rectangle and a curved rectangle. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the apertures  124  may be a circle with radius greater than a radius of a shank  130  or a thread of the fastener  78  such that the shank  130  of the fastener  78  freely moves within the apertures  124 . The fasteners  78  in  FIG. 6(B)  may move only in y-direction within the elongated oval shaped opening  124  before the fastener  78  is secured to the inner extender  36 .  FIG. 6(C)  shows rectangular apertures  124  where the fasteners  78  may move in at least one of x and y directions. On the other hand, it is noted that the shape, dimension and number of the apertures  124  of the second portion  108  is not limiting, and can be in any combination thereof. 
     The joining member  50  may further include the third portion  120  connecting a portion of the first portion  100  and a portion of the second portion  108 . The third portion  120  may be formed by bending a body having the first portion  100  and second portion  108  at predetermined angles. Alternately the third portion  120  may be a separate body connecting the first and second portions  100 ,  108 . For example, the third portion  120  may be coupled to the first and second portions  100 ,  108  by one or more fasteners, respectively. In either case, the third portion  120  may be arranged to define a predetermined angular relationship between the first and second portions  100 ,  108 . In one example, the third portion  120  may be arranged such that the first portion  100  and the second portion  108  are parallel to each other. The distance  116  by which the second portion  108  is raised relative to the first portion  100  may be configured to be equivalent to the thickness of the inner extender  36  in one embodiment, while the inner extender  36  may be thicker or thinner than the distance  116  in another embodiment. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show perspective views of the joining member  50  according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. The joining member  50  may include the first and second portions  100 ,  108  coupled to the third portion  120 . As shown, the third portion  120  and the first portion  100  form an obtuse angle, and so do the second portion  108  and the first portion  100 . The first and second portions  100 ,  108  may be arranged to be in parallel to each other. As shown, a plurality of embossments  134  may be provided to the second surface  112  of the second portion  108  for engaging with the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36 . Each embossment  134  may be convex with respect to the second surface  112 , and may comprise four-star shaped tip patterns that may protrude in an outward direction. In other embodiments, the embossments  134  may include tip patterns with numbers and shapes different from the ones shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The embossments  134  may be designed to form corresponding recesses or apertures in a corresponding portion of a structure engaged with the embossments  134 . For example, when the second portion  108  is fully engaged with the inner extender  36  or other neighboring structure, the embossments  134  on the second portion  108  of the joining member  50  may form corresponding recesses or apertures in the inner extender  36  or other neighboring structure, which may prevent unwanted sliding of the joining member  50  relative to the inner extender  36  and provide additional alignment between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 . The positions of the embossments and corresponding recesses may be interchanged between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the inner extender  36  may include one or more embossments  90  to form corresponding recesses in the joining member  50 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show perspective views of the joining member  50  coupled to the first plate  68  of the inner extender  36  according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the second surface  112  of the second portion  108  may be engaged to the inner extender  36  after the inner extender  36  is aligned with the second portion  108  of the joining member  50 . At least one of the plurality of apertures  76  and the plurality of apertures  124  may be oversized relative to the fasteners  78  for allowing the adjustment of the positions of joining member  50  at least in one of x and y directions relative to the inner extender  36  when the fasteners  78  are received in the apertures  76 ,  124 . First, the fasteners  78  may be received by the apertures  76 ,  124  before the inner extender  36  and the joining member  50  are lightly secured by the fasteners  78 . Subsequently, the positions of the joining member  50  may be adjusted relative to the inner extender  36  until the freezer door  28 , which is fixedly coupled to the adjustable joining member  50 , is fully aligned to the enclosure  12  to which the inner extender  36  is mounted. When the alignment between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  is complete such that the position of the freezer door  28  is adjusted to the enclosure  12 , the fasteners  78  may be fully fastened to fixedly engage the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 . During a full engagement between the joining member  50  and the extender  36 , the one or more embossments, which is not visible in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in the second portion  108  of the joining member  50  may form corresponding recesses or apertures in the extender  36 . The recesses, once formed in the inner extender  36  after alignment and full engagement between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 , and eventually after alignment and full engagement between the freezer door  28  and the enclosure  12 , may be advantageous with future alignment of the joining member  50  relative to the inner extender  36 , when the parts and/or components of the refrigerator are disassembled for repair, and then re-assembled. For example, once the positions of the embossments and corresponding recesses are identified, the second portion  108  of the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  may be immediately aligned and tightly fastened, without wasting extra time in aligning the second portion  108  and the inner extender  36  from the beginning while monitoring the positions of the freezer door  28  and the enclosure  12 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a plain view of the support  52  extending from the freezer door  28  mounted to the inner extender  36  by the joining member  50 , where the position of the freezer door  28  is adjusted relative to the inner extender  36  mounted to the enclosure  12 .  FIG. 11  shows that, as an example, the joining member  50  is pushed upwardly relative to the inner extender  36  with the fasteners  78  received in the apertures  76 ,  124  for a light engagement between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  while the adjustment is made. When the adjustment is being made, the embossments  134  formed on the second surface  112  of the second portion  108  of the joining member  50  may be in light contact with the inner extender  36 , as shown in  FIG. 12(A) .  FIG. 13(A)  shows that the fasteners  78  may partially fasten the second portion  108  with the inner extender  36 . After the adjustment is completed between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 , and eventually between the freezer door  28  and the enclosure  12 , the second portion  108  and the inner extender  36  may be secured by fully tightening the fasteners  78  as shown in  FIG. 13(B) . At the same time,  FIG. 12(B)  shows that the embossments  134  in the second portion  108  may be engaged with the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36  until corresponding recesses  136  are formed in the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36 , as shown in  FIG. 12(C) . As such, the freezer door  28  and the enclosure  12  are fully assembled while forming the recesses  136 . 
     The refrigerator  10  may require maintenance during its normal use. For example, the seal surface  46  may be broken or damaged with elapse of time, and sometimes needs to be repaired or replaced. Then, the freezer door  28  may be disassembled before the seal surface  46  is repaired or replaced for improved repair efficiency. In case the freezer door  28  needs to be disassembled prior to the repair of the seal surface  46 , the second portion  108  of the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  may be disengaged from each other by removing the fasteners  78  from apertures  76 ,  124  as shown in  FIG. 13(C) . Even when the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  are pulled apart from each other, the recesses  136  may still be in the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36  as shown in  FIG. 12(C) . For this, the material for the inner extender  36  may be selected to be softer than the material for the second portion  108  for forming persistent recesses  136 . As set forth above, the recesses  136  may remain in the inner extender  36  for aiding in future alignment of the freezer door  28  relative to the enclosure  28 . 
     After the repair of the seal surface  46 , the freezer door  28  may be reassembled simply by engaging the embossments  134  of the joining member  50  with corresponding recesses  136  already formed in the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36 , without adjusting the position of the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  with the fasteners  78  in the apertures  76 ,  124 . 
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating a method of assembling the bottom mount refrigerator according to a still another embodiment of the present disclosure. It may be understood that the sequence of steps depicted in  FIG. 14  is for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to limit the method in any way as it is understood that the steps may proceed in a different logical order, additional or intervening steps may be included, or described steps may be divided into multiple steps, without detracting from the invention. The method in  FIG. 14  may be incorporated into assembling steps for the bottom mount refrigerator, such as prior to or as part of any assembling steps. The method of  FIG. 14  may also be a stand-alone process. 
     The method of  FIG. 14  begins with a step  1410  where the first portion  100  of the joining member  50  may be engaged with the support  52  of the freezer door  28 . The first portion  100  may be fixedly engaged with the support  52  by fasteners  67  or protrusion  60  received in the open slotted opening  58 . It may also be understood that, while the first portion  100  may be engaged with the support  52  of the freezer door  28 , the first portion  100  may also be directly engaged with the freezer door  28 . 
     In the next step  1420 , the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36  may be lightly engaged. At least one of the apertures  76 ,  124  of the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 , respectively, may be oversized relative to the fasteners  78 . In one example, the apertures  76  may be oversized while the apertures  124  may not. In another example, the apertures  76  may not be oversized while the apertures  124  may be oversized. Still in another example, both apertures  76 ,  124  may be oversized. Once the fasteners  78  are received in the both apertures  76 ,  124 , the fasteners  78  may be loosely fastened to allow a light engagement between the joining member  50  and the inner extender  36 . 
     In the next step  1430 , the position of the joining member  50  may be adjusted relative to the inner extender  36  before a full alignment between the freezer door  28  and the enclosure  12  is accomplished. 
     In the next step  1440 , the second portion of  108  the joining member  50  may be fully engaged to the inner extender  36  by tightening the fasteners  78  until the second surface  112  of the second portion  108  is in full contact with the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36 , during which one or more recesses  136  may be formed on the first surface  70  of the inner extender  36 , which corresponds to the positions of the embossments  134 . 
     In the next step  1450 , the joining member  50  may be disassembled from the freezer door  28  by unfastening the fasteners  78 . For example, when the seal surface  46  needs to be replaced, the freezer door  28  may need to be disassembled from the refrigerator  10 . 
     In the next step  1460 , the joining member  50  may be re-assembled by aligning the embossments  134  of the joining member  50  with the recesses  136  already formed in the inner extender  36  in the step  1440 . Subsequently, in the step  1470 , the fasteners  78  may fully secure the joining member  50  to the inner extender  36  by fully tightening the fasteners  78 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Example embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.