Abstract:
An exemplary refrigerator that can comprise a housing sized to be placed on a countertop and a door associated with the housing. The door can have an inner surface that contacts an opening surface of the housing when closed, wherein a significant portion of the inner surface is provided within a plane, and at least a part of the inner surface includes a curve that protrudes from the plane.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/585,888 filed on Jan. 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a table or countertop miniature refrigerator, and a method for making the same. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0003]    Single serve coffee machines have gained market share in the office, home and home-office settings, as compared to more traditional pot-brewed (e.g., drip-brewed) coffee machines. Single serve coffee machines can have a variety of configurations. For example, some single-serve coffee machines can provide drip-brewed capabilities (e.g., a smaller version of traditional “pot sized” machines), have single-serve coffee pods (e.g., like the Keurig® “K-cup”), or include various other single serve packet designs (e.g., liquid packets by Flavia®). 
         [0004]    According to certain the present disclosure, exemplary embodiments of a countertop or table top refrigerator can be provided that can be used alone or in conjunction with other items to store accessories for single-serve beverage dispensers, e.g., accessories needing refrigeration, e.g., milk/cream. Such exemplary embodiments address at least some of the deficiencies of prior refrigerators. 
       SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0005]    According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, an exemplary miniature refrigerator for single-serve coffee machines is described. 
         [0006]    The exemplary refrigerator, in some configurations, can comprise a housing sized to be placed on a countertop and a door associated with the housing. The door can have an inner surface that contacts an opening surface of the housing when closed, wherein a significant portion of the inner surface is provided within a plane, and at least a part of the inner surface includes a curve that protrudes from the plane. 
         [0007]    In some exemplary configuration, the exemplary refrigerator can have a depth of approximately 8 inches to 15 inches that extends along a side portion of the housing. In one configuration, the refrigerator can have a depth of approximately 10.5 inches that extends along a side portion of the housing. 
         [0008]    In certain embodiments, the exemplary refrigerator can have a width of approximately 8 inches to approximately 16 inches that extends along a side of the door. In one configuration, the exemplary refrigerator can have a width of approximately 12.6 inches that extends along a side of the door. 
         [0009]    The exemplary refrigerator can have a height of approximately 10 inches to 18 inches. In one configuration, the refrigerator can have a height of approximately 13.27 inches. The exemplary refrigerator, in some configurations, can include a handle feature associated with the door. The handle feature can have a length of approximately 2 inches to 5 inches. 
         [0010]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims(s). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    Exemplary objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figs. showing illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary refrigerator, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary refrigerator with the exemplary door in an open configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the exemplary refrigerator; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side views of the exemplary refrigerator; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are back/rear views of exemplary refrigerators according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the exemplary refrigerator; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another exemplary refrigerator, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the exemplary refrigerator according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the exemplary refrigerator according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the exemplary refrigerator according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components, or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments and is not limited by the particular embodiments illustrated in the figures and/or the claim(s) appended herewith. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a miniature refrigerator can be provided that can be placed on a desk, a table or a countertop. The exemplary refrigerator can include a removable sliding shelf inside. The exemplary refrigerator can be sized to receive one or more beverage containers of a particular size. For example, the refrigerator can be configured to hold two quart sized cartons of milk, four pint sized cartons, and/or four standard cans of soda/beer. Any number of configurations, dimensions, or receivable products is also possible though. 
         [0025]    The exemplary refrigerator can include a main housing  120  and a door  110 , e.g., a hinged door that swings open from the left or right side of a front of the refrigerator. The exemplary door can include a magnetic closure, and can be biased in the closed position, such that the door remains in a closed configuration when not held open. The door  110 , when closed, can contact the main housing along an opening edge  130 . The opening edge  130  can include a ridge  132  around the whole or part of the whole opening edge  130 . The exemplary door  110  can include a groove  134  dimensioned and aligned with the ridge  132  such that when closed, the ridge  132  nests within the groove  134 . The exemplary groove  134  can include a gasket  135  within the groove  134 , which can be rubber, silicone, or any type of suitable material that can make a tighter seal with ridge  132  when the door is closed than the groove  134  does alone. In other exemplary embodiments, the ridge  132  can be on the door  110 , while groove  134  and/or gasket  135  can be on the opening edge  130 . 
         [0026]    In one exemplary configuration, the exemplary refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can have a depth  144  (as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 ) ranging from approximately 8 inches to 15 inches. For example, in one configuration, the exemplary depth  144  can be approximately 10.50 inches. The exemplary refrigerator can have a height  148  ranging from approximately 10 inches to 18 inches (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). For example, in one exemplary configuration, the exemplary height  148  can be approximately 13.27 inches. The exemplary refrigerator can have a width  196  ranging from approximately 8 inches to 16 inches (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). In another exemplary configuration, the width  196  can be approximately 12.60 inches. 
         [0027]    The exemplary door  110  can be connected in any number of ways, such as with a single hinge  140  (as illustrated in  FIG. 4B ), two hinges  140  (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), more than two hinges, a single hinge of substantially the whole length, hole and peg connectors at the door corners, or any number of other suitable connectors and/or any other suitable sizes of those connectors. 
         [0028]    The exemplary refrigerator can include a handle feature  142  to facilitate opening the door  110 . In on configuration, for example as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  7 , the handle feature  142  can have a crescent moon configuration attached to the door  110  at the two ends of the handle feature  142 . In other exemplary configurations, for example as shown in  FIG. 8 , the handle feature  142  can be attached to the door  110  at only one end of the handle feature  142 . In yet other exemplary configurations, the handle feature  142  can be similar to a lever mechanism which disengages the door  110  from the main housing  120  as the user pulls on the handle feature  142 . For example, a lever handle of the handle feature  142  can pivot about a pivot point as the user pulls the handle feature  142  causing the door to disengage. 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary configuration of the exemplary handle feature  142  with a set of exemplary dimensions and measurements. For example, the exemplary handle feature  142  can have a length  156  that ranges from 2 inches to 5 inches. For example, in one exemplary configuration, the length  156  can be approximately 2.750 inches. In one exemplary configuration, the exemplary handle feature  142  can have a thickness  158  of approximately 0.500 inches. The exemplary handle feature  142  can be positioned on the exemplary door  110  at a distance  160  of approximately 4.00 inches (distance  160  being measured from the edge of the exemplary door  110  to the edge of the exemplary handle feature  142  as shown in  FIG. 9 ). It should be appreciated that in other exemplary embodiments, the handle feature  142  can have other shapes, dimensions, and/or configurations. 
         [0030]    The exemplary refrigerator can further include a temperature control sensor (not shown). The temperature control sensor can be configured to regulate and maintain the temperature of the exemplary refrigerator. In one exemplary configuration, the exemplary temperature control sensor can maintain the temperature of the exemplary refrigerator at approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The exemplary refrigerator, in one exemplary configuration, can have thresholds that trigger a control system to either start a cool down process or stop the cool down process of the exemplary refrigerator. For example, in one exemplary configuration, the temperature sensor can be configured such that when the temperature within the exemplary refrigerator raises to 53.6 degree Fahrenheit measured at the top of the inside of the refrigerator and 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit measured in the center of the inside of the refrigerator, the temperature sensor triggers the control system to start the cool down process. In contrast, when the temperature within the exemplary refrigerator raises to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit measured at the top of the inside of the refrigerator and 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit measured at the center of the inside of the refrigerator, the temperature sensor trigger the control system to stop the cooling down process. For example, having the temperature sensor configured to trigger the control system ensures the temperature of the contents within the refrigerator, e.g., milk, soda, and/or beer, is maintained, for example, at or below 40 or 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In other exemplary configurations, the exemplary temperature control sensor can be configured to maintain the temperature of the exemplary refrigerator at or below other temperatures, e.g., 50 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or other temperatures. 
         [0031]    The exemplary refrigerator can also include a fan that can facilitate maintaining the temperature of the refrigerator. The fan can be integrated within the back wall of the main housing  120 , or in other configurations, can behind the back wall of the main housing  120 , or in yet other configurations, can stick out behind the back of the main housing  120 . For example,  FIG. 5A  shows an exemplary configuration of the exemplary refrigerator where the fan can be seen outside.  FIG. 5B  shows an exemplary configuration of the exemplary refrigerator where the can is integrated within the housing and cannot be seen from the outside. 
         [0032]    The exemplary refrigerator can also include feet  146  on a bottom surface that can grip to a surface (e.g., a countertop surface), which can prevent the unit from sliding. The feet  146  can be made of rubber, silicon, or other suitable material that prevents the unit from sliding.  FIG. 6  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the feet  146  with a set of exemplary dimensions. For example, the feet  146  shown in  FIG. 6  can have a generally oval shape and in some configurations, can have a radius  186  of approximately 0.08 inches. The exemplary feet  146  can be positioned at a distance  188  of 0.670 inches from one edge (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), and at a distance  190  of 0.220 inches from a second edge. The exemplary feet  146  can, in one configuration, be positioned at a distance  192  of approximately 3.700 inches from the center of the exemplary fridge. The exemplary feet  146  can have a length  194  of approximately 0.540 inches. It is appreciated that in other configurations, the feet  146  can have other configurations, shapes, and dimensions. 
         [0033]    According to further exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary refrigerator can have a left side opening door, a right side opening door, a top side opening door, and/or a bottom side opening door (e.g., similar to a dish washer design). Alternatively, the top side can open and the exemplary refrigerator door can be the whole top surface of the refrigerator (e.g., similar to a stand alone freezer design). The door orientation can be fixed or adjustable (e.g., from right-side orientation to left-side and vice versa). 
         [0034]    The exemplary refrigerator can include a transparent or translucent front window  141 , which can be configured to allow a user to see the contents of the exemplary refrigerator. In one exemplary configuration, for example as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the window  141  can have a substantially rectangular configuration. In other exemplary configurations, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the window  141  can have a generally triangular shape. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  illustrates one exemplary configuration of the window  141  and an exemplary set of dimensions for the various components and/or parts of the exemplary refrigerator. For example, the window  141  can have a height  152  of approximately 7.500 inches. The window  141  can have a width  154  of approximately 3.525 inches. The exemplary window  141  can be positioned at a distance  168  of approximately 1.400 inches measured from the curved portion  164  of the exemplary door  110 , and can be positioned at a distance  170  of approximately 1.600 inches measured from the bottom edge of the flat portion  166 . In some exemplary configurations, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the window  141  can include a window frame  172  that outlines the perimeter of the exemplary window  141 . The window frame  172  can have a width  174  of approximately 0.200 inches. The window frame  172 , in one exemplary embodiment, can also have a thickness  184  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) of approximately 0.05 inches. In some configurations, the exemplary window  141  and the window frame  172  can have curved corners. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the window frame  172  can have curved corners with an inner radius  176  of approximately 0.400 inches and outer radius  178  of approximately 0.600 inches. In yet other exemplary configurations, further possible shapes, dimensions, and configurations of the window  141  are possible. 
         [0036]    The exemplary door  110  can be flat on a plane (not shown), or can include a curved portion  164 , such as is illustrated in the exemplary figures. For example, as illustrated in the exemplary refrigerator of  FIG. 9 , the exemplary door  110  can have a curved portion  164  and a flat portion  166  adjacent the curved portion  164 . The curved portion  164  can have a height  180 , for example, of approximately 2.500 inches, and in some configurations, the flat portion  166  can have a height  182  of approximately 10.500 inches. The door curve portion  164  can have a corresponding curve in the housing on the side with the opening. 
         [0037]    The exemplary refrigerator can be stand alone accessory units, e.g., paired with a single-serve beverage dispenser, or can be joined with additional complementary accessory units, e.g., all paired with the single-serve beverage dispenser. 
         [0038]    The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Other suitable dimensions and measurements can also be used. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, and procedures which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and can be thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. In addition, all publications and references referred to above can be incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In addition, certain terms used in the present disclosure, including the specification, drawings and claims thereof, can be used synonymously in certain instances, including, but not limited to, e.g., data and information. It should be understood that, while these words, and/or other words that can be synonymous to one another, can be used synonymously herein, that there can be instances when such words can be intended to not be used synonymously. The term “about” and “approximately,” as used herein, should generally be understood to refer to both the corresponding number and a range of numbers. Moreover, all numerical ranges herein should be understood to include each whole integer within the range. Further, to the extent that the prior art knowledge has not been explicitly incorporated by reference herein above, it can be explicitly being incorporated herein in its entirety. All publications referenced above can be incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.