Abstract:
A storage bin for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The storage bin defines a storage compartment for receiving food articles and may be removably received within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may further include a carrying handle, such that it is easily portable outside the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may have cold pack material and/or insulating material in its walls such that the storage compartment remains cool for a period of time after the storage bin is removed from the refrigerator appliance. Due to the fact that the storage bin is chilled and easily portable, it is ideal for grocery shopping, for taking on a picnic, or for any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances, and more particularly to chilled and portable storage bins for refrigerator appliances. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage. The refrigerator appliances can also include various storage components mounted within the chilled chamber and designed to facilitate storage of food items therein. Such storage components can include racks, bins, shelves, or drawers that receive food items and assist with organizing and arranging of such food items within the chilled chamber. 
         [0003]    However, conventional storage components are fixed within the refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the process of transporting cold food items from chilled storage at the grocery store to a home refrigerator appliance can involve significant handling, movement, and sorting of the food items. For example, a typical consumer shopping for cold food items must go to the grocery store, remove the items from chilled storage at the grocery store, and place those items in a shopping cart. During checkout, each item must be transferred from the cart to a grocery bag. The grocery bags are typically placed in the back of the consumer&#39;s vehicle and transported home before they are once again removed and placed/sorted in the refrigerator. 
         [0004]    Therefore, the current method for transporting cold food items from chilled storage at grocery store to the consumer&#39;s home refrigerator involves a substantial amount of handling, transporting, and sorting of food items. Not only does this require additional bags for transportation and increase the risk of damage to the food items, but the food items are not chilled or insulated during transport. Therefore, throughout the entire shopping and transporting process, the temperature of cold food items will slowly rise to the temperature of the ambient environment. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with features for improving the transportation and storage of cold food items would be useful. More particularly, a refrigerator appliance with storage bins or other components that are versatile, easily portable, and that remain cool for a period of time after being removed from the refrigerator appliance would be particularly beneficial. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present subject matter provides a storage bin for a refrigerator appliance. The storage bin defines a storage compartment for receiving food articles and may be removably received within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may further include a carrying handle, such that it is easily portable outside the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may have cold pack material and/or insulating material in its walls such that the storage compartment remains cool for a period of time after the storage bin is removed from the refrigerator appliance. Due to the fact that the storage bin is chilled and easily portable, it is ideal for grocery shopping, for taking on a picnic, or for any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
         [0007]    In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, and a storage bin being removably positioned within the chilled chamber. The storage bin includes an outer shell, an inner shell joined with the outer shell to form a cavity, and an cold pack material filling the cavity. 
         [0008]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a storage bin for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The storage bin includes an outer shell defining a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls, an insulating material positioned adjacent the outer shell, a cold pack material positioned adjacent the insulating material, and an inner shell positioned adjacent the cold pack material and joined with the outer shell to encapsulate the insulating material and the cold pack material, the inner shell being configured for receiving food articles. 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of  FIG. 1 , with the doors of the fresh food chamber shown in an open position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of a storage bin according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  provides a cross sectional view of the exemplary storage bin of  FIG. 3 , taken along Line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  provides a top view of the exemplary storage bin of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  provides a side view of the exemplary storage bin of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  provides a partial perspective view of a storage bin according to an alternative embodiment of the present subject matter, the storage bin having a recessed storage slot for the carrying handle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Refrigerator appliance  100  includes a cabinet or housing  102  that extends between a top  104  and a bottom  106  along a vertical direction V, between a first side  108  and a second side  110  along a lateral direction L, and between a front side  112  and a rear side  114  along a transverse direction T. Each of the vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular to one another. 
         [0020]    Housing  102  defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, housing  102  defines fresh food chamber  122  positioned at or adjacent top  104  of housing  102  and a freezer chamber  124  arranged at or adjacent bottom  106  of housing  102 . As such, refrigerator appliance  100  is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure 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. 
         [0021]    Refrigerator doors  128  are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing  102  for selectively accessing fresh food chamber  122 . In addition, a freezer door  130  is arranged below refrigerator doors  128  for selectively accessing freezer chamber  124 . Freezer door  130  is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber  124 . Refrigerator doors  128  and freezer door  130  are shown in the closed configuration in  FIG. 1 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other chamber and door configurations are possible and within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Refrigerator appliance  100  also includes a dispensing assembly  140  for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly  140  includes a dispenser  142  positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance  100 , e.g., on one of refrigerator doors  128 . Dispenser  142  includes a discharging outlet  144  for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism  146 , shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet  144  for operating dispenser  142 . In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser  142 . For example, dispenser  142  can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A control panel  148  is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel  148  includes a plurality of user inputs (not labeled), such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice. 
         [0023]    Discharging outlet  144  and actuating mechanism  146  are an external part of dispenser  142  and are mounted in a dispenser recess  150 . Dispenser recess  150  is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to open refrigerator doors  128 . In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess  150  is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. Refrigerator door  128  may define an icebox compartment housing an icemaker and an ice storage bin (not shown) that are configured to supply ice to dispenser recess  150 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of refrigerator appliance  100  shown with refrigerator doors  128  in the open position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , various storage components are mounted within fresh food chamber  122  to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components may include bins  160  and shelves  162 . Each of these storage components are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items. 
         [0025]    As illustrated, bins  160  may be mounted on refrigerator doors  128  or may slide into a receiving space in fresh food chamber  122 . In addition, bins  160  may be simply placed on shelves  162  within fresh food chamber  122 . As will be described in detail below, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, bins  160  may also include cold pack material and/or insulating material, such that they can be used as portable, insulated, and charged to-go bins that consumers can carry with them to the supermarket, on a picnic, to a dinner party, or during any other time when traveling with food items that must remain cool during transport. 
         [0026]    One skilled in the art will appreciate that the illustrated storage components are used only for the purpose of explanation. Other storage components may be used and may have different sizes, shapes, and configurations. Aspects of the present disclosure may be incorporated to such other storage components and may remain within the scope of the present subject matter. In addition, storage components such as bins  160  may be used in fresh food chamber  122 , freezer chamber  124 , or in any other suitable location within refrigerator appliance  100 . 
         [0027]    Storage bin  160  may generally include a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls. For example, according to the example embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , storage bin  160  includes a bottom wall  170 , a front wall  172 , a rear wall  174 , a first sidewall  176 , and a second sidewall  178 . Together, walls  170 - 178  define a storage compartment  180 , which may be configured for receiving cold food items for storage. As illustrated, storage bin  160  is substantially rectangular in cross-section, but one skilled in the art will appreciate that other shapes, sizes, and configurations of storage chamber  160  may be used and remain within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view of the exemplary storage bin of  FIG. 3 , taken along Line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . According to this illustrated example embodiment, storage bin  160  may include an outer shell  182  and an inner shell  184 . Outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  may be joined together to define a cavity  186 . In addition, as will be described in detail below, a cold pack material  188  and/or an insulating material  190  may be placed within cavity  186  to enable storage bin  160  to be chilled and portable. 
         [0029]    Outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  may be constructed of or with any suitable materials. In addition, outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  may be formed from the same or different materials, and may be formed as a single integral piece or from multiple parts that are joined together. For example, outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  may be constructed as a single, integral piece, or may be constructed from several parts that are connected together using any suitable mechanical fastener, such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. Similarly, glue, bonding, friction welding, snap-fit mechanisms, interference-fit mechanisms, or any suitable combination thereof be used to join outer shell  182  and inner shell  184 . Other joining means are also possible. 
         [0030]    According to the illustrated embodiment, both outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  are formed of a suitable plastic material. For example, outer shell  182  may be made from injection-molded plastic such as HIPS (high impact polystyrene—injection molding grade) or ABS (injection molding grade). Alternatively, outer shell  182  may be a thermoformed liner or any other suitably rigid material. Preferably, outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  are constructed of a waterproof material that is easy to clean. Regardless of the material used, outer shell  182  may define a rigid frame for storage bin  160  and may define the general shape of storage compartment  180 . 
         [0031]    Inner shell  184  may be constructed from the same material or in the same manner as outer shell  182 . However, according to the illustrated embodiment, inner shell  184  is formed from a thinner plastic material than outer shell  182 . For example, inner shell  184  may be made from a thin thermoformed liner or a thin layer of polypropylene fabric. In this manner, by reducing thickness of inner shell  184 , cold pack material  188  may be in closer proximity to storage compartment  180 . In addition, the cost of materials and the weight of storage bin  160  may be reduced. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , cold pack material  188  may be placed within cavity  186  to assist maintaining a chilled storage compartment  180  for at least some amount of time after storage bin  160  has been removed from fresh food chamber  122 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, ambient air within fresh food chamber  122  is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to keep cold food items fresh for an extended period of time. Notably, by placing storage bin  160  inside fresh food chamber  122 , cold pack material  188  eventually reaches the same temperature as fresh food chamber  122 , or any other chamber in which storage bin  160  is placed, e.g., freezer chamber  124 . 
         [0033]    Cold pack material  188  is generally any material that may be chilled when placed in fresh food chamber  122  and can absorb heat from the ambient environment to prevent that heat energy from raising the temperature within storage compartment  180 . Cold pack material  188  may be, for example, an antifreeze liquid or gel, and is typically storage in a plastic container to prevent leakage. Cold pack material  188  is preferably a non-toxic material. For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, cold pack material  188  may have the following composition: water (60 to 70 percent), propylene glycol (20 to 35 percent), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (less than 5 percent). 
         [0034]    According to another alternative embodiment, cold pack material  188  may be a phase change material (“PCM”). For example, cold pack materials  188  may be PCMs having different compositions depending on the temperature of the compartments in which they are used. For example, PCMs comprised of paraffin wax and fatty acids are available that freeze at temperatures common to fresh food chamber  122 . Similarly, water/ethylene and propylene glycol types of PCM materials may be used in freezer chamber  124 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that these compositions are only exemplary, that a variety of phase change materials are available depending on the application, and such materials are within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0035]    Cold pack material  188  may be contained within a thin plastic cover, e.g., made from polypropylene or another thermoplastic polymer. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials may be used for cold pack material  188 , and such materials are within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0036]    According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, insulating material  190  may also be placed within cavity  186  to assist with insulating storage compartment  180  from the ambient environment. For example, insulating material  190  may be foam panels may be attached to each wall  170 - 178  of outer shell  182  using an adhesive. Alternatively, expandable foam can be sprayed into cavity  186  formed by outer shell  182  and inner shell  184 . For example, sprayed polyurethane foam may be injected into cavity  186  after outer shell  182  and inner shell  184  are assembled and either before or after cold pack material  188  has been installed. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , storage bin  160  may further include a lid  192  that is configured to permit selective access to storage compartment  180  and to insulate storage compartment  180  from the ambient environment. According to the exemplary embodiment, lid  192  is detachable and insulated. Lid  192  may be stored inside or outside of fresh food chamber  122 . If lid  192  is stored inside fresh food chamber  122 , it may further include cold pack material  188  and may be constructed similar to walls  170 - 178  of storage bin  160 . Other configurations of lid  192  are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0038]    According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , storage bin  160  may further include a carrying handle  200  for easy transportation of storage bin  160 . Referring now generally to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the manner in which carrying handle  200  is mounted to storage bin  160  will be described in more detail. Carrying handle  200  may be rotatably mounted to storage bin  160  by a hinge assembly on each side of storage bin  160 . According to the illustrated embodiments, carrying handle  200  simply pivots down into storage compartment  180  when not in use. 
         [0039]    For example, according to the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 3 through 5 , carrying handle  200  may be pivotally mounted to storage bin  160  and using any suitable connection mechanism. According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, carrying handle  200  is pivotally connected using a pin joint  202 . More specifically, each end of carrying handle  200  may define an aperture  204  configured to receive a pin  206 . Pin  206  may pass through storage bin  160 , e.g., through outer shell  182  and inner shell  184 , through aperture  204  to pivotally secure carrying handle  200  to storage bin  160 . Although the illustrated embodiment illustrates carrying handle  200  being connected to storage bin  160  using a simple pin joint  202 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that any other suitable hinge mechanism may be used according to alternative embodiments. 
         [0040]    As shown in the illustrated embodiment, carrying handle  200  is a U-shaped handle pivotally connected at approximately the center of each of first sidewall  176  and second sidewall  178 . However, carrying handle  200  may be any other suitable shape and may be connected to storage bin  160  at any other suitable location and in any other suitable manner. Indeed, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the size, geometry, positioning, and even number of carrying handles  200  may be adjusted as needed to simplify portability of storage bin  160 . For example, according to an alternative embodiment two carrying handles may be used. The first handle may be connected between sidewalls  176 ,  178  proximate the front wall  172 , the second handle may be connected between sidewalls  176 ,  178  proximate the rear wall  174 , and each handle may be configured to fold into storage compartment  180 . Other handle configurations are also possible. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a storage bin  210  according to an alternative embodiment of the present subject matter may include a recessed storage slot  212  for receiving a carrying handle  214 . More specifically, storage bin  210  may define recessed storage slot  212  that extends around an upper edge  216  of storage bin  210  and is configured to receive carrying handle  214  when it is pivoted toward upper edge  216  of storage bin  210 . In this manner, recessed storage slot  212  may provide quick and convenient storage of carrying handle  214  such that carrying handle  214  does not interfere with use of storage compartment  218 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other methods and configurations for storing carrying handles  200 ,  214  are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0042]    Storage bins  160 ,  210  may be configured in a variety of ways to improve portability and convenience of use. Easy storage and removal of storage bins  160 ,  210  within fresh food chamber  122  is important for achieving this portability and convenience. Therefore, storage bins  160 ,  210  may be configured to sit on a shelf  162  or may be received within a separate plastic bin within fresh food chamber  122 . For example, such a plastic bin may be permanently fixed in fresh food chamber  122  and storage bin  160  may fit snugly within the permanent plastic bin. In this manner, for example, before going to the grocery store, a consumer may remove old food items from storage bin  160  and leave them in the permanent plastic bin while making a trip to the store. After returning from the store with new food items (which will be on the bottom of storage compartment  180 ) the consumer will replace the old food items back into storage compartment  180  on top of the new items before replacing storage bin  160  back into the permanent plastic bin. In this manner, a consumer will know to eat the older items first before consuming the new items, thereby reducing spoilage and deteriorated food quality. 
         [0043]    Storage bin  160  may also be slidably received within fresh food chamber  122 . In this regard, for example, housing  102  may define bin supports on opposite sides of fresh food chamber  122 . Storage bin  160  may be slidably received by such bin supports. According to an exemplary embodiment, the bin supports may be integrally formed with the sides of housing  102 . However, according to alternative exemplary embodiments, bin supports may instead be a single part or a multi-part assembly formed from metal, plastic, or any other suitably rigid material. 
         [0044]    As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the above described embodiment is used only for the purpose of explanation. Modifications and variations may be applied, other configurations may be used, and the resulting configurations may remain within the scope of the invention. For example, a different construction of storage bin  160  may be used, more than one carrying handle  194  may be used, and the geometry and position of storage bin  160  within refrigerator appliance  100  could be changed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that such modification and variations may remain within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0045]    Although the description above describes storage bin  160  as being configured inside fresh food chamber  122  of refrigerator appliance  100 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present subject matter may be alternatively employed in freezer chamber  124  or any other suitable refrigerator compartment. Indeed, other applications and modifications of the present subject matter are possible and such applications are considered to be within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0046]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.