Patent Description:
Features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification and appended drawings The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Further advantages and features according to the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:.

The present disclosure provides a wall panel for an appliance, such as for refrigerator <NUM> shown in an illustrated embodiment. The disclosure also provides various structures and components related to a wall panel. According to aspects described herein, the wall panel may be configured as a false wall that extends a full height and width of a wall of a compartment within the appliance. As described in more detail below with respect to <FIG>, according to various embodiments, the wall panel may serve as a "false wall" within a refrigerator compartment and cover or obscure one or more refrigeration components that may be contained within, or visible within, the refrigerator cabinet. In addition, the wall panel may be configured as an aesthetic piece, such as a colored panel, the panel having a three-dimensional molded pattern, to distinguish the wall panel from other surfaces or interior walls of the refrigerator. The wall panel may be configured to provide both a streamlined aesthetic appearance and also provide better depth perception within the refrigerator compartment for a user. In some embodiments, the wall panel may be configured as a lighted wall panel that moves from a dimly lit state to a fully lit state, or vice versa, based on a user's interaction with the refrigerator, such as when opening a door.

Accordingly, the present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and method steps related to a wall panel for an appliance, such as refrigerator <NUM>. The apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. In addition, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary refrigerator <NUM>, according to an illustrated embodiment set forth herein. Refrigerator <NUM> includes an outer frame or cabinet <NUM> that defines or incorporates one or more internal cavities or compartments <NUM> for cooling food items. Cabinet <NUM> includes an interior surface <NUM> and an exterior surface (not shown). Interior surface <NUM> includes a top wall or top surface <NUM>, a pair of side walls, side surfaces <NUM>, a bottom surface <NUM> (<FIG>) and a back wall or back surface <NUM>. Interior compartment <NUM> may further incorporate one or more compartment storage structures <NUM> for storing food items. Compartment storage structures <NUM> may be configured in a variety of ways, and in some cases may include, but are not limited to, shelves, drawers, and the like, for holding food items. In the illustrated embodiment, refrigerator <NUM> is a built-in style refrigerator, streamlined to appear as a portion of surrounding cabinetry, however the present disclosure is not limited to a specific style of refrigerator or appliance.

Refrigerator <NUM> may also incorporate one or more doors <NUM> for accessing the one or more compartments <NUM>. Door <NUM> may be operably coupled to cabinet <NUM> via a hinge assembly <NUM> to alternately seal and provide access to compartment <NUM>. Door <NUM> may also incorporate one or more storage structures <NUM> for holding food items. Door <NUM> storage structures <NUM> may also take many forms, including shelves, drawers, or other compartments for holding food items.

In at least one embodiment, refrigerator <NUM> includes one or more wall panels within cabinet <NUM> to provide a seamless backdrop and disguise one or more of refrigerator components, such as refrigerator components shown and described with respect to <FIG>. For example, as discussed in more detail below, refrigerator <NUM> incorporates one or more interior wall panels, such as wall panel <NUM>. Refrigerator <NUM> may also incorporate one or more door panels, such as door skin or panel <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an enlarged perspective view of a portion of refrigerator <NUM>. <FIG> depicts a similar view as <FIG>, with a wall panel <NUM>, and both compartment storage structures <NUM> and door storage structures <NUM> removed, for illustration. As depicted in <FIG>, refrigerator <NUM> may include one or more refrigerator components that may serve to provide cool air to compartment <NUM>. In particular, refrigerator <NUM> may include evaporator coils <NUM> for removing heat from compartment <NUM>, compressor <NUM>, and condenser coils <NUM> for dissipating heat outside of refrigerator <NUM>, air vents <NUM> for moving air within compartment <NUM>, expansion valve <NUM>, water lines <NUM>, and control circuitry <NUM>. Control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to control the refrigerator components as well as various other electrical or mechanical refrigerator components of refrigerator <NUM>, such as lights or alarms. Furthermore, while the various refrigerator components depicted in <FIG> may be depicted as being disposed within, or partially within, compartment <NUM>, one or more of the components may reside on an external surface of cabinet <NUM>. For example, condenser coils <NUM> may be disposed externally to cabinet <NUM> to dissipate heat.

It should be noted that refrigerator <NUM> and its various components are shown for purposes of example and illustration, and are not limiting features of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that aspects of the present disclosure apply to other types of refrigerators or refrigerator configurations, such as a French-door style refrigerator, side-by-side refrigerator, or any other type of configuration contemplated in the art. Additionally, refrigerator <NUM> may include more or fewer components, such as additional water lines, temperature control devices or the like, additional storage structures, including shelves, drawers, doors, or other types of refrigerator compartment storage. Accordingly, it should be understood that refrigerator <NUM> and its described refrigerator components are only exemplary of the types of components that may be included in a refrigerator.

As previously noted, refrigerator <NUM> may include one or more substantially planar wall panels, such as wall panel <NUM>. In some cases, the wall panels may serve as false walls that are co-extensive with an interior surface of cabinet <NUM>, i.e. extending along the entirety of the interior surface, such as back surface <NUM> or door <NUM>. In some cases, the wall panels may hide or obscure refrigerator components which would otherwise be visible within compartment <NUM>. The wall panels may also create an aesthetic "wallpaper feel" within compartment <NUM>, and provide better depth perception, allowing food items to stand out more readily to the user.

<FIG> depicts refrigerator <NUM> with both compartment storage structures <NUM> and door storage structures <NUM> removed for illustration. According to an illustrated embodiment, refrigerator <NUM> includes a wall panel <NUM> that covers back surface <NUM> and provides a false back wall to compartment <NUM>. Wall panel <NUM> may be co-extensive with back surface <NUM> such that it extends the full height and width of back surface <NUM>. Wall panel <NUM> may extend from bottom surface <NUM> to top surface <NUM> of cabinet <NUM>, as well as between pair of side surfaces <NUM>. In other words, wall panel <NUM> may include a lower end <NUM> that is proximate bottom surface <NUM>, an upper end <NUM> that is proximate top surface <NUM>, a right side end <NUM> that is proximate a right side surface <NUM>, and a left side end <NUM> (<FIG>) that is proximate opposite left side surface <NUM>. Accordingly, wall panel <NUM>, as fully depicted in <FIG>, may create an entire back false wall of compartment <NUM>. Additionally, one or more wall panels similar to wall panel <NUM> may be positioned against any of side surfaces <NUM>, top surface <NUM>, or bottom surface <NUM> in a similar manner as wall panel <NUM>, to create one or more false walls for the side, top, or bottom surfaces, respectively, of compartment <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, wall panel <NUM> may be configured to extend behind, and independently of, one or more compartment storage structures <NUM>, allowing for ease of replacement and further contributing to a clean and streamlined appearance within compartment <NUM>. Specifically, in some cases, compartment storage structures <NUM> may be secured independently of wall panel <NUM>, such as within compartment <NUM> via compartment mounting structures <NUM>, or by other means as would be contemplated by a skilled artisan.

In some embodiments, refrigerator <NUM> may also include a panel that serves as a false wall on an interior surface of door <NUM>, similar to wall panel <NUM>. <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> depict a door panel <NUM> which may be co-extensive with an interior surface <NUM> of door <NUM>. In at least one embodiment, door panel <NUM> may include a door panel upper edge <NUM>, a door panel lower edge <NUM>, a door panel right side edge <NUM>, and a door panel left side edge <NUM>, each of which are proximate to respective side edges of interior surface <NUM> of door <NUM>. Accordingly, door panel <NUM>, as fully depicted in <FIG>, may extend the entire height and width of door <NUM>, creating a false wall for door <NUM>. Similar to wall panel <NUM>, door panel <NUM> may also be configured to extend behind, and be installed independently of, one or more door storage structures <NUM>. Similar to wall panel <NUM>, the independent configuration and installment allows for ease of replacement and contributes to a clean and streamlined appearance on the interior of door <NUM>. Accordingly, in some cases, door storage structures <NUM> may be secured on an interior surface of door <NUM> via one or more mounting structures <NUM>, or by any other methods contemplated by a skilled artisan, such as by welding, adhesive or other known methods.

As noted above, in some embodiments, wall panels may be configured to provide both functional and aesthetic elements for refrigerator <NUM>. For example, in some cases wall panels may hide or disguise one or more refrigerator components or structures disposed behind the panel, such as the refrigerator components depicted in <FIG>. Referring to the illustrated embodiment, wall panel <NUM> may hide one or more refrigerator components that are disposed within cabinet <NUM>, or are visible from an interior surface <NUM>, creating a clean aesthetic look and feel within compartment <NUM>. Accordingly, referring to <FIG> as viewed with wall panel <NUM> removed for purposes of illustration, it may be seen that wall panel <NUM> may provide a false back wall for compartment <NUM> serving to hide one or more refrigerator components that would be otherwise visible to a user within compartment <NUM>. Similarly, door panel <NUM>, may serve to hide one or more refrigerator components located on, or visible from an interior surface <NUM> of door <NUM>.

According to aspects of the disclosure, wall panel <NUM> and door panel <NUM> may include a design or other pattern that provides a wallpaper-like feel within compartment <NUM>. According to the invention, a wall panel includes a three-dimensional molded surface, wherein the three-dimensional molded surface comprises a three-dimensional pattern. In some cases, a wall panel may include a contrasting color, a contrasting sheen such as a mirrored or highly reflective surface, or a lighted surface. Icorporating such a surface may provide a streamlined look, and in some cases give an apparent structure to the surface, creating better depth perception within compartment <NUM>. In addition, the design or pattern may help to distinguish wall panel <NUM> and door panel <NUM> from the other walls of the refrigerator.

The wall panel <NUM> includes a three-dimensional molded wave pattern, such as shown more specifically in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG> and <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, wall panel <NUM> includes a molded three-dimensional wave pattern. As best seen in the cross-sectional view of <FIG>, taken across line IV C in <FIG>, wall panel <NUM> includes a compartment facing side <NUM> and a cabinet facing side <NUM>. Compartment facing side <NUM> exhibits a pattern peak <NUM>, jutting outward from cabinet facing side <NUM>, and pattern valley <NUM>. In some cases, cabinet facing side <NUM> may include a flat surface, as shown in <FIG>. However, in other cases, cabinet facing side <NUM> may include a three-dimensional molded surface similar to the molded surface of compartment facing side <NUM>. In still other cases, cabinet facing side <NUM> may include a three-dimensional molded surface to align or match with one or more refrigeration components disposed beneath.

Refrigerator <NUM> includes further provisions that create an overall appearance of a larger and wider, or brighter, compartment <NUM>. Refrigerator <NUM> includes one or more walls having a highly reflective or mirrored surface. In some cases, surfaces within compartment <NUM> may incorporate an actual mirror, providing a reflective surface which creates a larger look. In other cases, surfaces within compartment <NUM> incorporate a high-gloss black or other reflective color. In at least one embodiment, refrigerator <NUM> includes a reflective mirrored side surface <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The reflective mirrored side surface <NUM> mav reflect light within compartment <NUM>, creating a more even distribution and allowing the consumer to view items that may otherwise be hidden.

<FIG> depict another embodiment of an appliance, refrigerator <NUM>, not forming part of the present invention.

Similar to refrigerator <NUM> in <FIG>, refrigerator <NUM> may also include an outer frame or cabinet <NUM> that defines or incorporates one or more internal cavities or compartments <NUM> for cooling food items. Cabinet <NUM> includes an interior surface <NUM> and an exterior surface (not shown). Interior surface <NUM> includes a top surface <NUM>, a pair of side surfaces <NUM>, a bottom surface <NUM> (<FIG>) and a back surface (not shown). Interior compartment <NUM> may further incorporate one or more compartment storage structures <NUM> for storing food items. Compartment storage structures <NUM> may be configured in a variety of ways, and in some cases may include but are not limited to shelves, drawers, and the like, for holding food items, as depicted. Refrigerator <NUM> may also incorporate one or more doors <NUM> for accessing the one or more compartments <NUM>. Doors <NUM> may be operably coupled to cabinet <NUM>, to alternately seal and provide access to compartment <NUM>. Further, as discussed in more detail below, refrigerator <NUM> may incorporate one or more wall panels, including but not limited to a lighted wall panel <NUM> disposed behind compartment storage structures <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment, wall panel <NUM> provides a false back wall for compartment <NUM>, covering a back surface (not shown) of cabinet <NUM>. Similar to wall panel <NUM> described above, wall panel <NUM> may be co-extensive with a back surface of cabinet <NUM> such that it extends the full height and width of the back surface. Thus, wall panel <NUM> may extend from bottom surface <NUM> to top surface <NUM> of cabinet <NUM>, as well as between pair of side surfaces <NUM>. In other words, wall panel <NUM> may include a lower end (not shown) that is proximate a bottom surface of cabinet <NUM>, an upper end <NUM> that is proximate a top surface <NUM>, a right side end <NUM> that is proximate a right side surface <NUM> (<FIG>), and a left side end <NUM> (<FIG>) that is proximate an opposite left side surface <NUM>. Accordingly, wall panel <NUM>, as depicted in <FIG>, may create an entire back false wall of compartment <NUM>. Additionally, in other embodiments, one or more wall panels similar to wall panel <NUM> may be positioned against any of side surfaces <NUM>, top surface <NUM> or bottom surface <NUM> in a similar manner as wall panel <NUM> to create one or more false walls for the side, top or bottom surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, of compartment <NUM>. Similar to previous embodiments, wall panel <NUM> may also be configured to extend behind, and be installed independently of, one or more compartment storage structures <NUM>, allowing for ease of replacement and contributing to a clean and streamlined appearance within compartment <NUM>.

Wall panel <NUM> may also be configured to provide both functional and aesthetic elements for refrigerator <NUM>. For example, wall panel <NUM> may serve to hide or disguise one or more refrigerator components or structures disposed behind the wall panel <NUM>, such as one or more refrigerator components (not shown), similar to embodiments described above. In at least one embodiment, wall panel <NUM> may also incorporate one or more lights or lighting structures <NUM> in proximity to wall panel <NUM> to provide light to compartment <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, lighting structures <NUM>, such as a light strip, may be provided behind wall panel <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, lighting structures may be disposed in other locations near wall panel <NUM>, or incorporated in a surface of wall panel <NUM>.

Wall panel <NUM> may be comprised of a glass, plastic, or other material that allows light from lighting structures <NUM> to illuminate wall panel <NUM>. For example, wall panel <NUM> may include a semi-opaque glass surface that allows light to shine through, yet prevents a user from seeing through wall panel <NUM> to a back surface of cabinet <NUM>. In at least one case, wall panel <NUM> may be comprised of a milky white glass material, giving compartment <NUM> a larger feel.

Lighting structures <NUM> may be configured as would be contemplated by a skilled artisan. For example, lighting structures <NUM> may include an incandescent light source, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamp or bulb, an LED strip, a fluorescent light, or other source of light. In at least one embodiment, lighting structures <NUM> comprise an LED light strip that is coupled with control circuitry <NUM> for control and provision of light, as described in more detail below.

In operation, wall panel <NUM> may be configured to transition from a dimly lit condition to a fully lit condition when a user opens door <NUM>, or otherwise interacts with refrigerator <NUM>. Thus, in at least some embodiments, refrigerator <NUM> may include control circuitry <NUM>, including a controller <NUM> described below, coupled to and configured to communicate with and control various components and systems of refrigerator <NUM>, including lighting structures <NUM>. For example, <FIG> depicts exemplary and simplified controller <NUM> which may be configured to receive inputs from various components of refrigerator <NUM>, such as various sensors and systems, and also to control a variety of components in refrigerator <NUM>, such as cooling components, lights, sounds, and other components as would be known by a skilled artisan. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, a controller <NUM> may be configured to activate lighting structure <NUM> associated with lighted wall panel <NUM>.

Controller <NUM> may be configured as would be understood in the art, and at the very least includes a processor <NUM> and memory <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may be configured to run various control algorithms and routines present in memory <NUM>, such as door ajar logic routine <NUM>. However, it will be understood and appreciated that controller <NUM> may include various other analog or digital circuitries that would be known in the art, and the depiction in <FIG> is for illustrative purposes only, and is simplified for understanding of the concepts pertinent to aspects described herein. Furthermore, controller <NUM> may include many different logic routines for control of various systems within refrigerator <NUM>, including systems for control of lighting structures <NUM> and wall panel <NUM>, and that door ajar logic routine <NUM> is only exemplary of one such embodiment of many contemplated herein.

Controller <NUM> may be coupled to a variety of sensors and systems within refrigerator <NUM>. In at least one embodiment, refrigerator <NUM> includes at least one door ajar detection system <NUM>, configured to detect when a user opens one or both of doors <NUM>. As noted, however, <FIG> is a simplified depiction of a controller <NUM> which may be associated with refrigerator <NUM>, and it will also be appreciated that refrigerator <NUM> may include a variety of other known sensors and mechanisms for gathering information for controller <NUM>, or for controlling various aspects of refrigerator <NUM>, including the systems and processes described herein as well as those not discussed herein.

Controller <NUM> may be configured to receive inputs from the various sensors and systems to make decisions and control aspects or various components of refrigerator <NUM>. In one aspect, controller <NUM> may receive an indication that a door <NUM> is in an open position. Such inputs may inform various control routines, such as door ajar logic routine <NUM>, as described in more detail below. The various inputs may also facilitate control of components, such as the actuation and control of lighting structures <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, door ajar logic routine <NUM> may be implemented by controller <NUM> according to an embodiment described herein. Specifically, at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> may be configured to receive input from door ajar detection system <NUM> indicating whether one or both of doors <NUM> are in an open position. If doors <NUM> are not open, door ajar logic routine <NUM> will continue looping. However, if doors <NUM> are open, at step <NUM>, controller may activate lighting structures <NUM>. At step <NUM>, controller <NUM> may be configured to receive input from door ajar detection system <NUM> indicating whether one or both of doors <NUM> are subsequently closed. If doors <NUM> have not been closed, door ajar logic routine <NUM> will continue looping through step <NUM>. However, if doors <NUM> have been closed, at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> may deactivate lighting structures <NUM>, and continue to the beginning of door ajar logic routine <NUM>.

For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in <FIG> and <FIG>. Unless stated otherwise, the term "front" shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer of the display mirror, and the term "rear" shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer of the appliance.

The terms "including," "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises a. " does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>);
a compartment (<NUM>) for storing food within the cabinet (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) configured to seal the compartment (<NUM>);
a refrigeration component disposed within the cabinet (<NUM>); and
a wall panel (<NUM>) within the cabinet (<NUM>),
wherein the wall panel (<NUM>) extends from a lower end of the compartment (<NUM>) to an upper end (<NUM>) of the compartment (<NUM>),
wherein the wall panel (<NUM>) separates the compartment (<NUM>) from the refrigeration component,
wherein the wall panel (<NUM>) comprises a three-dimensional molded surface,
wherein the three-dimensional molded surface comprises a three-dimensional pattern extending from a first side end (<NUM>) of the wall panel (<NUM>) to a second side end (<NUM>) of the wall panel (<NUM>),
wherein the wall panel (<NUM>) includes a compartment facing side (<NUM>) and a cabinet facing side (<NUM>),
wherein the compartment facing side (<NUM>) exhibits a pattern peak (<NUM>), jutting outward from the cabinet facing side (<NUM>), and a pattern valley (<NUM>) and
wherein an interior surface of the cabinet (<NUM>) comprises a back surface (<NUM>) and a pair of side surfaces (<NUM>),
characterised in that the side surfaces (<NUM>) comprise a reflective material.