Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02469167 2009-04-08
LOCALIZED REINFORCEMENT SYSTEM
FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more
particularly, to the reinforcement of front corner portions of a refrigerator
cabinet.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In constructing a refrigerator cabinet, it is highly desirable to minimize
the weight of the cabinet shell to reduce manufacturing, transportation and
additional associated costs, yet it is imperative that the cabinet be
structurally sound in order to counteract loads exerted thereon
CA 02469167 2004-05-28
without deforming. Mainly due to cost efficiencies and flexibility in
workmanship, it has been commonplace to utilize sheet metal in the
forming of most refrigerator cabinets on the market today. In the past, it
has been known to employ heavy gauge sheet metal in forming a
refrigerator cabinet, specifically by welding the overall cabinet and then
subsequently painting the entire cabinet. However, these heavier gauge
steel assemblies have more recently been replaced with lighter gauge
steel. Since the sheet metal is thin and rather high loads are often placed
on the shell, particularly by the opening and closing of a weighted down
io refrigerator door, a fair amount of effort has been applied in this art to
provide reinforcement for such a refrigerator cabinet.
With this in mind, it has heretofore been proposed to form the sides
and top of a refrigerator cabinet shell out of a single piece of thin, bent
sheet metal which has been pre-painted and then to attach thereto rear and
is bottom walls. To preserve the surface quality of the cabinet, corner welds
have been replaced by mechanical fasteners. However, these changes
have resulted in a reduction in cabinet strength, particularly prior to
insulation foam curing. To compensate for this reduction in structural
integrity, it has been proposed to structurally reinforced the shell in an
2o attempt to avoid deformation during use. Such known reinforcing
arrangements generally take the form of providing either a unitary frame
or multiple reinforcement members, in the form of bars or plates, and
securing these members to the cabinet shell.
Regardless of these proposed refrigerator cabinet constructions,
25 there still exists a need for an improved reinforcement arrangement which
provides for effective localized reinforcement in critical cabinet zones.
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More specifically, there exists a need for a cost efficient and easily
assembled refrigerator cabinet reinforcing arrangement which enables the
effective use of pre-painted, thin sheet metal in creating an aesthetically
pleasing and structurally sound overall refrigerator cabinet assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing localized reinforcement
of a sheet metal refrigerator cabinet. More specifically, the invention is
directed to specifically locating internal cabinet bracing designed to
reinforce front corner portions of the refrigerator cabinet and provide rigid
anchor points for door hinge structure. More preferably, corner brackets are
used in combination with vertical stanchions to provide the necessary
reinforcement at each of the front corner portions to assure that the cabinet
can effectively support pivotally mounted doors without deformation. The
corner brackets and vertical stanchions cooperate with a transverse mullion
to rigidify the frontal portion of the overall cabinet.
In a broad aspect, the invention pertains to a refrigerator cabinet
assembly comprising a shell including first and second laterally spaced
upstanding side walls which are interconnected by a top wall to define first
and second corners. Each of the first and second side walls and the top
wall include a front edge portion being in-turned to form a flange assembly
which defines a liner receiving cavity opening laterally inward of the shell.
The flange assembly includes at least a front flange leading to a return
flange that extends to a rear flange. A mullion extends across the shell and
a reinforcement assembly includes first and second reinforcing members,
each of the first and second reinforcing members being arranged, at spaced
locations, against the rear flange and the first side wall.
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the front
peripheral portion of the refrigerator cabinet includes a triple flange
construction. Since the cabinet is formed from a single bent piece of sheet
metal, the triple flange must be interrupted at lower and upper corner
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regions. The corner brackets and stanchions are provided at these
locations to essentially re-establish the continuous construction, while
simultaneously defining tapping plate structure for the attachment of door
hinges. At the same time, this reinforcing structure accommodates the
attachment of a transverse mullion and the insertion of refrigerator
compartment liners.
Additional aspects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of
a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings
wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several
views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an upper right perspective view showing, in phantom, a
side-by-side refrigerator incorporating the localized reinforcement system of
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a left side reinforcing stanchion
forming part of the localized reinforcement system;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a reinforcing corner bracket which
also forms part of the localized reinforcement system;
Figure 4 is a partially exploded, perspective view of an upper right
cabinet portion of the refrigerator of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a lower right
cabinet portion of the refrigerator of Figure 1;
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Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of an upper corner portion
of the refrigerator cabinet illustrating the mounting of the reinforcing
corner bracket;
Figure 7 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating an initial
relative position for the mounting of the reinforcing stanchion;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a subsequent
mounting position for the reinforcing stanchion;
Figure 9 illustrates a final mounting position for the stanchion of
Figure 8, along with a mullion and liner of the overall refrigerator
io cabinet;
Figure 10 is an upper right perspective view, showing in phantom,
a bottom mount refrigerator incorporating the localized reinforced system
constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a left side reinforcing stanchion
forming part of the localized reinforcement system constructed in
accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a mullion bar forming part of the
localized reinforcement system constructed in accordance with the second
2o embodiment of the present invention; and
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Figure 13 is an exploded view of the mullion bar of Figure 12 and
left side stanchion of Figure 11 incorporated into the refrigerator of
Figure 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
With initial reference to Figure 1, the present invention will be
described in connection with a side-by-side refrigerator generally
indicated in phantom at 2. Refrigerator 2 includes a cabinet shell 4
having side walls 7 and 8 and a top wal19. In the most preferred form of
io the invention, walls 7-9 are formed from bending a single piece of thin
gauge sheet metal which is pre-painted. The sheet metal is also bent to
define a front flange 10 having a top portion 11 and side portions 12 and
13. Extending across and interconnecting a lower front portion of side
walls 7 and 8 of cabinet shell 4 is a bottom mullion 14. The particular
is mounting of bottom mullion 14 in accordance with the invention will be
described more fully below.
Given that refrigerator 2 constitutes a side-by-side style
refrigerator, a vertical mullion 15 is also provided which aids in mounting
a freezer liner 18 that defines a freezer compartment and a fresh food
20 liner 20 which defmes a fresh food compartment. Cabinet shell 4 also has
attached thereto upper hinge brackets 23 and 24, as well as lower hinge
brackets 26 and 27 for pivotally supporting freezer and fresh food doors
(not shown) in a manner generally known in the art.
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Obviously, in forming front flange 10 out of the same piece of
sheet metal forming side walls 7 and 8 and top wall 9, it is necessary to
interrupt the material at the upper front corners. Since upper hinge
brackets 23 and 24 are mounted at these locations, it is considered
important in accordance with the present invention to maintain the
integrity of these portions of cabinet shell 4 as if no interruptions were
present. That is, in forming front flange 10, it is necessary to cut or stamp
the sheet metal at generally 45 angles which creates slight gaps at these
upper corners. Also, the lower corners of cabinet shell 4 adjacent lower
io hinge brackets 26 and 27 are also considered to warrant reinforcement for
structural integrity purposes. To this end, the present invention is
particularly concerned with providing vertical side reinforcing stanchions
30 and 31, as well as upper reinforcing comer brackets 34 and 35, all of
which are shown in Figure 1. As will be detailed more fully below,
stanchions 30 and 31 and corner brackets 34 and 35 cooperate with
particular structure for front flange 10 to provide the desired
reinforcement at these locations in conjunction with bottom mullion 14,
as well as to accommodate the easy assembly of freezer liner 18 and fresh
food liner 20 into cabinet shell 4.
Particular reference will now be made to Figure 2 in describing the
preferred construction of stanchions 30 and 31 in accordance with the
present invention. More particularly, this figure will be referenced in
describing in detail the preferred construction of stanchion 30 and it is to
be understood that stanchion 31 merely represents a mirror image thereof.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, stanchion 30 includes an outer
side wa1140 which extends substantially perpendicular to a front wall 42.
At a lowermost portion of front wall 42, stanchion 30 is provided with a
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lowermost frontal plate 44. As illustrated, lowermost frontal plate 44 is
actually offset from front wall 42, i.e., lowermost frontal plate 44 projects
forward beyond a plane defined by front wall 42. In addition, lowermost
frontal plate 44 is preferably provided with a plurality of apertures 46-48.
s Stanchion 30 also includes an inner side wal153 which extends
substantially perpendicular to front wall 42 and parallel to outer side wall
40. Along a generally central portion of stanchion 30, inner side wal153
is formed with a cut-out 58. At a corresponding location, frontal wa1142
is provided with a transversely projecting tab 61. Spaced from tab 61,
io frontal wall 42 is preferably provided with an additional tab 62. In
accordance with the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the
entire stanchion 30 is formed from a single piece of metal, with outer side
wall 40 and inner side wal153 being bent from front wa1142. The
portions of outer side wal140 and inner side wall 53 at lowermost frontal
15 plate 44 are indicated at 64 and 65 respectively (also see Figures 5 and 7-
9).
Prior to describing the mounting of stanchions 30 and 31 to cabinet
shell 4, the preferred construction for each of corner brackets 34 and 35
will now be described with particular reference to Figure 3. As designed,
2o each of corner brackets 34 and 35 are symmetrically configured such that
a single corner bracket construction can be utilized at each location.
Therefore, specific reference will be made to the construction of corner
bracket 34 in Figure 3 and it is to be understood that an identical
construction for corner bracket 35 exists. As shown, corner bracket 34
25 includes a first or top plate portion 69 and a second or side plate portion
70. At an outermost end of top plate portion 69 are provided upper bent
tabs 73 and 74 which are spaced by a gap defined at edge 76. Top plate
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portion 79 also has associated therewith front and rear, upper depending
flanges 79 and 80 (also see Figure 6). In a similar manner, side plate
portion 70 is provided with front and rear, side depending flanges 82 and
83. In addition, side plate portion 70 is preferably provided with bent
tabs 87 and 88 which are gapped along an edge 90 (see Figures 4 and 6)
of side plate portion 70 remote from top plate portion 69.
As illustrated in Figure 3, top plate portion 69 is provided with a
plurality of spaced holes 94-98. At this point, it should also be noted that,
in accordance with the most preferred embodiment of the invention,
io flange 79 preferably projects downward further from top plate portion 69
than flange 80. In a similar manner, flange 82 preferably projects from
side plate portion 70 a distance greater than flange 83. Further details of
this preferred construction will become more fully apparent below in
describing the interrelationship between corner brackets 34 and 35 and
i5 cabinet shell 4. However, at this point, it should be noted that tabs 73,
74,
87 and 88 are preferably bent from top and side plate portions 69 and 70
to assure that edges 76 and 90 are slightly rolled.
Reference will now be made to Figures 4 and 6 in describing the
preferred construction of front flange 10, along with the mounting of
20 corner bracket 35, upper hinge bracket 24 and fresh food liner 20 in
accordance with the invention. Given the differences in dimensions of
flanges 79 and 82 as compared to flanges 80 and 83, it should be realized
that, in repositioning the bracket discussed above with reference to Figure
3 for use in the upper right corner of refrigerator 2 as shown in Figure 4,
25 the described top plate portion 69 now becomes arranged along side wall
8 of cabinet shell 4 and the previously described side plate portion 70
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extends along top wall 9. Therefore, it should be readily apparent that
utilizing terms such as top and side in connection with describing corner
brackets 34 and 35 are merely utilized for convenience with reference to
particular illustrations. Therefore, these qualifying terms should not be
considered limiting in accordance with the present invention.
In any event, Figure 4 illustrates that plate portion 70 is also
provided with a set of holes 100-104 which correspond to holes 94-98
provided in plate portion 69. Holes 94-98 and/or holes 100-104 are
utilized in interconnecting a respective corner bracket 34, 35 to cabinet
io shell 4, as well as securing a respective upper hinge bracket 23, 24.
Although not considered limiting in accordance with the present
invention, the preferred construction of each of upper hinge brackets 23
and 24 is illustrated in these figures to include a mounting plate portion
108 which leads to an angled portion 109 and a frontal extension 110.
Frontal extension 110 is provided with a hole (not separately labeled)
which accommodates a hinge pin 112. Mounting plate portion 108 is also
provided with a plurality of apertures, one of which is indicated at 113.
Various ones of apertures 113 are adapted to align with respective ones of
holes 94-98 or 100-104 for mounting purposes as will be discussed more
fully below.
Figure 6 illustrates the preferred construction of cabinet shell 4 at
front flange 10 in accordance with the present invention. In general, front
flange 10 forns part of an overall triple flange construction. More
specifically, cabinet shell 4 is preferably provided with front flange 10, a
return flange 125 and a-rear flange 127. That is, cabinet shell 4 is
provided with a bend section 129 and a terminal portion of front flange
CA 02469167 2004-05-28
in order to define return flange 125. Return flange 125 extends
directly along a substantial portion of front flange 10 and leads to a
connection section 131 with rear flange 127. Rear flange 127 also leads
to a terminal bent section 133 which is spaced from top wal19. In
5 general, it should be understood that cabinet shell 4 is provided with a
corresponding triple flange arrangement generally about the front
periphery thereof. However, gaps are necessarily provided at the front
corners of cabinet shell 4. It is considered in accordance with the present
invention that this triple flange arrangement provides significant
io structural reinforcement at the front of cabinet shell 4, but the integrity
of
the overall arrangement is compromised due to the interruptions in the
overall triple front flange arrangement. To this end, the present invention
provides reinforcing stanchions 30 and 31, as well as corner brackets 34
and 35, at these interruption locations in order to simulate, at least as far
as cabinet shell 4 is concerned, that the interruptions do not exist.
As shown in these figures, corner bracket 35 is positioned behind
front flange 10 and, in fact, is actually arranged behind rear flange 127.
More specifically, flanges 79 and 82 extend along the rear flange 127 at
side wall 8 and top wall 9 respectively. Given the distance to which
flanges 79 and 82 project from plate portions 69 and 70, substantially the
entire distance between terminal bent end 133 and a respective one of
side wall 8 or top wa119 is spanned by a respective flange 79, 82 as
clearly shown in Figure 6. On the other hand, flanges 80 and 83 are
considerably shorter than flanges 79 and 82 as flanges 80 and 83 are
spaced well behind front flange 10 and additional material is not
considered necessary. In any event, each of corner brackets 34 and 35 is
nested in the overall triple flange arrangement and each of corner
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brackets 34 and 35 is preferably attached to cabinet shell 4 in this position
through the use of either pop rivets or screws (not shown) at select one of
holes 94-98 and 100-104. If corner bracket 34 or 35 is used in electrical
grounding path, screws are preferably employed. At the same time,
corner brackets 34 and 35 define tapping plates for use in connection with
securing a respective one of upper hinge brackets 23 and 24 in position,
with the alignment of various ones of apertures 113 and holes 94-98 and
100-104 for receiving screws.
As there can be considerable loading upon cabinet shell 4 during
io the overall assembly and use of refrigerator 2, it is considered important
in accordance with the present invention that edges 76 and 90 are rolled
to avoid the existence of raised or sharp edges in order to prevent creases
from being created at these locations in any one of side walls 7 and 8 and
top wall 9. Once corner brackets 34 and 35 are mounted in this manner,
it should be readily recognized that a space still exists between return
flange 125 and rear flange 127 which can readily accommodate an
outwardly extending flange 138 of fresh food liner 20 (Figure 6) or, in a
corresponding manner, of freezer liner 18.
With the inclusion of corner brackets 34 and 35, the structural
integrity established by the triple return flange construction is maintained
at the gaps or interruptions in the triple flange arrangement by the
mounting of the higher gauge metal reinforcement of the corner brackets
34 and 35. At the same time, the corner brackets 34 and 35 define
tapping plates for use in connection with the secure fixing of upper hinge
brackets 23 and 24. Furthermore, the advantageous. formi.ng of rolled
edges 76 and 90 assures that a high quality, aesthetic appearance in the
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outer surface of the pre-painted cabinet shell 4 will be maintained.
However, provisions are also considered necessary in connection with
reinforcing the lower frontal end portions of cabinet shell 4 at front flange
10, while accommodating the mounting of freezer and fresh food liners
18 and 20 and lower hinge brackets 26 and 27 through the use of bottom
mullion 14 and stanchions 30 and 31 which will now be described with
particular reference to Figures 5 and 7-9.
As clearly illustrated, the overall triple front flange construction at
these portions of cabinet shell 4 are the same as that described above with
io respect to Figure 6 such that like reference numerals have been utilized to
refer to corresponding parts. Figure 5 illustrates the positioning of
stanchion 31 and particular reference will be made to Figures 7-9 in
indicating the manner in which either one of stanchions 30 or 31 is
mounted. As shown, stanchion 31 is rotated to a position behind rear
flange 127, between terminal bent section 133 and side wall 8. Terminal
bent section 133 is preferably provided with a pair of longitudinally
spaced slots 143 and 144 (also see Figure 5) into which project tabs 61
and 62 respectively. In this manner, tabs 61 and 62 function to properly
locate the respective stanchion 30, 31 vertically. The distance between
outer side wal140 and inner side wa1153 is only slightly less than the
distance between a respective one of side walls 7 and 8 and terminal bent
section 133 such that, as clearly shown in Figure 9, the stanchion 30, 31
spans the distance between the side walls 7, 8 and terminal bent section
133, while frontal wall 42 is abutted up against rear flange 127.
At a lowermost portion of cabinet she114, the triple flange
arrangement is terminated such that the offset lowermost frontal plate 44
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of a respective stanchion 30, 31 extends further forward towards front
flange 10. Of course, this is at a position located lower than the
attachment of either freezer liner 18 or fresh food liner 20. However, this
is at a position wherein a terminal end 148 of bottom mullion 14 projects
s behind front flange 10 as clearly shown in Figure 9. In the most preferred
form of the invention, the portion of bottom mullion 14 which spans the
open frontal space between the front flange 10 and each of side walls 7
and 8 extends in a substantially coplanar relationship with the front
flanges 10 as clearly shown in this figure. Due to the inclusion of bend
io section 129, bottom mullion 14 also preferably includes an arcuate
section 150 at each end which extends around a respective bend section
129 and leads to terminal end 148. With this arrangement, terminal end
148 of bottom mullion 14 is sandwiched between front flange 10 and
lowermost frontal plate 44. A headless rivet attachment is preferably
15 utilized in interconnecting terminal end 148 of bottom mullion 14 and
cabinet shell 4 and, following insertion of a respective stanchion 30, 31
and the positioning of a respective lower hinge bracket 26, 27, at least
two screws, which extend through apertures in the respective lower hinge
bracket 26, 27, front flange 10 and terminal end 148 of bottom mullion
20 14, are threadably secured into apertures 46 and 48 of the respective
stanchion 30, 31 for fixedly securing the lower hinge bracket 26, 27 in
place and solidifying the overall attachment.
With this construction, tabs 61 and 62 effectively cooperate with
terminal bent section 133 to properly locate stanchion 30, 31 and a
25 respective lower hinge bracket 26, 27 can be simultaneously attached to
cabinet shell 4 with a respective stanchion 30, 31. In this manner,
stanchions 30 and 31, along with bottom mullion 14, provide the desired
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lower structural reinforcement for cabinet shell 4 to adequately support
freezer and fresh food doors without undue flexing of cabinet shell 4
during further assembling, transporting or accessing refrigerator 2 during
its life span. Therefore, this localized reinforcement system assures the
structural integrity of the overall cabinet shell 4. Importantly, the various
components of the reinforcement system can be easily assembled, while
defining a cost efficient and extremely effective reinforcing arrangement.
Referring to Figure 10 which illustrates another embodiment of the
present invention wherein like reference numerals indicate corresponding
io parts to the embodiment described above, a bottom mount refrigerator 2'
includes a cabinet shell 4' within which is positioned a freezer liner 18'
that defmes a freezer compartment arranged in a lower portion of cabinet
shell 4', while a fresh food liner 20' defines a fresh food compartment
arranged above the freezer compartment. Separating freezer liner 18' and
fresh food liner 20' is a horizontal mullion bar 200. In a manner known in
the art, a freezer door (not shown) is either pivotally mounted or slidably
supported to selectively seal or access the freezer compartment. To
support a freezer door and/or a fresh food compartment door in
accordance with the invention, additional, localized reinforcement is
provided at either or both side portions 12 ' and 13' of front flange 10'.
More specifically, stanchions 210 and 212 are arranged behind respective
side portions 12' and 13'. As front flange 10' and side portions 12' and 13'
are formed in a manner directly corresponding to front flange 10 and side
portions 12 and 13 of the first described embodiment, these details will
not be reiterated here.
CA 02469167 2004-05-28
Particular reference will now be made to Figure 11 in describing
the preferred construction of stanchions 210 and 212 in accordance with
this preferred embodiment of the present invention. More particularly,
this figure will be referenced in describing in detail the preferred
construction of stanchion 210 and it is to be understood that stanchion
212 merely represents a mirror image thereof. In the embodiment
illustrated, stanchion 210 includes an outer side wall 215 which extends
substantially perpendicular to a front wall 217. At a lowermost portion of
front wall 217, stanchion 210 is provided with a lowermost frontal plate
i o 219. As illustrated, lowermost frontal plate 219 is actually offset from
front wal1217, i.e., lowermost frontal plate 219 projects forward beyond
a plane defined by front wall 217. In addition, lowermost frontal plate
219 is preferably provided with a plurality of apertures 221 and 223. In
accordance with this form of the present invention, stanchion 210 further
includes an intermediate frontal plate 225 provided at an intermediate
portion of front wall 217. In a manner similar to that described for
lowermost frontal plate 219, intermediate frontal plate 225 is offset from
front wa11217 and includes a plurality of apertures 227 and 228.
Extended stanchion 210 also includes an inner side wall portion
2o 230 which extends substantially perpendicular to front wall 217 and
parallel to outer side wall 215. Inner side wall portion 230 is provided
with a plurality of cut-outs 232-235, each of which includes a
corresponding transversely projecting tab 238-241. Stanchion 210 is also
provided with a pair of spaced apertures 245 and 246 which, as will be
detailed more fully below, provide attachment points for horizontally
extending mullion 200. Tn acco,-dance with this preferred form of the
invention, the entire extended stanchion 210 is formed from a single piece
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of inetal, with outer side wall 215 and inner side wall 230 being bent
relative to front wall 217.
In accordance with the present embodiment, horizontal mullion
200 extends between side portions 12' and 13' and interconnects with
intermediate frontal plate 225 of stanchions 210 and 212 (Figure 10). As
shown best in Figure 12, horizontal mullion 200 includes a first end 250
and a second end 251 which are interconnected by a transverse web
portion 252. Particular reference will now be made to Figures 12 and 13
in describing the preferred construction of horizontal mullion 200 in
io accordance with the present invention. More particularly, these figures
will be referenced in describing in detail the preferred construction of
first end 250 and it is to be understood that second end 252 merely
represents a mirror image thereof.
In the embodiment illustrated, first end 250 of horizontal mullion
bar 200 includes first and second attachment flanges 260 and 261, each
having respective apertures 263 and 264. As shown, first and second
attachment flanges 260 and 261 project perpendicularly from first end
250 so that apertures 263 and 264 align with spaced apertures 245 and
246 of stanchion 210. Actually first end 250 of mullion 200 is provided
with a third attachment flange 270 that extends, substantially in the same
plane, from transverse web portion 252. Third attachment flange 270
includes a pair of apertures 275 and 276 which align with apertures 227
and 228 of intermediate frontal plate 225. With this arrangement,
horizontal mullion 200 is secured to side portion 12 through stanchion
210 (Figure 13).
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Horizontal mullion 200 is also provided with a mullion frontal
plate 280 which, in combination with intermediate frontal plate 225,
provides support for a central hinge 285. In the most preferred
embodiment, mullion frontal plate 280 projects from transverse web
portion 252 and includes a first raised portion 288 and a second raised
portion 289 having a central mounting aperture 293 for receiving a hinge
mounting fastener. As stanchions 210 and 212 are mounted to cabinet 4'
in a manner directly corresponding to stanchions 30 and 31 of the first
described embodiment, these details will not be reiterated here.
io Regardless, it should be clear that, with this overall arrangement,
stanchions 210 and 212 provide the desired, additional structural
reinforcement for cabinet she114'.
Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the
invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or
modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the
spirit thereof. For instance, although the invention has been disclosed
with reference to side-by-side and bottom mount style refrigerators, the
localized reinforcing system of the invention can also be applied to a top
mount style refrigerator. In this type of refrigerator, it is preferable to
2o extend the height of the stanchions like that of the bottom mount
refrigerator described above, while the stanchions only preferably extend
about 12 inches (approximately 30 cm) in the side-by-side arrangement
shown and described with respect to the first embodiment. Extending the
stanchions in this manner provides reinforcement for central hinge
brackets employed in mounting the upper and lower compartment doors.
In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the
following claims.
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