Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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STORAGE BIN ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more
s particularly, to a storage bin assembly for retaining articles on a door of
a
refrigerator.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
It is well known in the art of refrigerated appliances to form doors
having inner liners that are provided with structure to support storage
to units for retaining various food containers. Typically, the storage units
are in the form of fixed or removable bins that are supported by the door.
The removable bins can be arranged at various positions on the inner liner
to provide adequate spacing for food items and containers having varying
heights.
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In many cases, the bins are of a unitary construction and typically
injection molded from plastic. In other cases, the bins are formed from
multiple pieces that enable designers to construct creative shapes and/or
tailor the bins to meet particular consumer tastes. Multiple-piece bins
generally take the form of a base portion to which is attached a unique
facade. The facade can either be opaque or transparent and shaped or
formed with various designs that enable the bin to blend or otherwise
compliment aesthetic features present in the refrigerator.
The prior art contains a number of examples of mufti-piece bins, as
io well as methods of attaching a facade to a base portion. Ideally, the base
portion is designed so as to cooperate with a wide range of appliance
platforms and to accept a wide variety of facades. In this manner, a
single base portion can be employed to create a number of different
storage bin configurations for use in various appliance models. The prior
is art contains examples of securing facades to the base portion through use
of adhesives, sonic welding or through a simple snap-in arrangement.
While each method has a particular advantage, the snap-in arrangement
results in lower manufacturing costs.
Despite the existence of mufti-piece storage bins in the prior art,
zo there still exists a need for simple, cost effective and robust mounting
arrangements for securing facades to bases of mufti-piece storage bins.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to storage bin assembly that can
be selectively and removably mounted to an inner liner of a refrigerator
door. In accordance with the invention, the storage bin assembly includes
a base portion, along with a facade or face portion. The base portion
includes front, bottom, rear and opposing side walls that collectively
define a storage cavity. The front wall is formed with a frontal opening
that is collectively defined by first and second side portions and a bottom
portion of the front wall.
i o In further accordance with the invention, each of the first and
second side portions of the front wall is provided with both a mounting
element and a mounting component. Additionally, the bottom portion of
the front wall is provided with a recess for receiving a bottom section of
the face portion. Furthermore, side sections of the face portion are
is provided with both mounting members that engage with the mounting
component on the frontal wall and a mounting part that engages with the
mounting element of the frontal wall to detachably secure the face portion
to the base portion.
In accordance with one embodiment, the mounting element and
Zo mounting component are constituted by a slot and a depression
respectively. The mounting member and mounting part are constituted
by a raised rib and a flange respectively. In addition, each side portion is
provided with a boss or pin. With this arrangement, the pin is inserted
into the slot. Thereafter, the face portion is shifted until the raised rib
Zs snaps into the slot in order to secure the face portion in the frontal
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opening of the base portion. Once in place, the flange nests within the
depression to prevent forward excursion of the face portion.
In accordance with another embodiment, the mounting element and
mounting component are constituted by first and second notches formed
s in a rear surface of the first and second side portions, while the mounting
member and mounting part are constituted by first and second fingers that
project from each of the opposing side sections of the face portion. Each
notch opens into a slot that extends toward the bottom portion of the front
wall. To mount a face portion to a base portion of a storage bin assembly
~o constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the fingers are initially
aligned with and inserted into respective notches. Thereafter, the face
portion is shifted downward such that the fingers are retained within the
slot. To provide a more robust attachment, a recessed portion of the front
wall is provided with at least one aperture, and the bottom section of the
~s face portion includes a tab. When the face portion is shifted into place,
the tab extends into the aperture and engages the base portion.
In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the
recess formed in the bottom portion of the front wall is provided with
structure to properly align the face portion with the base portion. In
Zo accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, the structure is
constituted by a guide member that extends across the frontal opening at
the recess. In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, the
structure is constituted by mounting blocks arranged in the recess.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present
is invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed
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description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with
the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts
in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
s Figure 1 is a partial, perspective view of a side-by-side refrigerator
incorporating a storage bin assembly constructed in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is an upper right perspective view of the storage bin
assembly constructed in accordance with the invention;
io Figure 3 is an exploded view of the storage bin assembly of Figure
2;
Figure 4 is an upper right perspective view of the storage bin
assembly of Figure 2, illustrating a face portion of the storage bin
assembly being secured to a base portion thereof;
is Figure S is an exploded, upper rear perspective view of a storage
bin assembly constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 6 is a detail view of a front corner portion of the storage bin
assembly of Figure S;
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Figure 7 is a bottom view of the storage bin assembly of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is an exploded, upper rear perspective view of a storage
bin assembly constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the
present invention;
s Figure 9 is a detail view of a front corner portion of the storage bin
assembly of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a bottom view of the storage bin assembly of Figure 8;
and
Figure 11 is an exploded, upper rear perspective view of a storage
io bin assembly constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
With initial reference to Figure 1, a refrigerator, generally indicated
is at 2, is shown to include a cabinet shell 4 which is provided with a liner
6.
As shown, liner 6 defines a fresh food compartment 8 which, in a manner
known in the art, is provided with a plurality of shelves 10-12 for
supporting various food articles and the like. Shelves 10-12 are
adjustably mounted upon a pair of shelf rails, one of which is indicated at
Zo 14. Arranged below shelves 10-12 is a crisper bin 18 which, in a manner
known in the art, provides a controlled environment for select food items.
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Positioned at an upper portion of fresh food compartment 8 is a control
housing 19 which enables a consumer to set various settings for
refrigerator 2.
In a manner known in the art, refrigerator 2 is also shown to
s include a fresh food door 20 which selectively extends across fresh food
compartment 8. In a manner also known in the art, refrigerator 2 is
provided with a freezer door 22 that selectively closes a freezer
compartment (not shown). In any event, fresh food door 20 is shown to
include an outer shell 24 and an inner liner 26. Arranged at an upper
io portion (not separately labeled) of inner liner 26 is a compartment 30 for
holding butter and the like. Additionally, side portions (not separately
labeled) of inner liner 26 are provided with a plurality of support rails one
of which is indicated at 32, which enable a consumer to selectively
position a plurality of storage bins 36-39 on inner liner 26. Although
is storage bins 36-39 could be formed in various ways, each storage bin 36-
39 is preferably injection molded as two-pieces which are assembled as
discussed further below with reference to storage bin 37.
Reference will now be made to Figures 2-4 in describing storage
bin 37 constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the
Zo invention. As shown, storage bin 37 includes a base portion 51 having a
front wall 54, bottom wall 55, rear wall 56, and opposing side walls 57
and 58 that collectively define a storage cavity 59. In a manner known in
the art, arranged on each opposing side wall 57, 58 is a support lug 61.
Support lug 61 is designed to cooperate with support rails 32 on inner
zs liner 26 to position and retain storage bin 37 on fresh food door 20. As
best shown in Figures 3 and 4, base portion S 1 includes a frontal opening
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66 defined by a first side portion 68, a second side portion 69 and a
bottom portion 71 of front wall 54.
In accordance with the invention, first and second side portions 68
and 69 are provided with corresponding first and second mounting
s components 80 and 81. First and second side portions 68 and 69 are also
provided with corresponding first and second mounting elements 85 and
86. In accordance with the embodiment shown, first and second
mounting components 80 and 81 are constituted by slots formed in first
and second side portions 68 and 69 respectively, while first and second
io mounting elements 85 and 86 are constituted by depressions formed on a
rear side (not separately labeled) of first and second side portions 68 and
69. In addition, bottom portion 71 is provided with a recess 92 that, in
combination with mounting components 80 and 81 and mounting
elements 85 and 86, function to retain a face portion 100 of storage bin 37
is across frontal opening 66. Preferably, face portion 100 is formed from a
plastic-like material that can be either transparent or opaque. In addition,
face portion 100 can be molded with various different designs depending
upon the particular model type of refrigerator 2 into which storage bin 37
is to be incorporated.
ao In any event, regardless of the particular material used, face portion
100 includes a top section 110, a bottom section 111 and opposing side
sections 112 and 113 which surround a front surface 114 and a rear
surface 115. In accordance with the embodiment shown, opposing side
sections 112 and 113 are provided with corresponding first and second
Zs mounting members 119 and 120, as well as first and second mounting
parts 122 and 123. As shown, each mounting member 119, 120 is
s
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constituted by a raised, laterally projecting rib, while each mounting part
122, 123 is constituted by a lateral flange. In order to secure face portion
100 to base portion 51 while, at the same time, prevent forward excursion
of face portion 100 beyond front wall 54, mounting members 119 and
s 120 are adapted to interengage with mounting components 80 and 81 on
first and second side portions 68 and 69. In addition, mounting parts 122
and 123 are formed so as to engage with, and actually nest within,
mounting elements 85 and 86. Furthermore, in order to ensure that a
seamless fit is achieved between face portion 100 and base portion S 1,
to bottom section 111 is provided with a lip 130 that projects within recess
92 in bottom portion 71. To still further aid in the overall positioning and
mounting of face portion 100 to base portion 51, a respective pin or boss
134, 135 is provided on a lower section (not separately labeled) of each
opposing side section 112 and 113.
is Face portion 100 is actually snap-fittingly secured to base portion
51 through interengagement of mounting members 119 and 120 with
mounting components 80 and 81, as well as the engagement of mounting
parts 122 and 123 with mounting elements 85 and 86. More specifically,
with particular reference to Figure 4, pins 134 and 135 are initially
2o positioned within first and second mounting components 80 and 81. At
this point, face portion 100 is rotated upward so that first and second
mounting members 119 and 120 snap into first and second mounting
components 80 and 81 while the first and second mounting parts 122 and
123 abut and nest within mounting elements 85 and 86. With lip 130
2s resting within recess 92, an overall seamless appearance is established for
storage bin 37 as clearly represented in Figure 2.
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Reference will now be made to Figures 5-7 in describing a second
embodiment of the present invention where like reference numbers refer
to corresponding parts in the various views. In accordance with the
embodiment shown, a of storage bin 37' includes a base portion 51 that is
s provided with a frontal opening 150. Frontal opening 1 SO includes first
and second side portions 153 and 154, as well as a bottom portion 156.
Each side portions 153, 154 is provided with mounting components 159
and 160 defined by openings formed in rear sections (not separately
labeled) of side portions 153 and 154. Mounting components 159 and
io 160 are constituted by notches that lead into respective slots, one of
which is shown at 163. In addition to mounting components 159 and
160, side portions 153 and 154 are provided with mounting elements 166
and 167 which are also defined by notches formed on rear sections (not
separately labeled) of side portions 153 and 154 that lead into respective
~s slots, such as indicated at 169. In the embodiment shown, mounting
elements 166 and 167 are actually positioned below mounting
components 159 and 160. In addition, bottom portion 156 is provided
with a recess 180 having a plurality of openings 182 and 183, as well as a
plurality of slots 186-188, the details of which will be provided more
zo fully below.
In a manner similar to that described above, frontal opening 150 is
adapted to receive a face portion 196 that provides a seamless appearance
for storage bin 3T. Toward that end, face portion 196 includes a top
section 202, a bottom section 203 and opposing side sections 204 and 205
Zs which define a front surface 206 and a rear surface 207. Each opposing
side section 204, 205 includes a corresponding mounting member 209,
210, as well as a corresponding mounting parts 213, 214. In the
io
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embodiment shown, each mounting member 209, 210 and mounting parts
213, 214 is constituted by a square-shaped lug or finger which is adapted
to engage with a corresponding one of mounting components 159 and
160 and mounting elements 166 and 167. In addition, bottom section 203
s is provided with a plurality of clips 218 and 219, each having an
associated hook element 220 (see Figure 6) that are sized to extend into
openings 182 and 183 respectively. In order to ensure proper positioning
of face portion 196, a plurality of tabs 222-224 are also formed on bottom
section 203 and are designed to extend into slots 186-188 respectively.
to Finally, bottom section 203 is also provided with a lip 225 used in
mounting face portion 196 as detailed further below.
With this construction, face portion 196 is joined to base portion 51
by simultaneously aligning and inserting mounting members 209 and 210
and mounting parts 213 and 214 into mounting components 159 and 160
~s and mounting elements 166 and 167 respectively. At this point, face
portion 196 is shifted downward such that mounting members 209 and
210 and mounting parts 213 and 214 move through slots 163 and 169
allowing clips 218 and 219 and tabs 222-224 to extend through openings
182 and 183 and slots 186-188 respectively. Once face portion 196 is
Zo fully seated, hooks 220 and 221 engage with bottom portion SS of base
portion 51, while a rear surface of side portions 153 and 154 retain
mounting members 209 and 210 and mounting parts 213 and 214 to snap-
fittingly retain face portion 196 to base portion 51.
Reference will now be made to Figures 8-10 in describing a third
Zs embodiment of the present invention wherein like reference numbers
refer to corresponding parts in the various views. As shown, storage bin
a
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37" includes a base portion 51 having a frontal opening 230. Frontal
opening 230 includes first and second side portions 233 and 234, as well
as a bottom portion 236. In a manner similar to that described above with
respect to frontal opening 1 S0, first and second side portions 233 and 234
s include corresponding first and second mounting components 159 and
160 defined by notches or openings that lead into a slot 163. Likewise,
side portions 233 and 234 are provided with corresponding first and
second mounting elements 166 and 167 which lead into associated slots
169.
to In further accordance with the embodiment shown, bottom portion
236 includes an inner wall portion 250 spaced from an outer wall portion
251 by a central recess 256. Inner wall portion 250 includes a pair of
notches 260 and 261 which are positioned adjacent openings 264 and 265
provided in recess 256. In addition to openings 264 and 265, a guide
is member 267 is formed within recess 256 which assists in the overall
positioning of a front face portion 276 in a manner as will be discussed
more fully below.
In a manner similar to that described with respect to the previous
embodiments, a frontal opening 230 is fitted with a face portion 276
2o including a top section 281, a bottom section 282, opposing side sections
283 and 284, a front surface 285 and a rear surface 286. Opposing side
sections 283 and 284 of face portion 276 are provided with corresponding
first and second mounting members 209 and 210 as well as corresponding
first and second mounting parts 213 and 214. Mounting members 209
Zs and 210 and mounting parts 213 and 214 are adapted to interengage with
mounting components 159 and 160 and mounting elements 166 and 167
iz
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respectively. In accordance with the embodiment shown, bottom section
282 of face portion 276 is formed with a pair of clips 298 and 299, each
having a corresponding hook 300 (see Figure 9). In addition, bottom
section 282 is provided with a web section 304 which extends
substantially perpendicularly from bottom section 186 and preferably
interconnects clips 298 and 299.
In accordance with the present embodiment, face portion 276 is
placed within bottom portion 51 such that mounting members 209 and
210 and mounting parts 213 and 214 align with corresponding ones of
io mounting components 159 and 160 and mounting elements 166 and 167.
Likewise, clips 298 and 299 must be aligned with notches 264 and 265
formed in inner wall section 250. At this point, face portion 276 is
shifted forward such that each of the aforementioned components
intergage, causing front surface 285 to be substantially coplanar with
1s front wall 54. At this point, face portion 276 is shifted downward such
that mounting members 209 and 210 and mounting parts 213 and 214
respectively nest within mounting components 159 and 160 and mounting
elements 166 and 167. In addition, clips 298 and 299 extend through and
secure within openings 264 and 265, while web section 304 rides against
Zo guide member 267 ensuring that front surface 285 provides a seamless
appearance.
In accordance with a still further form of the invention shown in
Figure 11, instead of guide member 267, bottom section 282 of storage
bin 37"' is provided with a pair of guide blocks 366 and 368 which
is cooperate with a positioning element 425 formed on bottom section 282
of front face portion 276. Positioning element 425 cooperates with guide
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blocks 366 and 368 to ensure that front surface 285 and front portion 156
are substantially co-planar providing for a seamless, finished appearance.
In any event, it should be recognized that the present invention allows for
a simple and robust mounting arrangement for securing a facade or front
face portion to a base portion so as to form or establish a multi-piece
storage bin for mounting in a refrigerator.
Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the
invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or
to modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the
spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by
the scope of the following claims.
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