US3600905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-humidity compartment for refrigerators
Assignee: Goodman Co LP
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Filing: 1969-08-13
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A high-humidity compartment, disposed in the bottom of the refrigerator compartment of a combination freezer-refrigerator, employs a drawer surrounded by a spaced sleeve. In order to permit the use of roller-type suspension so that the drawer can slide freely in and out, the sleeve is sealed against the side, back and front walls of the drawer. Into the space therebeneath cold air, whose flow is controlled by a damper, is ducted from the freezer compartment and bathes the bottom wall and the lower portions of the side and backwalls of the drawer, the air exiting from the sleeve to join the air from the refrigerator compartment returning to the freezer compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore F Dymek
- 👤 Herbert D Neudeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:22
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D17/042; F25D17/045; F25D17/06; F25D17/062; F25D17/065; F25D25/00; F25D25/02; F25D25/021; F25D2317/00; F25D2317/04; F25D2317/041; F25D2317/0413; F25D2317/06; F25D2317/061; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In refrigerating apparatus having a freezer compartment and an above freezing refrigerator compartment, said refrigerator compartment having rear, side and bottom walls, a high-humidity storage compartment disposed in said refrigerator compartment, said high-humidity compartment including a drawer slidably mounted for horizontal movement from a closed position outwardly to an open position for access thereto, a subfreezing airsleeve surrounding at least the bottom and sidewalls of said drawer in spaced relation thereto, the front of said drawer forming the front wall of and closing said sleeve when said drawer is in its closed position, and an air inlet to and an air outlet from said sleeve communicating with said freezer compartment for circulation of subfreezing air therefrom through said sleeve around at least the side and bottom walls of said drawer, the improvements in combination therewith comprising: means including rollers carried by said sleeve engaging the top edges of said drawer sidewalls and suspending said drawer in said sleeve for friction-free movement between said drawer positions; and gasket means sealing the interior of said drawer from communication with the cold air in said sleeve when said drawer is in its closed position, said gasket means including a pair of laterally flexible gaskets carried by said sleeve and sealingly engaging the sidewalls of said drawer below the top edges thereof, said drawer sidewalls slidably engaging and laterally flexing said gaskets during said drawer movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In refrigerating apparatus having a freezer compartment and an above freezing refrigerator compartment, said refrigerator compartment having rear, side and bottom walls, a high-humidity storage compartment disposed in said refrigerator compartment, said high-humidity compartment including a drawer slidably mounted for horizontal movement from a closed position outwardly to an open position for access thereto, a subfreezing airsleeve surrounding at least the bottom and sidewalls of said drawer in spaced relation thereto, the front of said drawer forming the front wall of and closing said sleeve when said drawer is in its closed position, and an air inlet to and an air outlet from said sleeve communicating with said freezer compartment for circulation of subfreezing air therefrom through said sleeve around at least the side and bottom walls of said drawer, the improvements in combination therewith comprising: means including rollers carried by said sleeve engaging the top edges of said drawer sidewalls and suspending said drawer in said sleeve for friction-free movement between said drawer positions; and gasket means sealing the interior of said drawer from communication with the cold air in said sleeve when said drawer is in its closed position, said gasket means including a pair of laterally flexible gaskets carried by said sleeve and sealingly engaging the sidewalls of said drawer below the top edges thereof, said drawer sidewalls slidably engaging and laterally flexing said gaskets during said drawer movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said gasket means also includes gaskets abuttingly engaging the rear wall of said drawer, and further gaskets abuttingly engaging the front of said sleeve and the front wall of said drawer, when said drawer is in its closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 2 including damper means disposed within said sleeve adjacent said sleeve air inlet for manually adjusting the quantity of air from said freezer compartment circulated through said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the bottom and sidewalls of said refrigerator compartment form respectively the bottom and sidewalls of said sleeve, and said refrigerator and freezer compartments are laterally disposed with respect to each other on the sides of a partition wall therebetween, said partition wall adjacent the lower rear corner thereof having a return air duct communicating with said freezer and refrigerator compartments, and wherein said sleeve includes a backwall forwardly of said return air duct, said sleeve air outlet being disposed in said backwall remote from said partition wall and said sleeve air inlet being disposed in said partition wall adjacent its forward edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said gasket means also includes gaskets carried by said backwall and said drawer front abuttingly engaging said sleeve backwall and the front of said sleeve, respectively, when said drawer is in its closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said sleeve includes a manually adjustable damper therewithin adjacent said sleeve air inlet and pivotally mounted to progressively increase or decrease the quantity of cold air admitted to said sleeve from said freezer compartment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |