US4142092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerator cabinet case heater installation
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1978-01-05
•
Granted: 1979-02-27
•
Expires: 1998-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A cabinet heater installation particularly adapted for field repair of refrigerator cabinet warming heaters or for a supplemental cabinet heater for severe humidity conditions. The installation includes a heater element installed about the exterior lateral and top surfaces of the cabinet outer case adjacent the outer case reentrant flanges. The heater cable is housed within a protective and decorative trim channel secured to the cabinet outer case. The electrical leads for the heating element pass into the machine compartment for connections to the power supply through openings located beneath the trim channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Abrams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:58
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; F; F25; F25D; F25D21/00; F25D21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
In a refrigerator of the type including a refrigerator cabinet comprised of an outer case having lateral surfaces thereof and at least one access door adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the door sealing areas on said refrigerator outer case, the combination of a cabinet warming installation, said installation comprising: a heater element means mounted to the exterior of said cabinet extending about the lateral surfaces of said outer case adjacent said door sealing areas of said cabinet; means for energizing said heater element whereby said cabinet is warmed by said exteriorly mounted heater element means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a refrigerator of the type including a refrigerator cabinet comprised of an outer case having lateral surfaces thereof and at least one access door adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the door sealing areas on said refrigerator outer case, the combination of a cabinet warming installation, said installation comprising: a heater element means mounted to the exterior of said cabinet extending about the lateral surfaces of said outer case adjacent said door sealing areas of said cabinet; means for energizing said heater element whereby said cabinet is warmed by said exteriorly mounted heater element means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The refrigerator according to claim 1 further including a decorative trim secured to said cabinet outer case covering said heater element means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein said means for energizing said heater element means includes openings formed in said outer case at a point adjacent the equipment compartment of said refrigerator, said openings being located beneath said decorative trim.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein said heater element means comprises an electrical resistance heating element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein said means energizing said heater element means comprises electrical leads electrically connected to said electrical resistance element, said electrical leads extending through an opening formed in said cabinet outer case adjacent the equipment compartment of said refrigerator, said openings being located beneath said decorative trim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The refrigerator according to claim 4 further including a foil strip secured to said resistance heating element, said foil strip being bonded to said cabinet outer case.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The refrigerator according to claim 2 wherein said decorative trim comprises channel means positioned over said heating element means and secured to said refrigerator cabinet outer case.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigerator according to claim 6 wherein said channel is provided in sections thereof and each disposed about said lateral surfaces of said refrigerator cabinet.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of repairing refrigerator units having refrigerator cabinet case heater elements extending within the interior of the refrigerator cabinet about the door sealing areas comprising the steps of: mounting a heater element on the exterior surfaces of said refrigerator outer case about the surfaces thereof immediately adjacent said door sealing areas.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of repairing refrigerator units having refrigerator cabinet case heater elements extending within the interior of the refrigerator cabinet about the door sealing areas comprising the steps of: mounting a heater element on the exterior surfaces of said refrigerator outer case about the surfaces thereof immediately adjacent said door sealing areas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 9 further including the step of mounting a decorative trim over said heater element to said refrigerator cabinet outer case.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 9 further including the step of bonding a self-adhesive foil to said refrigerator outer case about said cabinet periphery on said outer case surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said decorative trim comprises a trim channel and wherein in said step of mounting said protective trim, said channel is installed covering said heater element.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of providing supplemental cabinet warming means for a refrigerator cabinet having cabinet heating means to supplement the heating means and to correct excessive cabinet condensation in extreme humidity conditions, the method comprising: installing a heater element about the heater cabinet exterior surface areas subject to formation of condensate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of providing supplemental cabinet warming means for a refrigerator cabinet having cabinet heating means to supplement the heating means and to correct excessive cabinet condensation in extreme humidity conditions, the method comprising: installing a heater element about the heater cabinet exterior surface areas subject to formation of condensate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 13 further including the step of installing a decorative and protective trim over the heating element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-02-26 | 1982-08-28 | 1983-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-26 | 1986-08-28 | 1987-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-26 | 1990-08-28 | 1991-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |