US4288995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Household refrigerator movable storage assembly
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1979-11-26
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Granted: 1981-09-15
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Expires: 1999-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A movable storage assembly for a refrigerator having a freezer compartment and fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment being separated by a partition interconnected by an air duct, with the air duct having an inlet opening in the freezing compartment and an air outlet opening in the fresh food compartment. The movable storage assembly includes a removable storage pan, a shroud for the pan having a bottom wall and two side walls and open at the front and rear. There is a cover for the pan secured to the shroud and the shroud and pan cooperate to provide an air flow path therebetween. An air director pivotally attached to the rear of the shroud is provided and there are controls, including a movable control mechanism assembly, a linkage member cooperating with the air director and the movable control mechanism assembly to move the air director to open and closed positions to regulate the amount of cold air flowing around the storage pan. The storage assembly is arranged so that it may be removably secured to the inside of the fresh food compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard J. Grimm
- 👤 Richard A. Dossett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:04
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D17/06; F25D17/062; F25D17/065; F25D25/00; F25D25/02; F25D25/021; F25D2317/00; F25D2317/06; F25D2317/061; F25D2317/065; F25D2317/0653; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/04; F25D2400/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In a refrigerator having a fresh food compartment having side and rear walls, an air duct having an air outlet opening in the fresh food compartment for delivering refrigerated air to the fresh food compartment, a movable storage assembly having air flow control means in the fresh food compartment comprising: a removable storage pan; a shroud for the pan having a bottom wall and two side walls and open at the front and rear, said shroud cooperating with the pan to provide an air flow path therebetween; a cover for the pan secured to the shroud; an air director pivotally attached to the rear of the shroud; control means including a movable control mechanism assembly, a linkage member having at one end cooperating with the air director to move the air director to open and closed positions to regulate the amount of cold air flowing around the storage pan upon movement of the linkage member, and the other end having means responsive to movement of the control mechanism for moving the linkage member; and attachment means for removably securing the storage assembly to the inside of the fresh food compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a refrigerator having a fresh food compartment having side and rear walls, an air duct having an air outlet opening in the fresh food compartment for delivering refrigerated air to the fresh food compartment, a movable storage assembly having air flow control means in the fresh food compartment comprising: a removable storage pan; a shroud for the pan having a bottom wall and two side walls and open at the front and rear, said shroud cooperating with the pan to provide an air flow path therebetween; a cover for the pan secured to the shroud; an air director pivotally attached to the rear of the shroud; control means including a movable control mechanism assembly, a linkage member having at one end cooperating with the air director to move the air director to open and closed positions to regulate the amount of cold air flowing around the storage pan upon movement of the linkage member, and the other end having means responsive to movement of the control mechanism for moving the linkage member; and attachment means for removably securing the storage assembly to the inside of the fresh food compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
In the refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the air director is pivotally secured at each end thereof to the side walls of the shroud.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the movable control mechanism is an arm pivotally secured to the side wall of the shroud and the arm is moved vertically to regulate the amount of cold air flowing around the pan by the air director.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the movable control mechanism is located at the front of the storage assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
In the refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the fresh food compartment has two spaced, vertical, parallel tracks having a plurality of slots along their length and the attachment means for the storage assembly are brackets having hook-shaped means at one end removably inserted in the slots of the tracks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the tracks are secured to the rear wall of the fresh food compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
In the refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the air duct outlet opening is located between the tracks near the upper portions thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
In the refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the brackets are secured to the cover.
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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) | 1984-09-14 | 1985-03-16 | 1985-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-14 | 1989-03-16 | 1989-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-14 | 1993-03-16 | 1993-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |