US4539819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reversible meat keeper for refrigerator
Assignee: Maytag Corp
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Filing: 1984-09-19
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2004-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerator having a reversible cold air meat keeper for providing convenient access thereto regardless of the side of the refrigerator that the doors are hinged. The cold air is channeled into a plenum behind the back wall of the refrigerator compartment and there are at least two spaced ports communicating from the plenum into the chamber. The cold air meat keeper has a conduit extending from the rear wall thereof. In one predetermined mounting position of the meat keeper, the conduit removably couples with one of the ports for receiving cold air from the plenum. In the alternate predetermined mounting position of the meat keeper, the conduit removably couples with the other port for receiving cold air.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Alba
- 👤 Michael A. Hawkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:56
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D17/06; F25D17/062; F25D17/065; F25D2317/00; F25D2317/06; F25D2317/061; F25D2317/067; F25D2317/0672; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/04; F25D2400/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
The method of reversing the side that a cold air meat keeper is mounted in a refigerator compartment having a plenum behind its back wall for supplying said meat keeper, comprising the steps of: removing said meat keeper from a premounted compartment position where a conduit extending rearwardly from said meat keeper couples with a first port in said back wall of said compartment to supply cold air from said plenum to said meat keeper; removing a plug from a second port in the back wall of said compartment; remounting said meat keeper in an alternate position spaced from said premounted position, said alternate position providing self alignment of said conduit to said second port for receiving cold air through said second port to said meat keeper; and covering said first port with said plug.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
The method of reversing the side that a cold air meat keeper is mounted in a refigerator compartment having a plenum behind its back wall for supplying said meat keeper, comprising the steps of: removing said meat keeper from a premounted compartment position where a conduit extending rearwardly from said meat keeper couples with a first port in said back wall of said compartment to supply cold air from said plenum to said meat keeper; removing a plug from a second port in the back wall of said compartment; remounting said meat keeper in an alternate position spaced from said premounted position, said alternate position providing self alignment of said conduit to said second port for receiving cold air through said second port to said meat keeper; and covering said first port with said plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator compartment having a back wall; a meat keeper adapted for mounting in alternate first and second positions in said refrigerator compartment; a cold air plenum behind said back wall for supplying cold air to said meat keeper; a first port in said back wall for directing said cold air from said plenum to said meat keeper in said first position; and a second port in said back wall for directing said cold air from said plenum to said meat keeper in said second position, said second port being spaced from said first port in said back wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator compartment having a back wall; a meat keeper adapted for mounting in alternate first and second positions in said refrigerator compartment; a cold air plenum behind said back wall for supplying cold air to said meat keeper; a first port in said back wall for directing said cold air from said plenum to said meat keeper in said first position; and a second port in said back wall for directing said cold air from said plenum to said meat keeper in said second position, said second port being spaced from said first port in said back wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second positions of said meat keeper are spaced horizontally wherein said meat keeper can be mounted on either the left or right side of said refrigerator compartment to provide convenient access to said meat keeper regardless of the side that the refrigerator door is hinged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 2 further comprising a plug for covering said first port when said meat keeper is in said second position and for covering said second port when said meat keeper is in said first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 2 wherein said meat keeper defines a meat container surrounded by an outer sleeve through which said cold air is circulated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 2 further comprising a conduit extending from said meat keeper for aligning with and coupling to said first or second ports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator compartment having a back wall; a cold air plenum behind said back wall of said compartment; at least first and second spaced ports in said back wall communicating from said cold air plenum into said compartment; a meat keeper; means for mounting said meat keeper in said compartment in a first position wherein said meat keeper aligns with said first port for receiving cold air from said plenum through said first port; and means for mounting said meat keeper in said compartment in a second position spaced from said first position wherein said meat keeper aligns with said second port for receiving said cold air from said plenum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator compartment having a back wall; a cold air plenum behind said back wall of said compartment; at least first and second spaced ports in said back wall communicating from said cold air plenum into said compartment; a meat keeper; means for mounting said meat keeper in said compartment in a first position wherein said meat keeper aligns with said first port for receiving cold air from said plenum through said first port; and means for mounting said meat keeper in said compartment in a second position spaced from said first position wherein said meat keeper aligns with said second port for receiving said cold air from said plenum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 7 further comprising a plug for covering said second port when said meat keeper is in said first position and for covering said first port when said meat keeper is in said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The refrigerator recited in Claim 7 further comprising a conduit extending from said meat keeper for mating with said first port when said meat keeper is in said first position and for mating with said second port when said meat keeper is in said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated food compartment having a back wall; a source of cold air; means for directing said cold air into said compartment for refrigerating said compartment; an air duct behind said back wall for receiving cold air from said cold air source; at least first and second ports in said back wall communicating from said air duct to said compartment; a meat keeper having means for receiving a flow of cold air for maintaining the temperature in said meat keeper below the temperature in said compartment; means for supporting said meat keeper in alternate first and second positions wherein, in said first position, said receiving means couples with said first port for receiving said cold air from said air duct through said first port and wherein, in said second position, said receiving means couples with said second port for receiving said cold air from said air duct.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated food compartment having a back wall; a source of cold air; means for directing said cold air into said compartment for refrigerating said compartment; an air duct behind said back wall for receiving cold air from said cold air source; at least first and second ports in said back wall communicating from said air duct to said compartment; a meat keeper having means for receiving a flow of cold air for maintaining the temperature in said meat keeper below the temperature in said compartment; means for supporting said meat keeper in alternate first and second positions wherein, in said first position, said receiving means couples with said first port for receiving said cold air from said air duct through said first port and wherein, in said second position, said receiving means couples with said second port for receiving said cold air from said air duct.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 10 further comprising a plug for covering said second port when said meat keeper is in said first position and for covering said first port when said meat keeper is in said second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The refigerator recited in claim 10 wherein said receiving means comprises a flexible rubber conduit extending from said meat keeper, said conduit having one end with a mouth adapted for mating with said first or second ports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
153 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator compartment having a back wall; a cold air plenum behind said back wall of said compartment; first and second ports in said back wall communicating from said plenum into said compartment; a meat keeper having a conduit extending therefrom; means for supporting said meat keeper in a first position in said compartment wherein said conduit removably couples with said first port for directing said cold air from said plenum through said first port to said meat keeper; means for supporting said meat keeper in a second position in said compartment wherein said conduit removably couples with said second port for directing said cold air from said plenum through said second port to said meat keeper; and a removable plug for covering said second port when said meat keeper is in said first position and for covering said first port when said meat keeper is in said second position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator compartment having a back wall; a cold air plenum behind said back wall of said compartment; first and second ports in said back wall communicating from said plenum into said compartment; a meat keeper having a conduit extending therefrom; means for supporting said meat keeper in a first position in said compartment wherein said conduit removably couples with said first port for directing said cold air from said plenum through said first port to said meat keeper; means for supporting said meat keeper in a second position in said compartment wherein said conduit removably couples with said second port for directing said cold air from said plenum through said second port to said meat keeper; and a removable plug for covering said second port when said meat keeper is in said first position and for covering said first port when said meat keeper is in said second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerator recited in claim 13 wherein said conduit has a flexible mouth for seating up against said back wall and sealing around said first or second port.
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) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |