Refrigerator apparatus

Claim 2

A refrigerating apparatus comprising: a housing having at least one food storage compartment; means for generating a flow of chilled air; an air delivery duct extending from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment for delivering chilled air from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment, said air delivery duct comprising at least one delivery vent opening within the food storage compartment; a return duct extending from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means for return of air from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means, said return duct comprising at least one return vent opening in the food storage compartment; at least one food storage drawer having front, rear, side and bottom walls and an open top slidably mounted in the food storage compartment and afforded slidable movement therein from a closed position wherein the interior of the drawer is enclosed within the food storage compartment and an open position spaced-apart forwardly from the closed position which provides access to the interior of the drawer; and means for automatically blocking the delivery vent opening and the return vent opening when the drawer is in its open position and for unblocking the delivery vent opening and return vent opening when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 3

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for automatically blocking the delivery vent opening and the return vent opening when the drawer is in its open position and for unblocking the delivery vent opening and return vent opening when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises: a first damper mounted within the storage compartment movable between a closed position blocking the delivery vent opening to thereby substantially prevent air from passing therethrough and an open position not blocking the delivery vent opening to thereby allow air to pass therethrough; a second damper mounted within the storage compartment movable between a closed position blocking the return vent opening to thereby substantially prevent the flow of air therethrough and an open position not blocking the return vent opening to thereby allow air to flow therethrough; spring means for biasing the first and second dampers toward their closed positions; and means for automatically engaging and moving the first and second dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position and for releasing the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 4

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for automatically engaging and moving the first and second dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises: a first push rod mounted on the drawer at a position whereby the first push rod engages and moves the first damper into its open position when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and a second push rod mounted on the drawer at a position whereby the second push rod engages and moves the second damper into its open position when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 5

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drawer comprises an inlet vent opening and an outlet vent opening which are aligned with and adjacent the delivery vent opening and the return vent opening respectively when the drawer is in its closed position, and wherein the drawer further comprises means for automatically blocking the inlet vent opening and outlet vent opening when the drawer is in its open position and for unblocking the inlet vent opening and outlet vent opening when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 6

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for automatically blocking the inlet vent opening and outlet vent opening when the drawer is in its open position and for unblocking the delivery vent opening and return vent opening when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises: a third damper mounted on the drawer and movable between a closed position blocking the inlet vent opening to thereby substantially prevent air from passing therethrough and an open position not blocking the inlet vent opening to thereby allow air to pass therethrough; a fourth damper mounted on the drawer and movable between a closed position blocking the outlet vent opening to thereby substantially prevent the flow of air therethrough and an open position not blocking the outlet vent opening to thereby allow air to flow therethrough; spring means for biasing the third and fourth dampers toward their closed positions; and means for automatically engaging and moving the third and fourth dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position and for releasing the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 7

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the means for automatically engaging and moving the third and fourth dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises: a third push rod mounted in the food storage compartment at a position whereby the third push rod engages and moves the third damper into its open position when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and a fourth push rod mounted in the food storage compartment at a position whereby the fourth push rod engages and moves the fourth damper into its open position when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 8

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the refrigerating apparatus further comprises: means for forming a first enclosed air passageway between the delivery vent opening and the inlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position; and means for forming a second enclosed air passageway between the return vent opening and the outlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position.

Claim 9

A refrigerating apparatus comprising: a housing having at least one food storage compartment; means for generating a flow of chilled air; an air delivery duct extending from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment for delivering chilled air from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment, said air delivery duct comprising a delivery vent opening within the food storage compartment and a first damper movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the delivery vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the delivery vent opening; an air return duct extending from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means for return of air from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means, said return duct comprising a return vent opening in the food storage compartment and a second damper movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the return vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the return vent opening; at least one food storage drawer having front, rear, side and bottom walls and an open top slidably mounted in the food storage compartment and afforded slidable movement therein from a closed position wherein the interior of the drawer is enclosed within the food storage compartment and an open position spaced-apart forwardly from the closed position which provides access to the interior of the drawer; means for automatically opening the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and means for automatically closing the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 10

A refrigerating apparatus comprising: a housing having at least one food storage compartment; means for generating a flow of chilled air; an air delivery duct extending from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment for delivering chilled air from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment, said air delivery duct comprising a delivery vent opening within the food storage compartment and a first damper movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the delivery vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the delivery vent opening; an air return duct extending from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means for return of air from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means, said return duct comprising a return vent opening in the food storage compartment and a second damper movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the return vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the return vent opening; at least one food storage drawer having front, rear, side and bottom walls and an open top slidably mounted in the food storage compartment and afforded slidable movement therein from a closed position wherein the interior of the drawer is enclosed within the food storage compartment and an open position spaced-apart forwardly from the closed position which provides access to the interior of the drawer; means for automatically opening the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and means for automatically closing the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 11

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first damper is mounted by hinges on the air delivery duct at a position adjacent the delivery vent opening and the second damper is mounted by hinges on the air return duct at a position adjacent the return vent opening and the means for automatically closing the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position comprises first and second springs which bias the first and second dampers, respectively, toward their closed positions.

Claim 12

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for automatically opening the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises first and second push rods mounted on the drawer which engage the first and second dampers, respectively, and move the first and second dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 13

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for automatically opening the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position and the means for automatically closing the first and second dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position comprises first and second members, each made of a metal which reversably bends from a first configuration to a second configuration as a result of the increase in temperature in the food storage compartment when the food storage drawer is opened, said first member being attached at one end to the air delivery duct and attached at its other end to the first damper so that the first damper is open when the first member is in its first configuration and the first damper is closed when the first member is in its second configuration and said second member being attached at one end to the air return duct and attached at its other end to the second damper so that the second damper is open when the second member is in its first configuration and the second damper is closed when the first member is in its second configuration.

Claim 14

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the drawer comprises an inlet vent opening and an outlet vent opening which are aligned with and adjacent the delivery vent opening and the return vent opening, respectively, when the drawer is in its closed position, and wherein the drawer further comprises: a third damper movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the inlet vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the inlet vent opening; a fourth damper movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the outlet vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the outlet vent opening; means for automatically opening the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and means for automatically closing the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 15

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the third and fourth dampers are mounted by hinges on the drawer at positions adjacent the inlet and outlet vent openings, respectively, and the means for automatically closing the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position comprises third and fourth springs which bias the third and fourth dampers, respectively, toward their closed positions.

Claim 16

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for automatically opening the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises third and fourth push rods mounted in the food storage compartment so that the third and fourth push rods engage the third and fourth dampers, respectively, and move the third and fourth dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 17

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for automatically opening the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position and the means for automatically closing the third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position comprises third and fourth members, each made of a metal which reversably bends from a first configuration to a second configuration as a result of the increase in temperature in the food storage drawer when the food storage drawer is opened, said third member being attached at one end to the drawer and attached at its other end to the third damper so that the third damper is open when the third member is in its first configuration and the third damper is closed when the third member is in its second configuration and said fourth member being attached at one end to the drawer and attached at its other end to the fourth damper so that the fourth damper is open when the fourth member is in its first configuration and the fourth damper is closed when the fourth member is in its second configuration.

Claim 18

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the refrigerating apparatus further comprises: means for forming a first enclosed air passageway between the delivery vent opening and the inlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position; and means for forming a second enclosed air passageway between the return vent opening and the outlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position.

Claim 19

A refrigerating apparatus comprising: a housing having at least one food storage compartment; means for generating a flow of chilled air; an air delivery duct extending from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment for delivering chilled air from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment, said air delivery duct comprising a delivery vent opening at the rear of the food storage compartment and a first damper hingedly mounted on the air delivery duct at a position adjacent the delivery vent opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the delivery vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the delivery vent opening; an air return duct extending from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means for return of air from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means, said return duct comprising a return vent opening at the rear of the food storage compartment and a second damper hingedly mounted on the air return duct at a position adjacent the return vent opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the return vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the return vent opening; at least one food storage drawer having front, rear, side and bottom walls and an open top slidably mounted in the food storage compartment and afforded slidable movement therein from a closed position wherein the interior of the drawer is enclosed within the food storage compartment and an open position spaced-apart forwardly from the closed position which provides access to the interior of the drawer, said drawer further comprising inlet and outlet vent openings in the rear wall of the drawer which are aligned with and adjacent the delivery vent opening and the return vent opening, respectively, when the drawer is in its closed position, a third damper hingedly mounted on the rear wall at a position adjacent the inlet opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the inlet vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the inlet vent opening and a fourth damper hingedly mounted on the rear wall at a position adjacent the outlet opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the outlet vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the outlet vent opening; means for forming a first enclosed air passageway between the delivery vent opening and the inlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position; means for forming a second enclosed air passageway between the return vent opening and the outlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position; means for automatically opening the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and means for automatically closing the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 20

A refrigerating apparatus comprising: a housing having at least one food storage compartment; means for generating a flow of chilled air; an air delivery duct extending from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment for delivering chilled air from the chilled air generating means to the food storage compartment, said air delivery duct comprising a delivery vent opening at the rear of the food storage compartment and a first damper hingedly mounted on the air delivery duct at a position adjacent the delivery vent opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the delivery vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the delivery vent opening; an air return duct extending from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means for return of air from the food storage compartment to the chilled air generating means, said return duct comprising a return vent opening at the rear of the food storage compartment and a second damper hingedly mounted on the air return duct at a position adjacent the return vent opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the return vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the return vent opening; at least one food storage drawer having front, rear, side and bottom walls and an open top slidably mounted in the food storage compartment and afforded slidable movement therein from a closed position wherein the interior of the drawer is enclosed within the food storage compartment and an open position spaced-apart forwardly from the closed position which provides access to the interior of the drawer, said drawer further comprising inlet and outlet vent openings in the rear wall of the drawer which are aligned with and adjacent the delivery vent opening and the return vent opening, respectively, when the drawer is in its closed position, a third damper hingedly mounted on the rear wall at a position adjacent the inlet opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the inlet vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the inlet vent opening and a fourth damper hingedly mounted on the rear wall at a position adjacent the outlet opening movable between a closed position substantially blocking the flow of air through the outlet vent opening and an open position which allows air to pass through the outlet vent opening; means for forming a first enclosed air passageway between the delivery vent opening and the inlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position; means for forming a second enclosed air passageway between the return vent opening and the outlet vent opening when the drawer is in its closed position; means for automatically opening the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position; and means for automatically closing the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position.

Claim 21

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the means for automatically closing the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position comprises first, second, third and fourth springs which bias the first, second, third and fourth dampers, respectively, toward their closed positions.

Claim 22

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the means for automatically opening the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position comprises first and second push rods mounted on the rear wall of the drawer which engage the first and second dampers, respectively, and move the first and second dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position and third and fourth push rods mounted on the air delivery duct and air return duct, respectively, so that the third and fourth push rods engage the third and fourth dampers, respectively, and move the third and fourth dampers to their open positions when the drawer is moved into its closed position.

Claim 23

A refrigerating apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the means for automatically opening the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved into its closed position and the means for automatically closing the first, second, third and fourth dampers when the drawer is moved out of its closed position comprises first, second, third and fourth members, each made of a metal which reversably bends from a first configuration to a second configuration as a result of the increase in temperature in the food storage compartment and food storage drawer when the food storage drawer is opened, said first member being attached at one end to the air delivery duct and attached at its other end to the first damper so that the first damper is open when the first member is in its first configuration and the first damper is closed when the first member is in its second configuration, said second member being attached at one end to the air return duct and attached at its other end to the second damper so that the second damper is open when the second member is in its first configuration and the second damper is closed when the first member is in its second configuration, said third member being attached at one end to the rear wall of the drawer and attached at its other end to the third damper so that the third damper is open when the third member is in its first configuration and the third damper is closed when the third member is in its second configuration and said fourth member being attached at one end to the rear wall of the drawer and attached at its other end to the fourth damper so that the fourth damper is open when the fourth member is in its first configuration and the fourth damper is closed when the fourth member is in its second configuration.