US3872688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigeration apparatus divider wall mounting means
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
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Filing: 1974-06-13
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A refrigeration appliance having a cabinet divided into side-byside compartments by a vertical divider. The divider is received in an elongated track member having a channel in an outer portion thereof and a passage for conducting water condensate from the channel into the above-freezing compartment of the cabinet. Insulation is provided in the channel in a rear vertical portion of the track member to be abutted by a rear edge portion of the divider.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Lucian Tillman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:14
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D23/00; F25D23/06; F25D23/069; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer appliance having a cabinet defining an interior space and including a bottom wall portion and a vertical rear wall portion, a vertical divider separating said interior space into an above-freezing compartment and a laterally adjacent below-freezing compartment and defining a bottom edge portion and a rear edge portion, means for mounting said divider to said cabinet comprising an elongated track member extending horizontally across said cabinet bottom wall portion and vertically along said cabinet rear wall portion, said track member having wall means embracing said bottom edge portion and rear edge portion of the divider, means forming a longitudinally extending channel subjacent said bottom edge portion of the divider and rearwardly of said rear edge portion of the divider, passage means for conducting water such as condensate from said channel for deliverY into the above-freezing compartment, and insulation means substantially filling at least the vertically extending portion of said channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer appliance having a cabinet defining an interior space and including a bottom wall portion and a vertical rear wall portion, a vertical divider separating said interior space into an above-freezing compartment and a laterally adjacent below-freezing compartment and defining a bottom edge portion and a rear edge portion, means for mounting said divider to said cabinet comprising an elongated track member extending horizontally across said cabinet bottom wall portion and vertically along said cabinet rear wall portion, said track member having wall means embracing said bottom edge portion and rear edge portion of the divider, means forming a longitudinally extending channel subjacent said bottom edge portion of the divider and rearwardly of said rear edge portion of the divider, passage means for conducting water such as condensate from said channel for deliverY into the above-freezing compartment, and insulation means substantially filling at least the vertically extending portion of said channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The divider mounting means of claim 1 wherein said wall means of the track member comprises spaced flanges resiliently engaging opposite sides of the divider along said bottom edge and rear edge portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The divider mounting means of claim 1 wherein said passage means comprises an opening through the bottom of said channel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The divider mounting means of claim 1 further including inturned means overlying said channel for supporting the said bottom edge portion of the divider.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The divider mounting means of claim 1 wherein said insulation means comprise resilient means compressed by said rear edge portion of the divider.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer appliance having a cabinet defining an interior space and including a bottom wall portion, a vertical divider separating said interior space into an above-freezing compartment and a laterally adjacent below-freezing compartment and defining a bottom edge portion, means for mounting said divider to said cabinet comprising an elongated track member extending horizontally across said cabinet bottom wall portion, said track member having means embracing said bottom edge portion of the divider, means forming a longitudinally extending channel subjacent said bottom edge portion of the divider, and passage means for conducting water such as condensate from said channel for delivery into the above-freezing compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer appliance having a cabinet defining an interior space and including a bottom wall portion, a vertical divider separating said interior space into an above-freezing compartment and a laterally adjacent below-freezing compartment and defining a bottom edge portion, means for mounting said divider to said cabinet comprising an elongated track member extending horizontally across said cabinet bottom wall portion, said track member having means embracing said bottom edge portion of the divider, means forming a longitudinally extending channel subjacent said bottom edge portion of the divider, and passage means for conducting water such as condensate from said channel for delivery into the above-freezing compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The divider mounting means of claim 6 wherein said divider embracing means comprises spaced flanges on said track member upstanding from said channel means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The divider mounting means of claim 6 wherein said divider embracing means comprises spaced flanges on said track member upstanding from said channel means resiliently engaging opposite surfaces of the divider.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The divider mounting means of claim 6 wherein said track member further includes flange means sealingly engaging said cabinet bottom wall portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The divider mounting means of claim 6 wherein said passage means comprises an opening through said channel means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The divider mounting means of claim 6 wherein said passage means extends downwardly through said channel means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The divider mounting means of claim 6 wherein said channel means further defines support means extending inwardly from said divider embracing means, said bottom edge portion of the divider resting on said support means above said channel means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer appliance having a cabinet defining an interior space including a vertical rear wall portion, a vertical divider separating said interior space into an above-freezing compartment and laterally adjacent below-freezing compartment and defining a rear edge portion, means for mounting said divider to said cabinet comprising an elongated track member extending vertically along said cabinet rear wall portion, said track member having means embracing said rear edge portion of the divider, means forming a longitudinally extending channel rearwardly of said rear edge portion of the divider, and resilient insulation means substantially filling said channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer appliance having a cabinet defining an interior space including a vertical rear wall portion, a vertical divider separating said interior space into an above-freezing compartment and laterally adjacent below-freezing compartment and defining a rear edge portion, means for mounting said divider to said cabinet comprising an elongated track member extending vertically along said cabinet rear wall portion, said track member having means embracing said rear edge portion of the divider, means forming a longitudinally extending channel rearwardly of said rear edge portion of the divider, and resilient insulation means substantially filling said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The divider mounting means of claim 13 wherein said divider embracing means comprises spaced flanges on said track member upstanding from said channel means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The divider mounting means of claim 13 wherein said divider embracing means comprises spaced flanges on said track member upstanding from said channel means resiliently engaging opposite surfaces of the divider.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The divider mounting means of claim 13 wherein said track member further includes flange means sealingly engaging said cabinet rear wall portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The divider mounting means of claim 13 wherein said resilient insulation means comprises foam insulation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The divider mounting means of claim 13 wherein said resilient insulation comprises foam insuLation resiliently compressed in said channel by said rear edge portion of the divider.
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) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |