Combined refrigerator-oven apparatus

A combined refrigerator-oven apparatus comprising:

• an enclosed chamber including top, bottom, and vertical side walls, said bottom wall having an airflow inlet opening;
• surface burners mounted on top of said enclosed chamber;
• a gate removably blocking said airflow inlet opening;
• a heating unit positioned in said enclosed chamber, said heating unit including one of an electrical resistance heating element and a gas burner mounted on an interior surface of said enclosed chamber;
• a refrigeration unit positioned outside of said enclosed chamber, said refrigeration unit including:
• a cool air duct coupled to said airflow inlet opening of said enclosed chamber;
• a compressor having a first inlet and a first outlet;
• a condenser having a second inlet and a second outlet, said second inlet in fluid communication with said first outlet;
• an evaporator having a third inlet and a third outlet, said third inlet in fluid communication with said second outlet, and said third outlet in fluid communication with said first inlet;
• and
• an evaporator fan interposed between a cool air outlet of said evaporator and said cool air duct for drawing cool air away from said evaporator and into said cool air duct to cool said enclosed chamber;
• and
• a controller in communication with said gate, said heating unit, and said refrigeration unit for selectively activating said refrigerator-oven apparatus;
• wherein
• when a cooling mode is selected, said controller actuates said gate to unblock said airflow inlet opening and activates said refrigeration unit to deliver cool air through said cool air duct to said enclosed chamber;
• and
• when a heating mode is selected, said controller actuates said gate to block said airflow inlet opening and activates said heating unit.

An adapter kit for converting an oven to a combined refrigerator-oven apparatus, said oven including an enclosed chamber having top, bottom, and vertical side walls, and said oven including a heating unit positioned in said enclosed chamber, said adapter kit comprising:

• a gate assembly configured for mounting below said bottom wall of said enclosed chamber to removably block an airflow inlet opening into said enclosed chamber;
• a refrigeration unit including:
• a compressor having a first inlet and a first outlet;
• a condenser having a second inlet and a second outlet, said second inlet configured for placement in fluid communication with said first outlet;
• an evaporator having a third inlet and a third outlet, said third inlet configured for placement in fluid communication with said second outlet, and said third outlet configured for placement in fluid communication with said first inlet;
• and
• an evaporator fan configured for connection to a cool air outlet of said evaporator and configured to draw cool air away from said evaporator;
• and
• a control unit installable into said oven, said control unit including:
• a controller configured to control each of said gate assembly, said heating unit, and said refrigeration unit;
• and
• a selector in communication with said controller for enabling an individual to instruct said controller to operate in each of a heating and cooling mode, and to pre-select times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.