Freezer storage assembly for a refrigerator
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsSheena Leigh Ritchie, Mark W. Wilson, Arunkumar Pappusamy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A storage assembly for a refrigerator having a freezer storage compartment includes a second storage compartment positioned within the freezer storage compartment, and a cooling plate positioned within the second storage compartment. The cooling plate is configured to support a food item and transfer thermal energy between the food item and the cooling plate through conduction. The storage assembly also includes a fan positioned at a first end of the second storage compartment. The fan is configured to draw cool air into the second storage compartment and direct the cool air across the food item.
Claims20
A storage assembly for a refrigerator including a freezer storage compartment, said storage assembly comprising:
- a storage compartment positioned within the freezer storage compartment;
- a cooling plate positioned within said storage compartment and configured to support a food item, said cooling plate configured to transfer thermal energy between the food item and said cooling plate through conduction;
- and
- a fan positioned at a first end of said storage compartment and configured to draw cool air into said storage compartment and direct the cool air across the food item.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a freezer storage compartment having a first temperature;
- and
- a storage assembly mounted within said freezer storage compartment, said storage assembly comprising:
- a second storage compartment;
- a fan positioned at a first end of said second storage compartment and configured to direct cool air into said second storage compartment;
- and
- a temperature sensor positioned with respect to said second storage compartment and configured to detect a temperature within said second storage compartment;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said temperature sensor, said controller configured to maintain a temperature within said second storage compartment at a second temperature independent from the first temperature within said freezer storage compartment.
A method for freezing a food item within a refrigerator, said method comprising:
- providing a freezer storage compartment having a first temperature;
- positioning a storage assembly within the freezer compartment, the storage assembly comprising a second storage compartment, a fan configured to direct cool air into the second storage compartment, and a temperature sensor positioned with respect to the second storage compartment, the sensor configured to detect a temperature within the second storage compartment;
- and
- operatively coupling a controller to the temperature sensor, the controller configured to maintain a second temperature within the second storage compartment independent from the first temperature within the freezer storage compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.