# US 2014/0150472 A1 · Custom bin interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150472 A1 - Document ID: US20140150472A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,898 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150472A1 ## CPC - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25C 1/00: Producing ice (F25C3/00 takes precedence) - F25D 23/04: with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners - F25D 25/00: Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled - F25D 25/005: {using containers} - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE ## Abstract A refrigerator may include a refrigerator cabinet in at least one enclosure that can be mounted in different locations within the cabinet. The enclosure also can have targeted, independently controlled temperature provided to it. This allows the refrigerator to be highly customizable and reconfigurable according to desire or need. For example, an ice maker ice bin can be mounted in different positions within the cabinet, including door mount, refrigerated food compartment mount or freezer mount. Alternatively, specialized enclosures for such things as can chilling, milk chilling, meat chilling, or even thawing can be placed in multiple locations in the cabinet according to need or desire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; a moveable bin that can be independently temperature controlled; a plurality of mounts in the refrigerator cabinet for mounting the moveable bin in any of a plurality of different locations; an interface between the moveable bin and a source of independent temperature control. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin comprises a cooling loop for providing liquid cooling and the interface comprises tubing for conveying liquid to the moveable bin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the moveable bin further comprises a thermo electric cooler (TEC) and wherein the interface further comprises electrical connectors for providing electrical energy to the TEC of the moveable bin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin further comprises a thermo electric cooler (TEC) and wherein the interface further comprises electrical connectors for providing electrical energy to the TEC of the moveable bin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the interface provides one of cooling or warming to the moveable bin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of mounts comprise receptacles and further comprising pins on the moveable bin for matingly engaging the receptacles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of locations are on at least one door. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the door comprises a door to the fresh food or freezer compartment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of locations are within at least one compartment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the compartment comprises a fresh food or freezer compartment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin comprises an ice maker. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin comprises a can chiller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin comprises a milk chiller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin comprises a meat chiller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the moveable bin is a convertible bin. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: providing a refrigerator comprising (a) a refrigerator cabinet, (b) a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, (c) a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, (e) a moveable bin, (f) a plurality of mounts in the refrigerator cabinet for mounting the moveable bin in any of a plurality of different locations, and (g) an interface for the moveable bin for connecting the movable bin such that the moveable bin is independently temperature controlled; customizing the refrigerator by selecting and operatively mounting the moveable bin to a said location in the refrigerator. ### Claim 17 A moveable bin for use within a refrigerator, the moveable bin comprising: a bin body; a plurality of connectors on the bin body for selectively mounting the moveable bin to any of a plurality of different locations within the refrigerator; a temperature control assembly operatively connected to the bin body and adapted to control temperature associated with the bin body; and an interface operatively connected to the bin body for connecting at least one of liquid tubing and electrical connections to the temperature control assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The moveable bin of claim 17 wherein the temperature control assembly provides for liquid cooling or heating and wherein the interface provides for connecting the liquid tubing to the temperature control assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The moveable bin of claim 17 wherein the temperature control assembly comprises a thermo electric cooler (TEC) and wherein the interface provides for connecting the electrical connections to the TEC. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The moveable bin of claim 17 wherein the plurality of connectors comprise pins.