Energy saving inner door device for a refrigeration appliance
OwnerMelvin H. Goodrodeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy saving inner door device for inhibiting the loss of cold air from a refrigerator when the refrigerator's outer door is opened, the device including a panel pivotally or hingedly attached to the inside of the refrigerator for closing off the volume of space between two adjacent refrigerator shelves. The panel can be pivoted between an upright position to close off the volume of space between the pair of shelves and thus trap the cold air therebetween, and a lowered position that allows the perishables stored on the lower one of the pair of shelves to be accessed. A latch is provided to hold the panel in the closed position and knobs are provided to facilitate the opening and closing of the panel.
Claims3
A retrofit type energy saving inner door device for a refrigeration appliance having at least an upper and a lower shelf, the device comprising
- a substantially rectangular panel means,
- a solid, impermeable base means that can be disposed upon an upper surface of said lower shelf to substantially diminish the air flow through said lower shelf,
- hinge means connecting an edge of said base means to a first edge of said panel means, said hinge means permitting said panel means to be rotated between a first, closed
- position in which said panel means substantially extends between the front edges of said upper shelf and said lower shelf, and second, opened positions in which said panel means does not fully extend between said front edges,
- latch means coupled to said panel means proximate a second edge thereof opposing said first edge for releasably engaging said front edge of said upper shelf, whereby said panel means can be retained in said first position, and
- handle means attached to said panel means to facilitate a movement of said panel means between said first position and said second positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.