# US 5,349,832 A · Mullion bar assembly with enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,832 A - Document ID: US5349832A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/061,004 - Filed: 1993-05-14 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1993-05-14 - Assignees: Maytag Corporation - Inventors: Thomas M. Johnson; John C. Ellingwood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349832A ## CPC - E05D 5/06: Bent flaps - F25D 21/04: Preventing the formation of frost or condensate - F25D 23/028: {Details} - F25D 23/069: {Cooling space dividing partitions} - F25D 23/087: {Sealing strips} - E05Y 2900/31: for refrigerators - F25D 2400/04: Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - 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) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A mullion bar assembly having enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics is disclosed wherein the liners defining the freezer and the fresh food compartments define non-magnetic gasket sealing surfaces against which the magnetic door gaskets seal. Since the liners are typically made of plastic material, permanent magnets are disposed behind the liners so as to attract the magnetic gasket seals into sealing contact with their respective non-magnetic sealing surfaces. The non-magnetic sealing surfaces are spaced apart and the mullion bar is located between them such that it extends between opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet and only between the spaced apart, non-magnetic sealing surfaces. No part of the mullion bar is exposed to either the freezer compartment or the fresh food compartment. Since the mullion bar extends only between the spaced apart sealing surfaces, the door gaskets prevent any exposure of the mullion bar to the compartment interiors, thereby preventing any direct heat transfer between the ambient atmosphere and the respective compartments via the mullion bar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mullion bar assembly having enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics for a refrigerator cabinet having a cabinet with opposite sides defining an interior space, interior wall means to divide the interior space into at least two chambers and movable door means to selectively open or close each of the at least two chambers, comprising: a) first and second non-magnetic means operatively associated with the interior wall means and defining first and second, spaced apart non-magnetic sealing surfaces; b) magnetic gasket sealing means located on the movable door means such that, when the door means close the at least two chambers, the magnetic gasket sealing means contact the first and second, spaced apart non-magnetic sealing surfaces; c) spaced apart magnets located on the first and second non-magnetic means so as to attract the magnetic gasket sealing means and urge the gasket sealing means into sealing contact with the nonmagnetic sealing surfaces; and, d) a mullion bar spaced from the magnets and extending between opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet, the mullion bar located so as to extend between the first and second spaced apart non-magnetic sealing surfaces and out of contact with the magnetic gasket sealing means such that the mullion bar is out of direct heat transfer relationship with the at least two chambers when the door means are closed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mullion bar assembly of claim 1 wherein the mullion bar has opposite ends and further comprising bracket means to attach the opposite ends to the opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mullion bar assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of the bracket means further comprises pivot means to pivotally support the door means thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mullion bar assembly of claim 1 wherein the mullion bar defines an outer face substantially co-planar with the first and second, spaced apart, non-magnetic sealing surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mullion bar assembly of claim 1 further comprising heater means operatively associated with the mullion bar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mullion bar assembly of claim 1 wherein the first non-magnetic means comprises a first plastic liner lining the interior of one of the at least two chambers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mullion bar assembly of claim 6 wherein the second non-magnetic means comprises a second plastic liner lining the interior of the other of the at least two chambers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mullion bar assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second plastic liners each define a surface facing opposite to the first and second sealing surfaces and wherein the spaced apart magnets comprise: a) a first magnet located adjacent to the surface facing opposite from the first sealing surface; and, b) a second magnet located adjacent to the surface facing opposite from the second sealing surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mullion bar assembly of claim 8 wherein the first and second magnets each comprise permanent magnets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The mullion bar assembly of claim 8 wherein the mullion bar has opposite ends and further comprising bracket means to attach the opposite ends to the opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The mullion bar assembly of claim 10 further comprising first tab means extending from the bracket means and adapted to contact a portion of the first and second plastic liners so as to locate the first and second non-magnetic sealing surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mullion bar of claim 11 further comprising second tab means extending from the first and second plastic liners and located so as to contact the bracket means thereby positioning the first and second non-magnetic sealing surfaces.