# US 5,699,676 A · Refrigerator unit with lighted door

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- Number: US 5,699,676 A
- Document ID: US5699676A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/536,465
- Filed: 1995-09-29
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1995-09-29
- Assignees: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Inventors: Robert J. Trulaske, Sr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699676A

## CPC

- F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21)
- A47F 3/001: {Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation}
- A47F 3/043: {Doors, covers (A47F3/0434 takes precedence)}
- F21W 2131/305: for refrigerators
- F21Y 2103/00: Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
- 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)
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

This refrigerator unit (10) with a lighted door (20) includes a cabinet (12) defining a front opening (18). The door (20) is mounted to the cabinet (12) and includes a door frame (22) having top and bottom framing members (26 and 28) and side framing members (30 and 31). A lighting assembly (100, 200) is disposed adjacent one of the side framing members (30), and includes a base member (102, 202) which extends between the top and bottom framing members (26, 28) and conceals the lighting (134, 234) from sight outside of the refrigerator unit (10).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator unit with a lighted door, comprising:
(A) a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;
(B) a door including a door frame and means mounting the door frame to said cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel having an exterior and an interior; and
(C) a lighting assembly including a base member having opposed ends and disposed adjacent one of said side framing members and extending substantially between said top and bottom door framing members and top and bottom light holding fixtures at each end of said base member and a lighting element extending between said light holding fixtures and being disposed rearwardly of said interior of the glass panel;
(D) said door side frame including a pair of inwardly projecting arms; and
(E) said lighting assembly base member interfits said inwardly projecting arms and includes a pair of inwardly projecting arms receiving said glass pane, said base member providing a fill member between said glass panel and said side framing member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A refrigerator unit as defined in claim 1, in which:
(d) said door frame is mounted to one of said cabinet sides in swinging relation for outward movement about a vertical axis.

### Claim 3

A refrigerator unit with a lighted door, comprising:
(a) a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;
(b) a door including a door frame and means mounting the door frame to said cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel;
(c) a lighting assembly including a base member having opposed ends and disposed adjacent one of said side framing members and extending substantially between said top and bottom door framing members and top and bottom light holding fixtures at each end of said base member and a lighting element extending between said light holding fixtures;
(d) said door side frame includes a pair of inwardly projecting arms;
(e) said lighting assembly base member interfits said inwardly projecting arms and includes a pair of inwardly projecting arms receiving said glass panel, said base member providing a fill member between said glass panel and said side framing member; and
(f) said lighting assembly base member including a pair of rearwardly projecting arms and a generally U-shaped cover interfitting said rearwardly projecting arms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A refrigerator unit as defined in claim 3, in which:
(g) said cover interfits said rearwardly projecting arms in snap-fitting relation.

### Claim 5

A refrigerator unit with a lighted door, comprising:
(a) a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;
(b) a door including a door frame and means mounting the door frame to said cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel;
(c) a lighting assembly including a base member having opposed ends and disposed adjacent one of said side framing members and extending substantially between said top and bottom door framing members and top and bottom light holding fixtures at each end of said base member and a lighting element extending between said light holding fixtures;
(d) said door side frame includes a pair of inwardly projecting arms;
(e) said lighting assembly base member interfits said inwardly projecting arms and includes a pair of inwardly projecting arms receiving said glass panel, said base providing a fill member between said glass panel and said side framing member; and
(f) one of said base member projecting arms being inclined toward said other projecting arm to hold said glass panel in place.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A refrigerator unit as defined in claim 5, in which:
(g) said one of said inwardly projecting arms is turned rearwardly to provide one of said cover receiving arms.

### Claim 7

A refrigerator unit with a lighted door, comprising:
(A) a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;
(B) a door including a door frame and means mounting the door frame to said cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel having an exterior and an interior, and
(C) a lighting assembly including a base member having opposed ends and disposed adjacent one of said side framing members and extending substantially between said top and bottom door framing members and top and bottom light holding fixtures at each end of said base member and a lighting element extending between said light holding fixtures and being disposed rearwardly of said interior of the glass panel;
(D) said door side frame including a pair of inwardly projecting arms receiving said glass panel; and
E) said lighting assembly base member including an outer side arm received between one of said side frame projecting arms and said glass panel.

### Claim 8

A refrigerator unit with a lighted door, comprising:
(a) a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;
(b) a door including a door frame and means mounting the door frame to said cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel;
(c) a lighting assembly including a base member having opposed ends and disposed adjacent one of said side framing members and extending substantially between said top and bottom door framing members and top and bottom light holding fixtures at each end of said base member and a lighting element extending between said light holding fixtures;
(d) said door side frame includes a pair of inwardly projecting arms receiving said glass panel;
(e) said lighting assembly base member includes an outer side arm received between one of said side frame projecting arms and said glass panel; and
(e) said base member including a U-shaped portion having a bight portion and said received arm including an end hook portion cooperating with said glass panel to hold said base member in place.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A refrigerator unit as defined in claim 8, in which:
(f) said U-shaped portion of said base member operatively receives said light holding fittings.