Modular fascia for refrigerator storage assemblies and methods of making same

Abstract

A multi-component fascia assembly for refrigerator storage assemblies is provided. The fascia generally includes a face plate having a pair of end caps attached to the ends thereof. The fascia assembly can be attached to a support member to form a storage unit for a refrigerator. A refrigerator comprising a storage assembly having a multi-component fascia assembly also is provided. Additionally, a method of making a refrigerator storage assembly is provided and includes extruding an intermediate extrusion and cutting it to a predetermined length to form a face plate. The method also encompasses attaching end caps to the face plate to form a fascia which then can be attached to a support member to form a storage unit. One or more storage units can be formed and combined to create a refrigerator storage assembly.

1 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a cooling compartment comprising a top wall a bottom wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall;    a storage assembly disposed in the cooling compartment, wherein the storage assembly comprises a support member and a multi-component fascia attached to the support member and aligned distal to the rear wall within the cooling compartment, wherein the multi-component fascia comprises a face plate having opposed ends and a pair of end caps attached to said opposed ends.    
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate is formed of metal.  
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-component fascia further comprises a translucent plate attached to said face plate.  
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the face plate includes a channel formed therein for receiving said translucent plate.  
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said multi-component fascia further comprises a cap attached to each of said pair of end caps.  
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein said cap is formed of metal.  
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the multi-component fascia further comprises at least one fastener connecting said cap to at least one of said pair of end caps.  
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of end caps is formed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         9 . A fascia assembly for a refrigerator storage assembly comprising: 
 a face plate having opposed ends and a channel formed therein;    a pair of end caps attached to said opposed ends of said face plate;    a second plate disposed in said channel of said face plate; and    a cap attached to each of said pair of end caps.    
     
     
         10 . The fascia assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said face plate is formed of metal.  
     
     
         11 . The fascia assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said cap is formed of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The fascia assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said pair of end caps is formed of polymeric material.  
     
     
         13 . The fascia assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said second plate is translucent.  
     
     
         14 . A method of making a refrigerator storage unit comprising: 
 feeding a material to an extruder, wherein the material is a metal or a polymeric material;    extruding the material through a die of the extruder to form an intermediate extrusion;    cutting the intermediate extrusion to a predetermined length to form a face plate;    attaching a pair of end caps to the ends of the face plate to form a fascia assembly; and    attaching the fascia assembly to a support member to form a refrigerator storage unit.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of end caps are formed of a polymeric material by injection molding.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 disposing a translucent plate between the pair of end caps.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 extruding an intermediate cap extrusion.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 cutting the intermediate cap extrusion to a predetermined length to form a cap.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 attaching the cap to the pair of end caps.    
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a refrigerator storage assembly comprising: 
 feeding a material to an extruder;    extruding the material through a die of the extruder to form a first intermediate extrusion;    cutting the first intermediate extrusion to a first predetermined length to form a first face plate;    injection molding a first pair of end caps;    attaching the first pair of end caps to the ends of the first face plate to form a first fascia;    attaching the first fascia to a first support member to form a first storage unit;    forming a second intermediate extrusion by extruding the material through the die;    cutting the second intermediate extrusion to a second predetermined length to form a second face plate, wherein the first predetermined length is unequal to the second predetermined length;    attaching a second pair of end caps to the ends of the second face plate to form a second fascia;    attaching the second fascia to a second support member to form a second storage unit; and    mounting the first and the second storage units in a refrigerator cabinet to form the refrigerator storage assembly.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the material is a polymeric composition selected from polyvinyl chlorides, polycarbonates, polyesters, chlorinated polyethylenes, acrylics, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, nylons and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the material is a metal selected from aluminum, copper and steel.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 aligning a translucent plate in a channel formed in the first face plate and engaging the ends of the translucent plate with the first pair of end caps.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 disposing a cap over the translucent plate and engaging the ends of the cap with the first pair of end caps.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein one of the first pair of end caps is substantially identical to one of the second pair of end caps.