Refrigerator having a door with integrated control panel

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control panel carried by the door. A plurality of wires is in electrical communication with the control panel. The plurality of wires passing through the door and exits a lower portion of the door. A hinge bracket is carried by the cabinet and supports the door at a hinge pin. The plurality of wires passes immediately below the hinge bracket.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a door mounted to the cabinet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis;   a control panel carried by the door; and   a plurality of wires adapted to electrically communication the control panel with a power board carried by the cabinet;   wherein the door may be selectively mounted to the cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot and a left hand pivot.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge bracket carried proximate a lower portion of the cabinet and supporting the door for pivotal movement. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge bracket at least partially defines a channel through which the plurality of wires pass. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the pivot axis passes through the channel. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , further comprising a cord support member coupled to the hinge bracket, the cord support member and the hinge bracket defining a channel through which the plurality of wires pass, the pivot axis intersecting the channel. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door includes a frame, the control panel connected to the frame proximate a tip portion of the frame. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wires extend from the control panel, through the door, and exit at the lower portion of the door. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the door includes a frame having a portion defining a retention feature for retaining the plurality of wires. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the frame further includes a bottom cap secured to a lower portion of the frame and covering the plurality of wires. 
   
   
       10 . A method of selectively mounting a door of a refrigerator to a cabinet for rotation about one of a right hand pivot axis and a left hand pivot axis, the door including a control panel and a plurality of wires in electrical communication with the control panel;
 mounting a first bracket to a lower portion of the cabinet proximate a right side of the cabinet;   mounting a second bracket to the lower portion of the cabinet proximate a left side of the cabinet;   pivotally supporting the door on one of the first and second brackets for rotation about a pivot axis; and   routing the plurality of wires immediately below the one of the first and second brackets such that the pivot axis intersects the plurality of wires.