Refrigerator having compartment capable of converting between refrigeration and freezing temperatures

Abstract

ABSTRACT A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator housing defining first, second, and third compartments separated by insulated walls, a refrigeration system supplying cold air to the first, second, and third compartments, first, second, and third sensors operative to detect temperature in a respective one of the first, second, and third compartments and control circuitry in electrical communication with the sensors, the control circuitry controlling flow of the cold air into each of the first, second, and third compartments so as to facilitate maintaining a respective desired temperature therein, where the desired temperature of each of the first, second, and third compartments is variable and may be set by a user independently with respect to each other.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator housing defining first, second, and third compartments separated by insulated walls;   a refrigeration system supplying cold air to the first, second, and third compartments;   first, second, and third sensors operative to detect temperature in a respective one of the first, second, and third compartments; and   control circuitry in electrical communication with the sensors, the control circuitry controlling flow of the cold air into each of the first, second, and third compartments so as to facilitate maintaining a respective desired temperature therein,   wherein the desired temperature of each of the first, second, and third compartments is variable and may be set by a user independently with respect to each other.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising at least one control panel in electrical communication with the control circuitry configured to accept input from the user representative of the desired temperature of the first, second, and third compartments. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the first compartment includes a drawer having an insulated front to close the first compartment. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the first compartment is located beneath the second and third compartments. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator of  claim 3  wherein the first compartment includes a drawer having an insulated front to close the first compartment. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the refrigeration system includes at least one damper. 
   
   
       7 . A refrigeration apparatus comprising:
 a refrigerator housing defining first, second, and third compartments in which food items are stored;   a refrigeration system;   a first aperture defined by the housing to provide fluid communication between the refrigeration system and the first compartment;   a first mechanism being configured to vary the first aperture;   a second aperture defined by the housing to provide fluid communication between the refrigeration system and the second compartment;   a second mechanism being configured to vary the second aperture;   control circuitry operatively connected to the first mechanism and the second mechanism;   wherein the control circuitry directs the first mechanism to vary the first aperture and directs the second mechanism to vary the second aperture in order to facilitate maintaining the first compartment at a first desired temperature and the second compartment at a second desired temperature.   
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a cover separating the third compartment into a cooling area and a frozen food area, wherein a portion of the refrigeration system is located within the cooling area.   
   
   
       9 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising at least one vent defined by the cover to provide fluid communication between the cooling area and the frozen food area. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a ventilation channel defined by the cover to provide fluid communication between the refrigeration system and the first compartment. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the first and second mechanisms are dampers. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a first actual temperature of the first compartment and provide a first signal representative of the first actual temperature to the control circuitry; and   a second sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a second actual temperature of the second compartment and provide a second signal representative of the second actual temperature to the control circuitry.   
   
   
       13 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the control circuitry directs the first damper to vary the first aperture based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature and directs the second damper to vary the second aperture based on a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a control panel operatively connected to the control circuitry,   wherein the control panel is configured to accept a first input representative of the first desired temperature and a second input representative of the second desired temperature.   
   
   
       15 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 7  wherein:
 the refrigeration system comprises a variable speed compressor, and   the control circuitry varies a rate of the variable speed compressor in order to maintain the first compartment at the first desired temperature and the second compartment at the second desired temperature.   
   
   
       16 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the first and second mechanisms are dampers. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 15  wherein:
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a first actual temperature of the first compartment and provide a first signal representative of the first actual temperature to the control circuitry; and   a second sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a second actual temperature of the second compartment and provide a second signal representative of the second actual temperature to the control circuitry.   
   
   
       18 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the control circuitry varies a rate of the variable speed compressor based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature and based on a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature. 
   
   
       19 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the first and second mechanisms are dampers. 
   
   
       20 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the control circuitry varies a rate of the variable speed compressor based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature and based on a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature. 
   
   
       21 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the control circuitry directs the first damper to vary the first aperture based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature and directs the second damper to vary the second aperture based on a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature. 
   
   
       22 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the control circuitry varies the rate of the variable speed compressor based on the first comparison and based on the second comparison. 
   
   
       23 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a third mechanism being configured to vary the at least one vent,   wherein the control circuitry directs the third mechanism to vary the at least one vent in order to facilitate maintaining the frozen food area at a frozen food desired temperature.   
   
   
       24 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the first, second, and third mechanisms are dampers. 
   
   
       25 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 24  further comprising:
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a first actual temperature of the first compartment and provide a first signal representative of the first actual temperature to the control circuitry; and   a second sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a second actual temperature of the second compartment and provide a second signal representative of the second actual temperature to the control circuitry; and   a third sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a frozen food actual temperature of the frozen food area and provide a third signal representative of the frozen food actual temperature to the control circuitry.   
   
   
       26 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the control circuitry directs the first damper to vary the first aperture based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature, directs the second damper to vary the second aperture based on a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature, and directs the third damper to vary the at least one vent based on a third comparison of the frozen food desired temperature and the frozen food actual temperature. 
   
   
       27 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 23  wherein:
 the refrigeration system comprises a variable speed compressor, and   the control circuitry varies a rate of the variable speed compressor in order to facilitate maintaining the first compartment at the first desired temperature, the second compartment at the second desired temperature, and the frozen food area at the frozen food desired temperature.   
   
   
       28 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the first, second, and third mechanisms are dampers. 
   
   
       29 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 27  further comprising:
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a first actual temperature of the first compartment and provide a first signal representative of the first actual temperature to the control circuitry; and   a second sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a second actual temperature of the second compartment and provide a second signal representative of the second actual temperature to the control circuitry; and   a third sensor in electrical communication with the control circuitry and operative to measure a frozen food actual temperature of the frozen food area and provide a third signal representative of the frozen food actual temperature to the control circuitry.   
   
   
       30 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the control circuitry varies a rate of the variable speed compressor based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature, a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature, and a third comparison of the frozen food desired temperature and the frozen food actual temperature. 
   
   
       31 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the first, second, and third mechanisms are dampers. 
   
   
       32 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the control circuitry varies a rate of the variable speed compressor based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature, a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature, and a third comparison of the frozen food desired temperature and the frozen food actual temperature. 
   
   
       33 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the control circuitry directs the first damper to vary the first aperture based on a first comparison of the first desired temperature and the first actual temperature, directs the second damper to vary the second aperture based on a second comparison of the second desired temperature and the second actual temperature, and directs the third damper to vary the at least one vent based on a third comparison of the frozen food desired temperature and the frozen food actual temperature. 
   
   
       34 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the control circuitry varies the rate of the variable speed compressor based on the first comparison, the second comparison, and the third comparison. 
   
   
       35 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising:
 a control panel operatively connected to the control circuitry,   wherein the control panel is configured to accept a first input representative of the first desired temperature, a second input representative of the second desired temperature, and a third input representative of the frozen food desired temperature.   
   
   
       36 . A refrigeration apparatus comprising:
 a generally rectangular area defined by two side walls, a back wall, a top wall, a base, and a door; and   a device attached to an inside surface of the top wall for producing an air curtain,   wherein the device expels air downward toward the base when the door is opened.   
   
   
       37 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 36  further comprising a refrigeration system in fluid communication with the generally rectangular area. 
   
   
       38 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 36  further comprising a water filter attached to the air curtain device. 
   
   
       39 . A rack suspended from an underside of a shelf for supporting at least one container, the rack comprising:
 a back support attached to the underside of the shelf having a vertical support and a horizontal flange, the vertical support and the horizontal flange having at least one first curve, wherein the vertical support and the horizontal flange are constructed to receive a bottom of the container at the first curve; and   a front support attached to the underside at at least one connection point and having at least one second curve, the second curve opposite the first curve and constructed to receive a portion of the container,   wherein the front support is adapted to pivot at the connection point such that the front support may be attached horizontally to the underside of the shelf and stored.   
   
   
       40 . The rack of  claim 39  wherein the front support is constructed from a wire. 
   
   
       41 . The rack of  claim 39  wherein the vertical support and the horizontal flange include a plurality of first curves, and the front support includes a plurality of second curves opposite the first curves, wherein each set of corresponding first and second curves is configured to receive the container. 
   
   
       42 . A bin attached to a refrigerator door for storing a plurality of items, the bin comprising:
 a back portion attached to the refrigerator door and configured to store a first set of the items, the back portion comprising a support structure; and   a front portion configured to store a second set of the items, the front portion adapted to be maintained in position on the support structure but removable therefrom,   wherein the front portion may be separated from the back portion by vertically lifting the hollow portion away from the support structure.   
   
   
       43 . A dairy bin for a refrigerator comprising:
 a first side support;   a cover comprising a first cover end and a first plurality of gear teeth attached to the first cover end, wherein the first cover end is pivotally attached to the first side support such that the cover is able to rotate in a generally cylindrical manner; and   a tray comprising a first tray end, the first tray end being slideable such that the tray is able to slide forward and backward in a generally horizontal manner, wherein the first tray end defines a first plurality of slots in which respective of said gear teeth are received.   
   
   
       44 . The dairy bin of  claim 43  wherein clockwise rotation of the cover relative to the first side support causes the first plurality of gear teeth to engage the first plurality of slots such that the tray horizontally slides left relative to the first side support. 
   
   
       45 . The dairy bin of  claim 43  wherein counterclockwise rotation of the cover in relation to the first side support causes the first plurality of gear teeth to retreat from the first plurality of slots such that the tray slides right relative to the first side support. 
   
   
       46 . The dairy bin of  claim 43  wherein movement of the tray in a direction to the right relative to the side support effects the first plurality of gear teeth to retreat from the first plurality of slots such that the cover rotates counterclockwise relative to the first side support. 
   
   
       47 . The dairy bin of  claim 43  wherein movement of the tray in a direction to the left relative to the side support effects the first plurality of gear teeth to engage the first plurality of slots such that the cover rotates clockwise relative to the first side support. 
   
   
       48 . The dairy bin of  claim 43  wherein the first side support is attached to an interior of a door of the refrigerator. 
   
   
       49 . The dairy bin of  claim 43  further comprising a second side support opposite the first side support, wherein the cover comprises a second cover end opposite the first cover end pivotally attached to the second side support such that the cover is able to rotate in a generally cylindrical manner, and the tray is slideable such that the tray is able to slide forward and backward in a generally horizontal manner. 
   
   
       50 . The dairy bin of  claim 49  wherein the second cover end comprises a second plurality of gear teeth, and the second tray end defines a second plurality of slots corresponding to the second plurality of gear teeth. 
   
   
       51 . The dairy bin of  claim 49  wherein the first and second supports are attached to an interior of a door of the refrigerator. 
   
   
       52 . The dairy bin of  claim 49  wherein the first and second supports are integral parts of a door of the refrigerator. 
   
   
       53 . A refrigeration apparatus comprising:
 an ice maker; and   an ice bin located underneath the ice maker,   wherein a portion of a top surface of the ice bin defines a ledge for supporting a container.   
   
   
       54 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 53  further comprising:
 a freezer compartment containing the ice maker and ice bin;   a refrigeration system comprising at least one port for supplying cold air to the freezer compartment, wherein the at least one port is proximate the ledge such that a temperature of the air above the ledge is lower than a temperature of the surrounding air.   
   
   
       55 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 53  further comprising a shelf located on the ledge. 
   
   
       56 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the shelf is removable. 
   
   
       57 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 56  wherein the shelf is L-shaped. 
   
   
       58 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 54  wherein a removable L-shaped shelf is located on the ledge. 
   
   
       59 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 54  wherein:
 the freezer compartment is defined by a plurality of walls;   a first of the plurality of walls, a second of the plurality of walls, and the ice maker define a generally narrow space; and   a curved support attached to the ice bin extends into the generally narrow space, wherein the curved support is configured to support a generally narrow container.