Refrigerator door mullion apparatus and system

Abstract

A French-style refrigerator door is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an actuator and a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the door. The mullion bar is responsive to the actuator to automatically rotate from a first position to a second position upon actuation of the actuator.

1 . A French-style refrigerator door comprising:
 An actuator; and   a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the door, the mullion bar responsive to the actuator to automatically rotate from a first position to a second position upon actuation of the actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a sensor;   wherein the actuator is responsive to the sensor to rotate the mullion bar from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor detects an initial closure of the refrigerator door; and the actuator is responsive to the sensor to rotate the mullion bar from the first position to the second position following a time delay after detection of the initial closure of the refrigerator door. 
     
     
         5 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the refrigerator door further comprises:
 a second sensor;   wherein the actuator is responsive to the second sensor to rotate the mullion bar from the second position to the first position.   
     
     
         6 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is independent of any physical interaction with a refrigerator structure. 
     
     
         7 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is decoupled from motion of the French-style refrigerator door. 
     
     
         8 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is absent bias toward the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 8 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is absent bias toward the first position. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 at least one compartment defined within a main body of the refrigerator;   first and second French-style doors rotatably mounted to the main body of the refrigerator;   wherein at least one door of the first and the second French-style doors comprises:   an actuator; and   a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the at least one door, the mullion bar responsive to the actuator to automatically rotate from a first position to a second position upon actuation of the actuator.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is an electric motor. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , the at least one door further comprising:
 a sensor;   wherein the actuator is responsive to the sensor to rotate the mullion bar from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the at least one door further comprises:
 a second sensor;   wherein the actuator is responsive to the second sensor to rotate the mullion bar from the second position to the first position.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is independent of any physical interaction with the main body of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is decoupled from motion of the at least one door. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is absent bias toward the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein rotation of the mullion bar is absent bias toward the first position. 
     
     
         18 . A French-style refrigerator door comprising:
 a mullion bar rotatably mounted to the door; and   means for automatically rotating the mullion bar from a first position to a second position, the means for automatically rotating being independent from any physical interaction with a structure of a refrigerator.   
     
     
         19 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 18 , wherein the means for automatically rotating the mullion bar rotates the mullion from the first position to the second position following a delay after closure of the French-Style refrigerator door. 
     
     
         20 . The French-style refrigerator door of  claim 18 , wherein the means for rotating comprises means for rotating the mullion bar from the second position to the first position.