Consumer appliance with finger guard

Abstract

A consumer appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a door attached to the casing along a hinge side of the door. An elongated finger guard is pivotally mounted to a back surface of the door along the hinge side of the door. The finger guard has an extension portion with a floating edge and is pivotally biased to swing away from the appliance casing so that the floating edge of the extension portion engages against an item, such as a cabinet, adjacent to the appliance casing. The extension portion has a transverse width so as to slide along and remain engaged against the item adjacent to the appliance in all positions of the door.

1 . A consumer appliance, comprising;
 a casing defining an internal storage space;   a door attached to said casing along a hinge side of said door;   an elongated finger guard pivotally mounted to a back surface of said door along said hinge side of said door, said finger guard having an extension portion with a floating edge;   said finger guard pivotally biased to swing away from said casing so that said floating edge of said extension portion engages against an item adjacent said cabinet; and   said extension portion having a transverse width so as to slide along and remain engaged against the item adjacent said casing in all positions of said door.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said appliance is a flush-mount refrigerator configured so that said door is flush with a front of cabinetry adjacent said refrigerator. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance as in  claim 2 , wherein said door is attached to said casing with an articulating hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said finger guard comprises a spring hinge attached to said back surface of said door. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance as in  claim 4 , wherein said extension portion is an elongated leaf component of said spring hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance as in  claim 4 , wherein said finger guard is attached to said back surface of said door with a biased ball joint. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said floating edge is configured for sliding frictional engagement against the item adjacent to the appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance as in  claim 7 , further comprising a wear member attached to said floating edge. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said floating edge is configured for rolling engagement against the item adjacent to the appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator as in  claim 9 , comprising a roller configured at said floating edge. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said finger guard extends generally along the entire length of said door. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator as in  claim 1 , wherein said appliance is a flush-mount refrigerator and comprises decorative panel attached to a door frame, said finger guard mounted to a back surface of said door panel.