Mechanisms for attaching a dispenser to a refrigerator door

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance is provided with features for securing a dispenser to a door of the appliance. The dispenser can include a top wall, a bottom wall and a back wall that define a dispenser recess. An insert includes at least one of the top wall, the bottom wall, and the back wall. The insert is mounted to a back of a front panel of the door. As a result, the dispenser can have a trim-less appearance on the front panel of the door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles;   a door mounted to said cabinet, said door configured for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said door including a front panel, said door extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, said door also extending between a first side and a second side along a horizontal direction, said door further extending between a front and a back along a transverse direction, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the horizontal and vertical directions;   a dispenser mounted adjacent said door, said dispenser having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a back wall that define a dispenser recess;   an insert comprising at least one of the top wall, the bottom wall, and the back wall of said dispenser; and   means for securing said insert to said door in order to form said dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said door further comprises:
 a sidewall that extends away from the front panel of said door along the transverse direction; and   a flange that extends from said sidewall along the horizontal direction such that said flange is spaced apart from the front panel, wherein said means for securing comprises a tab connected to said insert and extending between said insert and said flange of said door in order to secure said insert to said door.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein said insert comprises the top wall and the bottom wall of said dispenser, wherein said door comprises the back wall of said dispenser, the back wall of said dispenser being substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said door further comprises:
 a sidewall that extends away from the front panel of said door along the transverse direction; and   a flange that extends from said sidewall along the horizontal direction such that said flange is spaced apart from the front panel, wherein said insert extends between a front and a back with the front of said insert positioned adjacent the front panel of said door, the back of said insert spaced apart from the front of said insert along the transverse direction, wherein said means for securing comprises a retainer strap extending between the back of said insert and said flange of said door in order to urge said insert towards the front panel of said door.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , wherein said insert comprises the top wall and the bottom wall of said dispenser, wherein said door comprises the back wall of said dispenser, the back wall of said dispenser being substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said insert comprises the top wall and the bottom wall of said dispenser, wherein said door comprises the back wall of said dispenser, the back wall of said dispenser defining a slot, wherein said means for securing comprises:
 a jam received within the slot of the back wall; and   a fastener that couples said insert to said jam in order to secure said insert to said door.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the back wall of said dispenser is substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said insert extends between a front and a back along the transverse direction, said insert defining a slit that extends into said insert along the transverse direction and a hole positioned adjacent said slit and extending into said insert along the horizontal direction, wherein said means for securing comprises a lip mounted adjacent said door and extending away from the front panel along the transverse direction, said lip received within said slit, said lip having a hook with a tip positioned away from said lip along the horizontal direction, the tip of the hook disposed within said hole in order to secure said insert to said door. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said door comprises the back wall of said dispenser, wherein said insert extends between a front and a back along the transverse direction, said insert comprising:
 the top wall of said dispenser;   the bottom wall of said dispenser spaced apart from the top wall of said dispenser along the vertical direction; and   a rail extending between the top wall and the bottom wall of said dispenser, said rail positioned adjacent the back wall of said dispenser.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said means for securing comprises a fastener that couples said rail and the back wall of said dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said door further comprises a flange spaced apart from the front panel of said door along the transverse direction, wherein said means for securing comprises a tab mounted to said insert and extending from said insert to said flange in order to secure said insert to said door. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the back wall of said dispenser is substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said door further comprises a flange spaced apart from the front panel of said door along the transverse direction, wherein said means for securing comprises a retainer strap extending between the back of said insert and said flange such that said retainer strap urges said insert towards the front panel of said door. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the back wall of said dispenser is substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the back wall of said dispenser defines a slot, wherein said means for securing comprises:
 a jam received within the slot of the back wall; and   a fastener that couples said insert to said jam in order to secure said insert to said door.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the back wall of said dispenser is substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said insert extends between a front and a back along the transverse direction, said insert comprising:
 the top wall of said dispenser;   the bottom wall of said dispenser spaced apart from the top wall of said dispenser along the vertical direction;   the back wall of said dispenser extending between the top wall and the bottom wall of said dispenser, wherein said insert defines a slit that extends into said insert along the transverse direction and a hole positioned adjacent said slit and extending into said insert along the horizontal direction, wherein said means for securing comprises a lip mounted adjacent said door and extending away from the front panel along the transverse direction, said lip received within said slit, said lip having a hook with a tip positioned away from said lip along the horizontal direction, the tip of the hook disposed within said hole in order to mount said insert to said door.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said insert defines an outlet for directing a flow of ice to the dispenser recess. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket disposed between the front panel of said door and said insert.