Insulated and Charged To-Go Bins for a Refrigerator Appliance

Abstract

A storage bin for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The storage bin defines a storage compartment for receiving food articles and may be removably received within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may further include a carrying handle, such that it is easily portable outside the refrigerator appliance. The storage bin may have cold pack material and/or insulating material in its walls such that the storage compartment remains cool for a period of time after the storage bin is removed from the refrigerator appliance. Due to the fact that the storage bin is chilled and easily portable, it is ideal for grocery shopping, for taking on a picnic, or for any other use involving travel with food items that must remain cool during transport.

1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;   a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber; and   a storage bin being removably positioned within the chilled chamber, the storage bin comprising:
 an outer shell defining one solid barrier configured to prevent the flow of air through the outer shell; 
 an inner shell joined with the outer shell to form a cavity; and 
 a cold pack material filling the cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cold pack material is an antifreeze liquid or gel. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the storage bin further comprises an insulating material positioned within the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating material is insulating foam. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating material forms an outer foam insulation layer positioned adjacent the outer shell and the cold pack material forms an inner cold pack material layer positioned adjacent the inner shell. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the storage bin further comprises a detachable, insulated lid. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the storage bin further comprises a carrying handle that is received within a recess defined by the storage bin when not in use. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are formed from a waterproof material. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet of the refrigerator appliance defines storage bin supports for removably receiving the storage bin. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a separate solid plastic bin configured for removably receiving the storage bin. 
     
     
         12 . A storage bin for a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, the storage bin comprising:
 an outer shell defining a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls to define one solid barrier configured to prevent the flow of air through the outer shell;   an insulating material positioned adjacent the outer shell;   a cold pack material positioned adjacent the insulating material; and   an inner shell positioned adjacent the cold pack material and joined with the outer shell to encapsulate the insulating material and the cold pack material, the inner shell being configured for receiving food articles.   
     
     
         13 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the cold pack material is an antifreeze liquid or gel. 
     
     
         14 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the insulating material is insulating foam. 
     
     
         15 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the storage bin further comprises a detachable, insulated lid. 
     
     
         16 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the storage bin further comprises a carrying handle that is received within a recess defined by the storage bin when not in use. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are formed from a waterproof material. 
     
     
         19 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the cabinet of the refrigerator appliance defines storage bin supports for removably receiving the storage bin. 
     
     
         20 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a separate solid plastic bin configured for removably receiving the storage bin. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inner shell comprises a thin layer of polypropylene fabric. 
     
     
         22 . The storage bin of  claim 12 , wherein the inner shell comprises a thin layer of polypropylene fabric.