Refrigerated storage structure

Abstract

A storage assembly including a vacuum insulated cabinet, a refrigeration system, and a drawer. The vacuum insulated cabinet is formed by a number of insulated panels. The vacuum insulated cabinet and the refrigeration system collectively form a refrigerated compartment. The drawer is configured to move between an open position, in which an interior portion of the drawer is accessible, and a closed position, in which the drawer is disposed in the refrigerated compartment and the interior portion of the drawer is inaccessible. The refrigeration system includes a first heat exchanger, including one of a thermoelectric device or an evaporator, disposed between the drawer and a rear portion of the insulated cabinet, and a second heat exchanger, including one of a condenser or thermoelectric device, disposed in a machine compartment adjacent to the refrigerated compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage assembly comprising:
 a vacuum insulated cabinet formed by a number of insulated panels;   a refrigeration system, wherein the vacuum insulated cabinet and the refrigeration system collectively form a refrigerated compartment; and   a drawer configured to move between an open position, in which an interior portion of the drawer is accessible, and a closed position, in which the drawer is disposed in the refrigerated compartment and the interior portion of the drawer is inaccessible, wherein the refrigeration system includes a first heat exchanger, disposed between the drawer and a rear portion of the insulated cabinet, and a second heat exchanger disposed in a machine compartment adjacent to the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The storage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base disposed beneath the vacuum insulated cabinet and partially defining the machine compartment.   
     
     
         3 . The storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is a thermoelectric cooling plate configured to refrigerate the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The storage assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a fan fixed to the thermoelectric cooling plate and configured to direct air towards the drawer.   
     
     
         5 . The storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a thermoelectric heating plate configured to dissipate heat away from the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The storage assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a fan fixed to the thermoelectric heating plate and configured to direct air away from the insulated cabinet.   
     
     
         7 . The storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion is formed by a rear insulated panel, of the number of insulated panels, defining an aperture configured to receive at least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The storage assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first sealing member lying along an outer periphery of the second heat exchanger; and   a second sealing member lying along the first sealing member, wherein a first insulated panel of the number of insulated panels forces the second sealing member into contact with the first sealing member.   
     
     
         9 . The storage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second sealing member includes a first vertical leg, a second vertical leg, and a horizontal leg extending therebetween, and the first insulated panel includes a liner sheet fixed to the second leg of the second sealing member. 
     
     
         10 . The storage assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first insulated panel includes a wrapper sheet and a portion of the wrapper sheet lies along the first leg. 
     
     
         11 . The storage assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an adhesive disposed between and fixing the liner sheet to the second leg of the second sealing member.   
     
     
         12 . The storage assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first sealing member includes a lip disposed between the first heat exchanger and the second leg of the second sealing member. 
     
     
         13 . The storage assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lip is formed of an elastomeric material, and the second leg of the second sealing member and the liner sheet are positioned to contact the lip such that the lip elastically deforms from a nominal position. 
     
     
         14 . A storage assembly comprising:
 a vacuum insulated cabinet formed by a number of insulated panels;   a base disposed beneath the vacuum insulated cabinet and partially defining a machine compartment.   a refrigeration system, wherein the vacuum insulated cabinet and the refrigeration system collectively form a refrigerated compartment; and   a drawer selectively disposed in the refrigerated compartment, wherein the refrigeration system includes an evaporator disposed in the refrigerated compartment and a condenser disposed between the base and the vacuum insulated cabinet.   
     
     
         15 . The storage assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a compressor disposed in the machine compartment, wherein the number of insulated panels includes a rear insulated panel provided with a first side and a second side, the first side disposed closer to the drawer than the second side, and wherein a portion of the machine compartment is formed by the second side.   
     
     
         16 . The storage assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the base includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion carrying the compressor and the second portion carrying the condenser. 
     
     
         17 . The storage assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a drain pan disposed in the machine compartment and carried by the second portion.   
     
     
         18 . A storage assembly comprising:
 a vacuum insulated cabinet formed by a number of insulated panels;   a refrigeration system, wherein the vacuum insulated cabinet and the refrigeration system collectively form a refrigerated compartment; and   a drawer configured to move between an open position, in which an interior portion of the drawer is accessible, and a closed position, in which the drawer is disposed in the refrigerated compartment and the interior portion of the drawer is inaccessible, wherein the refrigeration system includes a first thermoelectric device, disposed between the drawer and a rear portion of the insulated cabinet, and a second thermoelectric device disposed in a machine compartment adjacent to the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         19 . The storage assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a sealing member lying along and between an outer periphery at least one of the first thermoelectric device or the second thermoelectric device and an inner periphery of an aperture formed by a rear insulated panel of the number of insulated panels.   
     
     
         20 . The storage assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a drain catchment assembly including a funnel and a spout, wherein the funnel is disposed beneath the first thermoelectric device and the spout extends through at least one of the rear insulated panel or the sealing member and terminates in the machine compartment.