Refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A refrigerated pantry includes a receptacle, a panel, and a damper box. The receptacle defines a first opening configured to receive a drawer and a second opening. The panel is secured to the receptacle. The panel is disposed over the second opening such that a first side of the panel faces into the receptacle and a second side of the panel faces away from the receptacle. The damper box is secured to the panel and extends between the first and second sides of the panel. The damper box is configured to route air into the receptacle. The damper box houses a damper configured to control an airflow quantity into the receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet defining an internal cavity;   a drawer receptacle disposed within the internal cavity, the drawer receptacle defining (i) an opening along a forward end of the drawer receptacle and (ii) a cutout along a rearward end of the drawer receptacle; and   an assembly having
 a panel (i) secured to the drawer receptacle and (ii) disposed over the cutout such that (a) a front side of the panel faces internally and into the drawer receptacle and (b) a rear side of the panel faces externally and away from the drawer receptacle, 
 an air duct (i) secured to the panel, (ii) extending between the front and rear sides of the panel, and (iii) configured to direct air into the drawer receptacle, and 
 an air damper disposed within the air duct and configured to control airflow through the air duct; and 
   a drawer slidable into and out of the drawer receptacle along the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature sensor secured to the front side of the panel and facing into the drawer receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  further comprising an electrical wire, wherein (i) the electrical wire extends from the temperature sensor, (ii) along the front side of the panel, and (iii) within the drawer receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is (i) disposed over the air damper, (ii) removably secured to the front side of the panel, and (iii) faces into the drawer receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising (i) an actuator configured to adjust a position of the air damper and (ii) an electrical wire, wherein (a) the electrical wire extends from the actuator, (b) along the front side of the panel, and (c) within the drawer receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein an outer periphery of the panel overlaps an external surface of the drawer receptacle along an outer periphery of the cutout. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6  further comprising a gasket disposed between the outer periphery of the panel and the drawer receptacle along the outer periphery of the cutout. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerated pantry comprising:
 a receptacle defining (i) a first opening configured to receive a drawer and (ii) a second opening;   a panel (i) secured to the receptacle and (ii) disposed over the second opening such that (a) a first side of the panel faces into the receptacle and (b) a second side of the panel faces away from the receptacle; and   a damper box (i) secured to the panel, (ii) extending between the first and second sides of the panel, (iii) configured to route air into the receptacle, and (iv) housing a damper configured to control an airflow quantity into the receptacle.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 8  further comprising a temperature sensor secured to the first side of the panel and facing into the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 9  further comprising an electrical wire, wherein (i) the electrical wire extends from the temperature sensor, (ii) along the first side of the panel, and (iii) within the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 8  further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is (i) disposed over the damper, (ii) removably secured to the first side of the panel, and (iii) faces into the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 8  further comprising (i) an actuator configured to adjust a position of the damper and (ii) an electrical wire, wherein (a) the electrical wire extends from the actuator, (b) along the first side of the panel, and (c) within the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 12 , wherein (i) the actuator is disposed within the damper box and (ii) the electrical wire extends from the actuator, through an orifice defined by the damper box, and into the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 8 , wherein an outer periphery of the panel overlaps an external surface of the receptacle along an outer periphery of the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated pantry of  claim 14  further comprising a gasket disposed between the outer periphery of the panel and the receptacle along the outer periphery of the second opening. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first receptacle (i) disposed within the cabinet, (ii) configured to slidably receive a drawer, and (iii) a defining a cutout; and   an assembly having
 a panel (i) secured to the first receptacle and (ii) disposed over the cutout such that (a) a front side of the panel faces into the first receptacle and (b) a rear side of the panel faces away from the first receptacle, and 
 a second receptacle (i) secured to the panel, (ii) configured to receive a damper, (iii) defining openings, and (iv) configured to direct air from the rear side of the panel toward the front side of the panel and into the first receptacle via the openings. 
   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  further comprising a temperature sensor secured to the front side of the panel and facing into the first receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is (i) removably secured to the front side of the panel, (ii) faces into the first receptacle, and (iii) forms a first portion of the second receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein an outer periphery of the panel overlaps an external surface of the first receptacle along an outer periphery of the cutout. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein a gasket is disposed between the outer periphery of the panel and the first receptacle along the outer periphery of the cutout.