Maytag Corporation

Raymond J Chekal

Chad Jonathan Rotter

Ravi Kumar Sawhney

David Allen Stauffer

Todd E Kniffen

Timothy Mark Nugent

Michael J Eveland

Richard Allan Kirchner

John Frank Zinni

Dennis E Winders

David J Olberding

Jeffrey Michael O'Halloran

Eric S Svenby

Jonathan J Tiemeier

Greg A Scorpil

Jack J Standefer

A refrigerator includes French-style doors and a rotating mullion. The rotating mullion is mounted to one of the French-style doors through first and second hinge members. Each of the first and second hinge members include first and second hinge elements having corresponding cam members. The cam members include multiple lobes and extend about hinge pins that define an axis of rotation for the mullion. The multiple lobes actually define first and second detent positions for the rotating mullion. A spring biases the first cam member against the second cam member so that the rotating mullion is positively maintained in either the first or second position. The mullion is formed from mating halves, each including a portion of an integrally formed pin element. The pin element travels within a guide element to automatically rotate the mullion between the first and second positions during use.

Refrigerator incorporating french doors with rotating mullion bar

A chiller compartment is provided that secures to the inside of a refrigerator door. The chiller compartment includes a pair of french doors that are connected by a linkage that causes the doors to simultaneously open or close. The french doors of the chiller compartment open and close automatically when the refrigerator door is open and shut. The chiller compartment also includes a tray of sufficient height to secure tall beverages or food items and prevent such items from toppling out of the chiller compartment while the refrigerator door is opened or closed.

French door chiller compartment for refrigerators

Growing community of inventors

Belle Plaine, IA, United States of America

Raymond J Chekal