The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1998
Gerald L Wolanin, Galesburg, IL (US);
Maytag Corporation, Newton, IA (US);
Abstract
A mullion bar is attached to a cabinet shell of a refrigerator through the use of a retainer that includes a first body portion positioned between primary and secondary flanges formed by the cabinet shell and a second body portion that is interengaged with additional flange structure defined by the mullion bar. More specifically, the retainer is preferably formed as an integral plastic element, with the first body portion being defined by a pair of spaced, generally T-shaped body members that are frictionally interposed between a return flange and a secondary flange of the cabinet shell. The second body portion of the retainer includes a bridge member that interconnects the body members, as well as a pair of legs which project in a direction opposite of the body members and which mate with the additional flange structure of the mullion bar. The bridge member has an upper surface that conforms to a lower curved surface of the cabinet shell flange structure and a lower surface that conforms to a terminal end of the mullion bar in order to provide a smooth, aesthetically appealing front cabinet surface arrangement with the forwardmost flange structure of the cabinet shell being arranged coplanar with the mullion bar and with the bridge member of the retainer being interposed between the cabinet shell and the mullion bar. Provisions are also made for the routing of a yoder tube between the spaced body members of the retainer and behind the mullion bar.