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:
Mar. 07, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 29, 2003
Raymond J. Chekal, Belle Plaine, IA (US);
Richard Allan Kirchner, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Jeffrey Michael O'halloran, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Chad Jonathan Rotter, Amana, IA (US);
Greg A. Scorpil, Tipton, IA (US);
Jack J. Standefer, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
David Allen Stauffer, Belle Plaine, IA (US);
Raymond J. Chekal, Belle Plaine, IA (US);
Richard Allan Kirchner, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Jeffrey Michael O'Halloran, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Chad Jonathan Rotter, Amana, IA (US);
Greg A. Scorpil, Tipton, IA (US);
Jack J. Standefer, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
David Allen Stauffer, Belle Plaine, IA (US);
Maytag Corporation, Newton, IA (US);
Abstract
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.