Mullion bar assembly with enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics

• Main Authors: JOHNSON; THOMAS M, ELLINGWOOD; JOHN C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.09.1994
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: BLASTING; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS; ICE-BOXES; INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICESFOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTOOPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THEWING; KEYS; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; LOCKS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SAFES; WEAPONS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

A mullion bar assembly having enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics is disclosed wherein the liners defining the freezer and the fresh food compartments define non-magnetic gasket sealing surfaces against which the magnetic door gaskets seal. Since the liners are typically made of plastic material, permanent magnets are disposed behind the liners so as to attract the magnetic gasket seals into sealing contact with their respective non-magnetic sealing surfaces. The non-magnetic sealing surfaces are spaced apart and the mullion bar is located between them such that it extends between opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet and only between the spaced apart, non-magnetic sealing surfaces. No part of the mullion bar is exposed to either the freezer compartment or the fresh food compartment. Since the mullion bar extends only between the spaced apart sealing surfaces, the door gaskets prevent any exposure of the mullion bar to the compartment interiors, thereby preventing any direct heat transfer between the ambient atmosphere and the respective compartments via the mullion bar.