Wall mounted refrigerator system

Abstract

A refrigerator system includes one or more insulated cabinets structured and disposed for mounting to a wall, soffit, or ceiling so that the insulated cabinets are positioned at a height which enables easy viewing and access to items stored therein. In a preferred embodiment, at least two insulated cabinets are used, including one insulated cabinet providing a refrigerator compartment and a second insulated cabinet providing a freezer compartment. A stand-alone refrigeration and freezing unit for controlling and maintaining the temperature in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is separated from the insulated cabinets and, in the preferred embodiments, is mounted in a soffit or ceiling structure above the insulated cabinets. The insulated cabinets may be manufactured according to a specific size and configuration and provided with an exterior finish to match adjacent dry storage cabinets in a kitchen, wherein the insulated cabinets and dry storage cabinets are mounted side-by-side to a wall, soffit or ceiling and in spaced relation above a countertop.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A refrigerator system for installation in a kitchen having a countertop and a plurality of dry storage cabinets mounted in spaced relation above the countertop, said refrigeration system comprising: 
 at least one insulated cabinet including insulated walls and an insulated moveable door surrounding an interior compartment, and said door being moveable between a closed position to sealingly enclose the interior compartment and an open position to permit access to the interior compartment;    means for supporting said insulated cabinet in spaced, unobstructed relation above the countertop; and    means for cooling and/or freezing the interior compartment, said means for cooling and/or freezing being position and disposed independent of said insulated cabinet.    
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 1  comprising: 
 a plurality of said insulated cabinets including at least one refrigerator cabinet having an interior refrigerator compartment, and at least one freezer cabinet having an interior freezer compartment; and  
 said means for cooling and/or freezing being structured and disposed for cooling said interior refrigerator compartment of said at least one refrigerator cabinet and said means for cooling and/or freezing being further structured and disposed for freezing said interior freezer compartment of said at least one freezer cabinet.  
 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of insulated cabinets are sized and configured for mounting adjacent to said dry storage cabinets.  
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said plurality of insulated cabinets are provided with an exterior finish to match said plurality of dry storage cabinets.  
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means for supporting includes at least one bracket structured and disposed for attachment to a wall in the kitchen and said insulated cabinet for supporting said insulated cabinet above the countertop.  
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means for supporting includes at least one bracket structured and disposed for attachment to a soffit and said insulated cabinet for supporting said insulated cabinet above the countertop.  
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means for supporting includes at least one bracket structured and disposed for attachment to a ceiling and said insulated cabinet for supporting said insulated cabinet above the countertop.  
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator system for installation in a kitchen having a countertop and a plurality of dry storage cabinets mounted in spaced relation above the countertop, said refrigerator system comprising: 
 a plurality of insulated cabinets including: 
 at least one refrigerator cabinet having insulated walls and an insulated moveable door surrounding an interior refrigerator compartment;  
 at least one freezer cabinet having insulated walls and an insulated moveable door surrounding an interior freezer compartment;  
 means for supporting each of said plurality of insulated cabinets in spaced, unobstructed relation above the countertop; and  
 cooling and freezing means for cooling said refrigerator compartment and for freezing said freezer compartment, said cooling and freezing means being positioned and disposed independent of said plurality of insulated cabinets.  
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least one of said plurality of insulated cabinets is structured and disposed for mounting below the countertop.  
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 9  wherein said plurality of insulated cabinets are structured and disposed for mounting adjacent to said plurality of dry storage cabinets.  
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 10  wherein said plurality of insulated cabinets are each provided with an exterior finish to match an exterior finish of said plurality of dry storage cabinets.  
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator system for installation in a kitchen having a countertop and a plurality of dry storage cabinets mounted in spaced relation above the countertop, said refrigerator system comprising: 
 at least one insulated cabinet with an interior compartment and a moveable door operable between a closed position to sealingly enclose the interior compartment and an open position to permit access to the interior compartment;    means for supporting said insulated cabinet in spaced, unobstructed relation above the countertop, and said insulated cabinet being sized and configured for mounting adjacent to said dry storage cabinets; and    means for cooling and/or freezing the interior compartment.    
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 12  comprising: 
 a plurality of said insulated cabinets including at least one refrigerator cabinet having an interior refrigerator compartment, and at least one freezer cabinet having an interior freezer compartment; and  
 said means for cooling and/or freezing being structured and disposed for cooling said interior refrigerator compartment of said at least one refrigerator cabinet and said means for cooling and/or freezing being further structured and disposed for freezing said interior freezer compartment of said at least one freezer cabinet.  
 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator system as recited in  claim 13  wherein said plurality of insulated cabinets are provided with an exterior finish to match said plurality of dry storage cabinets.