Brace for a refrigerator machine compartment cover

Abstract

A brace is provided to hold a refrigerator machine compartment cover open during servicing of various refrigeration compartments. The brace includes a longitudinal center section having first and second ends, a hinge support section attached to the first end and a mounting section attached to the second end. The brace is placed against a hinge assembly to support the cover in the open position. When not in use, the brace may be stored in a machine compartment portion of the refrigerator.

1 . A refrigerator assembly comprising:
 a refrigerated compartment;   a door pivotally mounted relative to the refrigerator for selectively closing the refrigerated compartment;   a machine compartment arranged over the refrigerated compartment, said machine compartment housing refrigeration components which operate to maintain a selected temperature in the refrigerated compartment;   a machine compartment cover shiftable between an open position exposing the machine compartment and a closed position covering the machine compartment;   a hinge assembly pivotally interconnecting the machine compartment cover and the machine compartment for movement between open and closed positions; and   a brace selectively mounted to the hinge assembly to retain the machine compartment cover in the open position, said brace including:
 a longitudinal center section having first and second ends; 
 a hinge support section provided at the first end of the longitudinal center section, said hinge support section being received by the hinge assembly; and 
 a mounting section provided at the second end of the longitudinal center section, said mounting section engaging the hinge assembly so as to selectively retain the machine compartment cover in the open position to provide unobstructed access to the machine compartment. 
   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge support section is about 1¼ inches (3.18 cm) long and about 1 (2.54 cm) inch wide. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal center section is approximately 2.5-3 inches (6.35-7.62 cm) long and is connected the hinge support section. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting section is connected to the second section and has an elongated U-shape. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the mounting section is spring biased so that the U-shape forms a clip. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly includes a support portion and a pivoting portion, said brace extending between the support portion and the pivoting portion to retain the machine compartment cover in the open position. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the support portion includes a back panel, a bottom panel and a side panel, said brace clipping to the bottom panel of the support portion and abutting the pivoting portion to retain the machine compartment cover in the open position. 
   
   
       8 . A brace selectively mounted to a hinge assembly to retain a machine compartment cover in an open position comprising:
 a longitudinal center section having first and second ends;   a hinge support section provided at the first end of the longitudinal center section, said hinge support section being received by the hinge assembly; and   a mounting section provided at the second end of the longitudinal center section, said mounting section engaging the hinge assembly so as to selectively retain the machine compartment cover in the open position to provide unobstructed access to the machine compartment.   
   
   
       9 . The brace according to  claim 8 , wherein the hinge support section is about 1¼ inches (3.18 cm) long and about 1 inch (2.54 cm) wide. 
   
   
       10 . The brace according to  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal center section is approximately 2.5-3 inches (6.35-7.62 cm) long and is connected the hinge support section. 
   
   
       11 . The brace according to  claim 8 , wherein the mounting section is connected to the second section and has an elongated U-shape. 
   
   
       12 . The brace according to  claim 11 , wherein the mounting section is spring biased so that the U-shape forms a clip. 
   
   
       13 . A method of accessing a machine compartment positioned above a refrigerated compartment of a refrigerator comprising:
 lifting a machine compartment cover through a hinge assembly having a support portion and a pivoting portion;   clipping a first end of a brace to the support portion of the hinge assembly;   abutting a second end of the brace against the pivoting portion of the hinge assembly so as to support the machine compartment cover in an open position thereby providing unobstructed access to the machine compartment.