Frameless Door Suspension

Abstract

A refrigerator cabinet includes a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening; a door mounted within the opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams mounted horizontally on the housing; and structure for pivotably mounting the door between the beams.

1 . A refrigerator cabinet, comprising:
 a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening;   a door mounted within the opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams positioned horizontally on the housing; and   means for pivotably mounting the door between the beams.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet has a width and the beams extend along the width. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beams comprise a single upper beam and a single lower beam, and wherein a plurality of doors are mounted therebetween. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beams are elongate profiled members mounted to the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beams are elongate profiled members formed integrally with the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beams have an outwardly facing profile comprising a substantially vertical portion which contacts the door when the door is in a closed position, and a substantially horizontal portion, and wherein the means for pivotably mounting is defined between the door and the substantially horizontal portion. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the door further comprises a lighting member, and wherein the means for pivotably connecting further comprises means for electrically connecting the lighting member with a power source. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising lighting beams mounted substantially vertically relative to the beams. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lighting member mounted relative to the door to provide light inside the refrigerator cabinet, and wherein the lighting member includes a mounting frame including fastening structure for mounting to an edge of the door, and a sealing surface extending from the mounting frame to contact an edge of an adjacent door. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the door has a pivot point with respect to the cabinet housing, and wherein the door extends from the pivot point in one direction, and the sealing surface extends from the pivot point in a direction opposite from the door. 
   
   
       11 . A method for assembling a refrigerator cabinet, comprising the steps of:
 providing a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams positioned horizontally on the housing; and   pivotably mounting a door mounted in the opening between the beams.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cabinet has a width and the beams extend along the width. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the beams comprise a single upper beam and a single lower beam, and wherein a plurality of doors are mounted therebetween. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the beams are elongate profiled members mounted to the housing. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the beams have an outwardly facing profile comprising a substantially vertical portion which contacts the door when the door is in a closed position, and a substantially horizontal portion, and wherein the means for pivotably mounting is defined between the door and the substantially horizontal portion. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the door further comprises a lighting member, and wherein the means for pivotably connecting further comprises means for electrically connecting the lighting member with a power source. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of mounting lighting beams to the cabinet housing between the beams and extending substantially vertically therebetween. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of positioning a lighting member relative to the door, wherein the lighting member has a mounting frame including fastening structure for mounting to an edge of the door, and a sealing surface extending from the mounting frame, and further comprising the steps of mounting an adjacent door between the beams and adjacent to the door, with the sealing surface of the lighting member positioned to contact an edge of the adjacent door. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the door has a pivot point with respect to the cabinet housing, and wherein the door extends from the pivot point in one direction, and the sealing surface extends from the pivot point in a direction opposite from the door. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing step comprises mounting the beams on the housing without the door, and wherein the step of pivotably mounting the door is carried out after the beams are mounted to the housing.