Refrigerator ice compartment latch and cover

Abstract

An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally fowled with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment;   an ice making compartment in the refrigerator compartment; and   an ice dispenser having a chute, whereby said ice making compartment has an opening in mating engagement with the chute; and   a seal between the opening and the chute to prevent cold air from passing from the ice making compartment to the refrigerator compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  whereby the refrigerator compartment includes a door, whereby the ice dispenser is in the door. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  whereby the chute engages the opening upon closing of the door. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  whereby the chute and the opening are opposingly angled to provide additional sealing upon closing of the door. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further including an intermediate piece between the chute and the opening to improve the seal between the chute and the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5  whereby the intermediate piece is selected from the group consisting of a resilient seal, spring, and elastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  whereby the chute further includes a blocking mechanism to decrease flow of air within the chute. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7  whereby the blocking mechanism is a flipper door placed at the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further including a bin assembly removably mounted in the ice making compartment for storing ice. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  whereby the ice making compartment comprises an ice maker. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment;   an ice making compartment in the refrigerator compartment; and   an ice bin for storing ice removably mounted in the ice compartment, said ice bin having an insulated front cover.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11  whereby the insulated front cover provides an air-tight seal with the ice making compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12  whereby the insulated front cover comprises a latch mechanism for releasably locking the cover to the ice compartment, whereby the latch provides an air-tight seal between the refrigerator compartment and the ice making compartment when the latch is locked. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12  whereby the ice bin is removable from the ice making compartment when the latch is unlocked. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 11  whereby the front cover comprises an inner panel and an outer panel. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15  whereby the front cover comprises insulation between the inner panel and the outer panel. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 15  whereby the ice bin comprises a front plate, and further providing that the inner panel of the front cover mounts on the front plate of the ice bin. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17  whereby the front plate comprises an outer perimeter, said outer perimeter comprising a seal. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 13  whereby the latch comprises:
 a lock bar; 
 a pair of collars on the front cover of the ice bin; and 
 a catch; 
 whereby the lock bar slides laterally through the collars to engage the catch and into a locked position, and slides laterally to disengage the catch and into an unlocked position. 
 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19  whereby the lock bar is biased to the locked position by a spring.