Bottom mount mullion roller

Abstract

Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a refrigerated compartment, and a plurality of doors that, when closed, cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance into the refrigerated compartment. A mullion is pivotally coupled to a distal side of a first door included in the plurality of doors, and is pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a second door when the doors are closed. A roller is provided adjacent to an end of the mullion, and includes a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller. A receiver with an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration appliance comprising:
 a refrigerated compartment;   a plurality of doors that, when closed, cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance into the refrigerated compartment;   a mullion pivotally coupled to an opposing end of a first door included in the plurality of doors, the mullion being pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a second door included in the plurality of doors once the doors are closed;   a roller provided adjacent to an end of the mullion along a vertical axis of the mullion, the roller comprising a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller; and   a receiver comprising an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the roller is rotatably coupled to the mullion by a post that extends vertically into an interior of the mullion, the post establishing an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the mullion. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the roller comprises a circular hub formed from a plastic material, and the rubberized material extends continuously over an entire extent of a circumference of the circular hub. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the roller rotates in an angular direction that is opposite an angular direction in which the mullion rotates during a transition from the open orientation to the closed orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate surface of the receiver forms a suitable portion of an arch to pivot the mullion approximately ninety) (90°) degrees from the open orientation as the first door is closed. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is provided adjacent to a top of the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second door comprises a fixed gasket that is position on the second door to press against the mullion in the closed orientation to form the seal. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigeration appliance comprising:
 a freezer compartment being refrigerated to maintain food at a sub-freezing storage temperature;   a fresh food compartment arranged at an elevation vertically above the fresh food compartment and refrigerated to maintain food at a storage temperature above freezing and below room temperature;   a first door pivotally coupled to a first lateral side of a cabinet defining the fresh food compartment and a second door pivotally coupled to a second lateral side of the cabinet, opposite the first lateral side, wherein the first and second doors are arranged in a French door configuration and comprise distal sides that cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance leading into the fresh food compartment;   a mullion pivotally coupled adjacent to the distal side of the first door, the mullion being pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a gasket provided to the second door once the doors are closed;   a roller provided adjacent to an end of the mullion along a vertical axis of the mullion, the roller comprising a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller; and   a receiver comprising an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 8  further comprising a handle having a longitudinal axis that is vertically oriented adjacent the distal side of each door. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the roller is rotatably coupled to the mullion by a post that extends vertically into an interior of the mullion, the post establishing an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the mullion. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the roller comprises a circular hub formed from a plastic material, and the rubberized material extends continuously over an entire extent of a circumference of the circular hub. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the roller rotates in an angular direction that is opposite an angular direction in which the mullion rotates during a transition from the open orientation to the closed orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the arcuate surface of the receiver forms a suitable portion of an arch to pivot the mullion approximately ninety (90°) degrees from the open orientation as the first door is closed. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver is provided adjacent to a top of the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the second door comprises a fixed gasket that is position on the second door to press against the mullion in the closed orientation to form the seal.