Adjustable mullion assembly

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment having first and second sidewalls interconnected by a rear wall. The refrigerated compartment includes an open front portion, to which a door is operably coupled between open and closed positions. The refrigerator further includes a shelf assembly having a first shelf member pivotally coupled to the first sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and operable between vertical and horizontal positions. A second shelf member is pivotally coupled to the second sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and is also operable between vertical and horizontal positions. A gasket assembly, having portions disposed on both the first and second shelf members, seals against an inner surface of the door when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position and the door is in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet having at least one refrigerated compartment, wherein the refrigerated compartment is defined by first and second sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and further includes an open front portion;   a door movably coupled to the refrigerated compartment for accessing the refrigerated compartment, the door operable between open and closed positions with respect to the open front portion of the refrigerated compartment and having an inner surface; and   a shelf assembly having first and second shelf members operably coupled to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, between upright and deployed positions, wherein the first and second shelf members each include front-facing surfaces having outwardly extending gasket members, and further wherein the outwardly extending gasket members of the first and second shelf members seal against the inner surface of the door when the door is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf assembly divides the refrigerated compartment into first and second portions when the first and second shelf members are in the deployed position. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second shelf members include insulated interior cavities. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , including:
 a cooling component for cooling the refrigerated compartment, the cooling component in fluid communication with both the first and second portions of the refrigerated compartment when the first and second shelf members are in the deployed position to independently control respective temperatures in the first and second portions.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , including:
 a support member extending outwardly from the rear wall of the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second shelf members each include undersurfaces that abut the support member when the first and second shelf members are in the deployed position. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , including:
 a support flange extending outwardly from an inside edge of one of the first and second shelf members to support the opposite shelf member at an undersurface thereof when the first and second shelf members are in the deployed position.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shelf members are substantially horizontal when the first and second shelf members are in the deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second shelf members are substantially parallel with the first and second sidewalls of the refrigerated compartment when the first and second shelf members are in the upright position. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerated compartment having first and second sidewalls interconnected by a rear wall, wherein the refrigerated compartment includes an open front portion;   a door operably coupled to the refrigerated compartment between open and closed positions; and   a shelf assembly comprising:
 a first shelf member pivotally coupled to the first sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and operable between vertical and horizontal positions; 
 a second shelf member pivotally coupled to the second sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and operable between vertical and horizontal positions; 
 a gasket assembly having portions disposed on both the first and second shelf members, wherein the gasket assembly seals against an inner surface of the door when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position and the door is in the closed position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second shelf members span a distance defined between the first and second sidewalls of the refrigerated compartment when both the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , including:
 a support flange extending outwardly from an inside edge of the first shelf member to support the second shelf member at an undersurface of the second shelf member, when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , including:
 a support member extending into the refrigerated compartment from the rear wall of the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second shelf members each include undersurfaces that abut the support member at an upper abutment surface thereof when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the gasket assembly includes first and second gasket members disposed on front facing surfaces of the first and second shelf members, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , including:
 an inner gasket member positioned on the inside edge of the first shelf member, wherein the inner gasket member seals between the inside edge of the first shelf member and an inside edge of the second shelf member when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position.   
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerated compartment having first and second sidewalls and an open front portion;   a door operably coupled to the refrigerated compartment between open and closed positions relative to the open front portion; and   a shelf assembly comprising:
 a first shelf member pivotally coupled to the first sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and operable between vertical and horizontal positions; 
 a second shelf member pivotally coupled to the second sidewall of the refrigerated compartment and operable between vertical and horizontal positions, wherein the first and second shelf members divide the refrigerated compartment into upper and lower portions in an air-tight manner when both the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , including:
 a gasket assembly having first and second gasket members disposed on the first and second shelf members, respectively, wherein the gasket assembly seals against an inner surface of the door when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position and the door is in the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second shelf members include insulated core portions. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , including:
 a support member outwardly extending into the refrigerated compartment, wherein portions of the first and second shelf members are supported on the support member when the first and second shelf members are in the horizontal position.