Refrigerator appliance with multiple zone flexible chamber in door

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. The door rotates between a closed position and an open position. The door also includes an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall and a mullion positioned within the outer casing. A first flexible chamber and a second flexible chamber are defined by the outer casing and the mullion. A front panel is rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending from a top to a bottom along the vertical direction, the cabinet also extending from a left side to a right side along the lateral direction, the cabinet defining a chilled chamber, the chilled chamber extending along the vertical direction between the top and the bottom of the cabinet, along the lateral direction between the left and right sides of the cabinet, and along the transverse direction between a front portion and a back portion, the front portion of the chilled chamber defining an opening for receipt of food items,   a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet at the front portion of the chilled chamber such that the door rotates between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses at least a portion of the chilled chamber and an open position to permit access to the chilled chamber, the door comprising an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall, a mullion positioned within the outer casing, a first flexible chamber defined by the outer casing and the mullion, a second flexible chamber defined by the outer casing and the mullion, and a front panel rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the mullion is horizontal and extends along a plane defined by the lateral direction and the transverse direction. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the mullion is thermally insulated. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the mullion sealingly engages the front panel of the door when the front panel of the door is in a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber are selectively operable within one of a first temperature range and a second temperature range, the first temperature range greater than a freezing point of water and the second temperature range less than the freezing point of water. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber are operable at distinct temperatures. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a partition within the cabinet defining a fresh food portion and a freezer portion of the chilled chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the chilled chamber is a fresh food chamber, further comprising a freezer chamber defined in the cabinet and spaced apart from the fresh food chamber along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible chamber extends along the vertical direction from a bottom of the door to the mullion and the first flexible chamber extends along the vertical direction from the mullion to a top of the door. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the door is a first door, further comprising a second door mirrored with the first door whereby the first door and the second door cooperatively sealingly enclose the chilled chamber when the first door is in the closed position and the second door is in a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending from a top to a bottom along the vertical direction, the cabinet defining a chilled chamber, the chilled chamber extending along the vertical direction between the top and bottom of the cabinet, the chilled chamber also extending between a front portion and a back portion, the front portion of the chilled chamber defining an opening for receipt of food items; and   a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet at the front portion of the chilled chamber such that the door rotates between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses at least a portion of the chilled chamber and an open position to permit access to the chilled chamber, the door comprising an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall, a mullion positioned within the outer casing, a first flexible chamber defined by the outer casing and the mullion, a second flexible chamber defined by the outer casing and the mullion, and a front panel rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the mullion is horizontal and extends along a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the mullion is thermally insulated. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the mullion sealingly engages the front panel of the door when the front panel of the door is in a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber are selectively operable within one of a first temperature range and a second temperature range, the first temperature range greater than a freezing point of water and the second temperature range less than the freezing point of water. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber are operable at distinct temperatures. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a partition within the cabinet defining a fresh food portion and a freezer portion of the chilled chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the chilled chamber is a fresh food chamber, further comprising a freezer chamber defined in the cabinet and spaced apart from the fresh food chamber along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first flexible chamber extends along the vertical direction from a top of the door to the mullion and the second flexible chamber extends along the vertical direction from the mullion to a bottom of the door. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the door is a first door, further comprising a second door mirrored with the first door whereby the first door and the second door cooperatively sealingly enclose the chilled chamber when the first door is in the closed position and the second door is in a closed position.