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 freezer compartment having a freezer door;   a fresh food compartment located over the freezer compartment and having a fresh food door;   an icemaking compartment located within the fresh food compartment and remote from the fresh food door;   an icemaker and an ice storage area in the icemaking compartment;   a bin assembly slidably mounted in the icemaking compartment and having an insulated front cover; and   a seal disposed around an outer perimeter of the front cover to provide an air-tight seal.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the seal is disposed around an outer perimeter of the front cover to provide an air-tight seal between the front cover of the bin assembly and a front opening of the ice compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  wherein the seal is disposed around an outer perimeter of the front cover to provide an air-tight seal between the front cover of the bin assembly and a front opening of the ice compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the insulated front cover includes an inner panel and an outer panel with insulation provided therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the seal is a compressible gasket; 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the seal helps maintain a lower temperature of the icemaking compartment as compared with a higher temperature of the fresh food compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the insulated front cover includes a latch mechanism for releasably locking the cover to the icemaking compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a freezer compartment having a freezer door;   a fresh food compartment located over the freezer compartment and having a fresh food door;   an icemaking compartment located within the fresh food compartment and remote from the fresh food door;   an icemaker and an ice storage area in the icemaking compartment;   a bin assembly slidably mounted in the icemaking compartment and having an insulated front cover;   a seal disposed between the bin assembly and the ice compartment to provide an air-tight seal; and   an ice dispenser having a chute,   whereby the icemaking compartment has an opening in mating engagement with the chute; and
 a second seal between the opening and the chute to prevent cold air from passing from the ice making compartment to the refrigerator compartment. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  wherein the seal is disposed between the bin assembly and a front opening of the ice compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9  wherein the seal is disposed around an outer perimeter of the front cover to provide an air-tight seal between the front cover of the bin assembly and a front opening of the ice compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  wherein the insulated front cover includes an inner panel and an outer panel with insulation provided therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  wherein the seal is a compressible gasket. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  wherein the seal helps maintain a lower temperature of the icemaking compartment as compared with a higher temperature of the fresh food compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  wherein the insulated front cover includes a latch mechanism for releasably locking the cover to the icemaking compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  whereby the chute engages the opening upon closing of the fresh food door. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  whereby the chute and the opening are opposingly angled to provide additional sealing upon closing of the fresh food door. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 8  further including an intermediate piece between the chute and the opening to improve the seal between the chute and the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17  whereby the intermediate piece is selected from the group consisting of a resilient seal, spring, and elastic material. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  whereby the chute further includes a blocking mechanism to decrease flow of air within the chute. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19  whereby the blocking mechanism is a flipper door placed at the opening.