US 12,037,831 B2
Refrigerator with self-reversing door opener
Michael Goodman Schroeder, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/673,196.
Prior Publication US 2023/0258037 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. E05F 15/622 (2015.01); F25D 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC E05F 15/622 (2015.01) [F25D 23/028 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/434 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/474 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/702 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/71 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/31 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 defining a food storage chamber, the food storage chamber extending between a front portion and a back portion along the transverse direction, the front portion of the food storage chamber defining an opening for receipt of food items;
a door positioned at the front portion of the food storage chamber and movable between a closed position and an open position to selectively sealingly enclose the food storage chamber in the closed position and provide access to the food storage chamber in the open position; and
a door opener attached to the cabinet, the door opener comprising a casing, a push screw extending through the casing towards the door, and a motor in operative communication with the push screw, the motor configured to move the push screw when the motor is activated, wherein the motor rotates a drive gear when the motor is activated and the push screw reciprocates generally along the transverse direction when the motor is activated, wherein the motor rotates the drive gear in a single direction while the push screw reciprocates generally along the transverse direction.