US 12,393,108 B2
Pivoting camera assembly for a refrigerator appliance
Steven Keith Root, Buckner, KY (US); and Michael Goodman Schroeder, Crestwood, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on May 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/325,609.
Prior Publication US 2024/0402578 A1, Dec. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. G03B 17/56 (2021.01); F25D 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03B 17/561 (2013.01) [F25D 29/00 (2013.01); F25D 2700/02 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet;
a liner positioned within the cabinet, the liner having an inner liner surface that defines a chilled chamber;
a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber; and
a camera assembly mounted to the liner for monitoring the chilled chamber, the camera assembly comprising:
a camera housing;
a camera mounted within the camera housing and being pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation; and
a pivoting mechanism that is operably coupled to the door such that the camera is oriented in the first orientation when the door is in an open position and in the second orientation when the door is in a closed position, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a biasing element that urges the camera toward the first orientation and a trigger mechanism that overcomes the biasing element to urge the camera toward the second orientation when the door is closed, wherein the trigger mechanism is located within an articulating mullion of the door.