CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to a crisper drawer for a refrigeration appliance, and more particularly, to a crisper drawer including a cassette filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional refrigeration appliances, such as domestic refrigerators, typically have both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment or section. The fresh food compartment is where food items such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages are stored and the freezer compartment is where food items that are to be kept in a frozen condition are stored. The compartments are generally separated by a partition that is either vertically or horizontally oriented depending on the specific configuration of the refrigerator.

Generally, crisper drawers and storage bins are located within the fresh food and freezer compartments in order to more efficiently organize and compartmentalize the items stored in said compartments. Fruits and vegetables stored in such drawers and bins release ethylene gas over time that results in wilting, decay, loss of crunch, and other negative effects on other foods stored nearby. Additionally, microbes and excess moisture also have negative effects on food stored within a refrigerator. Ethylene absorbers are currently used to extend the freshness of fruits and vegetables stored in the crisper drawer(s) by removing ethylene gas from the air. Ethylene absorbers for crisper drawers in refrigerators currently require components that must be adhered to or placed inside of the drawer, which results in the loss of usable space within the crisper drawer.

Accordingly, there is a need for a housing for an ethylene absorber that is integrated into a side wall of a crisper drawer, thus utilizing traditional void space in the drawer. The disclosed housings reduce or avoid the loss of space inside the drawer, in addition to maintaining the freshness of produce stored in the crisper drawer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a crisper drawer for a refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment, the crisper drawer comprising a plurality of side walls defining a storage chamber, an opening in a side wall to provide fluid communication between the storage chamber and the refrigerated compartment, and a multi-function filter cassette configured to be positioned within the opening. The multi-function filter cassette includes a first filter configured to remove contaminants from a first air flow within the refrigerated compartment, a second filter configured to remove contaminants and/or moisture from a second air flow within the storage chamber, and a central wall configured to prevent fluid communication between the refrigerated compartment and the storage chamber.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a multi-function filter cassette comprising a first filter configured to remove contaminants from a first air flow within a first compartment, a second filter configured to remove contaminants and/or moisture from a second air flow within a second compartment adjacent to the first compartment, and a central wall configured to hold the first filter and to hold the second filter, and further configured to prevent fluid communication between the first and second compartments.

