WO2009056528A2

WO2009056528A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2009056528A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/064563
Authority: WO
Inventors: Soner Kahraman; Ridvan Kadir Celik
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-11-02
Filing date: 2008-10-28
Publication date: 2009-05-07
Also published as: EP2217873B1; EP2217873A2; WO2009056528A3; ES2387838T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2), a door (3) providing access of the user inside the body (2), an opening arranged on the door (3) that allows the user to access inside the body (2) without opening the door (3), and a supplementary door (4) that covers the opening, openable when desired to provide access of the user inside the body (2).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device that comprises a supplementary door situated on the cooling device and/or the freezer door.

[0002] A door is used for the access of the user to the objects loaded in cooling devices. The interior of the cooling device, cooler than the outside, begins to get warmer when the cooling device door is opened and the operation period of the compressor is affected depending on the frequency of opening, closing the cooling device door and the duration of being left open. For example, for taking out a beverage bottle, the cooling device door is opened and the bottle is taken out, causing the temperature of the entire cooling device interior to increase unnecessarily, and the operation period of the compressor and respectively the energy consumption of the cooling device increases. In order to overcome this problem, supplementary doors are known in the technique, allowing access of the user inside the cooling device without requiring opening the door of the cooling device.

[0003] In embodiments of supplementary doors disposed on the door, a means of illumination is necessary for viewing the interior of the body after the user opens the supplementary door. Therefore, a lamp is provided inside the body that changes to the active mode for illuminating the interior of the cooling device when the supplementary door is opened and a switch that shifts the lamp to the active mode.

[0004] In the state of the art United States of America Patent No US6055823, two separate switches that are triggered by the opening of the door and the mini door and a light, disposed within the body, that is activated by the actuation of at least one of the switches is explained. In this embodiment, a second switch is provided that activates the light when the cooling device door is opened. Accordingly, the interior of the body is illuminated by a single light when the mini door or the door is opened however the light is activated by two different switches that are triggered by the movement of both of the doors.

[0005] In the embodiments known in the technique, either a second lamp is used in addition to the lamp in the body for illuminating the space the supplementary door opens to or a switch in addition to the existing switch or a sensor is used for detecting the movement of the supplementary door. Using a second lamp or switch group results in the increase of the controls and the cable group wired to the second switch and the lamp. This creates a disadvantage for the producer in both labor and production costs.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a lamp that is shifted to the active mode by using a single switch upon opening of both the door and the supplementary door.

[0007] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a lamp for illuminating the cooling device interior volume, a switch that shifts the lamp to the active or passive mode and an actuator that triggers the switch by changing position and maintains the lamp to illuminate the cooling device interior volume when either the door or the supplementary door is opened.

[0008] In the present case, the switch that is triggered by the movement of the door is enabled to be also triggered by the movement of the supplementary door with the help of the actuator. The actuator triggers the switch by making a movement with the door when the door is opened and when the supplementary door opens by making a movement relative to the door.

[0009] Thus, not only the interior of the body is illuminated when either door is opened and but also the use of a separate lamp, switch and hence a cable group and electrical elements is not required for illuminating the interior of the body when the supplementary door is opened.

[0010] By means of the present invention, the lamp is turned on when either of the doors open (active mode). When both of the doors are closed, the lamp is turned off (passive mode).

[0011] The actuator is disposed on the door and moves together with the door. The switch is triggered upon opening of the door. Accordingly, the lamp is turned on when the door opens. Moreover, the actuator extends between the switch and the supplementary door and when all the doors are closed, exerts a pressure by both ends on the both the supplementary door and the switch. Hence, when the supplementary door is opened, the switch is actuated and the lamp is turned on. Thus, by using a single switch, the lamp is turned on because of the movement of both the door and the supplementary door triggering the switch.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a protrusion disposed on the supplementary door, and when closed, one end of the actuator contacts thereto. By means of the protrusion disposed on the side of the supplementary door, the end of the actuator is in contact with the supplementary door when closed.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises preferably a spiral shaped spring that moves the actuator away from the switch when the supplementary door is opened. By means of the said spring, when the pressure exerted on the actuator by the supplementary door is released, the actuator recedes and loses contact with the switch thereby turning on the lamp.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a pin whereon the actuator is disposed, forming the rotational axis of the actuator and a spring wrapped on the pin, the free ends thereof bearing on the actuator. When the force exerted on the actuator is released by opening of the supplementary door, the actuator rotates around the pin and the end of the actuator seated on the switch moves away from the switch. As a result of this, the lamp is turned on and the interior of the body is illuminated.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is the same shape as the surface of the door facing inside of the body. Thus, the actuator, bears against the door when the supplementary door is opened, and being of the same shape as the door, does not occupy space and an esthetic appearance is provided as well.

[0016] By means of the present invention, the interior of the body can be illuminated by only using the existing lamp and switch upon opening of either the door or the supplementary door and without using an additional switch, lamp, sensor or cable group. [0017] A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0018] Figure 1 - is the front view of a cooling device. [0019] Figure 2 - is the top cross-sectional view of the cooling device when the supplementary door is closed in an embodiment of the present invention. [0020] Figure 3 - is the top cross-sectional view of the cooling device when the supplementary door is open in an embodiment of the present invention. [0021] Figure 4 - is the top cross-sectional view of the cooling device when the supplementary door is closed in an alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0022] Figure 5 - is the top cross-sectional view of the cooling device when the supplementary door is open in an alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0023] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Door

4. Supplementary door

5. Pin

6. Switch

7. Actuator

8. Protrusion

9. Spring

[0024] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2), a door (3) providing access of the user inside the body (2), an opening arranged on the door (3) that allows the user to access inside the body (2) without opening the door (3), a supplementary door (4) that covers the opening, openable when desired thereby allowing access of the user inside the body (2), a lamp that illuminates the interior of the body (2) and a switch (6) that shifts the lamp to the passive mode when pressure is exerted thereon and when the pressure thereon is released shifts the lamp to the active mode for illuminating the interior of the body (2) (Figure 1 ).

[0025] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises an actuator (7) that changes position, actuating the switch (6) and maintaining the lamp to become active when either the closed door (3) or the supplementary door (4) is opened.

[0026] By means of the present invention, the lamp inside the body (2) shifts to the active mode when the switch (6) is triggered by the actuator (7) that moves together with the door (3) as the door (3) opens, and moving relative to the door (3) as the supplementary door (4) opens. When the supplementary door (4) opens, the actuator (7) makes a movement relative to the door (3) and independent from the door (3). As a result of this movement, the switch (6) is triggered and the lamp is turned on.

[0027] Thus, the lamp in the body (2) is enabled to illuminate the interior of the body (2) both when the door (3) is opened and also when the supplementary door (4) is opened without requiring the use of a second lamp or a second switch.

[0028] The switch (6) is disposed on the side wall of the body (2). The switch (6) and the lamp are electrically connected to each other with cables and the switch (6) controls whether or not electric current is flowing through the cables depending on its position. The switch (6) maintains the lamp to remain in the passive mode, not allowing electric current to flow from the cables when the door (3) and the supplementary door (4) are closed. When either the door (3) or the supplementary door (4) is opened, the switch (6) allows electric current to flow from the cables and thus the lamp shifts to the active mode illuminating the volume containing thereof.

[0029] The actuator (7) disposed on the door (3) extends between the switch (6) and the supplementary door (4) when the doors (3 and 4) are closed. As a result of the actuator (7) extending between the switch (6) and the supplementary door (4), the switch (6) is triggered and the lamp is shifted to the active or passive mode depending on whether the supplementary door (4) is open or closed.

[0030] When the doors (3 and 4) are closed, one end of the actuator (7) bears on the switch (6) and one end bears on the supplementary door (4). The switch (6) remains in the closed position by means of the actuator (7) applying pressure thereon and maintains the lamp to stay in the passive mode. Since the actuator (7) is disposed on the door (3), it moves together with the door (3). This maintains the switch (6) to change to the open position every time the door (3) is opened thereby providing the lamp to illuminate the interior of the body (2), and when the door (3) is closed, the switch (6) is also turned off enabling the lamp to shift to the passive mode.

[0031] When the supplementary door (4) is opened while the door (3) is closed, and the force exerted on the end of the actuator (7) is released, the actuator (7) no longer applies pressure on the switch (6) and the switch (6) changes to the open position. As a result, the lamp shifts to the active mode and illuminates the interior of the body (2).

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a protrusion (8) situated on one side of the supplementary door (4) that pushes the actuator (7) by being in constant contact with the actuator (7) when the supplementary door (4) is closed thereby enabling the other end thereof to be in contact with the switch (6) when the doors (3 and 4) are closed.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a spring (9) that maintains the actuator (7) to move such that contact with the switch (6) is lost when the force applied on the actuator (7) by the supplementary door (4) is released (when the supplementary door (4) is opened). The spring (9) activates the actuator (7) to move away from the switch (6) due to the energy stored thereon when the supplementary door (4) is opened.

[0034] In a version of this embodiment of the present invention, the spring (9) is spiral shaped and one end is secured to the actuator (7) and the other end to the door (3). When the supplementary door (4) is opened, the actuator (7) moves linearly by the pulling of the spring (9) that is initially tight and the pressure applied on the switch (6) by the actuator (7) is released (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[0035] In another version of this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a pin (5) whereon the actuator (7) is disposed, forming the rotational axis of the actuator (7). The spring (9) is wrapped on this pin (5) and both of the free ends are in contact with the actuator (7) and apply pressure thereon. When the pressure exerted on one end of the actuator (7) is released by opening of the supplementary door (4), the actuator (7) rotates around the pin (5) with effect of the tight spring (9) and the force exerted by the other end contacting the switch (6) is removed (Figure 4 and Figure 5).

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuator (7) is configured to be matching the contour of the door (3) surface facing the interior of the cooling device (1) interior. Accordingly, the actuator (7) remains on this surface as long as a pressure is not applied thereon, not occupying much space and maintains an esthetic appearance.

[0037] By means of the present invention, the interior of the body (2) can be illuminated by the lamp upon opening of the supplementary door (4) by only using the existing lamp and switch (6) and without using an additional lamp, switch (6) or sensor and cable group.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2), a door (3) allowing access of the user inside the body (2), an opening arranged on the door (3) that allows the user to access inside the body (2) without opening the door (3), a supplementary door (4) that covers the opening, a lamp that illuminates the interior of the body (2) and a switch (6) that shifts the lamp to the active or passive mode and characterized by an actuator (7) that actuates the switch (6) by changing position thereby maintaining the lamp to become active, when either one of the closed door (3) or the supplementary door (4) is opened.

2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by an actuator (7) disposed on the door (3) and moving together with the door (3) while the door (3) is opening.

3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by an actuator (7) that moves relative to the door (3) while the supplementary door (4) is opening.

4. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized by an actuator (7) that extends between the switch (6) and the supplementary door (4) when the doors (3 and 4) are closed.

5. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a protrusion (8) situated on the supplementary door (4), pushing the actuator (7) when the supplementary door (4) is closed and enabling the other end of the actuator (7) to be in contact with the switch (6) when the doors (3 and 4) are closed.

6. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a spring (9) that maintains the actuator (7) to move losing contact with the switch (6) when the force applied on the actuator (7) by the supplementary door (4) is removed.

7. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by a spiral shaped spring (9), with one end secured to the actuator (7) and the other end to the door (3).

8. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by a pin (5) whereon the actuator (7) is mounted, forming the rotational axis of the actuator (7) and a spring (9) wrapped around the pin (5), and applying force on the actuator (7) by contacting thereof with both free ends.