WO2017191231A1

WO2017191231A1 - A cooling device illuminated through a cover fixed to the rear wall

Info

Publication number: WO2017191231A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/060608
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet YASAR; Tayfun ERSOZ; Burak SAHIN; Deniz AKTUNA; Cagdas FIDAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-05-06
Filing date: 2017-05-04
Publication date: 2017-11-09
Also published as: PL3452769T3; EP3452769A1; EP3452769B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising one or more than one compartment (2) wherein foods and beverages are placed and that has an inlet port (3) enabling the user to access therein, two side walls (4) and a rear wall (5); an evaporator (6) that is disposed onto the rear wall (5) and wherein the refrigerant fluid is circulated; a fan (7) that is disposed on the evaporator (6t) and that delivers the cold air into the compartment (2); and wherein the cooling device (1) is illuminated through a cover (8) that is disposed into the compartment (2) and that is disposed onto the rear wall (5) so that the evaporator (6) remains between the cover (8) and the rear wall (5).

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] A COOLING DEVICE ILLUMINATED THROUGH A COVER FIXED TO THE REAR WALL

The present invention relates to a cooling device the interior illumination of which is provided through a cover fixed to the rear wall.

Cooling devices comprise a fresh food compartment wherein fresh foods and beverages are stored and a freezing compartment that enables foods to be stored by being frozen. In order to provide heat control and a balanced refrigeration in the fresh food compartment, a cover is used, that is fixed onto the rear wall of the fresh food compartment and that separates the evaporator and the fan from the fresh food compartment. Since illumination elements cannot be fixed onto the said covers, the interior of the fresh food compartment is generally illuminated by means of illumination elements fixed to the ceiling or the side walls. This causes increase in costs in terms of molding of the fresh food compartment and in terms of additional components. Moreover, due to the shelves disposed in the fresh food compartment, the upper part generally remains dark.

The state of the art United States Patent Applications No. US2007095089 and US2009052161 disclose the mounting of illumination elements to the cover on the compartment rear wall.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the upper part of the compartment is effectively illuminated while providing an effective and esthetic appearance.

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 box that is formed on the cover fixed onto the rear wall, that extends into the compartment, that has windows on the walls thereof, wherein the fan and the illumination elements are disposed in the box.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the windows are covered by means of a plate produced from transparent or semitransparent material. In the preferred embodiment, the plate is produced from PMMA material.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a support whereon the illumination elements are disposed. The support enables the illumination elements to be simultaneously mounted and dismounted together In this embodiment of the present invention, the support is U-shaped and disposed into the box so that the fan is located at the center.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a fan cover that is fixed onto the base so that a gap remains between the base and the fan cover. When the illumination elements are activated, the user viewing the cooling device from the front sees that the light disperses from around the fan cover. Thus, the user is provided with a visually esthetic perception.

By means of the present invention, an esthetic cover is realized while the upper part of the compartment is effectively illuminated. Thus, the user's perception of quality is improved. An effective illumination is provided without any increase in costs in terms of the molding, components and production of the fresh food compartment.

A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the general view of a cooling device.

Figure 2 – is the sideways cross-sectional view of the cooling device.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the cover and the box.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the cover, the box and the fan cover fixed thereon.

Figure 5 – is the sideways exploded view of the cover, the box, the fan cover and the support.

Figure 6 – is the rear exploded view of the cover, the box, the fan cover and the support.

Figure 7 – is the perspective view of the support and the illumination elements thereon.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the plate.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Compartment
Inlet port
Side wall
Rear wall
Evaporator
Fan
Cover
Box
Wall
Base
Fan cover
Window
Plate
Illumination element
Support
Hole
Opening
Foot
Recess
Protrusion
Slide-rail mechanism

The cooling device (1) comprises one or more than one compartment (2) wherein foods and beverages are placed and that has an inlet port (3) enabling the user to access therein, two side walls (4) and a rear wall (5); an evaporator (6) that is disposed onto the rear wall (5) and wherein the refrigerant fluid is circulated; a fan (7) that is disposed on the evaporator (6t) and that delivers the cold air into the compartment (2); a cover (8) that is disposed into the compartment (2) and that is disposed onto the rear wall (5) so that the evaporator (6) remains between the cover (8) and the rear wall (5),

a box (9) wherein the fan (7) is disposed, that is defined by more than one wall (10) and a base (11) that extend from over the cover (8) into the compartment (2),
a fan cover (12) that is fixed onto the base (11),
one or more than one window (13) that is disposed on the walls (10), and
one or more than one illumination element (13) that is disposed behind the windows (13) between the box (9) and the rear wall (5).

(Figure 1 and Figure 2).

When the illumination elements (15) are activated automatically or by the user, the light dispersing in the box (9) passes through the windows (13) on the walls (10) of the box (9) so as to disperse in the compartment (2). The user viewing the interior of the compartment (2) perceives that the light disperses from the sides of the fan cover (12). Thus, the upper part of the compartment (2) is effectively illuminated and a nice and esthetic outer appearance is obtained.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the illumination element (15) is a LED.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the walls (10) extend into the compartment (2) almost perpendicularly to the plane of the cover (8), and the windows (13) are positioned on the walls (10) so as to face the side walls (4) and the base of the compartment (2). Thus, almost all of the light emitted by the illumination element (15) leaves through the windows (13) to disperse in the compartment (2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises one or more than one plate (14) that covers the windows (13) and that has a light transmittance property whether transparent or semitransparent. In a version of this embodiment of the present invention, the windows (13) has a structure, preferably in the form of a U, that extends along the walls (10) of the box (9). Accordingly, the plate (14) is fixed onto the window (13) and has the same form as the window (13) so as to completely cover the window (13). In this embodiment, the fan (7) is disposed between the windows (13). In the preferred embodiment, the plate (14) is produced from PMMA material. When the illumination element (15) is activated, the light dispersing in the box (9) passes through the plate (14) by diffracting and disperses in the compartment (2) (Figure 8).

The cooling device (1) comprises one or more than one hole (17) that is disposed almost at the center of the base (11) and that enables the air moved by the fan (7) to be delivered into the compartment (2); a fan cover (12) that prevents access to the holes (17) from the outside, that enables the air leaving through the holes (17) to disperse into the compartment (2), and an opening (18) that is arranged between the base (11) and the fan cover (12). The fan cover (12) is mounted onto the base (11) so as to allow the air moved by the fan (7) in the box (9) to leave through the holes (17) and so that the opening (18) remains between the fan cover (12) and the base (11). The fan cover (12) almost completely covers the base (11) so as to prevent the holes (17) on the base (11) to be seen across from the fan cover (12). The air moved by the fan (7) leaves the box (9) through the holes (17) on the base (11) and hits the rear surface of the fan cover (12) facing the base (11) so as to pass through the opening (18) between the base (11) and the fan cover (12) and reach the interior of the compartment (2). In this embodiment of the present invention, the base (11) and the fan cover (12) are rectangular. By means of the fan cover (12) fixed onto the base (11) so that the opening (18) remains therebetween, the air is enabled to be homogeneously dispersed into the compartment (2) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises one or more than one support (16) that is disposed into the box (9) and whereon the illumination elements (15) are fixed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support (16) is shaped as a U profile. The cooling device (1) comprises at least one slide-rail mechanism (22) oppositely disposed on the support (16) and the box (9), that enables the support (16) to be fixed to the box (9). By means of the support (16), the illumination elements (15) are together mounted to or dismounted from the cooling device (1) instead of being mounted one at a time (Figure 8).

The cooling device (1) comprises at least one protrusion (21) that is disposed on the surface of the fan cover (12) facing the cover (8) and at least one recess (20) that is arranged on the base (11) and that receives the protrusions (21), wherein the protrusion (21) and the recess (20) enable the fan cover (12) to be fixed onto the fan (11). The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises at least one foot (19) that enables the opening (18) to remain between the fan cover (12) and the base (11) and that enables the fan cover (12) to be fixed onto the base (11) so that the opening (18) remains therebetween. The foot (19) extends between the fan cover (12) and the base (11), and when the foot (19) on the fan cover (12) bears against the base (11), the protrusion (21) engages with the recess (20), thus completing the fixing process. Thereby, the fan cover (12) is enabled to be fixed onto the base (11) so that an opening (18) as much as the length of the foot (19) remains therebetween. Moreover, the foot (19) increases the strength of the fan cover (12) when a force is applied on the fan cover (12) (Figure 5 and Figure 6).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cover (18) and the plate (14) are assembled as described below: The plate (14) is placed into the injection mold before the cover (8) is injected into the injection mold. Then, the melt material of the cover (8) is placed into the mold. Thus, the cover (8) is produced as a single piece with the plate (14) thereon when the molding process is completed.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising one or more than one compartment (2) wherein foods and beverages are placed and that has an inlet port (3) enabling the user to access therein, two side walls (4) and a rear wall (5); an evaporator (6) that is disposed onto the rear wall (5) and wherein the refrigerant fluid is circulated; a fan (7) that is disposed on the evaporator (6) and that delivers the cold air into the compartment (2); a cover (8) that is disposed into the compartment (2) and that is disposed onto the rear wall (5) so that the evaporator (6) remains between the cover (8) and the rear wall (5), characterized by

- a box (9) wherein the fan (7) is disposed, that is defined by more than one wall (10) and a base (11) that extend from over the cover (8) into the compartment (2),

- a fan cover (12) that is fixed onto the base (11),

- one or more than one window (13) that is disposed on the walls (10), and

- one or more than one illumination element (13) that is disposed behind the windows (13) between the box (9) and the rear wall (5).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the walls (10) that extend into the compartment (2) almost perpendicularly to the plane of the cover (8), and the windows (13) that are positioned on the walls (10) so as to face the side walls (4) and the base of the compartment (2).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the U-shaped window (13) that extends along the walls (10) of the box (9).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, 2 and 3, characterized by the plate (14) that is fixed onto the window (13) and that has the same form as the window (13) so as to completely cover the window (13).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by one or more than plate (14) that has a light transmittance property whether transparent or semitransparent.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the plate (14) that is produced from PMMA material.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by one or more than one hole (17) that is disposed almost at the center of the base (11) and that enables the air moved by the fan (7) to be delivered into the compartment (2); a fan cover (12) that prevents access to the holes (17) from the outside, that enables the air leaving through the holes (17) to disperse into the compartment (2), and an opening (18) that is arranged between the base (11) and the fan cover (12).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by one or more than one support (16) that is disposed into the box (9) and whereon the illumination elements (15) are fixed.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by the support (16) that is in the form of a U profile.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 8 and 9, characterized by at least one slide-rail mechanism (22) oppositely disposed on the support (16) and the box (9), that enables the support (16) to be fixed to the box (9).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one protrusion (21) that is disposed on the surface of the fan cover (12) facing the cover (8) and at least one recess (20) that is arranged on the base (11) and that receives the protrusions (21), wherein the protrusion (21) and the recess (20) enable the fan cover (12) to be fixed onto the fan (11).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 and 7, characterized by at least one foot (19) that enables the opening (18) to remain between the fan cover (12) and the base (11) and that enables the fan cover (12) to be fixed onto the base (11) so that the opening (18) remains therebetween.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the illumination element (15) that is a LED.