CN101203721A

CN101203721A - Humidity control lid

Info

Publication number: CN101203721A
Application number: CNA2006800198533A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·辛蒂韦; R·B·马修斯
Original assignee: Fisher and Paykel Appliances Ltd
Current assignee: Fisher and Paykel Appliances Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-04
Filing date: 2006-03-30
Publication date: 2008-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-30
Also published as: AU2006231363A1; WO2006107217A1; DE112006000823T5; GB0719787D0; CN100538227C; GB2440288A8; NZ562264A; US20090199587A1; GB2440288A; AU2006231363B2; CA2603856A1

Abstract

A vegetable bin (4) or a refrigerator comprises a floor, enclosing side walls and a substantially open top. The vegetable bin is placed within a refrigerated space beneath a lower shelf (6) to be cooled. The vegetable bin is furt provided with a lid (5) to cover said open top, and said lid is suspended underneath the lower shelf directly above t vegetable bin. In one condition the lid substantially seals the vegetable bin to help keep the vegetables fresh. In another condition the lid is lifted up a small amount at a rear portion of the lid, by operating control means (11), in order to allow the air within the vegetable container to exchange with the air of the refrigerated space. The air pathway is opened between the lid and the upper perimeter of the vegetable bin and is preferably located toward th rear of the refrigerated space proximate a circulating fan (8).

Description

Humidity control lid

Technical field

The present invention relates to the vegetable bin used in a kind of refrigerator, and be particularly related to and make that product is long-term to keep fresh vegetable bin.

Background technology

Vegetables and/or fruit are stored in the food lattice or food box with cover in the refrigerator usually, and purpose is to keep high relatively humidity level in box, so that food keeps more permanent fresh.Also known food box with cover helps to keep the atmospheric condition in the box more stable, and has reduced contingent change when refrigerator doors is repeated to open and close in normal use.The problem of the vegetable bin with cover of prior art is, they can retainable box in humidity level for the product of some types and Yan Taigao, and may cause excessive moisture precipitum.Because vegetables and fruit also will be breathed usually,, and meet cold meeting and cause dew condensation and be formed on the lower surface of vegetable bin lid so the relative humidity that the moisture that produces can increase in the vegetable bin becomes saturated up to it.In order to make vegetables or fruit keep fresh as much as possible, do not wish to allow condensate to be dropped on the box interior vegetables or fruit to prolong the edible life-span of product.On the contrary, do not wish to allow the relative humidity of air in the box to reduce too much, because can shorten the pot-life of fresh products in the vegetable bin so yet yet.

Preferred atmospheric condition in vegetables/fruit storage box can change according to the type of the fresh products of being preserved in the storage box.In addition, in the atmospheric condition of refrigerator outside and the cooling space but the atmospheric condition of storage box outside also can influence the state in the storage box.Especially, if allow the air in the storage box and store up the exchange of box air outside.The vegetable bin of some prior aries is provided with little air vent in front, the purpose person of being to use can touch and allow some air the storage box in and exchange between the cooling space.But is not effective especially because they can not allow a large amount of circulating airs clearing house with this vegetable bin.

Prior art document WO 2004/038312 discloses a kind of refrigerator and vegetable box, and wherein, vegetable box comprises lid, is used to hide the opening of vegetable box and makes fresh product fresh-keeping.The lid of the prior art document discloses a series of from its air vent that penetrates and many opening and closing element, is used to open and close the cooling vent that vegetable box covers.The overcover of vegetable box or the lid by the top shelf support, described top shelf comprises control part, its with the air vent that is positioned at the vegetables lid open and closing element cooperates.Though, in the prior art document the methods and apparatus disclosed can be between vegetable box and refrigerator exchange of air effectively, but described mechanism complexity, many moving-members that need match and complicated shape need high-precision manufacturing tolerance again in order to implement this invention in addition.

Therefore, a kind of new method that changes atmospheric condition in the vegetable bin need be provided to the user of refrigerator and vegetable bin, purpose is can reach best product freshness and the pot-life for the dissimilar products with being stored, and can be used for changing the atmospheric condition of vegetable bin outside.In addition, require the simple effectively purpose of method and mechanism of atmospheric condition in control and/or the change storage box to be the raising reliability and/or to reduce cost.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of refrigerator and/or vegetable bin, it is of value to and overcomes the problems referred to above, perhaps provides a kind of useful selection to the public at least.

Aspect first, the present invention relates broadly to a kind of refrigerator, and it comprises:

Cooling space with at least one shelf;

Be arranged in the described cooling space and place the storage box of described at least one shelf below, described storage box comprises the side of base plate, sealing and the top of opening wide in fact;

The storage lid, it is placed between described shelf and the described storage box, and hangs on the described open-top that described shelf also covered and sealed described storage box in fact;

Be used for optionally keeping the device that covers, thereby when described storage box is in complete stowed position, can make at least a portion of lid periphery be in the state of raising that does not contact with described lid, between lid periphery that is elevated and described storage box, to form path, be used for circulated gases between the inside of described cooling space and described storage box.

Preferably, wherein, when described storage box was in described stowed position, described lid had two kinds of duties, and

When described lid was in described first duty, described lid assisted in substantially sealing the described open-top of described storage box, and

When described lid was in described second duty, at least a portion of described lid is held left described storage box, and opens flow passage between described storage box and described lid.

Preferably, described path is provided with towards the rear portion of described refrigerator.

Preferably, described path is near the cold air circulating ventilation hole in the described refrigerator, and described refrigerator also is included at least one fan in the described air vent.

Preferably, describedly be used to keep the device of described lid to link to each other with described shelf, and comprise the control cam surface, it cooperates to open described path with the cam surface of described lid.

Perhaps, described holding device by lever to open described path.

Perhaps, described holding device is an actuator, and it acts directly on described covering, and leaves described storage box and opens described path to move described lid.

Preferably, the described lid in its bottom side comprises that a plurality of grooves, described groove are fit to keep condensed water, and described lid is arranged to become minute angle with horizontal plane, so that described lid tilts towards discharge region.

Preferably, described refrigerator comprises storage box placed side by side more than.

Preferably, described one or more storage box is placed on the drawer, withdraws from and inserts from refrigerator so that improve.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a kind of refrigerator, it comprises:

Cooling space with at least one shelf;

The storage lid, it is placed between described shelf and the described box, and hangs on described shelf;

Wherein, described lid has at least two kinds of duties;

When being in first duty, wherein said storage box is in stowed position, described lid be positioned at described storage box directly over, and assist in substantially sealing described open-top;

When being in second duty, wherein said storage box is in stowed position, and at least a portion of described lid is held leaves described storage box, so that is opening flow passage between described preservation and between the described storage box.

Preferably, described path is opened by the effect of the cam surface that is associated with described lid and actuator.

Perhaps, described path is opened by leverage.

For the those of ordinary skill in the field that the present invention relates to, they can carry out many changes in structure of the present invention and extensive different embodiment and application facet under the situation that does not break away from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.Disclosure and description at this are illustrative fully, and are not used in the restriction of any meaning view.

Description of drawings

Only embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to accompanying drawings in the mode of example.

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of vegetable bin and lid according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is the perspective view in a bight of vegetable bin, lid and the shelf of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the schematic diagram illustrating view that is used for the actuating device of lifting vegetable bin lid according to an embodiment of the invention.

The specific embodiment

Describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail now with reference to accompanying drawing.Referring to Fig. 1, the refrigerator 1 that illustrates comprises fresh food refrigerated space 3 and frozen food refrigerated space 2.But should be appreciated that other structure is also applicable.Refrigerator 1 comprises the cooling cycle system (not shown), is used to the inside that makes the air in the refrigerator turn cold so that cool off refrigerator.Can preferably include one or more fan 8 in the refrigerator, purpose is the circulation of air that makes in fresh food refrigerated space 3 and/or the frozen food refrigerated space 2.

Fresh food compartment 3 comprises a plurality of

shelves

6,7, is used to support the food that is stored.Below lower shelf 6, have a vegetable bin 4 at least, be used to preserve fresh vegetables and make them keep fresh.Described storage box is preferably made by plastic material, and comprises the side of base plate, sealing and the top of opening wide in fact.Described storage box roughly can occupy the whole width of cooling space 3, and a plurality of storage boxes perhaps can be arranged, and they are arranged side by side along the width of food lattice 3.The structure of a plurality of storage boxes has potential advantages, and promptly each storage box can be preserved dissimilar fresh products, and can keep different atmospheric conditions, with product type and their needs separately that are suitable for changing.Vegetable bin 4 can be supported on the support drawer 9, and purpose is to allow the storage box steadily and easily to pull out from refrigerator 3.Perhaps, vegetable bin can directly be supported on the base plate of refrigerated fresh food compartment 3.

In order to assist in substantially sealing storage box 4 to keep vegetables fresh, lower shelf 6 is hung lid with one or is covered 5 and is supported on storage box 4 tops.It can be single lid 5, can assist in substantially sealing one or more vegetable bin 4, perhaps can store up box 4 for each supported lid is provided separately.For simplicity, preferred embodiment comprises single lid 5, and it is set to be used for two storage boxes, as shown in Figure 2.By engaging with lip 10 on shelf 6 leading edges, the lid 5 of Fig. 2 is supported along its leading edge.At the rear portion of shelf, by a series of hook supporting cover 5, described hook engages with the ring of a series of complementations that link to each other with shelf 6, and vice versa.Like this, by shelf 6, lid 5 is supported from the top movably, so that when storage box 4 was moved out of, lid still kept near shelf, but can also vertically move in limited range.Perhaps, described lid can support by flexible band.

As shown in figs. 1 and 2, the side of storage box 4 is downward constriction towards the rear portion, and purpose is they are inclined upwardly and allow to store up box and be easier to be moved out of.If because of certain reason refrigerator doors is not opened fully, and form and to prevent to store up the barrier that box is withdrawn from fully by vertical pulling, then this feature is more useful.In this case, in order to keep and the sealing of the upper periphery of vegetable bin walls, to cover 5 rear portions and have shape with the vegetable bin complementation.The constriction rear portion of vegetable bin also can help to allow to store up in the space that box is inserted into the lid below and in the situation of not colliding lid and is pushed into.Perhaps,, also may need lid is biased into the position that leading edge is risen higherly when vegetable bin is not inserted into when below lid, purpose be the storage box can be easy to insert in place in and do not collide lid.By elastic biasing arrangement, described lid can be biased or can be supported prejudicially in the following manner, and promptly himself weight spurs back edge downwards about at least one fulcrum, and the leading edge that raises slightly thus, to help the insertion of vegetable bin below lid.

Referring to accompanying drawing, lid 5 is preferably made by the light plastic material, and supported in the following manner, and promptly it can slightly be raise or reduce at vertical direction, and allows thus to move on a small quantity, and purpose is that storage box 4 can slip into or skid off the position easily.Under normal sealing state, when storage box 4 inserts the below of lower shelf 6 in the cooling spaces 3, along with storage box 4 is pushed into, so the rear portion of storage box can nestle up the lid slip and lid is raise slightly and import in place.In case pushed fully, the complementary shape of the upper end-face edge of lid 5 and storage box 4 allows lid to descend and rests on the box, so that under the gravity effect of lid 5 and fully form sealing.

Under some states at lid 5 sealing vegetable bin 4 tops, the too wet that may become of the atmospheric condition in the storage box has shortened pot-life of article in the storage box thus.But under other state, the article that the interior air re-circulation by fan 8 of cooling space can cause being housed in the vegetable bin become dry, and can go bad too early owing to store up the exchange of the dry airs of circulation in box 4 interior humid airs and the cooling space 3.Preferred state is can allow the user control and change the air capacity (if any) that permission exchanges between vegetable bin 4 and cooling space 3.In order to allow the user to change and/or to control atmospheric condition in the vegetable bin 4, the invention provides a kind of simple mechanism that is used for lifting lid 5, so that substitute the air capacity of the interior variation of vegetable bin 4 by the air circulation in the cooling space.Like this, air flows through to be opened path the humidity in the vegetable bin is changed between about 85% and 100% relative humidity, so that realizes vegetable bin 4 internal state the bests according to the type of the fresh products of storage.Preferably, the method for lifting or maintenance lid is tight and be easy to execution, and the user utilizes the storage box that is in stowed position just can operate.Preferred embodiments more of the present invention are described below.These examples only provide for the example purpose, do not represent to limit the scope that the present invention defines.

When being in first duty, lid 5 is engaged in the top of the open-top of vegetable bin 4, and assists in substantially sealing vegetable bin.In this embodiment, when vegetable bin is pulled to lid or when covering 5 belows, lid or cover can be raise slightly and are placed on the last end periphery of vegetable bin walls and be sealed to form.Certainly, vegetable bin 4 and the lid or cover 5 between may not be incomplete sealing.Perhaps, when second duty, along with storage box 4 is pushed into, lid 5 can be raised on a small quantity, so that has the gap in the neighboring area at least between lid and the vegetable bin walls periphery, and opens the path of turnover vegetable bin.By this path, air is negotiable, and can exchange between storage box 4 and cooling space 3.

Referring to Fig. 2 to 4, the preferred embodiment that uses description to lifting lid 5 now and open the mechanism of path between cooling space 3 and the vegetable bin 4.One or more control part 11 preferably is arranged on the front portion or upper end leading edge of lower shelf 6 discretely.Control part 11 comprises sliding members, its with track that the leading edge installed part 12 of shelf 6 links to each other in slide.The ledge of control part 11 passes the slotted eye 13 of edge installed part 12 fronts.Like this, the user slidably control part enter ultra-Left, ultra-Right and any position between them in.Referring to Fig. 4, elongated control piece 15 comprises control part 11, and slides in track 14, and described track is provided by corner molding 16, and described corner molding is connected on the leading edge and lateral edges of shelf 6, as shown in Fig. 2 and 3.In the time of in Flexible Control part 15 is assembled to track 14, then understand easily, the horizontal slip campaign of control part 11 in control hole 13 will cause elongated control piece to move in track 14.As shown in Figure 4, control piece 15 in track 14 around the bight translation, will cause the end of control piece 15 or control lug 17 about cooling space 3 by forward and/or translation backward.Those of ordinary skills are obviously understood easily, and this simple slide mechanism allows control part 11 translation from left to right to be converted into control lug 17 towards the position translation backward in the past away from control part 11 on the lid rear side.Referring to Fig. 2 and 3, can see, a large amount of

guides

18,19 of projection and/or concave form also can be set, smooth and mobile consistently in restrained in fact mode in track 14 to guarantee elongated control piece 15.

As previously mentioned, lid 5 is loosely being supported at its leading edge by lip 10, and is loosely supported in its back by a series of hook and ring.Lid 5 also can be supported in its side by the control lug 17 of control piece 15.Lid 5 preferably also comprises inclined-plane or cam surface 20 on every side.In use, along with storage box 4 places shelf 6 belows and fully is pushed on the drawer 9, the lid 5 that is draped directly is placed in the top of storage box 4 open-top.Referring to Fig. 2, when placing the position of the most close cooling space center line along with control piece 11 (first duty), the complementary cam reduction of area of control lug 17 returns, and effectively contact with cam surface 20, consequently can not cover 5 and move.In this position, lid 5 assists in substantially sealing forming above the open-top of vegetable bin 4 under its deadweight effect.But under second duty, when control part 11 during towards the cooling space slide outside (second duty), flexible elongated control piece 15 slides in track 14, and control lug 17 moves on to its second duty.The cam surface 20 of lid 5 is so positioned, so that when controlling lug 17 in second duty, the cam surface of control lug 17 interacts with the cam surface of lid 5 20, with the periphery (being part at least) that vegetable bin lid 5 is pushed away vegetable bin 4 near the bight, back, thereby open flow passage, this path allows circulation of air and air exchange between vegetable bin 4 and cooling space 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, can see that refrigerator 1 comprises fan passageway, it is used for cold air is assigned to around the inner space, and is located at the fan 8 in the described path.Preferably, be provided with between lid 5 and storage box 4 peripheries and open path, as mentioned above, it is towards the rear portion of cooling space and be positioned near on the position of cold-air vent.By making some air of sending from air vent directly to the top of vegetable bin lid 5, and some air can be realized the further effect of the present invention directly by cover 5 and store up path (if any) between the box 4.This structure can be brought higher benefit, and has still kept the user easily from storing up the discrete control part of box previous action.

Should be appreciated that control part 11 will cause lifting and/or reduce covering 5 to the position between its first substantial seal state and the second maximum lifting state to moving of the position between above-mentioned its first and second duty.Like this, should be appreciated that the user can fully be controlled at the air capacity that exchanges between storage box and the cooling space.Referring to Fig. 2, be noted that in

cam surface

17 or 20 any one can have roughly smooth inclined-plane, purpose is that continuous substantially change is being provided aspect the lid height, perhaps can comprise a series of step, the position of consequently controlling lug 17 will cause many discrete lid positions.In addition, cam surface 20 also can also comprise targeting part, to reduce the inaccurate possibility that aligns, guarantees to control lug 17 and engages all the time and act on the cam surface with being tied.

Those skilled in the art understand easily, above-mentioned illustrative examples of the present invention only be with respect to vegetable bin 4 and activation lid to realize a kind of mode of required lifting.Many other can be set the mechanism of cam surface is provided, cam surface can be linearity, and is step-like, the salient angle shape, and curve-like, purpose is to act on to cover on 5, and makes it remain on permission on the position that has flow passage and and refrigerator difference UNICOM inner with the storage box between lid 5 and the storage box 4.In addition, do not breaking away under the situation of the present invention, can imagine and be used to activate the various mobile form that lid of the present invention makes it lifting and can be replaced.For example, move the slip that substitutes control part 11, perhaps, slide and also can on Different Plane or direction, carry out except outside (for example, level) of describing by by way of example by rotating.Essence of the present invention is to raise cover 5, and purpose is to open to store up box 4 and build path between 5.Preferably, the position of opening is near the rear portion of refrigerator and the air vent that passes through near air circulation.Like this, the many selections that are used to activate can comprise:

Cam surface, it is included as the part of operating mechanism;

Can realize opening ventilation gap by actuation control button or bar etc., perhaps store up box itself and be pushed into/pull out the mobile lifting that can handle lid;

By the direct activation lid of electric actuator and hand-guided or the automatic control by control module, with in response to the state in vegetable bin that records or the cooling space, perhaps according to user's setting.

User's rotatable handles or actuating linkage are with the lifting campaign that causes covering.

Should be appreciated that humidity of the present invention control can be configured to provide about how many storage storage boxes 4 being set and how much covering a large amount of selections of 5 for each storage storage box provides.In addition, understand easily, control part 11 can independently be arranged on the both sides of single lid 5, or otherwise is provided with, as shown in Figure 2.These control parts 11 can be by independently of one another or can activate ordinatedly together.One of skill in the art should be appreciated that, the independent or control part 11 that cooperates together with the various combination of cam surface orientation, will cause in the different piece lifting of a storage box and/or a plurality of storage boxes or reduces the multiple combination of lid.For example, in some cases, can preferably have single control part, it reduces a side of lid and rising another part when taking charge of.But, in a preferred embodiment, being provided with control part 11 independent of each other, they act on the independent lid 5, and described lid extends and covers two storage boxes 4.In this structure, each storage box can be kept similar or different atmospheric conditions according to each best needs that store up storage article in the box.

As known in the art, lid or cover also can be arranged to have the groove of a plurality of linearities or alternate manner orientation, so that the effect of drip pocket is played in the bottom side of lid.The size of groove, interval and arrange as followsly are tending towards moving on to the bottom portion of groove of upwards arranging so that be collected in condensate liquid on ventricumbent part and the groove walls under the effect of water surface tension.When being positioned in food storage box top, may need groove is arranged to become small angle about level.For example, lid can followingly constitute, about 2-5 ° the low-angle so that groove tilts.Thus, any gathering of condensate liquid can in use be discharged to discharge region in the groove under the effect of gravity.One or more bight lifting for relative humidity grade in the control storage box will be covered will change lid significantly, and Gai a part at least is about the relative angle of horizontal plane.It is contemplated that the effect by the lid that raises can increase or reduce this minute angle.But, suppose that preferred rising is to take place towards the rear portion of lid, and preferably discharge region is also at the rear portion, then Gai rising will change the gradient of lid towards horizontal plane.Because the rising of lid also may reduce the relative humidity of air in the vegetable bin, can become inessential so discharge angle, even still keep minute angle.

Also have many will cover and/or different modes that groove is arranged on minute angle can be conceived out.Embodiment shown in Fig. 2 only is wherein a kind of.Preferably, the hook of pine will cover the position that maintenance needs, so that groove is configured to the rear side inner surface slight inclination towards refrigerator.Therefore, because the condensate that " breathing " of interior vegetables of storage box or fruit caused is collected in the path and can slowly be discharged to discharge region, in this zone, they can evaporate or be discharged to the rear portion of refrigerator.

Claims

1. refrigerator comprises:

Cooling space with at least one shelf;

2. refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when described storage box was in described stowed position, described lid had two kinds of duties;

When described lid was in first duty, described lid assisted in substantially sealing the described open-top of described storage box;

When being in second duty, at least a portion of described lid is held leaves described storage box, and opens flow passage between described storage box and described lid.

3. refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, described path is provided with towards the rear portion of described refrigerator.

4. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 1 to 3, wherein, described path is near the cold air circulating ventilation hole in the described refrigerator, and described refrigerator also comprises at least one fan that is positioned at described air vent.

5. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 1 to 4, wherein, describedly be used to keep the device of described lid to link to each other, and comprise the control cam surface with described shelf, it matches with the cam surface of described lid, to open described path.

6. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 1 to 4, wherein, described holding device is operated by lever, to open described path.

7. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 1 to 4, wherein, described holding device is an actuator, and it acts directly on described covering, and leaves described storage box and opens described path with removable cover.

8. as claim 5 or 7 described refrigerators, wherein, described holding device comprises flexible band, and described flexible band is removable in orbit.

9. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 1 to 8, wherein, the described lid in the bottom side comprises that a plurality of grooves, described groove are fit to keep condensed water, and described lid is arranged to become minute angle with horizontal plane, so that described lid tilts towards discharge region.

10. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 1 to 9, wherein, described refrigerator comprises storage box placed side by side more than.

11. refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein, a storage box or a plurality of storage box are placed on the drawer, withdraw from from refrigerator and insert to improve.

12. a refrigerator comprises:

Cooling space with at least one shelf;

Wherein, described lid has at least two kinds of duties;

13. refrigerator as claimed in claim 12, wherein, described path is provided with towards the rear portion of described refrigerator.

14. as claim 12 or 13 described refrigerators, wherein, described path is near the cold air circulating ventilation hole in the described refrigerator, described refrigerator also comprises at least one fan that is positioned at described air vent.

15. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 12 to 14, wherein, described path is to open by the effect of the cam surface that links to each other with actuator with described lid.

16. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 12 to 14, wherein, described holding device is an actuator, it acts directly on described covering, and leaves described storage box and opens described path to move described lid.

17. as claim 15 or 16 described refrigerators, wherein, described actuator comprises movably flexible in orbit band.

18. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 12 to 14, wherein, described path is to open by the effect of lever.

19. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 12 to 18, wherein, the described lid in the bottom side comprises a plurality of grooves, described groove is suitable for keeping condensed water, and described lid is arranged to become minute angle with horizontal plane, so that described lid tilts towards discharge region.

20. as the arbitrary described refrigerator of claim 12 to 19, wherein, described refrigerator comprises storage box placed side by side more than.

21. refrigerator as claimed in claim 20, wherein, a storage box or a plurality of storage box are placed on the drawer, withdraw from from refrigerator and insert to improve.