EP1139044A2 - Refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device - Google Patents

Refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1139044A2
EP1139044A2 EP01200999A EP01200999A EP1139044A2 EP 1139044 A2 EP1139044 A2 EP 1139044A2 EP 01200999 A EP01200999 A EP 01200999A EP 01200999 A EP01200999 A EP 01200999A EP 1139044 A2 EP1139044 A2 EP 1139044A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerator appliance
tap
dispensing
drinks
refrigerator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP01200999A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1139044B1 (en
EP1139044A3 (en
Inventor
Silvano Fumagalli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Candy SpA
Original Assignee
Candy SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Candy SpA filed Critical Candy SpA
Publication of EP1139044A2 publication Critical patent/EP1139044A2/en
Publication of EP1139044A3 publication Critical patent/EP1139044A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1139044B1 publication Critical patent/EP1139044B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
    • F25D23/126—Water cooler
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D2210/00028—Constructional details
    • B67D2210/00031—Housing
    • B67D2210/00034—Modules
    • B67D2210/00036—Modules for use with or in refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/028—Details

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device.
  • Household refrigerators are known that, within them, are provided with drink dispensing devices. Such devices are suitable to contain, inside of the heat insulated case of the refrigerator, a bottle containing the desired drink, in an upside down position, and they comprise a tap, for instance a pressure type one, that opens when one wants to fill a glass with the drink. In this way, the drink in the bottle is kept at the temperature present inside the heat insulated case of the refrigerator.
  • an appropriate housing is provided in the door of the heat-insulated case of the same refrigerator in order to receive a glass that must be filled with the drink present in the bottle inside of the heat-insulated case.
  • this housing only allows the filling of glasses but not of larger containers such as bottles, etc.
  • scope of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator appliance that by means of a device dispensing fresh water or other liquids allows to overcome the aforesaid disadvantage.
  • a refrigerator appliance particularly for household use, comprising a heat-insulated case closed by a door, a device for dispensing drinks outside the refrigerator, said dispensing device comprising a tap for the output of drinks and valve means suitable to control said output of drinks, characterized in that the dispensing mouth of said tap projects from the external profile of the door of the heat-insulated case and said dispensing device comprises a frame applied onto the external part of said door of the refrigerator and associated with said dispensing mouth, said frame being provided with a recessed part that is suitable to receive various type of containers for their filling with drinks that are dispensed by said tap.
  • the refrigerator comprises in a way known per se a cabinet 1 that encloses on its inside a heat-insulated case 2 and, on the bottom of the same, a freezing cell 3.
  • the heat-insulated case 2 and the freezing cell 3 are frontally open and they are provided with doors 4 and 5 that are hinged to the cabinet 1 in order to be revolving around a vertical axis.
  • On the back of the case 2 a condenser and a compressor that is part of a traditional refrigeration system not visible in the figures are provided.
  • the refrigerator is provided with a water inlet 7, that is directly connectable to the household water network.
  • Valve devices 8 are associated with the water inlet 7 that are preferably provided with a liter counter not visible in the figures.
  • a duct for the transport of water 9 housed in a back interspace of cabinet 1 goes up to the top of the cabinet 1, still continues in an upper interspace of the cabinet 1 towards the front part of the same, passes through the door 4 and ends in a water accumulation tank 10 destined to contain a drinking water reserve.
  • the tank 10 is mounted into the internal wall of the door 4 as a bracket and it preferably has an elongated shape.
  • a filtering device 11 is associated that is suitable to carry out a function of chemical filtering for the water supplied by the water network, for the elimination of possible organic compounds, of products of the reaction of the chlorine present in the water, of substances released by the pipes of the water network.
  • the filtering device 11 is part of a dispensing device 12 comprising a tap 13 that takes the filtered water outside. Between the filtering device 11 and the dispensing device 12 second valve means 14 are located.
  • the tap 13 comprises a right angle dispensing mouth 15 that projects from the external profile of the door 4 of the heat-insulated case 2 by approximately 2 cm and it is provided with a button 16 adjacent to an end 30 of the dispensing mouth 15; the button 16 is connected with valve means 8 and 14 in order to control the opening or the closing of the same tap.
  • the dispensing device 12 also comprises a frame 17, made up of an appropriately contoured sheet of plastic material, applied outside of the door 4 of the heat-insulated case 3 in a substantially central position.
  • the frame 17 comprises a recessed part 18 approximately 3cm deep and provided on top with a substantially rectangular hole 19, a top projection 20 and a bottom projection 21.
  • the projection 20 is hollow inside in order to contain the dispensing mouth 15 of the tap 13 in such a way that the end 30 of the same dispensing mouth 15 can project from hole 19 together with the button 16.
  • the recessed part 18 of the frame 17 is made in such a way so as to allow to fill with water not only a glass but even other types of larger containers such as bottles or carafes with capacity greater than a litre. For the aforesaid function the recessed part 18 is aided also by the projection 21 in order to allow the resting of the containers to be filled.

Abstract

Refrigerator appliance, particularly for household use, comprising a heat-insulated case (2) closed by a door (4) and a device (12) dispensing drinks outside the refrigerator appliance. The dispensing device (12) comprises a tap (13) for the output of drinks, valve means (14) suitable to control the output of drinks, and a frame (17) applied onto the external part of said door (4) of the refrigerator. The tap (13) has a dispensing mouth (15) that projects from the external profile of the door (4) of the heat-insulated case (2) and it is associated with the frame (17). The frame (17) is provided with a recessed part (18) that is suitable to receive containers of various type for their filling with drinks that are dispensed by the tap (13).

Description

  • The present invention refers to a refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device.
  • Household refrigerators are known that, within them, are provided with drink dispensing devices. Such devices are suitable to contain, inside of the heat insulated case of the refrigerator, a bottle containing the desired drink, in an upside down position, and they comprise a tap, for instance a pressure type one, that opens when one wants to fill a glass with the drink. In this way, the drink in the bottle is kept at the temperature present inside the heat insulated case of the refrigerator.
  • In such refrigerators an appropriate housing is provided in the door of the heat-insulated case of the same refrigerator in order to receive a glass that must be filled with the drink present in the bottle inside of the heat-insulated case. However this housing only allows the filling of glasses but not of larger containers such as bottles, etc.
  • In view of the state of the art herein described, scope of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator appliance that by means of a device dispensing fresh water or other liquids allows to overcome the aforesaid disadvantage.
  • According to the present invention, such scope is attained by means of a refrigerator appliance, particularly for household use, comprising a heat-insulated case closed by a door, a device for dispensing drinks outside the refrigerator, said dispensing device comprising a tap for the output of drinks and valve means suitable to control said output of drinks, characterized in that the dispensing mouth of said tap projects from the external profile of the door of the heat-insulated case and said dispensing device comprises a frame applied onto the external part of said door of the refrigerator and associated with said dispensing mouth, said frame being provided with a recessed part that is suitable to receive various type of containers for their filling with drinks that are dispensed by said tap.
  • Owing to the present invention it is possible to realize a refrigerator appliance with a drink dispensing device that makes the filling not only of glasses but also of larger containers such as bottles possible.
  • The characteristics and the advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, that is illustrated as a non limiting example in the enclosed drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a side section according to a vertical plane of a refrigerator appliance according to the present invention;
  • Figure 2 is a front view of the refrigerator appliance in Figure 1.
  • With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a refrigerator according to the present invention is shown. The refrigerator comprises in a way known per se a cabinet 1 that encloses on its inside a heat-insulated case 2 and, on the bottom of the same, a freezing cell 3. The heat-insulated case 2 and the freezing cell 3 are frontally open and they are provided with doors 4 and 5 that are hinged to the cabinet 1 in order to be revolving around a vertical axis. On the back of the case 2 a condenser and a compressor that is part of a traditional refrigeration system not visible in the figures are provided.
  • The refrigerator is provided with a water inlet 7, that is directly connectable to the household water network. Valve devices 8 are associated with the water inlet 7 that are preferably provided with a liter counter not visible in the figures. In output of the valve devices 8, a duct for the transport of water 9, housed in a back interspace of cabinet 1, goes up to the top of the cabinet 1, still continues in an upper interspace of the cabinet 1 towards the front part of the same, passes through the door 4 and ends in a water accumulation tank 10 destined to contain a drinking water reserve. The tank 10 is mounted into the internal wall of the door 4 as a bracket and it preferably has an elongated shape. To the tank 10 a filtering device 11 is associated that is suitable to carry out a function of chemical filtering for the water supplied by the water network, for the elimination of possible organic compounds, of products of the reaction of the chlorine present in the water, of substances released by the pipes of the water network.
  • The filtering device 11 is part of a dispensing device 12 comprising a tap 13 that takes the filtered water outside. Between the filtering device 11 and the dispensing device 12 second valve means 14 are located.
  • The tap 13 comprises a right angle dispensing mouth 15 that projects from the external profile of the door 4 of the heat-insulated case 2 by approximately 2 cm and it is provided with a button 16 adjacent to an end 30 of the dispensing mouth 15; the button 16 is connected with valve means 8 and 14 in order to control the opening or the closing of the same tap.
  • The dispensing device 12 also comprises a frame 17, made up of an appropriately contoured sheet of plastic material, applied outside of the door 4 of the heat-insulated case 3 in a substantially central position. The frame 17 comprises a recessed part 18 approximately 3cm deep and provided on top with a substantially rectangular hole 19, a top projection 20 and a bottom projection 21. The projection 20 is hollow inside in order to contain the dispensing mouth 15 of the tap 13 in such a way that the end 30 of the same dispensing mouth 15 can project from hole 19 together with the button 16. The recessed part 18 of the frame 17 is made in such a way so as to allow to fill with water not only a glass but even other types of larger containers such as bottles or carafes with capacity greater than a litre. For the aforesaid function the recessed part 18 is aided also by the projection 21 in order to allow the resting of the containers to be filled.
  • As an additional variant of the embodiment illustrated herein it is possible that there is no connection with the external water network and no filtering device but only a tank for the water or other drinks connected with the dispensing device 12.

Claims (7)

  1. Refrigerator appliance, particularly for household use, comprising a heat-insulated case (2) closed by a door (4), a device (12) for dispensing drinks outside the refrigerator appliance, said dispensing device (12) comprising a tap (13) for the output of drinks and valve means (14) suitable to control said output of drinks, characterized in that the dispensing mouth of said tap (13) projects from the external profile of the door (4) of the heat-insulated device (2) and said dispensing device (12) comprises a frame (17) applied to the external part of said door (4) of the refrigerator and associated with said dispensing mouth (15) said frame (17) being provided with a recessed part (18) that is suitable to receive containers of various type for their filling with drinks that are dispensed by said tap (13).
  2. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (17) is provided with a cavity (15) suitable to receive said to dispensing mouth (15) of said tap (13) and said recessed part (18) has a hole (19) on its top that is suitable to receive one end (30) of said tap (13).
  3. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that said dispensing device (12) comprises a button (16) adjacent to said end (30) of said dispensing mouth (15) of the tap (13) and connected with said valve means (8, 14) in order to control the opening and the closing of said tap (13).
  4. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (17) is made of plastic material.
  5. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said refrigerator appliance comprises tanks (10) for the accumulation of drinks.
  6. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said refrigerator appliance comprises means (7-8) for the connection with an external water network, said connection means (7-8) being associated with said dispensing device (12).
  7. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that said dispensing device (12) comprises means (11) for the filtering of the water coming from the external water network.
EP20010200999 2000-03-31 2001-03-19 Refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device Expired - Lifetime EP1139044B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI20000195 IT249764Y1 (en) 2000-03-31 2000-03-31 REFRIGERATOR WITH DRINK DISPENSER
ITMI000195 2000-09-07

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1139044A2 true EP1139044A2 (en) 2001-10-04
EP1139044A3 EP1139044A3 (en) 2002-02-13
EP1139044B1 EP1139044B1 (en) 2005-08-10

Family

ID=11443923

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20010200999 Expired - Lifetime EP1139044B1 (en) 2000-03-31 2001-03-19 Refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1139044B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2243388T3 (en)
IT (1) IT249764Y1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1574797A2 (en) 2004-03-11 2005-09-14 Norcold, Inc. Chilled water dispensing arrangement for a refrigerator
WO2007007144A1 (en) * 2005-07-11 2007-01-18 Antonio Merloni S.P.A. Refrigerator for food storage, preferably for household use
WO2008035201A2 (en) 2006-09-21 2008-03-27 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Improvements to a water dispensing device mounted in refrigerator doors

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2299103A (en) * 1941-07-07 1942-10-20 Kinney I Miller Cool water reservoir for refrigerators
US2504622A (en) * 1948-05-03 1950-04-18 Harald H Band Refrigerator water fountain
FR1031910A (en) * 1951-01-31 1953-06-29 Thomson Houston Comp Francaise Chilled water fountain for refrigerated cabinets
US3476295A (en) * 1968-01-03 1969-11-04 Henri E Telfer Liquid dispensing apparatus having a dispensing top closure

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2299103A (en) * 1941-07-07 1942-10-20 Kinney I Miller Cool water reservoir for refrigerators
US2504622A (en) * 1948-05-03 1950-04-18 Harald H Band Refrigerator water fountain
FR1031910A (en) * 1951-01-31 1953-06-29 Thomson Houston Comp Francaise Chilled water fountain for refrigerated cabinets
US3476295A (en) * 1968-01-03 1969-11-04 Henri E Telfer Liquid dispensing apparatus having a dispensing top closure

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1574797A2 (en) 2004-03-11 2005-09-14 Norcold, Inc. Chilled water dispensing arrangement for a refrigerator
EP1574797A3 (en) * 2004-03-11 2007-03-07 Norcold, Inc. Chilled water dispensing arrangement for a refrigerator
WO2007007144A1 (en) * 2005-07-11 2007-01-18 Antonio Merloni S.P.A. Refrigerator for food storage, preferably for household use
WO2008035201A2 (en) 2006-09-21 2008-03-27 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Improvements to a water dispensing device mounted in refrigerator doors

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI20000195U1 (en) 2001-10-01
EP1139044B1 (en) 2005-08-10
ES2243388T3 (en) 2005-12-01
IT249764Y1 (en) 2003-05-28
ITMI20000195V0 (en) 2000-03-31
EP1139044A3 (en) 2002-02-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3476295A (en) Liquid dispensing apparatus having a dispensing top closure
US7861550B2 (en) Water dispenser
KR101251654B1 (en) Water dispenser with water filter for a refrigerator
CN110877887B (en) Universal and aesthetically elegant bucket dispenser
AU681265B2 (en) Bottled water station with removable reservoir and manifolded support platform
US3811294A (en) Cooler for faucet-equipped beverage containers
US10301161B2 (en) Container-value subassembly for a beverage dispenser and refrigeration device having the container-valve subassembly
US5297700A (en) Bottled water station with removable reservoir
US20110303693A1 (en) Single or multiple dispense of beverages from a bulk container on a refrigerator
EP1139045B1 (en) Refrigerator appliance with cool water dispensing unit
AU716768B2 (en) Combined water purifier/dispenser and walk-in cooler
CA2562454A1 (en) Refrigeration apparatus for cooling pressurized beverages
US20080251536A1 (en) Bottled beverage dispenser
EP1139044B1 (en) Refrigerator appliance with drink dispensing device
US5148842A (en) Funnel-adapter for use in dispensing water and ice from a refrigerator water and ice dispenser
WO2003046451A1 (en) Water dispensing reservoir for a refrigerator
WO2007007144A1 (en) Refrigerator for food storage, preferably for household use
CN100498144C (en) Refrigerator possessing a divider
WO1995023114A1 (en) Bottled water station with sweat-free dispenser faucet
EP1752723A2 (en) Refrigerator with shelf acting as refrigerated drinks container
JP2002068379A (en) Household beverage server
CN218738417U (en) Liquid fresh-keeping device matched with beverage machine
JP2588074B2 (en) Cold beverage supply device
EP2042823A1 (en) Home refrigerator with a cooled-drink dispenser
EP1891387A1 (en) A refrigerator

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): ES FR GB IT

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20020730

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: ES FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): ES FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2243388

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20060511

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20120319

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20130321

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20130308

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20130425

Year of fee payment: 13

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140319

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20141128

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140319

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140319

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20150730

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140320