EP1563234B1

EP1563234B1 - Electronic controlled refrigerator with a door of which the opening direction can be changed

Info

Publication number: EP1563234B1
Application number: EP03789682A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Halil Turan; Serkan Guzel
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2002-11-22
Filing date: 2003-11-21
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-21
Also published as: AU2003294201A1; TR200202566A2; EP1563234A1; DE60309198D1; ATE343111T1; DE60309198T2; ES2275131T3; WO2004048865A1

Abstract

The subject of invention has enabled the change of the door opening direction in electronic controlled refrigerators (1) by taking out the top hinge (18) and the cable group (5, 6), when desired, the cables which are let out from the upper ceiling and are mounted to the top hinge (18) with a socket (11, 12) can be removed from its socket (11, 12) and the top hinge can be taken to the other side.

Description

Field of the invention

This invention is related with electronic controlled, one door, double door and multi door refrigerators.

Background of the Invention

In electronic controlled refrigerators, the electronic control and display panel are placed on the front side of the refrigerator either on the lower or upper door, to maintain the ease of use. The power cable which supplies power for the display panel comes from the inner part of the cabinet is let out from the top panel of the cabinet and moves to the door by passing the top hinge. When the direction of the door is to be changed, the hinges should be removed and mounted to the other side. But in electronic controlled refrigerators, because the power cable moves to the door by passing the top hinge, the hinge cannot be dismantled and so the direction of the door could not be changed.
US Patent No. 5,829,197, which is the present known technical state explains a hinge which enables the door to be opened to both sides but this hinge does not provide a solution for the cables which supplies power to the display panel in electronic controlled refrigerators.
The Japanese patent application (no. JP 20012722162) is related with the cable connection between the refrigerator cabinet and the door in electronic controlled refrigerators but neither the electronic controlled refrigerator explained in this application can provide a two way opening for the door.
Another refrigerator is known from patent number US 2001/0025497.
In prior art, many patents can be found regarding the change in the door opening direction of refrigerators. These patents can not provide a solution for the power cable which moves to the door by passing the hinge and hinders the change of door opening direction.

Summary of the invention

The aim of this invention is to provide the door of electronic controlled refrigerators to open to both directions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure-1 The perspective view of the left opening electronic controlled refrigerator
Figure-2 The detail view of the top hinge group and related parts of the left opening door of the electronic controlled refrigerator, which the invention is about
Figure-3 The detail view of the top hinge group and related parts of the right opening door of the electronic controlled refrigerator, which the invention is about
Fgure-4 The perspective view of the right opening electronic controlled refrigerator.
Figure-5 The exploded view of the top hinge group

The numbered parts in the Figures and the explanations of these numbers are given below:

1. Electronic controlled refrigerator
2. Cabinet
3. Top panel
4. Door
5. Left power cable
6. Right power cable
7. Cabinet Left power cable
8. Cabinet Right power cable
9. Door Left power cable
10. Door right power cable
11. Left fem ale socket
12. Right female socket
13. Display Panel
14. Left male socket
15. Right m ale socket
16. Left bushing
17.Right bushing
18.Top hinge
19. Bushing cap
20.Socket protection cap
21. Hinge, front section
22. Hinge, back section
23. Hinge body
24. Hinge screw
25. Hinge pin
26. Hinge pin screw
27.Ring
28. Hinge cover
29. Hinge cover screw
30. Left pin hole
31.Right pin hole
32.Pin screw hole
33.Cover screw hole
34. Left outlet hole
35. Right outlet hole

The top hinge and cable group, which is the subject of invention, provides the change of the door direction in electronic controlled refrigerators. The cables, which come out of the top and are connected to the top hinge by a socket can be removed from its socket and the top hinge is moved to the other side and thus the change of the door direction in electronic controlled refrigerators is provided.
The electronic controlled refrigerator (1), which is the subject of invention, contains one cabinet (2), one door (4), a display panel (13) which is found on this door (4), an top hinge (18), the left and right power cable (5,6) which supplies power to the display panel (13), left and right hinge bushings (16,17) which are found at door (4) corners, one top hinge bushing cap (19) and a socket protection cap (20).
The left and right power cable (5,6), which supplies power to the display panel (13) consists of cabinet power cables (7,8) which go through the cabinet (2) and door power cables (9,10) which go through the door. At the edges of the cabinet power cables (7,8), there are female sockets (11,12) buried into the top panel (3). At the other end of the door power cables (9,10), which are tied to the display panel (13) from one end, there are male sockets (14,15) which match the female sockets (11,12) of the cabinet power cables (7,8).
The cabinet left power cable (7) is mounted to the left corner of the top panel (3), passing through the cabinet (2). At this end of the cabinet left power cable (7), there is the left female socket (11). Cabinet right power cable (8) is mounted to the right corner of the top panel (3), passing through the cabinet (2). At this end of the cabinet right power cable (8), there is the right female socket (12).
The top hinge (18) used in this electronic controlled refrigerator (1), which is the subject of invention, contains a hinge body (23) composed of front and back parts (21,22), four hinge screws (24) which fix this body (23) to the top panel (3) of the refrigerator (1), a hinge pin (25), a hinge pin screw (26), a ring (27), a hinge cover (28), and a hinge cover screw (29).
At the right and left sides of the hinge body front (21), there is the left and right pin holes (30,31) to which the hinge pin (25) is placed. According to the direction towards which the door of the refrigerator (4) is opened, the hinge pin (25) is placed into one of these holes. In front of the hinge body (23), there are two hinge pin screw holes (32) and a cover screw hole (33) to which the hinge pin screw (26) is placed. At the back of the hinge body (23), there are two outlet holes (34,35) for the connector cables. Depending on the opening direction of the refrigerator door (4), the door power cables (9,10) passes through one of these holes (34, 35) and is mounted to the female sockets (11,12) which are placed on the refrigerator cabinet (2).
When the door of the electronic controlled refrigerator (1), which is the subject of invention, is opened to left, the right door power cable (10), which passes through the right hinge bushing (17) which is placed at the hole at the right upper corner of the door (4), is passed through the open end of the hinge pin (25). The top hinge (18) is mounted with four hinge screws (24) to the screw holes which are on the top panel (3) of the refrigerator. The right door power cable (10) is mounted to the right female socket (12) which is on the top panel (3) of the refrigerator cabinet by passing through the left outlet hole (34) which is at the back of the top hinge body (23). By this way, the connection between the cabinet right power cable (8) and display panel (13) is completed. After being mounted to the right pin hole (31) at the front of the hinge body (23), the hinge pin (25) is then screwed to the screw hole (32) at the front of the top hinge body (23) together with the pin screw (26) and ring (27). The top hinge cover (28) is put on top of the top hinge (18) and screwed with the hinge cover screw (29). The socket protection cap (20) is placed on the left fem ale socket (11) which is on the top panel of the refrigerator (1) and top hinge bushing cap (19) is mounted on the left bushing (16) of the top hinge of the refrigerator door (4).
When it is needed to change the opening direction of the door of the electronic controlled refrigerator (1), which is the subject of invention, the hinge cover screw (29) and the top hinge cover (28) is dismantled. Four screws (24) of the top hinge (18) are dismantled and taken apart. At the same time, the right door power cable (10) which supplies power to the display panel (13) and the right male socket (15) at its end are dismantled from the right female socket (12) which was hidden in the top panel (3) of the refrigerator. The top hinge pin (25) through which the door right power cable (10) is let, is dismantled from the top hinge (18) together with its pin screw (26) and ring (27). The right door power cable (10) is gathered and placed into the right hinge bushing (17) coming out of the refrigerator door (4). By the way, the socket protection cap (20) at the left female socket (11) on the top panel (3) of the refrigerator and the top hinge bushing cap (19) mounted on the top hinge left bushing (16) at the refrigerator door (4) are also dismantled.
After this process, The left door power cable (9) which was gathered and placed into the left hinge bushing (16) coming out of the refrigerator door (4) is taken out of the left bushing (16) together with the left male socket (14). The top hinge (18) is mounted on the screw holes on the top panel (3) of the refrigerator with four screws (24). At the same time, the left door power cable (9) which supplies power to the display panel (13) and the left male socket (14) at its end are passed through the right outlet hole (35) at the back part of the top hinge body (23) and mounted to left female socket (11) which was hidden in the top panel (3) of the refrigerator. The top hinge pin (25) is turned over, placed in the left pin hole (30) at the front of the hinge body (23) and screwed to the pin screw hole (32) at the front of the hinge body (23) together with its pin screw (26) and ring (27). At the same time, the left power cable (9) is passed through the opening of the top hinge pin (25). The top hinge cover (28) is closed over the top hinge (18) and screwed with the hinge cover screw (29). The right female socket (12) which is left open at the right side of the refrigerator top panel (3) is covered with the socket protection cap (20). Top hinge bushing cap (19) is placed on the top hinge right bushing (17) of the refrigerator door (4).
There being two power cables (5,6) used and these cables (5,6) being made of two parts is what makes the change of the door opening direction of the electronic controlled refrigerator (1), which is the subject of invention, available. Also, the parts used for changing the opening direction of the door being symmetrical and being composed of fewer parts compared to prior technique decreases the production and assembly costs.

Claims

An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) comprising a cabinet (2), a door (4), a display panel (13) which is found on said door (4), and a top hinge (18), characterized by a left hinge bushing (16) and a right hinge bushing (17) on the door (4), and left and right power cables (5,6) composed of two parts which supply power to the display panel (13), wherein said left power cable (5) is composed of a cabinet left power cable (7) passing through the cabinet (2) and a door left power cable (9) passing through the door (4), and, wherein said right power cable (6) is composed of a cabinet right power cable (8) passing through the cabinet (2) and a door right power cable (10) passing through the door (4).
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, wherein said cabinet left power cable (7) which has a left female socket (11) at its end which is fitted to the top panel (3)
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, wherein said cabinet right power cable (8) which has a right female socket (12) at its end which is fitted to the top panel (3).
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, wherein said left door power cable (9) has a left male socket (14) fitted to a left female socket (11) at one end and is fitted to the display panel (13) at the other end.
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, wherein said right door power cable (10) has a right male socket (15) fitted to a right female socket (12) at one end and is fitted to the display panel (13) at the other end.
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1 , wherein said top hinge (18) contains a hinge body (23), which is has a front and back part (21, 22) and is mounted at the opposite direction of the door opening, four hinge screws (24) which enable the said hinge body (23) to be mounted to the top panel (3) of the refrigerator, a hinge pin (25), a hinge pin screw (26), a ring (27), a hinge cover (28) and a hinge cover screw (29).
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 6, wherein said front part of the hinge body (23) contains right and left pin holes (30, 31) on its right and left sides to which the hinge pin (25) is mounted according to the door (4) opening direction, two pin screw hole (32) to which the hinge pin screw (26) are screwed and one cover screw hole (33).
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 6, wherein said back part of the hinge body (23) contains two outlet holes (34, 35) to provide the left and right door power cables (9,10) to be fixed to the female sockets (11,12) on the refrigerator cabinet (2) by passing through.
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1 through 5, wherein said bushings (16,17) can be mounted to its house found on the door upper corners and the door power cables (9,10) on the opposite direction of the door opening is, placed after dismantling from the female sockets (11, 12) to which it was fixed.
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1 through 6, characterized by a bushing cap (19) which is used to protect the bushings (16, 17) and is placed on the opposite direction of the door opening.
An electronic controlled refrigerator (1) as in claim 1 through 7, characterized by a female socket cap (20) which is used to protect the female sockets (11, 12) that is placed on the opposite direction of the door opening.