Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
  • A47F3/0404—Cases or cabinets of the closed type
  • A47F3/0426—Details
  • A47F3/043—Doors, covers
• • 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
  • F25D23/021—Sliding doors
• • 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
  • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
  • F25D2400/10—Refrigerator top-coolers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cover for refrigerator islands, generally used in mass distribution for the storage of frozen or fresh products.
• documents EP 1391171 and EP 1332698 show a cover comprising a fixed central sheet in glass and sliding sheets positioned alongside the central sheet, for access to the compartment inside the island.
• the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks connected with the known solutions, and in particular to conciliate energy saving by limiting the dispersion of cold with improved access to the compartment of the island.
• FIG. 1 shows a view of a refrigerator island fitted with a cover according to the present invention, in one embodiment
• figure 2 shows a lateral cross-section view of the island in figure 1;
• FIG. 3 shows lateral view of the cover, in a limit closing position
• figure 4 shows an enlargement of the area IV in figure 3;
• FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of the cover, in a partially open intermediate configuration
• FIG.6 shows an enlargement of the area VI in figure 5;
• FIG. 7 shows a lateral view of the cover, in a limit opening position
• figure 8 shows an enlargement of the area VIII in figure 7;
• FIG. 9 shows a lateral view of the cover, according to a further embodiment, in a limit closing position
• figure 10 shows the cover in figure 9 in a limit opening position.
• reference numeral 1 globally denotes a refrigerator island, generally used in mass distribution for the storage of frozen or fresh products.
• the island 1 comprises a tub 2 extending in a longitudinal direction Z, which conventionally defines the "long side” of the island and in a transversal direction X, orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, ' which conventionally defines the "short side".
• the tub 2 has an internal compartment 4 to contain the products, defined by a bottom 6, by side walls 8, 10 extending mainly in the longitudinal direction Z and by sides 12, 14, extending mainly in the transversal direction X.
• Access to the compartment is given by an access aperture defined by the perimeter of the tub, formed by the free upper rim of the side walls 8, 10 and the sides 12, 14.
• the tub 4 is separated by a separation wall 16, extending mainly in the longitudinal direction Z, generally positioned along the centreline of the compartment 4, so as to define relative compartments 4a, 4b.
• the island 1 comprises a cover 20 suitable to cover, at least partially, the access aperture to the compartment .
• the cover 20 can be coupled to and separated from the tub 2 as needed, for example for maintenance or assembly.
• the cover 20 is incorporated with the tub.
• the cover 20 comprises a frame 22 positioned along the perimeter of the tub 2, that is along the rim of the access aperture to the compartment 4.
• the frame 22 comprises longitudinal beams 24, 26 positioned along the rim of the side walls 8, 10 preferably having a tubular cross-section, and transversal guides 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d which join the longitudinal beams 24, 26 to the ends of these or in intermediate positions between the ends.
• an intermediate longitudinal beam is provided, positioned in an intermediate position between the ends of the transversal guides.
• the transversal guides 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d are arched, for example with, an outline symmetrical to the transversal centreline of the tub 2.
• the transversal guides are rectilinear.
• Each transversal guide 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d comprises a plurality of tracks 32, overlapping each other; for example four overlapping tracks 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d are provided .
• the tracks 32 extend for the entire extension of the respective transversal guide.
• the tracks extend only for a part of the extension of the respective transversal guide.
• the cover 20 further comprises a plurality of panels, mounted on tracks 32, sliding transversally, that is to say sliding in the transversal direction X.
• the panels are made as glass sheets.
• the panels are made from colourless or coloured transparent sheets in polymer material, such as plexiglass.
• the panels have an arched transversal progress, so as to adapt to the curvature of the transversal guides which support them and enable sliding .
• the panels are flat, to slide on respective rectilinear guides.
• the cover On one side of the island, the cover has at least a first proximal panel 40a which extends transversally from the longitudinal beam 24, and a first distal panel 40b transversally placed alongside the proximal panel 40a, so as to extend substantially as far as the central area of the tub 2.
• the first proximal panel 40a is supported by the third track 32c and the respective distal panel 40b is supported by the fourth track 32d (figures 1 to 8) .
• the cover On the other side of the island, the cover has at least one further proximal panel 40c which extends transversally from the longitudinal beam 26, and . a further respective distal panel 40d, transversally placed alongside the further proximal panel 40c, so as to extend substantially as far as the central area of the tub 2.
• the distal panel 40b of one side of the island and the distal panel 40d of the other side of the island have an area in which they surmount each other at least partially, sliding on overlapping tracks.
• the further proximal panel 40c is supported by the first track 32a and the further respective distal panel 40d is supported by the second track 32b (figures 1 to 8) . 11 053874
• the proximal panel 40a, 40c surmounts the respective distal panel 40b, 40d (figures 9 and 10) .
• the first proximal panel 40a is supported by the fourth track 32d and the respective distal panel 40b is supported by the third track 32c, while on the other side of the island, the further proximal panel 40c is supported by the second track 32b and the further respective distal panel 40d is supported by the third track 32b.
• the proximal panel 40a, 40c has a longitudinal abutment rim, which in the limit closing configuration substantially abuts with the beam 24, 26, and an opposite terminal longitudinal rim, while longitudinally it is defined by transversal rims.
• the proximal panel 40a, 40c comprises a handle 42, attached to the top side of the panel near the longitudinal abutment rim, for example projecting from said side.
• the proximal panel 40a, 40c comprises a coupling lip 50' , projecting from the side of the panel, positioned near the terminal longitudinal rim.
• the distal panel 40b, 40d has a longitudinal engagement rim, which in the limit opening configuration is near the terminal longitudinal rim of the proximal panel 40b, 40d, and an opposite free longitudinal rim, while longitudinally it is defined by transversal rims.
• the distal panel 40b, 40d comprises a further coupling lip 50", projecting from the side of the distal panel, positioned near the longitudinal engagement rim, suitable to structurally interact with the coupling lip 50' of the respective proximal panel.
• the coupling lip 50' of the proximal panel projects from the bottom side of said panel, while the further coupling lip 50" of the distal panel projects from the top side of this.
• the handle 42 comprises at least one extension 42a which projects from the base of the handle, through the thickness of the panel and protrudes from the bottom side of said panel, so to structurally interact, during sliding of the proximal panel, with the underlying distal panel.
• the proximal panels 40a, 40c occupy a limit closing position in which they abut with the respective beams 24, 26 and the distal panels 40b, 40d occupy a limit closing position in which they present the minimum overlap with the respective proximal panels 40a, 40c (or even no overlap) ; the compartment 4 of the tub 2 is thereby not accessible to the user through the apertures closed by the panels.
• the proximal panel 40a, 40c needs to be pushed open further; during the stroke of the proximal panel 40a, 40c, the handle 42 abuts with the longitudinal engagement rim of the overlying distal panel 40b, 40d or the extension 42a of said handle 42 abuts with the longitudinal engagement rim of the underlying distal panel 40b, 40d.
• proximal panel 40a, 40c and the distal panel 40b, 40d are in the condition of maximum overlap, while the distal panel is still in the limit closing position.
• the proximal panel 40a, 40c and the distal panel 40b, 40d are in a limit opening position wherein said panels are in a condition of maximum reciprocal overlap and abut with a fixed element along the transversal guide, which prevents any further opening movement.
• proximal panel and the relative distal panel form a telescopic system in opening and in closing .
• the handle 42 which abuts with the distal panel, dragging it in translation, or its extension 42a, form an example of means of engagement of the proximal panel and the distal panel, said means of engagement being suitable to firmly engage the proximal panel and the distal panel in sliding, from the limit closing position to the limit opening position.
• said means of engagement are activated by the sliding proximal panel with a delay in relation to the sliding of said proximal- panel.
• Said return means are activated by the sliding proximal panel with a delay in relation to the sliding of said proximal panel.
• the cover according to the present invention permits extreme ease of access to all areas of the refrigerator island combined with considerable energy savings .
• the sliding of the distal panel is limited to the effective needs of the user; when it is not necessary to access the central area of the compartment, the distal panel is not moved, and this permits a considerable saving of energy and improved conservation of the foods.
• the refrigerator island illustrated in the appended drawings is accessible from two sides of the tub and on each side of the tub three- compartments are provided.
• the number of adjacent compartments is variable, it being possible to produce islands with more than three or less than three compartments .
• the island has a single compartment.
• the island is only accessible from one side of the tub, on the other side being placed for example against a wall or other item of furniture.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
• Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=43742580

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2010
  • 2010-11-17 IT ITBS2010A000184A patent/IT1402477B1/it active
• 2011
  • 2011-09-05 JP JP2013539362A patent/JP2013542827A/ja active Pending
  • 2011-09-05 WO PCT/IB2011/053874 patent/WO2012066429A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-09-05 BR BR112013009477A patent/BR112013009477A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-09-05 EP EP20110773544 patent/EP2640230B1/de not_active Not-in-force

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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