EP2752632A2

EP2752632A2 - Refrigerator device with separator

Info

Publication number: EP2752632A2
Application number: EP13198601.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Valter BAZZUCCHI; Alessandro Pizzutti
Original assignee: Indesit Co SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2012-12-20
Filing date: 2013-12-19
Publication date: 2014-07-09
Also published as: EP2752632A3

Abstract

A food refrigeration device comprising:
-a refrigeration compartment (2);
-a drawer (3) which is movable between a first position of maximum insertion in the compartment (2) and a second position of at least partial extraction from the compartment (2), said drawer comprising a bottom (33) and lateral delimiting means (34);
-a separator (4) which splits said drawer (3) into at least a first and a second section (31, 32) intended to contain foods;
-a first mouth (5) for injecting a flow of refrigerated fluid, said first mouth (5) being located on a rear wall (22) of the compartment (2) and directing the flow of fluid towards said separator (4).

The separator (4) projects upwards relative to a rear wall (91) of the drawer (3), defining an obstacle that intercepts the flow of refrigerated fluid and directs it into the first section (31), said first mouth (5) being located at a greater height relative to said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3), said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3) being a part of said lateral delimiting means (34).

Description

The present invention relates to a food refrigeration device.
There is a known refrigerating device for food products comprising:

a refrigeration compartment;
a drawer placed inside the refrigeration compartment. The drawer is provided with a rigid vertical separator which defines two sections. This separator can be connected to the drawer in a variety of positions. In such positions the separator always remains parallel to itself, but enables the user to modify the volume of the two sections and thus ensures better flexibility in use of the drawer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerating device for food products which enables foods to be chilled rapidly. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration device which, in a single compartment, enables foods to be both rapidly frozen and kept frozen.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerating device for food products which enables better flexibility in use.
These objects and still others, which will be more apparent in the course of the description that follows, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by a refrigerating device for food products having structural and functional features in accordance with the appended independent claims, further embodiments thereof being identified in the corresponding appended dependent claims.
The invention is disclosed in greater detail below with the aid of the drawings, which represent a purely illustrative and non-limiting embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refrigeration device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows an at least partially exploded view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present invention.
Figures 3 and 4 show, in two distinct configurations, the refrigeration device of figure 2 with some parts removed in order to better illustrate others.
Figure 5 shows the device of figure 2 with some parts removed in order to better illustrate others.
Figures 6 and 7 respectively show components of figures 3 and 4.
Figure 8 shows the refrigeration device of figure 1 with some parts removed in order to better illustrate others.
Figure 9 shows an exploded view of a component of figure 8.
Figure 10 shows a further embodiment according to the present invention.
Figures 11 and 12 show, in two distinct configurations, a component illustrated in figure 10. In the appended figures, the reference number 1 indicates a food refrigeration device (typically a fridge-freezer). The refrigeration device 1 comprises a refrigeration compartment 2. The refrigeration device 1 also comprises a drawer 3, which is movable between a first position of maximum insertion in the compartment 2 (see fig. 1) and a second position of at least partial extraction from the compartment 2 (see fig. 2). The drawer 3 comprises a bottom 33 and lateral delimiting means 34. Conveniently, the lateral delimiting means 34 surround a space which is intended to contain foods and is delimited below by the bottom 33. In the preferred embodiment, the delimiting means 34 comprise a rear wall 91. The delimiting means 34 conveniently also comprise a front wall 92, which is opposite said rear wall 91.

Conveniently, the front wall 92 and the rear wall 91 extend transversely (preferably perpendicularly) to the direction 7 of introduction/extraction of the drawer into and from the compartment 2. In the position of maximum insertion of the drawer 3, the front wall 92 is closer than the rear wall 91 to an opening for inserting/extracting the drawer 3 into and from the compartment 2.
Between the rear wall 91 and the front wall 92, the lateral delimiting means 34 also comprise a first and a second lateral wall 93, 94 (which are preferably parallel). The first and the second lateral wall 93, 94 conveniently extend parallel to the direction 7 of introduction/extraction of the drawer 3 into and from the compartment 2.
Conveniently, the device 1 comprises a separator 4 which splits said drawer 3 into at least a first and a second section 31, 32 intended to contain foods. The first section 31 is conveniently delimited by the rear wall 91, by the separator 4, and by a part of the first and of the second lateral wall 93, 94. The first section 31 is open at the top. Conveniently, the first section 31 extends for the entire distance existing between the two lateral walls 93, 94. The second section 32 is conveniently delimited by the front wall 92, by a part of the first and of the second lateral wall 93, 94 and by the separator 4.
The second section 32 is open at the top. Conveniently, the second section 32 extends for the entire distance existing between the first and the second lateral wall 93, 94.
Conveniently, the separator 4 reciprocally connects the first and the second lateral wall 93,94. In particular, it is constrained both to the first and to the second lateral wall 93, 94. In the embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, when the drawer 3 is in the first position the front wall 92 can sealingly close off an opening providing access to the compartment 2. In this case the front wall 92 is advantageously directly accessible to a user (in an alternative embodiment it could be necessary first to open a door in order to access the drawer 3, which in this case would be completely introducible inside the compartment 2).
The device 1 conveniently comprises a first mouth 5 for injecting a flow of refrigerated fluid.
The first mouth 5 directs said flow of fluid into an area 23 which is situated above said first section 31. Conveniently, a second mouth 95 is also present. Conveniently, the second mouth 95 is horizontally adjacent to the first mouth 5. Advantageously, the second mouth 95 also directs the flow of fluid into an area 23 which is situated above the first section 31. Advantageously, the device 1 also comprises a body which is situated above said separator 4 when the drawer 3 is in the first position of maximum insertion. In the first position of the drawer 3, the minimum distance between said separator 4 and said body is less than 10 millimeters; preferably the minimum distance ranges between 3 and 7 millimeters. Normally, this minimum distance is measured vertically.
Said body could be an additional drawer. This could occur if the compartment 2 has an access door and more than one drawer is present inside it.
However, said body could also be an upper delimiting wall 21 of the compartment 2 (see figure 5). This could occur, for example, if only one drawer 3 is present in the compartment 2 or if the drawer 3 in question is the uppermost drawer in the compartment 2.
In the example embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the separator 4 extends transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to a direction of introduction of the flow of refrigerated fluid into the compartment 2 (through said first and/or second mouth 5, 95). Conveniently the outflow of refrigerated air from the first and/or second mouth 5, 95 is substantially horizontal. The first mouth 5 (but, conveniently, also the second mouth 95) directs the flow of fluid towards said separator 4, forcing it to pass over the rear wall 91 of the drawer 3.
The separator 4 serves to intercept the flow of refrigerated air and direct it into the first section 31. Advantageously, the separator 4 (by virtue of the reduced distance in relation to said body) prolongs the time for which the food items present in the first section 31 will remain exposed to the flow of refrigerated fluid. Furthermore, the first section 31 has a volume that is smaller than the volume of the entire drawer 3 and the food items contained in it are thus more effectively chilled. Typically, the first section 31 acts as a rapid chilling/freezing compartment.
In the example embodiments illustrated, the first injection mouth 5 is located on a rear wall 22 of the compartment 2. The first mouth 5 directs the flow of fluid towards said separator 4. Conveniently, the second mouth 95 is also fashioned in said rear wall 22. The rear wall 22 is the wall opposite an opening for introducing/removing the drawer 3 into and from the compartment 2.
The separator 4 projects upwards relative to a rear wall 91 of the drawer 3, defining an obstacle that intercepts the outflow of refrigerated fluid from the first and/or second mouth 5,95, directing it into the first section 31; the first mouth 5 (but, conveniently, also the second mouth 95) is located at a greater height than said rear wall 91 of the drawer 3. The rear wall 91 of the drawer 3 is a part of the lateral delimiting means 34. Conveniently, the separator 4 projects upwards also relative to the first and the second lateral wall 93, 94 of the drawer 3.
Preferably, the separator 4 projects upwards relative to the rear wall 91 by at least 10 millimeters, preferably by at least 30 millimeters.
Advantageously, the separator 4 projects upwards relative to first and the second lateral wall 93, 94. In fact, the first and the second lateral wall 93, 94 are conveniently below an upper edge of the separator 4. This facilitates the rotation of the drawer 3 which can accompany the extraction thereof.
In an unillustrated, non-preferred alternative embodiment, the first mouth 5 (and, advantageously, also the second mouth 95) are on a ceiling of the compartment 2 and positioned above said first section 31 when the drawer 3 is in the first position of maximum insertion.
Conveniently, the device 1 comprises means 6 for adjusting the position of the separator 4 relative to the drawer 3 along the direction 7 of insertion/extraction of the drawer 3 relative to the compartment 2.
In the embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the adjusting means 6 are means for discretely adjusting the position of the separator 4. In particular, they enable the position of the separator 4 to be adjusted in a discrete manner along a directrix which connects the rear wall 91 and the front wall 92 of the drawer 3 (see figures 8 and 9).
The adjusting means 6 can comprise a plurality of upwardly oriented grooves 85 (typically vertical) arranged along the first and the second lateral wall 93, 94 of the drawer 3 and suitable for at least partially accommodating a lateral edge of the separator 4. Conveniently, said plurality of grooves 85 are organized in pairs (one positioned on the first lateral wall 93 and one fashioned on the second lateral wall 94).
The separator 4 extends transversely (preferably perpendicularly) to the direction 7 of insertion/extraction of the drawer 3 relative to the compartment 2.
Conveniently, the separator 4 has a thickness ranging between 1 and 3 millimeters. It is made of plastic material.
In the example embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the separator 4 comprises at least a first opening 41, which passes through the separator 4 and places the first and the second section 31,32 in fluid communication.
Preferably, the separator 4 comprises a first and a second imaginary strip 43, 44 respectively defined as a location of points of the separator 4 which are at a distance of less than 10 centimeters from the first and the second lateral wall 93, 94. The first and the second lateral wall 93, 94 extend transversely to said separator 4 and at two opposite ends of said separator 4.
The first opening 41 is set in said first strip 43. Advantageously, a plurality of openings are present along the first strip 43.
The separator 4 comprises at least a second opening 42 set in said second strip 44. Advantageously, a plurality of openings are present along the second strip 44
In addition or alternatively to said openings, the device 1 could comprise passage sections between the first and the second section which are external to the separator 4. For example, the passage sections could be fashioned between a perimeter edge of the separator 4 and the drawer 3. In particular, the passage sections could be fashioned between the perimeter edge of the separator 4 and the lateral delimiting means 34 (or the bottom 33).
The presence of the openings which facilitate the passage of the flow of fluid from the first to the second section serves to:

facilitate the refrigeration of the food items present in the second section 32;
avoid an overpressure in the first section 31 (which would hinder the flow of refrigerated air towards the first section 31, and could also generate an arrest in the operation of the fan means which push the refrigerated air into the first section 31).

In the example embodiment shown in figures 1, 8 and 9, the separator 4 is a body made in one piece.
In the example embodiment illustrated in figures 1-7, 10-12, the separator 4 comprises a panel 45 and a flap 46 reciprocally hinged about a horizontal rotation axis 47 of. The panel 45 can be hooked onto the drawer 3. In particular, it can be hung by means of hooking arms 88 which rest upon a corresponding part of the drawer.
The separator 4 takes on a first configuration wherein both the panel 45 and the flap 46 extend upwards (in the preferred embodiment they extend substantially vertically -see figures 3, 6, 11). The separator 4 takes on a second configuration wherein the panel 45 extends upwards (in the preferred embodiment it is substantially vertical) while the flap 46:

extends transversely to the panel 45;
is part of (defines) a lower base of said first section 31;
connects said panel 45 and a predetermined portion of the delimiting means 34. In the first configuration, said predetermined portion of the means 34 is facing said separator 4.

In the second configuration said flap 46 is rotated relative to the first configuration and a vertical projection thereof on a horizontal plane has a larger surface area than in the first configuration.
An example of a second configuration of the separator 4 is illustrated in figures 4, 7, 12.
In the second configuration of the separator 4, the flap 46 is supported by a first portion of the delimiting means 34. In the second configuration of the separator 4, a part of the flap 46 is supported by the rear wall 91, said rear wall 91 in the first configuration facing said separator 4.
In particular the flap 46 comprises an edge 460, which in the second configuration is supported by the lateral delimiting means 34. The edge 460 is a side of the perimeter of the flap 46. The edge 460 is opposite the rotation axis 47. It mainly extends in a direction that is parallel to the rotation axis 47. In the second configuration of the separator 4, said edge 460 is supported by a rear wall 91, which is a part of the delimiting means 34, said rear wall 91 facing said panel 45 in the second configuration. The edge 460 conveniently extends along a line that is transverse (preferably perpendicular) to the direction 7 of insertion/extraction of the drawer 3 relative to the compartment 2.
In the second configuration of the separator 4, said second section 32 extends below the first section 31. In particular, in the second configuration said second section 32 extends partially between the first section 31 and the bottom 33. In the second configuration of the separator 4, the first section 31 has a smaller volume than in the first configuration of the separator 4. In the second configuration of the separator 4, the first section 31 has a volume that is smaller than half the volume of the second section 32. As exemplified in figures 7, 12, in the second configuration the flap 46 is substantially horizontal. The possibility of switching from the first to the second configuration enables a high degree of flexibility, given that in the second configuration the second section 32 can be chilled even more quickly than in the first configuration, owing to its reduced size, and consequently an even more effective chilling of the food items contained therein can be obtained; furthermore, in the second configuration the second section 32 can also be easily reached by a user (in fact, the second section 32 has a reduced depth and is in an upper portion of the drawer 3; this reduces the risk of a user having to rummage in a very deep drawer in order to find products located on the bottom). Conveniently, said panel 45 and said flap 46 comprise matingly shaped parts, which in the first configuration of the separator 4 reciprocally penetrate so as to at least partially obstruct areas 96 of passage which place the first and the second section 31,32 in fluid communication; in the second configuration of the separator 4, said matingly shaped parts enable the passage of fluid through said areas 96 of passage. Conveniently, the matingly shaped parts are mating parts shaped like a comb, and in the first configuration the teeth of the comb interpenetrate, whereas in the second configuration they extend along distinct directions. Conveniently, the teeth of the comb interpenetrate at the rotation axis 47.
As can be inferred by comparing figures 6 and 7, the bottom 33 of the drawer 3 comprises a slot 99, which in the first configuration accommodates at least a part of said edge 460. Preferably, the edge 460 comprises a projection 82, which in the first configuration projects downward and fits into the slot 99. The slot 99 is defined, for example, by relief elements 81 that protrude from the bottom 33.
In the second configuration, said edge 460 and the lateral delimiting means 34 (preferably the rear wall 91) are connected by means of a male/female connection. This prevents or helps to prevent the flap 46 from sliding away in a horizontal direction from the rear wall 91.
Conveniently, the projection 82 of the edge 460 comprises at least a seat which receives a protuberance extending from the lateral delimiting means 34 (in particular from the rear wall 91). Conveniently, the protuberance extends upwards.
Conveniently, the edge 460 is also resting on the lateral delimiting means 34.
In the example embodiment illustrated in figures 10-12, in the first configuration (it could however also be considered a third configuration) the flap 46 is folded up against the panel 45 and disposed parallel to the panel 45 (as illustrated in figure 11). The flap 46 and the panel 45 thus abut each other. In the embodiment in figures 10-12, when the flap 46 is in the second configuration, the separator 4 has a "T-shaped" cross section (as illustrated in figure 12). Conveniently, in the embodiment in figures 10-12, the panel 45 extends down to the bottom of the drawer. The flap 46 can thus abut against the upper portion of the panel 45. In this manner the user can place items between the panel 45 and the rear wall 91 of the drawer and then lower the flap 46, positioning the separator 4 in the second configuration. In particular, in the embodiment in figures 10-12, the user can position the separator 4 in the second configuration without needing to extract the separator 4 from the drawer 3.
Advantageously, the separator 4 is removable from the drawer 3.
With reference to figure 1, in addition to the compartment 2, the device 1 can also comprise a freezer compartment 86 and/or a food refrigeration compartment 87 stacked with said compartment 2.
The subject matter of the present invention further relates to a method of functioning of a device having one or more of the previously described features. Conveniently, the method comprises the steps of:

inserting a first food item (for example at a temperature of greater than 10°C and thus not frozen) into said first section 31;
introducing, through the first mouth 5, a gaseous flow into said compartment 2, directing the flow towards said separator 4, which diverts it at least partially in a downwards direction, performing a chilling (preferably freezing) action on the first food item.

Conveniently, the flow of air present in the first section 31 passes into the second section 32, performing a chilling action in said section 32 as well (it preferably keeps already frozen foods present in the second section 32 in a frozen state).
The present invention enables multiple advantages to be obtained. First of all, it enables foods present in the first section to be rapidly chilled while at the same time keeping the foods present in the second section in a refrigerated state. This is possible by virtue of the fact that the refrigerated air is made first to pass through said first section 31, where it removes heat from the food items present there, and is subsequently made to pass into a second section 32. For example, a food item that is still warm and needs to be frozen can be positioned in the first section 31. Air at a temperature of less than -20°C is made to pass and will immediately perform its chilling action, which will be particularly effective also in consideration of the reduced volume of the first section 31 (as compared to the volume of the entire compartment 2). After having passed through the first section, the refrigerated air is conveyed into the second section 32 (for example through the openings present in the separator 4), where it performs in any case a chilling action on the food items contained therein. Typically, the air that arrives in the second section will still be below 0°C and will thus be used to keep the already frozen food items present in the second section 32 in a frozen state.
In fact, the possibility of flipping a part of the wall up and down serves to increase the versatility of the drawer. Furthermore, the option of reducing the volume of the first section enables a very fast chilling of the food items that are placed inside the first section. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the depth of the first section 31, which is thus no longer necessarily identical to the depth of the drawer 3 (in addition to reducing the chilling time in the first section 31, this makes it easier for a user to find the food items placed in it). The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept which characterizes it. Furthermore, all of the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practical terms, all of the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any whatsoever according to need.

Claims

A food refrigeration device comprising:
- a refrigeration compartment (2);

- a drawer (3) that is movable between a first position of maximum insertion in the compartment (2) and a second position of at least partial extraction from the compartment (2); said drawer (3) comprising a bottom (33) and lateral delimiting means (34);

- a separator (4) which splits said drawer (3) into at least a first and a second section (31, 32) intended to contain food items;

- a first mouth (5) for injecting a flow of refrigerated fluid;
characterized in that:

- said first injection mouth (5) directs the flow of fluid towards said separator (4), forcing it to pass over a rear wall (91) of the drawer (3);

- said separator (4) projects upwards relative to a rear wall (91) of the drawer (3), defining an obstacle that intercepts the flow of refrigerated fluid and directs it into the first section (31); said first mouth (5) being located at a greater height than said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3), said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3) being a part of said lateral delimiting means (34).
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a body that is situated above said separator (4) when the drawer (3) is in the first position; in the first position of the drawer (3) the minimum distance between said separator (4) and said body is less than 10 millimeters, said body being a upper delimiting wall (21) of the compartment (2) or an additional drawer.
The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first mouth (5) is fashioned on a rear wall (22) of the compartment (2), said separator (4) projecting relative to said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3) by more than 30 millimeters.
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (6) for adjusting the position of the separator (4) relative to the drawer (3) along a direction (7) of insertion/extraction of the drawer (3) relative to the compartment (2), said separator (4) extending transversely to the direction (7) of insertion/extraction of the drawer (3) relative to the compartment (2).
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said separator (4) comprises at least a first opening (41), which passes through the separator (4) and places the first and the second section (31,32) in fluid communication.
The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said separator (4) comprises a first and a second imaginary strip (43, 44) respectively defined as a location of points of the separator (4) which are at a distance of less than 10 centimeters from a first and a second lateral wall (93, 94) of the lateral delimiting means (34), said first opening (41) being set in said first strip (43), the first and the second lateral wall (93, 94) extending transversely to said separator (4) and at two opposite ends of said separator (4).
The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said separator (4) comprises at least a second opening (42) set in said second strip (44).
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said separator (4) comprises a panel (45) and a flap (46) reciprocally hinged about a horizontal rotation axis (47), said panel (45) being constrained to the drawer (3);
the separator (4) taking on a first configuration wherein the panel (45) and the flap (46) are substantially vertical and a second configuration wherein the panel (45) is substantially vertical, while the flap (46):
- extends transversely to the panel (45);

- defines a lower base of said first section (31);

- connects said panel (45) and a predetermined portion of the delimiting means (34), in said first configuration said predetermined portion facing said separator (4);
said first section (31) having a smaller volume in the second configuration than in the first configuration.
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said separator (4) is removable from the drawer (3).
A method of functioning of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
- inserting a first food item at a temperature of greater than 10°C into said first section (31);

- introducing, through the first mouth (5), a gaseous flow into said compartment (2), directing it towards said separator (4), which diverts it at least partially in a downwards direction, performing a chilling action on the first food item.
A food refrigeration device comprising:
i) a refrigeration compartment (2);

ii) a drawer (3) which movable between a first position of maximum insertion in the compartment (2) and a second position of at least partial extraction from the compartment (2); said drawer (3) comprising a bottom (33) and lateral delimiting means (34);

iii) a separator (4) suitable for splitting said drawer (3) into at least a first and a second section (31, 32) for containing foods;
characterized in that said separator (4) comprises a panel (45) and a flap (46) reciprocally hinged about a horizontal rotation axis (47), said panel (45) being constrainable to the lateral delimiting means (34);
the separator (4) taking on a first configuration wherein the panel (45) and the flap (46) extend upwards and a second configuration wherein the panel (45) extends upwards while the flap (46):
- is rotated relative to the first configuration, a vertical projection thereof on a horizontal plane having a larger surface area than in the first configuration;

- extends transversely to the panel (45);

- is part of a lower base of said first section (31);

- connects said panel (45) and a predetermined portion of the delimiting means (34), in the first configuration said predetermined portion facing said separator (4).
The device according to claim 11, characterized in that in the second configuration of the separator (4), said second section (32) extends below the first section (31) and extends partially between the first section (31) and the bottom (33).
The device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in the first configuration, said panel (45) and said flap (46) are substantially vertical; in the second configuration said panel (45) is substantially vertical, while said flap (46) is substantially horizontal.
The device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that in the first configuration of the wall, the flap (46) is folded up against the panel (45) and disposed parallel to the panel (45).
The device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that in the second configuration of the separator (4), the first section (31) has a volume that is smaller than half the volume of the second section (32).