EP2798291A1

EP2798291A1 - A cooling device comprising a control panel

Info

Publication number: EP2798291A1
Application number: EP12799527.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Semih Erol; Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Ergin Kaplan; Osman Vardar
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2011-12-26
Filing date: 2012-11-26
Publication date: 2014-11-05
Also published as: WO2013098007A1; CN104145168A; CN104145168B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a cabinet (2) wherein items to be cooled are placed, a door (3) providing access into the cabinet (2), having a frame (4), an inner panel (5) mounted to the surface of the frame (4) facing the cabinet (2), a glass panel (6) mounted to the surface of the frame (4) facing outside and an insulation material (7) filled between the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) and a control panel (8) placed behind the glass panel (6), providing the user to see operational parameters and/or additional information such as time, calendar and weather forecast, and wherein the mounting of the control panel (8) to the door (3) is facilitated.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A CONTROL PANEL

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a door having a glass panel, and a control panel.
In cooling devices, especially in refrigerators, control panels placed onto the door are used. The user is provided to be informed by displaying the operating conditions of the refrigerator and/or additional information like the time, calendar and weather forecast on the control panels. In cooling devices wherein glass panel is used on the outer surface of the door, the control panel is placed behind the glass panel in order to provide an esthetic appearance and ease of use. Moreover, since the glass panel is produced as a single piece in this type of refrigerators, it is not preferred to form a housing on the glass panel for the control panel to be placed into. In the embodiments wherein the control panel is directly mounted to the glass panel, a problem of not providing leak-proofing during the injection of insulation material between the glass panel and the inner panel may occur and insulation material may leak between the control panel and the glass panel. Moreover, the doors must be completely removed in case of the malfunction of the control panel and most of the times, the door group becomes unusable.
In state of the art, various methods are used for solving this problem. Most widely-used one of these methods is to insert the control panel into its housing from the side edge and/or upper edge of the door by using various mechanisms after the door is grouped. In these embodiments, an opening that is closed by a cover is arranged on the relevant edge of the door and the housing wherein the control panel is placed can be reached. Since this is a very delicate and time-consuming process, it causes an increase in production costs. Moreover, since it is difficult to align the control panel with the housing, problems such as the improper placement of the control panel into the housing and as a result of this the malfunction of the keypad on the control panel may occur.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2009104859, a cooling device is described comprising a display unit seated into its housing behind the glass panel from the upper edge of the door. In this embodiment, after the outer panel and the inner panel of the door are joined and the insulation material is filled therebetween, the display unit can be placed therein. A rail system is provided between the opening at the upper edge of the door and the housing wherein the display unit is seated. The display unit is seated into the housing by being slid over this rail system and is taken out off the opening by being pulled back again by means of this rail system when needed.
In the state of the art Chinese Utility Model No. CN201731717U, a cooling device is described, comprising a control panel seated into its housing behind the glass panel from the side edge of the door.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2007011178, a cooling device is described, comprising a control panel placed into a housing formed on the door and a glass panel mounted on the door after the control panel is placed.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a control panel that is provided to be easily placed onto a door having glass panel and to be serviced when needed without dismounting the door.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a door having a glass panel and a control panel placed behind the glass panel. Besides the glass panel forming its outer surface, the door has an inner panel forming its inner surface and a frame on the opposing surfaces of which the panels are mounted.
The cooling device of the present invention comprises a casing with a thickness same as that of the frame and wherein the control panel is placed and an opening formed on the inner panel so as to align with the casing region when the casing is mounted to the inner panel. One end of the tunnel-shaped casing extends towards the part of the glass panel where the control panel is desired to be placed and the other end towards the opening on the inner panel. While the door is being mounted, first the frame, the inner panel, the outer panel and the casing are joined together, then the insulation material is injected into the door through a point on the frame and finally the control panel is placed into the casing. Placing the control panel into the inner volume of the door after the insulation material is filled in provides ease of assembly. Moreover, when the control panel malfunctions, it can be serviced without dismounting the door.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a skirt is disposed, that extends from each of the edges of two ends of the casing and that provides the casing to be mounted to the inner panel and the outer panel in a durable manner. Thus, during the filling of the insulation material into the inner volume of the door, the insulation material is prevented from leaking into the casing.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the casing is adhered to the glass panel and then mounted onto the frame. Thus, ease of assembly is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the glass panel is composed of two layers, the inner wall and the outer wall. The inner wall is located at the side of the glass panel that contacts the insulation material and the outer wall at the side of the glass panel that can be seen by the user and that forms the outer surface of the door. The inner wall that contacts the insulation material is produced from plastic material and the outer wall from glass material in order to achieve a decorative appearance. The inner wall and the outer wall are adhered to each other to form the glass panel.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the control panel is inserted into a control panel frame before being placed into the casing. Since the control panel frame is snap-fittingly seated into the casing, the control panel frame provides the control panel to be precisely aligned with the part on the glass panel where it will be placed and to remain stationary.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening can be opened/closed by means of a cover. After the control panel is placed into the casing, the cover is mounted over the opening and provides the control panel to be protected against external factors.
In a version of this embodiment, an auxiliary element that provides heat insulation is placed between the cover and the control panel. Thus, the part where the control panel is located is insulated against cold air conditions inside the cabinet and thus a suitable environment is provided for the operation of the control panel.
In a version of this embodiment, the auxiliary element is adhered to the inner side of the cover. Thus, the auxiliary element does not move inside the casing and hence is prevented from contacting the control panel.
By means of the present invention, the control panel is mounted onto the glass panel in an easy and durable manner. Moreover, in case of malfunction, the control panel can be accessed without interfering with the door.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a cooling device.
Figure 2 – is the front view of the door.
Figure 3 – is the view of the cross-section A-A in Figure 2.
Figure 4 – is the exploded view of the door.
Figure 5 – is the rear perspective view of the door.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Cabinet
Door
Frame
Inner panel
Glass panel
Insulation material
Control panel
Casing
Opening
Inner wall
Outer wall
Control panel frame
Cover
Auxiliary element
Skirt

The cooling device (1) comprises a cabinet (2) wherein items to be cooled are placed, a door (3) providing access into the cabinet (2), having a frame (4), an inner panel (5) mounted to the surface of the frame (4) facing the cabinet (2), a glass panel (6) mounted to the surface of the frame (4) facing outer environment and an insulation material (7) filled between the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) and a control panel (8) placed behind the glass panel (6), providing the user to see operational parameters and/or additional information such as time, calendar and weather forecast (Figure 1).
The control panel (8) is mounted to the inner surface of the glass panel (6). Thus, the control panel (8) is prevented from extending outwards from the outer surface of the door (3) and the door (3) is provided with a flat outer surface. Accordingly, the esthetic appearance of the cooling device (1) is improved. Since the buttons around the control panel (8), providing the cooling device (1) to be controlled are touch-type, they can be used from outside the glass panel (6).
The cooling device (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises

a casing (9) that is in tunnel shape and that extends between the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) so that one end thereof contacts the inner panel (5) and the other end the glass panel (6) and wherein the control panel (8) is placed and
an opening (10) formed on the inner panel (5) so as to allow access into the casing (9).

The casing (9) is preferably shaped as a hollow rectangular prism with two opposing ends open. The control panel (8) is seated to the empty part at the side of the casing (9) that contacts the glass panel (6) and the part at the side thereof that contacts the inner panel (5) coincides with the opening (10) on the inner panel (5). The insulation material (7) is filled into the volume formed after the grouping of the frame (4), the inner panel (5), the glass panel (6) and the casing (9). Meanwhile, almost all areas of the door (3) except for the inner volume of the casing (9) are filled with the insulation material (7). By means of the casing (9) being adhered onto the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) in a leak-proofing manner, the insulation material (7) does not enter into the part wherein the control panel (8) will be placed. After the frame (4), the inner panel (5), the glass panel (6) and the casing (9) are joined together and the insulation material (7) is filled therebetween, the control panel (8) is placed into the door (3) through the opening (10) and is seated to place by being pushed towards the glass panel (6). By means of the structure of the door (3), the production process is accelerated and facilitated. Being pushed just from behind the part where it will be placed in the door (3), the control panel (8) is provided to contact the glass panel (6) without any problem. Moreover, in case of a possible control panel (8) malfunction, the need of completely removing the door (3) is eliminated and the control panel (8) can be serviced directly through the opening (10). This provides a decrease in maintenance costs and repair times (Figure 3, Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a skirt (16) disposed on each of the sides of the casing (9) facing the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6), that provides the casing (9) to be adhered to the glass panel (6) and the inner panel (5). The skirt (16) extends outwards from the sides of the casing (9) in a manner perpendicular to the casing (9). The skirts (16) preferably in form of frame (4) touch the surfaces of the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) during the adhering of the casing (9), providing the casing (9) to be adhered in a leak-proofing manner (Figure 2, Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, after being adhered to the rear side of the glass panel (6), the casing (9) is joined with the frame (4) and the inner panel (5). In this embodiment, first the casing (9) is joined with the glass panel (6) and the inner panel (5) is joined with the frame (4), then all of these elements are grouped together. Thus, ease of assembly is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the glass panel (6) comprises an inner wall (11) contacting the insulation material (7) and a decorative outer wall (12). In this embodiment, the inner wall (11) contacting the insulation material (7) is preferably produced from plastic material. The decorative outer wall (12) is produced from glass material. A cut out is arranged on the inner wall (11) that provides it not to prevent the control panel (8) from being seen. By means of the inner wall (11), the insulation material (7) is prevented from directly contacting the outer wall (12) produced from glass (Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a control panel frame (13) placed around the control panel (8) and mounted into the casing (9) together with the control panel (8). During the mounting of the control panel (8) into the casing (9), the control panel (8) is held from the control panel frame (13) and thus the control panel (8) is prevented from being damaged. Moreover, having the same cross-section as the casing (9), the control panel frame (13) provides the control panel (8) to be aligned through the inside of the casing (9) (Figure 2, Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a cover (14) that is detachably mounted over the opening (10) after the control panel (8) is placed into the casing (9) in order to prevent access to the control panel (8) from outside. Thus, the user is prevented from directly accessing the control panel (8) and the area where the control panel (8) is located is separated from the cabinet (2) air. By means of the detachable structure of the cover (14), the control panel (8) can be easily serviced (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).
In a version of this embodiment, the cooling device (1) comprises an auxiliary element (15) located between the cover (14) and the control panel (8), preventing the control panel (8) from being affected by the inner temperature of the cabinet (2). In this embodiment, after the control panel (8) is placed into the casing (9), the auxiliary element (15) is placed right behind the control panel (8) and then the cover (14) is closed. Thus, the control panel (8) is prevented from being affected by the inner temperature of the cabinet (2), thus from losing its functions. Moreover, the need of using a control panel (8) that can operate in low temperatures is eliminated, thus providing cost advantage (Figure 3, Figure 4).
In a version of this embodiment, the auxiliary element (15) is adhered inside the cover (14) and placed into the casing (9) through the opening (10). In this embodiment, the auxiliary element (15) is in sponge form. After the control panel (8) is placed into the casing (9), the cover (14) whereon the auxiliary element (15) is adhered is closed over the opening (10). Thus, the auxiliary element (15) is prevented from moving inside the casing (9) and hitting the control panel (8) (Figure 3).
By means of the present invention, in the cooling device (1) comprising the door (3) having the glass panel (6), the control panel (8) is provided to be mounted to the door (3) in an easy and durable manner. Moreover, in case that the control panel (8) malfunctions, the control panel (8) can be reached without removing the door (3), thus providing a decrease in maintenance costs and repair times.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a cabinet (2) wherein items to be cooled are placed, a door (3) providing access into the cabinet (2), having a frame (4), an inner panel (5) mounted to the surface of the frame (4) facing the cabinet (2), a glass panel (6) mounted to the surface of the frame (4) facing outer environment and an insulation material (7) filled between the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) and a control panel (8) placed behind the glass panel (6), providing the user to see operational parameters and/or additional information such as time, calendar and weather forecast;

characterized by

- a casing (9) that is in tunnel shape and that extends between the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6) so that one end thereof contacts the inner panel (5) and the other end the glass panel (6) and wherein the control panel (8) is placed and

- an opening (10) formed on the inner panel (5) so as to allow access into the casing (9).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a skirt (16) disposed on each of the sides of the casing (9) facing the inner panel (5) and the glass panel (6), that provides the casing (9) to be adhered to the glass panel (6) and the inner panel (5).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the casing (9) that is joined with the frame (4) and the inner panel (5) after being adhered to the rear side of the glass panel (6).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the glass panel (6) comprising an inner wall (11) that contacts the insulation material (7) and a decorative outer wall (12).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a control panel frame (13) placed around the control panel (8) and mounted into the casing (9) together with the control panel (8).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a cover (14) that is detachably mounted over the opening (10) after the control panel (8) is placed into the casing (9) in order to prevent access to the control panel (8) from outside.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by an auxiliary element (15) located between the cover (14) and the control panel (8), preventing the control panel (8) from being affected by the inner temperature of the cabinet (2).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the auxiliary element (15) in sponge form that is adhered inside the cover (14) and then placed into the casing (9) through the opening (10).