EP2831522B1

EP2831522B1 - A cooling device comprising a rapid cooling arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP2831522B1
Application number: EP13711337.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Taha DEMIRÖZ; Murat Sögüt; Tanzer YILDIZGÖCER
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2012-03-28
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2018-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-19
Also published as: EP2831522A1; TR201808576T4; PL2831522T3; CN104204694A; CN104204694B; WO2013143909A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cooling device, particularly to a household cooling device, rapidly cooling down the bottles placed therein, containing liquid and requiring rapid cooling.

PRIOR ART

Various practices have been developed for rapidly cooling down a bottle filled with beverage in a cooling device. One of these practices is placing a bottle in front of a fan, whereas the other is placing the same as close as possible to an evaporator. In another practice for rapid cooling, a user places a bottle into a freezer compartment. Controlling the temperature of an item placed into the freezer compartment, however, is typically neglected by the user. Therefore, bottles placed into the freezer compartment are either overcooled, or become frozen. Sometimes bottles placed in the freezer explode as the liquid contained therein expands during the transition to the solid phase. A solution for these problems is disclosed in the Chinese patent document CN101806525A . According to that solution, a compartment is formed for placing bottles therein and the air flow of an evaporator is guided through said compartment. Said compartment is disposed at the lower corner of an evaporator.
The European patent application EP 16 21 831 A1 discloses a freezer. Inside the freezer two racks are arranged, a top rack and a bottom rack. The top rack bears a container movable along the rack.
The Japanese patent application JP 2005321154 A discloses a freezer/refrigerator comprising a rapid colling container which is composed of a heat transfer material.
The Chinese utility model CN 201177428 Y discloses a shelf for a refrigerator.
The United States patent application publication US 2009/158754 A1 discloses a freezer having a fast cooling chamber at a ventilation opening of the freezer.
The Japanese patent application JP S6028383 U discloses a refrigerator comprising a compartment. Two drawers are arranged inside the compartment.
The United States patent application publication US 2010/0176703 A1 discloses a refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to embody a compartment capable of providing rapid cooling in a cooling device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a high-efficiency rapid cooling compartment in cooling devices, particularly in refrigerators.
In order to achieve said objects, the present invention provides a cooling device comprising a heat-insulated body into which items to be cooled are placed, as well as a cold air deflector extending in the body and dispensing cold air. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder element, which can be moved in the body from a normal cooling position, in which cold air leaving the deflector is circulated within the body, to a rapid cooling position, in which the holder element is brought to a position close to the deflector so that cold air leaving the latter is passed directly through the holder element before being circulated within the body. Thus, bottle-like items to be cooled are placed in the holder element and are cooled in the normal cooling position, and when it is desired to make the items colder, e.g. just prior to consumption, said holder element is switched to the rapid cooling position so that the items are made colder than the state in the normal cooling position in a shorter time. Concerning the refrigerators as a common household cooling device, normal cooling may be executed at around four degrees Celsius, whereas rapid cooling may be performed at around zero degrees Celsius. The rapid cooling period may be defined e.g. as 5 to 15 minutes, which may be reasonable for a user making use of a household cooling device.
The holder element is guided on a shelf which is disposed width wise inside the body of the cooling device. The holder element is brought close to or just against the deflector when the user slides the holder element along the shelf such that the rapid cooling position is simply attained.
A stopper is disposed inside the body of the cooling device to fix the position of the holder element against the deflector. Thus, when the holder element is moved and brought against the deflector, it stops by itself and assumes the rapid cooling position.
A mounting clip is provided between the shelf and the holder element (e.g. in the form of a bottle holder) to detachably mount the holder element to the shelf and to move it thereon. The holder element can be modularly mounted afterwards or retrofit to the shelf by means of the mounting clip and can be removed when not needed.
The holder element is in the form of a sheath which gives way to cold air flow from the deflector. The sheath form provides a guide for cold air in the holder element, such that cold air is not dissipated away and the cooling efficiency is increased. Ridges are disposed on the holder element, said ridges extending parallel to the cold air flow from the deflector in the rapid cooling position, and supporting an item to be cooled. The ridges form channels through which air flow is provided underneath an item supported by the ridges such that the cooling efficiency is increased.
In order to achieve said objects, the present invention comprises a drive means connected to the holder element to bring the latter to the rapid cooling position, as well as a control system controlling the drive means so that the holder element is guided to the rapid cooling position in a predetermined amount of time. The control system comprises e.g. a microprocessor, and once activated by a user, the drive means brings the holder element to the rapid cooling position.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be clarified by means of exemplary embodiments described with reference to the accompanying figures briefly described below.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle holder (i.e. holder element) mounted to a cooling device according to the present invention, when the front lid of the bottle holder is closed.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottle holder mounted to the cooling device according to the present invention, when the front lid of the bottle holder is opened.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a shelf mounted to the body of the cooling device according to the present invention, with the bottle holder occupying the normal cooling position.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a shelf mounted to the body of the cooling device according to the present invention, with the bottle holder occupying the rapid cooling position.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a stopper disposed on a shelf in the cooling device according to the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bottle holder.
Figure 7 is a side view showing the cold air flow in the cooling device according to the present invention, when a bottle is placed in the bottle holder.
Figure 8 is a front view in which a bottle is placed in the bottle holder in the cooling device according to the present invention.
Figure 9 is a detailed front view of Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

A cooling device according to the present invention comprises a heat-insulated body (10) having an opening through which items to be cooled are placed or removed, a door closing the opening in the body (10) and giving user access into the body (10), as well as a deflector (20) disposed on a cold air channel circulating the cold air from an evaporator (not illustrated in the figures) of the cooling device within the body thereof. The deflector (20) is fastened to a rear wall of the body (10) in a central alignment.
The body (10) comprises a shelf (30) disposed on the front side of the deflector (20) facing the door so as to extend completely between the lateral walls. The deflector (20) comprises at least two openings (21) through which air is dispensed into the body. The cooling device also comprises a holder element (40) mounted to the shelf (30). The holder element (40) is in the form of a bottle holder. The holder element (40) comprises a rear wall (42) facing a wall of the body (10) to which an air channel (20) is mounted, as well as a front lid (41) allowing bottles to be placed in and removed from the holder element (40) and facing the door of the cooling device.
The front lid (41) and the rear wall (42) comprise air channels (43) by which cold air to be passed through the holder element (40) enters through the rear wall (42) and is released from the front lid (41) thereof. The air channel (43) is in the form of an opening.
In Figure 1, the holder element (40) is mounted to the shelf (30) and pulled to the front of the cold air channel (20) to assume a rapid cooling position. The shelf (30) extends from one lateral wall to another of the body (10) on the front side of the cold air channel (20). The holder element (40) has a basal contour rounded in a convex shape in the form of a bottle on the lower base thereof for each bottle (50) to be placed therein. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, two bottles (50) can be placed in the holder element (40). The holder element (40) is mounted to the shelf (30) from below. The holder element (40) comprises a mounting clip (44) in order to mount it to the shelf (30). The holder element (40) comprises a front lid (41) on the external side thereof facing the door of the cooling device to give access to a user to the interior of the holder element (40).
In Figure 2, the holder element (40) is mounted to the shelf (30) and the front lid (41) thereof is opened. The front lid (41) opens upward from the basal part of the holder element (40).
Figure 3 and 4 show the displacement directions of the holder element (40) on the shelf (30). The holder element (40) is shown in a normal cooling position in Figure 3. In this position, the bottle holder (40) is mounted to the shelf (30) and assumes a position close to a lateral wall of the body (10). The holder element (40) can be moved from one lateral wall of the body (10) to another in a widthwise manner, on a direction parallel to the shelf (30). The shelf (30) comprises a stopper (31) to immobilize the holder element (40) once it assumes the rapid cooling position. The stopper (31) makes it possible to align the holder element (40) in front of the deflector (20). When a user moves the holder element (40) on the shelf (30) in any direction, said holder element (40) hits the stopper (31) and is thus stopped. When the holder element (40) is stopped by means of the stopper (31), said holder element assumes the rapid cooling position. Figure 4 shows the holder element (40) in this position. According to an embodiment shown in Figure 4, the mounting clip (44) is connected to a drive means (60) comprising an electric motor. The drive means (60) is triggered by an electrical signal from a control system (70) of the cooling device. When the control system (70) receives an indication to cool a bottle (50) placed in the holder element (40) (e.g. an electrical signal via a graphical user interface, or via the Internet, a network, etc.), the latter is driven by means of the drive means (60) on the shelf (30) to assume the rapid cooling position. After the bottle is left in the rapid cooling position for a predetermined amount of time, as measured by means of e.g. a timer, an audible or visual alarm is generated to inform the user accordingly.
Figures 5 shows a detail of the stopper (31). The stopper (31) is in the form of a protrusion formed on the lower surface of the shelf (30). The stopper is formed so as to remain on the right or left edge of the deflector (20) disposed on the cold air channel, depending on alternative embodiments of the present invention and/or on the opening direction of the door of the cooling device.
Figure 6 gives a perspective view of the holder element (40) from another angle. According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holder element (40) comprises one mounting clip (44) on each of four edges thereof, two disposed on the rear wall (42) and two on the front lid (41) thereof. The mounting clip (44) has an extension (441) at the tip thereof, so that the holder element (40) can be easily mounted to and removed from and displaced on the shelf (30). The extension (441) extends toward the shelf (30) at the tip portion of the mounting clip (44) and defines an L-shape. Bottles (50) are placed to the interior of the holder element (40) substantially in a horizontal manner, in parallel to the shelf (30). The holder element (40) comprises ridges (45) extending on the inner surface of the bottle-shaped lower base along a bottle (45). The ridges (45) keep a bottle (50) somewhat above the base (46) of the bottle holder. Thus, cold air from the deflector (20) cools down also the lower side of a bottle (50).
Figures 7 shows that the cold air supplied by the deflector (20) is inlet directly into the holder element (40) and circulated therein. Cold air is outlet from the cold air channel (20) and is directly inlet to the holder element (40) disposed immediately against the channel (20) through an air channel (43) disposed on the rear wall (42) of the holder element (40). Air is guided above and below a bottle (50) horizontally placed to the interior of the holder element (40) and advances toward the front lid (41). Air reaching the front lid (41) is released out of the holder element (40) through the air channel (43) disposed on the front lid (41) and keeps circulating in the body (10) of the cooling device.

Figures 8 and 9 give a front view of the holder element (40) in the form of a bottle holder. Ridges (45) disposed on the inner base (46) of the holder element (40) serve to keep the bottles (50) placed therein in a suspended manner. Thus, air flow is guided under the bottles (50) as well and a more homogenous and rapid cooling is ensured.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10- Body	44-Mounting clip
20- Deflector	441-Extension
21- Opening	45-Ridge
30- Shelf	46-Base
31- Stopper	50-Bottle
40- Holder element	60- Drive means
41- Front lid	70- Control system
42- Rear wall
43- Air channel

Claims

A cooling device comprising a heat-insulated body (10) to which items to be cooled are placed, as well as a cold air deflector (20) extending in the body (10) and dispensing cold air, the cooling device comprising a holder element (40), which can be displaced within the body (10) from a normal cooling position, in which cold air leaving the deflector (20) is circulated within the body (10), to a rapid cooling position, in which the holder element (40) is brought to a position close to the deflector (20) so that cold air leaving the deflector (20) is passed directly through the holder element (40) before being circulated within the body (10), wherein the holder element (40) is guided on a shelf (30) disposed widthwise inside the body (10), characterized by the cooling device comprising ridges (45) on the holder element (40), said ridges (45) extending substantially parallel to the cold air flow from the deflector (20) in the rapid cooling position, and supporting an item to be cooled, the cooling device comprising a drive means (60) connected to the holder element (40) to bring the holder element (40) to the rapid cooling position, as well as a control system (70) controlling the drive means (60) so that the holder element (40) is guided to the rapid cooling position in a predetermined amount of time, wherein the ridges (45) form channels through which air flow is provided underneath the item supported by the ridges (45).
A cooling device according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a stopper (31) adapted to the interior of the body (10) so that the holder element (40) can be immobilized against the deflector (20) disposed in the body (10) of the cooling device.
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a mounting clip (44) disposed between the shelf (30) and the holder element (40) and enabling the holder element (40) to be displaced on the shelf (30) and enabling the holder element (40) to be mounted on or removed from the shelf (30).
A cooling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a sheath form enabling cold air flow from the deflector (20) through the holder element (40).