EP3479035B1

EP3479035B1 - A cooling device with indirect refrigeration compartment illumination

Info

Publication number: EP3479035B1
Application number: EP17739883.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fatma Gevrek Sarioglu; Umud Yazgan; Ercan Akyuz; Omer Alper MIRZA; Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-07-01
Filing date: 2017-06-22
Publication date: 2021-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-22
Also published as: WO2018001841A1; PL3479035T3; EP3479035A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to cooling devices, in particular refrigerators, comprising illumination means that enable the refrigeration compartment enclosed by the body to be indirectly illuminated.

State of the Art

For illuminating the inner volume of cooling devices, illumination elements comprising LED (Light Emitting Diode) circuits are used due to low energy consumption. The LED circuits are disposed into a leak-proof housing provided at the inner lining of the cabin enclosing the refrigeration compartments of the cooling device, and the housing is closed by a semi-transparent cover. The light emitted by the LED circuit when the illumination element is activated passes through the semi-transparent cover and illuminates the refrigeration compartment. The high density light beam created by the LED circuit such that the light is at the maximum intensity around the LED circuit and decreases as getting away therefrom cannot be homogeneously dispersed even through the semi-transparent cover. Therefore, when the refrigerator door is opened, the illumination elements create an area of intensive light that can be directly perceived by the user in his/her field of vision, causing decrease in the ease of utilization. This situation occurs in particular the illumination elements in the form of light columns vertically fixed at the section of the cabin close to the door since a plurality of light sources are successively arranged in the vertical direction.
The Patent No. JP2010286211 discloses a refrigerator wherein the visibility of the articles stored is improved. The refrigerator comprises a storage compartment wherein the articles to be stored are placed; a plurality of LEDs that are vertically disposed at the front side of both lateral walls of the storage compartment; light guide plates that are positioned along the lateral walls of the storage compartment and that guide the light emitted by the LEDs to the rear side of the storage compartment, and a metal panel that covers the rear surface of the storage compartment. Steps facing the rear side of the storage compartment are formed at the side of the light guide plates in the storage compartment, and the light is reflected from the light guide plates to the storage compartment and guided so as to illuminate the storage compartment. JP 2008 075933 A , EP 2 159 524 A1 and DE 10 2010 023497 A1 disclose a cooling device in which the support plate comprising the LEDs is mounted directly to the housing and not to the diffuser.
EP 2 732 729 A1 further discloses a support plate mounted on a diffuser. However the lighting system shown is not suitable to be mounted on the inner liner housing of the cooling device.

Brief Description of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide indirect light distribution in the cooling device so as to illuminate the refrigeration compartment.
The present invention realized in order to attain the said aim is a cooling device according to claim 1, comprising a refrigeration compartment that is defined by thermally-insulated walls; a housing in extended form that is provided on an inner lining of the refrigeration compartment, and a support plate that is mounted into the housing so as to support the LED units arranged along the housing on a lateral surface thereof. According to the present invention, the position of the support plate in the housing is configured in an angular manner such that the LED units provide indirect illumination in the refrigeration compartment. The angular configuration prevents the LED units from creating intense light spots in the refrigeration compartment. Moreover, by means of the angular positioning of the support plate, the light positions of all the LED units can be easily adjusted.
According to the invention the cooling device comprises a transparent diffuser panel that is provided on the support plate. The diffuser panel protects the housing and enables the indirect light to homogeneously disperse in the refrigeration compartment.
According to the invention, the support plate is mounted to the diffuser panel so as to extend into the housing. Thus, the support plate is mounted into the housing together with the diffuser panel. The diffuser panel can be easily accessed by being removed for maintenance.
In a preferred embodiment, the support plate is snap-fitted to the diffuser panel. In case of a malfunction in the LED unit, the support plate can be detached and replaced with another support plate.
A preferred embodiment comprises a support protrusion that extends longitudinally and supportively by bearing against the support plate along the side thereof on the inner surface of the diffuser panel. The support protrusion enables the angular position of the support plate to be fixed. The support protrusion supports the support plate against impacts that may occur during the assembly, thus creating a rigid structure.
A preferred embodiment comprises a reinforcement protrusion that extends parallel to the support protrusion and at least partially bears against the support plate from another side. Thus, a slot is provided between the support protrusion and the reinforcement protrusion for the support plate. The support plate can be easily and vertically disposed into the said slot.
According to the invention, the support plate is positioned in the housing in a manner angular to the inner lining. Thus, the LED units are enabled to illuminate towards the sides in the housing and prevented from directly illuminating the refrigeration compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, the support plate is aligned with a lateral edge of the housing. In this case, the LED units face the close lateral edge in the opposite direction and a light profile in a wider angle is obtained in the housing.
In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of equidistant LED units are mounted onto the support plate. The equidistant LED units enable the light profile to be homogeneously distributed in the housing.
In a preferred embodiment, the housing is formed by depressing the inner lining by the plastic thermoform process. The thermoform process is widely used for forming the recessed inner lining. By means of this method, by processing the housing form in a single thermoform mold, the housing is produced as a single piece with the inner lining.
A household appliance 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 refrigerator refrigeration compartment comprising the indirect illumination element of the present invention, wherein the door is removed.
Figure 2 - is the partial cutaway perspective view of a representative embodiment of the illumination element of the present invention as mounted to the housing.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the illumination element of Fig. 2, wherein the LED unit is dismounted.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1: Cabin
2: Refrigeration compartment
3: Inner lining
4: Thermally-insulated wall
5: Front edge
6: Side wall
10: Housing
12: Slot
14: Channel
16: Lateral edge
20: Diffuser panel
21: Front protrusion
22: Mounting bracket
23: Flange
24: Outer section
25: Reinforcement protrusion
26: Support protrusion
27: Mounting claw
28: Inner surface
30: Support plate
32: LED unit
33: Flank surface
34: Lateral surface
35: Recess

Figure 1 shows the perspective view of the cooling device with the top cut out, having a cabin enclosing a refrigeration compartment (2) with thermally-insulated walls (4). The inner surface of the thermally-insulated walls (4) are covered with a plastic inner lining (3). A housing (10) in the form of a vertical column is formed on a side wall (6) on the inner lining (3). The housing (10) is positioned close to a front edge (5) of the refrigeration compartment (2) at the side thereof open to the outer environment. The housing (10) is formed in the form of a depression during the production of the inner lining (3) by means of a thermoform process. A diffuser panel (20) extending along the housing (10) is snap-fittingly mounted to the inner lining (3) so as to cover the housing (10). The diffuser panel (20) has a shape matching that of the housing (10). Hook-shaped mounting brackets (22) vertically extend in two opposite lines at the rear side of the diffuser panel (20). Each mounting bracket (22) provides a snap-fit connection by engaging with a corresponding slot (12) formed in the housing (10). Components fixed at the rear surface of the diffuser panel (20) are fitted into the vertical channel (14) formed by the housing (10). The outer surface of the diffuser panel (20) is in the form of a plastic plate aligned with the inner lining (3).
Figure 2 shows the perspective view of the housing (10) from behind. The opposite lateral edges (16) of the housing (10) are in the form of steps. The housing (10) has a U-shaped cross-section. On an inner surface (28) of the diffuser panel (20) facing the housing (10), a rectangular protrusion structure is formed in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the diffuser panel (20). A support protrusion (26) in the form of a short claw extends parallel to one of the long edges. The mounting bracket (22) extends upward in the vicinity of the peripheral edge at a distance towards the outside. The mounting bracket (22) is in the form of a hook with a arrow head facing the outside, standing on the inner surface (28). A triangle-like rib extends at the rear side of the mounting brackets (22) facing the support protrusion (26). A reinforcement protrusion (25) in the vicinity of the short edge of the diffuser panel (20) extends close to the mounting bracket (22). A support plate (30) in the form of a flat strip is vertically mounted to the inner surface (28) so as to bear against the support protrusion (26) from the base. A lateral surface (34) of the support plate (30) faces the lateral edge (16) and the other lateral surface (34) faces the inner surface (28). A plurality of distances successive spot LED units (32) are arranged on the lateral surface (34) facing the inner surface (28). A flank surface (33) of the support plate (30) faces the base of the housing (10) and the opposite flank surface (33) is squeezed into the gap between the support protrusion (26) and the reinforcement protrusion (25) so as to be held upright on the inner surface (28) of the diffuser panel (20). The support plate (30) extends in an upright manner along a lateral edge (16) parallel to the column structure in the housing (10). Recessed (35) are formed at intervals on the flank surface (33) of the support plate (30).
When the LED units (32) are activated, the light beam provides white light from each LED unit (32). In alternative embodiments, the LED units (32) can provide lights in different colors. The distance between the LED units (32) are adjusted such that the lights emitted by the adjacent LED units (32) overlap at the minimum. The LED units (32) are aligned on the support plate (30) by being centered with respect to the short edge. Thus, when the LED units (32) emit light, the focus point of the light is in the housing (10) and the white plastic housing (10) is lightened so as to partially reflect the light onto the diffuser panel (20). The indirect illumination is provided by reflecting the light of the LED units (32) from the housing (10) to the diffuser panel (20). The diffuser panel (20) transfers the reflected light from the outer section (24) thereof to the refrigeration compartment (2). The support plate (30) is in the form of a single piece along the housing (10). In alternative embodiments, segmented successive support plates (30) can be vertically formed in an aligned or nonaligned manner.

Claims

A cooling device comprising a refrigeration compartment (2) that is defined by thermally-insulated walls (4); a housing (10) in extended form that is provided on an inner lining (3) of the refrigeration compartment (2); a support plate (30); and LED units (32) arranged along the housing (10) on a lateral surface (34) of the support plate (30), the position of the support plate (30) in the housing is configured in an angular manner such that the LED units (32) provide indirect illumination in the refrigeration compartment (2), characterized in that the support plate (30) is mounted to a diffuser panel (20) such that the support plate (30) is mounted into the housing (10) together with the diffuser panel (20) so as to extend into the housing (10).
A cooling device as in Claim 1, wherein the diffuser panel (20) is snap-fittingly mounted to the inner lining (3) so as to cover the housing (10).
A cooling device as in any one of the above claims, wherein the support plate (30) is snap-fitted to the diffuser panel (20).
A cooling device as in any one of the above claims, further comprising a support protrusion (26) that extends longitudinally and supportively by bearing against the support plate (30) along the side thereof on the inner surface (28) of the diffuser panel (20).
A cooling device as in Claim 4, wherein the support plate (30) is mounted vertically to the inner surface (28).
A cooling device as in Claim 4 or Claim 5, further comprising a reinforcement protrusion (25) that extends parallel to the support protrusion (26) and at least partially bears against the support plate (30) from another side.
A cooling device as in any one of the above claims, wherein the support plate (30) is perpendicular to the inner lining (3) in the housing (10).
A cooling device as in any one of the above claims, wherein the support plate (30) is aligned in the vicinity of a lateral edge (16) of the housing (10).
A cooling device as in any one of the above claims, wherein a plurality of equidistant LED units (32) are mounted on the support plate (30).
A cooling device as in any one of the above claims, wherein the housing (10) is formed by depressing the inner lining (3) by the plastic thermoform process.