Classifications

• • 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
  • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
  • F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/84—Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator, in particular a frameless door for refrigerators, preferably non-low temperature refrigerators.
• Refrigerators or refrigerated cabinets are known, used in commercial premises for the sale of food products of various kinds that must be stored at temperatures usually between 0 °C and 10 °C.
• These refrigerated cabinets are provided with doors that must be configured so as to allow customers to view the goods contained in the refrigerator and so that a customer can choose the product even before opening the refrigerator in order to avoid subjecting the products and the refrigerator to continuous temperature changes due to the repeated opening and closing of the doors.
• a need felt in the field is therefore that of configuring the doors in such a way as to maximize the visibility of the contents of the refrigerator, and at the same time to remedy the formation of condensation when the door is opened and closed.
• An object of the present invention is to meet these needs felt in the sector.
• Another object is to achieve such an object with a simple, rational and relatively cost- effective solution.
• the invention provides a door, preferably a frameless door, for refrigerators which comprises: - a pair of plates, for example optically transparent, made of thermally insulating material, facing and joined by a spacer which divides an interspace between the plates of the pair of plates in a closed chamber and at least one longitudinal channel parallel to a first side of the pair of plates,
• a housing seat contained in the longitudinal channel which extends longitudinally along an axial section of the longitudinal channel and which flows into an outlet opening at a second side adjacent to the first side of the pair of plates,
• an electrical connection element provided with a first end connected to the heating element and an opposing second end which protrudes from the outlet opening of the housing seat, at least one elongated section of the electrical connection element being contained in the housing seat.
• the heating element may comprise strips of an electrical resistor deposited on a first inner surface of the plate to which the heating element is fixed, wherein the strips are connected to each other in such a way as to define a single electrical resistance.
• a heating element for the anti-condensation system is provided which is particularly simple and effective.
• the heating element may comprise:
• the heating element is adapted to heat the whole surface of the plate uniformly, thus avoiding the formation of condensation on the whole surface.
• the spacer may comprise two vertical longitudinal members parallel to the second side of the pair of plates and opposed, wherein the vertical longitudinal members are optically transparent.
• the door is of the frameless type, i.e. without a frame and the vertical longitudinal members keep the pair of plates spaced apart, thus maximizing visibility through the door.
• the spacer may comprise two horizontal longitudinal members parallel to the first side of the pair of plates and opposed, wherein at least one of the horizontal longitudinal members has a longitudinal cavity communicating with the closed chamber through openings, at least one desiccant substance being contained in the longitudinal cavity of at least one horizontal longitudinal member.
• the horizontal longitudinal members create a peripheral spacer with the vertical longitudinal members, and the desiccant substance contained therein allows the dehumidification of the closed chamber, thus further reducing the possibility of condensation forming.
• a further aspect of the invention provides that the door may further comprise a support element for connecting the door to a frame of the refrigerator, the support element being contained in the longitudinal channel parallel at a distance from the spacer.
• the electrical connection element may comprise, at the first end, a connector fixed to the spacer accessible from the longitudinal channel and protruding inside the closed chamber by means of two connecting wings in contact with at least one portion of the heating element.
• the invention also provides a refrigerator comprising: - a frame for defining an access opening of the refrigerator, and
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the door in figure 1.
• Figure 2 is a front view of a door according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of the door in figure 1.
• Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the section of the door in figure 1.
• Figure 5 is an enlarged view of another portion of the section of the door in figure 1.
• Figure 6 is a view of a connector of a heating element of the door in figure 1.
• Figure 7 is a view of a refrigerator provided with the door in figure 1.
• reference numeral 1 denotes a door of a refrigerator R, preferably a frameless door for a refrigerator.
• the refrigerator R is generally provided with a frame T which defines an access opening E from which access to a refrigerated inner compartment is gained (as is known to the man skilled in the art).
• the door 1 is connected to the frame T of the refrigerator R, for example in a movable manner between a first position, in which it is adapted to close at least a portion of the access opening E to the refrigerator R and a second position, in which it opens the access opening E and makes from the outside of the refrigerator R at least a portion of the inner compartment thereof accessible.
• the door 1 can be hinged to and/or slidably associated with the frame T of the refrigerator R.
• the refrigerator R is, in the example, a commercial type non-low temperature refrigerator (that is, operating at a temperature between 0 °C and 10 °C, for the sale of food products of various kinds.
• the door 1 first comprises a first plate 5, optically transparent, provided with a first inner surface 10, that is, facing towards an environment inside the refrigerator R, and a first outer surface 15, or facing towards an environment outside the refrigerator R.
• the first plate 5 may have, at the first outer surface 15 thereof, a handle 20 for opening the door 1.
• the first plate 5 may further have an overall rectangular shape, that is, it has two first equal and parallel sides 25, horizontal in the example, and two second equal and parallel sides 30, adjacent and perpendicular to the first sides 25, vertical in the example.
• the first plate 5 is for example made of glass.
• the first plate 5 may have another shape and may be made of another thermally insulating material, even if transparent.
• the door 1 then comprises a second plate 35, optically transparent, provided with a second inner surface 40, that is, facing towards the environment inside the refrigerator R, and a second outer surface 45, or facing towards the environment outside the refrigerator R.
• the second plate 35 may further have a rectangular shape, that is it has two first equal and parallel sides 50, horizontal in the example, and two second equal and parallel sides 55, adjacent and perpendicular to the first sides 50, vertical in the example.
• the second plate 35 is for example made of glass or other thermally insulating material, even if transparent.
• the second plate 35 has for example first sides 50 of a length equal to the first sides 25 of the first plate 5 and second sides 55 of a shorter length with respect to the second sides 30 of the first plate 5, however it is not excluded that in other embodiments they may be the same length.
• the second plate 35 faces the first plate 5, that is, the second outer surface 45 thereof faces the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5, and is joined thereto by means of a spacer 60, as will be better described hereinafter, so as to define an interspace 65 between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35.
• one of the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 is proximal to an inner compartment of the refrigerator R, for example the second plate 35, and the other of the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 (i.e. the first plate 5) is distal from said inner compartment of the refrigerator R.
• first plate 5 and the second plate 35 are connected, by means of the spacer 60, so that the second sides 30 of the first plate 5 are coplanar with the second sides 55 of the second plate 35, and for example so that at least a first side 25 of the first plate 5 is coplanar with a first side 50 of the second plate 35.
• the spacer 60 first comprises a first horizontal longitudinal member 70, for example upper.
• Said first horizontal longitudinal member 70 is, for example, of a polygonal section and is interposed between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 in the proximity of a first side 25, 50 of the same first plate 5 and of the second plate 35.
• the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 is, for example, internally hollow and extends by a length substantially equal to the length of the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 (and parallel thereto).
• Said first horizontal longitudinal member 70 is for example made of non-transparent or transparent plastic material.
• the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35 or to the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5 and to the second outer surface 45 of the second plate 35, for example by means of a transparent or non-transparent adhesive/sealant.
• the spacer 60 then comprises a second horizontal longitudinal member 75, for example lower.
• Said second horizontal longitudinal member 75 is, for example, of a polygonal section and is interposed between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 in the proximity of the first side 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 which is distal from the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 is, for example, internally hollow and extends by a length substantially equal to the length of the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 (parallel thereto).
• Said second horizontal longitudinal member 75 is for example made of non transparent or transparent plastic material.
• the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35, or to the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5 and to the second outer surface 45 of the second plate 35, by means of a transparent or non transparent adhesive/sealant.
• the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and/or the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 are adapted to contain a desiccant substance G, for example in the form of granules, at a longitudinal inner cavity thereof (at full development) and have openings F which allow said inner cavity to be in fluid communication with the interspace 65 defined between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35.
• a desiccant substance G for example in the form of granules
• first horizontal longitudinal member 70 has openings F at a face thereof facing the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 and, if provided, the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 has openings F at a face thereof facing the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the spacer 60 further comprises a first vertical longitudinal member 80, for example in the form of a parallelepiped.
• the first vertical longitudinal member 80 is optically transparent and, for example, is made of Plexiglas.
• Said first vertical longitudinal member 80 extends from the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 to the second horizontal longitudinal member 75, and is in contact with the same so as to be sealably (head) joined thereto, in the proximity of a second side 30, 55 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35.
• first vertical longitudinal member 80 is positioned so as to be completely contained in the interspace 65 defined between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 and that a surface (outer) thereof is coplanar with a second side 30, 55 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35.
• the first horizontal longitudinal member 80 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35, or to the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5 and to the second outer surface 45 of the second plate 35, by means of (a respective layer of) adhesive/sealant, preferably optically transparent.
• the spacer 60 further comprises a second vertical longitudinal member 85, for example in the form of a parallelepiped.
• the second vertical longitudinal member 85 is optically transparent and, for example, is made of Plexiglas. Said second vertical longitudinal member 85 extends from the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 to the second horizontal longitudinal member 75, and is in contact with the same so as to be sealably (head) joined thereto, in the proximity of a second side 30, 55 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 distal from the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the second vertical longitudinal member 85 is positioned so as to be completely contained in the interspace 65 defined between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 and that a surface (outer) thereof is coplanar with said second side 30, 55 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 distal from the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the second horizontal longitudinal member 85 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35, or to the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5 and to the second outer surface 45 of the second plate 35, by means of (a respective layer of) adhesive/sealant, preferably optically transparent.
• the spacer 60 defines a closed perimeter and divides the interspace 65 between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35 into a closed chamber 90 (inside the spacer 60) and into at least one longitudinal channel 95, 100 parallel to the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 (outside the spacer 60 and in any case contained in the overall dimensions of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35).
• the closed chamber 90 is enclosed between the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5 and the second outer surface 45 of the second plate 35 and superiorly defined by the first horizontal longitudinal member 70, interiorly by the second horizontal longitudinal member 75, and laterally by the first vertical longitudinal member 80 and by the second vertical longitudinal member 85.
• the longitudinal channel 95,100 is defined by the portion of interspace 65 not occupied by the closed chamber 90 and, therefore, laterally defined by the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5 and the second outer surface 45 of the second plate 35, or portions of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 which extend above and/or below beyond the closed chamber 90.
• the spacer 60 divides the interspace 65 into the closed chamber 90 and into a first longitudinal channel 95 (upper), formed between the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35, and into a second longitudinal channel 100 (lower), formed between the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 and the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 distal from the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the first longitudinal channel 95 (upper) is inferiorly defined by (an outer face of) the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and laterally by the portions protruding above the closed chamber 90 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35;
• the second longitudinal channel 100 (lower) is superiorly defined by (an outer face of) the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 and laterally by the portions protruding below the closed chamber 90 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35;
• the first longitudinal channel 95 and the second longitudinal channel 100 being open at the opposite ends (placed at the second sides 30, 55 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35).
• the inner cavity of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 which contains said desiccant substance G is in fluid communication with the closed chamber 90 in order to dehumidify the closed chamber 90 itself.
• first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 there may be only one longitudinal channel (upper) defined between one of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 and a first side 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35, in this case one of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35 so as to be totally contained in the interspace 65 and so that a surface (outer) thereof is coplanar with a first side 25, 50 of said first plate 5 and second plate 35.
• the door 1 further comprises a heating element 105, preferably located in the closed chamber 90.
• the heating element 105 is fixed to one of the first plate 5 and the second plate 35, for example it is fixed to the first plate 5 (that is, the one placed farthest from the inner compartment of the refrigerator R).
• the heating element 105 may comprise an electrical resistance adapted to release heat when it is crossed by an electric current.
• the heating element 105 comprises two first electrically conductive strips 1 10 of metal material.
• the first strips 1 10 are for example aligned with each other and separated by an insulating segment 1 15, placed in the proximity of the center line of the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5, i.e. the insulating segment 1 15 is substantially equidistant from the second sides 30 of the first plate 5.
• the insulating segment 1 15, in the example, is defined by a portion of first insulating or non-conductive (i.e., not coated with conductive elements) plate 5.
• the first strips 1 10 are for example formed in the proximity of the first longitudinal channel 95, parallel to a first side 25 of the first plate 5.
• the heating element 105 further comprises a second electrically conductive strip 120 of metal material, parallel to the first strips 1 10 and formed at a first side 25 of the first plate 5 distal from the first side 25 proximal to the first two strips 1 10.
• the first strips 1 10 and the second strip 120 are, for example, deposited by screen printing.
• the metal material of the first strips 1 10 and of the second strip 120 is silver or silver oxide, however, it is not excluded that in other embodiments, another metal or other electrically conductive material may be used.
• the heating element 105 further comprises a resistor 125 fixed to the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5.
• the resistor 125 is for example a metal powder deposited on the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5, for example by means of screen printing, preferably a silver or silver oxide powder (which does not affect the visibility allowed by the first plate 5 and the second plate 35, as finely dispersed on the surface or localized in thin and substantially optically transparent strips).
• the resistor 125 is adapted to put one of the first two strips 1 10 in electrical communication with the second strip 120 and the second strip 120 with the other of the first two strips 1 10 so as to form an electrically conductive track (which longitudinally crosses the first inner surface 10 of the first plate 5).
• the heating element 105 is connected to a power source by an electrical connection element 130.
• the electrical connection element 130 comprises, for example, a pair of cables 135, which are connected (directly or indirectly) to a proximal end of the heating element 105 and with another distal end to an electric power source, for example directly to the mains or to a battery.
• a cable of the pair of cables 135 is connected, at the distal end (connected to the electric power source), to a positive supply pole, and the other cable of the pair of cables 135 is connected, at the distal end thereof, to a negative supply pole.
• a cable of the pair of cables 135 connects the positive supply pole with one of the first strips 110, for example in a portion of the first strip 1 10 proximal to the insulating segment 1 15, and the other cable of the pair of cables 135 connects the negative supply pole to the other of the first strips 1 10, for example in a portion of the other first strip 1 10 proximal to the insulating segment 1 15.
• the proximal end of the pair of cables 135 may be connected to the heating element 105 directly, for example by means of two respective welding points.
• a proximal end of one of the cables of the pair of cables 135 is connected directly to one of the two first strips 1 10 and the other cable of the pair of cables 135 is connected to the other of the first strips 1 10.
• the pair of cables 135 is adapted to cross, substantially vertically, the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 so as to (radially) protrude from the closed chamber 90.
• the pair of cables 135 then extends parallel to the first sides of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35, received in a housing seat S formed in the first longitudinal channel 95, or completely contained therein.
• the pair of cables 135 is received in a housing seat S which extends, throughout its development, substantially parallel to the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35.
• housing seat S extends from a first side 25, 50 of said first plate 5 and second plate 35 up to about half of the longitudinal extension of the first longitudinal channel 95 (approximately at the center line of the first plate 5, or of the door 1 ), for example in the proximity of the insulating segment 1 15.
• the housing seat S extends substantially by half of the longitudinal (horizontal) development of the first longitudinal channel 95.
• the housing seat S is constructed such that a portion of an outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 defines a wall of the housing seat S.
• the housing seat S or that wall defined by the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70, is then (superiorly) closed by an interface surface, for example concave with concavity facing the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• Such an interface surface is defined, for example, by a sealant W inserted in the first longitudinal channel 95, for example so as to substantially fill all of said first longitudinal channel 95 (except the housing seat S for the pair of cables 135), being flush with at least a first side 50 of the second plate 35.
• the interface surface is a surface formed by the sealant W at the interface with the cables of the pair of cables 135 and which surrounds the same defining, in fact, between that interface surface and the wall defined by the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70, the housing seat S.
• the housing seat S opens at a second side 30, 55 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 through an outlet opening 140, which in fact defines an open end of the housing seat S facing the outside of the door 1.
• the pair of cables 135 then protrudes from the interspace 65 defined between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35, or from the first longitudinal channel 95, through said outlet opening 140 of the housing seat S placed at the second side 30 of the first plate 5 and second plate 35.
• Said second side 30, 55 from which the pair of cables 135 protrudes, in use, will be the side of the door 1 proximal to the hinging (or fixing) area thereof to the frame T of the refrigerator R.
• the electrical connection element 130 (in addition to the pair of cables 135) also comprises a connector 150, which connects the proximal end of the cables of the pair of cables 135 to the heating element 105.
• the cables of the pair of cables 135 are indirectly connected to the heating element 105 by interposing said connector 150.
• the connector 150 is adapted to cross the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 (and/or the second horizontal longitudinal member 75), thus providing, in the direction of crossing of the current, a proximal end (directly) connected to the cables of the pair of cables 135, which is located inside (or leads into) the first longitudinal channel 95 (and/or second longitudinal channel 100), and a distal end (directly) connected to the heating element 105 (i.e. to the pair of first strips 1 10), which is located inside (or leads into) the closed chamber 90.
• first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and/or the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 of the spacer 60 are made of two homologous half-portions 145.
• the half-portions 145 are aligned and connected to each other (at a center line area of the door 1 ), for example, by means of the connector 150.
• the connector 150 is placed between the two half-portions 145, substantially equidistant from the second sides 30 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35, and connected thereto by means, for example, of a prismatic (sealed) interlocking coupling, in practice, the electrical connecting element 130 itself forms a portion of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70, or a portion of spacer 60.
• the connector 150 has a first portion (which defines the distal end thereof) inserted into the closed chamber 90 in contact with the first strips 1 10 of the heating element 105 and a second portion (which defines the proximal end thereof) facing towards (or leading into) the first longitudinal channel 95 (being accessible therefrom).
• Said connector 150 is inserted into and fixed to the half-portions 145 of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 so as to form itself a portion of said first horizontal longitudinal member 70 or of spacer 60 (in practice, the connector 150 closes the facing open ends of the two half-portions 145).
• the connector 150 has a substantially "H" shape, that is, it has a first section 155 and a second section 160 parallel to each other and an intermediate section 165 connecting said first section 155 and said second section 160 orthogonal thereto.
• the first section 155 is, for example, made of plastic material and can provide a central body 170, for example, having a polygonal (irregular) section.
• the central body 170 has a first metal contact and a second metal contact, electrically isolated from each other.
• the first metal contact is associated with the central body 170 at a first channel 175 and the second metal contact is associated with the central body 170 at a second channel 180.
• the first channel 175 and the second channel 180 extend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the central body 170, and have an inlet opening directed towards, and accessible from, the first longitudinal channel 95.
• the first section 155 then has two lateral pins 185 formed at opposite sides of the central body 170.
• the lateral pins 185 extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central body 170, or they form a lateral extension of the central body 170 itself.
• the lateral pins 185 have, for example, a shape homologous to that of the central body 170 and are adapted to be inserted each in a half-portion 145 of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 so as to achieve a prismatic sealing coupling with the same (closing in fact the facing open ends of the same half-portions).
• the intermediate portion 165 has a first metal sheet 190 extending from the first channel 175 of the first section 155 and connected to the metal contact of said first channel 175, and a second metal plate 195 which protrudes from the second channel 180 and is connected to the metal contact of said second channel 180 of the first section 155.
• the first metal sheet 190 and the second metal sheet 195 are placed parallel to and at a distance from each other, so as to be electrically insulated, and extend in a direction orthogonal to the first section 155.
• the second section 160 has a first metal wing 200, for example substantially in the shape of a "C”, which forms an extension without interruption of the first metal sheet 190 of the intermediate section 165, and a second metal wing 205, for example substantially in the shape of a“C”, forming an extension without interruption of the second metal sheet 195 of the intermediate section 165.
• a first metal wing 200 for example substantially in the shape of a "C”
• a second metal wing 205 for example substantially in the shape of a“C”, forming an extension without interruption of the second metal sheet 195 of the intermediate section 165.
• the first metal wing 200 and the second metal wing 205 are aligned with each other and extend orthogonally to the intermediate section 165 in opposite directions.
• Each metal wing 200, 205 is then provided with a plate 210, for example of a rectangular shape.
• the plates 210 are coplanar and lie in use on a plane parallel to a lying plane of the first plate 5.
• the first section 155 is aligned with the two half-portions 145 of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 and is connected thereto by means of the lateral pins 185 formed on the opposite sides of the central body 170.
• the intermediate section 165 is thus placed inside the closed chamber 90 and the second section 160 is in contact with the heating element 105, i.e. the plates 210 of the first metal wing 200 and the second metal wing 205 are in contact each with a respective first strip 1 10 of the heating element 105 (for example, forcibly due to an elastic force due to the shape of the metal wings 200 and 205 themselves).
• the cables of the pair of cables 135 are (directly) connected with their proximal end - which is located outside the closed chamber 90 and is located inside the first longitudinal channel 95 (and/or second channel longitudinal 100) - to the connector 150.
• a cable of the pair of cables 135 is inserted and electrically connected in the first channel 175 of the first section 155 by means of the metal contact therein, and the other cable of the pair of cables 135 is connected and electrically connected in the second channel 180 of the first section 155 by means of the metal contact therein.
• the cables of the pair of cables 135 extend (also in this case) parallel to the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35, received in the housing seat S formed in the first channel longitudinal 95, or completely contained therein.
• the pair of cables 135 is received in a housing seat S which extends, throughout its development, substantially parallel to the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35.
• the housing seat S extends from a first side 25, 50 of said first plate 5 and second plate 35 up to about half of the longitudinal extension of the first longitudinal channel 95 (approximately at the center line of the first plate 5, or of the door 1 ), for example in the proximity (of the first channel 175 and of the second channel 180 of the first section 155) of the connector 150, or up to a portion of interspace 65 substantially equidistant from the second sides 30, 55 of said first plate 5 and second plate 35.
• the housing seat S extends substantially by half of the longitudinal (horizontal) development of the first longitudinal channel 95.
• the housing seat S is formed so that a portion of the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 defines a wall of the housing seat S and
• such a wall defined by the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 is (superiorly) closed by the interface surface (as described above), for example concave with concavity facing towards the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• Such an interface surface is defined by a sealant W inserted in the first longitudinal channel 95, for example so as to substantially fill all of said first longitudinal channel 95 (except the housing seat S for the pair of cables 135), being flush with at least a first side 25 of the second plate 35.
• the interface surface is a surface formed by the sealant W at the interface with the cables of the pair of cables 135 and which surrounds the same defining, in fact, between that interface surface and the wall defined by the outer face of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70, the housing seat S.
• the housing seat S opens at a second side 30 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 through the outlet opening 140, which in fact defines an open end of the housing seat S facing the outside of the door 1.
• the pair of cables 135 protrudes from the interspace 65 defined between the first plate 5 and the second plate 35, or from the first longitudinal channel 95, through said outlet opening 140 of the housing seat S placed at the second side 30 of the first plate 5 and second plate 35.
• Said second side 30 from which the pair of cables 135 protrudes, in use, will be the side of the door 1 proximal to the hinging (or fixing) area thereof to the frame T of the refrigerator R.
• the door 1 still further comprises a first support element 215 for hooking the door 1 itself to the frame T of the refrigerator R, at the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 proximal to the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the first support element 215 is allocated (or completely contained) in the first longitudinal channel 95, for example embedded in the sealant W inserted in the first longitudinal channel 95, and is interposed between the first horizontal longitudinal member 70, kept at a distance therefrom by the sealant W itself, and the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 proximal to said first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• the first support element 215 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35.
• said first support element 215 is parallelepiped-shaped and is fixed so as to be totally contained in the first housing channel 95 and that an outer surface thereof is coplanar with at least one of the first sides 25 of the first plate 5 and the first sides 50 of the second plate 35 proximal to the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.
• Said first support element 215 is configured, for example, as a bar extending along the entire longitudinal extension of the first upper side 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 and is provided with slots for receiving hinge pins associated with the frame T of the refrigerator R.
• the first support element 215 is made of aluminum or other metal material or other rigid material in general.
• the door 1 further comprises a second support element 220 for hooking the door 1 itself to the frame T of the refrigerator R, at the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 proximal to the second horizontal longitudinal member 75.
• the second support element 220 is allocated (or completely contained) in the second longitudinal channel 100, for example embedded in the sealant W inserted in the second longitudinal channel 100, and is interposed between the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 (and in contact therewith) and the first sides 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 proximal to said second horizontal longitudinal member 75.
• the second support element 220 is fixed to the first plate 5 and to the second plate 35.
• said second support element 220 is parallelepiped-shaped and is fixed so as to be totally contained in the second housing channel 100 and so that an outer surface thereof is coplanar with at least one of the first sides 25 of the first plate 5 and the first sides 50 of the second plate 35 proximal to the second horizontal longitudinal member 75.
• the second support element 220 is configured, for example, as a bar extending along the entire longitudinal extension of the first side 25, 50 of the first plate 5 and of the second plate 35 and is provided with slots for receiving hinge pins associated with the frame T of the refrigerator R.
• the second support element 220 is made of aluminum other metal material or other rigid material in general.
• a layer of (optically non transparent) paint P may be deposited, for example by screen printing or other deposition technique, so as to hide the portion of door 1 from the first support element 215, or from a first side 25 of the first plate 5, to the surface of the first horizontal longitudinal member 70 facing the closed chamber 90.
• a further layer of (optically non-transparent) paint P may be deposited on the first outer surface 15 of the first plate 5, so as to hide (also) the portion of door 1 from the second support element 220, or from the other first side 25 of the door, to the second horizontal longitudinal member 75, or to a surface of the second horizontal longitudinal member 75 facing the first horizontal longitudinal member 70.

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• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-06-19 IT IT102018000006461A patent/IT201800006461A1/it unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-05-17 BR BR112020025820-2A patent/BR112020025820A2/pt active Search and Examination
  • 2019-05-17 EP EP19734887.3A patent/EP3811010A1/en active Pending
  • 2019-05-17 WO PCT/IB2019/054100 patent/WO2019243913A1/en unknown

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