EP3884228A1

EP3884228A1 - A cooling appliance door having strength enhancing form

Info

Publication number: EP3884228A1
Application number: EP19801799.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gizem ERDAL; Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Emre AKYILDIZ; Faik Emre Ozyuksel
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-11-19
Filing date: 2019-11-05
Publication date: 2021-09-29
Also published as: WO2020104186A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of forming a front plate (3) to be used at a door (3) of a cooling appliance (1), the method comprising; providing a flat plate produced from a composite material; preheating the plate to a temperature between 140°C and 160°C; pressing the plate into a predetermined shape by using a mold; allowing the plate to cool to a temperature between 10°C and 30°C.

Description

A COOLING APPLIANCE DOOR HAVING STRENGTH ENHANCING FORM

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance having a door wherein the door has a strength enhancing form.
In cooling appliances, the doors, filled with insulating material, are used to isolate the inner volume from the outer environment therefore providing heat insulation for the cooling appliances and helping the articles to be kept cool. The handle is attached on to the door providing the user to access the inner volume of the cooling appliances. After a long time of use and due to the force applied on to the handle, the front panel of the door may disconnect from the insulating material causing a wavy form on the front panel which in time may cause the front panel to get separated from the insulating material. Additionally, the doors that are produced especially from a composite material that extend over a large area are susceptible to outer physical contacts and as a result the front panels are prone to get separated from the insulating material should the physical impacts exceeds a certain threshold value. Aforementioned issues are limiting the size and more importantly the material to be used during manufacturing of the front panel.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as EP2801774B1 among others, the document disclosing a heat insulation door for a cooling appliance having three dimensional shapes in outer surface.
The present invention therefore proposes an arrangement of cooling appliance door according to which a robust structure is achieved by use of plurality of surfaces, eliminating the possibility of the surfaces getting separated from the insulating material due to pulling action applied on to the handle and meanwhile increasing the strength of the door against outer physical shocks.
The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims comprises providing a plate produced form a composite material. The composite material is preheated to a predetermined temperature but more preferably to a temperature between 140°C and 160°C. Due to the temperature, the bond formed by the chemical bonding agent weakens between the molecules of the composite material, causing the plate soften. The softened plate is then pressed into a predetermined shape by a mold and is allowed to cool down to room temperature. As a result of these steps, a front panel for a door to be used in cooling appliance is obtained.
In another embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, the plate is produced from the composite material, the composite material being carbon fiber. The carbon fiber forms a robust structure that is resistant to most chemicals and corrosion. Another advantage of using carbon fiber is its lightweight therefore decreasing the weight of the cooling appliance. Another advantage of using carbon fiber is that the visual of the carbon fiber is superior to known cooling appliance exteriors such as metal plating or glass panels therefore creating a perception of product quality.
The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claim comprises a cooling appliance. The cooling appliance has a body wherein the articles to be cooled are placed and a door that is rotatable connected onto the body of the cooling appliance via at least a hinge. The door has a front panel that is facing away from the cooling appliance and onto which a handle is attached. The user may use the handle for opening and closing and the door. The front panel is bent so as to comprise a plurality of surfaces. The surfaces are facing different directions therefore forming a sectional and a three dimensional front panel wherein the front panel protrudes away from the cooling appliance. The surfaces are engaged with at least one neighboring surface forming a linear line in between. The plurality of surfaces converge at the front surface of the door forming an apex. The apex is where all the surfaces at the front side of the door are converging therefore creating a robust pyramidal shape. The structure’s pyramidal shape increases the strength of the door and eliminates the possibility of the insulation material filled in between the front panel and the interior panel to get separated from the front panel.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the apex is in close vicinity of the handle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the surfaces are planar.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.
Figure 1 – is a side view of the cooling appliance.
The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

Cooling appliance
Body
Door
Handle
Front panel
Surface
Apex

The present invention relates to a method of forming a front panel (5) to be used at a door (3) of a cooling appliance (1), the method comprising; providing a flat plate produced from a composite material; preheating the plate to a temperature between 140°C and 160°C; pressing the plate into a predetermined shape by using a mold; allowing the plate to cool to a temperature between 10°C and 30°C. Composite materials are produced from a wide variety of materials and are shaped as plates making transportation easier. The plate shaped composite material is preheated to a temperature between 140°C and 160°C. The increase in temperature weakens the bonds formed by the chemical bonding agent between the molecules of the composite material. Therefore the composite material loosens, losing its plate form. Afterwards, by use of a mold, the composite material is pressed into a shape predetermined by the manufacturer. During the following step, the composite material is allowed to cool to room temperature therefore fixing its new shape. Use of a composite material having a plate shape provides the manufacturer flexibility in manufacturing processes and convenience during transport of the said plates therefore decreasing manufacturing costs.
The present invention relates to a further step comprising: providing the plate wherein the said composite material is carbon fiber. Carbon fiber has an excellent strength to weight ratio that helps to decrease the weight of the cooling appliance (1) meanwhile providing a robust structure. Another advantageous effect of using carbon fiber is its high corrosion and chemical resistivity making carbon fiber a suitable material to be used on the cooling appliances (1) so as to provide a long product lifetime.
The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; a body (2) wherein the articles to be cooled are placed, a door (3) providing access into the body (2), a handle (4) on the door (3) providing the opening and closing of the door (3), a front panel (5) of the door (3) facing away from the cooling appliance (1) wherein the front panel (5) is bent so as to form a plurality of surfaces (6) having normal vectors pointing different directions wherein each surface (6) is configured to be engaged with at least a neighboring surface (6) along a linear line.
The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) wherein the plurality of surfaces (6) are converging at an apex (7). The front panel (5) is produced from a single and continuous sheet of material and forms the front surface of the door (3). The front panel (5) is bent or produced as such to be coupled with the interior panel of the door (3) which upon being assembled into one piece forms a volume in between wherein the insulation material in injected. The front panel (5) has a three dimensional shape created by the plurality of surfaces (6). Each surface (6) engages with at least another surface but more preferably with two surfaces (6). Upon engagement, the neighboring surfaces (6) forms a linear line. The normal vector of each of the surface (6) extends away from the cooling appliance (1). The normal vectors are divergent meaning that they do not intersect. The plurality of surfaces (6) converge at the single apex (7) forming a pyramidal shape. As a result of the front panel (5) having multiple surfaces (6) the strength of the door (3) is increased. Additionally, the front panel (5) having plurality of surfaces (6) divides the front panel (5) into smaller parts which in turn eliminates the possibility of splitting of the front panel (5) from the insulation material as the user pulls the handle (4) to open the door (3). Another advantageous effect of using the front panel (5) having plurality of surfaces (6) that creates the pyramidal shape is that the volume in between the front panel (5) and the interior panel is increased therefore increasing the amount of insulation material that can be injected inside the door (3) improving heat insulation properties of the door (3).
In another embodiment of the invention, the apex (7) is in close vicinity of the handle (4). The apex (7) is in in close vicinity of the handle (4) and the projection of the linear lines between the engaging surfaces (6) passes through at least along a contour of the handle (4) therefore increasing the strength of the front panel (5) further.
In another embodiment of the invention, the apex (7) is adjacent to a corner of the handle (4). The surface of the handle (4) along with the neighboring surfaces (6) converge at the apex (7) enhancing strength of the door (3).
In another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of surfaces (6) are planar. During production processes planar surfaces (6) provides ease of assembly and manufacturing therefore decreasing the overall cost of the cooling appliance (1). Another advantageous effect of the surfaces (6) being planar is that it gives the door (3) a form having strength enhancing properties eliminating the possibility of splitting of the front panel (5) from the insulation material as the user pulls the handle (4) to open the door (3).
By means of this invention, a cooling appliance (1) having the door (3) comprising the front panel (5) having multiple surfaces (6) that are facing different directions wherein the surfaces (6) converge at the apex (7) forming a pyramidal shape which in turn increases the strength of the door (3) is achieved.

Claims

A method of forming a front panel (5) to be used at a door (3) of a cooling appliance (1), the method comprising;

(i) providing a flat plate produced from a composite material;

(ii) preheating the plate to a temperature between 140°C and 160°C;

(iii) pressing the plate into a predetermined shape by using a mold;

(iv) allowing the plate to cool to a temperature between 10°C and 30°C.
The method according to claim 1, further comprising;

(i) providing the plate wherein the said composite material is carbon fiber.
A cooling appliance (1) comprising;

a body (2) wherein the articles to be cooled are placed,

a door (3) providing access into the body (2),

a handle (4) on the door (3) providing the opening and closing of the door (3),

a front panel (5) of the door (3) facing away from the cooling appliance (1) wherein the front panel (5) is bent so as to form a plurality of surfaces (6) having normal vectors pointing different directions wherein each surface (6) is configured to be engaged with at least a neighboring surface (6) along a linear line

characterized in that the plurality of surfaces (6) are converging at an apex (7).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the apex (7) is in close vicinity of the handle (4).
A cooling appliance (1) according to any one the preceding claims, characterized in that the plurality of surfaces (6) are planar.