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
  • F25D23/00—General constructional features
  • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
  • F25D23/028—Details
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
  • A47F3/0404—Cases or cabinets of the closed type
  • A47F3/0426—Details
  • A47F3/043—Doors, covers
• • 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
  • F25D23/00—General constructional features
  • F25D23/08—Parts formed wholly or mainly of plastics materials
  • F25D23/082—Strips
  • F25D23/087—Sealing strips
• • 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
  • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2323/02—Details of doors or covers not otherwise covered
  • F25D2323/024—Door hinges

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a door for a refrigeration cabinet.
• a refrigerated compartment which has an opening to access the inside of the compartment, and one or more doors adapted to selectively occlude or disengage at least partially the opening.
• Such doors generally each comprise at least one panel of thermally insulating and optically transparent material, such as glass or polymeric material, and a panel support frame formed by a plurality of rectilinear edging profiles substantially framing the panel and by means of which the panel is movably connected to the refrigerated compartment.
• the door edging profiles have a generally quadrangular or rectangular cross-section.
• the support frames are hinged to the refrigerated compartment by means of hinges that define respective hinge axes around which the doors swing.
• this space is at least one centimetre wider when the doors are in a closed position, creating problems to the user’s safety as the width is such that the user can insert his or her fingers into that manoeuvre space.
• the width is such that the user can insert his or her fingers into that manoeuvre space.
• An object of the present invention is thus to overcome this drawback of the prior art, with a simple, rational and cost-efficient solution.
• the invention makes available a door for a refrigeration cabinet, comprising:
• a support frame which supports and frames the panel, wherein the support frame is provided with an edging profile that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and that comprises a portion proximal to the panel and a portion distal from the panel, wherein the distal portion comprises a convex outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis and directed with convexity to the direction opposite the panel.
• the manoeuvre empty space between two doors or between a door and the adjacent framing can be reduced to less than a centimetre, in particular to less than 5mm, if compared to doors being used with rectangular cross-section edging profiles, making it possible to thereby eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, the risk of crushing the user's fingers.
• a profile with a rectangular cross-section has in its portion distal from the panel an outer plane surface (which basically extends between two other outer plane surfaces of the rectangular profile parallel to each other and perpendicular to said plane surface) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile (i.e. the hinge axis).
• the points of the line formed by the intersection of such outer plane surface with an imaginary plane of section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis are essentially all at the same distance from the panel, i.e.
• the flat surface or rather the transversal ends of the line identified by the intersection with a plane of section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, describes a trajectory with a radius of curvature greater than the convex surface, which at its ends is closer to the panel and thus defines a radius of rotation around the hinge axis smaller than the plane surface.
• the convex surface may be curvilinear and have an axis of curvature parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile.
• the convex surface is a sector of side surface of a cylinder with a circular base.
• the curved surfaces such a surface is the one that allows to reduce the most the manoeuvre space, for example if compared to an elliptical or oval surface.
• the convex outer surface may have a minimum width, measured in the direction transversal to its longitudinal extension, greater than 20 mm.
• the door may comprise a hinge having a first portion fixed to the support frame and a second portion movable relative to the first portion about a hinge axis.
• the longitudinal axis of the edging profile may be parallel to the hinge axis and the axis of curvature of the convex outer surface may be spaced less than 3 mm from the hinge axis.
• the axis of curvature and the hinge axis can be coaxial.
• coaxial means net of construction and assembly tolerances. For example, there is still coaxiality when the axis of curvature and the hinge axis are spaced less than a millimetre from each other.
• the edging profile may comprise a longitudinal cavity which is partially delimited by a wall provided with a plane surface lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity, and another wall, which is in turn delimited internally by an inner surface directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity and facing the plane surface and is delimited externally at least partially by the convex outer surface.
• a further advantage is to easily make a profile that makes available a cavity adapted to house at least partially the hinge (which can be adapted to different hinge sizes on the spot), thus protecting it from dirt, foreign bodies and tampering and also reducing the possibility that lubricating material (such as oil or grease) comes into contact with the user or with the rest of the refrigeration cabinet, soiling them.
• lubricating material such as oil or grease
• the door may comprise a handle provided with a fixing portion adapted to be fixed onto the edging profile and provided with a concave inner portion, complementary to the convex outer surface of the edging profile and in contact therewith, and a convex outer surface, opposite to the concave inner surface and homologous to the convex outer surface of the edging profile.
• a handle that can be firmly fixed to the profile without compromising the advantages of the convex outer surface is thereby made available.
• the invention also makes available a refrigerator cabinet comprising:
• a door according to claim 1 hinged to the compartment with respect to a hinge axis and movable between a closed position, in which it occludes at least partially the access opening, and an open position, in which it does not obstruct the access to the refrigeration compartment via the access opening.
• the cabinet may comprise two doors, adapted to jointly occlude the access opening to the refrigeration compartment and each one provided with a respective vertical edging profile placed at a vertical side of the door opposite to a vertical side of the door proximal to the hinge axis, wherein, when the doors are in the closed position, the respective convex outer surfaces are arranged one in front of the other and facing each other, for example at a distance lower than 10mm, preferably lower than 5mm.
• Figure 1 is a front view of a refrigeration cabinet provided with an edging profile according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the refrigeration cabinet provided with a particular handle which is directly coupled to the edging profile according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 according to the plane Ill-Ill.
• Figure 4 is a section of Figure 2 according to the plane IV-IV.
• Figure 5 is the isolated and enlarged detail V of Figure 3.
• Figure 6 is the isolated and enlarged detail VI of Figure 3.
• Figure 7 is the isolated and enlarged detail VII of Figure 4.
• Figure 8 is the isolated and enlarged detail VIII of Figure 4.
• Figure 9 is a partial section of Figure 1 , according to the section plane IX- IX.
• Figure 10 is a partial exploded and partial sectional front view of a refrigeration cabinet door according to the invention.
• FIG 11 is an enlargement of the detail XI of Figure 10.
• Figure 12 is a partial sectional view of the edging profile according to the invention.
• Figure 13 is a section view of another embodiment of an edging profile according to the invention.
• Figure 14 is a partial sectional view of the edging profile according to the invention.
• reference number 1 ,1 ’ globally indicates a refrigeration cabinet comprising a box-shaped body which defines a refrigerated compartment V, inside which the products to be refrigerated are stored.
• This box-shaped body has a framing 5, or counter-frame, which delimits an access opening A, for example rectangular-shaped, through which it is possible to access the compartment V from the outside.
• the cabinet 1 comprises a door 10,10’, movably associated with the framing 5, adapted to selectively occlude or disengage, at least partially, the access opening A (i.e. the portion of the access opening identified by the counter-frame) to access the compartment V.
• the door 10,10' is movable with respect to the box-shaped body between a closed position, in which it at least partially occludes the access opening A preventing access, and an open position, in which it does not obstruct the access to the refrigerated compartment, i.e. it does not obstruct access to the compartment by means of an access opening portion subtended to the door itself when the door is in the closed position.
• the refrigeration cabinet comprises only one door, when it is in the closed position it completely occludes the access opening.
• the refrigeration cabinet comprises a plurality of doors, (movably associated with the framing 5), such as two doors as shown, each door occludes a respective portion of the access opening A or allows access thereto. Generally, access to the access opening is completely prevented when all the doors are in the closed position
• the door 10,10' is hinged to the box-shaped body, i.e. the framing 5, according to a vertical hinge axis C, preferably parallel to a lying plane of the access opening A.
• the door comprises a hinge 15 provided with a first portion 20 and a second portion 25 movable with respect to the first portion about the hinge axis C and adapted to be fixed to the box-shaped body, i.e. to the framing or counter-frame 5 of the box-shaped body.
• the door 10,10' comprises a pair of hinges 15,30 a lower one 15 and an upper one 30 which have coaxial hinge axes C.
• the door 10, 10’ comprises a panel 35, for example rectangular-shaped, made of thermally insulating material.
• the panel 35 is also made of optically transparent material, for instance such optically transparent and thermally insulating material may be glass or polymeric material or a combination thereof.
• the panel 35 may be formed of a single sheet or of a plurality of sheets of thermally insulating and optically transparent material, for example spaced apart from each other so that there is a gap between the sheets, preferably containing only a refractory gas.
• the panel 35 consists of three sheets parallel to each other.
• such sheets have an even thickness between them.
• the panel 35 comprises a first greater face 40 (rectangular-shaped) and an opposite second greater face 45 (rectangular-shaped), for example the first one directed to the direction opposite to the inside of the compartment V and the second one directed towards the inside of the compartment when the door is in the closed position.
• the first greater face is made available by the outermost sheet of the panel and the second greater face is made available by the innermost sheet.
• Such greater faces are, in the embodiment shown, plane and parallel to each other, e.g. lying in vertical planes.
• such faces may be curved, for example the first face may be curved with the concavity directed towards inside the compartment V and positioned so that a plane tangent at one point to the first greater face is parallel to the hinge axis C.
• the panel 35 comprises a plurality of rectilinear edges 50,55,60,65 consecutive to each other which jointly define a perimeter side edge extending from the first greater face 40 to the second greater face 45.
• the side edge basically extends between a perimeter of the first greater face 40 and a perimeter of the second greater face 45.
• Such a plurality of rectilinear edges comprises at least one vertical rectilinear edge 50,55 parallel to the hinge axis C, and for example at least also one horizontal rectilinear edge 60,65 perpendicular to the hinge axis.
• At least the vertical rectilinear edge 50,55 comprises a rectilinear plane surface 70,75 lying in a plane perpendicular to the lying planes of the first greater face 40 and the second greater face 45, for example parallel to the hinge axis.
• the plane surface 70,75 extends throughout the longitudinal extension of the vertical rectilinear edge 50,55 and for example has a width, i.e. extension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, of at least 1 cm.
• the horizontal rectilinear edge 60,65 comprises a rectilinear plane surface 80,85 lying in a plane perpendicular to the lying planes of the first greater face 40 and the second greater face 45, for example also perpendicular to the hinge axis C.
• all rectilinear edges comprise a rectilinear plane surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the lying planes of the first greater face 40 and the second greater face 45.
• all of the above-described plane surfaces of the rectilinear edges have a width greater than 1 cm.
• the rectilinear plane surfaces are perpendicular to a plane tangent to the first greater face at a vertical centreline of the greater face.
• Each plane surface 70,75,80,85 is, for example, defined by a framing, made of metal and/or polymeric material, which stably joins together, for example by means of glue, the sheets of the panel keeping them at a predefined distance so that each of them has the gap described above.
• the panel 35 is rectangular, i.e., the peripheral side edge is rectangular, and comprises a first vertical rectilinear edge 50 (parallel to the hinge axis C), a second vertical rectilinear edge 55 parallel to the first vertical rectilinear edge, a first horizontal rectilinear edge 60 and a second horizontal rectilinear edge 65, which are parallel to each other and connect the first and second vertical rectilinear edges at opposite ends thereof.
• the first vertical rectilinear edge 50 is proximal to the hinge 15, i.e. the hinges, relative to the second vertical rectilinear edge 55.
• the first vertical rectilinear edge 50 comprises the plane surface 70 and the second vertical rectilinear edge 55 comprises the plane surface 75.
• the first horizontal rectilinear edge 60 comprises the plane surface 80 and the second horizontal rectilinear edge 65 comprises the plane surface 85.
• the first greater face 40 is defined by a sheet having a width and height greater than a sheet defining the second greater face 45, consequently, the at least vertical rectilinear edge has two rectilinear plane surfaces, one of which is defined by a side edge of the sheet defining the first greater face, and another defined by the set of a pair of side edges of the other two sheets.
• the door includes a support frame 90 that supports and, for example, frames the panel 35.
• the support frame 90 is directly fixed to the panel 35, i.e. without interposing other structural elements, or to the rectilinear edges 50,55,60,65 of the panel 35, e.g. by means of glue or other fixing elements.
• the support frame directly contacts at least one pair of rectilinear edges of the panel, i.e. at least the first vertical rectilinear edge 50 and the first horizontal rectilinear edge 60.
• the support frame 90 is hinged to the refrigerated compartment V directly by the hinge 15, i.e. the pair of hinges 15,30.
• the first portion of the hinge 20, i.e. of each hinge is rigidly fixed without residual degrees of freedom, for example by means of threaded (bolted) connection members, to the support frame 90.
• the support frame 90 is provided with at least one edging profile 100,105,110,115, for example rectilinear, which extends longitudinally along its own longitudinal axis, and which comprises a proximal portion 120 proximal to the panel 35 and a distal portion 125 distal from the panel, for example the proximal portion 120 being directly fixed to the panel.
• at least one edging profile 100,105,110,115 for example rectilinear, which extends longitudinally along its own longitudinal axis, and which comprises a proximal portion 120 proximal to the panel 35 and a distal portion 125 distal from the panel, for example the proximal portion 120 being directly fixed to the panel.
• the proximal portion 120 is directly fixed, for example by merely interposing a layer of glue, not shown, to a rectilinear edge 50,55,60,65 of the plurality of panel rectilinear edges, i.e. to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the respective rectilinear edge.
• the longitudinal axis of the edging profile is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective rectilinear edge of the panel to which it is proximal.
• the proximal portion 120 of the edging profile 100,105,110,115 may therefore comprise a plane surface 130,135,140,145 parallel to and facing the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the rectilinear edge to which the edging profile is fixed.
• the plane surface 130,135,140,145 contacts (by only interposing a layer of adhesive material) the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the rectilinear edge to which it is adjacent throughout the entire longitudinal extension of the edging profile itself.
• the proximal portion of the edging profile comprises two plane surfaces, of which the plane surface 130,135,140,145 faces the plane surface 70,75,80,85 and another surface of the edging profile faces the other plane surface of the rectilinear edge.
• the distal portion 125 of the edging profile 100,105,110,115 comprises a convex outer surface 150 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile and directed with its convexity to the direction opposite to the panel 35, i.e. the direction opposite to the rectilinear edge 50,55,60,65 of the panel to which the edging profile is adjacent, or even more in detail the direction opposite to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the panel 35 to which the edging profile is adjacent.
• the convex outer surface 150 extends, i.e. protrudes, in a direction moving away from the panel 35, i.e. in a direction moving away from a rectilinear edge 50,55,60,65 proximal/adjacent to the edging profile itself, preferably in a direction moving away from a lying plane of the flat surface 70,75,80,85 of a rectilinear edge proximal/adjacent to the edging profile itself, along a direction perpendicular to such lying plane
• the convex outer surface 150 i.e.
• a line identified by the intersection of such surface with an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is also intersected in a central portion thereof by an imaginary plane perpendicular to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the rectilinear edge and passing through a midpoint of the plane surface and parallel to the longitudinal axis.
• the convex outer surface 150 is also intersected by a pair of imaginary planes parallel to the longitudinal axis, perpendicular to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the rectilinear edge and intersecting it respectively at end points of the plane surface itself with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rectilinear edge.
• the convex outer surface 150 is further shaped so that a plane tangent at a point, such as an intermediate point, to the convex outer surface is parallel to the plane surface 70,75,80,85.
• the convex outer surface 150 is constant in shape and size throughout its longitudinal extension.
• intersection of the convex outer surface 150 with an imaginary section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis identifies a convex line (or segment) directed with its convexity to the direction opposite to the panel 35, i.e. the direction opposite to the rectilinear edge of the proximal/adjacent panel, or even more specifically the direction opposite to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the proximal/adjacent rectilinear edge.
• the line generated by the intersection of the convex outer surface 150 with the imaginary section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is defined as a concave line with its concavity directed towards the panel 35, i.e. directed towards the rectilinear edge of the proximal/adjacent panel, or even more in detail directed towards the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the proximal/adjacent rectilinear edge.
• the ends of said line are at a distance, measured along a direction perpendicular to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the rectilinear edge, from a lying plane of the plane surface of the rectilinear edge, that is smaller than the distance from the same plane of a central portion of the line, measured along the aforesaid direction.
• Such central portion is intersected by an imaginary plane perpendicular to the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of the rectilinear edge and passing through a midpoint of the plane surface itself and parallel to the longitudinal axis.
• such a distance of the line from the lying plane of the plane surface of the rectilinear edge is always increasing going from the ends to a point in the central portion of the line where a tangent to the line (or to the external convex surface) is parallel to said lying plane of the plane surface of the rectilinear edge.
• the convex outer surface may be provided with longitudinal grooves parallel to the longitudinal axis which locally vary the shape of the convex outer surface.
• Such an implementation in any case, falls within the inventive concept because the surface is overall convex and the distance from the lying plane of the plane surface of the adjacent rectilinear edge is generally always increasing from the ends towards the centre.
• the maximum distance of the line identified by the section of the convex outer surface from a midpoint of the plane surface 70,75,80,85 of a proximal rectilinear edge of the panel 35 is 1 ,2 times smaller than the thickness of the panel (considered as the distance between the first greater face and the second greater face), e.g. smaller than 40 mm.
• the convex outer surface preferably has a width, measured in the direction of the thickness of the panel 35 (considered as the distance between the first greater face and the second greater face), greater than half the thickness of the panel itself, for example greater than the entire thickness of the panel 35. In the embodiment shown it is greater than 30 mm.
• the convex outer surface is preferably curved and has an axis of curvature, or several axes of curvature, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile. Even more preferably, the curved surface has a single axis of curvature, i.e. a constant radius of curvature, or in other words the convex outer surface 150 has a circular cross-section.
• the convex outer surface is curved throughout its extension in the direction transversal to the longitudinal axis, i.e. the curved line identified by the section of the convex outer surface with an imaginary section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is curved throughout its extension and has no curvilinear lines.
• the convex outer surface may be shaped as a wedge-shaped surface with the wedge directed to the direction moving away from the panel, for example as a surface whose cross-section is V-shaped.
• the convex surface is a sector of curved side surface of a cylinder with a circular base, i.e. of a cylinder having a circle as its base, the axis of curvature (coinciding with the central axis of the cylinder) being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile.
• the curved side surface sector of the cylinder is continuous throughout its extension both in the direction of the longitudinal axis and in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
• the arc identified by the intersection of the curved side surface sector with an imaginary section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is continuous from one end thereof to an opposite end thereof
• the curved side surface sector of the cylinder is, for example, subtended to an imaginary angle having its centre on the axis of curvature of the side surface, i.e. on the central axis of the cylinder, which angle is greater than 120°, e.g. it is between 160° and 200°.
• the arc identified by the intersection of the curved side surface sector with an imaginary section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is, for example, subtended at an imaginary angle having its centre on the axis of curvature of the side surface, i.e. on the central axis of the cylinder, and is greater than 120°, i.e. is between 160° and 200°.
• the cylindrical side surface sector preferably has a radius of curvature greater than 20 mm.
• the convex outer surface may be a sector of the side surface of a prismatic body with an elliptical or oval base.
• the profile may comprise a groove 155 parallel to the profile longitudinal axis which serves as a seat for a gas sealing gasket 160 adapted to rest on a suitable plane surface of the framing 5, or of an upright 165 of the framing (of the refrigeration cabinet), when the door is in the closed position (so as to achieve an airtight sealing with such surface).
• the groove 155 extends throughout the entire longitudinal extension of the profile and preferably communicates with the environment outside the profile by means of a longitudinal opening in which a portion of the gas sealing gasket is inserted.
• the longitudinal opening in the embodiment shown, is defined by two surfaces inclined towards each other in the direction of moving closer to each other from the outside to the inside of the grooved profile. This basically funnel-shaped opening makes it possible to hold the gasket in the groove in a particularly effective way.
• the longitudinal groove 155 i.e., its longitudinal opening, is directed to a transversal (perpendicular) direction relative to the direction that the convex surface faces.
• the gas sealing gasket 165 protrudes from the edging profile in a transversal (perpendicular) direction relative to the direction that the convex surface faces.
• This longitudinal groove may also comprise a longitudinal cavity adapted to serve as a seat for an electrical resistor.
• the edging profile 100,105,110,115 comprises a first wall 170 (of non-zero thickness), a cross-section of which with a section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis forms a closed loop path and which defines the plane surface 130,135,140,145 and the convex outer surface 150.
• the longitudinal opening of the groove 155 is made in said first wall 170.
• the edging profile also comprises a second wall 175 (of non-zero thickness), which is located within the closed loop path defined by the first wall 170 and intersects the first wall 170 (at ends of the second wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) forming a longitudinal cavity 180, i.e. which extends along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile, defined by the first wall and the second wall.
• the second wall comprises a plane surface 185, which may be defined as a fixing plane surface, lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity, thus delimiting a portion thereof.
• plane surface 185 is also parallel to the plane surface 130,135,140,145 of the edging profile.
• the longitudinal cavity 180 is at least partially defined, for example it is uniquely defined, by the plane surface 185 and by an inner surface 190 of the first wall 170, which is directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity, facing directly the plane surface 185, and is obtained in a portion of the first wall 170 where the convex outer surface is made.
• the inner surface 190 of the first wall 170 is opposite to the convex outer surface 150.
• the thickness of the first wall at the convex outer surface is defined by the inner surface 190 and the convex outer surface 150.
• the inner surface 190 is a concave surface with a homologous shape, i.e. mirror-like, to the convex outer surface.
• the edging profile comprises an additional longitudinal cavity 195, i.e. extending along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the edging profile, defined by the first wall 170 and the second wall 175, and which is divided from the longitudinal cavity 180 by interposing the second wall 175.
• the additional longitudinal cavity 195 comprises an inner surface shaped to precisely accommodate an axially hollow stiffening bar 300, forming a prismatic connection that is able, as its only degree of freedom, to slide along an axis parallel to the profile longitudinal axis.
• the stiffening bar has a rectangular (square) cross-section.
• the length of the stiffening bar 300 can be substantially the same as that of the edging profile.
• the additional longitudinal cavity is at least partially made in the proximal portion of the edging profile.
• the additional longitudinal cavity is divided from the longitudinal groove by means of a third wall 305 defining a bottom surface of the groove facing the longitudinal opening.
• the third wall (of non-zero thickness) is arranged within the closed loop path defined by the first wall 170 and intersects the first wall 170 and the second wall 175, separating the longitudinal cavity 155 from the longitudinal cavity 180.
• the cross-section of the profile i.e. of the first wall and, for example, also of the second wall, is constant (in shape and size) along the profile, with the obvious exception of the ends, which must be cut at a selected angle to enable them to be fixed to the adjacent profile to form a framing.
• the hinge, or hinges are fixed directly by means of suitable connecting members, for example threaded connecting members and/or comprising glues, to the second wall 175, after appropriate removal of a portion of the first wall 170 at the convex outer surface 150.
• suitable connecting members for example threaded connecting members and/or comprising glues.
• the threaded connecting members pass through the second wall 175 towards the additional longitudinal cavity 195 so as to clamp the second wall 175 in a vice-like manner.
• first portion of the hinge i.e. Of each hinge, is in direct contact with the plane surface 185.
• the support frame 90 preferably comprises a plurality of edging profiles 100,105,110,115 fixed together to form a framing, for example four edging profiles fixed together to form a rectangular framing, which frames and supports the panel 35 and allows it to be connected to the hinge, or hinges.
• the plurality of edging profiles comprises at least one edging profile 100 proximal to, or in contact with, the first vertical rectilinear edge 50.
• such edging profile 100 is arranged with the plane surface 185 directly facing the plane surface 70 of the first vertical rectilinear edge 50, for example along the entire longitudinal extension of said plane surfaces.
• This edging profile is arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to the hinge axis C, in particular it is arranged in such a way that the hinge axis C passes through said edging profile 100.
• the hinge axis C is contained in the additional longitudinal cavity 195.
• the axis of curvature i.e. the central axis, of the convex outer surface of the edging profile 100 proximal to the first rectilinear vertical edge 50, is parallel to the hinge axis C and is placed at a distance lower than 3 mm from said hinge axis, preferably it is coaxial to the hinge axis C
• the plurality of edging profiles comprises a first vertical edging profile 100, having the above-described characteristics of being close to the first vertical rectilinear edge and parallel to the hinge axis C, and a second vertical edging profile 105 arranged with a vertical longitudinal axis, for example proximal to, or in contact with, the second vertical rectilinear edge 55.
• the second vertical edging profile 105 is arranged with its plane surface 185 directly facing the plane surface 75 of the second vertical rectilinear edge 55, for example throughout the longitudinal extension of said plane surfaces.
• This second vertical edging profile 105 is arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to the hinge axis C and is arranged with its convex outer surface 150 facing the direction opposite to the convex outer surface 150 of the first vertical edging profile.
• the plurality of edging profiles also comprises an edging profile 110 proximal to, i.e. in contact with, the first horizontal rectilinear edge 60.
• such a profile is arranged with the plane surface 185 directly facing the plane surface 80 of the first horizontal rectilinear edge 60, for example throughout the longitudinal extension of said plane surfaces.
• Such edging profile is arranged with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the hinge axis C, in particular it is arranged in such a way that the hinge axis C passes through said edging profile.
• the axis of curvature i.e. the central axis, of the convex outer surface of the horizontal edging profile proximal to the first horizontal rectilinear edge, is perpendicular and incident to the hinge axis C.
• the plurality of edging profiles comprises a first horizontal edging profile 110, having the above-described characteristics of the profile being close to the first horizontal rectilinear edge 60 and perpendicular to the hinge axis, and a second horizontal edging profile 115 arranged with a horizontal longitudinal axis, for example proximal to, or in contact with, the second horizontal rectilinear edge 65.
• the second vertical edging profile 115 is arranged with the plane surface 185 directly facing the plane surface 85 of the second horizontal rectilinear edge, for example throughout the longitudinal extension of said plane surfaces.
• Such second horizontal edging profile 115 is arranged with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the hinge axis C and is arranged with its convex outer surface 150 directed to the direction opposite to the convex outer surface 150 of the first horizontal edging profile.
• the hinge i.e. the first hinge portion, is directly fixed to the plane surface 185 of the edging profile arranged with the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the hinge axis C, or is directly fixed to the second wall 175, and contacts directly the plane surface 185, of the edging profile arranged with the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the hinge axis C.
• the hinge 15 rotatably connects the first horizontal edging profile 110 to the compartment, and the hinge 30 connects the second horizontal edging profile 115 to the compartment in relation to the same hinge axis C.
• the plurality of edging profiles comprises only the above-described four edging profiles to form a rectangular framing for the panel 35.
• the four edging profile panels all have identical cross-sections, except for the horizontal edging profiles in one portion thereof where the respective hinge is fixed.
• such portion has an opening 200 passing through the convex outer surface 150, i.e., passing through the portion of the first wall at the convex outer surface 150, to allow access from the outside to the plane surface 185 so as to fix the hinge thereon.
• Such opening 200 has a central axis that is transversal (perpendicular) to the plane surface 185.
• Such opening has a central axis perpendicular to the plane surface 185.
• the invention also makes available a method for fixing a hinge 15,30 defining a hinge axis C to a door comprising:
• a support frame 90 which supports and frames the panel
• the support frame is provided with an edging profile 110,115 which extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and which comprises a portion proximal to the panel and a portion distal from the panel, a longitudinal cavity 180 obtained in the distal portion and which is partially delimited by a wall 175, provided with a plane surface 185 directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity and towards the outside of the edging profile, and by another wall 170, which is in turn delimited by an inner surface directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity and facing the plane surface 185 and by an opposite outer surface of the edging profile, said method comprising the steps of removing material from the other wall 170, making an opening 200 through said wall by which the plane surface 185 is accessed from the outside, and fixing the hinge to the wall 175, i.e. to the plane surface 185, for example by inserting at least a portion of the hinge through the opening 200.
• the step of removing material from the other wall 170 may provide mechanically removing material, for example by a milling operation.
• Such step may also provide removing material so that the opening is arranged with the central axis substantially perpendicular to the plane surface 185.
• the method provides making the opening in a portion of the first wall 170 that is delimited by the convex outer surface 150.
• the door 10' may comprise a handle 205 provided with a fixing portion adapted to be fixed to the edging profile and provided with a concave inner surface 210, complementary to the convex outer surface 150 of the edging profile and in contact therewith, and a convex outer surface 215, opposite to the concave inner surface and homologous to the convex outer surface 150 of the edging profile.
• the fixing portion may comprise surfaces configured to make a sliding prismatic connection along the longitudinal axis with the edging profile.
• the surfaces configured to make a sliding prismatic connection along the longitudinal axis of the edging profile comprise the convex outer surface 150 and a pair of plane surfaces 220 parallel to the longitudinal axis.
• the plane surfaces of the pair of surfaces 220 are placed at opposite profile ends, preferably at opposite ends (with respect to a direction transversal to the longitudinal axis) of the convex outer surface 150 and is inclined so as to lie in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis and intersecting the convex outer surface.
• the profile 110' comprises a handle 206 made in a single piece (i.e. integral) with the edging profile itself, in particular the handle originates from the first wall 170.
• the handle is basically shaped as an extension which protrudes from the profile, i.e. from the first wall 170.
• the handle has a longitudinal extension equal to the longitudinal extension of the profile itself.
• the hinge i.e. a hinge system comprising the bottom hinge and the top hinge, comprises an automatic closing mechanism 310 (e.g. spring) integral with at least the second portion 25 of the bottom hinge, for example integral with the second portions of the top and bottom hinge, and inserted into the axial cavity of the stiffening bar 300 of the profile 100.
• an automatic closing mechanism 310 e.g. spring
• the first hinge portion 20 is inserted into the additional cavity 195 of the profile 110 and is integral with the stiffening bar 300 without residual degrees of freedom. Therefore, in such embodiment, the first portion of the hinge is not in contact with the plane surface, but the threaded connecting members constraining it to the second wall 175 are.
• the threaded connecting members 320 pass through the second wall 175, entering the cavity 195, so as to clamp the second wall 175 at least between the threaded connecting members and a section of the first hinge portion.
• the door 10 comprises a handle 225 glued directly in contact with the panel 35, i.e. at the first greater surface of the panel.
• the presence of the plane surface 185 which makes it possible to fix the flange, is a technical characteristic which can be independent from the presence of the convex outer surface 150, since, although it is highly desirable in case said convex surface is present in order to comfortably fix the hinge to the edging profile, the plane surface 185 can be preferable not only in case there is a concave surface instead of the convex surface, but also in case there is a plane surface, this is because the longitudinal cavity 180 and the plane surface 185 allow, even in case of a plane surface, to fix and protect a portion of the hinge by partially covering it, thus reducing the possibility of external bodies entering or lubricating liquid or grease leaking from the hinge, which could mix with the external bodies and soil the door and/or the user.
• a door 10,10' for a refrigeration cabinet 1 deserves independent protection, the door comprising:
• a hinge 15,30 defining a hinge axis C
• the support frame is provided with an edging profile 110,115 which extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the hinge axis C and comprising a portion proximal to the panel 35 and a portion distal from the panel, a longitudinal cavity 180 which is partially delimited by a wall 175, provided with a plane surface 185 lying in a plane perpendicular to the hinge axis C and directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity and towards the outside of the edging profile, and by another wall 170, which is delimited internally by an inner surface directed towards the inside of the longitudinal cavity and facing the plane surface and is delimited externally by an outer surface 150 of the portion distal from the panel.
• the wall and the other wall correspond respectively to the above-described second wall 175 and first wall 170 .
• This edging profile is provided with an opening 200 in the wall, i.e. in the second wall 175, by removing material as described above.
• the support frame 90 may comprise a cover profile adapted to cover the edging profile and substantially shaped like the handle fixing portion shown in Figure 8.
• the cabinet comprises two doors 10,10' hinged to the framing of the cabinet relative to respective and distinct hinge axes so that the respective first rectilinear edges are distal to each other and the respective second rectilinear edges are placed side by side.
• the convex outer surfaces 150 of the respective second vertical edging profiles 105 of each door are therefore placed, when the doors are both in the closed position, side by side and one (directly) facing the other. When both of them are in the closed position, the convex outer surfaces 150 of the second edging profiles are spaced apart from each other by a non-zero thickness gap.
• the two convex outer surfaces do not touch each other. In particular, these convex outer surfaces do not touch each other in any position assumed by the door.
• the edging profiles are rigid, i.e. made of a material and sized to be rigid.
• the material may for example be metal or a polymer and the profile may be made by an extrusion operation.
• the sealing gaskets are elastic, i.e. resilient, and are made of materials and sized so as to be elastically deformable during use, particularly when they are pressed against the upright of the framing 5.
• the gaskets can be made of an elastomeric material.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Refrigerator Housings (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-08-17 EP EP21765997.8A patent/EP4208680A1/de active Pending
  • 2021-08-17 WO PCT/IB2021/057544 patent/WO2022049434A1/en unknown

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