GB2341260A

GB2341260A - Refrigerator and freezer door open warning device

Info

Publication number: GB2341260A
Application number: GB9819188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Copage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-04
Filing date: 1998-09-04
Publication date: 2000-03-08
Also published as: GB9819188D0

Abstract

The warning device comprises an activating switch 5, an electrical circuit with a power supply and an audible alarm. The alarm is activated when the door is open, preferably after it has been open for a predetermined period of time.

Description

2341260 REFRIGERATOoR AND FREEZER WARNING DEVICE

TECHNCAL FIELD

This invention relates a refrigerator pr freezer warning device BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known that the refrigerator and freezer have been around for a great many years, there have been many changes and designs with alterations and technical advancements. There are many styles shapes capacities and configurations of the appliance and therefore this invention relates to that which is generally understood as a refrigerator or freezer The refrigerator freezer combination is most popular within the kitchen. The general arrangement is that a smaller freezer is located in the same cabinet as a larger refrigerator. It is not at all uncommon for households to have a second freezer located in the garage. This tends to be the main stock of foodstuffs used for topping up the smaller freezer in the kitchen. The capacity of freezers, commonly in the form of an upright or chest can be considerable holding many hundreds of pounds worth of food. Where commercial reffigeration is concerned, such as restaurants and hotels, the stock value may easily be thousands of pounds. The concern with refrigerators and freezers is thclt they must be kept at a specified temperature or there is a real risk of food contamination and potentially a threat to health. Foodstuffs are frozen to a temperature and then as required within the stated life of the product it is used. While the appliance is functioning correctly there is a thermostat to regulate the inside temperature, the concern is that the appliance may malfunction and the contents are spoiled. People are only to aware of the possibility of the refligerator or freezer door not being dosed properly or, simply left open and forgotten about for lengths of time, especially when children have access. The decision when the refrigerator or freezer is found left open is as to whether or not it has been open long enough to necessitate the discarding of the contents.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

In this invention is supplied a device for warning that the refrigerator or freezer door is open. The invention allows for an audible and a visible notice of the door being open. The invention is a device that will be located onto the refrigerator or freezer and is activated when the door is open and will fit almost all appliances of this type. The waming 9W ' vice would have a passive means of attachment to the refrigerator or freezer, therefore no fear of any invalidation to a guarantee that might apply to the appliance. The device could be sold separately as a retrofit to a refrigerator or freezer or could be purchased as original equipment as part of a new refrigerator or freejer.

Thus we supply a warning device having passive mounting means for the attachment of the device to a refrigerator or freezer the device having first an inactive and an active state, the device to have an operating means to activate the device The active state would be when the door is open the device to have an audible alarm operational when in the active state.

We also supply a refrigerator or freezer having a cold storage area having a door warning device located having fixing means to retain the device in position, for the device to have first an inactive and an active state the device to have an operating means to activate the device. The active state would be when the door is open, the device having an audible alarm operational when in the active state, ESSENTLAL TECHNICAL FEATURES According to this invention there is supplied a refrigerator and freezer warning device encasing an activating switch, an electrical circuit with a power supply, an audible alarm, its operation being activated with the opening of the door of the refrigerator or freezer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig 1 Perspective view of refrigeratpr and freezer with device in location.

Fig 2 Inset perspective view of alarm device.

Fig 3 A part clipped view of the device showing inner parts.

Fig 4 Perspective view of alternative embodiment.

Fig 5 Part clipped view of alternatiw embodiment showing inner parts.

Fig 6 Alternative embodiment.

Fig 7 Inset view of fitted embodimefit of device.

2 As shown in fig 1 we have supplied a typical type refrigerator and freezer cabinet 1 with doors 2 the device is shown in position. This arrangement of appliance 1 is used as an example as there are various types and shapes of appliance, the device would be located at the door 2.

Seen in fig 2 is a perspective view of the device consisting of case 4 an activating button 5 with a spacing block 5A an indicator light 6 and a serrated face 7. The case 4 is relieved on one side to allow it to be positioned onto the edge of the cabinet 1 between it and the inside face of the door 2. In this embodiment a twin sided adhesive patch would be used to retain the case 4 in position. The spacing block 5A is used for narrowing the distance between the inner face of the door 2 and the activating means of the device when the door 2 is in the closed position and located with the relieved face against the edge of the door 2 in line with the case 4. With the case 4 and spacing block 5A located and the door 2 closed the activating button 5 would make contact with the spacing block 5A face. The spacing block 5a would in this embodiment be retained in position by a twin sided adhesive patch. In another embodiment the spacing block 5A would be omitted and the activating button 5 would make contact with the inside face of the refrigerator or freezer door 2. In This embodiment more than one spacer block 5A would be supplied of various thickness to accommodate a wider or smaller gap.

In another embodiment the case 4 and spacing block 5A would be retained in position by magnets secured either inside of or secured to the case 4 and spacing block 5A. In another embodiment the face of the case 4 and the spacing block 5A would not be relieved. Fig 3 is a part dipped view of the device. The activating button 5 is located through an aperture in the case 4 wall extending through the aperture. The button 5 has a small diameter passing through the aperture with a larger diameter on the inside of the aperture stopping the button 5 from passing through. A spring 11 ip located to the rear of the button 5 to retain it in position. The spring 11 would be fixed into p9sition within the case 4. The spring 11 retaining the button 5 has a bias to the active state.

Located within the case 4 is a power supply in this embodiment a battery 8. In another embodiment another source of power may be used. Fitted within the case 4 is an audible alarm 9. In this embodiment the sound emitted would be a bleeping noise. In another embodiment the sound could be one of many available. In this embodiment so that an amount of time would pass before the audible alarm would sound there would be a timer delay within the system, this could be seconds, minutes or hours. In a less preferred embodiment the alarm would sound as soon as the door was opened. Fig 2 shows a serrated face 7. In order to allow the audible warning to be heard. In another embodiment this serration 7 could be on a different face. In another embodirpent this serration would be omitted.

3 -the contact completes an electrical circuit the audible alarm 9 would be active and dependent upon whether or not the door 2 was closed before the pre-set time delay was exceeded an audible warning would sound. When the door 2 was closed the spacing block 5A face would again make contact with the activaUng button 5 pushing the button 5 back against the spring 11 breaking the circuit stopping the power to the audible alarm 9.

Supplied in this embodiment as seen in fig 2 and fig 3 is an indicator light 6. This is used to give a visual indication that power is being supplied as well as an indication that the door 2 is open. Conveniently in this embodiment a board 10 supplied to locate the internal component parts of the device is supplied. In another embodiment this board 10 may not be included.

As shown in fig 4 is an alternative embodiment with the acbvating button 5 being replaced with an operating lever. In this embodiment the operating lever would be constructed from one piece having one leg 12 and another leg 13 at right angle to it and a raised wedge 16 proud of the surface of the face 13. The case 4 would be constructed in this embodiment of flexible material. A channel 14 (fig 5) fitted within the case 4 to form a slideway between it and the case 4 wall allowing the leg 13 to locate within it. The flexible material would allow the wall of the channel 14 to stretch sufficient to allow the leg 13 and the wedge 16 to be passed within it. For part of its length the channel 14 wall would have a relief 15 (inset drawing), The wedge 16 would locate within this relief 15, which would be wide enough to allow the wedge 16 to move within it without interference. The flexible material would allow the wall of the channel 14 to return to its previous position effectively retaining the wedge 16 in the relief 15. The wedge 16 travelling within the relief 15 would restrict the operating lever forward travel; the spring 17 would maintain a forward bias. With the lever in the forward position an electrical circuit would be complete and the device would become active in the same manner as previously described. In another embodiment the visual indicator light 6 could be located on the side of the case. In another embodiment the lever would be constructed from different parts.

In yet another embodiment the means of activating the alarm would be by a light beam, contained within the case 4 located so that when the door 2 was open the beam being broken would activate the device.

In another embodiment the contact faces between the case 4 and the spacing block 5A could be magnetic opening of the door 2 releasing the magnet to complete the electrical circuit making the device active.

The design of the invention allows the device to accommodate both left and right-sided doors.

4 In the preferred embodiment with the component parts located within the case 4 it would be sealed permanently In another embodiment the use of retaining clips would be used to retain a plate in position giving access to the battery 8.

As shown in fig 7 there is also supplied a fitted device located within the wall of the cabinet 1 of the appliance in this embodiment the device would be located in an aperture allowing the case 20 to enter prevented from passing through by the Larger flange 18 held in position with retaining clips 19 located on the case 20. The door 2 face when closed would be in contact with the button 5 pushing it back against a spring retained within the case 20 and breaking an electrical circuit, when the door 2 is open the spring inside the case 20 would push the button 5 forward moving electrical contacts together completing an electrical circuit and activating the device. In this embodiment a battery would power the device. In another embodiment the power supply to the electrical circuit in the device would be the same as supplied to the appliance. In this embodiment the visual indicator 6 would indicate the power supply to the device, and an audible warning device would also be activated. The audible warning device in this embodiment could be fitted with a timed delay so as to allow use of the appliance without the alarm being sounded as soon as the door 2 is opened. This delay could be seconds minutes or hours. In another embodiment there would be no delay and the alarm would sound immediately the device became active. In another embodiment the device would be located inside the appliance compartment, activated by the opening of the door 2.

In another embodiment the operating switch 5 would be separate to the operating parts located elsewhere about the applicince with the activating switch 5 and the case 20 with operating parts being connected by electrical wiring.

Claims

1 - We supply a refrigerator or freezer having a cold storage area having a fixing means to retain the warning device in position, for the device to have first an inactive and an active state the device to have an operating means to activate the device. The active state would be when the door is open, the inactive state would be when the door is closed the device having an audible alarm operational when in the active state.

2. We supply a warning device having passive mounting means for the attachment of the device to a refrigerator or freezer the device having first an inactive and an active state, the device to have an operating means to activate the device The active state would be when the door is open the device to have an audible alarm operational when in the active state.

3. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 1. to which the alarm device is fitted, having at least one horizontal door fitted by means of at least one hinge so as to allow the door to open and to close so as to allow the device to operate in the active and the inactive state.

4. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 1. to which the alarm device is fitted, having at least one upright door fitted by means of at least one hinge so as to allow the door to open and to close so as to allow the device to operate in the active and the inactive state.

5. An alarm device that has a means of being retrospectively attached removeably so to the refrigerator or freezer.

6. The alarm device as in claim 2 to have an activating switch to cause the alarm to become active when the door is open and inactive when the door is closed.

7. The alarm device as in claims 1 and 2 to have a timed delay before the audible alarm sounds.

8. A power supply in the device to be either by means of mains powered or battery, or to have a mains supply with a battery back up.

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