ITPR20120088A1 - REFRIGERATION APPARATUS WITH TIPPING SEPARATOR. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

â € œRefrigeration apparatus with tilting separatorâ €

The present invention relates to a food refrigeration device.

A food product refrigeration device is known comprising:

-a refrigeration compartment;

-a drawer placed inside the refrigeration compartment.

This drawer is equipped with a vertical rigid partition that identifies two compartments. This partition can be connected to the drawer in a variety of positions. In these positions the partition always remains parallel to itself, but allows the user to change the volume of the two compartments and therefore guarantees better flexibility of use for the drawer.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration device for food products which allows a better flexibility of use.

This object and others, which will become clearer in the course of the following description, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by a food product refrigeration device having structural and functional characteristics in accordance with the attached independent claims, further embodiments of the same being identified in the attached and corresponding dependent claims.

The invention is set out in more detail below with the help of the drawings, which represent a purely exemplary and non-limiting embodiment.

-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refrigeration device according to the present invention.

-Figure 2 shows in an at least partially exploded view a constructive solution of a refrigeration device according to the present invention.

-Figures 3 and 4 show, in two distinct configurations, the refrigeration device of figure 2 with some parts removed to better highlight others.

-Figure 5 shows the device of figure 2 with some parts removed to better highlight others.

-Figures 6 and 7 show components of figures 3 and 4 respectively.

-Figure 8 shows a further constructive solution according to the present invention.

-Figures 9 and 10 show, in two distinct configurations, a component shown in figure 8.

In the accompanying figures, the reference number 1 indicates a food refrigeration device (typically a fridge-freezer). The refrigeration device 1 comprises a refrigeration compartment 2. The refrigeration device 1 also comprises a drawer 3 movable between a first position of maximum insertion in the compartment 2 (see fig. 1) and a second position of at least partial extraction from the compartment 2 (see fig. 2).

The drawer 3 comprises a lower bottom 33 and lateral delimitation means 34. Conveniently, the lateral delimitation means 34 surround a space intended for containing the dishes delimited at the bottom by the bottom 33. In the preferred solution, the delimitation means 34 comprise a rear wall 91. The delimitation means 34 conveniently also comprise a front wall 92 opposite said rear wall 91.

Conveniently, the front wall 92 and the rear wall 91 extend transversely (preferably orthogonally) to the direction 7 of insertion / extraction of the drawer with respect to the compartment 2. The front wall 92 in the position of maximum insertion of the drawer 3 is closer, with respect to the rear wall 91, to an opening for inserting / extracting drawer 3 from compartment 2.

Between the rear wall 91 and the front wall 92 the lateral delimitation means 34 also comprise a first and a second lateral wall 93, 94 (which are preferably parallel). The first and second lateral walls 93, 94 suitably develop parallel to the direction 7 of introduction / extraction of the drawer 3 with respect to the compartment 2.

Conveniently, the device 1 comprises a partition 4 which divides said drawer 3 into at least a first and a second compartment 31, 32 intended for containing dishes. The first compartment 31 is conveniently delimited by the rear wall 91, by the partition 4, by a part of the first and second side walls 93, 94. The first compartment 31 is open at the top. Conveniently, the first compartment 31 extends over the entire distance existing between the two side walls 93, 94. The second compartment 32 is conveniently delimited by the front wall 92, by a part of the first and second side walls 93, 94 and by the septum 4.

The second compartment 32 is open at the top. Conveniently, the second compartment 32 extends over the entire distance existing between the first and second side walls 93, 94.

Conveniently, the septum 4 mutually connects the first and second lateral walls 93, 94. In particular, it is linked both to the first and to the second side wall 93, 94. In the solution illustrated in the accompanying figures, the front wall 92, when the drawer 3 is in the first position, can sealingly occlude an access opening to the compartment 2. In this case, the front wall 92 is advantageously accessible directly by a user (in an alternative solution might require the preventive opening of a door in order to access drawer 3; in this case the drawer 3 would be completely inserted inside the compartment 2).

The device 1 conveniently comprises a first mouth 5 for introducing a cooled fluid stream.

The first opening 5 directs said fluid stream into an area 23 which surmounts said first compartment 31.

Conveniently there is also a second opening 95. Conveniently, the second opening 95 is horizontally flanked by the first opening 5. Advantageously, the second opening 95 also directs the fluid current to an area 23 which surmounts the first compartment 31.

The device 1 also comprises a body which surmounts said partition 4 when the drawer 3 is in the first position of maximum insertion.

In the first position of the drawer 3, the minimum distance between said partition 4 and said body is less than 10 millimeters, preferably this minimum distance is between 3 and 7 millimeters. Normally this minimum distance is measured vertically.

Said body could be an additional drawer. This could happen if compartment 2 has an access door and there are several drawers inside.

However, said body could also be a wall 21 for the upper delimitation of compartment 2 (see figure 5). This happens for example if there is only one drawer 3 in compartment 2 or in any case the drawer 3 in question is the highest drawer in compartment 2.

In the exemplary solution illustrated in the accompanying figures, the septum 4 develops transversely, preferably orthogonally, to a direction of introduction into the compartment 2 (through said first and / or second opening 5, 95) of the refrigerated fluid stream. Conveniently, the refrigerated air stream exiting the first and / or second vent 5, 95 is substantially horizontal.

The first opening 5 (but conveniently also the second opening 95) directs the fluid current towards said partition 4 making it pass above the rear wall 91 of the drawer 3.

The septum 4 allows to intercept the chilled air stream and direct it into the first compartment 31. Advantageously, the septum 4 (by virtue of the reduced distance from said body) prolongs the residence time of the refrigerated fluid current with the dishes present in the first compartment 31. Furthermore, the first compartment 31 has a smaller volume than the volume of the entire drawer 3 and therefore there is a more effective cooling of the dishes it contains. Typically, the first compartment 31 acts as a rapid cooling / freezing compartment.

In the solutions illustrated by way of example, the first introduction opening 5 is placed on a rear wall 22 of the compartment 2 and directs the fluid current towards said septum 4. Conveniently also the second opening 95 is formed in said rear wall 22. The rear wall 22 is the opposite wall to the opening for introduction / removal of drawer 3 with respect to compartment 2.

The septum 4 protrudes upwards with respect to a rear wall 91 of the drawer 3 defining an obstacle which intercepts the refrigerated fluid stream leaving the first and / or second opening 5.95 directing it into the first compartment 31; the first opening 5 (but conveniently also the second opening 95) is located at a greater height than said rear wall 91 of the drawer 3. The rear wall 91 of the drawer 3 forms part of the lateral delimitation means 34. Preferably the septum 4 protrudes upwards with respect to the rear wall 91 by at least 10 millimeters, preferably by at least 30 millimeters.

Advantageously, the septum 4 protrudes upwards with respect to the first and second side walls 93, 94. In fact, the first and second side walls 93, 94 are conveniently located under an upper edge of the septum 4. This facilitates the rotation of the basket 3 which can accompany its extraction.

In an alternative solution which is not preferred and not shown, the first opening 5 (and advantageously also the second opening 95) are located on a ceiling of the compartment 2 and lie above said first compartment 31 when the drawer 3 is in the first position of maximum insertion.

The septum 4 develops transversely (preferably orthogonally) to the insertion / extraction direction 7 of the drawer 3 with respect to the compartment 2. Conveniently, the septum 4 has a thickness of between 1 and 3 millimeters. It is made of plastic material.

In the solution exemplified in the accompanying figures, the septum 4 provides at least a first opening 41 which crosses the septum 4 and places the first and second compartments 31,32 in fluid communication.

Preferably the septum 4 comprises a first and a second imaginary strip 43, 44 defined respectively as the locus of the points of the septum 4 which are less than 10 centimeters distant from the first and second lateral walls 93, 94. The first and second lateral walls 93, 94 extend transversely to said partition 4 and to two opposite ends of said partition 4. The first opening 41 is placed in said first strip 43. Advantageously, along the first strip 43 there are a plurality of openings.

The septum 4 comprises at least a second opening 42 placed in said second strip 44. Advantageously, a plurality of openings are present along the second strip 44.

In addition or as an alternative to said openings, the device 1 could comprise passage sections between the first and second compartment external to the septum 4. For example, such passage sections could be obtained between a perimeter edge of the septum 4 and the drawer 3. In in particular, these passage sections could be obtained between the perimeter edge of the partition 4 and the lateral delimitation means 34 (or the lower bottom 33). The presence of the openings that facilitate the passage of the fluid current from the first to the second compartment 31, 32 allows to:

- facilitate the refrigeration of the dishes in the second compartment 32;

-to avoid overpressure in the first compartment 31 (which would hinder the flow of refrigerated air towards the first compartment 31, and could also cause a blockage of the operation of the ventilation means which push the refrigerated air into the first compartment 31). In the constructive solution illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures, the partition 4 comprises a panel 45 and a flap 46 reciprocally hinged around an axis 47 of horizontal rotation. Panel 45 can be linked to drawer 3. In particular, it can be hung by means of hooking arms 88 which rest on a counter of the drawer.

The partition 4 assumes a first configuration in which both the panel 45 and the flap 46 extend from the bottom up (in the preferred solution they develop substantially vertically - see Figures 3, 6, 9-). The partition 4 assumes a second configuration in which the panel 45 develops from the bottom up (in the preferred solution it is substantially vertical). In the second configuration the flap 46:

- extends transversely to the panel 45;

- forms part of (defines) a lower base of said first compartment 31, said flap 46 connecting said panel 45 and a portion of the delimiting means 34 which in the first configuration counterfaces said partition 4.

In the second configuration said flap 46 is rotated with respect to the first configuration and a vertical projection of the same on a horizontal plane presenting a larger surface than the first configuration.

An example of a second configuration of the septum 4 is shown in figures 4, 7, 10.

In the second configuration of the partition 4 the flap 46 is supported by a first portion of the delimiting means 34. In the second configuration of the partition 4 a part of the flap 46 is supported by the rear wall 91, called the rear wall 91 in the first configuration counterfeiting said partition 4.

In particular, the flap 46 comprises an edge 460 which in the second configuration is supported by the lateral delimitation means 34. This edge 460 is one side of the perimeter of the flap 46. The edge 460 is opposite to the rotation axis 47. This edge 460 has a preponderant development direction which is parallel to the rotation axis 47. In the second configuration of the septum 4 said edge 460 is supported by a rear wall 91 forming part of the delimitation means 34, said rear wall 91 in the second configuration counter-facing said panel 45. The edge 460 conveniently develops along a transverse line (preferably orthogonal ) to the insertion / extraction direction 7 of drawer 3 with respect to compartment 2.

In the second configuration of the partition 4 said second compartment 32 can extend below the first compartment 31 (see Figures 1-7). In particular, in the second configuration, said second compartment 32 extends partially between the first compartment 31 and the lower bottom 33. In the second configuration of the septum 4 the first compartment 31 has a lower volume than in the first configuration of the septum 4. In the second configuration of the septum 4 the first compartment 31 has a volume that is less than half the volume of the second compartment 32. As exemplified in figure 7 or 10 in the second configuration the flap 46 is substantially horizontal. The possibility of passing from the first to the second configuration allows a high degree of flexibility since in the second configuration the second compartment 32 can be cooled even faster than in the first configuration, due to its small size, and consequently it is possible to have an even more effective cooling of the dishes it contains; moreover, in the second configuration the second compartment 32 is also easily reachable by a user (the second compartment 32 has in fact a reduced development in height and is located in an upper portion of the drawer 3; this reduces the risk that a user must rummage in a very tall drawer to find products arranged on the bottom bottom).

Conveniently, said panel 45 and said flap 46 comprise counter-shaped parts which in the first configuration of the partition 4 interpenetrate each other, at least partially obstructing passage areas 96 which place the first and second compartment 31, 32 in fluid communication. In the second configuration of the septum 4 said counter-shaped parts allow the passage of fluid through said passage zones 96. Conveniently, the counter-shaped parts are comb-like and in the first configuration the teeth of the comb interpenetrate each other, while in the second configuration they develop along distinct directions. The teeth of the comb suitably penetrate in correspondence with the rotation axis 47.

As can be derived from the comparison of Figures 6 and 7, the lower bottom 33 of the drawer 3 comprises a housing 99 which in the first configuration accommodates at least a part of said edge 460. Preferably the edge 460 comprises a projection 82 which in the first configuration projects downwards and fits into the housing 99. The housing 99, for example, is defined by projections 81 which protrude from the lower bottom 33. In the second configuration, said edge 460 and the lateral delimitation means 34 (preferably the rear wall 91) are connected by means of a male / female connection. This prevents or contributes to preventing the flap 46 from sliding horizontally away from the rear wall 91.

Conveniently, the projection 82 of the edge 460 provides at least one seat which receives a protuberance developing from the lateral delimitation means 34 (in particular from the rear wall 91). Conveniently, this protuberance protrudes from the bottom up.

The edge 460 is conveniently also resting on the lateral delimitation means 34.

In the constructive solution illustrated by way of example in figures 8-10, the flap 46 in the first configuration (it could however also be understood as a third configuration) is folded like a book on the panel 45 and is arranged parallel to the panel 45 (as illustrated in figure 9). The flap 46 and the panel 45 therefore overlap. In the solution of figures 8-10, when the flap 46 is in the second configuration, the partition 4 has a transversal section shaped like a â € œTâ € (as illustrated in figure 10). Conveniently, in the constructive solution of Figures 8-10, the panel 45 extends up to the bottom of the drawer. The flap 46 can be superimposed on the upper portion of the panel 45. In this way the user can place the objects between the panel 45 and the rear wall 91 of the drawer and then lower the flap 46 positioning the partition 4 in the second configuration. In particular, in the constructive solution of figures 8-10 the user can position the septum 4 in the second configuration without having to extract the septum 4 from drawer 3.

Advantageously, the septum 4 can be removed from drawer 3.

With reference to Figure 1, the device 1 in addition to the compartment 2 can comprise a freezer compartment 86 and / or a compartment 87 for refrigeration of food dishes stacked with said compartment 2.

The object of the present invention is also a method of operation of a device having one or more of the characteristics described above. Conveniently, the method includes the steps of:

-insert a first dish (for example at a temperature higher than 10 ° C therefore not frozen) in said first compartment 31;

-introducing a gaseous stream through the first opening 5 into said compartment 2 directing it towards said septum 4 which deflects it at least partially downwards, carrying out a cooling action (preferably freezing) of the first dish.

Conveniently, the current of air present in the first compartment 31 flows into the second compartment 32 carrying out a cooling action in this compartment 32 as well (preferably it keeps frozen a dish already frozen and present in this second compartment 32).

The present invention allows to achieve multiple advantages. First of all, it allows you to quickly cool the dishes in the first compartment while keeping the dishes in the second compartment refrigerated. In fact, the possibility of overturning a part of the partition allows to increase the versatility of the drawer. Furthermore, the possibility of reducing the volume of the first compartment allows a very fast cooling of food items that are placed in the first compartment. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the height of the first compartment 31 which therefore is no longer necessarily identical to the height of the drawer 3 (this in addition to reducing the refrigeration time of the first compartment 31 also facilitates a user to trace the food products stored in it). The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterizes it. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Food refrigeration device comprising: i) a refrigeration compartment (2); ii) a drawer (3) movable between a first position of maximum insertion in the compartment (2) and a second position of at least partial extraction from the compartment (2); said drawer (3) comprising a lower bottom (33) and lateral delimitation means (34); iii) a partition (4) suitable for dividing said drawer (3) into at least a first and a second compartment (31, 32) for containing dishes; characterized in that said partition (4) comprises a panel (45) and a flap (46) reciprocally hinged around an axis (47) of horizontal rotation; said panel (45) being connectable to the lateral delimitation means (34); the partition (4) assuming a first configuration in which the panel (45) and the flap (46) develop from the bottom up and a second configuration in which the panel (45) develops from the bottom up while the flap (46 ): -Ã rotated with respect to the first configuration and a vertical projection of the same on a horizontal plane presenting a larger surface than the first configuration; - it develops transversely to the panel (45); - it is part of a lower base of said first compartment (31); - connects said panel (45) and a predetermined portion of the delimiting means (34), in the first configuration said predetermined portion counterfeiting said partition (4). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second configuration of the septum (4) said second compartment (32) extends below the first compartment (31) and partially extends between the first compartment (31) and the bottom (33) lower. 3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the first configuration said panel (45) and said flap (46) are substantially vertical, in the second configuration said panel (45) is substantially vertical while said flap (46) It is basically horizontal. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the first configuration of the partition the flap (46) is folded over the panel (45) and is arranged parallel to the panel (45). 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second configuration of the septum (4) the first compartment (31) has a volume which is less than half the volume of the second compartment (32). 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first opening (5) for introducing refrigerated air into the compartment (2); said first opening (5) being placed on a rear wall (22) of the compartment (2) and directing the fluid current towards said partition (4); said septum (4) projecting upwards with respect to a rear wall (91) of the drawer (3) and defining an obstacle which intercepts the refrigerated fluid stream directing it into the first compartment (31); said first opening (5) being placed at a greater height than said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3), said rear wall (91) of the drawer (3) forming part of said lateral delimitation means (34). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that in the second configuration of the septum (4) a part of the flap (46) is supported by the rear wall (91), said rear wall (91) in the first configuration counterfeiting said septum ( 4). 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said septum (4) provides at least a first opening (41) which crosses the septum (4) and places the first and second compartment (31,32) in fluid communication . 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panel (45) and said flap (46) comprise counter-shaped parts which in the first configuration of the partition (4) interpenetrate each other, obstructing at least partially passage areas (96) which put the first and second compartments in fluid communication (31,32); in the second configuration of the septum (4) said counter-shaped parts allow the passage of fluid through said passage areas (96). 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower bottom (33) comprises a housing (99) which in the first configuration accommodates an edge (460) of the flap (45); in the second configuration said edge (460) and the lateral delimitation means (34) being connected by means of a male / female connection.