US20070271946A1 - Refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables - Google Patents
Refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070271946A1 US20070271946A1 US11/715,911 US71591107A US2007271946A1 US 20070271946 A1 US20070271946 A1 US 20070271946A1 US 71591107 A US71591107 A US 71591107A US 2007271946 A1 US2007271946 A1 US 2007271946A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shelf
- main body
- refrigerator
- photosynthesis
- vegetables
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0013—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide
- G02B6/0015—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
- G02B6/002—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
- G02B6/0021—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
-
- 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
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G7/00—Botany in general
- A01G7/04—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth
- A01G7/045—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth with electric lighting
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/24—Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
- A01G9/249—Lighting means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
- A23B7/00—Preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
- A23B7/015—Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
- A23B7/00—Preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
- A23B7/04—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
-
- 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
- F25D27/00—Lighting arrangements
-
- 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
- F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0081—Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
- G02B6/0086—Positioning aspects
- G02B6/0088—Positioning aspects of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
- F21W2131/30—Lighting for domestic or personal use
- F21W2131/305—Lighting for domestic or personal use for refrigerators
-
- 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
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
- Y02P60/14—Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables; and, more particularly, to a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables by irradiating light to enable photosynthesis of the vegetables stored in the refrigerator shelf, thereby maintaining the freshness of the vegetables stored thereon.
- the refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator to perform a cooling cycle, and thus keeps the freshness of food items for a long period of time by cooled air generated through such a cooling cycle.
- a freezer compartment for preserving food items in a frozen state and a refrigerator compartment for preserving the food items in a refrigerated state are partitioned inside a main body forming external appearance thereof, so that the food items can be stored in either the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment according to the storage temperature of the food items.
- FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a conventional refrigerator 10 whose refrigerator compartment is provided with a plurality of shelves 11 and a vegetable room 12 to separately store a large amount of food items such as vegetables or fruits thereon.
- Such a refrigerator keeps the vegetables stored therein at a low temperature by simply controlling the cooled air, whereby the freshness of the vegetables can be maintained for a certain period of time.
- the freshness of the vegetables may not be maintained.
- the vegetables which belong to the plant kingdom, respire and transpire even while they are stored in a refrigerator. Therefore, in order to maintain the freshness of the vegetables stored in the refrigerator, it is necessary to suppress the respiration and the transpiration.
- the conventional refrigerator can maintain a certain degree of freshness by keeping the vegetables at a low temperature to suppress the respiration thereof and in a high humidity to prevent the transpiration.
- the chlorophyll contained in the vegetables cannot be prevented from being decomposed, the freshness of the vegetables cannot be maintained due to a decrease in the concentration of chlorophyll contained in the vegetables with the lapse of a certain period of time.
- an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables to maintain the freshness of the vegetable by suppressing decomposition of the chlorophyll contained in the vegetables stored in a refrigerator.
- It is another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator shelf capable of evenly providing vegetables stored thereon with light required for photosynthesis.
- a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, including a shelf main body that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit disposed at both sides of the shelf main body for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via at least one among a top surface and a bottom surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
- a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, including a shelf main body that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit, disposed at a bottom surface of the shelf main body, for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via a top surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing a conventional refrigerator
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view for showing an assembled state of the refrigerator shelf of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A for showing the refrigerator shelf of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 5 shows the refrigerator shelf of FIG. 4 in a state provided with a reflection part
- FIG. 6 describes an in-use state of the refrigerator shelf of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along a line B-B for showing an assembled state of the refrigerator shelf of FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 9 shows the refrigerator shelf of FIG. 8 in a state provided with concave lenses.
- FIGS. 2 to 5 show a refrigerator shelf 100 capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 6 shows an in-use state of the refrigerator shelf 100 .
- a refrigerator shelf 100 in accordance with the first embodiment includes a shelf main body 110 that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit 120 disposed at both sides of the shelf main body 110 for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables.
- the shelf main body 110 is formed of transparent material such as glass, acryl or reinforced plastic capable of transmitting light. Among these materials, glass is the most preferable as the material of the shelf main body 110 .
- insertion grooves 111 are formed at both sides of the shelf main body 110 such that light emitting units 121 installed in the photosynthesis promotion units 120 can be inserted thereto, thereby assembling the photosynthesis promotion units 120 with the shelf main body 110 as a single body.
- a shelf connection part 112 is installed at a rear end portion of the shelf main body 110 , which is electrically coupled to a refrigerator connection part 200 a, 200 b or 200 c (shown in FIG. 6 ) formed inside the refrigerator 200 .
- the shelf connection part 112 is inserted into the refrigerator connection part 200 a, 200 b or 200 c in such a manner that the photosynthesis promotion unit 120 can be provided with an electric power from a power supply of the refrigerator.
- the photosynthesis promotion unit 120 is powered by the power supply of the refrigerator 200 to which the photosynthesis promotion unit 120 is electrically coupled via the shelf connection part 112 . It is preferable that the photosynthesis promotion unit 120 be configured with a print circuit board and the light emitting units 121 installed on the print circuit board for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables.
- light emitting devices such as emitting diodes, chip LEDs, white fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps or the like can be employed as the light emitting units 121 .
- emitting diodes are the most preferable as the light emitting units 121 .
- the light emitting units 121 emit the light whose wavelength falls within a range from 450 to 700 nm. In this range of wavelength, biological or chemical processes that cause to deteriorate the freshness of vegetables can be suppressed.
- the decomposition of chlorophyll contained in leaves of vegetables is suppressed.
- the decrease in the chlorophyll concentration is also suppressed to keep vegetables green in color.
- the decrease in the amount of vitamin C contained in vegetables is also suppressed.
- vegetables can be kept fresh for a longer period of time, while maintaining the nutrients therein to be intact.
- the light emitting units 121 are inserted into the insertion grooves 111 in the shelf main body 110 , and light is emitted from the light emitting units 121 toward a top and a bottom surface of the shelf main body 110 , transmitting through the shelf main body 110 as a medium for light propagation (see FIG. 4 ).
- the shelf main body 100 is formed of a transparent material such as glass, acryl, reinforced plastic or the like, it provides a moving path for the light emitted from the light emitting units 121 toward the top and the bottom surface of the shelf main body 110 .
- the light required for photosynthesis of vegetables can be supplied to vegetables stored on the top surface of the shelf main body 110 together with those stored at a shelf that lies below the shelf main body 110 . This is because the light is transferred to a wide area over an entire hemisphere (whose solid angle is 2 ⁇ ) by transmitting through the transparent material of the shelf main body 110 as a medium for light propagation. Thus, the light required for photosynthesis can be evenly supplied to the vegetables.
- a reflection part 130 is provided to be installed on either the top or bottom surface of the shelf main body 110 as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the reflection part 130 is installed on the bottom surface of the shelf main body 110 in such a way that the light emitted from the light emitting units 121 is reflected to the top surface of the shelf main body 110 .
- At least one convex mirror as the reflection part 130 , so that the light emitted from the light emitting units 121 can be dispersed over a wide range of space.
- the light required for photosynthesis can be sufficiently supplied to the vegetables stored in the refrigerator 200 .
- the refrigerator 200 may be provided with more than one shelf 100 installed therein.
- a plurality of refrigerator connection parts 200 a, 200 b and 200 c may be installed in the refrigerator 200 , thereby providing electric powers to a plurality of shelves 10 a, 100 b and 100 c.
- vegetables stored in a vegetable room 210 can be irradiated with light required for photosynthesis.
- FIGS. 7 to 9 show a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
- a refrigerator shelf 300 includes a shelf main body 310 that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit 320 disposed at a bottom surface of the shelf main body 310 for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables.
- the refrigerator shelf 300 may further include a lens unit 330 for refracting the light emitted from the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 , the lens unit 330 being disposed between the shelf main body 310 and the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 .
- insertion grooves 312 Formed at a bottom surface of the shelf main body 310 are insertion grooves 312 , into which the light emitting units 321 of the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 is inserted so that the bottom surface of the shelf main body 310 is in contact with a top surface of the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 .
- the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 is powered by a power supply of the refrigerator, to which the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 is electrically coupled via the shelf connection part 311 . It is preferably that the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 be formed of a print circuit board and the light emitting units 321 installed on the print circuit board for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables.
- the print circuit board, on which the light emitting units 312 are disposed, has such shape and size to fit to those of the shelf main body 310 . Further, the light emitting units 312 irradiate the light toward a top surface of the shelf main body 310 .
- light emitting devices such as emitting diodes, chip LEDs, white fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps or the like can be employed as the light emitting unit 321 .
- chip LEDs capable of emitting light whose wavelength falls within a range from 450 to 700 nm.
- chip LEDs are preferable as the light emitting unit 321 is that the manufacturing time and cost can be efficiently saved by employing surface mount technology, and the shelf 300 can be made slimmer.
- the lens unit 330 which is configured to refract and disperse the light, is installed on the top surface of the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 , thereby making the light dispersed from the light emitting units 321 to the shelf main body 310 .
- the lens unit 330 has at least one concave lens 331 at locations corresponding to the light emitting units 321 of the photosynthesis promotion unit 320 , such that the light can be dispersed from the light emitting units 321 to the top surface of the shelf main body 310 .
- the light required for photosynthesis can be sufficiently supplied to the vegetables stored in the shelf 300 .
- the light required for photosynthesis can be sufficiently supplied to the vegetables stored in the refrigerator shelf in accordance with the present invention. Accordingly, the decomposition of chlorophyll in the vegetables can be prevented, so that the vegetables can be kept fresh in the refrigerator shelf.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Botany (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Ecology (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
A refrigerator shelf, capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, includes a shelf main body that partitions an inside of a refrigerator as specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit, disposed at both sides of the shelf main body, for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via at least one among a top surface and a bottom surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation. Alternatively, the photosynthesis promotion unit is disposed at a bottom surface of the shelf main body, and emits light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via a top surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
Description
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables; and, more particularly, to a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables by irradiating light to enable photosynthesis of the vegetables stored in the refrigerator shelf, thereby maintaining the freshness of the vegetables stored thereon.
- In general, the refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator to perform a cooling cycle, and thus keeps the freshness of food items for a long period of time by cooled air generated through such a cooling cycle.
- In such a refrigerator, a freezer compartment for preserving food items in a frozen state and a refrigerator compartment for preserving the food items in a refrigerated state are partitioned inside a main body forming external appearance thereof, so that the food items can be stored in either the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment according to the storage temperature of the food items.
-
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of aconventional refrigerator 10 whose refrigerator compartment is provided with a plurality ofshelves 11 and avegetable room 12 to separately store a large amount of food items such as vegetables or fruits thereon. - Such a refrigerator keeps the vegetables stored therein at a low temperature by simply controlling the cooled air, whereby the freshness of the vegetables can be maintained for a certain period of time. However, in case of preserving them for a long time, the freshness of the vegetables may not be maintained.
- The vegetables, which belong to the plant kingdom, respire and transpire even while they are stored in a refrigerator. Therefore, in order to maintain the freshness of the vegetables stored in the refrigerator, it is necessary to suppress the respiration and the transpiration.
- Accordingly, the conventional refrigerator can maintain a certain degree of freshness by keeping the vegetables at a low temperature to suppress the respiration thereof and in a high humidity to prevent the transpiration. However, since the chlorophyll contained in the vegetables cannot be prevented from being decomposed, the freshness of the vegetables cannot be maintained due to a decrease in the concentration of chlorophyll contained in the vegetables with the lapse of a certain period of time.
- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables to maintain the freshness of the vegetable by suppressing decomposition of the chlorophyll contained in the vegetables stored in a refrigerator.
- It is another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator shelf capable of evenly providing vegetables stored thereon with light required for photosynthesis.
- In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator shelf, capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, including a shelf main body that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit disposed at both sides of the shelf main body for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via at least one among a top surface and a bottom surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
- In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator shelf, capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, including a shelf main body that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and a photosynthesis promotion unit, disposed at a bottom surface of the shelf main body, for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via a top surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
- The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing a conventional refrigerator; -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for showing an assembled state of the refrigerator shelf ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A for showing the refrigerator shelf ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 shows the refrigerator shelf ofFIG. 4 in a state provided with a reflection part; -
FIG. 6 describes an in-use state of the refrigerator shelf ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along a line B-B for showing an assembled state of the refrigerator shelf ofFIG. 7 ; and -
FIG. 9 shows the refrigerator shelf ofFIG. 8 in a state provided with concave lenses. - Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that they can be readily implemented by those skilled in the art.
- Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 2 to 5 show arefrigerator shelf 100 capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Further,FIG. 6 shows an in-use state of therefrigerator shelf 100. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , arefrigerator shelf 100 in accordance with the first embodiment includes a shelfmain body 110 that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and aphotosynthesis promotion unit 120 disposed at both sides of the shelfmain body 110 for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables. - The shelf
main body 110 is formed of transparent material such as glass, acryl or reinforced plastic capable of transmitting light. Among these materials, glass is the most preferable as the material of the shelfmain body 110. - Further,
insertion grooves 111 are formed at both sides of the shelfmain body 110 such thatlight emitting units 121 installed in thephotosynthesis promotion units 120 can be inserted thereto, thereby assembling thephotosynthesis promotion units 120 with the shelfmain body 110 as a single body. - Furthermore, a
shelf connection part 112 is installed at a rear end portion of the shelfmain body 110, which is electrically coupled to arefrigerator connection part FIG. 6 ) formed inside therefrigerator 200. - More specifically, the
shelf connection part 112 is inserted into therefrigerator connection part photosynthesis promotion unit 120 can be provided with an electric power from a power supply of the refrigerator. - The
photosynthesis promotion unit 120 is powered by the power supply of therefrigerator 200 to which thephotosynthesis promotion unit 120 is electrically coupled via theshelf connection part 112. It is preferable that thephotosynthesis promotion unit 120 be configured with a print circuit board and thelight emitting units 121 installed on the print circuit board for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables. - Here, light emitting devices such as emitting diodes, chip LEDs, white fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps or the like can be employed as the
light emitting units 121. Among these light emitting devices, emitting diodes are the most preferable as thelight emitting units 121. - Further, it is preferable that the
light emitting units 121 emit the light whose wavelength falls within a range from 450 to 700 nm. In this range of wavelength, biological or chemical processes that cause to deteriorate the freshness of vegetables can be suppressed. - To be specific, the decomposition of chlorophyll contained in leaves of vegetables is suppressed. Thus, the decrease in the chlorophyll concentration is also suppressed to keep vegetables green in color. Further, the decrease in the amount of vitamin C contained in vegetables is also suppressed. Thus, vegetables can be kept fresh for a longer period of time, while maintaining the nutrients therein to be intact.
- Meanwhile, the
light emitting units 121 are inserted into theinsertion grooves 111 in the shelfmain body 110, and light is emitted from thelight emitting units 121 toward a top and a bottom surface of the shelfmain body 110, transmitting through the shelfmain body 110 as a medium for light propagation (seeFIG. 4 ). - Here, since the shelf
main body 100 is formed of a transparent material such as glass, acryl, reinforced plastic or the like, it provides a moving path for the light emitted from thelight emitting units 121 toward the top and the bottom surface of the shelfmain body 110. - Therefore, the light required for photosynthesis of vegetables can be supplied to vegetables stored on the top surface of the shelf
main body 110 together with those stored at a shelf that lies below the shelfmain body 110. This is because the light is transferred to a wide area over an entire hemisphere (whose solid angle is 2π) by transmitting through the transparent material of the shelfmain body 110 as a medium for light propagation. Thus, the light required for photosynthesis can be evenly supplied to the vegetables. - If light required for photosynthesis of vegetables is transferred to vegetables only through air as a medium for light propagation, the light is likely not to be transferred to the vegetables located far from the light source or hidden by other vegetables. In accordance with the present embodiment, this problem can be overcome by using the shelf
main body 110 as a medium for light propagation. - Furthermore, in order to efficiently transfer the light from the
light emitting units 121 to the vegetables, areflection part 130 is provided to be installed on either the top or bottom surface of the shelfmain body 110 as shown inFIG. 5 . - In the present embodiment, the
reflection part 130 is installed on the bottom surface of the shelfmain body 110 in such a way that the light emitted from thelight emitting units 121 is reflected to the top surface of the shelfmain body 110. - Here, it is preferable to use at least one convex mirror as the
reflection part 130, so that the light emitted from thelight emitting units 121 can be dispersed over a wide range of space. - In this manner, the light required for photosynthesis can be sufficiently supplied to the vegetables stored in the
refrigerator 200. - Meanwhile, the
refrigerator 200 may be provided with more than oneshelf 100 installed therein. For example, as shown inFIG. 6 , a plurality ofrefrigerator connection parts refrigerator 200, thereby providing electric powers to a plurality ofshelves - Furthermore, by installing a shelf on a top portion of the
vegetable room 210 disposed at a lower part of therefrigerator 200, vegetables stored in avegetable room 210 can be irradiated with light required for photosynthesis. -
FIGS. 7 to 9 show a refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. - As shown therein, a
refrigerator shelf 300 includes a shelfmain body 310 that partitions an inside of a refrigerator into specified spaces; and aphotosynthesis promotion unit 320 disposed at a bottom surface of the shelfmain body 310 for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables. - In addition, the
refrigerator shelf 300 may further include alens unit 330 for refracting the light emitted from thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320, thelens unit 330 being disposed between the shelfmain body 310 and thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320. - Hereinafter, descriptions of like parts in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the distinctive configuration of the second embodiment will be described.
- Formed at a bottom surface of the shelf
main body 310 areinsertion grooves 312, into which thelight emitting units 321 of thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320 is inserted so that the bottom surface of the shelfmain body 310 is in contact with a top surface of thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320. - The
photosynthesis promotion unit 320 is powered by a power supply of the refrigerator, to which thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320 is electrically coupled via theshelf connection part 311. It is preferably that thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320 be formed of a print circuit board and thelight emitting units 321 installed on the print circuit board for emitting light required for photosynthesis of vegetables. - The print circuit board, on which the
light emitting units 312 are disposed, has such shape and size to fit to those of the shelfmain body 310. Further, thelight emitting units 312 irradiate the light toward a top surface of the shelfmain body 310. Specifically, light emitting devices such as emitting diodes, chip LEDs, white fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps or the like can be employed as thelight emitting unit 321. Among these light emitting devices, it is preferable to use chip LEDs capable of emitting light whose wavelength falls within a range from 450 to 700 nm. - The reason why chip LEDs are preferable as the
light emitting unit 321 is that the manufacturing time and cost can be efficiently saved by employing surface mount technology, and theshelf 300 can be made slimmer. - The
lens unit 330, which is configured to refract and disperse the light, is installed on the top surface of thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320, thereby making the light dispersed from thelight emitting units 321 to the shelfmain body 310. - To this end, the
lens unit 330 has at least oneconcave lens 331 at locations corresponding to thelight emitting units 321 of thephotosynthesis promotion unit 320, such that the light can be dispersed from thelight emitting units 321 to the top surface of the shelfmain body 310. - In this manner, the light required for photosynthesis can be sufficiently supplied to the vegetables stored in the
shelf 300. - As described above, the light required for photosynthesis can be sufficiently supplied to the vegetables stored in the refrigerator shelf in accordance with the present invention. Accordingly, the decomposition of chlorophyll in the vegetables can be prevented, so that the vegetables can be kept fresh in the refrigerator shelf.
- While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (10)
1. A refrigerator shelf for use in a refrigerator, capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, comprising:
a shelf main body that partitions an inside of the refrigerator as specified spaces; and
a photosynthesis promotion unit, disposed at both sides of the shelf main body, for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via at least one among a top surface and a bottom surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
2. The refrigerator shelf of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reflection part, installed on the bottom surface of the shelf main body, for reflecting the light emitted from the photosynthesis promotion unit to the top surface of the shelf main body.
3. The refrigerator shelf of claim 2 , wherein the reflection part includes at least one convex mirror.
4. The refrigerator shelf of claim 1 , wherein the shelf main body is made of material through which light is easily transmitted.
5. The refrigerator shelf of claim 1 , wherein the photosynthesis promotion unit includes one or more light emitting units capable of emitting the light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables, and
wherein each of the light emitting units has a light emitting diode.
6. The refrigerator shelf of claim 1 , wherein the photosynthesis promotion unit includes one or more light emitting units capable of emitting the light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables, and
wherein each of the light emitting units has a chip LED.
7. The refrigerator shelf of claim 1 , wherein the photosynthesis promotion unit emits the light whose wavelength falls within a range from 450 and 700 nm.
8. A refrigerator shelf for use in a refrigerator, capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables stored thereon, comprising:
a shelf main body that partitions an inside of the refrigerator into specified spaces; and
a photosynthesis promotion unit, disposed at a bottom surface of the shelf main body, for emitting light required for the photosynthesis of the vegetables via a top surface of the shelf main body by using the shelf main body as a medium for light propagation.
9. The refrigerator shelf of claim 8 , further comprising:
a lens unit, installed between the shelf main body and the photosynthesis promotion unit, for refracting the light emitted from the photosynthesis promotion unit.
10. The refrigerator shelf of claim 9 , wherein the lens unit includes at least one concave lens.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR10-2006-0046777 | 2006-05-24 | ||
KR1020060046777A KR100705770B1 (en) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-05-24 | Shelf of refrigerator capable of photosynthesis function of vegetable |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070271946A1 true US20070271946A1 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
Family
ID=38161408
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/715,911 Abandoned US20070271946A1 (en) | 2006-05-24 | 2007-03-09 | Refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070271946A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2019954A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100705770B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101449122A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007136170A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020038266A1 (en) * | 2018-08-24 | 2020-02-27 | Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co., Ltd. | Illuminated shelf for refrigerator appliance |
CN112303996A (en) * | 2020-10-14 | 2021-02-02 | 澳柯玛股份有限公司 | Shelf, fruit and vegetable box and refrigerator with UVC ultraviolet sterilization device |
US20220117272A1 (en) * | 2019-07-02 | 2022-04-21 | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Electric field generating device and cold storage provided with same |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN101772683B (en) | 2007-07-31 | 2012-09-19 | 伊莱克斯家用产品公司 | Food refrigeration appliance with illuminated shelves, and method of producing the illuminated shelves |
JP5988420B2 (en) * | 2011-01-17 | 2016-09-07 | 株式会社四国総合研究所 | Leafy vegetables production method |
DE202012012503U1 (en) * | 2012-04-10 | 2013-07-02 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Container for a refrigeration device |
KR102014148B1 (en) * | 2012-10-29 | 2019-10-21 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Refrigerator |
CN105202859A (en) * | 2015-08-06 | 2015-12-30 | 惠而浦(中国)股份有限公司 | Illumination rack for refrigerators and refrigerator using same |
WO2018001505A1 (en) * | 2016-07-01 | 2018-01-04 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | Refrigerator with improved preservation of vegetables and fruits |
CN110108084B (en) * | 2019-04-11 | 2021-06-11 | 安徽康佳同创电器有限公司 | Light-emitting layer frame and refrigerator |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4643524A (en) * | 1983-02-14 | 1987-02-17 | Kei Mori | Method of using a condensing lens |
US6827458B2 (en) * | 2000-07-11 | 2004-12-07 | Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | Planar light source device |
US20060042300A1 (en) * | 2004-08-26 | 2006-03-02 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US7163305B2 (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2007-01-16 | Gemtron Corporation | Illuminated shelf |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR960024185A (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 1996-07-20 | 배순훈 | Refrigerator vegetable room with photosynthetic means |
JP2883295B2 (en) * | 1995-07-18 | 1999-04-19 | 株式会社山本製作所 | refrigerator |
GB9620620D0 (en) * | 1996-10-03 | 1996-11-20 | Ici Plc | Illumination system |
DE10202444A1 (en) * | 2002-01-22 | 2003-07-31 | Miele & Cie | Refrigeration cabinets, in particular refrigerators |
JP2003304747A (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2003-10-28 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Plant-cultivating apparatus |
JP2005065622A (en) * | 2003-08-26 | 2005-03-17 | Mbr:Kk | Irradiation device for preserving vegetable |
JP4433958B2 (en) * | 2004-06-03 | 2010-03-17 | 三菱電機株式会社 | refrigerator |
KR20060048024A (en) * | 2004-08-26 | 2006-05-18 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
-
2006
- 2006-05-24 KR KR1020060046777A patent/KR100705770B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2007
- 2007-03-06 EP EP07715499A patent/EP2019954A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-03-06 CN CNA2007800182629A patent/CN101449122A/en active Pending
- 2007-03-06 WO PCT/KR2007/001097 patent/WO2007136170A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-03-09 US US11/715,911 patent/US20070271946A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4643524A (en) * | 1983-02-14 | 1987-02-17 | Kei Mori | Method of using a condensing lens |
US6827458B2 (en) * | 2000-07-11 | 2004-12-07 | Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | Planar light source device |
US7163305B2 (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2007-01-16 | Gemtron Corporation | Illuminated shelf |
US20060042300A1 (en) * | 2004-08-26 | 2006-03-02 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2020038266A1 (en) * | 2018-08-24 | 2020-02-27 | Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co., Ltd. | Illuminated shelf for refrigerator appliance |
US20220117272A1 (en) * | 2019-07-02 | 2022-04-21 | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Electric field generating device and cold storage provided with same |
CN112303996A (en) * | 2020-10-14 | 2021-02-02 | 澳柯玛股份有限公司 | Shelf, fruit and vegetable box and refrigerator with UVC ultraviolet sterilization device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007136170A1 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
EP2019954A1 (en) | 2009-02-04 |
CN101449122A (en) | 2009-06-03 |
KR100705770B1 (en) | 2007-04-09 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20070271946A1 (en) | Refrigerator shelf capable of promoting photosynthesis of vegetables | |
US20070271945A1 (en) | Refrigerator having a vegetable box | |
US8490424B2 (en) | LED canopy light fixture | |
JP4433958B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
US8186844B2 (en) | Front-to-back showcase lighting for a refrigerator | |
US7736010B2 (en) | Refrigerator having lamp apparatus | |
JP4811210B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
US20070266723A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP2007046848A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP2006012511A (en) | Lighting system and storage house | |
JP2005344975A (en) | Refrigerator | |
CN1704710A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR100761355B1 (en) | Refrigerator with vegetable box capable of photosynthesis function of vegetable | |
CN106895653B (en) | Luminous shelf assembly and refrigerator with same | |
JP2011179797A (en) | Refrigerator | |
WO2009132954A2 (en) | A refrigerator | |
JP2012220134A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP4738281B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
JP2008039355A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP4983900B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
KR100761356B1 (en) | Vegetable box of refrigerator capable of photosynthesis of vegetable | |
KR100705771B1 (en) | Freshness preserve apparatus of refrigerator | |
JP5367326B2 (en) | Showcase | |
KR20070045487A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20070053013A (en) | Refrigerator |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:JUNG, JUNG SUK;REEL/FRAME:019085/0404 Effective date: 20070215 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |