WO2006021809A2

WO2006021809A2 - Improvements in or relating to storage

Info

Publication number: WO2006021809A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian David Wood
Original assignee: Applied Design And Engineering Limited
Priority date: 2004-08-26
Filing date: 2005-08-26
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: WO2006021809A3

Abstract

A cold-storage appliance comprises an open-topped container defining an access aperture that is closable by a lid. The container can be opened by relative movement of the container with respect to the lid in a lateral direction with respect to the aperture. The movement of the container is a swinging movement about a pivot axis.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STORAGE

This invention relates to storage, preferably cold-storage in refrigerators, freezers or combined refrigerator/freezers. For brevity, all such appliances will be referred to collectively herein as refrigerators unless the context demands otherwise.

The invention develops concepts described in prior patent applications filed by the Applicant. Those prior patent applications are exemplified as follows, most of which relate to drawer-type cold-storage appliances to which particular aspects of the invention relate, as well as other access methods.

For brevity, the content of the Applicant's abovementioned prior patent applications is incorporated herein by reference. Customer feedback on the concepts described in the Applicant's prior patent applications has identified certain desiderata. For example, in relation to drawer-type cold-storage appliances, it is desirable to have a modular design enabling a flexible offering based on operational requirements. Examples of such flexibility include varying drawer sizes in different combinations, and varying the number of drawers - there could, for instance, be one, two, three, four or more drawers in a single appliance.

It is also desirable to provide a modular design that provides a smaller footprint, making better use of the restricted space available in many kitchens. A further aim of modular design is to reduce installed costs so that the benefits of the Applicant's inventions can be enjoyed in a wider variety of applications, and not just by those that can afford expensive equipment. Such applications may include retail display, healthcare, and consumer applications. It is also important that any modular design retains the benefits offered by the Applicant's previous designs.

^• Modular storage units and modular cold-storage appliances are of course well known. However, there is a need to improve their internal layout to the benefit of space utilisation, and to improve access to their contents.

Whilst not essential to the present invention, the improved magnetic seal arrangements disclosed by the Applicant in WO 2005/024315 facilitate and enable improvements in the configuration of storage apparatus such as cold-storage appliances.

The invention in its various aspects is defined in the claims.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cold-storage appliance in which drawers are movable with respect to a supporting structure to be opened and closed, and can open in more than one direction with respect to that structure; Figure 2 is a plan view of a kitchen cabinet in accordance with the invention from which a quadrant-shaped drawer can be pivoted about a vertical axis for opening;

Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing how space not occupied by the drawer may be exploited;

Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 3 and showing the extent of movement of the drawer during partial and full opening;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are plan views that show different ways in which cabinets of Figures 2, 3 and 4 above can be paired;

Figures 8 and 9 are plan views showing different ways in which three cabinets of Figures 2, 3 and 4 above can be arranged in an L-shaped array;

Figure 10 is a plan view showing how four cabinets of Figures 2, 3 and 4 above can be arranged in a square array;

Figure 11 is a plan view showing how cabinets of Figures 2, 3 and 4 above can be used with another kitchen appliance exemplified by a hob or cooker;

Figures 12a and 12b are plan views showing rectangular drawers and quadrant drawers, respectively, fitted with vision panels;

Figures 13 and 14 are cross-sectional side views through drawers and lids in a cold-storage appliance, showing how bottles or other tall items may be placed upright in a generally shallow drawer;

Figures 15a, 15b and 15c are plan views of a drawer variant in which the drawers are cut-down quadrants;

Figure 16 is a side view of the drawer variant of Figures 15a, 15b and 15c; Figure 17 is a plan view of an operator using the drawer variant of Figures 15a, 15b, 15c and 16;

Figures 18a and 18b are sectional side views of a dispenser comprising a hinged drop-down insulated container containing a storage pot or a horizontal row of such pots, Figure 18a showing the container when closed and Figure 18b showing the container when open;

Figures 19a and 19b are part-sectional side views that show the dispenser of

Figures 18a and 18b in use above a worktop;

Figures 20a and 20b are sectional side views that correspond to Figures 18a and 18b respectively but show a container having two storage pots one above another, or two horizontal rows of such pots;

Figure 21 is a plan view of a cover that may be applied to a row of four pots shown in Figures 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b, 20a and 20b;

Figure 22 is a side elevation of a cold-storage appliance whose storage container comprises a drum that can be swung open and closed about a horizontal axis;

Figure 23 corresponds to Figure 22 but shows a variant of the drum concept adapted for retail use;

Figures 24a and 24b are side elevations of a further variant of the drum concept, when the drum is closed and open respectively;

Figures 25a and 25b are side elevations of another variant of the drum concept, when the drum is closed and open respectively; Figure 26 is a side elevation showing the dram concept in use in an under- worktop implementation;

Figure 27 is a side elevation showing the drum concept in use in an over- worktop implementation;

Figure 28 is a side view of a retail chest-type display freezer, in which the chest cabinet does not have any direct cooling means and it is movable in relation to a fixed lid containing the cooling means, here shown closing the top of the chest cabinet;

Figure 29 is a side view corresponding to Figure 28 but showing the chest cabinet moved away from the fixed lid;

Figure 30 is a side view showing a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure

28 whose lid has a removable centre section;

Figure 31 is a plan view of the lid visible in Figure 30, showing cooling air distribution means within the lid;

Figure 32 is an end view of the lid of Figure 31;

Figure 33 is a top plan view of a four-drawer gastronorm unit having a remote compressor module;

Figure 34 is a front view showing two identical two-drawer modules that can be connected to a remote compressor module on-site;

Figure 35 is a side view of a three-and-a-half drawer gastronorm unit having an internal compressor;

Figures 36a and 36b are front views showing how drawer modules can have different drawer widths; Figure 37 is a sectional side view of a lid that can close a drawer (not shown);

Figure 38 is a sectional side view corresponding to Figure 37 but showing a removable section of lid insulation;

Figure 39 is a plan view of the lid of Figures 37 and 38;

Figure 40 is a plan view of the lid showing a preferred piping arrangement;

Figure 41 is a sectional end view of a structural casing for supporting a lid and drawer;

Figure 42 is a part plan view of an insulated drawer with a handle moulded to it; and

Figure 43 is a plan view showing other drawer arrangements and variants.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, a cold-storage appliance 10 has drawers 12 that are movable with respect to a supporting structure to be opened and closed, and can open in more than one direction with respect to that structure. A similar arrangement is also suggested in the Applicant's abovementioned prior patent application published as WO 01/020237, although there with a minor vertical movement of the drawer upon closing and opening that is not essential in the present invention. In this way, workers stationed on both sides of the appliance 10 may access its contents, for example workers at 'back of house' and 'front of house' in a restaurant where the appliance 10 divides a kitchen into a public area and a private area. It may also be that workers involved in food preparation stand on opposite sides of a worktop situated above or defined by the top of the appliance 10. In such circumstances, workers standing on both sides of the appliance 10 can access the drawer contents with equal convenience. In the appliance 10 shown in Figure 1, two refrigerated drawers 12 are disposed side- by-side in an under-counter or servery unit. The number of drawers is not important: there could be only one drawer or more than two drawers, disposed beside each other or stacked one above another, or both. Fan coil units 14 supply cold air to the drawers via fixed lids (not shown) that seal to the drawers 12 when the drawers 12 are slid into the structure of the appliance 10 upon closing. The fan coil units 14, traditionally rear- mounted, are positioned to the side of the drawers 12 in this instance to allow the drawers 12 to slide open forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the structure. A common refrigerator engine 16, also side-mounted, pumps refrigerant in a circuit that includes branches for the fan coil units 14.

Whilst one fan coil unit 14 is shown for each drawer 12, it would also be possible (albeit less beneficial in terms of temperature control) to cool both drawers 12 with a single fan coil unit 14 or other refrigerator means. It would also be possible, but less advantageous in terms of space utilisation, to mount the fan coil units 14 and refrigerator engine 16 above or below the drawers 12.

Figures 2 to 4 show how the invention may be integrated in a novel manner into furniture such as a kitchen cabinet. Here, the typical square plan outline of a cabinet 18 contains a quadrant-shaped insulated drawer 20, the radii of the quadrant corresponding to perpendicular walls of the cabinet 18 but being a little shorter than the internal diameter of the cabinet 18, so as to give clearance for movement of the drawer 20 with respect to the cabinet 18.

The radii converge to a pivot axis 22 at a corner of the cabinet 18 whereby the drawer 20 can be swung around that vertical axis in and out of the cabinet 18 to close and open the drawer 20, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. A lid (not shown) seals to the top of the drawer 20 when the drawer 20 is closed fully within the cabinet 18.

It will be apparent from Figure 2 that a substantial volume within the cabinet 18 (toward the upper right corner as illustrated) is redundant for cold-storage as such, as it is not necessary to accommodate the pivoting drawer 20. However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, this space is used advantageously by siting ancillary equipment there such as fan coil and/or refrigerator engine units as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3, for example,, the upper right corner of the cabinet 18 is cut away and an elongate fan coil unit 24 is inclined with respect to the adjacent walls of the cabinet 18, in this instance at 45° to make optimum use of the available space outside the quadrant drawer 20. When the cabinet 18 is built adjacent to a wall or against other cabinets, this cutaway arrangement leaves a further space outside the fan coil unit 24 which may be used for various purposes, for example for service distribution or for a refrigerator engine 26 serving one or more cold-storage drawers 20.

The cabinet 18 shown in Figures 2 to 4 is apt to be used with other similar cabinets in composite arrangements, some of which are shown in Figures 5 to 10. Upon reviewing Figures 5 to 10, it will be apparent that identical cabinets 18 can be oriented in different ways to achieve different objectives. This is a further benefit of the cabinet design shown in Figures 2 to 4.

Looking firstly at Figures 5, 6 and 7, these show various ways in which cabinets 18 can be paired side-by-side. In Figure 5, for example, cabinets 18 are placed in the same orientation. In Figure 6, cabinets 18 are oriented 90° apart with their cut-away corners facing away from one another. An interesting and potentially useful consequence is that the paired cabinets 18 can share a common pivot axis 22 and so can be swung independently as quadrants or together as a semi-circular whole. Figure 7, on the other hand, also shows cabinets 18 oriented 90° apart but in this instance with their cut-away corners adjoining to define an enlarged space behind and between the cabinets 18. The enlarged space is apt to accommodate one or more fan coil units 24 and/or refrigerator engine units 26 which may, if desired, be shared between the cabinets 18.

Figures 8 and 9. show ways in which three cabinets 18 can be arranged in an L-shaped corner array. Figure 8 shows an inside corner arrangement 28 in which diagonally opposed end cabinets 18, oriented at 180° to each other, adjoin a central cabinet 18 oriented at 90° to each of the end cabinets. In essence, the arrangement of Figure 8 adds a third cabinet to the two cabinets of Figure 6, sharing the same pivot axis 22. So, all three cabinets 18 share a central pivot axis 22 about which their drawers 20 can pivot either individually (subject to clearance from adjacent drawers) or together. Figure 9 shows an outside corner arrangement 30 that adds a third cabinet to the two cabinets of Figure 7, with the cut-away corner of the additional cabinet 18 adjoining the cut-away corners of those two cabinets to create an even larger space for ancillary equipment such as fan coil units 24 or refrigerator engine units 26. Again, diagonally opposed end cabinets 18, oriented 180° to each other, adjoin a central cabinet 18 oriented at 90° to each of the end cabinets 18. However, all of the cabinets 18 of Figure 9 are turned through 180° with respect to the cabinets 18 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows how four cabinets 18 can be arranged in a square 'island' format 32 with each cabinet 18 at 90° to its neighbours and with the cut-outs of the cabinets 18 adjoining to create a large square central void 34. That void 34 is apt to be used for a sink, for a cooker, for waste disposal or drainage, for ventilation or for other services. It may also receive a structural member such as a column of a building (not shown) around which the island 32 may be assembled.

Figure 11 shows cabinets 18 on both sides of another kitchen appliance, in this case exemplified by a hob or cooker 36. Whilst shown built in to a continuous run of kitchen units, it will be apparent that the cabinets 18 of Figure 11 could be open to the sides; in that case, the drawer 20 can open to both the front and to the side as desired, by virtue of the outboard positioning of the pivot axis 22 as shown. '

Figures 12a and 12b are schematic plan views showing a rectangular drawer 38 and a quadrant drawer 40 respectively, both fitted with vision panels in their external faces. Retail display operations, especially, would benefit from being able to see into the drawers when the drawers are closed, so that contents may be checked without opening the drawers. It is envisaged that an, existing opaque drawer moulding could have its external face sides cut away and replaced with double-glazed vision panels like those used in high-level supermarket displays. This leaves opaque flat parallel side walls in the rectangular drawer 38 and a curved opaque rear wall in the quadrant drawer 40.

Moving on now to Figures 13 to 21, the embodiments therein are functionally akin to the Applicant's WO 01/20237. That is to say, they preferably have a majority of the external surfaces of a storage container at or above ambient temperature, the container being movable to allow access to its contents, and a fixed lid having an associated cooling means for cooling the interior of the container. Indeed, all of these variants can have removable storage containers, have fan coils in the lids, and generally offer all the other features and benefits associated with the invention disclosed in WO 01/20237 and in others of the Applicant's abovementioned patent applications. Each variant could also employ magnetic seals as disclosed in the Applicant's WO 2005/024315.

Figures 13 and 14 are cross-sectional side views through drawers and lids in a cold- storage appliance, showing how bottles or other tall items may be placed upright in a generally shallow upper drawer which has a deep bottle recess 50. The recess may be along the front of the drawer (to the left as shown) or along one (or both) sides of the drawer, but not, preferably, at the back of a drawer as this could prevent the drawer being opened in view of the lid of the drawer below.

Figures 13 and 14 show different ways of accommodating the bottom of the recess 50 where there is a lid and a drawer below. Specifically, Figure 13 shows a shortened lid 52 that clears the recess and so requires a modified lower drawer 54 whose front has a rearwardly-extending lip 56 that lies under the recess 50 when the upper and lower drawers are closed. The lip 56 extends rearwardly to the extent necessary to seal against the underside of the shortened lid 52, so that the opening of the container is a little smaller than the plan area of the lid and substantially smaller than the overall plan area of the container. Conversely, Figure 14 shows a modified lid 58 having a stepped upper side and a flat underside extending the full depth of the lower container. The stepped shape of the upper side is defined by a relatively thick rearward portion housing fan coils and/or cold air ducts and a relatively thin forward portion that extends under the recess 50 of the upper drawer when the upper drawer is closed. This arrangement sacrifices some height in comparison with the arrangement of Figure 13 but, advantageously, it preserves the full opening of the lower drawer.

Figures 15a to 17 illustrate a variant of the quadrant drawers of Figures 2 to 4. Like numerals are used for like parts. In this appliance, the cabinet of Figures 2 to 4 is replaced by a lid 60 which may be supported under a worktop or may define a worktop as shown in Figure 17. The lid 60 is a shallow oblong in plan, being substantially wider than it is deep in plan. The drawer 64 is pivotally mounted to the lid about a vertical pivot axis 62 at a front corner of the lid, with upper and lower brackets 66 supporting the drawer as shown in Figure 16. Figures 15b, 15c and 16 show how the drawer 64 is tall in relation to its depth and so is apt to be used for upright bottles although this facility is not essential.

To suit the shallow lid 60, the drawer 64 is a cut-down quadrant in plan. Specifically, the drawer has parallel flat front and rear walls spaced to match the depth of the lid, the front wall being longer than the rear wall and extending across the whole width of the lid from the pivot axis 62. A pull-handle 68 is provided near the vertical edge of the front wall opposed to the pivot axis. A flat end wall extends from the pivot axis orthogonally with respect to the front and rear walls, and a convex-curved end wall extends between the front and rear walls to provide clearance for the drawer to swing in and out under the lid when a row of such appliances are used together end-to-end to define a worktop as shown in Figure 17.

The variant of Figures 15a to 17 provides the benefits of access that are attributed to storage of products in the door of a conventional refrigerator, but the drawer retains cold air when open. Additionally, as Figure 17 makes clear, the cut-down quadrant drawers 64 can be narrow for tight spaces and do not block access routes when left open, in the same way that conventional drawers can. In particular, swinging drawers can easily be pushed either fully closed or wide open when an operator walks across the front of the appliance. The operator's path would otherwise be blocked by conventional drawers left open.

Figures 18a to 20b illustrate further variants of the invention comprising a hinged drop¬ down insulated container 70 containing at least one, and preferably several, product storage pots 80. These variants lend themselves to applications such as a refrigerated saladette or sauce dispenser. Whilst only one or two pots are visible in these Figures, the pots shown are merely the visible end of horizontal rows of such pots. So, there is no limit to the number of pots that may be accommodated within a suitably-sized container. In each case, a vertical oblong cooling plate 72 is apt to be wall-mounted in a suitable position, for example over a worktop as shown in Figures 19a and 19b. A horizontal hinge at the bottom of the cooling plate defines a pivot axis 74 about which the container may swing down for opening. The container itself is a closed-ended trough 76 that adopts a C-section when raised about the hinge 74 to be closed as shown in Figure 18 a, whereupon the hinge is at the free end of the bottom arm of the C-section. An optional handle 78 at the upper arm of the C-section is diagonally opposed to the hinge. A peripheral seal extends around the cooling plate 72 such that when the container is raised to be closed, it seals against the peripheral lip of the trough 76 that defines the container. The container may then be releasably retained in its raised, closed position by retaining means such as magnets, latches or struts (not shown).

When opened following the release of a retaining means if necessary, the trough 76 swings down through 90° about the pivot axis of the hinge 74 as shown in Figures 18b and 19b. In so doing, the C-section container adopts an open-topped U-section permitting access to the contents of the storage pots within. Where the container is situated above a worktop, it is convenient for the container, when open, to rest upon the worktop, for example via the handle 78 as shown in Figure 19b. However, this is not essential.

The individual open-topped storage pots 80, or rows of such pots, are pivotally mounted on gimbals 82 that allow the container to move without spilling the contents of the pots, whose rims always face up.

Figures 20a and 20b show a variant with two rows of pots. To assist with opening and closing the container in view of the weight of multiple pots, a diagonal member 84 is shown that could be a gas strut or spring strut.

The arrangement of Figures 18a to 20b conveniently allows the storage pots 80 to be accessed when needed and then to be put away, leaving a worktop clear. Additionally, the drop-down open-topped container may be left open for extended periods of time with little effect on the refrigerated storage temperature. It will be noted in this respect that cooling air may also be supplied to the container while open: note the arrows in Figures 18b, 19b and 20b that show cold air spilling from the exposed cooling plate into the open top of the container.

Figure 21 shows a cover 86 that may be applied to the upwardly-facing rims of a row of four storage pots. The cover can be applied to the pots when the container is open to stop sauces, foodstuffs or other products falling into the void between the container and the pots. The cover can also act as a restraint to stop the pots moving on the gimbals 82 while spooning out their contents. The cover may have perforations to allow cold air from the lid to fill the container void. The cover may also act as a guide for the cold air spilling from the lid to channel that cold air directly onto the top of the products in the storage pots.

Figures 22 and 23 show a drum arrangement 110, akin to a quadrant drawer 20 as described above but with the vertical pivot axis 113 turned through 90° so that the drum pivots about a horizontal axis. In these embodiments, the insulated drawer 115 is formed as a quarter drum which has two perpendicular walls and is open to its convex- curved side. The pivot axis 113 is at the junction between the two perpendicular walls. An insulated lid 117 has a concave-curved portion whose axis of curvature is the pivot axis 113 and whose radius of curvature is slightly larger than that of the convex-curved side of the drum 115 to give sliding clearance for movement of the drum. The arrangement is such that upon opening and closing, sliding movement takes place at the curved interface between the drum and the lid. A curved magnetic seal (not shown) at the interface seals the drum when closed. The lid is surmounted by a fan coil unit 119 which makes use of space at the rear upper corner of the lid while preserving the thickness of the lid, benefiting insulation and accommodating all necessary cooling air channels within the lid.

When the drum 115 is closed as shown in solid lines in Figures 22 and 23, one wall is vertical to define a door and the other wall is horizontal to define a base. The drum is opened by pulling a handle 133 near the top of the vertical wall to pivot the drum about the pivot axis 113, thus opening the drum into the open position shown in broken lines. It will be noted that to the extent that the lid 117 continues to overlie part of the open side of the dram, cold air will continue to be supplied to the drum even when the dram is open. This is shown by the arrows in Figure 24b in relation to another variant of the drum idea to be described below.

Figure 22 shows a basic embodiment of the dram concept whereas Figure 23 shows how the dram arrangement may be used in a practical application. The arrangement of Figure 23 could be ideal for supermarket display when the horizontal upper part of the lid incorporates an insulated vision panel as indicated. Figure 23 also shows how refrigerated storage drams could be fitted with castors 135 or the like to allow drums to be wheeled into and out of position for stock rotation, maintenance and so on. Another difference in Figure 23 as compared with Figure 22 is that the lid 117 does not extend over the entire curved wall of the drum 115. Instead, the lowermost part of that curved wall is closed by an insulated rear wall 137 and the lid 117 terminates just below the upper edge of that wall, the overlap providing for sealing.

The dram drawer of Figures 22 and -23 has all the benefits of the standard drawer 12 and quadrant drawer 20 in terms of adaptability, temperature control, and energy saving.

Figures 24a to 27 show a further variant of the dram concept shown in Figures 22 and 23. Its truncated dram 155 may be more practical and space-efficient than the quarter dram 115 of Figures 22 and 23. Here, the curved side of the quarter dram is truncated by an insulated rear wall parallel to the front wall, and the lid 157 is correspondingly shallower from front to back. The resulting appliance is tall for its depth, enabling storage of a stack of items as shown in Figures 24a and 24b or a plurality of upright bottles as shown in Figures 25 a and 25b.

The truncated dram arrangement 155 may be located under work surfaces or indeed the lid 157 may define a work surface as shown in Figure 26; location on a wall above a work surfaces is also possible, as shown in Figure 27. The low-level unit of Figure 26 includes a vision panel in its lid to view the contents of the drum when it is closed. Additionally, as before, the dram can be left open with little effect on the refrigerated storage temperature because cold air may be supplied from the lid while the dram is open, as shown by the arrows in Figures 24b and 26. The high-level drum of Figure 27 provides most of the advantages of the drawer arrangements exemplified by the Applicant's WO 01/20237, but provides convenient access above a level where a drawer would not.

Figures 28 to 32 depict a conventional retail chest-type display freezer 161 as seen in many supermarkets. However, in this invention the chest cabinet does not have any direct cooling means but instead is cooled by a lid 163 containing cooling means. The lid is fixed, for example by being mounted to a wall (not shown) whereas the cabinet is moveable in relation to the lid for ease of maintenance, cleaning and re-stocking. To this end, the cabinet is mounted on castors 165 to be supported by and rolled across the floor (not shown). Seals under the lid seal around the open-topped cabinet when the cabinet is rolled under the lid.

The fixed lid houses cooling air distribution means 167 as seen in Figures 31 and 32, and is connected to a rear-mounted fan coil unit 169 extending downwardly from the lid 163, most preferably adjacent the wall to which the lid is attached. The lid air distribution shown in Figures 31 and 32 could be on all four sides of the lid or less, depending on the required air distribution in the cabinet.

The lid 163 has a centre section 171 that is movable or removable from the air distribution section as shown in Figure 30. The movable or removable section may be lift-off or hinged as shown, providing access to the content of the cabinet during normal retail operation.

Figure 28 shows the cabinet in the normal storage position under the lid 163, where the movable or removable section 171 of the lid may be open or closed. Figure 29 shows the food storage cabinet moved from the fixed lid and associated cooling means. This could be for restocking or cleaning in a back-of-house area away from the retail section. Another fully-stocked cabinet could be positioned under the lid in place of the one that has been removed. Product could also be delivered in a cassette-type system from the suppliers. Customers can only comfortably reach down a certain distance when removing product from a chest freezer. Figure 30 shows a variation where the normally difficult-to-access bottom section of the chest could form a useful pull out drawer 173, perhaps for day¬ time restocking. The upper section of the chest could contain a floor with air valves (not shown) that would close when the bottom drawer is open.

Figures 33 to 36b show various ways in which modular drawers can be used. They can be mixed and matched with different sizes and types including one-way, bi-directional and quadrant swing-out drawers. Additionally, any drawer front or lid may be fitted with a vision panel. They exemplify how modules can be installed in any location and in any structure or cabinet. Consequently, refrigeration can be distributed to suit operational requirements and space constraints. For instance, modules can be placed either side of cookers, under burners, in the food preparation area of a restaurant, and 'front of house' in a food service establishment.

Figure 33, for example, shows a four-drawer gastronorm unit 179 two drawers wide and two drawers high, the view being in plan to show side-mounted condensers 181 beside each of the pairs of upper and lower drawers. An external compressor module 183 can be situated in any convenient location and, if suitably rated, can be shared between two or more appliances. This significantly reduces the size of the appliance, giving additional flexibility in its location, and reducing the cost of manufacture and shipping.

Figure 34 exemplifies the flexibility allowed by the use of a remote compressor, showing two identical two-drawer modules that can be supplied individually or pre- assembled and connected to a remote compressor module on-site. For example, refrigeration and other services can be run under modules and joined with quick-fit site connectors. Each module and/or lid can be removed for service and replacement. .

Figure 35 shows an arrangement that allows the convenience of an internal compressor. It is a side view of a gastronorm unit akin to that shown in Figure 33 but in this case, one of the lower drawers is of half depth to accommodate an internal compressor 185 behind the drawer, making the capacity of the appliance three-and-a-half drawers. Figures 36a and 36b are front views showing how drawer modules can have different drawer widths. The facility for different module widths means that the units can be located in any suitable cabinet or other structure.

In previous proposals, the fan coil that supplies cooling air via the lid to the drawer interior is located to the rear of the drawer. This fan coil position takes up valuable space. Figures 37 to 40 propose ways of avoiding that disadvantage. Figure 37, for example, shows a section through a drawer lid 187 with the fan coil equipment contained entirely within the lid.

In Figure 37, the lid 187 is an insulating cuboidal block having a peripheral seal 189 and an optional heating element 191 inboard of the seal to keep the seal free of ice. In known manner, the heating element could be an electric resistance element or could use warm liquid from the liquid line of the refrigeration circuit. A control panel and display 193 is embedded into the front face of the lid.

A recess in the underside of the lid defines a plenum 203 and accommodates fan coil refrigeration components including an evaporator heat exchanger 195 fed by fans 199 with shut-off dampers via a return air inlet duct 197 positioned for easy access for service and replacement. Air drawn upwardly by the fans flows laterally via the return air inlet duct through the evaporator 195 and then the flow of cold air emanating from the evaporator reverses within the plenum

The evaporator heat exchanger 195, typically of fin-and-tube type, is laid with a 5° fall to promote efficient drainage of defrost water. A drain pan 201 lies immediately under the evaporator at a similar angle and communicates with a flexible drainage collector and discharge pipe (not shown) that leads defrost water away from the lid. A hot gas line bleeding hot gas from the refrigeration circuit may be provided under the drain pan to melt and/or evaporate moisture. Hot gas may also be used to heat the drainage pipe if needs be. The drainage process is aided by the heat exchanger plates being in contact with the drain pan 201 to form water channels; otherwise the water would drip onto the tilted pan and stay as a droplet, like rain on a car roof. Nevertheless, advantageously, the drain pan is removably clipped in that position so that it can be undipped and swung down using the drainage pipe as a pivot. This provides access to the coil for inspection and cleaning.

Figure 38 shows how a central section of lid insulation 203 can be easily removed for build convenience and servicing, providing access to the fan coil components and associated piping, control and electrical items. The removable section rests on peripheral shoulders within the fixed portion of the lid that remains.

Figure 39 shows a plan view of the lid 187 indicating in chain lines the small central area affected by the reduced thickness of insulation required to incline the evaporator coil for drainage. However, referring back to Figure 37, it can be appreciated that the overall insulation thickness over the plan area of the lid remains substantial. Figure 39 also shows how multiple fans 205 are disposed in the return air duct , and air diffusion slots 207 in the underside of the lid.

Figure 40 shows how piping and equipment may be integrated into the lid 187 to enhance ease of manufacture and servicing, and efficient use of insulation. Of particular interest is the ability to move and/or remove the lid for servicing due to the long flexible pipe lengths employed. A liquid/suction line heat exchanger 211, pipework and wiring are set into the lid and integrated with removable insulation and vapour seal means. A side-mounted condenser has associated solenoids 213 for control of refrigerant and hot gas feeds, and receives refrigerant via a liquid line return 215. A liquid line 217 and suction line 219 communicate with the heat exchanger via a capillary and accumulator respectively. A hot gas line 221 leads to the drain pan as aforesaid.

The Applicant's WO 01/20237 discloses a forced air fan coil in Figure 17. An air diffuser in the lid is disclosed in the Applicant's WO 02/073107 (Figures 15a and 15b), WO 02/073105 (Figures 7a and 7b), and WO 02/073104 (Figures 7a and 7b). In subsequent discussions with manufacturers, they have revealed that a problem with fan coils in the cooled space is that the protruding surfaces of the drain, coil and/or duct are exposed to moist air from the storage compartment and therefore are subject to icing and condensation. In this context, an advantage of the arrangement described above in relation to Figures 37 to 40 is that the underside of the drain/coil/duct is only exposed to dry cold off -coil air in the plenum above the air diffuser. The off-coil cold dry air fills the diffuser plenum prior to being distributed to the storage space through the diffuser slots, effectively separating the cold evaporator parts from the moist air in the storage space.

Moving finally to Figures 41 to 43, these drawings illustrate provisions to make each drawer a discrete modular unit that can be assembled in a variety of combinations and distributed throughout a kitchen.

Figure 41 shows a U-section structural casing 233 being the basis for a discrete modular unit that can be stacked vertically with other such units and that can be disposed side-by-side with other such units. An advantage of side-by-side units is that they can easily be separated for service and reconfiguration. Side-by-side units may be attached to each other for tie-in purposes but there is no structural need for side-by-side attachment.

The casing is formed from flat, profiled and/or corrugated sheet of metal or plastics. A drawer (not shown) can run within the casing on runners 235 mounted on opposed sides of the casing. A lid mounted within the top of the casing is surmounted by diagonal cross-bracing 237 that lends structural integrity to the casing. The lid is mounted to the upright side walls of the casing by a floating mounting 239 comprising spring mounts or the like, such that the lid has a slight negative float relative to the drawer when the drawer is opened and closed. This arrangement compensates for tolerances in the module construction, so that the lid always lays adequately aligned with the plane of the drawer rim. When the drawer is properly shut, a magnetic seal arrangement (not shown) provides a secure closure. A condenser section 251 and fan 255 are attached to one side of the module casing. The fan 253 is a variable-speed fan that pulls air through the front of the module drawer to control condensation. For the same purpose, Figure 41 also shows a liquid line coil 257 located under the casing.

Figure 42 shows a part plan view of an insulated drawer 271 with a handle 273 moulded to its front. This detail, together with those contained in Figure 43, reveal ways in which the inherent structure of the moulded drawer may be used to simplify the construction of the drawer module, realising significant savings in material and labour. Figure 42 also shows an elevation of a drawer module front 275. The current structural drawer panel is replaced by a decorative wipe-clean trim sheet, as the drawer front panel takes no structural load: instead, the drawer structure takes all opening and closing forces via the handle. The opening and closing forces are no longer transferred through the drawer front handle to the runners. In this arrangement the" drawer has a moulded handle 273 so that the forces are dissipated through the drawer to the runners.

Another feature of the arrangement of Figure 42 is the use of normally-cleanable areas of the drawer module as an impingement surface filter for the condenser. It should be noted in this respect that the decorative drawer front and the internal surfaces of the drawer module and external surfaces of the drawer are regularly cleaned as part of normal housekeeping. Air enters the drawer module by passing through holes 277 in the drawer front and then flows at low velocity over the large surface areas defined by the internal surfaces of the drawer module and the external surfaces of the drawer. In these circumstances, airborne contaminants will drop out of entrainment from the airstream and deposit on the surfaces. This solution does away with operators having to remember to change filter media, which they rarely if ever do in practice, and encourages them to clean the unit regularly, which they have to do anyway.

Figure 43 further illustrates ways in which the inherent structure of the drawer moulding may be used to simplify the construction of the drawer module. This arrangement assumes the adoption of a different moulding technique that will produce more complex shapes (such as roto-moulding). In this way, for example, the drawer interior may have internal moulded fitments to take flat lift-out trays. Such trays may be half the internal width of the drawer to slide to one side for access to contents below.

The detail of Figure 43 builds on the outboard seal arrangement described in the Applicant's WO 2005/024315 utilising bulbous corners and concealed magnetic strips. Drawer carriage plates 291 fixed to runners lie one on each side of the drawer. The drawer corners can be adapted to engage into pins 293 or the like that form part of the carriage plates. Specifically, each pin 293 attaches into the bin moulding under the bulbous corners, which drop over the pins for secure attachment. Tie strings (not shown) gang together the carriage plates to make it easier to place a drawer onto the location pins. This arrangement directly employs the drawer structure so that there is no longer a need for a drawer support frame. This is also made possible as there is no requirement for up/down movement with the magnetic seal.

Claims

1. A cold-storage appliance comprising an open-topped container defining an access aperture that is closable by a lid and that can be opened by relative movement of the container with respect to the lid in a lateral direction with respect to the aperture, wherein said movement of the container is a swinging movement about a pivot axis.

2. The appliance of Claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is fixed with respect to the lid.

3. The appliance of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the pivot axis is substantially vertical.

4. The appliance of any preceding Claim wherein the pivot axis is orthogonal to the direction of said movement.

5. The appliance of any preceding Claim, further comprising cooperable sealing loops on the lid and the container that co-operate to seal the container when the container is swung under the lid.

6. The appliance of any preceding Claim, wherein the lid is fixed with respect to the structure of the appliance.

7. The appliance of any preceding Claim and defining a compartment for receiving the container and from which the container can be withdrawn by said movement.

8. The appliance of any preceding claim wherein said movement of the container defines a swept volume and wherein the appliance accomodates refrigerator engine means outside the swept volume.

9. The appliance of Claim 8, wherein the refrigerator engine means comprises a fan coil unit.

10. The appliance of any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the compartment comprises at least one container access opening through which the container can pass upon opening or closing.

11. The appliance of Claim 10, wherein a wall of the container closes the container access opening when the container is closed by the lid.

12. The appliance of Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the pivot axis if offset to one side of the container access opening.

13. The appliance of any of Claims 10 to 12 and having first and second container access openings angled with respect to each other about the pivot axis.

14. The appliance of Claim 13, wherein the container access openings lie in mutually orthogonal planes.

15. The appliance of Claim 13 or Claim 14 when appendant to Claim 11, wherein the container has first- and second walls each closing a respective container access opening when the container is closed by the lid.

16. The appliance of Claim 15 wherein the container is sector-shaped in plan with the walls defining radii about the pivot axis.

17. The appliance of Claim 16 wherein the container is quadrant-shaped in plan.

18. The appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the plan shape of the container comprises first, second and third generally planar side walls and a fourth side wall angled with respect to the other side walls to provide clearance for said swinging movement.

19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the first and second side walls are substantially parallel, the third side wall is substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls, and the fourth side wall is convex -curved.

20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the fourth side wall has an axis of curvature coincident with the pivot axis.

21. The appliance of any of Claims 7 to 17, wherein the compartment is substantially cuboidal.

22. The appliance of Claim 21, wherein the compartment is substantially square in plan.

23. The appliance of any of Claims 7 to 17, wherein the compartment is substantially rectangular in plan save for an angled wall defining a cut-out where otherwise would be a corner of the rectangle opposed to the pivot axis.

24. The appliance of Claim 23, comprising external service ducts outboard of the angled wall.

25. The appliance of Claim 23 or Claim 24, when installed with the cut-out adjacent a wall.

26. The appliance of Claim 25, wherein the wall is a wall of a building, kitchen storage unit or other structure.

27. The appliance of Claim 25, wherein the wall is a wall of another appliance in accordance with any preceding claim.

28. The appliance of any of Claims 23 to 27, when installed with the cut-out adjoining a cut-out of one or more other appliances in accordance with any of Claims 23 to 27.

29. In combination, a plurality of appliances of any preceding claim, the plurality having a common pivot axis for movement of their respective containers.

30. The combination of Claim 29, wherein two appliances in side-by-side linear disposition share the common pivot axis.

31. The combination of Claim 29, wherein three appliances in L-configuration share the common pivot axis.

32. The combination of Claim 31, wherein the three appliances are installed within an internal corner.

33. In combination, a plurality of appliances of any preceding claim comprising three or more appliances disposed in L-configuration around an external corner.

34. In combination, a plurality of appliances of any preceding claim disposed in an island configuration.

35. The combination of Claim 34, wherein the island comprises four or more appliances disposed in a cuboidal assemblage.

36. A cold-storage appliance comprising an open-topped drum defining an access aperture that is closable by a lid and that can be opened by pivotal movement of the drum with respect to the lid about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

37. The appliance of claim 36, wherein the lid and the drum have curved sealing interface formations, the formations having a mutual axis of curvature coincident with the pivot axis.

38. The appliance of claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the pivot axis is below a front face of the drum.

39. The appliance of any of claims 36 to 38, wherein said movement of the drum defines a swept volume and wherein the appliance accommodates refrigerator engine means outside the swept volume.

40. The appliance of any of claims 36 to 39, wherein the drum is sector-shaped in cross-section, that cross-section comprising front and base walls being the radii of the sector disposed about the pivot axis, and a curved side between the walls that defines the open top.

41. The appliance of claim 40, wherein the drum is quadrant-shaped in cross-section.

42. The appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the cross-section of the drum comprises first, second and third generally planar side walls and a fourth convex- curved side wall.

43. The appliance of claim 42, wherein the first and second side walls are substantially parallel and the third side wall is substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls.

44. The appliance of claim 43, wherein the fourth side wall has an axis of curvature coincident with the pivot axis.

45. The appliance of any of claims 40 to 44, wherein The lid extends over substantially all of the curved side of the drum.

46. The appliance of any of claims 40 to 44, wherein The lid extends over part of the curved side of the drum, the remainder of the curved side being an insulated wall portion..

47. A cold-storage appliance comprising an open-topped container defining an access opening that is closable by a lid, wherein the lid is fixed with respect to a building or vehicle and the container is movably supported on a floor of the building or vehicle whereby the container can be moved away from the wall and the lid to provide access through the opening.

48. The appliance of claim 47, wherein the lid comprises cooling means for cooling the interior of the container when the contained is closed by the lid.

49. The appliance of claim 47 or claim 48, wherein a movable or removable portion of the lid provides access to the interior of the container when the container is positioned under the lid.

50. The appliance of any of claims 47 to 49 and comprising a plurality of interchangeable containers.

51. A cold-storage appliance comprising an open-topped container defining an access opening that is closable by a lid, wherein the lid contains cooling means for cooling the interior of the container when the container is closed by the lid, said cooling means including an evaporator heat exchanger and an air distribution plenum.

52. The appliance of claim 51, wherein said cooling means is screened from the interior of the container by a cover penetrated by diffusion apertures. '

53. A cold-storage appliance comprising at least one module attachable to like modules to define an appliance of desired configuration, wherein each module comprises a self- supporting structure that supports a lid and an open-topped container movable with respect to the lid and the structure, the lid having cooling means for cooling the interior of the container when the container is closed by the lid.

54. The appliance of claim 53, wherein each module further comprises a condenser associated with the cooling means.

55. A cold-storage appliance comprising a lid that is attachable to a vertical wall and is substantially vertical when so attached, and an open-topped container that is pivotable with respect to the lid about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, wherein the top of the container faces substantially vertically when open and the container is pivotable about the pivot axis against the lid upon closing, such that the top of the container then faces substantially horizontally.

56. The appliance of claim 55, wherein the container houses one or more pots that are gimbal-mounted to remain upright during said pivoting movement of the container.

57. the appliance of claim 56, wherein a plurality of pots are linked and surrounded by a cover within the container.

58. The appliance of claim 57, wherein the cover is pervious to airflow.

59. The appliance of any of claims 55 to 58, wherein the lid contains cooling means and the open top of the container is exposed to downward flow of cold air from the lid when the container is open.