WO2008144863A2

WO2008144863A2 - Food storage compartment assembled on refrigerator doors, support for food stowage, refrigerator door and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2008144863A2
Application number: PCT/BR2008/000081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guilherme Nehring; Anna Luiza MORAIS DE SÁ CAVALCANTI
Original assignee: Whirlpool SA
Current assignee: Whirlpool SA
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2008-03-20
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-01
Also published as: WO2008144863A3; BRPI0702567A2

Abstract

The invention herein refers to a refrigerator and, more specifically, a storage compartment (1 ) for food, removably assembled on a refrigerator door (18) through the association of at least a first fixation element (14) that is associated to at least a second corresponding fixation element (19) on the refrigerator door (18), comprising, on the inner cavity (8), which is sealed from the refrigerator environment by a closing device (6), at least one support (9) that comprises a body (16) with several orifices (15) that enable fair food settling.

Description

Title: "FOOD STORAGE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLED ON REFRIGERATOR DOORS, SUPPORT FOR FOOD STOWAGE, REFRIGERATOR DOOR AND REFRIGERATOR".

The invention herein refers to a food storage compartment to be assembled on a refrigerator door, as well as it refers to the support for food stowage disposed inside the food storage compartment.

The invention herein also refers to a refrigerator door and a refrigerator, both comprising food storage compartment. Description of the State of Art Generally, domestic refrigerators have two cooled chambers, a refrigerator chamber and a freezing chamber, or freezer.

Cooled chambers generally have several shelves and compartments assembled inside the refrigerator or on the door of the refrigerator to retain and store food. These compartments can be destined for specific types of food, depending on the size of the compartment, the location of the compartment on the cooled chamber, and the level of humidity within the compartment. For example, a refrigerator chamber can have a drawer on the inner part of the box to specifically store agricultural products, such as fruits and vegetables; said drawer is normally called "crisper" (freshness conservative or vegetables drawer).

In some refrigerators, vegetables drawer can be sealed, that is, isolated from the cooled chamber in such a way the environment (temperature and humidity) of the drawer is controlled. Sealing helps maintaining agricultural products fresh avoiding the air that circulates on the cooled chamber to enter the vegetables drawer, once the excessive exposition to circulating air can prematurely dry and spoil food.

However, vegetables drawers use a relatively big space on the cooled chamber. Besides that, such drawers are usually located next to the lower part of the cooled chamber and, consequently, have inconvenient ac- cess not providing the user an easy visualization. Frequently, user selects the food he wishes simply by looking inside the refrigerator and selecting the most attractive ones. Once the

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765V1 vegetables drawer is difficult to see, probably the user will choose a potentially less healthy food instead of a relatively healthy agricultural product.

On the other hand, it is common for refrigerators compartments to have a free area that shelters food. However, when food is settled on the door of the refrigerator, the constant movement caused by the door opening and closing makes food move within the compartment, causing impacts that notoriously damage its aspect and nutritive quality, imposing it premature deterioration. Thereby, it is possible to realize that housing cavities for eggs are used to store food, once their form enables the minimum support possible for food. Naturally, this solution is not very practical once it needs to use a single space to settle eggs, and by the fact that such cavities only have a fixed dimension, previously studied and, therefore, they do not have a constructive form that enables food stowage that have form and dimension different from the form and dimension of an egg.

On the state of the art it is not observed a food storage compartment at the door of a refrigerator that is capable to provide fair food stowage - not only of eggs - in such a way food stored in this compartment is maintained fresh and more accessible to the user of the refrigerator. Objectives of the Invention

Therefore, the first objective of the invention herein is to promote a removable food storage compartment assembled on the door of a refrigerator that enables food stowage in a fair way and in a controlled environment, in order for food to remain healthy and more accessible and visible to the user.

In accordance to the first objective, the second objective of the invention herein is to promote a support for the stowage of elements, associated to the food stowage compartment, capable of stowing food in a fair way on its orifices, with the correct food stowage and enabling user to have a good view of food.

ws/DOCS/CMO P15128OPCT/RELAT0RI0/2271765v1 Additionally, the third objective of the invention herein is to provide a refrigerator door that has at least one food storage compartment aforementioned on the first objective.

At last, the forth objective of the invention herein is to provide a refrigerator that has at least one food storage compartment aforementioned on the first objective. Brief Description of the Invention

The objectives of the invention herein are accomplished through a storage compartment embodied to be assembled on the door of a refrigerator, which has an inner cavity with an opening that gives access to the inside of the aforesaid cavity. The storage compartment also has a closing device that isolates the opening that provides access to the inside part of the cavity from the outside environment, said closing device having mobility and being assembled on the storage compartment to be moved from an opened position, in which the inside part of the inner cavity can be accessed through the opening, and a closed position, in which opening is sealed in reference to the inside part of the inner cavity, assuring a more humidity atmosphere, and a little higher temperature that assures proper food storage conditions. Additionally, the invention herein also foresees that whenever the closing device is on the opened position, the storage compartment has, in the inside part of the inner cavity, at least one accessible support that has a body with several orifices of different dimensions that enable fair food conditioning.

Thereby, it is possible to store food in an ergonomic distribution that gives them more beneficial durability, allowing easy access and observance in a food compartment that has a proper controlled environment, where it is possible to retract the support when it is not necessary, into a position that enables the stowage of other products.

Besides that, the objectives of the invention herein are accomplished through a support for food stowage that has a body that comprehends a first rear section and a second rear section which extensions have concurrent directions between themselves. The first rear section is de-

ws/DOCS/CMO P1S1280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765V1 limited on its extension in the direction of the concurrence by a first transition vertex and the second rear section is delimited on its extension in the direction of the concurrence by a second transition vertex. Transition vertexes are disposed between rear sections and a curved counterfeit. Said first rear section and second rear section join the respective lateral sections by means of the transaction conferred by obtuse angles; said lateral sections are extended according to curvilinear sections respectively associated to a first intermediate face and a second intermediate face. On the extension of these two intermediate faces represented by concave cur- ves, there are, respectively, two inflexion points that change the concavity of both faces, allowing them to be joined in a frontal portion called face, opposed to the aforementioned counterfeit.

Said body also has a superior surface and an inferior surface, spaced between themselves by a distance "L", where in said body there are several orifices conferred by a bore of a conic body with a diameter "D1" on the upper surface and a lower diameter "D2" on the lower surface, where the bores are capable to fairly stow food.

The objectives of the invention herein are also accomplished through a refrigerator door that has at least one storage compartment as previously described, and, through a refrigerator that has at least one storage compartment, according to the aforementioned description. Summarized Description of the Drawings

The invention herein will be described in details based on a usage example represented on the drawings. The figures show: Figure 1 - is a perspective view of the storage compartment according to a modality of the invention herein, assembled on a refrigerator door;

Figure 2 - is a perspective view of the storage compartment which is opened and has the support on a horizontal position for food settlement;

Figure 3 - is a perspective view of figure 1 storage compartment, with said storage compartment opened and with the support in a vertical

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/227176Sv1 position to settle bigger size food;

Figure 4 - is a superior view of the support; and

Figure 5 - is a perspective view of the support. Detailed Description of the Figures In reference to the figures, figure 1 shows a refrigerator door 18 according to a modality of the invention, used to close the cooled chamber of a refrigerator (not shown) and to reduce heat transfer from the cooled chamber and the outer environment of the refrigerator. Despite the invention being described in reference to the door of a refrigerator, people proficient on the technique will realize that the door of a freezer can substantially be identical to the door of a refrigerator 18 and, therefore, the invention can be embodied with the door of a freezer and with the door of a refrigerator.

With reference to figure 1 , the refrigerator door 18 has an inner surface 17 that faces the inside part of the cooled chamber when the refrigerator door 18 is closed. The inner surface 17 has a pair of opposed lateral walls 37 joined by a rear wall 38 and each lateral wall 37 has several fixation elements 19 vertically spaced. Fixation elements 19 are equally spaced in both lateral walls 37 to form pairs of fixation elements 19, spaced in parallel and preferably horizontally collinear. Fixation elements 19 can withstand several structures, such as shelves or compartments for food storage. When the refrigerator door 18 is closed, food that is on the structures supported by fixation elements 19 is stored inside the cooling chamber.

With reference to figure 1 , the refrigerator door 18 withstands a food storage compartment 1 according to a modality of the invention. Said food storage compartment 1 is embodied to be assembled at the inner surface 17 of the refrigerator door 18 and stores food, preferably agricultural food, such as fruits and vegetables, in a support 9. With reference to figure 2, the storage compartment 1 has a rear wall 3 and a frontal frame 5 joined by a pair of lateral walls 4 and superior and inferior walls 2, 7. The frontal frame 5 defines, on its interior, an opening

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765v1 that gives access to the inner cavity 8 of the storage compartment 1.

To close the frontal frame 5 opening, a closing device 6 that isolates the outer environment from the opening that gives access to the interior of cavity 8 is assembled, with mobility, on the storage compartment 1. Said closing device 6 defines on its inferior portion a cam 10 that, associated to a recess 11 of the frontal frame 5, enables the user to move it from an opened position to a closed position.

On the closed position of the closing device 6 the access to the inside of the inner cavity 8 is prevented, either by sealing it or isolating it from the outer environment, assuring humidity and temperature control inside the inner cavity 8, when the refrigerator door 18 is closed.

On the opened position, at least one support 9 is accessible, comprehending a plate with several orifices 15, that enable fair food settling on the inside part of the inner cavity 8. Said support 9 and its constituting e- lements will be further explained in details.

The mobility of this closing device 6 happens once it is articulated through a resilient supporting pivot 13 settled on the lateral walls 4, inside the inner cavity 8, moving from the bottom to the top in such a way to enable the storage compartment 1 opening. There are no restrictions regarding the opening method once it will not affect the protection scope of the invention. It is possible, for example, according to an alternative embodiment, that the closing device 6 can open from the top to the bottom, or can be activated through a pantographic mean or it could work in a duct. Summarizing, despite the opening method is not limiting to the scope of the invention, it is important to observe that the closing device 6 shall define an isolation of the inner cavity 8 in reference to the atmosphere of the cooled chamber. Thereby, as a preferred embodiment, the closing device 6 is a door assembled in a pivoting manner on the storage compartment 1 to be moved from opened to closed positions. According to a modality of the invention, the closing device 6 can be a translucent material in order to make visual contact with food easier. Storage compartment 1 is preferably made of polymeric material which can,

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765V1 in an alternative embodiment, use any other material, such as glass or metal, without affecting the protection scope of the invention herein.

Still in reference to figure 2, the lateral walls 4 of the storage compartment 1 have at least a first fixation element 14 that is associated to at least a second corresponding fixation element 19 on the refrigerator door 18 to support, in a removable way, the storage compartment 1 at the refrigerator door 18 allowing, this way, that the user changes, at his will, the position of the compartment 1 on the refrigerator door 18. Said removable support, which embodies the assembly of the storage compartment 1 on the refrigerator door 18, can be replaced by a fitting, or other fixation forms, between fixation elements 14, 19, and it is important to emphasize that said fitting, or fixation, is made of a moveable form, in such a way the user is free to change its disposition on the refrigerator door 18.

Besides that, it is obviously important to observe that the number of fixation elements 14, 19, is not determined, as long as it is possible to fit the storage compartment 1 on the door of a refrigerator or freezer and their similar. Support 9 is assembled in a pivoted manner on the inside of the inner cavity 8, being able to move from a horizontal position that enables food settlement on its orifices 15, and a vertical position, that enables the creation of a space on the inner cavity 8 for the settlement of bulky food.

The inside part of the inner cavity 8 has two articulation sets 12 that join the lateral walls 4 to at least one support 9 for food settlement. Said support 9 is assembled in a pivoted manner inside the inner cavity 8 and it is articulated, enabling, as it is possible to see on figure 2, a horizontal position for food settlement on the orifices 15 and a second retracted position shown on figure 3, whenever its use is not necessary, enabling the creation of a space on the inner cavity 8 for the settling of bulky food.

Figure 4 shows the support 9 for food stowage made of a body 16, which, in its constructive form, is made of a first rear section 20 and a

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second rear section 21 which lengths have concurrent directions between themselves. The first rear section 20 part is delimited on its length, on the direction of the concurrence, by a first transition vertex 22 and the second rear section 21 is delimited on its length, on the direction of the concurrence, by a second transition vertex 23. Said transition vertexes 22, 23 are located between the rear sections 20, 21 and a curved counterfeit.

The first rear section 20 and the second rear section 21 join the respective lateral sections 27, 28 through the transaction of obtuse angles 25, 26. Said lateral sections extend themselves according to curvilinear sections which are respectively joined to a first intermediate face 29 and a second intermediate face 30. On the extension of both intermediate faces 29, 30 represented by concave curves, there are, respectively, two inflexion points 31 , 32 that change the concavity of both faces 29, 30, allowing them to join themselves in a frontal portion called face 33 opposed to the abovemen- tioned counterfeit 24.

Additionally, according to figure 5, said body 16 is made of a superior surface 34 and an inferior surface 35 spaced by a distance L, and where, in said body 16, there are several orifices 15 of variable section conferred by a bore of a conic body with a bigger diameter D1 on the upper surface 34 and a lower diameter D2 on the lower surface 35. Diameters D1 and D2 are variable on the bores, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. Thereby, support 9 is capable of settling several types of food in a fair way, overcoming the inconvenience of the state of the art. Lateral sections 27, 28 are made of two pivoting elements 36 that extend themselves on a C shape, therefrom the inferior surface 35 in direction to the first rear section 20 and the second rear section 21 , which role is to act together with the resilient supporting pivot 12 lodged on the inner cavity 8. However, it is obvious to technicians that the substantial C shape can be replaced by another shape, as long as the pivoting role is maintained. Regarding the advantages, storage compartment 1 , according to the invention herein, has an easy-access storage compartment and high food

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765v1 visibility, settling them in an innovative manner and providing them fair food fitting on the orifices 15 of support 9. Once the storage compartment 1 is assembled on the refrigerator door 18, the space on the cooled chamber is efficiently used, and more food can fit on the cooled chamber.

Besides that, the part of the cooled chamber adjacent to the door is inherently a few degrees hotter than the rest of the cooled chamber. This environment, which is a little warmer, helps maintaining agricultural products fresher for longer periods of time. For example, the temperature of the cooled chamber can be 2.78°C (37°F), and the temperature on the cam of the storage compartment can be 16.7 to 16.1⁰C (2 to 3°F) above the temperature of the cooled chamber. Additionally, to provide a warmer environment, the inner cavity 8 is closed by the closing device 6, and, therefore, sealing the air that circulates on the cooled chamber in order to avoid food to prematurely dry up on the storage compartment 1.

Another advantage of the storage compartment 1 of the invention herein is its modularity capability; storage compartment 1 can be easily removed and assembled on the refrigerator door 18 in any place desired. Despite the storage compartment 1 being capable of obtaining all the advantages described above, it is not necessary for the storage compartment 1 to have all the advantages in a single unit in order for it to be within the scope of the invention herein, which is defined on the attached claims.

Besides that, the invention herein foresees a refrigerator door 18 that is capable of comprising at least one storage compartment 1 , according to what has been described on this text. Said refrigerator door can be of any model. Its intrinsic condition to the scope of the invention is that it should have means to lodge the storage compartment.

At last, the invention herein foresees a refrigerator that is capable of comprising at least one storage compartment 1 according to description given along this text. Such as the refrigerator door 18, the refrigerator model is not defined. It has to have means to comprise the storage compartment 1.

In spite of the invention herein is described specifically regarding

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765v1 specific modalities, it should be understood that this is only an illustration, and not a limitation, and that the scope of the claims attached shall be considered taking into account the widest extent allowed by the previous technique.

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/227176Sv1

Claims

1. Storage compartment (1 ) embodied to be assembled on the door of a refrigerator (18) and comprising an inner cavity (8) that has an opening to give access to the interior part of said cavity (8), wherein there is a closing device (6) that isolates the opening that gives access to the interior part of the cavity from the outer environment, where the closing device (6) is assembled with mobility on the storage compartment (1 ) to move from an opened position, where the inside part of the inner cavity (8) can be accessed through the opening, and a closed position, which the opening is sealed in reference to the inside part of the inner cavity (8), when the closing device (6) is on the opened position, at least one support (9) that comprises a body (16) with several orifices (15) that enable fair food settling is accessible on the inside part of the inner cavity (8).

2. Storage compartment (1 ), set forth in claim 1 , wherein each o- rifice (15) of the support (9) has a bore of conic body of bigger diameter (D1 ) on the superior surface (34) and smaller diameter (D2) on the inferior surface (35).

3. Support (9), set forth in claim 1 , wherein the orifices (15) have different sizes among themselves.

4. Storage compartment (1) set forth in claim 1 , wherein it is removably assembled on the refrigerator door (18).

5. Storage compartment (1 ) set forth in claim 4, wherein it has at least a first fixation element (14) that is associated to at least a second cor- responding fixation element (19) on the refrigerator door (18) to removably support the storage compartment (1) on the refrigerator door (18).

6. Storage compartment (1) set forth in claim 1 , wherein the closing device (6) is a door assembled in a pivoting manner on the storage compartment (1 ) which can be moved from opened to closed positions.

7. Storage compartment (1), set forth in claim 1 , wherein said support (9) is assembled in a pivoting manner on the inside part of the inner cavity (8), being capable of moving from a horizontal position, which enables

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765v1 food settling on its orifices (15), and a vertical position, which enables the creation of a space on the inner cavity (8) to settle bulky food.

8. Storage compartment (1 ) set forth in claim 1 , wherein the closing device (6) is made of translucent material.

9. Storage compartment (1) set forth in claim 1 , wherein it is made of polymeric material.

10. Support (9) to settle food wherein it comprises a body (16) that has:

- a first rear section (20) and a second rear section (21 ) which lengths have concurrent directions between themselves, where the first rear section (20) is delimited on its length on the concurrence direction by a first transition vertex (22) and the second rear section (21 ) is delimited on its length on the concurrence direction by a second transition vertex (23), - transition vertexes (22, 23) are located between rear sections

(20, 21 ) and a curved counterfeit (24),

- said first rear section (20) and second rear section (21 ) join the respective lateral sections (27, 28) through the transition given by obtuse angles (25, 26); such lateral sections extend themselves according curvilinear sections which are respectively joined to a first intermediate face (29) and a second intermediate face (30); on the extension of both intermediate faces (29, 30), represented by concave curves, there are, respectively, two inflexion points (31 , 32) that change the concavity of both faces (29, 30), allowing them to join in a frontal portion called face (33), opposed to said counterfeit (24);

- said body (16) also comprises a superior surface (34) and an inferior surface (35) spaced between themselves by a distance (L), where, on said body (16), there are several orifices (15) that are capable of settling food in a fair manner.

11. Support (9), set forth in claim 10, wherein each orifice (15) of the support (9) has a bore of conic body of bigger diameter (D1 ) on the superior surface (34) and smaller diameter (D2) on the inferior surface (35).

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12. Support (9) set forth in claim 10, wherein the orifices (15) have different sizes among themselves.

13. Support (9) set forth in claim 10, wherein the lateral sections (27, 28) have two pivoting elements (36) that extend themselves in a subs- tantial "C" form therefrom the inferior surface (35) and on the direction to the first rear section (20) and second rear section (21 ).

14. Refrigerator door (18) wherein it has at least one storage compartment (1 ) as set forth in claims 1 to 7.

15. Refrigerator wherein it has at least one storage compartment (1 ) as set forth in claims 1 to 7.

ws/DOCS/CMO P151280-PCT/RELATORIO/2271765V1