WO2016070895A1

WO2016070895A1 - Improved spacer and refrigeration appliance having the same

Info

Publication number: WO2016070895A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/073547
Authority: WO
Inventors: Semih Erol; Gokhan Ozseker; Yasam UZUN; Altinal CALISKAN; Ergin Kaplan
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-11-03
Filing date: 2014-11-03
Publication date: 2016-05-12

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spacer (1) for use in a refrigeration appliance (2) which comprises a main body (3) and a condenser (4) for condensing the refrigerant. The condenser (4) is disposed onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3). The spacer (1) comprises a resilient body (8) which has a fastening means (8a) for detachably fastening the resilient body (8) to the refrigeration appliance (2) and a contacting means (8b) for contacting a wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3). In the spacer (1) of the present invention, the contacting means (8b) is adapted to selectively set one of a plurality of different safety distances between the condenser (4) and the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3).

Description

IMPROVED SPACER AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE HAVING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigerator which has a spacer at its back for maintaining a safety distance in front of the kitchen wall. The present invention more particularly relates to the spacer.

In general, a domestic refrigerator comprises a main body which includes a compartment for storing food and a refrigeration circuit for refrigerating the compartment. The refrigeration circuit generally includes an expansion valve or the like, an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser which are serially connected to circulate the refrigerant. In the prior art domestic refrigerator, the condenser has a meandering refrigerant tube for conveying the refrigerant and cooling fins for dissipating the heat of the refrigerant into the environment. To improve the refrigeration performance of the refrigeration circuit, the condenser is usually disposed onto the rear surface of the main body. However, a prior art domestic refrigerator is mostly installed close to the kitchen wall. When a domestic refrigerator is installed too close to the kitchen wall, the condenser cannot sufficiently give off its heat into the environment and the refrigeration performance starts decreasing. The drop in the refrigeration performance can be higher when the domestic refrigerator has a larger refrigeration capacity. In such cases, the manufacturers receive user complaints. For overcoming such problems, the manufactures usually provide a domestic refrigerator with a spacer in order to maintain a safety distance in front of the kitchen wall. The safety distance also serves as a ventilation gap for ventilating the condenser by natural convection.

KR20100008602 (A) discloses a prior art domestic refrigerator which has several spacers disposed on its back.

However, in general, domestic refrigerators have different dimensions and refrigeration capacities. Thus, the provision of different spacers increases the production and assembly costs.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a spacer and a refrigeration appliance having the same which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved usability.

This objective has been achieved by the spacer as defined in claim 1 and the refrigeration appliance as defined in claim 12. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

The spacer of the present invention has a contacting means which selectively sets one of a plurality of different safety distances between the condenser and the wall located behind the rear surface of the main body.

In an embodiment, the spacer is directly fastened onto the condenser. Thereby, the size of the spacer can be reduced and the production costs can be saved.

In another embodiment, the fastening means has two separate fasteners which can be selectively utilized for detachably fastening the spacer onto the condenser. In the spacer of the present invention, the contacting means has two separate contacting surfaces. The first contacting surface can be contacted to the kitchen wall located behind the rear surface of the main body when the spacer is fastened onto the condenser through the first fastener. The normal distance from the first fastener to the first contacting surface defines a first safety distance. The second contacting surface can be contacted to the kitchen wall behind the rear surface of the main body when the spacer is fastened to the condenser through the second fastener. The normal distance from the second fastener to the second contacting surface defines a second safety distance which is larger than the first safety distance.

In an alternative embodiment, the contacting means has a contacting surface which is movably disposed onto the resilient body of the spacer. In this alternative embodiment, the contacting surface can be selectively secured at one of a plurality of different safety distances relative to the fastening means.

In another embodiment, the first fastener and the first contacting surface are orthogonal relative to the second fastener and the second contacting surface. When assembling the spacer with the refrigeration appliance, the spacer is rotated such that the desired contacting surface points towards the wall. Subsequently, the spacer is fastened onto the condenser through the corresponding fastener.

In another embodiment, the resilient body has an oblong shape such that the comparatively longer sides bear the first fastener and the first contacting surface respectively whereas the comparatively shorter sides bear the second fastener and the second contacting surface respectively.

In another embodiment, the resilient body of the spacer has a support for reinforcing one or both of the contacting surfaces.

In another embodiment, the spacer is directly fastened to the cooling fins of the condenser.

In another embodiment, each fastener has a protrusion and a plurality of recesses formed on the protrusion. The recesses can be engaged with or disengaged from the cooling fins.

In another embodiment, the spacer has at least one through hole which lends more flexibility, particularly when the spacer is contacted to the kitchen wall.

In another embodiment, the spacer is a single piece.

In another embodiment, the spacer is made from a plastic material.

The present invention also provides a refrigeration appliance which has at least one spacer.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance has two spacers.

In another embodiment, each of the two spacers is fastened onto the condenser through its first fastener.

In another alternative embodiment, each of the two spacers is fastened onto the condenser through its second fastener.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance is provided in form of a domestic refrigerator.

With the present invention, the same spacer can be utilized by virtue of its contacting means in combination with different refrigeration appliances having different refrigeration capacities and/or dimensions. Thereby, the production and assembly costs can be reduced. In addition, with the present invention, the user has been enabled to utilize the spacer in accordance with the available room inside the kitchen. If there is sufficient room inside the kitchen, the user can increase the distance from the kitchen wall to the condenser by setting a comparatively larger safety distance. Thereby, the user can obtain an improved refrigeration performance. However, if there is only limited room inside the kitchen, the user can decrease the distance from the kitchen wall to the condenser by setting a comparatively smaller safety distance. Thereby the user can find a trade-off between the utilized room inside the kitchen and the refrigeration performance of the domestic refrigerator. With the present invention, the user can also set different safety distances in the summer and in the winter so as to achieve an optimization as much as possible. With the present invention, the usability of the spacer has been improved. Thereby a consumer satisfaction can be increased.

Additional advantages of the spacer according to the present invention and the refrigeration appliance according to the present invention will now become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a spacer according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 – is another schematic perspective view of the spacer according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3 – is a partial schematic perspective view of a refrigeration appliance which has two spacers according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein each spacer is mounted to the condenser through its first fastener,

Figure 4 – is a partial schematic perspective view of the refrigeration appliance which has two spacers according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein each spacer is mounted to the condenser through its second fastener,

Figure 5 – is a partial schematic exploded perspective view of the refrigeration appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention,

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Spacer
Refrigeration appliance
Main body
Condenser
Rear surface
Tube
Cooling fin
Resilient body

8a. Fastening means
8b. Contacting means
9. Fastener
10. Fastener
11. Contacting surface
12. Contacting surface

13. Support

14. Protrusion

15. Recess

16. Through hole

17. Retainer

18. Bracket

The spacer (1) is suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator.

The refrigeration appliance (2) comprises a main body (3) and a condenser (4) for condensing the refrigerant. The condenser (4) is disposed onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3). The condenser (4) has a meandering refrigerant tube (6) and cooling fins (7) (Fig. 1 to 5).

The spacer (1) comprises a resilient body (8) which has a fastening means (8a) for detachably fastening the resilient body (8) to the refrigeration appliance (2) and a contacting means (8b) for contacting a wall (not shown) located a safety distance behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3).

In the spacer (1) of the present invention, the contacting means (8b) is adapted to selectively set one of a plurality of different safety distances between the condenser (4) and the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3).

The refrigeration appliance (2) of the present invention comprises one or more than one spacer (1).

In an embodiment, the fastening means (8a) is adapted to detachably fasten the resilient body (8) directly onto the condenser (4).

In an alternative embodiment, the fastening means (8a) is adapted to detachably fasten the resilient body (8) directly onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3).

In another embodiment, the fastening means (8a) comprises two separate fasteners (9,10) which can be selectively utilized for detachably fastening the resilient body (8) onto the condenser (4). In this embodiment, the contacting means (8b) comprises two separate contacting surfaces (11,12) which can be selectively utilized for contacting the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3). The first contacting surface (11) is adapted to contact the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3) when the resilient body (8) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through the first fastener (9). The normal distance from the first fastener (9) to the first contacting surface (11) defines a first safety distance (D1). The second contacting surface (12) is adapted to contact the wall behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3) when the resilient body (8) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through the second fastener (10). The normal distance from the second fastener (10) to the second contacting surface (12) defines a second safety distance (D2) which is larger than the first safety distance (D1).

In another embodiment, the first fastener (9) and the first contacting surface (11) are respectively formed on two opposing sides of the resilient body (8) which are aligned on a first axis with respect to the resilient body (8). And the second fastener (10) and the second contacting surface (12) are formed on two other opposing sides of the resilient body (8) which are aligned on a second axis with respect to the resilient body (8) which is perpendicular to the first axis.

In another embodiment, the resilient body (8) has an oblong shape. In this embodiment, the first fastener (9) and the first contacting surface (11) are formed on the relatively longer opposing sides of the resilient body (8) respectively. And the second fastener (10) and the second contacting surface (12) are formed on the relatively shorter opposing sides of the resilient body (8) respectively.

In another embodiment, the resilient body (8) has a support (13) which reinforces the first contacting surface (11). In this embodiment, the support (13) is formed between the first fastener (9) and the first contacting surface (11).

In another embodiment, each fastener (9,10) detachably fastens the resilient body (8) directly with the cooling fins (7) of the condenser (4). In a version of this embodiment, the cooling fins (7) comprise a plurality of regularly spaced straight wires which support the meandering refrigerant tube (6).

In another embodiment, each fastener (9, 10) comprises a protrusion (14) and two diametrically opposing recesses (15) which are formed on the lateral sides of the protrusion (14). The protrusion (14) can be penetrated through two adjacent cooling fins (7) and rotated from an unlocking position to a locking position and vice versa. The unlocking position is separated from the locking position by 90 degrees. The two adjacent cooling fins (7) respectively engage with the two diametrically opposing recesses (15) when the protrusion (14) is rotated to the locking position. And the two adjacent cooling fins (7) respectively disengage from the two diametrically opposing recesses (15) when the protrusion (14) is rotated back to the unlocking position.

In another embodiment, the spacer (1) comprises one or more than one through hole (16) which are formed into the resilient body (8). In a version of this embodiment, two through holes (16) are formed into the resilient body (8). In another version of this embodiment, said two through holes (14) are formed on opposing sides of the support (13) (Fig. 1 to 5).

In another embodiment, the spacer (1) is manufactured as a single piece of resilient material.

In another embodiment, the spacer (1) is made from a plastic material.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) is provided in form of a domestic refrigerator, comprises a main body (3) which includes a compartment (not shown) for storing food and a refrigeration circuit for refrigerating the compartment. The refrigeration circuit has a condenser (4) for condensing the refrigerant. The condenser (4) is disposed onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3). The condenser (4) comprises a meandering refrigerant tube (6) for conveying the refrigerant and cooling fins (7) for dissipating the heat.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) comprises two spacers (1). The resilient body (8) of each spacer (1) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through its first fastener (9) (Fig. 3)

In another alternative embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) comprises also two spacers (1), but the resilient body (8) of each spacer (1) is alternatively fastened onto the condenser (4) through its second fastener (10) (Fig. 4).

In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) comprises a plurality of retainers (17) for mounting the condenser (4) onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3). In a version of this embodiment, each retainer (17) comprises a bracket (18).

With the present invention, the same spacer (1) can be selectively utilized in combination with different condensers (4) having different cooling capacities and/or dimensions. Thereby, the production and assembly costs can be reduced. With the present invention, the user has been enabled to utilize the spacer (1) more flexibly, particularly in accordance with the available room inside the kitchen, the environmental conditions or the like. With the present invention, the usability of the spacer (1) has been improved. Thereby a consumer satisfaction can be increased.

Claims

A spacer (1) suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator, the refrigeration appliance (2) comprising a main body (3) and a condenser (4) for condensing the refrigerant, wherein the condenser (4) is disposed onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3) and has a meandering refrigerant tube (6) and cooling fins (7),

the spacer (1) comprising a resilient body (8) which has a fastening means (8a) for detachably fastening the resilient body (8) to the refrigeration appliance (2) and a contacting means (8b) for contacting a wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3), the spacer (1) being characterized in that

the contacting means (8b) is adapted to selectively set one of a plurality of different safety distances between the condenser (4) and the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3).
The spacer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means (8a) is adapted to detachably fasten the resilient body (8) directly onto the condenser (4).
The spacer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

- the fastening means (8a) comprises two separate fasteners (9,10) which can be selectively utilized for detachably fastening the resilient body (8) onto the condenser (4) and

- the contacting means (8b) comprises two separate contacting surfaces (11,12) which can be selectively utilized for contacting the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3), wherein the first contacting surface (11) is adapted to contact the wall located behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3) when the resilient body (8) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through the first fastener (9), wherein the normal distance from the first fastener (9) to the first contacting surface (11) defines a first safety distance (D1), wherein the second contacting surface (12) ) is adapted to contact a wall behind the rear surface (5) of the main body (3) when the resilient body (8) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through the second fastener (10), wherein the normal distance from the second fastener (10) to the second contacting surface (12) defines a second safety distance (D2) which is larger than the first safety distance (D1).
The spacer (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that

- the first fastener (9) and the first contacting surface (11) are respectively formed on two opposing sides of the resilient body (8) which are aligned on a first axis with respect to the resilient body (8) and

- the second fastener (10) and the second contacting surface (12) are formed on two other opposing sides of the resilient body (8) which are aligned on a second axis with respect to the resilient body (8) which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
The spacer (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the resilient body (8) has an oblong shape, wherein the first fastener (9) and the first contacting surface (11) are formed on the relatively longer opposing sides of the resilient body (8) respectively and wherein the second fastener (10) and the second contacting surface (12) are formed on the relatively shorter opposing sides of the resilient body (8) respectively.
The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the resilient body (8) has a support (13) for reinforcing the first contacting surface (11), wherein the support (13) is formed between the first fastener (9) and the first contacting surface (11).
The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that each fastener (9, 10) is adapted to detachably fasten the resilient body (8) directly onto the cooling fins (7) of the condenser (4).
The spacer (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that each fastener (9, 10) comprising:

- a protrusion (14) which can be penetrated through two adjacent cooling fins (7) and rotated from an unlocking position to a locking position which are separated by about 90 degrees from each other and

- two diametrically opposing recesses (15) which are formed on the lateral sides of the protrusion (14), wherein the two adjacent cooling fins (7) respectively engage with the two diametrically opposing recesses (15) when the protrusion (14) is rotated to the locking position and the two adjacent cooling fins (7) respectively disengage from the two diametrically opposing recesses (15) when the protrusion (14) is rotated back to the unlocking position.
The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one or more than one through hole (16) formed into the resilient body (8).
The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spacer (1) is a single piece of resilient material.
The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the spacer (1) is made from plastic material.
A refrigeration appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator comprising:

- a main body (3) which includes a compartment for storing food and

- a refrigeration circuit for refrigerating the compartment, wherein the refrigeration circuit has a condenser (4) for condensing the refrigerant, wherein the condenser (4) is disposed onto the rear surface (5) of the main body (3) and wherein the condenser (4) has a meandering refrigerant tube (6) for conveying the refrigerant and cooling fins (7) for dissipating the heat, the refrigeration appliance (2) being characterized in that one or more than one spacer (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11.
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that two spacers (1), wherein the resilient body (8) of each spacer (1) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through its first fastener (9).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that two spacers (1), wherein the resilient body (8) of each spacer (1) is fastened onto the condenser (4) through its second fastener (10).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that a plurality of retainers (17) for mounting the condenser (4) to the rear surface (5) of the main body (3).