WO2017202615A1

WO2017202615A1 - A cooling device comprising a cold storage container

Info

Publication number: WO2017202615A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/061301
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Erman ERTAS; Merve YAZICI; Yaprak Deniz YURT
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-05-26
Filing date: 2017-05-11
Publication date: 2017-11-30

Abstract

The present invention is a cooling device comprising a body (1) in the form of a cabinet with heat insulation, defining a refrigerated inner space; a door (2) that is hinged to the body (1) in a closeable manner, and a cold storage container (10) that has a detachable base (19) in the inner volume and side walls (12) extending perpendicularly to the base (19) and that defines a storage space (50) for the items to be refrigerated. The cooling device comprises a cold battery element (30) that is placed in an upright manner from the base (19) in the storage space (50) so as to divide the storage space (50) into a first section (52) and at least one second section (54) neighboring to the first section (52).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A COLD STORAGE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to storage containers wherein items to be refrigerated in refrigerators are placed.

Cooling devices generally comprise a body in the form of a cabinet with heat insulation, defining a refrigerated chamber, an inner lining provided in the cabinet, and containers, in particular shelves, boxes and drawers, wherein items to be refrigerated are placed. The containers comprise partition elements so as to define separate storage spaces for different types of products. The partition elements divide the storage space limited by the container in an adjustable manner into sub-sections.

The Patent No. US20130328473 comprises a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage, a door mounted proximate the cabinet and configured for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction, and a storage container supported on said door and defining a storage volume for receipt of food items, The storage container has a bottom panel, and a supplemental shelf mounted to said storage container and configured for selective positioning along the vertical direction relative to the bottom panel. The storage container also comprises a transparent window that provides visual access to the products therein when closed.

The Patent No. EP2193317 discloses an electrical refrigerator comprising a cold reservoir. The refrigerator comprises a cabinet body containing a refrigeration compartment and a door for closing the refrigeration compartment. The interior of the door has a projection facing the refrigeration compartment. The projection has an opening through that chunks of ice can be transferred to the refrigerating compartment. A depression is formed on the projection under the opening and the cold reservoir is mounted in the said depression.

The aim of the present invention is to extend the cold storage duration of the items in the container in the cooling devices.

The present invention realized in order to attain the above-mentioned aim is a cooling device comprising a body in the form of a cabinet with heat insulation, defining a refrigerated inner space; a door that is hinged to the body in a closeable manner, and a cold storage container that has a base that is detachably disposed in the inner volume and lateral walls extending perpendicularly to the base and that defines a storage space for the items to be refrigerated. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a cold battery element that is placed upright on the base toward the storage space so as to divide the storage space into a first section and at least one second section neighboring the first section. The cold battery element is an additional refrigeration element that carries a pre-frozen fluid or that is pre-refrigerated in a similar way and is able to perform the refrigeration function for a certain period of time. In particular, the cold battery element slows down warming of the refrigerated items in the cold storage container in the event of blackouts or a functional failure. Thus, the cold battery element assists in the protection of the refrigerated products against spoilage until the functional failure is fixed or the blackout problem is solved. Moreover, it becomes possible to keep or transport any cold items in the cold storage container, for example any food sensitive to temperature, outside the body of the cooling device by slowing down the process of reaching the ambient temperature for a certain period of time.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cold battery element extends along the two opposite sides of the base in the storage space. In this case, the storage space can be divided into independent compartments. The independent compartments assist in the categorization and arrangement of the items desired to be refrigerated.

In order to enable the cold battery element to be detachably attached to the base, a pin that is received in the base is provided on the cold battery element. The pin enables the cold battery element to maintain its position without being affected from external movements, by withstanding shocks occurring, for example, when the door of the cooling device is closed.

A plurality of sockets wherein the pin is fitted are provided, arranged on the base so as to enable the pin to divide the base at an adjustable distance By means of the lined sockets, the user can place the cold battery element as an adjustable divider on the base from the portions desired to be divided. Moreover, as the user places more than one cold battery element into any of the lined sockets, the cold storage container can be divided in different configurations.

The cold storage container comprises a ceiling extending over the lateral walls at a distance to the base and a front lid extending between the base and the front side of the ceiling. The ceiling provides a storage space in the volume defined by the ceiling, the base and the lateral walls. In this case, the refrigerated items contained in the cold storage container are enabled to be easily removed and transported.

The ceiling is provided with a hole bored longitudinally so as to form the socket wherein the pin is fitted. The hole facilitates the passage of the cold air circulating in the body into the storage space.

The front lid is at least partially produced from transparent material so as to allow visual access to the storage space. In this case, the user is enabled to identify the items in the storage space while viewing the cold storage container from outside.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cold battery element is in the form of a hollow reservoir that encloses a refrigerant fluid. The refrigerant fluid is supplied from a material that is pre-frozen and that can preserve the set temperature for a long time.

The cold battery element is in a prismatic form extending transversely along the short edge of the base. In this case, the cold battery element provides a wide heat transfer zone at the section erected in the refrigeration area and occupies less space on the base. Moreover, the cold battery element can be easily held on the base and can be attached to/detached from the base.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a reinforcement protrusion that extends on an inner lining of the door so as to detachably attach the cold storage container to the door and a support member provided on the side wall of the cold storage container so as to be fitted on the reinforcement protrusion. Thus, the cold storage container is provided on the door of the cooling device in an easily accessible manner.

A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective dismounted view of a representative configuration of a cold storage container of the present invention.

Figure 2 - is the cross-sectional schematic front view of the mounting of the cold storage container on the door.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1 Body

2 Door

10 Cold storage container

11 Container rear wall

12 Side wall

13 Opposite side wall

14 Front side

15 Socket

16 Ceiling

17 Stepped section

18 Support member

19 Base

20 Front lid

22 Panel

24 Handle

26 Hinge

30 Cold battery element

32 Lateral wall

33 Battery base

34 Pin

35 Lower pin

36 Front wall

37 Inner receptacle

38 Rear wall

39 Top wall

40 Inner lining

42 Housing

44 Reinforcement protrusion

50 Storage space

52 First section

54 Second section

Figure 1 is the perspective exploded view of a cold storage container (10) of the present invention. The cold storage container (10) is provided as a single piece produced by plastic injection in the form of internal cavities that define a storage space (50). The cold storage container (10) comprises an extended ceiling (16) and a base (19) that is provided with a distance under the ceiling (16), the ceiling (16) and the base (19) being parallel and identical to each other. A side wall (12) and a matching opposite side wall (13) extending in planar form from the lateral sides of the base (19) and the ceiling (16), and a container rear wall (11) joining the side walls (12, 13) are provided. Lined and spaced circular sockets (15) that are axially aligned with each other are bored on the base (19) and the ceiling (16). The sockets (15) open to the storage space (50) along the base (19) and the ceiling (16). The storage space (50) is covered with a front lid (20) along the front-facing edges of the base (19), the ceiling (16) and the lateral walls (12, 13) as well as a front side (14) defining the storage space (50). The front lid (20) is axially attached to the cold storage container (10) by means of a hinge (26) in the form of a cylindrical protrusion provided on the opposite upper corners through a corresponding hole (not shown in the figures). The front lid (20) is produced from a transparent plastic in the form of a panel (22). A handle (24) is formed in the form of a circular groove in the vicinity of the center of the lower edge of the front lid (20). The outer periphery of the panel (22) is sized in alignment with the front side (14) thereof. A stepped section (17) in the form of an inward depression is provided at the rear side of the side edges (12, 13). A support member (18) in the form of an inverted hook extending outward corresponding to the size of the depression is provide on the stepped section (17). The support member (18) is provided as a single piece with the cold storage container (10).

A cold battery element (30) in a form similar to a partition wall is sized so as to be transversely fitted into the cold storage container (10). The cold battery element (30) comprises a front wall (36) provided between two planarly opposite lateral walls (32), a rear wall (38) opposite to the front wall (36), a top wall (39) and a battery base (33) connecting the front wall (36) and the rear wall (38). The cold battery element (30) is in the form of a hollow rectangular prism. The walls of the cold battery element (30) enclose an inner receptacle (37). A refrigeration fluid is stored in the inner receptacle (37). The cold battery element (30) has a size and form identical to the cross-section of the storage space (50). Thus, when the cold battery element (30) is placed into the cold storage container (10) through the front side (14) thereof, the rear wall (38) of the cold battery element (30) is tightly seated on the inner surface of the rear wall (11) of the cold storage container (10). In this position, the cold battery element (30) is seated on the opposite ceiling (16) and the base (19) from the inner surfaces of the top wall (39) and the battery base (33). When the front lid (20) is closed, the inner surface thereof completely contacts the front wall (36) of the cold battery element (30). Thus, when the front lid (20) is closed, the cold storage container (10) peripherally surrounds the cold battery element (30). The top wall (39) of the cold battery element (30) is provided with a pair of pins (34) in the form of cylindrical protrusions, placed apart from each other. Correspondingly, the battery base (33) is provided with a pair of lower pins (35), extending in opposite direction to the pins (34). All the pins (34, 35) are integrated with the cold battery element (30).

Figure 2 shows the schematic lengthwise cross-section of the cold storage container (10) in the door (2) covering a body (1) of the cooling device. The door (2) is surrounded with a magnetic gasket (not shown in the figures) so as to provide sealing with the body (1). The heat insulation of the door (2) is provided by means of a polyurethane insulation layer between the outer panel (not shown in the figures) and a distanced inner lining (40) of the door (2). The inner lining (40) is produced by plastic injection. Two reinforcement protrusions (44) parallel to each other extend in the proximity of the longitudinal edges of the inner lining (40). Opposite housings (42) wherein the support member (18) is engaged and fitted are formed in a line and distanced manner on the opposite surfaces of the reinforcement protrusions (44). The cold storage container (10) longitudinally extends between the reinforcement protrusions (44) on the inner lining (40). The cold storage container (10) is in the form of a thin-walled box.

The cold battery element (30) is placed so as to divide the cold storage space (50) defined by the cold battery element (30) into a narrow first section (52) and a wider second section (54). The cold battery element (30) is fixed in an upright manner on the base (19) as the pins (34, 35) engage into the hole-shaped sockets (15). In alternative embodiments, a plurality of cold battery elements (30) can form more than one sections by fitting the pins (34, 35) thereof into the corresponding sockets (15).

The cold battery element (30) provides refrigeration from the lateral walls (32) thereof along the cross-section of the storage space (50). The volume of the inner space (37) required to ensure the desired refrigeration effect is obtained by changing the width of the battery base (33) and the top wall (39). Preferably, the width of the cold battery element (30) is equal to the width of two neighboring sockets (15). Thus, the lower pin (35) placed at the center of the battery base (33) and the opposite pin (34) enable the battery base (33) to extend at equal distance between the sockets (15). In this case, when one cold battery element (30) is placed into each of two sockets (15) next to each other for instance, the first and second sections (52, 54) are separated from each other by means of a cold battery element (30) with a double thickness composed of two cold battery elements (30) contacting each other from the lateral walls (32) thereof. This configuration is used when it is desired to obtain a refrigeration effect for a long time by means of the cold battery element (30). By means of an appropriate configuration, the cold battery elements (30) can be disposed from the side wall (12) and the inner part of the opposite side wall (13). Thus, the interior of the storage space (50) can be refrigerated peripherally without being divided by means of the cold battery elements (30).

Claims

A cooling device comprising a body (1) in the form of a cabinet with heat insulation, defining a refrigerated inner volume; a door (2) that is hinged to the body (1) so as to be opened/closed; a cold storage container (10) that has a detachable base (19) in the inner volume and side walls (12) extending perpendicularly to the base (19) and that defines a storage space (50) for the items to be refrigerated, characterized by comprising a cold battery element (30) that is placed in an upright manner from the base (19) in the storage space (50) so as to divide the storage space (50) into a first section (52) and at least one second section (54) neighboring to the first section (52).
A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the cold battery element (30) extending between the two opposite sides of the base (19) in the storage space (50).
A cooling device as in any of the above claims, characterized by comprising a pin (34) that is provided on the cold battery element (30) and is received into the base (19) so as to detachably attach the cold battery element (30) to the base (19).
A cooling device as in Claim 3, characterized by comprising a plurality of sockets (15) wherein the pin (34) is fitted and that are arranged on the base (19) so as to enable the pin (34) to divide the base (19) at an adjustable distance.
A cooling device as in Claim 4, characterized by comprising a ceiling (16) extending on the side walls (12) as distanced from the base (19) of the cold storage container (10) and a front lid (20) extending between the base (19) and the front edge (14) of the ceiling (16).
A cooling device as in Claim 5, characterized by comprising a hole longitudinally bored on the ceiling (16) so as to form the socket (15) wherein the pin (34) is fitted.
A cooling device as in Claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the front lid (20) is produced from at least partially transparent material so as to provide visual access to the storage space (50).
A cooling device as in any of the above claims, characterized in that the cold battery element (30) is provided in the form of a hollow reservoir enclosing a refrigerant fluid.
A cooling device as in Claim 9, characterized in that the cold battery element (30) is in the form of a prism extending transversely along the short edge thereof on the base (19).
A cooling device as in any of the above claims, characterized by comprising a reinforcement protrusion (44) that extends on an inner lining (40) of the door (2) so as to detachably attach the cold storage container (10) to the door (2) and a support member (18) provided on the side wall (12) of the cold storage container (10) so as to be fitted on the reinforcement protrusion (44).