WO2019096533A1

WO2019096533A1 - Refrigerator door warning system

Info

Publication number: WO2019096533A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/078563
Authority: WO
Inventors: Semih Erol; Ibrahim Yanik; Altinal CALISKAN; Ozgun Atac Gultekin; Murat Ungor
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-11-15
Filing date: 2018-10-18
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Also published as: TR201718025A2

Abstract

The present invention practically relates to warning systems which activate when refrigerator doors (3) are left open.

Description

REFRIGERATOR DOOR WARNING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to warning systems which activate in case a refrigerator door is left open.

Nowadays, systems are known, which warn users when refrigerator doors are left open.

If a refrigerator door is left open, warm air is introduced therein and this contributes spoilage of the food products to an extent. In addition, leaving the door completely open leads to high energy losses. Warning may be enabled by means of systems generating a warning sound after a given time when the users involuntarily forget the refrigerator doors open.

A publication of technical relevance which may be referred to is FR 2534675. Said patent publication relates to a thermally insulated housing having a switch triggered by a door to activate a warning device in deep freezers and refrigerators. A switch control member can be set between two separate door opening angles. The warning device thus generates an acoustic or a visual signal for separate delay intervals. The switch has two contact groups extending on related switching planes. Each contact circuit comprises a related delay member corresponding to a larger opening angle of the door.

Another publication of technical relevance which may be referred to is GB 2341260. Said patent publication relates to a warning device having an electric circuit comprising an activation switch, a power supply and an audible alarm. Said alarm is activated when the door is open, preferably after the door is left open for a predetermined time.

Another publication of technical relevance which may be referred to is DE 2905698. Said patent publication relates to a system equipped with magnetic strips enabling closing a refrigerator door. The switch contacts cooperate with a ferromagnetic abutting surface in the front of the refrigerator side walls, and are actuated by the magnetic strips having identical polarization in longitudinal direction due to opening and closing of the door. The switch is formed by a magnetic flux controlled sealed reed contact secured to the refrigerator side wall. In front of the switch is connected a magnetic flux line with a pair of ferromagnetic elements. One end of the elements is arranged on the abutting surface in the region of the two longitudinal strips having opposite polarity to the elements with the door closed.

Whereas, in the system suggested according to the present invention, warning sound is generated magnetically and also by means of sensor configurations.

The objective of the present invention relates to inhibiting long-continued warm air introduction into refrigerators.

Another objective of the present invention relates to developing a refrigerator door alarm system serving the goal of energy efficiency.

A product realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and brief descriptions of these drawings are provided below.

In interpreting the protection scope of the invention, the technical drawings appended to the present specification shall not be used singly without consulting the specification. On the other hand, the appended technical drawings should be used not to determine and delimit but to interpret the protection scope of the present invention described in the claims.

Unless otherwise specified, the appended figures do not designate the absolute dimensions of the inventional product and the proportions of mutual parts do not exactly reflect the original product.

Figure 1 is a general view of a refrigerator provided according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the A-A section on the refrigerator provided according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the X region of Figure 2, according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the Y region of Figure 1, according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of the W region of Figure 5, according to the present invention.

Figure 7 is a view of the interior of the refrigerator body according to the present invention.

Figure 8 is a detailed view of the F region of Figure 7, according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a detailed view of the G region of Figure 7, according to the present invention.

Figure 10 is a view of the magnet box according to the present invention.

Figure 11 is a view of the H-H section of Figure 10, according to the present invention.

The parts displayed in the figures added to the specification for a better understanding of the invention, are individually numbered, and the description of each numbered part is given below.

1) Body

2) Body plastic strip

3) Door unit

4) Door plastic strip

5) Door outer sheet

6) Door body

7) Door gasket

8) Gasket seat

9) Magnet box

10) Magnet

11) Induction switch rear box

12) Induction switch

13) Induction switch front box

14) Sealing gasket

15) Header/footer cover

16) Magnet box tabs

In general, the refrigerator door warning unit of the invention is triggered by the interaction between the door and the body of the refrigerator.

Figure 1 shows a refrigerator comprising in general a body (1), a body plastic strip (2) and a door unit (3). Also shown is one of the regions where an induction switch (12) may be mounted in a preferred configuration of the present embodiments. Said induction switch (12) is placed in an induction switch rear box (11) and an induction switch front box (13).

Figure 2 shows the general placement of the alarm system in an X region on an A-A section taken from the refrigerator. Whereas in Figure 3, a front induction switch box (13) can be seen in detail.

Figure 4 broadly shows the door alarm system. A magnet (10) in magnet box (9) is placed on the door unit (3). In cases when the door unit (3) opens and closes, the sense flaps in the induction switch (12) open and close when said magnet (10) and the induction switch (12) are at a given distance in between, triggering an electronic card connected to the induction switch (12) to generate a warning sound. A door gasket (7) provided between the door body (6) and the body (1), inhibits air introduction into the refrigerator. Said door gasket (7) engages into a gasket seat (8) provided on the door plastic strip (4). Said gasket seat (8) also enables attaching the magnet box (9) on the door body (6). A door outer sheet (5) reinforces the door body (6) in a rigid manner at the region where the members in said door body (6) settle.

It can be seen in Figure 5 that a header and a footer cover (15) are mounted respectively to the upper and the lower sections of the door outer sheet (5), and that a magnet (10) and a magnet box (9) are placed. Figure 6 which is a detailed view of the W region of Figure 5, shows a grouping method of the magnet (10) and the magnet box (9) on the door unit (3).

Figure 8 shows the grouping method of the induction switch (12) on the body (1). In this figure which is a detailed view of the F region of Figure 7, it can be clearly seen that the induction switch (12) and the induction switch rear box (11) are engaged to each other by means of tabs and then fitted into the frame on the body plastic strip (2), and that thereafter the induction switch (12) is locked from front by means of the induction switch front box (13). The cables and the sockets are grouped by a sealing gasket (14), and placed on the body (1) which is usually made of polyurethane. Said grouping can be clearly seen in Figure 9, which is a detailed view of the G region of Figure 7.

Figure 11 shows the H-H section of the magnet box (9) of Figure 10. As can be seen in detail in this figure, the magnet (10) is locked to the gasket (8) seat by means of the magnet box tabs (16) on the magnet box (9). Thus, both the door gasket (7) and the magnet (10) can be coupled to the gasket seat (8).

In an embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator alarm system is suggested, having an induction switch (12) and a magnet (10) triggering said induction switch (12).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that it comprises a gasket seat (8) in which a door gasket (7) and said magnet (10) can be placed together.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that a door gasket (7) is hermetically interposed between a door body (6) and a body (1).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that it comprises a magnet box (9) accommodating the magnet (10).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that magnet box tabs (16) are provided, which can lock on the magnet box (9) and the gasket seat (8).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that the induction switch (12) is placed between an induction switch rear box (11) and an induction switch front box (13).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that said induction switch (12) is provided in said body (1).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that said induction switch (12) is provided in said door body (6).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that said magnet (10) is provided in said door body (6).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that said magnet (10) is provided in said body (1).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that a structure is provided, having a door unit (3) comprising said door body (6), a door outer sheet (5) and a door plastic strip (4).

According to another embodiment of the invention, a subject of the description is that the structure comprises at least one footer/header cover (15) to fasten said door unit (3) at two shorter side sections, said door outer sheet (5) and said door plastic strip (4).

Claims

A refrigerator alarm system comprising an induction switch (12) and a magnet (10) triggering said induction switch (12), characterized in that said refrigerator alarm system further comprises a gasket seat (8) in which a door gasket (7) and said magnet (10) are placed together.
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that said door gasket (7) is hermetically interposed between a door body (6) and the refrigerator body (1).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the alarm system comprises a magnet box (9) accommodating said magnet (10).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that, said magnet box (9) comprises magnet box tabs (16) which can lock on said gasket seat (8).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that, said induction switch (12) is placed between an induction switch rear box (11) and an induction switch front box (13).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 5, characterized in that, said induction switch (12) is provided in the refrigerator body (1).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 2, characterized in that, said induction switch (12) is provided in the door body (6).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 2, characterized in that, said magnet (10) is provided in the door body (6).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 2, characterized in that, said magnet (10) is provided in said body (1).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the structure comprises a door unit (3) having said door body (6), a door outer sheet (5) and a door plastic strip (4).
A refrigerator alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the structure comprises at least one header/footer cover (15) to fasten said door unit (3) at two shorter end sections, said door outer sheet (5) and said door plastic strip (4).