WO2019202359A1

WO2019202359A1 - Illumination for refrigerator door

Info

Publication number: WO2019202359A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052616
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vincentius Ganda HERMAWI
Original assignee: Pt Hartono Istana Teknologi
Priority date: 2018-04-16
Filing date: 2018-04-16
Publication date: 2019-10-24

Abstract

The present invention discloses a refrigerator door (2) including an illumination assembly (22), the illumination assembly (22) including a heat sink (222) and at least one LED (282), the heat sink (222) comprising at least one extension member (28) having a reflective surface for reflecting light from said at least one LED (282) towards an interior of a refrigerator (1), and the door (2) comprises at least one transparent barrier (104).

Description

ILLUMINATION FOR REFRIGERATOR DOOR

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to commercial refrigerator installed with transparent doors to allow the public to view merchandise on display within the refrigerator, and more particularly, to an illumination assembly at the door to illuminate and/or enhance the appearance of the displayed products contained within the refrigerator. It is important that the appearance be bright, pleasing, and comfortable to the gaze of customers.

A conventional refrigerator has a light source installed on the side wall of the refrigerator. Such orientation can cause the displayed products to be unevenly illuminated.

Items near the light source are brightly lit while the items spaced further away are usually not sufficiently illuminated. Further, the items nearer to the light source will cast shadow on the items placed further away from the light source. This uneven distribution of light can cause the displayed items to look unappealing. The placing of the light source on the side of the refrigerator can also cause glare to the person viewing the display.

Further, the hermetic seal of the refrigerator insulation chambers can be compromised by installing lighting onto either the internal walls of the refrigerator particularly at the point of attachments of lighting assemblies. It is necessary that the products be displayed in a pleasing and visible manner while the doors are in their closed positions.

Another problem with a transparent door is the formation of condensation on the surface of the transparent door. Condensation affects visibility through the transparent door. The formation of condensation is common in a humid climate. Condensation can occur when the transparent door is not properly insulated. One of the common solutions to overcome the problem of condensation is to apply onto the transparent door an anti-moisture film. Flowever, the application of an anti moisture film onto the transparent door can increase the costs significantly while lessening the transparency of the door, thereby causing the interior to appear dull. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerator door including an illumination assembly, wherein the illumination assembly includes a heat sink and at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode).The heat sink may comprise at least one extension member having a reflective surface for reflecting light from said at least one LED towards an interior of the refrigerator. The LED may be supported by the heat sink.

The door may comprise a frame supporting at least one transparent barrier comprising at least two transparent panels defining an enclosed space between said at least two transparent panels.

A multi-surface refractive lens may be disposed proximate to the LED to direct light towards the interior of the refrigerator. The multi-surface refractive lens may either be an addition to or as an alternative to, the reflective surface of the heat sink's extension member for directing light from the LED to the interior of the refrigerator.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerator door comprising: a frame supporting a plurality of transparent panels defining at least one enclosed space therebetween, an illumination assembly disposed within the enclosed space; the illumination assembly including a heat sink and at least one LED; the heat sink comprising at least one extension member having a reflective surface for reflecting light from said at least one LED towards an interior of the refrigerator.

With the illumination assembly provided on the refrigerator door directing light from the LED towards the interior, the content of the refrigerator can be evenly illuminated and minimizing shadow on the contents displayed. The orientation of the illumination assembly reduces glare to the person viewing the content of the refrigerator through the door's transparent barrier. Further, the heat sink is provided with an extension member to make contact, either directly or through the extension member, with the transparent panel, heating the panel's surface, when in use, thereby minimizing condensation on the surface of the transparent panel.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention extends also to an illumination assembly as described and defined hereinabove.

The invention extends also to a refrigerator including the illumination assembly as described and defined hereinabove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1A shows a front perspective view of a typical commercial refrigerator unit including a transparent door installed to which an illumination assembly in accordance with the invention can be mounted, in use;

Figure IB shows an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator door of Figure 1A; Figure 2 shows a front view of the refrigerator door of Figure 1A and shows a sectional view taken along section lines A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along section lines A-A of Figure 2, showing one embodiment of the illumination assembly of the invention located outside of a space defined between two adjacent transparent panels of the door; Figure 4 shows an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the invention taken substantially along section lines A-A of Figure 2, showing the illumination assembly of the invention located within a space defined between transparent panels of the door;

Figure 5 shows an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the invention taken substantially along section lines A-A of Figure 2, showing yet another embodiment of the illumination assembly of the invention including a multi-surface refractive lens, the illumination assembly being located outside of a space defined between two adjacent transparent panels of the door;

Figure 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention taken substantially along section lines A-A of Figure 2, showing the illumination assembly of the invention including a multi-surface refractive lens, the illumination assembly being located within a space defined between transparent panels of the door;

Figures 7 and 8 show diagrammatic views showing the propagation of light rays from different sections of the illumination assembly of Figure 3 and Figure 4, respectively. Figures 9 and 10 show diagrammatic views showing the propagation of light rays from different sections of the illumination assembly of Figure 5 and Figure 6, respectively.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments hereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1A shows a conventional commercial use refrigerator (1) installed with a door in accordance with the invention namely, a door (2) fitted with a particular embodiment of an illumination assembly (22), shown more clearly in Figures 3-10. As shown in Figure IB, the refrigerator's door (2) comprises a frame (102) supporting transparent barrier made of tempered glass. The transparent barrier can also be made of glass. The transparent barrier enables the contents of the refrigerator to be viewed by prospective shoppers without having to open the door (2). The illumination assembly (22) provides illumination to the contents of the refrigerator (1).

Figure 2 shows a front view of the door of Figure 1A and IB, with section lines A-A representing the section lines for the sectional views shown in Figures 3 to 10.

Figure 3 shows the illumination assembly (22) of the present invention, comprising heat sink (222). The heat sink (222) supports at least one LED (282) and the heat sink (222) has an extension member (28) having a reflective surface angled to direct light at a predetermined angle. The heat sink (222) can be made from aluminium with an extension member (28) formed from extrusion process; this extension member (28) acting as a reflector to direct light from the LED (282) towards the interior of the refrigerator (1). Additionally, Figure 3 provides greater details on the illumination assembly (22) which is not installed between the two transparent panels (26A, 26B) of the door (2) wherein the extension member (28) is angled to reflect light from the LED (282) towards the interior of the refrigerator (1). The heat sink (222) can also be made from stainless steel or any other substances with good heat conductivity. The illumination assembly (22) is attached near at least one edge of the door (2) i.e. along the long edge of the door (2) to minimize viewing obstruction through the transparent barrier (104) or transparent panels (26A, 26B) of the door (2). The transparent panels (26A, 26B) can be made of, but not limited to, tempered glass or glass. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the illumination assembly (22) is installed within an enclosed space (262) between the two transparent panels (26A, 26B) of the door (2). The enclosed space (262) is hermetically sealed. At least one LED (282) is supported by a heat sink (222) that can be made of aluminium. The heat sink (222) has an extension member (28). The extension member (28) of the heat sink (222) provides a reflective surface to direct light from the LED (282) towards the interior of the refrigerator (1). The extension member (28) makes contact with the transparent panel, effectively heating the panel's surface, when power is supplied to the LED, thereby minimizing condensation on the surface of the transparent panel.

As shown in Figure 5 a multi-surface refractive lens (226) is disposed proximate to the LED (282) to direct light towards the interior of the refrigerator, and the multi-surface refractive lens (226) is either an addition to or as an alternative to the reflective surface of the heat sink's (222) extension member (28) for directing light from the LED (282) to the interior of the refrigerator (1). The multi surface refractive lens (226) is provided so that light emitted from the LED (282) can be directed towards the interior of the refrigerator (1). While in Figure 5, the illumination assembly (22) is not installed between the two transparent panels (26A, 26B), Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment using multi-surface refractive lens (226), in which the illumination assembly (22) is installed in the enclosed space (262) between the two transparent panels (26A, 26B).

Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the pathways of light emitted from LED (282) and reflected by extension member (28) of heat sink (222). The extension member (28) is configured to reflect the light emitting from LED towards the interior of the refrigerator. Heat carried by light also minimizes condensation on the surface of the transparent door.

Figure 9 and Figure 10 show the pathways of the light through the multi-surface refractive lens (226).

Claims

1. A refrigerator door including an illumination assembly, the illumination assembly including a heat sink and at least one LED, the heat sink comprising at least one extension member having a reflective surface for reflecting light from said at least one LED towards an interior of a refrigerator.

2. A refrigerator door as claimed in claim 1 wherein the door comprises a frame supporting at least one transparent barrier.

3. A refrigerator door as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one transparent barrier comprises at least two transparent panels defining an enclosed space between said at least two transparent panels.

4. A refrigerator door comprising: a frame supporting a plurality of transparent panels defining at least one enclosed space therebetween; an illumination assembly disposed within the enclosed space; the illumination assembly including a heat sink and at least one LED.

5. A refrigerator door as claimed in claim 4 wherein the heat sink comprises at least one extension member having a reflective surface for reflecting light from said at least one LED towards an interior of a refrigerator.

6. A refrigerator door as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the illumination assembly includes a multi-surface refractive lens which is disposed proximate to the LED.

7. A refrigerator door comprising: a frame supporting a transparent barrier; an illumination assembly including a heat sink; at least one LED and a multi-surface refractive lens disposed proximate to the LED.

8. A refrigerator door comprising a frame supporting a plurality of transparent panels defining at least an enclosed space; an illumination assembly disposed within the enclosed space; the illumination assembly including:

(a) a heat sink;

(b) at least one LED; and

(c) a multi-surface refractive lens disposed proximate to the LED.

9. A refrigerator door as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the illumination assembly is disposed proximate to at least one edge of the door.

10. A refrigerator door as claimed in claim 2 wherein the extension member contacts said at least one transparent barrier to heat up said at least one transparent barrier, in use.

11. A refrigerator door as claimed in either claims 3 or 4 wherein the extension member contacts at least one of the transparent panels to heat up said at least one of the transparent panels, in use.

12. A refrigerator door as claimed in claim 7 wherein the heat sink contacts the transparent barrier to heat up the transparent barrier, in use.

13. A refrigerator door as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heat sink contacts at least one of the transparent panels to heat up said at least one of the transparent panels, in use.

14. The refrigerator door as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat sink supports said at least one LED.