U.S. patent application number 11/313664 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for multi-functional child care storage and inner case thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Jung-Owan Lee, Seok Hee Lee, Kyung Sik Noh, Yoon Hee Park.
Application Number | 20060130491 11/313664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36593983 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060130491 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Yoon Hee ; et
al. |
June 22, 2006 |
Multi-functional child care storage and inner case thereof
Abstract
A child care storage for storing an infant food and/or product
includes a plurality of functional compartments for refrigerating,
heating and/or sterilizing the infant food and/or product in a main
body, wherein the plurality of the functional compartments include
a refrigerating compartment and a sterilizing compartment; and a
control unit for controlling the plurality of the functional
compartments. The plurality of the functional compartments includes
a refrigerating compartment. The refrigerating compartment,
partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a
refrigerating space capable of being opened and closed by a first
door and refrigerates the refrigerating space by a thermoelectric
element.
Inventors: |
Park; Yoon Hee; (Seoul,
KR) ; Noh; Kyung Sik; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Seok
Hee; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Jung-Owan; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Daewoo Electronics
Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
36593983 |
Appl. No.: |
11/313664 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ; 62/3.3;
62/441; 62/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/12 20130101;
F25D 2331/803 20130101; A47J 36/2433 20130101; F25D 2331/809
20130101; A47J 39/003 20130101; F25D 31/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/003.6 ;
062/003.3; 062/077; 062/441 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02; F25B 45/00 20060101 F25B045/00; F25D 11/02 20060101
F25D011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0110420 |
Dec 22, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0110421 |
Jul 1, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0059011 |
Claims
1. A child care storage for storing an infant food and/or product,
comprising: a plurality of functional compartments for
refrigerating, heating and/or sterilizing the infant food and/or
product in a main body, wherein the plurality of the functional
compartments include a refrigerating compartment and a sterilizing
compartment; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of
the functional compartments.
2. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the refrigerating
compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a
refrigerating space capable of being opened and closed by a first
door, and refrigerates the refrigerating space by a first
thermoelectric element.
3. The child care storage of claim 2, wherein the refrigerating
compartment further includes a heat radiation fan for discharging
heat of the first thermoelectric element to an outside through a
heat exhaust opening formed in the main body, the heat radiation
fan being installed on a heat-emitting side of the thermoelectric
element.
4. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the
functional compartments further include a heating compartment,
wherein the heating compartment, partitioned by partitions in the
main body, includes a heating space capable of being opened and
closed by a second door, and heats or keeps the heating space to be
warm by a first heater.
5. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the
functional compartments further include a refrigerating/heating
compartment, wherein the refrigerating/heating compartment,
partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a
refrigerating/heating space capable of being opened and closed by a
second door, and heats or keeps the refrigerating/heating space to
be warm by a first heater or refrigerates the refrigerating/heating
space by a second thermoelectric element.
6. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the sterilizing
compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a
sterilizing space capable of being opened and closed by a third
door, and sterilizes the sterilizing space by a sterilizing
device.
7. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the sterilizing
compartment further includes a drying device for drying items
stored in the sterilizing space on an inner side of the sterilizing
space.
8. The child care storage of claim 7, wherein the drying device has
a second heater and a heat diffusion fan for diffusing heat
generated from the second heater throughout the sterilizing
space.
9. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the sterilizing
compartment further includes a grill-shaped shelf and a water
receptacle detachably installed in the sterilizing space such that
the water receptacle is located below the grill-shaped shelf.
10. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the sterilizing
compartment includes a grill-shaped shelf installed in the
sterilizing space and a water outlet for collecting water flowing
into the shelf to exhaust the collected water, and wherein the
refrigerating compartment further includes an evaporation vessel
for collecting the exhausted water flowing through the water outlet
is installed at a location contacting a heat travel path through
which heat generated from the first thermoelectric element is
transferred.
11. The child care storage of claim 2, wherein the control unit
receives signals from a first temperature sensor for detecting an
internal temperature in the refrigerating space and a refrigerating
temperature input unit for being inputted thereto a desired
temperature for the refrigerating space to control the first
thermoelectric element such that the internal temperature in the
refrigerating space reaches the desired temperature inputted to the
refrigerating temperature input unit.
12. The child care storage of claim 11, wherein the refrigerating
temperature input unit can be used for selecting a preset
refrigerating temperature for food, medicine or cosmetics.
13. The child care storage of claim 4, wherein the control unit
receives signals from a second temperature sensor for detecting an
internal temperature in the heating space and a heating temperature
input unit for being inputted thereto a desired temperature for the
heating space to control the first heater such that the internal
temperature in the heating space reaches the desired temperature
inputted to the heating temperature input unit.
14. The child care storage of claim 5, wherein the control unit
receives signals from a second temperature sensor for detecting an
internal temperature in the refrigerating/heating space and a
refrigerating/heating temperature input unit for being inputted
thereto a desired temperature for the refrigerating/heating space
to control the first heater and the second thermoelectric element
such that the internal temperature in the refrigerating/heating
space reaches the desired temperature inputted to the
refrigerating/heating temperature input unit.
15. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the control unit
receives a detection signal from a door opening detection sensor
installed in the sterilizing compartment for detecting whether the
third door is opened, and stops the operation of the sterilizing
device in response to the detection signal.
16. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the control unit
receives an output signal outputted from a third temperature sensor
for detecting an internal temperature of the sterilizing space,
and, if the internal temperature of the sterilizing space is beyond
a preset level, stops an operation of the second heater.
17. The child care storage of claim 3, wherein the control unit
drives the heat radiation fan when the sterilizing device is being
operated.
18. An inner case of a child care storage to be installed in an
outer case whose front surface is opened, the outer case including
a plurality of functional compartments for providing a space for
refrigerating infant foods to be kept therein and a space for
double-boiling or sterilizing infant products, wherein the inner
case comprises: a main body connected to the outer case, in which a
front panel having thereon a U-shaped groove, a first functional
compartment distanced apart from an inner side surface of the outer
case, and a closed space between the main body and the outer case
to be charged with an insulating material; and a reinforcement
plate connected to a rear side of the groove of the main body to
close a top portion of the closed space, wherein the reinforcement
plate is U-shaped such that a second functional compartment is
extended toward the rear side of the groove to be distanced apart
from the first functional compartment, and wherein the
reinforcement plate has supporting portions on two opposite sides
thereof to support inner side surfaces of the outer case.
19. The inner case of claim 18, wherein the reinforcement plate has
securing ribs formed along the front end portion to connect the
reinforcement plate with the front panel of the main body by using
bolts and nuts.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-functional child
care storage and an inner case thereof; and, more particularly, to
a multi-functional child care storage including a plurality of
functional compartments for storing or treating infant food or
infant products in various ways, and an inner case thereof capable
of preventing a leakage of an insulating material charged between
the inner case and an outer case of the multi-functional child care
storage, while minimizing a deformation of the outer case that
might be caused by a load or an impact imposed thereon from the
outside.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general, a refrigerator is used to keep food or beverage
in a refrigerated or frozen state for a long time or to cool them
rapidly. The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a
refrigerator compartment opened or closed by individual front
doors. To supply cool air to the freezer compartment and the
refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator has a cooling cycle
involving a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube and a cooling
device. The compressor compresses a coolant at a high temperature
and a high pressure, and provides thus compressed coolant to the
condenser. Then, the condenser converts the compressed coolant into
a liquid state of a low temperature and a low pressure by releasing
heat of the coolant. The low-temperature low-pressure liquid
coolant is then converted into a liquid state of a low temperature
and a high pressure while it passes through the capillary tube. The
low-temperature high-pressure liquid coolant is then directed to
the cooling device installed at a rear side of the freezer
compartment. The coolant sent to the cooling device is converted
into a low-pressure state again while it passes through a coolant
pipe of the cooling device, and finally evaporates, thereby
reducing the temperature of the freezer compartment and the
refrigerator compartment.
[0003] Recently, with a rise in the standard of living, there have
been increasing demands for diversified types of special-purpose
refrigerators. Developed to meet such needs and commonly used are,
for example, a kimchi refrigerator equipped with an evaporation
pipe and a heating wire for the ripening of kimchi, a cosmetic
cooler for storing cosmetics at a low temperature by cooling a
cosmetic storage compartment with a relatively small volume by
means of a thermoelectric element, and so forth.
[0004] Though such various types of special-purpose refrigerators
have been developed, developments have rarely been made upon a
storage apparatus for an exclusive use in baby or child care.
[0005] If infant food or infant products such as powdered milk,
breast milk, medicine and the like are stored in a conventional
household refrigerator, they will be soaked with the odors of other
foods stored in the refrigerator. As a result, the quality of the
infant food or the infant products will be deteriorated and, even
worse, hygienic problems may be resulted. Furthermore, in case of
using a microwave to warm up, e.g., milk, the milk has to be warmed
up, and it is difficult to maintain the temperature of the milk at
a desired temperature for a long period of time. Also, purchasing a
heating cabinet to warm up the milk or store the warm milk is not
economical because the heating cabinet is just for heating and
cannot be utilized for other purposes. Furthermore, since the
heating cabinet is designed to be used in commercial environments
such as hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants, and so forth, it is not
suitable for use in home for the purpose of child care.
[0006] Moreover, given that a general household sterilizing device
is usually designed to be used in sterilizing kitchenware such as
dishware or utensils, using it to sterilize infant supplies such as
feeding bottles, handkerchiefs, toys and the like is not
proper.
[0007] Korean Patent Application No. 2004-71011 discloses a
multi-functional Showcase Refrigerator including a sterilizing
device, a heating cabinet and an air purifier. This refrigerator is
configured to include various apparatuses necessary for restaurant
businesses and is centrally controllable by a microcomputer. Though
this product can improve user's convenience by providing various
functions, it is of a large capacity and its structure and
functions are customized for commercial uses. Thus, it does not
have features suitable for child care purpose.
[0008] Also, there have been proposed many sterilizing devices for
sterilizing infant products, particularly, feeding bottles. One of
them is, for example, a UV sterilizing device described in Korean
Patent Application No. 2003-92985. However, most of these
sterilizing devices are only for disinfecting feeding bottles, and
they do not have a storage function for storing various infant
products appropriately.
[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a product capable of
storing baby food or products appropriately in various ways.
Breaking from the conventional conception of electronic appliances
designed and distributed for housewives or adult life, it is
necessary to find a new customer group and open up a new market for
a refrigerator. In other words, it is required to develope a
multi-functional child care storage including a plurality of
functional compartments for storing or treating infant food or
infant products in various ways.
[0010] Further, if the multi-functional child care storage is
configured such that it includes an inner case in which the
plurality of the functional compartments are formed and a
front-opened outer case for accommodating the inner case therein, a
liquid state insulating material injected into a space between the
inner case and the outer case to insulate the functional
compartments from each other may leak outside before it is
solidified by, e.g., a catalytic reaction, so that time and effort
are required for dealing with this. Besides, since the child care
storage is of a small size compared to conventional refrigerator
products, its case may be easily deformed by a torsion due to a
load imposed thereon. Therefore, an inner case of a
multi-functional child care storage is also needed to solve such
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is, therefore, a first object of the present invention to
provide a multi-functional child care storage including a plurality
of functional compartments for storing or treating infant food or
infant products in various ways. By using this multi-functional
child-care storage which enables various treatments of infant food
or products within a single apparatus, the time and effort required
for child care can be reduced, thus improving user convenience.
[0012] It is a second object of the present invention to provide an
inner case of a multi-functional child care storage in which a
plurality of functional compartments is formed, the inner case
being capable of preventing a leakage of liquid insulating material
charged in a space between the inner case and an outer case, and
also capable of minimizing a deformation of the outer case due to a
load or an impact imposed thereon by supporting and reinforcing the
inner surface of the outer case.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a child care storage for storing an infant food
and/or product, including: a plurality of functional compartments
for refrigerating, heating and/or sterilizing the infant food
and/or product in a main body, wherein the plurality of the
functional compartments include a refrigerating compartment and a
sterilizing compartment; and a control unit for controlling the
plurality of the functional compartments.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an inner case of a child care storage to be
installed in an outer case whose front surface is opened, the outer
case including a plurality of functional compartments for providing
a space for refrigerating infant foods to be kept therein and a
space for double-boiling or sterilizing infant products, wherein
the inner case includes: a main body connected to the outer case,
in which a front panel having thereon a U-shaped groove, a first
functional compartment distanced apart from an inner side surface
of the outer case, and a closed space between the main body and the
outer case to be charged with an insulating material; and a
reinforcement plate connected to a rear side of the groove of the
main body to close a top portion of the closed space, wherein the
reinforcement plate is U-shaped such that a second functional
compartment is extended toward the rear side of the groove to be
distanced apart from the first functional compartment, and wherein
the reinforcement plate has supporting portions on two opposite
sides thereof to support inner side surfaces of the outer case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of
preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-functional
child-care storage in accordance with a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of the multi-functional
child-care storage in accordance with the first preferred
embodiment showing a state where its doors are opened;
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts a front view showing the interior
configuration of the multi-functional child care storage in
accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 presents a block diagram for controlling the
multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 provides a side cross sectional view of a
refrigerating compartment of the multi-functional child care
storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a partial side cross sectional view of a
heating compartment of the multi-functional child care storage in
accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates a partial side cross sectional view of a
sterilizing compartment of the multi-functional child care storage
in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a water receptacle and a
water outlet of the multi-functional child care storage in
accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 provides a block diagram for controlling a
multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a second
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a
refrigerating/heating compartment of the multi-functional storage
of the child care storage in accordance with the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an inner case of a
multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a third
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 sets forth an exploded rear perspective view of the
inner case of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance
with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0028] FIG. 13 provides a perspective view showing an installation
state of the inner case of the multi-functional child care storage
in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings so that they can be readily implemented by those skilled
in the art.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-functional child
care storage in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention, and FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of same
showing a state where its doors are opened. FIG. 3 sets forth a
front view showing the interior of the multi-functional storage and
FIG. 4 provides a block diagram for controlling the
multi-functional child care storage.
[0031] As shown in the figures, the multi-functional child care
storage 100 includes a plurality of functional compartments in a
main body 110 thereof. The functional compartments include a
refrigerating compartment 120, a heating compartment 130 and a
sterilizing compartment 140 for refrigerating, heating and
sterilizing infant food or products, respectively. Also, the
multi-functional child care storage 100 has a control unit 150 for
controlling the functional compartments 120 to 140.
[0032] Inside the main body 110, a refrigerating space 121, a
heating space 131 and a sterilizing space 141 are formed by
partitioning the interior of the main body 110 by partitions 111.
Each partition 111 and a wall 112 of the storage 110 incorporate
thermal insulators therein. The sterilizing space 141 is usually
formed such that its volume is smaller than those of the
refrigerating space 121 and the heating space 131 for the reason of
its function and purpose.
[0033] The functional compartments include at least one of the
refrigerating compartment 120, at least one of the heating
compartment 130, and at least one of the sterilizing compartment
140, wherein the number of the refrigerating compartment 120, the
heating compartment 130 and/or the sterilizing compartment 140 can
be appropriately increased depending on necessity.
[0034] The refrigerating compartment 120 has a first door 123 for
opening or closing the refrigerating space 121. In the
refrigerating space 121, shelves 128 and a storage drawer 163 are
detachably installed. Also, a first thermoelectric element 122 for
cooling the refrigerating space 121 is installed on the rear side
of the refrigerating space 121.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 5, the first thermoelectric element 122
emits heat and cool air from its two opposite sides, respectively,
when power is supplied thereto. An heat absorbing plate 124 is
installed on one side of the first thermoelectric element 122
facing the refrigerating space 121 to cool down the refrigerating
space 121, whereas an heat radiating plate 125 is disposed on the
opposite side thereof. Thus, the cool air emitted from the first
thermoelectric element 122 is introduced into the refrigerating
space 121 via the heat absorbing plate 124, while the heat from the
first thermoelectric element 122 is discharged opposite to the
refrigerating space 121 via the heat radiating plate 125.
Furthermore, to allow the cool air from the first thermoelectric
element 122 to be diffused rapidly throughout the refrigerating
space 121, a cool air diffusion plate 126 formed of, e.g., aluminum
having a high thermal conductivity is installed on the heat
absorbing plate 124 such that it is exposed to the refrigerating
space 121.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerating compartment 120
further includes a first heat radiation fan 127 installed on the
heat-emitting side of the first thermoelectric element 122, i.e.,
on the side of the heat radiating plate 125. The first heat
radiation fan 127 discharges the heat of the first thermoelectric
element 122 to the outside through heat exhaust openings 114 of
main body 110. Also, the main body 110 has air inlets 115 through
which exterior air is suctioned into the main body 110 by the first
heat radiation fan 127.
[0037] The heating compartment 130 has a second door 133 for
opening or closing the heating space 131. A first heater 132 for
heating or warming up the heating space 131 is installed in the
heating compartment 130.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first heater 132 is installed
at a rear side of the heating space 131, and it serves as a heating
block incorporating a heating wire that emits heat when power is
supplied thereto. Further, a heat diffusion plate 134 made of,
e.g., aluminum having a high thermal conductivity is connected to
the first heater 132's side facing the heating space 130. The heat
diffusion plate 134 is exposed to the heating space 131 to diffuse
the heat from the first heater 132 into the heating space 131
rapidly. In addition, the heating compartment 130 is equipped with
a first timer 135 for setting an operating time of the first heater
132.
[0039] The sterilizing compartment 140 is provided with a third
door 143 for opening or closing the sterilizing space 141. A
sterilizing device 142 is installed inside the sterilizing
compartment 140 to sterilize items loaded in the sterilizing space
141.
[0040] Though an ozone generator or an anion generator may be
employed as the sterilizing device 142, it is preferable to use a
light emitting diode for irradiating ultraviolet rays with a
comparatively high safety or to use an ultraviolet lamp. Further,
in this embodiment, to allow the ultraviolet rays emitted from the
ultraviolet lamp serving as the sterilizing device 142 to be
irradiated to the sterilizing space 141 indirectly, a blocking
layer 144 is attached to the outside of the sterilizing device
142.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 7, a drying device 145 is disposed at one
side of the sterilizing space 141 of the sterilizing compartment
140 to dry the items loaded therein. Specifically, the drying
device 145 includes a second heater 145a for emitting heat and a
heat diffusion fan 145b for diffusing the heat generated from the
second heater 145a throughout the sterilizing space 141.
[0042] The sterilizing compartment 140 is also equipped with a
switch 146 for operating at least one of the sterilizing device 142
and the drying device 145 or both of them at the same time; and a
second timer 147 for setting an operating time of the sterilizing
device 142 and/or the drying device 145.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 8, inside the sterilizing compartment 140,
at least one grill-shaped shelf 148 and a storage drawer 163 are
detachably installed in the sterilizing space 141. Further, a water
receptacle 149 is detachably disposed below the lowermost shelf
148. Also, the sterilizing compartment 140 has a water collecting
portion 161 for collecting water, and the water collecting portion
161 is provided with a water outlet 162 for exhausting the water.
The water outlet 162 is connected to a water drain line 164, and
the water from the water outlet 162 is sent to the evaporation
vessel 129 in the refrigerating compartment 120 via the water drain
line 164.
[0044] The evaporation vessel 129 is installed at a rear side of
the refrigerating space 121, more specifically, at a location
contacting a heat travel path through which the heat from the
thermoelectric element 122 is transferred by the first heat
radiation fan 127, i.e., below an air flow path through which the
air blown by the first heat radiation fan 127 is moved toward the
heat exhaust openings 114 via a duct 116. Thus, the water
introduced into the evaporation vessel 129 through the water drain
line 164 can be readily evaporated by the heat from the
thermoelectric element 122.
[0045] Meanwhile, the first to the third door 123, 133 and 143 of
the refrigerating compartment 120, the heating compartment 130 and
the sterilizing compartment 140, respectively can be configured to
be opened or closed by being rotated in left/right direction or by
being slid in forward/backward direction. In this embodiment shown
in FIG. 2, the first and the third door 123 and 143 are opened or
closed by being rotated in left/right direction, whereas the second
door 133 is opened or closed by being slid in forward/backward
direction. A tray 136 is installed at a rear side of the second
door 133 to allow the second door 133 to be slid with respect to
the heating space 130.
[0046] The control unit 150 controls the first heat radiation fan
127, and the second heater 145a and the heat diffusion fan 145b of
the drying device 145 as well as controlling the operations of the
thermoelectric element 122, the first heater 142 and the
sterilizing device 142. That is to say, the control unit 150
receives signals from a first temperature sensor 151 shown in FIG.
5 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating space
121 and a refrigerating temperature input unit 152 for being
inputted thereto a desired temperature for the refrigerating space
121, and then controls the thermoelectric element 122 such that the
internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 reaches the
desired temperature inputted to the refrigerating temperature input
unit 152. By using the refrigerating temperature input unit 152,
preset refrigerating temperatures for food, medicine, cosmetics,
and so forth can be selected. For example, the refrigerating
temperatures for food, medicine and cosmetics can be set to be 3
degrees, 12 degrees and 15 degrees, respectively.
[0047] Further, the control unit 150 receives signals from a second
temperature sensor 153 shown in FIG. 6 for detecting the internal
temperature of the heating space 131 and a heating temperature
input unit 154 for registering a desired temperature for the
heating space 131, and controls the first heater 132 such that the
internal temperature of the heating space 131 reaches the desired
temperature inputted from the heating temperature input unit
154.
[0048] The control unit 150 receives a detection signal from a door
opening detection sensor 155 for detecting whether the third door
143 is opened, wherein the door opening detection sensor 155 is
installed at, e.g., a gate of the sterilizing space 141 and detects
that the third door 143 is opened by contacting it. When a signal
indicating that the third door 143 is opened is received, the
control unit 143 stops the operation of the sterilizing device 142.
Further, the control unit 142 drives the first heat radiation fan
127 when the sterilizing device 142 is being operated, thus
allowing the water, which is supplied into the evaporation vessel
129 via the water drain line 164 after being exhausted from the
sterilizing compartment 140 through the water outlet 162, to
evaporate continuously.
[0049] Moreover, the control unit 150 receives a detection signal
outputted from a third temperature sensor 156 shown in FIG. 7
installed in the sterilizing space 141 to detect the internal
temperature thereof. If the internal temperature of the sterilizing
space 141 is beyond a preset level, the control unit 150 stops the
operation of the second heater 145a.
[0050] The first and the second timer 135 and 147, the switch 146,
the refrigerating temperature input unit 152, and the heating
temperature input unit 154 can be installed inside the functional
compartments 121 to 141 or in the main body 110. In this embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, they are installed at a control panel
provided on the front surface of the second door 2. The control
panel 158 has a display unit 157 for showing the control state of
those components.
[0051] Below, an operation of the multi-functional child care
storage having the above-described configuration will be
explained.
[0052] In the refrigerating compartment 120, infant food
(especially, breast milk), infant medicine, infant cosmetics and so
forth are stored. The items loaded in the refrigerating compartment
120 are cooled by cool air diffused throughout the refrigerating
space 121 by the heat absorbing plate 124 and the cool air
diffusion plate 126 after being emitted from the thermoelectric
element 122. At this time, the heat emitted from the thermoelectric
element 122 is transferred to the heat radiating plate 125 to be
discharged out through the heat exhaust openings 114 of the main
body 110 by the operation of the first heat radiation fan 127.
[0053] The temperature of the refrigerating compartment 120 is
varied by the amount of current supplied to the thermoelectric
element 122, which is controlled by the control unit 150.
[0054] By receiving a detection signal from the first temperature
sensor 151 for detecting the internal temperature of the
refrigerating space 121 and also an electric signal indicating a
desired refrigerating temperature inputted to the refrigerating
temperature input unit 152, the control unit 150 controls the
thermoelectric element 122 such that the internal temperature of
the refrigerating space 121 is maintained at the desired
temperature. Further, the refrigerating temperature input unit 152
is configured such that the temperatures preset for the types of
infant food or products, e.g., 13 degrees for food, 12 degrees for
medicine and 15 degrees for cosmetics, can be inputted conveniently
just by manipulating corresponding switches (not shown).
[0055] The heating compartment 130 is used to warm up milk, herbal
medicine or the like or to keep them warm by the heat of the first
heater 132. The operating time of the first heater 132, i.e., the
time for warming up, e.g., milk or keeping it warm can be set by
using the first timer 135. The control unit 150 receives a
detection signal from the second temperature sensor 153 for
detecting the internal temperature of the heating space 131 and an
electrical signal outputted from the heating temperature input unit
154 for registering a desired heating temperature, and then
controls the first heater 132 such that the internal temperature of
the heating space 131 is maintained at the desired temperature
level.
[0056] The sterilizing compartment 140 not only sterilizes the
items such as feeding bottles, handkerchiefs and toys loaded in the
sterilizing space 141 by means of the sterilizing device 142 such
as a light emitting diode and a ultraviolet lamp but also dries the
items by way of supplying the heat of the second heater 145a into
the sterilizing space 141 by means of the heat diffusion fan 145b.
Further, either one of the sterilizing function and the drying
function or both of them can be selected by using the switch 146.
The operating time of the sterilizing device 142 and/or the drying
device 145 can be set by the second timer 147.
[0057] The water falling from, e.g., feeding bottles put on the
grill-shaped shelf 148 in the sterilizing compartment 140 is
collected in the water receptacle 149 to be emptied later.
Alternatively, it is also possible to remove the water receptacle
149 and collect the water from the feeding bottles in the water
collecting portion 161 directly, to thereby supply the water to the
evaporation vessel 129 via the water outlet 162 and the water drain
line 164 such that the water is evaporated by the heat emitted from
the thermoelectric element 122. Meanwhile, to evaporate the water
collected in the evaporation vessel 129 rapidly, the control unit
150 drives the first heat radiation fan 127 when the sterilizing
device 142 is being operated, even though the thermoelectric
element 122 is stopped.
[0058] When the third door 143 of the sterilizing compartment 140
is opened, a detection signal from the door opening detection
sensor 155 is sent to the control unit 150. Then, the control unit
150 stops the operation of the sterilizing device 142 to prevent
ultraviolet rays and the like to be radiated outside.
[0059] Furthermore, when the third temperature sensor 156 detects
that the internal temperature of the sterilizing space 141
increases over a preset temperature, the control unit 150 stops the
operation of the second heater 145a, thus preventing the
sterilizing space 141 from being overheated and avoiding an
incurrence of danger.
[0060] In the following, a multi-functional child care storage in
accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described.
[0061] The multi-functional child care storage of the second
preferred embodiment has a same configuration as that of the first
preferred embodiment, except that the heating compartment 130 is
replaced by a refrigerating/heating compartment 130', the heating
space 131 is replaced by a refrigerating/heating space 131' and the
heating temperature input unit 154 is replaced by a
refrigerating/heating temperature input unit 154'. Therefore,
emements same as those in the first preferred embodiment will be
given reference numerals same as those in the first preferred
embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0062] The refrigerating/heating compartment 130' has a second door
133 for opening or closing the heating space 131. A first heater
132 for heating or warming up the refrigerating/heating space 131'
and a second thermoelectric element 137 for refrigerating the
refrigerating/heating space 131' are installed in the
refrigerating/heating compartment 130'.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the first heater 132 is installed
at a rear side of the refrigerating/heating space 131', and it
serves as a heating block incorporating a heating wire that emits
heat when power is supplied thereto. Further, a heat diffusion
plate 134 made of, e.g., aluminum having a high thermal
conductivity is connected to the first heater 132's side facing the
refrigerating/heating space 131'. The heat diffusion plate 134 is
exposed to the refrigerating/heating space 131' to diffuse the heat
from the first heater 132 into the refrigerating/heating space 131'
rapidly.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 10, the second thermoelectric element 137
is equipped with an heat absorbing plate 137a on one side thereof
and an heat radiating plate 137b on the opposite side thereof.
Further, a cool air diffusion plate 137c is disposed to contact the
heat absorbing plate 137a, and a second heat radiation fan 138 is
installed to discharge heat from the heat absorbing plate 137a to
an ourside through the heat exhaust openings 114 of the main body
110.
[0065] In addition, the refrigerating/heating compartment 130' is
equipped with a first timer 135 for setting operating times of the
first heater 132 and/or the second thermoelectric element 137.
[0066] The control unit 150 controls the first and second heat
radiation fan 127 and 138, and the second heater 145a and the heat
diffusion fan 145b of the drying device 145 as well as controlling
the operations of the first and second thermoelectric element 122
and 137, the first heater 142 and the sterilizing device 142. That
is to say, the control unit 150 receives signals from a first
temperature sensor 151 shown in FIG. 10 for detecting the internal
temperature of the refrigerating space 121 and a refrigerating
temperature input unit 152 for registering a desired temperature
for the refrigerating space 121, and then controls the
thermoelectric element 122 such that the internal temperature of
the refrigerating space 121 reaches the desired temperature
inputted from the refrigerating temperature input unit 152. By
using the refrigerating temperature input unit 152, preset
refrigerating temperatures for food, medicine, cosmetics, and so
forth can be selected. For example, the refrigerating temperatures
for food, medicine and cosmetics can be set to be 3 degrees, 12
degrees and 15 degrees, respectively.
[0067] Further, the control unit 150 receives signals from a second
temperature sensor 153 shown in FIG. 10 for detecting the internal
temperature of the refrigerating/heating space 131' and a heating
temperature input unit 154 for being inputted thereto a desired
temperature for the refrigerating/heating space 131', and controls
the first heater 132 and the second thermoelectric element 137 such
that the internal temperature of the refrigerating/heating space
131' reaches the desired temperature inputted to the heating
temperature input unit 154.
[0068] The refrigerating/heating compartment 130' can be used to
warm up milk, herbal medicine or the like, or to keep them warm by
the heat of the first heater 132. In case the refigerating
compartmenat 120 is filled up, the refrigerating/heating
compartment 130' can also be used to refigerate food, beverage or
the like, or to keep them cool by the second thermoelectric element
137. The operating time of the first heater 132 or the second
thermoelectric element 137 can be set by using the first timer 135.
The control unit 150 receives a detection signal from the second
temperature sensor 153 for detecting the internal temperature of
the refrigerating/heating space 131' and an electrical signal
outputted from the heating temperature input unit 154 for being
inputted thereto a desired heating temperature, and then controls
the first heater 132 and the second thermoelectric element 137 such
that the internal temperature of the refrigerating/heating space
131' is maintained at the desired temperature level.
[0069] Since functions and operations of other elements of the
child care storage of the second preferred embodiment is same as
those of the first preferred embodiment, a description thereof will
be omitted.
[0070] In accordance with the first and second preferred
embodiments described above, infant food or products can be stored
or treated in various ways in a single apparatus. Therefore, the
convenience of user can be improved, and the time required for
child care can be reduced.
[0071] Hereinafter, a third preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described in detail.
[0072] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there are provided a front
perspective view and an exploded rear perspective view of an inner
case of a multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a
third preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13
illustrates an installation state of the inner case. As shown in
the figures, the inner case 200 of the multi-functional child-care
storage in accordance with the present invention includes a main
body 210 installed inside an outer case 300; and a reinforcement
plate 220 connected to a top portion of the main body 210.
[0073] A front panel 212 is installed at an upper portion of the
main body 210 such that it is located at an upper front end portion
of the outer case 300 when the main body 210 of the inner case 300
is connected to the outer case 300. Further, the main body 210
includes at least one first functional compartment 211 distanced
apart from the inner surface of the outer case 300, wherein the
frontal portion of the first functional compartment 211 is opened.
Also, a U-shaped groove 214 is formed on the front panel 212.
[0074] The main body 210 is put into a lower portion of the outer
case 300 such that its front edge portion is hermetically connected
with the front end portion of the outer case 300. Thus, there is
formed a sealed space between the main body 210 and the inner
surface of the outer case 300. The sealed space is charged with a
liquid insulating material, and the liquid insulating material is
then solidified by, e.g., a catalytic reaction.
[0075] To connect the main body 210 and the outer case 300
hermitically, a sealing member (not shown) made of, e.g., rubber
can be formed at a joint portion therebetween. Further, it is also
possible to form a protruding portion along the edge of the main
body 210 and forcibly fit the protruding portion to the front end
portion of the outer case 300 to connect the main body 210 and the
outer case 300. Further, it is still possible to connect the main
body 210 and the front end portion of the outer case 300 by using
bolts and nuts.
[0076] When the main body 210 is installed in the outer case 300,
the first functional compartment 211 is configured to be distanced
apart from the inner surface of the outer case 300, thus forming a
space between the main body 210 and the outer case 300, which space
is to be charged with an insulating material. In addition, the main
body 210 has a front door (not shown) opened or closed by being
rotated. Further, the main body 210 is provided with a stepped
portion 113 on which a bracket is installed for the installation of
the front door.
[0077] By forming the reinforcement plate 220 to have a U-shape, it
can be connected to a rear side of the groove 214 of the main body
210 to thereby close the top portion of the sealed space between
the main body 210 and the outer case 300 hermetically. Accordingly,
the leakage of the liquid insulating material through the sealed
space can be prevented. Further, a second functional compartment
221 is extended toward the rear side of the groove 214 of the main
body 210 such that it is distanced apart from the first functional
compartment 211.
[0078] The first and the second functional compartment 211 and 221
formed in the main body 210 and the reinforcement plate 220 provide
spaces for refrigerating, freezing or warming up infant foods or
products or sterilizing infant products by using steam or heat.
Accordingly, a cooling unit using a circulation of a coolant or a
thermoelectric element, a double boiler using a heater or a
thermoelectric element, a sterilizing device for emitting
high-temperature steam or heat are installed at required positions
between the inner case 200 and the outer case 200 and, also, in the
first and the second functional compartments 211 and 221 to store
the baby food or products in various ways.
[0079] To tightly connect the reinforcement plate 220 to the rear
side of the groove 214 of the main body 210, a sealing member (not
shown) made of, e.g., rubber is installed at a joint portion
therebetween. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to allow the
reinforcement plate 220 to be connected with the groove 214 by
using bolts and nuts, securing ribs 223 are formed along the front
end portion of the reinforcement plate 220.
[0080] Moreover, to enhance safety when the rear end of the
reinforcement plate 120 is brought into contact with the inner
surface of the outer case 300, a guide shaped identical to that of
the reinforcement plate 220 can be formed at an inner side of the
outer case 300.
[0081] The reinforcement plate 220 has supporting portions 224
horizontally extended from its two opposite sides. The supporting
portions 224 support the side surfaces of the outer case 300, thus
preventing a deformation of the outer case 300 due to a load from
the outside. Further, to hermetically seal the top portion of the
sealed space formed between the main body 210 and the outer case
300, a sealing member (not shown) made of, e.g., rubber is provided
at reinforcement plate 220's portions contacting the main body 210
as well as at the supporting portions 124. Also, the reinforcement
plate 220 is provided with reinforcement member 222 at its front
and rear side to prevent a torsion thereof.
[0082] The assembly and the function of the inner case of the
multi-functional child care storage having the above-described
configuration will be now be explained.
[0083] The main body 210 and the reinforcement plate 220 of the
inner case 200 are coupled to each other by fastening them with a
number of bolts (designated as "B") and nuts (designated as "N").
Then, the assembly of the inner case 200 is connected to the outer
case 300 such that the space formed between the main body 210, the
reinforcement plate 220 and the outer case 200 is hermetically
sealed. Afterward, a liquid insulating material is filled into this
space through an injection opening (not shown) and the injection
opening is hermetically closed lest the liquid insulating material
leak therethrough. At this time, by fastening the main body 210 and
the reinforcement plate 220 to each other firmly through the use of
the bolts (B) and the nuts (N), the first and the second functional
compartments 211 and 221 can be isolated from each other and the
leakage of the insulating material can be restrained.
[0084] Moreover, by forming the reinforcement plate 120 in the
U-shape, its front end portion can be firmly fixed on the main body
210, and its two side supporting portions 124 support and reinforce
the inner surface of the outer case 300. As a result, a deformation
of the outer case 300 due to a load or an impact from the outside
can be minimized.
[0085] In accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the
present invention as described above, the inner case of the
multi-functional child care storage of the present invention has a
plurality of functional compartments for treating (e.g.,
refrigerating or warming up) infant food or products. Further, the
inner case serves to prevent a leakage of the insulating material
charged in the space between the outer case and itself. Moreover,
by configuring the inner case to support and reinforce the inner
surface of the outer case, a deformation of the outer case that
might be caused by a load or an impact from the outside can be
minimized.
[0086] While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *