U.S. patent application number 11/775910 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-17 for built-in refrigerator with increased internal volume.
This patent application is currently assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to FIORENZO CASOLI, ARMANDO LUISI.
Application Number | 20080011006 11/775910 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37697945 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080011006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LUISI; ARMANDO ; et
al. |
January 17, 2008 |
BUILT-IN REFRIGERATOR WITH INCREASED INTERNAL VOLUME
Abstract
The present invention relates to a refrigerator to be built into
surrounding cabinetry having a body having a cavity for food
preservation, at least two thin side panels, a thin top panel, and
at least one thin front panel. The side panels, top panel, and
front panel have a finish that matches the surrounding cabinetry
and are removably mounted to the body, thereby maintaining the
original volume and structural stiffness of the refrigerator.
Inventors: |
LUISI; ARMANDO; (VARESE,
IT) ; CASOLI; FIORENZO; (VERGIATE, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHIRLPOOL PATENTS COMPANY - MD 0750
500 RENAISSANCE DRIVE - SUITE 102
ST. JOSEPH
MI
49085
US
|
Assignee: |
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
2000 NORTH M-63 MD 2200
BENTON HARBOR
MI
49022
|
Family ID: |
37697945 |
Appl. No.: |
11/775910 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/259.1 ;
312/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/006 20130101;
F25D 23/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/259.1 ;
312/406 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/12 20060101
F25D023/12; A47B 96/04 20060101 A47B096/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 17, 2006 |
EP |
06116614.6 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator to be built into surrounding cabinetry,
comprising: a body having a cavity for food preservation; at least
two thin side panels; a thin top panel; and at least one thin front
panel, wherein the side panels, top panel, and front panel have a
finish that matches the surrounding cabinetry and are removably
mounted to the body, thereby maintaining the original volume and
structural stiffness of the refrigerator.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the side panels have
vertical rod-shaped mounting elements adapted to be installed
between the side panels and the body, thereby allowing the side
panels to have a reduced thickness.
3. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the mounting elements are
provided on the side panels to substantially align with each
vertical corner of the body.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the side panels have one
front mounting element placed in a corresponding recess of the body
and one rear mounting element placed on a rear wall of the
body.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the side panels directly
contact the body.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front panel is hingedly
connected to a rod-shaped mounting element provided between the
side panels and the body.
7. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the side panels are fixed
to the body via screws.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the body comprises side
walls adapted to be supported directly by the floor.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a tray-shaped
compartment fixed to the bottom of the body and adapted to contain
a compressor, condenser, and fan.
10. A refrigerator to be built into surrounding cabinetry,
comprising: a cabinet defined by a top wall, rear wall, bottom
wall, and side walls, wherein the bottom wall has a cut-out
defining a support edge; and a body adapted to slide into the
cabinet and having a cavity for food preservation, wherein the body
is supported by adjustable legs on the support edge.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising a compartment
provided below the bottom wall of the cabinet.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the compartment is fixed
to a bottom of the body.
13. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the compartment is
adapted to contain functional components of the refrigerator.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the functional components
include a compressor, condenser, and fan.
15. The refrigerator of claim 13, further comprising a louver
mounted to the front of the cabinet over the compartment to provide
ventilation for the functional components.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, further comprising a structural
crossbar mounted to the cabinet.
17. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the location of the
functional components allows for an increase in internal volume of
the cavity.
18. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the cabinet has a finish
that matches the surrounding cabinetry.
19. A built-in refrigerator comprising: a body having a cavity for
food preservation; at least two side panels; a top panel; at least
one front panel; and a compartment fixed to the bottom of the body
and adapted to contain a compressor, condenser, and fan, wherein
the side panels, top panel, and front panel have a finish that
matches surrounding cabinetry and are removably mounted to the
body, thereby maintaining the original volume and structural
stiffness of the refrigerator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerating appliance
and more specifically to a refrigerator that is built into a
cabinet of a kitchen.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] It is well known in the art of refrigerating appliances,
such as refrigerators and freezers, that there is a consumer
benefit to having built-in refrigerators that are installed to
match surrounding cabinetry. In this situation, the refrigerator is
installed much like a piece of furniture, as an integral part of
the kitchen or other room. However, a disadvantage of built-in
refrigerators and freezers is the reduced volume of the food
conservation cavities, since such volume is not only decreased by
the thickness of the insulation walls of the refrigerator body, but
also by the thickness of the cabinet walls in which the built-in
refrigerator has to be installed in order to match the cabinets.
The width of a typical built-in refrigerator body is at least 50 mm
narrower than a free-standing refrigerator having the same
footprint on the floor. Thus, a significant amount of internal
space is lost for a built-in refrigerator or freezer. As a result,
it would be desirable to improve the construction of built-in
refrigerators by providing them with an increased cavity
volume.
[0005] One prior art example of increasing the volume of the
refrigerator body is to increase its height. However, this creates
a problem with the inaccessibility of food products placed on the
upper shelves of the cavity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a built-in
refrigerator having an increased internal volume in comparison with
typical built-in refrigerators.
[0007] One embodiment of the invention is a refrigerator to be
built into surrounding cabinetry having a body having a cavity for
food preservation, at least two thin side panels, a thin top panel,
and at least one thin front panel. The side panels, top panel, and
front panel have a finish that matches the surrounding cabinetry
and are removably mounted to the body, thereby maintaining the
original volume and structural stiffness of the refrigerator.
[0008] The side panels may have vertical rod-shaped mounting
elements adapted to be installed between the side panels and the
body, thereby allowing the side panels to have a reduced thickness.
The mounting elements may be provided on the side panels to
substantially align with each vertical corner of the body. The side
panels may have one front mounting element placed in a
corresponding recess of the body and one rear mounting element
placed on a rear wall of the body. The side panels may directly
contact the body.
[0009] The front panel may be hingedly connected to a rod-shaped
mounting element provided between the side panels and the body. The
side panels may be fixed to the body via screws. The side walls may
be adapted to be supported directly by the floor.
[0010] The refrigerator may further include a tray-shaped
compartment fixed to the bottom of the body and adapted to contain
a compressor, condenser, and fan.
[0011] A second embodiment of the invention is a refrigerator to be
built into surrounding cabinetry having a cabinet defined by a top
wall, rear wall, bottom wall, and side walls, wherein the bottom
wall has a cut-out defining a support edge, and a body adapted to
slide into the cabinet and having a cavity for food preservation.
The body is supported by adjustable legs on the support edge.
[0012] The refrigerator may include a compartment provided below
the bottom wall of the cabinet. The compartment may be fixed to a
bottom of the body. The compartment may be adapted to contain
functional components of the refrigerator, including a compressor,
condenser, and fan. The location of the functional components
allows for an increase in internal volume of the cavity.
[0013] The refrigerator may further include a louver and a
structural crossbar mounted to the front of the cabinet over the
compartment to allow ventilation for the functional components.
[0014] The cabinet may have a finish that matches the surrounding
cabinetry.
[0015] Another embodiment of the invention is a built-in
refrigerator having a body having a cavity for food preservation,
at least two side panels, a top panel, at least one front panel,
and a compartment fixed to the bottom of the body and adapted to
contain a compressor, condenser, and fan. The side panels, top
panel, and front panel have a finish that matches surrounding
cabinetry and are removably mounted to the body, thereby
maintaining the original volume and structural stiffness of the
refrigerator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention and the embodiments thereof will be explained
in the following detailed description, with reference to the
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator in FIG. 1,
in which the door and the bottom grill have been removed;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross section of the refrigerator in
FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet for a
refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the invention;
and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side cross section of a second embodiment of the
refrigerator, showing components installed in the cabinet of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] With initial reference to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of
the present invention is shown. As illustrated, the internal volume
of the refrigerator is increased by combining thin panels that
aesthetically match the kitchen cabinets with the original cabinet
body. Thus, the original internal volume and structural stiffness
is maintained while still providing the built-in feature through
the thin panels. According to this embodiment, the kitchen cabinet
is only a "virtual" one. As shown in FIG. 1, two vertical thin side
panels 10 have two mounting pillars--one on the front side,
indicated with reference 12, and the other on the back side,
indicated with reference 14. In addition to side panels 10, a top
panel 16 completes the cabinet or "column". The side panels 10 and
the top panel 16 may be directly fixed on the lateral walls of the
refrigerator body 11 by screws 18 that are flush with the surface
of the refrigerator body. Alternatively, other fastening
mechanisms, such as glue, may be used. The screws 18 may be
inserted through the pillars 12 and 14, and the heads thereof are
hidden in a known manner. For instance, the heads may be concealed
by one or more plugs. When installed, the top panel 16 lies on top
of the lateral panels 10. Doors 20 are hingedly connected to the
front pillars 12. The finish of the visible sides of the panels 10,
front pillars 12, and the doors 20 is the same of the rest of the
cabinetry.
[0023] The body 11 of the refrigerator may have two bottom
extensions 22 that replace the "legs" of the traditional cabinet or
column. The extensions 22 may rest directly on the floor. A
ventilation grid may be attached to the front of the extensions 22
for ventilation of the sealed system.
[0024] Each of the front vertical corners of the refrigerator
cabinet have a recess 26 to accommodate the front pillars 12. As
shown in FIG. 3, the back pillars 14 lay on the back side of the
back vertical corners 28 of the refrigerator body 11. Thus, each
thin panel 10 may be in direct contact with the vertical surfaces
of the refrigerator body 11 when the thin panels 10 are installed.
Due to this configuration, the width of the refrigerator cabinet
increases more than 50 mm, which results in an increase in the
internal volume of the cabinet. More specifically, the increase in
volume for a built-in refrigerator with a height of approximately
1750 mm is around 40 litres.
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the
invention is shown. In this embodiment, the cabinet, as far as the
thickness of the side panels is concerned, is similar to the
typical cabinets used for built-in refrigerators. Typically, the
refrigerator body of a built-in domestic refrigerating appliance
has the same structure and configuration as that of a free standing
refrigerator. In this configuration, the condensing unit may be on
the back of the refrigerator body and the compressor may be
provided in a space under the refrigerator cavity. Furthermore, the
compressor may be supported by a mounting plate located at the same
level of the bottom side of the cabinet. The built-in refrigerator
body may be mounted in a base plate of the surrounding cabinetry.
Since the base plate of the cabinetry is usually approximately 160
to 300 mm from the floor, there may be a decrease in the internal
volume of the built-in refrigerator in comparison with a free
standing refrigerator of the same height, assuming that the two
cabinets have the same width and depth.
[0026] According to the second embodiment of the invention, a base
plate is provided near the bottom of the cabinet 100. The base
plate may have a cut-out 102 that occupies most of its surface. The
cut-out 102 defines a generally U-shaped edge 106 on which the
refrigerator body 11 is supported by adjustable legs or levellers
108. The refrigerator body 11 is adapted to slide into the cabinet
100 and may be fixed in the same way of a traditional built-in
refrigerator. The dimension of the cut-out may be slightly greater
than the dimensions of a tray-shaped bottom compartment 104, as
shown in FIG. 5, provided in the bottom of the refrigerator body
11. The size of the compartment may be slightly less than the
footprint of the refrigerator body. For example, for a refrigerator
body footprint of 540.times.540 mm, the compartment 104 may be
around 450.times.500 mm with a height of around 160 mm. The
compartment contains the functional components of the refrigerator,
such as a condenser 110, a compressor 112 and a cooling fan 114. A
louver 115 may be mounted on the front of the cabinet 100 to allow
ventilation for the condenser and compressor. Moreover a structural
crossbar 116 is mounted on the cabinet 100 in order to secure the
front sides of the cabinet and to provide structural stiffness.
[0027] According to this second embodiment of the invention, the
cavity of the refrigerator is at least 50 mm deeper than in the
usual configuration for a built-in refrigerator. For example, for a
refrigerator having of height of approximately 1.8 m, the internal
volume increases by about 35-40 litres. Since the compressor 112 is
installed in the same cavity with the condenser 110, it is possible
to eliminate the additional space required for the compressor 112
that typically protrudes inside the refrigerator body. This
accounts for an internal volume increase of about 10 litres.
[0028] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the above described embodiments, those of skill in the
art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without
departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the
appended claims.
* * * * *