U.S. patent application number 14/246600 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-08 for refrigerator appliance and a method for defrosting a food item.
This patent application is currently assigned to General Electric Company. The applicant listed for this patent is General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Joel Erik Hitzelberger, Murad Majed Swaidan.
Application Number | 20150285552 14/246600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54209468 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150285552 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Swaidan; Murad Majed ; et
al. |
October 8, 2015 |
REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR DEFROSTING A FOOD ITEM
Abstract
A method for defrosting a food item within a freezer chamber of
a refrigerator appliance is provided. The method includes
positioning the food item within a defrosting chamber of an
insulated housing within the freezer chamber of the refrigerator
appliance, initiating a defrosting operation and activating a
heater during the defrosting operation in order to heat the food
item within the defrosting chamber. A related refrigerator
appliance is also provided.
Inventors: |
Swaidan; Murad Majed;
(Louisville, KY) ; Hitzelberger; Joel Erik;
(Louisville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
General Electric Company |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
54209468 |
Appl. No.: |
14/246600 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/80 ; 62/126;
62/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/12 20130101;
F25D 2317/0667 20130101; F25D 31/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 21/00 20060101
F25D021/00; F25D 23/12 20060101 F25D023/12; F25D 23/04 20060101
F25D023/04 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet defining a fresh
food chamber and a freezer chamber; an insulated housing disposed
within the freezer chamber of the cabinet, the insulated housing
defining a defrosting chamber therein; a heater positioned adjacent
the insulated housing; and a controller in operative communication
with the heater, the controller configured for operating the heater
during a defrosting operation in order to heat the defrosting
chamber of the insulated housing.
2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a fan
positioned adjacent the insulated housing, the controller in
operative communication with the fan and further configured for
working the fan in order to circulate air within the defrosting
chamber of the insulated housing during the defrosting
operation.
3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, further comprising a duct
extending between the fresh food chamber of the cabinet and the
defrosting chamber of the insulated housing, the fan positioned at
the duct such that the fan draws air from the fresh food chamber of
the cabinet to the defrosting chamber of the insulated housing
during the defrosting operation.
4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the insulated
housing includes a damper, the damper selectively disposed between
the freezer chamber of the cabinet and the defrosting chamber of
the insulated housing, the controller being in operative
communication with the damper and further configured for actuating
the damper between an open configuration and a closed
configuration, the controller adjusting the damper to the closed
configuration during the defrosting operation.
5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a
network connection, the controller in operative with the network
connection and further configured for receiving a defrosting
operation initiation command from a network device via the network
connection.
6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a door
mounted to the cabinet and a user interface mounted to the door,
the controller in operative communication with the user interface
and further configured for receiving a defrosting operation
initiation command from the user interface.
7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, wherein the controller is
further configured for receiving a defrosting operation time
interval from the user interface.
8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a
weight sensor positioned adjacent the insulated housing, the
controller in operative communication with the weight sensor and
further configured for weighing a food item within the defrosting
chamber of the insulated housing and establishing a defrosting
operation time interval based at least in part on the weight of the
food item within the defrosting chamber of the insulated
housing.
9. A method for defrosting a food item within a freezer chamber of
a refrigerator appliance, comprising: positioning the food item
within a defrosting chamber of an insulated housing, the insulated
housing disposed within the freezer chamber of the refrigerator
appliance; initiating a defrosting operation; and activating a
heater during the defrosting operation in order to heat the food
item within the defrosting chamber.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a period
of the defrosting operation, said step of establishing comprising
inputting the period of the defrosting operation on a user
interface of the refrigerator appliance.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a period
of the defrosting operation, said step of establishing comprising
weighing the food item within the defrosting volume of the
insulated housing and establishing the period of the defrosting
operation based at least in part on the weight of the food
item.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a period
of the defrosting operation, said step of establishing comprising
determining a category for the food item within the defrosting
chamber of the insulated housing and establishing the period of the
defrosting operation based at least in part on the category of the
food item.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising closing a damper of
the insulated housing during the defrosting operation, the damper
of the insulated housing being open prior to said step of
closing.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein a temperature of the defrosting
chamber is about a temperature of the freezer chamber prior to said
step of initiating and the temperature of the defrosting chamber is
greater than the temperature of the freezer chamber during at least
a portion of the defrosting operation.
15. The method of claim 9, further comprising circulating air
within the defrosting chamber of the insulating housing with a fan
of the refrigerator appliance during the defrosting operation.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of initiating
comprises transmitting a defrosting operation initiation command to
the refrigerator appliance from a network device.
17. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a desired
completion time for the defrosting operation, wherein said step of
initiating the defrosting operation comprises initiating the
defrosting operation such that the defrosting operation is complete
by the desired completion time for the defrosting operation.
18. The method of claim 9, further comprising notifying a user of
the refrigerator appliance when the defrosting operation is
complete.
19. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying a
remaining time of the defrosting operation to a user of the
refrigerator appliance during the defrosting operation.
20. A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet defining a
fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber; and means for defrosting
food items within the freezer chamber of the cabinet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator
appliances and methods for defrosting food items therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Several methods are presently available to defrost frozen
food items. However, the presently available methods to defrost
food items generally suffer from certain drawbacks. As an example,
frozen food items can be left on a countertop for an extended
period of time in order to thaw the food items. While exposed to
ambient conditions on the countertop, the food items can enter a
food "danger zone" and harmful bacteria can grow within the food
items. As another example, frozen food items can be heated in a
microwave in order to thaw the food items. Heating the food items
within the microwave can also partially cook the food items and
negatively affect a taste of the food items. As yet another
example, frozen food items can be placed within a fresh food
chamber of a refrigerator appliance in order to thaw the food
items. Defrosting food items within the fresh food chamber can be
time consuming and inconvenient.
[0003] Accordingly, a method for conveniently defrosting frozen
food items would be useful. In addition, a method for quickly
defrosting frozen food items would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present subject matter provides a method for defrosting
a food item within a freezer chamber of a refrigerator appliance.
The method includes positioning the food item within a defrosting
chamber of an insulated housing within the freezer chamber of the
refrigerator appliance, initiating a defrosting operation and
activating a heater during the defrosting operation in order to
heat the food item within the defrosting chamber. A related
refrigerator appliance is also provided. Additional aspects and
advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the
following description, or may be apparent from the description, or
may be learned through practice of the invention.
[0005] In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is
provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that
defines a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber. An insulated
housing is disposed within the freezer chamber of the cabinet. The
insulated housing defines a defrosting chamber therein. A heater is
positioned adjacent the insulated housing. A controller is in
operative communication with the heater. The controller is
configured for operating the heater during a defrosting operation
in order to heat the defrosting chamber of the insulated
housing.
[0006] In a second exemplary embodiment, a method for defrosting a
food item within a freezer chamber of a refrigerator appliance is
provided. The method includes positioning the food item within a
defrosting chamber of an insulated housing. The insulated housing
is disposed within the freezer chamber of the refrigerator
appliance. The method also includes initiating a defrosting
operation and activating a heater during the defrosting operation
in order to heat the food item within the defrosting chamber.
[0007] In a third exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is
provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that
defines a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber. The
refrigerator appliance also includes means for defrosting food
items within the freezer chamber of the cabinet.
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures.
[0010] FIG. 1 provides a front, elevation view of a refrigerator
appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter.
[0011] FIG. 2 provides a front, elevation view of certain
components of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an insulated housing
of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 provides a schematic view of certain components of
the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for defrosting a food item
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject
matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0016] FIG. 1 provides a front, elevation view of a refrigerator
appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter. FIG. 2 provides a front, elevation view of certain
components of refrigerator appliance 100. Refrigerator appliance
100 defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L and a
transverse direction T (FIG. 3). The vertical direction V, lateral
direction L and transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular
and form an orthogonal direction system. Refrigerator appliance 100
extends between an upper portion 101 and a lower portion 102 along
the vertical direction V. Refrigerator appliance 100 also extends
between a first side portion 105 and a second side portion 106
along the lateral direction L.
[0017] Refrigerator appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 120
that defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for
storage. In particular, refrigerator appliance 100 defines fresh
food chamber 122 at upper portion 101 of refrigerator appliance 100
and a freezer chamber 124 arranged below fresh food chamber 122 on
the vertical direction V, e.g., at lower portion 102 of
refrigerator appliance 100. As such, refrigerator appliance 100 is
generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator appliance.
However, using the teachings disclosed herein, one of skill in the
art will understand that the present subject matter may be used
with other types of refrigerator appliances (e.g., side-by-side
style or top mount style) or a freezer appliance as well.
Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative
purposes only and is not intended to limit the present subject
matter to any particular chilled chamber arrangement.
[0018] Refrigerator doors 126 and 128 are rotatably hinged to an
edge of housing 120 for accessing fresh food compartment 122. In
particular, refrigerator doors 126 and 128 are rotatably mounted to
housing 120 at an opening 121 that permits access to fresh food
chamber 122. A freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator
doors 126 and 128 for accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door
130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted
within freezer chamber 124.
[0019] Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a dispensing
assembly 110 for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing
assembly 110 includes a dispenser 114 positioned on or mounted to
an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance 100, e.g., on
refrigerator door 126. Dispenser 114 includes a discharging outlet
134 for accessing ice and liquid water. An actuating mechanism 132,
shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet 134 for
operating dispenser 114. In alternative exemplary embodiments, any
suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser 114.
For example, dispenser 114 can include a sensor (such as an
ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. A user
interface panel 136 is provided for controlling the mode of
operation. For example, user interface panel 136 includes a
plurality of user inputs 137, such as a water dispensing button
(not labeled) and an ice-dispensing button (not labeled), for
selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or
non-crushed ice. User interface panel 136 also includes a display
139 for presenting information to a user of refrigerator appliance
100. User inputs 137 may be any suitable user inputs. For example,
user inputs 137 include buttons, switches, touchscreens, voice
inputs, scanners, etc.
[0020] Discharging outlet 134 and actuating mechanism 132 are an
external part of dispenser 114 and are mounted in a dispenser
recess 138 defined by a dispenser body 166 of dispenser 114.
Dispenser body 166 is mounted to refrigerator door 126, e.g., at an
outside surface of refrigerator door 126. Dispenser recess 138 is
positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to
access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the
need to bend-over and without the need to access freezer chamber
124. In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess 138 is
positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user.
An ice maker (not shown) may be positioned within housing 120 or on
one of refrigerator doors 126 and 128 to provide ice cubes or
nuggets to dispenser recess 138 when actuating mechanism 128 is
operated.
[0021] Turning now to FIG. 2, refrigerator appliance 100 includes
various storage components for assisting with storing food items
within fresh food chamber 122 and freezer chamber 124. In
particular, refrigerator appliance 100 includes shelves 140 and a
drawer 144 within fresh food chamber 122 and bins 142 within
freezer chamber 124. Food items may be disposed within and/or on
shelves 140, bins 142 and/or drawer 144 in order to assist with
storing such food items within refrigerator appliance 100.
[0022] Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes an insulated
housing 150. Insulated housing 150 is disposed or positioned within
freezer chamber 124 of housing 120. Insulated housing 150 defines a
defrosting chamber 151 therein. As discussed in greater detail
below, a user of refrigerator appliance 100 may place a frozen food
item within defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 and
activate certain features of refrigerator appliance 100 in order to
defrost the frozen food item within defrosting chamber 151. Thus,
refrigerator appliance 100 includes features for defrosting frozen
food item within freezer chamber 124 (e.g., within defrosting
chamber 151 of insulated housing 150).
[0023] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of insulated housing 150
of refrigerator appliance 100. As may be seen in FIG. 3, insulated
housing 150 extends between a top portion 152 and a bottom portion
154, e.g., along the vertical direction V. A top wall 155 of
insulated housing 150 is positioned at or adjacent top portion 152
of insulated housing 150, and a bottom wall 156 of insulated
housing 150 is positioned at or adjacent bottom portion 154 of
insulated housing 150. Thus, top and bottom walls 155 and 156 of
insulated housing 150 may be spaced apart from each other, e.g.,
along the vertical direction V. Insulated housing 150 also includes
side walls 157 that extend between top and bottom walls 155 and 156
of insulated housing 150, e.g., along the vertical direction V. Top
wall 155, bottom wall 156 and side walls 157 may assist with
defining defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150. Insulated
housing 150 also includes a door 158 that permits selective access
to defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150. Door 158 may be
clear in order to permit a user of refrigerator appliance 100 to
view defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 and food items
therein.
[0024] Insulated housing 150 (e.g., top wall 155, bottom wall 156
and side walls 157 of insulated housing 150) is insulated such that
defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 and food items
positioned therein may be heated, e.g., without significantly
heating freezer chamber 124 of housing 120. As an example, top wall
155, bottom wall 156 and/or side walls 157 of insulated housing 150
may include vacuum insulation panels, insulating foam, fiberglass
insulation, etc. to assist with insulating insulated housing 150.
Thus, defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 may be
thermally isolated from freezer chamber 124 of housing 120 with
insulated housing 150, and heat transfer between defrosting chamber
151 of insulated housing 150 and freezer chamber 124 of housing 120
may be limited or hindered by insulated housing 150.
[0025] Insulated housing 150 also includes a damper 164, e.g.,
positioned at top portion 152 of insulated housing 150. As will be
understood by those skilled in the art, damper 164 is selectively
adjustable between an open position and a closed position. In the
closed position, damper 164 hinders or prevents fluid flow through
damper 164. Conversely, damper 164 permits or facilitates fluid
flow through damper 164 in the open position. Thus, air may from
freezer chamber 124 may flow through damper 164 into defrosting
chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 and vice versa with damper 164
in the open position while damper 164 hinders or prevents air from
flowing between freezer chamber 124 and defrosting chamber 151 in
the closed position. Adjusting damper 164 between the open and
closed positions assists with selectively permitting fluid flow
between freezer chamber 124 and defrosting chamber 151. As will be
understood by those skilled in the art, selectively actuating
damper 164 may limit heat transfer between freezer chamber 124 and
defrosting chamber 151. Damper 164 may be manually actuated or may
include a motor (not shown) for actuating damper 164 between the
open and closed positions.
[0026] FIG. 4 provides a schematic view of certain components of
refrigerator appliance 100. As may be seen in FIG. 4, refrigerator
appliance 100 includes a controller 160. Operation of the
refrigerator appliance 100 may be regulated by controller 160.
Thus, controller 160 is operatively coupled to various components
of refrigerator appliance 100. For example, controller 160 is in
operative communication with user interface panel 136 and actuating
mechanism 132. User interface panel 136 provides selections for
user manipulation of the operation of refrigerator appliance 100
such as e.g., selections between whole or crushed ice, chilled
water, and/or other options as well. In response to user
manipulation of the user interface panel 136, controller 160
operates various components of the refrigerator appliance 100.
[0027] Controller 160 may include a memory and one or more
microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special
purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming
instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of
refrigerator appliance 100. The memory may represent random access
memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In
one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions
stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the
processor or may be included onboard within the processor.
Alternatively, controller 160 may be constructed without using a
microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or
digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators,
comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform
control functionality instead of relying upon software.
[0028] Controller 160 may be positioned in a variety of locations
throughout refrigerator appliance 100. For example, controller 160
may be located within a control panel area of refrigerator door
126. In such an embodiment, input/output ("I/O") signals may be
routed between controller 160 and various operational components of
refrigerator appliance 100. As an example, the various operational
components of refrigerator appliance 100 may be in communication
with controller 160 via one or more signal lines or shared
communication busses.
[0029] As may be seen in FIG. 4, refrigerator appliance 100 also
includes a weight sensor 162. Weight sensor 162 may be positioned
at or adjacent bottom portion 154 of insulated housing 150 and
mounted to insulated housing 150. For example, weight sensor 162
may be positioned at and mounted to bottom wall 156 of insulated
housing 150. Weight sensor 162 is configured and/or positioned for
weighing food items disposed within defrosting chamber 151 of
insulated housing 150, e.g., on bottom wall 156 of insulated
housing 150. Controller 160 is in operative communication with
weight sensor 162. Thus, weight sensor 162 may signal controller
160, and the signal from weight sensor 162 may correspond to or
indicate the weight of the food item within defrosting chamber 151
of insulated housing 150. Thus, controller 160 may be configured
for weighing food items within defrosting chamber 151 of insulated
housing 150 with weight sensor 162. Weight sensor 162 may be any
suitable sensor. For example, weight sensor 162 may be a
transducer, such as a load cell, a strain gauge, a linear variable
differential transformer, etc.
[0030] Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a fan 166, such as
an axial fan or centrifugal fan. As an example, fan 166 may be
positioned at or adjacent defrosting chamber 151 of insulated
housing 150 and mounted to insulated housing 150. Thus, fan 166 may
be configured for circulating air within defrosting chamber 151 of
insulated housing 150, e.g., in order to convectively heat food
items therein. As another example, fan 166 may be positioned
adjacent a duct 146 (FIG. 2). Duct 146 may extend between fresh
food chamber 122 and defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing
150. Thus, fan 166 may be configured for drawing air from fresh
food chamber 122 to defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing
150, e.g., in order to assist with heating food items within
defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150. Controller 160 is
in operative communication with fan 166. Thus, controller 160 may
selectively operate fan 166 in order to move air with fan 166.
[0031] Refrigerator appliance 100 further includes a heater 168.
Heater 168 may be positioned at or adjacent defrosting chamber 151
of insulated housing 150 and mounted to insulated housing 150.
Thus, heater 168 may be configured and operable to heat defrosting
chamber 151 of insulated housing 150. In addition, food items
within defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 may be
heated with heater 168, e.g., in order to thaw the food items.
Controller 160 is in operative communication with heater 168. Thus,
controller 160 may selectively operate heater 168, e.g., during a
defrosting operation of refrigerator appliance 100, in order to
heat defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 with heater
168. Heater 168 may be any suitable heater. For example, heater 168
may be an electric resistance heating element, a heat pump, a
microwave emitting element, an induction heating element, etc.
[0032] A temperature sensor 170 is configured for measuring a
temperature of insulated housing 150, e.g., defrosting chamber 151
of insulated housing 150. Temperature sensor 170 can be positioned
at any suitable location within refrigerator appliance 100. For
example, temperature sensor 170 may be positioned within defrosting
chamber 151 of insulated housing 150 or may be mounted to insulated
housing 150 outside of defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing
150. When mounted to insulated housing 150 outside of defrosting
chamber 151 of insulated housing 150, temperature sensor 170 may be
configured for indirectly measuring the temperature of air within
defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150. For example,
temperature sensor 170 may measure the temperature of insulated
housing 150 and correlate the temperature of insulated housing 150
to the temperature of air within defrosting chamber 151 of
insulated housing 150. Temperature sensor 170 may be any suitable
temperature sensor. For example, temperature sensor 170 may be a
thermocouple or a thermistor.
[0033] Controller 160 may also be in operative communication with
damper 164. Controller 160 may actuate damper 164 between the open
and closed positions. As an example, controller 160 may operate a
motor (not shown) of damper 164 to actuate damper 164 between the
open and closed positions.
[0034] As may be seen in FIG. 4, refrigerator appliance 100 also
includes a network connection or interface 172. Network interface
172 is configured for establishing communication with a network
device 176 via a network 174. Thus, controller 160 may communicate
with network device 176 via network interface 172 and network 174.
In addition, a user of refrigerator appliance 100 may utilize
network device 176 to remotely input commands to controller 160 and
regulate operation of refrigerator appliance 100. Network interface
172 of refrigerator appliance 100 may include any suitable
components for interfacing with one more networks, such as network
174. For example, network interface 172 of refrigerator appliance
100 may include transmitters, receivers, ports, controllers,
antennas, or other suitable components.
[0035] The network 174 may be any type of communications network,
such as a local area network (e.g. intranet), wide area network
(e.g. Internet), or some combination thereof. The network 174 can
also include a direct connection between refrigerator appliance 100
and network device 176. In general, communication between
refrigerator appliance 100 and network device 176 may be carried
via network interface 172 using any type of wired and/or wireless
connection, using a variety of communication protocols (e.g.
TCP/IP, HTTP), encodings or formats (e.g. HTML, XML), and/or
protection schemes (e.g. VPN, secure HTTP, SSL). In certain
exemplary embodiments, network 174 may be a cellular network, and
network device 176 may include a cellular phone, such as a
smartphone. In other exemplary embodiments, network device 176 may
be a tablet, a laptop, a wearable wireless computer device,
etc.
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for defrosting a food item
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
Method 500 may be used to defrost food items in any suitable
refrigerator appliance. For example, method 500 may be used in or
with refrigerator appliance 100 (FIG. 1), e.g., to defrost food
items within freezer chamber 124. Controller 160 may be programmed
or configured for implementing method 500. Utilizing method 500,
food items may be defrosted, e.g., without removing the food items
from a freezer chamber of the associated refrigerator
appliance.
[0037] At step 510, a food item is positioned or disposed with
defrosting chamber 151 of insulated housing 150. As an example, a
user of refrigerator appliance 100 may place a frozen food item,
such as chicken, soup, etc., within defrosting chamber 151 of
insulated housing 150 at step 510. As discussed above, insulated
housing 150 is positioned or disposed within freezer chamber 124.
Thus, a temperature of defrosting chamber 151 may be about equal to
(e.g., equal to) a temperature of freezer chamber 124 at step 510.
In such a manner, the food item may remain frozen within defrosting
chamber 151 of insulated housing 150, e.g., until a defrosting
operation is started at a later time.
[0038] At step 520, a defrosting operation is initiated or started.
As an example, a user of refrigerator appliance 100 may initiate
the defrosting operation at step 520 with the user interface panel
136. Thus, the user of refrigerator appliance 100 may initiate the
defrosting operation locally at the refrigerator appliance 100
during step 520. As another example, the user of refrigerator
appliance 100 may utilize network device 176 to initiate the
defrosting operation at step 520. In particular, the user may
operate network device 176 such that network device 176 generates
and transmits a defrosting operation initiation command to network
interface 172 and controller 160 via network 174 at step 520. Thus,
the user may utilize his or her smartphone (in exemplary
embodiments where network device 176 is a smartphone) in order to
initiate the defrosting operation remotely from the refrigerator
appliance 100 during step 520.
[0039] In certain exemplary embodiments, a duration or period of
the defrosting operation is also established at step 520, e.g., by
controller 160. For example, a user of refrigerator appliance 100
may utilize the user interface panel 136 or network device 176 to
manually input or establish the period of the defrosting operation
to controller 160 at step 520. As another example, controller 160
may establish the weight of the food item within defrosting volume
151 of insulated housing 150 with weight sensor 162 and establish
the period of the defrosting operation based at least in part on
the weight of the food item at step 520. As will be understood by
those skilled in the art, the period of the defrosting operation
may be directly proportional to the weight of the food item within
defrosting volume 151 of insulated housing 150. For example,
heavier food items may require longer to defrost than lighter food
items, or a temperature of the defrosting operation may need to be
increased in order to defrost heavy food items within the same
period as lighter food items.
[0040] In certain exemplary embodiments, a category or type of the
food item within the defrosting volume 151 of insulated housing 150
is also established at step 520. For example, a user of
refrigerator appliance 100 may utilize the user interface panel 136
or network device 176 to manually input or establish the category
of the food item within the defrosting volume 151 of insulated
housing 150 to controller 160 at step 520. In particular, the user
may identify the food item within the defrosting volume 151 of
insulated housing 150 as a meat, such as chicken, beef or fish, a
soup, bread, a casserole, etc. Based upon the identity or category
of the food item within the defrosting volume 151 of insulated
housing 150, controller 160 may establish the period of the
defrosting operation. As will be understood by those skilled in the
art, the period of the defrosting operation may be directly
proportional to the identity or category of the food item within
the defrosting volume 151 of insulated housing 150. For example,
beef may require longer than chicken to defrost, or a temperature
of the defrosting operation may need to be increased in order to
defrost beef within the same period as chicken.
[0041] Method 500 may also include establishing or ascertaining a
desired completion time for the defrosting operation, e.g., at or
before step 520. For example, a user of refrigerator appliance 100
may utilize the user interface panel 136 or network device 176 to
manually input or establish the desired completion time for the
defrosting operation to controller 160. Controller 160 may be
configured or programmed to initiate the defrosting operation at
step 520 such that the defrosting operation is complete and the
food item within the defrosting volume 151 of insulated housing 150
is suitably defrosted by the desired completion time for the
defrosting operation, e.g., prior to a time a user of the
refrigerator appliance 100 would like to start cooking the food
item within the defrosting volume 151 of insulated housing 150.
[0042] At step 530, various components of refrigerator appliance
100 are activated or operated, e.g., to heat and defrost the food
item within defrosting volume 151 of insulated housing 150. As an
example, controller 160 may activate heater 168 at step 530. Thus,
heater 168 may be operated to heat the food item within defrosting
chamber 151 at step 530. As another example, controller 160 may
activate fan 166 at step 530, e.g., to circulate air within
defrosting chamber 151 and/or draw air from fresh food chamber 122
into defrosting chamber 151. Thus, fan 166 may assist with heating
the food item within defrosting chamber 151 at step 530. As yet
another example, controller 160 may close damper 164 at step 530.
Thus, damper 164 may hinder or prevent air from flowing from
freezer chamber 124 into defrosting chamber 151 and vice versa at
step 530.
[0043] Prior to step 530, a temperature of defrosting chamber 151
may be about equal to a temperature of freezer chamber 124, e.g.,
due to damper 164 being open, fan 166 being off and/or heater 168
being deactivated. Conversely, the temperature of defrosting
chamber 151 may be greater than the temperature of freezer chamber
124 during the defrosting operation, e.g., due to damper 164 being
closed, fan 166 being on and/or heater 168 being activated. In such
a manner, the food item within defrosting volume 151 of insulated
housing 150 may be defrosted during the defrosting operation and
stored at a suitable temperature prior to the defrosting
operation.
[0044] At step 540, controller 160 determines whether the
defrosting operation is complete. As an example, controller 160 may
determine that the defrosting operation is complete if the period
of the defrosting operation has elapsed. The defrosting operation
is continued until the defrosting operation is complete at step
540. When the defrosting operation is complete, controller 160
alerts the user of refrigerator appliance 100 at step 550. The user
may be alerted using any suitable method or mechanism at step 550.
As an example, controller 160 may present a message on display 139
of refrigerator appliance 100 at step 550 to alert the user that
the defrosting operation is complete. As another example,
controller 160 may transmit a message to network device 176 via
network interface 172 and network 174 at step 550 to alert the user
that the defrosting operation is complete.
[0045] Utilizing method 500, the food item may be positioned within
insulated housing 150 at any suitable time. Further, the food item
may be stored within insulated housing 150 at a suitable
temperature (e.g., below the freezing temperature of water) until
the defrosting operation is initiated. During the defrosting
operation, the food item is defrosted within the insulated housing
150, e.g., without significantly heating freezer chamber 124 due to
insulated housing 150. Thus, the user need not remove the food item
from freezer chamber 124 in order to defrost the food item.
[0046] Method 500 may also include other steps form alerting or
informing the user of refrigerator appliance 100 regarding the
status of the defrosting operation. For example, method 500 may
include steps for alerting or informing the user of refrigerator
appliance 100 regarding a remaining time for the period of the
defrosting operation. The remaining time may be presented on
display 139 of refrigerator appliance 100 or may be transmitted to
network device 176 via network interface 172 and network 174.
[0047] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
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