U.S. patent application number 15/429859 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-17 for sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators.
The applicant listed for this patent is CERVECER A Y MALTERIA QUILMES S.A.l.C.A. y G.. Invention is credited to Diego Fabricio BASSO.
Application Number | 20170234603 15/429859 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59559002 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170234603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BASSO; Diego Fabricio |
August 17, 2017 |
SECTORIZED COOLING ARRANGEMENT FOR REFRIGERATORS
Abstract
A sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators housing
products, wherein the arrangement has a direct access to the
products without having to open a cooling chamber of the
refrigerator, which arrangement has a compartment defining
sectorized housings and air passage regulators between the cooling
chamber of the refrigerator and the compartment.
Inventors: |
BASSO; Diego Fabricio;
(Buenos Aires, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CERVECER A Y MALTERIA QUILMES S.A.l.C.A. y G. |
Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires |
|
AR |
|
|
Family ID: |
59559002 |
Appl. No.: |
15/429859 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2400/36 20130101;
F25D 2317/061 20130101; F25D 2317/062 20130101; F25D 23/028
20130101; F25D 23/025 20130101; F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25D 17/045
20130101; F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 2323/023 20130101; F25D 23/069
20130101; F25D 23/04 20130101; F25D 2700/121 20130101; F25D 11/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/04 20060101
F25D023/04; F25D 11/02 20060101 F25D011/02; F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02; F25D 23/06 20060101 F25D023/06; F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04; F25D 17/06 20060101 F25D017/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 12, 2016 |
AR |
P160100390 |
Jun 30, 2016 |
AR |
P160101997 |
Claims
1. Sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators having at least
one access door to at least one cooling chamber of the
refrigerator, wherein: said at least one access door has a
sectorized compartment having a plurality of container sectors of
consumer products packagings, wherein the compartment presents an
inner wall separating it from said cooling chamber, further
presenting said compartment at least one air passage regulating
device which has a cold air entrance side facing said cooling
chamber and an cold air outlet side facing said compartment.
2. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator has a main sector with a main
access door to said main sector and freezer sector with an access
door for it and that at least one door with sectorized compartment
is the freezer door.
3. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein said compartment presents a plurality of
partitions forming separate housings for such packagings.
4. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein said at least one cold air passage regulator is
an exhaust fan/air blower.
5. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 3, wherein it presents a cold air passage regulator for
each of said separate housings for packagings.
6. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein said compartment is formed by a compartment
structure which is closed towards the cooling chamber by said wall
and is closed outwards by a front panel of said at least one
refrigerator door.
7. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein said front panel of the refrigerator door, said
compartment structure and said inner wall form a pivot assembly in
the refrigerator through at least one first opening hinge of the
assembly for accessing the cooling chamber, while said front panel
of the refrigerator door is pivotally connected to said compartment
structure by at least one second opening hinge of the door for
accessing the compartment.
8. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein said compartment has at least one temperature
sensor.
9. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 1, wherein said at least one refrigerator door has a
visual access window to such consumer products housed in the
compartment housings.
10. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 9, wherein said at least one refrigerator door presents a
temperature display screen within said compartment.
11. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerator according
to claim 1, wherein said air passage regulating device comprises:
at least one rotating cap having a window and at least one gripping
element, at least one main body threaded to said rotating cap and
presenting an upper end with a face provided with a window and an
open lower end, and at least a base connected to the main body and
presenting a central through hole.
12. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein said rotating cap presents an internal thread
and a pair of indicators arranged on either side of the gripping
element.
13. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein the upper end of the main body presents an
external thread.
14. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein said base comprises a base platform and a
projection which is coupled to the inside of the lower end of the
main body, said base presents a larger section than the projection
section.
15. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein the base platform faces the cooling chamber
while the rotating cap faces the inside of the sectorized
compartment housing.
16. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein it is mounted between respective holes in one
of the housing walls and the inner wall.
17. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein it presents operating positions between open
and closed.
18. The sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators according
to claim 11, wherein it presents a cylindrical shape.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices,
appliances and arrangements for household, public, or labor use,
etc. used for cooling products, or packaging containers of
products, preferably of mass consumption, such as beverages and,
more preferably beer containers, and more particularly the
invention relates to a sectorized cooling arrangement and selective
of these products, preferably for use in home refrigerators, and
includes a flow-regulating device of the cold air which enters the
cooling sectorized compartment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Refrigerators for products in general, whether industrial,
household use, public use, dispensers, etc. consist of an insulated
cabinet that encloses what is called cold or cooling chamber.
Household refrigerators or coolers, comprise, in general, these
cabinets with their inside divided into two parts, a lower part
dedicated to cooling of the products, food, etc. in general, within
a main space or chamber having a main access door to it, and a top
part, dedicated to a greater cooling or freezing of some special
products. This top, smaller part, can be a freezer with more cold
than in the main chamber, or may be a freezer with even lower
temperatures, down to -25.degree. C. In the main chamber,
meanwhile, usually there is a temperature of between 5 and
8.degree. C., cold enough for foods that are stored there.
[0003] For some products, however, none of these temperatures are
the most appropriate for conditioning and consumption. For example,
beer is a typical product in accordance with the customs of some
countries, particularly in the Americas, it is consumed at
temperatures below zero, that is below the 5.degree. C. of the main
cooling chamber, but above of the -25.degree. C. in the
freezer.
[0004] There are coolers and refrigerators designed to generate and
maintain desired temperatures for these products such as beer, but
they are special refrigerators for food outlets, restaurants,
bottle dispensers, etc. However, household refrigerators or coolers
which are adapted or have special compartments for conditioning
beer and other products, which preserve these products at a
sectorized temperature and present an easy access to them quickly,
easily and selectively, are not known.
[0005] Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new
arrangement either embedded in refrigerators at the factory or
adaptable to household refrigerators or coolers already
manufactured, that preserve products such as beer containers at a
suitable temperature using the cold-generating capacity of the
coldest part of the cooling chambers, presenting a shortcut for the
user to remove and store these products without having to open the
doors to the other cooling chamber of the refrigerator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators which
allows creating a space of selected and controlled temperatures for
products that require so and presenting a direct access to these
products without having to open other chambers refrigerator
cold.
[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators, wherein the
refrigerator may have one or more doors, and wherein at least one
of said doors, preferably the access door of the colder chamber of
the refrigerator, comprises a sectorized compartment for housing
and maintenance of differentiated products at a desired and
regulated temperature.
[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators of the
type having at least one access door to at least one cooling
chamber of the refrigerator, where said access door presents a
sectorized compartment having a plurality of container sectors of
consumer products packagings, the compartment presenting an inner
wall separating it from said cooling chamber, said compartment
further presenting at least one exhaust fan/air blower capable of
taking air from the cooling chamber and conduct it to said
container sectors of packaging in accordance with one or more
preselected temperatures.
[0009] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators including an
airflow-regulating device which improves the functionality of the
cooling arrangement, being a manual regulating device.
[0010] It is further another object of the present invention to
provide a sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators
including a plurality of airflow-regulating devices, each of which
can be regulated independently from each other, for adjusting the
incoming cold inside of the sectorized cooling arrangement.
[0011] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators
including a flow-regulating device of the air entering the
sectorized cooling arrangement, wherein the regulator comprises at
least one rotating cap having a window and least one gripping
element, at least one main body threaded to said rotating cap and
having an upper end with a face provided with a window and an open
lower end, and at least one base connected to the main body and
presenting a central through hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For clarity and understanding of the object of the present
invention, it has been illustrated in several figures, in which the
invention has been represented in one of the preferred embodiments,
all by way of example, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 presents a household refrigerator or cooler of the
type having two doors, a lower or principal one for accessing the
main cooling chamber of the refrigerator and an upper door for
accessing the freezer, the refrigerator being provided with the
sectorized cooling arrangement of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 presents a front view of the upper door of the
freezer, provided with the sectorized cooling arrangement of the
invention, separated from the refrigerator;
[0015] FIG. 3 presents a top view of the upper door of the freezer,
provided with the sectorized cooling arrangement of the invention,
separated from the refrigerator;
[0016] FIG. 4 presents a perspective view of the upper door of the
freezer, provided with the sectorized cooling arrangement of the
invention, opened in a first opening function for accessing the
cooling chamber such as the freezer;
[0017] FIG. 5 presents a perspective view of the upper door of the
freezer, provided with the sectorized cooling arrangement of the
invention, opened in a second opening function for accessing the
compartment housing the containers to be cooled;
[0018] FIG. 6 presents an exploded view of the upper door of the
freezer, provided with the sectorized cooling arrangement of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 presents a perspective view, taken from above and in
section, of the upper door of the freezer, provided with the
sectorized cooling arrangement of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 presents a side sectional view of the interior of the
sectorized cooling arrangement of the invention where we can
observe the flow direction of the cool air;
[0021] FIG. 9 presents a side sectional view of the interior of the
sectorized cooling arrangement of the invention similar to FIG. 8,
wherein an airflow-regulating device is illustrated, also in
accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 10, similar to FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the
sectorized cooling arrangement in conjunction with the
airflow-regulating device in accordance with the invention;
[0023] FIG. 11 presents a perspective and exploded view of the
airflow-regulating device of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 12 presents a front view of the cap of the regulating
device in a neutral position, where a medium opening of the
regulator is observed;
[0025] FIG. 13 presents a front view of the cap of FIG. 12, where
it has been rotated counterclockwise in order to restrict the
passage of air flow from the upper cooling chamber towards the
cooling sectorized compartment and
[0026] FIG. 14 presents a front view of the cap of FIG. 12, where
it has been rotated clockwise in order to expand the passage of air
flow from the upper cooling chamber to the cooling sectorized
compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring now to the figures, it is seen that the invention
consists of a new sectorized cooling arrangement of selected and
controlled temperature for products that require so, particularly
beverages, and mainly beverages that require a selected temperature
range, such as beer, allowing them to be deposited and removed
without having to open other cooling chamber of the refrigerator
and thus avoiding the heat input to the same that may harm other
products. This, of course, helps to reduce the power consumption of
the refrigerator.
[0028] It is so, in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 8, the sectorized
cooling arrangement of the present invention can be used in a
refrigerator 1 of the type having a main cooling sector 2 with a
main access door 3 to the main sector 2 and a freezer or cooling
chamber sector 4 with an access door 5 for the same, wherein said
access door 5 has a sectorized compartment 6 having a plurality of
packaging containers sectors 7 of consumer products, which are
defined by a plurality of partitions 8 forming separated housings 9
for said containers 7, as best illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0029] Each of said separated housings 9 for said containers 7 may
present a cold air passage regulator towards housings 9. In the
preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8, each regulating device
comprises an exhaust fan/air blower 10 which may be a fan. In turn,
each air passage regulator or exhaust fan/air blower 10 has a
suction side that faces said cooling chamber 4 and one blowing side
that faces said sectorized compartment, thereby allowing the entry
of cold air inside the housings 9 so as to maintain the desired
temperature of the containers disposed thereon. Likewise, said
sectorized chamber presents an inner wall 11 which separates said
cooling chamber 4 and having a plurality of slots 12 through which
cold air flows from the cooling chamber towards the sectorized
compartment.
[0030] The arrangement of slots 12 as illustrated in FIG. 6, do not
indicate that the invention is limited thereto, but other
arrangements such as in the top, side or bottom part of the inner
wall 11 can also be considered and used for the slots 12 without
any problem. Thus, the cold air passes through the slots 12 and
flows into the top of the housings 9 wherein the exhaust fan/air
blowers 10 are arranged so that they maintain the temperature of
the containers, wherein the air returns to the cooling chamber
through the lower end of the housing 9, as best illustrated in FIG.
8. Alternatively, however, and to facilitate the circulation of
cold air, each housing 9 may have at least one slot (confirm if
well) in one of the walls.
[0031] On the other hand, said sectorized compartment is formed by
a compartment structure defined by a plurality of frames 13, 14, 15
and 16 mounted on respective lateral supports with "L" profile 17,
a lower support 18 and a top support 19, said compartment being
closed towards cooling chamber by said inner wall 11 and being
closed outwards by a front panel 20 of said at least one access
door 5 refrigerator 1.
[0032] Said front panel 20 of the access door 5 of the refrigerator
1, said compartment structure and said inner wall 11 form a pivot
assembly in the refrigerator 1 through at least a first assembly
opening hinge 21 for accessing the cooling chamber 4 while said
front panel 20 of the access door 5 of the refrigerator is
pivotally connected to said compartment structure via at least one
second door opening hinge 22 for accessing the sectorized
compartment where the containers 7 are arranged.
[0033] In accordance with FIGS. 1 to 5, the first hinge in the
upper right corner of the refrigerator 1 is illustrated, while the
second hinge 22 is arranged on the left side of the sectorized
compartment. This arrangement of the hinges 21 and 22 generates
that the access door has to be opened to the right for accessing
the cooling chamber 4, or to the left for accessing the sectorized
compartment where the containers 7 are. However, this disposition
of the hinges is merely illustrative and not limiting to the
invention, the arrangement of the hinges may vary in accordance
with each manufacturer and specific requirements of each client, to
thereby allow the opening of the access door 5 towards both left to
right side for accessing the cooling chamber and its corresponding
complementary opening movement for accessing the sectorized
compartment. That is, the access door 5 of the present invention
may have the following opening configurations: [0034] Opening to
the right for accessing to the cooling chamber and opening to the
left for accessing the sectorized compartment; or else, [0035]
Opening to the left for accessing the cooling chamber and opening
to the right for accessing the sectorized compartment.
[0036] Although the opening of the access door has been exemplified
to the left or right for accessing the cooling chamber, with
subsequent opening to the left or right for accessing the
sectorized compartment, this does not imply that the invention is
limited to such configurations, but the invention also contemplates
the opening of the access door up and down for accessing the
cooling chamber with its correlative opening up or down for
accessing the sectorized compartment.
[0037] It is emphasized that, said at least one access door 5 with
a sectorized compartment is the freezer door. Likewise, said
sectorized compartment can have at least one temperature sensor
(not shown) while said front panel 20 may have at least one visual
access window 23 for such consumer products housed in the housings
9 of the sectorized compartment said window 23 being together with
a transparent sheet 24 which may be glass or any plastic material
well known in the art field.
[0038] In turn, the front panel 20 is mounted in said compartment
structure through a top cap 25, a bottom cap 26 and said second
hinges 22 which are fixed to said top cap 25 and bottom cap 26. In
turn, front panel 20 has at least one gripping/opening arrangement
27 to facilitate the opening/closing thereof and at least one
temperature display screen 28 within said sectorized compartment.
It is emphasized that, said main access door 3 also has a
gripping/opening arrangement 29 to facilitate the opening/closing
thereof.
[0039] According now to FIGS. 9 to 14, an alternative of the
invention is illustrated, in which compartment 6 with housings 9 is
provided with airflow-regulating devices, also known as cold air
passage regulators from the cooling chamber to the interior of the
sectorized compartment, also all in accordance with the
invention.
[0040] It is noteworthy that in FIGS. 9 to 14 the same reference
numbers of FIGS. 1 to 8 will be used to describe those equal parts,
while reference numbers from 101 will be used to describe the
pertinent parts to the regulating device.
[0041] In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention,
the airflow-regulating device is indicated by the general reference
101 and it comprises at least one rotating cap 102 having a window
103, at least a gripping element 104, a pair of indicators
comprising a form of "+" 105 and "-" 106 arranged on either side of
gripping element 104 and an internal thread 107. While it has been
indicated that indicators have a shape of "+" and "-", this does
not mean that the invention is limited thereto, but other forms and
arrangements can be considered and used without any problem in the
present invention to indicate a greater or lesser opening of the
air regulation passage.
[0042] Also, the device of the invention has at least a main body
108 having an upper end 109 with a face 110 provided with a window
111, and an open lower end 112. The main body 108 is threaded to
rotating cap 102 by an external thread 113 formed in a portion of
upper end 109. Furthermore, the present invention is provided with
at least one base 114 comprising a base platform 115, a projection
116 which is coupled to the inside of lower end 112 main body 108
and a central through hole 117, wherein said base platform 115
presents a section greater than the projection section 116.
[0043] In accordance with FIGS. 9 and 10, we can observe that the
device of the invention is mounted between respective holes 118
made in one of the walls of the housing 9 and the inner wall 11.
Thus, the base platform 115 is facing the cooling chamber 4 while
the rotating cap 102 is facing the interior of the housing 9 of the
sectorized compartment.
[0044] Thus, the flow rate or airflow no longer enters forcibly by
fan 10 through the top of the housing 9, as illustrated in FIG. 1,
but the air flow entering through the device of the invention, FIG.
9, i.e., the air flow enters through the central through hole 117
of the base 114, flows through the inside the main body 108, passes
through the windows 111 and 103 of the face 110 and the rotating
cap 102 respectively, and enters the housing 9 to carry out the
cooling of the container.
[0045] While the illustrated device of the present invention
comprises a cylindrical structure, this does not imply that the
invention is limited thereto, but other forms can also be
considered and used.
[0046] Regarding the air flow regulation, the same is illustrated
schematically in FIGS. 12 to 14. The air flow regulation depends on
the position of the window 103 of the rotating cap 102 with respect
to the face 110--window 111 of the main body 108. In FIG. 12, an
intermediate position for the air intake can be seen, in which the
window 103 of the cap 102 comprises one half of the face 110 and
one half of the window 111 of the main body 108.
[0047] If one desires to reduce or restrict the air flow, cap 102
must be rotated by gripping the gripping element 104,
counterclockwise in accordance with FIG. 13. In this case, window
103 covers a greater portion of face 110 of window 111. Otherwise,
if one desires to increase or enhance the air flow, cap 102 must be
rotated clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 14. In this case, window
103 covers a larger portion of window 111 than of face 110.
[0048] In this way, we can carry out the regulation of the air flow
entering the housing, in a practical, quick and easy way.
[0049] It is noteworthy that, although it has been described that
counterclockwise rotation of the top allows a reduction of air
flow, and that the clockwise rotation of the cap allows an increase
of air flow, this does not imply that the invention is limited
thereto, but the invention can be modified and adapted to reverse
the directions of rotation without any inconvenience.
[0050] Thus, the sectorized cooling arrangement for refrigerators
of the present invention is incorporated and built, where the same
allows creating a space of selected and controlled temperature for
products that require so, with direct access to these products
without having to open other cooling chambers of the refrigerator.
Also, the invention does not reduce the available space for product
storage nor varies the consuming cooling category, using the same
standard cooling source of any refrigerator.
* * * * *