• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH HIDDEN USER INTERFACE A refrigeration appliance including a cabinet defining a compartment and fresh food and a freezer compartment is provided. The refrigeration appliance includes a refrigeration system that is operable to provide a cooling effect to an interior of the fresh food and freezer compartments. A pair of doors are pivotally connected to the cabinet with a hinge assembly to restrict access to the interior of the fresh food compartment. Each door includes a side portion extending between an outer face and an inner portion of the door. The side portions of the doors generally oppose each other when the doors are closed. A user interface is also provided on the side portion of at least one of the doors comprising an input device to be manipulated by a user to control a target temperature within at least one of the fresh food and freezer compartments.
    公开号:BR112012021529B1
    申请号:R112012021529-9
    申请日:2011-02-25
    公开日:2020-11-17
    发明作者:Schenk Dennis；Dale Simpson Cory；Carlos Bertolini Nilton
    申请人:Electrolux Home Products, Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION
    [001] The present invention generally relates to a refrigeration appliance and, more particularly, to a refrigeration appliance including a user interface provided on a side portion of a door restricted to a temperature-controlled compartment of the appliance. cooling. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNIQUE
    [002] Refrigeration appliances conventionally include at least one temperature-controlled compartment in which food items can be stored at temperatures below room temperature. A user interface is also conventionally provided within the temperature-controlled compartment to allow a user to select the desired target temperature for that temperature-controlled compartment. However, placing the user interface within the usable space consumed by the temperature-controlled compartment in it. In addition, these user interfaces were typically located near the top of the temperature-controlled compartment, making it difficult for limited users to reach the user interface.
    [003] More recently, a user interface has been provided to an external face of the door. However, the user interfaces in this location are traditionally limited to controlling the operation of an ice dispenser provided to the refrigeration appliance. Users are able to enter commands to control the cooling effect provided inside the temperature-controlled compartment. In addition, placing the user interface to control the cooling effect by the refrigeration appliance or any other aspect of the cooling appliance on an external face of the door can provide the cooling appliance with an ugly appearance. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    [004] Consequently, there is a need in the art for a cooling device including a readily accessible user interface and a location that does not detract from a clean, simple appearance. The following summary presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of this cooling device. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and / or methods discussed in this document. It is not intended to identify key / critical elements or to outline the scope of such systems and / or methods. Its sole purpose is to prevent some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
    [005] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a cooling apparatus including a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a temperature controlled environment having a fresh food target temperature above 0 ° C and a freezing compartment to store food items in a temperature-controlled environment that is less than or approximately equal to 0 ° C. The cooling apparatus also includes a cooling system that is operable to provide a cooling effect to an interior of the fresh and freezing food compartments. A pair of doors are pivotally connected to the cabinet with a hinge assembly to restrict access to the interior of the fresh food compartment. Each door includes an outer face that is exposed to an environment of the cooling apparatus, an inner portion that is exposed to an interior of the compartment while the door is closed, and a side portion extending between the outer face and the inner portion the door. The side portions of the doors generally oppose each other when the doors are closed. A user interface is also provided to the side portion of at least one of the doors comprising an input device to be manipulated by a user to control a target temperature within at least one of the freezing and fresh food compartments.
    [006] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a cooling apparatus including a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a temperature controlled environment having a fresh food target temperature above 0 ° C, and a freezing compartment arranged at an elevation vertically under the fresh food compartment to store food items in a temperature controlled environment having a freezing target temperature that is less than or approximately equal to 0 ° C. A cooling system is operable to provide a cooling effect to an interior of fresh and freezing food compartments. A freezer drawer can be slidably extracted from the freezer compartment to provide access to the contents inside the freezer drawer. A first door is hingedly connected adjacent to a first side of the cabinet with a hinge assembly to restrict access to a portion of the fresh food compartment. Likewise, a second door is hingedly connected adjacent to a second side side of the cabinet with a hinge assembly to restrict access to another portion of the fresh food compartment. The first and second doors each include a substantially planar side portion which includes a face that opposes the face of another of the first and second doors when the first and second doors are closed. A user interface that is at least partly recessed into the side portion of at least one of the first and second ports, where the user interface is substantially flush with the side portion so that the user interface is substantially hidden from view when the doors are closed. The user interface includes an input device to be manipulated by a user to control the temperature inside at least one of the fresh and freezing food compartments, a monitor device indicating a detected temperature inside at least one of the food compartments fresh and freezing, and a status indicator indicating a status of at least one of: a water filter supplied to the cooling device, an air filter supplied to the cooling device, and an operational status of the cooling system. The cooperating sealing portions are provided to the first and second doors adjacent to the side portions that cooperate to form a seal between the first and second doors that are closed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [007] The invention can take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, modalities of which will be described in detail in this report and illustrated in the attached drawings that form a part of them and in which:
    [008] Figure 1 A is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of a cooling device comprising a user interface on a side portion of a door;
    [009] Figure 1B is a schematic section view taken along line 1B-1B shown in figure 1;
    [010] Figure 2 is a view of a user interface to be provided to a side portion of a door with restricted access to a temperature-controlled compartment of a cooling device;
    [011] Figure 3 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of a cooling device comprising a user interface and a dispenser on a side portion of a door; and
    [012] Figure 4 is a front view of a door to be provided with a dispenser on a lateral portion thereof, in which an ice chute formed in the insulation provided to the door is shown in broken lines. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE MODALITIES
    [013] Certain terminology is used in this document for convenience only should not be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The relative language used in this document is best understood with reference to drawings, in which like numbers are used to identify like or similar items. In addition, in the drawings, certain characteristics can be shown in a somewhat schematic form.
    [014] It should also be noted that the phrase "at least one of", if used in this document, followed by a plurality of members in this document means one of the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example, the phrase "at least one of a first item of a graphical interface and a second item of a graphical interface" means, in this application: the first item of a graphical interface, the second item of a graphical interface, or the first item of a graphical interface and the second item of a graphical interface. Likewise, "at least one of a first item of a graphical interface, a second item of a graphical interface and a third item of a graphical interface" means, in this document: the first item of a graphical interface, the second item of a graphical interface, the third item of a graphical interface, the first item of a graphical interface and the second item of a graphical interface, the first item of a graphical interface and the third item of a graphical interface, the second item of a graphical interface and the third item of a graphical interface, or the first item of a graphical interface and the second item of a graphical interface and the third item of a graphical interface.
    [015] Figure 1A shows an illustrative embodiment of a cooling apparatus 10. As shown, the cooling apparatus 10 includes a cabinet 12 defining a fresh food compartment 14 for storing food items in a temperature controlled environment having a target temperature fresh food above OoC. Referring to figure 1A and now also figure 1B, cabinet 12 also defines a freezer compartment 16 arranged vertically under the fresh food compartment 14 for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment having a target temperature of freezing that is less than OoC. An automatic ice maker 15 can also optionally be arranged inside the fresh food compartment 14, and the ice formed by the ice maker 15 optionally exposed to the temperature inside the fresh food compartment 14. The temperatures and ranges provided are merely exemplary and should be it will be understood that other temperatures and ranges, including sub-ranges are also possible.
    [016] The cooling device also includes a cooling system 18 shown schematically in figure 1B. The cooling system 18 is operable to provide a cooling effect to an interior of at least one of the fresh and freezing food compartments 14, 16. The cooling system 18 can be any suitable cooling system employing a refrigerant that undergoes a phase change from liquid to gas in an evaporator as is known in the art to remove Carlos from the air by being introduced into at least one of the fresh and freezing food compartments 14, 16. Generally, a compressor can be supplied to the refrigeration 18 to compress gaseous refrigerant at a high temperature, high pressure gas that is condensed and partially cooled to a hot liquid by a condenser. The hot liquid refrigerant is exposed to an interior of an evaporator assembly comprising many heat transfer fins, in which the refrigerant expands rapidly and vaporizes in a gas. The phase shift extracts the latent heat of vaporization from the environment of the evaporator, thereby cooling the blown air over the evaporator to be introduced into at least one of the fresh and freezing food compartments 14, 16 to provide the effect of desired cooling. The gaseous refrigerant is returned to the compressor and the cycle is repeated as necessary.
    [017] With continued reference to figures 1A and 1B, a freezer drawer 20 is slidably supported inside the freezing compartment 16 to store the food items to be exposed to the freezing temperatures and frozen inside the freezing compartment 16. A freezer drawer 20 can be slidably drawn in the direction of arrow 21 (figure IB) from freezer compartment 16 to grant user access to the contents stored therein. A substantially horizontal handle 17 extending across an external surface of a door provided to the freezer drawer 20 provides a surface that can be gripped to pull the freezer drawer 20 out from within the freezing compartment 16.
    [018] To restrict access to a portion of the fresh food compartment 14, a first door 22 is hingedly connected adjacent to a first side face 24 of cabinet 12. Likewise, a second door 26 is hingedly connected adjacent to a second side face 28 to cabinet 12 with a hinge assembly to restrict access to another portion of the fresh food compartment 14. The first and second doors 22, 26 are each insulated to minimize heat leakage from the fresh food compartment 14 and thus have a depth dimension that includes substantially planar side portions 28 extending at least part of the path between an outer face 25 exposed to an environment of the cooling apparatus 10 and an inner portion 27 which is exposed to an interior of the fresh food compartment 14 while doors 22, 26 are closed. The substantially planar side portions 28 generally oppose each other when the first and second doors 22, 26 are in their closed positions. The planar faces of the side portions 28 can be substantially parallel to each other when the doors 22, 26 are in their closed positions. A handle 30 can be provided to each of the doors 22, 26 providing users with a grip surface when trying to open doors 22, 26.
    [019] To minimize the leakage of cold air from the fresh food compartment 14 between doors 22, 26, cooperating sealing portions 36, 38 can optionally be supplied to the first and second doors 22, 26 adjacent to the portions side 28. At least one of the sealing portions 36, 38 can be pivotally connected to the respective door 22, 26 to enable any of the doors 22, 26 to be closed before the other doors 22, 26. The others of the main sealing portions 36, 38 can be a rubber gasket which can contact the articulated connected portions of main sealing 36, 38 to form a seal. Thus, when doors 22, 26 are closed the joint of the sealing portions 36, 38 is rotated to expose a generally planar surface to an exterior of the cooling apparatus 10. The rubber gasket engages with the substantially planar surface to form a substantially hermetic seal between the first and second doors 22, 26.
    [020] A user interface 32 can be at least partly recessed into the side portion 28 of at least one of the first and second ports 22, 26 (shown provided to the first port 22 in figure 1A) so that an outer surface of the user interface 32 is substantially flush with side portion 28 of first port 22. When the first and second ports 14, 16 are in their closed positions, user interface 32 may be substantially hidden from view when the cooling apparatus 10 is seen from the front. By substantially hidden from view is meant that the user interface 32 faces the side portion 28 of the other port 26, and does not have a noticeable external appearance, thereby giving the cooling apparatus 10 a clean appearance without requiring the user interface 32 is arranged inside the fresh food compartment 14 or freezing compartment 16.
    [021] Other modalities include a user interface 32 that is not necessarily flush with the side portion 28, but is recessed into the side portion 28 and retracts from the side portion 28. According to other modalities, the user interface 32 can project outwardly from side portion 28, but to a lesser extent than the distance separating the side portions of the first and second doors 22, 26, providing sufficient clearance to allow the first and second doors 22, 26 to swing closed without contacting each other.
    [022] An example of user interface 32 is illustrated in figure 2. The user interface 32 shown in figure 2 includes a plurality of membrane switches, such as recessed membrane switch 42 to select a recess mode discussed in detail. below, covered with a decorative cover 45 identifying a function of the various membrane switches provided. However, alternative modalities can include any form of input device that can be manipulated by a user to input a selection to the cooling device 10 via user interface 32. For example, other modalities of user interface 32 can include buttons pressure, computer-generated capacitive keys displayed by an LCD, OLED or other type of monitor; tactile buttons; multi-position switches; handles; or any other input device that is operable to introduce a user selection to a controller instead of, or in addition to, membrane switches. However, for the sake of brevity and simplicity, user interface 32 will be described in the present document as using membrane switches for input devices.
    [023] User interface 32 includes at least one membrane switch to be manipulated by a user to control a temperature set within at least one of the fresh and freezing compartments 14, 16. For the illustrative modality shown in the figure 2, an "upward" membrane switch 44 is provided to be compressed by the user to increase the set temperature for fresh food compartments 14 in one degree increments. The alternative modalities allow the adjustment of the target temperature in any desired increments, both smaller and greater than one degree. A "downward" membrane switch 44 is also provided and can be compressed by the user to decrease the temperature set for the fresh food compartment 14 in one degree increments for the present embodiment. The current target temperature for the fresh food compartment 14 can be displayed by a seven segment monitor 48 or any other suitable monitor device provided adjacent the up and down membrane switches 44, 46 to control the displayed temperature. Instead of the current target temperature, the seven segment monitor modes 48 can optionally display a detected temperature inside the fresh food compartment 14. The alternative modes of the seven segment monitor 48 can optionally display a detected temperature inside the fresh food compartment. fresh food 14 until a user pushes one of the upward or downward membrane switches 44, 46 to adjust the target temperature to the fresh food compartment 14, during which time the seven segment monitor 48 can temporarily display the current target temperature for the fresh food compartment 14 before returning to the detected temperature.
    [024] The modality illustrated in figure 2 also has a similar arrangement for the freezing compartment 16. A "rising" membrane switch 50 is provided and can be compressed by the user to increase the temperature set for the freezing compartment 16. One "downward" membrane switch 52 is also provided and can be compressed by the user to decrease the set temperature for freezing compartment 16. The current set temperature for freezing compartment 16 can also be displayed by a seven segment monitor 54 or any other appropriate monitor device provided adjacent the upward and downward membrane switches 50, 52 to control the displayed temperature. Again, other embodiments of user interface 32 may include a monitor device such as an LCD monitor, OLED monitor, or any appropriate monitor except the seven segment monitors 48, 54 shown in the illustrated example. And similar to the seven-segment monitor 48 discussed above, instead of the current target temperature, the seven-segment monitor 54 modes can optionally display a detected temperature within the freezing compartment 16. The alternative modes of the seven-segment monitor 54 can optionally display a detected temperature inside the freezer compartment 16 until a user pushes one of the upward or downward membrane switches 50, 52 to adjust the target temperature to the fresh food compartment 16, during which time the seven segment monitor 54 can temporarily display the current target temperature for the freezing compartment 16 before returning to the detected temperature.
    [025] In addition to membrane switches 44, 46, 50, 52 to control the set temperature of at least one of the fresh and freezing compartments 14, 16, other membrane switches can also be provided to select an operating mode of the cooling apparatus 10. For example, the recess membrane switch 42 mentioned above can be pushed by the user to initiate a cooling apparatus recess mode 10. Occasionally, the evaporator of the cooling system 18 described above will accumulate ice and will require defrosting to ensure that the evaporator can provide an effective cooling effect. However, much of the ice that accumulates in the evaporator is the result of moisture introduced into the cooling apparatus 10 when one or both doors 22, 26 and freezer drawer 20 are open. When the user is in recess these doors 22, 26 and the freezer drawer 20 cannot be ostensibly opened in the user's absence. Thus, starting the recess mode by compressing the recess membrane switch 42 sets the time between the programmed defrost cycles to their maximum value, thereby minimizing the number of energy-consuming defrost cycles that are carried out, possibly not necessarily. A "unit" membrane switch 56 can be compressed by the user to specify the measurement units to be used to display the set temperature for the fresh food compartment 14, freezing compartment 16 or both. Each compression of the units 56 membrane switch activates / deactivates the measurement units between Fahrenheit and Celsius.
    [026] The illustrative user interface 32 shown in figure 2 also includes a "quick freeze" membrane switch 58 that can be selected to place the cooling apparatus 10 in "quick freeze" mode. In the quick freeze mode the temperature set within the fresh food compartment 16, or a portion thereof, is lowered, possibly drastically decreased, to a pre-programmed predetermined set temperature within a controller of the cooling apparatus. With the set temperature lowered, the cooling system 18 is activated in an attempt to quickly lower the current temperature in the fresh food compartment 16 (or portion thereof) to find the pre-programmed set temperature. Thus, food items introduced into the freezing compartment 16 and subjected to the quick freeze mode can be quickly frozen in an attempt to preserve the fresh flavor of food items when not frozen.
    [027] A "fast ice" membrane switch 60 can be provided to user interface 32 to enable a user to initiate a "fast ice" mode. In fast ice mode the automatic ice maker 15 supplied to the cooling apparatus 10 is operated in a way that produces ice at a faster rate than when fast ice mode is not active. For example, the ice maker operating in fast mode can produce about 50% more ice than it does when not in fast ice mode.
    [028] One or more, or in the case of the illustrative mode shown in figure 2, all the various modes of membrane switches can be accompanied by an indicator 62 that signals to the user that one or more of the operating modes available from the device cooling 10 is active. Indicators 62 can be a window in the decorative cover 45 that can be illuminated by an LED or other lighting device within the user interface 32. Any form of indicator 62 except an illuminated window with LED that can carry the mode (s) ( s) operational (s) of the cooling device 10 can be used in addition to, or in place of the LED illuminated window in the decorative cover 45.
    [029] User interface 32 in figure 3 also includes another status indicator indicating a state of at least one consumable product used by the cooling device 10. For the illustrative example shown, a water filter indicator 64 provides a user with an indication of whether a water filter in the cooling device 10 is ready to be replaced. The water filter can be supplied to the cooling device 10 to minimize impurities in the fresh water to be dispensed through a water dispenser supplied to the cooling device 10, to minimize the impurities in the fresh water to be released to the automatic ice maker. 15, or to minimize impurities in fresh water used in any other way by the cooling apparatus; The water filter indicator 64 may include a "GOOD" state 64a which, if illuminated or otherwise active, means that the water filter is not near the end of its service life. As status "ORDER" 64b, if illuminated or otherwise active, alerts the user when it is time to order a new water filter. The "ORDER" state 64b can warn the user of the imminent need for a new water filter before the water filter has currently reached the end of its service life and must be replaced. The user can purchase a new water filter and have it available when the time comes to replace the existing water filter to prevent an interruption in the availability of filtered water. Finally, a "REPLACE" 64c status indicates that the existing water filter has reached the end of its service life and must be replaced immediately. The 64a-c states can be based on a timer, reminding the user to change the water filter, for example, once at the end of a predetermined period of time. According to alternative modalities, states 64a-c can be based on a factor other than time.
    [030] Similar to the water filter indicator 64, an air filter indicator 68 can be provided to the user interface 31 instead of, or in addition to the water filter indicator 64. An air filter can be arranged inside the fresh food compartment 14, freezing compartment 16, or both to minimize foul-smelling food inside the cooling apparatus 10. The air filter indicator 68 shown in figure 2 also includes three different states 68a-c indicating whether the filter of air supplied to the cooling device 10 is in a "GOOD" condition, if time for replacement is approaching or at the end of its service life. In figure 2, the water filter indicator 64 indicates that the water filter status is BOM 64a and the air filter indicator 68 indicates that the air filter status is ORDER 68b.
    [031] User interface 32 can optionally include a system status indicator 70 to inform the user of an operational status of the cooling device 10 and / or the cooling system 18. For example, the mode of the status indicator of the cooling system. system 70 shown in figure 2 informs the user whether the audible alert signals diffuse through the cooling apparatus 10 in response to one or more detected conditions being active. A door ajar indicator 70a can be illuminated to indicate that the door ajar warning signal is silent. In this condition, the audible alert, which can commonly sound in response to one or both doors 22, 26 and / or the freezer drawer 20 that remain open for a predetermined period, will not be sounded. Likewise, a high temperature indicator 70b can inform the user that the high temperature alert that is commonly sounded when the temperature in either or both fresh food compartment 14 and freezer compartment 16 has exceeded a threshold hot temperature it was silent. And a 70c power failure indicator can alert the user that the power failure alert, sounded when the cooling device 10 loses power, is silent.
    [032] Each of the water filter indicator 64 and the air filter indicator 68 can be independently restored to their BOM state 64a, 68a if the user presses and holds the water filter membrane switch 72 and the water switch. air filter membrane 74, respectively, for a predetermined period of time. Thus, when the water filter and air filter are replaced with new filters, their respective states can be restored to start the timer, which is to remind the user as the new filters approach the end of their useful lives.
    [033] Similarly, the silent membrane switch 76 is also provided to allow the user to activate / deactivate through the various audible alerts that may be silent. Each pulse of the silent membrane switch 76 changes the audible alert that is silent and activates / deactivates through several, optionally all, available combinations. For the mode shown in figure 2, none of the available audible alerts is silent.
    [034] An energy membrane switch 80 and a restoration membrane switch 82 are provided to allow the user the ability to control the operation of the cooling apparatus 10 as a whole. Pressing and holding the energy membrane switch 80 for a predetermined period of time deactivates the cooling apparatus 10, thereby preventing the cooling system 18 from providing the cooling effects described above. Likewise, pressing and holding the restoration membrane switch 82 for a predetermined period of time restores all the settings of the cooling device such as the target temperature of the fresh food compartment 14 and the freezing compartment 16, for example, to their factory set values.
    [035] Figure 3 shows another illustrative modality of the cooling device 110. The cooling device 110 shown in figure 3 is once again configured as a so-called bottom-mounted refrigerator, and includes the first and second side doors opposite the 122 , 12 6 restricting access into a fresh food compartment 114. Similar to the previous embodiments, the first and second doors 122, 126 are each insulated to minimize heat leakage from the fresh food compartment 114 and thus, they have a depth dimension defined by substantially planar side portions 128 extending at least a part of the path between an external face 125 exposed to an environment of the cooling apparatus 10 and an internal portion 127 which is opposite an interior of the compartment fresh food 114 while doors 122, 126 are closed. The substantially planar side portions 128 generally oppose each other when the first and second doors 122, 126 are in their closed positions. The planar faces of the side portions 128 can be substantially parallel to each other when the doors 122, 126 are in their closed positions.
    [036] A user interface 132, such as a user interface 32 shown and described with reference to figure 2 can be provided for, and at least partly indented into, side portion 128 of at least one of the first and second ports 122 126 (shown provided to the first port 122 in figure 3) so that an outer surface of the user interface 132 is substantially flush with the side portion 128 of the first port 122. When the first and second ports 122, 126 are in position When the user interface 132 is closed, it can be substantially hidden from view when the cooling apparatus 10 is viewed from the front. Again, the location of user interface 132 on side panel 128 allows the outer face 125 of the first and second ports 126 to have a clean appearance, substantially free of obstructions such as control features, for example, which substantially interrupt the outer face planar 125 from each of the first and second ports 122, 126.
    [037] In addition, or instead of the user interface 132, the side portion 128 of the first and second ports 122, 126 (shown on the first port 122 along with user interface 132 in the mode shown in figure 3) also it can include a dispenser 137. The dispenser can act as the outlet of a conduit 139, shown in broken lines in figure 4, through which ice can be transported between the automatic ice maker 15 (figure 1B) and the dispenser 137. A button 141 (figure 3), motion sensor, etc., or other appropriate input device can be provided in communication with an auger or other ice mover provided to the ice maker 15 to cause the ice to be dispensed from ice maker 15 and released through dispenser 137 when button 141 or another input device is manipulated. Ice from ice maker 15 can drip under gravity into conduit 139 to fall from dispenser 137 into glass that is held by the user adjacent to side panel 128.
    [038] The communication between the button 141, for example, or another input device of the dispenser 137, can be established through an electrical wiring 145 that extends through the first port 122. The electrical wiring 145 can optionally extend between the first door 122 and the cooling device cabinet 110 for communication with the ice maker 15 through a hollow hinge pin coupling the first door 122 to the cabinet. Other modalities include simply extending electrical wiring 145 in an exposed manner (that is, externally from the first door 122 and the cabinet and not through an interior passage such as that defined by a hollow hinge pin) between the first door 122 and the cabinet.
    [039] Likewise, communication between user interface 132 and one or more control devices operable to control the operation of the cooling system 18, for example, according to the input introduced through user interface 132, also it can be established by electrical wiring 147. Electrical wiring 147 may extend between the first port 122 and the cabinet in any appropriate manner, such as those described above for electrical wiring 145.
    [040] Although the mode shown in figures 3 and 4 has been described as including a dispenser 137 that dispenses ice, alternative modalities may include a dispenser that dispenses filtered water through a water filter supplied to the cooling device 110, the dispenser that dispenses both filtered water and ice, a dispenser that dispenses any other item from the cooling device 110, or any combination thereof.
    [041] The illustrative modalities have been described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods can incorporate exchanges and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and changes within the scope of the present invention.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [0001]
    1. Refrigeration appliance (10) characterized by comprising: a cabinet (12) that defines a fresh food compartment (14) for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment with a fresh food target temperature above 0 ° C and a freezer compartment (16) for storing food in a temperature-controlled environment with a target freezer temperature that is less than or approximately equal to 0 ° C; a cooling system (18) which is operable to provide a cooling effect for an interior of the fresh food (14) and freezer (16) compartments; a pair of doors (22, 26) pivotally connected to the cabinet (12) with a hinge assembly to restrict access to the interior of the fresh food compartment (14), each door included in the pair of doors (22, 26) comprising: an outer face (25) that is exposed to an environment surrounding the refrigeration appliance (10), an inner portion (27) that is exposed to an interior of the compartment while the door is closed, and a side portion (28) that extends between the outer face (25) and the inner portion (27) of the door, where the side portions of the doors generally oppose each other, when the doors are closed, a user interface (32) provided with the portion side (28) of at least one of the doors (22, 26) comprising an input device to be manipulated by a user to control a temperature within at least one of the fresh food compartments (14) and the freezer (16) ; and a dispenser (137) provided with the side portion (28) of the door which is provided with the user interface (32), wherein the dispenser (137) is operable to dispense at least one of water and ice through the portion lateral (28).
    [0002]
    Refrigeration apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface (32) further comprises an additional input device to be manipulated by the user to control at least one of: an operating mode of the refrigeration apparatus refrigeration, temperature units used to express the temperature in at least one of the fresh food (14) and freezer (16) compartments, an ice maker (15) operating mode supplied to the refrigeration appliance, power from the main system for the cooling device, and an audio setting for sounds broadcast by the cooling device (10).
    [0003]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface (32) further comprises a display device provided with the user interface (32) to display the temperature within at least one of the fresh food compartments (14) and freezer compartments (16).
    [0004]
    4. Refrigeration device (10), according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising: a control panel arranged inside the door that is provided with the user interface (32), the control board consisting of an electrical circuit to receive user input via the user interface (32) and transmit user input via a communication channel to a main controller provided to the refrigeration device (10) to control the operation of the refrigeration system (18).
    [0005]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the communication channel comprises at least one signal wire, which extends adjacent to the hinge assembly between the door (22, 26) provided with the interface user (32) and the cabinet (12).
    [0006]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface (32) further comprises a status indicator (70) indicating a state of at least one of: a water filter and a filter of air supplied to the refrigeration unit (10).
    [0007]
    Refrigeration appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the freezer compartment (16) is defined by the cabinet (12) vertically below the fresh food compartment (14) and comprises a drawer (20) which can be slidably inserted into and removed from the freezer compartment (16).
    [0008]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface (32) is substantially hidden from view when the doors (22, 26) are closed.
    [0009]
    Cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer face (25) of each of the doors (22, 26) is substantially flat and free of obstructions except for a handle (30) to be grasped by the user for open and close the doors.
    [0010]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface (32) is at least partially lowered into the side portion (28) of the door (22, 26) to provide the user interface user (32) and said combination of side portion (28) with a substantially planar appearance.
    [0011]
    Refrigeration apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a sensor to detect when at least one of the doors (22, 26) is open and transmit a signal indicating that at least one door (22, 26) is open to illuminate a portion of the user interface (32).
    [0012]
    Refrigeration apparatus (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the part of the user interface (32) that is to be illuminated includes a display device that indicates a temperature within at least one of the fresh food compartments (14) and freezer (16).
    [0013]
    13. Refrigeration appliance (10) characterized by comprising: a cabinet (12) that defines a fresh food compartment (14) for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment with a fresh food target temperature above 0 ° Ç; a freezer compartment (16) arranged at an elevation vertically below the fresh food compartment (14) for storing food items in a temperature controlled environment with a freezer target temperature that is less than or approximately equal to 0 ° C; a cooling system (18) which is operable to provide a cooling effect for an interior of the fresh food (14) and freezer (16) compartments; a freezer drawer (20) which can be slidably extracted from the freezer compartment (16) to grant access to the contents inside the freezer drawer (20); a first door (22) pivotally connected adjacent to a first side face of the cabinet (12) with a hinge assembly to restrict access to a portion of the fresh food compartment (14); a second door (26) pivotally connected adjacent to a second side face to the cabinet (12) with a hinge assembly to restrict access to the other portion of the fresh food compartment (14), the first and second doors (22, 26) on each side comprising said substantially planar portions comprising faces that are opposite each other when the first and second doors (22, 26) are closed; a user interface (32) which is at least partially lowered within said side portion (28) of at least one of the first and second ports (22, 26), wherein the user interface (32) is substantially flush with the side portion (28) such that the user interface (32) is substantially hidden from view when the doors (22, 26) are closed, the user interface (32) comprising: an input device to be manipulated by a user to control the temperature inside at least one of the fresh food compartments (14) and the freezer (16), a display device that indicates a detected temperature inside at least one of the fresh food compartments (14) and freezer (16), and a status indicator (70), indicating a status of at least one of: a water filter (64) supplied to the refrigeration appliance (10), an air filter (68) supplied to the appliance cooling (10), and an operational status of the d and cooling (18), cooperative sealing separation portions (36, 38) provided to the first and second doors (22, 26) adjacent to the side portions (28) that cooperate to form a seal between the first and second doors (22, 26) when closed; and a dispenser (137) provided with the side portion (28) of the door which is provided with the user interface (32), wherein the dispenser (137) is operable to dispense at least one of water and ice through the portion lateral (28).
    [0014]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises a sensor for detecting when at least one of the doors (22, 26) is open and transmitting a signal indicating that at least one door (22 , 26) is open to illuminate the display device.
    [0015]
    Cooling apparatus (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that each of the first and second doors (22, 26) comprises an external face (25) that is substantially uniform and devoid of openings for the assembly of a dispenser (137) or user interface (32) on the outer face.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    KR20130071421A|2013-06-28|
    AU2011220582B2|2015-01-15|
    EP2539652B1|2018-09-19|
    BR112012021529A2|2016-07-05|
    WO2011106587A2|2011-09-01|
    AU2011220582A1|2012-09-13|
    RU2552956C2|2015-06-10|
    RU2012141052A|2014-04-10|
    MX2012009836A|2013-01-14|
    US8011203B1|2011-09-06|
    CN102906517B|2015-11-25|
    US20110209493A1|2011-09-01|
    CA2791236A1|2011-09-01|
    EP2539652A2|2013-01-02|
    WO2011106587A3|2012-02-23|
    CN102906517A|2013-01-30|
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    法律状态:
    2019-01-08| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2019-10-29| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2020-05-26| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-11-17| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 25/02/2011, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US12/713,790|2010-02-26|
    US12/713,790|US8011203B1|2010-02-26|2010-02-26|Refrigeration appliance with hidden user interface|
    PCT/US2011/026156|WO2011106587A2|2010-02-26|2011-02-25|Refrigeration appliance with hidden user interface|
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