EP1780486A1 - Chest freezer - Google Patents
Chest freezer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1780486A1 EP1780486A1 EP05425758A EP05425758A EP1780486A1 EP 1780486 A1 EP1780486 A1 EP 1780486A1 EP 05425758 A EP05425758 A EP 05425758A EP 05425758 A EP05425758 A EP 05425758A EP 1780486 A1 EP1780486 A1 EP 1780486A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- door
- lighting device
- box
- holding space
- shaped body
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V33/00—Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
- F21V33/0004—Personal or domestic articles
- F21V33/0044—Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
- F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D27/00—Lighting arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
- F25D23/026—Doors; Covers for open-top cabinets
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/10—Refrigerator top-coolers
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a chest freezer, i.e. a freezer having access from the top.
- In particular, the present invention relates to an inner lighting device for a chest freezer having an upper closing door hinged along one side thereof.
- It is known that these lighting devices aim at facilitating inspection and search of the goods stored inside the freezer.
- Traditional chest freezers are internally lit from a light source, generally an incandescent lamp, positioned on the closing door at an internal location. In particular, these lamps are applied to the lower surface of the door so that they take up room in the hollow space of the freezer when the latter is closed.
- In alternative embodiments said incandescent lamp is inserted into a cavity formed on said lower surface of the door, in such a manner that it does not project from said surface and does not take up part of the room otherwise occupied by the goods stored in the freezer.
- Manufacture of a lighting device as the one previously described is complicated and expensive because it is necessary to form a housing in the upper closing door to receive the lamp and enable passage of the power cable of said lamp.
- In addition, such a solution at least partly impairs the thermal insulation of the holding space in which the goods to be frozen are stored. The power cable in fact is buried into the insulating material internally of the door itself; therefore, this configuration brings about a reduction in the insulating material thickness and involves a non optimal insulation from the external environment. Also the way the lamp is secured to the door contributes against a weak insulation, due to the fact that the metal screws for connection can dissipate the cold present in the freezer. Said cold dissipation brings about an increase in power consumption although of slight extent.
- In addition, not to be underestimated is the fact that the power cable of the lamp passes internally of the door close to the outer metal wall of the door, which is not very safe for a user.
- A further drawback resulting from the particular position of the lamp is the weak inner lighting in the freezer's holding space. In fact, as previously described, the lamp is located on the lower surface of the door that is parallel to the bottom wall of the holding space when the freezer is closed; therefore, when the door is rotated through almost 90 degrees around the hinge line to open the freezer, the lamp rotates as well and consequently the light beam is directed in a bothersome manner to the user's eyes rather than to the freezer inside.
- In addition, use of an incandescent lamp involves high power consumption due both to the lamp's energy absorption and to the greater amount of work the compressor must do to compensate for an undesirable temperature increase caused by the heat of the incandescent lamp. In fact, when the door is closed, the lamp still hot is completely disposed at the inside of the freezer and therefore it heats the freezer contents: this temporary temperature increase must be compensated for by a respective increase in the cooling level internally of the freezer's holding space. Furthermore, the low temperatures reached inside the freezer hinder use of a fluorescent lamp in order to at least partly eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks.
- In fact, a fluorescent lamp absorbs a lower energy amount as compared with an incandescent lamp and emits less heat when working, but use of same internally of a freezer is hampered by the fact that the gas contained therein is unable to offer a sufficient illumination if it is too cold.
- The Applicant has found that the chest freezer and the related lighting device of the above described type can be improved under different points of view, particularly in terms of a reduction in the energy consumption, a simpler construction and reduced production costs.
- Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to propose a chest freezer with an inner lighting device capable of overcoming the drawbacks found in the known art.
- The above aim and others that will become more apparent in the course of the following description are achieved by a chest freezer comprising the features set out in
claim 1 and in the claims depending thereon. - Further features and advantages will be best understood from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a chest freezer in accordance with the present invention. This description will be taken hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting example, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a section side view of a chest freezer in accordance with the invention, in an open configuration;
- Fig. 2 shows an enlarged portion of the freezer seen in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 shows the portion seen in Fig. 2 in a closed configuration.
- With reference to the drawings, a chest freezer in accordance with the invention has been generally identified by
reference numeral 1. - The
chest freezer 1 comprises a box-shaped body 2 internally provided with ahollow holding space 3 and having an opening at thetop 4 for access to theholding space 3. - The
freezer 1 has adoor 5 at thetop 4 which is movable between a closed position and an open position of the freezer itself. Preferably, thisdoor 5 is hinged along oneside 6 on theupper part 4 of the box-shaped body 2. - Also present is a
lighting device 7 to illuminate the inside of theholding space 3, whichdevice 7 in a preferred configuration is operated automatically by the opening movement of thedoor 5. In an alternative embodiment, a turning-on button not shown is provided. - Advantageously, in the
chest freezer 1 in accordance with the present invention thelighting device 7 is provided to be completely positioned externally of theholding space 3. In particular, thisdevice 7 is external to the box-shaped body 2 offreezer 1, both when thedoor 5 is open and when it is closed. Therefore, positioning of thelighting device 7 at the outside offreezer 1 enables use of alighting device 7 comprising afluorescent lamp 7a, which will bring about energy savings. - The outer position of the
lighting device 7 in accordance with the present invention is able to ensure lighting to the interior of theholding space 3 when thedoor 5 is opened. - The door further comprises at least one reflecting
surface 8 facilitating inner lighting of theholding space 3 as a consequence of the reflection of the light beam emitted by thelamp 7a of thelighting device 7. This reflectingsurface 8 in fact is positioned on adoor portion 5a that, in the open position, faces downwards and towards the interior of theholding space 3. In this way the light beam emitted by thelighting device 7 impinges on such a reflectingsurface 8 and is directed to the interior of theholding space 3. - Preferably, this reflecting
surface 8 is shaped like a parabola, as shown in Fig. 2. - In alternative configurations this reflecting
surface 8 can have a flat or curved course. - Advantageously, the inner walls too of
freezer 1, i.e. the walls of theholding space 3, comprise at least one reflectingsurface 8, to direct the light of thelighting device 7 to the interior ofsaid space 3, and illuminate each region of same. This is particularly advantageous when thefreezer 1 is partly filled and the light emitted from thelighting device 7 does not directly impinge on the lowest region of said holdingspace 3. - In the accompanying drawings a preferred configuration of the
lighting device 7 has been shown. According to this preferred configuration, thelighting device 7 is fastened to thedoor 5, at theside 6 thereof hinged on the upper part of the box-shaped body 2. In particular, thelighting device 7 is located externally along saidside 6 and is movable together with thedoor 5. - Said
door 5 is secured to the box-shaped body 2 by means of at least two vertical supportingbrackets 9, only one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, which are positioned externally of theupper part 4 of the box-shaped body 2. Thedoor 5 is hinged to saidbrackets 9 through at least two connectingelements 10 projecting externally of theside 6 of thedoor 5 itself. Thehinge axis 11 is substantially horizontal and parallel to theside 6 ofdoor 5. - The
lighting device 7 comprises alamp 7a and a lamp-holder 7b connected to a portion 6a of theside 6 ofdoor 5. In particular, considering thedoor 5 in a closed position, said portion 6a is the lower part ofside 6. - The
lighting device 7 in the preferred configuration is movable relative to the box-shaped body 2, between a backward position at which thedevice 7 is turned off and contained between the two supportingbrackets 9, as shown in Fig. 3, and a position at which thedevice 7 is turned on and stretched out towards the interior of theholding space 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. - The above movement of the
device 7 is produced by rotation of thedoor 5 around thehinge axis 11 during opening or closing offreezer 1. The lamp-holder 7b projects from thedoor 5 on the side thereof facing the interior of theholding space 3. Such a position is necessary to cause thelamp 7a contained in the lamp-holder 7b to be stretched out towards theholding space 3 to better illuminate such aspace 3. - The lamp-
holder 7b further has acurved surface 7c the concavity of which faces thehinge axis 11. Thiscurved surface 7c is turned downwards when thedoor 5 is closed and towards the inside of theholding space 3 when thedoor 5 is open. Preferably saidsurface 7c is concentric with thehinge axis 11. - The described outline of the lamp-
holder 7b is required to avoid interferences between the lamp-holder 7b and theupper part 4 of the box-shaped body 2 during opening and closing of thedoor 5. - In an alternative configuration, not shown, the
lighting device 7 is provided to be positioned in a fixed manner between saidbrackets 9. In accordance with such a configuration, thedevice 7 is also fixed relative to the box-shaped body 2. In this construction solution, thelamp 7a faces theholding space 3 to illuminate the inside of same. - A third configuration, envisaged but not shown, has the
lighting device 7 connected to the box-shaped body 2, preferably through thebrackets 9 and movable relative to said body by means of a mechanical connection driven by the opening and closing movement of thedoor 5. In fact, when thedoor 5 is closed thelighting device 7 is turned off and in a backward position, being included between the connectingbrackets 9, whereas when thedoor 5 is opened thedevice 7 moves partly forward towards the inside of theholding space 3 to illuminate the goods contained therein. - In the absence of particular energy-saving requirements, the
lighting device 7 alternatively comprises anincandescent lamp 7a instead of a fluorescent lamp. - Supply of the
lighting device 7 takes place by means of apower cable 12 that is constantly at the outside both of thedoor 5 and of the box-shapedbody 2, irrespective of the adopted solution as regards positioning of thelamp 7a. - The present invention achieves the intended purposes and obtains important advantages.
- First of all, the freezer in accordance with the present invention has a lighting device enabling bulkiness at the inside of the door to be reduced. This allows improvement of the thermal insulation with respect to the external environment, thereby ensuring an optimal storage of the goods and reducing energy consumption.
- By positioning the lighting device externally of the closing door, a simpler structure and construction of the door is obtained. In addition, the particular construction solution contemplating external positioning of the lighting device offers the possibility of using a fluorescent lamp instead of an incandescent lamp so that energy consumption is further reduced.
- Finally, the lamp is powered through an electric cable that is not contained in any structural element and is constantly external, and this involves important construction and servicing simplifications, while at the same time improving safety of the lighting device.
Claims (15)
- A chest freezer, comprising:- a box-shaped body (2) having a hollow holding space (3) for the goods to be frozen and being open at the top;- a door (5) that is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the box-shaped body (2);- a lighting device (7) to illuminate the interior of the box-shaped body (2),characterised in that said lighting device (7) is positioned completely at the outside of the holding space (2) both when the door (5) is in the closed position and when said door (5) is in the open position, and is placed to such a location that it illuminates the interior of the holding space (3) at least partly, when the door (5) is in the open position.
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is fastened to the door (5) and is movable therewith.
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said door (5) is hinged along one side (6) thereof to the upper part (4) of said box-shaped body (2).
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is positioned to the outside along the side (6) of the door (5) hinged on the upper part (4) of the box-shaped body (2).
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is movable relative to said box-shaped body (2) between a backward position at which the device (7) is contained between at least two supporting brackets (9) connecting the door (5) to the box-shaped body (2) and a position at which the device (7) is partly stretched out towards the interior of the holding space (3).
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is mounted on the box-shaped body (2) and partly faces the interior of the holding space (3).
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is fixed relative to said box-shaped body (2).
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is movable relative to said box-shaped body (2) between a backward position at which the device (7) is contained between at least two supporting brackets (9) connecting the door (5) to the box-shaped body (2) and a forward position at which the device (7) is partly stretched out towards the interior of the holding space (3).
- A chest freezer as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is operated by the opening movement of the door (5).
- A chest freezer as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is at least one fluorescent lamp (7a).
- A chest freezer as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said lighting device (7) is at least one incandescent lamp (7a).
- A chest freezer as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said door (5) has at least one reflecting surface (8) to direct light from the lighting device (7) to the inside of the holding space (3).
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said reflecting surface (8) is shaped like a parabola.
- A chest freezer as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised in that said reflecting surface (8) is positioned on at least one portion (5a) of the door (5) facing the interior of the holding space (3) when the door (5) is in the open position.
- A chest freezer as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said holding space (3) has at least one inner reflecting wall (8) to direct the light from the lighting device (7) to the interior of the holding space (3).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP05425758A EP1780486A1 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2005-10-27 | Chest freezer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP05425758A EP1780486A1 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2005-10-27 | Chest freezer |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1780486A1 true EP1780486A1 (en) | 2007-05-02 |
Family
ID=35840170
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP05425758A Withdrawn EP1780486A1 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2005-10-27 | Chest freezer |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1780486A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011092118A3 (en) * | 2010-02-01 | 2011-10-13 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration appliance |
WO2017034514A1 (en) * | 2015-08-21 | 2017-03-02 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Enclosure illumination |
CN107816667A (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2018-03-20 | 赛尔富电子有限公司 | A kind of light distributing system for refrigerator-freezer |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2644882A (en) * | 1950-10-28 | 1953-07-07 | Int Harvester Co | Illuminated handle for refrigerated cabinet doors |
FR1247651A (en) * | 1960-02-04 | 1960-12-02 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Lighting device mounted in a container, in particular in a low temperature refrigerated cabinet |
EP0826938A2 (en) * | 1996-08-27 | 1998-03-04 | Whirlpool Corporation | Lighting device for chest freezers and the like |
-
2005
- 2005-10-27 EP EP05425758A patent/EP1780486A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2644882A (en) * | 1950-10-28 | 1953-07-07 | Int Harvester Co | Illuminated handle for refrigerated cabinet doors |
FR1247651A (en) * | 1960-02-04 | 1960-12-02 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Lighting device mounted in a container, in particular in a low temperature refrigerated cabinet |
EP0826938A2 (en) * | 1996-08-27 | 1998-03-04 | Whirlpool Corporation | Lighting device for chest freezers and the like |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011092118A3 (en) * | 2010-02-01 | 2011-10-13 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration appliance |
WO2017034514A1 (en) * | 2015-08-21 | 2017-03-02 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Enclosure illumination |
US10690403B2 (en) | 2015-08-21 | 2020-06-23 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Enclosure illumination |
CN107816667A (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2018-03-20 | 赛尔富电子有限公司 | A kind of light distributing system for refrigerator-freezer |
EP3489581A1 (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2019-05-29 | Self Electronics Co., Ltd. | Light distribution system for freezer |
CN107816667B (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2024-04-16 | 赛尔富电子有限公司 | Light distribution system for refrigerator |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US2644882A (en) | Illuminated handle for refrigerated cabinet doors | |
CN101164375B (en) | Large kitchen professional oven with improved illumination | |
JP2008089244A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP2007132562A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP2006098042A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP5674496B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
JP6103812B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
JP4082764B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
EP1780486A1 (en) | Chest freezer | |
JP2012037074A (en) | Refrigerator | |
CN102317723B (en) | Refrigerator with internal lighting | |
JP2007285632A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP3722153B1 (en) | refrigerator | |
JP4702006B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
WO2020196467A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP2008069996A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR100389647B1 (en) | How to control the interior light of the refrigerator | |
JP7120446B2 (en) | refrigerator | |
JP2008106976A (en) | Refrigerator | |
WO2019163126A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
CN103575052A (en) | Refrigerator | |
JP7145142B2 (en) | storage | |
KR20080001250A (en) | Lamp device of refrigerator | |
JP2007139317A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR19990026730A (en) | Refrigerator |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20060330 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: BOZZETTI, ELIO TITO |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20090505 |