Refrigerator having compartment capable of converting between refrigeration and freezing temperatures

Abstract

ABSTRACT A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator housing defining first, second, and third compartments separated by insulated walls, a refrigeration system supplying cold air to the first, second, and third compartments, first, second, and third sensors operative to detect temperature in a respective one of the first, second, and third compartments and control circuitry in electrical communication with the sensors, the control circuitry controlling flow of the cold air into each of the first, second, and third compartments so as to facilitate maintaining a respective desired temperature therein, where the desired temperature of each of the first, second, and third compartments is variable and may be set by a user independently with respect to each other.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]The present application claims the benefit of the U.S. provisional application filed on Jan. 29, 2007 by Wuesthoff et al. for REFRIGERATOR HAVING COMPARTMENT CAPABLE OF CONVERTING BETWEEN REFRIGERATION AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES (Ser. No. 60 / 887,107), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator having a compartment capable of converting from a refrigeration area to a freezer area and back.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Most refrigerators for household use include at least one area for refrigerating items and at least one area for freezing items. Refrigeration areas typically operate within the range of temperatures from 34 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit, while freezer areas generally operate within the range of temperatures from 0 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on certain factors, such as overall ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]In this regard, one aspect of the invention provides a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator housing defining first, second, and third compartments separated by insulated walls, a refrigeration system supplying cold air to the first, second, and third compartments, first, second, and third sensors operative to detect temperature in a respective one of the first, second, and third compartments, and control circuitry in electrical communication with the sensors, the control circuitry controlling flow of the cold air into each of the first, second, and third compartments so as to facilitate maintaining a respective desired temperature therein, where the desired temperature of each of the first, second, and third compartments is variable and may be set by a user independently with respect to each other.

Problems solved by technology

Likewise, the purchaser is unable to increase the size of either the refrigeration area or the freezer area depending on the purchaser's current needs.

Fans and / or other devices circulate the areas' air over the coils where heat energy is transferred from the circulated air to the refrigerant, which results in a decrease in temperature of the air in the enclosed area and an increase in temperature of the refrigerant.

Due to modem refrigerator constructions, a large amount of heat energy will generally not be exchanged in this manner.

This also causes an increase in temperature of the items stored in the refrigerator.

Continuous operation of the refrigeration system puts a strain on the system's components and reduces the components' useful life.

Additionally, this continuous operation consumes an inefficient amount of energy.

Thus, an unobstructed exchange of heat energy from the ambient air to the refrigerated air, as well as the introduction of ambient air into the interior of the refrigerator, causes the refrigeration system to operate inefficiently.

For example, bottles of soda and wine create an inefficient use of space due to the necessary arrangement of shelves above the bottle to accommodate their height when placed vertically on a lower shelf.

Such supports, however, create an inefficient use of space when not in use due to the space occupied and made unavailable by the support.

These bins generally occupy the entire space that exists horizontally between the inside of the closed refrigerator door and the adjacent refrigerator shelves making the size of the bin bulky and difficult to carry when removed from the door.

The user must either remove each item from the bin that the user intends to use at the moment or must remove the entire bin, which may be awkward to carry and / or contain unwanted items.

Additionally, refrigerators lack adequate support to efficiently store irregularly-shaped items, such as a pizza box.

Due to the bin's location and arrangement, it can be difficult to remove the bin's contents.

This creates a tendency to cause other items that require lower temperatures, such as ice cream, to be softer than desired.

Freezers lack an area directed to storing certain items whose ideal storage temperature is generally lower than the majority of other items stored in the freezer.

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