Door drawer and refrigeration equipment having the door drawer

Abstract

A refrigeration device is provided, comprising: a cabinet; a door pivotally mounted on the front of the cabinet; a food storage container frame (30) mounted to the inner surface of the door, the food storage container frame including a rear wall forming two drawer compartments, two side walls and a middle wall (32), a top cover (51), and an upper shelf (47) located above the top cover and connected to the food storage container frame at each of the two side walls, the top cover including a vent located above each drawer compartment, wherein the upper shelf includes a recess (44), wherein the top cover includes a vent opening (52) adjacent to the vertical middle wall and connecting the two drawer compartments to the recess; and two food storage container drawers (25, 26), each food storage container drawer configured to be removably fitted into one of the two drawer compartments and including two side walls, a rear wall, a front wall and a bottom wall.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application generally relates to drawers on doors in refrigeration equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Conventional refrigeration equipment, such as household refrigerators, typically has both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. The fresh food compartment is where foods such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages are stored. The freezer compartment is where foods that need to be kept frozen are stored. The refrigerator is equipped with a refrigeration system that maintains the temperature in the fresh food compartment above 0°C, for example, between 0.25°C and 4.5°C, and the temperature in the freezer compartment below 0°C, for example, between 0°C and -20°C.

[0003] The arrangement of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment relative to each other in such refrigerators can vary. For example, in some cases, the freezer compartment is located above the fresh food compartment, and in others, it is located below. Furthermore, many modern refrigerators arrange their freezer and fresh food compartments side-by-side. Regardless of the arrangement, each compartment typically has a separate entrance door, allowing access to either compartment without exposing the other to ambient air.

[0004] These conventional refrigeration units feature robust, insulated doors that close off the respective compartments. The doors are highly insulated, helping to maintain the indoor temperature within an acceptable range. The inner surfaces of these doors are covered with a door lining. The door lining may include lugs, bolts, or other mechanisms to allow shelves to be mounted on the door lining.

[0005] Certain types of food stored in the fresh food compartment benefit from optimized humidity. For example, high humidity may be desirable for storing leafy or root vegetables to limit evaporation. Conversely, fruits and packaged dry goods may benefit from lower humidity. Similarly, different goods stored in the freezer may benefit from subtle temperature variations. For instance, long-term storage of frozen meat may benefit from lower freezing temperatures, while prepared goods, such as ice cream, may benefit from storage at slightly higher but still freezing temperatures. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention is a refrigeration device having an assembly for a drawer on the door, which functions as a food storage container when the drawer is located in the fresh food compartment, and also includes a shelf mounted on the top.

[0007] In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device comprising: a cabinet; a door pivotally mounted on the front of the cabinet; a food storage container frame mounted to the inner surface of the door, the food storage container frame including a rear wall and two side walls forming two drawer compartments and a middle wall, a top cover section curving downward and backward from the upper front edge of the food storage container frame, and an upper shelf located above the top cover section and connected to the food storage container frame at each of the two side walls, the top cover section including a vent above each drawer compartment, wherein the upper shelf includes a recess with a cover, wherein the top cover section includes an opening adjacent to the vertical middle wall and communicating with a vent structure connecting the two drawer compartments and the recess; and two food storage container drawers, each food storage container drawer being removably fitted into one of the two drawer compartments and including two side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall.

[0008] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any embodiment herein, and further wherein the recess contains a bag containing one or more of an ethylene absorbent, an antioxidant, and an odor absorbent.

[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein the top cover section includes a groove that forms a communicating vent between the food storage drawer and a space located between the top cover section and the lower surface of the upper shelf.

[0010] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any embodiment herein, and further includes a permeable membrane located on all or part of the upper surface of the top cover section.

[0011] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any embodiment herein, and further includes a permeable membrane along all or part of the outer rear surface of the food storage container frame.

[0012] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration apparatus according to any of the embodiments herein, and further includes a lifting container configured to be mounted on top of an upper shelf.

[0013] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, and further includes an upwardly extending lug at each rear corner of an upper shelf, wherein the lifting container includes two side walls, a rear wall and a front wall and a bottom wall, wherein each side wall includes a recess configured to lock into one of the upwardly extending lugs.

[0014] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, and further includes a plurality of vertical rib pairs located on the front and rear walls, wherein each rib pair is configured to lock into each other with a removable container divider.

[0015] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any embodiment herein, wherein all or part of the upper front edge of the food storage container frame further includes a sealing material.

[0016] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein the front face of each food storage drawer further includes a handle along the top edge of the front wall of the food storage drawer.

[0017] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein each sidewall of each food storage drawer further includes a tenon extending outward at the lower front portion of the sidewall, each tenon being configured to lock into recesses in the sidewall and intermediate wall of the food storage frame.

[0018] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein each side wall of each food storage drawer further includes a tenon extending outward at the upper rear portion of the side wall, each tenon being configured to fit and move within tracks located on the side walls and intermediate walls of the food storage frame.

[0019] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein the track is curved, thereby allowing the food storage drawer to tilt forward and backward to open and close the food storage drawer.

[0020] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein each recess in the sidewalls and middle wall of the food storage container frame includes an open upper surface, thereby allowing the food storage container drawer to be lifted and removed from the food storage container frame.

[0021] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein the cover is configured to securely and removably accommodate a bag-like object.

[0022] In another embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein the door includes a door liner having two sidewalls, each sidewall including one or more bolts, and wherein the outer surface of the food storage container frame also includes a recess configured to lock into the bolts, thereby allowing the food storage container frame to be removed from the door.

[0023] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any embodiment herein, wherein the side walls, front wall, rear wall and bottom wall of each food storage drawer are made of a transparent material.

[0024] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration device according to any of the embodiments herein, wherein the handle is made of extruded aluminum.

[0025] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a refrigeration apparatus according to any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the refrigeration apparatus is a freezer compartment. In a particular embodiment, a food storage drawer in the freezer compartment is used as a soft-serve ice cream drawer or a soft-freeze drawer. Attached Figure Description

[0026] For the purposes of illustrating the invention, the presently preferred form is shown in the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and means and proportions shown.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a front-view perspective view of a conventional household refrigeration system, showing the doors to the fresh food compartment and freezer compartment in the closed position;

[0028] Figure 2 A front perspective view of a first embodiment of a door-mounted drawer used in the fresh food compartment of a refrigeration unit;

[0029] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The first embodiment shown is a front perspective view, in which the left drawer is in the open position;

[0030] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 The front partial exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown shows that the drawer on the door is not installed in the refrigeration equipment;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a food storage container frame not installed in a refrigeration unit, wherein one of the drawer compartments is not equipped with a drawer, and the figure shows a vent, and a communicating vent is formed between the food storage container drawer and the space located between the top cover section and the lower surface of the upper shelf, and the figure schematically illustrates the evolution of ethylene gas entering the vent.

[0032] Figure 6 Is it like this? Figure 5 The image shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of a food storage container frame not installed in a refrigeration unit, and schematically illustrates the evolution of humidity.

[0033] Figure 7A and Figure 7BThis is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the food storage container frame. Figure 7A The illustration shows the presence of the permeable membrane 70, while Figure 7B The top surface of the top cover 51 is shown in the absence of a permeable membrane. Detailed Implementation

[0034] It should be understood that various embodiments are disclosed herein, and any feature of a particular embodiment may be used interchangeably in any other embodiment. That is, the embodiments are not intended to be mutually exclusive, and features of each embodiment may be used in various combinations with some or all features of another embodiment.

[0035] Embodiments of the refrigeration equipment or components thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used in all drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 Standard household refrigeration equipment is typically indicated by 10. Although the following detailed description refers to a household refrigerator 10, the present invention can be implemented using refrigeration equipment other than the household refrigerator 10. Furthermore, an embodiment is described in detail below, and this embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings as a bottom-mounted configuration of the refrigerator 10, which includes a fresh food compartment 14 vertically positioned above the freezer compartment 12. However, the refrigerator 10 can have any desired configuration, including top-mounted refrigerators (i.e., the fresh food compartment is vertically positioned below the freezer compartment), side-by-side refrigerators (i.e., the fresh food compartment is arranged laterally adjacent to the freezer compartment), single-compartment refrigerators (i.e., having only a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment), refrigerators including variable climate zones, etc.

[0037] Figure 1 One or more doors 16 are pivotally connected to the cabinet 19 of the refrigerator 10 to restrict and allow access to the fresh food compartment 14. The door may be a single door spanning the entire lateral distance of the entrance to the fresh food compartment 14, or may be a pair of French doors 16 collectively spanning the entire lateral distance of the entrance to the fresh food compartment 14 to close the fresh food compartment 14. Figure 1 In the refrigeration equipment configuration shown, the freezer compartment 12 is positioned above the fresh food compartment 14. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the freezer compartment 12 is closed in this case by a sliding door 17.

[0038] Now refer to Figure 2 The fully assembled and installed drawer 20 on the door is shown in the front perspective view as being installed on the door of the fresh food compartment of the refrigeration unit. Figure 3 The illustration shows the drawer on the door with the left drawer open. Figure 4 The diagram shows Figure 2and Figure 3 An exploded view of a drawer on a door. (See attached image.) Figure 2 and Figure 3 As observed, the upper door drawer 20 is mounted on the refrigerator door liner 22. The refrigerator door liner 22 covers the inner surface of the refrigerator door 16. In a preferred embodiment, the upper door drawer is removably mounted on the door liner 22. The door liner 22 includes a right side flange 24A and a left side flange 24B. A bolt 28 may be integrally molded onto the side flanges 24a and 24b. The upper door drawer also includes a left crisper drawer 26 and a right crisper drawer 25, as well as a lift container 40.

[0039] As in Figure 4 As observed, the drawer 20 on the door is composed of a frame 30, which in turn is composed of a back wall 71. Figure 4 (not shown in the image) and right side wall 31, left side wall 33 and middle wall 32 (not shown in the image) Figure 4 (Not shown in the image). The left drawer compartment spans the left side wall 33 and the middle wall 32. The right drawer compartment spans the right side wall 31 and the middle wall 32. The left food storage drawer 26 is housed within the left drawer compartment, and the right food storage drawer 25 is housed within the right drawer compartment.

[0040] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 A top cover 51 is shown at the top of the right drawer compartment. The top cover 51 extends across the width of the frame 30 from the right side wall 31 to the left side wall 33 on the middle wall 32. Figure 7A and Figure 7B A rear view of a frame 30 including a top cover 51 is shown. In the particular embodiment shown, the top cover 51 is curved. Specifically, the curved top cover 51 gradually extends downward from the upper front edge of the frame 30 until it engages with the rear wall 71 of the frame 30. An upper shelf 47 extends from the right side wall 31 to the left side wall 33, spaced apart from the top cover 51 and located above the curved top cover 51. The distance between the bottom surfaces of the top cover 51 and the upper shelf 47 forms an open space 73. In other embodiments, the top cover 51 is not curved but flat.

[0041] The top cover 51 includes a vent 60 that forms fluid communication between the right-side drawer compartment and the open space 73. The vent 60 is also present in the top cover 51 in the left-side drawer compartment, thereby creating fluid communication between the left-side drawer compartment and the open space 73. The vent 60 allows moisture to enter the open space 73 from both the right-side and left-side drawer compartments. Although the vent 60 is in... Figure 5 and Figure 6The vent 60 is illustrated as an elongated ellipse, but it can take any shape or size consistent with allowing excessive moisture to pass through and maintaining the integrity of the frame structure. For example, the vent 60 can be square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, or polygonal.

[0042] Reference Figure 6 The top cover 51 also includes at least one vent opening 50, said at least one vent opening 50 being located in each of the right-side drawer compartment and the left-side drawer compartment and near the intermediate wall 32. The vent opening 50 communicates with the vent 52. Figure 7A and Figure 7B Ventilation duct 52 in each drawer compartment and recess 44 formed in the upper shelf 47. Figure 4 A closed fluid passage is formed between the two. Vent openings 50 and 52 allow ethylene gas to enter the recess 44 from the right-side drawer compartment and the left-side drawer compartment. In some embodiments, the recess 44 contains a bag containing one or more of an ethylene absorbent, an antioxidant, and an odor absorbent such as carbon. Such a material can be encapsulated in a permeable bag or sleeve. In some embodiments of the door drawer 20 of the present invention, the recess 44 may include a removable cover 42.

[0043] In some embodiments of the drawer 20 on the door, the top surface of the top cover 51 is at least partially covered with a permeable membrane 70. Figure 7A The diagram illustrates the presence of a permeable membrane 70, while Figure 7B The top surface of the illustrated top cover 51 does not have a permeable membrane. The permeable membrane 70 can be any membrane that attracts and condenses water vapor. Such a permeable membrane can be made of TYVEK, TESLIN, high-density spunbond polyethylene fiber, flash-spun high-density polyethylene, nonwoven polypropylene, and combinations of spunbond and meltblown polyolefins. The rear wall 71 can also be at least partially covered by a permeable membrane. Figure 7A The illustration schematically depicts vapor condensing into droplets 72 along the rear wall 71, and the droplets 72 discharging downwards along the rear wall 71.

[0044] Figure 7A A notch 74 is also shown, which is configured to be in the bolt 28 ( Figure 2 Slide up. The notch protection 75 at least partially seals the notch 74 to securely hold the bolt 28 within the notch 74.

[0045] Each of the right-side and left-side drawer compartments houses food storage drawers 25 and 26. Each food storage drawer 25 and 26 is sized to be removably fitted into the right-side and left-side drawer compartments, respectively. Each food storage drawer 25 and 26 comprises two side walls 40A, a rear wall 40B, a front wall 40C, and a bottom plate 40D. In some embodiments, the front wall is formed to include a recessed handle 76.

[0046] Refer again Figure 4 In some embodiments, the lifting container 40 may be accommodated on the top surface of the upper shelf 47. Lugs 43 extend from each rear corner of the upper shelf 47. The lugs 43 are configured to fit within slots 45 formed on the lower rear corners of the lifting container 40. The lifting container 40 may optionally include one or more pairs of guide rails 49 located on the inner surfaces of the front wall 40C and the rear wall 40B of the lifting container 40. One or more container dividers 41 may be mounted on a pair of guide rails 49 (one guide rail on the rear wall 40B of the lifting container facing the guide rail on the front wall 40C of the lifting container) to divide the lifting container 40 into more than one segment.

[0047] As in Figure 5 and Figure 6 As observed, each sidewall of each food storage drawer 25 and 26 also includes a concealed tenon 11 extending outwardly in the lower front portion of each sidewall of each food storage drawer. Each concealed tenon 11 is configured to lock into recesses 29 on the inner surfaces of sidewalls 31 and 33 and on each surface of intermediate wall 33. Each sidewall of each food storage drawer 25 and 26 also includes an outwardly extending concealed tenon 27 in the upper rear portion of the sidewall. Each concealed tenon 27 is configured to fit and move within tracks 55 located on the inner surfaces of sidewalls 31 and 33 and on each surface of intermediate wall 32. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, track 55 is curved. The curved track allows the food storage drawer to tilt forward and backward to open and close the drawer for user use.

[0048] In a particular embodiment, each recess 29 on the intermediate wall 32 includes an open upper surface. This open upper surface allows the food storage drawer to be lifted and removed from the food storage frame 30.

[0049] The food storage container frame 30 also includes a front surface 81 spanning the width of the upper front edge 80. The front surface 81 may optionally include a rubber gasket, foam padding, flexible or elastic material, or other similar material or coating to form a seal preventing moisture and / or airflow when the food storage container drawer is in the closed position. Alternatively, the front surface 81 may include a sealing strip or coating, such as a magnetic coating, to prevent the drawer from opening accidentally.

[0050] Although illustrated in the accompanying drawings as a door 16 of the fresh food compartment, the drawer on the door can be used in a freezer compartment including a pivotally mounted door. When used in a freezer compartment, the frame may consist only of the right and left side walls, without a middle wall. In such an embodiment, only a single drawer can be used to fill a single compartment formed by the food storage container frame. Similarly, the use of a permeable membrane is optional, as is the use of bags containing ethylene absorbents, antioxidants, or odor absorbers. When used in a freezer compartment, in some embodiments, the drawer on the door can be used as a soft-serve ice cream drawer, where frozen foods requiring a milder level of freezing temperature can be stored. Such frozen foods may include, for example, ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device, comprising: Cabinet; A door, which is pivotally mounted on the front of the cabinet; A food storage container frame, mounted to the inner surface of the door, includes: a rear wall, two side walls, and a middle wall forming two drawer compartments; a top cover section including at least one through-hole above each drawer compartment; and an upper shelf located above the top cover section and connected to the food storage container frame at each of the two side walls. Two food storage drawers, each food storage drawer being removably fitted into one of the two drawer compartments and including two side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall; The upper shelf includes a recess. The top cover section includes at least one opening, which is close to the vertical intermediate wall; The refrigeration equipment further includes a ventilation duct structure, which communicates with at least one opening in the top cover section and connects the two drawer compartments to the recesses in the upper shelf.

2. The refrigeration device according to claim 1 further includes a bag located in the recess and containing one or more of the following: an ethylene absorbent, an antioxidant, and a deodorizer.

3. The refrigeration apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The top cover section includes a vent that forms fluid communication between the food storage drawer and a space located between the top cover section and the lower surface of the upper shelf.

4. The refrigeration device according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a permeable membrane located on all or part of the upper surface of the top cover section.

5. The refrigeration device according to claim 4, further comprising the permeable membrane along all or part of the outer surface of the rear wall of the food storage container frame.

6. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a lifting container configured to be mounted on top of the upper shelf.

7. The refrigeration device of claim 6, further comprising an upwardly extending lug located at each rear corner of the upper shelf, wherein, The lifting container includes two side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, and a bottom plate, wherein each side wall includes a groove configured to lock into one of the upwardly extending lugs.

8. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of vertical rib pairs located on the front wall and the rear wall of the lifting container, wherein, Each rib pair is configured to lock into a removable container divider.

9. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The upper front edge of the food storage container frame also includes sealing material on all or part of the front surface.

10. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 9, wherein, The front face of each food storage drawer also includes a handle located on the front wall of the food storage drawer.

11. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 9, wherein, Each sidewall of each food storage drawer also includes a tenon extending outward at the lower front portion of the sidewall, each tenon being configured to lock into recesses in the sidewall and the intermediate wall of the food storage frame.

12. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 11, wherein, Each sidewall of each food storage drawer also includes a tenon extending outward at the upper rear portion of the sidewall, each tenon being configured to fit and move within a track located on the sidewall and the intermediate wall of the food storage frame.

13. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 12, wherein, The track is curved, which allows the food storage drawer to tilt forward and backward to open and close the drawer.

14. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 11, wherein, Each recess in the sidewalls and the middle wall of the food storage container frame includes an open upper surface, thereby allowing the food storage container drawer to be lifted and removed from the food storage container frame.

15. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The recess in the upper shelf also includes a cover, and the cover is configured to securely and removably accommodate the bag-like object.

16. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The door includes a door liner with two side flanges, each side flange including one or more bolts, and wherein the outer surface of the food storage container frame also includes a recess configured to lock into the bolts, thereby allowing the food storage container frame to be removed from the door.

17. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The side walls, front wall, rear wall, and bottom wall of each food storage drawer are made of a transparent material.

18. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 10, wherein, The handle is made of extruded aluminum.

19. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The top cover section bends downward and backward from the upper front edge of the food storage container frame.

20. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The vent structure forms a closed fluid passage between each drawer compartment in the two drawer compartments and the recess in the upper shelf, thereby allowing gas to enter from the two drawer compartments into the recess in the upper shelf.

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