A door for a refrigeration appliance

Abstract

The present invention discloses a door (K) suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance (S). Said door (K) comprises at least one outer body (1); at least one inner body (2) attached to the outer body (1) with a gap therebetween; at least one inner wall (3) provided on an inner face of said inner body (2); at least one trizbar attached to the inner wall (3); at least one inlet opening (1d) provided on an upper section of the outer body (1) and communicating into the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2); at least one connecting element (5) with at least one passage channel (5a), wherein the connecting element (5) is provided within the gap, on a side section of the outer body (1); at least one through opening (3a) provided on said inner wall (3), wherein at least one side of the through opening (3a) is connected to the passage channel (5a), and at least another side thereof communicates into the exterior of the inner wall (3); at least one cable bundle (4) with at least one part provided within the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2), wherein at least one side of the cable bundle (4) protrudes towards external environment through the inlet opening (1d), and at least another side thereof passes through the passage channel (5a) and through opening (3a) to connect to the trizbar; and at least one insulation element provided within the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A DOOR FOR A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a door used in a refrigeration appliance.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] A refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, typically comprises at least one body; an inner compartment within the body, for placing the items to be cooled therein; at least one door controlling access into the inner compartment; and at least one refrigeration system to cool the inner compartment. Depending on user needs, the number and dimensions of the doors in refrigeration appliances may vary. For instance, in high-capacity refrigeration appliances, two side-by-side doors may be used to facilitate access to the inner compartment. Here, when the user opens both doors, they can access the entire inner compartment. This allows for easy placement of wide items, such as trays, into the inner compartment and provides an unobstructed view of the entire inner compartment. In refrigeration appliances with two side-by-side doors, there may also be a total of four doors, with two doors controlling access to a refrigeration compartment and another two doors controlling access to a freezer compartment.

[0007] In refrigeration appliances with two side-by-side doors, sealing surfaces are used at the junction of the two doors in a closed position to ensure an airtight seal. According to conventional designs, the sealing surface is provided as a vertical bar fixed to the body of the refrigeration appliance. However, in such designs, this vertical bar can obstruct access to the inner compartment even when the doors are open. To address this issue, the prior art employs structures known as “trizbars” or “mullion bars.” These structures, known as trizbars or mullion bars, comprise a sealing surface attached to one of the doors via a side wall of said door. The sealing surface moves together with the attached door and, when the doors are closed, contacts the other door to ensure an airtight seal. However, in such designs, if an electrical connection is required between the body of the refrigeration appliance and the trizbar structure, ensuring a reliable connection can be challenging. Brief Description of the Invention

[0008] The present invention discloses a door suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance. Said door comprises at least one outer body; at least one inner body attached to the outer body with a gap therebetween; at least one inner wall provided on an inner face of said inner body; at least one trizbar attached to the inner wall; at least one inlet opening provided on an upper section of the outer body and communicating into the gap between the outer body and inner body; at least one connecting element with at least one passage channel, wherein the connecting element is provided within the gap, on a side section of the outer body; at least one through opening provided on said inner wall, wherein at least one side of the through opening is connected to the passage channel, and at least another side thereof communicates into the exterior of the inner wall; at least one cable bundle with at least one part provided within the gap between the outer body and inner body, wherein at least one side of the cable bundle protrudes towards external environment through the inlet opening, and at least another side thereof passes through the passage channel and through opening to connect to the trizbar; and at least one insulation element provided within the gap between the outer body and inner body.

[0009] In the door according to the present invention, the cable bundle providing the electrical connection between the trizbar and the body passes between the outer body and the inner body. Here, the section of the cable bundle intended to be connected to the trizbar is routed through a passage channel within a connecting element provided between the outer body and the inner body. This prevents the section of the cable bundle intended for connection to the trizbar from being trapped inside the door during production, ensuring reliable manufacturing of the door.

[0010] Object of the Invention

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a door for a refrigeration appliance that comprises a trizbar. Another object of the present invention is to provide a door for a refrigeration appliance that provides an electrical connection between the trizbar and the body of the refrigeration appliance.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a door for a refrigeration appliance that is both easy to manufacture and reliable.

[0013] Description of the Drawings

[0014] Exemplary embodiments of the door for a refrigeration appliance according to the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a front view of a refrigeration appliance utilizing the door according to the invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a refrigeration appliance utilizing the door according to the invention.

[0017] Figure 3 is an internal view of the door according to the invention.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an outer body of the door according to the invention.

[0019] Figure 5 is a detailed view of a connecting element used in the outer body of the door according to the invention.

[0020] Figure 6 is a top sectional view of a connecting element used in the outer body of the door according to the invention.

[0021] Figure 7 is a perspective view of an inner body of the door according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the outer body and inner body of the door according to the invention, prior to assembly.

[0023] All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

[0024] Refrigeration appliance (S)

[0025] Body (G)

[0026] Door (K)

[0027] Outer body (1)

[0028] Outer panel (1a) Side wall (1b)

[0029] Upper wall (1c)

[0030] Inlet opening (1d)

[0031] Lower wall (1e)

[0032] Side panel (1f)

[0033] Recess (1g)

[0034] Inner body (2)

[0035] Inner wall (3)

[0036] Through opening (3a)

[0037] Connection section (3b)

[0038] Cable bundle (4)

[0039] Connecting element (5)

[0040] Passage channel (5a)

[0041] Protrusion (5b) of the Invention

[0042] A refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, may comprise two side-by-side doors, particularly when they feature a large body structure. In such designs, a sealing surface used to ensure an airtight seal between the doors, without restricting access to the inner compartment, is located on one of the doors, and the component comprising this sealing surface is referred to as a trizbar. Here, an electrical connection may need to be established between the body of the refrigeration appliance and said trizbar. For this reason, the present invention provides a door for ensuring said electrical connection.

[0043] The door (K) according to the present invention, as illustrated in figures 1-8, is suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance (S) and comprises at least one outer body (1); at least one inner body (2) attached to the outer body (1) with a gap therebetween; at least one inner wall (3) provided on an inner face (i.e. a face away from the outer body (1)) of said inner body (2); at least one trizbar (not illustrated in the figures) attached to the inner wall (3); at least one inlet opening (1d) provided on an upper section of the outer body (1) and communicating into the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2); at least one connecting element (5) with at least one passage channel (5a), wherein the connecting element (5) is provided within the gap, on a side section of the outer body (1) (i.e. in alignment with the inner wall (3)); at least one through opening (3a) provided on said inner wall (3), wherein at least one side of the through opening (3a) is connected to the passage channel (5a), and at least another side thereof communicates into the exterior of the inner wall (3); at least one cable bundle (4) with at least one part provided within the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2), wherein at least one side of the cable bundle (4) protrudes towards external environment through the inlet opening (1 d), and at least another side thereof passes through the passage channel (5a) and through opening (3a) to connect to the trizbar; and at least one insulation element provided within the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2).

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, said door (K) is used in a refrigeration appliance (S), i.e. a refrigerator. Here, the refrigeration appliance (S) comprises two side- by-side doors (K), with one of the doors (K) according to the present invention comprising a trizbar. Here, said cable bundle (4) is used to establish an electrical connection between the body (G) of the refrigeration appliance (S) and the trizbar. A portion of the cable bundle (4) protruding outward through the inlet opening (1d) on the outer body (1) is connected to the body (G), for example, by passing through a hinge. Another portion of the cable bundle (4) passes through the gap between the outer body (1) and the inner body (2), reaching the passage channel (5a) within the connecting element (5), from where it passes through the through opening (3a) to be connected to the external trizbar. In this embodiment, since the cable bundle (4) is properly positioned during the manufacturing of the door (K) thanks to the connecting element (5) and the through opening (3a), and since, after the outer body (1) and inner body (2) are joined, the gap therebetween is filled with an insulation material such as polyurethane foam, the door (K), which provides an electrical connection between the trizbar and the body (G), can be manufactured in an easy and reliable manner.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer body (1) comprises at least one outer panel (1a); and at least one side wall (1b), which is provided on a side section of the outer panel (1a), wherein the connecting element (5) is preferably placed on the side wall (1b). In this case, the outer body (1) further comprises at least one side panel (1f), preferably parallel to the outer panel (1a), which is provided on a side of the side wall (1b) away from the outer panel (1a); and at least one recess (1g) located at the side panel (1f). In this embodiment, the connecting element (5) comprises at least one protrusion (5b) suitable for fitting into the recess (1g). Here, the connecting element (5) is positioned in the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2) such that the protrusion (5b) fits into the recess (1g) and at least another portion of the connecting element (5) contacts the side wall (1b). Then, the cable bundle (4) is routed, and the inner body (2) is attached to the outer body (1) such that the through opening (3a) is aligned with the passage channel (5a) in the connection element (5). After this connection, the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2) is filled with the insulation material. Thanks to the recess (1g) and protrusion (5b) structures, the connecting element (5) is kept properly aligned, particularly during the filling of the gap with the insulation material. In this embodiment, said outer body (1) may also comprise at least one upper wall (1c) provided on an upper section of the outer panel (1a) and comprising the inlet opening (1d); and at least one lower panel (1e) provided on a lower section of the outer panel (1a). In this case, a closed-volume structure, which will be filled with insulation material, is obtained by attaching the inner body (2) to the structure formed by the outer panel (1a), two opposite side walls (1b), the upper wall (1c), and the lower wall (1e). Additionally, the inlet opening (1d) is located on a part of the upper wall (1c) that is closer to the side wall (1b) and that does not contain the connecting element (5). Thus, when the door (K) is connected to the body (G) from the side portion in which the trizbar is absent, the cable bundle (4) can be inserted to the door (K) through the inlet opening (1d) on the section where the door is connected to the body (G).

[0046] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting element (5) comprises a thermal insulation material. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting element (5) comprises an expanded foam (such as styrofoam) (specifically made of expanded foam). This ensures that when the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2) is filled with insulation material, any issues related to the insulation material not adequately filling the surrounding area of the connecting element (5), and consequently leading to weak insulation, are avoided.

[0047] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner wall (3) comprises at least one connection section (3b). In this embodiment, the door (K) comprises at least one movable connecting element, such as a hinge, with at least one side thereof connected to the connection section (3b) and at least another side thereof to the trizbar. This allows the trizbar to move in relation to the inner wall (3) and, consequently, the door (K). The invention also discloses a refrigeration appliance (S) comprising said door (K). The refrigeration appliance (S), preferably a refrigerator, comprises at least one body (G) to which the door (K) is attached; at least one inner compartment within the body (G); and at least one refrigeration system for cooling the inner compartment. Said refrigeration system comprises at least one compressor; at least one condenser; at least one evaporator; at least one capillary tube; and at least one refrigerant.

[0048] In the door (K) according to the present invention, the cable bundle (4) providing the electrical connection between the trizbar and the body (G) passes between the outer body

[0049] (1) and the inner body (2). Here, the section of the cable bundle (4) intended to be connected to the trizbar is routed through a passage channel (5a) within a connecting element (5) provided between the outer body (1) and the inner body (2). This prevents the section of the cable bundle (4) intended for connection to the trizbar from being trapped inside the door (K) during production, ensuring reliable manufacturing of the door (K).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A door (K) suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance (S) and comprising at least one outer body (1); at least one inner body (2) attached to the outer body (1) with a gap therebetween; at least one inner wall (3) provided on an inner face of said inner body (2); at least one trizbar attached to the inner wall (3); characterized by comprising: at least one inlet opening (1d) provided on an upper section of the outer body(1) and communicating into the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body(2); at least one connecting element (5) with at least one passage channel (5a), wherein the connecting element (5) is provided within the gap, on a side section of the outer body (1); at least one through opening (3a) provided on said inner wall (3), wherein at least one side of the through opening (3a) is connected to the passage channel (5a), and at least another side thereof communicates into the exterior of the inner wall (3); at least one cable bundle (4) with at least one part provided within the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2), wherein at least one side of the cable bundle (4) protrudes towards external environment through the inlet opening (1d), and at least another side thereof passes through the passage channel (5a) and through opening (3a) to connect to the trizbar; and at least one insulation element provided within the gap between the outer body (1) and inner body (2).

2. A door (K) according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer body (1) comprises at least one outer panel (1a); and at least one side wall (1b), which is provided on a side section of the outer panel (1a).

3. A door (K) according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting element (5) is placed on the side wall (1b)4. A door (K) according to claim 3, characterized in that said outer body (1) comprises at least one side panel (1f) which is provided on a side of the side wall(1b) away from the outer panel (1a); and at least one recess (1g) located at the side panel (1f).

5. A door (K) according to claim 4, characterized in that said connecting element (5) comprises at least one protrusion (5b) suitable for fitting into the recess (1g).

6. A door (K) according to any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said outer body (1) comprises at least one upper wall (1c) provided on an upper section of the outer panel (1a) and comprising the inlet opening (1d); and at least one lower panel (1e) provided on a lower section of the outer panel (1a).

7. A door (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting element (5) comprises a thermal insulation material.

8. A door (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting element (5) is made of an expanded foam.

9. A door (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inner wall (3) comprises at least one connection section (3b).

10. A door (K) according to claim 9, characterized in that the door (K) comprises at least one movable connecting element, with at least one side thereof connected to the connection section (3b) and at least another side thereof to the trizbar.

11. A refrigeration appliance (S) comprising a door (K) according to any of the preceding claims.

12. A refrigeration appliance (S) according to claim 11 , characterized in that the refrigeration appliance (S) comprises at least one body (G) to which the door (K) is attached; at least one inner compartment within the body (G); and at least one refrigeration system for cooling the inner compartment.

13. A refrigeration appliance (S) according to claim 12, characterized in that said refrigeration system comprises at least one compressor; at least one condenser; at least one evaporator; at least one capillary tube; and at least one refrigerant.

14. A refrigeration appliance (S) according to any of the claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the refrigeration appliance (S) is a refrigerator.

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