Refrigerating appliance

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerating appliance (100) for storing food products to be preserved. The refrigerating appliance (100) comprises a compartment (120) adapted to store the food products. The compartment comprises: a front door (125) operable for selectively accessing the compartment; an inner liner (205) comprising an inner liner rear wall (205R) opposite to the front door; a rear panel (210) covering the inner liner rear wall (205R), a gap (215) being defined between the inner liner rear wall and the rear panel, wherein the rear panel (210) comprises a lower rear panel portion (210L) covering a lower region of the inner liner rear wall, and an upper rear panel portion (210u) covering an upper region of the inner liner rear wall; a fan (225) arranged to draw process air from the gap and recirculate it within the compartment, and a cover panel (230) having mounted thereto the fan and detachably coupled to the upper rear panel portion (210u) by means of coupling members (305, 315, 315E, 405, 410u,410E, 410s, 415), the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion forming a fan enclosure.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Refrigerating appliance

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of refrigerating appliances, for domestic or professional use. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a refrigerating appliance comprising a refrigerating compartment (or more thereof).

[0005] Background art

[0006] The background of the present disclosure is hereinafter introduced with the discussion of techniques relating to its context. However, even when this discussion refers to documents, acts, artifacts and the like, it does not suggest or represent that the discussed techniques are part of the prior art or are common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure.

[0007] A refrigerating appliance is configured to store food products to be preserved. A conventional refrigerating appliance comprises a cabinet enclosing one or more refrigerating compartments (or compartments).

[0008] With reference to a freezer compartment as an example of refrigerating compartment, a conventional freezer compartment comprises an inner liner, and a rear panel coupled to an inner liner rear wall for providing structural support and heat insulation. When the rear panel and the inner liner rear wall are coupled to each other, a gap or air duct is defined between them.

[0009] A conventional freezer compartment comprises a refrigeration system, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator arranged in the air duct.

[0010] In use, the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator is evaporated by heat transfer from relatively-warm process air, then it is fed to the compressor where it is raised to higher pressures, thereafter it is fed to the condenser where it is cooled down (thereby becoming liquid), and finally it flows through the expansion device where it is expanded and is made to flow through the evaporator again.

[0011] A known freezer compartment comprises a fan mounted on the rear panel and configured to draw process air from the air duct and recirculate it within the freezer compartment. During operation, under the action of the fan, the relatively-warm process air in the cooling volume of the refrigerating compartment is guided through the air duct and through the evaporator arranged therein (where the relatively-warm process air is cooled by transferring heat to the cold refrigerant flowing through the evaporator), thereafter it is re-introduced in the cooling volume of the freezer compartment.

[0012] Summary

[0013] The Applicant has realized that the known freezer compartment is not satisfactory.

[0014] Indeed, the Applicant has ascertained that mounting the fan on the rear panel requires the use, in the rear panel, of dedicated mounting structures (for example, in the form of mounting pillars). The mounting structures are bulky or relatively bulky, and undesirably intercept the cooled process air exiting the fan and directed towards one or more cooling zones of the cooling volume.

[0015] When the mounting structures are hit by the cooled process air exiting the fan, significant noise is generated.

[0016] Moreover, when the mounting structures are hit by the cooled process air exiting the fan, process air direction becomes uncontrollable: particularly, air vortices are produced that could affect the cooling process of one or more of the cooling zones. In order to compensate it, operation of the fan at higher speeds is a conventional approach, which, however, results in a further noise increase and in a higher power consumption.

[0017] The Applicant has devised a refrigerating appliance capable of overcoming the above- mentioned, as well as other, drawbacks.

[0018] A simplified summary of the present disclosure is herein presented in order to provide a basic understanding thereof; however, the sole purpose of this summary is to introduce some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to its following more detailed description, and it is not to be interpreted as an identification of its key elements nor as a delineation of its scope.

[0019] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerating appliance for storing food products to be preserved. The refrigerating appliance comprises a compartment adapted to store the food products. The compartment comprises a front door operable for selectively accessing the compartment. The compartment comprises an inner liner comprising an inner liner rear wall opposite to the front door. The compartment comprises a rear panel covering the inner liner rear wall, a gap being defined between the inner liner rear wall and the rear panel. The rear panel comprises a lower rear panel portion covering a lower region of the inner liner rear wall, and an upper rear panel portion covering an upper region of the inner liner rear wall. The compartment comprises a fan arranged to draw process air from the gap and recirculate it within the compartment. The compartment comprises a cover panel having mounted thereto the fan and detachably coupled to the upper rear panel portion by means of coupling members, the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion forming a fan enclosure.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the coupling members are configured to allow the cover panel to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion to and from a closed position in which the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion are coupled to form the fan enclosure.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the coupling members comprise a lock mechanism for locking the cover panel in an opened position in which the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion are at least partially separate from each other.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the coupling members comprise a movement mechanism to allow the cover panel to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion to and from the closed position by tilting the cover panel with respect to the upper rear panel portion.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the lock mechanism comprises a tilt-lock mechanism for locking the cover panel in the opened position, the opened position being tilted with respect to the closed position.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the coupling members comprise a closure-lock mechanism for locking the cover panel in the closed position.

[0025] According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel, the cover panel is substantially flush with the lower rear panel portion.

[0026] According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel, the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion define an air guiding structure within said fan enclosure.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the air guiding structure comprises at least a first V- shaped air baffle and a second V-shaped air baffle.

[0028] According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel, the first and second V-shaped air baffles are arranged at opposite sides of the fan in a mutually flipped configuration. According to an embodiment, the air guiding structure is configured to split, in use, the process air exiting the fan into one or more upward process air flows and one or more downward process air flows.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the fan enclosure comprises one or more upper air outlet openings allowing, in use, the one or more upward process air flows to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards an upper region of the compartment.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the fan enclosure comprises one or more lower air outlet openings allowing, in use, the one or more downward process air flows to exit from the fan enclosure and to flow towards one or more lower regions of the compartment.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the lower rear panel portion comprises at least one air channel in fluid or aeraulic communication with at least one of said one or more lower air outlet openings for channeling at least one of the one or more downward process air flows towards a lowermost region of the compartment.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the lower rear panel portion comprises at least one air diverter configured to divert at least part of the one or more downward process air flows coming from at least a subset of said one or more lower air outlet openings towards an intermediate region of the compartment.

[0033] According to an embodiment, said compartment is a freezer compartment adapted to store frozen food products.

[0034] Brief description of the annexed drawings

[0035] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be made apparent by the following description of an exemplary and non-limitative embodiment thereof; for its better intelligibility, the following description should be read referring to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0036] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refrigerating appliance according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0037] Figure 2A shows an exploded view of main components of a freezer compartment of the refrigerating appliance, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0038] Figure 2B shows some of the main components of Figure 2A in a partly coupled configuration, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figures 3A and 3B show front and rear views, respectively, of a cover panel of the freezer compartment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a rear panel of the freezer compartment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and

[0040] Figures 5A and 5B show side views of the cover panel coupled to the rear panel in closed and opened positions, respectively, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0042] With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refrigerating appliance 100 (e.g., for domestic or professional use) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] In the following, only features of the refrigerating appliance 100 that are deemed relevant for the understanding of the present disclosure will be discussed, with well-known features and / or obvious variants thereof that will be omitted for the sake of conciseness.

[0044] In the following, when one or more features are introduced by the wording “according to an embodiment”, they are to be construed as features additional or alternative or optional to any features previously introduced, unless otherwise indicated and / or unless there is evident incompatibility among feature combinations.

[0045] In the following, directional terminology (for example, upper, lower, top, bottom, lateral, side, front, rear, longitudinal, transverse, vertical) associated with the refrigerating appliance 100 and components thereof will be used only in connection with their orientation in the figures, which is assumed as their orientation of use ( / .e., the orientation taken when the refrigerating appliance 100 is installed in the user premises). Therefore, directional terminology should be under no circumstances construed in absolute terms.

[0046] In the following, the directional terminology is referred to mutually orthogonal reference directions X, Y, and Z, denoted as longitudinal direction X, transverse direction Y, and vertical direction Z (the X-Y plane identifying, for example, a plane where the refrigerating appliance 100, in use, is intended to rest).

[0047] According to an embodiment, the refrigerating appliance 100 is configured to store food products to be preserved.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the refrigerating appliance 100 is a stand-alone refrigerating appliance. Anyway, the present disclosure equivalently applies to built-in refrigerating appliances.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises a cabinet 105. According to an embodiment, the cabinet 105 is substantially parallelepiped-shaped.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the cabinet 105 encloses (or, more generally, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises) one or more refrigerating compartments (such one or more fridge compartments and one or more freezer compartments, as discussed here below).

[0051] According to an embodiment, the cabinet 105 encloses (or, more generally, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises) a fresh food storage compartment (hereinafter, fridge compartment) 110, or more thereof, adapted to store fresh food products to be preserved.

[0052] The fridge compartment 110 may comprise or be associated with one or more accessories for the organized positioning of the food products to be refrigerated, such as one or more among shelves, bottle-holder components, fruit and vegetable storage drawers, dairy storage compartments, meat and fish storage compartments, egg storage compartments, and water dispensers. In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the fridge compartment 110 comprises or is associated with shelves 110s, bottle-holder components 110B, and fruit and vegetable storage drawers 110D.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises a front door (hereinafter, fridge door) 115 operable for selectively accessing the fridge compartment 110.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the cabinet 105 encloses (or, more generally, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises) a frozen food storage compartment (hereinafter, freezer compartment) 120, or more thereof, adapted to store frozen food products, particularly food products to freeze or to keep frozen, the refrigerating appliance 100 thus identifying a so-called combined refrigerator-freezer appliance or fridge-freezer appliance.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises or is associated with a plurality of separate chambers defining respective cooling zones. According to an embodiment, the separate chambers are arranged at different levels along the vertical direction Z. According to an embodiment, each chamber is designed as a slidably supported drawer.

[0056] In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises or is associated with a top drawer 120DI located at an upper region of the freezer compartment 120, and one or more lower drawers located at one or more lower regions of the freezer compartment 120. In the exemplary considered embodiment, the lower drawers comprise a bottom drawer 120D3 located at a lowermost or bottom region of the freezer compartment 120, and an intermediate drawer 120D2 located at an intermediate region of the freezer compartment 120 between the upper and lowermost regions. Nonetheless, the principles of present disclosure equivalently apply for any numbers of drawers or chambers (such as two drawers or chambers, or more than three drawers or chambers), and for any arrangements or positioning thereof.

[0057] In the following, the top drawer 120DI, the intermediate drawer 120D2, and the bottom drawer 120D3 will be concisely referred to also as freezer drawers 120DI-120D3, when distinguishing among them will not be deemed relevant for the discussed feature(s).

[0058] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 is thermally insulated from the fridge compartment 110 (or from other refrigerating compartment(s)).

[0059] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises a refrigeration system (discussed in the following). The refrigeration system may be a dedicated refrigerating system of the freezer compartment 120 ( / .e., a refrigerating system independent from the refrigeration system of the fridge compartment 110, or from the refrigeration system(s) of other refrigerating compartment(s), if present), or a single refrigerating system associated with both the fridge compartment 110 and the freezer compartment 120.

[0060] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 is arranged, along the vertical direction Z, below the fridge compartment 110. Without losing generality, the fridge compartment 110 and the freezer compartment 120 may be arranged in any mutual position and / or in any position with respect to other refrigerating compartments (if any). Just as an example, the freezer compartment 120 may be positioned at the top, bottom, side or in any other position inside the refrigerating appliance 100.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 is smaller (in capacity and / or volume) than the fridge compartment 110, although this should not be construed limitatively.

[0062] According to an embodiment, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises a front door (hereinafter, freezer door) 125 operable for selectively accessing the freezer compartment 120. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the refrigerating appliance 100 may comprise a single front door for selectively accessing both the fridge compartment 110 and the freezer compartment 120.

[0063] Although in the foregoing explicit reference has been made to a refrigerating appliance comprising both a fridge compartment and a freezer compartment, the principles of the present disclosure equivalently apply to a refrigerating appliance comprising the freezer compartment 120 and two or more additional refrigerating compartments (including one or more fridge compartments, such as the fridge compartment 110, and one or more freezer compartments, such as freezer compartments analogous to or different from the freezer compartment 120), regardless of number and / or shape and / or size and / or position of the freezer compartment 120 and of the additional refrigerating compartment(s).

[0064] Moreover, although in the foregoing explicit reference has been made to a refrigerating appliance comprising both a fridge compartment and a freezer compartment, the principles of the present disclosure equivalently apply to a refrigerating appliance comprising the freezer compartment 120 and no additional refrigerating compartment(s) ( / .e., a refrigerating appliance comprising only the freezer compartment 120).

[0065] In addition, although embodiments of the present disclosure will be discussed with exemplary reference to the freezer compartment 120, they may be equivalently applied to the fridge compartment 110 (or to any other compartment(s)).

[0066] With reference to Figure 2A, it shows an exploded view of main components of the freezer compartment 120 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In Figure 2A, the freezer compartment 120 is illustrated without the cabinet 105, without the freezer drawers 120DI-120D3, and without the freezer door 125.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises an inner liner 205. According to an embodiment, the inner liner 205 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 is delimited by walls of the inner liner 205, such as a rear wall 205R (e.g., parallel to the X-Z plane) opposite to the freezer door 125, opposite lateral walls 205si ,205s2 (e.g., parallel to the Y-Z plane), and opposite top 205r and bottom 205B walls (e.g., parallel to the X-Y plane).

[0069] According to an embodiment, the rear wall 205R Of the inner liner 205 (hereinafter, inner liner rear wall 205R) is shaped to define, between it and the cabinet 105, a compressor housing 205H for housing a compressor of the refrigeration system (the compressor being not shown). According to an embodiment, the compressor housing 205H is located at a bottom of the refrigerating appliance 100.

[0070] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises a rear panel 210. According to an embodiment, the rear panel 210 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the rear panel 210 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the inner liner 205.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 are coupled to each other, for example in a reversible manner. With reference also to Figure 2B, it shows the inner liner 205 and the rear panel 210 in a partially coupled configuration (with the rear panel 210 that is shown partially installed, slightly away from the inner liner rear wall 205R).

[0072] According to an embodiment, when the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 are coupled to each other, the rear panel 210 covers the inner liner rear wall 205R, for example for providing structural support (e.g., for preventing the inner liner 205, particularly the inner liner rear wall 205R from warping or bending) and heat insulation.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the rear panel 210 comprises a lower rear panel portion 210L and an upper rear panel portion 210u. According to an embodiment, when the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 are coupled to each other, the lower rear panel portion 210L covers a lower region of the inner liner rear wall 205R and the upper rear panel portion 210u covers an upper region of the inner liner rear wall 205R.

[0074] According to an embodiment, when the rear panel 210 and the inner liner rear wall 205R are coupled to each other, a gap or air duct 215 is defined between the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 (the air gap 215 being visible in Figure 2B).

[0075] According to an embodiment, when the rear panel 210 and the inner liner rear wall 205R are coupled to each other, a volume of the freezer compartment 120 delimited by the rear panel 210, the lateral walls 205SI,205S2 of the inner liner 205, and the top 205T and bottom 205B walls of the inner liner 205 defines a cooling volume of the freezer compartment 120 (where chambers, such as the freezer drawers 120DI-120D3, are arranged to define the corresponding cooling zones).

[0076] According to an embodiment, as mentioned above, the freezer compartment 120 comprises a refrigeration system. According to an embodiment, the refrigeration system comprises an evaporator 220 for cooling relatively-warm process air to be recirculated in the freezer compartment 120. According to an embodiment, the evaporator 220 is arranged in the air duct 215 (as visible in Figure 2B). In alternative embodiments, not shown, the evaporator 220 may be placed in any suitable position, for example depending on structural and / or operational characteristics of the freezer compartment 120 or of part thereof. Just as an example, the evaporator 220 may be placed behind the inner liner 205, for example behind the inner liner rear wall 205R.

[0077] According to an embodiment, the refrigeration system further comprises the compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), and an expansion device (not shown). In use, the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator 220 is evaporated by heat transfer from the relatively-warm process air, then it is fed to the compressor where it is raised to higher pressures, thereafter it is fed to the condenser where it is cooled down (thereby becoming liquid), and finally it flows through the expansion device where it is expanded and is made to flow through the evaporator 220 again.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises a fan, such as a centrifugal fan or a radial fan, 225 (or more thereof) arranged to draw process air from the air duct 215 and recirculate it within the freezer compartment 120. According to an embodiment, the fan 225 comprises an air intake configured to face, in use, an air inlet aperture A of the real panel 210 (particularly, of the upper real panel portion 210u): the fan 225 is therefore in fluid (or aeraulic) communication with the air duct 215, which allows drawing of process air from the air duct 215.

[0079] During operation, under the action of the fan 225, the relatively-warm process air in the cooling volume is guided through the air duct 215 and through the evaporator 220 arranged therein (where the relatively-warm process air is cooled by transferring heat to the cold refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 220), thereafter it is re-introduced in the cooling volume of the freezer compartment 120 (as discussed in the following).

[0080] According to an embodiment, the freezer compartment 120 comprises a cover panel 230 having mounted thereto the fan 225 (the fan 225 and the cover panel 230 being shown in Figure 2A in a dismounted configuration for illustrative purposes). According to an embodiment, the cover panel 230 comprises a frame structure S for mounting the fan 225 to the cover panel 230. Without losing generality, the frame structure S may comprise pre-drilled holes (e.g., for mounting through standard screws and tools) and markings guides or rails for positioning / alignment. Without losing generality, the frame structure S may be configured with adjustable mounting points to ensure compatibility with a wide range of fan models and / or sizes.

[0081] In the following, whenever operative states of the cover panel 230 are cited (including, but not limited to, coupled / decoupled conditions, opened / closed positions, opening / closing movements, and locked / unlocked conditions), they are meant to indicate the cover panel 230 with the fan 225 mounted thereto (which is the intended configuration or condition of use). Nonetheless, the operative states of the cover panel 230 may equally indicate the cover panel 230 alone ( / .e., without the fan 225 mounted thereto), in that the capability of the cover panel 230 of taking the operative states is due to its structural features ( / .e., regardless of whether or not the fan 225 is mounted to the cover panel 230).

[0082] Without losing generality, the cover panel 230 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. Without losing generality, the cover panel 230 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the rear panel 210.

[0083] According to an embodiment, the cover panel 230 is detachably coupled to the upper rear panel portion 210u (the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u being shown in Figure 2A in a decoupled condition for illustrative purposes), for example by means of coupling members (discussed in the following).

[0084] Figures 3A and 3B show front and rear views, respectively, of the cover panel 230 according to embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the rear panel 210 according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and Figures 5A and 5B show side views of the cover panel 230 coupled to the rear panel 210 in closed and opened positions, respectively, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of completeness, Figure 3B also shows, with phantom lines, a schematic representation of the fan 225 mounted on the cover panel 230, particularly on the frame structure S.

[0085] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the rear view of the cover panel 230 exhibits a rear part or surface of the cover panel 230 that, in use ( / .e., when the cover panel 230 is coupled to the rear panel 210 and is in a closed position), faces the upper rear panel portion 210u. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the front view of the cover panel 230 exhibits a front part or surface of the cover panel 230 (opposite the rear part or surface thereof) that, in use, forms (together with the lower rear panel portion 21 OL) the rear wall of cooling volume.

[0086] According to an embodiment, the coupling members are configured to allow the cover panel 230 to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou between a closed position (visible in Figure 5A) in which the cover panel 230 covers the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou, and an opened position (visible in Figure 5B) in which the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou are at least partially separate from each other. Thus, when the cover panel 230 is coupled to the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou, movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u is allowed between the closed and opened positions.

[0087] According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u face to each other, e.g., parallel to the X-Z plane. According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 is substantially flush with the lower rear panel portion 210L, SO as form, together with lower rear panel portion 210L, a flat or substantially flat surface (also referred to as rear wall of the cooling volume).

[0088] According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u form or define a fan enclosure (discussed in the following). For the purposes of the present disclosure, a fan enclosure is or comprises a housing or casing that almost completely surrounds the fan (with the exception of the air inlet aperture A and of air outlet openings, discussed in the following), with the primary purposes of fan protection and noise reduction.

[0089] Having a fan enclosure formed by the fan 225 mounted on the cover panel 230 rather than on the rear panel 210 allows avoiding the use, in the rear panel 210, of dedicated mounting structures which could be hit by the process air exiting the fan thereby resulting in increased noise and uncontrollable process air flow directions. Thus, having a fan enclosure formed by the fan 225 mounted on the cover panel 230 provides for noise reduction and controllable process air flow directions: in its turns, controllable process air flow directions allow operating the fan 225 at lower speeds, thus resulting in a further noise reduction and in lower power consumptions.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u is or comprises a tilting movement, namely a rotational movement of the cover panel 230 between an upright position (e.g., corresponding to the closed position of the cover panel 230) and a slanted or inclined position being tilted with respect to the closed position (e.g., corresponding to the opened position of the cover panel 230). In the following, the movement of the cover panel 230 towards the closed position will be also referred to as closing movement, and the movement of the cover panel 230 towards the opened position will be also referred to as opening movement. Without losing generality, the opening movement of the cover panel 230 may be performed by a pulling (e.g., downward) force exerted on the cover panel 230, and the closing movement of the cover panel 230 may be performed by a pushing (e.g., upward) force exerted on the cover panel 230.

[0091] According to an embodiment, the coupling members comprise a movement mechanism configured to allow the cover panel 230 to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u between the opened and closed positions with a tilting or rotation movement, i.e., by tilting or rotating the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u.

[0092] According to an embodiment, the movement mechanism allows the tilting or rotation movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u by means of both translational and rotational actions of the movement mechanism (as discussed below). In alternative embodiments, the movement mechanism may allow the tilting or rotation movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u by means of only translational action of the movement mechanism.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the movement mechanism comprises a first movement mechanism part associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210, and a second movement mechanism part associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230, the first and second movement mechanism parts being adapted to cooperate with each other (as discussed below).

[0094] According to an embodiment, the movement mechanism comprises one or more (e.g., two) pins 305 (visible in Figure 3B) associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230 (in preferred embodiments, discussed in the following, the pins 305 are associated with (e.g., formed at) opposite side movement arms of the cover panel 230), and one or more (e.g., two) holes 405 (only one visible in Figure 4) associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210 (particularly, the upper rear panel portion 210u) and each one adapted to receive a respective pin 305. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the movement mechanism may comprise pins associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210 (particularly, in the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou) and holes associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230.

[0095] According to an embodiment, each pin 305 is configured to be inserted into a respective hole 405; once inserted, the pins 305 provide (by cooperation with the respective holes 405) the rotational action of the movement mechanism. According to an embodiment, the rotational action of the movement mechanism allows the cover panel 230 to hingedly rotate ( / .e., rotate with a pivot or hinged movement) relative to the rear panel 210 (particularly, relative to the upper rear panel portion 210u) about a rotation axis of the cover panel 230 identified by the line segment ideally joining the pins 305. According to an embodiment, as better discussed in the following, the rotational action of the movement mechanism (which is made possible and triggered by the insertion of the pins 305 into the respective holes 405) takes place when the cover panel 230 is very close to the upper rear panel portion 210u ( / .e., when the cover panel 230 is almost in the closed position), for example at a final phase of the closing movement or, equivalently, at an initial phase of the opening movement.

[0096] Without losing generality, the rotation axis of the cover panel 230 may extend along any suitable direction.

[0097] According to an embodiment (as shown), the rotation axis of the cover panel 230 extends along the longitudinal direction X.

[0098] According to alternative embodiments (not shown), the rotation axis of the cover panel 230 extends along the vertical direction Z. In these embodiments, the cover panel 230 may be rotated with a swing movement.

[0099] Without losing generality, the pins 305 and the holes 405 may be cylindrical, conical, or of any suitable geometry. Without losing generality, shape and / or size of the pins 305 and of the holes 405 may be designed to ensure easy and stable insertion, while minimizing undesired play.

[0100] Without losing generality, the pins 305 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the pins 305 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the cover panel 230. Just an example, the pins 305 may be formed in a single piece with the cover panel 230.

[0101] Without losing generality, the holes 405 may be through holes (so as to allow the pins 305 to pass completely from one side to the other of the rear panel 210, particularly of the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou) or blind holes (thereby allowing only partial insertion of the pins 305, which may grant easy decoupling of the cover panel 230 from the rear panel 210). According to embodiments (not shown), the holes 405 may incorporate seals to reduce friction and improve the smoothness of movement.

[0102] Without losing generality, the pins 305 may be inserted into the holes 405 by pressure, by means of a snap mechanism, or by screwing.

[0103] According to an embodiment, the movement mechanism comprises one or more (e.g., two) movement arms 310 (visible in Figures 3A and 3B, and in Figures 5A and B) associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230, and one or more (e.g., two) seats 410 (only one visible in Figure 4) associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210.

[0104] According to an embodiment, the movement arms 310 have an elongated shape, although this should not be construed limitatively. According to an embodiment, the movement arms 310 extend along the transverse direction Y, although this should not be construed limitatively. According to an embodiment, each movement arm 310 extends, along the transverse direction Y, from the rear part of the cover panel 230. According to an embodiment, the movement arms 310 are provided, along the longitudinal direction X, at lower opposite sides of the rear part of the cover panel 230.

[0105] Without losing generality, the movement arms 310 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the movement arms 310 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the cover panel 230. Just an example, the movement arms 310 may be formed in a single piece with the cover panel 230.

[0106] According to an embodiment, each pin 305 is associated with (e.g., formed at) a distal end of the respective movement arm 310. According to an embodiment, the pins 305 are formed in a single piece with the respective movement arms 310.

[0107] According to an embodiment, the seats 410 extend along the transverse direction Y, although this should not be construed limitatively. According to an embodiment, the seats 410 are provided, along the longitudinal direction X, at lower opposite edges of the upper rear panel portion 210u.

[0108] Without losing generality, the seats 410 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the seats 410 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou. Just an example, the seats 410 may be formed in a single piece with the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou.

[0109] According to an embodiment, the seats 410 have an elongated shape, although this should not be construed limitatively. In the exemplary embodiment, the seats 410 are in the form of elongated recesses, preferably blind elongated recesses, although this should not be construed limitatively. According to an embodiment, each hole 405 is associated with (e.g., formed at) a distal end of the respective seat 410.

[0110] According to an embodiment, each seat 410 comprises an upper edge 410u adapted to form an abutment portion for the pin 305 of the respective hinge arm 310. Without losing generality, the abutment portions may also be formed in parts of the rear panel 210 other than the seats 410.

[0111] According to an embodiment, each pin 305, when outside the respective hole 405 (and when a pulling or pushing force is exerted on the cover panel 230), is configured to slide along the upper edge 410u of the respective seat 410. As better discussed in the following, the sliding of the pins 305 along the respective upper edges 410u provides the translational action (along the transverse direction Y) of the movement mechanism. According to an embodiment, the translational action of the movement mechanism allows the cover panel 230 to rotate relative to the rear panel 210 (particularly, relative to the upper rear panel portion 210u) while translating along the transverse direction Y.

[0112] In operation, during the closing movement of the cover panel 230 (pushing force acting on it), the pins 305 slide (in a forward direction) along the upper edges 410u of the respective seats 410, which causes the cover panel 230 to rotate relative to (and towards) the upper rear panel portion 210u while translating along the transverse direction Y (translational action of the movement mechanism); then, at the end of their travel along the upper edges 410u of the respective seats 410, the pins 305 fit into the respective holes 405, which causes the cover panel 230 (pushing force still acting on it) to hingedly rotate into the closed position (rotational action of the movement mechanism).

[0113] In operation, during the opening movement of the cover panel 230 (pulling force acting on it), as long as the pins 305 are in the respective holes 405, the cover panel 230 is caused to hingedly rotate towards the opened position (rotational action of the movement mechanism); then, when the pins 305 are extracted from the respective holes 405 (operation that may for example be performed by temporarily deforming the movement arms 310 outwards), the pins 305 slide (in a backward direction) along the upper edges 410u of the respective seats 410, which causes the cover panel 230 (pulling force still acting on it) to rotate relative to and away from the upper rear panel portion 210u while translating along the transverse direction Y (translational action of the movement mechanism).

[0114] According to an embodiment, the coupling members comprise a lock mechanism for locking the cover panel 230 in the opened position.

[0115] When the cover panel 230 is locked in the opened position, the cover panel 230 is stably kept or maintained in the opened position without human intervention. This advantageously allows an operator (such as a production line worker or an appliance assembler or an appliance repairman) to perform electrical connections of the fan 225 (for example, to a connection or terminal box of the refrigerating appliance 100, not shown) with both free hands, thus without having to worry about or deal or handle the fan 225 and / or the cover panel 230 while making the electrical connections: this results in lower risks for the operator, and lower working / assembling / repairing costs and times.

[0116] According to embodiments (not shown), the lock mechanism is or comprises an active lock mechanism ( / .e., a lock mechanism that requires an external force or action to enable locking, namely a lock mechanism that has to be manually activated). In these embodiments, an active or passive unlock mechanism (not shown) may be provided to unlock the cover panel 230 thereby allowing movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u.

[0117] According to embodiments (discussed here below), the lock mechanism is or comprises a passive lock mechanism ( / .e., a lock mechanism that requires no external force or action to enable locking, namely a lock mechanism that automatically intervenes when the cover panel 230 is in the opened position). In these embodiments, no unlock mechanism is advantageously provided, and the unlocking (and movement) of the cover panel 230 is allowed by simple manual actuation of the cover panel 230 (such as a push action by the operator) from the opened position.

[0118] In the exemplary considered embodiment, the lock mechanism may advantageously comprise a tilt-lock mechanism for locking the cover panel 230 in the opened position. According to an embodiment, each seat 410 comprises an end edge 410E (visible in Figure 4) adapted to form an end stroke for the respective pin 305 when the cover panel 230 is in the opened position (Figure 5B): when, during the opening movement or rotation of the cover panel 230, the pins 305 running along the upper edges 410u (in the backward direction) abut on the end edges 410E of the respective seats 410, any further running of the pins 305 along the upper edges 410u in the backward direction (and, hence, any further opening movement or rotation of the cover panel 230) is prevented.

[0119] According to an embodiment, the rear panel 210 (particularly, the lower rear panel portion 210L) comprises one or more (e.g., two) support members 410s (visible in Figures 4, 5A and 5B) configured to support the cover panel 230 (particularly, lower ends thereof) from below when the cover panel 230 is in the opened position. This results, together with the end stroke function of the end edges 410E, in the cover panel 230 being locked or held in the opened position (in an automatic manner, i.e., without human intervention).

[0120] According to an embodiment, the support members 410s are arranged at a top of the lower rear panel portion 210L. According to an embodiment, each support member 410s is associated with (e.g., arranged below) a respective seat 410.

[0121] According to an embodiment, the support members 410s are arranged and / or shaped to receive lower ends of the cover panel 230. Just as an example, each support member 410s is arranged essentially orthogonally to the lower rear panel portion 210L (i.e., orthogonally to the X-Z plane. In the exemplary considered embodiment, each support member 410s is shaped so as to define an undercut portion 410sc (or more thereof) adapted to receive the lower ends of the cover panel 230 (so as to support the cover panel 230 from below) when the cover panel 230 is in the opened position (see Figure 5B).

[0122] Without losing generality, the support members 410s may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the support members 410s may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the lower rear panel portion 210L. Just an example, the support members 410s may be formed in a single piece with the lower rear panel portion 210L.

[0123] Thus, in the exemplary considered embodiment, the tilt-lock mechanism is achieved by cooperation between a first tilt-lock mechanism part associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210 ( / .e., the end edges 410E and the support members 410s) and a second tilt-lock mechanism part associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230 ( / .e., the pins 305 and the lower ends of the cover panel 230).

[0124] According to an embodiment, the coupling members comprise a closure-lock mechanism for locking or securing the cover panel 230 in the closed position.

[0125] According to an embodiment, the closure-lock mechanism provides a snap-fit engagement between the cover panel 230 and the rear panel 210 (particularly, the upper rear panel portion 210u). This advantageously allows achieving secure locking of the cover panel 230 (indeed, the snap-fit engagement generates a positive lock that resists accidental or forced opening of the cover panel 230).

[0126] According to an embodiment, the closure-lock mechanism comprises one or more (e.g., two) cantilever beams 315 (visible in Figures 3A and 3B) associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230 (preferably, as illustrated, at a top thereof), one or more (e.g., two) snap-fit engagement portions 315E (visible in Figures 3A and 3B) each one associated with (e.g., formed in) a respective cantilever beam 315 (preferably, as illustrated, at a free end thereof), and one or more (e.g., two) snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 (only one visible in Figure 4) associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 210 (particularly, in the upper rear panel portion 210u) and each one adapted to receive a respective snap-fit engagement portion 315E to achieve the snap-fit engagement. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the closure-lock mechanism may comprise cantilever beams (and corresponding snap-fit engagement portions) associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210 and snap-fit engagement receptacles associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230.

[0127] Thanks to the cantilever design, the space required for the closure-lock mechanism is minimized.

[0128] According to an embodiment, the cantilever beams 315 are in the form of flexible arms or walls.

[0129] Without losing generality, the cantilever beams 315 and / or the snap-fit engagement portions 315E may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the cantilever beams 315 and / or the snap-fit engagement portions 315E may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the cover panel 230. Just an example, the cantilever beams 315 may be formed in a single piece with the cover panel 230, and / or the snap-fit engagement portions 315E may be formed in a single piece with the cantilever beams 315.

[0130] Without losing generality, the snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou. Just an example, the snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 may be formed in a single piece with the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou.

[0131] Without losing generality, the snap-fit engagement portions 315E may be in the form of hooks, dented balls or friction edges. In the exemplary considered embodiment, the snap-fit engagement portions 315E comprise actuation members (such as levers or pins) configured to allow the operator to release or undo the snap-fit engagement. This advantageously allows convenient opening and closing of the cover panel 230, and particularly a multiple use capability ( / .e., repeated opening and closing of the cover panel 230 without wear or damage).

[0132] Without losing generality, the snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 may be in the form of notches, cavities, grooves.

[0133] In use, when the cover panel 230 is coupled to the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou and has reached the closed position, a low or relatively low pressure to the cover panel 230 causes the cantilever beams 315 to flex from their rest position, which allows the snap-fit engagement portions 315E to fit into the respective snap-fit engagement receptacles 415, thereafter the cantilever beams 315 flex back towards their rest position thereby enabling the locking of the cover panel 230 in the closed position. When releasable snap-fit engagement is provided, a low or relatively low pressure on the snap-fit engagement portions 315E causes the cantilever beams 315 to flex, which allows the snap-fit engagement portions 315E to exit from the respective snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 and the cover panel 230 to be rotated towards the opened position (while the cantilever beams 315 flex back to their rest position).

[0134] According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u form an air guiding structure within the fan enclosure. For the purposes of the present disclosure, an air guiding structure is or comprises a frame surrounding the fan 225, with the primary purpose of efficiently guiding or directing airflows from the fan 225 towards the different cooling zones of the cooling volume. According to an embodiment, the air guiding structure is configured to split, in use, the process air exiting the fan 225 into one or more upward process air flows and one or more downward process air flows.

[0135] According to an embodiment, the air guiding structure comprises one or more (e.g., two) air baffles 320i ,3202 (visible in Figure 3B) provided in the cover panel 230.

[0136] According to an embodiment, the air baffles 320I,3202 have a same general profile, for example a V-shaped profile. In the exemplary considered embodiment, each air baffle 320I,3202 has a rounded V-shaped profile, such as a nose-like profile, comprising a tip and a pair of walls (particularly, a straight or substantially straight wall and a curved wall) connected at the tip.

[0137] Although having the same general profile, the profile of the air baffle 320i is or may be different from the profile of the air baffle 3202 (this difference resulting for example from design optimizations).

[0138] According to an embodiment, the air baffles 320I,3202 are arranged, along the longitudinal direction X, at opposite sides of the fan 225 (or, equivalently, at opposite sides of the frame structure S), preferably in a mutually flipped configuration ( / .e., in a mutually 180- degree rotated configuration).

[0139] According to an embodiment, the air baffles 320-1,3202 are configured to split, in use, the process air exiting the fan 225 into upward process airflows UFi, UF2 and downward process air flows DFI,DF2. In the exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the upward process air flow UF1 is essentially or mainly determined by guiding action of the curved wall of the air baffle 320i, the upward process air flow UF2 is essentially or mainly determined by guiding action of the substantially straight wall of the air baffle 3202, the downward process air flow DF1 is essentially or mainly determined by guiding action of the substantially straight wall of the air baffle 320i , and the downward process air flow DF2 is essentially or mainly determined by guiding action of the curved wall of the air baffle 3202. The upward process air flows UFI,UF2 and the downward process air flows DFI,DF2 are shown in Figure 3B with arrows having different patterns to distinguish them from each other.

[0140] According to an embodiment, the air guiding structure comprises one or more (e.g., two) air baffles 420-1,4202 (visible in Figure 4) provided in the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou. In the exemplary considered embodiment, the air baffles 420I,4202 have substantially same shape, size, and arrangement as the air baffles 320I,3202, respectively. According to an embodiment, in the closed position of the cover panel 230, the air baffles 320-1,3202 and the air baffles 420I,4202 are configured to juxtapose with each other ( / .e., with the air baffle 320i that juxtaposes with the air baffle 420i, and with the air baffle 3202 that juxtaposes with the air baffle 42O2), thus providing a reinforced air guiding structure that is capable of withstanding (and, hence, efficiently deflecting) process air with high or relatively high speed and pressure, while avoiding air leaks.

[0141] Thus, in the exemplary considered embodiment, the air guiding structure comprises a first air guiding structure part provided in the cover panel 230 ( / .e., the air baffles 320i ,3202) and a second air guiding structure part provided the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou ( / .e., the air baffles 420I,4202) cooperating with each other to define the air guiding structure, wherein the first and second air guiding structure parts are substantially identical to each other.

[0142] In alternative embodiments (not shown), the first and second air guiding structure parts may have mutually complementary shapes and / or size and / or arrangements, so as to define the air guiding structure (such as air baffles similar to the air baffles 320I,3202 or to the air baffles 420i ,4202) once the cover panel 230 is in the closed position. In further alternative embodiments (also not shown), the air guiding structure may be provided in the upper rear panel portion 210u only or in the cover panel 230 only.

[0143] Without losing generality, the first air guiding structure part (when provided) and / or the second air guiding structure part (when provided) may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the first air guiding structure part (when provided) may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the cover panel 230, and / or the second air guiding structure part (when provided) may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the upper rear panel portion 210u. Just an example, the first air guiding structure part (such as the air baffles 320I,3202) may be formed in a single piece with the cover panel 230, and / or the second air guiding structure part (such as the air baffles 420i ,4202) may be formed in a single piece with the upper rear panel portion 210u.

[0144] According to an embodiment, the fan enclosure comprises one or more (e.g., two) upper air outlet openings (in the following referred to as upper openings for the sake of conciseness) UOPI,UOP2 allowing, in use, the upward process air flows UFI,UF2 to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards the upper region of the freezer compartment ( / .e., the cooling zone of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the top drawer 120DI). According to an embodiment, the amount of upward process air flows UFi, UF2 is higher than the amount of downward process airflows, so that at least part of the upward process airflows UF1, UF2 exiting the fan 225 through the upper openings UOPI,UOP2 is capable of reaching the freezer door: this advantageously provides a frost-prevention action, namely a reduction of the buildup of frost around freezer door seals (due to minimization of temperature fluctuations and condensation ensured by cold process air hitting the freezer door). Indeed, the (cold and dry) air flows flowing along the inner side of the door promotes the removal of the condensed humidity collected on the door because of door opening.

[0145] According to an embodiment, the upper openings UOPI,UOP2 are formed by cooperation between the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou when the cover panel 230 is in the closed position: however, for ease of illustration, the upper openings UOPI,UOP2 are indicated at the cover panel 230 side only (particularly, see Figure 3B) for ease of illustration.

[0146] According to an embodiment, the upper openings UOPI,UOP2 are delimited, along the longitudinal direction X, by the cantilever beams 315 and the frame structure S, and, along the transverse direction Y, by the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou.

[0147] The provision of two upper openings UOPI,UOP2 each one associated with a respective upward process air flow UFI,UF2, allows keeping separation between the upward process air flows UFI,UF2: this avoids generation of air vortices that could affect the cooling process of the top drawer 120DI (and, when provided, the frost-prevention action at the freezer door).

[0148] According to an embodiment, the fan enclosure comprises one or more lower air outlet openings (in the following referred to as lower openings for the sake of conciseness) allowing, in use, the downward process air flow(s) to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards one or more lower regions of the freezer compartment (such as the cooling zones of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the bottom drawer 120D3 and by the intermediate drawer 120D2). In the exemplary considered embodiment, the fan enclosure comprises two lower openings LOPI,LOP2 allowing, in use, the downward process air flows DFI,DF2, respectively, to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards the lower region(s) of the freezer compartment.

[0149] According to an embodiment, the lower openings LOPI,LOP2 are formed by cooperation between the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou when the cover panel 230 is in the closed position: however, for ease of illustration, the lower openings LOPI,LOP2 are indicated at the cover panel 230 side only (particularly, see Figure 3B).

[0150] According to an embodiment, along the longitudinal direction X, the lower opening LOPI is delimited by the substantially straight wall of the air baffle 320i and the lower opening LOP2 is delimited by the curved wall of the air baffle 3202, and, along the transverse direction Y, the lower openings LOPI,LOP2 are delimited by the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou.

[0151] The provision of two lower openings LOPI,LOP2 each one associated with a respective downward process airflow DFI,DF2, allows keeping separation between the downward process air flows DFI,DF2: this avoids air vortices that could affect the cooling process.

[0152] According to an embodiment, the rear panel 210 (particularly, the lower rear panel portion 210L) comprises an air diverter 425 (visible in Figure 4) configured to divert and redirect the downward process air flows, particularly the downward process air flows DFI,DF2 coming from ( / .e., exiting through) the lower openings LOPI,LOP2, towards the intermediate region of the freezer compartment ( / .e., the cooling zone of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the intermediate drawer 120D2). The downward process air flows DFI,DF2 hitting the air diverter 425 and diverted by it towards the intermediate region of the freezer compartment, are visible in Figure 4.

[0153] According to an embodiment, the air diverter 425 is arranged at a top of the lower rear panel portion 210L, preferably in close proximity to the lower openings LOPI,LOP2, SO as to efficiently intercept the downward process air flows DFI,DF2.

[0154] According to an embodiment, the air diverter 425 is arranged and / or shaped to direct the downward process air flows DFI,DF2 towards the intermediate drawer 120D2. Just as an example, the air diverter 425 may be configured substantially in the form of a plate (for example, in the form of a flat plate or a rounded plate), and / or may be arranged essentially orthogonally to the lower rear panel portion 210L ( / .e., orthogonally to the X-Z plane or slightly slanted with respect thereto, for example depending on mutual position and / or distance between the air diverter 425 and the intermediate drawer 120D2).

[0155] Without losing generality, the air diverter 425 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. According to an embodiment, the air diverter 425 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the lower rear panel portion 21 OL. Just an example, the air diverter 425 may be formed in a single piece with the lower rear panel portion 21 OL.

[0156] According to an embodiment, the fan enclosure comprises an additional lower air outlet opening (hereinafter referred to as additional lower opening for the sake of conciseness) LOPS (or more thereof) allowing, in use, additional downward process air flow(s) DF3 between the downward process air flows DFI,DF2 to exit the fan enclosure separately from the downward process air flows DFI,DF2 (and be directed towards the lowermost region of the freezer compartment, as discussed in the following).

[0157] According to an embodiment, the additional lower opening LOPS is formed by cooperation between the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou when the cover panel 230 is in the closed position. However, for ease of illustration, the additional lower opening LOPS is indicated at the cover panel 230 side only (particularly, see Figure 3B).

[0158] According to an embodiment, the additional lower opening is located, along the longitudinal direction X, between the lower openings LOPI,LOP2, approximately in the middle thereof (although this should not be construed limitatively).

[0159] According to an embodiment, the lower rear panel portion 21 OL comprises an air channel 430 (or more thereof) in fluid communication with the additional lower opening LOPS for channeling the additional downward process air flow DF3 towards the lowermost region of the freezer compartment ( / .e., the cooling zone of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the bottom drawer 120DS).

[0160] In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiment (see Figure 4), the air channel 430 comprises a vertical, closed air channel portion 430i, configured to receive the additional downward process air flow DF3 from the additional lower opening LOPS and to channel it downwards, and a horizontal, open air channel portion 4302 delimited superiorly by the intermediate drawer 120D2 (not illustrated in Figure 4) and configured to receive the additional downward process air flow DF3 from the vertical air channel portion 430i and to channel it to the bottom drawer 120D3. The additional downward process air flow DF3 through the air channel 430 is visible in Figure 4, with the additional downward process air flow DF3 flowing within the vertical, closed air channel portion 430i that is conceptually represented in the figure by a dashed contour of the respective arrow. Provision of the air channel 430 for channeling the additional downward process airflow DF3 improves distribution of the cold process airthrough the cooling zones of the cooling volume.

[0161] Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the disclosure described above many logical and / or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the disclosure may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A refrigerating appliance (100) for storing food products to be preserved, wherein the refrigerating appliance comprises a compartment (120) adapted to store the food products, the compartment comprising: a front door (125) operable for selectively accessing the compartment; an inner liner (205) comprising an inner liner rear wall (205R) opposite to the front door; a rear panel (210) covering the inner liner rear wall (205R), a gap (215) being defined between the inner liner rear wall and the rear panel, wherein the rear panel (210) comprises a lower rear panel portion (210L) covering a lower region of the inner liner rear wall, and an upper rear panel portion (210u) covering an upper region of the inner liner rear wall; a fan (225) arranged to draw process air from the gap and recirculate it within the compartment, and a cover panel (230) having mounted thereto the fan and detachably coupled to the upper rear panel portion (210u) by means of coupling members (305, 315, 315E, 405, 410U,410E, 410s, 415), the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion forming a fan enclosure.

2. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling members (305, 315, 315E, 405, 410U,410E, 410s, 415) are configured to allow the cover panel (230) to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion (210u) to and from a closed position in which the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion are coupled to form the fan enclosure, the coupling members comprising a lock mechanism (305,410E, 410s) for locking the cover panel in an opened position in which the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion are at least partially separate from each other.

3. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 2, wherein the coupling members (305, 315, 315E, 405, 410U,410E, 410s, 415) comprise a movement mechanism (305,405,410u) to allow the cover panel (230) to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion (210u) to and from the closed position by tilting the cover panel with respect to the upper rear panel portion.

4. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the lock mechanism (305,410E, 41 Os) comprises a tilt-lock mechanism for locking the cover panel (230) in the opened position, the opened position being tilted with respect to the closed position.

5. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to any claim from 2 to 4, wherein the coupling members (305, 315, 315E, 405, 410U,410E, 410s, 415) comprise a closure-lock mechanism (315,315E, 415) for locking the cover panel (230) in the closed position.

6. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to any claim from 2 to 5, wherein in the closed position of the cover panel (230), the cover panel is substantially flush with the lower rear panel portion (210L).

7. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to any claim from 2 to 6, wherein, in the closed position of the cover panel, the cover panel (230) and the upper rear panel portion (210u) define an air guiding structure (320i, 3202, 420i, 42(h) within said fan enclosure.

8. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 7, wherein the air guiding structure (320i, 3202,4201,4202) comprises at least a first V-shaped air baffle (320i ,420i) and a second V-shaped air baffle (3202,4202), in the closed position of the cover panel (230) the first and second V-shaped air baffles being arranged at opposite sides of the fan (225) in a mutually flipped configuration.

9. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the air guiding structure (320i ,3202,420i ,4202) is configured to split, in use, the process air exiting the fan into one or more upward process air flows (U Fi, UF2) and one or more downward process air flows (DFI,DF2,DF3).

10. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 9, wherein the fan enclosure comprises one or more upper air outlet openings (UOPI,UOP2) allowing, in use, the one or more upward process airflows (UF1 , U F2) to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards an upper region of the compartment, and one or more lower air outlet openings (LOPI,LOP2,LOP3) allowing, in use,the one or more downward process air flows (DFI,DF2,DF3) to exit from the fan enclosure and to flow towards one or more lower regions of the compartment.

11. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 10, wherein the lower rear panel portion (210L) comprises at least one air channel (430) in fluid communication with at least one (LOPS) of said one or more lower air outlet openings (LOPI,LOP2,LOP3) for channeling at least one (DF3) of the one or more downward process airflows (DFI,DF2,DF3) towards a lowermost region of the compartment.

12. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein the lower rear panel portion (210L) comprises at least one air diverter (425) configured to divert at least part (DFI,DF2) of the one or more downward process air flows (DFI,DF2,DF3) coming from at least a subset (LOPI,LOP2) of said one or more lower air outlet openings (LOPI,LOP2,LOP3) towards an intermediate region of the compartment.

13. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said compartment (120) is a freezer compartment adapted to store frozen food products.

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