Drawer for a refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to a drawer (2) for a refrigerator (1), comprising a lid (4) for covering the top of the drawer (2). The drawer 2 has an arrangement (3) comprising elements (6, 10) for humidity control. The lid (4) comprises an opening covered by a grid portion (5), which opening is configured to allow a humidity exchange between the air inside the drawer (2) and the air outside the drawer (2). The lid (4) also comprises a control element (6, 10) arranged to at least partly cover the opening and the grid portion (5), for controlling the rate of the humidity exchange, which control element (6, 10) either is a damper device (6) for manual regulation of the rate of the humidity exchange, or a membrane (10) for automatic regulation of the rate of humidity exchange. The opening, the grid portion (5) and the control elements (6, 10) are configured to allow interchangeability between the different control elements (6, 10).

Description

[0001] DRAWER FOR A REFRIGERATOR

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a drawer for a refrigerator, in particular a crisper drawer, and to a damper device, a membrane and a lid for such a drawer, as well as to a refrigerator comprising a drawer.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] There is a need to have different storage conditions inside a refrigerator for different types of food items to be stored. One example is storage of vegetables, for which normally a drawer, so called crisper drawer, is provided. In order to allow the best possible storage conditions for vegetables inside the drawer, it is often possible to control the humidity inside the drawer. This control can be achieved in different ways, such as by manually opening and closing a damper to let air in and out of the drawer, or by the use of a humidity control membrane through which air can enter and exit the drawer to get automatic control of the humidity.

[0006] One example of a crisper drawer using a humidity control membrane is shown in WO 2018 / 113899 A1 .

[0007] There is a constant desire to improve the way food items are stored in a refrigerator. Hence, there is a need for an improved design for a crisper drawer.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drawer for a refrigerator.

[0010] This object and / or others are obtained by the drawer as set out in the appended claims.

[0011] As has been realized by the inventors, existing drawers for storing for example vegetables in a refrigerator, so called crisper drawers, have some drawbacks. For example, there is no possibility for the user of the refrigerator to change how humidity is controlled in the crisper drawer, and when manufacturing the drawers it is necessary to make different drawers depending on the desired type of humidity control.

[0012] By instead having a drawer that allows interchangeability between different humidity control elements it is possible to allow the user to shift the way humidity is controlled in the drawer, and it would be possible to manufacture only one type of drawers. Hereby, an advantage in flexibility for the user is achieved, as well as simpler and more sustainable manufacturing since only one type of drawer will have to be produced.

[0013] In accordance with the invention, a drawer for a refrigerator is provided, which drawer comprises a lid for covering the top of the drawer, which lid comprises an opening covered by a grid portion, which opening is configured to allow a humidity exchange between the air inside the drawer and the air outside the drawer, whereby the lid comprises a control element arranged to at least partly cover the opening and the grid portion, for controlling the rate of the humidity exchange, whereby the control element either is a damper device for manual regulation of the rate of the humidity exchange, or a membrane for automatic regulation of the rate of humidity exchange, whereby the opening, the grid portion and the control elements are configured to allow interchangeability between the different control elements. Hereby, a drawer for a refrigerator with a possibility for the user to shift between manual and automatic control of humidity in the drawer is provided, as well as a drawer with a lid, which already when manufactured is prepared for both manual and automatic humidity control. In accordance with the invention, the lid could cover more than one drawer. In such a case, the lid could comprise at least one opening covered by a grid portion for each drawer.

[0014] In accordance with one embodiment, the interchangeability is such that a user of the drawer can shift between the damper device and the membrane without the use of tools. Hereby, ease of use is provided to the user.

[0015] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the drawer comprises a cover for at least partly covering the opening and the grid portion, which cover may be configured to be attached to the lid, and which cover may at least partly cover the control element. The cover may be configured to hold the control element in place on the grid portion, and it may be configured to be attached to the lid by a snap lock arrangement, which snap lock arrangement may be configured to allow locking and unlocking by the user of the drawer. Hereby, a solution for covering and holding the control element is provided, which provides protection for the control element, and which at the same time holds the control element in place on the grid portion, and which makes the appearance of the drawer aesthetically appealing. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the dimensions of the damper device and the membrane are configured to allow the interchangeability. Hereby, interchangeability is achieved while securing proper functionality of the crisper drawer.

[0016] The invention also extends to a lid for a drawer, to a damper device for a drawer, to a membrane for a drawer and to a refrigerator comprising a drawer.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Fig. 1 illustrates a refrigerator having drawers according to the invention.

[0020] Fig. 2 illustrates a view of the drawers and lid in Fig. 1 .

[0021] Fig. 3 a,b,c illustrate a manual humidity control arrangement according to the invention, wherein 3a illustrates the arrangement in an open manner, 3b illustrates the arrangement in a closed manner, and 3c illustrates the arrangement in a split up manner.

[0022] Fig. 4 a,b,c illustrate an automatic humidity control arrangement according to the invention, wherein 4a illustrates the arrangement without a cover, 4b illustrates the arrangement in a covered manner, and 4c illustrates the arrangement in a split up manner.

[0023] Fig. 5 illustrates a grid portion of the humidity control arrangement according to the invention.

[0024] Fig 6a illustrates a manual humidity control arrangement, and Fig. 6b illustrates an automatic arrangement according to the invention.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following, a drawer for a refrigerator will be described. In the Figures, the same reference signs designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the Figures. The Figures are for illustration only and are not in any way restricting the scope of the invention. Also, it is possible to combine features from different described embodiments to meet specific implementation needs. Some components can be omitted in some embodiments.

[0027] In Fig. 1 , a schematic view of a refrigerator 1 , showing the inside of the fresh food compartment, is illustrated. In the lower part of the compartment, two drawers 2 are arranged. It is also common practice to have only one drawer, but it could also be more than two drawers. These drawers are normally used for storing fruits and vegetables but could also be used for storing other food items. When used for storing fruits and vegetables, it is important to control the humidity level to keep the food items fresh for as long as possible.

[0028] In Fig. 2, a schematic view of the drawers 2 is shown. There is one common lid 4 for both drawers 2, but it is also possible to have separate lids for each drawer, or a lid covering more than two drawers. The drawers 2 have arrangements 3 comprising elements for humidity control on the respective lateral outer edges of the drawer lid 4 covering the top of the drawers, but they could also be placed on the outer or inner respective edges of the lid, or anywhere else on the drawer, such as on the front or back sides of the drawers. The lid 4 comprises an opening covered by a grid portion 5, which opening allows humidity exchange between air outside the drawer 2 and air inside the drawer 2. It is also possible to have an arrangement 3 comprising elements for humidity control in the lid for only one of the drawers 2, or for more than two drawers.

[0029] Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show a manual arrangement for humidity control having a damper device 6 as control element for controlling the rate of humidity exchange between air inside the drawer and air outside the drawer. Fig. 3a shows the damper device 6 arranged on the grid portion 5, with the arrangement in an open manner, and Fig 3b shows the arrangement in a closed manner. The damper device is held in place and covered by a cover 7. The damper device 6 is arranged in a horizontally slidable manner H below the cover 7 on the grid portion 5. The damper device 6 is moved in horizontal direction H by the user by grabbing a handle 8, which in Fig. 3b is shown as protruding ridge, but could have any suitable shape, like a knob or groove. The user then pushes or pulls the damper device backwards and forwards in a horizontal direction H to get the desired size of the open portion of the grid portion 5, and thereby a desired humidity exchange. Fig. 3 c shows the arrangement in a view where the cover 7 is lifted above the lid 4. The cover comprises flexible tabs 9 on its lateral edges that together with slits 11 in the lateral edges in the grid portion 5 form snap lock fittings that lock the cover in place on the lid 4. Such a design will safely hold the damper device in place on the grid portion, while at the same time allowing the user to easily unlock the cover and thereby allow exchange of the damper device 6 without the use of any tools. The grid portion 5 with slits 11 is shown in detail in Fig. 5. The cover 7 may have tabs 9 on one or both lateral edges, and the grid portion 5 may have slits 11 on one or both lateral edges.

[0030] Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show an arrangement for automatic humidity control having an auto humidity contro (AHC) membrane 10. Fig. 4a shows the membrane 10 arranged on the grid portion 5, and Fig. 4b shows the arrangement when the membrane 10 is held in place and covered by a cover 7. Fig. 4c shows the arrangement in a view where the cover 7 is lifted above the lid 4, whereby it is visible that the cover has tabs 9 for allowing the same kind of holding and exchange of the membrane 10 as in the case with a manual arrangement described above.

[0031] It is possible to use different auto humidity control membranes 10 having different characteristics depending on the type of food to be stored. An example could be to have one membrane 10 with optimum characteristics for storing vegetables on one of the drawers 2 shown in Fig. 2, and another membrane 10 with optimum characteristics for storing fruit on the other of the drawers 2 in Fig. 2. In a refrigerator having only one drawer 2, the user could shift between different membranes 10 having different characteristics depending on the food stored in the drawer 2.

[0032] The same cover 7 is used for both the manual and for the automatic control arrangements. Hence, the damper device 6 and the humidity control membrane 10 need to be designed in a way that allows interchangeability between the different arrangements. Fig. 6a shows in detail the manual arrangement. The cover 7 has a first edge 12 and a second edge 13. The damper device is held, in a horizontally H slidable manner, against the grid portion 5 by the first edge 12. Hence, a user can grab the handle 8 and slide the damper device 6 horizontally H on the grid portion 5 by pushing or pulling it back and forth. The dimensions of the damper device 6 correspond to the grid portion 5 in the lateral extension, and the dimensions are smaller in the direction of the horizontally sliding movement H. By applying such a design, the user will cover and uncover a portion 5’ of the grid portion 5 when sliding the damper device 6 horizontally H. In Fig. 6a, this portion 5’ extends along most of the length, substantially the full length, of the grid portion 5 in a direction laterally to the direction of the horizontal movement H, and substantially between the first edge 12 and the edge of the lid 4, except for a distance substantially corresponding to the width of the handle 8, in the horizontal direction H. In the automatic control arrangement, as shown in Fig. 6b, the membrane 10 is held in place against the grid portion 5 by the second edge 13, whereby air flow and humidity exchange is allowed along substantially the whole surface of the membrane 10.

[0033] The distance between the main portion of the cover 7 and the grid portion 5 is preferably between 5 and 6 mm, and the distance between the first edge 12 and the grid portion is preferably between 3 and 4 mm. The total area of the vent holes is approximately 76 cm2 and, in the manual arrangement, the area of the open vent holes in the fully open position is approximately 11 cm2. The distance between the first edge 12 and the edge of the lid 14, except for the width of the handle 8, in the fully open position, is approximately 13 mm. The total area of the auto humidity control membrane 10 is approximately 145 cm2.

[0034] The crisper drawer described above allows easy exchangeability between a manual and an automatic humidity control. Hereby, great flexibility is achieved both for the user of the refrigerator comprising the drawer, as well as in the production of the drawer and lid since only one design of the drawer and lid is necessary for achieving both types of humidity control.

[0035] The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

SET OF CLAIMS1 . Drawer (2) for a refrigerator (1), comprising a lid (4) for covering the top of the drawer (2), which lid (4) comprises an opening covered by a grid portion (5), which opening is configured to allow a humidity exchange between the air inside the drawer (2) and the air outside the drawer (2), whereby the lid (4) comprises a control element (6, 10) arranged to at least partly cover the opening and the grid portion (5), for controlling the rate of the humidity exchange, characterized in that the control element (6, 10) either is a damper device (6) for manual regulation of the rate of the humidity exchange, or a membrane (10) for automatic regulation of the rate of humidity exchange, whereby the opening, the grid portion (5) and the control elements (6, 10) are configured to allow interchangeability between the different control elements (6, 10).

2. Drawer (2) according to claim 1 , wherein the interchangeability is such that a user of the drawer can shift between the damper device (6) and the membrane (10) without the use of tools.

3. Drawer (2) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a cover (7) for at least partly covering the opening and the grid portion (5).

4. Drawer (2) according to claim 3, wherein the cover (7) is configured to be attached to the lid (4).

5. Drawer (2) according to claim 4, wherein the cover (7) at least partly covers the control element (6, 10).

6. Drawer (2) according to claim 5, wherein the cover (7) is configured to hold the control element (6, 10) in place on the grid portion (5).

7. Drawer (2) according to claim 6, wherein the cover (7) is configured to be attached to the lid (4) by a snap lock arrangement (9, 11).

8. Drawer (2) according to claim 6, wherein the snap lock arrangement (9, 11) is configured to allow locking and unlocking by the user of the drawer (2).

9. Drawer (2) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the dimensions of the damper device (6) and the membrane (10) are configured to allow the interchangeability.

10. Damper device (6) for a drawer (2) according to claim 111 . Membrane (10) for a drawer (2) according to claim 1 .

12. Lid (4) for a drawer (2) according to claim 1 .

13. Refrigerator (1 ) comprising a drawer (2) according to claim 1 .

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