9464 results about "Icebox" patented technology

A method of managing an inventory of household products through virtual storage, such as in a virtual refrigerator, freezer, pantry, using electronic devices such as a smart phone. The virtual storage includes at least one of a description of each product in the virtual storage; the date each product was purchased; the expiration date of each product; and the freshness level of each product, including whether each product is still fresh, needs to be used within a certain time period, or needs to be thrown out. Related features include generation of shopping lists, coupons and recipes for a consumer based on the products in virtual storage or depleted therefrom.

A mounting arrangement for a refrigerator fan, comprising an electric motor (11) to whose shaft is affixed a propeller (12) with an axial flow passing through a refrigerated air outlet (4b) provided through an internal divisional wall (6) of the refrigerator; a support frame (20) having a marginal portion (21) and incorporating a central hub (22) in which is affixed the electric motor (11); a flexible support (30) in the form of an annular flange presenting an outer portion (31), which is peripherally and removably affixed to the contour of the refrigerated air outlet (4b), an inner portion (32) provided with a central opening (35) and with retaining means (36), which are removably locked to the marginal portion (21) of the support frame (20); and an annular membrane portion (33) interconnecting the outer portion (31) and the inner portion (32), in order to allow for small relative axial and radial displacements therebetween.

Various embodiments described herein comprise array of light emitting diodes and a cylindrical lens having front and rear curved surfaces. The cylindrical lens is disposed to receive light from the light emitting diodes and to redistribute the light. The cylindrical lens is located no more than about 8 inches distance from the front an illumination target, which may for example, comprise products on shelves in a refrigerator. The front and rear surfaces of the cylindrical lens are shaped to provide substantially uniform illumination across the target.

A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the compressor and condenser for cooling the hot gas output from the compressor before entering the condenser, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.

Disclosed herein are an automatic door opening / closing apparatus to automatically open or close a door without applying any manual force to the door, and a refrigerator having the same. The automatic door opening / closing apparatus devised to automatically open or close a sliding door that is mounted, in a drawer manner, to a refrigerator body, includes a drive device coupled to the sliding door to automatically open or close the sliding door with respect to the refrigerator body, an input part to receive an user input and to operate the drive device based on the user input, a sensing part to sense an open or closed state of the sliding door, and a controller to operate the drive device based on signals from the input part and signals from the sensing part.

A multipane insulating glass for appliances having an inner-chamber temperature which is lower than the ambient temperature, in particular for viewing doors of refrigerators and freezers comprises at least two panes which are of approximately equal size and are arranged at a distance from one another. The distance is maintained by a spacer which runs continuously around the vicinity of the edge. One of the two outer panes is provided with an electrically conductive, transparent coating on its side which faces towards the space between the panes. In this glass, the coating, which is applied to the entire surface, is deactivated in the peripheral area of the pane, containing the contact surface for the spacer. Also, a process for producing coated flat glass materials for such insulating glass materials, as described above.

A vacuum heat insulator according to the present invention includes a core molded to be plate-shaped with the use of a binding agent. The vacuum heat insulator assumes any one of the following configurations. A) The core is formed by curing a fiber aggregate by means of a binding agent. The fibers have an average fiber diameter of at least 0.1 μm but at most 10 μm, and voids defined by fibers have a void diameter of at most 40 μm. The core has a percentage of the voids of at least 80%. B) The binding agent is varied in concentration in a through-thickness direction of the core. C) A cured layer solidified by the binding agent is formed on at least one side surface of the core. D) The core contains fibers having a length of at most 100 μm. The fibers are oriented perpendicular to a direction of heat transmission. Such vacuum heat insulator is excellent in adiabatic property. Refrigerators, to which such a vacuum heat insulator is applied, are made small in size, or have a large inner volume, or contribute to energy saving.

An electric supply system for the door of refrigerators and freezers and other appliances comprising a cabinet (10) to which is articulated an end edge (21) of a door (20) carrying an electronic control means (30), comprising a connecting means (15) mounted to each region of the cabinet (10) that is foreseen to receive and affix a respective hinge (40); an auxiliary electric wiring (16) connecting each connecting means with an internal electric circuit of the appliance; a duct (22) provided in the door (20) and having an inlet (22a) opened to the interior of the door (20) and a pair of outlets (22b) opened to the outside of the end edge (21), one of them bearing a tubular hinge pin (42) of a respective hinge (40); an electric wiring (31) mounted through the duct (22) and the hinge pin (42) and having an internal end (32) connected with the electronic control means (30) and an external end (33) coupled to the connecting means (15) adjacent to the hinge (40).

A networking system for a refrigerator is provided. The networking system includes a main controller for the refrigerator coupled to a first terminal provided on a body portion of the refrigerator, and a second terminal provided on the refrigerator door. The second terminal allows information related to the refrigerator to be input and received, and allows for wireless data exchange between the main controller and the first terminal such that the second terminal to be separated from the refrigerator and still perform such a data exchange. The use of a main controller and first and second terminals allows for increased levels of data storage, and easy access to various types of information.

The present invention relates to a switching device for a display unit installed to a door for a refrigerator. In the present invention, the display unit 29 is installed on a front surface of the refrigerator door 25. A power switch 37 for applying power to the display unit 29 is provided on a lateral surface of a hinge plate 38 of a hinge assembly 35 by which the door 25 can be pivotally installed to a main body 21 of the refrigerator, and a connector 39 is also provided on a rear surface of the hinge plate 38. The power switch 37 and the connector 39 are connected to the display unit 29 by means of lead wires W1 and W2.

Intelligent refrigerator system for storing pharmaceutical product containers, such as vials, ampules, syringes, bottles, medication tubes, blister packs and cartons, at the point of dispensing. Embodiments of the invention use product identification technology, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and readers, to uniquely identify containers as they are added to or removed from the cold storage compartment of the refrigerator, and automatically retrieve from a local or remote database a variety of details associated with the containers and their contents, such as manufacturing data, expiration dates, time out of refrigeration, inventory levels, safety information, usage statistics, known contraindications and warnings, etc. If the details indicate that there is a problem with a particular pharmaceutical (e.g., that it is counterfeit, expired, suspect, spoiled, recalled or almost depleted), then a message or warning is automatically delivered to a human operator via an attached output device, such as a display screen, speaker or printer. Embodiments of the invention may also be configured to monitor and report temperature faults, power failures and other anomalies associated with the refrigerator or cold storage compartment.

The present invention provides a drink supply canister holder for a beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including the drink supply canister holder for holding or maintaining at least one and preferably a plurality of drink supply canisters, and at least one and preferably a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply canisters, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO2 gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO2 gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply canisters to provide a consistent flow rate, of the drink supply from the drink supply canisters and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

A clear ice making apparatus includes: a freezing space; a tray placed in the freezing space and having a lower temperature at a bottom part thereof than at an upper part thereof; and a water supply unit of supplying water to the tray from the top thereof, in which ice is made at an ice making rate of 5 μm / s or lower, a part of a liquid-phase section of water in the tray which part is in contact with atmosphere is frozen to complete the ice making, the liquid-phase section of water is not entirely supercooled before the ice making is completed, and the concentration of air in the liquid-phase section of water in the tray is equal to or lower than an excessive concentration of air.

A compact refrigerator has a split cabinet defining insulated refrigerator and clear ice maker sections. Its refrigeration system includes one external compressor and condenser and two evaporators, one for each section. The condenser is coupled to the inlet of the ice maker evaporator by a capillary tube and the evaporators are connected in series via a line having a refrigerator valve. The compressor receives return refrigerant from the outlet side of either the refrigerator evaporator or the ice maker evaporator depending on the state of a bypass valve, which is closed when the refrigerator valve is open, and vice versa. Refrigerant is thus routed to the ice maker evaporator to make ice and to both the ice maker and refrigerator evaporators when the refrigerator needs cooling. A hot gas bypass valve allows pre-condensed refrigerant exiting the compressor to bypass the condenser and be routed to the ice maker evaporator for harvesting the clear ice cubes.

The present invention is a vacuum packaging system that is comprised of a very convenient vacuum pump and canister-sealing device that is an integral component of a refrigerator. The device is comprised of: 1) one or more external vacuum hose input ports or retractable combination hose / input ports, for applying a vacuum for packaging canisters, bottles or jars, or a remote bag sealing unit; 2) an internal configuration comprised of one or more vacuum hose input ports or retractable combination hose / input ports, canister lid storage attachments and / or carousel storage attachments; and / or 3) an external, integral or removable bagging unit (recessed into the refrigerator door) for vacuum sealing and cutting plastic bagging material.

An insulation box unit and a refrigerator of the present invention employs i) rigid urethane foam with a 8.0 MPa-or-greater bending modulus, and a 60 kg / m3-or-lower density, and ii) a vacuum insulation material. The proper bending modulus provides the insulation box unit with a substantial strength, even in the case that the coverage of the vacuum insulation material with respect to the surface of the outer box exceeds 40%. The proper density prevents the insulation box unit from poor insulation efficiency due to undesired solid thermal conductivity. Despite of an extended use of the vacuum insulation material, the insulation box unit offers an excellent insulation efficiency and therefore accelerates energy saving. According to the recycling method of the present invention, rigid urethane foam formed of tolylene di-isocyanate composition, which was separated from refrigerator wastes, is recycled as a material of rigid urethane foam.

PCT No. PCT / JP97 / 02737 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 15, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 15, 1998 PCT Filed Aug. 6, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 05911 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 12, 1998A temperature control device is provided in a refrigerator having at least one compartment (RC or FC) defined by top, bottom and opposite side walls (TW; BW; and SW), and a heat insulating material (12) exteriorly encircling the compartment. One of the side walls (SW) has a mounting hole (2) defined therein and a front surface thereof confronts the compartment (RC or FC). The device includes a box-like console (C), and a circuit carrier board (3) fixedly connected to a rear surface of the console (C). Electric wiring (11) extends outwardly from the circuit carrier board, and a display panel (30) is disposed on a front surface of the console (C). At least one manipulatable temperature control element (31a, 31b, 31c: PB, LED) is mounted on the console (C), and a hat-like console casing (13) having a peripheral flange (10) is fixedly secured to the side wall (SW) in alignment with the mounting hole (2). The peripheral flange (10) is held in abutment with a rear surface of the side wall (SW) so as to define a console pocket (CP). Also, a plurality of mounting elements (6a, 6b; 55) are engaged with an outer surface of the side wall (SW) around the mounting hole (2) for securing the console (C) to the side wall (SW). The console (C) is received in the console pocket (CP) with the electric wiring (11) accommodated within the console pocket (CP) and with the display panel (30) and the temperature control element confronting the compartment.

Disclosed is a refrigerator oil composition containing a base oil (A) composed of a polyvinyl ether, an organic sulfur compound (B) having a sulfur content of not more than 35% by mass and a refrigerant (C), in which a total sulfur content is 0.01 to 0.1% by mass with respect to a total amount of the components (A) and (B). Such the novel refrigerator oil composition does not cause environmental problems such as ozone layer destruction and global warming, and can retain the lubrication properties for a long period of time, while preventing a capillary in a refrigeration cycle from clogging.

An appliance comprises a cabinet, a door movably mounted to the cabinet and having a peripheral edge, and a standardized service interface located on the peripheral edge. The standardized service interface is configured to supply at least one service for use by a consumer electronic device. The peripheral edge can be the top edge of the door and the standardized service interface can receive the service from the use environment of the appliance. A connector can be incorporated into the standardized service interface to selectively supply the consumer electronic device with the service. The appliance can comprise a refrigerator. The service can comprise mechanical, power, or data communication.

An ice maker assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an ice bucket that has a bottom wall, opposing side walls extending from the bottom wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The bottom wall, side walls, front wall, and back wall define an ice collection cavity. The ice bucket also includes a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom wall into the ice collection cavity, and a rotatable auger extending between the front and back walls.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to articles including anticondensation coatings that are exposed to an external environment, and / or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the anticondensation coatings may be survivable in an outside environment. The coatings also may have a sufficiently low sheet resistance and hemispherical emissivity such that the glass surface is more likely to retain heat from the interior area, thereby reducing (and sometimes completely eliminating) the presence condensation thereon. The articles of certain example embodiments may be, for example, skylights, vehicle windows or windshields, IG units, VIG units, refrigerator / freezer doors, and / or the like.

Systems and method for operating and monitoring refrigerators are described. Temperature cycles within the compartment are characterized using statistical, frequency and pattern analysis techniques to derive a steady-state characteristic of temperature within the compartment. A thermal sensor inside the conditioned area is monitored and temperature data sets can be analyzed to determine performance in comparison to a baseline, and energy consumption. Analysis of continuous temperature readings taken from individual or groups of freezers identifies patterns of variations in temperature cycles from which feedback on efficiency can be inferred. Electrical load can be determined by measuring or estimating current usage and identifying periods of time when compressors are active in the refrigerator.

An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.

The invention relates to an automatic door opening device and a side-by-side refrigerator using the device, belonging to the field of electrical technology. The automatic door opening device includes a control circuit, a DC servo motor, a door push rod and a transmission gear. The transmission gear is centered on the rotating shaft of the DC servo motor, and the door push rod is provided with a gear belt to cooperate with the transmission gear. The control circuit includes an internal circuit board with two photoelectric sensors and an external control board, the internal circuit board provides the feedback signal of the photoelectric sensor for the external control board, and the external control board supplies power to the DC servo motor. There is at least one door push rod, and one of the door push rods is provided with two projections located between the two photoelectric sensors. For a side-by-side refrigerator using the automatic door opening device, the automatic door opening device is provided with two door push rods, which are installed on the top of the refrigerator box, and the door body is provided with a door opening button connected with a control circuit. The device of the invention can provide assistance for the user, and is convenient for the user to open the door.

A pulse system for detaching ice includes a power supply for applying a high-power heating pulse to the interface between ice and an object such as a cold plate of an ice making system, an ice-container, a heat-exchanger, a refrigerator surface or an airplane wing. Pulse heating may be generated within a metal foil or resistive film disposed upon an object to be deiced, or a capillary tube proximate the object to be deiced. An interfacial layer of ice is melted and the ice is released from the object. A force, for example gravity, pressure of vaporization or mechanical scraping, removes the ice from the object.

A refrigerator includes a main body cabinet having a first storage room and a second storage room to be divided with the first storage room and respectively cooled, an evaporator having a first evaporating part disposed at the main body cabinet and cooling the first storage room, a second evaporating part disposed at the main body cabinet to be apart from the first evaporating part and cooling the second storage room, and a refrigerant moving pipe connecting the first and second evaporating parts, and a duct guiding cooling air generated by the first and second evaporating parts to the first and second storage rooms to respectively cool the first and second storage rooms, the first and second evaporating parts and the refrigerant moving pipe are formed with one evaporating pipe. The refrigerator forms integrally an evaporator for cooling a first storage room and a second storage room respectively.

The invention relates to a freshness retaining and sealing device and a refrigerator with the same. The freshness retaining and sealing device comprises a drawer, a cover and a shelf, wherein the cover is arranged under the shelf in a hanging mode, both the top surface of the drawer and the bottom surface of the cover are flat surfaces inclining downwards from the front to the back, and the drawer is closed or opened through the horizontal movement of the cover in a front and back mode. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration chamber which is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes and the freshness retaining and sealing device, and at least one of the ventilation holes is lower than the cover. According to the freshness retaining and sealing device, the size of the ventilation space to be opened can be adjusted to meet the needs of different stored objects through the sliding of the cover. The air inside and outside the drawer is in cyclic exchange to achieve rapid air exchange when the drawer is opened. The cover and the drawer form a highly sealing state when the drawer is closed, and meanwhile, the sealing condition can prevent the evaporation of water to achieve the effect of moisture retaining.

In an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for providing chilling in a localized area comprises a chiller compartment and an independent cooling source thermally coupled to the chiller compartment by a thermally conductive interface. The cooling source provides a separate controllable temperature to the chiller compartment, which is adapted to be removably positioned in a selected temperature controlled environment. In another aspect a refrigerator comprises a freezer unit, a fresh food unit and a chiller compartment adapted to be removably positioned in either the freezer unit or the fresh food unit as a secondary chilling compartment. In another aspect a method of chilling comprises cooling a modular chiller compartment using an independent cooling source, chiller compartment being removably positioned within a temperature controlled environment and the cooling source and the chiller compartment being thermally coupled.