COOLING ARRANGEMENT FOR REFRIGERATORS

Abstract

A cooling arrangement for refrigerators is provided, which allows better control and temperature maintenance for beverage cans, which facilitates access to them without having to open other cooling chamber of the refrigerator and also prevents an abrupt shift of the cans which can generate overflows of the liquid contents when opening them.

Claims

1. Cooling arrangement for refrigerators having at least one access door defining an access to at least one cooling chamber of the refrigerator, wherein: said at least one access door comprises a compartment defined by a front panel, an inner panel, and a inclined housing structure for consumer products, said front panel being provided with a display/unloading window in conjunction with a pivotable closure flap, while said inner panel is provided with a plurality of slots and a loading window.

2. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator has a main cooling sector with a main access door to said main sector and freezer sector with an access door, being that this access door is the access door to the cooling chamber of the refrigerator.

3. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said inclined housing structure comprises a V-shaped horizontal sectioned ramp and having an initial upper end and a final lower end and further comprises a reinforced plastic material, aluminum, steel or a combination thereof.

4. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said display/unloading window of the front panel is coincident with the initial upper end and the final lower end of the sectioned ramp while said pivotable closure flap is pivotally fixed at the top of said unloading window.

5. The cooling arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said pivotable closure flap is operatively connected to an actuating button arranged on the front panel via a trigger, such a cover is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic with insulation capacity.

6. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said loading window of the inner panel is coincident with the initial upper end of the sectioned ramp.

7. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said front panel of the refrigerator door, said inclined housing structure and said inner panel form a pivot assembly in the refrigerator by means of at least a first assembly opening hinge for accessing the cooling chamber.

8. The cooling arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said inclined housing structure has at least one temperature sensor.

9. The cooling arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said front panel presents a temperature display screen within said compartment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] For clarity and understanding of the object of the present invention, it has been illustrated in several figures, in which the invention has been represented in one of the preferred embodiments, all by way of example, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective and partial view of a household refrigerator or cooler of the type having two doors, a lower or principal for accessing the main cooling chamber of the refrigerator and an upper door for accessing the freezer, the refrigerator being provided with the cooling arrangement of the invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the upper door of the freezer, where an application form thereof, in this case, of the removal of a can, is shown;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a perspective and partial sectional view of the interior of the upper door of the freezer, provided with the cooling arrangement of the invention, where a plurality of cans is shown;

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the upper door of the freezer, provided with the sectored cooling arrangement of the invention, opened for accessing the cooling chamber such as the freezer;

[0017] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the cooling arrangement of the invention; and

[0018] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the cooling arrangement of the invention in one of its applications by way of example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring now to the figures, it is seen that the invention consists of a new cooling arrangement of selected and controlled temperature for products that require so, particularly beverages packaged in cans, allowing them to be deposited and removed without having to open other cooling chamber of the refrigerator and thus avoiding the abrupt movement thereof that can generate further unwanted overflows of the liquid contents.

[0020] It is so, in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 6, the cooling arrangement for refrigerators of the present invention is indicated by the general reference 1 and it can be used in a refrigerator 2 having a main cooling sector with a main access door to the main sector and a freezer or cooling chamber sector 3 with an access door 4. Wherein, said access door 4 comprises a compartment defined by a front panel 5, an inner panel 6 and an inclined housing structure 7 for consumer products such as cans 8.

[0021] Said front panel 5 is provided with a display/unloading window 9 together with a pivotable closure flap 10 which is fixedly and pivotally arranged at the top of said window 9, and which is operatively connected to an actuating button 11 provided on the front panel 5. Thus, when the button 11 is pressed or pushed, the same drives a trigger 18 which opens the closure flap 10 that pivot up and thus facilitate unloading and removal of cans 8 through the window 9, as shown in FIG. 6. It is emphasized that, said closure flap 10 is mounted on the window 9 through a hinge system (not shown), being that said flap 10 may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic with insulation capacity. On the other hand, said front panel 5 can present a display screen 12 of the temperature inside the compartment.

[0022] For its part, said inner panel 6 is provided with a plurality of slots 13 which allow passage and circulation of cold air from the cooling chamber 3 to the compartment and vice versa to maintain the containers or cans at constant temperature. Likewise, said inner panel 6 has a loading window 14 disposed at an upper portion thereof. Regarding the inclined housing structure 7, it comprises a V-shaped horizontal sectioned ramp 15 which has an initial upper end 16 and a final lower end 17. Thus, the display/unloading window 9 of the front panel 5 is coincident with the initial upper end 16 and the final lower end 17, while the loading window 14 of the inner panel 6 is coincident with the initial upper end 16.

[0023] Thus, the cans 8 are loaded or deposited through the loading window 14, they are moved by gravity from the upper end 16 to the lower end 17 and can be withdrawn through the display/unloading window 9 prior triggering of the button 11 which triggers said closure flap 10. Being subjected under the action of gravity, the replacement of the cans in the lower end 17 of the sectioned ramp 15 is done automatically and sequentially as they are withdrawn one after another.

[0024] Likewise, said inclined housing structure 7 comprises a reinforced plastic material, aluminum, or steel. Said front panel 5, said inclined housing structure 7 and said inner panel 6 can form a pivot assembly in the refrigerator 2 by means of at least one assembly opening hinge for accessing the cooling chamber 3. It is noted that such inclined housing structure 7 can have at least one temperature sensor (not shown) which is connected to said display screen 12.

[0025] Thus, the cooling arrangement for refrigerators of the present invention is constructed and constituted, wherein a better control and maintenance of temperature is allowed, so that the beverages contained in cans can be consumed in a better way. Furthermore, by providing a space dedicated to cans, the invention prevents them from suffering abrupt shifts from one side to the other as happens with conventional refrigerators.