Refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerator having a housing with at least one door frame defining a door opening for access to the housing and having a sealing surface, at least one door for closing the door opening defined by the at least one door frame, and sealing means arranged between the at least one door and the at least one door frame for sealing the door opening in the closed position of the at least one door. The sealing means include a sealing frame mounted on one of the at least one door and the at least one door frame, and magnetic means for urging the sealing frame in contact with a contact surface provided at the other of the at least one door and the at least one door frame. The sealing frame is form retaining in the open position, during opening, during closing, and in the closed position of the at least one door.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a housing with at least one door frame defining a door opening for access to the housing and having a sealing surface; at least one door for closing the door opening defined by the at least one door frame; and sealing means arranged between the at least one door and the at least one door frame for sealing the door opening in the closed position of the at least one door; wherein the sealing means comprise a sealing frame mounted on one of the at least one door and the at least one door frame, and magnetic means for urging the sealing frame in contact with a contact surface provided at the other of the at least one door and the at least one door frame, and wherein the sealing frame is form retaining in the open position, during opening, during closing and in the closed position of the at least one door.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sealing frame is a solid body, preferably a solid nylon body.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic means comprise one or more magnets and one or more bodies of a magnetizable material, in particular iron, wherein the one or more magnets are embedded in one of the sealing frame and the contact surface, and wherein the one or more bodies are embedded in the other of the sealing frame and the contact surface.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the contact surface is formed by stainless steel sheet material and wherein the one or more bodies of magnetizable material is laminated on the stainless steel sheet material opposite of the contact surface.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic means comprise one or more magnets and one or more bodies of a magnetizable material, in particular iron, wherein the one or more magnets are embedded in one of the sealing frame and the contact surface, and wherein the one or more bodies are embedded in the other of the sealing frame and the contact surface.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the contact surface is formed by stainless steel sheet material and wherein the one or more bodies of magnetizable material is laminated on the stainless steel sheet material opposite of the contact surface.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the contact surface is formed by stainless steel sheet material and wherein the one or more bodies of magnetizable material is laminated on the stainless steel sheet material opposite of the contact surface.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the sealing frame is mounted onto the at least one door and wherein the sealing frame encloses an opening equally sized as the door opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of part of an embodiment of a refrigerator according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the sealing frame of FIG. 2 in more detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows part of a refrigerator 1, in particular a housing 2 with a door frame 3 and a door 4. The door 4 is of a drawer arranged in the housing 2 and provided with a handle 5 at the top of the door 4.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. The door frame 3 defines a door opening 6, which is closed off by the door 4. The door 4 is provided with a sealing frame 7 of a form retaining material, preferably nylon. The sealing frame 7 is mounted by mounting plugs 8 and a mounting profile 9 to the door 4.

[0029] A number of magnets 10 are embedded at discrete positions along the circumference in the sealing frame 7 in a respective pocket hole 11. (see also FIG. 3).

[0030] The housing 2 of the refrigerator 1 is typically lined with stainless steel sheet material 12. As stainless steel is not a magnetizable material, a body 13 of magnetizable material, in particular iron, is arranged on the inside of the housing 2 and aligned with the magnet 10 for optimal attraction.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3 in more detail, the pocket hole 11 extends into the sealing frame 7 from the side opposite of the side, which contacts the door frame 3 and in particular the stainless steel sheet material 12. This ensures that the sealing frame 7 has a surface without interruptions, which ensures a good sealing of the sealing frame 7 onto the door frame 3.