ES2971988T3 - compartmentalized refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A compartmentalized refrigerator is an appliance that stores food at appropriate temperatures in separate, individually climate-controlled compartments. The appliance is also configured to consume a minimal amount of space within a kitchen or living room. The apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of storage compartments, a controller and a control panel. The frame supports the various components of the apparatus together. The plurality of storage compartments allows for the storage of food and other items in a thermally controlled environment. The controller receives electrical signals from various sensors and inputs, performs logical operations to convert those input signals into electrical output signals, and sends those output signals to the appropriate mechanisms and systems. The control panel allows the user to interact with the device. The control panel can be a touch screen interface, allowing for intuitive menu navigation and customization of various controls. This configuration allows the device to provide several air-conditioned spaces. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

compartmentalized refrigerator

field of invention

The present invention relates generally to household appliances and electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to new and improved cooling systems and devices.

Background of the invention

Food preservation is essential to allowing humans to survive during winters and famines, and good preservation allows people to devote their energy to productive tasks rather than constantly collecting food. The most common mechanism for protecting foods from spoilage is to cool them to a temperature that slows the inevitable deterioration of beneficial macronutrients, micronutrients, and vitamins. Thus, refrigeration systems have become a basic element of society over thousands of years. Without refrigeration systems, it would be impossible to safely preserve food for later consumption or provide aid to people in remote locations. Today, the common cooling systems found in most homes and many commercial places are refrigerators. Traditionally, refrigerators provide a large enclosed storage space that is electrically cooled. Refrigeration systems monitor and maintain the temperature of the enclosed space, thereby extending the shelf life of various contained foods. Over time, refrigerators have been improved and updated to increase their functionality, such as the ability to make ice or provide cold water.

However, most of the refrigerators currently available provide a structure that is not suitable for most places. For example, most refrigerators have doors that open by rotating around hinges on the side edges of the refrigerators. This refrigerator structure requires ample space in front of the refrigerator to allow users to comfortably access the interior of the refrigerators. The required space is not available in many locations, such as inside trailers and small residences, or is very inconvenient to provide, such as in a studio apartment, often resulting in refrigerator doors colliding with adjacent walls, furniture or kitchen drawers. Additionally, most refrigerators available today provide a series of shelves within the refrigerator on which objects can be placed. Most shelves tend to be static, resulting in complications such as difficulty reaching the back of the shelves or forgetting about items placed at the back of the shelves as they may be hidden from view. Additionally, different foods require different levels of refrigeration. For example, ice cream must be stored at a temperature that prevents it from melting, but that temperature would be too cold for milk or fruit, which would freeze and become inedible. What is needed is a refrigerator structure that minimizes the amount of space required for its use. Additionally, a device with shelves that allow easy access to the back of the refrigerator would be desirable. Additionally, a device that allows independent thermal control in different areas within the refrigerator is desirable. Relevant prior art can be found in US 2013/111936A1, KR20050056767A, and CN2370350Y.

The present invention addresses these problems. The compartmentalized refrigerator provides a structure that overcomes the limitations of currently available refrigerators. The present invention provides a structure with a plurality of drawer-style activatable compartments. Each compartment is operated independently of the other compartments, allowing users to store food in a properly refrigerated compartment. The present invention is energy efficient, allowing users to open only the door that is needed without having to expose all elements within the present invention to warmer external air. The present invention allows users to organize items more easily and helps prevent food waste by allowing users to clearly see what is stored. The present invention can be adapted for use in a variety of cooling applications. Users are less limited by space restrictions because the individual sliding compartments of the present invention do not require excessive space to open. In the preferred embodiment, settings specific to the present invention can be customized based on the application. Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 is a front-right perspective view of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front-right perspective view of the present invention without the drawers.

Figure 3 is a front-left perspective view of the present invention with an open drawer.

Figure 4 is a right side view of the drawer of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of circle 5 of Figure 4 of the locking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a schematic view representing the electronic connections throughout the controller.

Detailed description of the invention

All illustrations in the figures are intended to describe selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a compartmentalized refrigerator used to store food at suitable temperatures in separate and individually climate controlled compartments. The present invention is also configured to take up a minimal amount of space within a kitchen or living space. The present invention comprises a frame 1, a plurality of storage compartments 2, a controller 18 and a control panel 19. The frame 1 is a structure, as shown in Figure 1, that holds the plurality of storage compartments 2 , the controller 18 and the control panel 19 in relation to each other. The plurality of storage compartments 2 is a set of containers that allow the storage of food and other objects in a thermally controlled environment. The controller 18 is a unit that receives electronic signals from various sensors and inputs, performs pre-programmed logical operations to convert those electronic input signals into electronic output signals, and sends those output signals to the appropriate mechanisms and systems within the present invention. . Control panel 19 is a series of inputs that allow the user to interact with the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, control panel 19 is a touch interface, allowing for intuitive menu navigation and customization of various controls.

The overall configuration of the above-mentioned components allows the present invention to efficiently and effectively provide various climate-controlled spaces, especially for food storage and preservation. Each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 comprises a drawer 3, a thermally insulated receptacle 11 and a climate control unit 13. The drawer 3 is a rigid container that holds each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 in relation to the frame 1, in addition to allowing the separation and arrangement of elements within each of the plurality of storage compartments 2, as shown in Figure 4. The thermally insulated receptacle 11 is a series of materials, layers or surfaces temperature resistant that prevent lower temperatures from leaking out of drawer 3, thus avoiding inefficient cooling. The climate control unit 13 is an electrical unit that controls the internal temperature of each of the plurality of storage compartments 2. The thermally insulated receptacle 11 of each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 is arranged in a configuration cubicle through the frame 1. Thus, the plurality of storage compartments 2 extends along the entire width and height of the frame 1, ensuring optimal utilization of the space within the frame 1. In addition, an access opening for the The thermally insulated receptacle 11 of each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 is coplanar with each other on one face of the frame 1. The drawer 3 is slideably mounted on the thermally insulated receptacle 11. While most refrigerators are actuated by a hinge, which consumes an excessive amount of space, this arrangement allows the drawer 3 to be opened and closed without hinges, respectively sliding out and into the thermally insulated receptacle 11, thus improving the space efficiency of the present invention. The climate control unit 13 is mounted within the thermally insulated receptacle 11. In this configuration, the climate control unit 13 is optimally positioned to influence the temperature of the thermally insulated receptacle 11. The climate control unit Climate 13 of each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 and the control panel 19 are electronically connected to the controller 18. Such an arrangement allows the controller 18 to interact with the climate control unit 13, increasing or decreasing the cold output to the thermally insulated receptacle 11 as necessary. Additionally, the electronic connection between the control panel 19 and the controller 18 allows the user to input a desired temperature for the thermally insulated receptacle 11. The controller 18 is mounted within the frame 1. Therefore, the controller 18 is positioned at adequate proximity to the plurality of storage compartments 2. The control panel 19 is mounted externally to the frame 1. This arrangement provides the user with easy access to the control panel 19 and, at the same time, allows the control panel 19 to be Easily communicate with the controller 18.

Often, refrigerators shared by several people or groups are used inappropriately, as is often the case, for example, when children get ice cream in the evening. The present invention therefore benefits from the incorporation of a mechanism for providing selective access to the plurality of storage compartments 2. To this end, each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 further comprises a locking mechanism 16 The locking mechanism 16 is a set of features that prevent the related storage compartment of the plurality of storage compartments 2 from being opened without proper access by the user. The thermally insulated receptacle 11 comprises an opening edge 12. The opening edge 12, as seen in Figure 2, is the structural part of the thermally insulated receptacle 11 that delimits the access opening for the thermally insulated receptacle 11. The locking mechanism 16 is operatively integrated into the drawer 3 and the opening edge 12, wherein the locking mechanism 16 is used to selectively secure the drawer 3 to the opening edge 12. Such an arrangement allows the drawer 3 to slide. in and out of the thermally insulated receptacle 11 only when the locking mechanism 16 is not activated. The locking mechanism 16 is electronically connected to the controller 18. This arrangement allows the controller 18, and therefore the control panel 19, to interact with the locking mechanism 16, determining preset settings related to time or user authentication. as desired.

To properly interact with the thermally insulated receptacle 11, the climate control unit 13 must be equipped to receive and react to the ambient temperature within the climate control unit 13. To this end, the climate control unit 13 It comprises a cooler 14 and a temperature sensor 15, as shown in Figure 6. The cooler 14 is a unit that radiates cold towards the climate control unit 13. The temperature sensor 15 is an electrical unit that detects the temperature environment as a temperature reading and consequently generates electrical signals to communicate the temperature reading. The temperature sensor 15 is in thermal communication with the thermally insulated receptacle 11. In this arrangement, the temperature sensor 15 is positioned to accurately measure temperature data from the thermally insulated receptacle 11. The controller 18 is electronically connected to the chiller 14 and to the temperature sensor 15. Therefore, the temperature data collected by the temperature sensor 15 is sent to the controller 18, which determines the appropriate output for the chiller 14 and transmits the resulting electrical signal to the chiller 14. This arrangement allows the cooler 14 to respond to fluctuations in the temperature of the thermally insulated receptacle 11 that may result from general use of the thermally insulated receptacle 11.

The present invention must be arranged to accommodate large quantities of articles by taking advantage of the entire volume available within each thermally insulated receptacle 11. To this end, the drawer 3 comprises a door 4 and a shelf frame 5. The door 4 is a surface with which the user interacts to operate the drawer 3. The shelving frame 5 is a mounting unit that allows the addition of different types of shelves or object support platforms. The shelving frame 5 comprises a first end of the frame 6 and a second end of the frame 7. The first end of the frame 6 is a series of projections opposite the second end of the frame 7 that allows the connection of several shelving units. The first end of the frame 6 passes through the thermally insulated receptacle 11, as shown in Figure 3. In this way, the first end of the frame 6 is optimally positioned for the orientation of the shelves within the thermally insulated receptacle 11 The door 4 is connected adjacent to the second end of the frame 7. Therefore, the first end of the frame 6 extends into the thermally insulated receptacle 11 on the opposite side of the door 4 and the second end of the frame 7.

The drawer 3 and the thermally insulated receptacle 11 may be configured with each other in a closed configuration, in which the drawer 3 is in contact with the thermally insulated receptacle 11, or in an open configuration, in which the drawer 3 is not in contact with the thermally insulated receptacle 11. When the drawer 3 and the thermally insulated receptacle 11 are arranged in a closed configuration, cold air cannot escape from the thermally insulated receptacle 11 and the contained objects cannot be accessed. The shelving frame 5 is positioned inside the thermally insulated receptacle 11, as shown in Figure 4. This arrangement allows the shelving frame 5 to subsequently orient the shelves within the thermally insulated receptacle 11. The door 4 is pressed tightly against the edge of the opening 12. Such an arrangement ensures that cold air cannot escape from the thermally insulated receptacle 11. In the open configuration, the user can reach into the storage compartment of the plurality of storage compartments 2 and claim the items contained in it. In the open configuration, the door 4 is positioned offset from the opening edge 12. This arrangement allows the user to access the items contained within the thermally insulated receptacle 11.

To achieve an optimal arrangement of items within the plurality of storage compartments 2, the present invention must be able to optimize the volume within each of the storage compartments 2. To this end, the shelving frame 5 includes a height adjustment mechanism 8 and a plurality of movable shelves 9. The height adjustment mechanism 8 is preferably a support with notches and features that allow adjustment of the vertical position of the plurality of movable shelves 9. The plurality of movable shelves 9 is preferably a set of rectangular extrusions that provide support for the elements within the thermally insulated receptacle 11. The height adjustment mechanism 8 is integrated into the door 4, as shown in Figure 5. Therefore, the mechanism height adjustment mechanism 8 is optimally positioned to support and orient the plurality of movable shelves 9. The plurality of movable shelves 9 is joined along the height adjustment mechanism 8. In this way, the plurality of movable shelves 9 It is arranged inside the thermally insulated receptacle 11.

Drawer 3 can be difficult to operate with only door 4 to grab. To address this concern, the drawer 3 further comprises a handle 10, as shown in Figure 1. The handle 10 is a preferably curved extrusion that provides a more convenient mechanism for the user to grip the door 4 for subsequent operation. The handle 10 is attached adjacent to the door 4, on the opposite side of the shelving frame 5. This arrangement positions the handle 10 appropriately for the user to grasp.

Many modern refrigerators use their cooling properties to offer additional services to the user. To this end, the present invention comprises a beverage dispenser 20. The beverage dispenser 20, as shown in Figure 1, is a unit that stores water and ice to be dispensed by the user at their discretion. The beverage dispenser 20 is mounted externally on the frame 1. In this arrangement, the beverage dispenser 20 is readily available to the user. The beverage dispenser 20 is electronically connected to the controller 18. Therefore, the user can dispense water or ice from the beverage dispenser 20 by interacting with the corresponding controls on the control panel 19, thereby sending appropriate signals through the controller 18 to open or close the beverage dispenser 20.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention allows the user to interact with the controller 18 remotely through the use of a software application. To this end, the present invention comprises a wireless communication module 21. The wireless communication module 21, as shown in Figure 6, is an electrical unit that allows the connection of the controller 18 to the Internet, where the user can access controls through any available personal computing device (PC). The wireless communication module 21 is electronically connected to the controller 18. Said connection allows the controller 18 to interact and respond to signals and commands from users on the Internet. This allows the user to determine various settings and controls remotely through the use of connected PC devices.

Modern refrigerators often lack the ability to provide information about the items contained. To this end, each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 further comprises at least one inventory tracking sensor 17. The at least one inventory tracking sensor 17, as shown in Figure 6, is a series of units electrical that determines the presence or absence of various items in the refrigerator. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one inventory tracking sensor 17 is an item barcode scanner. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one inventory tracking sensor 17 includes at least one camera, which records visual data about the stored items. This arrangement allows the user to scan items and store the related data within the controller 18 for later access. The at least one inventory tracking sensor 17 is mounted within the thermally insulated receptacle 11. In this manner, the at least one inventory tracking sensor 17 is positioned to record the contained items. The at least one inventory tracking sensor 17 of each of the plurality of storage compartments 2 is electronically connected to the controller 18. In this way, the controller 18 can store the collected data for later access by the user.

In the preferred use of the present invention, the user purchases and installs the present invention in a kitchen or other living space. The user places the plurality of movable shelves 9 against the height adjustment mechanism 8. The user then places the door 4 in the closed configuration. Subsequently, the user can interact with the control panel 19 to determine the different desired temperature settings for each storage compartment of the plurality of storage compartments 2. The user can further decide on the appropriate access controls to be used by the user. locking mechanism 16. When the cooler 14 has effectively cooled the thermally insulated receptacle 11, the user can load items into the thermally insulated receptacle 11, which slows the deterioration or decomposition of the stored items.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of storage compartments 2 further comprises a plurality of first compartments, a plurality of second compartments and at least one third compartment. The plurality of first compartments are suitably cooled to permit refrigeration, generally set at a temperature of about 4.4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit).

The plurality of first compartments are generally positioned above the plurality of second compartments, adjacent to at least a third compartment. The plurality of second compartments are suitably cooled to allow freezing of the contained items, generally set at a temperature of approximately -17.8 degrees Celsius (zero degrees Fahrenheit). The at least one third compartment is a series of storage spaces that is located anywhere adjacent to the plurality of first compartments, preferably below the control panel 19. This arrangement of the plurality of first compartments, the plurality of second compartments and At least a third compartment results in a convenient and intuitive refrigerator layout.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanism 16 allows users to prevent unauthorized access to the plurality of storage compartments 2 at specific time periods at pre-established schedules. The locking mechanism 16 also allows users to grant permission to selected users so that only authorized users can access the present invention. The present invention further comprises an inventory management system that tracks the quantity and relative age of items stored therein. The inventory management system comprises a plurality of sensors and/or monitoring devices that record the quantity and age of stored items. The inventory management system can also notify users of missing or decreased numbers of items through a software application. In this embodiment, users can remotely control the plurality of storage compartments 2 and monitor the inventory of items through the application, which can be installed on a variety of electronic devices. Software application includes, but is not limited to, desktop applications, mobile applications, cloud applications and more. The software application may also be accessed through third party software in the form of websites, plugins, widgets, etc.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A compartmentalized refrigerator comprising: a frame (1), a plurality of storage compartments (2); a controller (18); a control panel (19); each of the storage compartments (2) comprises a drawer (3), a thermally insulated receptacle (11) and a climate control unit (13); the thermally insulated receptacle (11) of each of the storage compartments (2) is arranged in a cubicle configuration by the frame (1); the drawer (3) is slidably mounted in the thermally insulated receptacle (11); the climate control unit (13) is mounted inside the thermally insulated receptacle (11); the climate control unit (13) from each of the storage compartments (2) and the control panel (19) is electronically connected to the controller (18); the controller (18) is mounted inside the frame (1); and the control panel (19) is mounted externally to the frame (1); the compartmentalized refrigerator characterized because: the drawer (3) comprises a door (4) and a shelf frame (5); The shelving frame (5) comprises a first frame end (6) and a second frame end (7); the first end of the frame (6) passes through the thermally insulated receptacle (11); and the door (4) is connected adjacent to the second end of the frame; and wherein the shelving frame (5) comprises a height adjustment mechanism (8) and a plurality of movable shelves (9); the height adjustment mechanism (8) is integrated into the door (4); and the plurality of movable shelves (9) are joined along the height adjustment mechanism. 2. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to claim 1 comprises: each of the plurality of storage compartments (2) further comprises a locking mechanism (16); the thermally insulated receptacle (11) comprises an opening edge (12); The locking mechanism (16) is operatively integrated into the drawer (3) and the opening edge (12), wherein the locking mechanism (16) is used to selectively secure the drawer (3) to the opening edge (12). ); and the locking mechanism (16) is electronically connected to the controller. 3. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the climate control unit (13) comprises a cooler (14) and a temperature sensor (15); the temperature sensor (15) is in thermal communication with the thermally insulated receptacle (11); and The controller (18) is electronically connected to the cooler (14) and the temperature sensor (15). 4. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: the drawer (3) and the thermally insulated receptacle (11) are arranged in a closed configuration; the thermally insulated receptacle (11) comprises an opening edge (12); the shelving frame (5) is positioned within the thermally insulated receptacle (11); and the door (4) is tightly pressed against the edge of the opening (12). 5. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein the drawer (3) and the thermally insulated receptacle (11) are arranged in an open configuration; the thermally insulated receptacle (11) comprises an opening edge (12); and the door (4) is positioned offset from the opening edge (12). 6. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to any of the preceding claims comprises: the drawer (3) further comprises a handle (10); and The handle (10) is connected adjacent to the door (4), on the opposite side to the shelving frame. (5) . 7. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to any of the preceding claims comprises: A beverage dispenser (20); the beverage dispenser (20) is mounted externally to the frame (1); and The beverage dispenser (20) is electronically connected to the controller (18). 8. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to any of the preceding claims comprises: a wireless communication module (21); and The wireless communication module (21) is electronically connected to the controller (18). 9. The compartmentalized refrigerator according to any of the preceding claims comprises: each of the plurality of storage compartments (2) further comprises at least one inventory tracking sensor (17); the inventory tracking sensor (17) is mounted inside the thermally insulated receptacle (11); and The inventory tracking sensor (17) of each of the plurality of storage compartments (2) is electronically connected to the controller (18).