Patent Grant
9228777
This application claims priority to Turkish Application No. TR 2013/08558 filed 16, Jul. 2013, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a cooling device having a dispenser which is located on an outer wall and which comprises a housing having an opening on its front face for accommodating a fixing element for securing the location of the dispenser on the outer wall of the cooling device, said dispenser further comprising a front cover located in the housing such that it covers the front face of the housing.
Some of the cooling devices, particularly refrigerators, comprise a dispenser for dispensing water or ice for the users. Dispensers are usually located on the front face of the doors of the cooling devices. For this purpose, a cavity or a cove is formed on the door. Then, a housing which is usually made of a plastic and which geometrically fits with the inner volume of said cavity is placed in said cavity. The housing is fixed to the door using a desired fixing element, such as a screw. In case of a built-in type cooling device, the location of the dispenser is adapted against a corresponding opening found on the cover plate (decorative panel) during installation.
One or more openings are provided on the housing for handling the installation. The fixing element may be controlled and secured through said openings. However, visibility of the fixing element or reach of the same to a user is unwanted. Therefore, the fixing element shall be concealed.
For concealment, a front cover which geometrically fits with the cavity is used. The front cover conceals the cavity by covering the same partly or fully. In such cases, and particularly in the case of built-in type systems, adaptation of the location of the dispenser requires a multiplicity of adjustments through the fixing elements and control checks after the front cover is put in place. This usually requires a long installation time and high amount of labor.
The present invention brings a development, an extra advantage or an alternative to the state of the art.
Primary object of the invention is to provide a cooling device having dispenser whose installation is made easier albeit the front cover.
In order to achieve the object, the present invention proposes a cooling device comprising a dispenser for distribution of ice and/or water, said dispenser having a housing, which is disposed on an outer wall of the cooling device and which has an opening on a front face thereof for a fixing element for fixing the position of the housing on the outer wall of the device; a front cover disposed on the housing as covering the front face of the housing; wherein the front cover has an opening corresponding the opening of the housing and allowing access to the fixing element and wherein said front cover has a cover for covering the opening of the front cover. Thereby, access to the fixing element for adjustment and/or securing of the housing can be established even when the front cover is mounted on the housing.
The cooling device may be any of the cooling devices on which a dispenser may be installed. For example, it may be a household refrigerator. The refrigerator may be a stand-alone type or a built-in type already known in the state of the art.
The dispenser disclosed by the present invention may be a food dispenser. For example, it may be used for dispensing a liquid like water and/or ice. The outer wall used for installing the dispenser may be an outer wall to which a user has reach. For example, in a possible cooling device having a door, the dispenser may be located on the outer wall of the door.
The fixing element securing the location of the housing on the cooling device may be any of the mechanical, magnetic, electronic etc. fixing elements known in the state of the art. For example, it may be a screw, a bolt-nut couple, a snap-on type connecting tab etc.
The housing may be a housing having a dispenser valve as known in the art. It may be formed such that it has a cavity suitable to get a food container in. It may be located in a cavity or a cove to be formed on the outer wall of the cooling device. The housing may be made of a material such as plastics, composite materials known in the state of the art. It may comprise one or more openings. An opening may allow access to one or more fixing elements.
The front face of the housing may be any of its faces facing a user. For example, it may be front face of the wall or walls defining the cavity in which the food container is located.
The front cover may be embodied such that it covers the entire front face of the housing. It may comprise a frame covering the periphery of the cavity of the housing and a cavity region extending in between the periphery of the inner space of the frame and the cavity of the housing. The cavity region may establish that the walls defining the cavity of the housing are covered. The front cover may be mechanically connected to the housing such that it covers the front face of the housing. In another embodiment, the front cover may be adhered to front face of the housing. The front cover may be generally made of a sheet material.
The dimensions of the opening of the front cover may be equal to the dimensions of the opening of the housing or may be slightly less than the same such that a fixing element may still be accessible or alternatively, the dimensions of the opening of the front cover may be larger than that of the opening of the housing.
The cover may be dimensioned such that it covers the opening of the front cover partly or fully.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, the cover may have a connection element which is connected to the front cover. In this way, the cover may sit on the front cover in a stable manner. In the possible embodiment, the connection element may be formed as secured to the rear wall of the cover. In this way, a secure connection may be established in between the cover and the front cover. Furthermore, labor work for establishing a connection in between the connection element and the cover can be prevented. The connection element may be secured to the cover through known techniques such as adhesion or welding. However, in another possible embodiment of the invention, the connection element can be secured to the cover in an adjustable manner. The connection element may be connected to the cover before the cover is attached to the front cover. The connection element may be made of a material which is same or different than the material of the cover. For example, it may be a metal or plastics. If made of plastics, the manufacture of the desired form may be facilitated.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, the front cover may have a connection element which is in connection with the connection element of the cover. In this way, a secure connection can be established in between the cover and the front cover. The connection element may be secured to the cover through known techniques such as adhesion or welding. The connection element may be made of a material which is same or different than the material of the front cover. For example, it may be a metal or plastics. If made of plastics, the manufacture of the desired form may be facilitated. The connection element may be in the form of a plate. In this way, it would occupy a small space in between the front cover and the housing such that it would help in obtaining a dispenser which occupies less space.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, one of the connection element of the cover and the connection element of the front cover comprises a holding element in connection with a holding edge of other one of the connection element of the cover and the connection element of the front cover corresponding with the holding element. In this way, a mechanical connection can be established in between the cover and the front cover. This mechanical connection provides that the installation work can be handled easily and fast. This would be beneficial in terms of labor amount and time. The holding element may be a known element such as a lug or a clamp. The holding edge may be any of the edges provided on the fixing element of the front cover. As an example, for a clamp type holding element it may be any unused edge or the inner edges of an opening formed on a plate.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, when the cover is placed on the opening of the front cover, the opening of the front cover can be formed such that a front face of the cover and a front face of the front cover align. In this way, the connection in between the cover and the front cover may geometrically be fitting each other. Furthermore, as the front faces align with each other, the edges or the corners of the cover may be prevented from constituting a protrusion which may harm a user or a tool (such as a cleaning tool or cleaning object). Additionally, the harmonious appearance of the cover and the front cover may enhance user satisfaction.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, the front cover and the cover may be made of the same material, such as a metal. In this way, the strength of connection in between the front cover and the cover may be enhanced. The front cover and the cover may also be made of a different material which is known to have a high physical strength.
All directional references such as front, top or bottom views used in this text are based on reference to the cooling device (1) shown in to
The present invention relates to a cooling device (1), such as a refrigerator, comprising a dispenser (2) for distribution of ice and/or water, said dispenser having a housing (20), which is disposed on an outer wall (10) of the cooling device (1) and which has an opening (22) on a front face (21) thereof for a fixing element (23) for fixing the position of the housing (20) on the outer wall (10) of the device. Left side view of a possible built-in type refrigerator is displayed in
A close up view of the dispenser (2) is illustrated in
The cavity (11) of the cooling device (1) is roughly in the form of a rectangular prism. It is connected to the dispenser reservoir located inside the cooling device (1) through a valve which is provided on its upper part and which allows obtaining of liquids or solids. Four pieces of fixing slots (13) are provided on the rear wall (12) of the cavity (11). A fixing slot element is provided in each of the fixing slots (13). A fixing slot element is a metal element which is molded with the cavity (11) that is made of plastics when so desired. It has a dowel-like structure.
The housing (20) of the dispenser (2) has a form which fits inside the cavity (11). On its front face (21), it has openings (22) which correspond to the fixing slots (13) of the cavity (11). An opening (22) has a form roughly corresponding to a quadrilateral. The inner uppermost portion of the housing (20) is left hollow for allowing the valve extend inside the housing (20).
The fixing elements (23) as proposed by the present invention are screws. Screws have a head which allows them to be rotated by a screwdriver around their primary axis. Additionally, they have an integral washer in the proximity of the head. As the integral washer is wider than the opening (22) of the housing (20), only the head of the fixing element (23) remains inside the housing (20).
The housing (20) of the dispenser (2) is located on the screws which were driven in the fixing slots (13) of the cavity (11). Later on an external washer is placed on each of the heads remaining in the housing (20). The external washer is wider than the opening (22). Finally, a nut-like element is added to each of the heads which have a thread/ridge on their outer lateral surfaces.
For installation of a cooling device (1) as described in detail above, the following method shall be applied. The method comprises the following steps;
In a possible embodiment where the cooling device is a built-in type device, the method step of locating a cover plate (15) on the outer wall (10) of the cooling device (1) may be added right after step b described above.
In a possible embodiment where the cooling device is a built-in type device, the method step d may also be conducted through the opening of the cover plate (15).
In a possible embodiment where the cooling device is a built-in type device, following the method step f, a frame (24) may be added in between the cover plate (15) and the dispenser (2) in order to conceal the gap in between the cover plate (15) and the dispenser (2).
The front cover (30) may be secured to the housing (20) through adhesion or a snap-on fixation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013/08558 | Jul 2013 | TR | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6135173 | Lee et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150020537 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |
