The present invention relates to the placement of a gas sensor in a cooler device.

Spoiling over time of food stored in special storage compartments, for example in a crisper, in refrigerators, decreases nutritional quality of the food, and the bad odor diffusing in the refrigerator spoils also the food products kept in other storage compartments. The users generally identify spoiling of food by seeing spoilage signs on food surface and by detecting undesired odors in the refrigerator. Spoilage and decomposition can begin even though signs of spoilage on the surface of the food kept in the refrigerator are not clearly seen by naked eye, making it difficult for a user to identify beginning of spoilage. In the applications known in the art, whether food kept in a refrigerator is spoiled or not is detected by gas sensors, and the user is warned for removing such food from the refrigerator is the food being kept is spoiled. In addition, applications utilizing bar codes or similar applications directed at identifying the type of food in order to determine the shelf life depending on the type of the food product, are also included in the prior art. Gas sensors usually measure the gas values of their environment and transmit this information to a control unit. Here, comparison is made with predetermined values and the user is informed. The placement of the gas sensors inside the refrigerator is of utmost importance for being able to measure gas level variations in the environment and to operate effectively. Gas sensors can operate more effectively when they are positioned closer to the food products and preferably so as to perform measurement in significant areas segmented in regions. The regions to perform this most suitably in the refrigerator can be defined as the areas segmented by drawers. Since these structures are movable by pulling out of the refrigerator for allowing access to the materials in the drawer, problems can be experienced in placement of electrical transmitters enabling contact between the gas sensors and the control unit. State of the art Korean patent document no. KR100618549 describes an odor sensor identifying spoilage states of the food products in a refrigerator according to the amount of gas in the environment.

State of the art European patent document no. EP1887297 mentions a device with electronic connection placed on an upper portion of a special compartment in a refrigerator.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a cooler device in which secure placement of a gas sensor in movable compartments is provided.

The refrigerator realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is disclosed in the claims.

In the cooler device of the invention, one or more storage compartments are provided in which food products such as vegetables, fruits, meat or dairy products are stored. Such compartments can also be used as special storage compartments providing cooling in special conditions suitable for storing a single type of food. Food products to be stored in a storage compartment have been classified, and types and amounts of gasses such as ethylene, ethanol, aldehyde, and trimethylamine diffusing to the environment when the food products of each class are fresh and when they are spoiled, have been predetermined and saved in the control unit. The type and amount of the food product in the storage compartment, whether it is fresh and if it is spoiled whether it is in an initial phase of spoilage or have completely been spoiled, can be determined by means of various methods by comparing the values detected by the gas sensor provided in the storage compartment, to the values saved in the control unit. Since cable connection required for communication of gas sensors used for this purpose with the control unit, have to be provided, for enabling their use in storage compartments of drawer type, sensors are placed in a fixed position in the body so as to enter and exit the storage compartment. When the cooling compartment is inside the cooler device, the gas sensor can effectively measure the values of gas level variations in the compartment as the gas sensor is in the compartment as well. When the user pulls the compartment to access the food products in the cooling compartment, the cooling compartment moves out of the body but the sensor can remain in a stationary position on the body. By this, effective gas measurement in the cooling compartment is performed, and dangerous situations which may arise due to movability of electric transmission means such as rupture or leakage are prevented.

In an embodiment of the invention, the gas sensor is arranged on the back wall of the cooler device, in alignment with the cooling compartment. A seat provided on the back wall of the storage compartment is sized so that the gas sensor can pass through it. In the position of the cooling compartment being in the body, the gas sensor passes through this seat and reaches the cooling compartment. By this, the gas sensor can be positioned closer to the food products in the cooling compartment, and can perform effective gas measurement.

A sealing member extending along the seat wall is placed between the seat on the back wall of the storage compartment and the gas sensor, preventing spacing between the gas sensor and the seat in order not to leave any space which may lead to gas leakage in the body. By this, diffusion in the body of malodorous gasses generated by spoilage is decreased. Also, incorrect information about the spoilage statuses of the food products is thus prevented from being generated by means of the values measured by the gas sensor, as the gas amount in the storage compartment would decrease in cases when a point for gas to escape is formed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooling compartment consists of two compartments, namely the front and the rear compartments. The front compartment composes the portion which is movable when the user pulls the cooling compartment out of the body. The rear compartment composes the portion proximate to the back wall of the cooling compartment. The rear compartment is arranged adjacent to the back wall of the body in a fixed position. The gas sensor is mounted by placing it on said fixed rear compartment. Electric transmission connections can easily be provided as the gas sensor is mounted on a fixed compartment. The front compartment is moved by being pulled out of the body by the user. Food products are prevented from dropping between the front compartment and the rear compartment by moving due to a force generated during the movement of the front compartment, by using a set extending upwards from any of the compartments.

In this embodiment of the invention, when the user wants to pull the storage compartment out of the body, the front compartment is moved over a slide by means of the slide arranged between the front compartment and the rear compartment. The slide structure can consist of one or more slides. The slide can be arranged in the lower portions of the compartments. This structure allows easy disconnection of the front compartment and the rear compartment from each other, and their reconnection without leaving any space in between.

In another embodiment of the invention, the storage compartment is covered from top by a cover. Said cover sealingly covers the top of the storage compartment when the storage compartment is completely inside the body. The cover is in a fixed position in the body. The storage compartment in the form of a drawer can move back and forth on the lower portion of the cover. The cover is of a structure comprising electric transmission channels containing insulation material. The gas sensor is mounted on the surface of the cover facing the storage compartment. The gas sensor is operated by means of the electric transmission means provided in the cover. More than one gas sensor can be used since the cover allows gas sensors to be positioned over a large area on the storage region. A more effective measurement becomes possible as more alternatives are created for the gas sensors positioning with respect to the food products. Direct cable connection in electricity transmission can easily be provided by the cover being stationary. The upper surface of the cover can also be used as a shelf in the body on which food products are placed.

The surface of the gas sensor facing the cooling compartment is shaped with a structure curved towards the storage compartment. Effective gas measurement is enabled by means of the gas sensor extending to the storage compartment, providing a closer positioning to the food products in the compartment. Secure placement of gas sensors in movable storage compartments is realized thanks to the present invention.

The refrigerator realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cooler device in one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the storage compartment in one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the storage compartment in one embodiment of the invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1 - Cooler device

2 - Body 3 - Door

4 - Storage compartment

5 - Gas sensor

6 - Seat

7 - Sealing member 8 - Rear compartment

9 - Front compartment

10 - Cover 11 - Slide

The cooler device (1) comprises a body (2), a door (3) enabling access into the body (2), a storage compartment (4) suitable for placement in the body (2), shaped as one or more drawers storing food products inside, a gas sensor (5) detecting odorant chemical substances diffusing from the food products placed in the storage compartment (4) to the environment. In one embodiment of the invention, the cooler device (1) comprises a gas sensor (5) almost completely remaining in the storage compartment (4) when the storage compartment (4) is closed, and not moving with the storage compartment (4) by staying fixed in the body (2) when the storage compartment (4) is opened by pulling outwards. The gas sensor (5) is enabled to take effective measurements by being in close distance to the food products in the storage compartment (4) through being arranged in the storage compartment (4), in the position where the storage compartment (4) is completely inside the body (2). The gas sensor (5) stays fixed in the body (2) when the storage compartment (4) is pulled out of the body (2). By this, possible factors effecting operation of the gas sensor such as electric leakage or rupture are prevented, and a secure use is provided for the user, as the electrical connection of the gas sensor (5) is realized at a fixed point.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a seat (6) provided on the back wall of the storage compartment (4), sized so that the gas sensor (5) can pass through it. The gas sensor (5) is mounted in the body (2) on the back wall of the body (2) so as to be aligned with the surface of the storage compartment (4) facing the back wall in the position of the storage compartment (4) being completely in the body (2). A hollowed seat (6) is provided on the rear surface of the storage compartment (4) at the portion matching the gas sensor (5), thus the gas sensor (5) can take efficient gas measurements by being closer to food products. The gas sensor (5) is positioned in the inner portion of the storage compartment (4) by passing through said seat (6) in the position of the storage compartment (4) being completely in the body (2). By this, taking effective gas measurement values is facilitated (figure 3).

In this embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a sealing member (7) placed around the seat (6) so as to leave no space between the storage compartment (4) and the gas sensor (5). The sealing member (7) placed around the seat (6) so as to block gas passage between the gas sensor (5) and the storage compartment (4), also prevents passage of malodorous gasses that may occur in the storage compartment (4) to the body (2) through the seat (6).

In one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a storage compartment (4) comprising a fixed rear compartment (8) arranged proximate to the back wall of the body (2), and a front compartment (9) detachably connected to the rear compartment (8), movable by a user, and a gas sensor (5) arranged on the rear compartment (8). The cooling compartment (4) is composed of two segments. The portion proximate to the door (3) is segmented as the front compartment (9), and the portion proximate to the back wall of the body (2) is segmented as the rear compartment (8). The sizes of the compartments may vary. The rear compartment (8) rests adjacent to the back wall of the body (2). The gas sensor (5) is mounted on the rear compartment (8). The electric transmission connections of the gas sensor (5) are in fixed position as the rear compartment is (8) stationary. When the front compartment (9) is opened by pulling it towards the door (3), it moves by detaching from the rear compartment (8). The front compartment (9) and the rear compartment (8) are positioned so as not have space between each other in the position when they are completely in the body (2). By this application, electric transmission connection of the gas sensor (5) is securely realized (figure 2). In this embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a slide (11) provided on a side wall of the body (2), on which the front compartment (9) is slided to be moved outwards from the body (2). When the front compartment (9) is moved towards the door (3), it changes position by sliding on the slide (11) arranged between the front compartment (9) and the rear compartment (8). By this, the user can easily access the food products in the cooling compartment (4).

In one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a cover (10) stably placed in the body (2) so as to cover the opening on the storage compartment (4), and sealed suitably to place electrical materials within, and a gas sensor (5) arranged on the surface of the cover (10) facing the storage compartment (4). The cover (10) accommodates within insulated cable channels. Electrical connection of the gas sensor (5) can easily be provided thanks to the cable channels. The cover (10) and the cooling compartment (4) are positioned so as to have no space between each other from which gas may escape. The gas sensor (5) is mounted on any point on the surface of the cover (10) facing the storage compartment (4). Using more than one gas sensor (5) becomes possible by being able to fix the gas sensor (5) on various positions. By this, more accurate data can be obtained from measurements since measurements can be taken at several points in the cooling compartment (4). It is also made possible to form small compartments in the cooling compartment (4) and to use a separate gas sensor (5) for each one of said compartments (figure 1).

In one embodiment of the invention, the cooler device (1) comprises a gas sensor (5) with the surface facing the storage compartment (4) having a structure curved towards the storage compartment (4). The gas sensor (5) is brought closer to the food products in the cooling compartment (4) since the gas sensor (5) can be positioned closer and with a wide angle in the cooling compartment (4) thanks to the curved structure. Measurement of the gas diffusing from the food products can be performed more effectively by the gas sensor (5) being in a closer distance.

A cooler device (1) in which secure placement of a gas sensor (5) in movable cooling compartments (4) is realized thanks to the invention.