Technical Field

The present invention relates to cooling devices that comprise a mullion-bar.

Background of the Invention

Cooling devices such as refrigerators comprise at least one body; an inner compartment located in the body for placing the products to be cooled; at least one door controlling access into the inner compartment; and at least one cooling system for cooling the inner compartment. The number and size of the doors used in the cooling device may change according to the user's needs. For example, in high volume cooling devices, two doors positioned side by side can be used to facilitate access to the inner compartment. Here, the user can access the entire inner compartment when he/she opens both doors at once. Thus, for example, the user can easily place large products, such as trays, in the inner compartment and can easily see the entire inner compartment. Therefore, in refrigerators with two doors side by side, there four doors can be provided in total, two doors controlling access into a cooling compartment and two doors controlling access into a freezer compartment.

In cooling devices with two doors side by side, when the doors are closed, bearing surfaces are used that provide airtightness at the junction of the two doors. The bearing surface in conventional applications is in the form of a vertical bar fixed to the body of the cooling device. However, in such applications, even when the doors are opened, said vertical bar may restrict access to the inner compartment. To solve this problem, structures called mullion-bars are used in the known art. As disclosed in TR 2011 02574 A2, the so-called mullion-bar comprises a bearing surface connected to one of the doors via a side wall of the door. Said bearing surface can move together with the door to which it is connected, wherein when the doors are closed, it also contacts the other door to provide airtightness. In such applications, the mullion-bar, on which the bearing surface is located, can rotate relative to the door to which it is connected. Thus, for example, it is ensured that only the door to which the mullion-bar is connected can be opened without opening the other door. However, in such applications, the loads on the mullion-bar cause the side wall of the door to be damaged over time.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention discloses a cooling device comprising at least one body; at least one inner compartment located in the body; at least two doors located side by side for controlling access into the inner compartment; at least one cooling system for cooling the inner compartment; at least one mullion-bar connected to a side wall of at least one of the doors. The cooling device also comprises at least one window located on the wall; at least one support element located on a part of the side wall containing the window facing the inner compartment, wherein the support element has at least one carrying element and at least a first opening located on the carrying element and aligned with said window; at least one door connection element, at least one portion of which passes through the window and the first opening so as to be connected to the support element, and at least one other portion of which is located outside the part of the side wall containing the window; and at least one mullion-bar connection element, at least one side of which is connected to the mullion-bar, and at least one other side of which is connected to the part of the connection element located outside the part of the side wall containing the window.

In the cooling device according to the present invention, the connection of the mullion-bar with the door is not carried out directly through the side wall, but through the support element. Therefore, the load is prevented from being imposed on the side wall, which is made of a relatively unstable material, due to the forces generated on the mullion-bar, so that the side wall is prevented from being damaged. Since the load is imposed on the support element, which is more durable than the side wall, the connection of the door with the mullion-bar can be more reliable and long-lasting.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device comprising a mullion-bar. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device in which the connection of the mullion-bar with the door is durable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device that is easy and practical to manufacture.

Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the cooling device according to the present invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the cooling device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a connection of the door and mullion-bar provided in the cooling device according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a side-sectional view of a detail of the connection of the door and mullion-bar provided in the cooling device according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of a detail of the connection of the door and mullion-bar provided in the cooling device according to the invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a detail of the connection of the door and mullion-bar provided in the cooling device according to the invention.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of a detail of the connection of the mullion-bar connection element and the door provided in the cooling device according to the invention.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

Cooling device (S)

Body (G)

Inner compartment (B)

Door (K)

Side wall (K1)

Recess (K2)

Mullion-bar (T)

Window (1) Door connection element (2)

Fedora (2a)

Connection section (2b)

Tab (2c)

Support element (3)

Carrying element (3a)

First opening (3b)

Second opening (3c)

Lug (3d)

Mullion-bar connection element (4)

Connection slot (4a)

Connection pin (4b)

Connection channel (4c)

Guide detail (5)

Description of the Invention

Cooling devices such as refrigerators comprise at least one door for access into the inner compartment. Especially high-volume cooling devices may comprise at least two doors located side by side. Sealing between these doors is provided by structures called mullion-bar, which are attached to the side wall of one of the doors. However, with such structures, the connection of the side wall and the mullion-bar of the wall may be damaged over time due to the forces applied on the mullion-bar. The present invention provides a cooling device comprising a mullion-bar to solve this problem.

The cooling device (S) according to the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 1-6, comprises at least one body (G); at least one inner compartment (B) located in the body (G); at least two doors (K) located side by side for controlling access into the inner compartment (B); at least one cooling system (not illustrated in the figures) for cooling the inner compartment (B); at least one mullion-bar (T) connected to a side wall (K1) of at least one of the doors (K); at least one window (1) located on the wall (K1); at least one support element (3) located on a part of the side wall (K1) containing the window (1) facing the inner compartment (B), wherein the support element (3) has at least one carrying element (3a) and at least a first opening (3b) located on the carrying element (3a) and aligned with said window (1); at least one door connection element (2), at least one portion of which passes through the window (1) and the first opening (3b) so as to be connected to the support element (3), and at least one other portion of which is located outside the part of the side wall (K1) containing the window (1); and at least one mullion- bar connection element (4), at least one side of which is connected to the mullion-bar (T), and at least one other side of which is connected to the part of the connection element (2) located outside the part of the side wall (K1) containing the window (1).

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (S) is a refrigerator, wherein the doors (K) are connected to the two side edges of the body (G) so as to make a rotational movement, as shown in figure 1. Here, one of the doors (K) comprises a mullion-bar (T) on a side wall (K1) close to the other door (K). Said mullion-bar (T) is connected to the door (K) so as to make a rotational movement. This connection is provided by said window (1), support element (3), door connection element (2) and mullion-bar connection element (4). More specifically, the mullion-bar connection element (4) is connected on one side to the mullion-bar (T) to make a rotational movement. The mullion-bar connection element (4) is connected on the other side to the door connection element (2), which passes through the window (1) to be connected to the support element (3). According to this embodiment, since the door connection element (2) is connected to the support element (3) located on the side of the side wall (K1) facing the inner compartment (B), not to the side wall (K1) of the door (K), the side wall (K1) is prevented from being damaged due to the forces applied on the mullion-bar (T).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support element (3) comprises metal material. Preferably, said support element (3) is in the form of a metal plate. Thus, it is ensured that the support element (3) has a durable structure and is prevented from being damaged due to the load on the support element (3) due to the forces applied on the mullion-bar (T).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the door connection element (2) comprises at least one fedora (2a) located outside the part of the side wall (K1) containing the window (1); at least one connection section (2b) extending from the fedora (2a) in the form of a protrusion and passing through said window (1) and first opening (3b); at least one (preferably two) tab (2c) located in the connection section (2b) for connecting the door connection element (2) to the support element (3). In this embodiment, the door connection element (2) is allowed to be connected to the support element (2) in a practical and reliable manner by means of the tab (2c). According to this embodiment, the mullion- bar connection element (4) comprises at least one connection slot (4a) suitable for the placement of the fedora (2a). Said connection slot (4a) comprises at least two connection channels (4c) preferably on opposite sides thereof, wherein the fedora (2a) slides to be placed in the connection channels (4c). Thus, the mullion-bar connection element (4) can be connected to the door connection element (2) in a practical and reliable manner. The mullion-bar connection element (4) further comprises at least one (preferably two) connection pin (4b) for connecting the mullion-bar connection element (4) movably to the mullion-bar (T). Said connection pins (4b) are inserted in the slots provided in the mullion- bar (T). Thus, the mullion-bar (T) and the mullion-bar connection element (4) are enabled to rotate relative to each other.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (S) comprises at least one guide detail (5) located on the side wall (K1) and extending in the form of a protrusion towards the inner compartment (B). Said guide detail (5) is preferably located near the window (1). Here, the support element (3) also comprises at least a second opening (3c) located on the carrying element (3a), through which the guide detail (5) can pass.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door (K) to which the mullion-bar (T) is connected comprises a recess (K2) on the side wall (K1) thereof, which surrounds the window (1). In this embodiment, the support element (3) comprises at least one (preferably two) tab (3d) for surrounding at least one portion of the recess (K2). Thus, it is ensured that the support element (3) better supports the side wall (K1).

In the cooling device (S) according to the present invention, the connection of the mullion- bar (T) with the door (K) is not carried out directly through the side wall (K1), but through the support element (3). Therefore, the load is prevented from being imposed on the side wall (K1), which is made of a relatively unstable material, due to the forces generated on the mullion-bar (T), so that the side wall (K1) is prevented from being damaged. Since the load is imposed on the support element (3), which is more durable than the side wall (K1), the connection of the door (K) with the mullion-bar (T) can be more reliable and long- lasting.