Description

A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device wherein the door is opened easily.

[0002] In conventional art, a vacuum is created in the interior section of cooling devices as a result of the air circulation during the refrigerant cycle. When the door is desired to be opened, the user may face difficulty in opening the door due to this created vacuum.

[0003] In the state of the art International patent applications WO20050828 and WO2005057106, mechanisms are described for opening the door easily that actuate the arm to which the handle is connected thereto, pivotably moved around an axis and pushes the cabin.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the door, being hard to open due to the vacuum created during the refrigerant cycle by the pressure difference between the inner volume and the outside, can be opened with little effort.

[0005] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aims of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises at least two lean members, one disposed on the door and the other on the cabin. The lean members are disposed oppositely such that the distance therebetween gradually gets narrower forming a V shape. The cooling device furthermore comprises a pusher that moves by the motion of the handle in the opening direction, sandwiched between the lean members as the distance between the lean members gets narrower and pushes the lean members, hence the door thereby separating the door from the cabin.

[0006] The lean members can either be integrated with the door or the cabin, or can be independent elements mounted on the door or the cabin afterwards.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device furthermore comprises a body that bears the pusher and is operatively connected to the handle.

[0008] When the user pulls the handle for opening the door, the body moves

together with the handle, enabling the pusher to move vertically between the lean members. The V shaped configuration of the gap between the lean members maintains the pusher to be sandwiched between the lean members thereby pushing to open the door. Thus, the vacuum effect created at the door is prevented allowing easy opening by the user.

[0009] The body comprises at least one fixed member secured on the door and at least one movable member operatively connected to the handle, making a rotational and shifting movement on the fixed member.

[0010] The fixed member comprises a cylinder shaped protrusion for fitting the movable member to the fixed member to rotate together with the handle. The movable member is seated on the protrusion by means of the hole thereon to be rotatable around it.

[0011] The movable member furthermore comprises at least two slideways and the fixed member comprises at least two shafts whereon the slideways are fitted. As the handle is pulled, the movable member rotates around the protrusion and the slideways slide on the shafts simultaneously. The slideways are preferably shaped as arc segments.

[0012] The movable member furthermore comprises at least one channel that bears the pusher and guides the movement of the pusher in the vertical direction actuated by the motion of the handle. The channel is inclined from the cabin towards the door, opposite to the rotational direction of the movable member. Thus, the vertical movement of the pusher moving forward in the oppositely inclined channel is maintained as the movable member rotates on the fixed member.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the lean members is configured as an inclined plane so that the gap between the lean members gradually gets narrower.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, both of the lean members are configured as inclined planes.

[0015] By means of the present invention, the door, needing a considerable amount of force for opening due to the vacuum effect created by the difference in pressure, can be opened easily allowing the user to access inside the cabin without effort.

[0016] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0017] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooling device. [0018] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of Detail A. [0019] Figure 3 - is the exploded view of Detail A. [0020] Figure 4 - is the cross-sectional view of Detail A when the door is in the closed position. [0021] Figure 5 - is the cross-sectional view of Detail A when the door is in the open position. [0022] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Cabin

3. Door

4. Body

5. Handle

6. Lean member

7. Pusher

8. Channel

9. Shaft

10. Slideway

11. Fixed member

12. Movable member

13. Protrusion

14. Hole

[0023] The cooling devices (1), preferably refrigerators or freezers, comprise a cabin (2) wherein the foodstuff and beverages to be cooled are stored, a door (3) for accessing inside the cabin (2), a handle (5) disposed on the door (3) for the user to open, close the door (3) by moving thereof and a pusher (7) actuated by the movement of the handle (5) thereby separating the door (3) from the cabin (2) by pushing the door (3).

[0024] The cooling device (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises at least two lean members (6), one disposed on the door (3) and the other on the cabin (2), whereon the pusher (7) exerts a pushing force by moving

vertically in the gap therebetween, disposed oppositely such that the distance therebetween gradually gets narrower in the movement direction of the pusher (7).

[0025] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a body (4) disposed on the door (3) that bears the pusher (7) and is operatively connected to the handle (5).

[0026] In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, when the handle (5) is pulled, the body (4) makes a rotational and/or displacement movement together with the handle (5). In the meantime, the pusher (7) moves from the top downwards in the gap between the lean members (6). Due to the geometry of the lean members (6) which gets wider downwards, when the pusher (7) moves in the vertical direction, it pushes both of the lean members (6). Accordingly, the door (3) can be easily opened without being subjected to the vacuum effect.

[0027] The body (4) comprises at least one fixed member (11) secured to the door (3) and at least one movable member (12) operatively connected to the handle (5), making a rotational displacement movement on the fixed member (11).

[0028] The movable member (12) furthermore comprises at least one channel (8) that bears the pusher (7) and guides the movement of the pusher (7) in the vertical direction actuated by the motion of the handle (5). The channel (8) is inclined in the movement direction of the pusher (7) so that the pusher (7) can move comfortably. Thus, the vertical movement of the pusher (7) moving forward in the inclined channel (8) is maintained as the movable member (12) rotates on the fixed member (11).

[0029] For example, if the door (3) is opened by pulling the handle (5) upwards, that is if the user lifts the handle (5) upwards, rotating the movable member (12) towards the cabin (2) and thus actuating the pusher (7), the channel (8) is inclined from the cabin (2) towards the door (3). Thus, the component of the movable member's (12) rotational movement resulting thereof to move towards the cabin (2) is counterbalanced with the inclination of the channel (8) from the cabin (2) towards the door (3) and the pusher (7) moves downwards.

[0030] On the other end, if the door (3) is opened by pushing the handle (5) downwards, that is if the user pushes the door (3) downwards, rotating the movable member (12) towards the door (3) and thus actuating the pusher (7), the channel (8) is inclined from the door (3) towards the cabin (2). Thus, the component of the movable member's (12) rotational movement resulting thereof to move towards the door (3) is counterbalanced with the inclination of the channel (8) from the door (3) towards the cabin (2) and the pusher (7) moves upwards.

[0031] The fixed member (11) comprises a preferably cylindrical shaped protrusion (13) for fitting the movable member (12) thereon to rotate together with the handle (5). The movable member (12) comprises a hole (14) that allows the movable member (12) to be seated on the protrusion

(13) and to rotate around the protrusion (13). The protrusion (13) - hole

(14) pair enables the movable member (12) to maintain its rotational movement.

[0032] The movable member (12) furthermore comprises at least two slideways (10), preferably shaped as arc segments, and the fixed member (11) comprises at least two shafts (9) whereon the slideways (10) slide. As the handle (5) is pulled, the slideways (10) slide on the shafts (9) while the movable member (12) rotates around the protrusion (13).

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the lean members (6) is configured as an inclined plane so that the gap between the lean members (6) gradually gets narrower.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, both of the lean members (6) are configured as inclined planes.

[0035] The lean members (6) can either be integrated with the door (3) or the cabin (2), or can be independent elements mounted on the door (3) or the cabin (2) afterwards.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a biasing means or similar element for the handle (5) to return to the initial position when the force applied thereon is removed, that is when the user releases the handle (5).

[0037] By means of the embodiment of the present invention, the door (3), not

easily openable due to the vacuum created during the refrigerant cycle by the pressure difference between the inner volume of the cabin (2) and the outside can be opened effortlessly, separating from the cabin (2) by easily counterbalancing the required force for opening the door (3). Thus, the user is allowed access into the body (2) without effort.