A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device that comprises a crisper wherein moisture control is performed.

[0002] Cooling devices comprise a cooling compartment wherein foods and beverages are stored, a freezer compartment that provides foods to be stored by freezing, and a crisper that is disposed in the cooling compartment and wherein foods such as vegetables and fruits are stored. The crisper is separated from the cooling compartment inner volume by a cover disposed thereon. In order to prevent the foods placed in the crisper from dehydrating by sweating, the air flow between the crisper and the cooling compartment is provided to remain limited. Therefore, a temperature difference occurs between the crisper and the cooling compartment inner volume albeit small. Depending on the temperature difference, sweating occurs on the lower surface of the lid that separates the cooling compartment inner volume and the crisper. The sweating occurring on the lower surface of the lid causes water drops on the foods stored in the crisper and this cause the foods to rot by adversely affecting their storage lives.

[0003] Various methods are developed in the art in order to prevent the formation of water drops by arranging the moisture balance of the crisper and to provide the air movement in the crisper.

[0004] In the state of the art Great Britain Patent Application No GB862797, on the crisper lid, a protrusion is explained that enables some of the cold air to proceed over the lid and some of it to be directed into the crisper.

[0005] In the state of the art International Patent Application No WO2004038312, an operating unit introducing air into the vegetable box, a plurality of cooling air ventilating holes formed on the box cover and cover supports thereon are described.

[0006] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No JP9113124, a refrigerator is explained that has a vegetable storage container wherein moisture control is performed by the air inlet and outlet being controlled.

[0007] In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No CN101131276, a drawer type storage chamber is explained, the moisture balance of which is adjusted by the air inlet and outlet being controlled and by providing the air to flow over the outer surface of the drawer type storage chamber or through it.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the amount of moisture in crisper is controlled.

[0009] Another aim of the present invention is to prevent water drops from being formed on the inner surface of the crisper lid due to the temperature difference between the inner volumes of the crisper and the cooling device.

[0010] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a cover on the crisper, a lid between the cover and the crisper, at least one inlet located on the lid that provides the air coming from an opening, which is located on the body and through which air is blown, to enter into the crisper and at least one outlet enabling the air in the crisper to exit to the outside.

[0011] The cooling device furthermore comprises a plurality of funnels, which are located in a tube-shape between the lid and the cover, through which the air in the crisper flows and wherein the air in the crisper is prevented from contacting the air flowing towards the outlet from between the lid and the cover.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a diverter across the opening that directs the air coming from the opening towards the back of the crisper and the top of the lid. One part of the air reaching the crisper from the opening provides the walls of the crisper and hence the inside of the crisper to be kept cold by flowing to the back wall of the crisper and from there along its base by means of the diverter located on the back of the crisper. The other part of the air passes through the opening of the diverter that remains between the cover and the lid. This air is divided into two, flowing into the crisper through the inlets and, by sweeping the lower surface of the cover, towards the outlet.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a plurality of orifices that are located on the cover and that provide the funnels to protrude from the surface of the cover, and channels located between the funnels. The tube-shaped funnels extending in a crater shape from the surface of the lid upwards serves the air in the crisper to exit to the outside. The air passing between the lid and the cover reaches the outlet of the crisper by easily passing through the channels formed between the funnels. By means of the structures of the funnel and the channel, the flow courses of the air in the crisper and of the air passing under its cover are separated and hence prevented from interfering each other.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the funnels are disposed side by side at the front side of the crisper such that they will allow the air passage through the channels between them. Thus, the air entering into the crisper circulates in the crisper by sweeping the entire lower surface of the lid and then exits to the outside through the funnels at the front side.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one valve is located on the cover such that it will open and close the orifices in order to control the amount of air exiting through the funnels. When the crisper is desired to be kept warmer than the inner volume of the body, the valves are closed and hence the air circulation in the crisper is reduced. Despite this, since the air passage through the channels continues, the condensation is continued to be prevented from occurring at the lower surface of the cover. When the amount of moisture in the crisper is desired to be reduced, the valves are opened in order to increase the air circulation.

[0016] By means of the present invention, sweating is prevented from occurring on the lower surface of the lid and of the cover and foods stored in the crisper are prevented from rotting by water dropping thereon, hence the storage lives of foods in the crisper are provided to be increased.

[0017] A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0018] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a cooling device and a crisper therein.

[0019] Figure 2 - is the detailed view of the crisper.

[0020] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the crisper in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of detail A in Figure 3. [0022] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of detail A in Figure 3 in an embodiment of the present invention. [0023] Figure 6 - is the schematic view of detail A in Figure 3 in another embodiment of the present invention. [0024] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Crisper

4. Cover

5. Lid

6. Hole

7. Outlet

8. Funnel

9. Diverter

10. Channel

11. Valve

12. Separator

[0025] The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), wherein foods and beverages are placed, a door that separates the body (2) from the outer environment so as providing sealing and that allows access to the inside, a crisper (3) disposed into the body (2), a cover (4) disposed on the crisper (3) that separates the crisper (3) from the inner volume of the body (2), a lid (5) that located between the cover (4) and the crisper (3), covers the top of the crisper (3), a plurality of small holes (6) allowing the cold air that comes from a cold air blow opening (A) to enter into the crisper (3), disposed on the lid (5) and one or more outlets (7) allowing the exit of the air from the crisper (3) (Figure 1).

[0026] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises

- a lid (5) covering the crisper (3) such that it will allow air intake into the crisper (3) only from its holes (6) and no air leakage will occur from its edges, - more than one funnel (8), one end of which opens into the crisper (3) and the other end to the outside of the crisper (3), disposed into the volume (H) between the cover (4) and the lid (5), though not hindering the air passing through this volume (H), providing the air in the crisper (3) to be evacuated thereout and

- channels (10) located between the funnels (8), through which the air coming from the top of the lid (5) passes (Figures 2 and 3).

[0027] The air blown from the opening (A) towards the lid (5) can enter into the crisper (3) only through the holes (6) located on the lid (5) by showering effect, since the lid (5) is closed onto the crisper (3) as providing air insulation. Thus, foods do not directly contact the cold air and no sudden changes occur at the moisture balance in the crisper (3). Since the air passing over the lid (5) has a high speed and hence a different pressure, the air entering into the crisper (3) is diverted through the funnels (8) that open into the inner volume of the body (2) wherein there is a more stable air flow instead of the small holes (6). Thus, the air passing between the cover (4) and the lid (5) is prevented from hindering the air that will exit the crisper (3) by shielding. In order to entirely prevent the air exiting the crisper (3) by means of the funnels (8) to come across the air coming by sweeping the lower surface of the cover (4), the funnels (8) are located between the cover (4) and the lid (5) in an air passage tube-shape. A small amount of the air in the crisper (3) is directly evacuated through the outlet (7) by sweeping the lower surface of the lid (5).

[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises funnels (8) arranged side by side at the front side of the crisper (3). Thus, all of the air entering into the crisper (3) both circulates in the inner volume and licks the entire lower surface of the lid (5) and hence is provided to reach the funnels (8) located at the front side. Since no air exits from the other surfaces of the lid (5), the air diverted into the crisper (3) is not divided (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a diverter (9) located between the opening (A) and the crisper (3), sending one part of the incoming cold air to the back of the crisper (3) and the other part between the cover (4) and the lid (5). By the diverter (9), one part of the air transferred onto the lid (5) flows into the crisper (3) through the holes (6) by showering effect and the other part reaches the outlet (7) by licking the cover (4) and passing through the channels (10) and from there the body (2). Since the funnels (8) are entirely insulated from the channels (10), the air passing through the channels (10) does not interfere the air evacuated through the funnels (8).

[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a diverter (9) located between the opening (A) and the crisper (3), sending one part of the incoming cold air to the back of the crisper (3) and the other part between the cover (4) and the lid (5). By means of the diverter (9), one part of the air passing under the cover (4) is taken into the crisper (3) through the inlets (6) on the lid (5). The other part of the air exits to the outside through the outlets (7) located at the front side of the crisper (3) by proceeding on the upper surface of the lid (5). Since this air passes by licking the lower portion of the cover (4) as well, it prevents the condensation from occurring here. The air diverted to the back of the crisper (3) proceeds along the outer walls of the crisper (3), hence provides it to be kept cold and serves to provide the temperature balance with the body (2) (Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises at least one valve (11) on the surface of the cover (4) providing the air passage through the orifices of the funnels (8) to be controlled. The valves (11) close and open only the orifices of the funnels (8), through which the exit of the air in the crisper (3) is realized, so that the user can adjust the required amount of heat and moisture balance according to kinds of foods placed into the crisper (3). In order to provide a low moisture level in the crisper (3), the air circulation is required to be increased and therefore the valves (11) are required to be opened (Figure 6). The evacuation of the air through the outlets (7), which passes through the lower surface of the cover (4) and lid (5) by licking it and hence prevents the condensation when the valves (11) are closed, is freed (Figure 5). Thus, when low moisture level is desired, the air in the crisper (3) is evacuated mostly through the funnels (8) and when higher level of moisture is required, the air is evacuated through the outlets (7).

[0032] By not hindering the air passing between the cover (4) and the lid (5) from reaching the outlets (7), occurring of condensation here and of a temperature difference between the base and the ceiling of the crisper (3) is prevented.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) has a separator (12) which allocates half of the air coming from the opening (A) to the back portion of the crisper (3) and the other half such that at least one fifth of it will be diverted towards the inlet (6) so as to sweep the lower surface of the lid (5), and which extends from the back wall of the crisper (3) towards the orifice of the diverter (9). By the separator (12) allocating the air at given rates, the sufficient amount of heat difference between the base and the ceiling of the crisper (3) and thus the preservation of the moisture balance is provided. Furthermore, it is assured that the sweating is efficiently prevented by providing the required amount of air passage through the lower surfaces of the cover (4) and lid (5) (Figure 1).

[0034] By means of the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the moisture control of the crisper (3) is efficiently provided. By means of the diverter (9) and the separator (12), the air coming to the crisper (3) is allocated at the required rate. In order that sweating does not occur on the lower surfaces of the cover (4) and lid (5), the air flow being passed from there is divided by means of the funnels (8) and channels (10) such that the new parts do not interfere each other.