US20230366615A1

US20230366615A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US20230366615A1
Application number: US18/029,161
Authority: US
Inventors: Moreno PAPA; Omar FURLAN; Michele SEDRANI
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2020-10-07
Filing date: 2020-10-07
Publication date: 2023-11-16
Also published as: EP4226105A1; WO2022073595A1; CN116348726A

Abstract

Refrigerator (1) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet (2) which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity (3) adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff; and an electrically-operated cooling system (7) which is at least partially accommodated inside the self-supporting cabinet (2) and is adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one inner storage cavity (3); a platelike light-scattering member (20) that covers at least part of the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3), and has a light-conductive structure that allows the incident light to enter and travel by total internal reflection inside the same platelike light-scattering member (20); and an lighting assembly (21) which emits light on command, and is arranged within the inner storage cavity (3) so as illuminate at least part of the exposed front face of said platelike light-scattering member (20); the platelike light-scattering member (20) being additionally structured so as to scatter, from its exposed front face, the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.
More specifically, the present invention preferably relates to a household refrigerator for both freezing and short-term preserving perishable foodstuff, to which the following description will make explicit reference without however losing in generality.
As is known, a household refrigerator for both freezing and short-term preserving perishable foodstuff, commonly known as combo refrigerator, generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped, self-supporting cabinet which is structured for stably resting on the floor/ground and is internally provided with a pair of vertically-aligned and substantially parallelepiped-shaped, separate large storage cavities each of which is adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff and communicates with the outside through a corresponding large access opening located on front of the cabinet; a pair of independent sealing doors each of which has a thermal-insulating structure and is flag hinged to the front of the self-supporting cabinet, at the height of a respective storage cavity, so as to be manually rotatable about a vertical axis to and from a closing position in which the door abuts on front of the cabinet, so as to airtight close the access opening of the same storage cavity; and finally an electrically-operated, heat-pump cooling system which is accommodated inside the cabinet and is structured to keep the inside of the upper storage cavity at a given first temperature suitable for short-term preservation of perishable foodstuffs and generally ranging between +2° C. and +8° C., and the inside of the lower storage cavity at a given second temperature suitable for freezing perishable foodstuffs and generally ranging between −30° C. and −10° C.
Some refrigerators currently on the market additionally include, inside the upper storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet, an air-circulation system that circulates the cold air in closed loop inside the same cavity so as to prevent air stratification.
More specifically, some refrigerators currently on the market additionally comprise: an oblong platelike air-guide member which is attached or incorporated into the vertical rear wall of the upper storage cavity so as to form a nearly vertical, air channel that directly communicates with the inside of the upper storage cavity; and an electric fan which is accommodated inside the air channel and is adapted to produce an air flow that enters into the air channel through an air inlet mouth located close to the ceiling of the upper storage cavity, flows downwards inside the air channel, and comes out of the air channel through a number of air outlet mouths located at different heights from the bottom of the upper storage cavity.
The low-pressure heat exchanger of the heat-pump cooling system, commonly known as evaporator, is generally accommodated inside the air channel of the platelike air-guide member, so as to quickly cool down the air that flows along the air channel.
Unfortunately the platelike air-guide member is clearly visible on the rear wall of the storage cavity, with all aesthetic problems that this entails. Some users, in fact, prefer the rear wall of the storage cavity to be perfectly smooth and well finished therefore they dislike the refrigerators with the air-circulation system inside the upper storage cavity.
Aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome the aesthetic problems referred above preferably without giving up the advantages of the forced air-circulation inside the upper storage cavity.
Moreover the present invention aims to improve the lighting inside the storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet. The products placed into the cavity, i.e. in foreground on the horizontal shelves located in the storage cavity, in fact, usually shadow the products located close to the rear wall of the storage cavity. Thus imposing the use of high-power light sources.
In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a self-supporting cabinet which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff; and an electrically-operated cooling system which is at least partially accommodated inside the self-supporting cabinet and is adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one inner storage cavity;
the refrigerator being characterized by additionally comprising: a platelike light-scattering member which is located in front of at least part of the rear wall of said inner storage cavity, and has a light-conductive structure that allows the incident light to enter and travel by total internal reflection inside the same platelike light-scattering member; and an lighting assembly which emits light on command, and is arranged within the inner storage cavity so as illuminate at least part of the exposed front face of said platelike light-scattering member; the platelike light-scattering member being additionally structured so as to scatter, from its exposed front face, the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection.
The main advantage is that the platelike light-scattering member allows to better illuminate the inner storage cavity while forming, at same time, amazing light decorative patterns and/or special light effects.
Moreover, the platelike light-scattering member forms a perfectly smooth and well finished surface that resembles the rear wall of the storage cavity of the cabinet and, therefore, it can effectively camouflage any air-recirculation assembly eventually located or incorporated on the rear wall of the inner storage cavity.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member is additionally structured so as to scatter the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection also from one or more of its perimeter edges.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said one or more perimeter edges of the platelike light-scattering member are transparent and optionally also smooth and/or glossy and/or polished. Clearly the perimeter edges of the platelike light-scattering member could, alternatively, be opaque.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member has an opaque rear face.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the lighting assembly is adapted to direct the emitted light towards the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member, so that at least part of said light can penetrate into the platelike light-scattering member and then travel inside the same platelike light-scattering member by total internal reflection.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member comprises a plate of transparent or semi-transparent material which has at least one light-scattering structure that causes a controlled, gradual escape of the light travelling inside said plate of transparent or semitransparent material by total internal reflection, through the front face of the same plate of transparent or semi-transparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said at least one light-scattering structure is a light-scattering surface structure which is located on front and/or rear face of the plate of transparent or semi-transparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said at least one light-scattering structure is incorporated into said plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member comprises a plate of transparent or semi-transparent material which has, on its front and/or rear face, at least one light-scattering surface structure that causes a controlled, gradual escape of the light travelling inside said plate of transparent or semitransparent material by total internal reflection, through the front face of the same plate of transparent or semi-transparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said at least one light-scattering surface structure is formed directly on surface of the front and/or rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said at least one light-scattering surface structure includes one or more surface sector/s of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material having an increased rough profile.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said at least one light-scattering surface structure includes a multitude of micro cavities or indentations formed on surface of the front and/or rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member additionally comprises an opaque covering or coating that covers the rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said at least one light-scattering surface structure is at least partially incorporated into said opaque covering or coating.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said opaque covering or coating is a layer of opaque paint that coats the rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said opaque paint has light-reflective properties.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said plate of transparent or semi-transparent material is a sheet of glass or a slab of light-conductive polymeric material.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike light-scattering member additionally has, on its exposed front face and/or on its rear face, logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern's and/or writings.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike light-scattering member is structured so as to scatter the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection, so as to form said one or more logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern's and/or writings.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said one or more logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern's and/or writings are structured to scatter, through the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member, the light travelling inside the same platelike light-scattering member in a different manner from the rest of the platelike light-scattering member.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said plate of transparent or semitransparent material is substantially rectangular in shape.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said plate of transparent or semitransparent material has bevelled or rounded edges and/or the thickness of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material ranges between 1 and 20 mm.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said lighting assembly is located on at least one of the opposite lateral walls of said inner storage cavity.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said lighting assembly is located on both opposite lateral walls of said inner storage cavity.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said lighting assembly comprises a pair of separate electric lighting units which emit light on command and are located each on a respective lateral wall of said inner storage cavity, preferably close to the access opening of the same cavity.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike light-scattering member is attached directly to the rear wall of said inner storage cavity, so as to hide/conceal at least part of said rear wall.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member is dimensioned so as to take up the whole width of the rear wall of said inner storage cavity.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike light-scattering member is attached to the rear wall of said inner storage cavity in detachable manner.
The main advantage is that the platelike light-scattering member can be easily assembled or replaced, manually and substantially without efforts, directly by the operator during the refrigerator manufacturing. Clearly the same operation can be performed at home directly by the user, with the advantages and cost saving that this entails.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said refrigerator includes an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly which is located on the rear wall of said inner storage cavity and is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside the same inner storage cavity; the platelike light-scattering member being arranged to at least partially cover said electrically-operated air-circulation assembly.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said air-circulation assembly comprises: a platelike air-guide member which is discrete from the self-supporting cabinet and is rigidly attached to a rear wall of said storage cavity; an air channel that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited by, said platelike air-guide member and directly communicates, at the ends, with the inside of said storage cavity; and an electrically-operated air-blowing device which is placed along the air channel and is adapted to generate/produce an airflow that circulates in closed loop along the air channel and the inner storage cavity; the platelike light-scattering member being arranged over the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike air-guide member is attached to the rear wall of said inner storage cavity in detachable manner and/or the platelike light-scattering member is attached to the platelike air-guide member in detachable manner.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike light-scattering member is dimensioned to substantially completely cover the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member is vertically divided into an upper and a lower sectors complementary to one another, and at least the upper sector of said exposed front face is substantially completely covered by said platelike light-scattering member.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the electrically-operated cooling system comprises a heat-pump assembly which is provided with at least one low-pressure heat exchanger that cools down the inside of said inner storage cavity.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said low-pressure heat exchanger is located along the air channel of said platelike air-guide member.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a household refrigerator realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 , sectioned along the midplane of the appliance and with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper part of refrigerator shown in FIG. 2 , with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIG. 4 is a sectioned top view of the refrigerator shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the air-circulation assembly incorporated into the refrigerator shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partly exploded perspective views of the air-circulation assembly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , with parts removed for clarity's sake; whereas

FIG. 9 is a partly exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the air-circulation assembly shown in FIGS. 5-8 , with parts removed for clarity's sake.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 , reference number 1 denotes as a whole a refrigerator adapted for preserving perishable foodstuff and preferably suitable for domestic use, i.e. a household refrigerator.
Refrigerator 1 basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, self-supporting cabinet 2 which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, thermal-insulated storage cavity which is adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff and communicates with the outside via a large, preferably roughly rectangular-shaped, access opening which is located on a main face/wall of the same cabinet 2; at least one door that has a thermal-insulating structure and is flag hinged to the cabinet 2, so as to be manually rotatable to and from a closing position in which the door abuts on said main face/wall of the cabinet 2 to substantially airtight close/seal the access opening of said storage cavity; and an electrically-operated cooling system which is at least partially accommodated inside the cabinet 2, and is structured/adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one, thermal-insulated inner storage cavity.
More in detail, the electrically-operated cooling system preferably basically comprises a heat-pump assembly that includes at least one low-pressure heat exchanger, traditionally called evaporator, adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet 2.
Additionally the refrigerator 1 includes an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly which is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside said at least one, inner storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet 2 so as to minimize the air stratification inside the same cavity.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 , in the example shown, in particular, the self-supporting cabinet 2 is preferably structured for stably resting on the floor/ground.
Moreover the self-supporting cabinet 2 is preferably internally provided with two, substantially vertically-aligned, separate and adjacent storage cavities 3 and 4 that are thermal-insulated to one another and to the outside, are both adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff, and finally communicate with the outside each via a respective large access opening preferably located on the main face/wall of the self-supporting cabinet 2.
Preferably the refrigerator 1 furthermore comprises, for each inner storage cavity 3, 4, a respective door 5, 6 which is preferably substantially rectangular in shape, and is preferably flag hinged to the front of the self-supporting cabinet 2 so as to be manually rotatable about a preferably substantially vertically-oriented, reference axis, to and from a closing position in which the door 5, 6 rests/abuts on the front face/wall of cabinet 2 so as to cover and substantially airtight seal the access opening of the corresponding storage cavity 3 or 4.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the example shown, in particular, the storage cavity 3 is arranged above the storage cavity 4. Clearly in an alternative embodiment the storage cavity 3 could be arranged underneath the storage cavity 4.
The electrically-operated cooling system 7, in turn, is preferably structured/adapted to separately cool down the inside of storage cavity 3 and the inside of storage cavity 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.
More in detail, the electrically-operated cooling system 7 is preferably adapted to cool down the inside of inner storage cavity 3 so as to keep the inside of storage cavity 3 at a first target temperature which is preferably suitable for short-term preservation of perishable foodstuff, and to cool down the inside of inner storage cavity 4 so as to keep the inside of storage cavity 4 at a second target temperature which is preferably lower than the first target temperature and is preferably suitable for long-term preservation of perishable foodstuff.
Furthermore the first target temperature is preferably greater than or equal to +0° C., whereas the second target temperature is lower than +0° C. More specifically, the first target temperature preferably ranges between +2° C. and +8° C., whereas the second target temperature preferably ranges between −30° C. and −10° C.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the examples shown, in particular, the heat-pump assembly of electrically-operated cooling system 7 is preferably provided with a low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator for each inner storage cavity 3, 4 of self-supporting cabinet 2.
In other words, the heat-pump assembly is preferably provided with two evaporators discrete and distinct to one another. The first evaporator 8 is adapted to solely cool down the inside of storage cavity 3. The second evaporator 9, in turn, is adapted to solely cool down the inside of the storage cavity 4.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 , the refrigerator 1 additionally includes a first electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 10 which is accommodated inside the inner storage cavity 3 and is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside the storage cavity 3, and preferably also a second electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 11 which is accommodated inside the inner storage cavity 4 and is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside the storage cavity 4.
Moreover the refrigerator 1 preferably comprises: at least one and preferably a number of nearly horizontally-extending and preferably manually removable, partitioning shelves 12 which are adapted to support perishable foodstuff, and are arranged inside the storage cavity 3 vertically spaced to one another; and additionally or alternatively also one or more drawer containers 13 which are fitted in manually extractable manner into the storage cavity 3, preferably beneath the partitioning shelf or shelves 12, and are each adapted to accommodate vegetables and similar perishable foodstuff.
Preferably the refrigerator 1 moreover comprises at least one and preferably a number of second drawer containers 14 that are fitted in manually extractable manner into the storage cavity 4, preferably vertically-stacked to one another, and are each adapted to accommodate frozen perishable foodstuff.
Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, the one or more drawer containers 14 located inside the storage cavity 4 may be totally or partly replaced by one or more nearly horizontally-extending and preferably manually removable, partitioning shelves.
In the example shown, in particular, the one or more partitioning shelves 12 are preferably made of glass, whereas the one or more drawer containers 13 and/or the one or more drawer containers 14 are preferably made of plastic material.
With reference to FIGS. 2-8 , the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 10, in turn, is preferably located on the nearly vertical, rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3, and is preferably discrete from the self-supporting cabinet 2.
More in detail, the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 10 preferably comprises: a substantially rigid, thick platelike air-guide member 16, which is preferably discrete from the self-supporting cabinet 2, and is rigidly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 15 of the inner storage cavity 3, so as to hug/rest on the same rear wall; and an electrically-operated air-blowing device 17 which is located along an air channel 18 that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited by, the air-guide member 16 and directly communicates, at the ends, with the inside of the inner storage cavity 3 via a number of openings preferably located on the sidewalls of the same air-guide member 16.
The air-blowing device 17 is adapted to generate/produce, on command, an airflow f that enters into the platelike air-guide member 16 through one or more air-inlet mouths/openings preferably located on one or more first sidewalls of the platelike air-guide member 16, flows along the air channel 18, and comes out of the air-guide member 16 through one or more air-outlet mouths/openings preferably located on one or more second sidewalls of the platelike air-guide member 16. When returned into the inner storage cavity 3 of the self-supporting cabinet 2, the air flows inside the same storage cavity 3 so as to reach again the one or more air-inlet openings of the air channel 18.
More in detail, the platelike air-guide member 16 is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and/or is preferably rigidly attached to the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3 in easy detachable manner.
In addition, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of the electrically-operated cooling system 7 is preferably located along the air channel 18 delimited by the platelike air-guide member 16, so as to directly cool down the airflow f that circulates into the same air channel 18.
More in detail, with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 , the air-blowing device 17 is preferably located/accommodated within an intermediate portion of air channel 18, whereas the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of cooling system 7 is preferably located/accommodated within the air channel 18, upstream of the air-blowing device 17.
In other words, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of the heat-pump assembly of the electrically-operated cooling system 7 is preferably at least partially recessed/accommodated inside the platelike air-guide member 16.
Preferably the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 is moreover dimensioned so as to locally take up substantially the whole cross section of air channel 18, thus to cool down substantially the whole air flowing along the air channel 18.
With reference to FIGS. 1-8 , the refrigerator 1 additionally comprises: a preferably substantially flat, large platelike light-scattering member 20 which has a light-conductive structure that allows the incident light to enter and travel by total internal reflection inside the same platelike light-scattering member 20, and is placed over the air-circulation assembly 10, or rather over the platelike air-guide member 16, so as to at least partially cover the same air-circulation assembly 10; and an electrically-powered lighting assembly 21 which emits light on command, and is arranged within the inner storage cavity 3 so as illuminate at least part of the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20, i.e. the face of platelike light-scattering member 20 opposite to the platelike air-guide member 16 and the rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3.
More in detail, the platelike light-scattering member 20 is preferably discrete from the platelike air-guide member 16 of air-circulation assembly 10, and is placed over the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 16, i.e. the face of air-guide member 16 opposite to the rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3, so as to at least partially cover the same exposed face of air-guide member 16.
The platelike light-scattering member 20 is additionally made of a transparent or semitransparent material, and is structured so as to scatter the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection in predetermined manner from its exposed front face and optionally also from one or more of its perimeter edges.
Preferably the perimeter edges of the light-scattering member 20 are thus transparent and optionally also smooth and/or glossy and/or polished. Clearly the perimeter edges of the light-scattering member 20 could, alternatively, be opaque.
Moreover the platelike light-scattering member 20 preferably has an opaque rear face that prevents the light from going out of the same platelike light-scattering member 20 through the hidden rear face of light-scattering member 20.
The platelike light-scattering member 20 is therefore adapted to at least partially hide/conceal the air-circulation assembly 10, or rather the platelike air-guide member 16 of air-circulation assembly 10, inside the inner storage cavity 3 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.
The electrically-powered lighting assembly 21, in turn, is adapted to direct the emitted light towards the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20, so that at least part of said light can penetrate into the platelike light-scattering member 20 and then travel inside the same platelike light-scattering member 20 by total internal reflection.
Preferably the lighting assembly 21 is moreover configured to automatically switch on when the door 5 of refrigerator 1 is away from its closed position, so as to selectively illuminate the platelike light-scattering member 20 when the user opens the door 5 to access the inner storage cavity 3. The light coming out of the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20 clearly improves the light distribution inside the inner storage cavity 3, particularly close to the rear wall 15.
In addition, the platelike light-scattering member 20 preferably has, on its exposed front face and/or on its rear face, logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern/s and/or writings.
More in detail, the platelike light-scattering member 20 is preferably structured so as to scatter, through its exposed front face, the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection so as to form one or more logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern/s and/or writings.
Moreover the logo/s, graphic symbol/s and/or writings may be structured to scatter, through the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20, the light travelling inside the same light-scattering member 20 in a different manner from the rest of the platelike light-scattering member 20. The logo/s, graphic symbol/s and/or writings therefore stand/s out to view when the door 5 is opened.
More in detail, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8 , the platelike light-scattering member 20 is preferably firmly attached to the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 16 in easy manually removable manner.
In addition the platelike light-scattering member 20 preferably basically includes a preferably substantially flat, thick plate of transparent or semitransparent material which has, preferably on its front or rear face, at least one light-scattering structure that causes a controlled, gradual escape of the light travelling inside the same plate by total internal reflection, through the front face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Moreover this at least one light-scattering structure can preferably form/trace, on the front or rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material, logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern's and/or writings.
In the example shown, in particular, the plate of transparent or semitransparent material preferably consists in a large glass sheet 22, preferably with bevelled or rounded edges and/or with a thickness ranging between 1 and 20 mm (millimeters).
The light-scattering structure, in turn, is preferably formed/incorporated into the glass sheet 22, and causes a controlled, gradual escape of the light travelling inside the same glass sheet 22 by total internal reflection, through the front face of glass sheet 22. Preferably the light-scattering structure is moreover a substantially planar/two-dimensional light-scattering structure.
More in detail, in the example shown the light-scattering structure is preferably a light-scattering surface structure, hereinafter denoted with number 23, which is formed/incorporated directly on the rear face of glass sheet 22.
As an alternative, the light-scattering surface structure could be also embedded immediately underneath the rear face of glass sheet 22.
Clearly the light-scattering surface structure could be also located/incorporated on the exposed front face of the glass sheet 22.
Preferably the platelike light-scattering member 20 moreover comprises an opaque and optionally also light-reflective, covering or coating 24 that covers the rear face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather of glass sheet 22, light-scattering surface structure 23 included.
More in detail, in the example shown the opaque rear covering or coating 24 preferably covers substantially the whole surface of the rear face of glass sheet 22.
Clearly the front face of glass sheet 22 forms the exposed front face of platelike light-scattering member 20, whereas the opaque covering or coating 24 preferably forms the hidden rear face of platelike light-scattering member 20.
In addition the light-scattering surface structure/s 23 incorporated on the front and/or rear face of glass sheet 22 can form/trace, on front or rear face of glass sheet 22, logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings.
More in detail, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 , the glass sheet 22 is preferably made of an extra-clear glass or a preferably white-colored, opaline glass, whereas the thickness of the glass sheet 22 preferably ranges between 4 and 6 mm (millimeters). Clearly other colors of the glass are possible.
Preferably the glass sheet 22 moreover has, on whole or part of its rear face, one or more surface sector/s with an increased rough profile, each of which is capable of deviating/scattering the incident light rays towards the opposite front face of the glass sheet 22 with an incident angle lower than the critical angle, so as to allow the light rays to freely go out of the glass sheet 22 through the exposed front face of the glass sheet 22.
In the example shown, in particular, the rear face of glass sheet 22 is preferably subjected to sandblasting or other surface abrasion process capable of increasing the surface roughness.
The light-scattering surface structure 23 of glass sheet 22 preferably moreover includes, in addition or as an alternative to the surface sector/s with an increased rough profile, a multitude of micro cavities or indentations that are formed on whole or part of the rear face of glass sheet 22, preferably evenly or according to a given surface pattern, and are shaped to deviate the incident light rays towards the opposite front face of the glass sheet 22 with an incident angle lower than the critical angle, so as to allow these light rays to freely go out of the glass sheet 22 through the exposed front face of glass sheet 22. Preferably these micro cavities or indentations furthermore have a nearly lenticular profile and/or a diameter smaller than 0.8 millimeters.
Clearly the surface sector or sectors with the increased rough profile and/or with micro cavities or indentations may, also or alternatively, be formed on surface of the exposed front face of glass sheet 22.
If present on glass sheet 22, the logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings may be formed/delimited, on surface of glass sheet 22, by suitably shaped zones having a light-scattering surface structure 23 preferably different from that of the rest of the surface of the glass sheet 22.
The controlled, gradual escape of the light travelling inside the glass sheet 22 by total internal reflection, through the exposed front face of the glass sheet 22, may be also obtained by subjecting the front or rear face of glass sheet 22 to a satinizing process or to silk-screen printing so as to locally increase the surface roughness of the sheet.
In the example shown, therefore, the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather the glass sheet 22, is preferably provided with a number of different light-scattering surface structures 23, each of which causes a gradual escape of the light travelling inside the same plate by total internal reflection, through the front face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
The opaque covering or coating 24, in turn, preferably consists in a layer of opaque, preferably white-colored, paint that coats the whole rear face of glass sheet 22. Preferably this opaque paint may optionally also have light-reflective properties.
As an alternative, the opaque covering or coating 24 may however consist in a layer of opaque enamel or ceramic material.
With reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 , in the example shown, in particular, the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semi-transparent material (i.e. the glass sheet 22), is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and/or is preferably attached to the exposed front face of air-guide member 16 by means of one and more pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape 25.
Preferably the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (i.e. the glass sheet 22), is moreover dimensioned so as to take up the whole width w of the platelike air-guide member 16 and preferably also at least half of the height h of the platelike air-guide member 16.
More in detail, in the example shown, the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (i.e. the glass sheet 22), is preferably arranged to cover and hide/conceal the upper portion of platelike air-guide member 16, i.e. the part of air-guide member 16 close to the ceiling of inner storage cavity 3.
In other words, the exposed front face of platelike air-guide member 16 is preferably vertically divided into an upper and a lower sectors that are adjoined and complementary to one another and are preferably both nearly rectangular in shape.
The upper sector is preferably adjacent to the ceiling of the inner storage cavity 3, whereas the lower sector is preferably adjacent to the bottom of the same inner storage cavity 3.
The upper sector of the exposed front face of air-guide member 16 is preferably entirely covered by the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather by the glass sheet 22, whereas the lower sector of the exposed front face of air-guide member 16 is preferably completely free from the platelike light-scattering member 20.
Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (i.e. the glass sheet 22), could be dimensioned to cover substantially the whole exposed front face of platelike air-guide member 16, so as to completely hide/conceal the air-guide member 16 inside the inner storage cavity 3. In other words, the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (i.e. the glass sheet 22), preferably substantially copies the shape of the exposed face of the platelike air-guide member 16.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 , the electrically-powered lighting assembly 21, in turn, is preferably located on at least one of the nearly vertical, opposite lateral walls 26 of inner storage cavity 3. In addition or as an alternative, the electrically-powered lighting assembly 21 could also be located on one or more of the partitioning shelves 12.
In the example shown, in particular, the electrically-powered lighting assembly 21 is preferably located on both, nearly vertical, opposite lateral walls 26 of inner storage cavity 3.
More in detail, the lighting assembly 21 preferably comprises two separate electric lighting units 27 which emit light on command and are located each on a respective lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3, preferably close to the access opening of the same cavity. Moreover the two electric lighting units 27 are preferably faced to one another.
Preferably each electric lighting unit 27 is furthermore oriented so as to direct at least part of the emitted light towards the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20, i.e. of glass sheet 22, so that at least part of said light can penetrate into the platelike light-scattering member 20 and then travel inside the same platelike light-scattering member 20 by total internal reflection.
Moreover the/each electric lighting unit 27 is preferably also at least partially recessed into the corresponding lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3.
More in detail, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 , the/each electric lighting unit 27 is preferably oblong in shape and is preferably recessed into a complementary hollow seat that extends in the lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3 in a nearly vertical direction.
In addition the/each electric lighting unit 27 preferably comprises: a number of LEDs (acronym of Light Emitting Diode) that are accommodated inside the hollow seat on the lateral wall 26; and a light deflector which is placed inside the same hollow seat, close to the LEDs, and is adapted to direct the light emitted by the LEDs towards the platelike light-scattering member 20.
Clearly the/each electric lighting unit 27 could alternatively comprise a number of discrete electric lighting devices 27 arranged one spaced beside the other, along the lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3.
With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 , preferably the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 10, or rather the platelike air-guide member 16, is moreover structured to force the cold air to flow/circulate inside the storage cavity 3 in a nearly horizontal direction, thus to remain locally substantially parallel to the partitioning shelf or shelves 12, if present.
More in detail, the platelike air-guide member 16 is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and rests/lays onto the nearly vertical, rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3 roughly astride of the vertical midplane of the same storage cavity 3, so as to arrange its opposite vertical sidewalls 16 a and 16 b each closely facing a respective adjacent and nearly vertical, lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3.
The air channel 18, in turn, preferably accommodates the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8, and preferably extends inside the air-guide member 16, from the first vertical sidewall 16 a of air-guide member 16 up to the opposite second vertical sidewall 16 b of the same air-guide member 16. The one or more air-inlet openings of air channel 18 are preferably located on the first vertical sidewall 16 a of air-guide member 16, whereas the one or more air-outlet openings of air channel 18 are preferably located on the opposite second vertical sidewall 16 b of air-guide member 16.
Therefore the airflow f preferably enters into the platelike air-guide member 16 through one or more air inlet openings located on the first vertical sidewall 16 a of air-guide member 16, flows along the whole air channel 18 preferably crossing/grazing the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8, and comes out of the air-guide member 16 through one or more air outlet openings located on the second vertical sidewall 16 b of the same air-guide member 16.
Preferably, the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, is moreover structured to channel, via total internal reflection, some of the light travelling inside the same platelike light-scattering member 20, towards the two opposite perimeter edges of platelike light-scattering member 20 that are adjacent each to a respective vertical sidewall 16 a, 16 b of platelike air-guide member 16, so that the light can go out of the platelike light-scattering member 20 also through these perimeter edges.
In other words, the glass sheet 22 is preferably also structured to channel, via total internal reflection, some of the light travelling inside the same glass sheet 22, towards the two opposite perimeter edges of glass sheet 22 that are adjacent each to a respective vertical sidewall 16 a, 16 b of platelike air-guide member 16, so that the light can go out of the glass sheet 22 also through these perimeter edges.
Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, the one or more air-inlet openings of air channel 18 could be located on the horizontal upper sidewall of air-guide member 16, whereas the one or more air-outlet openings of air channel 18 could be located on the two sidewalls 16 a and 16 b of air-guide member 16.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 , in particular, the platelike air-guide member 16 is preferably partially fitted/recessed into a corresponding seat formed on the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
Preferably the platelike air-guide member 16 is moreover dimensioned so as to arrange the opposite vertical sidewalls 16 a and 16 b each at short distance from, and optionally locally substantially parallel to, the corresponding adjacent lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3.
In other words the width w of air-guide member 16 is preferably solely slightly lower than the width of the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3. More in detail, the width w of air-guide member 16 preferably ranges between 85% and 99% of the width of the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
In the example shown, in particular, the platelike air-guide member 16 is dimensioned so that the distance between each vertical sidewall 16 a, 16 b of the same air-guide member 16 and the corresponding adjacent lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3 is preferably lower than 20 mm (millimeters) and optionally ranges between 5 and 15 mm (millimeters). Preferably the opposite vertical sidewalls 16 a and 16 b of air-guide member 16 are moreover substantially equidistant from the corresponding lateral walls 26 of the storage cavity 3.
Moreover, the front face of the platelike air-guide member 16 is preferably vertically divided into an upper sector which is horizontally aligned to the portion of storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more partitioning shelves 12, and into a lower sector which is preferably horizontally aligned to the portion of storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more drawer containers 13.
The platelike light-scattering member 20, in turn, preferably covers the whole upper sector of the exposed front face of air-guide member 16, so as to conceal the part of air-guide member 16 not hidden by the one or more drawer containers 13 present on the bottom of storage cavity 3.
With reference to FIGS. 4-7 , preferably the platelike air-guide member 16 moreover comprises: a substantially rigid and preferably also substantially rectangular-shaped, platelike block/piece of thermal-insulating material 30, i.e. a thick plate of thermal-insulating material, with a thickness preferably ranging between 5 and 40 mm (millimetres); and a substantially rigid and preferably monolithic, platelike protective cover 31 which is placed over the front face of the block of thermal-insulating material 30, i.e. the face of block 30 opposite to the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3, and is dimensioned to at least partially and more conveniently completely cover the same platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30. In other words, the platelike air-guide member 16 preferably has a sandwich structure.
The platelike light-scattering member 20 is preferably attached onto the platelike protective cover 31 and/optionally also onto the block of thermal-insulating material 30, whereas the air channel 18 preferably extends in the platelike piece/block of thermal-insulating material 30.
In the example shown, in particular, the block of thermal-insulating material 30 is preferably made of a polymeric material foam, such as for example EPS (acronym of expanded polystyrene) and more conveniently of compressed EPS, whereas the protective cover 31 is preferably made of a solid/non-foamed basic plastic material, preferably via an injection moulding process.
Preferably the protective cover 31 is furthermore rigidly secured directly to the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3, so as to press and firmly hold the block of thermal-insulating material 30 in abutment against the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 , in the example shown, in particular, the protective cover 31 is preferably rigidly secured to the rear wall 15 via a number of protruding snap-on fasteners 32 and/or one or more anchoring screw/s (not shown in the figures), which preferably engage in pass-through manner the thick, platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30 before reaching the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
Preferably, the protective cover 31 is furthermore vertically divided, preferably by a transversal groove or flexible junction, into a nearly rectangular upper sector and a nearly rectangular lower sector complementary and adjoined to one another.
The upper sector of protective cover 31 is preferably horizontally aligned to the portion of inner storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more partitioning shelves 12, whereas the lower sector of protective cover 31 is preferably horizontally aligned to the portion of inner storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more drawer containers 13. The platelike light-scattering member 20, in turn, is preferably attached to the upper sector of protective cover 31, and is preferably also dimensioned so as to completely cover the same upper sector of protective cover 31.
In addition to the above, with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6 , preferably the air channel 18 of the air-guide member 16 is moreover at least partly delimited by the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
More in detail, the air channel 18 is preferably delimited by the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3 and by a deep groove 33 which is formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 16, i.e. the face of the air-guide member 16 opposite to platelike light-scattering member 20 and directly facing the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
In other words, the groove 33 is preferably formed on the rear face of the platelike piece/block of thermal-insulating material 30.
Preferably the groove 3 furthermore extends from the vertical sidewall 16 a of air-guide member 16, or rather of the block of thermal-insulating material 30, up to the opposite vertical sidewall 16 b of air-guide member 16.
Therefore a first portion of the groove 33 formed on the rear face of the air-guide member 16, or rather of the block of thermal-insulating material 30, is preferably shaped/dimensioned to accommodate the air-blowing device 17, whereas a second portion of the same groove 33 is preferably shaped/dimensioned to accommodate the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of cooling system 7.
Preferably the air-blowing device 17 and the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of cooling system 7 are thus located substantially behind the platelike air-guide member 16.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 , in the example shown, in particular, the air channel 18, or rather the groove 33 formed on the rear face of platelike air-guide member 16, is preferably substantially S-shaped.
In other words, the air channel 18, or rather the groove 33 formed on the rear face of platelike air-guide member 16, preferably has a substantially straight, central segment and two adjacent intermediate curved segments that are located at opposite ends of the central segment and are preferably bent backwards with respect to the same central segment.
The low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of cooling system 7 is preferably located within the central segment of air channel 18, whereas the air-blowing device 17 is preferably located within one of the two intermediate segments of air channel 18. Clearly in an alternative embodiment also the air-blowing device 17 could be located within the central segment of air channel 18.
Preferably the air channel 18 of platelike air-guide member 16, or rather the groove 33 formed on the rear face of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30, moreover has a first end segment connecting the one or more air-inlet openings of the same air channel 18 to the first intermediate curved segment of air channel 18, and a second end segment connecting the one or more air-outlet openings of the same air channel 18 to the second intermediate curved segment of air channel 18.
More in detail, the central segment of air channel 18, or rather of groove 33, preferably extends in the platelike air-guide member 16, or rather in the block of thermal-insulating material 30, while remaining substantially parallel to the vertical sidewalls 16 a and 16 b of air-guide member 16 and/or while remaining substantially astride of the midplane of the same air-guide member 16.
The intermediate segments of air channel 18, in turn, are preferably substantially U-bent and are preferably located one close to the ceiling of storage cavity 3, and the other close to the bottom of storage cavity 3.
Finally the first end segment of the air channel 18 preferably has a substantially converging profile towards the adjoined first intermediate segment of the same air channel 18, whereas the second end segment of the air channel 18 preferably has a substantially converging profile towards the air-outlet opening of the same air channel 18.
With reference to FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 , the air-blowing device 17, in turn, is preferably an electrically-operated centrifugal fan, and the intermediate portion of air channel 18 containing/accommodating the same air-blowing device 17 is preferably at least partly cylindrical in shaped, so as to form at least part of the outer volute or ducted housing of said centrifugal fan.
In other words the air-blowing device 17 preferably comprises: a centrifugal impeller 34 preferably having a drum-like structure, which is arranged within the aforesaid intermediate portion of air channel 18, preferably with the rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the laying plane of the platelike air-guide member 16; and a small electric motor 35 which is located within the same intermediate portion of air channel 18, preferably underneath the centrifugal impeller 34, and is adapted to drive into rotation the centrifugal impeller 34.
Preferably the electric motor 35 is moreover rigidly fitted within the aforesaid intermediate portion of air channel 18, and directly supports the impeller 34.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 , in the example shown, in particular, the groove 33 formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 16, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30, preferably includes a nearly cylindrical, first enlarged hollow section which is shaped/dimensioned to contain/accommodate the whole air-blowing device 17 and which, therefore, forms the intermediate portion of air channel 18.
Moreover the impeller 34 of air-blowing device 17 is preferably fitted in angularly rigid manner onto the distal end of the drive shaft of the electric motor 35 which, in turn, is preferably provided with an outer supporting structure 36 specifically designed to rigidly fit inside the aforesaid nearly cylindrical, enlarged hollow section of the groove 33, so as to stably hold in place the electric motor 35 nearly in the center of the same enlarged hollow section of groove 33.
In the example shown, in particular, the supporting structure 36 preferably includes a number (three in the example shown) of rigid projecting spokes or legs that protrude outwards of the electric motor 35 in a nearly radial direction, are angularly spaced around the electric motor 35, and are rigidly fastened/secured, at their the distal end, to the body of platelike air-guide member 16, or rather to the block of thermal-insulating material 30, preferably by means of anchoring pins or other fasteners.
Preferably a vibration damper is furthermore interposed between the distal of each projecting spoke or leg of supporting structure 36 and the corresponding anchoring pin or other fastener.
With reference to FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 , preferably the air-blowing device 17, or rather the centrifugal fan, additionally comprises a substantially rigid, platelike lid 37 which is arranged to close said nearly cylindrical, first enlarged hollow section of groove 33, so as to complete the outer volute or ducted housing of the centrifugal fan. The platelike lid 37, moreover, is preferably centrally provided with a large, preferably substantially circular in shape, through opening 37 a which is located immediately above, and is preferably also substantially coaxial to, the impeller 34 so as to form the suction mouth of the air-blowing device 17, or rather of the centrifugal fan.
In the example shown, in particular, the platelike lid 37 is preferably made of plastic material, and the through opening 31 a is preferably located at the end of a funnel-shaped central portion which is shaped so as to guide/channel the air towards the center of the impeller 34.
With particular reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 , preferably the platelike lid 37 is moreover substantially flush with the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 16, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30, and the groove 33 formed on the rear face of air-guide member 16 preferably includes, immediately upstream of the enlarged hollow section closed by the same platelike lid 37, a ramp section that guides the airflow f outside of the air-guide member 16 and towards the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
In other words, the portion of air channel 18 containing/accommodating the air-blowing device 17 is preferably a hollow recess formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 16, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30. The platelike lid 37, in turn, is arranged to close said hollow recess so as to complete the outer volute or ducted housing of the air-blowing device 17, and is preferably centrally provided with a through opening 37 a defining the suction mouth of the air-blowing device 17.
Preferably the suction mouth/opening of the air-blowing device 17, or rather of the centrifugal fan, is therefore located flush with the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 16, and a portion of the air channel 18 located immediately upstream of the air-blowing device 17 is preferably shaped so as to channel the airflow f outside of the air-guide member 16.
With reference to FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 , on the other hand, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8 of cooling system 7 is preferably a finned-pack heat exchanger, is preferably firmly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3, and is preferably housed within a nearly rectangular, second enlarged hollow section of the groove 33 formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 16, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30. Preferably this second enlarged hollow section of groove 33 is moreover located immediately upstream of the ramp section of the same groove 33.
With reference to FIG. 2 , similarly to the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 8, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 9 of cooling system 7 is preferably attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 40 of storage cavity 4.
The second electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 11, in turn, is preferably attached to the rear wall 40 of inner storage cavity 4, over the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 9, and is adapted to force the air to flow through the same evaporator 9.
More in detail, the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 11 preferably comprises: a substantially rigid, partitioning panel 41 which is attached to the rear wall 40 of storage cavity 4, over the evaporator 9, so as to hide the evaporator 9 and form, together with the rear wall 40, a nearly vertical air channel 42 wherein the cold air can freely circulate; and a second electrically-operated air-blowing device 43 which is attached on the back of partitioning panel 41 and is adapted to generate/produce, on command, an ascending airflow that enters into the air channel 42 from an air inlet mouth/opening located close to the bottom of storage cavity 4, flows upwards across the evaporator 9 and then returns back into the storage cavity 4.
More in detail, the air-blowing device 43 is preferably located immediately above the evaporator 9, and is preferably fitted/housed into the air inlet of a substantially rigid, platelike manifold structure 44, which is preferably made of a thermal-insulating material, is firmly fixed to the back of partitioning panel 41 so as to lie onto and protect the evaporator 9, and is provided with a number of air outlets that communicate with the inside of storage cavity 4 and are arranged at different heights from the bottom of storage cavity 4. Preferably the airflow produced by the air-blowing device 43 therefore returns back into the storage cavity 4 after flowing inside the platelike manifold structure 44 attached to the back of partitioning panel 41.
In the example shown, in particular, the platelike manifold structure 44 is preferably made of a polymeric material foam, whereas the partitioning panel 41 is preferably made of a solid/non-foamed plastic material, preferably via an injection moulding process. Preferably the air-blowing device 43, in turn, is an electrically-operated centrifugal fan.
The low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 9 of cooling system 7, in turn, is preferably a finned-pack heat exchanger, and is preferably dimensioned so as to locally take up substantially the whole cross section of air channel 42, thus to cool down substantially the whole air flowing along the air channel 42.
With reference to FIG. 2 , in addition to low-pressure heat exchangers or evaporators 8 and 9, the heat-pump assembly of cooling system 7 preferably moreover comprises: an electrically-operated compressor 45 that is preferably housed into a specific compressor compartment formed on the back of the self-supporting cabinet 2, and is adapted to compress a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous-state refrigerant arriving from any one of evaporators 8 and 9 for supplying, at outlet/delivery, a flow of high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant; a high-pressure heat-exchanger 46, traditionally called condenser, which receives the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous-state refrigerant from compressor 45, and is located outside of the cabinet 2, preferably on the rear wall of cabinet 2 (i.e. opposite to the large access openings of storage cavities 3 and 4), so as to allow the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressor 45 to release heat to the outside environment, thus reducing its temperature; and a refrigerant expansion device, such as a capillary tube, which is interposed between the condenser 46 and both evaporators 8 and 9, and is adapted to cause the rapid expansion of the high-pressure refrigerant flowing from condenser 46 to any one of evaporators 8 and 9, so to rapidly highly reduce both temperature and pressure of the same refrigerant.
Operation of refrigerator 1 is clearly inferable from the above description and does not require further explanations.
Clearly the presence of the platelike light-scattering member 20 has several advantages. Firstly the platelike light-scattering member 20 covers the platelike air-guide member 16 so as to form a perfectly smooth and well finished surface that resembles the rear wall of the storage cavity 3 and camouflages the platelike air-guide member 16.
Moreover, the particular structure of platelike light-scattering member 20 allows to more evenly illuminate the inner storage cavity 3 while forming, at same time, amazing light decorative patterns and/or special light effects.
Last but not least, the replacement of the platelike air-guide member 16 and/or of the platelike light-scattering member 20 can be done manually and substantially without efforts directly by the user with the advantages and cost saving that this entails.
The user, in fact, is now allowed to freely and easily personalize the inside of the inner storage cavity 3 of the refrigerator 1 after the purchase and delivery of the appliance.
Clearly, changes may be made to the refrigerator 1 without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, rather than being a centrifugal fan, the air-blowing device 17 could be an electrically-operated axial fan.
As regards the platelike light-scattering member 20, the opaque rear covering or coating 24 may consists in the exposed front face of air-guide member 16.
Alternatively the opaque rear covering or coating 24 may consists in a discrete sheet of opaque material that lays over and covers the hidden rear face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather of the glass sheet 22.
Preferably, in this alternative embodiment the light-scattering surface structure is moreover wholly or at least partly incorporated into said sheet of opaque material that covers the rear face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather of glass sheet 22. Moreover the rear face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather of glass sheet 22, may lack any light-scattering surface structure. In other words, the rear face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather of the glass sheet 22, may be perfectly smooth.
In addition, with reference to FIG. 9 , according to an alternative embodiment of the air-circulation assembly 10, the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the glass sheet 22, is preferably directly anchored/secured to the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3 and is adapted to firmly hold the platelike air-guide member 16 in abutment against the same rear wall 15.
More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the protective cover 31 of air-guide member 16 preferably lacks the part underneath the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather underneath the glass sheet 22. Thus the platelike light-scattering member 20 rests directly onto the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30.
Clearly in case the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the glass sheet 22, is dimensioned to completely cover the whole exposed front face of platelike air-guide member 16, the platelike air-guide member 16 may lack the whole protective cover 31.
In the example shown, in particular, similarly to protective cover 31 the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the glass sheet 22, is preferably rigidly secured to the rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3 via a number of protruding snap-on fasteners 132 and/or protruding centering fittings 133 which are preferably made of plastic and are preferably firmly fixed to the rear face of glass sheet 22 preferably by gluing or by pieces of double-sided adhesive tape.
The snap-on fasteners 132 are preferably structured to jut out from the rear face of glass sheet 22 and engage in pass-through manner the platelike air-guide member 16, or rather the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30, before reaching and coupling to the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3. The centering fittings 133, in turn, are arranged along the perimeter edge of glass sheet 22 so as to jut out from the rear face of glass sheet 22 and cooperate with the perimeter edge of the platelike air-guide member 16 so as to centre the glass sheet 22 over the exposed front face of the same air-guide member 16.
Clearly, the snap-on fasteners 132 protruding from the rear face of glass sheet 22 may be structured to firmly couple solely or also with the body of platelike air-guide member 16.
The shortened protective cover 31, in turn, is preferably rigidly secured to the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3 via one or more protruding snap tabs 134 that are arranged along its perimeter edge and are adapted to snap-on against the perimeter sidewall of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30 and/or via one or more anchoring screw/s 135 (one screw in the example shown), which preferably engage/s in pass-through manner the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 30 before reaching and screwing into the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
In addition, according to a non-shown and less-sophisticated further alternative embodiment, the refrigerator 1 lacks the platelike air-guide member 16, or the whole electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 10, and the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (alias the glass sheet 22), is arranged directly in front of the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3. More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (alias the glass sheet 22), is preferably attached directly to the rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3 so as to cover and hide/conceal at least part and preferably the whole rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3.
Likewise the previous embodiments, preferably the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather the glass sheet 22, is moreover attached to the rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3, in easy detachable manner.
More in detail, the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, or rather the glass sheet 22, is preferably attached to the rear wall 15 of inner storage cavity 3 by means of one and more pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape.
Preferably the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (alias the glass sheet 22), is moreover dimensioned so as to take up the whole width of the rear wall 15 of storage cavity 3, and optionally also the whole height of the same rear wall 15.
Similarly to the previous embodiments, the lighting assembly 21 is still adapted to direct the emitted light towards the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20, or rather of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material, so that at least part of said light can penetrate into the platelike light-scattering member 20 and then travel inside the same platelike light-scattering member 20 by total internal reflection.
More in detail, also in this alternative embodiment the lighting assembly 21 preferably includes a pair of electric lighting units 27 that are preferably recessed each is into a respective lateral wall 26 of storage cavity 3, and are oriented so as to direct at least part of the emitted light towards the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member 20, i.e. towards the front face of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material.
Finally, rather than being the glass sheet 22, the plate of transparent or semi-transparent material of platelike light-scattering member 20 may consists of a slab of polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), or other light-conductive polymeric material. Preferably the slab of light-conductive polymeric material preferably has bevelled or rounded edges and/or a thickness ranging between 1 and 20 mm (millimeters).

Claims

1. Refrigerator (1) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet (2) which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity (3) adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff; and an electrically-operated cooling system (7) which is at least partially accommodated inside the self-supporting cabinet (2) and is adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one inner storage cavity (3);

the refrigerator (1) being characterized by additionally comprising: a platelike light-scattering member (20) which is located in front of at least part of the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3), and has a light-conductive structure that allows the incident light to enter and travel by total internal reflection inside the same platelike light-scattering member (20); and an lighting assembly (21) which emits light on command, and is arranged within the inner storage cavity (3) so as illuminate at least part of the exposed front face of said platelike light-scattering member (20); the platelike light-scattering member (20) being additionally structured so as to scatter, from its exposed front face, the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the platelike light-scattering member (20) has an opaque rear face.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the lighting assembly (21) is adapted to direct the emitted light towards the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member (20), so that at least part of said light can penetrate into the platelike light-scattering member (20) and then travel inside the same platelike light-scattering member (20) by total internal reflection.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the platelike light-scattering member (20) comprises a plate of transparent or semi-transparent material (22) which has, on its front and/or rear face, at least one light-scattering surface structure (23) that causes a controlled, gradual escape of the light travelling inside said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22) by total internal reflection, through the front face of the same plate of transparent or semi-transparent material (22).

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said at least one light-scattering surface structure (23) is incorporated into said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22).

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said at least one light-scattering surface structure (23) is formed directly on surface of the front and/or rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22).

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said at least one light-scattering surface structure (23) includes one or more surface sector/s of the plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22) having an increased rough profile.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said at least one light-scattering surface structure (23) includes a multitude of micro cavities or indentations formed on surface of the front and/or rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the platelike light-scattering member (20) additionally comprises an opaque covering or coating (24) that covers the rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22).

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein said at least one light-scattering surface structure (23) is at least partially incorporated into said opaque covering or coating (24).

11. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein said opaque covering or coating (24) is a layer of opaque paint that coats the rear face of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22).

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein said opaque paint has light-reflective properties.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said plate of transparent or semi-transparent material (22) is a sheet of glass or a slab of light-conductive polymeric material.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said platelike light-scattering member (20) additionally has, on its exposed front face and/or on its rear face, logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern/s and/or writings.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein said platelike light-scattering member (20) is structured so as to scatter the light travelling inside itself by total internal reflection, so as to form said one or more logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern/s and/or writings.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein said one or more logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical pattern/s and/or writings are structured to scatter, through the exposed front face of the platelike light-scattering member (20), the light travelling inside the same platelike light-scattering member (20) in a different manner from the rest of the platelike light-scattering member (20).

17. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22) is substantially rectangular in shape.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22) has bevelled or rounded edges and/or the thickness of said plate of transparent or semitransparent material (22) ranges between 1 and 20 mm.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said lighting assembly (21) is located on at least one of the opposite lateral walls (26) of said inner storage cavity (3).

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein said lighting assembly (21) is located on both opposite lateral walls (26) of said inner storage cavity (3).

21. The refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein said lighting assembly (21) comprises a pair of separate electric lighting units (27) which emit light on command and are located each on a respective lateral wall (26) of said inner storage cavity (3), preferably close to the access opening of the same cavity.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said platelike light-scattering member (20) is attached directly to the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3), so as to hide/conceal at least part of said rear wall (15).

23. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the platelike light-scattering member (20) is dimensioned so as to take up the whole width of the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3).

24. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the platelike light-scattering member (20) is attached to the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3) in detachable manner.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said refrigerator includes an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly (10) which is located on the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3) and is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside the same inner storage cavity (3); the platelike light-scattering member (20) being arranged to at least partially cover said electrically-operated air-circulation assembly (10).

26. The refrigerator according to claim 25, wherein said air-circulation assembly (10) comprises: a platelike air-guide member (16) which is discrete from the self-supporting cabinet (2) and is rigidly attached to a rear wall (15) of said storage cavity (3); an air channel (18) that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited by, said platelike air-guide member (16) and directly communicates, at the ends, with the inside of said storage cavity (3); and an electrically-operated air-blowing device (17) which is placed along the air channel (18) and is adapted to generate/produce an airflow (f) that circulates in closed loop along the air channel (18) and the inner storage cavity (3); the platelike light-scattering member (20) being arranged over the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (16).

27. The refrigerator according to claim 26, wherein said platelike air-guide member (16) is attached to the rear wall (15) of said inner storage cavity (3) in detachable manner and/or the platelike light-scattering member (20) is attached to the platelike air-guide member (16) in detachable manner.

28. The refrigerator according to claim 26, wherein said platelike light-scattering member (20) is dimensioned to substantially completely cover the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (16).

29. The refrigerator according to claim 26, wherein the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (16) is vertically divided into an upper and a lower sectors complementary to one another, and at least the upper sector of said exposed front face is substantially completely covered by said platelike light-scattering member (20).

30. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the electrically-operated cooling system (7) comprises a heat-pump assembly which is provided with at least one low-pressure heat exchanger (8) that cools down the inside of said inner storage cavity (3).

31. The refrigerator according to claim 30, wherein said low-pressure heat exchanger (12) is located along the air channel (18) of said platelike air-guide member (16).