Abstract:
A compact refrigerator has an insulated enclosure for the cooling and temporary storage of items, a content storage drawer that is fully exposed by pulling open the drawer from the insulated enclosure, the drawer is supported on the bottom side by at least one rolling element, and a latched handle for opening the drawer that is placed near the top of the drawer. Access to the entire content space by first pulling the ergonomically designed handle. The user then pulls open the drawer, which slidably moves away from the main housing to expose all of the content space for viewing. The content space, and the contents, move with the door, to be fully exposed when the door is in the open position. Items to be placed inside for cooling are placed into easily viewed open spaces within the contents space.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 60/329,723 filed Oct. 18, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of refrigerators, and more particularly to compact refrigerator allowing the contents of the refrigerator to be easily exposed. 
     Refrigerators of all sizes and types have been manufactured over the years. Most refrigerators intended for widespread consumer usage are comprised of insulated walls enclosing a volume that is used to store items the user wishes to keep cold. Access to the contents is normally accomplished by opening a door, searching the entire volume for the desired item, and withdrawing the item, sometimes necessitating rearranging the contents of the refrigerator in the process. Large refrigerators are normally used to fill the food storage needs of an entire family, and smaller units have been marketed for individuals, dorm rooms, offices and the like. 
     Many patents have been issued for inventions addressing the function of the refrigeration mechanism, the multitude of storage systems within various refrigerators, and mechanical improvements to parts of the typical refrigerator. Most deal with specific functions like chiller drawers, refrigeration compressor improvements, storage containers and their opening/closing mechanisms, and the like. 
     Many patents have been issued for inventions addressing the function of the refrigeration mechanism (peltier devices, conventional and scroll refrigeration compressors), the multitude of storage systems within various refrigerators, and mechanical improvements to hinges, latches, and other mechanical parts of the typical refrigerator, hereby incorporated by reference. None of the known patents specifically solve the problem many users have, which is to provide a small, convenient, easily accessible refrigerator in which to place items. There exist small refrigerators, but they are simply small size versions of larger family refrigerators, without addressing the problem of access to contents. If placed under a users desk, the door becomes hard to access, the user must squat down to first open, then access the contents, crawling around and placing items on the floor until finding the desired item, then replacing the other items. The power cord is often a problem, as an electrical outlet may not be nearby. The appearance is often lacking in style, most small refrigerators being made of sheet metal in plain white, or woodgrain vinyl prints. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a small personal refrigerator for office, home, or other use. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a compact refrigerator comprises an insulated enclosure for the cooling and temporary storage of items, a content storage drawer that is fully exposed by pulling open the drawer from the insulated enclosure, the drawer supported on the bottom side by at least one rolling element, and a latched handle for opening the drawer that is placed near the top of the drawer. 
     Access to the entire content space is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by first pulling the ergonomically designed handle. The user then pulls open the drawer, which slidably moves away from the main housing to expose all of the content space for viewing. The contents are placed on shelves attached to the door and which travel with the door; in essence, the content space, and the contents, move with the door, to be fully exposed when the door is in the open position. Items are easily added or removed from the contents space. Items to be placed inside for cooling are placed into easily viewed open spaces within the contents space. Once the user is finished exchanging contents, the door is pushed closed. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a compact refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the compact refrigerator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the compact refrigerator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the compact refrigerator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a back view of the compact refrigerator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the compact refrigerator of FIG. 1 in the closed position. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the compact refrigerator of FIG. 1 in the partially open position. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the compact refrigerator of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Various aspects of the invention may be inverted, or changed in reference to specific part shape and detail, part location, or part composition. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
     FIGS. 1 through 5 show the exterior views of a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows top housing  20 , handle recess  21 , handle  22 , and cord wrap  23 . FIG. 2 shows door  24 , wheel  30 , handle  22 , handle recess  21 , and top housing  20 . FIG. 3 shows bottom housing  25 , cord wrap  23 , and wheel  30 . FIG. 4 shows side housing  26 , along with back housing  27 , cord wrap  23 , top housing  20 , handle  22 , front housing  24 , and wheel  30 . FIG. 5 shows back housing  27 , wheel  30 , and cord wrap  23 . Top housing  20 , side housing  26  (symmetrical for left and right sides), back housing  27 , and bottom housing  25  may be permanently joined at the edges or molded in one piece as a five sided insulated enclosure. 
     Turning now to FIG. 6 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention in the closed position. Handle  22  is placed at the top of door  24 , providing easy access to open door  24 . Handle recess  21  provides access for the user to grab handle  22  from above or from the front. FIG. 7 shows the refrigerator in a partially open position. Door  24  is unlatched from top housing  20  by pulling on handle  22 , and moves slidably forward on wheel  30 , guided by slides  31 . Opening door  24  fully exposes content space  32 , in which may be placed or remove contents, potentially utilizing space organizing features such as one embodiment of a compartment element  33  shown here. 
     Turning now to FIG. 8, the section of the invention in the closed position is shown, through front housing  24 , handle  22 , top housing  20 , back housing  27 , cord wrap  23 , bottom housing  25 , and wheel  30 . Refrigeration unit  40  is placed in the top rear of the unit to make good use of the interior space; cooling can be accomplished by peltier device, compact conventional or scroll refrigeration compressor, numerous examples of which can be found and are hereby incorporated by reference, Access to the content space  32  is gained by pulling upwardly and forwardly on handle  22 , which releases door  24  from the top housing  20  by activating latch  35 , allowing door  24 , wheel  30 , slides  31 , and compartment elements  33 , comprising content space  32 , to move forward. Wheel  30  supports door  24  when the unit is opened, and content space  32  is guided by slides  31  as door  24  is pulled forward by the user. At the fully open position, content space  32  is stopped from traveling by the stop  34 , which can be released by the user in order to fully remove the content space  32  for cleaning. Content space  32  can be configured for varying arrangements of contents by the use of compartment elements  33 , only one example of the many possibilities of which is shown. Power cord  41  emanates from refrigeration unit  40  and exits rear housing  27  at the bottom of the cord wrap  23 . The user may adjust the exposed length of power cord  41 , shortening the exposed length by wrapping the excess around cord wrap  23 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Alternate embodiments of the refrigerator access function: 
     1 The top surface and front door surface open simultaneously, latching at the top front edge and pivoting at the bottom and rear edges, providing access to the contents initially from the top front corner, and to more of the contents space as the doors open further. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     2 The wide side surface opens hingeably, hinged at the rear and latched at the front. The user can access all contents, which are placed on shelves provided on the inside of the door. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     3 The wide side surface is attached hingeably to the bottom of the housing, and opens from the top, providing access to the contents space. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     4 The front door is split into two sections along the central vertical axis, which slide outwardly from the center to provide access to the contents space. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     5 The front door is split into two sections along the central vertical axis, and each section is hingeably attached to the housing sides, and pivot outwardly from the center to provide access to the contents space. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     6 The top and front sides are both accessible by tambour-type doors, which slide open to provide access from either the front, the top, or diagonally from the top front corner. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     7 The front door is divided into two or more drawers, which slide out individually to provide access to the contents placed in the drawers. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     8 The front door is opened by pulling the handle at the top, which allows a combination action such that as the door slides forward away from the main housing, the door also pivots downward, thus exposing the entire content space. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     9 The front door is divided into two panels joined by a hinge, such that the user can access just the top portion of the contents space by opening the top panel. The remainder of the contents space is accessed by pulling the door open, as in the preferred embodiment. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     10 The front of the contents space is accessed only from the front, which is covered by a flexible insulated membrane that opens by pulling on the lower edge, as in a roll-up window shade. 
     11 The front of the contents space is accessed only from the front, which is covered by a flexible insulated membrane that is divided by a slit; access to the contents space is made through the slit. 
     12 The chassis, comprising the base, joined fixedly to the front and back panels, the back panel containing the cooling element and power supply, defines the content space. The cover, comprising a top panel, joined fixedly to a wide side panel on both of its two long sides, said cover is attached slidably to the top of the chassis such that the contents space is accessed by sliding the cover towards the front or back panel, thus revealing the contents space in its entirety. The cover actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     13 The front door opens by pulling the handle as in the preferred embodiment, but the door is joined hingeably at the base, and pivots downwards as the door opens, pulling out by means of pivoting linkages one or more internal shelves containing the contents. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     14 The Content space can be accessed by opening the front door, which is attached hingeably to the housing such that it opens like a conventional door. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     15 The contents space can be accessed by opening the front door, which slides upwardly from the bottom, as in a guillotine. The door actuation and movement could alternatively be provided by an electric motor. 
     16 The entire refrigerator is mounted to the underside of a desktop or countertop, elevating it from the floor and providing more convenient access to the user. 
     17 The top of the invention contains a closeable opening into which is poured water or other liquids to be cooled. The opening is sealably connected to a container within the interior of the invention, where the liquid is cooled and awaits dispensing at the users convenience. Dispensing can be by gravity feed, electric or pneumatic pump, or by other means well known in the art. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.