A REFRIGERATOR ILLUMINATED BY AN ACRYLIC SHEET PLACED ABOVE THE COLD AIR DIFFUSION SYSTEM AND BY LIGHTING TUBES

Abstract: In the present invention, the internal illumination of the freezer (5) and fresh food storage compartments (4) of the refrigerator which operates and which is cooled by the principle of providing air circulation inside the device, is provided by an acrylic sheet (1) with a patterned surface, placed as a separate part within the cavity defined above the component made of plastics or a similar material, forming the cold air diffusion system that comprises air diffusion channels (6) or, applied on the edges of the sheet by injection moulding system in a monobloc form with the component made of plastics or a similar material forming the cold air diffusion system that comprises air diffusion channels; and by lighting tubes (2) placed at the upper and/or lower part of the said acrylic sheet (1).

Description: A REFRIGERATOR ILLUMINATED BY AN ACRYLIC SHEET PLACED ABOVE THE COLD AIR DIFFUSION SYSTEM AND BY LIGHTING TUBES The present invention is related to a refrigerator operating and being cooled by the air circulating within the device, the freezer and fresh food storage compartments of which are internally illuminated by means of an acrylic sheet with a patterned surface which is placed as a separate part, in the cavity above the cold air diffusion system comprising air diffusion channels or which is injection moulded in a monobloc form with the component made of plastics and similar material, which forms the cold air diffusion system including air diffusion channels, applied on the edges of the sheet; and the light sources placed on the upper and/or lower part of the said acrylic sheet. For the internal illumination of a refrigerator an efficient illumination system that consumes little energy during the service life of the refrigerator is desired. In order to provide a proper internal illumination, the lighting elements inside the refrigerator are required to be contained within a housing. In the conventional refrigerators the lighting elements are usually placed in the refrigerators in transparent or translucent plastic housings and the inner design of the refrigerators is adapted accordingly. Conventional refrigerators are internally illuminated by one or more light sources such as bulbs, depending on the design and dimensions of the device. Such light sources are activated by suitable electro-mechanical switching devices on the opening of the door of the refrigerator. These light sources provide poor illumination and to improve the intensity of illumination, the number and/or capacity of the bulbs should be increased which in turn, leads to an increase in cost and energy consumption. As such light sources cannot provide sufficient illumination, the contents of the refrigerator cannot be seen in their actual colours. Another disadvantage of these light sources is that they provide local illumination. While adequate illumination is provided at the locations where the light source is placed, it diminishes and a uniformity in illumination cannot be provided as the distance from the light source increases (which is referred to as the transmission distance). In relation with the present invention, the European Patent No. EP 0549679 Bl discloses an illumination system which includes an edge-lit light- transmitting sheet having two opposed surfaces to each of which a matrix of dots is applied and thus provides an illumination via the transportation of light along the said sheet by means of the said dots In the referred patent, it is also mentioned that the intensity of illumination is increased or reduced according to the density of the said dots on the surface. The object of the present invention is to provide the internal illumination of the freezer and fresh food storage compartments of a refrigerator which operates and which is cooled according to the principle of air circulation within the refrigerator, by means of an acrylic sheet with an etched pattern on its surface, wherein the component made of plastics or the like material, comprising the cold air diffusion system that contains the air diffusion channels , is applied on the edges of the said sheet by injection moulding so that it will form a monobloc component and by means of lighting tubes located at the upper and/or lower parts of the said sheet. Another object of the present invention is to provide the internal illumination of the freezer and fresh food storage compartments of a refrigerator which operates and which is cooled according to the principle of air circulation within the refrigerator, by means of an acrylic sheet with an etched pattern on its surface, located in the cavity above the component made of plastics or the like material, comprising the cold air diffusion system that contains the air diffusion channels, as a separate component and lighting tubes located at the upper and/or lower parts of the said sheet. The internal illumination system realised in order to attain the objects of the invention are shown in the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 , is the general section view of the illumination assembly located above the air diffusion system in the refrigerator. Figure 2, is the section view of the illumination assembly located in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. Figure 3, is the cross section taken along the line A-A shown in Figure 2. Figure 4, is the section view of the illumination assembly located in the fresh food storage compartment of the refrigerator. Figure 5, is the cross section taken along the line A-A shown in Figure 4. Figure 6, is the detail B shown in Figure 5. Figure 7, is the detail C shown in Figure 5. Figure 8, is the cross section taken along the line B-B shown in Figure 4. Acrylic sheet (1) and the part made of plastics and the like material, forming the cold air diffusion system with the air diffusion channels, are prepared as a monobloc piece. The acrylic sheet (1) with etched surface which is cut in desired dimensions is placed in a specially prepared mould by vacuum aspiration and plastic is injected into the mould according to predetermined injection parameters, after the mould is closed. After waiting for a certain time, the mould is opened and the prepared part is removed from the mould by vacuum aspiration. During these processes, plastics material is not injected on the edge or edges intended to receive the light source (diffuser) (2). In order to obtain a good surface quality, the outer surface is provided in the fixed mould while the acrylic sheet (1) is placed in the mould. The edge or edges where the lighting tube (2) is to be located, are provided with a hinged lid (8) to facilitate the replacement of the tube and sockets (7) to fit the tube (2) in. The acrylic sheet (1) with plastic-coated edges is provided with lugs (9) during injection of plastics, that engage into the recesses made on the body to facilitate the connection/disconnection of the component made of plastics and the like material forming the air diffusion system to/from the chassis of the refrigerator. A reflective layer covering the exterior edges of the sheet is placed to avoid light leakage outside the acrylic sheet (1) during the illumination of the tubes (2). Alternatively, the acrylic sheet (1) and the component made of plastics or the like material, comprising the cold air diffusion system that contains the air diffusion channels, may be prepared as separate components. The component comprising an air diffusion system with a channel wherein the acrylic sheet (1) and the lighting tube (2) can be contained is made separately for the freezer (5) and fresh food storage (4) compartments of the refrigerator, air diffusion channels (6) are opened on them, and the acrylic sheet (1) is placed within the channel in the said component (4 and 5) made of plastic. The lighting tube (2) is also placed in the channel of the said component (4 and 5) forming the air diffusion system, so that it will be located at the lower and/or upper part of the acrylic sheet (1).

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, consisting of an acrylic sheet (1) with an etched pattern on its surface the lateral edges of which are coated with plastics by injection moulding; lighting tubes (2) placed on the uncoated edges of the acrylic sheet (1); sockets (7) intended to fit the lighting tubes (2) in; lids (8) to be used while replacing the said tubes; lugs (9) to engage into the recesses made on the chassis to facilitate the mounting/dismounting of the acrylic sheet; and characterised in that, the acrylic sheet (1) that provides the internal illumination by diffusion of light within the refrigerator and the component made of plastics or a similar material, comprising the cold air diffusion system containing air distribution channels are prepared as monoblock and that it illuminates the freezer (5) and fresh food storage (4) compartments of the refrigerator. 2. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, according to claim 1 , characterised in that the said acrylic sheet (1) with a patterned surface, used for the illumination of the freezer (5) and fresh food storage (4) compartments of the refrigerator, is placed inside the channels (6) provided in the component made of plastics or a similar material comprising the cold air diffusion system and that the internal illumination of the refrigeration is provided by the lighting tubes (2) placed within the channel in the components (4 and 5) made of plastics or a similar material comprising the cold air diffusion system in such a manner that the said tubes (2) are located at the lower and/or upper part of the acrylic sheet (1). 3. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, according to claim 1, characterised in that plastics or similar material is not injected on those edges of the acrylic sheet ( 1 ) where the said lighting tubes (2) are intended to be placed. 4. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the external edges of the said sheet (1) are covered by a reflector layer in order to provide the acrylic sheet (1) with opacity during the illumination of the tubes (2). 5. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the acrylic sheet, the edges of which are plastic-coated, is provided with lugs (9) during plastics injection, that can engage into the recesses made on the chassis of the refrigerator to facilitate the mounting/dismounting of the component made of plastics or a similar material comprising the cold air diffusion system. 6. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the lid at the edges on which the lighting tube (2) is to be fixed, which is used during the replacement of the tube in any case, is a hinged lid (8). 7. A refrigerator that provides cooling according to the principle of air circulation inside the refrigerator, according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the sockets (7) are provided for placing the lighting tubes (2) in the component made of plastics or a similar material comprising the cold air diffusion system.

Inventors: AKAY MUEGE, ERINCIN BURHAN, MISIR ISMAIL, OEZKADI FATIH, YAVUZ NIHAT, AKAY, MUEGE, ERINCIN, BURHAN, MISIR, ISMAIL, OEZKADI, FATIH, YAVUZ, NIHAT
Applicants: AKAY MUEGE, ARCELIK AS, ERINCIN BURHAN, MISIR ISMAIL, OEZKADI FATIH, YAVUZ NIHAT, AKAY, MUEGE, ARCELIK A.&SCEDIL, ERINCIN, BURHAN, MISIR, ISMAIL, OEZKADI, FATIH, YAVUZ, NIHAT
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F25D27
IPC codes: F21V8, F25D27