Device for electrically powering electrical members positioned on a refrigerator door

Abstract: A device for electrically powering electrical members or user devices positioned on a refrigerator door (2), the refrigerator comprising an insulated cabinet (1) defining at least one food preservation compartment on which said door (2) is movably disposed, at least one hinge member (3) being provided for the connection between the cabinet (1) and said door (2); with the cabinet (1) and with the door (2) there being associated electrical conductors (5, 6) connected respectively to an electrical source and to each user device positioned on the door, said conductors (5, 6) being electrically connected together via the hinge member (3), which is constructed such that at least a part of it is electrically conductive.

Description: The present invention relates to a refrigerator in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. Such a refrigerator is known from document US 2 778 000. A refrigerator is known to comprise a cabinet containing at least one food preservation compartment on which a closure door is positioned, connected to the cabinet by at least one hinging member, or hinge for simplicity. The term "refrigerator" means either an upright household electrical appliance comprising a compartment (refrigeration compartment) for preservation at a temperature exceeding 0°C with a possible further compartment (freezer compartment) for preserving food at a temperature less than 0°C, or a household electrical appliance for preserving food only at a temperature less than 0°C (for example a chest freezer). If the refrigerator comprises more than one compartment, each of them can be provided with a closure door. A refrigerator is also known, for example from a preceding application in the name of the same Applicant, the door of which carries electrically powered appliance control members by which the user can effect this control without requiring access to the refrigerator. Other refrigerators are also known presenting electrically powered user devices on their door, such as drink or ice dispensers, operable by the user without requiring access to the appliance. An object of the present invention is to provide a device enabling simple and correct electrical connection of said electrical members or user devices positioned on a refrigerator door, while also enabling the door mounting direction to be easily reversed. Another object is to provide a device of the said type which is of simple construction and of safe and reliable use for the user. These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a device in accordance with the accompanying claims. The invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of example and in which: Figure 1 is a detailed cross-section through a part of a refrigerator showing a device of the invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged section through that part of a hinge to be fixed to the cabinet or to a door of a refrigerator of Figure 1. With reference to said figures, a refrigerator comprises a cabinet 1 containing at least one food preservation compartment (not shown) provided with its own door 2. The door is connected to the cabinet 1 by hinges 3. In the example show in the figures, the hinge is of the double articulated parallelogram type; however it can also be more simple and be defined only by a single articulated parallelogram. Known members or user devices (not shown) are present on the door, such as a drink or ice dispenser, or control members for the refrigerator or for the user devices associated with it. These members or user devices are accessible to the user without having to open the door 2. The said members or user devices are electrically powered. For this purpose, conductors 5 and 6 are provided within the door 2 and cabinet 1 respectively. The conductor 5 is connected to said user devices, while the conductor 6 is connected to an electricity source external to the refrigerator (for example the electricity mains of the room in which the appliance is located), with its voltage suitably transformed (reduced). The conductors 5 and 6 are preferably incorporated into the usual insulation material 7 of said door and cabinet. Said conductors are connected together via the hinge 3, at least part of which is electrically conductive, for example of metal. Specifically, the hinge 3 shown in Figure 1 comprises two portions 3A and 3B movable relative to each other (in known manner) and each comprising a hinge fixing end 10. This fixing end or base 10 is fixed to the outer covering 12 of the cabinet 1 or door 2 by a plurality of screws 13. The screws are inserted through bushes 13A of insulating material disposed at least between the screw and the covering 12. Each end 10 cooperates with a flat element 14 interposed between it and the corresponding outer covering 12; another flat element 15 is associated with the covering 12 on that side thereof which cooperates with the insulating material 7. This element 15 is fixed to the covering 12 by the screws 13 and, preferably, also plastic rivets 16 mounted before insulating the cabinet 1 or the door 2. In addition, a reinforcement element 20 is positioned on the said element 15. The reinforcement element 20 is of metal and is in direct contact with every screw 13. Every flat element 14 and 15 is instead of insulating material. A corresponding conductor 5 or 6 is connected to the reinforcement element 20 or to at least a screw 13. Consequently, each user device present on the door is electrically connected through the hinge 3. Specifically, this is achieved via the conductor 5, at least one screw 13 connecting the portion 3A of the hinge 3 to the cabinet 1, the portion 3A itself, the portion 3B of the hinge, at least one screw 13 connecting this latter to the door, and the conductor 6. Said connection can be achieved through the hinge even if this is of different configuration, provided at least a part of it is electrically conductive. The aforedescribed solution is of simple implementation and safe use, and also enables the mounting of the door on the cabinet 1 to be reversed. For this purpose it is sufficient to arrange respective conductors 6 already connected to reinforcement elements 20 for hinges scheduled for opposing sides of the cabinet (enabling right or left door mounting to be reversed); by fixing a corresponding hinge to each reinforcement element on that side of the cabinet chosen for connecting the door, each conductor 6 is connected to a corresponding conductor 5 present in the door 2. The electrical connection to the hinge bases can be made, particularly in the case of cabinets and/or doors of polymer material, by elastic metal push-on connectors cooperating with the ends of screws which fix the hinge to the cabinet and/or door of the appliance.

Claims: A refrigerator with a device for electrically connecting electrical members or user devices positioned on a door (2) of the refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising an insulated cabinet (1) defining at least one food preservation compartment on which said door (2) is movably positioned, at least one hinge member (3) being provided for the connection between the cabinet (1) and said door (2), said device comprising, associated with the cabinet (1) and with the door (2), electrical conductors (5, 6) connected respectively to an electrical source and to each user device positioned on the door, said conductors (5, 6) being electrically connected together via the hinge member (3), characterised in that the hinge (3) is of the type comprising bases (10) secured to the cabinet (1) and to the door (2) and at least two portions (3A, 3B) movable relative to each other and defining at least one articulated parallelogram which is electrically conductive. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each conductor (5, 6) present in the cabinet (1) or in the door (2) of the refrigerator cooperates with a corresponding electrically conductive element (13, 20) fixed to said cabinet (1) and door (2) with which the hinge member (3) cooperates. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each conductive element is at least one screw (13) or similar fixing device which fixes the hinge member (3) to the cabinet (1) or to the door (2). A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each conductive element is a reinforcement element (20) in direct contact with at least one electrically conductive screw (13), for example of metal, which fixes the hinge member (3) to the cabinet (1) or to the door (2). A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each conductive element is electrically insulated from the cabinet (1) or from the door (2). A device as claimed in claims 3 and 5, characterised in that a bush (13A) of insulating material is present between the screw (13) and the cabinet (1) or door (2). A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least the electrically conductive part of the hinge (3) is electrically insulated from the cabinet (1) and from the door (2). A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised by comprising a member (14) of electrically insulating material positioned between the hinge and the cabinet (1) or the door (2) of the refrigerator. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised by comprising a member (15) of electrically insulating material interposed between the reinforcement element (20) and the cabinet (1) or the door (2). A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the conductors (5, 6) are embedded in the insulating material (7) of the cabinet (1) or of the door (2).

Inventors: STURA MARCO, ZIBELLI MONICA, STURA, MARCO, ZIBELLI, MONICA
Applicants: WHIRLPOOL CO, WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F25D23
IPC codes: E05D3, H01R39, E05D11, F25D23, E05F1