Patent Publication Number: US-8523303-B2

Title: Cooling device with spacing element

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an intermediate spacing element located in between an outer shell of a refrigerator door and its innermost part such that a more pleasing visual effect is obtained. 
     The present invention relates to an intermediate ornamental spacing element located in between an outer shell of a refrigerator door and its innermost part such that a more pleasing visual effect is obtained. To this end, the present invention provides a refrigerator door having an outer part spaced from its innermost frame part such that both an easier mounting is effected and a more pleasing visual effect due to the spacing element is obtained. 
     More specifically, the present invention concerns the upper door of a refrigerator, which is conventionally provided for deep freeze compartments thereof. Upper compartments of refrigerators are conventionally equipped with doors having plastic coverings fixed on the panel fixing elements on the door frame by means of respective claws. The reason that said coverings are not fixedly attached to the panel elements on the door frame is dependent on material selection and basically plastic claws do not adequately support the mechanical connection in between the panels and the frame. To this end, even a small amount of force can cause breaking and/or demounting of said upper coverings. 
     Further, it is also desired that a more robust material selection, leading to elimination of shortcomings such as bending and/or displacement of said coverings in time, is made. To this effect, a plastic covering is replaced with a more robust material to eliminate such disadvantages. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The most prominent object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator upper compartment door covering fixedly attached to a panel element on the door frame of said refrigerator&#39;s compartment door. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator upper compartment door in which bending and/or displacement of said door&#39;s upper coverings is eliminated. 
     The present invention provides a refrigerator having a deep freeze compartment door with an aluminum profile having lateral coverings at both sides and an additional guiding means mounted on a panel fixing element. Said panel fixing element is embedded with the outer part of the door such that an ornamental spacing element is fixed to said guiding element and to said lateral coverings such that an easier on site mounting is obtained and a more appealing visual effect is achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures whose brief explanations are herewith provided are solely intended for providing a better understanding of the present invention and are as such not intended to define the scope of protection or the context in which said scope is interpreted in the absence of the description. To this end, 
         FIG. 1  demonstrates a perspective view of the lateral coverings according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  demonstrates a perspective view of a lateral covering with an aluminum profile according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  demonstrates a perspective view of the additional guiding means according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4   a  demonstrates a perspective view of the panel fixing element and  FIG. 4   b  demonstrates the additional guiding means mounted on said fixing element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5   a  demonstrates a perspective view of the deep freeze compartment door according to the present invention.  FIG. 5   b  demonstrates said deep freeze compartment door upside down where said additional guiding means is seen. 
         FIG. 6  demonstrates a perspective view of the aluminum profile with its openings according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention proposes a refrigerator door system having lateral coverings ( 12 ) as in  FIG. 1  with claws ( 11 ) for engagement with an aluminum profile ( 15 ) as shown in  FIG. 2 . Said lateral covering ( 12 ) has an outer side ( 13 ) and an inner side ( 14 ) adjoined to a deep freeze compartment door unit body. Said aluminum profile ( 15 ) has a lower surface ( 16 ) facing the refrigerator&#39;s main door below. 
       FIG. 3  demonstrates an additional guiding means ( 17 ) with a mounting hole ( 18 ) by means of which the ornamental element ( 19 ) according to the present invention is fixed. Said guiding means ( 17 ) is attached on the panel fixing element ( 20 ) by means of a fixing hole ( 21 ) as seen in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . Said additional guiding means ( 17 ) has lateral claws ( 22 ) and restrictive end parts ( 23 ) in the middle. 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  explain the way the ornamental element ( 19 ) is mounted on the deep freeze door. To this end, said door has an inner surface ( 24 ) and an outer shell ( 25 ). As seen in  FIG. 5   b , said panel fixing element ( 20 ) is located on the outer part of the door and is embedded within said outer shell ( 25 ). Said ornamental spacing element ( 19 ) is introduced and settled in the direction of the arrows as indicated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b.    
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , the aluminum profile ( 15 ) comprises a plurality of emptied parts, namely, an emptied profile part ( 26 ) for bearings, a pair of openings ( 27 ) for additional guiding means&#39; ( 17 ) claws ( 22 ), openings ( 28 ) for mounting lateral coverings ( 12 ), additional guiding means ( 17 ) slot ( 29 ) and a protrusion ( 30 ) for restricting the same in its mounted position. 
     In a nutshell, the present invention provides a household appliance door having a panel fixing element ( 20 ) located on the outer part of the door being embedded within said outer shell ( 25 ). Said panel fixing element ( 20 ) is attached to a guiding means ( 17 ). Said door further comprises lateral coverings ( 12 ) for engagement with an aluminum profile ( 15 ). An ornamental spacing element ( 19 ) is provided in said door such that said ornamental spacing element ( 19 ) is fixedly delimited by said guiding means ( 17 ) on which said aluminum profile ( 15 ) is attached.