Patent Description:
Refrigerators are household appliances widely used for cooling and preserving the most varied types of food and drinks, both industrially and domestically.

In general terms, a refrigerator is composed of a main body (or refrigerator cabinet) with at least one inner box that defines a cooling compartment.

Commonly, during the manufacture of the refrigerator, the space defined between the main body and the inner box is filled with a thermal insulating material or element.

In addition to thermally insulating the household appliance, the insulating material assists in fixing the structural components of the refrigerator, such as main body panels.

An example of thermal insulating material widely used by the state of the art comprises polyurethane (PU) foam.

A constant concern of refrigerator manufacturers is to ensure that the insulating material is confined only between the main body and the inner box, without entering areas reserved for electronic components of the refrigerator.

Any leakage of the insulating material, which can occur particularly during the step of application of PU foam, can cause damage to electronic components and, consequently, shorten the useful life of such components or even cause risks of electric shock to users.

An example of an electronic component that must be sealed with respect to the insulating material is the electronic board of the refrigerator, which can be configured to control various functions of the refrigerator, such as temperature control of the refrigeration compartment, open door alarm, locking a user interface, ice making, among others.

A solution of the state of the art involves manually sealing structural and/or electronic components of the refrigerator with adhesive tapes prior to the application of PU foam. However, such an operation is costly for the manufacturer and susceptible to errors.

The prior art document <CIT> discloses a refrigerator comprising an outer shell, an inner liner and a insulation space defined between the outer shell and the inner liner.

As noticed in <FIG> of the aforementioned document, a wiring harness is provided in the insulation space between the outer shell and the inner liner, with a pair of connectors sealing openings arranged in the outer shell and the inner liner to prevent leakage of foamed-in-place insulation material.

It is worth noting that, in the aforementioned document, the connectors are preferably used in conjunction with gaskets; see Figures <NUM> to <NUM> of <CIT>.

Disadvantageously, the gaskets can be misplaced during the manufacture of the refrigerator, implying risks of leakage of the insulation material.

In general, it is noted the complexity of the solution disclosed by document <CIT>, which necessarily requires fixation on two surfaces of the refrigerator and specific holes in the outer shell and the inner liner of the household appliance.

It is also observed the little versatility in the use of the connectors disclosed by the American document. An example of this would be the need for intermediate connections if the pair of connectors were connected to an electronic board of the refrigerator.

<CIT> discloses a method for routing utility lines in a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In conclusion, it is noted that the state-of-the-art lacks solutions that disclose a refrigerator equipped with a versatile and simple geometry sealing device that does not require additional sealing means, such as gaskets.

Also, the state-of-the-art lacks solutions that disclose a refrigerator with a satisfactory seal with respect to the thermal insulating material without using or minimizing the use of adhesive tapes.

It is an objective of the present invention to propose a refrigerator comprising a low cost and simple manufacturing sealing device.

Another objective of the present invention is to propose a refrigerator comprising a sealing device having a simple and practical fitting to at least one refrigerator surface.

It is an objective of the present invention to propose a refrigerator comprising a sealing device suitable for sealing electronic refrigerator components in relation to a thermal insulating material or element.

It is also an objective of the present invention to propose a sealing device that allows assembly through robotic processes.

One or more of the aforementioned objectives of the invention, among others, (is) are achieved by means of a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>.

The objectives, technical effects and advantages of the refrigerator, object of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description below that makes reference to the attached figures, which illustrate an exemplary, but not limiting, embodiment of the invention.

Initially, it should be highlighted that the refrigerator, object of the invention, will be described below according to particular embodiments represented in <FIG> attached, but not limiting, since its achievement can be carried out in different ways and variations and according to the application desired by a person skilled in the art.

The use of the term "a" or "one" in the present specification does not indicate a limited quantity, but the existence of at least (at the least) one of the elements/ components/ items listed. The use of the term "or" indicates any or all of the elements/ components/ items listed. The use of the term "comprising", "endowed with", "provided with" or a similar term indicates that the element/ component/ item listed in front of said term is part of the invention, but they do not exclude other elements/ components/ items not listed. The use of the term "associating", "connecting" or similar terms can refer to physical, mechanical, pneumatic, fluidic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic or wireless connections, either directly or indirectly.

In general, the present invention refers to a refrigerator <NUM> comprising a sealing device <NUM>.

Regarding its structure, the refrigerator <NUM> comprises a first surface <NUM>, a second surface <NUM>, an insulating element <NUM> arranged between the first <NUM> and the second <NUM> surfaces and a sealing device <NUM>.

The thermal insulating element comprises, for example, a layer of polyurethane (PU) foam. The PU foam layer can be foamed locally during the manufacture of the refrigerator <NUM> in a space defined between the first <NUM> and the second <NUM> surfaces.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the sealing device <NUM> is associated with at least one of the first and second surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>.

At least one of the first and second surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> is a surface of a fixing region <NUM> of an electronic board housing <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM>. According to examples which are not part of the invention, the first and second surfaces can be chosen from a group formed by: a surface of a back panel housing of the refrigerator <NUM>, a surface of a structural part, a surface of a counter-door, a surface of an inner box and a surface of a lining of a refrigerator <NUM> door.

Starting now with the description of the sealing device <NUM>, it is noted that it comprises an external structure <NUM>, an internal structure <NUM> and a connection region <NUM> that interconnects the external structure <NUM> with the internal structure <NUM>.

At least one first fixing element <NUM> is arranged in the connection region <NUM>, while a through-hole <NUM> is arranged between the external <NUM> and internal <NUM> structures.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first fixing element <NUM> protrudes radially from the connection region <NUM> with respect to the through-hole <NUM>.

The at least one first fixing element <NUM> forms a male-female arrangement with at least one of the first and second surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first fixing element <NUM> comprises two locks diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the through-hole <NUM>. Such an embodiment is illustrated, for example, in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the diametrically opposed locks comprise semicircular protuberances projected from the connection region <NUM>.

In another embodiment, the internal structure <NUM> further comprises at least one second fixing element <NUM>, so that the at least one first and second fixing elements <NUM> form a male-female arrangement with at least one of the first and second surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>.

The second fixing element <NUM> can be, for example, a fitting flap or projection, as illustrated by <FIG> and <FIG> of the present application.

In addition, the external structure <NUM> comprises a first outer region <NUM> and a second outer region <NUM>, perpendicular to each other.

Furthermore, the internal structure <NUM> comprises a first inner region <NUM> and a second inner region <NUM>, perpendicular to each other.

Thus, it is observed that the connection region <NUM> interconnects both the first outer region <NUM> with the first inner region <NUM> and the second outer region <NUM> with the second inner region <NUM> (see, for example, <FIG>).

It should be noticed that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the through-hole <NUM> is arranged between the first inner region <NUM> and the first outer region <NUM>. However, in another embodiment (not shown), the through-hole <NUM> can be arranged between the second inner region <NUM> and the second outer region <NUM>.

Preferably, the first outer region <NUM> is parallel to the first inner region <NUM> and the second outer region <NUM> is parallel to the second inner region <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the at least one first fixing element <NUM> is disposed between the first outer region <NUM> and the first inner region <NUM>, while the at least one second fixing element <NUM> is a fitting flap projected from the second inner region <NUM>.

In addition, the sealing device <NUM> may comprise a duct <NUM> projecting outwardly from the first outer region <NUM>, wherein the through-hole <NUM> extends through the duct <NUM>.

By way of example, the duct <NUM> can allow the passage of electrical wiring to an electronic component of the refrigerator <NUM>, said wiring being provided between the insulating element <NUM>, which in turn is arranged in the space between the first <NUM> and the second <NUM> surfaces.

In one embodiment of the invention, the duct <NUM> of the sealing device <NUM> is coupled to a cable (not shown) comprising electrical wiring in an interfering manner, in order to seal any passage of PU foam through the duct <NUM>.

The interference fit of the cable to the duct <NUM> is particularly advantageous since it eliminates the need for clipping or any additional sealing element, such as an adhesive tape or a gasket.

The following example describes the fitting of the sealing device <NUM> and an electronic board housing <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM>, one of the possible embodiments of the present invention.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the following example can easily be replicated to other surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of refrigerator <NUM>, such as the surface of a back panel housing of the refrigerator <NUM>, the surface of a structural part, the surface of a counter-door, the surface of an inner box and the surface of a lining of a refrigerator <NUM> door.

Referring to the electronic board housing <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM>, it is noted that the fixing region <NUM> comprises a gap <NUM> with a shape cooperating with the first inner region <NUM>.

Thus, the sealing device <NUM> is arranged in the fixing region <NUM> when fitting the housing <NUM>, so that the first inner region <NUM> is inserted into the gap <NUM>, the at least one first fixing element <NUM> is coupled to a third fixing element <NUM> arranged in the fixing region <NUM> and the at least one second fixing element <NUM> is coupled to a fourth fixing element <NUM> arranged in the fixing region <NUM>.

The third and fourth fixing elements <NUM>, <NUM> can be better seen, for example, in <FIG>. Note that the third fixing element <NUM> comprises two semicircular recesses diametrically opposed to each other, with a shape corresponding to that of the at least one first fixing element <NUM>, while the fourth fixing element <NUM> comprises a recess with a shape corresponding to that of the second fixing element <NUM>.

It is worth noting that the coupling of the at least one first fixing element <NUM> to the third fixing element <NUM>, as well as the coupling of the second fixing element <NUM> to the fourth fixing element <NUM>, block the movement of the sealing device <NUM> along a direction "E" (<FIG>).

On the other hand, the insertion of the first inner region <NUM> to the gap <NUM> blocks the movement of the device <NUM> along a direction transversal to the direction "E".

As noticed above, the fitting between the sealing device <NUM> and the fixing region <NUM> of the electronic board housing <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> can be performed from a unidirectional movement, for example, along the direction "E" shown in <FIG>.

In order to ensure effective sealing of the electronic board with respect to the insulating element <NUM>, the external structure <NUM> has an area larger than the area of the fixing region <NUM>; see for example <FIG> of the present application.

The larger area of the external structure <NUM> in relation to the fixing region <NUM> allows a contact/ support area to be formed between the sealing device <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, which helps to prevent the passage of the insulating element <NUM> to areas reserved for electronic components of the refrigerator <NUM>.

Thus, the fitting together with the contact/ support of the components mentioned above allows the effective and practical sealing of electronic components, such as the electronic board, in relation to the insulating element <NUM>.

It is worth noting that the locking (movement blocking) of the device <NUM> carried out in transverse directions also makes its removal difficult, since it cannot be performed by a unidirectional movement. Thus, the sealing device <NUM> remains fixed during the application step of the insulating element <NUM> and guarantees the isolation of the electronic components of the refrigerator <NUM>.

Advantageously, the sealing device <NUM> can comprise a plastic part manufactured from an injection process, in a simple and low-cost manner.

In addition, the sealing device <NUM> does not require the use of adhesive tapes or other additional sealing means, for example, gaskets.

In addition, the present invention discloses a sealing device <NUM> suitable for fitting to a refrigerator surface <NUM>, <NUM> by robotic processes, in view of the simplicity of the movements required for said fitting.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a first surface (<NUM>);
a second surface (<NUM>);
an insulating element (<NUM>) arranged between the first and second surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a sealing device (<NUM>);
the sealing device (<NUM>) being associated with at least one of the first and second surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein the sealing device (<NUM>) comprises:
an external structure (<NUM>), an internal structure (<NUM>) and a connection region (<NUM>) that interconnects the external structure (<NUM>) with the internal structure (<NUM>);
at least one first fixing element (<NUM>) arranged in the connection region (<NUM>);
a through-hole (<NUM>) between the external (<NUM>) and internal (<NUM>) structures;
wherein the at least one first fixing element (<NUM>) forms a male-female arrangement with at least one of the first and second surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>), where said at least one of the first and second surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>), is a surface of a fixing region (<NUM>) of an electronic board housing (<NUM>) of the refrigerator (<NUM>),
characterized in that the external structure (<NUM>) of the sealing device (<NUM>) comprises a first outer region (<NUM>) and a second outer region (<NUM>) perpendicular to each other and the internal structure (<NUM>) comprises a first inner region (<NUM>) and a second inner region (<NUM>) perpendicular to each other,
wherein the fixing region (<NUM>) of the electronic board housing (<NUM>) of the refrigerator (<NUM>) comprises a gap (<NUM>) with a shape cooperating with the first inner region (<NUM>); the sealing device (<NUM>) is arranged in the fixing region (<NUM>) so that the first inner region (<NUM>) is inserted into the gap (<NUM>), the first fixing element (<NUM>) is coupled to a third fixing element (<NUM>) arranged in the fixing region (<NUM>) and the second fixing element (<NUM>) is coupled to a fourth fixing element (<NUM>) arranged in the fixing region (<NUM>).