Freshness preservation unit, storage box, and refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10513376-B2
Application number	US-201515528651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2015
Priority date	Nov 28, 2014
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed is a freshness preservation unit for a storage box of a refrigerator. At least one through hole is provided on at least one box wall of the storage box. The freshness preservation unit includes a housing wherein an accommodating space is formed. A freshness preservation film is provided in the accommodating space. The housing is provided with a fixing piece which is cooperatable with the box wall of the storage box such that the freshness preservation unit is assembled in the through hole of the storage box in a detachable manner. The freshness preservation unit realizes the functions of freshness preservation and storage for fruits and vegetables, and is assembled in the through hole of the storage box in a detachable manner, convenient to assembly and disassembly, convenient to cleaning and replacement, and low in the maintenance cost.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A freshness preservation unit for use in a storage box of a refrigerator, wherein the freshness preservation unit comprises a housing, an accommodating space is formed in the housing, a freshness preservation film is provided in the accommodating space, the housing is provided with a fixing piece, and the fixing piece is configured to be cooperatable with the box wall of the storage box such that the freshness preservation unit is assembled in a through hole of the storage box in a detachable manner, wherein
the storage box is a cubic structure including six box walls,
at least one box wall of the storage box is provided with a plurality of the through holes,
a shape of the freshness preservation unit matches the through hole, and
a plurality of the freshness preservation units can be selectively filled into different through holes as required according to corresponding position of an evaporator or an air inlet in a refrigerator and according to a corresponding relative position of the storage box, so that a general-purpose storage box with a variable position in a refrigerator is thereby obtained.

2. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first component and a second component which are formed separately and are assemblable and disassemblable, the first component comprises a first fence structure, the second component comprises a second fence structure, and when the first component and the second component are assembled, the accommodating space is formed between the first fence structure and the second fence structure.

3. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 2 , wherein the freshness preservation film covers opposite surfaces of the second and first fence structures.

4. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 2 , wherein the first component further comprises a fastener which is arranged on an outer periphery of the first fence structure, the second component further comprises an extension wall extending from the second fence structure in a direction away from the first fence structure, and the fixing piece is arranged on an outer surface of the extension wall.

5. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 4 , wherein after the first component and the second component are assembled, the fastener cooperates with the second fence structure to fix the relative position of the first and second components.

6. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 4 , wherein the fixing piece is a retaining portion extending outward from the outer surface of the extension wall, and the retaining portion is provided at the end of the extension wall.

7. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 6 , wherein the retaining portion is provided with an end face parallel to an inner surface of the box wall, and when the freshness preservation unit is assembled to the storage box, the end face comes into contact with the inner surface of the box wall.

8. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 1 , wherein the freshness preservation unit may be a moisture permeation unit or an air-conditioning unit or a sterilization unit.

9. The freshness preservation unit according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the total area of the freshness preservation unit to the volume of the storage box is in a range of 0.02-100.

10. A storage box for use in a refrigerator, comprising a freshness preservation unit of claim 1 , wherein
the storage box is a cubic structure including six box walls,
at least one box wall of the storage box is provided with a plurality of unit holes, and
a plurality of the freshness preservation units can be selectively filled into different unit hole as required according to corresponding positions of an evaporator or an air inlet in a refrigerator and according to a corresponding relative position of the storage box, so that a general-purpose storage box with a variable position in a refrigerator is thereby obtained.

11. The storage box according to claim 10 , wherein when the freshness preservation unit is assembled to the storage box, the first component is configurable to protrude out of an upper surface of a box wall of the storage box, or to be half embedded into the box wall of the storage box, or to be fully embedded into the box wall of the storage box.

12. A refrigerator, comprising a storage box as claimed in claim 10 .

Assignees

• Qingdao Haier Joint Stock Co Ltd
• Qindao Haier Joint Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Yuegang
• Zhang Weiying
• Li Min
• Ding Enwei
• Wang Aimin
• Yu Guoxin

Classifications

• F25D25/005

  using containers · CPC title

• B65D81/22

  in moist conditions or immersed in liquids · CPC title

• B65D25/20

  External fittings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44) · CPC title

• B65D51/16 Primary

  with means for venting air or gas · CPC title

• A23B7/0416

  with packages or with shaping in the form of blocks or portions · CPC title