Refrigerator comprising a crisper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845984-B2
Application number	US-201415027242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2014
Priority date	Oct 3, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator ( 1 ) comprising a body ( 2 ) wherein foods and beverages are placed, at least one drawer ( 3 ) that is disposed into the body ( 2 ) wherein fruits and vegetables are placed, a crisper ( 5 ) that is disposed inside the body ( 2 ) so as to be almost parallel to the base and that has a cover plate ( 4 ) remaining above the drawer ( 3 ) when the drawer ( 3 ) is placed into the body ( 2 ), and a flexible element ( 6 ) that is disposed on the crisper ( 5 ) and that provides airproofing between the interior of the crisper ( 5 ) and the exterior of the crisper ( 5 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator ( 1 ) comprising:
a body ( 2 ) wherein foods and beverages are placed,
at least one drawer ( 3 ) that is disposed into the body ( 2 ) wherein fruits and vegetables are placed,
a crisper ( 5 ) that is disposed inside the body ( 2 ) so as to be almost parallel to the base and that has a cover plate ( 4 ) remaining above the drawer ( 3 ), and
a flexible element ( 6 ) that is disposed on the crisper ( 5 ) and that provides airproofing between the interior of the crisper ( 5 ) and the exterior of the crisper ( 5 ),
wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) is situated at a rear side of the cover plate ( 4 ) and extends along the rear side of the cover plate ( 4 ), the flexible element being adjacent to and extending downwards from the cover plate ( 4 ), the flexible element providing airproofing at the rear side of the crisper ( 5 ) between the interior of the crisper ( 5 ) and the exterior of the crisper ( 5 ) by contacting a rear wall of the drawer ( 3 ) when the drawer ( 3 ) is placed into the body ( 2 ), the flexible element ( 6 ) comprising a profile ( 11 ) that protrudes towards the rear wall of the body ( 2 ) such that the profile ( 11 ) contacts the rear wall of the body ( 2 ) when the drawer ( 3 ) is placed into the body ( 2 ).

2. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) has a curved configuration, that extends towards the drawer ( 3 ).

3. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 2 , wherein the drawer ( 3 ) is placed into the body ( 2 ) so that a distance remains between at least some portion of the rear side of the cover plate ( 4 ) and the drawer ( 3 ), and wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) extends from the portion of the cover plate ( 4 ) that remains between the drawer ( 3 ) and the body ( 2 ).

4. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) is substantially “J” shaped.

5. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) has more than one strength-increasing rib ( 7 ) thereon.

6. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) is detachably attached to the cover plate ( 4 ).

7. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein more than one hole ( 8 ) are arranged on the cover plate ( 4 ) and more than one protrusion ( 9 ) are disposed on the flexible element ( 6 ), each one being inserted into the said holes ( 8 ) and enabling the flexible element ( 6 ) to be connected to the cover plate ( 4 ).

8. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 7 , wherein a connector ( 10 ) is disposed on the protrusion ( 9 ), the connector having a chamfered configuration and a width at least as much as the cross-section of the hole ( 8 ) the connector enabling the flexible element ( 6 ) to be connected to the cover plate ( 4 ) leak-proofingly by bearing against the periphery of the hole ( 8 ) when the protrusion ( 9 ) is inserted through the hole ( 8 ).

9. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) is produced with the cover plate ( 4 ) as a single piece.

10. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 6 ) is adhered to the cover plate ( 4 ).

11. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the profile ( 11 ) extends along the flexible element ( 6 ) such that while contacting the body ( 2 ), the profile ( 11 ) provides leak-proofing at the rear side of the crisper ( 5 ), between the flexible element ( 6 ) and the body ( 2 ).

12. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein two side walls ( 12 ) are disposed at two sides of the flexible element ( 6 ) and that prevent air from leaking from the sides of the flexible element ( 6 ).

13. A refrigerator ( 1 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the profile ( 11 ) contacts the body ( 2 ) when the drawer ( 3 ) is placed into the body ( 5 ) such that the profile ( 11 ) absorbs impact and resulting sound.

Assignees

• Arcelik As

Inventors

• Gunduz Nihat
• Kocaturk Serdar
• Akan Samet
• Sur Dilek

Classifications

• F25D25/025

  Drawers · CPC title

• F25D23/087 Primary

  Sealing strips · CPC title

• F16B47/003

  using adhesives for attaching purposes (using adhesives for connecting constructional elements F16B11/006) · CPC title

• F25D25/021

  combined with trays · CPC title