REFRIGERATOR UNIT AND/OR FREEZER UNIT

• US 20110000242A1
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã¤Te Ochsenhausen GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã¤Te Ochsenhausen GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Inventors: Brussing, Bernd, Probst, Arnulf
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/264
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit comprising at least one operating and/or control unit for the operation and/or control of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and/or comprising at least one evaporator module for the cooling of the inner space of the unit as well as comprising illumination means by means of which the inner space of the unit and/or the region located in front of the inner space of the unit from the viewpoint of the user can be illuminated at least partly, wherein the illumination means are arranged in or at the operating and/or control unit and/or in or at the evaporator module.

Claims

1. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit comprising at least one operating and/or control unit for the operation and/or control of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and/or at least one evaporator module for the cooling of the inner space of the unit as well as illumination means by which the inner space of the unit and/or the region located in front of the inner space of the unit from the viewpoint of the user can be illuminated at least partly, wherein the illumination means are arranged in or at the operating and/or control unit and/or in or at the evaporator module.

2. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination means are formed by one or more LEDs or include one or more LEDs.

3. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating and/or control unit is located outside or inside the inner space of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.

4. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating and/or control unit is arranged above the cooled inner unit space.

5. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein the operating and/or control unit is arranged in a region which is hidden by the door when the door is closed.

6. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating and/or control unit and/or the evaporator module has a cut-out;

and in that the illumination means are arranged in the operating and/or control unit and/or in the evaporator module such that they emit light through the cut-out.

7. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination means are located on the lower side or on the front side of the operating and/or control unit and/or of the evaporator module;

or the illumination means are located inside the operating and/or control unit and/or the evaporator module and are arranged such that they emit light through a cut-out in the lower side or front side of the operating and/or control unit and/or of the evaporator module.

8. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating unit and/or control unit and/or the evaporator module has/have a panel which forms at least the front-side cover of the operating and/or control unit and/or of the evaporator module.

9. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein the illumination means are arranged in or at the panel.

10. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cut-out is arranged in the panel.

11. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination means or an illumination unit which includes the illumination means terminates flush with the operating and/or control unit and/or with the evaporator module or the panel or is raised with respect thereto.

12. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein two illumination means or more than two illumination means are provided which are arranged at an angle to one another such that they emit light in different directions.

13. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating and/or control unit and/or the evaporator module has/have a panel made of transparent material.

14. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 13, wherein the panel is printed, lacquered or otherwise covered in the regions in which transparency of the panel is not required.

15. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein logos, symbols, prints and the like can be illuminated by backlighting in the operating and/or control unit and/or in the evaporator module.

16. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 15, wherein the backlighting is realized by scattered light or by light conductors.

17. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination means are connected to an electrical assembly which controls or supplies at least one further component in addition to supplying the illumination means.

18. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination means are integrated on an already present board of the unit.

19. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the unit has a door which covers the operating and/or control unit in the closed state.

20. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaporator module forms the upper wail of the inner space of the unit.

21. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit comprising illumination means by which the inner space of the unit and/or the region located in front of the inner space of the unit from the viewpoint of the user can be illuminated at least partly, wherein the illumination means are formed by one or more LEDs or include one or more LEDs.