Refrigerated enclosure

• US 6,722,142 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sub-Zero Incorporated (Sub-Zero Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sub-Zero Freezer Company Incorporated (Sub-Zero Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pagel, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US10/361,053
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 621/31, 622/48, 621/86, 621/761
• US Class Current: 62/131
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/14 Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/18 Aesthetic features
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/123 more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices

Abstract

A refrigerated enclosure, for example a household refrigerator, having improved appearance and functionality by including a view panel, for example a glass window in a door of the refrigerated enclosure, a door switch, a controller, and an intermittent fan for removing moisture that condenses on the view panel. The refrigerated enclosure may also include interchangeable components, for example exterior panels, for coordinating or matching the appearance of the refrigerated enclosure to the surroundings into which the refrigerated enclosure is placed.

Claims

1. A refrigerated enclosure comprising:

one or more enclosure walls defining an interior refrigerated space;

a view panel;

a door;

a door switch adapted to detect whether the door is open or closed and to transmit a door switch signal indicating whether the door is open or closed;

a controller adapted to receive the door switch signal indicating whether the door is open or closed; and

a fan adapted to blow air onto at least a portion of the view panel and adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller;

wherein the controller is further adapted to turn the fan on after the door switch signal indicates the door is open, the controller is further adapted to have a delay period of time, and the controller is further adapted to turn the fan off after the delay period of time has elapsed after the door switch signal indicates the door is closed.

2. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 wherein the delay period of time is at least 30 seconds.

3. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

a cooling apparatus adapted to produce cooling within the refrigerated enclosure and adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller;

wherein the controller is further adapted to turn the cooling apparatus off during at least a portion of the delay period of time.

4. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 wherein the delay period of time is about five minutes.

5. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 4 further comprising:

a cooling apparatus adapted to produce cooling within the refrigerated and adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller;

wherein the controller is further adapted to turn the cooling apparatus off during at least a portion of the delay period of time.

6. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 further comprising one or more interchangeable components releasably coupled to the door, whereby the appearance of the refrigerated enclosure may be altered.

7. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one humidity sensor adapted to measure at least one humidity value and to transmit at least one humidity signal;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one humidity signal and to calculate the delay period of time using the at least one humidity signal.

8. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 7 further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor adapted to measure at least one temperature value and to transmit at least one temperature signal;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one temperature signal and to calculate the delay period of time using the at least one temperature signal.

9. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor adapted to measure at least one temperature value and to transmit at least one temperature signal;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one temperature signal and to calculate the delay period of time using the at least one temperature signal.

10. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one proximity sensor adapted to detect whether a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure and to transmit at least one presence signal indicating whether a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

11. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 10 further comprising at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one presence signal and to turn on the light when the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

12. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 10 further comprising at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one presence signal and to turn off the light when the presence signal indicates a person is not present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

13. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller; and

at least one light switch adapted to receive manual control from a person and to produce at least one light switch signal indicating whether light is to be produced;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one presence signal and to receive the at least one light switch signal and to turn on the light when both the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure and the light switch signal indicates light is to be produced.

14. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller; and

at least one light switch adapted to receive manual control from a person and to produce at least one light switch signal indicating whether light is to be produced;

wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one presence signal and to receive the at least one light switch signal and to turn on the light when either the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure or the light switch signal indicates light is to be produced.

15. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 10 further comprising at least one view panel control receiver adapted to receive a view panel control signal from the controller;

wherein the view panel is adapted to have a transparency controllable by the view panel control receiver, and wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one presence signal and to send a view panel control signal for increasing the transparency of the view panel when the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

16. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 10 further comprising at least one view panel control receiver adapted to receive a view panel control signal from the controller;

wherein the view panel is adapted to have a transparency controllable by the view panel control receiver, and wherein the controller is further adapted to receive the at least one presence signal and to send a view panel control signal for decreasing the transparency of the view panel when the presence signal indicates a person is not present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

17. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 1 further comprising at least one sound output device adapted to be controlled by the controller and to produce at least one sound.

18. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 17 wherein the sound produced by the sound output device includes at least one word.

19. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 17 wherein the controller is further adapted to control the sound output device to produce a sound for at least a portion of any period of time in which the door signal indicates the door is open.

20. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 19 wherein the sound produced by the sound output device includes at least one word.

21. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 17 wherein the controller is further adapted to control the sound output device to produce a sound for at least a portion of any period of time exceeding 30 seconds in which the door signal indicates the door is open.

22. The refrigerated enclosure of claim 21 wherein the sound produced by the sound output device includes at least one word.

23. A method of removing condensation from a view panel in a refrigerated enclosure having a door, comprising:

providing a door switch adapted to detect whether the door is open or closed and adapted to transmit a door signal indicating whether the door is open or closed;

providing a controller;

providing a fan adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller and adapted to blow air onto at least a portion of the view panel;

the controller receiving the door signal;

the controller turning on the fan after the door signal indicates the door is open; and

the controller turning off the fan after a delay period of time has elapsed after the door signal indicates the door is closed.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the delay period of time is at least 30 seconds.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

providing a cooling apparatus adapted to produce cooling within the refrigerated enclosure and adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller; and

the controller turning off the cooling apparatus during at least a portion of the delay period of time.

26. The method claim 23 wherein the delay period of time is about five minutes.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

providing a cooling apparatus adapted to produce cooling within the refrigerated enclosure and adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller; and

the controller turning off the cooling apparatus during at least a portion of the delay period of time.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing one or more interchangeable components releasably coupled to the door, whereby the appearance of the refrigerated enclosure may be altered.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

providing at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one humidity value and adapted to transmit at least one humidity signal;

the controller receiving the at least one humidity signal; and

the controller calculating the delay period of time using the at least one humidity signal.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

providing at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one temperature value and adapted to transmit at least one temperature signal;

the controller receiving the at least one temperature signal; and

the controller calculating the delay period of time using the at least one temperature signal.

31. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

providing at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one temperature value and adapted to transmit at least one temperature signal;

the controller receiving the at least one temperature signal; and

the controller calculating the delay period of time using the at least one temperature signal.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing at least one proximity sensor adapted to detect whether a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure and adapted to transmit at least one presence signal indicating whether a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller;

the controller receiving the at least one presence signal; and

the controller turning on the light when the presence-signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller;

the controller receiving the at least one presence signal; and

the controller turning off the light when the presence signal indicates a person is not present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing at least one view panel control receiver adapted to receive a view panel control signal from the controller;

the controller receiving the at least one presence signal; and

the controller sending a view panel control signal to the view panel control receiver for increasing the transparency of the view panel when the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing at least one view panel control receiver adapted to receive a view panel control signal from the controller;

the controller receiving the at least one presence signal; and

the controller sending a view panel control signal to the view panel control receiver for decreasing the transparency of the view panel when the presence signal indicates a person is not present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller;

providing at least one light switch adapted to receive manual control from a person and adapted to produce at least one light switch signal indicating whether light is to be produced;

the controller receiving the at least one presence signal;

the controller receiving the at least one light switch signal; and

the controller turning on the light when both the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure and the light switch signal indicates light is to be produced.

38. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

providing at least one light adapted to be turned on and off by the controller;

providing at least one light switch adapted to receive manual control from a person and to produce at least one light switch signal indicating whether light is to be produced;

the controller receiving the at least one presence signal;

the controller receiving the at least one light switch signal; and

the controller turning on the light when either the presence signal indicates a person is present in the vicinity of the refrigerated enclosure or the light switch signal indicates light is to be produced.

39. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing at least one sound output device adapted to be controlled by the controller and to produce at least one sound.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the sound produced by the sound output device includes at least one word.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising the controller controlling the sound output device to produce a sound for at least a portion of any period of time in which the door signal indicates the door is open.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the sound produced by the sound output device includes at least one word.

43. The method of claim 39 further comprising the controller controlling the sound output device to produce a sound for at least a portion of any period of time exceeding 30 seconds in which the door signal indicates the door is open.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the sound produced by the sound output device includes at least one word.