Refrigerator and/or freezer comprising a frame and a lid movable relative to the frame

• US 7,886,554 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã„Te Lienz GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã„Te Lienz GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Inventors: Simoner, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai; William E
• Application Number:
  US11/919,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 622/48, 622/75, 494/13, 495/01, 219402-408, 219520-522, 219538-548, 219552-553, 200 6162- 6182
• US Class Current: 62/248
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels

Abstract

A chest refrigerator and/or freezer with a carcass and a cover movable relative to the carcass, includes a pane, preferably a pane of glass or plastics, or is formed by the pane, with a heating element provided by which the pane can be heated.

Claims

1. A chest refrigerator and/or freezer with a carcass and a cover movable relative to the carcass, which includes a pane, preferably a pane of glass or plastics, or is formed by the same, wherein

heating means are provided, by which the pane can be heated,

the carcass and cover of the chest refrigerator and/or freezer include contact elements by which the heating means is connectable with a power source only when the cover is completely or largely closed,

the contact elements additionally comprise movable contact pins (60) configured to extend from a wall (54) of a shoulder (52) at a terminal region (50) of the carcass or frame, said shoulder (52) configured such that the cover (10) rests against the shoulder in closed position and the contact pins (60) being both linearly movable and in contact, in all positions, with supply lines leading to the power source, and

a switch is provided, configured to only be closed in completely or largely closed condition of the cover, and in this position closes an electric circuit for energizing the heating means.

2. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein one or more contact elements are designed such that their position and/or shape can be varied in dependence on the position of the cover.

3. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the contact pin(s) is(are) spring-loaded.

4. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein at least one contact element is a plate.

5. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein on the carcass or cover of the chest refrigerator and/or freezer, two contact elements are disposed and on the other part two plate contact elements are disposed.

6. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed on the carcass of the chest refrigerator and/or freezer.

7. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1,

wherein the heating means is formed by a heating foil provided on the pane.

8. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein

the heating means comprise a heating foil or coating (22) on one surface of the pane (20), and

the contact elements comprise a contact plate (40) positioned at a longitudinal, terminal end of the cover (10) and having a lead connecting with the foil or coating (22) and extending through a bore in a handle strip (30) disposed at the longitudinal, terminal end of the pane (20).

9. The chest refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 8, wherein said switch (80) is also situated in the terminal region (50) of the carcass or frame and in one (72) of the supply lines connecting one of the contact pins (60) with the power source.