Refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit

• US 8,938,984 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã¤Te Ochsenhausen GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã¤Te Ochsenhausen GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Inventors: Probst, Arnulf, Brussing, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Application Number:
  US12/523,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20110000242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,567 Days
• Field of Search: 622/64, 621/31, 624/40, 624/65, 315/291, 315/362, 362/545, 362/612
• 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

a cooling space,

an evaporator module for the cooling of the inner space and arranged above the cooling space, and

illumination means by which the inner space of the unit and/or a 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 evaporator module wherein the evaporator module has a cut-out, and the illumination means are arranged in or at the evaporator module such that they emit light through the cut-out.

2. The refrigerator unit and/or the 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. The refrigerator unit and/or the 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 the freezer unit.

4. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination means are located on the lower side or on the front side of the evaporator module;

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

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

6. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein the illumination means are arranged in or at the panel.

7. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaporator module has a panel which forms at least the front-side cover of the evaporator module, and the cut-out is arranged in the panel.

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

9. The refrigerator unit and/or the 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.

10. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaporator module has a panel made of transparent material.

11. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the panel is printed, lacquered or otherwise covered in the regions in which transparency of the panel is not required.

12. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein logos, symbols, prints and the like can be illuminated by backlighting in the evaporator module.

13. The refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one operating and/or control unit for the operation and/or control of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit, wherein

the illumination means are also arranged in or at the operating and/or control unit,

logos, symbols, and/or prints are illuminated by backlighting in the operating and/or control unit and/or in the evaporator module, and

the backlighting is realized by scattered light or by light conductors.

14. The refrigerator unit and/or the 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.

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

16. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the evaporator module forms the upper wall of the inner space of the unit.

17. 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,

a cooling space, and

illumination means by which the inner space of the unit and/or a 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 which is formed as a front-side trim located in a region above the cooling space and concealed when a door of the unit is closed, and

the illumination means are formed by at least one LED.

18. The refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit in accordance with claim 17, wherein the unit has a door which covers the operating and/or control unit in the closed state.

19. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit comprising:

a) a cooling space;

b) at least one evaporator module for the cooling of the inner space and arranged above the cooling space;

c) illumination means by which the inner space of the unit and/or a 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 the evaporator module.