Refrigerator having fluorescent lamp for illuminating fresh food compartment

• US 5,768,898 A
• Filed: 09/11/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jong Hyun, Kim, Jong Ki, Choi, Jin Ho, Kim, Kwang Ho, Seok, Jin Oh
• Primary Examiner(s): Sollecito, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/710,027
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 62/440, 62/264, 62/131, 62/132, 62/231, 62/157, 362/94, 362/92, 362/93, 312/401, 312/408, 312/223.5
• US Class Current: 62/132
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening

Abstract

In a refrigerator having a fluorescent lamp for illuminating a fresh food compartment in which the fluorescent lamp is installed in the fresh food compartment, and is turned on and off according to the opening and closing of a door for opening and closing the fresh food compartment, the refrigerator includes a heater which is installed adjacent to the fluorescent lamp to heat the peripheral portion of the fluorescent lamp. The refrigerator maintains a peripheral temperature of a fluorescent lamp at an appropriate temperature for lighting up the fluorescent lamp, to thereby prevent failure in the light-up of the fluorescent lamp and the reduction of illumination after lighting up the fluorescent lamp.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a body forming a fresh food compartment;

a door mounted on the body for opening the compartment;

a fluorescent lamp disposed in the compartment and arranged to be turned on and off in response to an opening and closing, respectively, of the door;

a heater positioned adjacent to the fluorescent lamp for heating the lamp; and

a fan for circulating cool air to the compartment, the heater and fan disposed in a circuit which energizes the heater in response to the fan being activated.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 further including a space formed in a wall of the compartment, the lamp and heater disposed in the space, and a partition for isolating the space from the compartment.

3. A refrigerator comprising:

a body forming a fresh food compartment;

a door mounted on the body for opening the compartment;

a fluorescent lamp disposed in the compartment and arranged to be turned on and off in response to an opening and closing, respectively, of the door;

a heater positioned adjacent to the fluorescent lamp for heating the lamp;

a space formed in a wall of the compartment, the lamp and heater disposed in the space, and a partition for isolating the space from the compartment; and

a temperature sensor arranged adjacent to the lamp, the heater and temperature sensor arranged in a circuit which energizes the heater in response to a sensed temperature being below a reference value.

4. A refrigerator comprising:

a body forming a fresh food compartment;

a door mounted on the body for opening the compartment;

a fluorescent lamp disposed in the compartment and arranged to be turned on and off in response to an opening and closing, respectively, of the door;

a heater positioned adjacent to the fluorescent lamp for heating the lamp;

a space formed in a wall of the compartment, the lamp and heater disposed in the space, and a partition for isolating the space from the compartment; and

a switch for sensing an opening of the door, the switch and heater disposed in a circuit which energizes the heater in response to the door being open.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 wherein the circuit is operable to deenergize the heater once the heater has been energized for a predetermined time period.

6. A refrigerator comprising:

a body forming a fresh food compartment;

a door mounted on the body for opening the compartment;

a fluorescent lamp disposed in the compartment and arranged to be turned on and off in response to an opening and closing, respectively, of the door;

a heater positioned adjacent to the fluorescent lamp for heating the lamp; and

a space formed in a wall of the compartment, the lamp and heater disposed in the space, and a partition for isolating the space from the compartment;

wherein the heater is in a circuit which cyclically energizes the heater for predetermined intervals.

7. A refrigerator comprising:

a body forming a fresh food compartment;

a door mounted on the body for opening the compartment;

a fluorescent lamp disposed in the compartment and arranged to be turned on and off in response to an opening and closing, respectively, of the door;

a heater positioned adjacent to the fluorescent lamp for heating the lamp; and

a space formed in a wall of the compartment, the lamp and heater disposed in the space, and a partition for isolating the space from the compartment;

wherein the heater is continuously energized while the refrigerator operates.