WO2011076445A1

WO2011076445A1 - A frame and a counterframe for refrigerator cabinet doors

Info

Publication number: WO2011076445A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/058931
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Guiducci
Original assignee: Cisaplast S.P.A.
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2010-06-23
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: SM201000070A; SM201000070B; ITRE20090121A1

Abstract

A frame (6) and a counterframe (3) for doors of refrigerator cabinets (1) comprise two concentric frames, of which one frame (30, 32) is made of plastic material and another frame (31, 33) is made of metal such as to be visible from outside the refrigerator cabinet (1) and also such as to be heat-insulated with respect to the inside of the refrigerator cabinet (1).

Description

A FRAME AND A COUNTERFRAME FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINET DOORS

Technical field

The invention relates to doors of refrigerators, in particular upright refrigerator cabinets which are used for exhibiting and selling products subject to conservation, typically food products.

Background art

As is known, an upright refrigerator cabinet generally comprises at least an internal cell for containing products, an access opening for introduction and removal of the products into and from the internal containing cell, and a suitable door applied to the access opening of the cell.

The door comprises a counterframe, generally frame-shaped, which is fixed to the refrigerator to delimit the access opening, and an openable door associated to the counterframe in order to close the access opening.

The door can be hinged to the counterframe, thus realising a leaf-door assembly, or can slide with respect to the counterframe, thus defining a sliding door.

In both cases the door normally comprises a frame which is generally frame- shaped, which surrounds and retains a transparent closing panel.

The transparent panel can be realised by one or more glass or plastic panes. To realise the counterframe and the frame of the door, elements made of a plastic material, generally polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are used.

Owing to the difference between the external temperature and the internal temperature of the refrigerator, the plastic elements are often subject to asymmetrical deformations, which can lead to the opening of fissures between the adjacent elements at the corners of the frame and counterframe, or which can cause a loss in straightness, with consequent problems relating to heat seal. Owing to the low resistance characteristics of the plastic material, these elements are further generally unsuited to realising frames and counterframes of large dimensions, or which have to support a considerable load.

The plastic material is further often subject to ageing phenomena which can cause colour change, as well as a progressive tendency to fragility of the elements over time, with consequent breakage and/or cracking.

The plastic elements are also generally not particularly appreciable at the aesthetic level.

To obviate these drawbacks, a known method is to realise the frame and counterframe with metal elements, typically aluminium.

Metal however is a material having high heat conductivity which, due to the difference of temperature between the outside and the inside of the refrigerator cell, causes formation of disadvantageous condensation, such as frost or frozen droplets, on the external surface of the elements.

To prevent the formation of condensation, the transversal section of the metal elements generally comprises a hollow portion which affords a small channel housing heating means, typically an electrical resistance, which heating means have the task of heating the frame and/or the counterframe. The good heat conductivity of the metal however means that the heat provided by the electrical resistance also propagates towards zones of the elements that are extraneous to the points in which the heat must prevent the formation of the condensation.

It follows that in order to effectively prevent formation of condensation, there is required a quantity of electrical energy which is considerably superior to that really necessary, with consequent repercussions on energy saving and with an increase in general management costs of the refrigerator.

To obviate these drawbacks, a solution is known which comprises the frame and the counterframe of the door being constituted by metal elements which are completely covered by plastic elements. The metal elements thus function as a support core and are inserted into the plastic elements which exhibit a generally tubular conformation and completely surround the metal elements.

By exploiting the insulating characteristics of the plastic material, it has been found that this solution prevents the formation of the condensation without any need to predispose heating means, or in any case with a smaller waste of electrical energy.

This solution also enables obviating the mechanical resistance problems connected to the use of elements which are entirely made of plastic.

However, since the metal element is completely enveloped by the plastic element, the plastic element remains subject both to the external temperature and to the internal temperature in the refrigerator, and can therefore display ageing phenomena, shrinkage and/or asymmetric deformations.

The aesthetic aspect of the frame and/or the counterframe realised using this system is further the same as the effect achieved with elements made entirely of plastic material, thus reducing the aesthetic value of the refrigerator cabinet.

Finally, the insertion of the metal element into the plastic element leads to a certain operative difficulty, which reflects in a greater working life and process costs for assembling the frame and counterframe.

Disclosure of invention

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, in the ambit of a simple, rational and relatively economical solution.

The aim is attained by the characteristics of the invention as reported in the independent claims. The dependent claims delineate preferred and/or especially advantageous aspects of the invention.

The invention makes available a counterframe for refrigerator cabinet doors. The counterframe comprises a frame made of a plastic material destined to delimit an access opening of the refrigerator, and a metal frame destined also to delimit the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet, which is associated to the plastic frame, such as to be visible externally of the refrigerator and to be heat-insulated with respect to the internal volume of the refrigerator cabinet.

Thanks to this solution, the metal frame determines the aesthetic aspect of the counterframe, which is therefore more attractive with respect to the aspect obtained with elements made entirely of plastic material.

In particular, the metal frame is not subject to deformations or ageing phenomena which might cause opening of fissures at the corners, cracks or colour changes, as typically occurs with counterframes made of plastic.

The metal frame further has bearing function, improves the overall mechanical characteristics of the counterframe and supports the plastic frame.

The plastic frame heat-insulates the metal frame from the internal cold cell of the refrigerator cabinet, thus preventing formation of condensation without there being any recourse to heating means, or in any case significantly reduces consumption of electrical energy.

In a preferred aspect of the counterframe, the metal frame is destined to be at least partially clad the frame made of plastic material.

In this way, the metal frame can hide the surfaces of the plastic frame which otherwise would remain in view externally of the refrigerator cabinet.

In a further preferred aspect of the counterframe, the plastic frame comprises elements made of a plastic material which are connected to one another, and the metal frame comprises metal elements associated to the plastic elements.

In this way, the manufacturing of the plastic frame and the metal frame are rather simple, rapid and economical.

The metal elements are preferably associated to the plastic elements by jointing.

In this way, the coupling of metal frame and the plastic frame is simple and rapid.

In an embodiment of the counterframe, the metal elements have a generally L-shaped transversal section, and are associated to the plastic elements, such as to make available a first surface which is perpendicular to the plane of the counterframe and facing towards the centre thereof, and a second surface which is parallel to the plane of the counterframe, which is destined to be facing towards the outside of the refrigerator cabinet.

Thanks to this solution, the metal elements are destined to be directly associated to the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet, and thus have the greater bearing function of the whole counterframe.

In a further embodiment of the counterframe, the transversal section of the plastic elements exhibits a generally L-shaped appendage exhibiting a first surface that is perpendicular to the plane of the counterframe and facing the centre thereof, and a second surface which is parallel to the plane of the counterframe, which is destined to be facing towards the outside of the refrigerator cabinet.

In this embodiment, the metal elements have a generally L-shaped transversal conformation and are associated to the plastic elements, such as to cover the first and second surfaces.

Thanks to this solution, a quite slim metal frame is obtained which is rather light and economical.

The invention also provides a frame for doors of refrigerator cabinets.

Using the same inventive concept as applied to the counterframe, the frame comprises a frame of plastic material destined to border a closing panel for an access opening of a refrigerator cabinet, and a metal frame also destined to border the closing panel, which is associated to the plastic material frame, such as to be visible externally of the refrigerator cabinet and be thermally insulated with respect to the internal volume of the refrigerator cabinet itself. In a preferred aspect of the frame, the metal frame is destined to at least partially cover the plastic frame.

In this way, the metal frame can hide the plastic surfaces of the frame which otherwise would be visible from the outside of the refrigerator cabinet.

In a further preferred aspect of the frame, the plastic frame comprises elements made of a plastic material which are connected to one another, and the metal frame comprises metal elements associated to the elements made of plastic material. In this way, the manufacturing of the plastic frame and the metal frame is rather simple, rapid and economical.

In this way, the coupling of the metal frame to the plastic frame is simple and rapid.

In an embodiment of the frame the plastic elements exhibit a first surface which is perpendicular to the plane of the frame and facing externally thereof, and a second surface is parallel to the plane of the frame, which is destined to be facing towards the outside of the refrigerator cabinet.

In this embodiment, the metal elements have a transversal section which is generally L-shaped and are associated to the plastic elements, such as to cover the first and the second surfaces.

Thanks to this solution, a metal frame is obtained which is rather slim, and thus rather light and economical.

In a further preferred embodiment of the frame, the plastic frame also comprises plastic corner pieces, which are destined to connect two plastic elements with the aim of defining a corner of the frame.

Thanks to this solution, the plastic material frame is more stable and sturdy.

Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from a reading of the following description, which is provided by way of a non- limiting example with the aid of the figures illustrated in the accompanying tables, in which:

figure 1 is a frontal view of a refrigerator cabinet;

figure 2 is section ll-ll of figure 1 shown in enlarged scale;

figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively details III, IV and V of figure 2, shown in enlarged scale;

figure 6 is an exploded view of the plastic frame of the door of the refrigerator cabinet of figure 1 ;

figures 7 and 8 are two perspective view which illustrate the assembly of the frame of the refrigerator cabinet door of figure 1 ; figure 9 is the transversal section of the counterframe of figure 2, in exploded view;

figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the counterframe of figure 2; figure 1 1 is section ll-ll of figure 1 relating to a different embodiment of the counterframe and shown in enlarged scale;

figures 12 and 13 are details XII and XIII of figure 1 1 shown in enlarged scale;

figure 14 shows the transversal section of the counterframe of figure 1 1 in an exploded view;

figure 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the counterframe of figure 1 1 .

Detailed description

The refrigerator cabinet 1 schematically comprises a plurality of walls destined to delimit an internal containing cell for the products, and a refrigerating system for maintaining the cell at a temperature which is generally lower than the external temperature.

A wall of the refrigerator cabinet 1 exhibits an access opening for introduction and removal of the products into and out of the container cell.

A door is applied to the opening, which door is denoted in its entirety by 2. The door 2 comprises a counterframe 3 which is frame-shaped and which is fixed to the refrigerator cabinet 1 in such a way as to delimit the access opening, and an openable door 4 which is associated to the counterframe 3 in order to close the access opening.

In particular, the door 4 is hinged to the counterframe 3 at a rotation axis A, such as overall to realise a leaf door.

The door 4 comprises a transparent panel 5, and a support frame 6, conformed generally as a frame, which surrounds and supports the transparent panel 5.

In the present example, the transparent panel 5 comprises three panes of hardened glass, which are arranged parallel to one another and are separated by two advantageously sealed air chambers (see figure 2). The support frame 6 has a generally polygonal shape, conjoined to the counterframe 3 form, which in the present example is substantially rectangular.

The support frame 6 is made up of two concentric frames destined to border the transparent panel 5, of which one is a frame made of a plastic material and another is a metal frame which is associated to the plastic frame.

As illustrated in figure 6, the sides of the plastic frame are constituted by four elements 60, which are connected and joined to one another by four corner- pieces 61 destined to define the corners of the frame,

The elements 60 and the corner-pieces 61 are realised in a plastic material, preferably a material having good heat-insulating characteristics such as PVC.

The elements 60 are preferably made by extrusion, while the corner-pieces 61 are preferably realised by injection moulding.

The arms of the corner-pieces 61 have substantially the same transversal section as the elements 60, so each characteristic relating to the transversal section of the elements 60 is to be considered to extend also to the arms of the corner-pieces 61 .

As illustrated in figure 2, the transversal section of the elements 60 is conformed such as to exhibit two external surfaces extending over the whole length, of which one is a lateral surface 600 which is perpendicular to the frame of the support frame 6 and facing towards the outside thereof, and an upper surface 601 parallel to the plane of the support frame 6 and facing towards the outside of the containing cell 10 which is delimited by the refrigerator cabinet 1 .

The upper surface 601 is partially defined by a wall 602, which projects towards the inside of the support frame 6.

As illustrated in detail in figure 3, the free end of the projecting wall 602 exhibits an edge which is slightly undercut with respect to the upper surface 601 . On the opposite side to the upper surface 601 , the element 60 exhibits a whole-length recessing which is destined to receive a corresponding rubber gasket 603.

The gasket 603 is hooked to the element 60 by a plurality of harpoon-shaped feet 604, each of which click-engages in a hole afforded in the wall of the element 60 separating the lowering from a rear-lying chamber extending over the whole length 605.

The gasket 603 comprises a portion extending over the whole length which projects towards the inside of the support frame 6 and is opposite the wall 602 such as to grip the transparent panel 5 in a vice arrangement.

As illustrated in detail in figure 4, the element 60 exhibits a whole-length groove 606 flanked to the lowering in which the gasket 603 is received which groove is slightly undercut with respect to the lateral surface 600.

Finally, the element 60 comprises a central whole-length chamber 607 which is separated from the chamber 605 by an intermediate wall.

The sides of the metal frame are constituted by four elements 62 (see figure 1 ), which have opposite ends cut at an angle, typically of 45°, and are joined at heads thereof to one another such as to realise a closed frame.

The elements 62 are made of a metal material, preferably aluminium and preferably by means of an extrusion process.

As illustrated in figure 2, the elements 62 are slim-walled with a transversal section that is generally L-shaped.

The sides of the elements 62 each comprise a respective tooth 620 extending of the whole length thereof, which tooth develops towards the inside of the dihedral corner defined by the L-profile, with a slight undercut. The teeth 620 are conformed such as to couple respectively with the end of the projecting wall 602 and with the undercut groove 606 of the elements 60 and the plastic corner pieces 61 (see also figures 7 and 8).

A joint is realised by this coupling which reciprocally constrains each metal element 62 to a plastic element 60 and to two opposite corner pieces 61 .

In this way, the metal elements 62 clad the external surfaces 600 and 601 of the elements and the plastic corner pieces 60 and 61 , such that the metal frame hides the plastic frame with respect to the outside of the refrigerator cabinet 1 .

At the same time, the elements and plastic corner pieces 60 and 61 are interposed between the metal elements 62 and the containing cell 10 of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , such that the plastic frame thermally insulates the metal frame with respect to the containing cell 10.

As can be appreciated from figure 2, no point of the metal elements 62 is directly exposed internally of the containing cell 10.

The counterframe 3 is in turn composed of two concentric frames destined to delimit the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , which concentric frames are constituted by a frame made of plastic material and a metal frame which is associated to the plastic frame.

The sides of the plastic frame are constituted by elements 30, which have ends cut at an angle, typically a 45° angle, and are joined to one another at heads thereof, such as to realise a closed frame.

The elements 30 are made of plastic material, preferably having good heat- insulating characteristics such as PVC, and preferably by an extrusion process.

As illustrated in figure 2, the elements 30 exhibit two surfaces that are parallel to the plane of the counterframe 3, of which one is an internal surface 300 facing towards the inside of the containing cell 10, and one is an external surface 301 facing towards the opposite side.

The elements 30 further exhibit a gully 302 extending over the whole length of the elements 30, which gully 302 is open on the external surface 301 and is partly surrounded by stiffening channels.

A groove 303 is afforded along a whole free margin of the gully 302, a longitudinal mouth of which is open on the external surface 301 .

The groove 303 functions as a receiving and retaining seating for an electrical resistance, if present, destined to heat the counterframe 3 in order to prevent condensation.

The groove 303 is closed by a wall made of plastic material 304 which also closes the gully 302, and in which a metal plate 305 is sunk. The gasket 603 of the door 4 rests against the wall 304, which gasket 603 is held firm by a magnet 608, which magnet 608 is incorporated in the gasket 603 and is destined to interact with the metal plate 305 sunk in the wall 304. The sides of the metal frame are constituted by elements 31 , which have angle-cut ends, typically 45°, and are joined to one another at heads thereof, such as to realise a closed frame (see figure 1 ).

The elements 31 are made of a metal material, preferably aluminium, and preferably by an extrusion process.

As illustrated in figure 2, the elements 31 have a transversal section which is generally L-shaped, such as to exhibit a vertical wall 310 and a horizontal wall 31 1 .

The free end of the vertical wall 310 exhibits a connecting spur 312 extending over a whole length of the wall 310, which is destined to engage in a receiving fissure 306, which extends over the whole length and which is afforded in the plastic element 30 by a side of the gully 302.

As illustrated in detail in figure 5, the transversal section of the connecting spur 312 is generally hook-shaped, and is destined to click-couple with a tooth 307 extending over a whole length afforded internally of the receiving fissure 306, such as to realise a joint which constrains the metal element 31 to the plastic element 30.

Thanks to this coupling, the vertical wall 310 of the metal element 31 projects from the external surface 301 of the plastic element 30, perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the counterframe 3, while the horizontal wall 31 1 is parallel to the plane of the counterframe 3 and projects from the vertical wall 310 towards the outside.

The counterframe 3 is installed in the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , in such a way that the horizontal wall 31 1 of the metal elements 31 rests on the external surface of a wall 1 1 of the refrigerator cabinet 1 .

Each metal element 31 thus exhibits two external surfaces, of which one is a lateral surface 313 that is perpendicular to the plane of the counterframe 3 and facing towards the centre thereof, and an upper surface 314 that is parallel to the plane of the counterframe 3 and facing towards the outside of the containing cell 10 of the refrigerator cabinet 1 .

The external surfaces 313 and 314 of the metal elements 31 are visible from the outside of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , while the external surface 301 of the plastic elements 30 is covered by the support frame 6 of the door 4.

The metal frame is thus the only portion of the counterframe 3 that normally remains in view.

The plastic elements 30 are however interposed between the metal elements 31 and the containing cell 10 of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , such that the plastic frame heat-insulates the metal frame from the containing cell 10.

As can be seen in figure 2, no point of the metal elements 31 is directly exposed internally of the containing cell 10.

Figures from 1 1 to 15 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the counterframe 3.

In this case too, the counterframe 3 comprises two concentric frames destined to delimit the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , one of which is a plastic frame and another a metal frame associated to the plastic frame.

The sides of the first frame are constituted by elements 32, realised of a plastic material, preferably of a material having good heat-insulating characteristics such as PVC and preferably by means of an extrusion process.

As illustrated in figure 1 1 , the transversal section of the elements 32 is substantially the same as that of the previously-described elements 30, and is different only due to the fact of comprising a further appendage extending over the whole length which develops at the external margin of the gully 302. The appendage is overall L-shaped, such as to exhibit a vertical wall 320 which projects from the external surface 301 , perpendicularly to the plane of the counterframe 3, and a horizontal wall 321 parallel to the counterframe plane 3 and projecting externally. The counterframe 3 is installed in the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet 1 such that the horizontal wall 321 of the plastic elements 32 rests on the external surface of the wall 1 1 of the refrigerator cabinet 1 .

In this way, each plastic element 32 comprises two external surfaces, of which one is a lateral surface 322 perpendicular to the plane of the counterframe 3 and facing towards the centre thereof, and an upper surface 323 which is parallel to the plane of the counterframe 3 and facing towards the outside of the containing cell 10.

The sides of the metal frame are constituted by elements 33 made of a metal material, preferably aluminium and preferably by an extrusion process.

As illustrated in figure 1 1 , the elements 33 have thin walls with a generally L- shaped transversal section.

The margins of the elements 33 each comprise a respective tooth 330 extending over a whole length thereof, which develops towards the inside of the dihedral angle defined by the L-shape.

As illustrated in the detail of figures 12 and 13, the teeth 330 are conformed such as respectively to couple with the end of the horizontal wall 321 and with a gully 324 extending over the whole length thereof, fashioned on the base of the vertical wall 320 of the plastic elements 32, such as to realise a joint which reciprocally constrains each metal element 3 to a plastic element 32.

By means of this coupling, the metal elements 33 cover the external surfaces 322 and 323 of the plastic elements 32, such that the metal frame hides the plastic frame with respect to the outside of the refrigerator cabinet 1 .

At the same time, the plastic elements 32 interpose between the metal elements 33 and the internal cell 10 of the refrigerator cabinet 1 , such that the plastic frame heat-insulates the metal frame.

As can be appreciated from figure 1 1 , no point of the metal elements 33 is directly exposed internally of the containing cell 10.

Obviously a technical expert in the field might make numerous modifications of a technical-applicational nature to the frame and counterframe as described herein above, without its forsaking the ambit of the invention as claimed herein below.

Claims

1) . A counterframe (3) for doors of refrigerator cabinets (1 ), comprising a frame (30, 32) made of a plastic material which frame (30, 32) is destined to delimit an access opening of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ), characterised in that it further comprises a metal frame (31 , 33) destined to delimit the access opening of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ), which metal frame (31 , 33) is associated to the plastic frame (30, 32) such as to be visible from outside the refrigerator cabinet (1 ) and to be heat-insulated with respect to an inside of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ).

2) . The counterframe of claim 1 , characterised in that the metal frame (33) is destined to at least partially cover the plastic frame (32).

3) . The counterframe of claim 1 , characterised in that the plastic frame (30,

32) comprises elements (30, 32) made of a plastic material which are connected to one another, and in that the metal frame comprises metal elements (31 , 33) associated to the plastic elements (30, 32).

4). The counterframe of claim 3, characterised in that the metal elements (31 ,

33) are associated to the plastic elements (30, 32) by jointing.

5) . The counterframe of claim 3, characterised in that the metal elements (31 ) have a transversal section which is overall L-shaped, and are associated to the plastic elements (30) such as to provide a first surface (313) which is perpendicular to a plane of the counterframe (3) and facing towards a centre thereof, and a second surface (314) which is parallel to the plane of the counterframe (3), which is destined to be facing towards the outside of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ).

6) . The counterframe of claim 3, characterised in that a transversal section of the plastic elements (32) exhibits a generally L-shaped appendage which exhibits a first surface (322) that is perpendicular to the plane of the counterframe (3) and facing towards a centre thereof, and a second surface (323) which is parallel to the plane of the counterframe (3), which second surface (323) is destined to face towards the outside of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ), and in that the metal elements (33) have a generally L-shaped conformation and are associated to the plastic elements (32) such as to cover the first surface (322) and the second surface (232).

7) . A frame (6) for doors of refrigerator cabinets (1 ), comprising a plastic frame (60, 61 ) destined to border a closing panel (5) for an access opening of a refrigerator cabinet (1 ), characterised in that it further comprises a metal frame (62) destined to border the closing panel (5), which is associated to the plastic frame (60, 61 ) in such as way as to be visible from outside the refrigerator cabinet (1 ) and to be heat-insulated with respect to the inside of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ).

8) . The frame of claim 7, characterised in that the metal frame (62) is destined to at least partially cover the plastic frame (60, 61 ).

9) . The frame of claim 7, characterised in that the plastic frame comprises elements made of plastic material (60) which are connected to one another, and in that the metal frame comprises metal elements (62) which are associated to the plastic elements (60).

10) . The frame of claim 9, characterised in that the metal elements (62) are associated to the plastic elements (60) by jointing.

11) . The frame of claim 7, characterised in that the plastic elements (60) exhibit a first surface (600) which is perpendicular to a plane of the frame (6) and facing towards an outside of the frame (6), and a second surface (601 ) parallel to the plane of the frame (6), which second surface (601 ) is destined to be facing towards an outside of the refrigerator cabinet (1 ), and in that the metal elements (62) have a generally L-shaped transversal section and are associated to the plastic elements (60), such as to cover the first surface (600) and the second surface (601 ).

12) . The frame of claim 7, characterised in that the plastic frame comprises corner pieces (61 ) made of a plastic material which corner pieces (61 ) connect two plastic elements (60) in order to define a corner of the frame (6).