Convertible refrigerator/freezer

Abstract

A refrigerator provides for flexibility in the allocation of refrigerator space. The refrigerator includes multiple compartments. Each of the compartments can be convertible or resizable between a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment. Preferably, each compartment is independently temperature controlled. To resize the compartments, positionable separators can be used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to refrigeration devices such as refrigerators or freezers. Refrigerators and freezers are well-known.

In a typical domestic refrigerator, the refrigerator has two separate compartments. The first compartment is for food storage and the second compartment for freezer storage. The food compartment typically has a temperature somewhat above 0° C. while the freezer compartment has a temperature maintained below 0° C. In a typical refrigerator, there is a damper that allows cooled air from the freezer compartment to enter the refrigerator compartment.

What is needed is an improved refrigerator that provides for convertible compartments and/or size adjustable compartments.

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that includes multiple compartments.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that includes convertible compartments such that each compartment is not limited to being merely a freezer compartment or merely a refrigeration compartment.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that provides for size adjustable compartments.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide for a refrigerator with multiple compartments that requires only a single refrigeration system.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a refrigerator that includes multiple convertible compartments which are preferably size adjustable in nature. Thus, the present invention provides for a reconfigurable refrigerator that gives the user flexibility in the allocation of refrigerator space.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet. There is at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside of the refrigerator cabinet. There is a first compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet and a second compartment disclosed within the refrigerator cabinet. At least one of these compartments is convertible between a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment. The compartments can be separated by a moveable separator between the first compartment and the second compartment. The moveable separator is adapted for placement in different positions in order to alter the size of the first compartment and the size of the second compartment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside of the refrigerator cabinet. There is a first compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet and a second compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet. There is also a refrigerant system disposed within the refrigerator cabinet adapted to provide cooled air. The refrigerator includes a first damper to selectively provide the cooled air to the first compartment and a second damper to selectively provide the cooled air to the second compartment. The use of multiple dampers allows the compartments to be convertible so that either compartment can be used as a refrigerating or food storage compartment and each compartment can be used as a freezer compartment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and at least one door. There is a removable and repositionable separator adapted to divide an interior of the refrigerator cabinet into multiple convertible compartments.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is adapted for providing user flexibility in the allocation or refrigerator space. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet to provide access to the refrigerator space. The refrigerator space is divided into multiple compartments through at least one positionable separator. Each of the compartments is convertible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention having multiple compartments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a refrigerator of the present invention having multiple compartments wherein the size of each of the compartments is adjustable through positioning of separators.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic for one embodiment of a control system for a refrigerator having convertible compartments.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic for another embodiment of a control system for a refrigerator having convertible compartments.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for the control process of one embodiment of a refrigerator having multiple convertible compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides for a refrigerator that is flexible in that it provides the user with improved control over the allocation of refrigerator space. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a refrigerator 10 is shown with a refrigerator cabinet 12. Disposed within the refrigerator cabinet 12 is a first compartment 14. A first door 16 is operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet 12 in order to provide access to the refrigerator compartment 14 which is in the interior of the refrigerator 10. A second refrigerator compartment 18 is also shown. A second refrigerator door 20 provides access to the refrigerator compartment 18. Also a separator 22 is shown between the first compartment 14 and the second compartment 18. The separator 22 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed in place, however, the present invention also provides for a positionable or adjustable separator as will later be discussed.

The refrigerator 10 of FIG. 1 provide a user with increased flexibility in that the first compartment 14 and the second compartment 18 are convertible. That is to say that each of the first compartment 14 and the second compartment 18 can be used as a freezer compartment or as a food storage type refrigerator compartment. Thus, each compartment can be used for freezer storage or the user can elect to use each of the compartments for refrigeration. In other words, the temperature of each of the convertible compartments can be set below 0° C. for freezer storage or above 0° C. for refrigerator storage. Each of the convertible compartments can maintain a temperature independent of the temperature of the other compartments, thus each compartment is independently convertible.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a refrigerator. In FIG. 2, a refrigerator 30 has a refrigerator cabinet 32 and a refrigerator door 34 operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet 32. Within the interior of the refrigerator cabinet 32, there is refrigerator space which is divided into a first compartment 36, a second compartment 38, and a third compartment 40. The refrigerator space is divided into multiple compartments through use of a positionable separator 42 and a positionable separator 48. Each of the positionable separators 42, 48 can be positioned at different locations within the refrigerator space within the refrigerator cabinet 32 in order to provide the user flexibility in the manner in which the refrigerator space is allocated. As shown in FIG. 2, the separator 42 is inserted into separator supports 44 and 46. The separator 48 is inserted into separator supports 50 and 52. Additional separator supports are provided such as separator supports 58 and 60 as well as separator supports 54 and 56. Thus, by placing the refrigerator separator 42 and 48 in different refrigerator supports, the refrigerator space can be reallocated.

Preferably the separators 42 and 48 are insulated to maintain temperature differentials between the compartments defined by the separators. The present invention contemplates that the separators 42 and 48 can be adjustably connected to the refrigerator cabinet in any number of ways. This includes, but is not limited to insertion of refrigerator separators into slots, onto supports, or by other connection means, including those connection means used to connect shelves within refrigerators or as otherwise known in the art. With the separators 42 and 48 in place, each of the compartments 36, 38 and 40 is convertible, thus separate temperatures may be maintained in each of the compartments independent of the temperatures of the other compartments. It is to be understood that these temperatures are independently maintained even though each of the separators 42 and 48 do not necessarily act as perfect insulators.

In FIG. 3, a cold control upper switch 100 and a cold control lower switch 108, both single pole, single throw (SPST) switches are used to control the flow of cooled air into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, respectively, through opening and closing of dampers and also to turn on a cooling system 120 when needed and to turn off the cooling system 120 when not needed.

In FIG. 3, a damper 104 associated with an upper compartment is electrically connected to a cold control unit single pole-single throw switch 100 and a relay 102. Thus the control unit 100 is used to open and close the damper 104. A second relay 106 is also connected to the cold control unit 100 which is used to switch on and off relay 118 which is electrically connected to a cooling system 120. Thus when cooling is required in the upper compartment, the cold control unit 100 switches on thereby opening the damper 104 and switching on the cooling system if the cooling system is not already on.

Similarly, a second cold control single pole-single throw switch 108 is associated with a lower compartment. The cold control switch 108 is electrically connected to a relay 110 and relay 114 as well as a damper 112 associated with the lower compartment. The relay 110 is also electrically connected to the relay 118 which is electrically connected to the cooling system 120 and relay 122 for switching on the cooling system 120. Also, a timer 116 is present for periodically switching on the cooling system 120.

An alternative embodiment for an electrical schematic using cold control units is shown in FIG. 4. The embodiment of FIG. 4 also uses cold control units. The electrical schematic in FIG. 4 provides an advantage in that two less relays are required. Note that cold control unit 130 and 132 are both single pole double throw switches. Thus, reducing the number of relays required.

The present invention provides for using data acquisition means, such as temperature sensors in conjunction with an intelligent control such as a processor or microcontroller to provide for control of temperature within the convertible compartments.

FIG. 5 provides a flow diagram illustrating control logic. In step 150 the temperature of the first compartment is evaluated and in step 152 the temperature of the second compartment is evaluated. The present invention contemplates that each temperature can be taken at a single point. Alternatively, the present invention contemplates that each temperature can be a spatial average of temperatures measured at multiple points. Alternatively, each temperature can be computed using a running average. The present invention contemplates that temperature may be evaluated according to any number of other specific methodology as well.

In step 154 a determination is made as to whether the temperature of the first compartment is greater than a desired temperature of the desired compartment. If so, then, in order to cool the compartment, in step 156 a damper associated with the first compartment is opened. Then in step 158 a determination is made as to whether or not the refrigerant system is on. If not, then in step 160, the refrigerant system is switched on. Returning to step 154, if the temperature of the first compartment is not greater than the desired temperature of the first compartment, then the damper associated with the first compartment is closed in step 162.

In step 164 a determination is made as to whether the temperature of the second compartment is greater than the desired temperature for the second compartment. If so, then the second compartment needs to be cooled and in step 166 a damper associated with the second compartment is opened. Then in step 168, a determination is made as to whether or not the refrigerant system is on or not. If not, then in step 170 the refrigerant system is switched on. Returning to step 164, if the temperature of the second compartment is not greater than the desired temperature of the second compartment, then there is no need for additional cooling at this time and in step 172 the damper associated with the second compartment is closed.

Next, in step 174 a determination is made as to whether or not the damper of the first compartment is closed and the damper of the second compartment is closed. If both dampers are closed, then the refrigerant system is switched off in 176 as there is no need to continue to produce cooled air. The process then repeats with a reevaluation of the temperature of the compartments in steps 150 and 152.

The flow diagram shown in FIG. 5 is merely one embodiment of the flow of control that can be used according to the present invention. It should be appreciated that the flow diagram can be extended to allow for more than two compartments. This and other variations are contemplated by the present invention.

Thus, a refrigerator has been disclosed that allows for refrigerator space to be reconfigured such as through the use of convertible compartments and through the use of resizable compartments. The present invention contemplates numerous variations, including in the number of compartments, the manner in which the compartments are separated, and other variations within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator cabinet;

at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside of the refrigerator cabinet;

a first compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;

a second compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;

wherein at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment is convertible between a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a moveable separator between the first compartment and the second compartment adapted for placement in one of a plurality of positions to alter a size of the first compartment and a size of the second compartment.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a first damper associated with the first compartment and a second damper associated with the second compartment.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a first cold control associated with the first compartment and a second cold control associated with the second compartment.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the first cold control and the second cold control are electrically connected to a SPDT switch.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a refrigerant system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporation loop.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising a first damper associated with the first compartment and a second damper associated with the second compartment wherein the refrigerant system provides cool air and the first damper controls airflow into the first compartment and the second damper controls airflow into the second compartment.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator cabinet;

at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside of the refrigerator cabinet;

a first compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;

a second compartment disposed within the refrigerator compartment;

a refrigerant system disposed within the refrigerator cabinet adapted to provide cooled air;

a first damper to selectively provide the cooled air to the first compartment;

a second damper to selectively provide the cooled air to the second compartment.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising a control system operatively connected to the refrigeration system, the first damper and the second damper.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the control system is adapted to evaluate temperature associated with the first compartment and temperature associated with the second compartment and to selectively open and close the first damper and the second damper.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the control system maintains the first compartment at a first temperature and the second compartment at a second temperature, the first temperature being independent of the second temperature.

12. The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising a separator between the first compartment and the second compartment and positionable in a plurality of locations to adjust a size of the first compartment and a size of the second compartment.

13. In a refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet, a door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerant system adapted for providing cooled air and disposed within the cabinet, and a first compartment and a second compartment, an improved control system comprising a first damper associated with the first compartment for providing the cooled air to the first compartment; a second damper associated with the second compartment for providing the cooled air to the second compartment.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein temperature of the first compartment is independent of the second compartment such that the first compartment and the second compartment are independently convertible between food storage at a temperature above freezing and freezer storage at a temperature below freezing.

15. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the control system further comprises an intelligent control.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the intelligent control is adapted to evaluate temperature of the first compartment and temperature of the second compartment.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the intelligent control is further adapted to control the refrigerant system, the first damper and the second damper based on the temperature of the first compartment and the temperature of the second compartment.

18. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator cabinet;

at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside of the refrigerator cabinet;

a removable and repositionable separator adapted to divide an interior of the refrigerator cabinet into multiple convertible compartments.

19. The refrigerator of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of dampers for selectively providing cooled air to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet.

20. In a refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet, at least any door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, an improved interior to the refrigerator cabinet, said improved interior comprising a plurality of size adjustable and convertible compartments.

21. The refrigerator of claim 20 further comprising a repositionable separator for altering the size of at least two of the plurality of size adjustable and convertible compartments.

22. A refrigerator adapted for providing a user flexibility in allocation of refrigerator space comprising:

a refrigerator cabinet;

at least one door operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet to provide access to the refrigerator space wherein the refrigerator space is divided into multiple compartments through at least one positionable separator;

wherein each of the compartments is convertible.