REFRIGERATOR FILTER DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A filter device is presented for use with refrigerators. The filter device has a frame, a filter element and at least one connection member. The filter device is connected to a refrigerator thereby sealing the space below a refrigerator. Once in potion, the filter device forces air to pass through the filter element prior to accessing the coils of the refrigerator. This system helps to prevent the build-up of debris on the coils which reduces the need to clean the coils, improves the efficiency of the refrigerator and improves the longevity of the refrigerator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a refrigerator coil filter. More specifically, and without limitation, this invention relates to a refrigerator coil filter device and method of use to improve the operation of refrigerators.

Conventional refrigerators consist of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the refrigerator to its external environment so that the inside of the refrigerator is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment. To aid in the transfer of heat to the surrounding environment the heat pump of a conventional refrigerator is connected to a coil or a plurality of coils through which refrigerant is passed. As the refrigerant is passed through these coils, the conductive qualities of the coil material transfers heat to the environment.

A problem exists in the art as the coils often get covered by debris which includes dust, dirt, grime, hair, and the like. As this debris collects on the coils, this layer of debris acts as an insulator which inhibits the transfer of heat from the warm coils to the cool environment. This reduces the refrigerator's efficiency and causes additional and unnecessary energy consumption and reduces the longevity of the refrigerator.

To assist with the transfer of heat from the warm coils to the cool environment, conventional refrigerators are designed to passively and actively encourage airflow over and around the coils including the implementation of fans. While this airflow improves heat transfer away from the coils, the airflow simultaneously exasperates and accelerates the collection of debris on the coils.

To combat the collection of debris on the coils, active cleaning of the coils is required. To do so, the coils which are conventionally positioned underneath and/or behind the refrigerator must be brushed, scrubbed or vacuumed as best as possible. However, this is an extremely inconvenient, labor intensive and messy process. In addition, due in-part to the fact that the coils are often positioned very close to one another, and the fact that there is very limited access to the coils, much of the coils cannot be effectively cleaned. Therefore cleaning the coils has a limited impact. As such, it is important to keep the coils as clean as possible.

Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method of use that helps prevent the accumulation of debris on refrigerator coils.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method of use the reduces or eliminates the need and inconvenience of cleaning refrigerator coils.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method of use that improves the efficiency and longevity of refrigerators.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method of use that saves energy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method of use that can be retrofit to any existing refrigerator.

These and other objects, features, or advantages will become apparent from the specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A filter device is presented for use with refrigerators. The filter device has a frame, a filter element and at least one connection member. The filter device is connected to a refrigerator thereby sealing the space below a refrigerator. Once in position, the filter device forces air to pass through the filter element prior to accessing the coils of the refrigerator. This system helps to prevent the build-up of debris on the coils which reduces the need to clean the coils, improves the efficiency of the refrigerator and improves the longevity of the refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the system; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a refrigerator 10 is presented having a thermally insulated compartment 12 having a front side 14, a back side 16, opposing sidewalls 18, a top side 20 and a bottom side 22. At least one door 24 is connected to the front side 14 which provides access to the interior of thermally insulated compartment 12.

A frame 26 is connected to the insulated compartment 12. Frame 26 positions insulated compartment 12 a distance above the floor and provides the necessary support for refrigerator 10 and its components. Conventionally, the front side 14 of the frame 26 has a flat front face with one or more access ports 26A which provide access to the components positioned below insulated compartment 12. Also connected to the refrigerator are rollers or legs 27, which are preferably adjustable in height. Legs 27 preferably adjustably position the height of the refrigerator 10 above the floor, which creates a space between the bottom side 22 of frame 26 and the floor.

A heat pump 28 having a compressor, a condenser and refrigerant is connected to frame 26. A coil 30 is fluidly connected to heat pump 28 through which refrigerant is circulated. Preferably coil 30 is a hollow thermally conductive tube which extends in a coiled or s-shaped back-and-forth fashion. In one arrangement, coil 30 is positioned below insulated compartment 12 in the space created by frame 26. Alternatively, coil 30 is positioned behind insulated compartment 12. Alternatively, coil 30 is positioned both below and behind insulated compartment 12.

A fan 32 is connected to frame 26. Fan 26 is any conventional air moving device which helps to move air over coil 30. Fan 26 is preferably positioned beneath insulated compartment 12. Alternatively, fan 26 is positioned behind insulated compartment 12.

A kick plate 34 is removeably and replaceably connected to the frame 26. Kick plate 34 is positioned beneath insulated compartment 12 and is preferably connected to the front side 14 of the frame 26 by way of a mechanical spring loaded arm arrangement 35 which removeably and replaceably engages access ports 26A. Alternatively, kick plate 34 is connected to the front side 14 of the frame 26 by any other conventional manner including a snap fit, frictional engagement, nuts and bolts, screws, the use of locking members, or a similar mechanical arrangement. Kick plate 34 is of any ornamental and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Kick plate 34 has a plurality of openings 36 therein that allow for the passage of air there through. Preferably openings 36 are in the form of louvers.

A filter device 38 is removeably and replaceably connected to frame 26. Filter device 38 is positioned beneath insulated compartment 12 and is connected to the front side 14 of the frame 26 in any conventional manner. Preferably filter device 38 extends across the entire horizontal length of the front side 14 of the refrigerator 10 from opposing side 18 to opposing side 18. Preferably filter device 38 extends across the entire vertical distance between the bottom of the insulated compartment 12 to the floor. In this way, filter device 38 seals the entire opening created by access ports 26A as well as sealing the entire area between the bottom side 22 of frame 26 and the floor.

Filter device 38 has a front frame member 40, an opposing back frame member 42 and a filter element 44 positioned therebetween. Preferably, front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 are L-shaped when viewed from the side and include a plurality of apertures 46 therein that allow air to pass through frame members 40, 42 and filter element 44, these apertures 46 can include a wire mesh or plastic mesh arrangement. Front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 are permanently connected to one another in any conventional means such as welding, gluing, or the like. Alternatively, front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 are removeably and replaceably connected to one another by any means such as snap fit, frictional engagement, nuts and bolts or any other mechanical means which allows for replacement of filter element 44. Front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 are made of any conventional material such as fiberglass, plastic, composite, wood, chipboard, metal or the like.

In an alternative arrangement, only a single frame member 40, 42 extends around the perimeter of filter element 44 so as to frame around the filter element 44 in the manner a picture frames around the perimeter of a picture. In this arrangement, apertures 46 extending across the area within the frame member 40, 42, such as a piece of wire mesh which extends across the entire area within frame member 40, 42 so as to provide support to filter element 44 while simultaneously allowing air to pass there through.

Filter element 44 is any filtering material such as a piece of fabric, felt, fiberglass, polyester fiber, or the like. To provide additional rigidity and malleability a metal grid 45 is connected to or passes through filter element 44. In one arrangement, front frame member 40 and back frame member 42 are not needed and instead, only the filter element 44 is used or the filter element having the metal grid 45 is used thereby obviating the need for frames 40, 42.

A compressible seal 46 is connected to the bottom side 22 of filter device 38. Compressible seal 46 is made of any compressible and sealing component such as a seal, a gasket, a piece of foam, or the like. Compressible seal 46 connects to the floor and prevents air from passing between the bottom side 16 of filter device 38 and the floor.

Connected to the back side 16 of filter device 38 is at least one and preferably a plurality of connecting members 48. In one arrangement, connecting member 48 is a magnet which is connected to the filter device 38 by any conventional means such as molding the magnets into the frame member 40, 42, gluing, welding, snap-fitting or the like. In this arrangement, the magnet magnetically holds onto the front face 14 of the frame 26 thereby holding the filter device 38 in place. In this arrangement one continuous magnet extends across the horizontal length of the top backside and/or bottom backside of filter device 38. Alternatively, individual magnets are positioned apart from one another across the horizontal length of the top backside and/or bottom backside of filter device 38.

In another arrangement, connection member 48 is a hook-and-loop arrangement such as Velcro® wherein one of the hook-and-loop sides is adhesively sealed to the filter device 38 and the other of the hook-and-loop sides is adhesively sealed to the front face 14 of the frame 26. In this arrangement, when connected to one another the opposing hook-and-loop sides engage one another thereby holding filter device 38 onto front face 14 of the frame 26. In this arrangement one continuous piece of Velcro extends across the horizontal length of the top backside and/or bottom backside of filter device 38 with an opposing piece of Velcro being positioned on the front face 14 of frame 26. Alternatively, small pieces of Velcro are positioned apart from one another across the horizontal length of the top backside and/or bottom backside of filter device 38 with opposing pieces of Velcro being positioned on the front face 14 of frame 26.

In another arrangement, connection member 48 is similar to the mechanical spring loaded arm arrangement 35 (discussed above) which engages access ports 26A.

Through holes 50 are positioned in filter device 38 which allow mechanical spring loaded arms 35 to pass through the filter device 38 and engage access ports 26A. This allows for the connection of removable kick plate 34 to refrigerator 10 when filter device 38 is in place.

In operation, a user removes kick plate 34 from the front side 14 of frame 26 by applying enough pressure to overcome the hold of mechanical spring loaded arms 35. Once removed, when using a filter device 38 having magnets, the user connects the back side 16 of filter device 38 to the front side 14 of frame 26. In this position the magnets magnetically hold the filter device 38 in place.

When using a filter device 38 having Velcro connection members 48, the user adhesively applies one of the hook-and-loop sides to the front side 14 of frame 26. The user also adhesively applies the other of the hook-and-loop sides in the same but opposite position on the back side 16 of the filter device 38. Once the opposing Velcro pieces are in place, the user connects the filter device 38 to the front side 14 of the frame 26. In this position the opposing Velcro hook-and-loop pieces hold the filter device 38 in place.

When in position, the filter device 38 extends across the entire vertical and horizontal length of the space below insulated compartment 12. In this position, the compressible seal 46 engages the floor and the filter device 38 covers the entire access ports 26. This forces air to pass through filter device 38.

Once in position, the kick plate 34 is re-installed. This is accomplished by inserting the mechanical spring loaded arms 35 through the through holes 50 in the filter device 38.

In another arrangement, filter devices 38A are positioned along the opposing sidewalls 18. These filter devices 38A cover the space between the bottom side 22 of refrigerator 10 and the floor thereby preventing any contaminating air from accessing coils 30 from the spaces at the side of the refrigerator 10. These filter devices 38A are attached by any means described herein including through the use of Velcro® and magnets. This provides the advantage of filtering the air prior to accessing the coils 30. This helps to maintain clean coils 30 which reduces the need to clean the coils 30 and improves the efficiency of the refrigerator 10. Also, because the filter device 38 extends to the floor, this prevents food and particles dropped onto the floor from going under the refrigerator.

From the above discussion it will be appreciated that the above-described device and method of use offers many advantages over the prior art. Namely, the device and method presented helps prevent the accumulation of debris on refrigerator coils; reduces or eliminates the need and inconvenience of cleaning refrigerator coils; improves the efficiency and longevity of refrigerators; saves energy; and can be retrofit to any existing refrigerator.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.

Claims

1. A refrigerator filter device comprising:

a refrigerator having a top, a bottom a front side, a back side and opposing sidewalls;

said refrigerator positioned on a floor;

said refrigerator having an insulated compartment, a heat pump, and a coil connected to a frame;

wherein the insulated compartment is positioned above the floor on the frame;

a removable and replaceable filter device connected to the front side of the frame; and

wherein the filter device seals the space between the insulated compartment and the floor

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a filter element.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a frame member.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a first frame member and a second fame member connected to one another.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein a filter element is positioned between the first frame member and a second frame member.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are removeably and replaceably connected to one another.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a frame member which extends around the periphery of a filter element.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device has a compressible seal which seals to the floor.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device is positioned between the front face of the frame and a removable kick plate.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device is connected to the front face of the frame by magnets.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the filter device is connected to the front face of the frame by a hook-and-loop system.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second filter device positioned a long each sidewall which seals the space between the insulated compartment and the floor.