Cooled Enclosure Patents (Class 62/440)
  • Publication number: 20130111931
    Abstract: A method and system for controlled rate freezing and nucleation of biological materials is provided. The presently disclosed system and method provides the ability to rapidly cool the materials contained in vials or other containers within a cooling unit via forced convective cooling and optionally simultaneous pressure drop using uniform and unidirectional flow of cryogen in proximity to the plurality of vials disposed within a cooling unit. The rapid cooling of the biological materials is achieved by precisely controlling and adjusting the temperature of the cryogen being introduced to the system as well as the chamber pressure as a function of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Nigel J. Grinter, Alan T. Cheng, Ying Zhou
  • Publication number: 20130091890
    Abstract: A system and method for concurrently and uniformly removing thermal energy from a specimen sample. A thermal insulating device is provided comprising an insulating material, the device having a plurality of chambers for receiving specimen samples, the device further includes a thermal ballast whereby the rate of thermal energy removal is controlled and influenced by the thermal ballast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: BIOCISION, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Schryver, Scott Ganaja
  • Patent number: 8418485
    Abstract: There is provided a temperature switching compartment 3 which can switch the internal temperature thereof between a low temperature side at which a storage material is kept in cold storage and a high temperature side maintained at 50° C., to 80° C. at which cooked food is kept warm, by cooling with a cooler 17 and heating with a heater 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayasu Nishita, Yoshinari Fujihara, Yasuji Ohshiro, Kayo Takashima
  • Patent number: 8418867
    Abstract: Disclosed is a casing structure by which stiffness of a casing of a container refrigeration unit for cooling the interior of a container can be increased without affecting the arrangement, shape, and maintainability of devices accommodated in the casing. A container interior side of the external casing (12) which constitutes the casing (11) is provided with flanges (34) which extend vertically and which are located at both end portions of the external casing (12) along a dimension of the container width. Each of the flanges (34) has a rectangular cylindrical portion (34a) extending vertically along the external casing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ikemiya, Takayuki Uo, Keiji Tomioka, Shouzou Kameyama
  • Publication number: 20130082409
    Abstract: A reaction vessel for conducting low temperature reactions is disclosed, the reaction vessel comprising: a circulation chamber with an entry port for the supply of a cooling medium at a temperature below ambient to said circulation chamber and an exhaust port; and a reaction chamber and a centrifugal fan arranged concentrically-inside the circulation chamber so that gas in said circulation chamber is forced radially outwards by the operation of said fan, wherein the movement of the gas past the reaction chamber maintains the temperature of reactants inside the reaction chamber at a temperature below ambient. A chiller for providing a gas supply at a temperature below ambient is also disclosed which may be used with the above reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Duncan Guthrie
  • Publication number: 20130081421
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Hongsik Kwon, Sanghun Kim, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Sungkyong Han, Hangbok Lee
  • Publication number: 20130081422
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber, a cooling chamber door configured to open and close the cooling chamber, a rear storage member disposed at a rear area to be drawn out along back and forth directions of the cooling chamber, and a front storage member disposed at the front of the rear storage member and configured to be relatively movable with respect to the rear storage member, whereby goods and/or food stuffs can be easily stored and drawn out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Kyutae Park, Kyungsoo Park, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Hangbok Lee
  • Patent number: 8408020
    Abstract: A temperature chamber in which a device is tested is connected to a temperature-controlled air source for controlling temperature of the chamber. The temperature chamber includes thermal insulation formed on side surfaces of the chamber. A universal manifold adaptor for directing the temperature-controlled air directly to a device being tested is connected to the chamber. The temperature chamber also includes an exhaust system. A self-closing cable feed-through module is connected to an outer surface of the chamber. The feed-through module includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein cables are fed through the first and second portions into the chamber in a first position and the first and second portions form a leak tight seal around the cables in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Temptronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Cole, Sr., Michael F. Conroy, Edward Lowerre, James Pelrin
  • Publication number: 20130067950
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for freezing a plurality of conditioning tubes each filled with a predetermined volume of biological substance, in which each of the tubes is driven in rotation in a flow of cooling agent, the assembly including a cooling enclosure configured in order to be passed through by the flow of cooling agent and a conditioning unit which is removable and placed in the enclosure; the unit is provided with a greater capacity than the plurality of tubes in order to directly receive this plurality of the tubes, the enclosure is fixed and the assembly includes a unit for driving the conditioning unit in rotation, which unit for driving in rotation is provided with a connection interface on which the removable conditioning unit is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: IMV TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: IMV TECHNOLOGIES
  • Publication number: 20130036751
    Abstract: Embodiments may include one or more containers which may be placed inside an ice chest (or other container which is intended to control contents temperature) to prevent leaking of the ice or water into the one or more containers. Embodiments may also include an outer container which is intended to control contents temperature which is capable of securely holding one or more inner containers disposed therein and effectively segregating contents of the outer container from the contents of the one or more inner containers. In some embodiments, the one or more inner containers are securely positionally supported with respect to the outer container by a base of the outer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Forney Barry Lile
  • Patent number: 8365551
    Abstract: A vacuum insulator for portions of the refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator appliance is provided. The vacuum insulator can be applied to the suction line leading to the refrigerant compressor, the capillary tube leading to the evaporator inlet, and/or the capillary tube—suction line heat exchanger. An outer insulating layer is used to create a vacuum that serves to insulate the intended portion of the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Martin Christopher Severance, Karthick Srinivasan, John Alexander Gardner
  • Patent number: 8359881
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a freezer compartment and at least one position-adjustable partition located in the freezer compartment. The at least one position-adjustable partition is configured to be selectively deployed in a first position such that a space is defined in the freezer compartment that causes a reduction in an amount of inlet airflow that contacts one or more portions of the freezer compartment that are outside the defined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, William Arnold Brown, Jr., John Simpson
  • Publication number: 20130019631
    Abstract: A food product dispenser has removably-mounted self-aligning and self-orienting e.g. trapezoidal or triangular legs which, when mounted to the dispenser, tilt the top frontwardly, and/or a lid, hinged at the rear of the receptacle, which can be converted between a self-closing lid and a lid which is not self-closing and which can be retained open by gravity, including while the dispenser is in the frontwardly-tilted orientation. The dispenser tilting frontward such that a first imaginary plane extending across the receptacle, rear to front, at the top of the receptacle, intersects a second imaginary plane extending through the bottoms of the legs, in front of the receptacle, the hinge structure, the lid, and the receptacle as a whole, including the legs, cooperate to enable the lid to be opened at a sufficiently great angle relative to the tilted top of the receptacle, that the lid can be held open by gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Lee Thomas Luft, Steven Ang
  • Publication number: 20130020729
    Abstract: An enclosure defines a confined space configured to store goods that can be advantageously maintained by controlling the water vapor levels to which the goods are exposed. A water vapor conversion element, at which liquid water is converted to water vapor, can be operably associated with the confined space to distribute that water vapor to the confined space. A water delivery unit is operatively associated with the water vapor conversion element and is configured to deliver water in liquid form to the water vapor conversion element. The water delivery unit can comprise a drip chamber configured to deliver the water essentially one drop at a time. The enclosure can comprise a drawer in a refrigeration appliance such as a household refrigerator. A sensor configured to determine the water vapor level present in the confined space can be operable to selectively control the distribution of water vapor to the confined space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: David L. Hall
  • Patent number: 8347649
    Abstract: A door seal arrangement and method for sealing between a door and a door frame on food processing equipment are provided. The door seal is inflatable to create a seal between the door and the door frame and deflatable to release the seal between the door and the door frame. An air supply applies positive air pressure to the door seal to inflate the door seal. A vacuum applies a negative air pressure to the door seal to deflate the door seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Alkar-RapidPak-MP Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Gavin, Bryan Davis, Robert Wayne Fessenden, Dennis Conohan
  • Patent number: 8316662
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container (100) substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: TCP Reliable, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Romero
  • Publication number: 20120279249
    Abstract: A temperature maintenance storage comprising a side, a compressor unit, and an insulation pack, with the insulation pack being generally flexible and containing a temperature control fluid. A refrigerant line for conducting a refrigerant extends from the compressor unit and to the insulation pack with the refrigerant line contacting the insulation pack. The insulation pack directly contacts the side and the compressor unit is selectively activated in response to monitored temperatures by a thermostat probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Reihl
  • Patent number: 8261570
    Abstract: An ice supplying apparatus 100, being provided in a refrigerator 1, comprises: an ice maker unit 22, which is configured to supply ice pieces produced therein to an outside of a freezer room door; an ice storage unit 110, which is configured to store the ice pieces produced by the ice maker unit; an ice discharger unit 112, which is provided within the ice storage unit to discharge the ice pieces below; and a shrinking portion 111, which is provided in the ice storage unit and defines an interior space thereof as small as it goes down, through building up a lower surface 113, among interior surfaces defining that interior space 301 of the ice storage unit 110, for supporting the ice pieces stored therein from a lower potion thereof, by a surface inclining to a horizontal direction, wherein the ice discharger unit 112 is disposed in a lower portion of the shrinking portion 111.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Shinohara, Kenji Shiono, Shintaro Yamawaki, Taichiro Yamashita, Yasuo Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8250871
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage space provided with an opening, and doors by which the opening is opened or closed; a voice input section for inputting speech through an interior voice input unit installed at the inside of the main body and an exterior voice input unit installed at the outside of the main body; a control unit for controlling the state of the refrigerator by analyzing the inputted speech; and an output section displaying the state information of the refrigerator. Accordingly, since the state and the operation of the refrigerator are controlled by receiving a control command by speech input regardless of whether the door is opened or closed, it is capable of reducing a user's inconvenience due to manipulation of the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Eui-Hyeok Kwon
  • Patent number: 8250877
    Abstract: A cooling door assembly includes a frame and a cooling door coupled to the frame. The cooling door includes one or more heat exchangers. The frame is configured to mount to the back of a server rack or other electronics enclosure in such a manner that the cooling door opens to allow access to the electronics servers within the server rack while maintaining a fluidic connection to an external cooling system. The frame is coupled to the external cooling system and the cooling door includes swivel joints configured to provide a fluid path between the cooling door and the frame. In this manner, the frame remains in a fixed position, while the cooling door is configured to rotate relative to the frame so as to open and close, while maintaining the fluid path through the swivel joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Cooligy Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Correa, Tien Chih (Eric) Lin, James Hom, Gregory Shiomoto, Norman Chow, Brandon Leong, Richard Grant Brewer, Douglas E. Werner, Mark McMaster
  • Patent number: 8220288
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a body unit and a pair of doors which are attached on opposite sides of the body unit and which jointly delimit a first internal space, wherein a first door of said pair supports a bar that extends into the internal space when the first door is in a closed position, said bar having a locating face, against which a rear side of the second door fits closely when both doors are in a closed position, and containing an electrical heating device, the refrigerator including a control circuit for the electrical heating device including at least one electric contact through which a current supply circuit of the electrical heating device is routed, the at least one electrical contact being attached to the body unit and conductively connected to a complementary contact disposed on the first door when the first door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Görz, Karl-Friedrich Laible, Hans-Philipp Reitz, Helmut Steichele
  • Publication number: 20120171344
    Abstract: A liquid additive is sprayed over liquid nitrogen to form discrete solid particles of the additive in liquid nitrogen. The mixture of additive particles and liquid nitrogen is mixed with a flow of liquid nitrogen at an eductor pump to provide a food treatment composition comprising additive particles. The food treatment composition flows into an interior of food processing equipment to come into contact with food items contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicants: AIR LIQUIDE INDUSTRIAL U.S. L.P., AMERICAN AIR LIQUIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Vasuhi RASANAYAGAM, David C. BRAITHWAITE
  • Publication number: 20120137722
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a cooling air leakage preventing member, the refrigerator including refrigerator a cabinet providing a storage space, a pair of doors disposed at right and left sides of a front surface of the cabinet and coupled to the cabinet by hinges, a cooling air leakage preventing member rotatably mounted to a free end portion of one of the doors and disposed longitudinal to the door, the cooling air leakage preventing member having a guide protrusion, and a guide installed at the cabinet and having a guide groove engaged with the guide protrusion upon opening or closing the door so as to rotate the cooling air leakage preventing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Youngnam Kim
  • Publication number: 20120125039
    Abstract: Disclosed are a vacuum insulation member, a refrigerator having a vacuum insulation member, and a method for fabricating a vacuum insulation member. The vacuum insulation member includes: an envelope having gas impermeability and having a certain decompressed space therein; and a core having a certain shape, having an empty space formed therein, and disposed at an inner side of the envelope to support the envelope. The use of a glass fiber core can be avoided, and thus, employing equipment for preprocessing the glass fiber core and time required therefor can be restrained and fabrication can be facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Minkyu Hwang, Dongju Jung, Ilseob Yoon, Jinwoo Shim, Kyungdo Kim, Youngbae Kim
  • Publication number: 20120117994
    Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature regulation system with hybrid refrigerant supply and regulation in which a pressure-reducing regulator (R100) from an evaporator (EVA100) controlled by a switch valve (V100) being installed between a condenser (CON100) and the evaporator (EVA100), and a refrigerant injector (IJ100) being installed between the condenser (CON100) and the evaporator (EVA100), and an electric control unit (ECU100) being provided for controlling the switch valve (V100) and the pressure-reducing regulator (R100) or for controlling the refrigerant injector (IJ100) such that both or at least one thereof being served to transport the refrigerant (REF100) into the evaporator (EVA100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Tai-Her YANG
  • Publication number: 20120118002
    Abstract: Disclosed are a vacuum insulation member, a refrigerator having a vacuum insulation member, and a method for fabricating a vacuum insulation member. The vacuum insulation member includes: an envelope having gas impermeability and having a certain decompressed space therein; a core formed as a structure for maintaining a certain shape and disposed at an inner side of the envelope to support the envelope; and a filler formed as powder having micro pores and filled at the inner side of the envelope. The use of a glass fiber core can be avoided, an internal vacuum degree can be easily maintained, and a life span can be lengthened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngbae Kim, Dongju Jung, Ilseob Yoon, Minkyu Hwang, Jinwoo Shim, Kyungdo Kim
  • Publication number: 20120118003
    Abstract: A refrigerated container includes a box-like structure having a floor, a pair of opposed side walls, a rear wall, and a roof panel defining an interior volume having an open forward end; and a refrigeration unit disposed in the forward end of the box-like structure and integrated into the box-like structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dennis M. Stone, Harold Hill, Lester G. Harrington, Yu H. Chen, Kenneth Creswell, David F. Crockford
  • Publication number: 20120103006
    Abstract: This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator in which a vacuum space is formed between an outer case and an inner case of a body thereof for enhancing a heat insulating function. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object, wherein the body includes an inner case having the storage space, an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, and a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Wonyeong JUNG, Myungryul LEE, Sung JHEE
  • Patent number: 8151598
    Abstract: An automated vending machine that can be selectively configured to include one or several temperature zones. A single refrigeration system and universal interior allows easy and economical assembly into a one, two, or three temperature zone machine. Thermal breaks and dividers are used to partition zones, when needed. The basic vending machine cabinet, dispensers, and controls are not changed between configurations. In one aspect, a universal air duct can be used for all three configurations, with minor changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fawn Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Francis A. Wittern, Jr., Gerald J. Parle
  • Patent number: 8141382
    Abstract: A refrigerator, in which a dispensing unit moves between a received position and a dispensing position and a dispensing button unit moves between a stored position and an extended position. The dispensing button unit, in the extended position, controls dispensing of content through a dispenser outlet in response to application of force to the dispensing button unit. The refrigerator includes a dispense amount checking unit that is provided on the dispensing unit, that is at least partially translucent, and that is configured to enable a user's ability to visibly perceive content as it is being dispensed from a dispenser outlet when the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position and the dispensing unit would otherwise at least partially block the user's view of content being dispensed through the dispenser outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joo-Won Park, Il-Wook Joung
  • Publication number: 20120060544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The present invention improves a structure of a door and a storage basket, thereby making it possible to facilitate the storage and a drawing out of articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Su Won Lee, Hyeung Ju Kim, Kyung Eun Lee
  • Publication number: 20120060543
    Abstract: A vacuum insulator for portions of the refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator appliance is provided. The vacuum insulator can be applied to the suction line leading to the refrigerant compressor, the capillary tube leading to the evaporator inlet, and/or the capillary tube—suction line heat exchanger. An outer insulating layer is used to create a vacuum that serves to insulate the intended portion of the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Martin Christopher Severance, Karthick Srinivasan, John Alexander Gardner
  • Patent number: 8132425
    Abstract: A pair of reinforcing ribs (50, 50) are formed on the bottom plate (33) of a box body (31) of an electrical component box (30). The reinforcing ribs (50, 50) have their respective pivot guides (50a, 50a) provided at their front ends to engage with associated pins (38b, 38b) on the safety cover (38). The safety cover (38) is pivotally supported to the pivot guides (50a, 50a) of the reinforcing ribs (50, 50) to allow it to open and close the opening of the box body (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20120047919
    Abstract: A refrigerated appliance such as a refrigerator receives a demand response signal indicating a peak demand period and operates the refrigerator in an energy savings mode by disabling an anti-sweat heater. Sensors monitor ambient temperature and humidity, and the dry bulb temperature of a preselected region where incipient moisture would likely form. Data from the sensors is sent to a controller which calculates ambient dew point and compares the dry bulb temperature of the preselected region with the calculated dew point to enable the anti-sweat heater during the peak demand period and prevent incipient formation of moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: John K. Besore
  • Publication number: 20120042663
    Abstract: A cooling element for cooling goods to be chilled is proposed, comprising a shell with at least one heat transfer wall for exchanging thermal energy with the goods. The cooling element further comprises at least one fluid space proximate to the heat transfer wall and at least one storage space separated from the fluid space by at least one separating element, wherein the storage space is configured to hold a supply of cooling medium in the solid aggregate state. The separating element is configured to substantially separate the supply of cooling medium in the solid aggregate state from the fluid space and to enable the cooling medium in the liquid aggregate state to pass over from the storage space to the fluid space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Ideapro GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Baumgärtner, Klaus Kauer
  • Publication number: 20120042670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that facilitates keeping and drawing out a container for storing wine. A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber; a wine storage compartment that is formed between the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber and forms a storage chamber of a wine storage container; a wine door that selectively shields the storage chamber; a storage unit that is drawably provided in the wine storage compartment; and a holder that is formed in the wine storage compartment for holding the wine storage container and has a shape corresponding to the wine storage container. The refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention has an advantage of easily keeping wine under a proper environment and conveniently drawing out wine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Won Lee, Sung-Eun Kim, Kyung-Eun Lee
  • Patent number: 8117865
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes the ability to mount a variety of modules requiring utilities, such as electricity and fluids, within adjustable locations in the door of the refrigerator. The door includes a conduit extending in at least one direction and including one or more plug-in connectors for allowing a module with a mating connector to be positioned on the door for supplying operating utilities to the module. This allows the purchaser of the refrigerator to add components and accessories to the refrigerator after purchase or select desired features at the time of purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, James W. Kendall, Alan S. Lucas, Andrew M. Tenbarge, John J. Vonderhaar, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 8113007
    Abstract: Method and apparatus (1) for receiving, storing and distributing blood bags including a cabinet (2) for containing all the components of the apparatus (1); a refrigerated space (21) for containing the bags; a magazine (3) housed inside the refrigerated space (21) comprising a plurality of cells (31), each capable of containing a single bag, each of the cells being identified by a cell code. The apparatus (1) further includes a data processing system (7) housed inside the cabinet (2), capable of controlling a movement system (5) and a cooling system (6) each housed inside the cabinet (2), and capable of controlling the receiving, the preservation and the releasing of the bags, and capable of exchanging data from and to an external data-management system (17) with which the apparatus (1) can interact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Angelantoni Industrie SpA
    Inventors: Mauro Zenobi, Simone Ventura, Cristiana Neri
  • Patent number: 8108082
    Abstract: A cooling system and method for an outdoor electronics enclosure includes an air conditioner controlled to operate during off-peak hours, so as to pre-cool batteries. The cooled batteries keep the enclosure cool during peak hours so that it is not necessary to run the air conditioner when electricity prices are at their peak. A clock or light sensor determines the time of day. A controller has stored data indicating the peak hours when electricity costs more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Joseph Yeh, Walter Hendrix
  • Publication number: 20120011881
    Abstract: Provided are a cooling apparatus and a refrigerator having the same. The cooling apparatus includes a case configured to receive a container holding a liquid, and an agitating member that is positioned within the case and that is configured to agitate the container holding the liquid. The cooling apparatus also includes an electro-magnetic power generator that includes an electromagnet and that is configured to generate a driving force that causes the agitating member to agitate the container holding the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yeonwoo CHO, Yanggyu KIM, Younseok LEE
  • Patent number: 8091379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a sensor cover slidingly-coupled to inside of a cooling chamber and accommodating a sensor therein. Since the sensor cover is easily coupled to or separated from the cooling chamber, damage of components is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dae-Jin Choi
  • Publication number: 20120000239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container for cooling at least substantially cylindrical objects, in which the container is provided with at least two cooling walls, each connected to the other in an annular lower sides, each having an outside wall and two side edges extending from the lower side to an upper part of the wall, the side edges of adjacent cooling walls tapering towards each other from the upper part to the lower side, and an accommodation chamber being formed in each cooling wall for accommodation of a removable cooling element, which accommodation chamber is bounded by a part of a substantially circular bottom contour, the outside wall and the side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: VACU VIN INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Lambertus Kerkhof, Arnoldus Willem Zweekhorst
  • Patent number: 8087261
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a cold air duct that receives cold air circulating inside of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, an evaporator in the cold air duct, at least one defrosting heater in the cold air duct that selectively emits heat, a fan in the cold air duct, that selectively directs the cold air in an upward or downward direction, a motor that drives the fan, and an open/close device that closes a space having the evaporator, the defrosting heater, and the fan positioned therein selectively, thereby providing an improved defroster for an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Ik Lee, Bong Jun Choi, Jong Min Sin, Youngsan Jeon, Jae Seong Sim, Young Jeong
  • Publication number: 20110308264
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator which can maintain a stored object in a desired state by controlling the temperature of an upper region and a lower region in the same storing space. The refrigerator includes a non-freezing apparatus having a storage room with a storing space composed of an upper space and a lower space, the air or heat exchange being limited between the upper space and the lower space, and a temperature control unit controlling the temperature of the upper space and the lower space. The non-freezing apparatus is installed in a storing space in which the cooling is performed and controls the temperature control unit to perform at least one of a process of rapid cooling at a temperature over the phase transition temperature, a process of entering a supercooling temperature region, and a process of maintaining the supercooling temperature region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Deok-Hyun Youn, Ju-Hyun Kim, Sang-Ho Oh, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Hoon-Bong Lee
  • Patent number: 8074468
    Abstract: A movement structure for a drawer of a refrigerator is provided that allows a storage box to be automatically withdrawn from or inserted into a main body of the refrigerator. The structure may include a rolling mechanism that rolls along a guide mechanism coupled to the storage box to facilitate and guide the movement of the storage box and maintain alignment relative to the main body of the refrigerator. A drive motor may provide a rotational force to the rolling mechanism to automate the movement of the storage box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Keun Yoo, Yong Hwan Eom, Ok Sun Yu, Hyoun Jeong Shin
  • Publication number: 20110296852
    Abstract: An energy management system for use with a temperature controlled unit for food or beverages. A sensor is provided that comprises means to measure a temperature in the temperature controlled unit, and means to transmit wirelessly the measured temperature to a controller. The controller comprising a memory for storing data, and a processor arranged to control electric power to the temperature controlled unit on the basis of a combination of the measured temperature and the stored data. The stored data defines at least two time periods in which a first temperature is required in the first time period, and a second, different temperature is required during the second time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Alan Wyn-Davies, Simon Hopewell
  • Patent number: 8069686
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a body having a plurality of cooling compartments separated from each other by a partition, and a machine room defined by the partition in a lower region of one of the plurality of cooling compartments. The machine room receives predetermined elements required to operate the cooling compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Nam Soo Cho, Youn Seok Lee, Kyeong Yun Kim, Su Nam Chae, Jang Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 8056349
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes an air chiller, a storage enclosure defining a compartment, a duct system, and a valve system. The air chiller blows chilled air into the duct system. The compartment has a first and a second opening, each of which is coupled to the duct system. The valve system has valves that can be moved to route the chilled air so that it enters into the first opening and exits the second opening, or vice versa. In one implementation, the first opening is at the top of the compartment and the second opening is at the bottom of the compartment, and the valve system is controlled by a control circuit that periodically switches the valves (via an actuator) to change the direction of the chilled air. This effectively maintains a relatively uniform temperature throughout the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Oswald
  • Patent number: 8047017
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a mounting structure to firmly fix an evaporator to the refrigerator. In the refrigerator including an evaporator and a cover to be coupled with the evaporator, the evaporator includes first fixing portions to be coupled with the cover and the cover includes second fixing portions to correspond to the first fixing portions. The evaporator and the cover are coupled with each other by the first and second fixing portions without separate fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, Wan Hyeong Lee
  • Publication number: 20110232307
    Abstract: A liquid refrigeration system for a thermally-insulated storage container includes a tank configured to store liquid air therein, a conduit system having a first end portion coupled to the tank and a second end portion configured to be positioned within an interior of the thermally-insulated storage container, a spray head coupled to the second end portion of the conduit system, a control system electrically coupled to the tank and the spray head to control the flow of liquid air from the tank to the spray head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: David Pickup