Description:The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the invention
[0001] This disclosure relates to a reversible chiller in a household appliance.

Background of the invention
[0002] Generally, for quick bottle cooling, the chiller is placed below the evaporator to store the bottle. This arrangement of the chiller below the evaporator consumes more space of refrigerator compartment and will be difficult to store tall or elongated items below the chiller. Some products in the market provides multiple ribs, wherein the chiller is placed in the last rib and the air gap between the chiller and the evaporator changes based on the chiller position. The present invention provides a solution by disclosing a reversible chiller.

Brief description of the invention:
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a reversible chiller in a household appliance.

[0004] The objects are solved by a reverisble chiller in a household appliance having the features according to claims 1 and 10.

[0005] The invention relates to a reversible chiller in a household appliance. The reversible chiller comprises a first surface, a second surface and at least one side wall and a rear wall made on the first surface and the second surface. The first surface and the second surface acts as a storage space for holding at least one item.

[0006] A feature of this invention is that, an extension is made on each of the at least one side wall , on both the first surface and the second surface, for sliding the chiller.

[0007] Another feature of this invention is that, the at least one side wall of the second surface is made smaller than the at least one side wall of the first surface and the at least one item is stored in the second surface by flipping/reversing the first surface.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, a drain element made on the rear wall for removing excess liquid accumulated in the chiller.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, a guide rail is fitted on each of the at least one side wall for mounting and unmounting the chiller.

[0010] In another object of the invention, it provides a household appliance. The invention is related to a household appliance comprises

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that , a supporting element is made on each of the at least one side wall for holding the chiller during an operational state.

[0012] The object of the invention is solved by the claim 7 related to a household appliance. The invention discloses a household appliance comprising at least one compartment for storing an item that needs to be refrigerated. The appliance comprises a reversible chiller having a first surface, a second surface, at least one side wall and a rear wall made on the first surface and the second surface. The first surface and the second surface acts as a storage space for holding at least one item.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the chiller is positioned below the at least one compartment, wherein the at least one compartment is a freezer compartment.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, a movable flap fitted between the chiller and the at least one compartment, the movable flap acts as a front cover to the chiller.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is that, a supporting element made on each of the at least one side wall of the chiller, is slided onto at least one nubbin made on a liner of the at least one compartment for holding the chiller in an intact position.

[0016] With the above disclosed reversible chiller in the appliance, the user can store the items both on first surface and on second surface by flipping/reversing the chiller. An additional storage space is created by enabling the downside of the coventional chiller for storing the items by reversing /flipping the chiller. One one surface large items like bottles are stored and for storing small items and when there is a need to storing tall items under the chiller, the chiller is flipped for creating extra space in the at least one compartment.

[0017]The flap present in the appliance helps in maintaining a cooling gap between the chiller and the at least one comparment, wherein the at least one compartment is the freezer compartment. The drain unit present on both first surface and second surface helps in effectively draining the water accumulated in the chiller, thus not only keeps the items fresh but also helps in avoiding the spoiling of the items due to the accumulated water.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0019] Figures 1(a),1(b) illustrates a reversible chiller in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
[0020] Figures 2(a),2(b) illustrates the reversible chiller, in accordance with the present invention; and
[0021] Figure 3 illustrates a household appliance having a reversible chiller with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0022] Figures 1(a) & 1(b) illustrates a reversible chiller in accordance according to one embodiment of the invention. The reversible chiller 12 comprises a first surface 14, a second surface 16 and at least one side wall 18 and a rear wall 20 made on the first surface 14 and the second surface 16. The first surface 14 and the second surface 16 acts as a storage space for holding at least one item 13.

[0023] Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the reversible chiller, in accordance with the present invention. The chiller 12 comprises an extension 22 is made on each of the at least one side wall 18 , on both said first surface 14 and the second surface 16, for sliding the chiller. According to one embodiment of the invention, the chiller 12 comprises two side walls 18 for each of the surface 14 and two extensions 22 for each side wall 18 for both the surfaces (14 & 16) . Ie., there will be four extensions 22 made on the chiller 12 , two on the side walls 18 (a) of the front surface 14 and two on side walls 18 (b) of the second surface 16.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one side wall 18 of the second surface 16 is made smaller than the at least one side wall 18 of said first surface 14. For ease of understanding, the first surface 14 comprises two first side walls 18(a) and the second surface 16 comprises two second side walls 18(b). The two second side walls 18(b) are made smaller in dimensions than the two first side walls 18(a) for increasing the storage capacity below the chiller 12. However it is to be noted that, in another embodiment of the invention, the two first side walls 18 (a) and the two second side walls 18(b) are made of same dimensions.

[0025] When the user wants to store any large item 13 (like water bottle), then the item 13 is stored on the first surface 14 and if the user wants to store any small item 13 (like milk pouch), then the chiller 16 is flipped/reversed to other side where the items 13 are stored on the second surface 16. The reversible chiller 12 comprises a drain element/unit 24 made on the rear wall 20 for removing excess liquid accumulated in the chiller 12. The chiller 12 comprises two drain elements 24, one for each surface (14&16), such that, the water accumulated in the chiller 12 is drained out with ease. According to one embodiment of the invention, the drain element 24 present on the first surface 14 is larger than the drain element 24 present on the second surface 16.

[0026] The reversible chiller 12 comprises a guide rail 26 is fitted on each of said at least one side wall 18 for mounting and unmounting the chiller 12. The guide rail 26 are made as an integral component to the reversible chiller 12. The user of the chiller 12 can slide down the chiller 12 into an appliance 10 via these guide rails 26. However, for mounting or unmounting of the chiller 12, any other kind of mounting means (eg: an extension) can also be used as known in the state of the art. The chiller 12 compries a cut-section 28 made on the rear wall 20 for providing support to the chiller 12 during an operational state. The chiller 12 comprises a cut-section 36 made on a front portion of the chiller 12 for mounting/unmounting the chiller 12 .

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates a household appliance 10 having a reversible chiller with an embodiment of the present invention. The invention discloses a household appliance 10 comprising at least one compartment 15 for storing an item 13 that needs to be refrigerated. The appliance 10 comprises a reversible chiller 12 having a first surface 14, a second surface 16, at least one side wall 18 and a rear wall 20 made on the first surface 14 and the second surface 16. The first surface 14 and the second surface 16 acts as a storage space for holding at least one item 13.

[0028] The chiller 12 is positioned below the at least one compartment 15, wherein the at least one compartment 15 is a freezer compartment. The household appliance 10 comprises a movable flap 30 fitted between the chiller 12 and the at least one compartment 15. The movable flap 30 acts as a front cover to the chiller 12. The chiller 12 comprises the extension 22 made on each of the at least one side wall 18 of the chiller 12 for sliding onto at least one nubbin 32 made on a liner 34 of the at least one compartment 15 for holding the chiller 12 in an intact position.

[0029] A method of assembling and operating of the chiller 12 is described in detail. The chiller 12 being reversible/flippable can be used on both sides for storing at least one item 13. Any kind of large items 13 like bottles can be stored on the first surface 14 and the small items 13 like milk packets , juice packets can be stored on the second surface 16. The appliance 10 as per one embodiment of the invention is a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator is chosen from a group of refrigerators comprising a multi-door refrigerator, a single-door refrigerator and the like. The chiller 12 is positioned below a freezer compartment 15 of the refrigerator 12. The dimensions of the chiller 12 plays a vital role in storing the items 13 in a refrigeration compartment 15 of the appliance 10, especially below the chiller 12.

[0030] When the chiller 12 is place with the first surface 14 being in use, then the guide rail 26 present on the side walls 18 is slided on to any one of the ribs/nubbins 32 present in the appliance 10. The extensions 22 present on the side walls 18 provides the facility to mount/unmount the chiller 12 into the appliance 10. When there is a requirement of the storing of large items 13 like bottles, then the first surface 14 is used. The flap 30 present at the chiller 12 portion covers the chiller 12 (items 13 stored on the first surface 14 , thus creating an air gap for maintaining the coolness between the chiller 12 and the freezer comparment 15.

[0031] When there is a requirment of storing large and tall items in the refrigeration comparmtent 15 of the appliances 10, then the chiller 12 is flipped/reversed onto the second surface 16 and is slided onto the ribs/nubbins 32 of the appliance 10. During this operational state, the flap 30 is lifted and the chiller 12 is flipped/reversed and is slided onto the ribs/nubbins 32 of the appliance 10. Any of the smaller items 13 like a milk packet is stored in the second surface 16 of the chiller 12. Due to the flip of the chiller 12, an additional storage is created below the chiller 12 in the refrigeration compartment 15. The movable flap 30 acts as the cover to the chiller 12 even in the flipped/reversible operational state. The water/liquid accumulated in the chiller 12 is drained out via the drain unit/element 24. The cut-section of the chiller 12 provides support to the chiller 12 in the operational state.

[0032] With the above disclosed reversible chiller 12 in the appliance 10, the user can store the items 13 both on first surface 14 and on second surface 16 by flipping/reversing the chiller 12. An additional storage space is created by enabling the downside of the coventional chiller 12 for storing the items 13 by reversing /flipping the chiller 12. One one surface large items 13 like bottles are stored and for storing small items 13 and when there is a need to storing tall items under the chiller 12, the chiller 12 is flipped for creating extra space in the at least one compartment 15.

[0033]The flap 30 present in the appliance 10 helps in maintaining a cooling gap between the chiller 12 and the at least one comparment 15, wherein the at least one compartment 15 is the freezer compartment. The chiller 12 comprises the cut-section 36 made on a front portion of the chiller 12 where the flap 30 comes into contact with the cut-section 36. The cut-section 36 acts as a handle for mounting/unmounting the chiller 12 in the appliance 10. The drain unit/element 24 present on both first surface 14 and second surface 16 helps in effectively draining the water accumulated in the chiller 12, thus not only keeps the items 13 fresh but also helps in avoiding the spoiling of the items 13 due to the accumulated water.

[0034] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

List of Reference Signs
10 household appliance
12 chiller
13 at least one item
14 first surface
15 at least one compartment of the appliance
16 second surface
18 at least one side wall of the chiller
18(a) first side walls
18(b) second side walls
20 rear wall of the chiller
22 extension on each of the at least one side wall
24 drain element
26 guide rail
28 cut-section
30 movable flap
32 at least one nubbin /rib of the appliance
34 liner of the at least one compartment.
36 cut-section on front portion of chiller
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A reversible chiller (12) comprising:
- a first surface (14) and a second surface (16);
- at least one side wall (18) and a rear wall (20) made on said first surface (14) and said second surface (16);
said first surface (14) and said second surface (16) acts as a storage space for holding at least one item (13).

2. The reversible chiller (12) as claimed in claim 1, comprises an extension (22) is made on each of said at least one side wall (18), on both said first surface (14) and said second surface (16), for sliding said chiller (12).

3. The reversible chiller (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one side wall (18) of said second surface (16) is made smaller than said at least one side wall (18) of said first surface (14) and said at least one item (13) is stored in said second surface (16) by flipping said first surface (14).

4. The reversible chiller (12) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a drain element (24) made on said rear wall (20) for removing excess liquid accumulated in said chiller (12).

5. The reversible chiller (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a guide rail (26) is fitted on each of said at least one side wall (18) for mounting and unmounting said chiller (12).

6. The reversible chiller (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cut-section (28) is made on a rear wall (20) for providing support to said chiller (12) during an operational state.

7. A household appliance (10) comprising:
- at least one compartment (15) for storing an item (13) that needs to be refrigerated;
characterized in that:
- a reversible chiller (12) comprises a first surface (14) and a second surface (16);
- at least one side wall (18) and a rear wall (20) made on said first surface (14) and said second surface (16);
said first surface (14) and said second surface (16) acts as a storage space for holding at least one item (13).

8. The household appliance (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said chiller (12) is positioned below said at least one compartment (15), wherein said at least one compartment (15) is a freezer compartment.

9. The household appliance (10) as claimed in claim 7, comprises a movable flap (30) fitted between said chiller (12) and said at least one compartment (15), said movable flap (30) acts as a front cover to said chiller (12).

10. The household appliance (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein an extension (22) made on each said at least one side wall (18) of said chiller (12) is slided onto at least one nubbin (32) made on a liner (34) of said at least one compartment (15) for holding said chiller (12) in an intact position.