Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an air-controlling unit for a convertible refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

Generally, a refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment. Herein, the freezer compartment is adapted to store the foods and beverages in a frozen condition, and the refrigeration compartment is adapted to store the foods and beverages in a cold condition. The freezer compartment and the refrigeration compartment are adapted to operate in the frozen condition and the cold condition by maintaining different temperatures, based on an amount of air entered into the respective compartment.

Currently, the refrigerator includes a controlling unit adapted to control the amount of air entering the respective compartment. However, the existing controlling unit includes one or more electronic components and sensors which are very expensive. Thus, the implementation of such a controlling unit increases the overall cost of the refrigerator. Further, the usage of the controlling unit is only limited to operate the refrigerator in the frozen condition and the cold condition.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, it is desirable to provide a controlling unit for a refrigerator, that can eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned problems associated with the existing art.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention nor intended to determine the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to an air-controlling unit for a convertible refrigerator having a freezer section and a refrigeration section. The air-controlling unit may include a plenum assembly and an operating device. The plenum assembly may be fluidically coupled with the freezer section and the refrigeration section. The plenum assembly may include a fan assembly and a plurality of guideways. The fan assembly may be adapted to supply cooled air. The plurality of guideways may be formed around an opening and adapted to supply a flow of air into at least one of the freezer sections and the refrigeration section. The operating device may be rotatably mounted to the fan assembly. The operating device may be adapted to be rotated to predefined positions to control the flow of air into at least one of the refrigeration section and the freezer section, through the plurality of guideways, to operate the convertible refrigerator in a plurality of cooling modes.

Further, the present disclosure relates to a convertible refrigerator. The convertible refrigerator may include a freezer section, a refrigeration section, a fan assembly, a compressor, a condenser, and an air-controlling unit. The refrigeration section may be positioned below the freezer section. The fan assembly may be coupled to an evaporator and may be adapted to blow cooled air inside the freezer section and the refrigeration section. The compressor and the condenser may be operatively coupled to the evaporator via a refrigerant circuit. The air-controlling unit may be positioned in the freezer section. The air-controlling unit may include a plenum assembly and an operating device. The plenum assembly may be fluidically coupled with the freezer section and the refrigeration section. The plenum assembly may include the fan assembly and a plurality of guideways. The fan assembly may be adapted to supply cooled air. The plurality of guideways may be formed around an opening and adapted to supply a flow of air into at least one of the freezer sections and the refrigeration section. The operating device may be rotatably mounted to the fan assembly. The operating device may be adapted to be rotated to predefined positions to control the flow of air into at least one of the refrigeration section and the freezer section, through the plurality of guideways, to operate the convertible refrigerator in a plurality of cooling modes.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a convertible refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of an air-controlling unit of the convertible refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates a partially exploded view of the air-controlling unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the air-controlling unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 illustrates a front view of the air-controlling unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 illustrates a partially sectional view of the air-controlling unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of an operating device of the air-controlling unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict, or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . .” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any feature and/or element described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a convertible refrigerator 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of an air-controlling unit 110 of the convertible refrigerator 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The convertible refrigerator 100 may be adapted to store food items and beverages. The convertible refrigerator 100 may include, but is not limited to, a freezer section 102, a refrigeration section 104, a fan assembly 106, the air-controlling unit 110, a compressor, and a condenser. In an embodiment, the refrigeration section 104 may be positioned below the freezer section 102.

The fan assembly 106 may be coupled to an evaporator 108. The fan assembly 106 may be adapted to blow cooled air inside the freezer section 102 and the refrigeration section 104. The compressor and the condenser may be operatively coupled to the evaporator 108 via a refrigerant circuit. The air-controlling unit 110 may be positioned in the freezer section 102. The air-controlling unit 110 may be positioned on a wall of the convertible refrigerator 100. Constructional and functional details of the air-controlling unit 110 are explained in the subsequent paragraphs with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Figure 3 illustrates a partially exploded view of the air-controlling unit 110, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the air-controlling unit 110, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates a front view of the air-controlling unit 110, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6 illustrates a partially sectional view of the air-controlling unit 110, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The air-controlling unit 110 may include a plenum assembly 112 and an operating device 118. The plenum assembly 112 may be fluidically coupled with the freezer section 102 and the refrigeration section 104. The plenum assembly 112 may include a housing member 112-1, a cover member 112-2, the fan assembly 106, and a plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3. Herein, the housing member 112-1 defines an opening 114 to receive the fan assembly 106 of the convertible refrigerator 100. The fan assembly 106 may be adapted to supply cooled air.

The plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3 may be formed around the opening 114. The plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3 may be adapted to supply a flow of air into at least one of the freezer section 102 and the refrigeration section 104. In an embodiment, the plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3 may include a first guideway 116-1, a second guideway 116-2, and a third guideway 116-3. The first guideway 116-1 may be adapted to allow the flow of the cooled air in the freezer section 102. The second guideway 116-2 may be parallel to the first guideway 116-1 and adapted to allow the flow of the cooled air in the freezer section 102. The third guideway 116-3 may be formed between the first guideway 116-1 and the second guideway 116-2. The third guideway 116-3 may be adapted to allow the flow of the cooled air in the refrigeration section 104.

The operating device 118 may be rotatably mounted to the fan assembly 106. The operating device 118 may be adapted to be rotated to predefined positions to control the flow of air into at least one of the refrigeration section 104 and the freezer section 102, through the plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3, to operate the convertible refrigerator 100 in a plurality of cooling modes. The operating device 118 may include a base member 120 and a knob 124. The opening 114 may be adapted to support the base member 120 of the operating device 118. The cover member 112-2 may be coupled with the base member 120 and may be adapted to support the knob 124 of the operating device 118.

In an embodiment, the base member 120 may include a plurality of baffles 122. The base member 120 may be adapted to be rotated to align or misalign with the plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3. Herein, an aligned baffle 122 prevents the flow of cooled air into a corresponding guideway and a misaligned baffle 122 allows the flow of cooled air into a corresponding guideway. The knob 124 may be coupled with the base member 120 to rotate the base member 120 to operate the convertible refrigerator 100 in at least one of the plurality of cooling modes.

In an embodiment, the plurality of cooling modes may include a fridge mode, a chill mode, a deep-chill mode, a low freezer mode, and a normal freezer mode. In the fridge mode, the temperature of the freezer section 102 may be maintained equal to the temperature of the refrigeration section 104. In the chill mode, the temperature of the freezer section 102 may be maintained at less than the temperature of the refrigeration section 104. In the deep-chill mode, the temperature of the freezer section 102 may be maintained less than the temperature in the chill mode. In the low freezer mode, the temperature of the freezer section 102 may be maintained less than the temperature in the deep-chill mode. In the normal freezer mode, and the high freezer mode, the temperature of the freezer section 102 may be maintained less than the temperature in the low freezer mode.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of an operating device 118 of the air-controlling unit 110, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The operating device 118 may be adapted to be rotated to the predefined positions to control the flow of air. In each predefined position, the operating device 118 may be adapted to at least partially align and/or misalign the plurality of baffles 122 with the plurality of guideways 116-1, 116-2, 116-3. In an embodiment, an indicating portion 124a of the knob 124 may be inclined 40 degrees relative to a horizontal axis X of the knob 124 when the convertible refrigerator 100 is operated in the fridge mode.

The indicating portion 124a of the knob 124 may be inclined 55 degrees relative to the horizontal axis X when the convertible refrigerator 100 is operated in the chill mode. Further, the indicating portion 124a of the knob 124 may be inclined 75 degrees relative to the horizontal axis X when the convertible refrigerator 100 is operated in the deep-chill mode. The indicating portion 124a of the knob 124 may be inclined 95 degrees relative to the horizontal axis X when the convertible refrigerator 100 is operated in the low freezer mode.

The indicating portion 124a of the knob 124 may be inclined 117.5 degrees relative to the horizontal axis X when the convertible refrigerator 100 is operated in the normal freezer mode. The indicating portion 124a of the knob 124 may be inclined 140 degrees relative to the horizontal axis X when the convertible refrigerator 100 is operated in the high freezer mode.

Herein, the convertible refrigerator 100 may be selectively operated in the plurality of cooling modes based on the cooling requirements. Thus, the electrical may also be consumed as per the respective mode. In an embodiment, with the implementation of the convertible refrigerator 100, almost 35% of electrical energy can be saved as compared to the existing refrigerators.

In the present disclosure, the convertible refrigerator 100 with the air-controlling unit 110 may be capable of operating in the plurality of cooling modes based on the cooling requirements. This saves the overall energy consumption of the convertible refrigerator 100. Further, the operating device 118 may be rotated at the predefined positions to operate the convertible refrigerator 100 in the plurality of cooling modes, without the implementation of any sensor or electronic component. This reduces the overall cost of the convertible refrigerator 100. Therefore, the convertible refrigerator 100 of the present disclosure, is a cost-effective and energy efficient refrigerator.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. , Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. An air-controlling unit (110) for a convertible refrigerator (100) having a freezer section (102) and a refrigeration section (104), the air-controlling unit (110) comprising:
a plenum assembly (112) fluidically coupled with the freezer section (102) and the refrigeration section (104), the plenum assembly (112) comprising:
a fan assembly (106) adapted to supply cooled air; and
a plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3) formed around an opening (114) and adapted to supply a flow of air into at least one of the freezer sections (102) and the refrigeration section (104); and
an operating device (118) rotatably mounted to the fan assembly (106) and adapted to be rotated to predefined positions to control the flow of air into at least one of the refrigeration sections (104) and the freezer section (102), through the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3), to operate the convertible refrigerator (100) in a plurality of cooling modes.

2. The air-controlling unit (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating device (118) comprises:
a base member (120) having a plurality of baffles (122) and adapted to be rotated to align or misalign with the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3), wherein an aligned baffle (122) prevents the flow of cooled air into a corresponding guideway and a misaligned baffle (122) allows the flow of cooled air into a corresponding guideway; and
a knob (124) coupled with the base member (120) to rotate the base member (120) to operate the convertible refrigerator (100) in at least one of the plurality of cooling modes.

3. The air-controlling unit (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cooling modes comprises:
a fridge mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained equal to the temperature of the refrigeration section (104);
a chill mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature of the refrigeration section (104);
a deep-chill mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature in the chill mode;
a low freezer mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature in the deep-chill mode; and
a normal freezer mode, and a high freezer mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature in the low freezer mode.

4. The air-controlling unit (110) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating device (118) is adapted to be rotated to the predefined positions to control the flow of air, each predefined position of the operating device (118) adapted to at least partially align and/or misalign the plurality of baffles (122) with the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3), wherein,
an indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 40 degrees relative to a horizontal axis (X) of the knob (124) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the fridge mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 55 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the chill mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 75 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the deep-chill mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 95 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the low freezer mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 117.5 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the normal freezer mode; and
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 140 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the high freezer mode.

5. The air-controlling unit (110) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plenum assembly (112) comprises:
a housing member (112-1) defining the opening (114) to receive the fan assembly (106) of the convertible refrigerator (100) and adapted to support the base member (120) of the operating device (118); and
a cover member (112-2) coupled with the base member (120) and adapted to support the knob (124) of the operating device (118).

6. The air-controlling unit (110) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3) formed on the housing member (112-1) around the opening (114), the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3) comprises:
a first guideway (116-1) adapted to allow the flow of the cooled air in the freezer section (102);
a second guideway (116-2) parallel to the first guideway (116-1) and adapted to allow the flow of the cooled air in the freezer section (102); and
a third guideway (116-3) formed between the first guideway (116-1) and the second guideway (116-2) and adapted to allow the flow of the cooled air in the refrigeration section (104).

7. A convertible refrigerator (100), the convertible refrigerator (100) comprising:
a freezer section (102);
a refrigeration section (104) positioned below the freezer section (102);
a fan assembly (106) coupled to an evaporator (108) and adapted to blow cooled air inside the freezer section (102) and the refrigeration section (104);
a compressor and a condenser operatively coupled to the evaporator (108) via a refrigerant circuit; and
an air-controlling unit (110) positioned in the freezer section (102), the air-controlling unit (110) comprising:
a plenum assembly (112) fluidically coupled with the freezer section (102) and the refrigeration section (104), the plenum assembly (112) comprising:
the fan assembly (106) adapted to supply cooled air; and
a plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3) formed around an opening (114) and adapted to supply a flow of air into at least one of the freezer sections (102) and the refrigeration section (104); and
an operating device (118) rotatably mounted to the fan assembly (106) and adapted to be rotated to predefined positions to control the flow of air into at least one of the refrigeration sections (104) and the freezer section (102), through the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3), to operate the convertible refrigerator (100) in a plurality of cooling modes.

8. The convertible refrigerator (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operating device (118) comprises:
a base member (120) having a plurality of baffles (122) and adapted to be rotated to align or misalign with the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3), wherein an aligned baffle (122) prevents the flow of cooled air into a corresponding guideway and a misaligned baffle (122) allows the flow of cooled air into a corresponding guideway; and
a knob (124) coupled with the base member (120) to rotate the base member (120) to operate the convertible refrigerator (100) in at least one of the plurality of cooling modes.

9. The convertible refrigerator (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of cooling modes comprises:
a fridge mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained equal to the temperature of the refrigeration section (104);
a chill mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature of the refrigeration section (104);
a deep-chill mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature in the chill mode;
a low freezer mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature in the deep-chill mode; and
a normal freezer mode, and a high freezer mode, wherein the temperature of the freezer section (102) is maintained less than the temperature in the low freezer mode.

10. The convertible refrigerator (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the operating device (118) is adapted to be rotated to the predefined positions to control the flow of air, each predefined position of the operating device (118) adapted to at least partially align and/or misalign the plurality of baffles (122) with the plurality of guideways (116-1, 116-2, 116-3), wherein,
an indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 40 degrees relative to a horizontal axis (X) of the knob (124) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the fridge mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 55 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the chill mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 75 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the deep-chill mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 95 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the low freezer mode;
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 117.5 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the normal freezer mode; and
the indicating portion (124a) of the knob (124) is inclined 140 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (X) when the convertible refrigerator (100) is operated in the high freezer mode.