Refrigerated enclosure
AssigneeSub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc.
InventorJeffrey J. Pagel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerated enclosure, for example a household refrigerator, having improved appearance and functionality by including a view panel, for example a glass window in a door of the refrigerated enclosure, a door switch, a controller, and an intermittent fan for removing moisture that condenses on the view panel. The refrigerated enclosure may also include interchangeable components, for example exterior panels, for coordinating or matching the appearance of the refrigerated enclosure to the surroundings into which the refrigerated enclosure is placed.
Claims44
A refrigerated enclosure comprising:
- one or more enclosure walls defining an interior refrigerated space;
- a view panel;
- a door;
- a door switch adapted to detect whether the door is open or closed and to transmit a door switch signal indicating whether the door is open or closed;
- a controller adapted to receive the door switch signal indicating whether the door is open or closed;
- and
- a fan adapted to blow air onto at least a portion of the view panel and adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller;
- wherein the controller is further adapted to turn the fan on after the door switch signal indicates the door is open, the controller is further adapted to have a delay period of time, and the controller is further adapted to turn the fan off after the delay period of time has elapsed after the door switch signal indicates the door is closed.
A method of removing condensation from a view panel in a refrigerated enclosure having a door, comprising:
- providing a door switch adapted to detect whether the door is open or closed and adapted to transmit a door signal indicating whether the door is open or closed;
- providing a controller;
- providing a fan adapted to be turned on and turned off by the controller and adapted to blow air onto at least a portion of the view panel;
- the controller receiving the door signal;
- the controller turning on the fan after the door signal indicates the door is open;
- and
- the controller turning off the fan after a delay period of time has elapsed after the door signal indicates the door is closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.