Use of heat in cold storage appliances

A cold-storage appliance comprising:

• an open-topped insulating container defining external surfaces comprising first and second side external surfaces;
• an insulating lid adapted to close the open top of the container;
• a cooling means adapted to cool the interior of the container;
• and
• a structure supporting the container, the lid and the cooling means;
• wherein the container is mounted to the structure for movement relative to the structure and to the lid to open the container and to afford access to its interior or to close the container, and wherein at least the first and second side external surfaces of the container are exposed to air above ambient temperature when the container is closed by the lid.

A cold-storage appliance comprising:

• at least one container defining an external surface;
• a structure defining a container compartment from which the container can be withdrawn to open the container and afford access to its interior and to which the container can be returned to close the container for cold storage of any items within the container;
• and
• circulating means comprising a fan for circulating air around the container compartment to expose the external surface of the container therein to said circulating air.

A cold-storage appliance comprising:

• at least one container defining an external surface;
• a structure defining a container compartment from which the container can be withdrawn to open the container and afford access to its interior and to which the container can be returned to close the container for cold storage of any items within the container;
• and
• circulating means for circulating air around the container compartment to expose the external surface of the container therein to said circulating air, wherein the circulating means comprises a heater creating a convection current within the container compartment.

A cold-storage appliance comprising:

• at least one container defining an external surface;
• a structure defining a container compartment from which the container can be withdrawn to open the container and afford access to its interior and to which the container can be returned to close the container for cold storage of any items within the container;
• and
• circulating means for circulating air around the container compartment to expose the external surface of the container therein to said circulating air, wherein the circulating means comprises a heater creating a convection current within the container compartment and being positioned below the container when the container is in the container compartment.

A cold-storage appliance comprising:

• at least one container defining an external surface;
• a structure defining a container compartment from which the container can be withdrawn to open the container and afford access to its interior and to which the container can be returned to close the container for cold storage of any items within the container;
• and
• circulating means for circulating air around the container compartment to expose the external surface of the container therein to said circulating air, wherein the circulating means derives warm air from heat-generating parts of the appliance.