COOLING DEVICE HAVING A COMPARTMENT COVER

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Turkish Patent Application TR 2024/020934, filed Dec. 27, 2024; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cooling device having a compartment cover. The cooling device has a body with a cabinet structure and a storage space, an evaporator arrangement in the cabinet structure close to a related cabinet wall of the cabinet structure, and a compartment cover which covers the evaporator arrangement to separate the evaporator arrangement from the storage space. The compartment cover has a cover front wall parallel to the cabinet wall, and wall parts which extend from the cover front wall to the cabinet wall to define a receiving space.

In cooling devices, particularly in domestic cooling devices, there is cabinet structure which defines a storage space wherein the objects to be cooled or to be frozen can be placed. Cooling devices moreover comprise an evaporator arrangement which includes an evaporator as a component of the cooling cycle. The evaporator arrangement is disposed inside the cabinet structure in a manner close to a related cabinet wall of the cabinet structure. Compartment covers are used which hide the evaporator arrangement aesthetically in a manner separating the evaporator arrangement from the storage space and which cover the evaporator receiving space, wherein the evaporator is disposed, and they separate the evaporator receiving space from the storage space. Provision of insulation between the receiving space and the storage space by the compartment covers is important for the efficiency of the cooling system. In other words, the compartment covers, which have a design such that the cool air, which exists in the storage space, will be suctioned towards the evaporator receiving space through the other edge regions except the air suctioning opening, increases air losses in the system and unfavorably affects the efficiency of the cooling system.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,415,356 B2, which belongs to the known state of the art, describes a refrigerator with a cabinet, a vaporizer, a vaporizer cover module, and a cool air feeding module embodied to communicate with the vaporizer cover module. The vaporizer cover module comprises a rear plate which has a planar shape defining the surface of the storage area, a first insulation element provided on the rear surface of the rear plate, and a second insulation element provided on the front surface of the inner frame and in a distanced manner from the first insulation element. The first insulation element and the second insulation element define a heat exchange space embodied to accommodate the vaporizer between the first insulation element and the second insulation element.

As a result, because of the above-mentioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compartment cover which is suitable for use in a cooling device, for eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a compartment cover which increases air insulation between the storage space and the evaporator receiving space for cooling devices and which is easily replaceable when needed during the lifetime of the device.

With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a cooling device, in particular a domestic cooling device, which comprises:

• • a body which has a cabinet structure bounding a storage space, said cabinet structure having a cabinet wall;
  • an evaporator arrangement disposed in said cabinet structure in a vicinity of said cabinet wall of said cabinet structure, said evaporator arrangement having an evaporator;
  • a compartment cover disposed to cover said evaporator arrangement for separating said evaporator arrangement from said storage space, said compartment cover having a cover front wall extending substantially parallel to said cabinet wall, and wall parts which extend from said cover front wall to said cabinet wall for defining a receiving space;
  • said compartment cover having a holder removably attached to at least one related edge part of said related wall parts which is close to said cabinet wall, and a sealing embodiment with a seal at a continuation of said holder and configured to flex upon contacting said cabinet wall.

In other words, In order to realize the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deduced from the detailed description below, the present invention is a cooling device, particularly a domestic cooling device comprising a body which has a cabinet structure defining a storage space, an evaporator arrangement provided in the cabinet structure in a manner being close to a related cabinet wall of the cabinet structure and which has an evaporator, and a compartment cover which covers the evaporator arrangement in a manner separating the evaporator arrangement from the storage space, and wherein the compartment cover comprises a cover front wall provided in a manner being in an essentially parallel plane to the cabinet wall, and wall parts which extend from the cover front wall to the cabinet wall in a manner defining a receiving space. The compartment cover provided in the cooling device comprises a holder item which is retained in a removable manner to at least one related edge part of the related wall parts which is close to the cabinet wall, and a sealing embodiment which has a sealing item, or seal, provided at the continuation of the holder item and which can flex when it contacts to the cabinet wall. By means of this, a compartment cover is provided which is developed in a manner providing high air insulation between the storage space and the side where the evaporator arrangement is disposed. As the compartment cover provides high air insulation, occurrence of irregular air passages between the storage space, which has temperature difference, and the side where the evaporator is disposed is prevented, and air losses are reduced and by means of this, efficiency of the cooling system is increased. In case the sealing embodiment loses its insulation property in time, since the sealing embodiment can be easily removed without leaving a residue part at the related edge part, the replacement of the sealing embodiment is facilitated. In other words, a sealing embodiment with facilitated maintenance is provided.

The cabinet structure is a structure which has cabinet walls encircling or bounding the storage space so as to define the storage space of the cooling device. The cabinet structure can be an inner liner structure of the cooling device having a lower wall, an upper wall, a rear wall, and mutual side walls. The cabinet structure can be an inner liner structure of the cooling device which has a lower wall, an upper wall, a rear wall and mutual side walls. There is an access opening, which provides access to the storage space from outside, at the front side of the cabinet structure. The storage space can be formed by a freezing space wherein a freezing process can be realized and/or a cooling space wherein a cooling process can be realized.

The storage space is a space part encircled by the cabinet wall of the cooling device. In the storage space, there can be objects to be cooled or to be frozen, in other words, besides foods, there can be shelves whereon foods are placed, and there can be drawers wherein foods, for instance, vegetables, fruits can be placed.

The body comprises a cabinet structure having outer walls facing outwardly and inner walls facing the storage space, and an insulation element between the cabinet structure and the outer walls. The insulation element is provided in a manner penetrating to a space between the cabinet structure and the outer walls and in a manner filling said space. The insulation element can be any insulation material in a manner providing thermal insulation between the storage space and the outer medium, for instance a polyurethane material. Said outer walls are formed by an upper wall, a lower wall, a rear wall and mutual side walls.

The related cabinet wall can be any cabinet wall of the cabinet structure. Preferably, said cabinet wall can be a rear wall which exists at the side which is opposite to the front side where the access opening of the cabinet structure is disposed.

The evaporator can be any type of evaporator, for instance a pipe-type evaporator. The pipe-type evaporator can have a structure where a number of pipes is brought together and where the liquid passes through these pipes. The outer surface of the pipes can be equipped with fins for increasing heat transfer.

The evaporator arrangement is an arrangement formed by at least one evaporator, a heating element, particularly a radiant heating element, at least one bracket part for fixing the heating element onto the evaporator, and bypass preventing parts.

The compartment wall can be a wall structure embodied to separate the side, where the evaporator arrangement exists, and the storage space from each other. The compartment wall can have at least one cover front wall. Preferably, the compartment wall has the cover front wall, a cover upper wall part, a cover lower wall part, a first cover side wall part and a second cover side wall.

The related wall parts can be wall parts or skirt parts obtained by bending of the cover front wall towards the rear wall of the cabinet structure.

The related at least one edge part is the edge region of the wall parts which is close to the rear wall of the cabinet structure.

The inscription, which mentions that said seal has a flexible structure, means that the seal has a compressible structure. Said seal can be a flexible element made particularly from an elastomeric material (rubber, etc.), for instance, a gasket.

The cooling device can be particularly a domestic cooling device, for instance a refrigerator. The cooling device can be a cooling device with a single-door or with two (or more) doors. The cooling device with a single door can be a cooling device which has only a cooling compartment or a cooling device which has only a freezing compartment.

The holder item can be any mechanical item configured such that the sealing embodiment can be held to the related edge part. For instance, said holder item can be at least one structure including items like a tab or an extension.

The sealing element can be any item essentially configured to provide air sealing, particularly a flexible element, for instance, a gasket element.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the sealing embodiment is provided in a manner extending in at least one part of the related edge parts. By means of this, the sealing embodiment can be provided on the compartment cover at a more important part where air sealing has more importance and where air losses are observed densely.

The inscription, which mentions that said sealing embodiment extends in at least one part of the related edge parts, means that for instance the sealing embodiment can be provided longitudinally in whole of the related edge part, or the sealing embodiment can be provided in a manner extending at a part of the related edge part.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the related wall parts are cover side wall parts which extend essentially at a height direction of the device and provided mutually with respect to each other. By means of this, air insulation is improved in the parts which exist between the cover side walls and the side walls of the cabinet structure and where air passages take place densely.

The cover side wall parts are the wall parts of the compartment cover provided essentially in a parallel plane to the mutual side walls of the cabinet structure.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, there is an insulation element, particularly an expanded polystyrene element inside the receiving space, there is an evaporator receiving space, wherein the evaporator can be at least partially placed, between the insulation element and the cabinet wall, and the sealing embodiment is provided at the edge parts of at least the cover side wall parts which define the evaporator receiving space. By means of this, suctioning of air, suctioned from the storage space towards the evaporator receiving space by a fan, through a part except the air suctioning opening is prevented, the air losses which exist in the system are reduced. Thus, the air insulation between the evaporator receiving space and the storage space is improved.

The insulation element can be any insulation element, for instance, an expanded polystyrene element (EPS) configured to provide air insulation between the evaporator receiving space and the storage space. Said insulation element can have different thickness values at different regions of the receiving space. For instance, the insulation element can have a higher thickness value at a region of the receiving space, and it can have a lower thickness value in another region of the receiving space. Preferably, the insulation element can have a lower thickness value at the part where the evaporator receiving space is formed, namely it can be thinner, and the insulation element can have a bigger thickness value at a region which exists at the upper side of the evaporator arrangement, namely, it will be thicker.

The inscription, which mentions an evaporator receiving space wherein the evaporator can be at least partially placed, means that the evaporator is completely existing inside the evaporator receiving space or means that a part of the evaporator is inside the evaporator receiving space.

The inscription, which mentions that at least the cover side wall parts of said sealing embodiment are provided at the edge parts which define the evaporator receiving space, means that only the cover side wall parts of the sealing embodiment can be provided at the edge parts which define the evaporator receiving space or the related cover side wall parts of the sealing embodiment can be provided at the other edge parts of the related cover side wall parts which do not define the evaporator receiving space besides the edge parts of the related cover side wall parts which define the evaporator receiving space. In other words, for instance, if the related cover side wall part has length “L” and if “L/2” of the cover side wall part defines the evaporator receiving space, the sealing embodiment can be provided in “L/2”, “2L/3” and “L” length of said cover side wall part.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, on a face of the part of the insulation element, which exists at an upper side of the evaporator with respect to the height direction, which faces the cabinet wall, there is a first flexible element, particularly a sponge element shaped and dimensioned in a manner close to a cover upper wall part and cover side wall parts of the compartment cover which are far from the evaporator. The insulation element can have a lower thickness value at the part where the evaporator receiving space is formed, namely, it can be thinner, and the insulation element can have a higher thickness value at the part which exists at the upper side of the evaporator arrangement, namely, it can be thicker. In other words, at the region of the insulation element which exists at the upper side of the insulation element, the face of insulation element which faces the cabinet wall is provided in a manner being close to the related edge part. In other words, the face of the insulation element which faces the cabinet wall becomes suitable for positioning of the first flexible element directly. By using the first flexible element at the upper side of the evaporator arrangement, the cost of the air insulation at the upper side of the compartment cover is provided in a lower manner.

The first flexible element can be any flexible element, for instance a sponge element which is compressible when it contacts to a surface.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the first flexible element has an overlapping part where the first flexible element overlaps with the sealing embodiments at the sides which are close to the sealing embodiments provided at the cover side wall parts. By means of this, occurrence of a space between the related sealing embodiment and the first flexible element in a manner leading to air permeability in the height direction is prevented.

The overlapping part means that the sealing embodiment and the compartment cover of the first flexible element overlap with each other in the width direction.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the cabinet wall is a rear wall of the cabinet structure which is opposite to a front side where an access opening is formed. By means of this, the compartment cover is provided in a manner separating the evaporator arrangement, which is near the rear wall and which exists in the cabinet structure, from the storage space.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the holder item comprises connection extensions provided mutually to each other such that a wall receiving part, where the related edge part can be placed, is disposed in between. By means of this, the sealing embodiment can be held to the edge part in a stable manner. At the same time, when needed, by means of the connection extensions, separation of the sealing embodiment from the related edge part can be easily provided.

The connection extensions can be a couple of mutual extensions extending longitudinally on the sealing embodiment, or can be more than one and couple of mutual extensions provided in a distanced manner to each other.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the related wall parts have a related retaining protrusion in the regions thereof which are close to the edge parts, the related connection extensions comprise a related recess part which corresponds to the retaining protrusions, and in a condition where the sealing embodiment is retained to the related edge part, the retaining protrusions are configured to be placed to the related recess parts. By means of this, retaining of the sealing embodiment to the related edge part is improved. By means of this arrangement, undesired separation of sealing embodiment from the related edge part is prevented.

The retaining protrusions can be any bulge or protrusion form embodied at the related edge part.

The recess parts can be a depression or groove form shaped and dimensioned on the connection extensions with respect to the retaining protrusions.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, there is a related inclined face at the sides of the retaining protrusions which are close to the related edge part, and each of the connection extensions has a related guiding inner face in order to provide passage of a part of the related connection extension beyond the related retaining protrusion and thus in order to provide placement of the retaining protrusions to the related recess parts, at a condition where the sealing embodiment is pushed towards the related edge part. By means of this, the connection extensions hold to the related edge part easily. Moreover, separation of the connection extensions from the related edge part can be easily provided by applying a little force to the connection extensions in a manner diverging the connection extensions from each other.

The inclined face can be embodied on a lower face of the retaining protrusions which faces the seal.

The guiding inner face can be embodied at the faces of the connection extensions which face the edge part which exists at the sides which are close to the free end part of the connection extensions.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the seal is arranged to have a front contact wall which can contact to the cabinet wall, and to have an inner space defined by mutual flexible walls which have a structure which can flex when the front contact wall contacts to the cabinet wall. By means of this, the seal is compressed between the related edge part and the cabinet wall, and complete air sealing is provided.

Here, at a condition where said front contact wall has not yet contacted to the cabinet wall, the front contact wall can essentially have a curved form. Here, at a condition where said front contact wall has not yet contacted to the cabinet wall, the front contact wall can essentially have a horizontal form.

The mutual flexible walls can essentially have a shape which is similar to V-shape. On the mutual flexible walls, there can be items like groove, channel, notch for providing flexibility to the flexible walls.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, at a lower side of the cover front wall which is close to a base wall of the cabinet structure where the compartment cover is seating, there are connection arrangements provided in a distanced manner to each other in a width direction, and in order to connect the compartment cover to the base wall, each of the connection arrangements comprises a related connection housing in a manner providing passage of a related connection element in a crosswise direction. By means of this, by means of the horizontal force component of the connection force provided by the connection element in crosswise direction, the sealing embodiment is compressed in a manner providing air insulation. By means of the orthogonal force component of the connection force provided by the connection element in crosswise direction, the second flexible element is compressed in a manner providing air insulation.

The connection arrangements have at least one connection housing arranged such that the connection element can pass through. At the compartment cover, there can be more than one connection arrangement provided in a distanced manner to each other in the width direction. For instance, at the compartment cover, there can be a couple of connection arrangement provided in a distanced manner to each other in the width direction.

The connection element can be a removable connection element, a connection element for instance like a screw or a bolt.

The crosswise direction is a direction where the connection element passes and extends through the connection housing.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, there is a second flexible element, particularly a sponge element between the compartment cover and the base wall. By means of this, air sealing between the compartment cover and the base wall is provided.

The second flexible element can be any flexible element, for instance, a sponge element which is compressible when it contacts to a surface.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, at the lower side of the compartment cover, in order to guide the air suctioned from the storage space to the evaporator, there is an air suctioning opening opened from the storage space to the receiving space. By means of this, cool air passes only through the air suctioning opening and reaches the evaporator, efficiency of the cooling system is increased.

The air suctioning opening shape and number can differ according to factors like the design, the flow rate of the air to be suctioned, the capacity of the fan. For instance, air suctioning opening can have a grill structure which has more than one adjacent opening.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, holder item is made of a plastic material, particularly an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material, and the seal is made of an elastomeric material. By means of this, the sealing embodiment can be produced easily and low-cost manner by means of co-extrusion method by using a single mold.

The plastic material can be any plastic material, for instance, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material.

The elastomeric material can be any elastomeric flexible material, for instance a rubber material.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cooling device having a compartment cover, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of the storage space of a cooling device which has the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 2 shows the top cross-sectional view of a cooling device which has the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged top cross-sectional view of a part where the sealing embodiment is disposed in a cooling device which has the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 4 shows a representative isometric view of the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 5 shows a rear view illustrating the subject matter compartment cover and the insulation material which exists in a receiving space of the compartment cover.

FIG. 6 shows a rear view which shows the subject matter compartment cover and the insulation material which exists in a receiving space of the compartment cover and an evaporator which exists in the evaporator receiving space, and a detailed view which shows the overlapping part between the sealing embodiment and the first flexible element.

FIG. 7 shows another representative isometric view of the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 8 shows a zoomed isometric view which shows the part where the first connection arrangement is disposed in the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 9 shows a zoomed isometric view which shows the part where the second connection arrangement is disposed in the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view which shows the part where the second connection arrangement is disposed in the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 11 shows another representative isometric view of the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view in a manner showing the subject matter compartment cover, the insulation element, the sealing embodiment, the insulation layer, the first flexible element and the second flexible element.

FIG. 13 shows another exploded view in a manner showing the subject matter compartment cover, the insulation element, the sealing embodiment, the insulation layer, the first flexible element and the second flexible element.

FIG. 14 shows another zoomed top cross-sectional view of a part where the sealing embodiment is disposed in a cooling device which has the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 15 shows a representative isometric view of the sealing embodiment fixed to the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 16 shows a frontal view of the sealing embodiment fixed to the subject matter compartment cover.

FIG. 17A shows a representative top cross-sectional view of a first condition where the seal of the sealing embodiment is not yet compressed.

FIG. 17B shows a representative top cross-sectional view of a second condition where the seal in the sealing embodiment is compressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In this context, said width direction x describes the width direction of the cooling device 1, the width direction of the body 4, the width direction of the cabinet structure 5, the width direction of the evaporator arrangement 6, the width direction of the evaporator 7, the width direction of the compartment cover 8, the width direction of the insulation element 40 and the width direction of the sealing embodiment 15.

In this context, said depth direction y describes the depth direction of the cooling device 1, the depth direction of the body 4, the depth direction of the cabinet structure 5, the depth direction of the evaporator arrangement 6, the depth direction of the evaporator 7, the depth direction of the compartment cover 8, the depth direction of the insulation element 40 and the depth direction of the sealing embodiment 15.

In this context, said height direction z describes the height direction of the cooling device 1, the height direction of the body 4, the height direction of the cabinet structure 5, the height direction of the evaporator arrangement 6, the height direction of the evaporator 7, the height direction of the compartment cover 8, the height direction of the insulation element 40 and the height direction of the sealing embodiment 15.

In FIG. 1, a frontal view of a cooling device 1 comprising the subject matter compartment cover 8, particularly a domestic cooling device is given. The cooling device 1 has a body 4 arranged in a manner defining at least one storage space 2. The body 4 is formed by outer walls having faces which face outwardly, a cabinet structure 5 and an insulation element not illustrated in the figures which penetrates and fills a space between the outer walls and the cabinet structure 5, for instance a polyurethane element. The cabinet structure 5 is a structure which has cabinet walls which encircle the storage space 2 in a manner defining the storage space 2 of the cooling device 1. The cabinet structure 5 has an upper wall, a lower wall, a rear wall and mutual side walls in a manner encircling the storage space 2. There is an access opening 3 at a front side of the cabinet structure 5 which is close to the user. There is at least one air feeding opening 50 on the rear wall of the cabinet structure 5 provided at an opposite side with respect to the front side where the access opening 3 is formed. On the rear wall, there are pluralities of air feeding openings 50 provided in a distanced manner in the height direction z and in the width direction x of the rear wall. Said air feeding openings 50 are openings where the cool air which passes through the evaporator 7 is output, namely is fed to the storage space 2. The cooling device 1 is provided in a manner seating onto a ground not illustrated in the figures, in other words, in a manner standing. In the cooling device 1, there is at least one door not illustrated in the figures arranged in a manner selectively covering the access opening 3 of the storage space 2 and provided at the front side of the device. The door is connected to the body 4 in a rotatable manner by means of hinge assemblies. At an open position of the door, access can be provided into the storage space 2 from outside, and air exchange can occur between the outer medium and the inside of the storage space 2 through the access opening 3. At a closed position of the door, the door covers the access opening 3 completely, by means of this, access to the storage space 2 from outside cannot occur. In other words, at the closed position of the door, air exchange cannot take place between the outer medium and the inside of the storage space 2; the inner medium of the storage space 2 is completely insulated from the outer medium. The air feeding openings 50 are provided at the upper region and the middle region of the rear wall which are further to the ground. As shall be seen in FIG. 1, there is the compartment cover 8 provided in a manner covering a part of the rear wall where the air feeding openings 50 do not exist. The compartment cover 8 is preferably provided in a manner covering a lower region of the rear wall which is close to the ground. The compartment cover 8 has a width which is essentially the same as the width of the cabinet structure 5.

In the cooling device 1, the objects, placed into the storage space 2, are cooled by means of at least one cooling cycle. The aim of realizing cooling function in the cooling device 1 is to be able to preserve various objects, which exist in said storage space 2, for longer durations at a temperature which is lower than the temperature of the outer medium. In the cooling cycle, there are components like a compressor, a condenser, at least one evaporator 7, namely, at least one heat exchanger. The evaporator 7 is a device where the cooling fluid, which passes through, suctions heat and where the cooling fluid is converted from liquid form into gas form. During the cooling cycle, the liquid cooling fluid is compressed by the compressor and comes to the evaporator 7 and takes heat from the periphery while passing through the evaporator 7. This heat exchange in the evaporator 7 provides suctioning of the heat from the periphery while the cooling fluid passes from liquid form to gas form. By means of this, as the cool air, suctioned from the storage space 2 and having a relatively higher temperature, passes through the evaporator 7, the temperature thereof further decreases by means of the heat exchange in the evaporator 7. The cool air, which has lower temperature, is fed again to the storage space 2 by means of air feeding openings 50. By means of this, the temperature value of the storage space 2 is preserved in the adjusted manner. The evaporator 7 is preferably a pipe-type evaporator comprising an array of pipes. In the evaporator arrangement 6, there are bypass preventing parts 44 provided in a manner holding to the pipes of the evaporator 7 and which exist at mutual sides to each other in the width direction x, for instance, there are parts made of expanded polystyrene sponge (EPS). The cooling cycle of the cooling device 1 is managed by at least one control unit not illustrated in the figures, particularly by an electronic board, for instance by a printed circuit board. As shall be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, there is an evaporator arrangement 6 which has an evaporator 7 and which exists in the cabinet structure 5 in a close manner to a related cabinet wall 28 of the cabinet structure 5. Said cabinet wall 28 is preferably a rear wall of the cabinet structure 5 which exists at the opposite side of the access opening 3. The compartment cover 8 covers the evaporator arrangement 6 in a manner separating the evaporator arrangement 6 from the storage space 2. The compartment cover 8 has a cover front wall 9 provided in an essentially parallel plane to the cabinet wall 28 and wall parts, namely skirt parts extending from the cover front wall 9 to the cabinet wall 28 in a manner defining a receiving space 11. Said wall parts are a cover upper wall part 10a, a cover lower wall part 10b, a first cover side wall part 10c and a second cover side wall part 10d. As shall be seen in FIG. 2, at the compartment cover 8, there is preferably a sealing embodiment 15 provided in a manner retaining to each of the mutual cover side wall parts 10c, 10d extending in the depth direction y. Retaining of the sealing embodiment 15 to the cover side wall parts 10c, 10d is in the form of a mechanical retaining. The cover side wall parts 10c, 10d are parts provided mutually with respect to each other and which essentially extend in a height direction z of the device on the compartment cover 8. As shall be seen in FIG. 3, there is an insulation element 40 inside the receiving space 11, particularly an expanded polystyrene element. Between the insulation element 40 and the cabinet wall 28, an evaporator receiving space 42 is defined wherein the evaporator 7 can be at least partially placed. The sealing embodiment 15 is provided in a manner retained at least to the edge parts of the cover side wall parts 10c, 10d which define the evaporator receiving space 42. The sealing embodiment 15 has a flexible part provided between the cabinet wall 28 and a related edge part 12. In the sealing embodiment 15, there is a front contact wall 23 which has a contact face 59 which contacts to the cabinet wall 28.

With reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 11, the cover front wall 9 which is disposed at the compartment cover 8 is provided to be in an essentially parallel plane to the cabinet wall 28, namely to the rear wall of the cabinet structure 5. The cover front wall 9 has a cover front face 35 which faces the storage space 2. At a lower side of the cover front wall 9, there are connection arrangements 29a, 29b on the cover front face 35 of the cover front wall 9 which faces the storage space 2. In other words, on the cover front wall 9, there is a first connection arrangement 29a and a second connection arrangement 29b provided in a distanced manner to each other in the width direction x. At the lower side of the compartment cover 8, there is moreover an air suctioning opening 36 opened from the storage space 2 to the receiving space 11 in order to provide guidance of the air, suctioned from the storage space 2, to the evaporator 7. The air suctioning opening 36 is embodied at a region of the cover front wall 9 which remains between the connection arrangements 29a, 29b. At an upper side of the cover front wall 9 which exists at the opposite side to the lower side of the cover front wall 9, there are the connection slotted extensions 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, namely, a first connection slotted extension 38a, a second connection slotted extension 38b, a third connection slotted extension 38c and a fourth connection slotted extension 38d. There is an air output opening 37, through which the cool air is output to the storage space 2, at the upper side of the cover front wall 9. The air output opening 37 has a form which is essentially similar to a semilunar form. The wall parts 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are provided in a manner extending from the cover front wall 9 towards the side where the cabinet wall 28 is disposed. The cover upper wall part 10a is embodied to have a step form in terms of design. The cover side wall parts 10c, 10d are wall parts provided to be in an essentially parallel plane to the cabinet side walls. The cover side walls parts 10c, 10d can be provided in a manner resting to the related cabinet side wall. On the cover side wall parts 10c, 10d, there is a related holder tab 39a, 39b. In other words, the first cover side wall part 10c has a first holder tab 39a, and in a similar manner, the second cover side wall part 10d has a second holder tab 39b. When the insulation element 40 is pushed towards the receiving space 11, the holder tabs 39a, 39b have a flexible structure in a manner allowing passage of the insulation element 40. Moreover, as shall be seen in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, at the side walls of the insulation element 40, there is a related tab guiding part 57a, 57b in a manner corresponding to the holder tabs 39a, 39b. In other words, there is a first tab guiding part 57a in a manner corresponding to the first holder tab 39a and there is a second tab guiding part 57b in a manner corresponding to the second holder tab 39b. Said tab guiding parts 57a, 57b are configured to facilitate placement of the insulation element 40 to the receiving space 11. The tab guiding parts 57a, 57b can have an inclined form in order to be able to realize said function. When the insulation element 40 is placed into the receiving space 11, as the holder tabs 39a, 39b are rested onto a face of the insulation element 40 which faces the cabinet wall 28, separation of the insulation element 40 from the receiving space 11 or displacement of the insulation element 40 inside the receiving space 11 is prevented.

With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the insulation element 40 has a related corresponding connection hole 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d through which the connection slotted extensions 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d can pass. In other words, when the insulation element 40 is placed into the receiving space 11, the first connection slotted extension 38a corresponds to a first corresponding connection hole 46a, the second connection slotted extension 38b corresponds to a second corresponding connection hole 46b, the third connection slotted extension 38c corresponds to a third corresponding connection hole 46c, and the fourth connection slotted extension 38d corresponds to a fourth corresponding connection hole 46d. In other words, the connection slotted extensions 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d are placed to the related connection hole 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d or pass through the related connection hole 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d. By means of this, the insulation element 40 is placed to the receiving space 11 in a stable manner. As shall be seen in FIG. 5, at the lower side of the insulation element 40, the evaporator receiving space 42, where the evaporator arrangement 6 comprising the evaporator 7 is at least partially placed, is defined at the lower side of the insulation element 40. As shall be seen in FIG. 6, the evaporator arrangement 6 is provided in a manner at least partially placing to the evaporator receiving space 42. There is a housing corresponding to fan 51 embodied to correspond to a fan not illustrated in the figures which exists in the system in order to guide the air at the upper side of the insulation element 40. The housing which corresponds to fan 51 is designed in a manner having a housing form which is essentially similar to triangular shape. At the upper side of the insulation element 40, moreover, there is a second air guiding channel 52 associated with the air feeding openings 50 and there is a first air guiding channel 45 associated with the air output opening 37.

With reference to FIG. 12, as also mentioned before, on the insulation element 40, there are the related connection holes 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d provided in a manner corresponding to the connection slotted extensions 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d of the compartment cover 8. In similar manner, on the insulation element 40, there is a first corresponding air suctioning opening 55 in a manner corresponding to the air suctioning opening 36. At the insulation element 40, moreover, there is a corresponding air output opening 54 which corresponds to the air output opening 37 of the compartment cover 8. As shall be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the compartment cover 8 preferably comprises two sealing embodiments 15. Said two sealing embodiments 15 are identical with each other. The sealing embodiments 15 are provided in at least one part of the related edge parts 12. On the other hand, a thin insulation layer 53, for instance an aluminum foil is adhered to the face of the insulation element 40 which faces the cabinet wall 28 and to the evaporator receiving space 42. Said insulation layer 53 improves the insulation between the evaporator receiving space 42 and the storage space 2. The insulation layer 53 is shaped and dimensioned in accordance with the compartment cover 8 and the insulation element 40. On the insulation layer 53, there is the air suctioning opening 36 and there is a second corresponding air suctioning opening 56 provided in a manner corresponding to the first corresponding air suctioning opening 55. The air, suctioned from the storage space 2, reaches the evaporator receiving space 42 by passing respectively through the air suctioning opening 36, the first corresponding air suctioning opening 55 and the second corresponding air suctioning opening 56. Then, by means of the heat transfer which takes place in the evaporator 7 by passing through the evaporator 7 in the height direction z, the temperature decreases, and the cooled air whose temperature decreases is guided to the related compartment, which exists in the storage space 2, by means of the first air guiding channel 45 and the second air guiding channel 52. For instance, the cool air, which passes through the first air guiding channel 45, can be guided to a compartment, which exists in the storage space 2 and wherein an ice making device is disposed, by means of the air output opening 37. On a face of the part of the insulation element 40, which exists at an upper side of the evaporator 7 with respect to the height direction z, which faces the cabinet wall 28, there is a first flexible element 41, particularly a sponge element shaped and dimensioned in a manner close to a cover upper wall part 10a and cover side wall parts 10c, 10d of the compartment cover 8 which are far from the evaporator 7. Since there is a sufficient planar area at the upper side of the evaporator arrangement 6, the air insulation that exists at the upper side of the compartment cover 8 can be provided in a lower cost manner by using the first flexible element 41. As can be seen in Detail A shown in FIG. 6, the first flexible element 41 has an overlapping part 60 where the first flexible element 41 overlaps in the height direction z with the related sealing embodiments 15 at the sides thereof which are close to the sealing embodiments 15 which exist at the cover side wall parts 10c, 10d. The first flexible element 41 overlaps with the sealing embodiment 15 in the width direction x, in the overlapping part 60. By means of this, occurrence of a space which may lead to air permeability in the height direction z between the first flexible element 41 and the related sealing embodiment 15 is prevented. As shall be seen in FIG. 8, the compartment cover 8 seats to a base wall 43 which is essentially in a parallel plane to the ground where the device is seating. Between the compartment cover 8 and the base wall 43, as shall be seen in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, there is a second flexible element 58, particularly a sponge element.

With reference to FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, the sealing embodiment 15 has a holder item 16, or simply holder 16, retained in a removable manner at a related edge part 12 of the related wall parts which is close to the cabinet wall 28, and a seal 17, for instance a gasket provided at the continuation of the holder 16 and which can flex when it contacts the cabinet wall 28. The holder 16 comprises connection extensions 19a, 19b, namely a first connection extension 19a and a second connection extension 19b provided mutually to each other such that a wall receiving part 18, where the related edge part 12 can be placed, is disposed in between. Said connection extensions 19a, 19b are extensions which extend longitudinally in the sealing embodiment 15. The connection extensions 19a, 19b are extensions which are identical with each other. Thus, a symmetrical holder item 16 is provided, and by means of this, retaining of the sealing embodiment 15 at faulty direction or position is prevented. In other words, even though the sealing embodiment 15 is rotated 180° from a vertical position, it can be retained to the related edge part 12. At the regions of the cover side wall parts 10c, 10d which are close to the edge parts 12, there is a related retaining protrusion 13a, 13b, namely, a first retaining protrusion 13a and a second retaining protrusion 13b. The retaining protrusions 13a, 13b are provided in a manner extending longitudinally in the height direction z at the related edge part 12. The retaining protrusions 13a, 13b exist on the outer faces of the related edge part 12 which face outwardly. The related connection extensions 19a, 19b comprise a related recess part 22a, 22b, namely, a first recess part 22a and a second recess part 22b corresponding to the retaining protrusions 13a, 13b. Said recess parts 22a, 22b extend longitudinally at the related connection extensions 19a, 19b. At a condition where the sealing embodiment 15 is retained to the related edge part 12, the retaining protrusions 13a, 13b are configured to be placed to the related recess parts 22a, 22b. There is a related inclined face 14a, 14b, namely, a first inclined face 14a and a second inclined face 14b at the sides of the retaining protrusions 13a, 13b which are close to the related edge part 12. At a condition where the sealing embodiment 15 is pushed towards the related edge part 12, each of the connection extensions 19a, 19b has a related guiding inner face 20a, 20b, namely a first guiding inner face 20a and a second guiding inner face 20b in order to provide passage of a part of the related connection extension 19a, 19b beyond the related retaining protrusion 13a, 13b and thus in order to provide placement of the retaining protrusions 13a, 13b to the related recess parts 22a, 22b. Said guiding inner faces 20a, 20b are embodied longitudinally at the related connection extensions 19a, 19b. By means of this, the connection extensions 19a, 19b easily hold to the related edge part 12. When the retaining protrusions 13a, 13b are placed to the related recess parts 22a, 22b, the retaining protrusions 13a, 13b realize a stopping function for the related recess parts 22a, 22b. On the other hand, separation of the connection extensions 19a, 19b from the related edge part 12 can be easily provided by applying a little force to the connection extensions 19a, 19b in a manner diverging the connection extensions 19a, 19b from each other. As shall be seen in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the seal 17 has a front contact wall 23 which can contact to the cabinet wall 28 and mutual flexible walls 24a, 24b, which have a flexible structure when the front contact wall 23 contacts to the cabinet wall 28, namely, a first flexible wall 24a and a second flexible wall 24b. The flexible walls 24a, 24b are provided in a manner extending between the front contact wall 23 and a seating base 21 provided in a manner seating to the holder item 16. The seal 17 is arranged to have an inner space 26 defined by the front contact wall 23, the seating base 21 and the flexible walls 24a, 24b. The flexible walls 24a, 24b essentially have a cross-section which is similar to a V-shape. Each of the flexible walls 24a, 24b has a related outer groove 27a, 27b, namely, a first outer groove 27a and a second outer groove 27b, which has a cross-section which is essentially similar to C-shape at the sides which face outwardly. Said outer grooves 27a, 27b are provided in a manner extending longitudinally on the related flexible walls 24a, 24b. By means of this, flexibility is provided to the flexible walls 24a, 24b. The holder item 16 which exists in the subject matter sealing embodiment 15 is made of a plastic material, particularly an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ABS material, and the seal 17 is made of an elastomeric material, for instance, a rubber material. By means of this, the sealing embodiment 15 can be produced easily and in a low-cost manner by means of co-extrusion method by using a single mold. The reason for preferring acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material is that this material provides the required hardness characteristic for the retaining function, and moreover, it provides dimensional precision during production of the holder 16.

As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first connection arrangement 29a and the second connection arrangement 29b are structures arranged identical with each other. Each of the connection arrangements 29a, 29b has a related connection part 30a, 30b. In other words, the first connection arrangement 29a has a first connection part 30a and the second connection arrangement 29b has a second connection part 30b. The connection parts 30a, 30b are embodied as an extension. The first connection part 30a has a first connection housing 31a through which a related connection element 47 passes, and the second connection part 30b has a second connection housing 31b through which the related connection element 47 passes. The connection housings 31a, 31b are housing parts provided in a manner extending in a crosswise direction c towards the base wall 43. The connection element 47 which passes in crosswise direction c through the related connection housings 31a, 31b can be a removable connection element, particularly a bolt or a screw. The connection housings 31a, 31b are configured to provide passage of the related connection element 47 through each of the connection arrangements 29a, 29b in crosswise direction c in order to connect the compartment cover 8 to the base wall 43. The connection housings 31a, 31b have a related passage hole 48 at the sides thereof which face the base wall 43. There is a corresponding connection housing 49 in a manner corresponding to the related passage hole 48 on the base wall 43. The connection element 47 passes in crosswise direction c through the related connection housing 31a, 31b and through the passage hole 48 and are connecting to the related corresponding connection housing 49. By means of this, by means of a horizontal force component F1 of a connection force F provided by the connection element 47 in crosswise direction, the sealing embodiment 15 is compressed in a manner providing air insulation. By means of an orthogonal force component F2 of the connection force F provided by the connection element 47 in crosswise direction c, the second flexible element 58 is compressed in a manner providing air insulation. On the other hand, each of the connection arrangements 29a, 29b comprises a lower wall 34, which seats to the base wall 43, and more than one support ribs 33 provided in a manner extending from the related lower wall 34 or from the related connection part 30a, 30b. By means of the support ribs 33, the resistance of the related connection part 30a, 30b against loads is increased, and undesired separation of the related connection part 30a, 30b from the cover front face 35 is prevented. Moreover, by means of the support ribs 33, the connection parts 30a, 30b can be produced in a single plastic injection mold in a one-piece construction with the compartment cover 8.

The fixation of the compartment cover 8 to the cabinet structure 5 is as follows: firstly, the insulation element 40 is placed to the receiving space 11 of the compartment cover 8, and then, the first flexible element 41 and the second flexible element 58 are adhered to the related parts, and the sealing embodiments 15 are retained to the related edge parts 12. In this manner, the compartment cover 8 made ready outside the device is positioned in a manner close to the cabinet wall 28 where the evaporator arrangement 6 is disposed, and in a manner seating to the base wall 43. Meanwhile, the seal 17 which exists in the sealing embodiment 15 exists in a first condition I as shall be seen in FIG. 17A. In the first condition I, the seal 17 has not been compressed yet, namely it is in non-flexed condition. In the first condition I, the front contact wall 23 of the seal 17 does not yet contact to the cabinet wall 28 or a very small amount contacts to the cabinet wall 28 by means of the contact face 59. In this case, the front contact wall 23 exists in a curved form. Then, the related connection elements 47 are passed through the related connection housings 31a, 31b, and the compartment cover 8 is fixed to the base wall 43. On the other hand, by passing a related connection element not illustrated in the figures through the related connection slotted extensions 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, the compartment cover 8 is fixed to the cabinet wall 28. In order to fix the compartment cover 8 to the base wall 43 and to the cabinet wall 28, the seal 17 passes from the first condition I to a second condition II, as shall be seen in FIG. 17B, by means of the connection forces applied through different regions of the compartment cover 8. In the second condition II, the seal 17 is in compressed, namely flexed condition. In this condition, the front contact wall 23 is pushed towards the cabinet wall 28 and now it contacts to the cabinet wall 28. In the second condition II, the contact face 59 area of the front contact wall 23 which contacts to the cabinet wall 28 is increased. Moreover, as the front contact wall 23 contacts to the cabinet wall 28, it is subjected to a recoverable shape change, and the flexible walls 24a, 24b are compressed by means of a compression force S provided by this shape change and by the connection forces. By means of this compression, an improved air insulation is provided in the parts that exist between the related edge parts 12 and the cabinet wall 28. In a similar manner, also at the parts where the first flexible element 41 and the second flexible element 58 are positioned, the first flexible element 41 and the second flexible element 58 are also compressed by means of the thrust provided by the connection forces, an improved air insulation is provided at these parts. By means of the improved air insulation, air losses of the isolated cooling system which exists in the evaporator receiving space 42 are reduced. In a condition where the sealing embodiments 15 should be subjected to maintenance and should be replaced, first of all, all connection elements which connect the compartment cover 8 to the base wall 43 and to the cabinet wall 28 should be dismantled. Then, the sealing embodiments 15 pass from the second condition II to the first condition I. In order to separate the sealing embodiments 15 from the related edge part 12 by applying a drawing force to the sealing embodiments 15, it will be sufficient to pass the recess parts 22a, 22b from the related retaining protrusions 13a, 13b. This can be easily realized by flexing to an extent in a manner diverging the connection extensions 19a, 19b from each other.

It should be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and should not be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

• • 1 cooling device
  • 2 storage space
  • 3 access opening
  • 4 body
  • 5 cabinet structure
  • 6 evaporator arrangement
  • 7 evaporator
  • 8 compartment cover
  • 9 cover front wall
  • 10a cover upper wall part
  • 10b cover lower wall part
  • 10c first cover side wall part
  • 10d second cover side wall part
  • 11 receiving space
  • 12 edge part
  • 13a first retaining protrusion
  • 13b second retaining protrusion
  • 14a first inclined face
  • 14b second inclined face
  • 15 sealing embodiment
  • 16 holder item, holder
  • 17 sealing item, seal
  • 18 wall receiving part
  • 19a first connection extension
  • 19b second connection extension
  • 20a first guiding inner face
  • 20b second guiding inner face
  • 21 seating base
  • 22a first recess part
  • 22b second recess part
  • 23 front contact wall
  • 24a first flexible wall
  • 24b second flexible wall
  • 26 inner space
  • 27a first outer groove
  • 27b second outer groove
  • 28 cabinet wall
  • 29a first connection arrangement
  • 29b second connection arrangement
  • 30a first connection part
  • 30b second connection part
  • 31a first connection housing
  • 31b second connection housing
  • 33 support rib
  • 34 lower wall
  • 35 cover front face
  • 36 air suctioning opening
  • 37 air output opening
  • 38a first connection slotted extension
  • 38b second connection slotted extension
  • 38c third connection slotted extension
  • 38d fourth connection slotted extension
  • 39a first holder tab
  • 39b second holder tab
  • 40 insulation element
  • 41 first flexible element
  • 42 evaporator receiving space
  • 43 base wall
  • 44 bypass preventing part
  • 45 first air guiding channel
  • 46a first corresponding connection hole
  • 46b second corresponding connection hole
  • 46c third corresponding connection hole
  • 46d fourth corresponding connection hole
  • 47 connection element
  • 48 passage hole
  • 49 corresponding connection housing
  • 50 air feeding opening
  • 51 housing corresponding to fan
  • 52 second air guiding channel
  • 53 insulation layer
  • 54 corresponding air output opening
  • 55 first corresponding air suctioning opening
  • 56 second corresponding air suctioning opening
  • 57a first tab guiding part
  • 57b second tab guiding part
  • 58 second flexible element
  • 59 contact face
  • 60 overlapping part
  • I first condition
  • II second condition
  • F connection force
  • F1 horizontal force component
  • F2 orthogonal force component
  • S Compression force
  • A Detail A
  • x width direction
  • y depth direction
  • z height direction
  • c crosswise direction