IP Library Patent Application 12594454
Patent Application
App. No. 12/594,454

REFRIGERATOR

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/594,454
Abstract

A mist atomizer is arranged in a first cooling duct including an outlet for vegetable compartment and an inlet for vegetable compartment. The mist atomizer is arranged near a gap of a lower basket and an upper basket. A refrigerator capable of efficiently collecting transpired moisture from stored food, sufficiently humidifying the interior of the basket, and having higher freshness maintaining property is provided.

Claims (20)

1 . A refrigerator comprising a heat insulating partitioned storage compartment, a basket arranged in the storage compartment, and a mist atomizer arranged in the storage compartment, the mist atomizer condensing moisture in air flowing out from the basket in the storage compartment and atomizing as mist to the storage compartment.

2 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the mist atomizer adopts an ultrasonic method.

3 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the mist atomizer adopts an electrostatic atomizing method.

4 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of baskets arranged in the storage compartment, wherein the mist atomizer is arranged near a gap between the baskets.

5 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a cool air outlet for discharging a cool air of a cooling compartment into the storage compartment, and a cool air inlet for feeding back a cool air that has cooled an interior of the storage compartment to the cooling compartment, the mist atomizer being arranged on a cool air flow path between the cool air outlet and the cool air inlet.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein in the storage compartment including the mist atomizer, the cool air outlet is arranged on an upper side than the mist atomizer and the cool air inlet is arranged on a lower side than the mist atomizer, a distance in an up and down direction of the cool air outlet and the mist atomizer being shorter than a distance of the cool air inlet and the mist atomizer.

11 . The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein in the storage compartment including the mist atomizer, the mist atomizer is arranged on a center line in an up and down direction of the storage compartment or on an upper side than the center line in the up and down direction of the storage compartment.

12 . The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein in the storage compartment including the mist atomizer, the mist atomizer is arranged in the side of the cool air inlet rather than a center in a left and right direction of the storage compartment.

13 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a drying means for drying the mist atomizer.

32 . The refrigerator according to claim 31 , wherein the mist atomizer includes a voltage applier for generating a voltage difference and an atomizing electrode electrically connected to the voltage applier, the drying means drying the atomizing electrode.

33 . The refrigerator according to claim 31 , wherein mist atomization in which the mist atomizer condenses moisture in air and atomizes as mist into the storage compartment, and drying performed by the drying means are repeatedly performed.

34 . The refrigerator according to claim 31 , wherein the drying means dries using dry air.

35 . The refrigerator according to claim 34 , wherein the dry air is a cool air for cooling the storage compartment.

36 . The refrigerator according to claim 34 , further comprising a damper for adjusting amount of wind of the dry air.

37 . The refrigerator according to claim 36 , wherein the mist atomizer performs determination of a high voltage application of the voltage applier in conjunction with an opening/closing operation of the damper.

38 . The refrigerator according to claim 32 , further comprising a cooling fan for conveying cool air from an evaporator for cooling the storage compartment to each storage compartment, the mist atomizer performing determination of a high voltage application of the voltage applier in conjunction with an operation of the cooling fan.

39 - 42 . (canceled)

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2009
From: UEDA, YOSHIHIRO; ADACHI, TADASHI; NAKANISHI, KAZUYA; KAMISAKO, TOYOSHI; TSUJIMOTO, KAHORU; KAKITA, KENICHI; MAMEMOTO, TOSIAKI; KANEHARA, SACHIKO; MORI, KIYOSHI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023628/0940 →