IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,563,911
Granted Patent B2
US 10,563,911 · App. 15/849,754 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Cold storage assembly

Inventor: Suzanne Grant (Charlotte, NC)
F25D25/024A47F3/0434F25D23/026F25D29/003F25D25/04F25D2400/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,563,911
App. No.
15/849,754
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cold storage assembly for viewing and accessing frozen goods includes a box, a cooling module, and a lid. The box defines an interior space, is insulated, and has a top that is open. The cooling module is coupled to the box is configured to lower the temperature of the interior space. A shelving module is slidably coupled to the box and is positioned in the interior space. An actuator that is operationally coupled to the shelving module is positioned to selectively lift the shelving module from the interior space so that a user is positioned to selectively position articles on the shelving module. A first window is positioned in a front of the box to allow the user to view the articles that are positioned on the shelving module within the interior space. The lid, which is insulated, is selectively couplable to the box to close the top.

Claims (66)

1. A cold storage assembly comprising:

a box defining an interior space, said box being insulated, said box having a top, said top being open;

a cooling module coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said cooling module be configured for lowering the temperature of said interior space;

a shelving module slidably coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space;

an actuator coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said actuator being operationally coupled to said shelving module;

a first window positioned in a front of said box;

a lid selectively couplable to said box for closing said top, said lid being insulated;

wherein said actuator is positioned in said box such that said actuator is positioned for selectively lifting said shelving module from said interior space such that a user is positioned for selectively positioning articles on said shelving module, wherein said first window is positioned in said front such that said first window is configured for viewing the articles positioned on said shelving module within said interior space;

a first housing coupled to a bottom of said box and positioned in said interior space, said first housing defining a first internal space, said first housing being insulated;

a plurality of slots positioned through said box adjacent to said first housing;

said cooling module comprising a compressor coupled to said first housing and positioned in said first internal space;

wherein said slots are positioned in said box such that said slots are configured for venting said first internal space;

a second housing coupled to a back of said box, said second housing defining a second internal space, said second housing being open-topped, said second internal space being substantially complementary to said lid;

a pair of second tracks, each said second track being positioned in said second internal space and coupled to a respective opposing edge of said second housing;

a pair of hinges, each said hinge being coupled to said lid and slidably coupled to an associated said second track; and

wherein said hinges are positioned on said lid such that said lid is positioned for pivoting relative to said top for opening said box, such that each said hinge is positioned for sliding within said associated said second track such that said lid is inserted into said second internal space.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

said shelving module comprising:

a plurality of first panels, said first panels being rectangularly shaped, and

a set of four brackets, said brackets being L-shaped when viewed longitudinally, each said bracket being coupled to a respective corner of each said first panel, said plurality of first panels being horizontally arrayed between a lower end and an upper end of said shelving module defining a plurality of shelves;

a set of four first tracks coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said first tracks being complementary to said brackets; and

wherein said first tracks are positioned in said box such that each said first track is positioned for slidably engaging an associated said bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , further including said plurality of first panels comprising three said first panels.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , further including a plurality of second panels, each said second panel being coupled to and extending perpendicularly from a respective edge of an associated said first panel, wherein said second panels are positioned on said first panels such that each said shelf is open-top box shaped.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , further including said actuator comprising:

a motor coupled to said shelving module adjacent to a lower end of said shelving module;

a shaft coupled to and extending from said motor;

a pinion gear coupled to said shaft;

a rack gear coupled to said box, said rack gear being gearedly coupled to said pinion gear; and

wherein said pinion gear is positioned on said shaft such that said motor is positioned for selectively rotating said pinion gear such that said pinion gear is urged vertically along said rack gear for motivating said shelving module vertically relative to said box.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further including said rack gear being positioned on a back of said box substantially equally distant from opposing sides of said box.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cable coupled to said box, said cable being operationally coupled to said cooling module and said actuator, said cable being configured for coupling said cooling module and said actuator to a source of electrical current;

a controller coupled to an exterior of said box, said controller being operationally coupled to said actuator and said cable; and

wherein said controller is positioned on said box such that said controller is positioned for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for selectively lifting said shelving module from said interior space.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , further including said controller comprising a first button and a second button, said first button and said second button being depressible, wherein said first button is positioned on said box such that said first button is configured for depressing for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for lifting said shelving module from said interior space such that the user is positioned for selectively positioning the articles on said shelving module, wherein said second button is positioned on said box such that said second button is configured for depressing for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for lowering said shelving module into said interior space.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , further including said first window being dual-paned, said first window being rectangularly shaped.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , further including said first window being octagonally shaped.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a second window positioned in said lid, wherein said second window is positioned in said lid such that said second window is configured for viewing of the articles positioned on said shelving module positioned in said interior space, said second window being dual-paned, said second window being rectangularly shaped.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , further including said second window being octagonally shaped.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a handle coupled to said lid, wherein said handle is positioned on said lid such that said handle is configured for grasping in a hand of the user for pivoting said lid relative to said top for opening said box and for selectively inserting said lid into said second internal space.

14. A cold storage assembly comprising:

a box defining an interior space, said box being insulated, said box having a top, said top being open;

a first housing coupled to a bottom of said box and positioned in said interior space, said first housing defining a first internal space, said first housing being insulated;

a plurality of slots positioned through said box adjacent to said first housing, wherein said slots are positioned in said box such that said slots are configured for venting said first internal space;

a cooling module coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said cooling module be configured for lowering the temperature of said interior space, said cooling module comprising a compressor coupled to said first housing and positioned in said first internal space;

a shelving module slidably coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said shelving module comprising:

a plurality of first panels, said first panels being rectangularly shaped, said plurality of first panels comprising three said first panels,

a set of four brackets, said brackets being L-shaped when viewed longitudinally, each said bracket being coupled to a respective corner of each said first panel, said plurality of first panels being horizontally arrayed between a lower end and an upper end of said shelving module defining a plurality of shelves, and

a plurality of second panels, each said second panel being coupled to and extending perpendicularly from a respective edge of an associated said first panel, wherein said second panels are positioned on said first panels such that each said shelf is open-top box shaped;

a set of four first tracks coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said first tracks being complementary to said brackets, wherein said first tracks are positioned in said box such that each said first track is positioned for slidably engaging an associated said bracket;

an actuator coupled to said box and positioned in said interior space, said actuator being operationally coupled to said shelving module, wherein said actuator is positioned in said box such that said actuator is positioned for selectively lifting said shelving module from said interior space such that a user is positioned for selectively positioning articles on said shelving module, said actuator comprising:

a motor coupled to said shelving module adjacent to said lower end of said shelving module,

a shaft coupled to and extending from said motor,

a pinion gear coupled to said shaft, and

a rack gear coupled to said box, said rack gear being gearedly coupled to said pinion gear, wherein said pinion gear is positioned on said shaft such that said motor is positioned for selectively rotating said pinion gear such that said pinion gear is urged vertically along said rack gear for motivating said shelving module vertically relative to said box, said rack gear being positioned on a back of said box substantially equally distant from opposing sides of said box;

a cable coupled to said box, said cable being operationally coupled to said cooling module and said actuator, said cable being configured for coupling said cooling module and said actuator to a source of electrical current;

a controller coupled to an exterior of said box, said controller being operationally coupled to said actuator and said cable, wherein said controller is positioned on said box such that said controller is positioned for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for selectively lifting said shelving module from said interior space, said controller comprising a first button and a second button, said first button and said second button being depressible, wherein said first button is positioned on said box such that said first button is configured for depressing for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for lifting said shelving module from said interior space such that the user is positioned for selectively positioning the articles on said shelving module, wherein said second button is positioned on said box such that said second button is configured for depressing for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for lowering said shelving module into said interior space;

a first window positioned in a front of said box, wherein said first window is positioned in said front such that said first window is configured for viewing the articles positioned on said shelving module within said interior space, said first window being dual-paned, said first window being rectangularly shaped, said first window being octagonally shaped;

a lid selectively couplable to said box for closing said top, said lid being insulated;

a second housing coupled to said back of said box, said second housing defining a second internal space, said second housing being open-topped, said second internal space being substantially complementary to said lid;

a pair of second tracks, each said second track being positioned in said second internal space and coupled to a respective opposing edge of said second housing;

a pair of hinges, each said hinge being coupled to said lid and slidably coupled to an associated said second track, wherein said hinges are positioned on said lid such that said lid is positioned for pivoting relative to said top for opening said box, such that each said hinge is positioned for sliding within said associated said second track such that said lid is inserted into said second internal space;

a second window positioned in said lid, wherein said second window is positioned in said lid such that said second window is configured for viewing the articles positioned on said shelving module positioned in said interior space, said second window being dual-paned, said second window being rectangularly shaped, said second window being octagonally shaped;

a handle coupled to said lid, wherein said handle is positioned on said lid such that said handle is configured for grasping in a hand of the user for pivoting said lid relative to said top for opening said box and for selectively inserting said lid into said second internal space; and

wherein said handle is positioned on said lid such that said handle is configured for grasping in the hand of the user for pivoting said lid relative to said top for opening said box and for selectively inserting said lid into said second internal space, wherein said first button is positioned on said box such that said first button is configured for depressing for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for selectively rotating said pinion gear such that said pinion gear is urged vertically along said rack gear for motivating said shelving module vertically relative to said box such that the user is positioned for selectively positioning the articles on said shelving module, wherein said second button is positioned on said box such that said second button is configured for depressing for selectively coupling said actuator to said cable for lowering said shelving module into said interior space, wherein said first window is positioned in said front and said second window is positioned in said lid such that said first window and said second window are configured for viewing the articles positioned on said shelving module within said interior space.

Continuity (1)
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