Cooling device, and chilled goods support thereof

Abstract

A chilled goods support for a cooling device comprising a liquid crystal temperature display unit. A supporting element of said chilled goods support is used as a thermal buffer to which the liquid crystal temperature display unit is fixed in a planar manner.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A chilled goods support for a cooling device comprising a liquid crystal temperature display, wherein a supporting element of the chilled goods support acts as a thermal buffer to which the liquid crystal temperature display unit is fixed in a planar manner. 
   
   
       12 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermal buffer is formed by a frame mounted on a plate of the chilled goods support. 
   
   
       13 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 12 , wherein the liquid crystal temperature display unit is attached to an outer side of the frame oriented obliquely to the plate. 
   
   
       14 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the frame which supports the liquid crystal temperature display unit is an extruded profile. 
   
   
       15 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 12 , wherein the frame is injection molded on the plate in one piece. 
   
   
       16 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid crystal temperature display unit is back-molded with the supporting element. 
   
   
       17 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid crystal temperature display unit is divided into a plurality of discrete elements with different color change temperatures. 
   
   
       18 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid crystal temperature display unit comprises a display zone in which a transition zone is continuously movable between a low-temperature color and a high-temperature color depending on temperature. 
   
   
       19 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 18 , wherein reference marks are formed on the supporting element adjacent to the display zone. 
   
   
       20 . The chilled goods support according to  claim 18 , wherein the cooling device comprises an interior enclosed by a heat-insulating housing. 
   
   
       21 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a housing having side walls and a compartment disposed within the compartment;   a door coupled to the housing for opening and closing the compartment;   a chilled goods support for supporting goods within the compartment and at least partially defining a region within the compartment, the chilled goods support extending between the side walls and including a front edge facing the door and having a downwardly sloping surface; and   a liquid crystal temperature display unit disposed on the sloping surface of the chilled goods support indicating the temperature within the region.   
   
   
       22 . The refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein the chilled goods support includes a plate and a frame extending around the perimeter of the plate. 
   
   
       23 . The refrigerator according to  claim 22 , wherein the plate is formed from a glass material and the frame is formed from a plastic material injection molded on the plate in one piece. 
   
   
       24 . The refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein the liquid crystal temperature display unit is divided into a plurality of discrete elements that change color change in response to the temperature within the region. 
   
   
       25 . The refrigerator according to  claim 24 , wherein the color of the liquid crystal temperature display unit indicates a type of chilled good that is suitable to be stored on the chilled goods support. 
   
   
       26 . The refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein the liquid crystal temperature display unit comprises a display zone in which a transition zone is continuously movable between a low-temperature color and a high-temperature color depending on temperature. 
   
   
       27 . The refrigerator according to  claim 26 , further comprising reference marks formed adjacent to the display zone. 
   
   
       28 . The refrigerator according to  claim 21 , further comprising multiple chilled goods supports at least partially defining corresponding regions above each chilled goods support, each chilled goods support including a front edge with a downwardly sloping surface and a liquid crystal temperature display unit disposed on the sloping surface, the temperature display unit indicating the temperature within the corresponding region. 
   
   
       29 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a housing having side walls and a compartment disposed within the compartment;   a door coupled to the housing for opening and closing the compartment;   a plurality of chilled goods supports extending between the side walls and spaced vertically apart from one another within the compartment, each chilled goods support at least partially defining a corresponding region above the respective chilled goods support and including a front edge with a downwardly sloping surface;   a liquid crystal temperature display unit disposed on the downwardly sloping surface of each chilled goods support indicating the temperature within the corresponding region, each liquid crystal temperature display unit changing color in response to the temperature within the corresponding region wherein the color of the liquid crystal temperature display unit indicates a type of chilled good that is suitable to be stored on that respective chilled goods support.   
   
   
       30 . The refrigerator according to  claim 29 , wherein the chilled goods support includes a plate formed from a glass material and a frame extending around the perimeter of the plate and being formed from a plastic material injection molded on the plate in one piece.