Defrost chamber within freezer compartment

Abstract

An improved defrost chamber is disposed with the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, removing the need to relocate a food item prior to thawing. The defrost chamber has at least one wall configured to heat the interior. A control unit is in electric communication with and adapted to supply a voltage to the wall(s). The control unit has a timer to initiate or terminate the defrosting operation. The wall(s) may comprise a glass panel associated with electrically conductive material. The control unit may independently control the heat supplied to each of the walls. The control unit may be remotely controllable by a user. One or more vents associated with the defrosting chamber may be open in a non-use configuration and closed in a use configuration. The defrost chamber may be removable from the freezer compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment;   a defrost chamber within the freezer compartment, the defrost chamber comprising:
 (a) opposite side surfaces; 
 (b) a back surface opposite a front surface; 
 (c) a top surface; 
 (d) an electrically conductive bottom surface; and 
   a control unit in electric communication with the electrically conductive bottom surface and adapted to supply a voltage to the electrically conductive bottom surface.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface further comprises:
 an electrically conductive top surface;   wherein the control unit is in electric communication with the electrically conductive top surface and adapted to apply a voltage to the electrically conductive top surface.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  wherein the electrically conductive bottom surface and the electrically conductive top surface are independently controllable. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more vents associated with one or both of the opposite side walls;   wherein the one or more vents are open in a non-use configuration,   wherein the one or more vents are closed in a use configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4  wherein the control unit is configured to open the one or more vents in the use configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more settings associated with the control unit,   wherein the one or more settings are remotely controllable by a user.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the defrost chamber is selectively removable from the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein control unit further comprises:
 a time setting associated with the control unit to initiate operation of the defrost chamber in a non-use configuration; and 
 a timer associated with the control unit to cease operation of the defrost chamber in a use configuration. 
 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  wherein the wherein the electrically conductive top surface is configured to be selectively opened. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment;   a defrost chamber within the freezer compartment, the defrost chamber having an interior and a wall configured to heat the interior of the defrost chamber; and   a control unit in electric communication with the wall, the control unit having a timer to initiate or terminate a defrosting operation.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11  wherein the wall further comprises:
 a glass panel associated with electrically conductive material on a surface of the glass panel external to the interior of the defrost chamber. 
 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a low emissivity glass panel disposed external to the defrost chamber, parallel to the wall, and within the freezer compartment; and   an air gap between the wall and the low emissivity glass panel.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 11  wherein the defrost chamber is insulated from the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 11  further comprising:
 one or more vents associated with the defrost chamber, 
 wherein the one or more vents are open in a non-use configuration, 
 wherein the one or more vents are closed in a use configuration. 
 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator cabinet having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment;   a defrost chamber within the freezer compartment, the defrost chamber having an interior defined within:
 (a) opposite side walls, at least one of the opposite side walls having one or more vents; 
 (b) a top panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface is associated with electrically conductive material; 
 (c) a bottom panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface is associated with electrically conductive material; 
 (d) a back wall opposite a front panel. 
   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a control unit having a timer control and adapted to:
 (a) supply a voltage to the electrically conductive material associated with the top panel and the electrically conductive material associated with the bottom panel; and 
 (b) open and close the one or more vents. 
   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  wherein the electrically conductive material associated with the top panel and the electrically conductive material associated with the bottom panel are independently controllable. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17  wherein the control unit is remotely controllable through one of the following:
 (a) wireless connection; 
 (b) Internet connection; and 
 (c) electronic mail. 
 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  wherein the defrost chamber is selectively removable from the freezer compartment.