A domestic cooling device with shock freezing

Abstract

A domestic cooling device includes a freezing compartment, at least one chamber which is provided inside the freezing compartment and has at least one partially closed inner space, and at least one air intake opening transferring cool air into the chamber. At least one carrier element receives foodstuff inside the chamber in such a way that there is a clearance between an inner wall of the chamber and the carrier element, permitting air flow on all sides, so that the foodstuff to be frozen is effectively cooled and subjected to a shock freezing process.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A domestic cooling device, comprising:
 a freezing compartment;   at least one chamber disposed inside said freezing compartment, said at least one chamber having an inner wall defining at least one partially closed inner space;   at least one air intake opening for transferring cool air into said at least one chamber; and   at least one carrier element for receiving foodstuff, said at least one carrier element being disposed inside said at least one chamber and providing a clearance between said inner wall of said at least one chamber and said at least one carrier element permitting air flow on all sides of the foodstuff for effectively cooling and subjecting the foodstuff to be frozen to shock freezing.   
     
     
         20 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one carrier element faces said at least one air intake opening. 
     
     
         21 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one air intake opening has an edge, and at least one guidance flap extends at least partially along said edge for guiding the cool air entering into said at least one chamber towards said at least one carrier element. 
     
     
         22 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 21 , wherein said edge of said at least one air intake opening is one of a plurality of edges of said at least one air intake opening, and said at least one guidance flap extends along said plurality of edges of said at least one air intake opening. 
     
     
         23 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one chamber has at least one chamber wall extending in an at least partially inclined manner relative to an air flow direction for guiding the cool air in said at least one chamber towards sections of said at least one carrier element being distant from said at least one air intake opening. 
     
     
         24 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one carrier element has an upper side, and said inner wall of said at least one chamber is a chamber ceiling disposed at said upper side of said at least one carrier element. 
     
     
         25 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one chamber has at least one air output opening permitting the cool air entering into said at least one chamber to exit. 
     
     
         26 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 25 , wherein a total opening area provided for air exiting through said at least one air output opening is smaller than a total opening area provided for air intake by said at least one air intake opening. 
     
     
         27 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 25 , wherein said at least one chamber has a plurality of said air output openings. 
     
     
         28 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 25 , wherein said at least one chamber has a chamber base, and said at least one air output opening is provided in said chamber base. 
     
     
         29 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one carrier element is removable from said at least one chamber. 
     
     
         30 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one chamber is removable from said freezing compartment. 
     
     
         31 . The domestic cooling device according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one carrier element has walls in a grid permitting air intake into said at least one carrier element. 
     
     
         32 . A shock freezing method for a domestic cooling device, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a domestic cooling device including a freezing compartment, at least one chamber inside the freezing compartment, the at least one chamber having an inner wall defining at least one partially closed inner space, at least one air intake opening for transferring cool air into the at least one chamber, at least one carrier element for receiving foodstuff, the at least one carrier element being disposed inside the at least one chamber and providing a clearance between the inner wall of the at least one chamber and the at least one carrier element permitting air flow on all sides of the foodstuff for effectively cooling and subjecting the foodstuff to be frozen to a shock freezing process, and a control panel;   manually placing foodstuff to be subjected to the shock freezing process into the at least one carrier element;   using the control panel to start the shock freezing process and to start counting a process duration;   calculating a shock freezing duration;   comparing the process duration and the shock freezing duration; and   terminating the shock freezing process if the process duration is equal to or greater than the shock freezing duration.   
     
     
         33 . The shock freezing method according to  claim 32 , which further comprises carrying out the step of terminating the shock freezing process when a temperature in the at least one chamber reaches −40° C. or becomes lower than −40° C. 
     
     
         34 . The shock freezing method according to  claim 32 , which further comprises carrying out the step of calculating the shock freezing duration according to a type and amount of the foodstuff to be frozen. 
     
     
         35 . The shock freezing method according to  claim 32 , which further comprises, during the shock freezing process, deactivating air circulation in any compartment of the domestic cooling device except the freezing compartment accommodating the at least one chamber. 
     
     
         36 . The shock freezing method according to  claim 32 , which further comprises, during the shock freezing process, closing air intake openings other than the at least one air intake opening leading to the at least one chamber in the freezing compartment.