Weir screens for refrigerators

Abstract

A refrigerator with a refrigerated interior space can have an air curtain separating air in the refrigerated interior space from air exterior to refrigerator. The air curtain can be established by a fan that blows air though an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet that recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air outlet. A first weir screen can be positioned proximal to the exterior space and a second weir screen can be positioned distal to the exterior space. A channel can be formed between the first weir screen and the second weir screen for receiving air from the air curtain before it is recovered by the air inlet.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerated interior space, air in the refrigerated interior space being separated from air in a space exterior to the refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air through an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet which recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air outlet;   a first weir screen positioned proximal to the exterior space; and   a second weir screen positioned distal to the exterior space, whereby a channel is formed in between the first weir screen and the second weir screen, the channel for receiving air from the air curtain before it is recovered by the air inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second weir screens have respective first edges that are positioned proximal to the air inlet and wherein the first and second weir screens have respective second edges that are positioned distal to the air inlet and wherein the distance between the respective first edges is larger than the distance between the respective second edges. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second weir screens have respective first edges that are positioned proximal to the air inlet and wherein the first and second weir screens have respective second edges that are positioned distal to the air inlet and wherein the distance between the respective first edges is approximately equal to the distance between the respective second edges. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second weir screens have respective first edges that are positioned proximal to the air inlet and wherein the first and second weir screens have respective second edges that are positioned distal to the air inlet and wherein distance between the respective first edges is smaller than the distance between the respective second edges. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the air inlet is covered, such that the surface area of the air inlet for receiving air from the air curtain is reduced. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second weir screen is shaped such that a portion of the weir screen covers a portion of the air inlet, such that the surface area of the air inlet for receiving air from the air curtain is reduced. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first weir screen and/or the second weir screen has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second weir screen has a cross-section that comprises a curve. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second weir screen extends in a vertical direction, with respect to a base of the refrigerator, for a longer distance than the first weir screen. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first weir screen extends in a vertical direction, with respect to a base of the refrigerator, for a longer distance than the second weir screen. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator further comprises an air curtain guide for guiding the flow of air within the air curtain. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the air curtain guide is in the form of an aerofoil. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one light source disposed in the air curtain guide so as to illuminate the interior refrigerated storage space. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the air curtain guide further comprises a front portion, wherein the front portion comprises a housing formed of a transparent plastic material for displaying at least one product label. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator is an open display refrigerator. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 attaching a first weir screen proximal to an exterior space of a refrigerator; and   attaching a second weir screen distal to the exterior space of the refrigerator such that a channel is formed in between the first weir screen and the second weir screen, the channel configured to receive air from an air curtain established by a fan which blows air through an air outlet towards a corresponding air inlet before it is recovered by the air inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigerator is an open display refrigerator.