US 11,719,482 B2
Air filtration system for antimicrobial refrigerators
Ermanno Buzzi, Varese (IT); Gabriele Candiani, Milan (IT); Alberto Cigada, Milan (IT); Fabio Andrea Cigada, Milan (IT); Luigi De Nardo, Milan (IT); Muhammad Khizar, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Maria Paola Pirovano, Molteno (IT)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on May 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/334,197.
Application 17/334,197 is a continuation of application No. 16/115,836, filed on Aug. 29, 2018, granted, now 11,022,361.
Prior Publication US 2021/0285713 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25D 17/04 (2006.01); F25D 17/06 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 17/042 (2013.01) [F25D 17/065 (2013.01); F25D 2317/041 (2013.01); F25D 2317/0415 (2013.01); F25D 2317/0417 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator comprising:
a rear assembly panel coupled with an assembly cover panel, the assembly cover panel including at least one vent;
at least one circulation fan positioned between the rear assembly panel and the assembly cover panel and proximate the at least one vent;
a filter positioned between the rear assembly panel and the assembly cover panel and coupled to a photocatalyst to form an activated carbon filter;
a light-emitting diode (LED) panel assembly including a plurality of LEDs positioned on the rear assembly panel, the LED panel assembly positioned to project light on the activated carbon filter; and
an air circulation path extending through the at least one vent and the activated carbon filter, wherein the at least one circulation fan is configured to direct air along the air circulation path, and the activated carbon filter is configured to filter airborne bacteria and particulate matter from the air as the air passes through the activated carbon filter.
 
17. An antibacterial fan assembly comprising:
a rear assembly panel coupled with an interior wall of an appliance;
an assembly cover panel coupled with the rear assembly panel to form a housing, wherein the assembly cover panel includes a central portion extending between first and second distal portions, and further wherein the first and second distal portions of the assembly cover panel each include an air intake and the central portion of the assembly cover panel includes an air exhaust;
at least one circulation fan positioned between the rear assembly panel and assembly cover panel, wherein each of the circulation fans is aligned with a corresponding one of the air intakes;
an activated filter positioned proximate, and in circulation with, the air exhaust and having a photocatalyst and an activated carbon, wherein the photocatalyst is a titanium oxide (TiO2) doped sol gel film; and
at least one light-emitting diode (LED) positioned to project light on the activated filter.