Convection barrier

Abstract

A convection barrier for a freezer is disclosed. The convection barrier may include a foil having at least one opening therein, storage and transport means for storing and moving the foil so as to transport the at least one opening to a desired position allowing access through the at least one opening to the interior of the freezer at the desired position and tensioning means for continuously keeping the foil in a tensioned state.

1 . A convection barrier for a freezer, comprising:
 a foil having at least one opening;   storage and transport means for storing and moving the foil to transport the at least one opening to a desired position to allow access through the at least one opening to the interior of the freezer at the desired position, and   tensioning means for continuously keeping the foil in a tensioned state.   
   
   
       2 . The convection barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage and transport means further comprise two reels to which the ends of the foil are mounted and between which the foil extends, as well as a drive for rotating the reels so as to wind up or unwind the foil to transport the at least one opening to the desired position. 
   
   
       3 . The convection barrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame, the frame being insertable in the foil at a location between the ends of the foil such that the at least one opening for allowing access to the interior of the freezer can be transported to the desired position. 
   
   
       4 . The convection barrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive has a motor connected to one of the two reels and the tensioning means has a return spring connected to the other one of the two reels for continuously keeping the foil in a tensioned state. 
   
   
       5 . The convection barrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the drive further comprises a belt engaging both of the two reels and the return spring has a low spring rate. 
   
   
       6 . The convection barrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the return spring has a high spring rate. 
   
   
       7 . The convection barrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the return spring is a torsion spring. 
   
   
       8 . The convection barrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive and the tensioning means comprise two motors, one of the two motors being connected to one of the two reels and the other motor being connected to the other one of the two reels and a control unit for operating the two motors in an asynchronous manner so as to continuously keep the foil in a tensioned state. 
   
   
       9 . The convection barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the foil is made from polytetrafluoroethylene. 
   
   
       10 . A freezer comprising a housing and a door, the housing having an opening allowing access to the interior of the freezer through the opening when the door of the freezer is open, wherein the convection barrier of  claim 1  is arranged on the freezer such that the opening allowing access to the interior of the freezer is covered by the foil. 
   
   
       11 . The freezer according to  claim 10 , wherein one or more motors or a belt of the convection barrier are mounted to the freezer outside its housing.