Airflow diverter for a cooling compartment

Abstract

An airflow diverter for a cooling compartment. The airflow diverter is disposed between an evaporator outlet and an evaporator inlet of the cooling compartment, which forms a barrier between the evaporator outlet and evaporator inlet by preventing direct flow of air from the evaporator outlet to the evaporator inlet. Because air is prevented from immediately flowing back to the evaporator inlet from the evaporator outlet, the airflow path of cooled air exiting the evaporator outlet is lengthened. As such, the airflow diverter allows cool air to fully circulate within the cooling compartment before returning to the evaporator inlet. This creates a more efficient cooling system and a more uniform temperature within the cooling compartment

1 . A cooling compartment, comprising:
 a plurality of walls, wherein one of the walls has an evaporator outlet positioned proximate an evaporator inlet; and   an airflow diverter positioned between the evaporator outlet and the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling compartment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airflow diverter is configured to prevent direct flow of air from the evaporator outlet to the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling compartment of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a basket positioned inside the cooling compartment,   wherein the airflow diverter links the basket to the one of the plurality of walls that has the evaporator outlet and the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling compartment of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the basket interior is defined by bottom and side surfaces.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling compartment of  claim 3 , wherein:
 ventilation slits are formed on a portion of at least one surface of the basket.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling compartment of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a top surface of the airflow diverter angles up from a surface of the basket to the one of the plurality of walls proximate the surface of the basket.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling compartment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airflow diverter is a solid substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling compartment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a shape of the airflow diverter is one of a rectangle, a rectangular tube, and a triangular tube.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling compartment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cooling compartment is a freezer compartment of a cooling appliance.   
     
     
         10 . A wall for a cooling appliance, the wall comprising:
 an evaporator outlet;   an evaporator inlet; and   an airflow diverter positioned between the evaporator outlet and the evaporator inlet,   wherein the evaporator outlet is positioned proximate the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         11 . The wall of  claim 10 , wherein:
 at least one of the evaporator outlet, the evaporator inlet, and the airflow diverter is integrally formed with the wall.   
     
     
         12 . The wall of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the airflow diverter forms a barrier between the evaporator outlet and the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         13 . The wall of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the cooling appliance is a freezer.