| 摘要 |
<p>A thermoelectric cooler (10) having a storage compartment (36) with insulated inside walls (42) forming an access opening on one side opposite a back wall (42a) of substantially the same size includes an insulated door (40) movable between a closed position sealing said access opening and an open position displaced from one edge of the access opening for providing direct access to the interior of said storage compartment (36) over the entire area of the access opening. The insulated door (40) comprises a pair of door segments (54, 56) pivotally interconnected about a median axis (52) in parallel with one edge of the access opening of the storage compartment. An over-center spring (68) is interconnected between the door segments (54, 56) to exert a resilient biasing force tending to pivot the door segments (54, 56) in one direction about the hinge (58) axis when the spring (68) is on one side thereof and an opposite direction when the spring (68) is moved to the opposite side of the median axis (58). A guide (76, 80, 82) and follower system is provided adjacent the storage compartment (36) interacting with the door segments (54, 56) for guiding the door segments (54, 56) in coplanar alignment while the spring (68) is on one side of the median axis (52) and as the door (40) approaches the closed position. When the door (40) is moved toward the open position the spring (68) moves to the other side of the median axis (58) and pivots one of the door segments (56) away from the coplanar position towards an angularly transverse position so that a minimum of adjacent space (38) is required even though the door is fully displaced to provide access over the entire area of the access opening.</p> |
