DE602005001257T2 - Refrigerator with movable support - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator with an outer cabinet surrounding an inner shelf carriage (109) having a plurality of shelves (111). The shelf carriage is accessible from a rear side thereof. The shelf carriage is connected with a connection device (201) and the connection device is connected with the outer cabinet (102) such that a controlled movement of the shelf carriage in relation to the cabinet is provided. The controlled movement provided by the connection device is such that the shelf carriage is movable between a display position at least substantially inside of the outer cabinet and a refill position at least substantially outside of the outer cabinet. The controlled movement comprises rotation of the shelf carriage for providing access to said rear side thereof.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The The invention relates generally to refrigerators, in particular those with an outer cabinet and an inner rack car accessible from the back.

Background Art

In shops Refrigerators are typically used for storage, cooling to temperatures above and also below freezing and for the display of merchandise for customers. Examples of merchandise in such a refrigerator are tin cans, beverage bottles, Snuff boxes, boxes of dairy products or juices etc. Since this type of merchandise generally has expiration dates it wanted that the oldest ones Items are located on the front of the shelves, eliminating the oldest Articles are sold first and the risk is reduced Items are sold according to their expiration dates. If the fridge filled with new items it is therefore desirable to the new article from the back fill the shelves. In the prior art, the access to the back of the shelves z. B. thereby makes it easier to extend the inner part of the refrigerator has been. That is, the Shelves were on a with wheels arranged carriage, the shelf cart from the outer cabinet is extendable. When the rack cart pulled out of the outer cabinet is, can the shelves from the back be replenished after which the rack trolley is reinserted into the outer cabinet can.

in this connection There is a problem in that the fully loaded rack cars are very can be difficult. For the assistants in business It is very difficult to move the heavy rack cart into the outer cabinet zurückzumanövrieren.

In GB 943,675 a minor improvement is revealed. Nothing is said about the loading of the car racks at the back but about the rolling away of the car from the cabinet to load the car at a distance from the closet. At the bottom of the cabinet, tracks are cut to guide the wheels of the car. Small guide surfaces at the front end of the track have curved edges which help somewhat in guiding the carriage into the tracks when the wheels are laterally offset from the front ends of the tracks. However, the above-mentioned problem substantially continues.

It Consequently, there is a need for a refrigerator with a rack cart, which is easier to handle in the process of loading.

Summary of the invention

One The aim of the invention is to reduce the problems of State of the art.

According to one Aspect of the invention is a refrigerator intended. An outer cabinet surrounds an inner rack cart having a plurality of shelves. The shelf cart is from a back accessible from this. The rack cart is connected to a connecting device. The Connecting device is connected to the outer cabinet such that a controlled movement of the rack compared to the Cabinet is provided. The provided by the connecting device controlled movement is carried out so that the rack car is movable between a show position at least substantially within of the outer cabinet and a refill position at least essentially outside of the outer cabinet while being connected to the connection device. The Controlled motion includes rotation of the rack cart to create an access to its back.

"Show position" means the normal one Position where the items are displayed and sold. "Refill position" means a position at the shelf cart is refilled from said back side.

The outer cabinet surrounds the rack cart such that the rack cart within the cabinet chilled can be. The cabinet can have one or more at the front Doors, can but also be open or other arrangements, such. A curtain, to have. Due to the above mentioned controlled movement, the rack cart can be in the refill position be moved, where the shelves are accessible from the back. The movement consists of or includes the rotation. The shelves are in the refill positions for a helper in business easily accessible to fill in Goods from the back ago. As the shelf cart over the connecting device with the outer cabinet so connected is that a controlled movement is achieved, he can therefore despite the weight carried by him slightly in the starting position back to be moved.

By forming the connecting device in such a way that the rack carriage can perform the controlled movement, the maneuvering of the rack is facilitated. When the car is fully loaded and typically heavy, an assistant to the store can concentrate on pushing the car and need not worry about the steering. The An ensures that the carriage is moved back to the desired position, ie the show position.

at an embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention the shelf cart is rotatable about a vertical axis on a circumference of a Front of the rack car.

There the rotational movement as a rotation of the carriage about a vertical axis done at the periphery of the front, the entire movement can be between the show position and the refill position as this turn done.

at another embodiment of the refrigerator the front of the rack is essentially rectangular with two substantially horizontal edges and two substantially vertical edges. The vertical axis extends along the Length of one the vertical edges.

According to this embodiment the front has a rectangular shape, with the axis of rotation located at the side of the front. This form grants one size Exposing the shelves and the goods, the placement of the axis of rotation a convenient removal of the rack provided.

at a further embodiment of the refrigerator The controlled movement includes a straight line movement of the rack between the show position and an intermediate position at least essentially outside of the outer cabinet. The rack car is movable by means of this rotation between the Intermediate position and the refill position.

Of the Rack cart is connected to the connecting device. The connection device is with the outer cabinet connected so that they move the rack in a controlled manner across from the outer cabinet allowed. To move the cart to a position where the back the shelves accessible is, d. H. in the refill position, he can be pulled out into a position that is essentially or completely outside of the cabinet, d. H. in the intermediate position, and then can across from The cabinet can be rotated for easy access to the back to offer. As the connecting device connected to the cabinet and therefore controls the movement, is the re-insertion of the car facilitated.

at a further embodiment of the refrigerator On the basis of the embodiment just described, the connecting device comprises a carrying structure that carries the rack cart. The carrying structure comprises wheels sitting on a base.

The Wheels of the Carrying structure sit on a base, such. B. the floor or the lower end of the cabinet. The rack cart and the carrying structure can be pulled out of the cabinet, after which the rack cart in a Position with access to the back can be turned.

at a further embodiment of the refrigerator the support structure comprises a central axis. The rack cart is with rotatably connected to the central axis.

Because the shelf trolley is rotatable about the central axis of the carrying structure, It can be positioned so that it has easy access to the back The wall offers while still centered on the support structure is. When the carrying structure is pulled out of the outer cabinet is, obstruct the walls of the outer cabinet the rotation is not.

at a further embodiment of the refrigerator The rack cart comprises a plurality of wheels which are connected to a lower one End portion thereof are arranged. The wheels sit on the carrying structure.

By Provision of the trolley with wheels the movement of the rack is facilitated relative to the support structure. It should therefore be noted that within the scope of the present invention, the term carriage is not necessarily the presence of wheels requires, although in many embodiments, the presence of wheels is preferred on the rack car.

at a further embodiment of the refrigerator the connecting device comprises a vertical axis. The shelf cart is with the vertical axis on a perimeter of a backside rotatably connected to the rack car.

If the rack cart is moved in a straight line to a position that is in front of the outer cabinet and at least mainly outside of this is located, the back is located the shelf at least mainly outside the outer cabinet. Thereafter, the carriage can be rotated about the vertical axis and thus allows easy access to the back.

at a further embodiment the rack cart comprises a plurality of wheels which are connected to the lower Are arranged at the end and sit at a base.

The wheels of the trolley simplify the movement of the trolley between a butt at least mainly within the outer cabinet and at least substantially outside the outer cabinet. The wheels also facilitate rotation of the carriage about the connecting device.

at a further embodiment of the refrigerator the connecting device comprises a connecting element, which with the cabinet is slidably connected.

There the connecting device slidably connected to the cabinet is, she can face the cabinet can be moved in a straight line with simultaneous control the movement of the rack.

Brief description of the drawings

in the Following are the embodiments the invention with reference to the attached Drawings described in detail. Show it:

1 an oblique view of an embodiment of the invention;

2 a bottom view of the embodiment of 1 ;

3 a top view of the embodiment of 1 in a refill position;

4 an oblique view of another embodiment of the invention;

5 a bottom view of the embodiment of 4 ;

6 a detailed view of the lower part of the embodiment of 4 ;

7 an oblique view of another embodiment of the invention;

8th an oblique view of another embodiment of the invention; and

9 an oblique view of another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments the invention

Embodiments of the invention may be embodied in a refrigerator as disclosed in US Pat 1 . 2 and 3 is disclosed.

The refrigerator 101 includes an outer cabinet 102 with a back 103 , a front side 104 , a right side 105 , a left side 106 a shell 107 and a lower part 108 , The cupboard 102 surround a carriage 109 who has a frame 110 , Shelves 111 and a bottom plate 112 Includes, with wheels 113 is provided on the lower part 108 of the cupboard 102 or sit on the floor. The car 109 is with a connection device 201 connected to the cabinet 102 connected is. The front 104 includes two doors 114 ,

The refrigerator 101 showcases customers (not shown) chilled goods. The cupboard 102 is cooled in a conventional manner. The goods are accessible to the customer through the front 104 of the cupboard 102 is open or that, as in the present embodiment or otherwise, the front 104 with doors 114 is provided.

Inside the outer cabinet 102 is the car 109 with shelves 101 for the goods. The shelves 111 are typically tilted forward, which causes the goods to move forward when an article is from the front of the shelves 111 Will get removed. When the car 109 inside the cabinet 102 is in a show position, ie in a position where the goods are shown to the customer and are accessible to them.

The frame 110 of the rack car 109 carries the shelves 111 , and the bottom plate 112 carries the frame 110 , On the left side of the front piece 104 is the shelf cart 109 with the connection device 201 connected. The connection device 201 includes an axis 301 that with the closet 102 is rotatably connected. The car 109 can be around its axis 301 Turned in a refill position clockwise, in which the carriage 109 according to 3 outside the cupboard 102 located. In this position, the shelves can be refilled from the back.

To move the car back 109 in the show position it becomes counterclockwise around the axis 301 turned. The axis 301 controls the movement so that the car 109 back to the starting position, ie the show position, is steered.

3 shows the same fridge 101 from above. The car 109 can be around the axis 301 to be turned around. From this perspective, the cabinet 102 rectangular. To maximize the size of the car 109 with permission of the rotary motion is a corner 302 of the carriage 109 rounded. The front 303 of the carriage 109 can be a length near the inner length of the cabinet 102 to have. To enable rotation, the back is 304 of the carriage 109 shorter. The rounded shape of the corner 302 keeps the loss of space on the shelves 111 at a minimum.

Further embodiments of the invention can be realized in a refrigerator, as it is in 4 . 5 and 6 is disclosed.

At the far right corner 401 of the carriage 402 is this with the connection device 501 connected to the cabinet 403 connected is. The connection device 501 includes an axis 502 , which can be moved in a straight line from the position in the rear right corner 503 of the cupboard 403 in a position in the front right corner 504 of the cupboard 403 , This movement can z. B. be realized by the fact that the axis 502 in a train 505 at the bottom of the cabinet 403 is movable.

The car 402 can according to 4 from the show position to an intermediate position outside the cabinet 403 to be moved. During this movement, the axis becomes 502 from the back to the front of the cabinet 403 emotional. The car 402 can from the intermediate position counterclockwise about the axis 502 be moved to a refill position where the back 506 is available for refilling. He can then be moved clockwise back to the intermediate position, after which he enters the cabinet 403 can be pushed back into the show position.

Other embodiments of the invention may be used in a refrigerator according to 7 be realized.

In this embodiment, the car rests 701 on the connection device 702 , The connection device 702 according to this embodiment comprises a support plate 703 with wheels 704 is provided and supported by them, and comprises an axis 708 with the center of the support plate 703 connected is. In the middle of the floor 705 of the carriage 701 is this with the axis 708 connected. The car is with wheels 707 provided on the support plate 703 to sit. The car 701 can move from the show position to an intermediate position outside the cabinet 706 to be moved. During this movement, the car 701 and the carrying plate 703 out of the wardrobe 706 moved straight forward. While the support plate 703 remains in this position, the car can 701 around the axis 708 to be turned into a refill position where the back is accessible while resting on the support plate 703 remains centered. The car 701 carrying wheels facilitate rotation relative to the support plate 703 , After refilling the car 701 turned back to the intermediate position, and the support plate 703 as well as the car 701 be straight in the closet 706 emotional.

As can be seen from this embodiment, remain the car 701 and the carrying plate 703 partly inside the outer cabinet 706 , The car 701 Can be rotated while partially inside the cabinet 706 remains. This is done by slightly reducing the size of the car 701 or by rounding the corners of the car 701 , The car 701 and the Verbindungvorrich device 702 according to this embodiment can be used advantageously in existing refrigerators.

Further embodiments of the invention can according to 8th be realized in a refrigerator.

In this embodiment, the cart is with a door 801 Mistake.

Other embodiments of the invention may be used in a refrigerator according to 9 be realized.

This figure shows a refrigerator with an open front 901 ie the goods are available to customers through an opening 902 accessible in the front. This makes the goods easily accessible to the customers.

The above-mentioned embodiments are examples. Further embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the invention. For example, the in 1 disclosed embodiment modified so that in the refill position a part of the carriage remains within the cabinet. This can be done by connecting the connection device to the cabinet in a position spaced from the front of the cabinet.

In the 7 The disclosed connecting device may be modified within the scope of the invention. The axis can z. B. be replaced by a ball joint or any other suitable rotating device.

The in some embodiments mentioned axis can be arranged in different ways. You can z. For example be arranged that they are opposite the cabinet is rotatable and fixed relative to the car. A more of the possible arrangements is that the axis is fixed to the cabinet and across from the carriage is rotatable.

Claims (12)

Refrigerator comprising: an outer cabinet ( 102 ); an inner shelf trolley ( 109 ), which has a variety of shelves ( 111 ), wherein the shelf trolley is accessible from a rear side thereof, characterized in that the shelf trolley with a connecting device ( 201 ), the connection device being connected to the outer cabinet and allowing controlled movement of the shelf cart relative to the cabinet, such that the shelf cart at least substantially between a display position at least substantially within the outer cabinet and a refill position can be moved outside the outer cabinet, while being connected to the connecting device; wherein the controlled movement comprises rotation of the shelf cart to allow access to the rear side thereof. Refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the shelf trolley ( 109 ) about a vertical axis ( 301 ) on one edge of a front side ( 303 ) of the shelf cart can be turned around. Refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the front side ( 303 ) is substantially rectangular with two substantially horizontal edges and two substantially vertical edges, and wherein the vertical axis ( 301 ) extends along the length of one of the vertical edges. Refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controlled movement comprises a linear movement and the shelf trolley ( 402 ) between the display position and an intermediate position at least substantially outside the outer cabinet ( 403 ) and wherein the shelf carriage can be moved by means of the rotation between the intermediate position and the refill position. Refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the connecting device ( 702 ) a carrying structure ( 703 ) comprising the shelf trolley ( 701 ) and wheels ( 704 ), which sit on a lower part. Refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the support structure ( 703 ) a central axis ( 708 ) and the shelf trolley ( 701 ) is rotatably connected to the central axis. Refrigerator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the shelf trolley ( 701 ) a variety of wheels ( 707 ) located at a lower portion ( 705 ) thereof and on the support structure ( 703 ) to sit. Refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the connecting device ( 501 ) a vertical axis ( 502 ) and wherein the shelf trolley ( 402 ) on one edge of a back side ( 503 ) of the shelf cart is rotatably connected to the vertical axis. Refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the shelf trolley ( 402 ) comprises a plurality of wheels disposed on a lower portion thereof and seated on a base. Refrigerator according to one of claims 4-9, wherein the connecting device ( 501 . 702 ) a connecting element ( 502 ), which is slidably connected to the cabinet. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a lower end ( 705 ) of the shelf cart comprises four substantially straight corners. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a lower end ( 705 3 shelf car essentially three straight and a fourth rounded corner ( 302 ).