EP1030141B1 - Réfrigérateur avec distributeur pour boítes ou bouteilles contenant des boissons en général - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur avec distributeur pour boítes ou bouteilles contenant des boissons en général Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1030141B1
EP1030141B1 EP20000102330 EP00102330A EP1030141B1 EP 1030141 B1 EP1030141 B1 EP 1030141B1 EP 20000102330 EP20000102330 EP 20000102330 EP 00102330 A EP00102330 A EP 00102330A EP 1030141 B1 EP1030141 B1 EP 1030141B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerator
dispenser
drink
housing
containers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP20000102330
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1030141A2 (fr
EP1030141A3 (fr
Inventor
c/o Whirlpool Europe Patent Dept. Gatti Giovanni
Luigi c/o Whirlpool Europe Patent Dept. Sessa
Lorenzo c/o Whirlpool Europe Patent Dep Anselmi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP1030141A2 publication Critical patent/EP1030141A2/fr
Publication of EP1030141A3 publication Critical patent/EP1030141A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1030141B1 publication Critical patent/EP1030141B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
    • A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/803—Bottles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/805—Cans
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a refrigerator in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
  • a refrigerator is known from document US 2 826 471.
  • a refrigerator door liner is known to comprise several trays for supporting foods or their containers. Bottles, cans or other drink or beverage containers can also be stored on these trays. However on account of their shape and size, these containers occupy considerable space on the trays (at the expense of foods) and are often in unstable equilibrium, because of which they may fall on opening the door. Such containers are sometimes held on the usual shelves of the refrigerator preservation compartment or on trays associated with these shelves. However in this case such containers occupy space which could be used in another manner and in particular may not lie securely on these shelves because their shape and size may be such that they are able to move about thereon as they are not retained by appropriate elements.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerator in which the generally (but not necessarily) small drink or beverage cans or bottles can be stored securely and be easily removed by the user.
  • a further object is to provide a refrigerator of the aforesaid type the structure of which is such that it can be produced without industrial modification to known refrigerator production systems.
  • a refrigerator is indicated overall by 1 and comprises a cabinet 2 carrying a door 3 which closes a known food preservation compartment 4.
  • the door 3 comprises a door liner 5 which when the door is closed is positioned in front of the compartment 4.
  • a dispenser 11 for drink or beverage cans or bottles 12 is associated with the door liner 5 and is positioned on the elements 10 to the side of the trays 8.
  • the dispenser 11 comprises a housing 13 defining a compartment or vessel for containing said containers 12 (which hereinafter are indicated for simplicity as "cans"), and having lateral fins 14 arranged to cooperate with the support elements 10 in such a manner as to be supported by them.
  • These fins project from side walls 15 (from which stiffening elements 19 also project) connected together by a wall 16 which, when the housing 13 is mounted on the door liner, is substantially parallel to this latter.
  • This interconnecting wall 16 has a longitudinal window 17 provided in a part 18 recessed towards the interior of the housing 13.
  • the wall 16 comprises parallel spaced-apart guides 20 closed lowerly by a wall 21 and arranged to receive the edges 22 of an element 23 able to support the cans 12 spaced apart and without them rattling.
  • This element consists of a body 24, from a wall 25 of which there project a plurality of flexible fins 26 constructed of soft material, such as rubber, as is preferably the entire element 23. These fins are associated with a central raised portion 27 of the wall 25.
  • the body 24 comprises lateral elements 30, between which a longitudinal window 31 is provided in a position corresponding with said portion 27. When the dispenser 11 is assembled, this window lies in a position corresponding with the window 17 in the housing 13, to give visual access to the dispenser.
  • the housing 13 is open upperly at 13A (with reference to the figures), having for most of its length a substantially U cross-section.
  • This housing lowerly comprises a part 33 acting as a support member for a can to be withdrawn from the dispenser 11 by the user via an aperture 34 provided in the wall 16, at the bottom of the housing 13.
  • a covering element 35 preferably of a soft material (for example rubber), on which the can rests before being withdrawn from the dispenser 11, is provided on the wall 33 substantially perpendicular to the wall 16 and perpendicular to the side walls 15.
  • the element 35 comprises a plurality of pins 37 to be inserted into seats 38 provided in the wall 33, to secure it to this wall.
  • the dispenser 11 When the dispenser 11 has been assembled, it is positioned on the elements 10 of the door liner 5 in place of trays present on it.
  • This dispenser is hence a totally independent refrigerator element in terms of its marketing, enabling the user to equip his own refrigerator with the dispenser after the refrigerator has been acquired.
  • the cans are placed in the dispenser by dropping them through the aperture 13A in the housing 13. These cans fall onto the fins 26, which are able to retain or guide each can without preventing its descent within the dispenser, but instead obstructing its free fall onto the wall 33, which could cause it to leave the dispenser.
  • the fins which support the can flex to allow it to fall smoothly downwards towards the wall 33, those fins then receiving the overlying can.
  • the dispenser 11 contains a number of cans, or when the lower can rests on the support member 33, the user can extract the desired drink from it through the aperture 34. By virtue of its own weight, the overlying can then automatically falls softly onto the member 33 ready for removal.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Freezers Or Refrigerated Showcases (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Réfrigérateur comportant un corps (2) dans lequel est prévu au moins un compartiment de conservation (4), et une porte (3) articulée sur ledit corps (2) et prévue pour fermer ledit compartiment (4), ladite porte (3) comportant une garniture de porte (5) qui, lorsque la porte (3) est fermée sur le corps (2), fait face audit compartiment (4), un élément (11), qui agit comme un distributeur pour des récipients de boisson (12) qui est ouvert aux extrémités opposées (en 13A et 34) et est prévu pour contenir des boítes ou bouteilles de boisson (12), étant positionné dans ladite garniture de porte (5), une étagère (33) étant prévue sous ledit élément (11) afin de supporter un desdits récipients de boisson (12) de manière à lui permettre d'être saisi par un utilisateur, lesdits récipients (12) étant superposés à l'intérieur de l'élément distributeur (11) et étant capables de se déplacer vers ladite étagère (33) lorsque le récipient (12) positionné dessus est enlevé de celui-ci, caractérisé en ce que l'élément distributeur (11) comporte des éléments internes flexibles (26) destinés à retenir des récipients de boisson (12) et les espacer et la garniture de porte (5) comporte au moins un plateau (8) destiné à supporter des aliments, et une multiplicité d'éléments de support (10) pour ledit plateau (8) qui lui permettent d'être positionné à différentes hauteurs sur ladite garniture de porte (5).
  2. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément distributeur (11) comprend des éléments latéraux (14) prévus pour coopérer avec les éléments de support (10) prévus sur la garniture de porte (5).
  3. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les éléments latéraux (14) sont associés à des parois (15) positionnées latéralement par rapport à une paroi centrale (16) d'un logement (13) contenant les ouvertures (13A et 34) afin d'insérer et de retirer les récipients de boisson (12) dans et du distributeur (11), le logement (13) supportant l'étagère (33) pour le récipient de boisson (12) devant être retirer du distributeur (11).
  4. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les éléments internes flexibles (26) sont associés à un élément de préférence au moins partiellement flexible (23) relié de manière amovible au logement (13) pourvu de l'ouverture afin de retirer les récipients de boisson.
  5. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que l'ouverture de retrait de récipient (34) est prévue dans la paroi centrale (16) du logement (13), à proximité de l'étagère (33).
  6. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le logement pourvu de l'ouverture d'insertion (13A) et de l'ouverture de retrait (34) pour les récipients de boisson (12) comporte une fenêtre longitudinale (17).
  7. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'étagère (33) est séparée du logement de distributeur (13), qui est ouvert en haut et en bas.
  8. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'étagère (33) comprend un revêtement en matière souple.
EP20000102330 1999-02-19 2000-02-03 Réfrigérateur avec distributeur pour boítes ou bouteilles contenant des boissons en général Expired - Lifetime EP1030141B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI990098 1999-02-19
IT1999MI000098 IT246537Y1 (it) 1999-02-19 1999-02-19 Refrigeratore con dispensatore di lattine o bottiglie di bibite o bevande in genere

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1030141A2 EP1030141A2 (fr) 2000-08-23
EP1030141A3 EP1030141A3 (fr) 2002-06-12
EP1030141B1 true EP1030141B1 (fr) 2005-10-05

Family

ID=11381556

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20000102330 Expired - Lifetime EP1030141B1 (fr) 1999-02-19 2000-02-03 Réfrigérateur avec distributeur pour boítes ou bouteilles contenant des boissons en général

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1030141B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60022926T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2246758T3 (fr)
IT (1) IT246537Y1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BR0204561B1 (pt) * 2002-10-18 2011-10-18 arranjo de acessórios para porta de refrigerador e porta-latas para refrigerador.
WO2005059455A1 (fr) * 2003-12-15 2005-06-30 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Dispositif de refroidissement
DE102004042567A1 (de) 2004-09-02 2006-03-09 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät
KR100875427B1 (ko) * 2007-07-27 2008-12-23 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고의 캔 수납장치
US9400132B2 (en) 2014-04-11 2016-07-26 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Refrigerator, insulated door mounted on an insulated cabinet of a refrigerator, and article dispenser for mounting within one or more recesses of an inner wall of a refrigerator door
DE102017205060A1 (de) 2017-03-24 2018-09-27 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit einer Spendereinrichtung
US11808515B2 (en) * 2022-03-04 2023-11-07 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Can dispenser rack for refrigerator door

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2826471A (en) * 1953-09-22 1958-03-11 Gen Electric Frozen fruit juice dispenser
US2959936A (en) * 1958-04-01 1960-11-15 Gen Motors Corp Refrigerating apparatus
DE8105150U1 (de) * 1981-02-24 1982-09-02 Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, 7000 Stuttgart Kuehlschranktuer mit an deren innenseite, zwischen nach innen vorstehenden seitenwangen loesbar angebrachten kuehlgutablagen
US5071006A (en) * 1990-11-05 1991-12-10 Neace Jr Everett L Container support cartridge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI990098U1 (it) 2000-08-19
EP1030141A2 (fr) 2000-08-23
ITMI990098V0 (it) 1999-02-19
DE60022926D1 (de) 2006-02-16
EP1030141A3 (fr) 2002-06-12
ES2246758T3 (es) 2006-03-01
IT246537Y1 (it) 2002-04-09
DE60022926T2 (de) 2006-06-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5323917A (en) Refrigerator rack
US5921408A (en) Cutlery dispenser
US6112938A (en) Bottle dispenser
US4143795A (en) Refrigerator beverage dispensers
US5344023A (en) Egg container assembly
US4307581A (en) Cooler insert
US20110089125A1 (en) Jar Dispenser
EP1030141B1 (fr) Réfrigérateur avec distributeur pour boítes ou bouteilles contenant des boissons en général
US6129232A (en) Food and beverage tray
US7150155B2 (en) Beverage dispenser
AU2002301022B2 (en) Food storage container assembly for use in refrigerator
US5423445A (en) Stackable carry container and interchangeable insert bin system
US9903640B2 (en) Storage module with built-in cap opener
KR200171453Y1 (ko) 냉장고의 병 가드
EP3173717B1 (fr) Appareil frigorifique ménager avec élément de blocage pour le transport
CN117222857A (zh) 用于饮料柜的搁架系统
KR200335714Y1 (ko) 김치냉장고용 와인케이스
EP1239245B1 (fr) Dispositif de support d'objets pour un appareil frigorifique, en particulier pour un réfrigérateur
KR200171452Y1 (ko) 냉장고의 병 가드
WO2012032500A2 (fr) Système pour ordures comprenant un boîte à ordures et un contenant
KR100237696B1 (ko) 냉장고의 계란꽂이 선반
US1597743A (en) Display cabinet
JPH09126639A (ja) 収納物転倒防止ストッパ
US1816452A (en) Dispensing apparatus
KR100255865B1 (ko) 냉장고

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20021204

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20040414

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60022926

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20060216

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2246758

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20060706

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20160127

Year of fee payment: 17

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20160222

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20160203

Year of fee payment: 17

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20170112

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20170112

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60022926

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20170203

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20170901

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20170203

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20170203

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20181031

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20180228

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20190801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20180204