EP1239245B1

EP1239245B1 - Device for Supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP1239245B1
Application number: EP20020005030
Authority: EP
Inventors: Domenico Cappelletti
Original assignee: Indesit Co SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2001-03-07
Filing date: 2002-03-06
Publication date: 2008-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-06
Also published as: EP1239245A2; ITTO20010040V0; ES2312501T3; DE60228904D1; EP1239245A3; ITTO20010040U1

Description

The present invention relates to a device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator.
As known, refrigerating apparatuses have internal compartments, which are provided for bottles storage; in general, these compartments are obtained in the inner door in the form of a small shelf on which the bottles are placed upright; the bottles are then kept in position by a horizontal stop placed above the inner door shelf.
These shelves allow storage of a restricted number of bottles; in some cases they cannot provide for the storage of bottles whose diameter is larger than a standard diameter, where the diameter of a one-litre bottle is considered as a standard diameter.
Now, if a number of bottles exceeding the capacity of the inner-door shelves have to be stored in the refrigerator, they will be placed either in an upright or horizontal position on the shelves of the refrigerating cell, i.e. occupying the available space for other products.
The same problem arises when cans or similar products have to be placed in the refrigerator and the space on one of the inner-door shelves is not enough to contain them, so they will be placed on the refrigerator shelves.
Placing bottles, can or analogous products on a shelf of the refrigerator cell will not only occupy the space provided for other products, but may cause problems, such as their likely downfall on the floor when opening the refrigerator door due to their rolling capacity when placed in a horizontal position, and reach the outer edge of the shelf. A downfall of these products on the floor usually entails breakage of the glass containers.
In order to solve this problem, devices for storing bottles are known, which can be hooked to a shelf. These devices usually comprise a vertical supporting section with hooking means to a shelf, e.g. a shelf bar.
A second section is hinged near the lower end of this vertical section, whose function is to provide a rest for a bottle or container. This second section is actually capable of taking an orthogonal position with respect to the first section; in other words, in this condition the device has substantially an "L" section, whose horizontal portion can be loaded with a container or bottle in a horizontal position.
Document DE 198 21 824 A1 discloses a holder for a bottle and/or a can with transverse bulge-shaped round elements and one longitudinal supporting element. The holder has hooks on the ends of the round elements with which it can be suspended from a shelf inserted above it. The hooks can alternatively fit into a lateral guide arrangement formed in the inner container.
Document US-A-5 323 917 relates to a rack supportable on a refrigerator shelf for storing a bottle of wine or a plurality of cylindrical beverage cans. The rack includes a vertical sidewall terminating in an inwardly directed top flange for engaging the refrigerator shelf, a longitudinal depression in a bottom wall for supporting the wine bottle and an incline in the bottom wall for permitting the beverage cans to automatically self-feed towards the front of the rack.
Document US-A-2 768 048 discloses a rack for supporting bottles or the like, in which the bottles to be cooled are supported each on a frame, the ends of which are pivoted in the end faces of a base member secured to the door or to the side wall of a refrigerator. Should the device not be required at the time, the second resting section can be lifted up and rest against the vertical supporting section, so as to recover useful space inside the refrigerator.
However, these devices do not let any jars, cans or similar products to be stored, since they are exclusively made for supporting bottles or analogous objects in a horizontal position. To this purpose, the section provided for operating as a horizontal resting surface has a front edge for preventing a bottle to fall down forwards.
It is the aim of the present invention to solve the above drawbacks and provide a device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator, which is simple to manufacture at low cost, has a high reliability and universal use.
In this frame, it is one aim of the present invention to provide a device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator, whose form is such to comply with various user's requirements.
This and other aims, which will be further described, are obtained according to the present invention by a device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator, incorporating the features of the annexed claims, which form an integral part of the description.
Further aims, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, which are supplied by way of non limiting example, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a perspective view of the device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus according to the present invention, in a first position;
Fig. 2 shows schematically a perspective view of the device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus according to the present invention, in a second position;
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus according to the invention, in a first operating condition;
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus according to the invention, in a second operating condition.

In Figures 1 and 2 is schematically illustrated a device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus in a first and second position, respectively, which is indicated in its whole with reference 1.
Reference 2 indicates an upright supporting element, which has substantially a relief 3 to its upper end forming a perpendicular step 4 to the front surface of the upright element 2.
The upright element 2, made of food-safe plastic material, also has suitable hooking means to a refrigerator shelf; as described herein, these means are represented by two small elastic wings 5 cooperating with said relief 3.
Moreover, the upright element 2 has suitable means in its lower section for hooking and/or hinging a movable supporting element 6; in the example described herein, these means are represented by pins 8 to be inserted in the seats 7 and 7A on the upright element 2 and movable element 6, respectively.
The movable supporting element 6, also made from food-safe plastic material, has a section substantially in the form of a round crown arch being apt to contain a bottle in a horizontal position. The radius of this section is such to also arrange bottles with a larger diameter than the standard diameter.
The edges delimiting the section of the movable supporting element 6 have each one semicircular seats 9 on their length and symmetric to the other one, being apt to receive a jar, a can or other analogous container placed crosswise on the movable element 6. These seats 9 ensure location of one or more jars, cans or other analogous containers without the risk of having them rolling or falling down from their resting support.
Through the hooking means to the upright supporting element 2, the movable supporting element 6 can perform an angular movement and take a first upright rest position (Fig. 1) substantially parallel to the upright element 2, and a second horizontal operating position (Fig. 2) substantially perpendicular to the upright element 2.
When the movable supporting element 6 is in its first position, the space available on the shelf is nearly fully available for storing other products.
Fig. 3 is representing the device 1 in a first usage condition for storing a substantially cylindrical container, which in the event described herein is represented by a bottle A; now, the bottle A is arranged horizontally on the movable supporting element 6 along its length.
Vice-versa, Fig. 4 is representing the device 1 in a second usage condition where substantially cylindrical containers are stored, which in the example described herein are represented by cans B containing a drink; the cans B are placed crosswise on the movable supporting element 6 in the half-circular seats 9. Even if cans containing a drink are represented in the figure, nothing will hinder to place on the movable element 6 any small, jars or other products of equal size, which need to be stored in a refrigerator.
The features of the device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator, are clear from the above description and annexed drawings.
From the above description also the advantages of the device for supporting objects previously described will be clear. In particular, their features are:

the device ensures the arrangement of a bottle laying lengthwise or of a plurality of jars, cans or other products of equal size,
the latter being placed side by side in a crosswise position with respect to the movable supporting element, without the risk of rolling or falling down;
in its rest position, the device ensures full availability of the space underneath the shelf it is hooked to.

It is obvious that many changes and applications can be easily made and used by the man skilled in the art to the device for supporting objects for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator, described above by way of example.
For instance, the movable element 6 can be manufactured with a different section from the one previously described, i.e. with a plane lower section and two outer edges perpendicular to it.
A further implementation may provide the pins 8 obtained directly on one of the two elements 2 or 6.

Claims

A device for supporting objects (1) for a refrigerating apparatus, in particular a refrigerator, comprising at least a first supporting element (2) with hooking means (3,5) to a shelf, at least a second supporting element (6), and coupling means (7,7A,8) between said first element (2) and said second element (6), characterized in that, said second supporting element (6) has a section with a flat lower base and two outer edges perpendicular to said bottom base
- each edge of said second supporting element (6) having substantially half-circular seats (9) on its length, each half-circular seat (9) being symmetric to the half-circular seat (9) positioned on the opposed edge, for storing one or more containers (B) of a first type in an orthogonal or crosswise position with respect to the length of said second supporting element (6);

- said second supporting element (6) being made from food-safe plastic material and having a section substantially in the form of a circular crown arch being apt to house a container of a second type (A) on its whole length;

- said coupling means (7,7A,8) being apt to allow said second supporting element (6) to perform angular movements for taking a rest position and a work position with respect to said first supporting element (2).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second supporting element (6) in said rest position lays substantially parallel with respect to said first supporting element (2).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second supporting element (6) in said work position lays substantially perpendicular with respect to said first supporting element (2).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said hooking means (3,5) comprise a relief (3).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said hooking means (3,5) comprise at least an elastic wing (5).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said coupling means (7,7A,8) comprise arms apt to sustain said second supporting element (6) from the bottom of said second supporting element (6).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said coupling means (7,7A,8) comprise seats (7,7A) and pins (8).
A refrigerating apparatus comprising a device for supporting objects according to one or more of the previous claims.