EP1442261B1 - Refrigerating appliance comprising adjustable shelves - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerating appliance contains a housing that encloses an interior space. A shelf can be mounted at different heights on walls of the housing by brackets that are each joined to one of the walls in a manner that enables them to pivot about a first axis and joined to the shelf in a manner that enables them to pivot about a second axis that is offset with regard to the first axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator such as a refrigerator or freezer and in particular the problem of user-friendly distribution of the interior of such a refrigerator with the help of one or more shelves.

Conventionally, a height adjustment of such shelves is achieved by forming a plurality of horizontal grooves at different heights on the side walls of the inner container, in which the shelves are inserted when forming the inner container of such a refrigerator.

The flexibility in the interior layout, which is achievable with this old traditional solution, however, is limited. So it is generally not possible to adjust slopes of the shelves, which may well be desirable for rapid removal and filling, especially when it comes to storing a variety of uniform items for a successive removal on a shelf.

Another disadvantage of this known solution is the virtually inability to correct the position of the shelves as needed when they are loaded. Often, especially when a user has to stow large quantities of purchased food in a refrigerator, there is the problem that only at the end of the loading process, when the space in the refrigerator becomes scarce, it turns out that the current positions of the shelves to accommodate the existing μKühlguts is not optimal, and that one of the existing subjects lacks dammed height, while in an adjacent compartment level is left over, which can not be used reasonably. To pull out a loaded shelf in such a state and re-mount it higher or lower is very difficult, if not impossible. In some refrigeration appliance designs, an insufficient maximum opening angle of the door prevents a shelf from being pulled out in an exactly horizontal orientation and, if it is possible to pull it out, there is, of course, a danger of refrigerated goods falling down. In such a situation, therefore, the user often has no choice but to unload the refrigerator for the most part, and then to try it again and space-saving to give or relocate before refilling a shelf.

From the US-A-2 284 339 and the US-A-3,352,431 In each case a shelf is known, which is mounted by means of pivotable support arms on the inner walls of a refrigerator.

From the US-A-4,678,247 is a shelf known that can be used in a deviating from the horizontal slope in a refrigeration device by separate frame members are provided on which a rear cross member is mounted on which a rear edge of the shelf can be placed.

There is therefore a need for a refrigeration device that allows greater flexibility of the division of its interior space with the help of shelves, and in particular allows the inclination of shelves and / or the adjustment of shelves in a loaded condition.

This object is achieved by a refrigeration device with the features of claim 1. The pivoting of the support arms allows here guided by the support arms height adjustment of a shelf, to carry out it is not necessary to remove the shelf completely from the refrigerator. If these brackets are independent of each other, they allow various inclinations of the shelf.

In addition, on each edge of the shelf except the pivoting arm and a horizontally displaceable suspension available. This allows by pivoting up and down of the support arm, the adjustment of the shelf between two different inclined positions, the horizontally displaceable suspension defines an axis for the pivotal movement of the shelf.

Such a construction allows z. B. the adjustment of the shelf between a horizontal and a forward or to the door or to the rear or to the rear wall of the refrigerator downhill position. Such a sloping position of the shelf can be useful, for example, for the horizontal storage of cans or bottles, the Always roll down to the lower edge on the sloping shelf, where they are easily removable.

In a second preferred embodiment of the refrigerator, two pivotable support arms are present at each lateral edge of the shelf, which are referred to as the front and rear support arm. Such a shelf is capable of a horizontal upper rest position in which the second axis extends above the first axis of each support arm, a lower rest position in which the second axis below the first Axis of each support arm extends and occupy one or two oblique rest positions, in which the second axes of the front and the rear arm are each at different heights. The variety of possible positions is thus increased compared to the first embodiment, and in particular a guided parallel displacement of the shelf between two horizontal positions in different heights is possible.

In a third preferred embodiment, at least three pivotable support arms are present at each lateral edge of the shelf. Such a shelf is adjustable only between horizontal positions; a change from a horizontal to an oblique position is excluded by the third arm. This embodiment is therefore particularly suitable for the above-mentioned problem of height adjustment of the shelves in loaded condition.

If the arranged on opposite lateral edges of the shelf supporting arms are not coupled together, it is possible to bring the support arms at different lateral edges in different rest positions and so make the shelf in the lateral direction sloping. This variant has over the Abschüssigkeit in forward / backward direction the advantage that there is no risk of falling out of refrigerated goods, since it is always supported at the lower side edge of the side wall of the refrigerator housing.

In order to lock the possibility of tilting the shelves in the lateral direction, support arms can each be connected in pairs. This in turn is useful for the height adjustment of loaded shelves.

In particular, in a tiltable in the forward-backward direction shelf, it is advantageous if a catching device for refrigerated goods is attached to a front and / or rear edge, which prevents falling out of refrigerated goods at a transition to the inclination.

While the lower horizontal rest position of the shelf, in which the second axis of each pivot arm connected to the shelf is perpendicular below its first axis, is inherently stable, the diametrically opposite orientation corresponds The support arms, in which the shelf is raised, a labile balance. In order to realize a stable raised rest position, it is expedient if in the upper rest position of each support arm whose second axis is closer to a rear wall of the interior than to the first axis, so that the shelf with a part of its weight and that of it stored stored goods is supported on the rear wall of the interior.

The support arms may be formed in a simple manner as a double bent metal pins, with a first pin for engaging in an opening of the wall and a second pin for engaging in a recess of the shelf and an angled against the pins, connecting them intermediate section.

To secure the shelf in its raised position, at least one means for locking such a support arm is desirable. This can be formed in a simple manner by an elastically displaceable tongue with a transversely oriented to the displacement direction of the tongue stop surface, which - preferably in the relaxed state of the tongue - one of the rear wall of the refrigerator facing side of the intermediate portion is supported.

For a simple mounting of the shelf, it is desirable that the recess provided thereon for receiving the second pin is open at the bottom. This makes it possible to first insert the support arms in the openings of the side walls and then hang the shelf on the projecting from the side wall second pin and insert the second pin into the recesses from below.

Preferably, the recesses and the pins are dimensioned so that the pins are respectively clamped in the recesses. This prevents the pins from falling out of the recesses when the plate is raised instead of following the movement of the plate.

Such a clamping fit is well realized on a separate from the shelf realized, preferably plug-connected with this plastic body.

Fig. 1

einen perspektivischen Teilschnitt durch das Gehäuse eines Kältegeräts mit einem verstellbaren Fachboden gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht des Fachbodens in zwei verschiedenen horizontalen Ruhestellungen;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht des Fachbodens in der unteren horizontalen Ruhestel- lung, einer Zwischenstellung und einer schrägen Ruhestellung;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Kältegeräts mit einem Fachboden in schräger Ruhestellung;

Fig. 5

eine Detailansicht eines Tragarms und seiner Anbringung an einer Seiten- wand des Kältegerätegehäuses und an dem Fachboden;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Verbindungskörpers zur Halterung des Tragarms an dem Fachboden;

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf eine Ecke des Fachbodens mit einer Arretierungsein- richtung für einen Tragarm;

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht der Ecke des Fachbodens und der Arretierungseinrich- tung aus Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine schematische Darstellung eines Fachbodens in einer zu einer Seiten- wand abschüssigen Stellung;

Fig. 10

eine Vorderansicht eines Fachbodens mit paarweise gekoppelten Tragar- men;

Fig. 11

eine abgewandelte Form der Verbindung zwischen Tragarm und Fachbo- den;

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht analog Fig. 2 eines Fachbodens, der zwischen zwei horizontalen Ruhestellungen verstellbar ist, aber keine Schrägstellung ein- nehmen kann; und

Fig. 13

eine Abwandlung des Fachbodens von Fig. 3.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective partial section through the housing of a refrigerator with an adjustable shelf according to the present invention;

Fig. 2

a schematic side view of the shelf in two different horizontal rest positions;

Fig. 3

a side view of the shelf in the lower horizontal rest position, an intermediate position and an oblique rest position;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a refrigerator with a shelf in oblique rest position;

Fig. 5

a detailed view of a support arm and its attachment to a side wall of the refrigerator housing and the shelf;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a connecting body for supporting the support arm to the shelf;

Fig. 7

a plan view of a corner of the shelf with a locking device for a support arm;

Fig. 8

a side view of the corner of the shelf and the Arretierungseinrich- tion Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

a schematic representation of a shelf in a downhill to a side wall position;

Fig. 10

a front view of a shelf with paired support arms;

Fig. 11

a modified form of connection between the support arm and the tray;

Fig. 12

a side view analog Fig. 2 a shelf which is adjustable between two horizontal rest positions but can not be tilted; and

Fig. 13

a modification of the shelf of Fig. 3 ,

Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of the invention with reference to a perspective view of a shelf 1 and a part of a side wall 2 and a rear wall 3 of a refrigerator. The walls 2, 3 of the refrigerator are constructed in a conventional manner from a plastic deep-drawn inner container 4, an outer wall 5 and a gap between the inner container 4 and outer wall 5 filling layer insulating foam 6. The inner container 4 is flat in the region of the side wall 2, with Exception of deepened during the drawing process blind holes 7, two of which are shown in the Fig. Cut open and hold two more each a first pin 10 of a support arm 8 for the shelf 1 rotatably.

Each support arm 8 comprises a first pin 10 which engages in a blind hole 7 of the side wall and defines a first horizontal pivot axis A1 of the support arm. A second pin 11, which defines a second pivot axis A2 parallel to the first axis A1, is engaged on the shelf 1 in a manner which will be described in more detail later. Both are connected by a substantially orthogonal to the pin oriented intermediate portion 12. The support arms 8 can be made in a simple manner by bending a round metal rod.

Two support arms 8, not shown, hold the shelf 1 on the second side wall, not shown.

In the in Fig. 1 shown position, the support arms 8 hanging from the blind holes 7 loose down, the plane defined by the axes A1, A2 level is vertical, and the shelf 1 is located in a stable lower horizontal rest position. By pulling the shelf forward, in the direction of the (not shown in the figure) door of the refrigerator pivot the support arms 8, and the shelf 1 is raised in accordance with the pivoting movement.

By supporting and lifting the partially extracted shelf by hand this can be brought into a second rest position in which the shelf in the side view of Fig. 2 is shown in dashed lines. In this second rest position, which is also horizontal, extend the intermediate portions 12 of the support arms 8 substantially vertically upward, with a slight inclination to the rear, to the rear wall 3 of the housing. This tendency has the effect that the shelf 1 with a force corresponding to a small part of its mass and the stored therefrom refrigerated goods, presses against the rear wall 3 and is thus stable even in the raised rest position.

In order to prevent unintentional folding down of the shelf 1 in the lower rest position in case of shock or a slight drag on the shelf 1, a means for locking the support arms 8 is advantageously provided in the raised position, in Fig. 2 not shown and described in more detail later.

On the way from the lower to the upper rest position of the shelf 1 passes through in the side view of Fig. 3 solid drawn position in which the intermediate portions 12 of the support arms are oriented horizontally and the two axes A1, A2 lie in a horizontal plane. From this position, each support arm 8 can rotate both upwards and downwards. This makes it possible to adjust inclinations of the shelf 1, as in Fig. 3 shown as a dash-dotted outline.

At the in Fig. 3 shown dash-dotted position is in each case the rear, the rear wall 3 facing support arm 8 is lowered, while the front, the door-facing support arm 8 is raised. Thus, the shelf 1 slopes down to the rear wall 3, and objects stored thereon tend to collect on the back wall.

However, it is also possible that in the perspective view of Fig. 4 shown to set the door 14 of the refrigerator down sloping position of the shelf 1. In order to prevent falling out of refrigerated goods, the shelf 1 is here equipped with a catch 15 in the form of a plurality of vertical plates, which, similar to the prongs of a rake, arranged from the front edge of the Tines of a rake arranged to extend from the front edge of the shelf 1 upwards to hold on the here designed as a grid shelf designed round containers, such as bottles or cans. Such a configuration is useful, for example, for a refrigeration appliance containing bottles or cans intended for sale: for loading a shelf, it can be placed in a horizontal or rearward sloping position so that the containers can be conveniently placed at the front edge. After complete loading of the shelf, it will be transferred to the in Fig. 4 shown downslope position, so that each time a container is removed at the front edge of the shelf 1, one behind hinterlicher befinds and thus all containers in sequence can be removed easily and quickly.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a support arm 8 and its attachment to the shelf according to a first embodiment. The Fig. Shows clearly the inserted into the blind hole 7 of the side wall 2 first pin 10, connected to the shelf 1 second pin 11, the axes defined by the pivot axes A1, A2 and the intermediate portion 12. The shelf 1 is here essentially a glass plate 17 is formed, which is taken in a circumferential profile 18 made of metal or a hard, durable plastic. How clearer in Fig. 1 As can be seen, the profile 18 at each lateral edge of the shelf 1 has two recesses into which a connecting body 19 made of a tough, slightly deformable plastic material such as Delrin is inserted.

Fig. 6 shows this connector body 19 in a perspective view. Starting from a cover plate 20, which is fluted because of better handling because of its upper side, two legs 21 extend downwards, which delimit between them a recess or groove 22 with adapted to the cross section of the second pin 11 cross-section. The groove 22 is dimensioned so that the second pin 11 is clamped in it and is rotatable under friction, and it is slightly narrowed in its lower portion, so that while it is possible, the pin 11 from below into the groove 22 inside but this can not fall out of the groove 22 when a user supports the shelf 1 by hand to bring him to a raised rest position.

In their lower, distal region, the two legs 21 are each extended laterally by a tongue 23 which, together with the cover plate 20, holds the lateral edge of the shelf 1 clamped.

As already mentioned, a locking device is expedient for securing the support arms 8 in the raised position. An example of such a locking device will now be described with reference to FIG Figs. 7 and 8 described. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the front right corner of the shelf 1, on the underside of such a locking device is arranged. On the left front corner of the shelf there is one to the in Fig. 7 shown mirror image locking device.

Fig. 8 shows the corner and the locking device in side view. Of the profile 18, which forms the lateral edge of the shelf 1, a short pin 25 extends downwards, which carries a flexible tongue 26 in the direction of the arrow P. Starting from the pin 25, the tongue 26 comprises one after the other in its in Fig. 7 shown in the relaxed position to the side edge of the shelf 1 parallel portion 27, an angle at an acute angle to the lateral edge obliquely outwardly extending portion 28, a locking portion in the form of a vertical edge to the lateral edge 29 and an actuating portion 30. In the position shown the stop surface 29 blocks a rotation of the support arm 8 in the direction of the arrows P2 Fig. 8 and thus keeps the shelf 1 in the raised position. If a user desires to lower the shelf, it is sufficient to move the operating section 30 slightly to the side, in FIG Fig. 7 upward, to press, so that the stop surface 29 releases the support arm 8. When lifting the shelf 1, the operation of the locking device is not required because the support arm 8 when lifting the inclined portion 28 automatically pushes aside until the upper rest position is reached and the stop surface 29 behind the support arm 8 in the in Fig. 7 engages locked position.

Since the support arms 8, which engage in opposite side walls 2 of the refrigeration device housing, are movable independently of each other, a user has the opportunity from the in Fig. 3 drawn solid position of the shelf 1, in which the intermediate portions 12 of the support arms 8 are oriented horizontally, the support arms 8 on a side wall, in Fig. 9 the right side wall, while raising it to its low position on the opposite side wall. To this Way is the in Fig. 9 shown in front view laterally sloping position of the shelf 1 adjustable. Also, this position makes it possible to keep the lying on one side of the shelf 1 in the horizontal storage of round objects such as cans and bottles. The higher, free area of the shelf 1 can be refilled so continuously, and when each of the lowest-lying container of a shelf is removed, it is ensured that it is only the one who is already the longest on the shelf and probably the best is cooled.

If a user has the need to prevent this possibility of skewing, so this can be achieved by means of paired support arms 8 ', as in Fig. 10 shown. Here are each a support arm of the right and an opposite support arm of the left side wall 2 integrally connected by a extending below the shelf 1 rod so that they can only be raised or lowered together.

Simple support arms 8 and paired support arms 8 'can be supplied as accessories for optional use by a user with the refrigerator according to the invention, so that each user can decide for himself whether he wants to use the skew or not.

Fig. 11 shows an alternative way of connecting a support arm 8 with the shelf 1 based on a section parallel to the lateral edge. If the material of the shelf 1 or of its frame profile 18 has a certain elasticity, it is possible to replace the connecting body 19 by the one-piece solution shown here, in which the legs 21, the groove 22 for receiving the second pin 11th limit, integrally formed on the shelf 1 and the frame 18 are formed.

Another modification of the suspension of the shelf 1 is in Fig. 12 in a side view analogous to the representation of Figs. 2 and 3 shown. This modification differs from the design of the Fig. 2 only by the presence of a third support arm 8 at each lateral edge of the shelf 1. When the shelf 1 of Fig. 12 Here is raised from the solid line position, this third support arm prevents, starting from the intermediate position with horizontal intermediate portions 12 of the support arms 8 front and rear support arms in different Directions can be swiveled. It is so ruled out that a user unintentionally adjusts a forward or backward sloping position of the shelf 1, in which there is a risk of falling out or overturning of refrigerated goods. This modification is therefore particularly well suited to adapt the heights of the shelves current needs in a loaded refrigerator.

Again, a user can be left in a simple way, the choice of whether he want to use the inclination or lock by the blind holes 7 are each arranged at least three in a horizontal row on each side wall of the refrigerator housing and the shelves on each side edge with a corresponding number of recesses 22 are provided. Depending on whether the user equips two or more of these blind holes 7 and recesses 22 with support arms 8, he can determine whether the inclination is possible or not.

Fig. 13 shows in a perspective view a simplified modification of the suspension of the shelf 1, in which at each lateral edge of the shelf 1 only one pivotable support arm 8 is present. The second support arm is replaced by a rigid pin 31 which is horizontally displaceable in a direction formed on the side wall of the refrigeration device housing slot 32 in the direction of arrow P3 back and forth. In this embodiment, the height of the supported by the pin 31, the rear wall 3 of the refrigeration device housing facing the area of the shelf is fixed, only the front area is adjustable between a horizontal and a downhill position or between two in different directions downhill positions.

Claims (13)

1. Refrigerating appliance with a housing enclosing an interior space and at least one compartment base (1) mountable on the walls (3) of the housing at different heights, wherein the compartment base (1) is mounted on the walls (3) by way of support arms (8, 8') which are each connected with one of the walls (3) to be pivotable about a first axis (A1) and with the compartment base (1) to be pivotable about a second axis (A2) offset relative to the first axis (A1), characterised in that each support arm (8, 8') has a first pin (10), which engages in a blind bore (7) of the wall (3) and defines the first horizontal pivot axis (A1) of the support arm (8, 8') and a second pin (11) which defines the second pivot axis (A2) parallel to the first axis (A1) and is in engagement with the compartment base (1), wherein the pins (10, 11) are connected by an intermediate section (12) oriented substantially orthogonally with respect to the pins (10, 11).
2. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the pivotable support arms (8) and a horizontally displaceable suspension (31) are present at each lateral edge of the compartment base (1).
3. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that two of the pivotable support arms (8) respectively termed front support arm and rear support arm are present at each lateral edge of the compartment base (1) and that the compartment base (1) is in a position of adopting an upper rest position in which the second axis (A2) extends above the first axis (A1) of each support arm (8), a lower rest position in which the second axis (A2) extends below the first axis (A1) of each support arm (8) and at least one inclined rest setting in which the second axis (A2) of the front support arm extends below the first axis (A1) and the second axis (A2) of the rear support arm (8) extends above the first axis (A1) or the second axis (A2) of the front support arm (8) extends above the first axis (A1) and the second axis (A2) of the rear support arm (8) extends below the first axis (A1).
4. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least three of the pivotable support arms (8) are present at each lateral edge of the compartment base (1).
5. Refrigerating appliance according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, characterised in that the support arms arranged at a first lateral edge of the compartment base (1) can be brought into a rest setting different from the support arms (8) mounted at an opposite, second lateral edge.
6. Refrigerating appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that support arms (8') mounted at opposite lateral edges of the compartment base (1) are respectively connected together in pairs.
7. Refrigerating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a catch device (15) for stock to be cooled is mounted at a front and/or rear edge of the compartment base.
8. Refrigerating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in an upper rest setting of each support arm (8) the second axis (A2) thereof is closer to a rear wall (3) of the interior space than its first axis (A1).
9. Refrigerating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one device (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30) for locking a support arm (8) at least in its raised setting.
10. Refrigerating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each support arm (8) has a second pin (11) which engages in a cut-out (22) of the compartment base.
11. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9 and claim 10, characterised in that the device for locking a support arm comprises a resiliently displaceable tongue (26) with an abutment surface (29) for supporting a side of the intermediate section (12) facing the rear wall (3).
12. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the cut-out (22) is downwardly open and the second pin (11) is clamped in the cut-out (22).
13. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 12, characterised in that the cut-out (22) is formed in a plastics material body (19) plug-connected with the compartment base.

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