EP2193321B1

EP2193321B1 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2193321B1
Application number: EP08787365.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Soner Kahraman; Onur Dostel; Onur Turkmen; Onur Guvenc; Mutlu Kartkaya
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2007-08-24
Filing date: 2008-08-21
Publication date: 2017-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-21
Also published as: WO2009027299A3; WO2009027299A2; EP2193321A2

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator wherein the freezer and cooling compartments containing the emplaced items are utilized efficiently.
In refrigerators, a sufficient amount of cold air cannot be maintained in the compartments wherein objects are stored, particularly in the freezer compartment, due to food packages stored on top of one another when loaded excessively by the user. Moreover, in order to remove the previously placed and needed item, the objects obstructing access have to be taken out or the places changed and the door of the freezer is kept open for a long time resulting in loss of refrigeration. In refrigerators, generally the freezer compartment is divided into two by a shelf and the upper and lower volumes are adjusted for the items to be loaded by moving the shelf upwards and downwards; moreover, chambers are formed in the compartment by placing separators on the shelf or by folding the shelf. In refrigerators wherein a compartment is divided into sections by the shelf or separators, the positions cannot be changed easily since the shelf and separators obstruct one another and it becomes difficult to form sections having the desired volume. For example, the separator has to be removed for adjusting the height of a shelf in the compartment.
In the Patent Application No EP1680635 , the freezer compartment shelf is separated into sections by placing vertical separators above the shelf enabling easy loading of items, however when the position of the horizontal shelf have to be adjusted by moving upwards and downwards, the separators obstruct the vertical movement of the shelf, therefore the separators have to be removed, or separators of different heights have to be used for bringing the separators to a horizontal position on the shelf or for every vertical position of the shelf.
In the patent application no KR20030040848 , a refrigerator shelf is defined which allows for effective storage of articles by dividing the storage space into multiple sections. The main body plate of the shelf is positioned horizontally to the storage space and articles are stored thereon. A dividing plate is mounted to the main body plate in such a manner that the dividing plate is rotatable around an axis and divides, in a vertical direction, the storage space formed on and beneath the main body plate. The dividing plate has finger portions formed in left and right sides from a center portion so as to correspond to the accommodating slots. A refrigerator according to the preamble of claim1 is disclosed in DE1276665B .
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator wherein the freezer or cooling compartments containing the placed items is divided into sections, and the volumes of the sections can be changed.
The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.
In the refrigerator of the present invention, in the compartment wherein items are placed, for example in the freezer compartment, one or more shelves are provided, disposed horizontally inside the compartment, supported by the side walls of the compartment, the position thereof adjusted by moving upwards-downwards and one or more separators disposed vertically in the compartment, supported by the ceiling and base of the compartment, the position thereof adjusted by moving to the right or left; the shelf and the separator divide the compartment volume into more than one section.
Both the shelf and the separator are grating shaped and are composed of bars parallel to each other and slots situated therebetween.
The shelf and the separator are placed in the compartment such that they intersect each other vertically, inserting into one another by the slots and bars, changing positions by moving with respect to one another and keeping their positions relative to one another and thus the volumes of the separated sections change depending on the movements of the shelf and the separator.
While the shelf is moved in the upward or downward directions, the horizontal bars of the shelf make a sliding motion in the vertical slots of the separator, along the slots and while the separator is moved to the right or left, the vertical bars of the separator make a sliding motion in the vertical slots of the shelf, and along the slots.
The bars of the shelf and the separator are narrower than the slots, the bars pass through the slots with a clearance and the shelf and the separator can move in one another without any obstruction.
The shelf can be moved in the upward and downward directions by means of the shelf channels arranged on the side walls and the separator is moved to the right or left by means of wheels disposed above and beneath and rails situated on the ceiling and base of the compartment whereon the wheels move.
The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a refrigerator.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a shelf.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a separator.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a shelf and a separator that are inserted into one another by intersecting one another.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator
2. Compartment
3. Shelf
4. Separator
5. 105. Bar
6. 106. Slot
7. Shelf channel
8. Wheel
9. Rail

The refrigerator (1) comprises one or more compartments (2) wherein items to be cooled or frozen are emplaced, one or more shelves (3) disposed horizontally in the compartment (2), supported by the side walls of the compartment (2) the position thereof adjusted by moving in the upward-downward direction and one or more separators (4) disposed vertically in the compartment (2), supported by the ceiling and base of the compartment (2), the position thereof adjusted by moving to the right or left.
In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention,

the shelf (3) and the separator (4) divides the compartment (2) volume into more than one section (A, B, C, D),
the shelf (3) and the separator (4) are configured as a grating, the shelf (3) comprises more than one parallel bar (5) extending from one side to the other and more than one slot (6) situated between the bars (5); the separator (4) comprises more than one parallel bar (105) extending from one side to the other and more than one slot (106) situated between the bars (105),
the shelf (3) and the separator (4) are placed in the compartment (2) such that they intersect each other vertically, by inserting into one another by means of the slots (6, 106) and the bars (5, 105), the shelf (3) changing position in the vertical direction, and the separator (4) in the horizontal direction by moving in one another, and keeping their relative positions with respect to one another and thus the volumes of the separated sections (A,B,C,D) change.

While the shelf (3) is moved in the upward and downward directions for adjusting the position, the bars (5) of the shelf (3) extending in the horizontal direction make a sliding motion in the vertical slots (106) of the separator (4) and along the slots (106) and while the separator (4) is moved to the right or left for adjusting position, the bars (105) of the separator (4) extending in the vertical direction make a sliding motion in the vertical slots (6) of the shelf, and along the slots (6).
In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, when the shelf (3) and the separator (4) are placed into one another by means of the bars (5, 105) and the slots (6, 106), a "+" shape is formed and when the shelf (3) and the separator (4) are moved for changing the volumes of the sections (A, B, C, D), the intersection line (H) at the center of the "+" shape is displaced. As the shelf (3) is moved upwards-downwards and the separator (4) to the right-left, the position of the intersection line (H) also changes and the volumes of the sections (A, B, C, D) around the intersection line (H) also change. In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, an infinite number of combinations can be formed by increasing the number of shelves (3) and the number of separators (4) and by changing the positions of the shelves (3) and the separators (4) with respect to one another and the volumes of the sections (A, B, C, D) can be changed to the intended size as per the need of the user.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the bars (5, 105) of the shelf (3) and the separator (4) are sized such that they can pass through the slots (6, 106) with a clearance. Thus, the positions of the shelf (3) and the separator (4) can be changed without obstructing one another by moving the bars (5, 105) easily in the slots (6, 106), and the volumes of the separated sections (A, B, C, D) can be adjusted by moving, if required, both the shelf (3) and the separator (4) in the compartment (2). Moreover, if required, a single large volume can be formed by the shelf (3) leaning against the side walls of the compartment (2) and the separator (4) to the ceiling or the base of the compartment (2).
The refrigerator (1) comprises more than one shelf channel (7) arranged on the side walls of the compartment (2) for adjusting the height of the shelf (3) and for supporting the shelf (3) at the desired level. The shelf channel (7) is formed of a vertical channel wherein the protrusion-like supporters on the side of the shelf (3) move and more than one housing whereto the shelf (3) is placed by pushing in slightly when brought to the intended level on the vertical channel.
The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises more than one wheel (8) disposed above and beneath the separator (4) for changing the position by moving the separator (4) to the right or left and more than one rail (9) situated on the ceiling and base of the compartment (2) whereon the wheels (8) move. The separator (4) moves on the rails (9) in the compartment (2) by means of wheels (8) situated, two each on the upper and lower parts thereof, without derailing to the left or right.
In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, the shelf (3) and the separator (4) do not obstruct one another while changing the positions of any one or both the shelf (3) and the separator (4), and the shelf (3) or the separator (4) does not have to be removed out of the compartment (2). By means of the shelves (3) and the separators (4) that intercept one another and at the same time move within one another, the user is enabled to form an infinite number of sections (A, B, C, D) with different volumes and the foodstuffs having variable volumes can be stored in the section (A, B, C, D) adjusted with the most suitable volume thereby increasing the utilization effectiveness of the compartment (2).

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising one or more compartments (2) wherein items are emplaced, one or more shelves (3) disposed horizontally in the compartment (2) being supported by side walls of the compartment (2), having more than one bar (5) in parallel from one side to the other and more than one slot (6) situated between the bars (5), said refrigerator being characterized by one or more separators (4) disposed vertically in the compartment (2), supported by a ceiling and a base of the compartment (2), having more than one bar (105) extending in parallel from one side to the other and more than one slot (106) situated between the bars (105), and wherein the shelf (3) and the separator (4) are placed in the compartment (2) such that they intersect each other vertically, by inserting into one another by means of the slots (6, 106) and the bars (5, 105), and wherein positions can be changed by moving in one another, and keeping their relative positions with respect to one another and thus changing the volumes of separated sections (A,B,C,D), the bars (5) of the shelf (3) extending in the horizontal direction making a sliding motion in the vertical slots (106) of the separator (4) and along the slots (106) in an upward or downward direction, the bars (105) of the separator (4) extending in the vertical direction making a sliding motion in the slots (6) of the shelf (3) and along the slots (6) to the right or left.
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the bars (5, 105) are sized to pass through the slots (6, 106) with a clearance.
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by more than one shelf channel (7) arranged on the side walls of the compartment (2) for adjusting the height of the shelf (3) and for supporting the shelf (3) at the desired level.
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claims 1 to 3, characterized by more than one wheel (8) disposed above and beneath the separator (4) for changing the position by moving the separator (4) to the right or to the left, and more than one rail (9) situated on the ceiling and the base of the compartment (2) whereon the wheels (8) move.