EP2241846A2

EP2241846A2 - Cooling appliance with a tray and a removable container

Info

Publication number: EP2241846A2
Application number: EP10382074A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Igor Herrarte Letona; Aitor Ciardegui Iriarte
Original assignee: Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Current assignee: Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Priority date: 2009-04-08
Filing date: 2010-03-30
Publication date: 2010-10-20
Also published as: ES2385691A1; ES2385691B1

Abstract

Cooling appliance (100) that comprises at least one internal cavity (2) in which is housed a tray (1) beneath which is disposed a first container (3) acting as a drawer for storing products such as vegetables and fruit. The cooling appliance (100) also comprises in the internal cavity (2) at least a second container acting as a drawer for storing products such as meat and fish. This second container is slidable on the tray (1) and is guided in the guides (7) disposed on the sides of said tray (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cooling appliances that include at least one tray and a removable container.

PRIOR ART

There are known cooling appliances that incorporate a tray beneath which is disposed a container, for storing vegetables for example, acting as a drawer.
ES 2178293 T3 thus discloses a cooling appliance that comprises a tray supported on profiles and beneath which is disposed a container acting as a drawer for storing products such as vegetables and fruit. Said tray, on its rear face, comprises oval-shaped air through-holes, in the top part, adjacent to the holes, it comprises a support surface, at approximately two thirds of the depth of the tray, upon which products are placed and in the front part, adjacent to the support surface, it comprises a transparent cover that may be lowered to allow products to be put into and removed from the container.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of this invention to provide a cooling appliance as defined in the claims.
The cooling appliance of the invention comprises at least one internal cavity, and in said internal cavity is housed a tray beneath which is disposed a first container acting as a drawer for storing products such as vegetables and fruit. The cooling appliance also comprises in the internal cavity at least a second container acting as a drawer for storing products such as meat and fish. This second container is slidable on the tray and is guided on the guides disposed on the sides of said tray.
The cooling appliance of the invention allows a simplified design of the internal cavity due to the fact that no groove needs to be made in the internal cavity in order to guide the second container, which also makes it an economical solution.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the cooling appliance of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a second perspective view and in detail of the embodiment of Figure 1 without the second container.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the tray comprised by the cooling appliance of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the second container of the cooling appliance of Figure 1.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows the cooling appliance 100 of the preferred embodiment of the invention, where said cooling appliance 100 comprises at least one internal cavity 2, said internal cavity 2 comprising a tray 1 beneath which is disposed a first container 3 acting as a drawer for storing products such as vegetables and fruit. The cooling appliance 100 also comprises in the internal cavity 2 at least a second container 4, also acting as a drawer, for storing products such as meat and fish. This second container 4 is slidable on the tray 1 and is guided in the guides 7 disposed on the sides of said tray 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
Each guide 7, as shown in Figure 3, comprises a groove, which is delimited by a top wall and a bottom wall. The second container 4, shown in Figure 4, also comprises a longitudinal rib 13 on each side, these being housed in the grooves of the guides 7 and enabling relative sliding between both in a substantially horizontal direction.
In the cooling appliance 100 of the invention the design of the internal cavity 2 is simplified due to the fact that no groove needs to be made in the internal cavity 2 in order to guide the second container 4, which also makes it an economical solution.
The tray 1 of the cooling appliance of the invention comprises two projections 8 acting as stoppers located on the sides of the tray 1 as shown in Figure 3. In addition, the second container 4 comprises two other projections 12, also acting as stoppers, located in the bottom rear part, as shown in Figure 4. When the user pulls the second container 4 it moves forward until the projections 12 of the second container 4 come up against the projections 8 of the tray 1. In this position the user can put in or remove food from the second container 4. The position of the projections 8 of the tray 1 and of the projections 12 of the second container 4 is such that it allows the second container 4 to be opened without the risk of it turning over. Similarly, the guides 7 also comprise a respective stopper 11 to restrict the horizontal movement of the second container 4 when the user pushes said container 4 towards the inside of the internal cavity 2. The inner side faces 9 of the front wall of the second container 4 cooperate with said stoppers 11 causing the second container 4 to stop. In this position the second container 4 is closed and a shelf 14 immediately above the second container 4 acts as a cover for the container, as shown in Figure 1.
The tray 1 also comprises a transparent window 6, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and through which the inside of the first container 3 located beneath the tray 1 can be seen. This is very useful as it allows the contents of the first container 3 to be viewed without it having to be removed or moved from its position. In the preferred embodiment, the window 6 is preferably made of glass although it may also be made of crystal. Said window 6 is disposed in the front part of the tray 1 with the result that when the second container 4 is closed (see Figure 1) it does not obstruct the window 6 and enables the contents of the first container 3 to be seen.
The top walls of the guides 7 comprise a front section 10 that extends upwards, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This section 10 enables the second container 4 to be removed from the internal cavity 2 quickly, easily and comfortably even if the door of the cooling appliance 100 does not open by more than 90°. To remove the second container 4 the user slides said container horizontally until the projections 12 of the second container 4 come up against the projections 8 of the tray 1. At this point the user then moves the second container 4 upwards, the container being restricted by the section 10 due to the ribs 13 coming up against said section 10. This guided and restricted upwards movement is necessary to ensure that the second container 4 passes beyond the projections 8 of the tray 1 when the user continues sliding the second container 4. Once it has passed beyond the projections 8 of the tray 1, the user performs a second upwards movement, this time at a more pronounced angle, thereby freeing the second container 4. This partially guided removal is very useful as directs and guides the user in the removal of the second container 4, and if the door of the cooling appliance 100 does not open by more than 90° this solution is very useful in preventing the second container 4 from coming into contact with the shelves of the door of the cooling appliance 100.
In the preferred embodiment the tray 1 and the guides 7 form a single piece, thereby eliminating the looseness associated with assembly processes, and to achieve a light tray 1 the material used is plastic. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the tray 1 is removable, which is very useful for cleaning it, for example.

Claims

Cooling appliance comprising at least one internal cavity (2), comprising in said internal cavity (2) a tray (1) beneath which is disposed a first container (3) acting as a drawer for storing products such as vegetables and fruit, characterised in that it comprises in the internal cavity (2) at least a second container (4) acting as a drawer for storing products such as meat and fish, said second container (4) being disposed slidably on the tray (1) and being guided in guides (7) disposed on the sides of said tray (1).
Cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein each guide (7) comprises a longitudinal groove delimited by a top wall and a bottom wall, the second container (4) comprising a longitudinal rib (13) on each side, said ribs (13) being housed in the grooves of the guides (7).
Cooling appliance according to claim 2, wherein the tray (1) comprises at least one projection (8) acting as a stopper that limits the substantially horizontal movement of the second container (4) to the exterior of the internal cavity (2).
Cooling appliance according to claim 3, wherein the top walls of the guides (7) comprise a front section (10) that extends upwards, said sections (10) guiding the upward movement of the second container (4) so that said second container (4) passes beyond the projection (8) during its removal.
Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each guide (7) comprises a respective stopper (11) that restricts the horizontal movement of the second container (4) towards the inside of the internal cavity (2).
Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray (1) and the guides (7) form a single piece.
Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray (1) is made of plastic.
Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray (1) comprises a transparent window (6) through which the inside of the first container (3) can be seen.
Cooling appliance according to claim 8, wherein the window (6) is made of glass or crystal.
Cooling appliance according to claims 8 or 9, wherein the second container (4) does not obstruct the window (6) when said second container (4) is closed.
Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray (1) is removable.