EP2336692A2

EP2336692A2 - Foldable shelf for cooling devices

Info

Publication number: EP2336692A2
Application number: EP10192905A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Ozakinci; Ismail Tere; Erhan Uzunkaya
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2009-12-15
Filing date: 2010-11-29
Publication date: 2011-06-22
Also published as: TR200909425A2

Abstract

The cooling device (A) according to the present invention is provided with at least one shelf slot (2) on its inner walls (1), with at least one shelf (3) being placed into this slot (2). The cooling device (A) further comprises at least one foldable shelf (4) in the form of a plate, which is situated underneath the shelf (3) and connected with one of its edge (40) to the device shelf (3); can be opened by turning it downwards; holds any material put on itself by leaning such material to the inner wall (1) and to an upper surface (45) of itself; and when it is closed, which becomes closer to the lower side of the device shelf (3).

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to shelves in cooling devices used for storing foodstuffs.

Prior Art

Attempts to increase the utilizable internal volume of cooling devices used for storing foodstuff constitute a significant field of research. For this purpose, either the size of cooling devices is increased, or various parts in their internal volume, not already utilized, are equipped with various shelf systems. Considering the second option, it is preferable that the shelf system is practical, does not pose any obstacles to users, can optionally be brought out-of-use and so, does not occupy any of the internal volume of a cooling device.
Published patent applications DE19821824 and CN1266169 can be cited as examples for shelf systems disposed in cooling devices according to the prior art. In these applications, special shelves are disclosed, developed for bottles to be stored in cooling devices. These shelves, made of shaped wires, are suitable for bottle placement, and it is seen that they do occupy space in the internal volume of cooling devices when they are not in use.
Another published patent application W02008012274 according to the prior art discloses a special shelf system with an annular cross-section, likewise developed for bottles. The shelf system disclosed in that application similarly occupies a significant internal space when it is not used. As for the published patent application CN2630765 , there is disclosed a foldable shelf system developed for placing bottles in it in refrigerators. The structure of the shelf disclosed there, however, is foldable, but still occupies space, and cannot be displaced or dislocated.

Brief Description of Invention

At least one shelf slot is provided in the internal walls of the cooling device according to the present invention for use in storing foodstuff, wherein at least one shelf is placed into this slot. The cooling device further comprises at least one foldable shelf in the form of a plate, which is situated underneath a device shelf and connected with one of its edge to the device shelf; can be opened by turning it downwards; holds any material put on itself by leaning such material to an inner wall and to an upper surface of itself; and when it is closed, which becomes closer to the device shelf.
When the foldable shelf is in an open position, various materials (e.g. bottles) can be placed into a gap formed between the lower side of the device shelf, the upper side of the foldable shelf and the inner wall of the device. The open state of the foldable shelf is the state at which the shelf stays at a certain angle, wherein at this angle, any material put on itself leans to the device wall and the upper surface of the shelf and assumes a hanging position at this state. The closed state of the foldable shelf, in turn, is the state at which it is brought close to the underside of the device shelf. Thanks to its plate form, the foldable shelf does not occupy any space when it is in its closed space either.

Objective of Invention

The objective of this invention is to provide a foldable shelf for cooling devices used in storing foodstuff.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a foldable shelf, which does not occupy space when it is not in use.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable shelf, which can be easily displaced, or dislocated, in a cooling device.
Still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a simply-produced, -mounted, and -used, inexpensive and reliable cooling device shelf.

Description of Figures

An exemplary cooling device and a foldable shelf used therein according to the present invention are illustrated in annexed figures as described in brief below;

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the interior of a cooling device, when the foldable shelf is in its closed position.
Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of the interior of a cooling device, when the foldable shelf is in its opened position.
Figure 3 is a perspective top illustration of the foldable shelf.
Figure 4 is a perspective top illustration of an alternative foldable shelf.
Figure 5 is a perspective illustration from below of the shelf illustrated in Figure 4.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference number and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed as below.

Cooling device (A)
Device wall (1)
Shelf slot (2)
Device shelf (3)
Foldable shelf (4)
Kitchen utensil (5)
Wire (31)
Rear edge (40)
Connection slot (41)
Extension (41 a)
Side edges (42, 42')
Stop protrusion (43)
Front edge (44)
Upper surface (45)
Protrusion (46)
Lower surface (47)
Support rib (48)
Ragged section (49)

Description of Invention

Figures 1 and 2 provide perspective views of a cooling device (A) according to the present invention. This device (A) is used for storing foodstuffs and comprises at least one shelf (3) on which foodstuffs and/or kitchen utensils can be put. In order to position the shelves (3) within the device (A) at various levels, more than one shelf slot (2) can be disposed at the inner walls (1) of the device (A). Thanks to these shelf slots (2), the height of shelves (3) can be adjusted, and different areas of use generated in line with the size of materials to be placed into the device (A).
The closed and open states of at least one foldable shelf (4) used in the device (A) are depicted in figures 1 and 2. The foldable shelf (4) is connected from one of its side (40) to the device shelf (3) (illustrated in figures 3 and 4 as the rear edge), and is opened by turning it towards the underside of the shelf (3) (Figure 2). When the foldable shelf (4) is in its open state, various materials, kitchen utensils (5) (illustrated in Figure 2 as a bottle) can be placed into a gap formed between the lower side of the device shelf (3), the upper side of the foldable shelf (4), and the inner wall (1) of the device. The open state of the foldable shelf (4) is the state at which the shelf (4) stays at a certain angular position, wherein at this angle, any material put on itself leans to the device wall (1) and the upper surface (45) of the shelf (see figures 3 and 4) and assumes a hanging position at this state. Figure 1, on the other hand, illustrates the folded and therefore the closed state of the shelf (4). In this state, the foldable shelf (4) is brought close to or leaned against (almost in parallel to) the lower side of the device shelf (3). Thanks to the almost planar plate-like form of the foldable shelf (4) with thin edges, the shelf will not occupy any space even when it is folded.
The device shelf (3), in turn, comprises at least one wire (31) to which the foldable shelf (4) is fitted. If, alternatively, more than one wire (31) is present on the device shelf (3), it becomes possible to easily remove the foldable shelf (4) from one wire (31) and to fit it back to another one. Thanks to this feature, the foldable shelf (4) can also be dislocated horizontally, so that materials with different sizes can be put on the shelf when it is opened. The fact that the height of the device shelf (3) is adjustable allows changing the height of the foldable shelf (4) as well. Put in other words, using a device shelf (3) comprising more than one wire (31) and adjusting the height of the shelf (3) allow to change the position of the foldable shelf (4) on two directions (horizontal and vertical).
Since the foldable shelf (4) stays below the device shelf (3), it has to be kept closed when not used. At least one spring mechanism (not illustrated in figures) bringing the shelf (4) to its closed state can be used for this purpose. Or, materials with magnetic features (not illustrated in figures) can be used on both shelves (3, 4) to provide a mutual attachment in order to avoid the case of unintentionally opening the shelf (4) while it is in its closed state. Another alternative is to make the foldable shelf (4) contact against the device shelf (3) so as to prevent it from turning by itself.
Figures 3 to 5 provide perspective illustrations of the foldable shelf (4) (figures 4 and 5 depict an alternative shelf (4) embodiment). At least connection slot (41) is provided at the rear edge (40) of the shelf (4), allowing to fit the shelf (4) to the wire (31). The connection slot (41) has a hook-shaped form with an aperture to which a wire (31) can be leaned. Thanks to these connection slots (41), the foldable shelf (4) can be rotated with respect to the main axis (running along the wire) of the wire (31). Additionally, at least one stop protrusion (43) is provided on at least one side edge (42, 42') of the shelf (4). When the shelf (4) is opened to its maximum, each stop protrusion (43) rests onto an extension (not illustrated in figures) of the device shelf (3) and prevents the foldable shelf (4) from turning more so as to become open. The place of the stop protrusions (43) at the side edges (42, 42') determines the angular position of the foldable shelf (4) at the state when it is opened to its maximum.
A ragged section (49) is formed on the upper surface (45) of the shelf (4), as illustrated in Figure 4, and any materials put on this surface (45) are kept stable against slipping down. Additionally, at least one protrusion (46), extending upwards, is formed on the front edge (44) of the shelf (4) with a similar purpose. On the lower surface (47) of the shelf, in turn, is disposed at least one support rib (48) (Figure 5) to enhance the strength of the shelf. As illustrated in Figure 5, an extension (41 a) is provided in the hook-shaped form of the connection slot (41). When the foldable shelf (4) is open, this extension (41 a) can be rested against any point on the device shelf (3) and determine the position at which the foldable shelf (4) shall stay. Similarly, the shelf (4) can be kept at a certain angle by means of any extension, provided on the foldable shelf (4) and, when the latter is opened, allowing to rest it (4) against the device shelf (3).
Hook-shaped connection slots (41) of the foldable shelf (4) comprised in the device (A) according to the present invention allow to easily attach/detach the shelf (4) to/from the wire (31). Thus, it is further made possible to attach the foldable shelf (4) to different places in the device (A). As a matter of fact, it may be advantageous to use more than one foldable shelf (4) in the device, since it (4) does not occupy any space when it is closed. Thanks to the simple structure of the shelf (4), in turn, it is produced inexpensively and applied in an easy manner.

Claims

A cooling device (A) for foodstuffs, provided with at least one shelf slot (2) in the inner walls (1) thereof and comprising at least one shelf (3) placed into this slot (2), characterized by further comprising
at least one foldable shelf (4) in the form of a plate, which is situated underneath the shelf (3) and connected with one of its edge (40) to the device shelf (3); can be opened by turning it downwards; holds any material put on itself by leaning such material to the inner wall (1) and to an upper surface (45) of itself; and when it is closed, which becomes closer to the lower side of the device shelf (3).
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device shelf (3) is provided with at least one wire (31) to which the foldable shelf (4) is attached.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 2, characterized in that at least connection slot (41) is provided at the rear edge (40) of the foldable shelf (4), allowing fitting the shelf (4) to the wire (31).
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the connection slot (41) has a hook-shaped form with an aperture into which the wire can be rested (31).
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one side edge (42, 42') of the foldable shelf (4) is provided with at least one stop protrusion (43), resting against one extension of the device shelf (3), when the shelf (4) is brought to its open state.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface (45) of the foldable shelf (4) is provided with a ragged portion (49).
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a front edge (44) of the foldable shelf (4) is provided with at least one protrusion (46) extending upwards.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one support rib (48) is provided at the lower surface (47) of the foldable shelf (4).
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising at least one spring mechanism, bringing the foldable shelf (4) to its closed state.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising magnetic materials in both shelves (3, 4), which provide a mutual attachment between two shelves (3, 4) when the foldable shelf (4) is in its closed state.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the foldable shelf (4) is made to contact against the device shelf (3) so as to prevent it from turning by itself.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising at least one extension on the foldable shelf (4), which leans against the device shelf (3) when the shelf (4) is in its open state.
The cooling device (A) according to Claim 12, characterized in that said extension is an extension (41 a) of the hook-shaped form of the connection slot (41).