EP2519790B1

EP2519790B1 - A refrigerator comprising a storage container

Info

Publication number: EP2519790B1
Application number: EP10795401.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Resul Yavuz; Bahtiyar Oguz Cetinturk; Ozgun Atac Gultekin; Nebi Kerem Ozgur
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2009-12-31
Filing date: 2010-12-23
Publication date: 2015-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-23
Also published as: EP2519790A1; WO2011080213A1; PL2519790T3

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising more than one storage containers, the position of which in the in the body can be changed.
In refrigerators, one or more storage containers are used wherein generally breakfast foods and beverages are placed. Generally, the storage containers not only occupy too much space in the refrigerator but also access is not easy even though they are used frequently. In the state of the art, the storage containers remain open when not in use and this results in the foodstuffs placed in the container to contact with air and to be spoiled in a shorter time period. A refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO2005/003660 .
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator comprising more than one storage container the position of which is changed easily thereby providing versatility of use.
The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims, comprises more than one storage container arranged in side by side arrays in the first position, and changed from the first position to the second position by being slid over the side wall of one another in the vertical axis and moved upwards and downwards. The storage containers are placed between the upright members disposed on two opposite side walls of the door. The storage containers are attached to one another such that the side wall of each storage container can move upwards, downwards on the wall of the other storage container.
The storage containers are shaped like boxes with one side open and the loading ports bear under the shelf in the first position. Thus, the foodstuffs placed in the storage containers are provided to be stored air-tightly and preserved for a longer period of time. Access to the loading ports is provided by moving the storage containers downwards in the vertical plane thereby loading, unloading of the storage containers can be realized.
The storage containers are attached to the upright members and to one another by means of a rail guide pair disposed on their side walls. At least one rail is disposed on the side wall of one of the storage containers adjacent to one another and a guide is disposed on the side wall of the other that is seated in the rail and moved by sliding upwards/downwards in the rail. The storage containers move with respect to one another as a result of the movement the guides make by sliding in the rails. Thus, the user is provided to position the storage containers on the door in the desired manner.
The refrigerator furthermore comprises a locking mechanism that provides the storage containers to remain immovable in the position they are situated under the shelf. By means of the locking mechanism, the loading ports of the storage containers are provided to be closed by the base of the shelf in the closed position thereby providing the storage containers to be maintained in an air-tight manner. Thus, the foodstuffs placed in the storage containers are preserved for a longer period of time.
The locking mechanism comprises a pin disposed on the door and a latch disposed on the base of the storage container which by being seated on the pin provides the storage containers to remain stationary in the closed position. In this embodiment, furthermore a stopper is provided on the base of the interior storage container whereto the latch bears against when pulled forward. The user, after performing the loading/unloading process to the storage containers, moves the storage containers upwards and provides the storage containers to remain in the closed position by providing the latch to be seated on the pin.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a handle is disposed on at least one of the storage containers. Thus, moving of the storage containers upwards/downwards by the user is facilitated.
By means of the movable storage containers, the user is provided with the means for using the area on the door as desired. Moreover, maintaining air-tightness of the storage containers in the closed position provides the foodstuffs placed therein to be preserved for a longer period of time.
A 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, the door of which is open.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the door when the storage containers are in the closed position.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the door when the storage containers are in the open position.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a door and the rails.
Figure 5 - is the perspective view of an exterior storage container before being attached to the door.
Figure 6 - is the perspective view of an exterior storage container when attached to the door.
Figure 7 - is the perspective view of an interior storage container.
Figure 8 - is the perspective view of another interior storage container.
Figure 9 - is the front view of the storage containers relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 - is the perspective view of an interior storage container relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 - is the bottom view of an interior storage container relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 - is the side view of an interior storage container relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 - is the side view of the door and the storage containers relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 - is the side view of detail A in Figure 13 when the latch is seated on the pin.
Figure 15 - is the side view of detail A in Figure 13 when the latch is released from the pin.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator
2. Body
3. Door
4. Shelf
5. Loading port
6. Storage container
7. Locking mechanism
8. Upright member
9. Latch
10. Pin
11. Rail
12. Guide
13. Stopper
14. Handle

The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2), a door (3) which provides access into the body (2) and one or more shelves (4) which are mounted on the door (3) (Figure 1).
The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises two upright members (8) mounted on two opposite side walls of the door (3) and at least two storage containers (6, 106) shaped as open-top boxes, attached to one another from their side walls and placed between the upright members (8), remaining in side by side array between the upright members (8) in the first position, and that can be changed to the second position by being moved upwards/downwards in the vertical axis with respect to one another (Figure 2, Figure 3).
The storage containers (6, 106), are attached to one another such that the side wall of each storage container (6, 106), can move upwards/downwards on the side wall of the other storage container (106). The storage containers (6, 106) are adjacent to one another both in the first position and the second position such that at least one side wall of each storage container (6, 106) at least partially overlaps with one side wall of another storage container (6,106).
The storage container (6, 106) has at least one loading port (5, 105), in the first position the loading port (5, 105) bears against under the shelf (4) and in the second position access to the loading port (5, 105) is provided. Thus, in the first position the foodstuffs placed in the storage containers (6, 106) are provided to be preserved air-tightly and also the storage containers (6, 106) are provided to be positioned more compactly on the door (3). In the second position whereto the storage containers (6, 106) are changed by being moved upwards-downwards in the vertical axis with respect to one another, the loading ports (5, 105) of the storage containers (6, 106) are brought to the position wherein the user can easily access. Consequently, the loading-unloading process into/out of the storage containers (6, 106) can be performed easily.
The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises at least one rail (11) with one end closed, disposed on at least one of the side walls of the upright member (8) and/or the storage container (6, 106) and at least one guide (12) disposed on at least one of the side walls of the storage container (6, 106), that moves slidingly upwards/downwards in the rail (11) by being seated in the rail (11).
The storage container (6, 106) is attached to the door (3) by inserting the guide (12) into the rail (11) disposed on the upright member (8) from the open end of the rail (11). The storage container (6) moves upwards and downwards as the guide (12) slidingly moves upwards/downwards in the rail (11). When the guide (12) is seated to the closed end of the rail (11), the movement of the storage container (6) in the vertical axis ends and the storage container (6) is brought to the lowermost position on the door (3).
The storage containers (6, 106) are attached to one another by inserting the guide (12) disposed on the side wall of another storage container (106) into the rail (11) disposed on at least one of the side walls of the storage container (6). In other words, attaching two storage containers (6, 106) that are adjacent to each other is realized by means of a rail (11) guide (12) pair.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises at least another storage container (106) mounted so as to move slidably upwards/downwards on one another in between the two storage containers (6) attached to the upright members (8). The guide (12) disposed on the side walls of the storage container (6) is inserted into the rails (11) disposed on the side walls of the other storage container (106). Thus, all the storage containers (6, 106) are attached to one another so as to be arranged side by side.
When the storage containers (6, 106) are desired to be changed from the first position to the second position, preferably the storage container (6) in between the two storage containers (6) is moved downwards providing the guides (12) to move slidably in the rails (11). When a storage container (106) is pulled downwards, it moves in the vertical axis with respect to the other storage containers (6). Consequently, the storage containers (6, 106) are in the position for loading items therein.
In another embodiment of the present invention, three storage containers (6, 106) are disposed in between the two storage containers (6) attached to the upright members (8) (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 9). At least one guide (12) are disposed at a point near each upper edge of the opposite side walls of the storage container (206) that is disposed in the middle of all the other storage containers (6, 106, 206). At least one rail (11) is disposed on the opposite side walls of the storage containers (106) that remain between the storage container (6) attached to the upright members (8) and the storage container (106) remaining in the middle. The lower ends of the rails (11) are closed whereto the guides (12) of the interior storage container (106) in the middle are inserted. The storage containers (6) that are attached to the upright members (8) have two guides (12) disposed at a point near each lower edge of the outer side walls thereof that are not attached to the upright members (8). The lower ends of the rails (11) are closed whereto the guides (12) of the storage containers (6) that are attached to the upright members (8) are inserted. Thus, when the storage container (106) preferably situated at the center is moved downwards, first the storage containers (106) that are adjacent to this storage container (106) move by descending downward and afterwards the other storage containers (6) move. All of the storage containers (6, 106) form a "V" shaped structure when viewed from the front. Thus, items like tall bottles, jars etc. can be placed into the storage container (106) remaining in the middle since it is situated at the lowermost position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the rail (11) is T shaped and the guide (12) has a T shaped cross section that matches the shape of the rail (11).
The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises at least one locking mechanism (7) that provides the storage containers (6, 106) to be secured in side by side array in the first position. Thus, all of the storage containers (6, 106) remain immovable in the position of being inserted into each other and their loading ports (5, 105) bearing against under the shelf (4). Consequently, the storage containers (6, 106) are prevented from receiving air thereby providing the foodstuffs placed therein to be preserved for a longer period of time.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism (7) comprises a latch (9) that can be moved forwards/backward's, disposed on the base of at least one storage container (106) and a pin (10) disposed on the door (3), whereon the latch (9) is seated when the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the first position (Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14 and Figure 15). After completing the loading/unloading process of the storage containers (6, 106), the storage containers (6, 106) are moved upwards in the vertical axis with respect to one another. When the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the closed position, the latch (9) is provided to be seated on the pin (10) by the latch (9) being pushed towards the door (3). When the latch (9) is seated on the pin (10), all of the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the possible uppermost position on the door (3) and are provided to remain immovable in this position. Accordingly, air-tightness of the storage containers (6, 106) is provided and thereby the foodstuffs placed therein are preserved for a longer period of time.
The locking mechanism (7) furthermore comprises a stopper (13) whereto the latch (9) bears against when the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the open position. When the storage containers (6, 106) are desired to be changed to the open position, the latch (9) is first pulled frontwards and bears against the stopper (13). Consequently, the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the free position wherein the loading/unloading process can be performed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a handle (14) disposed on the front face of at least one storage container (106) (Figure 8). Thus, moving of the storage containers (6, 106) upwards/downwards by the user is facilitated.
By means of the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, storage containers (6, 106) are provided which can be positioned under the shelf (4) in the closed position when desired, and changed to the position wherein loading/unloading can be performed by being moved in the vertical axis with respect to one another if so desired. Consequently, the foodstuffs in the storage containers (6, 106) are preserved for a longer period of time in the closed position and the user is presented with the opportunity of using the area on the door (3) as desired in the open position.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments according to the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2), a door (3) which provides access into the body (2) and one or more shelf (4) mounted on the door (3), and
two upright members (8) mounted on two opposite side walls of the door (3) between which the shelf (4) is placed, said refrigerator being characterized by
- at least two storage containers (6, 106) shaped as open-top boxes, attached to one another from their side walls and placed between the upright members (8), remaining in a side by side array between the upright members (8) in a first position, and can be changed to a second position by being moved upwards/downwards in the vertical axis with respect to one another.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the storage containers (6, 106) have at least one loading port (5, 105), in the first position the loading port (5, 105) bears against under the shelf (4) and wherein access into the loading port (5, 105) is provided in the second position.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one rail (11) with one end closed, disposed on at least one of the side walls of the upright member (8) and/or the storage container (6, 106) and at least one guide (12) disposed on at least one of the side walls of the storage container (6, 106), that moves upwards/downwards slidingly in the rail (11) by being seated in the rail (11).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a T-shaped rail (11) and the guide (12) having a T-shaped cross section that matches the shape of the rail (11).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least another storage container (106) mounted so as to move slidably upwards/downwards on one another in between the two storage containers (6) mounted to the upright members (8).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one locking mechanism (7) that provides the storage containers (6, 106) to be secured in a side by side array in the first position.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by a locking mechanism (7) comprising a latch (9) that can be moved forwards/backwards, disposed on the base of at least one storage container (106) and a pin (10) disposed on the door (3), whereon the latch (9) is seated when the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the first position.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 6 or Claim 7, characterized in that the locking mechanism (7) comprises a stopper (13) whereto the latch (9) bears against when the storage containers (6, 106) are changed to the open position.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a handle (14) disposed on a front face of at least one storage container (106).