EP2553363B1 - Article carrier for a refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigerated goods having a concave surface portion for storage of rollfähigem refrigerated goods and having a further surface for abutment against a shelf of a refrigerator and a refrigerator, in particular household refrigeration appliance with such Kühlgutträger.

If rollable refrigerated goods, such as bottles, are stored lying on flat shelves in a refrigerator, there is a risk that they roll away. Even if a bottle is initially stored aligned exactly in the depth direction of the refrigerator, it is possible that the bottle gets in motion, reoriented and roll out of the refrigerator and fall to the ground.

When a shelf has a glass top, the contact of glass bottles with the glass top creates crunchy sounds that many users find uncomfortable. In addition, there is a risk that the surface of the glass plate is scratched by grinding glass on glass.

From the WO 2005/090883 A1 a bottle carrier is known, comprising a support frame and a receiving tray provided with a longitudinal groove for receiving a bottle. The receiving tray can be releasably attached to the support frame.

A refrigerated goods carrier according to the preamble of claim 1 is from document DE 202009010792 U1 known.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated goods with improved functionality.

The object is achieved by a refrigerated goods having a concave surface portion for storage of rollfähigem refrigerated goods and having a further surface for abutment against a shelf of a refrigerator, and a holding means which is formed, the refrigerated goods optionally with its concave surface portion facing up on a top of the shelf or to rest with its further surface against a bottom of the shelf.

By the refrigerated goods having a holding means which is adapted to hold the refrigerated goods not only with its concave surface portion facing up to a top of the shelf, but also with its other surface to hold an underside of the shelf adjacent, can the refrigerated goods be stored within the refrigerator in a storage position in which it is not used for storing rollable refrigerated goods, but always space-saving to hand, to use it for storage of rollfähigem refrigerated goods can. Since the refrigerated goods carrier does not have to be removed from the refrigeration device when not in use, the risk of the refrigerated goods carrier being misplaced or being lost is reduced. By holding the shelf according to the invention with its further surface on an underside of the shelf of the refrigerated goods is stored in a storage position in which no storage space is lost for refrigerated goods through the storage. In particular, despite the storage of refrigerated goods within the refrigerator, the entire storage area of the associated shelf can be used.

The further surface of the refrigerated goods carrier can be arranged on a side of the refrigerated goods carrier opposite the concave surface section. In this case, the refrigerated goods can have a substantially flat, cuboid base body having an upper surface into which the concave surface portion is embedded. The holding means may preferably extend completely downwards from the plane of the upper side of the main body. This ensures a flat shape of the refrigerated goods carrier, which in particular favors that rollfähiges refrigerated goods, such as bottles lying in the concave surface portion lying can be inserted without the risk that they abut during insertion on a projection of the holding means.

In one embodiment, the holding means may comprise a holding portion for gripping, in particular force and / or frictional gripping an edge of the shelf. By embracing the edge of the shelf of refrigerated goods as such is positively held on the shelf. In order to prevent slippage of the holding portion of the edge of the shelf or difficult to serve the inventive force and / or frictional gripping the edge of the shelf. The holding portion may have a slip-resistant surface structure, be made of a non-slip material, or have a non-slip material coating.

In a further development of the invention, the holding portion may have a groove with two facing wall sections, which limit a receiving gap for the edge of the shelf. The shape and size of the groove can be adapted to the shape and size of the edge of the shelf or correspond to form a desired fit the shape and size of the edge of the shelf. Instead of a single holding section, it is also possible for two or more holding sections to be provided on a refrigerated goods carrier according to the invention. The holding section can in principle extend over the entire width of the refrigerated goods carrier, but also, in particular in the case of two or more holding sections, extend over only a part of the entire width of the refrigerated goods carrier. Thus, two or more holding sections may also be designed in the form of arms, which are arranged, for example, only at the two ends of the refrigerated goods carrier.

In other words, the refrigerated goods can form a bottle rack for a refrigerator, with a top-side recess having a plate and an integrally formed on one edge of the plate and an underside of the plate open hook. The hook is used to fix the bottle rack on a shelf, the plate of the bottle rack rests on the shelf. The top-side recess of the plate of the bottle rack causes a position fixation of a bottle lying on it.

Sufficient fixation of a bottle can be achieved even with a concave surface portion or with a few millimeters deep and a few inches wide recess, even if the diameter of the bottle is much larger.

In all embodiments, the holding means for variable attachment to edges of shelves of different thickness can be formed with an adjustable and / or resilient retaining portion, in particular with resilient, the edges encompassing legs. In the version of the holding means with an adjustable Holding portion, the holding means may in particular be made in several parts and, for example, a gap formed between two parts of the retaining means or groove be adjustable so that the two parts in their respective positions and / or positions offset from each other or can be adjusted. In the embodiment of the holding means with a resilient holding portion of the holding portion may be spring-biased on the holding means, in particular stored as a separate component. In the embodiment of the holding means with one or more elastic, the edges encompassing legs, the legs may be integrally formed with the holding means and in particular made of a plastic or molded onto the holding means.

In other words, the refrigerated goods carrier or the plate and the holding means or the hook can preferably be injection molded from a plastic and connected in one piece. In the case of contact between glass and plastic, the grinding noises which occur when glass and glass are touched are generally not encountered.

In a further developed embodiment, the holding means may comprise a latching device for the positive locking engagement of the refrigerated goods carrier on the shelf. In this case, the holding means, for example, a leg of the refrigerated goods carrier have a pointing to the shelf protruding locking lug, which engages behind a corresponding recess of the shelf. The recess can be formed by a step of a mounted on an edge of the shelf end bar. By a positive locking reduces the risk of unintentional jumping off of the refrigerated goods from the shelf.

It can be space-saving if the refrigerated goods carrier or the plate rests in its second orientation on the underside of the shelf. This can be achieved, for example, by latching the refrigerated goods carrier at a rear edge of the shelf. But this can also be achieved by a suitable bias between the bottom plate and the bottle rack, wherein a concern of the plate on the underside of the bottom plate can be ensured even with only one-sided anchorage of the bottle shelf to the bottom plate.

In one variant, the refrigerated goods carrier may have a clamping device at its end opposite the holding means, for holding the refrigerated goods carrier without clearance on the shelf. If the refrigerated goods having a holding means which is adapted by means of a clearance, for example, to an edge of the shelf, a play-free storage of Kühlgutträgers can be achieved at the shelf by a clamping device according to the invention. Due to the clearance fit of the holding means, the refrigerated goods can be easily attached to the shelf with little effort. The clamping device then ensures that the refrigerated goods does not wobble on the shelf, tilts or rattles. The clamping device can be formed, for example, by an additional support to the holding means, which is preferably supported on a top or bottom of the shelf.

The clamping device can be formed by a projecting from the further surface projection. Alternatively, the clamping device can be formed by an inclined position of the shelf opposite the holding means of the refrigerated goods carrier in the direction of the shelf. In the variant, as a projecting from the further surface of the projection can rest on an upper side or underside of the shelf, wherein a base body of the refrigerated goods carrier is elastically bent, so that a biasing force is induced, which braces the refrigerated goods with respect to the shelf. In the other variant, as an oriented towards the shelf oblique position of the holding means opposite end of the refrigerated goods carrier, the base body with respect to the holding means a narrowing the gap shape that when attaching the holding means on an edge of the shelf of the main body is bent elastically, so that a biasing force is induced, which braces the refrigerated goods with respect to the shelf.

The holding means or the hook can thus be elastically deformable at least on its inner side in order to be clamped to a shelf.

In all embodiments, the concave surface portion of the refrigerated goods can be at least partially or completely provided with a respect to a base body of the refrigerated goods carrier softer surface layer, in particular the base body of a thermoplastic material and the softer surface layer made of an elastomer material.

In order to additionally stabilize the storage of the bottles, a damping layer which is softer than the plastic can thus be provided at least locally on the upper side of the refrigerated goods carrier or the plate. By this yielding under the weight of a bottle lying on it, for example, it damps quickly any oscillations of the bottle, for example after insertion.

The invention also relates to a refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, with a refrigerated goods as described. A refrigeration appliance is understood in particular to be a household refrigeration appliance, that is to say a refrigeration appliance which is used for household purposes or possibly also in the gastronomy sector, and in particular for storing food and / or drinks in household quantities at specific temperatures, such as, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer , a fridge freezer or a wine storage cabinet. The refrigeration appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, can have at least one shelf for this purpose. The refrigerated goods according to the invention can be attached as described on an edge of the shelf.

In summary, the invention may in other words be formed from a bearing element that can be pushed from the front onto a refrigeration device shelf and optionally can be secured with a locking device. For example, bottles can be stored on shelves without the risk of rolling away. Also, the often perceived as unpleasant noise that occurs when glass meets glass, can be avoided. The bearing element can be attached directly after turning around under a glass shelf and brought into rest position. The bearing element can also be pushed from the front onto a glass plate. Due to a very flat design, the space requirement of the bearing element can be minimized. Installed directly under the glass plate, the device does not interfere with the opening and closing of the refrigerator in daily use. The bearing element can be formed as a simple injection molded part. It can be equipped with a flexible locking device, so that different shelf fronts can be equipped. The support surface for bottles can be optionally equipped with softer plastic components for even more stable and secure storage. The entire bearing element can be made with slight preload, so that the bearing element oriented in both layers to the glass plate. An advantage of this solution can be the quick availability by simply repositioning the bearing element. The glass shelf only needs to be cleared as far as space is needed for bottles. The bearing element can be manufactured inexpensively and can offer a high consumer benefit. It can also be used flexibly and is self-explanatory.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühlgutträgers, montiert auf einem abschnittweise gezeigten Fachboden;

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch den Fachboden und den Kühlgutträger gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

einen vergrößerten Schnitt durch den Fachboden und den Kühlgutträger, montiert in einer gewendeten Orientierung des Kühlgutträgers;

Fig. 4

einen vergrößerten Schnitt durch den Fachboden und den Kühlgutträger in einer zu Fig. 3 alternativen Ausgestaltung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a refrigerated goods according to the invention, mounted on a shelf shown in sections;

Fig. 2

a section through the shelf and the refrigerated goods according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

an enlarged section through the shelf and the refrigerated goods, mounted in a turned orientation of the refrigerated goods carrier;

Fig. 4

an enlarged section through the shelf and the refrigerated goods in a too Fig. 3 alternative embodiment.

The in Fig. 1 Refrigerated goods 1 shown in perspective view essentially comprises a cuboid flat body 2, which is shown resting on a shelf 3. With the main body 2, a holding means 4 is connected. The holding means 4 is plugged onto a front edge of the shelf 3 and thus acts as a hook for fixing the refrigerated goods carrier 1. The main body 2 and the holding means 4 are injection molded in one piece from plastic. The main body 2 forms a leg of the holding means 4, and a side surface of the limited by the holding means 4 groove is continuously in the bottom of the base body 2 via.

A central upper concave surface portion 5 of the main body 2, as shown in the figure, have the shape of a shallow groove. Such a channel is capable stable storage of bottles whose radius is smaller than the radius of curvature of the gutter, as well as bottles of larger radius. The former lie along a central line of the channel, the latter along their lateral edges 6.

For bottles whose radius is less than the radius of curvature of the gutter, it is not excluded that these, when impacted, oscillate in the gutter. To dampen such pendulum movement, the gutter may be provided with a padding, e.g. be provided in the form of compliant under the weight of the bottle surface layer 7, for example in the form of strips in particular from closed-cell foam.

Deviating from the presentation of Fig. 1 For example, the concave surface portion 5 may be formed as an elongated opening in the base body 2. In this case, the width of the opening and the thickness of the base body 2 are coordinated so that a bottle of conventional diameter on the lateral edges of the concave surface portion 5 comes to rest, without touching the shelf 3 between the edges.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the refrigerated goods 1 and the shelf 3, to which the refrigerated goods 1 is attached. It can be seen the concave surface portion 5 and the holding means 4, which is frictionally and without play on the edge of the shelf 3 plugged.

As can easily be seen, the holding means 4 can be plugged both in the orientation shown and in a turned orientation onto the edge of the shelf 3, in which the base body 2 extends below the shelf 3. In this orientation, the refrigerated goods carrier 1 is not usable, but occupies virtually no otherwise usable space, so that it can remain in the inverted orientation in the refrigerator when not in use, without disturbing its use.

In order to clamp the refrigerated goods carrier 1 of different thickness safely and without play, the holding means 4 in an expedient development in the Fig. 3 shown construction. A leg 8 of the holding means 4 is provided with a shelf 3 facing the projection 9, for example, a leaf spring.

The projection 9 is in the illustrated embodiment, along the holding means 4 elongated band of spring steel or a rigid flexible plastic from the longitudinal edges 10 at least one, here both, are enclosed in the leg 8. The flattened in contact with the shelf 3 leaf spring presses the shelf 3 against the opposite leg 8 of the holding means 4th

Im in Fig. 3 shown embodiment, this opposite leg 8 passes into the base body 2, so that the base body 2 is held in contact with the shelf 3.

The main body 2 has a large, flat, extending over its entire width recess 11, which extends into the groove of the holding means 4 and the leaf spring opposite. Within the groove close to the recess 11 an inclined surface 12 and, following this, a parallel to the leg 8 contact surface 13 at. As a result of the recess 11, the front edge of the shelf 3 can engage in the groove of the holding means 4 when clamping the Kühlgutträgers 1 on the shelf 3, or clamped until it touches the inclined surface 12 and the leaf spring in contact with the top of the shelf. 3 comes. When the refrigerated goods carrier 1 is pushed further, the edge of the shelf 3 slides along the inclined surface 12 and finally reaches the contact surface 13, wherein the leaf spring is increasingly deformed. By the contact with the contact surface 13 and the leaf spring acts - in the representation of Fig. 3 - On the refrigerated goods 1 a clockwise torque through which a remote from the holding means 4 end 14 of the base body 2 is pressed from below against the shelf 3. As a result, the space requirement of the refrigerated goods carrier 1 is minimized in the non-use position, and there is no risk that is triggered when handling refrigerated goods in a compartment below the shelf 3 of the base body 2 and the refrigerated goods 1 falls down.

In Fig. 1 to 3 the shelf 3 is shown as a one-piece body, eg made of safety glass, of constant strength. Shelves are also 3 'from the in Fig. 4 shown type, with a framed in a frame 15 glass plate 16, in which the thickness of the frame 15 is greater than that of the glass plate 16. This thickness profile offers the possibility of locking the refrigerated goods carrier 1, for example, as in Fig. 4 shown, the leaf spring, denoted by 9 ', in the mounted state behind an inner edge of the frame 15 engaging projection 17 has. In order to absorb the relatively large stroke of the projection 17 when attaching and removing the refrigerated goods carrier 1 from the shelf 3 ', the leaf spring 9' is gripped in the holding means 4 only at one of its longitudinal edges 10 facing away from the projection 17.

Claims (10)

1. Refrigerated goods carrier having a concave surface section (5) for the storage of refrigerated items capable of rolling, and having a further surface for placement on a shelf (3) of a refrigeration appliance, characterised by a holding means (4), which is embodied to hold the refrigerated goods carrier (1) optionally with its concave surface section (5) facing upwards on an upper side of the shelf (3) or with its further surface abutting an underside of the shelf (3).
2. Refrigerated goods carrier according to claim 1, characterised in that the further surface is arranged on a side of a refrigerated goods carrier (1) opposite the concave surface section (5).
3. Refrigerated goods carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the holding means (4) has a holder section for gripping, in particular for gripping in a force-and/or friction-fitted manner, an edge of the shelf (3).
4. Refrigerated goods carrier according to claim 3, characterised in that the holder section has a groove with two wall sections facing each other, which delimit a receiving gap for the edge of the shelf (3).
5. Refrigerated goods carrier according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the holding means (4) is embodied for variable mounting on the edges of shelves (3) of different thicknesses, with an adjustable and/or elastically-sprung holder section, in particular with elastically-sprung limbs (8) which grip the edges.
6. Refrigerated goods carrier according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the holding means (4) has a latching mechanism for form-fitted latching of the refrigerated goods carrier (1) on the shelf (3).
7. Refrigerated goods carrier according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the refrigerated goods carrier (1) has a tensioning device at its end opposite to the holding means (4), for holding of the refrigerated goods carrier (1) on the shelf (3) without play.
8. Refrigerated goods carrier according to claim 7, characterised in that the tensioning device is formed by a projection (9) protruding from the further surface or by a slant of the end of the refrigerated goods carrier (1) opposite to the holding means (4) oriented in the direction of the shelf (3).
9. Refrigerated goods carrier according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the concave surface section (5) of the refrigerated goods carrier (1) is provided at least in sections or completely with a softer surface layer (7) compared with a base body (2) of the refrigerated goods carrier (1), in particular the base body (2) is manufactured from a thermoplastic material and the softer surface coating (7) from an elastomer material.
10. Refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, in particular having a shelf (3), with a refrigerated goods carrier (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 9.

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