EP2798289A1

EP2798289A1 - A shelf suitable for use on a cooling device door

Info

Publication number: EP2798289A1
Application number: EP12794324.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kadir Ridvan Celik; Ercan Akyuz; Elif Altay
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2011-12-26
Filing date: 2012-11-29
Publication date: 2014-11-05
Also published as: WO2013098022A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shelf (1), suitable for use on the cooling device door, comprising a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), a rear wall (4) and at least one resting surface (5), and a compartment (6) mounted rotatably on the body (2), where objects to be stored are placed therein, and wherein placing the long objects into the compartment (6) is facilitated.

Description

A SHELF SUITABLE FOR USE ON A COOLING DEVICE DOOR

The present invention relates to a shelf that is suitable for using on a cooling device door.
In cooling devices, shelves are situated on the inner surface of the door whereon food products and containers are placed. Since generally an element like another shelf or water dispenser container is situated above the shelves located in the cooling device door, problems are encountered in placing tall bottles into these shelves. Sometimes, even though there is space as much as the height of the bottle to be placed between the base of the shelf and the shelf above, the bottle cannot be placed into the shelf due to thickness or shape of the bottle. In order to solve this problem, height adjustable shelves are used on the door but in these embodiments, problems like not being able to change the place of the loaded shelf, dispensing with usage volume of the other shelf while increasing height of one shelf, and malfunction of the shelf movement mechanisms are encountered.
In the state of the art United States of America Patent No. US5685624, a rotatable refrigerator door shelf is described. In this embodiment, the shelf is rotatably mounted from one side to the bar extending along the long side of the door and functioning as a hinge and when a long bottle is to be placed therein, the shelf is changed to the loading position by being rotated around the vertical axis.
In the state of the art Chinese Utility Model No. CN201173659, a cooling device door shelf having a movable section and a fixed section is described. The fixed section is mounted on the cooling device door and the movable section on the fixed section. The movable section is mounted to the fixed section by means of pins disposed on its lateral sides and can rotate around the line joining these pins.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a shelf suitable for use on the cooling device door and the storage volume of which is used effectively.
The shelf realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body secured to the surface desired to be used and a compartment that is rotatably mounted on the body. The compartment has a first position wherein the objects contained therein are carried and a second position enabling long bottles to be easily placed therein. The angle between the first position and the second position varies between 0 and 90 degrees. The rotational axis of the compartment is the line joining the front wall and the base of the compartment.
In the shelf of the present invention, an opening is located between the lateral sides of the compartment base and the side walls of the body. A guide extends from the side wall of the body towards the interior section. Two protrusions are situated on the base, extending from the ends of the base sides facing the side wall and close to the rear wall, towards the side walls so as to almost touch the side walls. The guide extends upwards from the level of the base lower surface when the compartment is in the first position. The extension is disposed at the rear side of the guide and moves over the guide by bearing against the guide when the compartment is desired to be rotated. The shelf is provided to rotate controllably by means of the extension and the guide working together. The guide determines the path where the compartment moves and the extension provides the compartment to move on this path.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide has a curved shape. The guide is shaped as a bow extending on the side wall from the bottom upwards so as to pass through the opening. The vertical distance of each point on the surface of the guide facing the front wall to the intersection line of the front wall and the base is almost the same. In this embodiment, the lower end of the guide extends at least to the lower surface of the base.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a stopper is disposed on the side wall, that extends starting from the upper end of the guide towards the rear wall. The stopper prevents dislodging of the compartment and/or the compartment from opening more than the desired angle by hindering movement of the extension. The stopper is positioned according to the angle the compartment is desired to make in the second position with respect to the first position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the end point of the stopper is farther away from the rear wall as compared to the start point of the guide. Thus, the stopper also remains inside the opening and the compartment is provided to be mounted/dismounted to/from the body more easily.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide and the extension are produced from material having low coefficient of friction. Consequently, the guide and the extension show less resistance towards each other while contacting with each other and provide the movement to be more fluent.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf comprises one barrier rising upwards from each of the two lateral sides of the base. The barriers prevent objects from falling down from the lateral sides of the base while the compartment is changed from the first position to the second position and/or while the compartment is in the second position. The barrier closes the gap between the lateral sides of the front wall and the level of the body side wall while the compartment is in the second position. In a version of this embodiment, the barrier extends along the lateral side of the base.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the front wall is plate shaped. Thus, the objects inside the compartment are prevented from falling down from the front side while the compartment is in the second position and/or while the compartment is changed from the first position to the second position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the resting surface whereon the compartment is placed entirely closes between the two side walls. Thus, the body can be used for the purpose of carrying objects without the compartment.
By means of the present invention, the volume of the shelf can be used efficiently, long bottles are provided to be loaded easily by pulling forwards the compartment section of the shelf wherein objects are placed. Since the compartment can be easily mounted/dismounted, the shelf is provided to be cleaned easily.
The shelf 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 the shelf when the compartment is in the first position.
Figure 2 – is the perspective view of the shelf when the compartment is in the second position.
Figure 3 – is the sideways view of the shelf when the compartment is in the first position.
Figure 4 – is the sideways view of the shelf when the compartment is in the second position.
Figure 5 – is the partial view of the shelf when the compartment is in the first position.
Figure 6 – is the partial view of the shelf while the compartment is changed from the first position to the second position.
Figure 7 – is the partial view of the shelf when the compartment is in the second position.
Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the body and the compartment.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Shelf
Body
Side wall
Rear wall
Resting surface
Compartment
Base
Front wall
Opening
Guide
Extension
Stopper
Barrier

The shelf (1), suitable for use on the cooling device door, comprises a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), a rear wall (4) and at least one resting surface (5) and a compartment (6) disposed on the body (2) (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 8).
The compartment (6) comprises a base (7) placed on the resting surface (5) and a front wall (8), extending upwards from the front side of the base (7), preventing objects placed on the base (7) from falling (Figure 1, Figure 2).
The compartment (6) can be in

a first position (P1) wherein the base (7) carries the objects placed thereon by being seated on the resting surface (5) and
a second position (P2) to which the compartment (6) is changed from the first position (P1) by being rotated forward, wherein the base (7) is positioned angularly with respect to the resting surface (5), providing objects to be easily placed on the base (7)

(Figure 1, Figure 2).
The short objects desired to be cooled like jars, beverage cans are directly placed on the base (7) when the compartment (6) is in the first position (P1). When long objects like bottles, having the risk of impacting another shelf or the water dispenser situated above the shelf (1), are desired to be placed onto the shelf (1), the compartment (6) is changed from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2) and after the objects are placed on the base (7), the compartment (6) is again changed to the first position (P1) by pushing. When the compartment (6) is in the second position (P2), the objects placed on the base (7) bear against the front wall (8). By means of the compartment (6) opening forward, long objects like bottles are prevented from impacting the other objects situated above the shelf (1) and ease of utilization is provided.
The shelf (1) of the present invention, furthermore, comprises:

one opening (9), remaining between each of the lateral sides of the base (7) and the side walls (3) when the compartment (6) is placed into the body (2),
one guide (10) disposed on each of the side walls (3) and
an extension (11) connected to the base (7), extending from the base (7) towards the back of the guide (10) when the compartment (6) is in the first position (P1), moving over the guide (10) by bearing against the guide (10) while the compartment (6) is changed from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2) and providing the compartment (6) to rotate.

When the user desires to change the compartment (6) from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2), he/she moves the compartment (6) by holding from the front wall (8), meanwhile the extension (11) slides over the guide (10) and provides the compartment (6) to make rotational movement. When the compartment (6) is pulled outwards, the extension (11) gets caught with the guide (10) and prevents the compartment (6) from going out. The guide (10) determines the path where the compartment (6) moves and the extension (11) provides the compartment (6) to move on this path. While the extension (11) moves over the guide (10), the compartment (6) rotates around the line where the base (7) and the front wall (8) intersects. In this embodiment, the extension (11) is preferably produced as a single piece with the base (7). The extensions (11) seem like protrusions disposed on the sides of the base (7). The compartment (6) is mounted on the body (2) such that the guide (10) passes through the opening (9). Any kind of fastening element like pins, screws etc. are not used for securing the compartment (6) rotatably on the body (2). Thus, both production is facilitated and also cost advantage is provided. Furthermore, when required, the compartment (6) can be dismounted from the body (2) and can be mounted to the body (2) again by the user. And this provides flexibility of utilization (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (10) extends upwards from the resting surface (5). In this embodiment, the guide (10) has a curved shape that gets closer to the front side of the side wall (3) as it proceeds from the lower end towards the upper end. The guide (10) is shaped like the route followed by the side of the extension (11) bearing against the guide (10) when the compartment (6) is rotated such that the intersection line of the front wall (8) with the base (7) is the rotational axis. In other words, when two upright members are extended from the lower and upper ends of the guide (10) down to the intersection line of the front wall (8) and the base (7), a circle segment is obtained, the center of which is located on the intersection line of the front wall (8) and the base (7). Thus, the compartment (6) makes only rotational movement while being changed from the first position (PI) to the second position (P2) and not translational movement. This provides the changes between positions to be made more easily (Figure 3, Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (1) comprises a stopper (12), extending from the upper end of the guide (10) towards the rear wall (4), providing the extension (11) that is moving over the guide (10) to stop by impacting. In this embodiment, the stopper (12) is positioned on the side wall (3) so as to be almost parallel to the resting surface (5). By means of the stopper (12), the compartment (6) is provided to have an angle suitable for placing objects therein in the second position (P2). Furthermore, the compartment (6) is prevented from dislodging from inside the body (2). Accordingly, possible safety problems are avoided (Figure 3, Figure 5, Figure 6).
In a version of this embodiment, the stopper (12) extends on the side wall (3), starting from the upper end of the guide (10) so as not to exceed the vertical level of the lower end of the guide (10). Thus, the compartment (6) does not impact the stopper (12) while being mounted/dismounted into/from the body (2). And, this provides ease of utilization (Figure 3, Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (10) and the extension (11) are produced from material having low coefficient of friction. Thus, the extension (11) is provided to move easily over the guide (10). In this embodiment, the surfaces of the extension (11) and the guide (10) contacting each other are shaped so as to enable the movement to be made easily.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (1) comprises one barrier (13) that rises from each of the lateral sides of the base (7) almost vertically, preventing the objects on the base (7) from sliding and falling from the sides of the base (7) when the compartment (6) is in the second position (P2). Thus, when the compartment (6) is changed from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2), the objects inside the compartment (6) that are not noticed by the user due to the front wall (8) are prevented from falling and harming the user (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the front wall (8) is shaped like a plate that almost entirely closes the front of the compartment (6). Thus, when the compartment (6) is in the second position (P2), the small objects on the base (7) are prevented from falling down. Furthermore, when the compartment (6) is in the second position (P2), the bottles rest against the front wall (8) and a safe loading is provided. In this embodiment, the height of the front wall (8) is almost the same as that of the barrier (13) (Figure 2, Figure 4, Figure 8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the resting surface (5) extends between the two side walls (3) and almost entirely closes the gap between the side walls (3). Thus, the shelf (1) can be used without the compartment (6) and the objects to be stored are placed on the resting surface (5) (Figure 8).
By means of the present invention, the compartment (6) is provided to be rotatably mounted on the body (2) without requiring any fastening element. Consequently, ease of production and cost advantage are maintained. Furthermore, the compartment (6) can be easily mounted on or dismounted from the body (2) by the user.
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. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A shelf (1), suitable for use on the cooling device door, comprises a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), a rear wall (4) and at least one resting surface (5), and a compartment (6) having

- a base (7) placed on the resting surface (5) and

- a front wall (8), extending upwards from the front side of the base (7), preventing objects placed on the base (7) from falling,

that can be in

- a first position (P1) wherein the base (7) carries the objects placed thereon by being seated on the resting surface (5) and

- a second position (P2) to which the compartment (6) is changed from the first position (P1) by being rotated forward, wherein the base (7) is positioned angularly with respect to the resting surface (5), providing objects to be easily placed on the base (7)

characterized by

- one opening (9), remaining between each of the lateral sides of the base (7) and the side walls (3) when the compartment (6) is disposed inside the body (2),

- one guide (10) disposed on each of the side walls (3) and

- an extension (11) connected to the base (7), extending from the base (7) towards the back of the guide (10) when the compartment (6) is in the first position (P1), moving over the guide (10) by bearing against the guide (10) while the compartment (6) is changed from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2) and providing the compartment (6) to rotate.
A shelf (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the guide (10) extending upwards from the resting surface (5) and having a curved shape, getting closer to the front side of the side wall (3) as it proceeds from the lower end towards the upper end.
A shelf (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a stopper (12) extending from the upper end of the guide (10) towards the rear wall (4) and providing the extension (11) moving over the guide (10) to stop by impacting.
A shelf (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the stopper (12) extending on the side wall (3) by starting from the upper end of the guide (10) so as not to exceed the vertical level of the lower end of the guide (10).
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the guide (10) and the extension (11) that are produced from material having low coefficient of friction.
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by one barrier (13) that rises almost vertically from each of the lateral sides of the base (7), preventing the objects on the base (7) from sliding and falling from the sides of the base (7) when the compartment (6) is in the second position (P2).
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the plate shaped front wall (8) that almost entirely closes the front of the compartment (6).
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the resting surface (5) extending between two side walls (3) and almost entirely closing the gap between the side walls (3).
A cooling device comprising a shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims.