EP2938949B1

EP2938949B1 - Cooling appliance having a drawer guide

Info

Publication number: EP2938949B1
Application number: EP13811912.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Taha DEMIRÖZ; Tanzer YILDIZGÖCER; YALCIN Özsoy
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2012-12-31
Filing date: 2013-12-18
Publication date: 2020-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-18
Also published as: WO2014102120A1; EP2938949A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to cooling appliances comprising a withdrawable drawer in which elements to be cooled are placed.

STATE OF THE ART

In the thermally insulated bodies of cooling appliances, there are compartments like drawers or shelves in which elements to be cooled are placed. They are placed in a withdrawable manner on projections formed in an inner receptacle surrounded by the body. The projections are formed on an inner receptacle usually with thermoforming process and due to the projections provided integrally in such inner receptacles, the shelf or shelf configuration cannot be changed subsequently.
Telescopic elements used in the inner receptacles are commonly used for the connection of the drawers to the inner receptacle. For mounting telescopic elements in the inner receptacles special fixtures are used. These fixtures comprise metallic components and their cost is high because of their complex structure. Moreover, to connect the fixtures of the telescopic components to the inner body, irreversible modifications are made on the inner body.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a practical guidance for the drawers in the inner receptacle of cooling appliances.
Departing from said object, the invention is a cooling appliance according to claim 1.
The hanging element provides for the connection of the shelf and drawer to each other and thereby suppresses the need for a separate connecting element to the inner body.
It comprises a bridging element provided between the upper and lower guides by respectively one end so as to provide that they are positioned at a distance to each other.
US 4,936,641 discloses a cooling appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 and describes a mounting system for an article supporting member in a refrigerator including first and second support members each of which is removably secured to a respective pair of studs mounted on opposite sidewalls of the liner of a refrigerator compartment so that the height of the support members may be adjusted. Each of the first and second support members includes a track for receiving opposite sides of a refrigerator shelf or storage bin for slidable movement therein. The track of the first support member permits lateral movement of the refrigerator shelf; whereas the track of the second support member substantially prevents lateral movement of the refrigerator shelf to accommodate dimensional variations in the liner of the refrigerator compartment.
US 6,565,169 discloses a double crisper drawer for a refrigerator including a removable supporting structure, a first slidable tray, and a lower crisper drawer. The first slidable tray includes two side walls, a back wall, a front wall and a bottom wall. A first flange is projected outwardly on a top portion of the two side walls and back wall, the first flange being placed respectively on upper guide members located in the removable supporting structure, in order to be slidably moved with a backward and forward movement with respect to the removable supporting structure. The lower crisper drawer is also attached on lower guide members located in the removable supporting structure, the lower crisper being placed below the first slidable tray. The first slidable tray and the lower crisper drawer are independently slidably relative to one another, in relation to the removable supporting structure.
DE 103 39 942 A1 discloses a refrigerator shelf having an extension on one side under which rails, corresponding with those along the top of the sides of a storage container, along which the container may be withdrawn. A glass cover covers the container.
US 4,173,378 discloses a supporting frame and cover panel assembly adapted for slidably and sealingly supporting a food storage drawer in a generally airtight sealed environment for extended food storage. The assembly includes a rectangular one-piece frame supporting a cover panel in a locked manner by a pair of trim members. A seal, suitably affixed in the side members and a rearward member, are substantially coextensive therewith such that the seal extends into a path of the drawer when the drawer is moved from its open position to its closed position, whereby when the drawer is in its closed position the seal abuts the side and rear walls of the drawer.
Thanks to the hanging element, the distance of the shelf and the drawer to each other can be adjusted. The bridging element connects the upper and the lower guide to each other and provides also a distance in a vertical direction to them.
The hanging element is fastened to the inner receptacle by its outer surface. In this case, a rigid structure is provided by transferring during their movement with respect to each other in the upper and lower guides corresponding to the shelf or the drawer, the charge which is applied to the hanging element and is in the back or forth direction, to the inner receptacle.
The hanging element comprises a mounting element extending from its outer surface to the inner receptacle. The mounting element provides for the hanging element to stay in a fixed position in the inner receptacle for example by locking into a fastening protrusion previously generated on the inner receptacle. The mounting element is formed in a possible configuration over the bridging element. So, the charge that the hanging element can meet increases.
The upper and the lower guide have a U-like section. Thereby, it can both be easily produce and it can be surrounded from above and from below by the U-like section. The upper and the lower guide are aligned to a lateral wall of the inner receptacle. This situation allows to obtain a compact structure. The hanging element is made as monoblock plastic injection. It is possible to produce easily many. Moreover it is in a flexible structure and it can easily engage the shelf edges.
The upper guide extends along the lateral edge of the shelf. In this case, a structure is obtained that is more resistant to the charge of the drawer within the lower guide remaining in the lower part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will come up from exemplary configurations referring to accompanying figures.

Figure 1 is a frontal representation of the inner receptacle of the cooling appliance subject of the invention, of which a representative configuration is used.
Figure 2 is an independent perspective representation of the shelf and drawer of the cooling appliance shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective representation of a cooling appliance in which inner receptacle there is no drawer, showing the shelf and the guide.
Figure 4 is an approached representation of the shelf in the configuration shown in Figure 4.
Figure 5 is an approached perspective representation from behind of a representative configuration subject of the invention, in which the shelf and the drawer are connected together.
Figure 6 is a perspective representation of the hanging element used in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a perspective representation of a cooling appliance drawer configured appropriately to the hanging element subject of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, the inner receptacle (10) of the cooling appliance including a representative configuration of a hanging element (40) subject of the invention is represented perspectively. The inner receptacle (10) has a shelf (30) extending between respectively one lateral wall (12) and two overlapping storing units consisting of a drawer (20) provided beneath the shelf. Over the inner receptacle (10) in the part corresponding to the compressor chamber (not shown in the figure) there is provided a step (16). The upper drawer (20) is seated on the step (16).
In Figure 2, the drawer (20) and the shelf (30) above it are represented separately in perspective. The shelf (30) covers completely the upper part of the drawer (20). Respectively one hanging element (40) is attached to both lateral edges (32) of the drawer (30) by means of an upper guide (42). Within the lower guide (44) of the hanging element (40), the drawer (20) passes through an edge border (26). The hanging element (40) is aligned parallelly so as to rest against the lateral wall (12).
As shown in Figure 3, the lower guide (42) of the hanging element (40) is attached all along to the lateral edge (32) of the shelf (30) by close fit. As shown in Figure 4, both upper guide (42) and lower guide (44) are in a U-section form. The length of the lower guide (44) is shorter than the length of the upper guide (42). The lower guide (44) is aligned in a manner centering the upper guide (42). The upper and the lower guide (42, 44) have a bridging element (45) joining adjacent ends. The adjacent edges of the lower and the upper guide (42, 44) and the bridging element (45) joining them form a U-section form in a direction opposite the upper and the lower guide (42, 44). The hanging element (40) is attached from this bridging element (45) forming an upsetting, to a supporting projection (14) extending out of the lateral wall (12). Respectively one mounting element (46) is formed in the form of two protrusions outward from the bridging element (45) such that it prevents the hanging element (40) to be dislocated. The distance between the protrusions of the mounting element (46) is equal to the length of the supporting projection (14). So, by holding to the supporting projection (14) by both ends, the mounting element (46) prevents the advancing movement of the hanging element (40).
In figure 5, the hanging element (40) is represented in a position at which the drawer (20) is placed in the lower guide (44). The upper guide (42) holds tightly a shelf (30) that is passed through its opening (422) and compressed between the lower alt holding extension (421) and the upper holding extension (423). To provide this, the distance between the opposite upper holding extension (423) and lower holding extension (421) of the upper guide (42) in U-section form is substantially equal to the thickness of the shelf (30). The drawer (20) as shown Figure 7 is passed from an opening (442) of the lower guide (44) to the lower guide (44), from respectively one of its borders (26) extending outwardly on its lateral walls (22). An opposite lower holding extension (442) that possesses the lower guide (44) in U-section form together with its other edge adjacent to the bridging element (45), receives the border (26) such that it slides freely. Due to the fact that the mounting elements (46) hold the supporting projection (14) by two ends, the forces like friction etc. occurring when the drawer (20) slides within the lower guide (44) are met by the hanging element (40) and a rigid structure is obtained.

By providing the hanging element (40) at both lateral edges (32) of the shelf (30), it is enabled that the drawer (20) is slidingly transported so as to be guided from its border (26) in both of its edges.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Inner receptacle	40 Hanging element
12 Lateral wall	42 Upper guide
14 Supporting projection	421 Lower holding extension
16 Step	422 Opening
20 Drawer	423 Upper holding extension
22 Lateral wall	44 Lower guide
24 Front wall	441 Lower holding extension
25 Handle	442 Opening
26 Border	45 Bridging element
261 Front edge	46 Mounting element
262 Stopper
30 Shelf
32 Lateral edge

Claims

Cooling appliance, comprising
a thermally insulated inner receptacle (10);
a drawer (20) provided in the inner receptacle (10) so as to be withdrawable and in which elements to be cooled are to be placed;
a shelf (30) positioned in the inner receptacle (10) so as to be withdrawable such that it covers at least partly the upper part of the drawer (20), and
a hanging element (40) having an upper guide (42) attached to the shelf (30) by a lateral edge (32) and a lower guide (44) attached to the drawer (20) by an edge border (26) by extending under the upper guide (42) and integrated to the upper guide (42), wherein a bridging element (45) provided between the upper and lower guides (42, 44) by respectively one end so as to provide that they are positioned at a distance to each other, characterized in that the adjacent edges of upper and lower guides (42, 44) and the bridging element (45) joining them form a U-section, wherein said U-section is formed in a direction opposite the upper and lower guides (42, 44), and that the hanging element (40) is attached by the bridging element (45) to a supporting projection (14) out of a lateral wall (12) of the inner receptacle (10).
Cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the hanging element (40) is fastened to the inner receptacle (10) by its outer surface.
Cooling appliance according to claim 2, wherein the hanging element (40) comprises a mounting element (46) extending from its outer surface to the inner receptacle (10).
Cooling appliance according to claim 1 and 3, wherein the mounting element (46) is formed on the bridging element (45).
Cooling appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper and the lower guide (42, 44) have a U-like section.
Cooling appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and the lower guide (42, 44) are aligned to a lateral wall (12) of the inner receptacle (10).
Cooling appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein Z the hanging element (40) is made as monoblock plastic injection.
Cooling appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the upper guide (42) extends along the lateral edge (32) of the shelf (30).