EP3017257B1

EP3017257B1 - Refrigeration appliance having improved slidable shelf system

Info

Publication number: EP3017257B1
Application number: EP13735246.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Kadir Ridvan CELIK; Umud Yazgan; Sati Mutlu BOZAY; Fethi Sen; Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2013-07-04
Filing date: 2013-07-04
Publication date: 2019-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-04
Also published as: WO2015000525A1; EP3017257A1; TR201719635T3

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, having a slidable shelf system.
It is customary to provide a refrigeration appliance with a slidable shelf system which allows a customer to selectively install the individual shelves at different levels vertically spaced by predetermined gaps. Thereby, the customer can alter a spacing between neighboring shelves, for instance, to place large sized items on the shelves.
A slidable shelf system typically comprises a plurality of pairs of supports. Each pair of support is suitable for slidably mounting one shelf. The supports are respectively formed on opposing side walls of a refrigerating compartment. When the customer desires to alter a level of a specific shelf, the customer slidably removes the shelf out of its support. Subsequently, the customer either raises or lowers the shelf, and re-mounts the shelf to a higher or a lower support. Thereby, the customer is enabled to rearrange the interior of a refrigeration compartment in accordance with the actual needs.
The sliding shelf systems generally improve customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, they have become an indispensable facility for customers. However, they also have certain drawbacks. For instance, the shelves must be absolutely safely fastened to an interior of the refrigerating compartment to prevent breakage during transportation thereof, for example when the supplier delivers the refrigeration appliance to the customer. A transportation of the refrigeration appliance may also become necessary when a customer relocates to new premises.
In a commonly known method of securing shelves for transportation, adhesive tapes and shock absorbing materials are used. Such measures incur additional costs not only for the manufacturers and suppliers but also for the customers. Therefore, several alternative techniques have been devised to secure the shelves for transportation.
EP 2 420 783 A2 discloses a refrigerator with shelves having means placed on their upper side to prevent them from sliding out of their supporting grooves.
GB 2 439 628 (A ) discloses a refrigerator shelving system for preventing shelf movement. The shelving system disclosed therein comprises a pair of shelf supports extending along opposing side walls of a refrigerator storage compartment. The shelf is removably mountable on the pair of shelf supports. The shelf comprises a panel which has a protrusion extending from a lower surface thereof. A recess is formed in the shelf support to receive the protrusion to prevent movement of the shelf relative to the pair of shelf supports.
In this prior art arrangement, when the customer decides to alter a level of the shelf, the customer must completely open the refrigerator door, and subsequently remove the shelf out of the refrigerating compartment to raise or lower the shelf to a higher or a lower level without obstacles. This is, however, inconvenient.
Another refrigerator is known from document DE 100 56 981 A1 which allows to easily alter the level of a shelf, yet does not address the problem of fastening the shelf during transportation.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration appliance having a shelf system which overcomes the aforementioned problems, and enables a customer to unimpededly rearrange the shelves among different levels without necessitating a complete removal of the shelf out of a refrigerating compartment.
This objective has been achieved by the refrigeration appliance according to the present invention as defined in claim 1. Further achievements are attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
In the refrigeration appliance according to the present invention, each side wall is formed by a lining including a front segment which is located close to an opening region of the compartment, a rear segment which is located close to a rear region of the compartment and an intermediate segment which is located between the front segment and the rear segment. The intermediate segment is offset relative to the front segment towards a center region of the compartment, thereby forming a front shoulder segment. The rear segment is offset relative to the intermediate segment towards the center region of the compartment, thereby forming a rear shoulder segment. Thereby, a monolithic two-step side wall structure is obtained. Each support includes a front groove and, separately therefrom, a rear groove respectively formed in the front shoulder segment and the rear shoulder segment. The front groove and the rear groove are configured to respectively receive a front lateral section and a rear lateral section of the shelf. Each front lateral section of the shelf is formed by a hangover portion of the shelf such that a front section of the shelf is wider than a rear section of the shelf across the opening of the compartment. Each front groove has a recess portion extending in a downward direction. The shelf has at least one projection extending in a downward direction. The projection is formed on a lower side of each hangover portion, for restricting a forward movement of the shelf when the projection is caught by the recess portion.
Thereby, the shelf is firmly immobilized with respect to the refrigeration appliance when it is slidably mounted to a support. The front groove and the rear groove together restrict an upward and downward movement of the shelf. The projection and the recess portion cooperatively restrict at least a forward movement of the shelf. A bottom of front groove and a bottom of the rear groove together restrict a sideways movement of the shelf. In addition, by virtue of the two-step side wall structure, the shelf can be raised or lowered after the front and rear lateral sections thereof are respectively removed out of the front and rear grooves. The length of the front and rear lateral sections of the shelf which are to be received by the front and rear grooves can be freely determined.
In an embodiment, each projection has a semi-cylindrical cross-section which partially or completely form-fits with a cross-section of the respective recess portion. Thereby, the projection tightly engages with the recess portion.
In another embodiment a rear end of each hangover portion abuts against a rear end of the respective front groove. Thereby, a rearward movement of the shelf is inhibited.
In another embodiment, a length of each front groove is shorter than a width of the intermediate segment. In this embodiment, a length of each hangover portion is substantially equal to a length of the respective front groove. Thereby, the shelf is easily released by the support, i.e., without necessitating a complete removal of the shelf out of the refrigerating compartment.
In another embodiment, a height of each front groove is slightly larger than a thickness of the respective front lateral section of the shelf. Thereby, the shelf can be slidably mounted to the supports.
In another embodiment, a bottom of each front and rear grooves is flush with the respective front and rear segments of the lining. Thereby, the shelf can be smoothly slided into the grooves without canting.
In another embodiment, the front section of the shelf is wider than its intermediate section whereas the intermediate and the rear sections have the same width across the opening of the compartment. Thereby, the front and rear lateral sides of the shelves are offset in conformity with an offset between front and rear grooves which have been formed in the front and rear shoulder segments.
In another embodiment, the shelf has a frame attached to its front section. In this embodiment, the hangover portions are formed by the frame. In addition, the projections are integrally formed with the frame. In this embodiment, the frame is made of plastic or metal whereas the other parts of the shelf is made of glass.
In another embodiment, the shelf is monolithic., i.e., the shelf has no separable frame. In this embodiment, the monolithic shelf is made of glass, metal, or plastic.
In another embodiment, the hangover portion is integrally provided with the shelf as a monolithic structure but the projections are separately mounted on a lower side of the hangover portion. In this embodiment, the monolithic structure and the separate projections are made of glass, metal, or plastic.
In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance comprises a freezing compartment and a cooling compartment respectively arranged one above the other. The freezing compartment includes at least one pair of supports for supporting at least one shelf. The cooling compartment includes a plurality of pairs of supports each suitable for supporting a shelf. However, any number of supports and shelves may be used in combination.
In another embodiment, the cooling compartment includes six pairs of supports respectively formed on opposing side walls at an alternating spacing so as to form a group of supports. In this embodiment, a seventh pair of supports is respectively formed on opposing side walls close to a bottom of the compartment distant to said group of supports.
In another embodiment, the side walls of each compartment are formed by a monolithic lining defining an interior of the compartment.
Additional advantages of the refrigeration appliance according to the present invention will now become apparent with the detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a partial schematic perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is an enlarged partial schematic perspective view of a freezing compartment of the refrigeration appliance shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 - is another enlarged partial schematic perspective view of the freezing compartment of the refrigeration appliance shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 4 - is an enlarged partial schematic perspective view of a shelf slidably mounted to a pair of supports in the side walls of the freezing compartment shown in any one of Figs. 1 to 3.
Figure 5 - is a partial schematic perspective view of the side wall of the freezing compartment shown in Fig. 4, prior to slidably mounting the shelf to the pair of supports.
Figure 6 - is an enlarged schematic perspective top view of the shelf shown in any one of Figs. 1 to 4.
Figure 7 - is an enlarged partial schematic side view of a front groove of the support shown in Fig. 5, prior to slidably mounting the shelf.
Figure 8 - is an enlarged partial schematic side view of the front groove of the support shown in Fig. 5, having received a front lateral section of the shelf shown in Fig. 4.
Figure 9 - is a partial schematic side view of the side wall of the freezing compartment shown in Fig. 5.
Figure 10 - is a schematic perspective bottom view of the shelf shown in Fig. 6.
Figure 11 - is an exploded schematic perspective top view of the shelf shown in Fig. 6, prior to attaching a frame to a shelf plate.
Figure 12 - is an enlarged schematic perspective bottom view of the shelf shown in Fig. 10.
Figure 13 - is an exploded schematic perspective bottom view of the shelf shown in Fig. 12, prior to attaching the frame to shelf plate.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

1. Refrigeration appliance
2. Freezing compartment
3. Cooling compartment
4. Support
5. Side wall
6. Shelf
7. Front segment
8. Rear segment
9. Intermediate segment
10. Front shoulder segment
11. Rear shoulder segment
12. Front groove
13. Rear groove
14. Front lateral section
15. Rear lateral section
16. Hangover portion
17. Front section
18. Rear section
19. Recess portion
20. Projection
21. Rear end
22. Front edge
23. Bottom portion
24. Intermediate section
25. Frame

The refrigeration appliance (1) comprises at least one compartment (2, 3) for refrigerating or freezing articles and a pair of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) of the compartment (2, 3) for supporting a shelf (6) (Figs. 1 to 3).
In the refrigeration appliance (1) according to the present invention, each side wall (5) is formed by a lining including a front segment (7) which is located close to an opening region of the compartment (2, 3) a rear segment (8) which is located close to a rear region of the compartment (2, 3) and an intermediate segment (9) which is located between the front segment (7) and the rear segment (8), wherein the intermediate segment (9) is offset relative to the front segment (7) towards a center region of the compartment (2, 3) thereby forming a front shoulder segment (10), and the rear segment (8) is offset relative to the intermediate segment (9) towards the center region of the compartment (2, 3) thereby forming a rear shoulder segment (11), each support (4) includes a front groove (12) and separately therefrom, a rear groove (13) respectively formed in the front shoulder segment (10) and the rear shoulder segment (11), wherein the front groove (12) and the rear groove (13) are configured to respectively receive a front lateral section (14) and a rear lateral section (15) of the shelf (6), each front lateral section (14) of the shelf (6) is formed by a hangover portion (16) of the shelf (6) such that a front section (17) of the shelf (6) is wider than a rear section (18) of the shelf (6) across the opening of the compartment (2, 3), each front groove (12) has a recess portion (19) extending in vertical direction (Z) downwardly or upwardly and the shelf (6) has a projection (20) extending in a vertical direction (Z), which is formed on the lower side or the upper side of each hangover portion (16) for restricting a forward movement of the shelf (6) when the projection (20) is caught by the recess portion (19) (Figs. 4 to 8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, each projection (20) has a semi-cylindrical cross-section in a width direction (X) of the compartment (2, 3) (Fig. 8). In this embodiment, a front edge (22) of each recess portion (19) has a cross-section in the width direction (X) of the compartment (2, 3) which form-fits with said cross-section of the respective projection (20) (Fig. 8).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a rear end of each hangover potion (16) abuts against a rear end (21) of the respective front groove (12) for restricting a rearward movement of the shelf (6) (Fig. 8).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a length of each front groove (12) in a depth direction (Y) of the compartment (2, 3) is shorter than a width of the intermediate segment (9) (Fig. 8). In this embodiment, a width of each hangover portion (16) in the depth direction (Y) of the compartment (2, 3) is substantially equal to the length of the respective front groove (12) in the depth direction (Y) of the compartment (2, 3) (Fig. 8).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a width of each front groove (12) in the vertical direction (Z) of the compartment (2, 3) is slightly larger than a thickness of the respective front lateral section (14) of the shelf (6) (Fig. 8). The precise width is determined in accordance with a thickness of the front lateral section (14) including a height of the projection (20) in the vertical direction (Z) (Fig. 8).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a bottom portion (23) of each front groove (12) is flush with the respective front segment (7) of the lining (Fig. 9). In this embodiment, also a bottom portion (23) of each rear groove (13) is flush with the respective intermediate segment (9) of the lining (Fig. 9).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (6) has an intermediate section (24) between the front section (17) and the rear section (18) such the front section (17) of the shelf (6) is wider than an intermediate section (24) across the opening of the compartment (2, 3) (Fig. 10). In this embodiment, the intermediate section (24) and the rear section (18) have the same width across the opening of the compartment (2, 3) (Fig. 10).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (6) has a frame (25) attached to its front section (17) (Figs. 11 to 13). In this embodiment, the frame (25) forms the hangover portions (16). In this embodiment, the projections (20) are integrally formed with the frame (25) (Figs. 12 and 13).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the frame (25) is made of plastic or metal. In this embodiment, the other parts of the shelf (6) are made of glass.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (6) is monolithic (not shown). In this embodiment, the monolithic shelf (6) is made of glass, metal, or plastic.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the hangover portion (16) is integrally provided with the shelf (6) as a monolithic structure (not shown). In this embodiment, the projections (20) are separately mounted on the lower side or the upper side of the hangover portion (16) (not shown). In this embodiment, the monolithic structure and the hangover portion (16) are made of glass, metal, or plastic.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration appliance (1) according to the present invention comprises two compartments (2, 3) being arranged one above the other, for refrigerating articles (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, the upper compartment (2) is configured to freeze articles, and includes at least one pair of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) of the freezing compartment (2) for supporting a shelf (6) such that the shelf (6) divides the compartment (2) in two parts (Figs. 2 and 3). In this embodiment, the lower compartment (3) is configured to cool articles, and includes a plurality of pairs of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) of the cooling compartment (3) for respectively supporting a plurality of shelves (6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling compartment (3) includes six pairs of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5), at an alternating spacing so as to form a group of supports (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, a seventh pair of supports (4) is respectively formed on opposing side walls (5), at position close to a bottom of the compartment (3) and distant to said group of supports (Fig. 1).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the side walls (5) of the compartments (2, 3) are formed by a monolithic lining (Fig. 1 to 5 and Figs. 7 to 9).

Claims

A refrigeration appliance (1), comprising at least one compartment (2, 3) for refrigerating or freezing articles and a pair of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) of the compartment (2, 3), for supporting a shelf (6), wherein each side wall (5) is formed by a lining including a front segment (7) which is located close to an opening region of the compartment (2, 3), a rear segment (8) which is located close to a rear region of the compartment (2, 3) and an intermediate segment (9) which is located between the front segment (7) and the rear segment (8), wherein the intermediate segment (9) is offset relative to the front segment (7) towards a center region of the compartment (2, 3), thereby forming a front shoulder segment (10), and the rear segment (8) is offset relative to the intermediate segment (9) towards the center region of the compartment (2, 3), thereby forming a rear shoulder segment (11), each support (4) includes a front groove (12) and separately therefrom, a rear groove (13) respectively formed in the front shoulder segment (10) and the rear shoulder segment (11), wherein the front groove (12) and the rear groove (13) are configured to respectively receive a front lateral section (14) and a rear lateral section (15) of the shelf (6), wherein each front lateral section (14) of the shelf (6) is formed by a hangover portion (16) of the shelf (6), characterized in that each front groove (12) has a recess portion (19) extending in the vertical direction (Z) and the shelf (6) has a projection (20) extending in the vertical direction (Z), which is formed on the lower side or the upper side of each hangover portion (16), for restricting a forward movement of the shelf (6) when the projection (20) is caught by the recess portion (19).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each projection (20) has a semi-cylindrical cross-section in a width direction (X) of the compartment (2, 3) and in that a front edge (22) of each recess portion (19) has a cross-section in the width direction (X) of the compartment (2, 3) which form-fits with said cross-section of the respective projection (20).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a rear end of each hangover potion (16) abuts against a rear end (21) of the respective front groove (12) for restricting a rearward movement of the shelf (6).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that a length of each front groove (12) in a depth direction (Y) of the compartment (2, 3) is shorter than a width of the intermediate segment (9) and in that a width of each hangover portion (16) in the depth direction (Y) of the compartment (2, 3) is substantially equal to the length of the respective front groove (12) in the depth direction (Y) of the compartment (2, 3).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that a width of each front groove (12) in a height direction (Z) of the compartment (2, 3) is slightly larger than a thickness of the respective front lateral section (14) of the shelf (6).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that a bottom portion (23) of each front groove (12) is flush with the respective front segment (7) of the lining and in that a bottom portion (23) of each rear groove (13) is flush with the respective intermediate segment (9) of the lining.
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the shelf (6) has an intermediate section (24) between the front section (17) and the rear section (18) such the front section (17) of the shelf (6) is wider than an intermediate section (24) across the opening of the compartment (2, 3), wherein the intermediate section (24) and the rear section (18) have the same width across the opening of the compartment (2, 3).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the shelf (6) has a frame (25) attached to its front section (17), which forms the hangover portions (16) and in that the projections (20) are integrally formed with the frame (25).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the frame (25) is made of plastic or metal and in that the other parts of the shelf (6) are made of glass.
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the shelf (6) is monolithic.
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the monolithic shelf (6) is made of glass, metal, or plastic.
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the hangover portion (16) is integrally provided with the shelf (6) as a monolithic structure, wherein the projections (20) are separately mounted on the lower side or upper side of the hangover portion (16).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the two compartments (2, 3) being arranged one above the other, for refrigerating articles, wherein the upper compartment (2) is configured to freeze articles, and includes at least one pair of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) of the freezing compartment (2) for supporting a shelf (6) such that the shelf (6) divides the compartment (2) in two parts, and wherein the lower compartment (3) is configured to cool articles, and includes a plurality of pairs of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) of the cooling compartment (3) for respectively supporting a plurality of shelves (6).
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the lower compartment (3) includes six pairs of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) at an alternating spacing so as to form a group of supports and a seventh pair of supports (4) respectively formed on opposing side walls (5) close to a bottom of the compartment (3), at a position distant to said group of support.
The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the side walls (5) of the compartments (2, 3) are formed by a monolithic lining.