EP3137824B1

EP3137824B1 - Refrigeration appliance with a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the level of a shelf

Info

Publication number: EP3137824B1
Application number: EP14720135.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ozgun Atac Gultekin; Tayfun ERSOZ; Kadir Ridvan Celik; Aylin ACIKEL
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-04-29
Filing date: 2014-04-29
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-29
Also published as: EP3137824A1; WO2015165494A1

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance, and more particularly a refrigeration appliance height of the shelves in the inner compartment of which can be adjusted in a practical manner.
In household appliances such as refrigerators, the vertical level of a shelf may need to be adjusted if the food containers placed on the shelves need an increased vertical space. A variety of food containers such as pans of different sizes may require only a very short additional vertical space to be fitted on a shelf meaning that height adjustment of a shelf is a desired feature the users would benefit. In the opposite case, the user will be obliged to use a shelf with a larger vertical distance, which requires an unnecessary effort on the part of the user to relocate the container. Further, it might happen that a shelf appropriate for placing a container may be occupied in full so that no more space may be available for another high volume container.
Therefore a practically quick and effective manner of height adjustment is desirable for avoiding such inconveniences. It is to be noted that a practically quick height arrangement method involves a relatively easily-operable mechanism, by which a user can quickly readjust the height of a shelf without applying a substantial amount of force or performing complex hand movements.
Therefore, the present invention ensures that height adjustment of a refrigeration appliance shelf can be performed quickly and with ease such that a mechanically reliable, non-powered and space-saving height adjustment mechanism is operated to change the vertical level of a shelf in a user-friendly manner.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as DE102010039625 A1 among others, the document disclosing a shelf in an interior space of a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator. The shelf is supported against side walls of the interior space in a vertically adjustable manner. A slide which can be moved in the depth direction of the interior space has at least one contact area which interacts with a contact area of the shelf or a contact area of one of the side walls in order to support the shelf. One of the interacting contact areas has a main section which slopes obliquely in the depth direction of the interior space.
US 2013/081421 A1 discloses a refrigerator with a height adjustable shelf that includes, on two opposite sides of the shelf, a lead screw, a female screw unit screw-coupled with the lead screw, and a lead screw driving unit for rotating the lead screw. Two protrusions that extend sideward from the screw unit engage with parallel slanted guide channels in the side wall in order to lift or lower the shelf in accordance with the rotation direction of the lead screw.
US 2008/203041 discloses a refrigerator with a height adjustable shelf that is carried by two pivotable links at its rear side. The links are connected at their lower ends in a pivotable manner to the rear wall of the refrigerator and connected at their upper ends in a pivotable and linearly movable manner to two oppositely extending threaded portions of a rotatable screw shaft. When said screw shaft is rotated by a user, the upper ends of the links symmetrically move away from each other or approach each other, depending on the direction of rotation, thus changing their inclination and hence the height of the shelf.
The present invention, on the other hand, provides a refrigeration appliance height of the shelves in the inner compartment of which can be instantly adjusted in a practical manner as defined by the characterizing features as defined in Claim 1.
Primary object of the present invention is hence to provide a practical and instantly effective height adjustment mechanism for the shelves of a refrigeration appliance.
The present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance having a shelf, the height of which can be altered by a lateral height adjustment mechanism, the latter comprising two main shafts at both sides, each of the main shafts in connection with a first and second worm gear portions. Rotation of the main shaft along with the first and second worm gear portions also drives a pair of reducer mechanisms being mechanically coupled with the first and second worm gear portions.
Rotational movement is imparted to the main shaft and the first and second worm gear portions by means of a slider operable to displace linearly on a driving strap engaging with radial teeth of the first worm gear portion. The peripherally radial teeth of the first worm gear portion are in continuous engagement with the driving strap such that the engagement relationship is maintained along the movement of the slider between the two extremities of the linear trajectory thereof.
To this end, rotational movement of said first and second worm gear portions is transformed into linear movement of guided rollers being connected with the first and second reducer mechanisms in opposite directions as the rotationally meshed relationship between each pair of a respective worm gear portion and associated reducer mechanism involves oppositely inclined teeth.
The linear movement of the guided rollers is guided in inclined guiding channels such that the shelf is gradually moved up or down depending on the direction of displacement of the slider. Therefore, the height level of the shelf is symmetrically modified at both sides with regard to the two lateral walls of the refrigeration cabin.
Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a refrigeration appliance comprising a height adjustment mechanism for the shelves thereof, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of a shelf in association with a height adjustment mechanism according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 demonstrates another perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism exposing the inner components thereof according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 demonstrates another general perspective view of the inner components of the height adjustment mechanism according to the present invention.

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings:

1. Shelf
2. Height adjustment mechanism
3. Lateral wall
4. Front edge
5. Slider
6. Main shaft
7. First worm gear portion
8. Second worm gear portion
9. First reducer mechanism
10. Second reducer mechanism
11. Radial teeth
12. Driving strap
13. Guided roller
14. Guiding channel
15. Enclosure frame
16. Cover frame

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration compartment enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and at least one food carrier shelf (1) for storing food items in a refrigerated manner.
The refrigeration appliance conventionally have a certain number of shelves (1), each shelf (1) being equipped with a height adjustment mechanism (2) associated therewith according to the invention. Said height adjustment mechanism (2) effects changing of the vertical level of a shelf (1) in case a food container placed thereon needs an increased vertical space, that is, it effects vertical displacement of the shelf (1) inside the interior space of the refrigeration cabin.
The height adjustment mechanism (1) of the invention is realized in the form a threaded end main shaft (6) as a base extension shaft on two ends of which a first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) are provided. A pair of reducer mechanisms' (first reducer mechanism and second reducer mechanism, 9 and 10) respective ends are mechanically couplable with the first and a second worm gear portions (7, 8) so as to be meshed therewith such that rotation of the first worm gear portion (7) simultaneously effects rotation of the second worm gear portion (8), whereby the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) meshed with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) are imparted movement so as to move in opposite directions.
Said first worm gear portion (7) has a plurality of front part radial teeth (11) in the form of protrusions in engagement with a driving strap (12) having respective grooves such that displacement of the driving strap (12) provides that the first worm gear portion's (7) radial teeth (11) rotate in continuous engagement with the driving strap (12) and that each of the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) being integral with a guided roller (13) displace in the manner that the guided rollers (13) move in guiding channels (14) provided on a lateral wall (3) portion of the refrigeration cabin.
According to the present invention, the rotational movement of the radial teeth (11) provided by the user by way of displacing a slider (5) that is in engagement with the grooves of the driving strap (12), rotates the main shaft (6) as well as the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) at both ends thereof in a first direction, upon which the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) mating with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) in a threaded relationship move in opposite directions as the teeth of the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) are inclined in opposite directions. Likewise, the teeth of the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) provided inside the inner cavity thereof are also inclined in opposite directions. To this end, the mutually interengaging mechanical relationship of the first worm gear portion (7) with the first reducer mechanism (9) and the second worm gear portion (8) with the second reducer mechanism (10) provides that the two guided rollers (13) in connection with the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) are operatively disposed inside the guiding channels (14).
In sum, sideways movement of the slider (5) along the front edge (4) line of the shelf (1) move the latter up and down in accordance with the final position of the slider (5). The slider's (5) position can be altered from the very left to the very right along the front edge (4) line so that the shelf (1) will reach its uppermost and lowermost position at respective ends. The height adjustment mechanisms (2) at each side of the shelf (1) are arranged such that movement of the slider (5) in a given direction induces upward or downward movement of the shelf (1) at both sides.
The height adjustment mechanism (2) of the invention is enclosed by a peripheral enclosure frame (15) extending along the surface edges of the shelf (1). Further a cover frame (16) is provided for enclosing and covering the movable components of the height adjustment mechanism (2) according to the invention.
In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and at least one food carrier shelf (1) for storing food items in a refrigerated manner, each shelf (1) having a front edge (4) extending between lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin and being equipped with a height adjustment mechanism (2) associated therewith so as to effect changing of the level of a shelf (1) in case a food container placed thereon needs an increased space.
A main shaft (6) is provided in association with a shelf (1) along each lateral wall (3), a first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) extending on both ends of the main shaft (6), the first worm gear portion (7) communicating with a slider (5) such that rotation of the first worm gear portion (7) simultaneously effects rotation of the second worm gear portion (8) together with the first worm gear portion (7) in a first direction, a first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) mechanically couplable respectively with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) displacing to effect changing of the level of the shelf (1).
In the invention, the first and second reducer mechanism (9, 10) are respectively meshed with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8).
In the invention, the first worm gear portion (7) communicates with the slider (5) via a driving strap (12) engaging with radial teeth (11) of the first worm gear portion (7).
In the invention, the radial teeth (11) of the first worm gear portion (7) are in continuous engagement with the driving strap (12).
In the invention, the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) meshed with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) are imparted linear movement by the rotation of the first worm gear portion (7).
In the invention, the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) are imparted linear movement in opposite directions.
In the invention, the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) have teeth inclined in opposite directions.
In the invention, the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) have teeth inside the inner cavity thereof being inclined in opposite directions.
In the invention, the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) are each connected to a guided roller (13), the latter being movable in a guiding channel (14) on the lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin.
In accordance with a yet still further embodiment of the invention, the slider (5) is movable between two opposite lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin.
In accordance with a yet still further embodiment of the invention, the slider (5) is linearly movable along the front edge (4) of the shelf (1).
In accordance with a yet still further embodiment of the invention, the slider (5) effects changing of the level of the shelf (1) symmetrically with regard to the two lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin.
In accordance with a yet still further embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism (2) is enclosed by a peripheral enclosure frame (15) extending along surface edges of the shelf (1). A cover frame (16) is provided for enclosing and covering movable components of the height adjustment mechanism (2).
Therefore, the present invention provides a refrigeration appliance, the height of the shelves (1) in the inner compartment of which can be instantly adjusted in a practical manner so that the users are provided with a mechanically reliable, non-powered and space-saving mechanism, which can be intuitively used by anybody in a user-friendly manner.

Claims

A refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and at least one food carrier shelf (1) for storing food items in a refrigerated manner, the shelf (1) having a front edge (4) extending between lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin and being equipped with a height adjustment mechanism (2) associated therewith so as to effect changing of the level of the shelf (1) in case a food container placed thereon needs an increased space,
wherein
- a main shaft (6) is provided in association with the shelf (1) along each lateral wall (3), with first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) extending on both ends of the main shaft (6) such that rotation of the first worm gear portion (7) simultaneously effects rotation of the second worm gear portion (8) together with the first worm gear portion (7) in a first direction,
characterized in that
- the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) have teeth inclined in opposite directions.

- a first and second reducer mechanism (9, 10) is mechanically coupled respectively with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) such that displacing thereof effects changing of the level of the shelf (1),

- the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) have teeth inside inner cavities thereof being inclined in opposite directions,

- the first and second reducer mechanism (9, 10) are respectively meshed with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8),

- the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) meshed with the first and second worm gear portions (7, 8) are imparted linear movement in opposite directions by the rotation of the first worm gear portion (7),

- the first and second reducer mechanisms (9, 10) are each connected to a guided roller (13), the latter being movable in a inclined guiding channel (14) on the lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin,

- the first worm gear portion (7) communicates with a slider (5) via a driving strap (12) engaging with radial teeth (11) of the first worm gear portion (7),

- the radial teeth (11) of the first worm gear portion (7) are in continuous engagement with the driving strap (12).
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that the slider (5) is movable between two opposite lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 2, characterized in that the slider (5) is linearly movable along the front edge (4) of the shelf (1).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the slider (5) effects changing of the level of the shelf (1) symmetrically with regard to the two lateral walls (3) of the refrigeration cabin.
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (2) is enclosed by a peripheral enclosure frame (15) extending along surface edges of the shelf (1).
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that a cover frame (16) is provided for enclosing and covering movable components of the height adjustment mechanism (2).