EP3250866A1

EP3250866A1 - Refrigerator shelf assembly allowing repositioning of a front shelf unit

Info

Publication number: EP3250866A1
Application number: EP15701549.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Ahmet SERT; Kadir Ridvan Celik; Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-01-29
Filing date: 2015-01-29
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-01-29
Also published as: TR201601214A2; WO2016119861A1; PL3250866T3; EP3250866B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance and more particularly a refrigeration appliance having a shelf assembly (1 ) which is sectionally arranged and partly rotatable to provide a space-increasing shelf. More particularly, a refrigeration appliance is proposed, having a sectionally organized shelf assembly (1 ) in a refrigeration cabin thereof, the shelf assembly (1 ) comprising a front and a rear shelf units (2, 3) respectively neighboring in the depthwise direction of the refrigeration cabin, the front shelf unit (3) being displaceable relative to a pair of frames to which it is attached.

Description

REFRIGERATOR SHELF ASSEMBLY ALLOWING REPOSITIONING OF A FRONT SHELF UNIT

The present invention relates to a household appliance and more particularly a refrigeration appliance having a shelf which is sectionally arranged and partly rotatable to provide a space-increasing shelf assembly.
In refrigeration appliances, inner storing area efficiency is one of the most important concerns for the consumer. There are different solutions in the state of the art provided for storing products having big dimensions such as bigger bottles. To this end, various designs of shelf assemblies are proposed, having different techniques to increase the efficiency of the inner storage use.
A refrigeration appliance has a plurality of shelves and containers for preserving food items. While a plurality of shelves may carry various size food containers, a sectional shelf may typically be employed to extend the inner capacity of the appliance for allowing the users to store items having bigger dimensions.
Sectional shelves are generally comprised of two pieces wherein the front part of the shelf can be placed below or above the rear unit of the shelf to store larger items such as tall bottles on the lower shelf. Alternatively, the front unit may be moved forward a certain distance.
The translocation of the shelf section is possible by means of a railing system connected to the shelves. Railing systems generally consist of two different sliding axes while a first axis brings the pair of the shelves to the same level and the other axis allowing for sliding the front unit above or underneath the rear shelf. Alternatively, the front shelf can be removed and placed over the rear shelf. This placement has the disadvantage in that the usage of the inner volume of the fridge is unnecessarily limited due to the space occupation by the removed unit for the temporary storage thereof.
Among others, a prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as EP2749828, disclosing a shelf assembly for a refrigerator. The shelf assembly includes a rear shelf and a front shelf movable with respect to the rear shelf, where the front shelf is selectively located at an overlapping position where the front shelf at least partially overlaps the rear shelf in a vertical direction and projects at an extending position in front of the rear shelf. The rear shelf includes a rear glass plate and a first frame portion connected to a front edge portion of the rear glass plate. The first frame portion includes an extending portion extending forward and having a hook portion at a distal end thereof. The front shelf includes a front glass plate and a second frame portion connected to a rear edge portion of the front glass plate, and the second frame portion includes a second edge covering portion extending along a lower surface of the front glass plate. When the front shelf is located at the extending position, the extending portion overlaps the front glass plate in the vertical direction, and the hook portion is clamped to a front end surface of the second edge covering portion.
According to the present invention, the volume of the refrigeration compartment is more efficiently used such that it is possible to operate the front shelf by means of a railing system consisting of a single sliding axis. Therefore a single axis brings the pair of the shelves to the same level, allowing for sliding the front unit above or underneath the rear shelf so that bigger/taller containers can be placed on the lower shelf.
The present invention provides a refrigeration appliance with a shelf comprised of two sections, a front one rotatably slidable underneath the rear shelf to provide increased space as defined by the characterizing features in Claim 1 and subsequent Claims.
Primary object of the present invention is hence to provide a sectionally arranged shelf assembly enabling locational configuration of the front shelf unit depending on the specific storage requirements.
The present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance with a sectional shelf assembly having a front shelf unit which can be rotated around an axis parallel to the inner rear wall of the refrigeration cabin. When the front shelf unit is forwarded and rotated to be movable back in the direction of the inner rear wall, an enlarged vertical space is formed on the front part of a lower shelf.
Therefore the front shelf unit, after being rotated 180 degrees around an axis of rotation along a front line connecting two side frames supporting the shelf assembly, it is slidable in the depthwise direction into the cabin to be placed under the rear shelf unit in parallel therewith.
The front shelf unit is connected to two brackets guidably movable within longitudinal slideways of the frames. The brackets have hinge portions in the form of longitudinal extensions. Therefore the hinge portions ensure that the front shelf unit is maintained in a horizontal position independent of the place of the brackets in the slideways. However, if the brackets reach the outermost end of the slideways, the front shelf unit no longer remains in the horizontal plane because the outer end portions of the slideways are in the form of larger openings allowing rotation of the hinge portions. After being rotated, the front shelf unit returns to the horizontal plane as the hinge portions’ orientation in the slideways requires so.
Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a shelf assembly 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 the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.
Fig. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of a shelf system in an assembled manner according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system with a front shelf unit in parking position according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system with the front shelf unit in parking position and a lower shelf carrying a large container according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 demonstrates another perspective view of the shelf system with the front shelf unit being unmounted according to the present invention.
Fig. 5 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system in an unassembled manner according to the present invention.
Fig. 6 demonstrates another perspective view of the shelf system in an unassembled manner according to the present invention.
Fig. 7 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system while front and rear shelf units are adjacent according to the present invention.
Fig. 8 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system with the front shelf unit being forwarded according to the present invention.
Fig. 9 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system with the front shelf unit being 90 degrees rotated according to the present invention.
Fig. 10 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system with the front shelf unit being 180 degrees rotated according to the present invention.
Fig. 11 demonstrates a perspective view of the shelf system with the front shelf unit being 180 degrees rotated and moved backwards according to the present invention.
The following numerals are assigned as different part numbers used in the detailed description and shown in the drawings:

Shelf assembly
Rear shelf unit
Front shelf unit
First frame
Second frame
First bracket
Second bracket
Hinge portion
Rotation port
Slideway
Frame flange
Bracket flange
Railing system
Lower shelf

The present invention relates to a household appliance and more particularly a refrigeration appliance having a shelf assembly (1) sectionally arranged in such a manner that the position of a front shelf unit (3) can be changed.
The refrigeration appliance having a sectionally rotatable shelf assembly (1) typically has two shelf units in the form of rear and front shelf units (2, 3). While the rear shelf unit (2) is supported on frame flanges (11) in association with first and second frames (4, 5), the front shelf unit (3) is supported on bracket flanges (12) of first and second brackets (6, 7). Each bracket (6, 7) is guidably movable within a respective slideway (10) of the first and second frames (4, 5) through a hinge portion (8). The hinge portion (8) is formed as a longitudinal extension having a longitudinal size corresponding to the largest dimension of a rotation port (9). Preferably, the rotation port (9) is a circular opening the diameter of which is slightly greater than the longitudinal dimension of the hinge portion (8) so that when the front shelf unit (3) is moved away from the rear shelf unit (2) and when the hinge portion (8) reaches the rotation port (9), the front shelf unit (3) can make a 180-degree rotation such that the hinge portions (8) of the first and second brackets (6, 7) return back to the slideway (10), but this time the front shelf unit (3) extending underneath the rear shelf unit (2). Therefore, the structural relation between the slideway (10) and the rotation port (9) enables a convenient parking position for the front shelf unit (3) so as to provide a larger vertical space on the lower shelf (14) for storing larger and taller containers.
Each railing system (13) comprised of a frame having a slideway (10) and a bracket movable within the slideway (10) while the hinge portion (8) is slidably engageable provides displacement of the front shelf unit (3) relative to the rear shelf unit (2) back and forth and the rotation port (9) allows rotational movement of the hinge portion (8) such that the front shelf unit (3) can be taken to a parking position.
The shelf assembly (1) functions as one complete shelf when the front and rear shelf units (2, 3) are in their default adjacent positions. In case, a taller container is needed to be placed, the front shelf unit (3) can be taken forward a certain amount and the container can be placed on the forwarded front shelf unit (3) in extended position thereof. Alternatively, the front shelf unit (3) can be rotated to be positioned under the first and second frames (4, 5) to create larger vertical space on the lower shelf (14) for containers with bigger dimensions.
The movement of the front shelf unit (3) to take the parking position is ensured by the 180-degree rotation of the hinge portion (8) inside the rotation port (9) of the first and second frames (4, 5). When the front shelf unit (3) is first tilted downwards, the hinge portion (8) is positioned vertically inside the rotation port (9); by turning the hinge portion (8) further, the front shelf unit (3) takes a position parallel to the rear shelf unit (2). It can then be moved backwards until the hinge portion (8) reaches the inner distal end of the slideway (10), the two shelf unit thereby overlapping. The railing system (13) allowing single-axis operation is advantageous in that while it provides a forwarded position support for the front shelf unit (3), it also allows parking of the same using the same slideway (10).
According to the present invention, a single railing system (13) being employed in the contrary to the known configurations in which a second channel of displacement is needed to move the front shelf section to the underside of the rear shelf section, a railing system (13) operable on a single axis allowing easy and quick configuration of the shelf assembly (1) is obtainable. As two different sliding axes structurally complicates operation of the shelf assembly (1), the present invention ensures a more practically configurable shelf assembly (1).
In summary, the present invention proposes a shelf assembly (1), having a front shelf unit (3) and a rear shelf unit (2) wherein the front shelf unit (3) is guidably supported by a railing system (13) in the manner that first and second frames (4, 5) having slideways (10) and first and second brackets (6, 7) having hinge portions (8) cooperate to ensure a guided movement of the front shelf unit (2) on the horizontal plane; the shelf assembly (1) further providing that the front shelf unit (3) is hingedly attached to the first and second frames (4, 5) so as to be rotatable 180 degrees to take a parking position underneath the rear shelf unit (2).
Consequently, the invention proposes a refrigeration appliance having a sectionally organized shelf assembly (1) in a refrigeration cabin thereof, the shelf assembly (1) comprising a front and a rear shelf units (2, 3) respectively neighboring in the depthwise direction of the refrigeration cabin, the front shelf unit (3) being displaceable relative to a pair of frames to which it is attached.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the front shelf unit (3) is a shelf section hingedly rotatable so as to take a position different than on the shelf assembly (1) plane.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the front shelf unit (3) is sequentially movable away from the rear shelf unit (2) and rotatable to take a rotated position relative to the shelf assembly (1) plane.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the front shelf unit (3) is guidably movable through first and second frames (4, 5).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the front shelf unit (3) is guidably movable through the first and second frames (4, 5) by means of first and second brackets (6, 7).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first and second brackets (6, 7) are fixedly attached to the front shelf unit (3).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first and second brackets (6, 7) are movably attached to the first and second frames (4, 5) by insertion of hinge portions (8) into slideways (10) of the first and second frames (4, 5).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the hinge portions (8) are formed as longitudinal extensions extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slideways (10). This arrangement provides the required mechanical support for horizontal maintenance of the font shelf unit (3) along the slideways (10) other than the outer distal end thereof where the rotation port (9) is located.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the slideways (10) of the first and second frames (4, 5) comprise an outer distal end portion in the form of a rotation port (9), the rotation port (9) allowing a 180-degree rotation of a hinge portion (8) therein.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal dimension of the hinge portions (8) correspond to the largest dimension between two points of the opening of the rotation port (9).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the rotation port (9) is a circular opening the diameter of which is equal to or greater than the longitudinal dimension of the hinge portion (8).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the front shelf unit (3) is movable forward from a position adjacent to the rear shelf unit (2) such that an opening between the rear and front shelf units (2, 3) in extended configuration of the front shelf unit (3) is obtained.
Therefore, the household appliance of the invention has a shelf assembly (1) consisting of two shelf units disposed at the rear and front sides of the appliance’s cabin. With the proposed system, various usability options for the inner capacity of the appliance are offered by the placement of the front shelf unit (3) in the original, forwarded or parking positions.

Claims

A refrigeration appliance having a sectionally organized shelf assembly (1) in a refrigeration cabin thereof, the shelf assembly (1) comprising a front and a rear shelf units (2, 3) respectively neighboring in the depthwise direction of the refrigeration cabin, the front shelf unit (3) being displaceable relative to a pair of frames (4, 5) to which it is attached, characterized in that

the front shelf unit (3) is a shelf section hingedly rotatable so as to take a position different than on the shelf assembly (1) plane.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1, characterized in that the front shelf unit (3) is sequentially movable away from the rear shelf unit (2) and rotatable to take a rotated position relative to the shelf assembly (1) plane.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 2, characterized in that the front shelf unit (3) is guidably movable through first and second frames (4, 5).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 3, characterized in that the front shelf unit (3) is guidably movable through the first and second frames (4, 5) by means of first and second brackets (6, 7).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 4, characterized in that the first and second brackets (6, 7) are fixedly attached to the front shelf unit (3).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 4, characterized in that the first and second brackets (6, 7) are movably attached to the first and second frames (4, 5) by insertion of hinge portions (8) into slideways (10) of the first and second frames (4, 5).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 6, characterized in that the hinge portions (8) are formed as longitudinal extensions extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slideways (10).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 6, characterized in that the slideways (10) of the first and second frames (4, 5) comprise an outer distal end portion in the form of a rotation port (9), the rotation port (9) allowing a 180-degree rotation of a hinge portion (8) therein.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 7 and 8, characterized in that the longitudinal dimension of the hinge portions (8) correspond to the largest dimension between two points of the opening of the rotation port (9).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 9, characterized in that the rotation port (9) is a circular opening the diameter of which is equal to or greater than the longitudinal dimension of the hinge portion (8).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1 and 3, characterized in that the front shelf unit (3) is movable forward from a position adjacent to the rear shelf unit (2) such that an opening between the rear and front shelf units (2, 3) in extended configuration of the front shelf unit (3) is obtained.