EP3619487A1

EP3619487A1 - Refrigerator comprising a height adjustable body shelf

Info

Publication number: EP3619487A1
Application number: EP18714510.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet YASAR; Ali Gokhan GENC; Murat TUYSUZ
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-05-03
Filing date: 2018-03-29
Publication date: 2020-03-11
Also published as: TR201706501A2; WO2018202364A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2), at least one door (3) enabling accessing into the body (2), a rear wall (4) provided on the back side of the cooler/freezer compartments in the body (2), two side walls provided opposite each other on both sides of the cooler/freezer compartments, at least one shelf (5) provided in the body (2), on which the food products to be cooled/frozen are placed, two shelf supports (6) fixed on the right and the left edges on the lower surface of the shelf (5), extending in perpendicular direction to the rear wall (4), at least one column (8) extending on the edges of the rear wall (4), guiding the shelf (5) so as to be movable upwards or downwards, and a height adjustment mechanism (10) enabling adjusting the level of the shelf (5) in the body (2).

Description

REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING A HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE BODY SHELF

The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising in its body a height adjustable shelf.
In refrigerators, food items and various containers are placed on shelves. Depending on the needs of the user, modifying the distance between two shelves, i.e. adjusting the height of a shelf in the body may be necessary. In some refrigerators, a plurality of slots or rails are formed on two opposite walls of the body in order to adjust the height of a shelf. The user changes the height of a shelf by removing it from the slots of a certain elevation and placing it to another slot pair on the desired elevation. However, to do this, the user first needs to pull the shelf out of the body, and need to push it back after adjusting its height. This creates a problem for the users particularly with coolers whose doors cannot be opened completely. Also, when the shelf is loaded, the user is obliged to remove the food products from the shelf to change the position thereof.
United States patent no. US 8152258 (B2) relates to a shelf height adjustment mechanism used in refrigerators.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a refrigerator comprising body shelves whose height can be adjusted easily.
The refrigerator realized to achieve the aim of the present invention comprises at least one column provided on the rear wall of the cooler/freezer compartment, functioning as a guide for the up-down movement of the body shelf, and bearers capable of sliding upwards and downwards within the columns, on which a shelf is locked by means of shelf supports. A threaded bar is provided on the rear surface of each column, enabling fixing the position of a shelf on the level it is brought to. The height adjustment mechanism used in the refrigerator of the invention enables bringing at least one shelf to a desired level in the body, and fixing the position of said shelf. When the user moves the shelf upwards from its front edge through rotating it about the horizontal rotational axis parallel to the rear wall, the height adjustment mechanism disengages the shelf from the threaded bar disposed in the column, and enables the shelf to be released in an inclined position and to be movable in up-down direction. When the shelf is in the horizontal position, the height adjustment mechanism enables it to engage the threaded bar disposed in the column, and to keep it fixed on the height level it is disposed. The height adjustment mechanism also enables the shelf to be moved only upwards by the user when the shelf is in the horizontal utilization position in the body, and prevents the shelf from being moved downwards.
In the refrigerator of the invention, the shelf is lifted by the user upwards with an inclination of approximately 10 degrees and can be easily moved up and down, without requiring unloading the food products therefrom. When the shelf is brought to the desired level, it is kept fixed on said level by being brought to the horizontal position once again. The number of parts used for height adjustment of the shelf are reduced, providing ease of use and cost advantage.
The refrigerator realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator.
Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator of the invention.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a body shelf.
Figure 4 is a side view of a shelf support.
Figure 5 is an exploded view of the rear wall of the refrigerator, the guide columns and the shelves.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a column.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a threaded bar.
Figure 8 is an exploded view of a bearer, a lock bolt and assembly members.
Figure 9 is a frontal view of a bearer.
Figure 10 is a side sectional view of a bearer.
Figure 11 is a frontal perspective view of a bearer.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a bearer from behind.
Figure 13 is a sectional view of a height adjustment mechanism.
Figure 14 is a sectional view of the height adjustment mechanism and the shelf in an inclined position, released to be movable in up-down direction.
Figure 15 is a sectional view of a detail of the height adjustment mechanism of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a sectional view of the height adjustment mechanism and the shelf in
horizontal position, with height level kept fixed.
Figure 17 is a sectional view of a detail of the height adjustment mechanism of Figure 16.
The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Refrigerator
Body
Door
Rear wall
Shelf
Shelf support
Slit
Column
Threaded bar
Height adjustment mechanism
Movable bearer
Bush
Pivot pin
Spring
Lock bolt
Middle extension
Upper extension
Lower extension
Middle opening
Upper opening
Lower opening
Stopper pin
Channel

The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2), at least one door (3) enabling accessing into the body (2), a rear wall (4) provided on the back side of the cooler/freezer compartments in the body (2), two side walls provided opposite each other on both sides of the cooler/freezer compartments, at least one shelf (5) provided in the body (2), on which the food products to be cooled/frozen are placed, two shelf supports (6) fixed on the lower surface of the shelf (5) at the right and the left edges, extending in perpendicular direction to the rear wall (4), at least one column (8) of hollow structure, having a slit (7) extending all along its front side, extending along the right and/or the left edges of the rear wall (4) in the up-down movement direction of the shelf (5), enabling the shelf (5) to be guided so as to be movable upwards and downwards , and a threaded bar (9) provided with threads thereon, extending all along the inner rear surface of each column (8), enabling the shelf (5) to be kept fixed in the horizontal position at a level to which it is brought.
The refrigerator (1) of the invention comprises a height adjustment mechanism (10) enabling the shelf (5) to be released and to be movable in up-down direction in the inclined position by disengaging it from the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8) upon the user moving the shelf (5) upwards from its front edge through rotating it about the horizontal rotational axis (E) parallel to the rear wall (4).
The height adjustment mechanism (10) enables the shelf (5) to engage the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8), and the shelf (5) to be kept fixed on the height level it is disposed, when the shelf (5) is in the horizontal utilization position in the body (2).
The height adjustment mechanism (10) also enables the shelf (5) to be moved ‘only’ upwards by the user when the shelf (5) is in the horizontal utilization position in the body (2), and prevents the shelf (5) from being moved downwards.
When the shelf (5) is lifted upwards from its front edge with an inclination of approximately 10 degrees through rotating upwards about the horizontal rotational axis (E) parallel to the rear wall (4), it is disengaged from the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8) and is released for being moved upwards or downwards. The shelf (5) brought to the inclined position by slightly being lifted upwards by the user, is brought to the desired height level by being moved upwards or downwards on the columns (8). When the shelf (5) whose height being adjusted, is brought back to the horizontal position, it engages the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8), and the shelf (5) is kept at the level it is disposed by the height adjustment mechanism (10).
In an embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprises at least one movable bearer (11) placed into each column (8) so as to be slidable in vertical direction, being engaged by the shelf (5) by means of the shelf supports (6), enabling the up-down movement of the shelf (5) along the columns (8).
In another embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprises a lock bolt (15) mounted in the movable bearer (11) by means of a bush (12), a pivot pin (13) and a spring (14) so as to be rotatable about the horizontal axis, enabling the movable bearers (11) to be released and to be movable upwards or downwards upon the shelf (5) being disengaged from the threaded bar (9) through rotating about the horizontal axis (E) by being lifted slightly upwards.
The lock bolt (15) also enables the shelf (5) to be kept fixed on the level it is disposed on the column (8) by locking on the threaded bar (9) in the horizontal position of the shelf (5).
In this embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprises a middle extension (16) provided on the rear end of the shelf support (6), enabling the lock bolt (15) to rotate about the axis of the pivot pin (13) by contacting the lock bolt (15) and the shelf (5) to be released so as to be movable upwards or downwards, by moving away from the threaded bar (9) upon the shelf (5) being moved upwards through rotating about the horizontal axis (E).
When the shelf (5) is brought to the horizontal position following height adjustment, the middle extension (16) moves away from the lock bolt (15), and the lock bolt (15) locks on the threaded bar (9) by rotating about the pivot pin (13) due to the effect of the spring (14), enabling the position of the shelf (5) to be fixed on the level it is brought to.
In another embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprises an upper extension (17) and a lower extension (18) provided on the rear end of the shelf support (6), at the upper and the lower sides of the middle extension (16), enabling the shelf (5) to be locked on the movable bearer (11) disposed in the column (8).
In this embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprises a middle opening (19) in which the middle extension (16) locks, an upper opening (20) in which the upper extension (17) locks, and a lower opening (21) in which the lower extension (18) locks, each provided on the movable bearer (11) and enabling the shelf (5) to engage the movable bearer (11) by means of the shelf support (6).
In another embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprises a stopper pin (22) fixed on the upper extension (17), preventing the shelf (5) from removing from the movable bearer (11) after the shelf support (6) is locked on the movable bearer (11) disposed in the column (8).
The upper opening (20) provided on the movable bearer (11) has a width large enough for said stopper pin (22) to pass therethrough, and when the shelf support (6) is being locked on the movable bearer (11), first the upper extension (17) together with the stopper pin (22) are passed through the upper opening (20). Then the shelf support (6) is moved downwards along a channel (23) extending below the upper opening (20), being narrower than the upper opening (20) and whose lower end is closed, so as to enable the stopper pin (22) to abut on the inner surface of the movable bearer (11). When the upper extension (17) is passed through the upper opening (20 and is moved downwards along the channel (23), the middle extension (16) aligns with the middle opening (19) and the lower extension (18) aligns with the lower opening (21). Thus, the shelf support (6) is enabled to lock on the movable bearer (11) disposed in the column (8), and the shelf support (6) and therefore the shelf (5) is prevented from removing from the movable bearer (11) unless the user intervenes.
In the refrigerator (1) of the invention, when the shelf (5) is lifted upwards from its front side with an inclination of approximately 10 degrees about the horizontal rotational axis (E) parallel to the rear wall (4), the middle extension (16) rotates the lock bolt (15) by contacting it, the lock bolt (15) moves away from the threaded bar (9), and the movable bearer (11) is disengaged from the threaded bar (9). The movable bearer (11) is slidable in the column (8), therefore the shelf (5) is brought to the desired level by being moved upwards or downwards. The shelf (5) whose height is adjusted is brought back to the horizontal position, and the middle extension (16) provided on the shelf support (6) moves away from the lock bolt (15). The lock bolt (15) is locked on the threaded bar (9) by rotating due to the effect of the spring (14), thereby keeping fixed the movable bearer (11) on which the lock bolt (15) is fixed, and therefore the shelf (5) on the level it is disposed.
In the refrigerator (1) of the invention, the shelf (5) is easily moved upwards or downwards by being brought to the inclined position by the user, and when the shelf (5) is brought to the desired level, it is kept fixed in said level by being brought back to the horizontal position. The number of parts used for height adjustment of the shelf (5) are reduced, providing ease of use and cost advantage.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2), at least one door (3) enabling accessing into the body (2), a rear wall (4) provided on the back side of the cooler/freezer compartments in the body (2), at least one shelf (5) provided in the body (2), on which the food products to be cooled/frozen are placed, two shelf supports (6) fixed on the lower surface of the shelf (5) at the right and the left edges, extending in perpendicular direction to the rear wall (4), at least one column (8) having a slit (7) extending all along its front side, , extending along the right and/or the left edges of the rear wall (4) in the up-down movement direction of the shelf (5), enabling the shelf (5) to be guided so as to be movable upwards and downwards, and a threaded bar (9) provided with threads thereon, extending all along the inner rear surface of each column (8), enabling the shelf (5) to be kept fixed in the horizontal position at a level to which it is brought, characterized by a height adjustment mechanism (10) enabling the shelf (5) to be released and to be movable in up-down direction in the inclined position by disengaging it from the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8) upon the shelf (5) being moved upwards from its front edge through rotating about the horizontal rotational axis (E) parallel to the rear wall (4).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) enabling the shelf (5) in the horizontal position to engage the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8) and the shelf (5) to be kept fixed at the height level it is disposed.
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the shelf (5) being disengaged from the threaded bar (9) disposed in the column (8) and being released to be movable upwards or downwards upon being lifted upwards from its front edge in an inclination of approximately 10 degrees through rotating upwards about the horizontal rotational axis (E) parallel to the rear wall (4).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising at least one movable bearer (11) placed into each column (8) so as to be slidable in vertical direction, being engaged by the shelf (5) by means of the shelf supports (6), enabling the up-down movement of the shelf (5) along the columns (8).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising a lock bolt (15) mounted in the movable bearer (11) by means of a bush (12), a pivot pin (13) and a spring (14), enabling the movable bearers (11) to be released and to be movable upwards or downwards upon the shelf (5) being disengaged from the threaded bar (9) through rotating about the horizontal axis (E) by being lifted slightly upwards.
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 5, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising a lock bolt (15) enabling the shelf (5) to be kept fixed at the level on which it is disposed on the column (8) by locking on the threaded bar (9) in the horizontal position of the shelf (5).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising a middle extension (16) provided on the rear end of the shelf support (6), enabling the lock bolt (15) to rotate about the axis of the pivot pin (13) by contacting the lock bolt (15), and the shelf (5) to be released by moving away from the threaded bar (9) upon the shelf (5) being moved upwards through rotating about the horizontal axis (E).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 7, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising the middle extension (16) enabling the lock bolt (15) to rotate about the pivot pin (13) and to lock on the threaded bar (9) due to the effect of the spring (14) by moving away from the lock bolt (15) upon the shelf (5) being brought to the horizontal position.
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising an upper extension (17) and a lower extension (18) provided on the rear end of the shelf support (6) at the upper and the lower sides of the middle extension (16), enabling the shelf (5) to be locked on the movable bearer (11) disposed in the column (8).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 9, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising a middle opening (19) in which the middle extension (16) locks, an upper opening (20) in which the upper extension (17) locks, and a lower opening (21) in which the lower extension (18) locks, each provided on the movable bearer (11) and enabling the shelf (5) to engage the movable bearer (11) by means of the shelf support (6).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) comprising a stopper pin (22) fixed on the upper extension (17), preventing the shelf (5) from removing from the movable bearer (11).
A refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (10) allowing the shelf (5) to be moved only upwards by the user when the shelf (5) is in the horizontal utilization position in the body (2).