EP3881016A1

EP3881016A1 - A cooling appliance having a sliding shelf structure

Info

Publication number: EP3881016A1
Application number: EP19779425.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gizem ERDAL; Kadir Ridvan Celik; Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Resul Yavuz
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-11-13
Filing date: 2019-09-24
Publication date: 2021-09-22
Also published as: WO2020099004A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; a body (2), a cooling compartment (3) inside the body (2), a shelf unit (4) provided inside the said cooling compartment (3) so as to extend between the side and the rear walls of the body (2) and onto which the articles to be cooled are placed and wherein the shelf unit (4) comprises; a fixed shelf (5) at a rear side of the shelf unit (4) having a plurality of grooves (6) extending almost along the depth of the fixed shelf (5), a sliding shelf (7) which is provided so as to slide telescopically along the fixed shelf (5) between a front side and the rear side of the shelf unit (4) via a plurality of bars (8) extending linear with the grooves (6) and which are seated inside the grooves (6) from one end.

Description

A COOLING APPLIANCE HAVING A SLIDING SHELF STRUCTURE

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance having a sliding shelf structure.
In cooling appliances a wide variety of articles having a variety of dimensions are need to be cooled. In some cases, the height between two vertically consecutive shelves does not suffice to store articles taller than the said height. In such cases, the user may need to remove a shelf from the cooling compartment which reduces the volumetric capacity of the cooling appliance. Additionally, the removed shelf has to be kept outside the cooling appliance, creating further storing problems for the user. In some applications to overcome this problem, shelf units having multiple parts wherein the parts are configured to move relative to each other is provided. The said parts being slidable insertable or foldable with respect to each other. In these applications, however, the users have to remove the articles being cooled on the shelf unit before moving the said parts as there is a level difference between the parts of the shelf unit that is sliding.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US1925371A among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance having a shelf unit.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US7258317B1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance having a shelf unit.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US5584405A among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance comprising a shelf unit.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a cooling appliance having a shelf unit comprising a sliding shelf and a fixed shelf wherein the sliding shelf moves in relation to the fixed shelf creating additional height to store articles such as bottles or similar tall items and keeping the shelf unit surface level during movement so as to prevent the articles being cooled on top of the shelf unit from getting knocked over.
The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims comprises a cooling appliance having a body wherein at least a cooling compartment is located. Inside the cooling compartment the basic functional operations such as cooling of the articles of the cooling appliance take place. The cooling compartment has side walls and a rear wall and a plurality of shelf units are positioned in vertical direction. The shelf unit comprises a fixed shelf at the rear of the shelf unit and a sliding shelf at the front of the shelf unit which is provided to slide along the fixed shelf in a telescopic manner. The telescopic movement is provided by a plurality of bars of the sliding shelf that are placed inside a plurality of grooves of the fixed shelf from one end. The bars and the grooves form a linear structure. The sliding shelf is free to move along the fixed shelf as the bars slide along the grooves. The sliding shelf can move towards the rear of the shelf unit therefore shortening the depth of the shelf unit and likewise the sliding shelf can move towards the front of the shelf unit therefore extending the depth of the shelf unit. The depth of the grooves is equal to the breadth of the bars. Thanks to this, during the slide of the sliding shelf along the fixed shelf, bars and the surface of the fixed shelf forms a planar surface. An article being placed on to the shelf unit will remain stationary if the sliding shelf is moved along the fixed shelf. Therefore, the user does not need to remove the articles from the shelf unit, should there be a need to slide the sliding shelf for creating additional height for items such as bottles or similar tall items. Another advantageous effect of this inventions is that the gap between the bars can be utilized as a bottle holding area wherein the neck and partially the shoulder of the bottle is inserted. Therefore a bottle can be fixed in an inclined manner. This is especially advantageous if the stored bottle is a bottle of wine as the cork will remain moist. The cork will stay moist even with a less than full bottle. Additionally, most of the sediment accumulates at the shoulder area of the bottle. Upon popping the cork the user rotates the bottle by 180 degrees before pouring. As a result, the cork will remain moist, eliminating the possibility of the cork to shrink and additionally eliminating the possibility of the wine being spoiled by sediment.
In another embodiment of the invention, a connection bar is provided underneath the fixed shelf and extending along its width and interconnected to the bars. The connection bar along with the plurality of bars forms a comb like structure which supports the loads being placed particularly on to the sliding shelf part. Additionally, the user, after removing the articles from the top of the sliding shelf may slidably remove the connection bar along with the bars for a convenient cleaning operation.
In another embodiment of the invention, the sliding shelf comprises a support bar extending along the width of the sliding shelf and connected to the bars perpendicularly. The support bar is placed to the front of the shelf unit. The support bar provides a robust structure and prevents the bars from bending upon placement of heavy loads on top of them.
In another embodiment of the invention, a pair of guides are provided originating from the fixed shelf and extends along the side walls of the cooling compartment. The guides are used as a means onto which the support bar is slidably placed. The guides provides further support and ease of use.
In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of pair of tabs are provided on the guides. Each tab has a corresponding tab provided at the opposing guide. Corresponding tabs are equidistant from the rear wall therefore keeping the support bar perpendicular to the movement direction of the sliding shelf. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs are in the form of bump.
A major advantageous effect of using the shelf unit is to provide the users with an extra height, should an article of height greater than the height of two shelves in vertical direction is to be placed inside the cooling appliance.
Another major advantageous effect of using the shelf unit is that the depth of the grooves is equal to the breadth of the bars therefore levelness is provided as the sliding shelf slides along the fixed shelf, which eliminates the possibility of the articles being knocked over.
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.
Figure 1 – is a front view of the cooling appliance.
Figure 2 – is a perspective view of the shelf unit.
Figure 3 – is a top view of the shelf unit.
Figure 4 – is side view of A-A section in Figure 3
The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

Cooling appliance
Body
Cooling compartment
Shelf unit
Fixed shelf
Groove
Sliding shelf
Bar
Connection bar
Support bar
Guide
Tab

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; a body (2), a cooling compartment (3) inside the body (2), a shelf unit (4) provided inside the said cooling compartment (3) so as to extend between the side and the rear walls of the body (2) and onto which the articles to be cooled are placed and wherein the shelf unit (4) comprises; a fixed shelf (5) at a rear side of the shelf unit (4) having a plurality of grooves (6) extending almost along the depth of the fixed shelf (5), a sliding shelf (7) which is provided so as to slide telescopically along the fixed shelf (5) between a front side and the rear side of the shelf unit (4) wherein the sliding shelf (7) comprises a plurality of bars (8) extending linear with the grooves (6) and which are seated inside the grooves (6) from one end.
The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) wherein the depth of the grooves (6) is equal to the breadth of the bars (8), forming a planar shelf unit (4) surface during and at the end of telescopic sliding movement. The Cooling appliance (1) has a plurality of shelf units (4) inside the cooling compartment (3) placed in vertical direction onto which the articles to be cooled are placed. The shelf unit (4) comprises two parts. The first part is the fixed shelf (5) at the rear side of the shelf unit (4) and constitutes a rigid structure. The fixed shelf (5) remains stationary between the side and the rear walls of the body (2). The second part is the sliding shelf (7) which is in moving relation with the fixed shelf (5). The sliding shelf (7) and the fixed shelf (5) comprises the bars (8) and the grooves (6) respectively. The bars (8) are placed inside the grooves (6) from one end and are able to move inside the respective grooves (6) telescopically. The position of the sliding shelf (7) can be changed between three different positions, the three positions being, open, closed and intermediary positions. In the open position, the sliding shelf (7) is moved to the front of the shelf unit (4) forming the longest shelf unit (4) available. During the open position, the bars (8) of the sliding shelf (7) are placed inside the respective grooves (6) from one end. In the open position the bars (8) and surface of the fixed shelf (5) between the two consecutive grooves (6) form a planar surface. In the closed position, the sliding shelf (7) is moved to the rear of the shelf unit (4) forming the shortest shelf unit (4) available. During the closed position, the bars (8) of the sliding shelf (7) are slided along the grooves (6) meaning that the sliding shelf (7) is interlaced in to the fixed shelf (5). In the closed position the bars (8) and surface between the two consecutive grooves (6) form a planar surface. In the intermediary position, the sliding shelf (7) is partly moved to the rear or to the front of the shelf unit (4). In the intermediary position, the bars (8) and surface between the two consecutive grooves (6) form a planar surface. In other words, the surface of the shelf unit (4) remains planar as the sliding shelf (7) slides along the fixed shelf (5) as the depth of the grooves (6) is equal to the breadth of the bars (8). During all three positions, the bars (8) are placed form fittingly inside the respective grooves (6) in a slidably manner. In the closed position, the shelf unit forms a tessellated surface onto which the articles to be cooled are placed. The depth of the grooves (6) being equal to the breadth of the bars (8) provides a smooth movement as the sliding shelf (7) moves. An advantageous effect of this embodiment is that the articles placed on to the shelf unit (4) do not need to be removed prior to the sliding of the sliding shelf (7) as there is no level difference between the sliding shelf (7) and the fixed shelf (4). Another advantageous effect of using the sliding shelf (7) is that the user may slide the sliding shelf (7) for placing items taller than the height between the shelf unit (4) and the shelf unit (4) below the shelf unit (4) at issue. This provides ease of use and better management of the volume of the cooling compartment (3).
In another embodiment of the invention, the sliding shelf (7) comprises a connection bar (9) perpendicularly connected to the bars (8) underneath the fixed shelf (5) wherein the connection bar (9) is configured to abut against fixed shelf (5) from below. The weight of the bars (8) uses the connection bar (9) as a fulcrum therefore forcing the connection bar (9) to abut against the fixed shelf (5). As a result, the sliding shelf (7) remains in place even if the sliding shelf (7) remains at the front of the shelf unit (4).Two identical channels is provided along the fixed shelf near the side walls to provide a smooth sliding of the connection bar (9) inside.
In another embodiment of the invention, the sliding shelf (7) comprises a support bar (10) perpendicularly connected to the bars (8) at the front of the shelf unit (4). The support bar (10) extends along the width of the shelf unit (4) and is perpendicularly connected to the bars (8) forming a rigid and robust structure.
In another embodiment of the invention, the support bar (10) is slidably placed onto a pair of guides (11) formed as an extension originating from the fixed shelf (5) and extending along the side walls of the cooling compartment (3). The location, extension direction and the height of the guides (10) are configured to ensure that during the intermediary and the open position, the bars (8) and surface between the two consecutive grooves (6) form a planar surface. As a result, no level difference is formed between the sliding shelf (7) and the fixed shelf (5).
In another embodiment of the invention, at least a pair of tabs (12) are disposed onto the guides (11) equidistant from the rear wall of the cooling compartment (3 and abutting against the support bar (10). The tabs (12) are provided along the guides (11) and each pair of the tabs (12) are positioned to retain the support bar (10) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the sliding shelf (7). There are plurality of pair of tabs (12) which helps to retain the sliding shelf (7) at a plurality of intermediary positions. Therefore, flexibility of use is provided for the user while maintaining levelness of the shelf unit (4) as the sliding shelf (7) moves along the fixed shelf (4).
By means of this invention, a cooling appliance (1) having the shelf unit (4) comprising the fixed shelf (7) and the sliding shelf (7) wherein the sliding shelf (7) is attached on to the fixed shelf (5) via the bars (8) having a breadth equal to the depth of the grooves (6) which keeps the surface of the shelf unit (4) level during the sliding movement of the sliding shelf (7) is provided. As a result, the need to remove the articles being cooled on the shelf unit (4) is eliminated while sliding the sliding shelf (7) along the fixed shelf (5).

Claims

A cooling appliance (1) comprising;

- a body (2),

- a cooling compartment (3) inside the body (2),

- a shelf unit (4) provided inside the said cooling compartment (3) so as to extend between the side and the rear walls of the body (2) and onto which the articles to be cooled are placed and wherein the shelf unit (4) comprises;

- a fixed shelf (5) at a rear side of the shelf unit (4) having a plurality of grooves (6) extending almost along the depth of the fixed shelf (5),

- a sliding shelf (7) which is provided so as to slide telescopically along the fixed shelf (5) between a front side and the rear side of the shelf unit (4) wherein the sliding shelf (7) comprises a plurality of bars (8) extending linear with the grooves (6) and which are seated inside the grooves (6) from one end, characterized in that

- the depth of the grooves (6) is equal to the breadth of the bars (8), forming a planar shelf unit (4) surface during and at the end of telescopic sliding movement.
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding shelf (7) comprises a connection bar (9) perpendicularly connected to the bars (8) underneath the fixed shelf (5) wherein the connection bar (9) is configured to abut against fixed shelf (5) from below.
A cooling appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding shelf (7) comprises a support bar (10) perpendicularly connected to the bars (8) at the front of the shelf unit (4).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the support bar (10) is slidably placed onto a pair of guides (11) formed as an extension originating from the fixed shelf (5) and extending along the side walls of the cooling compartment (3).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a pair of tabs (12) are disposed onto the guides (11) equidistant from the rear wall of the cooling compartment (3) and abutting against the support bar (10).