EP3884226A1

EP3884226A1 - A cooling device comprising a position-adjustable door

Info

Publication number: EP3884226A1
Application number: EP19798575.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tayfun Inal; Semih Erol; Tanju Bayramli; Resul Yavuz; Ercan Akyuz
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-11-22
Filing date: 2019-11-01
Publication date: 2021-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-01
Also published as: EP3884226B1; WO2020104172A1; TR201817657A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising at least one body (2) wherein the items to be cooled are placed; at least one door (3) which provides access into the body (2); at least one main pin (4) and at least one hinge (5) which are fixed to the door (3), which enable the door (3) to be attached to the body (2) and whereon the door (3) is mounted so as to rotate therearound; and at least one adjustment mechanism (6) with one end being accessible from the outside whereon the main pin (4) is seated, which serves as a lever when a force is exerted from the outside in a manner to move upwards/downwards in the vertical axis, thus enabling the main pin (4) and the hinge (5) to stop at the desired position and if required, enabling the position of the door (3) on the body (2) to be changed by being actuated.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A POSITION-ADJUSTABLE DOOR

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a door of which the position on the body can be adjusted.
Cooling devices comprise at least one body which is kept at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature and wherein the items and foodstuffs to be cooled are placed, and at least one door which provides access into said body. The proper mounting of the door to the body is important both in terms of a smooth outer appearance of the cooling device and in terms of the insulation of the inner volume of the body from the outer environment, hence the cooling performance.
However, the risk of failing to mount the door to the body in the proper manner exists due to production tolerances and mounting difficulties. Moreover, even if the product leaves the factory with the door being properly mounted to the body, the presence of an uneven floor where the cooling device is to be installed causes the position of the door to become out of place. Especially in side-by-side cooling devices, the height difference between the doors creates a problem which can be easily noticed by the user and which may cause user dissatisfaction. Therefore, the cooling device doors are preferred to be produced such that the height thereof on the body can be adjusted.
In the cooling devices, the body whereon the hinge is attached is produced by filling polyurethane in between the specially-formed thin inner and outer liners in order to provide insulation. Since said liners are not structurally durable enough, the part of the body where the hinge is attached is supported by means of various additional components from inside the liner. Moreover, a separate component, which supports the hinge from inside, is also used in order to carry the door which gets very heavy due to items such as bottles, etc. which are placed onto the shelves.
In order to adjust the position of the door in the state of the art hinges, the holes through which the screws fixing the hinge to the body and the support component must be opened in an oval shape; however, said hole gets wider in the course of time under the load of the door and sometimes the screw dislodges from said hole, causing the door to fall off. Furthermore, as the position of the door is adjusted, the area on the body against which the hinge bears, in other words on which a force is exerted, changes. However, in this case, the position of the component which should support the hinge from inside is fixed. Therefore, in some positions of the door, there is no support component behind the area where the hinge bears against the body, and the support component could not support the hinge and the body properly. When the support component is produced longer than the hinge in order to solve this problem, more material is consumed.
The hinges generally comprise a fixed part which is attached to the body and a pin which is borne therein and around the axis of which the door rotates. In some embodiments, the hinge comprises two leaves which are connected to each other by means of a pin, a fixed one which is connected to the body and a moving one which is attached to the door. In the state of the art, various developments are made to the hinges in order to adjust the height of the doors. Developments which are made to the hinges in order to adjust the height of the doors are disclosed in the United States Patents No. US593472 and US3662493. In these documents, hinges are disclosed, wherein the length of the part of the pin which enters the housing on the door is changed by means of various mechanisms.
In the state of the art United States Patent No. US4070728, a hinge is disclosed, wherein the position of the door can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the fixed part which is attached to the body. In this document, an L-shaped bracket which is attached to the cooling device is moved upwards/downwards by means of a cam disposed thereunder.
Another state of the art invention is disclosed in United States Patent No. US5666764. In this document, a hinge and a component supporting the same are provided. The support component and the hinge are attached to each other by means of screws passed through the enlarged holes on the body. The enlarged holes provide a movement area for adjusting the positions of the support component and the hinge. After the position is adjusted once in the factory, the support component is fixed to the body independently of the hinge. The fixing process is carried out by screws or injecting foam thereon. The support component cannot be moved again after said position is adjusted.
In the state of the European Patent Application No. EP1917492, the position of the door is adjusted by moving upwards/downwards the hinge and the component supporting the hinge from inside the body.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the position of the door on the body can be easily adjusted.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises at least one adjustment mechanism which has the function of a lever converting the movement in the radial direction into a movement in the vertical axis, which moves the hinge and the main pin thereon, hence the door upwards/downwards in the vertical axis and which enables the position of the door on the body to be changed by moving an arm and the hinge seated on the arm and the main pin thereof upwards/downwards.
The cooling device of the present invention comprises a first bearing and a second bearing wherein the hinge is both borne and guided in order to move the hinge and the main pin thereon in the vertical direction. The first bearing is disposed on the adjustment mechanism while the second bearing is provided on the second cover.
The cooling device of the present invention further comprises two holders which enables the arm to be attached to the adjustment mechanism so as to move around the first pin and which enables the pressure member to move upwards/downwards in the vertical axis with the arm rotating around a horizontal axis. By means of the holder, the force exerted onto one end of the arm is transmitted to the other end, thus enabling the position of the hinge and the main pin attached thereon hence of the door with respect to the door to be adjusted.
The cooling device comprises a second pin which enables the pressure member to be attached, in a movable manner just like the arm disclosed above being attached onto the holders by means of the pin, onto the extensions under the hinge for transmitting the movement of the arm to the hinge. Thus, since the hinge and the arm are movably attached to each other, it becomes possible to transmit the movement of the arm, which is moved by exerting force onto the actuation member, to the hinge which can move only in the vertical axis by means of the pressure member.
In the cooling device of the present invention, the position of the door can be easily and safely adjusted by moving the hinge and the main pin thereon upwards/downwards in the vertical axis by means of an arm which is provided on the adjustment mechanism and which has the function of a lever. Moreover, since the hinge is borne with the first and second bearings while adjusting the position of the door on the body, the door is robustly supported by means of the first and second covers fixed on the door and by means of the adjust mechanism positioned between the first and second covers. Therefore, the weight is distributed homogeneously on the walls of the door, and formation of any deformation on the walls of the door is prevented.
A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the front view of a cooling device.
Figure 2 - is the rear perspective view of the cooling device.
Figure 3 - is the view of detail A in Figure 2.
Figure 4 - is the view of a first cover, a second cover, an adjustment mechanism and a hinge together.
Figure 5 - is the exploded view of Figure 4.
Figure 6 - is the perspective view of an arm, a hinge and a first bearing.
Figure 7 - is the sideways cross-sectional view of the arm, the hinge and the first bearing.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Door
Main pin
Hinge
Adjustment mechanism
First cover
Second cover
Arm
Actuation member
Pressure member
Bearing hole
First pin
Base
Holder
First hole
First bearing
Gradation
Locking member
Abutment
Second bearing
Locking housing
Step
Rim
Extension
Second hole
Second pin
Fixing member

The cooling device (1) comprises at least one body (2) wherein the items to be cooled are placed; at least one door (3) which provides access into the body (2); at least one main pin (4) and at least one hinge (5) which are fixed to the door (3), which enable the door (3) to be attached to the body (2) and whereon the door (3) is mounted so as to rotate therearound; and at least one adjustment mechanism (6) with one end being accessible from the outside whereon the main pin (4) is seated, which serves as a lever when a force is exerted from the outside in a manner to move upwards/downwards in the vertical axis, thus enabling the main pin (4) and the hinge (5) to stop at the desired position and if required, enabling the position of the door (3) on the body (2) to be changed by being actuated (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3).
The cooling device (1) comprises a first cover (7) which is fixed to the upper edge of the door (3) and whereon the adjustment mechanism (6) is fixed, and a second cover (8) which covers the adjust mechanism (6) placed onto the first cover (7).
The cooling device (1) comprises a hook-shaped arm (9) which is provided on the adjustment mechanism (6) and which has an actuation member (10) at the end thereof open to the outer environment and a pressure member (11) at the other end thereof which moves upwards/downwards in the vertical axis with the movement of the actuation member (10) when a force is exerted on the actuation member (10), preferably when the same is rotated around the horizontal axis; a bearing hole (12) which is arranged on the arm (9) between the actuation member (10) and the pressure member (11); and a first pin (13) which is fitted into the bearing hole (12) so as to enable the arm (9) to move by rotating around the horizontal axis. The length of the pressure member (11) determines the distance between the lowest and highest positions of the door (3). The actuation member (10) is an element such as screw, bolt, etc. which can tightened/loosened by means of tools such as screwdriver, wrench, etc. The actuation member (10) can be accessed from outside the cooling device (1) (Figure 4 and Figure 5).
Moreover, the cooling device (1) comprises a base (14) which is provided on the adjustment mechanism (6) and which is placed onto the first cover (7); two parallel holders (15) which extend from the base (14) outwards and which surround the arm (9) from two sides; two first holes (16) which are provided on the two holders (15), which align with the bearing hole from both sides, which extend in the horizontal axis and through which the first pin (13) passes together with the bearing hole; and a first bearing (17) which is provided on the base (14) whereon the holder (15) is arranged, and wherein the hinge (5), whereon the main pin (4) is seated, is borne in the horizontal plane. Moreover, the cooling device (1) comprises a locking member (19) which extends parallel to the hinge (5) in the vertical axis on the same base (14). The first pin (13) is fixed to the holes and the bearing hole (12) by means of a ring.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a protrusion-shaped abutment (20) just above the holder (15), which aligns with the actuation member (10) at the end of the arm (9) and which extends in the vertical axis. When the actuation member (10) is actuated by exerting a force thereon from the outside, the end of the actuation member (10) pushes said abutment (20), thus enabling the arm (9) to move by rotating around the first pin (13) seated into the bearing hole (12). In an embodiment of the present invention, the abutment (20), the bearing hole (12) and the first pin (13) inserted therein are arranged in the same vertical axis.
The second cover (8) is attached onto the first cover (7) by means of fixing members (28) such that the adjustment mechanism (6) remains between the first cover (7) and the second cover (8). The cooling device (1) comprises a second bearing (21) on the second cover (8) which coaxially aligns with the bearing on the adjustment mechanism (6); a locking housing (22) adjacent to the second bearing (21), wherein the locking member (19) is inserted; and a step (23) which is seated onto the gradation (18) on the first cover (7). The second cover (8) is seated into the recess on the first cover (7) such that the movement thereof in the horizontal plane is prevented, and then is fixed to the first cover (7) by means of the fixing members (28) such that the movement thereof in the vertical plane is also prevented.
The cooling device (1) comprises a cylindrical hinge (5), and the hinge (5) comprises a rim (24) at the top thereof, two extensions (25) at the base thereof extending downwards parallel to each other and two coaxial second holes (26) provided at the end of the extensions (25), and a second pin (27) which is borne in said holes (26) together with the end of the pressure member (11) so as to remain between the extensions (25).
The hinge (5), the first cover (7), the adjustment mechanism (6) and the second cover (8) are mounted onto the door (3) in the following manner. First, the first cover (7) is mounted onto the upper edge of the door (3). Then, the base (14), the first bearing (17) and the holder (15) which are provided on the adjustment mechanism (6) are seated onto the first cover (7). In this case, the arm (9) is placed in between the holders (15) such that the pressure member (11) is located under the first bearing (17) and the actuation member (10) is aligned with the abutment (20), and then is attached to the holder (15) by means of the first pin (13) so as to rotate around the first pin (13) via the bearing hole (12) on the arm (9) now adjacent to the holders (15) and the holes. In this connection, the arm (9) rotates around the first pin (13) with the pressure member (11) moving upwards/downwards in the vertical axis, serving as a lever.
At this stage of the assembly, the hinge (5) which is passed through the second bearing (21) on the second cover (8) stays on the second cover (8) due to the rim (24) thereof. However, the part of the hinge (5) extending downwards through the second bearing (21) as well as the extensions (25) pass through the first bearing (17) and reach the pressure member (11) which extends under the first bearing (17). The pressure member (11) is movably attached to the hinge (5) by means of the second pin (27) via the holes (26) on the extensions (25), and the second cover (8) with the hinge (5) thereon is fixed to the first cover (7) such that the adjustment mechanism (6) remains therebetween (Figure 6 and Figure 7).
In this embodiment, when the position of the door (3) is desired to be adjusted, the actuation member (10) at the end of the arm (9), which can be easily accessed from the outside, is rotated around its own axis. Depending on the direction of said rotation, the actuation member (10) applies a force onto the abutment (20) or the applied force decreases. Consequently, depending on the movement, the arm (9) rotating around the first pin (13) moves the pressure member (11) and the hinge (5), which is movably connected to the pressure member (11) by means of the second pin (27), moves upwards or downwards under the guidance of the first and second bearings (17 and 21), thus moving the hinge (5) and hence the door (3) connected to the hinge (5) via the main pin (4) upwards or downwards. When the door (3) is brought to the desired position, the force being applied on the actuation member (10) is removed, and the adjustment process ends.
In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the position of the door (3) can be easily and safely adjusted by moving the hinge (5) and the main pin (4) thereon upwards/downwards in the vertical axis by means of an arm (9) which has the function of a lever only as a result of the actuation of the actuation member (10). Moreover, since the hinge (5) is borne with the first and second bearings (17 and 21) while adjusting the position of the door (3) on the body (2), the door (3) is robustly supported by means of the first and second covers (7 and 8) fixed on the door (3) and by means of the adjustment mechanism (6) positioned between the first and second covers (7 and 8). Therefore, the weight is distributed homogeneously on the walls of the door (3), and formation of any deformation on the walls of the door (3) is prevented.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising at least one body (2) wherein the items to be cooled are placed; at least one door (3) which provides access into the body (2); at least one main pin (4) and at least one hinge (5) which are fixed to the door (3), which enable the door (3) to be attached to the body (2) and whereon the door (3) is mounted so as to rotate therearound; characterized by at least one adjustment mechanism (6) with one end being accessible from the outside whereon the main pin (4) is seated, which serves as a lever when a force is exerted from the outside in a manner to move upwards/downwards in the vertical axis, thus enabling the main pin (4) and the hinge (5) to stop at the desired position and if required, enabling the position of the door (3) on the body (2) to be changed by being actuated.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a first cover (7) which is fixed to the upper edge of the door (3) and whereon the adjustment mechanism (6) is fixed, and a second cover (8) which covers the adjust mechanism (6) placed onto the first cover (7).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a hook-shaped arm (9) which is provided on the adjustment mechanism (6) and which has an actuation member (10) at the end thereof open to the outer environment and a pressure member (11) at the other end thereof which moves upwards/downwards in the vertical axis with the movement of the actuation member (10) when a force is exerted on the actuation member (10); a bearing hole (12) which is arranged on the arm (9) between the actuation member (10) and the pressure member (11); and a first pin (13) which is fitted into the bearing hole (12) so as to enable the arm (9) to move by rotating around the horizontal axis.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a base (14) which is provided on the adjustment mechanism (6) and which is placed onto the first cover (7); two parallel holders (15) which extend from the base (14) outwards and which surround the arm (9) from two sides; two first holes (16) which are provided on the two holders (15), which align with the bearing hole from both sides, which extend in the horizontal axis and through which the first pin (13) passes together with the bearing hole; and a first bearing (17) which is provided on the base (14) whereon the holder (15) is arranged, and wherein the hinge (5), whereon the main pin (4) is seated, is borne in the horizontal plane.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a locking member (19) which extends parallel to the hinge (5) in the vertical axis on the base (14).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a protrusion-shaped abutment (20) just above the holder (15), which aligns with the actuation member (10) at the end of the arm (9) and which extends in the vertical axis.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the abutment (20) which is arranged at the same vertical axis as the bearing hole (12) and the first pin (13) inserted therein.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a second bearing (21) on the second cover (8) which coaxially aligns with the bearing on the adjustment mechanism (6); a locking housing (22) adjacent to the second bearing (21), wherein the locking member (19) is inserted; and a step (23) which is seated onto the gradation (18) on the first cover (7).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 and 3, characterized by a rim (24) at the top of the hinge (5), two extensions (25) at the base thereof extending downwards parallel to each other and two coaxial second holes (26) provided at the end of the extensions (25), and a second pin (27) which is borne in said holes (26) together with the end of the pressure member (11) so as to remain between the extensions (25).