EP3942136B1

EP3942136B1 - A cooling appliance having an adjustable hinge assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3942136B1
Application number: EP20708447.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tayfun Inal; Semih Erol; Resul Yavuz; Ercan Akyuz; Ibrahim Yilmaz Evren
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2019-03-22
Filing date: 2020-02-21
Publication date: 2023-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-21
Also published as: WO2020193029A1; TR201904277A2; EP3942136A1; PL3942136T3

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance having an adjustable hinge assembly.
In cooling appliances, the door of the cooling appliances, after a prolonged use and due to weight of the food items placed inside the shelves on the door, tends to slack causing a gap to be formed between the door gasket and the body of the cooling appliance. The gap causes the warm air to enter inside the cooling appliance decreasing the energy efficiency of the cooling appliance. Another problem caused by the drop of the door is that the appearance of the cooling appliance deteriorates. Both situations are unfavorable form users' perspective as they decrease the quality perception and increase energy consumption of the cooling appliance.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as WO2017059909A1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance having an adjustable hinge assembly. The document US2016/0208532A1 also discloses a cooling appliance with an adjustable hinge assembly.
An objective of the present invention is to prevent the misalignment of the door with respect to the body of the cooling appliance in an easily operable manner which allows the users to correct the position of the door without the need to contact service providers which in turn decreases maintenance costs for the users and the cooling appliance manufacturer.
The cooling appliance realized to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a cooling appliance having a body and a door providing access inside the body. The door is pivotable attached onto the body via an adjustable hinge assembly and a corresponding base bracket attached onto the body. The base bracket projects towards the front of the cooling appliance and comprises a counterpart pivot which is pivotably inserted inside the adjustable hinge assembly. The adjustable hinge assembly comprises a housing which houses the operational parts of the adjustable hinge assembly. The housing comprises a pivot into which the counterpart pivot is pivotably inserted. Therefore, the door is pivotably attached onto the body. The housing comprises a first screw and a second screw. The first screw, upon being rotated by the user via a screw driver, moves the door along a first horizontal direction. Likewise, the seconds screw, upon being rotated by the user, moves the door along a second horizontal direction. The first screw actuates the door to move back and forth with respect to the body of the cooling appliance. The seconds screw, on the other hand, actuates the door to move sideways with respect to the body of the cooling appliance. As a result, the alignment of the door is achieved, eliminating the gap caused by the drop of the door. The first screw and the second screw extend parallel to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the first screw and the second screw are adjacent to each other, therefore providing ease of use. Another advantageous effect of the said screws is the fact that the user may easily adjust the position of the door, disposing the necessity of calling the maintenance personnel.
According to the invention, the first screw and the second screw, upon activation by the user, actuates a first adjustment mechanism and a second adjustment mechanism respectively. The said adjustment mechanisms are placed inside the housing and are configured to move along a direction, preferably in the first horizontal direction, parallel to each other.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first adjustment mechanism comprises the pivot. The counterpart pivot is inserted inside the pivot and upon activation of the first screw, the first adjustment mechanism moves thereby aligning the door along the first horizontal direction.
According to the invention, the adjustable hinge assembly comprises an alignment bed. The alignment bed is placed inside the housing in a slidable manner. The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism are placed inside the alignment bed in a first recess and a second recess. Therefore, a robust adjustable hinge assembly is achieved.
The adjustable hinge assembly comprises an alignment plate placed onto the alignment bed. The alignment plate comprises a first slot and a second slot. The first slot is located above the first recess and the second slot is located above the second recess. The first adjustment mechanism is inserted onto the first recess via the first slot. The second adjustment mechanism is placed onto the alignment bed before the alignment plate is placed onto the alignment bed. The alignment bed further fortifies the structure of the adjustable hinge assembly. Therefore, a robust adjustable hinge assembly is provided.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the second adjustment mechanism comprises a lug projecting upwards and the lug is seated inside the second slot. As a result, a guiding is provided for the second adjustment mechanism.
According to the invention, the extension direction of the second slot forms an acute angle in anti-clockwise direction with the movement direction of the second adjustment mechanism. As a result, as the second adjustment mechanism moves along the second recess, the alignment plate moves along the movement direction of the second adjustment mechanism and at sideways. The change in position depends on the said angle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing is form fittingly placed in a recessed area provided on the door.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable hinge assembly comprises a cover, covering the operational parts of the adjustable hinge assembly and as a result a robust adjustable hinge assembly is achieved.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first screw and the second screw face the body in the closed position of the door. Therefore, the said screws are not directly visible but are easily accessible. This helps to increase the quality perception of the cooling appliance.
By means of the present invention, the user is provided with the adjustable hinge assembly providing easy manipulation of the position of the door.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred 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 an exploded view of the adjustable hinge assembly
Figure 2 - is the rear view of the cooling appliance
Figure 3 - is an enlarged view of the dashed A line in Figure 2
Figure 4 - is a side view of the base bracket
Figure 5 - is a side view of the adjustable hinge assembly inserted inside the recessed area on the door
Figure 6 - is a side view of the adjustable hinge assembly inserted inside the recessed area on the door

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

1. Cooling appliance
2. Body
3. Door
4. Adjustable hinge assembly
5. Housing
6. Pivot
7. Base bracket
8. Counterpart pivot
9. First screw
10. Second screw
11. First adjustment mechanism
12. Second adjustment mechanism
13. Alignment bed
14. First recess
15. Second recess
16. Alignment plate
17. First slot
18. Second slot
19. Lug
20. Cover

X : First horizontal direction
Y : Second horizontal direction
α : Acute angle

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising: a body (2) having a cooling compartment, a door (3) for accessing the respective cooling compartment, an adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprising a housing (5) placed onto the door (3) wherein the housing (5) comprises a pivot (6), a base bracket (7) adapted to be fixed to the body (2) wherein the base bracket (7) comprises a counterpart pivot (8) which is adapted to engage pivotably with the pivot (6).
The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) further comprising: the housing (5) accommodating a first screw (9) and a second screw (10) which upon activation by the user are adapted to move the housing (5) relative to the body (2) in the first horizontal direction (Y) and in the second horizontal direction (X) respectively wherein the said directions (X,Y) form a plane parallel to the ground and wherein the said screws (9 ,10) extend parallel to each other. The adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises the housing (5) and the housing (5) comprises the pivot (6). The pivot (6) is in the shape of a circular hole, facing upwards. The base bracket (7) is fixed onto the body (2) on a side wall of the cooling appliance (1) and projects towards the front of the cooling appliance (1). The base bracket (7) has a counterpart pivot (8) at the front side of the base bracket (7) which is inserted inside the pivot (6) in a pivotable manner. Therefore, the door (3) is pivotable attached onto the body (2) which upon pivoting, provides access inside the body (2) or blocks access inside the body (2). The housing (5) is provided with two holes into which the first screw (9) and the second screw (10) is rotatably inserted. The user may rotate the said screws (9 ,10) via a screw driver or the like and depending on the direction of the rotation the said screws (9 ,10) go inside or outside the holes provided on the housing (5). Should the user rotate the said screws (9 ,10) in a direction so as to make the said screws (9 ,10) go inside the housing (5), the position of the housing (5) with respect to the base bracket (7) and the body (2) changes. The first screw (9), upon rotation, is configured to change the position of the housing (5) with respect to the base bracket (7) in a first horizontal direction (Y) perpendicular and away from the front of the cooling appliance (1). Likewise, the second screw (10), upon rotation, is configured to change the position of the housing (5) with respect to the base bracket (7) in a second horizontal direction (X) perpendicular to the first horizontal direction (Y). Meaning that the housing (5) and the door (3) moves sideways with respect to the cooling appliance (1). The second horizontal direction (X) is parallel to the front of the cooling appliance (1). The first horizontal direction (Y) and the second horizontal direction (X) form a plane parallel to the ground frame. By this means, the adjustable hinge assembly (4) provides the door (3) to be moved away and sideways with respect to the cooling appliance (1) correcting the position of the door (3). The first screw (9) and the second screw (10) extend parallel and next to each other. Therefore, ease of use is provided for the user. Since the said screws (9,10) are adjacent to each other, the user may easily rotate the said screws (9,10) to adjust the position of the door (3) easily, eliminating the need for a maintenance service.
The first screw (9) and the second screw (10), upon activation by the user, move a first adjustment mechanism (11) and a second adjustment mechanism (12) respectively which are accommodated inside the housing (5) in a direction parallel to each other. The first screw (9) and the second screw (10), upon activation by the user, go inside or out depending on the direction of the rotation. In the case, the first screw (9) and the second screw (10) go inside the housing (5) and contact the first adjustment mechanism (11) and the second adjustment mechanism (12) respectively, the said adjustment mechanisms (11,12) provides the door (3) to be moved away and sideways with respect to the cooling appliance (1) correcting the position of the door (3). As a result, the users are provided with a robust and easily operable structure allowing the users to adjust the position of the door (3) easily, eliminating the need for a service technician, thereby reducing the costs for maintenance.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first adjustment mechanism (11) comprises the pivot (6). The first adjustment mechanism (11) is in the form of a rectangular prism, comprising the pivot (6) into which the counterpart pivot (8) is inserted. The first screw (9) upon activation by the user, depending on the direction of the rotation, moves the first adjustment mechanism (11), therefore changing the position of the door (3) with respect to the cooling appliance (1). The base bracket (7) has a fixed length, therefore the position of the counterpart pivot (8) and that of the first adjustment mechanism (11) remains the same with respect to the cooling appliance (1). The first adjustment mechanism (11) moves inside the housing (5) therefore forcing the adjustable hinge assembly (4) to move back and forth with respect to the cooling appliance (1) depending on the direction of the rotation.
The adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises an alignment bed (13) comprising a first recess (14) and a second recess (15) into which the first adjustment mechanism (11) and the second adjustment mechanism (12) is respectively placed. The alignment bed (13) comprises a pair of bores wherein the said bores coincide with the said holes provided on the housing (5). Therefore, the screw (9,10) is projected towards the alignment bed (13) and is at least partly inserted inside the alignment bed (13). One of the said bores leads the first screw (9) inside the first recess (14) and the other bore leads the second screw (10) inside the second recess (15). The first screw (9), upon activation by the user moves along the said hole and bore and contacts the first adjustment mechanism (11). The first adjustment mechanism (11), upon rotation of the first screw (9), abuts against the walls of the first recess (14) forcing the alignment bed (13) slide inside the housing (5) therefore forcing the adjustable hinge assembly (4) and therefore the door (3) to move back and forth and sideways with respect to the cooling appliance (1) depending on the direction of the rotation. Likewise, the second adjustment mechanism (12), upon rotation of the second screw (10), moves along the second recess (15). As a result, upon activation of the first screw (9) and the second screw (10) by the user, the first adjustment mechanism (11) and the second adjustment mechanism (12) provides diagonal position adjustment of the door (3) with respect to the cooling appliance (1). By use of the first recess (14) and the second recess (15) a robust and easily operable structure is achieved.
The adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises an alignment plate (16) placed onto the alignment bed (13) wherein the alignment plate (16) comprises a first slot (17) and a second slot (18) through which the first adjustment mechanism (11) is inserted into the first recess (14). The alignment bed (13) has a cutout on its upper side. The alignment plate (16) is placed form fittingly onto the said cutout. The cutout extends along the second horizontal direction (X) and is longer than the alignment plate (16). The first adjustment mechanism (11) is inserted into the first recess (14) by passing through the first slot (17). The second adjustment mechanism (12) is placed onto the alignment bed (13) before the alignment plate (16) is placed onto the alignment bed (13) thereby keeping the second adjustment mechanism (12) inside the alignment bed (13) in a non-removable manner. By use of the alignment plate (16) a robust and easily operable embodiment is achieved.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the second adjustment mechanism (12) comprises a lug (19) which is inserted inside the second slot (18). The second adjustment mechanism (12) has a lug (19) protruding upwards towards the alignment plate (16). The slot (18) is partly filled by the lug (19) upon placing the alignment plate (16) onto the alignment bed (13). Therefore, the movement of the second adjustment mechanism (12) is guided by the slot (18) and the lug (19). By use of the lug (19) and the corresponding slot (18) a robust and easily operable embodiment is achieved.
According to the invention, the extension direction of the second slot (18) forms an acute angle (α) in anti-clockwise direction with the movement direction of the second adjustment mechanism (12). The second adjustment mechanism (12), upon activation by the user moves along the second recess (15). The lug (19) forces the alignment plate (16) to slide in the second direction (X) since the extension direction of the second slot (18) forms an acute angle (α) in anti-clockwise direction with the movement direction of the second adjustment mechanism (12).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (5) is form fittingly placed in a recessed area provided on the door (3) forming a flat surface. As a result, the distance between the base bracket (7) and the door (3) is minimized.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises a cover (20) forming a linear plane with the door (3). The cover (20) is placed onto the housing (5) so as to cover and separate the housing (5) from outer environment. Therefore, a robust structure is achieved. Additionally, the cover (20) comprises an opening, providing the counterpart pivot (8) to enter inside the pivot (6).α
In another embodiment of the present invention, the head of the said screws (9.10) faces the body (2) in the closed position of the door (3). Therefore, the visibility of the said screws (9,10) is minimized meanwhile ensuring easy accessibility of the said screws (9,10).
In the cooling appliance (1) of the present invention, the position of the door (3) is adjusted by use of the adjustable hinge assembly (4), the adjustable hinge assembly (4) providing adjustment along a first horizontal direction (Y) and a second horizontal direction (X) in an easily operable manner, eliminating the costs related to assignments of technical repair staff.

Claims

A cooling appliance (1) comprising a body (2) having a cooling compartment, a door (3) for accessing the respective cooling compartment, an adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprising a housing (5) placed onto the door (3) wherein the housing (5) comprises a pivot (6), a base bracket (7) adapted to be fixed to the body (2) wherein the base bracket (7) comprises a counterpart pivot (8) which is adapted to engage pivotably with the pivot (6), wherein the housing (5) accommodates a first screw (9) which upon activation by the user is adapted to move the housing (5) relative to the body (2) in the first horizontal direction (X) characterized in that the housing (5) accommodates a second screw (10) which upon activation by the user is adapted to move the housing (5) relative to the body (2) in the second horizontal direction (Y) wherein the said directions (X,Y) form a plane parallel to the ground and wherein the said screws (9 ,10) extend parallel to each other, the first screw (9) and the second screw (10), upon activation by the user, move a first adjustment mechanism (11) and a second adjustment mechanism (12) respectively which are accommodated inside the housing (5) in a direction parallel to each other and the adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises an alignment bed (13) comprising a first recess (14) and a second recess (15) into which the first adjustment mechanism (11) and the second adjustment mechanism (12) are respectively placed and the adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises an alignment plate (16) placed onto the alignment bed (13) wherein the alignment plate (16) comprises a first slot (17) and a second slot (18), the first adjustment mechanism (11) being inserted through the first slot (17) into the first recess (14), and the extension direction of the second slot (18) forming an acute angle (α) in anti-clockwise direction with the movement direction of the second adjustment mechanism (12).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first adjustment mechanism (11) comprises the pivot (6).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second adjustment mechanism (12) comprises a lug (19) which is inserted inside the second slot (18).
A cooling appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (5) is form fittingly placed in a recessed area provided on the door (3) forming a flat surface.
A cooling appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustable hinge assembly (4) comprises a cover (20) forming a linear plane with the door (3).
A cooling appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heads of the said screws (9.10) faces the body (2) in the closed position of the door (3).