EP3961135A1 - Kühlschrankfachboden - Google Patents

Kühlschrankfachboden Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3961135A1
EP3961135A1 EP20193889.1A EP20193889A EP3961135A1 EP 3961135 A1 EP3961135 A1 EP 3961135A1 EP 20193889 A EP20193889 A EP 20193889A EP 3961135 A1 EP3961135 A1 EP 3961135A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shelf
shelf portion
shaped frame
variable
size
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP20193889.1A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3961135B1 (de
Inventor
Ganesh Bramhane
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Management Emea Srl
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Priority to EP20193889.1A priority Critical patent/EP3961135B1/de
Publication of EP3961135A1 publication Critical patent/EP3961135A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3961135B1 publication Critical patent/EP3961135B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
    • F25D25/024—Slidable shelves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2325/00—Charging, supporting or discharging the articles to be cooled, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2325/021—Shelves with several possible configurations

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to refrigerator appliances and more particularly to a refrigerator shelf of the variable-size type.
  • Refrigerating appliances typically comprise a cabinet wherein two or more inner compartments separated by one or more thermally insulating walls are formed. The compartments are kept at different temperatures, thereby allowing to store food under different conditions. More particularly, a refrigerator compartment is typically operated at a temperature comprised between 1°C and 10°C, which is suitable to preserve fresh food, while a freezer compartment generally operates at temperatures ranging between -15°C and -30°C to preserve food in a frozen condition.
  • a refrigerator compartment typically comprises a plurality of shelves on which food items can be arranged.
  • the shelves are supported on guides or ribs formed on the side walls of the refrigerator compartment and are spaced apart in a vertical direction. For instance the shelves can be spaced apart at a same distance from one another.
  • a variable-size shelf typically includes a U-shaped frame on which a first shelf portion and a second shelf portion are assembled. Both shelf portions feature respective frame members in the form of trim pieces that are configured to allow their assembly with the U-shaped frame.
  • the first shelf portion is hinged close to a rear portion of the U-shaped frame intended to be arranged at the back wall of the refrigerator compartment, while the second shelf portion is slidably arranged on side portions of the U-shaped frame.
  • the second shelf portion can be moved from an extracted position where it is substantially co-planar with the first shelf portion and a retracted position where it is received under the first shelf portion and coupled thereto by way of suitable guides formed in its trim pieces.
  • the size of the shelf is substantially half its full size, which means that only half of the surface area of the shelf is available to store food items.
  • the second portion can be rotated with the first shelf portion, thus substantially completely clearing the space in the vertical direction, as if the variable-size shelf were not present.
  • variable-size shelves allow to customize the interior space of the refrigerator compartment based on a user's needs in order to receive tall objects and food items such as e.g. bottles without forcing a user to modify the mutual distance between subsequent shelves.
  • the U-shaped frame of variable-size shelf must be carefully designed in order to minimize warpage, namely distortions resulting from molded-in residual stresses, which, in turn, are caused by differential shrinkage of e.g. plastic material in a molded part. This results in complex and expensive moulds and manufacturing processes.
  • the technical problem underlying and solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a refrigerator variable-size shelf whose frame structure allows to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior art.
  • An idea of solution underlying the invention is to manufacture the U-shaped frame of a refrigerator variable-size shelf as a composable, modular structure made up of different straight members, namely a rear member and a right and left side members having the same size and a mirrored configuration.
  • the individual members forming the U-shaped frame are easier and cheaper to manufacture than a single-piece U-shaped frame, and thereby much less prone to warpage problems compared to prior art frames of variable-size refrigerator shelves.
  • the coupling means may advantageously comprise locating features allowing to precisely align the rear member and the side members for assembly purposes. Thanks to these features assembly of the U-shaped frame can be accomplished in an easy and quick manner.
  • Figure 1 shows a refrigerating appliance according to the invention, which is generally indicated by reference number 100.
  • the refrigerating appliance 100 is shown with reference to a three-dimensional coordinate system.
  • a first axis X and a second axis Y that are mutually perpendicular define a horizontal plane, while a third axis Z, perpendicular to said horizontal plane, defines a vertical direction corresponding to the direction along which the force of gravity acts.
  • the refrigerating appliance 100 hereinafter also referred to as refrigerator appliance or refrigerator, comprises a cabinet 110 whose cavity is configured to store food items.
  • the appliance shown in the drawings is e.g. a "bottom mount” refrigerating appliance, where a refrigerator compartment 111 is formed above a freezer compartment 112 in the vertical direction and are separated from each other by an insulating wall 113, also known as "mullion" to those skilled in the art.
  • the cabinet 110 comprises an inner casing or liner 114 that is made e.g. of a polymeric material, where the refrigerator compartment 111 and the freezer compartment 112 are formed, and an outer casing 115.
  • the outer casing 115 is spaced apart from the inner casing 114 so as to define a cavity that is typically filled with a thermally insulating material such as e.g. polyurethane foam.
  • the outer casing 115 has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a back wall. These walls may e.g. be made of sheet metal or a plastic material.
  • the refrigerator compartment 111 and the freezer compartment 112 are selectively accessible through respective doors that are not shown in the drawings.
  • the refrigerating appliance 100 also comprises a plurality of shelves arranged in the refrigerator compartment 111 and mutually spaced apart in the vertical direction Z. At least one of these shelves is a variable-size shelf 200, as it will be explained in greater detail in the following.
  • variable-size shelf 200 comprises a U-shaped frame 210 on which a first shelf portion 220 and a second shelf portion 230 are assembled.
  • the first shelf portion 220 and the second shelf portion 230 comprise respective trim pieces 221, 222 and 231, 232 that are mounted along their side edges and are configured to allow their assembly with the U-shaped frame 210.
  • the second shelf portion 230 further comprises an additional trim piece 233 mounted on a front edge thereof for aesthetical purposes.
  • the U-shaped frame 210 comprises a rear member 211, which is intended to be arranged at a back wall of the refrigerator compartment 111, and side members 212, 213.
  • the first shelf portion 220 is hinged on the side members 212, 213 of the U-shaped frame 210 close to the rear member 211 thereof.
  • the first shelf portion 220 can be rotated relative to the U-shaped frame 210 between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position.
  • the second shelf portion 230 is instead slidably arranged on the side members 212, 213 of the U-shaped frame 210 and can be moved horizontally from an extracted position, where it is substantially co-planar with the first shelf portion 220, and a retracted position where it is received under the first shelf portion 220.
  • the second shelf portion 230 in the retracted position is coupled to the first shelf portion 220 by way of suitable guides formed in its trim pieces 221, 222, and can therefore be rotated together with it.
  • the rear member 211 and the side members 212, 213 of the U-shaped frame 210 are manufactured as individual members that are configured to be assembled to one another by way of coupling means.
  • the U-shaped frame 210 has a composable structure made up of different, substantially straight members, namely the rear member 211 and the right and the left side members 212, 213, the side members 212, 213 having the same size and a mirrored configuration. Thanks to their substantially straight shape, the individual members forming the U-shaped frame 210 are easier to manufacture than a single-piece U-shaped frame, and thereby much less prone to warpage problems compared to prior art frames of variable-size refrigerator shelves.
  • the coupling means may advantageously be formed on the side members 212, 213, and comprise locating features allowing to precisely align them with the rear member 211 for assembly purposes. Thanks to these features, assembly of the U-shaped frame can be accomplished in an easy and quick manner.
  • the locating features may comprise e.g. at least one rib 214 formed on one between the rear member 211 and the side members 212, 213, and a matching recess 215 formed on the other one between the rear member 211 and the side members 212, 213.
  • One or more pins can alternatively be used in place of the ribs.
  • the locating features may also comprise at least one screw hole 216 formed at either end of the rear member 211 and a corresponding through hole 217 formed in each side member 212, 213.
  • a front half 240 of each side member 212, 213 of the U-shaped frame 210 comprises a longitudinal protruding rib 241 configured to slidably receive and support an edge of the second shelf portion 230 in the extracted position.
  • the protruding rib 241 comprises a stop member 242 formed close to the free end of the side member 212.
  • the stop member 242 is shaped e.g. as a bump configured to engage a corresponding recess 231a formed in the trim piece 231 of the second shelf portion 230 in the extracted position.
  • the end of the protruding rib 241 facing the rear member 211 of the U-shaped frame 210 in an assembled configuration comprises a notch 243 configured to receive a hook 231b formed in the trim piece 231 of the second shelf portion 220.
  • the stop member 242 and the notch 243 advantageously allow to hold the second shelf portion 230 in a stable manner in its extracted position, thereby preventing objects from undesirably falling onto lower shelves.
  • stop member 242 and the notch 243, as well as the recess 231a and the hook 231b can be formed on either or both side members 212, 213 and the respective trim pieces 231, 232 of the second shelf portion 230.
  • the end of the protruding rib 241 facing the rear member 211 of the U-shaped frame 210 in an assembled configuration comprises a step-like portion 244 configured to support a front edge of the first shelf portion 220 in the horizontal position.
  • the U-shaped frame 210 can be easily adapted to a different second shelf portion 230 by simply changing the side members 212, 213. This allows to exploit the same structure for different variable-size shelves and refrigerating appliances.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
EP20193889.1A 2020-09-01 2020-09-01 Kühlschrankfachboden Active EP3961135B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20193889.1A EP3961135B1 (de) 2020-09-01 2020-09-01 Kühlschrankfachboden

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20193889.1A EP3961135B1 (de) 2020-09-01 2020-09-01 Kühlschrankfachboden

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3961135A1 true EP3961135A1 (de) 2022-03-02
EP3961135B1 EP3961135B1 (de) 2024-06-19

Family

ID=72322378

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20193889.1A Active EP3961135B1 (de) 2020-09-01 2020-09-01 Kühlschrankfachboden

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3961135B1 (de)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008055038A1 (de) * 2008-12-19 2010-07-01 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit mindestens einer Kühlgutablage sowie Kühlgutablage
KR20140134865A (ko) * 2013-05-15 2014-11-25 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
EP2818814A2 (de) * 2013-06-25 2014-12-31 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Kühlschrank
US20160238307A1 (en) * 2015-02-17 2016-08-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Variable shelf apparatus and refrigerator having the same
WO2019165521A1 (en) * 2018-03-02 2019-09-06 Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. Storage structure for refrigerator appliance

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008055038A1 (de) * 2008-12-19 2010-07-01 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit mindestens einer Kühlgutablage sowie Kühlgutablage
KR20140134865A (ko) * 2013-05-15 2014-11-25 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
EP2818814A2 (de) * 2013-06-25 2014-12-31 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Kühlschrank
US20160238307A1 (en) * 2015-02-17 2016-08-18 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Variable shelf apparatus and refrigerator having the same
WO2019165521A1 (en) * 2018-03-02 2019-09-06 Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. Storage structure for refrigerator appliance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3961135B1 (de) 2024-06-19

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