EP4589230A1

EP4589230A1 - Shelf and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP4589230A1
Application number: EP23864438.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bin Fei; Shuangshuang MA
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-09-15
Filing date: 2023-06-29
Publication date: 2025-07-23
Also published as: WO2024055699A1; CN117704727A; EP4589230A4

Abstract

A shelf, comprising: engagement assemblies (1); rotating wheels (2), which correspond to the engagement assemblies (1), can rotate about their own rotation centers relative to the engagement assemblies (1), and are each provided with a plurality of wheel teeth (3), wherein the plurality of wheel teeth (3) are located on the same circumference with each rotation center as a circle center, the wheel teeth (3) are elastic wheel teeth (3) and/or the engagement assemblies (1) are elastic engagement assemblies (1), so that the engagement assemblies (1) can switch between limiting positions and disengagement positions where same are disengaged from the wheel teeth (3); and in the limiting positions, each engagement assembly (1) abuts against any wheel tooth (3) to restrict the movement of the wheel teeth (3), and shelving plates (4), which are connected to positions, rather than the rotation centers, of the rotating wheels (2), wherein the shelving plates (4) are pulled to drive the rotating wheels (2) to rotate relative to the engagement assemblies (1). The shelving plates (4) are pulled to drive the rotating wheels (2). The wheel teeth (3) of rotating wheels (2) match the engagement assemblies (1). The shelving plates (4) can be adjusted when the engagement assemblies (1) are disengaged from the wheel teeth (3). By pulling the shelving plates (4), the shelving plates (4) can be located at a plurality of heights for placement of articles of different sizes and heights. The operations are simple and convenient.

Description

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211122715.5, filed on September 29, 2022 , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of refrigerators, and more particularly to a shelf and a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

Shelves are very common in our daily lives for placing various items, and currently, a requirement exists for placing items of different heights and sizes on the shelves.
In a case where the shelf is being utilized to place items of different heights and sizes, the related art provides a refrigerator with a raisable and lowerable shelf, comprising: a refrigerator cabinet, provided with slide rails on at least two sides of the inner cavity, at least one set of fixing brackets disposed on the slide rails and up-down slidably connected to the slide rails. The shelf and the fixing brackets are detachably connected, and self-locking devices are disposed on the slide rails corresponding to the fixing brackets.
During the implementation of the embodiment of the present disclosure, at least the following problems have been found in the related arts:
In a case where the shelf is utilized, it is necessary first to unlock the self-locking device, then push the shelf up or down, lock the fixing brackets with the self-locking devices after the shelf reaches the designated position, and then place the items of different heights. Adjusting the height of the shelf is not convenient for lots of manual operational steps.

SUMMARY

In order to have a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. The summary is not intended to be a general comment to identify crucial/essential constituent elements or to describe the protection scope of these embodiments but rather to serve as a preface to the detailed description that follows.
A shelf and a refrigerator are provided according to the embodiment of the present disclosure to solve the problem of inconveniently adjusting the height of shelves.
According to a first aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure, a shelf is provided and comprises: an engagement assembly, a rotating wheel, and a shelf board. The rotating wheel corresponds to the engagement assembly and is rotatable relative to the engagement assembly around a rotation center of the rotating wheel. The rotating wheel is provided with a plurality of wheel teeth, and the plurality of wheel teeth is located on a same circumference centered on the rotation center. The wheel teeth are elastic wheel teeth, and/or, the engagement assembly is elastic engagement assembly, so the engagement assembly is switchable between a limited position and a disengaged position where the engagement assembly is disengaged from the wheel teeth. In the limited position, the engagement assembly abuts against one of the wheel teeth to limit the wheel teeth from continuing to move. The shelf board is connected to a non-rotation-center position of the rotating wheel. In a case where the shelf board is pulled, the shelf board drives the rotating wheel to rotate relative to the engagement assembly around the rotation center.
In some embodiments, the engagement assembly is elastic engagement assembly, and the engagement assembly comprises: a claw and an elastic member. The claw abuts against one of the wheel teeth in the limited position and is disengaged from the one of the wheel teeth in the disengaged position. The elastic member is connected to the claw. In a case where the claw is disengaged from the one of the wheel teeth, the elastic member is elastically deformed, so as to drive the claw to reset to the limited position.
In some embodiments, the claw comprises: a first claw surface and a second claw surface. In the limited position, the first claw surface abuts against one of the wheel teeth. The second claw surface is corresponding to the first claw surface. The second claw surface and the first claw surface are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel driven by the shelf board. The second claw surface is provided with a first guide bevel, and the wheel teeth drive the first guide bevel to move, so as to drive the claw to move in a direction disengaged from the wheel teeth.
In some embodiments, a plurality of engagement assemblies are provided, the plurality of engagement assemblies comprises a first engagement assembly and a second engagement assembly located on a same side of the shelf, a number of the rotating wheels are equal and one-to-one corresponding to a number of the engagement assemblies, and the plurality of rotating wheels comprise a first rotating wheel cooperated with the first engagement assembly and a second rotating wheel cooperated with the second engagement assembly. The first engagement assembly and the second engagement assembly are disposed between the first rotating wheel and the second rotating wheel, and the first engagement assembly and the second engagement assembly are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel driven by the shelf board.
In some embodiments, the wheel teeth are elastic wheel teeth, the engagement assembly comprises an engagement plate and the engagement plate is provided with a claw groove. The elastic wheel teeth are engaged into or disengaged from the claw groove to switch the engagement assembly between the limited position and the disengaged position.
In some embodiments, each one of the elastic wheel teeth comprises: a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and an engagement portion. The first connecting portion is connected to the rotating wheel, and one end of the second connecting portion is connected to the first connecting portion, to form a bend angle. The engagement portion is disposed on the other end of the second connecting portion. In the limited position, the engagement portion is engaged into the claw groove.
In some embodiments, the engagement portion comprises a first side wall and a second side wall disposed correspondingly, and the first side wall and the second side wall are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel driven by the shelf board. Along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel driven by the shelf board, the second side wall is inclined toward the rotation center of the rotating wheel where the second side wall is located, to form a second guide bevel, and the claw groove is provided with a third guide bevel cooperated with the second guide bevel.
In some embodiments, the shelf further comprises a side plate, the side plate is provided with a through opening, and the rotating wheel is located inside the through opening and rotatable relatively to the through opening.
According to a second aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator is provided and comprises a shelf according to the above embodiments.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator comprises an inner liner, and the side plate is embedded into the inner liner.
The shelf and the refrigerator provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure can have the following technical advantages:
The shelf board is connected to the rotating wheel. In a case where the shelf is utilized, the shelf board is pulled, the shelf board drives the rotating wheel, the wheel teeth of the rotating wheel cooperate with the engagement assembly, and the engagement assembly sometimes abuts against the wheel teeth and sometimes is disengaged from the wheel teeth. In a case where the engagement assembly abuts against the wheel teeth, the shelf board is fixed. In a case where the engagement assembly is disengaged from the wheel teeth, the height of the shelf board is adjustable. Thus, as long as the shelf board is pulled, the shelf board is adjustable to be a plurality of high positions, for placing items of different heights and sizes, so as to operate simply and conveniently.
The above general description and the description below are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments are illustrated by means of the corresponding drawings, which do not constitute a limitation of the embodiments, elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements, and the drawings do not constitute a limitation of proportion, where:

Fig. 1 is a schematic structure diagram of the shelf provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a first perspective;
Fig. 2 is a schematic structure diagram of the shelf provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a second perspective;
Fig. 3 is a schematic structure diagram of another shelf provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 4 is a schematic structure diagram of a part of the shelf provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 5 is a schematic structure diagram of a part of the refrigerator provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the part of the refrigerator provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure.

REFERENCES IN THE DRAWINGS:

1: engagement assembly; 101:claw; 1011: first claw surface; 1012: second claw surface; 10121: first guide bevel; 102: elastic member; 111: plate; 1111:claw groove; 11: first engagement assembly; 12: second engagement assembly; 2: rotating wheel; 21: first rotating wheel; 22: second rotating wheel; 3: wheel tooth; 31: first connecting portion; 32: second connecting portion; 33: engagement portion; 331: first side wall; 332: second side wall; 3321:second guide bevel; 3322: third guide bevel; 34: bend angle; 4: shelf board; 5: side plate; 51: opening; 6: inner liner; 7: guide groove; 8: protrusion; 9: recess; 10: arc-shaped surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to enable a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are for illustration only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure.
In the following technical description for convenience of explanation, several details are provided for a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be practiced without these details. In other instances, the well-known structures and devices may simplify the disclosure in order to simplify the drawings.
The terms "first", "second" and the like in the specification and claims of embodiments of the present disclosure and the above drawings are used to distinguish similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or priority. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, directional or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "up", "down", "inside", "middle", "outside", "front" and "rear" is based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the drawings. These terms are mainly intended to describe embodiments of the present disclosure, not to limit that the described devices, elements, or components must have a specific orientation or be configured and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, in addition to indicating the directional or positional relationship, the above partial terms might also be used to convey other meanings, for example, the term "on" might also be used to indicate a dependency relationship or connectional relationship in some cases. Those having ordinary skills in the art may understand specific meanings of these terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure according to specific situations.
In addition, the terms "dispose", "connect" and "fix" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connect" may be a fixed connection, detachable connection or integral connection, may be a mechanical connection or electrical connection, may be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or may be internal communication between two devices, elements or components. Those having ordinary skills in the art may understand specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure according to specific situations.
Unless otherwise illustrated, the term "a plurality of" means two or more.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the character "/" indicates that the front element and rear element are in an "or" relationship. For example, A/B illustrates A or B.
The term "and/or" is an association relationship that describes elements, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and/or B represent relationships: A or B, or A and B.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and features in the embodiments may be combined with one another without conflict.
As shown in Fig. 1, a shelf is provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising an engagement assembly 1, a rotating wheel 2, and a shelf board 4. The rotating wheel 2 corresponds to the engagement assembly 1 and is rotatable relative to the engagement assembly 1 around a rotation center of the rotation wheel 2. The rotation wheel 2 is provided with a plurality of wheel teeth 3, and the plurality of wheel teeth 3 are located on the same circumference centered on the rotation center. The wheel teeth 3 are elastic wheel teeth 3, and/or, the engagement assembly 1 is elastic engagement assembly 1, so the engagement assembly 1 is switchable between a limited position and a disengaged position where the engagement assembly is disengaged from the teeth 3. In the limited position, the engagement assembly 1 abuts against one of the wheel teeth 3 to limit the wheel teeth 3 from continuing to move. The shelf board 4 is connected to a non-rotation-center position of the rotating wheel 2. In a case where the shelf board 4 is pulled, the shelf board 4 drives the rotating wheel 2 to rotate relative to the engagement assembly 1 around the rotation center.
Adopting the shelf provided to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the shelf board 4 is connected to the rotating wheel 2. In a case where the shelf is utilized, the shelf board 4 is pulled, the shelf board 4 drives the rotating wheel 2, the wheel teeth 3 of the rotating wheel 2 cooperate with the engagement assembly 1, and the engagement assembly 1 sometimes abuts against the wheel teeth 3 and sometimes is disengaged from the wheel teeth 3. In a case where the engagement assembly 1 abuts against the wheel teeth 3, the shelf board 4 is fixed. In a case where the engagement assembly is disengaged from the wheel teeth 3, the height of the shelf board 4 is adjustable. Thus, as long as the shelf board 4 is pulled, the shelf board 4 is adjustable to be a plurality of height positions, for placing items of different heights and sizes, so as to operate simply and conveniently.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 2, the engagement assembly 1 is elastic engagement assembly 1, and the engagement assembly 1 comprises: a claw 101 and an elastic member 102. The claw 101 abuts against one of the wheel teeth 3 in the limited position and is disengaged with the one of the wheel teeth 3 in the disengaged position. The elastic member 102 is connected to the claw 101. In a case where the claw 101 is disengaged from one of the wheel teeth 3, the elastic member 102 is elastic deformed, so as to drive the claw 101 to reset to the limited position.
The elastic member 102 can be selected to be a spring. The elastic member 102 is connected to the claw 101, so that the engagement assembly 1 can be expanded and retracted.
In a case where the engagement assembly 1 is expanded and the claw 101 abuts against one of the wheel teeth 3, the engagement assembly 1 is in a limited position, limiting the rotation of the rotating wheel 2, and the height of the shelf board 4 is fixed.
In a case where the engagement assembly is retracted and the claw 101 is disengaged from the one of the wheel teeth 3, the engagement assembly 1 is in the disengaged position, the rotating wheel 2 is rotatable, and the height of the shelf board 4 is adjustable.
Thus, in a case where the engagement assembly 1 is elastic engagement assembly 1, the height of the shelf board 4 is adjustable.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 2, the claw 101 comprises a first claw surface 1011 and a second claw surface 1012. The first claw surface 1011 in the limited position abuts against one of the wheel teeth 3. The second claw surface 1012 is disposed corresponding to the first claw surface 1011. The second claw surface 1012 and the first claw surface 1011 are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel 2 driven by the shelf board 4 being pulled. The second claw surface 1012 is provided with a first guide bevel 10121, and the wheel teeth 3 drive the first guide bevel 10121 to move, so as to drive the claw 101 to move in a direction to be disengaged from the wheel teeth 3.
The second claw surface 1012 and the first claw surface 1011 are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel 2 driven by the shelf board 4 being pulled, and the second claw surface 1012 is provided with the first guide bevel 10121.
Pulling the shelf board 4, the shelf board 4 drives the rotating wheel 2 to rotate around the rotation center of the rotating wheel 2, after the wheel teeth 3 contacts the first guide bevel 10121, a force is applied to the first guide bevel 10121, the claw 101 and the elastic member 102 are retracted by the force, and the claw 101 is disengaged from the wheel teeth 3.
Then, the elastic member 102 is elastic deformed to spring back, the claw 101 is expanded out under the driving of the elastic member 102, and the engagement assembly 1 is in the limited position, limiting the rotation of the rotating wheel 2.
Thus, the claw 101 cooperates with the rotating wheel 2 under the elastic force of the elastic member 102, so that the rotating wheel 2 pauses at each gear position, therefore the height of the shelf board 4 can be controlled, and the shelf has a plurality of adjustable positions.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of engagement assemblies 1 are provided, the plurality of engagement assemblies 1 comprises a first engagement assembly 11 and a second engagement assembly 12 located on the same side of the shelf, a number of the rotating wheels 2 are equal and one-to-one corresponding to a number of the engagement assemblies 1, and the plurality of rotating wheels 2 comprises a first rotating wheel 21 cooperated with the first engagement assembly 11 and a second rotating wheel 22 cooperated with the second engagement assembly 12. The first engagement assembly 11 and the second engagement assembly 12 are disposed between the first rotating wheel 21 and the second rotating wheel 22, and the first engagement assembly 11 and the second engagement assembly 12 are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel 2 driven by the pulled shelf board 4.
The first rotating wheel 21 cooperates with the first engagement assembly 11, the second rotating wheel 22 cooperates with the second engagement assembly 12, and the first engagement assembly 11 and the second engagement assembly 12 are disposed between the first rotating wheel 21 and the second rotating wheel 22. Thus, the arrangement on the same side is the first rotating wheel 21, the first engagement assembly 11, the second engagement assembly 12, and the second rotating wheel 22.
The first engagement assembly 11 and the second engagement assembly 12 are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel 2 driven by the shelf board 4.
Thus, in a case where the shelf is pulled, the first engagement assembly 11 and the second engagement assembly 12 are synchronously expanded and retracted to prevent the rotating wheel 2 from reversing, so as to ensure the first rotating wheel 21 and the second rotating wheel 22 rotate synchronously and in the same direction. Thus, in a case where the height of the shelf board 4 is adjusted, the shelf board 4 can always maintain a paralleled to a horizontal state.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 3, the wheel teeth 3 are elastic wheel teeth 3, the engagement assembly 1 comprises an engagement plate 111 and the engagement plate 111 is provided with a claw groove 1111. The elastic wheel teeth 3 are engaged into or disengaged from the claw groove 1111 to switch the engagement assembly 1 between the limited position and the disengaged position.
The elastic wheel teeth 3 are engaged into the claw groove 1111, the engagement assembly 1 is in the limited position, limiting the rotation of the rotating wheel 2, and the height of the shelf board 4 is fixed.
The elastic wheel teeth 3 are disengaged from the claw groove 1111, the engagement assembly 1 is in the disengaged position, the rotating wheel 2 is rotatable, and the height of the shelf board 4 is adjustable.
Thus, in a case where the wheel teeth 3 are elastic wheel teeth 3, the height of the shelf board 4 is adjustable.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 3, each one of the elastic wheel teeth 3 comprises a first connecting portion 31, a second connecting portion 32, and an engagement portion 33. The first connecting portion 31 is connected to the rotating wheel 2, and one end of the second connecting portion 32 is connected to the first connecting portion 31 to form a bend angle 34. The engagement portion 33 is disposed on the other end of the second connecting portion 32. In the limited position, the engagement portion 33 is engaged into the claw groove 1111.
The first connecting portion 31, the second connecting portion 32, and the engagement portion 33 of the elastic wheel teeth 3 are all elastic material.
Pulling the shelf board 4, the engagement portion 33 is forced to be elastically deformed to disengage from the claw groove 1111, so that the engagement assembly 1 is in the disengaged position and the rotating wheel 2 is rotatable.
In a case where the engagement portion 33 reaches the next one of the claw groove 1111, the engagement portion 33 is elastically deformed to engage into the next one of claw groove 1111, so that the engagement assembly 1 is in the limited position, and the height of the shelf board 4 is not changed.
Thus, the engagement portion 33 of the elastic wheel teeth 3 cooperates with the claw groove 1111, so that the rotating wheel 2 pauses at each gear position, therefore the height of the shelf board 4 can be controlled, and the shelf has a plurality of adjustable positions.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 3, the engagement portion 33 comprises a first side wall 331 and a second side wall 332 disposed correspondingly, and the first side wall 331 and the second side wall 332 are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel 2 driven by the shelf board 4. The second side wall 332 is inclined toward the rotation center of the rotating wheel 2 where the second side wall 332 is located, to form a second guide bevel 3321, and the claw groove 1111 is provided with a third guide bevel cooperated with the second guide bevel 3321.
The third guide bevel 3322 is adapted to the second guide bevel 3321, the third guide bevel 3322 is adapted to the second side wall 332, and the claw groove 1111 is adapted to the engagement portion 33. The second guide bevel 3321 is formed by inclining toward the rotation center of the rotating wheel 2 where the second side wall 332 is located, so that the third guide bevel 3322 is inclined toward the rotation center of the rotating wheel 2 where the second side wall 332 is located. Thus, as the rotating wheel 2 rotates, the engagement portion 33 of the wheel teeth 3 is easy to disengage from the claw groove 1111.
Optionally, a number of the claw grooves 1111 is equal and one-to-one corresponding to a number of the wheel teeth 3.
Thus, in the limited position, each one of the wheel teeth 3 can be engaged into the claw groove 1111, and the rotating wheel 2 stably remains in the limited position, enhancing the reliability of the shelf.
Optionally, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the shelf further comprises a side plate 5. The side plate 5 is provided with a through opening 51, and the rotating wheel 2 is located inside the through opening 51 and rotatable relatively to the through opening 51.
The side plate 5 is provided with the through opening 51, the rotating wheel 2 is located inside the through opening 51. That is, the rotating wheel 2 is embedded inside the side plate 5 and rotatable inside the through opening 51.
In a case where the engagement assembly 1 is elastic engagement assembly 1, the side plate 5 is provided with a guide groove 7 and the elastic engagement assembly 1 is located and fixed inside the guide groove 7.
Thus, by providing the side plate 5, the whole structure of the shelf is stable. The shelf can be placed on the countertop alone for utilizing, or the shelf can be mounted in a refrigerator, a closet, and the other for utilizing.
Optionally, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the non-rotation-center position of the rotating wheel 2 is provided with one of a protrusion 8 or a recess 9, the shelf board 4 is provided with the other one of the protrusion 8 or the recess 9. The protrusion 8 is cooperated with the recess 9 to connect the rotating wheel 2 to the shelf board 4.
As an example, the non-rotation-center position of the rotating wheel 2 is provided with the protrusions 8. Correspondingly, the shelf board 4 is provided with the recess 9. The protrusion 8 cooperates with the recess 9, so that the shelf board 4 is fixed on the rotating wheel 2.
In a case where the shelf is utilized, the shelf board 4 is pulled, the rotating wheel 2 rotates driven by the shelf board 4, and the height of the shelf board 4 is changed with the rotation of the rotating wheel 2.
Optionally, as shown in Fig. 1, the shelf board 4 is provided with a plurality of arc-shaped surfaces 10.
Thus, not only normal-shaped items can be placed on the shelf board 4, but also bottles such as wine or drinks can be placed on the shelf board 4. The bottles placed on the arc-shaped surfaces 10 can not roll, so as to easily store drinks.
A refrigerator is provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising any one of the shelves as described in the above embodiment, so that the refrigerator has all the beneficial effects of the shelf described in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail herein.
Optionally, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the refrigerator comprises an inner liner 6 and the side plate 5 is embedded into the inner liner 6.
The side plate 5 of the shelf is designed to be embedded into the inner liner 6 of the refrigerator, a complete cavity is formed by the side plate 5 and the inner liner 6, and the rotating wheel 2 and the engagement assembly 1 are accommodated inside the cavity.
Thus, the supporting strength of the side plate 5 is high. The side plate 5, the rotating wheel 2, and the elastic member are invisible from the exterior surface, and only the shelf board 4 is visible, for visually looking clean and tidy. In addition, the utilizable space inside the refrigerator increases by the side plate 5 embedded into the inner liner 6.
The above description and drawings sufficiently illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure to enable practice by those skilled in the art. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other variations.
Embodiments represent only possible variations. Unless explicitly required, individual parts and functions are optional, and the order of operation can vary.
Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in or in place of portions and features of other embodiments. The wording herein is used for describing the embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the embodiments and the claims, the singular forms of "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless it's clearly indicated otherwise. Similarly, the term "and/or" as used in the present application is meant to encompass any and all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.
In addition, when used in the present application, the term "comprise" and its variants "comprises" and/or "comprising" and the like refer to the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. An element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, or device that includes the element.
Herein, it is noted that each embodiment differs from another embodiment in their emphases, and they share something in common as the reference for each other. For the method, the product, and the like disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method disclosed in the embodiments, reference may be made to the corresponding description of the method.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the structures already described above and shown in the figures and are subject to various modifications and changes without departing from their scope. The scope of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

Claims

A shelf, characterized in that, comprising:
an engagement assembly (1);

a rotating wheel (2), corresponding to the engagement assembly (1) and is rotatable relative to the engagement assembly (1) around a rotation center of the rotating wheel (2), wherein the rotating wheel (2) is provided with a plurality of wheel teeth (3), the plurality of wheel teeth (3) are located on a same circumference centered on the rotation center, wherein the wheel teeth (3) are elastic wheel teeth (3) and/or the engagement assembly (1) is elastic engagement assembly (1), so the engagement assembly (1) is switchable between a limited position and a disengaged position where the engagement assembly is disengaged from the wheel teeth (3), wherein in the limited position, the engagement assembly (1) abuts against one of the wheel teeth (3) to limit the wheel teeth (3) from continuing to move; and

a shelf board (4), connected to a non-rotation-center position of the rotating wheel (2), wherein in case where the shelf board (4) is pulled, the shelf board (4) drives the rotating wheel (2) to rotate relative to the engagement assembly (1) around the rotation center.
The shelf according to claim 1, wherein the engagement assembly (1) is elastic engagement assembly (1) and the engagement assembly (1) comprises:
a claw (101), abutting against one of the wheel teeth (3) in the limited position and disengaged from the one of the wheel teeth (3) in the disengaged position; and

an elastic member (102), connected to the claw (101), wherein in case where the claw (101) is disengaged from the one of the wheel teeth (3), the elastic member (102) is elastically deformed, so as to drive the claw (101) to reset to the limited position.
The shelf according to claim 2, wherein the claw (101) comprises:
a first claw surface (1011), abutting against one of the wheel teeth (3) in the limited position; and

a second claw surface (1012), disposed corresponding to the first claw surface (1011), wherein the second claw surface (1012) and the first claw surface (1011) are disposed in sequence along a rotation direction of the rotating wheel 2 driven by the pulled shelf board 4;

wherein the second claw surface (1012) is provided with a first guide bevel (10121), and the wheel teeth (3) drive the first guide bevel (10121) to move, so as to drive the claw (101) to move in a direction disengaged from the wheel teeth (3).
The shelf according to claim 3, wherein
a plurality of engagement assemblies (1) are provided, the plurality of engagement assemblies (1) comprises a first engagement assembly (11) and a second engagement assembly (12) located on a same side of the shelf, a number of the rotating wheels (2) are equal and one-to-one corresponding to a number of the engagement assemblies (1), and the plurality of rotating wheels (2) comprise a first rotating wheel (21) cooperated with the first engagement assembly (11) and a second rotating wheel (22) cooperated with the second engagement assembly (12); and

the first engagement assembly (11) and the second engagement assembly (12) are disposed between the first rotating wheel (21) and the second rotating wheel (22), and the first engagement assembly (11) and the second engagement assembly (12) are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel (2) driven by the shelf board (4).
The shelf according to claim 1, wherein
the wheel teeth (3) are elastic wheel teeth (3), the engagement assembly (1) comprises an engagement plate (111) and the engagement plate (111) is provided with a claw groove (1111); wherein the elastic wheel teeth (3) is engaged into or disengaged from the claw groove (1111) to switch the engagement assembly (1) between the limited position and the disengaged position.
The shelf according to claim 5, wherein each one of the elastic wheel teeth (3) comprises:
a first connecting portion (31), connected to the rotating wheel (2);

a second connecting portion (32), wherein one end of the second connecting portion (32) is connected to the first connecting portion (31) to form a bend angle (34); and

an engagement portion (33), disposed at other end of the second connecting portion (32); wherein in the limited position, the engagement portion (33) is engaged into the claw groove (1111).
The shelf according to claim 6, wherein
the engagement portion (33) comprises a first side wall (331) and a second side wall (332) disposed correspondingly, and the first side wall (331) and the second side wall (332) are disposed in sequence along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel (2) driven by the shelf board (4); and

along the rotation direction of the rotating wheel (2) driven by the shelf board (4), the second side wall (332) is inclined toward the rotation center of the rotating wheel (2) where the second side wall (332) is located, to form a second guide bevel (3321), and the claw groove (1111) is provided with a third guide bevel (3322) cooperated with the second guide bevel (3321).
The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
a side plate (5), provided with a through opening (51), wherein the rotating wheel (2) is located inside the through opening (51) and rotatable relatively to the through opening (51).
A refrigerator, characterized in that, comprising the shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising:
an inner liner (6), wherein the side plate (5) is embedded into the inner liner (6).