GB2439628A

GB2439628A - Refrigerator shelving system preventing shelf movement

Info

Publication number: GB2439628A
Application number: GB0710119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chae-Soo Lim; Sang-Gyu Jung
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2007-05-25
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Also published as: GB0710119D0; CN101097109A; US20080000260A1; DE102007016072A1; KR100726453B1

Abstract

A refrigerator comprises a main body (1, fig.1) having a storage compartment (10, fig.1) which has an inner wall 11, a shelf unit (40, fig.2) partitioning the storage compartment, and a shelf supporter 30 provided on the inner wall of the storage compartment. The shelf unit comprises a panel 41 which is removably coupled to the shelf supporter. The shelf supporter comprises a recess or depression 33. The panel has at least one protrusion, in the form of a stopper 50, which cooperates with the recess or depression to limit movement of the shelf in a lengthwise direction. The stopper can extend from a lower surface of the panel and can be detachably connected to the panel. The panel can have a hole penetrating the panel where the stopper is coupled to the hole. Preferably, the panel is formed from transparent glass and comprises a decoration unit 60 provided along at least one edge of the panel.

Description

Refrigerator including Shelving System

Description

The present invention relates to a shelving system. In particular, the invention relates to a shelving system for a refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator includes vanous means to improve the convenience of a user and the spatial efficiency therein in addition to including a basic cooling device to keep foods fresh. As such, at least one shelf is conventionally provided in the refrigerator.

A conventional refrigerator generally includes a main body with a storage compartment formed therein, a door to open and close the storage compartment and a shelf unit mounted to an inner vall of the storage compartment. The mounting of a shelf unit in a conventional refrigerator is shown in Figure 5. The shelf unit 130 is detachably installed on a pair of shelf supports 140 disposed on an inner wall ill in the storage compartment, such that foods or other goods may be laid on the shelf unit 130. The shelf unit 130 comprises a glass panel 131 on which the goods are laid, a frame 133 surrounding edges of the glass panel 131, a stopper 135 protruding from a bottom of the frame 133 and accommodated in a groove 141 formed on the corresponding shelf support 140 thereby limiting movement of the shelf unit 130 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the shelf supports 140.

However, conventional refrigerators have not departed from a design wherein the frame 133 is provided along all four side edges of the glass panel 131 to mount the stoppers 135 to the shelf unit 130. Accordingly, the conventional refrigerator does not satisfy a consumer's demand for a more refined design. A further disadvantage of a conventional refrigerator is that if a part of the shelf unit 130 is damaged, for example the glass panel 131 or the stoppers 135, then the entire shelf unit 130 has to be replaced.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a system which overcomes or substantially alleviates the problems discussed above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a shelving system for a refrigerator comprising a pair of shelf supports extending along opposing side walls of a refrigerator storage compartment and a shelf removably mountable on the pair of shelf supports, the shelf comprising a panel and at least one protrusion extending from a lower surface of the panel, wherein a recess is formed in at least one shelf support to receive the at least one protrusion to prevent movement of the shelf relative to the pair of shelf supports.

Preferably, the at least one protrusion extends through an aperture formed in the panel.

Advantageously, the at least one protrusion extends through a recess which extends from a side edge of the panel to form an aperture between the upper and lower surfaces of the panel.

In one embodiment, the at least one protrusion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion engageable with each other through the aperture in the panel.

Conveniently, the upper portion comprises a projection which extends through the aperture in the panel and engages in an indent formed in the lower portion.

The upper portion may further comprise a head which locates against the upper surface of the panel and the lower portion locates against the lower surface of the panel and extends therefrom to be received in the recess in the corresponding shelf support.

At least one of the upper and lower portions may be resilient such that they are resiliently engageable.

Preferably, the shelf further comprises a front edge disposable in the storage compartment proximate to an opening to the refrigerant storage compartment, and a rear edge disposable relative to a rear face of the refrigerant storage compartment when the shelf is mounted therein, the at least one protrusion extending from the lower surface of the panel proximate to the front edge of the panel.

Conveniently, the shelf further comprises at a pair of hooks extending from the lower surface of the shelf proximate to the rear edge of the panel, each hook being engagable with a corresponding shelf support.

Advantageously, the shelf further comprises a rear screen extending from a rear edge of the panel and the pair of hooks extend from a lower surface of the rear screen.

The shelf may comprise a pair of protrusions extending from the lower surface of the panel and each shelf support may have a recess such that each protrusion locates in a respective recess.

The present invention also provides a refrigerator including a main body having a storage compartment, the storage compartment having an inner wall; a shelf unit partitioning the storage compartment; and a shelf supporter provided on the inner wall of the storage compartment, detachably coupled with the shelf unit, and having a depressed groove, the shelf unit comprising: a panel; and at least one stopper detachably connected to the panel and accommodated in the depressed groove to kmit movement of the panel in a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter.

Preferably, the stopper includes an upper stopper portion and a lower stopper portion coupled across the panel.

Advantageously, one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a projection, and the other one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a projection accommodating part to accommodate the projection therein.

In one embodiment, the shelf unit includes a decoration unit provided along at least one edge of the panel.

The panel may be made from glass, and the decoration unit may be made from a metallic material.

Advantageously, the shelf unit includes a breakaway-prevention guide to prevent the shelf unit from breaking away from the shelf supporter in a direction transverse to the lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter.

The present invention also provides a shelving system to attach a shelf to at least one val1 of a refrigerator, includmg a shelf unit including a panel having a hole formed penetrating the panel, and at least one stopper coupled to the hole of the panel; and a shelf supporter provided on the at least one wall of the refrigerator and including a depressed groove into which the stopper is accommodated when the shelf unit is coupled with the shelf supporter.

Preferably, the refrigerator includes an air duct and the panel includes a rear frame provided in a back of the panel and having a shape corresponding to the air duct.

Advantageously, the rear frame includes a breakaway-prevention guide extending from the rear frame.

Preferably, the breakaway prevention guide prevents the shelf unit from breaking away from the shelf supporter in a direction transverse to a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter.

Conveniendy, the at least one stopper includes an upper stopper portion and a lower stopper portion coupled through the hole of the panel.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a head and a projection protruding from the head and the other of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a projection accommodating part, the head being larger than the hole of the panel and an outer diameter of the projection being smaller than or ec1ual to an inner diameter of the hole.

An inner surface of the projection accommodating part may include a hooking protrusion and an outer surface of the projection may include a hooking groove into which the hooking protrusion is engagable.

Preferably, an edge of the panel includes a decoration unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of a shelf unit in the refrigerator shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the shelf unit shown in Figure 2 taken along line 111-111; Figures 4A to 4C are perspective views showing the mounting of the shelf unit shown in Figure 2 in the refrigerator shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a perspective view from below showing a conventional shelf unit in a conventional refrigerator Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention including a main body 1 formed with a storage compartment 10, a shelf unit 40 disposed to store goods thereon, a pair of shelf supports 30 (more clearly shown in Figures 4A-4C) provided on opposing inner walls 11 of the storage compartment 10, to which the shelf unit 40 is coupled, and a stopper 50 which prevents the shelf unit 40 from moving in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the shelf supports 30.

The storage compartment 10 of the main body I is partitioned into a freezer compartment lOa and a refrigerator compartment lOb as shown in Figure 1. Front openings of the freezer and refrigerator compartments lOa and lOb are opened and closed by a freezer door 20a and a refrigerator door 20b, respectively. An upper portion of the storage compartment 10 is partitioned by the plurality of shelf units 40, and a lower portion of the storage compartment 10 is provided with a plurality of drawers 15.

As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the shelf supports 30 are provided on the opposing inner walls 11 of the storage compartment 10 so as to face each other and the shelf unit 40 is detachably coupled thereto. Each shelf support 30 is a rail to allow the shelf unit 40 to slide thereon. Alternatively, the shelf supports 30 are recessed in the inner walls 11 of the storage compartment 10. Each shelf support 30 protruding from the inner wall 11 of the storage compartment 10 includes a recess 33 formed at a predetermined portion thereof. The recess 33 is coupled with a stopper 50 as will be described later. It will be understood that the recess 33 is formed in one of the opposing shelf supports 30 or in both opposite shelf supports 30 so as to correspond to one or more stoppers 50. In this embodiment the recess 33 is a groove formed in tile Outer edge of each shelf support 30.

The shelf unit 40 partitions the inner space of the storage compartment 10, to allow goods to be efficiently stored therein. Referring to Figure 2, the shelf unit 40 includes a panel 41 on which the items are disposed and a pair of stoppers 50 to limit the movement of the panel 41 in a longitudinal direction along the shelf support 30. The shelf unit 40 is detachably coupled to the shelf supports 30 provided in the inner walls Ii of the storage compartment 10.

The panel 41 is a plate formed to correspond to the shape of the storage compartment 10. In this embodiment, the panel 41 is rectangular. Further, the panel 41 slides onto the shelf supports 30. The panel 41 is formed of transparent glass, however, the panel is aLternatively formed from any material capable of supporting foodstuffs, etc. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a pair of apertures 4B are formed in the panel 41 and corresponding stoppers 50 are coupled thereto. In the embodiment shown, the apertures 43 are formed by a hole penetrating the panel 41, but the invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the apertures 43 may be recesses which extend from the sides of the panel 41. Further, the apertures 43 may be recesses at end portions on one surface of the panel 41. The apertures 43 are positioned so as to correspond to the location of the recesses 33.

Each stopper 50 is detachably coupled to the panel 41 and is accommodated in a to corresponding recess 33. Further, each stopper 50 includes an upper stopper portion Si and a lower stopper portion 55. The upper stopper portion Si and the lower stopper portion 55 arc coupled to each other across the panel 41 with the upper stopper portion 51 located on a top face of the panel 41, and the lower stopper portion located on a bottom face of the panel 41 to engage with a corresponding recess 33.

It will be understood that an aperture 43, and hence a stopper 50 is positionable at any position on the panel 41 which corresponds to the location of the shelf support 30.

when the panel 41 is disposed in the storage compartment 10.

The stopper 50 may be formed to have a different colour from the panel 41.

The upper stopper portion 51 comprises a head 52 and a projection 53 protruding from the head 52 which is inserted into the aperture 43 of the panel 41. The head 52 has a greater width than the aperture 43 such that it cannot extend therethrough. An outer diameter of the pro3ection 53 is smaller than or substantially equal to an inner diameter of the passing groove 43. A hooking groove 54 is formed on an outer surface of the projection 53 and extends circumferentially tberearound proximate to an end of the projection 43 distal to the head 52. The hooking groove 54 will be further described below.

The lower stopper portion 55 is coupled with the upper stopper portion 51 across the panel 41. The lower stopper portion 55 is formed with a projection accommodating part 56 to accommodate the projection 53 of the upper stopper portion 51. An inner surface of the projection accommodating part 56 is formed with a hooking protrusion 57 which extends circumferentially therearound and is engagable with the hooking groove 53 of the upper stopper portion 51. Accordingly, when the projection 53 of the upper stopper portion 51 is accommodated in the projection accommodating part 56 of the lower stopper 55, the hooking protrusion 57 of the projection accommodating part 56 engages with the hooking groove 54 of the projection 53, thereby preventing the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 from separating from each other. The hooking protrusion 57 and the hooking groove 54 are preferably disposed under the panel 41. Further, the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 are formed from a resilient material to allow them to be coupled together. Alternatively, only one of the upper or lower stopper portions 55 is formed from a resilient material.

In the present embodiment, the hooking groove 54 is provided in the upper stopper portion 51 and the hooking protrusion 57 is provided in the lower stopper portion 55, however, alternatively the hooking protrusion 57 is provided in the upper stopper portion 51 and the hooking groove portion 54 is provided in the lower stopper portion 55. Thereforc, the position of the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 may be exchanged with respect to the panel 41.

In the refrigerator according to the present embodimcnt, the shelf unit 40 further comprises a decoration unit 60 provided along at least one edge of the panel 41. The decoration unit 60 is formed from, for example, stainless steel and is provided along a front edge of the panel 41. The decoration unit 60 is coupled to the panel 41 and accommodates a front region of the panel 41 to give a high-grade image to the shelf unit 40 and protects the front region of the panel 41. Further, the decoration unit 60 is detachable from the panel 41.

The stopper 50 comprises the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55, which are fitted to each other, but the position of the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 are formed as a single body and are detachably coupled to the panel 41. In a further alternative embodiment, the upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 have a screw-coupling structure.

The shelf unit 40 further includes a rear frame 70 provided in the back of the panel 41.

The rear frame 70 is formed b)ç for example, injection moulding and is provided with a detachment-prevention guide 73. The detachment-prevention guide 73 prevents the shelf unit 40 from detaching in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis of the shelf supports 30.

The rear frame 70 is disposed at the back of the panel 41. A portion of the rear frame corresponds to the shape of a duct 13, shown in Figure 1, through which cool air is supplied to the storage compartment 10. Here, the rear frame 70 is formed from plastic, to provide easier processing.

The detachment-prevention guide 73 slides along the correspondmg shelf support 30 to guide the shelf unit 40 and couple therewith. Further, the detachment-prevention guide 73 prevents the shelf unit 40 from detaching from the shelf support 30 when the shelf unit 40 is coupled to the shelf supports 30. The detachment-prevention guide 73 protrudes from a lower side of the rear frame 70 and is bent toward the inner walls 11 of the storage compartment 10 such that it surrounds the corresponding shelf supports 30 and is provided at opposite end parts or one end part of the rear frame 70. A predetermined gap is provided between the detachment-prevention guide 73 and the shelf supports 30 so that the shelf unit 40 can be tilted relative to the shelf supports 30 when the shelf unit 40 is coupled to the shelf supports 30. Accordingly, the shelf unit 40 can be readily coupled to the shelf supports 30. Alternatively, if no rear frame 70 is provided then the detachment-prevention guide 73 is mounted direcdy to the panel 41.

Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail with respect to Figures 3 to 4C.

The projection 53 of each upper stopper portion 51 is inserted in the corresponding apertures 43 of the panel 41 and the projection accommodating part 56 of the lower stopper portion 55 is mounted to the projection 53 of the upper stopper portion 51.

When the projection 53 is fitted to the projection accommodating part 56, the hooking protrusion 57 and the hooking groove 54 are fixedly mounted to each other. The upper stopper portion 51 and the lower stopper portion 55 are made of a resilient material, so that the hooking protrusion 57 and the hooking groove 54 are elastically coupled to each other.

The shelf unit 40 is slid and coupled to the shelf support 30. The front of the shelf unit 40 is lifted up and the detachment-prevention guide 73 is slid onto the shelf support 30 so that it is coupled thereto and the shelf unit 40 is tilted to the shelf support 30 at a predetermined angle and guided to slide on the shelf support 30 by the detachment-prevention guide 73. When the shelf unit 40 is completely inserted, the shelf unit 40 is seated on the shelf supports 30, thereby locating the stoppers 50 in the corresponding recesses 33. Therefore, the stoppers 50 are accommodated in the corresponding recesses 33 of the shelf supports 30, limiting movement of the shelf unit 40 in a longitudinal direction along the shelf supports 30. Further, the detachment-prevention guide 73 prevents the shelf unit 40 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shelf supports 30.

The panel 41 and the stoppers 50 are detachable from each other, so that the panel 41 and stoppers 50 may be replaced mchvidually, for example, when only one of the components is damaged. Accordingly, the modularity is enhanced in preparation for future damage of the shelf unit 40.

The decoration unit 60 is also provided along a front edge of the panel 41.

Accordingly, the embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator of which a shelf unit has an enhanced outer appearance with various designs, thereby improving aesthetic qua1ity -ii -Further, the present invention provides a refrigerator with improved modularity.

Although the above embodiment describes a pair of stoppers 50 with corresponding shelf supports 30, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that the refrigerator may comprise a single stopper 30 and corresponding shelf support 50.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this is a preferred embodiment only and that changes may be made to this embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents and the foregoing description should be regarded as a description of a preferred embodiment only

Claims

-12 -Claims 1. A shelving system for a refrigerator comprising a pair

of shelf supports extending along opposing side walls of a refrigerator storagc compartment and a shelf removably mountable on the pair of shelf supports, the shelf comprising a panel and at least one protrusion extending from a lower surface of the panel, wherein a recess is formed in at least one shelf support to receive the at least one protrusion to prevent movement of the shelf relative to the pair of shelf supports.

2. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion extends through an aperture formed in the panel 3. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein thc at least one protrusion extends through a recess which extends from a side edge of the panel to form an aperture between the upper and lower surfaces of the panel.

4 A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion engagable with each other through the aperture in the panel.

5. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the upper portion comprises a projection which extends through the aperture in the panel and engages in an indent formed in the lower portion.

6. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion further comprises a head which locates against the upper surface of the panel and the lower portion locates against the lower surface of the panel and extends therefrom to be received in the recess in the co'rresponding shelf support.

-13 - 7. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to any of claims 4 to 6 wherein at least one of the upper and lower portions is resilient such that they are resiliently engageable.

8. A shelving system for a refrigerator according any preceding claim, wherein the shelf further comprises a front edge disposable in the refrigerator storage compartment proximate to an opening to the refrigerator storage compartment, and a rear edge disposable relative to a rear face of the refrigerator storage compartment when the shelf is mounted therein, the at least one protrusion extending from the lower surface of the panel proximate to the front edge of the panel.

9. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the shelf further comprises at a pair of hooks extending from the lower surface of the shelf proximate to the rear edge of the panel, each hook being engagable with a corresponding shelf support.

10. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the shelf further comprises a rear screen extending from a rear edge of the panel and the pair of hooks extend from a lower surface of the rear screen.

11. A shelving system for a refrigerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the shelf comprises a pair of protrusions extending from the lower surface of the panel and each shelf support has a recess such that each protrusion locates in a respective recess.

12. A shelving system for a refrigerator comprising a main body having a storage compartment, the storage compartment having an inner wall, a shelf unit partitioning the storage compartment and a shelf supporter provided on the inner wall of the storage compartment, detachably coupled with the shelf unit, and having a depressed groove, the shelf unit comprising a panel, and at least one stopper detachably connected to the panel and accommodated in the -14 -depressed groove to limit movement of the panel in a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the stopper comprises an upper stopper portion and a lower stopper portion coupled across the panel.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion comprises a projection, and the other one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion comprises a projcction accommodating part to accommodate the projection therein.

15. The refrigerator according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the shelf unit comprises a decoration unit provided along at least one edge of the panel.

16 The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the panel is made from glass, and the decoration unit is made from a metallic material.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the shelf unit further comprises a breakaway-prevention guide to prevent the shelf unit from breaking away from the shelf supporter in a direction transverse to a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter.

18. A shelving system to attach a shelf to at least one wall of a refrigerator, comprising a shelf unit comprising a panel having a hole formed penetrating the panel, and at least one stopper coupled to the hole of the panel and a shelf supporter provided on the at least one wall of the refrigerator and including a depressed groove into which the stopper is accommodated when the shelf unit is coupled with the shelf supporter.

19. The shelving system according to claim 18, wherein the refrigerator includes an air duct and the panel includes a rear frame provided in a back of the panel and having a shape corresponding to the air duct.

--

20. The shelving system according to claim 19, wherein the rear frame includes a detachment-prevention guide extending from the rear frame.

21. The shelving system according to claim 20, wherein the detachment prevention -guide prevents the shelf unit from breaking away from the shelf supporter in a direction transverse to a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter.

22. The shelving system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one stopper includes an upper stopper portion and a lower stopper portion coupled through the hole of the panel.

23. The shelving system according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a head and a projection protruding from the head and the other of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a projection accommodating part, the head being larger than the hole of the panel and an Outer diameter of the projection being smaller than or equal to an inner diameter of the hole.

24. The shelving system according to claim 23, wherein an inner surface of the projection accommodating part includes a hooking protrusion and an outer surface of the projection includes a hooking groove into which the hooking protrusion is engagable.

25. The shelving system according to claim 7, wherein an edge of the panel includes a decoration unit.