JP2003269854A - Tray apparatus for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently use the upper part of a storage space by effectively storing a stored object with a large bottom area inside the storage space of a refrigerator. <P>SOLUTION: This tray apparatus for the refrigerator is provided with a tray 50 for placing the stored object; a link mechanism for supporting both ends of the tray 50 liftably between the top c of a storage space and the lower part; and a holder 100 for rotatably mounting the link mechanism to the top c of the storage space. The stored object having a relatively large bottom face is thereby stored separately at the top c of the storage space to make the storage space efficiently usable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator in which a necessary space is provided only when a stored item is placed and the storage space inside the refrigerator can be used more efficiently. Regarding a tray device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 1, inside the refrigerator body 1, a freezer compartment 3 and a refrigerating compartment 5, which are storage spaces in which preserves are placed, are provided. Freezer 3 and refrigerating room 5 are buriya 7
The internal temperature is set differently, and they are stored separately according to the characteristics of the stored material.

In the freezing compartment 3 and the refrigerating compartment 5, shelves 8 are installed at predetermined intervals in the height direction so that the storage space can be used efficiently. Freezer 3 and refrigerator 5
Are respectively shielded from the outside by doors 9 and selectively opened. A basket 11 is provided on the inner surface of the door 9 for storing the preserved material. Reference numeral 5'denotes a vegetable compartment which is separately partitioned under the refrigerating compartment 5 and stores vegetables and fruits.

In this type of refrigerator, a freezer compartment 3 and a refrigerator compartment 5 are provided.
You will be able to save your saved items in. Depending on the type and size of this preserved material, the bottoms and shelves 8 of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 5
Alternatively, it is stored in the basket 11.

However, the above conventional technique has the following problems. Generally, the area in which the preserves are placed in the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 5 is limited. Therefore, when storing many preserves, the preserves may have to be stacked. However, there is an inconvenience that in order to take out the lower one of the stored items stacked, it is necessary to move all the stacked items on the upper part.

[0006] In particular, in the case of a storage product having a wide bottom, for example, a pizza box or a storage product having a flat shape, the storage space occupies a large area, and the upper part of the storage space remains as an unused space, resulting in efficient use of the space. There is a problem that it is inferior in sex.
Of course, other preserves can be placed on the upper surface of the pizza box or flat preserve, but as mentioned above, there is a problem that it is extremely inconvenient to take out the pizza box or the like.

In the prior art, the vicinity of the ceiling of the storage space (for example, the ceiling of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerating compartment 5 and near the lower surface of the shelf 8) is often not actually used. This is because the height of the stock is often lower than the distance between the shelves 8, 8 or the distance between the shelves 8 and the ceiling.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to more efficiently store a storage material having a large bottom area inside a storage space of a refrigerator. To do. Another object of the present invention is to allow the upper part of the storage space of the refrigerator to be used more efficiently.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a tray device of a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a tray on which a storage item is placed, and the tray is lifted between a ceiling of a storage space and a lower portion thereof. A link mechanism that supports both ends as much as possible and a holder that rotatably attaches the link mechanism to the ceiling of the storage space are provided.

Further, the link mechanism is rotatably provided on the holder, and a plurality of support links rotatably supporting the tray at one end thereof are connected to the plurality of support links to form the tray. It is characterized in that it is provided with an interlocking link for rotating the tip end portion of the support link connected with the same angle by the same angle.

Further, the link mechanism is characterized in that the elastic member receives a force for pressing the tray against the ceiling of the storage space.

Further, both ends of the elastic member are supported by one of the holder and one of the interlocking links, and apply an elastic force in a direction in which the tray is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space.

Further, the elastic member is provided at the center of rotation of the support link and applies an elastic force in a direction in which the tray is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space.

The tray is supported at one end of the support link, and a connecting link is connected to the other end of the supporting link at a predetermined angle in the longitudinal direction thereof.
Both ends of the interlocking link are rotatably connected.

Further, the connecting link and the supporting link are integrally rotated. Further, the tray is characterized in that a downwardly inclined portion is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the front.

Further, the ceiling of the storage space is one of a ceiling of a freezer compartment, a ceiling of a refrigerator compartment, and a lower surface of a shelf.

According to such a refrigerator tray device of the present invention, it is possible to effectively store a stored article having a relatively wide bottom without using the bottom of the storage space, and to store the stored material near the ceiling of the storage space of the refrigerator. There is an advantage that the storage space of the refrigerator can be effectively used by using it.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2 to 12 are views showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the tray device of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the tray 50 has a substantially rectangular plate shape and is formed of a plurality of wires. Tray 5
The preserved item b is placed on the upper surface of 0. The tray 50 may be formed of various materials, for example, a transparent plastic material. Rotation center tubes 52 are provided on both sides of the lower surface of the tray 50 at the front and rear. The rotation center tube 52 may be connected at both ends.

At the tip of the tray 50, there is provided a downward inclined portion 54 which is inclined and bent downward. The downward sloping portion 54 forms a predetermined gap between the tray 50 and the ceiling c when the tray 50 is pressed against the ceiling c of the storage space so that the user can easily lower the tray 50 to the lower portion. Is.

The tray 50 is supported by a link mechanism so that it can be moved up and down on the ceiling c of the storage space. First, tray 5
No. 0 rotation center tube 52 and a support link 6 whose one end is connected
0 is provided. In this embodiment, a total of four support links 60 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, a connecting hook 62 is provided at one end of the support link 60 so as to project in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support link 60. The connecting hook 62 is rotatably fitted to the rotation center tube 52 of the tray 50. At this time, the connecting hook 62 is fitted by its own elastic force and does not come off from the rotation center tube 52.

A rotating shaft portion 64 is connected to the other end of the support link 60 in a direction opposite to the connecting hook 62. The rotating shaft portion 64 is supported in a holder 100, which will be described later, and serves as a rotation center of the support link 60. A connecting hook 66 is further provided at the tip of the rotating shaft portion 64. The connecting hook 66 is for fixing to a connecting link 70 described later.

A connecting link 70 is connected to the connecting hook 66 of the support link 60. At this time, the connecting link 70
Are connected so that their extension lines form a predetermined angle with the virtual extension line of the support link 60 in the longitudinal direction.
Further, the support link 60 and the connection link 70 do not rotate relative to each other. Therefore, the support link 60 and the connecting link 70 may be integrally formed.

A fixed tube 72 is provided at one end of the connecting link 70. Inside the fixed tube 72, the connecting hook 6
6 is fitted and an insertion hole 73 having a square cross section for tightening the connection link 70 and the support link 60 is provided.
At the other end of the connecting link 70, a connecting hook 75 for connecting with an interlocking link 80 described later is provided.

The interlocking link 80 rotates two support links 60 supporting one end of the tray 50 at the same angle, and is connected to the connecting link 70, respectively. At both ends of the interlocking link 80, the connecting link 7 is provided.
A connection hole 82 into which the 0 connection hook 75 is rotatably fitted
Is provided. One of the interlocking links 80 is provided with a connecting piece 84 to which one end of an elastic member 90 described later is locked.

The elastic member 90 applies an elastic force to the link mechanism so that the tray 50 moved up and down by the link mechanism is constantly pressed against the ceiling c of the storage space.
One end of the elastic member 90 is connected to the connecting piece 84, and the other end is connected to a relatively fixed portion such as one of the holders 100 described later. In this embodiment, a coil spring is used as the elastic member 90,
The present invention is not limited to this, and a torsion spring that applies an elastic force to the support link 60 around the rotation shaft portion 64 of the support link 60 may be used.

The link mechanism is supported by the holder 100 on the ceiling c of the storage space. Holder 100
Are provided at corresponding portions at both ends of the tray 50, respectively, as shown in FIGS. Holder 100
A locking hook 102 for fixing to the ceiling c and a tightening hole 103 for tightening a set screw are provided at both ends of the. Inside the holder 100, the link housing 1
04 are provided. In the link accommodating portion 104, the interlocking link 8
0, the elastic member 90 and the like are arranged.

Support ribs 106 are provided in the holder 100 at substantially the center of both ends in the longitudinal direction, and link through holes 107 are formed in the support ribs 106 and the outer surface of the holder 100 corresponding thereto. Support rib 106 and holder 1
The rotary shaft portion 64 of the support link 60 is fitted into the link through hole 107 that penetrates the outer surface of the support link 60.

The operation of the tray device according to the present invention will be described in detail below. First, a process of assembling the tray device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The holder 100 incorporating the link mechanism is attached to the ceiling c of the storage space. The holder 100 is provided at both ends of the storage space in the left-right direction with a predetermined space.

The support link 60 of the link mechanism is inserted through the link through hole 107 into the holder 100 and the rotary shaft portion 6 is provided.
4 are fitted and the connection links 70 are fixed to the connection hooks 66, respectively. Further, the connecting links 70 at the front and rear ends are connected by the interlocking link 80, the interlocking link 80 is supported by the elastic member 90, and the supporting link 60 receives an elastic force in the direction of being pressed against the ceiling c of the storage space.

The tray 50 is connected to the lower end of the support link 60 of such a link mechanism. Both ends of the tray 50 are supported by the support links 60, and the connecting hooks 62 of the support links 60, which are provided inside the holders 100 at both ends so as to face each other, are rotated by the rotation center tubes 52 provided at the front and rear ends of the tray 50. It is possible to be fitted.

In this way, the tray 50 is supported by the support link 60.
When it is provided at the lower end of the tray 50, the tray 50 is pressed against the ceiling c of the storage space by the elastic force of the elastic member 90, as shown in FIG. At this time, the support link 60 also rotates together and contacts the ceiling c of the storage space.
The connecting link 70 connected to the other end of 0 rotates in the direction of the arrow, as shown in FIG. Such rotation is performed by the elastic force of the elastic member 90. Therefore, the interlocking link 80 moves relatively to the left in the drawing.

Further, in order to lower the tray 50 to the lower side, the downward inclined portion 54 provided at the tip of the tray 50.
The user may grasp and to apply a force so as to move to the lower rear. Thus, when the user applies a force to the tray 50, the link mechanism supporting the tray 50 rotates against the elastic force of the elastic member 90.

That is, the support link 60 and the connecting link 7
0 integrally rotates clockwise around the rotary shaft portion 64 in the drawing, and the interlocking link 80 moves to the right. In this way, as shown in FIG. 4, the tray 50 is completely lowered.

The storage of the stored product b on the tray 50 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, in the state where the tray 50 is lowered, a stored item b, for example, a flat cuboid pizza box is placed on the tray 50, and the elastic force of the elastic member 90 is released when the hand holding the tray 50 is released. As a result, the support link 60 and the connection link 70 of the link mechanism rotate and rise counterclockwise.

The tray 50 rises until the upper surface of the preserved item b placed on the upper surface of the tray 50 comes into contact with the ceiling c of the storage space, and the state shown in FIG. 12 is obtained. Therefore, the stored material b is stored in a state of being pressed by the elastic force of the elastic member 90 between the tray 50 and the ceiling c of the storage space.

Further, the ceiling c of the storage space in which the tray device of one embodiment according to the present invention is installed is the ceiling of a refrigerating room, the ceiling of a freezing room, or the lower surface of a shelf that divides the refrigerating room from the freezing room in the height direction. One of them.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but should be defined by the scope of claims, and for those having ordinary skill in the art, the scope of the rights described in the scope of claims. It goes without saying that various modifications and adaptations are possible within the company.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the link mechanism is provided so that the tray receives the elastic force in the direction in which the tray is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space. The stored material can be separately stored on the ceiling of the storage space, and the storage space can be used efficiently.

Particularly, by using the storage space near the ceiling of the storage space which is not usually used much, the storage space of the refrigerator can be used more efficiently, and when the tray device is not used, the tray is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space. Therefore, there is an effect that the space is not occupied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of the tray device of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the tray device according to the embodiment of the present invention is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the tray device according to the embodiment of the present invention is lowered to the maximum extent.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment support link according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a connection link of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an embodiment of a connecting link according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an interlocking link according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the same holder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation state diagram showing a state in which stored items are placed on the tray according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 50 ... tray 52 ... Rotation center tube 54 ... downward slope 60 ... Support link 62 ... Connection hook 66 ... Connection hook 75 ... Connection hook 64 ... Rotating shaft 72 ... Fixed tube 73 ... insertion hole 80 ... Linked link 82 ... Connection hole 84 ... connecting piece 90 ... Elastic member 100 ... Holder 102 ... Locking hook 104 ... Link accommodation section 106 ... Support rib 107 ... Link through hole b ... preserved material c ... Ceiling of storage space

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kim Morn-Won             Republic of Korea, 641-110, Gyeongnam, Chang             Wong City, Geum Jung-Don             391-12, Elsey Dmitry Lou             Mu

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A tray on which a stored item is placed, a link mechanism for supporting both ends of the tray between a ceiling of a storage space and a lower portion thereof so as to be able to move up and down, and the link mechanism is mounted on the ceiling of the storage space. A tray device for a refrigerator, comprising: a holder that is movably attached. 2. The tray, wherein the link mechanism is rotatably provided on the holder, and a plurality of support links rotatably supporting the tray at one end thereof are connected to the plurality of support links. 2. The tray device of the refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: an interlocking link that rotates a tip end portion of the support link connected to the same by the same angle. 3. The refrigerator tray device according to claim 2, wherein the link mechanism receives a force of pressing the tray against the ceiling of the storage space by an elastic member. 4. The elastic member has both ends supported by one of the holder and one of the interlocking links, and applies an elastic force in a direction in which the tray is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space. Item 4. A tray device for a refrigerator according to Item 3. 5. The tray of the refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member is provided at a center of rotation of the support link and applies an elastic force in a direction in which the tray is pressed against the ceiling of the storage space. apparatus. 6. The support link has the tray supported at one end, and the connecting link is connected to the other end at a predetermined angle in the longitudinal direction, and the interlocking link is provided at the end of the connecting link. The tray device of the refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein both ends of the refrigerator are rotatably connected. 7. The tray device of the refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the connection link and the support link are integrally rotated. 8. The tray device of the refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the tip end portion of the tray is provided with a downwardly inclined portion that is inclined downwardly toward the front. 9. The ceiling of the storage space is a ceiling of a freezer compartment,
The tray device of the refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the tray device is one of a ceiling of a refrigerating room and a bottom surface of a shelf.