MXPA04003121A

MXPA04003121A - Slidable and removable drawer for refrigerator.

Info

Publication number: MXPA04003121A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Zambon Marco
Original assignee: Whirlpool Co
Priority date: 2003-04-07
Filing date: 2004-04-02
Publication date: 2005-06-08
Also published as: BRPI0401022A; ITMI20030163U1; EP1467166A3; EP1467166A2

Abstract

For a refrigerator (1), a slidable and removable drawer (1) comprises an internally hollow (at 10) body (2) defined by walls (4, 5, 6, 7) rising from a base (3). An opposing pair (4, 5) of these walls supports a gripping element (11) for the drawer (1), said gripping element (11) being hinged to said walls (4, 5) and being able to assume at least one working position in which it lies above the cavity of said drawer body.

Description

SLIDING AND REMOVABLE DRAWER FOR REFRIGERATOR DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a removable and removable drawer for a refrigerator according to the introduction of the main claim. The drawers of the aforementioned type have been known for some time. They are normally placed in the cooler region of the refrigerator, or in its storage compartment if the appliance also comprises a freezer compartment. These drawers are normally used to contain fruit and vegetables. Known drawers (for example EP0611932) generally comprise a hollow body defined by walls projecting upwards from a base; at least one of the walls comprises a recess (closed or through end) for the movement of the drawer inside the refrigerator and preferably a pair of through or closed end recesses (acting as handles) in opposite walls to allow it to be disassemble the refrigerator and handle it outside of it. Although these known arrangements allow the refrigerator to be transported, they do not allow it to be handled safely due to the shape of the recesses or handles if these recesses are of a closed end. If instead of these, they are recesses through, the drawer can be expensive and complex to build. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with a sliding and removable drawer which is safe to handle and of simple construction, while at the same time can easily be used in the normal way when it is contained in the refrigerator. This and other objects which will be apparent to the person skilled in the art are obtained by means of a drawer according to the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood from the attached drawings, which are provided by means of the non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drawer according to the invention shown in a position of use. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drawer of Figure 1, but in a different use position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the drawer of Figure 1 shown with some parts omitted and in a different form of use; - Figure 4 shows the drawer of Figure 3, in a different use position; and Figure 5 shows a variant of the drawer of the invention With reference to the Figures, a drawer according to the invention is indicated generally by the number 1 and comprises a body having a base 3 from which pairs of opposite walls 4, 5 and 6, 7 are raised substantially perpendicular, walls 4 and 5 are smaller in area than walls 6 and 7. Walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 and base 3 define an internal cavity 10 of body 2. According to the invention, with walls 4, 5 opposite there is associated a movable grip element (or handle) substantially U-shaped with lateral arms 12, 13 and a transverse arm 14. The lateral arms 12, 13 have ends 16 articulated to the walls 4, 5, the articulation is obtained in known manner: for example mounting the ends 16 on corresponding bolts projecting from the outer faces 19 (with respect to the cavity 10) of the walls 4, 5, the bolts are inserted (for example (inserted under pressure) into holes at the end and fixed axially thereon (so as not to be separated from the arms) in any known manner. 13 are associated with the portions 21 of the walls 4 and 5 near a passage 22 provided in a free edge of the walls to define the portion 21 relative to a sunken portion 24. When the drawer 1 is used in a refrigerator, the grip element 12 is arranged in accordance with Figure 7: it rests along the wall 6 with its arms 12 and 13 disposed along the sunken portion 24 of the corresponding wall 4 or 5. In this way, the food can be placed in the drawer without the element 11 preventing this operation. Preferably, the gripping element 11 lies along that wall facing the door of the apparatus. When the drawer is to be removed from the refrigerator, for example, to wash it or transport its contents on a kitchen table or other thing external to the apparatus, the gripping element 11 is raised to put its transverse arm above the interior cavity 10 of the drawer , to allow it to be fastened and therefore allow the drawer 1 to be transported. According to another aspect of the invention, seats are provided on the inner faces 30 of the walls 6 and 7 (with reference to the cavity 10) so that the movable walls 31 can be removably coupled with the body of the drawer, to modify the useful volume of its cavity 10 in any desired shape. These seats can be defined by channels 33 joined by supports 34 projecting from the faces 30. The walls 31 can be easily manipulated by resting the gripping element 11 along one side of the drawer body 2, as shown in the Figures. 2 and 4. According to a variant of the drawer shown in Figure 5, the front wall 6 of the drawer represents a profiled recess 6a which allows the handle 14 to be easily held when it is at rest in proximity to the wall 6. Some different embodiments of the invention have been described, others can be provided without However, such as one in which the gripping element 11 is divided into two parts, or one in which this element is fixed above the cavity 10.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.
For a refrigerator, a sliding and removable drawer comprising an internally hollow body defined by the walls that rise from a base, characterized in that an opposite pair of the walls supports a gripping element for the drawer, the gripping element it articulates to the walls and is capable of assuming at least one working position in which it lies above the cavity of the body of the drawer.
The drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping element is connected to the walls with the smallest area of the drawer body.
The drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping element is U-shaped and comprises lateral arms articulated to the walls of the body of the drawer and a transverse arm connecting the lateral arms together.
The drawer according to claim 3, characterized in that each lateral arm comprises an end that cooperates with an articulation bolt connected to the corresponding wall of the drawer body.
The drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls to which the gripping element connects comprises a free edge formed as a step to define the two portions of the walls that it has different heights, the gripping element is associated with the portion which rises relative to the other portion.
The drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping element can rest on one side of the drawer body.
The drawer according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that when it is in its rest position, the gripping element has its lateral arms lying along the recessed portions of the walls to which the element of connection is connected. grip The drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity of the body of the drawer is divided into two sections by walls.
9. The drawer according to claim S, characterized in that the walls can be removed.