WO2005008155A1

WO2005008155A1 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2005008155A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/051272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ridvan Kadir Celik; Emre Ozyuksel; Mehmet Ali Karasu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2003-07-21
Filing date: 2004-07-21
Publication date: 2005-01-27
Also published as: EP1680635A1; RU2006105211A; RU2329442C2; EP1680635B1; TR200600984T1; PL1680635T3; ES2407481T3

Abstract

This invention is related to a refrigerator (1) comprising a separator (2), which, if desired, separates the space above the shelf (3) on which it is placed into sections or, if desired, enables the use of the entire shelf by being attached above and below the shelf (3).

Description

Description A REFRIGERATOR

[001] This invention is related to a refrigerator comprising a separator, which, if desired, separates the space above the shelf on which it is placed into sections or, if desired, enables the use of the entire shelf by being attached above and below the shelf.

[002] In the state art, the shelves in cooling appliances, particularly in refrigerators, are separated into sections by using various methods in order to provide an ergonomic use. In most of the embodiments, the parts that form the sections can create a problem when the entire shelf is used.

[003] In known applications of the art, German Patent Document DEI 029840, discloses shelves which are fastened on rods that joins together the two vertically fixed rods, which can be used horizontally by being rotated around the axis where they are attached and which are parallel vertically to the rear surface, on which the rods are placed, and to the rods by moving around the same axis.

[004] In known applications of the art, United States Patent Document US5584405, discloses a shelf group wherein one is parallel to the base on which it is placed while the other is parallel to the base in such a way that it could move inside groove of the other, which has a "L" shape vertical to the base where it could make itself and the other stand upright and which changes the area of use when moved.

[005] In known applications of the art, Great Britain Patent Document GB2210153, discloses a shelf section system which is fixed on the wire rods with the other wire rod group and which divides its surface into sections.

[006] In known applications of the art, France Patent Document FR2204113, portable self structures which are composed of wires placed in between the grid structures formed by the wires.

[007] In known applications of the art, United States Patent Document US5584405, discloses a refrigerator which is divided into sections by means of wire shelves.

[008] The object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator comprising a separator which can form sections on the shelves and which enables the entire shelf to be used by being attached above and below the shelf.

[009] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the objects of the invention has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein;

[010] Figure 1 - is a three dimensional view of a separator.

[011] Figure 2 - is a perspective view of a shelf and a groove on the shelf.

[012] Figure 3 - is a front perspective view of two separators in a refrigerator, which are placed vertically between the grooves on the shelf and on the top section.

[013] Figure 4 - is a perspective view of the position of one of the two separators, which are placed vertically between the shelf and the top section, when it is attached/ removed. [014] Figure 5 - is a perspective view of a separator in the refrigerator, which is placed vertically between the shelf and the top section and the position of another separator when it is attached inside a preservation groove, which is not used for section expansion.

[015] Figure 6 - is a perspective view a separator in the refrigerator, which is placed vertically between the shelf and the top section and another separator, which is placed in between the canals for preservation when it is not used for section expansion.

[016] Figure 7 - is a perspective view of a separator in a refrigerator which is attached on a shelf and which is integrated with a separator holder.

[017] Figure 8 - is a schematic view of a groove and separator holder, which is attached on a groove.

[018] Figure 9 - is a schematic view of a separator, which will be attached on a shelf.

[019] Figure 10 - is a schematic view of a shelf on which there is a canal.

[020] Figure 11 - is a schematic view of a shelf on which there are more than one canal, which have different structures.

[021] Figure 12 — is a schematic view of a separator holder, which is attached on a shelf that has no canals, which has a canal and which forms canals on each of its sides with the help of the structures on its sides and the shelf that it is attached on.

[022] Figure 13 - is a schematic view separator holder, which can be attached on a shelf that has no canals, which comprise a single canal and which has side canals in order to form two more side canals with the shelf that is to be placed on it.

[023] Figure 14 - is a schematic view of a separator holder which is attached on a shelf that has no canals, which has two separate canals in the top and in the bottom section and which forms a canal on each of its sides in both the upper and lower surface with the help of the structures on its sides and the shelf that its attached on.

[024] Figure 15 - is a schematic view of a separator holder which is attached on a shelf that has no canals, which has more than one canals in the top and in the bottom section with different structures and which forms a canal on each of its sides in both the upper and lower surface with the help of the structures on its sides and the shelf that its attached on.

[025] Figure 16 - is a perspective view of a shelf on which a separator holder is placed.

[026] Figure 17 - is a perspective view of a horizontal separator, which is placed in between two separator holders that are side by side and a separator, which is placed vertically on a separator.

[027] The components in the figures have each been numbered corresponding the following: 1. Refrigerator 2. Separator 3. Shelf 4. Groove 5. Separator holder 6. Canal 7. Canal wall 8. Orifice

[028] Cooling appliances (1), preferably refrigerators, comprise one or more shelves (3) which divide the inner parts, for instance the freezer compartments, of the refrigerators into sections in order to make use of the spaces in a best possible way, on which food and beverages are placed for cooling, one or more separators (2), which are used to provide convenience for the user by forming little compartments between the shelves (3) or between the shelf (3) and the body, one or more separator holders (5), which are placed on or below shelves (3), which enables the materials to be loaded and removed in an orderly and effective manner by attaching the separators (2) at a desired position preferably in a way that they face each other and which enables the separator (2) to also functions as a drawer by being attached, preferably in such a way that they are side by side and facing each other, above or below the shelf (3).

[029] The separator holder (5) comprises one or more canals (6), which have the same shape as the separator (2), and which provides to attach and/or hide the separator, and canal walls (7), which form the canals (6) with each other and/or with the place they are attached on such as the shelf.

[030] The separator (2) comprises one or more orifices (8) which are placed at positions and with sizes determined by the manufacturer in order to provide the required air flow in the body of the refrigerator (1) even if they are obstructed by the goods placed in front of them and which enable the goods to be visible.

[031] The separator holder (5) can be attached on a surface in the refrigerator (1) such as the sidewall, the upper wall or the shelf (3) like an additional part and can also be manufactured by being integrated to the said surface or as a single piece part by being integrated to the separator (2) dependent from the said surfaces.

[032] In the embodiment where the separator holder (5) is manufactured by being integrated with a surface in the refrigerator such as the side wall, the upper wall or the shelf, the surface on which it is attached, for example the shelf (3) or the separator holder (5) can be manufactured as a single piece part. In this embodiment, the separator (2) is attached by being pushed into the canal (6) and it can be removed in the same manner (Figure 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

[033] In the embodiment where the separator holder (5) is manufactured as a single piece part by being integrated to the separator (2), when the separator holder (5) is attached on the shelf (3) from its front section, the separator (2) will also be attached on the shelf (3) (Figure 7).

[034] In the embodiment of the invention where the separator holder (5) is manufactured as a single piece part, the separator holder (5) is attached on the surface, which is to be used such as the sidewall, the upper wall or the shelf (3). In this embodiment, the lower canal walls (7) of the separator holder (5) have a structure which encircles the shelf (3) and which fits in the shelf (3) easily. The separator holder (5) is attached preferably on the shelf (3), which is taken out of the refrigerator (1) by preferably sliding from its side. The separator holder (5) is placed on a desired position after the shelf (3) has been inserted to its place. After the separator holder (5) has been placed in the desired position, the separator (2) is shifted into the canal (6) from the front to the rear body and by being attached to its place the desired sections are formed. If more than one, for example two separators (2) are required to be used, the shelf (3) is taken out and two separator holders (5) are attached on the shelf (3) from their sides and when they are brought to the desired position on the shelf (3) the separators (3) are attached on the canals (6). When one of the separators (2) is required to be taken out, the distance between the separator holders (5) is expanded to a width equal to that of the separator (2) and the separator (2) which is not used is inserted into the canal (6), which is composed of the canal walls (7) of the separator holders (5) that are side by side and the upper surface of the shelf (3), by being shifted from the front to the back of the refrigerator (1). Consequently, the separator (2) does not have to be taken out and it can be kept inside the refrigerator as it occupies a small amount of space. When the separator (2) is required to be used again, it is pulled out and it is attached on the canal (6), which is preferably vertical to the shelf (3). The separator (2) in this embodiment also functions as a drawer.

[035] In the embodiment of the invention where the separator holder (5) is manufactured as a single piece part, the separator (2) which divides the space by being placed in the canal (6), when it isn't used, is shifted to the side edges of the space in which it is present together with the separator holder (5) without being taken out of the canal (6). Thus, the separator (2) does not have to be taken out and it can be kept inside the refrigerator (1) as it occupies a small amount of space (Figure 12, 13, 16, 17).

[036] In these embodiments where the separator holder (5) is attached as a separate part, a separator (2) is attached on both to the lower and upper surface of the shelf (3) by choosing a desired canal (6) which could be above or below according to the surface on which the separator holder (5) is used. The canals (6), particularly the ones placed beneath the surface on which they are used, enable the separator (2) to be attached more firmly and/or be kept under the said surface (Figure 15, 16, 17).

[037] In these embodiments where the separator holder (5) is attached as a single piece part, the separator (2) is kept between the canals (6) which are on and below the shelf (3) and which are positioned face to face and/or side by side to each other. So if the separator (2) is required to be taken out, it is pulled to the direction that is required.

[038] In another embodiment where the separator holder (5) is manufactured as a single piece part, the shelf (3) comprises a groove (4) wherein a separator holder (5) is attached and wherein it moves. The canal walls (7), which are harmonious to the structure and to the position of the groove (4), enable the separator holder (5) to be placed and move inside the groove (4) and prevent it to come off from the separator (2) exit direction.

[039] In another embodiment of the invention, the separator (2) is made of transparent, preferably of plastic, material. Consequently, the goods that remain behind the separator (2) can easily be visible without the need to take out the goods that are placed in the front section.

[040] With the embodiment, which is the subject of the invention, the separator (2) is used at a desired place and position and when it is not used it enables the areas of use in the refrigerators (1) to be utilized optimally by occupying a small amount of space in the refrigerator (1). In this way, the goods in the refrigerators (1) can be loaded and removed in an orderly and effective manner.

[041] With the embodiment, which is the subject of the invention, the spaces in the refrigerator (1), for example the spaces above the shelves, can be completely or partially utilized. Particularly in the embodiment wherein transparent material is used, all the frozen goods, which are kept inside for a long period of time can easily be visible. By means of the orifices (8) which are placed on the separator (2) at positions and with sizes determined by the manufacturer, the cooling air is circulated throughout the body and all the goods which are placed on the shelves (3) and/or between the separators (2) can benefit from the circulated air. As the number of orifices (8) is more than one, continuation of airflow is provided even if one or more orifices (8) are blocked by goods, which are placed in front of them.

Claims

[001] A refrigerator (1) comprising one or more shelves (3) on which goods such as food and beverages are placed for cooling, one or more separators (2) which divides the inner spaces into sections, which are, in order to provide convenience for the user, utilized for composing small compartments in between shelves (3) or in between the shelf and the inner surface of the body and characterized by one or more separator holders (5) which are on and/or below the shelves and which enable the goods to be loaded and removed in an orderly and effective manner by attaching the separator (2) at a desired position preferably in a way that they face each other, which enable the separator (2) to also function as a drawer by being attached, preferably in such a way that they are side by side and facing each other, above or below the shelf, which enables the separator (2) to be attached on itself and/or be kept inside the without the need to be taken out as it occupies a small amount of space and which comprises one or more canals (6) that have the same shape as the separator (2) and one or more canal walls (7) which form the canals (6) with each other and/or with the place they are attached on such as the shelf (3).

[002] A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1 characterized by a separator holder (5), which can be attached on a surface in the refrigerator (1) such as the side wall, the upper wall or the shelf (3) like a separate part.

[003] A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1 characterized by a separator holder (5), which is manufactured by being integrated with a surface in the refrigerator such as the side wall, the upper wall or the shelf.

[004] A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1 characterized by a separator holder (5) and a separator (2), which is manufactured as single piece part.

[005] A refrigerator (1) as defined in any of the Claims above characterized by a separator (2) comprising one or more orifices (8) which enables the required air flow inside the body, which is placed at positions and with sizes determined by the manufacturer and which enables the goods around it to be easily visible.

[006] A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claims 1, 2, 4 and 5 characterized by a shelf (3) wherein a separator holder (5) is attached and which has a groove (4).

[007] A refrigerator (1) as defined in any of the Claims above characterized by a separator (2) which enables the goods that remain behind to be easily visible without the need to take out the goods that are place in the front section and which is made of transparent, preferably plastic, material.