WO2006090342A1

WO2006090342A1 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2006090342A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/050594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olcay Dagli; Ridvan Kadir Celik; Emre Ozyuksel
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2005-02-28
Filing date: 2006-02-24
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: EP1853857A1

Abstract

Shelf (3) , with stepped and foldable features, utilized in cooling devices (1) , preferably in refrigerators, allowing the user to choose between the desired downward or upward folded positions, when in the downward folded position, bottles, food and beverage containers of variable sizes can be stored at different levels as desired, arranging in or taking out of the cooling device (1) with ease, and when in the upwards folded position, forming a structure with closed sides, where bigger sized items can be stored safely without rolling down.

Description

Description A COOLING DEVICE

[001] The present invention relates to a cooling device, comprising shelves providing different utilization alternatives. [002] In cooling devices, preferably in refrigerators, different types of foldable or telescopic shelves, bottle holders etc. are used for the purpose of helping the user to utilize the usable volume efficiently for storing items like bottles or food, beverage containers without occupying much space and to arrange the items or to take them out easily. [003] In the European Patent Application no. EP 1156290, the shelf of the said invention, supported by the lateral walls extending along the width of the refrigerator cabinet, forms a stepped structure, with two storing planes sloping with respect to each other and located at different height levels, situated at different positions within the cabinet, presents alternatives to the user. [004] In the United States Patent no. US 2319470, a foldable shelf structure is described which is composed of two movable shelves attached to a fixed shelf by means of which usable volume is gained especially for tall sized items in the refrigerator. [005] In the United States Patent no. US 2717189, stepped type shelves are used for storing items with variable heights. [006] In the United States Patent no. US 5584405, an adjustable shelving system utilized in a refrigerator is described. The adjustable shelf is composed of a platform and a support member slidably attached to the platform, supporting the platform by resting on another lower shelf or the compartment wall. [007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising shelves with foldable and stepped features, presenting utilization options to the user. [008] The cooling device realized in order to attain above mentioned aim of the present invention is shown in the attached figures, where: [009] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a stepped shelf in the open position in a cooling device. [010] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a stepped shelf in the closed position in a cooling device.

[011] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a shelf in the open position.

[012] Figure 4 - is the front perspective view of a shelf in the open position.

[013] Figure 5 - is the side perspective view of a shelf in the closed position.

[014] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of Detail A of a movement mechanism when the shelf is in the closed position. [015] Figure 7- is the perspective view of Detail B of a movement mechanism when the shelf is in the open position. [016] Elements shown in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling Device

2. Cabinet

3. Shelf

4. Shelf channel

5. Fixed shelf

6. Movable shelf

7. Movement mechanism

8. Hanger

9. ,19, 29 Supporting surface

10. Pin

11. Pin housing

12. Resting surface

13. Fixing channel

[017] The cooling device (1) comprises a cabinet (2), one or more shelves (3) having foldable features, used for storing items, and one or more shelf channels (4) inside which the shelves (3) can move for the purpose of supporting and keeping them at the desired level.

[018] The shelf (3) comprises a fixed shelf (5) which is attached to the cabinet (2) forming the unmovable part, a movable shelf (6) forming the foldable part, attached to one side of the fixed shelf (5), the side attached to the fixed shelf (5) being the rotating axis and which can rotate up or down about the axis, and one or more movement mechanisms (7) providing the movable shelf (6) to be mounted or dismounted on the fixed shelf (5) and to be folded.

[019] The fixed shelf (5) is preferably L shaped and is attached to the compartment walls in the cabinet (2) of the cooling device (1) and/or under the other shelves and/or inside the door.

[020] The fixed shelf (5) comprises a hanger (8) situated on its vertical side, providing its attachment to the cabinet (2), preferably to the shelf channel (4), and a supporting surface (9) forming the horizontal side of the L shape for storing items on.

[021] The movable shelf (6) is preferably L shaped, and is attached to the front side of the supporting surface (9) by means of a movement mechanism (7). When the movable shelf (6) is folded downwards, it forms a stepped shape together with the fixed shelf (5) and a supporting surface (19) is formed at a different level in the vertical direction from that of the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5). In this embodiment, the shelf (3) formed by the fixed shelf (5) and the movable shelf (6) attached to the fixed shelf (5), forms a stepped structure when in the open position (Figure 1). [022] When the shelf (3) is in the open position, items of different heights can be stored, since the supporting surface (19) of the movable shelf (6) is in the horizontal position and at a different level than the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5). The other supporting surface (29) of the movable shelf (6) being in the vertical position, does not support the stored items and functions as a side wall where the items stored on the supporting surface (19) can lean on.

[023] When the movable shelf (6) is folded upwards, it assumes a horizontal position such that it is symmetrical to the fixed shelf (5) in the vertical direction, forms a U shape together with the fixed shelf (5) and a supporting surface (29) is formed at the same level as the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5). In this embodiment, the fixed shelf (5) and the shelf (3) formed by the movable shelf (6) attached to the fixed shelf (5) are in the closed position (Figure 2).

[024] When the shelf (3) is in the closed position, the supporting surface (29) of the movable shelf (6) comes to the horizontal position and forms a base at the same level as the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5). Thus items with sizes and weights that can be supported by both of the surfaces (9, 29) can be stored. The other supporting surface (19) of the movable shelf (6), being in the vertical position, does not support the stored items and functions as a side wall where the stored items can lean on.

[025] The movement mechanism (7) comprises a pin (10) which provides attachment of the movable shelf (6) to the fixed shelf (5), around which the movable shelf (6) can move as being folded upwards or downwards, one or more pin housings (11) inside which the pin is housed and can move back and forth, one or more resting surfaces

(12) on which the arms forming the movable shelf (6) can rest on to stand in a stable manner when the movable shelf (6) is folded upwards, and one or more fixing channels

(13) allowing the arms forming the movable shelf (6) to be snugly fitted in when the movable shelf (6) is folded downwards.

[026] When a stepped structure is desired to be formed by folding the movable shelf (6) downwards, the arms forming itself are moved forward or backward in such a manner that it frees itself from the resting surfaces (12) on which they rest. The arms forming the movable shelf (6) lose contact with the resting surfaces (12) and are brought to the level of the fixing channel (13). When at the level of the fixing channel (13), the movable shelf (6) is folded downwards and the arms forming the movable shelf (6) are fitted in the fixing channel (13), fixing the movable shelf (6) in the downwards folded position. When the movable shelf (6) is fixed in the downwards folded position, the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5) and the supporting surface (19) of the movable shelf (6) form a stepped structure, allowing for storing in or taking out easily the bottles and the food, beverage containers of variable heights from the cooling device (1).

[027] When the movable shelf (6) is in the downwards folded position, and a U shaped closed structure is desired to be formed by folding it upwards together with the fixed shelf (5), the movable shelf (6) is moved by pulling forwards-upwards until the arms forming itself are freed from the fixing channels (13) inside which they are fitted in to be fixed. The arms forming the movable shelf (6) lose contact with the fixing channels (13) and after being folded upwards, are moved forward or backward so as to rest on the resting surfaces (12). The arms forming the movable shelf (6) rest on the resting surfaces (12) and the movable shelf (6) become fixed in the upward folded position. When the movable shelf (6) is folded upwards, the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5) and the supporting surface (19) of the movable shelf (6) are at the same plane, allowing for storage of items that can be contained by both of the supporting surfaces (9, 19) and the structure formed by the closed sides of the U shape provide for a safe usage.

[028] The user can choose between the desired downward or upward folded positions of the movable shelf (6) with the stepped and foldable shelf (3) of the present invention. When the movable shelf (6) is in the downward folded position, food and beverage containers of variable heights can be stored at different levels as desired, can easily be stored in or taken out of the cooling device (1), and when the movable shelf (6) is in the upward folded position, a structure is formed with closed sides, where bigger sized items can be contained in safely without rolling down.

Claims

[001] A cooling device (1) characterized by a shelf (3) comprised of a fixed shelf (5) having a supporting surface (9) allowing for storage of items, and a movable shelf (6) attached to one side of the fixed shelf (5), the side attached to the fixed shelf (5) being the rotating axis and which can rotate up or down about the axis, attached to the supporting surface (9) from one side, when folded downwards, forms a supporting surface (19) at a different level in the vertical direction from that of the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5) and when folded upwards forms a supporting surface (29) at the same level as the supporting surface (9) of the fixed shelf (5).

[002] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a shelf (3) comprising an L shaped movable shelf (6).

[003] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a shelf (3) comprising a movable shelf (6), which when folded downwards, forms a stepped structure together with the fixed shelf (5).

[004] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a shelf (3) comprising an L shaped fixed shelf (5).

[005] A cooling device (1) as in Claims 2 to 4, characterized by a shelf (3) comprising a movable shelf (6) which when folded upwards forms a U shape together with the fixed shelf (5).

[006] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a shelf

(3) comprising one or more movement mechanisms (7) allowing the movable shelf (6) to be mounted or dismounted to the fixed shelf (5) and to be folded.

[007] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by a shelf (3) comprising a movement mechanism (7) having a pin (10) which provides for the attachment of the movable shelf (6) to the fixed shelf (5) and around which the movable shelf (6) can move as being folded upwards or downwards, one or more pin housings (11) inside which the pin is housed and can move to and fro, one or more resting surfaces (12) on which the the arms forming the movable shelf (6) can rest in a stable manner when the movable shelf (6) is folded upwards, and one or more fixing channels (13) providing the arms forming the movable shelf (6) to be snugly fitted in when the movable shelf (6) is folded downwards.