WO2007023463A2

WO2007023463A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2007023463A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/052922
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oguz Cetinturk; Ozgur Mutlu Oz; Sezgin Bahtiyar
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2005-08-23
Filing date: 2006-08-23
Publication date: 2007-03-01
Also published as: EP1924812A2; ATE412862T1; CN101243296B; RU2360192C1; DE602006003443D1; CN101243296A; WO2007023463A3; EP1924812B1; ES2316100T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to cooling devices (1) comprising a door (3) shelf (4) made of glass.

Description

Description A COOLING DEVICE

[1] The present invention relates to a cooling device that comprises a door shelf.

[2] In the cooling devices, items like beverage cans, bottles, margarine are stored on the shelves situated inside the door. There are two vertical supports on two sides of the door, and there are corresponding projections at the same elevation on the facing surfaces of these vertical supports. The shelves are mounted to the door by being seated on these projections that are inserted into the housings situated on their two sides.

[3] Some shelves are produced of glass for providing hygiene and a more aesthetic appearance. However because of the production limitations of the glass material, the formation of housings on two sides of the glass whereon the projections of the door can be seated is difficult and costly. Therefore auxiliary parts made of plastics have to be used.

[4] The shelf explained in the state-of-the-art European Patent no. EP564952, comprises a glass plate that is mounted on the door with plastic members shaped like right triangles. The plastic members comprise catching recesses that are fitted into vertical supports that rise all along the side parts of the door.

[5] The shelf explained in another state-of-the-art document, namely European Patent no. EP634616 also comprises a glass plate that is mounted to the door with plastic members shaped like right triangles. The plastic members comprise on their facing surfaces grooves into which the glass plate can be inserted.

[6] In the state-of-the-art European Patent no. EP825401, a shelf that comprises a U- shaped frame that retains the glass plate from the front and the side edges is described. The parts of the frame on the sides that serve as legs have the shape of a triangle providing the attachment of the shelf to the door. The part joining these legs protects the front side of the frame.

[7] In the state-of-the-art applications, due to the grooved configuration of the legs supporting the glass plate, the right and left legs have to be produced in different moulds and hence care must be taken during the assembly as to where each one is mounted. By way of the said parts being of a considerably complicated configuration, the costs are high and their assembly is difficult.

[8] Moreover, the channel into which the glass plate is fitted must be produced with precise dimensions so that it can be entirely clenched. An error in the dimensions of the groove will result in casting the whole part into scrap which will lead to the wasting of material.

[9] Furthermore, the dust and dirt particles in the cooling device will be deposited in the channels and the shelf has to be dislocated entirely for cleaning purposes.

[10] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device which comprises a door shelf having a simple configuration, produced and assembled with ease and can be cleaned with little effort.

[11] The cooling device realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims.

[12] In the cooling device of the present invention, a glass plate is mounted on the door with at least two identical legs having flat top surfaces. The plate is fixed by being seated on the flat surfaces of the legs.

[13] In one embodiment of the present invention, the leg is fixed to a protrusion on the door via a recess formed below the flat surface. The leg resembles an inverted U in this configuration. By way of this configuration, a leg produced in the same mould can be utilized on both sides.

[14] In another embodiment of the present invention, the leg is produced of plastics. In this embodiment, one socket each is formed on both the glass plate and the leg, and the plate is fixed to the leg by being screwed on. In this embodiment, the shelf additionally comprises a preferably plastic adaptor that is fitted in the screw socket. This adaptor is also used for attaching the guardrails. A guardrail preferably produced of wire and situated horizontally above the front edge of the plate, is fixed in place by bending the two ends downwards and fitting in a housing on the adaptors. A plastic partition fitted on the guardrail wires and bearing on the plate, separates the shelf into two and also supports the guardrails from the center.

[15] The cooling device designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[16] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the cooling device.

[17] Figure 2 - is the internal perspective view of the door in an embodiment of the present invention.

[18] Figure 3 - is the exploded perspective view of the door and the shelf in an embodiment of the present invention.

[19] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the shelf in another embodiment of the present invention.

[20] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

[21] 1. Cooling device

[22] 2. Body

[23] 3. Door

[24] 4. Shelf

[25] 5. Plate

[26] 6. Leg [27] 7. Protrusion

[28] 8. Guardrail

[29] 9. Partition

[30] 10. Adaptor

[31] 11. , 110. Guardrail housing

[32] 12. , 120., 220. Fixing socket

[33] 13. Recess

[34] The cooling device (1) comprises:

[35] - a body (2) into which the food items are stored,

[36] - at least one door (3) providing access into the body (2),

[37] - at least one shelf (4) mounted inside the door (3),

[38] - at least one protrusion (7) situated on the door (3) for removably attaching the shelf (4) (Figure 1).

[39] The shelf (4) comprises:

[40] - a plate (5), preferably of glas, on which the items are emplaced,

[41] - at least two legs (6) fitted oppositely under the plate (5) for attaching it to the door

(3) having a ridge at the top wherein the plate (5) is seated (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[42] A leg (6) produced in the same mould can be used on both sides of the plate (5).

The leg (6) is preferably produced of plastics (Figure 3). The leg (6) comprises at least one recess (13) situated on the leg (6) matching in shape with the protrusions (7) on the door (3) for mounting the shelf (4) on the door (3) (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[43] The shelf (4) comprises at least one adaptor (10) that is seated on the plate (5) so as to correspond to the leg (6). The adaptor (10) is a separate piece from the leg (6) and is preferably produced of plastics (Figure 3). The adaptor (10) and the leg (6) being separate parts enable the identical parts produced in one mould to be utilized on both sides of the plate (5).

[44] The shelf (4) comprises fixing sockets (12, 220, 120) that are situated on the plate

(5), the adaptor (10) and the leg (6) in this order which coincide so as to be on over each other when these parts (5, 10, 6) are mounted on one another, and a fixing element (not shown in figures) for example a screw, pin etc. that is fitted in these fixing sockets (12, 220, 120). Consequently the plate (5), the adaptors (10) and the legs (6) can be screwed on one another to be attached together.

[45] The shelf (4) furthermore comprises a wire guardrail (8) extending horizontally

[46] above the front edge of the plate (5) and at least two guardrail housings (11, 110) on the two opposite sides of the plate (5) for fitting in the ends of the guardrail (8) that are bended towards the plate (5). In this embodiment, the shelf (4) also comprises at least one partition (9) that is attached to the guardrail (8) and is seated on the plate (5) for supporting the guardrail (8) and also dividing the upper surface of the plate (5) into more than one sections.

[47] In this embodiment of the present invention, the two identical legs (6) produced in the same mould are attached on two sides under the glass plate (5) such that the fixing sockets (12, 120) are correspondingly on top of each other. Afterwards two adaptors (10) are seated on the plate (5) correspondingly on the legs (6). In this position, the fixing sockets (120, 12, 220) on the legs (6), the plate (5) and the adaptor (10) meet atop of each other. Two fixing elements are inserted through these fixing sockets (120, 12, 220), to attach the adaptor (10) to the legs (6) with the plate (5) being in between. The guardrail (8) is attached to the plate (5) by inserting the two ends into the guardrail sockets (11) on the two sides of the plate (5). The assembly of the shelf (4) is completed when the partition (9) is fitted over the guardrail (8) and bears on the upper surface of the plate (5). The assembled shelf (4) is attached to the door (3) by seating the recesses (13) on the legs (6) to the protrusions (7) on the door (3).

[48] In another embodiment of the present invention, the adaptor (10) comprises a guardrail housing (110) through which the ends of the guardrail (8) are inserted, coinciding with the guardrail housing (11) on the plate (5) (Figure 3). By means of the adaptor (10), the guardrail (8) is attached to the plate (5) more securely, also the metal guardrail (8) is prevented from damaging the plate (5). Furthermore the adaptor (10) is prevented from turning on the plate (5) to which it is attached through two points, one being the guardrail housing (11) and the other the fixing socket (12).

[49] In this embodiment, the glass plate (5) is seated on two legs (6) and the two adaptors (10) are seated on the plate (5). In this position, the fixing sockets (120, 12, 220) on the legs (6), the plate (5) and the adaptors (10) are superposed . Furthermore, the guardrail housings (11) on the plate (5) and the guardrail housings (110) on the two adaptors (10) coincide to be one over the other. First the adaptor (10) and the leg (6) are attached together by inserting a fixing element through the fixing sockets (12, 120, 220). Then the two ends of the guardrail (8) are inserted through the guardrail housings (110) on the adaptor (10) and attached to the plate (5) by pushing in until they fit in the guardrail housings (11) on the plate (5). The assembly of the shelf (4) is completed when the partition (9) is fitted over the guardrail (8) and bears on the upper surface of the plate (5). The assembled shelf (4) is attached to the door (3) by seating the recesses (13) on the protrusions (7).

[50] In one of the alternative embodiments of the present invention, the legs (6) are also produced of glass, just like the plate (5) (Figure 4). In this embodiment, the plate (5) is fixed to the leg (6) by adhesion. The shelf (4) comprises a guardrail (8) made of glass that rises from the front edge of the plate (5), being preferably perpendicular to the plane of the plate (5). This guardrail (8) can be produced together with the plate (5) in one piece or can be produced separately and attached afterwards. [51] In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, by means of producing in separate pieces the legs (6) that provide the plate (5) to be attached to the door (3) and the adaptor (10) fitted on the plate (5), the utilization of the same parts on both sides is made possible. Consequently the production of the legs (6) to be used on two sides of the plate (5) in different moulds is no longer necessary, the cost of moulds have been reduced. The utilization of the same parts on both sides also provides advantages in storing and in assembling processes. Furthermore, since this leg (6) does not comprise any channels wherein dirt and dust can be deposited, the cleaning of the shelf (4) is fairly easy.

Claims

[1] A cooling device (1) comprising at least one body (2) into which the food items are stored, at least one door (3) providing access into the body (2), at least one shelf (4) mounted inside the door (3), and at least one protrusion (7) on the door (3) for removably attaching the shelf (4) and characterized by a shelf (4) having

- a plate (5) on which the items are emplaced,

- at least two legs (6) fitted oppositely under the plate (5) for attaching it to the door (3), having a ridge at the top on which the plate (5) is seated and at least one recess (13) in matching form to the protrusions (7) on the door (3),

- at least one adaptor (10) that is a separate part from the leg (6), seated on the plate (5) such that it is superposed on the leg (6),

- fixing sockets (12, 220, 120), situated on the plate (5), the adaptor (10) and the leg (6) in this order and coincide to be one over the other when these parts (5, 10, 6) are assembled together, and

- a fixing element each inserted into the fixing sockets (12, 120, 220) and that provide assembling of the adaptor (10) to the leg (6) with the plate (5) being in between.

[2] A cooling device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a shelf (4) comprising a plate (5) made of glass material.

[3] A cooling device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a shelf (4) comprising a wire guardrail (8) extending horizontally above the front edge of the plate (5) and at least two guardrail housings (11, 110) on the plate (5) for fitting in the ends of this guardrail (8) that are bending towards the plate (5).

[4] A cooling device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized by a shelf (4) comprising an adaptor (10) having a guardrail housing (110) through which the end of the guardrail (8) is inserted, corresponding to be over the guardrail housing (11) on the plate (5).

[5] A cooling device (1) according to Claim 2, characterized by a shelf (4) comprising a guardrail (8) made of glass that rises from the front edge of the plate (5), being preferably perpendicular to the plane of the plate (5).