WO2008015180A2

WO2008015180A2 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2008015180A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057810
Authority: WO
Inventors: Burak Ozpolat; Emre Ozyuksel; Inci Milci; Osman Vardar
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-07-31
Filing date: 2007-07-30
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: TR200900548T1; WO2008015180A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a position-changeable carrier (7) and a shelf (6). In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, the carrier (7) and the shelf (6) are attached to the same ribs (5) and extend all along the two side walls of the cabin (2).

Description

Description A REFRIGERATOR

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a position changeable carrier within the cabin.

[0002] In refrigerators, the food items and various containers are emplaced on the shelves and/or the carriers. Particularly the breakfast foods such as cheese, olives, butter, jam that usually consumed at several times are kept in small covered bowls. However, carrying these types of small bowls that are not at all small in number to the table, one by one and then back again to the refrigerator can be a laborious procedure for the user.

[0003] For this reason, carriers have been developed for emplacing small breakfast dishes all together. However, the wide area occupied by these carriers on the shelf has led the refrigerator producers to look for a solution to store these carriers without occupying much space.

[0004] An implementation to this effect is given by the German patent application no.

DE10339942. In this document, a storage container is explained that can be slid into the rails on one side of a shelf.

[0005] In the implementation explained in the United Sates of America patent no.

US4944566, an accessory storage system can be moved in the rails beneath the shelf. The rails are attached to the shelf afterwards by means of brackets.

[0006] In the Japanese patent application no. JP2000287794, a merchandise carrier

(breakfast food partition) that is placed at the front and back of a frame and a glass shelf are described.

[0007] In state of the art implementations, the position of the carrier cannot be altered depending on the needs of the user. These carriers which are usually at the front lower part of the shelf limit the height of the items to be stored at the lower shelf. Moreover, this carrier that is used once a day, sometimes several times a week, prevent the efficient utilization of the front portion of the cabin.

[0008] What is more, changing the places of the carrier and the shelf is not possible. In some implementations wherein the places can be changed, the contents of the shelf and/or the carrier have to be emptied. This creates complications for the user.

[0009] The object of this invention is to design a refrigerator comprising a carrier, of which the position can be readily changed to provide flexibility of utilization.

[0010] The refrigerator designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims. In the refrigerator of the present invention, a shelf that is assembled between the ribs disposed on the side walls and a carrier that is disposed at the front-and-back of this shelf, attached to the same ribs and extending therealong between the side walls are provided. A guide each is provided again on the side walls, attached to the ribs from two places and extending by passing from above or below the rib. The carrier can be passed to the back from the front or from the back to the front of the shelf by sliding along this guide.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, while the carrier is configured like an open-top box with a certain depth, the shelf has a planar structure. Generally food items that have to be placed in containers of a certain depth such as breakfast food are placed in the carrier. Containers, bottles and food items of various heights are emplaced on the shelf. Of these two elements that are disposed one in front of the other, that is the carrier and the shelf, the one (that is the carrier) having a configuration that extends below the level of the rib and storing on the other (the shelf) the foodstuffs that reach upwards from the level of the rib, is allowed by sliding the carrier along the guide to change their places without emptying any one of them. The distance between the horizontal part of the guide and the rib is such that the carrier is allowed to be passed from the rib to the guide or from the guide to the rib, and afterwards to be moved without colliding under the shelf.

[0012] The carrier can be positioned in front of, behind or under the shelf by sliding along the guide and should occasion may require, displaced from the guide or the rib and taken somewhere else, for example to the table. Changing the position of the said carrier provides efficient utilization of the refrigerator interior space. If, for example, the carrier will not be used for a long period of time, it is held in a parallel position to the rear wall behind the shelf, and the front space can be allotted for frequently used items. If the carrier has to be used more frequently, it can be positioned in front of the shelf, closer to the door. In this position, access to the carrier will be easier. If the user so desires, the carrier can be kept by itself between another pair of ribs.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier comprises a lengthwise supporter. Thus, it is possible to attach the carrier to only one rib by leaning thereof to one of the side walls.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier comprises more than one partition wherein the foodstuffs can be placed separately. Thus carrying a multiple number of foodstuffs, for example breakfast food, out of the refrigerator will be simplified. [0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier comprises a frame having cutouts thereon and container shaped partitions removably mounted on this frame. Accordingly, when required, these partitions can be separated one by one from the shelf.

[0016] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier comprises one or a multiple number of lids. Consequently, the foodstuffs in the partitions can be preserved better.

[0017] A refrigerator designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0018] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator

[0019] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of detail A, as the carrier is slid into the guide.

[0020] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of detail A, as the carrier is pushed along the guide.

[0021] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of detail A, as the carrier is taken from the guide up to the rib.

[0022] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of detail A when the carrier is positioned behind the shelf.

[0023] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the carrier in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of the carrier in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of the refrigerator in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 9 - is the perspective view of the carrier in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 10 - is the front view of the refrigerator in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator

2. Cabin

3. Door

4. Guide

5. Rib

6. Shelf

7. Carrier

8. Extension

9. Supporter 10. Partition

11. Frame

12. Housing

13. Lid

[0029] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises,

- a cabin (2),

- a door (3) that covers up the front side of this cabin (2),

- a shelf (6) whereupon the food items are emplaced,

- a carrier (7) used for storing the food items and

- two ribs (5) disposed oppositely on the side walls of the cabin (2) whereon the carrier (7) and the shelf (6) are assembled together such that they will be at the same level and one in front of the other (Figure 1).

[0030] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises, in addition to the above,

- a guide (4) that is attached to the rib (5) from at least two places,

- extending from the front of the cabin (2) towards the back by passing underneath or above the rib (5),

- providing the carrier (7) to be moved slidingly in between the front and back sides of the rib (5) thus to be positioned on the same rib (5), in front of or behind the shelf (6).

[0031] In this embodiment, the total length of the shelf (6) and the carrier (7) (L1+L2) is not more than the length (L) of the rib (5)) (Figure 1). The points wherein the guide (4) and the rib (5) join and the lengths between the front and rear ends of the rib (5) are preferably enough for allowing the carrier (7) to be placed therein. The carrier (7) can be positioned by means of the guide (4), on the rib (5) in front of the shelf (6) (that is in a closer position to the door (3) than the shelf (6) ) (Figure 1), behind the shelf (6) on the same rib (5) (that is between the shelf (6) and the rear wall) (Figure 5) or on the guide (4) under the shelf (6) (Figure 3). Consequently, the interior volume of the cabin (2) can be arranged according to the needs of the user by changing the position of the carrier (7). Furthermore, the user can take the carrier (7) out of the cabin (2) to carry to the desired place, for example to the breakfast table.

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (6) has a planar structure whereas the carrier (7) is configured like an open-top box, having a certain depth (H). The guide (4) passes from below the rib (5). In this embodiment, various foodstuffs and/or containers are placed on the shelf (6). Since the carrier (7) has a certain depth, the foodstuffs do not protrude from the top portion of the carrier (7) (Figure 6 and Figure 7). In other words, the items on the shelf (6) are disposed above the level of the rib (5) whereas the ones in the carrier (7) are below the level of the rib (5). Consequently, when the carrier (7) is desired to be taken to the rear position by passing through the guide (4) below the shelf (6), the shelf (6) or the carrier (7) does not have to be emptied. [0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (4) and the rib (5) are preferably formed on the side wall of the cabin (2) as recesses-protrusions, shaped mainly as channels with a horizontal direction. The guide (4) joins with the rib (5) from both ends by the sloped parts at its ends. In this embodiment, the carrier (7) comprises two extensions (8) positioned separately at its side edges. These extensions

(8) by being fitted into the guide (4) and the rib (5) facilitate the movement of the carrier (7). These extensions (8) being separate, facilitate the passing of the carrier (7) from the rib (5) to the guide (4) or from the guide (4) to the rib (5).

[0034] In this embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) containing foodstuffs, e.g. breakfast food, is mounted between two opposite ribs (2) such that it will be in front of the shelf (6) when the user wants to place thereof into the cabin (2) (Figure 1). In this position, the shelf (6) and the carrier (7) are disposed on the same ribs (5), preferably without any gaps therebetween, forming a unity. If the user wants to position the carrier (7) near the rear wall of the cabin (2), it is lowered from the rib (5) towards the guide (Figure X). The carrier (7), now in the guide (4), is pushed towards the back along this guide (4) beneath the shelf (6). Meanwhile, the shelf (6) is drawn a little forwards on the rib (5) (Figure 3) when the carrier (7) gets closer to the back, this time rises upwards in accordance with the slope of the guide (4) and goes up to the rib (5) from behind the rear edge of the shelf (6) (Figure 4) Consequently, the carrier (7) is disposed between the shelf (6) and the rear wall (Figure 5). Thus the carrier (7) can be utilized for multi-purposes.

[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) comprises a supporter

(9) that extends along the front or rear sides (Figure 9). The carrier (7) can be attached lengthwise to only one rib (5) on one side wall by means of this supporter (9) (Figure 10).

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) comprises more than one partition (10) (Figure 6). Foodstuffs are placed into these partitions (10). In this embodiment, the partitions (10) are preferably formed together with the carrier (7). Accordingly, the carrier (7) can be formed quite easily in a single mould.

[0037] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) furthermore comprises a frame (11) with a width that can extend between the two ribs (5), having housings (12) of various shapes and sizes and the partitions (10) produced separately from the frame (11) are placed into these housings (12) (Figure 7). The partition (10) is hung on the walls of the housing (12) by means of a flange on its upper edge, and suspended from inside the housing (12) towards the lower side of the frame (11). By means of this structure, the partitions (10) can be used independently from the carrier (7) and easily cleaned when they get soiled.

[0038] In this embodiment, the carrier (7) also comprises at least one lid (13) that covers one or at least some of the partitions (10) (Figure 7). Accordingly, the foodstuffs in the partitions (10) can be preserved for a longer time.

[0039] By means of the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, the user can arrange the interior space of the cabin (2) according his/her personal needs and use this space more efficiently. Additionally, during this arrangement process, neither the carrier (7) nor the shelf (6) has to be emptied. Moreover, while the position of the shelf (6) is changed, the user does not have to carry the shelf (6) hence dispend more energy.

Claims

[0001] A refrigerator (1) used in storing foodstuffs comprising; - a cabin (2), - a door (3) that covers up the front side of the cabin (2), - a carrier (7) containing food items placed thereon and - two ribs (5) disposed oppositely on the side walls of the cabin (2), whereon the carrier (7) and the shelf (6) are assembled together such that they will be at the same level and one in front of the other and characterized by - a guide (4) that is attached to the rib (5) from at least two places, - extending from the front of the cabin (2) towards the back by passing from below or above the rib (5), - providing the carrier (7) to be moved slidingly between the front and back sides of the rib (5) thus to be positioned on the same rib (5) in front of or behind the shelf (6).

[0002] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a shelf (6) that has a planar structure and a carrier (7) configured like an open-top box, with a certain depth (H) and a guide (4) that passes under the rib (5).

[0003] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a shelf (6) and a carrier

(7) the total length (L1+L2) of which is not more than the length (L) of the rib (5).

[0004] A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a guide

(4) and a rib (5) formed on the side wall of the cabin (2) as recesses-protrusions, mainly as channels of horizontal direction and a carrier (7) comprising two extensions (8) positioned separately at its side edges.

[0005] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a guide (4) that joins with the rib (5) from both ends by the sloped parts at its ends.

[0006] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 5 and 6, characterized by the distance between the point wherein the guide (4) and the rib (5) join and the lengths between the front and rear ends of the rib (5) are enough for allowing the carrier (7) to be placed therein.

[0007] A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a carrier

(7) comprising a supporter (9) that extends along the front or rear sides thereof so that it can be attached lengthwise to a single rib (5) on one side wall.

[0008] A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a carrier

(7) comprising more than one partition (10).

[0009] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by a partition (10) shaped in a single mould together with the carrier (7). [0010] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by a carrier (7) comprising a frame (11) with a width that can extend between the two ribs (5), having housings (12) of various shapes and sizes and partitions (10) produced separately from the frame (11) to be placed in these housings (12).

[0011] A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 8 to 10, characterized by a carrier

(7) comprising at least one lid (13) covering at least one of the partitions (10).