WO2008080919A1

WO2008080919A1 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2008080919A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/064545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Burak Ozpolat; Osman Vardar; Levent Orundu; Gaye Demir
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-12-28
Filing date: 2007-12-26
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: TR200904037T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a shelf (4) wherein objects of variable heights can be stored safely.

Description

Description A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device that comprises a shelf.

[0002] Shelves are provided in the cooling devices, preferably refrigerators, whereon foodstuffs, beverages or objects are placed. The objects placed on the shelves have to be suitably supported to prevent rolling down when particularly the shelf is disposed on a movable element, e.g. the door. The barriers used in state of the art implementations can not support objects of various sizes in the same way nor prevent access to the shelf when not in use. Various implementations are developed in state of the art for the solution of these problems.

[0003] In state of the art United States of America patent no. US6186608, a U shaped, rod form package retainer is explained for using at door shelves, that is fitted into an opening on the side of the shelf body. The retainer can support high objects by means of the protrusion thereon, being aligned at a second position higher than the normal position. However, the retainer has to be removed in order to align in the second position and the protrusion has to be turned such that the orientation thereof is outwards of the opening.

[0004] In another state of the art United States of America document no. US5567029, a retainer for a door shelf in the form of an elongated rod is explained that can be rotated around the connection points which can be maintained in one of a plurality of vertically spaced positions by a detent means disposed on the door.

[0005] The state of the art shelf barriers are produced of a hard material and generally configured of wires or rods. Therefore when these barriers are used, the items placed on a shelf are prevented from falling off the shelf when the refrigerator door is abruptly moved, however damaging cannot be avoided as a result of bumping rapidly into the barrier. On the other hand, these barriers occupy space in the cooling device even in non-use positions thus cannot provide sufficient usage flexibility.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to design a cooling device which comprises a door shelf wherein objects of various heights can be stored safely, having the feature of convenient and efficient usage.

[0007] The cooling device designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims.

[0008] The cooling device comprises a barrier disposed underneath the shelf, the screen height of which is adjustable, that can be wrapped into a roll in the closed position, partially covering the front side of the shelf from the bottom upwards in the open position providing to support the objects placed thereon.

[0009] When the user wants the objects placed on the shelf to be supported, he/she changes the barrier to the open position by pulling the screen and thus an obstacle is formed that prevents the objects placed on the shelf to fall off by rolling down particularly during the movement of the door.

[0010] Opening closing of the screen and thus the barrier is maintained by wrapping or unwrapping around a shaft, that is pivotable about its axis, and attached thereto from one side. The opened screen is secured to the shelf from the free end that is not attached to the shaft and thus support is maintained.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the barrier comprises a retainer for securing the screen in the open position. The retainer can be a hook, pin, magnet etc. that can provide locking to the attached place. The shelf comprises at least one stopper to which the retainer is fastened. The stopper is configured as a recess for inserting the retainer therein, a pin to attach thereon or a metal surface to hold the magnet.

[0012] In a version of this embodiment, the shelf comprises more than one stopper for securing the barrier at variable heights. Consequently, the barrier can be secured at the elevation suitable for the height of the object placed thereon.

[0013] The screen is produced of a flexible material suitable for wrapping into a roll and also to provide support when stretched.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf comprises a separator that divides the support area into at least two parts by extending from the front backwards. The barrier used in this embodiment, if desired can be disposed under only one of the parts of the shelf divided by the separator. Thus the user can attach the barrier under only one part of the shelf divided by the separator in accordance with requirements, then detach therefrom and attach under the other, providing flexibility of usage. When one barrier each is attached under every part of the shelf divided by the separator, since these barriers will be secured at different heights, the foodstuffs of different heights can be protected on the same shelf with barriers secured at elevations suitable to their heights and stored safely.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the barrier comprises a casing that shelters the screen wrapped into a roll in the closed position. Thus, if desired the barrier can be easily and hygienically stored somewhere else by entirely taking out of the cooling device.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a biasing means is provided that limits the motion of the barrier in the casing in the opening direction and helps the movement in the closing direction. The biasing means that becomes compressed by the rotating motion while the barrier is changed to the open position exerts a force that pulls the screen and thus helps to preserve the position of the screen when the screen is secured at the desired position. The screen, when released, moves to close automatically due to the same force, that is, rotates to form a roll inside the casing.

[0017] The cooling device designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0018] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooling device. [0019] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a barrier while in the closed position. [0020] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a barrier when in the open position. [0021] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a barrier and a shelf in the lower position. [0022] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of a barrier and a shelf in the higher position. [0023] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of a shelf, a separator and two barriers secured at different heights.

[0024] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of a cooling device when the barrier is open. [0025] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of a cooling device when the barrier is open and in the slid position. [0026] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Door

4. Shelf

5. Barrier

6. Casing

7. Screen

8. Retainer

9. Stopper

10. Shaft

11. Separator

[0027] The cooling device (1) comprises:

- a body (2) into which the food and beverage items are placed,

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

- at least one shelf (4) that supports the items placed thereon, and

- a height adjustable barrier (5) comprising at least one screen (7) disposed underneath the shelf (4), that can be wrapped into a roll in the closed position and which partially covers the front side of the shelf (4) from the bottom upwards in the open position, preventing the objects placed thereon from falling off (Figure 1).

[0028] The shelf (4) furthermore comprises at least one stopper (9) for attaching the screen

(7) and thus providing the barrier (5) to remain in the open position. The stopper (9) can be configured as a slot, a hole or a hook to which the screen (7) is attached from one end (Figure 4 and Figure 5). [0029] When the user wants the objects placed on the shelf (4) to be supported to prevent from falling off, he/she pulls the free end of the screen (7) to attach to the stopper (9) and thus brings the barrier (5) to the open position. [0030] In a version of this embodiment, the shelf (4) comprises more than one stopper (9) at different heights. Consequently, the barrier (5) can be secured at the desired elevation that is suitable to the height of the object placed thereon. [0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (4) comprises at least one separator (11) that extends from the front backwards dividing the support area into at least two parts. Stoppers (9) are provided on the separator (11).

[0032] In this embodiment, if desired, the barrier (5) used is sized such that only the front side of one of the shelf (4) parts divided by the separator (11) can be covered. The user attachs the barrier (5) under either one part of the shelf (4) divided by the separator (11) in accordance with his/her needs, then detach therefrom and attach or slide under the other (Figure 7 and Figure 8). In a version of this embodiment, a rail mechanism is provided under the shelf (4) for sliding the barrier (5) from one of the parts divided by the separator (11) to the other. On the other hand, when a barrier (5) is attached to the shelf (4) divided by the separator (11), of a number and size for covering the front of each part separately, since these barriers (5) can be secured at different elevations, the foodstuffs of different heights can be protected on the same shelf (4) with barriers (5) secured at levels suitable to their heights and stored safely (Figure 6).

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the barrier (5) comprises a shaft (10) to which the screen (7) is secured from one end. The screen (7) is wrapped into a roll over the shaft (10) around the secured side. The shaft (10) is configured to rotate when the screen (7) is pulled from one end. Thus when the shaft (10) rotates by pulling the screen (7), the wrapped screen (7) opens and when released, the screen (7) wraps again around the shaft (10) in a roll. The screen (7) is made of a flexible material suitable to be wrapped into a roll (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The barrier (5) furthermore comprises at least one retainer (8) for opening and attaching the screen (7) to the stopper (9). The retainer (8) can be configured as a hook, pin etc. matching the configuration of the stopper (9) (Figure 3).

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the barrier (5) comprises a biasing means that becomes compressed by the rotating motion of the shaft (10) while bringing to the open position and when released for automatically resuming the closed position. When the exterior end of the screen (7) is pulled by the user to open the barrier (5), the shaft (10) rotates and the screen (7) which is wrapped around the shaft (10) opens. The shaft (10) also compresses the biasing means to which it is attached, by rotating in the direction to open the screen (7). In order to secure the barrier (5) in the open position, the retainer (8) on the free end of the screen (7) is attached to the stopper (9). The biasing means, being compressed in this position, pulls the screen (7) to stay taut. When the user detaches the retainer (8) from the stopper (9) to change the barrier (5) to the closed position, the screen (7) wraps around the shaft (10) again, being pulled by the force exerted via the biasing means.

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the barrier (5) comprises a casing (6) that shelters the screen (7) wrapped into a roll in the closed position. Thus, the barrier (5) can be entirely taken out of the cooling device (1) to be easily and hygienically stored somewhere else if desired (Figure 3). By means of the barrier (5) used in the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the foodstuffs of variable heights placed on the shelf (4) can be stored safely. Consequently, the shelf (4) can be used conveniently and efficiently.

Claims

[0001] A cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2) into which items like food and beverages are placed, at least one door (3) providing access into the body (2), at least one shelf (4) that supports the items placed thereon to be cooled, and characterized by a height adjustable barrier (5) disposed underneath the shelf (4), , comprising at least one screen (7) that can be wrapped into a roll in the closed position and which partially covers the front side of the shelf (4) from the bottom upwards in the open position preventing the objects placed thereon from falling off.

[0002] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one stopper (9) to which the screen (7) is attached thus providing the barrier (5) to remain in the open position.

[0003] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, comprising (characterized by) more than one stopper (9) at different heights.

[0004] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one separator (11) that extends from the front backwards, dividing the support area (of the shelf (4)) into at least two parts.

[0005] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a barrier (5) having the size to cover only one of the parts divided by the separator (11).

[0006] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a barrier (5) having number and the size to cover separately each part of the shelf (4) divided by the separator (11).

[0007] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a rail mechanism under the shelf (4) that provides to slide the barrier (5) from one of the parts divided by the separator (11) to the other.

[0008] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a barrier (5) comprising a shaft (10) to which the screen (7) is secured from one side thereof and wrapped into a roll around that side and at least one retainer (8) for attaching the screen (7) to the stopper (9).

[0009] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a barrier (5) comprising a biasing means that becomes compressed by the rotating motion of the shaft (10) while bringing to the open position providing the screen (7) to stay taut and when released to automatically resume the closed position.

[0010] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a barrier (5) comprising a casing (6) that shelters the screen (7) which is wrapped into a roll in the closed position.