WO2008119644A2

WO2008119644A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2008119644A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/053066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nihat Gunduz; Sati Mutlu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-03-30
Filing date: 2008-03-14
Publication date: 2008-10-09
Also published as: WO2008119644A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) that comprises an additional lid (5) integrated on the door (3).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device having an additional lid on the door thereof.

[0002] Nowadays, there are cooling devices that comprise lids for allowing access into the body without opening the door or permitting access of the user to the devices integrated to the door having an additional function such as water dispensers, fruit juicers, vacuum packing devices, again without the need for opening the door.

[0003] In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No KR20010084303, a refrigerator is explained wherein a vacuum packing device is installed to the door. In this embodiment, an installation space for containing the vacuum packing device is provided on the refrigerator door and a packing device door is closed for preventing access from outside when the device is not in use.

[0004] In both of the documents, wherein the explanation is given for a vacuum packing device integrated with the cooling device by placing in a receptacle on the cooling device door, the receptacles are closed by a lid that opens by turning in a horizontal axis and remaining horizontal forms a surface whereon the items to be vacuumed are placed. The lid is closed when the vacuum packing device is not in use preventing access to the device from outside. However, the length of this lid is invariable. Therefore, various hardships are encountered when foods that are longer than the length of the lid, such as fish, leeks etc. are wanted to be packed in the right size bags by using the vacuum packing device.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization a cooling device that comprises a lid for supporting items of various sizes.

[0006] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a lid that covers the opening on the door preventing access from outside, and when opened by rotating in the horizontal axis, forms a support surface on which items may be placed and a plate mounted on the said lid, that forms an additional support surface when opened by moving telescopically. [0007] The said plate can provide to support particularly long items, by being opened by the user when desired. [0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, the plate is disposed inside the lid. Thus, when not in use, the plate does not form a protrusion on the lid. [0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the plate is manufactured of wire in preferably a grill shape. Consequently, the plate can be disposed inside the lid without a substantial loss of the insulation material in the lid. [0010] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0011] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a cooling device. [0012] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the open lid when the plate is in the closed position. [0013] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the open lid when the plate is in the open position. [0014] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Door

4. Opening

5. Lid

6. Plate

7. Movement mechanism

[0015] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2), a door (3) providing access of the user inside the body (2), an opening (4) disposed on the door (3) that allows access of the user inside the body (2) or a device mounted on the door (3) and a lid (5) that covers the opening (4), that when opened by rotating in the horizontal axis, not only allows access of the user to the opening (4) but also forms a support surface (B) whereon items may be placed (Figure 1).

[0016] Furthermore, the cooling device (1) comprises a plate (6) mounted on the lid (5) that moves telescopically projecting outwards in the same direction as the lid (5) when the lid (5) is opened, maintaining to increase the support surface (B) (Figure 3). Thus when the plate (6) is opened, an item larger than the size of the lid (5) can be supported by the lid (5) and the plate (6).

[0017] When closed, one surface (A) of the lid (5) faces outside, and one surface (B) faces the opening (4) and insulation material is filled in between the two surfaces (A and B). The plate (6) is disposed between the two surfaces (A and B) and below the support surface (B) of the lid (5).

[0018] The lid (5) that covers the opening (4) during use, is opened for bringing to a horizontal position (Figure 2). In this position, the lid (5) supports the items placed thereon. The plate (6) disposed on the horizontally positioned lid (5), can be opened selectively by the user and the plate (6) that moves telescopically with respect to the lid (5) can be projected outwards from the lid (5) as much as the user wants and forms a support surface in addition to the support surface (B) formed by the lid (5). In this position the plate (6) does not completely separate from the lid (5), some portion thereof remains inside the lid (5). This additional support surface attained by the plate (6) projecting out of the lid (5) is particularly useful in supporting long items (Figure 3). When the plate (6) is pushed in the opposite direction of opening, the plate (6) is inserted into the lid (5) and brought to the initial position.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a sealing element that remains between the periphery of the opening (4) and the lid (5) when the lid (5) is closed and virtually maintains leak-proofing. The plate (6) is disposed prior to the sealing element, below the surface (B) that is on the side of the opening (4) when the lid (5) is closed. The thickness of the plate (6) is less than the thickness of the lid (5) and remains entirely inside the lid (5) when closed. Consequently, a protrusion is not formed on the lid (5).

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the plate (6) has a grill shaped configuration manufactured of wires. Thus, the plate (6) occupies less space inside the lid (5) when closed - that is when entirely inside the lid (5) -. In this position, since there isn't a substantial loss of the insulation material disposed in the lid (5), the lid (5) does not deviate from the preferred insulation conditions.

[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a movement mechanism (7) that maintains the plate (6) situated on the lid (5) to move telescopically with respect to the lid (5). The movement mechanism (7) is provided with guide and rail pairs that are disposed oppositely on the plate (6) and the lid (5). The movement mechanism (7) is disposed on both sides of the plate (6) and the lid (5) and provides the plate (6) to be parallel to the floor and in balance when opened. Consequently, the items placed on the plate (6) stay in balance, without sliding off.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (7) comprises one or more retainers that prevent the plate (6) from entirely separating from the lid (5) when the plate (6) is opened.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lid (5) provides access to a device inside the opening (4), preferably a vacuum packing device. In this embodiment, the plate (6) is used when the packages (bags, containers etc.) containing the long foodstuffs, are desired to be packaged in the vacuum packing device disposed in the door (3) of the cooling device (1).

[0024] By means of the present invention, an additional support surface is attained with the plate (6) disposed in the lid (5), and moves telescopically with respect to the lid (5) that is integrated with the door (3) of the cooling device (1).

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2), a door (3) providing access of the user to inside the body (2), an opening (4) disposed on the door (3) that allows access of the user inside the body (2) or to a device mounted on the door (3) and a lid (5) that covers the opening (4), that when opened by rotating in the horizontal axis, not only allows access of the user to the opening (4) but also forms a support surface (B) whereon items may be placed and characterized by a plate (6) mounted on the lid (5) that moves telescopically, projecting outwards from the lid (5) and maintaining to increase the support surface (B).

2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a plate (6) that extends in the same direction as the lid (5).

3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a lid (5) that when closed, one surface (A) faces outside, and one surface (B) faces the opening

(4) with insulation material filled in between the two surfaces (A and B) and a plate (6) that is disposed between the two surfaces (A and B).

4. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a sealing element that remains between the periphery of the opening (4) and the lid (5) when the lid

(5) is closed and a plate (6) that is disposed prior to the sealing element, below the surface (B) on the side of the opening (4) when the lid (5) is closed.

5. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a plate (6) having a thickness less than the thickness of the lid (5) and when closed remains entirely inside the lid (5).

6. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a plate (6) manufactured of wires having a grill shaped configuration.

7. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by one or more movement mechanisms (7) that maintains the plate (6) to move telescopically with respect to the lid (5).

8. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a movement mechanism (7) that comprises guide and rail pairs disposed oppositely on the plate (6) and the lid (5).

9. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 7 or 8, characterized by a movement mechanism (7) that is disposed on both sides of the plate (6) and the lid (5).

10. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the Claims 7 to 9, characterized by a movement mechanism (7) that comprises one or more retainers that prevent the plate (6) from entirely separating from the lid (5) when the plate (6) is opened.