WO2009004025A2

WO2009004025A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2009004025A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/058498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mustafa Kaplan; Oguz Cetinturk; Fethi Sen
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-07-04
Filing date: 2008-07-02
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: TR200908302T1; WO2009004025A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) wherein food, beverages or objects to be cooled are stored, at least two shelves (3) whereby one can fold over the other by being connected hingedly to each other, more than one shelf rest (4) disposed oppositely on the side walls of the body (2) for the shelves (3) to stand at the desired height inside the body (2), one of the shelves. having at least two supports which are concealed under or inside the shelf when said shelf is folded over the other.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

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

[0002] In cooling devices one or more shelves are used whereon beverage and food containers are placed. When tall containers are desired to be placed on the shelves, one or several of the other shelves above this one have to be displaced or the positions changed. In conventional art, foldable or telescopic shelf systems are utilized that allow storing of variable sized containers in order to provide flexible usage volumes.

[0003] The shelves used inside the refrigerators stay stationary on the shelf rests formed oppositely on the body walls with certain intervals. The shelf rests are positioned at certain intervals so that the shelves can be arranged in various combinations. Accordingly, the distances between the shelves can be changed. However, since the distance between the shelves can only be changed within certain limits, various hardships are encountered when placing tall objects that will not fit in between two shelves. Therefore, the shelves are designed to be double-pieced and these pieces are attached to each other by hinged structures. By this method, some part of the shelf is folded and tall containers can be placed on the shelf below.

[0004] In the state of the art International patent Application No WO2006018757, a cooling device is explained comprising shelves that can fold over one another having preferably a support surface made of glass material. On both sides of the shelves explained in this document, two corner brackets are provided so that the shelf can be supported by being seated on the shelf rests. However, problems are encountered during folding of the shelf due to the corner brackets. The distances between the shelf rests situated on the side walls of the body are adjusted according to the optimum positioning of the shelves. While the shelf is folded, the corner brackets at the ends of the shelf gets stuck to the shelf rests on the circular orbit the shelf follows and the shelf cannot be moved hence cannot be folded.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising shelves that can be folded over one another. [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 two supports on both sides of the two shelves, connected to each other by a hinge whereby one of them can be folded if required, for maintaining the shelf to be seated in the carrying position on the shelf rests formed like protrusions on the body, and when the shelf is changed to the folding position, is concealed under or in the shelf without projecting out of the shelf limits by pushing of the adjacent shelf rest above, thereby providing the shelf to be folded without getting stuck to the shelf rests.

[0007] Accordingly, the supports that maintain the shelf to be supported on the shelf rests by extending from the shelf towards the shelf rests in the carrying position, are prevented from hindering the folding movement by getting stuck to the shelf rests on the orbit that the shelf follows in the folding position. Moreover, the supports go under or inside the shelf only by the pushing of the adjacent shelf rest, without requiring an additional operation and this allows the shelf to be easily folded.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the support is attached to the side of the shelf or underneath by means of the hinge. Thus, the support is moved with the force exerted by the adjacent upper shelf rest and folded under the shelf while the shelf is folded and do not form a protrusion from the shelf towards the shelf rests in the folding position.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, a stopper is used that prevents the movement of the support towards over the shelf but only allows to be folded under the shelf so that the support can remain on the shelf rest during the carrying position. Thus, when the support is placed on the shelf rest, the stopper applies a resistance counteracting the force exerted by the shelf rest on the support, prevents the support from moving upwards thereby enabling the shelf stay on the shelf rest.

[0010] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a pin situated on the shelf and a recess disposed on the support wherein the pin is inserted so that the support can rotate around the pin.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the pin is situated on a profile that encircles the sides of the shelf.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a housing situated on the upper or lower surface of the shelf into which the support is placed such that it can move back and forth. When the shelf is in the carrying position, the support partially leaves the housing and the portion leaving the housing is seated on the shelf rests so that the shelf can rest on the shelf rests. When the shelf is wanted to be changed to the folding position, the support is inserted into the housing. In this position, the shelf can be folded without bumping to the shelf rests since the support does not form a protrusion outwards from the shelf.

[0013] By means of the present invention, the shelves, having the feature being foldable by moving the support, can be folded regardless of the distance between the shelf rests.

[0014] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0015] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooling device.

[0016] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the cooling device shelf in the folding position.

[0017] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the shelf in the carrying position.

[0018] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the support while the shelf is folded.

[0019] Figure 5 - is the bottom view of the supports mounted on the profile.

[0020] Figure 6 - is the view of detail A in Figure 5 without the support.

[0021] Figure 7 - is the view of detail A when the support is folded.

[0022] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. ,13. Shelf

4. Shelf rest

5. Support

6. Profile

7. Stopper

8. Pin 9. Recess

[0023] The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2) into which the food, beverage or objects to be cooled are placed, at least two shelves (3, 13) disposed inside the body (2), connected with a hinge to each other, whereby one can fold over the other for using in different sizes by rotating and without displacing and more than one shelf rest (4) whereon the shelf (3, 13) is seated, disposed oppositely on side walls of the body (2) and forming a protrusion on side walls of the body (2) (Figure 1).

[0024] When both of the shelves (3) are side by side in the carrying position, the corners of the mutually adjacent sides are connected oppositely to each other by hinges such that a gap or level difference is not formed and one can be folded over the other.

[0025] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises at least two supports (5) that extend from the shelf (3) towards the shelf rests (4), forming a protrusion on both sides of the shelf (3) and maintaining the shelf (3) to be held on the shelf rests (4), that is concealed under or in the shelf (3) without forming a protrusion on the side of the shelf (3) with the force exerted by another shelf rest (4) there above as the shelf (3) is folded, assisting the shelf (3) to be folded without getting stuck to the shelf rests (4) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[0026] When the shelf (3, 13) is in the carrying position, the supports (5) situated on the sides of the shelf (13) not folded into the body (2) and the folded shelf (3) form a protrusion outwards from the shelf (3) and are seated on the shelf rests (4). In this position, both of the shelves (3, 13) attached to each other by hinges can support the objects placed thereon. When one of the shelves (3) is desired to be changed to the folded position, first of all the support (5) situated on this shelf (3) and bearing on the shelf rest (4) moves by bumping into the upper shelf rest (4) with the motion of the shelf (3) and is enabled not to form a protrusion outward from the shelf (3). This movement can be a linear movement parallel to the shelf (3) surface or can also be a rotational folding movement around an axis. In this position, the support (5) is prevented from getting stuck into the shelf rest (4) adjacent to the shelf rest (4) on which the shelf (3) is seated in the carrying position, and is easily folded over the other shelf (3) by rotating on the hinge (Figure 2).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the support (5) is mounted with hinges on the shelf (3) from one end. In this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a stopper (7) that prevents the movement of the support (5) towards over the shelf (3) only allowing to be folded under the shelf (3). Thus, when the support (5) is placed on the shelf rest (4), the stopper (7) exerts a resistance counteracting the force applied by the shelf rest (4) on the support (5) and thereby maintains the shelf (3) to stay on the shelf rest (4) by preventing the support (5) to move in the upwards direction. When the support (5) is moved towards under the shelf (3) by the user, the support (5) can be folded under the shelf (3) since the stopper (7) does not hinder the movement of the support (5).

[0028] In an embodiment wherein the support (5) is mounted on the shelf (3) by means of a hinge, the support (5) is "L" shaped. The support (5) is mounted on the shelf (3) from one end, and the other end is seated on the shelf rest (4) while in the carrying position, and when changing to the folding position rotates around the end mounted on the shelf (3) to move towards under the shelf (3) and is concealed under the shelf (3). In this embodiment, the cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a pin (8) on the shelf (3) and a recess (9) formed on the support (5) wherein the pin (8) is fitted, thus providing the support (5) to rotate around the pin (8). In this embodiment of the present invention, the support (5) preferably fitted to the pin (8) under the shelf (3), rotates around the pin (8) axis. Moreover, in this embodiment, the shelf (3) itself functions as a stopper (7).

[0029] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises one or more profiles (6) that entirely encircle the front side, and at least partially the lateral sides of the shelf (3) whereon objects are stored, preventing the direct contact of the shelf (3) sides with the user or the body (2). In this embodiment of the present invention, the support (5) is "L" shaped, the pin (8) is on the profile (6) and is fitted to the pin (8) by means of the recess (9). While the end of the support (5) containing the recess (9) is attached to the pin (8), the other end thereof extends outside from the side of the shelf (3) towards the shelf rest (4) and provides the shelf (3) to be seated on the shelf rest (4). When the shelf (3) is desired to be folded, the support (5) is rotated around the pin (8) and moved towards under the shelf (3). In this position, the support (5) is folded under the shelf (3) and concealed beneath the shelf (3). The shelf (3) can be easily folded over the other shelf (13) connected thereto by the hinge since the support (5) does not form a protrusion that hinders the movement of the shelf (3). In this embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (3) itself functions as a stopper (7) since the support (5) is mounted under the shelf (3). Moreover, in this embodiment, the support (5) and the profile (6) are on the same plane in the carrying position thus forming a flat surface on the shelf (3) (Figure 5, Figure 6, and Figure 7).

[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a housing on or under the shelf (3) wherein the support (5) can move back and forth. In this embodiment of the present invention, the surfaces of the adjacent shelf rest (4), moving the support (5) by bumping, and the support (5) that contact each other are inclined towards each other so that the support (5) is directed into the housing while the shelf (3) is folded. In this embodiment, when the shelf (3) is in the carrying position, some portion of the support (5) extends outside the housing and towards the shelf rests (4) and maintains the shelf (3) to remain on the shelf rests (4). In this position, the shelf (3) can carry the objects placed thereon. When the shelf (3) is desired to be changed to the folding position by folding, the support (5) is inserted towards the housing such that a protrusion is not formed on the side of the shelf (3). In this position, the support (5) is entirely inserted inside the housing and does not form a protrusion on the side of the shelf (3) and allows the shelf (3) to be folded without getting stuck to the shelf rests (4).

[0031] The carrying surface of the shelf (4) explicated in the present invention is preferred to be made of glass material for hygienic and esthetic appearance considerations.

[0032] By means of the present invention, the shelves (3) seated on the shelf rests (4) in the carrying position are prevented from getting stuck to the adjacent shelf rests (4), enabling one of the shelves (3) to be folded over the other without any problems.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2) wherein food, beverages or objects to be cooled are placed, at least two shelves (3, 13) disposed inside the body (2), connected with a hinge to each other, whereby one can fold over the other and more than one shelf rest (4) whereon the shelf (3, 13) is seated, disposed oppositely on the side walls of the body (2) and forming a protrusion on the side walls of the body (2) and characterized by - at least two supports (5) that extend from the shelf (3) towards the shelf rests (4), such that a protrusion is formed on both sides of the shelf (3) and maintaining the shelf (3) to be held on the shelf rests (4), - that is concealed under or inside the shelf (3) by moving with the force exerted by another shelf rest (4) there above such that a protrusion is not formed on the side of the shelf (3), while the shelf (3) is folded.

2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a support (5) that is mounted on the shelf (3) by hinging from one end.

3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a stopper (7) that prevents the movement of the support (5) towards over the shelf (3), allowing only to be folded under the shelf (3).

4. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by an "L" shaped support (5).

5. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a pin (8) situated on the shelf (3) and a recess (9) disposed on the support (5), into which the pin (8) is seated, maintaining the support (5) to rotate around the pin (8).

6. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by one or more profiles (6) that encircles the front side of the shelf (3) entirely and the lateral sides partially, and whereon the pin (8) is disposed.

7. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a housing on or under the shelf (3) wherein the support (5) can move back and forth, from which some portion of the support (5) projects outside and extends towards the shelf rests (4) when the shelf (3) is in the carrying position, and wherein the support (5) is inserted such that a protrusion is not formed on the side of the shelf (3) when the shelf (3) is desired to be changed to the folding position by folding.

8. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a shelf rest (4) and support (5) the surfaces of which in contact with each other are inclined towards each other so that the support (5) is directed into the housing.