WO2009083400A2

WO2009083400A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2009083400A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/066966
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fuat Ari; Hakan Demir
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-12-31
Filing date: 2008-12-06
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: PL2235452T3; ES2434835T3; EP2235452B1; DK2235452T3; WO2009083400A3; EP2235452A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) by means of an exterior shelf (5) of which encircles the shelf (4) like a sheath providing extra storage area that the user can easily put into usage.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a shelf, the position of which in the body can be changed.

[0002] Cooling devices make use of one or more than one shelf whereupon food and beverage containers are placed. Placing high containers over a shelf necessitates either the removal or the change of the positions of one or more of the upper shelves. On the other hand, placing a low-height container generates unused dead spaces between that particular container and the shelf above there. In the state of the art, foldable or telescopic shelf systems are used in order to create flexible usage volume that enables the storage of different-sized containers.

[0003] Shelves used in cooling devices are fixedly disposed at regular distances over shelf supports that are arranged oppositely on the body walls. Shelf supports are positioned at certain intervals in order to allow the arrangement of shelves with different combinations. Distances between the shelves can therefore be changed. However, when low-height containers are placed between two shelves creating dead spaces, changing the height of the upper shelf raises several difficulties. Various mechanisms are used for this end.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device that comprises a shelf the position of which can be changed easily, providing thus usage flexibility.

[0005] A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is described in the attached claims. The cooling device of the present invention comprises an exterior shelf that envelops the shelf like a shell. Suspended to the bottom of the shelf, the exterior shelf glides telescopically over the shelf, moving up and down. While the shelf remains fixed, the exterior shelf can be pulled downward in a vertical line and moved between the closed and open positions. The shelf and the exterior shelf, having the same shape and practically the same dimensions as the shelf are disposed telescopically. By this means, when the exterior shelf is at closed position, the exterior shelf and the shelf appear like a whole. [0006] The exterior shelf and the shelf comprise support surfaces lying parallel to one another. Due to the fact that the shelf is placed in the exterior shelf, the support surface of the exterior shelf is slightly larger than that of the shelf.

[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, the exterior shelf and the shelf comprise guardrails parallel to one another. The guardrail of the exterior shelf, which, at open position, is situated beneath the shelf, is shorter than the guardrail of the shelf so as to facilitate access thereto.

[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device comprises a fixing means that connects the exterior shelf to the shelf. In one version of this embodiment, the fixing means comprises projections and recesses arranged over the exterior shelf and the shelf.

[0009] The exterior shelf enables the user to easily put into service some extra space inside the cooling device when required and to close away when unnecessary so as not to take much space there inside.

[0010] A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0011] Figure 1 - shows a partially perspective view of a cooling device with the door open,

[0012] Figure 2 - shows a sectional view of a shelf and an exterior shelf while the exterior shelf is at closed position,

[0013] Figure 3 - shows a sectional view of a shelf and an exterior shelf while the exterior shelf is at open position.

[0014] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Door

4. Shelf

5. Exterior shelf

6. Fixing means

7. , 17. Support surface

8. , 18. Guardrail

9. Projection 10. Recess

1 1. Slot

12. Suspension arm

13. Prong

[0015] The cooling device (1), of the present invention, comprises a body (2), a door (3), and a shelf (4) arranged on the body (2) or on the door (3). [0016] The cooling device (1) also comprises an exterior shelf (5),

- that encircles the shelf (4),

- that covers the shelf (4) like a sheath at closed position,

- that opens when pulled away in a downward direction from the shelf (4), becoming available for storing items (Figure 1).

[0017] Furthermore, the cooling device (1) comprises a fixing means (6) that enables connecting the exterior shelf (5) onto the shelf (4) at open and closed positions.

[0018] The exterior shelf (5) is suspended onto the bottom of the shelf (4) at both open and closed positions. By this means, the shelf (4) carries the exterior shelf (5). When the exterior shelf (5) is at closed position, the exterior shelf (5) and the shelf (4) are disposed telescopically and take up the amount of space practically equal to that of the shelf (4) alone. When the exterior shelf (5) is brought to open position, the exterior shelf (5) and the shelf (4) are disposed one above the other. The exterior shelf (5) is glided up and down and moved between the closed and open positions. At the moment of opening, the exterior shelf (5), below the shelf (4), strips off the shelf (4) in a downward direction just like a cloth. The exterior shelf (5) is glided downwards to be opened, without requiring any rotational movement (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[0019] When the exterior shelf (5) is brought into open position, an open space (A) is created between the exterior shelf (5) and the shelf (4) that enables the storage of items over the exterior shelf (5).

[0020] The exterior shelf (5) has the same shape and practically the same size as the shelf (4)

[0021] When the user desires to place items over the exterior shelf (5), the user pulls down and brings the exterior shelf (5) at closed position into open position. Whether the shelf (4) is full or empty during this procedure does not make any difference. The matter to consider while opening the exterior shelf (5) is to make sure that there is no item below the exterior shelf (5) that may pose an obstacle. When the exterior shelf (5) is no longer required, the user brings the exterior shelf (5), over which there is no item, back to closed position by pushing towards the underneath of the shelf (4).

[0022] The shelf (4) and the exterior shelf (5) comprise support surfaces (7 and 17), one each. Said support surfaces (7 and 17) are arranged one below the other and practically parallel to one another at both open and closed positions of the exterior shelf (5). As the exterior shelf (5) is brought to open position by gliding from over the shelf (4) in a downward movement, the support surfaces (7 and 17) remain one below the other and practically parallel to one another while opening and closing of the exterior shelf (5). Because the exterior shelf (5) encircles the shelf (4), the support surface (17) thereof is slightly larger than the support surface (7) of the shelf (4). Both support surfaces (7 and 17) are fully utilizable when the exterior shelf (5) is at open position.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the shelf (4) and the exterior shelf (5) comprise guardrails (8 and 18), one each. The guardrails (8 and 18) are disposed telescopically and are practically parallel to one another. As the exterior shelf (5) is brought to open position by gliding from over the shelf (4) in a downward movement, the guardrails (8 and 18) remain practically parallel to one another while opening and closing the exterior shelf (5). The guardrail (18) of the exterior shelf (5) is shorter than the guardrail (8) of the shelf (4). By this means, when the exterior shelf (5) is brought to open position, an open space (A) is created between the exterior shelf (5) and the shelf (4), enabling the storage of items over the exterior shelf (5).

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the fixing means (6) comprises a projection (9) on the guardrail (8) of the shelf (4), a recess (10) on the guardrail (18) of the exterior shelf (5), a slot (11) on the back wall of the shelf (4), a suspension arm (12) extending upwards from the back wall of the exterior shelf (5), and prongs (13) one of which is situated on the extremity of the suspension arm (12) and the other one at the mouth of the slot (11). When the exterior shelf (5) is at closed position, the projection (9) sits inside the recess (10) providing the fixing of the exterior shelf (5) onto the shelf (4). At this position, the suspension arm (12) is free inside the slot (11). While the exterior shelf (5) opens, the suspension arm (12) starts sliding downwards within the slot (11). This sliding movement ends up with the prong (13) situated at the extremity of the suspension arm (12) hooking the prong (13) at the mouth of the slot (11). In this embodiment, the guardrail (18) is shorter than the suspension arm (12). Thus, an open space (A) is created between the exterior shelf (5) and the shelf (4), enabling the storage of items over the exterior shelf (5).

[0025] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixing means (6) comprises retainers on the side of the exterior shelf (5), which are seated over supports provided on the body (2) enabling the exterior shelf (5) to be supported from both below and the sides, while said shelf is at open position.

[0026] In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, by means of an exterior shelf (5) that encircles the shelf (4) like a sheath, an extra storage area that can be easily put into usage is provided.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) comprising: a body (2), a door (3), and a shelf (4) that is arranged on the body (2) or the door (3); and characterized by an exterior shelf (5):

- that encircles the shelf (4),

- that covers the shelf (4) like a sheath at closed position, and

- that opens when pulled away from the shelf (4) in a downward direction, becoming available for storage of items.

2. A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 1 , characterized by the exterior shelf (5) suspended to the underneath of the shelf (4) at both open and closed positions.

3. A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the exterior shelf (5) which, at closed position, is telescopically disposed with the shelf (4).

4. A cooling device (1 ) as described in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the exterior shelf (5) which can glide up and down, moving between closed and open positions, and which, at the moment of opening, strips off the shelf (4) in a downward direction like a cloth.

5. A cooling device (1 ) as described in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the exterior shelf (5) which has the same shape and practically the same size as the shelf (4).

6. A cooling device (1 ) as described in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the shelf (4) and the exterior shelf (5) that comprise each a support surface (7 and 17) disposed practically parallel to each other and one below the other in both the closed and open positions of the exterior shelf (5), as well as during the transition movement of the exterior shelf (5) from open to closed position.

7. A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 6, characterized by the support surface (17) which is slightly larger than the support surface (7) of the shelf (4) due to the fact that the exterior shelf (5) envelops the shelf (4).

8. A cooling device (1 ) as described in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the shelf (4) and the exterior shelf (5) that comprise each a guardrail (8 and 18) disposed practically parallel to each other in both the closed and open positions of the exterior shelf (5), as well as during the transition movement of the exterior shelf (5) from open to closed position.

9. A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 8, characterized by the exterior shelf (5) guardrail (18) which is shorter than the shelf (4) guardrail (8).

10. A cooling device (1 ) as described in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a fixing means (6) that fixes the exterior shelf (5) to the shelf (4) at both open and closed positions.

11. A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 10, characterized by the fixing means (6) that comprises a projection (9) on the guardrail (8) of the shelf (4), a recess (10) on the guardrail (18) of the exterior shelf (5), a slot (11) on the back wall of the shelf (4), a suspension arm (12) extending upwards from the back wall of the exterior shelf (5), and prongs (13) one of which is situated on the extremity of the suspension arm (12) and the other one at the mouth of the slot (11).