WO2010020636A1

WO2010020636A1 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2010020636A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/060665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Semih Erol; Resul Yavuz
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-08-18
Filing date: 2009-08-18
Publication date: 2010-02-25

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) named as a side by side or wardrobe type, comprising a body, a left door (2) and a right door (102), one secured to the left side of the body and the other to the right side of the body with hinges and a gap (3) arranged between the closed left door (2) and right door (102) and a door handle (4) disposed on the left door (2) or the right door (102), used mutually by both the left door (2) and the right door (102), that opens, closes only the door (2, 102) it is positioned on and furthermore serves as a door guard by being positioned between the two doors (2, 102).

Description

A REFRIGERATOR

[0001] The present invention relates to a side by side refrigerator.

[0002] In refrigerators having doors next to each other and named "side by side" type, the doors used are arranged side-by-side, wherein one is hinged to the body from the left side and the other from the right side. The doors on the right and left, cover the fresh food and freezer compartments separately. Separate door handles are provided on the doors that open and close both of the compartments. The cost of the door handles particularly in the sense of esthetic appearance and durability is high and having two door handles on these types of refrigerators increase costs. Moreover, various types of door guards are used in refrigerators for preventing the children from opening the doors. The door guards should be practical so that utilization is not constrained.

[0003] In the Patent Document No US5209533, a door guard used in a refrigerator is explained.

[0004] In the Patent Document No GB2226675, in a refrigerator having two doors one above the other, a door handle is explained for opening, closing the doors together or separately.

[0005] In the French door type refrigerators explained in the patent applications such as EP085261020, US2004/0033767, US2006/0113002 and US2008012987, separate door handles are provided on each door.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator that comprises side by side doors and each door is opened separately by using a single door handle.

[0007] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0008] The refrigerator of the present invention is a refrigerator with side by side doors and named as side-by-side or wardrobe type, comprising a left door, a right door, a gap arranged between the closed left door and the right door and furthermore a door handle that can be positioned on the left door or the right door or on the gap, that is moved from the left door to the right door or from the right door to the left door when the door other than the one it is disposed on is tried to be opened; which is in an intermediate position engaged on both doors while moving, transferred to the other door at the end of the movement by separating entirely from the door it is disposed on and enabling to open, close only the door it is disposed on.

[0009] When the door handle is entirely on the right or the left door, there isn't any opening, closing member like a handle provided on the other door.

[0010] In the refrigerator of the present invention, the door handle, as it is positioned on the gap while pulling from one door to the other door, furthermore prevents opening by locking both doors and serves as a door guard.

[0011] The refrigerator comprises on its doors, two left guides on the left door, one positioned above the other, and two right guides on the right door, one positioned above the other, for mounting the door handle by bearing from the upper and lower ends and defining the path wherein the door handle will move.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, two rails are provided on the upper and lower ends of the door handle. The rails are fitted over the guides and allow sliding motion on the guides.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, wheels are provided on the upper and lower ends of the door handle and the wheels maintain the motion of the door handle by making a rolling motion on the rails.

[0014] In the above mentioned embodiments with rails and wheels, stoppers are used for preventing the rails or wheels to be displaced from the guides when the door handle is moved between the doors, by stopping the sliding or the rolling motion of the rails or the wheels on the guides at a certain point.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the door handle is transferred from one door to the other door in two phases, first one end then the other end is transferred from one door to the other door. In this embodiment, when only one end of the door handle is transferred from one door to the other door, the door handle extends diagonally over the gap from one door to the other and serves as a door guard in this position.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises a locking mechanism for securing the door handle in the door guard position on the gap or on the door it is disposed on. [0017] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached claims, where: [0018] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator. [0019] Figure 2 - is the A - A cross-section view in Figure 1. [0020] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator wherein the door handle is between two doors and in the vertical door guard position. [0021] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator wherein the door handle is transferred from the left door to the right door. [0022] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of the upper guides on the refrigerator doors and the rail connected to the end of the door handle. [0023] Figure 6 - is the schematic view of the upper guides at the refrigerator doors and the wheels connected to the end of the door handle. [0024] Figure 7 - is the cross-sectional view of a door handle with a wheel fastened to its end side and an active locking mechanism connected to the guide. [0025] Figure 8 - is the cross-sectional view of a door handle and a passive locking mechanism connected to the door. [0026] Figure 9 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 10 - is the B-B cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in Figure 9. [0028] Figure 11 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator wherein the door handle is between two doors and in the diagonal door guard position. [0029] Figure 12 - is the schematic view of the refrigerator in Figure 11 wherein the door handle is transferred from the left door to the right door. [0030] Figure 13 - is the detailed view of a door handle with a connection headpiece at its end. [0031] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator

2. 102. Door

3. Gap

4. Door handle 5. 105. Guide

6. Rail

7. Wheel

8. 108. Door handle housing

9. Connection headpiece

10. Locking mechanism

11. Spring housing

12. Spring

13. Pin

14. Locking recess

15. Stopper

[0032] The refrigerator (1) comprises a body, a left door (2) and a right door (102), one secured to the left side of the body and the other to the right side of the body with hinges and a gap (3) arranged between the left and right doors (2, 102) which are closed.

[0033] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises a single door handle (4), disposed on the left door (2) or the right door (102), that is moved toward the other door (2, 102) when the other door (2, 102) next to the door (2, 102) it is disposed on is required to be opened, which is in an intermediate position when it is engaged to both doors (2, 102) during movement, which is transferred to the other door (2, 102) by entirely leaving the door (2, 102) it is disposed on at the end of the movement, and that opens, closes only the door (2, 102) it is positioned on (Figure 1).

[0034] In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, when the door handle (4) is entirely on one door (2, 102), there isn't any opening, closing member like the door handle (4) provided on the other door (2, 102).

[0035] The door handle (4), if stopped on the gap (3) during the movement from one door (2, 102) toward the other door (2, 102) and positioned on the gap (3), prevents both doors (2, 102) from opening by locking while in this position and thus serves as a door guard (Figures 3, 11).

[0036] The door handle (4) is used mutually by both the left door (2) and the right door (102). For example, when the door handle (4) is on the left door (2) and if the user wants to open the right door (102) the door handle (4) is moved by pulling from the left door (2) to the right door (102) and by positioning on the right door (102) thereby opening the right door (102). When the door handle (4) is on the right door (102), and the left door (2) is desired to be opened, this time the door handle (4) is moved by pulling in the reverse direction and is transferred from the right door (102) to the left door (2).

[0037] The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises on its doors (2, 102), two left guides (5) disposed on the left door, near the gap (3), one positioned above and the other below, having a distance of almost a door handle (4) length between the said two left guides (5) and two right guides (105) disposed on the right door (102), one positioned above and the other below, having a distance of almost a door handle (4) length between the said two right guides (105), for mounting the door handle (4) on the door (2 or 102) by housing from the upper and lower ends and defining the path wherein the door handle (4) will move.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises two rails (6), disposed on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4), fitted over the guides (5, 105), which make a sliding motion on the guides (5, 105) and maintain the door handle (4) to be transferred transversely, keeping its vertical position, from one side of the gap (3) to the other and from the left guides (5) to the right guides (105) or from the right guides (105) to the left guides (5) (Figures, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5).

[0039] The rails (6) on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4) are borne on either one of the left door (2) or the right door (102) by means of two guides (5 or 105). While the door handle (4) is transferred from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102), for example from the left door (2) to the right door (102), the user starts to pull the door handle (4) from the left to the right, keeping its vertical position. When the movement starts, the rails (6) start to be displaced from the guides (5) by making a sliding motion on the guides (5) on the left door (2) and reach the guides (105) on the right door (102) by passing over the gap (3). The rails (6), before entirely leaving the guides (5) on the left door (2), pass to the guides (105) on the right door (102) and the motion is continued from left to right, entirely transferring the door handle (4) from the left door (2) to the right door (102). Before the left to right motion, the rails (6) fastened to the door handle (4) are entirely housed by the guides (5) on the left door (2) and after the motion, the rails (6) are entirely housed by the guides (105) on the right door (102). When the door handle (4) is transferred from the right door (102) to the left door (2), the rails (6) leave the right guides (105) this time and are mounted to the left guides (5).

[0040] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises more than one wheel (7), mounted on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4) that maintain the door handle (4) to move transversely from one side of the gap (3) to the other side by making a rolling motion on the guides (5, 105), transferring thereof from the left guides (5) to the right guides (105) or from the right guides (105) to the left guides (5) (Figures 6, 7).

[0041] In this embodiment, the wheels (7) on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4) are housed on either one of the left door (2) or the right door (102) by means of two guides (5 or 105). While the door handle (4) is transferred from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102), the wheels (7) pass from one side of the gap (3) to the other side by making a rolling motion in the guides (5, 105) on the door (2, 102) and reach the guides (5, 105) on the other door (2, 102). For example, when the door handle (4) is transferred from left to right, the wheels (7) at the front reach the guides (105) on the right door (102) before the wheels (7) at the rear entirely leave the guides (5) on the left door (2) and the motion is continued from left to right so that the door handle (4) is entirely transferred from the left door (2) to the right door (102). While the wheels (7) fastened to the door handle (4) are housed entirely by the guides (5) on the left door (2) before the right-left motion, the wheels (7) are entirely housed by the guides (105) on the right door (102) after the movement. When the door handle (4) is transferred from the right door (102) to the left door (2), the wheels (7) leave the right guides (105) this time and are mounted to the left guides (5).

[0042] The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises more than one stopper (15) disposed on the guides (5, 105) that stop the sliding or rolling motion of the rails (6) or the wheels (7) on the guides (5, 105) at a certain point when the door handle (4) is moved between the doors (2, 102), and prevent the rails (6) or the wheels (7) to be displaced from the guides (5, 105) (Figures 1 , 5, 6). The door handle (4), when pulled from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102), is stopped from moving any further by bearing against the stoppers (15).

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, while the door handle (4) is transferred from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102) it is positioned to be vertically aligned with the gap (3) and covering the gap (3) and thereby locks the doors (2, 102) (Figure 3).

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises two door handle housings (8, 108) on both doors (2, 102), configured to get narrower from the inner side containing the gap (3) toward the outer side and two connection headpieces (9) arranged on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4), fitted by squeezing into the door handle housings (8, 108) on the door (2, 102) it is disposed on for transferring first one end of the door handle (4), then the other end in two phases respectively from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102) (Figures 9, 10, 13).

[0045] In this embodiment, while the door handle (4) is transferred from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102), in the first phase, one end of the door handle (4) is kept stationary in the door handle housing (8 or 108) on the door (2, 102), the other end is fitted into the door handle housing (8, 108) on the other door (2, 102) by means of the connection headpiece (9). If the movement of the door handle (4) is ended in the first phase, the door handle (4) extends diagonally from one side of the gap (3) to the other, one end of the door handle (4) is engaged with one door (2), the other end with the other door (102) and serves as a door guard in this position by preventing both doors (2, 102) from opening (Figure 11). In the second phase, the end of the door handle (4) initially kept stationary, leaves the door handle housing (8, 108) on the door (2, 102) it is disposed on and is fitted into the door handle housing (8, 108) on the other door (2, 102) (Figure 12).

[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises at least one locking mechanism (10) disposed on the guide (5, 105), the door handle housing (8, 108) or on the door (2, 102) that helps to affix the door handle (4) on the door (2, 102) or in alignment with the gap (3) in a door guard position (Figures 7, 8, 10). The door handle (4) leaves the door (2, 102) by deactivating the locking mechanism (10) on the door (2, 102) it is disposed on and is affixed in the new position by activating the locking mechanism (10) on the door (2, 102) it is disposed on by changing position.

[0047] The locking mechanism (10) comprises a spring housing (11) situated at the door (2, 102), the guide (5, 105) or the door handle housing (8, 108), a spring (12) disposed in the spring housing (11), a pin (13) fastened to the end of the spring (12) and a locking recess (14) arranged on the door handle (4) wherein the pin (13) is seated by the pushing of the spring (12) when brought to a suitable position (Figure 8).

[0048] In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention costs are reduced since a single door handle (4) is used to open, close both of the doors (2, 102). Moreover, the door handle (4) can be used as a door guard.

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1) that comprises a body, a left door (2) and a right door (102), one secured to the left side of the body and the other to the right side of the body with hinges and a gap (3) arranged between the closed left door (2) and right door (102) and characterized by a single door handle (4): - positioned on the left door (2) or the right door (102), - that is moved toward the other door (2, 102) when the other door (2, 102) next to the door (2, 102) it is disposed on is required to be opened, - which is in an intermediate position wherein it is engaged to both doors (2, 102) during movement, - which is transferred to the other door (2, 102) by entirely leaving the door (2, 102) it is disposed on at the end of the movement and - that opens or closes only the door (2, 102) it is positioned on.

2. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the door handle (4) which is stopped on the gap (3) during the movement from one door (2, 102) toward the other door (2, 102) and positioned on the gap (3), thereby preventing both doors (2, 102) from opening by locking while in this position.

3. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by two left guides (5) disposed on the left door, near the gap (3), one positioned above and the other below, and two right guides (105) disposed on the right door (102), near the gap (3), one positioned above and the other below, for mounting the door handle (4) on the door (2 or 102) by housing from the upper and lower ends and defining the path wherein the door handle (4) will move.

4. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by two rails (6), disposed on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4), fitted over the guides (5, 105), and which make a sliding motion on the guides (5, 105).

5. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by more than one wheel (7), mounted on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4) that make a rolling motion on the guides (5, 105).

6. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 4 or 5, characterized by more than one stopper (15) that stop the sliding or rolling motion of the rails (6) or the wheels (7) on the guides (5, 105) at a certain point when the door handle (4) is moved between the doors (2, 102), and prevent the rails (6) or the wheels (7) to be displaced from the guides (5, 105).

7. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by two door handle housings (8, 108) on both doors (2, 102), configured to get narrower from the inner side containing the gap (3) toward the outer side and two connection headpieces (9) arranged on the upper and lower ends of the door handle (4), fitted by squeezing into the door handle housings (8, 108) on the door (2, 102) it is disposed on.

8. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the door handle (4) that extends diagonally from one side of the gap (3) to the other while being transferred from one door (2, 102) to the other door (2, 102), one end engaged with the door handle housing (8) on one door (2), the other end with the door handle housing (108) on the other door (102) and preventing both doors (2, 102) from opening in this position.

9. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one locking mechanism (10) disposed on the guide (5, 105), the door handle housing (8, 108) or on the door (2, 102) that helps to affix the door handle (4) on the door (2, 102) or in alignment with the gap (3).

10. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by the locking mechanism (10) comprising a spring housing (11) situated at the door (2, 102), the guide (5, 105) or the door handle housing (8, 108), a spring (12) disposed in the spring housing (11), a pin (13) fastened to one end of the spring (12) and a locking recess (14) arranged on the door handle (4) wherein the pin (13) is seated by the pushing of the spring (12) when brought to a suitable position.