WO2011076944A2

WO2011076944A2 - A refrigerator comprising a holder for storing bottles or cans

Info

Publication number: WO2011076944A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/070717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Soner Kahraman; Ahmet Onur Moza; Hasan Basar Kalyoncu; Onur Onrat
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2009-12-25
Filing date: 2010-12-24
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: WO2011076944A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a body wherein items desired to be cooled are disposed, a door providing access to the inside of the body from the outer environment, one or more shelves (2) which are positioned therein at various heights, and a holder (3) which is used for carrying bottles (B) or cans (C).

Description

A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING A HOLDER FOR STORING BOTTLES OR

CANS

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a holder that enables bottles or cans to be stored.

[0002] Various solutions have been developed for storing bottles and beverage cans without occupying much space in the interior volume of the refrigerator. These solutions are generally holders of various

configurations positioned above or under the shelves that divide the inner space of the cooling device into compartments. For selectively storing bottles or cans as desired on the same holder, the configuration of the holder should be adaptable to the dimensions and shapes of both the bottles and cans, preventing them from falling by supporting as required.

[0003] In state of the art German Patent Application No. DE19821824, a holder is explained that enables storing of both the bottles and/or the cans.

[0004] In another state of the art International Patent Application No.

WO200601 1 1 15, a storage unit is explained which can hold a bottle lengthwise or more than one widthwise placed can.

[0005] However, in these state of the art embodiments, it is not possible to

support both the bottles and cans with the same effectiveness. The holder is configured such as to generally support the bottles in the horizontal position in a balanced manner by clasping them from below and provides a limited support for the cans intended to be positioned vertically to the horizontal position whereon the bottles are placed.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator that comprises a holder providing bottles or cans selectively as desired to be carried and supporting the carried items effectively.

[0007] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a holder having a main and an auxiliary support allowing cans or bottles to be carried when desired. The main support carries the bottle placed horizontally thereon by supporting from below. When the holder is desired to be used for carrying cans, the auxiliary support supports the cans placed vertically on the main support by clasping them from the sides.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main support has a crescent shaped cross section and central axis thereof extends in the horizontal direction. The open end of the main support is bent upwards. Accordingly, the main support partially clasps and supports the items placed in the holder such as bottles or the like from below. The auxiliary support is shaped as a ring disposed between the open end of the main support and central axis thereof extends in the vertical direction. Consequently, the auxiliary support supports the items placed vertically in the holder by clasping from their lateral surfaces.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main support and the auxiliary support are formed by bending wires. The holder comprises more than one main support in the horizontal direction and more than one auxiliary support disposed on the main supports. When the bottle is placed in the holder, the main supports arranged successively in the horizontal direction carry and support the bottle from below. When the can is placed in the holder, one can is emplaced in each of the auxiliary supports. Each can is provided to be carried securely by being supported from below by the main support, situated under the auxiliary support wherein the can is placed, and from the sides by the auxiliary support. The main supports are connected to each other by at least one rod shaped binding member. Accordingly, it is possible to produce the holder by using less material.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the main support is

shaped as a single piece plate extending from the front to the back.

[001 1] The holder is preferably secured movably under the shelf and when

required is taken from under the shelf for loading from above. In other words, there is a carrying position wherein the holder is under the shelf and a top loading position wherein loading from above is possible. The refrigerator comprises a movement mechanism that provides the holder to be moved between these positions.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism comprises the rail that provides opening slidingly. In this embodiment, slides seating into the rail are also located on the holder.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement

mechanism comprises a joint that provides opening rotatingly. In this embodiment, furthermore a bearing wherein the joint seats is located on the holder.

[0014] By means of the present invention, a refrigerator is realized having a

holder whereby cans or bottles can be carried selectively as desired and which provides effective support for the carried items.

[0015] The model embodiments relating to the refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0016] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the holder in the top loading position and the shelf in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder with bottle placed therein while being changed from the carrying position to the top loading position in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder in the top loading position with bottle placed therein in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 - is the bottom perspective view of the shelf and the holder in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder in the top loading position with bottle placed therein in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder in the top loading position with bottle placed therein in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder in the

carrying position with bottle placed therein in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of the refrigerator of the present

invention.

[0024] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows: 1. Refrigerator

2. Shelf

3. Holder

4. Main support

5. Auxiliary support

6. Movement mechanism

7. Binding member

8. Arm

[0025] The refrigerator (1 ) comprises a body wherein items desired to be cooled are disposed, a door providing access to the inside of the body from the outer environment, one or more shelves (2) which are positioned therein at various heights, and a holder (3) which is used for carrying bottles (B) or cans (C) (Figure 8).

[0026] The holder (3) comprises at least one main support (4) that carries the bottle (B), placed recumbently therein, in the horizontal axis by partially surrounding from below and at least one auxiliary support (5) that supports the cans (C) seated vertically on the main support (4) by at least partially clasping in the vertical axis (Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[0027] When a bottle (B) desired to be stored horizontally is placed in the holder (3), the main support (4) allows the bottle (B) to be carried by supporting from below. When an item (C), for example a can, desired to be stored vertically is placed in the holder (3), the item (C) is enabled to be carried securely by the main support (4) clasping the item (C) from below and the auxiliary support (5) from the sides. Consequently, the bottle (B) or cans (C) can be carried selectively as desired by a single holder (3).

[0028] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cross section of the main support (4) is C shaped, the central axis thereof extends in the horizontal direction and the open orifice of the C faces upward, the auxiliary support (5) is fastened on the main support (4) and has almost circular shape and the central axis of which extends in the vertical direction.

[0029] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main support (4) and the auxiliary support (5) are formed by assembling more than one wire or rod. The wires forming the main support (4) are arranged one after the other in the horizontal direction. An auxiliary support (5) is disposed on each of the wires forming the main support (4). In this embodiment, the holder (3) furthermore comprises at least one rod shaped binding member (7) that provides the main supports (4) to move together by fastening the main supports (4) to each other (Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3).

Accordingly, it is possible to produce the holder (3) by using less material.

[0030] For example, the main support (4) is formed by arranging three C shaped wires one after the other concentrically such that a gap is provided therebetween. Moreover, on each wire forming the main support (4), a circular shaped auxiliary support (5) each, the central axis of which is in the vertical direction is secured. Thereafter, the wires forming the main support (4) are joined together with a wire binding member (7) extending in the horizontal direction.

[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention, the main support (4) is formed by bending a flat plate (Figure 5). Consequently, the holder (3) is provided to effectively support the items (B, C) carried thereby particularly during movement.

[0032] The refrigerator (1 ) furthermore comprises a movement mechanism (6) allowing the holder (3) to be secured movably under the shelf (2) and to be moved between a loading position enabling loading from above by pulling the holder (3) outward from under the shelf (2) and a carrying position wherein the holder (3) remains entirely under the shelf (2) (Figure 4 and Figure 6). Accordingly, the holder (3) is provided to be moved easily.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (6) comprises two opposite rails disposed under the shelf (2), slidably supporting the holder (3) from the two sides and two slides disposed inside the rails providing the sliding movement of the holder (3) (Figure 3 and Figure 4). In this embodiment, the holder (3) partially comes out of the shelf (2) when pulled by moving along the movement mechanism (6) and is changed to the loading position. After loading is performed, the holder (3) is pushed and returns to the carrying position wherein the holder (3) remains under the shelf (2) by moving along the movement mechanism [0034] In a version of this embodiment, the holder (3) comprises at least one arm (8) that extends upwards from the points wherefrom the auxiliary supports

(5) are fastened to the main supports (4). The slides are fixed to the arms (8) and are configured as two opposite rods (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement

mechanism (6) comprises a joint providing the holder (3) to be mounted under the shelf (2) such as to be opened by rotating around the vertical axis and a bearing wherein the joint is placed (Figure 6 and Figure 7). In this embodiment, the holder (3) partially comes out of the shelf (2) when pulled by rotating around the movement mechanism (6) and is changed from the carrying position to the loading position. After the loading is performed, the holder (3) again rotates around the movement mechanism

(6) by being pushed and changes to the carrying position wherein the holder (3) remains under the shelf (2).

[0036] In the refrigerator (1 ) of the present invention, the user can load both

bottles (B) or cans (C) to the holder (3) as per preferences and

consequently the utilization effectiveness is increased by providing savings in terms of the interior volume.

[0037] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the

embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1 ) comprising a body wherein items desired to be cooled are disposed, a door providing access to the inside of the body from the outer environment, one or more shelves (2) which are positioned therein at various heights, and a holder (3) which is used for carrying bottles (B) or cans (C), characterized by the holder (3) having

- at least one main support (4) that carries the bottle (B), placed recumbently therein, in the horizontal axis by partially surrounding from below and

- at least one auxiliary support (5) that supports the cans (C) seated vertically on the main support (4) by at least partially clasping in the vertical axis.

2. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by at least one main support (4), the cross section of which is C shaped, the central axis of which extends in the horizontal direction and the open orifice of the C facing upward and at least one auxiliary support (5) having almost circular shape the central axis of which extends in the vertical direction.

3. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the main support (4) and the auxiliary support (5) formed by assembling more than one wire or rod arranged one after the other in the horizontal direction and at least one rod shaped binding member (7) providing the main supports (4) to move together by fastening the main supports (4) to each other.

4. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the main support (4) formed by bending a flat plate.

5. A refrigerator (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a

movement mechanism (6) allowing the holder (3) to be secured movably under the shelf (2) and to be moved between a loading position enabling loading from above by pulling the holder (3) outward from under the shelf (2) and a carrying position wherein the holder (3) remains entirely under the shelf (2).

6. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 5, characterized by the movement mechanism (6) comprising two opposite rails disposed under the shelf (2), slidably supporting the holder (3) from the two sides and two slides disposed inside the rails providing the sliding movement of the holder (3).

7. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 6, characterized by the holder (3) comprising at least one arm (8) that extends upwards from the points wherefrom the auxiliary supports (5) are fastened to the main supports (4).

8. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 5, characterized by the movement mechanism (6) comprising a joint providing the movement mechanism (6) to be mounted under the shelf (2) such as to be opened by rotating around the vertical axis and a bearing wherein the joint is placed.