WO2012062675A2

WO2012062675A2 - A cooling device wherein shelf height can be changed

Info

Publication number: WO2012062675A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/069479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Ercan Akyuz; Fethi Sen; Resul Yavuz; Birol Konak
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2010-11-12
Filing date: 2011-11-04
Publication date: 2012-05-18
Also published as: WO2012062675A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1 ) comprising a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), at least one shelf (4) whereon objects are placed, that has a higher position (P1) and a lower position (P2) at different levels from each other inside the body (2) and at least two shelf supports (5) disposed on each side wall (3), and wherein the shelf (4) height can be changed.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE WHEREIN SHELF HEIGHT CAN BE CHANGED

The present invention relates to a cooling device wherein the height of the shelf can be changed.

In cooling devices such as refrigerators and deep freezers the foodstuffs and various containers are placed on the shelves. Depending on the needs of the user, the distance between the two shelves is required to be adjusted, in other words the height of the shelf in the body is required to be changed.

In some cooling devices, channels or rails that extend parallel to each other are disposed on the two opposite side walls of the body so that the height of the shelf can be changed. The user changes the height of the shelf by taking it out from the channels at one level and placing at another pair of channels at the desired level. However, for this operation the user has to first pull the shelf towards the outside of the body and push back towards the body rear wall after placing it in the channel pair at the desired height level. In order to perform this operation safely, the objects on the shelf has to be at least partially taken out and placed on the shelf again after the operation is completed.

For solving the said problem, shelf mechanisms are used in cooling devices that allow the height of the shelf to be changed without entirely taking the shelf out of the body by means of different channel structures on the side wall. Making operations on the side wall of the cooling device is difficult and costly.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO03095912, a cooling device is described which comprises a shelf that can move in the horizontal or vertical directions without being removed from inside the body due to the channel structure on the side walls.

In the state of the art United States of America Patent Application No. US3516369, a refrigerator is described wherein the shelf height can be changed by means of diagonal channels situated between two horizontal shelf channels at different heights inside the body. In this embodiment, the channels are provided to become suitable for passage and the shelf to remain fixed in the place that it is changed to by means of the doors situated at the transition points of the diagonal channels.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a shelf, the height of which can be changed without being removed from the inside of the body.

In the cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, a body having two opposite side walls, at least one shelf whereon objects are placed, separating the body into partitions, at least one shelf support disposed on the side walls, at least one extension, disposed on the sides of the shelf facing the side walls and providing the shelf to be mounted to the body, at least one adaptor mounted detachably to the shelf support and providing the height of the shelf to be changed between a lower position and a higher position by guiding the shelf with the extension are provided.

At least one horizontal channel providing the movement of the shelf in the horizontal axis, at least one inclined channel providing the shelf height inside the body to be changed, at least one transition point where the horizontal channel and the inclined channel intersect, at least one opening providing the extension to enter into the horizontal channel and at least one locking element providing the shelf to remain fixed while in the higher position are disposed on the front surface of the adaptor facing the interior space of the cooling device.

The extension situated at the sides of the shelf facing the side walls passes through the opening located at the upper side of the adaptor facing the cooling device ceiling and first enters into the horizontal channel and right afterwards is seated into the locking element which is preferably in recess form. In this position, the shelf is in the higher position.

When the shelf height is desired to be changed, the user holds the shelf from its side facing the door and pulls it forwards, and inserts into the horizontal channel by releasing the extension from the recess shaped locking element. The pulling motion is continued until the extension reaches the transition point through the horizontal channel. The extension passes into the inclined channel right after reaching the transition point. The movement in the vertical direction starts upon passing into the inclined channel, in other words, the change in height of the shelf inside the body starts. Due to the configuration of the inclined channel, the two opposite corners of the extension contact the opposite walls of the inclined channel. Accordingly, while moving inside the inclined channel, the extension is borne by the inclined channel and thus the movement is performed controllably. Upon reaching the end of the inclined channel, the extension contacts the base of the inclined channel. In this position the shelf is in the lower position. The shelf exerts pressure on the base of the inclined channel due to its weight and the movement of the shelf in the vertical axis is prevented unless there is a force acting in the upwards direction. By means of the width of the extension being the same as width of the inclined channel base, movement in the horizontal axis is prevented and the shelf is provided to remain fixed in the lower position without requiring any locking element.

When the shelf is desired to be changed to the higher position again, it is moved upwards from the lower position by intervention of the user and is moved along the inclined channel until reaching the transition point. Upon reaching the transition point, the extension is inserted into the horizontal channel by the shelf being pushed slightly forwards and the pushing motion is continued until the extension is seated into the recess shaped locking element. The shelf is provided to be fixed in the higher position as the extension is seated into the locking element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an adaptor is disposed at each opposite side wall of the cooling device, at the same shelf level, having two horizontal channels, two inclined channels, two transition points, two locking elements and two openings. These adaptors are disposed at the same level inside the body so as to guide the same shelf from one of its sides. The adaptors extend along the side wall so that the shelf supports are entirely covered. In this position, the adaptors completely replace the shelf supports. In this embodiment, two extensions are provided on each side of the shelf facing the side walls. The extensions on each side are positioned so as to correspond to the openings on the adaptor. Since the extensions at the front and rear side of the shelf move together during the movement, the shelf is provided to remain parallel to the ground. Thus, the objects on the shelf are prevented from falling off while the height of the shelf is changed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an adaptor is disposed at each opposite side wall of the cooling device at the same shelf level, having one horizontal channel, one inclined channel, one transition point, one locking element and one opening. These adaptors are disposed at the same level inside the body so as to guide the same shelf from one of its sides. The adaptors are disposed at the portion of the side wall close to the rear wall. In this embodiment, one extension and an abutment that bears against the adaptor and the shelf by closing the gap between the side wall and itself are disposed at each side of the shelf facing the side walls. The extension is positioned so as to correspond to the opening of the adaptor at the side wall, the abutment extends starting from the adaptor level to the end point of the shelf such that the gap formed between the shelf and the side wall due to the volume occupied by the adaptor inside the body is covered.

In this embodiment, the abutment is produced to be two step. Thus, during changing of the shelf height, the abutment is provided not to bump into the shelf support and not prevent the movement. When the shelf comes to the transition point after finishing the movement in the horizontal channel, the first step, wider than the second step, is released from the shelf support and becomes free. The moment the extension finishes its movement in the inclined channel and contacts the base, the abutment is seated on the shelf support at that level. Thus, the movement is provided to be completed without being prevented by any obstacle and the shelf to remain parallel to the ground in both positions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the wall of the locking element connected to the horizontal channel is produced in an upwardly inclined manner. Thus, the extension is provided to be more easily released from the locking element and enter into horizontal channel during changing of the shelf from the higher position to the lower position.

By means of the present invention, the height of the shelves in the cooling device can be changed without being taken out of the body and without taking off the objects thereon. This not only saves time but also maintains ease of use. Furthermore, by means of the detachable structure of the adaptor, the cooling device is not damaged and when desired can be easily changed to the former position. Also, cost advantage is provided since great structural modifications are not required in the cooling device.

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

Figure 1 – is the exploded view of the cooling device of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the front perspective view of the adaptor.

Figure 3 – is the rear perspective view of the adaptor.

Figure 4 – is the exploded detailed view of the cooling device in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the detailed view of the cooling device while the adaptor is mounted to the shelf support in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the detailed view of the cooling device while the shelf is in the higher position.

Figure 7 – is the detailed view of the cooling device while the extension is in the transition point.

Figure 8 – is the detailed view of the cooling device while the shelf is in the lower position.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Side wall
Shelf
Shelf support
Adaptor
Horizontal channel
Inclined channel
Transition point
Locking element
Opening
Extension
Connection member
Abutment

The cooling device (1) comprises

- a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3),

- at least one shelf (4), whereon objects are placed, that can be situated at a higher position (P1) and a lower position (P2) at different levels from each other inside the body (2),

- at least two shelf supports (5) disposed on each side wall (3).

The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises at least one adaptor (6) that is detachably mounted to the shelf support (5) which enables the height of the shelf (4) to be changed between the higher position (P1) and the lower position (P2) (Figure 1).

The adaptor (6) is mounted on the shelf support (5) when the shelf (4) is not mounted to the shelf support (5) (Figure 5). In this position, the shelf (4) is mounted on the adaptor (6) instead of the shelf support (5) and the height of the shelf (4) can be changed without requiring to be taken out of the body (2) by means of the structure of the adaptor (6) allowing to change the height of the shelf (4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the adaptor (6) comprises at least one connection member (13) disposed on the surface thereof contacting the side wall (3), providing the adaptor (6) to be connected to the shelf support (5), at least one horizontal channel (7) providing the shelf (4) to move in the horizontal direction, at least one inclined channel (8) providing the height of the shelf (4) in the body (2) to be changed, at least one transition point (9) where the horizontal channel (7) and the inclined channel (8) intersect, at least one opening (11) providing the extension (12) to enter into the horizontal channel (7) and at least one locking element (10) providing the shelf (4) to remain fixed while in the higher position (P1) (Figure 2, Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises an extension (12) disposed on the sides of the shelf (4) facing the side walls (3), mounted to the adaptor (6) so as to move in the horizontal channel (7) and the inclined channel (8). In this embodiment, the extension (12) provides the shelf (4) to be moved between the higher position (P1) and the lower position (P2).

The connection member (13) provides the adaptor (6) to be detachably mounted on the shelf support (5). The extension (12) situated at the sides of the shelf (4) facing the side walls (3) passes through the opening (11) at the upper side of the adaptor (6) facing the cooling device (1) ceiling and first enters into the horizontal channel (7) and right afterwards is seated into the locking element (10) which is preferably in form of recess. In this situation, the shelf (4) is at the higher position (P1) (Figure 6). Since the width of the extension (12) is less than the width of the locking element (10), the extension (12) is seated into the locking element (10) and the shelf (4) is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction.

When the height of the shelf (4) is desired to be changed, the user pulls the shelf (4) forwards and inserts the extension (12) into the horizontal channel (7) by releasing it from the locking element (10). The movement of pulling forwards is continued along the horizontal channel (7) and the extension (12) is brought to the transition point (9) (Figure 7). The extension (12) enters into the inclined channel (8) right after the transition point (9) and starts its movement in the inclined channel (8). The movement in the inclined channel (8) is performed controllably since the two opposite corners of the extension (12) contact the opposite walls of the inclined channel (8). At the end of the movement, the extension (12) bears on the lower surface of the inclined channel (8). In this situation, the shelf (4) is at the lower position (P2) (Figure 8). Thus, the shelf (4) is prevented from moving in the vertical direction unless there is a force acting in the upward direction. By means of the width of the extension (12) being almost the same as the width of the inclined channel (8), movement in the horizontal direction is prevented and the shelf (4) is provided to remain fixed in the lower position (P2) without requiring any locking element.

When desired to be changed to the higher position (P1) again, the shelf (4) is started to be moved upwards from the lower position (P2) by intervention of the user and moved along the inclined channel (8) until reaching the transition point (9). Upon reaching the transition point (9), the shelf (4) is inserted into the horizontal channel (7) by being pushed forwards slightly and the pushing motion is continued along the horizontal channel (7). Upon reaching the end of the horizontal channel (7), the extension (12) is seated into the locking element (10), providing the shelf (4) to be fixed in the higher position (P1).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises the adaptor (6) on each opposite side wall (3) thereof being aligned with the same shelf (4), each having two horizontal channels (7), two inclined channels (8), two transition points (9), two locking elements (10) and two openings (11) (Figure 4). These adaptors (6) are at the same height and are positioned so as to guide the same shelf (4) from one of its sides. The adaptors (6) extend along the side wall (3) so as to entirely cover the shelf support (5). In this embodiment, the shelf (4) comprises two extensions (12) on each of its sides facing the side walls (3). The extensions (12) on each side are positioned so as to correspond to the openings (11) on the adaptors (6). Since the extensions (12) at the front and rear side of the shelf (4) move together during the movement, the shelf (4) is provided to remain parallel to the ground. Thus, the objects on the shelf (4) are prevented from falling off while the height thereof is changed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises the adaptor (6) on each opposite side wall (3) thereof being aligned with the same shelf (4), each having one horizontal channel (7), one inclined channel (8), one transition point (9), one locking element (10) and one opening (11) (Figure 5). These adaptors (6) are at the same height and are positioned so as to guide the same shelf (4) from one of its sides. The adaptors (6) are on the side wall (3) and close to the rear side of the body (2). In this embodiment, the shelf (4) comprises, at each side facing the side walls (3), one extension (12) and an abutment (14) that bears against the adaptor (6) and the shelf support (5) by closing the gap between the side wall (3) and itself. The extension (12) is positioned so as to correspond to the opening (11) at the side wall (3), the abutment (14) extends starting from the adaptor (6) level to the end point of the shelf (4) so as to cover the gap between the shelf (4) and the side wall (3) that formed due to volume occupied by the adaptor (6) inside the body (2).

In this embodiment, the abutment (14) is produced to be two step so as not to bump into the shelf support (5) during changing of the shelf (4) height and so as to provide the shelf (4) to remain parallel to the ground in the higher position (P1) and in the lower position (P2). When the extension (12) comes to the transition point (9) after finishing the movement in the horizontal channel (7), the first step, wider than the second step, is released from the shelf support (5) and becomes free. When the extension (12) finishes moving in the inclined channel (8) and contacts the base, the abutment (14) bears against the lower shelf support (5). Thus, the movement is provided to be completed without being prevented by any obstacle and the shelf (4) to remain parallel to the ground in both positions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the side of the locking element (10) connected to the horizontal channel (7) is upwardly inclined. Consequently, the extension (12) is provided to be released from the locking element (10) more easily and enter into the horizontal channel (7) during passage of the shelf (4) from the higher position (P1) to the lower position (P2).

By means of the present invention, the height of the shelves (4) in the cooling device (1) can be changed without being taken out of the body (2) and without taking off the objects thereon. This not only saves time but also maintains ease of use. Furthermore, by means of the detachable structure of the adaptor (6), the cooling device (1) is not damaged and when desired can be easily changed to the former position. Also cost advantage is provided since great structural modifications are not required in the cooling device (1).

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to 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

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), at least one shelf (4), whereon objects are placed, that has a higher position (P1) and a lower position (P2) at different levels from each other inside the body (2) and at least two shelf supports (5) disposed on each side wall (3), characterized by at least one adaptor (6) that is detachably mounted to the shelf support (5) and that enables the height of the shelf (4) to be changed between the higher position (P1) and the lower position (P2).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the adaptor (6) comprising at least one horizontal channel (7) providing the shelf (4) to move in the horizontal direction, at least one inclined channel (8) providing the height of the shelf (4) in the body (2) to be changed, at least one transition point (9) where the horizontal channel (7) and the inclined channel (8) intersect, and an extension (12) disposed on the sides of the shelf (4) facing the side walls (3), mounted to the adaptor (6) so as to move in the horizontal channel (7) and the inclined channel (8).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the adaptor (6) comprising at least one opening (11) providing the extension (12) to enter into the horizontal channel (7).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the opening (11) situated at the upper side of the adaptor (6).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the adaptor (6) comprising at least one locking element (10) providing the shelf (4) to be fixed while in the higher position (P1).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the locking element (10) that is in form of a recess wherein the extension (12) is seated.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the locking element (10), the side of which connected to the horizontal channel (7) is upwardly inclined.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the adaptor (6) comprising at least one connection member (13) disposed on its surface contacting the side wall (3), providing the adaptor (6) to be mounted to the shelf support (5).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the adaptor (6), disposed on each of the two opposite side walls (3) being aligned with the same shelf (4), each comprising two horizontal channels (7), two inclined channels (8), two transition points (9), two locking elements (10) and two openings (11).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by the shelf (4) comprising two extensions (12) on each of its sides facing the side walls (3).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized by the adaptor (6), disposed on each of the two opposite side walls (3) being aligned with the same shelf (4), each comprising one horizontal channel (7), one inclined channel (8), one transition point (9), one locking element (10) and one opening (11).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 11, characterized by the shelf (4) comprising, at each of its sides facing the side walls (3), one extension (12) and an abutment (14) that bears against the adaptor (6) and the shelf support (5) by closing the gap between the side wall (3) and the shelf (4).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 12, characterized by the two step abutment (14) providing the shelf (4) not to bump into the shelf support (5) during changing of the shelf (4) height and providing the shelf (4) to remain parallel to the ground in the higher position (P1) and the lower position (P2).