WO2016050292A1

WO2016050292A1 - Space-saving dividable modular egg storage assembly for a refrigeratiion appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2016050292A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/071044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Salih Pelin; Ahmet KECECI; Necat OZCELIK; Murat YETILMEZSOY; Murat Ungor
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-10-01
Filing date: 2014-10-01
Publication date: 2016-04-07

Abstract

The present invention relates to an egg storage assembly in a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance conventionally has an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and a refrigeration cabin door, said refrigeration cabin door comprising at least one door shelf for accommodating containers. The invention more particularly relates to an egg case (1) comprising a plurality of egg cell units (3), each egg cell unit (3) with a transverse edge (4) perpendicular to the refrigeration cabin door surface and a longitudinal edge (5) in parallel thereto.

Description

SPACE-SAVING DIVIDABLE MODULAR EGG STORAGE ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATIION APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a space-saving egg storage assembly in a refrigeration appliance.

In refrigeration appliances, inner storing area efficiency is one of the most important concerns for the consumer. There are different solutions provided for storing eggs in the state of art. To this end, various designs for egg storage assemblies are proposed, having different sizes and structures.

The structure and size of egg storage assemblies may complicate efficient use of the storage area in the refrigeration appliances because such assemblies themselves generally require a storage area and may be stored in the door shelves in the form of specifically adapted egg cases. This placement has the disadvantage that the egg case occupies the storage space in the door shelf originally dedicated to other items and containers, which would otherwise serve for storing them.

To provide a stable storing in the refrigeration appliances for eggs, the storage area in the door shelves should therefore be used in an efficient manner with minimal interaction with the storage space not originally reserved for storing eggs. Another inconvenience caused by egg cases placed in the door shelves originates from the fact that these cases, although occupying the shelf space, may remain empty from time to time because eggs may be sold in special packages, which can contain and preserve eggs in a convenient manner. Such packages may then be placed in the refrigeration cabin with the eggs inside.

One of the prior art documents in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as EP2096392, disclosing an egg tray for freezers, comprising two parts that have at least one egg insertion slot on their upper surfaces and that can fold onto each other by pivoting with respect to a joint point, a pair of mounts extending downwards from the opposing sides of both of the parts. In the open position of the egg tray mounts, are side to side and one of the internal edges of the mounts faces each other. The egg tray further comprises a "T" shaped protrusion that extends outside from an internal edge and a "T" shaped groove on the other internal edge such that the protrusion can attach, and inside it, the latter can turn and move back and forth.

The present invention provides a dividable modular egg case occupying a limited amount of space in the refrigeration appliance as defined by the characterizing features in Claim 1 and subsequent Claims.

Primary object of the present invention is hence to provide an egg case which can be conveniently used such that only a desired number of egg cells are usable and the shelf space is used in a space-saving manner, resulting in that the door shelves are used to fulfill their primary function.

The present invention provides an egg case with a plurality of egg cell units having a longer longitudinal dimension compared to the transverse dimension. Two egg cell units neighboring each other on the transverse axis are releasably connected to each other via a longitudinal interconnection line and two egg cell units neighboring each other on the longitudinal axis are releasably connected to each other via a transverse interconnection line. Therefore, both of the interconnection lines being releasable, a very flexible space arrangement is obtainable.

An egg cell unit comprises only one egg cell along its transverse axis and number of the egg cells along the longitudinal axis thereof is two or three.

The interconnection lines connecting two egg cell units neighboring each other on the transverse and longitudinal axes provide a releasable connection by means of a projecting edge profile and an edge profile recess of the respective units mating with each other. The projecting edge profile and the edge profile recess communicate with each other such that two L-shaped longitudinal extensions interengage to form relatively unidirectionally sliding mutual parts.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying an egg case for a refrigeration appliance, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1a demonstrates a top view of a refrigeration appliance dividable egg case according to the present invention. Fig. 1b demonstrates a top view of two egg cell units having an interconnection line according to the present invention. Fig. 1c demonstrates an enlarged view of the interconnection line profile.

Fig. 2 demonstrates a general perspective view of a refrigeration appliance dividable egg case according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 demonstrates a general perspective view of a refrigeration appliance dividable egg case being divided according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates a top view of a refrigeration appliance dividable egg case in divided condition according to the present invention.

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings:

Egg case
Egg cell
Egg cell unit
Transverse edge
Longitudinal edge
Projecting edge profile
Edge profile recess
Inner transverse line
Inner longitudinal line
Interconnection line
Carrier means

The present invention relates to a household appliance and more particularly a refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin being enclosed by a heat-insulating housing.

The refrigeration appliance may typically have a main body with a multitude of storage chambers and doors opening and closing a front side of the main body. A refrigerating cabin as well as a freezing cabin may be disposed so as to provide separate divisions within the inside of the main body. The refrigerating cabin of the invention may comprise a plurality of shelves as well as withdrawable storage containers generally designated as a storage space for food items such as vegetables and fruits. The refrigerating cabin typically has a refrigeration cabin door.

In accordance with the invention, a certain number of door shelves are conventionally disposed on the inner side of the refrigeration cabin door, generally accommodating bottles, jars and other similar generally cylindrical containers.

The door shelves usually dimensioned to provide usability along a certain distance from the inner surface of the cabin door can generally accommodate an egg case (1) with two egg cells (2) in the direction perpendicular to the inner surface. Therefore, an egg case (1) with two egg cells (2) in the direction perpendicular to the door surface will occupy the entire transverse dimension of the door shelf. In the event that the egg case (1) placed in the shelf space contains a limited number of eggs, the non-used egg cells (2) will unnecessarily occupy the shelf space, which would otherwise accommodate additional containers.

As the regular shelf space is designed to have a transverse dimension corresponding to receive only two egg cells (2) and larger standard containers such as jars or canned substances may usually require a transverse space larger than one egg cell’s (2) transverse dimension, the egg case (1) according to the present invention is designed to be dividable along an inner transverse line (8) such that the emptied space in the shelf can accommodate such larger containers as will be delineated hereinafter.

According to the present invention, the egg case (1) comprises a plurality of egg cell units (3), each egg cell unit (3) comprising a transverse edge (4) and a longitudinal edge (5). Number of the egg cells (2) along the longitudinal axis of an egg cell unit (3) is greater than the number of the egg cells (2) along the transverse axis of the same.

The inner transverse line (8) establishes a releasable connection in the form of an interconnection line (10) between two egg cell units (3) neighboring on the longitudinal axis in the manner that one of the egg cell units (3) can be removed, if desired, to obtain additional space, and can be reinstalled in a manner reattachable to the other egg cell unit (3) on the longitudinal axis. Therefore, additional space can be obtained by removing one of the egg cell units (3) of the longitudinally neighboring couple. Said interconnection line (10) involves a projecting edge profile (6) and an edge profile recess (7), mating with each other such that the projecting edge profile (6) and the edge profile recess (7) establish a releasable connection between two egg cell units (3).

According to the present invention, two egg cell units (3) neighboring each other on the transverse axis are dividable along an inner longitudinal line (9) and therefore are also releasably connected to each other by means of an interconnection line (10) in the manner that one of the egg cell units (3) can be removed, if desired, to obtain additional space, and can be reinstalled if an additional egg cell unit (3) is needed.

In accordance with the invention, as the shelf space is structured to have a transverse dimension corresponding to receive only two egg cells (2) and while larger standard containers fit inside the shelf so as to occupy the same transverse space occupied by two egg cells (2) and smaller diameter containers and jars can still be placed in a smaller space in terms of the transverse dimension, the present invention provides that number of the egg cells (2) along the transverse axis of an egg cell unit (3) is one and number of the egg cells (2) along the longitudinal axis is preferably two or three. Therefore two egg cell units (3) neighboring in the transverse direction will have an interconnection line (10) through which the projecting edge profile (6) of one egg cell unit (3) engages with the edge profile recess (7) of the other. And each of the transversely neighboring (a, b) and releasably interconnected egg cell units (3) will be attached to two egg cell units (3) (c, d), each one longitudinally neighboring said transversely neighboring (a, b) egg cell units (3).

Therefore, the present invention provides that while both of said two egg cell units (3) (c, d) longitudinally neighboring the transversely neighboring (a, b) egg cell units (3), can be individually removed to obtain a larger transverse space in which larger containers can fit, it is also possible to remove any one of the egg cell units (3) (a, b, c, d) neighboring in the transverse or longitudinal direction to provide space for accommodating smaller items such as smaller diameter containers and jars. In the second case, the transverse distance will be simultaneously occupied by a non-removed first egg cell unit (3) and a smaller diameter container occupying the space emptied by a removed second egg cell unit (3), which would otherwise be neighboring the first egg cell unit (3).

To this end, the present invention ensures that the user can arrange the shelf space according to his/her current needs in a substantially flexible manner. Two egg cell units (3) neighboring in the transverse direction can be both removed in a convenient manner. Likewise any one of the egg cell units (3, (a, b, c, d)) can also be removed by way of separating the interconnection line (10). The invention therefore advantageously provides that an egg case (1) can be partially divided, that is, an egg cell unit (3) forming part of the egg case (1) can be individually removed. For instance, the egg case (1) can be modularly designed to have any even number of egg cell units (3) or can also have an odd number of egg cell units (3) with a missing removed corner piece.

To this end, an egg cell unit (3) is provided with an interconnection line (10) both between two transversely neighboring egg cell units (3) and between two longitudinally neighboring egg cell units (3). Said interconnection lines (10) provide a releasably established connection. As the egg case (1) of the invention comprises at least two egg cell units (3) in the transverse direction, if one of those is removed, the other one neighboring the removed one can be maintained so as obtain a partially divided egg case (1) to accommodate smaller diameter containers and jars.

The egg case (1) is designed such that each egg cell unit (3) is provided with specific carrier means (11) supporting the unit uniformly in a level manner extending from the lower side corners thereof. Therefore, an egg cell unit (3) itself can also be used alone while isolated from the remaining parts.

In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and a refrigeration cabin door, said refrigeration cabin door comprising at least one door shelf for accommodating containers, said refrigeration cabin door further comprising an egg case (1) for receiving eggs in egg cells (2).

In one embodiment of the present invention, said egg case (1) comprises a plurality of egg cell units (3), each egg cell unit (3) comprising a transverse edge (4) perpendicular to the refrigeration cabin door surface and a longitudinal edge (5) in parallel thereto, number of the egg cells (2) along the longitudinal axis of an egg cell unit (3) being greater than the number of the egg cells (2) along the transverse axis of the same and; two egg cell units (3) neighboring each other on the transverse axis and two egg cell units (3) neighboring each other on the longitudinal axis are connected to each other via interconnection lines (10).

In another embodiment of the present invention, a releasably established interconnection line (10) is provided both between two transversely neighboring egg cell units (3) and between two longitudinally neighboring egg cell units (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, number of the egg cells (2) along the transverse axis of an egg cell unit (3) is one and number of the egg cells (2) along the longitudinal axis is at least two.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the interconnection line (10) involves a projecting edge profile (6) and an edge profile recess (7), the projecting edge profile (6) and the edge profile recess (7) being in mating engagement with each other.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each of the transversely or longitudinally neighboring egg cell units (3) are individually removable such that a partially divided egg case (1) is obtainable.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each of the egg cell units (3) comprises two transverse and two longitudinal edges (4, 5), each pair of transverse and longitudinal edges (4, 5) having a projecting edge profile (6) and an edge profile recess (7).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the projecting edge profile (6) and the edge profile recess (7) communicate with each other such that two L-shaped longitudinal extensions interengage to form relatively unidirectionally sliding mutual parts. This is particularly advantageous in that two egg cell units (3) are not accidentally separable because one has to slide one egg cell unit (3) along the entire length of the interconnection line (10) with the other egg cell unit (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the egg case (1) comprises two egg cell units (3) in the transverse direction.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each egg cell unit (3) is provided with specific carrier means (11) supporting the unit uniformly in a level manner.

The present invention therefore provides an egg storing arrangement for a refrigerator door shelf. The egg case (1) of the invention flexibly provides alternative space for use as an optional storage space for other food items. The alternative space of the door shelf is therefore used in a more efficient manner, allowing partial space arrangement for appropriate containers in the form of larger and smaller diameter containers.

Claims

A refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and a refrigeration cabin door, said refrigeration cabin door comprising at least one door shelf for accommodating containers and an egg case (1) for receiving eggs in egg cells (2), characterized in that

said egg case (1) comprising a plurality of egg cell units (3), each egg cell unit (3) comprising a transverse edge (4) perpendicular to the refrigeration cabin door surface and a longitudinal edge (5) in parallel thereto, number of the egg cells (2) along the longitudinal axis of an egg cell unit (3) being greater than the number of the egg cells (2) along the transverse axis of the same and

two egg cell units (3) neighboring each other on the transverse axis and two egg cell units (3) neighboring each other on the longitudinal axis are connected to each other via interconnection lines (10).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1, characterized in that a releasably established interconnection line (10) is provided both between two transversely neighboring egg cell units (3) and between two longitudinally neighboring egg cell units (3).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that number of the egg cells (2) along the transverse axis of an egg cell unit (3) is one and number of the egg cells (2) along the longitudinal axis is at least two.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the interconnection line (10) involves a projecting edge profile (6) and an edge profile recess (7), the projecting edge profile (6) and the edge profile recess (7) being in mating engagement with each other.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that each of the transversely or longitudinally neighboring egg cell units (3) are individually removable such that a partially divided egg case (1) is obtainable.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 4, characterized in that each of the egg cell units (3) comprising two transverse and two longitudinal edges (4, 5), each pair of transverse and longitudinal edges (4, 5) having a projecting edge profile (6) and an edge profile recess (7).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 6, characterized in that the projecting edge profile (6) and the edge profile recess (7) communicate with each other such that two longitudinal extensions interengage to form relatively unidirectionally sliding mutual parts.
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that the egg case (1) comprising two egg cell units (3) in the transverse direction.
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that each egg cell unit (3) is provided with specific carrier means (11) supporting the unit uniformly in a level manner.