WO2016134987A1 - Refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel - Google Patents

Refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2016134987A1
WO2016134987A1 PCT/EP2016/053040 EP2016053040W WO2016134987A1 WO 2016134987 A1 WO2016134987 A1 WO 2016134987A1 EP 2016053040 W EP2016053040 W EP 2016053040W WO 2016134987 A1 WO2016134987 A1 WO 2016134987A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support panel
inner liner
elements
support
door
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2016/053040
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Fred Viol
Andrea De Vito
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Electrolux Appliances AB
Original Assignee
Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Electrolux Appliances AB filed Critical Electrolux Appliances AB
Publication of WO2016134987A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016134987A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/06—Walls
    • F25D23/065—Details
    • F25D23/067—Supporting elements

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to a refrigerating apparatus comprising accessories for the organized positioning of products to be refrigerated. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel to support such accessories.
  • Each refrigerating apparatus typically comprises a refrigerating compartment and a door allowing selective access to the refrigerating compartment.
  • the door In most of the refrigerating apparatuses currently on the market, the door is typically provided, on its inner surface facing the refrigerating compartment when the door is closed, with an inner liner arranged for mounting on it accessories for the organized positioning of the products to be cooled (for example, shelves, drawers, bottle holder elements, and the like).
  • the liner is provided with suitable mounting elements, typically obtained contextually to the liner by means of known molding techniques.
  • the Applicant has tackled the problem of allowing to obtain refrigerating apparatus having doors with different user interfaces, without involving significant increases of the costs and of the production times.
  • the Applicant has devised a refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel capable of providing a user interface (with a preset degree of modularity) different from the one toward which the liner was geared.
  • the refrigerating apparatus comprises a refrigerating compartment and a door for selectively closing the refrigerating compartment.
  • the door comprises an external surface facing, when the door is closed, the external of the refrigerating compartment, and an inner liner, opposite to said external surface.
  • Said inner liner comprises first mechanic coupling elements coupled or coupleable to corresponding second mechanic coupling elements of a support panel of said refrigerating apparatus covering or adapted to cover at least partially said inner liner.
  • Said second mechanic coupling elements are located at a coupling region of the support panel facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner.
  • Said support panel comprises one or more support elements for supporting one or more storage elements adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements facing the refrigerating compartment when the support panel covers the inner liner and the door is closed.
  • said one or more support elements and said one or more storage elements are arranged in such a way to allow positioning at least one of said one or more storage elements on said support panel in at least two different positions.
  • said first mechanic coupling elements of the inner liner are coupled or coupleable to the corresponding second mechanic coupling elements of the support panel in a removable manner.
  • said one or more support elements comprise or define one or more rails extending along at least part of the inner liner and adapted to receive at least partially at least one of said one or more storage elements.
  • said support panel comprises a plurality of said rails parallel to each other.
  • said coupling region of the support panel comprises a rear face of the support panel facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner.
  • the support panel comprises a rear face facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner, and first and second track elements adapted to enclose at least partially said one or more support elements therebetween, said coupling region of the support panel comprising faces of said first and second track elements facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner.
  • said one or more support elements comprise two or more crossbars in column to one another, parallel to one another, thereby defining one of said rails between each pair of crossbars, said crossbars comprising respective front zones defining, as a whole, a front face of said support panel opposite said rear face and facing the refrigerating compartment when the support panel covers the inner liner and the door is closed, and respective rear zones defining, as a whole, said rear face of said support panel.
  • said support panel is made of a plastic material, and/or of metal and/or of wood.
  • Another aspect of the present invention proposes a method for assembling a refrigerating apparatus whose door comprises an inner liner.
  • the method comprises the following steps:
  • a support panel adapted to be mounted on the inner liner, the support panel having, at a coupling region facing said inner liner when the support panel is mounted one the inner liner, first mechanic coupling elements coupleable to second mechanic coupling elements of the inner liner for mounting said support panel to said inner liner, and one or more support elements for supporting one or more storage elements adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements facing the refrigerating compartment when the support panel is mounted on the inner liner and the door is closed;
  • the method further comprises the step of mounting at least one of said one or more storage elements on said one or more support elements of said support panel.
  • the step of mounting the support panel on the inner liner comprises mounting the support panel on the inner liner in a removable manner.
  • at least part of said second mechanic coupling elements allow fixing in a predefined manner door accessories directly on the inner liner.
  • Figures 1A and IB show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a refrigerating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 1C, ID and IE show a perspective view, a perspective view with partially exploded parts and a front view, respectively, of a door of such a refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure IF shows a perspective view of the door of the refrigerating apparatus and of the support panel according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 1G and 1H show a front view and a sectional view along the section axis I-I of Figure 1G, respectively, of the support panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS 1A and IB show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a refrigerating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • directional terminology for example, top, bottom, lateral, central, horizontal, vertical, transverse
  • the term “substantially” will be used to take into account (desired or undesired) manufacturing tolerances.
  • the refrigerating apparatus 100 comprises a refrigerating compartment 105 (for example, a fridge compartment) for housing products to be refrigerated, and a door 110 (shown in an open position) for allowing selective access to the fridge compartment 105.
  • the fridge compartment 105 comprises, within it, one or more accessories for the organized positioning of the products to be refrigerated, such as one or more shelves (such as the shelves 105s exemplary illustrated), and/or one or more bottle-holder components (such as the bottle-holder element 105H exemplary illustrated) and/or one or more drawers (such as the drawers 105D exemplary illustrated) and/or others.
  • the refrigerating apparatus 100 comprises a further refrigerating compartment (for example, a freezer compartment) and a door 115 associated with it (the freezer compartment being not visible in the figures as it is covered by the respective door 115 in the closed position).
  • a further refrigerating compartment for example, a freezer compartment
  • the freezer compartment being not visible in the figures as it is covered by the respective door 115 in the closed position.
  • the present invention can be applied to refrigerating apparatuses provided with any number of refrigerating compartments and doors - however, for the sake of exposition simplicity and brevity, the present invention will be exemplary discussed by making reference to the fridge compartment 105 and to the respective door 110.
  • the door 110 comprises, in correspondence of an inner surface thereof opposite an outer surface IIOES facing the outside of the fridge compartment 105, an inner liner 120, and, coupled to the liner 120, a support panel 125 adapted to support further accessories for the organized positioning of the products to be refrigerated, such as one or more storage elements - for example, tray storage elements (such as the tray storage elements 130B exemplary illustrated) - and/or one or more retaining elements - for example, clip retaining elements (such as the clip retaining elements 130c exemplary illustrated) suitable to retain/hold storage bags, not shown.
  • tray storage elements 130B and the clip retaining elements 130c will be generically indicated as storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c.
  • the positioning of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c on the support panel 125 can define any arrangement or composition (in the following, user interface), and, according to implementations of the support panel 125 and of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c, this user interface has a predefined degree of modularity (i.e., configurability and/or re-configurability) - for example, the user interface may be fixed (i.e., preset by the manufacturer and not configurable or reconfigurable by the user), freely configurable and reconfigurable by the user, partially configurable by the user (for example, initially configurable by the user but not reconfigurable subsequently, or only part of the user interface configurable and/or reconfigurable).
  • this user interface has a predefined degree of modularity (i.e., configurability and/or re-configurability) - for example, the user interface may be fixed (i.e., preset by the manufacturer and not configurable or reconfigurable by the user), freely configurable and reconfigurable by the user, partially configura
  • the coupling of the support panel 125 (with the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c) to the liner 120 allows modifying the predefined user interface of the liner 120 (the liner 120 being in fact advantageously designed for the mounting on it of specific accessories in predetermined positions, as explained below) without modifying the manufacturing process of the liner 120 (and, particularly, without replacing the mold used for its manufacturing, which would involve non-negligible costs).
  • Figures 1A and IB will be discussed together with Figures 1C, ID and IE, which show a perspective view, a perspective view with partially exploded parts and a front view, respectively, of the door 110, with Figure IF, which shows a perspective view of the door 110 and of the support panel 125, and with Figures 1G and 1H, which show, respectively, a front view of the support panel 125 and a sectional view thereof along the section axis I-I of Figure 1G.
  • the support panel 125 is suitable to cover at least partially the liner 120.
  • the support panel 125 covers an upper portion of the liner 120 - for example, as illustrated, by extending in width (i. e. , along the horizontal direction X) for substantially the entire width of the liner 120, and in height (i.e., along the vertical direction Y orthogonal to the horizontal direction X) for substantially half height of the liner 120 - with the (remaining) lower portion of the liner 120 which is preferably left free from the support panel 125.
  • Such a lower portion of the liner 120 can advantageously be used, as herein assumed by way of example, for allowing the installation of specific accessories (for example, a balcony shelf, such as the balcony shelf 110s exemplary illustrated in Figures 1A and IB) and/or for allowing correct closure of the door 110 - on the contrary, the concomitant presence, in the lower portion of the liner 120, of the support panel 125 and of drawers of relatively large size in the fridge compartment 105 (such as the drawer 105D arranged at the bottom of the fridge compartment 105) could hinder the closing of the door 110.
  • the possibility that the support panel 125 completely (or almost completely) covers the liner 120 is not excluded.
  • the support panel 125 is made of an easily washable material - for example, the support panel 125 may be made of a plastic material, metal (e.g. , aluminum), wood, or a combination of one or more of the previous materials. Still more preferably, the support panel 125 is made of the same material as the liner 120, so that, especially in implementations (such as the one herein exemplary considered) wherein the support panel 125 covers only part of the liner 120, a perception of continuity, and hence of aesthetic appeal, is induced to the user.
  • the support panel 125 comprises one or more support elements 125F for supporting the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c, the support elements 125F facing the fridge compartment 105 (when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120 and the door 110 is in the closed position, not shown).
  • the support elements 125F and the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c are configured in such a way to allow the fixing of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c (or at least of a part thereof) to the support panel 125 in at least two different positions. Still more preferably, the support elements 125F and the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c are conceived in such a way that the user interface has a high degree of modularity (i.e. , positioning of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c that is freely configurable and reconfigurable, and hence customizable, by the user).
  • the support elements 125F preferably comprise (for example, they are made in the form of) one or more crossbars (or tables or axes) 125F each one extending on at least part of the liner 120 and adapted to support the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c (preferably, as shown, hanging the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c to such crossbars 125F).
  • the support panel 125 comprises a plurality of crossbars 125F (eight crossbars, in the exemplary but non-limiting illustrated embodiment) arranged in columns to one another, and parallel to one another.
  • Such crossbars 125F can be manufactured individually and attached to one another, as in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or may be formed integrally with each other.
  • the distance between the crossbars 125F and the width extension thereof with respect to the size of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c is such that each storage/retaining element 130B, 130c can be placed in any free position along a selected crossbar 125F - with each crossbar 125F that, in the exemplary considered embodiment, extends for substantially the entire width of the liner 120 so as to maximize the modularity of the user interface.
  • each crossbar 125F comprises a front zone 125FF that defines, together with the front zones 125FF of the other crossbars 125F, a front face (or surface) 125SF of the support panel 125.
  • each crossbar 125F further comprises a rear zone 125FR that defines, together with the rear zones 125FR of the other crossbars 125F, a rear face (or surface) 125SR of the support panel 125.
  • the support elements 125F comprise or define one or more rails 125G that extend along at least part of the inner liner 120 and are adapted to receive at least partially at least one of said one or more storage/retaining elements
  • each crossbar 125F defines within it (i.e. , between the respective front zone 125FF and the respective rear zone 125FR) a rail 125G to allow the hooking and the free positioning of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c along it.
  • the front zone 125FF and the rear zone 125FR of each crossbar 125F are mutually staggered along the vertical direction Y (with the rear zone 125FR that, preferably, extends in height, for example at an upper part thereof, beyond the respective front zone 125FF), and the front zone 125FF of each crossbar 125F has (for example, at a bottom part thereof) a chamfered portion 125FFS (best visible in Figure 1H).
  • the rear zones 125FR form a substantially continuous (or perceived as continuous) rear face of the support panel 125
  • the front zones 125FF identify, thanks to the rails 125G and to the distance between adjacent crossbars 125F, elongated hooks for the hooking of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c - with the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c that are preferably shaped such as to allow such a hooking within the rails 125G, being for example provided with a curved or arcuate arm adapted to act as a hook.
  • each crossbar 125F is spaced apart from each other along the transversal direction Z (orthogonal to the horizontal direction X and to the vertical direction Y), hence with the rail 125G of each crossbar 125F that is defined by the gap between the respective front zone 125FF and the respective rear zone 125FR.
  • each chamfered portion 125FFS extends (from the front face 125SF of the support panel 125) towards the rear face 125SR of the support panel 125 so as to define a respective cavity 135 adapted to receive corresponding engagement elements 125E (for example, snap-fit engagement elements) of the tracks 125si,125s2 for allowing the stable fixing of the crossbar 125F therebetween.
  • a further cavity 140 is provided below the rail 125G (and separated from it) adapted to receive the engagement elements 125E of the tracks 125si,125s2.
  • the liner 120 preferably comprises mechanical coupling elements 120c (preferably, made in a single piece with the liner 120) coupleable to corresponding mechanical coupling elements 125c of the support panel 125 (for example, made in a single piece with it). Still more preferably, the mechanical coupling elements 120c of the liner 120 are coupleable to the corresponding mechanical coupling elements 125c of the support panel 125 in a removable manner, so as to allow the support panel 125 (and hence to the user interface it allows configuring) to be applied to the liner 120 in a reversible way (and thus to be simply replaced).
  • the coupling elements 120c advantageously comprise recesses (or openings), and the coupling elements 125c comprise engaging tabs (or engaging pins) suitable to be inserted in these recesses ( Figure IF).
  • the mechanical coupling elements 120c comprise (at least partly) the mounting elements (typically formed in a single piece with the liner 120) that allow the mounting of specific accessories (e.g. shelves, not shown) directly onto the liner 120 (but in fixed and predetermined positions).
  • the mounting elements typically formed in a single piece with the liner 120
  • specific accessories e.g. shelves, not shown
  • the support panel 125 can be used also as a kit for modifying refrigerating apparatuses already on the market.
  • the refrigerating apparatuses currently on the market may feature liners 120 with different arrangements of the mounting elements 120c, it is possible to provide that the mechanical coupling elements 125c are applied to the support panel 125 after its making (for example, by means of screws, glues, or other fixing elements), so as to be able to adapt them in a versatile manner to any arrangement of the mounting elements 120c.
  • the mechanical coupling elements 125c are provided in correspondence of a region of the support panel 125 that faces the liner 120 (and the respective coupling elements 120c) when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120 (hereinafter, region coupling).
  • region coupling a region of the support panel 125 that faces the liner 120 (and the respective coupling elements 120c) when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120 (hereinafter, region coupling).
  • a coupling region is (or comprises) the rear face 125SR of the support panel 125.
  • this coupling region comprises faces 125SIF,125S2F of the tracks 125si,125s2 facing the liner 120 when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120.
  • these faces 125SIF,125S2F of the tracks 125si,125s2 face respective shoulders 120si,120s2 (e.g. , side shoulders) of the liner 120, with such shoulders 120si,120s2 that preferably accommodate the coupling elements 120c (as visible in Figure IF).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

A refrigerating apparatus (100) is proposed. The refrigerating apparatus (100) comprises a refrigerating compartment (105) and a door (110) for selectively closing the refrigerating compartment (105). Said door (110) comprises an external surface (110ES) facing, when the door (110) is closed, the external of the refrigerating compartment (105), and an inner liner (120), opposite to said external surface (ll0Es). Said inner liner (120) comprises first mechanic coupling elements (120c) coupled or coupleable to corresponding second mechanic coupling elements (125c) of a support panel (125) of said refrigerating apparatus (100) covering or adapted to cover at least partially said inner liner (120). Said second mechanic coupling elements (125c) are located at a coupling region (125siF,125s2F;125sR) of the support panel (125) facing said inner liner (120) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120). Said support panel (125) comprises one or more support elements (125F) for supporting one or more storage elements (130B) adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements (125F) facing the refrigerating compartment (105) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120) and the door (110) is closed.

Description

TITLE: REFRIGERATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT PANEL
DESCRIPTION
The present invention generally relates to a refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to a refrigerating apparatus comprising accessories for the organized positioning of products to be refrigerated. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel to support such accessories.
Each refrigerating apparatus typically comprises a refrigerating compartment and a door allowing selective access to the refrigerating compartment.
In most of the refrigerating apparatuses currently on the market, the door is typically provided, on its inner surface facing the refrigerating compartment when the door is closed, with an inner liner arranged for mounting on it accessories for the organized positioning of the products to be cooled (for example, shelves, drawers, bottle holder elements, and the like). For this purpose, the liner is provided with suitable mounting elements, typically obtained contextually to the liner by means of known molding techniques.
The Applicant has noticed that, to obtain doors with different positioning of the accessories (and therefore with different user interfaces), it is necessary to use different liners. However, several molds are necessary to make different liners, which involves high costs and production times (and a high production complexity) for the liner, and hence for the doors.
The Applicant has tackled the problem of allowing to obtain refrigerating apparatus having doors with different user interfaces, without involving significant increases of the costs and of the production times. For this purpose, the Applicant has devised a refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel capable of providing a user interface (with a preset degree of modularity) different from the one toward which the liner was geared.
In particular, one or more aspects of the present invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same which are set forth in the dependent claims, whose text is incorporated herein verbatim by reference (with any advantageous feature provided with reference to a specific aspect of the present invention that applies mutatis mutandis to any other aspect thereof).
More specifically, one aspect of the present invention proposes a refrigerating apparatus. The refrigerating apparatus comprises a refrigerating compartment and a door for selectively closing the refrigerating compartment. The door comprises an external surface facing, when the door is closed, the external of the refrigerating compartment, and an inner liner, opposite to said external surface. Said inner liner comprises first mechanic coupling elements coupled or coupleable to corresponding second mechanic coupling elements of a support panel of said refrigerating apparatus covering or adapted to cover at least partially said inner liner. Said second mechanic coupling elements are located at a coupling region of the support panel facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner. Said support panel comprises one or more support elements for supporting one or more storage elements adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements facing the refrigerating compartment when the support panel covers the inner liner and the door is closed.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said one or more support elements and said one or more storage elements are arranged in such a way to allow positioning at least one of said one or more storage elements on said support panel in at least two different positions.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said first mechanic coupling elements of the inner liner are coupled or coupleable to the corresponding second mechanic coupling elements of the support panel in a removable manner.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said one or more support elements comprise or define one or more rails extending along at least part of the inner liner and adapted to receive at least partially at least one of said one or more storage elements.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said support panel comprises a plurality of said rails parallel to each other.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said coupling region of the support panel comprises a rear face of the support panel facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support panel comprises a rear face facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner, and first and second track elements adapted to enclose at least partially said one or more support elements therebetween, said coupling region of the support panel comprising faces of said first and second track elements facing said inner liner when the support panel covers the inner liner.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said one or more support elements comprise two or more crossbars in column to one another, parallel to one another, thereby defining one of said rails between each pair of crossbars, said crossbars comprising respective front zones defining, as a whole, a front face of said support panel opposite said rear face and facing the refrigerating compartment when the support panel covers the inner liner and the door is closed, and respective rear zones defining, as a whole, said rear face of said support panel.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said support panel is made of a plastic material, and/or of metal and/or of wood.
Another aspect of the present invention proposes a method for assembling a refrigerating apparatus whose door comprises an inner liner. The method comprises the following steps:
- providing a support panel adapted to be mounted on the inner liner, the support panel having, at a coupling region facing said inner liner when the support panel is mounted one the inner liner, first mechanic coupling elements coupleable to second mechanic coupling elements of the inner liner for mounting said support panel to said inner liner, and one or more support elements for supporting one or more storage elements adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements facing the refrigerating compartment when the support panel is mounted on the inner liner and the door is closed; and
- mounting the support panel on the inner liner by coupling said first mechanic coupling elements to said second mechanic coupling elements in such a way that said support panel at least partially covers said inner liner.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of mounting at least one of said one or more storage elements on said one or more support elements of said support panel.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of mounting the support panel on the inner liner comprises mounting the support panel on the inner liner in a removable manner. According to an embodiment of the present invention, in absence of said support panel, at least part of said second mechanic coupling elements allow fixing in a predefined manner door accessories directly on the inner liner.
Embodiments of the present invention, as well as further features and the related advantages, will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, given purely by way of non-limiting example only, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying figures (wherein corresponding elements are indicated with same or similar references and their explanation is not repeated for the sake of brevity). In this respect, it is expressly intended that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale (with some details that may be exaggerated and/or simplified) and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are simply used to conceptually illustrate the described structures and procedures. In particular:
Figures 1A and IB show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a refrigerating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 1C, ID and IE show a perspective view, a perspective view with partially exploded parts and a front view, respectively, of a door of such a refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure IF shows a perspective view of the door of the refrigerating apparatus and of the support panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
Figures 1G and 1H show a front view and a sectional view along the section axis I-I of Figure 1G, respectively, of the support panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
With reference to Figures 1A and IB, they show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a refrigerating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, directional terminology (for example, top, bottom, lateral, central, horizontal, vertical, transverse) associated with the refrigerating apparatus 100 and its components will be used only in connection with their orientation in the figures, and will not be indicative of any specific orientation (among the various possible orientations) of their use. Moreover, the term "substantially" will be used to take into account (desired or undesired) manufacturing tolerances. The refrigerating apparatus 100 comprises a refrigerating compartment 105 (for example, a fridge compartment) for housing products to be refrigerated, and a door 110 (shown in an open position) for allowing selective access to the fridge compartment 105. Preferably, the fridge compartment 105 comprises, within it, one or more accessories for the organized positioning of the products to be refrigerated, such as one or more shelves (such as the shelves 105s exemplary illustrated), and/or one or more bottle-holder components (such as the bottle-holder element 105H exemplary illustrated) and/or one or more drawers (such as the drawers 105D exemplary illustrated) and/or others.
In the exemplary considered embodiment, the refrigerating apparatus 100 comprises a further refrigerating compartment (for example, a freezer compartment) and a door 115 associated with it (the freezer compartment being not visible in the figures as it is covered by the respective door 115 in the closed position). As will be apparent from the following description, the present invention can be applied to refrigerating apparatuses provided with any number of refrigerating compartments and doors - however, for the sake of exposition simplicity and brevity, the present invention will be exemplary discussed by making reference to the fridge compartment 105 and to the respective door 110.
The door 110 comprises, in correspondence of an inner surface thereof opposite an outer surface IIOES facing the outside of the fridge compartment 105, an inner liner 120, and, coupled to the liner 120, a support panel 125 adapted to support further accessories for the organized positioning of the products to be refrigerated, such as one or more storage elements - for example, tray storage elements (such as the tray storage elements 130B exemplary illustrated) - and/or one or more retaining elements - for example, clip retaining elements (such as the clip retaining elements 130c exemplary illustrated) suitable to retain/hold storage bags, not shown. In the following, for the sake of exposition brevity, the tray storage elements 130B and the clip retaining elements 130c will be generically indicated as storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c. As will be clear in the following of the present description, the positioning of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c on the support panel 125 can define any arrangement or composition (in the following, user interface), and, according to implementations of the support panel 125 and of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c, this user interface has a predefined degree of modularity (i.e., configurability and/or re-configurability) - for example, the user interface may be fixed (i.e., preset by the manufacturer and not configurable or reconfigurable by the user), freely configurable and reconfigurable by the user, partially configurable by the user (for example, initially configurable by the user but not reconfigurable subsequently, or only part of the user interface configurable and/or reconfigurable).
The coupling of the support panel 125 (with the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c) to the liner 120 allows modifying the predefined user interface of the liner 120 (the liner 120 being in fact advantageously designed for the mounting on it of specific accessories in predetermined positions, as explained below) without modifying the manufacturing process of the liner 120 (and, particularly, without replacing the mold used for its manufacturing, which would involve non-negligible costs).
In the following, for ease of description, Figures 1A and IB will be discussed together with Figures 1C, ID and IE, which show a perspective view, a perspective view with partially exploded parts and a front view, respectively, of the door 110, with Figure IF, which shows a perspective view of the door 110 and of the support panel 125, and with Figures 1G and 1H, which show, respectively, a front view of the support panel 125 and a sectional view thereof along the section axis I-I of Figure 1G.
As can be better appreciated in Figures 1C-1F, the support panel 125 is suitable to cover at least partially the liner 120.
In the exemplary (but not limiting) illustrated embodiment, the support panel 125 covers an upper portion of the liner 120 - for example, as illustrated, by extending in width (i. e. , along the horizontal direction X) for substantially the entire width of the liner 120, and in height (i.e., along the vertical direction Y orthogonal to the horizontal direction X) for substantially half height of the liner 120 - with the (remaining) lower portion of the liner 120 which is preferably left free from the support panel 125. Such a lower portion of the liner 120 can advantageously be used, as herein assumed by way of example, for allowing the installation of specific accessories (for example, a balcony shelf, such as the balcony shelf 110s exemplary illustrated in Figures 1A and IB) and/or for allowing correct closure of the door 110 - on the contrary, the concomitant presence, in the lower portion of the liner 120, of the support panel 125 and of drawers of relatively large size in the fridge compartment 105 (such as the drawer 105D arranged at the bottom of the fridge compartment 105) could hinder the closing of the door 110. However, according to specific design requirements, the possibility that the support panel 125 completely (or almost completely) covers the liner 120 is not excluded.
Preferably, the support panel 125 is made of an easily washable material - for example, the support panel 125 may be made of a plastic material, metal (e.g. , aluminum), wood, or a combination of one or more of the previous materials. Still more preferably, the support panel 125 is made of the same material as the liner 120, so that, especially in implementations (such as the one herein exemplary considered) wherein the support panel 125 covers only part of the liner 120, a perception of continuity, and hence of aesthetic appeal, is induced to the user.
The support panel 125 comprises one or more support elements 125F for supporting the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c, the support elements 125F facing the fridge compartment 105 (when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120 and the door 110 is in the closed position, not shown).
In the exemplary considered embodiment, the support elements 125F and the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c are configured in such a way to allow the fixing of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c (or at least of a part thereof) to the support panel 125 in at least two different positions. Still more preferably, the support elements 125F and the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c are conceived in such a way that the user interface has a high degree of modularity (i.e. , positioning of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c that is freely configurable and reconfigurable, and hence customizable, by the user).
In order to achieve that, the support elements 125F preferably comprise (for example, they are made in the form of) one or more crossbars (or tables or axes) 125F each one extending on at least part of the liner 120 and adapted to support the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c (preferably, as shown, hanging the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c to such crossbars 125F). More preferably, the support panel 125 comprises a plurality of crossbars 125F (eight crossbars, in the exemplary but non-limiting illustrated embodiment) arranged in columns to one another, and parallel to one another. Such crossbars 125F can be manufactured individually and attached to one another, as in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or may be formed integrally with each other. Still more preferably, the distance between the crossbars 125F and the width extension thereof with respect to the size of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c is such that each storage/retaining element 130B, 130c can be placed in any free position along a selected crossbar 125F - with each crossbar 125F that, in the exemplary considered embodiment, extends for substantially the entire width of the liner 120 so as to maximize the modularity of the user interface.
As can be better appreciated in Figures ID and 1H, each crossbar 125F comprises a front zone 125FF that defines, together with the front zones 125FF of the other crossbars 125F, a front face (or surface) 125SF of the support panel 125. Advantageously, each crossbar 125F further comprises a rear zone 125FR that defines, together with the rear zones 125FR of the other crossbars 125F, a rear face (or surface) 125SR of the support panel 125.
Advantageously, the support elements 125F comprise or define one or more rails 125G that extend along at least part of the inner liner 120 and are adapted to receive at least partially at least one of said one or more storage/retaining elements In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, each crossbar 125F defines within it (i.e. , between the respective front zone 125FF and the respective rear zone 125FR) a rail 125G to allow the hooking and the free positioning of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c along it.
Preferably, the front zone 125FF and the rear zone 125FR of each crossbar 125F are mutually staggered along the vertical direction Y (with the rear zone 125FR that, preferably, extends in height, for example at an upper part thereof, beyond the respective front zone 125FF), and the front zone 125FF of each crossbar 125F has (for example, at a bottom part thereof) a chamfered portion 125FFS (best visible in Figure 1H). In this way, as better visible in Figure 1H, by aligning in parallel the crossbars 125F in such a way that the chamfered portion 125FFS of each crossbar 125F partially overlaps the upper end of the rear zone 125FR of the adjacent crossbar (the lower crossbar, in the example at issue), and by fixing together (or enclosing, at least partially) the crossbars 125F between track elements 125si,125s2 (hereinafter, tracks), the rear zones 125FR form a substantially continuous (or perceived as continuous) rear face of the support panel 125, and the front zones 125FF identify, thanks to the rails 125G and to the distance between adjacent crossbars 125F, elongated hooks for the hooking of the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c - with the storage/retaining elements 130B, 130c that are preferably shaped such as to allow such a hooking within the rails 125G, being for example provided with a curved or arcuate arm adapted to act as a hook.
In the exemplary considered embodiment, the front zone 125FF and the rear zone 125FR of each crossbar 125F are spaced apart from each other along the transversal direction Z (orthogonal to the horizontal direction X and to the vertical direction Y), hence with the rail 125G of each crossbar 125F that is defined by the gap between the respective front zone 125FF and the respective rear zone 125FR.
The fixing of the crossbars 125F between the tracks 125si,125s2 is not limitative for the present invention, since it can be chosen according to specific design needs. Preferably, as shown in Figure 1H, each chamfered portion 125FFS extends (from the front face 125SF of the support panel 125) towards the rear face 125SR of the support panel 125 so as to define a respective cavity 135 adapted to receive corresponding engagement elements 125E (for example, snap-fit engagement elements) of the tracks 125si,125s2 for allowing the stable fixing of the crossbar 125F therebetween. In addition (as shown) or alternatively, a further cavity 140 is provided below the rail 125G (and separated from it) adapted to receive the engagement elements 125E of the tracks 125si,125s2.
As visible in Figures ID and IF, the liner 120 preferably comprises mechanical coupling elements 120c (preferably, made in a single piece with the liner 120) coupleable to corresponding mechanical coupling elements 125c of the support panel 125 (for example, made in a single piece with it). Still more preferably, the mechanical coupling elements 120c of the liner 120 are coupleable to the corresponding mechanical coupling elements 125c of the support panel 125 in a removable manner, so as to allow the support panel 125 (and hence to the user interface it allows configuring) to be applied to the liner 120 in a reversible way (and thus to be simply replaced). To achieve this, in the exemplary considered embodiment, the coupling elements 120c advantageously comprise recesses (or openings), and the coupling elements 125c comprise engaging tabs (or engaging pins) suitable to be inserted in these recesses (Figure IF).
Advantageously, the mechanical coupling elements 120c comprise (at least partly) the mounting elements (typically formed in a single piece with the liner 120) that allow the mounting of specific accessories (e.g. shelves, not shown) directly onto the liner 120 (but in fixed and predetermined positions). In this way, regardless of the desired degree of modularity, it is possible to vary the user interface in a simple way, and without changing the production process of the liner 120 (and in particular without replacing the mold used for the making thereof and for the making of the respective mounting elements 120c).
Moreover, the support panel 125 can be used also as a kit for modifying refrigerating apparatuses already on the market. In this regard, taking into account that the refrigerating apparatuses currently on the market may feature liners 120 with different arrangements of the mounting elements 120c, it is possible to provide that the mechanical coupling elements 125c are applied to the support panel 125 after its making (for example, by means of screws, glues, or other fixing elements), so as to be able to adapt them in a versatile manner to any arrangement of the mounting elements 120c.
Preferably, the mechanical coupling elements 125c are provided in correspondence of a region of the support panel 125 that faces the liner 120 (and the respective coupling elements 120c) when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120 (hereinafter, region coupling). According to an embodiment, not shown, such a coupling region is (or comprises) the rear face 125SR of the support panel 125.
According to an alternative embodiment, shown in Figures ID and IF, this coupling region comprises faces 125SIF,125S2F of the tracks 125si,125s2 facing the liner 120 when the support panel 125 covers the liner 120. Preferably, as illustrated, these faces 125SIF,125S2F of the tracks 125si,125s2 face respective shoulders 120si,120s2 (e.g. , side shoulders) of the liner 120, with such shoulders 120si,120s2 that preferably accommodate the coupling elements 120c (as visible in Figure IF).
The (side) coupling between the mechanical coupling elements 125c in correspondence of the faces 125SIF,125S2F of the tracks 125si,125s2 and the coupling elements 120c in correspondence of the shoulders 120si,120s2 allows mounting the support panel 125 onto the liner 120 with remarkable ease.
Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the present invention many logical and/or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to one or more embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. Particularly, different embodiments of the invention may even be practiced without the specific details; conversely, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars. Moreover, it is expressly intended that specific elements described in connection with any embodiment of the disclosed invention may be incorporated in any other embodiment as a matter of general design choice.
* * * *

Claims

1. Refrigerating apparatus (100) comprising a refrigerating compartment (105) and a door (110) for selectively closing the refrigerating compartment (105), said door (110) comprising:
an external surface (IIOES), facing, when the door (110) is closed, the external of the refrigerating compartment (105), and
an inner liner (120), opposite to said external surface (IIOES),
characterized in that
said inner liner (120) comprises first mechanic coupling elements (120c) coupled or coupleable to corresponding second mechanic coupling elements (125c) of a support panel (125) of said refrigerating apparatus (100) covering or adapted to cover at least partially said inner liner (120), said second mechanic coupling elements (125c) being located at a coupling region (125SIF,125S2F;125SR) of the support panel (125) facing said inner liner (120) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120), and said support panel (125) comprising one or more support elements (125F) for supporting one or more storage elements (130B) adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements (125F) facing the refrigerating compartment (105) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120) and the door (110) is closed.
2. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein said one or more support elements (125F) and said one or more storage elements (130B) are arranged in such a way to allow positioning at least one of said one or more storage elements (130B) on said support panel (125) in at least two different positions.
3. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said first mechanic coupling elements (120c) of the inner liner (120) are coupled or coupleable to the corresponding second mechanic coupling elements (125c) of the support panel (125) in a removable manner.
4. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said one or more support elements (125F) comprise or define one or more rails (125G) extending along at least part of the inner liner (120) and adapted to receive at least partially at least one of said one or more storage elements (130B).
5. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to Claim 4, wherein said support panel (125) comprises a plurality of said rails (125G) parallel to each other.
6. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said coupling region (125SIF,125S2F;125SR) of the support panel (125) comprises a rear face (125SR) of the support panel (125) facing said inner liner (120) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120).
7. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to any Claims from 1 to 5, wherein the support panel (125) comprises a rear face (125SR) facing said inner liner (120) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120), and first (125si) and second (125s2) track elements adapted to enclose at least partially said one or more support elements (125F) therebetween, said coupling region (125SIF,125S2F;125SR) of the support panel (125) comprising faces (125SIF,125S2F) of said first (125si) and second (125s2) track elements facing said inner liner (120) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120).
8. Refrigerating apparatus (100) according to Claim 6 or 7 when depending directly or indirectly from Claim 4, wherein said one or more support elements (125F) comprise two or more crossbars (125F) in column to one another, parallel to one another, thereby defining between each pair of crossbars (125F) one of said rails (125G), said crossbars (125F) comprising respective front zones (125FF) defining, as a whole, a front face (125SF) of said support panel (125) opposite said rear face (125SR) and facing the refrigerating compartment (105) when the support panel (125) covers the inner liner (120) and the door (110) is closed, and respective rear zones (125FR) defining, as a whole, said rear face (125SR) of said support panel (125).
9. Method for assembling a refrigerating apparatus (100) whose door (110) comprises an inner liner (120), the method comprising the following steps: - providing a support panel (125) adapted to be mounted on the inner liner (120), the support panel (125) having, at a coupling region (125SIF,125S2F;125SR) facing said inner liner (120) when the support panel (125) is mounted one the inner liner (120), first mechanic coupling elements (125c) coupleable to second mechanic
5 coupling elements (120c) of the inner liner (120) for mounting said support panel (125) to said inner liner (120), and one or more support elements (125F) for supporting one or more storage elements (130B) adapted to store products to be refrigerated, said one or more support elements (125F) facing the refrigerating compartment (105) when the support panel (125) is mounted on the inner liner (120) 0 and the door (110) is closed; and
- mounting the support panel (125) on the inner liner (120) by coupling said first mechanic coupling elements (125c) to said second mechanic coupling elements (120c) in such a way that said support panel (125) at least partially covers said inner liner (120).
5
10. Method according to Claim 9, wherein at least part of said second mechanic coupling elements (120c) allow, in absence of said support panel (125), fixing in a predetermined way door (110) accessories directly on the inner liner (120).
n * * * *
5
PCT/EP2016/053040 2015-02-27 2016-02-12 Refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel Ceased WO2016134987A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI20150296 2015-02-27
ITMI2015A000296 2015-02-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016134987A1 true WO2016134987A1 (en) 2016-09-01

Family

ID=52815129

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2016/053040 Ceased WO2016134987A1 (en) 2015-02-27 2016-02-12 Refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2016134987A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10041723B2 (en) * 2016-05-31 2018-08-07 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
WO2019113403A1 (en) * 2017-12-08 2019-06-13 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Door storage bin assembly for a refrigerator
WO2020037383A1 (en) 2018-08-21 2020-02-27 Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. Device for measuring the temperature of a beverage bottle
WO2020223772A1 (en) 2019-05-03 2020-11-12 Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. Refrigerating apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998008036A1 (en) * 1996-08-22 1998-02-26 Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte Gmbh Refrigerator door
DE102008014885A1 (en) * 2008-03-19 2009-09-24 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerating appliance and associated latching means arrangement for retrofitting
WO2010112296A2 (en) * 2009-03-31 2010-10-07 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, and shelf system therefor
DE102011079197A1 (en) * 2011-07-14 2013-01-17 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Household cooling apparatus i.e. cooling and/or freezing combined drive type household cooling apparatus, has inside wall coverings arranged behind storage unit, door rack, lower shelf and cooling container

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998008036A1 (en) * 1996-08-22 1998-02-26 Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte Gmbh Refrigerator door
DE102008014885A1 (en) * 2008-03-19 2009-09-24 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerating appliance and associated latching means arrangement for retrofitting
WO2010112296A2 (en) * 2009-03-31 2010-10-07 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, and shelf system therefor
DE102011079197A1 (en) * 2011-07-14 2013-01-17 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Household cooling apparatus i.e. cooling and/or freezing combined drive type household cooling apparatus, has inside wall coverings arranged behind storage unit, door rack, lower shelf and cooling container

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10041723B2 (en) * 2016-05-31 2018-08-07 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
WO2019113403A1 (en) * 2017-12-08 2019-06-13 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Door storage bin assembly for a refrigerator
US20190178566A1 (en) * 2017-12-08 2019-06-13 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Door storage bin assembly for a refrigerator
US10451338B2 (en) 2017-12-08 2019-10-22 Electrolux Home Products, Inc. Door storage bin assembly for a refrigerator
WO2020037383A1 (en) 2018-08-21 2020-02-27 Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. Device for measuring the temperature of a beverage bottle
WO2020223772A1 (en) 2019-05-03 2020-11-12 Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. Refrigerating apparatus

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2419691B1 (en) Sliding shelf for refrigerators and freezers
WO2016134987A1 (en) Refrigerating apparatus comprising a support panel
US12066244B2 (en) Household appliance comprising shelf arrangement
EP3699533B1 (en) Refrigerator tuck shelf with flush front profile and co-injected fixed glass
EP3493703B1 (en) Display structure
US20160273828A1 (en) U-shaped tuck shelf
US9441875B1 (en) Storage assemblies for discrete storage units
CN101466989A (en) Refrigerator and/or freezer
EP3017257B1 (en) Refrigeration appliance having improved slidable shelf system
EP2749828B1 (en) Shelf assembly for refrigerator and refrigerator
CN101680709A (en) Refrigerated product tray and refrigeration device equipped therewith
KR101271856B1 (en) Assembling structure of drawer for refrigerator
US20130328473A1 (en) Storage container for a refrigerator appliance with supplemental storage features
EP2357438A1 (en) Drawer for refrigerating apparatuses
US12066242B2 (en) Refrigerating apparatus
KR100471105B1 (en) refrigerator
KR100725498B1 (en) Refrigerators and freezer shelves
EP3401627B1 (en) Household appliance comprising shelf arrangement
KR101732443B1 (en) Roller Shelf of Show Case Refrigerator and the Mounting Device Thereof
WO2018114195A1 (en) A cooling device comprising a door shelf with screw adjustment
AU2023201527A1 (en) A refrigerator comprising a container
EP1553367A1 (en) Closing door for a refrigerating or a freezing apparatus
KR101101813B1 (en) Refrigerators and freezer shelves
US10820699B2 (en) Profile for article of furniture, system of profiles for article of furniture and method for assembling an article of furniture
BR112021021396B1 (en) REFRIGERATION APPLIANCES

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 16704019

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 16704019

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1