WO2017152955A1

WO2017152955A1 - Refrigerator having a separator

Info

Publication number: WO2017152955A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/054892
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gokhan OZKAYA; Mehmet YASAR; Tanju Bayramli; Dilek SUR; Erkan CAKIR
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-03-08
Filing date: 2016-03-08
Publication date: 2017-09-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising: a main body (2) which includes a compartment (3) for refrigerating the articles; a door (4) for accessing the compartment (3); and a drawer (5) for storing the articles, wherein the drawer (5) is disposed into the compartment (3). The refrigerator of the present invention comprises: a separator (6) which is movably disposed into the drawer (5) without contacting the base (7) of the drawer (5), wherein the separator (6) is adapted to store the articles, and to divide the drawer (5) into one or more regions each for storing the articles; and a guiding means (8) which is adapted to movably attach the separator (6) to the drawer (5).

Description

REFRIGERATOR HAVING A SEPARATOR

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The present invention more particularly relates to the drawers of the refrigerator.

Refrigerators are commonly known in the art. A refrigerator generally comprises a compartment for refrigerating the articles to the set temperatures. In order to increase the user convenience, the compartment is generally provided with a drawer. The user stores the various articles such as vegetables and fruits by placing them side by side and one above the other into the drawer.

A problem with the prior art refrigerator is that the various articles which are stored inside the drawer mix together, and become a mess. Thus, there are instances where the user cannot access a desired article at the bottom of the vegetable drawer when it is covered with the other articles.

WO2015000525 (A1) discloses a refrigerator.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables the user to sort the various articles for quick and easy access and to use the space inside the drawer more efficiently and in accordance with his/her actual requirements.

This objective has been achieved by the refrigerator as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

The refrigerator of the present invention comprises: a separator which is removably and movably disposed into the drawer without contacting the base of the drawer, wherein the separator is adapted to store the articles, and to divide the drawer into one or more regions each for storing the articles; and a guiding means which is adapted to movably attach the separator to the drawer.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can use the space inside the drawer more efficiently and in accordance with his/her actual requirements by virtue of the separator . Thereby, the usability of the drawer has been further improved. Thereby, the appearance of the drawer has also been improved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can easily move the separator inside the drawer to the desire location since it does not contact the base of the drawer. Thereby, even the elderly users can easily change the size of the divided regions when the separator is heavily loaded with the articles. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that separator can be removed from the drawer. Thereby, the separator can be easily cleaned or used as a transport means. Thereby, the user satisfaction can be increased.

In an embodiment, the separator can be moved laterally. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can easily push the separator to the left or the right in order to change the size of the divided regions in the drawer.

In an alternative embodiment, the separator can be moved inwardly and outwardly. This embodiment is also particularly advantageous, for instance, when the drawer is comparatively narrow.

In another embodiment, the guiding means has a sliding mechanism in which the separator and the drawer are in sliding contact. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it is cost-effective and reliable.

In another embodiment, the guiding means has a rolling mechanism in which the separator and the drawer are in rolling contact. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the separator can be moved with less friction.

In another embodiment, the guiding means has shock absorbing members which form a cushion between the side walls of the drawer and the separator . This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the separator can be moved quietly and also prevented from becoming damaged.

In another embodiment, the drawer with the separator is mounted onto the inner side of the door. And the door is provided as a drawer-type door. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can pull out the drawer more easily by manipulating the door.

In another embodiment, the drawer is removably attached to the door. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the drawer can be easily cleaned or used as a transport means.

In another embodiment, the drawer with the separator is installed into the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. In another alternative embodiment, the drawer with the separator is installed into the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator. Thus, the separator may be deployed in various compartments of the refrigerator.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the refrigerator and the separator of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic front view of a refrigerator which has a separator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 – is a schematic sectional view of the refrigerator of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 – is a schematic partial perspective view of the refrigerator of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 – is a schematic exploded partial perspective view of the refrigerator of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 – is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerator which has a separator according to the an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 – is a schematic partial perspective view of the refrigerator of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 – is a schematic exploded partial perspective view of the refrigerator of Fig. 5.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Refrigerator
Main body
Compartment
Door
Drawer
Separator
Base
Guiding means
Shaft
Side wall
Groove
Shock absorbing member
Roller
Track
Attachment means

The refrigerator (1) comprises: a main body (2) which includes a compartment (3) for refrigerating the articles; a door (4) for accessing the compartment (3); and a drawer (5) for storing the articles, wherein the drawer (5) is disposed into the compartment (3) (Fig.1, Fig.2 and Fig 5).

The refrigerator (1) of the present invention further comprises: a separator (6) which is removably and movably disposed into the drawer (5) without contacting the base (7) of the drawer (5), wherein the separator (6) is adapted to store the articles, and to divide the drawer (5) into one or more regions each for storing the articles; and a guiding means (8) which is adapted to movably attach the separator (6) to the drawer (5) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 6).

In an embodiment, the guiding means (8) is further adapted to laterally movably attach the separator (6) to the drawer (5) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 6).

In another embodiment, the guiding means (8) comprises: two shafts (9) which are mounted across the side walls (10) of the drawer (5) respectively; and two grooves (11) for receiving the shafts (9) respectively, wherein the grooves (11) are formed into the separator (6) (Fig. 4).

In another embodiment, the guiding means (8) further comprises: shock absorbing members (12) disposed onto the opposite ends of the shafts (9) (Fig. 4).

In another alternative embodiment, the guiding means (8) comprises: two rollers (13) which are disposed onto the separator (6); and two tracks (14) for receiving the rollers (13) respectively, wherein the tracks (14) are formed across the side walls (10) of the drawer (5) (Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the refrigerator (1) further comprises: an attachment means (15) for mounting the drawer (5) onto the inner side of the door (4). In this embodiment, the door (4) is provided as a drawer-type door (4) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 6).

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can use the space inside the drawer (5) more efficiently and in accordance with his/her actual requirements by virtue of the separator (6) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 6). Thereby, the usability of the drawer (5) has been further improved. Thereby, the appearance of the drawer (5) has also been improved. The user can easily move the separator (6) inside the drawer (5) to the desired location since it does not contact the base (7) of the drawer (5) (Fig. 2 and Fig 5). Thereby, even the elderly users can easily change the size of the divided regions when the separator (6) is heavily loaded with the articles. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that separator (6) can be removed from the drawer (5) (Fig. 4 and Fig. 7). Thereby, the separator (6) can be easily cleaned or used as a transport means.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a main body (2) which includes a compartment (3) for refrigerating the articles; a door (4) for accessing the compartment (3); and a drawer (5) for storing the articles, wherein the drawer (5) is disposed into the compartment (3), characterized in that a separator (6) which is removably and movably disposed into the drawer (5) without contacting the base (7) of the drawer (5), wherein the separator (6) is adapted to store the articles, and to divide the drawer (5) into one or more regions each for storing the articles; and a guiding means (8) which is adapted to movably attach the separator (6) to the drawer (5).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means (8) is further adapted to laterally movably attach the separator (6) to the drawer (5).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the guiding means (8) comprises: two shafts (9) which are mounted across the side walls (10) of the drawer (5) respectively; and two grooves (11) for receiving the shafts (9) respectively, wherein the grooves (11) are formed into the separator (6).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the guiding means (8) further comprises: shock absorbing members (12) disposed onto the opposite ends of the shafts (9).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the guiding means (8) comprises: two rollers (13) which are disposed onto the separator (6); and two tracks (14) for receiving the rollers (13) respectively, wherein the tracks (14) are formed across the side walls (10) of the drawer (5).
The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an attachment means (15) for mounting the drawer (5) onto the inner side of the door (4), wherein the door (4) is provided as a drawer-type door (4).