WO2017211404A1

WO2017211404A1 - Refrigerator with a height-adjustable door-shelf

Info

Publication number: WO2017211404A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/062977
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet YASAR; Erkan CAKIR; Ibrahim Yilmaz Evren
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-06-08
Filing date: 2016-06-08
Publication date: 2017-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator which comprises: a refrigeration compartment for refrigerating the articles which are stored therein; a door (1) for opening/closing the refrigerating compartment, wherein the door (1) has an inner lining (2); a door-shelf (3) which is disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and a height-adjustment mechanism (4) for height-adjustably holding the door-shelf (3) at different levels (L).

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH A HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DOOR-SHELF

The present invention relates to refrigerator. The present invention more particularly relates to a refrigerator which has a height adjustable door-shelf.

Refrigerators are commonly known in the art. A refrigerator generally comprises a refrigeration compartment for refrigerating the articles which are stored therein; a door for opening/closing the refrigerating compartment, wherein the door has an inner lining; one or more door-shelves which are disposed onto the inner lining of the door; and a height-adjustment mechanism for height-adjustably holding each door-shelf at different levels. The user can change the level of the door-shelf in accordance with the height of the articles to be stored therein. Thereby, the user can use the space inside the refrigeration compartment more efficiently in accordance with his/her actual requirements.

KR20020012443 (A) discloses a refrigerator which comprises a height adjustable door-shelf.

A problem with the prior art refrigerator is that when changing the height of the shelf, the user must remove the easily tiltable articles from the door-shelf, and subsequently rotate the door-shelf so as to release the same from its mounting position and slide it upwards or downwards towards to the desired level. During the sliding operation, there is generally a risk that the articles on the storage surface of the door-shelf slip forward or backwards, and thus fall down and/or spill. Therefore, the user usually removes the articles on the door-shelf before changing their position. Thus, the user spends valuable time for removing and replacing the articles on the door-shelf. Moreover, the cool air inside the refrigeration compartment is exchanged with the comparatively warmer and humid ambient air as the user removes/replaces the articles. Consequently, the energy consumption of the refrigerator increases.

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 easily and quickly adjust the level of the door-shelf.

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.

In the refrigerator of the present invention, the height-adjustment mechanism comprises a guiding means for sliding the door-shelf in the horizontal state between the levels on the door.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can change the level of the door-shelf without rotating/tilting it outwards and inwards by virtue of the guiding means. Thereby, the need for removing the articles from the storage surface of the door-shelf during the height-adjustment can be dispensed with. Thereby, the height-adjustment operation can be expedited, and thus the valuable time for removing/replacing the articles can be saved. Thereby, also a comparatively large portion of the cool air inside refrigeration compartment can be prevented from escaping to the outside during the height-adjustment operation, and thus the energy consumption of the refrigerator can be accordingly reduced. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that when changing the level of the door-shelf, the user can balance the door-shelf more easily by virtue of the guiding means. Thereby, the user can more easily and quickly adjust the level of the door-shelf. With the present invention the consumer satisfaction can be increased.

In an embodiment, the door-shelf can be securely locked in the horizontal state to the selected level through a locking means. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the door-shelf can be prevented from becoming dislocated during use. Thereby, the articles on the door-shelf can be prevented from falling or spilling.

In another embodiment, an additional reinforcement on the inner lining bears the weight of the door-shelf in the locked state. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the door-shelf can be securely locked in place even when the door-shelf is heavily loaded.

In another embodiment, the door has plurality of latches on the inner-lining at the different levels whereas the door-shelf has a spring-loaded catch which can be locked/unlocked with the latch at the selected level. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can easily unlock or lock the door-shelf in place by respectively pulling or releasing the catch.

In another embodiment, the catch and the latch are defined through a bar and an indent on the inner lining of the door respectively. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as indents can be easily manufactured together with the inner lining. The number of indents and the spacing between the indents may be designed in various different ways, and are not limited to particular values.

In another embodiment, the reinforcement has also two or more indents which match the indents on the inner lining. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the reinforcement can be easily fixed to the inner lining.

In another embodiment, the catch is provided with a push-button section which can be manipulated by the user when locking/unlocking the doors-shelf in place. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the push-button section improves the user-convenience.

In another embodiment, the spring of the sprıng-loaded catch is mounted into a recess on the door-shelf. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the door-shelf can be easily assembled by the assembly operator.

In another embodiment, the catch is slidably held through a bearing which is fixed onto the door-shelf. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the catch can be more smoothly operated.

In another embodiment, the component parts of the locking means, in particular the spring-loaded catch and the bearing are disposed onto the underside of the door-shelf. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the locking means becomes inconspicuous.

In another embodiment, the component parts of the locking means, in particular the spring-loaded catch and the bearing are installed into and concealed trough the bottom frame of the door-shelf. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the locking means as can be easily assembled with the door-shelf.

In another embodiment, the bearing is fixed onto the door-shelf through one or more screws. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the screws are reliable and cost effective.

In another embodiment, the screws are accommodated in one or more slots in the catch. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the catch can be more smoothly operated and retained on the door-shelf.

In another embodiment, the door-shelf can be removed from the door. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the door-shelf can be easily cleaned.

In another embodiment, the door-shelf is guided through one or more rails and grooves. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the door-shelf can be easily and stably slided up and down when adjusting the level.

In another embodiment, one or more rails are disposed onto the inner lining of the door whereas one or more grooves are disposed onto the door-shelf. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the rails and grooves can be easily manufactured together with the inner lining and the door-shelf respectively.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the refrigerator 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 inner view of the door of the refrigerator which has a door-shelf according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 – is a schematic sectional view of the door of Fig.1, taken along the line A-A, wherein the door-shelf is at the highest level;

Figure 3 – is a schematic sectional view of the door of Fig.1, taken along the line A-A, wherein the door-shelf is at the lowest level;

Figure 4 – is a schematic sectional view of the door of Fig.1, taken along the line B-B;

Figure 5 – is a schematic partial perspective exploded view of the door of Fig. 1;

Figure 6 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail D of Fig.2, wherein the catch and the latch are in the locked state;

Figure 7 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail E of Fig.2, wherein the catch and the latch are in the unlocked state;

Figure 8 – is a schematic sectional view of the door of Fig.1, taken along the line C-C.

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

Door
Inner lining
Door-shelf
Height-adjustment mechanism
Guiding means
Locking means
Reinforcement
Latch
Catch
Spring
Indent
Bar
Push-button section
Recess
Bearing
Fixing means
Bottom frame
Screw
Slot
Rail
Groove

The refrigerator (not shown) comprises: a refrigeration compartment (not shown) for refrigerating the articles which are stored therein; a door (1) for opening/closing the refrigerating compartment, wherein the door (1) has an inner lining (2); a door-shelf (3) which is disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and a height-adjustment mechanism (4) for height-adjustably holding the door-shelf (3) at different levels (L) (Fig. 1 to Fig.4).

In the refrigerator of the present invention, the height-adjustment mechanism (4) comprises a guiding means (5) for allowing the user to slide the door-shelf (3) in the horizontal state between the levels (L) (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

In an embodiment, the height-adjustment mechanism (4) further comprises: a locking means (6) for locking the door-shelf (3) in the horizontal state to the selected level (L) (Fig. 5 to Fig. 8).

In another embodiment, the locking means (6) comprises a reinforcement (7) which is disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1) and adapted to bear the weight of the door-shelf (3) in the locked state (Fig. 5 to Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the locking means (6) comprises: a plurality of latches (8) which are disposed at the corresponding levels (L) onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and a catch (9) for locking/unlocking with the latch (8) at the selected level (L) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). In this embodiment, the catch (9) is disposed onto the door-shelf (3) (Fig. 6 and Fig 7). In this embodiment, the catch (9) is loaded with a spring (10) which pushes the catch (9) towards the locked state (Fig. 8).

In another embodiment, the latches (8) respectively comprise indents (11) which are disposed at the corresponding levels (L) onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1) (Fig. 5). In this embodiment, the catch (9) comprises a bar (12) for insertion into the indent (11) at the selected level (L) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the door (1) comprises thirteen indents (11) which are arrayed in the vertical direction (Fig. 5).

In another embodiment, the indents (11) are also formed into the reinforcement (7) (Fig. 5 to Fig. 7). In this embodiment, the inner lining (2) and the reinforcement (7) are adapted to form-fittingly engage with each other (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the catch (9) comprises a push-button section (13) (Fig. 8).

In another embodiment, the door-shelf (3) comprises a recess (14) for accommodating the spring (10) (Fig. 8).

In another embodiment, the locking means (6) comprises: a bearing (15) for slidably holding the catch (9), wherein the bearing (15) is disposed onto the door-shelf (3); and a fixing means (16) for fixing the bearing (15) to the door-shelf (3) (Fig. 5 to Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the catch (9), the spring (10), the bearing (15), and the fixing means (16) are disposed onto the underside of the door-shelf (3) (Fig. 5 to Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the door-shelf (3) comprises a bottom frame (17) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). In this embodiment, the catch (9), the spring (9), the bearing (15), and the fixing means (16) are installed into concealed by the bottom frame (17) (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the fixing means (16) comprises one or more screws (18) for fixing the bearing (15) to the door-shelf (3) (Fig. 5).

In another embodiment, the catch (9) comprises one or more slots (19) for respectively accommodating the screws (18) and retaining the catch (9)(Fig. 8).

In another embodiment, the height-adjustment mechanism (4) is adapted to removably hold the door-shelf (3) (Fig. 5).

In another embodiment, the guiding means (5) comprises one or more rails (20); and one or more grooves (21) for form-fittingly engaging with the rails (20) (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

In another embodiment, one or more rails (20) are disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and one or more grooves (21) are disposed onto the door-shelf (3) (Fig. 5).

In the subsequent description the height adjustment operation will be briefly explained by way of example and reference to the drawings. First, the user unlocks the catch (9) from the latch (8) through moving and holding the push-button section (13) away from the door (1) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 7). Next, the user slides the door-shelf (2) to the desired level (L) (Fig. 2). Next, the user locks the catch (9) with the latch (8) by releasing the push-button section (13) (Fig. 6). When the user wants to remove the door-shelf (3) from the door (1) for cleaning or for any other purpose, then the user moves the door-shelf (3) to the lower end or the upper end of the guiding means (5) where the grooves (21) are released from the rails (20). The user can mount the the door-shelf (3) to the door (1) by performing the aforementioned steps in the reverse order.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can change the level of the door-shelf (3) without rotating/tilting it outwards and inwards by virtue of the guiding means (5). Thereby, the need for removing the articles from the storage surface of the door-shelf (3) during the height-adjustment can be dispensed with. Thereby, the height-adjustment operation can be expedited, and thus the valuable time for removing/replacing the articles can be saved. Thereby, also a comparatively large portion of the cool air inside refrigeration compartment can be prevented from escaping to the outside during the height-adjustment operation, and thus the energy consumption of the refrigerator can be accordingly reduced. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that when changing the level of the door-shelf (3), the user can balance the door-shelf (3) more easily by virtue of the guiding means (5). Thereby, the user can more easily and quickly adjust the level of the door-shelf (3). With the present invention the consumer satisfaction can be increased. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the aforementioned particular embodiments.

Claims

A refrigerator comprising: a refrigeration compartment for refrigerating the articles which are stored therein; a door (1) for opening/closing the refrigerating compartment, wherein the door (1) has an inner lining (2); a door-shelf (3) which is disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and a height-adjustment mechanism (4) for height-adjustably holding the door-shelf (3) at different levels (L), characterized in that the height-adjustment mechanism (4) comprises: a guiding means (5) for sliding the door-shelf (3) in the horizontal state between the levels (L).
The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the height-adjustment mechanism (4) further comprises: a locking means (6) for locking the door-shelf (3) in the horizontal state to the selected level (L).
The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking means (6) comprises a reinforcement (7) which is disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1) and adapted to bear the weight of the door-shelf (3) in the locked state.
The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the locking means (6) comprises:

a plurality of latches (8) which are disposed at the corresponding levels (L) onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and

a catch (9) for locking/unlocking the latch (8) at the selected level (L), wherein the catch (9) is disposed onto the door-shelf (3), and wherein the catch (9) is loaded with a spring (10) which pushes the catch (9) towards the locked state.
The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that the latches (8) respectively comprise indents (11) which are respectively disposed at the corresponding levels (L) onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and the catch (9) comprises a bar (12) for insertion into the indent (11) at the selected level (L).
The refrigerator according to any of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the catch (9) comprises a push-button section (13).
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the door-shelf (3) comprises a recess (14) for accommodating the spring (10).
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the locking means (6) comprises:

a bearing (15) for slidably holding the catch (9), wherein the bearing (15) is disposed onto the door-shelf (3); and

a fixing means (16) for fixing the bearing (15) to the door-shelf (3).
The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that the catch (9), the spring (10), the bearing (15), and the fixing means (16) are disposed onto the underside of the door-shelf (3).
The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that the door-shelf (3) comprises a bottom frame (17), wherein the catch (9), the spring (9), the bearing (15), and the fixing means (16) are installed into and concealed by the bottom frame (17).
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that fixing means (16) comprises one or more screws (18) for fixing the bearing (15) to the door-shelf (3).
The refrigerator according to claim 11, characterized in that the catch (9) comprises one or more slots (19) for respectively accommodating the screws (18) and retaining the catch (9).
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the height-adjustment mechanism (4) is adapted to removably hold the door-shelf (3).
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the guiding means (5) comprises one or more rails (20); and one or more grooves (21) for form-fittingly engaging with the rails (20).
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that one or more rails (20) are disposed onto the inner lining (2) of the door (1); and one or more grooves (21) are disposed onto the door-shelf (3).