WO2017220424A1

WO2017220424A1 - Cooling appliance having a closable compartment assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2017220424A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/064683
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Kadir Ridvan Celik; Tayfun ERSOZ; Fahri KIRLI; Burak AKAY
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-06-20
Filing date: 2017-06-15
Publication date: 2017-12-28

Abstract

The invention is a cooling appliance comprising a fixed compartment (10) provided on a cooling door (1) and having lateral walls (14); a movable cover (20) which is articulatory hinged to the lateral walls (14) on their inner portion; a buffer element (30) provided between the cover (20) and the compartment (10) and configured to stop the rotational movement of the cover (20) between an open position for access to the compartment (10) and a closed position by way of frictional damping. The cooling appliance comprises a slot (60) provided inside the lateral wall (14) and in which the angled outer periphery of the buffer (30) is engagedly disposed.

Description

COOLING APPLIANCE HAVING A CLOSABLE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY

The invention relates to cooling appliances having a closable compartment assembly, in particular a compartment used as a door rack.

Cooling appliances delimit a cooling space in a body formed as a heat isolation cabin. To allow the items to be refrigerated to be placed in the cooling space in an organized manner, compartments like open or closable racks and drawers are disposed in the body. Closable racks have a movable cover protecting items placed in a container. The rack is placed in the door in the transversal direction and is articulatory hinged at both ends.

The control of the cover on the container is difficult. After opening, the free falling of the cover due to its self-weight can cause undesirable noise. To resolve this situation, compartments were developed having a cover, the opening and closing movements of which are better controlled. The patent publication EP2778579 discloses an assembly for household refrigerators or freezers comprising a fixed part and a movable part hinged to the fixed part, particularly a plastic door compartment and a plastic cover hinged to it, wherein a buffer element is placed between the fixed part and the movable part. The buffer element comprises a first pin coupling both parts in a central hole. A slot having a shape connected to a movement path where a second pin can move is disposed in the buffer element. By providing elastic friction elements in the slot, the movement of the second pin is damped.

In such implementations where the cover is forced to advance within the movement path with a buffer, the buffer has the form of a thin body in order to maximize the space in the door rack. It is obligatory to construct the plastic first and second pins on the body quite thick because of the tensions to be applied to the pins when the cover is closed quickly.

The aim of the invention is to provide a compact movement damping hinge in closable compartment doors in cooling appliances.

To achieve this aim, the invention is a cooling appliance, particularly a household refrigerator comprising a fixed compartment provided on a cooling door and having a base extension and lateral walls rising from both opposite ends of the base extension; a movable cover articulatory hinged to the lateral walls on their inner portion; a buffer element provided between the cover and the compartment and configured so as to stop the rotational movement of the cover between an open position for access to the compartment and a closed position by way of frictional damping. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a slot provided in the inner portion of the lateral wall in which the angled outer periphery of the buffer is engagedly disposed. When the buffer element is placed in the slot, it remains fixed without being rotated by effects composed of the movement of rotation and the weight of the cover thanks to the angled configuration. This allows to directly transfer the counter force formed by the buffer to the slot through the periphery of the buffer during frictional damping of the movement of rotation. As the tensions occurring while stopping the movement of rotation are transferred to the slot through its walls, it is prevented that additional elements resisting against tensions on the buffer, for example support pins break off through instant forces.

The slot comprises a hinge bearing receiving the hinge pin extending oppositely outwards from the cover over the axis of rotation. Thus, when the buffer is transferred into the slot, the cover is herewith placed rotatably. The slot forms a bearing in a compact way for both pin forming a hinge for the cover and buffer.

In the lower portion of the outer periphery of the buffer are provided a first abutment edge and a second abutment edge extending angularly towards each other, and a first support edge and second support edge, to which first and the second abutment edge abut within the slot respectively. The support edges help loads with different directions to be distributed in the slot with their angular extensions and prevent the buffer to rotate within the slot by providing an angled periphery.

An extended radial guide channel is comprised in the upper portion of the hinge bearing provided next to the facing portion of the first and second support edge, through which radial guide channel a guide pin adjacent to the hinge pin is passed. The guide channel allows the guide pin to advance within the radial guide channel with the rotation of the cover at the hinge pin axis. The two ends of the radial guide channel limit the rotation of the cover at the hinge pin axis. The slot also comprises the guide channel so as to provide a compact structure.

In a possible configuration, in the radial guide channel guide, the tangent of the radial line with respect to the hinge pin of a second stopper edge extends essentially perpendicularly to the first abutment edge, to which second stopper edge abuts the guide pin in open position so as to load the weight of the cover. Thus, the tension caused by the weight of the cover in its open position is directly transferred from the first abutment edge to the slot. The first abutment edge reduces the tension by increasing the space in which the weight is transferred. In closed position, the slot carries the weight of the cover directly.

In the radial guide channel, the tangent of the radial line with respect to the hinge pin of a first stopper edge extends essentially perpendicularly to the second abutment edge, to which first stopper edge abuts the guide pin in closed position so as to load the weight of the cover. Thus, the tension caused by the weight of the cover is transferred directly from the second abutment edge to the slot. The second abutment edge reduces the tension by increasing the space in which the weight is transferred. In closed position, the slot carries the weight of the cover directly. The hinge pin is integrated to a lateral extension facing the lateral wall of the cover. In this case, the hinge pin and the cover can be produced in a single piece for example by plastic injection. The lateral walls are thin walled with flexible structure. Thereby the storing space is maximized. The buffer is made by plastic injection.

The household appliance realized to achieve the aim of the invention is represented in the annexed Figure, in which;

Figure 1– is a perspective representation from the inside of a refrigerator door, having a representative implementation of a closable compartment subject of the invention.

Figure 2 – is a disassembled partial perspective representation of the closable compartment shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 – is a lateral perspective representation of a cover used in a representative configuration of the closable compartment subject of the invention.

Figure 4 – is a perspective representation of a representative configuration of a buffer element allowing damped closing of the closable compartment.

Figure 5 – is a perspective representation of a compartment from inside, in which the cover given in figure 3 is placed.

Figure 6 – is a frontal representation of the compartment subject of the invention with removed cover.

Figure 7 - is a perspective representation of the closable cover in open position with mounted buffer.

Figure 8 – is a perspective representation of the closable cover in closed position with mounted buffer.

Figure 9 – is a lateral representation of the closable cover in open position with mounted buffer.

Figure 10 - is a lateral representation of the closable cover in closed position with mounted buffer.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1 Door

2 Inner lining

3 Supporting extension

4 Holding protrusion

10 Compartment

12 Base extension

14 Lateral wall

16 Rear wall

20 Cover

21 Holding section

22 Lateral extension

23 Upper wall

24 Front wall

25 Hinge pin

26 Guide pin

30 Buffer part

31 Flexible tab

32 Upper curvilinear edge

33 First stopper edge

34 Second abutment edge

35 First abutment edge

36 Holding pin

37 Hole

38 Second stopper edge

39 Radial channel

40 Hanging extension

60 Slot

61 Guide channel

62 Upper edge

63 Hinge bearing

64 First pin bearing

65 Second pin bearing

66 First support edge

68 Second support edge

In figure 1, a refrigerator door (1), in which a closable compartment (10) subject of the invention is placed is represented in perspective from its interior. The door (1) has a plastic inner lining (2) covering the heat insulation layer. Vertical supporting extensions (3) next to two longitudinal edges are formed over the inner lining (2). On the facing edges of the supporting extensions (3) are disposed respectively a holding protrusion (4). The compartment (10) is removably and transversely introduced between two opposite holding protrusions (4) by means of a hanging extension (40). The compartment (10) has a flat base extension (12) and a lateral wall (14) respectively rising vertically from the opposite edges of the base extension (12). The lateral walls (14) extend parallelly to the supporting extension (3).

In figure 2, the cover (20) is represented removed from the compartment (10). A closable cover (20) selectively covers the storing space provided by the base extension (12). The cover (20) has an L-like sectional shape. The L-like shape is formed with an upper wall (23) achieving the position parallel to the base extension (12) of the cover (20) and a front wall (24) obtained by being extended downwards at an edge of the upper wall. A holding section (21) is formed by bending longitudinally outwards an end portion of the front wall (24) of the cover (20). Over a planar lateral extension (22) of the cover (20) extend a cylindrical hinge pin (25) extending so as to define an axis of rotation of the cover (20) and a guide pin (26) provided at distance from the hinge pin. The hinge pin (25) has a large diameter regarding the guide pin (26) so as to be suitable to carry the weight of the cover (20). The lateral extension (22) extends parallelly to the lateral wall (14) along a lateral edge of the upper wall (23) on the one hand and a lateral edge of the front wall (24) on the other hand. The lower back corner of the lateral extension (22) has the form of a curvilinear spring allowing to be rotated at the axis of the hinge pin (25) when withdrawn from the holding section (21). A rear wall (16) rising from its back portion perpendicularly to the rear portion of the base extension (12) of the compartment (10) extends transversely between the lateral walls (14) so as to cover the cover (20) from its back space. A hanging extension (40) adjacent to the rear wall (16) engages the holding protrusion (4) so as to surround the holding protrusion (4) from above. Thereby, the compartment (10) is removably attached to the door (1). A buffer part (30) is attached between the compartment (10) and the cover (20) so as to be adapted from the lateral extension (22) to the lateral wall (14).

In figure 3, the cover (20) is represented in perspective in a demounted state. The hinge pin (25) and the adjacent guide pin (26) have the form of a hollow cylinder. The guide pin (26) is disposed in a radial outward position with respect to the hinge pin (25). In figure 4, the buffer part (30) adapted on the one hand to the cover (20) and on the other hand to the compartment (10) is represented in perspective. The buffer part (30) has the form of a flat plate. The buffer part (30) is delimited by a first abutment edge (35) and a second abutment edge (34) with a V-like structure and angled to one another and a radial upper curvilinear edge (32) connecting them from its distal ends. A hole (37) is provided so as to remain between the proximal portions of the second and the first abutment edge (34, 35). The diameter of the hole (37) corresponds to the outer diameter of the hinge pin (25). Thereby, the hole (37) provides a swing bearing for the hinge pin (25). A respectively short holding pin (36) is provided at both sides of the hole (37) with equal distance. In the upper portion of the hole (37), a flexible tab (31) extends into a radial channel (39) adjacent to the upper curvilinear edge (32). The flexible tab (31) divides the radial channel (39) into a narrowing upper portion. The flexible tab (31) extends so as to narrow the radial channel (39) in such a way as to provide a first stopper edge (33) forming an end of the radial channel (39) opposite from a second stopper edge (38) forming the other end. The width of the radial channel (39) corresponds to the diameter of the guide pin (26) so as to guide it. Thus, it is allowed to set during advance a course corresponding to the inclination of the radial channel (39) by orienting the guide pin (26) into the radial channel (39).

In figure 5, the compartment (10) is represented in perspective from the inside. A slot (60) suitable for the introduction of the buffer part (30) is provided in the inner face of the lateral wall (14). The inner walls of the slot (60) correspond to the periphery of the buffer (30). The slot (60) comprises a first support edge (66) and a second support edge (68) having a V-like form and extending angularly to each other. The first and the second support edge (66, 68) assembles an upper edge (62) by their distal ends. The thickness of the buffer element (30) and the depth of the slot (60) are equal. Thereby, when the buffer element (30) is seated into the slot (60), it completes the inner face of the lateral wall (14). When the buffer element (30) sits in the slot (60), the first abutment edge (35) is supported by abutting on the first support edge (66) and the second abutment edge (34) is supported by abutting on the second support edge (68). A first and a second pin bearing (64, 65) corresponding to the holding pins (36) are disposed in the slot (60). The holding pins (36) allow the buffer part (30) to hold on at its inner face to the slot (60) in the lateral walls (14) during mounting. Besides, the slot (60) has a hinge bearing (63) corresponding to the hole (37) and a guide channel (61) corresponding to the radial channel (39). In figure 6, the compartment (10) is represented angularly in the front. The slot (60) is placed flush with one another in the facing inner face of both lateral walls (14).

In figure 7, the cover (20) is represented in perspective in open position. In open position, the front wall (24) covers the upper portion of the compartment (10) parallelly to and at distance from the base extension (12). Thereby, as the hollow lower portion of the cover (20) comes forward, an opening is provided to have access to the compartment (10). As to the upper wall (23), it extends in parallel with the inner lining (2) at the rear portion of the compartment (10), parallelly to the rear wall (16) of the compartment (10). The cover (20) is taken to the open and closed position by rotating the hinge pin (25) at its axis. When the cover (20) is taken to the open position, the guide pin (26) abuts the second stopper edge (38). The force formed by the cover (20) over the guide pin (26) because of the weight of the cover, is transferred to the buffer (30) via the second stopper edge (38) that it abuts. In the meantime, as the flexible tab (31) is in a free position, the width of the first stopper edge (33) is narrower than the width of the guide pin (26). In figure 8, the same cover (20) is represented in closed position. In this case, the front wall (24) surrounds the compartment (10) frontally and the upper wall (23) from above. In the meantime, the compartment (10) is closed from the back by the rear wall (16) and the inner lining (2) and laterally by the opposite lateral walls (14). In closed position, the guide pin (26) abuts the first stopper edge (33). The flexible tab (31) is compressed from below by being pushed by the guide pin (26). Thus, the flexible tab (31) increases the frictional force that the guide pin (26) has to overcome while advancing in the radial channel (39).

In figure 9, the cover (20) is represented laterally in an open position. The center of gravity of the cover (20) remains behind the hinge pin (25) to which the cover is rotatably hinged, so that the cover (20) remains in open position. Therefore, tension is formed on the guide pin (26) over the second stopper edge (38) limiting the movement of the guide pin (26). The vertical component of the tension forces the buffer part (30) to rotate counterclockwise in the slot (60). The first abutment edge (35) transfers the tension in the sense of rotation to the corresponding first support edge (66). The first support edge (66) forms a resistance against the tension in the sense of rotation within the slot (60) and restricts the movement of the buffer part (30). When the cover (20) is desired to be taken to closed position, the hinge pin (25) is rotated 90° clockwise at its axis. In figure 10, the cover (20) is represented laterally in closed position. The center of gravity of the cover (20) is located in front of the hinge pin (25) to which the cover is rotatably hinged so that the cover (20) remains in closed position. The hinge pin (25) abutting the first stopper edge (33), applies a force caused by the weight of the cover (20), in the frontal end of the radial channel (39) enlarged by compression through the pin. The load applied to the first stopper edge (33) forces the buffer part (30) to rotate clockwise. The second support edge (68) of the slot (60) corresponding to the first stopper edge (33) provides resistance in opposite direction so as to prevent rotation.

The first stopper edge (33) and the second stopper edge (38) being two opposite ends of the radial channel (39) of the buffer part (30) extend perpendicularly to the corresponding second abutment edge (34) and first abutment edge (35) in relation to a tangent coming out of the end the radial channel (39). The angle tracked by the radial channel (39) in relation to the hinge pin (25) is 90°. Thereby a right angle is formed between the first abutment edge (35) and the second stopper edge (38). Likewise, a right angle is also formed between the second abutment edge (34) and the first stopper edge (33). The right angle allows the tensions caused by the weight of the cover (20) to be directly transmitted to the slot (60) via the corresponding first and second abutment edge (35, 34).

The cover (20) is rotated 90° clockwise when taken from the open position to the closed position. Thereby, the cover (20) rotates within the hinge bearing (63) passing through the hole (37) at the axis crossing the center of the hinge pin (25). The movement of rotation allows the guide pin (26) to advance within the guide forming radial channel (39) and guide channel (61) by moving out of the second stopper edge (38). During advance, the force applied to the guide pin (26) in the end portion close to the first stopper edge (33) where the flexible tab (31) in free position narrows the radial channel (39) is increased. Thus, the movement of rotation formed by the center of gravity of the cover (20) slows down.

Claims

Cooling appliance comprising a fixed compartment (10) provided on a cooling door (1) and having a base extension (12) and lateral walls (14) rising from both opposite ends of the base extension (12); a movable cover (20) articulatory hinged to the lateral walls (14) on their inner portion; a buffer element (30) provided between the cover (20) and the compartment (10) and configured so as to stop the rotational movement of the cover (20) between an open position for access to the compartment (10) and a closed position by way of frictional damping, characterized by a slot (60) provided in the inner portion of the lateral wall (14) in which the angled outer periphery of the buffer (30) is engagedly disposed.
Cooling appliance according to claim 1, characterized by a hinge bearing (63) of the slot (60), receiving a hinge pin (25) extending oppositely outwards from the cover (20) over the axis of rotation.
Cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized by a first abutment edge (35) and a second abutment edge (34) extending angularly towards each other, and a first support edge (66) and second support edge (68), to which first and the second abutment edge abut within the slot (60) respectively, provided in the lower portion of the outer periphery of the buffer (30).
Cooling appliance according to claim 3, characterized by an extended radial guide channel (61) arranged in the upper portion of the hinge bearing (63) provided next to the facing portion of the first and second support edge (66, 68), through which a guide pin (26) adjacent to the hinge pin (25) is passed.
Cooling appliance according to claim 4, characterized by the second abutment edge (34), in which the tangent of the radial line in the radial guide channel (61) extends perpendicularly with respect to the hinge pin (25) of a first stopper edge (33) to which abuts the guide pin (26) in closed position so as to load the weight of the cover (20).
Cooling appliance according to claim 4, characterized by the first abutment edge (35), in which the tangent of the radial line in the radial guide channel (61) extends perpendicularly with respect to the hinge pin (25) of a second stopper edge (38) to which abuts the guide pin (26) in open position so as to load the weight of the cover (20).
Cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized by a hinge pin (25) integrated into a lateral extension (22) facing the lateral wall (14) of the cover (20).
Cooling appliance according to claim 7, characterized by thin walled lateral walls (14) having flexible structure.
Cooling appliance according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by a buffer (30) produced by plastic injection method.