WO2018121931A1

WO2018121931A1 - A cooling device comprising a receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2018121931A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/080100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tamer Tombuloglu; Murat Ungor; Husamettin CELIK; Oktay Aygun; Hamdi GUNDOGAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-12-27
Filing date: 2017-11-22
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: TR201619693A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), at least one shelf (3) provided in the body (2), a bearer (4) extending along the lower surface of the shelf (3), and a receptacle (8) placed at the bearer (4) by means of a coupling member (6) received in a channel of the bearer (4).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a receptacle.

In refrigerators, shelves are provided on which the users place food products and arranged on the body. Even though the distance between said shelves can be changed by the user depending on user’s needs, the height is adjusted according to the tallest food product placed on the shelf. Consequently, the shorter products placed on the same body shelf lead to inefficient use of the internal volume of the cooling device due to the unused volume remaining over them. The storage receptacles with low heights, placed on the shelves by the user and occupying a large space, lead large volumes in the cooling device to became unusable.

Another problem experienced in cooling devices is the storage receptacles in which generally breakfast foods are placed, occupying too much space in the cooling device. In addition, although they are used frequently, they can remain behind large food products and can be difficult to access.

Another problem experienced with the state of the art storage receptacles is in their remaining open when not used and as a result the food placed within taking air and deteriorating in a shorter amount of time.

State of the art international patent document no. WO2013177749 defines a storage box provided below a shelf.

State of the art United States patent document no. US8534783B2 defines a cooling device internal shelf consisting of a single piece frame.

The aim of the present invention is to utilize the unused volume in cooling devices.

The cooling device provided to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, comprises a receptacle for utilizing the unused volume of the cooling device. Said receptacle is placed to the shelf by means of a bearer provided on the lower surface of the shelf. The receptacle is placed at the bearer by means of his coupling member received in the channel of the bearer. The user can place food products directly on the receptacle, and the receptacle also has compartments for placing the products easily perishable when exposed to humidity and outer environment air. The products placed in such compartments can later be placed on the receptacle by means of the compartment. The coupling member moves so as to rotate about its own axis. Thanks to said movement, the user is able to rotate the coupling member about its axis after placing the receptacle in the channel, this rotary movement being transferred to the receptacle and consequently the user is able to reach the compartments which remain in the backside. The usually unused volume remaining below the shelf is utilized by means of the receptacle, and also the facility to store various food products in said volume is provided to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bearer can be placed between the front and rear edges, or between the right and left edges of the shelf depending on the needs of the user. The bearer placed at two edges of the shelf can move back and forth on said edges, and enables its position to be changed so as to meet the needs of the user. The coupling member placed at the bearer through an opening provided at the end of a channel of the bearer can move along said channel. The user is enabled to bring the receptacle to a desired position below the shelf, combining the movement of the coupling member in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the bearer with the movement of the bearer on the edges, vertical to the extension direction of the bearer. By this, the user does not need more than one receptacle or bearer to customize the position of the receptacle, thereby improving material costs.

In an embodiment of the invention, a coupling member is used extending from the center of the receptacle to the bearer. Said coupling member has a “T” shape, and its head portion is received in the channel extending along the middle of the bearer through openings provided at the end of the bearer. The receptacle remains suspended on the bearer thanks to the shape of the coupling member, even when it rotates about its axis. In addition, balls are used on the surface of the coupling member contacting the channel, to facilitate the movement of the coupling member, and to reduce friction. By means of the shape of the coupling member, falling of the receptacle from the bearer due to user error and becoming damaged is made difficult, thereby reducing spare part costs and improving maintenance costs.

In an embodiment of the invention, a locking latch is used to make it difficult for the compartments placed on the receptacle, to fall from the receptacle. The locking latch is produced separately from the receptacle, and the user is enabled to fasten the compartments on the receptacle if desired by attaching one end of the locking latch to the recess arranged on the receptacle, and the other end to the recess arranged on the compartments. Thanks to said locking latch, the compartments are prevented from becoming damaged by falling from the receptacle, thereby reducing spare part costs likely to arise due to replacement of the receptacle and improving maintenance costs.

In an embodiment of the invention, a cover is provided on the compartments, and a gasket is provided between the cover and the compartment to enable hermetic sealing. The food products placed in the compartments deteriorate quickly under the effect of factors such as air and humidity as their packages are open. By means of the cover and more importantly the gasket of the compartments, the compartment is almost completely hermetically sealed from the outer environment, and therefore the food products are kept fresh for a long time.

In an embodiment of the invention, the receptacle acting as the base for the compartments to rest thereon, has a circular shape. The coupling member rises from the center of the receptacle and is kept at the bearer. The receptacle is stably kept at the bearer thanks to its circular shape, reducing the possibility to become inclined at a direction as a result of the user filing only the compartments on one side of the receptacle, and preventing the products from falling off into the cooling device and dirtying the interior of the body. In addition, the protrusion of the receptacle extending along its circumference, surrounds the portion on which the compartments rest, and similarly makes it difficult for the compartments to fall off the receptacle by sliding.

In an embodiment of the invention, compartments produced as circular segments are placed on the circular receptacle. The compartments extending from the outer portion of the receptacle to the coupling piece by narrowing, are arranged around the coupling piece. Compartments forming equal angles are arranged around the coupling piece and therefore the volume of each compartment is equal. In a similar embodiment, the circular segments can form varying angles and thus, compartments having different inner volumes are obtained. The user is provided with circular segment shaped compartments having separate angular values, and the user places and removes said compartments as deems suitable according to his/her varying needs. By this, the quality perception of the product is enhanced, and ease of use is provided.

The aim of the present invention is to utilize the idle volume between two shelves in cooling devices, remaining on the upper portions of the products placed.

The cooling device realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a frontal view of the cooling device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shelf.

Figure 3 is a side view of the receptacle and the compartments.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the receptacle.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bearer.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the compartment.

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

Cooling device
Body
Shelf
Bearer
Channel
Coupling Member
Compartment
Receptacle
Locking Latch
Cover
Gasket
Protrusion

The cooling device (1) comprises

a body (2),
at least one shelf (3) provided in the body (2), and
a bearer (4) extending along the lower surface of the shelf (3).

The cooling device (1) of the invention comprises a channel (5) provided on the bearer (4), and a receptacle (8) having a coupling member (6) suitable for moving back and forth in the channel (5) and for rotating about its axis, and at last one compartment (7) arranged on the receptacle (8), suitable for placing food products within.

A shelf (3) suitable for being placed in the body (2) is provided in the cooling device (1) of the invention, Said shelf (3) is fixed in the body (2) and a bearer (4) is placed on the shelf (3). The bearer (4) extends along the lower surface of the shelf (3), and a channel (5) extends within the bearer (4) almost along its full length. The coupling member (6) is kept at said channel (5). The receptacle (8) can be fastened at the lower surface of the shelf (3) by means of the coupling member (6) kept at the bearer (4) provided on the lower surface of the shelf (3), thus obtaining a surface on which the food products can be placed. The user can directly place the food products on the receptacle (8) as well as placing into the compartment (7) or the compartments (7) placed on the receptacle (8). By means of said compartments (7), more than one food product can be placed into the compartments (7) forming a closed environment isolated from the inner environment of the cooling device (1). The volume remaining below the shelf (3) is used effectively thanks to placement of the receptacle (8) at the bearer (4) provided below the shelf (3). User experience is enhanced by effective utilization of the inner volume of the cooling device (1), thereby improving user satisfaction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a bearer (4) with two open ends, kept at two mutual edges of the shelf (3) by snap-fit engagement and moving on said edges, and a receptacle (8) kept at the bearer (4) by the coupling member (6). The bearer (4) kept at mutual edges of the shelf (3) can move back and forth on the edges of the shelf (3) on which it is placed. The internal volume of the shelf (3) can be used effectively by means of the bearer (4) movable to the empty volumes forming below the shelf (3). In addition, the ends of the bearer (4) are left open for the coupling member (6) to be conveniently placed and removed by the user. The user can remove the receptacle (8) from the shelf (3) when desired, and can carry the food products kept in the compartments (7) with minimal interaction with the outer environment. By this, the freshness of the food products are maintained for the longest time possible, and the user is provided with the facility of easily removing the receptacle (8) from the cooling device (1) when required, improving user experience.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a receptacle (8) having a T-shaped coupling member (6) enabling the receptacle (8) to move slidably on the bearer (4). The coupling member (6) placed on the bearer (4) through the opening provided on the ends of the bearer (4), moves back and forth along the channel (5), thereby providing the user with the facility to change its position. In addition, the receptacle (8) can rotate about itself by means of the coupling member (6) rotatable about its axis, providing the user with the possibility to take the desired compartment (7). The coupling member (6) kept by being suspended at the channel (5) from the upper portion of the T-shape, and the receptacle (8) connected to the coupling member (6), can move back and forth on the bearer (4). The receptacle (8) is enabled to be fastened at any point below the shelf (3) with the combination of above movement with the lateral movement of the bearer (4) on the shelf (3). As a result, the user is enabled to have two dimensional control of the movement of the receptacle (8) in horizontal axis, and he/she is enabled to bring the receptacle (8) to any desired point, providing effective use of the internal volume of the cooling device (1).

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a receptacle (8) having at least one locking latch (9) provided around the receptacle (8), enabling fixing the compartments (7) on the receptacle (8). One end of the locking latch (9) is arranged on the receptacle (8), and the other end is arranged on the compartments (7). The receptacle (8) and the compartments (7) interlock by the user placing one end of the locking latch (9) on the receptacle (8) and the other end on the compartments (7) and then fastening them thereon. By means of said locking latch (9), the food products and the compartments (7) are prevented from being damaged due to the compartments (7) dropping by separating from the receptacle (8) during the user moving the receptacle (8) on the bearer (4) or removing the receptacle (8) from the bearer (4), and the spare part cost likely to arise due to replacement of the compartments (7) is thus reduced, improving user experience.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a receptacle (8) having a compartment (7) hermetically sealed from the outer environment by means of a gasket (11) and a cover (10). The food products placed into the compartments (7) by the user, are almost completely hermetically sealed from the outer environment by means of a cover (10) and a gasket (11) provided on the compartments (7). Thanks to the elastic structure of the gasket (11) provided between the cover (10) and the compartment (7), the covers (10) and the compartments (7) are enabled to have snap-fit engagement with each other. Likewise, by means of said cover (10) and the gasket (11), the compartments (7) are enable to be almost completely hermetically sealed also when the receptacle (8) is taken out of the cooling device (1) by the user, and the freshness of the food products is thus maintained for a long time.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a receptacle (8) on which the compartments (7) rest, the receptacle (8) having a protrusion (12) extending along its circumference, and being connected to the bearer (4) by a coupling member (6) protruding from its center. The receptacle (8) has a circular shape and a protrusion (12) is provided, extending along the entire edge of the receptacle (8). The compartments (7) placed on the receptacle (8), on the area between the coupling member (6) and the protrusion (12), are fastened on the receptacle (8) by means of the protrusion (12) so as not to slide. Thanks to the protrusion (12), the compartments (7) rest without sliding on the receptacle (8) and do not fall off the receptacle (8) when the user removes the receptacle (8) from the bearer (4) and carries them around.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling device (1) comprises receptacles (8) having circular segment shaped compartments (7) forming equal angles around the coupling member (6). The coupling member (6) rises from the center of the circular-shaped receptacle (8), and said coupling member (6) is kept at the channel (5) provided on the bearer (4). Compartments (7) are provided around the point where the coupling member (6) is connected to the receptacle (8). Said compartments (7) are produced with circular segment shapes as is suitable for the circular shape of the receptacle (8). The coupling member (6) forms the center point of the compartments (7) forming equal angles around the coupling member (6) thus having equal storage capacities. The volumes of the circular segment shaped compartments (7) produced with varying angles in accordance with differing needs of the users, can be increased or decreased according to the desire of the user, and thus various storage needs of the user can be met by using compartments (7) of different volumes while having the same receptacle (8), thereby improving the user experience.

With the invention, the user is enabled to position the receptacle (8) at a desired location below the shelf (3), making it possible for the user to utilize the idle volume likely to form between the shelves (3) in the best feasible manner.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising

- a body (2),

- at least one shelf (3) provided in the body (2), and

- a bearer (4) extending along the lower surface of the shelf (3)

characterized by

- a channel (5) provided on the bearer (4),

- a receptacle (8) having a coupling member (6) suitable for moving back and forth in the channel (5) and for rotating about its axis and at least one compartment (7) arranged on the receptacle (8), suitable for placing food products within.
A cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the bearer (4) with two open ends, kept at two mutual edges of the shelf (3) by snap-fit engagement and moving on said edges, and by the receptacle (8) kept at the bearer (4) by the coupling member (6).
A cooling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the receptacle (8) having a T-shaped coupling member (6) enabling the receptacle (8) to move slidably on the bearer (4).
A cooling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the receptacle (8) having at least one locking latch (9) provided around the receptacle (8), enabling fixing of the compartments (7) on the receptacle (8).
A cooling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the receptacle (8) having a compartment (7) hermetically sealed from the outer environment by means of a gasket (11) and a cover (10).
A cooling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the receptacle (8) on which the compartments (7) rest, the receptacle (8)

having a protrusion (12) extending along its circumference, and kept at the bearer (4) by a coupling member (6) protruding from its center.
A cooling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the receptacles (8) having circular segment shaped compartments (7) forming equal angles around the coupling member (6).