WO2020224848A1

WO2020224848A1 - A cooling appliance having a rack arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2020224848A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/057955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Onur OZCAN; Deniz GUNDOGAN; Hamdi GUNDOGAN; Gizem ERDAL; Sezgin BILGILI
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2019-05-08
Filing date: 2020-03-23
Publication date: 2020-11-12
Also published as: TR201906904A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; a body (2) comprising a pair of side walls (3), a door (4), a rack arrangement (5) placed on one of the side walls (4) or the door (4) comprising a base (6) onto which the articles to be cooled are placed.

Description

A COOLING APPLIANCE HAVING A RACK ARRANGEMENT

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance, in particular to a cooling appliance having a rack arrangement.

The cooling appliances are widely used for keeping articles cool. In order to meet the demand of the consumers, the cooling appliances are provided with a wide variety of shelves, provided both on the door and inside the body of the cooling appliances. The height between two following shelves can be adjusted by protrusions provided on the side walls or on the door. In order to store tall articles such as bottles, the user may need to remove the shelf from the body and adjust the height between the following shelves accordingly. This not only results in an extra effort for the consumer but also causes the inner volume of the cooling appliance to be utilized inefficiently. Due to the longitudinal form the bottles possess, a large volume remains unused between the following shelves. Another problem occurring while storing the articles inside the cooling appliance, is that the bottles and cans may roll over and fall as the user opens the door. In order to store bottles inside the cooling appliances, a wide range of means are provided. These means are generally taken outside when not in use in order to free more volume inside the cooling appliance which increases the possibility of these means getting lost.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US2768048A among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance comprising a bottle rack for storing bottles.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US2017321954A1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance comprising a shelf on the door and a means for securing articles such as bottles and cans safely on the shelf.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as WO2011029756A1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance comprising a rack for storing articles such as bottles and cans.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a rack arrangement utilized to store tall articles such as bottles therefore providing efficient volume utilization wherein the rack arrangement remains hidden and inside the cooling appliance when not in use.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a rack arrangement to store articles vertically, further improving inner volume utilization.

The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims comprises a cooling appliance wherein the cooling appliance comprises a body and a door pivotably attached onto the body. The body comprises a pair of side walls and a rear wall connecting the side walls. A rack arrangement is provided on one of the side walls or the door. The rack arrangement faces the interior volume of the cooling appliance in the closed position of the door. The rack arrangement comprises a base. The base forms a ground onto which the bottles, cans or the like is placed. The base is the lowermost part of the rack arrangement. The rack arrangement further comprises a holder and a rail extending between the holder and the base. The holder is hollow and is produced so as to match the shape of the bottles and cans. The articles, such as bottles and cans, are placed onto the base by passing through the holder. By this means, the articles are supported by the base from below, and by the holder from above. The rail extends partly along the length of the articles and in between the base and the holder. The rail provides a height difference between the base and the holder therefore preventing the articles to fall from the rack arrangement. By means of the rack arrangement, the articles such as bottles and cans are stored inside the cooling appliance vertically, improving the utilization of the interior volume of the cooling appliance. Another advantageous effect of the rack arrangement is that the articles are prevented to fall and break, therefore improving user satisfaction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rack arrangement comprises a housing. The housing is embedded inside the door or one of the side walls wherein the rack arrangement is placed. The housing provides structural support for the rack arrangement and supports the base, the holder and the rail as the articles are placed onto the base.

In an embodiment of the invention, the base is pivotable attached to the rail along a first axis. Likewise, the rail is pivotable attached to the holder along a second axis. The first axis and the second axis are offset by the length of the rail and extend almost parallel to each other. The base pivots around the first axis and folds onto the rail. Afterwards, the rail and the base pivot around the second axis and folds onto the holder from below. The base, the holder and the rail slides inside the housing via an opening provided on the housing, therefore freeing volume inside the cooling appliance when and if the rack arrangement is not use.

In an embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a push-in pop-out type catching means. After the base, the holder and the rail slides inside the housing, the catching means engages and holds the base, the holder and the rail inside the housing in a first position. In a second position, the base, the holder and the rail are outside the housing and are ready to receive the bottles or cans onto the base. The user needs to push one of the said parts while inside the housing therefore freeing the said parts from the catching means. By means of the catching means, an easy and convenient operation of the bottle rack is achieved.

In an embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a biasing means biasing the base, the holder and the rail outward from the housing. By means of the biasing means, it is sufficient for the user to push the said parts inward to the housing, first freeing the said parts from the catching means and automatically ejecting the said parts from the housing thus easily readying the rack arrangement for use.

In an embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a flap cover that is utilized to cover the opening in the first position of the rack arrangement. The cover flap upon being seated onto the opening provides a flush surface with the side walls or the door depending on where the rack arrangement is placed. The cover flap hides the rack arrangement when not in use, improving products quality perception. Another advantageous effect of the flap cover is that the flap cover isolates and protects the rack arrangement from outer effects when the rack arrangement is not in use.

In an embodiment of the invention, the housing is slidably placed inside a channel. The user may slide the housing inside the channel, changing the position of the rack arrangement. The extension direction of the channel is parallel to the ground and extends almost along the side walls or the door, depending on where the rack arrangement is placed. The extension direction of the channel and the housing are coaxial. By means of the channel, the user is provided with a means to change the position of the rack arrangement inside the body, providing flexibility in use.

In an embodiment of the invention, a motor is provided inside or in close vicinity of the housing. A switch, to activate and deactivate the motor, is provided in close vicinity of the rack arrangement. Upon activation of the motor, the base, the holder and the rail are ejected from the housing or inserted inside the housing thus easily readying and packing the rack arrangement. Additionally, the motor provides sliding movement of the housing along the channel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the biasing means is a spring wherein the spring is a helical spring.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rail is a telescopic rail. Therefore, the length of the rail can be easily adjusted to match the height of different bottles and cans.

In the cooling appliance of the present invention, the rack arrangement provides vertical articles storage therefore improving interior volume utilization. Another advantageous effect is that the rack arrangement can be inserted inside the housing when the rack arrangement is not in use, protecting the rack arrangement from physical damages and meanwhile further improving interior volume utilization.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Figure 1 – is a front view of the cooling appliance

Figure 2 – is an isolated view of the rack arrangement

Figure 3 – is a sectional view along dashed A-A line in Figure 2

Figure 4 – is a side view of the rack arrangement

Figure 5 – is a side view of the rack arrangement

Figure 6 – is a side view of the rack arrangement

Figure 7 – is a side view of the rack arrangement

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

Cooling appliance
Body
Side wall
Door
Rack arrangement
Base
Holder
Rail
Housing
Opening
Catching means
Biasing means
Flap cover
Channel
Switch
Motor

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising a body (2) comprising a pair of side walls (3), a door (4), a rack arrangement (5) placed on one of the side walls (4) or the door (4) comprising a base (6) onto which the articles to be cooled are placed.

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; the rack arrangement (5) wherein the rack arrangement (5) further comprises; a holder (7) configured to be located above the base (6) and via which the said articles placed onto the base (6) are longitudinally supported and wherein the holder (7) is hollow, and a rail (8) connecting the base (6) to the holder (7). The rack arrangement (5) is placed onto one of the side walls (3) or onto the door (4). The rack arrangement (5) comprises the base (6) wherein the base (6) supports the articles to be cooled from below, meaning that it forms a flat surface onto which the articles are placed. The rack arrangement (5) further comprises the holder (7). The holder (7) is positioned above the base (6) and articles placed onto the base (6) extends towards the holder (7) and passes through the holder (7). Therefore, the articles are longitudinally supported. The holder (7) has a hollow construction, allowing the articles to pass through. The holder (7) and the base (6) are connected to each other via the rail (8). The rail (8), not only connects the base (6) to the holder (7) but also provides a height difference providing stability for tall items, especially bottles and tall cans. By means of the rack arrangement (5), the interior volume of the cooling appliance (1), otherwise unutilized, is used efficiently by vertically storing articles.

In another embodiment, the rack arrangement (5) comprises a housing (9) built-in on one of the side walls (3) or the door (4) onto which the rack arrangement (5) is placed. The housing is built in meaning that the housing (9) is embedded inside the side walls (3) or the door (4). The housing (9) supports the rack arrangement (5).

In another embodiment, the base (6) is configured to be folded onto the rail (8), wherein the rail (8), along with the base (6), is configured to be folded towards the holder (7) and wherein the holder (7), along with the base (6) and the rail (8), is configured to be inserted inside the housing (9) via an opening (10) provided on the housing (9). The base (6) is pivotable attached to the rail (8) via a hinge or the like around a first axis. Likewise, the rail (8) is pivotable attached to the holder (7) via a hinge or the like around a second axis. The said axes are parallel to each other and are offset by the height difference provided by the rail (8). The base (6) can be folded onto the rail (8) around the first axis. Afterwards, the rail (8), along with the base (6) can be folded onto the holder (7) contacting the holder (7) from below. By this means, the base (6), the rail (8) and the holder (7) form a planar surface. The housing (9) comprises the opening (10) and the base (6), the rail (8) and the holder (7) are suitable to be inserted inside the housing (9) via the opening (10). By this means, the rack arrangement (5) can be seated inside the housing (9) when not in use. As a result, the rack arrangement (5) is protected from physical damages. Another advantageous effect of storing the rack arrangement (5) inside the housing (9) is that the inner volume of the cooling appliance is utilized efficiently. Also, the user does not need to remove the rack arrangement (5) out of the cooling appliance (1).

In another embodiment, the housing (9) comprises a push-in pop-out catching means (11) configured to hold the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) inside the housing (9) in a first position. The rack arrangement (5) has two positions. In the first position, the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) are inside the housing (9). In the second position, the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) are outside the housing (9), meaning that the rack arrangement (5) is ready to be used. In the first position, the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) are stored inside the housing (9).

In another embodiment, the housing (9) comprises a biasing means (12) biasing the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) outside the housing (9). The biasing means (12) abuts against the base (6) or the holder (7) or the rail (8) and forces them outward from the housing (9). By means of the biasing means (12) and upon activation of the catching means (11) by the user, the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) pops out from the housing (9) providing easy of use for the user.

In another embodiment, the housing (9) comprises a flap cover (13) covering the opening (10) in the first position flushly with the side walls (3) or the door (4) onto which the rack arrangement (5) is placed. The flap cover (13) covers the opening (10) in the first position. By this means, operational parts of the rack arrangement (5) such as the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) are isolated from outer environment when not in use. The flap cover (13), along with the side walls (4) or the door (4), depending on the location of the rack arrangement (5), provides a flush surface, improving products quality perception.

In another embodiment, the housing (9) is slidably placed inside a channel (14) wherein the channel (14) extends coaxially with the housing (9). The channel (14) partly extends along he side walls (4) or the door (4), depending on the location of the rack arrangement (5). The housing (9) is fixed inside the channel (14) via a connecting tab. Upon releasing the housing (9) from the connecting tab, the housing (9) is free to slide along the channel (14). The channel (14) provides flexibility for the user. The user may easily slide the rack arrangement (5) along the channel (14) according to his or her needs.

In another embodiment, the cooling appliance (1) comprises a switch (15) configured to activate a motor (16) provided inside or in close vicinity of the housing (9), wherein the motor (15) upon activation moves the housing (9) along the channel (14) and/or ejects and unfolds the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8). The motor (16) upon activation slides the housing (9) along the channel (14). The motor (16) is also able to release the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) from the housing (9) upon activation. By this means, use of convenience is provided for the user.

In another embodiment, the biasing means (12) is a spring.

In another embodiment, the rail (8) is telescopic. By this means, the rail (8) helps adjust the height difference between the holder (7) and the base (6), providing flexibility in use for articles such as cans and bottles having a long body to be safely stored.

In the cooling appliance (1) of the present invention, tall articles such as cans and bottles are stored on the rack arrangement (5) wherein the rack arrangement (5) can be folded on itself and inserted inside the housing (9) wherein the housing (9) is embedded inside the side walls (3) or the door (4). By this means the inner volume of the cooling appliance (1) is utilized efficiently. Another advantageous effect of the present invention is that the bottles and cans can be stored vertically thanks to the flat surface provided by the base (5) further improving volume usage of the cooling appliance (1).

Claims

A cooling appliance (1) comprising;

a body (2) comprising a pair of side walls (3),

a door (4),

a rack arrangement (5) placed on one of the side walls (4) or the door (4) comprising a base (6) onto which the articles to be cooled are placed,

characterized in that

the rack arrangement (5) further comprises;

a holder (7) configured to be located above the base (6) and via which the said articles placed onto the base (6) are longitudinally supported and wherein the holder (7) is hollow, and a rail (8) connecting the base (6) to the holder (7).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rack arrangement (5) comprises a housing (9) built-in on one of the side walls (3) or the door (4) onto which the rack arrangement (5) is placed.
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the base (6) is configured to be folded onto the rail (8), wherein the rail (8), along with the base (6), is configured to be folded towards the holder (7) and wherein the holder (7), along with the base (6) and the rail (8), is configured to be inserted inside the housing (9) via an opening (10) provided on the housing (9).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the housing (9) comprises a push-in pop-out catching means (11) configured to hold the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) inside the housing (9) in a first position.
A cooling appliance (1) according to claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the housing (9) comprises a biasing means (12) biasing the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8) outside the housing (9).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the housing (9) comprises a flap cover (13) covering the opening (10) in the first position flushly with the side walls (3) or the door (4) onto which the rack arrangement (5) is placed.
A cooling appliance (1) according to claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the housing (9) is slidably placed inside a channel (14) wherein the channel (14) extends coaxially with the housing (9).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterized by a switch (15) configured to activate a motor (16) provided inside or in close vicinity of the housing (9), wherein the motor (15) upon activation moves the housing (9) along the channel (14) and/or ejects and unfolds the base (6), the holder (7) and the rail (8).
A cooling appliance (1) according to claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the biasing means (12) is a spring.
A cooling appliance (1) according to any of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the rail (8) is telescopic.