WO2023274713A1

WO2023274713A1 - A shelf assembly for installation in household cooling appliances

Info

Publication number: WO2023274713A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/066142
Authority: WO
Inventors: Orhan BAS; Volkan Cakirca; Fidan GÜLER; Ahmet Mustafa SAYGILI
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2021-06-28
Filing date: 2022-06-14
Publication date: 2023-01-05

Abstract

A shelf assembly (1) for installation in a household cooling appliance (100), which comprises a shelf plate (11) with an upper surface (111) and a lower surface (112), wherein the shelf assembly (1) also comprises a profile holder (12) which is fixed to the lower surface (112) of the shelf plate (11). The proposed shelf assembly (1) further comprises a front profile (13) configured to be removably attached to the profile holder (12) by means of at least two fitting members, wherein a first fitting member (14) is configured to act as a hinge to rotate and to position the front profile (13) at an angle (A) with a vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11), and wherein a second fitting (15) is configured to be detachably connected onto the profile holder (12) for switching the front profile (13) from an open position to a closed position. The profile holder (12) comprises at least two housing members for holding the corresponding fitting members on the front profile (13), wherein a first housing member (16) is positioned lower than the second housing member (17) in the vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11).

Description

SPECIFICATION

A SHELF ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLATION IN HOUSEHOLD COOLING

APPLIANCES

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shelf assembly according to the preamble of the claim 1.

Background of the Invention

Household cooling appliances often include a shelf plate supported by multiple frame members. The frame members serve in a way to sandwich the periphery of the plate between them. However, this configuration creates gaps which are manually inaccessible between the frame members and the shelf plate, causing the gaps to be filled with spilled liquids. It also induces the spilled liquid to spread through the gaps to the entire shelf and to other shelves.

One proposed solution to this problem has been to add a sealant between the frame and the shelf plate in order to confine liquids within the shelf. However, this arrangement requires the sealant to be placed precisely in order to assure a proper seal. Additionally, liquid spilled on the shelf may still seep into gaps between the frame and the plate, making the shelf much more difficult to clean, which could possibly lead to unsanitary conditions.

For example, a prior art publication in the technical field of the invention, which is referred to as CN212227492 U, discloses a refrigerator shelf decoration strip convenient to clean, which comprises a plate shell, wherein the plate shell has a U-type block shape; a fixing block which is fixedly installed on the inner side of the plate shell, wherein the shape and the size of the fixing block are matched with the shape and the size of the inner side of the plate shell; and a rubber block which is fixedly installed on the inner side of the fixing block. A clamping groove is formed in the front side wall face of the rubber block, and the hollow area of the clamping groove penetrates through the rubber block. Another common type of solution comprises a frame member that is molded about the periphery of a shelf plate, thereby creating an inherent seal between the frame and the shelf plate. However, manufacturing processes for this type of shelf require multiple steps and specialized molding equipment that significantly add to the cost of production.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the invention is to provide a shelf assembly for use in a household cooling appliance, allowing the dirt accumulated between the shelf plate and the frame member to be cleaned without the need to completely remove the frame member or add a sealant.

The present invention proposes a shelf assembly for installation in a household cooling appliance, comprising a shelf plate with an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the shelf assembly also comprises a profile holder which is fixed to the lower surface of the shelf plate. The shelf assembly further comprises a front profile configured to be removably attached to the profile holder by means of at least two fitting members, wherein a first fitting member is configured to act as a hinge to rotate and to position the front profile at an angle with a vertical plane with respect to the shelf plate; and wherein a second fitting is configured to be detachably connected onto the profile holder for switching the front profile from an open position to a closed position. The profile holder comprises at least two housing members for holding the corresponding fitting members on the front profile, wherein a first housing member is positioned lower than the second housing member in the vertical plane with respect to the shelf plate. Thus, the housings on the profile holder and the fittings on the front profile work in coordination, allowing the user to switch the front profile to the open position in order to create a space between the front profile and the shelf plate, where a cleaning brush can enter. With this arrangement, the need to completely remove the front profile in order to clean the dirt accumulated in this area is eliminated. Following the cleaning process, the front profile can be relocated to the closed position where the fitting members are connected to the corresponding housing members so that the dirt accumulation is minimized. This arrangement eliminates the need to use a sealant between the front profile and the shelf plate. As used herein, the term "an upper surface" refers to a shelf plate surface positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation.

As used herein, the term "a lower surface" refers to a shelf plate surface positioned perpendicular to the +y orientation.

As used herein, the term "a vertical plane" refers to an imaginary plane extending in the y-axis.

In a possible embodiment, the first fitting member has a first tubular protrusion which is extending in a width direction of the front profile, wherein the first tubular protrusion is configured to snap-fit into the first housing member. The snap-fit arrangement allows the front profile to be completely removed from the shelf plate. Thus, the front profile can be washed separately if necessary, and then reattached to the profile holder. Besides, the first tubular protrusion arrangement helps the front profile to articulate to be partially opened. Thus, a space is created between the shelf plate and the front profile, making it possible to clean the dirt accumulated in there with a brush. Here, the term of "width direction" means the direction extending in the x-axis.

In a possible embodiment, the second fitting member has a second tubular protrusion which is extending in a width direction of the front profile, wherein the second tubular protrusion is configured to snap-fit into the second housing member. This arrangement cooperates with the first fitting member arrangement and it enables the front profile to switch between the open position and the closed position with a manual intervention. Thus, a space is created between the shelf plate and the front profile, making it possible to clean the dirt accumulated in there with a brush. Here, the term of "width direction" means the direction extending in the x-axis.

In a possible embodiment, the first tubular protrusion has a bigger diameter than the second tubular protrusion. This arrangement facilitates the transition of the front profile from the closed position to the open position.

In a possible embodiment, the first housing member has a first peripheral ring with a first opening facing the first fitting member. By this arrangement, the first opening provides an entrance for the first fitting member, while the first peripheral ring enables the articulation movement of the first fitting member.

In a possible embodiment, the second housing member has a second peripheral ring with a second opening facing the second fitting member. Thus, it is ensured that the second fitting member is firmly engaged to the front profile at the closed position. Since the second peripheral ring at least partially surrounds the second fitting member radially, it is ensured that the front profile remains stable at the closed position. In a possible embodiment, the profile holder comprises more than one first housing members. This arrangement adds balance and stability to the articulation movement of the front profile. It also prevents the front profile from being unintentionally detached from the profile holder. In a possible embodiment, the profile holder comprises more than one second housing members. This arrangement prevents the front profile from swinging and unintentional opening. Thus, the stability of the front profile at the closed position is enhanced.

In a possible embodiment, the amount of the first housing members is more than the amount of the second housing members. This arrangement facilitates the transition of the front profile from the closed position to the open position, preferably with a pressure force or a pulling force applied on the front profile.

In a possible embodiment, the profile holder comprises four first housing members and two second housing members. Thus, the front profile is connected to the profile holder in a symmetrical and stable way in the vertical plane.

In a possible embodiment, wherein the profile holder has an upper area coplanar with the lower surface of the shelf plate and wherein an adhesive element is provided between the shelf plate and the profile holder so as to fix the profile holder to the shelf plate. This arrangement ensures that the profile holder is firmly attached to the shelf plate and fixed in a way that cannot be removed. As used herein, the term "an upper area" refers to a profile holder (12) surface positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation. Here, the adhesive element can be a double-sided adhesive tape. In a possible embodiment, the front profile comprises a buffer element abutting at least a section of the profile holder so that the angle between the vertical plane and the front profile is being in the range of 15° to 60° at the open position. By this arrangement, it is possible to switch the front profile from the closed position to the open position with a pressure force applied on the buffer element. It also prevents the front profile from opening at wider angles than the specified angle value. The specified angle value range is configured to allow cleaning with a brush.

In a possible embodiment, the front profile comprises an upper tab which abuts to the shelf plate in such a way that a top surface of the upper tab and the upper surface of the shelf plate are being in the same plane at the closed position. Thus, it is provided a continuity between the front profile and the shelf plate, enabling them to act as one piece at the closed position. This arrangement also brings a solution to the problem of food and beverage residue accumulating between the front profile and the shelf plate. As used herein, the term "a top surface" refers to an upper tab surface positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation.

In a possible embodiment, the front profile comprises a fixation recess and wherein the profile holder comprises a fixation lug which is configured to penetrate into the fixation recess at the closed position. This arrangement helps the front profile to be attached firmly onto the profile holder in both horizontal and vertical planes and also prevents the front profile from swaying at the closed position.

The present invention also proposes a household cooling appliance comprising the shelf assembly according to any of the preceding embodiments.

Brief description of the figures

The accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying the invention whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in detail hereinafter:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a household cooling appliance comprising the shelf assembly according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a top perspective view of the shelf assembly at the closed position, according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a top exploded perspective view of the shelf assembly according to the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the shelf plate with the profile holder fixed on the shelf plate, according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a bottom perspective view of the profile holder, according to the present invention.

Fig 6 shows a detailed perspective view of the shelf assembly at the closed position, according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows an interior perspective view of the front profile according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the shelf assembly wherein the front profile is detached from the profile holder, according to the present invention. Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the shelf assembly at the open position, according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the shelf assembly at the closed position, according to the present invention.

Fig. 11 shows a bottom perspective view of the shelf assembly at the closed position, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the figures

The present application proposes a shelf assembly (1) for installation in a household cooling appliance (100), comprising a shelf plate (11) with an upper surface (111) and a lower surface (112). The shelf assembly (1) also comprises a profile holder (12) which is fixed to the lower surface (112) of the shelf plate (11) as can be seen in Fig. 4.

As used herein, the term "an upper surface" refers to a shelf plate (11) surface positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation and the term "a lower surface" refers to a shelf plate (11) surface positioned perpendicular to the +y orientation as can be seen in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 2, Fig. 7 and Fig. 9, the shelf assembly (1) further comprises a front profile (13) configured to be removably attached to the profile holder (12) by means of at least two fitting members. A first fitting member (14) is configured to act as a hinge to rotate and to position the front profile (13) at an angle (A) with a vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11). A second fitting member (15) is configured to be detachably connected onto the profile holder (12) for switching the front profile (13) from an open position to a closed position.

As used herein, the term "a vertical plane" refers to an imaginary plane extending in the y-axis as can be seen in Fig. 9.

According to the present invention, the profile holder (12) comprises at least two housing members for holding the corresponding fitting members on the front profile (13). A first housing member (16) is positioned lower than the second housing member (17) in the vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11) as can be seen in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10.

Since the first fitting member (14) has a first tubular protrusion (141) which is extending in a width direction of the front profile (13) and which is configured to snap- fit into the first housing member (16), the front profile (13) is completely detachable from the profile holder (12) as can be seen in Fig. 8. Flere, the term of "width direction" means the direction extending in the x-axis.

The first housing member (16) has a first peripheral ring (161) with a first opening (162) facing the first fitting member (14) and allowing to attach and detach the front profile (13) to the profile holder (12). According the present invention, the front profile (13) can be located in two different positions, which are the closed position and the open position, when attached to the profile holder (12).

According to the present invention, the second fitting member (15) has a second tubular protrusion (151) which is extending in a width direction of the front profile (13). Besides, it is configured to snap-fit into the second housing member (17) which has a second peripheral ring (171) with a second opening (172) facing the second fitting member (15) and to maintain its stability at the closed position as can be seen in Fig. 6 and Fig. 10. Flere, the term of "width direction" means the direction extending in the x-axis.

At the open position, the front profile (13) is connected to the profile holder (12) only through the first fitting member (14) in a way that makes an angle (A) with the vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11) as can be seen in Fig. 9.

Referring to Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the first tubular protrusion (141) has a bigger diameter than the second tubular protrusion (151).

Referring to Fig. 5, the profile holder (12) comprises more than one first housing members (16) and more than one second housing members (17). Fig. 5 also shows that the amount of the first housing members (16) is more than the amount of the second housing members (17) according to the present invention. More specifically, the profile holder (12) comprises four first housing members (16) and two second housing members (17) as can be seen in Fig. 5.

According to the present invention, the profile holder (12) has an upper area (121) coplanar with the lower surface (112) of the shelf plate (11). An adhesive element (22) is provided between the shelf plate (11) and the profile holder (12) so as to fix the profile holder (12) to the shelf plate (11) as can be seen in Fig. 3 and Fig 4. As used herein, the term "an upper area" refers to a profile holder (12) surface positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation.

Referring to Fig. 9, the front profile (13) comprises a buffer element (18) abutting at least a section of the profile holder (12) so that the angle (A) between the vertical plane (P) and the front profile (13) is being in the range of 15° to 60° at the open position. The buffer element (18) acts as a button that switches the front profile (13) from the closed position to the open position when pressure is applied on it. It also helps the front profile (13) to remain stable at the open position due to the weight created at the bottom of the front profile (13).

According to the present invention, the front profile (13) comprises an upper tab (19) which abuts to the shelf plate (11) in such a way that a top surface of the upper tab (19) and the upper surface (111) of the shelf plate (11) are being in the same plane at the closed position as can be seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 10. As used herein, the term "a top surface" refers to an upper tab (19) surface positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation. Since the front profile (13) and the upper tab (19) have a common plane positioned perpendicular to the -y orientation at the closed position, the shelf assembly (1) has a continuity on the surface holding the food and the beverage.

Referring to Fig. 11, the front profile (13) comprises a fixation recess (20). Accordingly, a corresponding fixation lug (21) is provided on the profile holder (12). The fixation lug (21) is configured to penetrate into the fixation recess (20) at the closed position in order to immobilize the front profile (13) already attached to the profile holder (12) by means of the fitting members.

Fig. 1 shows a household cooling appliance (100) comprising the shelf assembly (1) according to the present invention, which is also proposed by the present invention. According to the present invention, the household cooling appliance (100) comprises at least one storage compartment (101). At least one drawer (102) and more than one shelf structure are provided in the storage compartment (101). Said shelf structures are comprised of at least one fixed shelf structure and at least one removable shelf structure. The fixed shelf structure is attached into the storage compartment (101) so that it cannot be separated from the storage compartment (101). On the other hand, the removable shelf structure is configured to allow the user to detach it from the storage compartment (101).

The fixed shelf structure is configured to be the shelf assembly (1) according to the present invention. Accordingly, the shelf assembly (1) is located on the drawer (102) in a way that the drawer (102) has a covering plate having a surface coplanar with the lower surface (112) of the shelf plate (11) or in a way that the drawer (102) has a covering plate (103) comprised of the shelf plate (11) itself. Reference list:

I. Shelf assembly

II. Shelf plate

111. Upper surface

112. Lower surface

12. Profile holder 121. Upper area

13. Front profile

14. First fitting member

141. First tubular protrusion

15. Second fitting member

151. Second tubular protrusion

16. First housing member

161. First peripheral ring

162. First opening

17. Second housing member

171. Second peripheral ring

172. Second opening

18. Buffer element

19. Upper tab

20. Fixation recess

21. Fixation lug

22. Adhesive element

100. Flousehold cooling appliance

101. Storage compartment

102. Drawer

103. Covering plate A. Angle

P. Vertical plane x. a first horizontal axis y. a vertical axis z. a second horizontal axis

+y. a first orientation in a vertical axis -y. a second orientation in a vertical axis

Claims

1. A shelf assembly (1) for installation in a household cooling appliance (100), comprising a shelf plate (11) with an upper surface (111) and a lower surface (112), wherein the shelf assembly (1) also comprises a profile holder (12) which is fixed to the lower surface (112) of the shelf plate (11); and characterized in that;

- the shelf assembly (1) comprises a front profile (13) configured to be removably attached to the profile holder (12) by means of at least two fitting members, wherein a first fitting member (14) is configured to act as a hinge to rotate and to position the front profile (13) at an angle (A) with a vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11), and wherein a second fitting (15) is configured to be detachably connected onto the profile holder (12) for switching the front profile (13) from an open position to a closed position; and

- the profile holder (12) comprises at least two housing members for holding the corresponding fitting members on the front profile (13), wherein a first housing member (16) is positioned lower than the second housing member (17) in the vertical plane (P) with respect to the shelf plate (11).

2. The shelf assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting member

(14) has a first tubular protrusion (141) extending in a width direction of the front profile (13), wherein the first tubular protrusion (141) is configured to snap-fit into the first housing member (16).

3. The shelf assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the second fitting member

(15) has a second tubular protrusion (151) extending in a width direction of the front profile (13), wherein the second tubular protrusion (151) is configured to snap-fit into the second housing member (17).

4. The shelf assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first tubular protrusion (141) has a bigger diameter than the second tubular protrusion (151).

5. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing member (16) has a first peripheral ring (161) with a first opening (162) facing the first fitting member (14).

6. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second housing member (17) has a second peripheral ring (171) with a second opening (172) facing the second fitting member (15).

7. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the profile holder (12) comprises more than one first housing members (16).

8. The shelf assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the profile holder (12) comprises more than one second housing members (17).

9. The shelf assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the amount of the first housing members (16) is more than the amount of the second housing members (17).

10. The shelf assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the profile holder (12) comprises four first housing members (16) and two second housing members (17).

11. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the profile holder (12) has an upper area (121) coplanar with the lower surface (112) of the shelf plate (11) and wherein an adhesive element (22) is provided between the shelf plate (11) and the profile holder (12) so as to fix the profile holder (12) to the shelf plate (11).

12. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front profile (13) comprises a buffer element (18) abutting at least a section of the profile holder (12) so that the angle (A) between the vertical plane (P) and the front profile (13) is being in the range of 15° to 60° at the open position.

13. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front profile (13) comprises an upper tab (19) which abuts to the shelf plate (11) in such a way that a top surface of the upper tab (19) and the upper surface (111) of the shelf plate (11) are being in the same plane at the closed position.

14. The shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front profile (13) comprises a fixation recess (20) and wherein the profile holder (12) comprises a fixation lug (21) which is configured to penetrate into the fixation recess (20) at the closed position.

15. A household cooling appliance (100) comprising the shelf assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims.