WO2007128711A2

WO2007128711A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2007128711A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/054159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emre Ozyuksel; Ridvan Kadir Celik; Osman Vardar; Didem Bilge
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-05-03
Filing date: 2007-04-27
Publication date: 2007-11-15
Also published as: WO2007128711A3; TR200807955T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to shelves (4) used in cooling devices (1), for example in refrigerators or deep freezers, movable within the body (2) by being disposed in the grooves (5) situated oppositely on the side walls (6), the level of which changes in the body (2) from the front side towards the back in a stepped way and the stepped configuration is supported by the side walls (6) to provide rigidity.

Description

Description A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising shelves that enable effective utilization of volumes inside the body wherein items are emplaced.

[0002] In cooling devices, for example refrigerators or deep freezers, various types of stepped, foldable or telescopic shelves, bottle holders etc. are accommodated for efficient utilization of the volume to store bottles, food and beverage cans without occupying unnecessary space, and to provide convenience for the user in storing or taking out.

[0003] In the stepped shelves (4) used in state of the art cooling devices (1), two carrier parts (8, 108) are provided, one at a higher and the other at a lower level. The shelf (4) is disposed within the body (2) with the one of the parts (8, 108) being on the right and the other on the left side such that one side of each part (8, 108) is mounted into the grooves (5) on the side wall (6) of the body (2).

[0004] When the cooling device (1) is viewed from across, the stepped shelf (4) having parts (8, 108) at different levels from right towards the left, each part (8, 108) at the different levels is supported from only one side since each one is fitted into one groove (5) on one of the side walls (6). When viewed from across, the sides of the parts (8, 108) at the front and back sides of the body (2) joined with each other by means of a step (10) are not supported by the side walls (6) (Figure 1).

[0005] If the sides of the shelf (4) wherein the step (10) is situated are not supported inside the body (2) from the front and/or the back, problems of rigidity arise around the vicinity of the step (10) when the load on the shelf (4) is heavy, sagging and mis- balancing may occur.

[0006] In the patent documents no. US 1837293 and US2717189, examples of various types of stepped shelves are given for use in refrigerators.

[0007] In the European Patent application no. EP 1156290, the shelf which extends over the width of the cabinet and is removably supported by the side walls of the cabinet, forms a stepped structure with two planes at different levels and sloped with respect to each other and provides the user with alternatives by being located at different positions within the cabinet. Each plane of the shelf is supported by only one side wall.

[0008] In the patent document no. WO0214762, a shelf used in the refrigerator is explained which has a stepped configuration and has a drawer.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising shelves that provide the volume within the body to be used efficiently for storing items and offers various alternatives for the user.

[0010] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0011] In the cooling device of the present invention, the shelves used have carrier parts at different levels, movably mounted in the grooves on the opposite side walls, the levels of the carrier parts changing from the door on the front side towards the rear wall. The shelf is disposed within the body such that the first carrier part at a higher level faces the front side of the body, and the second carrier part at a lower level faces the back side of the body.

[0012] The edges of the shelf on the right and left sides of the first and second carrier parts at different levels are fitted into the grooves at different levels on the two opposite side walls. The grooves that support only one carrier part are situated oppositely on two side walls at the same level. The side edges of the carrier parts that are not on the same plane horizontally due to difference of levels are supported by the side walls, thus providing a rigid structure and preventing the first and second carrier parts from sagging under the load. Additional support elements are not used to prevent the shelf from sagging due to the load and also there is no need for the shelf to be produced of high cost material to provide the desired rigidity.

[0013] In the cooling device of the present invention, a box-like compartment is formed on the rear side of the body, with an all around closed periphery, the top being open, the second carrier part at the lower level being the base, bounded by the side walls and the rear wall, without requiring a raised side that encloses the second carrier part and without requiring an extra box or drawer placed on the shelf. The items stored in the compartment are safely secured from rolling down.

[0014] The second carrier part situated on the back side of the body, at a lower level than the first carrier part which is at a higher level, can have a sloping or curved configuration and in some embodiments, the first and second carrier parts are joined by a step.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, a shelf lid is used that can move over the first carrier part of the shelf at a higher level, and when pushed providing to cover the space wherein the second carrier part at the lower level is situated. When the second carrier part of the shelf is mounted on the rear side of the cooling device and when the second carrier part is covered by the shelf lid, an entirely closed box is formed on the back side of the body wherein the items of food and beverages that should be stored for a long time can be kept.

[0016] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0017] Figure 1 - is the front schematic view of stepped shelves situated in a state of the art cooling device.

[0018] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of stepped shelves situated in a cooling device.

[0019] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of a stepped shelf having a shelf lid, situated in a cooling device.

[0020] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of a stepped shelf having a sloped carrier part situated in a cooling device.

[0021] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of a stepped shelf having a curvilinear carrier part situated in a cooling device.

[0022] Figure 6 - is the schematic view of a stepped shelf having a sloped step situated in a cooling device.

[0023] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of a cooling device with stepped shelves mounted inside the body.

[0024] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0025] 1. Cooling device

[0026] 2. Body

[0027] 3. Door

[0028] 4. Shelf

[0029] 5. Groove

[0030] 6. Side wall

[0031] 7. Rear wall

[0032] 8. , 108. Part

[0033] 9. Shelf lid

[0034] 10. Step

[0035] The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), a door (3) providing access into the body (2), two oppositely lacing side walls(6), a rear wall (7) that closes the back side of the body (2), one or more shelves (4) used for storing items thereon, and more than one grooves (5) situated on the side walls (6), supporting the shelves (4) and wherein the shelves (4) can move.

[0036] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a shelf (4), mounted into the grooves (5) situated on the oppositely lacing side walls (6), having a first part (8) located at the front side of the body (2) near the door (3) and a second part (108) located at the back side of the body (T) near the rear wall (7), joined to the first part (8) and at a different level than the first part (8), both of the parts (8, 108) extending from one side wall (6) to the other side wall (6) (Figure T).

[0037] The side edges of the first and second parts (8, 108) of the shelf (4) on the right and left sides, not being on the same horizontal plane due to level difference, are supported by the grooves (5) disposed on the two opposite side walls (6), forming a rigid structure, preventing sagging of the parts (8, 108) by load. Additional support elements are not required to prevent sagging since only the support of the side walls (6) is sufficient and moreover the shelf (4) does not have to be produced of high cost material to maintain the desired rigidity.

[0038] The right and left side edges of both the first and second parts (8, 108) are supported by separate grooves (5) disposed on the two side walls (6), the grooves (5) supporting the first part (8) and the grooves (5) supporting the second part (8) are at different levels.

[0039] The grooves (5) supporting only one of the parts (8, 108) are disposed oppositely on the two side walls (6) and on the same level.

[0040] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (4) is mounted in the body (T) such that the first part (8) is on the front side of the body (8) and at a higher level, the second part (108) on the rear side of the body (2) and at a lower level and the parts (8, 108) thereof being supported by the two (pair of) grooves (5) situated on the two opposite side walls (6). While the first part (8) is supported by the upper grooves (5), the second part (108) is supported by the lower grooves (5) at the same time (Figure 2, 3).

[0041] In this embodiment, a box-like compartment (B) is formed on the back side of the body (2), the second part (108) being the base and bounded by the side walls (6) and the rear wall (7), the top side being open (Figure T). A raised edge structure, a box or a drawer integrated with the shelf (4) is not required, various food, beverage items that can roll off the shelf (4) when emplaced thereon can be placed on the compartment (B) without being put in a separate box and are prevented from rolling down.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (4) comprises a second part (108) that extends from the first part (8) towards the rear wall (7) and slopes downwards (Figure 4).

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (4) comprises a second part (108) that extends from the first part (8) towards the rear wall (7), having a curvilinear configuration such that the storage capacity and durability is increased (Figure 5).

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (4) comprises a step (10) that joins the first and second parts (8, 108) (Figure T). In this embodiment, a compartment (B) is formed when the periphery of the second part (108) is enclosed by the rear wall (7), side walls (6) and the step (10).

[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (4) comprises a sloping step (10) that facilitates to reach the compartment (B) formed at the back of the body (T) (Figure 6).

[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a shelf lid (9), situated on the higher first part (8) of the shelf (4), movable over the first part (8) or in the grooves (5) and when required pulled or pushed, providing to close the space on the second part (108) such that there is a gap in between, almost as much as the level difference between the first and second parts (8, 108) (Figure 3).

[0047] In this embodiment, when the second part (108) is mounted in the body (T) positioned towards the back side of the body (2), an entirely closed compartment (B) is formed on the rear side of the body (T) by sliding the shelf lid (9) over the second part (108). In this embodiment, the shelf lid (9) over the first part (8) situated at the front side of the body (T) is pushed towards the rear wall (7), closing over the second part (108) and food and beverages that will be stored for a long time can be kept in this closed compartment (B).

[0048] The shelf (4) can be disposed within the body (T) such that the first part (8) at the higher level is positioned on the back side of the body (T) and the second part (108) at the lower level is on the front side of the body (T) (Figure 7).

[0049] When the shelf (4) is disposed in this manner, a stairway structure that rises from the front towards the back is formed, providing convenience of usage, the tall food and beverage containers, for example items like bottles can be easily stored on the second part (108) on the front side and at a lower level, and the shorter food and beverage containers can be stored on the first part (8) at higher level on the back side. Since the food and beverage containers stored on the back side of the shelf (4) are on a higher plane than the front side, the user can easily reach towards the rear side of the shelf (4) to take the required item.

[0050] In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the parts (8, 108) of the shelf (4) at different levels, the side edges thereof not being on the same horizontal plane and susceptible to sagging under load, are supported by the side walls (6) within the body (T) providing rigidity, forming a compartment (B) with closed sides, wherein food and beverage items that can roll down can be safely and easily stored, without the need for a separate box-like structure on the shelf (4). The user is provided with various alternatives for conveniently storing or taking out the food and beverage containers of different heights.

Claims

[0001] A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), a door (3) providing access into the body (2), two oppositely facing side walls (6), a rear wall (7) that closes the back side of the body (2), one or more shelves (4) used for storing items thereon, and more than one grooves (5) situated on the side walls (6), supporting the shelves (4) and characterized in that a shelf (4), mounted into the grooves (5) situated on the opposite side walls (6), comprising a first part (8) located at the front side of the body (2) near the door (3) and a second part (108) located at the back side of the body (2) near the rear wall (7) at a different level than the first part (8), both of the parts (8, 108) extending from one side wall (6) to the other side wall (6), and the side edges of both the first and second parts (8, 108) on the right and left sides, not being on the same horizontal plane due to level difference, being supported by the grooves (5) disposed on the two opposite side walls (6), providing rigidity.

[0002] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that separate grooves (5) supporting the right and left side edges of both the first and second parts (8, 108) on both of the two side walls (6) at different levels.

[0003] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 and 2, characterized in that grooves (5) that support only one of the parts (8, 108), situated oppositely on the two side walls (6) at the same level.

[0004] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that a shelf (4) mounted in the body (2) such that the first part (8) is on the front side of the body (2) and at a higher level, the second part (108) on the rear side of the body (2) and at a lower level and the parts (8, 108) thereof being supported by two of each grooves (5) situated oppositely on the two opposite side walls (6).

[0005] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized in that shelf (4) that provides to fonn a box-like compartment (B) on the back side of the body (2), the second part (108) being the base and bounded by the side walls (6) and the rear wall (7), the top side being open.

[0006] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized in that a second part (108) that extends from the first part (8) towards the rear wall (7) and slopes downwards.

[0007] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized in that a second part (108) that extends from the first part (8) towards the rear wall (7), having a curvilinear configuration.

[0008] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the claimsl to 5, characterized in that a shelf (4) comprising a step (10) that joins the first and second parts (8, 108).

[0009] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 8, characterized in that a sloping step (10).

[0010] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that a shelf lid (9) situated over the first part (8) of the shelf (4), movable over the first part (8) or in the grooves (5) and when required pulled or pushed, providing to close the space on the second part (108) such that there is a gap in between, almost as much as the level difference between the first and second parts (8, 108).