WO2013041686A2

WO2013041686A2 - A cooling device wherein shelf height can be changed

Info

Publication number: WO2013041686A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/068671
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kadir Ridvan Celik; Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Elif Altay; Ercan Akyuz
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2011-09-21
Filing date: 2012-09-21
Publication date: 2013-03-28
Also published as: WO2013041686A3; EP2758732B1; EP2758732B8; EP2758732A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), at least one shelf (4) whereon the items are placed and at least one adaptor (5) that is detachably mounted onto the side wall (3) and that provides the height of the shelf (4) to be adjusted, and wherein the height of the shelf (4) can be adjusted.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE WHEREIN SHELF HEIGHT CAN BE CHANGED

The present invention relates to a cooling device wherein the height of the shelf can be changed.

In cooling devices such as refrigerators and deep freezers the foodstuffs and various containers are placed on the shelves. Depending on the needs of the user, the distance between the two shelves is required to be adjusted, in other words the height of the shelf is required to be changed in the body.

In some cooling devices, channels or rails that extend parallel to each other are disposed on the two opposite side walls of the body so that the height of the shelf can be changed. The user changes the height of the shelf by taking it out from the channels at one level and placing at another pair of channels at the desired level. However, for this operation the user has to first pull the shelf towards the outside of the body and push back towards the body rear wall after placing it in the channel pair at the desired height level. In order to perform this operation safely, the objects on the shelf has to be at least partially taken out and placed on the shelf again after the operation is completed.

For solving the said problem, shelf mechanisms are used in cooling devices that allow the height of the shelf to be changed without entirely taking out of the body by means of different channel structures on the side wall. In these mechanisms, the shelf is fastened to the side wall by means of the pins disposed at the sides thereof and the height of the shelf is adjusted with the movement of the pin inside the channel. Since the side wall is a large component, it is costly and hard to process it. Moreover, from time to time it can be troubling to insert the pins at the sides of the shelf into the channels on the side wall. Any damage that may occur on the pin causes the whole shelf to be replaced.

In the state of the art international patent application no WO03095912, a cooling device is described, comprising a shelf which can move horizontally or vertically without having to remove from inside the body due to the channel structure on the side walls. In this embodiment, the pins at the sides of the shelf are seated into the channel and provide the movement of the shelf.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a shelf, the height of which is provided to be changed without being removed from the inside of the body and which can be easily mounted to the body.

In the cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, an adaptor disposed on the side wall and providing the shelf to be adjusted and a retainer movably mounted onto the adaptor are provided. A shelf support providing the shelf to be supported is disposed on one surface of the retainer, and a pin enabling the shelf to move in the channel located on the adaptor is disposed on the other surface. The shelf support is shaped so that the shelf can be slid and inserted therein. By means of the retainer, the shelf is more quickly and easily fastened to the body and the shelf is provided to move more steadily.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises one protrusion on each of the opposite side walls of the adaptor and one slide for each protrusion that strengthens the connection between the retainer and the adaptor by surrounding the protrusion during the mounting of the retainer to the adaptor. By means of the slide and the protrusion, the connection between the retainer and the adaptor is strengthened without preventing the retainer from making sliding movement on the adaptor.

In a version of this embodiment, at least one aligning means is disposed below the protrusion and an opening is arranged above the rail, that is formed so that the aligning means can pass therethrough. The aligning means and the protrusion face the same direction. While the retainer is being mounted to the adaptor, the aligning means and the opening must be aligned. At this time, the pin is aligned with the channel. At this position, when the retainer is placed onto the adaptor and slightly pushed upwards, the slides are fit over the protrusions and thus the retainer is fastened to the adaptor. Thus, no additional change is required for seating the pin into the channel.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises at least two guides arranged on the adaptor and extending parallel to each other and at least two extensions arranged on the shelf, that are seated into the guides to move inside the guides. Thus, the shelf is provided to move only in the vertical direction and the movement is provided to be more easily controlled. Moreover, the shelf is prevented from rotating and being overturned.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a heart mechanism is disposed on the adaptor. In this embodiment, the pin is disposed on a connection member that is mounted onto the retainer so as to rotate around itself. While the pin moves inside the channels that form the heart mechanism, the connection member rotates and provides the shelf to move only in the vertical direction by absorbing the movement in the horizontal direction. The connection member is preferably disc-shaped.

In this embodiment the heart mechanism comprises two channels that form a curved path wherein the pin moves by being connected to each other from two ends, at least two housings that are arranged on the island-shaped wall located at the inner portions of the channels and that are disposed in the almost same vertical direction and at least two guiding members that provide the pin to move in the proper direction during the movement of the pin between the housings. In the preferred version of this embodiment, three housings are disposed and the height of the shelf can be changed between three positions.

In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one adaptor is oppositely disposed on each of the side walls and one retainer is disposed on each of the adaptors. In the preferred version of this embodiment, two adaptors and two retainers are disposed on each of the side wall.

By means of the present invention, in the cooling devices wherein the height of the shelf can be changed, the shelf is provided to be easily mounted to/dismounted from the body.

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

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a cooling device.

Figure 2 – is the partial view of the cooling device of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the exploded view of the adaptor, the retainer and the connection member.

Figure 4 – is the front view of the adaptor.

Figure 5 – is the rear view of the retainer.

Figure 6 – is the top view of the adaptor and the retainer.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Side wall
Shelf
Adaptor
, 106. Channel
Retainer
Shelf support
Pin
Heart mechanism
Connection member
, 112., 212. Housing
, 113., 213. Guiding member
Guide
Extension
Protrusion
Slide
Aligning means
Opening

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), at least one shelf (4) whereon the items are placed and at least one adaptor (5) that has at least one channel (6), that is detachably mounted onto the side wall (3) and that enables the height of the shelf (4) to be adjusted. By means of the adaptor (5), the shelf (4) is enabled to move inside the body (2) (Figure 1, Figure 2).

The cooling device (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises at least one retainer (7) that is mounted onto the adaptor (5) so as to move in the vertical direction and that has a shelf support (8) disposed on the face thereof facing the interior volume of the body (2), wherein one edge of the shelf (4) is placed with a sliding movement (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5).

The adaptor (5) is mounted onto the side wall (3) of the cooling device (1), the retainer (7) onto the adaptor (5) and the shelf (4) onto the shelf support (8) located on the portion of the retainer (7) facing the body (2). Thus, a modular structure is obtained and ease of use is provided. Since the components of the mechanism providing the adjustment of the height of the shelf (4) are disposed on the adaptor (5) and the retainer (7), the shelf (4) is in the form of an almost flat plate. Since no movable part is present on the shelf (4) placed to the shelf support (8), the shelf (4) is easily mounted to/dismounted from the body (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a pin (9) that is disposed on the face of the retainer (7) facing the side wall (3) and that is placed into the channel (6), thus providing the shelf (4) to move in the vertical direction. The pin (9) moves inside the channel (6) located on the adaptor (5) and supports the shelf (4), thus enabling the movement of the shelf (4) in the body (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises one protrusion (16) disposed on each of the opposite lateral faces of the adaptor (5) and one slide (17) wherein the protrusion (16) is seated, that is disposed on each of the portions of the retainer (7) surrounding the lateral face of the adaptor (5), that provides the retainer (7) to be movably fastened onto the adaptor (5). The slide (17) surrounds the protrusion (16), preventing the retainer (7) from being freed from the adaptor (5). Thus, an additional security measure is obtained, preventing the shelf (4) from rotating and overturning when an unbalanced load is placed on the shelf (4). At this time, the retainer (7) is prevented from sliding from and leaving the adaptor (5) since the pin (9) is borne in the channel (6). By means of the slide (17) – protrusion (16) pair, the retainer (7) is provided to be safely mounted onto the adaptor (5) in a manner not limiting the movement of the retainer (7) (Figure 6).

In a version of this embodiment, the cooling device (1) comprises at least one aligning means (18) placed below the protrusion (16) so as to be spaced from the protrusion (16) and an opening (19) that is formed at the portion of the slide (17) coinciding with the aligning means (18) and that enables the retainer (7) to be mounted to the adaptor (5) so that the pin (9) enters into the channel (6) from the lowermost point. While the retainer (7) is being mounted to the adaptor (5), the opening (19) and the aligning means (18) are overlapped, and while the aligning means (18) enters into the opening (19), the portion of the slide (17) remaining above the opening (19) is fit over the protrusion (16) with the retainer (7) being pushed upwards. At this time, the retainer (7) is safely mounted to the adaptor (5) since the pin (9) is borne in the channel (6). Thus, the need for opening grooves over the adaptor (5) for inserting the pin (9) into the channel (6) while the retainer (7) is mounted to the adaptor (5), is eliminated (Figure 4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises at least two guides (14) that extend along the adaptor (5) in the vertical direction and at least two extensions (15) that are disposed on the retainer (7), providing the movement of the shelf (4) to be limited to the vertical direction by moving inside the guides (14). Thus, during the adjustment of the height of the shelf (4), the shelf (4) is prevented from moving forwards and backwards, thus from obstructing the movement (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a heart mechanism (10) that is disposed on the adaptor (5), a connection member (11) that is rotatably placed on the face of the retainer (7) facing the side wall (3) and the pin (9) that is disposed on the connection member (11). While the pin (9) moves inside the channels (6, 106) that form the heart mechanism (10), no movement is required in horizontal direction thanks to the rotation of the connection member (11) wherein the pin (9) is located and the height of the shelf (4) is adjusted only by moving in the vertical direction (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).

In a version of this embodiment, the heart mechanism (10) comprises two channels (6, 106) connected to each other from their ends, forming a closed curve wherein the pin (9) moves, at least two housings (12, 112, 212) that are arranged on the channels (6, 106), that are disposed at the almost same vertical direction and at different heights and that provide the shelf (4) to be fixed at the position by the pin (9) being seated therein and at least two guiding members (13, 113) that guide the pin (9) while the pin (9) leaves one housing (12) and passes to the other housing (112). While the height of the shelf (4) is being increased, the pin (9) leaves the housing (12, 212) wherein it is seated and bears against the guiding member (13, 213), and moves inside the channel (6). When aligned with the upper housing (212, 112), the pin (9) leaves the guiding member (13, 213) whereon it moves and hits the outer wall of the channel (6), and is seated into the housing (212, 112). While the height of the shelf (4) is being increased, the pin (9) is seated one by one in each of the housings (112, 212) on the channel (6) wherein it moves. When the height of the shelf (4) is desired to be decreased when the pin (9) is in the uppermost housing (112), the shelf (4) is slightly pushed upwards, thus making the pin (9) hit the guiding member (113) above it and the pin (9) is inserted into the channel (106) which is the continuation of the channel (6) wherein it moves when getting near the uppermost housing (112). The pin (9) continues moving downwards inside the said channel (106) to be seated into the lowermost housing (12), thus providing the height of the shelf (4) to be changed. In this embodiment, there are preferably three housings (12, 112, 212) (Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one adaptor (5) is oppositely disposed on each of the side walls (3) and one retainer (7) is disposed on each of the adaptors (5). In a version of this embodiment, two adaptors (5) and two retainers (7) are disposed on each of the side wall (3).

By means of the present invention, in the cooling devices (1) wherein the height of the shelf (4) can be changed, the shelf (4) is provided to be easily mounted to/dismounted from the body (2).

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having two opposite side walls (3), at least one shelf (4) whereon the items are placed and at least one adaptor (5) that has at least one channel (6), that is detachably mounted onto the side wall (3) and that enables the height of the shelf (4) to be adjusted, characterized by at least one retainer (7) that is mounted onto the adaptor (5) so as to move in the vertical direction and that has a shelf support (8) disposed on the face thereof facing the interior volume of the body (2), wherein one edge of the shelf (4) is placed with a sliding movement.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a pin (9) that is disposed on the face of the retainer (7) facing the side wall (3) and that is placed into the channel (6), thus providing the shelf (4) to move in the vertical direction.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by one protrusion (16) disposed on each of the opposite lateral faces of the adaptor (5) and one slide (17) wherein the protrusion (16) is seated, that is disposed on each of the portions of the retainer (7) surrounding the lateral face of the adaptor (5), that provides the retainer (7) to be movably fastened onto the adaptor (5).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized by at least one aligning means (18) placed below the protrusion (16) so as to be spaced from the protrusion (16) and an opening (19) that is formed at the portion of the slide (17) coinciding with the aligning means (18) and that enables the retainer (7) to be mounted to the adaptor (5) so that the pin (9) enters into the channel (6) from the lowermost point.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least two guides (14) that extend along the adaptor (5) in the vertical direction and at least two extensions (15) that are disposed on the retainer (7), providing the movement of the shelf (4) to be limited to the vertical direction by moving inside the guides (14).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 5, characterized by a heart mechanism (10) that is disposed on the adaptor (5), a connection member (11) that is rotatably placed on the face of the retainer (7) facing the side wall (3) and the pin (9) that is disposed on the connection member (11).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the heart mechanism (10) comprising two channels (6, 106) connected to each other from their ends, forming a closed curve wherein the pin (9) moves, at least two housings (12, 112, 212) that are arranged on the channels (6, 106), that are disposed at the almost same vertical direction and at different heights and that provide the shelf (4) to be fixed at the position by the pin (9) being seated therein and at least two guiding members (13, 113) that guide the pin (9) while the pin (9) leaves one housing (12) and passes to the other housing (112).