U.S. patent application number 10/562708 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multibras S.A. Eletrodomesticos. Invention is credited to Claiton Emilio Do Amaral, Jair Cordova Henrique, Ricardo Kolb Filho.
Application Number | 20070103044 10/562708 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34085164 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070103044 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amaral; Claiton Emilio Do ;
et al. |
May 10, 2007 |
Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of
refrigerators and freezers
Abstract
A mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of
refrigerators and freezers, which comprise a compartment (C) having
two lateral walls (14), each carrying at least one rail (20) on
which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion (30) of an
internal dividing element (E) to be horizontally displaced between
a first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment
(C), and second positions, in which it is partially displaced
forwardly and outwardly from the compartment (C). According to the
invention, each rail (20) comprises a flat horizontal upper track
(23) and a lower track (24), each lateral portion (30) of the
internal dividing element (E) comprising a seating surface (31), to
be slidingly seated on the upper track (23) of the respective rail
(20), and a retaining surface (32) disposed below the lower track
(24).
Inventors: |
Amaral; Claiton Emilio Do;
(Joinville-SC, BR) ; Kolb Filho; Ricardo;
(Joinville - SC, BR) ; Henrique; Jair Cordova;
(Joinville - SC, BR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P. O. BOX 5257
NEW YORK
NY
10150-5257
US
|
Assignee: |
Multibras S.A.
Eletrodomesticos
Avenida das Nacoes Unidas, 12.995-32 andar
Sao Paula-SP
BR
04578-000
|
Family ID: |
34085164 |
Appl. No.: |
10/562708 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 22, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/BR04/00128 |
371 Date: |
January 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/024 20130101;
A47B 88/57 20170101; A47B 88/443 20170101; F25D 23/067 20130101;
A47B 2210/0056 20130101; A47B 88/40 20170101; A47B 2210/17
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/334.46 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2003 |
BR |
PI 0303139-0 |
Claims
1. A mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of
refrigerators and freezers, which comprise a compartment (C) having
two lateral walls (14), each carrying at least one rail (20) on
which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion (30) of an
internal dividing element (E) to be horizontally displaced between
a first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment
(C), and second positions in which it is partially displaced
forwardly and outwardly from the compartment (C), characterized in
that each rail (20) comprises a flat horizontal upper track (23)
and a lower track (24), parallel to the upper track (23) and which
is provided with a stop means (26) and a longitudinal guide rail
(25), each lateral portion (30) of the internal dividing element
(E) comprising a seating surface (31) to be slidingly seated on the
upper track (23) of the respective rail (20) and a retaining
surface (32) disposed below the lower track (24) and which carries
a lock (33), which in an operative position, is slidingly seated
against the lower track (24) of the same rail (20), in order to
abut said stop means (26) to define a second maximum displacement
position of the internal dividing element (E) forwardly and
outwardly from the compartment C, at least one of the lateral
portions (30) of the internal dividing element (E) further
comprising, in distinct regions of the longitudinal extension of
the retaining surface (32) thereof, a guide follower (35) which is
slidingly fitted in the guide rail (25) of the lower track (24) of
the respective rail (20).
2. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that
the guide rail (25) is defined by a downwardly opened groove
extended along the whole extension of the lower track (24), the
guide follower (35) being defined by a rib upwardly projecting
upwardly from the track of the retaining surface (32).
3. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that
the guide rail (25) is disposed below the upper track (23) of the
respective rail (20) and presents a width which is substantially
smaller than that of the respective lower track (24).
4. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that
the stop means (26) is cutout from the profile of the lower track
(24) of the rail (20).
5. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that
the lock (33) is selectively manually displaced from the operative
position to an inoperative position, in which it no longer abuts
the front stop means (26) of the lower track (24) of the respective
rail (20) when the internal dividing element (E) reaches its second
maximum displacement position, in order to allow the internal
dividing element (E) to be completely extracted from the interior
of the compartment (C).
6. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that
each lateral portion (30) of the internal dividing element (E)
presents a "U" shaped cross section, with the basic leg being
vertically disposed and with the internal faces of the lateral legs
defining the seating surface (31) and the retaining surface (32),
respectively.
7. The arrangement as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that
the retaining surface (32) is defined by a median longitudinal
extension of the respective lateral portion (30), of the internal
dividing element (E), which is maintained slidingly seated against
the lower track (24) of the rail (20).
8. The arrangement as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that
the retaining surface (32) is defined by an insert fitted in the
lower lateral leg of the respective lateral portion (30) of the
internal dividing element (E).
9. The arrangement as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that
the lock (33) is defined by a portion, cutout in the retaining
surface (32) and which is upwardly bent and resiliently downwardly
deformed to the inoperative position.
10. The arrangement as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that
the guide follower (35) is incorporated to the retaining surface
(32) and comprises two portions, each longitudinally disposed on
one of the sides of the lock (33).
11. The arrangement as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that
each rail (20) incorporates two stop means (26) longitudinally
spaced from each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention refers to an arrangement for providing
the sliding assembly of internal dividing elements, such as
shelves, drawers, and other elements, in simple or combined
refrigerators and freezers, in order to allow these internal
dividing elements to be selectively, adequately and safely slid in
a horizontal direction between a totally retracted position inside
a refrigerating compartment of the appliance and a position,
defined by travel end stop means and in which they are partially
displaced outwardly.
PRIOR ART
[0002] The simple or combined refrigerators and freezers comprise
one or more refrigerating compartments provided with a front door
and with a pair of opposite lateral walls, each carrying at least
one support element or rail, on which is seated an adjacent lateral
portion of an internal dividing element, in the form of a shelf, a
drawer or other elements designed to store food articles to be
maintained under refrigeration inside the compartment.
[0003] In some constructions, the support elements, which can take
the form of projections or rails, are integrally formed with
lateral walls of the compartment during the molding of the internal
box of the cabinet that defines the refrigeration appliance.
[0004] In other constructions, said support elements are
manufactured separately and then affixed to the lateral walls of
the compartment by any adequate process.
[0005] Independently of how they are affixed, the support elements,
when defining rails, should present a construction which allows the
horizontal displacement of the shelves or drawers between a
retracted position inside the compartment and positions in which
they are partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the
compartment.
[0006] In a large number of mounting arrangements, each rail
defines an upper track and a lower track, against which are
respectively slidingly seated a seating surface and a retaining
surface, provided in an adjacent lateral portion of the internal
dividing element.
[0007] By reason of the dimensional variations, which are
invariably present in the internal box of the cabinet, particularly
in relation to the distance between the opposite lateral walls of
the compartment along the height thereof, it is necessary that the
mounting of the internal dividing elements to the support elements
allows, simultaneously, the absorption of said dimensional
variations and an adequate sliding of the internal dividing
elements. Therefore, it is usual to provide fitting gaps, in the
direction transversal to the sliding movement, which are
dimensioned as a function of the maximum dimensional variations.
This procedure conducts to an excessively loose sliding of the
internal dividing elements, causing discomfort to the user, who has
to take certain cares to obtain the desired sliding of the internal
dividing element. This unpleasant operation is particularly
critical in the case of drawers and trays, which have their lateral
portions slidingly seated on rails provided on the opposite lateral
walls of the compartment.
[0008] Besides the disadvantage above, these known bearing
constructions with large transversal gaps are not provided with
travel limiting means for defining a maximum operational extracting
position for the internal dividing elements.
[0009] The constructions proposed up to now to provide a safe and
comfortable mobility for the internal dividing elements of the type
considered herein have resulted in complex constructions, of high
cost and little versatility of use. Some of these constructions can
be verified in patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,996 and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,366,284. Although guaranteeing a rectilinear slide to
the internal dividing elements, these constructions present
engaging systems between the movable element and the rails which
are complex, relatively fragile, and subject to be stuck.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] By reason of the disadvantages mentioned above and related
to the prior art constructions, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a mounting arrangement for the internal
dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers, which allows,
through a simple and resistant construction of high versatility and
low cost, the provision of shelves, drawers and other internal
dividing elements which require a safe and comfortable horizontal
movement between a retracted position and a maximum operational
displacement position forwardly and outwardly from the
compartment.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] As previously mentioned, the present mounting arrangement is
applied to the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and
freezers which comprise a compartment having two lateral walls,
each carrying at least one rail on which is slidingly seated an
adjacent lateral portion of an internal dividing element to be
horizontally displaced between a first position, in which it is
retracted inside the compartment, and second positions in which it
is partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the
compartment.
[0012] According to the invention, each rail comprises a flat
horizontal upper track and a lower track, parallel to the upper
track and which is provided with at least one stop means and one
longitudinal guide rail. Each lateral portion of the internal
dividing element comprises a seating surface, to be slidingly
seated on the upper track of the respective rail, and a retaining
surface, disposed below the lower track and which carries a lock,
which in an operative position, is slidingly seated against the
lower track of the same rail, in order to abut said stop means to
define a second maximum displacement position of the internal
dividing element. At least one of the lateral portions of the
internal dividing element further comprises, in distinct regions of
the longitudinal extension of the retaining surface thereof, a
guide follower which is slidingly fitted in the guide rail of the
lower track of the respective rail.
[0013] The construction defined above allows the internal dividing
element to be horizontally slid on the pair of opposite rails,
until the pair of lower locks which are provided in the lateral
portions of said internal dividing element, reach the respective
stop means provided in the lower track of each of said rails,
defining the maximum displacement of the internal dividing element
forwardly and outwardly from the compartment, preventing said
internal dividing element from reaching an unbalance position.
[0014] In order to maintain the internal dividing element aligned
during its horizontal displacement, independently of the
transversal gaps which are necessary to absorb the dimensional
variations of the internal box of the cabinet, the retaining
surface of one of the lateral portions of the internal dividing
element carries the guide follower slidingly fitted in the guide
rail provided in the lower track of the respective rail, allowing
the internal dividing element to maintain a exclusively rectilinear
path while it is horizontally moved between its different
operational positions.
[0015] The gaps resulting from the dimensional variations are
absorbed by the adaptation of the other lateral portion of the
internal dividing element on the respective rail and without the
interference of a guide follower in the guide rail of the lower
track of this rail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention will be described below, with reference to the
enclosed drawings given by way of example of a possible
construction of the present arrangement, and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cabinet of a
combined refrigerator, whose internal box carries, on one of its
lateral walls, a pair of rails for the sliding assembly of the
respective internal dividing elements (not illustrated);
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal
dividing element in the form of a shelf, as well as guide elements
and lock elements to be operatively associated with the present
mounting arrangement;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an elevational lateral view of one of the rails
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one of the
rails already affixed to the adjacent lateral wall of the
compartment and onto which is mounted the adjacent lateral portion
of the internal dividing element illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken
according to line V-V of FIG. 4, and illustrating the internal
dividing element seated on the respective rail and displaced to the
maximum displacement position forwardly and outwardly from the
respective compartment;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 4, but illustrating the other lateral portion of the internal
dividing element of FIG. 2 mounted to the respective rail already
affixed to the adjacent lateral wall of the compartment;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken
according to line VII-VII of FIG. 6;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the internal
dividing element of FIG. 2, illustrating its lateral portion
represented in FIG. 7; and
[0025] FIG. 9 is a partially cut perspective view of the internal
dividing element illustrated in FIG. 2, showing its lateral portion
represented in FIG. 6.
Description of the Detailed Invention
[0026] As previously mentioned and illustrated in the enclosed
drawings, the present mounting arrangement is directed to
refrigerators and freezers having a simple or combined cabinet 10,
comprising an external box 11, generally made of a metallic plate,
and by at least one internal box 12, which is generally injected in
plastic material in a single piece and with a substantially
parallelepiped shape, defining a respective compartment C and,
between the external box 12 and the internal box 11 is injected a
heat insulator 13 generally in polyurethane foam. The compartment C
is limited on both sides by lateral walls 14, only one being
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0027] Each of the lateral walls 14 secures at least one rail 20,
on which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion 30 of an
internal dividing element to be horizontally displaced between a
first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment C,
and second positions, in which it is partially displaced forwardly
and outwardly from the compartment C.
[0028] According to the invention, each rail 20, preferably in
plastic material, comprises a basic portion 21 to be seated and
affixed against a respective lateral wall 14, and a body portion 22
which defines, along its longitudinal extension, a flat horizontal
upper track 23 and a lower track 24, parallel to the upper track 23
and which is provided with a longitudinal guide rail 25 extended
along the length of said lower track 24 and which, in the
illustrated embodiment, takes the form of a downwardly opened
groove.
[0029] The internal dividing element E in the form of a shelf, tray
or drawer, comprises a pair of lateral portions 30 which can be
made in different manners. In the case of the shelves, trays or
drawers made of injected plastic material, the lateral portions 30
can be formed in a single piece with the remainder of the body of
the internal dividing element E. However, in determined
constructions, such as for example the shelves made of glass panel,
the lateral portions are made in separate pieces to be fitted, or
otherwise affixed, along the lateral edges of said panel that
defines the shelf. In these constructions and independently of the
possibility of the lateral portions being or not incorporated in a
single piece to the body of the internal dividing element E, the
separate construction of the internal lateral portions 30 allows to
provide said elements with an additional versatility, since such
lateral portions can be replaced by other lateral portions which do
not present the necessary characteristics for the sliding seating
on the rails and which allow only the static seating of the shelf
or tray on respective supports affixed or otherwise provided on the
lateral walls 14 of the compartment C.
[0030] As better illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 9, each lateral
portion 30 of the internal dividing element E comprises a seating
surface 31, to be slidingly seated on the upper track 23 of the
respective rail 20, and a retaining surface 32 disposed below the
lower track 24. This construction, which is basically known, makes
each lateral portion 30 of the internal dividing element E to
present a "U" shaped cross section, with the basic leg being
vertically disposed and with the internal faces of the lateral legs
defining the seating surface 31 and the retaining surface 32,
respectively.
[0031] The retaining surface 32 of each lateral portion 30 is
provided with a lock 33, which in an operative position, is
slidingly seated against the lower track 24 of the respective rail
20. The lock 33 is preferably made in a material that accepts a
certain resilient deformation, whereby each lock 33 remains
slightly resiliently seated against the lower track 24 of the
adjacent rail 20, while the internal dividing element E is
horizontally displaced between its different operational
positions.
[0032] In order to limit the displacement of the internal dividing
element E to an extension which still guarantees an adequate
stability for the assembly, preventing said element from being
excessively displaced outwardly from its support on its respective
rails 20, each lower track 24 is provided with a stop means 26,
which is positioned so as to abut the respective lock 33 when the
internal dividing element E reaches said maximum displacement
position.
[0033] In the construction illustrated herein, each rail 20 is
provided with two stop means, which are longitudinally spaced from
each other along the lower track 24, in order to allow the rail 20
to be constructed according to a single standard, independently of
the side onto which it will be mounted inside the compartment C.
Nevertheless, it should be understood that each rail 20 could be
made with one stop means 26 only, which situation would demand the
construction of a rail 20 for the left-hand assembly and a rail 20
for the right-hand assembly inside the compartment C.
[0034] The construction described above allows for a free and safe
displacement of the internal dividing element E between the
retracted position and the maximum displacement position,
independently of the size of the transversal gaps in the assembly
established in project. The provision of the locks assures the safe
travel end of the internal dividing element E, interrupting its
displacement and avoiding the risk of excessively removing the
latter from the interior of the compartment. However, the
construction described above does not establish a precise guide
means which guarantees an exclusively linear displacement of the
internal dividing element E when it is manually operated by the
user.
[0035] Thus, the invention further provides, preferably in only one
of the lateral portions 30, a guide follower 35, positioned in
distinct regions of the longitudinal extension of the respective
retaining surface 32 and which is dimensioned to be slidingly
fitted in the guide rail 25 of the lower track 24 of the respective
rail 20. Thus, the guide follower 35, which takes preferably the
form of a rib projecting upwardly from the track of the retaining
surface 32, operates as a guide element during the horizontal
displacement of the internal dividing element E, without the
transversal gaps hindering the user from establishing a rectilinear
path for the horizontal displacement of the internal dividing
element E.
[0036] In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the guide
rail 25, in the form of a downwardly opened groove, is disposed
immediately below the upper track 23 of the respective rail 20, and
presents a width which is substantially smaller than that of the
respective lower track 24 in which it is incorporated. The locks 33
of the respective lateral portions 30 present a width that is
sufficient for them to slide against the lower track 24 of the
adjacent rail 20, on the groove shaped guide rail 25. Thus, the
locks 33 do not interfere with the displacement of the guide
followers 35 on the respective guide rails 25 while the internal
dividing element E is horizontally displaced between its
operational positions. In this same illustrated constructive form,
each stop means 26 is defined by a respective step which is cutout
from the profile of the lower track 24 of the respective rail 20.
Thus, when the internal dividing element E is displaced from the
retracted position to the maximum displacement position outwardly
from the compartment C, the locks 33 slide along the lower track
24, until reaching the respective steps provided in a recess which
is cut in the lower track 24 itself, when the fingers 33, which are
constantly resiliently forced against the lower tracks 24, are
conducted to the interior of the recesses, in which are produced
the steps that define the stop means 26, such as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 7.
[0037] As already mentioned, each lock 33 is made in such a way as
to be resiliently bent. Thus, for dismounting the internal dividing
element E from the interior of the compartment C, the user needs
only to provide the selective manual displacement of the locks 33
from the operative position, in which they actuate against the stop
means 26, to an inoperative position, in which they no longer abut
the steps 26 of the lower track 24 of the respective rail 20, when
the internal dividing element reaches its second maximum
displacement position.
[0038] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the lateral
portions 30 are incorporated, in a single piece, to the internal
dividing element E, and the retaining surface 32 is defined by a
median longitudinal extension of the respective lateral portion 30
of the internal dividing element E, which is maintained slidingly
seated against the lower track 24 of the rail 20. In the
illustrated embodiment, the retaining surface 32 is defined by an
insert fitted in the lower lateral leg of the respective lateral
portion 30 of the internal dividing element, and the lock 33 is
defined by a cutout portion which is bent upwardly from said
retaining surface 32.
[0039] In this preferred construction, the guide follower 35 is
incorporated to the retaining surface 32 and comprises two
portions, each longitudinally disposed on one of the sides of the
lock 33, said portions of the guide follower comprising
longitudinal elements to be slidingly fitted in the guide rail 25
provided in low relief in the adjacent lower track 24 of the
respective rail 20.
[0040] While only one construction has been illustrated herein, it
should be understood that changes in the form and arrangement could
be made, without departing from the constructive concept defined in
the appended claims.
* * * * *