U.S. patent application number 11/969134 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-10 for refrigerator and shelf for the same.
Invention is credited to Do Hyung KIM.
Application Number | 20080164797 11/969134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39593667 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080164797 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Do Hyung |
July 10, 2008 |
REFRIGERATOR AND SHELF FOR THE SAME
Abstract
A support element connecting a plate with a side frame is
provided at a shelf according to the present invention, so that the
side frame is prevented from being deformed or damaged by the
lateral load applied to the side frame while detaching or attaching
the shelf.
Inventors: |
KIM; Do Hyung; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
39593667 |
Appl. No.: |
11/969134 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/02 20130101;
F25D 2325/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/408 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/04 20060101
A47B096/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 5, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0001595 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a body in which a food storage space
is provided; a plurality of shelves having a plate detachably
provided on a wall surface of the storage space to receive the
food, a side frame connected to both side ends of the plate, and an
engagement portion protruding from a rear end of the side frame; an
installation guide provided at an inner wall surface of the storage
space and provided with an installation port for inserting the
engagement portion; and a support element contacted with the plate
and the side frame simultaneously and reinforcing the intensity of
the side frame.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the side frame is
perpendicularly connected to the plate, and the support element is
closely contacted to a lower surface of the plate and an inner side
surface of the side frame.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the support
element is line-contacted to any one or both of the inner side
surface of the side frame and the plate.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the support
element is disposed between the plate and the side frame as a
separate element.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the support
element is integrally extended from a lower surface of the plate or
a rear end of the side frame.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the support
element is provided at a rear end of the shelf.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
installation guides are installed on an inner wall surface of the
storage space at predetermined intervals.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein at least 2
shelves are laterally or vertically installed in the storage
space.
9. A shelf for a refrigerator, comprising: a plate on which food is
placed; a side frame for supporting the plate; an engagement
portion protruding from a rear end of the side frame; and a support
element provided at an edge, where the plate and the side frame are
contacted, to prevent the side frame from deforming laterally.
10. The shelf for the refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein
the support element is provided as a separate part, and is closely
contacted to the plate and the side frame by an adhesion
element.
11. The shelf for the refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein
the support element is extended from one side of the plate, so that
at least some of the support element is contacted to an inner side
surface of the side frame.
12. The shelf for the refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein
the cross-section of the support element is bent in the shape of
and a top is line-contacted to a lower surface of the plate as any
one surface is closely contacted to an inner side surface of the
side frame.
13. The shelf for the refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein
the longitudinal-section of the support element is bent in the
shape of and one side end is line-contacted to an inner side
surface of the side frame as one surface is closely contacted to a
bottom surface of the plate.
14. The shelf for the refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein
the support element is bent from a rear end of the side frame
toward the center of the plate.
15. The shelf for the refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein
the plate comprises a plated body formed of a tempered glass and an
edge frame formed along a periphery of the plate body.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] This document relates to a refrigerator and a shelf for the
same.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance for cooling or
freezing food to preserve the food.
[0005] Particularly, a refrigerating cycle is installed in the
refrigerator, and thus the freshness of the food stored in the
refrigerator is preserved by cold air resulting from an operation
of the refrigerating cycle. And, a plurality of shelf elements for
placing the food are installed in the refrigerator and arranged in
a vertical direction, and a plurality of storage boxes are provided
therein.
SUMMARY
[0006] A refrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention includes a body in which a food storage space is
provided; a plurality of shelves having a plate detachably provided
on a wall surface of the storage space to receive the food, a side
frame connected to both side ends of the plate, and an engagement
portion protruding from a rear end of the side frame; an
installation guide provided at an inner wall surface of the storage
space and provided with an installation port for inserting the
engagement portion; and a support element simultaneously contacted
with the plate and the side frame and supporting the side
frame.
[0007] Also, a shelf for a refrigerator according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention includes a plate on which food
is placed; a side frame for supporting the plate; an engagement
portion protruding from a rear end of the side frame; and a support
element provided at an edge, where the plate and the side frame are
contacted, to prevent the side frame from deforming laterally.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an inner construction
of a bottom freezer-type refrigerator where a shelf for a
refrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is employed.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a
construction of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a
construction of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a
construction of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a state view showing that a lateral load is
applied to the shelf for the refrigerator according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Hereinafter, a shelf for a refrigerator and a refrigerator
having the shelf according to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0014] The construction proposed in the present invention is
applicable to any type of refrigerator where a food storage space
is provided. Hereinafter, a bottom freezer type refrigerator, in
which a refrigerating chamber is disposed above a freezing chamber,
will be described as an example.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an inner construction of
a bottom freezer-type refrigerator, where a shelf for a
refrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is employed.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerating chamber 120 and a
freezing chamber 140 are provided in a body 110 of a refrigerator
100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
respectively. And, in the bottom freezer-type refrigerator, the
refrigerating chamber 120 is disposed above the freezing chamber
140.
[0017] Particularly, front surfaces of the refrigerating chamber
120 and the freezing chamber 140 are respectively opened, and the
opened front surfaces are selectively closed by a door 200. The
door 200 includes a refrigerating chamber door 220 for
opening/closing the refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing
chamber door 240 for opening/closing the freezing chamber 140.
[0018] More particularly, the refrigerating chamber door 220 is
respectively provided at both sides of the front surface of the
body 110, and one edge thereof is pivotably mounted onto the body.
And, the freezing chamber door 240 is installed at a front surface
of a basket 242 sliding in and out of the freezing chamber, so that
the basket 242 and the freezing chamber door 240 are slid in and
out of the freezing chamber in a back-and-forth direction.
[0019] Meanwhile, a plurality of storage boxes may be provided at a
rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 220, and drawers 160
and shelves 300 of various sizes may also be provided in the
refrigerating chamber 120.
[0020] Particularly, both side ends of the plurality of drawers 160
and shelves 300 may be formed in a size to connect with a left side
surface and a right side surface of the refrigerating chamber 120,
or the plurality of drawers 160 and shelves 300 may divide the
inner space of the refrigerating chamber 120 as they are formed in
a size that is smaller than the width of the inner space of the
refrigerating chamber 120.
[0021] The drawer 160 defines a separate space in the refrigerating
chamber 120, and allows food stuffs having various storage
properties to be stored at an appropriate temperature. And, the
shelf 300 is movably installed in the refrigerating chamber 120, so
that food stuffs of various sizes can be stored therein. And, an
installation guide 180 for supporting the shelf 300 is provided on
a rear wall surface in the refrigerating chamber 120. Particularly,
the installation guide 180 is longitudinally formed in a vertical
direction, and a plurality of installation ports 182 are perforated
and formed in a front surface of the installation guide at
predetermined intervals. And, the installation guide 180 may be
provided at an interval corresponding to the width of a rear end of
the shelf 300. For example, if three installation guides 180 are
provided at both side edges and a central portion of the
refrigerating chamber 120, the refrigerating chamber 120 is divided
into two parts, which are left and right parts, by the shelf 300.
And, the shelf 300 installed at the left region from the center of
the refrigerating chamber 120 may have the height, which is equal
to or different from that of the shelf 300 installed at the right
region.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a construction
of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the shelf 300 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention includes a plate 320 on which
food or a vessel is placed, and a side frame 340 provided at both
side ends of the plate 320.
[0024] The plate 320 defining an overall external shape of the
shelf 300 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate, and it
forms a surface on which food or a vessel having food stuffs is
placed. Particularly, the plate 320 is composed of a plate body 322
of an approximate rectangular plate shape, and an edge frame 324
surrounding the plate body 322.
[0025] The plate body 322 may be made of a tempered glass or a
transparent plastic material, and the edge frame 324 may be made of
a plastic or a synthetic resin material. And, the edge frame 324 is
formed along a periphery of the plate body 322, so that it serves
to protect the plate body 322 from the outer impact. And, the side
frame 340 is connected to a bottom.
[0026] More particularly, a close-contact rib 326, which is formed
of an elastic material such as a rubber and is more inclined as it
is extended toward the rear, is extended at a rear end of the edge
frame 324. The close-contact rib 326 is tightly contacted with the
inner side rear wall surface of the refrigerator body 100, so that
a gap between the refrigerating chamber 120 and the shelf 300 is
not formed.
[0027] Meanwhile, the side frame 340 is connected to both side ends
of the plate 320. Particularly, the side frame 340 is installed in
the rectangular direction to the plate 320, and is formed to have
the length corresponding to the length between the rear end and
front end of the plate 320. And, the side frame 340 transmits the
food load applied to the plate 320 to the installation guide 180
when the food is seated on the plate 320. In addition, it serves to
prevent the plate 320 from bending or leaning forward when the food
weight is exerted on the plate 320.
[0028] Further, the rear end width of the side frame 340 is formed
to be greater than the front end width, so that the side frame 340
withstands the moment applied to the plate 320.
[0029] Meanwhile, a top of the side frame 340 is tightly contacted
to left and right side ends of the plate 320, particularly a bottom
of the edge frame 324. And, it may be integrally fixed to the plate
320 by a fastening element 500 such as a screw.
[0030] Further, an engagement portion 342 is protruded from the
rear end of the side frame 340.
[0031] Particularly, the engagement portions 342 are respectively
formed at upper and lower portions of the rear end of the side
frame 340. The engagement portion 342 formed at the lower end is
extended toward the rear, and the engagement portion 342 formed at
the upper end is downwardly bent and extended. Since the engagement
portion 342 formed at the upper end is downwardly bent and
extended, the side frame is not come out of the installation port
182 even when the downward moment is applied to the plate 320. And,
since the engagement portion formed at the lower end is extended
toward the rear, it is possible to withstand the moment applied to
the plate 320.
[0032] The engagement portion 342 is inserted in the installation
port 182 of the installation guide 180 and is engaged therein, the
shelf 300 may maintain the installation state as a cantilever
structure by means of this.
[0033] Further, the height of the shelf 300 is determined by a
position of the installation port 182 in which the engagement
portion 342 is inserted. That is, the height of the shelf 300 can
be adjusted by changing the position of the installation port 182
in which the engagement portion 342 is inserted.
[0034] Meanwhile, a support element 400 is formed at the rear
portion on the inner side surface of the side frame 340. The
support element 400 may be provided at the edge where the rear
surface of the side frame 340 and the rear surface of the plate 320
are met. Particularly, the support element 400 is provided on the
inner side surface of the side frame 340 in the direction
intersecting with the side frame 340, so that it serves to support
the lateral load applied to the side frame 340. In other words, in
order to adjust the height of the shelf 300, the user holds both
side surfaces of the shelf 300 while separating the shelf 300 from
the installation guide 180. And, the lateral load may be applied to
the side frame 340 by the user while the shelf 300 is separated and
upwardly or downwardly moved. Here, the support element 400
prevents the side frame 340 from bending or separating from the
plate 320 due to the lateral load applied to the side frame
340.
[0035] The support element 400 may be formed as an approximate
rectangular plate shape having a predetermined thickness, and it
may be laterally extended at the inner surface upper portion of the
side frame 340 so that the top of the support element 400 is able
to contact with the lower surface of the plate 320.
[0036] By means of this configuration, the support element 400 is
line-contacted with the inner side surface of the side frame 340
and the lower surface of the plate 320. Therefore, even when the
lateral load is applied to the side frame 340, the original shape
of the side frame 340 may be maintained as it is supported by the
top of the support element 400 contacting with the lower surface of
the plate 320.
[0037] Meanwhile, the support element 400 may be formed in the
shape of a right-angled triangle where the right-angled portion is
contacted with the side frame 340 and the plate 320 or of a
rectangular parallelepiped having a predetermined thickness as well
as of a rectangular plate. That is, any kind of shape, which can be
closely contacted to the edge of the side frame 340 and the plate
320 simultaneously, may be used. In addition, a plurality of
support elements 400 may be formed on the inner side of the side
frame 340 as necessary. That is, the plurality of support elements
400 may be arranged at specific intervals in a back-and-forth
direction.
[0038] Also, the support element 400 may be integrally extended
from the inner side surface of the side frame 340, and a separate
plate-shaped element may also be connected to the side frame 340
and the plate 320 by an adhesion element.
[0039] Various embodiments, other than the first embodiment, of the
shelf for the refrigerator according to the present invention are
possible, and they will be explained in detail with reference to
the drawings. Hereinafter, the overall construction of the shelf
300 to be described is the same as that of the first embodiment,
and thus the detailed description will be omitted and the same
reference numerals will be used.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a construction
of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 3, the support element 400 is downwardly
extended and formed at the rear end of the plate 320.
[0042] Particularly, the support element 420 is extended to the
lower surface edge portion surrounding the rear end periphery of
the plate 320. And, one side end of the support element 420 is
line-contacted to the rear end of the inner side surface of the
side frame 340.
[0043] In other words, the support element 420 is disposed at the
edge where the rear end of the side frame 340 and the rear end of
the plate 320 are met, and it is line-contacted to the inner side
surface of the side frame 340 and the lower surface of the plate
320, respectively. Therefore, it can be supported by the support
element 420 even when the lateral load is applied to the side frame
340.
[0044] Meanwhile, as described in the first embodiment, the support
element 420 is not restricted to the rectangular plate shape and it
may be any shape which is tightly contacted to the edge where the
side frame 340 and the plate 320 are met, and a plurality of
support elements may be provided as necessary.
[0045] Also, the support element 420 is provided as a separate
element and is formed in the shape of so that it is
surface-contacted with any one of the plate 320 and the side frame
340 and is line-contacted with the other.
[0046] Particularly, it is possible that the support element 420 is
bent in the shape of at the edge, where the rear end and the side
end of the plate 320 are met, and is extended, and that the portion
extended to the side end of the plate 320 is surface-contacted to
the side frame 340.
[0047] Otherwise, it is possible that the support element 420 is
bent in the shape of wherein one surface is closely contacted to
the lower surface and the other side surface is downwardly extended
from the lower surface of the plate 320. And, one side end of the
support element 420 may be line-contacted to the side frame
340.
[0048] Various embodiments, other than the first and second
embodiments, of the shelf 300 for the refrigerator according to the
present invention are possible, and they will be explained in
detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the overall
construction of the shelf 300 to be described is similar to that of
the first and second embodiments, and thus the detailed description
will be omitted and the same reference numerals will be used.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a construction
of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of
the present invention.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, the support element 440 according to a
third embodiment of the present invention is to support the lateral
load applied to the side frame 340, and it is extended between the
engagement portions 342 and is perpendicularly bent toward the
center of the plate 320.
[0051] Particularly, in order to contact the support element 440
extended between the engagement portions 342 to the lower surface
of the plate 320, the engagement portion extended at the upper side
of the rear end of the side frame 340 should be upwardly protruded,
as shown in the drawing. That is, the engagement portion extended
at the upper side of the rear end of the side frame 340 is upwardly
protruded along the tilt angle of the close-contact rib 326
provided at the rear end periphery of the plate 320. And then, as
the upper surface of the side frame 340 is line-contacted to the
lower surface of the edge frame 324, the upper surface of the
support element 440 can be also tightly contacted to the lower
surface of the edge frame 324.
[0052] Hereinafter, an operation of the shelf for the refrigerator
according to the present invention with the above described
configuration will be described as follows with reference to the
drawings.
[0053] The above described first, second and third embodiments have
almost the same operation since the overall construction is
similar, and therefore the operation will be described with
reference to the first embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows a state view that a lateral load is applied to
the shelf for the refrigerator according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 5, first of all, the side frame 340 is
connected to the plate in order to assemble the shelf 300.
[0056] Here, the top of the side frame 340 is connected to the left
and right side ends of the plate 320 by means of the fastening
element 500 such as a screw, so that the support element 400 formed
on the inner side surface of the side frame 340 is contacted with
the lower surface of the plate 320.
[0057] That is, the support element 400, which is extended in the
direction intersecting with the side frame 340 and formed at the
inner side surface of the side frame 340, is contacted with the
lower surface of the plate 320 and is disposed at the edge, which
is defined by the side frame 340 and the plate 320. And, all of the
inner side surface of the side frame 340 and lower surface of the
plate 320 are line-contacted with the support element 440.
[0058] Meanwhile, in order to install the shelf 300 having the side
frame 340 in the refrigerator, the engagement portion 342 is
inserted into the installation port 182 of the installation guide
180. Here, the engagement portion extended at the upper part of the
rear end of the side frame 340 is initially inserted into the
installation port 182, and then the engagement portion straightly
extended at the lower part of the rear end is inserted into the
installation port 182. And, the inner space of the refrigerating
chamber 120 can be efficiently divided by appropriately changing
the installation position of the shelf 300 depending on the size of
the food to be received.
[0059] Particularly, the user holds both side surfaces of the shelf
300 while installing or separating the shelf 300. And, while doing
so, the lateral load is applied to the side frame 340 due to the
hold of the user. In particular, sometimes the user unintentionally
exerts greater force on the side frame while installing or
separating the shelf 300.
[0060] If the lateral load is applied to the side frame 340, the
torque or the moment, which inwardly deforms the side frame 340, is
generated. Particularly, a greater torque is generated at the rear
portion of the side frame, which has a relatively greater
up-and-down width. Here, since the side frame 340 is stably
supported by the support element 440, the side frame 340 can be
prevented from deforming.
[0061] Also, the end of the support element 440, the inner side
surface of the side frame 340 and the lower surface of the plate
320 are line-contacted to each other, and the deformation of the
support element 440 due to the lateral load is almost impossible,
because the characteristic of the support element 400 formed in the
shape of a plate.
[0062] Therefore, the side frame 340 which is contacted with the
support element is not deformed, so that the lateral load can be
supported by the support element 440.
[0063] Of course, it is apparent that the operation of the first
embodiment is the same as that of the second and third
embodiments.
[0064] It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the
preferred embodiment described above, and it is apparent that
variations and modifications by those skilled in the art can be
effected within the spirit and scope of the present invention
defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *