U.S. patent application number 12/498200 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-06 for system for moving a set of shelves of a refrigeration appliance and refrigeration appliance.
Invention is credited to Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Marcos Henrique Hermann, Axel Julio Ramm.
Application Number | 20100109498 12/498200 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41796367 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100109498 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramm; Axel Julio ; et
al. |
May 6, 2010 |
System for moving a set of shelves of a refrigeration appliance and
refrigeration appliance
Abstract
The present invention refers to a system that is able to provide
movement over three stable stages of a set of shelves of a
refrigeration appliance. The said refrigeration appliance comprises
at least one refrigeratable cabinet. The said set of shelves
comprises at least one front shelf and one rear shelf associable to
each other. The said set of shelves is associated to the
refrigeratable cabinet by means of at least one side bar provided
with a first accommodating portion and a second accommodating
portion that are substantially flat. The front shelf is supportable
by the first accommodating portion and the rear shelf is
supportable by the second accommodating portion. The first
accommodating portion has a difference in height in relation to the
second accommodating portion as to allow an horizontally aligned
juxtaposition between the front shelf and the rear shelf. The front
shelf is dissociable from the first accommodating portion and is
able to be superimposed in relation to the rear shelf supportable
by the second accommodating portion. The rear shelf has its first
end provided with a pivoting element associated articulately to the
second accommodating portion of the side bar. The pivoting element
is able to allow the angular movement of the set of superimposed
shelves from an initial horizontal position to a final
substantially vertical position. The present invention also refers
to a refrigeration appliance provided with the abovementioned
system.
Inventors: |
Ramm; Axel Julio; (Sao
Paulo, BR) ; Hermann; Marcos Henrique; (Joinville SC,
BR) ; Ferreira; Luiz Afranio Alves; (Joinville SC,
BR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOODCOCK WASHBURN LLP
CIRA CENTRE, 12TH FLOOR, 2929 ARCH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19104-2891
US
|
Family ID: |
41796367 |
Appl. No.: |
12/498200 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/027 20130101;
F25D 25/024 20130101; F25D 2325/022 20130101; F25D 2325/021
20130101; F25D 23/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/408 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 7, 2008 |
BR |
PI0803841-4 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. A system for moving a set of shelves of a refrigeration
appliance, the refrigeration appliance comprising at least one
refrigeratable cabinet, the set of shelves comprising at least one
front shelf and one rear shelf associated with each other, the
system comprising: the set of shelves associated with the
refrigeratable cabinet by means of at least one side bar comprising
at least one first accommodating portion and one second
accommodating portion that are substantially flat, the front shelf
being supportable by the first accommodating portion and the rear
shelf being supportable by the second accommodating portion, the
first accommodating portion having a height difference in relation
to the height of the second accommodating portion so as to allow a
horizontally aligned juxtaposition between the front shelf and the
rear shelf; the front shelf dissociable from the first
accommodating portion and capable of being superimposed in relation
to the rear shelf supportable by the second accommodating portion;
and the rear shelf comprising a first end having a pivoting element
associated articulately with the second accommodating portion of
the side bar, the pivoting element allowing an angular movement of
the superimposed set of shelves from an initial horizontal position
to a final substantially vertical position.
25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the rear shelf has a
second end comprising an access ramp supportable by the second
accommodating portion, the front shelf having its first end
associated with the second end of the rear shelf, the access ramp
allowing the sliding of the first end of the front shelf over the
second end of the rear shelf so as to allow the superimposition of
the front shelf in relation to the rear shelf.
26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the front shelf
comprises at least one auxiliary arm associated with the side bar,
the auxiliary arm being able to: allow the sliding of the front
shelf over the side bar; and provide stability to the set of
shelves when it is positioned substantially vertically.
27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the auxiliary arm is
"L" shaped and is able to provide a rectilinear movement of the
front shelf over the side bar.
28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the auxiliary arm
comprises at least one protruding element which extends over at
least one portion of the extent of the auxiliary arm, the
protruding element being able to slide over the side bar.
29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the protruding
element is "L" shaped.
30. The system according to claim 28, wherein the auxiliary arm
comprises a plurality of protruding elements.
31. The system according to claim 26, wherein the second
accommodating portion of the side bar comprises at least one
supporting projection able to allow the support of at least one
portion of the auxiliary arm.
32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the portion of the
auxiliary arm which is supported by the supporting projection
comprises a supporting element which extends from the auxiliary arm
in the direction of the side bar.
33. The system according to claim 24, wherein the second
accommodating portion of the side bar has at least one fitting
cavity allowing an interference fitting of the pivoting element of
the rear shelf.
34. The system according to claim 24, wherein the set of shelves is
associated with two side bars, the refrigeratable cabinet of the
refrigeration appliance comprising at least one base and two side
walls, the side walls being substantially parallel to each other
and perpendicular to the base, and each side bar associated with
each side wall, both side bars being laid out on a geometric plane
that is substantially parallel to the base.
35. The system according to claim 24, wherein the side bar is
integrated as a single piece to the refrigeratable cabinet.
36. The system according to claim 24, wherein each shelf in the set
of shelves comprises an encapsulated piece of glass, which is
associated with two side supporting elements.
37. The system according to claim 36, wherein each side supporting
element of the front shelf comprises an auxiliary arm integrated
into a single piece.
38. The system according to claim 36, wherein each side supporting
element of the rear shelf comprises a pivoting element integrated
into a single piece.
39. The system according to claim 24, wherein the angular movement
of the set of shelves is a rotational movement around a central
axis of the pivoting element.
40. A refrigeration appliance comprising at least one
refrigeratable cabinet comprising at least one set of shelves, the
set of shelves comprising at least one front shelf and one rear
shelf associated with each other, the refrigeration appliance
comprising: the set of shelves associated with the refrigeratable
cabinet by means of at least one side bar comprising at least one
first accommodating portion and one second accommodating portion
that are substantially flat, the front shelf being supportable by
the first accommodating portion and the rear shelf being
supportable by the second accommodating portion, the first
accommodating portion having a height difference in relation to the
height of the second accommodating portion so as to allow a
horizontally aligned juxtaposition between the front shelf and the
rear shelf; the front shelf dissociable from the first
accommodating portion and capable of being superimposed in relation
to the rear shelf supportable by the second accommodating portion;
and the rear shelf comprising a first end having a pivoting element
associated articulately with the second accommodating portion of
the side bar, the pivoting element being able to allow an angular
movement of the superimposed set of shelves from an initial
horizontal position to a final substantially vertical position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Brazilian Application
No. PI0803841-4, filed Jul. 7, 2008, the entire disclosure of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for moving a set
of shelves of refrigeration appliance. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a system able to provide a
displacement over three stable stages of a set of shelves of a
refrigeration appliance so as to allow better usage of the internal
space of its cabinet in accordance to the user's needs.
[0003] The present invention also relates to a refrigeration
appliance able to provide better usage of the internal space of its
cabinet in accordance to the user's needs, by a system that allows
the moving of a set of shelves within the said cabinet over three
stages.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Usually, the arrangement of the shelves of a refrigeration
appliance is predefined at the factory, that is, the usability of
the refrigerator is limited by a previously established
configuration by the manufacturer. In many domestic refrigerators
and/or freezers, the removal of shelves is permitted in order to
allow the placement of foods or items of larger dimensions.
[0005] The said limitation prevents the optimization of the
internal space of the said cabinet, in such a manner that the user
is prevented from placing a desired quantity of items inside the
refrigerator or he/she is forced to put them in a disorganized
manner, often stacking them randomly.
[0006] Keeping in view the abovementioned problems, various devices
have been developed so as to allow the moving/placing of shelves
inside the refrigerator's cabinet in such a manner as to provide
greater flexibility and usability.
[0007] For example, the Korean document KR 100756887 relates to a
set of two shelves, being that one of them is the main shelf (back)
and the other one is an assistant shelf (front) which are
associated to a "U" shaped frame. This frame is set up horizontally
inside the refrigeration cabinet, and it comprises a flange that is
able to hold (accommodate) the main shelf, which comprises an
internal guide that, in association with a frame rail that is
specially designed for this purpose, allows the sliding of the
assistant shelf In its first stage, the main shelf and the
assistant shelf remain exposed to the user, allowing the placement
of foods and other items. At a second stage, the assistant shelf
remains positioned internally on the main shelf, being that the
last mentioned one remains exposed to the user. At a third stage,
the unit made up of the main shelf and the assistant shelf is
positioned orthogonally in relation to the horizontal position, by
the angular rotational movement of this unit, starting from an
initial horizontal position to the final vertical position.
[0008] The Japanese document JP 8035765A discloses a set of two
shelves (back and front) in refrigerators that may also be
configured in three stages (stable positions). In its first stage,
both shelves are accessible to accommodate foods and items to be
refrigerated placed on them. In the second stage, only the back
shelf is accessible for accommodating items to be placed on it (the
front shelf is slid into the back shelf by means of a specially
designed and constructed side rail for this purpose). In the third
stage, the unit with both shelves is stabilized in a vertical
position by being rotated from its horizontal position (second
stage).
[0009] In the abovementioned documents when both shelves are
configured to simultaneously hold foods and items for
refrigeration, they become out of alignment as the sliding
mechanism is configured in such a manner so that the front shelf
slides into the back shelf. This disarray may cause the foods and
items for refrigeration that are on these shelves to become
unbalanced, thus limiting the usage of the refrigerator as the user
is prevented from placing items of larger dimensions on the
shelves, due to the risk of falls or undesirable falling over.
[0010] Beside this, the solutions presented in these documents
require specially designed side rails in order to allow the
movement of the set of shelves between the three stable stages,
thus, the said solutions do not present a modular capacity, that
is, the side rails can only be used in this specific
application.
[0011] Additionally, the need for the design and manufacturing of a
specific rail for this application adds difficulty for it to be
manufactured and implemented and consequently involves a higher
final cost.
[0012] Therefore, there is no known satisfactory and efficient
solution which allows the optimization of the interior space of a
refrigeration appliance's cabinet by a moving/dislocating system of
a set of shelves between three stable stages, which will combine
low cost, usability and flexibility.
Objectives of the Invention
[0013] The first objective of the present invention consists of
providing a low cost system that is able to allow
movement/displacement of a set of shelves inside a refrigeration
appliance's cabinet between three stable stages, by a solution that
will allow the secure placement of foods and items of various
dimensions, and which will still present usability and
modularity.
[0014] The second objective of the present invention consists of
providing a refrigeration appliance that is able to allow the
better usage of the internal space of its cabinet according to the
user's needs, by a system that provides movement/displacement of a
set of shelves between three stable stages.
SUMMARY
[0015] The first objective of the present invention is achieved by
providing a system to move a set of shelves in a refrigeration
appliance. The said refrigeration appliance comprises at least one
refrigeration cabinet. The said set of shelves has at least one
front shelf and one back shelf associated to each other. The said
set of shelves are associable to the refrigeration cabinet by means
of at least one side bar provided with at least one first
accommodating portion and one second accommodating portion that are
substantially flat. The mentioned front shelf is supportable on the
first accommodating portion and the rear shelf is supportable by
the second accommodating portion. The said first accommodating
portion has a height difference in relation to the height of the
second accommodating portion so as to allow a horizontal
juxtaposition aligned between the front shelf and the back shelf.
The mentioned front shelf is dissociable from the first
accommodating portion and is able to superimpose (overlap) in
relation to the rear shelf that is supportable by the second
accommodating portion. The mentioned rear shelf has a end provided
with a pivoting element associated in an articulated manner to the
second accommodating portion of the side bar. The said pivoting
element is able to allow the angular movement of the superimposed
(overlapped) set of shelves from an initial horizontal position to
a final substantially vertical position.
[0016] The second objective of the present invention is achieved by
providing a refrigeration appliance that comprises at least one
refrigeratable cabinet that provided with at least one set of
shelves. The said set of shelves comprises at least one front shelf
and one rear shelf associable to each other. The said set of
shelves is associable to the refrigeratable cabinet by means of a
side bar provided with a first accommodating portion as well as a
second accommodating portion that are substantially flat. The said
front shelf is supportable by the first accommodating portion and
the rear shelf is supportable by the second accommodating portion.
The first accommodating portion has a height difference in relation
to the second accommodating portion as to allow a horizontally
aligned juxtaposition between the front and rear shelf. The
mentioned front shelf is dissociable from the first accommodating
portion and is able to be superimposed (overlapped) in relation to
the rear shelf supportable by the second accommodating portion. The
mentioned rear shelf has a first end provided with a pivoting
element associated articulately to the second accommodating portion
of the side bar. The said pivoting element is able to allow the
angular movement of the set of the superimposed (overlapped)
shelves from an initial horizontal position to a final
substantially vertical position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will be described next in greater
detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a set of shelves of a
refrigeration appliance, under the condition in which the shelves
are disassociated to each other;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the set of shelves as
shown in FIG. 1, under the condition in which the shelves are
associated to each other, at a first stable stage;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the set of shelves as
shown in FIG. 1, under the condition in which the shelves are
associated to each other, at a second stable stage;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the set of shelves as
shown in FIG. 1, under the condition in which the shelves are
associated to each other, at a third stable stage;
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a movement system for a set of
shelves, the object of the present invention, under the condition
of a first stable stage of the set of shelves;
[0023] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the movement system of a set of
shelves as shown in FIG. 5, under the condition of a second stable
stage of the set of shelves;
[0024] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the movement system of a set of
shelves as shown in FIG. 5, under the condition of a third stable
stage of the set of shelves;
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a partial view in perspective of the movement
system for the set of shelves under the condition as shown in FIG.
5;
[0026] FIG. 9 shows a partial view in perspective of the movement
system for the set of shelves under the condition as shown in FIG.
6;
[0027] FIG. 10 shows a partial view in perspective of the movement
system for the set of shelves under the condition as shown in FIG.
7;
[0028] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the interior of a refrigeration
appliance, also the object of the present invention, which
comprises the movement system of the set of shelves under the
condition as shown in FIG. 5;
[0029] FIG. 12 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 13 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 14 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 9;
[0032] FIG. 15 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 10; and
[0033] FIG. 16 shows a view of a detail of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0034] FIGS. 5 to 10 show the side views in perspective of a shelf
movement system of a refrigeration appliance 1, according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The said
refrigeration appliance 1, as shown in FIG. 11, preferably but not
obligatorily, consists of a domestic/commercial refrigerator or
freezer that comprises at least one refrigeratable cabinet 2,
provided with at least two side walls 14 substantially parallel to
each other and associated substantially perpendicularly to a base
15.
[0035] As shown by FIGS. 1 to 4, the set of shelves comprises at
least one front shelf 3 and one rear shelf 4 associable to each
other. Optionally, a larger number of shelves may be used,
according to the desired application.
[0036] The set of shelves that is associated to the refrigeratable
cabinet 2 by means of at least one side bar 5 preferably being
oblong and substantially parallel to the base 15. Still in a
preferential, but not mandatory manner, the side bar 5 is made from
polystyrene plastic and is thermoformed, which affords lower costs
in relation to injected parts.
[0037] The side bar 5 is provided with a first accommodating
portion 6 that is substantially flat and is able to accommodate the
front shelf 3. The side bar 5 is also provided with a second
accommodating portion 7 that is substantially flat and is able to
accommodate the rear shelf 4. In other words, the front shelf 3 is
supportable by the first accommodating portion 6 and the rear shelf
4 is supportable by the second accommodating portion 7.
[0038] In the present invention, the first accommodating portion 6
has a height difference in relation to the height of the second
accommodating portion 7 so as to allow the horizontal juxtaposition
between the front shelf 3 and the rear shelf 4. Particularly, the
first accommodating portion 6 has a greater height in relation to
the second accommodating portion 7, which allows the top surfaces
of the front shelves 3 and the rear shelves 4 to be on the same
horizontal plane, substantially parallel to the base 15. This
configuration defines the stable first stage of the set of shelves,
as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 8 and 13.
[0039] Thus, contrary to the documents of the state of the
technique, the Korean KR 100756887 and the Japanese JP 8035765A,
foods and items to be refrigerated with larger dimensions may be
placed on the front 3 and rear 4 shelves simultaneously in a safe
manner as they do not become misaligned. In this manner, the
surface of the set of shelves is substantially continuous, without
the presence of a step, providing better usability as to the first
stage.
[0040] The front shelf 3 is dissociable from the first
accommodating portion 6 to be superimposed in relation to the rear
shelf 4. Under this condition, the rear shelf 4 remains supported
by the second accommodating portion 7. This configuration defines a
stable second stage of the set of shelves, in which the shelves are
superimposed and substantially parallel to the base 15, as
illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6, 9 and 14.
[0041] As shown by FIGS. 5 to 7, 15 to 16, the rear shelf 4 has its
first end provided with a pivoting element 9 associated
articulately (in a articulated manner) to the second accommodating
portion 7 of the side bar 5. The pivoting element 9 is able to
allow the angular movement of the set of shelves superimposed
starting from an initial horizontal position to a final
substantially vertical position. Particularly, the second
accommodating portion 7 of the side bar 5 has at least one fitting
cavity 11 that allows the fitting of the pivoting element 9 of the
rear shelf 4. In this manner, the set of shelves rotates around the
central axis of the pivoting element 9. This configuration defines
a stable third stage of the set of shelves, in which the shelves
are superimposed and positioned substantially perpendicular to the
base 15, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 10 and 15. It is possible to
completely remove the front shelf 4 from inside of the
refrigeratable cabinet 2.
[0042] The rear shelf 4 also has a second end provided with an
access ramp 8 that is supportable by the second accommodating
portion 7, as shown in FIG. 14. On the other hand, the front shelf
3 has its first end associable to the second end of the rear shelf
4 and the second end is supportable by the first accommodating
portion 6. The access ramp 8 is able to allow the sliding out of
the first end of the front shelf 3 over the second end of the rear
shelf 4 in a smooth manner, thus allowing the overlaying of the
front shelf 3 in relation to the rear shelf 4. Optionally, the
access ramp 8 could be comprised by the first end of the front
shelf 3.
[0043] The front shelf 3 is provided with at least one auxiliary
arm 10, associated to the side bar 5, able to allow the sliding of
the front shelf 3 over the side bar 5 and is also able to provide
stability to the set of shelves when it is substantially vertically
positioned. Preferably, the auxiliary arm 10 is "L" shaped, which
will allow the rectilinear sliding of the front shelf 3 over the
side bar 5, thus preventing the bar from tilting both on the
horizontal as well as the vertical, so as to guarantee greater
stability and safety in its use.
[0044] The auxiliary arm 10 is provided with at least one
protruding element 12 that extends over at least one portion of the
said auxiliary arm 10. The protruding element 12 is able to slide
over the side bar 5, providing smooth motion of the protruding arm
8 over the side bar 5. The protruding element 12 is also "L" shaped
which follows the "L" shape of the auxiliary arm 10. Still in a
preferential manner, the auxiliary arm 10 comprises a number of
protruding elements 12.
[0045] The second accommodating portion 7 of the side bar 5 is also
provided with at least one supporting projection 13 able to allow
the support of at least one portion of the auxiliary arm 10 when in
its third stage, which provides stability to the set of
shelves.
[0046] The portion of the auxiliary arm 10 that is supported by the
supporting projection 13 consists of a supporting element 18 which
extends from the auxiliary arm 10 in the direction of the side bar
5, as seen in FIG. 15.
[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the side bar 5 is set into the
refrigeratable cabinet 2 as a single piece. As shown in FIG. 11,
the refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a plurality of side bars 5
which may be used to support other types of shelves and/or
structures and moving mechanisms for the shelves. Therefore, the
side bar 5 is a multiuse type and, in this manner, it is not
necessary to manufacture a specific bar for the system of the
present invention, affording a reduction of costs, modularity and
flexibility to the user.
[0048] Besides, the system of this invention also presents
simplified implementation and maintenance/cleaning, as the
associations between the auxiliary arms 10, the supporting bars 5
and the set of shelves may be carried out in a removable manner, by
interference fittings, dispensing the use of special tools and
specific technical knowledge.
[0049] Alternatively, the side bar 5 may be associated to the
refrigeratable cabinet 2 by mechanical means, a suitable resin may
be applied or even fitted in a removable manner.
[0050] Preferentially, the set of shelves is associated to the side
bars 5 laid out on a geometric plane that is substantially parallel
to the base 15, so as to guarantee the parallelism in relation to
the base 15. Under this configuration each side bar 5 is associated
to each side wall 14.
[0051] The front shelf 3 and/or rear shelf 4 comprises an
encapsulated piece of glass that is associated to the two side
supporting elements 16, 17. Specifically in relation to the front
shelf 3, each side supporting element 16 is provided with an
auxiliary arm 10 integrated into a single piece or part.
Specifically in relation to the rear shelf 4, each side supporting
element 17 is provided with a pivoting element 9 integrated into a
single piece or part.
[0052] After describing an example of a preferred embodiment, it
shall be understood that the scope of the present invention
comprises other possible variations, being limited only by the
contents of the attached claims, where the possible equivalents are
included.
* * * * *