U.S. patent application number 12/755008 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for system for vertically adjusting a shelf.
This patent application is currently assigned to GORENJE gospodinjski aparati, d.d.. Invention is credited to Matej MEJAC.
Application Number | 20100270251 12/755008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42272630 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100270251 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MEJAC; Matej |
October 28, 2010 |
SYSTEM FOR VERTICALLY ADJUSTING A SHELF
Abstract
The present invention refers to a system for vertically
adjusting a shelf, such as in refrigerating appliances, cabinets,
lockers and similar, said shelf comprises horizontal support
members (10, 11) arranged perpendicularly to vertical guides (1, 2)
where they can be vertically adjusted, and a deposit plate (12), a
drawer or similar, being attached to said horizontal support
members (10, 11). The invention is based on a fact that said shelf
is fixed in a form-locking and friction-type manner in vertical
guides (1, 2) by means of horizontal support members (10, 11).
Inventors: |
MEJAC; Matej; (Rimske
Toplice, SI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEEM PATENT LAW FIRM
53 W. JACKSON BLVD., SUITE 1352
CHICAGO
IL
60604-3787
US
|
Assignee: |
GORENJE gospodinjski aparati,
d.d.
Velenje
SI
|
Family ID: |
42272630 |
Appl. No.: |
12/755008 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/265 20130101;
F25D 25/04 20130101; F25D 25/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/134 |
International
Class: |
A47B 57/10 20060101
A47B057/10; A47B 57/06 20060101 A47B057/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 2009 |
SI |
SI P-200900116 |
Claims
1. A system for vertically adjusting a shelf, such as in
refrigerating appliances, cabinets, lockers and similar, said shelf
comprises horizontal support members (10, 11) arranged
perpendicularly to vertical guides (1, 2) where they can be
vertically adjusted, and a deposit plate (12), a drawer or similar,
being attached to said horizontal support members (10, 11),
characterized in that said shelf is fixed in a form-locking and
friction-type manner in vertical guides (1, 2) by means of
horizontal support members (10, 11).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said
vertical guide (1, 2), having a C-shaped cross-section, comprises a
web (3) formed with a plurality of through holes (4) for passing
the air, and a side (5) arranged opposite to said web (3), said
side (5) being formed with folds (6) facing each other, where the
free end of at least one fold (6, 7) is formed with a gearing (8,
9) extending preferably over the entire length of said guide (1,
2).
3. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that each said
horizontal support member (10, 11) is formed on the side
cooperating with each of said guides (1, 2) with a flange-like
extension (18), an oblong and relatively narrow tongue-like
projection (19) being associated thereto in longitudinal direction,
the upper section (20) of said projection (19) is formed with a
pair of vertically and horizontally spaced circular projections
(21, 22) intended to mesh with said gearing (8, 9) of each said
guide (1, 2).
4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said
section (20) is formed in the inner side of the projection (19)
with a guide (23) whereto a slider (24) snaps on which cooperates
with said vertical guide (1, 2).
5. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said
deposit plate (12) is fixed on horizontal support members (10, 11)
by means of a safeguard (13) being connected in a form-locking
manner with said support member (10, 11).
6. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that said
safeguard (13) is formed on the side facing said support member
(10, 11) with a T-shaped guide (14) which cooperates with a
suitable T-shaped groove (15) formed in said support member (10,
11).
7. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said shelf
is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a
friction-type blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the
flange-like extension (18) facing the vertical guide (1, 2) is
pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against the vertical guide
(1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which
optionally covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
8. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that each said
horizontal support member (10, 11) is formed on the side
cooperating with each of said guides (1, 2) with a flange-like
extension (18), an oblong and relatively narrow tongue-like
projection (19) being associated thereto in longitudinal direction,
the upper section (20) of said projection (19) is formed with a
pair of vertically and horizontally spaced circular projections
(21, 22) intended to mesh with said gearing (8, 9) of each said
guide (1, 2).
9. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said
section (20) is formed in the inner side of the projection (19)
with a guide (23) whereto a slider (24) snaps on which cooperates
with said vertical guide (1, 2).
10. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said
section (20) is formed in the inner side of the projection (19)
with a guide (23) whereto a slider (24) snaps on which cooperates
with said vertical guide (1, 2).
11. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said
deposit plate (12) is fixed on horizontal support members (10, 11)
by means of a safeguard (13) being connected in a form-locking
manner with said support member (10, 11).
12. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said
deposit plate (12) is fixed on horizontal support members (10, 11)
by means of a safeguard (13) being connected in a form-locking
manner with said support member (10, 11).
13. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that said
deposit plate (12) is fixed on horizontal support members (10, 11)
by means of a safeguard (13) being connected in a form-locking
manner with said support member (10, 11).
14. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said shelf
is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a
friction-type blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the
flange-like extension (18) facing the vertical guide (1, 2) is
pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against the vertical guide
(1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which
optionally covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
15. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said shelf
is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a
friction-type blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the
flange-like extension (18) facing the vertical guide (1, 2) is
pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against the vertical guide
(1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which
optionally covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
16. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that said shelf
is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a
friction-type blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the
flange-like extension (18) facing the vertical guide (1, 2) is
pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against the vertical guide
(1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which
optionally covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
17. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that said shelf
is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a
friction-type blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the
flange-like extension (18) facing the vertical guide (1, 2) is
pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against the vertical guide
(1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which
optionally covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
18. A system according to claim 6, characterized in that said shelf
is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a
friction-type blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the
flange-like extension (18) facing the vertical guide (1, 2) is
pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against the vertical guide
(1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which
optionally covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from
Slovenian Patent Application P-200900116, filed Apr. 23, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention refers to a system for vertically
adjusting a shelf, such as in refrigerating appliances, cabinets,
lockers and similar, said shelf comprises horizontal support
members arranged perpendicularly to vertical guides where they can
be vertically adjusted, and a deposit plate, a drawer or similar,
being attached to said horizontal support members.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The aforementioned system for vertically adjusting a shelf
is known from international patent applications No. WO 2008/095775,
WO 2008/095545 and WO 2006/120102. All the said known solutions
have several drawbacks. The fact that a shelf, when raised and
afterwards lowered, can freely fall is particularly outstanding.
Furthermore, in order to adjust the shelf vertically it must be
moved and rotated in several directions, representing a sever
obstacle for a user. In addition to inaccurate vertical adjusting
of the shelf, the embodiment of the system itself is rather
technologically demanding and time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the object of the present invention to create a system
for vertically adjusting a shelf of the aforesaid kind with which
said drawbacks of the known solutions will be remedied.
[0007] According to the invention, said object is solved by a shelf
being fixed in a form-locking and friction-type manner in vertical
guides by means of horizontal support members. Each said vertical
guide, having a C-shaped cross-section, comprises a web formed with
a plurality of through holes for passing the air, and a side
arranged opposite to said web, said side being formed with folds
facing each other. Preferably, the free end of at least one fold is
formed with a gearing extending over the entire length of each said
guide.
[0008] Furthermore, it is provided for according to the invention
that each said horizontal support member is formed on the side
cooperating with each of said guides with a flange-like extension,
an oblong and relatively narrow tongue-like projection being
associated thereto in longitudinal direction. The upper section of
said projection is formed with a pair of vertically and
horizontally spaced circular projections intended to mesh with said
gearing of each guide. Thus, a form-locking connection between the
guide and the horizontal support member being provided in this
manner. Said friction-type connection between the guide and the
horizontal support member is created in a manner that the surface
of the flange-like extension facing the guide is pressed against
each guide due to dead load of the shelf.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings without being limited
thereto.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a shelf according to the invention in a
three-dimensional view,
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a vertical guide of the shelf of
FIG. 1,
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a horizontal support member of the shelf of
FIG. 1 in a three-dimensional view,
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the support member of FIG. 3,
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the support member as in FIG. 4 but
from another perspective,
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the shelf according to the
invention,
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the shelf according to the
invention and ready to be vertically adjusted,
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the shelf according to the
invention and fixed in the vertical guides,
[0018] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of the vertical guide and the
shelf according to the invention incorporated into a cooling
appliance, and
[0019] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of another embodiment of the
vertical guide and the shelf according to the invention
incorporated into a cooling appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] A system for vertically adjusting a shelf being described in
details with reference to a cooling appliance comprises at least
one, preferably two vertical guides 1, 2 being mutually spaced and
formed in the cross-section as the letter C. Since said guides are
preferably identical, only the first guide 1 is fully described in
the foregoing and with reference to FIG. 2. Said guides 1, 2 are
preferably placed against each other in a manner that webs 3
thereof faces each other. However, it is obvious that said guides
1, 2 may be arranged in a manner that said webs 3 are averted from
each other. Each web 3 of said guides 1, 2 is formed with a
plurality of through holes 4 enabling the air passage. A side 5 of
each C-formed guide 1, 2 arranged opposite to said web 3 is formed
as a pair of folds 6, 7 facing each other, the free end of at least
one fold 6, 7 being preferably formed over the entire length of
said guide 1, 2 with a gearing 8, 9.
[0021] To each of said guides 1, 2 there is attached by means of a
form-locking connection and on the principle of a cantilever a
slender support member 10, 11, said form-locking connection being
fully described below, wherein said support member 10, 11 being
relocatable in the longitudinal direction of said guides 1, 2 and a
deposit plate 12 being superimposed on said support members 10, 11.
Since both said support members are identical only the first
support member 10 is fully described in the foregoing and with
reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Said deposit plate 12 is
attached to said support members 10, 11 either irremovably, by
means of an adhesive means for example, or removably whereby in the
latter case said deposit plate 12 being fixed on each said support
member 10, 11 by means of a safeguard 13, thus preventing a
displacement of said deposit plate 12 relative to said support
member 10, 11. Here, said deposit plate 12 being formed of an
opaque or partially or entirely translucent material such as glass
or plastic, for instance. Said safeguard 13 having preferably the
same width as said support member 10, 11 is connected with said
support member 10, 11 by means of a form-locking connection, for
example, wherein said safeguard 13 is formed on the side facing
said support member 10, 11 with a T-shaped guide 14 cooperating
with a suitable T-shaped groove 15 formed in said support member
10, 11. In the present embodiment said groove 15 extends at least
over a part of the width of said support member 10, 11,
nevertheless it could extend over the entire width thereof.
Optionally, said safeguard 13 is additionally secured by means of a
fixing means not shown which can be inserted through a hole 16 in
the safeguard 13 into a hole 17 in the support member 10, 11. Each
said support member 10, 11 is formed on the side cooperating with
each vertical guide 1, 2 with a flange-like extension 18 extending
in the direction of said vertical guide, an oblong and relatively
narrow tongue-like projection being associated with said extension
18 in the longitudinal direction of said vertical guide. The upper
section 20 of said projection 19 is formed with a pair of
vertically and horizontally spaced circular projections 21, 22
intended to mesh with the gearing 8, 9 of each vertical guide 1, 2.
Here, said projections 21, 22 are horizontally spaced to the extent
that they just sit into a gap between two neighbouring teeth of
each gearing 8, 9 when the shelf according to the invention is in
locked horizontal position. Said section 20 is formed on the inner
side of the projection 19 with a guide 23 whereto a slider 24 snaps
on which cooperates with the vertical guide 1, 2. Each said
projection 19 is herewith intended to cooperate with each vertical
guide 1, 2 in a manner that it extends through a vertical gap
between a wall 26 of a cooling appliance and each vertical guide 1,
2, said guide 23 along with the slider 24 being arranged within
each said vertical guide 1, 2. The slider 24 acts as a guidance for
each support member 10, 11 inside the vertical guide 1, 2, whereas
the circular projections 21, 22 mesh with the gearing 8, 9 of each
vertical guide 1, 2, thus each support member 10, 11 as well as the
shelf 12 being fixed in the position.
[0022] The shelf consisting of said support members 10, 11 and said
deposit plate 12 is vertically adjusted in said vertical guides 1,
2 in a manner that it is lifted up at the end averted from said
vertical guides 1, 2 so that it rotates about its centre of
rotation which lies approximately in the horizontal axis of said
slider 24. It is provided for in this manner that said circular
projections 21, 22 unmesh the gearing 8, 9 due to which the shelf
can be moved in height for the arbitrary number of teeth of the
gearing 8, 9. The precision of the adjusting the shelf according to
the invention depends on the size of the teeth of the gearing 8, 9,
the pitch of said teeth and the diameter of said circular
projections 21, 22. The system as described above provides for a
form-locking fixing of the shelf. The shelf according to the
invention is additionally fixed in a horizontal position in a
manner that a surface 27 of the flange-like extension 18 facing the
vertical guide 1, 2 is pressed, due to dead load of the shelf,
against the vertical guide 1, 2 and, respectively, against a
decorative profile 28 which optionally covers each vertical guide
1, 2. In this manner a friction-type blocking of the shelf is
obtained.
* * * * *