U.S. patent application number 15/695277 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-21 for shelf assembly for a domestic cooling appliance.
The applicant listed for this patent is emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA. Invention is credited to Benjamin Schemela, Johann Schenkl, Manfredi Signorino, Georg Spiessl, Georg Wilhelm.
Application Number | 20170363347 15/695277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60660079 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170363347 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schenkl; Johann ; et
al. |
December 21, 2017 |
Shelf assembly for a domestic cooling appliance
Abstract
A domestic cooling appliance includes a cabinet having a set of
inner walls defining a cooling space, and a shelf assembly provided
in the cooling space. The shelf assembly includes a shelf panel and
a pair of left and right metal support brackets disposed adjacent
one of the pair of lateral edges of the shelf panel and extend
between front and rear edges of the shelf panel. Each support
bracket includes at least one mounting member for mounting the
support bracket to an inner rear wall of the cabinet and one or
more coupling members for coupling the shelf panel to the pair of
support brackets where at least a first coupling member of the one
or more coupling members is designed as an elongated U-shaped metal
profile defining only a first pocket for engaging the shelf
panel.
Inventors: |
Schenkl; Johann;
(Bodenwoehr, DE) ; Signorino; Manfredi;
(Wackersdorf, DE) ; Spiessl; Georg;
(Willhof-Altendorf, DE) ; Wilhelm; Georg;
(Guteneck, DE) ; Schemela; Benjamin;
(Schwarzenbach, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA |
Nabburg |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
60660079 |
Appl. No.: |
15/695277 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15047697 |
Feb 19, 2016 |
|
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15695277 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/02 20130101;
F25D 23/067 20130101; A47B 96/062 20130101; F25D 23/062 20130101;
F25D 25/02 20130101; F21V 33/0044 20130101; A47B 96/063 20130101;
F21W 2131/305 20130101; F21Y 2115/10 20160801; F25D 27/00 20130101;
F25D 2400/00 20130101; F21S 4/28 20160101; F25D 11/00 20130101;
F25D 2325/022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02; F25D 11/00 20060101 F25D011/00; A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. A shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel having a front edge,
a rear edge and a pair of lateral edges extending between the front
edge and the rear edge; a pair of left and right metal support
brackets each disposed adjacent a respective one of the pair of
lateral edges of the shelf panel, each support bracket including at
least one mounting member for mounting the support bracket to a
rear wall structure; and one or more coupling members for coupling
the shelf panel to the pair of left and right support brackets, at
least a first coupling member of the one or more coupling members
being designed as an elongated U-shaped metal profile defining only
a first pocket, wherein the shelf panel engages the first pocket,
wherein the first coupling member is fixedly attached to an upper
edge of a first support bracket of the pair of left and right metal
support brackets by a weld connection.
2. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf panel is
clamped between opposite side surfaces of the first pocket.
3. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped metal
profile includes a shorter profile leg and a pair of opposite
longer profile legs, each of the pair of opposite longer profile
legs having a first leg end and an opposite second leg end, the
pair of opposite longer profile legs being connected to each other
at the first leg end by the shorter profile leg, wherein the first
coupling member is clamped between the pair of opposite longer
profile legs and the pair of opposite longer profile legs define a
bottleneck at a location distanced from the second leg end of each
of the pair of opposite longer profile legs.
4. The shelf assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one of the pair
of opposite longer profile legs is arcuate or has an arcuate
portion.
5. The shelf assembly of claim 3, wherein one of the pair of
opposite longer profile legs is straight.
6. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped metal
profile includes a shorter profile leg and a pair of opposite
longer profile legs, each of the pair of opposite longer profile
legs having a first leg end and an opposite second leg end, the
pair of opposite longer profile legs being connected to each other
at the first leg end by the shorter profile leg, wherein the weld
connection is established at the first leg end of one of the pair
of opposite longer profile legs.
7. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first
support bracket and the U-shaped metal profile is made of sheet
metal.
8. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped metal
profile is a bent sheet metal part.
9. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped metal
profile and the first support bracket are made of the same metal
material.
10. The shelf assembly of claim 9, wherein the metal material of
the U-shaped metal profile and the first support bracket is one of
aluminum, pig iron and low-alloy steel.
11. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped metal
profile and the first support bracket are each provided with a
coating layer, wherein a material of the coating layer is the same
for the U-shaped metal profile and the first support bracket.
12. The shelf assembly of claim 11, wherein the coating layer is
one of a powder coating layer and an anodic coating layer.
13. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf panel is held
in the first pocket without using an adhesive.
14. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the weld connection
includes a plurality of welding spots formed in a mutually spaced
manner along a direction of longitudinal extension of the U-shaped
metal profile.
15. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the first coupling
member is mounted to extend alongside one of the lateral edges of
the shelf panel.
16. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pocket has a
general U-shape in cross-section and the shelf panel extends into
the first pocket substantially as far as a bottom area of the first
pocket.
17. A domestic cooling appliance comprising: a cabinet having a set
of inner walls defining a cooling space, the set of inner walls
including an inner rear wall; a door mounted to the cabinet to
close the cooling space; and a shelf assembly provided in the
cooling space, the shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel having
a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of lateral edges extending
between the front edge and the rear edge; a pair of left and right
metal support brackets each disposed adjacent a respective one of
the pair of lateral edges of the shelf panel, each of the pair of
left and right support brackets includes at least one mounting
member for mounting to the inner rear wall; and one or more
coupling members for coupling the shelf panel to the pair of left
and right support brackets, at least a first coupling member of the
one or more coupling members being designed as an elongated
U-shaped metal profile defining only a first pocket, wherein the
shelf panel engages the first pocket, wherein the first coupling
member is fixedly attached to an upper edge of a first support
bracket of the pair of left and right metal support brackets by a
weld connection.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a shelf assembly
and a domestic cooling appliance equipped with such a shelf
assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] A domestic cooling appliance such as, e.g., a refrigerator
or a freezer, has an interior cooling space destined for
accommodating foodstuffs. The foodstuffs may be placed on one or
more shelf panels (shelf boards) arranged in the cooling space.
Some conventional shelf panels are made of a transparent material,
e.g., a glass or plastics material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a shelf
assembly that provides robustness and can be assembled with ease.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a domestic
cooling appliance equipped with a shelf assembly.
[0004] To achieve one or more of the above objects, embodiments of
the present disclosure provide a shelf assembly having a shelf
panel with a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of lateral edges
extending between the front and rear edges; a pair of left and
right support brackets each disposed adjacent a respective one of
the lateral edges of the shelf panel, each support bracket
including at least one mounting member for mounting the support
bracket to a rear wall structure; and one or more coupling members
for coupling the shelf panel to the pair of support brackets, at
least one of the one or more coupling members being configured with
a first pocket, wherein the shelf panel engages the first
pocket.
[0005] In one embodiment, the at least one or more coupling members
has at least a first coupling member designed as an elongated
U-shaped metal profile defining only a first pocket where the shelf
panel engages the first pocket.
[0006] In another embodiment, the first coupling member is fixedly
attached to an upper edge of a first support bracket of the pair of
left and right metal support brackets by a weld connection.
[0007] In certain embodiments, the shelf panel is clamped between
opposite side surfaces of the first pocket.
[0008] In certain embodiments, the shelf panel is fixated in the
first pocket by an adhesive. At least a portion of the adhesive may
be provided between an upper surface of the shelf panel and an
adjacent side surface of the first pocket.
[0009] In certain embodiments, the U-shaped metal profile includes
a shorter profile leg and a pair of opposite longer profile legs.
Each of the pair of opposite longer profile legs has a first leg
end and an opposite second leg end. The pair of opposite longer
profile legs are connected to each other at the first leg end by
the shorter profile leg where the first coupling member is clamped
between the pair of opposite longer profile legs. The pair of
opposite longer profile legs define a bottleneck at a location
distanced from the second leg end of each of the pair of opposite
longer profile legs.
[0010] In certain embodiments, one of the pair of opposite longer
profile legs is arcuate or has an arcuate portion.
[0011] In certain embodiments, one of the pair of opposite longer
profile legs is straight.
[0012] In certain embodiments, the U-shaped metal profile includes
a shorter profile leg and a pair of opposite longer profile legs.
Each of the pair of opposite longer profile legs has a first leg
end and an opposite second leg end. The pair of opposite longer
profile legs are connected to each other at the first leg end by
the shorter profile leg where the weld connection is established at
the first leg end of one of the pair of opposite longer profile
legs.
[0013] In certain embodiments, at least one of the first support
bracket and the U-shaped metal profile is made of sheet metal.
[0014] In certain embodiments, the U-shaped metal profile is a bent
sheet metal part.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the U-shaped metal profile and the
first support bracket are made of the same metal material.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the metal material of the U-shaped
metal profile and the first support bracket is one of aluminum, pig
iron and low-alloy steel.
[0017] In certain embodiments, the U-shaped metal profile and the
first support bracket are each provided with a coating layer where
a material of the coating layer is the same for the U-shaped metal
profile and the first support bracket.
[0018] In certain embodiments, the coating layer is one of a powder
coating layer and an anodic coating layer.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the shelf panel is held in the first
pocket without using an adhesive.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the weld connection includes a
plurality of welding spots formed in a mutually spaced manner along
a direction of longitudinal extension of the U-shaped metal
profile.
[0021] In certain embodiments, the first coupling member is mounted
to extend alongside one of the lateral edges of the shelf
panel.
[0022] In certain embodiments, the at least one of the one or more
coupling members is further configured with a second pocket,
wherein one of the pair of support brackets engages the second
pocket. The first and second pockets may extend in mutually
orthogonal planes. The one of the pair of support brackets may be
at least one of: clamped between opposite side surfaces of the
second pocket, and fixated in the second pocket by an adhesive.
[0023] In certain embodiments, the at least one of the one or more
coupling members is fixedly attached to one of the pair of support
brackets by a weld or solder connection.
[0024] In certain embodiments, the at least one of the one or more
coupling members is designed as an elongated profile member mounted
to extend alongside the rear edge of the shelf panel.
[0025] In certain embodiments, the profile member has opposite
longitudinal end portions each connected to one of the pair of
support brackets by a bolt connection.
[0026] In certain embodiments, the at least one of the one or more
coupling members is designed as an elongated profile member mounted
to extend alongside one of the lateral edges of the shelf
panel.
[0027] In certain embodiments, the at least one of the one or more
coupling members is disposed in a corner region of the shelf panel,
wherein a portion of the rear edge and a portion of one of the
lateral edges of the shelf panel extend into the first pocket.
[0028] In certain embodiments, the first pocket has a general
U-shape in cross-section and the shelf panel extends into the first
pocket substantially as far as a bottom area of the first
pocket.
[0029] In certain embodiments, the second pocket has a general
U-shape in cross-section and the one of the pair of support
brackets extends into the second pocket substantially as far as a
bottom area of the second pocket.
[0030] The present disclosure further provides a domestic cooling
appliance comprising: a cabinet having a set of inner walls
defining a cooling space, the set of inner walls including an inner
rear wall; a door mounted to the cabinet to close the cooling
space; and a shelf assembly provided in the cooling space, the
shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel having a front edge, a
rear edge and a pair of lateral edges extending between the front
and rear edges; a pair of left and right support brackets each
disposed adjacent a respective one of the pair of lateral edges of
the shelf panel, each of the pair of left and right support
brackets includes at least one mounting member for mounting to the
inner rear wall; and one or more coupling members for coupling the
shelf panel to the pair of left and right support brackets, at
least a first coupling member of the one or more coupling members
being designed as an elongated U-shaped metal profile defining only
a first pocket, wherein the shelf panel engages the first pocket.
The first coupling member is fixedly attached to an upper edge of a
first support bracket of the pair of left and right metal support
brackets by a weld connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows a domestic cooling appliance
according to an embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a shelf assembly including a coupling member
according to an embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a coupling member according to another
embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a coupling member according to another
embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the coupling member of FIG.
2.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a coupling member according to another
embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a detail of the coupling member of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which depicts a schematic
front view of a domestic cooling appliance 10. Although exemplarily
described by means of the domestic cooling appliance 10, the
present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, a shelf assembly
according to the present invention may be mounted to any suitable
rear wall structure in domestic homes or any other desired
locations. The domestic cooling appliance 10 may particularly but
not exclusively refer to a refrigerator or a freezer and may
therefore be suitable to cool or freeze objects such as food to a
certain temperature. The domestic cooling appliance 10 has the form
of a cabinet that includes a corpus 12, a bottom wall 14, a top
wall 16, a rear wall 18 (also a rear wall structure 18) and a pair
of side walls 20. The corpus 12 is framed by the bottom wall 14,
the top wall 16, the rear wall 18 and the pair of side walls 20,
thereby forming an access opening 22. A user can access a cooling
space 24 of the domestic cooling appliance 10 through the access
opening 22, which can be closed by a cabinet door 26 that is
mounted to one of the pair of side walls 20.
[0039] The cooling space 24 of the domestic cooling appliance 10
may comprise a plurality of mounting parts suitable for the user to
apply objects that are supposed to be cooled or frozen. At least
one of these mounting parts constitutes a shelf assembly 28 that
comprises a shelf panel 30. The shelf panel 30 may be manufactured
from glass or plastics or any other suitable material. The material
may be transparent or translucent. The shelf panel 30 may further
include structures suited to obtain a desired light-deflecting
effect. The shelf panel 30 may be from substantially rectangular
shape and has a front edge facing the access opening 22, a rear
edge facing the rear wall 18 and a pair of lateral edges extending
between the front and rear edges, each of them facing one of the
side walls 20. The shelf assembly 28 further comprises a pair of
support brackets 32, each of them being disposed adjacent one of
the lateral edges of the shelf panel 30. The support brackets 32
may be fully or partially formed from any suitable conductive
material as e.g. metal. The support brackets 32 may have, but are
not limited to, a cantilever design. In FIG. 1, only one of the
pair of support brackets 32 is shown by a dashed line. Each of the
support brackets 32 includes at least one mounting member (not
shown), e.g. a reinforced hook or any other suitable structure for
mounting the support brackets 32 to mounting structures (not shown)
of the rear wall 18 of the domestic cooling appliance 10. The
domestic cooling appliance 10 of FIG. 1 further comprises at least
one additional shelf panel 34 suitable for the user to apply
objects such as food. Although not shown, the shelf panel 34 may be
a part of a shelf assembly that is identically formed to the shelf
assembly 28.
[0040] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary shelf assembly 28 according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The shelf assembly
comprises a shelf panel 30 and a pair of support brackets 32 as
described with reference to FIG. 1. Further, the shelf assembly
comprises a coupling member 36 that is arranged to couple the shelf
panel 30 to the pair of support brackets 32. The coupling member 36
may be fully or partially manufactured from plastic or metal or
from any other suitable material. In the embodiment shown, the
coupling member 36 is designed as an elongated profile member and
substantially extends alongside the rear edge of the shelf panel
30. According to FIG. 2, the coupling member 36 has opposite
longitudinal end portions that are each connected to one of the
pair of support brackets 32 by a bolt connection 38.
[0041] Although the shelf assembly 28 in FIG. 2 comprises a single
coupling member 36, the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, the shelf assembly 28 may also comprise two or more
coupling members 36. Details of the one or more coupling members 36
according to the present invention will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 3-7. The respective Figures show different
variations of a coupling mechanism between the shelf panel 30 and
the support brackets 32 as indicated in FIG. 2 by means of
differently shaped and arranged coupling members 36. In the
Figures, equal components or components of equal function are
supplied with the same reference signs, but may be discriminated by
different small letters appended to the respective reference
signs.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the rear side of a shelf
assembly 28a. The rear edge of the shelf panel 30a is facing the
rear wall 18 of the domestic cooling appliance 10 of FIG. 1. The
same applies for FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, the coupling member 36a is designed as
an elongated profile member that is mounted to extend alongside one
of the lateral edges of the shelf panel 30a. The coupling member
36a comprises a first pocket 40a configured to receive the shelf
panel 30a. According to the embodiment, the first pocket 40a has a
general U-shape in cross-section and comprises a pocket bottom and
opposite side surfaces extending from the pocket bottom. The
opposite side surfaces define a pocket interior therebetween. In
the following, a coupling mechanism between the shelf panel 30a and
the coupling member 36a is described. The shelf panel 30a extends
into the first pocket 40a substantially as far as the pocket
bottom. In an alternative embodiment, the shelf panel 30a may
extend into the first pocket 40a substantially as far as the half
of a length of the opposite side surfaces of the first pocket 40a
or as far as two thirds of the length of said side surfaces. The
shelf panel 30a may be clamped between the opposite side surfaces
of the first pocket 40a. In such an embodiment, the respective side
surfaces of the first pocket 40a apply an initial load that
suffices to securely hold the shelf panel 30a therebetween in a
stable manner. Additionally or alternatively, the shelf panel 30a
may be fixated in the first pocket 40a by an adhesive, such as e.g.
a resin. The adhesive may be applied between an upper surface of
the shelf panel 30a and one of the side surfaces of the first
pocket 40a facing the upper surface of the shelf panel 30a. From a
predetermined amount of the adhesive, all or just a part of it may
be applied in the described manner. Alternatively or additionally,
the adhesive may be fully or partially applied between the pocket
bottom of the first pocket 40a and the adjacent side edge of the
shelf panel 30a and/or between a lower surface of the shelf panel
30a and the side surface of the first pocket 40a facing the lower
surface of the shelf panel 30a.
[0044] As it is further illustrated in FIG. 3, the coupling member
36a comprises a second pocket 42a. Although the present invention
is not limited thereto, the second pocket 42a extends in an
orthogonal plane with respect to the first pocket 40a. In an
alternative embodiment, the first pocket 40a and the second pocket
42a may extend in mutually different, e.g. skew planes. The second
pocket 42a is configured to receive one of the pair of support
brackets 32a. As depicted in FIG. 3, the second pocket 42a has a
general U-shape in cross-section and comprises a pocket bottom and
opposite side surfaces extending from the pocket bottom. The
opposite side surfaces define a pocket interior therebetween. In
the following, a coupling mechanism between one of the pair of
support brackets 32a and the coupling member 36a is described.
Although not limiting, one of the pair of support brackets 32a
extends into the second pocket 42a substantially as far as the
pocket bottom. In an alternative embodiment, the one of the pair of
support brackets 32a may extend into the second pocket 42a
substantially as far as the half of a length of the opposite side
surfaces of the second pocket 42a or as far as two thirds of the
length of said side surfaces. The one of the pair of support
brackets 32a may be clamped between the side surfaces of the second
pocket 42a. In such an embodiment, the respective side surfaces of
the second pocket 42a apply an initial load that suffices to
securely hold the one of the pair of support brackets 32a
therebetween in a stable manner. Additionally or alternatively, the
one of the pair of support brackets 32a may be fixated in the first
pocket by an adhesive, such as e.g. a resin or a solder. The resin
may optionally be applied between one of the side surfaces of the
second pocket 42a or the pocket bottom of the second pocket 42a and
an adjacent surface or edge of the respective support bracket 32a.
Alternatively, the resin may be applied between both the two side
surfaces as well as the pocket bottom of the second pocket 42a and
the adjacent surfaces and edge of the respective support bracket
32a.
[0045] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown another example of a
coupling member 36b of a shelf assembly 28b. Similarly to the
embodiment in FIG. 3, the coupling member 36b is designed as an
elongated profile member that is mounted to extend alongside one of
the lateral edges of the shelf panel 30b. The coupling member 36b
comprises a first pocket 40b that may be configured substantially
similar to the first pocket 40a of the embodiment of FIG. 3.
Further, a coupling mechanism between the first pocket 40b and the
shelf panel 30b may be configured substantially similar to the
coupling mechanism of the embodiment of FIG. 3. The coupling member
36b thus comprises the first pocket 40b, which is configured to
receive the shelf panel 30b. The first pocket 40b has a general
U-shape in cross-section and comprises a pocket bottom and opposite
side surfaces extending from the pocket bottom. The opposite side
surfaces define a pocket interior therebetween. The shelf panel 30b
extends into the first pocket 40b substantially as far as the
pocket bottom. In an alternative embodiment, the shelf panel 30b
may extend into the first pocket 40b substantially as far as the
half of a length of the opposite side surfaces of the first pocket
40b or as far as two thirds of the length of said side surfaces.
The shelf panel 30b may be clamped between the opposite side
surfaces of the first pocket 40b. In such an embodiment, the side
surfaces of the first pocket 40b apply a sufficient force to
securely hold the shelf panel 30b therebetween in a stable manner.
The shelf panel 30b may be additionally fixated in the first pocket
40b by an adhesive, such as e.g. a resin. Adhesive may, e.g., be
applied between an upper surface of the shelf panel 30b and one of
the side surfaces of the first pocket 40b facing the upper surface
of the shelf panel 30b. Alternatively or additionally, adhesive may
be applied between the pocket bottom of the first pocket 40b and
the adjacent side edge of the shelf panel 30b and/or between a
lower surface of the shelf panel 30b and the side surface of the
first pocket 40b facing the lower surface of the shelf panel
30b.
[0046] In FIG. 4, the opposite side surfaces of the first pocket
40b which define the pocket interior therebetween are inner
surfaces of opposite longer profile legs 41a, 41b of the elongate
profile forming the coupling member 36b. The pocket bottom is
delineated by a shorter profile leg 41c of the elongate profile
forming the coupling member 36b. The shorter profile leg 41c
interconnects the longer profile legs 41a, 41b, thereby defining
the U-shaped first pocket 40b. The longer profile legs 41a, 41b
extend from the shorter profile leg 41c in a direction orthogonal
or substantially orthogonal with respect to a plane defined by the
pocket bottom. In the embodiment, the longer profile legs 41a, 41b
have a substantially equal length, while a length of the shorter
profile leg 41c is smaller than the length of the longer profile
legs 41a, 41b. For example, the length of the shorter profile leg
41c may be one third or half the length of the longer profile legs
41a, 41b. The longer profile legs 41a, 41b may have a thickness of
no more than 0.5 mm or no more than 1 mm or no more than 2 mm or no
more than 3 mm. The same may apply to the length of shorter profile
leg 41c.
[0047] In embodiments, the longer profile legs 41a, 41b may extend
in a straight manner from the shorter profile leg 41c of the first
pocket 40b. Alternatively, longer profile leg 41a, longer profile
leg 41b or both longer profile legs 41a, 41b may extend in a curved
or at least arcuate manner from shorter profile leg 41c of the
first pocket 40b. In the example of FIG. 4, longer profile leg 41a
extends in an arcuate manner from shorter profile leg 41c while
longer profile leg 41b extends in a straight manner from shorter
profile leg 41c. A curvature of longer profile leg 41a is shaped
such that a distance between the inner surfaces, when viewed from
the plane defined by the pocket bottom of the first pocket 40b,
decreases from the pocket bottom to substantially the middle of the
first pocket 40b and increases again from the middle of the first
pocket 40b to a top end of the first pocket 40b. Such arrangement
of longer profile legs 41a, 41b of the first pocket 40b defines a
bottleneck therebetween, i.e. a narrow point within the first
pocket 40b that supports the clamping of the shelf panel 30b
between the opposite inner surfaces of longer profile legs 41a,
41b. The curvature of longer profile leg 41a is not limited to the
one described above. It is further conceivable that the curvature
of longer profile leg 41a is shaped such that the described
bottleneck is defined by the longer profile legs 41a and 41b at
substantially one third or two thirds of a pocket depth extending
from the pocket bottom to the top end of the first pocket 40b.
[0048] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the coupling member 36b is a
bent component made from metal like aluminum or steel, for example
unalloyed steel. The same material may be used for the pair of
support brackets 32b. The coupling member 36b may be made from a
single sheet component such as sheet metal. The pair of support
brackets 32b may be made from a single metal plate. Compared to
FIG. 3, the embodiment in FIG. 4 applies a different coupling
mechanism between the coupling member 36b and one of the pair of
support brackets 32b. That is, instead of comprising a second
pocket, one of the side surfaces of the first pocket 40b is
configured to being fixedly attached to one of the pair of support
brackets 32b. In particular, a surficial area of the first pocket
40b which is located at the opposite of a surficial area of the
first pocket 40b that is engaged with the shelf panel 30b is formed
to establish a connection to an upper edge of the one of the pair
of support brackets 32b. The pertaining surficial area of the first
pocket 40b may, although the present disclosure is not limited
thereto, comprise a straight form in an area of contact with the
upper edge of the one of the pair of support brackets 32b. In FIG.
4, the coupling member 36b as well as the support brackets 32b may
be formed from metal, but are not limited thereto. The fixed
connection between the one of the side surfaces of the first pocket
40b and the one of the pair of support brackets 32b is established
by a weld or solder connection. When a weld connection is
established, the connection may be established by spot-welding.
[0049] The coupling mechanism between the coupling member 36b and
one of the pair of support brackets 32b when a weld connection is
established between the one of the side surfaces of the first
pocket 40b and the one of the pair of support brackets 32b will be
described in more detail below.
[0050] The side surfaces of the first pocket 40b are defined by
outer surfaces of the longer profile legs 41a, 41b of pocket 40b.
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer surface of longer profile leg 41a may
be a curved surface. A curvature of the curved surface may be
formed substantially similar to the curvature of longer profile leg
41a. For welding, the one of the pair of support brackets 32b as
well as the coupling member 32b are held and aligned with respect
to each other utilizing clips or other suited clamping means. Then,
the one of the pair of support brackets 32b is welded to the curved
outer surface of longer profile leg 41a substantially adjacent to
the pocket bottom (i.e. in the area close to shorter profile leg
41c) of the first pocket 40b. The weld connection may be
established by laser welding, but the invention is not limited
thereto. The application of resistance welding or other suited
welding technique is similarly conceivable.
[0051] In the embodiment, the weld between the first pocket 40b and
the one of the pair of support brackets 32b is not a continuous
weld (although such continuous weld is similarly conceivable).
Rather, said weld may comprise a plurality of weld sections
arranged alongside an extending direction of coupling member 36b. A
distance between the respective weld sections may be between 2 cm
and 15 cm and for example between 5 cm and 10 cm. A length of the
respective weld sections may be between 2 mm and 15 mm and for
example between 5 mm and 10 mm. Since the application of
spot-welding is also conceivable to establish the weld between
coupling member 36b and the one of the pair of support brackets
32b, a plurality of welding spots may be applied alongside the
extending direction of coupling member 36b in alternative to the
plurality of weld sections. A distance between the welding spots
may be substantially similar to the distance between the weld
sections described above.
[0052] After the weld connection between the coupling member 36b
and one of the pair of support brackets 32b is established, the
coupling member 36b as well as the one of the pair of support
brackets 32b are coated in a single coating process. For the
coating process, lacquer coating or powder coating (the present
invention is not limited thereto) is applied to protect materials
of the one of the pair of support brackets 32b and the coupling
member 36b from corrosion and/or oxidation.
[0053] A front trim (not shown in FIG. 4) made from plastic or
metal may be applied to cover and protect the front edge of the
shelf panel 30b. As an optional component, an illumination module
(not shown in FIG. 4) may further be applied to the front edge of
the shelf panel 30b. The illumination module may comprise a
plurality of light emitting diodes or other suited illumination
means. If applied, the illumination module is received within the
front trim of the shelf panel 30b.
[0054] The illumination module may be supplied with electrical
energy from a busbar provided behind the rear wall 18 and within
corpus 12 of the domestic cooling appliance 10 (see FIG. 1). When
the shelf assembly 28b is mounted to the rear wall 18 of the
domestic cooling appliance 10, current flows from the busbar into
the one of the pair of support brackets 32b. In a region adjacent
the front edge of shelf panel 30b (thus equally in a region of a
front edge of the one of the pair of support brackets 32b that
faces the access opening 22 of the domestic cooling appliance 10),
the coating of the one of the pair of support brackets 32b is
removed, for example by way of die cutting or any other suited
technique so that the material of the one of the pair of support
brackets 32b is exposed to the outside in a relatively small region
of exposure. This region of exposure may be circular in shape and
may comprise a radius of around 1 mm or 2 mm or 4 mm or 8 mm.
Alternatively, the region of exposure may be rectangular in shape
an may comprise an edge length of around 1 mm or 2 mm or 4 mm or 8
mm. Other shapes and measures for the region of exposure are
similarly conceivable. An electrical conductor may be coupled
between the region of exposure and the illumination module. That
is, the electrical conductor directly contacts the material of the
one of the pair of support brackets 32b in the region of exposure
and directly contacts a power input of the illumination module. At
least the coupling between the electrical conductor and the region
of exposure may be carried out in a gastight manner. Accordingly,
current flows, after entering the one of the pair of support
brackets 32b in a region near the rear wall of the domestic cooling
appliance 10, through the one of the pair of support brackets 32b
and via the electrical conductor into the illumination module to
provide the same with electrical energy. A return path for current
flow from the illumination module to the busbar of the domestic
cooling appliance 10 is configured in a similar manner via a second
electrical conductor and the other one of the pair of support
brackets 32b.
[0055] A manufacturing process of a shelf assembly 28b that
comprises the illumination module is basically the same as a
manufacturing process of a shelf assembly 28b not comprising the
illumination module. That is, the above described coupling by
welding between the coupling member 36b and the one of the pair of
support brackets 32b is identically carried out in either case. For
a shelf assembly 28b that comprises the illumination module,
creation of the region of exposure and application of the
electrical conductor is additionally carried out. With that, it is
possible to manufacture respective pairs of coupling members 36b
and support brackets 32b for shelf assemblies with and without the
illumination module within the same production line.
[0056] Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown another example of a
coupling member 36c of a shelf assembly 28c. In FIG. 5, there is
provided a side view of the shelf assembly 28 of FIG. 2. In this
embodiment, the coupling member 36c is designed as an elongated
profile member that substantially extends alongside the rear edge
of the shelf panel 30c. In this way, the lateral edges of the shelf
panel may not be utilized to establish a coupling between the shelf
panel 30c and the support brackets 32c. The coupling member 36c
comprises a first pocket 40c that may be configured substantially
similar to the first pockets 40a and 40b of the embodiments of
FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. Further, a coupling mechanism between
the first pocket 40c and the shelf panel 30c may be configured
substantially similar to the coupling mechanisms between the first
pockets 40a, 40b and the coupling members 36a, 36b of the
embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4. The coupling member 36c has opposite
longitudinal end portions that are each configured to receive at
least one bolt element. The longitudinal end portions of the
coupling member 36c may form end portions of a ridge extending
alongside the rear edge of the shelf panel 30c and extending in an
orthogonal plane with respect to a plane that comprises one of the
opposite side surfaces of the first pocket 40c. Further, each of
the pair of support brackets 32c is, in an area adjacent to the
coupling member 36c (i.e. in the vicinity of the rear edge of the
shelf panel 30c), configured to receive the at least one bolt
element. As such, the longitudinal end portions of the coupling
member 36c are connected to the support brackets 32c by a bolt
connection 38. The bolt element may be a screw, a pin or any other
suitable element.
[0057] Additionally, the shelf assembly 28c may comprise second and
third coupling members (for better discrimination designated 44 in
FIG. 5) that are mounted to corner regions of the shelf panel 30c.
The respective corner regions in FIG. 5 are each constituted by the
front edge and one of the lateral edges of the shelf panel 30c, but
are not limited thereto. The second and third coupling members 44
comprise a first pocket (not shown) that is configured
substantially similar to the first pocket 40c of the coupling
member 36c. Further, a coupling mechanism between the first pockets
of the coupling members 44 and the shelf panel 30c may be
configured substantially similar to the coupling mechanism between
the first pocket 40c and the shelf panel 30c. However, the first
pockets of the second and third coupling members 44 are configured
to receive a portion of the front edge as well as a portion of the
lateral edge that constitute the respective corner region of the
shelf panel 30c. The coupling members 44 extend just to a minor
part along the front edge and the respective lateral edge of the
shelf panel 30c. To the most part, e.g. at least 95% or at least
90% or at least 85% or at least 80% of the lateral edges of the
shelf panel 30c remain uncovered. This is particularly important
since such a design allows a side-by-side positioning of two or
more shelf assemblies 28c in the cooling space 24 of the domestic
cooling appliance 10. In such way, it is possible to obtain a
space-saving design and to allow the user of the domestic cooling
appliance 10 to conveniently slide objects between the two or more
shelf assemblies 28c. The shelf assembly 28c may further comprise
an elongate coverage profile that substantially extends alongside
the front edge of the shelf panel 30c and covers the same. In some
embodiments, the elongate coverage profile may be configured to
house a light source, such as an LED-module, but is not limited
thereto. The elongate coverage profile has opposite longitudinal
end portions that are each configured to receive at least one bolt
element. Further, each of the pair of support brackets 32c is, in
an area adjacent to the respective coupling members 44 (i.e. in the
vicinity of the front edge of the shelf panel 30c), configured to
receive the at least one bolt element. As such, the coupling
members 44 are connected to the elongate coverage profile by a bolt
connection that additionally attaches the respective support
brackets 32c to the elongate coverage profile. The bolt element may
be a screw, a pin or any other suitable element.
[0058] As depicted in FIG. 5, the shelf panel 30c has direct
contact with the support brackets 32c at least in the vicinity of
the front and rear edges of the shelf panel 30c. On the other hand,
the shelf assembly 28c comprises a gap between the support brackets
32c and the shelf panel 30c in a predominant area in a longitudinal
direction of the lateral edges of the shelf panel 30c.
Alternatively, the shelf panel 30c may have direct contact with the
support brackets 32c substantially alongside the lateral edges of
the shelf panel 30c.
[0059] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown another example
of a coupling member 36d of a shelf assembly 28d. In the embodiment
shown, the shelf assembly 28d comprises, but is not limited to, two
coupling members 36d. The coupling members 36d each comprise a
first pocket 40d and a second pocket 42d that are substantially
configured similar to the first pocket 40a and the second pocket
42a of the embodiment of FIG. 3. Further, a coupling mechanism
between the first pocket 40d and the shelf panel 30d as well as a
coupling mechanism between the second pocket 42d and the support
brackets 32d may be configured substantially similar to the
respective coupling mechanisms of the embodiment of FIG. 3.
Although not limiting, the second pocket 42d in FIG. 7 extends in
an orthogonal plane with respect to the first pocket 40d. In an
alternative embodiment, the first pocket 40d and the second pocket
42d may extend in mutually skew planes. The coupling members 36d
comprise a substantially rectangular upper surface that is located
opposite to a side surface of the first pocket 40d that faces an
upper surface of the shelf panel 30d. The coupling members 36d are
disposed in corner regions of the shelf panel 28d, each receiving a
portion of the rear edge and a portion of one of the lateral edges
of the shelf panel 30d. As will be readily understood, the present
invention is not limited thereto. The coupling members 36d may
alternatively receive portions of the front edge and portions of
the lateral edges of the shelf panel 30d. Similarly to the
embodiment in FIG. 5, the coupling members 36d extend just to a
minor part along the rear edge and the respective corner-forming
lateral edge of the shelf panel 30d. To the most part, e.g. at
least 95% or at least 90% or at least 85% or at least 80% of the
lateral edges and the rear edge of the shelf panel 30d remain
uncovered. This is particularly important since such a design
allows a side-by-side positioning of two or more shelf assemblies
28d in the cooling space 24 of the domestic cooling appliance 10.
In such way, it is possible to obtain a space-saving design and to
allow the user of the domestic cooling appliance 10 to conveniently
slide objects between the two or more shelf assemblies 28d.
Further, the shelf panel 30d is in direct contact with the support
brackets 32d at least in the vicinity of the front and rear edges
of the shelf panel 30d. On the other hand, the shelf assembly 28d
comprises a gap between the support brackets 32d and the shelf
panel 30d in a predominant area in a longitudinal direction of the
lateral edges of the shelf panel 30d. Alternatively, the shelf
panel 30c may have direct contact with the support brackets 32c
substantially alongside the lateral edges of the shelf panel
30c.
[0060] The embodiments disclosed herein describe variations of
different coupling members and mechanisms between shelf panels and
support brackets of shelf assemblies mounted into e.g. a domestic
cooling appliance. The embodiments serve to optimize available
space on the shelf panel and to enable a side-by-side positioning
of two or more shelf assemblies under provision of a smooth
transition between the respective shelf panels of the shelf
assemblies. Further, all of the disclosed variations provide stable
designs of shelf assemblies for the user to conveniently place,
slide and take out objects such as food from the domestic cooling
appliance.
[0061] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been described herein, the above description is merely
illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein
disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and
all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *