EP2859288B1

EP2859288B1 - A shelf suitable for using on a cooling device door

Info

Publication number: EP2859288B1
Application number: EP13725940.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kadir Ridvan Celik; Umud Yazgan; Osman Vardar; Fahri KIRLI; Omer Alper MIRZA
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2012-06-06
Filing date: 2013-05-23
Publication date: 2020-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-23
Also published as: WO2013182429A1; TR201206627A1; CN104884882A; EP2859288A1; CN104884882B; PL2859288T3

Description

The present invention relates to a shelf that is suitable for using on a cooling device door.
In cooling devices, shelves are situated on the inner surface of the door whereon food products and their containers are placed. In some cooling devices, door shelves, the supporting surface of which is produced from glass or similar materials, are used for reasons of cleanliness and to improve the esthetic appearance. In these shelves, obstructions are disposed at the front side of the glass plate for securing the glass plate, preventing the objects thereon from falling and for improving the appearance by hiding the cross-section of the glass plate. These obstructions are preferably of plastic material, generally produced together with the side walls and this results in the increase of molding and labor costs. Problems of durability arise in shelves wherein the obstructions are mounted after placing the glass plate.
In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP0564952 , a door shelf that comprises a glass plate is described. In this embodiment, the appearance of the shelf is improved by mounting a U-profiled plastic component to the front side of the glass plate.
In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP2000760 , a door shelf that comprises a glass plate is described. The glass plate is prevented from dislodging from the front side by means of two support pieces that extend towards each other from sidewalls of the shell such that front side of the glass plate is partially covered. In this embodiment, the glass plate is mounted to the cooling device door after being grouped to the shelf body.
German Patent Document DE102010003839 discloses a shelf in which a base and a rear wall constitute a single piece to which two side walls and a front member are attached.
Canadian Patent Document CA2484872 discloses a refrigerator with a storage bin assembly removably mounted to an inner liner of a door.
German Patent Document DE10117763 discloses a storage container which can be mounted in the door of a refrigerator, consisting of a container body and a decorative panel.
Post published International Patent Application WO2013050399 discloses a shelf comprising a body, a plate, and a support member.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a shelf suitable for utilization in the cooling device door and for which ease of mounting is provided.
The present invention is disclosed in the independent claim 1. Further embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member almost completely covers the portions of the front wall visible to the user. By means of the support member that surrounds the front wall as a sheath, the esthetic appearance of the shelf is improved.
According to the present invention, while being mounted to the body, the support member exerts pressure on the plate and prevents the plate from moving in the vertical direction. Thus, the problems like the plate getting loose, shaking, swaying are prevented during the use of the shelf and/or opening/closing of the cooling device door.
In an embodiment of the present invention, resting surfaces are located on the inner surfaces of the rear wall and/or of the opposite side walls. The resting surfaces almost perpendicularly extend over the side and rear walls and towards the gap between the walls. The plate is placed on the resting surfaces at equal elevations from each side. Thus, the plate is provided to be mounted to the body without using any connection member.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a base is provided at the lower side of the body. In this embodiment, the plate is placed onto the base that joins the side walls, the rear wall and the front wall. Thus, the plate is provided to stay on the body in a rigid manner.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the front wall comprises a support surface whereon a portion of the plate is seated and at least two upright members extending upwards from the support surface in a perpendicular manner. At least two of the upright members are situated in two different directions. When the support member is mounted onto the front wall, pressure is exerted onto the portion of the plate seated on the support surface, preventing the detachment of the plate from the body. Meanwhile, the upright members go into the support member, providing the support member to stay over the front wall. When placed onto the front wall, the support member surrounds the support surface.
In a version of this embodiment, a claw, situated on the front wall, and a protrusion, situated on the inner edge of the support member, interlock with each other and prevent the support member from detaching from the front wall.
In a version of this embodiment, more than one upright member in both of the directions are provided side by side so that a gap remains therebetween. In this embodiment, the claws are situated between the upright members. Since the claws and the upright members are not connected to each other, the upright members can be produced from rigid material and the claws from elastic material, thus ease of mounting is obtained without sacrificing the rigidness of the upright members.
In a version of this embodiment, the claw comprises an elastic extension extending upwards from the support surface and an obstruction extending outwards from the upper side of the extension. In this embodiment, the obstruction is shaped as a triangular prism extending downwards in an inclined manner from the peak point of the extension. Since the base of the obstruction remains above the extension when the support member is mounted onto the front wall, the protrusion cannot go over the claw when the support member is pulled upwards and thus the support member is prevented from detaching from the front wall.
In a version of this embodiment, more than one claw is situated in each different direction where the upright members are arranged. Thus, the connection between the support member and the front wall is strengthened.
In a version of this embodiment, the claws are positioned so that the obstructions do not face the gaps between the upright members in different directions.
In a version of this embodiment, the claws in different directions are placed in a staggered manner. Thus, while the support member is mounted onto the front wall, the claws stretching towards the gaps between the upright members are prevented from hitting each other.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf comprises at least one barrier that is mounted to the upper surfaces of the side walls from each end. By means of the preferably wire-shaped barrier, the objects on the plate are prevented from falling down.
According to the present invention, the support member is detachably mounted on the front wall. Thus, when the user wants to clean the plate, he/she can remove only the plate without detaching the shelf from the cooling device door.
By means of the present invention, the shelf suitable for use in cooling device doors gains a modular structure and mounting thereof to the cooling device door becomes easier. During the mounting of the shelf to the door, the body and the plate can be mounted onto the door without being grouped. This provides decrease in mounting time. Furthermore, by means of the support member structure, the durability of the plate inside the body is increased.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the shelf of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the shelf while the plate is being placed to the body.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the shelf before the support member is mounted to the body.
Figure 4 - is the sideways partial view of the shelf in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the exploded view of the shelf in another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Shelf
2. Body
3. Side wall
4. Rear wall
5. Front wall
6. Plate
7. Support member
8. Resting surface
9. Base
10. Support surface
11. Upright member
12. Claw
13. Protrusion
14. Barrier
15. Extension
16. Obstruction

According to figures 1 and 2 the shelf (1), suitable for use on the cooling device door, comprises a body (2) as a single piece having two opposite side walls (3), a rear wall (4) and a front wall (5) extending between the side walls (3), and a detachable plate (6) whereon the objects are placed and that is situated at the portion of the body (2) remaining between the side walls (3), the rear wall (4) and the front wall (5). The front wall (5) almost completely covers the front side of the plate (6) (Figure 1, Figure 2).
The shelf (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises a support member (7) mounted to the front wall (5) so as to at least partially extend over the plate (6) and that provides the plate (6) to be fixed to the body (2) by preventing the plate (6) from moving in the vertical direction. After the plate (6) is placed onto the body (2), the support member (7) is mounted onto the front wall (5). Since the horizontal movement of the plate (6) is prevented by the rear wall (4), the front wall (5) and the side walls (3), the plate (6) is fixed to the body (2) with the support member (7) preventing the vertical movement of the plate (6). Thus, the plate (6) is provided to be easily and securely mounted to the body (2) (Figure 3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, when mounted onto the front wall (5), the support member (7) almost completely covers the front wall (5). Thus, dust and dirt particles are prevented from going into the recesses on the front wall (5), providing ease of cleaning (Figure 1, Figure 4).
According to the present invention, when the support member (7) is mounted onto the front wall (5), at least some portion thereof exerts pressure onto the plate (6) from above. Thus, when the user places objects on the plate (6), the problems like the plate (6) shaking, quivering are prevented and the durability perception in the eyes of the user is increased (Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (1) comprises resting surfaces (8) extending inwards from the side walls (3) and/or the rear wall (4) and whereon the plate (6) is placed. In this embodiment, the plate (6) is placed on the resting surfaces (8). Thus, after the body (2) is mounted to the surface wherein the shelf (1) is to be used, the plate (6) can be placed on the body (2) and ease of mounting is provided (Figure 5).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (1) comprises a base (9), that is situated at the lower side of the body (2), that almost completely covers the gap between the front wall (5), the rear wall (4) and the side walls (3), and whereon the plate (6) is placed. In this embodiment, the durability of the plate (6) is improved since almost entire plate (6) is seated onto the base (9) (Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the front wall (5) comprises a support surface (10) whereon at least the front side of the plate (6) is seated when the plate (6) is placed onto the body (2), and at least two upright members (11) that extend upwards from the support surface (10) in two different directions almost parallel to each other and to the rear wall (4) so that a gap remains therebetween. While the support member (7) is being mounted onto the front wall (5), the upright members (11) go into the support member (7) and the end portion of the support member (7) exerts pressure onto the portion of the plate (6) above the support surface (10). Thus, the support member (7) is provided to stay on the front wall (5) in a rigid manner and the plate (6) is prevented from detaching from the body (2) (Figure 4).
In a version of this embodiment, the shelf (1) comprises at least one claw (12) situated on the front wall (5) and a protrusion (13) that is situated at the inner side of the support member (7) and that, by interacting with the claw (12), prevents the support member (7) from detaching from over the front wall (5) when the support member (7) is mounted to the front wall (5). In this embodiment, while the support member (7) is being mounted onto the front wall (5), the protrusion (13) opens a path by pushing the claw (12) and after getting free from the claw (12), goes under the claw (12) and prevents the support member (7) from being detached from the front wall (5). Thus, the support member (7) is easily mounted onto the front wall (5) and is prevented from being detached after being mounted (Figure 4).
In a version of this embodiment, the shelf (1) comprises more than one upright member (11) in each direction, positioned side by side so that a gap remains therebetween. In this embodiment, the claw (12) is situated between two consecutive upright members (11) in the same direction. Thus, it is possible to produce the upright members (11) from rigid material and the claws (12) from elastic material. Consequently, the support member (7) is provided to be rigidly and easily mounted to the front wall (5) (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5).
In a version of this embodiment, the claw (12) comprises an elastic extension (15) and an obstruction (16) in inclined structure, extending outwards from the level of the extension (15). In this embodiment, while the support member (7) is being placed onto the front wall (5), the protrusion (13) bears against the obstruction (16) surface that is inclined towards the support surface (10) and pushes the claw (12) inwards. When the protrusion (13) gets free from the obstruction (16), the claw (12) returns to its initial position, the protrusion (13) goes under the obstruction (16) and prevents the support member (7) from being detached from the front wall (5) (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5).
In a version of this embodiment, more than one claw (12) is situated in each direction where the upright members (11) are arranged. In this embodiment, the claws (12) interlock with the protrusions (13) at both sides of the support member (7) and provides strengthening of the connection between the support member (7) and the front wall (5) (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5).
In a version of this embodiment, the claws (12) are positioned so that the obstructions (16) do not face the gaps between the upright members (11) extending in different directions. Thus, it becomes easier for the claws (12) to contact the protrusions (13) (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5).
In a version of this embodiment, the claws (12) are positioned so as not to be back-to-back. Consequently, the claws (12), that are situated at the level of the upright members (11) in different directions and that stretch while the support member (7) is being mounted to the front wall (5), are prevented from hitting each other (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf (1) comprises at least one barrier (14) that is mounted on the upper surfaces of the opposite side walls (3) from each end and which prevents the objects on the plate (6) from falling. Thus, the objects on the plate (6) are prevented from falling and hence safety of the user and the objects stored on the shelf (1) is increased (Figure 1, Figure 5).
According to the present invention, the support member (7) is detachably mounted on the front wall (5). Thus, the plate (6) can be detached from the body (2) without dislodging the shelf (1) from the cooling device door, and this provides ease of cleaning.
By means of the present invention, the shelf (1), suitable for use in cooling device doors and having the plate (6) produced from glass or similar material on the door, is provided to be easily mounted to the door. Moreover, by means of the support member (7), the durability of the shelf (1) is improved by preventing the plate (6) from being detached from the body (2).
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily derive different embodiments within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A shelf (1) that is suitable for using on a cooling device door comprising
- a body (2) having as a single piece two opposite side walls (3), a rear wall (4) and a front wall (5) extending between the side walls (3),

- a plate (6) whereon the objects are placed and situated at the portion of the body (2) remaining between the side walls (3), the rear wall (4) and the front wall (5),

- a support member (7) that is detachably mounted onto the front wall (5) so as to at least partially extend over the plate (6) and that provides the plate (6) to be fixed to the body (2) by preventing the plate (6) from moving in the vertical direction, wherein at least some portion of the support member (7) exerts pressure onto the plate (6) from above, when mounted to the front wall (5), characterized in that the plate (6) is detachable from the body (2) of the shelf (1).
A shelf (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the support member (7) almost completely covers the front wall (5) when mounted onto the front wall (5).
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the resting surfaces (8) extending inwards from the side walls (3) and/or the rear wall (4) and whereon the plate (6) is placed.
A shelf (1) as in any one of the claims 1 to 2, characterized by a base (9) that is situated at the lower side of the body (2), that almost completely covers the gap between the front wall (5), the rear wall (4) and the side walls (3), and whereon the plate (6) is placed.
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the front wall (5) comprising a support surface (10) whereon at least the front side of the plate (6) is seated when the plate (6) is placed onto the body (2), and also comprising at least two upright members (11) that extend upwards from the support surface (10) and in two different directions almost parallel to each other and to the rear wall (4) so that a gap remains therebetween.
A shelf (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by at least one claw (12) situated on the front wall (5) and a protrusion (13) that is situated at the inner side of the support member (7) and that, by interacting with the claw (12), prevents the support member (7) from detaching from over the front wall (5) when the support member (7) is mounted to the front wall (5).
A shelf (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by more than one upright member (11) in each direction, positioned side by side so that a gap remains therebetween and the claw (12) situated between two consecutive upright members (11) in the same direction.
A shelf (1) as in Claim 6 or 7, characterized by the claw (12) comprising an elastic extension (15) and an obstruction (16) in inclined structure, extending outwards from the level of the extension (15).
A shelf (1) as in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by more than one claw (12) situated in each direction where the upright members (11) are arranged.
A shelf (1) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 9, characterized by the claws (12) that are positioned so that the obstructions (16) do not face the gaps between the upright members (11) extending in different directions.
A shelf (1) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 10, characterized by the claws (12) that are positioned so as not to be back-to-back.
A shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one barrier (14) which is mounted on the upper surfaces of the opposite side walls (3) from each end and that prevents the objects on the plate (6) from falling.
A cooling device comprising a shelf (1) as in any one of the above Claims.