WO2009014489A1 - A device for closing an opening of a storage space - Google Patents
A device for closing an opening of a storage space Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009014489A1 WO2009014489A1 PCT/SE2008/050888 SE2008050888W WO2009014489A1 WO 2009014489 A1 WO2009014489 A1 WO 2009014489A1 SE 2008050888 W SE2008050888 W SE 2008050888W WO 2009014489 A1 WO2009014489 A1 WO 2009014489A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- door
- sliding member
- guide
- movement
- sliding
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
- F25D23/021—Sliding doors
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
- E06B3/32—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing
- E06B3/34—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing with only one kind of movement
- E06B3/38—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing with only one kind of movement with a horizontal axis of rotation at the top or bottom of the opening
- E06B3/385—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing with only one kind of movement with a horizontal axis of rotation at the top or bottom of the opening specially adapted for furniture
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
- E06B3/32—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing
- E06B3/34—Arrangements of wings characterised by the manner of movement; Arrangements of movable wings in openings; Features of wings or frames relating solely to the manner of movement of the wing with only one kind of movement
- E06B3/42—Sliding wings; Details of frames with respect to guiding
- E06B3/44—Vertically-sliding wings
- E06B3/443—Vertically-sliding wings specially adapted for furniture
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus for closing an opening of a storage space, especially a cupboard, preferably a refrigerator, a freezer or a minibar, provided with rubber seals around said opening, or other spaces which need to be tightly sealed from the surrounding.
- the apparatus comprises at least one sliding member slidable between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, and a door adapted to close the opening.
- the present invention relates to a cupboard having a storage space provided with an opening, where the cupboard is provided with at least one apparatus for closing the opening.
- the refrigerators of today are far too bulky and take too much space. To a large extent, the reason for this is that the refrigerators include pivotable doors which require a space to pivot. If the refrigerator is to be in- stalled in a room having a limited space, such as a hotel room, it is important that the refrigerator does not occupy too much space.
- One way of solving this problem is to provide the refrigerator with a slidable door instead of a pivotable door.
- the rubber seals which are provided around the opening of the refrigerator, and maybe also at corresponding positions on the door, prevent a lateral sliding movement of the door in a direction of the plane of the door, towards and away from the opening.
- the object of the present invention is thus to provide an efficient closing and opening, respectively, of an opening of a storage space, especially a storage space included in a refrigerator or a freezer.
- a door is provided which first is moved in a direction substantially transverse to the plane of the door/opening of the storage space until the rubber seals of the door and the opening have been released from the each other, and thereafter is moved substantially parallelly to the plane of the opening of the storage space.
- These two movements of the door are attained by one and the same movement of the sliding members, in one and the same direction, or by an outer casing which is attached to the sliding members.
- a non-bulky cupboard where the door is not pivoted in order to open and close, respectively, the opening, but is moved substantially parallelly to the plane of the opening, especially a cupboard provided with rubber seals around the opening or on the door, such as a refrigerator.
- a cupboard provided with rubber seals around the opening or on the door, such as a refrigerator.
- the apparatus of the present invention is especially advantageous when for example a refrigerator or a freezer is to be installed in small spaces where a pivo- table door has not enough space to pivot.
- the apparatus is uncomplicated in its structure which provides for an easy and low cost production.
- the guiding means are adapted to guide the door in a direc- tion substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved along a first distance and adapted to guide the door in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved along a second distance.
- the apparatus comprises two guide members and two sliding members, where one of the guide members and one of the sliding members are located on a first side of the opening, and where the other guide member and the other sliding member are located on a second side of the opening which is opposite the first side.
- the sliding member is adapted to be slidably attached to the storage space
- the apparatus comprises first guiding means for guiding the door between a first and a second position in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved, and second guiding means for guiding the door between the second position and a third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved.
- the sliding member is movable between its first position and its second position via an intermediate position
- the apparatus is adapted such that the door is moved from its first position, closed position in which the door closes the opening, to its second position when the sliding member is moved from its first position to its intermediate position, and the door is moved from its second position to its third position, where the door is moved from the opening such that the opening is open, when the sliding member is moved from its intermediate po- sition to its second position.
- the apparatus comprises a first and a second attachment member adapted to be attached to two opposite walls of the storage space on a respective side of the opening, a first sliding member slidably attached to the first attachment member via a first guiding device, a second sliding member slidably attached to the second attachment member via a second guiding device, which guiding devices are adapted to guide the sliding members between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, and a door provided with a first guide member which is attached to the door and provided between the first at- tachment member and the first sliding member, and provided with a second guide member which is attached to the door and provided between the second attachment member and the second sliding member.
- the sliding members and the guide members are provided with the first guiding means for guiding the door between a first and a second position in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding members when the sliding members are moved, and the attachment members and the guide members are provided with said second guiding means for guiding the door between said second position and a third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding members when the sliding members are moved.
- the first guiding means are adapted to move the guide members in relation to the sliding members when the door is moved between its first and its second position.
- the first guiding means are adapted to push the guide members in the direction of movement of the sliding members between the first and second positions of the door.
- the second guiding means comprise stop means for preventing the movement of the guide members in the direction of movement of the sliding members when the door is moved between its first and its second position.
- stop means for preventing the movement of the guide members in the direction of movement of the sliding members when the door is moved between its first and its second position.
- the apparatus comprises four sets of guiding means, where each set comprises one of said first guiding means and one of said second guiding means, where the first and second guiding means of the set preferably are adjacent to each other.
- each set comprises one of said first guiding means and one of said second guiding means, where the first and second guiding means of the set preferably are adjacent to each other.
- the first guiding means comprise a groove and a guide pin cooperating with the groove, where the guide pin has a first and a sec- ond end position in the groove, and the longitudinal extension of the groove forms an angle with the direction of movement of the sliding member and has such a form that when the guide pin is in its first end position, the door is in its first position, and when the guide pin is in its second end position, the door is in its second position.
- the groove of the first guiding means is provided in the sliding member and its guide pin is anchored to the guide member.
- the second guiding means comprise a groove and a guide pin cooperating with the groove, where the guide pin has a first and a second position in the groove, and the groove extends substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the sliding member and has such a form that when the guide pin is in its first position, the door is in its first position, and when the guide pin is in its second position, the door is in its second position, and the groove has such a form that when the guide pin is in its second position, the door can be moved in the direction of movement of the sliding member.
- the groove of the second guiding means is provided in the guide member and its guide pin is anchored to the attachment member.
- the present invention also provides a cupboard as defined in claim 12.
- Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an unassembled first attachment member of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the present in- vention
- Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an unassembled first sliding member of the first embodiment
- Fig. 3 is a schematic view of an unassembled first guide member of the first embodiment
- Fig. 4 is schematic view of the first members in an assembled state
- Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the members of Fig. 4 where they have been moved in relation to each other compared to Fig. 4;
- Fig. 6 shows the section A-A of Fig. 4;
- Fig. 7-8 are perspective views of the first embodiment;
- Fig. 9 shows a section corresponding to the section A-A of Fig. 6, but of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.
- the plane of the door is a substantially vertical plane, and the door is movable up and down in a substantially vertical direction between a lower position, where the door closes the opening of the cupboard, and an upper position where the opening is open.
- Embodiments where the door is movable in a substantially vertical direction between an upper position, where the door closes the opening of the cupboard, and a lower position where the opening is open are also possible. Further, embodiments where the door is laterally movable in a substantially horizontal di- rection, or any other direction, are possible.
- Fig. 1 shows the outside of the apparatus's first attachment member 6, the inside of which is adapted to be attached to the right side wall 10 of a refrigerator 1 , to the right of the opening 2, when viewed into the refrigerator.
- the first attachment member 6 is in the form of a flat profile provided with two guide pins 36a, 36b and provided with a first part 16a of a first guiding device 16 in the form of a guide or rail.
- Fig. 2 shows the outside of the apparatus's first sliding member 14 in the form of a flat profile provided with two recesses 30 which form two grooves 30 which are oblique in relation to the plane of the door 19.
- the backside of the first sliding member is provided with a second part 16b, which is complementary to said first part 16a, of the first guiding device 16 via which the first guiding device is slidably attached to the first attachment member 6, and the guiding device 16 is adapted to guide the first sliding member 14 between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, which for example is provided by a conventional guide or rail.
- Fig. 3 shows the outside of the apparatus's first guide member 20 in the form of a flat profile 20 provided with two guide pins 32 adapted to engage and cooperate with the oblique grooves 30 of the first sliding member 16.
- the first guide member 20 is also provided with an upper and a lower groove 34a, 34b extending substantially transverse to the plane of the door 19, where the upper groove 34a is adapted to engage and cooperate with the upper guide pin 36a of the attachment member 6, and the lower groove 34b is adapted to engage and cooperate with the lower guide pin 36b of the attachment member 6.
- the first guide member 20 is attached to the right vertical side of the door 19.
- the first guide member 20 is also provided with a third groove 50a extending substantially vertically and parallelly to the plane of the door 19, which groove 50a connects to the upper groove 34a, and a vertically extending fourth groove 50b which connects to the lower groove 34b, where the third and fourth grooves 50a, 50b and the upper and lower guide pins 36a, 36b of the attachment member form that part of the second guiding means 26 which guide the door 19 between its second and its third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the first sliding member 14 when the sliding members are moved, where the opening of the refrigerator is open in the third position of the door 19.
- the upper and lower grooves 34a, 34b form stop means 28 for preventing the movement of the first guide member 20 in the direction of movement of the sliding members 14 when the door 19 is moved substantially transversely to the plane of the door 19 between the first and the second position of the door.
- the first guide member 20 is provided between the first attachment member 6 and the first sliding member 14.
- Fig. 4 shows how the first members are assembled, where the first attachment member 6 is farthest in into the plane of the drawing, the first sliding member 14 is farthest out in the plane of the drawing, and the first guide member 20 is situated there between. In Fig.
- the two guide pins 32 of the first guide member are in their first end positions uppermost in the groove 30 of the first sliding mem- ber 14, and the guide pins 36a, 36b of the first attachment member 6 are in respective first position in the respective groove 34a, 34b, whereby the movement of the first guide member 20 in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the door 19, and consequently the movement of the door 19 in its plane, are prevented.
- the door 19 is here in its first position, i.e. closed position where the door 19 closes the opening.
- the first sliding member has been moved a distance upward, and the guide member 20 has been moved from the opening 2, so that the two guide pins 32 of first guide member 20 have been positioned in their respective second end positions in the groove 30 of the first sliding member 14, and the guide pins 36a, 36b of the first attachment member 6 are in their respective second position in respective groove 34a, 34b.
- the guide pins 36a, 36b of the first attachment member 6 are uncovered and the first guide member 20 can now be moved in the direction parallel to the plane of the door 19, and is pushed along when the sliding member 14 is moved further by the cooperation of the two guide pins 32 of the first guide member with the grooves 30 of the first sliding member 14. Since the guide member 20 is attached to the door, the door 19 is consequently moved together with the guide member 20.
- the door is moved in direction which is substantially transverse to the plane of the door 19 from its first position to its second position, while the first sliding member 14 is moved upward and the guide pins leave the first end position in the groove 30 and move towards the second end position in the groove 30.
- the movement of the first guide member 20 in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the door is prevented by means of the upper and lower grooves 34a, 34b of the first guide member 20 and the cooperation with the associated guide pins 36a, 36b, whereby the movement of the door 19 in the direction parallel to the plane of the door 19 is also prevented.
- the guide pins 36a, 36b are uncovered by the grooves 34a, 34b, the first guide member together with the door can be moved in the direction parallel to the plane of the door, more precisely together with the first sliding member.
- FIG. 6 the section A-A of Fig. 4 is schematically shown to illustrate the relationship of the members.
- the apparatus is built up from said first members and supplementary second members 8, 17, 22, the design of which corresponds to the design of the first members 6, 14, 20, but the second members are adapted to be provided at the left side wall 12 of the refrigerator 4 and are mirror-inverted to the first members.
- the apparatus comprises four sets of guiding means, where each set comprises first complementary guiding means 24 and second complementary guiding means 26, where the first and second guiding means 24, 26 of the set are adjacent to each other, and the sets are adjacent to the four corners of the door, and where the first guiding means 24 comprise one of the grooves 30 of the first sliding member and one of the guide pins 32 of the guide member, and where the second guiding means 26 comprise the grooves 34a and 50a, or the grooves 34b and 50b, of the guide member, and one of the guide pins 36a, 36b of the attachment member.
- Each sliding member is provided with an outer attachment element 52 to which an outer casing 54 can be attached.
- the casing 52 which is manoeuvred by the user, whereby the sliding members are moved.
- This casing can be easily exchanged and replaced, or be designed in different ways, and the only features which the casing needs are attachment elements 56 which are complementary to the outer attachment elements 52 of the sliding members.
- Figs. 7 and 8 show in perspective the apparatus provided with the casing 54 having a handle 60 which is manoeuvred by the user.
- the opening 2 of the storage space is closed by the door 19 of the apparatus and covered by the casing 54, and in Fig. 8, the opening 2 of the storage space is open.
- the apparatus is advantageously provided with spring means, snap locking means, decelerating means, or the like, to promote that the door is maintained in its first and its third position, respectively, and such that these two positions are entered softly and with a decelerating effect.
- the direction of movement of the sliding members 14, 17 extend substantially parallel to the plane in which the opening 2 of the storage space lies.
- FIG. 9 there is shown a section corresponding to the section A-A of Fig. 6, but with other attachment elements 72 to be attached to another type of casing 70.
- Said guide pins can advantageously be provided with guide blocks/guide elements attached to respective pin, on one of the sides, or on both sides of a member 6, 8, 14, 17, 20, 22, to keep the members at a correct lateral distance from each other (when viewed into the storage space of the refrigerator).
- These guide elements have dimensions which are larger that the cross-section of the pin and extend over the surface of the respective member.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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Abstract
An apparatus for closing an opening (2) of a storage space (4), such as a storage space (4) of a refrigerator, e.g. The apparatus comprises at least one sliding member (14, 17) slidable between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, a door (19) movable in relation to the sliding member (14, 17) and adapted to close the opening (2), and guiding means (24, 26) for guiding the door in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member (14, 17) when the sliding member (14, 17) is moved and in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member (14, 17) when the sliding member (14, 17) is moved. A cupboard (1) having a storage space (4) provided with an opening (2), the cupboard (1) being provided with said apparatus for closing the opening (2).
Description
A DEVICE FOR CLOSING AN OPENING OF A STORAGE SPACE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for closing an opening of a storage space, especially a cupboard, preferably a refrigerator, a freezer or a minibar, provided with rubber seals around said opening, or other spaces which need to be tightly sealed from the surrounding. The apparatus comprises at least one sliding member slidable between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, and a door adapted to close the opening. Further, the present invention relates to a cupboard having a storage space provided with an opening, where the cupboard is provided with at least one apparatus for closing the opening.
Background of the Invention
In numerous locations, the refrigerators of today are far too bulky and take too much space. To a large extent, the reason for this is that the refrigerators include pivotable doors which require a space to pivot. If the refrigerator is to be in- stalled in a room having a limited space, such as a hotel room, it is important that the refrigerator does not occupy too much space. One way of solving this problem is to provide the refrigerator with a slidable door instead of a pivotable door. However, the rubber seals which are provided around the opening of the refrigerator, and maybe also at corresponding positions on the door, prevent a lateral sliding movement of the door in a direction of the plane of the door, towards and away from the opening.
The Object of the Invention
The object of the present invention is thus to provide an efficient closing and opening, respectively, of an opening of a storage space, especially a storage space included in a refrigerator or a freezer.
Summary of the Invention
The above-mentioned object of the present invention is attained by providing an apparatus of the kind mentioned in the introductory part of the description, having the features which are mentioned in the characterizing portion of claim 1. By the apparatus according to the present invention, a door is provided which first is moved in a direction substantially transverse to the plane of the door/opening of the storage space until the rubber seals of the door and the
opening have been released from the each other, and thereafter is moved substantially parallelly to the plane of the opening of the storage space. These two movements of the door are attained by one and the same movement of the sliding members, in one and the same direction, or by an outer casing which is attached to the sliding members.
By the present invention, a non-bulky cupboard is provided where the door is not pivoted in order to open and close, respectively, the opening, but is moved substantially parallelly to the plane of the opening, especially a cupboard provided with rubber seals around the opening or on the door, such as a refrigerator. There is a minimal wear of the rubber seals, when the door is moved transverse to the opening a certain distance before the door is moved in a plane parallel to the plane of the plane of the opening, which results in that the rubber seals, which are attached to the door or around the opening, do not slide against any opposite surface. The apparatus of the present invention is especially advantageous when for example a refrigerator or a freezer is to be installed in small spaces where a pivo- table door has not enough space to pivot. The apparatus is uncomplicated in its structure which provides for an easy and low cost production.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the guiding means are adapted to guide the door in a direc- tion substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved along a first distance and adapted to guide the door in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved along a second distance.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus comprises two guide members and two sliding members, where one of the guide members and one of the sliding members are located on a first side of the opening, and where the other guide member and the other sliding member are located on a second side of the opening which is opposite the first side. Hereby, a more efficient closing and opening, respectively, of the opening is attained, since a stable and steady mounting of the door to the storage space is attained.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the sliding member is adapted to be slidably attached to the storage space, and the apparatus comprises first guiding means for guiding
the door between a first and a second position in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved, and second guiding means for guiding the door between the second position and a third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member when the sliding member is moved. Hereby, an easy and uncomplicated guidance of the door is provided.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the sliding member is movable between its first position and its second position via an intermediate position, and the apparatus is adapted such that the door is moved from its first position, closed position in which the door closes the opening, to its second position when the sliding member is moved from its first position to its intermediate position, and the door is moved from its second position to its third position, where the door is moved from the opening such that the opening is open, when the sliding member is moved from its intermediate po- sition to its second position.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus comprises a first and a second attachment member adapted to be attached to two opposite walls of the storage space on a respective side of the opening, a first sliding member slidably attached to the first attachment member via a first guiding device, a second sliding member slidably attached to the second attachment member via a second guiding device, which guiding devices are adapted to guide the sliding members between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, and a door provided with a first guide member which is attached to the door and provided between the first at- tachment member and the first sliding member, and provided with a second guide member which is attached to the door and provided between the second attachment member and the second sliding member. The sliding members and the guide members are provided with the first guiding means for guiding the door between a first and a second position in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding members when the sliding members are moved, and the attachment members and the guide members are provided with said second guiding means for guiding the door between said second position and a third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding members when the sliding members are moved.
According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the first guiding means are adapted to move the guide members in relation to the sliding members when the door is moved between its first and its second position. According to still another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the first guiding means are adapted to push the guide members in the direction of movement of the sliding members between the first and second positions of the door.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the second guiding means comprise stop means for preventing the movement of the guide members in the direction of movement of the sliding members when the door is moved between its first and its second position. Hereby, the sliding of the rubber seals on the door or around the opening against opposite surfaces is prevented, and the wear of the rubber seals is consequently prevented.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus comprises four sets of guiding means, where each set comprises one of said first guiding means and one of said second guiding means, where the first and second guiding means of the set preferably are adjacent to each other. Hereby, a stable and steady guidance and mounting of the door is provided.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the first guiding means comprise a groove and a guide pin cooperating with the groove, where the guide pin has a first and a sec- ond end position in the groove, and the longitudinal extension of the groove forms an angle with the direction of movement of the sliding member and has such a form that when the guide pin is in its first end position, the door is in its first position, and when the guide pin is in its second end position, the door is in its second position. According to still another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the groove of the first guiding means is provided in the sliding member and its guide pin is anchored to the guide member.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the second guiding means comprise a groove and a
guide pin cooperating with the groove, where the guide pin has a first and a second position in the groove, and the groove extends substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the sliding member and has such a form that when the guide pin is in its first position, the door is in its first position, and when the guide pin is in its second position, the door is in its second position, and the groove has such a form that when the guide pin is in its second position, the door can be moved in the direction of movement of the sliding member.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the groove of the second guiding means is provided in the guide member and its guide pin is anchored to the attachment member.
Advantageous embodiments and positive effects of the apparatus according to the present invention emerge from the detailed description of embodiments.
The present invention also provides a cupboard as defined in claim 12.
Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an unassembled first attachment member of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the present in- vention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an unassembled first sliding member of the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of an unassembled first guide member of the first embodiment; Fig. 4 is schematic view of the first members in an assembled state;
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the members of Fig. 4 where they have been moved in relation to each other compared to Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows the section A-A of Fig. 4; Fig. 7-8 are perspective views of the first embodiment; and Fig. 9 shows a section corresponding to the section A-A of Fig. 6, but of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
In this detailed description, an embodiment is disclosed where the plane of the door is a substantially vertical plane, and the door is movable up and down in a substantially vertical direction between a lower position, where the door closes the opening of the cupboard, and an upper position where the opening is open.
Embodiments where the door is movable in a substantially vertical direction between an upper position, where the door closes the opening of the cupboard, and a lower position where the opening is open are also possible. Further, embodiments where the door is laterally movable in a substantially horizontal di- rection, or any other direction, are possible.
Fig. 1 shows the outside of the apparatus's first attachment member 6, the inside of which is adapted to be attached to the right side wall 10 of a refrigerator 1 , to the right of the opening 2, when viewed into the refrigerator. The first attachment member 6 is in the form of a flat profile provided with two guide pins 36a, 36b and provided with a first part 16a of a first guiding device 16 in the form of a guide or rail.
Fig. 2 shows the outside of the apparatus's first sliding member 14 in the form of a flat profile provided with two recesses 30 which form two grooves 30 which are oblique in relation to the plane of the door 19. The backside of the first sliding member is provided with a second part 16b, which is complementary to said first part 16a, of the first guiding device 16 via which the first guiding device is slidably attached to the first attachment member 6, and the guiding device 16 is adapted to guide the first sliding member 14 between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, which for example is provided by a conventional guide or rail.
Fig. 3 shows the outside of the apparatus's first guide member 20 in the form of a flat profile 20 provided with two guide pins 32 adapted to engage and cooperate with the oblique grooves 30 of the first sliding member 16. The first guide member 20 is also provided with an upper and a lower groove 34a, 34b extending substantially transverse to the plane of the door 19, where the upper groove 34a is adapted to engage and cooperate with the upper guide pin 36a of the attachment member 6, and the lower groove 34b is adapted to engage and cooperate with the lower guide pin 36b of the attachment member 6. The first guide member 20 is attached to the right vertical side of the door 19. The first guide member 20 is also
provided with a third groove 50a extending substantially vertically and parallelly to the plane of the door 19, which groove 50a connects to the upper groove 34a, and a vertically extending fourth groove 50b which connects to the lower groove 34b, where the third and fourth grooves 50a, 50b and the upper and lower guide pins 36a, 36b of the attachment member form that part of the second guiding means 26 which guide the door 19 between its second and its third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the first sliding member 14 when the sliding members are moved, where the opening of the refrigerator is open in the third position of the door 19. The upper and lower grooves 34a, 34b form stop means 28 for preventing the movement of the first guide member 20 in the direction of movement of the sliding members 14 when the door 19 is moved substantially transversely to the plane of the door 19 between the first and the second position of the door. The first guide member 20 is provided between the first attachment member 6 and the first sliding member 14. Fig. 4 shows how the first members are assembled, where the first attachment member 6 is farthest in into the plane of the drawing, the first sliding member 14 is farthest out in the plane of the drawing, and the first guide member 20 is situated there between. In Fig. 4, the two guide pins 32 of the first guide member are in their first end positions uppermost in the groove 30 of the first sliding mem- ber 14, and the guide pins 36a, 36b of the first attachment member 6 are in respective first position in the respective groove 34a, 34b, whereby the movement of the first guide member 20 in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the door 19, and consequently the movement of the door 19 in its plane, are prevented. The door 19 is here in its first position, i.e. closed position where the door 19 closes the opening.
In Fig. 5, the first sliding member has been moved a distance upward, and the guide member 20 has been moved from the opening 2, so that the two guide pins 32 of first guide member 20 have been positioned in their respective second end positions in the groove 30 of the first sliding member 14, and the guide pins 36a, 36b of the first attachment member 6 are in their respective second position in respective groove 34a, 34b. The guide pins 36a, 36b of the first attachment member 6 are uncovered and the first guide member 20 can now be moved in the direction parallel to the plane of the door 19, and is pushed along when the sliding member 14 is moved further by the cooperation of the two guide pins 32 of the first
guide member with the grooves 30 of the first sliding member 14. Since the guide member 20 is attached to the door, the door 19 is consequently moved together with the guide member 20.
By the oblique form of the grooves 30 and their cooperation with the guide pins 32 of the guide member, the door is moved in direction which is substantially transverse to the plane of the door 19 from its first position to its second position, while the first sliding member 14 is moved upward and the guide pins leave the first end position in the groove 30 and move towards the second end position in the groove 30. Before the guide pins reach the second end position in the groove 30 of the first sliding member, the movement of the first guide member 20 in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the door is prevented by means of the upper and lower grooves 34a, 34b of the first guide member 20 and the cooperation with the associated guide pins 36a, 36b, whereby the movement of the door 19 in the direction parallel to the plane of the door 19 is also prevented. When the guide pins 36a, 36b are uncovered by the grooves 34a, 34b, the first guide member together with the door can be moved in the direction parallel to the plane of the door, more precisely together with the first sliding member.
In Fig. 6, the section A-A of Fig. 4 is schematically shown to illustrate the relationship of the members. Here it is shown that the apparatus is built up from said first members and supplementary second members 8, 17, 22, the design of which corresponds to the design of the first members 6, 14, 20, but the second members are adapted to be provided at the left side wall 12 of the refrigerator 4 and are mirror-inverted to the first members.
The apparatus comprises four sets of guiding means, where each set comprises first complementary guiding means 24 and second complementary guiding means 26, where the first and second guiding means 24, 26 of the set are adjacent to each other, and the sets are adjacent to the four corners of the door, and where the first guiding means 24 comprise one of the grooves 30 of the first sliding member and one of the guide pins 32 of the guide member, and where the second guiding means 26 comprise the grooves 34a and 50a, or the grooves 34b and 50b, of the guide member, and one of the guide pins 36a, 36b of the attachment member.
Each sliding member is provided with an outer attachment element 52 to which an outer casing 54 can be attached. When using the apparatus, it is thus the
casing 52 which is manoeuvred by the user, whereby the sliding members are moved. This casing can be easily exchanged and replaced, or be designed in different ways, and the only features which the casing needs are attachment elements 56 which are complementary to the outer attachment elements 52 of the sliding members.
Figs. 7 and 8 show in perspective the apparatus provided with the casing 54 having a handle 60 which is manoeuvred by the user. In Fig. 7, the opening 2 of the storage space is closed by the door 19 of the apparatus and covered by the casing 54, and in Fig. 8, the opening 2 of the storage space is open. The apparatus is advantageously provided with spring means, snap locking means, decelerating means, or the like, to promote that the door is maintained in its first and its third position, respectively, and such that these two positions are entered softly and with a decelerating effect. The direction of movement of the sliding members 14, 17 extend substantially parallel to the plane in which the opening 2 of the storage space lies.
In Fig. 9, there is shown a section corresponding to the section A-A of Fig. 6, but with other attachment elements 72 to be attached to another type of casing 70.
Said guide pins can advantageously be provided with guide blocks/guide elements attached to respective pin, on one of the sides, or on both sides of a member 6, 8, 14, 17, 20, 22, to keep the members at a correct lateral distance from each other (when viewed into the storage space of the refrigerator). These guide elements have dimensions which are larger that the cross-section of the pin and extend over the surface of the respective member.
Claims
1. An apparatus for closing an opening (2) of a storage space (4), such as a storage space (4) of a refrigerator, the apparatus comprising at least one sliding member (14, 17) slidable between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, and a door (19) adapted to close the opening (2), characterized in that the door (19) is movable in relation to the sliding member (14, 17), and in that the apparatus comprises guiding means (24, 26) for guiding the door in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member (14, 17) when the sliding member (14, 17) is moved and in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member (14, 17) when the sliding member (14, 17) is moved.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sliding member (14, 17) is adapted to be slidably attached to the storage space (4), and in that the apparatus comprises first guiding means (24) for guiding the door between a first and a second position in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the sliding member (14, 17) when the sliding member (14, 17) is moved, and second guiding means (26) for guiding the door between the second position and a third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding member (14, 17) when the sliding member (14, 17) is moved.
3 An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a first and a second attachment member (6, 8) adapted to be attached to two opposite walls (10, 12) of the storage space (4) on a respective side of the opening (2), a first sliding member (14) slidably attached to the first attachment member (6) via a first guiding device (16), a second sliding member (17) slidably attached to the second attachment member (8) via a second guiding device (18), which guiding devices (16, 18) are adapted to guide the sliding members (14, 17) between a first and a second position in a direction of movement, and a door (19) provided with a first guide member (20) which is attached to the door (19) and provided between the first attachment member (6) and the first sliding member (14), and provided with a second guide member (22) which is attached to the door (19) and provided between the second attachment member (8) and the second sliding member (17), the sliding members (14, 17) and the guide members (20, 22) being provided with the first guiding means (24) for guiding the door between a first and a second position in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of move- ment of the sliding members (14, 17) when the sliding members (14, 17) are moved, and the attachment members (6, 8) and the guide members (20, 22) are provided with said second guiding means (26) for guiding the door between said second position and a third position in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding members (14, 17) when the sliding members (14, 17) are moved.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the first guiding means (24) are adapted to move the guide members (20, 22) in relation to the sliding members (14, 17) when the door (19) is moved between its first and its second position.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first guiding means (24) are adapted to push the guide members (20, 22) in the direction of movement of the sliding members (14, 17) between the first and second positions of the door (19).
6. An apparatus according to any of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the second guiding means (26) comprise stop means (28) for preventing the movement of the guide members (20, 22) in the direction of movement of the slid- ing members (14, 17) when the door (19) is moved between its first and its second position.
7. An apparatus according to any of the claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the apparatus comprises four sets of guiding means, where each set com- prises one of said first guiding means (24) and one of said second guiding means (26), where the first and second guiding means (24, 26) of the set preferably are adjacent to each other.
8. An apparatus according to any of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the first guiding means (24) comprise a groove (30) and a guide pin (32) cooperating with the groove (30), where the guide pin (32) has a first and a second end position in the groove, and the longitudinal extension of the groove (30) forms an angle with the direction of movement of the sliding member and has such a form that when the guide pin (32) is in its first end position, the door (19) is in its first position, and when the guide pin (32) is in its second end position, the door (19) is in its second position.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the groove (30) of the first guiding means (24) is provided in the sliding member and its guide pin (32) is anchored to the guide member (20).
10. An apparatus according to any of the claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the second guiding means (26) comprise a groove (34a, 34b) and a guide pin (36a, 36b) cooperating with the groove (34a, 34b), where the guide pin (36a, 36b) has a first and a second position in the groove (34a, 34b), and the groove (34a, 34b) extends substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the sliding member and has such a form that when the guide pin (36a, 36b) is in its first posi- tion, the door (19) is in its first position, and when the guide pin (36a, 36b) is in its second position, the door (19) is in its second position, and the groove (34a, 34b) has such a form that when the guide pin (36a, 36b) is in its second position, the door (19) can be moved in the direction of movement of the sliding member.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the groove (34) of the second guiding means (26) is provided in the guide member and its guide pin (36) is anchored to the attachment member.
12. A cupboard (1) having a storage space (4) provided with an opening (2), the cupboard (1) being provided with at least one apparatus for closing the opening (2), characterized in that the apparatus comprises the features which are mentioned in any of the claims 1 to 11.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE0701787 | 2007-07-26 | ||
| SE0701787-4 | 2007-07-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2009014489A1 true WO2009014489A1 (en) | 2009-01-29 |
Family
ID=40281591
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SE2008/050888 WO2009014489A1 (en) | 2007-07-26 | 2008-07-23 | A device for closing an opening of a storage space |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2009014489A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11035163B2 (en) | 2019-10-03 | 2021-06-15 | Bsh Home Appliances Corporation | Movable front panel for home appliance |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2463250A (en) * | 1943-11-16 | 1949-03-01 | Philco Corp | Refrigerator |
| US2701896A (en) * | 1951-04-24 | 1955-02-15 | Chase Blum | Vertical sliding access door |
| US2737781A (en) * | 1954-01-18 | 1956-03-13 | Gen Motors Corp | Refrigerating apparatus with vertically slidable door means |
| FR1248670A (en) * | 1959-01-23 | 1960-12-23 | Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh | Sliding door refrigeration cabinet |
| GB2096298A (en) * | 1981-02-09 | 1982-10-13 | Bipol Ltd | Refrigerator or cooler cabinets suitable for use on railroad trains |
| US20070251519A1 (en) * | 2006-04-27 | 2007-11-01 | General Electric Company | Vertical lift door assembly for an appliance |
-
2008
- 2008-07-23 WO PCT/SE2008/050888 patent/WO2009014489A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2463250A (en) * | 1943-11-16 | 1949-03-01 | Philco Corp | Refrigerator |
| US2701896A (en) * | 1951-04-24 | 1955-02-15 | Chase Blum | Vertical sliding access door |
| US2737781A (en) * | 1954-01-18 | 1956-03-13 | Gen Motors Corp | Refrigerating apparatus with vertically slidable door means |
| FR1248670A (en) * | 1959-01-23 | 1960-12-23 | Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh | Sliding door refrigeration cabinet |
| GB2096298A (en) * | 1981-02-09 | 1982-10-13 | Bipol Ltd | Refrigerator or cooler cabinets suitable for use on railroad trains |
| US20070251519A1 (en) * | 2006-04-27 | 2007-11-01 | General Electric Company | Vertical lift door assembly for an appliance |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11035163B2 (en) | 2019-10-03 | 2021-06-15 | Bsh Home Appliances Corporation | Movable front panel for home appliance |
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