WO2009083357A2

WO2009083357A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2009083357A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/066378
Authority: WO
Inventors: Resul Yavuz; Sati Mutlu; Ridvan Celik
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-12-28
Filing date: 2008-11-27
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: WO2009083357A3; TR201005131T1; WO2009083357A9

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) that comprises a holder (5) used selectively for supporting or for holding bottles (B) and foldable under the shelf (4) whereto it is attached when not in use and occupying the least space required for usage in all the three positions.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a holder that can be used as a shelf or a bottle holder.

[0002] In cooling devices, shelves of various shapes and numbers are provided inside the body and positioned at various levels whereon items to be cooled are stored. Moreover, bottle holders, produced as a single piece with the shelves or are mounted on the shelves afterwards for particularly storing the bottles safely.

[0003] The bottle holders used particularly for the purpose of holding soda bottles and tin cans are designed for storing the bottle suspended by partially surrounding from the neck.

[0004] In the state of the art German Patent No DE19604621 and, the United

States of America patent no US5358128, a bottle holder is described that is disposed preferably on the door in the cooling device wherein the bottles can be placed or removed from the slots thereof.

[0005] However, the bottle holders thus designed for holding bottles cannot be used for another purpose, and the space occupied by the bottle holder creates a dead zone if bottles are not wanted to be stored therein. In order to make use of this dead zone, the bottle holders, when not in use, are moved in various ways by folding, sliding and/or inserting into one another for minimizing the dead zone thereby enabling at least some portion of the area occupied by the bottle holder to be used for other purposes.

[0006] In another state of the art implementation, the Japanese Patent document no JP8100987, a bottle hanger is described disposed in the cooling device preferably inside the door, wherein the place, position and pocket can be adjusted, wherein the bottles can be loaded or unloaded in the pockets thereof.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device that comprises a holder used selectively for storing bottles or storage containers as desired and entirely closed when not in use.

[0008] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises at least one holder mounted under the shelf. [0009] The holder comprises at least two scissors arranged opposite to one another, having two arms connected to each other to be movable in a scissor motion, beared on the shelf from the upper ends thereof,

- at least one connector connecting the said two scissors to move together while the free ends of the opposite arms open and close and

- a retainer mounted on the connector, pivoted along one side thereof. [0010] The holder can be changed to 3 different positions, being the open position, intermediate position and the closed position by moving the retainer together with the arms or by itself.

[0011] The arms are in the diagonal position when the holder is in the open position. The retainer stands almost parallel to the shelf between the lower ends of the arms such that a support surface is formed.

[0012] The holder is changed to the intermediate position by sliding the ends of the arms beared on the shelf, moving away from each other. In this position, the retainer is almost vertical to the shelf and the bottles are placed on the holder suspended from their necks.

[0013] The holder is changed to the closed position by folding under the shelf.

[0014] The retainer in the intermediate position comprises at least one hanger wherefrom the bottles are suspended. The bottle placed into the hanger from the neck is supported from both sides and the lid being wider than the neck is seated on the retainer, thus the bottle is stored suspended from the retainer.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the retainer is configured by wires disposed at certain intervals. A hanger is situated between two adjacent wires.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the holder furthermore comprises at least one stopper that prevents the retainer from moving downwards by the weight of the item placed thereon in the open position. Thus the items placed on the retainer can be stored safely.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the holder comprises two connectors. In this embodiment, at least one of the connectors serves as a barrier for the items placed on the retainer when the holder is in the open position and helps the arms to be attached under the shelf when the holder is in the intermediate or closed position. [0018] By means of the present invention, a holder that can be used as a bottle holder can be easily converted to a shelf by the user for storing flat based items. Accordingly, the dead zones inside the cooling device are reduced and the interior volume of the cooling device can be utilized efficiently. [0019] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0020] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the cooling device. [0021] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the open position. [0022] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the intermediate position. [0023] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the closed position. [0024] Figure 5 - is the sideways schematic view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the open position. [0025] Figure 6 - is the sideways schematic view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the intermediate position. [0026] Figure 7 - is the sideways schematic view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the closed position.

[0027] Figure 8 - is the schematic view of detail A in Figure 6. [0028] Figure 9 - is the sideways schematic view of the shelf and the holder when the holder is in the intermediate position in another embodiment of the present invention. [0029] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Door

4. Shelf

5. Holder

6. Retainer

7. Scissor 8. Arm

9. Connector

10. Hanger

11. Stopper

12. Head

13. Leaning member

[0030] The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2) wherein items to be cooled are stored, at least one door (3) allowing access into the body (2), at least one shelf (4) in the door (3) and/or the body (2) whereon items to be stored are placed and at least one holder (5) mounted under the shelf (4) (Figure 1).

[0031] The holder (5) comprises at least two scissors (7) arranged oppositely, having two arms (8) connected to each other to be movable in a scissor motion, beared by the shelf (4) under which they are attached, at least one connector (9) connecting the said two scissors (7) to move together while the free ends of the opposite arms (8) are opening and closing and a retainer (6) mounted on the connector (9), pivoted along one side thereof.

[0032] The holder (5) can be changed to 3 different positions, which are:

- an open position (I) wherein the arms (8) are diagonal and the retainer (6) is almost parallel to the shelf (4) between the lower ends of the arms (8) and supporting the items placed thereon (Figures 2 and 5),

- an intermediate position (II) from the open position (I) when the ends of the arms (8) bearing on the shelf (4) slide to move away from each other and become parallel, the retainer (6) being almost vertical to the shelf (4) and whereby the bottles (B) can be placed on the retainer (6) suspended from their necks (Figures 3 and 6) and

- a closed position (III) wherein the retainer (6) is folded over the arms (8) under the shelf (4) (Figures 4 and 7).

[0033] The arms (8), when in the diagonal position, close by scissor movement to change to the intermediate position (II). During this movement, the point whereby the arms (8) are attached to each other rise towards the underside of the shelf (4). In this position, the retainer (6) mounted to the connector (9) on the free ends of the arms (8), moves together with the arm (8), changing from the horizontal position to the vertical position.

[0034] The retainer (6) comprises at least one hanger (10) wherefrom the bottles (B) are hung by their necks in the intermediate position (II) (Figure 9).

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the retainer (6) is configured of wires such that hangers (10) are disposed therebetween (Figure 3).

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the holder (5) furthermore comprises at least one stopper (11) that prevents the retainer (6) from moving downwards by the weight of the item placed thereon in the open position (I) or in the intermediate position (II).

[0037] In a version of this embodiment, the stopper (11) comprises a head (12) with the lower quarter shaped like a cornered cylinder, disposed on the retainer (6), at the point of attachment to the connector (9), and a leaning member (13) situated on the connector (9), whereto the cornered portion of the head (12) leans against in the open position (I), preventing thereof from turning (Figure 8).

[0038] When the retainer (6) is desired to be turned upwards to be folded under the shelf (4) for changing the holder (5) from the intermediate position (II) to the closed position (III), the circular surface of the head (12) turns on the leaning member (13), that is the stopper (11) does not prevent the rotational motion of the retainer (6) (Figure 6 and 7).

[0039] However, as the holder (5) is changed from the intermediate position (II) to the open position (I), the cornered portion of the head (12) leans against the leaning member (13) due to its shape. Thus, the retainer (6) does not rotate around the point of attachment to the connector (9) but, turns together with the connector (9) whereon it is mounted and changes from the vertical position to the horizontal position and forms a support surface (Figures 5 and 6).

[0040] The retainer (6) whereon items are placed when in the open position (I) is prevented from leaving the horizontal position by means of the head (12) leaning on the leaning member (13). Thus, the items placed on the retainer (6) in the open position (I) can be safely stored (Figure 5).

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the connectors (9) serves as a barrier for the items placed on the retainer (6) when the holder (5) is in the open position (I) and helps in attaching the arms (8) under the shelf (4) when the holder (5) is in the intermediate position (II) or the closed position (III) (Figures 2 to 4). In this embodiment, the connector (9) is attached under the shelf (4) close-fittingly or by an element such as a latch.

[0042] In this embodiment, the connector (9) bends upwards from the ends of the arms (8) joined to extend towards the shelf (4) when at least partially in the intermediate position (II) or in the closed position (III). By means of this bend, the connector (9) forms a barrier to prevent the items placed on the retainer (6) from falling when the holder (5) is changed to the open position

(I)-

[0043] By means of the present invention, a cooling device (1) is designed comprising a holder (5) used selectively for supporting or for holding bottles (B) and foldable under the shelf (4) whereto it is attached when not in use and occupying the least space required for usage in all the three positions, consequently the user is provided with the opportunity to utilize the interior volume of the cooling device most efficiently in accordance with requests.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2) wherein items to be cooled are stored, at least one door (3) allowing access into the body (2), at least one shelf (4) in the door (3) and/or the body (2) whereon items to be stored are placed and at least one holder (5) mounted under the shelf (4) and characterized by a holder (5) having at least two scissors (7) arranged oppositely, having two arms (8) connected to each other to be movable in a scissor motion, beared from the upper ends thereof by the shelf (4) where under they are attached, at least one connector (9) connecting the said two scissors (7) to move together while the free ends of the opposite arms (8) are opening and closing and a retainer (6) mounted on the connector (9) pivoted along one side thereof,

- having an open position (I) wherein the arms (8) are diagonal and the retainer (6) is almost parallel to the shelf (4) between the lower ends of the arms (8) and supporting the items placed thereon,

- the intermediate position (II) from the open position (I) when the ends of the arms (8) bearing on the shelf (4) slide to move away from each other and become parallel, the retainer (6) being almost vertical to the shelf (4) and whereby the bottles (B) can be placed on the retainer (6) suspended from their necks and

- a closed position (III) wherein the retainer (6) is folded over the arms (8) under the shelf (4)

2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a retainer (6) comprising at least one hanger (10) wherefrom the bottles (B) are hung from their necks in the intermediate position (II).

3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a retainer (6) configured of wires such that hangers (10) are disposed therebetween.

4. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a holder (5) comprising at least one stopper (11) that prevents the retainer (6) from moving downwards by the weight of the item placed thereon in the open position (I) or in the intermediate position (II).

5. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a stopper (11) comprising a head (12) with the lower quarter shaped like a cornered cylinder, disposed on the retainer (6), at the point of attachment to the connector (9), and a leaning member (13) situated on the connector (9), whereto the cornered portion of the head (12) leans against in the open position (I), preventing thereof from turning.

6. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one connector (9) serving as a barrier for the items placed on the retainer (6) when the holder (5) is in the open position (I) and helps in attaching the arms (8) under the shelf (4) when the holder (5) is in the intermediate position (II) or in the closed position (III).