WO2010076202A1

WO2010076202A1 - A cooling device comprising an egg tray

Info

Publication number: WO2010076202A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/067230
Authority: WO
Inventors: Celal Vatansever; Nihat Gunduz
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2009-12-15
Publication date: 2010-07-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising an egg tray (2) which is used for storing eggs inside the cooling device (1) and the size of which can be changed according to the number of eggs to be stored.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING AN EGG TRAY

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising an egg tray.

[0002] Cooling devices, preferably refrigerators comprise egg trays which provide eggs to be stored by being disposed therein. Determination of the volume occupied by the egg trays, which are preferably disposed to the door shelves of the refrigerator, on the shelf according to the number of eggs is of importance in terms of the effective use of the shelf. In the state of the art, egg trays, the size of which can be changed according to the number of eggs to be stored, are present. However, during the increasing and decreasing of the size of the egg tray, the problem of unloading the eggs loaded thereon and following the size-changing process, reloading the eggs thereon is caused.

[0003] In the state of the art International Patent Application No WO200050829, an egg tray, which is produced in compliance with the shape of an egg in order that the eggs can be stored in the refrigerator shelf in a certain order without being broken and which consists of two pieces, is described. In the embodiment of the present invention, by placing one of the pieces into the shelf one above the other and by pulling the upper egg tray towards the empty section of the shelf, the egg trays are provided to move on each other and to receive desired number of eggs in compliance with their egg capacity by changing the length of the egg tray.

[0004] In another state of the art International Patent Application No

WO2007054924, a cooling device, which comprises an egg tray providing emplacement of the eggs on them, that can be used separately or by being inserted into each other, is described.

[0005] However, in these state of the art embodiments, when one piece of the egg tray is loaded, it is not possible to increase the capacity of the egg tray by moving the other piece.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising an egg tray, the size of which can be changed in order to store the desired number of eggs.

[0007] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0008] The cooling device of the present invention comprises an egg tray. The egg tray comprises a main carrier which has one or more loading holes whereon eggs are loaded, and one or more auxiliary carriers which are disposed one over the other with the main carrier, and which can be brought to the passive position by being slid under or over the main carrier even when all the loading holes on the main carrier are loaded with eggs, and which can be brought to the loading position from the passive position even when all the loading holes on the main carrier are loaded with eggs. Thus, even when the main carrier is loaded with eggs, the egg carrying capacity of the egg tray is easily increased or decreased without requiring the eggs to be unloaded.

[0009] The auxiliary carrier comprises cavities whereon eggs can be disposed in the loading position, whereto it is brought by being slid, and which does not prevent eggs from being loaded onto the main carrier by overlapping with the loading holes in the passive position, whereto it is brought by being slid under or over the main carrier. The cavities are U-shaped with one side open. Since the open side of the cavities is closed by the edge of the main carrier when the auxiliary carrier is brought to the loading position, the cavities acquire the function of a loading hole. Since one side of the cavities is open, the auxiliary carrier is passed to the loading position or to the passive position independently of the main carrier being loaded with eggs.

[0010] The main carrier comprises a carrying surface, whereon the loading holes are located, and two legs which extend vertically to the ground at the two opposite edges of the carrying surface. The auxiliary carrier comprises a carrying surface, whereon the cavities are located, and two legs which are adjacent to two edges of the carrying surface of the auxiliary carrier and when the auxiliary carrier is in the passive position, which extend parallel to the legs of the mam carrier.

[0011] The main carrier comprises arcuate shaped cut-outs that are located at the edge of the carrying surface and that correspond to the U-shaped cavities, which are located on the carrying surface of the auxiliary carrier and one side of which are open, when the auxiliary carrier is brought to the loading position and thus, that complete the cavities almost to a circle. Thus, when the auxiliary carrier is brought to the loading position, the eggs loaded on the cavities are provided to be carried in a balanced manner.

[0012] The egg tray comprises a guiding means having two slides on the two inner walls, that oppositely face each other, of the main carrier legs, and two protrusions, which provide the auxiliary carrier to make a sliding movement in the mam carrier by being inserted to the slides, on the outer walls of the auxiliary carrier legs. By means of the guiding means, the auxiliary carrier is provided to be disposed into the main carrier.

[0013] The egg tray, furthermore, comprises a stopping means which prevents the main carrier and the auxiliary carrier from being detached from each other when the main carrier and the auxiliary carrier are fastened to each other by being inserted into each other. By means of the stopping means, when the auxiliary carrier is brought to the loading position, the egg tray is provided to stand rigidly and the auxiliary carrier is provided to carry the eggs, which are loaded thereon, in a balanced manner.

[0014] The stopping means comprises a channel which is located on the carrying surface of the main carrier, between two loading holes, a hole which is located on the carrying surface of the auxiliary carrier and which corresponds to the end of the channel when the auxiliary carrier is inserted into the main carrier, and a pin which provides the main carrier and the auxiliary carrier to be held together by being seated into the end of the channel and into the hole that overlap with each other when the auxiliary carrier is in the passive position. During the passing of the auxiliary carrier to the loading position, the pin moves in the channel and terminates the movement of the auxiliary carrier by leaning against the end of the channel.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the egg tray comprises a mam carrier, an auxiliary carrier which passes into the main carrier, and another auxiliary carrier which passes into the auxiliary carrier. Thus, when all auxiliary carriers are brought to the loading position, the egg carrying capacity of the egg tray is increased. [0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the egg tray comprises a main carrier and two auxiliary carriers each, which, when brought to the loading position, are oppositely inserted into the main carrier such that they will be at the two opposite sides of the main carrier. By disposing totally four auxiliary carriers to the two opposite sides of the main carrier in groups of two, the egg carrying capacity of the egg tray is increased.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the main carrier comprises more than two loading holes which are arranged side by side and which extend vertically to the sliding direction of the auxiliary carrier.

[0018] By means of the present invention, when the main carrier is loaded with eggs, the egg carrying capacity of the egg tray is increased or decreased by bringing the auxiliary carrier to the loading position or to the passive position without requiring the eggs to be unloaded.

[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 a cooling device.

[0021] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a mam carrier.

[0022] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of an auxiliary carrier.

[0023] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of an egg tray when the auxiliary carrier is in the loading position.

[0024] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the egg tray when the auxiliary carrier is in its passive position.

[0025] Figure 6 - is the cross-sectional view of the egg tray when the auxiliary carrier is in the passive position.

[0026] Figure 7 - is the top view of the main carrier and two auxiliary carriers, namely of the egg tray when both auxiliary carriers are in the loading position, in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of the main carrier and two auxiliary carriers, namely of the egg tray when the main carrier and the auxiliary carrier are loaded with eggs, in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 9 - is the top view of the main carrier and four auxiliary carriers before being disposed into each other, in another embodiment of the present invention. [0029] Figure 10 - is the perspective view of the egg tray when the auxiliary carriers are in the loading position, in another embodiment of the present invention. [0030] Figure 1 1 - is the top view of the main carrier and an auxiliary carrier before being inserted into each other, in another embodiment of the present invention. [0031] Figure 12 - is the perspective view of the egg tray when the auxiliary carrier is in the loading position, in another embodiment of the present invention. [0032] Figure 13 - is the perspective view of the egg tray when the main carrier and the auxiliary carrier are loaded with eggs, in another embodiment of the present invention. [0033] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Egg tray

3. Main carrier

4. 104, 204 Auxiliary carrier

5. Loading hole

6. 106, 206 Cavity

7. 107 Carrying surface

8. 108, 208 Leg

9. 109 Cut-out

10. 101 Slide

11. 1 1 1 Protrusion

12. Guiding means

13. Stopping means

14. Channel

15. Hole

16. Pin

[0034] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises an egg tray (2) which is used for storing eggs inside the cooling device (1 ) (Figure 1).

[0035] The egg tray (2) comprises a main carrier (3) which has one or more loading holes (5) whereon eggs are loaded, and one or more auxiliary carriers (4) which are disposed one over the other with the main carrier (3), and which can be brought to the passive position (P) by being slid under or over the main carrier (3) even when all the loading holes (5) on the main carrier (3) are loaded with eggs, and from the passive position (P) to the loading position (L) (Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 10 and Figure 12).

[0036] The auxiliary carrier (4) is disposed one over the other with the main carrier (3) and is moved between the loading position (L) and the passive position (P) by being slid. Even when all the loading holes (5) on the main carrier (3) are loaded with eggs, the auxiliary carrier (4) is positioned adjacent to the main carrier (3) by being slid and thus, is passed to the loading position (L), which is suitable for loading eggs onto it. Similarly, the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the passive position (P), wherein it is hidden under or over the main carrier (3), by being slid when the main carrier (3) is loaded with eggs. Thus, according to the number of eggs the user desires to store, the egg carrying capacity of the egg tray is increased or decreased. Furthermore, in the situation that a small number of eggs are carried, the volume occupied by the egg tray (2) on the shelf is decreased by bringing the auxiliary carrier (4) to the passive position (P) and thus, the shelf is provided to be used effectively.

[0037] The auxiliary carrier (4) comprises cavities (6), one side of which are open and whereon eggs can be loaded when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L), and which overlap with the loading holes (5) when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the passive position (P) (Figure 3, Figure 9, Figure 1 1 ). The cavities (6) are U-shaped, the open side of which faces the sliding direction. When the auxiliary carrier (4) is desired to be used alone, it is not suitable for loading eggs thereon since one side of the cavities (6) is open. The auxiliary carrier (4) can carry egg only when used together with the main carrier (3). When the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L) by being slid through the main carrier (3), the open side of the cavities (6) is closed by the edge of the main carrier (4) and thus, the cavities (6) become suitable for carrying eggs. Since one side of the cavities (6) are open, even when the main carrier (3) is loaded with eggs, the auxiliary carrier (4) is moved back and forth between the loading and the passive positions by being slid such that the cavities (6) will not contact the egg. Thus, the auxiliary carrier (4) is provided to be brought to the loading position (L) by being slid without requiring the main carrier (3) to be unloaded.

[0038] The loading holes (5) are arranged such that they will form more than one row transversely and longitudinally on the main carrier (3). In the loading position (L), the auxiliary carrier (4) increases the egg carrying capacity of the main carrier (3) by one row in the sliding direction. The cavities (6) located on the auxiliary carrier (4) are arranged such that they will form a single row in the sliding direction.

[0039] The main carrier (3) comprises a carrying surface (7), whereon the loading holes (5) are located, and two opposite legs (8) which extend from the carrying surface (7) towards the ground. The auxiliary carrier (4) comprises a carrying surface (107), whereon the cavities (6) are located, and two opposite legs (108) which extend from the carrying surface (107) towards the ground. In the loading position (L), a height difference almost as much as the wall thickness of the main carrier (3) is present between the carrying surface (7) of the main carrier (3) and the carrying surface (107) of the auxiliary carrier (4). In the passive position (P), wherein the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought under or over the main carrier (3) by being slid, the carrying surface (7) of the main carrier (3) and the carrying surface (107) of the auxiliary carrier (4) are situated one over the other. When the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the passive position (P), the cavities (6), which are located on the carrying surface (107) of the auxiliary carrier (4), are seated under or over the loading holes (5) such that they will overlap with the loading holes (5), which extend along the carrying surface (7) edges of the main carrier (3).

[0040] The main carrier (3) comprises one or more arcuate shaped cut-outs (9) which are located at the edge of the carrying surface (7), and which close the open side of each cavity (6) when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L) by being slid next to the main carrier (3). The cut-outs (9) complete the cavities (6) almost to a circle by corresponding to the open side of each cavity (6). Thus, the cavity (6) and the cut-out (9) form a structure suitable to the shape of the egg, which is almost circular, and the eggs disposed between them are provided to be carried in a more balanced manner.

[0041] The egg tray (2), furthermore, comprises a guiding means (12) having two opposite slides (10) which are located on the two inner walls, that oppositely face each other, of the main carrier (3) legs (8), and at least two protrusions (1 1 ), which provide the auxiliary carrier (4) to move slidably in the main carrier (3) by being inserted to the slides (10), on the outer walls of the auxiliary carrier (4) legs (108). Since the main carrier (3) and the auxiliary carrier (4) are preferably produced from a resilient material such as plastic, the protrusions (1 1 ) are provided to be seated to the slides (10) by the auxiliary carrier (4) being stretched. The auxiliary carrier (4) is slid in the main carrier (3) by moving the protrusions (1 1 ) back and forth in the slides (10), and thus, the auxiliary carrier (4) is provided to be brought to the loading position (L) and to the passive position (P).

[0042] The egg tray (2), furthermore, comprises a stopping means (13) which prevents the main carrier (3) and the auxiliary carrier (4) from being detached from each other when the auxiliary carrier (4) is fastened to the main carrier (3) such that the auxiliary carrier (4) will be able to move by being slid. By means of the stopping means (13), when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L), the egg tray (2) is provided to stand rigidly and the auxiliary carrier (4) is provided to carry the eggs, which are loaded thereon, in a balanced manner.

[0043] The stopping means (13) comprises a channel (14) which is located on the carrying surface (7) of the main carrier (3), preferably between two loading holes (5), a hole (15), which overlaps with the end of the channel (14), on the carrying surface (107) of the auxiliary carrier (4), and a pin (16) which is seated into the channel (14) and the hole (15) that overlap with each other. When the auxiliary carrier (4) is in the passive position (P), the pin (16) is inserted through the hole (15) which overlaps with the end of the channel (14), and thus, the main carrier (3) and the auxiliary carrier (4) are provided to be held together. The pin (16) has a neck and a head, which is wider than the neck. While the auxiliary carrier (4) is passed from its passive position (P) to the loading position (L), together with the sliding movement of the auxiliary carrier (4), the pin (16), also, moves in the channel (14). The channel (14) end, wherein the pin (16) is seated when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L), is wider than the other end of the channel (14). When the auxiliary carrier (4) is passed to the loading position (L), the pin (16) leans against the narrower end of the channel (14) and thus, the movement of the pin (16) is terminated and the auxiliary carrier (4) is provided to be locked in the main carrier (3). Thus, in the loading position (L), wherein the auxiliary carrier (4) is positioned next to the main carrier (3) by being slid, and in the passive position (P), the egg tray (2) is provided to stand rigidly. By means of the stopping means (13), the auxiliary carrier (4) is prevented from moving when brought to the loading position (L) and thus, the eggs disposed thereon are provided to be carried in a safe manner.

[0044] When the auxiliary carrier (4) is in the passive position (P), by means of the protrusions (11 ) seated to the slides (10), the pin (16) is prevented from being released from the channel (13). When the main carrier (3) and the auxiliary carrier (4) are desired to be completely detached from each other, the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the passive position (P) and first, the pin (16) is removed from the channel (14) and then, the protrusions (1 1 ) are provided to be released from the slides (10) by stretching the auxiliary carrier (4) in the main carrier (3).

[0045] In an embodiment of the present invention, the egg tray (2) comprises a main carrier (3), and a first auxiliary carrier (104) which passes into the main carrier (3) and a second auxiliary carrier (204) which passes into the first auxiliary carrier (104) (Figure 7 and Figure 8). The auxiliary carriers (104, 204), which are inserted into each other such that they will be one over the other with the main carrier (3), are moved by being slid. On the outer surface of the auxiliary carrier (104) legs (108), protrusions (11 1 ), which are inserted to the slides (10) located on the inner surface of the main carrier (3) legs (8), and on the inner surface of the auxiliary carrier (104) legs (108), slides (101 ), whereto the protrusions (11 1 ) located on the outer surface of the other auxiliary carrier (204) legs (208) are inserted, are located. In this way, a triple structure is formed by inserting two auxiliary carriers (104, 204) into the main carrier (3). Even if the main carrier (3) is loaded with eggs, the auxiliary carriers (104, 204) can be brought to the loading position (L) by being slid from under the main carrier (3) next to the main carrier (3). Or even if the main carrier (3) is loaded with eggs, when the auxiliary carriers (104, 204) are not in use, they can be passed to the passive position (P) from the loading position (L) by being slid under the main carrier (3) and being hidden. By disposing more than one auxiliary carrier (104, 204) into each other, the egg carrying capacity of the egg tray (2) is increased.

[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, the egg tray (2) comprises a main carrier (3) and four auxiliary carriers (104, 204) (Figure 9 and Figure 10). The auxiliary carriers (104, 204) are disposed under the main carrier (3) oppositely in twos and such that they will be slid into each other. For disposing the first auxiliary carrier (104) and the third auxiliary carrier (104), the mam carrier (3) comprises four slides (10), which oppositely face each other in twos, on the inner surfaces of its legs (8). The second auxiliary carrier (204) and the forth auxiliary carrier (204) are disposed into the first auxiliary carrier (104) and the third auxiliary carrier (104), respectively, by being slid. On its edges whereto the auxiliary carriers (104) are disposed, the main carrier (3) comprises arcuate cut-outs (9) such that they will complete the cavities (106), the orifices of which are open, when the auxiliary carriers (104) are brought to the loading position (L). Similarly, on the carrying surfaces (107) of the first auxiliary carrier (104) and of the third auxiliary carrier (104), arcuate cut-outs (109) are located such that they will complete the cavities (106), located on the carrying surfaces of the auxiliary carriers (104), when the auxiliary carriers (204), located at two ends, are brought to the loading position (L).

[0047] In another embodiment of the present invention, the egg tray (2) comprises a main carrier (3) which has more than two loading holes (5) arranged side by side, and an auxiliary carrier (4) which is disposed into the main carrier (3) such that it will be able to move by being slid (Figure

11 , Figure 12 and Figure 13). [0048] By means of the present invention, when eggs are loaded on the egg tray

(2), the egg carrying capacity is provided to be increased and decreased easily. [0049] 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 introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1 ) comprising a main carrier (3) which is used for storing eggs inside the cooling device (1) and which has one or more loading holes (5) whereon eggs are loaded, and one or more auxiliary carriers (4) which are also used for storing eggs inside the cooling device (1 ) and which are disposed one over the other with the main carrier (3), and which can be brought to the passive position (P) by being slid under or over the main carrier (3), and from the passive position (P) to the loading position (L) by being slid, characterized by an egg tray (2) which has the auxiliary carrier (4) that can be brought from the loading position (L) to the passive position (P) and from the passive position (P) to the loading position (L) even when all the loading holes (5) on the main carrier (3) are loaded with eggs.

2. A cooling device (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the auxiliary carrier (4) that comprises one or more cavities (6), one side of which are open and whereon eggs can be loaded when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L), and which overlap with the loading holes (5) when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the passive position (P).

3. A cooling device (1 ) as in Claim 2, characterized by the U-shaped cavity (6), the open side of which faces the sliding direction of the auxiliary carrier (4).

4. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the auxiliary carrier (4) which, in the loading position (L), increases the egg carrying capacity of the main carrier (3) by one row in the sliding direction.

5. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the main carrier (3) that comprises a carrying surface (7), whereon the loading holes (5) are located, and two opposite legs (8) which extend from the carrying surface (7) towards the ground.

6. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 5, characterized by the cavities (6) which are seated under or over the loading holes (5) such that they will overlap with the loading holes (5), extending along the carrying surface (7) edges of the main carrier (3), when brought to the passive position (P).

7. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 6, characterized by the auxiliary carrier (4) that comprises a carrying surface (107), whereon the cavities (6) are located, and two opposite legs (108) which extend from the carrying surface (107) towards the ground.

8. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 7, characterized by the main carrier (3) that comprises an arcuate shaped cut-out (9) which is located at the edge of the carrying surface (107), and which closes the open side of the each cavity (6) when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L).

9. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the egg tray (2) that comprises a stopping means (13) which prevents the main carrier (3) and the auxiliary carrier (4) from being detached from each other when the auxiliary carrier (4) is fastened to the main carrier (3) such that the auxiliary carrier (4) will be able to move by being slid.

10. A cooling device (1 ) as in Claims 5 to 8, characterized by the egg tray (2) that comprises a guiding means (12) having two slides (10) which are located on the two inner walls oppositely facing each other of the main carrier (3) legs (8), and at least two protrusions (11) which are located on the outer surfaces of the auxiliary carrier (4) legs (108) and which provide the auxiliary carrier (4) to be disposed into the main carrier (3) by being inserted to the slides (10).

1 1. A cooling device (1 ) as in Claim 9, characterized by the stopping means (13) that comprises a channel (14) which is located on the carrying surface (7) of the main carrier (3), preferably between two loading holes (5), a hole (15), which overlaps with the end of the channel (14), on the carrying surface (107) of the auxiliary carrier (4), and a pin (16) which is seated into the channel (14) and the hole (15) that overlap with each other.

12. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 8, characterized by the auxiliary carrier (4), the leg (108) length of which is less than the leg (8) length of the main carrier (3) almost as much as the wall thickness of the carrying surface (7) of the main carrier (3).

13. A cooling device (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 8, characterized by the auxiliary carrier (4), between which and the main carrier (3) a level difference as much as the wall thickness of the carrying surface (7) of the main carrier (3) is present when the auxiliary carrier (4) is brought to the loading position (L).

14. A cooling device (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the egg tray (2) that comprises two auxiliary carriers (4, 104) which pass into each other and which can be moved by being slid, and the main carrier (3) wherein the auxiliary carriers (4, 104) are inserted.

15. A cooling device (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by four auxiliary carriers (104, 204) which are inserted into the main carrier (3) such that they will be located at two opposite sides of the main carrier (3) in twos when they are brought to the loading position (L).