WO2016119872A1

WO2016119872A1 - Refrigeration appliance having a beverage container support assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2016119872A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/051891
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tamer Tombuloglu; Murat Ungor; Oktay Aygun; Hamdi GUNDOGAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-01-30
Filing date: 2015-01-30
Publication date: 2016-08-04
Also published as: TR201601143A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance comprising a container support assembly (2) to secure bottled and tinned beverages on a shelf unit (1) and to prevent overturning of the same due to the fast opening and closing of the refrigerator door. The present invention more particularly relates to a refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and a refrigeration cabin door, the refrigeration cabin door comprising at least one door shelf unit (1) serving for carrying and storing food articles and beverage containers, the door shelf unit (1) further comprising at least one container support assembly (2).

Description

REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE HAVING A BEVERAGE CONTAINER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance comprising a bottle support assembly to secure bottled and tinned beverages on a shelf unit and to prevent overturning of the same due to the fast opening and closing of the refrigerator door.

In refrigeration appliances, inner storing area efficiency is one of the most important concerns for the consumer. The structure and size of bottles complicates the storing process in the refrigerator. When bottles are stored in standing position, the bottle may tumble over. If placed longitudinally on its side, the circular structure of the bottle results in a movable position rather than a stable one such that the bottle is free to roll over. There are different solutions in the state of the art providing a stable storing in the shelf units for bottles.

To this end, various designs of rack bottle holder units are proposed, having different techniques to support the stability of the stored containers or bottles in the refrigerator. Compartments that are located at the inner walls of the door are commonly used for installing special structures effective in providing a solution for stable bottle storage. However, the disadvantage of such structures lies in that they occupy extra space when not in use.

Among others, a prior art publication in the technical field of the invention may be referred to as CN103017469, which discloses a refrigerator bottle holder mounted on the inner side of a refrigerator door and used for containing articles. The refrigerator bottle holder comprises a pair of lug assemblies, a shelf, a bottle railing and a bottle-partitioning railing; the lug assemblies are mounted on the refrigerator door; the shelf is mounted between the lug assemblies, and articles can be placed on the shelf; the bottle railing is arranged between the lug assemblies, and is located upon the shelf; and the bottle-partitioning railing is mounted on the bottle railing through a slider assembly and located upon the shelf to be slid along the length direction of the bottle railing, and is used for partitioning the articles placed on the shelf. The bottle-partitioning railing of the refrigerator bottle holder is slid to partition the articles contained in the refrigerator bottle holder.

The present invention provides a refrigerator beverage container support assembly to ensure stability of the stored containers as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1 and subsequent claims.

Primary object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container support assembly enabling locational configuration of the shelf unit depending on the specific storage needs.

The present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance in which a door shelf unit comprises at least one linear slideway into which a container support assembly’s railing unit is slidably mountable. A retaining means of the railing unit engageably communicates with the slideway such that when the retaining means inserted into slideway assumes an orientation perpendicular to the slideway, a fixing rod of the railing unit takes an orientation parallel to the slideway. The central contact surface of the fixing rod being larger than the opening of the slideway and the perpendicular positioning of the retaining means relative to the slideway prevents disengagement of the container support assembly.

The operational position of the container support assembly can alternatively be locked by means of an intermediate portion extending between the retaining means and the fixing rod. The intermediate portion’s transversal dimension in a first direction and in a second 90 degrees rotated direction is different such that it is fixable in the slideway upon rotating and released to be slidable upon another rotation of 90 degrees. While a lockable structure is advantageous in terms of mechanical stability, the intermediate portion’s transversal dimension being shorter than the transversal dimension of the slideway, therefore involving no lockability, provides a more quick and practical arrangement of the shelf unit so as to enable displacement of the container support assembly while it carries a container.

Alternatively, two slideways extending in parallel one above another are provided to allow vertical alignment of two container support assemblies, each being slidable in respective slideways, enabling placement of separate containers to be stored one on top of another, both containers retained within a respective support portion of the container support assemblies.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a beverage container support assembly, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the Claims, nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention

Fig. 1a demonstrates a rear view of a shelf unit and Fig. 1b demonstrates a general front perspective view of the shelf unit according to the present invention.

Fig. 2a demonstrates a top view of a railing unit. Fig. 2b demonstrates a general front perspective view of the railing unit and Fig. 2c demonstrates a lateral cross-sectional view of the same according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 demonstrates a top view of a support portion according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates perspective front and rear views of the shelf unit with beverage container support assemblies in installed manner and in different positions and slideways according to the present invention.

The following numerals are assigned to different part numbers being referred to in the detailed description of the invention:

Shelf unit
Container support assembly
Slideway
Retaining means
Contact surface
Railing unit
First clamping ring
Second clamping ring
Fixing rod
Support portion
Fixing portion
Intermediate portion

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance conventionally having a plurality of shelf units (1) serving for carrying and storing different food articles as well as beverage containers.

The present invention proposes a container support assembly (2) in the manner that a locational configuration of the container support assembly (2) depending on the specific storage needs of the end-user is obtainable as will be delineated hereinafter.

The present invention provides a container support assembly (2) mounted to a shelf unit (1), the shelf unit (1) comprising at least one linear horizontally extending slideway (3) so as to receive a railing unit (6) in connection with a removable support portion (10). The railing unit (6) is structurally configured to comprise an inner part in the form of a retaining means (4) mechanically communicating with the slideway (3).

The retaining means (4) is an inner portion of a T-shaped part of the railing unit (6), engaged with the slideway (3) when the upper extension of the T-form (Retaining means, (4)) is inserted into the slideway (3) and rotated to extend perpendicular to the same. In this configuration, when the retaining means (4) is inserted into the slideway (3) and rotated 90 degrees to one side, a fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6) assumes a horizontal position in parallel with the linear slideway (3).

According to the present invention, a first and second clamping ring (7, 8) is provided at both ends of the fixing rod (9) so as to enable attachment of a support portion (10) to hold a container such as a canned beverage container. The first and second clamping rings (7, 8) receive a pair of fixing portions (11) integral with the support portion (10). The fixing portions (11) outwardly protrude at both sides of the support portion (10) in a unidirectional manner and are inserted into the clamping rings whereby the plane defined by the circular periphery of the support portion (10) is parallel to the direction formed by the two fixing portions’ (11) positions, the latter direction being also parallel to the fixing rod (9). Therefore, when mounting the railing unit (6) into the slideway (3) and rotating the same, one configures the plane of the support portion (10) to lie parallel to the base of the shelf unit (1).

According to the invention, the shelf unit (1) having a slideway (3) with which the railing unit (6) is in engagement in a movable manner allows repositioning of the container support assembly (2) as desired. The railing unit (6) movable along the slideway (3) enables displacement of the container support assembly (2) irrespective of whether it carries a beverage container or not. Therefore, the user can move the container support assembly (2) along the slideway (3) to arrange the space of the shelf unit (1) to provide space for other stored food articles. The horizontal position of the fixing rod (9) is not locked according to this embodiment of the invention. Therefore, it is possible to slide the container support assembly (2) even when a beverage container is carried by the support portion (10). This is advantageous in that a more quick and practical arrangement can be made. The fact that the container support assembly (2) is not locked in a usage position does not pose a problem since perpendicular orientation of the retaining means (4) relative to the slideway (3) prevents disengagement of the container support assembly (2). Disengagement is even more unlikely if a container is carried by the support portion (10) because the container itself will ensure horizontal orientation of the fixing rod (9) and therefore vertical orientation of the retaining means (4), i.e. the upper extension of the T-form.

Further, the user can deactivate a given container support assembly (2) by pushing it to rotate the outer support portion (10) to rest it onto the wall of the shelf unit (1) as the first and second clamping rings (7, 8) act as hinging means to allow rotation of the support portion (10) along the axis of rotation of the two fixing portions (11). In this way, a non-used container support assembly (2) will be easily taken to a passive position occupying minimal shelf space.

The movement of the railing unit (6) is supported by an intermediate portion (12) between the retaining means (4) and the fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6). Alternatively, the dimensions of the intermediate portion (12) between the retaining means (4) can be determined such that the position of the support portion (10) is lockable when the fixing rod (9) is taken to a position parallel to the linear slideway (3).

In this case, due to the dimensions of the intermediate portion (12) between the retaining means (4) and the fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6), the retaining means (4) establishes a connection strong enough to maintain the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the fixing rod (9) extends. The largest transversal dimension of the intermediate portion (12) in a first direction is shorter that its largest transversal dimension in a second 90-degree rotated direction. The larger largest transversal dimension provides that the container support assembly (2) is fixedly retained in the slideway (3) and the shorter largest transversal dimension allows displacement thereof as the transversal dimension of the opening of the slideway (3) is slightly larger than the shorter largest transversal dimension of the intermediate portion (12). The container support assemblies (2) are guidably movable along the slideway (3) upon unlocking by 90-degree axial rotation of the intermediate portion (12).

A contact surface of the fixing rod (9) leans on the shelf unit (1) wall on both sides of the opening of the slideway (3), therefore providing a contact support between the fixing rod (9) and the rear wall of the shelf unit (1) in movable or non-movable positions of the container support assembly (2).

The support portion (10) with the circular structure ensures a stable positioning for the bottles and containers stored on the shelf unit (1). Multiple support portions (10) may be placed in a single slideway (3) of a shelf unit (1) which increases the number of containers stored in a stable manner in a refrigerator.

Further, the present invention also provides that two slideways (3) in parallel allow two separate containers to be stored one on top of another. To this end, particularly in the case of canned beverages, it is possible to vertically align two container support assemblies (2) moving in different slideways (3) and place one soft drink can over another while both are retained within a respective support portion (10). Beverage cans can be vertically stacked since upper and lower portions thereof fit to each other conveniently, 33 cl soft drink cans are particularly advantageously stored in a vertically stacked manner in accordance with the invention as the total height of two beverage cans will not require modification of the existing distance between two shelf units (1) of the refrigerator door. Two beverage cans are accordingly storable one above another in a space saving manner while retained within different vertically aligned support portions (10).

In summary, the present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and a refrigeration cabin door, the refrigeration cabin door comprising at least one door shelf unit (1) serving for carrying and storing food articles and beverage containers, the door shelf unit (1) further comprising at least one container support assembly (2).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the shelf unit (1) comprises at least one linear slideway (3) to which the at least one container support assembly (2) is guidably mounted such that a railing unit (6) of the container support assembly (2) engaged with the slideway (3), the container support assembly (2) further comprising a support portion (10) to carry a container.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container support assembly (2) comprises a retaining means (4) engaging with the slideway (3), the retaining means (4) being formed as the upper extension of a T-shaped part of the railing unit (6).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the support portion (10) lies on a plane parallel to the base of the shelf unit (1) when the retaining means (4) is inserted into the slideway (3) and rotated 90 degrees to one side to extend perpendicular to the slideway (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the largest transversal dimension of an intermediate portion (12) extending between the retaining means (4) and a fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6) is shorter than the transversal dimension of the opening of the slideway (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the largest transversal dimension of an intermediate portion (12) extending between the retaining means (4) and a fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6) in a first direction is shorter that its largest transversal dimension in a second 90-degree rotated direction thereof.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the position of the support portion (10) is lockable when the fixing rod (9) is rotatably taken to a position parallel to the slideway (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the retaining means (4) establishes a connection sufficiently strong to maintain the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the fixing rod (9) extends in the locked position of the support portion (10).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a first and second clamping ring (7, 8) is provided at both ends of the fixing rod (9) so as to enable attachment of the support portion (10) to hold a beverage container.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first and second clamping rings (7, 8) hingedly receive a pair of fixing portions (11) integral with the support portion (10).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the fixing portions (11) outwardly protruding at both sides of the support portion (10) are provided in a unidirectional manner to be inserted into the first and second clamping rings (7, 8). This ensures horizontal orientation of the support portion (10) when the retaining means (4) extends perpendicular to the slideway (3), because the fixing rod’s (9) position in parallel to the axis of rotation of the fixing portions (11) determines the plane of the support portion (10).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the plane defined by a circular periphery of the support portion (10) is parallel to the direction formed by the two fixing portions’ (11) positions.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the direction formed by the two fixing portions’ (11) positions is parallel to the fixing rod (9).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the support portion (10) is rotatable to lean onto the shelf unit (1) by rotation of the fixing portions (11) rotatably entrapped in the first and second clamping rings (7, 8).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, multiple container support assemblies (2) are placed in a single slideway (3) of a shelf unit (1).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, two slideways (3) in parallel are provided to allow vertical alignment of two container support assemblies (2) slidable in respective slideways (3), enabling placement of separate containers to be stored one on top of another, both containers being retained within a respective support portion (10) of the container support assemblies (2).

Therefore, the invention provides that the configurable structure of the container support assemblies (2) increases the usage efficiency of the inner storage area of the shelf unit (1). The user can configure positioning of the railing units (6) depending on the specific needs. The support portions (10) can be folded back towards the shelf unit’s (1) rear wall to save space in the inner storage area.

Claims

A refrigeration appliance having an interior refrigeration cabin enclosed by a heat-insulating housing and a refrigeration cabin door, the refrigeration cabin door comprising at least one door shelf unit (1) serving for carrying and storing food articles and beverage containers, the door shelf unit (1) further comprising at least one container support assembly (2), characterized in that

the shelf unit (1) comprises at least one linear slideway (3) to which the at least one container support assembly (2) is guidably mounted such that a railing unit (6) of the container support assembly (2) engaged with the slideway (3), the container support assembly (2) further comprising a support portion (10) to carry a container.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 1, characterized in that the container support assembly (2) comprises a retaining means (4) engaging with the slideway (3), the retaining means (4) being formed as the upper extension of a T-shaped part of the railing unit (6).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 2, characterized in that the support portion (10) lies on a plane parallel to the base of the shelf unit (1) when the retaining means (4) is inserted into the slideway (3) and rotated 90 degrees to one side to extend perpendicular to the slideway (3).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 3, characterized in that the largest transversal dimension of an intermediate portion (12) extending between the retaining means (4) and a fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6) is shorter than the transversal dimension of the opening of the slideway (3).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 3, characterized in that the largest transversal dimension of an intermediate portion (12) extending between the retaining means (4) and a fixing rod (9) of the railing unit (6) in a first direction, is shorter that its largest transversal dimension in a second 90-degree rotated direction thereof.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 5, characterized in that the position of the support portion (10) is lockable when the fixing rod (9) is rotatably taken to a position parallel to the slideway (3).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 6, characterized in that the retaining means (4) establishes a connection sufficiently strong to maintain the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the fixing rod (9) extends in the locked position of the support portion (10).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a first and second clamping ring (7, 8) is provided at both ends of the fixing rod (9) so as to enable the support portion (10) to hold a beverage container.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 8, characterized in that the first and second clamping rings (7, 8) hingedly receive a pair of fixing portions (11) integral with the support portion (10).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 9, characterized in that the fixing portions (11) outwardly protruding at both sides of the support portion (10) are provided in a unidirectional manner to be inserted into the first and second clamping rings (7, 8).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the plane defined by a circular periphery of the support portion (10) is parallel to the direction formed by the two fixing portions’ (11) positions.
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the direction formed by the two fixing portions’ (11) positions is parallel to the fixing rod (9).
A refrigeration appliance as in Claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the support portion (10) is rotatable to lean onto the shelf unit (1) by rotation of the fixing portions (11) rotatably entrapped in the first and second clamping rings (7, 8).
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that multiple container support assemblies (2) are placed in a single slideway (3) of a shelf unit (1).
A refrigeration appliance as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that two slideways (3) in parallel are provided to allow vertical alignment of two container support assemblies (2) slidable in respective slideways (3), enabling placement of separate containers to be stored one on top of another, both containers being retained within a respective support portion (10) of the container support assemblies (2).