EP1337796B1

EP1337796B1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP1337796B1
Application number: EP01996712A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ridvan K. c/o Arçelik A. S. CELIK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2000-11-17
Filing date: 2001-11-19
Publication date: 2005-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-19
Also published as: ES2253452T3; EP1337796A1; WO2002040931A1; DE60115088T2; DE60115088D1; AU2002221260A1; ATE310220T1; TR200300993T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) which provides easy access to the vegetable and fruits it contains; easily opens/closes with a rotattional movement; containing preferably movable and functional storage containers. Said rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) is mounted preferably in the lower portion of the cabinet (3), between the bottom surface (4) and the guide (8) by means of a connecting assembly (12) comprising a connecting piece (13) and an adaptor piece (14).

Description

The invention relates to a refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a refrigerator is known from document US 3 055 184.

The refrigerators are provided with a compartment wherein vegetables and fruits are stored. The vegetable storage compartment, located in general, at the lower portions of the refrigerators must be easily opened/closed so that the user may have an easy access to the fruits and vegetables therein.

In the state of art, drawer-type, empty vegetable storage units of large volumes, that move in a horizontal direction in the recesses formed preferably in the refrigerator cabinet, at the lower portion of the refrigerators, with cover above them are used. The user has to pull the vegetable storage container towards her in order to dispose the vegetables or fruits in it or to take them out of it, and then she has to push it back to its place. This procedure is made possible by means of the projections at the lateral sides of said storage unit, which are slidably received in the channels provided in the inner surface of the refrigerator cabinet Due to this limited movement in the channels, said vegetable storage unit cannot be pulled out entirely. For this reason, the vegetables and/or fruits, which are left at the rear of the storage unit, cannot be easily accessed and damage may be caused on the fruits and/or vegetables while being arranged or handled. When the vegetable container is pulled out for opening completely, it falls forwards.

In the International Patent Application No. 9926029 and the German Patent Application No. 19751309, the vegetable storage compartment cover on the vegetable storage compartment is formed of two parts. When said compartment is moved to and fro, one part of said cover moves up and down together with it.

Thus the vegetable storage container cover moves together with the container and provides an easy accessibility for the user. However, said cover, which is movable, cannot be used as a shelf, i.e. nothing can be put on it.

In the USA Patents Nos. 4944566 and 4735470, rectangular storage containers that can be removably and/or slidably mounted on the sliding rails provided on the sides of the shelf, are disclosed. Said containers have covers or lids on them but no cover and/or holes are provided on their bases.

The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator comprising a rotatable vegetable compartment preferably with one or more movable and functional storage containers, which provides easy accessibility to the vegetables and fruits contained in it, which can easily be opened/closed by rotating and which can be fixated at a desired position.

The refrigerator realized in order to attain the objective of the present invention has the features defined in claim 1 and has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein;

Figure 1a, is the perspective view of the rotatable vegetable compartment comprising a rotatable storage container, pulled forward, in the refrigerator cabinet.

Figure 1b, is the perspective view of the rotatable vegetable compartment comprising a slidable storage container, pulled forward, in the refrigerator cabinet.

Figure 1c, is the perspective view of the rotatable vegetable compartment comprising a slidable storage container, placed in its recess in the refrigerator cabinet.

Figure 1d, is the perspective view of the rotatable vegetable compartment reinforced by a support profile, in the refrigerator cabinet.

Figure 2a, is the general, three-dimensional view of the rotatable vegetable compartment comprising a slidable storage container.

Figure 2b, is the general, three-dimensional view of the rotatable vegetable compartment comprising a rotatable storage container.

Figure 3a, is the general, three-dimensional view of the slidable storage container.

Figure 3b, is the general, three-dimensional view of the rotatable storage container.

Figure 4, is the general, three-dimensional view of the connecting piece from the bottom.

Figure 5, is the general, three-dimensional view of the adaptor piece from the top.

Figure 6a, is the general, three-dimensional view of the connecting piece assembly.

Figure 6b, is the cross-section view of the connecting piece assembly.

Figure 7a, is the bottom perspective view of the lower part of the refrigerator inner cabinet to which the adapter piece is attached.

Figure 7b, is the top perspective view of the lower part of the refrigerator inner cabinet

Figure 8, is the bottom view of the rotatable vegetable compartment.

Figure 9, is the section view of the rotatable vegetable compartment and the connecting piece assembly attached to it

The components shown in the drawings are given separate reference numerals, as shown below:

1. Refrigerator

2. Door

3. Cabinet

4. Bottom surface

5. Back surface

6. Lateral surface

7. Trim hole

8. Guide

9. Rotatable vegetable storage compartment

10. Inner body

11. Outer body

12. Connection assembly

13. Connection piece

14. Adaptor piece

15. Rotating pin

16. Coupling extension

17. Fixing claw

18. Locking projection

19. Fixing recess

20. Locking plate

21. Locking recess

22. Support extensions

23. Upper plate

24. Lateral edge

25. Reinforcing projection

26. Pin recess

27. Positioning extension

28. Connecting screw hole

29. Vegetable storage compartment base

30. Vegetable storage compartment side wall

31. Sliding surface

32. Storage container

33. Container base

34. Container lateral wall

35. Container sliding surface

36. Container partition plate

37. Hinge

38. Spring mechanism

39. Rotatable storage container

40. Support profile

41. Adaptor screw hole

42. Connecting plate

43. Coupling recess

44. Vegetable storage partition plate

45. Channel

46. Lock socket

47. Lock bolt

The refrigerators comprise a cabinet (3) and a door (2) over the cabinet (3). Said cabinet (3) consists of an inner body (10) and an outer body (11) with the insulation material sandwiched in-between. At the lower portion of the inner body (10), a bottom surface (4), a rear surface (5) and two lateral surfaces (6) connected to the bottom surface (4) are provided. There are one or more trim holes (7) on the bottom surface (4) and more than one of the guides (8) consisting of recesses and/or projections preferably of the same height and length are formed on the lateral surfaces (6).

At preferably the lowermost portion of the refrigerator (1), a rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) is located between said bottom (4) and lateral surfaces (6) and the guide channel (8), which is the closest to the bottom surface (4). Said rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) comprises a vegetable storage compartment base (29), more than one vegetable storage compartment side walls (30) with curved forms, connected to the vegetable storage compartment base (29) and to each other, and a sliding surface (31) on the vegetable storage compartment side wall (30). A pin recess (26) and a positioning extension (27) are provided at the lower section, preferably at one lower corner of the vegetable storage compartment base (29), for mounting and moving the rotatable vegetable compartment storage.

In another embodiment of the invention, said rotatable vegetable compartment storage is divided into several portions by using more than one plain or perforated partition plates (44), preferably conforming to the vegetable compartment base (29) and/or side wall (30). When such partition plates (44) are intended for use, they are engaged by means of one or more channels (45) formed on the vegetable storage compartment side-walls (30). When not in use, said plates (44) are disengaged from said channels (45) and are taken out of the rotatable vegetable compartment (9).

The rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) is mounted on the bottom surface (4) by a connection assembly (12). Said assembly (12) comprises a connection piece (13) and an adaptor piece (14).

Said connection piece (13) comprises a connecting plate (42), one or more connecting screw holes (41), a preferably circular rotating pin (15) at the upper section of said connecting plate (42) and one or more coupling extensions (16) reinforced by a plurality of recesses and projections, arranged around the rotating pin (15) and more than one preferably "L" sectioned fixing claws (17) at the lower part of the connecting plate with a locking projection (18) provided on the open mouth of the fixing claw (17) and coupling recess (43) located between the coupling extension (16) and the connecting plate (42).

The adaptor piece (14) comprises an upper plate (23), two lateral edges (24) connected to said upper plate (23), support extensions (22) connected to the lateral edges (24) and several reinforcing projections (25) connected to the lateral edge (24). On the upper plate (23), fixing recesses (19) in the same number as the fixing claws (17) and one or more adaptor screw holes (28) are provided. A locking plate (20) with a locking recess (21) into which the locking projection (18) can engage, is provided in the fixing recess (19).

Before mounting the inner body (10) and the outer body (11) for forming the cabinet (3), said adaptor piece (14) is placed under the bottom surface (4) such that the fixing recess (19) are stayed inside the trim hole (7). After fixing the adaptor piece (14), isolative ingredients are injected between the inner body (10) and outer body (11) such that the isolative ingredients cover the said support extensions (22) and said reinforcing projections (25). After the isolated surface is hardened, the fixing of the adaptor piece (14) is provided inside the bottom surface (4). In such a case, only the fixing recess (19) can be seen on the bottom surface (4).

To place the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) in the cabinet (3), the fixing claws (17) are inserted into the fixing recess (19) in an inclined manner and the locking projection (18) is pushed until it enters the locking recess (21) in order to attach the connecting piece (13) to the bottom surface (4) by the help of the adaptor piece (14). In cases when the fixing claws (17) are broken during use or when the connection requires a reinforcement, said connecting piece (13) is fixed to the adaptor screw hole (41) and therefore to the cabinet (3), by means of a screw placed in the connecting screw hole (28). Following the fixation of the connecting piece (13) the rotating pin (15) is placed in the pin recess (26) and the positioning extension (27) is placed in the coupling recess (43) in order to attach said rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) to the bottom surface (4) in a movable way; only from its lower corner, leaving its upper side free.

To use said rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9), the arrangement and handling of the fruits and vegetables are made possible by preferably pulling it in the same direction as the door (2) and it is brought back to its original position in the refrigerator cabinet (3) by pushing it in a direction opposite to the direction of opening. The rotation of said vegetable compartment (9) is provided by the rotary movement of the rotating pin (15) in the pin housing (26). During its rotary movement, the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) may be used by stopping it at desired positions.

The connection assembly (12) prevents the escape of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) from its place during use. In another embodiment of the invention, a preferably "L-sectioned" support profile (40) that is attached on the guide channel (8) closest to the side wall (6) and/or preferably to the bottom surface (4) which assists the connection assembly, is used in order to prevent the coupling extension (16) from escaping out of the coupling recess (43) and/or the rotating pin (15) from escaping out of the pin housing (26) during the rotary movement of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9), or to prevent the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) from being tilted forwards, in the open position.

In another embodiment of the invention, the escape of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) inadvertently or its tilting forwards during use is avoided by the form of the inner body (10) of the bottom surface (4) where the compressor is situated. In said embodiment the sliding surface (31), moves in a recess formed on the inner body (10) and its movement except for that required by the user, is inhibited.

In another embodiment of the invention, a storage container (32) in a form suitable to the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9), that can removably placed exteriorly on the sliding surface (31) and which is movable slidingly and/or rotably on the sliding surface (31), is used. Said storage container (32) comprises a container base (33), a container lateral wall (34) and a container sliding surface (35) on the container lateral wall (34).

In another embodiment of the invention, one or more container partition plates (36) that divide said storage container (32) into several portions, are used. Each divided portion of the container base (33) is fastened by one or more hinges (37) and/or one or more spring mechanisms (38) preferably underneath the container partition plate (36) so that they function as lids that can be opened by being pushed and closed automatically. On each divided portion of the container base (33) there are preferably one or more lock sockets (46) and on the inner surface of the container lateral wall (34), lock bolts (47) in number and positions suitable to the lock socket (46) are provided. In this manner, the user opens one of the divided portions of the container base (33) by releasing the lock socket (46) from the lock bolt (47), without moving the storage container (32) and has an easy access to the vegetable or fruits below the storage container (32). In cases when any one of said divided portions of the container base (33) is not opened, the container sliding surface (35) is slided over the sliding surface (31) to displace said storage container (32); thus an easy access is provided to the vegetable or fruits below the storage container (32). The bottom of said container (33) may be formed of flat or curved, plain or perforated plates. In this way, a better cooling, moisturizing of the stored vegetable or fruits is ensured to lengthen their storage and usage lives, by circulating cold air also from their lower sections.

In a preferred embodiment of the storage container (32), a rotatable storage container (39) preferably in a circular form, that can be removably placed exteriorly on the sliding surface (31) and that can move in a rotary motion over said sliding surface (31), is used. Said rotatable storage container (39) comprises a preferably circular container base (33), a cylindrical container lateral wall (34) surrounding said container base (33) and an annular container sliding surface (35) on the container lateral wall (34).

In a preferred embodiment, one or more container partition plates (36) that divide said storage container (39) into several portions, are used. Each divided portion of the container base (33) is fastened by one or more hinges (37) and/or one or more spring mechanisms (38) preferably underneath the container partition plate (36) so that they function as lids that can be opened by being pushed and closed automatically. In this manner the user has an easy access to the vegetable or fruits below the rotatable storage container (39) by opening one of the divided portions of the base (33) without having to remove the container (39). The bottom of said container (33) may be formed of flat or curved, plain or perforated plates. In this way, a better cooling, moisturizing of the stored vegetable or fruits is ensured to lengthen their storage and usage lives, by circulating cold air also from their lower sections.

The rotatable storage container (39) is preferably used on the lateral surface (30) with a partial circular cross section, of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9). During usage, the tilting of the part of said storage compartment (9) which is not supported by the lateral surface (30) of said storage container (39) while placing vegetable or fruits, is prevented by the form of the sliding surface (31) on the lateral wall (30).

Due to its rotary structure, the rotatable vegetable compartment (9) can be opened as much as the door (2) and thus easy accessibility to the vegetable and/or fruits at the back is provided. Its fixation at the open positions is provided by the coupling (16) and positioning extensions (27).

As the rotatable vegetable storage compartment can easily be mounted, it may be removed easily by the user out of the refrigerator cabinet (3) and may be mounted again after being used outside the refrigerator (1).

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a door (2), a cabinet (3), an inner body (10) and an outer body (11) with the insulation material sandwiched in-between on the cabinet (3), the bottom surface (4), a back surface (5) and two lateral surfaces (6) connected to the bottom surface (4) at the lower portion of the inner body (10) a rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) which comprises a vegetable storage compartment base (29), more than one vegetable storage compartment side walls (30) with curved forms, connected to the vegetable storage compartment base (29) and to each other, and a sliding surface (31) on the vegetable storage compartment side wall (30), characterized in that one or more pin recesses (26) and a positioning extension (27) are provided at the lower section, preferably at one lower corner, of the vegetable storage compartment base (29), in order to move and mount and stop said rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) at a desired position.
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1, characterized with a connection assembly (12) to be used for the mounting of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) on the bottom surface (4), that comprises a connection piece (13) and an adaptor piece (14).
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 2, characterized in that the connection piece (13) comprises a connecting plate (42), one or more connecting screw holes (28), a preferably circular rotating pin (15) at the upper section of said connecting plate (42) and one or more coupling extensions reinforced by a plurality or recesses and projections, arranged around the rotating pin (15) and more than one preferably "L" sectioned fixing claws (17) at the lower part of the connecting plate with a locking projection (18) provided on the open mouth of the fixing claw (17) and coupling recess (43) located between the coupling extension (16) and the connecting plate (42), and enables the moving and mounting of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) on the cabinet (3) by engaging the rotation pin (15) in the pin recess (26) and the positioning extension (27) in the coupling recess (43),
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1, characterized with the cabinet (3) comprising one or more trim holes (7) on the bottom surface (4) and more than one of the guides (8) on the lateral surfaces (6).
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 2 to 4, characterized with the adaptor piece (14) comprising an upper plate (23), two lateral edges (24) connected to said upper plate (23), support extensions (22) connected to the lateral edges (24) and several reinforcing projections (25) connected to the lateral edge (24); on the upper plate (23), fixing recesses (19) in the same number as the fixing claws (17) and one or more adaptor screw holes (41) and a locking plate (20) with a locking recess (21) into which the locking projection (18) can engage is provided in the fixing recess (19) provided in said fixing recess (19), which is attached below the bottom surface (4) to match with the trim hole (7) and fixed by means of the insulating material injected between the inner body (10) and the outer body (11) whereby, only the fixing recess (19) is seen on the bottom surface (4) after fixation.
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1 to 5, characterized with a support profile (40) that is attached on a guide channel (8) closest to the lateral surface (6) and/or preferably the bottom surface (4) in order to prevent the coupling extension (16) from escaping out of the coupling recess (43) and/or the rotating pin (15) from escaping out of the pin housing (26) during the rotary movement the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9), or to prevent the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) from being tilted forwards, in the open position.
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1, characterized with a storage container (32) in a form suitable to that of the rotatable vegetable storage compartment (9) open surface, that can be removably placed from outside exteriorly on to the sliding surface (31) and which can be moved by sliding and/or rotating on the sliding surface (31), and can be used outside of the rotatable vegetable compartment (9), which comprises a flat or curved, perforated or plain container base (33), a container lateral wall (34) and a container sliding surface (35) on the container lateral wall (34).
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 7, characterized with the storage container (32) comprising one or more container partition plates (36) that divide the container base (33) into one or more portions, one or more hinges (37) and/or one or more spring mechanisms (38) connected to the container base (33) and to the container partition plates (36) wherein, as each divided portion of the container base (33) is fastened by one or more hinges (37) and/or one or more spring mechanisms (38) preferably underneath the container partition plate (36) so that they function as lids that can be opened by being pushed and closed automatically and thus the user opens out of the divided portions of the container base (33) without moving the storage container (32) and has an easy access to the vegetable or fruits below the storage container (32).
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 1, characterized with a rotatable storage container (39) that can removably placed exteriorly on the sliding surface (31) and that can be move in a rotary motion over said sliding surface (31), comprising a preferably circular container base (33), a cylindrical container lateral wall (34) surrounding said container base (33) and an annular container sliding surface (35) on the container lateral wall (34), wherein its rotary displacement and tilting is prevented by sliding the container sliding surface (35) on the sliding surface (31).
A refrigerator (1) as defined in Claim 9, characterized with the rotatable storage container (39) with one or more container partition plates (36) that divide said storage container (39) into several portions, wherein each divided portion of the container base (33) is fastened by one or more hinges (37) and/or one or more spring mechanisms (38) preferably underneath the container partition plate (36) so that they function as lids that can be opened by being pushed and closed automatically and in this manner the user has an easy access to the vegetable or fruits below the rotatable storage container (39) by opening one of the divided portions of the base (33) without having to remove the rotatable storage container (39).