BUILT-IN REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

A sliding and connecting device configured to slidably secure a cabinet panel to an appliance door includes a rail element and a sliding element. The sliding element has a first flat portion and a second flat portion. The second flat portion has a first cross-sectional hollow profile and a second cross-sectional hollow profile intersecting the first cross-sectional hollow profile. Each of the first and second cross-sectional hollow profiles are configured to engage and slide along a matching cross-sectional profile formed on the rail element.

Claims

1. A sliding and connecting system configured to slidably secure a cabinet panel to a refrigerator door comprising: a first sliding and connecting device having a first rail element and a first sliding element, wherein (i) the first sliding element has a first flat portion configured to be fastened to a horizontal edge of the refrigerator door, (ii) the first sliding element has a second flat portion defining a first channel and a second channel intersecting the first channel, (iii) each of the first and second channels are sized to receive the first rail element, (iv) the first rail element is disposed within the first channel such that the first sliding element slidably engages the first rail element, and (v) the first rail element is configured to be fastened to the cabinet panel; and a second sliding and connecting device having a second rail element and a second sliding element, wherein (i) the first rail element is substantially parallel with the second rail element, (ii) the first sliding element is substantially perpendicular to the second sliding element, (iii) the second sliding element has a third flat portion configured to be fastened to a vertical side edge of the refrigerator door, (iv) the second sliding element has a fourth flat portion defining a third channel and a fourth channel intersecting the third channel, (v) each of the third and fourth channels are sized to receive the second rail element, (vi) the second rail element is disposed within the fourth channel such that the second sliding element slidably engages the second rail element, and (vii) the second rail element is configured to be fastened to the cabinet panel.

2. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein (i) the first channel is C-shaped, (ii) the second channel is C-shaped, and (iii) the first rail element has a matching T-shaped cross-sectional profile.

3. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein the first flat portion of the first sliding element defines a seat configured to receive a flat plug to hide fasteners.

4. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein (i) the second flat portion of the first sliding element has opposing inner and outer surfaces, (ii) the inner surface is configured to be disposed along a front surface of the refrigerator door, and (iii) the outer surface defines the first and second channels.

5. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein the first and second channels are substantially perpendicular to each other.

6. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1 wherein (i) the third channel is C-shaped, (ii) the fourth channel is C-shaped, and (iii) the second rail element has a matching T-shaped cross-sectional profile.

7. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein the third flat portion of the second sliding element defines a seat configured to receive a flat plug to hide fasteners.

8. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein (i) the fourth flat portion of the second sliding element has opposing inner and outer surfaces, (ii) the inner surface is configured to be disposed along a front surface of the refrigerator door, and (iii) the outer surface defines the third and fourth channels.

9. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth channels are substantially perpendicular to each other.

10. The sliding and connecting system of claim 1, wherein the first and second sliding elements are identical and interchangeable.

11. A sliding and connecting device comprising: a rail element; and a sliding element, wherein (i) the sliding element has a first flat portion configured to be fastened to an edge of an appliance door, (ii) the sliding element has a second flat portion configured to cooperate with the rail element, (iii) the second flat portion having opposing inner and outer surfaces, (iv) the inner surface is configured to be disposed along a front surface of the appliance door, (v) the outer surface defines a first channel and a second channel intersecting the first channel, (vi) each of the first and second channels are sized to receive the rail element, and (vii) the rail element is configured to be disposed within the first channel or the second channel such that the sliding element slidably engages the rail element.

12. The sliding and connecting device of claim 11, wherein the first channel is C-shaped.

13. The sliding and connecting device of claim 12, wherein the second channel is C-shaped.

14. The sliding and connecting device of claim 13, wherein rail element has a matching T-shaped cross-sectional profile configured to engage the first and second channels.

15. The sliding and connecting device of claim 11, wherein the first and second channels are substantially perpendicular to each other.

16. The sliding and connecting device of claim 11, wherein the rail element is configured to be fastened to a cabinet panel that is adjacent to the appliance door.

17. A sliding and connecting device configured to slidably secure a cabinet panel to an appliance door comprising: a rail element; and a sliding element having (i) a first flat portion and (ii) a second flat portion, the second flat portion having a first cross-sectional hollow profile and a second cross-sectional hollow profile intersecting the first cross-sectional hollow profile, wherein each of the first and second cross-sectional hollow profiles are configured to engage and slide along a matching cross-sectional profile formed on the rail element.

18. The sliding and connecting device of claim 17, wherein (i) the first cross-sectional hollow profile is C-shaped, (ii) the second cross-sectional hollow profile is C-shaped, and (iii) the matching cross-sectional profile formed on the rail element is T-shaped.

19. The sliding and connecting device of claim 17, wherein the first cross-sectional hollow profile and the second cross-sectional hollow profile are substantially perpendicular to each other.

20. The sliding and connecting device of claim 17, wherein (i) the first flat portion is configured to be fastened to a horizontal edge or a vertical side edge of the appliance door and (ii) the rail element is configured to be fastened to an interior surface of the cabinet panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a built-in appliance according to a first embodiment of the invention, with a door in an open configuration;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 4; and

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sliding element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.

[0030] The indications “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “front”, “bottom”, “floor”, “horizontal”, “vertical” and the like refer to the positions and orientations of the household appliance in its intended use position with respect to an observer located in front of the household appliance.

[0031] With reference to the drawings, 4 indicates a kitchen piece of furniture having an upper front panel 6 and a lower front panel 8 (for instance wooden panels or the like), both hinged to the piece of furniture 4 along a vertical axis and acting as doors of the piece of furniture 4. Inside the piece of furniture 4 a built-in refrigerating appliance 10 (shown only schematically in the drawings) having an upper door 12 for closing a refrigeration compartment 12a and a lower door 14 for closing a freezer compartment is inserted.

[0032] Between each panel 6 and 8 of the piece of furniture 4 and each door 12 and 14 of the appliance 10 one or more sliding and connecting devices 16, comprising a sliding element, or cursor, 18 and a rail 20, is interposed. The sliding and connecting device 16 disposed along the top of the door 12 in FIG. 1 is arranged in a first configuration while the sliding and connecting device 16 disposed along the side of the door 12 in FIG. 1 is arranged in a second configuration. The door 12 is illustrated in hidden lines in some of the Figures so that the components of the sliding and connecting device 16 are visible. However, it should be understood that the door 12 may not be hidden although illustrated in hidden lines. Reference will be made in the following to door 12 and panel 6. It goes without saying that the same considerations apply, mutatis mutandis, to door 14 and panel 8.

[0033] With reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the first configuration is illustrated. Sliding element 18 is L shaped and has a first flat portion 18a fastened to an upper horizontal edge 12b of the appliance door 12 and a second flat orthogonal portion 18b on which a first hollow profile 18c having a C-shaped cross section is formed. The rail 20 is fastened on a rear surface of the front panel 6 and features a H-shaped cross section configured to match and engage the C-shaped cross section of the first hollow profile 18c. The sliding element 18 is fastened to the door 12 at a predetermined position, for instance in a seat 22 defined in the upper edge of the door so that the first flat portion 18a may be substantially flush with such upper edge 12b. Fastening screws (not shown) are inserted in openings 18d of the first flat portion 18. Moreover, the first flat portion 18a has a seat 19 where a flat plug (not shown) can be mounted e.g. by snap-fitting in order to hide the screw heads and the openings 18d. The rail element 20 is fastened to the panel 6 or 8 by means of screws, and for its correct initial positioning a self-adhesive tape (not shown) may be used during the assembly of the built-in appliance.

[0034] Alternatively, the sliding element 18 may be fastened to the door 12 also by using its second vertical portion 18b which, in this case, will be provided with holes (not shown) for fastening screws.

[0035] The shape and dimensions of the sliding element 18 (as indicated in FIG. 3) are such that the rail 20 on which it slides is completely interposed between the panel 6 and the door 12 of the appliance, so that in any position of such door 12 during its opening and closing movement, it is totally invisible to the user. What the user can see is only the first flat portion 18a of the sliding element 18, which is small and placed in a seat of the upper edge of the door, so that its visibility is very low.

[0036] The same kind of sliding connection between the panel and the door of the appliance can be used for the lower panel 8 (freezer) as well. Of course, some variants of this system can be adopted, for instance the sliding and connecting device 16 can be positioned at the lower edge of the door 12, or additional sliding devices 16 can be used for horizontal edges of the door 12 (e.g., the second configuration of the sliding and connecting device 16). Also, the shape of the sliding element 18 and of the rail element 20 can be different from what shown in the drawings, and the cross section of the rail 20 can be different from the H shape shown in the drawings, for instance it could have a simple T- shaped cross section. Also, the fastening means of the rail element 20 to the panels 6 and 8 could be different from screws. Alternatively, the rail element 20 could be glued to the panel.

[0037] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4-6, the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the second configuration is illustrated. The sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the second configuration has all of the attributes as the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the first configuration and vice versa. However, the L shaped sliding element 18 of the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the second configuration is oriented at angle that is substantially perpendicular relative to the L shaped sliding element 18 of the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the first configuration. Substantially perpendicular may refer to any incremental angle that is between exactly perpendicular and 10° from exactly perpendicular.

[0038] Sliding element 18 is L shaped and has a first flat portion 18a fastened to a vertical side edge 12c of the appliance door 12 and a second flat orthogonal portion 18b on which a second hollow profile 18e having a C-shaped cross section is formed. The first hollow profile 18c and the second hollow profile 18e are substantially perpendicular to each other. Substantially perpendicular may refer to any incremental angle that is between exactly perpendicular and 10° from exactly perpendicular. The rail 20 is fastened on a rear surface of the front panel 6 and features a H-shaped cross section configured to match and engage the C-shaped cross section of the second hollow profile 18e. The rail 20 of the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the second configuration is substantially parallel to the rail 20 of the sliding and connecting device 16 that is arranged in the first configuration. Substantially parallel may refer to any incremental angle that is between exactly parallel and 10° from exactly parallel. The sliding element 18 is fastened to the door 12 at a predetermined position, for instance in a seat 24 defined in the vertical side edge of the door so that the first flat portion 18a may be substantially flush with such vertical side edge 12c. Fastening screws (not shown) are inserted in openings 18d of the first flat portion 18. Moreover, the first flat portion 18a has a seat 19 where a flat plug (not shown) can be mounted e.g. by snap-fitting in order to hide the screw heads and the openings 18d. The rail element 20 is fastened to the panel 6 or 8 by means of screws, and for its correct initial positioning a self-adhesive tape (not shown) may be used during the assembly of the built-in appliance.

[0039] Alternatively, the sliding element 18 may be fastened to the door 12 also by using its second vertical portion 18b which, in this case, will be provided with holes (not shown) for fastening screws.

[0040] The shape and dimensions of the sliding element 18 (as indicated in FIG. 5) are such that the rail 20 on which it slides is completely interposed between the panel 6 and the door 12 of the appliance, so that in any position of such door 12 during its opening and closing movement, it is totally invisible to the user. What the user can see is only the first flat portion 18a of the sliding element 18, which is small and placed in a seat of the upper edge of the door, so that its visibility is very low.

[0041] The same kind of sliding connection between the panel and the door of the appliance can be used for the lower panel 8 (freezer) as well. Of course, some variants of this system can be adopted, for instance the sliding and connecting device 16 can be positioned at the upper horizontal edge 12b (e.g., the first configuration of the sliding and connecting device 16) or lower edge of the door 12. Also, the shape of the sliding element 18 and of the rail element 20 can be different from what shown in the drawings, and the cross section of the rail 20 can be different from the H shape shown in the drawings, for instance it could have a simple T- shaped cross section. Also, the fastening means of the rail element 20 to the panels 6 and 8 could be different from screws. Alternatively, the rail element 20 could be glued to the panel.

[0042] It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims.

[0043] The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications