REFRIGERATOR HAVING A STOWABLE SHELF HOLDER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator which comprises a compartment for refrigerating articles; one or more shelves which are releasably disposed into the compartment and one or more shelf holders each for releasably holding the respective shelf. The refrigerator of the present invention further comprises: one or more cavities each formed into the inner side wall of the compartment, wherein each shelf holder comprises a supporting member which is releasably and movably disposed into the respective cavity and adapted to be moved to a stowage position inside the respective cavity where it releases the respective shelf and becomes flush with the inner side wall and to an extended position outside the respective cavity where it supports the respective shelf.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a compartment for refrigerating articles; one or more shelves which are releasably disposed into the compartment and one or more shelf holders each for releasably holding the respective shelf, characterized in that one or more cavities each formed into the inner side wall of the compartment, wherein each shelf holder comprises a supporting member which is releasably and movably disposed into the respective cavity and adapted to be moved to a stowage position inside the respective cavity where it releases the respective shelf and becomes flush with the inner side wall and to an extended position outside the respective cavity where it supports the respective shelf.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that each shelf holder further comprises: a frame member for movably holding the supporting member; a first mounting means for movably mounting the supporting member to the frame member and a second mounting means for releasably mounting the frame member into the cavity.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that the first mounting means is further adapted to releasably and movably mount the supporting member to the frame member.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting member has a tongue which is adapted to be pushed by the shelf so as to move the supporting member from the stowage position to the extended position.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more shelf holders each comprises a push-to-open mechanism which is adapted to move the supporting member from the stowage position to the extended position when the push-to-open mechanism is manually actuated by the user.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more shelf holders each comprises a stopper mechanism for releasably securing the supporting member at the extended position.

Description

[0016] Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the refrigerator and the shelf holder of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator which has a plurality of shelf holders according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2is a schematic perspective enlarged view of the detail A of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3is a schematic front view of the shelf holder of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 4is a schematic side view of the shelf holder of FIG. 3, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the stowage position;

[0021] FIG. 5is another schematic side view of the shelf holder of FIG. 3, wherein the supporting member has been moved the extended position;

[0022] FIG. 6is a schematic sectional view of the shelf holder of FIG. 5, taken along the line B-B as shown in FIG. 3;

[0023] FIG. 7is another schematic sectional view of the shelf holder of FIG. 5, taken along the line C-C as shown in FIG. 3;

[0024] FIG. 8is a schematic sectional partial view of the refrigerator, taken along the line B-B as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the stowage position and the shelf has been released;

[0025] FIG. 9is another schematic sectional partial view of the refrigerator, taken along the line C-C as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the supporting member has been moved the extended position and the shelf is supported by the shelf holder;

[0026] FIG. 10is a schematic enlarged partial view of the detail D of FIG. 6;

[0027] FIG. 11is a schematic perspective exploded enlarged partial view of the detail D of FIG. 10;

[0028] FIG. 12is a schematic partial perspective view of the refrigerator according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the stowage position and the shelf has been released;

[0029] FIG. 13is a schematic partial front view of the refrigerator of FIG. 12;

[0030] FIG. 14is a schematic sectional partial view of the refrigerator of FIG. 13, taken along the line E-E;

[0031] FIG. 15is a schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 12, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the stowage position;

[0032] FIG. 16is another schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 15;

[0033] FIG. 17is another schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 12, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the extended position;

[0034] FIG. 18is another schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 17;

[0035] FIG. 19is a schematic perspective view of the supporting member of FIG. 12;

[0036] FIG. 20is another schematic perspective view of the supporting member of FIG. 12;

[0037] FIG. 21is a schematic partial front view of the refrigerator according to a another alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the extended position and the shelf has been released;

[0038] FIG. 22is a schematic partial side view of the refrigerator of FIG. 21;

[0039] FIG. 23is a schematic sectional partial view of the refrigerator of FIG. 21, taken along the line F-F;

[0040] FIG. 24is a schematic sectional partial view of the refrigerator of FIG. 22, taken along the line G-G;

[0041] FIG. 25is a schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 21;

[0042] FIG. 26is another schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 21;

[0043] FIG. 27is a schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 21, wherein the supporting member is being moved from the stowage position to the extended position;

[0044] FIG. 28is another schematic perspective view of the shelf holder of FIG. 21, wherein the supporting member has been moved to the stowage position;

[0045] FIG. 29is a schematic perspective view of the supporting member of FIG. 21.

[0046] The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features. [0047] 1. Refrigerator [0048] 2. Compartment [0049] 3. Shelf [0050] 4. Shelf holder [0051] 5. Cavity [0052] 6. Inner side wall [0053] 7. Supporting member [0054] 7a. Tongue [0055] 8. Frame member [0056] 9. 1.sup.st mounting means [0057] 10. 2.sup.nd mounting means [0058] 11. Push-to-open mechanism [0059] 12. Stopper mechanism

[0060] The refrigerator (1) comprises a compartment (2) for refrigerating articles;

[0061] one or more shelves (3) which are releasably disposed into the compartment (2) and one or more shelf holders (4) each for releasably holding the respective shelf (3) (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

[0062] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention further comprises one or more cavities (5) each formed into the inner side wall (6) of the compartment (2) (FIG. 8; FIG. 14; FIG. 23). In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, each shelf holder (4) comprises a supporting member (7) which is releasably and movably disposed into the respective cavity (5) and adapted to be moved to a stowage position inside the respective cavity (5) where it releases the respective shelf (3) and becomes flush with the inner side wall (6) and to an extended position outside the respective cavity (5) where it supports the respective shelf (3) (FIG. 8, FIG. 9; FIG. 14, FIG. 17; FIG. 23, FIG. 28).

[0063] In an embodiment, each shelf holder (4) further comprises a frame member (8) for movably holding the supporting member (7); a first mounting means (9) for movably mounting the supporting member (7) to the frame member (8) and a second mounting means (10) for releasably mounting the frame member (8) into the cavity (5) (FIG. 5, FIG. 8; FIG. 14; FIG. 23, FIG. 25).

[0064] In another embodiment, the first mounting means (9) is further adapted to releasably and movably mount the supporting member (7) to the frame member (8) (FIG. 6; FIG. 16; FIG. 24).

[0065] In another embodiment, the supporting member (7) has a tongue (7a) which is adapted to be pushed by the shelf (3) so as to move the supporting member (7) from the stowage position to the extended position (FIG. 14).

[0066] In another embodiment, one or more shelf holders (4) each comprises a push-to-open mechanism (11) which is adapted to move the supporting member (7) from the stowage position to the extended position when the push-to-open mechanism (11) is manually actuated by the user (FIG. 6 and FIG. 8).

[0067] In another embodiment, one or more shelf holders (4) each comprises a stopper mechanism (12) for releasably securing the supporting member (7) at the extended position (FIG. 7 and FIG. 9).

[0068] A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can release the shelves (3) and move the supporting members of the shelf holders (4) to the stowage positions when cleaning the inner side walls (6) of the compartment (2) (FIG. 8; FIG. 12; FIG. 28). Thereby, the even surface of the compartment (2) can be easily and quickly cleaned and thus the dirt can be more effectively removed. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the service person can release and replace the supporting members (7) in case of damage (FIG. 6; FIG. 19; FIG. 29). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user can move the unused supporting members (7) of the shelf holders (4) to the stowage positions and thus improve the visual appearance of the inner side walls (6). With the present invention the user satisfaction can be increased. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.