Mechanism For Moving Shelves of A Refrigeration Appliance and Refrigeration Appliance

• US 20100066227A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool SA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool SA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Junior, Lauro Ferando Souza Ignacui, Ramm, Axel Julio, Ferreira, Luiz Afranio Alves
• Granted Patent: US 8,297,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/408
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 51/00 Cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down for cabinets with parts rotating about a horizontal axis A47B46/005; for show or display A47F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/06 with means for adjusting the height of the shelves A47B57/04, A47B57/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/04 by conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary

Abstract

The present invention refers to a mechanism that is able to provide a displacement of a shelf (5) of a refrigeration appliance (1). The said refrigeration appliance (1) comprises at least one refrigeratable cabinet (2) provided with a base (3) and two side walls (4) that are substantially perpendicular to the base (3). The side walls (4) are substancitantially parallel and opposite to each other. The shelf (5) is disposed substantially parallel to the base (3). The mechanism comprises at least one supporting device (6) associated to the side wall (4) of the refrigeratable cabinet (2) by means of a side bar (8). The side bar (8) has a longitudinal portion (9) that is substantially parallel to the base (3), wherein the association between the supporting device (6) and the side bar (8) is able to provide mechanical support to the shelf (5). The mechanism also comprises a pivoting arm (10) which associates the shelf (5) to the supporting device (6). The pivoting arm (10) is provided with at least at one first end (11) which is connected articulatedly to the shelf (5) and a second end (12) connected articulatedly to the supporting device (6). The pivoting arm (10) is able to move angularly so as to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) in relation to the supporting device (6), wherein the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10) in a first direction is able to allow the shelf (5) to be moved from an upper position to a bottom position, and the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, is able to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) from the bottom position to the upper position. This invention also refers to a refrigeration appliance (1) provided with the abovementioned mechanism.

Claims

1. Mechanism for moving shelves (5) of a refrigeration appliance (1), the refrigeration appliance (1) comprising at least a refrigeratable cabinet (2) provided with at least one base (3) and two side walls (4) that are disposed substantially perpendicular to the base (3), the side walls (4) being substantially parallel and opposite to each other, the shelf (5) being disposed substantially parallel to the base (3), the mechanism being characterized in that it comprises at least:

one supporting device (6) associated to the side wall (4) of the refrigeratable cabinet (2) by means of a side bar (8), the side bar (8) having a longitudinal portion (9) that is substantially parallel to the base (3), wherein the association between the supporting device (6) and the side bar (8) is able to provide a mechanical support to the shelf (5); and

a pivoting arm (10) that associates the shelf (5) to the supporting device (6), the pivoting arm (10) being provided with at least a first end (11) connected articulatedly to the shelf (5) and a second end (12) connected articulatedly to the supporting device (6), the pivoting arm (10) being able to move angularly so as to allow the shelf (5) to be moved in relation to the supporting device (6), wherein the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10) in the first direction is able to allow the shelf (5) to be displaced from an upper position to a bottom position, and, the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, is able to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) from the bottom position to the upper position.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one electrical motor associated to the pivoting arm (10), the electric motor being able to provide the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10).

3. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the electric motor is fitted with an axis that associates with the second end (12) of the pivoting arm (10).

4. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end (11) of the pivoting arm (10) is removably fitted to the shelf (5) through interference.

5. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end (12) of the pivoting arm (10) is removably fitted to the supporting device (6) through interference.

6. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting device (6) comprises a fitting cavity (13) which allows the fitting of the side bar (8) through interference.

7. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting device (6) comprises at least one elastic element (19) associable to the side bar (8), the elastic element (19) being able to provide locking between the supporting device (6) and the side bar (8).

8. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the shelf (5) is associated to two side bars (8), each side bar (8) being associated to each side wall (4), both side bars (8) being disposed on a geometric plane that is substancially parallel to the base (3).

9. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the side bar (8) is integrated as a single piece in the refrigeratable cabinet (2).

10. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the shelf (5) comprises at least a first hole (14) able to allow the fitting of the first end (11) of the pivoting arm (10).

11. Mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that the shelf (5) comprises a plurality of first holes (14).

12. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting device (6) comprises at least a second hole (17) able to allow the fitting of the second end (12) of the pivoting arm (10).

13. Mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that the supporting device (6) comprises a plurality of second holes (17).

14. Mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that the shelf (5) comprises an encapsulated piece of glass (15) associated to two side supporting elements (16), the side supporting element (16) having the first hole (14).

15. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one levering device (20) operatively associated to the pivoting arm (10), the levering device (20) being manually operable, the levering device (20) being able to be moved in a first angular direction so as to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) from the upper position to the bottom position, the levering device (20) being able to be moved in a second angular direction, opposite to the first direction, so as to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) from the bottom position to the upper position.

16. Mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that the levering device (20) comprises an internal toothed gear (23) operatively associated to a braking element (22), the braking element (22) being able to provide a controlled speed to the angular movement of the levering device (20).

17. Mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that the braking element (22) is operatively associated to a locking element (24) by means of an elastic element (25), the elastic element (25) being able to compress during the angular movement of the levering device (20) in the first direction, and the elastic element (25) being able to decompress during the angular movement of the levering device (20) in the second direction, the locking element (24) being able to establish an extreme limit of movement of the levering device (20).

18. Mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that the braking element (22) is operatively associated to a locking element (24) by means of an elastic element (25), the elastic element (25) being able to decompress during the angular movement of the levering device (20) in the first direction, the elastic element (25) being able to compress during the angular movement of the levering device (20) in the second direction, with the locking element (24) being able to establish a extreme limit for movement of the levering device (20).

19. Mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of levering devices (20).

20. Mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that the braking element (22) consists of a viscous brake.

21. Mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that the locking element (24) consists of a latch.

22. Mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that the elastic element (25) consists of a spring.

23. Refrigeration appliance (1) comprising at least a refrigeratable cabinet (2) provided with a base (3) and two side walls (4) disposed substantially perpendicularly to the base (3), the side walls (4) being substantially parallel and opposite to each other, the side wall (4) being associated to a shelf (5), the shelf (5) being disposed substantially parallel to the base (3), the refrigeration appliance (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least:

a supporting device (6) associated to the side wall (4) of the refrigeratable cabinet (2) by means of a side bar (8), the side bar (8) having a longitudinal portion (9) that is substantially parallel to the base (3), wherein the association between the supporting device (6) and the side bar (8) is able to provide mechanical support to the shelf (5); and

a pivoting arm (10) that associates the shelf (5) to the supporting device (6), the pivoting arm (10) being provided with at least a first end (11) connected articulatedly to the shelf (5) and a second end (12) connected articulatedly to the supporting device (6), the pivoting arm (10) being able to move angularly so as to allow the movement of the shelf (5) in relation to the supporting device (6), wherein the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10) in the first direction is able to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) from an upper position to a bottom position, and, the angular movement of the pivoting arm (10) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, is able to allow the displacement of the shelf (5) from the bottom position to the upper position.