EP2629034A1

EP2629034A1 - Refrigerating apparatus for foodstuff products

Info

Publication number: EP2629034A1
Application number: EP13155229.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniele Angeletti
Original assignee: Indesit Co SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2012-02-17
Filing date: 2013-02-14
Publication date: 2013-08-21

Abstract

A refrigerating apparatus for foodstuff products, comprising:
-a heat-formed refrigeration cell (2) comprising a back wall (21), an opening (22) opposite the back wall (21), a base (23) and a top (24), opposite one another, a first and a second lateral wall (25, 26), opposite one another;
-a drawer (3) defining a crisper that is mobile between a first configuration in which it is completely inserted in the cell (2) and a second configuration in which it is at least partially extracted.

The first wall (25) comprises at least a heat-formed first guide (4) of the drawer (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus for foodstuffs, for example refrigerators, freezers, refrigerator-freezers.
Refrigerators are known that comprise a refrigerating compartment destined for containing food products. Internally of the compartments the food products are distributed on a plurality of shelves arranged at various heights.
Further, a crisper is located in the lower portion of the compartment, which crisper is destined to contain fresh green vegetables, fruit and so on. The crisper is a drawer that is extractable from the compartment. To access the crisper, the user consequently first opens an external access door to the refrigerator compartment and then extracts the crisper drawer.
To realize this kind of refrigerator, usually a heat-formed cell is manufactured in a single piece. During the step of assembly of the refrigerator, separately-manufactured additional accessories are applied to it. Among these additional accessories there is a guide for the crisper drawer. The guide is constrained to the lateral walls of the cell by means of appropriate fastening screws.
Further, the drawer comprises a wheel which runs along the guide, accompanying the extraction/insertion run of the drawer. The endrun of the drawer extraction is determined by contact of said wheel with an end of the guide.
This technical solution is not without drawbacks connected mainly to the manufacturing times of the product as well as the costs (both labour costs relating to the need to assemble the guide to the heat-formed cell and costs relating to the presence of components that by themselves incur a production cost).
Further, the positioning of the wheel on the drawer determines a constructional complexity and incurs a cost.
A further drawback is connected to the fact that at the contact zone between the guide and the cell interstices can form which are not easy to reach for cleaning purposes, and that therefore are liable to accumulation of dirt.
In this context, the technical objective underpinning the present invention is to provide a refrigerating device for foods which obviates the drawbacks of the prior art cited herein above.
In particular, an aim of the present invention is to make available a refrigerating device for foodstuffs which enables a greater production velocity and therefore a greater productivity as well as a lower labour cost.
Further, an aim of the present invention is to provide a refrigerating device for foodstuffs equipped with elements that are aimed at improving the already high hygiene standards existing for these devices.
The set technical aim and the specified aims are substantially attained by a food refrigerating device, comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the explanatory and thus non-limiting description that follows, of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a refrigerating device for foods, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a detail of figure 1;
figure 3 is the detail of figure 2 with the addition of a component;
figura 4 is a perspective view of a component of the apparatus according to the present invention from which a portion has been removed.

In the accompanying figures, reference number 1 denotes a refrigerating apparatus for food products. Typically the apparatus 1 is a refrigerator or a freezer or a refrigerator-freezer. The apparatus 1 advantageously comprises a refrigerating cell 2. The cell 2 is advantageously heat-formed. The cell 2 is advantageously made in a single piece. The cell 2 advantageously defines a housing compartment 73 for food products.
The cell 2 advantageously comprises:

a back wall 21, an opening 22 opposite the back wall 21 (usually the opening 22 can be closed by means of a door);
a base 23 (which lies in the lower part) and a top 24 (which lies in the upper part) that are reciprocally opposite;
a first and a second lateral wall 25, 26, opposite one another (the first and the second lateral wall 25, 26 vertically connect the base 23 and the top 24; the first and the second lateral wall 25, 26 are further interposed between the opening 22 and the back wall 21). The apparatus 1 further comprises a drawer 3 (advantageously defining a crisper). The drawer 3 is advantageously mobile between a first configuration in which it is inserted (preferably entirely) in the cell 2 (or in the compartment 73) and a second configuration in which it is at least partially extracted from the cell 2 (or from the compartment 73).

The first wall 25 (or the cell 2) comprises at least a first guide 4. The first guide 4 is a heat-formed guide of the drawer 3. In greater detail, the cell 2 comprises the first guide 4. The first guide 4 is therefore made in a single piece with remaining parts of the first wall 25. The first guide 4 is therefore realized in a single piece with all the refrigerating cell 2.
The drawer 3 defines a lower partition of the compartment 73.
The drawer 3 comprises a lower support platform 6 of food products. Advantageously in the present description the expression "lower platform 6" can be replaced by the term "lower base 6".
The drawer 3 comprises a first lateral flank 35.
The drawer 3 advantageously comprises a second lateral flank 62. The first and the second lateral flank 35, 62 advantageously develop in an upwards direction distancingly from the lower platform 6. They thus define edges which contribute to containing products located in the drawer 3.
The drawer 3 usually also comprises a front portion 730 which develops transversally to the insertion/extraction direction of the drawer 3. The drawer 3 comprises a rear portion 76 opposite the front portion 730. The front portion 730 is advantageously removably connected to remaining parts of the drawer 3 (said remaining parts are advantageously made in a single piece).
The drawer 3 comprises a first abutment 60 which projects from the lower platform 6 in a downwards direction. The lower platform 6 further comprises a plurality of parallel ribs developing along an extraction/insertion direction of the drawer 3 (the ribs typically have a strengthening function). The drawer 3 is ideally subdivided into three parts of equal length (measured along the extraction/insertion direction): the three parts are two end parts and an intermediate part. The first abutment 60 lies in the intermediate part of said three parts. As shown by way of example in figure 4, the first abutment 60 is fin-shaped.
The cell 2 comprises an endrun stop 61 of the first abutment 60. The stop 61 defines an endrun during an extracting run of the drawer 3. In this way the drawer 3 is prevented from being completely removed accidentally during the extraction run. The first abutment 60 is located in a position that is such as to be hidden from the view of a normal user.
The first abutment 60 comprises a first ramp 71 which develops downwards from said lower platform 6. The first ramp 71, when distancing from the front portion 730, also distances from the platform 6.
The first abutment 60 comprises a second ramp 72. As it distances from the front portion 730, the second ramp 72 nears the platform 6. The second ramp 72 advantageously connects a lower end of the first ramp 71 to the platform 6. The first abutment 60 advantageously exhibits a rounded lower end which connects the first and the second ramp 71, 72. The first abutment 60 is in a single piece with the platform 6. The first abutment 60 and the platform 6 are therefore not an assembly. They are made in a single piece by moulding.
The endrun stop 61 is a step 78 which is encountered when moving from said opening towards the lower portion 23 of the cell 2. An infinite plane advantageously exists, which is horizontal and imaginary, and which separates the first guide 4 (or the first groove 40 hereafter defined) and the said step 78 (in particular and more simply the first guide 4 or the first groove 40 surmounts said step 78) into two distinct semi-spaces with no reciprocal intersecting. The endrun stop 61 is destined to come into contact with the first ramp 71 of the first abutment 60 such as to halt the extraction of the drawer 3. The endrun stop 61 is advantageously integrated into the cell 2.
The drawer 3 advantageously comprises a second abutment 77. The second abutment 77 is advantageously shaped the same as the first abutment 60. The first and the second abutments 60, 77 are advantageously destined to contemporaneously contact the endrun stop 61.
The lower platform 6, the rear portion 76 and the first and second flank 35, 62 of the drawer 3 are advantageously made in a single piece.
The drawer 3 comprises a first protrusion 31 which projects externally of the drawer 3 from the first lateral flank 35. The first protrusion 31 is advantageously a dragging element. The dragging element advantageously is an element dragging in the first guide 4. The first guide 4 advantageously is/comprises a first groove 40 in which the first protrusion 31 inserts. During the course of the present description, the expression "first guide 4" can be substituted by the expression "first guide means 4". The dragging element is advantageously a pin which enables oscillations of the drawer 3. The dragging element is destined to be inserted in the first groove 40. In cooperation with the first protrusion 31, the first groove 40 has an important function in preventing the drawer 3 from tilting when the drawer 3 is partially extracted. Likewise the first abutment 60 has an important anti-tilt function, as it prevents an excessive extraction of the drawer (with a consequently inevitable tilting).
The first protrusion 31 is a rigid element lacking in rotatable parts. It is realized in a single piece with at least a portion of the first lateral flank 35 of the drawer 3.
The first protrusion 31 is more greatly neared to the rear portion 76 with respect to the front portion 730. The first protrusion 31 comprises:

a first end 65 in common with the first flank 35;
a second end 66 distanced from the first flank 35 with respect to the first end 65;
a lateral surface 67 interposed between the first and the second end 65, 66;
a reinforcing tab 68 which connects the first lateral flank 35 and the lateral surface 67 of the first protrusion 31.

Only a single reinforcing tab 68 is advantageously present. The reinforcing tab 68 is interposed between the lateral surface 67 and the front portion 730 of the drawer 3.
The first guide 4 is heat-formed with remaining parts of the first wall 25. The first guide 4 is realized in a single piece with adjacent parts of the first wall 25. The first guide 4 in turn comprises a first and a second tract 41, 42 which are consecutive. The second tract 42 is closer to the back wall 21 with respect to the first tract 41. During an inserting run the drawer 3 (in particular the first protrusion 31) transits first at the first tract 41 and then at the second tract 42.
The second tract 42 projects downwards, distancing from the first tract 41 such as to define recall means 420 of the drawer 3 in the first configuration.
The second tract 42 develops between two points 43, 44 connected by a straight line that is inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle comprised between 10° and 35°.
The first and/or the second tract 41, 42 are preferably straight.
As exemplified in the accompanying figures the first tract 41 is horizontal. When the first protrusion 31 is located along the first tract 41 the drawer 3 can translate horizontally. When the first protrusion 31 is located along the second tract 42 the drawer 3 advantageously displaces downwards. In this way a complete insertion of the drawer 3 is ensured.
The cell 2 comprises a second guide 70 of the drawer 3 comprising a second groove 74. Advantageously during the course of the present description, the expression "second groove 70" can be replaced by the expression "second guide means 70". The second flank 62 of the drawer 3 advantageously comprises a second protrusion which projects distancingly from the drawer 3 in an outwards direction. The first protrusion 31 and the second protrusion are substantially symmetrical. The second protrusion inserts in the second groove 74. The first protrusion 31 and the second protrusion are part of a body realized in a single piece. The second guide means 70 of the drawer 3 are heat-formed together with the second wall 26 (and the remaining parts of the cell 2).
The first lateral flank 35 of the drawer 3 comprises a first shelf 33 which develops along the first flank 35.
The first flank 33 comprises a first portion 331 and a second portion 332. At least in a presumed predetermined position of the drawer 3 internally of the cell 2, the first portion 331 is substantially parallel to the first tract 41 of the first groove 40 and the second portion 332 is substantially parallel to the second tract 42 of the first groove 40.
This predetermined position of the drawer 3 takes place advantageously when the platform 6 of the drawer 3 is substantially horizontal. During the extraction from the position of complete insertion up to the reaching of the endrun defined by the first abutment 60 the drawer 3 advantageously but not necessarily translates, remaining substantially parallel to itself.
The first portion 331 is more greatly neared to the rear portion 76 with respect to the second portion 332. The first shelf 33 develops for more than two-thirds of the length of the first flank 35 of the drawer 3. The first shelf 33 has a width comprised between 1 and 3 centimetres. In other words the first shelf 33 projects distancingly from the first flank 35 of the drawer 3 for a length comprised between 1 and 3 centimetres. The first shelf 33 advantageously comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs, The reinforcing ribs advantageously connect the first flank 35 of the drawer 3 and an upper surface of the shelf 33.
The apparatus 1 comprises a rotatable element 34 applied to the refrigerating cell 2. The rotation axis of the rotatable element 34 remains fixed with respect to the cell 2. The shelf 33 of the drawer 3 rests on the rotatable element 34; this enables reducing the friction and therefore the force exerted by the user to move the drawer 3. An extraction run or an insertion run of the drawer 3 is accompanied by a displacement of the shelf 33 on the rotatable element 34.
The drawer 3 advantageously comprises a plurality of dragging slides 79 destined to slide along corresponding horizontal tracks 80 fashioned on the cell 2. The slides 79 are used in the absence of the system based on shelves 33 and rotatable elements 34.
The second wall 26 comprises at least a heat-formed second guide 70 of the drawer 3. One or more technical characteristics described with reference to the first protrusion 31 can advantageously be repeated for the second protrusion. The drawer 3 is preferably symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry interposed between the first and the second flank 35, 62. The first and the second guide 4, 70 are advantageously reciprocally symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry.
The drawer 3 is advantageously made of a plastic material, for example transparent crystal polystyrene GPPS. It is typically realized by moulding.
The invention as it is conceived enables multiple advantages to be achieved.
In particular it enables a reduction in costs and assembly times. Further, it gives the user a pleasant sensation during the final step of the insertion run of the drawer 3 (thanks to the recall means 420).
In particular, the invention enables optimising the components of an household appliance while optimising the costs and times connected with assembly.
The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterizing it. Further, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be of any type according to needs.

Claims

A refrigerating apparatus for foodstuff products, comprising:
- a heat-formed refrigeration cell (2) comprising a back wall (21), an opening (22) opposite the back wall (21), a base (23) and a top (24), opposite one another, a first and a second lateral wall (25, 26), opposite one another;

- a drawer (3) defining a crisper that is mobile between a first configuration in which it is completely inserted in the cell (2) and a second configuration in which it is at least partially extracted;
characterised in that the first wall (25) comprises at least a heat-formed first guide (4) of the drawer (3).
The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the heat-formed first guide (4) is a first groove (40);
said drawer (3) comprising:
- a first lateral flank (35);

- a first protrusion (31) which projects towards outside the drawer (3) from the first flank (35) and which inserts in the first groove (40).
The apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that said first protrusion (31) is a dragging element which is rigid and without rotating parts.
The apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that said dragging element is a pin which enables oscillations of the drawer (3).
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first guide (4) in turn comprises a first and a second tract (41, 42), which are consecutive, the second tract (42) being more greatly neared to the back wall (21) with respect to the first tract (41).
The apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the second tract (42) projects in a downwards direction, distancing from the first tract (41) such as to define recall means (420) of the drawer (3) in the first configuration.
The apparatus of claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the second tract (42) develops between two points (43, 44) connected by a straight line that is inclined with respect to a horizontal one by an angle comprised between 10° and 35°.
The apparatus according to any one of claims from 5 to 7 when depending directly or indirectly on claim 2, characterized in that the first lateral flank (35) of the drawer (3) comprises a first shelf (33) that develops along the first flank (35);
said first shelf (33) comprises a first portion (331) and a second portion (332); at least in a predetermined position assumed by the drawer (3) internally of the cell (2) the first portion (331) being substantially parallel to the first tract (41) of the first groove (40) and the second portion (332) being substantially parallel to the second tract (41) of the first groove (40);
said apparatus comprising a rotatable element (34) applied to the refrigeration cell (2), the first shelf (33) of the drawer (3) resting on said rotatable element (34); an extraction or insertion run of the drawer (3) being accompanied by a sliding of the first shelf (33) on the rotatable element (34).
A refrigerating apparatus of foodstuff products comprising:
i) a refrigeration cell (2) identifying a compartment (73) destined to contain the foodstuff products;

ii) a drawer (3) mobile between a first configuration in which it is completely inserted in the compartment (73) and a second configuration in which it is at least partially extracted from the compartment (73); said drawer (3) comprising a lower support base (6) of foodstuff products characterized in that:
- said drawer (3) comprises a first abutment (60) which projects downwards from the lower base (6);
said apparatus comprises a stop (61) of the first abutment (60), said stop (61) defining an endrun stop during an extraction of the drawer (3).
The apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the drawer (3) comprises:
- a first lateral flank and a second lateral flank (35, 62);

- a first protrusion (31) which projects towards outside the drawer (3) from the first lateral flank (35);
said cell (2) comprising first guide means (4) of the drawer (3) comprising a first groove (40) in which the first protrusion (31) inserts.
The apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the first protrusion (31) is without rotatable parts and is realised in a single piece with at least a portion of the first lateral flank (35) of the drawer (3).
The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the first protrusion (31) comprises:
- a first end (65) in common with the first flank (35);

- a second end (66) distanced from the first flank (35) with respect to the first end (65);

- a lateral surface (67) interposed between the first and the second end (65, 66);

- a reinforcing tab (68) which connects the first lateral flank (35) and the lateral surface (67) of the first protrusion (31);
said drawer (3) comprising a second protrusion which projects in an outwards direction of the drawer (3) from said second lateral flank (62);
said cell (2) comprising second guide means (70) of the drawer (3) comprising a second groove (74) in which the second protrusion inserts; the first protrusion (31) and the second protrusion being a part of a single body realized in a single piece.
The apparatus according to any one of claims from 9 to 12, characterised in that the drawer (3) comprises a front portion (730) which develops transversally to an extraction/insertion direction of the drawer (3); the first abutment (60) comprises a first ramp (71) which develops downwards from said lower base (6), said first ramp (71) when distancing from the front portion (730) distances also from the base (6).
The apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that the first abutment (60) comprises a second ramp (72), said second ramp (72) when distancing from the front portion (730) nears the base (6) such as to connect a lower end of the first ramp (71) to the base (6).
The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the cell (2) comprises an access opening (22) to the compartment (73), said stop (61) being a step (78) which is encountered when moving from said opening (22) towards a lower portion (23) of the cell (2); said stop (61) being destined to come into contact with the first ramp (71) of the first abutment (60) in order to halt extraction of the drawer (3);
the refrigerator cell (2) being a heat-formed single piece and said stop (61) being integral with the cell (2);
the first abutment (60) being in a single piece with the base (6).