(19)
(11) EP 2 000 760 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
12.08.2009 Bulletin 2009/33

(21) Application number: 07380161.5

(22) Date of filing: 05.06.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25D 23/04(2006.01)

(54)

Household refridgerator door

Haushaltskühlschranktür

Porte de réfrigérateur domestique


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(43) Date of publication of application:
10.12.2008 Bulletin 2008/50

(73) Proprietor: FAGOR, S.COOP.
20500 Mondragon (Gipuzkoa) (ES)

(72) Inventor:
  • Barbara Ganzabal, Joseba
    01400 Laudio (Araba) (ES)

(74) Representative: Igartua, Ismael 
Dpto. Propiedad Industrial; Apdo. 213
20500 Mondragon (Gipuzkoa)
20500 Mondragon (Gipuzkoa) (ES)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 634 616
DE-U1- 29 718 944
DE-A1- 10 208 063
DE-U1-7202004 019 90
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD



    [0001] The present invention relates to a door of a household refrigerator and more specifically to the constructive characteristics of a shelf supported on the interior of said door.

    PRIOR ART



    [0002] There are known household refrigerators with at least one shelf supported on the interior wall of the door and comprising a flat base that is held between two lateral support pieces made of plastic. Said lateral support pieces are fixed to longitudinal lateral edges disposed on the interior wall of the door.

    [0003] US 3,375,936 describes a shelf in which the flat base is held between two lateral support pieces and also between the lateral walls of the longitudinal lateral edges of the door. Said flat base is held by means of respective grooves disposed on the lateral walls of the longitudinal lateral edges of the door.

    [0004] DE 8606724 U1 discloses a shelf that comprises a flat base formed with a glass plate that is held between two lateral support pieces. Said lateral support pieces comprise respective grooves in which the transverse edges of said flat base are housed.

    [0005] EP 634616 A1 describes a refrigerator door that comprises shelves with a flat base plate made of glass and two lateral support pieces fixed to lateral edges of the door. In this case, the lateral support pieces also comprise respective grooves in which are housed the transverse edges of the base plate.

    [0006] DE 29718944 U a refrigerator door according to the preamble of claim 1.

    DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION



    [0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a household refrigerator door of the type that comprises at least one shelf supported on an interior wall of said door, as defined in the claims.

    [0008] The household refrigerator door of the invention comprises at least one shelf comprising a flat base plate made of glass or a similar material, and two lateral support pieces fixed to lateral edges of the door, the base plate being supported between said lateral support pieces.

    [0009] The lateral support pieces comprise, on their interior surface, a seating in which is supported the transverse edge of the base plate and a retention element that projects from said interior surface and that comprises an extension with a substantially spherical surface that presses on said transverse edge.

    [0010] In the household refrigerator door of the invention, the assembly of the base plate in the lateral support pieces is facilitated, as the area of friction between the base plate and the lateral support pieces is reduced to a single point of contact. In addition, with the use of the retention element, the amount of material used for the lateral support pieces is reduced in comparison to solutions in the prior art in which grooves are used to hold the transverse edges of the base plate.

    [0011] In addition, the tools for the manufacture of the lateral support pieces of the invention are more robust than the tools that have to be used for the manufacture of lateral support pieces with grooves.

    [0012] Another advantage of the invention is that by means of the retention element looseness between the base plate and the lateral support pieces is eliminated. This ensures that the shelf has a good finish and is robust and that the possibility of noise due to said looseness is also eliminated.

    [0013] Another advantage of the use of the retention element instead of grooves is that the cleaning of the shelf is made easier, as inaccessible areas for cleaning are reduced.

    [0014] These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.

    DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0015] 

    FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a household refrigerator door with shelves according to a first embodiment of the invention.

    FIG. 2 is a first partial perspective view of one of the shelves of FIG. 1.

    FIG. 3 is a second partial perspective view of one of the shelves of FIG. 1.

    FIG. 4 is a partial ground view of one of the shelves of FIG. 1.

    FIG. 5 is a view in profile of one of the shelves of FIG. 1 according to section V-V.

    FIG. 6 is a first partial perspective view of a shelf according to a second embodiment of the invention.

    FIG. 7 is a second partial perspective view of the shelf of FIG. 5.

    FIG. 8 is a third partial perspective view of the shelf of FIG. 5.

    FIG. 9 is a profile view according to section IX-IX of FIG. 6.


    DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION



    [0016] Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the household refrigerator door 1 of the invention. The door 1 comprises shelves 2 supported on a vertical interior wall 1a of said door 1. Each shelf 2 comprises a flat base plate 3 made of glass or a similar material, and two lateral support pieces 4 moulded from plastic and fixed to lateral edges 1b of the door 1, the base plate 3 being supported between said lateral support pieces 4.

    [0017] The lateral support pieces 4 comprise, on their interior surface 4b, a seating 8 in which is supported the transverse edge 3b of the base plate 3, and a retention element 12 that projects from said interior surface 4b. Said retention element 12, which forms an integral part of the lateral support piece 4, comprises an extension 12a with a substantially spherical surface that presses on the upper surface of said transverse edge 3b due to the elastic properties of said retention element 12.

    [0018] In this first embodiment, the seating 8 of the lateral support pieces 4 comprises, as shown in Figure 2, two lateral support wings 8b separated by an intermediate space above which is disposed the retention element 12.

    [0019] The shelf 2 comprises a front section 5 that comprises, as shown in Figure 5, a groove 7 in which the front longitudinal edge 3a of the base plate 3 is housed, the ends of said front section 5 being supported on a respective front recess 8a disposed in the seating 8 of the lateral support pieces 4 and shown in Figures 2 and 5. The lateral support pieces 4 comprise a housing 9 for the front section 5, the front recess 8a being the base of said housing 9.

    [0020] The front section 5 comprises, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, a substantially vertical wall 5a, and the shelf 2 also comprises a metallic bar 6. The ends of said metallic bar 6 are housed on the edge 4a of the lateral support pieces 4, so that said wall 5a and said metallic bar 6 form a front enclosure.

    [0021] Figures 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention. In this second embodiment, the shelf 2 also comprises a flat base plate 3 made of glass or a similar material, and two lateral support pieces 4 moulded from plastic and fixed to side edges 1b of the door 1 (not shown in the figures), the base plate 3 being supported between said lateral support pieces 4. The lateral support pieces 4 comprise, on their interior surface 4b, as in the first embodiment, a seating 8 in which is supported the transverse edge 3b of the base plate 3, and a retention element 12 that projects from said interior surface 4b.

    [0022] In this second embodiment, the seating 8 of the lateral support pieces 4 comprises a single front support wing 8b, the retention element 12 being disposed above the free space between the rear end of said support wing 8b and the rear end of the interior surface 4b of the lateral support piece 4, as shown in figures 8 and 9. Thus, in both embodiments the retention element 12 is positioned above a free space disposed in the seating 8. Said retention element 12, as in the first embodiment, forms an integral part of the lateral support piece 4 and comprises an extension 12a with a substantially spherical surface that presses on the upper surface of said transverse edge 3b.

    [0023] The shelf 2 also comprises a front section 5, the ends of said front section 5 being supported on a respective front recess 8a disposed in the seating 8 of the lateral support pieces 4 and shown in figures 8 and 9. The front section 5 comprises, in addition to a groove 7 in which the front longitudinal edge 3a of the base plate 3 is housed, a second groove 13 disposed perpendicularly in relation to the other groove 7. On said second groove 13 a substantially vertical flat wall 14 made of glass or a similar material is disposed, so that said flat wall 14 forms a front enclosure.


    Claims

    1. Household refrigerator door of the type that comprises at least one shelf (2) supported on an interior vertical wall (1a) of said door (1), said shelf (2) comprising
    a flat base plate (3) made of glass or a similar material, and
    two lateral support pieces (4) fixed to lateral edges (1b) of the door (1), the base plate (3) being supported between said lateral support pieces (4), wherein
    the lateral support pieces (4) comprise, on their interior surface (4b),
    a seating (8) on which the transverse edge (3b) of the base plate (3) is supported, characterised by
    a retention element (12) that projects from said interior surface (4b) and that comprises an extension (12a) with a substantially spherical surface that presses on said transverse edge (3b).
     
    2. Door according to claim 1, wherein the retention element (12) is positioned above a free space disposed in the seating (8).
     
    3. Door according to claim 2, wherein the seating (8) of the lateral support pieces (4) comprises at least one support wing (8b) that forms an integral part of the lateral support piece (4).
     
    4. Door according to claim 3, wherein the seating (8) of the lateral support pieces (4) comprises two -lateral support wings (8b) separated by an intermediate space, said intermediate space being the free space above which the retention element (12) is positioned.
     
    5. Door according to claim 3, wherein the seating (8) of the lateral support pieces (4) comprises a single front support wing (8b), a space remaining between the rear end of said support wing (8b) and the rear end of the interior surface (4b) of the lateral support piece (4), said space being the free space above which is positioned the retention element (12).
     
    6. Door according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf (2) comprises a front section (5) that comprises a groove (7) in which is housed the front longitudinal edge (3a) of the base plate (3), the ends of said front section (5) being supported on a respective front recess (8a) disposed in the seating (8) of the lateral support pieces (4).
     
    7. Door according to claim 6, wherein the front section (5) comprises a substantially vertical wall (5a), and the shelf (2) also comprises at least one metallic bar (6), the ends of said metallic bar (6) being housed in the lateral support pieces (4), so that said wall (5a) and said metallic bar (6) form a front enclosure.
     
    8. Door according to claim 6, wherein the front section (5) comprises a second groove (13) disposed perpendicularly in relation to the other groove (7), a substantially vertical flat wall (14) made of glass or a similar material being disposed on said second groove (13), so that said flat wall (14) forms a front enclosure.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Kühlschranktür für einen Privathaushalt, umfassend mindestens einen Einlegeboden (2), der auf einer vertikalen Innenwand (1a) der Tür (1) gelagert ist, wobei der Einlegeboden (2) eine plane Grundplatte (3) aus Glas oder einem ähnlichen Material und zwei seitliche Halterungen (4) umfasst, die an den Seitenrändern (1b) der Tür (1) aufliegen, wobei die Grundplatte (3) zwischen diesen seitlichen Halterungen (4) gehalten wird, wobei die seitlichen Halterungen (4) an ihrer Innenfläche (4b) eine Lagerung (8) umfassen, auf der der Querrand (3b) der Grundplatte (3) gestützt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, durch ein Halteelement (12), das von der Innenfläche (4b) übersteht und eine Verlängerung (12a) mit einer im Wesentlichen kugelförmige Fläche umfasst, die auf den Querrand (3b) drückt.
     
    2. Tür gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Halteelement (12) über einem in der Lagerung (8) angeordneten Freiraum gelegen ist.
     
    3. Tür gemäß Anspruch 2, wobei die Lagerung (8) der seitlichen Halterungen (4) zumindest einen Halterungsflügel (8b) umfasst, der Bestandteil des seitlichen Halterungsteils (4) ist.
     
    4. Tür gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die Lagerung (8) der seitlichen Halterungen (4) zwei seitliche Halterungsflügel (8b) umfasst, die durch einen Zwischenraum getrennt sind, wobei dieser Raum der Freiraum ist, über dem das Halteelement (12) angebracht ist.
     
    5. Tür gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die Lagerung (8) der seitlichen Halterungen (4) einen einzigen vorderen Halterungsflügel (8b), einen verbleibenden Raum zwischen dem hinteren Ende des Halterungsflügels (8b) und dem hinteren Ende der Innenfläche (4b) der seitlichen Halterungsteils (4) umfasst, wobei der Raum der Freiraum ist, über dem das Halteelement (12) angeordnet ist.
     
    6. Tür gemäß einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Einlegeboden (2) einen vorderen Teil (5) umfasst, der eine Rille (7) umfasst, in der der vordere Längsrand (3a) der Grundplatte (3) untergebracht ist, wobei das Ende des vorderen Teils (5) auf einer entsprechenden vorderen Aussparung (8a) getragen wird, der in der Lagerung (8) der seitlichen Halterungen (4) angeordnet ist.
     
    7. Tür gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei das vordere Teil (5) eine im Wesentlichen vertikale Wand (5a) und der Einlegeboden (2) ebenso zumindest eine Metallleiste (6) umfasst, wobei die Enden der Metallleiste (6) in den seitlichen Halterungen (4) untergebracht sind, so dass die Wand (5a) und die Metallleiste (6) eine vordere Einfassung bilden.
     
    8. Tür gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei das vordere Teil (5) eine zweite Rille (13) umfasst, die rechtwinklig zu der anderen Rille (7) verläuft, sowie eine im Wesentlichen vertikale plane Wand (14) aus Glas oder einem ähnlichen Material, die auf dieser zweiten Rille (13) angeordnet ist, so dass diese plane Wand (14) eine vordere Einfassung bildet.
     


    Revendications

    1. Porte de réfrigérateur ménager du type qui comprend au moins une étagère (2) qui repose sur une paroi verticale intérieure (1a) de ladite porte (1), ladite étagère (2) comprenant

    - une plaque de base (3) fabriquée en verre ou dans un matériau similaire, et

    - deux pièces d'appui latérales (4) fixées sur des rebords latéraux (1b) de la porte (1 ),

    la plaque de base (3) reposant entre lesdites pièces d'appui latérales (4) et les pièces d'appui latérales (4) comprenant sur leur surface intérieure (4b) une assise (8) sur laquelle le rebord transversal (3b) de la plaque de base (3) repose, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte un élément de rétention (12) qui s'étend depuis ladite surface intérieure (4b) et qui comprend une extension (12a) avec une surface sensiblement sphérique qui est appuyée contre le rebord transversal (3b).
     
    2. Porte selon la revendication 1 où l'élément de rétention (12) est positionné au-dessus d'un espace libre disposé dans l'assise (8).
     
    3. Porte selon la revendication 2 où l'assise (8) des pièces d'appui latérales (4) comprend au moins une aile-support (8b) qui fait partie intégrante de la pièce d'appui latérale (4).
     
    4. Porte selon la revendication 3 où l'assise (8) des pièces d'appui latérales (4) comprend deux ailes-support (8b) séparées par un espace intermédiaire, ledit espace intermédiaire étant l'espace libre au-dessus duquel l'élément de rétention (12) est positionné.
     
    5. Porte selon la revendication 3 où l'assise (8) des pièces d'appui latérales (4) comprend une seule aile-support avant (8b), un espace restant entre l'extrémité arrière de ladite aile-support (8b) et l'extrémité arrière de la surface intérieure (4) de la pièce d'appui latéral (4), ledit espace représentant l'espace libre au-dessus duquel l'élément de rétention est positionné (12).
     
    6. Porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où l'étagère (2) comprend une section avant (5) composée d'une rainure (7) dans laquelle se trouve le rebord longitudinal avant (3a) de la plaque de base (3), chacune des extrémités de ladite section avant (5) reposant sur un renfoncement avant (8a) disposé dans l'assise (8) des pièces d'appui latérales (4).
     
    7. Porte selon la revendication 6 où la section avant (5) comprend une paroi sensiblement verticale (5a) et l'étagère (2) comprend également au moins une barre métallique (6), les extrémités de ladite barre métallique (6) étant contenues dans les pièces d'appui latérales (4), de telle manière que ladite paroi (5a) et ladite barre métallique (6) forment une enceinte avant.
     
    8. Porte selon la revendication 6 où la section avant (5) comprend une seconde rainure (13) disposée perpendiculairement par rapport à l'autre rainure (7), une paroi plate sensiblement verticale (14) fabriquée en verre ou dans un matériau similaire étant disposé sur ladite seconde rainure (13) de telle manière que la paroi plate (14) forme une enceinte avant.
     




    Drawing




















    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description