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EP 2 243 397 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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03.05.2017 Bulletin 2017/18 |
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Date of filing: 06.04.2010 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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A system for vertically adjusting a shelf
System zur vertikalen Verstellung eines Regals
Système pour l'ajustement vertical d'étagère
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR |
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Priority: |
23.04.2009 SI 200900116
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Date of publication of application: |
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27.10.2010 Bulletin 2010/43 |
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Proprietor: Gorenje d.d. |
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3503 Velenje (SI) |
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Inventor: |
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- Mejac, Matej
3272, Rimske Toplice (SI)
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Representative: Ivancic, Bojan |
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Inventio d.o.o.
Dolenjska cesta 11 1000 Ljubljana 1000 Ljubljana (SI) |
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References cited: :
WO-A1-2006/120102 WO-A1-2008/095775 FR-A- 417 377
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WO-A1-2008/095545 CH-A- 477 187
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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).
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[0001] The present invention refers to a system for vertically adjusting a shelf, such as
in refrigerating appliances, cabinets, lockers and similar, said shelf comprises horizontal
support members arranged perpendicularly to vertical guides where they can be vertically
adjusted, and a deposit plate, a drawer or similar, being attached to said horizontal
support members.
[0002] The aforementioned system for vertically adjusting a shelf is known from international
patent applications No.
WO 2008/095775,
WO 2008/095545 and
WO 2006/120102. All the said known solutions have several drawbacks. The fact that a shelf, when
raised and afterwards lowered, can freely fall is particularly outstanding. Furthermore,
in order to adjust the shelf vertically it must be moved and rotated in several directions,
representing a sever obstacle for a user. In addition to inaccurate vertical adjusting
of the shelf, the embodiment of the system itself is rather technologically demanding
and time consuming.
[0003] Furthermore, a system for vertically adjusting a shelf is known from the document
CH 477 187 A. Said shelf comprises horizontal support members arranged perpendicularly to vertical
guides where they can be vertically adjusted. Said shelf being fixed in a form-locking
and friction-type manner in the vertical guides by means of the horizontal support
members. With this solution too, in order to adjust the shelf vertically it must be
moved and rotated in several directions, representing a sever obstacle for a user.
[0004] It is the object of the present invention to create a system for vertically adjusting
a shelf of the aforesaid kind with which said drawbacks of the known solutions will
be remedied.
[0005] According to the invention, said object is solved by a shelf being fixed in a form-locking
and friction-type manner in vertical guides by means of horizontal support members.
Each said vertical guide, having a C-shaped cross-section, comprises a web formed
with a plurality of through holes for passing the air, and a side arranged opposite
to said web, said side being formed with folds facing each other. Preferably, the
free end of at least one fold is formed with a gearing extending over the entire length
of each said guide.
[0006] Furthermore, it is provided for according to the invention that each said horizontal
support member is formed on the side cooperating with each of said guides with a flange-like
extension, an oblong and relatively narrow tongue-like projection being associated
thereto in longitudinal direction. The upper section of said projection is formed
with a pair of vertically and horizontally spaced circular projections intended to
mesh with said gearing of each guide. Thus, a form-locking connection between the
guide and the horizontal support member being provided in this manner. Said friction-type
connection between the guide and the horizontal support member is created in a manner
that the surface of the flange-like extension facing the guide is pressed against
each guide due to dead load of the shelf.
[0007] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings without being limited thereto.
- Fig. 1
- shows a shelf according to the invention in a three-dimensional view,
- Fig. 2
- shows a detail of a vertical guide of the shelf of Fig. 1,
- Fig. 3
- shows a horizontal support member of the shelf of Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional view,
- Fig. 4
- shows a detail of the support member of Fig. 3,
- Fig. 5
- shows a detail of the support member as in Fig. 4 but from another perspective,
- Fig. 6
- shows a side view of the shelf according to the invention,
- Fig. 7
- shows a side view of the shelf according to the invention and ready to be vertically
adjusted,
- Fig. 8
- shows a side view of the shelf according to the invention and fixed in the vertical
guides,
- Fig. 9
- shows a cross-section of the vertical guide and the shelf according to the invention
incorporated into a cooling appliance,
- Fig. 10
- shows a cross-section of another embodiment of the vertical guide and the shelf according
to the invention incorporated into a cooling appliance.
[0008] A system for vertically adjusting a shelf being described in details with reference
to a cooling appliance comprises at least one, preferably two vertical guides 1, 2
being mutually spaced and formed in the cross-section as the letter C. Since said
guides are preferably identical, only the first guide 1 is fully described in the
foregoing and with reference to Fig. 2. Said guides 1, 2 are preferably placed against
each other in a manner that webs 3 thereof faces each other. However, it is obvious
that said guides 1, 2 may be arranged in a manner that said webs 3 are averted from
each other. Each web 3 of said guides 1, 2 is formed with a plurality of through holes
4 enabling the air passage. A side 5 of each C-formed guide 1, 2 arranged opposite
to said web 3 is formed as a pair of folds 6, 7 facing each other, the free end of
at least one fold 6, 7 being preferably formed over the entire length of said guide
1, 2 with a gearing 8, 9.
[0009] To each of said guides 1, 2 there is attached by means of a form-locking connection
and on the principle of a cantilever a slender support member 10, 11, said form-locking
connection being fully described below, wherein said support member 10, 11 being relocatable
in the longitudinal direction of said guides 1, 2 and a deposit plate 12 being superimposed
on said support members 10, 11. Since both said support members are identical only
the first support member 10 is fully described in the foregoing and with reference
to Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Said deposit plate 12 is attached to said support members
10, 11 either irremovably, by means of an adhesive means for example, or removably
whereby in the latter case said deposit plate 12 being fixed on each said support
member 10, 11 by means of a safeguard 13, thus preventing a displacement of said deposit
plate 12 relative to said support member 10, 11. Here, said deposit plate 12 being
formed of an opaque or partially or entirely translucent material such as glass or
plastic, for instance. Said safeguard 13 having preferably the same width as said
support member 10, 11 is connected with said support member 10, 11 by means of a form-locking
connection, for example, wherein said safeguard 13 is formed on the side facing said
support member 10, 11 with a T-shaped guide 14 cooperating with a suitable T-shaped
groove 15 formed in said support member 10, 11. In the present embodiment said groove
15 extends at least over a part of the width of said support member 10, 11, nevertheless
it could extend over the entire width thereof. Optionally, said safeguard 13 is additionally
secured by means of a fixing means not shown which can be inserted through a hole
16 in the safeguard 13 into a hole 17 in the support member 10, 11. Each said support
member 10, 11 is formed on the side cooperating with each vertical guide 1, 2 with
a flange-like extension 18 extending in the direction of said vertical guide, an oblong
and relatively narrow tongue-like projection being associated with said extension
18 in the longitudinal direction of said vertical guide. The upper section 20 of said
projection 19 is formed with a pair of vertically and horizontally spaced circular
projections 21, 22 intended to mesh with the gearing 8, 9 of each vertical guide 1,
2. Here, said projections 21, 22 are horizontally spaced to the extent that they just
sit into a gap between two neighbouring teeth of each gearing 8, 9 when the shelf
according to the invention is in locked horizontal position. Said section 20 is formed
on the inner side of the projection 19 with a guide 23 whereto a slider 24 snaps on
which cooperates with the vertical guide 1, 2. Each said projection 19 is herewith
intended to cooperate with each vertical guide 1, 2 in a manner that it extends through
a vertical gap between a wall 26 of a cooling appliance and each vertical guide 1,
2, said guide 23 along with the slider 24 being arranged within each said vertical
guide 1, 2. The slider 24 acts as a guidance for each support member 10, 11 inside
the vertical guide 1, 2, whereas the circular projections 21, 22 mesh with the gearing
8, 9 of each vertical guide 1, 2, thus each support member 10, 11 as well as the shelf
12 being fixed in the position.
[0010] The shelf consisting of said support members 10, 11 and said deposit plate 12 is
vertically adjusted in said vertical guides 1, 2 in a manner that it is lifted up
at the end averted from said vertical guides 1, 2 so that it rotates about its centre
of rotation which lies approximately in the horizontal axis of said slider 24. It
is provided for in this manner that said circular projections 21, 22 unmesh the gearing
8, 9 due to which the shelf can be moved in height for the arbitrary number of teeth
of the gearing 8, 9. The precision of the adjusting the shelf according to the invention
depends on the size of the teeth of the gearing 8, 9, the pitch of said teeth and
the diameter of said circular projections 21, 22. The system as described above provides
for a form-locking fixing of the shelf. The shelf according to the invention is additionally
fixed in a horizontal position in a manner that a surface 27 of the flange-like extension
18 facing the vertical guide 1, 2 is pressed, due to dead load of the shelf, against
the vertical guide 1, 2 and, respectively, against a decorative profile 28 which optionally
covers each vertical guide 1, 2. In this manner a friction-type blocking of the shelf
is obtained.
1. A system for vertically adjusting a shelf, such as in refrigerating appliances, cabinets,
lockers and similar, said system comprising horizontal support members (10, 11) arranged
perpendicularly to vertical guides (1, 2) where they can be vertically adjusted, and
a deposit plate (12), a drawer or similar, being attached to said horizontal support
members (10, 11), said plate being fixed in a form-locking and friction-type manner
in vertical guides (1, 2) by means of horizontal support members (10, 11), characterized in that said vertical guide (1, 2), having a C-shaped cross-section, comprises a web (3)
formed with a plurality of through holes (4) for passing the air, and a side (5) arranged
opposite to said web (3), said side (5) being formed with folds (6) facing each other,
where the free end of at least one fold (6, 7) is formed with a gearing (8, 9) extending
preferably over the entire length of said guide (1, 2).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that each said horizontal support member (10, 11) is formed on the side cooperating with
each of said guides (1, 2) with a flange-like extension (18), an oblong and relatively
narrow tongue-like projection (19) being associated thereto in longitudinal direction,
the upper section (20) of said projection (19) is formed with a pair of vertically
and horizontally spaced circular projections (21, 22) intended to mesh with said gearing
(8, 9) of each said guide (1, 2).
3. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section (20) is formed in the inner side of the projection (19) with a guide
(23) whereto a slider (24) snaps on which cooperates with said vertical guide (1,
2).
4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said deposit plate (12) is fixed on horizontal support members (10, 11) by means
of a safeguard (13) being connected in a form-locking manner with said support member
(10, 11).
5. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that said safeguard (13) is formed on the side facing said support member (10, 11) with
a T-shaped guide (14) which cooperates with a suitable T-shaped groove (15) formed
in said support member (10, 11).
6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate is additionally fixed in a horizontal position by means of a friction-type
blocking in a manner that a surface (27) of the flange-like extension (18) facing
the vertical guide (1, 2) is pressed, due to dead load of the plate against the vertical
guide (1, 2) and, respectively, against a decorative profile (28) which optionally
covers each vertical guide (1, 2).
1. System zum vertikalen Verstellen eines Regals, beispielsweise in Kühlgeräten, Schränken,
Spinden und dergleichen, wobei das System umfasst:
horizontale Stützelemente (10, 11), die senkrecht zu vertikalen Führungen (1, 2) angeordnet
sind, an denen sie vertikal verstellt werden können, und eine Ablageplatte (12), ein
Schubfach oder dergleichen, die an den horizontalen Stützelementen (10, 11) befestigt
ist, wobei die Platte mittels der horizontalen Stützelemente (10, 11) in einer formschlüssigen
und kraftschlüssigen Weise an den vertikalen Führungen (1, 2) fixiert ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die vertikale Führung (1, 2), welche einen C - förmigen Querschnitt hat, einen Steg
(3), der mit einer Mehrzahl von Durchgangslöchern (4) zum Durchlass von Luft ausgebildet
ist, und eine Seite (5) umfasst, die gegenüber von dem Steg (3) angeordnet ist, wobei
die Seite (5) mit Abkantungen (6) ausgebildet ist, welche zueinander zeigen, wobei
das freie Ende von wenigstens einer Abkantung (6, 7) mit einer Verzahnung (8, 9) ausgebildet
ist, welche sich vorzugsweise über die gesamte Länge der vertikalen Führung (1, 2)
erstreckt.
2. System nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes horizontale Stützelement (10, 11) an der Seite gebildet ist, die mit jeder
der Führungen (1, 2) mit einer flanschähnlichen Verlängerung (18) zusammenwirkt, wobei
ein länglicher und relativ schmaler zungenähnlicher Vorsprung (19) damit in Längsrichtung
verbunden ist, wobei der obere Abschnitt (20) von dem Vorsprung (19) mit einem Paar
von vertikal und horizontal beabstandeten kreisförmigen Vorsprüngen (21, 22) ausgebildet
ist, die zum Eingriff mit der Verzahnung (8, 9) von jeder Führung (1, 2) dienen.
3. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Abschnitt (20) an der inneren Seite des Vorsprungs (19) mit einer Führung (23)
ausgebildet ist, an welcher ein Schieber (24) einrastet, der mit der vertikalen Führung
(1, 2) zusammenwirkt.
4. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ablageplatte (12) mittels eines Sicherungsteils (13), das in einer formschlüssigen
Weise mit dem Stützelement (10, 11) verbunden ist, an den horizontalen Stützelementen
(10, 11) fixiert ist.
5. System nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Sicherungsteil (13) an der Seite, die dem Stützelement (10, 11) zugewandt ist,
mit einer T-förmigen Führung (14) ausgebildet ist, welche mit einer passenden T-förmigen
Rille (15) zusammenwirkt, die in dem Stützelement (10,11) ausgebildet ist.
6. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Platte zusätzlich mittels einer kraftschlüssigen Sperrung in einer horizontalen
Position in einer Weise fixiert ist, dass eine Oberfläche (27) der flanschähnlichen
Verlängerung (18), welche der vertikalen Führung (1, 2) zugewandt ist, aufgrund des
Eigengewichts der Platte gegen die vertikale Führung (1, 2) und entsprechend gegen
ein Dekorprofil (28) gedrückt wird, das jede der vertikalen Führungen (1, 2) optional
bedeckt.
1. Système pour l'ajustement vertical d'une étagère, tel que dans des appareils de réfrigération,
des armoires, des vestiaires et analogues, ledit système comprenant des éléments de
support horizontaux (10, 11) disposés perpendiculairement à des guides verticaux (1,
2) où ils peuvent être ajustés verticalement, et une plaque de dépôt (12), un tiroir
ou analogue, fixée auxdits éléments de support horizontaux (10, 11), ladite plaque
étant fixée, d'une manière à verrouillage de forme et de type à frottement, dans les
guides verticaux (1, 2) au moyen des éléments de support horizontaux (10, 11), caractérisé par le fait que ledit guide vertical (1, 2), ayant une section transversale en forme de C, comprend
une âme (3) comportant une pluralité de trous traversants (4) pour laisser passer
l'air, et un côté (5) disposé à l'opposé de ladite âme (3), ledit côté (5) comportant
des rebords (6) se faisant face l'un l'autre, l'extrémité libre d'au moins un rebord
(6, 7) comportant une denture (8, 9) s'étendant, de préférence, sur toute la longueur
dudit guide (1, 2).
2. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que chaque élément de support horizontal (10, 11) comporte, sur le côté coopérant avec
chacun desdits guides (1, 2), une extension de type bride (18), une saillie de type
languette oblongue et relativement étroite (19) étant associée à celle-ci dans une
direction longitudinale, la section supérieure (20) de ladite saillie (19) comporte
une paire de saillies circulaires espacées horizontalement et verticalement (21, 22)
destiner à s'engrener avec ladite denture (8, 9) de chaque guide (1, 2).
3. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ladite section (20) comporte, dans le côté interne de la saillie (19), un guide (23)
sur lequel un curseur (24) est emboîté élastiquement, lequel coopère avec ledit guide
vertical (1, 2).
4. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ladite plaque de dépôt (12) est fixée sur les éléments de support horizontaux (10,
11) au moyen d'une protection (13) reliée d'une manière à verrouillage de forme audit
élément de support (10, 11).
5. Système selon la revendication 4, caractérisé par le fait que ladite protection (13) comporte, sur le côté faisant face audit élément de support
(10, 11), un guide en forme de T (14) qui coopère avec une rainure en forme de T appropriée
(15) formée dans ledit élément de support (10, 11).
6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ladite plaque est également fixée dans une position horizontale au moyen d'un blocage
de type à frottement d'une manière telle qu'une surface (27) de l'extension de type
bride (18) faisant face au guide vertical (1, 2) est pressée, en raison d'un poids
propre de la plaque, contre le guide vertical (1, 2) et, respectivement, contre un
profil décoratif (28) qui recouvre facultativement chaque guide vertical (1, 2).
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