Refrigerator

Abstract

The operability of a front side frame plate is improved in a refrigerator provided with a frame with the front side frame plate and a rear side frame plate. The refrigerator includes a shelf having a front side shelf plate and a rear side shelf plate. The front frame plate is displaceable in the front-rear direction with respect to the rear frame plate, and can adopt a first method in which the front frame plate is pulled forward with respect to the rear frame plate, and a second method in which the front frame plate is located further toward the rear than the first method and below the rear frame plate. The front side frame plate is provided with a main part which is located at a position closer to the front than the rear side frame plate in the first mode and is located below the rear side frame plate in the second mode; the front portion is located on the front side of the main portion and located on the front side of the rear side frame plate in the second mode. The front portion extends upward toward the front side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] It is known to provide a retractable shelf in a refrigerating room (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-160335).

[0003] The telescopic frame 12 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-160335 includes a front frame 23 having a handle portion 21 . Summary of the invention

[0004] In the telescopic shelf 12 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-160335, there are problems with the operability of the front side shelf plate, such as difficulty in gripping the handle 21 when the front shelf 23 is stored and difficulty in operating when the front shelf is pulled out.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to improve the operability of a front shelf plate in a refrigerator including a shelf having a front shelf plate and a rear shelf plate.

[0006] A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a shelf having a rear shelf plate and a front shelf plate, wherein the front shelf plate can be displaced in the front-rear direction relative to the rear shelf plate, and can adopt a first mode in which the front shelf plate is pulled out relative to the rear shelf plate to the front side, and a second mode in which the front shelf plate is located at the rear side of the first mode and below the rear shelf plate. The front shelf plate includes: a main portion located at a position in front of the rear shelf plate in the first mode and located below the rear shelf plate in the second mode; and a front portion located at the front side of the main portion and located at a position in front of the rear shelf plate in the second mode. The front portion extends upward toward the front side.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, in a refrigerator including a shelf having a front shelf plate and a rear shelf plate, operability of the front shelf plate can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing the inside of a cooling chamber of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 Yes means Figure 1 A perspective view showing a first embodiment of a shelf included in a refrigerator. Figure 3 Yes means Figure 1 A plan view showing a first embodiment of a shelf included in a refrigerator. Figure 4 Yes means Figure 1 A side view of a first embodiment of a shelf included in a refrigerator is shown. Figure 5 Yes means Figure 3The cross-sectional view is a cross-sectional view of the rack taken along line V-V shown. Figure 6 Yes means Figure 1 A perspective view showing a second embodiment of a shelf included in the refrigerator. Figure 7 Yes means Figure 1 A plan view showing a second embodiment of a shelf included in the refrigerator. Figure 8 Yes means Figure 7 The cross-sectional view is a cross-sectional view of the frame shown along line VIII-VIII. Fig. 9 Yes means Figure 5 The diagram shows a case where the rack of the second embodiment is changed to the third embodiment. Fig.10 Yes means Figure 5 etc. are diagrams showing a situation where the rack changes between the second mode and the third mode. Fig.11 It is enlarged to show Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the front portion of the rack is shown. Fig.12 It is enlarged to show Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the front portion of the rack is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and their names and functions are also the same.

[0010] In the present embodiment, a refrigerator 1 having more than one cooling chamber is listed as an example for explanation. In the present disclosure, "refrigerator" refers to all refrigeration equipment that has an internal space (cooling chamber) whose temperature is lower than the outside air temperature and can reduce the temperature of the stored items. The refrigerator can be, for example, a cold storage or a freezer. The refrigerator can have only one cooling chamber or multiple cooling chambers. In the case where the refrigerator has multiple cooling chambers, the multiple cooling chambers can also include at least two of a cold storage chamber, a freezer chamber, a vegetable chamber, a zero-degree chamber, a partial freezer chamber, and the like.

[0011] (Overall structure of refrigerator) Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of the cooling chamber 11 of the refrigerator 1 as viewed from the front oblique direction. Figure 1 In the figure, a door disposed on the front side of the refrigerator 1 is omitted.

[0012] The outer shape of the refrigerator 1 is mainly composed of a housing 10 (e.g., an insulated housing). The housing 10 forms a storage space of the refrigerator 1. The storage space formed by the housing 10 is divided into a storage space in the upper section, i.e., a cooling chamber (refrigerating chamber) 11, and other cooling chambers (a vegetable chamber 12 and a freezing chamber 13) by a partition 2 extending in the horizontal direction.

[0013] As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes the cooling chamber 11. Figure 1 In the embodiment, a cooling room (refrigerating room) 11 is located on the upper side of the refrigerator 1, and a vegetable room 12 and a freezing room 13 are located on the lower side of the refrigerator 1. However, the arrangement of the cooling rooms is not limited to this.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the surface provided with the door is referred to as the front or front of the refrigerator. Then, based on the configuration of the refrigerator 1 set in the normal state, the surfaces of the refrigerator 1 are referred to as the top, side, back and bottom surfaces. The directions such as front and back, left and right, and up and down refer to the directions when the user who uses the refrigerator 1 observes from the front side of the refrigerator. In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is set on a horizontal plane, when the refrigerator 1 is observed from the front, the left and right directions (the lateral direction orthogonal to the up and down directions) are the left and right directions of the refrigerator 1. In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is placed on the setting surface, the up and down directions of the refrigerator 1 (the longitudinal direction orthogonal to the left and right directions) are the up and down directions of the refrigerator 1. In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is placed on the setting surface, the front and back directions of the refrigerator 1 (the longitudinal direction orthogonal to the left and right directions and the up and down directions) are the front and back directions of the refrigerator 1. And, with respect to the components such as the shelf 5 arranged in the refrigerator 1, the left and right directions, the up and down directions, and the front and back directions of the refrigerator 1 in the state where the components are arranged in the refrigerator 1 set on the horizontal plane are the left and right directions, the up and down directions, and the front and back directions of the components.

[0015] A plurality of shelves, storage boxes, etc. are provided in the cooling chamber 11. The cooling chamber 11 is divided into small spaces by these components.

[0016] Specifically, two shelves 4, 4 are provided in the cooling chamber 11. The shelves 4 are detachably arranged in the cooling chamber 11. The shelves 4 are supported by rails 3 and the like provided inside the side walls of the cooling chamber 11. The number of shelves 4 arranged in the cooling chamber 11 is not particularly limited.

[0017] Furthermore, a rack 5 is provided in the cooling chamber 11. The rack 5 is disposed below the two shelf plates 4, 4. The rack 5 is supported by a support 6 or the like provided inside the side wall of the cooling chamber 11. The number of racks 5 disposed in the cooling chamber 11 is not particularly limited.

[0018] (Overall structure of the rack) Figure 2The appearance of the rack 5 is shown. The rack 5 includes a front rack plate 20 and a rear rack plate 40. The front rack plate 20 can be displaced in the front-rear direction relative to the rear rack plate 40. Thus, the front rack plate 20 can be in a first state in which it is pulled forward relative to the rear rack plate 40 and in a second state in which it is located further rearward than the first state and below the rear rack plate 40.

[0019] exist Figures 2 to 5 In FIG. 5 , the front side frame plate 20 represents the frame 5A in the first mode. Figures 6 to 8 In FIG. 1 , the front shelf plate 20 shows the shelf 5B in the second mode.

[0020] The rack 5 has rotation shafts 51, 51 at the rear side of the side ends on the left and right sides (i.e., the rear side rack plate 40 side). The rotation shaft 51 is rotatably supported by the support portion 6 provided on the side wall of the cooling chamber 11. Thus, the rack 5B in the second state can take a third state different from the first and second states.

[0021] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The middle figure shows the rack 5B in the second state and the rack 5C in the third state. In the third state, the front side shelf plate 20 is in the same state as in the second state (i.e., the front side shelf plate 20 is stored in the shelf plate storage portion 43). Moreover, the rack 5 is rotated about 90 degrees to the rear side with the rotation axis 51 of the rack 5 as the base point, thereby changing the rack 5 from the rack 5B in the second state to the rack 5C in the third state.

[0022] The rack 5C in the third embodiment is close to the back of the cooling chamber 11 in a state of being substantially parallel to the back of the cooling chamber 11. As a result, there is no rack in the middle of the cooling chamber 11, and a large space is formed. Therefore, relatively large storage objects such as pots can be stored in the cooling chamber 11.

[0023] The front side frame plate 20, in the state of the first mode, constitutes the front portion of the shelf 5. The front side frame plate 20 has a glass plate 21 and a frame 22 in which the glass plate 21 is embedded. The frame 22 is formed by molding a resin material such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin, PP (polypropylene) resin, PS (polystyrene) resin, etc.

[0024] The rear shelf 40 constitutes the rear portion of the shelf 5 in the first embodiment. The rear shelf 40 includes a glass plate 41, a frame 42 in which the glass plate 41 is embedded, and a shelf storage portion 43 located on the lower side of the glass plate 41. The frame 42 is formed by molding a resin material such as ABS, PP, or PS.

[0025] Furthermore, the front end and the side ends on the left and right sides of the frame 22 are shaped to extend upward toward the end side. In addition, the rear end and the side ends on the left and right sides of the frame 42 are shaped to extend upward toward the end side. Thus, in the state of the first mode, the upper surface of the shelf 5 is shaped such that its outer peripheral edge is warped upward.

[0026] The shelf storage section 43 has a space divided into a predetermined shape (see Figure 5 In the second mode, most of the front shelf 20 is stored in the shelf storage portion 43 (see Figure 8 ).

[0027] The front side frame plate 20 can be slidably moved in the front-rear direction. The front side frame plate 20 can be pulled forward relative to the rear side frame plate 40 in a first mode or positioned rearward and below the rear side frame plate 40 in a second mode.

[0028] (Composition of the front side frame) Next, a more detailed structure of the front side frame plate 20 will be described. Fig.11 The cross-sectional structure of the front portion of the front side frame plate 20 is shown. Fig.12 2 shows the cross-sectional structure of the front portion of the front side frame plate 20 and the rear side frame plate 40 in the second embodiment.

[0029] The front side frame plate 20 has a main portion 20a and a front portion 20b (see Figure 4 In the first embodiment, the main portion 20a is located forward of the rear frame plate 40 (see Figure 4 ), which is located below the rear side frame plate 40 in the second embodiment (refer to Figure 8 ).

[0030] The front portion 20b extends upward toward the front side (see Fig.11 Since the front portion 20b has such a shape, the user can easily hang his fingers on the front portion 20b. Therefore, when the user moves the front side frame 20 from the second mode to the first mode, the user can easily pull the front side frame 20 out to the front by grabbing the front portion 20b.

[0031] Furthermore, the height of the front end of the front side frame plate 20 is higher than the height of the side ends on both sides. Therefore, in the second embodiment, it is easy to store the front side frame plate 20 under the rear side frame plate 40. In addition, the boundary between the front end and the side end of the front side frame plate 20 is a structure in which the height continuously changes. That is, at the boundary between the front end and the side end of the front side frame plate 20, the height gradually increases toward the front (see Fig.11 wait).

[0032] The front portion 20b includes an upper portion 31 extending upward toward the front side, and a lower portion 32 located below the upper portion 31 and extending upward toward the front side. The curvature of the upper portion 31 along the front-back direction is lower (smaller) than the curvature of the lower portion 32 along the front-back direction. That is, the lower portion 32 has a steeper curve than the upper portion 31. This makes it easier for the user to pull out the front side shelf 20 to the front.

[0033] The front portion 20b connects the upper surface 31 and the lower surface 32, and also has a top surface 33 that is convex toward the upper side. Fig.11 As shown in the figure, the front side of the top surface 33 is inclined toward the front and downward. As a result, the front end of the frame 22 has a rounded shape, which can improve the aesthetics of the front end of the frame 22 compared to the case where the front end of the frame 22 is a pointed shape, and it is possible to operate the shelf relatively easily without feeling pain when touching the front end of the frame 22 with fingers or the like.

[0034] The upper surface 31 of the front portion 20b includes a first portion 31a extending obliquely upward toward the front side, and a second portion 31b connected to the rear end of the first portion 31a. The second portion 31b has a smaller inclination angle relative to the horizontal direction than the first portion 31a. That is, the second portion 31b is closer to the horizontal shape than the first portion 31a. Thus, the finger can be easily hooked through the front portion 20b.

[0035] Furthermore, the lower surface 32 of the front portion 20b includes a first portion 32a extending obliquely upward toward the front side, and a second portion 32b connected to the rear end of the first portion 32a. The second portion 32b overlaps the second portion 31b of the upper surface 31 in the vertical direction (when viewed from above). The second portion 32b includes a portion parallel to the second portion 31b of the upper surface 31. Thus, the user can more stably grasp the front portion 20b of the front side frame plate 20.

[0036] In the rack 5 of the present embodiment, the intersection of the first portion 31a of the upper surface 31 of the front portion 20b and the surface perpendicular to the left-right direction does not have an inflection point. That is, when the rack 5 is set in the cooling chamber 11 (set state), the intersection of the surface perpendicular to the left-right direction of the refrigerator 1 and the first portion 31a does not have an inflection point. In this case, the first portion 31a is an inclined surface without undulations, so that the finger and the rack 5 are easily in surface contact with a large area in the first portion 31a of the upper surface 31 of the front portion 20b of the frame 22. Therefore, the friction between the finger and the front side shelf plate 20 becomes larger, and the operability of the rack 5 is further improved. In addition, it is easy to wipe off the dirt on the upper surface 31 of the front portion 20b, and cleaning becomes easy.

[0037] like Fig.11As shown, the front end portion 21a of the glass plate 21 is inserted into the insertion portion 22a of the frame 22. The inserted portion 22a is located at the front portion 20b of the front side frame 20. Therefore, a portion of the glass plate 21 inserted into the inserted portion 22a (specifically, the front end portion 21a) includes a portion located at the front portion 20b of the front side frame 20. Thus, the strength of the front portion 20b that the user grasps by hand when pulling out the front side frame 20 can be ensured.

[0038] like Fig.12 As shown, in the state of the second mode, the front portion 20b of the front side frame plate 20 is in a state of being extended forwardly compared to the front end portion 44 of the rear side frame plate 40. In addition, the front portion 20b of the front side frame plate 20 is located below the front end portion 44 of the rear side frame plate 40 in the vertical direction. According to this configuration, in the rack 5B in the state of the second mode, fingers can be easily inserted under the rear side frame plate 40. Therefore, when the user pulls out the front side frame plate 20, a wider range of the front side frame plate 20 in the front-back direction can be grasped by the fingers.

[0039] In addition, the front end portion 44 of the rear side frame plate 40 has a first inclined portion 44a on the lower surface, and the first inclined portion 44a is located at the front end and extends obliquely upward toward the front side. In addition, the front side frame plate 20 has a second inclined portion 22b, and the second inclined portion 22b is opposite to the first inclined portion 44a of the rear side frame plate 40 in the vertical direction and extends obliquely upward toward the front side in the second embodiment (refer to Fig.12 By providing such a first inclined portion 44 a and a second inclined portion 22 b , it is possible to make it easier for fingers to be inserted between the rear frame plate 40 and the front frame plate 20 .

[0040] As described above, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment includes the shelf 5 having the front shelf 20 and the rear shelf 40. The front shelf 20 can be displaced in the front-rear direction relative to the rear shelf 40, and can be in a first mode in which the front shelf 20 is pulled forward relative to the rear shelf 40, and in a second mode in which the front shelf 20 is located at the rear side and below the rear shelf 40. The front shelf 20 includes a main portion 20a and a front portion 20b. The main portion 20a is located at the front side of the rear shelf 40 in the first mode, and is located below the rear shelf in the second mode. The front portion 20b is located at the front side of the main portion 20a, and is located at the front side of the rear shelf 40 in the second mode. The front portion 20b extends upward toward the front side.

[0041] According to the above configuration, when the user displaces the front side frame 20 between the first state and the second state, it is easy for the user to hook his fingers on the front portion 20b extending obliquely upward, and it is easy to grasp the front portion 20b and operate the front side frame 20 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when performing the operation of pulling out the front side frame 20, the operability of the front side frame 20 can be improved.

[0042] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is not indicated by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In addition, the configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in this specification are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator with a shelf, characterized in that: The frame has a rear frame plate and a front frame plate, The front frame plate can be displaced in the front-rear direction relative to the rear frame plate, and can be in a first mode of being pulled forward relative to the rear frame plate, and in a second mode of being positioned to the rear side and below the rear frame plate. The front side frame plate has: a main portion, which is located forward of the rear frame plate in the first embodiment and is located below the rear frame plate in the second embodiment; as well as a front portion, located on the front side of the main portion, and located on the front side of the rear side frame plate in the second embodiment, The front portion extends upward toward the front side.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front portion has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface extends upward toward the front side, and the lower surface is located below the upper surface and extends upward toward the front side.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The curvature of the upper surface along the front-rear direction is lower than the curvature of the lower surface along the front-rear direction.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front portion has a first portion and a second portion on its upper surface. The first portion extends obliquely upward toward the front side. The second portion is connected to the rear end of the first portion and has an inclination angle relative to the horizontal direction that is smaller than that of the first portion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower surface of the front portion overlaps with the second portion in the up-down direction and has a portion parallel to the second portion.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The front portion connects the upper surface and the lower surface, and also has a top surface that is convex toward the upper side.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the second aspect, the front portion is located below the front end portion of the rear side frame plate in the up-down direction.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that The front end of the rear frame plate has a first inclined portion below, the first inclined portion is located at the front end and extends obliquely upward toward the front side. The front frame plate has a second inclined portion, and in the second aspect, the second inclined portion is opposed to the first inclined portion in the up-down direction and extends obliquely upward toward the front side.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front frame plate has a glass plate and a frame in which the glass plate is embedded. The glass sheet includes a portion located at the front portion.

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