Refrigerator shelf and refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of refrigerators, in particular to a refrigerator shelf and a refrigerator. The refrigerator shelf comprises a rotating shelf, a supporting arm and a rotating assembly, the supporting arm is used for being installed on a refrigerator body of the refrigerator, and the supporting arm extends in the first direction; the rotating assembly comprises a connecting rod, a rotating gear and a fixed gear, one end of the connecting rod is fixed to the rotating shelf, the other end extends in the second direction, the rotating gear is arranged on the connecting rod, and the fixed gear is connected with the end, away from the box, of the supporting arm; the side face, facing the rotating gear, of the fixed gear is provided with a plurality of first teeth, the side face, opposite to the rotating gear, of the fixed gear is provided with a plurality of second teeth, a tooth groove is formed between each first tooth and two adjacent first teeth, and the second teeth are meshed with the tooth grooves. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. Thus, through meshing fit between the second teeth and the tooth grooves, the rotating speed of the rotating shelf is controllable, and therefore the situation that articles are thrown out due to the fact that the rotating speed of the rotating shelf is too high is avoided.

Description

Refrigerator shelves and refrigerator Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and in particular to a refrigerator shelf and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigerator shelves are primarily used as support structures for items placed inside the refrigerator. To make it easier for users to access items deeper inside the refrigerator, existing refrigerator shelves are equipped with rotating trays. By rotating the tray radially relative to the refrigerator shelf, items deeper inside the refrigerator are rotated to the front of the user, thus avoiding the situation where the user has to gradually remove items at the front before being able to retrieve items deeper inside.

[0003] However, with this structure, the tray may rotate too fast due to the lack of restrictions. This can cause items to tilt or even be thrown out due to rotational inertia, affecting the storage of items and, in severe cases, potentially damaging them and affecting their use. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a refrigerator shelf that is structurally constrained, rotatable, and has controllable rotation speed.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A refrigerator shelf, the refrigerator shelf comprising:

[0007] Rotating shelves;

[0008] A support arm for mounting to the refrigerator body, and the support arm extending along a first direction;

[0009] The rotating assembly includes a connecting rod, a rotating gear, and a fixed gear. One end of the connecting rod is fixed to the rotating shelf, and the other end extends along a second direction. The rotating gear is located on the connecting rod, and the fixed gear is connected to the end of the support arm away from the housing.

[0010] The fixed gear has a plurality of first teeth on one side facing the rotating gear, and the rotating gear has a plurality of second teeth on one side facing the fixed gear. Each first tooth forms a tooth groove between itself and two adjacent first teeth, and the second tooth meshes with the tooth groove.

[0011] The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0012] Understandably, this application, by setting a rotating assembly, fixes one end of a connecting rod to the rotating shelf, while the other end extends along a second direction, and places a rotating gear on the connecting rod. The rotating gear rotates relative to the fixed gear, achieving radial rotation of the rotating shelf. This allows items on the inner side of the rotating shelf to rotate to the outer side for easy access and storage. Simultaneously, the meshing of the second tooth on the rotating gear with the first tooth on the fixed gear creates mechanical resistance between them, controlling the rotational speed of the rotating shelf. This prevents items on the rotating shelf from tilting or being thrown off due to excessive rotation speed. Furthermore, the collision of the first and second teeth when the rotating gear rotates relative to the fixed gear produces a sound, allowing the user to control the rotational speed based on this sound, further preventing excessive speed from affecting the storage of items.

[0013] In one embodiment, the fixed gear has a mounting groove on the side with the first tooth, and the end of the connecting rod away from the rotating shelf passes through the rotating gear and is rotatably connected to the mounting groove.

[0014] Understandably, the mounting slot provides positioning and support for the connecting rod, making the meshing of the rotating gear and the fixed gear more stable. At the same time, the rotational connection between the connecting rod and the mounting slot reduces the radial wobble of the rotating gear relative to the fixed gear, ensuring that the rotating shelf remains stable during rotation and avoiding jamming or tooth loss caused by misalignment of the first and second teeth.

[0015] In one embodiment, the rotating assembly further includes a spring member in a compressed state and sleeved on the connecting rod, with one end of the spring member limited to the rotating shelf and the other end limited to the rotating gear along the second direction.

[0016] Understandably, the spring, compressed and fitted onto the connecting rod, confines the rotating shelf and the rotating gear. Its compressive force increases the reliability of the meshing between the rotating gear and the fixed gear, preventing the rotating gear from shifting relative to the fixed gear in the second direction. Furthermore, by changing the stiffness coefficient of the compressed spring, the meshing resistance between the rotating gear and the fixed gear can be altered, thereby controlling the rotation speed of the rotating shelf and preventing items from flying off due to excessive rotation speed, thus achieving a controllable rotation speed.

[0017] In one embodiment, the rotating shelf is provided with a mounting base, and the connecting rod is fixed to the mounting base.

[0018] Understandably, the mounting base can be used as a connecting transition structure between the rotating shelf and the connecting rod, which can enhance local rigidity and avoid stress concentration or deformation caused by the connecting rod being directly fixed to the thin-walled structure of the shelf, thereby increasing the stability of the refrigerator shelf structure.

[0019] In one embodiment, the angle between the tooth surface of the first tooth and the side of the fixed gear facing the rotating gear is set to 35 degrees to 60 degrees.

[0020] Understandably, the aforementioned angle setting balances the controllability of the rotational resistance between the rotating gear and the fixed gear with ease of operation, thereby avoiding situations where the angle is too large, resulting in insufficient resistance and causing the rotating shelf to sway arbitrarily, affecting its use, or where excessive resistance makes it difficult for the rotating shelf to rotate.

[0021] In one embodiment, the cross-section of the support arm in the second direction is set in the shape of an "I".

[0022] It is understandable that the support arm has the function of bearing the weight of the rotating components, the rotating shelf, and the items placed on the rotating shelf. The cross-section of the "I"-shaped structure has a large bending section modulus, which can improve the bending strength of the support arm and increase its structural stability. Therefore, the cross-section of the support arm is set to "I" shape.

[0023] In one embodiment, a square shaft is provided at the end of the support arm away from the housing, and the square shaft extends along the second direction; a square hole is provided on the fixed gear, and the square shaft cooperates with the square hole.

[0024] Understandably, the combination of the square shaft and the square hole allows the refrigerator shelf to be strictly limited in the second direction, preventing the fixed gear from causing the rotating shelf to rotate in its circumferential direction due to unstable installation, thereby improving the stability of the structure.

[0025] In one embodiment, the refrigerator shelf further includes a light strip embedded in one side of the support arm facing the rotating shelf.

[0026] Understandably, LED strips provide illumination and enhance the overall user experience of the refrigerator shelves.

[0027] This application also provides a refrigerator, which includes a cabinet and the refrigerator shelf described in any of the above embodiments;

[0028] The box contains a storage space, the first direction being the depth direction of the storage space, and the length of the support arm is set to half the total depth of the storage space along the depth direction of the storage space.

[0029] Understandably, the length of the support arm is set to half the total depth of the accommodating space so that the rotating shelf can extend to its maximum circumferential direction from the end of the support arm away from the box, so that the space inside the box can be effectively utilized.

[0030] In one embodiment, the box has an inner liner, a reinforcing plate is fixedly mounted on the inner liner, and the support arm is connected to the box through the reinforcing plate.

[0031] Understandably, the addition of reinforcing plates can improve the connection strength between the support arm and the housing, making the installation of the support arm more reliable.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, this application sets up a rotating component, fixing one end of the connecting rod to the rotating shelf and extending the other end along the second direction, with a rotating gear placed on the connecting rod. The rotating gear rotates relative to the fixed gear, realizing the radial rotation of the rotating shelf, allowing items on the inner side of the rotating shelf to rotate to the outer side for easy access and storage. At the same time, the tooth grooves formed between the second tooth on the rotating gear and the first tooth on the fixed gear are meshed, creating mechanical resistance between the rotating gear and the fixed gear, thus controlling the rotation speed of the rotating shelf. This prevents items on the rotating shelf from tilting or being thrown off due to excessive rotation speed. Furthermore, when the rotating gear rotates relative to the fixed gear, the collision of the first and second teeth produces a sound, allowing the user to control the rotation speed of the rotating shelf based on the sound, further preventing excessive rotation speed from affecting the storage of items. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator shelf and cabinet after assembly provided in this application.

[0035] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the refrigerator shelf provided in this application.

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the refrigerator shelf provided in this application.

[0037] Figure 4 is an exploded structural diagram of the support arm and reinforcing plate provided in this application.

[0038] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fixed gear provided in this application.

[0039] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed gear provided in this application from other perspectives.

[0040] 100. Refrigerator shelf; 10. Rotating shelf; 11. Mounting base; 12. Edge; 20. Support arm; 21. Square shaft; 30. Rotating assembly; 31. Connecting rod; 32. Rotating gear; 321. Second tooth; 33. Fixed gear; 331. First tooth; 3311. Tooth surface; 332. Tooth groove; 333. Mounting groove; 3331. Limiting step; 334. Square hole; 34. Spring component; 35. Light strip; 40. Reinforcing plate.

[0041] 201. Box body; 2011. Storage space; 2012. Inner liner of the box. Detailed Implementation

[0042] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0043] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0044] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0045] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 1. This application provides a refrigerator, which includes a cabinet 201 and a refrigerator shelf 100. The cabinet 201 has a storage space 2011, and the refrigerator shelf 100 is disposed in the storage space 2011 for placing and supporting items.

[0048] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the refrigerator shelf 100 includes a rotating shelf 10, a support arm 20, and a rotating assembly 30. The support arm 20 is used to install on the refrigerator body 201 and extends along a first direction x. The rotating assembly 30 includes a connecting rod 31, a rotating gear 32, and a fixed gear 33. One end of the connecting rod 31 is fixed to the rotating shelf 10, and the other end extends along a second direction y. The rotating gear 32 is placed on the connecting rod 31, and the fixed gear 33 is connected to the end of the support arm 20 away from the body 201. The fixed gear 33 has a plurality of first teeth 331 on the side facing the rotating gear 32, and the rotating gear 32 has a plurality of second teeth 321 on the side facing the fixed gear 33. Each first tooth 331 forms a groove 332 with its two adjacent first teeth 331, and the second tooth 321 meshes with the groove 332. The first direction x is perpendicular to the second direction y.

[0049] It should be explained that this application uses a rotating assembly 30 to fix one end of a connecting rod 31 to the rotating shelf 10, while the other end extends along the second direction y. A rotating gear 32 is placed on the connecting rod 31. By rotating the rotating gear 32 relative to the fixed gear 33, the rotating shelf 10 rotates radially, allowing items on the inner side of the rotating shelf 10 to rotate to the outer side for easy access and storage. At the same time, the groove 332 formed between the second tooth 321 on the rotating gear 32 and the first tooth 331 on the fixed gear 33 is meshed, creating mechanical resistance between the rotating gear 32 and the fixed gear 33. This controls the rotation speed of the rotating shelf 10, preventing items on the rotating shelf 10 from tilting or being thrown out due to excessive rotation speed. Furthermore, when the rotating gear 32 rotates relative to the fixed gear, the collision between the first tooth 331 and the second tooth 321 produces a sound, allowing the user to control the rotation speed of the rotating shelf 10 based on the sound, further preventing excessive rotation speed from affecting the storage of items. Here, the extension of the connecting rod 31 along the second direction y can make the force on the rotating shelf 10 more uniform and avoid radial swaying of the rotating shelf 10.

[0050] Here, the rotating shelf 10 can be made of a matte finish. Understandably, a matte finish is less prone to leaving marks, preventing users from leaving fingerprints when touching the rotating shelf 10, thus improving the user experience.

[0051] Furthermore, a mounting base 11 is provided on the rotating shelf 10, and the connecting rod 31 is fixed to the mounting base 11. In this way, the rotating shelf 10 and the connecting rod 31 can be transitionally connected through the mounting base 11, thereby enhancing the local rigidity of the rotating shelf 10 installation and avoiding stress concentration or deformation of the rotating shelf 10 or the connecting rod 31 caused by the connecting rod 31 being directly fixed to the thin-walled structure of the rotating shelf 10. This increases the stability and service life of the refrigerator shelf 100 structure.

[0052] Here, the mounting base 11 has a first part and a second part that are connected to each other. The connecting rod 31 is fixed to the first part, and the rotating shelf 10 is fixedly connected to the second part by adhesive or welding. Along the radial direction of the rotating shelf 10, the diameter of the second part is larger than the diameter of the first part. In this way, by setting the diameters of the first and second parts, a gradual transition between the connecting rod 31 and the rotating shelf 10 can be formed in the second direction y, further increasing the structural stability in the second direction y.

[0053] In one embodiment, the rotating shelf 10 is provided with a circumferential edge 12 to block items on the rotating shelf 10, further preventing them from sliding down in the radial direction when the rotating shelf 10 rotates, thereby improving the safety, practicality and reliability of the rotating shelf 10.

[0054] Here, the height of edge 12 in the second direction y can be set to 2mm.

[0055] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the cross-section of the support arm 20 in the second direction y is set in the shape of an "I". It can be understood that the support arm 20 has the function of bearing the overall weight of the rotating assembly 30, the rotating shelf 10, and the items placed on the rotating shelf 10. The cross-section of the "I" structure has a large bending section modulus, which can improve the bending strength of the support arm 20 and increase its structural stability. Therefore, the cross-section of the support arm 20 is set in the shape of an "I".

[0056] In one embodiment, the first direction x is the depth direction of the accommodating space 2011, and along the depth direction of the accommodating space, the length of the support arm 20 is set to half of the total depth of the accommodating space 2011, so that the rotating shelf 10 can extend to its maximum in the circumferential direction with the end of the support arm 20 away from the box 201, so that the space inside the box 201 can be effectively utilized.

[0057] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a square shaft 21 is provided at the end of the support arm 20 away from the cabinet 201, and the square shaft 21 extends along the second direction y; a square hole 334 is provided on the fixed gear 33, and the square shaft 21 cooperates with the square hole 334. In this way, the cooperation between the square shaft 21 and the square hole 334 can make the refrigerator shelf 100 strictly limited in the second direction y, preventing the fixed gear 33 from driving the rotating shelf 10 to rotate in its circumferential direction due to unstable installation, thereby improving the stability of the structure.

[0058] Please refer to Figures 2 through 5. The angle α between the tooth surface 3311 of the first tooth 331 and the side of the fixed gear 33 facing the rotating gear 32 is set to 35°-60°. It is understandable that if the value of α is too small, the rotational resistance between the first tooth 331 and the second tooth 321 may be too large, making it difficult for the rotating shelf 10 to rotate. If it is too large, the resistance may be too small, making the rotating shelf 10 easy to wobble and affecting its use. Therefore, the value of α is set in the range of 35°-60° to balance the controllability of the rotational resistance between the rotating gear 32 and the fixed gear 33 with the ease of operation.

[0059] Here, the value of α can be 35°, 40°, 45°, 55°, 60°, etc. Of course, it is not limited to these values; the specific value of α can be determined according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, the value of α is 45°.

[0060] As shown in Figure 6, the fixed gear 33 has a mounting groove 333 on the side with the first tooth 331. The end of the connecting rod 31 away from the rotating shelf 10 passes through the rotating gear 32 and is rotatably connected to the mounting groove 333. It can be understood that the mounting groove 333 provides positioning and support for the connecting rod 31, making the meshing of the rotating gear 32 and the fixed gear 33 more stable. At the same time, the rotatable connection between the connecting rod 31 and the mounting groove 333 reduces the radial wobble of the rotating gear 32 relative to the fixed gear 33, ensuring that the rotating shelf 10 remains stable during rotation and avoiding jamming or tooth stripping caused by misalignment of the first tooth 331 and the second tooth 321.

[0061] In one embodiment, a limiting step 3331 is provided in the mounting groove 333 along the second direction y, and the connecting rod 31 extends into the mounting groove 333 and is positioned at the limiting step 3331. This increases the reliability of the connecting rod 31 installation.

[0062] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the rotating assembly 30 also includes a spring 34. The spring 34 is compressed and sleeved on the connecting rod 31. Along the second direction y, one end of the spring 34 is limited to the rotating shelf 10, and the other end is limited to the rotating gear 32. In this way, the compressive force of the spring 34 can increase the reliability of the meshing between the rotating gear 32 and the fixed gear 33, preventing the rotating gear 32 from deviating relative to the fixed gear 33 in the second direction y. Furthermore, by changing the stiffness coefficient of the compressed spring 34, the meshing resistance between the rotating gear 32 and the fixed gear 33 can be changed, thereby controlling the rotation speed of the rotating shelf 10 and preventing items from flying off due to excessive rotation speed, further achieving the effect of controllable rotation speed.

[0063] Here, due to the centrifugal force F exerted on the items on the rotating shelf 10 when it rotates, F = mRw 2 Where m is the mass of the item, R is the distance from the item to the center of the rotating shelf 10, and w is the angular velocity of the rotating shelf 10. When the angular velocity is too large, the centrifugal force on the item will also be large, making the item easy to be thrown away. By changing the stiffness coefficient of the compression spring 34, the meshing resistance between the rotating gear 32 and the fixed gear 33 can be changed, and the above-mentioned limitation on the range of α values ​​can control the angular velocity and avoid it from being too large and causing adverse effects.

[0064] In one embodiment, the refrigerator shelf 100 further includes a light strip 35, which is embedded in one side of the support arm 20 facing the rotating shelf 10. Here, the light strip 35 has an illumination function, which can enhance the overall user experience of the refrigerator shelf 100.

[0065] Please refer to Figures 1 and 4. The enclosure 201 has an inner liner 2012, on which a reinforcing plate 40 is fixedly installed. The support arm 20 is connected to the enclosure 201 via the reinforcing plate 40. It is understood that the reinforcing plate 40 enhances the connection strength between the support arm 20 and the enclosure 201, making the installation of the support arm 20 more reliable.

[0066] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0067] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator shelf, characterized in that, The refrigerator shelf includes: a rotating shelf; a support arm for mounting on the refrigerator body, the support arm extending along a first direction; a rotating assembly including a connecting rod, a rotating gear, and a fixed gear, one end of the connecting rod being fixed to the rotating shelf and the other end extending along a second direction, the rotating gear being disposed on the connecting rod, and the fixed gear being connected to the end of the support arm away from the refrigerator body; wherein, the fixed gear has a plurality of first teeth on the side facing the rotating gear, and the rotating gear has a plurality of second teeth on the side facing the fixed gear, and each first tooth forms a tooth groove between itself and two adjacent first teeth, the second tooth meshing with the tooth groove; the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

2. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed gear has an installation groove on the side with the first tooth, and the end of the connecting rod away from the rotating shelf passes through the rotating gear and is rotatably connected to the installation groove.

3. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating assembly further includes a spring element, which is in a compressed state and sleeved on the connecting rod. Along the second direction, one end of the spring element is limited to the rotating shelf, and the other end is limited to the rotating gear.

4. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating shelf is provided with a mounting base, and the connecting rod is fixed to the mounting base.

5. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle between the tooth surface of the first tooth and the side of the fixed gear facing the rotating gear is set to 35 degrees to 60 degrees.

6. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-section of the support arm in the second direction is set in the shape of an "I".

7. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support arm is provided with a square shaft at one end away from the housing, and the square shaft extends along the second direction; a square hole is provided on the fixed gear, and the square shaft cooperates with the square hole.

8. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerator shelf also includes a light strip, which is embedded in one side of the support arm facing the rotating shelf.

9. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes a cabinet and a refrigerator shelf as described in any one of claims 1-8; wherein, the cabinet is provided with a accommodating space, the first direction is the depth direction of the accommodating space, and along the depth direction of the accommodating space, the length of the support arm is set to half of the total depth of the accommodating space.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that, The box has an inner liner, and a reinforcing plate is fixedly installed on the inner liner. The support arm is connected to the box through the reinforcing plate.

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