Refrigerator shelf for wine bottles

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a shelf comprising a shelf frame with support surfaces for storing the shelf in a refrigerator and a plate-shaped support device for storing bottles. background

[0002] Shelves of this type are well-known and are used particularly in refrigerators for wine bottles. In use, the shelves rest on support devices arranged on the side walls of the refrigerator's interior.

[0003] Wine refrigerators often feature a glass front door, allowing users to view their wine collection even when the door is closed. Therefore, it's desirable for the wine bottles to be displayed attractively within the refrigerator. Consequently, shelves in wine refrigerators often differ in their functionality from those in conventional refrigerators. Furthermore, these shelves should be particularly easy to pull out of and push back into the refrigerator compartment.

[0004] CN 202 515 047 U shows a tray for storing bottles. The support device is raised for tilting and is supported at two ends. The support device can be locked in the raised position using locking elements.

[0005] JP S55 150988 U shows how a small support can be suspended inside a larger support on rods. The small support can be mounted in two different positions.

[0006] JP 2022 228352 A shows a refrigerator shelf with a bottle storage device that has a hole in the center. To store a bottle almost horizontally, the bottle storage device is set up and the bottle neck is inserted into the hole.

[0007] WO 2006 / 021826 A1 also shows a foldable bottle holder which has several openings for holding bottles. Description of the invention

[0008] The task is to provide a tray that can store wine bottles in different positions.

[0009] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the first independent claim. Accordingly, a shelf comprises a shelf frame with support surfaces for storing the shelf in a refrigerator and a plate-shaped support device for storing bottles. Plate-shaped means that the support device is a planar component, but need not itself be designed as a continuous plate.

[0010] The shelf frame and the flat support device feature a locking mechanism with a first and a second locking position. In the first locking position, the shelf frame and the flat support device lie in a common plane, and the shelf frame surrounds the flat support device. Thus, in the first locking position, the shelf frame and support device form a flat shelf. In the second locking position, the flat support device is positioned at an angle to the shelf frame. This means that the shelf frame and support device no longer lie in a common plane.

[0011] Such a shelf has the advantage that wine bottles can be stored in different positions inside the refrigerator. Bottles can lie flat, but they can also be arranged at an angle, so that the labels on the wine bottles can be viewed particularly well from the outside.

[0012] In the second locking position, the shelf frame lies in a first plane and the plate-shaped support device lies in a second plane. In particular, the first plane and the second plane form an angle to each other, especially of 10° or more, especially of 20° or more, especially of 30° or more. The angle between the two planes is the angle between the two normal vectors of these planes.

[0013] In the second locking position, the plate-shaped support device and the shelf frame are connected only along the intersection line between the first and second levels. This means, in particular, that at the point where the support device is furthest away from the shelf frame due to its angled position, the support device is not supported by any means on the shelf frame. The entire force transmission between the support device and the shelf frame therefore occurs only where the support device and shelf frame are in direct contact via the locking mechanism.

[0014] The absence of supports has the advantage that the shelf can be moved particularly easily between the first locking position and the second locking position, or can be locked into the second locking position or unlocked from the second locking position.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the locking device has at least one, in particular exactly two, locking mechanisms, wherein one of the at least one locking mechanism has a first and a second pin arranged on the shelf frame and a first and a second pin receiving openings arranged on the plate-shaped support device.

[0016] Particularly with two locking mechanisms, which corresponds to the usual design, a first locking mechanism is symmetrically arranged on the left side and a second locking mechanism on the right side of the shelf. Depending on the locking position, the pins engage in the pin receptacles, allowing the shelf frame and support device to be stably positioned relative to each other in both locking positions.

[0017] In particular, the shelf is designed such that in the first locking position, an arrangement of the first pin in the first pin receiving opening prevents a relative movement between the shelf frame and the plate-shaped support device in the common plane, and / or in the second locking position, an underside of the plate-shaped support device rests on the first pin.

[0018] In particular, the locking mechanism in the second locking position can only be released by increasing the angle between the shelf frame and the plate-shaped support device. This provides excellent protection against accidental displacement of the support device relative to the shelf frame.

[0019] Advantageously, the shelf comprises two wide sides and two deep sides, with sliding guides arranged on the two deep sides to guide the shelf along two walls of a refrigerator compartment. The two sliding guides are spring-mounted on the two deep sides in such a way that the shelf's width is automatically adjustable by the spring action.

[0020] Broadsides and lowsides are defined simply as the two opposite sides. In principle, broadsides can also be called lowsides and lowsides broadsides; this makes no difference. They could just as easily be described as two opposite first sides and two opposite second sides. It is defined that sliding guides are arranged on two opposite sides out of a total of four sides.

[0021] An adjustable shelf width offers the advantage of stable placement even in refrigerators with varying interior widths. These variations in interior width arise because the interior is often a large, deep-drawn component with larger tolerances. The spring-loaded sliding guide allows for easy adjustment to accommodate different interior widths.

[0022] In particular, the two sliding guides extend along more than 50%, more than 70%, and more than 90% of the total shelf depth. The extended length of the sliding guides has the advantage that the shelves can be arranged particularly stably in the recess of a refrigerator and do not wobble excessively when pulled out or pushed in.

[0023] Furthermore, each of the two sliding guides can have at least two leaf springs. This allows the sliding guides to be sprung laterally outwards, making it particularly easy to adjust the width of the shelf by pushing against the leaf springs.

[0024] Specifically, the two sliding guides each engage by means of projections in a groove located on the top and bottom of the shelf. This allows the sliding guides to be securely mounted to the support device. In particular, the projections and grooves are designed such that the projections are movably arranged within the grooves over the distance of the spring travel. Thus, the sliding guides are mounted to the support device via the projections, but can still move, allowing the shelf width to remain adjustable. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Further embodiments, advantages, and applications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description with reference to the figures. These figures show: Fig. 1 a shelf in the first locking position; Fig. 2 the shelf in the second locking position; Fig. 3 a side section through the shelf in the first locking position; Fig. 4 a detail view of Fig. 3 Fig. 5 shows a side section through the shelf in the second locking position; Fig. 6 shows a detail view of Fig. 5 Fig. 7 the shelf with removed sliding guides; Fig. 8 a side view of the shelf; Fig. 9 a sectional view of the shelf according to Fig. 8 ; and Fig. 10 a detailed view of Fig. 10 . Method for implementing the invention

[0026] The Figs. 1 and 2Figure 1 shows a shelf according to the invention. Such a shelf is used in wine refrigerators and primarily serves to store wine bottles or other items. The shelf comprises a plate-shaped support device 1 and a shelf frame 2. These two components are particularly well suited to Fig. 2 visible.

[0027] The undersides of the shelf frame 2 serve as support surfaces to position the shelf on projections of the side walls of the usable space in a refrigerator.

[0028] The plate-shaped support device 1 is not a continuous plate. However, its outer geometry is plate-shaped. The plate-shaped support device 1 comprises a support frame 1a and four struts 1b, which together allow for the arrangement of five wine bottles. A wine bottle is positioned between two struts 1b or at the outermost point between one of the outermost struts 1b and a lateral section of the support frame 1a. In addition to strut-shaped supports, other geometries are conceivable, as long as the support device 1 can be positioned in the shelf frame 2. If the distance between two shelves arranged one above the other in a wine refrigerator is sufficiently large, a second layer of wine bottles can, for example, be placed on top of the wine bottles arranged directly on the shelf. This makes it possible to store more than five wine bottles on such a shelf.

[0029] The shelf has a locking device 3. This is located in the Figs. 3 to 6 The locking device 3 holds the support device 1 and the shelf frame 2 together at two corners of the shelf by means of two locking mechanisms 3a and 3b. The locking device 3 allows relative movement between the support device 1 and the shelf frame 2. This relative movement is a rotational movement, with the axis of rotation passing through the two locking mechanisms 3a and 3b, or the corners of the shelf.

[0030] The plate-shaped support device 1 can be locked into a first locking position and a second locking position relative to the shelf frame 2. The first locking position is in Fig. 1 and the second locking position is in Fig. 2 depicted.

[0031] At the first locking position according to Fig. 1The flat support device 1 and the shelf frame 2 lie in a common plane, and the shelf frame 2 surrounds the flat support device 1. When the shelf is inserted into the refrigerator's usable space and is in its first locking position, the bottles lie horizontally in the refrigerator. This ensures that the bottles are stored in the most space-saving way possible.

[0032] At the second locking position according to Fig. 2 The plate-shaped support device 1 and the shelf frame 2 are arranged relative to each other at an angle of 30°, as indicated by the double arrow 6. Fig. 5This means that the plate-shaped support device 1 and the shelf frame 2 no longer lie on the same plane, but on different planes, namely on a first plane and a second plane. When the shelf is inserted into the refrigerator's interior and is in the second locking position, the bottles lie at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. In this position, the bottles are particularly easy to see from the front. If the bottles are turned with the label facing forward, it is immediately apparent what kind of wine is stored without removing the bottle.

[0033] It should be emphasized that the support device 1 and the shelf frame 2 are connected to each other only via the locking mechanisms 3a and 3b in the second locking position. As a result, the entire weight of the stored wine bottles is transferred from the flat support device 1 to the shelf frame 2 via the two locking mechanisms 3a and 3b. The flat support device 1 is not further supported by any supports on the shelf frame 2.

[0034] The Fig. 3 shows a side sectional view of the shelf with a section through the locking mechanism. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail view of the in Fig. 3 circularly framed area. In Fig. 4The locking mechanism 3a is clearly visible. The non-visible locking mechanism 3b is located on the other side of the shelf and is designed in the same way, but mirrored. The locking mechanism 3a has a first pin 4a and a second pin 4b located on the shelf frame 2. The shelf frame 2 also includes a third pin 4c, which, however, is not part of the locking mechanism 3a.

[0035] The first pin 4a is in the first locking position in a first pin receiving opening 5a. The first pin receiving opening 5a is part of the plate-shaped support device 1. In the first locking position, the arrangement of the first pin 4a in the first pin receiving opening 5a prevents relative movement between the shelf frame 2 and the plate-shaped support device 1 in the common plane. Furthermore, in the first locking position, the plate-shaped support device 1 is supported on the shelf frame 2 by the three pins 4a, 4b, and 4c.

[0036] To move the shelf from the first locking position to the second locking position, which is located in the Figs. 5 and 6 To move the plate-shaped support device 1, as shown, it must be raised relative to the shelf frame 2 by means of a rotary motion. The rotary motion is indicated by a double arrow 6. Fig. 5The angle of 30° between the plate-shaped support device 1 and the shelf frame 2 in the second locking position is shown and also indicates this.

[0037] Starting from the first locking position, the plate-shaped support device 1 is to be moved such that in a first step the first pin 4a leaves the first pin receiving opening 5a and in a second step the second pin 4b is moved into the second pin receiving opening 5b, so that a section 7 of the underside of the plate-shaped support device 1 comes to rest on the first pin 4a.

[0038] In the second locking position, the plate-shaped support device 1 rests on the first pin 4a, and the second pin 4b prevents rotation caused by the weight of the bottles. The second pin 4b engages in the second pin receptacle 5b in such a way that the second locking position can only be released by increasing the angle between the shelf frame 2 and the plate-shaped support device 1. Pins are made, for example, of metal or other robust materials.

[0039] The locking mechanism 3a can be implemented in various ways. Preferably, a plastic element, in particular made of high-strength plastic, is glued into the frame or positively connected to the frame. The locking mechanism 3a can also be designed using a metal cam or be integrated directly into the wood of the frame, provided the wood is sufficiently resistant.

[0040] The Figs. 7 to 10 Figure 1 shows a further aspect of the present invention. The shelf has two broad sides 8a, 8b and two low sides 9a, 9b. Sliding guides 10a and 10b are arranged along the low sides 9a and 9b. These are located in the Figs. 1 and 2 Visible when mounted. In the Fig. 7 The sliding guides are shown slightly spaced away from the rest of the tray so that they are clearly visible.

[0041] Four leaf springs 11 are arranged on each of the two sliding guides 10a and 10b. These leaf springs 11 press against lateral surfaces 12 of the shelf 1.

[0042] Furthermore, a sliding guide has eight projections 13. Four projections 13 are arranged on the upper side of the sliding guide 10a and 10b, respectively, and engage in a groove 14a located on the upper side of the shelf. The other four projections 13 are arranged on the underside of the sliding guide 10a and 10b, respectively, and engage in a groove 14b located on the underside of the shelf. The sliding guides 10a and 10b are thus held against the rest of the shelf. However, the projections 13 have some play within the grooves 14a and 14b, allowing the sliding guides 10a and 10b to move relative to the rest of the shelf over the spring travel. The spring travel 15 is specified in the Figs. 7 and 10The movement of the sliding guides 10a and 10b relative to the rest of the shelf means that the overall width 16 of the shelf can be adjusted by pressing or releasing the sliding guides 10a and 10b. This makes it much easier to slide the shelf into the usable space of a refrigerator.

[0043] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly pointed out that the invention is not limited to these and can also be carried out in other ways within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Shelf comprising - a shelf frame (2) with support surfaces for storing the shelf in a refrigerator, - a plate-shaped support device (1) for storing bottles, wherein the shelf frame (2) and the plate-shaped support device (1) have a snap-in device (3) with a first and a second snap-in position, adapted such that - in the first snap-in position, the shelf frame (2) and the plate-shaped support device (1) lie in a common plane and the shelf frame (2) frames the plate-shaped support device (1); - in the second locking position, the plate-shaped support device (1) is arranged at an angle to the shelf frame (2), whereby in the second locking position, the shelf frame (2) lies in a first plane and the plate-shaped support device (1) lies in a second plane, characterised in that, in the second locking position, the plate-shaped support device (1) and the shelf frame (2) are connected to each other only along the intersection line between the first plane and the second plane.

2. Shelf according to claim 1, wherein the first plane and the second plane form an angle with each other, in particular of 10° or more, in particular of 20° or more, in particular of 30° or more.

3. Shelf according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device (3) has at least one, in particular exactly two, locking mechanisms (3a, 3b), wherein one of the at least one locking mechanisms (3a, 3b) has a first and a second pin (4a, 4b) arranged on the shelf frame and a first and a second pin receiving opening (5a, 5b) arranged on the plate-shaped support device, in particular wherein the pin receiving openings are made of plastic.

4. Shelf according to claim 3, adapted such that - in the first locking position, an arrangement of the first pin (4a) in the first pin receiving opening (5a) prevents relative movement between the shelf frame (2) and the plate-shaped support device (1) in the common plane, and / or - in the second locking position, an underside of the plate-shaped support device (1) rests on the first pin (4a), and / or - locking in the second locking position can only be released by increasing the angle between the shelf frame (2) and the plate-shaped support device (1).

5. Shelf according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two wide sides (8a, 8b) and two deep sides (9a, 9b), and two slide guides (10a, 10b) arranged along the two deep sides (9a, 9b), adapted for sliding guidance of the shelf along two walls of a refrigerator compartment, wherein the two slide guides (10a, 10b) are arranged resiliently on the two deep sides (9a, 9b) in such a way that a width (16) of the shelf is adjustable.

6. Shelf according to claim 5, wherein the two slide guides (10a, 10b) extend along more than 50%, in particular more than 70%, in particular more than 90% of a total shelf depth.

7. Shelf according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the two slide guides each have at least two leaf springs (11).

8. Shelf according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the two slide guides (10a, 10b) each engage by means of projections (13) in a groove (14a, 14b) arranged on an upper side of the shelf and in a groove (14a, 14b) arranged on a lower side of the shelf, in particular, wherein the projections (13) and the grooves (14a, 14b) are adapted such that the projections (13) are movably arranged within the grooves (14a, 14b) over the distance of the spring travel.