First-In-First-Out (FIFO) Tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tray for first-in, first-out (FIFO) storage, characterized by comprising: a bottom plate formed in a predetermined shape for placing products; a guide side plate formed in a "U" shape on the bottom plate to move in a "U" shape when products are inserted; and a central divider located in the center of the guide side plate to separate products being inserted and products being withdrawn. The "U" shaped structure of the tray and the FIFO operation allow for maximum efficient utilization of the refrigerator's internal space, products to be stored in an organized state, and empty space to be minimized, thereby accommodating more products. This provides a significant advantage, particularly in refrigerators with limited space.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a first-in, first-out tray, and more specifically, to a first-in, first-out tray in which a number of canned products are stored and arranged, such as beverages and beer, while the first-in, first-out direction of extracting canned products from the direction of insertion is the same as the first-in, first-out direction when the canned products are inserted while the tray is placed on a shelf that partitions the space inside a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, a refrigerator is a device designed to store food at low temperatures within a compartment that has a fixed internal space and features a door on the front. Additionally, pockets or storage racks are formed on the door of such a refrigerator, and beverage cans, bottles, or condiment containers are stored in these pockets or racks in an upright position.

[0004] At this time, since the aforementioned pockets or storage racks store not only cans of various beverages including beer but also bottles and containers holding condiments or various sauces, the space is limited, making it impossible to store many cans.

[0005] Therefore, most beer or canned beverages stored in the refrigerator are packaged in bundles and kept in compartments.

[0006] However, this type of storage occupies an unnecessarily large amount of space due to the dead space created around the cans. In particular, when attempting to consume a beverage, it is inconvenient to retrieve a specific can from a bundle of multiple cans.

[0007] Therefore, in order to resolve this problem, a method was proposed to store multiple cans by laying them flat on a tray for easy storage. However, since the stored cans form a row in close contact with each other, when a specific can located in the upper or lower row is removed, the balance is disrupted by the rolling of the cans, causing an abnormality in the arrangement, making it difficult to remove beverage cans one by one.

[0008] As a prior art document for solving the aforementioned problem, the can tray of Published Utility Model Publication No. 20-2017-0003202 (published September 13, 2017) comprises: a rectangular bottom plate formed long in the front-rear direction; three partition walls standing upright above the bottom plate; a front entry partition wall curved upward from the bottom plate between one upright partition wall and the other; an upper rim section including an upper rim surface formed by extending the upper end of the upright partition wall outwardly and an outer rim formed by bending the end of the upper rim surface downward; a handle section including an upper rim surface formed by extending the upper end of the entry partition wall outwardly and an outer rim formed by bending the end of the upper rim surface downward with a spaced-apart space in between; and an inclined section in which the upper rims of the partition walls on one side and the other side are connected at an angle downward to the handle section of the entry partition wall. It is characterized by comprising: an ejection space that partially opens the inner receiving space while causing the entry partition to protrude forward by the aforementioned inclined portion; and an insertion groove that forms a space spaced apart from the ejection space while being curved downward on the inner side of the handle portion, thereby enabling easy ejection of a can located inside the receiving space.

[0009] The aforementioned prior art is configured to be inclined toward the front of the tray so that products contained inside can be easily moved toward the front of the tray, but in order for products to be moved toward the front of the tray, they must be stored lying down, which has the disadvantage that products cannot be stacked for storage.

[0010] When products are stored upright, they cannot move to the front of the tray; therefore, there is no difference between storing them on the tray and on the refrigerator shelf, which has the disadvantage of making it inconvenient for consumers to use. Prior art literature

[0012] Published Utility Model Publication No. 20-2017-0003202 (Published September 13, 2017) The problem to be solved

[0013] The present invention aims to provide a first-in, first-out tray that stores and arranges multiple can products while maintaining the same first-in, first-out direction for withdrawing can products, such as beverages and beer, from the direction of insertion while the tray is placed on a shelf partitioning the space inside a refrigerator, in order to solve the problems of the aforementioned prior art. means of solving the problem

[0015] The present invention, as a means to achieve the above-mentioned purpose,

[0016] A first-in, first-out tray is provided, characterized by comprising: a bottom plate formed in a predetermined shape on which a product is positioned; a guide side plate formed in a "U" shape on the bottom plate so as to move in a "U" shape when a product is inserted; and a central divider positioned in the center of the guide side plate to separate the product being inserted and the product being withdrawn.

[0017] The bottom plate of the present invention is characterized by including an anti-detachment projection formed between a guide side plate and a central divider to prevent the product from detaching from the part where it is inserted.

[0018] The bottom plate of the present invention is characterized by including a movement prevention projection fixed to a guide side plate and a central divider, respectively, to prevent movement of the product moved by the incoming product.

[0019] The bottom plate of the present invention is characterized by having a plurality of "U"-shaped rails formed to enable the first-in, first-out of products.

[0020] The bottom plate of the present invention is characterized by having a product position projection together with a direction of movement projection so that the product can be stored along the direction of movement of the product moving along the U-shaped rail and guide side plate.

[0021] The present invention is characterized by the formation of a U-shaped groove so that the product is inserted by the guide side plate and the central divider and moves in a U-shape for storage.

[0022] The present invention is characterized by having a plurality of anti-slip protrusions (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate to prevent sliding while positioned on a shelf that partitions the space inside the refrigerator.

[0023] The anti-slip protrusion of the present invention is characterized by being formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the product is first-in, first-out, thereby preventing the tray from moving due to the first-in, first-out, while simultaneously possessing resistance.

[0024] The present invention is characterized by the anti-detachment projection and the anti-movement projection being integrally formed and fixed to the side edge of the upper guide plate on one side of the bottom surface to prevent the detachment and movement of the product due to the first-in, first-out method.

[0025] The first-in, first-out tray of the present invention is characterized in that the direction of product insertion and the direction of product withdrawal, that is, the first-in, first-out direction, are the same. Effects of the invention

[0027] The present invention enables the tray to have a U-shaped structure and allow for first-in, first-out operation, thereby maximizing the efficient utilization of the refrigerator's internal space. It stores products in an organized state and minimizes empty space to accommodate more products, providing a significant advantage, especially in refrigerators with limited space.

[0028] The present invention has the effect of greatly improving user convenience by allowing the user to always easily access the product inserted first due to the first-in, first-out structure, and by inducing the product to naturally move forward through the structure of the guide side plate and the central divider, allowing the user to easily retrieve the desired product without reaching deep inside.

[0029] The tray first-in, first-out structure of the present invention facilitates the management of food expiration dates and, since the oldest products are always used first, can significantly reduce food waste caused by exceeding the expiration date of products and can easily identify the location of products, thereby simplifying inventory management.

[0030] The present invention prevents products from falling off the tray or moving disorderly by installing anti-falling ridges and anti-movement protrusions, thereby increasing safety by preventing products from falling or being damaged when opening and closing the refrigerator door, and additionally, the simple and open structure of the tray makes cleaning easy, which helps with hygiene management inside the refrigerator. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first-in, first-out tray shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the state in which products are stored in a first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention in which products are stored inside a refrigerator. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0033] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, detailed descriptions of known functions or known configurations that may obscure the essence of the invention in the following description and the accompanying drawings are omitted. Additionally, it should be noted that identical components throughout the drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals whenever possible.

[0034] The terms and words used in the specification and claims described below should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0035] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0036] Hereinafter, a tray for first-in, first-out according to the present invention will be described.

[0037] The first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention comprises a bottom plate (10) formed in a predetermined shape on which a product is placed, a guide side plate (20) formed in a "U" shape on the bottom plate (10) so as to move in a "U" shape when a product is inserted, and a central divider (30) located in the center of the guide side plate (20) to separate the product being inserted and the product being withdrawn. Since the "U" shape structure of the tray (1) and the first-in, first-out method are implemented, the internal space of the refrigerator can be utilized as efficiently as possible, products are stored in an organized state, and more products can be accommodated by minimizing empty space, thereby providing a significant advantage, especially in a refrigerator with a narrow space.

[0038] A first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention, having the above-mentioned features, will be described in detail through the attached drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the first-in, first-out tray illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a product is stored in the first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a first-in, first-out tray according to the present invention in which a product is stored inside a refrigerator.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the tray (1) for first-in, first-out according to the present invention is formed with a basic structure of a bottom plate (10) on which a product is placed, which is formed in a predetermined shape. As shown in the drawings, the bottom plate (10) is formed in any one of the shapes such as a rectangle, a "D" shape, or an ellipse, or a combination thereof, so that the first-in, first-out of the product is easily achieved, and at the same time, the product can be easily moved within the tray (1).

[0041] The above-mentioned base plate (10) is preferably made of a material that is easy to move so that it can prevent the product from tipping over even when moved while standing upright, and such material may be made of, for example, ABS, PP, etc.

[0042] A guide side plate (20) formed in a "U" shape is installed on the floor plate (10) above so that the product moves in a "U" shape when inserted.

[0043] The corner portion of the above-mentioned bottom plate (10) is formed to protrude at one end of the guide side plate (20) installed in a "U" shape so that when the product moves inside the "U"-shaped groove (21), the tray (1) is not moved and is stably supported. At this time, the corner portion is softly formed with a rubber material, i.e., a material having frictional force, which is different from the material of the bottom plate (10), so that the tray (1) can be stably positioned where it is placed.

[0044] A cover made of a soft material such as rubber or silicone may be further provided on the corner portion, and such a cover may be formed in a triangular shape to facilitate attachment to the corner portion. In this case, it is preferable that the corner of the base plate (10) be made of the same material rather than a different material.

[0045] In addition, a central divider (30) is formed in the center of the guide side plate (20) to separate the incoming product and the outgoing product.

[0046] On the bottom plate (10), a guide side plate (20) and a central divider (30) are formed with an anti-detachment ridge (40) at one end to prevent the product from coming out of the section where the product is inserted. This not only allows the product to be stored stably within the tray (1) but also prevents it from coming out of the tray (1) while inserted.

[0047] Additionally, the bottom plate (10) is equipped with a movement prevention projection (50) that is fixed to the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30), respectively, to prevent movement of products moved by the incoming products. The movement prevention projection (50) prevents products from moving in a disorderly manner by pushing against each other.

[0048] The tray (1) of the present invention is formed with multiple "U"-shaped rails so that the first-in, first-out of products can be smoothly carried out. This structure has the advantage of enabling the simultaneous storage and management of multiple products.

[0049] On the base plate (10), a product position projection (13) is marked along with a direction of movement projection (12) so that the product can be stored along with the direction of movement of the product moving along the U-shaped rail (11) and guide side plate (20). This allows the user to intuitively identify the location and direction of movement of the product, thereby increasing convenience.

[0050] A U-shaped groove (21) is formed so that the product is placed in the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30) and moves in a U-shape for storage. The U-shaped groove (21) provides a path through which the product can move and be stored stably.

[0051] The tray (1) of the present invention is designed to be used inside a refrigerator, and a plurality of anti-slip protrusions are formed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate (10) to prevent it from sliding while positioned on a shelf that partitions the space inside the refrigerator.

[0052] The above anti-slip protrusions are formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the products are first-in, first-out, thereby preventing movement of the tray (1) due to first-in, first-out and simultaneously providing appropriate resistance.

[0053] The above anti-detachment projection (40) and anti-movement projection (50) are formed as a single unit and are fixed to the side end of the upper guide side plate (20) of the bottom surface (10), and this structure effectively prevents the detachment and movement of the product due to the first-in, first-out of products.

[0054] In addition, the anti-detachment projection (40) and the anti-movement projection (50) of the present invention are formed as a single unit and are detachably formed from the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30), so that they can be unfolded in the direction of first-in, first-out of products to facilitate the insertion or removal of products.

[0055] The above anti-detachment projection (40) and anti-movement projection (50) are formed as a single unit, and are designed to be detachable from the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30) in a manner such that they detach in an upward direction or rotate around one side.

[0056] The first-in, first-out tray (1) of the present invention is configured such that the direction of product insertion and the direction of product withdrawal, that is, the first-in, first-out direction, are the same. This maximizes user convenience and enables efficient utilization of the refrigerator's internal space.

[0057] The overall structure of the tray (1) is optimized for the efficient storage and management of products, and the "U"-shaped guide side plate (20) and central divider (30) guide products to be naturally first-in, first-out. This serves an important function that allows the user to always use the oldest products first without any separate operation.

[0058] The U-shaped rail (11) formed on the base plate (10) helps the product move stably, and as the product moves smoothly along the U-shaped rail (11), the user can easily insert and remove the product with minimal force. In addition, the structure of multiple U-shaped rails (11) allows for the accommodation of products of various sizes and shapes.

[0059] The above anti-detachment ridge (40) and anti-movement protrusion (50) increase the stability of the product, and prevent the product from falling out of the tray (1) or moving disorderly inside, and ensure that the product is safely stored even against impacts that may occur when opening and closing the refrigerator door. At this time, the heights of the anti-detachment ridge (40) and the anti-movement protrusion (50) may be formed differently. For example, the height of the anti-detachment ridge (40) may be formed lower than the height of the anti-movement protrusion (50) to make it easier to insert the product.

[0060] In addition, the direction of movement projection (12) and the product position projection (13) are design elements that consider user convenience, and they intuitively indicate the correct placement and direction of movement of the product, enabling efficient use of the tray (1). Through this, the user can always store the product in the correct position, and the first-in, first-out and storage of the product are easily achieved.

[0061] The above U-shaped trough (21) is a structure for stable movement and storage of products, and products move smoothly along the above U-shaped trough (21) and always gather at the very front. This allows the user to easily take out products, and at the same time, it is easy to add new products.

[0062] The above anti-slip protrusions are elements that enhance the stability of the tray (1), preventing the tray (1) from sliding on the refrigerator shelf, thereby ensuring both safe storage of the product and user convenience. In particular, they minimize movement of the tray (1) that may occur during the first-in, first-out process of the product, allowing it to always maintain a stable state.

[0063] The tray (1) of the present invention can efficiently manage various types of products due to its structural characteristics. Products of various shapes and sizes, such as beverage cans, dairy containers, and fruits, can be safely stored and easily taken out and used. This increases the utilization of the internal space of the refrigerator and maximizes the efficiency of food management.

[0064] The first-in, first-out structure of the above tray (1) is of great help in managing the freshness of food, and since the oldest product is always used first, it is easy to manage expiration dates and reduce food waste. This is also of great significance in terms of food safety and environmental protection, which are considered important in modern society.

[0065] In addition, the tray (1) of the present invention has advantages not only in terms of user convenience but also in terms of maintaining cleanliness. It is easy to clean due to its simple and open structure, which helps in maintaining hygiene inside the refrigerator. In particular, it can be easily washed in the event of food spills or contamination, so that it can always be kept clean.

[0066] Due to its structural characteristics, the tray (1) of the present invention can be used universally regardless of the type or size of the refrigerator. It can be effectively utilized not only in household refrigerators but also in large commercial refrigerators, thus having a wide range of applications, which is an important factor in increasing the marketability and practicality of the product.

[0067] The design of the above tray (1) is simple yet functional. It excludes unnecessary decorations or complex structures and is formed solely to be faithful to its function, which increases the efficiency of the manufacturing process and reduces production costs, and as a result, can be provided to consumers at a reasonable price.

[0068] The first-in, first-out tray (1) of the present invention, due to its structural characteristics and functionality, maximizes user convenience, increases the efficiency of food management, improves the utilization of the refrigerator's internal space, and contributes to raising the functionality of the refrigerator, which is an important home appliance in modern life, to the next level.

[0069] Although this specification contains details of a number of specific embodiments, they should not be understood as limiting the scope of any invention or claimables, but rather as descriptions of features that may be characteristic of a specific embodiment of a specific invention. Specific features described in this specification in the context of individual embodiments may be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments individually or in any appropriate sub-combination. Furthermore, while features may operate in a specific combination and be described as initially claimed, one or more features from the claimed combination may be excluded from the combination in some cases, and the claimed combination may be changed to a sub-combination or a variation of the sub-combination.

[0070] Meanwhile, the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in this specification and drawings are merely specific examples provided to aid understanding and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that other variations based on the technical concept of the present invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein. Explanation of the symbols

[0072] 10: Base plate 11: U-shaped rail 12: Direction of movement projection 13: Product position projection 20: Guide side plate 21: U-shaped gutter 30: Median barrier 40: Barrier 50: Anti-movement protrusion

Claims

Claim 1 A bottom plate (10) formed in a predetermined shape on which a product is positioned; a guide side plate (20) formed in a "U" shape on the bottom plate (10) so as to move in a "U" shape when the product is inserted; and a central divider (30) positioned in the center of the guide side plate (20) to separate the product being inserted and the product being withdrawn; wherein the bottom plate (10) includes an anti-detachment projection (40) formed between the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30) to prevent the product from detaching from the insertion portion; It includes a movement prevention projection (50) fixed to the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30) respectively to prevent movement of the product being moved by the product being placed in advance; wherein the anti-detachment projection (40) and the movement prevention projection (50) are formed as a single unit and are provided to be detachable by moving upward from the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30) or rotating around one side, and a U-shaped groove (21) is formed so that the product is placed in advance by the guide side plate (20) and the central divider (30) and is stored while moving in a U-shape, and the corner portion of the bottom plate (10) protrudes outward from one end of the guide side plate (20), and is formed of a material having a different frictional force from the main body material of the bottom plate (10) so that the tray (1) is supported without slipping when the product moves inside the U-shaped groove (21), and the bottom plate (10) is, A first-in, first-out tray characterized by having a product position projection (13) and a direction of movement projection (12) together so that the product can be stored along the direction of movement of the product moving along the U-shaped rail (11) and guide side plate (20). Claim 2 A tray for first-in, first-out, and first-out according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of the anti-detachment projection (40) is formed lower than the height of the anti-movement projection (50). Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A tray for first-in, first-out products according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom plate has multiple "U" shaped rails formed thereon to allow for first-in, first-out of products. Claim 5 delete Claim 6 delete

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