# US 7,607,744 B2 · Domestic refrigerator provided with shelves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,744 B2 - Document ID: US7607744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/914,595 - Filed: 2006-05-15 - Published: 2008-11-06 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-17 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Fiorenzo Casoli; Giorgio Giudici; Giuseppina Arresta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607744B2 ## CPC - F25D 25/02: by shelves - F25D 25/04: by conveyors (in general B65G) - F25D 2325/021: Shelves with several possible configurations - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract A domestic refrigerator comprises a cavity (c) with side walls (10a) provided with removable opposing supporting elements (16) and having guides (22) capable of co-operating with lateral sliders (26) for shelves (14) in order to permit the latter to be positioned at different heights. Said shelves (14) comprise two planar portions (18, 20) articulated with one another, a first portion (18), which is more extensive in the manner of a leaf, co-operating with the guides (22, 22a-d) with the aim of being able to assume two stable positions at different heights, a second portion (20) in the manner of a bracket co-operating rotatably with seats for said supporting elements so as to be able to assume a first configuration substantially coplanar with the leaf and a second configuration angled relative to the latter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A domestic refrigerator comprising: a plurality of walls defining a cavity; opposing supporting elements provided within the cavity, each supporting element being elongated and having a guide at one end and a seat at an opposite end; and a shelf comprising two planar portions articulated with one another, a first portion having sliders received within the guides to slidably move between first and second stable positions at different heights, a second portion rotatably mounted to the seats to rotate between a first configuration substantially coplanar with the first portion and a second configuration angled relative to the first portion; wherein the first portion is in the first stable position when the second portion is in the first configuration, the first portion is in the second stable position when the second portion is in the second configuration, and sliding movement of the first portion between the first and second stable positions affects rotation of the second portion between the first and second configurations; and wherein each of said guides is substantially V shaped and comprises an insertion leg for receipt of the sliders and an operational leg that ends at the top in a turned-down seat capable of retaining the respective slider stably in the first stable position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the insertion leg is substantially vertical and forms, together with the operational leg, a vertex for retaining the first portion of the shelf in the second stable position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the guides are arranged in a zone of the supporting elements adjacent to a front opening of the cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the turned-down seat of each guide and the seat capable of co-operating with the second portion of the shelf are arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the shelf are substantially orthogonal to one another in the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the shelf is provided with seats for supporting bottles arranged in a horizontal or inclined configuration. ### Claim 7 A domestic refrigerator comprising: a plurality of walls defining a cavity; opposing supporting elements provided within the cavity, each supporting element being elongated and having a guide at one end and a seat at an opposite end; and a shelf comprising two planar portions articulated with one another, a first portion comprising sliders received within the guides and co-operating with the guides to slidably move between first and second stable positions at different heights, a second portion co-operating rotatably with and mounted to the seats in order to rotate between a first configuration substantially coplanar with the first portion and a second configuration angled relative to the first portion; wherein each of said guides is substantially V shaped and comprises an insertion leg for receipt of the sliders and an operational leg that ends at the top in a turned-down seat capable of retaining the respective slider stably in the first stable position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the insertion leg is substantially vertical and forms, together with the operational leg, a vertex for retaining the first portion of the shelf in the second stable position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the guides are arranged in a zone of the supporting elements adjacent to a front opening of the cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the turned-down seat of each guide and the seat capable of co-operating with the second portion of the shelf are arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the shelf are substantially orthogonal to one another in the second stable position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The domestic refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the shelf is provided with seats for supporting bottles arranged in a horizontal or inclined configuration.