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US 9,074,807 B2Granted
Reclosable compartment for refrigerator
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsAlberto Borgonovo, Fabio Moneta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reclosable compartment for refrigerators, particularly suitable for incorporation in removable shelves, openable and reclosable by means of a front cover (30) which is rotatable around a first set of pins (70) on the lateral portions (50, 60) of the said container. In the closed configuration at least one portion of this front cover (30) is in a substantially vertical position, while in the open configuration the said portion (30) is in a substantially horizontal position. The said container also has an auxiliary upper cover (40) rotationally coupled to the lateral portions (50, 60), and rotatable around a second set of pins (80) during its opening and/or closing movement, through contact with the said front cover (30).
Claims13
A refrigerator container comprising:
- a pair of lateral portions;
- a shelf for the storage of items to be preserved;
- a front cover having a first pair of pins corresponding to the pair of lateral portions of the refrigerator container, the front cover configured to be rotated around the first pair of pins, wherein the refrigerator container is in a closed configuration when the front cover is in a substantially vertical position and the refrigerator container is in an open configuration when the front cover is in a substantially horizontal position;
- and
- an auxiliary upper cover having a second pair of pins, the auxiliary upper cover rotationally coupled to the pair of lateral portions, the auxiliary cover configured to be rotatable around the second pair of pins through contact with the front cover, the front cover having a boundary in sliding contact along substantially a length of a bottom surface of the auxiliary upper cover, which rotates a front edge of the auxiliary upper cover upward as the front cover rotates between the vertical and horizontal positions;
- the pair of lateral portions include a first pair of seats which house the first pair of pins, the pair of lateral portions include a second pair of seats which house the second pair of pins, wherein the first pair of pins are integrally formed in the front cover and the second pair of pins are integrally formed in the auxiliary upper cover.
3 more elements
A refrigerator container, comprising:
- a first surface and a second surface each having an engagement element configured to engage an interior portion of a refrigerator, wherein the first surface is substantially parallel to the second surface, and
- a storage shelf disposed between a bottom portion of the first surface and a bottom portion of the second surface;
- a front cover rotatably connected to the first and second surfaces and rotating between a first vertical position and a second horizontal position;
- an upper cover rotatably connected to the first and second surfaces and configured for rotational movement through contact with the front cover as the front cover is moved between the first vertical position and the second horizontal position, the front cover having a boundary in sliding contact along substantially a length of a bottom surface of the upper cover, which rotates the upper cover as the front cover rotates, a front edge of the upper cover rotating upward as the front cover begins to rotate from the first vertical position to the second horizontal position;
- the first surface and the second surface each include a first seat and a second seat, the front cover includes a pair of first pins, and the upper cover includes a pair of second pins;
- the pair of first pins are rotatably engaged with the first seats, thereby defining a first axis of movement, wherein the pair of second pins are rotatably engaged with the second seats, thereby defining a second axis of movement.
3 more elements
A refrigerator container comprising:
- a base having a back portion, a plurality of engagement members, a first side wall, and a second side wall,
- wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are substantially parallel to each other;
- and
- wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each have corresponding first and second seats, the second seats on a rearward portion of the first and second side walls;
- a first cover having a first pair of pins rotatably engaged with the first seats on the first side wall and the second side wall defining a first axis of movement between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position;
- and
- a second cover having a second pair of pins rotatably engaged with the second seats on the first side wall and the second side wall defining a second axis of movement,
- wherein the second axis of movement is higher than the first axis of movement;
- and
- wherein the second cover is configured to cover the top of the refrigerator container when the first cover is in the closed position, and rotate about the second axis through contact with the first cover as the first cover is rotated between the closed position and the open position,
- wherein the front cover having a boundary in sliding contact along substantially a length of a bottom surface of the upper cover, which rotates the upper cover as the front cover rotates.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.