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US 9,107,494 B2Granted
Refrigerator with a lift mechanism including at least one pivot arm
OwnerJoseph Scheuring, Michael Bayneinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refrigerator is provided including a refrigerator compartment having a bin door. A storage bin is positioned within the refrigerator compartment. A lift mechanism is positioned within the refrigerator compartment. The lift mechanism includes a bin support structure configured to support the storage bin. The lift mechanism further includes at least one pivot arm pivotally attached to the bin door, and a drive unit attached to the bin door. The drive unit applies a vertical force to the at least one pivot arm, and rotation of the at least one pivot arm vertically moves the bin support structure and storage bin.
Claims20
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a refrigerator compartment;
- a bin door configured to restrict access to an interior of the refrigerator compartment;
- a storage bin positioned within the refrigerator compartment;
- and
- a lift mechanism positioned within the refrigerator compartment, the lift mechanism including:
- a bin support structure configured to support the storage bin;
- at least one pivot arm pivotally attached to the bin support structure, the at least one pivot arm including a first end, a second end, and a pivot pin positioned between the first end and the second end;
- and
- a drive unit configured to apply a force to the at least one pivot arm at the first end to pivot the at least one pivot arm around the pivot pin, the pivoting of the at least one pivot pin being configured to raise and lower the bin support structure and storage bin in accordance with a corresponding direction in which the second end is raised and lowered by the pivoting of the at least one pivot arm around the pivot pin,
- wherein the first end of the at least one pivot arm is operatively attached to the drive unit by a pin extending through an elongated slot.
7 more elements
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a refrigerator compartment including a bin door;
- a storage bin positioned within the refrigerator compartment;
- and
- a lift mechanism positioned within the refrigerator compartment, the lift mechanism including:
- a bin support structure configured to support the storage bin,
- a sliding system configured to vertically move the bin support structure;
- and
- at least one pivot arm mounted in a plane parallel with a front surface of the storage bin, the at least one pivot arm including a first end, a second end, and a pivot pin, the pivot pin being positioned between the first end and the second end, the pivot pin pivotally attaching the at least one pivot arm to the bin door, the at least one pivot arm being configured to pivot around the pivot pin in a plane parallel to the bin door, and
- a drive unit configured to apply a force to the at least one pivot arm at the first end to pivot the at least one pivot arm about the pivot pin, wherein the drive unit comprises a moving member attached to the at least one pivot arm that is configured to translate along a vertical axis that is fixed relative to the bin mounting structure,
- wherein the second end is operatively attached to the sliding system and configured to raise and lower the bin support structure and storage bin in accordance with a corresponding direction in which the second end is raised and lowered by the pivoting of the at least one pivot arm around the pivot pin.
7 more elements
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a refrigerator compartment including a bin door;
- a storage bin positioned within the refrigerator compartment;
- and
- a lift mechanism positioned within the refrigerator compartment, the lift mechanism including:
- a bin support structure configured to movably support the storage bin,
- at least one slide rail connected to and configured to vertically move the bin support structure;
- at least one pivot arm pivotally attached to the bin support structure, the at least one pivot arm including a first end, a second end, and a pivot pin positioned between the first and the second end, the pivot pin pivotally attaching the at least one pivot arm to the bin door, the second end being operatively attached to the at least one slide rail;
- and
- a drive unit attached to the bin door and in operative association with the bin support structure, the first end being attached to the drive unit;
- wherein the drive unit comprises a moving member attached to the at least one pivot arm that is configured to translate along a vertical axis that is fixed relative to the bin mounting structure,
- wherein the drive unit is configured to output linear motion in a direction parallel of the bin door and opposite to a direction of travel of the bin support structure,
- wherein, when the direction of the linear motion outputted by the drive unit is downward, the first end is lowered to rotate the at least one pivot arm around the pivot pin such that the second end is raised, thereby raising the at least one slide rail to raise the bin support structure and the storage bin, and
- wherein, when the direction of the linear motion outputted by the drive unit is upward, the first end is raised to rotate the at least one pivot arm around the pivot pin such that the second end is lowered, thereby lowering the at least one slide rail to lower the bin support structure and the storage bin.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.