Patent Application
20240125542
Exemplary arrangements relate to devices that hold beverage containers at selected cool temperatures. Specifically, exemplary arrangements relate to a wine cooler apparatus with configurable shelf arrangements that enable supporting bottles or similar beverage containers in selected orientations.
It is often desirable to maintain certain beverages at selected temperatures. An example of a type of beverage that is desirable to maintain at a selected temperature is wine. However it may be desirable to maintain other types of beverages at selected temperatures.
The organized storage of beverages within a cooler apparatus may be accomplished using different types of shelves. However, a shelf configuration that may be suitable for holding one size or type of a beverage container, may not be suitable for holding other sizes and types of beverage containers.
Beverage holding coolers and the shelves that are used therein for supporting beverage containers may benefit from improvements.
Exemplary arrangements provide an apparatus including a cooler configured for holding beverage containers. The exemplary apparatus includes an enclosure which bounds an interior area. The enclosure includes an opening to the interior area from outside the enclosure. A door that is movably mounted to the enclosure is movable between a closed door position in which the door prevents access from outside the enclosure to the interior area, and an open position in which the interior area is accessible from outside the enclosure. The exemplary door includes a transparent front panel that enables viewing of the beverage containers housed within the interior area.
The exemplary cooler apparatus includes a plurality of vertically spaced parallel, horizontally extending shelves. The exemplary shelves include at least one configurable shelf. The at least one configurable shelf includes a front portion and a back portion. The exemplary front portion is rotatably movable relative to the back portion.
In the exemplary arrangement the front portion is configured to be releasably fixed in a plurality of positions relative to the back portion. These positions include a flat shelf position in which the front portion is in co-planar relation with the back portion. Another of the positions is a tilted position in which the front portion extends at an acute angle relative to the back portion, and in which an inward end of the front portion that is immediately adjacent to the back portion extends vertically above the back portion. The exemplary shelf further enables a front portion be placed in a retracted position. In the retracted position the front portion is disposed rearward and is in at least one of overlying or underlying relation with at least a portion of the back portion.
Exemplary arrangements further include immediately vertically adjacent configurable shelves. Such arrangements enable the front portion of the lower shelf to be in a tilted position such that beverage containers such as bottles may be positioned in a tilted configuration in engagement with the front portion. In such an arrangement the front portion of the configurable shelf immediately above the shelf supporting bottles in the tilted configuration, is positioned in the retracted position. This enables the necks of the bottles on the lower shelf to extend upward to a vertical level of at least that of the shelf above. Because the front portion of the shelf above is in the retracted position, the upper shelf of the pair does not interfere with the upwardly tilted bottles supported on the front portion of the lower shelf. Numerous different shelf arrangements and configurations may be provided for supporting beverage containers in a desired manner.
Exemplary arrangements may include horizontally extending shelf support plates that have an elongated, horizontally extending slot. The slots are configured to receive at least one resilient insert therein. The exemplary insert includes a plurality of horizontally spaced projections that extend outward from and vertically above the slot when the insert is positioned within the slot. The spaced projections serve to engage and hold beverage containers in a desired spaced relation. In some arrangements exemplary the inserts may include different spaced arrangements of projections on the opposed horizontal edges thereof. This enables a single insert to be utilized for holding different sizes and configurations of beverage containers based on how the insert is oriented when positioned in the slot.
Numerous other useful aspects of the exemplary arrangements are described in the following Detailed Description.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
A door 18 is movably mounted in operative connection with the enclosure through a pair of vertically disposed hinges 20. The exemplary door includes a transparent panel 22 which enables viewing the interior area 14 through the door. The door 18 further includes an external handle 24. The door is movable relative to the enclosure between positions including a door closed position as shown in
The exemplary cooler further includes components that facilitate maintaining the interior area at a set desired temperature. In exemplary arrangements this includes a refrigerant compressor, evaporator and condenser that provide for heat transfer from the interior area 14 to outside the interior area through use of a suitable refrigerant material. Exemplary arrangements further include circuitry that is configured to control the refrigeration components, including a temperature sensor and a thermostat which are operative to maintain the interior area at a desired temperature. Further exemplary arrangements may include lights or other components within the interior area. It should be understood that these cooler components are exemplary and other arrangements may include different or other components.
In the exemplary arrangement the cooler includes a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel horizontally extending shelves 26. In exemplary arrangements the vertically spaced shelves include at least one configurable shelf that is movable between multiple positions and configurations in a manner like that later discussed. Each of the plurality of configurable shelves of the exemplary arrangement is supported on a pair of horizontally opposed slides 28. In exemplary arrangements with the door in the door open position the configurable shelves are movably extendable outwardly from the interior area 14 through the opening 16. In the exemplary arrangement shown each of the configurable shelves is movable in supported connection with the slides 28 such that when the slides are in a slide retracted position as shown in
The exemplary cooler configuration also includes at least one fixed shelf 30. In the exemplary arrangement the fixed shelf 30 is not extendable outward through the opening 16 in supported connection with retractable slides. Of course it should be understood that this configuration having both movable shelves and fixed shelves is exemplary and in other arrangements other approaches may be used.
As shown in
As shown in
To engage an immediately adjacent side wall of a shelf 26 with a slide, the back slide fastener 48 and the forward slide fastener 46 are loosened. With the back slide fastener 38 loosened the cylindrical stud portion of the fastener is enabled to extend in the vertical portion of the back slot 38 of the side wall 32. When the cylindrical stud portion of the fastener reaches the furthest extent of vertical travel in the slot 38, the exemplary shelf is then moved forwardly relative to the front slide portion so that the cylindrical stud portion of the fastener extends in the horizontally extending portion of the slot 38. With the cylindrical stud portion of the fastener 38 engaged at the furthest horizontal position of the back slot 38 away from the vertically extending portion of the slot, the cylindrical stud portion of the forward slide fastener is enabled to be engaged in the front slot 36. The forward slide fastener and back slide fastener are then tightened to hold the immediately adjacent side wall 32 in engagement with the front slide portion 40. Due to the configuration of the exemplary arrangement a user is enabled to engage a configurable shelf with each of a pair of horizontally disposed slides 28. As can be appreciated this exemplary mounting arrangement enables readily engaging and disengaging the exemplary shelves 26 from the slides 28. Of course it should be understood that this arrangement is exemplary and in other arrangements other approaches may be used.
An exemplary configurable shelf 26 is shown in greater detail in
The exemplary front portion 50 includes a pair of horizontally disposed front side links 60. In the exemplary arrangement each front side link in transverse cross section includes an internal elongated cross-sectional recess therein. The elongated recess in each front side link 60 is configured to receive a portion of a back side link therein as later discussed. The exemplary front side links are rotationally movable intermediate of the side walls 32 into various positions as later discussed. Each of the exemplary front side links include a back front side link end 62. A front rod 64 extends horizontally between the respective back front side link ends 62.
In the exemplary arrangement each front side link includes a forward front side link end 66. The front side links are connected by a front wall 68 at the forward front side link ends. A pair of shelf support plates 56 extend horizontally between the front side links 60. The exemplary shelf support plates 56 include elongated slots for releasably receiving inserts 58 in a manner like that later discussed.
As is better shown in the tilted position of the shelf front portion in
In the exemplary arrangement the second back side link end 72 is pivotally engaged with the front side link 60. The second back side link end 75 is engaged with the front side link at a front side link pivot 78. In exemplary arrangements the second back side link end extends in the elongated cross-sectional recess of the front side link and pivots therein. The exemplary front side link pivot is positioned in generally centered intermediate relation between the forward front side link end 66 and the back front side link end 62. As can be appreciated this exemplary configuration enables the respective front side links to be vertically and rotationally movable along the direction that is parallel to the immediately adjacent side wall 32. Of course it should be understood that this configuration is exemplary, and in other arrangements other approaches may be used.
In the exemplary arrangement each side wall 32 includes a first aperture 80. In the exemplary arrangement each of the first apertures 80 are horizontally aligned. Each exemplary side wall 32 further includes a second aperture 82. In the exemplary arrangement each of the second apertures are also horizontally aligned. In the exemplary arrangement the first apertures 80 are positioned on a respective side wall 32 forward of and below the second apertures 82.
Each exemplary front side link 60 includes a respective horizontally outward extending projection 84. The exemplary outward extending projections are disposed outwardly away from the front side link pivot 78 and toward the respective forward front side link end of the respective front side link 60. In the exemplary arrangement the outward extending projections 84 each comprise a releasable fastener that extends through a respective aperture in the front side link. Of course it should be understood that this configuration of the projections 84 is exemplary. In other arrangements the horizontally extending projections may include pins, studs or other structures that may be permanently part of the respective front side link or releasably engageable with the respective front side link as is the case in the exemplary arrangement.
In the exemplary arrangement the first aperture 80 has a keyhole configuration with an enlarged central portion and a more narrow downward extending slot portion. In exemplary arrangements the horizontally extending projection is attached to a cylindrical stud portion which terminates outwardly in an enlarged head. In the exemplary configuration the head and stud portion are configured to pass through the enlarged circular portion of the aperture, while the stud portion is configured to pass through the smaller vertically extending portion of the aperture 80. The exemplary horizontally extending projection includes a fastener that enables releasably engaging the front side link and the side wall 32 in fixed engagement when the stud portion extends in the vertically extending portion of the aperture 80. In the exemplary arrangement the second aperture 82 includes a slot in an upper face of the respective side wall 32 as shown. The second aperture includes an enlarged portion that enables the head to pass therethrough and a vertically extending slot portion that can be similarly engaged with the stud portion of the projection therein. In the exemplary arrangement this enables the horizontally extending projection to be selectively held in releasably fixed engagement with the second aperture 82.
As a result in the exemplary arrangement the horizontally extending projections may be extended through the first apertures 80 and the side walls 32 and selectively held in fixed engagement therewith. In this arrangement the front portion 50 is in fixed co-planar relation with the back portion such that the front portion is in the flat shelf position as represented in
When desired the user is enabled to configure the front portion 50 in a tilted position. This is accomplished by disengaging the horizontally extending projections 84 from the first apertures 80 and engaging the horizontally extending projections in fixed engagement with the second apertures 82. As the front portion moves between the flat shelf position and the tilted position the front side links and the back side links move in opposed rotational directions. In this arrangement as shown in
In some exemplary arrangements the enclosure may be configured to include more vertically disposed pairs of slides than shelves. In such arrangements the user may selectively vertically space the shelves away from one another by engaging shelves with the different pairs of slides. Thus for example in some exemplary arrangements when the user chooses to position the front portion of the shelf in the tilted position such as is shown in
Alternatively in exemplary arrangements the configurable shelf 26 may have a front portion 50 movable to a retracted position in which the front portion vertically overlies or underlies the back portion 52 of the shelf. This is carried out in exemplary arrangements by rotating the back side links 70 about the rear pivots 74 to a retracted position in which the front portion extends in underlying relation of the rear portion 52. However in other arrangements the front portion may be configured to overlie the back portion in the retracted position.
The movement of the exemplary front portion about the rear pivots 74 toward the retracted position is represented in
Of course as can be appreciated in exemplary arrangements the front portion may be returned to the flat shelf position or to the tilted position as may be desired by the user. Thus exemplary arrangements enable the user to readily reconfigure the shelf arrangement within the cooler. Further in exemplary arrangements the ability to releasably engage the shelves 26 and the slides 28 may also enable the shelves to be configured such that in the retracted position of the front portion of the shelf, the location of the open area is reversed so that space for bottles or containers extending upward from the shelf immediately below is at the inward side of the shelf. Thus for example in exemplary arrangements with the shelf having the retracted front portion positioned between the slides with open space at the back, the user may position tall bottles so they extend vertically upward from the shelf below into the open space at the back of the shelf immediately above. Of course it should be understood that these approaches are exemplary and in other arrangements other approaches to be used.
As previously discussed, in exemplary arrangements the front portions 50 and the back portions 52 of the shelves each include horizontally extending shelf support plates 56 that have horizontally elongated slots that are configured to releasably receive inserts 58 therein. As represented in
In exemplary arrangements the recesses and projections conform with the configuration of outside walls of bottles or other containers of a given size. The exemplary projections 86 have a spaced configuration such that the projections extend intermediate of the containers and maintain the containers in the desired spaced relation. This helps to assure that containers in engaged relation with the shelf inserts maintain the desired positions and do not move under normal circumstances when the shelves are extended and retracted from the enclosure.
Further in exemplary arrangements each opposed horizontal edge of an insert includes projections and recesses that have a different configuration and/or spaced relationship. As a result the user may change the spaced relationship and/or configuration of the projections that are exposed outside and above the slot by reversing the exemplary insert and extending the currently exposed horizontal edge and the projections thereon so they extend within the slot. In exemplary arrangements the inserts may include visible indicia 96 thereon that indicate the particular spaced relationship of the projections that extend on each horizontal edge. Thus a user is enabled to assure that each of the inserts are configured in the same manner and with the projections having the same spaced configurations extending upward outside the slot.
In exemplary arrangements the inserts 58 are curved in transverse cross-section. As a result the projections 86 along one horizontal edge 94 extend at an obtuse angle relative to projections 98 that extend on the opposed transverse edge 92. Further in exemplary arrangements the inserts are comprised of resilient material. This enables the inserts to be extended in a respective slot 90 and held therein by the biasing force against the sides of the slot that is produced by the compression of the resilient material. Of course it should be understood that these approaches are exemplary and in other arrangements other approaches may be used. For example multiple inserts may be positioned within a respective slot and/or multiple separate slots may be utilized instead of a continuous slot.
Thus the exemplary arrangements achieve improved operation, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices, and attain the useful results that are described herein.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples, and the new and useful features are not limited to the exact features and configurations that have been shown and described.
It should be understood that the features and/or relationships associated with one exemplary arrangement can be combined with features and/or relationships from another exemplary arrangement to form other arrangements. That is, various features and/or relationships from various arrangements can be combined in further arrangements. The new and useful scope of the disclosure herein is not limited only to the exemplary arrangements that have been shown and described.
Having described features, discoveries and principles of the exemplary arrangements, the manner in which they are constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results attained, the new and useful features, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63415529 | Oct 2022 | US |
