INTERNAL PANEL FOR CABINET DOORS

Abstract: Internal panel for cabinet doors, said panel (10) being of the molded type, presenting a frontal face portion (11), facing the inside of the cabinet, at least a rear edge portion of a removable shelf (20) being provided close to said frontal face portion (11), at least one of said parts, defined by the internal panel (10) and by a removable shelf (20), incorporating at least one retaining housing (32), which is opened at least at one of its opposite ends, and also through a restricted region (32a), towards a joining face (11, 11a, 23, 23a) of the corresponding part facing said other part, whereas said other part incorporates at least a locking portion (31), through a respective restricted projection (31a) of the joining face (11, 23) of the corresponding part facing said other part, said locking portion (31) being fitted in the respective retaining housing (32), through its opened end, and through the displacement of the removable shelf part (20), in a parallel direction relative the plane of the door (D), in order to retain the shelf (20) against relative movements, either orthogonal to the plane of the door (D), or lateral relative to said direction of displacement of said shelf part, wherein at least one of said parts (10, 20) carries stop means (40), acting against the other part, so as to define the relative positioning of the final fitting of each shelf (20) onto the internal panel (10).

Description: INTERNAL PANEL FOR CABINET DOORS Technical Field The present invention refers to an internal panel for the doors of refrigerated or non-refrigerated cabinets, particularly used in refrigerators and freezers, which allows a better utilization of the useful space of said internal panel, by distributing removable accessories, such as shelves, along the extension of the internal panel, according to an arrangement preferred by the user. Background of the Invention In some types of conventional refrigerators, the utilization of the internal panel of their doors is previously defined during the manufacturing process of said panel, which incorporates in a single piece a plurality of shelves, thereby not allowing to modify the original arrangement of the shelves. Another type of known refrigerator presents a more versatile door design, which permits the modification in the positioning of the shelves along the longitudinal extension of the internal panel of its door, said shelves presenting a width that is substantially equal to the internal width of said panel. Besides the fact that the movements of said removable shelves are restricted to vertical displacements only, this construction is of difficult and slow handling, due to the used shelf/door fitting system and to the only one pattern of width for said removable shelves, said pattern being a function of the utilization of the shelves on the refrigerator door. Besides the inconveniences cited above, both solutions present the deficiency of requiring a large amount of material in its manufacture, such as the unremovable shelves and bands that are incorporated in the internal panel of the door and the provision of peripheral flanges, projecting from said internal panel, in order to surround the portion thereof that is going to receive the shelves, which can be removable or unremovable, thus resulting in an increase in the cost of the product. Disclosure of the Invention Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a panel for doors of cabinets, which can be refrigerated or non refrigerated, such as those used in refrigerators or freezers, and which allows the modification in the arrangement, either vertically or horizontally, of shelves that are mounted to said internal panel, as well as multiple combinations of said removable shelves. Another object of the present invention is to provide a panel for cabinet doors as mentioned above, which permits quick and easy modifications in the arrangement of said shelves by the user. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a panel for cabinet doors, which reduces the amount of raw material required to manufacture said doors, with a consequent cost reduction. These and other objectives of the present invention are achieved through an internal panel for cabinet doors, said panel being of the molded type, presenting a frontal face portion, facing the inside of the cabinet, and an opposite face portion, facing the inside of the door, at least a rear edge portion of a removable shelf " being placed close to said frontal face portion and presenting at least a pair of lateral walls and a front wall, at least one of said parts, which is defined by the internal panel and by a removable shelf, incorporating at least one retaining housing, which presents a predetermined longitudinal extension and which is opened at least at one of its opposite ends, and also through a restricted region, towards the joining face of the corresponding part facing said other part, whereas said other part incorporates at least a locking portion, through a respective restricted projection of the face of the corresponding part facing said other part, said locking portion being fitted in the respective retaining housing, through its opened end, and through the displacement of the removable shelf part, in a parallel direction relative the plane of the door, in order to retain the shelf against relative movements, either orthogonal to the plane of the door, or lateral relative to said direction of displacement of said shelf part, wherein at least one of said parts carries stop means acting against the other part, so as to define the relative positioning of the final fitting of each shelf onto the internal panel. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be described below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator, according to the present invention, provided with a removable shelf in the internal panel of one of its doors; Fig. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of a portion of a refrigerator panel, showing a system for fitting a removable shelf onto the internal panel of one of the doors of said refrigerator; Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view of the fitting system of figure 2; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded view, as that of figure 3, of another system for fitting the removable shelf onto the internal panel of one of the doors of the refrigerator. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention According to the above figures, there is provided a refrigerated cabinet, such as a vertical refrigerator having two refrigerating compartments, which are frontally closed by respective doors D, internally defined by a premolded panel 10, presenting a generally flat face, which faces the inside of the refrigerator and in which a frontal face portion 11 and an opposite face portion are defined, the latter facing the inside of the door D. Each frontal face portion 11 of the panel 10 is previously shaped, to receive and retain against involuntary displacements, a plurality of removable shelves 20 for receiving and holding several articles that need to be kept within the refrigerator, said removable shelves 20 generally presenting a parallel shape, with a pair of lateral walls 21, a front wall 22, a rear wall 23 and a bottom wall 24. When said removable shelves 20 take the form of retaining rings for holding bottles, for instance, said bottom wall 24 is hollow. The retention of the removable shelves 20 onto the frontal face portion 11 is achieved through retaining means 30, preferably of the dove-tail type, and through stop means 40, said retaining means 30 and stop means 40 being premolded onto the frontal face portion 11 of the panel 10, and to the rear wall 23 of the removable shelves 20. Besides the shape of the dove-tail type, with a sharp edge, as preferably illustrated, the retaining means 30 may present other shapes, according to the same principle, such as a "T" shaped cross section, having ends with sharp or rounded edges. All these embodiments, including the preferred and illustrated one, may further present the retaining means 30 disposed in a continuous or non-continuous way, forming rails to be fitted into the corresponding retaining means 30, at. the other part of the door/shelf assembly. In the preferred illustrated solution, each internal panel 10 presents each retaining means 30 defined by a locking portion 31, in the form of a corresponding projection of the frontal face portion 11 of the panel 10, each projection being incorporated in the panel through a restricted portion 31a, with a longitudinal extension generally equal to that of the respective locking portion 31. In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, the frontal face 11 of the panel 10 incorporates two parallel vertical alignments of locking portions 31, with their longitudinal axes also being vertically disposed, presenting an extension adequate to a stable and firm retention of the models of shelves that are going to be suspended. In the constructions illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, each locking portion 31 is fittable into a respective retaining housing 32, provided on the rear wall 23 of a respective removable shelf 20, said housing 32 being presented in the form of a recess with a peripheral contour similar to that of the corresponding locking portion 31, except with slightly larger dimensions, in order to allow a fast and easy slidable fitting between each shelf 20 and the panel 10. In the constructive form illustrated in figure 4, each recess is applied in a projection 12 incorporated into the frontal face 11 of the panel 10, whereas the locking portion 31 is incorporated in the bottom wall of a recess 28, provided at the rear face of the shelf 20, presenting a cross section dimensioned to lodge the projection 12 of the panel 10. In another non-illustrated constructive form, the locking portion is incorporated in the bottom wall of a recess provided at the frontal face 11 of the panel 10, presenting a cross section dimensioned to lodge a corresponding .projection incorporated into the rear face of the shelf 20, provided with a respective retaining housing 32. This disposition is similar to that illustrated in figure 4, except for the fact that the locking portion 31 and the housing 32 are in inverted positions in relation to the panel/shelf parts. It should be observed that, in the above cases, the housing 32 is opened towards a joining face 11a of the panel, or towards a joining face 23a of the shelf 20, forwardly displaced in relation to the plane of the frontal face 11 of the panel 10, or of the rear wall 23 of the shelf 20. In the situation of figure 3, the joining faces of the panel 10 and shelf 20 are defined by the frontal face 11 and rear wall 23 of the panel 10 and shelf 20, respectively. Each retaining housing 32 opens to an adjacent rear wall 23 of the shelf 20, or to the frontal joining face 11a of the panel 10, through a restricted region 32a, at least the lower end of the housing 32 being opened to allow the fitting of the locking portion 31 therewithin. In the embodiments of figures 1, 2 and 3, said retaining housing 32 extends along a portion of the height of the rear wall 23 of each respective shelf 20, from the edge of said rear wall 23, which is common to the bottom wall 24, up to a stop means 40, provided at the upper end of the housing 32, said stop means 40 taking the form of a projection, such as a transversal rib or a flange, which is preferably continuous or orthogonally projecting from the rear wall 23 of the shelf 20, stopping the fitting displacement of each removable shelf 20, in relation to the internal panel 10, and defining the relative positioning of the final fitting of the locking portion 31 into the housing 32. In this construction, the stop means 40 closes the upper end of the retaining housing 32. Another possible configuration for this construction would be to incorporate said transversal rib or flange 40 at least in the lower end of each locking portion 31, serving as a stop to the lower end of at least one lateral wall of the respective retaining housing 32. When said retaining housing 32 is provided at the frontal face portion 11 of the internal panel 10, towards the inside of the door D, said stop means 40 can be defined by the lower edge of said retaining housing 32, belonging to the frontal face portion 11 of the panel 10. Moreover, said stop means 40 can be placed away from the end of the respective retaining means 30. Another possible embodiment includes the provision of portions of the transversal rib or flange 40 on at least one of the sides of at least one of the cosidered retaining means 30. In the preferred illustrated constructions, the fitting of each shelf 20 onto the internal panel 10 is effected by the vertical downward displacement of said removable shelf 20, by slidably introducing its housing 32, in relation to the locking portion 31 of the panel 10, in a direction parallel to the plane of the latter, coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the housing 32. Said sliding proceeds, until the upper end of each locking portion 31 reaches a stopping rib 40 of the respective housing 32. The retention of said removable shelves 20 onto the frontal face portion 11 of each panel 10 may comply with a variety of combinations, including the fittings as described above, and partial fittings, by using one shoulder and two recesses; one recess and two shoulders, etc., independently from the fittings being orthogonal, parallel or substancially orthogonal relative the longitudinal axis of the frontal face portion 11. Such fittings can also be provided between the removable shelves 20, where the mutually fitting elements are defined on the lateral walls adjacent each removable shelf 20, or between said walls and a lateral peripheral projection provided on the internal panel 10, surrounding the frontal face portion 11, onto which said removable shelves 20 are fitted, said fittings being according to the same procedures and constructions described above. The fitting and retention of said retaining means 30 avoid the relative movements of the shelves 20, in an orthogonal direction relative the plane of the door D, and in a lateral direction relative the direction of displacement of the shelves, when they are being fitted into the longitudinal axis of the housing 32. Other variations of fittings of said removable shelves onto the frontal face portion 11 of each panel 10 are also possible, such as the removable shelves 20 and frontal face portion 11 being provided only with shoulders placed apart one from the other, so as to form, in this spacing, a gap that will serve as a recess, thus allowing the fitting between each shelf 20 and the frontal face portion 11. In this constructive form, if the retaining means 30 has a partial pyramidal shape, the shelf 20 will enable, without needing previous fabrication, horizontal and vertical fittings, for the definition of the arrangement preferred by the user. Moreover, each removable shelf 20 and panel 10 can be simultaneously provided with more than one type of retaining means. Furthermore, the locking portion 31 may present an aleatory distribution throughout the surface of the frontal face portion 11 of the panel, whereas the removable shelf 20 may present a variety of dimensions, with more than one form of optional fittings, as described above.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Internal panel for cabinet doors, said panel (10) being of the molded type, presenting a frontal face portion (11) , facing the inside of the cabinet, and an opposite face portion, facing the inside of the door (D) , at least a rear edge portion of a removable shelf (20) being placed close to said frontal face portion (11) and presenting at least a pair of lateral walls (21) and a front wall (22) , characterized in that at least one of said parts, defined by the internal panel (10) and by a removable shelf (20) , incorporates at least one retaining housing (32) , which presents a predetermined longitudinal extension and which is opened at least at one of its opposite ends, and also through a restricted region (32a) , towards a joining face (11, 11a, 23, 23a) of the corresponding part facing said other part, whereas said other part incorporates at least a locking portion (31) , through a respective restricted projection (31a) of the joining face (11, 11a, 23, 23a) of the corresponding part facing said other part, said locking portion (31) being fitted in the respective retaining housing (32) , through its opened end, and through the displacement of the removable shelf part (20) , in a parallel direction relative the plane of the door (D) , in order to retain the shelf (20) against relative movements, either orthogonal to the plane of the door (D) , or lateral relative to said direction of displacement of said shelf part, wherein at least one of said parts (10, 20) carries stop means (40) , acting against the other part, so as to define the relative positioning of the final fitting of each shelf (20) onto the internal panel (10 ) . 2. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that the upper end of each retaining housing (32) is closed. 3. Internal panel, as in claim 2, characterized in that the directions of displacement, both for the fitting and for the removal of each shelf (20) relative the internal panel (10) are downward and upward directions, respectively. 4. Internal panel, as in claim 3, characterized in that the direction of displacement of the shelf part (20) along the internal panel (10) coincides with the longitudinal axis of the retaining housing (32) . 5. Internal panel, as in claim 4, characterized in that the direction of displacement of the shelf part (20) along the internal panel (10) is vertical. 6. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that the joining face (11a, 23a) is forwardly projected in relation to the plane of one of said internal panel (10) and removable shelf (20) parts, defined by the frontal face portion (11) of the internal panel (10) and by the rear wall (23) of the removable shelf (20) , each retaining housing (32) being in the form of a recess, provided at least in one projection of one of said panel and shelf parts, from said plane. 7. Internal panel, as in claim 6, characterized in that each housing (32) is in the form of a recess provided in said joining face (11, 23) of the corresponding part. 8. Internal panel, as in any of the claims 6 or 7, characterized in that each housing (32) is provided along at least part of the height of a rear wall (23) of the removable shelves (20) . 9. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that each retaining housing (32) receives a respective locking portion (31) . 10. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that each retaining housing (32) presents a cross section with a continuous peripheral contour. 11. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that each locking portion (31) presents a continuous longitudinal extension, occupying at least part of the longitudinal extension of a corresponding retaining housing (32) . 12. Internal panel, as in claim 11, characterized in that each locking portion (31) presents a continuous longitudinal extension, similar to that of the respective retaining housing (32) . 13. Internal panel, as in claim 12, characterized in that each locking portion (31) presents a cross section with a continuous peripheral contour. 14. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that the stop means (40) is incorporated, in a single piece, into at least one of the parts represented by the removable shelf (20) and internal panel (10) . 15. Internal panel, as in claim 14, in which the locking portion (31) presents an upper end and a lower end, characterized in that the stop means (40) is in the form of a projection that stops the relative displacement between the locking portion (31) and a retaining housing (32) , said projection being provided close to at least part of one of the ends of at least one of said retaining housing (32) and locking portion (31) . 16. Internal panel, as in claim 15, characterized in that said stop means (40) is in the form of a continuous stopping rib, which is orthogonal relative a corresponding free end of one of the removable shelf (20) and internal panel (10) parts. 17. Internal panel, as in claim 16, characterized in that each removable shelf (20) presents its rear edge in a continuous form, defining a rear wall (23) , where the stop means (40) is defined. 18. Internal panel, as in claim 17, characterized in that the stop means (40) closes the upper end of each retaining housing (32) . 19. Internal panel, as in claim 1, characterized in that each removable shelf (20) incorporates, at a lower edge of its front wall, a bottom wall (24) .

Inventors: COSTA CRISTIANE FURIATTI, COSTA, CRISTIANE, FURIATTI
Applicants: CONSUL SA, COSTA CRISTIANE FURIATTI, CONSUL S/A.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F25D23
IPC codes: F25D23