WO2007054132A1

WO2007054132A1 - Table and cooling unit combination with liftable, cooling goods containing box

Info

Publication number: WO2007054132A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/001697
Authority: WO
Inventors: Janez Smerdelj; Anton Holobar
Original assignee: Gorenje dd
Current assignee: Gorenje dd
Priority date: 2005-11-11
Filing date: 2006-02-24
Publication date: 2007-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-11
Also published as: EP1785059A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination of a table (10a) and a cooling unit (6) arranged inside the basis of the table (10a) . By lifting means (11) a cooled box (2) may be vertically moved from a lower position to an upper position. In the lower position the cooled box(2) forms part of the table (10a) basis and the upper side of the cooling unit is flush with the table forming a uniform tabletop. In the upper position one or several compartments (7) located inside the cooled box (2) are accessible by at least one lateral side of the box. The present invention provides a space- and energy-saving table/cooling unit combination, in which the compartment (s) (7) of the cooled box (2) are easily accessible.

Description

Table and cooling unit combination with liftable, cooling goods containing box

The present invention relates to a combination of a table and a cooling unit arranged inside the basis of the table. By lifting means a cooled box may be vertically moved from a lower position to an upper position. In the lower position the cooled box forms part of the table basis and the upper side of the cooling unit is in flush with the table forming a uniform tabletop. In the upper position one or several compartments located inside the cooled box are accessible by at least one lateral side of the box. The present invention provides a space- and energy-saving table/cooling unit combination, in which the compartment(s) of the cooled box are easily accessible.

Several adaptations of refrigerators and iceboxes as serving apparatuses are known in the art. Unlike commonplace refrigerators and iceboxes they have a different shape of a door or cover, which may be accessed by a side or a top door. The shape and arrangement of compartments, shelves and other racks located in the refrigerators and iceboxes is also adapted. Such cooling units may be further built into cabinets or counters.

In the art combinations of refrigerators and tables are already known. E.g. US D438,400 S specifies a table and refrigerator combination, wherein the refrigerator may be accessed by a side door.

In JP 2001/124465 a refrigerator box equipped with a top table is disclosed. The table is placed on the upper surface of an outer box in which the thickness of heat insulation wall is ensured without increasing the height of the refrigerator.

CN 1364679 discloses a low temperature work table including a seat and a work chamber. The seat is provided with a cold air generator to fill the work chamber with cold air. Low temperature environment for low temperature experiment on the surface of the work table may be processed. The table, cooling generator combination may additionally be used as a refrigerator.

WO 2004/083748 relates to a piece of furniture comprising a table in which a refrigerator compartment is embedded. The illuminatable compartment may be accessed after opening of at least one transparent cover plate arranged on the top of the compartment in flush with the table's surface. The cover plate may be moved by means of a drive mechanism. WO

2005/047787 specifies an improved door arrangement for a refrigerator or freezer compartment within a table. The table is provided with respective means for moving the door from a closed position to an open position in which the door is stored below the table surface.

Drawbacks of above refrigerator and table combinations according to the state of the art reside preliminary in that cold air accumulated at the bottom of the refrigerator escapes after opening, which results in a general higher energy consumption. Tables with embedded refrigerators have like above-accessible freezers the disadvantage that the contents are only reachable via the upper opening. This renders the contents of said devices not easily accessible or in some cases even inaccessible. An additional drawbacks of such devices is the need to remove items located on the upper opening before aperture.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a table and cooling unit combination requiring less space and having lower energy consumption, wherein the contents of the cooling unit are easily accessible and that cleaning of the box is facilitated as well. An additional advantage resides in that items located on the upper side of the cooling unit may remain in their position during moving of the cooled box.

The present invention provides therefore a combined table and cooling unit comprising a cooled box, which is arranged inside the basis of the table. By lifting means the cooled box may be vertically moved from a lower position to an upper position. In the lower position the cooled box forms part of the table basis and the upper side of the cooled box is in flush with the table so that it forms part of the tabletop. In the upper position one ore several compartments located inside the cooled box are accessible by at least one lateral side of the box.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the table and cooling unit combination in which the box is the lower or closed position; and

Fig. 2 shows the longitudinal cross-section of the table and cooling unit combination of Fig. 1 in which the box is the upper or open position, i.e. serving position.

The present invention provides a table and cooling unit combination, which comprises a board or tabletop (10a) and a housing (1) forming the foot or basis of the table. In the housing a box (2) with at least one compartment (7) and a cooling aggregate (5) with a cooling unit (6) are located. Lifting means (11) are arranged in the housing (1) and adapted to move the box (2) in a vertical direction from a lower position, wherein the upper board (10) of said box (2) is in plain with the tabletop (10a) and forms part of the tabletop, to an upper position, wherein said at least one compartment (7) of the box (2) is accessible by at least one lateral side of said box, and vice versa.

It should be clear that the present table and cooling unit combination may be applied for several purposes. An example for such an application may the use in kitchen-dining sections or in dining rooms avoiding the necessity for serving the food and beverages to be consumed. In addition, the present table and cooling unit combination may be also used in space- confined areas. The various elements of table and cooling unit combination may be also made by different materials to meet the particular needs of the user. The upper board (10) of the box (2) may be for example prepared from a transparent material, such as glass or plastics, to allow the user to take a look on the compartment's interior without the need to open. Additionally, the table and/or box may have different layouts. E.g. in case of a round table a box (2) having a round plan view may be chosen. Other possible shapes of the table's or box' (2) plan view comprise, but are not limited to, rectangular, square and/or polygonal shapes, which consequently may require an adaptation of the board (10) of the compartment (7). The cooling aggregate (5) and cooling unit (6) are designed to allow the desired cooling temperature in each compartment (7). For usual household applications the cooling aggregate (5) and cooling unit (6) preferably afford temperatures prevailing in refrigerators, iceboxes and freezers. It should be clear that the cooling unit (6) may be positioned at any place inside the housing (1), such as walls, bottom and/or top thereof, in vicinity to the liftable box.

The term box as used herein refers to any kind of container having an upper side, a down side and four lateral sides, from which one is opened and accessible by the user. The box (2) may have e.g. the form of a shelf and may offer one or more compartments for storage of cooling goods. The box (2) may be also in form of a rack accessible from two, three or four of the lateral sides. The upper side (10) of the box is adapted to be in flush with the tabletop (10a), whereas the down side of the box is adapted to carry cooling goods but also may have openings, such as a net, to allow cold air to flow downwards during moving the box in the upper position and, thereby, saving energy. Such a basic construction of the box as a mere container having several lateral sides open and accessible by the user and the down side with openings enables additional energy-saving, since a minimal amount of weight has to be moved, and an easier accessibility of the box is enabled.

Lifting means (11) are provided inside the box allowing the vertical movement of the (cooling goods containing) box from a down position to an upper position. The lifting means (11) may be any suitable known to the skilled person and may comprise e.g. hydraulic lifting means operational connected with an electromotor, which may be actuated by the user with e.g. a control unit (15) according to his need.

According to a preferred embodiment the cooling unit (6) may be positioned outside the box (2), in that the tabletop and the box (2) containing the cooling goods have to be lifted. This construction may assist in energy-saving by moving merely the required parts, whereas the isolation remains in or is integral with the housing.

According to another embodiment, the lifting means (11) are provided with a control unit (15). The control unit (15) may be either fixedly attached to the table or is preferably controlled manually by a wireless electronic control unit (15) in a manner well known to the person skilled in the art. Additionally, the number of the lifting means (11) for moving the compartment (7) may vary or adapted for e.g. the weight of load. The lifting means (11) may be also modified to allow apart from the vertical movement a horizontal movement towards a user and/or a turning movement around the box' vertical axis on the tabletop, which provides an improved accessibility for the interior of the compartment(s) .

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the table and cooling unit comprises an electromotor drive (14), which is controlled manually by a wireless electronic control unit (15). The electromotor drive (14) may be of any kind known to the skilled person.

According to another preferred embodiment, the wireless electronic control unit (15) has an electronic key for locking the entire compartment (7) or only some shelves (8) for security aspects, e.g. in order to prevent children to reach particular shelves (8).

According to another embodiment, the table and cooling unit combination comprises at least one sensor. Such sensor(s) may be located at the drive (14) to detect an overload or to provide protection to the user_s for instance if an object, a part thereof or a user's hand is present in the area of the compartment (7) and the edge (17) of the opening of the box (2) during moving of the compartment (7) to the lower or upper position. Overload sensors may be replaced or optionally supplemented by sensors to detect the presence of objects or parts thereof in the area of the edge (17) of the box (2).

These sensors (not shown in the figures) may be placed on the tabletop (10a) in the vicinity of the edge (17) of the box (2) or inside the edge of the upper board (10) of the compartment (7). If any object or a part thereof is detected in the area of the edge (17) of the box (2), vertically moving of the compartment (7) is immediately interrupted and only after the detected object is removed from the area, moving may continue.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lifting means (11) are conceived as a threaded bushing (12a) with a screw spindle (12b) and continue through the bottom (4) of the box (2) and are seated in a bearing (13), and are rotatingly via an electromotor drive (14).

It should be clear that other lifting means (11) may be employed, in a manner per se known to the person skilled in the art. Preferably, the means (11) are pneumatic or hydraulic with a control electronic unit (15). The control electronic unit (15) may be the same as with said drive (14). Such pneumatic or hydraulic means (11) are intended to have their source of a pressure medium. Additionally, it is also possible to have a hydraulic variant of the means

(11) where a cooling aggregate (5) compressor is used as a source of a pressure medium. Cooling agent is supposed to act on the hydraulic unit indirectly via pressure converter, for there is another pressure medium in the means (11).

According to another embodiment, the table and cooling unit has also a vessel (19) with a cover (18) embedded in the tabletop (10a), such that access to the vessel may be achieved at the side of the upper board (10) of the box (2) independent from actuating the lifting means (11) merely by lifting the cover (18) manually.

According to another preferred embodiment, a sealing edge (17) of the box (2) in relation to the board (10a) and the edge of the vessel (19) in relation to the cover (18) are designed in such a known manner to provide an airtight sealing of the goods in the box (2). Preferably, sealing edge (17) of the box (2) and board (10a) and/or edge of the vessel (19) and its cover (18) are preferably slanted and provided with an elastic gasket.

According to still another preferred embodiment, the at least one compartment (7) comprises shelves (8) and racks (9) in accordance to the envisaged application and to provide the user the possibility to store the cooling goods in the desired order.

In Fig. 1 and 2 a table and cooling unit combination according to the present invention is exemplified. In particular Fig. 1 shows the table and cooling unit combination in the open position, whereas in Fig. 2 it is shown in the closed position. A table and cooling unit combination for food and beverages comprises a housing (1), in which there is a box (2) with lateral sides (3) and a bottom (4) being heat insulated in a manner known to the skilled person. Within the housing (1), under the box (2), a cooling aggregate (5) is located, whose cooling unit (6) can be positioned anywhere in the inside (21) of the housing (1), e.g. in the box (2) or in its lateral sides (3) or bottom (4) or in such a manner that the box (2) may be moved without moving the cooling unit (6).

The box (2) has an element or compartment (7) intended to contain food and beverages in an optional packaging and positioned directly in it or indirectly on trays, etc.. Shelves (8) and racks (9) for food and beverages may be incorporated. The compartment (7) is of a type that its upper board (10) is simultaneously also the cover of the box (2), tightly covering it, when the board (10) is in level with the counter or tabletop (10a) of a table. The board (10) is heat insulated to avoid leaking of cold if the box (2) is in the lower position. The compartment (7) has means (11) for its ascending from and descending into the box (2). The means (11) are conceived as a threaded bushing (12a) with a screw spindle (12b) and go through the bottom (4) of the box (2) and are seated in a bearing (13) below the bottom (4), and may be rotated by means of an electromotor drive (14). The threaded bushing (12a) is linked to the board (10) and may also function as a support of shelves (8). The racks (9) for food and beverages may hang below the board (10). The mode of arrangement and the form of shelves (8) and racks (9) is optional and may be varied according to the particular requirements.

The drive (14) is manually controlled by a wireless electronic control unit (15) to allow ascending or descending of the compartment (7) to offer an optional height selection to the user. The compartment (7) may be also ascended or descended in stages, so that the selected shelf lies in the level with the board 10a of the table. Moreover, the control unit (15) has an electronic key for locking the entire compartment (7) or only some shelves (8), in order to prevent children from reaching food or beverages on these shelves.

The means (11) are hydraulic with a control electronic unit (15). The cooling aggregate (5) compressor is used as a source of a pressure medium. Cooling agent acts on the hydraulic unit indirectly via pressure converter, for there is another pressure medium in the means (11). Additionally, a cover (18) within the board (10) from the upper (external) side provides a user access to a vessel (19) for current cooling of a bottle with a beverage when the compartment (7) itself is closed.

The edge (17) of the box (2) in relation to the board (10) and the edge of the vessel (19) in relation to the cover (18) are designed optionally in an airtight way in that they are slanted and provided with an elastic gasket.

It is understood that a man skilled in the art can conceive other embodiments and variants by knowing the present description, especially in the sense of industrial design, without circumventing the characteristics of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Table and cooling unit combination, comprising: a tabletop (10a), a housing (1) having a box (2) with at least one compartment (7) and a cooling aggregate (5) with a cooling unit (6) located in said housing (1), and lifting means (11) arranged in the housing and adapted to move the box in a vertical direction from a lower position to an upper position and vice versa, wherein an upper board (10) of said box (2) is in plain with the tabletop (10a) if the box (2) is in the lower position and that said at least one compartment (7) of the box (2) is accessible by at least one lateral side of said box if the box is in the upper position.

2. The table and cooling unit combination according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit (6) is positioned outside the box (2).

3. The table and cooling unit combination according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein said lifting means (11) are provided with a control unit (15).

4. The table and cooling unit according to claim 3, comprising an electromotor drive (14), which is controlled manually by a wireless electronic control unit (15).

5. The table and cooling unit according to claim 4, characterised in that the wireless electronic control unit (15) has an electronic key for locking the entire compartment (7) or only some shelves (8).

6. The table and cooling unit combination to any of the proceeding claims, comprising at least one sensor.

7. The table and cooling unit combination to any of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the lifting means (11) are conceived as a threaded bushing (12a) with a screw spindle

(12b) and continue through the bottom (4) of the box (2) and are seated in a bearing (13), and are rotated by means of an electromotor drive (14).

8. The table and cooling unit according to any of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the means (11) are pneumatic or hydraulic with a control electronic unit.

9. The table and cooling unit according to any of the proceeding claims, characterised in that under the board (10) from the upper external side of the compartment (7) there is access to a vessel (19) with a cover (18).

10. The table and cooling unit according to any of the proceeding claims, characterised in that a sealing edge (17) of the box (2) in relation to the board (10a) and the edge of the vessel (19) in relation to the cover (18) are designed in an airtight way, they are preferably slanted and provided with an elastic gasket.

11. The table and cooling unit according to any of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the compartment (7) comprises shelves (8) and racks (9).