System for moving a set of shelves of a refrigeration appliance and refrigeration appliance

Abstract

The present invention refers to a system that is able to provide movement over three stable stages of a set of shelves of a refrigeration appliance. The said refrigeration appliance comprises at least one refrigeratable cabinet. The said set of shelves comprises at least one front shelf and one rear shelf associable to each other. The said set of shelves is associated to the refrigeratable cabinet by means of at least one side bar provided with a first accommodating portion and a second accommodating portion that are substantially flat. The front shelf is supportable by the first accommodating portion and the rear shelf is supportable by the second accommodating portion. The first accommodating portion has a difference in height in relation to the second accommodating portion as to allow an horizontally aligned juxtaposition between the front shelf and the rear shelf. The front shelf is dissociable from the first accommodating portion and is able to be superimposed in relation to the rear shelf supportable by the second accommodating portion. The rear shelf has its first end provided with a pivoting element associated articulately to the second accommodating portion of the side bar. The pivoting element is able to allow the angular movement of the set of superimposed shelves from an initial horizontal position to a final substantially vertical position. The present invention also refers to a refrigeration appliance provided with the abovementioned system.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A system for moving a set of shelves of a refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance comprising at least one refrigeratable cabinet, the set of shelves comprising at least one front shelf and one rear shelf associated with each other, the system comprising:
 the set of shelves associated with the refrigeratable cabinet by means of at least one side bar comprising at least one first accommodating portion and one second accommodating portion that are substantially flat, the front shelf being supportable by the first accommodating portion and the rear shelf being supportable by the second accommodating portion, the first accommodating portion having a height difference in relation to the height of the second accommodating portion so as to allow a horizontally aligned juxtaposition between the front shelf and the rear shelf;   the front shelf dissociable from the first accommodating portion and capable of being superimposed in relation to the rear shelf supportable by the second accommodating portion; and   the rear shelf comprising a first end having a pivoting element associated articulately with the second accommodating portion of the side bar, the pivoting element allowing an angular movement of the superimposed set of shelves from an initial horizontal position to a final substantially vertical position.   
   
   
       25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the rear shelf has a second end comprising an access ramp supportable by the second accommodating portion, the front shelf having its first end associated with the second end of the rear shelf, the access ramp allowing the sliding of the first end of the front shelf over the second end of the rear shelf so as to allow the superimposition of the front shelf in relation to the rear shelf. 
   
   
       26 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the front shelf comprises at least one auxiliary arm associated with the side bar, the auxiliary arm being able to:
 allow the sliding of the front shelf over the side bar; and   provide stability to the set of shelves when it is positioned substantially vertically.   
   
   
       27 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the auxiliary arm is “L” shaped and is able to provide a rectilinear movement of the front shelf over the side bar. 
   
   
       28 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the auxiliary arm comprises at least one protruding element which extends over at least one portion of the extent of the auxiliary arm, the protruding element being able to slide over the side bar. 
   
   
       29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the protruding element is “L” shaped. 
   
   
       30 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the auxiliary arm comprises a plurality of protruding elements. 
   
   
       31 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the second accommodating portion of the side bar comprises at least one supporting projection able to allow the support of at least one portion of the auxiliary arm. 
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the portion of the auxiliary arm which is supported by the supporting projection comprises a supporting element which extends from the auxiliary arm in the direction of the side bar. 
   
   
       33 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the second accommodating portion of the side bar has at least one fitting cavity allowing an interference fitting of the pivoting element of the rear shelf. 
   
   
       34 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the set of shelves is associated with two side bars, the refrigeratable cabinet of the refrigeration appliance comprising at least one base and two side walls, the side walls being substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base, and each side bar associated with each side wall, both side bars being laid out on a geometric plane that is substantially parallel to the base. 
   
   
       35 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the side bar is integrated as a single piece to the refrigeratable cabinet. 
   
   
       36 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein each shelf in the set of shelves comprises an encapsulated piece of glass, which is associated with two side supporting elements. 
   
   
       37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein each side supporting element of the front shelf comprises an auxiliary arm integrated into a single piece. 
   
   
       38 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein each side supporting element of the rear shelf comprises a pivoting element integrated into a single piece. 
   
   
       39 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the angular movement of the set of shelves is a rotational movement around a central axis of the pivoting element. 
   
   
       40 . A refrigeration appliance comprising at least one refrigeratable cabinet comprising at least one set of shelves, the set of shelves comprising at least one front shelf and one rear shelf associated with each other, the refrigeration appliance comprising:
 the set of shelves associated with the refrigeratable cabinet by means of at least one side bar comprising at least one first accommodating portion and one second accommodating portion that are substantially flat, the front shelf being supportable by the first accommodating portion and the rear shelf being supportable by the second accommodating portion, the first accommodating portion having a height difference in relation to the height of the second accommodating portion so as to allow a horizontally aligned juxtaposition between the front shelf and the rear shelf;   the front shelf dissociable from the first accommodating portion and capable of being superimposed in relation to the rear shelf supportable by the second accommodating portion; and   the rear shelf comprising a first end having a pivoting element associated articulately with the second accommodating portion of the side bar, the pivoting element being able to allow an angular movement of the superimposed set of shelves from an initial horizontal position to a final substantially vertical position.