Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers

Abstract

A mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers, which comprise a compartment (C) having two lateral walls ( 14 ), each carrying at least one rail ( 20 ) on which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion ( 30 ) of an internal dividing element (E) to be horizontally displaced between a first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment (C), and second positions, in which it is partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the compartment (C). According to the invention, each rail ( 20 ) comprises a flat horizontal upper track ( 23 ) and a lower track ( 24 ), each lateral portion ( 30 ) of the internal dividing element (E) comprising a seating surface ( 31 ), to be slidingly seated on the upper track ( 23 ) of the respective rail ( 20 ), and a retaining surface ( 32 ) disposed below the lower track ( 24 ).

1 . A mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers, which comprise a compartment (C) having two lateral walls ( 14 ), each carrying at least one rail ( 20 ) on which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion ( 30 ) of an internal dividing element (E) to be horizontally displaced between a first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment (C), and second positions in which it is partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the compartment (C), characterized in that each rail ( 20 ) comprises a flat horizontal upper track ( 23 ) and a lower track ( 24 ), parallel to the upper track ( 23 ) and which is provided with a stop means ( 26 ) and a longitudinal guide rail ( 25 ), each lateral portion ( 30 ) of the internal dividing element (E) comprising a seating surface ( 31 ) to be slidingly seated on the upper track ( 23 ) of the respective rail ( 20 ) and a retaining surface ( 32 ) disposed below the lower track ( 24 ) and which carries a lock ( 33 ), which in an operative position, is slidingly seated against the lower track ( 24 ) of the same rail ( 20 ), in order to abut said stop means ( 26 ) to define a second maximum displacement position of the internal dividing element (E) forwardly and outwardly from the compartment C, at least one of the lateral portions ( 30 ) of the internal dividing element (E) further comprising, in distinct regions of the longitudinal extension of the retaining surface ( 32 ) thereof, a guide follower ( 35 ) which is slidingly fitted in the guide rail ( 25 ) of the lower track ( 24 ) of the respective rail ( 20 ).  
   
   
       2 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide rail ( 25 ) is defined by a downwardly opened groove extended along the whole extension of the lower track ( 24 ), the guide follower ( 35 ) being defined by a rib upwardly projecting upwardly from the track of the retaining surface ( 32 ).  
   
   
       3 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide rail ( 25 ) is disposed below the upper track ( 23 ) of the respective rail ( 20 ) and presents a width which is substantially smaller than that of the respective lower track ( 24 ).  
   
   
       4 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the stop means ( 26 ) is cutout from the profile of the lower track ( 24 ) of the rail ( 20 ).  
   
   
       5 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the lock ( 33 ) is selectively manually displaced from the operative position to an inoperative position, in which it no longer abuts the front stop means ( 26 ) of the lower track ( 24 ) of the respective rail ( 20 ) when the internal dividing element (E) reaches its second maximum displacement position, in order to allow the internal dividing element (E) to be completely extracted from the interior of the compartment (C).  
   
   
       6 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that each lateral portion ( 30 ) of the internal dividing element (E) presents a “U” shaped cross section, with the basic leg being vertically disposed and with the internal faces of the lateral legs defining the seating surface ( 31 ) and the retaining surface ( 32 ), respectively.  
   
   
       7 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 6 , characterized in that the retaining surface ( 32 ) is defined by a median longitudinal extension of the respective lateral portion ( 30 ), of the internal dividing element (E), which is maintained slidingly seated against the lower track ( 24 ) of the rail ( 20 ).  
   
   
       8 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the retaining surface ( 32 ) is defined by an insert fitted in the lower lateral leg of the respective lateral portion ( 30 ) of the internal dividing element (E).  
   
   
       9 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 8 , characterized in that the lock ( 33 ) is defined by a portion, cutout in the retaining surface ( 32 ) and which is upwardly bent and resiliently downwardly deformed to the inoperative position.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 8 , characterized in that the guide follower ( 35 ) is incorporated to the retaining surface ( 32 ) and comprises two portions, each longitudinally disposed on one of the sides of the lock ( 33 ).  
   
   
       11 . The arrangement as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that each rail ( 20 ) incorporates two stop means ( 26 ) longitudinally spaced from each other.