Description:The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the invention
[0001] This disclosure relates to an automatic storage box in a household appliance.

Background of the invention
[0002] The conventional storage box in the regular appliances is a covered box with a lid that is manually opened by the user to access to contents of the box. Due to the frequent open and close of the lid, the wear and tear of the lid is often and requires replacement. The present invention provides a solution in the form of automatic storage box.

[0003] A patent application US7472974B2 discloses a storage bin assembly for mounting to a household refrigerator door comprises a storage bin defining a recess and having an opening to provide access to the recess. The storage bin is movably mounted to the door for movement between an opened position where the recess can be accessed through the opening and a closed position where the opening is sealed with the door. The door can comprise a housing that supports the storage bin and seals with the storage bin when the storage bin is in the closed position. The storage bin can comprise a peripheral wall that defines the recess and terminates at an upper edge defining the opening.

Brief description of the invention:
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic storage box in a household appliance.

[0005] The objects are solved by an automatic storage box in a household appliance having the features according to claims 1 and 10.

[0006] The invention relates to an automatic storage box in household appliance. The appliance comprises a door for accessing at least one item that is stored in the appliance. The appliance comprises a storage box having a storage portion, a lid covering the storage portion and a rotating assembly mechanically connected to the lid. The lid automatically get opens and closes on the storage portion, through the rotating assembly based on a movement of the door of the appliance.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, the rotating assembly comprises a sliding member having a spring element, multiple cut-portions, a rotating element and plurality of guide rails for a movement of the sliding member.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, one end of the spring element is fitted to the sliding member and other end of the spring element is fitted on a fixed element of the storage box. The spring element expands and contracts based on a movement of the sliding member.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, the rotating element comprises multiple teeth made corresponding to the multiple cut-portions, such that, each tooth will be moved in respective cut-section during the movement of the sliding member.

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, the storage box comprises an extension positioned on a portion of the lid. The extension comprises at least one protrusion.

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, the lid comprises multiple cut-sections and at least one depression for receiving the at least one protrusion of the extension.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that, the extension is locked in a position on the lid, when the at least one depression receives at least one protrusion.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the plurality of guide rails are fitted on a bottom surface of the storage box, such that, the sliding member adapted to move through the guide rails.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the sliding member comprises a portion extended from the storage box. The portion comes into contact with a portion of a liner of the appliance, such that, a movement of the portion of the sliding member enables an automatic open and close of the lid on the storage portion of the storage box.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is that, the portion of the sliding member moves onto the bottom surface of the storage box and the spring element is expanded for opening the lid on the storage portion , when the door of the appliance is opened.

[0016] With the above disclosed automatic storage box in the appliance, the contents of the storage box can be accessed with much ease. As the opening and closing of the lid on the storage poriton is mechanically designed, the above disclosed design provides a low-cost effective solution. The above disclosed storage box can be used as a retrofit solution to the exisiting appliances. The storage box disclosed eliminates the manual intervention in opening and closing of the lid over the storage portion. The storage box will not allow the user to close the door of the appliance if the contents/items that are getting stored inside the box, if not placed properly.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0017] Figure 1 illustrates an automatic storage box in a household appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; and
[0018] Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the automatic storage box, in accordance with this invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0019] Figure 1 illustrates the adjustable holder in a household appliance, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The appliance 10 comprises a door 12 for accessing at least one item that is stored in the appliance 10. The appliance 10 comprises a storage box 14 comprising a storage portion 16, a lid 18 covering the storage portion 16 and a rotating assembly 20 mechanically connected to the lid 18. The lid 18 automatically get opens and closes on the storage portion 16, through the rotating assembly 20 based on a movement of the door 12 of the appliance 10.

[0020]Further , the construction of the appliance 10 and the components of the appliance 10 is explained in detail. According to one embodiment of the invention, the appliance 10 is a refrigerator. The appliance 10 is chosen from a group of appliances comprising a single door refrigerator, a mutli-door refrigerator and the like. The appliance 10 comprises mutliple compartments 15 like a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. Each of the compartment 15 of the appliance 10 comprises a door 12 for accessing the items stored inside in the compartment 15.

[0021]The compartments 15 and the door 12 comprises a liner 19 respectively , such that a plurality of slidable shelves and pluarlity of storage boxs 14 are fitted in the compartments 15 and the corresponding doors 12 respectively. For ease of understanding, the automatic storage box 14 claimed in the present inveniton is explained with reference to one such storage box 14 present on the refrigeration compartment door 12 sof the appliance 10. It is to be noted that the same will be applied to a storage box present on the freezer compartment door of the applaince 10.

[0022]Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the automatic storage box, in accordance with this invention.The storage portion 16 , the rotating assembly 20, the lid 18 are made as a single component to form the storage box 14. The storage poriton 16 of the storage box 14 comprises the rotating assmebly 20 extending from a side surface to a bottom surface 44. The rotating assembly 20 comprises a sliding member 22 having a spring element 24, multiple slots 26, a rotating element 28 and plurality of guide rails 30 for a movement of the sliding member 22. The sliding member 22 comprises two portions, one portion 46 being in contact with a liner 19 of the appliance 10 and other portion 48 being mounted on the bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14. The portion 46 that is being in contact with the liner 19 of the appliance 10 is extended from the storage box 14.

[0023] The sliding member 22 moves front and back on the bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14 based on a movement of the door 12 of the appliance 10. It is to be noted that, the door 12 of the appliance 10 can be either the refrigeration compartment or the freezer compartment. A fixed element 36 fitted on the storage box 14 encloses a portion of the sliding member 22, and the sliding member 22 moves front and back through the fixed element 36 during the movement of the door 12 of the appliance 10. The multiple slots 26 made on the surface of the sliding member 22 in such a way that, each of the slots 26 are made of different dimensions.

[0024]The spring elment 24 is fitted on the bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14 , on the sliding member 22. According to one embodiment of the invention, the sliding member 22 comprises a cut-section (not shown) for accomodating the spring element 24. one end 32 of the spring element 24 is fitted to the sliding member 22 and other end 34 of the spring element 24 is fitted on the fixed element 36 of the storage box 14. Since one end of the spring element 24 is fitted to the sliding member 22, the spring element 24 is operated based on the movement of the sliding member 22. Ie., the spring element 24 expands and contracts based on a movement of the sliding member 22.

[0025]The rotating element 28 is fitted on the fixed element 36 of the storage box 14. The rotating element 28 comprises multiple teeth 38 made corresponding to the multiple slots 26, such that, each tooth 38 will be moved in respective slot 26 during the movement of the sliding member 22. The dimensions of each tooth 38 of the rotating element 28 is made corresponding to the dimensions of the respective slot 26 for ease movement of the sliding member 22 during the operation of the door 12 of the appliance 10.

[0026] The storage box 14 comprises an extension 40 positioned on a portion of the lid 18. The extension 40 comprises at least one protrusion (not shown). The extension 40 is made on an interior surface of the lid 18 and the extension 40 moves alongs with the movement of the lid 18.The lid 18 comprises multiple cut-sections 42 and at least one depression (not shown) for receiving the at least one protrusion of the extension 40. The extension 40 is locked in a position on the lid 18, when the at least one depression receives at least one protrusion. The extension 40 on the lid 18 protects the sudden fall of the lid 18 during the opening and closing of the storage portion 16 of the storage box 14.

[0027]The plurality of guide rails 30 are fitted on a bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14, such that, the sliding member 22 adapted to move through the guide rails 30. The sliding member 22 is mounted in between the guide rails 30 and the sliding member 22 moves front and back in the guide rails 30 when the appliance door 12 is operated.

[0028]A method of assembling of the components of the storage box 14 and the working of the storage box 14 is explained in detail. The guide rails 30 are fitted on the bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14 and the sliding member 22 is mounted in between of the guide rails 30. The fixed element 36 with a slot (not shown) is fitted on the bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14. The fixed element 36 and the guide rails 30 are fitted on the same line with a distance apart as shown in the figures 2(a) and 2(b). The sliding member 22 moves into and out of the fixed element 36 via the slot formed.

[0029]The spring element 24 is fitted on the sliding member 22 such that, the spring elment 24 is fitted using a screw technique to the sliding member 22 and the other end of the spring element 24 is screwed to the fixed element 36. The rotating element 28 is positioned on the fixed element 36 such that, the teeth 38 of the rotating element 28 is directed to move in the multiple slots 26 made on the sliding member 22. The extension 40 is connected to the rotating element 28 such that, the extension 40 is made to position on the interior surface of the lid 18. The extension 40 is locked in a position due to the protrusion getting fixed into the corresponding depression provided.

[0030]The working of the storage box 14 is disclosed here. As mentioned above, the lid 18 of the storage box 14 opens and closes automatically on the storage portion 16 based on the open and close of the door 12 of the appliance 10. Ie., the lid 18 is opened when the door 12 is opened and the lid 18 is closed when the door 12 is closed. Initially when the lid 18 is in a closed position, a portion of the sliding member 22 will be in contact with the liner 19 of the appliance 10 and the spring element 24 will be in a expanded position. The teeth 38 of the rotating element 28 will be near to the fixed element 36 and to the above disclosed portion of the sliding member 22.

[0031]When the door 12 of the appliance 10 is opened, then the portion of the sliding member 22 that is extended from the storage box 14 is moved away from the liner 19 of the appliance 10 and the spring element 24 is expanded as the sliding member 22 moves towards an inner end of the guide rails 30. The teeth 38 of the rotating element 28 moves in their respective slots away from the fixed element 36. In another words, the portion of the sliding member 22 moves onto the bottom surface 44 of the storage box 14 and the spring element 24 is expanded for opening the lid 18 on the storage portion 16 , when the door 12 of the appliance 10 is opened.

[0032]This movement of the rotating element 28 and the sliding member 22 automatically opens and closes the lid 18 on the storage portion 16 of the storage box 14 based on the open and close of the door 12 of the appliance 10. When the items in the storage box 14 is not properly placed, the lid 18 can not close completely , thus not allowing the door 12 to completely close.

[0033] With the above disclosed automatic storage box 14 in the appliance 10, the contents of the storage box 14 can be accessed with much ease. As the opening and closing of the lid 18 on the storage poriton 16 is mechanically designed, the above disclosed design provides a low-cost effective solution. The above disclosed storage box 14 can be used as a retrofit solution to the exisiting appliances. The storage box 14 disclosed eliminates the manual intervention in opening and closing of the lid 18 over the storage portion 16. The storage box 14 will not allow the user to close the door 12 of the appliance 10 if the contents/items that are getting stored inside the box 14, if not placed properly.

[0034] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

List of Reference Signs
10 household appliance
12 door
14 storage box
15 compartments
16 storage portion
18 lid
19 liner of the appliance
20 rotating assembly
22 sliding member
24 spring element
26 multiple slots
28 rotating element
30 plurality of guide rails
32 one end of spring element
34 other end of spring element
36 fixed element
38 multiple teeth of the rotating element
40 extension
42 multiple cut-sections
44 bottom surface of the storage box
46 one portion of sliding member
48 other portion of the sliding member
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A household appliance (10) comprising:
- a door (12) for accessing at least one item that is stored in said appliance (10);
characterized in that:
- a storage box (14) comprising a storage portion (16), a lid (18) covering said storage portion (16) and a rotating assembly (20) mechanically connected to said lid (18), said lid (18) adapted to automatically open and close on said storage portion (16), through said rotating assembly (20) based on a movement of said door (12) of said appliance (10).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating assembly (20) comprises a sliding member (22) having a spring element (24), multiple slots (26), a rotating element (28) and plurality of guide rails (30) for a movement of said sliding member (22).

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end (32) of said spring element (24) is fitted to said sliding member (22) and other end (34) is fitted on a fixed element (36) of said storage box (14), said spring element (24) expands and contracts based on a movement of said sliding member (22).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rotating element (28) comprises multiple teeth (38) made corresponding to said multiple slots (26), such that, each tooth (38) will be moved in respective slot (26) during said movement of said sliding member (22).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage box (14) comprises an extension (40) positioned on a portion of said lid (18), said extension (40) comprises at least one protrusion.

6. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid (18) comprises multiple cut-sections (42) and at least one depression for receiving said at least one protrusion of said extension (40).

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein said extension (40) is locked in a position on said lid (18), when said at least one depression receives at least one protrusion.

8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of guide rails (30) are fitted on a bottom surface (44) of said storage box (14), such that, said sliding member (22) adapted to move through said guide rails (30).

9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sliding member (22) comprises a portion (46) extended from said storage box (14), said portion (46) comes into contact with a portion of a liner of said appliance (10), such that, a movement of said portion (46) of said sliding member (22) enables an automatic open and close of said lid (18) on said storage portion (16) of said storage box (14).

10. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said portion (46) of said sliding member (22) moves onto said bottom surface (44) of said storage box (14) and said spring element (24) is expanded for opening said lid (18) on said storage portion (16), when said door (12) of said appliance (10) is opened.