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 a condiment box in a household appliance.

Background of the invention
[0002] In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing objects to be kept in a fresh state for a long period of time using cool air supplied into a storage compartment. An availability of lot of empty spaces / voids on the door are not of much use, which can be used to store soft vegetables like lemons, leafy vegetables and the like. The rigid layout restricts users to make extensive storage on the door. Soft veggies like salad veggies, lemons, green leafy vegetables will be spoiled faster when mixed with the hard veggies. The present invention provides a solution for the above disclosed problem, by providing a slidable storage bin at the door side of the appliance.

[0003] A patent application US20200041198 discloses a bin positioned within a refrigerator drawer and slidable across the refrigerator drawer at one or more edges of the refrigerator drawer and/or at one or more sliding mechanisms attached to at least one side of the refrigerator drawer.

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

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

[0006] The invention relates to a condiment box in a household appliance . The appliance comprises a door for accessing at least one item stored inside the appliance. The appliance comprises a liner of the door that acts as an inner side wall of the door. The condiment box of the appliance comprises a storing area to store the at least one item inside the condiment box. The condiment box comprises at least one sliding cover fitted on the storing area to form the condiment box. The at least one sliding cover is designed in such a way that, it maintains a required moisture level inside the box.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, at least one guide rail is made on the condiment box for accommodating the at least one sliding cover.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, the condiment box comprises a first sliding cover and a second sliding cover fitted on in the at least one guide rail. The first sliding cover and the second sliding cover adapted to slide one above the other, through the at least one guide rail.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that the at least one sliding cover comprises a handle for accessing the at least one item stored in the condiment box.

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, multiple perforations are made on a surface of the storing area for maintaining the moisture level inside the box.

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple perforations are made on a surface of the at least one sliding cover for movement of air inside the condiment box.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that , the dimensions of the at least one cover is made in corresponding to dimensions of the condiment box.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, multiple nubbins are made on the liner of the appliance for accommodating the condiment box.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the condiment box comprises at least one cut-section for locking a position of the condiment box on a corresponding the nubbin of the appliance.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is that, the condiment box is removably mounted on the multiple nubbins of the appliance.

[0016] With the above disclsoed condiment box, the user can store soft veggies like salad veggies, lemons, small vegetables that doesnt require more humid temparatures. The perforations made on either storage area or the cover helps in maintaining the mositure level as required. The condiment box disclosed in the present invention can be provided as a retrofit solution to the exisiting applainces. The condiment box disclosed provides a low cost effective solution in storing soft and small items. With the movement of the at least one sliding cover to one side of the box, the user can use a portion of the condiment box as an open tray for storing items like eggs.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0017] Figure 1 illustrates a condiment box in a household appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; and
[0018] Figures 2(a),2(b) illustrates the appliance with the convertible storage bin in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments
[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a condiment box in a household appliance, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The appliance 10 comprises a door 13 for accessing at least one item stored inside the appliance 10. The appliance 10 comprises a liner 14 of the door 13 that acts as an inner side wall of the door 13. The condiment box 12 of the appliance 10 comprises a storing area 16 to store the at least one item inside the condiment box 12. The condiment box 12 comprises at least one sliding cover 18 fitted on the storing area 16 to form the condiment box 12. The at least one sliding cover 18 is designed in such a way that, it maintains a required moisture level inside the condiment box 18.

[0020] Further, the construction of the household appliance 10 and the components of the household appliance 10 are explained as follows. According to one embodiment of the invention, the appliance 10 is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is chosen from any one of the following refrigerators comprising a single door refrigerator and a multi-door refrigerator. In the conventional appliances, the condiment box 12 present on the door 13 side of the appliance 10, are designed to accommodate small items that needs refrigeration and since the boxes 12 have fixed covers the items stored inside gets spoils easily. The present invention provides a solution for the above disclosed problem.

[0021] The items that are stored in the condiment box 12 is chosen from a group of items comprising small veggies, salad veggies, lemons, medicines that needs refrigeratio. The items can be any other items that are known to a person skilled in the art. The condiment box 12 is also referred to as storage bin in some portions of this present invention. The appliance 10 comprises the liner 14 made on the door side and also on the refrigeration side. The door liner 14 is a foamed strucutre that is made on the door 13 of the appliance 10, on which mulitple storage bins /condiment boxs 12 are made for storing the items. The storing area 16 of the condiment box 12 comprises a first portion 16(a) and a second portion 16(b) where the items are stored.

[0022] Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the appliance with the condiment box in accordance with the present invention. The appliance 10 comprises multiple nubbins 26 made on the liner 14 of the door 13 of the appliance 10 for accommodating the condiment box 12. The space between the nubbins 26 is made according to the dimensions of the condiment box 12. The nubbins 26 are made of the same material like the liner 14 of the door 13 of the appliance 10. The condiment box 12 comprises at least one cut-section 28 for locking a position of the condiment box 12 on a corresponding the nubbin 26 of the appliance 10. The cut-section 28 dimensions are made corresponding to the dimensions of the nubbins 26.

[0023] When the condiment box 12 is mounted at the door 13 side of the applaince 10 on the nubbins 26, an inner area of the cut-section 28 of the condiment box 12 encloses on the nubbins 26, such that, the condiment box 12 firmly locks in a position on the door 13 side of the applaince 10. The condiment box 12 is removably mounted on the multiple nubbins 26 of the appliance 10. The condiment box 12 can be easily removed by lifting the box 12 upwards from the nubbins 26 for either replacement or for cleaning purpose.

[0024] The condiment box 12 comprises at least one guide rail 20 that is made on the condiment box 12 for accommodating the at least one sliding cover 18(a, b). Each sliding cover 18(a)& 18(b) has a corresponding guide rail 20 made on the condiment box 12 for the sliding movement of the at least one cover 18(a,b). The at least one guide rail 20 can be of the material that allows an easy movement of the at least one cover 18(a,b) in the condiment box 12. The at least one guide rail 20 can be made on any of the side walls of the condiment box 12. For instance, the at least one guide rail 20 is made on a rear wall of the condiment box 12. According to another instance, the at least one guide rail 20 is made on a front wall of the condiment box 12.

[0025] Accoridng to one embodiment of the inveniton, the condiment box 12 comprises a first sliding cover 18(a) and a second sliding cover 18(b) fitted in the corresponding guide rail 20. The first sliding cover 18(a) and the second sliding cover 18(b) adapted to slide one above the other, through the corresponding guide rail 20. The at least one sliding cover 18(a,b) comprises a handle 22 for accessing the at least one item stored in the condiment box.Each of the sliding cover 18 comprises a corresponding handle 22 integrated on a surface of the sliding cover 18.

[0026] By holding the handle 22, the user can move the sliding covers 18(a, b) from one side to other and also one above the other. The handles 22 are made towards an end on the sliding covers 18(a,b), such that, the covers 18(a,b) can be slided towards the end when operated. The first sliding cover 18(a) can be slided above the second sliding cover 18(b) when the user wants to access the first portion 16(a) of the condiment box 12. The second sliding cover 18(b) is slided below the first sliding cover 18(a) , when the user wants to access the second portion 16(b) of the condiment box 12. The dimensions of the at least one sliding cover 18(a,b) is made in corresponding to the dimensions of the condiment box 12. According to one embodiment of the invention, the shape of the at least one sliding cover 18(a,b) is made in the form of an inverted „V“ . However, it is not restricted to one shape, but can be of any shape like a plane or inverted „C“ or the like, that is known to a person skilled in the art.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the condiment box 12 comprises multiple perforations 24 made on a surface of the storing area 16 for maintaining the moisture level inside the box 12. The movement of air will be through these perforations 24. According to another embodiment of the invention, the multiple perforations 24 are made on a surface of the at least one sliding cover 18 for movement of air inside the condiment box 12.

[0028] For accessing the items that are stored in the storing area 16 of the condiment box 12, the user moves either the first sliding cover 18(a) or the second sliding cover 18(b) based on the requirment. According to one embodiment of the invention, the user can place both the covers 18(a,b) one on each other towards at least one end of the condiment box 12 , such that, one portion of the condiment box 12 is made as an open tray . For instance, the user can slide both the covers 18(a) & 18(b) over the second portion 16(b) of the storing area 12, such that, the first portion 16(a) acts as the open tray. The same is applicable, when the covers 18(a) & 18 (b) are positioned on the second portion 16(b), the first portion 16(a) acts as the open tray.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the storing area 16 comprises a partition wall (not shown) that divides the storing area into the first portion 16(a) and the second portion 16(b). In this arrangment, the box 12 comprises one slidable cover 18 mounted on a guide rail 20 made on a side wall of the box 12. The slidable cover 18 mounted on the guide rail 20 is made to move from one end to another end of the condiment box 12, such that, the portion 16(a) or 16(b) that has the cover 18 , acts as a air tight container. In this arrangment, the cover 18 doesnt comprises any perforations. With the partition wall and the sliding cover 18, any one portion 16(a) or 16(b) of the condiment box 12 can be made as the air tight container and other portion 16(a) or 16(b) being an open tray.

[0030] With the above disclsoed condiment box 12, the user can store soft veggies like salad veggies, lemons, small vegetables that doesnt require more humid temparatures. The perforations 24 made on either storage area 16 or the at least one sliding cover 18 helps in maintaining the mositure level as required. The condiment box 12 disclosed in the present invention can be provided as a retrofit solution to the exisiting applainces. The condiment box 12 disclosed provides a low cost effective solution in storing soft and small items. With the movement of the at least one sliding cover 18 to one side of the box 12, the user can use a portion (16(a)/16(b)) of the condiment box 12 as an open tray for storing items like eggs.

[0031] 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 appliances
12 condiment box
13 door of the appliance
14 liner of the door of the appliance
16 storing area
16(a) a first portion of storing area
16(b) a second portion of storing area
18 at least one sliding cover
18(a) first sliding cover
18(b) second sliding cover
20 at least one guide rail
22 handle
24 perforations
26 nubbins
28 cut-section on the condiment box
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A condiment box (12) in a household appliance (10), said appliance (10) comprising:
- a door (13) for accessing at least one item stored inside said appliance (10);
- a liner (14) of said door (13) acts as an inner side wall of said door (13);

characterized in said condiment box (12):
- a storing area (16) to store said at least one item inside said condiment box (12);
- at least one sliding cover (18) fitted on said storing area (16) to form said condiment box (12), said at least one sliding cover (18) maintains a required moisture level inside said condiment box (12).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one guide rail (20) is made on said condiment box (12) for accommodating said at least one sliding cover (18).

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said condiment box (12) comprises a first sliding cover (18(a)) and a second sliding cover (18(b)) fitted in said at least one guide rail (20), said first sliding cover (18(a)) and said second sliding cover (18 (b)) adapted to slide one above the other, through said at least one guide rail (20).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one sliding cover (18) comprises a handle (22) for accessing said at least one item stored in said condiment box (12).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple perforations (24) are made on a surface of said storing area (16) for maintaining said moisture level inside said box (12).

6. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple perforations (22) are made on a surface of said at least one sliding cover (18) for movement of air inside said condiment box (12).

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein dimensions of said at least one sliding cover (18) is made in corresponding to dimensions of said condiment box (12).

8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple nubbins (26) are made on said liner (14) of said door (13) of said appliance (10) for accommodating said condiment box (12).

9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said condiment box (12) comprises at least one cut-section (28) for locking a position of said condiment box (12) on a corresponding said nubbin (26) of said appliance (10).

10. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said condiment box (12) is removably mounted on said multiple nubbins (26) of said appliance (10).