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 convertible storage bin 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, when user is commonly not storing many tall bottles. The rigid layout restricts users to make extensive storage on the door. Most of the users are using a maximum of four bottles of water. That is still an extreme case of summers. When a user is not storing bottles, they can use the void space to mount the accessories and store smaller food items. The present invention provides a solution for the above disclosed problem, by providing an adjustable storage bin.

[0003] A patent application US 5445452 discloses a refrigerator adjustable utility compartment/sliding shelf. The refrigerator includes an adjustable utility compartment and sliding shelf. Particularly, the refrigerator includes a door having an inner door panel including a rear wall extending between opposite vertical sidewalls. The utility compartment is removably mounted to the inner door panel adjacent a first one of the sidewalls. A shelf trim piece extends between the sidewalls and is spaced forwardly of the panel rear wall. A storage shelf is of a length shorter than a distance between the sidewalls. The storage shelf is slidably positioned between a ledge on the panel rear wall and the shelf trim piece for slidable lateral movement between a usable storage position located between the utility compartment and a second one of the sidewalls and a non-usable retracted position beneath the utility compartment.

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

[0005] The objects are solved by a convertible storage bin in a household appliance having the features according to claims 1 and 10.
[0006] The invention relates to a convertible storage bin in a household appliance. The appliance comprises a door for accessing at least one item stored inside the appliance. The appliance comprises a bracket fitted on an inner side wall of the door for storing the at least one item. The at least one convertible storage bin fitted in the bracket in such a way that, the storage bin comprises a cut-out and a storing area for accommodating the at lease one item.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, the storage bin comprises a hinge pin for a movement of the cover on the storage bin .

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, the storage bin comprises a cut-out made on the cover and a mounting hook made on an outer area of the storage bin.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, the appliance comprises a bracket adapted to mount the storage bin on the door liner through the mounting hook .

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, the bracket comprises a cap structure adapted to act as a stopper when the storage bin is mounted on the bracket .

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, the cover of the storage bin is positioned in contact with the inner side wall of the door, when the storage bin is in an open position.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that , a shape of the cut-out on the cover is made to accommodate the at least one item, when the cover is in the open position.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the at least one item is chosen from a group of items comprising an item having an elongated structure, an item that needs refrigeration.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the cover of the storage bin is positioned away from the inner side wall of the door, when the storage bin is in a closed condition.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is, a shape of the cut-out on the cover acts as a holder to the at least one item, when the cover is in said open position.

[0016] Another feature of this invention is, the convertible storage bin is removable mounted in the main storage bin.

[0017] With the above disclsoed storage bin, both the items that needs refrigeration and long elagonated items like bottles can be stored as when required. The closing and opening of the flexible storage bin to accomodate long bottles is easy with the cut-out made on the cover of the storage bin. The new design of the storage bin is made as an retrofit solution to the appliance. The new storage bin acts as a low cost effective solution.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a convertible storage bin in a household appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; and
[0019] Figure 2 illustrates the appliance with the convertible storage bin in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments
[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a convertible storage bin 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 14 stored inside the appliance 10. The appliance 10 comprises a bracket 15 fitted on an inner side wall 16 of the door 13 for storing the at least one item 14. The at least one convertible storage bin 12 fitted in the bracket 15 in such a way that, the storage bin 12 comprises a cut-out 18 and a storing area 20 for accommodating the at lease one item 14(a,b).

[0021] 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 main storage bin 15 are designed to accommodate small items 14 that needs refrigeration. The large items 14(a) that have elongated shapes like bottles can’t be fitted in the storage bins 12 when the storage bins 12 are empty. The present invention provides a solution for the above disclosed problem.

[0022] The items 14 (a, b) that are getting stored in the storage bin 12 is chosen from a group of items comprising at least one item 14(a) having an elgonated structure like a bottle, sachets, cups and the like. It is to be understood that, the items 14(a) having elgonated structures are not restricted ot the above disclosed items, but can be of any other items that are known in the state of the art. Other items 14(b) that are getting stored in the storage bin 12 are those that needs refrigeration. The items like pulses, medicines and the like.

[0023] Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the appliance with the convertible storage bin in accordance with the present invention.As shown in the figure 2(a), the convertible storage bin 12 comprises a hinge pin 27 for a movement of the cover 22 on the storage bin 12. One part of the hinge pin 27 is present on the storing area 20 of the storage bin 12 and other part of the hinge pin 27 is present on the cover 22. When the cover 22 is fitted on the storage bin 12, the hinge pin 27 provides an ease movement of the cover 22 from an open position to a closed position and vice versa.

[0024] Each storage bin 12 comprises a corresponding cover 22 as shown in the figure 1, and each cover has a cut-out 18 . The shape of the cut-out 18 is made in the form of letter ”C“ . However, the shape is not restricted to the above disclosed but can be of any other shape that is corresponding to the shape of the elgonated item 14(a) , which can be a bottle. The cover 22 of the storage bin 12 is movable from an open position to a closed position and vice-versa. The cover 22 of the storage bin 12 is positioned in contact with the inner side wall 16 of the door 13, when the storage bin 12 is in the open position. The cover 22 of the storage bin 12 is positioned away from the inner side wall 16 of the door 13, when the storage bin 12 is in a closed condition.

[0025] The shape of the cut-out 18 made on the cover is made to accommodate the at least one item 14 (a), when the cover 22 is in said open position. Wherein, the at least one item 14(a) is a bottle or any other that has an elongated structure. The storage bin 12 is made of a flexible material chosen from a group of materials like a rubber, a flexible plastic and the like. The storage bin 12 is removably mounted on the main storage bin 15. The storage bin 12 can be removed and fitted back into the main storage bin 15 after cleaning or replacement.

[0026] The convertible storage bin 12 comprises a mounting hook 23 made on an outer area of the storage bin 12. The mounting hook 23 is made of the same material as that of the storage bin 12 according to one embodiment of the invention. However, the material of the mounting hook 23 is not restricted to the above disclosed material but can be any other flexible material that will help the user to easily mount the storage bin 12 in the appliance.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the appliance 10 comprises a bracket 25 adapted to mount the convertible storage bin 12 on the door liner 14 through the mounting hook as shown in the figure 2(b). The bracket 25 is fitted on the door liner 15 of the appliance 10 using any one of the fitting techniques like a snap fit, a screw fit , a fastener and the like. According to one embodiment of the invention, the storage bin 12 is mounted directly onto the bracket 25 using the mounting hook 23 , when the user wants to store items 14 like bottles. Since, the storage bin 12 is removable from the main storage bin 15, the user can use the main storage bin to store the bottles 14(a) and the convertible storage bin 12 for storing other small items that needs refrigeration.

[0028] The bracket 25 comprises a cap structure 29 that acts as a stopper , when the storage bin 12 is mounted on the bracket 25. The cap structure 29 is made as an integral part of the bracket 25 according to one embodiment of the invention. During summers, where there is a need to more bottles14(a), the storage bins 12 are removed from the main storage bin and is directly mounted onto the bracket 25. During winters, where there is not much requirement of the cold water, the storage bins 12 can be fitted both on the bracket 25 and also in the main storage bin 15. When there are no items to be stored in the convertible storage bins 12, then the cover 22 is made open for accommodating the at least one item 14(a) which are tall bottles, cups and the like.

[0029] A method of working of at least one convertible storage bin 12 is explained as follows. The main storage bin 15 present on the door 13 of the appliance 10 is fitted in such a way that, the storage bin 12 is placed in the main storage bin 15 as shown in the figure 2. The cover 22 is made to move from an open position to a closed position. The cover 22 having the cut-out 18 will be in contact with the inner side of the wall 16 when moved from the closed position to the open position. When in open position, the items 14 (b) like bottles, long cups, sachets are stored.
[0030] The shape of the cut-out 18 is made corresponding to the shape of the elangoted items 14(b). The cut-out 18 on the cover 22 acts as a holder to hold the at least one item 14(b) that is stored in the storage bin 12 , in the open position. The dimensions of the at least one storage bin 12 is made corresponding to dimensions of the bracket 15 of the appliance 10. With the storage bin 12 in the open position, the user can accomodate more bottles during the summers.

[0031] The storage bin is moved from the open position to the closed position. The items that are smaller in size and that needs refrigeration are stored in the storage bin and are closed with cover of the bin for not getting spoiled. The covertible storage bin from open to close position and viceversa helps in storing different shapes of items. The dimensions of the storage bin is made in correspondence to the dimensions of the bracket of the appliance.

[0032] With the above disclsoed storage bin, both the items 14 (a) that needs refrigeration and long elagonated items 14(b) like bottles can be stored as when required. The closing and opening of the covertible storage bin 12 to accomodate long bottles is easy with the cut-out 18 made on the cover 22 of the storage bin 12 . The new design of the storage bin 12 is made as an retrofit solution to the appliance 10. The new storage bin 12 acts as a low cost effective solution.

[0033] 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 at least one storage bin
11 liner
13 door of the appliance
14 at least one item
14(a) an item with elongated structure
14(b) an item that needs refrigeration
15 main storage bin
16 inner side wall
18 cut-out
20 storing area
22 cover of the storage bin
23 mounting hook
25 bracket
27 hinge pin
29 cap structure on the bracket

, Claims:We Claim:
1. A convertible storage bin (12) in a household appliance (10), said appliance (10) comprising:
- a door (13) for accessing at least one item (14) stored inside said appliance (10);
- a main storage bin (15) fitted on an inner side wall (16) of said door (13) for storing said at least one item (14);
characterized in that:
- at least one convertible storage bin (12) fitted in said main storage bin (15) such that, said storage bin (12) comprises a cover (22) and a storing area (20) for accommodating said at least one item (14).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage bin (12) comprises a hinge pin (27) for a movement of said cover (22) on said storage bin (12).

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage bin (12) comprises a cut-out (22) made on said cover (22) and a mounting hook (23) made on an outer area of said storage bin (12).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said appliance (10) comprises a bracket (25) adapted to mount said storage bin (12) on said door liner (14) through said mounting hook (23).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bracket (25) comprises a cap structure (29) adapted to act as a stopper when said storage bin (12) is mounted on said bracket (25).

6. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover (22) of said storage bin (12) is positioned in contact with said inner side wall (16) of said door (13), when said storage bin (12) is in an open position.

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one item (14) is chosen from a group of items comprising an item having an elongated structure (14(a)), an item that needs refrigeration (14(b)).

8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover (22) of said storage bin (12) is positioned away from said inner side wall (16) of said door (13), when said storage bin (12) is in a closed condition.

9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a shape of said cut-out (18) on said cover (22) acts as a holder to said at least one item (14(a)), when said cover (22) is in said open position.

10. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said convertible storage bin (12) is removable mounted in said main storage bin (15).