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 adjustable holder in a household appliance.

Background of the invention
[0002] The bottle holders in the conventional appliances are used to hold the bottles( like glass bottles, medicinal bottles) from falling out of the appliance and these bottle holders
are hung on the glass shelf inside the refrigerator compartment. When we open or close the refrigerator door, the water bottles stored in the fridge door bin frequently fall sideways. And this is a pretty prevalent issue that consumers encounter on a daily basis. It can lead to liquid spilling on the door bin or in the fridge compartment if the bottle cap is not firmly closed. Due to the above arrangement, the glass bottles can break or the food in the door bin may spoil. The present invention provides a solution for avoiding the bottles getting toppled during the open and close of the appliance.

[0003] A patent application US8746818B2 discloses a storage rack configured to be removably attached to an inner refrigerator door liner to enable storage of canned and/or bottled beverages is defined by an open body formed from a peripheral frame member, a base member fixed to and extending between side portions of the peripheral frame member and an angled support member. A front segment of the angled support member and a frontal section of the peripheral frame member include a series of aligned arcuate portions. Bottles, such as soda, water, wine and the like bottles, can be stored upright in the rack, resting on the base member between the frontal section of the peripheral frame member and a rear segment of the angled support member, while beverage cans can be stored at an angle, abutting the rear segment of the angled support member while spaced side portions of the cans rest upon the aligned arcuate portions.

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

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

[0006] The invention relates to an adjustable holder 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 bin that is fitted on the door. The storage bin stores the at least one item.The appliance compries an adjustable holder having at least one lateral side, a longitudinal side and multiple snaps for adjusting the holder when mounted on a liner of the door for holding the at least one item.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, the adjustable holder is mounted above the storage bin of the appliance.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple snaps are present on the at least one lateral side and on the longitudinal side of the holder.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, the longitudinal side comprises a first portion and a second portion, such that, the second portion is slided into the first portion during mounting of the holder.

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, at least one lateral side of the holder comprises a first portion and a second portion, such that the second portion is slided into the first portion while storing the at least one item.

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, each of the lateral side of the holder comprises a supporting element that is pressed against the liner when the holder is mounted on the liner of the door.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that, one of the lateral side comprises a knob having a tightening portion such that, the knob is rotated into a depression present on the lateral side of the holder for mounting the holder on the door liner.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the knob and the supporting element is fitted on the second portion of the at least one lateral side of the holder.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the snaps are made of a flexible material such that, the holder is adjusted in both longitudinal and lateral directions during mounting of the holder on the door liner.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is that, the snaps present on the longitudinal side are made for adjusting a length of the holder according to a dimension of the door of the appliance.

[0016] With the above disclosed adjustable holder, the toppling of items like bottles , large cups, sachets which are stored in the storage bin of the applaince can be avoided. As the adjustable holder is made of flexible snaps on the longitudinal sides, the holder can be mounted in any size of door of the appliance. The holder is adjusted on the snaps to fit into any width of the door of the appliance, thus providing a retrofit solution. As the disclosed holder doesnt require any drilling or screwing elements for being in an intact portion when mounted on the door liner, it provides a cost effective solution. As the items as disclosed above remains in a straight position due to the holder, no spillage of liquid or food from the items is possible.

[0017] Expansion and contraction of the holder helps in avoiding the breaking of the stored items while accesing the door of the appliance. The mouting of the holder is made with ease without any hassle but tighting the knob present on the holder. This feature provides an advantage of not damaging the door liner for mounting the holder. This disclosed holder can be adjusted both longitudinally and laterally based on the user requirment.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0018] Figure 1 illustrates an adjustable holder in a household appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; and
[0019] Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the adjustable bottle holder, in accordance with this invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0020] 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 13 that is stored in the appliance 10. The appliance 10 comprises a storage bin 14 that is fitted on the door 12. The storage bin 14 stores the at least one item 13.The appliance 10 compries an adjustable holder 16 having at least one lateral side 18, a longitudinal side 20 and multiple snaps 22 for adjusting the holder 16 when mounted on a liner 24 of the door 12 for holding the at least one item 13.

[0021]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 for accessing the items 13 stored inside in the compartment 15. The compartments 15 and the door 13 comprises a liner 24 respectively , such that a plurality of slidable shelves and pluarlity of storage bins 14 are fitted in the compartments 15 and the corresponding doors 12 respectively. For ease of understanding, the adjustable holder 16 claiemd in the present inveniton is explained with reference to one such storage bin 14 present on the door 12 side of the appliance 10.

[0022] The adjustable holder 16 is mounted above the storage bin 14 in the appliance 10. The position of the holder 16 is not restricted to one place in the appliance 101, but can be any other place that is convenient for holding the items 13 that are stored in the appliance 10. Each storage bin 14 present on the door liner 24 can have a respective holder 16. According to another embodiment of the invention, the holder 16 can be mounted on any one of the slidable shelf (as mentioend above) in the refrigeration compartment 15 for holding the bottles when stored horizontally on the slidable shelf.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the holder comprises one longitudinal side and two lateral sides. The longitudinal side comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is made larger than the second portion. The second portion is made in such a way that, the second portion can be slided into the first portion while mounting the holder on the door liner of the appliance. The longitudinal side of the holder comprises mutliple snaps that are made of the flexible material, such that, when the second portion is slided into the first portion for fitting the holder on the door liner,the seond portion is adjusted on the snaps.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the snaps are made on the second portion of the longitudinal side of the holder. The snaps present on the longitudinal side are made for adjusting a length of the holder according to a dimension of the door of the appliance. In detail, the length of the holder is adjusted based on the width of the door liner. Each of the appliance will have a different dimension door, the holder disclosed in this invention can be adjusted accordingly using the snaps.

[0025] Figures 2(a) & 2(b) illustrates the adjustable bottle holder, in accordance with this invention. As disclosed above, the holder comprises two lateral sides. Each of the lateral side comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is made larger than the second portion. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holder comprises a right lateral side and a left lateral side, each having the first portion and the second portion respectively. The second portion present on the two lateral sides is slided into the first portion while storing the at least one item.

[0026] Figure 2 illustrates the adjustable bottle holder, in accordance with this invention. Each of the lateral side of the holder comprises a supporting element that is pressed against the liner when the holder is mounted on the liner of the door. The supporting element is made on the external surface of the lateral side. The supporting element is made in a circular shape as shown in the figure 1, but can be made of any other shape that is known to a person skilled in the art. The supporting element present on the right lateral side is pressed against the liner of the door, followed by the supporting element present on the left lateral side of the holder.

[0027] One of the lateral side comprises a knob having a tightening portion such that, the knob is rotated into a depression (not shown) present on the lateral side of the holder for mounting the holder on the door liner. The knob is made on an internal surface of the lateral side of the holder. The knob is made opposite to the supporting element present on the outer surface of the holder.The position of the knob is not restricted to one laternal side, but can be on any one of the lateral sides (either on the left lateral side or on the right lateral side). The depression is made according to the position of the knob. When the knob is tightend on the holder, the tightening portion of the knob goes into the depression present on the holder. The working of the knob is not explained in detail, as it is known in the state of the art. The knob and the supporting element is fitted on the second portion of the at least one lateral side of the holder.

[0028] Each of the lateral sides comprises mutliple snaps made on the second portion. The second portion thus can be moved in and out using the snaps. The snaps are made of a flexible material such that, the holder is adjusted in both longitudinal and lateral directions during mounting of the holder on the door liner.

[0029] A method of assembling/mounting of the holder in the appliance is explained in detail. The longitudinal side and the two lateral sides along with the knob and the supporting elements are made as a single component for forming the holder. While mounting the holder above the storage bin onto the door liner, the user is needed to press against one of the supporting element present on at least one lateral side , such that, a tension is created between the supporting element and the door liner.

[0030]Then holding the longitudinal side, the holder is mounted on the door liner, by pressing against the other supporting element present on the other lateral side. In this stage, the tension is created between the supporting elements and the door liner. Based on the width of the door, the longitudinal side is adjusted using the snaps and by sliding the second portion into the first portion. Once the holder is correctly fitted on the door liner of the appliance, the knob is tightened for holding the holder in an intact position.

[0031] In another scenerio, where the items are already present in the storage bin, the holder is mounted in such a way that, one supporting element is pressed on the door liner and the length of the holder is adjusted. Now, the supporting element of the other lateral side is pressed against the door liner. The above disclosed process is repeated for mounting the holder on to the door liner of the appliance. For adjusting the holder for holding the items stored in the storage bin, the snaps present on the lateral side are used. Based on the requirment, the second portion of the lateral sides is slided into the corresponding first portion of the lateral side via the snaps. Ie., the width of the holder is adjusted via the snaps for holdign the items that are stored in the storage bin. once it is adjusted, the knob is tightened for the holder to be in a constant position.

[0032] With the above disclosed adjustable holder, the toppling of items like bottles , large cups, sachets which are stored in the storage bin of the applaince can be avoided. As the adjustable holder is made of flexible snaps on the longitudinal sides, the holder can be mounted in any size of door of the appliance. The holder is adjusted on the snaps to fit into any width of the door of the appliance, thus providing a retrofit solution. As the disclosed holder doesnt require any drilling or screwing elements for being in an intact portion when mounted on the door liner, it provides a cost effective solution. As the items as disclosed above remains in a straight position due to the holder, no spillage of liquid or food from the items is possible.

[0033] Expansion and contraction of the holder helps in avoiding the breaking of the stored items while accesing the door of the appliance. The mouting of the holder is made with ease without any hassle but tighting the knob present on the holder. This feature provides an advantage of not damaging the door liner for mounting the holder. This disclosed holder can be adjusted both longitudinally and laterally based on the user requirment.

[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
13 at least one item
14 storage bin
16 adjustable holder
18 at least one lateral side
20 longitudinal side
20(a) first portion of longitudinal side
20(b) second portion of longitudinal side
22 multiple snaps
24 liner of the door
26 first portion on at least one lateral side
28 second portion on at least one lateral side
30 supporting element
32 knob

, Claims:We Claim:
1. A household appliance (10) comprising:
- a door (12) for accessing at least one item (13) that is stored in said appliance (10);
- a storage bin (14) fitted on said door (12), said storage bin (14) stores said at least one item (13);
characterized in that:
- an adjustable holder (16) comprising at least one lateral side (18), a longitudinal side (20) and multiple snaps (22) for adjusting said holder (16) when mounted on a liner (24) of said door (12) for holding said at least one item (13).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable holder (16) is mounted above said storage bin (14) of said appliance (10).

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple snaps (22) are present on said at least one lateral side (18) and said longitudinal side (20).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal side (20) comprises a first portion (20(a)) and a second portion (20(b)), such that, said second portion (20(b)) is slided into said first portion (20(a)) during mounting of said holder (16).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one lateral side (18) of said holder (16) comprises a first portion (26) and a second portion (28), such that said second portion(28) is slided into said first portion (26) while storing said at least one item (13).

6. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said lateral side (18) of said holder (16) comprises a supporting element (30) that is pressed against said liner (24) when said holder (16) is mounted on said liner (24) of said door (12).

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one said lateral side (18) comprises a knob (32) having a tightening portion such that, said knob (32) is rotated into a depression present on said lateral side (18) of said holder (16) for mounting said holder (16) on said door liner (24).
8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said knob (32) and said supporting element (30) is fitted on said second portion (28) of said at least one lateral side (18) of said holder (16).
9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said snaps (22) are made of a flexible material such that, said holder (16) is adjusted in both longitudinal and lateral directions during mounting of said holder (16) on said door liner (24).
10. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein snaps (22) present on said longitudinal side (20) are made for adjusting a length of said holder (16) according to a dimension of said door (12) of said appliance (10).