HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

A refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, includes a cooling chamber and at least one shelf for cooled products stored in the cooling chamber between interior walls of the cooling chamber. The shelf has a first planar shelf surface section and a second planar shelf surface section which is arranged in vertically offset relationship to the first planar shelf surface section, wherein at least one of the first and second planar shelf surface sections has apertures, with holders being fixed in the apertures for holding a removable container. As a result, the storage capacity of the refrigeration device for products to be cooled is improved.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, having a cooling chamber and at least one shelf for cooled products stored in the cooling chamber between internal walls of the cooling chamber.

A generic household refrigerator of this kind is described in DE 20 2006 014 616 U1. The interior space of refrigerators, freezers or the like is usually embodied so that cooled products are stored therein on compartment floors or storage racks. However, if filled and hence heavy food containers, for example, are to be placed in a refrigerator, the load-bearing capacity of conventional compartment floors or storage racks is sometimes insufficient, which may cause the latter to bow. Furthermore, the space inside in the refrigerator cannot always be used beneficially because the mutual spacing of compartment floors or storage racks in the refrigerator is not matched to the different heights of the containers. This problem is resolved in the prior art by means of a shelf board with an upright center wall having on both sides at least one pair of horizontally adjacent carriers serving as supports for food containers.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration device with improved storage capacity for cooled products.

The object is achieved by means of a refrigeration device having the features of claim 1.

In this context a refrigeration device is to be understood in particular to mean a household refrigerating appliance, such as a refrigerator, a freezer or a combined fridge-freezer, for example.

The refrigeration device has a cooling chamber and at least one shelf for cooled products which is stored in the cooling chamber between internal walls of the cooling chamber. According to the invention, the shelf has a first planar shelf surface section and a second planar shelf surface section that is vertically offset from the first planar shelf surface section.

The fact that the shelf has a first planar shelf surface section and a section second planar shelf surface section that is vertically offset from the first planar shelf surface enables containers of different sizes to be stored very compactly in the refrigeration device. Since the shelf surface sections are embodied as planar, cooled products can be stored on the entire surface of the shelf above the containers. Hence, the shelf forms a stepped compartment floor for the cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, which enables the cooled products to be stored grouped according to height both underneath the compartment floor and on the compartment floor. This makes better use of the storage space available in the refrigeration device and hence more cooled products can be stored in an orderly manner in the refrigeration device. It is possible for a single stepped shelf or a plurality of stepped shelves arranged one above the other to be disposed in the refrigeration device. One shelf or a plurality of stepped shelves can also be combined with a non-stepped, i.e. entirely planar, shelf or floor of the cooling chamber of the refrigeration device. The stepped shelves can be fixed on holders on the opposing inside side walls of the cooling chamber of the refrigeration device.

In other words, the new compartment floor can be constructed as a stepped shelf in such a way that two shelf areas can be created at different height levels in one compartment floor. This makes it possible to store objects of different heights on the stepped compartment floor. At the same time, two differently sized spacings are established in relation to the underlying compartment floor. The absolute dimensions of the spacings beneath the stepped compartment floor can deviate from the set heights on the stepped compartment floor. This enables the creation of four different set heights. This provides the customer with a large amount of flexibility for storing his or her refrigerated products. The stepped compartment floor can be produced from one piece or from a plurality of parts, with the possibility of using a frame construction and a plurality of inserted storage areas. In the case of a one-piece embodiment it is possible to use bent sheets, extruded profiles, bent or injection-molded plastics. In the case of multi-part embodiments it is also possible to use storage areas made of glass in addition to the aforesaid materials.

The shelf according to the invention provides a shelving system in the refrigeration device which is very convenient for the customer. This enables products of different heights to be stored as simply as possible. In particular, a flexible space-saving opportunity is created in order to be able to store containers of different sizes as compactly as possible in the refrigeration device. In addition, it is also possible to accommodate the Gastronorm containers used in ovens and steamers.

Gastronorm containers are trough-like vessels having an approximately cuboidal contour for storing and transporting food. Gastronorm containers are required to conform to the internationally valid Gastronorm standard which is regulated in Europe, for example, in the European standard EN 631 or in the corresponding German standard DIN 66075. The Gastronorm system is a dimensioning system which uses standard sizes for the width, depth and height of the Gastronorm containers to provide a systematic grouping of a plurality of Gastronorm containers and is hence employed in food processing facilities and kitchens for the efficient storage of empty Gastronorm containers and for the space-saving provision, storage or presentation of Gastronorm containers filled with foodstuffs or meals. A further aim of the standard is to achieve a certain compatibility between Gastronorm containers made by different manufacturers. According to this standard, starting from a basic size of GN 1/1 with a width of 325 mm and a depth of 530 mm, different smaller container units are derived corresponding to a fraction of the size (e.g. ⅔, ½, ⅓, ¼) of the basic dimension GN 1/1. The widths are therefore standardized to the standard widths of, for example, 325 mm, 162 mm or 108 mm. The depths are standardized to the values of, for example 530 mm, 354 mm, 265 mm, 176 mm, 132 mm or 88 mm. The heights are as a rule 200 mm, 150 mm, 100 mm, 65 mm, 40 mm or 20 mm. To that extent the height defines the size of the deep-drawing of the trough-life containers, that is their press-in depth.

A transition section arranged between the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section can be embodied in the manner of a step. The transition section connects the first planar shelf surface section to the second planar shelf surface section. Together with the transition section, the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section form a component which can in particular be embodied as one piece. The shelf embodied in this way is a stepped compartment floor for the refrigeration device. This stepped compartment floor can be made, for example, from a double-angled sheet or from an injection-molded plastic part. Upwardly directed sidewall skirts can be arranged on a side edge of the stepped compartment floor facing the inside rear wall of the cooling chamber, with said side wall skirts on the one hand keeping cooled products away from the inside rear wall of the cooling chamber and on the other hand preventing cooled products from falling down at the back when the stepped compartment floor is withdrawn.

It is possible to use a sheet which has, so to speak, been folded twice in order to create the different storage areas. For stabilization and to limit the adjustment depth, a further fold can be applied to each of the rear edges of the compartment floor. Further folds can be applied, but are not absolutely necessary. The stepped compartment floor can be placed on ribs in the refrigeration device. The rib parts can simply limit the insertion depth of the Gastronorm containers in order to ensure a safe distance from e.g. an evaporator. In addition, it is possible for an insertion depth limiter for the compartment floor and/or a means to prevent unintentional withdrawal of the compartment floor to be placed over the rib parts.

An edge of the step can be aligned extending parallel to the side walls of the cooling chamber. In other words, the step or the transition section can be bent at a right angle relative to both the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section. The transition section can also be referred to as a riser plane.

This riser plane of the step can hence be aligned parallel to the side walls of the cooling chamber. This means that when the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section are aligned horizontally, the riser plane of the step extends in a vertical direction. As a result of this vertical alignment of the riser plane or of the transition section a maximum size of the shelf area of the first planar shelf surface section and of the second planar shelf surface section is achieved. This means that in a top view of the stepped compartment floor, the first planar shelf surface section directly adjoins the second planar shelf surface section.

In all embodiments, the riser plane can have first holders for a removable container, in particular for Gastronorm containers. The containers, in particular the Gastronorm containers, can also be placed on the surfaces of the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section. The holders according to the invention enable the containers, in particular the Gastronorm containers, to be stored in a suspended manner underneath the first planar shelf surface sections and the second planar shelf surface sections.

In all variants of the invention, the first planar shelf surface section can be arranged vertically offset from the second planar shelf surface section by a height correlating with a value from the group 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 mm or corresponding to said value. Owing to the adjusted dimensions, this type of height offset in particular permits the space-saving storage of Gastronorm containers. The vertically offset arrangement of first planar shelf surface section and second planar shelf surface section makes it possible either to store two Gastronorm containers of different heights next to each other underneath the stepped compartment floor or to provide space for a further smaller Gastronorm container between a wide Gastronorm container and the higher positioned planar shelf surface section above the wide Gastronorm container extending under the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section.

In this case second holders, in particular for Gastronorm containers, can be arranged on the inside side walls of the cooling chamber at a height relative to an underlying plate or a base of the cooling chamber which correlates to a multiple of a value and/or sum of selected individual values from the group 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 mm or corresponds to said multiple or said sum. This enables Gastronorm containers of different heights to be stored one on top of the other. Otherwise, optionally, i.e. if required, a plurality of low Gastronorm containers or a higher Gastronorm container can be stored in the same area of the refrigeration device.

The spacing of two opposing holders arranged at the same height can correlate with the width of a container to be held, in particular a Gastronorm container. In this case too the opposing holders can optionally be arranged so that either a single wide Gastronorm container can be stored or two or three pairs of holders arranged at the same height can be provided in order to enable two or three narrower Gastronorm containers to be stored at the same height next to one another.

The width of the storage areas of the stepped compartment floor can either be of the same size or of different sizes. In one embodiment variant according to the invention, the width size may be selected so that it is possible to store a standard gastronomy container (Gastronorm container) therebelow. If only one container is stored under the stepped compartment floor, a uniform spacing to the underlying compartment floor is formed. Since the standard containers have different widths, a second plane for the storage of the Gastronorm containers is created beneath the compartment floor. In this second plane, it is possible, by simply modifying the support ribs, to store either one large container or a plurality of small containers. With the present exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the small container corresponds to a ⅓ Gastronorm container and the large container corresponds to a ⅔ Gastronorm container. If this storage system is to be used with other refrigeration device widths, it is also possible to use other Gastronorm container sizes.

The spacing of two opposing holders arranged at the same height can have a value determined by the sum of a gap width dimension and an individual value from the group 325, 162, 108 mm. Thus, for example, one Gastronorm container or two or three narrower Gastronorm containers can be stored at the same height. A gap width dimension can be provided, on the one hand to hold a single wide Gastronorm container with a slight amount of play for easy removal and easy insertion or on the other hand to prevent a collision between two adjacent narrow Gastronorm containers.

In all embodiments of the holders, the first and/or second holders can have fixing means for detachably fixing the first and/or second holders on the riser planer of the shelf or the internal walls of the cooling chamber. In particular, the second holders can be attached either directly to the internal walls of the cooling chamber of the refrigeration device or indirectly via intermediate supports to the stepped compartment floor or the internal walls of the cooling chamber. Both the first holders and the second and third holders can be fixed detachably or permanently.

The first and/or second holders can have a plurality of support ribs for the containers, in particular Gastronorm containers, which are arranged in their vertical spacings asymmetrically relative to the fixing means, and the fixing means are embodied for detachably fixing the first holders and/or second holders on one of the internal walls of the cooling chamber or the riser plane in a first mounting position and a second mounting position rotated horizontally through 180° with respect to the first mounting position on the opposing internal wall of the cooling chamber.

The fact that each individual holder has a plurality of support ribs enables a plurality of receivers for different height positions to be realized. However, the embodiment as individual holders means that a single fixing means is sufficient to fix the holder to, for example, the internal walls of the cooling chamber. This removes the need for a plurality of fixing means which would be necessary if each of the support ribs had to be fixed with a separate fixing means. Owing to the asymmetric embodiment, i.e. the asymmetric spacing between individual support ribs on a holder, two different fixing heights can be achieved with a single fixing means. This also eliminates the need to make or provide two different types of holder for different fixing heights. This reduces the number of parts and hence the production costs.

With all variants of the holders, at least one of the planar shelf surface sections can have apertures for fixing third holders for a removable container, in particular for Gastronorm containers. In particular, the third holders do not necessarily have to be arranged in the vicinity of the transition section or the riser plane. In order also to be able to provide the third holders remotely from the transition section or the riser plane, the first and/or the second planar shelf surface section can have apertures for fixing the third holders. The apertures are preferably located at a distance from the transition section or the riser plane. It is possible to provide a plurality of apertures in order to be able to fix the third holders optionally at different positions.

In other words, the additionally usable containers can be held on one side by a container rib and on the other side by a compartment floor rib. For the upper container plane, the compartment floor rib can either be fixedly connected to the compartment floor, for example a rib on the sheet bent part, either as a bonded or welded support part or connected detachably to the compartment floor. In the second container plane it is advantageous for the customer to be able to remove and reposition the compartment ribs. This would then be the precondition for the option of being able to use one large container or a plurality of small containers. For the fixing of the compartment floor ribs, apertures can be incorporated in the compartment floor to define the position of the ribs. The compartment floor ribs can be designed so that they can be inserted both offset and rotated. These form support surfaces for the left or right side of the Gastronorm container. In the household refrigerator, the support ribs can be tightened, screwed or molded in the container or used as an add-on part in the container. The add-on part can be designed so that it may be used both on the left side and on the right side of the container. However, it is also possible to use two side-specific parts. With this solution it is possible to reduce the number of ribs to the minimum required.

In this embodiment the apertures can also be formed by a number of spaced-apart slots extending in parallel in order to form different width spacings for two opposing holders. In this case the third holders are inserted or latched into the slots.

The stepped compartment floor according to the invention provides the customer with flexible storage for cooled products of different heights. In addition, the customer has the option of storing in particular Gastronorm containers simply in the refrigeration device by suspension without wasting storage space. The storage system according to the invention offers the option of storing a plurality of Gastronorm containers or Gastronorm containers of different widths in the refrigeration device. By repositioning of the ribs attached to the compartment floor the customer can choose between storing one large Gastronorm container or a plurality of small Gastronorm containers.

Different embodiment variants of the invention are described with reference to an exemplary refrigeration device shown in FIG. 1 and with reference to the shelves and holders shown in FIGS. 2 to 9 and cited containers. Further general features and advantages of the present invention may be derived from the detailed description of these specific exemplary embodiments.

IN THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a household refrigerator with conventional shelves and bowls or baskets;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a stepped compartment floor according to the invention in its mounting position in a refrigeration device for household purposes, similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the stepped compartment floor from FIG. 2 on its own together with first, second and third holders;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the stepped compartment floor from FIG. 2, as with an open door of the refrigeration device, with one small and one large container;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the stepped compartment floor from FIG. 2, as with an open door of the refrigeration device, with three small containers;

FIG. 6 shows a detailed section of a perspective view of the stepped compartment floor from FIG. 2 with inserted containers and holding means for the stepped compartment floor on an internal wall of the refrigeration device;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view from below of the stepped compartment floor according to FIG. 2 on its own together with one first and one third holder;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second holder mounted on an internal wall of the refrigeration device facing the door stop side with a plurality of support ribs; and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a second holder attached on an internal wall of the refrigeration device on the door-stop side with a plurality of support ribs in a mounting position rotated through 180° with respect to FIG. 8.

A refrigeration device 1 according to FIG. 1, which in this case is a household refrigerating appliance in the form of a combined fridge-freezer, has a carcass 2 with an internal container 3. The internal container 3 is divided into a cooling compartment 4 shown at the top, a lower freezer compartment 5 and a fresh-food compartment 6 arranged between the cooling compartment 4 and the freezer compartment 5, which is also known as the 0-degree compartment. The cooling compartment 4 has a first cooling chamber 7a of the refrigeration device 1, the fresh-food compartment 6 has a second cooling chamber 7b of the refrigeration device 1 and the freezer compartment 5 has a third cooling chamber 7c of the refrigeration device 1. The first cooling chamber 7a, the second cooling chamber 7b and the third cooling chamber 7c are also referred to in the following generally as cooling chamber 7. Each of the cooling chambers 7a, 7b, 7c of the cooling compartment 4, freezer compartment 5 and fresh-food compartment 6 can be equipped with a shelf 8 according to the invention. The shelf 8 will also be referred to in the following as the compartment floor of the refrigeration device 1. Each cooling chamber 7a, 7b, 7c has a left internal side wall 9 and a right internal side wall 10. A left holder 11a protrudes from the plane of the left internal side wall 9 into the cooling chamber 7. A right holder 11b protrudes from the plane of the right internal side wall 10 into the cooling chamber 7. Parts or sections of the holders 11a, 11b can form projections 12 on which the inventive flat stepped shelf 8 (FIG. 2) is supported. One or more stepped shelves can be provided in each of the cooling chambers 7a, 7b, 7c. FIG. 1 shows known planar shelves 8a, 8b, 8c in the cooling compartment 4, which shelves can be optionally and arbitrarily replaced by a flat stepped shelf 8 according to the invention, as described and demonstrated with reference to the following FIGS. 2 to 7. The shelves 8 according to the invention can therefore also be provided in the fresh-food compartment 6 or the freezer compartment 5 and, for example, replace one or more of the cooled product baskets 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f. The household refrigerator 1 can be closed in a heat-insulating manner by means of the door 14. Toward that end, the door 14 is swivel-mounted with a hinge arrangement 15 on the carcass 2. It is possible to provide a single door 14 or a plurality of doors 14a, 14b for the different cooling chambers 7a, 7b, 7c.

FIG. 2 shows a stepped shelf 8 according to the invention in its mounting position in the cooling chamber 7a between the left internal side wall 9 and the right internal side wall 10. The shelf 8 has a first planar shelf surface section 15 and a second planar shelf surface section 16 vertically offset from the first planar shelf surface section 15. The first planar shelf surface section 15 has a rectangular flat structure. Adjoining the right-pointing edge 17 of the first planar shelf surface section 15 in FIG. 2 is a transition section 18 in the form of a step 19. The transition section 18 has a rectangular flat structure and is bent at a right angle with respect to the first planar shelf surface section 15. The transition section 18 extends vertically downward from the first planar shelf surface section 15. The second planar shelf surface section 16 adjoins a lower end 20 of the transition section 18. The second planar shelf surface section 16 has a rectangular flat structure and is bent at a right angle with respect to the transition section 18 or the step 19. The second planar shelf surface section 16 extends from the transition section 18 horizontally in the direction of the right internal side wall 10. The second planar shelf surface section 16 extends in a plane parallel to the first planar shelf surface section 15 at a vertically offset spacing corresponding to the transition section 18 or the step 19. The edge 17 of the transition section 18 or a riser plane 21 of the step 19 is aligned parallel to the side walls, i.e. the left internal side wall 9 and the right internal side wall 10. The transition section 18 or the riser plane 21 has first holders 22 for a removable Gastronorm container 23a. The first holders 22 have fixing means 24 for detachably fixing the first holders 22 to the riser plane 21. The fixing means 24 are formed by ribs 25 of the first holders 22 which are to be clamped or latched into slotted apertures 29a, 29b.

The second planar shelf surface section 16 has a number of apertures 29a for third holders 27 for forming different width spacings of two opposing holders 22, 27. The apertures 29a are embodied as slots 29b. The slots 29b extend in two rows which are each aligned parallel to each other in a grid spacing in the plane of the second planar shelf surface section 16.

FIG. 3 shows the stepped shelf 8 according to the invention on its own only together with a first holder 22, second holders 28a, 28b and the third holder 27. To that extent the left second holder 28a in FIG. 2 replaces one of the left holders 11a from FIG. 1. To that extent the right second holder 28b FIG. 2 replaces one of the right holders 11b from FIG. 1. The second holder 28a shown on the left in FIG. 3 has a plurality of support ribs 30a, 30b, 30c. Three support ribs 30a, 30b, 30c are shown arranged vertically offset at a mutual height spacing which correlates with a value from the group 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 mm or corresponds to said value. The second holder 28b shown on the right in FIG. 3 has a plurality of support ribs 31a, 31b, 31c. Three support ribs 31a, 31b (covered by the shelf 8), 31c are shown arranged vertically offset at a mutual height spacing which correlates with a value from the group 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 mm or corresponds to said value. The second holder 28b shown in the right is arranged rotated through 180 degrees with respect to the position of the second holder 28a shown on the left.

Arranged on the side edges 33a, 33b of the stepped compartment floor 8 facing the inside rear wall 32 (FIG. 2) of the internal container 3 are upwardly directed sidewall skirts 34a, 34b, which on the one hand keep cooled products away from the inside rear wall 32 (FIG. 2) of the internal container 3 and on the other hand prevent cooled products from falling down at the back when the stepped compartment floor 8 is withdrawn. It is possible to use a metal sheet which has, so to speak, been folded twice in order to create the different storage areas of the first planar shelf surface section 15 and of the second planar shelf surface section 16. The folds or sidewall skirts 34a, 34b mounted on the rear side edges 33a, 33b of the compartment floor 8 also serve for stabilization purposes and to limit the insertion depth.

FIG. 4 shows a first example of the storage of two containers 23 or Gastronorm containers 23a, 23b of different widths on the compartment floor 8. The first planar shelf surface section 15 is arranged vertically offset from the second planar shelf surface section 16 by a dimension which correlates with a value from the group 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 mm or corresponds to said value. This means that the first planar shelf surface section 15 is arranged vertically offset according to the size differences as per the Gastronorm standard EN 631 or the corresponding German Standard DIN 66075, an in particular small gap height dimension being attributable. The narrow Gastronorm container 23a is mounted on a support rib 30b of the second holder 28a shown on the left and a rib 35 of the first holder 22. The floor 36 of the Gastronorm container 23a finishes approximately at the height position of the second planar shelf surface section 16. Arranged under the floor 36 of the Gastronorm container 23a and the height position of the second planar shelf surface section 16 is a wide Gastronorm container 23b. The wide Gastronorm container 23b is mounted on the support rib 30c of the second holder 28a shown on the left and on the third holder 27. Thus, the wide Gastronorm container 23b extends both underneath the first planar shelf surface section 15 and the second planar shelf surface section 16 as well as underneath the transition section 18 or the riser plane 21.

FIG. 5 shows a second example of the storage of three containers 23 or Gastronorm containers 23c, 23d, 23e of identical width on the compartment floor 8 at different width and height positions. The Gastronorm container 23c is arranged underneath the first planar shelf surface section 15 but above the height position of the second planar shelf surface section 16. Toward that end the Gastronorm container 23c is mounted on a support rib 30b of the second holder 28a shown on the left and a rib 35 of the first holder 22. The Gastronorm container 23d is arranged directly below the Gastronorm container 23c. Toward that end the Gastronorm container 23d is mounted on a support rib 30c of the second holder 28a shown on the left and a further rib 36 of a third holder 27a. The third holder 27a is detachably fixed at apertures 26a of the second planar shelf surface section 16. Arranged at the same height position next to the Gastronorm container 23d is a further Gastronorm container 23e underneath the second planar shelf surface section 16. The Gastronorm container 23e is mounted on the support rib 31a of the second holder 28b shown on the right and a further third holder 27b. The further third holder 27b is detachably fixed at apertures 26b of the second planar shelf surface section 16.

FIG. 6 shows a section of the stepped shelf 8 according to the invention together with the first Gastronorm container 23a (FIG. 2), the second Gastronorm container 23b (FIG. 2) and the second holder 28a shown on the left in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the stepped shelf 8 is shown viewed in a perspective from the rear wall 32 of the internal container 3 toward the front. Thus, the folds or sidewall skirts 34a, 34b mounted on the rear side edges 33a, 33b of the compartment floor or shelf 8 are shown in the foreground. The wide Gastronorm container 23b has on its upper trough edge a beaded edge 37b, which lies laterally on the support rib 30c of the second holder 28a. The narrow Gastronorm container 23a has on its upper trough edge a further beaded edge 37a which rests laterally on the support rib 30b of the second holder 28a. The compartment floor or shelf 8 rests on the third support rib 30a of the second holder 28a. Above the support rib 30c, a first stop 38 extends vertically upward, preventing the Gastronorm container 23b from being inserted any deeper and hence preventing the beaded edge 37b of the Gastronorm container 23b from touching the rear wall 32 of the internal container 3. Providing the same effect, a second stop 39 extends vertically between the support rib 30b and the support rib 30a, preventing the Gastronorm container 23a from being inserted deeper and hence preventing the beaded edge 37a of the Gastronorm container 23a from touching the rear wall 32 of the internal container 3.

FIG. 7 shows the compartment floor or shelf 8 on its own in a view from below. The second planar shelf surface section 16 has two rows of apertures 29a. The apertures 29a for third holders 27 serve to form different width spacings for two opposing holders 22, 27 (FIG. 2). The apertures 29a are embodied as slots 29b. The slots 29b extend in two rows aligned parallel to each other in a grid spacing in the plane of the second planar shelf surface section 16. The first planar shelf surface section 15 is connected to the second planar shelf surface section 16 via the transition section 18 or the step 19. The transition section 18 or the step 19 supports the first holder 22 with the rib 35. Both the first holder 22 and the third holder 27 can be inserted into the apertures 29a or the slots 29b and simply clamped. Alternatively, both the first holder 22 and the third holder 27 can be inserted into the apertures 29a or the slots 29b and locked in position by a separate mating part (not shown). In another variant, both the first holder 22 and the third holder 27 can be permanently glued or welded into the apertures 29a or the slots 29b.

FIG. 8 shows the left second holder 28a attached to the inside left internal side wall 9 of the refrigeration device 1. The left second holder 28a is to that extent arranged opposite the door-stop side. The left second holder 28a has the support ribs 30a, 30b, 30c. The left second holder 28a is attached to the inside left internal side wall 9 of the refrigeration device 1 with the aid of fixing means.

FIG. 9 shows the right second holder 28b mounted to the inside right internal side wall 10 of the refrigeration device 1. The right second holder 28b is to that extent arranged on the door stop side. The right second holder 28b has the support ribs 31a, 31b, 31c. The right second holder 28b is embodied identically to the left second holder 28a. However, the right second holder 28b is attached to the inside right internal side wall 10 of the refrigeration device 1 in a mounting position rotated through 180° with respect to FIG. 8 with the aid of fixing means.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A refrigeration device, comprising:

a cooling chamber; and

at least one shelf for cooled products stored in the cooling chamber between internal walls of the cooling chamber, said shelf having a first planar shelf surface section and a second planar shelf surface section arranged in vertically offset relationship to the first planar shelf surface section, wherein at least one of the first and second planar shelf surface sections has apertures; and

holders fixed in the apertures for holding a removable container.

16. The refrigeration device of claim 15, wherein the container is a Gastronorm containers.

17. The refrigeration device of claim 15, wherein the apertures are formed by a number of spaced-apart slots extending in parallel relation to form different width spacings of opposing two of the first holders.

18. The refrigeration device of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the apertures are selectively provided at different points for detachably fixing the holders.

19. The refrigeration device of claim 15, further comprising a transition section arranged between the first planar shelf surface section and the second planar shelf surface section, said transition section being embodied as a step.

20. The refrigeration device of claim 19, wherein the step has an edge extending parallel to the internal walls of the cooling chamber.

21. The refrigeration device of claim 19, wherein the step defines a riser plane which is aligned in parallel relation to the internal walls of the cooling chamber.

22. The refrigeration device of claim 21, wherein a first plurality of the holders is arranged in the riser plane for holding a removable container.

23. The refrigeration device of claim 22, wherein the container is a Gastronorm containers.

24. The refrigeration device of claim 15, wherein the first planar shelf surface section is arranged in vertically offset relation to the second planar shelf surface section by a height correlating or corresponding with a value from the group consisting of 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 millimeters.

25. The refrigeration device of claim 22, wherein a second plurality of the holders for holding a container is arranged on the internal walls of the cooling chamber at a height relative to an underlying plate or a base of the cooling chamber, said height correlating with a multiple of a value and/or a sum of selected individual values from the group consisting of 200, 150, 100, 65, 55, 40, 20 millimeters, and corresponding to a multiple of said value or said sum.

26. The refrigeration device of claim 25, wherein the container is a Gastronorm containers.

27. The refrigeration device of claim 15, wherein two opposing ones of the holders arranged at a same height define a spacing which correlates with a width of a container being held.

28. The refrigeration device of claim 27, wherein the spacing has a value determined by a sum of a gap width dimension and an individual value selected from the group consisting of 325, 162, 108 mm.

29. The refrigeration device of claim 22, wherein the first holders have first fasteners for detachably fixing the first holders to the riser plane of the shelf.

30. The refrigeration device of claim 25, wherein the second holders have second fasteners for detachably fixing the second holders to the internal walls of the cooling chamber.

31. The refrigeration device of claim 30, wherein the first holders have first fasteners for detachably fixing the first holders to the riser plane of the shelf, at least one of the first holders and second holders have a plurality of support ribs for the containers, said support ribs arranged in their vertical spacings asymmetrically relative to the associated one of the first or second fasteners, said fasteners being embodied for detachably fixing the at least one of the first holders and second holders to one of the internal walls of the cooling chamber or the riser plane in a first mounting position and a second mounting position which is rotated by 180° horizontally to the first mounting position on an opposing of the internal walls.