Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D23/00—General constructional features
  • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
  • F25D23/028—Details
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B17/00—Accessories in connection with locks
  • E05B17/0025—Devices for forcing the wing firmly against its seat or to initiate the opening of the wing
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05C—BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS
  • E05C19/00—Other devices specially designed for securing wings, e.g. with suction cups
  • E05C19/02—Automatic catches, i.e. released by pull or pressure on the wing
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F5/00—Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
  • E05Y2900/30—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances
  • E05Y2900/31—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances for refrigerators
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
  • F25D2400/04—Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a refrigerator with a housing and at least one door, which enclose at least one thermally insulated interior.
• Such refrigeration devices are usually equipped on their doors with a circumferential magnetic seal which, when the door is closed, closes the interior largely airtight and also holds the door in the closed position by a magnetic force acting on the housing between the seal and a door frame.
• the range of this magnetic force is very short. It can therefore not be reliably avoided that the door does not completely close, but remains open a crack without this being conspicuous to the refrigerator from the outside.
• This problem is particularly troublesome for refrigeration appliances with two or more doors that do not seal air-tight interiors.
• These interiors can e.g. act as a freezer and a refrigerator compartment of a combination refrigerator, or also in the refrigerator compartment and a so-called cellar compartment, which is kept at a higher temperature than the refrigerator compartment and may only be cooled by air exchange with the refrigerator compartment.
• a door is slammed in such a device, the resulting pressure surge can cause the other door to open a small, barely visible gap, resulting in premature excessive icing of the evaporator and thus possibly a device failure. To prevent this, a safety device is necessary.
• Refrigerators with a lock to secure against unauthorized access are known.
• Such a lock generally comprises two elements, a locking part and a projection which softly interacts with the locking part, one of which has the door and the other the housing of the refrigerator as a support.
• they have the disadvantage that the lock would have to be specifically locked by the user to prevent unintentional opening.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a refrigeration device with a door security device which prevents the door from being opened wide and which, in order to be effective, does not require any user intervention.
• the object is achieved in that the locking part can be displaced by the projection against the restoring force at the beginning of an opening movement of the door. This allows the door to be opened by simply pulling on it, a counterforce having to be overcome as long as the displacement movement of the locking part continues. The same counterforce pushes the door from a partially open to a fully closed position when the door is closed.
• the locking part preferably has two inclined surfaces facing away from one another for interacting with the projection.
• the locking part is thus first pushed back by sliding one of the inclined surfaces on the projection, while the force exerted on the second inclined surface via the locking part then drives the door in the direction of complete opening; the situation is reversed in the case of a closing movement.
• An opening gap of the door which is not recognizable by a user is thus always reliably avoided since the door is pressed either in the closed or in the open position by the inclined surfaces connected to one another via a vertex.
• the first element expediently has a housing in which the locking part is mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis.
• the bearing for this axis is formed on the one hand by the housing of the first element and on the other hand by its carrier. This enables easy assembly of the first element.
• Frictional forces between the two elements are kept low if the projection is formed by a roller rotatable about a pin.
• the first element preferably has the housing of the refrigeration device and the second element has its door as a carrier.
• the housing of the first element is mounted on the housing of the refrigeration appliance in such a way that it encloses a bearing bracket of the door.
• each door of a multi-door refrigerator can be provided with a safety device.
• first element Equip with a second latch part for interacting with a projection of the second door.
• the two locking parts can each be movable independently of one another, and the spring exerts oppositely directed forces on the two locking parts; an alternative embodiment, both locking parts are firmly connected to each other and connected by the spring to the housing of the door.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a freezer according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the top of a door of the refrigeration device from FIG. 1, the door locking device being shown in section;
• FIG. 3 shows a section through the upper cover profile of the door from FIG. 2 in a section along the line HI-HI;
• FIG. 4 is a front view of the upper door suspension of a built-in refrigerator according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 shows a section along the plane V-V from FIG. 4 in a closed state of the door
• FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the first element of a door security device according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• 8 shows a partial section through two doors of a refrigeration device equipped with the first element from FIG. 7.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a standing refrigeration device as a first embodiment of the present invention.
• the refrigerator has three interiors, a freezer compartment 1, a refrigerator compartment 2 and a cellar compartment 3, which can be locked by doors 4, 5 and 6, respectively.
• first elements 9 of a door security device are each arranged in a height corresponding to a gap between two of the doors 4, 5 or 5, 6.
• Second elements 10 complementary to the first elements 9 are each mounted on a lower edge of the door 4, an upper or lower edge of the door 5 and an upper edge 11 of the door 6, only one projecting from the upper edge 11 in the figure second element 10 is visible.
• the elements 9, 10 are each offset from the center of the front front 7 to that side of the refrigerator, in the case of FIG. 1 the right side, on which the pivotable doors 4, 5 are attached.
• the elements 9, 10 of the door securing device for the door 6 of the cellar compartment, which cannot be pivoted but are guided on a pull-out mechanism, could also be mounted centrally on the front front 7 in order to rule out tilting of the pull-out mechanism when opening and closing, or a further first and second element 9, 10 could each be mounted symmetrically to the ones shown on the left side of the front face 7.
• FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section through the right front corner area of the housing 8 at the level of the upper of the two first elements 9 between the doors 4, 5. You can see the first element 9 in section and the underlying door 5 of the refrigerator compartment 2.
• the upper The edge of the door 5 is formed by a molded plastic part 12, which is shown in FIG. 3 in a section along the plane III-III of FIG. 2.
• a shaft 13 is embedded here, which is firmly connected to the molded part via a wide peripheral brim 15 and thus against tilting due to the Opening and closing the door 5 acting forces is secured.
• a screw 14 is screwed into the shaft 13, the head region of which forms a pin 16 on which a roller 17 is rotatably held.
• the shaft 13 could of course also be formed in one piece with the molded part 12.
• Pin 16 and roller 17 together form a projection 18 of a second element 10 of the door locking device, which interacts with the first element 9.
• the first element 9 essentially consists of a housing 19, the back of which is fastened to the front 7 of the refrigeration appliance housing 8 by screws 20, two locking parts 21 pivotably arranged in the housing 19, and one Compression spring 22, which is arranged within the housing 19 between the locking parts 21 and drives them apart.
• the door 5 carries two projections 18.
• the projections 18 each abut a first inclined surface 23 of the locking parts 21.
• the locking parts 21 are pushed back into the interior of the housing 19 against the restoring force of the compression spring 22, the rollers 17 each rolling on the associated inclined surface 23.
• the projections 18 are in contact with the first inclined surfaces 23, they exert a force in the closing direction on the door 5 due to the restoring force of the spring 22.
• the projections 18 finally come into contact with second inclined surfaces 24 of the locking parts 21 which face away from the first inclined surfaces 23 and which exert a force in the opening direction on the door 5.
• This construction ensures that the door can only remain in a completely closed state or in a state that is so wide open that the opening of the door cannot be overlooked by a user. From all positions in between, the door either slams shut automatically or it opens so far that the user cannot miss it. Since the resistance of the spring 22 has to be overcome in order to open the door 5, an unintentional opening of the door 5, for example when the door 4 or 6 is slammed, is excluded.
• Each latch part 21 is essentially plate-shaped and carries on its top and bottom an elongated web 25 which, when the door is fully open, when the latch part 21 is no longer in contact with the associated projection 18, against an edge of a slot of the housing 19, from which the two inclined surfaces 23, 24 protrude.
• the web 25 thus ensures that, even when the door is open, the two locking parts 21 cannot move further apart from one another under the influence of the spring 22 than shown in FIG. 2.
• each locking part 21 Two pins projecting upwards and downwards from each locking part 21 define an axis 26 for the pivoting movement of the locking parts.
• a bearing for the axis 26 is limited on the one hand by the housing 19 and on the other hand by the front 7. This construction makes it possible to assemble the first element 9 conveniently by inserting the locking parts 21 and the compression spring 22 into the housing 19 from its open rear side; after the housing 19 is mounted with its rear side on the front side 7, it is no longer possible for the locking parts 21 and the spring 22 to escape.
• Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention based on a front view of the right upper corner area of a built-in refrigerator.
• a part of the front side 37 of the refrigeration device and a door 35 can be seen.
• a piece of furniture that covers the door 35 and the front side 37 when the device is installed is omitted in the figure.
• the door 35 is hinged on the right, an upper bearing bracket of the door hinge is hidden behind a housing 38, from which a hinge pin 36 protrudes downward and engages in the door 35.
• the housing 38 is part of a first element 39 of a door security device which, as shown in particular in the section shown in FIG. 5 along the line VV from FIG. 4, is largely analogous to the first element of FIGS. 2 and 3 is constructed.
• the first element 39 comprises a single locking part 51, which is pressed by a compression spring 52 into a position in which it protrudes from a window of the housing 38.
• the compression spring 52 is supported with its end facing away from the locking part 51 on an inner wall 57 of the housing 38.
• the structure of the second element 40 of the door security device does not differ from that with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 described structure of the second element 10.
• the operation of the two inclined surfaces 53, 54 of the locking part 51 is the same as described above.
• a bearing bracket 58 for the rotary suspension of the door 35 is accommodated in the housing 38.
• a mounting bracket 59 molded onto the bearing bracket is attached to the front side 37 by two screws 60.
• the housing 38 covers the fastening tab 59.
• Fig. 6 shows a section along the plane V-V of Fig. 4, in which the door is partially open.
• the second element 40 touches the vertex of the locking part 51 at the transition between its first and second inclined surfaces 53, 54. This is the position of maximum compression of the compression spring 52. If the door is opened a little more, the second element rolls on the second inclined surface 54 , and the door is pushed open; If it is closed a little further from this position, the second element 40 rolls on the first inclined surface 53 and the door closes.
• FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a first element 69 of a door security device according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• This first element 69 comprises a tongue 74 made of a plastic material with a fastening section 72 with a T-shaped cross section, a flexible middle section 82 and a thickened head section 81 and a mask 71 which engages around the fastening section 72 of the tongue 74 and for fastening, in particular screwing is provided on a refrigerator front 7.
• the tongue 74 carries on its head portion 81 on its top and bottom sides a first inclined surface 83 and a second inclined surface 84.
• the inclined surfaces 83, 84 are immovable relative to one another, the flexibility of the material of the tongue 74 is sufficient, however, to enable a slight deflection of the head section 81 in the vertical direction, parallel to the course of the pivot axis of a door.
• FIG. 8 shows a schematic partial section through two doors 4, 5 and the front side 7 of a refrigerator with a first element 69 from FIG. 7 mounted in the gap between the doors 4, 5 and in each case attached between the doors 4, 5 and the front side 7 magnetic seals.
• the doors 4, 5 carry, on their upper or lower edge facing the first element 69, second elements 70 of the door securing device, which here carry rollers 77 which can be rotated about a horizontal axis. If one of the doors 4 or 5 is opened or closed, the head section 81 is pushed back with elastic deformation of the central section 82.
• Each pair of inclined surfaces 83, 84 thus acts as a locking part for the opposite door 4 or 5, which exerts a resistance to the opening or closing of the door 4, 5.
• the gap between two opposing rollers 77 is smaller than the width of the head section 81 of the first element 69 at its widest point. Therefore, both rollers 77 cannot pass the head portion 81 of the tongue 74 at the same time. If only one roller 77 passes the head section 81, it is displaced in the direction of the other door, so that the other door cannot open.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
• Defrosting Systems (AREA)
• Fuses (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

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Publications (2)

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• 2001
  • 2001-04-09 DE DE10117782A patent/DE10117782A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2002
  • 2002-04-04 BR BRPI0208734-0A patent/BR0208734B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-04-04 ES ES02724272T patent/ES2338531T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-04-04 AT AT02724272T patent/ATE456775T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-04-04 DE DE50214194T patent/DE50214194D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-04-04 WO PCT/EP2002/003752 patent/WO2002081989A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2002-04-04 CN CNB028079701A patent/CN1250929C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-04-04 EP EP02724272A patent/EP1379818B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-04-04 EP EP09009644A patent/EP2113621A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

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