EP2283195B1 - Hinge element and housing for a household appliance - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator or freezer, with a housing which is equipped with a hinge element, wherein the hinge element has a mounting portion for mounting on the body of the household appliance, a projecting from the mounting portion support arm and a arranged at the free end of the support arm bearing element having.

Simple hinges used for the suspension of a household appliance door generally have a hinge pin which engages from above or below in a bearing sleeve of the door, thus defining a pivot axis of the door, and an arm, via which the hinge pin is firmly connected to the body. This arm is visible from the outside, which is distracting.

Although it would be conceivable to hide such a hinge behind a fixed to the door housing, however, such a housing would restrict the freedom of movement of the door, or it would have to be provided with a - aesthetically also unsatisfactory - lateral slot through which the arm can extend in the open state of the door.

The WO 2007/031416 A1 discloses a housing for a household appliance with a hinge, which is arranged adjacent to a side surface of the body and body and door connects. The door has a receiving space facing the carcass. The hinge comprises a fixedly connected to the body and engaging in the receiving space arm, on which an axis of the hinge is fixed. On the arm, a recess is formed, engages in the open position of the door, a side wall of the receiving space of the door. The arm of the hinge is formed from an upright strip of strong sheet metal and divided by two approximately right angles in three sections, the two end portions parallel to each other. The one end portion is to be mounted on the body, the second end portion is rolled up at its free end into a sleeve.

However, the production of such a hinge arm has proved to be difficult in practice, in particular the rolling of the free end to a circular cross-section sleeve. In addition, the prior art hinge is very space consuming. Furthermore, the hinge allows the WO 2007/031416 A1 only a maximum opening angle of just over 90 °, but there is a need for greater freedom of movement of the door.

The DE19723077 discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a household appliance with a hinge element and a housing, which hinge element is easy to manufacture and takes up little space and yet has a high strength.

This object is achieved in that in a hinge element mentioned above, the support arm in the direction of the pivot axis at its free end has a lower height than the mounting portion. As a result, the available space is used optimally and created sufficient space for the bearing element, which is preferably formed by protruding in opposite directions bearing pin.

At the free end of the support arm projecting in opposite directions bearing journals are arranged. The two journals form a bearing element and replaced the rolled-up sleeve of the hinge element according to the prior art.

The two journals are aligned along a common pivot axis of the hinge. The journals thus define the pivot axis by their longitudinal direction. When the door is hinged to the hinge element, a bearing pin is placed on one of the two bearing journals and is mounted in a bearing eye fixed to the door.

Preferably, the support arm tapers from the mounting portion toward its free end in the direction of the pivot axis at least on one side. By a gradual taper, the forces are optimally distributed over the hinge element. Particularly preferably, the support arm tapers from the mounting portion to its free end in the direction of the pivot axis on both sides. In this way, the hinge element is slightly elastic, which increases the resistance to breakage of the hinge element when the door is exposed to heavy loads.

Particularly preferably, the support arm tapers in the direction of the pivot axis mirror-symmetrically to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of the mounting portion to its free end. This leads to a high load capacity and allows to use the hinge element both as a right stop and as a left stop.

The taper is advantageously not constant over the length of the support arm. Rather, the support arm preferably tapers over a first portion adjacent to the mounting portion and has a constant height in the direction of the pivot axis at its end portion adjacent the free end. More preferably, the taper is at least partially approximately linear, i. in a spread on a plane support arm approximately along a straight line. An exponential decreasing from the mounting portion to the free end tapering is also conceivable.

The two journals preferably have at least substantially the same cross-section, e.g. may each be polyhedral, rectangular or square with within ± 0.1 to ± 0.5 mm of equal length edge lengths. In particular, the two bearing pins are arranged at least substantially mirror-symmetrically to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. This has the advantage that the hinge element can be used for both sides, so that an articulation of the door on both the left and on the right side of the body is possible. For this purpose, the two bearing journals are preferably aligned on a line or parallel to one another and preferably have the same length. Particularly preferably, the entire hinge element is substantially mirror-symmetrical to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis.

The hinge element is formed from a flat material blank, in particular from a sheet metal blank. Particularly preferably, the hinge element is made of a steel sheet. Preferably, high strength steel is used, for example chromium steel or stainless steel. The thickness of the flat material blank is preferably 3 mm to 7 mm, particularly preferably about 5 ± 1 mm.

The hinge element can be easily manufactured as a stamped / bent part, preferably by punching from a steel sheet and subsequent bending. Thus, mounting portion, support arm and journals can be made in one piece. The hinge element can be produced inexpensively and yet has a high strength.

Preferably, the support arm has a curvature in a section perpendicular to the pivot axis. As a result, a recess is formed, into which a side wall of a receiving space of the door engages when opening the door, whereby a large opening angle is allowed.

The curvature of the support arm is preferably designed such that an even larger opening angle is made possible than in the case of WO 2007/031416 A1 , To achieve this, the hinge element is preferably adapted as far as possible to the pivoting movement of the side wall of the receiving space of the door. In particular, the support arm is angled at an obtuse angle from the mounting portion to - together with the mounting portion - to span a semicircle along which the side wall is pivoted when opening the door. Preferably, the mounting portion and the adjacent thereto portion of the support arm are adapted as far as possible to a semicircular shape. For structural reasons, the mounting portion will usually be straight, as it is to attach to the body of a household appliance. The support arm is then at an obtuse angle of preferably more than 100 °, more preferably more than 110 ° and more preferably from about 115 ° ± 5 ° from the mounting section.

Furthermore, the support arm preferably describes a total of a curve or a curve of more than 90 °, preferably of more than 120 °, and particularly preferably from 130 ° to 150 °. This allows to position the journals near the pivot axis and allows an even larger opening angle.

Particularly preferably, the radius of curvature of the support arm is different over its length. The transition between different radii of curvature is preferably continuous, so that the support arm is particularly stable. Continuously variable radii of curvature can be produced in a hot bending process become. Preferably, the radius of curvature of the support arm continuously increases from a point near the mounting portion to a certain point, and from there to a point near the free end.

Preferably, the support arm has a first portion adjacent to the mounting portion, e.g. is substantially not or little curved, and a second portion adjacent to the first portion, the first portion and an end portion adjacent the second portion including an acute intermediate angle. This intermediate angle is less than 90 °, preferably less than 60 °, and more preferably from 30 ° to 50 °. The first portion preferably has a total bending of less than 10 °, and the second portion preferably has a maximum radius of curvature of about 5 to 15 mm.

The second portion connects the first portion, which extends substantially along the circumferential direction of the pivoting movement, with the end portion of the support arm, at the end of which the bearing journals are arranged and which extends substantially radially to the pivot axis. The end portion preferably has no or only a slight curvature, since it is adapted as far as possible to the radial direction. Alternatively, the end portion may also have a slight bend of e.g. up to 10 °.

Due to the curvature of the support arm, e.g. achieved that the adjoining the second portion end portion of the support arm in a section perpendicular to the pivot axis at an angle of more than 10 °, preferably more than 20 ° and particularly preferably from 30 ° to 40 ° to the mounting portion.

By this type of curvature, the shape of the support arm is adapted as far as possible to the circular pivoting of the side wall of the arranged in the door receiving space. This allows an opening angle of the hinge of more than 130 °, in particular of up to 135 °, preferably up to 140 ° and possibly even up to 160 ° or 180 °.

The household appliance has a housing with a body, a door and at least one hinge, which is arranged on the body and pivotally connects the door to the body, wherein the hinge has a hinge element with a on the body of the Domestic appliance mounted mounting portion, a protruding from the mounting portion of the support arm and arranged at the free end of the support arm bearing element comprises. The support arm has at its free end a smaller height in the direction of the pivot axis than the mounting portion. Preferably, the hinge element is configured as described above. The housing typically has two or three hinges, wherein possibly only one or all hinges are equipped with a hinge element according to the invention.

The bearing pins preferably have a non-rotationally symmetrical and in particular rectangular or square cross section. This makes it possible to each rotatably receive one of the two journals in a bearing pin, which is mounted in a bearing eye fixed to the door. Preferably, a bearing pin is placed on the downwardly projecting journal, especially if it is an upper hinge of the door.

For storage in the bearing eye, the bearing pin preferably has a circular-cylindrical section, on whose front side a hole or a receptacle for a bearing journal is arranged. The receptacle preferably has the same, not rotationally symmetrical and preferably rectangular or square cross-sectional shape as the bearing pin, so that the bearing pin can be rotatably received in the bearing pin. The hole is preferably a through hole.

In addition, the bearing pin in addition to the receptacle preferably has a continuous cable channel, which runs in particular parallel to the pivot axis. This can be done in an elegant way cables from the body in the door. This is particularly useful when there is a control electronics in the door, e.g. a display operating module.

The bearing pin is preferably injection molded from plastic. Particularly preferably it consists of a good sliding plastic such as POM (polyoxymethylene).

Preferably, the door has an outer wall and an inner wall, between which there is a cavity filled with insulating foam material. Outer and inner wall are - for example, at the upper and lower transverse edges of the door - by a Connecting piece or a door closure strip connected. Preferably, the bearing eye is embedded in the connector. The bearing eye is preferably formed by a bearing bush formed on the connecting piece. The connecting piece is preferably made of plastic, for example ABS and is preferably designed as an injection molded part.

As already mentioned above, the support arm preferably engages in a body facing the open receiving space of the door. In the open position of the door engages a side wall of this receiving space in the recess formed by the curvature of the support arm, whereby a particularly large opening angle is achieved.

The door is preferably articulated on two hinges on the body, wherein the hinge element according to the invention can be used only in a hinge, in particular the upper hinge, or on both hinges.

Particularly preferably, the household appliance is a refrigeration device, in particular a refrigerator or freezer or a fridge-freezer combination in stand construction.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Kältegeräts, an dem die vorliegende Erfindung verwirklicht ist, mit geschlossener Tür;

Fig. 2

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht des Kältegeräts der Fig. 1 mit offener Tür;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Scharnierelements, an dem die vorliegende Erfindung verwirklicht ist;

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch das Scharnierelement der Fig. 3, jedoch in gespiegelter Ansicht;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausschnitts der oberen vorderen Ecke des Korpus eines Kältegeräts, an dem das Scharnierelement der Fig. 3 befestigt ist;

Fig. 6

eine ähnliche Ansicht wie Fig. 5 mit aufgesetztem Lagerbolzen;

Fig. 7

einen Querschnitt durch den Lagerbolzen entlang der Linie VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die rechte obere Ecke der Tür von der Innenseite, mit Blick auf den Aufnahmeraum, wobei der obere Rand der Tür zu Klarheitszwecken abgeschnitten ist;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht der rechten oberen Ecke des Korpus mit angelenkter Tür;

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht ähnlich derjenigen der Fig. 9, wobei die obere Abdeckleiste der Tür abgenommen ist, und wobei um das Scharnierelement Verkleidungen angeordnet sind;

Fig. 11

einen Querschnitt durch eine rechte obere Ecke des Gehäuses bei geöffneter Tür;

Fig. 12

einen Querschnitt durch eine rechte obere Ecke des Gehäuses bei geschlossener Tür.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator, to which the present invention is implemented, with the door closed;

Fig. 2

a schematic perspective view of the refrigeration device of Fig. 1 with open door;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a hinge member to which the present invention is implemented;

Fig. 4

a cross section through the hinge element of Fig. 3 but in a mirrored view;

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a section of the upper front corner of the body of a refrigerator, on which the hinge element of Fig. 3 is attached;

Fig. 6

a similar view as Fig. 5 with attached bearing pin;

Fig. 7

a cross section through the bearing pin along the line VII in Fig. 6 ;

Fig. 8

a perspective view of the right upper corner of the door from the inside, looking at the receiving space, wherein the upper edge of the door is cut for clarity purposes;

Fig. 9

a perspective view of the upper right corner of the carcass with hinged door;

Fig. 10

a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 9 wherein the upper cover strip of the door is removed, and wherein panels are arranged around the hinge element;

Fig. 11

a cross section through a right upper corner of the housing with the door open;

Fig. 12

a cross section through a right upper corner of the housing with the door closed.

Fig. 1 shows as an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance, in which the invention is implemented, a refrigerator 1 in a stand-construction with a body 4 and a door 2, which is hinged to the body 4 about an axis 3 pivotally. The axis 3 passes through the door 2 parallel to an in Fig. 1 Side face of the body 4 facing away from the observer.

The door 2 comprises an outer wall 5, which is bent inwards on the sides and is advantageously formed from sheet metal, in particular sheet metal. The thus formed Hohlraüm in the door is limited to the refrigerator interior through the inner wall 6, see Fig. 2 which is advantageously molded from plastic. The cavity formed between outer wall 5 and inner wall 6 is filled with insulating foam material.

Outer and inner wall are connected to each other at the upper transverse edge of the door by a connecting piece 7, which simultaneously closes the cavity in the door upwards. Downwardly, the cavity is also bounded by a lower connector (not shown). This may be the same or different formed as the upper connector 7. In the connector 7 receiving spaces 8 are provided on both sides. To cover the receiving spaces 8 up, is on the connector 7 in the Fig. 1 and 2 not shown cover strip attached. The door is preferably mirror-symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, so that it can be hinged on both sides to the body.

Fig. 2 shows the fridge the Fig. 1 with the door open. As a result, both receiving spaces 8 are clearly visible. On the side of the pivot axis 3 projects into the receiving space 8 arranged there, the support arm of a hinge element 10 which is fixed to the upper portion 9 of the door 2 facing the front frame of the body 4. Preferably, display and / or operating elements for the refrigerator are also arranged on the upper section 9.

From the Fig. 1 and 2 It can also be seen that the outer wall 5 in the direction of the pivot axis 3 is longer than the inner wall 6, so that the connecting piece 7 is completely or partially covered by the outer wall 5 to the visible side. As a result, the door 2 outwardly on a uniform, formed by the outer wall 5 outer surface, which causes an appealing aesthetic impression.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the in Fig. 2 The hinge element 10 is formed from a vertically oriented strip heavy plate and has a mounting portion 11 for attachment to the body 4 of the household appliance 1 and a protruding from the mounting portion 11 support arm 12, at the end of two identical up or down projecting bearing journals 16a, 16b are arranged. In the mounting portion 11, two holes 17 can be seen, which are provided to receive (not shown) screws with which the hinge element 10 is attached to the body 4 of the household appliance 1.

The pivot axis 3 extends in the longitudinal direction of the two bearing journals 16a and 16b. The height B of the hinge element 10 in the region of the two bearing journals 16a and 16b is slightly greater than the height of the mounting section 11 in the direction of the pivot axis 3. Advantageously, the height B of the two bearing journals 16a and 16b is 20 mm to 40 mm, particularly preferably 30 mm to 35 mm mm. The support arm 12 tapers from the mounting portion 11 to its free end, from which the two journals 16a and 16b protrude. This ensures that the hinge element 10 does not project beyond the upper portion 9 of the front frame of the body 4, which is only about 40 to 60 mm high, so as not to unnecessarily reduce the useful space of the refrigerator. If the support arm 12 had a constant height as in the prior art, the bearing journals 16a and 16b taken together would have to have a considerably greater height.

The hinge element 10 is mirror-symmetrical in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis defined by the bearing pins 16a, 16b. In this way, the hinge element 10 can be used for both a left stop as well as for a right-stop.

Fig. 4 shows the hinge member 10 of Fig. 3 in cross-section and in mirror image to that of Fig. 3 , The hinge element 10 has over its length a constant thickness d, which is about 5 mm. Based on Fig. 4 Now, the preferred curvature of the support arm 12 will be explained.

The mounting portion 11 fixed to the body 4 is substantially straight along a line L ₁ . From the mounting portion 11, a first portion 13 of the support arm 12 is angled at an obtuse angle β, which is about 105 ° ± 5 °. The first section 13 initially runs essentially straight along the line L ₂ and then merges into a curved second section 14. The curved second section 14 in turn merges into a straight end section 15 which runs along the line L _3. The section 14 has a strong curvature, so that the first section 13 and the end section 15 have an intermediate angle γ of less than 80 °, in the example shown by. 40 ° ± 5 °. The smaller the intermediate angle γ, the greater the achievable opening angle of the door 2.

Due to the curvature of the second portion 14 of the end portion 15, at the free end of the bearing pins 16 are arranged inclined by an angle α to the mounting portion 11. The inclination angle α is more than 10 °, preferably more than 20 ° and particularly preferably more than 30 °, in the example shown about 32 °.

By the described curvature of the support arm 12, a recess 18 is formed, in which the side wall of the receiving space 8 pivots in when opening the door, and along the dotted line P, which just does not touch the mounting portion 11.

Fig. 5 shows again a perspective view of the hinge element 10, which is now attached to the upper right corner of the front frame of the body 4 of a household appliance. For this purpose, threaded holes are provided for the holes 17 passing through screws in the upper portion 9 of the front frame. Fig. 5 shows a right stop of the door, so that the support arm 12 is bent to the right.

In Fig. 5 It can be seen that the support arm 12 tapers from the mounting portion 11 to its free end, on a plane mirror-symmetrical to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. The taper is strongest in the first section 13, then continues in the second section 14, while the end portion 15 is only slightly tapered or even has a constant height. The taper in the first and between sections is approximately linear, that is, in a spread on a plane support arm 12 approximately along a straight line, to the transition to the end portion 15. An exponentially decreasing from the mounting portion 11 to the end portion 15 taper is also conceivable.

Fig. 6 shows one to Fig. 5 comparable representation, in which now a bearing pin 20 is placed on the lower bearing pin 16b. A cross section of the bearing pin 20 along the line VII is in Fig. 7 shown. The bearing pin 20 has a lower portion with a circular cylindrical outer surface, which is provided for storage in a bearing eye fixed to the door. At the top is on a side of a shell-like portion 19, which serves as a cable channel and as a lining for the end portion of the hinge member 10.

How out Fig. 7 it can be seen, a square cross-section hole 22 is provided in the bearing pin 20, which receives the bearing pin 16b without play. Adjacent to the hole 22 a parallel to the pivot axis extending cable channel 21 is arranged with an oval or any cross-section, which is provided for guiding cables from the body 4 in the door 2. Preferably, the cable channel 21 and the hole 22 are continuous. The bearing pin 20 is made as an injection molded part of a plastic with a low coefficient of friction such as polyoxymethylene (POM).

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view into the receiving space 8 in the upper right corner of the door 2, seen from the body 4 from. The upper portion including the cover strip of the door 2 is cut off for the sake of better visibility. Downwards, the inner wall 6 can be seen, at the outer edges of a magnetic seal 29 is arranged. Above the inner wall 6, the connecting piece 7 connects. Behind the outer wall 5 is arranged, which is bent to the side to an outer wall side portion 25. Together with a side wall portion 51 of the connecting piece 7, the outer wall side portion 25 thus forms the side wall 28 of the receiving space 8 in the door 2.

The receiving space 8 further has a bottom wall 37 and a wall 38 to the visible side of the door, in which a pocket 39 is embedded. In the area of the pocket 39, the wall 39 runs parallel to and very close or adjacent to the outer wall 5.

In the connecting piece 7, the bearing eye 24 is further formed by forming a bearing sleeve 23, in which the bearing pin 20 (in Fig. 8 not shown).

Finally, in Fig. 8 an opening limiting body 30 can be seen, which is formed by a wire element, which has an approximately parallel to the pivot axis extending first portion 32. This first section 32 engages behind the support arm 12 and thereby defines an opening-limited position of the door. At the other end of the opening-limiting body 30, a second portion 34 is curved into an eyelet and received in a trough 35 in the bottom 37 of the connecting piece 7. As a result, it is fixed positively to the door. In the middle of the eyelet, the second portion 34 is additionally fastened by a screw 31. A middle leg 33 of the opening limiting body 30 extends along an inclined surface 3 aligned with respect to the support surface 36, which is also formed in the bottom 37 of the connecting piece 7.

Fig. 9 shows how Fig. 6 a perspective view of the upper right corner of the refrigerator 1, with hinged door. In contrast to Fig. 6 the lower portion of the bearing pin 20 is pivotally received in the bearing sleeve 23 of the bearing eye 24. In this case, the first portion 32 of the opening limiting body 30 engages behind the support arm 12 and is therefore in Fig. 9 covered. At the top, the receiving space 8 is covered by a cover strip 43.

Further shows Fig. 9 a cable bundle 45 which is guided through the cable channel 21 in the bearing pin 20 in the cavity of the door 2.

Fig. 10 also shows a perspective view of the upper right corner of the refrigerator with hinged door, but without cable bundle 45 and with removed cover strip 43. Furthermore, in Fig. 10 the panels of the hinge element shown, which are formed by plastic elements 40, 41 and 42.

In addition, in Fig. 10 to recognize the lower portion of the bearing sleeve 23, which protrudes into the cavity formed between the outer wall 5 and the inner wall 6 and can be guided by the cable into the door 2.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show cross sections perpendicular to the pivot axis through the hinge member 10 with hinged thereto door with the door open ( Fig. 11 ) and closed door ( Fig. 12 ). The pivot axis 3 extends in each case through the axis of the bearing pin 20th

In the sectional views of the upstanding portion 19 of the bearing pin 20, a cut cable bundle 45 and a screw 26 can be seen, with which the mounting portion 11 on the body of a household appliance (not shown) is attached. Any panels of the hinge element are not shown for purposes of clarity. The opening limiting body 30 can be seen from above, as well as the trough 35, in which the second portion 34 is fixed.

How out Fig. 11 it can be seen, engages the first portion 32 of the opening limiting body 30 behind the support arm 12 and there suggests in the opening-limited position of the door in the region between the second portion 14 and the end portion 15. In this widely opened position, the side wall 28 of the receiving space 8 pivots into the recess of the support arm 12 formed by the curvature. The sections 13, 14 and 15 of the support arm 12 are curved such that the side wall 28 does not abut the support arm 12 when opening the door, although it describes along the dotted line P an arc of up to 135 °. In order to allow a particularly large opening angle, the first portion 32 of the opening limiting body 30 is further arranged in a clearing 52 in the side wall 28, so that it engages behind the support arm 12 even with a large opening angle.

At the in Fig. 12 illustrated closed position of the door, the curved portion 14 of the support arm 12 projects into the pocket 39, which is formed in the wall 38 of the connecting piece 7. Through the pocket 39, it is possible to form the first section 13 particularly long and the curvature of the second section 14 particularly strong, which allows a particularly large opening angle of the door.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household appliance

2

door

3

swivel axis

4

Body of household appliance

5

Exterior wall of the door

6

Interior wall of the door

7

joint

8th

Reception room in the connector

9

Upper section of the front frame of the carcass

10

hinge element

11

mounting portion

12

Beam

13

First section of the support arm

14

Second section of the support arm

15

End portion of the support arm

16, 16a, 16b

pivot

17

mounting holes

18

Curvature formed recess in the support arm 12th

19

Upper section of the bearing pin

20

bearing bolt

21

Cabel Canal

22

Hole for journal

23

bearing bush

24

bearing eye

25

Exterior wall-side portion

26

screw

28

Side wall of the receiving space 8

29

magnetic seal

30

Opening restriction body

31

screw

32

First section of the opening limiting body 30

33

Middle leg of the opening limiting body 30

34

Second section of the opening limiting body 30

35

Trough in the connector 7

36

Slanted bearing surface

37

Bottom of the receiving space 8

38

Front wall of the receiving space 8

39

Bag in the back wall 38

40

Cladding of the support arm

41

Covering the bearing bolt

42

Covering the mounting section

43

Upper cover strip of the connector 7

45

cable bundle

51

Sidewall portion of the connector 7

52

Franking in the side wall 28

Claims (20)

1. Household appliance, in particular refrigeration appliance with a housing, having a body (4), a door (2) and at least one hinge, which is disposed on the body and connects the door (2) pivotably to the body (4), the door being fitted on two hinges on the body and at least one of the two hinges comprising a hinge element (10) with

   - a mounting segment (11) fastened to the body (4) of the household appliance,

   - a support arm (12) projecting from the mounting segment and

   - a bearing element disposed on the free end of the support arm (12), and the support arm (12) being less high at its free end (15) than the mounting segment (11) in the direction of the pivot axis (3) and the hinge element (10) being formed from a cut flat material, characterised in that two bearing pins (16a, 16b) projecting in opposite directions are disposed on the free end of the support arm (12), form the bearing element and are aligned along a common pivot axis of the hinge, and a bearing journal (20) is preferably positioned on one of the two bearing pins (16a, 16b), said journal being supported in a bearing lug (24) fixed to the door (2) to fit the door (2) onto the hinge element (10).
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the support arm (12) tapers from the mounting segment to its free end at least on one side in the direction of the pivot axis (3).
3. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the support arm (12) tapers from the mounting segment (11) to its free end on both sides in the direction of the pivot axis (3).
4. Household appliance according to claim 3, characterised in that the support arm (12) tapers with mirror symmetry in relation to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis (3) from the mounting segment (11) to its free end in the direction of the pivot axis (3).
5. Household appliance according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the support arm (12) tapers over a first segment (13), which is adjacent to the mounting segment, and the support arm (12) has a constant height in the direction of the pivot axis (3) at its end segment (15) adjacent to the free end.
6. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the two bearing pins (16a, 16b) have at least essentially the same cross section and are disposed at least essentially with mirror symmetry in relation to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis (3).
7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has at least essential mirror symmetry in relation to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis (3).
8. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support arm (12) has curvature in a section perpendicular to the pivot axis (3).
9. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in a section perpendicular to the pivot axis (3) of the hinge the support arm (12) is angled away from the mounting segment at an obtuse angle (β) and describes an arc (γ) of more than 90°.
10. Household appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the radius of curvature of the support arm (12) varies over its length.
11. Household appliance according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that the support arm features a first segment (13) adjacent to the mounting segment (11) and a second segment (14) adjacent to the first segment (13), the first segment (13) and an end segment (15) adjacent to the second segment (14) forming an acute angle (γ).
12. Household appliance according to claim 11, characterised in that the end segment (15) of the support arm (12) adjacent to the second segment (14) is at an angle (α) of more than 10° to the mounting segment (11) in a section perpendicular to the pivot axis (3).
13. Household appliance according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the first segment (13) and/or the end segment (15) is/are not or slightly curved.
14. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the bearing pins (16a, 16b) feature a cross section that does not have rotational symmetry and is in particular rectangular or square.
15. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that at least one of the two bearing pins (16a, 16b) of the hinge element is held in a rotationally fixed manner in a bearing journal (20), which is supported in a bearing lug (24) fixed to the door.
16. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the bearing journal (20) features a circular cylindrical segment, in which a holder (22) for the bearing pin (16a, 16b) is disposed.
17. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the bearing journal (20) has an end to end cable channel (21) adjacent to the holder (22).
18. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that the bearing journal (20) is injection moulded from plastic.
19. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the support arm (12) engages in a receiving space (8) of the door that is open in the direction of the body.
20. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that the door features a maximum opening angle of more than 130°.

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