EP2420780B1 - Storage unit for cooled goods with a cooled goods holder - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage unit for the refrigerated storage of refrigerated goods, in particular food in the household, with a storage chamber and at least one fixable in a support frame, a base plate having refrigerated goods.

Such storage units are well known. For example, the support frame may be formed by an inner container of the housing of such a storage unit, and as Kühlgutträger act in horizontal grooves of the inner container retractable plates. Although these plates are usually removable from the storage unit to adapt their position therein to the particular needs of a user, but their handling is cumbersome, especially if they are loaded with refrigerated goods.

Out DE 25 45 667 A1 is a storage unit for refrigerated goods is known in which the walls of a storage chamber form a support frame for a refrigerated goods. The refrigerated goods carrier is designed as a wire basket with adjustable handles, wherein in an inserted position of the handles of refrigerated goods from above into the refrigerated goods chamber can be inserted and in an extended position of the handles these support the refrigerated goods at an upper edge of the support frame. Such a storage unit is cumbersome to use, since to access one of the lower refrigerated goods all overhead must be removed. The document EP1706688 is considered to be the closest prior art and discloses a refrigerator having a drawer received in an evacuable box, wherein two hinge pins on opposite sides of an end wall of the drawer define an axis about which a handle member is pivotable. The handle member includes a handle that extends bow-like from the front wall from one hinge pin to the other, and two hooks that extend beyond the hinge pins on both sides of the drawer rearwardly and engaged by pivoting the handle behind projections on side walls of the box can be used to hold the end wall pressed against leading edges of the side walls.

The object of the present invention is to provide a storage unit in which refrigerated goods carriers are both conveniently selectively removable and safe to handle.

The object is achieved in which in a storage unit for the refrigerated storage of refrigerated goods with a storage chamber and at least one fixable in a support refrigerated goods, which has at least one adjustable handle element, wherein in a first position of the handle member of this as a handle for handling the refrigerated goods used is and the refrigerated goods from the support frame can be removed, the direction of removal of the refrigerated goods carrier is horizontal and the handle member is movable to a second position in which it positively fixes the refrigerated goods in the support frame by two pairs of transverse to the direction of movement of the refrigerated goods carrier stop surfaces the handle element and the support frame cooperate to fix the refrigerated goods. The horizontal removal allows a comfortable handling of each refrigerated goods carrier, even if several of these are mounted one above the other in the storage unit or mountable. The handle member allows in the first position, a secure handling of the refrigerated goods in the removed state and ensures in the second position for a secure anchoring in the support frame.

In particular, a refrigerator according to the invention has one or more such storage units. A refrigeration appliance is understood in particular to be a household refrigeration appliance, that is to say a refrigeration appliance which is used for household purposes or possibly also in the gastronomy sector, and in particular for storing food and / or drinks in household quantities at specific temperatures, such as, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer , a fridge freezer or a wine storage cabinet.

On the support frame, a horizontal support contour supporting the refrigerated goods carrier is preferably formed, on which the refrigerated goods carrier is displaceable for removal when the gripping element is in the first position.

The support frame can also be identical to an inner container of the storage unit here. An identical not with the inner container support frame is easily and stably realized by means of two connected by the support contour columns.

In order to facilitate the fixation of the refrigerated goods in the support frame, this may have a stop for the refrigerated goods, which is arranged so that the handle member is movable from the first to the second position when the refrigerated goods is located at the stop.

The support surfaces belonging to the stop surfaces are preferably provided on mutually facing edges of the two columns. This facilitates the one-piece production of the columns and stop surfaces, for example by bending of sheets.

The storage unit can be erected in two different orientations, a first orientation in which the support contour is horizontal as mentioned above to support the refrigerated goods carrier, and a second orientation in which the stop surfaces are able to support the refrigerated goods.

Preferably, the handle member is pivotable about a horizontal axis between the first and second positions, and a first-level downwardly facing surface of the handle member which provides good grip to a user's fingers faces the support frame in the second position. Thus, a user who wants to remove the refrigerated goods, purely intuitively pivot the handle element so that the downwardly facing surface provides good support, and in this way release the lock of the refrigerated goods carrier on the support frame.

According to an expedient development, the gripping element has a base plate and two legs bent away from the base plate, which form the stop surfaces of the gripping element, and the stop surfaces of the carrier frame define an opening of the carrier frame lying opposite the base plate. A user who wants to pivot the handle element in the first position to be gripped securely can intervene in the opening of the support frame, so that it gets to grasp the support frame facing surface of the handle member comfortably.

The refrigerated goods can be formed box-shaped with the base plate surrounding walls; In this case, the grip element is expediently arranged on an opening of one of the walls, which engages in the second position in order to lock the refrigerated goods carrier on the carrier frame.

The base plate of the handle element is preferably offset in the second position with respect to the wall inside the Kühlgutträgers into, so that the base plate and the wall form a downwardly open, easily accessible to the fingers of the user gap.

Alternatively, the refrigerated goods can also be formed plate-shaped; In this case, the grip element is expediently arranged on an underside of the plate.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the support frame can be pulled out of the storage chamber. When the support frame is pulled out, its lateral flanks are exposed. For the handling of the refrigerated goods carrier, it is therefore most convenient if it can be removed from the extracted support frame transversely to its direction of movement.

The support frame may be attached to a door of the storage unit or the refrigeration device, so that it can be pulled together with the door or pushed back into the storage chamber.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines modularen Kältegeräts, das mehrere Lagereinheiten umfasst;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines zweiten modularen Kältegeräts;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Kühlgutträgers gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung;

Fig. 4

einen Detailschnitt durch eine Seitenwand und das daran angelenkte Griffelement des Kühlgutträgers aus Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

einen zu Fig. 4 analogen Schnitt gemäß einer weiterentwickelten Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines plattenförmigen Kühlgutträgers gemäß der Erfindung;

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt durch den Kühlgutträger der Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

eine Teilansicht eines Traggestells mit einem darin montierten Kühlgutträger;

Fig.9

einen horizontalen Teilschnitt durch das Traggestell und den darin fixierten Kühlgutträger; und

Fig. 10

einen vertikalen Teilschnitt durch ein Traggestell und darin angebrachte Kühlgutträger in einer liegenden Anordnung der Lagerungseinheit.

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 modular refrigeration device comprising a plurality of storage units;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a second modular refrigerator;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a Kühlgutträgers according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4

a detail section through a side wall and the hinged handle element of the refrigerated goods from Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

one too Fig. 4 analogous section according to a further developed embodiment;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a plate-shaped refrigerated goods according to the invention;

Fig. 7

a section through the refrigerated goods of the Fig. 6 ;

Fig. 8

a partial view of a support frame with a refrigerated goods carrier mounted therein;

Figure 9

a horizontal partial section through the support frame and the refrigerated goods carrier fixed therein; and

Fig. 10

a vertical partial section through a support frame and therein refrigerated goods carriers in a horizontal arrangement of the storage unit.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a modular household refrigerator with a refrigerator unit 1 and two storage units 2, 3. The number of connectable to the refrigerator unit 1 and supplied by this with refrigerant storage units is variable, so that a user adjust the number of storage units set up his needs can. The dimensions of chillers and storage units are identical. In the case of the two units 1, 2 shown in an upright position, the height is twice the width in each case. A horizontal storage unit could therefore be stacked on the units 1, 2 so that the three units form a cuboid. The units 1, 2, 3 are interconnected only by flexible refrigerant lines and electrical lines for control signals. Therefore, there is a great freedom in the arrangement of the individual units, and also irregularly shaped groups, as in Fig. 1 shown to be created.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of modules or units that resembles in their cuboid outer shape of a conventional combination refrigerator. The refrigerator unit 1 is here designed for horizontal arrangement, and the ratio of its edge lengths H, B, T is ax2x1, where a is an arbitrary value <1, which is essentially only due to the space requirements of the components in the refrigeration unit, such as a compressor, a condenser, a fan for cooling the compressor and condenser and solenoid valves for distributing the refrigerant to the connected storage units 2, 3, is dictated.

The structure of the upright and the lying storage units 2, 3 is substantially the same. As based on the storage unit 2 of Fig. 1 to recognize, the storage units 2, 3 each comprise a body 6 with an open front, a door 4 which covers the open front of the body 6 in the closed position and limits together with this a storage chamber, and a support frame 5, the door 4 attached and pulled out by advancing the door 4 from the storage chamber. The support frame 5 comprises a ceiling plate 11, a bottom plate 12, a rear plate 13 connecting the rear edges of the top and bottom plates 11, 12, and a front edge connecting the top and bottom plates 11, 12 Fig. 1 from the door 4 concealed and fixed to the door 4 front panel. The lateral flanks of the support frame 5 are open to a comfortable access to held in the support frame 5, in pulled-out position Fig. 1 not shown refrigerated goods and to allow their contents.
In a lying arranged storage unit such as 3, all four of the support frame 5 forming plates are oriented vertically. By placing a horizontal bottom plate between the plates of the support frame 5, a drawer-like box is obtained, which allows easy access from above to refrigerated goods stored therein.

In the following, various embodiments of refrigerated goods carriers are explained, which are used in the storage units 2, 3. It is understood that such refrigerated goods are also in other types of storage unit, in particular those in which the body also contains the chiller, are used.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a refrigerated goods carrier 14 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The refrigerated goods carrier 14 has essentially the shape of a cuboid, open-topped box. Side walls 15, 16 of the box are stiffened at their upper and lower edges by outwardly angled, forming a continuous frame webs 17, 18. The narrower side walls 15 are adjacent to the upper web 17, each with a handle opening 19 is provided. Handle members 20 are pivotally mounted on the handle opening 19 about an adjacent to the upper edge of the handle opening 19 extending horizontal axis. The grip elements 20 are pivotable about 90 degrees between two stop positions. In a first stop position, shown on the side facing away from the viewer side wall 15, a base plate 21 of the handle member 20 is oriented substantially horizontally and forms together with the Bottom of the adjacent web 17 has a wide, downwardly facing surface on which a user can engage to lift the box 14.

The base plate 21 is flanked on two sides by rectangular angled legs 22. In the second position of the handle member 20, shown on the side wall 15 facing the viewer Fig. 3 , these legs 22 protrude through the handle opening 19 and project beyond the web 17 outwards.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section through the upper region of one of the side walls 15 and the handle opening 19 with the handle element 20 hinged thereto. A pivot axis of the grip element 20 that is perpendicular to the sectional plane is denoted by 23. The second position of the grip element 20 is shown by solid lines, the first dashed lines. The base plate 21 of the handle member 20 extends in the second position substantially parallel to the side wall 15, but is offset against this by a few millimeters into the interior of the box 14, so that the side wall 15 and the handle member 20 form a downwardly open gap 24, in a user can insert his fingers from the bottom to grasp the handle member 20 and pivot to the first position.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the handle member 20 in one Fig. 4 analogue cut. The legs 22 are here each provided with an integrally formed hook 25 which protrudes with respect to the direction of the pivot axis 23 beyond the edges of the handle opening 19, so that its tip comes to lie in the first position shown in dashed lines on an outer side of the side wall 15. The hook 25 improves the torque load capacity of the grip element 20, so that the refrigerated goods carrier 14 can be safely lifted even when heavily laden.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a refrigerated goods carrier, denoted by 26, in a perspective view. The refrigerated goods carrier 26 is formed as a plate or grate, with a circumferential square frame 27 and inserted into the frame 27 strips 28. As in Fig. 7 can be seen, the strips 28 in longitudinal section are substantially trapezoidal, wherein at opposite ends of the trapezoid each have a groove 29 is formed, in which a profile of the frame 27 engages. On the frame 27 handle members 20 are articulated, which, as with reference to Fig. 3 to 5 described, one each Base plate 21 and from this projecting leg 22 have. Of the two handle elements 20 is in 6 and 7 respectively the left in the first position and the right shown in the second position. A central part of the base plate 21 is in the first position, as in Fig. 6 shown between two middle strips 28 free, while the ends of the base plate 21 and the legs 22 each, as in Fig. 7 to see in downwardly open recesses 30 engage the ends of the strips 28 and are supported on the underside of these recesses 30. Thus, a high load capacity of the handle member 20 is ensured without risk of overuse of the handle member 20 with the frame 27 connecting hinge 31 when lifting the refrigerated goods carrier 26.

Fig. 8 shows the refrigerated goods 14 Fig. 3 In order to better show the principles of fixing the refrigerated goods container 14 in the support frame 5, of the support frame 5 only the bottom plate 12 and a piece of the back plate 13 and fixed to the door 4 front panel, here with 32nd designated, shown. Back plate 13 and front panel 32 are mirror images of each other. A plurality of stacked rectangular or square cutouts 33 divide the plates 13, 31 respectively into right and left pillars 34, which are integrally connected by C-shaped cross sections 35 extending horizontally between the cutouts 33. Each section 33 is bordered by a frame consisting of an upper and a lower leg 36, 37 different profiles 35 and the legs 36, 37 interconnecting vertical legs 38 exists.

The height of the C-profiles 35 is sufficient to receive in each case a lower web 18 of the box-shaped refrigerated goods carrier 14 or the frame 27 of the plate-shaped refrigerated goods carrier 26. The height of the box-shaped refrigerated goods carrier 14 is adapted to the shape of the plates 13, 32 so that the upper web 17 of a refrigerated goods carrier 14 mounted in the support frame 5 runs just below a lower horizontal leg 37. The height of the refrigerated goods carrier 14, as shown here, approximately equal to twice the length of the legs 38 or the simple length of the legs 38 correspond.

The plates 13, 32 each have an in Fig. 8 From the viewer facing away from the vertical vertical edge an angled stop leg 39, which defines the depth to which the refrigerated goods 14 can be inserted into the support frame 5 of the observer facing the open side. Fig. 9 shows a horizontal section through one of the side walls 15 of the fixed in the set by the stop leg 39 stop position in the support frame 5 Kühlgutträgers 14. The protruding through the handle opening 19 from the Kühlgutträger 14 legs 22 of the handle member 20 are each at a small distance vertical legs 38 a Section 33 of the back plate 13 opposite. By this engagement, the refrigerated goods 14 is locked to the support frame 5. Instead of embracing the vertical legs 38 as shown in the figure outside, the legs 22 could also engage in each case with a small distance from the vertical legs 38 in the cutout 33 to achieve an equivalent locking.

So is a refrigerated goods carrier, not as in Fig. 8 shown rests on the bottom plate 12, but only on a portion of its width by horizontal legs 37 of the plates 13, 32 is supported, securely anchored in the support frame 5.

If it should be possible to load the support frame 5 from two sides, the stop legs 39 on the back plate 13 and the front plate 32 must be omitted. A stop position in which by pivoting the handle members 20 in the second position, a positive fixation as in Fig. 9 can be realized, however, may be predetermined, for example, by a flat downwardly open recess is formed in each case on a lower side of the lower web 18 below the handle opening 19, in each of which a leg 37 can engage.

As already mentioned, the storage units are in an upright orientation, as in the description of FIGS. 8 and 9 assumed, and a horizontal orientation can be used, in which all the plates 11, 12, 13, 32 of the support frame 5 are vertically oriented. Fig. 10 shows a partial section through the support frame 5 and two refrigerated goods mounted therein in a horizontal orientation of the support frame 5. Here each stop the legs 39 of the plates 13, 32 a support surface on which the lower of the two refrigerated goods 14 rests. The legs 22 of the handle member 20th each encompass the outer sides of the upright horizontal legs 36, 37, while one of the upright vertical leg 38 now supports the upper refrigerated goods 14. A latching of the upper refrigerated goods carrier 14 by pivoting its handle elements 20 is not possible here, but also not required, since the successive each with short interruptions legs 38 of the different cutouts 33 form a nearly continuous support surface from which the upper refrigerated goods 14 can not fall ,

Claims (15)

1. Storage unit (2, 3) for the cooled storage of refrigerated goods, in particular of food, with a storage chamber and at least one refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) which can be fixed in a bearing frame (5), which carrier (14, 26) has at least one adjustable handle element (20), wherein in a first position of the handle element (20) said element (20) can be used as a handle for manually operating the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) and the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) can be removed from the bearing frame (5), the direction of removal of the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) is horizontal and the handle element (20) can be moved into a second position, in which it fixes the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) in the bearing frame (5) in a form-fitting manner, characterised in that the handle element (20) and the bearing frame (5) have two pairs of stopping faces (22; 38) oriented at right angles to the movement direction of the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26), which stopping faces (22; 38) work together in the second position of the handle element (20) to fix the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26).
2. Storage unit according to claim 1, characterised in that a horizontal support contour (35) supporting the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) is formed on the bearing frame (5), on which the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) can be displaced for removal when the handle element (20) is in the first position.
3. Storage unit according to claim 2, characterised in that the bearing frame (5) comprises two columns (34) connected by the support contour (35).
4. Storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bearing frame (5) has a stop (39) for the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) and the handle element (20) can be moved between the first and second position when the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) is located at the stop (39).
5. Storage unit according to claim 3, characterised in that the stopping faces (38) of the bearing frame (5) are arranged on edges of the two columns (34) which face each other.
6. Storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it can be set in a first orientation, in which the support contour (35) supports the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26), and a second orientation, in which the stopping faces (38) of the bearing frame (5) support the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26).
7. Storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle element (20) can be pivoted between the first and the second position about a horizontal axis (23) and a surface of the handle element (20) which faces downwards in the first position faces towards the bearing frame (5) in the second position.
8. Storage unit according to claim 7, characterised in that the handle element (20) has a base plate (21) and two limbs (22) angled away from the base plate (21), forming the stopping faces (22) of the handle element (20), and the stopping faces (38) of the bearing frame (5) delimit an opening (33) of the bearing frame (5) opposite the base plate (21).
9. Storage unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the refrigerated goods carrier (14) is embodied in the manner of a box with walls (15, 16) surrounding a base plate and the handle element (20) reaches through an opening (19) in one of the walls (15) in the second position.
10. Storage unit according to claim 9, characterised in that, in the second position, the one wall (15) and a base plate (20) of the handle element (20) shifted into the interior of the refrigerated goods carrier (14) with respect to the wall (15) form a gap (24) open at the bottom.
11. Storage unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the refrigerated goods carrier (26) is embodied in the manner of a plate and the handle element (26) is arranged on an underside of the refrigerated goods carrier (26).
12. Storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bearing frame (5) can be pulled out from the storage chamber.
13. Storage unit according to claim 12, characterised in that the refrigerated goods carrier (14; 26) can be moved at right angles to its movement direction to remove it from the bearing frame (5).
14. Storage unit according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the bearing frame (5) is fastened to a door (4) of the storage unit.
15. Refrigeration appliance with at least one storage unit according to one of the preceding claims.

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