EP2464926B1 - Storage compartment for a refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage compartment, in particular a door rack for a refrigerator, in particular for a household refrigerator. On the inside of the door of such a refrigerator usually several door racks are usually mounted to accommodate upright bottles and small-sized refrigerated goods. These door racks have a significant impact on the appearance of the device that a user perceives, not just a built-in device where the internal surfaces of the storage space are the only surfaces of the device the user sees in day-to-day operation, but also at Fixed units with visible external surfaces. Also, an effect on the appearance of the device have in the refrigerator of a household refrigerator, such as a refrigerator or freezer or a fridge-freezer arranged drawer-like storage compartments.

If a manufacturer manufactures different series of refrigerators, it makes economic sense to use as many cross-unit components as possible in order to keep the manufacturing costs low, on the other hand should different series or models but also receive a recognizable for the user's individual character. In order to achieve this goal, it makes sense to manufacture device housings largely uniformly and to vary mounting parts, in particular door racks and drawers, model or series-specific. If e.g. Although the door racks are essentially injection-molded in one piece, there is great creative freedom, but since expensive injection molds are required for each individual model of door racks, this approach is relatively expensive.

In the search for a cheaper solution, a modular approach has already been considered in which components of a door compartment such as bottom plate, front wall and side walls are manufactured separately and then assembled into a door rack. This allows for the production of different sized panels by combining identical side panels with different length panels and walls. In order to give different refrigerator models an individual character, it is possible to device-specific side walls with uniform floor panels and walls combine. It can be even more economical to manufacture the side walls uniformly and to vary the floor panel and the front wall, which can be extruded inexpensively, model-specifically. To vary the appearance of all visible surfaces such as a door compartment, however, both the front wall and the side walls of the door compartment must be made in different variants. In other words, there are no common components that are used across the series, which would be economically viable in large numbers.

Out US 4,867,512 a storage compartment for a refrigeration device is known in which a magnetic strip of U-shaped cross-section is clamped to a projecting from a lower edge of a door rib and cooperates in the closed position of the door with a magnetic strip at the front edge of a bottom plate of the storage compartment.

EP 1 338 219 A1 discloses a male profile element with two groove bounding, interconnected legs of a first material, wherein on the groove facing side surface of one of the legs on a portion of the length of the groove, a first directed into the groove projection of a second material is mounted, the more flexible than the first material.

US 2005/0210655 A1 discloses a storage assembly having a front wall having a channel at its upper end. In the channel, a lower end of a wall section is inserted. On the upper end of the wall section, a cap is attached.

JP H04 57196 U discloses a door rack with a front wall. On the upper end of the front wall, a fastening part of a bottle holder is clamped. The front wall has recesses on its outer side and on its inner side, in which engage corresponding projections of the bottle holder.

US 2006/0082270 A1 discloses a storage container for a refrigeration appliance having a base part with two side walls. A plug-in front panel can be inserted into the base part so as to form a front wall of the base part.

DE 10 2005 022516 A1 discloses a door racks having a bottom, a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the front wall is assembled from an upper extruded profile and a lower extruded profile and a plate enclosed between the extruded profiles.

Object of the present invention is to provide a storage compartment, in particular a door rack for a refrigerator, based on a single platform makes it possible to radically vary the appearance with simple and inexpensive means.

The object is solved by the features of independent claims 1 and 2. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

Basis of the inventive concept is a storage compartment, such. drawer-like container or the like, in particular a door rack for a refrigeration device, with a bottom plate, a front wall and side walls, wherein at least one fixing element for a decorative part on an inner side of the front wall is accessible. The fastener forms a point of attack for anchoring different types of decorative parts, but even, since it is located on the inside of the wall, visually hardly apparent, so that already the door rack without added decorative part is practically applicable and as such in a simply equipped refrigeration device can be installed. The decorative part is positively and / or non-positively attached to the inside of the front wall or the inside of the handle.

To the front wall is also a handle to be expected, which is provided on the front wall, in particular one-piece mitangeformt to this, and which serves to move the drawer-like container from the refrigerator of a refrigerator. In this case, the decorative part is fixed to the inside of the handle.

Preferably, the front wall extends between serving as side walls sidewalls of the storage compartment or door compartment.

For fixing the decorative parts, it is expedient that the fastening element is arranged adjacent to an upper edge of the front wall.
Preferably, the decorative part is formed areally and occupies a partial area or substantially the entire area of the front wall or the handle.

According to a variant, the fastening element is in the form of a horizontal web, on the one hand, because it allows an inexpensive production of the front wall as an extruded profile, on the other hand because the web causes a stiffening of the front wall, which allows a predetermined load capacity with low material usage to reach. The web can be continuous or divided into individual, spaced-apart sections.

Alternatively, the fastening element is also designed as at least one opening or at least one depression of the front wall. From the point of view of inexpensive production, a configuration as a horizontal continuous groove is preferred. Also, individual mutually spaced groove sections are conceivable. If the groove is limited by two webs, a predetermined load capacity with low material usage is also achievable.

A decorative part may already be mounted on the manufacturer side of the front wall, in particular be plug-connected with the fastening element; it is also conceivable to deliver such a decorative part as a separate accessory with the refrigerator and the user to decide whether he wants to mount it or not or even to offer him the choice between several different decorative parts with different visuals.

According to a variant, the front wall is transparent, in particular crystal clear, so that the decorative part can be placed on an inner side of the front wall and is visible through the front wall. Since the decorative part is protected by the wall, the requirements of the durability of its surface are low, and it suffices, for example, a thin superficial metallization on a molded plastic substantially decorative part to give the front wall the appearance of a metal surface. Especially if the front wall itself has a glossy outer surface has the impression of a shiny metal surface, even if the underlying decorative part has a matte surface.

For anchoring to the front wall, such a decorative part according to a variant comprises a plug-in with the fastening element U-profile.

An upper flank of the U-profile is preferably flush with the upper edge of the wall, so that a viewer is not aware that the decorative part is a different component from the front wall.

To reinforce the viewer the impression of a one-piece wall, and also to secure the decorative part on the wall, it is useful if a plate of the decorative part completely fills the back of the wall between the fastener and the bottom plate.

In addition, an undercut on the fastener may be formed to secure the decorative part, in which engages the plate.

By inserting a filler into the transparent, preferably crystal-clear side cheeks of the refrigerated goods carrier, it is also possible to vary their external appearance with little effort. When the fillers are used in conjunction with a decorative part mounted on the front wall, the appearance of the refrigerated goods carrier is modified to virtually all of its visible surface when installed. Since the fillers are protected in the interior of the side cheeks as well as the decorative part of the front wall, no high demands on the durability of the surface must be made even with the former.

Also from a design point of view it may be expedient to use the same surface finish on the decorative part and the random packings.

Preferably, the side cheeks on each of the rear side facing the door, through which the filler body can be inserted and optionally replaced. So here too a user can be given the opportunity between to select and assemble the various fillers offered as accessories that suits them best.

Since the requirements for the transparency and the surface quality of the front wall and the side walls are the same, it may be appropriate to integrally form the side cheeks, front wall and bottom of the refrigerated goods carrier.

The inventive concept supports a further variant in which a decorative part is clamped on the outside of the front wall and covers it partially or completely. If the outside of the wall springs back behind front sides of the side cheeks, the wall thickness of the decorative part can be selected so that an outer surface of the decorative part is flush with the front sides of the side walls.

Although the appearance of the side walls should be modified, it is expedient in this modification, aufzustecken a decorative shell on the side cheeks for this purpose.

In this case, the wall thickness of the decorative part is preferably dimensioned such that an outer surface of the decorative part is flush with a wall of a decorative shell covering the front side of a side wall.

Fig. 1

eine auseinander gezogene perspektivische Ansicht eines Türabstellers gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des fertig zusammengefügten Kühlgutträgers;

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch die vordere Wand und das daran montierte Dekorteil des Kühlgutträgers;

Fig. 4

einen vertikalen Schnitt durch eine Seitenwange des Kühlgutträgers der Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

einen horizontalen Schnitt durch die Seitenwange;

Fig. 6

eine auseinander gezogene Ansicht des Kühlgutträgers mit einem zweiten Typ von Dekorteil;

Fig. 7

den fertig zusammengefügten Kühlgutträger aus Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt durch die vordere Wand und das Dekorteil des Kühlgutträgers aus Fig. 7,

Fig: 9

eine auseinander gezogene Ansicht eines Kühlgutträgers gemäß einer nicht beanspruchten Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 10

den Kühlgutträger der Fig. 9 im fertig zusammengefügten Zustand;

Fig. 11

einen Schnitt durch die vordere Wand und das Dekorteil des Kühlgutträgers aus Fig. 10;

Fig. 12

einen Querschnitt der Seitenwange des Kühlgutträgers aus Fig. 10;

Fig. 13

eine auseinander gezogene Ansicht eines Kühlgutträgers gemäß einer dritten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung;

Fig. 14

einen zu Fig. 8 analogen Schnitt gemäß einer vierten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung; und

Fig. 15

einen zu Fig. 8 analogen Schnitt gemäß einer fünften Ausgestaltung der Erfindung.

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

an exploded perspective view of a door compartment according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the finished assembled refrigerated goods carrier;

Fig. 3

a section through the front wall and mounted thereon decorative part of the refrigerated goods carrier;

Fig. 4

a vertical section through a side cheek of Kühlgutträgers the Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 5

a horizontal section through the side wall;

Fig. 6

an exploded view of the refrigerated goods carrier with a second type of decorative part;

Fig. 7

the finished assembled refrigerated goods from Fig. 6 ;

Fig. 8

a section through the front wall and the decorative part of the refrigerated goods from Fig. 7 .

Fig. 9

an exploded view of a refrigerated goods carrier according to a not claimed embodiment;

Fig. 10

the refrigerated goods of the Fig. 9 in the finished assembled state;

Fig. 11

a section through the front wall and the decorative part of the refrigerated goods from Fig. 10 ;

Fig. 12

a cross section of the side cheek of the refrigerated goods from Fig. 10 ;

Fig. 13

an exploded view of a refrigerated goods carrier according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14

one too Fig. 8 analog section according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 15

one too Fig. 8 analog section according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a door racks according to a first embodiment of the invention in an exploded perspective view. A main body 1 of the door compartment has substantially the shape of an elongated, upwardly open box with a bottom plate 2 and on the longitudinal sides of the bottom plate 2 extending front and rear walls 3 and 4, wherein in the present description "forward" the direction away from a in Fig. 1 not shown refrigerator door to which the door rack is mounted in the familiar familiar manner, and "rear" refers to the direction towards the door. The rear wall 4 is in the assembled state on an inner surface of the refrigerator door or is at most spaced from it by a narrow gap. It therefore serves only to stiffen or stabilize the body 1, but not as the front wall 3 as a railing for securing refrigerated goods placed in the door compartment.

The bottom plate 2 and the walls 3, 4 extend between two side cheeks 5. The side cheeks 5 each comprise a front portion 6 which, as in particular in section Fig. 5 to recognize, substantially the shape of a hollow, to a rear Entformöffnung 7 open toward cuboid or more precisely a prism stump with an inner and an outer wall 8 and 9, the front slightly to each other and by a front flank 10, a upper flank 11 and a lower flank 12 (see Fig. 4 ) are connected. The convergence of the walls 8, 9 facilitates in the one-piece production of the base body 1 by plastic injection molding removal via the opening. 7

A rear portion 13 is formed solely by an extension of the inner wall 8 and engages in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art between two vertical spars, which extend on the inside of the door, not shown, on both sides of the above-mentioned inner surface. The rear section is stiffened by protruding ribs. Limited by the ribs downwardly open recesses 14 of the rear portion 13 of the two side cheeks 5 are provided to be plugged onto support projections on mutually facing flanks of the vertical uprights and so support the door racks on the spars.

As in particular in the section of the Fig. 3 can be seen, a web 15 is formed on an inner side of the front wall 3, which extends parallel to an upper edge of the wall 3 horizontally between the side walls 5. The web 15 serves on the one hand, the stiffening of the front wall 3, on the other hand, it allows the anchoring of a Decorative part 16, which is designed as extruded profile of metal or plastic. The decorative part 16 essentially comprises a flat plate 17, which fills the inside of the wall 3 of the bottom plate 2 to the bottom of the web 15, and a molded on the upper edge of the plate 17 U-profile 18 which engages around the web 11 by clamping. The outside of an upper leg 19 of the U-profile 16 is flush with the upper edge 11 of the adjacent side cheeks 5. The upper edge of the front wall 3 does not reach up to the level of the upper edge 11, a measure that is particularly useful if the base body 1 should not only be combined with the decorative part 16, but also with other types of decorative parts, with reference to Fig. 6 ff. will be described later. In order nevertheless to produce a height-flush transition to the side walls 5, the upper leg 19 of the U-profile 18 extends beyond the upper edge of the wall 3.

A lower leg of the U-profile 18 connected to the plate 17 engages in a downwardly open undercut 20 on the underside of the web 15, whereby a positive locking of the decorative part 16 is achieved on the wall 3.

The main body 1 is made of a crystal-clear plastic material such as a polystyrene or polymethyl methacrylate, so that in in Fig. 2 shown assembled state, the decorative part 16 is visible through the wall 3 therethrough.

The decorative part 16 may be a simple, inexpensive extruded profile of colored plastic; when the outsides of the base body 1 are glossy, the impression of a colored, glossy surface can be obtained even with a matt surface of the decorative part 16 directly obtained by the extrusion, without post-processing of this surface. The wall 3 can also be given the appearance of a shiny metal surface if the decorative part 16 is made of metal, in particular aluminum, or if the decorative part 16 is metallized only superficially. Since the surface of the decorative part 16 is protected by the wall 3, there is no danger that the metallization is removed during the use of the door compartment.

Also, the front flank 10 of the side cheeks 5 slightly protrudes over the outer surface of the front wall 3, as in Fig. 3 to recognize. This measure is also first Line useful because of the ability to combine the body 1 with the later described alternative decorative parts.

Fillers 21 are provided to be inserted via the Entformöffnungen 7 from behind into the hollow side walls 5. When the door rack is mounted in a refrigerator door, the fillers 21 are secured in the side walls 5 by the vertical bars of the refrigerator door, which close the Entformöffnungen 7. The filler 21 are visible as the decorative part 16 through the crystal clear material of the body 1 through and therefore determine in a similar manner as the decorative part 16, the appearance of the refrigerated goods. Preferably, the filler 21 are realized as a hollow plastic body, which consist of the same material as the decorative part 16 or are provided with the same type of surface coating as the decorative part 16. Thus, by adding the decorative part 16 and the filling body 21, the glass clear door racks formed solely by the base body 1 can be converted into, for example, a wholly white or all-over glossy refrigerated goods carrier.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the refrigerated goods carrier. The main body 1 and the packing 21 are the same as those with respect to FIG FIGS. 1 to 5 and will not be explained again. A decorative part 22 is realized as an extruded aluminum profile with a cross-section similar to an inverted letter L or J. A plate 23 of the decorative part 22 is provided to be as in Fig. 7 shown outside the front wall 3 abut and to cover the upper area. An integrally formed on the plate 23, angled at its free edge web 24 extends beyond the upper edge of the wall 3 and the inner edge of the web 15, wherein a shallow groove 25 of the web 24, the tip of the web 15 engages around, as in Fig. 8 shown. To mount the decorative part 22, it is first with the in Fig. 8 shown as a dashed outline orientation at the top of the web 15 is brought into engagement and then pivoted under reversible elastic deformation in the position shown as a hatched contour, in which it is then held positively.

The wall thicknesses of the decorative part 22 are adjusted to the dimensions of the base body 1 so that the latched position of the Fig. 7 the outer surfaces of the decorative part 22 flush with the upper edge 11 and the front edge 10 of the side walls 5 connect.

The packing 21 may also be omitted in this embodiment. If they are present, the appearance of their surface is preferably significantly different from that of the decorative part 22, since the shiny surfaces of the side cheeks 5 do not allow an appearance identical to the decorative part 22 anyway. That is, for example, if the decorative part 22 is an extruded metal profile, the filler 21 may consist in particular of white plastic.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 show in exploded view of a door racks according to an unclaimed embodiment, which is different from that of FIGS. 6 to 8 in two independently realizable aspects.

The first aspect is the shape of the vorgeblendeten decorative part 22, the plate 23 here completely covers the front wall 3 of the body 1. The web 15 surrounding the web 15 of the front wall 3 is omitted here, and their function to provide a positive fit of the decorative part 22 is taken over by a narrow web 26, starting from the lower edge of the plate 23 under the bottom plate 2 of the Basic body attacks. Also, this cross-sectional shape allows a positive locking of the decorative part 22 on the base body. 1

The second different aspect, which also readily with the in Fig. 6 to 8 shown decorative part 22 can be combined, the replacement of the filling body 21 is by upturned over the side walls 5 shells 27. As in particular in the section of Fig. 12 To recognize each shell 27 has an outer wall 28 which is bent slightly inwardly at its lower edge to lock the shell 27 on the side cheek 5. An inner wall 29 of the shell 27 covers the inner wall 8 of the side wall down to the bottom plate 2. The front wall 3 of the base body 1 extends through a slot 30 between the inner wall 29 and a front wall 31 of the shell 27. Since the front wall Plays 31 on the leading edge 10 of the side wall 5, the wall thickness of the plate 23 in comparison to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7 enlarged, as indicated by the in Fig. 10 Dashed lines course of the outer edge 10 illustrates to make a flush transition between the outer surfaces of the decorative part 22 and the front wall 31.

By the decorative part 22 and the shells 27 are made of the same metal, the user gets the impression of a possibly to the bottom plate 2 and the rear wall 4 completely metallic door compartment.

Fig. 13 shows in one too Fig. 9 analog view, a third embodiment of the door assembly, wherein the base body 1 is again the same as in the previously considered embodiments. The decorative part 22, which extends along the front wall 3 of the base body 1, is in the Fig. 13 omitted, as it is with the one of Fig. 6 or the Fig. 9 can be identical. Shells 32 are provided to be pushed in the depth direction on the side cheeks 5; For this purpose they have an outer wall 28, a front wall 31, with the walls 28, 31 integrally connected upper and lower walls 33, 34 and of the walls 31, 33, 34 angled narrow webs 35, which in the attached state at the Inner wall 8 of the side walls 5 attack.

Fig. 14 shows you one Fig. 8 analog section through the front wall 3 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The decorative part 16 here has the form of an elastically flexible plate, at the upper edge of a rib 36 projects obliquely upwards. The rib 36 is received in a groove 37 at the upper edge of the wall 3. At the same time, there is a sharp lower edge of the decorative part 16 in a groove 38 at the foot of the front wall 3. By means of this double engagement, the decorative part 16 is anchored in a form-fitting manner to the base body 1.

In the embodiment of Fig. 15 At the top of the wall 3, two webs 15, 38 are formed, between which a rib 36 of the decorative part 16 is clamped. The rib 36 is also part of a U-profile 18, as in the embodiment of Fig. 3 surrounds the bridge 15.

Claims (13)

1. Storage compartment, in particular door shelf for a refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigerator, having a base plate (2), a front wall (3) and side panels (5), characterised in that at least one fastening element (15) for a decorative part (16, 22) adjacent to an upper edge of the front wall (3) is arranged on an inner side of the front wall (3), wherein the fastening element (15) has the shape of a horizontal web (15) which extends parallel to an upper edge of the front wall (3) horizontally between the side panels (5), and the decorative part (16, 22) has a substantially flat plate (17, 23) and a U-profile (18, 25) moulded to the upper edge of the plate (17, 23) and that the decorative part (16, 22) is fastened in a form- and/or force-fit manner to the horizontal web (15) on the inner side of the front wall (3), so that either the front wall (3) is transparent and the substantially flat plate (17) is visible through the front wall (3) or the substantially flat plate (23) rests externally on the front wall (3), wherein for assembly of the decorative part (22), the U-profile (25) in the form of a flat groove (25) engages with the tip of the web (15) and is then pivoted by reversible elastic deformation.
2. Storage compartment, in particular door shelf for a refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigerator, having a base plate (2), a front wall (3) and side panels (5), characterised in that at least one fastening element (37, 15, 38) for a decorative part (16) adjacent to an upper edge of the front wall (3) is arranged on an inner side of the front wall (3) and that the decorative part (16) is fastened in a form- and/or force-fit manner to the inner side of the front wall (3), that the front wall (3) is transparent and that the decorative part (16) is visible through the front wall (3), wherein either the fastening element (37) has a groove (37) and the decorative part (16) has the shape of an elastically flexible plate, on the upper edge of which a rib (36) projects obliquely forward, and the rib (36) is received in the groove (37), and wherein a sharp lower edge of the decorative part (16) is inserted into a channel (38) at the foot of the front wall (3), or the fastening element has two webs (15, 38), between which a rib (36) of the decorative part (16) is clamped.
3. Storage compartment according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the front wall (3) is crystal-clear.
4. Storage compartment according to claim 1, characterised in that an upper limb (19) of the U-profile (18) is flush with the upper edge of the front wall (3).
5. Storage compartment according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a plate (17) of the decorative part (16) at least substantially completely fills the rear side of the wall (3) between the fastening element (15) and the base plate (2).
6. Storage compartment according to claim 5, characterised in that the decorative part (16) engages in an undercut (20) of the fastening element (15).
7. Storage compartment according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said compartment is configured as a door shelf with transparent, particularly crystal-clear, hollow bodies configured as side panels (5) in each of which a packing piece (21) is accommodated.
8. Storage compartment according to claim 7, characterised in that the side panels (5) have, at a rear side facing toward the door, an opening (7) through which the packing pieces (21) can be introduced.
9. Storage compartment according to claim 1, 7 or 8, characterised in that a decorative part (22) is clamped onto the external side of the front wall (3).
10. Storage compartment according to claim 9, characterised in that the external side of the front wall (3) extends rearwardly behind the front flanks (10) of the side panels (5).
11. Storage compartment according to claim 10, characterised in that an external surface of the decorative, part (16) is flush with the front flanks (10).
12. Storage compartment according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that a decorative shell (27; 32) is placed on the side panels (5).
13. Storage compartment according to claim 12, characterised in that an external surface of the decorative part (22) is flush with a wall (31) of a decorative shell (27; 32) covering the front flank (10) of a side panel (5).

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