EP2531791B1 - Separating element for a household refrigeration device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a separating element for partitioning a region of an interior of a household refrigerating appliance, wherein the separating element subdivides the depositing areas of refrigerated goods containers and / or depositing plates into a plurality of regions.

Domestic refrigerators, especially refrigerators, have a closable with a door interior. The interior is used to hold refrigerated goods, which is usually arranged on storage trays or refrigerated goods, for example, so-called "vegetable trays". The storage plates or refrigerated goods in the interior of the household refrigerator and on the inside of the door of the household refrigeration appliance aim at a space-saving and clear arrangement of refrigerated goods. However, the space available in the household refrigerator are predetermined by the shelves or refrigerated goods. This means that a storage plate or a refrigerated goods container for several different refrigerated goods must be available and thus the overview, and the easy access to a corresponding refrigerated goods are difficult. At the same time, however, the largest possible storage surfaces or refrigerated goods are needed to accommodate larger refrigerated goods.

DE 20 2007 013033 U1 describes a saucer for a basket for storage of refrigerated goods in a refrigerator. Thus, this document discloses a separating element according to the preamble of claim 1.

DE 87 00 826 U1 discloses a bracket for insertion into baskets or baskets of metal wire.

In EP 1 790 250 A2 is a refrigeration device disclosed, the storage surfaces are flexibly fastened to smooth walls by being pressed non-positively to the smooth walls.

In DE 10 2004 042567 A1 a storage device for refrigerated goods is described, can be stored in the refrigerated goods in a very specific order and removed.

US Pat. No. 4,023,682 A discloses a holding device for holding refrigerated goods stored on grilles in a refrigeration appliance, which is clipped to the grid.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide storage plates and refrigerated goods for a meaningful space utilization and easy access to various refrigerated goods - and thus a classification system with a certain flexibility - but without limiting the space for large refrigerated goods.

The object is achieved by a separating element according to claim 1, a refrigerated goods container according to claim 8 and a household refrigerating appliance according to claim 9.

The partition member is used for the space distribution of a portion of an interior of a household refrigerator, in particular a refrigerator. The separating element divides the storage areas of refrigerated goods containers and / or storage plates in several areas. It has at least one wall element and at least one fastening element, wherein the fastening element or the separating element can be flexibly arranged on any surfaces and removed again.

The separating element can also be used in other drawer or compartment systems, such as in a freezer or in a freezer, for room layout. The separating element can be flexibly arranged and removed again. Thus, storage areas can be divided into refrigerated goods or shelves in several sub-areas. This has the effect of creating areas in the refrigerator that meet the space requirements of the refrigerated goods contained therein. Due to the arbitrary, flexible applicability of the separating elements, these areas can be adapted exactly to the amount and size of the goods to be cooled. By subdivision by the separator a clarity in the refrigerator is possible. The separator can be moved or removed at any time.

The separating element can have different basic shapes. For example, it can be plate-shaped and z. B. be provided with a rectangular wall element. But the separator may also have, for example, L-shaped, S-shaped, rectangular or round basic shapes. In addition, it is conceivable that a separating element several wall elements which are connected to each other or can be connected to each other, wherein they are in particular pivotable about a vertical axis to each other. These wall elements may also have different basic shapes.

According to a preferred embodiment, the separating element is at least partially bendable. By a bendable design, the partition is optimally adapted to the space requirements on the refrigerator. This can be implemented above all by flexible material or several wall elements in the separating element. According to the invention, the separating element is foldable, so this can be arranged at any angle or in any configuration such as a Z-configuration or a rectangular multi-part configuration on a storage plate or a cooling container, which allows a very flexible floor plan.

At least one wall element has at least one film hinge. A film hinge is converted by a smaller wall thickness and thus a smaller amount of material in a certain area of an injection molded part. Thus, a wall element can be made in one piece and have centrally or at the desired locations a film hinge. This is particularly cost effective and enables the foldability of the divider, in particular at any angle (e.g., not only 90 °, but also 45 ° or 135 ° and all angles therebetween), the film hinge preferably being oriented substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface or shelf.

At least one fastening element of the separating element is designed as a suction or clamping element. The fastening elements, in particular suction cups, can be arranged on an underside of the separating element so as to be able to be connected to the depositing plate or to the bottom surface of the refrigerated goods container. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for a separating element to have one or more fastening elements on a side region of the separating element, which in turn enables the attachment to the side walls of a refrigerated goods container or to the side walls of the refrigerator interior. Since the surfaces in the interior of a household refrigerating appliance are usually flat, it makes sense to design the fastening element as a suction element. However, it may be appropriate, the fastener as a clamping element alternatively or in addition to form, for example, to arrange this on grid-shaped storage plates or to clamp between side walls of a refrigerated goods container or between two stacked storage plates.

Preferably, at least one fastening element is arranged at any point of the bottom surface and / or a side wall of the refrigerated goods container. Thus, there are various ways to arrange the separator. On the one hand, the separating element may be in contact with the side wall, which may be advantageous in particular for smaller objects, so that they remain in their area, on the other hand, it is possible that the separating element allows only a rough separation of the areas in the cooling container, i. this is centered - without contact with the side walls - arranged so that an unnecessary restriction of space requirements is prevented.

For example, at least one fastening element of the separating element can be arranged on at least one deposition surface, on at least one deposition plate, and / or on a side inner wall of the cooling device. This allows optimum space utilization in the area of the storage plates, since here also the side inner wall can serve as a boundary for the separating element. The separating element is designed such that it can be used both for the refrigerated goods container and for a storage area. The separating element can also be arranged between two stacking plates arranged one above the other. Furthermore, at least one wall element of the separating element can be formed at least partially from glass and / or plastic or metal. These materials are particularly stable and at the same time hygienic and can thus be adapted to the optical conditions in the interior of the refrigerator. It is particularly desirable to form a separating element which is translucent in large parts and thus does not obscure the interior of the refrigerator. In particular, for the formation of a film hinge in the buckling area plastic is preferred.

Furthermore, at least one wall element can be at least partially grid-shaped. This is a particularly simple construction of a wall element, which ensures the light transmission. A grid that is bendable can allow the flexibility of the shape of the separator and also be flexible for space utilization.

In addition, the invention also extends to a refrigerated goods container for receiving refrigerated goods in the interior of a household refrigerating appliance, comprising a bottom surface and a side wall at least partially surrounding this, wherein at least one inventive separating element divides the interior of the cooling container. Furthermore, the invention also extends to a household refrigerator for receiving refrigerated goods, having a closable by a door interior with one or more Kühlgutbehältern and / or storage surfaces that form storage areas of the interior of the domestic refrigerator, which can be divided by at least one inventive separator.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Kühlgutbehälters mit einem Trennelement,

Fig. 2

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Kühlgutbehälters mit einem Trennelement gemäß einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführung,

Fig. 3

zeigt ein Trennelement gemäß einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Ausführung,

Fig. 4

zeigt ein Trennelement gemäß einer anderen erfindungsgemäßen Ausführung,

Fig. 5

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Kältegeräts mit einem Trennelement gemäß einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Ausführung.

The invention is described below in four exemplary embodiments in the figures:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic perspective view of a refrigerated goods container with a separating element,

Fig. 2

shows a schematic perspective view of a refrigerated goods container with a separating element according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3

shows a separating element according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4

shows a separating element according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5

shows a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator with a separating element according to another embodiment of the invention.

• Figur 1 zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Kühlgutbehälters 2 mit vier Seitenwänden 22 und einem Boden 21. In dem Kühlgutbehälter 2 ist ein Trennelement 1 angeordnet. Das Trennelement ist über Saugelemente 11 am Boden 21 befestigt. Das Trennelement 1 weist nur ein Wandungselement 12 auf. Das Trennelement 1 kann beliebig am Boden 21 des Kühlgutbehälters 2 angeordnet werden. Das Trennelement 1 kann jederzeit aus dem Kühlgutbehälter 2 entfernt werden.
• Figur 2 zeigt ein erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Trennelements 1, welches in einem Kühlgutbehälter 2 angeordnet ist. Das Trennelement 1 weist zwei Wandungselemente 12 auf. Das Trennelement 1 ist hier in einer gefalteten Konfiguration, welche durch das Filmschamier 13 ermöglicht wurde. Das Trennelement 1 ist hier rechtwinklig angeordnet und bildet mit den Seitenwänden 22 des Kühlgutbehälters 2 einen eigenen abgeschlossenen Bereich. Das Trennelement 1 weist sowohl bodenseitig als auch wandseitig angeordnete Befestigungselemente 11 (vorzugsweise Saugelemente) auf. Dieses Trennelement 1 kann beliebig in Kühlgutbehälter mit einem beliebigen Faltwinkel angeordnet sein.
• Figur 3 zeigt ein weiteres erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Trennelements 1. Das Trennelement 1 weist drei Wandungselemente 12 auf, die durch Filmscharniere 13 unterteilt sind. Die Filmscharniere 13 können die Wandungselemente 12 in unterschiedlich zueinander gerichteten Winkeln anordnen, beispielsweise Z-förmig, dreieckig oder U-förmig. Das Trennelement 1 weist auch drei bodenseitig angeordnete Befestigungselemente 11 auf, die dem Trennelement 1 eine gewisse Stabilität bei der Anordnung geben soll.
• Figur 4 zeigt ein Trennelement 1 gemäß einer anderen erfindungsgemäßen Ausführung. Das Trennelement 1 weist zwei Wandungselemente 12, die durch ein Filmschamier unterteilt sind, auf. Bodenseitig wird dieses Trennelement 1 über zwei Saugnäpfe 11 befestigt. Dieses Trennelement 1 weist seitlich zwei Standelemente 14 auf, zu denen die Saugnäpfe 11 angeordnet sind. Die Standelemente 14 verleihen dem Trennelement 1 zusätzliche Stabilität und lassen dieses leichter durch ihre Griffigkeit handhaben.
• Figur 5 zeigt perspektivisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kältegeräts, in welchem ein erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel für ein Trennelement 1' sowie ein weiteres Trennelement 1 angeordnet sind. Das Kältegerät 4 weist eine Tür 41 und einen Innenraum 43 auf. Im Innenraum sind Ablageplatten 3 und Kühlgutbehälter 2 angeordnet. Ein Trennelement 1 ist zwischen zwei Ablageplatten angeordnet, wobei dieses Trennelement mit dem Wandungselement 12 senkrecht zur Öffnung des Innenraums 43 des Kältegeräts 4 angeordnet ist. Dieses Trennelement 1 weist Befestigungselemente 11 auf, welche an den beiden gegenüberliegenden Ablageplatten 3 das Trennelement 1 halten. Die Befestigungselemente 11 können hier beispielsweise Saugnäpfe sein, wobei hierzu angeordnete Rückstellfedern das Anordnen zwischen den Ablageplatten ermöglichen. Jedoch kann das Trennelement 1 auch durch Klemmen oder sonstige Befestigungselemente gehalten werden. Ein erfindungsgemäßes Trennelement 1' weist zwei Wandungselemente 12' auf, die zueinander rechtwinklig angeordnet sind. Dieses Trennelement 1' ist sowohl bodenseitig an einer Ablageplatte 3 als auch seitlich mit einem Befestigungselement 11' an einer Seiteninnenwand 42 des Kältegeräts 4 angeordnet. So entsteht hier ein kleiner Bereich auf der Ablageplatte, der von der restlichen Ablageplatte 3 getrennt ist

Identical parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals.

• FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a refrigerated goods container 2 with four side walls 22 and a bottom 21. In the refrigerated goods 2 a separator 1 is arranged. The separating element is attached to the bottom 21 via suction elements 11. The partition element 1 has only one wall element 12. The separating element 1 can be arbitrary be arranged on the bottom 21 of the refrigerated goods 2. The separating element 1 can be removed at any time from the refrigerated goods container 2.
• FIG. 2 shows an inventive embodiment of a separating element 1, which is arranged in a refrigerated goods 2. The separating element 1 has two wall elements 12. The separating element 1 is here in a folded configuration, which was made possible by the film hinge 13. The separating element 1 is arranged at right angles and forms with the side walls 22 of the refrigerated goods 2 a separate closed area. The separating element 1 has both bottom side and wall side arranged fastening elements 11 (preferably suction elements). This separator 1 can be arranged arbitrarily in refrigerated goods with any folding angle.
• FIG. 3 shows a further inventive embodiment of a separating element 1. The separating element 1 has three wall elements 12, which are divided by film hinges 13. The film hinges 13 can arrange the wall elements 12 in angles directed to each other differently, for example Z-shaped, triangular or U-shaped. The separating element 1 also has three base-side arranged fastening elements 11, which is to give the separating element 1 a certain stability in the arrangement.
• FIG. 4 shows a separator 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. The separating element 1 has two wall elements 12 which are subdivided by a film hinge. Bodenseitig this separating element 1 is attached via two suction cups 11. This separator 1 has laterally two stand elements 14, to which the suction cups 11 are arranged. The stand elements 14 give the separator 1 additional stability and make it easier to handle by their grip.
• FIG. 5 shows in perspective an embodiment of a refrigeration device in which an inventive embodiment of a separating element 1 'and a further separating element 1 are arranged. The refrigeration device 4 has a door 41 and an interior 43. In the interior storage shelves 3 and refrigerated goods 2 are arranged. A partition 1 is arranged between two shelves, said partition with the wall element 12 perpendicular to the opening of the interior 43 of the refrigerator 4 is arranged. This separating element 1 has fastening elements 11, which hold the separating element 1 on the two opposite storage plates 3. The fastening elements 11 may here be, for example, suction cups, wherein return springs arranged for this purpose allow the arrangement between the storage plates. However, the separating element 1 can also be held by clamping or other fastening elements. An inventive separation element 1 'has two wall elements 12', which are arranged at right angles to each other. This separating element 1 'is arranged both on the bottom side on a storage plate 3 and laterally with a fastening element 11' on a side inner wall 42 of the refrigerator 4. This creates a small area on the shelf, which is separated from the rest of the tray 3

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 '

separating element

11, 11 '

fastener

12, 12 '

wall element

13

Film hinge

14

standing element

2

refrigerated goods

21

ground

22

sidewall

3

shelf

4

The refrigerator

41

door

42

Side inner wall

43

inner space

Claims (9)

1. Separating element (1) for dividing the space of an area of an interior (43) of a household refrigeration device (4), wherein the separating element (1) divides the storage areas of chilled goods containers (2) and/or shelves (3) into several areas, wherein the separating element (1) has at least one wall element (12) and at least one fixing element (11) and can be arranged flexibly on and removed from the surfaces of the chilled goods container (2), the shelves (3) and/or an interior wall (43) for adjusting the several areas depending on the amount and size of the chilled goods, characterised in that at least one wall element (11) has at least one film hinge (13).
2. Separating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that this is at least partially flexible.
3. Separating element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one fixing element (11) is made of a suction element and/or a clamping element.
4. Separating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one fixing element (11) can be arranged on a base surface (21) and/or on a side wall (22) of a chilled goods container (2).
5. Separating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one fixing element (11) can be arranged detachably as desired on different surfaces of a shelf (3) and/or an interior side wall (42) of the refrigeration device.
6. Separating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one wall element (11) is made at least partially of glass and/or plastic and/or metal.
7. Separating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one wall element (11) is at least partially grid-like.
8. Chilled goods container (2) for receiving chilled goods in the interior (43) of a household refrigeration device (4) having a base surface (21), a side wall (22) which at least partially surrounds this, and a separating element (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7.
9. Household refrigeration device (4) for receiving chilled goods, having an interior (43) which can be closed by a door (41), with one or more chilled goods containers (2) and/or shelf spaces (3), which form the storage areas of the interior (43) of the household refrigeration device and are divided by at least one separating element (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7.

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