EP2641041B1 - Refrigeration device door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigerator door for a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigerating appliance, according to the preamble of claim 1.

For stand-mounted refrigerators, decoupled appliance doors are widely used. These may have a decorative frame, which is placed on the door outer panel and carries a large-scale decorative element.

From the DE 198 56 093 A1 a generic refrigerator door is known, which has a cooling chamber of the refrigerator facing inner lining, an outer lining and an intermediate, generated by foaming heat insulation layer. The door outer lining is not made in one piece, but has these two lateral vertical door frame strips, between which a large-area decorative plate is provided as a separate component. This is so intrinsically rigid that it can withstand the foam pressure during the foaming process without deformation. Such decorative panels can be made of glass material, for example, and be foamed directly with the thermal insulation layer.

In the DE 198 56 093 A1 have the two above-mentioned side door frame strips as a holding profile each other in the door side direction facing U-shaped grooves, in which the side edges of the decorative plate are used. The assembly of the outer lining takes place prior to the foaming process assembly technology consuming, in which the decorative plate is inserted from above / below in approximately plane-parallel to the inner lining in the grooves. The decorative panel is prepositioned with little play within the grooves. The movement play is dimensioned so that on the one hand the decorative plate can be inserted without jamming into the receiving grooves and on the other hand a foam-tight connection between the side edges of the decorative plate and the door frame strips is made. In assembly position, the side edges of the decorative plate are overlapped on the front side by groove legs of the receiving groove, whereby stepped between the decorative plate and the door frame strips Transitions result. Design variants of the appliance door with completely planar door front are therefore in the DE 198 56 093 A1 not possible.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator door for a refrigeration device, in which a simple assembly of the outer lining is made possible and also different design variants of the refrigerator door can be realized in a simple manner.

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.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the refrigeration appliance door has an inner lining facing the cooling space of the refrigeration appliance, an outer lining and an intermediate heat insulation layer produced by foaming. The outer lining is constructed in several parts by a large-area plate element and by lateral door frame strips, between which the adjacent to the heat insulating layer plate member is supported. The two spaced-apart, vertical door frame strips have according to the characterizing part of claim 1 in the door depth direction undercut-free holding profile, in which the plate member can be used in the Bautiefenrichtung. According to the invention, the plate element is therefore no longer technically complicated to insert plane-parallel to the inner lining of the top / bottom in the grooves of the door frame strips, but these can be easily inserted process technology in the holding profile. Depending on its material thickness, the plate element inserted in the retaining profile of the door frame strips can be flush-formed with the adjacent visible sides of the door frame strips or can be preceded or set back in the depth direction Be arranged door frame strips. Thus, all design variants are open with the holding profile according to the invention.

The undercut-free retaining profile may have in one embodiment, a front-side open, step-like recess. This may have against the visible side of the door frame strips recessed support webs, which rests in the assembled state, the plate member. The support web can be integrated as a separate component of the door frame strips or in the door frame strips. The door frame strips can be produced, for example, as extruded aluminum parts whose profile remains consistently constant in the longitudinal direction.

In terms of component reduction, it is advantageous if the step-like recess is formed directly in the door frame strips. In this case, the retaining profile may be limited by an angle leg projecting rearward in the depth direction and by an adjoining, angled support web. The rearwardly projecting angle leg can pass over an abutting edge in one piece in the visible side of the door frame strip. The rearwardly projecting angle leg of the step-like recess may preferably be arranged in the door side direction outside of the plate element side edges, so that the side edges of the door frame strips facing each other via a slight parting line. The angle legs of the door frame strips thus form a frame-like enclosure for the plate element.

In the design of the retaining profile according to the invention, if appropriate, the side edges of the plate element can be visibly exposed on the front side. At the side edges of the plate element can thereby trigger the outside door frame strips. These may preferably be slightly spaced from one another via a visual joint which can be designed as a design feature.

As already mentioned above, a flush transition between the plate member and the door frame strips is readily possible. For this purpose, it is necessary that the step height or height of the recess is approximately identical to the material thickness of the plate element.

In a further embodiment variant, the retaining profile may have a receiving groove, which is designed to be open in the direction of the depth direction to the front. The receiving groove can basically be made identical to the above-mentioned return. The above-mentioned, rearwardly projecting angle leg and the right adjoining support web here each form a groove side wall and a groove bottom. The support web which acts as a groove base can be extended by a second angle limb formed in opposite directions to the first angle limb which forms the second groove wall which is spaced over a predetermined groove width from the first angle limb. The first angle leg is therefore in the door side direction outside, while the second angle leg is inside. The groove width may preferably be based on the material thickness of the edge portion of the plate element to be inserted into the receiving groove. In order to achieve a good pre-centering of the plate during assembly of the outer lining, however, a possible backlash-free mounting of the plate element in the receiving groove is advantageous. The edge portion of the plate element may preferably be angled back around a plate element front edge in the Bautiefenrichtung. Depending on the length of the edge portion may be supported with its side edge directly on the groove bottom. Alternatively or additionally, the plate element may be supported on an upper edge of the inner angle leg, while optionally the side edge of the plate element is spaced from the groove bottom of the receiving groove. In order to increase the support base for the plate member in such a case, the inner angle leg of the retaining profile can pass at an inner abutting edge in an inner support web, which can be made much wider compared to the aforementioned first support web.

In a further embodiment, the inner abutment edge between the inner angle leg and the inner support bar in the Bautiefenrichtung be preceded by a Versatzmaß against the outer edge abutment. The outer abutting edge with the subsequent visible side of the door frame strip is therefore offset towards the front (ie visible side of the plate member) to the rear and therefore lies in the direction of a user in the visual shadow of the plate element, resulting in the impression of a frameless refrigerator door. This impression can also be reinforced if the retaining profile is located directly in the front corner region of the door frame strip, that is to say directly at the transition to the side cheek of the door frame strip.

According to a further embodiment, the front edge of the plate element may be upstream in the depth direction by an offset dimension relative to the outer abutting edge, whereby the impression of a frameless refrigerator door is further enhanced.

As mentioned above, the receiving groove at the transition to the visible side of the door frame strip on an outer edge and the inwardly offset angle leg on an inner joint edge, which optionally passes into the second large-scale and inner support web. In a further embodiment, the inner abutting edge between the inner angle leg and the large-area inner bearing bar may be reset by an offset dimension with respect to the outer abutment edge. The offset dimension may preferably correspond to the material thickness of the plate element. In this case, in the assembly position, the plate element can go flush with the interposition of a parting line in the visible side of the door frame leg.

In a further embodiment, the plate element may have an edge portion, which projects beyond an excess edge in the lateral direction with respect to a further edge portion of the plate element. This results in a lateral projection in the side edge of the plate element. The lateral projection of the plate member may project beyond the above-mentioned outer joint edge on the retaining profile, whereby it is no longer visible from the outside. Optionally, the lateral projection of the plate element may project beyond the entire front side of the door frame molding, which may also give the impression of a frameless refrigerator door. The remaining, recessed edge portion of the plate member may in contrast be immersed in the recess of the retaining profile and secured therein.

As mentioned above, the retaining profile can be arranged directly in the front corner region of the door frame strip, resulting in the impression of a frameless refrigerator door. In addition, in this case, the holding profile can be very rigidly connected to the door frame strip, in comparison to a provided with a larger lateral offset to the front corner holding profile. When arranged in the front corner holding profile, the side cheek can connect directly to the holding profile via an obtuse angled gutter. The gutter of the side cheek goes over the above-mentioned outer joint edge in the Angle leg of the holding profile over. To further increase the dimensional stability of the door, a space bounded by the angle leg of the holding profile and by the side wall spaced therefrom can be filled with the heat insulation layer. This results in the corner of the door a three-layer composite structure consisting of the outer side wall, possibly with the gutter, and the inner angle leg of the retaining profile.

In a further embodiment, an inwardly open receiving groove in the device side direction may be formed in the first or outer angle leg of the holding profile. The receiving groove may have a groove width which corresponds approximately to a material thickness of a second, optionally thinner-walled decorative element. The retaining profile therefore has with the receiving groove in the outer angle leg and the front open return two decorative element recordings, which are alternatively usable depending on the selected decorative element.

In particular, in a thin-walled design of the door frame strips, the undercut free retaining profile according to the invention can lead to a reduced component stiffness of the door frame strip due to geometric conditions. This can be counteracted by special geometric design of the door frame profile. Thus, the rear cheeks projecting side cheeks of the door frame strips can pass directly into the holding profile. The side cheek of the respective door frame strip may also have in the front corner of an obtuse angled gutter, which is connected to the retaining profile, so that there is a gap between the side cheek and the angle leg. The gap which is hollow before the foaming process is filled with the heat insulation layer during the foaming process. This results in the front corner of the refrigerator door despite low cost of materials and despite holding profile with reduced rigidity an extremely dimensionally stable sandwich structure consisting of the outer side cheek, the heat insulation layer and the angle leg of the holding profile.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1

in einer teilweisen Explosionsdarstellung einen oberen Eckbereich der Kältegerätetür gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung der Kältegerätetür entlang der Schnittebene I-I aus der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

in einer Darstellung entsprechend der Fig. 1 ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 4 und 5

jeweils weitere Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung in Ansichten entsprechend der Fig. 2 und 3; sowie

Fig. 6 und 7

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel mit einem Halteprofil, das Aufnahmen für Dekorelemente unterschiedlicher Materialstärken aufweist.

Show it:

Fig. 1

in a partial exploded view of an upper corner portion of the refrigerator door according to the first embodiment;

Fig. 2

an enlarged sectional view of the refrigerator door along the sectional plane II of the Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

in a representation corresponding to the Fig. 1 a second embodiment of the invention;

4 and 5

each further embodiments of the invention in views corresponding to the Fig. 2 and 3 ; such as

6 and 7

a further embodiment with a holding profile having receptacles for decorative elements of different thicknesses.

In the Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a detail of a refrigerator door shown, which is constructed mirror-symmetrically to a central axis of symmetry. The refrigerator door has in a conventional manner, a plastic inner lining 1 with projecting spars 3. The inner lining is provided at its free edges 5 with a magnetic seal, not shown, which is insertable in a receptacle 6 of the inner lining 1. Adjacent to the inner lining 1 is a heat insulation layer 7, which is formed by foaming a liquid starting component. The heat insulation layer 7 connects the inner lining 1 with an outer lining 8 to a largely dimensionally stable door body. The outer lining 8 is in accordance with Fig. 1 constructed in several parts and includes a, the door front largely engaging plate member 9, in the Fig. 1 a plate composite consisting of a rigid carrier plate 10 and a visible decorative plate 11 is. The vertical in mounting position side edges 13 of the plate assembly 9 are according to the Fig. 1 held in a holding profile 15 of the side door frame strips 17. The door frame strips 17 are according to the invention, for example, aluminum extruded rails with consistently constant profile. In the Fig. 1 the retaining profile 15 is arranged directly in the front corner area 16 of the door frame strips 17. From the holding section 15 is immediate an aligned in the depth direction y aligned narrow door side wall 19 in the depth direction y angled backwards, which is foam-tight connected to the free edges 5 of the inner lining 1. In the side cheeks 19 of the door frame strips 17 is an approximately triangular profiled continuous recessed grip 21 is formed. The refrigerator door is in assembly position both at its upper edge ( Fig. 1 ) and at its bottom edge, not shown, covered by a horizontally extending end member 23, which may be made of plastic injection molding or of metallic material, such as aluminum, for example. The outer contour of the respective end elements 23 is approximately adapted to the contour of the refrigerator door on the upper edge and the lower edge, wherein the inner lining 1 and the door frame strips 17 and the plate assembly 19 is encompassed by the respective end member 23. The end elements 23 also have hole-like receptacles 18, which serve to support the door on the refrigerator housing.

In the Fig. 2 the plate composite 9 and the holding section 15 of the door frame strips 17 is shown enlarged. Accordingly, the door frame strips 17 for receiving the side edges 13 of the plate assembly 9 on their sides facing each other on a front side open, step-like recess, which is undercut in the door depth direction y. In the pre-foaming assembly of the outer panel 1, therefore, the panel assembly 9 can be easily inserted in the depth direction y in the front open recess of the retaining profile 15. The return is according to the Fig. 1 and 2 formed directly on the front door corner region 16, so that only a very narrow viewing side 27 of the door frame bar 17 forward freely for the user is visible. The visible to the front visible side 27 of the door frame strip 17 is in the Fig. 2 an abutting edge 33 which merges via an inclined intermediate web 20 in the side cheek 19. At its, the side edge 13 of the plate assembly 9 side facing the outer abutment edge 33 merges into a rearwardly projecting leg angle 31, at which an inwardly angled support web 34 connects. The support web 34 provides a large support base for the plate assembly 9. The plate assembly 9 is, as already mentioned above, formed from the adjacent to the heat insulating foam support plate 10 and the decorative element 11, which are firmly connected.

Due to the forwardly step-like recess is according to the Fig. 2 a front viewable visible joint 35 between the side edge 13 of the plate assembly 9 and the abutting edge 33 of the door frame strip 17 exposed. The height c of the recess is dimensioned so that it corresponds approximately to the material thickness of the plate assembly 9. In this way, the results in the Fig. 1 and 2 Through this special design, the door frame strip 17 is substantially protected from the view behind the panel assembly 9 in the line of sight of the user, so that the impression of a frameless refrigerator door results.

In the Fig. 3 In a further embodiment, the retaining profile 15 is formed as a receiving groove open at the front. In the front open receiving groove of the holding profile, an edge portion 24 of the plate member 9 is inserted. This is angled to the front edge 25 to the rear. To form the receiving groove is already in the Fig. 2 said support web 34 extended with an opposite to the outer angle leg 31 angled inner angle leg 26. The groove width b between the two angle legs 26, 31 is slightly larger than the material thickness of the plate element 9 dimensioned. In addition, adjoins an inner abutment edge 39 at a right angle inwardly angled second support web 40, with which the plate member 9 is in contact with its underside. According to the Fig. 3 is the inner abutting edge 39 of the inner angle leg 26 in the Bautiefenrichtung y offset by an offset m ₁ relative to the outer abutting edge 33 of the door frame strip 17. The offset m ₁ may preferably be selected so that the side edge 13 of the groove bottom, that is the support web 34, the receiving groove is spaced and is only on the inner support web 40. The receiving groove therefore forms an acting in the door side direction x centering, while the inner support web 40 serves as a depth stop when assembling the plate member 9 with the door frame strips 17. The plate element 9 may preferably be adhesively bonded to the inner support web 40 via an adhesive bond. By the reset by the offset m ₁ visible side 27 of the door frame strip 17 results in the direction of the user also the impression of a frameless refrigerator door.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the retaining profile is also formed with a front open receiving groove. In contrast to Fig. 3 is in the Fig. 4 the visible side 27 of Door frame strip 17 is not offset to the rear, but formed flush with the plate element 9, with the interposition of a Sichtfuge 35, as already in the Fig. 2 is shown. In contrast to Fig. 3 is in the Fig. 4 Therefore, the inner abutment edge 39 between the second angle leg 26 and the inner support bar 40 by an offset m ₃ with respect to the outer abutting edge 33 is reset. The offset m ₃ corresponds approximately to the thickness of the plate element. 9

In the Fig. 5 the retaining profile 15 of the door frame strip 17 is constructed approximately as it is in the Fig. 1 and the Fig. 2 is shown. In contrast to Fig. 1 and 2 but dominates in the Fig. 5 an edge portion 14 of the decorative element 11 in the door side direction x the lower support plate 10 with a supernatant a. The material thickness of the support plate 10 is dimensioned such that it terminates approximately flush with the visible side 27 of the door frame strip 17. As a result, the decorative element 11, with its edge section 14, project beyond the front visible side 27 of the door frame strip 17 in a protected manner. The supernatant a is dimensioned so that the door frame strip 17 is arranged in the viewing direction of the user completely visible behind the edge portion 14 of the decorative element 11.

In the 6 and 7 a further embodiment is shown, wherein the retaining profile shown therein also have an outer angle leg 31 in the device side direction, which merges into an angled support web 34. In contrast to the preceding figures, an additional receiving groove 43 is introduced in the, in the depth direction y aligned angle leg 31. The groove width of the receiving groove is adapted so that a comparatively thin-walled decorative element 44 can be used. Alternatively, instead of the thin-walled decorative element 44 according to the Fig. 7 a thick-walled decorative element can be used whose material thickness substantially corresponds to the height c of the recess. In the Fig. 7 Therefore, the receiving groove 43 is out of action and this is covered by the side edge 13 of the thick-walled decorative element 9. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 1 interior panelling 43 receiving groove 3 Holme 44 thin-walled decorative element 5 edge m ₁ , m ₂ , m ₃ offset dimension 6 admission a lateral projection 7 Thermal insulation layer b groove width 8th Siding c height 9 panel member x lateral direction 10 support plate y depth direction 11 decorative element 12 Edge section of the carrier plate 13 margin 14 Edge portion of the decorative element 15 retaining profile 16 corner 17 Door frame moldings 18 admission 19 side cheek 20 gutter 21 grip 23 termination element 24 angled edge section 25 front edge 26 inner angle leg 27 Visible side of the door frame strip 31 outer angle leg 33 outer edge 34 support web 35 visible joint 39 inner bump 40 inner support bar

Claims (16)

1. Refrigeration device door having an inner panelling (1) facing the cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, an exterior panelling (8) and a heat insulating layer (7) which is arranged therebetween and which is particularly produced by foaming, wherein the exterior panelling (8) has a large plate element (9) bounding the heat insulating layer (7), the lateral edges (13) of which are retained in lateral door frame strips (17), characterised in that the door frame strips (17) have an undercut-free retaining profile (15) in the door depth direction (y), into which retaining profile (15) the plate element (9) is inserted in the depth direction (y).
2. Refrigeration device door according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining profile (15) has a step-like recess which is open at the front side.
3. Refrigeration device door according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the retaining profile (15) is bounded by an angle leg (31) projecting backwards in the depth direction (y) and by an angled support web (34) which abuts against it.
4. Refrigeration device door according to claim 3, characterised in that the backwards-projecting angle leg (31) merges at an abutting edge (33) into a visible side (27) of the door frame strip (17).
5. Refrigeration device door according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the backwards-projecting angle legs (31) of the door frame strips (17) are each arranged in the door side direction (x) outside the plate element side edges (13).
6. Refrigeration device door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the side edges (13) of the plate element (9) are visibly exposed at the front side, and that in particular the side edges (13) of the plate element (9) are attached to the door frame strips (17) by way of visible joints (35).
7. Refrigeration device door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plate element (9) has a decorative element (11), the visible side (27) of which merges essentially steplessly, in other words flush, into the lateral door frame strips (17).
8. Refrigeration device door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the retaining profile (15) has a receiving groove which is open on the front side in the depth direction (y), and into which an edge section (24), in particular angled around a front edge (25), of the plate element (9) can be inserted.
9. Refrigeration device door according to claim 8 and one of claims 4 to 5, characterised in that the support web (34), in order to form the receiving groove, is extended by a forwards-angled inner angle leg (26) which is spaced apart from the outer angle leg (31) in the lateral direction (x) by a groove width (b).
10. Refrigeration device door according to claim 9, characterised in that the groove width (b) of the receiving groove essentially corresponds to the material strength of the edge section (24) of the plate element (9).
11. Refrigeration device door according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the inner angle leg (26) of the door frame strip (17) merges at an inner abutting edge (39) into a second support web (40), against which the side of the plate element (9) facing away from the visible face abuts.
12. Refrigeration device door according to claim 11, characterised in that the inner abutting edge (39) between the inner angle leg (26) and the second support web (40) is positioned forwards in the depth direction (y) by an offset dimension (m₁) compared to the outer abutting edge (33).
13. Refrigeration device door according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that the front edge (25) of the plate element (9) is positioned forwards in the depth direction (y) by an offset dimension (m₂) compared to the outer abutting edge (33).
14. Refrigeration device door according to claim 11, characterised in that the inner abutting edge (39) between the inner angle leg (26) and the second supporting web (40) is recessed in the depth direction (y) by an offset dimension (m₃) compared to the outer abutting edge (33), and that the offset dimension (m₃) corresponds in particular to the material strength of the plate element (9).
15. Refrigeration device door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plate element (9) has an edge section (14) which projects over the other edge section (12) of the plate element (9) by an excess amount (a) in the lateral direction (x).
16. Refrigeration device, especially a domestic refrigeration device, with a refrigeration device door according to one of the preceding claims.

Images