EP2667128A2 - Cooler, in particular domestic cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has upper and lower doors (1, 3) comprising a functional element designed as a door handle (18) and formed in a door front of a door exterior wall (13). The functional element is supported at a vertically erected base wall (35) and allows enlargement of the door front at a peripheral edge i.e. lower peripheral edge, of the door exterior wall. The base wall is extended along entire width of the doors. The base wall is arranged between the door exterior wall and a door end lath (17) in a height direction (Z) of the doors.

Description

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

In household refrigerators, the appliance door can be realized as a hollow body which is filled with a Wärmeisolierschaum. The appliance door can be constructed from a front door outer wall formed from stainless steel sheet as well as a door inner wall, which is often a deep-drawn plastic circuit board. In between, a space filled with Wärmeisolierschaum cavity is limited. The door outer wall may have laterally angled profile strips, which are foam-tight connected to the door inner wall. The cavity of the door is also closed at the top and at the bottom door edge with an upper and a lower door closing strip. The door handle can be integrated, for example, directly on the door closure strip. Alternatively, the door handle can be integrated by sheet metal forming directly in the door outer wall.

From the DE 42 39 961 C2 is a generic refrigerator known, in which the door handle with the help of form-locking elements, that is, locking elements, and is secured by screws to a door closure strip of the door. The locking elements of the door handle are brought into positive connection with a corresponding mating contour of the door closure strip. In a door handle operation, therefore, the actuating forces are introduced via the above-mentioned connection points in the door closing strip and from there into the appliance door. Like from the DE 42 39 961 C2 shows, the connection points of the door handle are designed almost punctiform and spaced from each other. In the case of excessively large actuation forces, load peaks may occur in the region of these punctiform connection points during the introduction of force, which may lead to damage to the door handle or the door closure strip. By way of example, the door handle can be deformed or the connection points can loosen over time. In order to avoid such damage, the door handle is to be dimensioned despite large space conditions with great material thickness.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, in which the functional element, in particular the door handle, is connected reliably and reliably to the appliance door.

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

The invention is based on a refrigerator door, which has a functional element, in particular a door handle, and whose door front is formed by a door outer wall. The invention is based on the fact that the conventional connection points known from the prior art can loosen due to loads during actuation of the appliance door. Against this background, according to the characterizing part of claim 1, the door handle is mounted on a particular upright raised base wall. The base wall adjoins the enlargement of the door front on a peripheral edge of the door outer wall, in particular at a lower or upper peripheral edge of the door outer wall. In this way, upon actuation of the functional element, that is the door handle, results in a much more uniform in comparison to the prior art force introduction into the door.

The refrigerator is used for housekeeping and may for example be a refrigerator, a freezer, a freezer, a wine storage cabinet or a fridge freezer.

The base wall can preferably be arranged in the appliance door vertical direction between the door outer wall and a door closure strip, which foam-tightly seals a device door cavity filled with a heat insulating foam. In this way, load peaks in the door handle operation can be avoided, in favor of a substantially uniformed force introduction into the door. In addition, the base wall can extend substantially over the entire door width.

The base wall can be executed planar without curvature or preferably have a in the depth direction, for example, S-shaped curved, set back portion and a front-side portion. The two parts can on transition into one another. The functional element is preferably arranged in the recessed portion of the base wall. To form the recessed grip, the portion of the base wall recessed backwards in the depth direction can, for example, pass in a U-shaped manner into an upstream, front-side grip strip. The plate-shaped, front handle bar, for example, together with the recessed portion of the base wall form the recessed grip. In addition, the handle bar can be extended in the device door side direction to the outside with a connection profile, which is connectable to one of the vertical bars of the support frame. For a space-saving compact door front geometry, the handle strip and the front-side portion of the base wall in the Bautiefenrichtung can be arranged substantially at the same height.

The refrigeration appliance door can have at least one door closure strip with which a device door cavity filled with a heat insulating foam is sealed in a foam-tight manner. In a double function, the door closing strip can also be used to hold the base wall, as a result of which the base wall is installed with particularly great rigidity in the door of the appliance. In addition, the door closure strip can be integrated as a frame strip in a support frame, which serves to hold the base wall. In this way, an introduction of force from the door handle in the door even more evened.

The support frame may particularly preferably extend continuously along the entire width of the appliance door. The support frame width is therefore approximately identical to the appliance door width in the appliance door side direction. In this way, load peaks in the door handle operation can be avoided, in favor of a substantially uniformed force introduction into the door.

In a further embodiment, the support frame can be set upright in the installed position and / or be closed on the circumference. In this case, the support frame in addition to the door closure strip have a parallel transverse bar. The door closure strip and the transverse strip can be connected at their two side ends via vertical strips with the door closure strip, preferably preferably of the same material and in one piece.

A particularly reliable holder is achieved when the functional element is inserted within the support frame and secured therein by means of a positive connection or screw on the support frame. In this case, the functional element is limited in the mounting position circumferentially from the support frame.

Preferably, the appliance door can be realized as a hollow body which is filled with a Wärmeisolierschaum. For this purpose, the liquid starting component of the Wärmeisolierschaumes can be introduced into the hollow body and then foamed therein as part of a foaming process. The appliance door can be constructed from a front door outer wall formed, for example, from stainless steel sheet, and from a door inner wall, which is, for example, a deep-drawn plastic circuit board. In between a cavity filled with the Wärmeisolierschaum is defined. The door outer wall may have laterally angled profile strips, which are foam-tight connected to the door inner wall. In addition, the cavity of the door can be closed foam-tight at the upper and at the lower edge of the door with an upper and a lower door closing strip.

The door outer wall can also be connected with a peripheral edge foam-tight with the transverse bar of the support frame. For this purpose, the transverse strip of the support frame may have a retaining web which overlaps with the facing edge region of the door outer wall and is glued thereto, for example. In addition, the side profile strips described above and the vertical bars of the support frame in the device vertical direction can go flush with each other to form a transition joint. The profile strips and / or the door outer wall are therefore not performed directly to the door closure strip, but they are rather spaced therefrom only led to the cross bar of the support frame.

On the cross bar and on the door closure strip of the support frame connecting elements for releasable or non-detachable mounting of the functional element are also formed.

In a further embodiment, the support frame may be assigned a base wall, with which the interior of the support frame is foam-tight coverable. Accordingly, the base wall extends over the entire width and height of the support frame. In In a first embodiment variant, the base wall, together with the support frame, can form a shell open on the device front, in which the functional element can be inserted. Alternatively, the base wall and the support frame may be designed as separate components. In this case, the base wall may for example be a component of the functional element. By way of example, a recessed grip can be formed on the base wall. As an alternative to the recessed grip, the functional element may also be designed as a component module, in which operating and / or display elements of the refrigeration device are arranged.

In a preferred embodiment, the base wall may have an S-shaped curved backward section in the Bautiefenrichtung. At the end of the section, a connection profile can be connected to the outside in the device door side direction, which can be connected to one of the vertical strips of the support frame during assembly. Alternatively and / or additionally, a front-side grip strip can adjoin the end of the section in the device door side direction inwards. This can form the recessed grip together with the portion of the base wall recessed in the depth direction.

The cross bar of the support frame may also have a recess with which the appliance door cavity is fluidly connected to the interior of the support frame. When foaming not only the door cavity, but also the interior of the support frame is thus filled with the Wärmeisolierschaum. The Wärmeisolierschaum thus directly adjacent to the base wall.

The door handle may preferably be designed asymmetrically and be provided on the opposite door door stop door side. In this way it is clearly recognizable to which of the device sides the appliance door is to be opened.

The invention is preferably on a refrigerator with two superimposed and spaced apart by a separating gap device doors advantageous. The separating gap ensures that the trajectories of the two doors do not overlap. In a preferred embodiment, the door closing strips facing one another in the door of the appliance door can each be components of a supporting frame according to the invention, in which a functional element is arranged. In In such a case, with two device doors arranged one above the other, the functional elements designed as door handles can oppose each other mirror-symmetrically. The connection points of the door handle or the base wall can be designed so that they can only be turned by 180 ° during a stop change and thus can be reassembled on the envelope.

The above-explained and / or reproduced in the subclaims advantageous embodiments and / or refinements of the invention can. except, for example, in the case of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives - used individually or in any combination with each other.

The invention and its advantageous embodiments and further developments and advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Fig. 1

in einer Frontansicht eine Kühl-/Gefrierkombination mit zwei übereinander angeordneten Kühlräumen, die mit separaten Gerätetüren verschließbar sind;

Fig. 2

in einer perspektivischen Explosionsansicht den in jeder der Gerätetüren vorgesehenen Türgriff mit zugeordnetem Tragrahmen;

Fig. 3

in einer weiteren perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung einen unteren rechtsseitigen Eckbereich der oberen Gerätetür, anhand der der Zusammenbau der Gerätetür veranschaulicht ist; und

Fig. 4

eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Schnittebene A-A aus der Fig. 1.

Show it:

Fig. 1

in a front view, a fridge freezer with two superimposed cold rooms, which can be closed with separate appliance doors;

Fig. 2

in an exploded perspective view of the provided in each of the appliance door door handle with associated support frame;

Fig. 3

in a further perspective exploded view of a lower right-side corner region of the upper door, by means of which the assembly of the appliance door is illustrated; and

Fig. 4

a sectional view along the sectional plane AA from the Fig. 1 ,

In the Fig. 1 is shown as a refrigerator, a refrigerator / freezer combination, in which an upper door unit 1 and a lower door unit 3 can close each separate cooling chambers. The two appliance doors 1, 3 are each hinged laterally about a vertical pivot axis S and spaced apart in the device vertical direction z by a slight separating gap 7. Each of the appliance doors 1, 3 is considered a hollow body expanded, the cavity during a foaming process with a Wärmeisolierschaum 10 (only in the Fig. 4 indicated) is filled. According to the figures, the cavity is delimited by a door outer wall 13 forming the front of the appliance and a door inner wall 15. At the respective Tuerber- and lower edges of the appliance door cavity is closed foam-tight by upper and lower door closure strips 17. At the separation gap 7 facing each other door closure strips 17 each door handles 18 are supported.

In the Fig. 2 to 4 the door structure of the upper door 1 is explained in more detail; the door structure of the lower door 3 is identical in essential parts. So is in the Fig. 2 in a greatly enlarged exploded view, a lower corner region of the upper door 1 shown. Accordingly, the door closure strip 17 is a material-integral and one-piece component of a support frame 21. This extends in the device door side direction x over the entire door width. The support frame 21 has, in addition to the lower door closing strip 17, a spaced-apart upper transverse strip 23, which runs parallel to the door closing strip 17 and are connected at their lateral ends via vertical strips 25 to the door closing strip 17. The circumferentially closed support frame 21 defines an interior space 27 (FIG. Fig. 2 and 4 ), in which the door handle 18 described later is used.

The door outer wall 13 is in this case a stainless steel sheet with in the depth direction y backward angled profile strips 29 (FIG. Fig. 3 ). In addition, the profile strips 29 in the assembly position in the vertical direction z are aligned flush with the vertical strips 25 of the support frame 21.

Like from the Fig. 3 It can be seen that the profile strips 29 and the door outer wall 13 are not extended with their lower edges 31 directly to the lower door closing strip 17, but only brought up to the upper cross bar 23. At the upper cross bar 23, a holding web 33 is formed, which is in the assembly position in glued connection with the lower marginal edges 31 of the door outer wall 13 and the profile strips 29.

Like from the Fig. 2 As can be seen, the door handle 18 has a vertical upright raised base wall 35 which carries at each of its upper and lower edges 37 latching elements 39. The base wall 35 is arranged in the appliance door vertical direction z between the door outer wall 13 and the lower door closure strip 17, which seals the foam filled with a Wärmeisolierschaum 10 appliance door cavity foam-tight. The locking elements 39 of the base wall 35 are in the installed position in latching connection with corresponding counter-contours 41 (FIG. Fig. 2 and 3 ) on the upper cross bar 23 and the lower door closing strip 17. By way of example, these counter contours 41 are according to the Fig. 2 or 3 Locking recesses in the upper transverse bar 23. The base wall 35 extends according to Fig. 2 over the entire width and height of the support frame 21, so that in the assembly position of the interior space 27 of the support frame is completely covered foam-tight.

In addition, according to the Fig. 2 or 3 in the upper cross bar 23 a substantially over the entire device door width extending recess 43 is provided, which connects the overlying device door cavity with the support frame interior 27 fluidly. In this way, it is ensured that not only the appliance door cavity, but also the interior 27 of the support frame 21 is filled with the Wärmeisolierschaum 10 during foaming. The Wärmeisolierschaum 10 thus adjoins in the assembly position of the door 1 to directly to the back of the base wall 35 at.

As is apparent from the figures, the door handle 18 in the illustrated embodiment, a recessed grip, which is integrally formed on the base wall 35. The base wall 35 connects to enlarge the door front 2 at the lower peripheral edge 31 of the door outer wall 13 at. The base wall 35 is not planar in the appliance door side direction x. On the contrary, the base wall 35 has a section 44 which is set back in the depth direction y and which is swung back in an S-shape in the depth direction y, and a front section 48. The two sections 44, 48 merge into each other at a transition region 50. In the recessed portion 44 of the base wall 35, the recessed grip 18 is formed. At the in the Fig. 2 left side end 45 of the S-shaped curved portion 44 joins in the appliance door side direction x to the outside a connection profile 47, which is positively engageable with the vertical strips 25 of the support frame 21 into engagement. In the opposite direction, that is called in the appliance door side direction x inwards, connects to the end 45 of the S-shaped curved portion 44, a plate-shaped handle bar 49 at. The handle bar 49 together with the S-shaped curved back portion 44 of the base wall 35, the recessed grip. In addition, the handle bar 49 and the front-side portion 48 of the base wall 35 is arranged in the Bautiefenrichtung y substantially at the same height.

To form the recessed grip 18 so goes in the depth direction y backward back portion 44 of the base wall 35 U-shaped in the upstream, front handle bar 49, which forms the recessed grip together with the recessed portion 44 of the base wall 35. The handle bar 49 is extended in the appliance door side direction x to the outside with the connection profile 47, which is connectable to one of the vertical strips 25 of the support frame 21.

The two door handles 18 of the doors 1, 3 are according to the Fig. 1 designed with mirror symmetry with respect to a horizontal axis of symmetry. In addition, the two door handles 18 are designed asymmetrically with respect to a vertical device center axis and provided on the, opposite of the door stop device door side.

The following is based on the Fig. 3 the assembly of the upper door 1 described. The assembly of the lower door 3 is to be carried out in an analogous manner. Thus, in a first assembly step I before the foaming process, the door outer wall 13 is placed with its lower edge 31 on the transverse bar 23 of the support frame 21. The door outer wall 13 is glued to the inner side of the holding web 33 of the transverse bar 23 in the region of the lower peripheral edge 31.

Subsequently, in a second assembly step II, the base wall 35 of the door handle 18 in the depth direction y is inserted rearwardly into the interior space 27 of the support frame 21. In the process, a rib 51 of the lateral connection profile 47 stepped back in the transverse direction x engages behind the front edge of the vertical strip 25. In addition, the upper and lower edges 37 of the base wall 35 are brought into latching engagement with the transverse strip 23 and the door closure strip 17 in the assembled position. In a further assembly step III, the door inner wall 15 is foam-tight placed on the still open appliance door body from behind and can then start the foaming process at Both the appliance door cavity and the support frame interior 27 are filled with thermal insulation foam 10

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 3

appliance doors

7

separating gap

10

Wärmeisolierschaum

13

Door outer wall

15

Door inner wall

17

Door end strip

18

door handle

21

supporting frame

23

cleat

25

vertical strips

27

Support frame interior

29

moldings

31

edges

33

holding web

35

base wall

37

Edge edges of the base wall 35

39, 41

locking elements

43

recess

44

S-shaped curved section of the base wall

45

Section end

47

connection profiles

48

front section

49

handle bar

50

Transition area

51

rib

I, II, III

mounting steps

Claims (16)

Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance, with a device door (1, 3), which has a functional element, in particular a door handle (18), and the door front (2) is formed by a door outer wall (13), characterized in that the functional element, in particular the Door handle (18) is mounted on a particular upright raised base wall (35), which adjoins the door front (2) on an edge (31) of the door outer wall (13), in particular at a lower edge (31) of the door outer wall (31). 13). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the base wall (35) in the appliance door upright (z) between the door outer wall (13) and a door closure strip (17) is arranged foam-tight with a Wärmeisolierschaum (10) filled appliance door cavity seals. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base wall (35) extends substantially over the entire width of the appliance door. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the base wall (35) in the depth direction (y) set back portion (44) and a front-side portion (48), which merge into one another at a transition region (50), and that in particular the door handle (18), in particular a recessed grip, in the recessed portion (44) of the base wall (35) are arranged. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that to form the recessed grip in the depth direction (y) rearwardly recessed portion (44) of the base wall (35), in particular U-shaped, merges into an upstream, front handle bar (49) together with the recessed portion (44) of the base wall (35) forms the recessed grip, and / or in particular that the handle strip (49) in the appliance door side direction (x) is extended outwards with a connection profile (47) with one of Vertical strips (25) of the support frame (21) is connectable. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the handle strip (49) and the front-side section (48) of the base wall (35) in the Bautiefenrichtung (y) are arranged substantially at the same height. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the door closure strip (17) forms a frame strip of a support frame (21) for holding the base wall (35). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the width of the support frame (21) in the appliance door side direction (x) substantially corresponds to the door width of the appliance. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the support frame (21) is circumferentially closed, and that the support frame (21) in addition to the door closure strip (17) has a parallel transverse strip (23) which at their side ends via vertical strips (25 ) is connected to the door closure strip (17), and that in particular the transverse strip (23) of the support frame (21) has a recess (43), with which the appliance door cavity is fluidly connected to the interior (27) of the support frame (21) , Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the base wall (35) within the support frame (21) is inserted and / or that the base wall (35) by means of a latching connection (39, 41) on the support frame (21) is supported , Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front door outer wall (13) together with the refrigerator interior facing door inner wall (15) limits the appliance door cavity, and in particular the Türinnen- and-Außenwände (13, 15) via moldings ( 29) are connected to each other, in particular the same material and / or in one piece from the door outer wall (13) in the Bautiefenrichtung (y) are angled backwards. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that the outer door wall (13) with a peripheral edge (31) foam-tight with the transverse bar (23) of the support frame (21) is connected, and / or that the lateral profile strips (29) of the door outer wall (13) in the appliance door upright (z), in particular in alignment, in the vertical strips (25) of the support frame (21) pass. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the supporting frame (21) or its transverse strip (23) has a holding web (33) for connection to the door outer wall (13) and / or connecting elements (41) for supporting the base wall (35). Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base wall (35) foam-tightly covers the appliance door cavity, and / or in particular foam-tight covering the interior (27) of the support frame (21). Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the base wall (35) and the support frame (21) are separate components, and / or that the base wall (35) is part of the functional element (18), and / or that upper and / or lower door edge is formed by at least one door closure strip (17). Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigeration device has two superposed, over a separating gap (7) spaced device doors (1, 3) whose in the vertical direction (z) facing each other door seal strips (17) with it held functional elements (18 ) are arranged in particular mirror-symmetrical.

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