EP2697581A2

EP2697581A2 - Set of parts for a refrigerator door

Info

Publication number: EP2697581A2
Application number: EP12715031.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christoph Becke; Max Eicher; Swetlana Gorodezki; Maike Kirschbaum; Alfred Raab; Ralph Staud; Thomas Tischer
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2011-04-13
Filing date: 2012-04-04
Publication date: 2014-02-19
Also published as: WO2012139950A3; DE102011007318A1; CN103477171A; WO2012139950A2; CN103477171B

Abstract

A set of parts for a door of a domestic refrigerator comprises a door leaf (2, 3) having an insulating filling and having a solid shell (14, 17) which surrounds the filling, wherein two vertical narrow sides of the shell (10, 11) have cutouts (9; 22) over their entire height, and at least one covering profile (19; 24; 29; 32; 41; 45; 47; 49; 51; 54; 57) which can be fitted to at least one of the cutouts (9; 22).

Description

Parts kit for a refrigerator door

The present invention relates to a door for a refrigeration device, in particular

Domestic refrigerator, both in a fully assembled state as well as in a partially assembled state.

Under a refrigeration device is in particular a household refrigeration appliance understood, ie a refrigeration appliance for household management in households or possibly in the

Catering area is used, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks in household quantities at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a fridge-freezer or a wine storage cabinet.

In order to efficiently manufacture refrigerators of different product lines, it is desirable to use largely uniform parts as possible and to achieve a product-series-specific appearance of individual devices in each case by combining these uniform parts with specific parts for a specific product series. Particularly problematic in this case is the door of a refrigerator, since this is the component of the device that usually remains visible after its installation at the user and determines the aesthetic impression of the device, but at the same time offers little design freedom at its essentially flat, large-scale front ,

Another constraint, the consideration of which complicates the design of a refrigerator door is the desire to set the position of the door stop only when the device is set up at the user or subsequently change. If a change of the door stop is not possible, a manufacturer must meet the needs of all

To satisfy users to produce separate series with right or left stop, which is impractical both in the production and for the logistics of sales of equipment. Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a kit of parts from the parts of a refrigerator door can be assembled at low cost with a high degree of creative flexibility.

The object is achieved by a kit of parts comprising an insulating filling and a solid envelope enclosing the filling, wherein two vertical narrow sides of the envelope have recesses extending over their entire height, and at least one covering profile which can be mounted on at least one of the recesses. The cover profile can be mounted in various ways, for example by latching, screwing or gluing.

The parts kit can be used when installing a refrigeration unit in the factory; by selecting one or more cover profiles for a door from a set of several profile types, and possibly by determining the length of the cover and its mounting position on the door based on a single unitary door leaf, a large number of different types of doors can be realized. The final assembly of the door can also be postponed until the door using the refrigerator is placed in a user; by the user as part of the

set of parts according to the invention an assortment of different cover profiles which can be mounted on the door leaf is made available for selection, the latter can determine the appearance of his device at his own discretion.

In order to offer sufficient modification possibilities, should be in one

Cover set according to the invention contains at least one, preferably a plurality of selected material, cross-sectional shape, color and texture

Distinguish properties.

To make a fast, even by an untrained user comfortably feasible

To allow attachment, each cover profile may have a lockable in the recess of the narrow side elastic foot section.

Alternatively, the recess may also comprise a groove, in which case each cover profile comprises a rib which can be inserted frictionally into the groove. In order to ensure a secure frictional fit despite possible manufacturing tolerances, the rib may suitably carry elastic webs, which, when the cover is mounted on the door leaf, are deformed in contact with side walls of the groove. While the properties relevant to the appearance, such as material,

Cross-sectional shape, etc. of the cover should differ as possible, the means for fixing the cover should be consistent in all cover profiles of the kit parts to ensure their mutual interchangeability. At least one of the cover profiles should have a gripping surface facing away from a front side of the door panel that is conveniently gripped by the fingers of a user to wind the door. Other profiles which do not have such a gripping surface can be provided in particular for mounting on a hinge-side narrow side of the door leaf.

To provide such a grimeless cover profile, in particular then

expedient if the recesses on the narrow sides of the shell are both suitable to hold with his fingers and pull on the door leaf. By a non-grip cover profile closes the recess on the hinge-side narrow side of the door panel, the user is a priori prevented from pulling on the wrong side of the door panel.

If the recess on the narrow side of the sheath is spacious enough to accommodate at least the tips of the fingers of a consumption, then the gripping surface of the cover profile, if it is mounted on the narrow side, expediently also engage in the recess.

In order to change the appearance of the refrigerator door over a large area, it is desirable to be able to place a decorative plate on a front side of the shell. In order to be able to laminate the edges of such a decorative panel, it is expedient if at least one cover profile of the kit of parts can be mounted on the narrow side so that an edge region of the covering profile projects beyond the front side of the fixed shell. This edge region may be hook-shaped in cross section, so that it can extend to the visible side of the decorative plate and contribute to its fixation on the shell.

Preferably, the two vertical narrow sides and the front of the rigid shell are integrally formed of sheet such as sheet metal, and upper and lower narrow sides completing the solid shell are formed by moldings, e.g. Injection molded parts, formed, which are attached to upper and lower edges of the front and narrow sides.

Since the cross-section of the door leaf changes as a result of the attachment of the cover profile to the solid shell, it is particularly the case when at least one end of the door leaf changes

Cover profile extends to an upper or lower edge of the narrow side,

desirable that the shape of an upper or lower end of the sleeve adapts to this cross-sectional shape. For this purpose, the kit of parts may comprise at least one attachable to one of the mold parts cap, which is shaped so that an edge of the cap is flush with an outer contour of a cover profile mounted on the shell. If the parts set several cover profiles with different

Includes cross-sections, then a suitably shaped cap is suitably provided for each cross-section.

Not least, the object is achieved by a household appliance door, which is assembled from a kit of parts as described above.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. From this description and the figures are also features of the

Embodiments, which are not mentioned in the claims. Such features may also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed herein. Therefore, the fact that several such features are mentioned in the same sentence or in a different type of textual context does not justify the conclusion that they can occur only in the specific combination disclosed;

instead, it must be assumed that, of several such characteristics, it is also possible to omit or modify individual ones, provided that this is the case

Functionality of the invention is not in question. Show it: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a household refrigerator with two doors according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic partial cross-section of a door of the refrigerator

Fig. 1 according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is an analogous to Fig. 2 section in which a cover on a

Narrow side of the door panel is attached;

Fig. 4 is an analogous to FIG. 2 section showing a second type of attachment of the

Cover profiles on the door illustrated;

5 shows an alternative cross section of a cover profile.

Fig. 6 is a similar to FIG. 2 section, a third type of attachment

illustrated;

Fig. 7 is an analogous to Fig. 2 section, a fourth type of attachment

illustrated; 8 shows a schematic front view of the refrigeration appliance, which illustrates a first distribution of the covering profiles on the narrow sides of the door leaves of the refrigerating appliance;

FIG. 9 is a view analogous to FIG. 7 illustrating a second distribution of cover profiles; FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of a third distribution; FIG.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of a fourth distribution; FIG.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of a fifth distribution; FIG. a section similar to Figure 3, showing a modified cross-sectional shape of the cover; a section through the hinge-side edge region of the door, equipped with a covering profile of Figure 13 complementary, the recess of the narrow side covering cover profile; an analogous to Fig. 13 section through a refrigerator door with

vorgeblendeter decorative panel and a first adapted to the decorative panel cover profile;

a section similar to Figure 13, showing a second cover profile for use with the decorative panel; a further modification of the cover profile in a section analogous to FIG. 13; another modification of the cover profile in a section analogous to FIG. 13; a section analogous to Figure 13 with a cover, which forms a vorgeblendeten the door leaf handle. a perspective view of a corner of the refrigerator door and a cap to be mounted on the corner; and a view analogous to FIG. 20 of a corner of the door with a cover profile mounted thereon and a cap complementary to the cover profile.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an inventive household refrigeration appliance, here a combination device, with a heat-insulating body 1 and two hinged to the body 1, each a storage chamber closing door leaves 2, 3. An articulated arm 7 is bolted to the ceiling of the body 1 and carries a hinge pin, not visible in the figure, on an upper narrow side. 4 the door panel 2 is recessed at the right edge. A corresponding articulated arm 7 also engages in the lower narrow side of the door leaf 2, both together define a designated in the figure 8 pivot axis, which extends adjacent to the right edge of the door panel 2. The articulated arm 7 mirror-inverted opposite on the left side of the body 1 and the upper narrow side 4 of the door panel 2, two threaded bushes 6 and a hinge bush 5 are shown, on which the articulated arm 7 can be mounted alternatively when the pivot axis to the left edge of the door leaf 2 shall be.

The lower door leaf 3 is here the same axis 8 as the door leaf 2 pivotally; but it would also be conceivable to mount a telescopic extension in the lower storage chamber, which carries the door leaf 3, so that it is displaceable instead of pivoting in the depth direction of the body 1.

Mutually mirror-inverted recesses 9 each extend over the entire height of left and right vertical narrow sides 10, 11 of the door leaves 2, 3rd

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal partial section through the door leaf 2 and a thereto

adjacent side wall of the body 1 along the designated II-II in Fig. 1 level. A heat-insulating filling 12 made of hard foam is enclosed by a solid shell 13, which is composed essentially of two parts, an outer wall element 14 formed from a sheet-metal strip and an inner wall element 17 which is deep-drawn from plastic sheet material.

The outer wall element 14 forms a front side 15, the two narrow sides 10, 1 1 and, adjacent to the narrow sides 10, 1 1, each one extending on the inside of the door panel 2 edge strip 16. At the edge strip 16 is the

Interior wall element 17 attached. The narrow sides 10, 1 1 of the door leaf 2 are mirror images of each other, and the recesses 9 formed thereon are in here

illustrated case, both large enough to provide in a remote from the front side 15 area 18 the fingers of a user the required to wind the door stop. As a result of the mirror-symmetrical shape of the shell 13, the user of this can not view the position of the pivot axis 8, is for mounting on the of the

Swivel axis 8 facing away from narrow side 10 a cover 19 is provided, which is in its mounted state shown in Fig. 3 partly extends to the front side 15 and thus marked clearly visible from the front, the openable side of the door panel 2. In the state of FIG. 3 mounted on the narrow side 10, a gripping surface 20 of the covering profile 19 covers the region 18 of the recess 9 facing away from the front side 15. For fastening the covering profile 19, clips 21 or screws can serve, as indicated in FIG. the, for the user essentially invisible, through the

Grip surface 20 engage in the door panel 2. Alternatively, there would be the

Possibility to glue the cover profile 19 on the door leaf 2.

The fastening by means of screws or clips 21 assumes that a surface of the door panel 2 to which they are to be attached, even after placement of the

Cover profile 19, possibly via suitable passages of the cover 19 remains accessible. Since this restricts the freedom of design of the cover profile 19, another technique for fixing the cover profile is preferred, which is shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, from the lowest point of the recess 9 from a second recess in the form of a narrow groove 22 penetrates into the interior of the door panel 2. Like the recess 9, the groove 22 extends over the entire height of the door panel 2, so that the outer wall member 14 can be further integrally formed by simply bending a sheet metal strip. The groove 22 is provided to receive a rib 23 of a cover profile designated here by 24. The rib 23 is significantly narrower than the groove 22, but carries on their flanks each thin-walled webs 25 which are dimensioned so that they are bent when inserting the rib 23 into the groove 22, preferably bent elastically. By the elastically bent webs 25 each press from the inside against the walls of the groove 22, they act as a Wederhaken, the one

To pull out the cover profile 24 from the groove 22 oppose.

Since the material thickness of the webs 25 can be made much lower than that of the rib 23 and the visible after installation parts of the cover 24, materials with a hard, hard-wearing surface such as high quality

Plastics or metals are used for the cover 24.

However, it is also conceivable, as shown in FIG. 5, to combine different materials in the cover profile 24, for example by injection molding or coextrusion, for example around the rib 23 around a stiff core 26, eg of metal or hard plastic elastically readily deformable, the webs 25 enclosing surface layer 27, for example made of elastomer, or to obtain a resilient, manufacturing tolerances compensating layer 28 on the door panel 2 facing inner surfaces of the cover 24. An inherently elastic cover profile 29 can, as shown in Fig. 6, on a

Undercut 30 of the door leaf, preferably on the side remote from the front side 15 region 18 of the recess 9, be locked. A positive engagement of an edge of the gripping surface 20 of the cover 29 in a flat groove 31 at the bottom of the recess 9 contributes to a tight fit of the cover 29 at.

Also, the cover 32 shown in Fig. 7 is fixed by locking on undercuts 33, 34 of the narrow side 10. To lock the cover 32, it is sufficient if a foot section 35 thereof, the edges in the

Undercuts 33, 34 to engage, is elastically compressible; the Andes

Foot section 35 subsequent grip surface 20 and a to the gripping surface 20th

subsequent, on the front side 15 ausgreifender angle 36 may be stiffer. Therefore, 32 different materials, in particular for the foot portion 35 and the angle 36, by coextrusion, injection or the like can be combined in this cover profile.

Even if the parts set according to the invention comprises only a single type of cover profile, numerous design variants of refrigeration devices can already be realized by varying the length and installation position of the cover profile. Thus, in the refrigeration device shown in FIG. 8, two short sections 37, 38 of the same type of cover profile are mounted on the door leaves 2, 3 in order to mark door handles in each case at a height that is easily accessible to the user.

In the variant of FIG. 9, the profile sections 37, 38 with respect to FIG. 8

slightly, each up to a lower edge of the door panel 2 and a top edge of the door panel 3, extended so that they give the appearance of a single contiguous grip area. In contrast, in the variant of FIG. 10, the profile sections 37, 38 extend on both door leaves 2, 3 in each case over their entire height.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 11, profile portions 39, 40 also on the

Hinge-side narrow sides of the door leaves 2, 3 may be provided. However, these profile sections 39, 40 should have a different cross-section than the profile sections 37, 38, to allow in the Forderansicht a distinction between the hinge side and handle side of the door panels 2, 3.

It is also conceivable to attach cover profiles to the upper and lower narrow sides of the door leaves 2, 3 in order to create a circumferential frame, either together around both door leaves 2, 3, as shown in FIG. 12, or around each door leaf. Such a frame is particularly useful when the front side 15 of the

Outside wall element 14 is to be completely covered by a superior decorative plate.

Below are some variants of cover profiles with different

Cross sections described. All of these different cover profiles have here for anchoring to the door leaf to the described with reference to Fig. 4, 5 rib 23, but it is understood that a similar variety of design options can be realized with a different type of attachment.

13 shows a cover profile 41 in which a gripping surface 20 and a leg 42 lying opposite the gripping surface 20 form a V-shape and completely line the recess 9. At opposite edges of the gripping surface 20 and the leg 42 respectively close narrow webs 43, 44, which cover the narrow side 10 in front of and behind the recess 9 substantially completely. Thus, the entire narrow side 10 of the door panel can be given a deviating from the front side 15 appearance. For example, if a painted sheet metal is used in a conventional manner for the outer wall element 14, the covering profile 41 may be formed from a plastic deviated from the sheet metal, or its visible regions 20, 42, 43, 44 may be metallised on the surface or made of bare metal, especially aluminum or stainless steel. The metallic surfaces can be high gloss or satin. Since the cover 41 does not extend to the front 15, it is not particularly noticeable to a standing in front of the device user. A user who does not know on which side the door leaf 2 is hinged could therefore easily try to pull on the wrong narrow side 11 to open the door. An irritation of the user in such a case can be avoided by the recess 9 at the

Narrow side 11 of the door panel 2, as shown in Fig. 14, is closed by a cover 45. The cover profile 45 is formed largely mirror image of the cover 41, but extends between the webs 43, 44 a continuous wall 46, so that the fingers of a user who tries to pull on the narrow side 1 1, slide off. Thus, the user immediately recognizes that the narrow side 11 is not intended to open, and turns to the other narrow side 10.

The cover profile 47 shown in Fig. 15 differs from that of FIG. 13 by a widened front web 43. The web 43 projects forward over the front side 15 and covers an edge of the front side 15 covering decorative plate 48. Such a decorative plate 48th can eg a plate of colored or colored backed glass, a mirror, a Resopalplatte or the like.

In the cover profile 49 of FIG. 16, the front web 43 is widened again and angled hook-shaped, so that a leg 50 of the web 43 on the front of the decorative plate 48 extends. Thus, the cover 49 can also be used to attach the

Decorative plate 48 serve.

In the variant of Fig. 17, the rear web 44 is widened, and an angled leg 52 of the cover 51 extends over the edge strip 16 to a fixed at the transition from the edge strip 16 to the inner wall member 17 magnetic seal 53. Thus, the outer wall member 14 is completely under concealed the cover 51 and the decorative plate 48. Especially when the visible surfaces of the

Cover 51 are metallic, so can with simple means a high quality

Appearance can be achieved.

In the variant of FIG. 18, the cover profile 54 comprises a hollow portion 55 which projects from the narrow side 10 between the recess 9 and the front side 15 and protrudes laterally beyond the side wall of the body 1 addition. The gripping surface 20 of the

Cover profile 54 is laterally widened by the hollow portion on the side facing away from the front region 18 of the recess 9 to make the gripping surface 20 easy to handle. The cover profile 56 of FIG. 19 can be understood as derived from the

Cover profile 49 of FIG. 16 by adding an additional L-profile portion 57 which extends in front of the front side 15 or, if present, the decorative plate 48 and the fingers of a user when opening the door provides support. The recess 9 can in this corner profile as well as in the Fig. 14 by one of the webs 43, 44th

connecting wall 46 to be closed.

It is known per se to realize upper and lower narrow sides of a door leaf for a refrigeration device as molded parts, in particular injection molded parts, which are plugged onto the upper and lower edges of outer wall element 14 and inner wall element 17.

In particular, when the various cover profiles described above extend to the upper and / or lower edges of the outer wall element 14 and the

Inner wall member 17 to extend, the problem arises to produce an aesthetically satisfactory transition to the attached there moldings.

According to the invention, this is achieved by using as top and bottom door leaves, e.g. shown in FIG. 20, moldings 58 are used which each have recesses 59 at their right and left ends which are to be filled by a cap 60 suitably selected for the type of cover profile used. The molding 58 has in its central region, between right and left recess 59, a flat C-shaped cross-section with a horizontal central portion 61 and narrow, from the front and rear edge of the central portion 61 of downwardly extending ribs 62. In the amount of

Recesses 59, the molding 58 each have a gap between the outer and inner wall member 14 and 17 exactly filling plate 63 in which the hinge bushing 5 extends. The cap 60 shown in Fig. 20 is intended for use in conjunction with a cover profile which does not extend to the corner of the door panel shown, as shown for example in Fig. 8. The cap 60 therefore comprises a flat central plate 64, the contour of which corresponds exactly to that of the wall elements 14, 17, and a rib 65 which follows the course following the wall elements 14, 17 extends along the edge of the plate 64 and, when the cap 60 is mounted, the ribs 62 are extended flush.

Fig. 21 exemplifies a cap 65 for use with a cover profile 66 extending to the top edge of the outer wall member 14. The shape of the cap 65 is selected to encompass both the ribs 62 and the center portion 61 of the molding 58 in the lateral direction also the cut upper edge of the

Cover profile 66 extended upward flush. Such a cap may be provided to suit any type of cover profile. If, as shown in Fig. 21, the cover 66 is a hollow profile, the cap 65 may moreover have a pin 67 engaging in a cavity of the cover 66 and thus contribute to the anchoring of the cover 66 on the door panel 2.

The set of parts according to the invention of door leaf 2 or 3, on the door panel mountable, optionally pre-assembled to the height of the door leaf cover profiles and matching caps can be used in industrial production to produce in a nearly uniform production process different models of refrigeration equipment. But it is also possible to distribute the complete refrigeration device in the form of the parts set, so that the consumer can make a selection of different cover profiles and caps offered to him for selection and can design the device according to his own discretion.

Claims

A set of parts for a door of a household refrigerating appliance, comprising a door leaf (2; 3) comprising an insulating filling and a fixed envelope (13) enclosing the filling, two vertical narrow sides of the envelope (10, 11) extending over their entire height 22), and at least one cover profile (19; 24; 29; 32; 41; 45; 47; 49; 51; 54; 57) mountable on at least one of the recesses (9; 22).

A kit of parts according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of cover profiles (24, 41, 45, 47, 49, 51, 54, 57) which are selectively mountable on the same recess (9; 22) and in at least one differ in material, cross-sectional shape, color and texture selected property.

Parts kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each

Cover profile (29; 32) one in the recess (9) of the narrow side (10)

latchable elastic foot section (20, 35).

Parts set according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess (9; 22) comprises a groove (22), and that each cover profile (24, 41, 45, 47, 49, 51, 54, 57) frictionally engages in the Groove (22) insertable rib (23).

Set of parts according to claim 4, characterized in that the rib (23) carries elastic webs (25) which are deformed in contact with side walls of the groove (22).

6. parts set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the cover profiles (24, 41, 47, 49, 51, 54, 57) facing away from a front side of the door handle surface (20). Parts set according to claim 6, characterized in that the gripping surface (20) of the mounted cover profile (24, 41, 47, 49, 51, 54, 57) engages in the recess (9).

Parts set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cover profile (45) which fills the recess (9) in the mounted state.

Parts set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a decorative plate (48) which can be placed on a front side (15) of the fixed envelope (13) and in that at least one cover profile (47; 49; 51; 54) of the

Part set on the narrow side (10) of the fixed shell (13) is mountable so that an edge region (43, 55) of the cover over the front side (15).

Parts set according to claim 9, characterized in that the edge region (43) of the cover profile (49) is hook-shaped in cross section.

Set of parts according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two vertical narrow sides (10, 11) and a front side (15) of the fixed shell (13) are integrally formed from flat material and upper and lower

Narrow sides are formed by upper and lower edges of the front and vertical narrow sides (15, 10, 1 1) attached molded parts (58).

Set of parts according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises at least one cap (60; 65) attachable to one of the mold parts (58).

Set of parts according to claim 12, characterized in that an edge of the cap (65) to an outer contour of the cover (13) mounted cover profile (66) is flush.

14 door for a household refrigerator, characterized in that it is assembled from a kit of parts according to one of the preceding claims.