EP4119874A1

EP4119874A1 - Refrigerating appliance with a crossbar

Info

Publication number: EP4119874A1
Application number: EP21185619.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michele SEDRANI; Jose BROCCA; Alex SCHIAVON
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2021-07-14
Filing date: 2021-07-14
Publication date: 2023-01-18

Abstract

Refrigerating appliance (2) defining a refrigerating cavity (112) where foodstuff are placed, comprising a casing (4), a door (20) and a door hinge (136) acting as fulcrum of said door (20) for opening and closing said cavity (112) by said door (20), further comprising a crossbar (40) arranged at least partly on a top surface (48) of said casing (4), said cross bar (40) comprising two lateral portions (64), a middle part (68) connecting said two lateral portions (64) and a hinge cover (110) for said door hinge, whereby said middle part (68) comprises a recessed region (70).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns the field of refrigerating appliances, especially refrigerating and/or freezing appliances. In particular, the present invention refers to refrigerating appliances with a crossbar.

Background art

Household appliances for cooling or combined cooling/freezing appliances (henceforth called refrigerating appliances) can be built as separate devices or as combined devices, whereby in a refrigerating compartment goods such as vegetables, milk products etc. are cooled, and in a freezing compartment goods such as ice cream or frozen food can be stowed. Such an appliance comprises a cooling / freezing circuit with a cooling agent and a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser. The design of the cooling system is typically optimized to allow a cooling or freezing effect in the whole compartment and to a large degree independent on the concrete position of the goods to be cooled or frozen.
The refrigerating appliance has at least one door for a cooling compartment with a door hinge. The door hinge is arranged at an upper surface (other than at a bottom surface and in case of multiple doors also at an intermediate surface) of the cabinet of the appliance. It is known to arrange a top cover or cross bar at the top of the appliance in a front area of the top surface to provide a cover for the hinge and to provide an aesthetically pleasing look of the appliance.
The US 2008/0203874 A1 discloses a refrigerator with a body and two pivotable doors. Provided on an upper surface of the body of the refrigerator are hinge covers to cover upper hinges of the respective doors and a top cover to prevent the swollen upper surface of the body from being exposed from the front side of the body. The hinge cover and the top cover are integrally formed with each other.
Such hinge and top covers can be provided on both stand-alone refrigerating appliances and refrigerating appliances which are especially designed to be used in a built-in kitchen in which they are typically laterally and also at the top surrounded by other kitchen components such as kitchen closets. As the functioning cooling circuit of the refrigerating appliance implies to transport away heated air from the appliance to the environment, in built-in kitchens heat accumulation has to be avoided.

Summary of the invention

The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a refrigerating appliance with improved heat accumulation prevention.
It is a further aim of the invention to provide an improved door hinge mechanism.

Description of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a refrigerating appliance comprising a casing defining a refrigerating cavity where foodstuff are placed, a door and a door hinge for acting as fulcrum of the door for opening and closing of the cavity by the door, further comprising a crossbar arranged at least partly on a top surface of the casing, the cross bar comprising two lateral portions, a middle part connecting these two lateral portions and a hinge cover for the door hinge, whereby the middle part comprises a recessed region.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in relation to the dependent claims and the description of the enclosed drawings.
The invention is based on the consideration that a cross bar or top cover at a top surface of a refrigerating appliance is a useful component for aesthetical reasons. Such a component increases further the height of the appliance and thereby can act as a hindrance for the flow of heated air.
Applicant has found that this requirement can be fulfilled by providing a recessed region in the cross bar. The recessed region removes a barrier for heat flow and allows heated air to flow from the back of the appliance over the top surface of the appliance to the environment.
Preferably, the cross bar has a height, a width and a depth extending along the height, the width and the depth of the casing respectively, whereby the middle part at least partly comprises a height which is smaller than the height of said lateral portions. This height of the middle part is the direction of height in the mounted and upright position of the appliance, i.e. the direction from the floor on which the appliance is standing pointing vertically upwards. The width and depth point in directions in a plane which is perpendicular to the height direction, whereby the width of the cross bar extends in the direction of the width of the casing and the depth of the cross bar extends in the depth direction of the casing of the appliance.
The middle part advantageously comprises two border portions running in parallel between said lateral portions, preferably along the width of the crossbar, said border portions protruding over a middle base part. The lateral portions and the border portions thereby build a frame around the middle base par, leading to a pan-like or basin-like shape of the middle part. Furthermore, the lateral portions serve to reinforce the cross bar along its width. Additionally, behind the middle portion, wires and a corresponding connector can be placed which are, preferably, used for the electric supply of the door sensor and the user interface.
Preferably, between at least one of said respective lateral portion and said middle part an inclined ramp is built. The ramp has its lowest portion in height direction at the middle part and increases in its height running towards the respective lateral portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the ramp comprises a step-like design, especially with several steps. The step-like design provides an aesthetically pleasing design.
Advantageously, the lateral portions and the middle part are built in a one-piece design, i.e. they are integrally formed, leading to a stable cross bar and a convenient and cheap manufacturing process thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the hinge cover is integrally formed with said crossbar, i.e. crossbar and hinge cover are built in a one-piece design.
In an alternative preferred embodiment, the hinge cover is arranged detachably from the crossbar, preferably at a lateral portion.
In this embodiment, preferably the hinge cover is connected on a seat laterally provided on a lateral portion of the crossbar.
Advantageously, on the opposite side with respect to the width extension of the seat in said corresponding opposite lateral portion a further (preferably specular) seat is provided which is adapted to hold an additional cover and/or a specular-shaped hinge cover (namely with a shape specular with respect to the opposed hinge cover when viewed from the top view of the refrigerator at this hinge cover assembly position) for allowing door opening reversibility. In this way, the same cross bar can be used for doors mounted pivotable on - in a front view - the left or right side of the appliance casing.
Preferably, the additional cover in a mounted configuration flushes with a frontal side / edge of the lateral portion, leading to an aesthetically pleasing design and preventing injuries of the user by protruding edges.
The lateral portions of the cross bar have preferably the same width and/or height and/or depth, leading to a symmetric design of the cross bar.
In a preferred embodiment, the door hinge comprises a hinge bracket and a pin which is inserted into a corresponding hinge seat provided on said hinge bracket, whereby the pin comprises a cylindrical main part with two ends and a deformed or belt part arranged in between these two ends with a diameter larger than the diameter of said cylindrical part. The deformed part is preferably built like a flange which runs around the cylindrical part and has a specified axial extension along the axial direction if the pin.
Advantageously, the main part and the deformed part are integrally built.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to a household appliance, especially refrigerating appliance, comprising a casing with a door hinge, whereby the door hinge comprises a hinge bracket and a pin which is inserted into a corresponding hinge seat, provided on said hinge bracket, whereby the pin comprises an essentially cylindrical part with two ends and a deformed part arranged in between these two ends with a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical main part.
The deformed part is preferably built in a belt-like or flange-like shape.
In a preferred embodiment, the pin is assembled on the hinge seat through mechanical interference, which advantageously implies that the diameter of the one of the two ends of the cylindrical part is greater than the diameter of the seat.
Preferably, the pin is assembled on the hinge seat through welding, i.e. the pin is welded on the hinge seat.
Advantageously, the pin comprises an outer thread and the seat comprises a corresponding inner thread, whereby the pin is assembled on the hinge seat via screw connection, i.e. the pin is screwed into the hinge seat.
In a preferred embodiment, the hinge bracket comprises a main part assembled to the cabinet and an arm on which the hinge seat is provided.
The hinge seat advantageously is provided at an extremity of the arm, preferably shaped as an open circle, which provides a flexible seat.
Preferably the pin is built in the shape of a deformed pipe with an axial gap, i.e. a gap running along its axial direction, providing an improvement in the flexibility of the pin.
In a preferred embodiment, the pin and the bracket are designed to allow a complete / full rotation of the door of the refrigerating appliance which is arranged below the hinge and therefore is pivotably arranged in the hinge. In this way, no limitation to the rotation of the door is provided.
The advantages of the invention are especially as follows. By providing a cross bar with a recessed region, an outward flow of hot air from behind a refrigerating appliance in a built-in kitchen is assured. By providing a door hinge with a deformed pin, a reliable and simple hinge construction is provided.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention shall become clearer from the following detailed description of some of its preferred embodiments, made with reference to the attached schematic drawings and given as an indication and not for limiting purposes.
In particular, the attached drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings together with the description explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a refrigerating appliance arranged in a kitchen installation wall in a perspective view;
FIG. 2 shows the refrigerating appliance in the kitchen wall according to FIG. 1 in a lateral view;
FIG. 3 shows the refrigerating appliance according to FIG. 1 with closed doors in a perspective view;
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 shows the refrigerating appliance according to FIG. 1 with open doors in a perspective view;
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 show the crossbar in a perspective view;
FIG. 8 shows the crossbar with a hinge cover and a further cover in a perspective view;
FIG. 9 shows the crossbar with the hinge cover and a further cover in a further perspective view;
FIG. 10 shows the refrigerating appliance in a perspective view;
FIG. 11 shows a hinge section of the refrigerating appliance;
FIG. 12 shows a hinge plate and a pin in an exploded view;
FIG. 13 shows the hinge plate and pin according to FIG. 12 in a mounted state;
FIG. 14 shows a cross-section through the configuration shown in FIG. 13 along line A-A of FIG. 15, and
FIG. 15 shows a top view of the hinge plate.

Identical parts are labeled with the same reference numbers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In FIG. 1, a refrigerating appliance 2 is with casing 4 shown within a kitchen installation wall 6 as part of a built-in kitchen. The refrigerating appliance 2 is preferably surrounded by further built-in components 10, 12, 14, 16. In the embodiment shown, components 10, 12, and 14 are preferably kitchen cabinets or lockers, whereas component 16 is a microwave oven.
The refrigerating appliance 2 comprises a cooling compartment with a first door 20 preferably with a handle 24 and preferably a freezing compartment with a second door 28 with a handle 30.
FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the refrigerating appliance with a casing 4 and doors 20, 28. At a frontal top side, refrigerating appliance 2 comprises a cross bar 40 which will be described in detail below. During operation of the refrigerating appliance 2, hot air is moving vertically upwards along at least part of back wall 44 of casing 4 and then between an upper wall 48 of casing 4 and a bottom wall 56 of component 18, as indicated by an arrow 50, and flows between cross bar 40 and bottom wall 56.
In FIG. 3, the refrigerating appliance 2 is shown in a perspective and stand-alone view in which the cross bar 40 can be clearly seen. An excerpt 60 of FIG. 3 is shown in greater detail FIG. 4. The cross bar 40 or crossbar comprises two lateral parts 64 or portions which are connected by a middle part 68. In the preferred embodiment shown, middle part 68 and lateral part 64 are integrally built, i.e. in a one-piece design. The middle part 68 preferably comprises a recessed region 70. In the present embodiment, the recessed region 70 is built in such a way that in a vertical direction 74 it has less height than the adjacent lateral parts 64.
The cross bar 40 preferably has an extension in height direction 80, width direction 84, and depth direction 88 which extend along height direction 80, width direction 84, and depth direction 88 of the casing 4. The expression "height" indicates an extension in this height direction 80, equivalently the expressions "width" and "depth" are used,
The recessed region 70 is built in the embodiment shown in a way that the middle part 68 comprises a height which is smaller than the height of the adjacent lateral portions. In this way, the air flowing upwards from the back wall 44 of the casing 4 can flow along a direction indicated by arrow 50 in FIG. 2 and FIG.4 between the two lateral portions 64 and is not blocked. This functionality is very important for the proper cooling of the goods in the refrigerating appliance 2 and voids a heat jam at the back of the appliance 2.
The middle part 68 is preferably built of two border portions 90 which run in parallel between the two lateral portions 64 and which border a middle base part 96. At the sides of the middle base part 96, inclined ramps 100 are preferably built which are arranged, respectively, between the middle part 68 and the adjacent lateral portion 64. The ramps 100 preferably increase in height, respectively from the middle part 68 to the respective lateral portion 64. Each of the two inclined ramps 100 is built in a step-size design. As the ramps 100 and the border portions 90 have a larger height than the middle base part 96, the middle part 96 is essentially designed as / has a pan shape or basin shape. In other words, liquid could collect in the middle part 68.
The recessed region 70 is recessed in a sense that the height of the middle part 68 is lower compared to the height of the lateral portions 64. Additionally, the middle part 68 preferably has a recessed middle base part 96 which las a lower height compared to the border portions 90. In this way, air flowing in direction of arrow 50 is given even more free flowing space to leave the area of the appliance 2 and to enter the kitchen space in front of the appliance 2. In the preferred embodiment shown, the crossbar 40 is symmetrically built with both lateral portions 64 having the same height, width and depth and both inclined ramps 100 having the same number of steps and the same height, width, and depth. The crossbar 40 further comprises a hinge cover 110 for a door hinge.
In FIG. 5, the refrigerating appliance 2 is shown with both doors 20, 28 in an open state. A refrigerating cavity 112 can be closed by door 20, and a freezing cavity 114 can be closed by door 28. An excerpt 118 of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6.
In FIGs 7, 8, and 9, the cross bar 40 is shown in a perspective view. In the embodiment of the cross bar 40 shown in this FIG, each lateral portion 64 preferably comprises a seat 120. The seat 120 is adapted / built to receive the hinge cover 110 which is mounted on the seat 120 in FIG. 8. Preferably, the seat 120 preferably comprises at least one seat element on which the hinge cover 110 can be placed. In a preferred version, the seat elements allow a snap connection of the hinge cover 100 with the seat 120. As both lateral portion 64 comprise seats 120, the hinge cover 110 can be mounted on each side. The same crossbar 40 in this way can be employed in appliances 2 which have the door hinge on the left or right side, thereby saving production costs.
In FIG.9, an exploded view of the cross bar 40 with hinge cover 110 and an additional cover 126 is shown. The additional cover 126 preferably flushes in the mounted configuration see in FIG. 8 with a frontal side 130 of the cross bar 40. In this way, an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the cross bar 40 can be achieved.
The seats 120 and covers 110, 126 are preferably built in such a way that on each side / lateral portion 64 a hinge cover 110 or an additional cover 126 can be arranged. Alternatively, the crossbar can be integrally formed with said hinge cover.
In FIG. 11, the top wall 48 of casing 4 of the appliance 2 is shown with the cross bar 40 removed. On top wall 48, a hinge bracket 142 is arranged and is secured to the casing 4 by several screws. The hinge bracket 142 is part of a door hinge 136.
In FIG. 12, the hinge bracket 142 and a pin148 are shown in an exploded view. The pin has an essentially cylindrical main part 154 extending between a first end 170 and a second end 172. Between these two ends 170, 172, a deformed part 158 is built which has a larger radius than the cylindrical main part 154. The deformed part 158 is essentially built as a flange or a collar around the cylindrical main part 154. Preferably, deformed part 158 and cylindrical main part 154 are integrally built. The pin 148 is advantageously built by an injection molding process. Alternatively, the pin is made of metallic material. The cylindrical main part 154 preferably is built as a hollow cylinder with a gap running in the axial direction. i.e. its circumference is not fully realized by material. In this way, the pin is provided with some flexibility in radial direction.
In the mounted state, the pin 148 is inserted into a seat 162 in hinge bracket 142. In FIG.13, pin 148 is shown as it is inserted into seat 162. The deformed part 158 hinders the movement of the pin 148 in a direction 176 which in the mounted state of the appliance 2 corresponds to a vertical direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the pin 148 is assembled in seat 162 through mechanical interference, which advantageously implies that the diameter of the cylindrical main part 158 is greater than the diameter of the seat 162. Preferably or alternatively, the pin 148 is assembled on the seat 162 (hinge seat) through welding, i.e. the pin 148 is welded on seat 162. Advantageously, the pin 148 comprises an outer thread and the seat 162 comprises a corresponding inner thread, whereby the pin 148 is assembled on seat 162 via screw connection, i.e. pin 148 is screwed into seat 162.
In a preferred embodiment, the hinge bracket 142 comprises a main part assembled to the cabinet and an arm 200 (see for example FIG.12) on which seat 162 is provided. The seat 162 advantageously is provided at an extremity 212 of the arm 200, preferably shaped as an open circle 204, which provides a flexible seat.
Preferably the pin 148 is built in the shape of a deformed pipe with an axial gap 208, i.e. a gap running along its axial direction, providing an improvement in the flexibility of the pin 148. In a preferred embodiment, the pin 148 and the hinge bracket 142 are designed to allow a complete / full rotation of the door of the refrigerating appliance 2 which is arranged below the hinge 136 and therefore is pivotably arranged in the hinge 136. In this way, no limitation to the rotation of the door 28 is provided.
In the sectional view of FIG. 14, it can be seen how the deformed part 158 in the mounted state lies against a surface 180 of the hinge bracket 142. The pin 148 is built as a sheathing 182 with an axial gap 184.
In the top view shown in FIG. 15, it can be seen that the hinge bracket has several openings 188 which allow screws to be lead through them for a screwing connection of the hinge bracket 142 to the casing 4.
The deformed pin 148 has inventive character on its own in connection with a household appliance which does not need to have a cross bar 40 as disclosed above.
The invention thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.
In addition, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the shapes and contingent dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

List of reference numerals

2: refrigerating appliance
4: casing
6: kitchen installation wall
10, 12: component
14, 16: component
20: door
24: handle
28: door
30: handle
40: cross bar
44: back wall
48: top wall
50: arrow
56: bottom wall
60: excerpt
64: lateral part
68: middle part
70: recessed region
74: vertical direction
80: height
84: width
88: depth
90: border portion
96: middle base part
100: inclined ramp
110: hinge cover
112: refrigerating cavity
114: freezing cavity
118: excerpt
120: seat
126: additional cover
130: frontal side
136: door hinge
142: hinge bracket
148: pin
154: main part
158: deformed part
162: seat
170: first end
172: second end
176: direction
180: surface
182: sheathing
184: axial gap
188: opening
200: arm
204: open circle
208: axial gap
212: extremity

Claims

Refrigerating appliance (2) comprising a casing (4) defining a refrigerating cavity (112) where foodstuff are placed, a door (20) and a door hinge (136) acting as fulcrum of said door (20) for opening and closing said cavity (112) by said door (20), further comprising a crossbar (40) arranged at least partly on a top surface (48) of said casing (4), said cross bar (40) comprising two lateral portions (64), a middle part (68) connecting said two lateral portions (64) and a hinge cover (110) for said door hinge,
characterized in that

said middle part (68) comprises a recessed region (70).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to claim 1, whereby said crossbar (40) has a height, a width and a depth extending along the height, the width and the depth of the casing (4) respectively, and whereby said middle part (68) at least partly comprises a height which is smaller than the height of said lateral portions (64).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to claim 1 or 2, whereby said middle part (68) comprising two border portions (90) running in parallel between said lateral portions (64), said border portions (90) protruding over a middle base part (96).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, whereby between at least one of said respective lateral portion (64) and said middle part (68) an inclined ramp (100) is built.
Refrigerating (2) appliance according to claim 4, whereby said inclined ramp (100) comprises a step-like design.
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, whereby said lateral portions (64) and said middle part (68) are built in a one-piece design.
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, whereby said hinge cover (110) is integrally formed with said crossbar (40).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, whereby said hinge cover (110) is arranged detachably from said crossbar (40), preferably at a lateral portion (64).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to claim 8, whereby said hinge cover (110) is connected on a seat (120) laterally provided on a lateral portion (64) of said crossbar (40).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to claim 9, when dependent on claim 2 whereby on the opposite side with respect to the width extension of said seat (120) in said corresponding opposite lateral portion (64) a further, preferably specular, seat (120) is provided which is adapted to hold an additional cover (126) and/or a specular-shaped hinge cover for allowing door opening reversibility.
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to claim 10, whereby said additional cover (126) in a mounted configuration flushes with a frontal edge (130) of said lateral portion (64).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to one of the previous claims, whereby said lateral portions (64) of said crossbar (40) have the same width and/or height and/or depth.
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to one of the previous claims, whereby said door hinge (136) comprises a hinge bracket (142) and a pin (148) which is inserted into a corresponding hinge seat (162) provided on said hinge bracket (142), whereby said pin (148) comprises an essentially cylindrical main part (154) with two ends (170, 172) and a deformed part (158) arranged in between said two ends (170, 172) with a diameter larger than the diameter of said cylindrical part (154).
Refrigerating appliance (2) according to claim 13, whereby said main part (154) and said deformed part (158) are integrally built.
Household appliance (2), especially refrigerating appliance, comprising a casing (4) with a door hinge (136), whereby said door hinge (136) comprises a hinge bracket (142) and a pin (148) which is inserted into a corresponding hinge seat (162) provided on said hinge bracket (142),
characterized in that

said pin (148) comprises an essentially cylindrical part (154) with two ends (170, 172) and a deformed part (158) arranged in between said two ends (170, 172) with a diameter larger than the diameter of said cylindrical main part (154).