EP4241026A1

EP4241026A1 - Domestic appliance having a symmetrical bracket of a hinge for a door, and method for producing a domestic appliance

Info

Publication number: EP4241026A1
Application number: EP21801487.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Florian Gerstmayr; Johannes Köpf; Alfred Raab; Christian Schmid
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2020-11-05
Filing date: 2021-10-27
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Also published as: US20230400243A1; CN116391101A; DE102020213908A1; WO2022096333A1

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a domestic appliance (1) having a housing (2), having at least one hinge (5, 7), which is mounted on a front (6) of the housing (2), and having a door (4), which is mounted on the hinge (5, 7) and as a result is mounted pivotably relative to the housing (2), wherein the hinge (5, 7) has a bracket (15), which is fastened to an end face (8, 8a, 8b) of the front (6) with at least one fastening element (32, 33), wherein the bracket (15) is constructed symmetrically, so that it can be installed either on a left end face (8a) of the front (6) or on a right end face (8b) of the front (6), and in both installation situations the door (4) mounted on the bracket (15) is situated in the same position relative to the housing (2) in the height direction (y) and the width direction (x) of the domestic appliance (1) when in the closed state. Another aspect concerns a method.

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE WITH A SYMMETRIC BEARING ANGLE OF A HINGE FOR A DOOR, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with a housing. At least one receiving space for food is formed in the housing. The household appliance has at least one hinge that is arranged on a front of the housing. The household appliance also has a door that is arranged on the hinge. As a result, the door is pivotably arranged relative to the housing. One aspect of the invention also relates to a method.

Household appliances are known, for example, as household refrigeration appliances. These typically have a housing with a door pivotally mounted thereon. A hinge is implemented to allow this pivoting. Hinges of this type have bearing brackets. In this context, there are also configurations in which these bearing brackets are arranged on the front of the door. For example, they are screwed to a front flange of the housing. Such a configuration is known, for example, from EP 1 679481 A2. The bearing bracket there has an elongated, horizontal rail with which the bearing bracket is attached directly to the front of the housing. Furthermore, viewed in the width direction, this bearing bracket has a bearing pin arranged asymmetrically to this rail. The door is mounted on this bearing bolt. With such a completely asymmetrical bearing bracket, the door can only be mounted in one direction.

In addition, a hinge device for a domestic refrigerator is known from DE 203 12 282 U1. The hinge device has a bearing block which can be screwed onto a body of the household refrigeration appliance. This bearing block has a vertically oriented plate with which the bearing block can be screwed to the body. Viewed in the width direction, this plate has two separate mounting openings which are formed at a distance from one another and through which the screws can be passed. In addition, this bearing block has two separate bearings, which are formed side by side in the width direction. A bearing bolt, which is designed separately thereto, can be inserted and fastened into one of these bearings, in particular screwed into it. On this bearing pin a bearing bush can then be rotatably attached, which in turn can be attached to the door. The two bearings are arranged offset to the assembly openings. This bearing bracket can also only be installed and used in a specific position of the housing.

In the case of the known configurations of the hinges, different configurations are therefore required, which are mounted on the left-hand and right-hand side of the housing in order to be able to mount doors that can be pivoted differently in this respect. On the one hand, this increases the development effort and, on the other hand, the manufacturing and assembly effort.

It is the object of the present invention to create a household appliance in which a hinge is improved with regard to usability and storage of differently hinged doors.

This object is achieved by a domestic appliance and a method according to the independent claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with a housing. At least one receiving space for food is formed in the housing. The household appliance also has at least one hinge. This hinge is arranged on a front of the housing. The household appliance also has a door. This door is arranged on the hinge and is thereby pivotally arranged relative to the housing. The hinge has a bearing bracket that is fastened to an end face of the front with at least one fastening element. The bearing angle is constructed symmetrically when the household appliance is viewed from the front.

A symmetrical structure means in particular that functionally essential features of the bearing bracket are arranged symmetrically to one another. The symmetry is to be seen in particular in relation to a vertical axis of the bearing bracket. In particular, the vertical axis extends in the vertical direction of the household appliance. Functional features of the bearing bracket are in particular those that relate to a support function and/or holding function for attachments on the bearing bracket that are separate from the bearing bracket and/or those that have a function of connecting the bearing bracket to another component of the household appliance. Such features are, for example, a bearing bolt or a bearing journal for a door and/or at least one hole through which a fastening element, in particular a screw, can be passed so that the bearing bracket can be attached to a component, in particular a housing, of the household appliance. In one embodiment, the bearing angle is symmetrical only with respect to these features. It is then only component-related symmetric. With regard to other features, such as the shape of a carrier plate or a coupling plate and/or a contact plate, etc., the bearing angle can also be asymmetrical.

However, in one exemplary embodiment, the bearing angle can also be symmetrical in this respect and is then completely symmetrical. It is then not only symmetrical in relation to the components.

As a result, the bearing bracket is designed for optional installation on a left-hand end face of the front in the width direction and when viewing the household appliance from the front, or on a right-hand end face of the front. In both installation situations of the door on the bearing bracket, the door is thus arranged in the same position on the housing in the height direction of the household appliance and in the width direction of the household appliance in the closed state.

Such a symmetrical bearing bracket can thus be used both for right-hand and left-hand installation on an end face of the front of the housing. Thus, only one variant of a bearing bracket is required in order to be able to produce different variants of household appliances with regard to the opening side of the door. This one bearing angle can thus be used both for household appliances in which the door can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation on the left when viewed from the front. However, this bearing angle can also be used in household appliances in which a door, when viewed from the front, is intended to be pivotable about a right-hand vertical axis of rotation. When the household appliance is viewed from the front, the bearing angle is embodied symmetrically, viewed in the width direction. Due to this width symmetry, on the one hand, the installation position of the bearing bracket on the left-hand end face and in particular in relation to a left-hand end of the housing can be formed with the same spacing as a corresponding right-hand shoring, in which this bearing bracket then has the same distance to a right-hand end of the housing. As a result, the door is always arranged in the same height and width position on the housing, whether it is to be installed as a left-hand or right-hand door according to the invention.

In particular, this applies to the effect that receptacles on the front of the housing, which are provided for receiving fastening elements, are formed at the same distance with regard to their respective adjacent, left-hand and right-hand ends or walls of the housing. This means that, for example, in the case of receptacles that are designed as screw holes on the left-hand side for screws as fastening elements, a distance measured in the width direction from a left-hand end of the housing is equal to the distance from fastening elements that are correspondingly formed on the right-hand side and that are arranged or formed adjacent to a right-hand edge of the housing are, is. If such fastening element receptacles are also formed on the front of the housing symmetrically to a center of the front of the housing, such a bearing bracket that is symmetrical in this respect in the width direction can also result in a symmetrical installation position of the bearing bracket relative to this center of the housing or the center of the front of the housing .

This enables such a symmetrical positioning of the door on the front of the housing in a particularly simple manner. As a result, the assembly is also simplified by such an identical component in the form of the symmetrical bearing bracket. It is no longer necessary to pay attention to how the door is to be hinged and which bearing angle specifically required for this has to be used, but the same bearing angle can always be used here.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bearing bracket is embodied symmetrically with respect to an axis of symmetry oriented in the vertical direction of the household appliance.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bearing bracket has a contact plate that rests directly on the face of the front. In particular, the contact plate is completely in contact with this end face. This means that maximum support of these Contact plate results on the front side. This enables a particularly stable attachment of the bearing bracket.

In particular, viewed in the depth direction of the household appliance, the bearing bracket is arranged such that it projects forward from the end face. The bearing bracket thus does not extend backwards over this face but only forwards. In particular, the contact plate is therefore the component of the bearing bracket that is arranged furthest to the rear, viewed in the depth direction.

In addition to the contact plate, the bearing bracket has, in one embodiment, a support plate protruding forward at an angle from it. This support plate is designed to support a bearing bolt that extends in the vertical direction. The bearing pin is also part of the bearing bracket.

In particular, the contact plate and this support plate form an L-shape.

In one exemplary embodiment, the contact plate has at least two holes, viewed in the width direction of the domestic appliance and spaced apart from one another, for the passage of fastening elements. These fasteners are in particular screws. In one exemplary embodiment, these two holes are formed at the same height on the contact plate, viewed in the height direction of the household appliance. However, a related height offset can also be formed.

In particular, these holes are formed symmetrically to a vertical axis of the bearing bracket, this vertical axis being formed in the center of the bearing bracket when viewed from the front.

In particular, these holes are thus formed symmetrically to a center of the contact plate.

In this respect, the middle is to be understood in the width direction. In one embodiment, the bearing bracket has a bearing pin. The bearing pin is in particular formed in one piece on the bearing bracket. “In one piece” here and in the following is to be understood in particular as being formed from one piece, for example by casting, injection molding or reshaping. The bearing bolt preferably extends in the vertical direction. Viewed in the depth direction of the domestic appliance, the bearing bolt is arranged offset forwards with respect to the contact plate. The bearing bolt is integrated in particular on the support plate mentioned above. In particular, the bearing bolt extends with its longitudinal axis, which is oriented in particular in the vertical direction of the household appliance, perpendicular to the plane in which the support plate extends. Viewed in the width direction of the household appliance, the bearing pin is arranged in a projection view or when projected into the contact plate from the front such that it is arranged centrally in relation to the contact plate, in particular in relation to the complete bearing angle. If holes are provided in the contact plate (e.g. for fastening the bearing bracket), it can be provided in particular that the bearing pin, viewed in the width direction of the household appliance, is arranged in a projection view or when projecting into the contact plate from the front such that it is centered between the holes is arranged in the contact plate. When the household appliance is viewed from the front and thus also when the bearing angle is viewed from the front, these holes in the contact plate are formed symmetrically to the bearing pin when viewed in the width direction. In particular, an axis of symmetry can be seen in this regard, which extends in the height direction. This means that in such a front-side projection view, a distance measured in the width direction between the axis of symmetry of the bearing pin and one hole is equal to the corresponding distance between the axis of symmetry and the other hole. In this context, the bearing pin is arranged symmetrically to this axis of symmetry. This configuration is particularly advantageous. Because of this symmetrical structure between the bearing pin and the holes arranged laterally thereto in a front-side projection view, the above-mentioned installation is possible in a particularly simple manner. On the one hand, the bearing bracket is simple and symmetrical in design. On the other hand, it can be installed particularly easily and the door can be stored on it accordingly. However, it is precisely this symmetrical relationship between the centrally positioned bearing pin and the holes which are formed symmetrically thereto in the width direction that makes this symmetrical installation of the bearing bracket on the end face of the front of the housing very simple. Especially with them The above-mentioned configurations of the mounts for fastening elements on the end face of the front allow a highly symmetrical shoring concept for a door.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bearing bolt, viewed in the width direction of the household appliance, is smaller than a smallest distance, measured in the width direction, between the two holes. This is another very advantageous embodiment. As a result, fastening elements can be easily inserted and mounted in these holes without the bearing bolt being in the way when viewed in the depth direction. In this way, an assembly tool can simply be used to reach past the bearing bolt and the fastening element can be introduced into the holes arranged behind it and fastened. In particular, this is correspondingly advantageous for screws that then have to be screwed accordingly.

In a projection view, it is thus achieved that a bearing bolt does not completely overlap the holes in the width direction, in particular there is no overlap at all.

In one embodiment, the bearing bracket, in particular the bearing bolt, defines an axis of rotation of the door arranged thereon. When the household appliance is viewed from the front, the axis of rotation is arranged centrally between the holes when viewed in the width direction when projected into the contact plate. This is also a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, since the angle is always formed in such a way that an axis of rotation provided for the door is symmetrical to the holes. This also enables the corresponding symmetrical installation of the bearing bracket on the left-hand or right-hand side on the face of the front of the door and then also enables the same relative position of the door to the housing for both positions.

In one embodiment, the bearing bracket has at least one, in particular integrated, positioning element. Viewed in the depth direction of the household appliance, this positioning element protrudes further to the rear than the contact plate. In one exemplary embodiment, this positioning element protrudes into a receptacle or an introduction in the face of the front of the housing. A further mechanical coupling of the bearing bracket to the housing is thus achieved, in particular one interlocking coupling (e.g. a backlash-free interlocking coupling). In particular, this also improves or enables the bearing bracket to be secured against twisting about an axis oriented in the depth direction. This further improves the fixing of the position of the bearing bracket on the end face of the front of the housing. Viewed in the vertical direction, in one exemplary embodiment this positioning element is at a different height than the holes in the contact plate. This also supports the fixed position of the bearing bracket on the face of the front. The introduction can be formed by a receptacle or a bore, for example a blind hole.

In one embodiment, the hinge includes a cable routing device. As intended, at least one cable of the household appliance can be laid or laid between the door and the housing by means of this cable routing device. This is another advantageous embodiment. This is because components that are arranged in the door can also be supplied with energy and/or data signals and/or a control signal, including an analog one. This means that the electronic components in the door can exchange signals with components in the housing and, in this respect, can in particular also communicate. The proposed concept is particularly advantageous precisely in the case of such configurations of household appliances. This is because the cable routing device is thus built into the hinge and in this respect is also arranged in it in a space-saving and compact manner. An already existing interface between the door and the housing, which is formed by the hinge, is thus used multifunctionally.

In one embodiment, the bearing bracket has an integrated bearing pin. Here and in the following, “integrated” is to be understood as meaning that the two elements are formed integrally, ie in one piece with one another. The hinge has a bush that is separate from the bearing bracket. In particular, the socket has at least one plug-in channel. This is intended for inserting the bearing pin into the bush. The bearing pin thus engages in this plug-in channel when installed. A corresponding mechanical coupling is thus also achieved.

In one embodiment, the plug-in channel has an inner contour with a clamping structure. The clamp structure is intended to be clamped with the bearing bolt. This allows a highly effective mechanical Coupling between the socket and the bearing pin can be achieved. In particular, a non-rotatable coupling between the bushing and the bearing pin is thus also achieved. A relative rotational movement between the bushing and the bearing bolt, in particular about the axis of rotation of the door, is thus prevented.

In one exemplary embodiment, the clamping structure has at least one clamping pin, in particular two clamping pins, which interact in a clamping manner with the outside of the bearing bolt.

In one embodiment, the socket is part of the cable routing device. The socket then has a cable bushing. This cable bushing can in particular be a cable duct. In accordance with regulations, this cable bushing is thus designed for the passage of a cable. This means that the cable is also arranged and routed in a particularly protected manner. Undesirable mechanical influences on the cable can thus also be avoided when the door is pivoted relative to the bearing bracket. Kinks or chafing on the cable during such a movement of the door can thus be prevented.

In one embodiment, the plug-in channel of the socket is separated from the cable bushing of the socket. This means that the channels provided in this regard are separate from one another. The cable is thus stored in a different channel than the bearing pin, which engages in the socket. Undesirable impairments of the cable can also be avoided in this way. On the other hand, this also makes it possible for the bushing to be connected to the bearing pin in a mechanically stable manner. Coupling forces required for this can be generated independently of the cable, which is laid in the preferably different duct, namely the cable duct.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bushing is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner to the bearing pin that is separate therefrom.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bearing bracket is designed in one piece, in particular made of metal. It preferably has the contact plate, the carrier plate already mentioned and the bearing bolt. In one embodiment, the bearing bolt has a cuboid shape.

In one embodiment, the hinge has an adapter part that is separate from the bearing bracket. This adapter part is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a bearing bolt of the bearing bracket. A bushing of the hinge that is preferably present is arranged seated on the adapter part that is separate therefrom, viewed in the vertical direction. In this exemplary embodiment, the mutually separate parts in the form of the bushing and the adapter part are thus arranged stacked on the bearing bracket, which is in turn separate therefrom, in particular placed on the bearing bolt and arranged stacked.

In one exemplary embodiment, the adapter part acts together with a spring, in particular a plastic spring, of the household refrigeration appliance. The plastic spring is attached to the door and slides over the adapter piece attached to the hinge when the door is closed. This generates a torque on the door, which closes the door or keeps it closed from a certain opening angle. In addition, in one embodiment, a stopper is mounted on the door together with a plastic spring which hits the adapter part and stops the door at a certain opening angle. As a result, the household refrigeration appliance also has a partially automatic locking function.

In an exemplary embodiment of the hinge without this adapter part, a bearing bracket without a locking function is implemented. If the hinge has this additional adapter part, then a bearing bracket with a locking function is implemented.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the bearing bracket has the already mentioned and horizontally oriented support plate or coupling plate. In one exemplary embodiment, a stand of the household appliance that is separate from the bearing bracket is arranged directly, in particular fastened, on this coupling plate. In particular, this base is screwed to the coupling plate. For this purpose, the coupling plate has a threaded hole into which the base can be screwed with a threaded screw. This design not only allows the base to be attached to the bearing bracket, but also allows the base to be adjusted in height allows, this can be adjusted depending on the screwing position of the base in the thread of the threaded hole.

In particular, it can be provided that the coupling plate has a first section at a first height level (H1) and a second section at a second height level (H2) that differs from the first height level (H1). The height levels are measured in the height direction (y-direction) of the household appliance. The first portion and/or the second portion is preferably substantially or fully planar (notwithstanding e.g. additional embossing to increase rigidity) and/or preferably horizontally oriented. This configuration not only increases the stability of the bearing bracket. Rather, the two sections that are offset in the vertical direction create areas of the bearing bracket that advantageously enable different functions. In particular, it can be provided that the first height level (H1) is greater than the second height level (H2) and the bearing bolt is formed on the first section or is formed adjacent to the first section and a threaded borehole accommodating the base is in the second section is trained. This makes it possible for the threaded bore to be arranged lower than the bearing bolt (or the first section). In particular, it can be provided that the threaded hole lies completely below the first height level (H1). In this way, a sufficient distance between an upper end of the threaded screw on the one hand and a lower end of the door on the other hand can be made possible even when the base is in a completely screwed-in position. The threaded screw can therefore not collide with the door. On the other hand, however, a sufficient adjustment of the device height can still be achieved with the stand. In one embodiment, the bearing bracket is made of metal. In particular, it can be a sheet metal angle.

In one embodiment, the separate adapter part is arranged on the bearing bolt in a rotationally fixed manner. For this purpose, the adapter part has a feed-through hole through which the bearing bolt extends. In addition, the adapter part can also be screwed to the bearing bracket, in particular the coupling plate or the carrier plate. In one embodiment, the socket is then placed on this adapter part, which here then can also be referred to as a normally open socket, attached. It too is then attached to the bearing pin.

In one embodiment, the holes in the contact plate are arranged in such a way that these holes can be accessed even when the bushing is already mounted on the bearing bolt and screws can be inserted into the holes in the contact plate with a tool, for example a screwdriver. In particular, this can also take place when viewed in the depth direction of the household appliance and a corresponding assembly of the screws in the depth direction past the socket can be made possible.

In particular in the variant without the adapter part, the hinge is constructed in such a way that the holes in the contact plate are also accessible when the door is already arranged on the hinge. Access to these holes and fitting with screws can then also take place, which can then also be correspondingly screwed with a tool.

The exemplary embodiments already mentioned above with at least one positioning element on the bearing bracket can also be implemented in such a way that a plurality of positioning elements are present. Since such a bearing bracket is produced by forming and/or stamping, these positioning elements can also be produced at no cost. They can easily be generated at the same time as this forming and/or stamping process. In particular, no additional material is required for this.

In another exemplary embodiment, however, the positioning elements can also be formed by separate pins which are non-detachably attached in the bearing bracket. For example, pressing into receiving holes in the contact plate can be provided here.

In one embodiment, the coupling plate can have embossing. This increases the torsional rigidity.

In one exemplary embodiment, the adapter part has an indentation that is open at the edge. This makes it easy to guide the cable past the adapter part. at In this exemplary embodiment, the cable then does not have to be passed through a hole that is closed all the way around or on the peripheral side.

In one embodiment, the cable bushing in the socket is not circular but oval in cross section.

Viewed in the height direction, the upper end and/or the lower end of this cable bushing can be rounded. This avoids sharp edges or corners. This avoids damage to the cable. In one exemplary embodiment, the adapter part is designed for installation on the bearing bracket in a symmetrical manner. When the door hinges are changed, it can thus be removed from the bearing bracket, rotated by 180° and reinstalled on the bearing bracket.

In one embodiment, viewed in the height direction, the contact plate protrudes in the same direction from the coupling plate or the carrier plate as the bearing bolt. In this regard, a U-like shape of the bearing bracket is thus formed. Since the bearing pin protrudes around the contact plate in the same direction from the coupling plate or the carrier plate, the height of the bearing angle is also reduced compared to exemplary embodiments in which the bearing pin protrudes from the coupling plate in a positive vertical direction and the contact plate from the coupling plate in a negative vertical direction protrudes.

The design of the hinge also improves the automatic attachment, eg gluing, of the base, in particular a cardboard base of the housing of the household appliance. Because there is no longer any space for the hinge screwed from below on the bottom of the device. The bearing bracket is attached and screwed exclusively from the front or the screw connection is only provided on the face of the front. In addition, the installation position of the base of the household appliance is no longer directly on the housing, but rather on this bearing angle, also means that this base no longer has to be reached under the housing during assembly. The installation position of the base is thus shifted forward when viewed in the depth direction. This also means damage to the bottom of the case, in particular if it's made of cardboard, avoided. The door is thus also better protected against damage from the adjustable foot or the pedestal when it is being installed. The possibility of the device tipping over when installing the base is also reduced.

The advantageous exemplary embodiment with the cable routing in the hinge also makes it easy to install electronic components, an operating and/or display unit and/or a camera or the like in the door. In the advantageous exemplary embodiments mentioned, this cable only has to be threaded through the advantageously designed bushing, but no longer has to be guided all the way through other components of the hinge.

In addition, the exemplary embodiments mentioned also create a standard system as a hinge, which can be used both for household appliances with such a cable and without such a cable. This is also possible both for devices with a closer in the area of the hinge and without such a closer in the area of the hinge.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a household appliance, in which the following steps are carried out:

- Providing a housing of the household appliance, wherein at least one receiving space for food is formed in the housing,

- providing at least one symmetrical bearing angle of a hinge of the household appliance, the hinge being designed as intended for receiving a door of the household appliance, so that the door can be pivoted relative to the housing in the assembled state,

- Optional generation of a variant of the household appliance with regard to the side of a door stop, in that the symmetrical bearing bracket is optionally installed on a left-hand end face of a front of the housing or on a right-hand end face of the front of the housing and, in particular due to the symmetrical structure of the bearing bracket, in In both possible installation situations, the door arranged on the symmetrical bearing angle is automatically arranged in the same position relative to the housing when closed in the height direction and in the width direction of the household appliance. With this method, using the same bearing bracket, installation can be carried out on two different sides of the front and the door can still be positioned in the same way in relation to the housing. This enables simple variant formation of household appliances in relation to how the respective door stop is provided.

Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the household appliance are to be regarded as advantageous exemplary embodiments of the method. The physical elements and/or specified positions of elements enable the specific method steps alone or in operative connection.

The indications “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction” etc. are the intended use and intended arrangement of the door or given positions and orientations of the device.

Further features of the invention result from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations, without going beyond the scope of the invention leaving. The invention is therefore also to be considered to include and disclose embodiments that are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but that result from the explained embodiments and can be generated by separate combinations of features. Versions and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed which therefore do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Furthermore, embodiments and combinations of features, in particular through the embodiments presented above, are to be regarded as disclosed which go beyond or deviate from the combinations of features presented in the back references of the claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. Show it: 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention with the door open;

2 shows a perspective-schematic representation of household appliance variants with regard to a door hinged on the left and a door hinged on the right, as can be realized by symmetrical bearing angles of the household appliance;

3 shows a perspective view of a portion of a household appliance with a mounted hinge;

FIG. 4 shows the illustration according to FIG. 3 with the hinge removed;

5 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a hinge for an embodiment of a household appliance;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a bearing bracket of the hinge according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bearing bracket for a hinge according to FIG. 5;

8 shows a schematic view from the front of an exemplary embodiment of a bearing bracket which is embodied symmetrically;

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the illustration according to FIG. 3;

10 shows an embodiment of a bushing of the hinge;

11 shows a side view of a partial section of the exemplary embodiment of a household appliance in the region of the mounted hinge; 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled hinge;

Fig. 13 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a

Hinge of a household appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective sectional illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bushing of the hinge according to FIG. 13; and

15 shows a perspective view of an adapter part of the hinge according to FIG. 13.

Elements that are the same or have the same function are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In Fig. 1, a household appliance 1 is shown in a schematic representation. The household appliance 1 can be, for example, a cooking appliance such as a microwave oven or a steamer or an oven. However, the household appliance 1 can also be, for example, a bottle storage cabinet, such as a wine storage cabinet.

In particular, the household appliance 1 is a household refrigeration appliance in one exemplary embodiment. It is then trained to store and preserve food. In this context, it can be, for example, a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined fridge-freezer.

The household appliance 1 has a housing 2 . At least one receiving space 3 for food is formed in the housing 2 . In this context, the foodstuffs can be edible or drinkable foodstuffs.

The receiving space 3 is intended to be filled with food. The household appliance 1 also has a door 4 . The door 4 is movably arranged on the housing 2 . The door 4 is provided to close the receiving space 3 .

The household appliance 1 has at least one hinge 5 . The hinge 5 is arranged on a front 6 of the housing 2 . In the exemplary embodiment, the door 4 is arranged in the housing 2 by means of a further hinge 7 . The hinges 5 and 7 make it possible for the door 4 to be pivotable relative to the housing 2 about a vertical axis A, which is oriented in the vertical direction (y-direction) of the household appliance 1 . The door 4 is placed directly on the hinges 5 and 7.

The front 6 has an end face 8 . At this end 8, the hinges 5 and 7 are attached directly. The hinges 5 and 7 are thus attached to the housing 2 exclusively on the front side.

The housing 2 has two opposite ends 9 and 10 here in the form of side walls when viewed in the width direction (x-direction). These opposite ends 9 and 10 are formed by vertical side walls in one embodiment. These opposite ends 9 and 10 are in particular the lateral boundaries of the housing 2.

The hinges 5 and 7 are attached to this front 6 of the housing 2 in a detachable manner. In particular, they are bolted to it.

Generally speaking, at least one hinge 5, 7 is designed as intended for fold-over symmetrical installation on the front 6. This means that such a hinge 5 when viewed from the front and thus when looking at the loading opening of the receiving space 3 when the door 4 is open and on the door 4 when the door is closed is on the left-hand side and thus adjacent to the first end 9 of the housing 2 or also on the right-hand side and thus adjacent to the opposite end 10 of the housing 2 on the front 6 can be mounted as intended. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the door 4 is hinged on the left when viewed from the front. This means that the hinges 5 and 7 are arranged on the left-hand side and are therefore arranged adjacent to the first end 9 on the front 6 are. This hinge 5, 7 can thus be installed as intended either on a left-hand end face 8a or on a right-hand end face 8b of the front 6. In both installation situations, the door 4 then attached to it is arranged in the same position on the housing 2 in the height direction and in the width direction of the household appliance 1 in the closed state.

In Fig. 1, a first receptacle 11 and a second receptacle 12 is shown in a schematic representation. The recordings 11 and 12 are in particular screw recordings for screws that represent fasteners. These receptacles 11 and 12 are formed here on the right-hand end face 8b. Correspondingly, in a further exemplary embodiment, two such receptacles can also be formed on the right-hand side. These cannot be seen in Figure 1 as the hinge 5 is attached to them.

As can also be seen in FIG. 1, a corresponding configuration with receptacles 13 and 14 is also realized in the upper area. The same applies to the arrangement shown in the area of the hinge 7.

It is provided in one embodiment that a widthwise (x-direction) dimensioned distance a1 between the receptacle 11 and the adjacent end 10 is in particular just as large as a corresponding distance of a receptacle in the hinge 5. This means that on the left-hand side End face 8a in one embodiment, two such receptacles 11, 12 are also provided, to which the hinge 5 is attached. There, too, the distance between the outer receptacle 11 and the adjacent first end 9, measured in this width direction, corresponds to the distance a1.

In one embodiment, this also applies to such a horizontal distance between the further inner receptacle 12 and the adjacent second end 10 and in comparison to a correspondingly spaced further inner receptacle 12 for the hinge 5 in Fig. 1 in relation to the end 9 .

It can be provided that a first variant of the household appliance 1 is provided, in which the door 4 is hinged and mounted on the left when viewed from the front is, as already shown in Fig. 1 with the door 4. In this embodiment, the receptacles 11, 12, 13 and 14 shown on the right-hand end face 8b may not be present. However, it is also possible that in one exemplary embodiment of a household appliance 1, both the receptacles 11 to 14 are formed on the right-hand end face 8b and the further receptacles 11 to 14, which are mirror-symmetrical to a central axis M, are formed on the left-hand end face 8a.

In a further exemplary embodiment of a variant of a household appliance 1, it can be provided that only the receptacles 11 to 14 shown on the right in FIG. In such an exemplary embodiment, the door 4 can then only be struck on the right-hand side and can then be pivoted about an axis of rotation A formed on the right-hand side.

In all three possible exemplary embodiments of a household appliance 1 with regard to the individual design of the receptacles 11 to 14, an identical hinge 5, 7, which is explained below, can be used as an identical component.

In Fig. 2, the household appliance 1 is shown with a closed door 4 in a perspective view. The possible shoring variants of the door 4 are indicated here as examples, which can be pivoted about a left-hand, vertical axis of rotation A when viewed from the front, or can be pivoted about a right-hand, vertical axis of rotation A when the hinges 5, 7, in particular the bearing brackets, are mounted symmetrically can. The respective pivotability is also indicated by the arrows shown symbolically.

For the sake of clarity, FIG. 2 shows the respective position of the lower hinge 5, which is an example here, of this fold-over symmetrical installation option. Irrespective of whether this hinge 5 is installed on the left-hand side or on the right-hand side, the distance from the first end 9 or from the second end 10 viewed in the width direction is the same in one exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the door 4 is in the same position on the housing 2 in the closed state for both installation variants. The center M also represents an axis of symmetry oriented in the height direction, which is formed centrally and on which the hinges 5 can be mounted symmetrically, depending on whether a door 4 hinged on the left or a door 4 hinged on the right is to be implemented.

In Fig. 3, a partial detail of the household appliance 1 is shown in a perspective view. A lower right partial area of the housing 2 when viewed from the front is shown here. In the example shown here, the hinge 5 is installed on the front on the right-hand end face 8b.

It is shown here assembled. The hinge 5 has a bearing bracket 15 . The bearing bracket 15 is formed in one piece. In particular, it is made of metal. For example, it can be a sheet metal angle. In addition, the hinge has a bushing 16 . The bushing 16 is a component of the hinge 5 that is separate from the bearing bracket 15. The bushing 16 is plugged onto a bearing pin of the bearing bracket 15, which cannot yet be seen here. In addition, a cable 17 is shown. The cable 17 of the household appliance 1 is laid on this hinge 5 in the region of the hinge 5 . The cable 17 ends on the one hand in the door 4 and on the other hand in the housing 2.

FIG. 4 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 3, but the hinge 5 is shown in the dismantled state. As a result, the receptacles 11 and 12 can be seen on the right-hand end face 8b.

In addition, an opening 18 is also shown, through which the cable 17 is routed into the housing.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, in the exploded view shown, the hinge has a number of separate parts. On the one hand, this is the bearing bracket 15. This bearing bracket 15 is U-shaped in the exemplary embodiment. It has a contact plate 19 . This is intended to be in direct contact with the end face 8a, 8b. Viewed in the width direction, the contact plate 19 has a first hole 20 and at least one opposite second hole 21 . The two holes 20 and 21 are for the passage of fasteners, in particular screws provided. Thus, the bearing bracket 15 and thus the entire hinge 5 can be screwed to the front 6. In the exemplary embodiment, the two holes 20 and 21 are formed at the same level as viewed in the vertical direction.

The bearing bracket 15 also has a carrier plate or a coupling plate 22 . This extends horizontally. It is arranged at an angle, in particular 90°, to the contact plate 19 . In addition, the bearing bracket 15 has a bearing pin 23 . The bearing pin 23 is spaced forward in the depth direction (z-direction) from the contact plate 19 . It extends away from the coupling plate 22 in the same direction as the contact plate 19.

In addition, a base 24 is shown in FIG. The base 24 is designed separately from the bearing bracket 15 . With the base 24, the household appliance 1 is placed directly on the floor. The base 24 is intended for direct attachment to the bearing bracket 15 . In particular, the coupling plate 22 has a screw receptacle 25 for this purpose. In this, the base 24 can be screwed with a threaded pin 26 and its height can be adjusted.

In Fig. 6, an embodiment of a bearing bracket 15 is shown in a perspective view. It can be seen that the bearing pin 23 is angular in cross-section in one exemplary embodiment, in particular rectangular. The coupling plate 22 has embossings 27 . This makes it stiffer. The coupling plate 22 can also have screw holes 28 and/or 29 . An adapter part not yet shown here, which can be part of an embodiment of a hinge 5, 7, can be screwed to the bearing bracket 15 at the screw hole 28 or at the screw hole 29, depending on its installation position.

As can also be seen in FIG. 6, the bearing bracket 15 has a positioning element 30 in the exemplary embodiment shown. The positioning element 30 extends further to the rear in the depth direction (z-direction) than the contact plate 19. This positioning element 30, which can engage in a receptacle in the front side 8a or 8b, can improve the secure mounting of the bearing bracket 15 on the front 6 will. In particular, this can increase security against twisting. For this purpose, the positioning element 30 is simply inserted into the receptacle. There can also be more than one positioning element 30 . In this regard, reference may be made to the exemplary embodiment in FIG.

Two positioning elements 30 and 31 are provided here.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6, the positioning element 30 can be produced by punching out and bending over from the sheet metal material of the bearing bracket 15 itself.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 7 , the positioning elements 30 and 31 there are separate pins which are pressed into the bearing bracket 15 , in particular the contact plate 19 .

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the positioning elements 30 or 30 and 31 are formed below the holes 20 and 21 viewed in the vertical direction.

A bearing bracket 15 viewed from the front (viewed in the negative z-direction) is shown in a schematic representation in FIG. 8 . In a projection view, in which the projection plane is the yx plane, the bearing pin 23 is formed centrally between the holes 20 and 21 . In this context, the bearing bracket 15 has an axis of symmetry M1 oriented in the vertical direction. In this connection, the holes 20 and 21 are formed in particular mirror-symmetrically to this axis of symmetry M1. The bearing pin 23 lies on this axis of symmetry M1 and is also designed symmetrically to this axis M1. This also means that in this projection plane, the center axes M2 and M3 of the holes 20 and 21 are at the same distance from the axis of symmetry M1, viewed in the width direction. In addition, it is provided that a distance a2 is equal to a distance a3 in this projection plane. In this projection plane, the distance a2 designates a distance, measured in the width direction, between a left-hand boundary edge 23a of the bearing pin 23 and the central axis M2. The distance a3 in this projection plane also denotes a horizontally dimensioned distance between a right-hand side edge 23b of the bearing pin 23 and this central axis M3 of the hole 21. This symmetry of the bearing bracket 15 can be used to align the symmetrically folded shoring to the Shots 11 and 12 are made either on the left-hand end face 8a or on the right-hand end face 8b. In particular, this symmetrical shoring, which is to be understood with respect to the central axis M of the household appliance 1, is also achieved when the receptacles 11, 12 are arranged in the manner already explained in relation to FIG. The same then applies in particular to the recordings 13, 14.

As can also be seen in Fig. 8, the bearing bolt 23 viewed in the width direction is smaller than the distance between the holes 20 and 21 measured in this width direction Holes 20 and 21 are arranged completely next to the bearing pin 23 in one embodiment. Viewed in the depth direction (z-direction), it is thus possible for screws 32 and 33 to be guided past the bearing pin 23 without any problems and then inserted into the holes 20 and 21 . In addition, this geometric design also makes it possible to use a tool, for example a screwdriver, to easily mount past this bearing pin 23 in the depth direction in order to then screw the screws.

Thus, a width dimension of the bearing pin 23 measured in the width direction is smaller than a distance measured in the width direction between the hole axes M2 and M3, in particular smaller than the distance between the holes 20 and 21, which is measured between the hole edges facing one another.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the partial area according to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the installed state of the hinge 5 on the housing 2 , in particular on the front 6 , being shown here. The symmetrical position can be seen here. In particular, it is generally also provided that the bearing bracket 15 defines the axis of rotation A of the door 4, with this axis of rotation A viewed in the width direction being arranged centrally between the holes 20 and 21 in a projection view as explained for FIG. The plane of projection can thus lie in the contact plate 19 in particular in the case of the exemplary embodiments already explained.

Screws 32 and 33 are shown. These screws 32 and 33 pass through the holes 20 and 21 and are screwed directly into the receptacles 12,11. As already indicated above, the hinge 5 has a cable routing device 34 . The cable routing device 34 is intended to be designed to route at least one cable 17 between the door 4 and the housing 2 in the hinge 5 .

In particular, the cable routing device 34 has a cable bushing 35 in the socket 16, as shown in FIG. In this context, FIG. 10 shows the bushing 16 viewed in the direction of the bushing axis, which runs parallel to the axis of rotation A in the assembled state. The socket 16 thus has this cable bushing 35 . This cable bushing 35 is in particular a cable duct.

In addition, the socket 16 has a plug-in channel 36 . The plug-in channel 36 is separated from the cable bushing 35 . The plug-in channel 36 is intended to be plugged onto the bearing pin 23 . The bearing pin 23 is thus intended to be inserted into the plug-in channel 36 .

The plug-in channel 36 has an inner contour 37 . The inner contour 37 has a clamping structure 38 . In the exemplary embodiment, the clamping structure 38 has two clamping pins. As intended, the clamping structure 38 achieves a clamping holding of the bearing pin 23 in this plug-in channel 36 . The bushing 16 is mechanically coupled to the bearing pin 23 in a rotationally fixed manner, viewed in the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation A. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the cable bushing 35 and the plug-in channel 36 are two separate channels.

In Fig. 11 is a side view of a lower portion of the household appliance 1 is shown. In particular, a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 3 is shown. As can be seen here, the entire hinge 5, in particular the entire bearing bracket 15, extends in front of the front 6 and thus also in front of the end face 8b, as shown here. The bearing bracket 15 is only attached to this end face 8b, in particular screwed on. Starting from this end face 8b, it extends forward in the depth direction. In addition, it can also be seen that the base 24 is not arranged directly on the housing 2, but exclusively and only on the hinge 5, in particular the bearing bracket 15.

The base 24 can be supported on a shelf 44, e.g. kitchen floor.

The coupling plate 22 has a first section 22a and a second section 22b arranged offset thereto in the vertical direction y. The first section 22a is at a first height level H1. The second section 22b is at a second height level H2. The height level H1 is greater than the height level H2. The height levels H1, H2 are each measured by the top surface of the substantially planar sections 22a, 22b. The bearing pin 23 is formed adjacent to the first section 22a. The threaded hole for receiving the adjustable foot 24 is formed in the second section 22b. In the illustration according to FIG. 11, the base 24 is not screwed into the bearing bracket 15 as far as it will go. However, if the base 24 is screwed in further until it strikes the bearing bracket 15, the lower-lying second section 22b can prevent the base 24 from colliding with a lower edge (of the door, not shown).

FIG. 12 again shows a perspective representation of the hinge 5 with the base 24, as has been explained up to now.

In Fig. 13, a further embodiment of a hinge 5 is shown in an exploded view. In contrast to the previously explained exemplary embodiments, in this hinge 5 the bushing 16 is designed to be smaller when viewed in the vertical direction. In addition, an additional adapter part 39 is provided in this exemplary embodiment of the hinge 5 . The adapter part 39 is separate from the socket 16 and separate from the bearing bracket 5. This exemplary embodiment of the hinge 5 is designed with a locking function. In contrast, the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 9, 11 and 12 is designed without such a locking function.

As shown in the perspective view in FIG. 15, the adapter part 39 has a plug-in channel 40 . This plug-in channel 40 is intended for the bearing pin 23 to engage or extend through. In particular, the plug-in channel 40 is also designed here so that a clamping Holder between the adapter part 39 and the bearing pin 23 is realized. The adapter part 39 is also arranged on the bearing bracket 15 so that it cannot rotate. In particular, it is arranged on the bearing bolt 23 so that it cannot rotate.

As already explained in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7, the bearing bracket 15 can have the screw holes 28 and 29. Depending on the installation position of the adapter part 39 on the bearing bracket 15, this adapter part 39 can be screwed to it with a screw 41 (FIG. 13). This screw 41 is passed through a hole 42 in the adapter part 39 .

In this exemplary embodiment, it can also be provided that the adapter part 23 has an indentation 43 that is open at the edge. This is intended to allow the cable 17 to be laid inside. Nevertheless, in this exemplary embodiment it is then not necessary for the cable 17 to be routed or inserted through an explicit hole which is bordered or closed on the peripheral side.

The adapter part 39 can also be installed upside down on the bearing bracket 15. Starting from the position shown in FIG. 15, it can be slipped onto the bearing pin 23 and the hole 42 aligned with the hole 29 and then a corresponding screw connection can be formed. However, the adapter part 39 can be rotated by 180°, starting from the illustration in FIG. A corresponding screw connection can then also take place in this regard.

In Fig. 14 is a perspective sectional view of the bushing 16 is shown. It can be seen that an upper edge and/or a lower edge of the cable bushing 35 are rounded. This prevents damage to the cable that is routed through it. Reference List

1 household appliance

Housing

3 recording room

4 door

hinge

6 fronts

hinge

8 Front face Left-hand front face

8b right-hand end face

9 end

10 end

11 recording

12 recording

13 recording

14 recording

15 bearing angles

16 socket

17 cables

opening

19 attachment plate

20 hole

21 holes

22 coupling plate

23 bearing bolts

23a boundary edge

24 stand

25 screw mount

grub screw

27 embossing

28 screw hole 29 screw hole

30 positioning element

31 positioning element

32 screw

33 Screw 34 Cable management device

35 cable entry

36 plug channel

37 inner contour

38 clamp structure 39 adapter part

40 plug channel

41 screw

42 holes

43 indentation 44 shelf

A axis M center axis

M1 axis of symmetry

M2 center axis M3 center axis a1 distance a2 distance a3 distance

H1 first height level H2 second height level x width direction y height direction

depth direction

Claims

patent claims

1. Household appliance (1) with a housing (2) in which at least one receiving space (3) for food is formed, with at least one hinge (5, 7) which is arranged on a front (6) of the housing (2). , and with a door (4) which is arranged on the hinge (5, 7) and is thereby arranged to be pivotable to the housing (2), the hinge (5, 7) having a bearing bracket (15) which is on one end face (8, 8a, 8b) of the front (6) with at least one fastening element (32, 33), characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) is constructed symmetrically when the household appliance (1) is viewed from the front.

2. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) is formed symmetrically to a vertical direction (y) of the household appliance (1) oriented axis of symmetry (M1).

3. Household appliance (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) has a contact plate (19) which rests directly on the end face (8, 8a, 8b), the contact plate (19) in particular being at least has two holes (20, 21) spaced apart from one another in the width direction (x) for the passage of screws (32, 33) as fastening elements.

4. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) has a bearing pin (23) which is offset forward in the depth direction (z) of the household appliance (1) to the contact plate (19). , wherein the bearing pin (23) viewed in the width direction (x) is arranged centrally when projected into the plane of the contact plate (19).

5. Household appliance (1) according to claim 3 and claim 4, characterized in that the bearing pin (23) viewed in the width direction (x) is arranged centrally between the holes (20, 21) when projecting into the plane of the contact plate (19). , in particular the bearing pin (23) viewed in the direction of width (x) is smaller than a smallest distance between the holes (20, 21) measured in the direction of width (x).

6. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) defines an axis of rotation (A) of the door (4), the axis of rotation (A) viewed in the width direction (x) when projected into the Plane of the contact plate (19) is arranged centrally, in particular centrally between two in the width direction (x) spaced apart from each other in the contact plate (19) holes (10, 21) is arranged.

7. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge (5, 7) has a cable routing device (34) with which at least one cable (17) is intended to be routed between the door (4) and the housing (2nd ) can be laid or has been laid.

8. Household appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) has an integrated bearing pin (23), and the hinge (5, 7) has a separate socket (16) with a plug-in channel (36). , into which the bearing pin (23) engages.

9. Household appliance (1) according to claim 7 and claim 8, characterized in that the socket (16) is part of the cable routing device (34) and additionally has a cable bushing (35), in particular a cable duct, for at least one cable (17).

10. Household appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the plug-in channel (36) of the socket (16) for the bearing pin (23) is separated from the cable bushing (35) in the socket (16).

11. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the hinge (5, 7) has a separate adapter part (39) which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a bearing bolt (23) of the bearing bracket (15), the socket (16) being seated on the adapter part (39) which is separate therefrom.

12. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing bracket (15) has a horizontally oriented coupling plate (22) on which a base (24) of the household appliance (1) is arranged directly.

13. Household appliance (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the coupling plate (22) has a first section (22a) at a first level (H1) and a second section (22b) at a level different from the first level (H1). Height level (H2) has.

14. Household appliance (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the first height level (H1) is greater than the second height level (H2) and the bearing pin (23) on the first section (22a) is formed adjacent and the base ( 24) receiving threaded bore is formed in the second portion (22b).

15. A method for producing a household appliance (1), in which the following steps are carried out:

- Providing a housing (2) of the household appliance (1), in which at least one receiving space (3) for food is formed,

- Providing at least one symmetrical bearing angle (15) of a hinge (5, 7) of the household appliance (1), the hinge (5, 7) for receiving a door (4) of the household appliance (1) being designed so that the door (4) can be pivoted relative to the housing (2) in the assembled state,

- Optionally creating a variant of the household appliance (1) with respect to the stop of the door (4) by the symmetrical bearing bracket (15) optionally on a left-hand end face (8a) of a front (6) of the housing (2) or on a right-hand end face ( 8b) the front (6) of the housing (2) is installed and in both possible installation situations the door (4) arranged on the symmetrical bearing bracket (15) in the closed state in the height direction (y) and in the width direction (x) of the household appliance (1 ) is arranged in the same position as the housing (2).