US20230408180A1

US20230408180A1 - Household appliance having a storage container

Info

Publication number: US20230408180A1
Application number: US18/036,697
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Rehage; Steffen Tenhumberg; Gerrit Staufenberg; Johannes TIWISINA
Original assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-11-16
Filing date: 2021-11-09
Publication date: 2023-12-21
Also published as: DE102020130185A1; KR20230107596A; JP2023548880A; WO2022101201A1; CN116472432A; EP4244555A1

Abstract

A household appliance has a body, which has an opening that can be closed by a front panel and a storage container that can be moved out of the body through the opening and raised. At least one pivot arm is disposed on the body and at least one slotted guide is connected to or formed on the front panel. The storage container is coupled to a free end of the pivot arm and being guided in the slotted guide.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator or a freezer, comprising a body having an opening that can be closed by means of a front panel. Further, the household appliance comprises a storage container which is movable out of the body through the opening and is liftable.
In addition to compartments, household appliances such as refrigerators or freezers often have containers that can be moved out of the body, e.g., stored on guide rails, in order to put away or remove products to be stored. If the containers are arranged in a lower area of a household appliance that extends to the floor, this can be cumbersome for users.
EP 1 630 506 B1 describes a refrigerator in which a basket is displaceably arranged in a drawer, wherein the basket is assigned a lifting device which, after the drawer has been moved out, can lift the basket, driven by a drive unit, so that products can be stored or removed more easily. The lifting device comprises a frame mounted for linear movement on vertically aligned guide rails, on which the basket is positioned as a storage container. For raising and lowering the lifting frame, an electromotively driven pivot arm is provided, which rotatably supports a roller at its free end, which rolls on an underside of the lifting frame. The guides for the lifting frame and also the drive unit with the pivot arm are mounted on the inside of a front panel which, mounted on the aforementioned pull-out guides, can be moved out of the body.
A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the drawer is extended manually, which in turn requires the user to bend down to the drawer. In addition, the mounting of the lifting frame on the extendable front panel means that when the drawer is extended, the entire weight of the storage container rests on the pull-out guides via the front panel, which are accordingly subjected to a high torque when fully extended.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a household appliance of the type mentioned above, in which a storage container can be moved and lifted out of a body without the need for manual intervention. This can be achieved using a drive unit coupled to the storage container in a mechanically simple and as robust as possible manner and which is supported within the body and relieves the front panel.
A household appliance according to the invention is characterized in that at least one pivot arm is arranged on the body and that at least one slotted guide is connected to the front panel or is formed thereon, wherein the storage container is coupled to a free end of the pivot arm on the one hand and is guided in the slotted guide on the other hand.
Via the pivot arm, the storage container can be moved out of the body and lifted by a single movement—the pivoting of the pivot arm. The slotted guide couples the storage container to the front panel, which moves with it and does not have to be driven separately. The slotted guide also performs a guide function for the storage container, which can thus be suitably aligned. In particular, at least part of the guide can be used so that the storage container faces upwards with its loading and unloading opening.
In the context of the application, the term “storage container” refers to any arrangement that enables objects to be stored to be accommodated. In particular, the storage container can also be of multi-part design and comprise a frame-like receptacle, for example, which is coupled to the pivot arm or the slotted guide as indicated and which accommodates at least one removable container.
In a preferred design of the household appliance, the pivot arm is mounted on the storage container in a sliding and pivoting guide. The sliding guide enables the storage container to be moved horizontally, at least in sections, during the pivoting movement of the pivot arm, for example while the storage container is still in the body and is moved over an intermediate bottom of the body.
In a further preferred design, the sliding and pivoting guide is arranged in a rear and lower area of the storage container. In this way, the storage container can be lifted particularly far out of the body and particularly high above its position within the body for a given pivot arm length.
In a further preferred design, a pivoting range of the sliding and pivoting guide is restricted in at least one pivoting direction. This can be carried out, for example, by stopping a stop surface of the pivot arm against a stop. An alignment of the storage container can also be influenced in this way. The guidance via the slotted guide can take place over the entire stroke of the storage container, but does not necessarily have to do so. It is also possible to guide the storage container through the slotted guide only in a lower section of its movement and to determine the alignment of the storage container in an upper section by means of said stop.
In another preferred design of the household appliance, the slotted guide comprises a groove-like guide track that accommodates at least one guide means of the storage container. The at least one guide means may be, for example, a roller or a sliding block. Preferably, two guide means of the storage container are associated with the slotted guide at a distance from each other, so that parallel guidance of the storage container takes place when both guide means are located in the guide track. In a further development, the guide track of the slotted guide is open at the top and widens towards the upper end in the shape of a funnel. In this way, only a sectional coupling of the storage container and the front panel is achieved. In this way, the slotted guide is sufficient to co-move the front panel, but does not restrict further upward movement of the storage container. The widened opening of the guide track ensures that the coupling is resumed when the storage container is retracted.
In order to achieve good and robust guidance of the storage container, there are preferably two pivot arms, each engaging on one side of the storage container. Similarly, there can also be two slotted guides, one on each side of the storage container.
It can also be provided to guide the storage container only centrally with at least one pivot arm and to achieve stability via a connection on both sides of the front panel, e.g., also in combination with synchronizing means.
The front panel can be guided in a linearly displaceable manner on the body by at least one pull-out guide. In the extended position, it can be prevented from moving back by a retraction lock, e.g., with a latching means or a pawl, which is arranged inside or on the pull-out guide. This retraction lock can act non-positively and/or positively and be actuated or released either by the pivot arm or the storage container, so that a locking effect is already activated by lifting the storage container. To ensure the locking function, the retraction lock can optionally be supported by a force accumulator.
Alternatively, it is also conceivable to design the front panel as a flap that can be hinged or pivoted on the body.
In a further preferred design, the household appliance comprises a drive arrangement acting on the at least one pivot arm to pivot the at least one pivot arm between at least two pivot positions. The drive arrangement may comprise, for example, a drive unit with a drive motor and a gearbox. Preferably, the gearbox is self-locking, for example as a worm gear. The storage container then remains in the raised position without further action. Alternatively, blocking or braking devices can be provided to prevent the storage container from sinking.
The drive unit can, for example, act via a belt on a pivot axis on which the at least one pivot arm is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. Other transmissions, e.g., via levers or directly via intermeshing gears or linear drives, are also possible.
In a further preferred design, the household appliance has a protective covering which is attached to the storage container and extends downward toward the front panel on at least one side of the storage container. The protective covering may be of telescopic design, for example, and may be raised or extended with the storage container. The protective covering prevents objects or body parts from entering a gap between the storage container and the front panel or between other components of the arrangement, at least one of which is moved. The protective covering reduces a risk of entrapment by the moving components.
Particularly advantageously, the described arrangement with the liftable storage container can be implemented in a refrigerator and/or freezer as a household appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention is shown below by means of exemplary embodiments with the aid of figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1 a-f show an isometric representation of a household appliance in a first exemplary embodiment at various stages of a storage container movement sequence;

FIGS. 2 a-f each show a sectional view of the household appliance of FIGS. 1 a -f;

FIGS. 3 a-f each show a further sectional view of the household appliance of FIGS. 1 a -f;

FIG. 4 shows an isometric exploded view of components of the household appliance of the first exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 5 a, b each show a sectional drawing of a household appliance in a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a third exemplary embodiment of a household appliance with the storage container moved out and raised; and

FIGS. 7 a, b each show a sectional view with detailed enlargement of a further exemplary embodiment of a household appliance with a retraction lock of the pull-out guide.

In all figures, identical reference signs indicate identical or similarly acting elements. For reasons of clarity, not every element in all figures is given a reference sign.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description, terms such as “above”, “below”, “left”, “right” initially refer to the exemplary representation selected in the respective figures. With regard to the terms “above” and “below”, the representation in the figures coincides with the orientation usually adopted in space. The terms “front” and “rear” are to be understood with respect to the household appliance, wherein at the front of the household appliance there is a front side which faces the user and on which there are doors, flaps, or similar elements of the household appliance.
FIGS. 1 a-f show a first exemplary embodiment of a household appliance 1 in each case in an isometric representation in various states of movement of a storage container 41. FIGS. 2 a-f and 3 a-f show the household appliance 1 in various vertical sections to the same states of movement of the storage container 41 in each case. Finally, FIG. 4 shows components of the household appliance 1 in an isometric exploded view.
Before details of the technical realization are explained in the following, an overview of the movement sequence is given. The partial images with the same suffix (a, b, c, etc.) in each case of the three figure sequences of FIGS. 1 a-f or 2 a-f or 3 a-f show the same state in the movement sequence in each case. Even if only one of the figures is explicitly mentioned as an example in the following description, the corresponding description refers to the corresponding figures in all three sequences, i.e., FIGS. 1 a-f and 2 a-f and 3 a -f.
The household appliance 1 has a body 2 with side walls 21 and two or more floors 22. A rear wall is not shown for reasons of clarity. The household appliance 1 may be, for example, a refrigerator or freezer. As such, it usually has a multi-shell insulating body and technical cooling devices. For reasons of clarity, these are not shown in the illustrations of this application. The representation of the body 2 is to be regarded in that sense as a purely schematic representation.
The body 2 has forward-facing openings, one of which is closed by a front panel 31 (FIG. 1 a ). The front panel 31 is part of a front panel arrangement 3, which also comprises a pull-out guide 32 on which the front panel 31 is guided and through which the front panel 31 can be pulled out of the body 2. A connection of the front panel 31 with the pull-out guide is realized by lateral frame elements 33. The front panel arrangement 3 thus represents a drawer element which, however, unlike a drawer for example, does not require a base.
When a release device is actuated, the movement sequence starts with the extension of this thrust element, as can be seen in FIG. 1 b . The entire movement sequence, i.e., also the extension of the thrust element, is driven by a drive arrangement 5, which is visible for example in the sequences of FIGS. 2 a-f and 3 a-f in the sectional views. The drive arrangement 5 has a drive unit 51 comprising an electric motor with a downstream gear unit. The drive unit 51 is controlled by a control device (not visible here) that is controlled by the release device. The release device may be, for example, a manually operable pushbutton arranged at a convenient reach height on the household appliance 1. Alternatively, or additionally, remote triggering can also be performed, for example wirelessly via a radio switch coupled to the control device, which can also be a mobile terminal, for example a cellphone of the user. Touch- or proximity-sensitive switches and/or voice- or gesture-controlled switches may also be used.
With the front panel 31, the storage container 41 initially moves out of the body 2 essentially towards the front. In further stages of the movement sequence (cf. FIGS. 1 c-d ), the storage container 41 is raised upward while maintaining its orientation. In a next stage of movement, the storage container performs a combined pivoting and lifting movement, by which it is further raised and tilted with its opening forward (cf. FIG. 1 e ). The movement sequence could be terminated at this point, since the storage container 41 is already lifted and conveniently accessible. In an alternative design, it is possible to continue the movement sequence and thereby further raise the storage container 41 in a pivoting movement on the one hand and bring it back into its original orientation on the other (cf. FIG. 1 f ).
It is understood that the opening sequence shown in FIGS. 1 a-f or 2 a-f and 3 a-f can correspondingly also be run through in reverse in order to lower the storage container 41 again and move it into the body 2. This can preferably be carried out after a renewed request by the user. Alternatively, or additionally, it is conceivable that after a certain time for which the storage container 41 is extended into the positions shown in FIG. 1 e or f has been exceeded, this is automatically retracted again. In this way, an inadvertent failure to close the household appliance 1 can be prevented. Sensors can be used to detect the presence of a person in the vicinity of the household appliance 1, so that retraction is only carried out when there is no person in the vicinity of the household appliance 1. This prevents a storage container 41 that has been deliberately left in the extended position from being retracted undesirably and prevents a risk of injury in the event of a surprise retraction.
With particular reference to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 3 a-f , details of the technical realization of the movement sequence explained above are explained below.
As already mentioned, the entire movement is driven by the drive arrangement 5 and the drive unit 51, which is arranged in a rear area in the body 2. The drive unit 51 provides a rotary motion which, in the example shown, is transmitted via an output gear 52 and a belt 53, in particular a toothed belt, to a drive gear 54 which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a pivot axis 45.
The pivot axis 45 extends transversely across the entire width of the body 2 and is rotatably mounted thereon in pivot bearings 46. By way of example, the pivot bearings 46 are mounted on the outside of the shown body 2, which is a possibility, in particular, if the shown body 2 has an outer covering not shown here. In other cases, the pivot bearing 46 may also be arranged in a wall of the body 2 or on the inside thereof.
Two pivot arms 44 are coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the pivot axis 45, each of which is hinged to the outside of the storage container 41 in its lower area. In the example shown, the drive gear 54 is positioned approximately centrally on the pivot axis 45. This can be implemented differently in alternative designs of a pivot arrangement 4, to which the storage container 41, the pivot axis 45, the pivot bearings 46, and the pivot arms 44 can be assigned. Likewise, the coupling of the drive arrangement 5 to the pivot axis 45 can be implemented alternatively. Instead of a drive unit 5, which converts a rotary motion of the output gear 52 into the pivoting motion of the pivot arms 44 by means of the belt 53, a transmission can also take place with a push rod to the pivot arms 44 directly or a further pivot lever arranged on the pivot axis 45. Instead of a drive unit 5 that provides a rotary motion, a drive unit that provides a linear motion at its output member can also be used.
The pivot axis 45 is positioned in a front and upper region of the body 2 relative to the region in which the storage container 41 is positioned within the body 2. On the storage container 41, the free end of the pivot arm 44 is supported in a combined sliding and pivoting guide 42. Due to this bearing arrangement, a pivoting movement of the pivot arms 44 is transferred into a combined pivoting and lifting movement of the storage container 41, wherein initially there is a certain degree of freedom for the composition of these movements at the storage container 41. In order to achieve a defined movement of the storage container 41, at least one further guide of the storage container 41 relative to the body 2 is provided.
A first of these further guides is provided by a coupling between the storage container 41 and the front panel arrangement 3. In the first exemplary embodiment, a slotted guide 34 is formed for the purpose as part of the front panel arrangement 3, in which guide means 43 of the storage container 41 move in a guided manner. The slotted guide 34 is clearly shown in FIGS. 3 e and f , in which the storage container 41 exposes the view of the slotted guide 34. The slotted guide 34 provides a straight guide track in its lower portion for the guide means 43, allowing only linear upward movement of the storage container 41 vertically parallel to the plane of the front panel 31. As shown in particular in FIG. 3 f , the guidance of the storage container 41 in the slotted guide 34 exists only for a lower section of the storage container 41. From a certain height position of the storage container 41, the guide means 43 leave the slotted guide 34. In order to guide the guide means 43 safely back into the slotted guide 34 when the movement is reversed, the guide track of the slotted guide 34 widens upward in a funnel shape to an insertion opening 35.
Starting from a beginning of the movement sequence, e.g., in FIG. 3 a , a pivoting movement of the pivot arms 44 leads to a movement of the storage container 41 and—due to the coupling of slotted guide 34 and guide means 43—to a sliding movement of the pull-out guide 32 and the front panel 31. As long as the storage container 41 is located in the area of the body 2, a further guide can consist in the fact that the storage container 41 rests with its underside on the lower floor 22 of the body 2 and is thus also guided horizontally. The conversion of the pivoting movement of the pivot arm 44 into the linear sliding movement of the storage container 41 is thereby made possible by the corresponding stroke degree of freedom of the sliding and pivot bearing 42. In an alternative design of the pivot arrangement 4, a pure pivoting movement of the storage container 41 can also be implemented if the floor 22 has a correspondingly curved shape or there is sufficient clearance to the floor 22 so that the floor 22 does not determine the movement of the storage container 41.
As of the state shown in FIG. 3 b , the sliding and pivot bearing 42 is positioned at a stop with respect to the sliding movement, so that the storage container 41 only follows the pivoting movement of the pivot arm 44 as of this position. However, its orientation, i.e., its angular position with respect to a rotation about a horizontal axis, is determined by the vertical guidance of the guide means 43 in the slotted guide 34. Thus, when the pivot arms 44 are pivoted further, a pivoting movement takes place while maintaining the orientation of the storage container 41 in space up to the position shown in FIG. 3 d . When the pivot arms 44 are pivoted further, first the upper, then also the lower, of the guide means 43 runs out of the slotted guide 34 or its insertion opening 35, as a result of which tilting of the storage container 41 occurs to the position shown in FIG. 3 e . Further tilting is then prevented by a stop surface 441 of the pivot arm 44 abutting against a stop angle 421 of the sliding and pivot bearing 42. The relative orientation of the storage container 41 to the pivot arm 44 defined by the stop surface 441 and stop angle 421 is then maintained until the maximum end position of the storage container 41 shown in FIG. 3 f . The stop surface 441 and the stop angle 421 can be seen, among other things, in the exploded view in FIG. 4 .
FIGS. 5 a and b each show a sectional drawing of a further exemplary embodiment of a household appliance 1. With regard to the basic structure of the household appliance 1 with body 2, pivot arrangement 4, and drive arrangement 5, the second exemplary embodiment corresponds essentially to the first exemplary embodiment, the description of which is hereby explicitly referred to. What is different in the second exemplary embodiment is in particular the design of the front panel arrangement 3.
Also in the second exemplary embodiment, a front panel 31 is provided that exposes an opening in the body 2 through which the storage container 41 is moved out. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, however, the front panel 31 is not guided linearly by a pull-out guide (cf. pull-out guide 32 in the first exemplary embodiment), but is designed as a flap which can be swung open downwards and is pivotably secured to the body 2 by a hinge or pivot arrangement not shown here.
As in the first exemplary embodiment, a slotted guide 34 is formed on the front panel 31 or a common support on each of the sides of the storage container 41, in which the storage container 41 is guided by guide means 43 in sections of the movement sequence. With suitable dimensioning, in particular length and optionally shaping of the guide track of the slotted guide 34, guidance of the storage container 41 can also take place during a pivoting movement of the front panel 31 in such a way that it is moved out of the body 2 by a pivoting movement of the pivot arms 44, thereby opening the front panel 31. Upon further movement, the storage container 41 leaves the guide along the front panel 31 and is guided in a pivoting movement to a convenient removal position substantially corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3 e or f of the first exemplary embodiment.
When the pivot arms 44 are pivoted back in, the storage container 41 is first lowered while maintaining its relative pivot position with respect to the pivot arms 44, with the guide means 43 entering the insertion opening 35 of the slotted guide 34. Further pivoting moves the storage container 41 into the body 2 and closes the front panel 31.
As an alternative to the shown straight design of the guide track of the slotted guide 34, a curved design of the guide track can be provided in this exemplary embodiment, as in the first exemplary embodiment, in order to achieve a particularly smooth and harmonious movement sequence of both the storage container 41 and the front panel 31.
FIG. 6 shows, in the form of an isometric representation analogous to FIG. 1 f , a further exemplary embodiment of a household appliance 1. This essentially represents a further development of the first exemplary embodiment, in which the front panel 31 performs a linear pull-out movement as part of a sliding arrangement. Again, reference is made to the first exemplary embodiment with respect to the basic structure and to differences.
In this exemplary embodiment, a protective covering 47 is provided around at least three sides of the storage container 41, specifically the front surface facing the user and the two sides, which is telescopically configured and is raised and extended with the storage container 41. The protective covering 47 prevents objects or body parts from entering a gap between the storage container 41 or other components of the pivot arrangement 4 and the front panel 31 or the frame elements 33 or other components of the front panel arrangement 3. In this way, a risk of entrapment between moving components is reduced.
In this case, the protective covering 47 can be lifted along in the form of an apron and can be provided in addition to a linear guide that is present between the front panel arrangement 3 and the storage container 41. In this case, the linear guide can extend over only part of the vertical movement of the storage container 41, as shown in the first example, or it can be formed over the entire vertical range of movement of the storage container 41 relative to the front panel arrangement 3. In this case, the protective covering 47 can be connected to the storage container 41 or front panel arrangement 3 by means of bolts or elastic elements, such as ropes. Alternatively, the protective covering 47 may have spring elements that push it upwards as soon as the storage container 41 is raised. When the storage container 41 is lowered, it presses down the protective covering 47 against the spring force.
In a further development, the protective device 47 may itself be configured as a linear guide that guides vertical movement of the storage container 41 relative to the front panel arrangement 3.
FIGS. 7 a and 7 b each show a sectional view of a further household appliance 1. With regard to the basic structure, the exemplary embodiment shown here corresponds to those described previously, to the description of which explicit reference is hereby made.
Also in this exemplary embodiment, a storage container 41 is guided so that it can be extended from a body 2 and lifted, with a front panel arrangement 3 being extended as well. In this exemplary embodiment (as in the first example), the pull-out guide 32 is formed as a full extension pull-out guide comprising a body rail 321 mounted on the body 2, a center rail 322 slidably mounted with respect thereto, and a running rail 323 slidably mounted with respect thereto.
In the exemplary embodiment shown here in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b , a locking lever 324 is pivotally mounted on the track. The locking lever 324 is formed as a two-sided lever, with a front lever arm of the locking lever 324 projecting freely forward toward the front panel 31. The opposite rear lever arm is provided at its end with a downwardly projecting pawl 325.
FIG. 7 a shows an extended and lowered position of the storage container 41. In this position, a protruding actuator 411 arranged on the side of the storage container 41 pushes down the front lever arm of the locking lever 324. The actuator 411 is bolt-shaped in the example shown. The locking lever is formed at a slight angle, which raises the rear lever arm with the pawl 325. In this position, the pawl 325 does not interfere with the pull-out guide 32, allowing it to retract unimpeded.
FIG. 7 b shows an extended and (slightly) raised position of the storage container 41. With the storage container 41, the actuator 411 is raised and no longer acts on the front lever arm of the locking lever 324. Due to gravity, this causes the rear lever arm of the locking lever 324 to lower with the pawl 325. In the fully extended position of the pull-out guide 32 shown, the pawl extends past the center rail 322 to in front of the front end of the body rail 321, blocking reinsertion of the pull-out guide 32. Only when the storage container 41 has been substantially completely lowered, as shown in FIG. 7 a , is the pawl 325 raised again and the movement of the running rail or center rail relative to the body rail 321 is enabled again. To improve functional safety, in addition to the gravity-induced lowering of the pawl 325, the locking lever 324 can be pretensioned in the locking direction with a force accumulator, e.g. a spring.
The locking lever 324, together with the actuator 411, forms a retraction lock that ensures that the front panel arrangement 3 cannot be retracted when the storage container 41 is raised, which could otherwise cause the storage container 41 to collide with the front panel arrangement 3 when it is lowered again.
Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

- 1 Household appliance
- 2 Body
- 21 Side wall
- 22 Floor
- 3 Front panel arrangement
- 31 Front panel
- 32 Pull-out guide
- 321 Body rail
- 322 Center rail
- 323 Running rail
- 324 Locking lever
- 325 Pawl
- 33 Frame element
- 34 Slotted guide
- 35 Insertion opening
- 4 Pivot arrangement
- 41 Storage container
- 411 Actuator
- 42 Sliding and pivoting guide
- 421 Stop angle
- 43 Guide means
- 44 Pivot arm
- 441 Stop surface
- 45 Pivot axis
- 46 Pivot bearing
- 47 Protective covering
- 5 Drive arrangement
- 51 Drive unit
- 52 Output gear
- 53 Belt
- 54 Drive gear

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A household appliance, comprising:

a front panel;

a body having an opening closable by the front panel;

a storage container that is movable out of the body through the opening and is liftable;

at least one pivot arm arranged on the body;

at least one slotted guide connected to or formed on the front panel,

wherein the storage container is coupled to a free end of the at least one pivot arm and the storage container is guided in the at least one slotted guide.

21. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the at least one pivot arm is mounted on the storage container in a sliding and pivoting guide.

22. The household appliance of claim 21, wherein the sliding and pivoting guide is arranged in a rear and lower portion of the storage container.

23. The household appliance of claim 21, wherein a pivoting range of the sliding and pivoting guide is restricted in at least one pivoting direction.

24. The household appliance of claim 23, wherein the pivoting range of the sliding and pivoting guide is restricted by abutting a stop surface of the pivot arm against a stop.

25. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the at least one slotted guide comprises a groove-like guide track accommodating at least one guide means of the storage container.

26. The household appliance of claim 25, wherein the at least one guide means is a roller or a sliding block.

27. The household appliance of claim 25, the at least one guide means includes two guide means, which are associated with the at least one slotted guide at a distance from one another so that parallel guidance of the storage container occurs when both guide means are located in a guide path.

28. The household appliance of claim 25, wherein the groove-like guide track of the slotted guide is open at a top and widens in a funnel shape towards an upper end.

29. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the at least one pivot arm comprises two pivot arms that each engage a side of the storage container.

30. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the front panel is guided linearly displaceably on the body by at least one pull-out guide.

31. The household appliance of claim 30, further comprising:

a retraction lock configured to lock the at least one pull-out guide in an extended position when the storage container is raised.

32. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the front panel is a flap, which is mounted on the body such that the flap is foldable or pivotable.

33. The household appliance of claim 20, further comprising:

a drive arrangement configured to acting on the at least one pivot arm to pivot the at least one pivot arm between at least two pivot positions.

34. The household appliance of claim 33, wherein the drive arrangement comprises a drive unit with drive motor and gearbox.

35. The household appliance of claim 34, wherein the gearbox is self-locking.

36. The household appliance of claim 34, wherein the drive unit is configured to act, via a belt, on a pivot axis on which the at least one pivot arm is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner.

37. The household appliance of claim 20, further comprising:

a protective covering attached to the storage container and extending downwardly toward the front panel on at least one side of the storage container.

38. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the household appliance is a refrigerator, a freezer, or a refrigerator and freezer.