WO2016107747A1

WO2016107747A1 - A home appliance comprising a container having a movable cover

Info

Publication number: WO2016107747A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/080015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emre EMEK; Mustafa ERTIK; Murat Sögüt; Tanzer YILDIZGÖCER
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2014-12-29
Filing date: 2015-12-16
Publication date: 2016-07-07
Also published as: CN208382707U; DE112015005838T5

Abstract

The present invention is a home appliance (1), particularly a domestic refrigerator, comprising a container (10); a cover (20) for the container (10) which is hung in an adjustable manner between an open position where it is lifted on the container (10) and a closed position where it is lowered onto the container (10); a hanger bearing (40) which converts a linear horizontal motion of the cover (20) into upward and downward motion; a hanger (70) which is hung to the hanger bearing (40) as connected to the cover (20); and a bearing element (30) with fixed position and having hanger bearing (40), characterized in that the hanger bearing (40) has a lower housing (41) wherein the hanger (40) is placed in the closed position of the cover (20), and an upper housing (43) wherein the hanger (40) is placed in the open position of the cover (20).

Description

SPECIFICATION

A HOME APPLIANCE COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING A MOVABLE COVER TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a home appliance, particularly a domestic refrigerator comprising a container, and a cover for the container, and which stays hung in an adjustable manner between an open position where the cover is lifted on the container and a closed position where the cover is lowered to the container.

STATE OF THE ART

In a home appliance comprising container, particularly in a domestic refrigerator, in general, there is a container in drawer form. In the container, particularly in the container used in the refrigerator, fresh foodstuff like vegetable and fruit is kept.

Fresh foodstuffs begin releasing its humidity after being harvested. This leads to deterioration of fresh foodstuffs, rendering them inedible at the end. The cool ambiance provided in the refrigerator decelerates the deterioration. However, humidity control is realized in the ambiance where the fresh foodstuff is kept, and if a suitable humidity proportion is preserved, the humidity loss of the fresh foodstuff can be decelerated or stopped. Thus, the lifetime of the fresh foodstuff can be extended.

Therefore, a cover is used which is hung in an adjustable manner for providing humidity control in said containers. These covers are manually closed and opened by being lowered and lifted to and from the container, respectively. Said motions are realized by moving the cover in the horizontal direction by means of a control element and converting the horizontal motion of the cover into upward and downward motion. Converting the horizontal motion into vertical motions is realized by means of hanger bearings keeping the cover in a hung manner.

An exemplary home appliance is disclosed in the patent application document with publication number WO2014079676A1 . Said invention is a cooling device. There is a container in the cooling device. The container has a cover assembled to a bearing device for an opening accessed from above. The bearing device converts linear motion, along the depth of the cover, into a raising motion for opening and closing the cover. Therefore, the cooling device has a manual control element having a triggering surface which can be adjusted in the depth direction.

The bearing device in said document comprises a support strip and recesses provided on the support strip. The support arms provided at the cover are placed to these recesses when the cover is in closed position. When the control element and the cover are moved in a linear manner, the support arms come out of the recess; and they rise to a higher section of the support strip. Thus, the cover is lifted and opened.

The invention provides an additional improvement, an additional advantage or an alternative to the present art described above.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a home appliance comprising a container having an improved covering system.

In order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention is a home appliance, particularly a domestic refrigerator, comprising a container; a cover for the container which is hung in an adjustable manner between an open position where it is lifted on the container and a closed position where it is lowered onto the container; a hanger bearing which converts a linear horizontal motion of the cover into upward and downward motion; a hanger which is hung to the hanger bearing as connected to the cover; and a bearing element with fixed position and having hanger bearing. The hanger bearing has a lower housing wherein the hanger is placed in the closed position of the cover, and an upper housing wherein the hanger is placed in the open position of the cover. Thus, when the cover is in open or closed position, the accidental motion of the cover due to undesired impacts is prevented. Moreover, possible noises likely to occur due to an unintentional motion of the cover can also be reduced or completely eliminated.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the lower housing and the upper housing are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, by means of the positional difference between the lower housing and the upper housing, the linear motion of the cover can be converted into rising and lowering motion. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger bearing has an inclined section acting as a rail for the hanger between the lower housing and the upper housing. Thus, the cover can be moved smoothly and stably as it is lifted or lowered at a fixed inclination.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger bearing has a horizontal section acting as a rail for the hanger between the lower housing and the upper housing. Thus, in accordance with some designs, the cover can be completely opened, and the opening required for the air flow between the inner side of the container and the outer side of the container can be formed. Moreover, the cover can be moved smoothly and stably during its motion in the horizontal plane.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the upper housing and/or lower housing are in the form of a recess formed in the hanger bearing. Thus, the walls of the recess defined the restrictive walls required for immobilizing the hanger along the hanger bearing. Moreover, the cover in the hanger can be placed to the lower housing and/or upper housing by means of the own weight of the cover without needing an additional force. Additionally, the user can feel the correct position of the cover when the cover settles to the recess.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the upper housing and the lower housing has a stop wall provided on one end thereof which is at the opposite side of the motion direction defined by the movement of the hanger towards the upper or lower housing on the hanger bearing. In particular, the stop wall has the function to restrict the motion of the hanger after the hanger has reached the lower housing or the upper housing, respectively, i.e. an end position. In particular, the lower housing defines an end position of the hanger, in which the cover is in a closed position. In particular, the upper housing defines an end position of the hanger, in which the cover is in an opened position. Thus, the hanger can be prevented from coming out of the hanger bearing in case where excessive force is applied for moving the cover and/or in case of unintentional impacts and/or in case the cover tends to move as a result of its own weight. On the other hand, the hanger, which tends to continue its motion as a result of inertia rule, can be stopped by the stop wall. Keeping the hanger inside the hanger bearing may extend the usage lifetime of the system. Additionally, the failure risk can be reduced.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger bearing is in the form of a strip extending from a vertical wall of the bearing element. Thus, the production of the hanger bearing can be facilitated. For instance, a plastic based hanger bearing can be obtained by means of known molding methods.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger has an extension extending in a parallel manner with respect to the cover. Thus, the cover can be hung at an adequate clearance from the walls of the home appliance liner. By means of this, the cover can be prevented from contacting the liner walls during the motion, from damaging the walls and/or from leading to noise.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, an upper face of the cover and the extension are vertically spaced apart from each other. Thus, a clearance is left between the container and the bearing element where the container is hung. By means of said clearance, during the removal of the container from the home appliance or during the placement of the container into the home appliance, the container is prevented from being obstructed by the bearing element or from damaging the bearing element as a result of contact and/or from leading to noise.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger has a hanger wall provided on the upper face of the cover and having an extension thereon. Thus, the advantages of the clearance provided between the extension and the cover can be provided by a robust hanger embodiment. The hanger wall can support a heavy cover by means of a wide surfaced wall, or it can support the cover for long time duration. This may extend the usage lifetime of the home appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is the perspective view of a possible home appliance where the front door is open. Figure 2 is the perspective view of a possible container where the cover and plate provided thereon are moved away from each other.

Figure 3 is the perspective view of a possible bearing element.

Figure 4 is the perspective view of a possible cover.

Figure 5 is the Detail A view of a possible hanger given in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is the Detail B view of a possible hanger given in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is the perspective view of another possible cover.

Figure 8 is the Detail C view of a possible hanger given in Figure 7. Figure 9 is the lateral view of the hanger bearing, provided on the front side of the bearing element in Figure 3, from the right side.

Figure 10 is the lateral view of the hanger bearing, provided on the rear side of the bearing element in Figure 3, from the right side.

Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a section of the bearing element with the hanger bearing as shown in figure 9.

Figure 12 is a view of the section of the bearing element as shown in figure 1 1 , wherein additionally a hanger is shown.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a section of the bearing element with the hanger bearing as shown in figure 10.

THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All directional references such as front, top and bottom are based on reference to the cooling device (1 ) shown in Figure-1 , where the section provided at the upper side is described as "top", the right side where a door (3) is provided is described as "right". For instance, the door (3) of the home appliance (1 ) is illustrated where the door (3) is connected to the right side of the front wall of the home appliance (1 ) and opened towards the right side. One or more of possible embodiments of the present invention will be described as examples in detail below.

The home appliance (1 ) is a domestic refrigerator as shown in Figure 1 . In a liner (2) of the home appliance (1 ), there is a container (10) wherein products like vegetable, fruit, milk products and/or meat products are placed. The container (10) has a base (1 1 ), and four side walls (12) rising from said base (1 1 ) (Figure 2). The upper section of the container (10) has an opening (13) for providing access to the inner space defined. The container (10) can be drawn out of the home appliance (1 ) and it can be pushed into its place again. When the container (10) is inside the home appliance (1 ), there is a plate (14) thereon. The plate (14) can be used as a shelf. Therefore, the plate (14) is obtained from glass or from a different material like plastic whose load resistance is high.

There is a cover (20), for closing the container (10) in a controlled manner, between the container (10) and the plate (14). The cover (20) is hung on a bearing element (30). There is a slider (16) on the front edge (15, 33) on the plate (14) and on the bearing element (30). When the slider (16) is slid to the right or to the left along the front edge (15, 33), the cover (20) lowers towards the container (10) or it rises upwardly with respect to the container (10).

For providing said motion transfer, said bearing element (30) is used. The bearing element (30) is fixed to the plate (14) in a manner staying under the plate (14). Afterwards, the bearing element (30) is connected in a fixed manner to the liner (2) of the home appliance (1 ) together with the plate (14).

The bearing element (30) is in the form of a frame with three edges where it has two mutual side edges (32) and a front edge (33) (Figure 3). It has no rear edge. However, optionally, it can also be designed as a quadrangular frame having rear edge. The bearing element (30) has one or more than one hanger bearing (40) thereon. The hanger bearing (40) is provided on a vertical wall (31 ) of the bearing element (30). The bearing element (30) illustrated in Figure 3 comprises four hanger bearings (40) such that there are two hanger bearings (40, 240) at the rear ends and such that there are two hanger bearings (40, 140) at positions close to the front corners. The front hanger bearings (40, 140) illustrated in the figure are under the slits (34) viewed at the front corners of the bearing element (30) and inside the profile forming the bearing element (30).

The cover (20) is in the form of a flat plate as exemplified in Figure 4. Thus, in the closed position, the cover (20) may cover the opening (13) of the container (10) which is in a box form. In a position of the cover (20) which is close to the slider (16), this position is the middle region of the front section of the cover (20), and it comprises a slider housing (22). Thus, the cover (20) realizes linear motion by means of the slider (16). The slider housing (22) illustrated in the figure is an inclined channel provided on the upper face (21 ) of the cover (20) and provided in a form diverging gradually from the front edge of the cover (20). The slider housing (22) can be a hole provided on the upper face (21 ) of the cover (20) and which is close to the front edge of the cover (20) as illustrated in Figure 4. The slider housing (22) can be in the form of housing in shaft cross section for a shaft (Figure 7); or it can be a linear channel which is parallel to the front edge.

One each hanger (70) is provided at the four corners of the cover (20). The hanger (70) has a hanger wall (71 ) extending upwardly from the upper face (21 ) of the cover (20) in a vertical manner. The hanger wall (71 ) faces the right or left of the cover (20). In other words, the hanger wall (71 ) faces towards the side edges (32) of the bearing element (30) whereon the hanger bearing (40) is provided. On the hanger wall (71 ), one or more than one support walls

(72) can be provided in a combined manner vertically with respect to the hanger wall (71 ) (Figure 8).

On the hanger wall (71 ), there is an extension (73) extending towards the side edges (32) of the bearing element (30). The extension (73) in Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a pin. The extension

(73) can be separated into an upper section (74) and a lower section (75). The lower section (75) has a circular form. The upper section (74) can be circular or it can be horizontally flattened. Accordingly, the cross sectional shape of the pin can be a circle, a ring, a semicircle, a semi-ring, a semi-circle which has been cut by a straight line passing through a point existing on the radius thereof, or a partial ring which has been cut in the same manner. Two alternatives mentioned in the figures are the full-circle (Figure 5 and Figure 6) and a cut ring (Figure 8).

In Figure 9 and Figure 10, the hanger bearings (40, 140, 240), formed on the left side edge (32) of the bearing element (30), are illustrated from the right side. In Figure 9, the hanger bearing (40, 140) provided on the front side is illustrated, and in Figure 10, the hanger bearing (40, 240) provided on the rear side is illustrated.

The front hanger bearing (40, 140) is provided on a vertical wall (31 ) of the bearing element (30). The hanger bearing (40, 140), provided in Figure 9, is in the form of a strip. At a point which is close to the rear end of the strip, when the cover (20) is in closed position, there is a lower housing (41 ) where the hanger extension (73) is placed.

The lower housing (41 ) is provided at a position which is vertically lower and which is more rear from the upper housing (43) horizontally. The lower housing (41 ) is in spring form in a compliant manner to the circular extension (73) when viewed laterally as given in the figure. However, optionally, for extension (73) with different shapes, it can be obtained in a form compliant to the extension (73). Moreover, for instance, for a circular extension (73), it can have a cornered form such that the circular extension (73) can be placed. At the rear end of the lower housing (41 ), there is a stop wall (42). Thus, due to the force applied by the slider (16) and due to the own weight of the cover (20), the lowering motion can be stopped at the required point. The stop wall (42) can be provided by means of raising the rear end of the lower housing (41 ). On the other hand, a wall, provided at the bearing element (30) and which faces the coming direction of the hanger (70), can be used as the stop wall (42).

The upper housing (43) is in the form of a spring from the lateral side like a lower housing (41 ). However, it can be in different shapes as described for the lower housing (41 ). An inclined section (44) is provided between the upper housing (43) and the lower housing (41 ) such that the hanger (70) provides a rail particularly for the extension (73). Depending on the requirement of the design, specific length of horizontal section (45) can be provided in front of, behind or both sides of the inclined section (44).

The rear hanger bearing (40, 240) is an opening provided on a vertical wall (31 ) of the bearing element (30) in a manner lowering downwardly and from the front side to the rear side (Figure 10). However, optionally, the rear hanger bearing (40, 240) and the front hanger bearing (40, 140) can be provided in the same manner.

When the cover (20) is desired to be hung to the bearing element (30), the cover (20), brought under the bearing element (30), is moved upwardly. The extension (73) passes through an insertion opening (60) provided at the bearing element (30), and it is placed to the hanger bearing (40, 140).

In the hanger bearing (40, 140) embodiment, the insertion opening (60) is formed at the front side of the hanger bearing (40, 140). Here, the insertion opening (60) is provided between the front end of the hanger bearing (40, 140) and a vertical insertion wall (61 ) provided in a spaced apart manner with respect to said front end. A horizontal insertion wall (62) can extend from the vertical insertion wall (61 ) to the hanger bearing (40). A width, through which the extension (73) can pass, can be left between the horizontal insertion wall (62) and the hanger bearing (40, 140) end where the upper housing (43) is provided.

After the cover (20) is hung to the bearing element (30), fixed to the liner (2) of the home appliance (1 ), by means of the hanger (70) and the hanger bearing (40, 140, 240), the container (10) is placed to the home appliance (1 ) in a manner corresponding to the lower section of the cover (20). When the container (10) is drawn out of the home appliance (1 ), the cover (20) continues to preserve its position. In other words, the container (10) can move independently from the cover (20). Figure 11 shows a section of the bearing element 30 with the hanger bearing 40, 140 as shown in figure 9. The bearing element 30 comprises a vertical insertion wall 61 , an insertion opening 60 and the hanger bearing 40, 140. The hanger bearing 40, 140 is formed by a ridge. In other words, the hanger bearing 40, 140 has a ridge-like structure. The hanger bearing 40, 140 protrudes from the vertical wall 31 . The hanger bearing 40, 140 comprises an upper housing 43 being formed by a curved section. The hanger bearing 40, 140 comprises a lower housing 41 being formed by a curved section. The upper housing 43 is vertically higher than the lower housing 41. The bearing element 30 comprises a stop wall 42.

The hanger bearing (40) has a horizontal section (45, 145) arranged between the upper housing (43) and the inclined section (44). The hanger bearing (40) has a horizontal section (45, 146) arranged between the inclined section (44) and the lower housing (41 ).

The stop wall 42 has the function to restrict the motion of the hanger after the hanger 70 has reached the lower housing 42, i.e. an end position. In particular, the lower housing 42 defines an end position of the hanger 70, in which the cover 20 is in a closed position. In particular, the upper housing 43 defines an end position of the hanger 70, in which the cover 20 is in an opened position. The upper housing 43 includes an end 147. A further stop wall (not shown) may be provided at the end 147 or in the near of the upper housing 43. A horizontal section 45, 145 is arranged between the upper housing 43 and the inclined section 44. A horizontal section 45, 146 is arranged between the inclined section 44 and the lower housing 41 .

Figure 12 is a view of the section of the bearing element 30 as shown in figure 9, wherein additionally a hanger 70 is shown. In figure 12, the hanger 70 is shown in a position, in which the cover 20 is in the closed position.

Figure 13 shows a section of the bearing element 30 with the hanger bearing 40, 240 as shown in figure 10. The hanger bearing 40, 240 is preferably formed by a slot or a recess or a groove.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger element comprises front hanger bearings and rear hanger bearings. Preferably, the hanger element comprises two front hanger bearings and two rear hanger bearings. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the hanger bearing has a ridge-like form. Preferably, the hanger bearing is formed by a ridge or protrusion.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the upper housing and/or the lower housing are formed as a section of a ridge. In particular, since the cover is connect to the hanger and due to the form of the hanger bearing, the movement of the cover from an open position to a closed position is assisted by the weight of the cover.

Advantageously, the user can easily recognize whether the cover or the hanger, respectively, has reached the intended position due to the form of the upper housing or lower housing, respectively.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the upper housing has a curved form or concave form. Preferably, the upper housing is formed by a concave section of the ridge-like hanger bearing. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the lower housing has a curved form or concave form. Preferably, the lower housing is formed by a concave section of the ridge-like hanger bearing.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, a stop wall is provided on or in the near of the upper housing, preferably on or in the near of the end opposite to the end on which the horizontal section is arranged. With regard to figure 9, a stop wall may be provided on or in the near of the end 147 of the upper housing 43, which is opposite to the end to which the horizontal section 145 is arranged.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, a stop wall is provided on or in the near of the lower housing, preferably on or in the near of the end opposite to the end on which the horizontal section is arranged. With regard to figure 9, a stop wall 42 may be provided on or in the near of the end 142 of the lower housing 41 , which is opposite to the end to which the horizontal section 45, 146 is arranged. REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Home appliance 60. Insertion opening

2. Liner 61. Vertical insertion wall

3. Door

70. Hanger

10. Container 71. Hanger wall

11. Base 72. Support wall

12. Side wall 73. Extension

13. Opening 74. Upper section

14. Plate 75. Lower section

15. Front edge

16. Slider

20. Cover

21. Upper face

22. Slider housing

30. Bearing element

31. Vertical wall

32. Side edge

33. Front edge

34. Slit

40. Hanger bearing

41. Lower housing

42. Stop wall

43. Upper housing

44. Inclined section

45. Horizontal section

Claims

1. A home appliance (1 ), particularly a domestic refrigerator, comprising a container (10); a cover (20) for the container (10) which is hung in an adjustable manner between an open position where it is lifted on the container (10) and a closed position where it is lowered onto the container (10); at least one hanger bearing (40) which converts a linear motion of the cover (20) in horizontal direction into upward and downward motion; at least one hanger (70) which is hung to the hanger bearing (40) as connected to the cover (20); and a bearing element (30) with fixed position and having hanger bearing (40), characterized in that the hanger bearing (40) has a lower housing (41 ) in which the hanger (40) is placed, when the cover (20) is in the closed position), and an upper housing (43) in which the hanger (40) is placed, when the cover (20) is in the open position.

2. A home appliance (1 ) according to Claim 1 , wherein the lower housing (41 ) and the upper housing (43) are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal and vertical directions.

3. A home appliance (1 ) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hanger bearing (40) has an inclined section (44) acting as a rail for the hanger (40) between the lower housing (41 ) and the upper housing (43).

4. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger bearing (40) has at least one horizontal section (45, 145, 146) acting as a rail for the hanger (40) between the lower housing (41 ) and the upper housing (43).

5. A home appliance (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the hanger bearing (40) has a horizontal section (45, 145) arranged between the upper housing (43) and the inclined section (44).

6. A home appliance (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the hanger bearing (40) has a horizontal section (45, 146) arranged between the inclined section (44) and the lower housing (41 ).

7. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper housing (43) and/or lower housing (41 ) are in the form of a recess formed in the hanger bearing (40).

8. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the upper housing (43) and the lower housing (41 ) has a stop wall (42) provided on one end thereof which is at the opposite side of the motion direction defined by the movement of hanger (70) towards the upper or lower housings (43, 44) on the hanger bearing (40).

9. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger bearing (40) is in the form of a strip extending from a vertical wall (31 ) of the bearing element (30).

10. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger (70) has an extension (73) extending in a parallel manner with respect to the cover (20).

11. A home appliance (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein an upper face (21 ) of the cover (20) and the extension (73) are vertically spaced apart from each other.

12. A home appliance (1 ) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hanger (70) has a hanger wall (71 ) provided on the upper face (21 ) of the cover (20) and having an extension (73) thereon.

13. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the hanger bearing (40, 140) has a ridge-like form.

14. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the hanger element (30) comprises front hanger bearings (40, 140) and rear hanger bearings (40, 240, 340).

15. A home appliance (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the upper housing (43) and/or the lower housing (41 ) have a curved form or a concave form.