Patent Application
20190017741
The invention relates to a domestic appliance device as claimed in the preamble of claim 1 and a method with a domestic appliance device as claimed in the preamble of claim 12.
Refrigerators with retainer devices for storage surfaces, in particular refrigerators in which storage surfaces can be arranged at various positions in an interior of an appliance carcass, are already known from the prior art.
The object of the invention consists in particular in providing a generic device with improved properties with regard to an advantageous retention of shelf units. The object is achieved in accordance with the invention by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 12, while advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims.
The invention is based on a domestic appliance device, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance device, having at least one appliance carcass, which has at least one rear wall, having at least one shelf unit and at least one retainer unit provided for retaining the shelf unit.
It is proposed that in at least one operating state, in which the shelf unit is located entirely in the appliance carcass, the retainer unit is provided to support the shelf unit such that it can be displaced in at least one direction, which is aligned at least substantially parallel to the rear wall and at least substantially horizontally.
“Provided” is to be understood in particular to mean specially configured and/or equipped. The fact that an object is provided for a specific function is to be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfills and/or carries out this specific function in at least one usage and/or operational state. A “domestic appliance device” in this context is to be understood in particular to mean at least one part, in particular a sub-assembly, of a domestic appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance. In particular, the domestic appliance device can also comprise the entire domestic appliance, in particular the entire domestic refrigeration appliance. The domestic appliance is particularly preferably embodied as a refrigeration appliance and/or freezer, such as in particular as a refrigerator, deep freezer, upright freezer, chest freezer, fridge-freezer and/or wine refrigerator. The appliance carcass defines and/or delimits in particular an interior, preferably at least one usable space and has in particular an access opening. An “appliance carcass” is to be understood in particular to mean a unit, which, in at least one assembled state, forms a part, in particular the most part, of an outer boundary, in particular a housing, advantageously of a domestic appliance, preferably a domestic refrigeration appliance, and which, in the assembled stage, defines a part, in particular the most part, of an outer boundary of at least one interior, preferably a refrigeration compartment and particularly preferably a refrigerating zone and/or a freezer compartment. The appliance carcass particularly advantageously encloses the usable space on a top side, on a bottom side, on two opposing sides, and on a rear side, wherein a front side in particular remains open. In particular, a door arranged on the front side is embodied differently from the appliance carcass.
In particular, the retainer unit is arranged in a region of the rear wall. The fact that the retainer unit is “arranged in a region of the rear wall” is to be understood in particular to mean that the point on the retainer unit which is furthest from the rear wall is located at most 25 cm, preferably at most 15 cm, advantageously at most 10 cm, particularly advantageously at most 5 cm from at least one point on the rear wall. A main extension plane of the retainer unit preferably runs at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the rear wall. A “main extension plane” of an object is to be understood in particular to mean a plane which is parallel to a largest side surface of a smallest notional cuboid that still completely encloses the object, and in particular runs through the center point of the cuboid. “At least substantially parallel” is here to be understood in particular to mean an alignment of a direction in relation to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein compared to the reference direction the direction has a deviation of in particular less than 8°, advantageously less than 5° and particularly advantageously less than 2°.
A “shelf unit” is to be understood in particular to mean a unit which is provided for placing or storing objects, in particular groceries. In particular the shelf unit can be embodied at least substantially in a plate-like manner and/or have at least one element embodied at least substantially in a plate-like manner, and provided in particular for placing or storing objects, in particular groceries, in a region embodied in a plate-like manner. A “plate-like” object is here to be understood in particular to mean an object which has a considerably large extension along a first spatial direction and along a second spatial direction than along a third spatial direction, preferably an extension which is larger by at least a factor of 5, advantageously by at least a factor of 10 and particularly advantageously by at least a factor of 20, wherein the three spatial directions are to be aligned in pairs at right angles to one another. An “extension along a direction” of an element is in this context to be understood in particular to mean a maximum distance between two points of a vertical projection of the element on a plane which is parallel to the direction.
The fact that an object is “supported such that it can be displaced in one direction” on a second object is to be understood in particular to mean that the object can be moved relative to the second object in at least one normal operating state, in particular by the impact of forces, which average humans can apply without any notable effort, for instance using a hand and/or an arm and/or one or more fingers. In particular, during a displacement a position of the object relative to the second object remains at least substantially unchanged when viewed parallel to the direction, whereas a position of the object relative to the second object changes when viewed at right angles to the direction. “At least substantially unchanged” in this context is understood in particular to mean that the position of the object relative to the second object changes by less than 10 mm, advantageously by less than 5 mm and particularly advantageously by less than 1 mm. “At least substantially in the horizontal direction” is here to be understood in particular to mean an alignment relative to a surface normal of a surface, in particular a surface of the earth, in particular in a normal operating state of the domestic appliance device, wherein compared with a direction at right angles to the surface normal of the surface the direction has a deviation in particular of less than 8°, advantageously less than 5° and particularly advantageously less than 2°.
With the inventive embodiment, in particular, an advantageous retention of shelf units can be provided. In particular, a high flexibility with respect to an arrangement of the shelf unit can be achieved. In particular, a domestic refrigeration device can be adjusted to an arrangement and/or to a size of positioned and/or inserted objects, such as groceries, for instance. Furthermore, convenient operation can advantageously be achieved. Furthermore, easy access to placed and/or stored objects can advantageously be achieved. In particular, a tidy and spacious appearance can be achieved. Furthermore, a position of loaded shelf units can advantageously be easily changed. In particular, an appliance interior appears tidier and larger.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the retainer unit has at least one retainer profile with at least one retainer recess, in which at least one part of the shelf unit can be inserted. The retainer profile here can in particular have an at least substantially constant cross-section. An “at least substantially constant cross-section” of an object is here to be understood in particular to mean that for an arbitrary first cross-section of the object along at least one direction and an arbitrary second cross-section of the object along that direction, a minimal surface area of a differential area which is formed when the cross-sections are laid one above the other, amounts to at most 20%, advantageously at most 10% and particularly advantageously at most 5% of the surface area of the larger of the two cross-sections. In particular the retainer profile can be an element producible by means of extrusion. The retainer profile is advantageously a continuous casting profile. It is also conceivable, however, for the retainer profile to be an element producible from sheet metal. In particular, the retainer profile can be shaped such that it has a retainer recess. The retainer profile advantageously extends over at least the most part of a width of the interior of the appliance carcass. “At least the most part” is here to be understood in particular to mean at least 55%, advantageously at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 85% and particularly advantageously at least 95%. The part of the shelf unit which can be inserted into the retainer recess particularly advantageously comprises a width, which corresponds at least substantially to an extension of the retainer profile in the direction of a main extension direction of the retainer profile. A “main extension direction” of an object is to be understood in particular to mean a direction which runs parallel to a longest edge of a smallest notional cuboid that still completely encloses the object. The shelf unit preferably has a hook profile element, which, in an assembled state, is connected in a form-fit manner with at least one part of the retainer profile. The fact that at least one part of the shelf unit “can be inserted” into the retainer recess is to be understood in particular to mean that in an inserted state at least one part of the shelf unit is connected in a form-fit manner with at least one part of the retainer profile. Advantageously at least one part of the shelf unit can be inserted without tools into the retainer recess. At least one part of the shelf unit is particularly advantageously insertable into the retainer recess by a linear movement and/or a tilting movement of the shelf unit relative to the retainer unit. A secure retention of the shelf unit can advantageously be achieved in this way. In particular, simple assembly and/or disassembly of the shelf unit can advantageously be achieved.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that a main extension direction of the retainer recess runs in an at least substantially horizontal direction and at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of the retainer profile. The retainer element advantageously has a retainer recess with an insertion slot, into which at least one projection of the shelf unit can be inserted in a form-fit manner. The insertion slot particularly advantageously has an at least substantially constant cross-section. The insertion slot preferably extends over at least the most part of the extension of the retaining element in the direction of the main extension direction of the retainer element. A retainer profile which is simple to manufacture can advantageously be provided in this way. Furthermore, this allows for a clear overview of the interior of a domestic appliance, in particular.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the shelf unit has at least one supporting element, which, in at least one assembled state, counteracts a torque occurring due to retention of the shelf unit. The supporting element is advantageously connected in one piece with the shelf unit. In particular, the supporting element is provided to convey forces occurring due to retention for at least the most part into the retainer profile. The supporting element preferably comprises an extension along a direction parallel to a surface normal of the rear wall, which corresponds by at most 30%, advantageously at most 20%, particularly advantageously at most 15%, preferably at most 10% and particularly preferably at most 5% to an extension of the shelf unit along this direction. In particular, the supporting element has an at least substantially constant cross-section along a main extension direction of the supporting element. The supporting element advantageously extends over at least the most part of the length of the retainer profile. Particularly advantageously the main extension direction of the supporting element runs, in at least one assembled state, at least substantially parallel to the main extension direction of the retainer profile. By this means, in particular, advantageous statics can be achieved. Furthermore, secure retention of the shelf unit can advantageously be achieved in this way.
Advantageously the domestic appliance device comprises a panel element, which is arranged at least partially on a side of the retainer unit which faces away from the rear wall. In particular, at least 70%, advantageously at least 80%, particularly advantageously at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95% of all points of the panel element on a straight line at right angles to the rear wall through the corresponding points are located further away from the rear wall than the point on the retainer unit on the straight line which is furthest from the rear wall. In particular, the panel element is connected to the retainer unit. Advantageously, the panel element is connected in one piece with the retainer unit. In particular, in an assembled state, the panel element forms a rear wall element which is arranged in front of the rear wall of the appliance carcass. Advantageously the panel element has a height and a width which correspond at least substantially to a height and a width of the rear wall of the appliance carcass. An interior which is simple to clean can advantageously be provided in this way. Furthermore, damage to and/or soiling of the retainer unit can advantageously be avoided in this way.
The panel element particularly advantageously has at least one recess, which, in at least one assembled state, releases a retainer profile of the retainer unit, which is arranged on a side of the panel element facing the rear wall, at least partially toward a side of the panel element facing away from the rear wall. The recess preferably has at least substantially a rectangular cross-section.
A main extension direction of the recess particularly preferably runs at least substantially in a horizontal direction. In particular, the recess has a height which corresponds at least substantially to a height of the shelf unit at a point on the shelf unit at which the shelf unit passes through the recess in an assembled state. The panel element is advantageously embodied as a plate having recesses, in particular slot-shaped recesses, which run substantially in parallel. In particular, the panel element can be manufactured from plastic and/or from a suitable metal. A length of the recess in the direction of a main extension direction of the recess particularly advantageously corresponds at least substantially to a length of the retainer profile in the direction of a main extension direction of the retainer profile. A number of recesses of the panel element advantageously corresponds to a number of retainer profiles of the retainer unit. In this way a clear overview of an interior can be provided. Furthermore this allows shelf units to be assembled easily.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the domestic appliance device comprises at least one captive sliding element, which is arranged on at least one contact point between the shelf unit and the retainer unit. At least one captive sliding element is preferably arranged on at least the most part of all contact points between the shelf unit and the retainer unit. The sliding element is advantageously connected to the shelf unit and/or to the retainer unit, in particular in one piece. It is also conceivable, however, for at least one sliding element to be connected, in particular in one piece, with the shelf unit and the retainer unit, in each case. The sliding element is advantageously embodied as a plastic slider. However it is also conceivable that the sliding element is embodied as a slide rail. The slide rail advantageously has a slide bearing, in particular a plastic slide bearing. It is also conceivable, however, for the sliding element to be embodied as a roller, which is rotatably supported on the shelf unit and in at least one assembled state rolls on at least one part of the retainer unit. It is also conceivable, however, for the sliding element to be embodied as a roller, which is rotatably supported on the retainer unit and in at least one assembled state rolls on at least one part of the shelf unit. A shifting force can advantageously be reduced in this way. Operator convenience can also be increased in this way.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the shelf unit has at least one storage surface. A “storage surface” is to be understood in particular to mean a plate-like element, which is provided for placing or storing objects, in particular groceries. In this way, safe placing of objects, in particular groceries, onto the shelf unit can be advantageously achieved. The shelf unit is in particular easy to clean as a result.
The storage surface is preferably embodied to be at least partially transparent and frameless and/or at least partially translucent and frameless. At least partially “transparent” is here to be understood in particular to mean at least partially transparent to visible light, in particular a transparency of at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 20%, advantageously at least 50% and particularly advantageously at least 80%, wherein a transmitted light is at least substantially parallel to an incident light. At least partially “translucent” is here to be understood in particular to mean at least partially translucent to visible light, in particular a translucency of at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 20%, advantageously at least 50% and particularly advantageously at least 80% to incident light, wherein emerging light is scattered at least substantially at an angle which differs by 0 relative to the incident light. Here “frameless” is to be understood in particular to mean that the storage surface is formed from the same material near its edges as on its edges. In particular the storage surface has the same cross-section near its edges as on its edges. In particular, the storage surface is embodied at least partially from glass, advantageously at least partially from safety glass. In particular the storage surface can be embodied at least partially from at least partially opaque glass, in particular frosted glass. The storage surface is advantageously embodied as a frameless glass plate. It is also conceivable, however, for the storage surface to be manufactured from a plastic. In this way objects located below the storage surface can advantageously be visible through the storage surface. In particular, operator convenience can also be increased in this way.
Provision is made particularly advantageously for the shelf units to be assembled on and/or disassembled from the retainer unit without tools. In particular, the shelf unit is embodied so that it can be assembled and/or disassembled by a linear movement and/or a tilting movement of the shelf unit relative to the retainer unit. A simple height adjustment of the shelf unit can advantageously be achieved in this way. Furthermore, in this way an arrangement of shelf units can be conveniently adjusted.
Furthermore, the invention is based on a method with a domestic appliance device, in particular with a domestic refrigeration appliance device, having at least one appliance carcass, which has at least one rear wall and at least one shelf unit.
It is proposed that in at least one operating state, in which the shelf unit is located completely in the appliance carcass, the shelf unit is supported such that it can be displaced in at least one direction, which is aligned at least substantially parallel to the rear wall and at least substantially horizontally.
With a method according to the invention, an advantageous retention of shelf units can be provided. In particular, a high flexibility with respect to an arrangement of a shelf unit can be achieved. In particular, a domestic appliance device can be adjusted according to positioned or inserted objects such as groceries, for instance. Furthermore, convenient operation can advantageously be achieved. Furthermore, easy access to placed and/or stored objects can advantageously be achieved. In particular, a tidy and spacious appearance can be achieved. Furthermore, a position of loaded shelf units can advantageously be easily changed.
The domestic appliance device is not to be restricted here to the afore-described application and embodiment. In particular, the domestic appliance device can have a number of individual elements, components and units which deviates from a number cited herein, in order to fulfill a mode of operation described herein.
Further advantages are disclosed by the following description of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also individually consider the features and combine them to form useful further combinations.
In the figures:
In the exemplary embodiments described below, various structural units and/or components are present in multiples. Similarly embodied components and/or structural units, which are provided with the same reference characters in the drawings, are only described once for the purpose of simplification in the subsequent description of the drawings.
The shelf unit 14a has sliding elements 28a, 50a, 52a, which are in mechanical contact with the retainer profile 18a at contact points 30a. In the present case, the sliding elements 28a, 50a, 42 are embodied as plastic sliders made from polyoxymethylene. The sliding elements have a low coefficient of friction when sliding on a surface of the retainer profile 18a. The shelf unit 14a is supported such that it can be displaced along one direction at right angles to the image plane into the image plane and out of the image plane, wherein in at least one assembled state, this direction runs at least substantially horizontally. Furthermore, the shelf unit 14a has a supporting element 22a, which, in an assembled state, counteracts a torque which occurs when the shelf unit 14a is retained. In the present case, a force which is acting due to retention is partially introduced into the retainer profile 18a by the supporting element 22a by way of a sliding element 28a.
In the present case, the storage surface 32a is embodied as a frameless glass plate. In an assembled state, the panel element 24a is arranged in a region in front of the retainer unit 16a and in front of the cantilever profile 48a and in front of the supporting element 22a. Only the storage surface 32a of the shelf unit 14a passes through one of the retainer recesses 20a of the panel element 24a (not shown).
A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in
A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2016 202 187.7 | Feb 2016 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/051307 | 1/23/2017 | WO | 00 |
