The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance with a housing in which a receiving chamber for foodstuffs is formed, which is delimited by walls of an interior container.
With household refrigeration appliances for storing foodstuffs, such as, for example, a fridge or a freezer or combined fridge-freezer, it is known that the corresponding receiving chamber, which can be a cooling compartment or a freezing compartment, can be divided by insertable horizontal plates, which can be compartment bottoms. It is then possible to place foodstuffs on these compartment bottoms. However, compartment bottoms of this kind do not form an individual, per se delimited additional compartment in the receiving chamber, instead the actual receiving chamber is divided into partial regions that are interconnected and not completely separated from one another.
Also known is the formation of a per se separate additional compartment in a receiving chamber of this kind, which can, for example, be a keep-fresh compartment. This specific additional compartment is delimited by walls so that the receiving volume of this additional compartment is defined per se and closed. However, with known embodiments of additional compartments of this kind, said compartments are prespecified and formed in the receiving chamber.
With known embodiments of a domestic refrigeration appliance, receiving drawers can be pushed into and pulled out of the receiving chamber. In this case, these receiving drawers are not arranged in precise positions, since the insertion opening is in effect not precisely delimited. An insertion opening of this kind is vaguely delimited only by side walls of the interior container and a bottom wall and a top wall but said opening is formed in an undefined way and hence not really matched to the receiving drawer. This results in a corresponding undefined positioning of the receiving drawer with a large degree of play, at least in the width-wise direction. This can result in unwanted impact with side walls of the interior container. In addition, pushing in two separate receiving drawers next to one another in the width-wise direction can result in drawbacks. This is because, if one of the two drawers is inaccurately positioned, the second drawer can no longer be pushed in or hits the other drawer so that, when the second drawer is pushed in, the other drawer may be displaced slightly to the side in the width-wise direction. This can then also result in damage to the interior container.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a domestic refrigeration appliance in which the volume of the receiving chamber is better defined, particularly in a front region.
This object is achieved by a domestic refrigeration appliance with the features as claimed in claim 1.
A domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention comprises a housing in which a receiving chamber for foodstuffs is formed. The receiving chamber is delimited by walls of an interior container. An essential concept of the invention can be seen in that a frame separate from the interior container is arranged in the interior container such that it can be non-destructively detached and is offset toward the front at a distance from a rear wall of the interior container and hence is positioned more closely to a feed opening of the receiving chamber in the depth-wise direction of the domestic appliance. An embodiment of this kind of the additional component in the form of the frame enables partitioning of the receiving chamber to be improved especially in the region facing the feed opening. As a result, any additional components that may be present, such as a receiving drawer for foodstuffs, which is then to be pushed in and pulled out of the receiving chamber in the depth-wise direction, can be positioned more accurately at the start of the pushing-in process and brought into its desire position in a more targeted manner. The additional non-destructively detachable attachment of the frame also enables it to be repeatedly, and hence reversibly, removed and attached again. The possibilities provided in this way for the assembly and disassembly of this frame enables increased variability with respect to the use of the receiving chamber.
The frame is in particular a component of an additional compartment for foodstuffs, which is formed in the receiving chamber. The frame is arranged outside a door that closes the receiving chamber at the front side. Hence, the frame is not a component of a part on the door, in particular not a component of a door rack. The frame is in particular connected directly or indirectly to walls of the interior container.
It is in particular provided that the frame is closed all round. As a result it is inherently stable and in this context is very simple to assemble and disassemble. Thus, this enables assembly and disassembly without clamping and bracing. Moreover, an embodiment of this kind of the frame makes the specification regarding the position and how a receiving drawer separate thereto can be pushed and guided through the feed-through opening of the frame more accurate. This avoids unwanted large clearances, and hence tolerances, above or below or to the left or right.
It is preferably provided that the frame is formed in one piece. As a result, it has a minimum number of components and hence it also simple to produce, for example as an injection molding made of plastic.
It is in particular provided that the frame is arranged on at least one holding rod separate thereto. The holding rod is preferably a separate component, which can be attached, and hence fastened, to an inner side wall of the interior container, in particular a vertical side wall. To this end, it is possible for a plug-in connection or a latched connection or a screwed connection to be provided. However, these are only exemplary possibilities for connection which could also be formed in other ways.
It is in particular provided that, on at least one vertical frame part, the frame comprises a coupling element, which, in assembled state, is coupled to a coupling element on the holding rod in the interior container in order to position the frame. The coupling elements on the frame are preferably formed as recesses or grooves in which it is then possible for a corresponding coupling element on the holding rod to engage. As a result, the frame is simple to insert onto the holding rod, in particular at least two holding rods, and as a result is securely positioned. As a result, disassembly is also very simple since it is only necessary to pull the frame of these holding rods.
Preferably, this coupling element on the frame part, which is a groove or a receiving trough, is formed over the entire height of this vertical frame part of the frame. This increases the mechanical stability of the connection still further.
In particular, this receiving trough has a rectilinear design so that it can be connected and separated by means of particularly simple procedures. As a result, only a rectilinear sliding movement between the frame and the holding rods is sufficient.
It is preferably provided that the frame extends over the entire width which is dimensioned between two opposite vertical side walls of the interior container. This enables a particularly mechanically stable attachment of the frame. This also enables large-volume partitioning and an additional compartment to be formed in the receiving chamber and delimited by this frame can then extend over this entire width.
It is preferably provided that the frame comprises two feed-through openings separated by a partition wall or a separating web of the frame. Hence, these feed-through openings are arranged next to one another in the width-wise direction and at the same height with respect to one another in the height-wise direction. This enables in each case a receiving drawer to be pushed through a feed-through opening of the frame. As a result, the storage of different foodstuffs in the respective receiving drawers can be achieved more individually and in better conformity with requirements. Especially when the receiving volume of the additional compartment that is to be delimited by the frame at the front side is also separated by a separate partition wall, it is then possible for the partial volume of the receiving volumes of the additional compartment then formed to be individually used. It is then possible to set different storage conditions, in particular different temperatures and/or atmospheric humidity values in this partial volume so that the receiving drawers which can then be pushed into and pulled out of the respective partial volume can be stocked with different foodstuffs, which are then exposed to the individual advantageous storage conditions. It is then possible to preserve the freshness of the foodstuffs in an even more individual and variable way.
It is preferably provided that the frame, in particular with the separating web, is arranged on a holding wall separate from the frame. This holding wall is in particular the aforementioned partition wall. When viewed over the width of the frame, this further mechanical point of connection between the frame and the holding wall which is separate therefrom, in particular creates a middle and hence central further mechanical stabilization point so that, especially when it extends over the entire width of the receiving chamber, the frame is not undesirably deformed when receiving drawers are pushed in and pulled out through the feed-through openings.
It is preferably provided that the frame sits on a floor separate thereto. As a result, it is then stabilized in its position. It can be provided that the frame only lies on the floor or is additionally connected thereto by connecting means. For example, the frame can then also be inserted or latched or optionally even screwed onto the floor. In particular, it can also be provided that a holding rod is fastened, in particular screwed to, the floor and that the frame is then, for example, inserted onto this holding rod.
The frame is in particular a delimiting wall of an additional compartment, which is formed in the receiving chamber. The additional compartment is preferably delimited on all sides by a respective delimiting wall at least in regions so that the receiving volume of the additional compartment is delimited on all sides and in particular closed in each case. This is provided in each case on all sides at least in regions and for example the frame with its at least one feed-through opening then only provides delimitation in regions. However, in particular when a receiving drawer of the additional compartment is pushed through the feed-through opening in the frame, this feed-through opening is also completely covered, in particular by a front wall of the receiving drawer. In this state, the receiving volume is then also completely closed on this delimiting wall, which is then formed by the frame, in particular in combination with the front wall of the receiving drawer.
It is in particular possible to assemble and disassemble the additional compartment non-destructively since at least one of the delimiting walls is provided as a separate component that can be attached to other delimited walls such that it can be non-destructively detached. It can in this context be provided that one or more delimiting walls, but not all the delimiting walls, are installed in a fixed position in the domestic refrigeration appliance and, for example, represent walls of an interior container.
The additional compartment is in particular a keep-fresh compartment in which temperatures and/or an atmospheric humidity different from those in the remaining volume of the receiving chamber can be set.
It is in particular provided that the floor on which the frame sits is a bottom wall of the interior container or is a compartment floor at distance from a bottom wall and a top wall of the interior container when viewed in the height-wise direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance. In a further alternative, this floor can also be a thermally insulating partition wall arranged between two separate receiving chambers of the domestic refrigeration appliance is arranged. For example, these receiving chambers can be a chiller compartment and a freezer compartment and a thermally insulating partition wall of this kind between the chiller compartment and the freezer compartment can then also, for example, be a component of the interior container and, for example, formed there as one piece by means of a thermoforming process.
It is preferably provided that, on a front side facing away from the rear wall of the interior container, the frame comprises a sealing element, in particular completely surrounding a feed-through opening of the frame.
The terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depth-wise direction”, “width-wise direction”, “height-wise direction” refer to the positions and orientation with use as specified and the arrangement as specified of the appliance and with a observer standing in front of the appliance looking in the direction of the appliance.
Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations cited above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations without leaving the scope of invention. Hence, embodiments of the invention that are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures but are derived from separated feature combinations from the embodiments explained and may be generated thereby should also be considered as being comprised and disclosed by the invention. Hence, embodiments and feature combinations which do not comprise all the features of an originally worded independent claim should also be considered to be disclosed. Moreover, embodiments and feature combinations, in particular in the above-described embodiments, which extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations described in the back-references in the claims should also be considered to be disclosed.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to schematic drawings, which show:
In the figures, the same elements or elements with the same functions are given the same reference numbers.
The chiller compartment 3 can be closed at the front side by one single door arranged in a pivotable manner on the housing 2. In the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the chiller compartment 3 can be closed by a door 6 and a further door 7 at the front side. The two separate doors 6 and 7 can each be pivoted about a pivot axis in the height-wise direction (y-direction).
In the chiller compartment 3, compartment bottoms 8 and 9, the number, position and embodiment of which should only be understood as being exemplary, are arranged at different heights and hence at different levels. They are in particular arranged on internal sides of opposite walls 10 and 11 (
In the exemplary embodiment, an additional compartment 16 is also formed in the chiller compartment 3. The additional compartment 16 is intended to receive foodstuffs. It comprises several separate delimiting walls, by means of which a receiving volume 17 (
The delimiting walls of the additional compartment 16 are formed so that they can be non-destructively detached so that they can be separated and joined non-destructively. As a result, the additional compartment 16 can be reversibly assembled and dissembled again in the receiving chamber and hence in the chiller compartment 3.
The modular design of this additional compartment 16 hence enables this additional compartment 16 to be created in the chiller compartment 3 for an individual user but also to be dismantled again.
Hence this additional compartment 16 can be present or not present as required and hence then used for its intended function in the chiller compartment 3 or, if it is not required, disassembled.
The additional compartment 16 is in particular a keep-fresh compartment in which an atmospheric humidity different from the remaining volume of the chiller compartment 3 and/or a temperature different to that in the remaining volume of the chiller compartment 3 can be set selectively. To this end, the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises an adjusting apparatus as is explained below.
In this case, the additional compartment 16 comprises as a separate delimiting wall a top wall 18, as shown in
As can also be identified in
Moreover, a further delimiting wall of the additional compartment 16 is formed by the side wall 10 and a further delimiting wall by the side wall 11 of the interior container 15. In the embodiment shown, moreover a delimiting wall of the additional compartment 16 is also formed by the floor 14 of the interior container 15.
To attach the separate delimiting walls in the form of the top wall 18 and the front wall 20 to the interior container 15 local fastening means are provided on the interior container 15 and/or the top wall 18 and/or the front wall 20.
In particular, this defined locally arranged fastening means then also specifies a defined first installation position of the additional compartment 16 in the chiller compartment 3.
Receiving drawers 24 and 25, as shown in
It can also be provided that at least one receiving drawer 24 and/or 25 comprises a lid 28 (
This view also shows a further separate delimiting wall of the additional compartment 16, wherein this further separate delimiting wall represents a partition wall 30. This partition wall 30 is arranged in the receiving volume 17 of the additional compartment 16 such that, as can already be identified in
Formed in the partition wall 30, are in particular one or more air ducts, wherein the air ducts feed into a rear edge 30a.
This partition wall 30 can be formed in one piece but can also be assembled as a multi-piece component. Further explanations of this will be given in the following.
The frame 21 is in particular formed in one piece, in particular made of plastic.
It can additionally or alternatively be provided that, in the depth-wise direction (z-direction) of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1, at least two different depths are specified at which the holding rods 35 and 36 can be fastened, in particular screwed-on. This embodiment enables both dimensions of the additional compartment 16 to be set in the depth-wise direction and the general position in the height-wise direction to be selected.
In
In this case, the partition wall 30 has already been assembled in advance and arranged in its end position. As can be identified in this case, the frame 21 is preferably also fastened to this partition wall 30. To this end, a receptacle 40, which can be a recess or a trough or a groove, is also formed on a rear side of an intermediate web 39 (
To this end,
In
The delimiting walls of the additional compartment 16 are preferably thermal insulation walls which have the result that no unwanted alignment of the storage conditions in the additional compartment 16 with those in the remaining volume of the chiller compartment 3 occurs. The frame 21 is then also correspondingly advantageous formed as a thermally insulated wall of this kind.
Once again, with this embodiment, a floor 43 of the interior container 15 is the floor of the chiller compartment 4.
It is in particular provided that the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a refrigeration circuit some of the components of which can be arranged in a machine room 45 of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1. As can be identified in the exemplary embodiment shown in
This duct 49 terminates at an outlet 50. Preferably, a first outlet 50 and a second outlet 51 are provided so that, in this case, coupling of the duct 49 to the air ducts 31 and 32 at different heights is enabled. It can be provided that the outlets 50 and 51 can, for example, be closed by self-closing flaps. As a result, when assembling the additional compartment 16 at the first position shown in
Air from the chiller compartment 3 is guided through a further through-opening 52 via a duct 53, in particular extending in a side wall of the housing 2 back to the evaporation chamber 48.
It can also be provided that the cold air flowing via the air ducts 31 and 32 into the partial volumes 17a and 17b between for example a front edge of the top wall 18 and the feed-through openings 22 and 23 reaches the remaining volume of the chiller compartment 3 if an embodiment is provided there which does not require tightness such as that explained with the above example and hence a certain exchange of atmospheric humidity and/or temperature between the receiving volume 17 and the remaining regions of the chiller compartment 3 is to be provided.
Instead of the two separate air ducts 31 and 32, it is also possible for one single duct to be provided in the partition wall 30 which then preferably comprises outlet openings 31a on both sides so that both partial volumes 17a and 17b can be correspondingly supplied with the same cold and/or moist air. However, preferably these two separate air ducts 31 and 32 are provided.
As already explained, this partition wall 30 can be formed in one piece. However, it can also be formed in multiple pieces and, for example, formed as explained as explained with reference to
The insulating bodies 54 and 55 preferably are each configured as flat parellepipeds on the main surfaces on the mutually facing surfaces of which two horizontally extending grooves 62 and 63 are formed as recesses, wherein the upper groove 62 is in alignment with the air-passage openings 32a in the upper half of the drawer part 56. The insulating body 55 only differs from the insulating body 54 in its orientation. They can both be converted into one another by a 180° rotation about a horizontal axis 64 so that one air duct 31 or 32 is delimited by an insulating body 54, 55 on the groove 62 and the other on the groove 63. Through-openings 65 in the insulating body 54 are in alignment with air-passage openings 32a. Correspondingly, through-openings 66 in the insulating body 55 are in alignment with the air-passage openings 31 a.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
102015221440.0 | Nov 2015 | DE | national |
102016220442.4 | Oct 2016 | DE | national |