Patent Application
20190078835
This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German application DE 10 2017 216 200.7, filed Sep. 13, 2017; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a food-receiving container with a tray and a respectively separate dividing wall which is arranged in the interior of the tray for the purpose of separating the volume of the tray. The food-receiving container has a retaining device with which the dividing wall can be positioned in a fixed setting in which the dividing wall is fixed on the tray in that position. The dividing wall can be put into a respectively different moving setting in which this dividing wall, when in the state of being arranged on the tray, can be moved in the interior relative to the tray. Furthermore the invention also relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance with at least one food-receiving container of this type.
A food-receiving container with a relevant separate dividing wall is known from published, Japanese patent application JP 2004 089255 A for example. There, the dividing wall can be variously positioned with the aid of a retaining device which has compressible retaining clips. If these clips are in a clamping setting then side flange regions of the dividing wall are pressed against vertical side walls of the tray and the dividing wall is then fixed in its position in the interior of the tray. If these clips are operated and in particular moved toward each other, this fixed setting is released and the clamping effect of these retaining clips is at least definitively reduced such that the dividing wall can be moved in the interior of the tray.
In the known embodiment of the retaining device with these specifically graspable and operable retaining clips, adjustment of the fixed setting and the moving setting is very laborious for a user. Firstly the user must reach into the interior of the tray and take hold of the retaining clips located lower down in this regard. This is particularly difficult if stored goods are contained in the tray and the accessibility of these clips is restricted. Precisely when the stored goods are moist or frozen, unwanted harm can occur to the user's fingers here. Moreover the retaining clips are relatively filigreed and in a concealed position so that they can also be operated undesirably strongly, not just during gripping, in such a case, and can then also be impaired in their function or can be broken off in such a case.
The object of the present invention is to create a food-receiving container in which the adjustment of various settings of a dividing wall in the interior of the tray can be effected more easily.
This object is achieved by a food-receiving container and a domestic refrigeration appliance according to the independent claims.
An aspect of the invention relates to a food-receiving container with a tray and a respectively separate dividing wall which is arranged in the interior of the tray for the purpose of separating the volume of the tray. The food-receiving container has a retaining device with which the dividing wall can be positioned in a fixed setting in the interior of the tray. In this fixed setting the dividing wall is positionally fixed on the tray. The dividing wall can be put into a moving setting different from the fixed setting in which the dividing wall, when in the state of being arranged on the tray, can be moved in the interior relative to the tray. The moving setting is achieved when the retaining device has released its retaining effect. In the fixed setting on the other hand, the retaining effect of the retaining device is active. The retaining device has at least one plate-like friction-grip element by which the dividing wall is held on the tray secured against moving by frictional grip in the fixed position. The fixed setting can be released by lifting the dividing wall. The dividing wall is consequently arranged in the tray such that on the one hand the fixed setting and on the other hand the moving setting are adjusted by the different height settings of the dividing wall relative to the tray. These different height levels are viewed in the direction perpendicular to a loading aperture of the tray. The friction-grip element is an element which, based on its geometric and/or material embodiment, automatically builds up or releases this frictional grip depending on these different settings of the dividing wall relative to the tray. The friction-grip element is therefore realized for building up the frictional grip or for breaking down the frictional grip solely by the contact with the tray. The friction-grip element is not a user operating element which clamps or otherwise gives rise to a retaining effect by direct gripping and defined operation of the element in the gripped state. Direct gripping of the friction-grip element by a user is no longer necessary during adjustment of the dividing wall into its specific positions. This results in fundamentally improved handling being achieved for individual positional adjustment of the dividing wall. It is no longer necessary for a user to reach extensively into the interior of the tray in order to be able to definitively operate a concealed retaining element there by means of direct grasping; instead, relevant contactless operation of this friction-grip element by users is achieved by them definitively positioning the dividing wall and then also individually adjusting the fixed setting or the moving setting. The fixed setting is then retained solely through the generation or release of the frictional grip generated individually and automatically during the mechanical contact of the dividing wall with the tray. To release the fixed setting and therefore remove the frictional-grip-based contact between the friction element and the tray, the dividing wall is lifted perpendicular to the plane of the loading aperture and also perpendicular to the potential moving direction of the dividing wall in the interior of the tray. This very intuitive and user-friendly, and therefore also fast and accurate, positioning of the dividing wall has the aforesaid advantages.
The at least one plate-like friction-grip element is arranged on an edge side of the dividing wall, which edge side faces an inner side of a side wall of the tray, and is arranged standing raised above same at the edge side. This achieves the result that on the one hand a flat constructional embodiment of this friction-grip element is achieved, and on the other hand the mechanical contact with the inner side of the tray is then also advantageously and primarily accomplished by the projecting raised-up position, so that the frictional grip can then be built up here concretely and also continuously during this preferably vertical movement of the dividing wall and therefore during pressing downward into the tray.
Provision is preferably made for the friction-grip element to have a plate-like sub-element which is realized with a plate surface for the purpose of friction-grip contact. This is a particularly advantageous embodiment since on the one hand the flat constructional design is favored, and on the other hand the aforesaid advantages regarding build-up of the frictional grip during lowering or respectively pressing in of the dividing wall into the interior of the tray are particularly achieved. This plate surface makes it possible to then also accomplish the friction-grip state over the largest possible area so that the fixed setting is held particularly securely. Even if stored goods impact against the dividing wall during filling of the interior of the tray, this fixed setting is not undesirably released or a moving of the dividing wall prevented.
Provision is preferably made for this plate surface of the plate-like sub-element to extend over at least 80 percent of the height of the friction-grip element. The very large-area embodiment in this regard enables a continuous and constant build-up of frictional grip during lowering of the dividing wall into the interior of the tray. A sudden onset of what is then already a very high level of frictional grip is prevented. This embodiment in turn also supports user-friendly introduction of the dividing wall.
Provision is preferably made for the friction-grip element to be realized out of an elastomer. This material favors the aforesaid advantages with an eye on deliberate continuous build-up of frictional grip and also lastingly secure retention of this fixed setting. On the other hand the embodiment made of elastomer is viable for the most diverse ambient conditions so that frictional grip is reliably generated and stays in effect both at room temperature and also at cool temperatures in a domestic refrigeration appliance.
Moreover the required deformation elasticity is maintained over a long service life in the case of an embodiment out of elastomer so that here also, no slackening occurs and for example no brittleness or the like of the friction-grip element occurs.
Provision is preferably made for the dividing wall to have a strip-like side flange which faces an inner side of the tray, wherein the friction-grip element is arranged on the side flange. An embodiment of this type results in a widening of the edge-side being accomplished, more or less perpendicular to the plane in which the dividing wall extends, so that in this regard also a wider friction-grip element can have a stable location on it. This embodiment improves functionality in the generation of frictional grip. By means of this side flange the friction-grip element can then also more or less support itself on both sides and is more or less squeezed in like a sandwich during generation of the frictional grip. On the one hand by the inner side of the tray, on the other hand by this side flange. An undesirable deformation or other damaging of the friction-grip element is also prevented as a result. By means of this embodiment moreover the friction-grip element, when viewed in the width direction, does not then project at the side in the fixed setting so that here also, no undesirable impacting or striking of stored goods on the friction-grip element occurs, so that also the friction-grip element is not damaged.
This side flange is preferably wider than the friction-grip element, with the result that the aforesaid advantages are achieved to a particular degree.
Provision is preferably made for the dividing wall to be arranged at a higher level in the moving setting than in the fixed setting when viewed in a height direction of the food-receiving container. This height direction is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the loading aperture of the tray. In this context simple moving of the dividing wall can be achieved in the moving setting since it can more or less stand somewhat upward out of the interior of the tray, and therefore can be gripped easily by a user and can be moved correspondingly definitively. No unwanted outward projection of the dividing wall over the loading aperture of the tray then occurs in the relevant fixed setting, lying lower in the downward direction, so that here also no troublesome projection occurs and impacting by further components of the domestic refrigeration appliance is prevented.
Provision is preferably made for the dividing wall to be latched on the tray and a latching element of the dividing wall and a mating latching element on the tray to abut against each other in the moving setting, and the latching element and the mating latching element to be uncoupled in the fixed setting. An embodiment of this type therefore nevertheless prevents the occurrence of any unwanted release of the dividing wall from the tray in the moving setting, in which the defined moving is enabled. Since the moving direction is oriented in the plane in which the filling aperture of the tray extends, or respectively is oriented parallel to same, the desirable lifting-out of the dividing wall, upward perpendicular to this plane, is avoided by means of this latching connection. An unwanted releasing of the dividing wall, in particular during moving, is prevented as a result. Moreover this embodiment of the latching device therefore prevents the release of the fixed setting during pulling of the dividing wall upward out of the interior of the tray, or any pulling too far out in this regard.
On the other hand the latching device nevertheless then continues to be present in the fixed setting and in this context generates a release setting of the latched state of the latching element with the mating latching element. In this fixed setting also, the latching device continues to be realized such that the dividing wall could not be completely separated from the tray. Nevertheless the actually latched state and the mutual abutting of the latching element and of the mating latching element is not required in this fixed setting.
Provision is preferably made for a clip reaching outward from the side to be arranged with the latching element on an upper edge of the dividing wall, and a mating latching element to be arranged on an outer side of a side wall of the tray. A wing-like element, on which this latching element is arranged in a covered and therefore also protected manner, is created by means of this embodiment. This advantageously makes it possible to reach round the mating latching element from above. Not only is secure latching possible on the one hand but also the prevention of latching elements undesirably lying exposed upward, which could then be damaged or broken off by impact.
Provision is preferably made for the mating latching element to be realized in the form of a rail by means of which the latching element is guided when moving in the moving setting of the dividing wall. This multifunctionality of the mating latching element results in a saving being made in components and the overall handling concept for the dividing wall being constructed particularly simply.
Provision is preferably made for two oppositely located side walls of the tray, between which the dividing wall extends, to be arranged sloping toward a loading aperture of the tray so that the interior of the tray widens out toward the loading aperture. An embodiment of this type means that the fixed setting and therefore the continuous build-up of frictional grip can be achieved particularly advantageously. Provision can be made, in an advantageous manner, for the oppositely located side walls to have different slopes. As a result the concept of the frictional grip can be structured individually on the individual walls. On the other hand an assembly coding is created so that the dividing wall can also not be installed wrongly.
Provision is preferably made for the dividing wall to reach over upper edges of oppositely located side walls of the tray with the aid of the clip already referred to. The concept for retaining the dividing wall on the tray is enabled particularly advantageously as a result. In particular these clips can then also sit on the edge from above, in particular in the fixed setting of the dividing wall in the interior of the tray, so that this sitting-on from above results in a further additional stabilization of the fixed setting being achieved.
Provision is preferably made for the moving path of the dividing wall relative to the tray to be limited by a lowered edge segment of at least one upper edge of a side wall of the tray. On the one hand defined part volumes of the interior of the tray can be adjusted advantageously as a result, on the other hand these lowered edge segments result in there being no unwanted projection of the dividing wall upward out of the tray.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance with at least one food-receiving container according to the aforesaid aspect or an advantageously embodiment thereof.
A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a method for positioning a dividing wall of a food-receiving container in an interior of a tray of the food-receiving container. In the course of the method the dividing wall, when in the state of being arranged on the tray, is moved relative to the tray for the purpose of changing a volume division of the interior of the tray in a moving setting, and is held on the tray secured against moving in a fixed setting. The dividing wall is held on the tray by a retaining device. The dividing wall is held on the tray secured against moving by frictional grip of a friction-grip element of the retaining device, in particular in the direction perpendicular to a filling aperture or respectively loading aperture of the tray, in the fixed setting. The fixed setting is released by lifting the dividing wall, in particular in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the filling aperture and therefore in particular also perpendicular to the moving direction of the dividing wall.
Advantageously the concept means that the dividing wall can be operated and moved between the fixed setting and the moving setting by a user with only one hand. Simple handling is produced as a result. Precisely also in the case of disabled users who have a disability of a hand or an arm or who are otherwise at least temporarily restricted with one hand, handling of the dividing wall can nevertheless be carried out securely.
Further advantageous embodiments of the method are enabled by the aforesaid components of the food-receiving container and also by their at least partly individual interaction with each other.
The designations “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction”, etc. designate the given positions and orientations in the case of use as intended, and arrangement as intended, of the food-receiving container or respectively the appliance.
Further features of the invention arise from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations stated above in the description, and also the features and feature combinations stated below in the description of the figures and/or shown singly in the figures can be used not only in the respectively stated combination but also in other combinations or in a standalone context without departing from the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures but which arise and can be generated from the explained embodiments by means of separated feature combinations are therefore also to be regarded as comprised and disclosed. Embodiments and feature combinations which therefore do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim are also to be regarded as disclosed.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a food-receiving container with friction-grip positioning of a dividing wall in a tray, domestic refrigeration appliance, and method, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Identical or functionally identical elements are labeled with the same reference characters in the figures.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 moreover has a door 5 which closes the receiving space 3. In an optional embodiment the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has a second door 6 which closes the optionally present second receiving space 4 at the front. The doors 5 and 6 are arranged in a pivoting manner on the casing 2.
A separate food-receiving container 7 is arranged in the receiving space 4. The food-receiving container 7 is shown in
The edge segment 14a is strengthened or respectively stiffened by an optionally present bar 16. Correspondingly a further bar 17 can be provided in the edge segment 15a in order to stiffen same also. Preferably a mating latching element 18 is arranged on an outer side 12a of the side wall 12, offset downward with respect to this edge segment 14a when viewed in the height direction (y direction), over the entire length of the edge segment 14a. This mating latching element 18 is also realized here in particular in the form of a continuous and uninterrupted linear rail which sticks out, raised forward, from the outer side 12a. Correspondingly a mating latching element 19 is molded on as a single piece, offset downward with respect to this edge segment 15a, on an outer side 13a of the rear side wall 13, which mating latching element is preferably realized correspondingly in the form of a continuous linear rail which extends over the entire length of the edge segment 15a. This further mating latching element 19 is shown in
The dividing wall 11 is realized in one piece, in particular of plastic. The dividing wall 11 has a base plate 20, as can be seen in
In the upper region, in particular leading to the bar 23, clips 24 and 25 are molded on at oppositely located sides. These are oriented downward and reach round the edge segments 14a and 15a from above.
As can be seen, latching elements 26 and 27 (
As can be seen in the perspective sectional view in
Preferably this plate surface 32 extends over at least 80 percent of the height of the entire friction-grip element 29, so that the largest possible area of abutment on the inner side 12b is achieved here.
In this fixed setting the dividing wall 11 is also in particular sitting on a floor 33 of the tray 8. In addition to or in place of this provision can be made for the clips 24 and 25 to sit on the edge segments 14a and 15a in this fixed setting. This fixed setting is additionally stabilized by these two said alternatives, which can also occur in combination. Starting from the fixed setting of the dividing wall 11 shown in
This movement in a direction perpendicular to the loading aperture 9 of the tray 8 also results in the frictional grip between the friction-grip elements 29 and 30 and the inner sides 12b and 13b, which is generated and maintained in the fixed setting, being removed and in this regard released. In the moving setting, as shown in
An advantageous embodiment provides for the side wall 12 to be arranged sloping obliquely and therefore not to be oriented completely vertical. Preferably this side wall 12 is arranged sloping obliquely outward or respectively forward coming from the floor 33. In particular an angle between 1° and 5°, in particular between 1° and 3°, preferably 1.5°, can be realized here.
In addition to or in place of this provision can be made for the further side wall 13, which is a rear side wall here when viewed in the depth direction (z direction), to be arranged sloping obliquely. An arrangement sloping outward starting from the floor 33 can then preferably also be provided here. An embodiment of this type results in the tray 8 therefore widening out toward the loading aperture when viewed from the floor 33. It is advantageous in particular if this side wall 13 has a slope between 5° and 10°, in particular between 6° and 9°, in particular 8°.
In particular provision can also be made for an air inlet 34 to be realized in this rear side wall 13. Via this air inlet 34 air can travel into the interior 10.
The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 216 200.7 | Sep 2017 | DE | national |
