HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPARATUS WITH A DRAWER

In household refrigeration apparatuses, it is known that besides a primary receiving space for food, which can for example be a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment, they can comprise a functional compartment in addition thereto. Thus, it is known in this context that a household refrigeration apparatus can comprise a specific container, which is disposed within the receiving space, but in which storage conditions are different from the remaining volume of the receiving space. For example a different air humidity and/or a different temperature can be set in such a container. Thereby, various foods like fruit and vegetable or also fish, can be individually stored and thus is also kept fresh for a longer period.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a household refrigeration apparatus, in which the storage of different storage goods is allowed and yet simple accessibility to storage goods is allowed.

This object is solved by a household refrigeration apparatus comprising the features according to the independent claim.

The invention relates to a household refrigeration apparatus with a housing, in which a receiving space for food is formed. Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus comprises a door, which is formed for closing the receiving space. The door can be attached to the housing in a rotatable fashion. Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus comprises at least one functional compartment. The functional compartment is different from the receiving space and for example a different temperature or humidity can be selected for the functional compartment. The functional compartment comprises an externally accessible drawer. By being externally accessible, the drawer can be opened or closed by a user without the need to open or close the door. Parts of the drawer, e.g. surfaces of a front wall of the drawer, form external surfaces of the household refrigeration appliance. These external surfaces as therefore exposed to the ambient. The drawer is embodied separately from the door. The drawer comprises a front wall. The front wall of the drawer comprises a viewing window. The viewing window enables light from the ambient of the household refrigeration appliance to enter the functional compartment and vice versa. The viewing window allows a user to see into the functional compartment. Thus, a household refrigeration apparatus is provided, which besides the receiving space additionally comprises a functional compartment, in particular separate thereto, which is individually accessible and can be looked into. In this context, the functional compartment comprises an own closure member, which is formed by the front wall of the drawer. Thus, the functional compartment is accessible independently of the operation of the door, by which the receiving space is closable. By the configuration of the functional compartment as a drawer, it can be easily pulled out and pushed in such that the food inserted therein can be simply removed and can be simply inserted also in the pulled out or extracted state of the drawer. Moreover, by the configuration of the drawer such that its front wall represents an outer part of the household refrigeration apparatus and by having a viewing window, it is simply recognizable even in the closed state, which foods are stored in this functional compartment. Without having to open the drawer and thus without pulling out or extracting the drawer, the contents of the functional compartment can immediately be recognized through the front wall in the closed state of the drawer. This is a substantial advantage since the drawer does not have to be opened and therefore the storage conditions set in the functional compartment do not undesirably change. Moreover, it is also possible by such a configuration that opening the drawer can be effected independently of opening the door of the receiving space such that both storage compartments can virtually be opened and accessed independently of each other. The respectively existing storage conditions in the respective other compartment are not undesirably impaired. In particular, this is advantageous if storage conditions are adjustable in the functional compartment independently of the receiving space.

According to an embodiment, in a front view of the household refrigeration appliance the front wall of the drawer is disposed without an overlap with the door. Both the door and the front wall of the drawer are separate components, which each virtually terminate the household refrigeration apparatus to the front and are recognizable as such front-side outer parts in the closed state of the door and the drawer. The door can be located vertically above the drawer.

According to a further embodiment, the viewing window comprises an insulating glass assembly. The insulating glass assembly is formed as at least a two-fold glazing with an intermediate space in-between the two glass panels. The intermediate space can be evacuated or filled with an insulating gas, e.g. inert gas. By such a configuration, not only sufficient transparency for looking through is provided, but also high thermal insulating effect is achieved. This is in particular of advantage if refrigeration is to be effected in the functional compartment, for example for specific food like cheese or specific meat, or bottles, such as for example wine bottles.

According to an embodiment, the viewing window may comprise a front panel connected to the door sheet, e.g. by an adhesive connection (for example double-sided adhesive tape). The front panel is fully or partly transparent. The front panel may be made of glass. The front panel may delimit (in depth direction) an intermediate space of the viewing window which is evacuated or filled with an insulating gas. The front panel may extend in width and/or height direction beyond other components of the viewing window. In particular, the front panel may extend in width and height direction further than other glass plates the viewing window. When viewed in depth direction, the front panel may cover in width and/or height direction virtually all of the other components of the front wall. The front panel can in particular form an outer part of the drawer and thus an outer part of the refrigerator apparatus. In particular, the front panel can be essentially or completely flush with a front surface of the separate door. This allows at one side to form a smooth and thus easy to clean outer surface of the drawer. On the other hand, the viewing window—in particular when comprising an insulating glass—can be located and attached in the most suitable way to the drawer structure.

According to a further embodiment, the front wall comprises a door sheet to which the viewing window is attached. Thereby, stable configuration of the front wall is provided. The door sheet can be made of metal, e.g. made of a stamped-bent metal sheet. The viewing window can be attached to the door sheet by an adhesion connection, e.g. with a double-sided adhesive tape.

According to a further embodiment, the door sheet comprises a front plate having a hole and side elements adjoining the front plate and angled thereto. The door sheet can still be a single-pieced element, e.g. a stamped-bent metal sheet. By the configuration of the door sheet, in which the side elements are integrally formed on the edge sides of the front plate and are positioned opposing to each other in width direction, a certain mechanical stability of the door sheet is also achieved. In particular, the torsion stiffness is thereby increased. By the rearwards angled side elements, a side protection for the viewing window is also provided such that it is laterally bordered and is not immediately exposed. To allow a large viewing window, the hole has a size of preferably at least 50% or at least 75% or at least 80% of a rectangle surrounding the door sheet when looked at in a front view (e.g. from the perspective of a user standing in front of the household refrigeration apparatus). The hole can be rectangular when looked at in a front view. In depth direction, a portion of the viewing window can extend into the hole. That is a circumferential edge of the hole and can surround a portion of the viewing window.

According to a further embodiment, the side elements form external surfaces of the front wall. The side elements are thus visible for a user. By employing a metal door sheet, these side elements can in this way be made of the same material as e.g. similar side surfaces of the door or the body.

According to a further embodiment, a front side of the front plate of the door sheet and a partial area of a front side of the viewing window adjoining to the front plate, are concealed by a shield. The shield can be in the form of a circumferentially closed frame positioned around the hole in a front view. The shield can be positioned on the viewing window, in particular on an outermost plate of the viewing window either on a surface facing away from the functional compartment or on a surface facing the functional compartment. The shield can be a print layer. The shield allows a transition between the front side and the hole of the door sheet to be covered and masked.

According to a further embodiment, the front wall comprises a connection frame, which is connected to the viewing window. The viewing window and the connection frame can be connected by an adhesive connection, e.g. a double-sided adhesive tape or a sealing tape. A rear side (facing towards the functional compartment) of the viewing window can be abutted against the connection frame.

By such a configuration, a secure installation of the viewing window in the front wall is allowed. On the other hand, by employing a door sheet and a connection frame, a simpler assembling scenario is also allowed. A comprehensive and optionally complex assembling procedure for inserting a viewing window into a one-piece element for the door sheet and connection frame, which still comprises a corresponding complex shape and configuration, is thereby avoided. Preferably, in width and height direction a gap exists between an outer circumference of the viewing window and the connection frame. Thereby, manufacturing tolerances and assembling tolerances, e.g. of the viewing window, can also be simply compensated for. Furthermore, foamed insulation material, e.g. polyurethane foam, may enter the gap and thus further strengthening the fixation of the viewing window.

The connection frame can be connected to a frame support and the drawer may comprise retaining rails, wherein the retaining rails can be attached to the frame support. The frame support, the connection frame, the retaining rails and the door sheet are preferably all separate components, wherein each of these components may be a single-piece component. By this configuration with the connection frame and the frame support, the assembly can be further simplified and the front wall can then be formed relatively compactly and weight saving. Further, a mechanically stable connection to the frame support can be provided, such that the front wall is then also retained on the support secure in position and with correspondingly mechanical loadability.

The retaining rails might be coupled to slides, which are attached to walls of the interior of the functional compartment in the housing. The slides, which can be a constituent of the household refrigeration apparatus, can for example be telescopic slides. By these retaining rails, simple coupling to these slides can be effected and thus a very effortless linear displacement in depth direction can be achieved. Thus, the drawer can also be operated in very user-friendly manner.

According to an embodiment, the connection frame and the frame support are connected to each other by a latching connection. On the one hand, this is a mechanical connection to be very fast generated, on the other hand, this specific connection is also very effective, which means that it allows high positional fixation of the two components to each other, on the other hand also withstands a high load. Moreover, by such a configuration, it is then no longer required that again additional, separate connecting elements like screws or the like would be required to connect the two components.

Preferably, the connection frame and/or the frame support are made of plastic. They can each be a single piece component, e.g. an injection molded plastic part. While being light weighted, they can be easily provided with a complex form and have a good thermal insulation capability.

Preferably, the connection frame and/or frame support are each a single wall part. In particular, they can be formed as a circumferentially closed frame. In particular, the connection frame and/or frame support are made of plastic, e.g. are plastic injection parts.

According to an embodiment, the front wall comprises a chamber (e.g. cavity) which is filled with a thermally insulating material. This thermally insulating material can for example be an insulating foam. Thus, the thermal insulating capability of the drawer is increased allowing the functional compartment to be efficiently also be used at low temperatures. The chamber can be formed annularly circumferential around a portion of the viewing window such that the viewing window is virtually circumferentially surrounded by the thermally insulating material. The thermally insulating material can in particular be in contact with portions of the viewing window (e.g. lateral side surfaces).

According to an embodiment, front wall comprises a lower termination bar. Preferably, in the lower termination bar a cable channel and/or a light source chamber are formed. The lower termination bar may be a separate component, in particular a single-piece component, e.g. a plastic injection part. By such a configuration, the laying of cables in the front wall is simply also allowed at the same time. By the preferably integrated and thus one-piece configuration of the cable channel with the lower termination bar, a configuration reduced in components is also provided. The same can also be provided with the light source chamber. At least one light source can be formed and disposed in the drawer itself, in particular in the front wall, by the light source chamber such that individual illuminations of the front wall, in particular in the area of the viewing window and/or into the functional compartment, can also be effected.

This lower termination bar may comprise at least one injection opening, through which the thermally insulating material, in particular the insulating foam, can be introduced. Thereby, the front wall can virtually already be completely assembled before the thermally insulating material is injected into the chamber. Advantageously, the injection opening can then be securely closed, wherein a specific opening cover can be provided. A recessed drawer handle may be formed in the lower termination bar.

According to an embodiment, the front wall comprises an upper termination bar. Preferably, in the upper termination bar a recessed drawer handle is formed. The lower termination bar may be a separate component, in particular a single-piece component, e.g. a plastic injection part. The drawer handle allows the user to open the drawer. The recessed drawer handle may be capable of being gripped in particular from the top and front. By this upper termination bar, thus, a multi-functional component is provided correspondingly as it can be the lower termination bar in advantageous implementations. By the recessed grip integrated in the upper termination bar, a space saving grip concept is allowed and yet a user-friendly operation and a simple grip are allowed.

Preferably, the recessed drawer handle comprises a rear-side bounding wall, which is formed as an inclination. This inclination extends obliquely rearwards from the bottom to the top such that a gripping opening of the recessed drawer handle oriented to the top is virtually expanded. The recessed drawer handle then tapers towards the bottom.

In an advantageous implementation, it is provided that a display and/or operating unit is disposed in the upper termination bar and/or the lower termination bary, in particular at the inclination formed as the rear-side bounding wall of the recessed drawer handle. It is then also compactly constructed and also easily visible due to the orientation of this inclination.

Preferably, it is provided that a viewing window is fixed to the door sheet in particular by an adhesive tape in a first assembling step, before it is then attached secure in position in an advantageous implementation by surrounding it with the thermal insulating material.

The front wall may comprise thermally insulating foam which is in contact with several elements of the front wall and additionally fixes these elements to each other. Thus, the strength of the front wall is improved. These elements being in contact with the insulating foam can be one or more or all of the following: the door sheet, the viewing window, the connection frame, the frame support, the lower termination bar, the upper termination bar.

In an advantageous implementation, it can also be provided that an additional seal is attached between viewing window and the connection frame.

Preferably, the front wall is first produced and the retaining rails are fixed to the frame support after completely producing the front wall, in particular also after the foaming procedure.

Preferably, the front wall comprises additional separate backing parts, which are disposed at the frame support and to which the retaining rails are then fixed, in particular screwed. A wall of the frame support is then disposed between the retaining rails and the backing part. The backing parts may be made of metal. In an embodiment, the drawer comprises elongated holes, by which height and/or angular adjustment of the drawer is allowed. This is in particular visible with respect to the retaining rails.

In an embodiment, the door sheet and the connection frame are spaced and thus disposed to each other without contact. In an alternative implementation, the door sheet is directly in contact with the connection frame and thus the viewing window is intermediately embedded. Preferably, it is provided that the rearwards angled support elements of the door sheet comprise dimensions such that the further components, in particular the viewing window, the connection frame and in particular also the frame support, are virtually installed within this extension of these support elements to be viewed in depth direction. Thereby, a particularly compact construction of the front wall is allowed in depth direction.

In particular, the connection frame is a profile angled multiple times such that the connection frame abuts both on the narrow edge sides of the viewing window and on a rear side of the viewing window or borders the viewing window on two different area regions. Thus, the connection frame is shaped at least L-shaped, preferably in particular S-like, in a cross-section.

The front wall can be provided with a seal facing the housing to improve the sealing of the functional compartment in a closed state of the drawer. The seal can be fixed to the frame support.

With indications of “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction” etc., the positions and orientations given with intended use and intended arrangement of the apparatus are specified.

Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not comprise all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim.

Below, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail based on schematic drawings. There show:

FIG. 1 a perspective representation of an embodiment of a household refrigeration apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a perspective representation of partial components of a functional compartment of the household refrigeration apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a representation of components according to FIG. 2 in a perspective different thereto;

FIG. 4 a perspective representation of an embodiment of a door sheet of the drawer of the functional compartment;

FIG. 5 a side view of partial components of the front wall of the drawer of the functional compartment;

FIG. 6 a partial representation of FIG. 5 in a perspective view;

FIG. 7 a perspective partial representation of elements of the implementation in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 a perspective partial representation of partial components of the front wall of the drawer;

FIG. 9 a sectional representation through a front wall in partial representation;

FIG. 10 a perspective sectional representation through a further embodiment of a front wall of the drawer;

FIG. 11 a representation of an embodiment of a cable channel in a lower termination bar of the front wall and

FIG. 12 a side view of partial components of the front wall of the drawer of the functional compartment.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

In FIG. 1, an embodiment of a household refrigeration apparatus 1 is shown in a perspective representation. The household refrigeration apparatus 1, which is formed for storing and preserving food, comprises a housing 2. In the shown embodiment, a first receiving space 3 for food, which is a refrigerating compartment, is formed in the housing 2. In the embodiment, this first receiving space 3 is closable on the front side by two separate doors 4 and 5, which represent front-side outer parts or viewing components. The two doors 4 and 5, which are disposed without overlap in width direction (x-direction) and are disposed in the same height position in height direction (y-direction), are disposed at the housing 2 pivotable about vertical axes.

In the embodiment, it is provided that the household refrigeration apparatus 1 comprises a further receiving space 6 separate from the first receiving space 3, which can be a freezing compartment. This second receiving space 6 is closable on the front side by a separate door 7. The door 7 can be a constituent of a drawer, which characterizes the second receiving space 6. Preferably, the doors 4, 5 and 7 are disposed in one plane. In particular, the door 7 is also a front-side viewing component.

Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 comprises a functional compartment 8. The functional compartment 8 is formed for receiving food and forms a storage compartment separate from the first receiving space 3 and separate from the second receiving space 6. In the shown implementation, the functional compartment 8 is accessible by a drawer which is displaceable in linear direction in depth direction (z-direction). The drawer 9 comprises a front wall 10, in which a transparent area 11 is formed. Thereby, it can be looked into the functional compartment 8 even in the closed state of the drawer 9. The front wall 10 represents an outer part or a front-side viewing component such that it is no longer covered on the front side and is exposed on the front side in this respect in the closed state of the drawer 9.

In particular, the front wall 10 is disposed in the plane of the closed doors 4, 5 and 7 in the closed state of the drawer 9.

In the shown embodiment, the drawer 9 is formed between the two receiving spaces 3 and 6 in the housing 2 viewed in height direction (y-direction).

The functional compartment 8 is configured to the effect that different storage conditions can be adjusted compared to the receiving space 3 and to the receiving space 6, and this can also be effected independently of the storage conditions in the receiving space 3 and in the receiving space 6. Thus, an individual air humidity and/or an individual temperature can for example in particular be adjusted in the functional compartment 8.

The functional compartment 8 can be a bottle storage compartment, in particular a wine storage drawer. However, it can also be provided that meal is stored as food in the functional compartment 8 and this is for example a cheese counter or a meat counter.

Thus, it can be looked into the individual storage areas through the transparent area 11 even in the closed state of the drawer 9 and thus it can be simply recognized, what is stored in the drawer 9.

In particular, a presentation compartment is also provided by the functional compartment 9, in which the specific storage goods such as for example wine bottles or specific pieces of cheese or specific pieces of meat like a steak or the like can be presented, displayed and seen even if the drawer 9 is closed.

Depending on its storage functionality, the drawer 9 can comprise individual storage elements for the provided storage goods. For example, the drawer 9 can comprise bottle storage elements if it is formed as a wine bottle storage drawer. They can be elements, which can externally form-fit receive the bottles such as for example groove-like elements or round brackets. Furthermore, within the housing storage elements, e.g. shelves, can be provided in the functional compartment.

In FIG. 2, the drawer 9 is shown with partial components. Here, the front wall 10 is shown. The transparent area 11 is formed by a viewing window 12, which is formed as an own separate component. This viewing window 12 can for example be insulating glass assembly.

This front wall 10 comprises a frame 13, which is preferably multi-part formed. The front wall 10 comprises a door sheet 14, which, as it is illustrated in FIG. 4, is integrally formed, in particular of sheet metal. This door sheet 14 comprises a front plate 15, which comprises a recess or a hole 20, which is circumferentially closed or bounded. Through this hole 20, it can then also be looked through the viewing window 12 disposed behind.

In width direction on opposing edge sides, a support element 16 and 17 is respectively integrally formed adjoining to the front plate 15, in particular formed by bending.

It can be provided that a front panel 41 of the viewing window 12 is applied to a front side 18, which also represents an outer side, of the front plate 15. This front panel 41, which is formed as a plate, is at least partially transparent. It is particularly made out of genuine glass. The front panel 41 is a frontal viewing component and is dimensionally greater than the other elements of the viewing window 12. Moreover, the front panel 41 also covers the front side 18. The front panel is connected on its rear side to an further element of the viewing window 12. Moreover, it is preferably provided that rear side of the front panel 41 is connected with the front side 18, in particular by means of an adhesive bond (FIGS. 5 to 10). This adhesive bond can be a double-sided adhesive tape.

Preferably, it is provided that the front wall 10 comprises a shield 19. The shield 19 can be arranged on a front side of the front panel 41. The shield 19 can also be arranged on a rear side of the front panel 41. Preferably, the shield 19 is formed opaquely and therefore covers a partial area of front panel 41. By means of this, a partial area of the viewing window 12 is covered, in particular the area where the adhesive bond 42 is arranged. The shield 19 is in particular frame shaped. The shield 19 can preferably be a print layer or a glued film layer.

As is moreover apparent in FIG. 2, the front wall 10 comprises an upper termination bar 21. Preferably, a recessed drawer handle 22 is formed integrally in this upper termination bar 21, into which it can be gripped at least from the top, in particular from the top and from the front. This recessed drawer handle 22 is bounded by a rear wall 23, which is formed as an inclination. In an advantageous implementation, a display and/or operating unit 24 is disposed in this rear wall 23. It can be provided that the rear wall 23 itself is formed of transparent material, in particular real glass, or such real glass is applied to the rear wall 23.

In order to enable also front-side gripping of the recessed drawer handle 22, the front plate 15 of the door sheet 14 comprises a free cut 25 open towards the top, as it is apparent in FIG. 4.

Moreover, the drawer 9 also comprises two retaining rails 26 and 27 according to the representation in FIG. 2, which are fixed, in particular screwed, to the front wall 10. The retaining rails 26 and 27 are formed for coupling to non-illustrated slides, in particular telescopic slides, such that the drawer 9 can be correspondingly shifted back and forth in depth direction.

In FIG. 3, the component arrangement according to FIG. 2 is shown in a perspective different from FIG. 2. Moreover, the front wall 10 also comprises a frame support 28, which is an in particular integral separate component. The retaining rails 26 and 27 are preferably fixed to this frame support 28.

Moreover, the front wall 10 comprises a separate connection frame 29, which is indicated in FIG. 3. As it is shown in the representation in FIG. 5, the viewing window 12 is disposed between the shield 19 and the connection frame 29 viewed in depth direction. In this implementation, the door sheet 14 and the connection frame 29 are disposed without contact to each other. As is already apparent in FIG. 5, the connection frame 29 encompasses a portion of the viewing window 12 on at least two sides, on a narrow edge 30 on the one hand, on a rear side 31 on the other hand.

Moreover, it is apparent that the front wall 10 comprises a separate lower termination part or a lower termination bar 32. The lower termination bar 32 is connected to the frame support 28 and to the door sheet 14. Correspondingly, the upper termination bar 21 is also preferably connected to the door sheet 14 and the frame support 28. As is apparent in FIG. 5, the front wall 10 is at least partly hollowly formed, wherein a cavity 33 is bounded by the door sheet 14, the termination bars 21 and 32, as well as the rear part, namely the frame support 28. The viewing window 12 and the connection frame 29 are further closing the cavity 33. The cavity 33 is filled with a thermal insulating material, in particular an insulating foam 34 (FIG. 9). Thus, the viewing window 12 is circumferentially surrounded by the insulating foam 34. Correspondingly, insulating foam 34 is then also in contact with the connection frame 29.

The frame support 28 is formed as a completely closed rear wall, which stabilizes and rearwards covers the connection frame 29 such that the front wall 10 is thus also rearwards covered by this frame support 28 in this respect.

For introducing the thermally insulating material, in particular the insulating foam 34, the lower termination bar 32 comprises an injection opening 35 in an advantageous implementation, as it is shown in FIG. 6. This injection opening 35 can be closed by a specific cover element after introducing the insulating foam 34.

In FIG. 5, it is moreover also apparent that the frame support 28 is connected to the connection frame 29, in particular by at least one latching connection 36. This latching connection 36 is preferably formed at multiple locations viewed in circumferential direction of the connection frame 29.

Using holes 40 in the retaining rail 27, correspondingly also in the retaining rail 26, the retaining rails 26, 27 are fixed to the frame support 28, e.g. by using fasting elements such as screws or bolts (not shown). A cover (not shown) may be attached to the drawer 9 once the retaining rails 26, 27 are fixed to the front wall 10 to hide the fastening elements and holes 40.

In FIG. 7, a view of components according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in the connection area of the retaining rail 27 to the frame support 28 is shown in a perspective sectional representation. In this horizontal sectional representation, the frame support 28 is V-shaped formed and a separate backing part 37 is disposed in the V. The retaining rail 27 is screwed thereto such that a bracket of the V-shape of the frame support 28 is disposed between the retaining rail 27 and the backing part 37. Correspondingly, screwing of the retaining rail 27 is formed on the opposing side.

In FIG. 8, it is shown in an enlarged perspective representation that a seal 38 is disposed between the rear side 31 of the viewing window 12 and the connection frame 29. Here, a bilaterally adhering adhesive tape can also be disposed.

In FIG. 9, a partial area of the front wall 10 is shown in a simplified sectional representation, wherein the already foamed state is here apparent. Thereby, a thermal bridge between the connection frame 29 and the door sheet 14 is in particular prevented.

In FIG. 10, an embodiment of the front wall 10 is shown in a further perspective sectional representation. Unlike the representation of the previous embodiments, here, it is provided that the connection frame 29 is also directly connected to the door sheet 14.

In FIG. 11, the lower termination bar 32 is moreover shown in a perspective detail representation. A cable channel 39 is integrally formed therein. In addition or instead, a light source chamber, which is here not explicitly shown, can also be formed integrated in this lower terminal bar 32. In an alternative embodiment, the cable channel 39 could be attached to the frame support 28 rather than the lower termination bar 32. In particular, the cable channel 39 could be formed by the frame support 28 as part of a single piece, e.g. when manufacturing the frame support 28 by plastic injection molding.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of partial components of the front wall of the drawer 9 of the functional compartment 8 similar to FIG. 5, whereas, however, portions of the housing 2 are shown. In particular, an upper wall 44, a lower wall 45 and a side wall 46 of the functional compartment 8 are depicted. The upper wall 44 and the lower wall 45 are part of the housing 2 and filled with insulation material to thermally insulate the functional compartment 8 with respect to the environment and/or further receiving spaces of the household refrigeration apparatus. The drawer 9 is depicted in the closed state, i.e. the drawer 9 is fully pushed into the housing 2.

A lighting unit 47 is arranged at the upper wall 44. In particular, the lighting unit 47 is fixed within a recess 48 of the upper wall 44. The lighting unit 47 may alternatively also partly of fully extend from the upper wall 44 downwards into the functional compartment 8. The arrangement depicted in FIG. 12, however, does not negatively affect the volume and usability of the functional compartment 8. A fully transparent or semi transparent window 49 allows light to be emitted from the lighting unit 47 to enter the functional compartment 8 and prevents damage to the lighting unit 47 and/or dirt entering the recess 48.

In the height direction (y-direction), i.e. in the vertical direction, the viewing window 12 has an upper boundary at a height level h1. When having a frontal view through the viewing window 12 into the functional compartment 8, this upper boundary defines the upper limit of the viewable region of the functional compartment 8. The lighting unit 47 is positioned in height direction at a height level h2, which lies above the height level h1. In this way, even a frontal view at the drawer 9 will not allow to directly look into the lighting unit 47. Adverse effects to the eye of the user can be prevented.

The front wall 10 comprises in depth direction behind the viewing window 12 an inclined surface 50. The inclined surface 50 is facing the functional compartment 8 and is positioned at a horizontal and upper part of the frame 13. In particular, the inclined surface 50 may be formed on an upper wall 51 of the frame 13, which upper wall 51 is facing downwards. In depth direction, the inclined surface 50 rises upwards. With respect to a horizontal plane, an angle of the inclined surface 50 is 45 degree. That angle may generally be between 20-70 degrees or between 30-60 degrees. The inclined surface 50 could be formed partly of fully by the connection frame 29 and/or the frame support 28. In the example sown in FIG. 12, the inclined surface 50 is completely formed by the frame support 28. The inclined surface 50 allows more light being emitted by the lighting unit 47 to pass through the viewing window 12. Therefore, even though, the lighting unit 47 is positioned above the upper boundary of the viewing window 12, the viewing window 12 itself and the front region of the functional compartment 8 are well and evenly illuminated.

The features discussed above with respect to the lighting unit 12 and inclined surface 50 can be employed in different embodiments of the present invention likewise.

The hole 20 of the door sheet 14 is encompassed by edges, namely two opposing horizontal edges and two opposing vertical edges. The edges are provided with flanges 51, which are bent backwards from the front side 18, i.e. are bent in depth direction. These flanges 51 could be bent backwards with respect to the front side 18 by an angle of 90 degrees or an angle between 30-60 degrees. In the example of FIG. 12, these flanges 51 are bent backwards by an angle of 45 degrees. An angle different from 90 degrees provides a space between the flanges 51 and the front panel 41 (and in this case also the viewing window 12). In this space a heating element 52 is positioned. The heating element 52 could be an electrical heating wire or a gas heating pipe. The heating element 52 may encompass the edges of the hole 20 in form of a frame. The heating element 52 may further prevent condensation taking place at the front of the viewing window 12.

The features discussed above with respect to the flanges 51 and heating element 52 can be employed in different embodiments of the present invention likewise.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

- 1 household refrigeration apparatus
- 2 housing
- 3 first receiving space
- 4 door
- 5 door
- 6 second receiving space
- 7 door
- 8 functional compartment
- 9 drawer
- 10 front wall
- 11 transparent area
- 12 viewing window
- 13 frame
- 14 door sheet
- 15 front plate
- 16 support element
- 17 support element
- 18 front side
- 19 shield
- 20 hole
- 21 upper termination bar
- 22 recessed drawer handle
- 23 rear wall
- 24 display and/or operating unit
- 25 free cut
- 26 retaining rail
- 27 retaining rail
- 28 frame support
- 29 connection frame
- 30 narrow edge
- 31 rear side
- 32 lower termination bar
- 33 chamber
- 34 insulating foam
- 35 injection opening
- 36 latching connection
- 37 backing part
- 38 seal
- 39 cable channel
- 40 hole
- 41 front panel
- 42 adhesive bond
- 43 adhesive bond
- 44 upper wall
- 45 lower wall
- 46 side wall
- 47 lighting unit
- 48 recess
- 49 window
- 50 inclined surface
- 51 flange
- 51 heating element

HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPARATUS WITH A DRAWER

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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