U.S. patent application number 14/309529 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for household refrigeration appliance comprising a water and/or ice-dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH. Invention is credited to Rene ALT, Christoph BECKE, Max EICHER, Christine HARTWEIN, Maike KIRSCHBAUM, Ralph STAUD, Thomas TISCHER.
Application Number | 20140373561 14/309529 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52010413 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140373561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ALT; Rene ; et al. |
December 25, 2014 |
HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE COMPRISING A WATER AND/OR
ICE-DISPENSER
Abstract
The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance (1)
having a thermally-insulated housing (2), a door leaf (3) disposed
pivotably on the housing (2) with an inner side and an outer side
(3a) which, when the door leaf (3) is closed, delimit a
refrigeration compartment. The household refrigeration appliance
(1) comprises a water and/or ice dispenser (7) with a water or ice
output (8), which is disposed behind the outer side (3a) of the
door leaf (3) in or on the door leaf (3), a cover (10) which is
intended to cover the water or ice output (8) in a first position
and to reveal the water or ice output (8) in a second position,
drive means (15) coupled to the cover (10), which is configured to
move the cover (10) between the two positions, and a proximity
sensor (13). The household refrigeration appliance (1) is
configured, as a result of signals generated by the proximity
sensor (13), to automatically move the cover (10) between the two
positions by means of the drive means (15).
Inventors: |
ALT; Rene; (Munich, DE)
; BECKE; Christoph; (Grosskarolinenfeld, DE) ;
EICHER; Max; (Munich, DE) ; HARTWEIN; Christine;
(Munich, DE) ; KIRSCHBAUM; Maike; (Munich, DE)
; STAUD; Ralph; (Munich, DE) ; TISCHER;
Thomas; (Haar, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH |
Munich |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
52010413 |
Appl. No.: |
14/309529 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2700/04 20130101;
F25D 23/02 20130101; F25D 23/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/125 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/00 20060101
F25C005/00; F25D 31/00 20060101 F25D031/00; F25D 29/00 20060101
F25D029/00; F25D 11/00 20060101 F25D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 211 722.1 |
Claims
1. A household refrigeration appliance, having a
thermally-insulated housing (2), a door leaf (3) disposed pivotably
on the housing (2) with an inner side and an outer side (3a) which,
when the door leaf (3) is closed, delimit a refrigeration
compartment, a water and/or ice dispenser (7) with a water or ice
output (8), which is disposed behind the outer side (3a) of the
door leaf (3) in or on the door leaf (3), a cover (10) which is
intended to cover the water or ice output (8) in a first position
and to reveal the water or ice output (8) in a second position and
drive means (15) coupled to the cover (10), which are configured to
move the cover (10) between the two positions, characterized by a
proximity sensor (13), wherein the household refrigeration
appliance (1) is configured, as a result of signals generated by
the proximity sensor (13) to automatically move the cover (10)
between the two positions by means of the drive means (15).
2. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the proximity sensor (13) is disposed in or on the cover
(10).
3. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the signals generated by the proximity sensor (13) are
dependent on a distance of an object from the cover (10), so that
the household refrigeration appliance (1) automatically moves the
cover (10) by means of the drive means (15) from its first position
into its second position if the distance is less than a minimum
distance, and from its second position into its first position when
the distance exceeds the minimum distance again.
4. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the surface of the outer side (10a) of the cover (10), in
its first position, runs flush with the surface of the outer side
(3a) of the door leaf (3).
5. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the materials of at least the outer sides (3a, 10a) of the
cover (10) and the door leaf (3) are the same.
6. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the cover (10) is embodied as a flap (10b), which is
supported pivotably in relation to a pivot axis (11) running
horizontally, especially in its lower area, and in relation to the
pivot axis (11) is able to be pivoted automatically by means of the
drive means (15) at least partly into the door leaf (3).
7. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the cover (10) is able to be moved automatically by means
of the drive means (15), for its second position, at least
approximately in parallel to the surface of the outer side (3a) of
the door leaf (3), into its inner space.
8. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the cover (10) is embodied as a sliding door, and the drive
means (15) slides the sliding door sideways, upwards or downwards,
so that the cover (10) embodied as a sliding door assumes its
second position.
9. The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 8,
wherein the drive means (15) slides the cover (10) embodied as a
sliding door behind the outer side (3a) of the door leaf (3), so
that the cover (10) embodied as a sliding door assumes its second
position.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance
comprising a water and/or ice dispenser.
[0002] WO 2010/112292 A2 discloses a household refrigeration
appliance comprising a water dispenser and/or ice dispenser, the
water or ice output of which is disposed behind the outer side of
the door leaf in or on the door leaf. A cover is provided in the
outer side of the door leaf, which is able to be moved at least
partly into the door leaf in order to provide access to the output.
The surface of the outer side of the cover, in its non-moved-in
state, runs flush with the surface of the outer side of the door
leaf. The household refrigeration appliance has a pressure sensor,
as a result of the actuation of which the output opens.
[0003] The object of the invention is to specify an easier-to-use
household refrigeration appliance with a water dispenser and/or an
ice dispenser, the water and/or ice output of which is disposed
behind the outer side of the door leaf in or on the door leaf,
wherein a cover, which covers the output, is provided in the outer
side of the door leaf.
[0004] The object of the invention is achieved by a household
refrigeration appliance having a thermally-insulated housing, a
door leaf disposed pivotably on the housing with an inner side and
an outer side, which delimit a refrigeration space when the door
leaf is closed, a water and/or ice dispenser with a water and/or
ice output which is disposed behind the outer side of the door leaf
in or on the door leaf, a cover which is provided to cover the
water and/or ice output in a first position, and to reveal the
water or ice output in a second position, drive means coupled to
the cover which are configured to move the cover between the two
positions, and a proximity sensor, wherein the household
refrigeration appliance is configured, on the basis of signals
generated by the proximity sensor, to move the cover automatically
between the two positions by means of the drive means.
[0005] The inventive household refrigeration appliance is a
household refrigerator, a household freezer or a fridge-freezer for
example. The inventive household refrigeration appliance therefore,
in the generally known manner, has the thermally-insulated housing,
against which the door leaf is closed in order to close off the
refrigeration space or provide access to it. The inventive
household refrigeration appliance especially comprises a
refrigerant circuit for cooling the refrigeration space known in
principle to the person skilled in the art. The inventive household
refrigeration appliance can also have a control facility which
controls the refrigerant circuit in a way known in principle to the
person skilled in the art, so that the refrigeration space, at
least approximately, has a predetermined target temperature. The
refrigeration space is intended for the storage of refrigerated
goods.
[0006] The inventive household refrigeration device also includes
the ice maker or ice dispenser and/or the water dispenser, wherein
the water or the ice output is disposed especially in the door leaf
behind its outer side. The water or ice output is intended for
withdrawing water or ice from the water or ice dispenser.
[0007] In order to make this output for withdrawing water or ice
accessible, especially from outside the household refrigeration
appliance, in accordance with the invention the outer side of the
door leaf has the cover which is especially disposed below the
output and in its first position covers the water or ice output.
This provides opportunities for giving the front of the inventive
household refrigeration appliance a uniform design. In its second
position the cover reveals the water or ice output, so that a
person can withdraw water or ice from the corresponding output.
[0008] Furthermore the inventive household refrigeration appliance
includes the drive means coupled to the cover, which automatically
moves the cover back and forth between the two positions. In
accordance with the invention the household appliance also includes
the proximity sensor, as a result of the signals of which the drive
means are activated automatically in order to move the cover. The
proximity sensor is a distance sensor for example, so that, by
means of the proximity sensor, the household refrigeration
appliance detects for example when a person presents a vessel, e.g.
a water glass, to the household refrigeration appliance in order to
withdraw water or ice. Because of the proximity sensor it is now
possible for the inventive household refrigeration appliance to
recognize that the vessel is being presented, in order to
automatically uncover the water or ice output by the drive means
automatically moving the cover from its first position into its
second position. The drive means is typically an actuator, for
example an electric motor.
[0009] The proximity sensor of the inventive household
refrigeration appliance is preferably disposed in or on the cover.
This makes it possible to better decide whether for example the
vessel is coming towards the water or ice output or whether a
person is merely walking past the inventive household refrigeration
appliance. This enables it to be made possible for the cover, where
possible, only to move automatically when a person wishes to
withdraw water or ice.
[0010] In accordance with a variant of the inventive household
refrigeration appliance there is provision for the signals
generated by the proximity sensor to be dependent on a distance of
an object from the cover, so that the household refrigeration
appliance automatically moves the cover by means of the drive means
from its first position into its second position if the distance is
less than a minimum distance, and moves it from its second position
into its first position if the distance exceeds the minimum
distance again. In combination with the arrangement of the
proximity sensor in or on the cover in particular, in accordance
with this variant it can be ensured where possible that the
household refrigeration appliance only opens the cover, i.e. moves
said cover automatically into its second position, if an object,
e.g. the vessel is at less than the minimum distance from the
cover. This enables the danger to be reduced of the cover moving
automatically although no water or ice is to be withdrawn.
[0011] In order to obtain the most attractive overall surface of
the door leaf possible, preferably the surface of the outer side of
the cover in its first position can run flush with the overall
surface of the door leaf. This makes possible a planar integration
of the water or ice output in relation to the outer door surface.
The water or ice output can consequently be designed
fully-integrated, wherein functionality of the water or ice output
might merely be able to be represented by a joint resulting from
the cover in a relatively high-quality door material.
[0012] An improved integration of the water or ice output is made
possible in accordance with a variant of the inventive household
refrigeration appliance if the materials of at least the outer
sides (visible surfaces) of the cover and of the door leaf are the
same.
[0013] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the inventive
household refrigeration appliance the cover is embodied as a flap
which is supported so as to be pivotable in relation to a pivot
axis and is able to be pivoted at least partly into the door leaf
in relation to the pivot axis by means of the drive means for its
second setting. The pivot axis runs horizontally, especially in the
lower area of the cover embodied as a flap.
[0014] The cover, however, can also be able to be moved by means of
the drive means, for its second setting, at least approximately in
parallel to the surface of the outer side of the door leaf, into
its inner space.
[0015] In accordance with a further variant of the inventive
household refrigeration appliance, said appliance is embodied such
that the cover is embodied as a sliding door and the drive means
slides the door sideways, upwards or downwards so that the cover
embodied as a sliding door assumes its second position. Preferably
the drive means slides the cover embodied as a sliding door behind
the outer side of the door leaf so that the cover embodied as a
sliding door assumes its second position.
[0016] Depending on the form of embodiment of the inventive
household refrigeration appliance, an "interactive dispenser", i.e.
an interactive water and/or ice output is produced. In particular,
depending on the form of embodiment, the inventive household
refrigeration appliance makes possible an integration of a water
and/or ice dispenser into an especially flat refrigerator front and
possibly a context-related interaction with the user when they
withdraw water, ice or crushed ice.
[0017] Water or ice outputs are generally let into the front of the
refrigerators (door leaves of the household refrigeration
appliances) as recesses, into which the user then places their
glass to be filled, in order to then withdraw water, ice or crushed
ice.
[0018] The inventive household refrigeration appliance comprises
the cover, which is designed as a flap for example, which is
preferably especially integrated to form a flat profile flush with
the refrigerator front (door leaf of the household refrigeration
appliance) and in its first position covers this recess, generally
the water or ice output. As soon as the user for example approaches
the cover with a glass, the cover opens by means of the proximity
sensor in that said cover is moved into its second position and
reveals the water or ice output. The user can now withdraw water,
ice or crushed ice. If the user moves away with their glass from
the household refrigeration appliance, the flap, generally the
cover, is automatically closed again, i.e. is moved back into its
first position.
[0019] A typical exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in
the enclosed schematic diagrams, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a household refrigeration appliance with a
cover,
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the cover, and
[0022] FIGS. 3, 4 show different pivot states of a cover embodied
as a flap.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a fridge-freezer as an example of a household
refrigeration appliance 1, having a thermally-insulated housing 2
and two door leaves 3, 4 closing against the housing 2, of which
the door leaf 3 closes off a refrigeration space delimited by the
housing 2 and the door leaf 4 closes off a freezer space delimited
by the housing 2, depending on the position of the door leaves 3,
4, or reveals said spaces, for the loading or unloading of
refrigerated goods or frozen goods for example.
[0024] In the present exemplary embodiment the household
refrigeration appliance 1 also has a number of drawers 5, which can
be pulled out of the housing 2 and are likewise designed for
refrigerating or freezing stored refrigerated goods.
[0025] The household refrigeration appliance 1 further comprises at
least one refrigerant circuit 6 essentially known to the person
skilled in the art which is configured to cool the drawers 5, the
refrigeration space able to be closed off by means of the door leaf
3 and the freezer space able to be closed off by the door leaf 4 in
a generally known way, e.g. with the assistance of control
electronics not shown in any greater detail but likewise familiar
to the person skilled in the art.
[0026] The door leaves 3, 4 each have an inner side (inner skin)
oriented in the direction of the freezer compartment or the fridge
compartment, an outer side (outer skin) 3a oriented outwards 3a and
thermal insulation disposed between the inner side and the outer
side 3a, e.g. in the form of an insulating foam.
[0027] In the present exemplary embodiment the household
refrigeration device 1 has a water dispenser 7, of which the water
output is disposed inside the door leaf 3, especially behind the
outer side 3a of the door leaf 3. The water output 8 in the present
exemplary embodiment has a dispenser valve 9, which, when opened,
allows water to be withdrawn from the water output 8. The water
output is 8 is disposed in a cavity 12, e.g. a niche or recess
behind the outer side 3a of the door leaf 3.
[0028] In the present exemplary embodiment a cover 10 shown in
greater detail in FIG. 2 is disposed below the water output 8 in
the outer side 3a of the door leaf 3. The cover 10 is a rectangular
design for example, wherein the outer side (visible surface) 10a of
the cover 10 is preferably manufactured from the same material as
the outer side 3a of the door leaf 3. Furthermore the cover 10 is
especially disposed in the door leaf 3 such that its outer side 10a
runs flush with the outer side 3a of the door leaf 3, as is shown
in more detail in FIG. 3. In the present exemplary embodiment the
cover 10 is designed as a flap 10b.
[0029] In the present exemplary embodiment the cover 10 designed as
a flap 10b is supported to enable it to pivot in relation to a
pivot axis 11 running horizontally in the lower area of the flap
10b. Because of the pivotable support it is possible to pivot the
flap 10b into the inside of the door leaf 3. FIG. 4 shows a part of
the household refrigeration appliance 1 with the flap 10b pivoted
into the inside of the door leaf 3, which provides access to the
water output 8.
[0030] In the present exemplary embodiment there is provision for
the cover 10 to automatically provide access the water output 8.
For this purpose the household refrigeration appliance 1 comprises
a distance sensor or a proximity sensor 13, which is preferably
disposed on or in the cover 10, especially on or respectively in
the flap 10b.
[0031] The proximity sensor 13 is for example designed such that it
generates a signal as soon as an object, e.g. a glass or beaker,
approaches the household refrigeration appliance 1, especially the
cover 10 or the flap 10b. In particular the proximity sensor 13
generates the signal when the object is closer than a predetermined
minimum distance from the cover 10 or from the flap 10b.
[0032] In the present exemplary embodiment the proximity sensor 13
is connected to a control facility 14 of the household
refrigeration appliance 1, which evaluates the signal generated by
the proximity sensor 13 and, depending on this evaluation,
activates an actuator of the household refrigeration appliance 1,
e.g. an electric motor 15, which, as a function of the activation
by the control facility 14, moves the cover 10 such that this
provides access to the water output 7. Preferably the electric
motor 15 moves the cover 10 into the inside of the door leaf 3 or
into the cavity 12 respectively.
[0033] If an object is no longer in the vicinity of the household
refrigeration appliance 1 or in the vicinity of the cover 10 or the
flap 10b, the control facility 14 activates the electric motor 15
as a function of the signals of the proximity sensor 13 such that
the cover 10 or the flap 10b closes the water output 7 again,
especially closes it such that the outer sides 3a, 10a of the door
leaf 3 and the cover 10 are flush with one another.
[0034] In the case of the flap 10b supported in relation to the
pivot axis 11, the electric motor 15, controlled by the control
facility 14, pivots the flap 10b into the inside of the door leaf 3
as soon as the object moves closer than the minimum distance from
the flap 10b, and pivots the flap 10b back out when the object is
removed.
[0035] The cover 10 can also be supported such that the electric
motor 15 moves the cover 10 at least approximately parallel to the
surface of the outer side 3a of the door leaf 3, inside said leaf,
in order to make the water output 8 accessible.
[0036] The cover 10 can for example also be embodied as a sliding
door, which the electric motor 15 automatically slides sideways,
upwards or downwards when an object approaches the sliding door, in
order to provide access to the water output 8. Preferably the
sliding door is moved behind the outer side 3a of the door leaf 3.
It can, however, also be moved in front of the outer side 3a of the
door leaf 3.
[0037] In FIGS. 1 to 4 a water dispenser 7 with a water output 8
has been shown. Instead of the water dispenser 7 or in addition to
the water dispenser 7 an ice dispenser with a corresponding ice
output can also be provided, which for example is disposed in the
door leaf 4 of the freezer compartment, wherein the door leaf 4 is
provided with a cover corresponding to the cover 10 in order to
make the ice output accessible.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0038] 1 Household refrigeration appliance
[0039] 2 Housing
[0040] 3 Door leaf
[0041] 3a Outer side
[0042] 4 Door leaf
[0043] 5 Drawers
[0044] 6 Refrigerant circuit
[0045] 7 Water dispenser
[0046] 8 Water output
[0047] 9 Dispenser valve
[0048] 10 Cover
[0049] 10a Outer side
[0050] 10b Flap
[0051] 11 Pivot axis
[0052] 12 Cavity
[0053] 13 Proximity sensor
[0054] 14 Control facility
[0055] 15 Electric motor
* * * * *