U.S. patent application number 15/826056 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-14 for household refrigeration appliance with specific mounting of a cover plate to a receiving space for foodstuffs and method of installing a cover plate.
The applicant listed for this patent is BSH HAUSGERAETE GMBH. Invention is credited to ANDREAS LINDEL, THOMAS SCHAEFER, MARCUS WEHLAUCH.
Application Number | 20180164029 15/826056 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62201277 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180164029 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LINDEL; ANDREAS ; et
al. |
June 14, 2018 |
HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH SPECIFIC MOUNTING OF A COVER
PLATE TO A RECEIVING SPACE FOR FOODSTUFFS AND METHOD OF INSTALLING
A COVER PLATE
Abstract
A household refrigeration appliance has a receiving space for
foodstuffs which is delimited by walls of an inner container, and a
cover plate which is separate from the inner container and is
arranged in the receiving space forward of a wall of the inner
container. The cover plate is connected to a rail system of the
household refrigeration appliance. A functionally first connection
type is embodied at a first connection point and a second
connection type that is functionally different from the first
connection type is embodied at a second connection point at a
different location from the first connection point. We also
describe a method for installing a cover plate in a household
refrigeration appliance.
Inventors: |
LINDEL; ANDREAS;
(HEIDENHEIM, DE) ; SCHAEFER; THOMAS; (GIENGEN,
DE) ; WEHLAUCH; MARCUS; (NATTHEIM, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BSH HAUSGERAETE GMBH |
Muenchen |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
62201277 |
Appl. No.: |
15/826056 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/069 20130101;
F25D 17/062 20130101; F25D 2317/067 20130101; F25D 23/066 20130101;
F25D 23/067 20130101; F25D 25/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/06 20060101
F25D023/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2016 |
DE |
10 2016 224 610.0 |
Claims
1. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising: an inner
container having walls delimiting a receiving space for foodstuffs;
a rail system of the refrigeration appliance; and a cover plate
separate from said inner container and disposed in said receiving
space forward of a wall of said inner container; said cover plate
being connected to said rail system at a first connection point and
at a second connection point that is different from said first
connection point, wherein a functionally first connection type is
embodied at said first connection point and a second connection
type that is functionally different from said first connection type
is embodied at said second connection point.
2. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1,
wherein said first connection type is an expansion connection.
3. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1,
wherein said second connection type is a snap-fit connection.
4. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1,
wherein said cover plate carries a first curved expansion clip
formed on a rear side thereof and a rail of said rail system is
embodied with a freely projecting first lug and a supporting wall
spaced apart from said first lug, and wherein said first connection
type is defined by said expansion clip engaging behind said first
lug in an installed state and being spread apart between a rear
side of said first lug and said supporting wall at said first
connection point.
5. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 4,
wherein a first snap-fit hook is arranged on a rear side of said
cover plate and a freely projecting second lug is formed on a rail
of said rail system, and wherein said second connection type is
defined in that said snap-fit hook is latched into place on said
second lug in an installed state at the second connection
point.
6. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 5,
wherein said rail has a side wall oriented in the depth direction
of the household refrigeration appliance, and said first lug and
said second lug are formed in said side wall in a single piece.
7. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 6,
wherein said first curved expansion clip is curved in a banana
shape, said snap-fit hook engages with a latching action behind a
lower edge of said second lug at the second connection point, and
said first and second lugs are oriented in a width direction of the
household refrigeration appliance.
8. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 6,
wherein said cover plate is connected to said rail system of the
household refrigeration appliance at a third connection point by
way of a further functionally second connection type.
9. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 8,
wherein a second snap-fit hook is formed on a rear side of said
cover plate and a cutout is formed on a side wall of said rail of
the rail system oriented in the depth direction of the household
refrigeration appliance, and wherein the third connection type is
defined in that said second snap-fit hook is latched into place in
said cutout in the installed state.
10. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 9,
which comprises a grippable release clip integrated on said second
snap-fit hook and configured to enable said second snap-fit hook to
be released from the engaged position from the cutout.
11. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 6,
wherein said cover plate is connected to said rail system of the
household refrigeration appliance at a fourth connection point by
way of a functionally third connection type that is different from
the first and second connection types, wherein a second curved
clamping clip is formed on a rear side of said cover plate and a
freely projecting third lug is formed on a rail of said rail
system, and wherein the fourth connection type is defined in that
said clamping clip is seated from above on said third lug in the
installed state and exerts a downward pressure force.
12. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 11,
wherein said first, second, third and fourth connection points are
spaced apart from one another in a height direction of the
household refrigeration appliance and, in a vertical sequence, said
first connection point is disposed at a topmost position, said
second connection point is disposed at a second position, said
fourth connection point is disposed at a third position, and said
third connection point is disposed at a lowermost position.
13. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1,
wherein said cover plate is mounted on said inner container at an
upper end, viewed in a height direction of the household
refrigeration appliance.
14. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 13,
wherein said inner container has a top wall formed with a coupling
ridge projecting into said receiving space and spaced apart from a
back wall of said inner container in a depth direction of the
household refrigeration appliance, and wherein said cover plate has
a rib integrally molded on an upper end thereof, and said rib
engages behind said coupling ridge in the installed state of the
cover plate.
15. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1,
wherein said cover plate has a rear side formed with a
backward-projecting spacer ridge that bears against a front side of
a back wall of said inner container in the installed state of the
cover plate.
16. A method for installing a cover plate in a receiving space for
foodstuffs of a household refrigeration appliance, the method
comprising: connecting the cover plate to a rail system of the
household refrigeration appliance; connecting the cover plate via a
functionally first connection type formed at a first connection
point; and connecting the cover plate via a second connection type
that is functionally different from the first connection type and
that is formed at a second connection point that is different from
the first connection point.
17. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising: an inner
container having walls delimiting a receiving space for foodstuffs;
a rail system of the household refrigeration appliance; a cover
plate that is separate from the inner container and disposed in
said receiving space forward of a wall of said inner container;
said cover plate being connected to said rail system of the
household refrigeration appliance at at least one connection point,
a connection between said cover plate and said rail system being
formed by; a first curved expansion clip formed on a rear side of
said cover plate; a freely projecting first lug and a supporting
wall spaced apart therefrom formed on a rail of said rail system;
wherein said expansion clip engages behind said first lug in the
installed state and is spread apart between a rear side of said
first lug and said supporting wall.
18. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising: an inner
container having walls delimiting a receiving space for foodstuffs;
a rail system of the household refrigeration appliance; a cover
plate that is separate from the inner container and disposed in
said receiving space forward of a wall of said inner container;
said cover plate being connected to said rail system of the
household refrigeration appliance at at least one connection point,
a connection between said cover plate and said rail system being
formed by: said cover plate having a curved clamping clip formed on
a rear side thereof, and a freely projecting lug formed on a rail
of said rail system, wherein said clamping clip is seated from
above on said lug in an installed state and exerts a downward
pressure force onto said lug.
19. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising: an inner
container having walls delimiting a receiving space for foodstuffs,
said walls including a back wall; a cover plate that is separate
from the inner container and disposed in said receiving space
forward of a wall of said inner container; said cover plate having
a rear side formed with a backward-projecting spacer ridge which
bears against a front side of said back wall of said inner
container in an installed state of the cover plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119, of German patent application DE 10 2016 224 610.0, filed Dec.
9, 2016; the prior application is herewith incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance
having a receiving space for foodstuffs which is delimited by walls
of an inner container. The household refrigeration appliance has a
cover plate which is separate from the inner container and is
arranged in the receiving space, where it is positioned forward of
a wall of the inner container. Furthermore, the invention also
relates to a method for installing a cover plate of said type.
[0003] A no-frost household refrigeration appliance is known from
the commonly assigned German published patent application DE 10
2010 041 952 A1, for example. An air intake opening is embodied
therein in an upper region of the receiving space, and an air
outlet opening or air discharge opening in a lower region. The two
openings are arranged substantially at the same depth position in
the depth direction of the household refrigeration appliance and
are embodied in a back half of the receiving space. Due to said
arrangement of the openings it is possible that air circulation
over the entire receiving space may be restricted, in particular
being confined to a back half of the receiving space only, since
the intake of air in the upper region may cause the air discharged
at the bottom to be immediately drawn upward again, with the result
that a corresponding subregion of the receiving space, in
particular an area close to the doors, is subject to said air
circulation only to a limited extent.
[0004] Published patent application US 2009/0090121 A1 and its
counterpart German published patent application DE 10 2005 032 976
A1 disclose a household refrigeration appliance in which an
additional separate mounting plate is arranged in a receiving space
for foodstuffs forward of the rear wall of the inner container and
is secured by means of screws.
[0005] In the known embodiments, it is awkward and time-consuming
to install a separate cover plate of that type, and the cover
plate, furthermore, cannot be positioned permanently with absolute
accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
refrigeration appliance which overcomes the above-mentioned and
other disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of
this general type and which provides for a household refrigeration
appliance in which a separate cover plate of the above-noted type
can be easily installed in the receiving space and the cover plate
is nonetheless arranged in a permanently positionally secure
manner.
[0007] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a household
refrigeration appliance, comprising:
[0008] an inner container having walls delimiting a receiving space
for foodstuffs;
[0009] a rail system of the refrigeration appliance; and
[0010] a cover plate separate from said inner container and
disposed in said receiving space forward of a wall of said inner
container;
[0011] said cover plate being connected to said rail system at a
first connection point and at a second connection point that is
different from said first connection point, wherein a functionally
first connection type is embodied at said first connection point
and a second connection type that is functionally different from
said first connection type is embodied at said second connection
point.
[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, a household
refrigeration appliance is formed with a receiving space for
foodstuffs, said receiving space being delimited by walls of an
inner container. In addition, the household refrigeration appliance
has a cover plate which is separate from the inner container and is
arranged in the receiving space forward of a wall of the inner
container. It is to be regarded as an essential idea of said first
aspect of the invention that the cover plate is connected to a
separate rail system of the household refrigeration appliance that
is distinct from the container and the cover plate and consequently
is secured to said rail system. A functionally first, in particular
mechanical, connection type is embodied at a first connection point
between the cover plate and the rail system, and a second
connection type that is functionally different from the first
connection type is embodied at a different second connection point
between the cover plate and the rail system. An embodiment of this
type produces a particularly mechanically stable mounting and also
a cover plate that is able to be securely positioned, since the
cover plate is not, or not exclusively, fastened directly to a wall
of the inner container itself, but to a rail system that is
separate therefrom. In addition, it is also provided according to
this aspect of the invention that not just one connection point is
provided in this case, but that a plurality of separate and
spaced-apart connection points are embodied between the cover plate
and the rail system. Furthermore, in addition to said
multipositional connection, it is also provided in a quite
particular manner that different connection types are embodied at
said connection points. The simple, positionally secure and
mechanically stable mounting of the cover plate is achieved as a
result.
[0013] Preferably, the first connection type and the second
connection type are not screw-type fastenings and both connection
types are nondestructively releasable fastenings. A particularly
quick installation is made possible by means of said embodiments.
Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances can then also be easily
compensated for as a result of these specifications and the desired
end position of the cover plate reliably achieved.
[0014] It is advantageous development, the first connection type is
an expansion connection. What is understood by an expansion
connection is a mechanical connection in which the installation of
the cover plate does not merely entail a simple suspension mounting
on or insertion into the rail system, but in which a desired and
defined expansion force also occurs at said connection point in the
installed end state. In this case, too, a very quick, positive and
positionally accurate attachment of the cover plate is again made
possible as a result. By means of said expansion connection, a
specific fastening element, which is preferably embodied in a
single piece on the cover plate, is expanded on the rail system in
the installed state in such a way that a retention, and
consequently already as a result thereof a retaining force for
retaining the cover plate on the rail system, is achieved by virtue
of said expansion forces or retaining forces. In an expansion
connection, a fastening element of the cover plate is mechanically
coupled to at least two separate contact elements of the rail
system and spread apart between said contact elements.
[0015] In an advantageous development, the second connection type
is a snap-fit connection. This likewise enables a quick mounting
and positionally accurate retention of the cover plate on the rail
system to be realized by means of a simple and secure snap-fit or
latching connection. In a snap-fit connection, in contrast to an
expansion connection, only a rearward engagement or insertion of a
snap-fit element into a latching seat is provided, but in such a
context no expanding action is effected. As a result of said
rearward engagement or snapping into place, a mechanical coupling
is realized in which in particular the fastening element is not
urged under pressure, in particular deformed, against at least one
bearing wall of the rail system in the installed end state.
[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the
household refrigeration appliance has a first curved expansion
clip, in particular curved in a banana shape, as a fastening
element, which is embodied on a rear side of the cover plate in
particular in a single piece and therefore in an integrated manner.
The rail system has a first rail which has a freely projecting
first lug. Said freely projecting first lug preferably extends in
the form of a strip and projects in the width direction of the
household refrigeration appliance. Said rail furthermore has a
supporting wall which is spaced apart from said first lug and is
likewise embodied in particular in an integrated manner in said
rail. The lug and the supporting wall form coupling elements of the
rail. Preferably, said first lug can be produced by means of a
die-cutting and bending process, for example. In the case of the
first connection type, the separator clip is positioned between the
cover plate and the rail of the rail system in the installed state
in such a way that it engages behind said first lug and is arranged
inserted in an intermediate space between the first lug and the
supporting wall. The expansion clip engages behind said first lug
and is spread apart between the rear side of the first lug and the
supporting wall. This results in an expansion effect occurring in
the depth direction of the household refrigeration appliance, such
that a positionally accurate positioning of the cover plate with
respect to the rail system, and consequently also to at least one
further wall of the inner container, is set and permanently
maintained in particular in said spatial direction by means of this
embodiment. In particular, it is provided that during said
expansion action the expansion clip is formed into itself in order
to generate said bidirectionally acting clamping force. The curved
shape of the clamping clip, in particular the banana shape, is
particularly advantageous in this case, since this enables said
expansion clip to be pivoted easily and accurately, in particular
coming from below, into said intermediate space between the lug and
the supporting wall, and the expansion force is then reliably built
up and brought to bear at two separate contact points.
[0017] In the installed state of the cover plate, the rear side of
said cover plate preferably bears against the rail on a front side
of said first lug. Owing to its embodiment and the functional
principle, which in particular is an embodiment variant of the
first connection type and therefore an expansion connection, the
clamping clip engages at oppositely disposed contact points, as a
result of which the expansion is achieved.
[0018] Preferably it is provided that the rail is a hollow profile
that has a side wall or rail wall which, when viewed in the width
direction of the household refrigeration appliance, faces toward
the receiving space. Particularly when the rail system has at least
one separate further rail, said side wall of the first rail is then
oriented facing toward the second rail in the installed state. In
particular, the first lug extends from said first side wall of the
first rail into the receiving space. Said side wall of the first
rail is preferably oriented in a plane which is spanned by the
depth direction and the height direction of the household
refrigeration appliance.
[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the first lug is accordingly
arranged spaced apart from and forward of the supporting wall, when
viewed in the depth direction of the household refrigeration
appliance.
[0020] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a
first snap-fit hook is arranged on a rear side of the cover plate,
in particular is embodied in integrated form in a single piece
there, and a freely projecting second lug is embodied on a rail of
the rail system. In the case of the second connection type, the
snap-fit hook is latched into place on the rail system on the
second lug in the installed state of the cover plate. In
particular, the snap-fit hook engages behind a lower or upper edge
of the second lug, viewed in the height direction, and consequently
snaps into place behind said lug upwardly or downwardly, viewed in
the depth direction of the household refrigeration appliance. A
retention or positioning of the cover plate on the rail system is
achieved by means of an embodiment of said type, enabling a
positionally secure mounting of the cover plate in a preferred
further spatial direction, namely the height direction of the
household refrigeration appliance.
[0021] In particular, it is thus also provided that a positionally
accurate arrangement of the cover plate on the rail system in a
preferred first spatial direction is made possible by means of the
first connection type, and a positionally accurate arrangement of
the cover plate on the rail system in a different second spatial
direction is made possible by means of the second connection type.
As a result of this interaction and in each case preferred spatial
directions, which preferably are achieved individually and
primarily by means of the connection types, the cover plate is
beneficially mounted in a positionally secure manner in this case
too.
[0022] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention,
the first rail has a side wall or rail wall oriented in the depth
direction of the household refrigeration appliance, in which wall
the first lug and the second lug are each embodied in a single
piece. In particular, both lugs are oriented in the width direction
of the household refrigeration appliance. In the height direction
of the household refrigeration appliance, and therefore also in the
height direction of the first rail, the two lugs are arranged
spaced apart at a distance from one another. Preferably, the two
lugs are embodied in said rail wall by means of die-cutting and
bending processes. The lugs are arranged in the height direction
such that the first lug is arranged at a higher level than the
second lug.
[0023] In particular, the first snap-fit hook, as provided in the
advantageous embodiment as explained above, latches into place on
the second lug.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the cover plate is connected to
the rail system of the household refrigeration appliance at a third
connection point, which constitutes a connection point that is
spaced apart and separate from the two aforementioned connection
points, by means of a further functionally second connection type.
This means that in this advantageous embodiment three different
connection points in terms of location are embodied between the
cover plate and the rail system, and two connection points share
the same connection type, namely the second connection type. Said
additional second connection point further improves the
mechanically stable and positionally accurate mounting of the cover
plate.
[0025] In a further preferred embodiment, a second snap-fit hook is
arranged on a rear side of the cover plate, in particular in a
single piece, and therefore in an integrated manner, and that a
cutout is embodied on a rail wall of the first rail of the rail
system that is oriented in the depth direction of the household
refrigeration appliance, wherein in the case of the third
connection type said second snap-fit hook is latched into place in
said cutout in the installed state. It is therefore provided with
said third connection point that no further, third lug is bent
outward from a rail wall of the rail, and consequently no
strip-like projection extending into the receiving space is
embodied in this regard at said third connection point. Rather, a
contour oriented in an opposite direction is created in this case,
namely a cutout, in particular a hole, into which said second
snap-fit hook then latches into place.
[0026] In particular, it is provided that in the case of the second
connection point and the third connection point, at which in
particular the same second connection type is embodied, the
preferably embodied latching engagement is effected in two
different spatial directions of the respective snap-fit hooks.
Thus, it is preferably provided that when being latched into place
in the height direction the first snap-fit hook engages behind the
second lug or then snaps upwardly or downwardly in said height
direction and is pivoted accordingly, while at the third connection
point the second, in this regard, snap-fit hook remains at the same
level and snaps into place or latches in the cutout outwardly in
the width direction, such that the snap-fit direction is oriented
in said width direction. This also is a further very advantageous
embodiment, since in this way different snap-fit directions are
nonetheless produced at two different connection points by means of
the same connection type, as a result of which preferred second
positioning directions are in turn created in two different, in
particular vertically oriented, spatial directions.
[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment, a grippable release
clip is embodied integrated on the second snap-fit hook, the second
snap-fit hook being releasable out of the engaged end position from
the cutout in the rail by means of said release clip. By means of a
nondestructively releasable coupling and decoupling device of this
type it is possible to achieve a particularly simple and quick
disassembly, since a user can simply grasp said release clip and
then, by means of a simple bending action, the elastic, and
therefore reversibly deformable, snap-fit hook can be bent out of
its engaged end position from the cutout. This is a further very
advantageous embodiment, since in this way very defined and
explicitly reversible disassembly possibilities are created which
can be readily recognized and easily carried out by a user.
[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that
the cover plate is connected to the rail system of the household
refrigeration appliance at a further, fourth, connection point,
which is embodied differently in terms of location from the other
connection points, by means of a functionally third connection type
that is different from the other connection types. In particular
the third connection type is a clamping connection, in particular
having a contact point of the components engaging in a clamping
action. The numerous advantages already cited above are brought to
the fore once again as a result. In particular, it is provided that
at said fourth connection point a second curved clamping clip, in
particular curved in a banana shape, is embodied on a rear side of
the cover plate, in particular in a single piece and therefore
integrated. A freely projecting third lug is embodied on a rail of
the rail system, wherein in the case of the fourth connection type
the second clamping clip is seated from above on the third lug in
the installed state and exerts a downward pressure. Preferably said
third lug is in turn embodied in a single piece with the rail and
extends out of a side wall or rail wall of said first rail, which
in turn is preferably oriented in a plane that is spanned by the
depth direction and the height direction of the household
refrigeration appliance. Alternatively, it can be provided that in
the case of the fourth connection type the second clamping clip is
seated from below on the third lug in the installed state and
exerts an upward pressure.
[0029] Preferably, the third lug, which is a lug that is separate
from the other lugs and spaced apart therefrom, accordingly
projects into the receiving space and extends here also in the
width direction of the household refrigeration appliance. With
regard to the strip-like embodiment of the lug, the latter is
however rotated through 90.degree. relative to the first lug and/or
the second lug, such that it extends with its embodiment covering a
greater area in a horizontal plane (spanned by the depth direction
and the width direction of the household refrigeration appliance).
Such an orientation of the third lug results in the creation of a
flat seating surface on which said second clamping clip can then be
seated from above and can generate the corresponding force effect.
Due to the curved shape of the second clamping clip, a pivoting
movement during the installation of the cover plate can result in
this case also to a seizing or spreading apart at said third lug
and the second clip can make uniform contact and slide along on the
top side of said third lug, such that said clamping force effect
can then be built up relatively consistently and be reliably
maintained. A clamping fit is then created by means of said
preferably fourth connection point, which in respect of its
retaining function preferably promotes an accurate and secure
positioning of the cover plate in the height direction. Viewed in
the height direction of the household refrigeration appliance, said
fourth connection point is preferably embodied below the second
connection point and above the third connection point. This
embodiment and height-direction-specific location of said fourth
connection point is advantageous especially when the cover plate is
not maneuvered into its installed end position in the receiving
space by means of a linear displacement movement, but a defined
pivoting movement is performed to that effect, since a continuous
buildup of said clamping effect is achieved by the pivoting of the
cover plate toward the rails and consequently by the pivoting of
the clamping clip relative to the third lug.
[0030] Preferably, the four connection points are arranged spaced
apart from one another in the height direction of the household
refrigeration appliance and embodied at different heights. In a
vertical sequence viewed in this regard, the first connection point
is embodied at a topmost position, the second connection point at a
second position, the fourth connection point at a third position,
and the third connection point at a bottom fourth position.
[0031] In a pivoting of the cover plate when it is being mounted on
the rail system, particularly this specific sequence arrangement,
viewed from top to bottom, promotes a respective individual
coupling at the respective points at specific time instants during
said pivoting movement, such that the individual connection types,
each considered separately, produce a contacting effect at a
suitable time instant and then act particularly advantageously
during the further pivoting action and reach their end
position.
[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment, the cover plate is
mounted at an upper edge, viewed in the height direction of the
household refrigeration appliance, on the inner container. A
further attachment point is created in a particularly advantageous
manner thereby, as a result of which in particular the upper edge
region of the cover plate is then additionally positioned in a
mechanically stable manner. This embodiment is advantageous to a
quite special degree so as firstly to achieve an initial coupling
of the cover plate to the inner container during the installation
and then, starting from said actual state of the cover plate on the
inner container, to be able to perform a defined pivoting movement
in which the cover plate is then swung toward the rail system and
the individual couplings to specific lugs and/or cutouts in the
rail can be completed in succession. By means of said upper
attachment point with the mounting function it is then also
possible to complete the pivoting movement in a defined manner,
without the cover plate tilting or being positioned too far down or
too far up, such that the respective desired coupling of said cover
plate to the elements on the rails is also accomplished in a
targeted and precise manner and here too in turn no undesirable
seizing or a movement of the fastening element past a lug and/or
cutout of the rail occurs.
[0033] In particular, it is provided that a coupling ridge
projecting into the receiving space is embodied on a top wall of
the inner container, in particular is integrally formed in a single
piece, which coupling ridge is arranged spaced apart at a distance
from a back wall of the inner container in the depth direction of
the household refrigeration appliance. A rib integrally molded on
the upper end of the cover plate engages behind said coupling ridge
of the inner container in the installed state of the cover plate.
By means of said structure in the form of the coupling ridge
projecting from above in an elevated position into the receiving
space, a defined mounting pocket for the upper edge of the cover
plate is then also created, such that during the installation of
said cover plate, the latter can first be simply inserted from
below behind said coupling ridge into the formed pivot pocket. An
undesirable excess pressure of said coupling ridge, and potential
damage to or bending of said coupling ridge associated therewith,
is prevented as a result. The upper end of the cover plate does not
snap across or latch behind said coupling ridge, but rather the
installation scenario always proceeds in such a manner that the
upper edge of the cover plate is initially urged behind said
coupling ridge by a pushing action coming from below.
[0034] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that a
panel facing clip is embodied in an integrated manner at said upper
end of the cover plate spaced apart at a distance from said rib. In
the installed state of the cover plate, said panel facing clip
covers the coupling ridge on the inner container at the front side,
and therefore toward the receiving space, such that said coupling
ridge cannot be seen when viewed from a loading opening into the
receiving space. Said panel facing clip advantageously abuts
against the top wall of the inner container, such that an
additional supporting effect for the cover plate is achieved in
this case also.
[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment, the cover plate is
supported or mounted at a lower edge, viewed in the height
direction of the household refrigeration appliance, on the inner
container during an installation step or in an installed state. A
further attachment point is thereby created in a particularly
advantageous manner, as a result of which in particular the lower
edge region of the cover plate is then additionally positioned in a
mechanically stable manner. This embodiment is advantageous to a
particularly special degree, in order firstly to achieve an initial
coupling of the cover plate to the inner container during the
installation and then, starting from said actual state of the cover
plate on the inner container, to be able to perform a defined
pivoting movement in which the cover plate is then swung toward the
rail system and the individual couplings to specific lugs and/or
cutouts in the rail can be completed in succession. By means of
said lower attachment point with the supporting function or
mounting function it is then also possible to complete the pivoting
movement in a defined manner, without the cover plate tilting or
being positioned too far down or too far up, such that the
respective desired coupling of said cover plate to the elements on
the rails is also accomplished in a targeted and precise manner and
here too in turn no undesirable seizing or a movement of the
fastening element past a lug and/or cutout of the rail occurs.
[0036] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that a
rearward-projecting spacer ridge is embodied on a rear side of the
cover plate, in particular in an integrated manner and therefore in
a single piece, which spacer ridge abuts on a front side of a back
wall of the inner container in the installed state of the cover
plate. This is another very advantageous embodiment, since in this
way the cover plate on the one hand cannot be positioned too far
toward the rear during installation and a desired intermediate
space is embodied in a defined manner between the back wall of the
inner container and the cover plate. In particular, functional
units of the household refrigeration appliance, for example a water
reservoir for a dispenser unit of the household refrigeration
appliance and/or a connector backing part for an electrical plug-in
connector and/or valves and/or at least one light source, are
arranged in said intermediate space. The said dispenser unit is
embodied for dispensing liquid and/or ice mold elements, in
particular on a door on a front side of the household refrigeration
appliance. This enables specific drinks to be produced and
dispensed.
[0037] A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a
household refrigeration appliance having a receiving space for
foodstuffs which is delimited by walls of an inner container. The
household refrigeration appliance has a cover plate which is
separate from the inner container and is arranged in the receiving
space forward of a wall of the inner container. Viewed in the depth
direction of the household refrigeration appliance, said cover
plate is therefore positioned further forward than the wall of the
inner container. In particular, said wall of the inner container is
therefore a back wall. An essential idea of the invention is to be
seen in the fact that the cover plate is connected to a rail system
of the household refrigeration appliance, in particular a rail
system that is separate from the inner container and the cover
plate, and a first curved expansion clip, in particular curved in a
banana shape, is embodied on a rear side of the cover plate, in
particular in an integrated manner and therefore in a single piece,
and there are embodied on a rail of the rail system, in particular
in an integrated manner and therefore in a single piece, a freely
projecting first lug and a supporting wall spaced apart therefrom
on the rail, wherein the expansion clip engages behind the first
lug on the rail system in the installed state of the cover plate
and is spread apart between the rear side of the first lug and the
supporting wall.
[0038] A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a
household refrigeration appliance having a receiving space for
foodstuffs which is delimited by walls of an inner container. The
household refrigeration appliance additionally has a cover plate
which is separate from the inner container and is arranged in the
receiving space forward of a wall of the inner container. In
particular, said wall is thus arranged forward of a back wall,
viewed in the depth direction of the household refrigeration
appliance, such that said back wall of the inner container is
covered by said cover plate at least in sections on the front side.
An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in the fact that
the cover plate is connected to a rail system of the household
refrigeration appliance, in particular a rail system that is
separate from the inner container and the cover plate, at at least
one connection point, wherein for that purpose a curved clamping
clip, in particular curved in a banana shape, is embodied on a rear
side of the cover plate, in particular in an integrated manner and
therefore in a single piece, and a freely projecting lug, in
particular extending in the width direction, is embodied on a rail
of the rail system, wherein in the installed state of the cover
plate on the rail system the clamping clip is seated from above on
the lug and exerts a downward pressure. In this building up of the
clamping force, which exerts a downward action in the height
direction of the household refrigeration appliance, said clamping
clip is in particular elastically deformable. Alternatively, it may
be provided that in the installed state of the cover plate on the
rail system the clamping clip is seated from below on the lug and
exerts an upward pressure.
[0039] In a further independent aspect of the invention, a
household refrigeration appliance is provided which has a receiving
space for foodstuffs which is delimited by walls of an inner
container. The household refrigeration appliance has a cover plate
which is separate from the inner container and is arranged in the
receiving space forward of a wall of the inner container. An
essential idea of said further independent aspect of the invention
is to be seen in the fact that a backward-projecting spacer ridge,
in particular integrated in the cover plate, is embodied on a rear
side of the cover plate, wherein said spacer ridge bears against a
front side of a back wall of the inner container in the installed
state of the cover plate in the receiving space.
[0040] Embodiments of the first independent aspect of the invention
are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the further
independent aspects of the household refrigeration appliance.
[0041] In all aspects of the invention it is provided in particular
that the cover plate is arranged with a baseplate spaced apart at a
distance from a front side on the wall of the inner container, in
particular a front side of a back wall of the inner container, such
that an intermediate space is formed between the baseplate of the
cover plate and said front side of the wall of the inner container,
in which intermediate space functional units of the household
refrigeration appliance are arranged. A functional unit may be a
container for a liquid and/or a valve and/or an electrical
component and/or an optical component.
[0042] The cover plate is preferably embodied in a single piece and
in particular made of plastic. It may be embodied as textured
and/or individually colored on a front side facing toward the
receiving space. At least said front side may for example be
covered with an adhesive foil or coated in some other way. This
enables an individual functionality to be embodied with regard to
the ambient conditions in the receiving space and/or a practically
individual appearance to be created.
[0043] The cover plate may cover a wall of the inner container, in
particular a front side of a back wall of the inner container, at
least by 50% or at least by 75% or at least by 90% or substantially
completely.
[0044] In the case of the preferably embodied second clamping clip
at the fourth connection point, no snap-fit connection and no
expansion connection are embodied as the connection type, but
rather a clamping connection or press-fit connection with only one
pressure point, which, compared to the expansion connection cited
above in an advantageous embodiment, has only one contact point
between the clamping clip and the top side of the lug, on which the
clamping clip is no longer seated, but is mechanically press-fitted
in a defined manner. In the case of the preferred expansion
connection, in this context, at least two contact points are
provided, which are embodied on oppositely disposed bearing
surfaces, such that in this case said expansion fit is
realized.
[0045] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for
installing a cover plate in a receiving space for foodstuffs of a
household refrigeration appliance, in which method a cover plate is
fastened to a rail system of the household refrigeration appliance
which is separate from the inner containers of the cover plate and
for that purpose a functional first connection type is embodied at
a first connection point and a second connection type that is
functionally different from the first connection type is embodied
at a second connection point that is different from the first
connection point.
[0046] Advantageously, in addition to the fastening of the cover
plate directly to the rail system, the cover plate is also secured,
in particular supported or mounted, directly to the inner container
at a further attachment point, this preferably being carried out in
an upper or lower corner region between a top wall and a back wall
of the inner container or a bottom wall and a back wall of the
inner container. To that end, an upper end or a lower end of the
cover plate is preferably mounted, coming from below or coming from
above, in a pivot pocket of the inner container, wherein, viewed in
the depth direction, said pivot pocket may be delimited toward the
front by an integrally formed coupling ridge. During installation,
the cover plate is therefore introduced by the upper end or the
lower end into said pivot pocket initially in a first installation
step coming from below or from above, and in each case inclined at
an angle, and then, starting from said inclined position, is
pivoted in the state mounted in said pivot pocket in the direction
of the wall of the inner container, such that then, during said
pivoting action, the end positions are contacted and created at
said cited different connection types between the cover plate and
the rail system.
[0047] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that in
a concluding installation step, in which the cover plate has then
already been fastened to the rail system, the cover plate is also
screwed in addition at a lower end to the inner container, in
particular to that wall which is covered toward the receiving space
at least in sections by the cover plate.
[0048] Advantageous embodiments of an inventive aspect of a
household appliance, as has been presented above, are to be
regarded as advantageous embodiments of the inventive method,
wherein to that end the connection types individually cited in each
case and/or individual lugs and/or cutouts on the rails, as well as
the respective clamping clips and expansion clips and/or snap-fit
hooks on the cover plate on the other hand, make possible the
respective coupling scenarios and mechanically acting bonding and
retaining functionalities of the respective method steps.
[0049] With the above and other objects in view, there is also
provided, in accordance with a further independent aspect of the
invention, a method for installing a cover plate in a receiving
space for foodstuffs of a household refrigeration appliance. In the
method, the cover plate is inserted into a coupling pocket or pivot
pocket and, starting from that inserted state, a pivoting movement
toward the wall of the inner container is performed and as a result
thereof the cover plate is automatically connected to, in
particular expanded and additionally snapped into place on, a rail
system of the household refrigeration appliance. In this case the
expansion and snap-fit action is performed automatically at
different connection points when said pivoting movement of the
cover plate relative to the wall of the inner container is
performed. In the then pivoted end position of the cover plate, the
expansion and snap-fitting of the cover plate at different
connection points on the rail system is achieved automatically.
[0050] In this case, too, advantageous embodiments of the
above-cited aspects are regarded as advantageous embodiments of
said further independent method aspect.
[0051] The household refrigeration appliance preferably comprises a
functional unit, in particular a no-frost unit, which, viewed in
the height direction, is arranged below the cover plate. Said
functional unit is therefore no longer covered by the cover plate
on the front side. In particular, it is provided that said
functional unit, which is associated with the aforesaid functional
units which may be arranged behind the cover plate, is covered by a
separate cover. Said separate cover can preferably be fastened, in
particular screwed, to a back wall of the inner container. A panel
separate therefrom may additionally be arranged, in particular
screwed on, also at an interface or transition zone between the
cover plate and said cover.
[0052] In particular, the household refrigeration appliance is a
no-frost household refrigeration appliance. To that end, the
no-frost unit may be connected to an air duct so that cold air of
the no-frost unit can be blown into the receiving space by way of
said air duct, for which purpose the cover plate then has openings
through which the cold air can make its way from behind the cover
plate through the cover plate and into the receiving space.
[0053] The no-frost unit has an evaporator which is also covered by
a covering system, in particular by a cover separate from the cover
plate, separated off from the receiving space or from the remaining
volume region of the receiving space. In particular, the no-frost
unit has a fan. The evaporator is oriented in particular
vertically, which means that it extends with its planar extension
in the height direction of the household refrigeration appliance in
the region of the back wall of the inner container.
[0054] A no-frost household refrigeration appliance is equipped
with a no-frost technology that comprises a no-frost unit. The term
no-frost technology serves to denote a technical process in which
the humidity in an interior space embodied as a freezer space is
reduced. As a result, no frost forms on the foodstuffs or frost
formation is significantly reduced and a defrosting of the freezer
space becomes unnecessary or must only be carried out in
significantly reduced time cycles. With such a no-frost technology,
cooling elements embodied as cooling fins, and therefore a heat
exchanger of the secondary circuit, are located for example in a
segregated region in the interior space. During the cooling phase,
the cold air is then introduced by means of a fan from said
segregated region into the interior space and consequently into the
freezer space. These appliances are configured in this case in such
a way that air circulates through all compartments of the interior
space and reenters the segregated region in the manner of a closed
loop. Because cold air holds less humidity, the latter is deposited
in the form of frost primarily only on the heat exchanger of the
secondary refrigeration circuit, which is located in the segregated
region and is the coldest point in the no-frost household appliance
that has contact with air. It may then be provided that at specific
time intervals a defrost mode is performed in which said first heat
exchanger is defrosted in the segregated region. To that end there
is provided in the no-frost household refrigeration appliance in
particular a heating device by means of which said heat exchanger
is heated. The water then resulting from the thawing ice layer can
run out from the interior space, and therefore also from the
appliance, via a drainage channel and can be collected in a drip
tray, which may also serve as an evaporation container. In
particular, the fan is deactivated in the defrost mode so that the
freezer space continues to remain refrigerated. The frosting of
cooling fins is significantly reduced by means of the no-frost
technology and the humidity in the entire household refrigeration
appliance decreases, thereby also significantly reducing the
formation of ice layers.
[0055] The humidity in the freezer space is significantly reduced
in a no-frost appliance by means of a relatively simple exemplary
method. This is achieved in particular by a separation of the
cooling fins from the actual refrigerated region or refrigerator
compartment, the cold air being conveyed into the freezer interior
space or the freezer compartment with the aid of a fan. The cold
air circulates as a closed circuit through all compartments of the
refrigeration appliance and reenters the refrigeration part.
Because the cold air is poor at absorbing the humidity, and is less
able to hold it effectively, the latter condenses on the cooling
fins. These are heated and defrosted at regular time intervals and
the water is preferably conducted into an evaporation container by
way of a channel, for example. The humidity in the overall
appliance decreases and virtually no ice layers form. In contrast
to conventional appliances, the majority of the resulting humidity
that leads to frost buildup in conventional freezer cabinets
accumulates in the segregated region of the cooling fins in the
case of the household refrigeration appliance equipped with
no-frost technology.
[0056] The positions and orientations given in the case of proper
use and arrangement of the appliance as intended, and with an
observer then standing in front of the appliance and looking in the
direction of the appliance, are specified by indicators such as
"top", "bottom", "front", "rear, "horizontal", "vertical", "depth
direction", "width direction", "height direction", etc.
[0057] Further features of the invention will become apparent from
the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The
features and feature combinations cited hereinabove in the
description, as well as the features and feature combinations cited
hereinbelow in the description of the figures and/or shown solely
in the figures, can be used not only in the combination specified
in each case, but also in other combinations, without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is therefore also
appropriate to consider embodiments of the invention as
incorporated and disclosed which are not explicitly shown in the
figures and explained, yet which may be derived and produced by
feature combinations separated from the embodiments that have been
explained. Embodiments and feature combinations which therefore do
not exhibit all of the features of an originally formulated
independent claim are also to be regarded as disclosed.
Furthermore, embodiments and feature combinations, in particular
based on the above-described embodiments, are to be regarded as
disclosed which go beyond or diverge from the feature combinations
set forth in the back-references of the claims.
[0058] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment
of a household refrigeration appliance according to the
invention;
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a simplified front view onto the household
refrigeration appliance according to FIG. 1 with doors removed;
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a view of the household refrigeration appliance
according to FIG. 2 with cover plate arranged in the receiving
space and rail system installed there for securing the cover
plate;
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment
of a rail of said rail system;
[0063] FIGS. 5A to 5D show four different enlarged subsections of
the rail according to FIG. 4;
[0064] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the household refrigeration
appliance with marking zones, at which the enlarged views of the
rail according to FIG. 4, as are shown in FIGS. 5A to 5B, are
arranged relative to one another in the height direction;
[0065] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged vertical sectional view of the
household refrigeration appliance in the top region marked in FIG.
6;
[0066] FIG. 8 shows a vertical sectional view of the household
refrigeration appliance in the marking zone shown second from top
in FIG. 6 in an intermediate installation state of the cover plate
on the rail;
[0067] FIG. 9 shows the view according to FIG. 8 with cover plate
arranged in the end position;
[0068] FIG. 10 shows a vertical sectional view of the household
refrigeration appliance in the third zone marked in FIG. 6 in an
intermediate installation state of the cover plate on the rail;
[0069] FIG. 11 shows the view according to FIG. 10 in the installed
end position of the cover plate on said rail;
[0070] FIG. 12 shows the view of the household refrigeration
appliance according to FIG. 6 in the fourth marking zone therein,
viewed from the top, in an intermediate installation state of the
cover plate on the rail;
[0071] FIG. 13 shows the view according to FIG. 12 in the installed
end position of the cover plate on the rail;
[0072] FIG. 14 shows a horizontal sectional view of the fifth
marking zone, viewed from the top, in FIG. 6 and in an intermediate
installation state of the cover plate on the rail;
[0073] FIG. 15 shows the view according to FIG. 14 in the installed
end position of the cover plate on the rail; and
[0074] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the snap-fit hook, as
embodied in integrated form on the rear side of the cover plate in
FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.
[0075] In the figures, like or functionally equivalent elements are
labeled with the same reference numerals and symbols
throughout.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0076] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and
first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a household
refrigeration appliance 1, which is embodied for storing and
conserving foodstuffs, in a schematic representation. In this case
the household refrigeration appliance 1 is a combined
refrigerator-freezer. It has a housing 2 in which there is embodied
a first receiving space 3, which in the exemplary embodiment is a
refrigerator compartment. The first receiving space 3 is delimited
by walls of an inner container 4. On the front side, the inner
container 4, and therefore also the first receiving space 3, has a
loading opening 5, which can be closed by means of two separate
doors 6 and 7. The loading opening 5 is a contiguous opening, with
no interruptions, and the first receiving space 3 is also a
contiguous and interruption-free space. The two doors 6 and 7 are
arranged pivotably on the housing 2 in each case by way of
vertically oriented axes of rotation, which are therefore oriented
in the height direction (y-direction).
[0077] In the exemplary embodiment, the household refrigeration
appliance 1 additionally has a second receiving space 8 which is
separate from the first receiving space 3 and in this case is a
freezer compartment. In this configuration, the second receiving
space 8 is arranged in particular in the vertical direction and
consequently below the first receiving space 3, viewed in the
height direction. In the height direction, the two receiving spaces
3 and 8 are arranged free of overlap. The second receiving space 8
can be closed on the front side by means of a separate third door
9, said door 9 being embodied in particular as a front wall of a
drawer which is displaceable in the depth direction (z-direction),
i.e. can be inserted into and withdrawn from the second receiving
space 8. The doors 6, 7 and 9 are arranged free of overlap relative
to one another and are positioned next to one another on the front
side. They represent in particular front-side closure parts or
visible parts of the household refrigeration appliance 1.
[0078] FIG. 2 shows the household refrigeration appliance 1, which
is a no-frost household refrigeration appliance, in a front-side
view and without the doors 6, 7 and 9. The household refrigeration
appliance 1 comprises a no-frost unit 10, which is installed in an
upright position and is therefore oriented in the vertical
direction. The no-frost unit 10 has an evaporator 11 (not directly
visible in FIG. 2) which is arranged behind a wall. The no-frost
unit 10 additionally comprises a fan 12 by way of which cold air
generated in the region of the evaporator 11 is circulated in the
household refrigeration appliance 1 and which is likewise arranged
behind the wall. The wall can be a housing wall of the no-frost
unit 10.
[0079] The no-frost unit 10 is embodied at least in a lower rear
section of the first receiving space 3. The no-frost unit 10
extends in particular also into the second receiving space 8 and is
also arranged there in the rear section.
[0080] The household refrigeration appliance 1 additionally
comprises an air duct 13 (FIG. 2), which is embodied in the
receiving space 3 forward of a back wall 14 of the inner container
4. The back wall 14 delimits the first receiving space 3 toward the
rear in the depth direction and is a single-piece component of the
inner container 4. The air duct 13 is coupled to the no-frost unit
10 for air circulation purposes and in the exemplary embodiment has
a plurality of air outlet openings 15 that are arranged in pairs at
the same height level, but otherwise are then embodied at different
levels in the height direction (y-direction).
[0081] In the exemplary embodiment, the no-frost unit 10, which is
a functional unit of the household refrigeration appliance 1, has
two separate air intake openings 16, through which air is drawn out
of the receiving space 3 and introduced into the no-frost unit 10.
In the region of the back wall 14, a functional unit in the form of
a water reservoir 17 is additionally arranged in the exemplary
embodiment next to the air duct 13, which represents a functional
unit. Liquid for a dispenser unit (not shown) of the household
refrigeration appliance 1 is arranged in said water reservoir 17.
The dispenser unit is embodied for dispensing liquid and/or ice
mold elements and preferably has a dispensing unit mounted on a
door, the door 6, for example, for the purpose of dispensing
drinks.
[0082] In addition, valves 18 may be arranged as further functional
units in the rear section of the receiving space 3. An electrical
plug-in connector may likewise be arranged as a further functional
unit.
[0083] Also to be seen in FIG. 2 is a further example of a
functional unit, which is embodied as a connector backing part 26
for coupling to an electrical plug-in connector and is arranged in
the region of the back wall 14. In the finished state of the
household refrigeration appliance 1, the cited functional units are
then arranged in an intermediate space between the back wall 14
integrated into the inner container 4 and the cover plate 19
arranged forward thereof in the depth direction.
[0084] FIG. 3 shows the household refrigeration appliance 1
according to the view in FIG. 2. In this case, however, a cover
plate 19 is additionally installed which is arranged on the
receiving space 3 and in relation to the walls of the inner
container 4, in particular also to the back wall 14, is a
plate-like unit separate therefrom. As can be seen, the cover plate
19 covers functional units, in the exemplary embodiment in
particular the air duct 13, the water reservoir 17 and the valves
18, as well as a possibly present electrical plug-in connector,
toward the receiving space 3. Said cover plate 19 is arranged in
the depth direction, and therefore in the z-direction, with its
baseplate 20 offset toward the front and spaced apart at a distance
from the back wall 14. As a result there is formed between the back
wall 14 and said baseplate 20 an intermediate space in which said
cited functional units are arranged. As can be seen, said baseplate
20 has in particular slit-like openings 21 which are arranged in
the region of the air outlet openings 15 of the air duct 13, such
that the conveyed air which is blown out through the air outlet
openings 15 from the air duct 13 in the direction of the receiving
space 3 also passes through said openings 21 and thus enters the
receiving space 3.
[0085] As can be seen, said cover plate 19 extends in the width
direction over the entire width between vertical side walls 22 and
23 of the inner container 4, such that the back wall 14 is
completely covered in this regard. In the height direction,
however, the cover plate 19 ends spaced apart from the no-frost
unit 10 above the no-frost unit 10.
[0086] Also shown in FIG. 3 is a cover 24 which is separate from
the cover plate 19 and by means of which the no-frost unit 10 is
covered at least at the top. A separate panel 25 is also shown. The
panel 25 covers a gap between the cover plate 19 and the cover 24
on the front side.
[0087] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the household refrigeration
appliance 1 comprises a rail system 27 which has a plurality of
separate rails 28, 29 and 30. The rail system 27 is arranged in the
receiving space 3 and the cover plate 19 is also fastened to the
rail system 27.
[0088] The rails 28, 29 and 30 are elongate bars that are mounted
in the receiving space 3. The rail system 27 is embodied in such a
way that the cover plate 19 can be secured thereto without
additional separate fastening means. This means that on the one
hand the rails 28 to 30 have integrated fastening elements which
mechanically couple to further fastening means integrated in the
cover plate 19 without additional separate fastening elements in
such a way that the cover plate 19 can be securely fixed to said
rail system 27.
[0089] FIG. 4 shows by way of example the rail 28 of the rail
system 27 in a perspective view. The first rail 28 has a
longitudinal axis A which is oriented in the height direction
(y-direction) in the installed state of the first rail 28. As can
be seen in FIG. 3, the rail 28 is arranged in a left region, viewed
from the front side, in particular on the vertical side wall 22,
whereas the second rail 30 is arranged on the opposite vertical
side wall 23. The central third rail 29 in the middle is fastened
for example to the air duct 13 and/or the back wall 14.
[0090] The first rail 28 is embodied as a hollow profile and has a
front wall 31 facing forward and therefore facing away from the
back wall 14, a side wall 32 facing toward the side wall 22, a rear
wall 33 facing toward the back wall 14, and a side wall 34 facing
toward the receiving space 3 and therefore facing toward the
opposite second rail 30 in the width direction. The rail wall or
internal side wall 34 is oriented in a plane that is spanned by the
depth direction and the height direction of the household
refrigeration appliance 1. In addition, the rail 28 has a
supporting wall 35 oriented in the width direction and facing
toward the opposite second rail 30. Said supporting wall 35 is
configured in particular as an extension of the rear wall 33 and is
therefore embodied as extending sideways at a rear end of the rail
28.
[0091] The first rail 28 has a first lug 36 which is embodied by
means of a die-cutting and bending process in the internal side
wall 34 facing toward the supporting wall 35. Said first lug 36 is
embodied in a strip shape and extends into a plane that is formed
by the height direction and the width direction of the household
refrigeration appliance 1. An enlarged detail view of the first
rail 28 in the region of said first lug 36 is shown in FIG. 5A. As
can be seen, viewed in the depth direction, said first lug 36 is
embodied spaced apart at a distance from the supporting wall 35,
such that an intermediate space or free space is embodied between a
rear side 36a of said first lug 36 and a front side 35a of said
supporting wall 35.
[0092] Also shown in FIG. 4 is a second lug 37, which is likewise
embodied in a single piece in the first rail 28, in particular by
means of a die-cutting and bending process, and in the exemplary
embodiment is positioned in terms of orientation and location
corresponding to the first lug 36. Viewed in the height direction,
said second lug 37 is arranged at a lower level than the first lug
36 and additionally spaced apart at a spacing distance therefrom.
The second lug 37 is likewise embodied in the internal side wall
34.
[0093] An enlarged partial sectional view of the first rail 28 in
the region of the second lug 37 is in turn shown in FIG. 5B.
[0094] In addition, the first rail 28 has a third lug 38 which is
likewise embodied in a single piece and therefore integrated in the
first rail 28, in particular is embodied by means of a die-cutting
and bending process in the internal side wall 34. Like the two
first lugs 36 and 37, said third lug 38 is also oriented extending
in the width direction and facing away from the vertical side wall
22, and consequently is oriented facing toward the opposite side
wall 23 and in particular the opposite second rail 30.
[0095] An enlarged detail view of the first rail 28 in the region
of said third lug 38 is in turn shown in FIG. 5C. As can be seen
here, said third lug 38 is positioned in terms of its planar
orientation such that a larger surface, representing a top side
38a, is oriented in a horizontal plane which is spanned by the
width direction and the depth direction of the household
refrigeration appliance. With regard to the planar embodiment of
the strip-shaped lugs, said third lug 38 is therefore arranged
rotated through 90.degree. with respect to the orientations of the
two first lugs 36 and 37.
[0096] Viewed in the height direction, said third lug 38 is offset
downward with respect to the two first lugs 36 and 37 and
consequently is embodied at a further lower level than the other
two lugs 36 and 37.
[0097] In addition, the first rail 28 has a cutout 39 in the
internal side wall 34, which cutout 39 is in particular a hole
toward the inner cavity of the first rail 28. Thus, no outwardly
bent lug is embodied at said point, but only said feedthrough in
the form of the cutout 39. Viewed in the height direction, said
cutout 39 produced by die-cutting is embodied below the lugs 36, 37
and 38 and consequently is positioned at a lowest level. An
enlarged detail view of the rail 28 in the region of said cutout 39
is shown in FIG. 5D.
[0098] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the inner container 4 of the
household refrigeration appliance 1. The lugs and cutouts in the
rail 28 are indicated here by field markings arranged at different
levels in the height direction. Indicated right at the top, viewed
in said height direction, is a first marked zone I, which will be
explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 7. Following downward
in the height direction, a further marking zone II is indicated in
FIG. 6, at which the rail 28 is arranged with the first lug 36.
Following downward in turn in the height direction, a further
marking zone III is indicated in FIG. 6, at which the rail 28 is
positioned with the second lug 37. Following downward in turn, a
further marking zone IV is indicated in FIG. 6, at which the rail
28 is arranged with the third lug 38.
[0099] Also indicated in FIG. 6 is a further marking zone V, at
which the cutout 39 in the rail 28 is arranged.
[0100] In addition, right at the bottom in FIG. 6, yet another
marking zone VI is indicated, at which the cover plate 19 is
screwed to the inner container 4, in particular to the back wall
14.
[0101] FIG. 7 shows in a vertical sectional view (sectional plane
is the y-z-plane) the household refrigeration appliance 1 with an
upper corner region between the back wall 14 and a top wall 40 of
the inner container 4. It can be seen here that a coupling ridge 41
is integrally formed in a single piece at said top wall 40, which
coupling ridge 41 extends from above into the receiving space 3. In
the depth direction, said coupling ridge 41 is embodied spaced
apart at a distance from the back wall 14, such that a pocket 42 is
created which is formed as a mounting pocket or pivot pocket for
the cover plate 19. The already installed end state of the cover
plate 19 is shown in FIG. 7. A rib 44a is integrally formed in a
single piece in an upper region or at an upper end 43 of the cover
plate 19, in particular at an upper end of the baseplate 20 of the
cover plate 19, which rib 44a extends behind the coupling ridge 41
into the pocket 42. In particular, it can bear against a rear side
of the coupling ridge 41 facing toward the back wall 14.
[0102] In addition, a panel rib 44b is integrally formed in a
single piece on the cover plate 19 at said upper end 43, which
panel rib 44b covers the coupling ridge 41 on the front side in the
installed state according to FIG. 7. Said panel rib 44b can
preferably bear against the top wall 40. By means of said optional
engagement of the rib 44a on the coupling ridge 41 and/or the
engagement of the panel rib 44b against the top wall 40, an
additional positionally secure fixing of the cover plate 19 in its
final location is achieved in addition to the fastening of the
cover plate 19 to the rail system 27.
[0103] It is furthermore provided in an advantageous embodiment
that a spacer ridge 46 is integrally formed in a single piece on a
rear side 45 of the cover plate 19, in particular of the baseplate
20, which spacer ridge 46 bears against the front side of the back
wall 14 in the installed state. The desired clearance in the depth
direction between the cover plate 19, in particular the baseplate
20, and the back wall 14 is achieved in a defined manner and
maintained as a result.
[0104] With regard to the further embodiment of the cover plate 19
and options for mounting the same to the rail system 27, it will
now be explained initially how the cover plate 19 may be installed.
To that end, the cover plate 19 is first introduced, still
separated from the rail system 27, into the receiving space 3 and
inserted by the upper end 43 coming from below into the pocket 42,
said rib 44a being introduced into the pocket 42 for that purpose.
While being introduced in this fashion, the cover plate 19 then
still stands at an angle to the back wall 14 and upon completion of
said mounting into said pocket 42 is pivoted toward the back wall
in order then to bring about the mechanical coupling to the rail
system 27.
[0105] In this regard, FIG. 8 shows the cover plate 19 in that
state in which said pivoting movement toward the back wall 14 is
still taking place, though the cover plate 19 has already been
introduced with the rib 44a into the pocket 42. The first rail 28
is shown in this case. It should be mentioned that with regard to
what has been said previously and also what is yet to be explained
below, the second rail 30 is embodied in a corresponding manner to
the first rail 28, such that said fastening system of the rail 28
is duplicated. The below-explained fastening elements which are
embodied on the cover plate 19, in particular expansion clip,
clamping clip and snap-fit hook, are also similarly duplicated,
such that the respective couplings between said elements and the
first rail 28 are also correspondingly realized on the opposite
side between the second rail 30 and the corresponding fastening
elements on the cover plate 19, which are present in duplicate in
each case. Additional fastening elements may then also be present
on the cover plate 19, these being provided for coupling to the
optionally advantageously present third rail 29.
[0106] As can be seen, the inclined attitude of the cover plate 19
relative to the rail 28 is shown and the pivoting direction toward
the first rail 28 is indicated by the arrow P1. During disassembly,
the pivoting movement is performed in precisely the opposite
direction.
[0107] A first fastening element in the form of a first curved
expansion clip 48, in particular curved in a banana shape, is shown
embodied on a rear side section 47 of the cover plate 19, in
particular of the baseplate 20, in a single piece therewith. Said
expansion clip 48 is curved toward the top in a banana shape and
when pivoted in the direction of the arrow P1 descends into an
intermediate space 49 between the first lug 36 and the supporting
wall 35. The manner in which said expansion clip 48 is pivoted into
the space or engaged in position coming from below is shown in FIG.
9. Here, the installed end position of the cover plate 19 on the
first rail 28 is already shown in FIG. 9. By means of this
embodiment, the cover plate 19 is connected to the rail system 27
at a first connection point 50 and moreover functionally by means
of a first connection type. In the exemplary embodiment, said first
connection type is an expansion connection. This can be seen in
FIG. 9. Said expansion connection is formed in that the expansion
clip 48 abuts at two different contact points and is expanded
therebetween there. It is thus braced in contact with the rear side
36a of the first lug 36 at a first contact point 51 and with the
front side 35a of the supporting wall 35 at a second contact point
52. This means that in this case there is not just a mere abutment
of said contact points 51 and 52 at said sides 36a and 35a, but
that a clamping or expanding into place has been effected in such a
way that an application of force into the lug 36 and into the
supporting wall 35 is given at both contact points 51 and 52 from
the expansion clip 48 in particular also being deformed to a
certain degree due to the expansion action. The banana-shaped first
expansion clip 48 has engaged behind the first lug 36 and is
arranged inserted into said intermediate space 49.
[0108] FIG. 10 shows a vertical sectional view in the marking zone
III, which is positioned further down in the height direction than
the marking zone II, which has been explained with reference to
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Here, FIG. 10 once again shows the intermediate
installation state of the cover plate 19 on the first rail 28, such
that the cover plate 19 is still inclined at an angle to the first
rail 28 and consequently also to the back wall 14. A second
connection point 53 different from the first connection point is
embodied in said zone, at which second connection point 53 there is
embodied a second connection type different from the first
connection type functionally embodied at the first connection point
50. In particular, said second connection type is a snap-fit
connection. To that end, it is provided in the exemplary embodiment
that a first snap-fit element, in particular a snap-fit hook 54, is
molded in a single piece, and therefore in an integrated manner, on
the rear side section 47 of the baseplate 20, which snap-fit hook
54 is likewise embodied projecting toward the rear. In particular,
the snap-fit hook 54 is also once again inherently elastically
deformable, as is also preferably the case with the first expansion
clip 48. FIG. 10 shows this intermediate installation state, in
which the snap-fit hook 54 is bent downward and bears against a
lower edge 37b of the second lug 37 and is pushed therebeyond in
order then to snap or latch into place behind said second lug 37 in
an upward direction in the connected state. If the cover plate 19
is pivoted further, starting from the intermediate installation
state in FIG. 10, and therefore in the direction of the arrow P1,
the installed end state according to FIG. 11 occurs. In this, the
snap-fit hook 54 is then latched into a free space 55 which is
formed between the second lug 37 and the supporting wall 35. As can
be seen, the snap-fit hook 54, coming from below, engages behind
the second lug 37 and thus bears against the lower edge 37b. As a
result of said snap-fit connection, a retention is achieved in the
depth direction on the one hand, and primarily in the height
direction on the other. What is achieved in particular in this case
is a retention and supporting effect in the height direction,
whereas in the case of the retention by means of the expansion clip
48 according to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a retention of the cover plate
19 is preferably brought about in a different spatial direction,
namely in the preferred depth direction.
[0109] FIG. 12 shows the cover plate 19 in a further vertical
sectional view and in an intermediate installation state in the
region of the marking zone IV. Said third lug 38 can be seen in
this case. A fourth connection point 56 between the cover plate 19
and the rail system 27 is realized at said regional zone, said
fourth connection point 56 being functionally embodied by means of
a third connection type that is different from the first and the
second connection type, as have already been explained hereinabove.
Said fourth connection type is neither a snap-fit connection nor an
expansion connection, but a clamping connection. It is provided in
the illustrated exemplary embodiment in this case that to that end
a second clamping clip 57 is embodied on the rear side section 47
in a single piece, and therefore in an integrated manner, on the
baseplate 20 and is likewise formed projecting toward the rear. In
particular, said clamping clip 57 is also curved once again,
preferably embodied curved in a banana shape, where the curve is
oriented in such a way that a curvature minimum 58 faces toward the
third lug 38. As can be seen, said third lug 38 is located below
the second clamping clip 57 in the height direction. When the cover
plate 19 is being pivoted, starting from the intermediate
installation position shown in FIG. 12, the clamping clip 57 comes
into contact from above with the second lug 38 and consequently is
in contact with the top side 38a, in particular with the clip
minimum 58. When being pivoted further in the direction of the
arrow P1, the cover plate 19 then reaches the installed end
position on the first rail 28, as is shown in FIG. 13. In said
installed end state, the clamping clip 57 bears on the third lug 38
from above with a downward pressure, such that here a clamping
force is generated, but only on said third lug 38. This clamping
principle is therefore different from the expansion principle as
explained with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Said clamping clip
57 namely bears on said one point only on said third lug 38 and
does not make contact at a different further second point on a
second contact element.
[0110] FIG. 14 shows the first rail 28 in a horizontal sectional
view (sectional plane corresponds to the x-z plane) in the marking
zone V, as indicated in FIG. 6. The cutout 39 can be seen in said
internal side wall 34.
[0111] The cover plate 19 is again shown in a pivoted intermediate
installation state, as has been explained already with reference to
FIGS. 8, 10 and 12.
[0112] A further, second, snap-fit element in the form of a second
snap-fit hook 59 is embodied in an integrated manner, and therefore
in a single piece, on the rear side section 47 of the cover plate
19, in particular of the baseplate 20, said second snap-fit hook 59
likewise being embodied as elastically deformable. In this case
FIG. 14 shows the slightly bent state of said second snap-fit hook
59, which already bears against said internal side wall 34. When
then being pivoted further in the direction of the arrow P1, said
second snap-fit hook 59 then latches into place in said cutout 39,
as is shown in FIG. 15. By means of this embodiment, a third
connection point 60 is created which in particular is characterized
functionally by a second connection type, which in particular is in
turn a snap-fit connection.
[0113] As can be seen in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, said snap-fit
connection is a snap-fit connection embodied differently in terms
of the latching direction compared to the snap-fit connection
according to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 in the marking zone III. The
snap-fit connection in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 acts here in the width
direction, such that, viewed in the width direction, the snap-fit
hook 59 is bent and then latches into place in the cutout 39. In
the present context, the hole axis of said cutout 39 is namely
oriented laterally outward in the width direction.
[0114] In contrast, the latching direction in the case of the
snap-fit connection in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is a different spatial
direction therefrom, namely the height direction.
[0115] FIG. 16 shows the snap-fit hook 59 in a perspective view. It
has integrated therein a release clip 61 which is embodied pointing
downward in the height direction. Said release clip 61 can easily
be gripped by an installing technician or user and then pulled away
from the internal side wall 34, such that the latched connection of
the second snap-fit hook 59 to the cutout 39, as shown in FIG. 15,
can be easily released. This then also enables the cover plate 19
to be removed and as a result of said releasing action a further
outward pivoting movement counter to the arrow direction P1 can
then be performed.
[0116] Preferably, it is provided that a rear edge 37b of the lug
37 and/or the upward-pointing nose of the first snap-fit hook 54
are tapered slightly so that during said disassembly and a pivoting
movement in the opposite direction to the arrow P1, a corresponding
releasing of the connection point 62 in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, which
is a second connection point, can also be automatically achieved
here.
[0117] Preferably, it is provided that that the cover plate 19 is
additionally screwed to the back wall 14 in the marking zone VI, as
shown in FIG. 6.
[0118] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and
the corresponding structure used in the above description of the
invention: [0119] 1 Household refrigeration appliance [0120] 2
Housing [0121] 3 First receiving space [0122] 4 Inner container
[0123] 6 Door [0124] 7 Door [0125] 8 Second receiving space [0126]
9 Door [0127] 10 No-frost unit [0128] 11 Evaporator [0129] 12 Fan
[0130] 13 Air duct [0131] 14 Back wall [0132] 15 Air outlet
openings [0133] 16 Air intake openings [0134] 17 Water reservoir
[0135] 18 Valves [0136] 19 Cover plate [0137] 20 Baseplate [0138]
21 Openings [0139] 22 Side wall [0140] 23 Side wall [0141] 24 Cover
[0142] 25 Panel [0143] 26 Connector backing part [0144] 27 Rail
system [0145] 28 Rail [0146] 29 Rail [0147] 30 Rail [0148] 31 Front
wall [0149] 32 Side wall [0150] 33 Rear wall [0151] 34 Side wall
[0152] 35 Supporting wall [0153] 35a Front side [0154] 36 Lug
[0155] 36a Rear side [0156] 37 Lug [0157] 37b Rear edge [0158] 38
Lug [0159] 38a Top side [0160] 39 Cutout [0161] 40 Top wall [0162]
41 Coupling ridge [0163] 42 Pocket [0164] 43 Upper end [0165] 44a
Rib [0166] 44b Panel rib [0167] 45 Rear side [0168] 46 Spacer ridge
[0169] 47 Rear side section [0170] 48 Expansion clip [0171] 49
Intermediate space [0172] 50 Connection point [0173] 51 Contact
point [0174] 52 Contact point [0175] 53 Connection point [0176] 54
Snap-fit hook [0177] 55 Free space [0178] 56 Connection point
[0179] 57 Clamping clip [0180] 58 Curvature minimum [0181] 59
Snap-fit hook [0182] 60 Connection point [0183] 61 Release clip
[0184] A Longitudinal axis [0185] P1 Arrow [0186] I Marking zone
[0187] II Marking zone [0188] III Marking zone [0189] IV Marking
zone [0190] V Marking zone [0191] VI Marking zone
* * * * *