INTERIOR COMPARTMENT WITH A SPECIFIC SHAPE OF A BEARING RIB, AND DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

Abstract

An interior compartment or container for a domestic refrigeration appliance has a side wall on which an elongate bearing rib for a bearing panel is integrated. The bearing rib extends in the depthwise direction of the interior compartment and extends over at least half the depth of the side wall. The bearing rib has an upper bearing side, which merges with the side wall by way of a first rounding and merges with an underside of the bearing rib by way of a second rounding, which is located opposite the first as seen in the widthwise direction. The underside merges at its lower end with the side wall. In a cross section of the bearing rib taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a vertical-dimension ratio, measured in the heightwise direction, between an underside vertical dimension and an upper-side vertical dimension is between 3.5 and 4.5.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An internal container for a household refrigeration appliance, the internal container comprising: a side wall on which an elongate bearing rib for a bearing panel is integrated, wherein said elongate bearing rib extends, by way of its longitudinal axis, in a depth direction of the internal container and extends over at least half a depth of the side wall, as measured in the depth direction, wherein said elongate bearing rib has an upper bearing side, which merges with said side wall by way of a first rounding and merges with a lower side of said elongate bearing rib by way of an opposing second rounding in a width direction of the internal container, wherein said lower side merges at its lower end with said side wall, and in a cross section of said elongate bearing rib perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a vertical-dimension ratio, measured in a vertical direction of the internal container, between a lower side vertical dimension, which is measured between an upper end of said lower side and a lower end of said lower side, and an upper side vertical dimension which is measured between an upper end of said first rounding and a lower end of said second rounding, is between 3.5 and 4.5.

17. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the vertical-dimension ratio is configured over at least a third of a length of said elongate bearing rib.

18. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed in a direction of the longitudinal axis, said lower side is shaped in an S-shaped manner at least at one point in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

19. The internal container according to claim 18, wherein said lower side being S-shaped has an upper S-shaped part and a lower S-shaped part, a vertical dimension of said upper S-shaped part is smaller than a vertical dimension of said lower S-shaped part.

20. The internal container according to claim 19, wherein when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis, a vertical-dimension ratio between said upper and lower S-shaped parts is configured over at least a third of a length of said elongate bearing rib.

21. The internal container according to claim 19, wherein a curvature of said upper S-shaped part is larger than a curvature of said lower S-shaped part.

22. The internal container according to claim 19, wherein said upper S-shaped part is bulged away from said side wall and said lower S-shaped part is bulged toward said side wall.

23. The internal container according to claim 19, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, in a region of said elongate bearing rib in which said lower side has said S-shape in cross section, a curvature of said upper S-shaped part of said S-shape in the vertical direction reduces from a front to a rear, and/or, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, in said region of said elongate bearing rib in which said lower side has said S-shape in cross section, a curvature of said lower S-shaped part of said S-shape in the vertical direction reduces from a front to a rear.

24. The internal container according to claim 18, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, in a region of said elongate bearing rib in which said lower side has said S-shape in cross section, said S-shape widens from a front to a rear and at a rear region of said elongate bearing rib said S-shape in cross section transitions continuously into a straight line.

25. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, said upper bearing side tapers from a starting point in a front longitudinal third of said elongate bearing rib to a rear.

26. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, said upper bearing side tapers from a starting point in a front longitudinal third of said elongate bearing rib to a front.

27. The internal container according to claim 16, further comprising a niche for receiving a rear end of a bearing panel is integrated on said side wall, wherein said niche directly adjoins said elongate bearing rib toward a rear, wherein, when viewed in the depth direction of the internal container, said niche also extends with a top wall above said upper bearing side.

28. The internal container according to claim 27, wherein said top wall extends to a maximum extent over a rear longitudinal half of said elongate bearing rib.

29. The internal container according to claim 27, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, said top wall increases from a front to a rear in a width direction of the internal container.

30. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein the vertical-dimension ratio is between 3.8 and 4.2.

31. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the vertical-dimension ratio is configured over at least half of a length of said elongate bearing rib.

32. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the vertical-dimension ratio is configured over at least 90% of a length of said elongate bearing rib.

33. The internal container according to claim 19, wherein when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis, a vertical-dimension ratio between said upper and lower S-shaped parts is configured over at least a half of the length of said elongate bearing rib.

34. The internal container according to claim 16, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, said upper bearing side tapers from a starting point in a front longitudinal of said elongate bearing rib to a front, in particular continuously.

35. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising: a housing having an external housing and an internal container which is separate therefrom, said internal container configured according to claim 16, and being disposed in said external housing, and a receiving space for food being delimited thereby.

Description

[0040] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to schematic drawings. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention with an exemplary embodiment of an internal container according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a perspective partial view of an exemplary embodiment of an internal container;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a drawing of a side view of a sub-region of a side wall of the internal container according to FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sub-region of an opposing side wall of the internal container relative to FIG. 3;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of a bearing rib as is contained in the side wall according to FIG. 4;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the sectional view according to FIGS. 5; and

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a bearing rib as is contained in the side wall according to FIG. 3.

[0048] Elements which are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same reference characters in the figures.

[0049] In FIG. 1 a schematic view of a household refrigeration appliance 1 is shown. The household refrigeration appliance 1 is configured for storing and conserving food. The household refrigeration appliance 1 may be a refrigerator or a freezer or a fridge-freezer.

[0050] The household refrigeration appliance 1 has a housing 2. This housing has an external housing 3. Moreover, this housing 2 also has an internal container 4 which is separate from the external housing 3. The internal container 4 is received in the external housing 3. A thermally insulating material 5 is incorporated in an intermediate space between the external housing 3 and the internal container 4. The internal container 4 has a bottom wall 6, a first vertical side wall 7, an opposing second vertical side wall 8, a top wall 9 and a rear wall 10. The loading opening on the front side of the internal container 4 is closable by a door 11 of the household refrigeration appliance 1.

[0051] A receiving space 12 for food is delimited by the walls 6 to 10 of the internal container 4.

[0052] The internal container 4 is preferably manufactured in one piece. The internal container is manufactured, in particular, from plastic. In particular it may be manufactured, for example, by deep-drawing.

[0053] In FIG. 2 a sub-region of the internal container 4 is shown in a perspective view. As may be identified here, different bearing ribs are configured on the side wall 8 at different vertical positions, when viewed in the vertical direction (x-direction). For the sake of clarity, two bearing ribs are provided here with the reference characters 13 and 14. Corresponding bearing ribs are formed in one piece on the opposing vertical side wall 7. Also here for the sake of clarity, only two such bearing ribs are provided with the reference characters 15 and 16.

[0054] The bearing ribs in each case in pairs form a bearing device for a bearing panel, not shown. The bearing panel is a separate component from the internal container 4. The bearing panel may be a shelf or a partition or another panel-like cover. The bearing ribs 13 and 14 and 15 and 16 are manufactured in one piece with the internal container 4.

[0055] The side wall 8 has a depth t1 measured in the depth direction (z-direction). A bearing rib 13 has a longitudinal axis A, as shown in the side view in FIG. 3, which shows a partial detail of the side wall 8. This longitudinal axis A extends in the depth direction. The length I1 of this bearing rib 13 measured along this longitudinal axis A is greater than half of the depth t1. As may be identified, the bearing rib 13 is formed as an elongated rail or as a bar-like support. The further bearing ribs 14, 15 and 16 are correspondingly formed.

[0056] As may be identified, when viewed in the depth direction, a niche 18 directly adjoins this bearing rib 13, in particular at a rear end 17 of the bearing rib 13. This niche 18 is configured for receiving a rear end of a bearing panel. As may be identified, when viewed in the vertical direction (y-direction), this receiver or this niche 18 is formed further toward the bottom than an upper bearing side 19 of the bearing rib 13. As a result, the rear end or a coupling element of the bearing panel is also mounted in the inserted end position so as to be protected against being pulled out.

[0057] The niche 18 is delimited both toward the bottom and toward the rear and toward the top. In this regard, the niche has a top wall 20. As may be identified, this top wall 20 also extends in this depth direction so as to overlap with the upper bearing side 19 of the bearing rib 13. In particular, this top wall 20 extends above the upper bearing side 19 over the length of the rear longitudinal third of the bearing rib 13, in particular to a maximum extent over the length of the rear longitudinal half of the bearing rib 13.

[0058] This top wall 20 is also configured in the width direction such that a certain guide channel is also formed by this top wall 20 and the upper bearing side 19. An anti-tilt element for the bearing panel is also formed by the top wall 20. The bearing panel thus is not able to tilt out to the front in an undesirable manner.

[0059] In particular, it is provided that, when viewed in the width direction (x-direction), the extent of the top wall 20 changes from its front end 20a to its rear end 20b, in particular becomes larger toward the rear end 20b. In particular, in this regard a continuous increase is formed.

[0060] In FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5 the shape of the bearing ribs is also partially identified by dashed lines. This is not only intended to show the points at which the geometry of the bearing rib steplessly transitions into the respective side wall. The geometric boundary of the bearing rib is shown by the dashed lines. The individual regions of the bearing rib itself also transition, in particular steplessly, into one another. As a result, particularly soft transitions without edges are generated. Dashed lines shown in the bearing rib itself are intended to serve as auxiliary lines for understanding the contour path, in particular in the region of the lower side of the bearing rib.

[0061] In FIG. 4 the sub-region of the side wall 7 is shown in a perspective view, wherein the bearing ribs 15 and 16 are shown here. The bearing rib 15 has a front end 21 and a rear end 22. Regarding the embodiment of a niche with a top wall, reference should be made to the explanations relative to FIG. 3.

[0062] As may be identified, a bearing rib has an individual three-dimensional shape. In particular, this shape of a bearing rib is similar to a half of a ship's hull, wherein the half is to be seen in this regard relative to a vertical plane which encompasses the longitudinal axis of the ship. In this regard, the front end 21 is to be seen in the form of a bow of such a ship's hull.

[0063] In this context, it may also be identified that the bearing rib 15 is specifically shaped three-dimensionally in a lower side 23. In this context, according to the perspective sectional view in FIG. 5, the bearing rib 15 may be viewed at the point of the cutting plane V-V. The bearing rib 15, when viewed in the vertical direction, merges at an upper end 24a with the side wall 7, in particular steplessly. In this context, a first rounding 25 which has this upper end 24a is configured. The first rounding 25 is a constituent part of the upper bearing side 19. This upper bearing side 19 has a flat region 26 adjoining a lower end 24b of this first rounding 25. This flat region extends substantially perpendicular to the side wall 7. A second rounding 27 which is a constituent part of the upper bearing side 19 is configured so as to adjoin this flat region 26. The second rounding 27 directly adjoins the region 26 with an upper end 28a. When viewed in the vertical direction, a lower end 28b is formed, the upper bearing side 19 being delimited thereby. The lower end 28a is also the lower end of the second rounding 27. The lower side 23 of the bearing rib 15 is formed so as to adjoin directly this upper bearing side 19. The lower side 23 directly adjoins the lower end 28b with an upper end 29. A lower end 30 of the lower side 23 in the vertical direction is also shown in FIG. 5.

[0064] In FIG. 6 the bearing rib 15 is shown in the cutting plane V-V. As may be identified in the exemplary embodiment, the cross section is formed in a front longitudinal half of the bearing rib 15 in the depth direction. In particular, it is provided here that the lower side 23 is configured in an S-shaped manner. In the exemplary embodiment this S-shape does not have a linear portion. In particular, this S-shape has an upper S-shaped part 31. This upper S-shaped part extends from the upper end 29 to an intermediate point 32. The upper S-shaped part 31 terminates at this intermediate point 32. A lower S-shaped part 33 of the S-shape extends from this region of the intermediate point 32 to the lower end 30. As may be identified, the S-shaped parts 31 and 33 have different curvatures. The upper S-shaped part 31 is bulged away from the side wall 7 and thus bulged toward the receiving space 12. In this regard, the curvature of the lower S-shaped part 33 is in the other direction. The bulging is thus provided toward the side wall 7. In particular, the lower S-shaped part 33 is curved in a concave manner and the upper S-shaped part 31 is curved in a convex manner.

[0065] In particular, a stepless transition is configured at the intermediate point 32 between the S-shaped parts 31 and 33. In particular, a stepless transition is configured between the lower side 23 and the side wall 7 at the lower end 30. In particular, a stepless transition is configured at all points of the contour of a bearing rib in which the aforementioned partial elements transition into one another.

[0066] As may be identified in FIG. 6 the upper bearing side 19 has an upper side vertical dimension h1. This is measured in the vertical direction and is measured between the upper end 24a and the lower end 28a. The lower side 23 has a lower side vertical dimension h2. This is measured between the upper end 29 and the lower end 30. As may be identified, the upper side vertical dimension h1 is smaller than the lower side vertical dimension h2. In particular, a vertical-dimension ratio between the lower side vertical dimension h2 and the upper side vertical dimension h1 is between 3.5 and 4.5, in particular between 3.8 and 4.2. Preferably, this vertical-dimension ratio is configured over at least 50 percent, in particular at least 60 percent, in particular at least 70 percent, in particular at least 80 percent, in particular at least 90 percent, of the length of the bearing rib measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis A.

[0067] In particular, this vertical-dimension ratio between the lower side vertical dimension h2 and the upper side vertical dimension h1 is constant over the length of the bearing rib 15.

[0068] Moreover, it may also be identified that a vertical dimension h4 of the upper S-shaped part 31 is smaller than a relevant vertical dimension h3 of the lower S-shaped part 33. In particular, the vertical dimension h3 of the lower S-shaped part 33 is at least double the size of the vertical dimension h4 of the upper S-shaped part 31. Here these vertical dimensions h3, h4 are measured in the vertical direction and measured, on the one hand, between the upper end 29 and the intermediate point 32, and, on the other hand, between the intermediate point 32 and the lower end 30.

[0069] Preferably, the bearing rib 15, when viewed along its longitudinal axis A, has such an S-shape of the lower side 33 over at least 50 percent of its length, in particular at least 60 percent of its length, in particular at least 70 percent of its length, in each case viewed in cross section.

[0070] This may also be identified in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0071] Moreover, in particular it may be identified from FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 that the S-shape, when viewed along the longitudinal axis A, continuously changes in cross section. In particular, it is provided that this S-shape widens, when viewed from the front to the rear. This means that, when viewed from the front to the rear, the curvature of the S-shape in the S-shaped upper part 31 reduces or becomes smaller, in particular becomes continuously smaller. In particular, the same is also provided for the curvature of the lower S-shaped part 33. As may also be identified in FIG. 4 and FIG. 3, the bearing rib 15 at its rear end 22 is no longer formed with an S-shape of the lower side 23 in cross section but with a straight line 34 in this cross section. This means that from the front to the rear the lower side 23 continuously changes from an S-shape transitioning into a vertical straight line 34. In turn, the lower side vertical dimension h2 also applies to the straight line 34, in particular. This means that the lower side 23 bulges the most toward the side wall 7 at the front region, and this bulging toward the side wall 7 reduces to the rear such that at the rear end 22 only the straight line 34 is formed in cross section. In this regard, for better understanding of the shape, in FIG. 6 this straight line 34 is illustrated as dashed vertical line as an auxiliary line.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment, as may be identified in the plan view according to FIG. 7, it is provided that a bearing rib, when viewed in the direction of its longitudinal axis, tapers relative to its upper bearing side 19. In this context, a continuous tapering of the upper bearing side 19 is formed, starting from a starting point 35 in the depth direction to the rear. A tapering of this upper bearing side 19 is also formed from this starting point 35 to the front. Thus the starting point 35, when viewed in the width direction, is the point spaced apart to a maximum extent from the side wall 8. In particular, in this regard a width reduction by at least 10 percent, in particular at least 20 percent, in particular at least 30 percent, in particular a maximum of 50 percent, of the width b at the starting point 35 is formed at the rear end 17 of the bearing rib 13. The width b is measured on the inner face of the first rounding 24.

[0073] In particular, the section in FIG. 6 is at the starting point 35 so that this section is located in the cutting plane. In the width direction x the upper bearing side 19 has the greatest width at this point of the starting point 35.

[0074] In FIG. 6 a width b1 of the bearing rib 15 is also shown. This width b1 is measured at the point at which the bearing rib 15 is shown with its maximum contour. This is the maximum wave shape of the bearing rib 15 formed in cross section. This maximum contour is configured over the entire length of the bearing rib 15 at the same vertical position. In particular, this is at the point of the lower end 28b in the vertical direction.

[0075] In particular, in FIG. 6 the contour and thus the cross-sectional geometry is shown at this starting point 35. In particular, a width-to-height ratio of the bearing rib 15 and thus the ratio b1/(h1+h2) is between 0.4 and 0.6, in particular between 0.45 and 0.55. This width b1 is measured relative to the first rounding 24 on the outer face of the first rounding 24. However, the width may also be measured on the inner face, so that then the width b results. The difference between the width b and the width b1 is thus only the thickness of the wall. Conventional wall thicknesses which are provided in deep-drawing are configured therefor.

[0076] Preferably, the width b1 starting from the starting point 35 continuously changes to the rear. At the rear end 17 this width b1 is different from zero. In particular, the width at this rear end 17 is between 25% and 40%, in particular between 30% and 35%, less than the width b1 at the starting point 35. In particular, the height h1+h2 of the bearing rib 15 is the same over at least 80%, in particular 90% of the length. In particular, the height h1+h2 from the starting point 35 to the rear end 17 remains the same. In particular, therefore, the width to height ratio may also be determined at the different length positions of the bearing rib 15.

[0077] At the front end of the bearing rib 15 the maximum contour terminates directly on the side wall 7, so that here at the front the width b is equal to zero or the width b1 corresponds only to the wall thickness.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0078] 1 Household refrigeration appliance [0079] 2 Housing [0080] 3 External housing [0081] 4 Internal container [0082] 5 Thermally insulating material [0083] 6 Bottom wall [0084] 7 First vertical side wall [0085] 8 Second vertical side wall [0086] 9 Top wall [0087] 10 Rear wall [0088] 11 Door [0089] 12 Receiving space [0090] 13 Bearing rib [0091] 14 Bearing rib [0092] 15 Bearing rib [0093] 16 Bearing rib [0094] 17 Rear end [0095] 18 Niche [0096] 19 Upper bearing side [0097] 20 Top wall [0098] 20a Front end [0099] 20b Rear end [0100] 21 Front end [0101] 22 Rear end [0102] 23 Lower side [0103] 24a Upper end [0104] 24b Lower end [0105] 25 First rounding [0106] 26 Region [0107] 27 Second rounding [0108] 28a Upper end [0109] 28b Lower end [0110] 29 Upper end [0111] 30 Lower end [0112] 31 Upper S-shaped part [0113] 32 Intermediate point [0114] 33 Lower S-shaped part [0115] 34 Straight line [0116] 35 Bearing point [0117] A Longitudinal axis [0118] b Width [0119] b1 Width [0120] x Vertical direction [0121] y Vertical direction [0122] z Depth direction [0123] h1 Upper side vertical dimension [0124] h2 Lower side vertical dimension [0125] h3 Vertical dimension [0126] h4 Vertical dimension [0127] I1 Length [0128] t1 Depth