FOOD-RECEIVING CONTAINER HAVING A VENTILATION DEVICE ON A HANDLE OF A FRONT PANEL, AND HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

Abstract

A food-receiving container for a household refrigeration appliance includes a shell for receiving food and a ventilation device for carrying out an air exchange between the surroundings and the interior of the food-receiving container. The shell has a front panel on which a handle is disposed. The handle is disposed in an upper region of the front panel, when viewed in the vertical direction of the food-receiving container. The ventilation device is disposed on the handle. A household refrigeration appliance having the food-receiving container is also provided.

Claims

1. A food-receiving container for a household refrigeration appliance, the food-receiving container comprising: an interior of the food-receiving container and a vertical direction of the food-receiving container; a shell for receiving food, said shell having a front panel with upper region as viewed in the vertical direction of the food-receiving container; a handle disposed at said upper region of said front panel; and a ventilation device disposed at said handle for carrying out an air exchange between the surroundings and said interior of the food-receiving container.

2. The food-receiving container according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a handle recess configured to be gripped from below, said ventilation device has sub-components, and at least said sub-components of said ventilation device are received partly or entirely in said handle recess.

3. The food-receiving container according to claim 2, wherein said ventilation device has a ventilation slider displaceably mounted in said handle recess for opening and closing said ventilation device.

4. The food-receiving container according to claim 2, wherein: said shell has a shell wall; said ventilation device has at least one ventilation opening integrally formed in said shell wall; and said ventilation device has a ventilation slider for uncovering and covering said at least one ventilation opening for opening and closing said ventilation device.

5. The food-receiving container according to claim 4, wherein said handle has a rear handle recess wall defining said handle recess, and said ventilation opening is formed in said rear handle recess wall.

6. The food-receiving container according to claim 4, wherein said ventilation slider has at least one ventilation opening configured to at least partially overlap said at least one ventilation opening in said shell wall in an open position of said ventilation device.

7. The food-receiving container according to claim 4, wherein said ventilation slider has an L-shaped or U-shaped cross section.

8. The food-receiving container according to claim 4, wherein said ventilation slider has a further handle.

9. The food-receiving container according to claim 4, wherein said handle has walls defining said handle recess, and at least one snap-in device directly fastens said ventilation slider to said walls defining said handle recess.

10. The food-receiving container according to claim 9, wherein said ventilation slider is displaceably mounted on at least one of said walls by said at least one snap-in device.

11. The food-receiving container according to claim 3, wherein said ventilation device has a rail-shaped carrier part being separate from said ventilation slider and from said shell, said carrier part is disposed on said shell, and said ventilation slider is movably disposed on said carrier part.

12. The food-receiving container according to claim 11, wherein: said handle has walls defining said handle recess; said carrier part is at least one of U-shaped in cross section or directly fastened to said walls defining said handle recess; and said ventilation slider is directly mounted on said carrier part.

13. The food-receiving container according to claim 1, wherein said ventilation device has a display unit for displaying ventilation operating states of said ventilation device, and said display unit is disposed in said handle.

14. The food-receiving container according to claim 13, wherein said handle has an upper handle recess wall on which a displayed ventilation operating state is able to be observed.

15. The food-receiving container according to claim 1, wherein: said ventilation device has a sub-component; said shell has a base body with a front side; said front panel is movably disposed on said front side of said base body; and said base body has at least one hook engaging in said front panel in a basic position of said front panel on said base body for retaining said sub-component of said ventilation device on said front panel.

16. The food-receiving container according to claim 1, which further comprises a lid of the food-receiving container, said lid being separate from said shell and configured to be positioned onto said shell for closing said shell.

17. The food-receiving container according to claim 1, which further comprises symbols characterizing different ventilation operating states of said ventilation device.

18. The food-receiving container according to claim 11, wherein said ventilation slider has a top wall, said carrier part has a top wall, and symbols characterizing different ventilation operating states are disposed on at least one of said top wall of said ventilation slider or said top wall of said carrier part.

19. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising a food-receiving container according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0040] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a food-receiving container according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a ventilation device which is disposed on a front panel of the food-receiving container according to FIG. 2;

[0043] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a region I in FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of sub-components of a ventilation device of the food-receiving container;

[0045] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, vertical sectional view through an exemplary embodiment of a food-receiving container with an exemplary embodiment of a ventilation device in a first displaced state of a ventilation slider of the ventilation device; and

[0046] FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a partial region of an exemplary embodiment of a food-receiving container of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, wherein the section plane in FIG. 7 is different from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which the same or functionally the same elements are provided with the same reference characters, and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen an exemplary view of a household refrigeration appliance 1 which is configured as a combined refrigerator-freezer. The household refrigeration appliance 1 has a body or carcass 2 with an inner container 3. The inner container 3 has, amongst other things, two opposing vertical side walls 3a and 3b. The inner container 3 defines with its walls a first interior or receiving space 4 which is a refrigerator compartment and a second interior or receiving space 5 which is separate therefrom and which is disposed by way of example below the refrigerator compartment and which is a freezer compartment. The receiving space 4 generally serves for the frost-free refrigeration of refrigerated goods, preferably at temperatures of between +4° and +8° C. The receiving space 4, however, may also be configured as a zero-degrees drawer, in particular for keeping fruit or vegetables fresh. The receiving space 4 is accessible when a door 6, which closes the receiving space 4 on the front side, is open.

[0048] The further receiving space 5 generally serves for deep-freezing frozen goods, for example at −18° C. The receiving space 5 is accessible when a freezer compartment door 7 is open.

[0049] A refrigerated goods container and/or keep-fresh container is mounted in the above receiving space 4 in a manner in which it is able to be pulled out. The keep-fresh container constitutes a food-receiving container 8. The food-receiving container 8 has a drawer and/or shell 10. In one exemplary embodiment, the food-receiving container 8 also has a lid 9. This lid is separate from the shell 10. The lid 9 may be provided only for closing the shell 10 from above. The lid may then be positioned directly on the shell 10. In one exemplary embodiment it may also be provided that the lid 9 is configured at the same time as a shelf or partition. The lid is then, in particular, directly mounted on the side walls 3a and 3b. In one exemplary embodiment, therefore, the lid does not directly bear against the shell 10 but is disposed, in particular, so as to be offset upwardly at a minimum distance.

[0050] It may also be provided, as shown, that a separate cover 11, for example in the form of a partition, for example a glass shelf, is disposed in addition to the lid 9. This cover is disposed directly above the lid 9 and slightly spaced apart from the lid 9.

[0051] A further or different food-receiving container 8′ may also be provided.

[0052] The food-receiving container 8 is separated at least by the cover 11 from the residual partial volume of the receiving space 4 which remains.

[0053] The food-receiving container 8 may be removed from the receiving space 4 in a non-destructive manner. Even in the state inserted into the receiving space 4 it is provided that the shell 10 may be pushed back and forth in the depth direction and thus in the z-direction, in the state still mounted in the receiving space 4, in order to be able to reach into the interior of the shell 10. The same may also be provided in the food-receiving container 8′. This food-receiving container may also be configured with a shell and, in particular, also with a lid.

[0054] In FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a food-receiving container 8, 8′ is shown in a perspective view. The shell 10 is shown herein. This shell has a base body 12. The base body 12 is configured in one piece in this case. The base body has a bottom wall 13 of the shell 10, vertical opposing side walls 14 and 15 as well as a rear wall 16.

[0055] The shell 10 also has a front panel 17. The front panel 17 in the exemplary embodiment is a separate component from the base body 12. The front panel constitutes a front wall of the shell 10. The front panel is releasably disposed on the base body 12 in a non-destructive manner. The front wall and/or the front panel 17 directly defines on the front side a storage space 18 of the shell 10.

[0056] The front panel 17 is configured in the manner of a plate. The front panel 17 has a handle 19. The handle 19 is configured in one piece in the front panel 17. In the exemplary embodiment, the handle 19 extends substantially over the entire width of the front panel 17. In the exemplary embodiment, the front panel 17 extends substantially over the entire width of the shell 10. The handle 19 has a handle recess 20. The handle recess 20 is open downwardly. As a result, the handle may be gripped from below, when approached from the front. When viewed in the vertical direction (y-direction) the handle 19 is provided in an upper region of the front panel 17. The handle is provided, in particular, in an upper third of the height of the front panel 17. In particular, the handle is disposed on an upper edge 21 of the front panel 17. The handle thus constitutes an upper terminal portion of the front panel 17.

[0057] When viewed in the depth direction, the handle recess 20 is defined by a front-side handle recess wall 22 and upwardly by an upper handle recess wall 23 and rearwardly by a rear handle recess wall 24 (FIG. 3).

[0058] Moreover, when viewed in the width direction, further opposing defining walls are configured as handle recess walls which are represented by handle recess walls 26 and 27 (FIG. 3).

[0059] The food-receiving container 8, 8′ also has a ventilation, air-conditioning or climatizing device 28. Through the use of this ventilation device 28, an air exchange may be carried out between the surroundings and the interior of the shell 10 which is formed by the storage space 18, in particular through the front panel 17.

[0060] In the exemplary embodiment, the ventilation device 28 is disposed on the shell 10. The ventilation device 28 is disposed entirely on the front panel 17.

[0061] Even if the lid 9 is a component of the food-receiving container 8, 8′, in one exemplary embodiment the ventilation device 28 is disposed entirely in the front panel 17.

[0062] As may be identified, at least sub-components of the ventilation device 28 are disposed on the handle 19. In particular, in this regard sub-components of the ventilation device 28 are disposed in the handle recess 20, in particular received entirely therein.

[0063] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the front panel 17 is shown in an exploded view in FIG. 3. In this exemplary embodiment the ventilation device 28 has at least one ventilation opening, in particular a plurality of ventilation openings 29. For the sake of clarity, only some of these ventilation openings 29 are provided with the corresponding reference characters in FIG. 3. The ventilation openings 29 are directly integrated in the front panel 17 and/or configured in one piece therewith. The ventilation openings are positioned, in particular, entirely within the handle recess 20. In particular, in this regard the ventilation openings are formed in the rearward handle recess wall 24. The ventilation openings are configured in rows relative to one another in the width direction and spaced apart from one another.

[0064] In the exemplary embodiment, the ventilation device 28 also has a ventilation slider 30. The ventilation slider 30 constitutes a separate component from the front panel 17. The ventilation slider is constructed in the manner of a rail and/or bar. In the exemplary embodiment shown herein, the ventilation slider 30 has a rear wall 31. In particular, a plurality of ventilation openings 32 are formed in this rear wall 31. For the sake of clarity, only some of the ventilation openings are provided with the corresponding reference character. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment the ventilation slider 30 has a top wall and/or an upper wall 33.

[0065] In a further exemplary embodiment, in addition to the rear wall 31 and the upper wall 33, a front wall 34 viewed in the depth direction (FIG. 6) may also be provided.

[0066] In FIG. 3 the one-piece ventilation slider 30 is additionally provided with a handle 35. This handle is formed in this case in one piece with the rear wall 31. The handle extends downwardly and to the front. The handle protrudes according to the view in FIG. 2 downwardly out of the handle recess 20. The handle is disposed so as to be freely protruding relative thereto.

[0067] The ventilation slider 30 is displaceably disposed in the handle recess 20. In particular, a linear displacement movement is possible in this case, in particular in the width direction. To this end, it is provided that the ventilation device 28 is open when the ventilation openings 32 are disposed so as to be at least partially overlapping with the ventilation openings 29. If the ventilation slider 30 is displaced in such a way that there is no overlap between the ventilation openings 32 and the ventilation openings 29, the ventilation device 28 is closed.

[0068] In one exemplary embodiment, it may be provided that the ventilation device 28 has only the ventilation slider 30, in particular with the handle 35 and the ventilation openings 29, 32.

[0069] In a further exemplary embodiment, it may be provided that the ventilation device 28 additionally has a carrier part 36 separate therefrom. This is shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 2. The carrier part 36 is also separate from the front panel 17. The carrier part 36 is an elongated, in particular rectilinear, rail. The carrier part extends substantially over the entire width of the handle recess 20. In the mounted state the carrier part 36 is received in the handle recess 20. In particular, the carrier part is received entirely therein. The carrier part 36 is disposed so as to bear directly against the handle recess walls 22, 23 and 24. The carrier part may be correspondingly fastened by a snap-in connection and/or by a clamped connection to at least one of these handle recess walls 22 and/or 23 and/or 24. Additionally or alternatively thereto, a mechanical coupling may be provided on the further handle recess walls 26, 27. In the exemplary embodiment, these lateral handle recess walls 26 and 27 have a snap-in receiver 37 and 38. Snap-in elements 39, 40 (FIG. 5) which are integrally formed in one piece on the carrier part 36 are snapped therein.

[0070] Moreover, the carrier part 36 has ventilation openings 41, wherein in this case only some of the ventilation openings are provided with the corresponding reference character. In the mounted state of the carrier part 36 the ventilation openings 41 are disposed, in particular, so as to be congruent with the ventilation openings 29. In the mounted state, the carrier part 36 is disposed fixedly on the front panel 17 in the handle recess 20. The ventilation slider 30 is disposed on this carrier part 36 so as to be relatively displaceable thereto, in particular is mounted directly thereon.

[0071] It may be provided that the ventilation slider 30 is directly disposed on the carrier part 36 by a snap-in connection and/or by a clamped connection. In particular, it is provided that a guide device is provided ed by which the ventilation slider 30 is displaceably mounted on the carrier part 36. In particular, a retention is also possible thereby. Relative to the guide device the carrier part 36 has, for example, a guide receiver 42. Engagement elements 43 engage in this guide receiver (FIG. 5). In the exemplary embodiment these engagement elements 43 are rectilinear projections. The engagement elements are integrally formed in one piece on the rear wall 31. When viewed in the width direction, these engagement elements 43 are shorter than the slotted guide receivers 42. As a result, a relative displacement of the ventilation slider 30 relative to the carrier part 36 may take place on this carrier part 36.

[0072] This guide device may also serve as a retaining device, in particular when the ventilation slider 30 is held by a clamped retention on the carrier part 36.

[0073] In the exemplary embodiment of the ventilation slider 30 shown in FIG. 3, this ventilation slider is L-shaped in cross section (perpendicular to its longitudinal axis oriented in the width direction). As already set forth above, an embodiment of the ventilation slider 30 may also be provided which is U-shaped in this cross section.

[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the shell 10, in particular the front panel 17, has a display unit 44 (FIG. 2). The display unit 44 is configured for displaying a ventilation operating state of the ventilation device 28. The display unit 44 may also be denoted as an indicator. In the exemplary embodiment, the display unit 44 is disposed in such a way that the display of the ventilation operating state may be seen and observed on the upper handle recess wall 23. It may be provided that two viewing windows 45 and 46 are provided in this upper handle recess wall 23 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0075] These viewing windows 45 and 46 are, in particular, continuous holes. It may be provided that symbols 47 are displayed on an upper face 33a (FIG. 5) of the upper wall 33 of the ventilation slider 30. These symbols 47 may be printed. Different ventilation operating states may be symbolized by these symbols 47. Depending on the displacement position of the ventilation slider 30 relative to these viewing windows 45 and 46, in particular, one of these symbols 47 may thus be observed through one of the viewing windows 45 or 46.

[0076] As may also be identified in FIG. 5, the carrier part 36 may also have such viewing windows 48 and 49. In the mounted state of the carrier part 36, these viewing windows are disposed so as to be congruent with the viewing windows 45 and 46.

[0077] In this embodiment of the display unit 44 at least the upper handle recess wall 23 may be formed so as to be opaque.

[0078] If the upper wall 23 is formed so as to be transparent, the viewing windows 45 and 46 do not have to be present. If the carrier part 36 is present, depending on the transparency or opaqueness of the carrier part 36 it may be provided that the viewing windows 48 and 49 are present or not present.

[0079] In FIG. 4 an enlarged view of the partial region I in FIG. 2 is shown. In this case the already mounted state of the carrier part 36 present in the handle recess 20 may be identified. The snapped-in state between the snap-in element 39 in the snap-in receiver 37 may be identified in this case.

[0080] In one exemplary embodiment, it may be provided that the side wall 14 has a hook 50 in an upper front corner region. This is provided, in particular, when the front panel 17 is a separate component from the base body 12. The hooking of the front panel 17 to the base body 12 in the upper region is made possible thereby. In one exemplary embodiment, this hook 50 is also provided at the same time to fix the carrier part 36. To this end, in one exemplary embodiment it is provided that the carrier part 36 has an engagement region 51 (FIG. 5). The hook 50 engages therein and then bears from below against an upper wall 52 of the carrier part 36. As a result, this carrier part 36 is additionally pushed upwardly against the upper handle recess wall 23. In particular, such a further engagement region 53 is also provided on the opposing end, a further hook which is disposed on the upper front region of the side wall 15 engaging therein.

[0081] In FIG. 5 an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment is shown, in which the ventilation device 28 has the ventilation slider 30 and the carrier part 36.

[0082] In FIG. 5 it is shown in a diagrammatic view that the guide receivers 42 are disposed below the ventilation openings 41. In a further exemplary embodiment, a guide opening 54 of the guide device may be provided additionally or alternatively thereto. This guide opening 54, for example, may not be configured as a slot but as a square or rectangle which is dimensioned differently from a slot relative to the aspect ratios thereof. It may be provided that, when viewed in the vertical direction, this at least one window and/or the guide opening 54 is disposed in the region of the ventilation openings 41 and is disposed between two ventilation openings 41 and in each case is located therebetween. In this exemplary embodiment it may be provided that an engagement element 55 is provided, the engagement element being provided on the ventilation slider 30, in particular on the wall 31. This engagement element may be, for example, a snap-in element. The snap-in element may then be snapped into the guide opening 54 and guided in a linear manner relative thereto in the width direction. This exemplary embodiment may be provided as an alternative to the exemplary embodiment with the guide openings 42 and the engagement elements 43. However, it may also be provided additionally thereto.

[0083] In all of the exemplary embodiments it is also possible that such a mechanical coupling in the form of a guide device and/or retaining device is provided on the upper walls 33 and/or 52 and/or the upper handle recess wall 23.

[0084] In FIG. 6 a partial region of the food-receiving container 8, 8′ is shown in a diagrammatic vertical sectional view. The ventilation device 28 is implemented in this case with the ventilation slider 30 and the carrier part 36 separately therefrom. In this exemplary embodiment it is provided that the ventilation slider 30 is not L-shaped but U-shaped in cross section. In this case, the sectional view is taken through a corresponding section line VI-VI, as shown in FIG. 5. The ventilation slider 30 is not L-shaped in cross section in this case, as already set forth above, but U-shaped. It may also be identified that the carrier part 36 which is U-shaped in cross section bears directly against the inner faces of the handle recess walls 22, 23 and 24. A form-locking bearing may be provided. Moreover, the ventilation slider 30, shown herein in its approximately U-shaped form, bears directly against the walls 56, 52 and 57 of the carrier part 36.

[0085] In FIG. 6 a position of the ventilation slider 30 is shown in which the ventilation device 28 is open.

[0086] In one exemplary embodiment it is provided that a rear-side wall 58 of the approximately U-shaped ventilation slider 30 extends downwardly over the rear-side wall 57 of the carrier part 36. The overlap of this rear wall 58 protruding downwardly relative thereto, however, is disposed substantially without contact with the rear-side handle recess wall 24. A direct bearing with a marginal edge 58b on the inner face of the rear handle recess wall 24 is provided merely on a lower freely protruding end 58a. As a result, a bearing of this wall 58 against the rear handle recess wall 24 over a large surface area is avoided. A simpler displacement of the ventilation slider 30 is thus possible. In particular, the scratching of the inner face of the rear-side handle recess wall 24 is also avoided thereby.

[0087] In FIG. 7 an embodiment according to FIG. 6 is shown in a vertical sectional view, wherein however a sectional view along the section line VII-VII in FIG. 5 is shown. In this case the engagement of the projection 43 in this guide receiver 42 is shown. By way of example, the L-shape of the ventilation slider 30 is not shown herein, but the approximately U-shaped cross-section of the ventilation slider 30 shown in FIG. 6 is illustrated. Through the use of this U-shape of the carrier part 36 and the approximate U-shape of the ventilation slider 30 it is possible to a certain extent to maintain the position of the ventilation slider 30 on the carrier part 36 by an improved anchoring clamped connection.

[0088] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0089] 1 Household refrigeration appliance [0090] 2 Body [0091] 3 Inner container [0092] 3a Vertical side wall [0093] 3b Vertical side wall [0094] 4 Receiving space [0095] 5 Receiving space [0096] 6 Door [0097] 7 Freezer compartment door [0098] 8 Food-receiving container [0099] 8′ Food-receiving container [0100] 9 Lid [0101] 10 Shell [0102] 11 Cover [0103] 12 Base body [0104] 13 Bottom wall [0105] 14 Side wall [0106] 15 Side wall [0107] 16 Rear wall [0108] 17 Front panel [0109] 18 Storage space [0110] 19 Handle [0111] 20 Handle recess [0112] 21 Upper edge [0113] 22 Front-side handle recess wall [0114] 23 Upper handle recess wall [0115] 24 Rear handle recess wall [0116] 26 Handle recess wall [0117] 27 Handle recess wall [0118] 28 Ventilation device [0119] 29 Ventilation opening [0120] 30 Ventilation slider [0121] 31 Rear wall [0122] 32 Ventilation opening [0123] 33 Upper wall [0124] 34 Front wall [0125] 35 Handle [0126] 36 Carrier part [0127] 37 Snap-in receiver [0128] 38 Snap-in receiver [0129] 39 Snap-in element [0130] 40 Snap-in element [0131] 41 Ventilation opening [0132] 42 Guide receiver [0133] 43 Engagement element [0134] 44 Display unit [0135] 45 Viewing window [0136] 46 Viewing window [0137] 47 Symbol [0138] 48 Viewing window [0139] 49 Viewing window [0140] 50 Hook [0141] 51 Engagement region [0142] 52 Upper wall [0143] 53 Engagement region [0144] 54 Guide opening [0145] 55 Engagement element [0146] 56 Wall [0147] 57 Wall [0148] 58 Rear wall [0149] 58a End [0150] 58b Marginal edge [0151] y Vertical direction