Household storage appliance apparatus and household storage appliance

Abstract

A household storage appliance apparatus, in particular a household refrigeration appliance apparatus, includes at least one storage unit which has at least one storage element for holding at least one object. In order to provide improved storage, the storage unit has at least one inclination setting unit for changing at least one inclination of the storage element relative to a horizontal. A household storage appliance is also provided.

Claims

1. A household storage appliance apparatus or household refrigeration appliance apparatus, comprising: at least one storage unit; said at least one storage unit having at least one storage element for receiving at least one object; said at least one storage unit having inclination setting units for changing at least one inclination of said at least one storage element relative to a horizontal; said inclination setting units each having a respective inclination setting element for fixing an angle of inclination of said at least one storage element, said inclination setting elements each being circular-disk-shaped and each having at least one toothed wheel segment; first and second rails having respective toothed racks; and a bearing unit including first and second fastening elements each having a respective toothed wheel engaging in a respective one of said toothed racks, said toothed wheels defining a common bearing axis running through said toothed wheels and through said inclination setting elements.

2. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises an appliance body defining a useful space, said at least one storage unit being held in said useful space, and said fastening elements fastening said at least one storage unit to said appliance body.

3. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one storage element is rotatably supported about said common bearing axis.

4. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fastening elements are configured to locate said common bearing axis in at least two different height positions on said appliance body.

5. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one inclination setting unit has at least one fixing unit for fixing said at least one storage element at said angle of inclination, said at least one fixing unit interacting with at least one inclination setting element in at least one operating state.

6. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said at least one fixing unit has at least one form-locking element for at least one of establishing or canceling a form-locking connection, said at least one form-locking element interacting at least partially with one inclination setting element in at least one operating state.

7. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one fixing unit has an operating element connected to said at least one form-locking element.

8. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said at least one operating element is configured to be operated by a displacement movement in at least one direction.

9. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said at least one fixing unit has at least one reset element counteracting said displacement movement in at least one operating state.

10. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inclination setting unit is configured to set positive and negative angles of inclination of said at least one storage element.

11. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one functional overlay element configured to lay on said at least one storage element.

12. A household storage appliance or household refrigeration appliance or wine storage cabinet, comprising a household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1.

13. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a synchronization unit for transferring a rotational movement of one of said toothed wheels to another of said toothed wheels during a vertical movement of said at least one storage unit.

14. The household storage appliance apparatus according to claim 13, which further comprises a single latching lug for engaging in a gap between two teeth of said at least one toothed wheel segment for fixing said at least one storage element at an inclined position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective side view of a household storage appliance configured as a wine storage cabinet with a household storage appliance apparatus;

(2) FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the storage unit with a functional overlay element of the household storage appliance apparatus;

(3) FIG. 3 is a horizontal-sectional view through an appliance body of the household storage appliance having the household storage appliance apparatus with a storage unit;

(4) FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the storage unit with a fastening unit disposed on the appliance body;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage unit disposed in rails of the appliance body with an object stored in a horizontal position on a storage element of the storage unit;

(6) FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the storage unit disposed in rails of the appliance body with an object stored at an inclined position on the storage element of the storage unit;

(7) FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an inclination setting unit of the storage unit with a bearing unit; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the bearing unit with a toothed wheel and a part of the side wall element with a toothed rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a household storage appliance 44. The household storage appliance 44 has a household storage appliance apparatus 10. The household storage appliance 44 is configured as a household refrigeration appliance. The household storage appliance 44 is configured as a wine storage cabinet 46. The household storage appliance 44 is provided to store and/or accommodate chilled goods and/or objects 16. The household storage appliance 44 is provided to store and/or accommodate wine bottles. The household storage appliance 44 can also be provided to cool chilled goods and/or objects 16. Alternatively the household storage appliance 44 could be provided to heat and/or keep objects 16 warm.

(10) The household storage appliance apparatus 10 has an appliance body 22. The appliance body 22 defines a useful space 24. The useful space 24 can also be cooled. The household storage appliance apparatus 10 has an appliance door 52. The appliance door 52 delimits the useful space 24 on a front face 56 of the household storage appliance apparatus 10. The front face 56 is configured as an operating face 54. The appliance door 52 is disposed on the operating face 54 of the appliance body 22. The appliance door 52 has a transparent region 58 for the presentation of the objects 16 disposed in the useful space 24.

(11) The household storage appliance apparatus 10 has a number of storage units 12, only one of which is described in more detail in the following. The storage unit 12 is disposed within the useful space 24. The storage units 12 are disposed one above the other in relation to an installation surface of the storage appliance 44. The storage unit 12 is held on the appliance body 22 in at least one operating state.

(12) The storage unit 12 has a storage element 14. The storage element 14 is provided to hold at least one object 16. The objects 16 are disposed on the storage element 14 in the operating state. Wine bottles, wine glasses and/or decanters for example can be disposed on the storage element 14. The storage element 14 is configured as a tray 60.

(13) The household storage appliance apparatus 10 can have a functional overlay element 42 (see FIG. 2). The overlay element 42 is configured as a bottle mat 62. Alternatively or additionally the overlay element 42 can be configured as a holding element for example for bottles, glasses and/or decanters. The functional overlay element 42 can be provided in at least one operating state to control the temperature of objects 16 disposed thereon. It is conceivable for the functional overlay element 42 to be provided to detect an object parameter and/or a status parameter, which reflects for example a storage time, wine type and/or allocation of the storage element 14 in the operating state. The functional overlay element 42 could be connected to a communication unit to transmit information to an internal and/or external function unit for the purposes of information acquisition and/or evaluation.

(14) The storage unit 12 has an inclination setting unit 18 seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The storage unit 12 has a further inclination setting unit. The inclination unit 18 and the further inclination unit are disposed on opposing sides of the storage unit 12. The inclination unit 18 and the further inclination unit are configured identically. Only the inclination unit 18 is described in more detail in the following.

(15) The inclination setting unit 18 has a bearing unit 26 (see FIGS. 3, 7 and 8). The bearing unit 26 supports the storage unit 12 on the appliance body 22 in the operating state.

(16) The bearing unit 26 has a fastening element 30 (see FIG. 7). The bearing unit 26 has a further fastening element 70. The fastening element 30 and the further fastening element 70 are configured at least substantially identically. Only the fastening element 30 is described in more detail in the following. The fastening element 30 is provided to fasten the storage unit 12 to the appliance body 22. The fastening element 30 is configured as a T-shaped holder 64. The further fastening element 70 is configured as a further T-shaped holder 64. The appliance body 22 has a first rail 66. The appliance body 22 has a second rail 68. The rails 66, 68 are disposed on opposing side walls 72, 74 of the household storage appliance apparatus 10.

(17) The fastening element 30 engages in the first rail 66. The further fastening element 70 engages in the second rail 68. The rails 66, 68 define a vertical movement direction 108 of the storage unit 12. The first rail 66 has a first toothed rack 78. The second rail 68 has a second toothed rack 80. The bearing unit 26 has a first toothed wheel 82 corresponding to the first toothed rack 78. The bearing unit 26 has a second toothed wheel 84 corresponding to the second toothed rack 80. The first and second toothed wheels 82, 84 are disposed on opposing sides of the storage unit 12. The first toothed wheel 82 is decoupled from the storage element 14 with respect to rotational movement. The second toothed wheel 84 is decoupled from the storage element 14 with respect to rotational movement. The first toothed wheel 82 is coupled to the storage element 14 with respect to translational movement. The second toothed wheel 84 is coupled to the storage element 14 with respect to translational movement.

(18) The first toothed wheel 82 engages in the first toothed rack 78 with a form-locking connection. The second toothed wheel 84 engages in the second toothed rack 80 with a form-locking connection. The storage unit 12 can be moved by rotating the toothed wheels 82, 84. The storage unit 12 is supported in such a manner that it can be moved along the vertical movement path. The vertical direction is substantially perpendicular to a lower face of the appliance body 22 and/or to the installation surface.

(19) The bearing unit 26 has a synchronization unit 86. The synchronization unit 86 is configured separately from the storage unit 12. The synchronization unit 86 is disposed on the storage unit 12. When the storage unit 12 moves vertically in the operating state, the synchronization unit 86 transfers a rotational movement of the first toothed wheel 82 at least substantially to a corresponding rotational movement of the second toothed wheel 84 or vice versa. The synchronization unit 86 has a connecting unit 104. In the operating state the connecting unit 104 couples the first toothed wheel 82 to the second toothed wheel 84 mechanically. When the storage unit 12 moves vertically in the operating state, the connecting unit 104 transfers a rotational movement of the first toothed wheel 82 to the second toothed wheel 84.

(20) The storage unit 12 has a panel unit 50. The panel unit 50 is configured as a cover. The panel unit 50 is disposed on a side facing the user and on sides of the storage unit 12 facing the side wall 72, 74 of the appliance body 22. The panel unit 50 at least partially covers the synchronization unit 86. In FIGS. 7 and 8 a partial region of the panel unit 50, which conceals the synchronization unit 86, is not shown.

(21) The height of the storage unit 12 can be adjusted continuously by using the bearing unit 26. The height of the storage unit 12 is adjusted manually by an operator. The height of the storage unit 12 can be adjusted by the operator by pushing the storage unit 12 up and/or down. Alternatively the height of the storage unit 12 can be adjusted by using an electrical drive unit, by actuating a switch 106 (see FIG. 4). The bearing unit 26 defines a bearing axis 28. The bearing axis 28 runs horizontally through the first and second toothed wheels 82, 84. The bearing axis 28 can be disposed in different height positions on the appliance body 22 by using the fastening elements 30, 70.

(22) The inclination setting unit 18 is provided to change at least one inclination 110 of the storage element 14 in relation to a horizontal 20. The storage element 14 is supported in such a manner that it can rotate about the bearing axis 28.

(23) The inclination setting unit 18 allows the setting of positive and negative angles of inclination 32 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The angle of inclination 32 is formed by a surface normal 88 of the main extension plane 90 of the storage element 14 and a further surface normal 92 of the horizontal 20. The storage element 14 can be inclined toward and away from the operator.

(24) The inclination setting unit 18 has an inclination setting element 48 (see FIG. 8). The inclination setting element 48 is provided to fix the angle of inclination 32 of the storage element 14. The inclination setting element 48 is connected to the storage element 14 in a rotationally fixed manner. The inclination setting element 48 is configured as disk-shaped. The inclination setting element 48 has a toothed wheel segment 34.

(25) The inclination setting unit 18 has a fixing unit 36. The fixing unit 36 is provided to fix the storage element 14 at the angle of inclination 32. The fixing unit 36 interacts with the inclination setting element 48 in an operating state.

(26) The fixing unit 36 has a form-locking element 38. The form-locking element 38 is provided to establish and/or cancel a form-locking connection. In an operating state the form-locking element 38 interacts with the inclination setting element 48. The form-locking element 38 is configured as a latching lug 96. In the operating state the latching lug 96 engages in a gap between the teeth of the toothed wheel segment 34, fixing the storage element 14 at an inclined position.

(27) The fixing unit 36 has an operating element 40. The operating element 40 is connected to the form-locking element 38. The operating element 40 is configured as a grip 98.

(28) The operating element 40 can be operated by a displacement movement. The displacement movement takes place in a direction 100. The operating element 40 has a rest position. In the rest position a form-locking connection 102 is established between the form-locking element 38 and the inclination setting element 48.

(29) The operating element 40 has a deflection position. The operating element 40 can be deflected from the deflection position by using the displacement movement. In the deflection position the form-locking connection 102 between the form-locking element 38 and the inclination setting element 48 is canceled. In the deflection position it is possible to set an inclination 110 of the storage element 14. The displacement movement from the rest position to the deflection position takes place in the direction of the operator.

(30) The fixing unit 36 has a reset element. In an operating state the reset element counteracts a displacement movement of the operating element 40. The reset element could be configured as a compression spring. Alternatively or additionally the reset element can have a different type of spring and be configured for example as a coil spring or tension spring.

(31) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 10 Household storage appliance apparatus 12 Storage unit 14 Storage element 16 Object 18 Inclination setting unit 20 Horizontal 22 Appliance body 24 Useful space 26 Bearing unit 28 Bearing axis 30 Fastening element 32 Angle of inclination 34 Toothed wheel segment 36 Fixing unit 38 Form-locking element 40 Operating element 42 Overlay element 44 Household storage appliance 46 Wine storage cabinet 48 Inclination setting element 50 Panel unit 52 Appliance door 54 Operating face 56 Face 58 Region 60 Tray 62 Bottle mat 64 Holder 66 First rail 68 Second rail 70 Fastening element 72 Side wall 74 Side wall 76 Holder 78 First toothed rack 80 Second toothed rack 82 First toothed wheel 84 Second toothed wheel 86 Synchronization unit 88 Surface normal 90 Main extension plane 92 Surface normal 96 Latching lug 98 Grip 100 Direction 102 Form-locking connection 104 Connecting unit 106 Switch 108 Movement direction 110 Inclination