Home appliance device and assembly method

Abstract

A home appliance device with improved characteristics regarding a user's convenience, in particular a chiller home appliance device, includes at least one holding unit configured to at least partly hold at least one first shelf and at least one second shelf. The holding unit is configured to hold the first shelf next to the second shelf with respect to at least one width direction.

Claims

1. A home appliance device, comprising: at least one inner liner having at least one planar wall section; at least one holding unit disposed mostly behind said at least one planar wall section and configured to at least partly hold at least one first shelf and at least one second shelf, the holding unit being configured to hold the first shelf next to the second shelf with respect to at least one width direction; said at least one holding unit having a base body connected to said at least one planar wall section, said base body having ends and said base body including guiding grooves and holding elements each configured to be inserted in a respective one of said guiding grooves to define a height level and position of said shelves; said holding unit including at least one end cap mounted to and covering at least one of said ends of said base body, said at least one end cap partially passing through at least one aperture in said inner liner; and alignment elements being separate from said holding elements for fixing said holding elements in a position relative to said base body.

2. The home appliance device according to claim 1, configured as a chiller home appliance.

3. The home appliance device according to claim 1, said holding unit being configured to hold the first shelf and the second shelf in at least one mounted position at at least substantially the same height level.

4. The home appliance device according to claim 1, said holding elements being arranged parallel to each other.

5. The home appliance device according to claim 1, said holding being arranged parallel to each other.

6. The home appliance device according to claim 1, said holding elements being embodied identically to each other.

7. The home appliance device according to claim 1, wherein said holding unit includes at least one retainer being integral with said at least one end cap and disposed in said at least one aperture for at least partly receiving said inner liner.

8. A home appliance, comprising at least one home appliance device according to claim 1.

9. The home appliance according to claim 8 configured as a chiller home appliance.

10. The home appliance device according to claim 1, wherein said holding elements each have an end with a respective L-shaped stopping part for stopping an insertion movement of each of said holding elements into a respective one of said guiding grooves.

11. The home appliance device according to claim 1, wherein said alignment elements have projections each passing through a respective alignment aperture in said base body and an opening in a respective one of said holding elements.

12. A method for assembling a home appliance device, the method comprising: providing the home appliance device with at least one inner liner, which has at least one planar inner liner wall section; providing at least one holding unit, which is configured to at least partly hold at least one first shelf and at least one second shelf, the holding unit being configured to hold the first shelf next to the second shelf with respect to at least one width direction, and thereby connecting the holding unit mostly behind the at least one planar inner liner wall section, and the holding unit having at least one end cap; connecting a base body of the at least one holding unit to the at least one planar wall section, the base body having ends; inserting holding elements into respective guiding grooves of the base body to define a height level of the shelves; covering at least one of the ends of the base body with the at least one end cap of the holding unit and passing the at least one end cap partially through at least one aperture in the inner liner; and using alignment elements being separate from the holding elements for fixing the holding elements in a position relative to the base body.

13. The method according to claim 12, which comprises assembling a home appliance device according to claim 1.

14. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing an end of each of the holding elements with a respective L-shaped stopping part for stopping an insertion movement of each of the holding elements into a respective one of the guiding grooves.

15. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises inserting projections of each of the alignment elements through a respective alignment aperture in the base body and an opening in a respective one of the holding elements.

16. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing the holding unit with at least one retainer being integral with the at least one end cap, and placing the at least one retainer in the at least one aperture for at least partly receiving the inner liner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 a home appliance comprising a home appliance device in a schematic front view,

(2) FIG. 2 an inner liner wall section of an inner liner, a first shelf, a second shelf, a third shelf, two rail units and a holding unit of the home appliance device in a mounted position in a schematic view,

(3) FIG. 3 the home appliance device in an assembled state in a schematic view,

(4) FIG. 4 the home appliance device in a schematic exploded view,

(5) FIG. 5 a base body of the home appliance device in a schematic perspective view,

(6) FIG. 6 a holding element and a further holding element of the holding unit in a schematic perspective view,

(7) FIG. 7 the holding element, the further holding element and the base body in an assembled state in a schematic perspective view,

(8) FIG. 8 an alignment element and a further alignment element of the holding unit in a schematic perspective view,

(9) FIG. 9 the alignment element, the further alignment element, the holding element, the further holding element and the base body in an assembled state in a schematic perspective view,

(10) FIG. 10 a first end cap and a second end cap of the holding unit in a schematic perspective view,

(11) FIG. 11 the first end cap, the second end cap and the base body in an assembled state in a schematic perspective view,

(12) FIG. 12 the inner liner and the holding unit in an assembled state in a schematic view from a rear side,

(13) FIG. 13 the inner liner and the holding unit in an assembled state in a schematic sectional view,

(14) FIG. 14 section XIV of FIG. 13 in a schematic sectional view,

(15) FIG. 15 section XV of FIG. 13 in a schematic sectional view,

(16) FIG. 16 the holding unit in an assembly step in a schematic perspective view,

(17) FIG. 17 the holding unit in a further assembly step in a schematic perspective view,

(18) FIG. 18 the holding unit in a further assembly step in a schematic perspective view,

(19) FIG. 19 the holding unit in a further assembly step in a schematic perspective view,

(20) FIG. 20 a subassembly group of the holding unit and the inner liner in a further assembly step in a schematic view from a rear side,

(21) FIG. 21 a subassembly group and the inner liner in a further assembly step in a schematic view from a front side,

(22) FIG. 22 a subassembly group and the inner liner in a further assembly step in a schematic view from a rear side,

(23) FIG. 23 a subassembly group and the inner liner in a further assembly step in a schematic view from a rear side,

(24) FIG. 24 a subassembly group and the inner liner in a further assembly step in a schematic side view, and

(25) FIG. 25 the holding unit, the inner liner and two rail units of the home appliance device in a schematic side view from a rear side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(26) FIG. 1 shows a home appliance 38 comprising a home appliance device 10, in a schematic perspective view. The home appliance 38 is embodied as a chiller home appliance. The home appliance device 10 is embodied as a chiller home appliance device.

(27) In the present embodiment the home appliance 38 is embodied as a refrigerator. The home appliance 38 could further be embodied in particular as a wine cooler and/or a climate cabinet and/or an ice-box and/or a freezer and/or a refrigerator-freezer combination.

(28) In FIG. 1 the home appliance device 10 is shown in an installation position. The home appliance device 10 is installed on a base 40. The base 40 defines a substantially horizontal plane.

(29) The home appliance device 10 comprises an appliance body 42. The appliance body 42 partly defines an appliance housing. The appliance body 42 is installed on the base 40 in a substantially upright fashion.

(30) The appliance body 42 partly defines a storage space (not shown). The storage space is embodied as a refrigeration space.

(31) The home appliance device 10 comprises at least one appliance door 44. In the present case the home appliance device 10 comprises two appliance doors 44. The appliance doors 44 are located next to each other with respect to a width direction 18. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one appliance door 44 is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other appliance door 44 accordingly.

(32) The appliance door 44 is connected to the appliance body 42. In an assembled state, the appliance door 44 is rotatably connected to the appliance body 42.

(33) The appliance body 42 partly defines a further storage space (not shown). The further storage space is embodied as a freezer space. In an installation position, the further storage space is located below the storage space with respect to a vertical direction 46.

(34) The home appliance device 10 comprises at least one further appliance door 48. In the present case the home appliance device 10 comprises a further appliance door 48. In an installation position, the further appliance door 48 is located below the appliance door 44 with respect to the vertical direction 46. The further appliance door 48 is connected to the appliance body 42. In an assembled state, the further appliance door 48 is movably connected to the appliance body 42.

(35) The home appliance device 10 comprises an inner liner 34 (compare FIG. 5). The inner liner 34 is part of the appliance body 42. The inner liner 34 comprises an inner liner wall section 22. The inner liner wall section 22 is a portion of a rear wall of the inner liner 34.

(36) The home appliance device 10 comprises a first shelf 14. The home appliance device 10 comprises a second shelf 16. The home appliance device 10 comprises a third shelf 50. In an alternative embodiment the home appliance device 10 may comprise another number of shelves, in particular a larger number. For example, the home appliance device 10 may comprise at least four, advantageously at least six, preferably at least eight and preferentially at least ten shelves.

(37) An extension of the third shelf 50 in its longitudinal extension direction is greater than an extension of the first shelf 14 in its longitudinal extension direction. An extension of the third shelf 50 in its longitudinal extension direction is greater than an extension of the second shelf 16 in its longitudinal extension direction.

(38) The home appliance device 10 comprises at least one rail unit 52. In the present embodiment the home appliance device 10 comprises two rail units 52. The rail units 52 hold the third shelf 50 in a mounted position. In an assembled state, the rail units 52 are connected to the inner liner 34. The rail units 52 are distanced from each other with respect to the width direction 18. A distance between the two rail units 52 is substantially identical to an extension of the third shelf 50 in a longitudinal extension direction of the third shelf 50.

(39) The home appliance device 10 comprises a holding unit 12 (compare FIGS. 2 to 4). The holding unit 12 holds the first shelf 14 and the second shelf 16 in a mounted position. With respect to the width direction 18, the holding unit 12 is located between the rail units 52.

(40) In a mounted position, the holding unit 12 holds the first shelf 14 next to the second shelf 16 with respect to the width direction 18. The holding unit 12 holds the first shelf 14 and the second shelf 16 in a mounted position at substantially the same height level.

(41) The holding unit 12 comprises a base body 20. The base body 20 is connected to the inner liner 34 in an assembled state. In the present embodiment, the base body 20 is connected to the inner liner wall section 22 of the inner liner 34 in an assembled state.

(42) The holding unit 12 comprises at least one fixing element 54 (compare FIGS. 2 and 4). In the present embodiment, the holding unit 12 comprises two fixing elements 54. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one fixing element 54 is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other fixing element 54 accordingly.

(43) In the present embodiment, the fixing element 54 is embodied as a screw. The base body 20 is fixed to the inner liner 34 by means of the fixing element 54. The base body 20 comprises at least one fixing aperture 56 (compare FIG. 5). In an installation position, the fixing element 54 is hidden behind another component and therefore in particular invisible for a user.

(44) In the present embodiment, the holding unit 12 comprises two fixing apertures 56. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one fixing aperture 56 is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other fixing aperture 56 accordingly.

(45) The fixing aperture 56 is configured for receiving the fixing element 54 partly. In an assembled state, the fixing element 54 passes partly through the fixing aperture 56.

(46) The holding unit 12 comprises a holding element 24 (compare FIGS. 4, 6 and 7). The holding element 24 defines a height level of the first shelf 14 in a mounted position. In a mounted position, the holding element 24 supports the first shelf 14 in a stable position with victuals placed on the first shelf 14.

(47) In the present embodiment, the holding element 24 comprises eight openings 76. The openings 76 are distanced from each other with respect to a longitudinal extension direction of the holding element 24. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one opening 76 is given a reference numeral and is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other openings 76 accordingly.

(48) The holding unit 12 comprises a further holding element 26 (compare FIGS. 4, 6 and 7). The further holding element 26 defines a height level of the second shelf 16 in a mounted position. In a mounted position, the further holding element 26 supports the second shelf 16 in a stable position with victuals placed on the second shelf 16.

(49) In the present embodiment, the holding element 26 further comprises eight further openings 78. The further openings 78 are distanced from each other with respect to a longitudinal extension direction of the further holding element 26. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one further opening 78 is given a reference numeral and is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other further openings 78 accordingly.

(50) In the present embodiment, the holding element 24 and the further holding element 26 are embodied identically to each other. In an assembled state, the holding element 24 and the further holding element 26 are arranged parallel to each other.

(51) The holding element 24 is in an assembled state inserted in the base body 20. The base body 20 comprises a guiding groove 58 (compare FIGS. 5 and 7). In an assembled state, the holding element 24 is inserted in the guiding groove 58.

(52) In the present embodiment, the holding element 24 is essentially L-shaped. The holding element 24 comprises a stopping part 62. The stopping part 62 stops an insertion movement of the holding element 24 into the base body 20. The stopping part 62 is located on the shorter portion of the approximate L-shape of the holding element 24.

(53) The further holding element 26 is in an assembled state inserted in the base body 20. The base body 20 comprises a further guiding groove 60 (compare FIGS. 5 and 7). In an assembled state, the further holding element 26 is inserted in the further guiding groove 60.

(54) In the present embodiment, the further holding element 26 is essentially L-shaped. The further holding element 26 comprises a further stopping part 64. The further stopping part 64 stops an insertion movement of the further holding element 26 into the base body 20. The further stopping part 64 is located on the shorter portion of the approximate L-shape of the further holding element 26.

(55) In a mounted position, the base body 20 holds the holding element 24 and the further holding element 26 when the first shelf 14 and the second shelf 16 are loaded. In a mounted position, the base body 20 supports the weight of the first shelf 14 and of victuals placed on the first shelf 14. In a mounted position, the base body 20 supports the weight of the second shelf 16 and of victuals placed on the second shelf 16.

(56) The holding unit 12 comprises an alignment element 28 (compare FIGS. 8 and 9). In an assembled state, the alignment element 28 fixes the holding element 24 in a position relative to the base body 20.

(57) The base body 20 comprises at least one alignment aperture 70 (compare FIGS. 4, 5 and 7). In the present embodiment, the holding unit 12 comprises one alignment aperture 70. The alignment element 28 comprises a projection 66 (compare FIG. 8). In an assembled state, the projection 66 partly projects through the alignment aperture 70. In an assembled state, the projection 66 partly projects through the opening 76 of the holding element 24 (compare also FIGS. 12 to 15).

(58) The holding unit 12 comprises a further alignment element 74 (compare FIGS. 8 and 9). In an assembled state, the further alignment element 74 fixes the further holding element 26 in a position relative to the base body 20.

(59) The base body 20 comprises at least one further alignment aperture 72 (compare FIGS. 4, 5 and 7). In the present embodiment, the base body comprises one further alignment aperture 72. The further alignment element 74 comprises a further projection 68 (compare FIG. 8). In an assembled state, the further projection 68 partly projects through the further alignment aperture 72. In an assembled state, the further projection 68 partly projects through the further opening 78 of the further holding element 26 (compare also FIGS. 12 to 15).

(60) In the present embodiment, the alignment element 28 and the further alignment element 74 are embodied identically to each other.

(61) The holding unit 12 comprises a first end cap 30 (compare FIGS. 10 and 11). In an assembled state, the first end cap 30 is mounted to the base body 20. The first end cap 30 comprises at least one first receiving portion 80 for receiving at least a portion of the base body 20. In an assembled state, a portion of the base body 20 is located in the first receiving portion 80 of the first end cap 30. In an assembled state, the first end cap 30 and the base body 20 are connected to each other in a form-fit manner.

(62) The holding unit 12 comprises a second end cap 32 (compare FIGS. 10 and 11). In an assembled state, the second end cap 32 is mounted to the base body 20. The second end cap 32 comprises at least one second receiving portion 82 for receiving at least a portion of the base body 20. In an assembled state, a portion of the base body 20 is located in the second receiving portion 82 of the first end cap 30. The second end cap 32 and the base body 20 are in an assembled state connected to each other in a form-fit manner.

(63) In an assembled state, the holding unit 12 is arranged to a major part behind the inner liner 34 (compare FIGS. 12 to 15). In an assembled state, the holding unit 12 partially passes through the inner liner 34.

(64) The inner liner 34 has two apertures 36. The apertures 36 are arranged parallel to each other. The inner liner 34 comprises a web 86. The web 86 is located between the apertures 36 with respect to the width direction 18. In an assembled state, the fixing element 54 is fixed to the web 86. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one aperture 36 is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other aperture 36 accordingly.

(65) In an assembled state, a main extension direction of the aperture 36 is parallel to the vertical direction 46. The holding unit 12 partially passes through the aperture 36 in an assembled state. In an assembled state, the first end cap 30 partially passes through the aperture 36 of the inner liner 34.

(66) The holding unit 12 comprises two retainers 84 for partly receiving the inner liner 34 (compare FIGS. 10, 13 and 14). For the sake of clarity, in the following only one retainer 84 is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other retainer 84 accordingly.

(67) The retainer 84 is arranged at the first end cap 30. In the present embodiment, the retainer 84 and the first end cap 30 are embodied in one piece.

(68) The holding unit 12 comprises two connecting elements 88 for a connection to the inner liner 34 (compare FIGS. 10, 13 and 14). For the sake of clarity, in the following only one connecting element 88 is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to the other connecting element 88 accordingly.

(69) The connecting element 88 is arranged at the second end cap 32. In the present embodiment, the connecting element 88 and the second end cap 32 are embodied in one piece. The connecting element 88 is embodied as a clipping element.

(70) A method for assembling the home appliance device 10 comprises the step of connecting the holding unit 12 to the inner liner wall section 22. In one step the holding element 24 is inserted into the guiding groove 58 of the base body 20 (compare FIGS. 16 and 17). The holding element 24 is inserted into the guiding groove 58 of the base body 20 in an insertion direction 90 until the stopping part 62 of the holding element 24 stops the movement of the holding element 24 in the insertion direction 90.

(71) In one step the further holding element 26 is inserted into the further guiding groove 60 of the base body 20 (compare FIGS. 18 and 19). The further holding element 26 is inserted into the further guiding groove 60 of the base body 20 in the insertion direction 90 until the further stopping part 64 of the further holding element 24 stops the movement of the further holding element 26 in the insertion direction 90.

(72) In one step, the first end cap 30 is connected to the base body 20. The first end cap 30 is moved in the insertion direction 90 until the portion of the base body 20 is located in the first receiving portion 80 of the first end cap 30.

(73) The first end cap 30, the base body 20 and the holding elements 24, 26 constitute a subassembly group 92. In one step, the subassembly group 92 is placed onto the inner liner 34, in particular in such a way that the retainer 84 is located in the aperture 36 (compare FIGS. 20 and 21). In one step, the subassembly group 92 is moved in a direction that is parallel to the vertical direction 46, in particular until the inner liner wall section 22 engages with the retainer 84. In one step, the subassembly group 92 is fixed to the inner liner 34 by means of the fixing element 54.

(74) In one step, the second end cap 30 is connected to the subassembly group 92 (compare FIGS. 22 and 23). The second end cap 30 is moved in a direction that is parallel to the vertical direction 46. By moving the second end cap 32 in the direction that is parallel to the vertical direction 46, the portion of the base body 20 engages with the second receiving portion 82 of the second end cap 32. The second end cap 32 is moved in the direction that is parallel to the vertical direction 46 until the connecting element 88 engages with the aperture 36.

(75) In one step, the alignment element 28 is fixed to the base body 20 in order to keep the holding element 24 in the correct position (compare FIG. 24). In one step, the further alignment element 74 is fixed to the base body 20 in order to keep the further holding element 26 in the correct position.

(76) Each rail unit 52 comprises at least one rail alignment element 94 (compare FIGS. 2 and 25). In the present embodiment each rail unit 52 comprises one rail alignment element 94. In an assembled state, the rail alignment element 94 fixes a rail holding element 98 in a position relative to a rail base body 96 of the corresponding rail unit 52.

(77) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

(78) 10 Home appliance device

(79) 12 Holding unit

(80) 14 First shelf

(81) 16 Second shelf

(82) 18 Width direction

(83) 20 Base body

(84) 22 Inner liner wall section

(85) 24 Holding element

(86) 26 Further holding element

(87) 28 Alignment element

(88) 30 First end cap

(89) 32 Second end cap

(90) 34 Inner liner

(91) 36 Aperture

(92) 38 Home appliance

(93) 40 Base

(94) 42 Appliance body

(95) 44 Appliance door

(96) 46 Vertical direction

(97) 48 Appliance door

(98) 50 Third shelf

(99) 52 Rail unit

(100) 54 Fixing element

(101) 56 Fixing aperture

(102) 58 Guiding groove

(103) 60 Further guiding groove

(104) 62 Stopping part

(105) 64 Further stopping part

(106) 66 Projection

(107) 68 Further projection

(108) 70 Alignment aperture

(109) 72 Further alignment aperture

(110) 74 Further alignment element

(111) 76 Opening

(112) 78 Further opening

(113) 80 First receiving portion

(114) 82 Second receiving portion

(115) 84 Retainer

(116) 86 Web

(117) 88 Connecting element

(118) 90 Insertion direction

(119) 92 Subassembly group

(120) 94 Rail alignment element

(121) 96 Rail base body

(122) 98 Rail holding element