Household cooling appliance including a dispenser unit for liquid and/or free flow refrigerated goods, having an insert with a niche and a separate cover for insertion walls

Abstract

A household cooling appliance includes a dispenser unit for dispensing a liquid and/or free flow refrigerated goods. The dispenser unit includes an insert having side walls bounding a niche into which a receptacle can be inserted for receiving the liquid and/or the free flow refrigerated goods to be dispensed. At least the side walls are partly covered at the front side by a cover which is separate from the insert. At least one side wall includes an engagement recess for engagement with a tool and for lifting the cover from the insert with the tool and/or at least one side wall is partly covered on the front side by a plate-shaped cover that is separate from the insert and the cover is held on the side wall by at least one magnet.

Claims

1. A household cooling appliance, comprising: a dispenser unit for dispensing at least one of a liquid or free flow refrigerated goods, said dispenser unit including an insert; said insert having a front and said insert having side walls bounding a niche into which a receptacle can be inserted for receiving the at least one of liquid or free flow refrigerated goods to be dispensed; a cover being separate from said insert, said cover partly covering at least said side walls at said front; and at least one of said side walls having an engagement recess for engagement with a tool and for lifting said cover from said insert with the tool.

2. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said engagement recess is partly formed in a front surface area of said at least one side wall that is not covered by said cover.

3. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said engagement recess is partly formed in a surface area that is covered by said cover permitting said cover to be engaged from behind by the engagement of the tool in said engagement recess.

4. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said engagement recess is formed on a top end of said at least one side wall.

5. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said cover has a front edge, and said engagement recess is formed in said at least one side wall protruding beyond said front edge of said cover towards said front in a mounted state of said cover.

6. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one side wall includes recessed receiving area for said cover; said cover is at least partly recessed in said receiving area in a mounted state; and said receiving area is offset backwards in comparison with a front edge of said at least one side wall forming an elevated wall strip between said front edge and said receiving area.

7. The household cooling appliance according to claim 6, wherein said engagement recess extends both into said receiving area as well as into said wall strip.

8. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said cover is formed in one piece.

9. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said cover is formed of metal.

10. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, wherein said cover has a trapezoidal shape.

11. The household cooling appliance according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one magnet holding said cover on said insert.

12. A household cooling appliance, comprising: a dispenser unit for dispensing at least one of a liquid or free flow refrigerated goods, said dispenser unit including an insert; said insert having a front and said insert having side walls bounding a niche into which a receptacle can be inserted for receiving the at least one of liquid or free flow refrigerated goods to be dispensed; a plate-shaped cover being separate from said insert, said cover partly covering at least one of said side walls at said front; and at least one magnet holding said cover on said at least one side wall; said at least one side wall including a receiving recess in which said at least one magnet is disposed, said receiving recess having an insertion slot said at least one magnet being insertable into said insertion slot, said insertion slot including a rear wall and stops bounding said insertion slot on opposite sides thereof and said stops being spaced apart from said rear wall offset towards said front for insertion of said at least one magnet between said rear wall and said stops.

13. The household cooling appliance according to claim 12, wherein said at least one magnet disposed in said receiving recess has a front side facing said cover, said front side is flush with wall portions of said at least one side wall adjacent said receiving recess or offset backwards from said wall portions.

14. The household cooling appliance according to claim 12, wherein: said at least one magnet has a front side that faces said cover and depressions on opposite sides; said depressions contact said stops on a rear side of said stops with said at least one magnet disposed in said insertion slot; and said at least one magnet has an area that protrudes between said depressions and protrudes between said stops towards said front.

15. The household cooling appliance according to claim 12, wherein said at least one magnet is non-destructively releasably disposed on one of said side walls.

16. The household cooling appliance according to claim 12, wherein said at least one side wall has an engagement recess for engagement with a tool permitting said cover to be lifted from said insert with the tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of a household cooling appliance according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insert of a dispenser unit, which is configured for dispensing a liquid and/or free flow refrigerated goods and is a component of the household cooling appliance according to FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of components of a dispenser unit of the household cooling appliance;

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the insert according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert according to FIG. 2 with a separately shown magnet for holding a separate cover;

(6) FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an interface for a side wall of the insert taken along a line VI-VI of FIG. 5 in a portion of a receiving bag for receiving a magnet;

(7) FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along a line VII-VII of the embodiment according to FIG. 5 with already inserted magnets; and

(8) FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a partial portion VIII of the view shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which the same elements and elements having the same function are provided with the same reference signs, and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a diagrammatic view of a household cooling appliance 1, which is configured for storing and preserving food items and which, for instance, can be a refrigerator appliance, a freezer, or a refrigerator/freezer combination device. The household cooling appliance 1 includes a housing 2, in which at least one receiving space for food items is provided. This receiving space is capable of being closed on the front side by a door 3, which in FIG. 1 is shown in the closed state and which is disposed pivotably on the housing 2. The household cooling appliance 1 includes an output unit or a dispenser unit which is merely indicated in an exemplary way by reference sign 4 in FIG. 1 and in which individual components are only partly shown. The dispenser unit 4 is configured for dispensing liquid and/or free flow refrigerated goods. Thus, a drink and/or an ice cube form element, for instance ice cubes or crushed ice can be dispensed.

(10) For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, for instance, the door 3 includes a recess 5, into which the dispenser unit 4 is inserted, so that in the closed state of the door 3 the dispenser unit 4 is accessible from the front in order to be able to dispense the liquid and/or the free flow refrigerated goods.

(11) The dispenser unit 4 includes an insert 6, which is in particular formed of plastic in an integral or one-piece manner. The insert 6 includes several walls 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 (FIG. 2), which bound a niche 12. The recess or the niche 12 is configured for housing or insertion of a receiving vessel so that then liquid and/or free flow refrigerated goods to be dispensed can be brought in from the above. The niche 12 is accessible from the front. The dispenser unit 4 includes a dispenser opening, which in particular ends in a niche ceiling wall 8 and through which the liquid and/or the free flow refrigerated goods can be brought into the niche 12 and from there can be brought into the inserted receiving vessel. In FIG. 2 the insert 6 is shown in a perspective view.

(12) This insert 6 moreover includes in an exemplary way a receptacle 13, which is configured as a slot. An electronics module is insertable into the receptacle 13.

(13) FIG. 1 moreover also shows a decorative plate 14, which is separate from the door 3, is preferably present and can be a furniture front plate. This decorative plate 14 is preferably attachable to the door 3 and covers the same at the front side. This decorative plate 14 also includes a recess 15, through which the dispenser unit 6 is accessible from the front side. In particular, the dispenser unit 4, particularly the insert 6, is disposed on the decorative plate 14, in particular fastened thereto.

(14) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the components of the dispenser unit 4. The insert 6, which was explained with reference to FIG. 2, can be recognized in FIG. 3. Moreover, a frame part 16 is shown, which can be placed upon the front side of the insert 6. In the illustrated embodiment, moreover an additional front frame 17 is present, which then again is slid upon the frame 16 and grasps around the front portion of the insert 6.

(15) Moreover, an electronics module 18 is shown, which is insertable in the receptacle 13. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows a drip tray 19, which is inserted into the niche 12 and rests on a bottom 9 of the insert 6. Additionally, a cover grid 20 is provided, which is non-destructively releasably attached on the drip tray 19 and on which a receiving vessel can be placed. Liquid that occurs in the niche 12 in an undesired way is then collected in the drip tray 19. This liquid can drip or seep through the cover grid 20 into the drip tray 9.

(16) Moreover, FIG. 3 also shows an embodiment of a cover 21 which is separate from the insert 6 and is integrally formed, in particular from metal. The cover 21 can be inserted into the niche 12 and then is present as component on the viewing side. This means that the cover 21 bounds the niche 12 directly on the side walls. As can be seen, the cover 21 is configured to be uneven, in particular trapezoidal. The cover is thereby adjusted to the geometry of the side walls 7, 10 and 11 of the insert 6 and in the mounted state is located there in contact extensively with a large surface. The cover 21, which is separate from the insert 6, is held by magnetic holding forces. Connection magnets 22 and 23 are shown in FIG. 3 as examples thereof.

(17) As can also already be seen from FIG. 2, and as is shown in FIG. 4 in an enlarged view of the insert 6, an engagement recess 24 is formed in a top portion in the height direction (y direction) of the niche 12. A tool 50, for instance a screw driver, can be engaged into the engagement recess 24. The engagement recess 24 is formed in the side wall 7 at a top end 7f of a front surface area 7e of the side wall 7 and adjacent a niche opening 12a of the niche 12 and thus at the front side of the niche 12. It is also configured immediately adjacent the ceiling wall 8 in the side wall 7.

(18) Moreover, a lowered receiving area 7a is configured in the side wall 7. The cover 21 is disposed and at least partly immersed in the receiving area 7a in the mounted state of the cover 21. This receiving area 7a is configured to be offset towards the back relative to a front edge 7b of the side wall 7 in the depth direction (z direction). A wall strip 7c is thereby formed between the receiving area 7a and the front edge 7b. The wall strip 7c is elevated in comparison with the receiving area 7a towards the niche 12. Thus, at the transition 7d between the receiving area 7a and the wall strip 7c a step is formed, which also serves as a stop for a front edge 21a of the cover 21.

(19) As can be recognized in FIG. 4, the engagement recess 24 extends both in the receiving area 7a as well as in the wall strip 7c. In the mounted state of the cover 21, the engagement recess 24 is only partly covered by the cover 21 and in that section in which the receiving area 7a extends. That section of the engagement recess 24, which extends in the wall strip 7c, then is not covered by the cover 21.

(20) Accordingly, a correspondingly constructed engagement recess 24 is also formed on the opposite side wall 10, as it is shown in FIG. 5. It can be envisaged that a corresponding engagement recess 24 is formed only in the sidewall 7 or only in the side wall 10 or, as it is advantageously envisaged, an engagement recess 24 is configured in each sidewalls 7, 10.

(21) In comparison with the preferred position of the engagement recess 24 it can also be envisaged that the same is offset further down and thus for instance also is disposed centrally with regard to the height of a side wall 7, 10 and/or in a bottom area and thus is provided adjacent the bottom wall 9 in a side wall 7, 10.

(22) Preferably, the cover 21 upon insertion in the niche 12 is to be slightly pressed together and thus then quasi pre-stressed towards the outside. Thereby, the positioning in the receiving area 7a is then improved and a certain self-holding is then already achieved.

(23) The holding of the cover 21 is preferably supported by preferably several magnets, in particular two magnets 22 and 23. The magnets 22 and 23 each are disposed in a receiving bag or receptacle 25a or 25b in a preferably non-destructively releasable way, as is shown in FIG. 5. The magnets 22 and 23 thus are disposed on the side wall 11, which represents a rear wall in this embodiment.

(24) In this connection, a perspective sectional view taken along the section line VI-VI in FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6. The receiving bag 25a includes a rear wall 26, which the magnet 22 contacts in the inserted state.

(25) The receiving bag 25a is in particular formed with an insertion slot 27, into which the magnet 22 is insertable. The insertion slot 27 includes this already-mentioned rear wall 26 and the insertion slot 27 on opposite sides and thus also stops 28 and 29 delimiting the receiving bag 25a. These stops 28 and 29, as viewed in the depth direction and thus in the z direction, are disposed so as to be spaced apart from the rear wall 26 offset towards the front so that the magnet 22 is disposed and inserted between the rear wall 26 and the stops 28 and 29 and thereby also correspondingly held.

(26) As can be seen in FIG. 7 and in the enlarged view of the partial section VIII in FIG. 8, in this vertical sectional view taken along the section line VII-VII in FIG. 5, the installed position of the magnets 22 and 23 is shown. As can be seen, the magnet 22 in its front side 22a (FIG. 5) facing the cover (21) includes bar-like depressions 22b and 22c. These depressions 22b and 22c engage behind the stops 28 and 29 in the mounted state. A protruding portion 22d of the magnet 22, which is formed between the depressions 22b and 22c, protrudes in the depth direction relative to these depressions 22b and 22c towards the front. It is in particular configured such that in the mounted state of the magnet 22 the front side 22a in the area of this protruding portion 22d is in particular flush with the front sides of the stops 28 and 29 so that, as is shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a rear wall 30 of the cover 21 contacts the protruding portion 22d and also the stops 28 and 29.

(27) A corresponding construction of the receiving bag 25b and the magnet 23 is envisaged. This, too, can be seen in FIG. 7.