Home appliance device

Abstract

For the purpose of improving a stability a home appliance device, in particular a home appliance chiller device, at least one elongate frame element which has at least one first fixing feature and at least one deposit element for depositing of victuals are provided. The deposit element has at least one second fixing feature in an end region and is connected to the frame element. The first fixing feature and the second fixing feature being fixed to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of the deposit element with respect to the frame element in a direction which is at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of the frame element.

Claims

1. A home appliance device, comprising: at least one elongate frame element having at least one first fixing feature; and at least one deposit element for depositing victuals and having an end region with at least one second fixing feature, said deposit element connected to said elongate frame element, said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being fixed to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element in a direction being at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of said elongate frame element, said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being at least substantially circular-shaped in at least one view.

2. The home appliance device according to claim 1, wherein said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being connected to each other in the form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element in a direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension direction of said elongate frame element.

3. A home appliance device, comprising: at least one elongate frame element having at least one first fixing feature; and at least one deposit element for depositing victuals and having an end region with at least one second fixing feature, said deposit element connected to said elongate frame element, said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being fixed to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element in a direction being at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of said elongate frame element; said first fixing feature being implemented as a recess formed in said elongate frame element and said elongate frame element containing at least one frame wall having at least two frame wall sections delimiting said recess at least partly in the direction which is at least substantially parallel to the main extension direction of said elongate frame element.

4. A home appliance device, comprising: at least one elongate frame element having at least one first fixing feature; and at least one deposit element for depositing victuals and having an end region with at least one second fixing feature, said deposit element having at least one circumferential deposit wall section embodying said second fixing feature, said deposit element being connected to said elongate frame element, said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being fixed to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element in a direction being at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of said elongate frame element.

5. A home appliance device, comprising: at least one elongate frame element having at least one first fixing feature; and at least one deposit element for depositing victuals and having an end region with at least one second fixing feature, said deposit element being connected to said elongate frame element, said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being fixed to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element in a direction being at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of said elongate frame element; said first fixing feature having a first circumference and said second fixing feature having a second circumference, said first circumference having a length being greater than a length of said second circumference and being by at most 20% longer than said second circumference.

6. A home appliance device, comprising: at least one elongate frame element having at least one first fixing feature, said elongate frame element having at least one first securing element; and at least one deposit element for depositing victuals and having an end region with at least one second fixing feature, said deposit element being connected to said elongate frame element, said first fixing feature and said second fixing feature being fixed to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element in a direction being at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction of said elongate frame element; said deposit element having at least one second securing element at said end region, said second securing element connecting in a form-fit manner to said first securing element for preventing a rotation of said deposit element with respect to said elongate frame element.

7. The home appliance device according to claim 6, wherein said second securing element being implemented as a rotation-securing recess, into which said first securing element at least partly engages.

8. The home appliance device according to claim 7, wherein said deposit element has at least two at least substantially opposite wall sections, which at least partly form said rotation-securing recess.

9. The home appliance device according to claim 8, wherein said two opposite wall sections have an acute angle of less than 90.

10. The home appliance device according to claim 7, wherein said rotation-securing recess being shaped at least substantially trapezoidal in at least one view.

11. The home appliance device according to claim 6, wherein said elongate frame element has at least one hollow profile, which defines a receiving region inside which said first securing element is disposed at least partly.

12. The home appliance device according to claim 6, wherein said first securing element has an at least substantially circular-shaped cross-section in at least one view.

13. The home appliance device according to claim 1, wherein the home appliance device is a home appliance chiller device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a home appliance containing a home appliance device according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the home appliance device, containing an insert;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the home appliance device, with a frame element and a deposit element;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the home appliance device, with the frame element and the deposit element; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing the home appliance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a home appliance 48 containing a home appliance device, in a schematic perspective view. The home appliance 48 is embodied as a wine cooler. The home appliance 48 could further be embodied as a refrigerator, a climate cabinet, an ice-box, a freezer and/or a refrigerator-freezer combination. The home appliance device contains an inner liner 50. The inner liner 50 defines a storage space. The inner liner 50 contains walls 52, 54, 56, 58, which delimit the storage space. The inner liner 50 has two lateral walls 52, which are preferably arranged opposite each other. The inner liner 50 has a rear wall 54. The inner liner 50 has a bottom wall 56. The inner liner 36 has a top wall 58, which is preferably arranged opposite the bottom wall 56.

(7) The home appliance device contains at least one insert 60. In the present case the home appliance device has six inserts 60. It is conceivable that the home appliance device may contain a deviating number of inserts 60 as deemed advantageous by someone skilled in the art. The insert 60 is embodied as a bottle holder. The home appliance device may preferably comprise a combination of different embodiments of inserts. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one insert 60 is given a reference numeral and is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to further inserts accordingly.

(8) The insert 60 is movably coupled to the inner liner 50. The home appliance device has a non-illustrated guiding unit. The guiding unit couples the insert 60 to the inner liner 50. The guiding unit is configured for extraction and/or contraction of the insert 60 out of and/or into the inner liner 50.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a portion of the home appliance device with the insert 60, in a perspective view. The insert 60 contains a frame 62. The frame 62 contains at least one elongate frame element 10. In this case the frame 62 contains two elongate frame elements 10. The frame elements 10 are arranged at least substantially parallel, preferably opposite and advantageously mirror-symmetrical to one another. The frame elements 10 are arranged offset to each other in a direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction 20 of the frame elements 10. The frame 62 contains at least one further frame element 64. The further frame element 64 connects the frame elements 10 to each other. In the present case the frame 62 contains two further frame elements 64. The further frame elements 64 are arranged at least substantially parallel to each another. The further frame elements 64 are arranged offset to each other in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction of the further frame elements 64. The further frame elements 64 are arranged at least substantially perpendicular to the frame elements 10. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one frame element and in particular only one further frame element is given a reference numeral and is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to further inserts accordingly. The frame elements 10, 64 are at least partly made of metal. Alternatively or additionally the frame elements 10, 64 could be made of wood.

(10) The insert 60 has a shelf 66. The shelf 66 is implemented as a bottle holder. The shelf 66 is at least partly shaped corresponding to a contour and/or a profile of a bottle. The shelf 66 contains at least one deposit element 14. The deposit element 14 is configured for depositing bottles. In the present case the shelf 66 has seven such deposit elements 14. The deposit elements 14 are arranged offset to each other in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction 21 of the deposit elements 14. For the sake of clarity, in the following only one deposit element is given a reference numeral and is described in detail. The following description may be transferred to further inserts accordingly. The deposit element 14 is connected to the frame element 10. In this case the deposit element 14 is implemented as a rod. Alternatively or additionally the deposit element 14 could be implemented as a slat. The deposit element 14 is made of wood.

(11) FIGS. 3-4 show a portion of the home appliance device, with at least one frame element 10 and at least one deposit element 14. The frame element 10 and the deposit element 14 are connected by a first fixing feature 12 of the frame element 10 and a second fixing feature 16 of the deposit element 14. The connection of the first fixing feature 12 and the second fixing feature 16 prevents movement of the deposit element 14 with respect to the frame element 10, in particular in any direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14.

(12) The frame element 10 contains the first fixing feature 12. The first fixing feature 12 is implemented integrally with the frame element 10. Preferably the number of first fixing features is equal to the number of deposit elements 14. The deposit element 14 contains at least one second fixing feature 16 in an end region 18. The second fixing feature 16 is implemented integrally with the deposit element 14. The deposit element 14 has two second fixing features 16 in opposite end regions 18. The first fixing feature 12 and the second fixing feature 16 are connected to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of the deposit element 14 with respect to the frame element 10 in a direction which is at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction 20 of the frame element 10. Further, the first fixing feature 12 and the second fixing feature 16 are connected to each other in a form-fit manner in order to prevent a movement of the deposit element 14 with respect to the frame element 10 in a direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction 20 of the frame element 10. The first fixing feature 12 and the second fixing feature 16 form a plug-socket-connection. The first fixing feature 12 is a socket of the plug-socket connection. The second fixing feature 16 is in particular a plug of the plug-socket connection.

(13) The first fixing feature 12 is implemented as a recess 28 of the frame element 10. The frame element 10 contains at least one frame wall 22. The frame wall 22 has at least two frame wall sections 24, 26. The frame wall sections 24, 26 delimit the recess 28 at least partly in a direction which is at least substantially parallel to the main extension direction 20 of the frame element 10, in particular in any direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14.

(14) The deposit element 14 contains at least one circumferential deposit wall section 30. The deposit wall section 30 is a lateral wall section of the deposit element 14. On the deposit wall section 30 victuals, in particular bottles, can be deposited. The circumferential deposit wall section 30 forms the second fixing feature 16. The deposit element 14 contains the end region 18. The second fixing feature 16 is arranged in the end region 18.

(15) Viewed in a direction at least substantially parallel to the main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14, the first fixing feature 12 is at least substantially circular-shaped. Further, viewed in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension direction 20 of the frame element 10, the second fixing feature 16 is at least substantially circular-shaped. The first fixing feature 12 contains a first circumference 68. The second fixing feature 16 has a second circumference 70. A length of the first circumference 68 is greater than a length of the second circumference 70. The length of the first circumference 68 is greater than the length of the second circumference 70 by at most 20%.

(16) The frame element 10 contains at least one first securing element 32. The first securing element 32 is implemented integrally with the frame element 10. The deposit element 14 contains at least one second securing element 34. The deposit element 14 contains the second securing element 34 at the end region 18. The deposit element 14 contains two second securing elements 34 in opposite end regions 18. The second securing element 34 is implemented integrally with the deposit element 14. In order to prevent a rotation of the deposit element 14 with respect to the frame element 10, the second securing element 34 connects with the first securing element 32 in a form-fit manner. The second securing element 34 is in particular a groove of the tongue-and-groove connection. The first securing element 32 and the second securing element 34 form the tongue-and-groove connection. The first securing element 32 is in particular a tongue of the tongue-and-groove connection.

(17) The second securing element 34 is implemented as a rotation-securing recess 36. The first element 32 engages at least mostly into the second securing element 34. Viewed in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14, the rotation-securing recess 36 is shaped at least substantially trapezoidal in at least one view. The deposit element 14 contains at least two at least substantially opposite wall sections 38, 40, which at least partly form the rotation-securing recess 36. The two opposite wall sections 38, 40 include an acute angle 42 of at least 30 and/or less than 60. Towards a free end of the end region 18, the two opposite wall section 38, 40 diverge with respect to each other. The two opposite wall sections 38, 40 are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14. The two wall sections 38, 40 are contacted by the first securing element 32 when the first securing element 32 engages into the second securing element 34. The deposit element 14 comprises at least one further wall section 72. The further wall section 72 is oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14. The further wall section 72 and at least one, preferably both, of the two opposite wall sections 38, 40 include an angle of at least 120 and/or less than 150.

(18) The frame element 10 contains at least one hollow profile 44. The hollow profile defines a receiving region 46. The first securing element 32 is at least partly arranged inside the receiving region 46. The hollow profile 44 is in particular at least partly, preferably at least mostly, and advantageously entirely embodied by the frame wall 22. Viewed at least substantially parallel to the main extension direction 20 of the frame element 10, the hollow profile 44 has in particular a cross-section which is at least substantially rectangular.

(19) Viewed in a direction at least substantially parallel to the main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14, the first securing element 36 has an at least substantially circular-shaped cross-section. The cross-section is annulus-shaped. The cross-section is at least partly open by at most 30%. The first securing element 32 contains a hole 74, which is preferably oriented in a direction of the main extension 20 of the frame element 10. The hole 74 may be threaded. The further frame element 64 may be connected to the frame element 10 by means of the bolt and/or screw connection. The hole 74 of the first securing element 32 holds the screw and/or the bolt in place. Furthermore the hole 74 may be used for clamping the first securing element 32 inside the second securing element 34, in particular by spreading the first securing element 32 with a preferably widening screw and/or bolt.

(20) FIG. 5 shows a method for manufacturing the home appliance device. In a method step 76 the deposit element 14 is connected to the frame element 10 by moving the deposit element 14 with respect to the frame element 10 in a direction at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction 21 of the deposit element 14. The deposit element 14 is at least partly plugged into the frame element 10. In a method step 78 the fixing features 12, 16 align the frame element 10 and the deposit element 14 with respect to each other. In a method step 80 the securing elements 32, 34 connect and preferably prevent a rotation of the frame element 10 and the deposit element 14 with respect to each other.

(21) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 10 frame element 12 first fixing feature 14 deposit element 16 second fixing feature 18 end region 20 main extension direction (frame element) 21 main extension direction (deposit element) 22 frame wall 24 wall section 26 wall section 28 recess 30 deposit wall section 32 first securing element 34 second securing element 36 rotation-securing recess 38 wall section 40 wall section 42 acute angle 44 hollow profile 46 receiving region 48 home appliance 50 inner liner 52 wall 54 wall 56 wall 58 wall 60 insert 62 frame 64 further frame element 66 shelf 68 circumference 70 circumference 72 further wall section 74 hole 76 method step 78 method step 80 method step