DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH AN INNER LINING WITH MULTIPLE SEPARATE LINING WALLS AS WELL AS A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

Abstract

A domestic refrigeration appliance has a chamber for holding food, which is delimited by walls of an inner container, and with an inner lining which has an air duct unit. The inner lining has a first lining wall and at least one second lining wall that is separate therefrom, which are arranged adjacent to one another in the widthwise direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance and are positioned with an overlap with one another in this widthwise direction.

Claims

1. A domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising: an inner container having walls and defining a chamber for holding food; and an inner lining having an air duct unit and disposed in said inner container, said inner lining further having a first lining wall and at least one second lining wall that is separate form said first lining wall, said first and second lining walls disposed adjacent to one another in a widthwise direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance and are positioned with an overlap with one another in the widthwise direction.

2. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said overlap is configured with play in the widthwise direction.

3. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said inner lining has a cover being separate from said first and second lining walls, said overlap is covered by said cover on a side facing said chamber.

4. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 3, wherein said cover is a cover plate.

5. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 3, wherein said cover is a front wall, which is part of said air duct unit and delimits an air duct volume.

6. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 3, wherein said cover is disposed on one of said first and second lining walls in such a manner that said cover can be removed non-destructively.

7. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein: one of said first and second two lining walls has a hollow holder; and the other of said first and second lining was has a insertion element for entering said hollow holder to form said overlap.

8. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 7, wherein said hollow holder is configured as a slot.

9. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 7, wherein: said hollow holder has at least one deformable holder wall and a holder volume is delimited by said deformable holder wall that can be deformed elastically in a defined manner; and said other of said first and second line walls has a stop, said deformable holder wall rests in a pretensioned manner against said stop when said first and second lining walls are in an assembled state.

10. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 7, wherein: said other of said first and second line walls has a latching holder with a latching head; and said hollow holder has at least one deformable holder wall delimiting a holder volume, said at least one deformable holder wall can be deformed elastically in a defined manner, wherein said at least one deformable holder wall latches with said latching head in said latching holder on said other of said first and second lining walls when said first and second lining walls are in an assembled state.

11. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 7, wherein: said other of said first and second line walls has an elastically deformable stop; and said hollow holder has a holder wall delimiting a holder volume, said holder wall rests against said elastically deformable stop and is pretensioned in an assembled state, when said first and second lining walls are in the assembled state.

12. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a rod-type profile part being separate from said first and second lining walls; and wherein at least one of said first and second lining walls rests against said rod-type profile part, at an edge facing away from said second lining wall.

13. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said inner lining has a third lining wall which is separate from said first and second lining walls and is disposed with a further overlap with said second lining wall in the widthwise direction.

14. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said second lining wall is part of said air duct unit and delimits an air duct volume of the air duct unit at a rear.

15. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 3, wherein said cover is attached or latched on one of said first and second lining walls in such a manner that said cover can be removed non-destructively.

16. A method for producing a domestic refrigeration appliance, which comprises: providing an inner container having walls delimiting a chamber for holding food; incorporating an inner lining having an air duct unit in the chamber, the inner lining having a first lining wall and at least one second lining wall that is separate from the first lining wall; and disposing the first and second lining walls adjacent to one another in a widthwise direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance and the first and second lining walls are positioned with an overlap with play with one another in the widthwise direction, the play orients the first and second lining walls in an assembly position relative to one another in an overlapping state and the assembly position is fixed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0041] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner lining;

[0043] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of a partial detail of the view in FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of a further partial detail from FIG. 2;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a top view of a further exemplary embodiment of sub-components of the inner lining of the domestic refrigeration appliance;

[0046] FIG. 6 is a top view of yet a further exemplary embodiment of sub-components of an inner lining of the domestic refrigeration appliance;

[0047] FIG. 7 is a top view of a further exemplary embodiment of the inner lining of the domestic refrigeration appliance; and

[0048] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, top view of a partial detail of the diagram in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] Identical elements or those of identical function are shown with the same reference characters in the figures.

[0050] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a schematic diagram of a domestic refrigeration appliance 1. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 here is configured as a combined refrigerator/freezer. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has a housing 2, which has an outer housing 3 and an inner container 4. Configured between the outer housing 3 and the inner container 4 is a space 5, which is at least partially filled with a thermally insulating material, in particular insulating foam.

[0051] The inner container 4 has multiple walls, here specifically a first vertical side wall 6, an opposing second vertical side wall 7, a rear wall 8, a bottom wall 9 and a top wall 10. The inner container 4 is configured, preferably deep-drawn, as a single piece, in particular made of plastic.

[0052] At the front the inner container 4 has a loading opening 11, through which goods to be stored can be introduced into and removed from a chamber 12 for holding food delimited by the abovementioned walls 6 to 10. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the chamber 12 is a first chamber, in this instance a chiller compartment for example.

[0053] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment this first chamber 12 can be closed by a first door 13 and a second door 14 that is separate therefrom. The two doors 13 and 14 are in particular visible front parts, which can be actuated independently of one another. In the present exemplary embodiment they close a single, continuous chamber 12. The two doors 13 and 14 can each be pivoted by way of a pivot axis oriented in the heightwise direction (y-direction) and are thus arranged pivotably on the housing 2.

[0054] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has a second chamber 15, in this instance a freezer compartment. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment this second chamber 15 is arranged below the first chamber 12 in this abovementioned heightwise direction. The second chamber 15 is also delimited by walls of an inner container and can be closed at the front by a door 16. The door 16 here is in particular a front wall of a unit configured as a drawer. This drawer can be pushed into and pulled out of the second chamber 15 in a linear manner in the depthwise direction (z-direction).

[0055] The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 also has an inner lining 17, which is a separate unit from the inner container 4 and is arranged in the inner container 4. It is thus arranged in the first chamber 12 here.

[0056] The inner lining 17 is thus also a separate unit from the rear wall 8.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a perspective diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the inner lining 17. It is configured with multiple parts. It has a first lining wall 18. It also has a second lining wall 19. These two lining walls 18 and 19 are arranged with an overlap 20 with one another in the widthwise direction (x-direction), which is also the widthwise direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1.

[0058] Provision is made in the exemplary embodiment for the inner lining 17 to have a third separate lining wall 21. It adjoins the second lining wall 19 and is arranged with a further overlap 22 with the second lining wall 19 when viewed in the widthwise direction.

[0059] When viewed in the widthwise direction therefore the lining walls 18, 19 and 21 are arranged in a line with one another, but each with an overlap at their interfaces.

[0060] The inner lining 17 also has yet another separate component in the form of a cover 23, in this instance a cover plate. The cover 23 is arranged at the front and conceals the overlaps 20 and 22 at the front. When incorporated therefore the first lining wall 18, the third lining wall 21 and the cover 23 form visible parts in the chamber 12. The second lining wall 19 is covered by the cover 23 at the front.

[0061] The inner lining 17 also has an air duct unit 24, which is what is known as a multi-airflow system. In this context the air duct unit 24 has an air duct volume 25, which is delimited by boundary walls. The boundary walls here are formed by the second lining wall 19 and the cover 23.

[0062] Provision is also made in an advantageous embodiment for the inner lining 17 to have a first profile part 26 that is separate from the abovementioned walls and the cover 23. The first lining wall 18 opens out at this rod-type profile part 26, which is in particular a single-piece metal profile, being in particular fastened thereto, preferably being fastened thereto in such a manner that it can be removed non-destructively.

[0063] The inner lining 17 also preferably has a second profile part 27, which is configured in the same way as the first profile part 26. The further profile part 27 is configured in such a manner that the third lining wall 21 opens out at it, in particular is fastened to it in the same way as the first lining wall 18 is fastened to the first profile part 26.

[0064] A first strip 28, which is separate from the other components, is also provided, being arranged at a distance from the first profile part 26 and having no contact with the first lining wall 18. When viewed in the widthwise direction the first lining wall 18 and this strip 28 are arranged at a distance from one another so that a gap 29 is formed, through which a front face 30 of the first profile part 26 can be accessed at the front.

[0065] A further separate strip 31 is similarly provided, being arranged on the second profile part 27, in particular as in the abovementioned configuration being arranged at a distance in the widthwise direction from the third lining wall 21. A gap 32 is preferably formed here too, being accessible at the front and through which a front face 33 of the second profile part 27 is accessible.

[0066] Shelves or separating plates (not shown), which can be introduced into the chamber 12, can be fastened to, for example suspended from, the profile parts 26 and 27 by way of these gaps 29 and 32.

[0067] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged diagram of a partial detail III in FIG. 2. It can be seen here that the overlap 20 is configured with play in this widthwise direction. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the first lining wall 18 has a hollow holder 34, configured here as a slot or groove, on the side or edge facing the second lining wall 19. Configured on the side or edge of the second lining wall 19 facing the first lining wall 18 is an insertion element 35 provided for engagement and molded on as a single piece in the form of a lug or web. In the coupled state with overlap in the widthwise direction this insertion element 35 enters the hollow holder 34.

[0068] It can also be seen that the second lining wall 19 has a web 36 that projects forward and is thus oriented in the depthwise direction, the cover 23 being connected mechanically thereto with a coupling web 37. Provision is thus made for the second lining wall 19 and the cover 23 to overlap in the depthwise direction (z-direction), in order to establish a mechanical connection here too. Provision can be made for the cover 23 to be attached or latched to the second lining wall 19. To this end corresponding latching elements can be molded as a single piece onto these webs 36 and 37. The configuration is also similar in the region of the further overlap 22, for which see the description given relating to the overlap 20 in FIG. 3.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged diagram of the partial detail IV in FIG. 2. As can be seen here, the first lining wall 18 has a further web 38, which is molded on as a single piece and oriented in the depthwise direction, on its rear face. This forms a manner of stop, which rests against a side wall 39 of the profile part 26. The first lining wall 18 overlaps with the first profile part 26 in the widthwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. The first lining wall 18 also rests against an abovementioned front face 30 of the profile part 26 and thus conceals parts of the profile part 26 at the front. A corresponding configuration, shown in FIG. 4 for the arrangement of the first lining wall 18 and the first profile part 26 as well as the strip 28, can also be seen for the third lining wall 21, the second profile part 27 and the further strip 31.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a further exemplary embodiment of the inner lining 17 with sub-components, in particular in the region of the first lining wall 18, the second lining wall 19 and the cover 23. As can be seen here, the first lining wall 18 is inserted or latched into the first profile part 26, in particular using a corresponding coupling means 40.

[0071] The mechanical coupling between the first lining wall 18 and the second lining wall 19 is configured in an alternative manner here. The hollow holder 34 here is different from the embodiment in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. There is no slot-type or groove-type configuration here. Instead a holder volume 41 of this hollow holder 34 is delimited by an elastically deformable holder wall 42. The web 25 of the second lining wall 19 molded at the edge enters therein. A stop 43 is also molded as a single piece on the rear of the lining wall 19. The elastically deformable holder wall 42 rests against this in a pretensioned manner, so that a pressing force P acts in the direction of the arrow, as shown in FIG. 5. The pretensioning force causes the first lining wall 18 to be pressed onto the profile part 26.

[0072] FIG. 5 also shows the coupled state between the webs 36 and 37, being implemented in particular by a plug-type connection or a latching connection.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment in a view corresponding to the one in FIG. 5. In this embodiment the hollow holder 34 is again not configured in the manner of a slot or groove but is configured with a holder volume 41, as in FIG. 5. The holder wall 42, which is also elastically deformable here, is configured here at its front free end with a latching head 44, which latches in a latching holder 45, which is configured as a single piece on a rear face of the second lining wall 19. This also forms a pressing force or pretensioning force formed in the widthwise direction according to the arrow P, which presses the first lining wall 18 onto the first profile part 26.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows a further top view, similar to the views in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, of a further exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment the first lining wall 18 is configured on its side facing the second lining wall 19 in the same way as the embodiments in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, so that the hollow holder 34 is configured in the manner of a groove or slot here. The two holder walls, which delimit this hollow holder, are thus not elastic and not deformable here in particular. Provision is therefore made in the present embodiment for an elastically deformable stop 46 to be configured on a rear face of the second lining wall 19, resting against a front face of a holder wall 47 in a pretensioned manner. This again generates a pressing force or pretensioning force in the direction of the arrow P, so that the first lining wall 18 is again pressed onto the first profile part 26.

[0075] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged diagram of the partial detail III in FIG. 7.

[0076] This concrete elements, as described in relation to the exemplary embodiments in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, which generate such a pretensioning force due to their elastically defined deformability, in particular also allow the overlap produced in the widthwise direction between the lining walls with play.

[0077] The descriptions given in relation to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 also apply to the overlap 22 preferably present between the second lining wall 19 and the third lining wall 21, in particular in conjunction with the second profile part 27.

[0078] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0079] 1 Domestic refrigeration appliance [0080] 2 Housing [0081] 3 Outer housing [0082] 4 Inner container [0083] 5 Space [0084] 6 First vertical side wall [0085] 7 Second vertical side wall [0086] 8 Rear wall [0087] 9 Bottom wall [0088] 10 Top wall [0089] 11 Loading opening [0090] 12 First chamber [0091] 13 Door [0092] 14 Door [0093] 15 Second chamber [0094] 16 Door [0095] 17 Inner lining [0096] 18 Lining wall [0097] 19 Lining wall [0098] 20 Overlap [0099] 21 Lining wall [0100] 22 Overlap [0101] 23 Cover [0102] 24 Air duct unit [0103] 25 Air duct volume [0104] 26 First profile part [0105] 27 Second profile part [0106] 28 Strip [0107] 29 Gap [0108] 30 Front face [0109] 31 Strip [0110] 32 Gap [0111] 33 Front face [0112] 34 Holder [0113] 35 Insertion element [0114] 36 Web [0115] 37 Web [0116] 38 Web [0117] 39 Side wall [0118] 40 Coupling means [0119] 41 Holder volume [0120] 42 Holder wall [0121] 43 Stop [0122] 44 Latching head [0123] 45 Latching holder [0124] 46 Stop [0125] 47 Holder wall [0126] P Arrow