HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH NON-DESTRUCTIVELY RELEASABLE ROLLER ASSEMBLY IN THE BASE OF A HOUSING AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

Abstract

A household refrigeration appliance has a housing in which at least one receiving area for food is implemented. At least one roller is arranged on the housing and by which the household refrigeration appliance can be rolled on an underlying surface. The roller is arranged rotatably mounted on a plate-like, separate bearing bracket and a roller assembly containing the roller and the bearing bracket is arranged non-destructively releasably on a base of the housing.

Claims

1. A household refrigeration appliance, comprising: a housing defining at least one receiving area for food and having a base; and a roller assembly having a plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket and at least one roller disposed on said housing and by means of said roller the household refrigeration appliance can be rolled on an underlying surface, said roller being disposed rotatably mounted on said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket and said roller assembly containing said roller and said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket disposed non-destructively releasably on said base of said housing.

2. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said roller is disposed partially recessed into said housing.

3. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said roller is disposed in such a manner on said housing that there is a vertical spacing of between 17 mm and 19 mm between said base of said housing and a bearing point of a running surface of said roller, said bearing point is at a maximum distance from said base of said housing and is facing away from said housing.

4. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket is a one-piece bent sheet-metal part.

5. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein: said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket has hooks; and said base has lead-throughs formed therein through which said hooks of said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket pass and through which said roller assembly is suspended on said base.

6. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 5, wherein said lead-throughs on said base have a clear spacing such that said roller assembly can be moved relative to said base on said base.

7. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket has a through-hole formed therein for a screw, and said roller assembly is then screwed into a final position on said base of said housing.

8. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said base of said housing has an edge strip to which said roller assembly is attached.

9. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 8, wherein: said base of said housing has a backing part; and said edge strip is disposed between said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket and said backing part.

10. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 8, wherein: said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket has hooks; and said edge strip and said backing part each have lead-throughs formed therein through which said hooks of said plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket pass and through which said roller assembly is suspended on said edge strip and said backing part.

11. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 9, wherein said edge strip and said backing part are fixedly connected.

12. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a roller cover disposed on said base of said housing, by means of said roller cover said roller is completely covered toward an interior of said housing.

13. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 12, wherein said roller cover is formed in one piece from plastic.

14. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, further comprising doors including a first door, a second door, and a third door; and wherein said at least one receiving area includes a first receiving area which is a refrigerating compartment, said first receiving area can be closed by said first and second doors, each of said first and second doors being pivotable about a vertical axis, said at least one receiving area including a second receiving area being separate from said first receiving area and is a freezer compartment, said second receiving area can be closed by means of said third door being separate from said first and second doors.

15. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 9, wherein said edge strip and said backing part are clinched.

16. The household refrigeration appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a drawer having a front wall and can be slid into and out of said second receiving area, said front wall forming said third door.

17. A method for producing a household refrigeration appliance, which comprises the steps of: installing a roller assembly on a base of a housing, the housing defining at least one receiving area for food; and subsequently filling an interspace between the base of the housing and an inner container, which delimits the receiving area with walls of the inner container, at least partially with a thermally insulating material.

18. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises providing an insulation foam as the thermally insulating material.

19. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises providing the roller assembly with a plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket and at least one roller disposed on the housing and by means of the roller the household refrigeration appliance can be rolled on an underlying surface, the roller being disposed rotatably mounted on the plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket and the roller assembly containing the roller and the plate-shaped, separate bearing bracket disposed non-destructively releasably on the base of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a subarea of the household refrigeration appliance according to FIG. 1 viewed toward a base of a housing of the household refrigeration appliance;

[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a roller assembly of the household refrigeration appliance according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a backing part;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective partial illustration of a specific installation state of a roller assembly on the base of the housing;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration according to FIG. 5, where an installation state different from FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6;

[0035] FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a subarea of the household refrigeration appliance, wherein here a roller cover is additionally installed;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of such a roller cover;

[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of the roller assembly in a first installation state in the region of the roller cover; and

[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration according to FIG. 9 with an illustration of a further installation state of the roller assembly with respect to the roller cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The same elements or elements having the same function are identified by the same reference characters in the figures.

[0040] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a simplified illustration of a household refrigeration appliance 1 which is configured for the storage and conservation of food. The household refrigeration appliance 1 contains a housing 2 in which a first receiving area 3 is implemented, which is a refrigerating compartment. The first receiving area 3 is delimited by walls of an internal container 4. On the front side, the inner container 4 and thus also the receiving area 3 have a loading opening which in the exemplary embodiment can be closed by means of two separate doors 5 and 6. The loading opening is designed to be uninterrupted and continuous, such that said loading opening can only be closed completely by the two doors 5 and 6. The two doors 5 and 6 are arranged pivotably on opposite sides of the housing 2 and can be pivoted by way of vertical axes which are oriented in the height direction (y-direction).

[0041] The household refrigeration appliance 1 furthermore contains a second receiving area 7 separate to the first receiving area 3, which here in the height direction of the household refrigeration appliance 1 is arranged beneath the first receiving area 3 and is also arranged completely outside the first receiving area 3. The second receiving area 7 is a freezer compartment. The second receiving area 7 is also delimited by walls of an internal container, where a loading opening on the front side can here also be closed by a third door 8. In the exemplary embodiment the third door 8 is a front wall of a drawer which can be slid in the depth direction (z-direction) into and out of the second receiving area 7. The third door 8 is a door separate to the two doors 5 and 6. The three doors 5, 6, 8 are arranged in non-overlapping fashion and are in particular visible parts on the front.

[0042] The housing 2 contains a base 9, which is viewed in this partial illustration in FIG. 2. The base 9 has an edge strip 10 which is arranged on the front side and is a one-piece L-shaped strip part. Arranged on the base 9, in particular on the edge strip 10, is a roller assembly 11 which in particular is attached non-destructively releasably. The roller assembly 11 contains a roller 12 which is arranged rotatably on a bearing bracket 13 separate therefrom. The bearing bracket 13 is a plate-like part. The bearing bracket 13 is a one-piece bent sheet-metal part. The roller 12 is rotatably attached on the bearing bracket 13. In particular, a non-destructively non-releasable connection between the bearing bracket 13 and the roller 12 is implemented here.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged illustration of the roller assembly 11. Shown here is a view of that side which in the installed state, as is shown in FIG. 2, is facing the edge strip 10. In the installed state an upper side 14 of the bearing bracket 13 is bearing against the edge strip 10 and is thus facing the edge strip 10.

[0044] The bearing bracket 13 has a receiving facility 15 in which the roller 12 is received. The receiving facility 15 also has a lead-through 16 which constitutes a hole such that in the installed state on the bearing bracket 13 the roller 12 extends on both sides of said plate-like bearing bracket 13.

[0045] The bearing bracket 13 furthermore contains a plurality of hooks 17 which are tabs or bars that are bent upward, angled, and in particular L-shaped. The hooks 17 are inserted into lead-throughs which are formed on the base 9, such that the roller assembly 11 can be simply installed and suspended on the base 9, in particular on the edge strip 10. The bearing bracket 13 furthermore also has a hole 18 which is a screw hole. This preferably only one screw hole serves to enable the roller assembly 11 to be screwed to the base 9, in particular to the edge strip 10, as is shown in FIG. 2. There a screw 19 has already been introduced through the hole 18 and a screw connection of the roller assembly 11 on the base 9 has been implemented, thereby fixing the position thereof.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows that the hooks 17 are pushed through lead-throughs 20 in the edge strip and are correspondingly suspended there.

[0047] As can be seen, a cutout is likewise implemented in the edge strip 10, such that the roller 12 is only partially inserted into the housing 2 and is thus to a certain extent recessed in the housing 2.

[0048] In particular, provision is made that the arrangement has a separate backing part 21, as is shown in a perspective illustration in FIG. 4. The backing part 21 is preferably implemented integrally and constitutes a profile which can be incorporated into the edge strip 10. The backing part 21 is preferably made from metal. It has in particular a cutout 22, through which the roller 12 can extend. Furthermore the backing part 21 contains additional lead-throughs 23, through which the hooks 17 of the bearing bracket 13 extend. The lead-throughs 23 are preferably arranged in alignment with the lead-throughs 20 in the edge strip 10, such that the hooks 17 extend both through the lead-throughs 20 and also through the lead-throughs 23. They are then bearing on an upper side 24 of the backing part 21 which is facing away from the edge strip 10, and are then correspondingly suspended there.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of the installed state of the backing part 21 on the edge strip 10. FIG. 5 shows a view from the interior of the housing 2 toward the aforementioned components. It can be seen that the roller assembly 11 is arranged in an intermediate installation position in which the hooks 17 have been taken through the lead-throughs 20 and 23 but have not yet arrived in the final position to which the hooks 17 are then still to be moved. As indicated by the arrow P1 in FIG. 5, starting from the intermediate installation position shown in FIG. 5 a movement of the roller assembly 11 in the direction according to the arrow P1 is then to be performed.

[0050] FIG. 6 then shows the illustration according to FIG. 5, where in FIG. 6 the roller assembly 11 has been moved in the direction of the arrow P1 and the roller assembly 11 has reached its final position on the base 9. The hooks 17 are then bearing on the upper side 24 and are prevented from slipping out downward and thus in the height direction.

[0051] In the illustrations according to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in particular no roller cover is yet shown to be present in order to allow the respective positions of the roller 12 to be better seen.

[0052] In FIG. 7 on the other hand, the design is shown having a roller cover 25 of a type which is implemented in similar fashion to a wheel arch and covers the roller 12 from above in hood-like fashion. The roller cover 25 is formed in one piece, in particular from plastic. In addition to the hood-like region 26 it preferably contains a base plate 27 which in the installed state, as is shown in FIG. 7, is seated on the upper side 24 and is attached there. A non-destructively releasable connection can be provided here, for example a snap fastening. To this end, as is shown in a perspective illustration in FIG. 8, tabs 28 which engage in receiving facilities 29 (FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) can be formed on the base plate 27. Correspondingly, further tabs 30 which in particular are sprung are implemented on the opposite side; said further tabs 30 then engage with opposing receiving facilities on the backing part 21, in particular snap or lock in place there.

[0053] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the one-piece roller cover also contains receiving facilities 31 for a roller axle 32 (FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). FIG. 8 shows a view of the roller cover 25 in which an underside 33 is illustrated. The roller cover 25 is seated with said underside 33 on the upper side 24. Furthermore, hump-shaped raised parts 34 are also implemented, into which the hooks 17 are inserted. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the roller cover 25 is implemented in completely uninterrupted fashion in the upward direction, such that the interior of the housing 2 is separated from the roller 12. The interior is an interspace 37 which is formed between the inner container 4 and an outer casing of the housing 2, and in which thermally insulating material is introduced, in particular after the installation of the roller assembly 11 and the roller cover 25.

[0054] FIG. 9 shows a subarea in which the roller cover 25 is illustrated and the roller assembly 11 is implemented in an intermediate installation state, as has already been explained in relation to FIG. 5. It can be seen here that the roller assembly 11 and in particular the roller 12 are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the shape of the hood-like region 26.

[0055] In FIG. 10 on the other hand the installed final state is then shown, as has also already been explained in relation to FIG. 6.

[0056] On the basis of FIG. 10 it then only remains necessary to screw the screw 19 in through the hole 18, such that the final position achieved is fixed.

[0057] In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the described roller assembly 11 is arranged in a front left corner region of the base 9. A corresponding further roller assembly 11 is in particular also arranged at the front right corner region. In particular, a further roller 12, in particular a roller assembly 11, is also arranged in each case at the rear left and right corner regions of the four-cornered base 9. The explanations as set forth in relation to the roller assembly 11 then also apply in particular to said at least one further roller assembly, preferably to all other further roller assemblies.

[0058] In the installed state the roller 12 extends only partially into the housing 2. There is a vertical spacing a (FIG. 1) of in particular between 17 mm and 20 mm, in particular 19 mm, between the base 9 and a bearing point 36 of a running surface of the roller 12, which bearing point 36 is at a maximum distance from the base 9 and is facing away from the housing 2. The bearing point 36 is sitting on an underlying surface 35 on which the household refrigeration appliance 1 is positioned and on which it can be rolled.

[0059] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0060] 1 Household refrigeration appliance [0061] 2 Housing [0062] 3 First receiving area [0063] 4 Inner container [0064] 5 Door [0065] 6 Door [0066] 7 Second receiving area [0067] 8 Door [0068] 9 Base [0069] 10 Edge strip [0070] 11 Roller assembly [0071] 12 Roller [0072] 13 Bearing bracket [0073] 14 Upper side [0074] 15 Receiving facility [0075] 16 Lead-through [0076] 17 Hook [0077] 18 Hole [0078] 19 Screw [0079] 20 Lead-through [0080] 21 Backing part [0081] 22 Cutout [0082] 23 Lead-through [0083] 24 Upper side [0084] 25 Roller cover [0085] 26 Region [0086] 27 Base plate [0087] 28 Tab [0088] 29 Receiving facility [0089] 30 Tab [0090] 31 Receiving facility [0091] 32 Roller axle [0092] 33 Underside [0093] 34 Raised part [0094] 35 Underlying surface [0095] 36 Bearing point [0096] 37 Interspace [0097] a Spacing [0098] P1 Arrow