Home appliance door

Abstract

For the purpose of improving operation and maintenance a home appliance door, in particular a home chiller appliance door, is proposed: The home appliance door has an inner wall section; and at least one support unit for support of a door mullion, the support unit being fixated to the inner wall section at least in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner.

Claims

1. A home appliance door, comprising: an outer wall facing away from a storage space defined by the door and defining a front of the door; an inner wall section having a planar side defining a flat surface parallel to the outer wall, the inner wall and the outer wall delimiting an interior space of the door over an area of the flat surface, the interior space being filled with insulation; and at least one support unit for support of a door mullion, the support unit being directly fastened to the flat surface of the inner wall section.

2. The home appliance door according to claim 1, the support unit comprising a support element for supporting the door mullion, and a cover element which at least partly covers the support element.

3. The home appliance door according to claim 2, the cover element comprising at least one connection element and the support element comprising at least one corresponding connection element cooperating with the connection element for connecting the cover element to the support element.

4. The home appliance door according to claim 2, the cover element being fixable to the support element by at least one movement of the cover element with respect to the support element in a direction which is at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the inner wall section.

5. The home appliance door according to claim 1, further comprising the door mullion, wherein the support unit comprises at least one mounting element for mounting the door mullion to the inner wall section.

6. The home appliance door according to claim 2, the support element being implemented in one piece.

7. The home appliance door according to claim 2, the support element being implemented as a bent piece of sheet metal.

8. The home appliance door according to claim 1, the inner wall section comprising an inner liner and a cover sheet which at least partly covers the inner liner.

9. The home appliance door according to claim 8, the cover sheet being arranged at least partly between the inner liner and the support unit, in a fixated state of the support unit.

10. The home appliance door according to claim 8, the inner liner comprising a hollow portion in a vicinity of the support unit, in a fixated state of the support unit.

11. The home appliance door according to claim 8, the cover sheet comprising a cut-out in a vicinity of the support unit, in a fixated state of the support unit.

12. The home appliance door according to claim 2, comprising a further support unit having a further support element which is implemented at least substantially identically to the support element of the support unit.

13. The home appliance door according to claim 1, configured as a home chiller appliance door.

14. A home appliance, in particular a home chiller appliance, comprising a home appliance door according to claim 1.

15. A method for assembly of a home appliance door comprising: providing an outer wall facing away from a storage space defined by the door and defining a front of the door; providing an inner wall section having a planar side defining a flat surface parallel to the outer wall, the inner wall and the outer wall delimiting an interior space of the door over an area of the flat surface, the interior space being filled with insulation; and directly fastening at least one support unit for support of a door mullion to the flat surface of the inner wall section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 a home appliance comprising a home appliance door in a schematic perspective view,

(2) FIG. 2 a portion of the home appliance comprising a home appliance door in a rear view,

(3) FIG. 3 a portion of the home appliance door comprising a support unit, in a perspective view,

(4) FIG. 4 a portion of the home appliance door comprising the support unit, in a cross-sectional view, and

(5) FIG. 5 a portion of the home appliance door comprising a further support unit, in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a home appliance 42 in a schematic perspective view. The home appliance 42 is embodied as a refrigerator. The home appliance 42 could further be embodied as any other kind of home appliance deemed advantageous by someone skilled in the art, e.g. a climate cabinet, an ice-box, a freezer, a wine-cooler and/or a refrigerator-freezer combination.

(7) The home appliance 42 comprises a housing 44. The housing 44 delimits a storage space for storing of victuals. The housing 44 comprises a door frame 54.

(8) The home appliance 42 comprises at least one home appliance door 10, 11. In the present case the home appliance 42 comprises a home appliance door 10 and a further home appliance door 11. The home appliance doors 10, 11 implement a French-door-system. The home appliance door 10 and the further home appliance door 11 are arranged opposite each other. The home appliance doors 10, 11 share a door mullion 18. The home appliance doors 10, 11 are arranged mirror-invertedly to one another. The home appliance doors 10, 11 are mounted to opposite sides of a door frame 54. The home appliance doors 10, 11 comprise differing opening and/or closing directions.

(9) It is conceivable that the home appliance 42 may comprise a differing number of home appliance doors 10, 11 as deemed advantageous by someone skilled in the art. In the following the home appliance door 10 is described in detail. The following description may be applied to the further home appliance door 11 accordingly. Alternatively the home appliance door 10 and the further home appliance door 11 may be implemented differently from each other.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a portion of the home appliance 42 comprising the home appliance door 10. The home appliance door 10 comprises an outer wall section 50. In the closed state of the home appliance door 10, the outer wall section 50 faces away from the storage space. The outer wall section 50 at least partly embodies a front of the home appliance door 10.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the home appliance door 10. The home appliance door 10 comprises an inner wall section 12. The inner wall section 12 is a wall section which faces towards the storage space in a closed state of the home appliance door 10.

(12) The home appliance door 10 comprises a door housing 48. The door housing 48 is at least partly made of the inner wall section 12. Further the door housing 48 is at least partly made of the outer wall section 50. The inner wall section 12 and the outer wall section 50 together delimit an interior space of the door housing 48. The interior space is at least partly filled with an insulating means. The insulating means is implemented as foam, preferably polymer foam, advantageously polyurethane foam.

(13) The inner wall section 12 comprises an inner liner 34. The inner liner 34 is at least partly implemented of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic. The inner wall section 12 comprises a cover sheet 36. The cover sheet 36 is at least partly made of metal. The cover sheet 36 is made of sheet metal. The cover sheet 36 at least mostly covers the inner liner 34, in particular viewed in a direction that is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension plane of the inner wall section 12. The cover sheet 36 is in contact with and/or covers most of a surface area of the inner liner 34.

(14) The home appliance door 10 comprises the door mullion 18. In a closed state of the home appliance door 10, the door mullion 18 is arranged in vicinity of the further home appliance door 11 (see FIG. 1). The door mullion 18 is implemented as a stopper for the home appliance doors 10, 11. The door mullion 18 is implemented as a flip mullion. The door mullion 18 is configured to rotate during an opening and/or closing process of the home appliance door 10 and/or the further home appliance door 11. A rotation axis of the door mullion 18 is at least substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the door 10 and/or the further home appliance door 11.

(15) The home appliance door 10 comprises at least one support unit 14 for support of the door mullion 18. The support unit 14 is arranged at an upper portion of the inner wall section 12. Further the home appliance door 10 comprises a further support unit 15. The further support unit 15 is arranged at a lower portion of the inner wall section. The support unit 14 and the further support unit 15 are at least partly implemented at least substantially identical to one another. It is conceiveble that the home appliance door 10, 11 may comprise a differing number of support units 14, 15 as deemed advantageous by someone skilled in the art. In the following description the support unit 14 is described in detail. Regarding the further support unit 15, regarding structural elements, features and functions that remain the same the description of the support unit 14 may be referred to. The description regarding the further support unit 15 is substantially limited to the differences with respect to the support unit 14.

(16) FIGS. 3, 4 show a portion of the home appliance door 10 with the support unit 14 in a perspective view and in a cross-sectional view. The support unit 14 embodies at least partly a hinge for the door mullion 18. The inner liner 34 comprises a hollow portion 38 in a vicinity of the support unit 14, in a fixated state of the support unit 14. The hollow portion 38 may be covered at least mostly by the cover sheet 36. The hollow portion 38 may in particular be used for mounting the door mullion 18 to the inner wall section 12. The home appliance door 10 comprises a fixation unit 52. The support unit 14 is fixated to the inner wall section 12 at least in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner. In the present case the support unit 14 is fixated to the inner wall section 12 by means of the fixation unit 52. The fixation unit 52 fixes the support unit 14 to the inner wall section 12 by means of a screw connection.

(17) The support unit 14 comprises a support element 20. The support element 20 supports the door mullion 18. The support element 20 comprises at least one fixation element 56 of the fixation unit 52, for fixating the support unit 14 to the inner wall section 12. In the present case the support element 20 comprises two fixation elements 56 of the fixation unit 52. The fixation element 56 is implemented as a fixation hole. Furthermore, the inner wall section 12 comprises at least one further fixation element 58 of the fixation unit 52, which interacts with the fixation element 56 of the support element 20 for fixating the support unit 14 to the inner wall section 12. In the present case the inner wall section 12 comprises two further fixation elements 58. The further fixation element 58 is implemented as a fixation bore. The further fixation element 58 of the inner wall section 12 is at least partly embodied by a first fixation sub-element 62 of the inner liner 34. The first fixation sub-element 62 is embodied as a fixation hole. The further fixation element 58 is at least partly embodied by a second fixation sub-element 64 of the cover sheet 36. The second fixation sub-element 64 is embodied as a fixation hole.

(18) The fixation unit 52 comprises at least one interaction element 60. The interaction element 60 interacts with the fixation element 56 and the further fixation element 58 for fixating the support unit 14 to the inner wall section 12. In the present case the fixation unit 52 comprises two interaction elements 60. The interaction element 60 is implemented as a screw.

(19) In a fixated state of the support unit 14, the cover sheet 36 is arranged at least partly between the inner liner 34 and the support unit 14.

(20) The support element 20 comprises three side edges which extend at least partly at least substantially parallel to one another. The support element 20 comprises three angular deflections. The angular deflections comprise each an angle of at least substantial 90. The support element 20 encloses an imaginary rectangular cuboid from at least four sides. Further the support element 20 comprises at least two sides which are free of an overlap when viewed in a direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension plane of one of these sides. The support element 20 encloses at least partly an assembly space 66. The assembly space 66 may preferably be configured for assembly of the door mullion 18. Further, the support element 20 comprises a receiving recess 78. The receiving recess 78 is positioned at lateral side of the support element 20. The receiving recess 78 is configured to provide access to the assembly space 66.

(21) The support element 20 is implemented in one piece. The support element 20 is implemented as a bent piece of sheet metal.

(22) The support unit 14 further comprises a cover element 22. The cover element 22 at least partly covers the support element 20 viewed in a direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the inner wall section 12. The cover element 22 implemented as a rectangular cuboid. The cover element 22 encloses a receiving space 68. In an installed state of the support unit 14 the support element 20 is entirely arranged inside the receiving space 68. In an installed state of the support unit 14 the fixation unit 52 is at least partly covered by the cover element 22. Furthermore, in an installed state of the support unit 14 the fixation unit 52 is at least partly arranged inside the receiving space 68 of the cover element 22. The cover element 22 covers the fixation unit 52. In a fixated state of the support unit 14 the support element 20 is at least partly arranged between the inner wall section 12 and the cover element 22. In the case of the support unit 14, the receiving recess 78 is covered by the cover element 22.

(23) The cover element 22 comprises at least one connection element 24. In the present case the cover element 22 comprises two connection elements 24. The connection element 24 is embodied as a snap hook. The support element 20 comprises at least one corresponding connection element 28. In the present case the support element 20 comprises two corresponding connection elements 28. The corresponding connection element 28 is embodied as a snap edge. The support element 20 comprises a receiving recess 70. Through the receiving recess 70 the connection element 24 engages with the corresponding connection element 28. An edge of the receiving recess 70 embodies the corresponding connection element 28. The corresponding connection element 28 cooperates with the connection element 24 for connecting the cover element 22 to the support element 20 at least in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner. The corresponding connection element 28 snaps into the connection element 24 for connecting the cover element 22 to the support element 20 at least in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner.

(24) For connecting the cover element 22 to the support element 20, the cover element 22 is moved with respect to the support element 20 at least substantially perpendicularly to the main extension plane of the inner wall section 12. Further the cover element 22 is moved with respect to the support element 20 in a direction which is at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the inner wall section 12.

(25) The support element 20 comprises an alignment element 72. The cover element 22 comprises a corresponding alignment element 74. The alignment elements 72, 74 are configured for indicating a positioning of the support element 20 with respect to the cover element 22. When connecting the cover element 22 to the support element 20, the cover element 22 is moved in a direction which is at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the inner wall section 12 until the alignment element 72 and the corresponding alignment element 74 are aligned with each other. The alignment element 72 is implemented as an alignment hole. The corresponding alignment element 74 is implemented as a further alignment hole.

(26) For mounting the door mullion 18 to the inner wall section 12, the support unit 14 comprises at least one mounting element 32 which a corresponding mounting element 33 of the door mullion 18 can be attached to. The mounting element 32 is implemented as a screw bore. The corresponding mounting element 33 is embodied as a hanger screw and/or hanger bolt. The mounting element 32 is arranged at a lateral side of the support element 20 which in particular faces towards the door mullion 18. The cover element 22 comprises an assembly recess 76 which is configured for preventing the mounting element 32 of the support element 20 being covered. The assembly recess 76 is positioned such that the mounting element 32 of the support element 20 remains free of coverage by the cover element 22.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a portion of the home appliance door 10 with the further support unit 15. The further support unit 15 has a further support element 21. The further support element 21 is implemented at least substantially identically to the support element 20 of the support unit 14.

(28) The further support unit 15 comprises a further cover element 23. An implementation of the further cover element 23 differs from the implementation of the cover element 22. The further cover element 23 comprises an assembly recess 80. The further cover element 23 comprises an additional assembly recess 82. The additional assembly recess 82 is positioned such that a further receiving recess 84 of the further support element 21 remains free of coverage by the cover element 23.

(29) Furthermore, the cover sheet 36 comprises a cut-out 40 in a vicinity of the support unit 15, in a fixated state of the support unit 15.

(30) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 10 Home appliance door 11 Home appliance door 12 Inner wall section 14 Support unit 15 Further support unit 18 Door mullion 20 Support element 21 Further support element 22 Cover element 23 Further cover element 24 Connection element 28 Corresponding connection element 32 Mounting element 33 Mounting element 34 Inner liner 36 Cover sheet 38 Hollow portion 40 Cut-out 42 Home appliance 44 Housing 48 Door housing 50 Outer wall section 52 Fixation unit 54 Door frame 56 Fixation element 58 Further fixation element 60 Interaction element 62 First fixation sub-element 64 Second fixation sub-element 66 Assembly space 68 Receiving space 70 Connection recess 72 Alignment element 74 Alignment element 76 Assembly recess 78 Receiving recess 80 Assembly recess 82 Additional assembly recess 84 Further receiving recess