Domestic refrigeration appliance with a keep-fresh container the front wall of which is an outer wall of the appliance

Abstract

A domestic refrigeration appliance with an interior compartment for accommodating foodstuffs which is bounded by walls of an interior container and with a keep-fresh container for foodstuffs in which an ambient humidity different from that of the interior compartment can be set and the ambient humidity can be set independently of the rest of the interior compartment, wherein the keep-fresh container is arranged displaceably in a housing of the domestic refrigeration appliance, wherein a front wall of the keep-fresh container forms an outer wall of the domestic refrigeration appliance.

Claims

1. A domestic refrigeration appliance with an interior compartment for accommodating foodstuffs which is bounded by walls of an interior container and with a keep-fresh container for foodstuffs in which an ambient humidity different from that of the interior compartment can be set and the ambient humidity can be set independently of the rest of the interior compartment, wherein the keep-fresh container is arranged displaceably in a housing of the domestic refrigeration appliance, wherein a front wall of the keep-fresh container forms an outer wall of the domestic refrigeration appliance, wherein the keep-fresh container comprises a carrier tray on which the front wall is arranged, and wherein the carrier tray comprises a side wall on an upper edge of which a setting element for setting the ambient humidity in the keep-fresh container is arranged.

2. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keep-fresh container is embodied as a drawer.

3. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting element is a setting wheel.

4. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting element is arranged in a front third of the length of the side wall facing the front wall.

5. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein the setting element extends through an opening in a flange of the side wall forming the upper edge and a setting unit comprising the setting element is arranged under the flange on an outer side of the side wall.

6. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein the keep-fresh container comprises a receiving tray for foodstuffs and a cover separate thereto positioned in a raisable and lowerable manner above the receiving tray.

7. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiving tray embodied separately from the carrier tray can be inserted into and removed from the carrier tray in a non-destructive detachable manner.

8. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein an actuating element for the actuation of a cover is arranged on the upper edge, said element being coupled to a coupling element on the cover.

9. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuating element is a pin that can be displaced in the depth direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance.

10. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuating element is arranged on a setting unit, which is arranged under at least one of a flange on an outer side of the side wall and the actuating element is coupled to the setting element.

11. The domestic refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving tray comprises at an upper edge a front-side and a rear side flange with which the receiving tray is suspended from above on a rear wall and a front edge of the carrier tray.

12. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein the keep-fresh container comprises a first keep-fresh container compartment with a first receiving tray and a first cover therefor and a second keep-fresh container compartment with a second receiving tray and second cover therefor, wherein the receiving trays are arranged next to one another in the horizontal direction on a plane in the carrier tray and different ambient humidities can be set in the keep-fresh container compartments and the ambient humidities can be set independently of one another.

13. A domestic refrigeration appliance with an interior compartment for accommodating foodstuffs which is bounded by walls of an interior container and with a keep-fresh container for foodstuffs in which an ambient humidity different from that of the interior compartment can be set and the ambient humidity can be set independently of the rest of the interior compartment, wherein the keep-fresh container is arranged displaceably in a housing of the domestic refrigeration appliance, wherein a front wall of the keep-fresh container forms an outer wall of the domestic refrigeration appliance, wherein the keep-fresh container comprises a carrier tray on which the front wall is arranged, wherein an actuating element for the actuation of a cover is arranged on an upper edge of the carrier tray, said element being coupled to a coupling element on the cover, wherein the cover with upright guide elements is supported on the interior container and is displaceable by the actuating element and, depending upon the displacement position of the actuating element, is raised with respect to the receiving tray or placed thereupon.

14. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 13, wherein the actuating element is settable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the keep fresh container is closed and the actuating element is in the first position the cover is raised with respect to the receiving tray, and wherein when the keep fresh container is closed and the actuating element is in the second position, the cover is placed upon the receiving tray.

15. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 13, wherein the cover is supported on a vertical internal side of the interior container.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to schematic drawings, which show:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the keep-fresh container as installed in the domestic refrigeration appliance in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 a view of the keep-fresh container in FIG. 2 in assembled state with additionally shown separate covers of the keep-fresh container compartments;

(5) FIG. 4 a perspective view of a sub-area of the keep-fresh container;

(6) FIG. 5 a further perspective view of a sub-area of the keep-fresh container; and

(7) FIG. 6 schematic views of the keep-fresh container in different positional arrangements and an underlying principle of action for the actuation of the cover.

(8) In the figures, identical elements or elements with identical functions are given the same reference numbers.

(9) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partial section of a domestic refrigeration appliance 1. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is embodied to store foodstuffs and can, for example, be a refrigerator or a combined fridge-freezer.

(10) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a body or a housing 2. The housing 2 has an interior compartment 3 into which foodstuffs can be introduced. The interior compartment 3 is partially disposed on the front side and hence, when installed as specified, faces a user and can be closed by at least one door, in the exemplary embodiment two doors 4 and 5.

(11) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 also comprises a keep-fresh container 6. Foodstuffs, such as food and drinks, can also be introduced into the keep-fresh container 6. An ambient humidity different from that of the rest of the interior compartment 3 can be set in the keep-fresh container 6. The ambient humidity can be set independently of the rest of the interior compartment 3. The keep-fresh container 6 is in particular comprised by the interior compartment 3 or the interior compartment 3 is in the inserted state of the keep-fresh container 6 and closed by a front wall 7 of the keep-fresh container 6.

(12) In particular it is provided that the keep-fresh container 6 is also only partially accommodated in the interior compartment 3. However, the receiving volume provided by the keep-fresh container 6 for the foodstuffs is completely separable or separated from the rest of interior compartment 3 with respect to the setting of the ambient humidity.

(13) It is provided that the keep-fresh container 6 is in particular embodied as a drawer. To this end, in the view in FIG. 1, the keep-fresh container 6 is shown in completely withdrawn state. In this context, it is arranged as a frontward-protruding and freely overhanging component part.

(14) The keep-fresh container 6 comprises a front wall 7 forming an outer wall of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 in this front area. This means that, even in closed state and hence when the keep-fresh container 6 is completely inserted, this front wall 7 represents an outer part on this front area and hence is visibly exposed. Therefore, even in closed state of the keep-fresh container 6, for access to the keep-fresh container 6, it is no longer necessary first to actuate a further component, for example a door embodied separately from the keep-fresh container 6 and in particular separately from this front wall 7 in order to enable access to the keep-fresh container 6.

(15) In the closed state of the keep-fresh container 6, the front wall 7 is in particular arranged flush with the doors 4 and 5.

(16) It is preferably provided that a grip is embodied on the front wall 7 so that the keep-fresh container 6 is simple to grasp and withdraw and insert. To this end, it is, for example possible, for a grip 8 to be provided in the upper area of the front wall 7. However, it is also additionally or alternatively possible for a grip to be provided on a lower edge 9.

(17) In the exemplary embodiment, the keep-fresh container 6 comprises a carrier tray 10 on the front side of which the front wall 7 is arranged and covers the carrier tray 10.

(18) In the embodiment shown, guide rails 13 are in each case arranged on the outside of the carrier tray 10, in particular on side walls 11 and 12, wherein said guide rails can, for example, also be pull-out rails. These can be used to insert and withdraw the keep-fresh container 6 embodied a drawer in a linear fashion. Corresponding guide elements are arranged on internal sides of an interior container 14 bounding the interior compartment 3.

(19) In the embodiment shown, the keep-fresh container 6 is embodied with two keep-fresh container compartments 15 and 16. This means that the keep-fresh container compartments 15 and 16 each have individual receiving volumes for foodstuffs and ambient humidities that can be different from one another and can also be different from that in the rest of the interior compartment 3 in the keep-fresh container compartments 15 and 16. This setting of the ambient humidities can take place independently of the respective other keep-fresh container compartments and/or independently of the rest of the interior compartment 3.

(20) In the exemplary embodiment, it is moreover also provided that the keep-fresh container compartments 15 and 16 comprise the carrier tray 10 as a common component.

(21) Moreover, the keep-fresh container compartment 15 comprises a receiving tray 17, which is embodied separately from the carrier tray 10 and can be inserted into the carrier tray 10 in a non-destructive detachable manner. FIG. 1 shows the inserted state.

(22) The further keep-fresh container compartment 16 also comprises a receiving tray 18, which is embodied to accommodate foodstuffs, is embodied separately from the carrier tray 10 and in FIG. 1 is shown in a state inserted therein.

(23) Moreover, it is can be identified that the side wall 11 comprises a flange 20 on an upper edge 19. Arranged on the flange 20, there is a setting element 21, which is preferably embodied as a setting wheel and by means of which the ambient humidity in the keep-fresh container compartment 16 can be set. As can be identified, this setting element 21 is arranged in a front third of the side wall 11 when viewed in the depth direction and hence in the z-direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 and hence embodied adjacent to the front wall 7.

(24) The setting element 21 is arranged on a setting unit 22 attached to the side wall 11.

(25) Correspondingly, an upper edge 23 is embodied on the side wall 12, said upper edge comprising a flange 24 on which correspondingly a setting element 25, in particular a setting wheel, is arranged with which the ambient humidity in the keep-fresh container compartment 15 can be set. The embodiment of the setting element 25 otherwise corresponds to the setting element 21, including with respect to a setting unit 22.

(26) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the keep-fresh container 6 as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the two receiving trays 17 and 18 are shown in withdrawn state. As can be identified, the receiving tray 17 comprises a front-side flange 27 and a rear-side flange 28 on an upper edge 26. On these opposite flanges 27 and 28, the receiving tray 17 is suspended from above on a rear wall 29 of the carrier tray 10 and a front edge 30 of the carrier tray 10. The receiving tray 18 is also embodied correspondingly.

(27) It can moreover be identified in FIG. 2 that an actuating element 31, preferably embodied as an upright pin, is arranged on the flange 20. This actuating element 31 can be used to actuate a cover 32 belonging to the keep-fresh container compartment 16 (FIG. 3). In this context, the cover 32 can be moved relative to the associated receiving tray 18 and hence raised or lowered. In this context, the cover 32 comprises guide elements 33 and 34 which stand upright on the side facing away from the receiving tray 18 and are embodied in a hook-shape. These guide elements 33 and 34 are mechanically coupled to guide bars arranged on the vertical internal sides of the interior compartment 3. These guide bars preferably do not have a horizontal orientation, but are inclined over a horizontal plane. This enables the cover 32 to be raised or lowered in dependence on the movement of the front wall 7 and the carrier tray 10 and hence also of the receiving tray 18 inserted therein and hence to be positioned either completely on the receiving tray 18 or at a short distance therefrom. In dependence thereon, the respective ambient humidity can then be set in the keep-fresh container compartment 16 and hence in the receiving volume formed by the receiving tray 18 and the cover 32.

(28) As shown in FIG. 3, the keep-fresh container compartment 15 also comprises a cover 35 which correspondingly comprises guide elements 36 and 37. Since the actuating element 31 is a pin 31 oriented in the vertical direction and hence in the y-direction that is displaceable in the horizontal direction and hence in the depth direction, on the insertion of the carrier tray 10, coupling to a coupling element (FIG. 5) takes place and the corresponding movement then causes the cover 32 to be carried or pushed along therewith. This causes it also to be moved by the guide elements 33 and 34 on the mounting apparatus formed by the guide bars and, due to their inclined orientation, the cover hence to be arranged inclined or closed in the horizontal direction on the receiving tray 18.

(29) In each case pairs of opposite rear guide elements 33 and front guide elements 34 are provided as is also correspondingly the case with the cover 35. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, in each case opposite actuating elements 31 are also provided which are coupled to opposite coupling elements 38.

(30) Therefore, it is advantageously also provided that, in the interior compartment 3, an arrangement of a guide part, preferably oriented in the depth direction, is provided, which is then so-to-speak arranged in the middle between the covers 32 and 35 so that here the corresponding mounting of the cover 32 and the cover 35 is also provided. This can, for example, be a brace, which extends on a front crossbar 44 (FIG. 1) to a rear wall of the interior container 14 and attached thereto in each case at the ends.

(31) FIG. 4 is a perspective partial view of the carrier tray 10. As can be identified here, the side wall 11 is uneven and C-shaped 39 in its upper area. Here, a C-roof is formed by the flange 20 and a C-floor 40 provided opposite. This forms a receiving area 41 in which the setting unit 22 is arranged. As can be identified, a hole 42 is embodied in the flange 20 through which hole the setting element 21 extends. Correspondingly, a further hole 43 is formed through which the actuating element 31 extends.

(32) In this embodiment, the flange 20 comprises an additional bar 44, which is downward-oriented on its outward free end so that, in inserted state, the setting unit 22 in the receiving area 41 is also held in position outwardly. In the view shown in FIG. 4, the front wall 7 is not shown for purposes of clarity.

(33) FIG. 6 is a simplified side view of the mechanical principle of action. The setting unit 22 provides a coupling between the rotary motion or the actuation of the setting element 21 with the actuating element 31. This means that, when the setting element 21 is moved, in particular rotated, a coupling device, in particular a coupling mechanism, in the setting unit 22 displaces the actuating element 31 toward the front or toward the rear. As a result, the coupling with coupling elements 38 causes the cover 32 to be moved out of its guide bars in which the guide elements 33 and 34 are guided, in particular lie. Hence, a movement of the cover 32 relative to the receiving tray 18 effected by the setting element 21 takes place. The embodiment of guide bars, in particular with notch-like receptacles, then enables the cover to be raised or lowered, wherein the guide elements 33 and 34 are then either arranged within these notch-like receptacles, and then the cover 32 lies completely closed on the receiving tray 18, or are arranged outside these notch-like receptacles are and hence the cover 32 is then raised upward with respect to the receiving tray 18 and no longer lies thereon as to provide a complete seal.

(34) It is in particular provided, as shown in FIG. 6 that, in its possible linear displacement movement, when the actuating element 31 is positioned right at the front and hence arranged closer to the front wall 7, the cover 32 is in its lowered position and hence sits in its completely sealing arrangement on the receiving tray 18. This shown is in the bottom view in FIG. 6.

(35) If this actuating element 31 is located in the position which is then displaced toward the rear, as shown in the upper view in FIG. 6, during this pushing back, the actuating element 31 presses against the coupling element 38 and hence also displaces the entire cover 32 toward the rear so that the guide elements 33 and 34 on the guide bars are guided along and raised out of the notch-like receptacles.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(36) 1 Domestic refrigeration appliance

(37) 2 Housing

(38) 3 Interior compartment

(39) 4 Door

(40) 5 Door

(41) 6 Keep-fresh container

(42) 7 Front wall

(43) 8 Grip

(44) 9 Lower edge

(45) 10 Carrier tray

(46) 11 Side wall

(47) 12 Side wall

(48) 13 Guide rail

(49) 14 Interior container

(50) 15 Keep-fresh container compartment

(51) 16 Keep-fresh container compartment

(52) 17 Receiving tray

(53) 18 Receiving tray

(54) 19 Upper edge

(55) 20 Flange

(56) 21 Setting element

(57) 22 Setting unit

(58) 23 Upper edge

(59) 24 Flange

(60) 25 Setting element

(61) 26 Upper edge

(62) 27 Front flange

(63) 28 Rear flange

(64) 29 Rear wall

(65) 30 Front edge

(66) 31 Actuating element

(67) 32 Cover

(68) 33 Guide element

(69) 34 Guide element

(70) 35 Cover

(71) 36 Guide element

(72) 37 Guide element

(73) 38 Coupling element

(74) 39 C-shape

(75) 40 C-floor

(76) 41 Receiving area

(77) 42 Hole

(78) 43 Hole

(79) 44 Bars

(80) 45 Crossbar