HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING A DOOR THAT CAN BE RETRACTED IN A STOWING AREA WITH SPECIFIC BEARING UNIT

Abstract

A household appliance includes a housing surrounding an accommodation space and a door pivotable relative to the housing between a closing state in which the door closes a loading opening of the accommodation space and an opening state in which the door is retracted into a stowing area in the housing. A guide device is coupled to the door to guide the door during movement into and out of the stowing area. The guide device includes a bearing unit configured as a multi-articulated device which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and includes guide elements. The multi-articulated device is configured such that a distance of the guide elements from one another and/or a distance of at least one of the guide elements to the axis of rotation is changeable depending on a position of the door.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A household appliance, comprising: a housing surrounding an accommodation space; a door pivotable relative to the housing between a closing state in which the door closes a loading opening of the accommodation space and an opening state in which the door is retracted into a stowing area in the housing; and a guide device coupled to the door to guide the door during movement into and out of the stowing area, said guide device including a bearing unit having a multi-articulated device which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and includes guide elements, said multi-articulated device being configured such that a distance of the guide elements from one another and/or a distance of at least one of the guide elements to the axis of rotation is changeable depending on a position of the door.

15. The household appliance of claim 14, wherein the multi-articulated device comprises a multi-articulated hinge.

16. The household appliance of claim 15, wherein the multi-articulated hinge comprises a base part, a first articulated arm which is mounted on the base part for rotation about the axis of rotation and on which a first one of the guide elements is mounted at a first pivot point, and a second articulated arm which is rotatably connected to the first pivot point of the first one of the guide elements and is rotatably connected to the base part at a second pivot point which is different from the axis of rotation.

17. The household appliance of claim 16, wherein a second one of the guide elements is rotatably mounted at the second pivot point.

18. The household appliance of claim 15, wherein the multi-articulated hinge comprises a base part configured to define the axis of rotation, and an articulated arm on which a first one of the guide elements is rotatably mounted at a first pivot point and which is rotatably mounted on the base part.

19. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein the articulated arm is rotatably mounted via a slot-guide on the base part.

20. The household appliance of claim 19, wherein the slot-guide is a sickle-shaped slot-guide.

21. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein the articulated arm is arranged in the absence of a direct attachment to the axis of rotation.

22. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein a second one of the guide elements is rotatably mounted on the base part at a second pivot point which is different from the axis of rotation.

23. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein a second one of the guide elements is rotatably mounted on the articulated arm at a second pivot point which is different from the first pivot point.

24. The household appliance of claim 14, wherein the multi-articulation device comprises an eccentric unit.

25. The household appliance of claim 24, wherein the eccentric unit comprises a rotary disk configured to define the axis of rotation, a first articulated arm defining a first pivot point via which the first articulated arm is rotatably mounted on the rotary disk and which is different from the axis of rotation, with a first one of the guide elements being rotatably mounted on the first articulated arm at a second pivot point of the first articulated arm, and a second articulated arm defining a first pivot point via which the second articulated arm is rotatably mounted on the rotary disk and which is different from the axis of rotation and from the first pivot point of the first articulated arm, with a second one of the guide elements being rotatably mounted on the second articulated arm at a second pivot point of the second articulated arm.

26. The household appliance of claim 25, wherein the eccentric unit includes a rigid connecting web configured to connect the first and second articulated arms, said connecting web being rotatably attached to the second pivot point of the first articulated arm and rotatably attached to the second pivot point of the second articulated arm.

27. The household appliance of claim 15, wherein the multi-articulated hinge comprises a first articulated arm configured to define the axis of rotation, with a first one of the guide elements being rotatably mounted on the first articulated arm at a first pivot point which is different from the axis of rotation, a second articulated arm which is rotatably mounted on the first articulated arm at a second pivot point which is different from the axis of rotation and from the first pivot point, with a second one of the guide elements being rotatably mounted at a further different pivot point on the second articulated arm, and a rigid connecting web rotatably mounted at the first pivot point of the first articulated arm and rotatably mounted at the further pivot point of the second articulated arm.

28. A method, comprising: mounting a door to a housing of a household appliance for movement of the door between a closing state in which the door closes a loading opening and an opening state in which the door is retracted into a stowing area in the housing, guiding the door during movement into and out of the stowing area via guide elements of a bearing unit which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and configured as a multi-articulated device; and adjusting the multi-articulated device depending on a position of the door such that a distance of the guide elements from one another and/or a distance of at least one of the guide elements to the axis of rotation is altered.

Description

[0031] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the schematic drawings, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 1b shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the household appliance with the door partially open;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a view of a first exemplary embodiment of a bearing unit of a guide device of the household appliance;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a view of a second exemplary embodiment of a bearing unit of a guide device of the household appliance;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a vertical sectional view of the household appliance with a bearing unit according to FIG. 3 and with the door partially open;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a vertical sectional view of the household appliance with a bearing unit according to a further embodiment of the bearing unit and with the door partially open;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 5 with the door open further;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the bearing unit in the position of the door according to FIG. 5;

[0040] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the bearing unit according to FIG. 5 in a further position of the door;

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a view of a further exemplary embodiment of a bearing unit of a guide device of the household appliance;

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an installed arrangement of the bearing unit according to FIG. 9;

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the household appliance with the arrangement according to FIG. 10; and

[0044] FIG. 12 shows a view of a further exemplary embodiment of a bearing unit of a guide device of the household appliance.

[0045] Elements which are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0046] A household appliance 1 which is configured as an oven is shown in FIG. 1a in a schematic perspective view. The household appliance 1 comprises a housing 2 in which a cooking compartment defined by a heated chamber, not shown, is configured. Foodstuffs may be introduced into the cooking compartment for preparation. The cooking compartment is able to be closed on the front face by a door 3, which is shown in the closed end position in FIG. 1a. A handle 4 is configured on the front face of the door 3.

[0047] Moreover, the oven comprises an operating device 5 which, with regard to the position and display, comprises a display unit 6 and operating elements 7 and 8 only by way of example.

[0048] Moreover, with regard to the position and number, the cooking zones 9, 10, 11 and 12 are also shown only by way of example.

[0049] The door 3 in its lower region 13 may be pushed and/or retracted into the housing 2, which is the case when the door 3 is transferred from the closed end position shown in FIG. 1a into the fully open end position. The door 3 is then arranged pushed and retracted into a free space of the housing 2, wherein to this end a stowing area 14, arranged below the cooking compartment and separate therefrom by a corresponding partition, is configured by this free space.

[0050] The door 3 is connected to door hinges 15 and 16, which are shown and identified by way of example, and is pivotable thereby and able to be retracted into and moved out of the cited stowing area 14.

[0051] In FIG. 1b the household appliance 1 is shown in a side view in the lower region with the partially open door 3. A bearing unit 17 is shown. The bearing unit 17 represents a hinge hook of a hinge 15 and/or 16. The hinges 15 and 16 are configured, in particular, to be structurally the same and functionally the same, so that the following description also applies to one of the two hinges and also to the other in each case.

[0052] The hinges 15 and 16, in addition to one respectively provided bearing unit 17, also have a hinge housing which in this case is not shown in more detail. These hinges 15 and 16 are assigned in each case to a guide device 18, relative to the components and functions. The door 3 is guided in terms of movement by means of these guide devices 18 and as a result correspondingly coupled so that it is moved into the stowing area 14 and moved out of the stowing area 14. The bearing unit 17 comprises a pivot point which is arranged on an axis of rotation A which extends in FIG. 1b perpendicular to the plane of the figures. On this axis of rotation A the bearing unit 17, in particular, is also connected to the hinge housing and is pivotable relative to the hinge housing. The bearing unit 17 comprises two guide elements 19 and 20 which are configured as rollers and rotatably mounted on the bearing unit 17.

[0053] A vertical height h which shows the extent of a technical part 21 which forms part of the guide device 18 is illustrated in FIG. 1b. The technical part 21 describes, in particular, a component which has a groove and/or a guide track 22, in which the guide elements 19 and 20 are guided when sliding the door 3 into the stowing area 14.

[0054] For corresponding guidance, a slotted guide carriage 23 is also provided which slides along the guide track 22 and forms part of the guide device 18.

[0055] In FIG. 2 a first exemplary embodiment of the bearing unit 17 is shown. The bearing unit 17 is configured as a multi-articulated device 24 which in the example represents a multi-articulated hinge 25.

[0056] The multi-articulated hinge 25 comprises a first articulated arm 26 which is rigid per se and rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation A on a preferably Y-shaped base part 27 which is rigid per se of the multi-articulated hinge 25. On this first strip-shaped articulated arm 26 the first guide element 19 is rotatably mounted at a pivot point with an axis of rotation B. This axis of rotation B extends parallel to the axis of rotation A. The axis of rotation A is the hinge axis of rotation and thus the axis of rotation of the entire bearing unit 17.

[0057] The multi-articulated hinge 25 also comprises a second articulated arm 28 which is rotatably connected to the pivot point and thus the axis of rotation B of the first guide element 19 and, moreover, is rotatably connected to the base part 27 at a pivot point with an axis of rotation C which is different from the axis of rotation A. The second guide element 20 is also attached so as to be rotatably mounted at this pivot point with the axis of rotation C which is different from the axis of rotation A.

[0058] As may also be identified, the second articulated arm 28 is divided into two separate articulated parts 28a and 28b, which in turn are connected together so as to be rotatably mounted. Also here an axis of rotation D is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation A and the rotational axes B and C and thus perpendicular to the plane of the figures.

[0059] This second articulated arm 28 is preferably guided in a side profile of the door 3 and correspondingly aligned by the opening movement of the door 3.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the distance between the rotational axes B and C of the guide elements 19 and 20 is able to be altered depending on the position of the door 3. The distances of the guide element 19 and/or the axis of rotation B to the axis of rotation A remain constant due to the design of the articulated arm 26 which is rigid per se, and since the further guide element 20 is arranged on the base part 27 which also comprises the axis of rotation A, the distance between the rotational axes C and A also remains constant irrespective of the position of the door 3.

[0061] Moreover, a further exemplary embodiment of a bearing unit 17 is shown in FIG. 3. A multi-articulated hinge 25 is also configured in this case. Here, an articulated arm 29 which is rigid per se is configured on the base part 27 which is rigid per se, said articulated arm being rotatably arranged relative to the base part 27. In the exemplary embodiment the first guide element 19 is arranged so as to be rotatably mounted on the articulated arm 29, wherein the arrangement is such that the guide element 19 is positioned at an end remote from the base part 27.

[0062] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the base part 27 comprises a cut-out and/or a slot-guide 30 which is configured to be curved and/or sickle-shaped. This embodiment with the slot-guide 30 permits a slight tilting of the door 3 at a specific angle, without the door 3 already having moved into the technical part 21 and thus into the stowing area 14. Depending on the type of geometric shape, a spring may also be mounted in the slot-guide 30 in order to improve the guidance of the articulated arm 29 via a corresponding restoring force. During the tilting movement the door 3 rotates about a bearing bush 31 (FIG. 4) until the predetermined opening angle is reached. Subsequently, the door 3 begins to move into the technical part 21, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows in this case a vertical sectional view of the household appliance 1.

[0063] In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 it is also provided that the second guide element 20 is rotatably arranged on the base part 27. In this embodiment, it is then provided that a distance remains constant between an axis of rotation of the guide element 20 and the axis of rotation A, irrespective of the position of the door 3. In contrast, the distance between the axis of rotation of the guide element 19 and the axis of rotation A is then altered. It may also be provided that in a further embodiment of the multi-articulated hinge according to FIG. 3, the second guide element 20 is also arranged on the articulated arm 29. By this embodiment the distance between the guide elements 19 and 20 remains constant but the distance between the guide element 20 and/or the axis of rotation of the guide element 20 and the axis of rotation A may also be altered.

[0064] The bearing bush 31 which, in particular, is a component of the guide device 18 is also shown in FIG. 4. Moreover, a distance a1 is illustrated which represents the distance of the bearing bush 31 relative to a door lower edge. By the distance a2, the distance is shown between the guide elements 19 and 20 in this specific position of the door 3.

[0065] In FIG. 5, a further vertical sectional view of the household appliance 1 is shown, in which the door 3 is also already partially open. In this embodiment, the multi-articulated hinge 25 is in turn configured with a base part 27 which is rigid per se and one or more articulated arms. With the opening movement of the door 3, the receiver and/or the slotted guide carriage 23 follows the guide track 22 in the technical part 21. After overcoming an incline in the guide track, as may also be identified in FIG. 1b, the receiver stops. As a result, a latching position is then adopted. The door 3 rotates about the bearing bush 31 which is pushed into the receiver by a specific angle. The opening angle of the door 3 is dependent on the path of curvature and on the time when the guide elements 19 and 20 tilt to the front via the geometry of the articulations. A distance from the upper guide element 19 to the bearing bush 31 is the same and/or unaltered until the latching position is reached. The latching position of the receiver is released only after the door 3 is horizontally oriented and the door 3 starts to move into the technical part 21. The upper guide element 19 or the lower guide element 20 is indirectly connected to the hinge pivot point and thus to the axis of rotation A. This connection is configured to be movable. The connection to the further lower hinge roller and/or to the lower guide element 20, or with a reverse design to the upper guide element 19, is implemented at a specific distance and angle from the upper arrangement of the guide element 19, but not directly connected to the pivot point and/or the axis of rotation A. The upper guide element moves on a fixed circular path. The lower guide element is guided through the side profile of the door 3.

[0066] In FIG. 6, the state is also shown in which the receiver remains in the respectively shown position and only moves further after the door 3 is fully open.

[0067] In FIG. 7, a further exemplary embodiment is shown in an enlarged view in which the bearing unit 17 is once again a multi-articulated device 24 which comprises one or more articulations and/or articulated arms. With the opening movement of the door 3, the receiver follows the guide track 22 in the technical part 21.

[0068] In FIG. 8, a further partial view is also shown, wherein, on the one hand, the angle between the articulated arms of the hinge and/or the multi-articulated device 24 is symbolized by the arrows P1 shown. The alteration to the distance between the guide element 20 and the axis of rotation A is shown by the further arrow P2.

[0069] In FIG. 9, a further exemplary embodiment of a bearing unit 17 as a multi-articulated device 24 is shown, wherein said bearing unit is configured in this case as an eccentric 32. In particular, it is provided here that this eccentric 32 has a rotary disk 33 which comprises the axis of rotation A. This eccentric 32 comprises a first articulated arm 34 which is rigid per se and which is arranged so as to be rotatably mounted on the rotary disk 33 at a first pivot point with an axis of rotation D which extends perpendicular to the plane of the figures and parallel to the axis of rotation A. The first guide element 19 is arranged so as to be rotatably mounted on the first articulated arm 34 which is rigid per se, wherein here an axis of rotation E is arranged at an end remote from the rotary disk 33. This second pivot point with the axis of rotation E is arranged at an end opposing the end on which the axis of rotation D is configured.

[0070] Moreover, the eccentric 32 comprises a further articulated arm 35 which is rigid per se and which is also arranged so as to be rotatably mounted on the rotary disk 33, wherein to this end a pivot point with an axis of rotation F is provided. The axis of rotation F in turn is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation D and to the axis of rotation A, wherein the pivot point with the axis of rotation F is different from the pivot point with the axis of rotation D.

[0071] The second guide element 20 is rotatably mounted on the second articulated arm 35, wherein here a pivot point is configured with an axis of rotation G, wherein this pivot point is different from the pivot point with the axis of rotation F.

[0072] Moreover, it is provided that this eccentric 32 is a connecting web 36 which is configured to be rigid per se and which is connected so as to be rotatably mounted in each case with the articulated arms 34 and 35. In particular, here the pivot points of the connecting web 36 are those with the axis of rotation E, on the one hand, and with the axis of rotation G, on the other hand.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment according to the view in FIG. 10, in which the eccentric 32 is arranged in a hinge housing 37, the eccentric 32 is positioned such that the rotary disk 33 is located inside this housing 37. In particular, it is provided that the first articulated arm 34 on the rotary disk 33 is fastened such that it still has a defined range of movement. The articulated arm 35 is also arranged on the rotary disk 33 but with a minimal range of movement.

[0074] By the opening movement of the door 3, due to the geometric arrangement the upper hinge arm and/or articulated arm 34 is longer and the second hinge arm and/or the lower articulated arm 35 is shorter. This has the result that the door 3 may move at a flatter angle into the guide track 22 of the technical part 21.

[0075] A side view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the bearing unit 17 in the installed state is shown in FIG. 11. The door 3 in this case is shown in the closed state. The receiver and/or the slotted guide carriage 23 are also able to be identified.

[0076] A further exemplary embodiment of the bearing unit 17 which is configured as multi-articulated device 24 is shown in FIG. 12. In this embodiment, once again a first articulated arm 38 which is rigid per se and which has the axis of rotation A is provided. The first guide element 19 is arranged in a pivot point with an axis of rotation H which is different from the axis of rotation A and which is provided parallel to the axis of rotation A of the hinge and/or the bearing unit 17. The bearing unit 17 also comprises a second articulated arm 39 which is rigid per se and which is rotatably mounted on the first articulated arm 38 at a further pivot point with an axis of rotation I which is different from the axis of rotation A and from the pivot point with the axis of rotation H. As may be identified, the pivot point with the axis of rotation I is arranged along the rigid first articulated arm 38 between the axis of rotation A and the axis of rotation H. The second guide element 20 is rotatably mounted on the second articulated arm 39 at a further different pivot point with an axis of rotation J. The bearing unit 17 also comprises a connecting web 40 which is rigid per se and which is rotatably mounted with the first articulated arm 38 and is connected to the second articulated arm 39. In this case it is provided that the connecting web 40 is rotatably mounted at the pivot point with the axis of rotation H, on the one hand, and at the pivot point with the axis of rotation J, on the other hand. Here an embodiment is implemented, therefore, in which levers and/or articulations are present which in each case have a separate pivot point in the hinge housing 37. By the opening movement of the door 3 and the receiver of the guide track 22, which follow a predetermined path of curvature, these two levers rotate about their respective pivot points and thus permit the pivoting of the door 3 into the technical part 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0077] 1 Oven [0078] 2 Housing [0079] 3 Door [0080] 4 Handle [0081] 5 Operating device [0082] 6 Display unit [0083] 7 Operating element [0084] 8 Operating element [0085] 9 Cooking zone [0086] 10 Cooking zone [0087] 11 Cooking zone [0088] 12 Cooking zone [0089] 13 Region [0090] 14 Stowing area [0091] 15 Door hinge [0092] 16 Door hinge [0093] 17 Bearing unit [0094] 18 Guide device [0095] 19 Guide element [0096] 20 Guide element [0097] 21 Technical part [0098] 22 Guide track [0099] 23 Slotted guide carriage [0100] 24 Multi-articulated device [0101] 25 Multi-articulated hinge [0102] 26 Articulated arm [0103] 27 Base part [0104] 28 Articulated arm [0105] 28a Articulated part [0106] 28b Articulated part [0107] 29 Articulated arm [0108] 30 Slot-guide [0109] 31 Bearing bush [0110] 32 Eccentric [0111] 33 Rotary disk [0112] 34 Articulated arm [0113] 35 Articulated arm [0114] 36 Connecting web [0115] 37 Hinge housing [0116] 38 Articulated arm [0117] 39 Articulated arm [0118] 40 Connecting web [0119] A Axis of rotation [0120] B Pivot point [0121] C Pivot point [0122] D Axis of rotation [0123] E Pivot point [0124] F Pivot point [0125] G Pivot point [0126] H Pivot point [0127] I Pivot point [0128] J Pivot point [0129] K Pivot point [0130] a1 Distance [0131] A2 Distance [0132] P1 Arrow [0133] P2 Arrow