CN110017656B

CN110017656B - Domestic refrigeration device with lighting device

Info

Publication number: CN110017656B
Application number: CN201811522677.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·迈尔; A·韦伯
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2017-12-13
Filing date: 2018-12-13
Publication date: 2021-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-13
Also published as: DE102017222647A1; CN110017656A

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic refrigerator having a heat-insulating body with an inner container which delimits a coolable interior space provided for storing foodstuffs, and having a refrigerating device for cooling the coolable interior space. The domestic refrigeration appliance comprises a lighting device (30, 70) comprising a housing (31) having a front wall (34) and a wall (35) oriented at right angles to the front wall (34), the front wall and the wall forming a gap (36), a light guide (38) being arranged in the gap (36), the light guide having a side (41) facing the wall (35) and a side (42) facing away from the wall (35), and at least one light-emitting means (44) being arranged in the housing (31) in such a way that the light-emitting means couples its light into the side (42) of the light guide (38) facing away from the wall (35), so that the light guide (38) can illuminate the gap (36).

Description

Domestic refrigeration device with lighting device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration device having a lighting device.

Background

A domestic refrigerator generally comprises a thermally insulated body having an inner container which delimits a coolable interior space provided for storing food, and a refrigerating device for cooling the coolable interior space. The domestic refrigeration appliance may also comprise a lighting device, for example in the form of a display device.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide an improved domestic refrigeration device having a lighting device.

The object of the invention is achieved by a domestic refrigerator having a heat-insulating body with an inner container which delimits a coolable interior space provided for storing foodstuffs, and having a refrigerator for cooling the coolable interior space, and having a lighting device with a housing having a front wall and a wall oriented at right angles to the front wall, which front wall and wall form a gap, and with a light guide arranged in the gap, which light guide has a side facing the wall and a side facing away from the wall, and with at least one light-emitting means which is arranged in the housing in such a way that the light-emitting means couples its light into the side of the light guide facing away from the wall, so that the light guide can illuminate the gap.

The domestic refrigerator according to the invention comprises a coolable interior which is cooled by means of a refrigerating device. The refrigerating device preferably has a refrigerant circuit known in principle to the person skilled in the art and is embodied such that it cools the coolable interior at least approximately to a predetermined temperature. The coolable interior space is provided for storing food.

The domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention can be, for example, a domestic cooling appliance. In this case, the coolable interior space is cooled to a temperature of more than 0 ℃. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention can also be a freezer appliance or a combined freezer and cooler appliance.

Preferably, the domestic refrigeration device according to the invention comprises a door leaf which, in the closed state, closes off a coolable interior and, in the open state, makes the interior accessible. The door leaf comprises in particular an outer skin, for example made of metal, facing away from the coolable interior space, an inner skin facing the coolable interior space, and an insulation element, preferably in the form of an insulating foam, arranged between the inner skin and the outer skin.

The door leaf can have a recess which is preferably designed as a rear part (hindlegtein), which is in particular foamed into the heat-insulating foam of the door leaf. The niche comprises a bottom, preferably made of plastic and accessible through an opening of the outer skin. Preferably, the lighting device is fixed in the niche. For this purpose, the lighting device or its housing can comprise fixing means which co-act with mating fixing means of the niche for fixing. The fastening means are, for example, latching means and the mating fastening means are corresponding mating latching means.

The door leaf of the domestic refrigerator according to the invention can have a transparent cover which is fastened to the side of the outer skin facing away from the heat insulation and completely covers the niche. The transparent cover is, for example, a glass plate (glass front). Preferably, the transparent covering extends over the entire outer skin of the door leaf.

In one embodiment of the domestic refrigeration device according to the invention, the lighting device fastened in the recess bears with its front wall against the transparent cover. In the case of the mounting of a transparent cover or glass pane/glass front on a skin, in particular a skin made of sheet metal, different distances between the skin and the transparent cover can be achieved in the case of different domestic refrigeration appliances, for example due to manufacturing tolerances and the use of different connecting possibilities between the glass pane and the skin (for example the thickness of the adhesive strips or thermal adhesive for fastening).

Preferably, to compensate for these differences, the housing of the lighting device may comprise at least one spring. The at least one spring is in particular a plastic spring and is for example injection molded on the rear side of the housing.

In this case, the lighting device is preferably fastened in the niche in such a way that it is pressed with its at least one spring against the bottom of the niche on the rear side and with the front wall of the housing against the side of the transparent cover facing the outer skin.

The lighting device includes a housing including a front wall and a wall oriented at a right angle to the front wall. Preferably, the housing is made of plastic.

The housing may include a further wall opposite the wall and joined to the front wall. The wall, the front wall, optionally further walls and optionally at least one plastic spring can be embodied as a one-piece component of the housing.

Preferably, the front wall comprises a partition and a bearing surface arranged for fixing the partition. In this case, the housing can also comprise a further wall or at least one plastic spring opposite this wall and engaging on the front wall or the bearing surface. The wall, the bearing surface, optionally further walls and optionally at least one plastic spring can be embodied as a one-piece component of the housing and/or preferably consist of plastic. Preferably, the separator is made of metal.

Preferably, the outwardly oriented side of the front wall or cover is provided with a logo, symbol and/or written description.

The lighting device comprises a light emitting means which couples light thereof into the light conductor. The light-emitting device comprises, for example, at least one LED, in particular a plurality of LEDs arranged side by side. The LED or LEDs may for example generate white light. However, it can also be provided that the LED or LEDs generate colored light. In particular, it can be provided that the color of the light of the LED is adjustable. Thus, for example, at least one bi-colored LED may be used. It is also possible to use a plurality of LEDs as the light emitting device, at least two of which generate light of different colors.

The housing of the lighting device comprises a front wall and the wall, which form the gap. A light guide is arranged in the gap, so that it can illuminate the gap and thus the front wall if necessary. The light conductor fills the gap in particular completely. If the outwardly oriented side of the front wall or the cover comprises a logo, a symbol and/or a written description, said logo, symbol and/or written description is illuminated if necessary.

The at least one light-emitting means is arranged in the housing in such a way that it couples its light into the side of the light guide facing away from the wall. Thereby, the at least one light emitting device is arranged laterally with respect to the light conductor, whereby the depth of the lighting device can be reduced. The at least one light-emitting means is therefore arranged in particular between the light guide and the other wall. This is particularly advantageous when the lighting device is fixed in the niche of the door leaf, since the lighting device can be implemented with a relatively small depth. The insulation between the niche and the inner skin can thus be made thicker.

Due to the light guide arranged in the gap, light is generated. Preferably, the light guide is arranged in the gap in such a way that it extends flush with the outwardly oriented side of the front wall.

In order that this light also illuminates uniformly over a relatively long distance and relatively few LEDs are used here, it is advantageous to obtain a correspondingly large distance between the LEDs and the light. In contrast to the configuration of the LED with its light coupled into the light guide from behind, a compact and efficient configuration of the illumination device is achieved due to the arrangement of the at least one light-emitting means laterally with respect to the light guide.

In accordance with an embodiment of the domestic cooling device according to the invention, the light guide comprises a first partial region arranged in the interspace and a second partial region covered by the front wall. The first partial region thus forms a light ray and preferably extends flush with the front wall. The first partial region in particular completely fills the gap.

The second partial region of the light guide is covered by the front wall, i.e. extends behind the front wall, if applicable behind the bearing surface. The second partial region comprises the side of the light guide facing away from the wall, i.e. the at least one light-emitting means couples its light laterally into the second partial region of the light guide covered by the front wall.

Preferably, the cross-section of the light guide is L-shaped.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are illustratively shown in the accompanying schematic drawings. The figures show:

fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a domestic refrigerator with a door leaf;

fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a door leaf in which a lighting device is arranged;

fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the lighting device;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the lighting device;

fig. 5 shows a front view of the lighting device;

fig. 6 shows a cross-section of a lighting device;

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of an alternative lighting device;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of an alternative lighting device;

FIG. 9 shows a front view of an alternative lighting device; and

fig. 10 shows a cross section of a further lighting device.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a domestic refrigerator 1, which comprises an insulated body 2 with an inner container 3, which delimits a coolable interior 4. The coolable interior space 4 is provided for storing food products, not shown.

The domestic refrigerator 1 comprises a door leaf 20, which is mounted on the body 2 such that it can pivot, in particular about a vertically extending axis. The interior space 4 which can be cooled is accessible with the door leaf 20 open, and the interior space 4 which can be cooled is closed with the door leaf 20 closed. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the door leaf 20 in a sectional view.

The door leaf 20 comprises an inner skin 21 facing the coolable interior space 4, an outer skin 22, in particular made of metal, facing away from the coolable interior space 4, and an insulation 23, in particular in the form of an insulating foam, arranged between the inner skin 21 and the outer skin 22.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, a plurality of shelves 6 for storing food are arranged on the side of the inner skin 21 of the door leaf 20 oriented toward the coolable interior 4. In particular, a plurality of compartments 7 for storing food items are arranged in the coolable interior 4, and in particular a drawer 8, which can also store food items, is arranged in the lower region of the coolable interior 4. One of the compartments 7 is arranged above the drawer 8, which compartment covers the upwardly oriented opening of the drawer 8.

The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a refrigeration device 5 known in principle to the person skilled in the art, preferably in the form of a refrigerant circulation system for cooling the coolable interior space 4.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the domestic refrigeration device 1 comprises an electronic control device 9, which is provided to control the refrigeration device 5, in particular a compressor of a refrigerant circuit, in a manner generally known to the person skilled in the art in such a way that the coolable interior 4 has at least approximately a predefined or predefinable setpoint temperature. Preferably, the electronic control device 9 is arranged such that it regulates the temperature of the coolable interior space 4. In order to obtain the actual temperature of the coolable interior 4 if necessary, the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 can have at least one temperature sensor, which is not illustrated in detail and is connected to the electronic control device 9.

The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a lighting device 30 which is shown in an exploded view in fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows a side view, fig. 5 a front view, and fig. 6 a cross-section of the lighting device 30 along the line a-a.

In the case of the present embodiment, the lighting means 30 are fixed in the niche 24 of the door leaf 20. Preferably, niches 24 are configured as a rear part, in particular, foamed in the insulating foam of door leaf 20. Niches 24 comprise a bottom 25, preferably made of plastic and accessible through the opening of outer skin 22.

The lighting device 30 comprises a housing 31.

The housing 31 includes a back side 32 and a front side 33, which includes a front wall 34.

The housing 31 includes a wall 35 oriented at a right angle to the front wall 34 and forming a gap 36 therewith. In the case of the present embodiment, the wall 35 and the gap 36 extend horizontally.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the housing 31 comprises a further wall 45, which is aligned in particular parallel to the wall 35 and is connected to the front wall 34 on the side facing away from the gap 36.

The front wall 34, the wall 35 and the further wall 45 are made of plastic in particular and can be part of a one-piece component of the housing 31.

In the case of the present embodiment, the front wall 34 comprises a bearing surface 47, preferably made of plastic, and a cover 37, preferably made of metal. Preferably, the support surface 47, the front wall 34, the wall 35 and the further wall 45 are part of a one-piece component of the housing 31. Preferably, the one-piece component part is made of plastic.

Preferably, the outwardly oriented sides of the front wall 34 and the cover 37 are provided with Logo, logos, symbols and/or written instructions. The cover 37 is in particular fixed to the support surface 47.

The illumination device 30 comprises a light conductor 38 which is arranged in the gap and completely fills the gap. The light guide 38 is made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or polycarbonate, for example.

The light conductor 38 of the lighting device 30 is in particular designed such that it extends flush with the outwardly oriented surface of the front wall 34 or the cover 37.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the light guide 38 is designed such that it extends partially behind the front wall 34, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment behind the bearing surface 47. The light guide 38 therefore comprises in particular a first partial region 39, which is arranged in the gap 36 and fills it, and a second partial region 40, which extends behind the front wall 34. The front wall 34 therefore covers the second partial region 40 of the light conductor 38. Preferably, the second partial region 40 rests against the front wall 34. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the cross section of the light guide 38 is L-shaped.

The optical waveguide 38 comprises a side 41 facing the wall 35 and a side 42 facing away from the wall 35, the optical waveguide 38 preferably resting with the side 41 against the wall 35.

The lighting device 30 comprises at least one light-emitting means which in the case of the present exemplary embodiment is embodied as a plurality of LEDs 44 arranged side by side on the printed circuit board 43.

The light-emitting means or LED44 is arranged in the lighting device 30 or in the housing 31 thereof in such a way that it couples its light laterally into the light guide 38, in particular into the side 44 of the light guide 38 facing away from the gap 36. The gap 36 is thereby illuminated by the first partial region 39 (that is to say by the region of the light conductor 38 which fills the gap 36). Further, the light emitting devices or LEDs 44 are covered by the front wall 33. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, light-emitting means or LEDs 44 are arranged between light guide 38, in particular second subregion 40 of the light guide, and further wall 45 in housing 31.

The LED44 may generate white light. It may also be provided that LEDs 44 producing different colors of light are used. Especially bi-color LEDs 44 are used.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the lighting device 30 or its housing 31 comprises at least one plastic spring 46, which is injection molded on the housing 31 in one piece, for example on the rear side 32 of the housing 31 or on the wall 35 or another wall 45 of the housing 31.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the door leaf 20 comprises a transparent cover 26, in particular made of glass, which is fastened to the outer skin 20 and preferably covers the entire outer skin 22, so that the door leaf 20 preferably has a glass front. Transparent cover 26 covers niche 24, so that lighting device 30 rests on the side of transparent cover 26 facing outer skin 22.

The lighting device 30 is fixed in the recess 24 in such a way that it is pressed with its plastic spring 46 against the bottom 25 of the recess 24 on the rear side and with its front side 33 or front wall 34 against the side of the transparent cover 26 facing the outer skin 22.

Fig. 7 to 10 show further lighting devices 70 which can be used instead of the lighting device 30 in the domestic refrigeration appliance 1. Components of the further lighting device 70 which are essentially identical in construction and function to components of the lighting device 30 are provided with the same reference numerals, if not otherwise described.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view, fig. 8 a side view, fig. 9 a front view and fig. 10 a section through a further lighting device 70.

The other lighting device 70 differs from the lighting device 30 in that the other lighting device does not include the plastic spring 46.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the other lighting device 70 or its housing 31 comprises fastening means 71, preferably in the form of latching means (for example in the form of latching hooks or latching noses), which are injection molded on the housing 31 in one piece, for example on the rear side 32 of the housing 31 or on the wall 35 or other wall 45 of the housing 31. In this case niche 24 comprises mating fastening means for fastening further lighting means 70 in the niche by means of fastening means 71. In this case, it can be provided that the door leaf 20 does not comprise a transparent cover 26.

List of reference numerals

1 domestic refrigeration appliance

2 main body

3 inner container

4 inner space capable of cooling

5 refrigerating plant

6 door frame

7 lattice bottom

8 drawer

9 electronic control device

20 door leaf

21 endothelium

22 outer skin

23 Heat insulation element

24 niche

25 bottom

26 transparent cover

30 Lighting device

31 shell

32 back side

33 front side

34 front wall

35 wall

36 gap

37 cover

38 light conductor

39 first partial region

40 second partial region

Side 41

Side 42

43 printed circuit board

44 LED

45 other walls

46 plastic spring

47 bearing surface

70 other lighting device

71 fixing device

Claims

1. A domestic cooling device having a heat-insulating body (2) which has an inner container (3) which delimits a coolable interior space (4) provided for storing foodstuffs and having a cooling device (5) for cooling the coolable interior space (4), characterized in that the domestic cooling device has a lighting device (30, 70) which comprises a housing (31) having a front wall (34) and a wall (35) oriented at right angles to the front wall (34), which form a gap (36), a light guide (38) which is arranged in the gap (36), and at least one light-emitting means (44), the light guide having a side (41) facing the wall (35) and a side (42) facing away from the wall (35), the light-emitting means being arranged in the housing (31) in such a way that it couples its light into a side (42) of the light guide (38) facing away from the wall (35), so that the light guide (38) can illuminate the gap (36),

wherein the light guide (38) is arranged in the gap (36) in such a way that it extends flush with the outwardly oriented side of the front wall (34),

wherein the cross-section of the light guide (38) is L-shaped.

2. A domestic cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor (38) has a first partial region (39) and a second partial region (40), the first partial region being arranged in the gap (36), the front wall (34) covering the second partial region and the second partial region comprising a side (42) facing away from the wall (35).

3. A domestic cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front wall (34) comprises a partition (37) and a bearing surface (47) arranged for fixing the partition (37).

4. A domestic cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the wall (35) and the bearing surface (47) are embodied as a one-piece component of the housing (31).

5. A domestic cooling device according to claim 4, wherein the one-piece component is made of plastic and the baffle (37) is made of metal.

6. A domestic cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a door leaf (20) which in the closed state closes the coolable interior space (4) and in the open state makes the interior space accessible, wherein the door leaf (20) comprises an outer skin (22) facing away from the coolable interior space (4), an inner skin (21) facing the coolable interior space (4), an insulation (23) arranged between the inner skin (21) and the outer skin (22), and a niche (24) comprising a bottom (25), which niche is accessible through an opening in the outer skin (22) and in which the lighting means (30, 70) are fixed.

7. A domestic cooling device according to claim 6, characterized in that it has a transparent cover (26) which is fixed on the side of the outer skin (22) facing away from the heat insulation (23) and completely covers the alcove (24), wherein the housing (31) of the lighting device (30) comprises at least one spring (46) and the lighting device (30) is fixed in the alcove (24) in such a way that it presses with its at least one spring (46) resiliently against the bottom (25) of the alcove (24) on the rear side and with the front wall (34) of the housing (31) against the side of the transparent cover (26) facing the outer skin (22).

8. A domestic cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light emitting means comprises at least one LED (44) which produces white light or light with a different colour.