EP3601913B1 - A household appliance with a component having an inclined strip surface and a functional component arranged thereon - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, with a housing and with a device component which is arranged on the housing and is separate from the housing and which is movable relative to the housing.

Such a household appliance can be a household refrigerator (e.g. refrigerator, freezer or fridge-freezer combination), a household dishwasher or a household cooking appliance.

In household refrigeration appliances, it is known to have an operating and / or display unit which is usually arranged inside the appliance and cannot be seen when the door is closed. In addition, it is known that in built-in devices a decorative plate is arranged on the front side of the door, which completely covers the front side of the door, so that here, too, other components of the device cannot be seen. In the known devices, the variant flexibility with additional components visible from the front is relatively low and the positioning of additional components is limited.

The US 2011 006 655 A1 discloses a household appliance having a drawer with a display disposed on an inclined surface of the drawer.

The DE 10 2012 200 812 A1 discloses a refrigeration device, on the door of which a user interface module is arranged in a section of a front wall panel of the door.

The US 2015 155 399 A1 discloses a refrigerator on the door of which a lighting device is formed at an inclined edge portion of the door.

The post-published under Art. 54 (3) EPC WO 2017 084 845 A1 discloses a household appliance with an appliance component which has a recessed grip that can be gripped from above.

US 2011/209493 A1 shows further relevant prior art.

The object of the present invention is to create a household appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, in which the ability to equip with additional components on a movable appliance component is improved.

This object is achieved by a household appliance, in particular a household refrigerator, which has the features according to claim 1.

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a household refrigerator, with a housing and with a device component arranged on the housing and separate from the housing. The device component can be moved relative to the housing. The device component has a front wall which has a front face and a strip face inclined thereto. The front surface and the strip surface are thus two separate surface areas which are oriented differently from one another and therefore do not extend in a common plane. The strip surface adjoins the front surface, so that a visible side or front surface of the device component is formed by the front surface and the side surface. The front side surface (6) and the strip surface (7) are arranged so that they overlap one another only in areas when the surfaces are viewed as a projection.

The household appliance, in particular the household refrigerator, also has a separate functional component which is arranged on the strip surface and has a display and / or control unit.

The overlap forms a recess (8) from behind as a handle between a front side of the strip surface (7) and a rear side (10) of the front side surface (6), the strip surface (7) at an angle (α) between 30 ° and 85 ° is arranged to the front surface (6).

Such a configuration of a household appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, makes it possible to equip additional components in a more variable manner and thus enables these additional components to be viewed from the front even when the appliance component is arranged in a basic position. This not only extends the technical functionality of the device, but also improves a front-side visual appearance, in particular calms down, although there are still several components are also available. The positioning of this separate functional component at a specific local point, namely at this inclined strip surface, also enables a compact construction of such a multicomponent arrangement, so that the functional component is positioned in a space-saving and tidy manner in addition to its desired front-side recognizability and visibility. In particular, the functional component is designed and arranged in such a way that a front side is arranged correspondingly at an angle to the front side surface. This front side can then also be the strip surface or the strip surface can have this front side.

In the case of such an overlapping arrangement between the strip surface and the front side surface in such a projection view, the recess from behind is formed as a handle between a front side of the strip surface and a rear side of the front side surface. Viewed in the depth direction of the household appliance, the strip surface and the front side surface are arranged at a distance from one another, in particular the strip surface is arranged behind the front side surface in the depth direction, whereby this recess is then formed in this three-dimensional view. As a result, a simple and yet ergonomically grippable handle is also produced in a particularly advantageous manner. This is thus designed to be more or less integrated and is formed by specific orientations of the strip surface and the front side surface as well as specific extensions of this strip surface and the front side surface. Particularly when viewed from the front, the handle is then also designed to save space and is also arranged as a movable part not protruding undesirably to the front.

The fact that the strip surface (7) is arranged at an angle (α) between 30 ° and 85 ° to the front surface (6) is particularly advantageous in that this specific orientation also makes it particularly advantageous to present information on it, because optical reflections or other reflections can thereby be reduced. The perceptibility of correspondingly presented information is particularly advantageous with such an inclined arrangement of the strip surface.

The household appliance has a display and / or operating unit as a functional component. This display and / or operating unit is formed on the strip surface. By such a component concentration on the inclined surface area, namely This strip area, a compact structure can be achieved, which enables unrestricted visibility of the display and / or operating unit, even if the device component is positioned in the basic state arranged on the housing.

It is preferably provided that the strip surface is oriented when viewed in the vertical direction of the household appliance. With such a configuration, the strip surface is also arranged, as it were, as an edge-side vertical border for the front surface. As a result, the strip surface also acts functionally as a frame part, which is also arranged differently with respect to its orientation to the front surface. Precisely because of this, the strip surface is also tidied up by its edge-side positioning relative to the front surface and is not arranged standing in the way; on the other hand, the strip surface and thus also the functional component can be seen.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the front surface is arranged to overlap the strip surface by a maximum of 70 percent. This then also means that when the viewing direction is perpendicular to the projection plane in which the front side surface and the strip surface are projected, the strip surface can be viewed in certain areas. With such a configuration, the strip surface is thus partially covered by the front surface when viewed from the front, whereby on the one hand the strip surface is also protected towards the front to a certain extent. On the other hand, this protrusion of the front surface may also prevent undesired incidence of light on the strip surface, which also improves the viewing of the strip surface and the perceptibility of the strip surface.

In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that a decorative plate separate from the device component is arranged on the front surface. This is a further very advantageous embodiment, since the front side of the device component is thus protected by this separate decorative plate and is thus protected from undesired mechanical influences. In addition, this decorative panel also makes it possible to create an individual optical appearance on the front. A single household appliance can thus be configured with a very individual, different optical appearance on the front side by means of the variable fitting with a decorative panel. This is particularly advantageous when the household appliance is a built-in device or is designed as a built-in household appliance and is intended for installation in a built-in niche, for example a furniture wall. As a result, a holistic visual appearance of this overall arrangement can be created precisely in harmony with the front sides of the component of this furniture wall and the decorative panel that may be adapted to it. It is also conceivable that the decorative plate consists completely, essentially completely or at least partially of metal. It is conceivable that the decorative plate comprises a metal sheet or is formed by a metal sheet. In principle, it is conceivable that the decorative plate is arranged on the front surface in a non-destructive manner, in particular in a non-working manner.

It is preferably provided that this separate decorative plate completely covers the front surface on the front side. The advantages mentioned above are therefore achieved in a special way.

It can be provided that the functional component has a separate decorative element. With such a configuration it is thus possible to create an individual optical and haptic appearance. The variability design of the household appliance can thus also be increased and also individualized on this strip surface. A decorative element can be designed differently in terms of color and / or material and / or structure. For example, a fabric or leather or the like can also be provided here. On the other hand, it is also possible for this separate decorative element to be made of metal. A design made of wood or the like can also be provided. With regard to the structuring, a wide variety of configurations can be provided here, which take account of the individual optical appearance. For this purpose, different grains or different individual images can be provided as structuring. In principle, it is conceivable that the decorative element is arranged on the strip surface in a non-destructive manner, in particular releasable without a tool.

It is also conceivable that a decorative plate separate from the device component is arranged on the front surface and that the functional component has a separate decorative element, the decorative plate and the decorative element being identical in terms of color and / or pattern and / or material. In this way, an external appearance of the household appliance can be established in a simple and inexpensive manner.

It can be provided that this separate decorative element is arranged on the strip surface in a non-destructive detachable manner. As a result, an exchange for maintenance work or for changing the visual appearance can easily be taken into account.

It is preferably provided that the front face is oriented vertically.

In an aspect not belonging to the invention it is provided that the strip surface is completely uncovered towards the front and the front side surface ends at an edge of the strip surface. This means that no overlap is formed in the direction in which the front surface and the strip surface are arranged with respect to one another and are thus positioned next to one another in this viewing direction and thus also in the spatial direction. When the front surface and the strip surface are projected into a plane, these surfaces are arranged without overlapping. The front surface and the strip surface are thus arranged without overlapping in this spatial direction in which they are formed in series with one another. This is particularly advantageous in that the functional component can then also be made large and thus can also extend, as it were, over a large proportion of the extent that is measured along the narrow side of the strip surface. When viewed from the front, a functional component as large as possible can be generated in this inclined arrangement of the strip surface, which is then completely and unrestrictedly exposed to the front and can be seen and is not covered by the front surface at least in some areas.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention, the inclined strip surface extends over at least 50 percent, in particular at least 80 percent, in particular at least 90 percent, of the length of an edge of the front surface to which the inclined strip surface adjoins. As a result of this relatively large dimensioning of the strip area, a larger depression can also be formed on the strip area in addition to the display and / or operating unit, which can then also be made larger.

It is preferably provided that the functional component is a plate strip. It can in particular be made of real glass. In particular, the panel strip is made of plastic, which is transparent at least in the area of the display and / or control unit. The plate strip can be designed as an IML (in-mold labeling) film, for example. Straight when this plate strip is colored, a very calm visual appearance is created. In those cases in which the display and / or control unit is designed as a touch-sensitive unit, the display and / or control unit is virtually undetectable in its deactivated state, in particular at a somewhat greater distance from the household appliance. In particular in such configurations, it is particularly advantageous if a specific operating state, in particular the standby operating state, is displayed optically, in particular adjacent to the position at which the display and / or operating unit is formed in the inclined strip surface.

It is preferably provided that the strip surface is arranged at an angle between 40 ° and 70 ° to the front surface.

The strip surface, precisely with its inclined positioning, thus enables a comprehensive and easily perceptible information display of the functional component. It also enables a user-friendly and smooth operation of the functional component designed as a display and / or control unit, since the corresponding orientation of the strip surface means that the control surface and the control elements are more or less facing the user and therefore without a complex movement and thus without bending or bending a finger unnecessarily to have to, the actuation can be realized. The accessibility for operating these operating elements on the strip surface is also very ergonomically possible.

It is preferably provided that the display and / or operating unit has touch-sensitive operating elements. As a result, the structure above the strip area is virtually not increased, since these touch-sensitive operating areas are designed with sensors arranged below. The installation space immediately next to the strip surface is not impaired.

It is preferably provided that the display and / or operating unit comprises a TFT display. As a result, not only static but also dynamic information can be displayed, and both the variety of colors and the authenticity of the information presented are particularly high. Furthermore, this also results in a very flat structure the display and / or control unit, which in turn requires little installation space.

It can be provided that the household appliance has two, three or four strip surfaces inclined to the front surface. These further strip areas can have the features disclosed with regard to the strip area according to the invention.

According to the invention, a functional component is arranged on the strip surface according to the invention and a further functional component is arranged on one of the further strip surfaces. It is conceivable to arrange two strip surfaces opposite one another with respect to the front side surface (e.g. a left, vertically running and a right, vertically running strip surface) in mirror symmetry, in particular with regard to the angle at which the strip surface is arranged with respect to the front side surface and / or the shape of the strip surface and / or the size of the strip area.

According to the invention, the household appliance has a second strip surface which is opposite the strip surface, a second functional component being arranged on the second strip surface. In particular, it is conceivable here that the functional component arranged on the strip surface and the second functional component arranged on the second strip surface are interchangeable. According to the invention, the device component is a door, so a change in the door hinge can be promoted in this way. It is conceivable, in particular, that both the strip area and the second strip area are arranged vertically. The functional component here has a display and / or operating unit. The second functional component has a decorative element.

The household appliance can be, for example, a household dishwasher or a household cooking appliance. The household appliance is preferably a household refrigerator. In particular, the household refrigerator is a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerator-freezer.

With the information "above", "below", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "Direction of width" and "Direction of height" are those for intended use and intended use Arranging the device and given positions and orientations given to an observer then standing in front of the device and looking in the direction of the device.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without the frame to leave the invention. There are thus also embodiments of the invention to be considered as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but emerge from the explained embodiments and can be generated by separate combinations of features. Designs and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed, which therefore do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltskältegeräts;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilausschnitts des Haushaltskältegeräts gemäß Fig. 1; und

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilausschnitts eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Haushaltskältegeräts das nicht unter der vorliegend beanspruchten Erfindung fällt.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a household refrigerator according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a plan view of a partial section of the household refrigerator according to Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 3

a plan view of a partial section of an embodiment of a household refrigerator which does not fall under the presently claimed invention.

Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In Fig. 1 In one embodiment, a household appliance, in the form of a household refrigerator 1, is shown, which is designed to hold food.

The household refrigerator 1 can be a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerator-freezer. In the exemplary embodiment, it is a combined fridge-freezer. The household refrigerator 1 has a housing 2 in which a first receiving space 3 for food is formed. This first receiving space 3 is, for example, a cooling compartment. The first receiving space 3 is delimited by walls of an inner container which has a loading opening on the front.

This loading opening and thus also the receiving space 3 can be closed by a door 4. The first door 4 is shown in the illustrated embodiment in the closed state. The door 4 represents a device component. The door 4 is arranged pivotably on the housing 2. The in Fig. 1 The shown closed state of the door 4 represents a basic state or a basic position of the door 4.

In Fig. 2 a partial section of the household refrigerator 1 is shown in a plan view. The top view is shown here in a plane which is a horizontal plane and is spanned by the width direction (x direction) of the household refrigerator 1 and the depth direction (z direction) of the household refrigerator 1. Perpendicular to the representation in Fig. 2 runs the height direction (y-direction).

As in Fig. 2 As can be seen, the door 4 has a front wall 5 which has a front face 6. The front face 6 is oriented here in or essentially in a vertical plane which is given by the xy plane.

The front wall 5 also has a strip surface 7 which is inclined at an angle to the front surface 6 and which, viewed in this width direction in particular, laterally adjoins the front surface 6. According to the invention, an angle α between the strip surface 7 and the front surface 6 is between 30 ° and 85 °, in particular between 40 ° and 70 °.

As with the design in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 can be seen, the obliquely inclined strip surface 7 extends in the height direction and thus vertically. In the exemplary embodiment, this strip surface 7 extends over at least half, preferably at least 80 percent, preferably over 100 percent of the height of the front surface 6.

In addition, in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 provided that the surfaces 6 and 7, viewed in the width direction and thus in the x-direction, are designed to overlap in a projection view in which the front surface 6 and the strip surface 7 are projected into a plane perpendicular to the depth direction. In particular, this overlap is preferably formed to a maximum of 70 percent of the extent of the strip surface 7 in this width direction. When viewed from the front and thus when viewed in the depth direction, the strip surface 7 projects laterally over the front surface 6 in some areas and can therefore also be seen at least in some areas from the front.

In the case of such an overlapping extension between the front surface 6 and the strip surface 7 when viewed as a projection, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Fig. 2 It can be seen, according to the invention, a recess 8 from behind is also formed by this surface arrangement, which represents a handle that can be accessed from the side. With this configuration, the door 4 can then also simply be actuated by engaging in this recess 8 and thus opened and closed.

As can be seen, the recess 8, viewed in the height direction, is designed to be open at the top.

A separate functional component 9 is arranged on the strip surface 7. According to the invention, the functional component 9 has a display and / or operating unit and a second functional component has a separate decorative element. As can be seen, the functional component 9 has a plate-like design and is sunk in the front wall 5 on this strip surface 7. In particular, it is thus provided that a front side 9a of this functional component 9 is flush with an outer side 10 joining it, wherein this outer side 10 can be a rear side of the front side surface 9. In this area, the front side 10a is arranged at an angle to the front side surface 6. The front side 10a can be the strip surface 7 or be part of the strip area 7. The strip surface 7 can have the front side 10a.

As a result, the functional component 9 is also arranged embedded.

In addition, it can be provided that the household refrigerator 1 has a separate decorative plate 11 which, viewed in the depth direction, is arranged on the front side on the front surface 6. In particular, this decorative plate 11 extends completely over the dimensions of the front surface 6, so that it completely covers the front surface 6 on the front. This separate decorative panel 11 can be, for example, a furniture front panel or a metallic decorative panel.

In Fig. 3 FIG. 14 is another plan view corresponding to that shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown. In this embodiment of a household refrigerator 1, which does not fall under the presently claimed invention, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIG Fig. 2 no recess 8 formed behind. Rather, the strip surface 7 is already closed in this embodiment Fig. 2 discussed projection observation of an xy plane with no overlap with the front surface 6 and the strip surface 7 formed. The strip surface 7 is thus not partially covered when viewed from the front and thus when viewed in the depth direction by the front surface 6.

As shown in Fig. 1 Furthermore, it can be seen that the household refrigerator 1 can have at least one second receiving space 12, which can be a freezer compartment, for example. This second receiving space 12 can be closed by a further separate door 13, which is shown in FIG Fig. 1 shown in the closed state. As in the execution according to Fig. 1 preferably provided, the door 13 can be designed according to the design of the door 4. This results in a continuous, even edge-side arrangement in the vertical direction with such an obliquely inclined strip surface 7. When the doors 4 and 13 are closed, these respective strip surfaces 7 of the doors 4 and 13 can be seen as vertical continuous surface areas that can be arranged flush with one another .

The door 13 can also be a pivotable door which can be pivoted about a pivot axis oriented in the height direction. The door 13 can, however, also be designed, for example, as a drawer and can be arranged linearly displaceable in the depth direction.

Furthermore, in a further embodiment, a further receiving space 14 can be provided, which is, for example, a fresh food compartment and can represent a partial area of the receiving space 3. In this further receiving space 14, however, a different temperature and / or different humidity can then preferably be set to the rest of the first receiving space 3 in order to be able to store specific foods such as fruit and vegetables individually in order to be able to keep them fresh longer.

Even with such a configuration, this further receiving space 14 can be closed by a separate door 15, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 is shown. In this embodiment, too, the door 15 is then preferably designed in accordance with the doors 4 and 13, so that here too such an obliquely inclined strip surface 7 is formed and is formed on the corresponding edge side, so that here too from top to bottom and thus in the vertical direction a continuous configuration of these strip areas 7 is arranged.

For example, but not only in this exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the functional components 9 of the doors 4 and 13 are each display and / or operating units and that the functional component 9 of the door 15 is, for example, a separate decorative element. However, in the case of door 15, for example, the functional component can also be a display and / or control unit.

It is also possible, at least in the case of a door, for both a display and / or control unit as a functional component and also a separate decorative element as a functional component to be arranged on the strip surface 7, for example these functional components can then be arranged in a row with one another in the height direction.

List of reference symbols

1

Household refrigeration device

2

casing

3

Recording room

4th

door

5

Front wall

6th

Front face

7th

Strip area

8th

Recessed grip

9

Functional component

9a

Front

10

Outside

11

Decorative panel

12

Recording room

13

door

14th

Recording room

15th

door

α

angle

Claims (8)

1. Household appliance, in particular household refrigeration appliance (1), with a housing (2) and with an appliance component (4, 13, 15), which is arranged on the housing (2) and is separate from the housing (2), and which can be moved relative to the housing (2), wherein the appliance component (4, 13, 15) has a front wall (5), which has a front side surface (6) and a strip surface (7) which is inclined thereto, and with a separate functional component (9), which is arranged on the strip surface (7) and has a display and/or operating unit, wherein the front side surface (6) and the strip surface (7) are arranged to overlap one another only in sections when observed in a projected image of the surfaces, wherein the overlapping forms a rear engaging cavity (8) as a handle between a front side of the strip surface (7) and a rear side (10) of the front side surface (6), and wherein the strip surface (7) is arranged at an angle (a) between 30° and 85° with respect to the front side surface (6), wherein the appliance component is a door (4, 13, 15), characterised in that the household appliance has a second strip surface which faces the strip surface (7), wherein a second functional component is arranged on the second strip surface, wherein the functional component (9) has the display and/or control unit and the second functional component has a decorative element.
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the strip surface (7) is oriented in the height direction (y) of the household refrigeration appliance (1).
3. Household appliance according to claim 2, wherein the strip surface (7) extends across at least 50%, in particular at least 80% of the length of an edge of the front side surface (6), to which the strip surface (7) connects.
4. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side surface (6) overlaps the strip surface (7) by at most 70%.
5. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip surface (7) is arranged at an angle (a) between 40° and 70° with respect to the front side surface (6).
6. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a decorative panel (11) which is separate from the appliance component (11) is arranged on the front side surface (6).
7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a functional component (9) has a separate decorative element.
8. Household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the functional component (9) arranged on the strip surface (7) and the second functional component arranged on the second strip surface are exchangeable.

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