Refrigeration unit

Abstract

Refrigeration appliance, in particular household refrigeration appliance, comprising: at least one compartment (12) for receiving refrigerated or frozen goods and at least one container (20) arranged in the compartment (12), which is provided with a tray (30) comprising an opening (32) and a closure element (40) for closing the opening (32); wherein the closure element (40) can be brought into at least one first position (S1), in which the closure element (40) substantially covers the opening (32), and into at least one second position (S2), in which the closure element (40) at least partially exposes the opening (32), wherein the container (30) has a status indicator (50) comprising at least a first display surface (52) and at least a second display surface (54), wherein the first display surface (52) is visible from an operating position for a user in the first position (S1) and the second display surface (54) is hidden from the operating position for the user in the first position (S1) and wherein the first display surface (52) is hidden from the operating position for the user in the second position (S2) and the second display surface (54) is visible from the operating position for the user in the second position (S2), wherein the second display surface (54) is arranged on the shell (32).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance comprises at least one compartment for accommodating refrigerated or frozen goods and at least one container arranged in the compartment, which container is provided with a tray comprising an opening and a closure element for closing the opening. The closure element can be brought into at least one first position, in which the closure element substantially covers the opening, and into at least one second position, in which the closure element at least partially uncovers the opening.

[0002] A refrigeration device of this type is known, for example, from document DE 10 2009 029 139 A1. The refrigeration device comprises a housing enclosing a storage space and a container mounted in the storage space. The container comprises a tray and a lid, which is height-adjustable between a position that closes the tray and an open position.

[0003] Another refrigeration device of the type mentioned above is known from document DE 10 2009 029 141 A1. The refrigeration device has a storage space and a container separated from the storage space, in particular a vegetable compartment. At least one closure part of the container is adjustable between an open and a closed position. In the open position of the closure part, the container communicates with a high-pressure area and a low-pressure area of the storage space.

[0004] Another refrigeration device of the type mentioned above is disclosed in DE 10 2009 029 143 A1. The refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigeration device, has a storage compartment and a tray movable between a stop position in the storage compartment and a position pulled out of the storage compartment, and covered by a lid in the stop position. The lid and the tray have complementary sealing surfaces that rest on one another in the stop position. By sealing the interior of the tray from the surrounding storage compartment, unwanted escape of moisture from the tray can be prevented.

[0005] A refrigeration appliance of the type mentioned above is also known from WO 2006 / 107217 A1 and DE 11 2006 000 823 T5. The refrigeration appliance comprises a vegetable compartment that can be closed by means of a lid. The lid is suspended above the vegetable compartment. In one position, the lid rests on the vegetable compartment to keep the goods stored in the vegetable compartment fresh. In a second position, the lid is slightly raised to allow air exchange in the rear area of the vegetable compartment.

[0006] DE 10 2009 009 479 A1 discloses a refrigerator and / or freezer with a drawer having at least one opening. The drawer comprises an adjusting means that can be adjusted between a first and a second position. The flow cross-section of the opening is larger in the first position of the adjusting means than in the second position of the adjusting means.

[0007] Another refrigeration device of the type mentioned above is known from the publication KR 10 2002 00 511 35 A.

[0008] From other technical fields, for example, from WO 2007 / 128627 A2, a piece of furniture is known that comprises at least one drawer and / or a door. The furniture comprises a front panel provided with a handle element. The handle element has at least one light source that can be switched via a control system. When the drawer or door is closed, the light source illuminates outward in the area of the handle element and, when the drawer is open, illuminates an interior of the drawer.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration device which enables the user to easily determine whether the closure element is in the first position or in the second position.

[0010] To achieve this object, in a refrigeration device of the type mentioned at the outset, it is provided according to the invention in accordance with claim 1 that the container has a status display which comprises at least a first display surface and at least one second display surface. The first display surface is visible to a user in the first position from an operating position, and the second display surface is concealed from the operating position for the user in the first position. The first display surface is concealed from the operating position for the user in the second position and the second display surface is visible to the user in the second position from the operating position. The second display surface is arranged on the shell.

[0011] A refrigeration appliance is understood to mean, in particular, a household refrigeration appliance, i.e. a refrigeration appliance that is used for household management in households or possibly also in the catering sector and is used in particular to store food and / or beverages in normal household quantities at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a fridge-freezer combination, a freezer chest or a wine storage cabinet.

[0012] A user is defined as a person who opens or closes a refrigeration appliance door for the purpose of loading and / or unloading the refrigeration appliance. The operating position is the position the user assumes to open or close the refrigeration appliance door.

[0013] Another advantage of the refrigeration device according to the invention is that it enables simple and cost-effective visualization of the container's status. Furthermore, the status display of the refrigeration device according to the invention is based on a technically simple solution that is less susceptible to failure. The use of an electronic status display is unnecessary in the refrigeration device according to the invention.

[0014] Preferably, the first display area and / or the second display area are colored. Preferably, the color of the first display area is clearly distinguishable from the color of the second display area. This design makes it easier for the user to identify the status of the container.

[0015] Preferably, the second display surface is arranged at an upper edge region of the shell. This configuration allows the second display surface to be easily covered.

[0016] Preferably, the second indicator surface is covered by the closure element in the first position. This configuration offers the advantage that, to indicate the closed state of the container, the closure element is placed on the upper edge of the tray.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the first display surface is arranged on the closure element. This embodiment makes it easy to conceal the first display surface from the user by moving the closure element.

[0018] Preferably, the first display surface is arranged on a front edge of the closure element. This configuration allows the first display surface to be clearly visible to the user in the first position.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the refrigeration appliance is characterized by an operating element by means of which the closure element can be moved from the first position to the second position and / or from the second position to the first position. This embodiment facilitates the movement of the closure element for the user.

[0020] Preferably, the refrigeration appliance is characterized by a wall element that runs substantially parallel to the closure element and preferably comprises a strip with a projection. Furthermore, the strip is preferably made of an opaque material. This design provides an additional storage area within the compartment for refrigerated or frozen goods.

[0021] Preferably, the control element is arranged on the wall element, and more preferably on the strip. This configuration makes it easier for the user to operate the control element.

[0022] Preferably, the first display surface is concealed in the second position by the wall element, preferably by the strip, and further preferably by the projection. This configuration allows the first display surface to be sufficiently concealed from the user's view in the second position, regardless of the user's height.

[0023] Preferably, the refrigeration device has a seal arranged between the closure element and the tray in the first position. This design ensures that, in the first position, the air contained in the container cannot essentially escape from the container.

[0024] Details and further advantages of the refrigeration device according to the invention will become apparent from the preferred embodiment described below. The drawings, which merely schematically depict the embodiment, illustrate in detail: Fig. 1 a perspective view of the refrigeration device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a view of a cross-section through the container and the partition wall with a closure element in a first position; Fig. 3 a view of a cross-section through the container and the partition wall with the closure element in a second position.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a perspective and schematic view of the refrigeration appliance 10 according to the invention. The refrigeration appliance 10 has at least one compartment 12 suitable for accommodating refrigerated or frozen goods. Arranged within the compartment 12 is a container 20, which is particularly suitable for accommodating fruit and vegetables and can also be referred to as a vegetable compartment. The container 20 comprises a tray 30 and a closure element 40. The tray 30 has an opening 32 that can be closed by the closure element 40 resting on an upper edge region 34 of the tray 30.

[0026] The container 20 is arranged below a wall element 70, which runs horizontally within the compartment 12 and can serve as a storage area for refrigerated or frozen goods. Adjacent to a door of the refrigeration appliance 10, which is not shown in the figures, the strip 72 is arranged on the wall element 70. An operating element 60 is arranged on the strip 72, by means of which the closure element 40 can be moved from a first position S1, in which the closure element 40 substantially covers the opening 32, to at least a second position S2, in which the closure element 40 at least partially uncovers the opening 32.

[0027] Furthermore, the container 30 comprises a status indicator 50, which has at least one first display surface 52 and at least one second display surface 54. Preferably, the closure element 40 and the wall element 70 extend approximately parallel to one another.

[0028] As particularly in Fig. 2, the closure element 40 rests on the upper edge region 34 of the shell 30 in the first position S1 for closing the opening 32. The second display surface 54, which is arranged on the upper edge region 34, is covered by the closure element 40 closing the opening 32 of the shell 30.

[0029] The first display surface 52, which is formed by a front side of the closure element 40, runs approximately orthogonally to the closure element 40 and the intermediate wall 70. The intermediate wall 70 comprises a strip 72, which has a front surface 76 running parallel to the door. The strip 72 also comprises a projection 74. As shown in particular Fig. 2, the first display surface 52 in the first position S1 is arranged closer to the door of the refrigeration appliance 10 than the front surface 76. This allows the user an unrestricted view of the first display surface 52.

[0030] How Fig. 2, the closure element 40 is arranged in the first position S1 between the projection 74 and the upper edge region 34. Furthermore, a seal (not shown in the figures) can be arranged along the opening 32, which further reduces the air exchange between the interior of the container 20 and its surroundings.

[0031] How Fig.3, the closure element 40 of the container 20, starting from the first position S1, is moved vertically upwards in the second position S2 and horizontally backwards from the door of the refrigeration appliance 10. As a result, the first display surface 52 is not visible to a user from the operating position because it is covered by the projection 74. The strip 72 is preferably made of an opaque material. Because the closure element 40 is moved horizontally backwards and vertically upwards, the upper edge region 34 of the tray 30, which is covered by the closure element 40 in the first position S1, is visible to the user in the second position S2. The upper edge region 34 is approximately as far away from the door as the projection 74. The front surface 76 and a front surface 36 of the tray 30 run approximately in the same plane.

[0032] The refrigeration device 10 according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that it provides a simple visualization of whether the closure element 40 of the container 20 is in a first position S1 or in a second position S2. Furthermore, the status indicator 50 of the refrigeration device 10 according to the invention can be implemented easily without incurring significant additional costs. The status indicator 50 is based on a technically simple mode of operation and is therefore particularly resistant to failure. The use of electronics to display the status of the container 20 is thus unnecessary. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 10 Refrigeration appliance 12 compartments 20 containers 30 bowls 32 Opening 34 upper edge area 36 front surface 40 locking element 50 Status display 52 first display area 54 second display area 60 control element 70 wall element 72 bar 74 lead 76 front surface S1 first position S2 second position

Claims

[1] Refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, comprising: at least one compartment (12) for receiving refrigerated or frozen goods and at least one container (20) arranged in the compartment (12), which is provided with a tray (30) comprising an opening (32) and a closure element (40) for closing the opening (32); wherein the closure element (40) can be brought into at least one first position (S1), in which the closure element (40) substantially covers the opening (32), and into at least one second position (S2), in which the closure element (40) at least partially exposes the opening (32), wherein the container (30) has a status indicator (50) comprising at least a first display surface (52) and at least a second display surface (54), wherein the first display surface (52) is visible from an operating position for a user in the first position (S1) and the second display surface (54) is hidden from the operating position for the user in the first position (S1) and wherein the first display surface (52) is hidden from the operating position for the user in the second position (S2) and the second display surface (54) is visible from the operating position for the user in the second position (S2), wherein the second display surface (54) is arranged on the shell (32). [2] Refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterized by that the first display area (52) and / or the second display area (54) are colored. [3] Refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the second display surface (54) is arranged at an upper edge region (34) of the shell (32). [4] Refrigeration device according to claim 3, characterized bythat the second display surface (54) is covered by the closure element (40) in the first position (S1). [5] Refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the first display surface (52) is arranged on the closure element (40). [6] Refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized by that the first display surface (52) is arranged on a front edge of the closure element (40). [7] Refrigeration appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by an operating element (60) by means of which the closure element (40) can be brought from the first position (S1) into the second position (S2) and / or from the second position (S2) into the first position (S2). [8] Refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a wall element (70) which runs substantially parallel to the closure element (40) and which preferably comprises a strip (72) having a projection (74). [9] Refrigeration device according to claims 7 and 8, characterized by that the operating element (60) is arranged on the wall element (70), preferably on the strip (72). [10] Refrigeration appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the first display surface (52) is covered in the second position (S2) by the wall element (70), preferably by the strip (72), further preferably by the projection (74).

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