Refrigerator and / or freezer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer, comprising at least one insulating element in the form of a vacuum body arranged between an inner container or the inner door and a housing of the refrigerator and / or freezer, and at least one fastening element arranged between the inner container or the inner door and the housing, which is designed to establish or facilitate at least one connection with a further element. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a household appliance.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer, with a vacuum body as insulation.

[0002] It is known from the prior art that vacuum bodies can be used for insulation, but conventional refrigerators and / or freezers usually have an insulation layer made of polyurethane foam. In addition, elements such as lighting or a rail for shelves are often installed inside a refrigerator and / or freezer. In foam-insulated appliances, these elements can be screwed to the inner container, the body, or the door, with the screws penetrating the foam layer.

[0003] When using vacuum bodies for insulation, such installation is not possible without restrictions, as this could damage the vacuum bodies.

[0004] The present invention is therefore based on the object of developing a refrigerator and / or freezer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that elements can be mounted on the inner container, on the body or on the door or on another closure element.

[0005] This object is achieved by a household appliance or refrigerator and / or freezer having the features of claim 1 and a method according to claim 15.

[0006] According to this, it is provided that a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer, is equipped with at least one insulation element in the form of a vacuum body arranged between an inner container or the inner door and a housing of the refrigerator and / or freezer, with at least one fastening element arranged between the inner container and the housing, which fastening element is designed to establish or enable at least one connection with another element.

[0007] The term "housing" refers to the outer surface, a sheet metal, etc., of the household appliance. "Casing" refers to the outside or a section of the outside of the door and / or body.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the at least one fastening element is designed to serve as a counterpart when attaching an element to the inner container by means of a connection penetrating the inner container or the outer skin (inside and / or outside) of the door or the body, in particular a screw and / or plug connection.

[0009] At this point, it should be noted that the term “door” represents any closure element by means of which the cooled interior can be closed, such as a flap, a lid, a drawer or a door in the narrower sense.

[0010] In this way, for example, the screws penetrating the outer skin can be prevented from damaging the vacuum body, as they penetrate the fastening element instead.

[0011] The at least one fastening element can be arranged on the inner container and / or the inner door and / or the housing or an outer surface, i.e., the outer skin and / or the vacuum body. The at least one fastening element can be connected to the inner container and / or the housing and / or the vacuum body, preferably by a material connection, a force connection, or a form connection, or can be formed integrally therewith.

[0012] Preferably, the at least one fastening element at least partially has a contour, a profile, or a guide into which a screw and / or a plug-in fastening element can penetrate. However, the screw and / or the plug-in fastening element can preferably not penetrate the contour.

[0013] The profile can, for example, be extruded or pressed, or there can be a profile / guide with a blind hole to accommodate a screw, for example.

[0014] The fastening element can comprise an element, in particular a functional element of the refrigerator and / or freezer, such as a door bearing or an aggregate carrier.

[0015] A household appliance according to the invention can be equipped with a fastening element at several locations: For example, an arrangement can be made on both sides in the rear area of ​​the cooled interior and / or perpendicular to a connection between the side wall and the rear wall.

[0016] The fastener can be made of a single or multiple materials, such as one or more plastics and / or metal.

[0017] The fastening element can, for example, be coated with a protective material that prevents damage to the vacuum body in the event of errors during manufacture, e.g., of a screw connection. For example, the fastening element can have a preferably central region made of a softer material for receiving a screw and a preferably surrounding region made of a harder material that prevents the screw from penetrating the fastening element.

[0018] In addition, penetration of the screw through the fastener can be prevented by having a guide for the screw that only allows a certain penetration depth. Further screwing can cause the screw to slip.

[0019] To further prevent damage to the vacuum body caused by the at least one fastening element, the at least one fastening element can be embedded in the contour of the inner container, for example, in a receptacle, so that the fastening element does not protrude beyond a surface of the inner container facing the vacuum body. For this purpose, the inner container can preferably have at least one receptacle on its side facing the vacuum body, which can be used as a receptacle for the at least one fastening element.

[0020] The receptacle and the fastening element are preferably designed such that, when in the receptacle, the fastening element is completely received in the receptacle, so that the inner container and the fastening element received in the receptacle form a flat surface facing the vacuum body. This prevents the vacuum body from being damaged by protruding parts of the fastening element.

[0021] Conventionally, elements are attached to the inner container by screwing them through the inner container to the foamed insulation element. Thus, the screwing is essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the insulation element (e.g., a cuboid foam element) in a direction toward the insulation element.

[0022] However, when using vacuum bodies as insulation elements, sharp objects, such as the tip of a screw, must be kept away from the vacuum bodies to reduce the risk of puncturing a vacuum body.

[0023] For this reason, the invention can provide for screwing and / or plugging parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vacuum body.

[0024] Accordingly, the at least one fastening element can be designed to enter into or enable at least one connection, in particular a screw and / or plug connection, in a first direction, wherein the first direction extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vacuum body.

[0025] In this case, the fastening element is accommodated, for example, in a receptacle of the inner container and defines an insertion opening for a screw or a plug-in fastening element, wherein a longitudinal axis of the insertion opening extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vacuum body.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the at least one fastening element can be designed to enter into or enable at least one connection, in particular a screw and / or plug connection, in a first direction, wherein the first direction extends away from the vacuum body.

[0027] For example, the at least one fastening element can be designed to enter into or enable a screw connection in the first direction such that a screw connection is achieved in which a screw head faces the vacuum body and a screw thread faces away from the vacuum body. In this way, the tip of the screw is kept away from the vacuum body. The screw head can be countersunk into a receptacle of the inner container to achieve a flat contact surface of the inner container on the vacuum body.

[0028] Alternatively or in addition to the receptacle, the inner container may have at least one recess, cutout or opening.

[0029] In a household appliance according to the invention, the vacuum body can be designed as a preferably cuboid-shaped vacuum body. For example, five such vacuum bodies, which are also understood to be vacuum panels, are provided, which enclose a cooled interior of the appliance. A further vacuum body or vacuum panel can be provided in the door of the appliance.

[0030] It is also conceivable for a single, preferably tub-shaped, vacuum body to be arranged between the inner container and the housing to insulate a cooled interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer. This tub-shaped vacuum body can replace the five vacuum bodies or vacuum panels.

[0031] Preferably, the device has full vacuum insulation and / or the vacuum body is designed in one piece or in multiple pieces. The vacuum body can be designed as a vacuum insulation body and / or a full vacuum insulation body.

[0032] Full vacuum insulation is preferably understood to mean thermal insulation that consists exclusively or predominantly of a vacuum insulation body with an evacuated area filled with a core material, such as perlite or perlite rock. This area can be defined, for example, by a vacuum-tight film, preferably by a high-barrier film with a very low gas transmission coefficient. Thus, the thermal insulation between an inner wall of the device and an outer skin of the device can exclusively consist of a film body having an area surrounded by a vacuum-tight film, in particular a high-barrier film, in which a vacuum prevails and in which a core material is arranged.Foaming and / or vacuum insulation panels as thermal insulation or any other thermal insulation other than full vacuum insulation, in particular between the inside and outside of the device, are preferably not provided.

[0033] The film is preferably a gas-tight film and particularly preferably a high-barrier film. The term "high-barrier film" preferably refers to a film by means of which the gas ingress into the vacuum insulation body is reduced to such an extent that the increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation body caused by gas ingress is sufficiently low over its service life. A service life can be assumed, for example, to be 15 years, preferably 20 years, and particularly preferably 30 years. The increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation body caused by gas ingress over its service life is preferably < 100% and particularly preferably < 50%. The area-specific gas transmission rate of the high-barrier film is preferably < 10-5 mbar * l / s *m 2 and particularly preferably < 10-6 mbar * l / s *m 2(measured according to ASTM D-3985). This gas transmission rate applies to nitrogen and oxygen. For other gases (especially water vapor), low gas transmission rates also exist, preferably in the range of < 10-2 mbar * l / s * m 2 and particularly preferably in the range of < 10-3 mbar * l / s * m 2 (measured according to ASTM F-1249-90). Preferably, these low gas transmission rates achieve the aforementioned low increases in thermal conductivity. High-barrier films, in the context of the present invention, are preferably understood to mean single- or multi-layer films (which are preferably sealable) with one or more barrier layers (typically metallic layers or oxide layers, with aluminum or an aluminum oxide preferably being used as the metal or oxide) that meet the above-mentioned requirements (increase in thermal conductivity and / or area-specific gas transmission rate) as a barrier against gas ingress.

[0034] The term "household appliance" is to be understood broadly in the context of this invention. This includes both appliances intended and suitable for private use and commercial appliances.

[0035] Preferably, the at least one vacuum body has an outer skin made of a preferably multi-layer film and a filling made of a porous material, preferably perlite and / or zeolite.

[0036] In a household appliance according to the invention, the insulation of the interior is preferably provided largely or entirely by the vacuum body(s) used. For example, the vacuum body(s) constitute at least approximately 70%, preferably between approximately 80% and approximately 100%, in particular between approximately 90% and approximately 100% of the insulation of the household appliance.

[0037] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a household appliance, preferably a household appliance according to the present invention, comprising the step: Preferably materially bonded application of at least one fastening element to an inner container and / or a housing and / or a vacuum body of the household appliance, wherein the fastening element is arranged between the inner container and the housing and is designed to establish or enable at least one connection, preferably a screw and / or plug connection or another form-fitting connection, with another element.

[0038] The application is preferably carried out by sealing, welding and / or gluing.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises the step: Producing a connection, in particular a screw and / or plug connection penetrating the inner container, between the at least one connecting element and at least one further element by engaging at least one screw and / or a plug-in fastening element with the at least one fastening element, wherein the inner container is preferably penetrated.

[0040] In this case, screwing and / or plugging is preferably carried out parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vacuum body.

[0041] It should be noted here that the terms "a" and "an" do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible interpretation, but can also refer to a plurality of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also encompasses several of the elements in question.

[0042] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein may be combined with one another as desired or claimed in isolation from one another.

[0043] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Like reference numerals designate like or similar components.

[0044] They show: Fig. 1: a schematic view of a cross section through a wall of a household appliance according to the invention with a fastening element according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2: a schematic view of a cross section through a wall of a domestic appliance according to the invention with a fastening element according to a second embodiment; Fig. 3: a schematic view of a cross section through a wall of a domestic appliance according to the invention with a fastening element according to a third embodiment; and Fig. 4: a schematic view of a cross section through a wall of a household appliance according to the invention with a fastening element according to a fourth embodiment.

[0045] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a wall of a household appliance according to the invention. The wall comprises an outer housing 1, an inner container 2, and a vacuum body 3 arranged between the housing 1 and the inner container 2.

[0046] A fastening element 4 is arranged on the inner container 2 between the housing 1 and the inner container 2. Another element 5 is anchored to the inner container 2 by means of a screw 6, which engages with the fastening element 4.

[0047] The element 5 can, for example, be a component of a lighting system, a holding element for shelves, a support frame or another element, such as a fan, a pull-out system for a drawer, an air duct, a cable duct, an ice cube maker, a water dispenser, a transport lock or another element.

[0048] By means of a fastening element according to the invention, a door bearing, a closing damper or even a refrigeration component can also be fixed to the household appliance.

[0049] At the Fig. The variant shown in Figure 1 is screwed in a direction toward the vacuum body 3. However, the screw 6 cannot penetrate the fastening element 4, thus preventing damage to the vacuum body 3 by the screw 6.

[0050] The fastening element 4 can be formed integrally with the inner container 2, e.g., by injection molding. Alternatively, the fastening element 4 can be connected to the inner container 2 by gluing, sealing, or welding.

[0051] At the Fig. 2, the fastening element 4 is embedded in a receptacle formed by the contour of the inner container 2 in such a way that the fastening element 4 does not protrude beyond a flat surface formed by the inner container 2 and facing the vacuum body 3.

[0052] The fastening element 4 can be positioned flush with the flat surface formed by the inner container 2 facing the vacuum body 3 or can be recessed behind it. In any case, there is no risk of the vacuum body 3 being damaged by protruding parts.

[0053] At the Fig. The variant shown in Figure 3 is screwed in a direction away from the vacuum body.

[0054] The screw head of the screw 6 is facing the vacuum body 3 and the thread of the screw 6 extends through the inner container in the direction of the cooled interior and is in engagement with the element 5.

[0055] To prevent damage to the vacuum body 3, the screw head of the screw 6 is recessed or embedded in the fastening element 4.

[0056] At the Fig. The variant shown in Figure 4 is screwed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vacuum body, in the example shown, in the vertical direction from bottom to top. This reliably prevents damage to the vacuum body 3 caused by the screw 6.

[0057] In this variant, too, the screw head of the screw 6 is recessed or embedded in the fastening element 4, so that an easy-to-clean surface is created in the interior of the device.

[0058] Even if the invention was explained above using the example of a screw / screw connection, the invention is by no means limited to a screw / screw connection, but is applicable to any conceivable connection, in particular a form-fitting connection.

[0059] Further aspects of the present disclosure are as follows: A household appliance according to the invention can have a stainless steel interior lining with reinforcements on the outer and / or rear wall.

[0060] With a metal inner container, fastening parts or fastening elements can be spot-welded to the inner container. The number of welding points or fastening points is preferably adapted to the load, so that, for example, light loads require only one fastening point, while higher loads require many times more.

[0061] A plastic cover and / or plastic base can be added later.

[0062] Fastening elements or fastening devices, e.g. for hinges, compressors, etc., should preferably not come into contact with the vacuum body.

[0063] Multi-joint hinges can be placed on top of the housing.

[0064] Particularly vulnerable components can be covered with a protective material, such as Kevlar.

[0065] Finally, it should be noted that the term "inner container" can also include the "inner door," i.e., the inside of the closure element, and vice versa. The term "housing" represents any external part of the device, such as the outside of the body and / or the door.

Claims

[1] Household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer, with at least one insulating element in the form of a vacuum body arranged between an inner container and / or the inner door and an outer side, in particular a housing of the refrigerator and / or freezer, and at least one fastening element arranged between the inner container and / or the inner door and the outer side, which fastening element is designed to establish or enable at least one connection with another element. [2] Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized by that the at least one fastening element is designed to serve as a counterpart when attaching an element to an outer surface, such as the inner container or the housing, by means of a connection penetrating the outer surface, in particular a screw and / or plug connection. [3] Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the at least one fastening element is connected to the inner container and / or the housing and / or the vacuum body, preferably by means of a material connection, or is formed in one piece therewith. [4] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one fastening element has a contour into which a screw and / or a plug-in fastening element can penetrate, but cannot penetrate the contour. [5] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the inner container or the inner door preferably has at least one receptacle on its side facing the vacuum body, which can be used as a receptacle for the at least one fastening element. [6] Household appliance according to claim 5, characterized bythat the receptacle and the fastening element are designed such that the fastening element is completely received in the receptacle when in the receptacle, so that the inner container or the inner door and the fastening element received in the receptacle form a flat surface facing the vacuum body. [7] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one fastening element is designed to enter into or enable at least one connection, in particular a screw and / or plug connection, in a first direction, wherein the first direction extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vacuum body, such as a full vacuum insulation or a vacuum panel. [8] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the at least one fastening element is designed to enter into or enable at least one connection, in particular a screw and / or plug connection, in a first direction, wherein the first direction extends away from the vacuum body. [9] Household appliance according to claim 8, characterized by that the at least one fastening element is designed to enter into or enable a screw connection in the first direction such that a screw connection is achieved in which a screw head faces the vacuum body and a screw thread faces away from the vacuum body. [10] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vacuum body is preferably designed as a cuboid-shaped vacuum body. [11] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a single, preferably trough-shaped, vacuum body is arranged between the inner container and the housing for isolating a cooled interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer. [12] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a plurality, preferably five, preferably cuboid-shaped, vacuum bodies are arranged between the inner container and the housing for isolating a cooled interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer. [13] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one vacuum body has an outer skin made of a preferably multi-layer film and a filling made of a porous material, preferably perlite and / or zeolite. [14] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the vacuum body(s) form(s) at least approximately 70%, preferably between approximately 80% and approximately 100%, in particular between approximately 90% and approximately 100% of the insulation of the household appliance. [15] Method for manufacturing a household appliance, preferably a household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the step: Preferably materially bonded application of at least one fastening element to an inner container and / or a housing and / or a vacuum body of the household appliance, wherein the fastening element is arranged between the inner container and the housing and is designed to enter into or enable at least one preferably form-fitting connection with another element. [16] Method according to claim 15, wherein the application is carried out by means of sealing, welding and / or gluing. [17] A method according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising the step: Producing a connection, in particular a screw and / or plug connection penetrating the inner container, between the at least one connecting element and at least one further element by engaging at least one screw and / or a plug-in fastening element with the at least one fastening element. [18] Method according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized by that is screwed and / or inserted parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vacuum body.

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