REFRIGERATOR AND / OR FREEZER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a special exterior lighting concept.

[0002] Philips' "Ambilight" concept is well known in the field of television screens. This concept involves multiple light sources on the back of the screen, which illuminate the wall behind the screen in such a way that the viewer perceives the screen as being framed by soft, indirect light. This is intended to enlarge the viewer's field of vision and, in addition to being easy on the eyes, achieve an attractive design.

[0003] Furthermore, the furniture industry is also known for using indirect lighting as a design element. Base lighting is particularly noteworthy in this context.

[0004] The lighting systems disclosed in WO 2018 / 202398 A1, EP 3 043 131 A1, DE 10 2009 046032 A1 and DE 10 2016 203180 A1 are known from the field of refrigerators and / or freezers.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide an exterior lighting concept for a refrigerator and / or freezer which has an attractive design, allows for individualization of the devices and can also be used for information and warning purposes.

[0006] Against this background, the invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a thermally insulated appliance body which encloses an interior space, wherein a removal opening is provided on the front of the appliance body in order to be able to insert goods into and remove them from the interior space, wherein a thermally insulated door is provided in order to reversibly close the removal opening, wherein the appliance has a projection surface surrounding the door, which is preferably at least partially visible from the front, and wherein the appliance further has a light source which is at least partially concealed from the front in order to illuminate the projection surface.

[0007] This allows the light to be framed around the appliance door with a corona-like optic, whereby the user does not look directly into the light source, thus perceiving the light as soft and pleasant. If the projection surface is not at least partially visible from the front, it should preferably be concealed flush. The light source should preferably be completely concealed and not visible from the front.

[0008] When in this context we speak of a view from the front, i.e. for example, something should be visible or not visible from the front, then we mean a view from a viewing point that lies in front of the point being viewed in a straight line that runs at right angles to the main surface of the door.

[0009] In one embodiment, the projection surface may be tilted backwards by a certain angle from the front plane of the device, for example by an angle of between 5° and 45° or between 10° and 30°.

[0010] In one embodiment, the projection surface is formed by the rear projection surface of a circumferential handle recess of the door. In the preferred case of an asymmetrically designed handle recess, in which the rear edge of the recess extends beyond the front edge of the recess, the rear projection surface is at least partially visible from the front. In the case of a symmetrically designed handle recess, in which the rear edge of the recess and the front edge of the recess are of the same height, the rear projection surface is completely concealed by the front edge of the recess, but only flush.

[0011] According to the invention, the projection surface is formed by an area on the front side of the device body that frames the removal opening. Preferably, the door surface in this embodiment is somewhat smaller than the front surface of the body, so that the area on the front side of the device body serving as the projection surface is at least partially visible from the front.

[0012] Combinations with multiple projection surfaces are also provided in another embodiment.

[0013] In one design variant, the light sources are located in the door. This is necessary, at least if the projection surface is to be directly illuminated. The power supply can be provided via a cable that runs from the body into the door, for example, in the hinge area.

[0014] It can be provided that the light sources are designed and arranged to directly illuminate the projection surface. For example, the light sources can be arranged at or below the front incident surface of a circumferential handle recess of the door, from where they can shine directly onto a rear incident surface of the handle recess serving as a projection surface, or an area on the front side of the device body serving as a projection surface. In another variant, the light sources can be arranged at or below the edge region of the rear of the door, from where they can shine directly onto an area on the front side of the device body serving as a projection surface.

[0015] Alternatively, the light sources can also be designed and arranged to illuminate the projection surface indirectly. For example, the light can be projected onto the projection surface via one or more reflectors or reflector surfaces.

[0016] In this context, an advantageous development consists in providing a light guide into which the light sources couple and from which light is radiated onto the projection surface. In this context, it can also be provided that the light source is arranged on the device body and that the light guide is positioned in the door in such a way that, when the door is closed, the light from the light source is coupled into the light guide.

[0017] In the case of indirect illumination of the projection surface, and especially when using fiber optics, the light sources can also be mounted on the device body, and the light can be coupled into the door via fiber optics. Fiber optics have the advantage of uniform light distribution over a larger area or distance.

[0018] The position of the light emission points in indirect lighting, for example through reflectors or light guides, can be as described in connection with direct lighting.

[0019] In one embodiment, the light sources are planar light sources. Suitable planar light sources include, for example, OLEDs. Alternatively or additionally, diffusers can be arranged in the radiation path between the light sources and the projection surface to achieve uniform irradiation of the projection surface. Transparent cover plates with scattering optics, i.e., diffuser plates, can serve as diffusers.

[0020] In one embodiment, the device has frame or contour lighting visible from the front and surrounding the door. Using such frame lighting, in addition to the indirect light emission through the projection surface, light can also be emitted directly to combine the corona-like light frame with contour lighting. Contour lighting typically has a higher luminance than corona lighting. Contour lighting can be realized by direct light emission emanating from a light guide into which the light sources are coupled.

[0021] The light sources can be designed to emit light of different colors. In this case, the light sources can also be connected to a control unit of the refrigerator and / or freezer in such a way that the light sources can be used to signal certain operating states based on their light color.

[0022] According to an unclaimed embodiment, a refrigerator and / or freezer is provided with a heat-insulated appliance body which encloses an interior space, wherein a removal opening is provided on the front of the appliance body in order to be able to insert goods into and remove them from the interior space, wherein a heat-insulated door is provided in order to reversibly close the removal opening, and wherein the appliance has a light source on its rear side which is at least partially concealed from the front in order to illuminate a surface arranged behind the appliance.

[0023] This allows the entire device to be framed with a corona-like light source, while the user is not looking directly into the light source, thus perceiving the light as soft and pleasant. Here, too, the light source is preferably completely concealed and not visible from the front.

[0024] Generally, appliances according to the invention have a heat pump, by means of which the interior can be cooled. The heat pump is preferably a refrigerant circuit with a compressor, condenser, throttle, and evaporator. The evaporator is typically arranged within the interior surrounded by the heat-insulated appliance body, for example on or behind the wall of the inner container. The condenser is typically arranged outside the interior surrounded by the heat-insulated appliance body, for example at the rear of the appliance. The appliance can have a machine room in which at least some of the components of the heat pump, for example the compressor and optionally also the throttle and / or condenser, are arranged. The machine room can be arranged in a base area of ​​the refrigerator and / or freezer.Alternatively or in addition to refrigerant circuits, magnetocaloric heat pumps and / or thermoelectric heat pumps can also be used.

[0025] The door is preferably a hinged door that can pivot around a vertical axis. The device body is preferably cuboid-shaped.

[0026] The device body and / or the door can be constructed in such a way that they have an outer skin and an inner container or inner lining, between which a heat-insulating layer is enclosed. The inner container can be made of plastic. Such an inner container is usually manufactured by deep drawing or thermoforming from a flat and thin plastic sheet. The outer skin can be made of a metal sheet or also of plastic. The heat-insulating layer can be, for example, a heat-insulating foam, a fiber material, or one or more vacuum insulation bodies.

[0027] In connection with the door, one design variant can provide for a glass door. In the present context, a glass door is understood to be a door which has a large and transparent glass pane which extends over a substantial part of the door surface. Through the glass surface, the interior of the device and in particular goods stored in this interior are visible to a user from the outside when the door is closed. The glass pane is preferably enclosed in a frame on all sides. Heat-insulating multiple glazing is preferably provided. The multiple glazing serves for heat insulation. The insulating space between individual panes of the multiple glazing can contain air or an insulating gas such as argon or krypton. An evacuation or partial evacuation of the insulating space can also be provided in one embodiment.In this context, glass is understood to mean both mineral glass and plastic glass, although mineral glass may be preferred due to its mechanical stability and scratch resistance.

[0028] The appliance can be a pure refrigerator, a pure freezer, or a combination refrigerator and freezer. It can also be designed to allow the temperature of the interior or the temperature of individual interior zones to be variably adjusted, allowing the appliance to be operated either as a pure refrigerator, a pure freezer, or a combination refrigerator and freezer.

[0029] In one embodiment, the refrigerator and / or freezer is a wine cooler. Wine coolers are purely refrigeration appliances whose interior temperature can typically be adjusted within a range that is at least between 5°C and 25°C. They typically include several shelves specifically designed for storing wine bottles and often a glass door. The visual appearance of a wine cooler can often be of particular importance to the customer.

[0030] In one embodiment, the refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention is a freestanding appliance. A freestanding appliance typically has at least four legs on the floor and is suitable for freestanding installation in a room.

[0031] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiment described below with reference to the figures. The figures show: Figure 1: a frontal view of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with active corona-like light framing; Figure 2: views of the lighting system of an embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with direct irradiation of an incident surface of a recessed handle; Figure 3: a view of the lighting system of an embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with indirect irradiation of an incident surface of a recessed handle; Figure 4: a view of the lighting system of an embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with direct irradiation of an incident surface of a recessed handle and also of an area of ​​the appliance body; Figure 5: views of the lighting system of an embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with direct irradiation of a separately configured projection surface on the appliance door;Figure 6: Views of the lighting system of a further embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with direct irradiation of an area of ​​the appliance body; Figure 7: A view of the lighting system of yet another embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with a light guide; and Figure 8: Views of lighting systems of an embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with additional frame lighting.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a modeled illustration of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with active corona-like light framing, in which the optical effect of the present invention is to be made clear.

[0033] Figures 2a-2dshow views of the lighting system of a variant embodiment of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention. In this embodiment, direct irradiation occurs on a rear incident surface 113 of a circumferential recessed handle 110, which serves as a projection surface.

[0034] Specifically, in this embodiment, the device comprises a device door 100 with a circumferential recessed grip 110, which is asymmetrically designed and whose rear boundary 111 extends beyond its front boundary 112. Accordingly, the rear incident surface 113 of the recessed grip 110 is partially visible from the front. An LED strip 120 with a plurality of point-shaped LED light sources arranged in a row is fully recessed into the front incident surface 114 of the recessed grip 110 and concealed by a transparent diffuser plate 121 with micro- or nano-scattering optics. The surface of the rear incident surface 113, which serves as the projection surface, is designed such that the light can be well reflected and is preferably diffusely scattered. Furthermore, the projection surface is tilted backward by an angle of approximately 30° in order to deflect the light outwards.

[0035] Figure 3 shows a variant of the embodiment according to Figure 2 , in which the LED strip 120 recessed in the front incident surface 114 is arranged in a niche 115 and aligned so that the light only indirectly hits the rear incident surface 113 serving as a projection surface.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the LED strip 120, which in this case is not recessed but arranged superficially on the front incident surface 114 of the handle recess 110, directly illuminates both the rear incident surface 113 of the handle recess 110 and an area 210 serving as a further projection surface on the front side of the device body 200. In this embodiment, the door surface is somewhat smaller than the front surface of the body 200, so that the area 210 serving as a projection surface is at least partially visible from the front.

[0037] Figures 5a-5bshow an embodiment of the invention, wherein the door does not have a circumferential recessed handle and instead, a circumferential niche 130 is provided in the side surface of the door 100 specifically for the lighting concept, in which the LED strip 120 is arranged on the front incident surface 134 and whose curved rear incident surface 133 serves as a projection surface and is illuminated. The niche 130 is completely concealed by a transparent diffuser plate 136 with micro- or nano-diffusing optics. The niche 130 is symmetrical, and its rear boundary 131 is the same height as its front boundary 132, so that the rear incident surface 133 serving as a projection surface is concealed flush.

[0038] Figures 6a-6bshow an embodiment of the invention, wherein the door does not have a surrounding recessed handle or separate niche. Instead, a strand-shaped light guide 125 is provided as the light source in the area of ​​the door seal 102. This light guide 120 directly illuminates an area 210 on the front side of the device body 200, which serves as a further projection surface. The door surface in this embodiment, as in the embodiment of the Figure 4 , slightly smaller than the front surface of the body 200, so that the area 210 serving as a projection surface is at least partially visible from the front.

[0039] Figures 7a-7b show an embodiment of the invention, wherein LED light sources 220 are arranged in the device body 200 and are coupled via light guides 125 into the area of ​​the handle recess 110 of the door 100 when the door is closed.

[0040] Ultimately, Figures 8a-8can embodiment of the invention, wherein the front incident surface 114 of the handle recess 110 of the door 100 is lined with a plate-shaped light guide 126, which on the one hand illuminates the rear incident surface 113 serving as a projection surface and on the other hand is also placed over the outer side of the front boundary 112 of the handle recess 110 in order to additionally form a frame illumination directly visible from the front.

[0041] Different types of light coupling from LED lights 123 into such a light guide 126 are described in the Figures 8d-8e shown, namely on the one hand from the side ( Figure 8d ) and on the other hand by vertical illumination ( Figure 8e ), whereby in this case the light guide has a scattering optic 126a at the point of incidence.

[0042] In the examples of the Figures 8a-8eIn addition to a corona, which is created by illuminating the oblique scattering surface, a contour illumination is also realized, which is created by direct light emission from the front side of the bent (in Fig. 8a , 8d and 8e vertical) region of the light guide 126. The contour illumination typically has a higher luminance than the corona.

[0043] In summary, the present invention makes it possible to implement a circumferential and soft, corona-like light frame, i.e., one without direct illumination of the user by the light source. In one variant, an asymmetrical recessed grip is provided for this purpose, i.e., a recessed grip that is shaped such that the front part of the recessed grip, i.e., the handle side, is shorter than the rear part. The rear part of the recessed grip serves as the projection surface for the light, and the lighting system is installed in the front part of the recessed grip. Such embodiments are described in Figures 2a-2d and in Figure 3 shown. However, a similar variant with a symmetrical grip recess is also conceivable within the scope of the invention.

[0044] Another possibility for realizing a projection surface is to move the device door slightly inwards towards the side wall and thus use the front side of the device door as a projection surface, as shown in Figure 4 In this case, the lighting system can be installed in the side surface of the door or in the sealing area, as is the case, for example, in Figure 6 can be seen.

[0045] In all cases, the lighting system can be, for example, an elongated LED board that illuminates the projection surface through a light cover or diffuser. The diffuser serves the purpose of homogenizing individual light points from the LEDs using, for example, micro- or nano-diffusing optics, so that the projection surface is evenly illuminated. Another option for homogenizing individual light points is to extend the light path to the projection surface, for example, by tilting the LED board and providing a deflection reflector, as in Figure 3 shown.

[0046] The projection surface reflects the light indirectly into the viewer's eye and thereby creates a surrounding light frame, cf. Figure 1 .

[0047] Instead of an LED board, another light source, such as an OLED, can be used. Furthermore, a light guide can be integrated into the light source's installation space. Both options have the advantage that the light emission is already homogeneous, potentially eliminating the need for a diffuser.

[0048] For an LED board variant, for example, a stainless steel door can be used as a heat sink for the light source to prevent unwanted heat buildup in the handle recess. Galvanic isolation would be required.

[0049] The fiber optic solution could be implemented in such a way that the light source is located in the appliance door and couples the light directly into the fiber optic cable in the recess of the handle. Alternatively, the light source can also be arranged on the body in order to couple the light into the handle via fiber optic cables when the door is closed, as is the case, for example, in Figure 7is shown.

[0050] Suitable light guides include rigid light guides such as plastic plates or rods, or flexible light guides, for example those made of silicone or those consisting of several optical fibers.

[0051] In connection with light coupling, it may also be possible to couple light from multiple light sources at multiple points along a fiber optic cable to increase efficiency and, if necessary, to illuminate multiple sections of the fiber optic cable individually. In side-by-side devices, this may even be necessary to prevent overlap in areas where two illuminated edges meet.

[0052] Even with conventional LED boards, individual control of the LEDs can be implemented. For example, a running light can be implemented for individual LEDs.

[0053] The light sources can have a discrete light color, but can also be implemented as RGB (red, green, blue), RGBW (red, green, blue, white) or RGBWW (red, green, blue, warm white, cold white) solutions.

[0054] Furthermore, in one variant, it can be provided to combine the corona-like light frame with a contour lighting, as is the case in Figure 8 is shown.

[0055] As an alternative (not part of the invention) to a corona-like light frame on the front of the device, a light frame on the rear of the device can also be implemented. In this case, the wall would serve as the projection surface, and the lighting system would be located near the rear edge of the device. This requires that the device be placed freestanding against a wall without adjacent furniture.

Claims

1. Refrigerator and / or freezer having a thermally insulated appliance body that encloses an interior space, wherein a removal opening is provided on the front side of the appliance body in order to be able to introduce goods into the interior space and remove them therefrom, wherein a thermally insulated door (100) is provided for reversibly closing the removal opening, wherein the appliance a projection surface surrounding the door (100), which projection surface is preferably at least partially visible from the front, and in that the appliance further has a light source that is at least partially concealed from the front to illuminate the projection surface, characterised in that the projection surface is formed by an area on the front of the appliance body that frames the removal opening.

2. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterised in that the projection surface is further formed by the rear incident surface (113) of a circumferential recessed grip (110) of the door (100).

3. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the light sources are arranged in the door (100).

4. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the light sources are formed and arranged in order to directly illuminate the projection surface.

5. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the control unit are formed and arranged in order to indirectly illuminate the projection surface.

6. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 5, characterised in that a light guide (125) is provided into which the light sources couple and from which light is emitted onto the projection surface.

7. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 6, characterised in that the light source is arranged on the appliance body and in that the light guide (125) is arranged in the door (100) such that the light from the light source is coupled into the light guide (125) when the door (100) is closed.

8. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the light sources are flat light sources and / or that diffusers are arranged in the radiation path between the light sources and the projection surface.

9. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the appliance has contour lighting visible from the front and surrounding the door (100).

10. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 9, characterised in that the contour lighting is implemented by direct light emission, possibly by means of light emission from a light guide (125).

11. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterised in that the contour lighting has a higher luminance than the light emitted by the projection surface.