MAJOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE IN THE FORM OF A REFRIGERATOR

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a large household appliance in the form of a refrigeration appliance, comprising a body and a closure element which is articulated to the body by at least one hinge, the hinge having a hinge element which can be fixed on the body side and which is fixed to the body and which has at least one through-opening for screwing to a body of the large household appliance.

[0002] Large household appliances typically have a storage compartment arranged within a body and a locking element mounted on the body for opening and closing the storage compartment. Examples of such large household appliances include refrigeration appliances (refrigerators, freezers, wine storage cabinets, and fridge-freezer combinations).

[0003] In a refrigeration appliance, a considerable weight force can act on the hinge through the closure element (for example, a door or flap), which is then transferred from the hinge into the body. This weight force results not only from the weight of the closure element itself. Rather, this weight force also results, among other things, from the loading of the closure element with refrigerated goods and a furniture panel possibly arranged on the outside of the closure element as a decorative element, provided the refrigeration appliance is a built-in refrigeration appliance. DE 10 2014 225 362 A1 proposes a metallic support element to increase mechanical stability and fatigue strength, which supports a household appliance hinge against at least one household appliance housing element. According to the embodiment according to the Figures 10 to 12According to DE 10 2014 225 362 A1, the support element is screwed to both the household appliance hinge and a piece of household furniture using a screw. According to DE 10 2014 225 362 A1, aligned holes are provided in a household furniture fastening component of the household appliance hinge and a household furniture fastening element of the support element.

[0004] US 4 170 391 A discloses a support device in a refrigeration appliance with a hinged door for securing a bearing journal arrangement to an outer casing.

[0005] US 2004 / 237257 A1 discloses an upper bearing arrangement for a rotatable fastening of a door to a body of a refrigeration appliance.

[0006] KR 2001 0057905 A discloses a device for adjusting the height of a refrigerator door.

[0007] EP 3 772 626 A1 discloses a built-in household appliance with a body and with a closure element and with at least one hinge with which the closure element is hinged to the body, and with a support body formed separately from the hinge.

[0008] EP 0 707 185 B1 discloses a built-in refrigeration appliance with an appliance housing, an appliance door, a door hinge and a centering piece, the thickness of which can be selected depending on the thickness of the adjacent furniture side wall.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to improve a generic large household appliance.

[0010] This problem is solved according to the independent claim. Accordingly, in a large household appliance in the form of a refrigeration appliance, comprising a body and a closure element which is hinged to the body by at least one hinge, the hinge for a large household appliance is provided with a hinge element which can be fixed to the body side, which is fixed to the body and which has at least one through-opening for screwing to a body of the large household appliance. The hinge has a support element coupled to the hinge element which can be fixed to the body side, the support element comprising at least one coupling section which can be fixed to the body and / or a wall located next to the large household appliance, which coupling section can be arranged in a projection representation in a plane comprising the height direction and the depth direction so as to overlap in the height direction with a storage space of the body.Additionally, it can be provided that the coupling section can be arranged behind a front surface of the body in the depth direction. In particular, in this projection representation, the coupling section can also be arranged overlapping the storage space in the depth direction.

[0011] The orientations width, height and depth or the corresponding directions (width direction, height direction and depth direction) refer to the position of a hinge mounted as intended on a large household appliance and from the perspective of an observer standing in front of the large household appliance.

[0012] The hinge element that can be fixed to the body is designed and serves to be fastened to the body during proper installation of the hinge on a large household appliance. In particular, this hinge element is designed and serves to be fixedly mounted to the body. When the locking element is opened or closed, the hinge element that can be fixed to the body remains in the same position on the body. For screwing to the body, the hinge element on the body has at least one, preferably two, three or more through-openings. In the vertical direction, these through-openings can in particular be arranged at the same height.

[0013] The hinge further comprises a support element. The support element is thus an integral component of the hinge. In particular, the support element is securely coupled to the hinge and / or cannot be detached from the hinge without causing damage (i.e., the support element can only be separated from the hinge by destructive means).

[0014] The support element is coupled to the hinge element that can be fixed on the body side, in particular fixedly coupled to the hinge element that can be fixed on the body side.

[0015] The coupling section is designed or intended to be fixed or secured to the body or a wall located adjacent to the large household appliance (e.g., the wall of a furniture niche). Due to the arrangements proposed according to the invention, the coupling section extends far from the center point in the vertical and / or depth directions.

[0016] The invention is based on the discovery that, when viewed in such a projection (i.e., when viewed along the width direction), a torque acts on the hinge around the center point, i.e., around the attachment point on the body. This torque loads the hinge or its connection to the body in addition to the weight already acting on the hinge.

[0017] The present invention is based on the assumption that for optimal operation of a large household appliance, a precise arrangement of the locking element relative to the body is necessary, particularly when the locking element is closed. The present invention is based on the discovery that even slight twisting of the hinge due to the weight force introduced by the locking element can have a detrimental effect on the operation of the large household appliance. In a refrigeration appliance, such twisting of the hinge can lead to a locking element that is not optimally aligned when closed. In the worst case, this can lead to leaks and thus reduce the efficiency of the large household appliance. On the other hand, in a built-in appliance, this twisting of the hinge can lead to uneven gaps between the locking element (ora furniture panel in front of the locking element) and adjacent locking elements or furniture.

[0018] The appropriately positioned coupling section allows for a reduction of this torque. The inventive positions of the coupling section relative to the storage space in the vertical direction (and, in exemplary embodiments, also relative to the front surface and / or the storage space in the depth direction) create a correspondingly large lever. By directly coupling the support element to the hinge element, which can be fixed on the cabinet side, the critical area of ​​the hinge can be directly supported with respect to its connection to the cabinet.

[0019] Embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0020] In particular, the hinge further comprises a hinge element that can be secured on the closure side. This hinge element is designed and serves to be fastened to a closure element during proper installation of the hinge on a large household appliance. In particular, this closure element is designed and serves to be fixedly mounted on the closure element. When the closure element is opened or closed, the hinge element that can be secured on the closure side remains in the same position on the closure element. This hinge element can, in particular, have one, two, three, or more through-openings for screwing to the closure element.

[0021] The hinge element that can be fixed to the body side and the hinge element that can be fixed to the closure side are arranged, in particular, so as to be movable relative to one another. In particular, these two hinge elements rotate relative to one another when the hinge (or the closure element in a large household appliance equipped with a hinge according to the invention) is opened or closed. In addition, these two closure elements can slide relative to one another when opening or closing (for example, in a multi-joint hinge). The two hinge elements can be connected to one another via a coupling unit comprising two, three, four, or more levers.

[0022] The hinge can be made of metal, at least in sections. For example, the body-side hinge element and / or the closure-side hinge element can be made of metal. The hinge can enable a pivoting movement of the closure element relative to the body about a preferably vertical pivot axis. Furthermore, the hinge can simultaneously enable a translational movement of the closure element relative to the body.

[0023] In the projection representation in a plane comprising the height direction and the depth direction, different distances arise between the center point of the at least one through-opening on the one hand and different sections of the coupling section on the other. According to one embodiment, the maximum distance between these different distances, i.e. the greatest value of the distances, should be at least 3 cm. The maximum distance thus represents the distance between the center point and the section of the coupling section furthest away from it in the projection representation. According to further embodiments, the maximum distance is at least 4 cm or at least 5 cm or at least 8 cm or at least 9 cm. In principle, the leverage of the support element increases with the maximum distance.In order to nevertheless enable a space-saving hinge, one embodiment provides for a maximum distance of 30 cm, or 25 cm, or 20 cm, or 15 cm. It has been shown that sufficient support of the hinge can be achieved even with such maximum distances.

[0024] The support element can, in particular, be formed in one piece, i.e., made from a single component. The support element preferably consists of metal or comprises metal.

[0025] According to the invention, the support element is formed integrally with the hinge element that can be fixed to the body side. The hinge element that can be fixed to the body side and the support element are thus manufactured from a single component, e.g., as a stamped and bent metal component.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the support element is formed by an arm projecting from the hinge element that can be fixed to the body side. In this way, despite a relatively compact and material-saving design, a strong supporting effect can still be achieved. The projecting arm is formed in particular by an elongated component, i.e. a length (corresponding to a maximum extension) is at least twice or three times or four times as long as the two other extensions in a Cartesian coordinate system. Alternatively or additionally, the length of the projecting arm can be at least 5 cm or at least 6 cm or at least 8 cm and / or a maximum of 20 cm or a maximum of 13 cm.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the support element is plate-shaped and / or formed by a flat component. A flat component is understood, in particular, to be a component whose thickness is at least ten times smaller, at least eight times smaller, or at least five times smaller than its two remaining dimensions. The support element can have a constant thickness or an at least substantially constant thickness, e.g., in the range between 0.2 cm and 1.0 cm or between 0.4 cm and 0.8 cm.

[0028] According to one embodiment, it is provided that the hinge element which can be fixed on the body side is designed for fixing to a front surface of the body and that the coupling section is designed for fixing to the front surface and / or a side surface of the body.

[0029] To achieve better positioning of the support element during its assembly and a further improved support function, one embodiment provides for the hinge, in particular the support element, to be designed to engage around an edge between a front surface of the body and a side surface of the body. It is particularly conceivable for the coupling section to engage around the edge.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the at least one coupling section has a contact surface for contacting the body. The contact surface can serve as a support surface to divert forces from the closure element via the support element into the body. The contact surface is preferably flat and / or has a size of at least 2 square centimeters, or of at least 4 square centimeters or of at least 5 square centimeters. Adequate coupling and thus support can be achieved if the contact surface has an area of ​​less than 15 square centimeters or less than 13 square centimeters. The contact surface can be designed to contact a front surface and / or a side surface of the body. The contact surface can be formed on a contact leg of the support element. The contact surface can be free of further coupling elements, such as form-fitting coupling elements.It is also conceivable to provide additional coupling elements within the contact surface. For example, a screw hole can be provided within the contact surface to create a screw connection between the support element and the body.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the support element has at least two coupling sections, each with a contact surface that is in contact with the body or is designed to do so, wherein the contact surfaces are arranged at an angle to one another. In this way, the two contact surfaces enable positioning of the support element on the body. This simplifies and enables more precise assembly of the support element. Furthermore, a more stable coupling of the support element to the body is enabled over the service life of the large household appliance. The two contact surfaces can be designed separately from one another or, alternatively, can be directly connected to one another.

[0032] It can be provided that the contact surfaces contact two adjacent surfaces of the body or are designed to do so and, for example, an abutting edge of the surfaces of the body is or can be enclosed by the support element. The abutting edge refers to the edge that connects the two surfaces of the body that are at an angle to one another. In this way, the support element can be coupled to a corner section of the body, enabling precise positioning. The two contact surfaces are, for example, at an angle of 90 degrees or at least essentially 90 degrees to one another. The two contact surfaces can be formed by contact legs with contact surfaces of at least 2 square centimeters each. The contact surfaces are those sections of the contact surfaces that contact the body.It is also conceivable for one or both contact surfaces to be formed by surfaces of claws, hooks, or tabs, each having a contact area of ​​less than 2 square centimeters. It is conceivable for the support element to have three, four, or more than four contact surfaces arranged one after the other along a longitudinal extent of the support element and / or along a vertical extent of the support element. In particular, these contact surfaces can be arranged one after the other essentially or completely without a gap. In this way, the manufacture of the support element as a stamped and bent component is simplified in that the outer contours of the contact surfaces can be stamped from a flat material. The three, four, or more than four contact surfaces can make alternating contact with the two surfaces of the body that are at an angle.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the at least one coupling section has a plug-in section, in particular a cranked one, for insertion into a receptacle in the body. The plug-in section can be designed, in particular, for a positive coupling with the body or can create such a coupling. For example, when the hinge is installed, the plug-in section can be received in a receptacle in the body. It is conceivable that the plug-in section is received in the receptacle without play or at least essentially without play, e.g. by means of a press fit. This enables the support element to be held securely and captively even during assembly. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the plug-in section is received in the receptacle with play and, for example, contributes to the rough alignment of the support element during assembly. The plug-in section can be formed by an end section of the support element and / or by a flat section (i.e.(i.e., the ratio of the thickness to the other dimensions is less than 5 or less than 3). The end section can be flat. If the plug-in section adjoins a contact surface of the support element, the plug-in section can be cantilevered relative to the contact surface or have a height offset relative to the contact surface. The plug-in section can engage behind a wall section of the body surrounding the opening.

[0034] In addition or alternatively to coupling the support element by means of a contact surface and / or a plug-in section, coupling to the body can also be achieved via a screw connection. According to one embodiment, the at least one coupling section has at least one screw opening for screwing to the body or the wall. A hinge connected to a large household appliance further comprises a screw penetrating the screw opening, by means of which the support element is screwed to the body or the wall. In order to ensure improved rotational security of the support element relative to the body, the coupling section can be provided with two (or three or more than three) screw openings, each of which is penetrated by a screw when the hinge is installed and by means of which the support element is or can be screwed to the body.The screw opening can, in particular, be formed in a coupling section already designed as a contact surface. The screw opening can, in particular, be closed at the edge, i.e., formed by a hole. A longitudinal axis of the screws can be aligned perpendicular to a front surface or to a side surface of the body, so that the support element is or can be screwed to the front surface and / or the side surface of the body. The screw opening can have a chamfer, and the screw can be a countersunk head screw.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the hinge element that can be fixed on the body side has a plate, in particular a fastening plate, that surrounds the through-opening, and the support element is arranged at an end section of the plate or fastening plate. In particular, the support element can be arranged at an end section formed in the width direction. The support element can have a section, in particular a plate-shaped section, that is formed perpendicular to the plate. The plate can have additional ribs or webs. In particular, the plate can have a rib or a web at each of its two end sections in the height direction, each of which is oriented perpendicular to the plate.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the large household appliance comprises an upper hinge according to the invention and a lower hinge according to the invention, with the support element of the upper hinge extending at least partially vertically below the hinge element fixed to the body side, and the support element of the lower hinge extending at least partially vertically above the hinge element fixed to the body side. In this way, a sufficient improvement in the anti-twist protection can be achieved despite a compact design of the hinges.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the support element of the upper hinge and the support element of the lower hinge can be provided to extend in the depth direction behind a front surface of the cabinet. Disturbances to the external appearance or the risk of dirt accumulation in the area of ​​the front surface of the cabinet can thus be avoided or at least reduced.

[0038] In order to enable a door hinge change in particular in a simple and cost-effective manner, according to one embodiment it is provided that the large household appliance has an upper hinge according to the invention and a lower hinge according to the invention and that the two hinges are mirror-symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane running through the large household appliance.

[0039] To improve the force transmission into the body, the body can be provided with a backing piece coupled to the coupling section. The backing piece can, for example, have a screw opening and / or form or define a receptacle for the plug-in section.

[0040] To prevent accidental displacement of the large household appliance, for example in a niche accommodating the large household appliance, the large household appliance can have a mounting section by means of which the large household appliance can be coupled to a wall arranged laterally next to the large household appliance. The mounting section can be designed for a positive and / or non-positive and / or materially bonded coupling to the wall. For example, the mounting section can have one or more recesses (e.g. holes) by means of which the large household appliance can be fixed to the wall by screws. The mounting section can be formed on a component or assembly that is separate from the hinge.According to one embodiment, however, it is provided that the hinge, in particular the support element, has the mounting section for coupling the large household appliance to a wall to be arranged laterally next to the large household appliance. In particular, it can be provided that the mounting section has at least one recess, e.g. a closed-edged hole, for receiving a fastening means, e.g. a screw, for coupling the large household appliance to the wall to be arranged laterally next to the large household appliance. The mounting section can furthermore have a contact surface for direct contact with the wall. The contact surface is preferably flat and / or protrudes in the width direction beyond a surface (e.g. side surface) of a carcass side wall. It is conceivable that the recess in the mounting section of the support element merges with a recess in the hinge.This makes it possible to fix the body to the wall using a screw connection and also to couple the support element to the hinge.

[0041] In order to improve the visual appearance in a simple and cost-effective manner on the one hand, and to prevent the accumulation and adhesion of dirt on the other, the large household appliance according to one embodiment has a cover element which at least partially covers the support element. The cover element is in particular a separate component from the support element or the hinge and / or is preferably formed in one piece. The cover element can be made of plastic, for example. According to one embodiment, it is provided that the cover element at least partially covers the mounting section. It is conceivable that the cover element only covers a surface of the support element, for example the mounting section, which faces the center of the body in the width direction. It is also conceivable that the cover element covers the support element, for example the mounting section, on both sides in the width direction.In particular, a surface of the cover element facing away from the center of the body in the width direction can provide a contact surface for engagement with the wall. In this way, a defined contact surface can be provided which, with regard to the material selected for the cover element, is gentle on the wall. The cover element can be positively coupled to the hinge and / or the support element, in particular fastened in a captive manner. If the support element is a separate component from the hinge which is coupled to the hinge by means of a connecting section, the cover element can cover this connecting section at least partially or completely. The advantages of the cover element are essentially already achieved when the cover element is arranged at least 80% or at least 90% or completely in front of a front surface of the body in the depth direction.In particular, sections of the support element which are arranged in the depth direction behind the front surface of the body can be designed to be exposed, i.e. not covered by the cover element. For example, it is possible for a coupling section of the support element which extends in the depth direction behind the front surface of the body (in order to provide a coupling to a side wall of the body) to be designed to be exposed. To simplify fixing of the large household appliance to the wall, the cover element can have a base body and a cover. The cover can be articulated to the base body in particular by means of a film hinge and / or have a screw opening which enables a screw to be held captively.

[0042] A large household appliance according to the invention is a refrigeration appliance (e.g. a refrigerator, a freezer, a wine storage cabinet, a fridge-freezer combination).

[0043] In particular, the large household appliance can be a built-in appliance. A "built-in appliance" is understood to mean a large household appliance that is housed or installed in a niche for its intended use. The niche can be defined, for example, by furniture walls, especially kitchen furniture walls. The niche can, in particular, include niche side walls arranged at least laterally next to the built-in appliance.

[0044] It is conceivable that the large household appliance has two or more hinges. If the locking element is connected by two hinges, for example, their pivot axes are coaxial. If the locking element is a door, the pivot axis of a properly installed built-in household appliance is vertically aligned, for example.

[0045] An arrangement according to the invention comprises a large household appliance according to the invention in the form of a built-in appliance, as well as a wall arranged adjacent to the large household appliance, in particular a furniture wall. The wall can in particular be a left or right side wall of a niche accommodating the built-in appliance.

[0046] The terms "top," "bottom," "front," "rear," "horizontal," "depth direction," "width direction," "height direction," etc., indicate the positions and orientations that occur during proper use and proper positioning of the large household appliance, and when viewed by an observer standing in front of the large household appliance and looking in the direction of it. With regard to the hinge, these specifications apply to a hinge that is properly attached to a large household appliance.

[0047] An embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures: Fig. 1 shows a large household appliance according to the invention in a first embodiment; Figs. 2, 3 show detailed views of the large household appliance according to the first embodiment; Fig. 4 shows a hinge according to the invention in a first embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 6, 7 Detailed views of a large household appliance according to a second embodiment; Fig. 8 a hinge according to the invention according to a second embodiment; Fig. 9 a sectional view of Fig. 6 ; Fig. 10, 11 Detailed representations of a large household appliance according to a third embodiment; Fig. 12 a hinge according to the invention according to a third embodiment; Fig. 13, 14 Detailed representations of a large household appliance according to a fourth embodiment; and Fig. 15 a cover.

[0048] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are identified below by the same reference symbols.

[0049] In Fig. 1 A large household appliance 1 according to the invention is shown in the form of a refrigerator, which is designed for storing and preserving food. X denotes a height direction, Y a width direction, and Z a depth direction. In this exemplary embodiment, the large household appliance 1 is designed as a built-in appliance and is intended to be accommodated in a niche 2. The niche is formed by kitchen furniture and comprises a base wall 3, side walls 4, 5, and a top wall 6. The walls of the niche are not part of the built-in appliance 1 and are made of wood, for example.

[0050] A body 7 of the large household appliance 1 has a storage compartment 8 located therein for storing refrigerated goods. The storage compartment 8 can be closed by a closure element 9. The closure element 9 is formed by a door and is hinged to the body 7 via two hinges 10, 11. The closure element 9 can be covered at the front by a furniture panel (not shown), in particular a furniture front. The two hinges 10, 11 have coaxial and vertical pivot axes.

[0051] The body 7 has inner walls, which are formed in particular by a one-piece inner container and delimit the storage space 8 at least in sections. Fastening means 12 in the form of receiving grooves are arranged on the lateral inner walls of the body 7 for attaching shelves (not shown) for storing refrigerated goods. The inner walls of the body 7 are enclosed by outer walls of the body 7, with thermal insulation material arranged in a cavity between the inner and outer walls. The outer walls are formed by a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall.

[0052] Fig. 1shows the closure element 9 in an open position. The closure element 9 has an inner wall and a spaced-apart outer wall. Thermal insulation material is arranged in a cavity between the inner and outer walls of the closure element 9. The closure element 9 has a plurality of door compartments 13. In the closed state of the closure element 4, a seal 14, which is mounted on the closure element 9, contacts a front surface 15 of the body 7 enclosing the storage space 8.

[0053] Fig. 2 shows the Fig. 1 framed cutout in the area of ​​the upper hinge 10. Fig. 3 shows another perspective of a section of Fig. 1, comprising the upper hinge 10, wherein the walls of the niche 2 are not shown for illustration purposes. The hinge 10 comprises a hinge element 16 made of metal that can be fixed on the body side and a hinge element 17 made of metal that can be fixed on the closure side. The hinge element 16 that can be fixed on the body side is fixedly attached or secured to the body 7 by means of screws 18 and sits on the front surface 15 of the body 7. The closure element connecting part 17 is fixedly attached or secured to a front side of the outer wall of the closure element 9. The hinge 10 further has a coupling unit 19, which connects the hinge element 16 that can be fixed on the body side and the hinge element 17 that can be fixed on the closure side in an articulated manner. The hinge 10 is a multi-joint hinge. The hinge 10 has a vertical pivot axis 20, i.e. parallel to the height direction X.

[0054] The hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side, has two through-holes 21, 22 for screwing to the body 7. The screws 18 penetrate the through-holes 21, 22 and are screwed into the body 7. The through-holes 21, 22 and thus the two screws 18 are spaced apart from one another in the width direction Y and arranged at the same height in the height direction X.

[0055] Weight forces generated by the locking element 9 are introduced into the body 7 via the hinges 10, 11. Furthermore, torques act on the hinge elements 16 of the two hinges 10, 11, which can be fixed on the body side, around a horizontal axis 23. The axis 23 runs centrally in the width direction Y through the screw heads 24 of the screws 18.

[0056] In order to reduce the effects of these weight forces and, above all, these torques on the screw connection of the hinge elements 16 that can be fixed on the body side to the body 7, each hinge element 16 that can be fixed on the body side is coupled to a support element 25, 26.

[0057] The support elements 25, 26 are formed integrally with the hinge elements 16, which can be fixed to the body side. The hinge elements 16, which can be fixed to the body side, together with the support elements 25, 26, are stamped and bent components.

[0058] The upper hinge 10 and the lower hinge 11 are mirror-symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane running through the large household appliance 1. The following descriptions based on the upper hinge 10 therefore also apply to the lower hinge 11.

[0059] As in the sole illustration of the upper hinge 10 in Fig. 4As can be seen, the support element 25 is plate-shaped and flat. The support element 25 is formed in the width direction Y at an end section of the hinge 10, in particular at an end section 27 of the hinge element 16 which can be fastened on the body side. The support element 25 comprises a lateral hinge end plate 28. The lateral hinge end plate 28 runs in a plane comprising the depth direction Z and the height direction X and encloses a hinge pocket 29 in the width direction. The hinge pocket 29, in which the coupling unit 19 is at least partially received when the hinge 10 is closed, is further delimited by a fastening plate 30 and two ribs 31, 32. The fastening plate 30 serves to fix or fasten the hinge 10 to the body and has the through openings 21, 22. The ribs 31, 32 are above or below the hinge 10 in the height direction X.arranged below the fastening plate 30 and essentially serve to increase the stability of the hinge 10. The lateral hinge end plate 28 and the ribs 31, 32 are not directly connected to one another, but only indirectly connected to one another via the fastening plate 30.

[0060] The support element 25 has an arm 33 projecting from the hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side. Two coupling sections 34, 35 are provided on the projecting arm 33 for securing the hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side, to the wall located next to the large household appliance 1, namely the right side wall 5 of the niche 2. Both coupling sections 34, 35 have several screw openings 36 for screwing to the wall. Screws 37 penetrate at least some of these screw openings 36 ( Fig. 2 and 3 ) and are screwed into the wall ( Fig. 2 ).

[0061] Fig. 5shows a sectional view Fig. 1 in the form of a projection representation in a plane comprising the height direction X and the depth direction Z.

[0062] The projecting arm 33 of the upper hinge 10 extends in the vertical direction towards a vertical center of the large household appliance 1. Due to the mirror symmetry, the projecting arm of the lower hinge 11 also extends in the vertical direction towards the vertical center of the appliance.

[0063] The support element 25, in particular a section of the projecting arm 33, is shown in the projection representation according to Fig. 5arranged to overlap the storage space 8 in the vertical direction. In particular, the support element 25, in particular a section of the cantilevered arm 33, extends over a horizontal boundary wall 38 of the storage space. The horizontal boundary wall 38 is formed with respect to the upper hinge 10 by a top wall of the inner container and with respect to the lower hinge 11 by a bottom wall of the inner container. The overlap occurs in the vertical direction over an extension 39. In particular, both coupling sections 34, 35 are arranged to overlap the storage space 8 in the vertical direction.

[0064] Different sections of the support element 25 are spaced at different distances from a center point 40 of the through opening 22. A maximum distance 41 is approximately 10 cm.

[0065] In the first embodiment, the support elements 25, 26 are each arranged completely in the depth direction in front of the front surface 15 of the body 7.

[0066] The Fig. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of a large household appliance 1. It differs only in the different hinges, which are located in the Fig. 6 to 9 are designed according to a second exemplary embodiment. Shown in each case is the upper hinge 60, which is mirror-symmetrical to the lower hinge with respect to a horizontal plane running through the large household appliance 1, so that the following explanations also refer to the lower hinge.

[0067] The upper hinge 60 differs from the upper hinge 10 of the first embodiment only in that the support element 61 is of a different design. While the support element 61 also has a lateral hinge end plate 28, which is identical to the first embodiment, the remaining section of the projecting arm 62 is of a different design.

[0068] The projecting arm 62 has two coupling sections 63, 64, which are or can be secured to the body 7. The coupling sections 63, 64 each have a screw opening 65 for screwing to the body 7 using screws 66. The coupling sections 63, 64 are formed by flat sections of the support element 61 and rest with a flat contact surface 67 against the front surface 15 of the body 7. The two coupling sections 63, 64 are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction X.

[0069] The support element 61 has two further coupling sections 68, 69, which are also formed by flat sections of the support element 61 and which are perpendicular to the coupling sections 63, 64. The further coupling sections 68, 69 rest with contact surfaces 70 against a side wall 71 (right side wall) of the body 7.

[0070] The support element 61 is thus designed to encompass an edge 72 between the front surface 15 of the body 7 and a side surface 73 of the body 7 formed by the side wall 71.

[0071] The coupling sections 63, 64, 68, 69 adjacent to the front surface 15 and to the side surface 73 are arranged alternately in the height direction X.

[0072] The projecting arm 62 is bent and has a step 74. Each section, which has the coupling sections 63, 64, 68, 69, is offset outward in the width direction and forms a contact surface 74 for engagement with the wall.

[0073] The support element further comprises two screw openings 75, by means of which the large household appliance 1 can be fixed to the wall and thus secured against displacement within the niche 2.

[0074] The torque M acting on the hinge 60 around the axis 23 is in Fig. 8shown, as is the maximum distance 76 of the contact surface 67 of the coupling section 64 from the center point 40. A further maximum distance 77 of the screw opening 65 from the center point 40 is also shown. Maximum distances 76, 77 are greater than 3 cm and thus provide support for the hinge 60 against the torque M.

[0075] The Fig. 10 to 12 show a third embodiment of a large household appliance 1. It differs from the first embodiment only in its different hinges. In each case, the upper hinge 100 is shown, which is mirror-symmetrical to the lower hinge with respect to a horizontal plane running through the large household appliance 1, so that the following explanations also refer to the lower hinge.

[0076] The upper hinge 100 differs from the upper hinge 10 of the first embodiment only by a differently designed support element 101. The support element 101 is also formed integrally with the hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side, and also has a lateral hinge end plate 28, which is identical to the first embodiment. However, the remaining section of the projecting arm 102 is designed differently.

[0077] The projecting arm 102 has a main extension direction running in the depth direction Z. Two coupling sections 103, 104 are formed on the projecting arm 102. The coupling section 103 is formed by a screw opening 105. The hinge 100 is fastened to the side wall 71 by means of a screw 106. The coupling section 104 is formed by a plug-in section 107, which is received in a receptacle 108 of the body 7. The receptacle 108 is formed in the right side wall 71 (for illustration purposes, the right side wall 71 is Fig. 13 shown partially transparent). The plug-in section 107 is formed at an end section of the support element 101.

[0078] The support element 101 has a vertically extending step 109 which rests on the edge 72 between the front surface 15 and the side surface 73.

[0079] A maximum distance 110 between the center point 40 and the plug-in section 107 as coupling element 104 is again more than 3 cm.

[0080] The Fig. 13 to 15 show a fourth exemplary embodiment of a large household appliance 1. It differs from the first exemplary embodiment only in its different hinges. In each case, the upper hinge 200 is shown, which is mirror-symmetrical to the lower hinge with respect to a horizontal plane running through the large household appliance 1, so that the following explanations also refer to the lower hinge.

[0081] The upper hinge 200 differs from the upper hinge 10 of the first embodiment only by a differently designed support element 201. The support element 201 is also formed integrally with the hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side, and also has a lateral hinge end plate 28, which is identical to the first embodiment. However, the remaining section of the projecting arm 202 is designed differently.

[0082] The support element 201 is not coupled or attached to the front or front surface 15 of the body 7. Rather, the support element 201 on the body 7 is only connected to the right side wall 71 of the body 2 via two screws 203. The support element 201 has corresponding screw openings 205 on the coupling section 204.

[0083] The representation in Fig. 13shows the already functional support element 201, which serves the purpose of supporting the hinge 200 and is attached to the body 7. Optionally, this can be covered, at least in sections, with a cover 210. The cover 210 is formed by a separate plastic component from the support element 201.

[0084] Fig. 14 shows the support element 201 provided with the cover 210 and attached to the body 7. The cover 210 is attached only to the support element 201 and thus to the hinge 200. In particular, the cover 210 extends in the depth direction Z exclusively in front of the front surface 15 of the body 7.

[0085] In Fig. 15 The cover 210 is shown alone. The cover 210 has a base body 211 and a lid 212, which is pivotally connected to the base body 211 by means of a film hinge 213. In Fig. 15an open position is shown, ie before mounting the cover on the support element 201 or the hinge element 16 which can be fixed on the body side. In the closed position (see Fig. 14 ) Locking lugs 214 and locking recesses 215 ensure that the cover 210 remains closed. In the base body 211 and in the cover 212 there are screw openings 216, 217 for the passage of a screw 218. The diameter of the screw opening 217 is dimensioned such that the screw 218 is held captively even before assembly. On the side facing away from the center of the appliance in the width direction Y, i.e. the side facing outwards, the cover 210 has a surface 219. This surface 219 can be in direct contact with the right-hand furniture wall 5 and, for example, determine a position of the large household appliance 1 within the niche 2.

[0086] In the closed position, the cover 210 engages the support element 201 from two opposite sides. This engagement provides the fastening to the support element 201 and to the hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side. A locking lug 214 of the cover 210 also enables direct, positive-locking attachment to the hinge element 16, which can be fixed to the body side. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0087] 1Large household appliance 2Niche 3Floor wall 4Side wall 5Side wall 6Top wall 7Carcass 8Storage space 9Locking element 10Hinge 11Hinge 12Fasteners 13Door rack 14Seal 15Front surface 16Hinge element that can be fixed on the carcass side 17Hinge element that can be fixed on the locking side 19Pivot axis 21Through opening 22Through opening 23Axis 24Screw head 25Support element 26Support element 27End section 28Hinge end plate 29Hinge pocket 30Fastening plate 31Rib 32Rib 33Protruding arm 34Coupling section 35Coupling section 36Screw opening 37Screw 38Boundary wall 39Extension 40Center point 41Maximum distance 60Hinge 61Support element 62Cantilevered arm 63Coupling section 64Coupling section 65Screw opening 66Screw 67Contact surface 68Coupling section 69Coupling section 70Contact surface 71Side wall 72Edge 73Side surface 74Step 75Screw opening 76Maximum distance 77Maximum distance 100Hinge 101Support element 102Cantilevered arm 103Coupling section104 Coupling section 105 Screw opening 106 Screw 107 Plug-in section 108 Receptacle 109 Step 110 Maximum distance 200 Hinge 201 Support element 202 Cantilevered arm 203 Screw 204 Coupling section 205 Screw opening 210 Cover 211 Base body 212 Lid 213 Step 214 Locking lug 215 Locking recess 216 Screw opening 217 Screw opening 219 Screw

Claims

1. Large household appliance (1) in the form of a refrigeration appliance, comprising a carcass (7) and a closure element (9), which is hinged to the carcass (7) using at least one hinge (10,11,60,100,200), the hinge (10,11,60,100,200) with a hinge element (16) that can be fixed on the carcass side, which is fixed on the carcass and which has at least one pass-through opening (21,22) for screwing to the carcass (7), wherein the hinge (10,11,60,100,200) has a support element (25,26,61,101,201) that is coupled to the hinge element (16) that can be fixed on the carcass side, the support element (25,26,61,101,201) comprising at least one coupling section (34,35,63,64,68,69,103,104,204) that can be fixed to the carcass (7) and / or a wall (5) located adjacent to the large household appliance (1), characterised in that the coupling section (34,35,63,64,68,69,103,104,204) is arranged such that, in a projection representation into a plane that comprises the height direction (X) and the depth direction (Z), it overlaps a storage compartment (8) of the carcass (7) in the height direction (X) and that the support element (25,26,61,101,201) is embodied in one piece on the hinge element (16) that can be fixed on the carcass side.

2. Large household appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that a maximum distance (41,76,77,110) of the support element (25,26,61,101,201) in the projection representation from a centre point (40) of the pass-through opening (21,22) amounts to at least 3 cm or at least 4 cm or at least 5 cm or at least 8 cm or at least 9 cm.

3. Large household appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the coupling section (34,35,63,64,68,69,103,104,204), in a projection representation into a plane that comprises the height direction (X) and the depth direction (Z), is arranged behind a front surface (15) of the carcass (7) in the depth direction (Z).

4. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (25,26,61,101,201) has an arm (33,62,102,202) protruding from the hinge element (16) that can be fixed on the carcass side.

5. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (25,26,61,101,201) is embodied in a plate-shaped manner.

6. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hinge element (16) that can be fixed on the carcass side is embodied to be fixed on a front surface (15) of the carcass (7) and the coupling section (34,35,63,64,68,69,103,104,204) is embodied to be fixed on the front surface (15) and / or a side surface (73) of the carcass.

7. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hinge (60), in particular the support element (61), is embodied to encompass an edge (72) between a front surface (15) of the carcass (7) and a side surface (73) of the carcass (7).

8. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one coupling section (63,64,68,69,103,104,204) has a flat contact surface (67,70) for contacting the carcass (7).

9. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one coupling section (104) has a plug-in section (107), which is offset in particular, for plugging into a receptacle (108) of the carcass (7).

10. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one coupling section (34,35,63,64,68,69,103,104,204) has at least one screw opening (35,65,75,105,205) for screwing to the carcass (7) or the wall (5).

11. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hinge element (16) that can be fixed on the carcass side has a fastening plate (30) that comprises the pass-through opening (21,22) and the support element (25,26,61,101,201) is arranged on an end section of the fastening plate (30).

12. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (25,26,61,101,201) of the upper hinge (10,60,100,200) extends, at least in sections, vertically below the hinge element (16) that is fixed on the carcass side and the support element (25,26,61,101,201) of the lower hinge (11,60,100,200) extends, at least in sections, vertically above the hinge element (16) that is fixed on the carcass side and / or the support element (10,60,100,200) of the upper hinge (10,60,100,200) and the support element (11,60,100,200) of the lower hinge (11,60,100,200) extend behind a front surface (15) of the carcass (7) in the depth direction (Z).

13. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the large household appliance (1) has an upper hinge (10,60,100,200) and a lower hinge (11,60,100,200) and that the hinges (10,11,60,100,200) are mirror-symmetrical in relation to a horizontal plane running through the large household appliance (1).

14. Large household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the carcass (7) has a reinforcement part coupled to the coupling section (63,63,103,104,204).