Household appliance, preferably cooking appliance, especially preferably steam cooking appliance

By using stop and alignment elements, the misalignment issues of movable shutters in household appliances are resolved, ensuring precise alignment and reducing operational and visual defects, enhancing the appliance's quality and functionality.

EP4729839A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-04-22MIELE & CO KG
View PDF 5 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
MIELE & CO KG
Filing Date
2025-09-24
Publication Date
2026-04-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing movable shutters in household appliances, particularly cooking appliances like steam cookers, often suffer from misalignment and mispositioning issues, leading to visual and operational defects such as noise, obstruction of airflow, and potential damage to components.

Method used

Incorporation of stop elements and alignment elements, including spring-elastic materials and electrical movement devices, to precisely align and center the shutter relative to the appliance's housings during its rest position, ensuring a flush and visually appealing closure.

Benefits of technology

The solution enhances the perceived quality and functionality by reducing noise, maintaining airflow, and preventing component damage, while maintaining a smooth, high-quality appearance.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure IMGAF001_ABST
    Figure IMGAF001_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1), preferably a cooking appliance (1), and particularly preferably a steam cooking appliance (1), with a movable, preferably pivotable, cover (15) designed to move back and forth between a rest position, in which the cover (15) prevents access to a space behind it of an outer housing and / or an inner housing (11), and an exposed position, in which the cover (15) allows access to the space. The household appliance (1) is characterized by at least one stop element (15c) and / or at least one alignment element (11c, 15d; 11d, 15e), which is designed to improve the positioning and / or alignment of the cover (15) relative to the outer housing and / or the inner housing (11) when the rest position is reached.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a household appliance, preferably a cooking appliance, particularly preferably a steam cooking appliance.

[0002] Various kitchen appliances, also known as cooking appliances, are used to prepare food, which can also be referred to as items to be cooked or prepared for cooking. These include cooktops, on which food can be cooked in a cooking vessel such as a saucepan (with or without a lid), a frying pan, and the like, by boiling, frying, and other methods. The cooking vessel is placed on a cooking zone of the cooktop, and the base of the vessel is heated electrically, inductively, or similarly by the cooking zone. The cooking vessel can also be referred to as a cooking container, a food carrier, or a cooking receptacle. In this case, the cooking vessel provides a cooking space for the food, which, in the case of pans and pots, can be open or closed with a lid.

[0003] Furthermore, cooking appliances are known which have a stationary cooking chamber integrated with the appliance, in which the food to be cooked can be arranged in or on a cooking vessel and cooked with the cooking chamber of the appliance closed. Such a cooking appliance can be, for example, an oven, a steam cooker, or a combination oven and steam cooker.

[0004] Such cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber have in common that they feature an outer casing, which essentially encloses the cooking appliance and protects its individual components and elements, while also making them easily accessible. Inside the cooking appliance, an interior space is formed, which constitutes the cooking chamber and is essentially enclosed by an inner casing, also known as the cooking chamber muffle or muffle. A cavity is formed between the inner and outer casings, in which functional elements of the cooking appliance, such as a control unit, an electrical power supply, and other components necessary for the intended use of the cooking appliance, can be located. From the front, i.e., viewed from the user's perspective, the outer casing...A cover in the form of furniture material or in the form of a control panel and the like, together with the inner housing, closes off the housing space, so that the housing space is not accessible to the user.

[0005] The interior of the cooking appliance features a front-facing access opening through which the user can enter and arrange cooking utensils within the cooking chamber. This opening also allows for the removal of utensils after cooking. The access opening can be opened by means of a locking element, such as a side-hinged door, a downward-hinged flap, or similar device. This allows the user to access the interior of the cooking appliance as described above, or to close the interior and complete the cooking process. Such a locking element can be solid or have a viewing window to allow the user to see inside the closed interior of the cooking appliance.

[0006] Such cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber are typically designed as built-in appliances or kitchen appliances to save space and be installed vertically in kitchen furniture, such as built-in kitchen cabinets, at an easily accessible height for the user. Their outer casing is fixed in place, and their front panel, and optionally their cover (see above), are flush with the surfaces of other cooking appliances, drawers, doors, and the like, enhancing the visual appeal. The cover may simply serve as a decorative closure for the space between the cooking chamber and the front of the appliance. However, the cover often incorporates operating and display elements, which is why such covers are also referred to as control panels.

[0007] In any case, the cover can be fixed, which is usually the case with ovens, microwaves, and combination ovens. However, the cover can also be mounted on the outer casing so that it can be moved or pivoted, in order to either close off or make accessible an area or space behind it. For example, a removable water tank could be located there, allowing the person to reach, remove, refill, and replace it when the cover opens. Alternatively, the space can be concealed and closed, which can improve the appliance's appearance.

[0008] The German patent application DE 10 2007 048 200 A1 describes a household appliance with a control panel and a tank for holding a fluid, wherein the tank has a filling opening for filling with the fluid and is located behind the control panel inside the household appliance in the operating position, wherein the control panel is movable back and forth between a rest position, in which the control panel prevents access to the tank or its filling opening in the operating position, and an exposed position, in which the control panel allows access.

[0009] The printed documents CN 110 881 851 A and CN 109 832 955 A also show control panels which can be moved back and forth, at least in sections, between a rest position and an exposed position.

[0010] In any case, such apertures are usually arranged transversely above the access opening to be more easily accessible to the user when the shutter element is open.

[0011] A disadvantage of known movable and, in particular, pivotable baffles as described in German patent DE 10 2007 048 200 A1 is that, especially in the case of a kinematically complex movement, the baffle may not be precisely aligned with the outer housing, either vertically or horizontally, and may not be centered as desired. This can be perceived as a sign of poor quality by the user, both visually and / or tactilely. Furthermore, if positioned too low along the vertical axis, it can obstruct any existing air duct used for cooling airflow, thus preventing proper airflow. This can also lead to noise when the baffle closes, which the user may also perceive as a sign of poor quality. Additionally, the baffle may touch components of the cooking appliance when closing, which can also cause disturbing noises and damage.This can at least lead to contact marks on the components involved, which the user may also perceive as a sign of poor quality. Finally, hoses, cables, and the like can also be pinched by the cover, potentially causing damage or reducing their lifespan.

[0012] This applies similarly to other household appliances.

[0013] The invention thus addresses the problem of improving the positioning accuracy of the movable shutter in household appliances, preferably cooking appliances, and especially preferably steam cookers, in the rest position, i.e., with the shutter retracted or closed. This should be achieved as simply, cost-effectively, reliably, and / or in a space-saving manner as possible. At the very least, an alternative to known methods should be created.

[0014] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a household appliance having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0015] The invention thus relates to a household appliance, preferably a cooking appliance, particularly preferably a steam cooking appliance, with a movable, preferably pivotable, cover which is designed to be moved back and forth between a rest position in which the cover prevents access to a space behind it of an outer housing and / or an inner housing, and an exposed position in which the cover allows access to the space.

[0016] The household appliance according to the invention is characterized by at least one stop element and / or at least one alignment element, which is designed to improve the positioning and / or alignment of the aperture relative to the outer housing and / or relative to the inner housing when the rest position is reached.

[0017] The term "reaching the rest position" refers to the last millimeters of the aperture's retraction movement towards the outer housing and / or the inner housing, i.e., immediately before the end of the movement and thus before the aperture comes to a standstill in the position or orientation relative to the outer housing and / or the inner housing that it assumes at that moment.

[0018] This can be achieved through various mechanical and / or electrical properties, as will be described in more detail below. These properties or characteristics can be applied individually to bring about the desired improvement, and can be further enhanced by combining them.

[0019] In any case, this allows play in such household appliances to be reduced or eliminated in each of the Cartesian spatial directions when the cover or lift panel is closed, and preferably in several, and especially preferably in all, Cartesian spatial directions simultaneously, which can increase the value of the household appliance. Furthermore, any gap that may exist between the front or locking element and the cover or its front surface, and in particular its cover glass, which could be restricted in a conventionally known hanging cover, can be kept clear according to the invention. Thus, previously known optical defects and / or restrictions on the flow of cooling air can be avoided.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the stop element is arranged and aligned on the aperture, preferably at the edge, so that when it reaches the rest position it contacts the outer housing and / or the inner housing, or vice versa, wherein the stop element is spring-elastic, preferably made of an elastomeric material.

[0021] This can represent a concrete implementation option to achieve, firstly, a "soft," i.e., spring-elastically damped, contact between the inside of the bezel and the outside of the outer housing and / or the inner housing, and secondly, a certain degree of compensation for the distance between the inside of the bezel and the outside of the outer housing and / or the inner housing along the X-axis. The former can prevent or at least significantly reduce noise upon contact, as such noise could be perceived as inferior by the user. The latter can enable a smooth finish on the front of the appliance, i.e., the front of the bezel or its lens, in relation to the rest of the front, and especially the front of a locking element, which is also perceived as high-quality and visually appealing by the user.A misalignment of these elements could be perceived by the user as inferior and visually disturbing.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance further comprises a, preferably electrical, movement device which is designed to perform the movements of the movable aperture between the rest position and the exposed position, wherein the movement device is designed and configured to move the aperture, upon reaching the rest position, against the spring-elastic force of the stop element, exactly so far along the longitudinal axis towards the outer housing and / or the inner housing, so that a front surface of the aperture, preferably an aperture cover of the aperture, particularly preferably an aperture glass of the aperture, is flush with the rest of the front of the household appliance.

[0023] As previously described in detail, this can increase the perceived value of the household appliance for the user. This can be achieved through the described behavior of the movement mechanism or its (preferably electric) drive, which can be designed and / or controlled accordingly with regard to the required closing force.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance has at least one pair of stop elements which are arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement, preferably along the transverse axis, offset from each other.

[0025] This allows for the implementation of the previously described properties, which can thus be achieved at several points between the aperture and the outer housing and / or the inner housing. Providing exactly one pair of such stop elements can simultaneously minimize the effort and therefore also the costs.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the aperture is designed to extend essentially along the transverse axis.

[0027] This can provide sufficient space for the shutter element, which is usually located along the vertical axis below the aperture. The aperture can also thus offer enough space for operating and / or display elements.

[0028] According to the invention, at least one lateral alignment element is arranged on the outer housing and / or the inner housing, preferably centrally along the transverse axis, facing the aperture, wherein at least one lateral alignment element, preferably centrally along the transverse axis, is arranged on the aperture facing the outer housing and / or the inner housing, wherein the lateral alignment elements have corresponding lateral wedge-shaped surfaces which are designed to contact each other when the aperture reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture relative to the outer housing and / or the inner housing along the transverse axis, preferably to center it.

[0029] This can enable lateral alignment or centering along the transverse axis by having the wedge-shaped or inclined corresponding surfaces press the aperture laterally as desired, and in particular towards the center of the household appliance or its outer and / or inner housing, when it reaches its rest position, in order to be aligned exactly as desired and in particular centered at the end of the movement.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, this can be achieved by means of a lateral alignment element as a projection, recess, or indentation on the outer housing and / or the inner housing, which thus has two wedge-shaped surfaces. The aperture can be designed to project forward or backward correspondingly, i.e., exactly the opposite, and can itself have two wedge-shaped surfaces. The interaction of the two mutually contacting surfaces of the lateral alignment element of the outer housing and / or the inner housing on one side and the lateral alignment element of the aperture on the other side can each generate a force that pushes or shifts the aperture along the transverse axis in one direction, thereby enabling alignment to the left or right.The two other corresponding surfaces of the two alignment elements can generate the opposite force along the transverse axis, so that together alignment and, in particular, centering along the transverse axis can take place.

[0031] For this purpose, several such combinations of alignment elements of the outer housing and / or the inner housing and the aperture can be used, which can preferably be arranged as widely as possible, particularly along the transverse axis, to improve this effect. Limiting oneself to exactly two combinations of alignment elements of the outer housing and / or the inner housing and the aperture can fulfill the purpose while simultaneously minimizing the effort, and thus the costs and the required installation space.

[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, the lateral alignment element of the outer housing and / or the inner housing is designed as a projection and the lateral alignment element of the aperture as a recess, or vice versa, as previously described.

[0033] According to the invention, alternatively at least one pair of lateral alignment elements is arranged offset from each other along the transverse axis on the outer housing and / or the inner housing, preferably at the edge, facing the aperture, wherein furthermore at least one pair of lateral alignment elements is arranged offset from each other along the transverse axis, preferably at the edge, on the aperture facing the outer housing and / or the inner housing, wherein the alignment elements each have a corresponding lateral wedge-shaped surface which are designed to contact each other when the aperture reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture relative to the outer housing and / or the inner housing along the transverse axis, preferably to center it.

[0034] This can represent an alternative way of implementing the corresponding aspects of the invention described above, by distributing the inclined or wedge-shaped surfaces onto separate alignment elements of the outer housing and / or the inner housing and the aperture. For this purpose, the edge regions of the outer housing and / or the inner housing and the aperture can be used in particular where the aperture is moved along the longitudinal axis between the outer housing and / or the inner housing, so that only these areas need to be formed in a correspondingly inclined or wedge shape to achieve the alignment or centering effect described above. This can reduce the effort required, since separate alignment elements of the outer housing and / or the inner housing are not needed.or the inner housing and aperture as described above can be dispensed with, although these can also be used in combination to enhance the aligning effect.

[0035] According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one vertical alignment element is arranged on the outer housing and / or the inner housing, preferably centrally along the vertical axis, facing the aperture, wherein at least one vertical alignment element, preferably centrally along the vertical axis, is arranged on the aperture facing the outer housing and / or the inner housing, wherein the vertical alignment elements have corresponding vertical wedge-shaped surfaces which are designed to contact each other when the aperture reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture relative to the outer housing and / or the inner housing along the vertical axis, preferably to center it.

[0036] This allows the corresponding properties and functions, as previously described with regard to alignment or centering along the transverse axis, to be transferred to the vertical axis.

[0037] According to another aspect of the invention, the vertical alignment element of the outer housing and / or the inner housing is designed as a projection and the vertical alignment element of the aperture as a recess, or vice versa.

[0038] This allows the corresponding properties and functions, as previously described with regard to alignment or centering along the transverse axis, to be transferred to the vertical axis.

[0039] According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one pair of vertical alignment elements is arranged offset from each other along the vertical axis on the outer housing and / or the inner housing, preferably at the edge, facing the aperture, wherein at least one pair of vertical alignment elements is arranged offset from each other along the vertical axis, preferably at the edge, on the aperture facing the outer housing and / or the inner housing, wherein the alignment elements each have a corresponding vertical wedge-shaped surface which are designed to contact each other when the aperture reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture relative to the outer housing and / or the inner housing along the vertical axis, preferably to center it.

[0040] This allows the corresponding properties and functions, as previously described with regard to alignment or centering along the transverse axis, to be transferred to the vertical axis.

[0041] According to a further aspect of the invention, the aperture has an aperture cover, preferably an aperture glass, facing away from the outer housing and / or the inner housing, which conceals the stop element and / or the alignment element towards the front when the aperture is in the rest position.

[0042] This allows the relevant elements to be hidden from the user in the resting position, which can improve the visual impression for the user or prevent disturbances to the visual impression caused by the stop element and / or the alignment element.

[0043] According to a further aspect of the invention, the movable aperture, preferably its kinematics and / or movement device, is designed to perform the movement back and forth between the rest position and the exposed position in such a way that an aperture cover, preferably an aperture glass, is aligned with the outer housing and / or the inner housing during the movement and / or in the exposed position at least substantially and preferably in the same way as in the rest position.

[0044] This can improve the user's visual impression even during movement, or prevent visual disturbances for the user during movement caused by looking "behind" the aperture. This can be implemented, for example, as described in DE 10 2007 048 200 A1.

[0045] According to another aspect of the invention, the space accessible by the aperture has a removable or refillable tank.

[0046] This can be particularly relevant for a steam cooker used as a household appliance. In any case, the movable flap can facilitate access to the tank for refilling or for removal for refilling.

[0047] According to another aspect of the invention, the aperture has at least one operating and / or display element extending forward along the longitudinal axis.

[0048] Thus, the outer panel, facing the user, can provide the user with the opportunity to view information and / or input data. This can simplify and enhance user-friendliness. This can be implemented separately or as a combined element, particularly as a touchscreen.

[0049] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 shows a side sectional view of a household appliance according to the invention, using the example of a cooking appliance in the form of a steam cooker with a movable baffle in a rest position; Figure 2 shows the representation of the Figure 1 with the movable baffle in an exposed position; Figure 3 a schematic horizontal section through the upper area of ​​the steam cooker with the movable baffle in the rest position; Figure 4 another schematic horizontal section through the upper area of ​​the steam cooker with the movable baffle in the rest position; and Figure 5 a schematic vertical section through the upper area of ​​the steam cooker with the movable baffle in the rest position.

[0050] The figures above are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal axis X extends, which can also be called depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X extends a transverse axis Y, which can also be called width Y. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y extends a vertical axis Z, which can also be called height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y together form the horizontal X,Y, which can also be called the horizontal plane X,Y.

[0051] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a lateral sectional view of a household appliance 1 according to the invention, using the example of a cooking appliance 1 in the form of a steam cooking appliance 1 with a movable aperture 15 in a rest position. Figure 2 shows the representation of Figure 1 with the movable aperture 15 in an exposed position.

[0052] The steam cooking appliance 1 according to the invention is essentially enclosed externally by an outer housing 10. Inside the steam cooking appliance 1, an inner housing 11 is arranged, which essentially encloses a cooking chamber 13 and has a housing space 12 or an intermediate space 12 between itself and the outer housing 10. The inner housing 11 closes off along the longitudinal axis X towards the front, facing the user, with a front panel 11a, also called a housing front 11a, which is formed integrally with the rest of the inner housing 11 by folding it over. The cooking chamber 13 is open along the longitudinal axis X from the front, on the side of the inner housing 11, and can be closed there by means of a downwardly pivoting cooking chamber door 14.

[0053] The upper part of the inner housing 11, or its front 11a, has a space (not labelled) within the housing chamber 12 in which a removable tank 17 is arranged to supply water to the steam function of the steamer 1. The tank 17 can be removed by a user for refilling.

[0054] This space, or tank 17, can be opened or closed by means of the aforementioned movable aperture 15. The aperture 15 can be moved back and forth between a rest position, in which it prevents access to a space behind it within the inner housing 11 or its front 11a, and an exposed position, in which it allows access to the space, by means of a pivoting movement using a motion unit 16. This can be achieved by means of suitable kinematics (not shown) and an electric drive (not shown) such that the movement between the rest position and the exposed position is carried out in such a way that an aperture cover 15a, in the form of an aperture glass 15a, is aligned with the inner housing 11 or its front 11a at least substantially as it is in the rest position, both during the movement and in the exposed position.This remains, which may be more visually appealing to the user than viewing the Aperture 15 from the side or its rear. Due to the arc-shaped swiveling movement upwards into the exposed position, the Aperture 15 can also be referred to as a Lift Aperture 15.

[0055] The panel 15 has at least one control and display element (not shown) in the form of a touchscreen extending forward along the longitudinal axis X, which is why the panel 15 can also be referred to as the control panel 15. The panel 15 extends essentially along the transverse axis Y. A control unit 18 is provided within the housing space 12 along the longitudinal axis X behind the tank 17, which can operate or control all electrical and electronic functions of the steam cooker 1.

[0056] According to the invention, the positioning accuracy of the movable aperture 15 in the rest position, i.e., when the aperture 15 is retracted or closed, can now be improved by using a pair of stop elements 15c, a combination of pairs of lateral alignment elements 11c, 15d, and a combination of individual vertical alignment elements 11d, 15e, each of which is designed to improve the positioning or alignment of the aperture 15 relative to the inner housing 11 when the rest position is reached.

[0057] Figure 3 shows a schematic horizontal section through the upper area of ​​the steam cooker 1 with the movable aperture 15 in the rest position.

[0058] The aforementioned stop elements 15c are spring-loaded and made of an elastomeric material, and are arranged offset from each other along the transverse axis Y. The two stop elements 15c are located at the edge of the aperture 15 and aligned along the longitudinal axis X so that they contact the inner housing 11 when the rest position is reached at the end of a closing movement A. This contact occurs in the area of ​​a respective vapor barrier 11b of the inner housing 11, which projects forward from the remaining front 11a of the inner housing 11 along the longitudinal axis X. The two stop elements 15c are located on the inside of an aperture housing 15b, facing the inner housing 11, and are concealed from the user by the aforementioned aperture glass 15a.

[0059] The aforementioned electric movement device 16 or its electric drive is designed and configured to execute the movements of the movable aperture 15 in the rest position in such a way that, upon reaching the rest position, the aperture 15 is moved against the spring-elastic force of the two stop elements 15c exactly so far along the longitudinal axis X towards the inner housing 11 or its front 11a that the aperture glass 15a of the aperture 15 is flush with the rest of the front of the household appliance 1.

[0060] Figure 4 shows another schematic horizontal section through the upper area of ​​the steam cooker 1 with the movable aperture 15 in the rest position.

[0061] For lateral centering of the aperture 15 along the transverse axis Y, a pair of lateral alignment elements 11c are arranged on the inner housing 11, specifically on its inner lateral edge (not labeled) of the housing front 11a, facing the edge of the aperture 15. Likewise, a pair of lateral alignment elements 15d are arranged on the edge of the aperture 15, facing the inner housing 11. The lateral alignment elements 11c and 15d each have a corresponding lateral wedge-shaped surface, which is designed to contact each other when the aperture 15 reaches its rest position. This contact, as a compensating movement B or adjustment movement B, centers the aperture 15 relative to the outer housing 10 and / or the inner housing 11 along the transverse axis Y. This allows the aperture 15 to be centered relative to the inner housing 11 along the transverse axis Y.The lateral alignment elements 11c, 15d are also concealed from the user by the aperture glass 15a towards the front.

[0062] Figure 5 Figure 1 shows a schematic vertical section through the upper area of ​​the steam cooker 1 with the movable aperture 15 in the rest position.

[0063] For vertical centering of the aperture 15 along the vertical axis Z, a vertical alignment element 11d is arranged on the inner housing 11 as a projection along the vertical axis Z, facing the center of the aperture 15. Likewise, a vertical alignment element 15e is arranged along the vertical axis Z, facing the center of the aperture 15 as a recess or indentation, facing the inner housing 11. The vertical alignment elements 11d and 15e have corresponding vertical wedge-shaped surfaces, which are designed to contact each other when the aperture 15 reaches its rest position. This contact, through a compensating movement B or adjustment movement B, centers the aperture 15 relative to the inner housing 11 along the vertical axis Z. The vertical alignment elements 11d and 15e are also concealed from the user by the aperture glass 15a. Reference numeral list (part of the description)

[0064] A Closing movement B Compensating movement or adjustment movement XL Longitudinal axis; depth; length Y Transverse axis; width Z Vertical axis; height X, Y Horizontal; horizontal plane 1 Household appliance; cooking appliance; steam cooker 10 Outer casing 11 Inner casing 11a Front, front panel or casing front of the inner casing 11 11b Steam vent of the inner casing 11 11c Lateral (wedge-shaped) alignment elements of the inner casing 11 11d Vertical (wedge-shaped) alignment element of the inner casing 11 12 Casing space; space 13 Cooking chamber 14 Cooking chamber door 15Movable (swivel) aperture (lift aperture) or control panel 15aAperture cover; aperture glass 15bAperture housing 15c(spring-elastic) stop elements or stop buffers of the movable aperture 15 15dLateral (wedge-shaped) alignment elements of the movable aperture 15 15Vertical (wedge-shaped) alignment element of the movable aperture 15 16Movement mechanism of the movable aperture 15 17Removable tank 18Control unit

Claims

1. Household appliance (1), 1.

1. with a movable, preferably pivotable, aperture (15) which is designed to be moved back and forth, 1.1.

1. between a rest position in which the aperture (15) prevents access to a space behind it of an outer housing (10) and / or an inner housing (11), and 1.1.

2. an exposed position in which the aperture (15) allows access to the space, 1.

2. wherein at least one stop element (15c) and / or at least one alignment element (11c, 15d; 11d, 15e) is provided which is designed to improve the positioning and / or alignment of the aperture (15) relative to the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) when the rest position is reached, characterized by the fact that1.

3. at least one lateral alignment element (11c) is arranged on the outer housing (10) and / or on the inner housing (11), preferably centrally along the transverse axis (Y), facing the aperture (15), 1.3.

1. wherein at least one lateral alignment element (15d) is arranged on the aperture (15), preferably centrally along the transverse axis (Y), facing the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11), 1.3.

2. wherein the lateral alignment elements (11c, 15d) have corresponding lateral wedge-shaped surfaces which are designed to contact each other when the aperture (15) reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture (15) relative to the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) along the transverse axis (Y), preferably to center it or 1.4.wherein at least one pair of lateral alignment elements (11c) is arranged offset from each other along the transverse axis (Y) on the outer housing (10) and / or on the inner housing (11), preferably at the edge, facing the aperture (15), 1.4.

1. wherein at least one pair of lateral alignment elements (15d) is arranged offset from each other along the transverse axis (Y), preferably at the edge, on the aperture (15) facing the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11), 1.4.

2. wherein the alignment elements (11c, 15d) each have a corresponding lateral wedge-shaped surface which is designed to contact each other when the aperture (15) reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture (15) relative to the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) along the transverse axis (Y), preferably to center it.

2. Household appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the stop element (15c) is arranged and aligned on the cover (15), preferably at the edge, to contact the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) when reaching the rest position, or vice versa, wherein the stop element (15c) is spring-elastic, preferably made of an elastomeric material.

3. Household appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a, preferably electrical, movement device (16) which is configured to perform the movements of the movable aperture (15) back and forth between the rest position and the exposed position, wherein the movement device (16) is configured and arranged to move the aperture (15) against the spring-elastic force of the stop element (15c) exactly so far along the longitudinal axis (X) towards the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) when the rest position is reached, such that a front face of the aperture (15), preferably an aperture cover (15a) of the aperture (15), particularly preferably an aperture glass (15a) of the aperture (15), is flush with the rest of the front of the household appliance (1).

4. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one pair of stop elements (15c) which are arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement, preferably along the transverse axis (Y), offset from each other.

5. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture (15) is designed to extend substantially along the transverse axis (Y).

6. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral alignment element (11c) of the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) is designed as a projection and the lateral alignment element (15d) of the aperture (15) is designed as a recess, or vice versa.

7. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one vertical alignment element (11d) is arranged on the outer housing (10) and / or on the inner housing (11), preferably centrally along the vertical axis (Z), facing the aperture (15), wherein at least one vertical alignment element (15e) is arranged on the aperture (15), preferably centrally along the vertical axis (Z), facing the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11), wherein the vertical alignment elements (11d, 15e) have corresponding vertical wedge-shaped surfaces which are designed to contact each other when the aperture (15) reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture (15) relative to the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) along the vertical axis (Z), preferably to center it.

8. Household appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the vertical alignment element (11d) of the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) is designed as a projection and the vertical alignment element (15e) of the aperture (15) is designed as a recess, or vice versa.

9. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one pair of vertical alignment elements (11c) is arranged offset from each other along the vertical axis (Z) on the outer housing (10) and / or on the inner housing (11), preferably at the edge, facing the aperture (15), wherein at least one pair of vertical alignment elements (15d) is arranged offset from each other along the vertical axis (Z), preferably at the edge, on the aperture (15) facing the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11), wherein the alignment elements (11c, 15d) each have a corresponding vertical wedge-shaped surface which are designed to contact each other when the aperture (15) reaches its rest position and thereby align the aperture (15) relative to the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) along the vertical axis (Z), preferably to center it.

10. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture (15) facing away from the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11) has an aperture cover (15a), preferably an aperture glass (15a), which covers the stop element (15c) and / or the alignment element (11c, 15d; 11d, 15e) towards the front when the aperture (15) is in the rest position.

11. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable aperture (15), preferably its kinematics and / or movement device (16), is designed to perform the movement back and forth between the rest position and the exposed position such that an aperture cover (15a), preferably an aperture glass (15a), is aligned during the movement and / or in the exposed position at least substantially and preferably exactly as in the rest position relative to the outer housing (10) and / or the inner housing (11).

12. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the space accessible from the aperture (15) has a removable or refillable tank.

13. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (1) is designed as a cooking appliance with a cooking chamber (13), in particular the household appliance (1) is designed as a steam cooking appliance.

14. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (15) has at least one operating and / or display element extending forward along the longitudinal axis (X).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Cooking appliance with water tank capable of being taken and placed

    CN110881851A

  • household appliance with a control panel and with a tank for holding a fluid

    DE102007048200A1

  • Control panel of household appliance

    CN109832955A

  • Water tank for a steaming device and steaming device with such a water tank

    EP2466214B1

  • Storage unit and refrigeration appliance having the storage unit

    EP2596308B1