REFRIGERATED GOODS CONTAINER

Abstract

A refrigerated goods container for a refrigeration appliance includes at least one wall preferably made from wire mesh, and an end profile. The wall has an end section and the end profile is installed on the end section. A first side surface of the end section includes first latching projections and a second side surface of the end section, which faces the first side surface, includes at least one second latching projection. The end profile is latched with the first latching projections and the second latching projection to the end section.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2017 203 612.5, filed Mar. 6, 2017; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerated goods container for use in a refrigeration appliance, in particular for use as a drawer which can be pulled out of a compartment in the body of the refrigeration appliance in order to access its contents.

Refrigerated goods containers, in particular wire baskets, which have a frame on their top edge, are known. A frame for a refrigerated goods container is made of flat steel, for instance, to which upward wires in the mesh are fastened. It is difficult for the user to handle the wire basket through such a frame, on one hand since the narrow cross-section of the flat steel uncomfortably digs into the fingers when pulling out a fully loaded basket, and on the other hand because the steel painfully freezes the fingers at temperatures which are conventional for freezer compartments and in some instances can even freeze the skin to the steel. The frame is therefore typically lined with plastic profiles, which provide the fingers with a larger supporting surface and convey less heat. Those profiles are screwed to the frame. To that end, screw holes in the frame and in the profile must be positioned precisely with respect to one another, which places high demands on manufacturing accuracy. The welding of the frame to the wires in the mesh is also laborious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a refrigerated goods container, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known containers of this general type and which can be manufactured more easily and cost-effectively, while providing a user with comfortable handling.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a refrigerated goods container for a refrigeration appliance, having at least one wall and an end profile. The wall has an end section. The end profile is installed on the end section. A first side surface of the end section includes first latching projections. A second side surface of the end section includes at least one second latching projection. The first side surface faces the second side surface. The end profile is latched with the first latching projections and the second latching projection.

At least one wall is preferably made from a wire mesh. The end section can be a top edge of the wall, and the end profile is installed on the top edge of the wall.

A refrigerated goods container includes in particular a base and walls. If a refrigerated goods container is embodied as a tray, the refrigerated goods container preferably includes a base and four walls, namely a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. Furthermore, a refrigerated goods container can include a base and three walls, namely a rear wall and two side walls. The walls extend in a height direction in particular from the base.

The refrigerated goods container can be a drawer and/or a door tray in a refrigerator in particular.

Furthermore, at least one first wire can be fastened to the first side surface of the end section. In particular, the first wire can be fastened horizontally to the first side surface. The first latching projections can be formed by deformations of the first wire. The first wire can be a wire which corrugates in a horizontal plane. According to one embodiment, the corrugated wire can engage in an undercut of the end profile.

In particular, the first latching projections can be molded as shaft sections. The shaft sections can preferably have various shapes, for instance substantially triangular and/or substantially rectangular and/or substantially sinusoidal.

Further preferably the first wire can have various cross-sectional shapes, for instance round, rectangular, polygonal.

In the case of a wire mesh, the first wire or corrugated wire can be fastened in the same way as all other wires in the wire mesh. Typically, in the case of a wire mesh, wires which cross one another are pressed against one another and spot welded. Advantageously a separate manufacturing step is not required on a wire mesh for fastening the first wire. A fixed, form-locking connection between the end profile and the wire basket can advantageously be achieved by engaging into an undercut in the end profile. Furthermore, advantageously, only minimal manufacturing precision is required.

Alternatively or in addition, the first latching projections are formed by deforming the wall. For instance, the wall can be based on plate-type material or metal sheet, wherein the first latching projections are formed by stamping and bending the plate material or metal sheet or are formed by bending the top edge of the wall or the end section. If the wall is made from wire mesh, wires in the wire mesh can be bent and form the first latching projections, for instance.

According to one embodiment, a first latching projection can be disposed between two sections of the first wire which extend in a straight line. In other words, a section which extends in a straight line can be disposed adjacent each first latching projection.

The extent of the first latching projection as measured along the end section is preferably shorter than that of the straight sections.

With a corrugated wire, a shaft section can be disposed between two straight sections, wherein the straight sections are fastened to wires in a wire mesh and overhang the shaft section with respect to the wires in the wire mesh. The shaft section preferably engages in the undercut of the end profile. The extent of the shaft section as measured along the top edge is preferably shorter than that of the straight sections. In this way a sufficiently secure connection can advantageously be established with a large number of wires in the mesh.

According to one embodiment, a second wire can be fastened to the second side surface of the end section. The second wire is preferably an at least substantially horizontally aligned wire. The second wire preferably forms the at least one second latching projection.

Alternatively or in addition, the second latching projection can be formed by deforming the wall. For instance, when the wall is based on plate material or plate-type material or metal sheet, the second latching projection can be formed by bending the top edge of the wall or the end section or created by stamping and bending the wall. If the wall is made from wire mesh, wires in the wire mesh for example can be bent and can form second latching projections.

In particular, first latching projections and/or second latching projections formed from the wall material can be formed as lugs or snap lugs by stamping and bending.

In particular, the second wire can have various cross-sectional shapes, for instance round, angular, polygonal.

The first latching projections preferably project further from the first side surface than the second latching projection projects from the second side surface. In other words, the first latching projections protrude further from the first side surface than the second latching projections protrude from the second side surface.

The first latching projections and the second latching projection are preferably disposed offset from one another in a height direction.

The first latching projections are further preferably disposed higher in the height direction than the at least one second latching projection.

At least one wall of the refrigerated goods container preferably has a wire mesh. The first wire is preferably fastened to wires in the wire mesh.

In particular a wire mesh includes intersecting wires. In particular intersecting wires can be disposed substantially orthogonal to one another and/or form a diamond pattern. In particular, intersecting wires extend diagonally or obliquely with respect to the height direction.

The first latching projections preferably engage in an undercut of the end profile.

The length of the straight sections of the first wire is preferably greater than the length of the distance between the wires in the wire mesh, which intersect with the first wire.

The first wire is preferably fastened to wires in the wire mesh.

The first wire is preferably fastened to wires extending vertically in the wire mesh. Alternatively or in addition, the first wire can be fastened to wires extending obliquely to the height direction or diagonally.

Advantageously it can optionally be achieved that even when the length of the first latching projection of the first wire is not a whole-number multiple of the distance between the wires in the wire mesh, each straight section can be fastened to at least one wire of the wire mesh. Advantageously in this way the demands with respect to accuracy when forming the first latching projections can be reduced.

The extent of the first latching projection as measured along the end section is preferably less than the distance between two adjacent wires in the wire mesh.

In particular, the extent of the first shaft section as measured along the top edge is preferably less than the distance between two adjacent wires in the wire mesh. Therefore, both wires can be welded to the corrugated wire when a shaft section is located completely between two wires in the mesh, for example. If a shaft section overlaps with a wire in the mesh, at least the wires in the mesh which are adjacent on both sides can be fastened to straight sections of the corrugated wire in order to achieve the maximum stability.

The end profile preferably encompasses the first latching projections and the second latching projection.

The second wire can be attached as an auxiliary wire in particular to a side of the wire mesh which faces the corrugated wire. Such an auxiliary wire can stabilize in particular such wires in the mesh which cannot be connected to the corrugated wire, because they overlap with a shaft section.

The end profile preferably has a groove. The groove preferably has a first side wall and a second side wall. The groove preferably receives the end section of the wall.

The groove is preferably a downwardly open groove.

The first latching projections preferably engage in at least one undercut in the groove. The undercut of the end profile is preferably formed by a channel in the groove. Furthermore, the first side wall preferably has at least one projection on which the first latching projections rest.

The end profile preferably includes a ceiling wall, which is connected to the first and the second side walls.

The end profile preferably includes a ceiling wall, which is connected to the first and the second side walls.

The end profile preferably includes a groove base. The groove base is preferably embodied to be staggered.

The groove base preferably has a first groove base section and a second groove base section.

The first groove base section is preferably lower in the height direction than the second groove base section.

The first groove base section together with the first side wall and a projection on the first side wall preferably forms the at least one undercut for the first latching projections.

The second groove base section together with the second side wall preferably forms a receiving region for wires in a wire mesh.

The depth of the undercut is preferably larger than the radius of the first wire. In particular with non-round or incomplete wires, an equivalent or an approximation can be used for the radius. In particular with rectangular wires, the width across flat can be assumed or the radius of an outer circle which would encompass the rectangular wire.

The depth of the channel is preferably larger than the radius of the first wire.

The corrugated wire can advantageously be held securely in the undercut if the refrigerated goods container is gripped at the end profile and is raised, when the depth of the channel or the undercut is greater than the radius of the corrugated wire.

The second side wall preferably has a rib which engages below the second latching projection.

Preferably the end profile can be installed by using the rib, by the end profile firstly being placed in an oblique orientation on the top edge of the mesh with the first latching projections being introduced into the undercut substantially without deforming the end profile and the end profile then being pivoted about a pivot axis defined by the engagement of the first latching projections into the undercut in order to bring the rib into engagement below the second latching projection.

A lower edge of the first side wall is preferably lower than a lower edge of the second side wall.

It may advantageously be possible for the weight of the refrigerated goods container to predominantly affect or act on the first side wall of the groove if the refrigerated goods container is gripped at the end profile and is raised. Advantageously a tilting-back of the end profile about a pivot axis of the end profile and consequently a release of the latching between the second side wall of the groove and the second latching projection can be further counteracted.

Adjacent walls of the refrigerated goods container preferably have end profiles. In other words, one or more walls of the refrigerated goods container can have end profiles. End profiles are preferably adjoining walls or adjacent walls joined to one another by using angle pieces. In particular, the angle pieces can be pressed-in angle pieces which are connected to the end profiles.

Advantageously a further fastening or securing of the end profiles can be achieved by using the angle pieces. In particular, the risk of tilting back can be reduced, if end profiles attached to intersecting or adjoining walls of the refrigerated goods container are connected by using angle pieces pressed into the end profiles.

The end profiles preferably have receptacles. The angle pieces preferably have pins. The pins preferably engage in the receptacles of the end profiles.

The end profiles are preferably embodied as hollow profiles.

A further aspect relates to a method for installing an end profile on a wall of a refrigerated goods container for a refrigeration appliance, having at least one wall and one end profile. The wall has one end section. The end profile is installed on the end section. A first side surface of the end section includes first latching projections. A second side surface of the end section includes at least one second latching projection. The first side surface faces the second side surface. The end profile is latched to the first latching projections and the second latching projection. Preferred steps of the method will emerge from the descriptions relating to the first aspect and the described embodiments.

The same applies to a method for producing a refrigerated goods container according to the first aspect and corresponding preferred embodiments.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a refrigerated goods container, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a refrigerated goods container with end profiles according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerated goods container without end profiles;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, partially cross-sectional and partially perspective view of part of a wall of the refrigerated goods container; and

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, perspective view of a corner of the refrigerated goods container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is seen a refrigerated goods container 1, once completely with end profiles 2 and once without end profiles 2. According to this exemplary embodiment, the refrigerated goods container is embodied as a wire mesh. The proportions of the refrigerated goods container are those of a drawer, such as can be supported in the body of a freezer so as to be able to be pulled out, for instance. A refrigerated goods container with the particular features described below could however also be used as a suspended basket in a chest freezer or as a door tray suspended on the interior of a refrigeration appliance door.

According to this embodiment the refrigerated goods container 1 has substantially the shape of a square with an open top side. Other shapes can also be used, however. A base 3, side walls 4 and front and rear walls 5, 6 of the refrigerated goods container 1 are manufactured in this example from a wire mesh.

According to this example, wires 7, 8 in the wire mesh are disposed in two intersecting layers and are welded to one another at the points of intersection. A flat, approximately cross-shaped blank is firstly cut out of the wire mesh. At the same time as the cutting out, cranks 9 can be formed at the ends of four arms of the cross at the free ends of the wires 7, 8.

Joints 10, at which the wires extending horizontally are interrupted, are visible on the side walls 4. The joints 10 therefore touch as a result of two opposing arms of the cross being wider than the front and rear walls 5, 6 and the two others being narrower than the side walls 4, so that, in order to form the side walls 4, on one hand the narrow arms are folded up in order to form a center piece 11 of the side walls, the wide arms are folded up in order to form the front and rear walls 5, 6 and edge sections of the wide arms which project laterally beyond the base 3 are folded a second time in order to form front and rear edge sections 12, 13 of the side walls 4.

In order to reinforce the boxes formed in this way, in this case a further wire 14 was fastened to the free ends of the projecting wires of the walls 4, 5, 6 so as to bridge the joints 10. This wire 14 extends in a straight line along the rear wall 6. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the wire 14 is a first wire. This first wire has straight sections 15 along the other walls 4, 5 and first latching projections 16. The straight sections 15 and the first latching projections 16 are disposed adjacent one another and therefore in an alternating manner. The first latching projections 16 protrude from the walls 4, 5 or project from the walls 4, 5. The first latching projections 16 are embodied as shaft sections 16 in this embodiment.

In the representation in FIG. 2, five wires 8 of a side wall 4 or four wires of the front wall 5 are fastened to each straight section 15, and the shaft sections 16 are each positioned in the intermediate space between two such wires so that all vertical wires 7, 8 of the walls 4, 5, 6 are connected to the wire 14. According to other exemplary embodiments, other numbers of wires can also be provided.

In practice displacements may occur between the wires 7, 8 and the shaft sections 16, so that the situation shown in FIG. 3 can also occur that a wire 7, 8 overlaps with a shaft section 16 and therefore cannot be fastened to the wire 14. The stability of the wire basket is in principle not compromised in this case.

A second latching projection 17 is provided on the interiors of the side walls 4 and the front wall 5 just below and parallel to the wire 14. The second latching projection 17 is provided in this case as a wire or auxiliary wire. The second latching projection 17 or auxiliary wire can have a smaller diameter than the wires 7, 8, 14.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an end profile 2 attached or fastened to an end section 34 or top edge of a wall.

The end profile 2 preferably has a cross-section which remains constant across its entire length and can therefore be produced cost-effectively by using extrusion.

The end profile 2 includes a first side wall 18 and a second side wall 19. The first and second side walls 18, 19 are preferably outer and inner walls 18, 19 which are parallel to one another. A ceiling wall 20 interconnects the walls 18 and 19.

The end profile 2 has a groove 23, which includes a groove base 37 with a first groove base section 37a and a second groove base section 37b. The second groove base section 37b is positioned higher in the height direction than the first groove base section 37a.

The first groove base section 37a, together with the first side wall 18 and a projection 24, forms at least one undercut 25. This undercut 25 receives the first latching projections 16.

The second groove base section 37b, together with the second side wall 19, forms a receiving area 38, which receives end pieces of the wires 7 in the wire basket.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the end profile 2 additionally includes an intermediate wall 21 which forms the groove base 37. According to another embodiment, the groove base can form a ceiling wall.

In this example the intermediate wall 21 together with the ceiling wall 20 forms a cavity 22. Regions of the first side wall and the second side wall 18, 19 projecting below the intermediate wall 21 delimit the groove 23. The projection 24 is formed by a triangular cross-section for instance at the interior of the first side wall 18 which faces the groove 23. A horizontal top side of the projection 24, together with the intermediate wall 21, delimits the undercut 25 into which the first latching projections 16 of the wire 14 engage. The depth of the undercut 25 is greater than the radius of the wire 14, so that if the end profile 2 is raised, the wire 14 rests in a more stable manner on the horizontal top side of the projection 24. A lower edge 26 of the outer wall 18 is preferably reinforced in order to improve the resistance of the end profile 2 against impacts.

The intermediate wall 21 follows a staggered course, which is formed by the first and second groove base sections 37a, 37b.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the first groove base section 37a rests on the first latching projections 16, which are formed in this case as shaft sections, and the straight sections 15 of the wire 14. The second groove base section 37b extends at a higher level and together with the second side wall 19 forms the receiving area 38 into which spikes of the vertical wires 7 projecting across the wire 14 can engage, preferably without connecting with the intermediate wall 21.

The second side wall 19 has a rib 28 which projects into the groove 23. According to this example, the rib 28 is disposed on a lower edge 27 of the second side wall 19. The rib 28 and the second latching projection 17 touch one another on an inclined tangential plane 29. If the end profile 2 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction about a pivot axis 30 defined by the engagement of the first latching projections 16 into the undercut 25, the rib 28 passes through the second latching projection 17, and the end profile 2 reaches a position in which, without being deformed, it can be moved laterally so that the first latching projections 16 disengage from the channel 25. In this position, the end profile can be raised from the wall 5. Assembly of the end profile 2 on the wall 5 is carried out by using the reverse direction of movement.

According to FIG. 4, corner pieces 31 can be provided, for instance, which connect the end profiles 2 of the front wall 5 to those of the side walls 4. The corner pieces 31 each have an approximately square main body 32, from which pins 33 project on two sides. A corner piece 31 is assembled at each end of the end profile 2 of the front wall 5 by inserting a pin 33 into the cavity 22. The end profiles 2 of the side walls 4 are somewhat shorter than the side walls 4 so that the pins 33 of the two corner pieces 31 which extend across the top edges of the side walls 4 do not hinder attachment of the end profiles 2 there. As soon as the end profiles 2 are correctly aligned on the side walls 4, they can be pushed along the side walls 4 so that the pins 33 engage into their cavities 22. When this has happened, none of the end profiles 2 are then able to pivot and the end profiles 2 are secured firmly to the wire basket 1.

Furthermore, the end profile 2 can be provided with additional latching hooks and/or latching devices, with which the end profile 2 can additionally be fastened to a wall 4, 5 or to at least one wire 7, 8.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

• 1 Refrigerated goods container
• 2 End profile
• 3 Base
• 4 Side wall
• 5 Front wall
• 6 Rear wall
• 7 Wire
• 8 Wire
• 9 Crank
• 10 Joint
• 11 Center piece
• 12 Edge section
• 13 Edge section
• 14 Wire
• 15 Straight section
• 16 First latching projection
• 17 Second latching projection
• 18 First side wall
• 19 Second side wall
• 20 Ceiling wall
• 21 Intermediate wall
• 22 Cavity
• 23 Groove
• 24 Projection
• 25 Undercut
• 26 Lower edge
• 27 Lower edge
• 28 Rib
• 29 Tangential plane
• 30 Pivot axis
• 31 Corner piece
• 32 Main body
• 33 Pin
• 34 End section
• 35 First side surface
• 36 Second side surface
• 37 Groove base
• 37a First groove base section
• 37b Second groove base section
• 38 Receiving region
• HR Height direction

Claims

1. A refrigerated goods container for a refrigeration appliance, the refrigerated goods container comprising:

at least one wall including an end section having a first side surface and a second side surface facing said first side surface, said first side surface including first latching projections and said second side surface including at least one second latching projection; and

an end profile installed on said end section, said end profile being latched to said end section by said first latching projections and said at least one second latching projection.

2. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one wall is formed of wire mesh.

3. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 1, which further comprises:

a first wire fastened to said first side surface of said end section; and

said first latching projections being formed by deformations of said first wire or said first latching projections being formed by deformations of said at least one wall.

4. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 3, wherein said first wire has straight sections, each of said first latching projections is disposed between a respective two of said straight sections of said first wire, and said first latching projections have a shorter extent measured along said end section than said straight sections.

5. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 3, which further comprises a second wire fastened to said second side surface of said end section, said second wire forming said at least one second latching projection or said at least one second latching projection being formed by deformations of said at least one wall.

6. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 1, wherein said first latching projections project further from said first side surface than said at least one second latching projection projects from said second side surface.

7. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 1, wherein said first latching projections and said at least one second latching projection are disposed offset relative to one another in a height direction.

8. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 7, wherein said first latching projections are disposed higher than said at least one second latching projection.

9. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 3, wherein said at least one wall has a wire mesh and said first wire is fastened to wires in said wire mesh.

10. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 4, wherein:

said at least one wall has a wire mesh with wires being spaced apart by a distance;

said first wire is fastened to said wires in said wire mesh;

said wires in said wire mesh intersect said first wire; and

said straight sections of said first wire have a length being greater than said distance between said wires in said wire mesh.

11. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 10, wherein said first latching projection has an extent measured along said end section being less than said distance between two adjacent wires in said wire mesh.

12. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 1, wherein said end profile encompasses said first latching projections and said at least one second latching projection.

13. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 3, wherein said end profile has a groove with a first side wall and a second side wall receiving said end section of said at least one wall, and said first latching projections engage into at least one undercut in said groove.

14. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 13, wherein said first wire has a radius, and said undercut has a depth being greater than said radius.

15. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 13, wherein said second side wall of said groove has a rib engaged below said at least one second latching projection.

16. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 13, wherein said first and second side walls have respective lower edges, and said lower edge of said first side wall is lower than said lower edge of said second side wall.

17. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one wall includes adjoining walls, said end profile is one of a plurality of end profiles of said adjoining walls, and pressed-in angle pieces interconnect said end profiles.

18. The refrigerated goods container according to claim 17, wherein said end profiles have receptacles, said angle pieces have pins, and said pins engage in said receptacles.