HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATION APPARATUS

A household refrigeration apparatus includes an interior container with a first wall and with a second wall angled relative to the first wall. The interior container bounds a first receiving space of the household refrigeration apparatus for food. An ice maker includes a housing formed by a wall area of the first wall of the interior container and a wall area of the second wall of the interior container in certain areas. The housing bounds a receiving space of the ice maker. The household refrigeration apparatus has a depth direction. The interior container includes a rear wall with a base plate. A drain gutter for condensation water, which forms in the ice maker, is integrated in the rear wall and the drain gutter is disposed offset rearwardly relative to the base plate of the rear wall in the depth direction.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/202,993, filed Nov. 28, 2018; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

An aspect of the invention relates to a household refrigeration apparatus including an ice maker including a specifically constructed housing.

Household refrigeration apparatuses are known in diverse configurations. In this context, it is also known that an interior container bounds a receiving space for a household refrigeration apparatus. This receiving space is usually a refrigerating compartment. A partial area is occupied by an ice maker in this receiving space. Thereto, it is known that the ice maker is separated from the remaining volume of the refrigerating compartment. In this context, it is provided that a housing area of the housing of the ice maker is formed by a separate wall element, which is attached to inner sides of walls of the interior container in the interior of the receiving space of the interior container.

Thus, it is for example known from U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0263620 A1 to form such an ice maker in the left upper corner area in the refrigerating compartment with front-side view of the household refrigeration apparatus. With the ice maker, ice form elements, for example ice cubes or crushed ice, can be produced from supplied water. These ice form elements can be output via an output unit formed at a door of the household refrigeration apparatus.

In the known design of the household refrigeration apparatus, the separate wall element, which is a constituent of the housing of the ice maker, is attached to walls of the interior container by multiple screw connections. Therein, it is required that this wall element is additionally retained by an assembler himself upon assembly in order to be able to generate the screw connections. This is expensive and can also result in incorrect positions of the wall element. Thereby, the accurate position of the wall element at the interior container cannot be satisfied, whereby impairments in the thermal insulation at the interfaces between the wall elements and the inner side of the walls of the interior container optionally also arise.

A further disadvantage of the known design is to be regarded in that the wall element is formed with a circumferential frame in the front-side area, which is integrally configured. A bracket, which joins to plate elements of the wall element, is formed integrally with these plate elements. Thereby, this integral wall element is very complexly configured in its shape. Therefore, it is also difficult to clean, which optionally results in hygienic impairments of the ice maker.

A further disadvantage of the known household refrigeration apparatus is to be regarded in that condensation water optionally occurring in the housing cannot be transported away. Thereby too, hygienic impairments can occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a household refrigeration apparatus, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known apparatuses of this general type and which removes condensation water out of an ice maker.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a household refrigeration apparatus comprising an interior container with a first wall and with a second wall disposed angled thereto, wherein the interior container bounds a first receiving space for food of the household refrigeration apparatus an ice maker wherein the ice maker includes a housing and the housing is formed by a wall area of the first wall of the interior container and a wall area of the second wall of the interior container in certain areas, wherein the housing bounds a receiving space of the ice maker wherein the household refrigeration apparatus has a depth direction and the interior container includes a rear wall with a base plate wherein a drain gutter for condensation water, which forms in the ice maker is formed integrated in the rear wall wherein the drain gutter is disposed offset rearward compared to the base plate of the rear wall viewed in depth direction.

According to another aspect, the rear wall includes a pedestal which is formed integrally with the base plate and which is disposed offset rearward compared to the base plate in depth direction wherein the drain gutter is formed in the pedestal and bulges out rearward with respect to a rear end wall of the pedestal.

According to another aspect, the pedestal is a wall area of the housing of the ice maker by which a receiving space of the ice maker is bounded.

According to another aspect, the housing of the ice maker includes a wall element which is a component separate from the interior container wherein the wall element has an L-shape in cross-section, and the wall element includes a first wall plate and a second wall plate which together form the L-shape, wherein the household refrigeration apparatus has a depth direction and wherein the first wall plate includes a rear web and the web protrudes into the drain gutter viewed in depth direction.

According to another aspect, the drain gutter includes a front gutter edge and the web is disposed above the front gutter edge in contactless manner and the web extends across the entire thickness, which is measured in depth direction of the front gutter edge viewed in depth direction.

According to another aspect, the housing of the ice maker includes a wall element which is a component separate from the interior container wherein the wall element has an L-shape in cross-section, and the wall element includes a first wall plate and a second wall plate which together form the L-shape, wherein the pedestal includes a lower pedestal base and the wall element rests on the pedestal base.

According to another aspect, the wall area of the first wall includes a wall step with a protrusion which protrudes into the receiving space of the ice maker wherein the protrusion is formed as a condensation water drip bar.

According to another aspect, the protrusion includes a protrusion wall wherein an angle between the protrusion wall and a further wall section of the first wall downwardly adjoining to the protrusion is less than 90°.

According to another aspect, the household refrigeration apparatus has a depth direction wherein the protrusion extends across the entire length of the housing of the ice maker in this depth direction.

According to another aspect, the housing of the ice maker includes a wall element which is a component separate from the interior container wherein the wall element has an L-shape in cross-section, and the wall element includes a first wall plate and a second wall plate which together form the L-shape, wherein the household refrigeration apparatus has a height direction and a recess is formed below the protrusion in height direction into which the wall element extends.

According to another aspect, an inner wall of the first wall plate is rearward inclined at least in certain areas viewed in depth direction.

According to another aspect, the drain gutter includes an integrated drain stub.

Further aspects are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered, encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not include all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, implementations and feature combinations are to be considered as disclosed, in particular by the implementations set out above, which extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations set out in the relations of the claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a household refrigeration apparatus, 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 simplified perspective representation of an embodiment of a household refrigeration apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of an embodiment of an interior container of the household refrigeration apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial representation of the household refrigeration apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged representation of a partial area of a housing of an ice maker of the household refrigeration apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a partial representation of FIG. 4 in a perspective different from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a representation according to FIG. 5, in which a partial area is additionally shown in a horizontal sectional representation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective representation of an embodiment of a separate positioning bracket, which is a constituent of a wall unit of the housing of the ice maker;

FIG. 8 is a view of the positioning bracket in a perspective different from FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional representation of the configuration in FIG. 4, wherein only a partial area thereof is shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged representation of a partial area of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional representation of the household refrigeration apparatus in the area of the ice maker, in which the components according to FIG. 10 are also disposed;

FIG. 12 is a perspective horizontal sectional representation of a partial area of the housing of the ice maker at a location different from FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective representation of an embodiment of a wall unit of a housing of an ice maker according to an embodiment which is different compared to FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a perspective representation of a further embodiment of a housing of an ice maker of the household refrigeration apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional representation through the embodiment according to FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged representation of a partial area of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a representation of a partial area of a rear wall of the interior container with a drain gutter integrated therein for draining of condensation water from the housing of the ice maker;

FIG. 18 is a perspective representation of an upper area of the interior container, wherein a rear wall with the integrated drain gutter is represented here with a rear view;

FIG. 19 is a transparent side view of a further embodiment of an interior container of the household refrigeration apparatus;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged representation of a partial area of the interior container according to FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional representation of an upper area of the interior container with a wall unit of a housing of an ice maker of the household refrigeration apparatus disposed thereon;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged representation of a partial area of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 is a vertical sectional representation corresponding to FIG. 22 at a location different from FIG. 22.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

With indications of “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “depth direction,” “width direction,” “height direction,” etc., the positions and orientations given in intended use and intended configuration of the apparatus are specified.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a household refrigeration apparatus 1 shown in a simplified representation, which is provided for storing and preserving food. The household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes a housing 2. The housing 2 includes an exterior housing 3. Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes an interior container 4 separate from the exterior housing 3. The interior container 4 is received in the exterior housing 3. A thermally insulating material such as for example insulating foam and/or a vacuum insulating panel is disposed in a clearance 5 between the exterior housing 3 and the interior container 4.

In the embodiment, the interior container 4 bounds a receiving space 6 with its walls, which is formed for receiving food. Here, the receiving space 6 is in particular formed as a refrigerating compartment.

On the front side, the interior container 4 includes a loading opening, via which food can be taken into or be removed from the receiving space 6. In the embodiment, the receiving space 6 is closable by two separate doors 7 and 8. The two doors 7 and 8 are pivotably disposed at the housing 2. The two doors 7 and 8 are disposed in the same height position viewed in height direction (y-direction) of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In width direction (x-direction) of the household refrigeration apparatus 1, they are disposed next to each other such that they collectively close the receiving space 6 on the front side in the closed state. In particular, these two doors 7 and 8 are disposed in a common plane in the closed state, which is spanned by the height direction and the width direction.

In FIG. 1, the door 7 on the left side with front-side view is illustrated opened and the door 8 on the right side is illustrated closed.

The household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes at least one further receiving space 9 for food. This further receiving space 9 is separated from the first receiving space 6. The further receiving space 9 can for example be a freezing compartment or a keep-fresh compartment or a further refrigerating compartment. Viewed in height direction, this further receiving space 9 is formed below the first receiving space 6. The further receiving space 9 is in particular bounded by further walls of an interior container, which can also be the interior container 4. Preferably, it is provided that the further receiving space 9 is bounded by a further door 10, which is shown in the closed state in FIG. 1. Preferably, it is provided that this door 10 is formed as a front plate of a drawer linearly retractable and extendable in depth direction (z-direction) of the household refrigeration apparatus 1.

It can be provided that the household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes multiple, separate further receiving spaces 9, and further such explained drawers are preferably formed in this context. They can adjoin to the further receiving space 9 towards the bottom viewed in height direction. They are in particular also formed within the housing 2.

Further, the door 10, in particular this front plate, is disposed in the same plane as the doors 7 and 8 in the closed state of the doors 7, 8 and 10. In particular, the doors 7, 8 and 10 are front-side vision components of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In particular, they are also, if they are closed, disposed without overlap with each other.

Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 includes an ice maker 11. The ice maker 11 occupies a partial area of the volume of the receiving space 6 and is thermally insulated from the remaining volume of the receiving space 6. The ice maker 11 is formed to produce ice from water, which is supplied to the household refrigeration apparatus 1 via an external water supply line. In this context, ice form elements such as ice cubes or crushed ice can be produced.

Further, the ice maker 11 is a constituent of the dispenser unit 12 of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In this advantageous implementation, the dispenser unit 12 includes an output unit 13 in addition to the ice maker 11. This output unit 13 can preferably be formed at a door 7, 8. In the shown embodiment, the output unit 13 is disposed at the door 7. This is in particular advantageous because the ice maker 11 is disposed in the left upper corner area of the total volume of the receiving space 6 with front-side view of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. For outputting produced ice form elements, short paths are achieved by this local positioning. The output unit 13 is fixedly installed at the door 7. Moreover, the output unit 13 is separated from the ice maker 11 and also decoupled from it in this context. In the closed state of the door 7, ice form elements produced by the ice maker 11 can get into the output unit 13 and be output via a front side 14 of the door 7. Thereto, it is provided that a recess is formed on the front side 14, which faces away from the receiving space 6 in the closed state of the door 7. A vessel can be placed in this recess to be able to collect the output ice form elements.

Further, the dispenser unit 12 can also be formed for outputting liquid such as water or other drinks in addition to the output of ice form elements.

In FIG. 2, an embodiment of the interior container 4 is shown in a perspective representation. The interior container 4 is preferably integrally produced from plastic, for example by deep-drawing. Injection molding can also be provided.

The interior container 4 includes multiple walls, which bound the receiving space 6. For example, the interior container 4 is formed with a first vertical side wall, which is a first wall 15 in the example, an opposing second vertical side wall 16, a rear wall 17, which is a third wall in the example, a bottom wall 18 and a ceiling wall, which is a second wall 19 in the example.

The first vertical side wall for example represents a first wall 15 of the interior container 4. In an embodiment, the ceiling wall represents a second wall 19 of the interior container 4, which is disposed angled, in particular at an angle of 90°, to the first wall 15.

The ice maker 11 includes a housing 20 (FIG. 1). A receiving space 21 of this ice maker 11 is bounded by the housing 20. The housing 20 includes a wall area 22 (FIG. 2) of the first wall 15 as a constituent. This wall area 22 is an upper wall area in the configuration according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Moreover, a further constituent of the housing 20 of the ice maker 11 is formed by a wall area 23 of the second wall 19.

Moreover, the receiving space 21 is bounded by a further wall area 24. This further wall area 24 is an integral constituent of the rear wall 17 of the interior container 4. The wall areas 22, 23 and 24 directly join to each other.

Moreover, the housing 20 includes a wall unit 25 (FIG. 1), which is a component separate from the interior container 4. This wall unit 25 is a further constituent of the housing 20 and bounds the receiving space 21 of the housing 20 in addition to the wall areas 22, 23 and 24.

In FIG. 3, a perspective representation of a partial area of the household refrigeration apparatus 1 is shown. Here, the housing 20 of the ice maker 11 is in particular shown. The wall unit 25 is shown, which is here already represented in the assembled state at the interior container 4, in particular in the receiving space 6.

In the shown embodiment, the wall unit 25 includes a wall element 26. The wall element 26 is formed with an L-shape in a vertical section (sectional plane spanned by the height direction and the width direction). Thereto, the wall element 26 includes a first wall plate 27. Here, the first wall plate 27 is oriented in horizontal direction. Moreover, the wall element 26 includes a vertical wall plate. This vertical wall plate is a second wall plate 28 of the wall element 26. The wall plates 27 and 28 are in particular oriented at an angle of 90° to each other. They extend in depth direction of the household refrigeration apparatus 1 in their plate shape or in their area shape.

The wall element 26 is formed as a thermal insulating body. This means that the wall element is formed of an outer wall element 29 (FIG. 6) and an inner wall element 30 (FIG. 6). A thermally insulating material 31 (FIG. 6) is formed in a clearance between the outer wall element 29 and the inner wall element 30.

Moreover, the wall unit 25 includes a positioning bracket 32 (FIG. 3). The positioning bracket 32 is in particular integrally formed, for example of plastic. Preferably, the positioning bracket 32 is non-rectilinearly formed. The positioning bracket 32 is preferably formed as an angular part, in particular with an L-shape.

In the embodiment in FIG. 3, it is provided that the positioning bracket 32 is a component separate from the wall element 26, but is connected to the wall element 26. Here a non-destructively detachable connection is in particular provided. By such a configuration, simpler production of the individual components of the wall unit 25 is allowed on the one hand. Thereby, the disassembly is reversibly allowed on the other hand and the individual parts can for example be individually better cleaned.

As is apparent in FIG. 3, the positioning bracket 32 is disposed on a front area 33 viewed in depth direction of the housing 20, which is also the depth direction of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In particular, the positioning bracket 32 is disposed at the front end of the housing 20. The positioning bracket 32 includes a first bracket leg 34, which is here a vertical bracket leg. Moreover, the positioning bracket 32 includes a horizontal bracket leg 35, which is here a second bracket leg. As is apparent in FIG. 3, the first bracket leg 34 joins to the wall element 26 with its free end, in particular to the first wall plate 27. There, it is non-destructively detachably fixed.

The second bracket leg 35 joins to the second wall plate 28 with its free end and is there in particular non-destructively detachably fixed.

In this context, the positioning bracket 32 includes a first end 36, which is non-destructively detachably connected to the first wall plate 27. The positioning bracket 32 includes a second end 37, which is non-destructively detachably connected to the second wall plate 28.

Moreover, the wall element 26 includes a front edge 38. This front edge 38 can be formed by a front flange. In this context, the front flange represents a front-side end part. The front edge 38 can be formed integrally with the interior part 30.

A circumferentially closed frame is formed by the front edge 38 and the positioning bracket 32. Thereby, a front-side opening of the housing 20 is also bounded.

Further, the positioning bracket 32 includes at least one stiffening rib 39. This first stiffening rib 39 is formed on an inner side of the positioning bracket 32. Preferably, it is formed angled, in particular L-shaped.

A stiffening of the wall element 27 in particular in the front area 33 is also allowed by the positioning bracket 32. In particular, an additional separate assembly part is also provided by the positioning bracket 32, by which the wall unit 25 can be disposed at the interior container 4 in improved manner.

In FIG. 4, an embodiment of the wall unit 25 is shown in a perspective representation.

In this example, the positioning bracket 32 includes a plate area 40 at the second bracket leg 34. The plate area 40 extends across the length of the second bracket leg 35 in certain areas, wherein this is viewed in width direction of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. The plate area 40 is bounded by a bounding wall 41 such that a trough area arises here. Here, the bounding wall 41 is in particular also formed for reinforcement or stiffening. The bounding wall 41 is formed uninterrupted continuously up to the end 36 of the first bracket leg 34.

Moreover, it is also provided in FIG. 4 that a further stiffening rib 42 is formed at the front-side edge of the positioning bracket 32. This stiffening rib 42 too, which extends outwards from an outer side 43 of the positioning bracket 32 in raised manner, is formed uninterrupted. This further stiffening rib 42 extends from the second end 37 of the positioning bracket 32 up to the first end 36. The stiffening rib 42 is extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis oriented along the angled shape of the positioning bracket 32.

Moreover, the positioning bracket 32 includes a further stiffening rib 44. This stiffening rib 44 is formed offset rearward to the stiffening rib 42 viewed in depth direction and in particular oriented parallel to it. It is also formed uninterrupted. A receiving groove 45 is formed between these two stiffening ribs 42 and 44, which is formed for receiving a seal.

As is moreover apparent in FIG. 4, the first bracket leg 34 includes a hole or an aperture 46. An engagement area 47 of a coupling flap 48 (FIG. 5) engages with this aperture 46. The coupling flap 48 is formed integrally with the first wall plate 27. In particular, this coupling flap 48 is formed integrally with the interior cladding or the integrally formed inner wall element 30 of the wall element 26. By this configuration, locking between the positioning bracket 32 and the wall element 26 is also formed. Thus, a locking device between the wall element 26 and the positioning bracket 32 is formed at this first end 36 of the positioning bracket 32. In particular, the coupling flap 48 is formed elastically resilient such that the coupling flap 48 is slightly deformed upon attaching the positioning bracket 32 and then the engagement area 47 snaps or locks in the aperture 46.

As is moreover apparent in FIG. 4, the wall plate 27 includes a web 49 at the end facing away from the second wall plate 28. This web 49 advantageously extends uninterrupted across the entire length of the first wall plate 27, wherein this is viewed in depth direction.

As is apparent in FIG. 4, in which the positioning bracket 32 is shown in its assembled final state with the wall element 26, the first end 36 of the positioning bracket 32 rests on this web 49 from above.

As is moreover apparent in FIG. 4, it is provided in an advantageous implementation that the wall unit 25 includes at least one positioning element. In particular, this positioning element is formed integrally with the wall unit 25. In particular, this positioning element is formed as a plug pin 50. This plug pin 50 laterally protrudes away from the web 49 in width direction. This plug pin 50 is formed to be plugged into a receptacle 51 (FIG. 2), which is formed on the inner side of the first wall 15 of the interior container 4. A pre-assembly position of the wall unit 25 at the interior container 4 is then advantageously allowed by this positioning element.

Additionally or instead, it can be provided that the positioning bracket 32 also includes a positioning element. In particular, this positioning element is formed as a plug pin 52 (FIG. 4) here too. In the shown embodiment, it is preferably formed in the horizontal second bracket leg 35. In particular, this positioning element is formed in the form of the exemplary plug pin 52 in the plate area 40 and extends upwards from a top side of the plate area 40 in height direction.

The positioning element formed as the plug pin 52 is also formed integrally with the positioning bracket 32.

Further, it is provided that the second bracket leg 35 includes a hole 53. It is formed for passing a separate fixing element, for example a screw.

In addition to the pre-assembly position for the wall unit 25 at the interior container 4 achievable by the positioning elements, in particular the plug pins 50 and/or 52, it is allowed by this hole 53 that the wall unit 25 can be correspondingly screwed to the interior container 4 for final assembly.

In this context, it is in particular additionally or instead possible that the engagement area 47 includes a hole 54, through which a fixing element separate therefrom such as in particular a screw can also be passed. Thereby, the wall unit 25 can additionally be screwed to the first wall 15. The wall unit 25 can be screwed to the second wall 19 via the hole 53.

In FIG. 4, seals 55 and 56 are moreover exemplarily shown, which then abut on the wall areas 22 and 23 in the assembled state of the wall unit 25 to allow a sealing housing 20.

Further, it is also allowed by the plug pins 50 and/or 52 that in addition to the simple adjustment of a pre-assembly position of the wall unit 25, centering of this wall unit 25 relative to the interior container 4 is also allowed. Non-destructively detachable positioning of the wall unit 25 at the interior container 4 is allowed by the plug pins 50 and 52. The pre-assembly position of the wall unit 25 at the interior container 4 is self-adherent. This means that an assembler does no longer retain himself the wall unit 25 when he produces the screw connections to produce the assembled final position of the wall unit 25.

In FIG. 5, a partial area of the wall unit 25 according to the representation in FIG. 4 is shown, wherein a perspective different from FIG. 4 is here presented. Here, the coupling flap 48 is apparent. In particular, the engagement area 47 is also shown, which is locked in the aperture 46.

In FIG. 6, the representation according to FIG. 5 is shown, wherein a horizontal sectional representation of the positioning bracket 32 in the second bracket leg 35 is illustrated here. As is apparent in this context, the positioning bracket 32 includes an integrated, blind hole-like screw boss 57 in particular in the plate area 40. Thereby, the positioning bracket 32 can also be screwed to the wall plate 28.

In FIG. 7, the positioning bracket 32 is shown in a perspective representation.

In FIG. 8, the positioning bracket 32 is illustrated in a perspective different from FIG. 7. As is apparent here, the first bracket leg 34 includes retaining elements 58 and 59 protruding downwards at its end 36. These retaining elements 58 and 59 can be plug flaps or locking elements. Thereby, the positioning bracket 32 can additionally be non-destructively detachably attached to the wall element 26 in improved manner.

In advantageous implementation, it is provided that the positioning bracket 32 includes at least one plug element 60, here preferably two separate and spaced plug elements 60 and 61, at the second end 37. These plug elements 60, 61 are formed integrally with the positioning bracket 32. Upon assembly of the positioning bracket 32 to the wall element 26, these plug elements 60 and 61 are plugged into corresponding receptacles, one receptacle 62 of which is apparent in FIG. 6. This configuration too represents a fixing device, which is non-destructively detachable.

In FIG. 9, a partial area of the wall unit 25 is shown in a vertical sectional representation. Here, the sectional line is drawn through the plug pin 52.

As is apparent, the plate area 40 includes a depression 63. The hole 53 is formed in this depression 63. The hole 53 is in particular formed as an elongated hole. Preferably, the hole 54 is also formed as an elongated hole.

As is apparent in FIG. 9, a washer 64 is introduced into this depression 63, through which a screw 65 is passed. By the configuration of the hole 53 as an elongated hole, a certain backlash and thus a tolerance for positional adjustment is here allowed since the washer 64 is disposed in the hole 53 with backlash.

In FIG. 9, a further washer 66 and a screw 67 are moreover shown.

The washer 66 is in particular formed corresponding to the washer 64 and correspondingly plunges into the hole 54. Her too, a certain positioning with backlash is thus allowed such that a tolerance compensation is allowed. The wall unit 25 can be screwed to a screw boss 71, which is integrally formed in the wall area 22, by the screw 67 such that a screw connection is formed at this place.

In FIG. 10, the partial section in FIG. 9 is shown in an enlarged representation, in which the screw 65 is illustrated. This backlash and thus this tolerance compensation are symbolized by the arrows in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 11, the assembled state of the wall unit 25 to the interior container 4 in this area of the positioning bracket 32 according to FIG. 10 is shown in a perspective sectional representation. Here, it is apparent that the positioning element or the plug pin 52 plunges into a receptacle 68, which is formed integrally with the second wall 19, to allow the pre-assembly position and in particular also centering of the wall unit 25 around the interior container 4. The receptacle 68 is in particular formed as a blind hole. Moreover, a seal 69 is also shown in FIG. 11, which is disposed in the receiving groove 45.

In FIG. 12, it is shown in a perspective horizontal sectional representation, how the wall unit 25 is fixed to the first wall 15 in the area of the first end 36 of the positioning bracket 32.

In FIG. 13, a further embodiment for a wall unit 25 is shown in a perspective representation. In contrast to the representation according to FIG. 4, it is here provided that a locking element 70 is formed integrated and thus integrally on the wall plate 27 instead of the plug pin 50. In particular, the locking element 70 is disposed at the web 49. In particular, the locking element 70 is integrated in the inner wall element 30.

This locking element 70 can lock in a corresponding receptacle formed in the wall area 22. Moreover, in contrast to FIG. 4, the configuration of the positioning bracket 32, in particular of the second bracket leg 35, is slightly different from the configuration in FIG. 4. However, the basic and essential functions and elements are provided here too. In particular, this relates to the positioning element in the form of the plug pin 52 as well as the plug elements 60, 61, the hole 53 and preferably also the screw boss 57.

In FIG. 14, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 is shown in the area of the ice maker 11 with the finally assembled housing 20 in an enlarged representation. The wall unit 25 is represented in its end position at the interior container 4 in this context.

As is also apparent in FIG. 14, the front edge 38 is non-destructively detachably connected, in particular locked, to the outer wall element 29. Thereto, two locking elements 72 and 73 are exemplarily apparent.

Further, it is provided that in an embodiment, which can be provided independently of the previous explanations with regard to the configuration of the wall unit 25, a wall step 74 is formed at the first wall 15 and there in the wall area 22, which bounds the receiving space 21 of the ice maker 11 and is associated with the housing 20.

In FIG. 15, the housing 20 is shown in a vertical sectional representation, wherein the wall step 74 is here also apparent.

The wall step 74 includes a protrusion 75. The protrusion 75 protrudes into the receiving space 21 of the ice maker 11 viewed in width direction of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. This protrusion 75 is formed as a condensation water drip bar 76.

A recess 77 is formed below the protrusion 75 in height direction. The wall element 26 plunges into this recess 77 viewed in width direction. In particular, this plunging is such that the web 49 is completely disposed in this recess 77. In particular, the protrusion 75 further protrudes into the receiving space 21 than the groove 49 is wide in this width direction. Thereby, the dripping of condensation water from the condensation water drip bar 76 is allowed such that water cannot get laterally past the groove 49 and thus into the recess 77. The condensation water drips from the condensation water drip bar 76 directly onto that area of the inner wall element 30, which inwardly adjoins to the web 49.

In FIG. 16, an enlarged representation of the view in FIG. 15 is shown, wherein that section in the area of the protrusion 75 and the recess 77 is shown here. Preferably, it is provided that an angle α, which is measured between a protrusion wall 79 of the protrusion 75 and the downward adjoining wall section 78 of the first wall 15 or the wall area 22, is less than or equal to 110°, in particular less than or equal to 90°.

In FIG. 17, a partial section of the interior container 4 with view to the rear wall 17 is shown. Here, a viewing direction into the receiving space 6 is illustrated. In the wall area 24 of the rear wall 17, a drain gutter 80 is shown formed integrally therewith. Condensation water, which occurs in the ice maker 11, can in particular be conducted to this drain gutter 80 via the first wall plate 27. Thereto, the inner wall element 30 of the wall element 26 is preferably obliquely rearward inclined in particular in the area of the first wall plate 27. In this context, condensation water, which drips to the top side of the inner wall element 30 via the condensation water drip bar 76, can in particular be conducted to the rear in defined and targeted manner and thus then gets into the drain gutter 80.

The drain gutter 80 includes a drain stub 81. A drain line 90, as it is shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, can be connected to the drain stub 81.

The drain gutter 80 includes a front gutter edge 82 viewed in depth direction. This front gutter edge 82 can also serve as a rest for a web of the first wall plate 27.

In addition or instead, it can be provided that a pedestal base 83 formed spaced from and independently of the front gutter edge 82 is integrally formed in the interior container 4. This pedestal base 83 can serve as a rest for the first horizontal wall plate 27. As it is moreover apparent in FIG. 17, the rear wall 17 includes two screw domes 84 and 85 in the embodiment. The screw domes 84 and 85 are formed integrally with the rear wall 17. They are preferably formed in the area of the pedestal base 83. The wall element 26 can be screwed to the rear wall 19 by these screw domes 84 and 85.

In FIG. 18, the interior container 4 is shown in its upper area, wherein a view to the rear wall 17 from behind is provided here. Thus, a view is directed from the foam side to the rear wall 17, which means that it is looked from the clearance 5 towards the rear wall 17.

Here, it is apparent that a pedestal 86 is integrally formed at the rear wall 17 in an advantageous implementation. This pedestal 86 is formed offset rearward with respect to a base plate 87 of the rear wall 17 viewed in depth direction. Thus, the pedestal 86 is formed backpack-like at the base plate 87. As is apparent in FIG. 18, the drain gutter 80 is formed at the lower end of the pedestal 86, in particular formed completely within the pedestal 86. The drain gutter 80 is therefore disposed offset rearward with respect to the base plate 87 viewed in depth direction. In particular, the drain gutter 80 is thus virtually rearward offset from the volume, which is bounded by the base plate 87, and thus rearward offset towards the clearance 5. Thus, the drain gutter 80 is displaced into the area, in which the insulating foam is disposed.

Moreover, it is also apparent in FIG. 18 that the drain gutter 80 bulges out rearward with respect to the pedestal 86, which is trough-like formed, and thus forms a bead-like protrusion towards the bottom and the rear. Preferably, the drain gutter 80 extends across the entire width of the pedestal 86.

In FIG. 19, the interior container 4 is shown in a transparent side view in an implementation. The above mentioned positional configurations of the drain gutter 80 to the base plate 87 are apparent. Moreover, it is also apparent that the protrusion 75 extends uninterrupted from the front end of the housing 20 up to the drain gutter 80.

In FIG. 20, a partial area of the interior container 4 is shown in an enlarged representation, as it is illustrated in FIG. 19. Here, that partial area with the pedestal 86 and the drain gutter 80 is in particular again clarified.

In FIG. 21, the interior container 4 is shown in the upper area in a sectional representation, wherein the wall unit 25 is here also shown in the assembled final state and is apparent in a vertical sectional representation.

In FIG. 22, the rear area with the drain gutter 80 is shown in an enlarged representation. As is apparent, the first wall plate 27 includes a web 88 protruding rearward viewed in depth direction. This rearward protruding protrusion in the form of the web 88 extends up into the drain gutter 80. In particular, this web 88 is disposed upward offset and contactless to the front gutter edge 82, as it is shown in FIG. 22. The web 88 extends in depth direction for example as far as it completely covers the front gutter edge 82.

Thereby, it is also allowed that the drain of the condensation water from the first wall plate 27 is securely effected into the drain gutter 80 on the one hand. On the other hand and independently thereof, it is thereby then also allowed that the first wall plate 27 is positionally securely and mechanically stably retained and virtually rests on this front gutter edge 82. Thereby, it is in particular also allowed that a pre-assembly position of the wall unit 25 is now also securely achieved at this location in addition to the previously mentioned examples with the positioning elements or instead thereof.

In addition or instead, it can be provided that the first wall plate 27 rests on the pedestal base 83, as it is shown in FIG. 22. The screw joint or a screw connection, in particular of the first wall plate 27 to the screw boss 84, is also shown, wherein a screw 89 is illustrated here. In FIG. 22, a state is shown, in which the web 88 protrudes into the drain gutter 80 viewed in depth direction, but is disposed spaced from the front gutter edge 82 at this location.

In FIG. 23, in a perspective sectional representation, which is slightly offset to the right in width direction with respect to the representation in FIG. 22, a corresponding area is shown as it is represented in FIG. 22.

Further, in the embodiment, but which is not to be conclusively understood, four screw connections are provided, by which the wall unit 25 is fixed to the interior container 4. This relates to the screw connection with the screw 67, the screw connection with the screw 65 and the screw connections with screws 89 at the screw domes 84 and 85. More or less screw connections can also be provided.

In a method for assembling the housing 20 of the ice maker 11, the interior container 4 is produced and provided integrally with the first wall 15 and with the second wall 19 disposed angled thereto. Furthermore, a wall unit 25 separate from the interior container 4 is provided, wherein the wall unit 25 includes at least one positioning element, which is formed integrally with the wall unit 25. The positioning elements are produced as plug pins 50 and/or 52 and/or as a locking element 70. This wall unit 25 is introduced into the receiving space 6 of the interior container 4. In particular, the web 88 is first placed on the pedestal base 83. At the same time or subsequently, the plug pin 50 is introduced into the receptacle 51 and/or the plug pin 52 is introduced into the receptacle 68 in the embodiment. Since the plug pins 50 and 52 are oriented in different spatial directions, namely in width direction and in height direction, a pre-assembly position in height direction and in width direction, in particular in the front area 33, can be autonomously retained by this implementation. The same is achieved with the locking element 70 if it is formed instead of the plug pin 50. The plug pin 52 can for example also be replaced with a locking element. By the rest of the web 88 on the pedestal base 83 in the rear area of the housing 20, the pre-assembly position is securely and autonomously retained there too.

In this pre-assembly position, the subsequent screwing of the screws, which are provided for producing the screw connections, and by which the final position of the wall unit 25 at the interior container 4 is produced, can be effected without retaining the wall unit 25 by an assembler. The assembler then has both hands free to produce the screw connections.

Generally and independently of the explained embodiments, individual advantageous developments of an ice maker, in particular the housing of the ice maker, of the household refrigeration apparatus can be provided.

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

List of reference characters:  1 Household refrigeration apparatus  2 housing  3 exterior housing  4 interior container  5 clearance  6 receiving space  7 door  8 door  9 receiving space 10 door 11 ice maker 12 dispenser unit 13 output unit 14 front side 15 side wall 16 side wall 17 rear wall 18 bottom wall 19 ceiling wall 20 housing 21 receiving space 22 wall area 23 wall area 24 wall area 25 wall unit 26 wall element 27 wall plate 28 wall plate 29 outer wall element 30 inner wall element 31 thermally insulating material 32 positioning bracket 33 front area 34 bracket leg 35 bracket leg 36 first end 37 second end 38 front edge 39 stiffening rib 40 plate area 41 bounding wall 42 stiffening rib 43 outer side 44 stiffening rib 45 receiving groove 46 aperture 47 engagement area 48 coupling flap 49 web 50 plug pin 51 receptacle 52 positioning element 53 hole 54 hole 55 seal 56 seal 57 screw boss 58 retaining element 59 retaining element 60 plug element 61 plug element 62 receptacle 63 depression 64 washer 65 screw 66 washer 67 screw 68 receptacle 69 seal 70 locking element 71 screw boss 72 locking element 73 locking element 74 wall step 75 protrusion 76 condensation water drip bar 77 recess 78 wall section 79 protrusion wall 80 drain gutter 81 drain stub 82 gutter edge 83 pedestal base 84 screw boss 85 screw boss 86 pedestal 87 base plate 88 web 89 screw 90 drain line A angle

Claims

1. A household refrigeration apparatus, comprising:

a depth direction of the household refrigeration apparatus;
an interior container having a first wall and having a second wall disposed at an angle relative to said first wall, said interior container bounding a first receiving space of the household refrigeration apparatus for food;
an ice maker including a housing formed by a wall area of said first wall of said interior container and a wall area of said second wall of said interior container in certain areas, said housing bounding a receiving space of said ice maker; and
said interior container including a rear wall with a base plate and a drain gutter for condensation water being formed in said ice maker, said drain gutter being integrated in said rear wall, and said drain gutter being offset rearwardly relative to said base plate of said rear wall in said depth direction.

2. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rear wall includes a pedestal formed integrally with said base plate and disposed offset rearwardly relative to said base plate in said depth direction, said drain gutter being formed in said pedestal and bulging out rearwardly relative to a rear end wall of said pedestal.

3. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pedestal is a wall area of said housing of said ice maker bounding said receiving space of said ice maker.

4. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing of said ice maker includes a wall element being a component separate from said interior container, said wall element having an L-shape in cross-section, said wall element including a first wall plate and a second wall plate together forming said L-shape, and said first wall plate including a rear web protruding into said drain gutter in said depth direction.

5. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said drain gutter includes a front gutter edge, said rear web is disposed above said front gutter edge in a contactless manner and said rear web extends across an entire thickness, measured in said depth direction, of said front gutter edge in said depth direction.

6. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said housing of said ice maker includes a wall element being a component separate from said interior container, said wall element has an L-shape in cross-section, said wall element includes a first wall plate and a second wall plate together forming said L-shape, said pedestal includes a lower pedestal base, and said wall element rests on said lower pedestal base.

7. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wall area of said first wall includes a wall step with a protrusion, said protrusion protrudes into said receiving space of said ice maker, and said protrusion is formed as a condensation water drip bar.

8. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said protrusion includes a protrusion wall, said first wall has a further wall section downwardly adjoining said protrusion, and said protrusion wall and said further wall section enclose an angle of less than 90°.

9. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said protrusion extends across an entire length of said housing of said ice maker in said depth direction.

10. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing of said ice maker includes a wall element being a component separate from said interior container, said wall element has an L-shape in cross-section, said wall element includes a first wall plate and a second wall plate together forming said L-shape, the household refrigeration apparatus has a height direction, and said wall element extends into a recess formed below said protrusion in said height direction.

11. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first wall plate has an inner wall being rearwardly inclined at least in certain areas in said depth direction.

12. The household refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drain gutter includes an integrated drain stub.

Patent History
Publication number: 20210318058
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 23, 2021
Publication Date: Oct 14, 2021
Inventors: PRASHANTAGOUDA HOSAMANI (ULM), ROBERT STAHL (HERBRECHTINGEN), ANDREAS LINDEL (HEIDENHEIM)
Application Number: 17/355,296
Classifications
International Classification: F25D 23/06 (20060101); F25D 11/02 (20060101); F25C 1/00 (20060101); F25C 5/02 (20060101); F25D 31/00 (20060101);