COOLING AND/OR FREEZING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling and/or freezing device having a body and a cooled inner space located therein and having two doors which open and close in opposite directions, wherein the doors each comprise a front-end side which, in the closed state of the doors, are facing one another and are arranged adjacent to one another, wherein a sealing element is arranged on at least one of the front-end sides, which sealing element comprises a movable door seal, wherein the sealing element comprises a movable force-deflecting element connected to the door seal, wherein the force-deflecting element has a contact area on which the body exerts a force when the door is being closed, and wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged in such a way that, when this force is exerted on the contact area, it moves the door seal towards the front-end side of the other door and/or towards the body.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling and/or freezing device having a body and a cooled inner space located therein, wherein two doors which open and close in opposite directions are arranged on the body, wherein the doors each have a front-end side which, in the closed state of the doors, face one another and are arranged adjacent to one another.

Such devices with doors movable in opposite directions are also known as French-door devices.

With these devices there is a fundamental need for sealing between the two doors when the doors are closed, as well as between the doors and the device body in each case. To achieve this object, the doors must be set or positioned very precisely. There is no tolerance compensation. This means a great deal of work in production and on the customer's premises, and may lead to customer service calls. Another problem is leakage over the entire height of the seal if the doors are not precisely adjusted. In this case, the doors do not tighten due to the magnets arranged on the front-end side, with the result that a gap remains between the closed doors, which causes heat to enter the device and the efficiency of the device is correspondingly impaired.

Another problem is that when one of the two doors is opened slowly, the second door may also be opened unintentionally, since the magnets do not detach from one another.

Another well-known feature of French-door devices is the use of a folding stay the sealing area between the doors. The disadvantage of such a system is that the folding stay requires a comparatively large amount of space inside the cooling and/or freezing device, so that usable space is lost. Apart from this, the folding stay is comparatively loud, and the doors can sometimes only be opened with increased force.

The object underlying the present invention is to further develop a cooling and/or freezing device of the type mentioned above in such a way that leaks and noise development as well as increased manufacturing and assembly costs due to a lack of tolerance compensation are avoided.

This object is achieved by a cooling and/or freezing device having the features of claim 1.

According to this, it is provided that a sealing element is arranged on at least one of the front-end sides of the French door, which element has a movable door seal, wherein the sealing element comprises a movable force-deflecting element connected to the door seal, wherein the force-deflecting element has a contact area to which a force is exerted by the body when the door is closed, and wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged to move the door seal towards the front-end side of the other door and/or alternatively towards the body when said force is exerted.

The sealing element with door seal is a mechanical unit. Preferably, the sealing element is screwed or otherwise connected to the device door and has the (at least one) door seal that can be moved, e.g. pivoted, rotated or displaced, relative to the sealing element.

The sealing element is the holder or housing for the door seal.

The movement of the door seal is caused by the force-deflecting element when a force is exerted to the latter. This force impact on the force-deflecting element is generated as soon as the force-deflecting element comes into contact with the body during the closing process of the door.

The force-deflecting element acts on the door seal in such a way that it is moved towards the other door and/or towards the body. This results in the gap between the doors or the gap between the door and the body being closed in a simple manner.

Preferably, each of the two doors has such a sealing element.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the force-deflecting element is arranged and designed in such a way that the door seal is moved both towards the body and towards the respective other door when the door is closed. This has the advantageous effect of providing a reliable sealing not only between the doors, but also between the door or doors and the body.

The contact area of the force-deflecting element can be designed as a projection, in particular as a pin. When the door is closed, the projection comes into contact with the body and in this way moves the force-deflecting element, which in turn exerts a force on the door seal, thus causing it to move.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a return element is provided which is in contact with the door seal and exerts a force on the door seal which is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of movement caused by the force-deflecting element. In this way, the door seal is moved to its initial position, which it assumes when no force is exerted by the force-deflecting element, i.e. when the door is open. In this position, the door seal is retracted with respect to the body and/or with respect to the other door.

It is advantageous if both doors comprise a sealing element according to the invention and thus both have the functionality described above.

It is particularly advantageous if the force-deflecting element is arranged and designed in such a way that it moves the door seal in two spatial directions. In the top view of the door, there can thus be a movement in the x and y directions, the x direction being a direction towards the side, i.e. towards the other door, and the y direction being a direction towards the body.

Both movements can occur simultaneously or in sequence.

The sealing element can have a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal. The front-end-side door seal is located between the doors when the doors are closed. The housing-side door seal on the housing side is located between the door and the body when the door is closed. Both door seals can be configured by one and the same seal or by two separate seals.

Preferably, a heating means is arranged on or in the sealing element and/or the door seal.

In order to supply the heating means with current, a first electrical contact can be arranged on the sealing element and a second electrical contact can be arranged on the body, the two contacts being arranged in such a way that they are in electrically conductive connection with one another when the door is closed, so that current flows through the heating means.

To ensure uniform movement of the door seal over the height of the door, it is advantageous if at least two force-deflecting elements are present which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

It is conceivable if one force-deflecting element is arranged in the region of the upper side and one in the region of the lower side of the door. In principle, the invention also covers the use of only one force-deflecting element, or of two or even more than two force-deflecting elements per door.

The force-deflecting element can be rotatably and/or displaceably arranged in or on the sealing element.

At this point, it is to be noted that the term “one” does not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible embodiment, but may also refer to a plurality of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural form also includes the presence of the element in question in singular form and, vice versa, the singular form also includes multiple of the elements in question.

Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in greater detail by means of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1: a perspective front view of a cooling and/or freezing device according to the invention with doors closed,

FIG. 2: a perspective front view of a cooling and/or freezing device according to the invention with doors of the cooling part arranged at the top opened,

FIG. 3: a front view of the device according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 4: a front view of the doors of the cooling part from outside with the sealing elements,

FIG. 5: a view of the sealing element,

FIGS. 6a-c: another view of the sealing elements including details 1 and 2,

FIGS. 7a-c: a front view of the doors of the cooling part from the inside with an illustration of the force-deflecting element and a plan view on the doors from above;

FIGS. 8a, b: a top view on the doors with the seal opened and closed;

FIG. 9: a view of the sealing element according to sectional line A-A in FIG. 7 with a spring return means.

FIG. 1 shows a cooling-freezing combination denoted by reference character 100 with a cooling part K arranged at the top and a freezing part G arranged below. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the cooling part K has two doors 10, 20 each hinged in opposite directions to each other, on the body edges, between which the gap 21 is located.

Both doors have a sealing element 30 on their respective front-end side S arranged opposite from the hinge side.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, which shows the doors (without the furniture panel in front) from the outside, the sealing elements 30 are screwed to the doors 10, 20 on their outer side, for example, and form their front-end-side edge.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference character 50 denotes body-side pin contacts and reference character 60 denotes contacts of the sealing elements 30.

When the doors are closed, the contacts 50, 60 are in electrically conductive connection with each other, so that when the door is closed, current flows from a body-side current source through the contacts 50, 60 into the sealing elements 30 and into the heater located therein.

FIG. 5 shows a sealing element 30 in perspective view. It has a part 31 fixedly arranged to the door and a magnetic door seal 32 with a heater movable relative to it.

As can be seen from FIG. 6a and in particular from the detailed views shown in FIGS. 6b and 6c, a force-deflecting element 70 is arranged in each of the sealing elements 30 both on the upper side and on the lower side (cf. FIG. 7). Said element comprises a projecting pin 72 which faces the body when the door is closed.

These pins 72 are also discernible from the view of the doors 10, 20 from the inside, i.e. from the cooled inner space in FIG. 7a.

FIG. 7b shows the force-deflecting element 70 per se.

FIG. 7c shows a view of the doors 10, 20 from above.

FIG. 8a shows the two door seals 32 in a state in which they are spaced apart from one another at the front-end sides. In FIG. 8b, the gap between the doors is closed by the door seals 32. The area between the front-end-side edges of the doors is indicated by an arrow in each case.

Each of the door seals has a front-end-side area 33 and a housing-side area 34.

These areas can be formed by one and the same door seal or by two different door seals.

When the doors 10, 20 are closed, the pin 72 of the force-deflecting elements 70 contacts the front side of the body. This results in a rotational movement of the force-deflecting elements 70 in the respective sealing element 30. The force-deflecting element actuated in this way acts on the door seals 32 in such a way that the housing-side sealing areas 34 are pressed against the front side of the body and that the front-end-side sealing areas 33 of both doors are moved towards one another so that the gap between the doors 10, 20 is closed.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a sealing element 30 in which two spring return elements 36 are arranged. These act on the door seal in such a way that the door seal is moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. 8 a when the door is open and no force is exerted to the force-deflecting element 70. The force-deflecting element 70 is moved to its initial position, which it assumes when the door is open.

Thus, the door seal 32 is caused to move away from both the body and the respective other door when one or both doors are opened.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the following is provided:

The sealing system has a mechanical unit on both French doors with a movable seal with heater and magnet. When the doors are closed, these two movable seals are pressed on the top and bottom of the housing in an inclined manner (movement on the X and Y axes) via a mechanical force deflection and thus seal the two doors to each other and also to the housing.

The movable seal can move several millimeters per door and thus also compensate for tolerances. To ensure that the seals are completely closing with each other, one additional magnet is used per door.

When one of the two doors or both doors are opened simultaneously, the spring pressure position in the sealing system serves to ensure that the sealing system either on one door or on both doors (if both are opened simultaneously) “retracts” into the original position, thus allowing the door to be opened without interruption.

The heater inserted in the seal serves to prevent dew formation at higher humidity. However, operation of the sealing system without a heater and magnet is also possible in principle.

The electrical supply to the heaters from the door to the housing can be effected either wired, via the hinge, or wireless, via pin contacts. This makes it possible to use the sealing system with all hinge types.

The doors can now be opened and closed independently of each other. Due to the low influence of the system on the interior area of the cooling device or cooling-freezing combination, space is optimally utilized compared to a folding stay. Furthermore, the attenuated closing and opening of the door can significantly reduce noise compared to the use of a folding stay.

Claims

1. Cooling and/or freezing device having a body, a cooled inner space located therein, and two doors which open and close in opposite directions, wherein

the doors each comprise a front-end side which, in the closed state of the doors, are facing one another and are arranged adjacent to one another, a sealing element is arranged on at least one of the front-end sides, and comprises a movable door seal, and

a movable force-deflecting element connected to the door seal,

the force-deflecting element has a contact area on which the body exerts a force when the door is being closed, and

the force-deflecting element is arranged in such a way that, when this force is exerted on the contact area, it moves the door seal towards the front-end side of the other door and/or towards the body.

2. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact area is formed as a projection, in particular as a pin.

3. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein both doors comprise a sealing element and/or a return element is provided which is in contact with the door seal and exerts a force on the door seal which is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of movement caused by the force-deflecting element.

4. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged in such a way that it moves the door seal in two spatial directions.

5. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.

6. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein heating means are arranged in the sealing element.

7. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 6, wherein a first electrical contact is arranged on the sealing element, and a second electrical contact is arranged on the body, and the two contacts are arranged in such a way that they are in electrically conductive connection with one another when the door is closed.

8. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein at least two force-deflecting elements are present which are arranged to be spaced apart from one another.

9. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 8, wherein the door has an upper side and a lower side, one force-deflecting element is arranged in the region of the upper side, and one force-deflecting element is arranged in the region of the lower side.

10. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 1, wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged in the sealing element in a manner to be rotatable and/or displaceable.

11. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 2, wherein both doors comprise a sealing element and/or a return element is provided which is in contact with the door seal and exerts a force on the door seal which is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of movement caused by the force-deflecting element.

12. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 11, wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged in such a way that it moves the door seal in two spatial directions.

13. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 3, wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged in such a way that it moves the door seal in two spatial directions.

14. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 2, wherein the force-deflecting element is arranged in such a way that it moves the door seal in two spatial directions.

15. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 14, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.

16. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 13, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.

17. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 12, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.

18. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 11, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.

19. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 4, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.

20. Cooling and/or freezing device according to claim 3, wherein the sealing element comprises a front-end-side door seal and a housing-side door seal, and the housing-side door seal is located between door and body when the doors are closed.