Refrigerator with an electronic panel support

Abstract

 The domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2) and its support structure (4-6,9) comprises a sheet ceiling front wall (4) on which the electronic panel (2) is attached by means of a removable direct-acting connection (2c,6c), disposed over the whole width of the refrigerator compartment (1c), in a frontal and lateral position in relation to a door (1b). An intermediate adapter plate (5) is moulded out of plastic and provided with a box (6b) inserted in the ceiling (1a) for the housing and guiding of the electrical wiring (22). In the area of the ceiling (1a) the sheet lateral panels (5) of the frame are joined to the adapter plate superimposed on the inner side on the sheet front wall (4), being provided with securing and positioning stop lugs (6d). The support structure (4,6-9) further comprises a fixing member (6e,6e') for the support of the two types of door hinge (7,8-7',8') on either side of the ceiling (1a) for a corresponding door height.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic refrigerator appliance and the support structure for a front electronic control panel.

Prior art

[0002] Domestic refrigerators are already known with an electronic control panel mounted in combination with a support structure on the sheet frame on the front face of the refrigerator, which extends over the whole width above the refrigerator door. Either of documents EP-A-759530 (ES-2192211-T) and DE-A-198040430 discloses a support structure and an electronic panel. These support structures comprise a portion of the front wall in the area of the ceiling of the sheet frame which is adapted to a panel carrying the electronic circuits, a supplementary plastic electronic casing piece provided with a housing for the electric wiring guided to the interior of the ceiling of the refrigerator, and means for connecting the electronic panel to the sheet front wall.

[0003] The known control panel supports do not resolve as the invention does it, an integrated combination of the electronic panel with a support structure extending over the whole width of the frame, including the upper and front sheet walls of the ceiling of the refrigerator frame, as well as the two sheet lateral panels.

Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is an electronic control panel and a support structure on the frame of the refrigerator for the installation of the electronic panel, which is extended over the whole width of the ceiling and integrates the means for its attachment to the sheet frame of the appliance and for the connection of the control panel to the removable frame.

[0005] The advantage offered by the control panel support structure according to the invention, is the integration of the electronic control panel in the sheet frame of the refrigerator appliance, including the door swivelling hinges, being a common support structure of entire pieces over the whole width of the frame of the appliance, and also making a direct-acting connection of the electronic panel, so being it removable from the support structure. This aim is achieved by means of an intermediate moulded plastic adapter plate, which is connected between the front wall and both sheet lateral panels and which is provided with a series of securing noses also acting as an end-stop means against the sheet front wall. In addition, the electronic control panel is connected in a single direct-acting connection operation onto the adapter plate by means of elastic connection lugs.

[0006] The support structure of this electronic panel provides a support for the attachment of a door hinge, which is screwed directly onto the support structure, the latter being adapted with support means for two different types of hinge, one front and the other ceiling-mounted on either side of the appliance, for the respective installation of two doors of a different height.

Description of the drawings

[0007] 

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electronic control panel and the structure for its support, built into the ceiling of a refrigerator appliance.

FIG. 1A is a partial view of the panel and the support structure of FIG. 1, showing a close-up of the connections between the different parts of the support structure and of the panel.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the support structure of FIG. 1 deprived of the electronic panel.

FIG. 2A is a partial view of the support structure of FIG. 2, showing a type of hinge for the door.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic panel and the support structure, according to line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic panel and the electronic panel support structure according to line IV-IV of FIG. 2, showing a first type of on-ceiling hinge.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic panel support structure according to line V-V of FIG. 2A, showing a second type of squared front hinge.

Detailed description of the invention

[0008] In reference to FIGS. 1-5, an embodiment of refrigerator appliance 1 with an electronic control panel 2 and its support structure 4-6, comprises a ceiling 1a, a door 1b, and a refrigerating compartment 1c covered by a sheet frame, said control panel 2 being mounted on a sheet front panel 4, to which are attached the two sheet lateral panels 5 in the area of ceiling 1a, and a moulded plastic adapter plate 6 for the installation of the control panel 2, being placed over the whole width of the frame 4,5 above the refrigerating compartment 1c (FIG. 1A, 2A and 3).

[0009] The adapter plate 6 (FIG. 1 and 1A) is superimposed on the sheet front wall 4 from the inside of the ceiling 1a and it comprises a substantially plane plate which overlaps the sheet front wall 4, a central box 6b (FIG. 1 and 3) inserted in the interior of the ceiling 1a for the housing and guiding of the electrical wiring 22 supplying the control panel 2, and a fixing member 6e, 6e' at each of the ends of the plane plate 6a for the support of one or the other type of door hinge, either the on-ceiling hinge 7,8 (FIG. 2,4) or the front hinge 7', 8' (FIG. 2A and 5). The adapter plate 6 further has over its whole length a series of elastic connection lugs 6c for retaining the control panel 2, and a series of noses 6d for the anchorage as well as for acting as stops for the relative positioning of the adapter plate 6 against the sheet front wall 4.

[0010] A single support structure 4-6 and a single sheet front wall 4 are common for the installation of two types of electronic panel 2,2' (FIG. 4 and 5), matching up with two types of refrigerator door, respectively, the high door 1b (FIG. 3 and 4), extending over the whole height of the appliance 1 and covering the control panel 2, and the low door 1b' of a height below the control panel 2' (FIG. 5) so as to leave it visible. Each one of these two types of door 1b, 1b' needs its respective type of hinge, the high door 1b is mounted with the on-ceiling hinge 7,8, represented in FIG. 1-2 and FIG. 4, while the low door 1b' is mounted with the squared front hinge 7', 8', represented in FIG. 2A and 5. For the fixing of both types of hinge 7,8 or 7', 8', at each of its ends the adapter plate 6 has said fixing member 6e, 6e', disposed in a given frontal and lateral position relative to both doors 1b, 1b' and attached behind the front panel 4 of the frame of the appliance 1 (FIG. 3-5).

[0011] In a refrigerator 1 option which has a high door 1b type (FIG. 1A and FIG. 3-4) a first control panel 2 has a hollow central cavity 2a as a housing for the electronic circuits 20 and the electrical connections 21. The control panel 2 has a rear face 2b attached to the support structure 4-6 with a large opening towards the latter. Said rear face 2b is attached in a removable manner by means of the intermediate adapter plate 6 with a series of connection lugs 2c attached to a series of detent hooks 6c on the adapter plate. The depth "D" of the cavity 2a in the control panel is less than the total thickness of the door 1b. The two substantially plane and straight ends 2D of the control panel are necked with respect to the central cavity 2a, being they fixed overlapping the sheet lateral panels 5 (FIG. 1A). The UPPER edge of the high door 1b is superimposed on the control panel end 2d (FIG. 4), and it is provided with a housing 64 for the swivel pin of the on-ceiling hinge 7, which has the form of a straight plate and is superimposed on the sheet lateral panel 5. The fixing member 6e, 6e' has a hole 63 for its positioning and attachment to the lateral panel 5 and another two holes 60 for the screw attachment of the hinge plate 7 by way of the respective holes 63' and 60 in the lateral panel 5 (FIG. 1A).

[0012] A second control panel 2' in a second refrigerator 1 option (FIG. 5) of the type visible above a low door 1b' is of a depth "D'" equivalent to the thickness of the door 1b', for which purpose the support structure 4-6 is provided with a squared front hinge 7'8' with a vertical arm fixed on a front portion 6e' below the control panel 2', and provided with the swivel pin 8' inserted in a housing 64' on the upper edge of the door 1b'.

[0013] The adapter plate 6 is mounted behind up against the sheet front wall 4, for which purpose both series of detent hooks 6c and securing noses 6d, which extend forwards by way of the respective perforated openings 4c and 4d in the sheet wall 4 (FIG. 2A), the securing noses 6d on the adapter plate also being conformed for the positioning stop of the latter relative to the front wall 4a. The sheet lateral panels 5 are set in place adjacent on either side of the ceiling wall 9. The fixing member 6e, 6e' on each end of the adapter plate 6 comprises a lateral portion 6e extending at right angles for the support of the on-ceiling hinge type 7,8. This lateral portion 6e on the adapter plate 6 is covered by an inverted U-section of the respective sheet lateral panel 5 and it is held in place against the latter by way of a hole 63 superimposed on hole 63' on the upper face of the sheet panel 5 (FIG. 1A).

[0014] The lateral members 6e of the fixing member 6e, 6e' on the adapter plate 6 have a pair of holes 60 for the fixing of a first type of on-ceiling hinge 7,8 with a swivel pin 8, represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and a front hole 61 for fixing a second type of front squared hinge 7', 8', represented in FIGS. 2A and 5. At the front part 6e' of the fixing member 6e, 6e' there are a pair of front holes 62 for attaching said type of front hinge 7', 8' with a swivel pin 8'. Both lateral panels 5 of the sheet frame are covering said lateral members 6e of the adapter plate, and they have two holes 60' superimposed on the pair of holes 60 in the support members 6e for the attach screws of said on-ceiling hinge 7,8, and a hole 61' superimposed on a hole 61 in the support member 6e for the screw fixing of the front hinge type 7', 8' at right angles.

[0015] The sheet front wall 4 (FIG. 1-3) is an extension bent at right angles to the cover 9 of the refrigerator appliance ceiling. It has a flat central portion 4a with a central rectangular opening 4b, which is superimposed on the adapter plate box 6b for the passage of the electrical wiring 22 and two straight ends 4a' for the assemblage of the sheet lateral panels 5. The lateral panels 5 have a folded edge 5c in the form of an elastic loop by way of which they are joined to a plane end of front wall 4a' (FIG. 1A) and a horizontal longitudinal edge 5c' composed of two right-angle flanges, whereby it is secured to the wall of the ceiling 9, in a clip-shaped fold 9c (FIG. 2A and 3) extending in the direction of the depth of the ceiling 9. Said folded edges 5c, 5C' of the lateral panels make a direct-acting connection with the ends 4a' of the front panel 4 and the clip folds 9c of the ceiling panel 9.

[0016] The sheet front panel 4 on which the control panel 2 is supported further has on its lower horizontal edge an elastic fold 4e (FIG. 3) for securing the ceiling of the refrigerator chest 10 to the sheet frame 4, 5, 9, while the adapter plate 6 has a supplementary inward lip or skirt 6f of the ceiling 1a, which rests on said elastic fold at 4e on the sheet front panel 4 (FIG. 3).

Claims

1. Domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2, 2') and its support structure (4-6, 9), including the sheet frame (4, 5, 9) of the appliance with a ceiling (1a), a door (1b) and two sheet lateral panels (5) of the frame, the electronic panel (2) being supported on a sheet front panel (4) in the area of the ceiling (1a), wherein the control panel (2) and/or its support structure (4-6, 9) form a hollow cavity (2a) for the disposition of the electronic circuits (20) and a housing (6b) in the ceiling (1a) for guiding the electric wiring (22), characterised in that the control panel (2,2') is fixed on said sheet front panel (4) in a removable manner by means of a direct-acting connection (2c,6c) by way of a moulded plastic adapter plate (6), which is disposed along the whole width of the ceiling (1a) above the refrigerator compartment (1c), extending as far as to occupy a frontal and lateral position in relation to the door (1b,1b') and fixed superimposed to the sheet front wall (4) by means of a series of securing lugs (6d), while further acting as an end-stops means for said relative positioning.

2. The domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that said adapter plate (6) comprises a substantially plane plate (6a) which is positioned overlapping the sheet front wall (4), a central box (6b) inserted in the interior of the ceiling (1a) for housing and guiding the electrical wiring (22) supplying the control panel (2,2'), and means for jointing (6e,6e') to the sheet lateral panels (5) and to the sheet ceiling wall (9).

3. The domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the control panel (2,2') comprises an open rear face (2b), said hollow cavity (2a) forming a housing for the electronic circuits (20) and a series of elastic connecting lugs (2c) for said direct-acting connection with a series of detent hooks (6c) on the adapter plate which pass through the sheet front panel (4).

4. The domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter plate (6) comprises at each one of its ends an integrated plastic fixing member (6e,6e') for its connection to the sheet lateral panels (5) and for the support of at least one type of door hinge (7,8-7',8') on either side of the ceiling (1a) of the appliance, said fixing member (6e,6e') forming a square corner at the end of the adapter plate (6), with a lateral portion (6e) covered by a respective sheet lateral panel (5) and joined to it, and a front portion (6e') superimposed and joined to the ceiling sheet front panel (4a) for the fixing of two types of door hinge (7,7') corresponding to a high (1b) or low (1b') door, respectively.

5. The domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2) according to claim 4, characterised in that both parts of said fixing member (6e,6e') made of integrated plastic for at least one type of hinge (7,8-7',8') are provided with their respective holes (60-63) for securing to the sheet frame (4,5,9), and both lateral (6e) and frontal (6e') portions of the fixing member (62,6e') have at least one corresponding threaded hole (60-63) for the support at each of them of one respective type of hinge (7,8-7',8').

6. The domestic refrigerator (1) with an electronic control panel (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the sheet front wall (4) for the support of the control panel (2) comprises a respective sheet plane end (4a), whereby it is joined to the respective sheet lateral panel (5) by means of an elastic folded edge (5c) on the latter, and said fixing member (6e,6e') for at least one type of hinge (7,8-7',8') is supported on this sheet connection (4c,4a') by means of a screw fastening (60,60').

Drawing