HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

Abstract

 A baking oven has a housing with a housing front, a chamber with a chamber opening in the housing front and a functional in the chamber unit for water for a steamer function of the oven, the functional unit being removable towards the front side. A cavity with a cavity door is provided in the housing, the chamber being arranged laterally above the cavity door. The chamber can be closed by means of a chamber closure comprising at least one closure surface element that has a closed position in which the chamber is closed. It has an open position in which the chamber is open and accessible to remove the functional unit from the chamber. It also has intermediate positions between the closed position and the open position, wherein the chamber closure or its closure surface element in the closed position is parallel to the housing front. In the open position and in all intermediate positions it is always arranged in the plane of the closed position or behind this plane of the closed position, preferably behind a plane around the chamber closure or around the chamber or around the chamber opening.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART

[0001] The invention is directed to a household appliance, for example a steam baking oven, wherein the household appliance has a housing together with a housing front and a chamber in the housing, the chamber having a chamber opening in the housing front. A functional unit such as a tank for water for the steam generating function of the household appliance is provided in the chamber. The tank is accessible from the front side and is removable towards the front side for filling or emptying it. The household appliance also has a conventional cavity in the housing, which is accessible by means of a cavity door on the housing front. The chamber for the tank is arranged laterally adjacent to the cavity door, below or above it on the housing front. The chamber or the chamber opening, respectively, can be closed by means of a chamber closure.

[0002] It is known from EP 2037183 A1 to provide a steam oven with a water tank for the generation of steam in its cavity. The water tank can only be pulled out of the housing of the steam oven after opening the cavity door, which is a conventional oven door.

[0003] It is known from DE 102010002853 A1 to provide a steam oven with a water tank for the generation of steam in its cavity, wherein the water tank is placed in a chamber at the front side of the housing laterally of a cavity door. The chamber for the water tank cannot be closed, but the tank itself closes the chamber opening with its front side. So the water tank is fully visible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a household appliance with a practical and technically reliable function for providing a functional unit, which can be handled with comfort and, in particular, does not affect the functionality and the outer appearance of the household appliance, and preferably is easy to use.

[0005] This object is solved by a household appliance having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject-matter of the further claims and will be explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated into the description by express reference.

[0006] The household appliance has a housing together with a housing front and a chamber in the housing, wherein the chamber has a chamber opening in the housing front. The household appliance also has a functional unit for an operating material and/or for an additive for the operation of the household appliance, for example a water tank for storing water for a steam generating function of a steam baking oven. This functional unit is accessible from the front side of the housing and/or is removable towards this front side, wherein the functional unit is arranged in said chamber. A cavity is provided in the housing, also known as muffle in the field of ovens, which cavity can be accessed by means of a cavity door on the housing front. The cavity door can be fixed in hinged manner, for example opening downwards or sidewards. The chamber is arranged on the housing front laterally adjacent to the cavity door, alternatively it can be arranged below or above the cavity door. This chamber or its chamber opening can be closed by means of a chamber closure provided at the chamber opening. The chamber closure comprises at least one closure surface element, which element is preferably rigid in itself or not flexible, respectively. The whole chamber closure may be flexible or shape-variable, though, depending on its construction. The chamber closure or the closure surface element have a closed position in which they close the chamber, and also have an open position in which the chamber or functional unit is open and accessible. Furthermore, they have intermediate positions between the closed position and the open position, wherein the chamber closure passes through these intermediate positions when being moved from the closed position into the open position and vice versa. Preferably, the movement through intermediate positions from the closed position into the open position is precisely defined and consists of only one specific path. The functional unit can be removed from the chamber or is partly or fully accessible in the open position of the chamber closure. During use of the household appliance or of the functional unit, respectively, the chamber closure is closed such that the chamber opening is blocked and the functional unit is not visible or accessible. So it can be protected against damage or misuse, and also does not impede the aesthetic appearance of the household appliance.

[0007] According to the invention, the chamber closure or the at least one closure surface element in the closed position is parallel to the housing front. In the open position and in all intermediate positions the chamber closure or the at least one closure surface element is always arranged in the plane of their closed position or behind the plane of their closed position. This plane can preferably correspond to the plane around the chamber closure, around the chamber or around the chamber opening, respectively. This means that the chamber closure does in no position and at no point of time of any movement between the closed position and the open position protrude above this plane, whether it is its own plane of the closed position or the plane of the household device round it. It either stays in this plane or in its own plane, respectively, or it is even retracted or moved behind this plane into the chamber or into any storing location for it.

[0008] This serves to avoid the chamber closure to protrude above the front side of the housing or, alternatively, around the plane directly surrounding it. A risk of personal injury on the one hand and of damaging the chamber closure in a protruding state can thus be avoided.

[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the chamber closure in the open position is arranged behind the plane of the housing front and/or in a different spatial orientation than in the closed position. In particular the chamber closure can be realized as a flap, which embodiment is rather simple. The chamber closure preferably is arranged at an angle of about 90° to the closed position, so it is pivoted or moved at an angle of about 90° between the two end positions.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the chamber closure is substantially flat, at least on its front side, which front side is visible in the closed position. It can generally be rather flat, so it does not take too much space, also into the chamber. A flat front chamber closure can also be integrated into a household front in unobtrusive manner.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, a guide device is provided for the chamber closure or for the flap, respectively. The chamber closure can be mounted on the guide device and can possibly also have some parts of the guide device. So the guide device can be present on the housing of the household device, for example in the chamber, and also on the chamber closure, preferably in split manner. Preferably the guide device is designed for a forced guidance of the chamber closure or of the at least one closure surface element with exactly one single path between the closed position and the open position. This single path can be used for a defined movement which avoids the chamber closure to protrude over the plane of the front side.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the guide device and the chamber closure are designed for a movement of the at least one closure surface element as a combination of turning and pushing, or pivoting an linear movement. Preferably the guide device can have a guide track that is partly curved and partly rectilinear. A closure surface element or the chamber closure may have guide pins on two opposite sides, each of these guide pins having its own guide track. So, the closure surface element or the chamber closure are safely and mechanically solid. Such guide devices are basically known from swivel doors in motor car garages or the like.

[0013] Preferably, such a guide track as defined before may extend partly at the front side of the chamber opening and parallel to the housing front. After a bend or a curve, this guide track or another guide track may extend partly at right angles thereto on the left or right of an outer side or of a chamber wall.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the chamber closure may comprise a single closure surface element, preferably in the form of a single flap. Its front side can be flat. A guide device for this single closure surface element or flap is provided with laterally arranged guide pins on it, which guide pins are located in guide tracks of the guide device on the housing or on the chamber walls or side boundaries of the chamber, respectively. In particular a pair of opposite guide pins at the top or left and a pair of opposite guide pins at the bottom or right are provided opposite each other on the closure surface element.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the chamber closure may be formed as a two-leaf closure with exactly two closure surface elements or two flaps, respectively. Preferably each closure surface element or flap closes half of the chamber or of the chamber opening. These two closure surface elements or flaps and their guide devices may be formed mirror-symmetrically relative to one another. One single closure surface element or flap may be provided on the left and one single closure surface element or flap may be provided on the right. Alternatively, they can be divided horizontally and provided on an upper side and on a lower side, respectively, as or one single closure surface element on the upper half and one single closure surface element on the lower half. In this case, they open upwards and downwards.

[0016] In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the chamber closure can be designed as a sliding roller flap with a plurality of closure surface elements, for example two to ten or four to ten closure surface elements. All the closure surface elements are arranged parallel to one another and/or are designed identically. This serves for easier manufacturing and a better aesthetic impression. A guide device can be designed in such a way that the closure surface elements can be moved towards one side of the chamber and then along this side into the chamber and into the household appliance. This can be a movement to a lateral side or upwards or downwards, respectively. Adjacent closure surface elements can be connected to one another in a hinged manner and with a small spacing or without any spacing. Their connection with one another can be elastic or fixed, the main aspect is a smooth moveability of the chamber closure. Such a sliding roller flap may even be similar as is known from roller flaps in other technical fields, for example for windows or motor car garages.

[0017] In preferred manner, on at least every second, preferably on every, closure surface element guide pins are arranged or mounted, which guide pins run in guide tracks of the guide device on the housing or in the chamber. Preferably these guide tracks are provided on lateral side boundaries or walls of the chamber. The guide pins can be arranged on respective opposite sides or ends of the closure surface element, and the guide pins are arranged to run in a guide track mentioned before and to guide the closure surface element in a way to avoid the closure surface elements or the roller flap, respectively, to move over the front side of the housing.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention the functional unit is arranged 1 cm to 5 cm behind the chamber closure in the closed position. Preferably, the functional unit is as close to the chamber opening or to the chamber closure as possible to maximize its size and/or to minimize the space needed for the chamber.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the chamber closure completely closes the chamber or its chamber opening in its closed position. In its open position, it may mainly or for at least 75% or 85% open the chamber, but the chamber closure or its elements cannot disappear, so they will preferably be along one side wall of the chamber. This will diminish the size of the chamber opening.

[0020] In another embodiment of the invention, the functional unit has a front side or a front part, wherein this front side or front part is at least partly slanted such that the functional unit is receded on one lateral side more than on an opposite lateral side. This can be used to adapt the shape of the functional unit to the path of the chamber closure such that the functional unit uses as much room inside the chamber as possible without coming into conflict with the chamber closure during its movement.

[0021] These and further features may be gathered from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, with the individual features being capable of being implemented in each case by themselves or severally in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields and being capable of constituting advantageous and independently patentable versions for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections and intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made under these.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Examples of embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. Thereby show in the drawings:

Fig. 1

a frontal view onto a baking oven 11 with a steam generating function,

Fig. 2

a schematic sectional side view along B-B through the baking oven of Fig. 1 showing a tank chamber for a water tank, the tank chamber having a movable flap for closing it as a chamber closure,

Fig. 3

a first embodiment of a flap for closing the tank chamber of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

the flap of Fig. 3 arranged at the tank chamber and a respective guide device and actuation device in an intermediate position,

Fig. 5

a sectional side view onto Fig. 4 showing the course of guide tracks on chamber walls for guide pins on the flap,

Fig. 6

a sectional view from the top onto another embodiment of a tank chamber having one single flap opening to the side,

Fig. 7

a variation of a baking oven with a steam generating function and two flaps for a two-leaf closure,

Fig. 8

a sectional view from the top onto the tank chamber of Fig. 7 with the two flaps opening similar as in Fig. 6,

Fig. 9

a sectional view from the side onto a tank chamber with two flaps as a two-leaf closure opening up and down, and

Fig. 10

another alternative embodiment of a tank chamber closure being designed as a sliding roller flap with four closure elements being movable to the left side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a front view onto a baking oven with a steam generating function as a household appliance according to the invention. The baking oven 11 has a housing 12 with a housing front 13. The housing front 13 can be partly or mainly in one vertical plane. The baking oven 11 also has a cavity for baking food or preparing it otherwise, preferably together with a steam function. For this steam function water is necessary, which water can be stored in a water tank, which will be explained later on. The cavity is closed with a cavity door 15 having a door handle 16. Above the cavity door 15, the housing front 13 is provided having a large display 18, which together with control or operating elements not shown here forms a user interface of the baking oven 11.

[0024] At the left end side of the housing front 13, a tank chamber for the water tank mentioned before is provided, wherein the tank chamber is closed by a flap 26 forming the chamber closure of the invention. It can be taken that a flap front side 27 of the flap 26 looks similar as the rest of the housing front 13 and may be divided from it only by a thin vertical groove.

[0025] In the sectional side view of Fig. 2 along the axis BB of Fig. 1 it can be seen that there is a tank chamber 20 provided at the left side in the top part of the baking oven 11. This tank chamber 20 has a chamber opening 21 that is closed by a flap 26 having a flap front side 27. Inside the tank chamber 20, a water tank 24 is provided. Alternatively, it could be a tank for other liquids or a filter or another functional unit of the baking oven 11. The water tank 24 contains water for a steam function of the baking oven 11 as is known in the art. As such a removable water tank 24 for such a steaming function is known in the art, it will not be described in more detail herein. There can be any connecting means at the backside of the water tank 24 for connecting to a water system in the baking oven 11.

[0026] When the flap 26 closes the chamber opening 21, its flap front side 27 can be in the same plane as the housing front 13 with the display 18, being separated only by a thin groove. When the water tank 24 has to be refilled, for example, the tank chamber 20 needs to be opened. This is made with the invention at hand by moving the flap 26 from the closed position of Figs. 1 and 2 into an open position, where the opened flap 26' lies horizontally at the bottom of the tank chamber 20 and at the chamber opening 21. As can be taken from Fig. 2, there are intermediate positions of flap 26" showing its movement from the vertical position, where it closes the chamber opening 21, into the horizontal position, where the chamber opening 21 is open. As the opened flap 26' is beneath the water tank 24, this water tank 24 can easily be pulled out of its position for refilling it or for any other action.

[0027] Fig. 2 also shows the important aspect of the invention that when the flap 26 is to be opened, it only moves inside or into the tank chamber 20 and does in no intermediate position or in the closed position protrude over the plane that is defined by its flap front side 27. This serves for the specific aspect of the invention that, when opening the tank chamber 20 by opening its closing flap 26, this flap 26 does not protrude out of the housing 12 or over the housing front 13, specifically not more than it does in its closed position. Furthermore, another important aspect of the invention is that in the open position 26' it does not protrude out of the housing 12 or over the housing front 13 such that it cannot be damaged, and such that users cannot hurt themselves at any protruding edge or corner, respectively. The movement of the flap 26 corresponds to a combination of turning or rotating and pushing it as described above.

[0028] Figs. 3 to 5 give a detailed view onto an embodiment of the invention showing further constructional details. The tank chamber 20 has a left chamber wall 22a and a right chamber wall 22b, which are basically flat parts. The chamber walls 22a and 22b are connected via four connector bars 23, such that the chamber opening 21 is substantially open. In an alternative, the tank chamber 20 could be manufactured in two pieces or in one single piece only without any separate connector bars or the like.

[0029] The flap 26 shown in Fig. 3 in a tilted position has a flat flap front side 27. At its left lateral side, an upper guide pin 29a and a lower guide pin 29b are provided at specific positions, which can also be seen in the left side view of Fig. 5. Somewhere between them an actuation pin 31 is provided. The whole flap 26 can be made from plastic material and be formed in one part. The flap front side 27 can be made from the same material as the housing front 13.

[0030] Figs. 4 and 5 show that the chamber walls 22a and 22b have, close to their front lateral side or close to the chamber opening 21, respectively, first upper guide tracks 33a and 33a', which serve to receive the guide pins 29a on both lateral sides of the flap 26. Furthermore, second lower guide tracks 33b and 33b' are provided for receiving the guide pins 29b on both lateral sides of the flap 26. It can be taken from Fig. 5 that both guide tracks 33 and 33' are formed specifically with partly curvilinear and partly straight portions. This form of the guide tracks 33 and 33' together with the exact location of the guide pins 29a and 29b at the flap 26 as well as the geometry of the flap 26 itself serves to provide for the movement of the flap 26 from the closed position to the open position and to not protrude over the plane of the flap front side 27 in the closed position. The exact position of the flap 26 in Fig. 5 shows that its upper front edge is exactly in this plane and, due to the form of the guide track 33a', will not protrude over it on its way to the open position.

[0031] A movement of the flap 26 could be effected manually, which might be easy for opening the tank chamber 20, but could be difficult for closing it. For this reason, the baking oven 11 has an automatic function for this. For this reason an actuation lever 36 is provided, which has an open long and straight lever track 37. This lever track 37 serves to receive the actuation pin 31, which actuation pin 31 is provided only on the left side of the flap 26. The left chamber wall 22a also has another open guide track 34 in purely curved form, through which guide track 34 the actuation pin 31 is protruding. The actuation lever 36 is pivoted in a corresponding bearing in the left chamber wall 22a. It also has a drive adapter 38 protruding to the left side, which can be mounted to a drive shaft of a drive motor. By rotating the actuation lever 36, the actuation pin 31 is moved alongside the curved guide track 34 and, with this movement, the whole flap 26 can be moved from the closed position through the intermediate positions to the open position. Such an electromotoric drive also has the advantage that no handle or similar means have to be mounted to the flap front side 27. This also enhances the comfort for the user. Although only one actuation lever 36 is described, both sides could be equipped with such a lever if needed, for instance due to the size or weight of the flap 26 two drive motors might be better.

[0032] The flap 26 of Figs. 1 to 5 is for a movement in vertical direction where the flap 26 and its flap front side 27 move from a vertical position into a horizontal position. The example of Fig. 6 along the axis AA of Fig. 7 now shows a similar movement and a guide mechanism in a top sectional view. So the flap 126 closing the tank chamber 120 is not moving downwards to the bottom of the tank chamber 120, but pivots to the left side into the open position 126'. So the flap front side 127 faces to the left chamber wall 122a. For this reason, the left chamber wall 122a has a kind of step or recess in its shape, which serves to receive the flap 126. The right chamber wall 122b is straight. A specifically formed water tank 124 is provided in the tank chamber 120, wherein it is shaped specifically at its front part to make maximum use of the space provided inside the tank chamber 120 leaving enough room for all the intermediate positions 126" of the flap 126. From a comparison with Fig. 2 it can be taken that there is a substantial gain in volume for the water tank 124 by this specific shape. Apart from that, the guide device according to Figs. 3 to 5 comprising the guide pins, the actuation pin and the guide tracks, can be the same or formed in identical manner. Of course, also in this embodiment the flap 126 with its flap front side 127 moves from the closed position into the open position 126' without protruding over the plane of this flap front side 127.

[0033] Another example of a baking oven 211 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 7. The baking oven 211 has a housing 212 with a housing front 213 and a display 218. A tank chamber for receiving a water tank 224 is provided on the right side of this display 218. Beneath it, a cavity door 215 with a door handle 216 is provided again. As can be taken from the top sectional view of Fig. 8 along the axis AA of Fig. 7, the tank chamber 220 for receiving the water tank 224 is closed with two flaps 226a and 226b, which are vertically divided. By comparing Figs. 6 and 8, it can be seen that the left flap 226a moves in the same manner as in Fig. 6 from the closed position, which is shown in Fig. 8, into the open position 226a' with several intermediate positions 226a". A respective guide device is provided for each of the flaps 226a and 226b.

[0034] The right flap 226b is formed and moves in mirrored manner compared to the left flap 226a. So in the closed position 226b' after the intermediate positions 226b" the flap 226b rests against the right chamber wall 222b. This right chamber wall 222b is formed with a step-like recess, as is the case with a left chamber wall 222a. Both flaps 226a and 226b could again be actuated as has been described before by a drive motor and could move simultaneously. The purpose of providing two flaps 226a and 226b is that they need less space for their movement with the intermediate positions 226a" and 226b". Also in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 8, the water tank 224 could use the space of the tank chamber 220 more efficiently by a specifically formed front part. Of course, also in this embodiment, both flaps 226a and 226b do not protrude over the plane of their flap front sides of the closed position.

[0035] An alternative embodiment similar to Fig. 8 is shown in Fig. 9, wherein the orientation has been rotated to about 90°, similar as between Fig. 2 and Fig. 6. The baking oven 311 of Fig. 9 with its housing 312 also has a tank chamber 320 for receiving a water tank 324. An opening of the tank chamber 320 can be closed by a lower flap 326a and an upper flap 326b. They again can be arranged and formed symmetrically, such that a movement from their closed positions to their open positions 326a' and 326b' is basically similar as in Fig. 8, but is only downwards and upwards instead of to the sides. A lower chamber wall 322a and an upper chamber wall 322b are both formed in stepped manner to receive the flaps 326a and 326b after having been opened. A movement again is never with protruding over a vertical plane of their flap front sides in the closed state.

[0036] In the description of the Fig. 7, 8 and 9 two-flaps systems are shown, where both flaps 226a and 226b and 326a and 326b, respectively, have to move to open the tank chamber 220 or 320. It is possible that both flaps move simultaneously, wherein at least one actuator or drive motor is needed to actuate them. This could also be done with two actuators. Alternatively, the flaps could move one after the other, preferably also with two actuators or drive motors.

[0037] Another embodiment for a chamber closure is shown in Fig. 10. In the leftmost drawing of Fig. 10, a tank chamber 420 in a housing 412 of a baking oven with a housing front 413 is closed by a flap 428. A front side of the flap 428 is vertical and corresponds to a flap front side as explained before. Preferably, the five surface elements of the flap 428 are formed and hinged to each other in a manner to not only close the chamber opening 421, but also to form a surface with very thin grooves between each of them.

[0038] In the middle drawing of Fig. 10, an intermediate position 428" of the flap 428 is shown where a chamber opening 421 of the tank chamber 420 is half open. The flap 428 has five surface elements, forming together a sliding flap 428. The surface elements are connected to each neighboring surface element, but in a hinged manner such that the flap 428 can be flat and straight in the closed position 428 and also in the open position 428'. This could be such that the surface elements are in one piece with living hinges between them, which allows for a sinple manufacturing process in one step and also a fully closed state of the flap 428. In this open position 428', the flap is stored close to the left chamber wall 422a in a respective space. At least the two outermost surface elements of the flap 428 have guide pins similar to the ones explained before. Two guide tracks 433a and 433b are provided at a bottom and at a ceiling of the tank chamber 420. They are shown in schematic manner and would preferably be shaped in detail similar as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. An automated movement by an electric drive or motor is preferred again, and can be realized similar as in Figs. 3 to 5 with an actuation pin and an actuation lever or an alternative actuation device.

[0039] As can be taken from the middle drawing of Fig. 10, a movement of each of the surface elements of the flap 428 can follow the curved form according to the middle drawing. This would allow a larger shape of the water tank 420, which is shown in dashed line.

[0040] A guide device according to the invention for the flap 27 is formed by the guide pins 29, the guide tracks 33 and also the actuation pin 31 and the actuation lever 36 together with the guide track 34.

[0041] In the right drawing of Fig. 10, the flap 428 is in the open position as flap 428'. The water tank 424 can easily be pulled out of the tank chamber 420 for refilling it or the like.

Claims

1. Household appliance having:

- a housing together with a housing front,

- a chamber in the housing, the chamber having a chamber opening in the housing front,

- a functional unit for an operating material and/or an additive for the operation of the household appliance, the functional unit being accessible from the front side and/or being removable towards the front side, the functional unit being arranged in the chamber,

- a cavity in the housing, which is accessible by means of a cavity door on the housing front,

- the chamber being arranged on the housing front laterally adjacent to, below or above the cavity door,

- the chamber or the chamber opening is closable by means of a chamber closure,

- the chamber closure comprises at least one} closure surface element, wherein the chamber closure or the closure surface element:

+ have a closed position in which they close the chamber, and

+ have an open position in which the chamber or functional unit is open and accessible, the functional unit being removable from the chamber in the open position; and

+ have intermediate positions between the closed position and the open position,

characterized in that

- the chamber closure or the at least one closure surface element in the closed position is parallel to the housing front,

- the chamber closure or the at least one closure surface element in the open position and in all intermediate positions is always arranged in the plane of the closed position or behind this plane of the closed position, preferably behind a plane around the chamber closure or around the chamber or around the chamber opening.

2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber closure in the open position is arranged behind the plane of the housing front and/or in a different spatial orientation than in the closed position, in particular is substantially flat, preferably is arranged at an angle of about 90° to the closed position.

3. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chamber closure in the closed position is substantially flat.

4. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a guide device, wherein the chamber closure is mounted on the guide device, wherein preferably the guide device is designed for a forced guidance of the chamber closure or of the at least one closure surface element with exactly one single path between the closed position and the open position.

5. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide device and the chamber closure are designed for a movement of the at least one closure surface element as a combination of turning and pushing, wherein preferably the guide device has a partly curved and partly rectilinear guide track and a closure surface element has guide pins on two opposite sides.

6. Household appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that a guide track extends partly at the front side of the chamber opening and parallel to the housing front and then, after a bend, extends partly at right angles thereto on the left or right of an outer side of the chamber.

7. Household appliance according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the chamber closure comprises a single closure surface element, wherein a guide device for the single closure surface element is provided with laterally arranged guide pins on the closure surface element, which are located in guide tracks of the guide device on the housing, preferably at walls of the chamber, wherein in particular a pair of opposite guide pins at the top or left and a pair of opposite guide pins at the bottom or right are provided opposite each other on the closure surface element.

8. Household appliance according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the chamber closure is formed as a two-leaf closure with exactly two closure surface elements, which preferably each close half of the chamber, wherein in particular the two closure surface elements and their guide devices are formed mirror-symmetrically relative to one another, preferably one single closure surface element on the left and one single closure surface element on the right or one single closure surface element on the upper half and one single closure surface element on the lower half.

9. Household appliance according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the chamber closure is designed as a sliding roller flap with a plurality of closure surface elements, in particular two to ten closure surface elements, which are arranged parallel to one another and/or are designed identically, a guide device being designed in such a way that the closure surface elements can be moved towards one side of the chamber and then along this side into the chamber and into the household appliance, adjacent closure surface elements being connected to one another in a hinged manner and with a small spacing or without spacing, preferably in a live-hinged manner.

10. Household appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that on at least every second, preferably on every, closure surface element guide pins are arranged which run in guide tracks of the guide device on the housing, preferably on side boundaries of the chamber, the guide pins being arranged on respectively opposite sides or ends of the closure surface element, the guide pins being arranged to run in a guide track and to guide the closure surface element.

11. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional unit is arranged 1 cm to 5 cm behind the chamber closure in the closed position.

12. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber closure completely closes the chamber or the chamber opening in the closed position.

13. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional unit has a front side or a front part, wherein this front side or front part is at least partly slanted such that the functional unit is receded on one lateral side more than on an opposite lateral side.

Drawing