Patent Publication Number: US-9844279-B2

Title: Household appliance, in particular beverage bottle storage cabinet with specific bottle illumination

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of Turkish patent application TR 2014/15403, filed Dec. 18, 2014; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a household appliance and, in particular, to a beverage bottle storage cabinet, with a beverage bottle receiving space delimited by an upper wall, and with an illuminating device for illuminating the beverage bottle receiving space. 
     Household appliances for receiving beverage bottles are known. In this context so-called wine bottle storage cabinets are known, in which the appropriate bottles can be stored. With these household appliances it is usually provided that a door for closing the beverage bottle receiving space is transparent so that the beverage bottles stored therein are at least partially visible even when the door is closed. Usually also an illumination can be activated permanently or intermittently so that the beverage bottles stored therein can be illuminated and seen from outside when the door is closed. 
     Besides, also household appliances in the form of domestic cooling appliances are known, which besides a cooling space also have a separate compartment and thus a beverage bottle receiving space, in which beverage bottles can be stored and cooled. Moreover, with such domestic cooling appliances it is in particular provided that the entire receiving space additionally has a second partial volume, in which other foodstuffs can be stored. 
     However, in the known embodiments the illumination of the beverage bottles is limited in that these can be illuminated only partially and thus insufficiently homogenously, i.e. visibility is restricted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a domestic appliance such as a beverage bottle storage cabinet with specific bottle illumination which overcomes the above-mentioned and other disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which provides for an improved illumination of beverage bottles stored therein. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a household appliance, comprising:
         a body containing a beverage bottle receiving space;   an upper wall delimiting said beverage bottle receiving space;   an illuminating device for illuminating said beverage bottle receiving space, said illuminating device having a light module;   said upper wall being formed with at least one light transmission opening configured to enable light of said light module of said illuminating device to be radiated into said beverage bottle receiving space;   a distance adapter adjoining said light transmission opening, said distance adapter carrying said light module outside said beverage bottle receiving space and spacing said light module from an underside of said upper wall delimiting the beverage bottle receiving space, said distance adapter enabling light from said light module to be directed to said light transmission opening.       

     The household appliance according to the invention is in particular formed as a beverage bottle storage cabinet. The household appliance comprises a beverage bottle receiving space that is delimited by an upper wall. Besides, the household appliance also has an illuminating device for illuminating the beverage bottle receiving space. An primarily important concept of the invention is to be seen in that the upper wall has at least one light transmission opening through which light of a light module of the illuminating device can be irradiated into the beverage bottle receiving space. Adjacent to the light transmission opening there is a distance adapter, by means of which the further light module arranged thereon is spaced from the wall outside the beverage bottle receiving space and by means of which light from the light module can be directed to the light transmission opening and by means of which beverage bottles in the in the beverage bottle receiving space are illuminated. By means of such an embodiment an improved targeted illumination of beverage bottles arranged in the beverage receiving space is achieved. Thus, the illuminating device is improved quite specifically for the illumination of beverage bottles. By means of the arrangement of the light module outside this beverage bottle receiving space and in such a way that it no longer extends into this receiving space the available space is not reduced and the insertion and removal of beverage bottles is made easier. A bumping against the light module is as it were prevented. Besides by means of this specific positioning of the light module light distribution and light irradiation into the beverage bottle receiving space and to the beverage bottles are more homogenous so that the beverage bottles are illuminated more evenly and homogenously even if the beverage bottle receiving space is filled up to quite an extent, i.e. with a plurality of bottles. Besides by means of this positioning of the light module outside the beverage bottle receiving space and in addition by means of the distance adapter which is spaced from the upper wall a blinding of a person looking into the beverage bottle receiving space is prevented. 
     It is preferably provided that an inner side of the distance adapter opens out from the light module towards the light transmission opening like a funnel. By means of this embodiment light distribution and light irradiation into the receiving space are again enhanced, since more homogenous light irradiation is achieved and by means of this embodiment of the distance adapter a widening light cone is irradiated into the beverage bottle receiving space or generated. 
     It is preferably provided that the distance adapter is formed as a separate component, which is fastened to this upper wall. In this context, for example an adhesive connection or a welded connection can be envisaged. It is also possible that the distance adapter is screwed to this upper wall. Other connections are possible as well. 
     It is preferably provided that the distance adapter is made of plastic. This embodiment can be made in one piece, for example as an injection moulded component. Besides, by means of this embodiment the distance adapter is highly weight-minimized. 
     It is preferably provided that in its bottom, which faces away from the beverage bottle receiving space, the distance adapter has a continuous hole, which is delimited by a circumferential abutment flange on which the light module is arranged. For one thing, by means of this embodiment an arrangement requiring minimum space is achieved; for another, a mechanically stable fastening of the light module to the distance adapter is enabled. 
     It is preferably provided that a plane featuring the abutment flange is not parallel to a plane of a front flange of the distance adapter facing the wall. It is particularly provided that these two planes are arranged at an angle of between 30° and 70°, in particular of between 30° and 50°, to each other. 
     In a particularly advantageous manner a positioning of the light module can be achieved which can emit light diagonally towards the front and downwards into the beverage bottle receiving space. Thus, on the one hand a blinding of a user who looks at the beverage bottles is prevented; on the other hand, however, a very bright and evenly illuminated beverage bottle receiving space can be obtained. 
     It is preferably provided that the plane of the front flange is a horizontal plane and the plane of the abutment flange, viewed in a depth direction of the household appliance, joins a rear edge of the wall. Thus, a very even positioning perpendicular to a horizontal viewing direction of an observer, which is oriented in a depth direction of the household appliance, is achieved since thus a line of intersection, as it were, between the two planes runs in a straight line in a width direction of the household appliance, which provides for a particularly even and bright as well as low-glare illumination when the beverage bottles are viewed from the front, i.e. when an observer looks into the beverage bottle receiving space. 
     It is preferably provided that the light module is arranged such that a main radiation direction of the light emitted by the light module is perpendicular to the plane featuring the abutment flange. This further contributes to the desired homogenous and extensively even illumination of the beverage bottle receiving space. 
     It can be provided that the light module is arranged at the abutment flange via latching. To this end, the light module in particular has a housing, to which a plurality of latching elements are formed in one piece, which in a mounted state abut on an outer side of the abutment flange facing away from the beverage bottle receiving space and thus, viewed from the beverage bottle receiving space, engage behind this abutment flange. By means of this embodiment a particularly mechanically stable connection with the abutment flange can be created. Additionally and in particular, by means of this embodiment of the housing of the light module an abutting of the light module on the abutment flange of the distance adapter is achieved on both sides so that here as well a clamping fit of a kind is achieved, as it were. 
     It is preferably provided that an inner side of the distance adapter is stepped. Thus, specific and individualized light irradiation into the beverage bottle receiving space can be effected. 
     In this context it can be provided that these steps are formed completely circumferential around a longitudinal axis of the distance adapter and thus the homogeneity of the optical effect of these steps is increased. 
     It is preferably provided that in an alternative embodiment an inner side of the distance adapter is stepless. 
     In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the upper wall is a shelf which separates the beverage bottle receiving space from a further receiving space for food which viewed in a vertical direction of the household appliance is formed on top of it. 
     Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and features combinations previously mentioned in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or else alone, without leaving the scope of the invention. Thus, also embodiments are to be regarded as comprised and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but which derive and producible from the illustrated explanations by separated feature combinations. Also, embodiments and feature combinations are to be regarded as disclosed which thus do not exhibit all features of an originally formulated independent claim. 
     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a household appliance, in particular beverage bottle storage cabinet with specific bottle illumination, 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 vertical section taken through an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a partial area of the household appliance according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the upper wall of the household appliance according to  FIG. 1  which delimits a beverage bottle receiving space; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a module with a distance adapter and a light module as it is installed in the household appliance according to  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     In the figures identical or functionally equivalent elements are identified with the same reference numerals throughout. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown a household appliance  1 , which may be a domestic cooling appliance for storing foodstuffs. However, the household appliance  1  can also be formed as a beverage bottle storage cabinet, for example a wine bottle storage cabinet, which is configured to only store beverage bottles. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the household appliance  1  is configured to store further foodstuffs in addition to the storage of beverage bottles. The household appliance  1  comprises a body or corpus  2 , which is a housing. In the body  2  a whole interior  3  is formed which is delimited by walls and in which foodstuffs in the form of beverages and food can be stored. In this context the household appliance  1  comprises as a partial volume of the whole interior  3  a beverage bottle receiving space  4 , which is specifically and exclusively configured to store beverage bottles. In this embodiment it is provided that in a vertical direction of the household appliance  1  above the beverage bottle receiving space  4  a further partial volume  5  is formed separate therefrom, in which for example food can be stored. 
     The beverage bottle receiving space  4  is delimited downwards by a bottom  6  and upwards by an upper wall  7 . The upper wall  7  can be a fixed wall which cannot be removed; however, it can also be a removable shelf. Preferably, the upper wall  7  is a fixed wall which thus completely separates the beverage bottle receiving space  4  from the further partial volume  5  formed on top of it. To the rear, the entire receiving space  4  is delimited by a rear wall  8 . At the front a charging aperture  9  of the beverage bottle receiving space  4  is formed, wherein this charging aperture  9  is closable by a door  10 , which in the embodiment illustrated is shown in the closed state. In this context it is provided that the remaining partial volume  5  can also be closed by a front door  11 , which can be operated separately from and independently of the door  10 . 
     Preferably, the door  10  is transparent so that to an eye  12  of an observer outside the beverage bottle receiving space  4  visibility of the beverage bottles  13  ( FIG. 2 ) stored therein is enabled through the closed door  10 . 
     Besides, the household appliance  1  further comprises an illuminating device  14 , which is configured and arranged to illuminate the beverage bottle receiving space  4 . To this end it is provided that the upper wall  7  has at least one light transmission opening  15 , through which light of a light module  16  of the illuminating device  14  can be irradiated into the beverage bottle receiving space  4 . Adjacent to the light transmission opening  15  a distance adapter  17  is arranged which is formed as a separate component. The light module  16  is arranged on this distance adapter  17  such that it is spaced from an underside  7   a  of the wall  7  with an upward offset and thus faces away from the beverage bottle receiving space  4 . Moreover, by means of this distance adapter  17  the light emitted by the light module  16  can be directed to the light transmission opening  15  and from there into the beverage bottle receiving space  4  in a targeted manner. As can be seen from the illustration of  FIG. 1 , the upper wall  7  is formed such that the light module  16  and also the distance adapter  17  are arranged to fit entirely within this wall  7  and thus the wall  7  as regards its thickness which extends in a vertical direction (y direction) of the household appliance  1  does not extend beyond these thickness dimensions. Thus, the light module  16  and the distance adapter  17  are arranged and embedded entirely within this wall  7 . 
     As can be seen, rays of light  18  of the light module  16  are emitted diagonally downwards and rearwards into the beverage bottle receiving space  4  and thus so as to face away from the door  10 . 
     In  FIG. 2  a front view and thus a view in the x-direction is shown and thus a view of the stored beverage bottles  13  perceived by the eye  12  as shown in FIG.  1 . It can be seen that by means of the two vicinal and separate light modules  16  in the upper wall  7  a particularly homogenous illumination of the beverage bottle receiving space  4  and thus of the stored beverage bottles can be achieved. This is especially so if the bottles are stacked on top of one another as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     By way of the recessed placement of the light module  16  also a blinding of the eye  12  is prevented and, also, when the beverage bottle receiving space  4  is inspected in accordance with the position of the eye  12  the light module  16  cannot be directly seen. 
     As it is shown in  FIG. 2  the light module  16  is inclined to a horizontal plane, especially the wall  7 . Therefore the light of said light module  16  is emitted diagonally towards the front and downwards into the beverage bottle receiving space  4 . The main radiation direction of the light emitted by the light module  16  is inclined, especially at an angle between 30° and 70°, to said horizontal plane. 
     In  FIG. 3  the upper wall  7  is shown in a perspective view. The view is directed to the underside  7   a  so that the light modules  16  and the distance adapters  17  can be seen. As is additionally shown, viewed in a depth direction and thus in the x direction of the household appliance  1 , these two light modules  16  are formed in a front third of the extension of this wall  7  in this direction. They are thus in vicinal arrangement and closer to a front edge  7   b , which is closer to the door  10 , than a rear edge  7   c  of this wall  7  which is closer to the rear wall  8 . 
     In  FIG. 4  in a perspective view an embodiment of a module comprising the light module  16  arranged on the distance adapter  17  is shown. Here the distance adapter  17  is asymmetrical, which means that a plane E 1  ( FIG. 5 ) is not parallel to a plane E 2  but arranged at an angle α which is between 30° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 50°. The plane E 1  is oriented such that it holds the abutment flange  19  ( FIG. 4 ); in other words the abutment flange  19  extends in this plane E 1 . The abutment flange  19  defines a continuous opening or hole  20  of a bottom  21  of the distance adapter  17 . In a mounted state the light module  16  extends through this hole  20 . The bottom  21  faces away from the beverage bottle receiving space  4  and a front side  22  of the distance adapter  17  faces the beverage bottle receiving space  4  and is therefore nearer to the beverage bottle receiving space  4 . This front side  22  comprises a front flange  23  of the distance adapter  17 , wherein said front flange  23  extends in the plane E 2 . Besides, the distance adapter  17  is formed to be conical or funnel-like with at least one inner side  24 . This means that it opens out from its side which faces the light module  16  and thus from the bottom  21  towards the front side  22 . 
     The distance adapter  17  is made of plastic and formed in one piece. In one embodiment it is envisaged that the inner side  24  ( FIG. 3 ) can be stepped. This means in particular that steps are formed at least partially circumferential around a longitudinal axis A of the distance adapter  17 . 
     However, it is also possible to form the inner side  24  is stepless and thus with flat walls. 
     Advantageously it can be gathered from  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5  that the planes E 1  and E 2  intersect in a straight line  25  which is closer to the front edge  7   b  than the free ends  26  and  27  of the planes E 1  and E 2  opposite the straight line  25 . This means that the planes E 1 , E 2  are oriented and arranged such that the wedge-shaped volume space (cf. side view of  FIG. 5 ) formed by the arrangement of the planes E 1  and E 2  is oriented as it were diagonally backwards in the direction of the rear wall  8 , as can also clearly be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     As can further be gathered from  FIG. 4 , the light module  16  comprises latching elements  28  formed in one piece to a housing  29  of the light module  16 . These latching elements  28  abut on an upper side or outer side of the abutment flange  19  so that the light module  16  is latched or snapped onto the distance adapter  17 . The housing  29  further comprises a front flange (not recognizable in  FIG. 4 ) which is preferably circumferential and abuts on the abutment flange  19  on the inner side. Thus the abutment flange  19  is in contact with the housing  29  on both sides, on the one hand via said front flange of the housing  29  and on the other via the latching elements  28 . 
     To prevent incorrect mounting of the light module on the distance adapter  17 , an assembly coding is provided. For this purpose, in the abutment flange  19  recesses  30  are formed into which engaging elements  31  which are formed on the housing  29  engage or through which they extend. 
     The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
           1  household appliance     2  corpus, body     3  interior     4  beverage bottle receiving space     5  partial volume     6  bottom     7  wall     7   a  underside     7   b  edge     7   c  wall     8  rear wall     9  charging aperture     10 ,  11  door     12  eye     13  beverage bottles     14  illuminating device     15  light transmission opening     16  light module     17  distance adapter     18  rays of light     19  abutment flange     20  hole     21  bottom     22  front side     23  front flange     24  inner side     25  straight line     26 ,  27  end     28  latching elements     29  housing     30  recesses     31  engaging elements   E 1  plane   E 2  plane