Patent Publication Number: US-2015069898-A1

Title: Refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit

Description:
The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having at least one unit carcass and having at least one cooled inner space which is arranged in the unit carcass, wherein the unit carcass has at least one outer side and at least one unit bottom. 
     Units known from the prior art have at least one unit carcass in which at least one cooled inner space is located. The cooled inner space is typically bounded by an inner container which is in turn surrounded by a heat insulation layer, typically in the form of PU foam. 
     The outer jacket of the unit adjoins this heat insulation layer. Said outer jacket comprises the outer sides which represent the lateral surfaces as well as the rear-side surfaces and the front-side surfaces of the unit. The unit bottom of the unit carcass forms the lower termination of the unit carcass and is connected in a suitable manner to the outer sides or can also be formed in one part therewith. As part of the typical operation or also as part of the cleaning of refrigerator units and/or freezer units, it may occur that liquid runs off along the outer jacket and then trickles further beneath the unit due to surface tension and finally drips onto the floor on which the unit stands at the lowest point of the unit bottom. 
     This lowest point can, for example, be a region arched by the foaming beneath the unit. 
     Since this arched region is not located at the outer unit edge, but rather in a central section beneath the unit, the water accordingly drips off at a region which is difficult to access and which is contaminated or which may even be damaged by the liquid. 
     It is the underlying object of the present invention to further develop a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit of the initially named kind such that it is ensured that the liquid drips off at an easily accessible point. 
     This object is achieved by a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having the features of claim  1 . Provision is accordingly made that at least one drip nose is arranged at at least one outer side or at the region of the unit bottom directed toward the outer side or in the transition region between the outer side and the unit bottom. 
     The advantage is achieved by this arrangement of a drip nose that the liquid does not drip off in a region at a far distance from the outer side beneath the unit, but rather in the region of the easily accessible outer unit side. 
     The term “outer side” is to be understood as every region or as every wall of the unit which forms the unit front side and/or unit rear side and/or the lateral outer surfaces of the unit. The lower end regions of the outer sides are connected to the unit bottom and their upper end regions are connected to the unit top. They can be configured in one part with the unit bottom and/or with the unit top or as one or more separate parts. 
     The term “carcass” within the framework of the present invention does not only comprise its fixed-position components, but also the closure element, in particular the door, by means of which the cooled inner space can be closed. The drip nose can thus be arranged, for example, at the door or at another closure element or also at a fixed-position part of the carcass. 
     Exactly one drip nose can be present or a plurality of drip noses. 
     If a plurality of drip noses are provided, they can be arranged at the outer side and/or at the region of the bottom directed toward the outer side and/or in the transition region between the outer side and the bottom. 
     A drip nose is also conceivable which is formed peripherally around the unit. 
     The drip nose can be an integral component of the unit carcass and can thus be formed in one piece with a component of the unit carcass such as with one or more outer sides of the unit carcass. 
     It is also possible that that the drip nose is configured as a separate part which is preferably releasably connected to the unit. 
     It is, for example, conceivable to connect the drip nose to the unit carcass via a screw connection, magnetic connection or adhesive connection directly or indirectly. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the drip nose is arranged at a holder which is in turn connected to the unit carcass, with the holder being able to form an integral component of the unit or being fastened thereto via a preferably releasable connection. 
     However, an embodiment of the invention is particularly preferred in which the drip nose forms an integral component of at least one outer side or of another part of the carcass since in this case the provision and installation of a separate part can be dispensed with. 
     The at least one drip nose is preferably located at the lower edge of the unit carcass. 
     It is preferably configured as a projection which extends from the outer skin of the unit in a suitable manner. 
     Provision can furthermore be made that the drip nose is configured in pin form or in web form. 
     In the case of a pin-shaped design of the drip nose, the liquid runs off at points; in the case of a web-shaped design, the liquid runs off along a region which has an elongate extent, preferably parallel to the outer edge of the unit. 
     It is conceivable that at least one communication opening is present between the cooled inner space and the drip nose so that liquid moves out of the cooled inner space to the drip nose and runs off thereat. In this case, the drip nose serves the direct leading away of liquid which arises in the cooled inner space such as condensed or water arising on defrosting. 
     Provision can alternatively or additionally be made that the drip nose serves the direct directing of liquid such as condensed water or cleaning fluid which runs off along the outer jacket of the unit. 
     It is conceivable that the unit carcass has at least one outer side and that the drip nose is an integral component of the at least one outer side. 
     The at least one outer side of the unit can comprise metal or plastic, for example. It can be configured in one part or in multiple parts. 
     Provision can furthermore be made that the unit carcass has at least one outer side and that the drip nose or a holder for the drip nose is releasably or fixedly connected to the outer side. 
     It is conceivable that the unit carcass has at least one outer side and that the drip nose projects downwardly from a surface of the outer side, such as from a side wall of the outer side. 
     The drip nose can be configured such that it has a downwardly facing part-circular section or also a section tapering to point. 
     An advantageous embodiment of the invention generally comprises the fact that the drip nose is dimensioned such that it has a spacing from the floor on which the unit stands. However, the case is also covered by the invention that the drip nose is in contact with the floor on which the unit stands. 
     The drip nose can be configured partly or fully as a rigid or flexible element. If it is flexible, this has the advantage that the position at which the water or the other liquid drips off is variable as required. 
     It is conceivable that the drip nose is configured partly or completely as an elastically or plastically deformable element. 
     The drip nose can be in alignment with the outer side of the unit or can be set back with respect to the outer side or also project with respect to the outer side. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The FIGURE is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a chest freezer having a drip nose, the chest freezer positioned over a floor. 
     
    
    
     Further advantages and particulars of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. 
     The only FIGURE shows the lower edge region of a chest freezer having a drip nose. 
     Reference numeral  10  shows the outer side of a chest freezer which is designed as a peripheral wall, for example. It forms the front side and the rear side as well as the two outer side walls of the chest. 
     Reference numeral  20  characterizes the bottom which forms the lower termination of the unit. 
     The outer side  10  and the bottom  20  are adjacent to the foamed portion  200  which is adjacent to the further inner container, not shown, which surrounds the cooled inner space. 
     The outer side  10  which can, for example, form a side wall in the embodiment shown has a first section  12  and a second section  14  which is set back with respect thereto, said sections being connected to one another by a horizontally extending section  16 . 
     The drip nose  18  is located substantially as an extension of the first section  12  in the transition region between the first section  12  and the horizontal section  16 . This drip nose is formed by a thickened region of the outer side  10  and has a downwardly projecting part-circular section  19 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the drip nose  18  forms a single-piece part of the outer side. 
     The case is also covered by the invention that the drip nose is configured as a separate part which is connected to the carcass in a suitable manner such as by an adhesive connection, a screw connection or a magnetic connection. 
     Water or another liquid which runs down along the outer side  10 , i.e. along the first section  12 , arrives at the drip nose  18  and drips therefrom directly or indirectly onto the building floor  100  on which the chest stands. 
     As can further be seen from the FIGURE, a holder  30  for a wiper strip  40 , which is releasably received in the holder  30 , is located at the unit bottom  20 . The holder  30  is screwed or connected in another manner to the unit bottom  20 . The wiper strip  40  has a fastening section  42  which is received releasably and in a shape-matched manner in a reception  32  of the holder  30 . 
     The wiper strip  40  can comprise a flexible material such as rubber and, as can be seen from the FIGURE, stands on the floor  100 . It prevents the liquid which drips off the drip nose  18  or cleaning water, etc. from making its way beneath the unit.