Abstract:
A refrigerator door includes an outer paneling and an inner paneling spaced therefrom. The inner and outer panelings are made from a metallic material. Both form a transition point at their edges that receives between them a thermal insulation layer produced by foaming. A thermally insulating couple connects the edge portions of the panelings and substantially thermally uncouples the edge portions from one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention lies in the field of heat insulating walls. The invention relates to a refrigerator door with an outer paneling formed from metallic material, an inner paneling spaced from the outer paneling, and a thermal insulation layer provided between the outer and inner panelings.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    Refrigerator doors have an outer paneling formed from sheet steel provided with a lacquer coating and a plastic inner paneling spaced from the outer paneling. The inner paneling is connected to the outer paneling by a foaming thermal insulation layer. The plastic inner panelings used in the prior art refrigerator doors are manufactured virtually exclusively by the deep drawing of a plastic blank. The wall thickness of the blank is narrowed appreciably, depending on the configuration of the inner door, especially when projecting spars for the mounting of door storage compartments are integrally formed on the inner door. The production-related reduction in wall thickness of the plastic blank (which has low inherent rigidity) has an effect that, in light of the large quantities occurring in the consumer goods industry, only fastening measures involving an outlay that is justifiable in manufacturing terms are employed because some inherent rigidity at the fastening points is achieved by these shapings. Such manufacturing terms, for example, include integrally formed holding bosses or else receptacles of dovetail-like shape. Other holding measures that are not aimed at special shaping for stiffening the inner paneling and that would allow a much more flexible configuration of the door storage compartments on the inner paneling, because of the low dimensional rigidity of the inner paneling manufactured from plastic, can be obtained only by using backing parts that increase the manufacturing costs of the refrigerator door. Furthermore, the inner paneling, which, in part, is greatly impaired as a consequence of production because of its wall thickness, runs the risk of being damaged at the points having reduced wall thickness.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a refrigerator door that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that improves a refrigerator door with an outer paneling and an inner paneling spaced therefrom both formed from metallic material and with a thermal insulation layer provided therebetween and produced of foam by simple structural measures, particularly, in terms of usefulness.  
           [0006]    With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a refrigerator door including an outer paneling having a free edge portion and being made from a metallic material, an inner paneling having an edge portion and being made from metallic material, a thermal insulation layer produced by foaming, and a thermally insulating couple connecting the edge portion to the free edge portion. The inner paneling is spaced from the outer paneling and the thermal insulation layer is disposed between the outer paneling and the inner paneling. The couple substantially thermally uncouples the edge portion from the free edge portion.  
           [0007]    The refrigerator door according to the invention forms the inner paneling from a metallic material.  
           [0008]    An inner paneling configured with markedly higher inherent rigidity than the conventional inner paneling affords the possibility that the inner paneling can be made more variably in terms of its configuration and fastening positions for the door storage compartments. These results are achieved because such an inner paneling does not have to be stiffened by a special shaping for holding the door storage compartments. Thus, for example, it is possible, in cost-effective welding or screwing structures, to provide, essentially over the entire area of the inner paneling, shelf-like fastening possibilities that allow a markedly more flexible configuration of the door storage compartments. Moreover, it is possible in a simple and cost-effective way, without the aid of backing parts, to provide bearing points with long-term resistance for pivotable retaining clips for bottle-like storable goods. Furthermore, the refrigerator door in a simple way acquires the appearance of having a greater value, thus, giving rise to a product differentiation that can be seen to have various advantages and, at the same time, is immediately apparent. In addition, an inner paneling manufactured from metallic material has the advantage that, even in the case of stubborn dirt, it can be cleaned intensively in a particularly simple way. Also, by using an inner cladding manufactured from metallic material, the entire door body acquires a markedly higher distortion resistance that is essential, particularly, in the case of large-area refrigerator doors.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another feature of the invention, the inner paneling is at least as far as possible uncoupled at its free edge portions from the free edge portions of the outer paneling by a thermal insulation device or means for thermally insulatingly coupling.  
           [0010]    To form an interface, the free edge portions of the inner paneling and of the outer paneling may either be located opposite one another with a spacing or be disposed so as to overlap with a vertical spacing from one another. In both cases, a heat conduction preventing device between panelings and taking the form of, for example, thermally insulating material, for example, also configured as moldings, is inserted between the panelings to avoid a heat flow.  
           [0011]    By employing a thermal insulation device at the interface between the free edge portions of the inner paneling and the free edge portions of the outer paneling, a thermal short circuit greatly reducing the heat insulation of the door is avoided in a simple way between the inner paneling exposed to the temperatures in the refrigerating space of the refrigerator and the outer paneling subjected to the ambient temperature of the refrigerator.  
           [0012]    Uncoupling to avoid a heat flow through the interface between the free edge portions of the outer paneling and those of the inner paneling can be brought about in a particularly simple way during the foam-filling process when, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, the thermal insulation device is formed as thermal insulation material disposed between the free edge portions of the inner and outer panelings.  
           [0013]    In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the thermal insulation device is configured as a fastening element of a door seal produced from plastic, the fastening element being disposed between the edge portions of the outer paneling and the edge portions of the inner paneling. Using a seal foot of a door seal for the thermal uncoupling of the free edge portions of the inner paneling from those of the outer paneling has an effect of both thermal uncoupling and the fastening of the door seal with a single component.  
           [0014]    By using a plastic profile as a medium interrupting heat conduction at the interface between the free edges of the outer paneling and those of the inner paneling, conventional door seals, with a differently configured seal foot, can be fastened to the refrigerator door. In the event of the plastic profile being configured as an intermediate piece capable of being inserted into a gap between the free edges of the inner and outer panelings, a particularly highly effective prevention of heat conduction between the inner paneling exposed to the temperatures of the refrigerating space and the outer paneling subjected to the ambient temperature of the refrigerator is achieved.  
           [0015]    In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the thermal insulation device is configured as a plastic profile that is disposed between the free edge portions of the inner paneling and outer paneling, fixes the edges of the inner and outer panelings, and has a receptacle for releasably holding a door seal.  
           [0016]    In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the plastic profile has at least one receptacle, and at least one of the door seal, the edge portion, and the free edge portion is inserted into the at least one receptacle.  
           [0017]    The plastic profile is held particularly securely when, in accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the plastic profile has at least one receiving groove that fixes the edges of the free edge portions of the inner and outer panelings. By holding the free edges of the edge portions of the inner and outer panelings by at least one receiving groove, tolerance fluctuations between the mutually opposite free edges of the inner and outer panelings can be intercepted particularly easily. The plastic profile can have two receiving grooves.  
           [0018]    In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the inner paneling is formed, at least as far as possible in a non-cutting manner, from a special-steel blank. By using special steel, a particularly hard-wearing inner paneling can be provided that has high inherent rigidity, even in the case of a small blank wall thickness, and that, without additional measures, gives the refrigerator door the appearance of having a greater value.  
           [0019]    Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
           [0020]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a refrigerator door, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because 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.  
           [0021]    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 DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a refrigerator door according to the invention with a plastic profile holding a magnetic seal and introduced between free edge portions of inner and outer panelings;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the refrigerator door of FIG. 1 with a seal foot of a magnetic seal introduced between free edge portions of the inner and outer panelings for thermal uncoupling;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the refrigerator door of FIG. 1 with a seal foot for thermal uncoupling in a horizontal gap between free edge portions of the inner and outer panelings; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the refrigerator door of FIG. 1 with a plastic profile introduced for thermal uncoupling in an intermediate region between free edges of the inner and outer panelings.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    In all the figures of the drawing, sub-features and integral parts that correspond to one another bear the same reference symbol in each case.  
         [0027]    Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a simplified diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerator door  10 , configured as a freezer cabinet door, with an outer paneling  11  that serves a visible cover and that is manufactured from metallic material, such as sheet steel or the like, and has a peripherally disposed surround  12  with a free edge portion  13  that points into the door interior. The refrigerator door  10  possesses, spaced from the outer paneling  11 , an inner paneling  14  that is manufactured likewise from metallic material, such as, for example, a special-steel blank or the like, and that has a step-like shoulder  14 . 1  disposed peripherally near the edge and has a free edge portion  15 . The free edge portion  15  points in the direction of the free edge portion  13 , but is disposed, however, offset vertically and spaced from the free edge portion  13 . As a result, a clearance  16  is produced peripherally between the free edge portions  13  and  15 . The clearance  16  is bridged by a plastic profile  17  with holding ends  17 . 1  and  17 . 2 , on which are provided groove-like receptacles  18  and  19 , of which the receptacle  18  faces the edge portion  13  and the receptacle  19  faces the edge portion  15 . The groove-like receptacles  18 ,  19  each possess a groove orifice that faces the edge portion  13  or  15  and through which the free edge portion  13 ,  15  can be inserted into the respective groove-like receptacle  18 ,  19 . The receptacles  18 ,  19  are coordinated in terms of their groove width with the material thickness of the edge portions  13 ,  15 . As a result, the edge portions  13 ,  15  are fixed and held in a liquid-tight manner. In addition to the receptacles  18 ,  19 , the plastic profile  17  possesses an undercut receiving groove  20  disposed peripherally in the same way as the receptacles  18 ,  19 . The receiving groove  20  serves to fix a seal foot  22  belonging to a magnetic seal  21  manufactured from plastic. The plastic profile  17  fixing the free edge portions  13 ,  15  in a liquid-tight manner prevents, at least as far as possible, heat conduction from the outer paneling  11  exposed to the ambient temperature to the inner paneling  14  and, together with the panelings  11 ,  14 , delimits a cavity that is filled with a thermal insulation layer  23  that is processed in the form of liquid starting components and is produced by foaming. As a result of the adhesive action of the insulation layer  23 , the inner paneling  14 , the outer paneling  11 , and the plastic profile  17  are connected to form a dimensionally rigid and distortion-resistant composite structure.  
         [0028]    The inner paneling  14 , described using the example of a freezer cabinet door  10 , can also be used, with corresponding holding measures for door storage compartments secured, for example, by welding to the inner paneling  14 , for a refrigerator cabinet door.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a refrigerator door  30  that, like the refrigerator door  10 , is configured as a freezer cabinet door. The refrigerator door  30 , like the refrigerator door  10 , possesses an outer paneling  31  that is shaped from blank-like metallic material, such as lacquered sheet steel or the like, and has a peripherally disposed surround  32  possessing a free edge portion  33  that is oriented toward the door interior. Spaced from the outer paneling  31  is an inner paneling  34  that is shaped in the manner of a corrugated profile and is likewise produced from metallic material, such as a special-steel sheet blank or the like. The inner paneling  34  has at its edge a peripherally disposed step-like shoulder  35  with a free edge portion  36  lying in a plane parallel to the free edge portion  33 . The edge portion  36  is provided, in the region near its free end, with a peripherally disposed holding bead  37  directed with its bead protuberance away from the free edge portion  33  and is disposed with a spacing above the free edge portion  33 . As a result, due to the overlapping ends of the free edge portions  33 ,  36 , a holding gap  38  is formed. The holding gap  38  fastens a magnetic seal  39  with a seal foot  40  that has a foot portion  41  capable of cooperating with the holding bead  37  and a foot portion  42  that can be inserted into the holding gap  38  and seated in a liquid-tight manner within the holding gap  38 . The foot portion  42  prevents heat conduction between the inner paneling  34  and the outer paneling  31 . The foot portion  42  provides a cavity that is delimited at least as far as possible in a liquid-tight manner by the inner paneling  34  and the outer paneling  31  and that is filled with thermal insulation material  43 . The thermal insulation material  43  is capable of being processed in the form of liquid starting components and is produced by foaming. As a result of the adhesive action of the insulation material  43 , the outer paneling  31  and the inner paneling  34  are connected to form an, as far as possible, dimensionally rigid and distortion-resistant door body.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a refrigerator door  50 , configured as a freezer cabinet door. The refrigerator door  50  has an outer paneling  51  that serves as a visible cover and is manufactured from metallic material. Like the outer claddings  11 ,  31 , the outer cladding  51  has a peripherally disposed surround  52  with a free edge portion  53  that is directed into the door interior. An inner paneling  54  is provided spaced from the outer paneling  51 . The an inner paneling  54  is likewise shaped from blank-like material, such as, for example, special steel or the like, and, like the inner panelings  14 ,  34 , has, in a region near its edge, a peripherally disposed step-like shoulder  55  with a free edge portion  56 . The free edge portion  56  is directed in the direction of the free edge portion  53 , but is disposed, offset vertically in a parallel plane and spaced from the free edge portion  53 , thereby providing a clearance  57  disposed peripherally between the free edge portions  53 ,  56 . In the embodiment, the clearance  57  is bridged by a fastening element belonging to a magnetic seal  58  and configured as a seal foot  59 . The seal foot  59 , like the plastic profile  17 , possesses two holding elements  60 ,  61  that are integrally formed in a strip-like manner. Each of the two holding elements  60 ,  61  has a receiving groove  62  that is open toward the respective edge portions  53 ,  56  and that is coordinated in terms of its groove width with the material thickness of the respective edge portion  53 ,  56 . Of the receiving grooves  62 , the groove  62  provided on holding element  60  is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the free edge portion  53 . The receiving groove  62  disposed on holding element  63  faces the edge portion  56  and is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the edge portion  56 . In addition to the holding elements  60 ,  61  on the seal foot  59 , the magnetic seal  58  possesses a seal head  63  that is connected elastically to the seal foot  59 . The magnetic seal  58 , with its seal foot  59  inserted in a liquid-tight manner as an intermediate element into the clearance  57 , surrounds, together with the outer paneling  51  and the inner paneling  54 , a cavity that is filled with foamable thermal insulation material  64 . The thermal insulation material  64 , by virtue of its adhesive action, connects the inner paneling  54 , the outer paneling  51 , and the magnetic seal  58  to form an, as far as possible, dimensionally rigid and distortion-resistant subassembly.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of a refrigerator door  70 , configured as a freezer cabinet door. The refrigerator door  70  is configured, as far as possible, in a similar way to the refrigerator door  10  illustrated in FIG. 1 and has an outer paneling  71  serving as a visible cover and made from a blank-like metallic material. The outer paneling  71  possesses a peripherally disposed surround  72  that has a free edge portion  73  directed into the door interior. The refrigerator door  70  is equipped, spaced from the outer paneling  71 , with an inner paneling  74  that is manufactured likewise from blank-like metallic material and has a step-like shoulder  75  disposed peripherally in the region near the edge of the inner paneling  74 . The step-like shoulder  75  has a free edge portion  76  pointing in a direction of the edge portion  73 , but is disposed, offset vertically above the edge portion  73  in parallel and spaced from it. As a result, a clearance  77  running peripherally between the free edge portions  73 ,  76  is produced. The clearance  77  is bridged by a plastic profile  78  that is configured in a similar way to the plastic profile  17 . The plastic profile  78  has a lateral strip-like holding element  79  facing the edge portion  76 . The holding element  79  has a receiving groove  80  open toward the edge portion  76 , and a likewise strip-like holding element  81  that faces the edge portion  73 . In contrast to holding element  79 , the holding element  81  is configured as a flat profile without a receiving groove. While the holding element  81  rests on the edge portion  73 , so as to overlap the edge portion  73 , the holding element  79  holds the edge portion  76 . The edge portion  76  is inserted in a liquid-tight manner into the receiving groove  80 . Between the holding elements  79  and  81 , the plastic profile  78  possesses an undercut groove-like receptacle  85  that fastens a seal foot  83  belonging to a magnetic seal  82  manufactured from plastic. The seal foot  83  is connected elastically to a seal head  84  of the magnetic seal  82 . The plastic profile  78  inserted into the clearance  77  and connecting the free edge portions  73  and  76  in a liquid-tight manner surrounds, together with the inner paneling  54  and the outer paneling  51 , a cavity that is filled with a thermal insulation layer  86 . The insulation layer  86  is produced by foaming and, by virtue of its adhesive properties, connects the outer paneling  71 , the inner paneling  74 , and the plastic profile  78  to form an, as far as possible, dimensionally rigid and distortion-resistant structural body.