DE20021162U1 - Refrigerator for recreational vehicles - Google Patents

Description

* EUROpVn RJTENJ <$ 'TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS - FATENT- & LAWYERS

:münch£n: : bochum · Leipzig · alicante

GBP

DIpI.-Ing. W. Herrmann-Trentepohl, Bochum DIpI.-Ing. Wolfgang Grosse, Munich
Dipl.-Ing. Josef Bockhornl, Bochum
Dipl.-Ing. Martin Misselhorn, lawyer, Munich Dipl.-Ing. Thilo Raible, lawyer, Munich
FiertrnillY Sieben fimhH Dlpl.-lng. Johannes Dieterle, Leipzig

meciroiux bend union _{ute Grosseri RAini} Munich

In the Steinwiese 16

__... _. E-mail: lnfo®pofguard.de

57010-Siegen

Germany

Munich

13 December 2000

B 75939 DE (GS/LE/TT)

Refrigerator for recreational vehicles

The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular for recreational vehicles such as mobile homes and caravans.

Given the limited space inside recreational vehicles, refrigerators are designed and installed so that they take up as little space as possible. A refrigerator can be structurally adapted to the conditions inside the recreational vehicle; for example, the shape of the refrigerator can be adapted to the shape of the wheel arch. In most installation cases, the entire available kitchen height is used.

On the other hand, there is a need to lay supply lines, such as cables, pipes for water and heating, hoses, etc. in the interior of recreational vehicles, usually along the walls.

Leisure refrigerators as mentioned above, especially if they are designed to save space, ie they are fitted to the wall and/or use the entire height of the kitchen, hinder the installation of cables in the living area of the leisure vehicle. It is not easy to route the cables in a straight line along the wall. In fact, the vehicle manufacturer can only lay the supply cables with great effort.
Laying the cables through other areas of the interior of the recreational vehicle with consideration for the refrigerator is no less complex.

Forstenrieder Allee 59 Massenbergstr, 19-21 Max-Beckmann-Str. 23 &agr; Paseo Explanada De Espana No. 1.4-lzda

D-81470 Munich D-44787 Bochum D-04109 Leipzig ES - 03002 Alicante

Tel. +49 089 - 745541 -0 Tel. +49 0234 - 91224-0 Tel. +49 0341 - 2113818 Tel. +49 089 - 745541 -0

Fax+49 089 - 7593869 Fax +49C284 -.6405600 Fax+490341·-2113848 ·· ·· fax »49 (»9 - 7593869

German (&Bgr;*&idiagr;2*430 7t)0*2*4) tfSnWummerVoiaSVIo
HypoVerelnsbank Munich (bank code 700 202 70) Account number: 4&oacgr; 505 999 Postal check Munich (bank code 700 100 80) Account number: 227 682-805

Moving the refrigerator away from the wall to make room for the supply lines does not solve the problem either. In particular, the already limited freedom of movement in recreational mobile homes and caravans should not be further restricted.

The object of this invention is to equip a refrigerator for recreational mobile homes and caravans in such a way that a problem-free passage of cables, in particular along the wall of the interior of the recreational vehicle, is possible.
Furthermore, the refrigerator should be able to be quickly removed in the event of servicing without being hindered by the vehicle's own installation.

This object is achieved in that the refrigerator has at least one channel located outside the cooling compartment or at least one recess on a side surface or the bottom of the refrigerator for leading through or bypassing its own supply lines and/or external lines, hoses, pipes, cables, etc.

Refrigerator housings are generally essentially cuboid-shaped. However, they can also have other shapes, particularly when they are designed for recreational mobile homes and caravans. For example, it is possible to adapt the housing to the living area or interior of the recreational vehicle so that the space is used optimally. In this invention, at least one channel or at least one recess is provided for the passage or bypass of lines, hoses, pipes, cables and the like, for example for electricity, drinking water, waste water or heating. The channel or channels or recesses run outside the refrigerator compartment. For this purpose, the outside of the refrigerator compartment is designed in such a way that space is available for the channel or recess at the desired location. The recess or gap is usually provided on a side surface or the base of the refrigerator.

The design, in particular the size of the channel or the recess, depends essentially on the dimensions of the lines, e.g. the diameter of the heating pipes. Another possibility is to provide a channel or a recess

which is wide enough to allow the refrigerator to be positioned at an angle to the pipes, thus improving installation options.

Of course, the channel can also accommodate the refrigerator's own cables and, under certain circumstances, have corresponding connections inside it. The design of the channel or recess according to the invention, which is integrated into the refrigerator, means that all types of cables can be routed through the refrigerator or past it without the need for complex structural measures when installing them and without the need for additional space for the cables to be created between the refrigerator and the wall in the limited space in the interior of the recreational vehicle.

In particular, the channel or recess can be formed on the underside or along an edge of the refrigerator. It can be particularly advantageous if the channel or recess runs along the edge formed by the back and bottom of the refrigerator, since the cables to be fed through often run or are intended to run along the floor along the wall in the interior of the recreational vehicle. If a recess of this type is available, it is particularly easy to set up the refrigerator at its location or, if necessary, to move it away from its location. The refrigerator can simply be lifted over the cables or moved away from the cables.

Preferably, the channel(s) or recess(es) will run parallel to the front of the refrigerator. However, the lines in the channel can also be arranged at an angle to the front of the refrigerator if the channel is wide enough. This provides greater flexibility when installing the refrigerator.

Furthermore, the channel or recess can be flush with the bottom and/or the support surface of the refrigerator. Since the supply lines, pipes, hoses, etc. are often on the floor or near the floor, it is advantageous if they can continue to run through the refrigerator without major deflection or diversion.

ft · a · ·

In a preferred embodiment, the channel or recess has a rectangular cross-section.

A feedthrough device can be installed at the location provided for the channel, through which the supply lines can run after installation. In particular, the feedthrough device can also be installed in a recess created for it.

A tubular element that is open on two sides and preferably has a rectangular cross-section can be used as the feedthrough device. The feedthrough device has at least two openings for feeding the supply lines into or out of the channel.

It is also possible to create several parallel feedthroughs by dividing the feedthrough device accordingly by forming intermediate walls.

The feedthrough device is preferably made of metal, plastic or other suitable materials that are light but stable. It is also an advantage if the material is easy to clean.

In another embodiment, the feedthrough device can be open along another side. If it is mounted in a recess on the bottom of the refrigerator, for example, the feedthrough device can be open towards the bottom. If a recess provided for the use of the feedthrough device runs along the edge formed by the back and the bottom of the refrigerator, the feedthrough device can optionally be open towards the back and/or the bottom.

If a channel is not required, its openings can be closed or covered as required. If several channels are formed or the cross-section of the channel is divided into several passages, for example by partition walls in the passage device, it may be possible to close or cover the channel only partially or only individual channels.

Closing or covering the channels prevents them from becoming dirty on the inside.

It is also advantageous if the feedthrough device is attached to the refrigerator housing in a removable manner. Such an attachment can be achieved using screws, for example.

In this embodiment, the connection between the housing of the refrigerator and the feedthrough device can be released at any time. This could be useful, for example, if the refrigerator has to be removed from its location for a certain period of time. In this case, it would not be necessary to remove the cables from the feedthrough device before removing the refrigerator.

In addition, in this embodiment, the feedthrough device can be removed from the housing of the refrigerator, for example for separate cleaning.

Further advantages, characteristics and features of the invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Show it:

Fig. 1: Refrigerator with a channel for passing cables through.
Fig. 2: Detail from Fig. 1 with the area of the channel.
Fig. 3: Refrigerator with a recess for passing cables.
Fig. 4: Detail from Fig. 3 with the area of the recess.

Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator for recreational vehicles in side view. The refrigerator door 2 is located on the front of the housing 1. The channel 3 for routing cables is located in a recess on the bottom of the refrigerator and is flush with the bottom of the refrigerator. The feedthrough device 4 has four walls and a rectangular cross-section. It is inserted into the channel 3. It is made of a robust material such as sheet metal. The walls of the feedthrough device 4 do not have to be completely closed, but can have any number of openings. For example, the bottom surface can be designed as a grid.

* e 9 m

As an example, a supply line 5 is shown in cross section. The line runs parallel to the front of the refrigerator through channel 3.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the area of Fig. 1 in which the channel 3 is shown. In this illustration, the flush end of the channel 3 with the support surface of the refrigerator can be clearly seen. This allows the supply line 5, which runs along the inner wall of the recreational vehicle near the floor, to be guided through the refrigerator without diversion.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the refrigerator. In this case, a recess 6 runs along the edge formed by the back and the bottom of the refrigerator. The supply line 5 rests on the floor of the interior of the mobile home. The supply line 5 is guided through the interior of the mobile home near the wall.

If the refrigerator needs to be removed from its location for a certain period of time, it can be lifted over the cables or simply moved away from the wall.

Fig. 4 shows, analogously to Fig. 2, an enlarged view of the area of Fig. 3 in which the recess 6 is made. Optionally, a feedthrough device could be inserted into the recess 6, which in turn could be partially or completely open towards the floor and/or the wall.

Claims (11)

1. Refrigerator with a housing and cooling chamber, in particular for recreational mobile homes and caravans, characterized in that the refrigerator has at least one channel located outside the cooling chamber or at least one recess on a side surface or the bottom of the refrigerator for leading through or bypassing its own supply lines and/or external lines, hoses, pipes, cables, etc. 2. Refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel or recess is provided on the underside of the refrigerator. 3. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel or the recess runs along an edge of the refrigerator, in particular along the edge formed by the back and the bottom of the refrigerator. 4. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel or recess runs parallel to the front of the refrigerator. 5. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel or the recess is flush with the underside and/or the support surface of the refrigerator. 6. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel or the recess has a rectangular cross-section. 7. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel is formed by a feedthrough device. 8. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed-through device consists essentially of metal or plastic. 9. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more sides of the feed-through device is or are at least partially open. 10. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings of the channel are closable. 11. Refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feedthrough device is removably attached to the housing of the refrigerator.