CN107429467B - Clothes treating appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

Laundry treatment appliance (2) comprising an operating element (40), a drawer (56), and an opening (58) configured for inserting/extracting said drawer (56), wherein said drawer (56) comprises a drawer front panel (50) comprising a shaped portion (52) at least partially enclosing said operating element (40) in a fully inserted position of said drawer (56).

Description

clothes disposal equipment

technical field

The present invention generally relates to a laundry treatment appliance for domestic and professional use, in particular a front loading washer, dryer or combination washer-dryer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry treating appliance including an operating member, a drawer, and an opening configured for insertion/extraction of the drawer.

Background technique

A laundry treatment appliance/machine such as a washing machine, clothes dryer or combination washer-dryer typically comprises a user interface with operating elements comprising knobs and/or buttons and/or a display and/or another kind of device, Through which the user can modify and/or check the operation of the appliance; moreover, these laundry treatment appliances typically include a thin insert with holes for the passage of operating elements; such thin inserts can include aesthetic symbols that can For example, it indicates a function activated by the operating element in a predetermined angular position or can be transparent in order to reveal symbols and/or lights arranged on the user interface.

European patent application EP 2 436 828 A1 discloses a front panel with a user interface with a thin inlay placed around a knob on one side opposite the drawer and on the other side relative to the rest of the user interface. The disadvantage of this configuration is that there are several gaps between the drawers, inserts and user interface, causing dirt or dust to collect in these spaces, which can affect the visual appearance of the front side of the washing machine. Also, these spaces can lead to the passage of contaminant particles into the cleaning chamber of the machine.

Contents of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treating appliance which avoids collecting dirt or contamination particles at the front panel and/or in the appliance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry appliance that is easy to assemble with a good appearance independent of a large number of assembly parts.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a laundry treatment machine comprising an operating element, a drawer, and an opening configured for insertion/extraction of said drawer, wherein the drawer comprises a drawer front comprising A shaped portion which at least partially surrounds the operating element in the fully inserted position of the drawer.

A number of preferred embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the appended claims and the description with the drawings.

The consideration on which the invention is based is that, for several reasons, it should be avoided that dirt or other polluting particles collect on the drawer front and enter into the region of the drawer front. First, the visual appearance of the appliance is impaired by dirt collecting on the appliance and/or its front panel, since this front panel is the optical focal point for the user and its subtle appearance may lead the user to infer the overall machine quality not good. These dirty/pollution particles can also get into the interior of the machine and into the compartments of the drawers and/or the wash tub, resulting in possible reduced washing efficiency and/or causing damage to fragile/sensitive parts such as electronic boards etc.

The applicant has realized that the most critical spatial areas are located around the operating elements which should be covered in order to prevent dirt from collecting/entering the machine. This would be achieved without having separate elements, which would reduce the visual appearance of the laundry treatment appliance.

The applicant has found that by providing a drawer front with a portion at least partially surrounding the operating element, it is possible to preserve the high quality appearance of the front while simultaneously solving the above-mentioned problems and substantially sealing the gap around the operating element.

The term laundry treating appliance or washing machine or laundry treating device includes such washing machines, but may also include combined washing/drying machines capable of combining the two functions. Also, the terms laundry washing machine and washing machine may be used interchangeably. The laundry washing machine can eg be designed as a front loading laundry washing machine. Alternatively, the appliance may be a clothes dryer.

In a preferred embodiment the laundry treating appliance comprises a machine front panel, wherein operating elements and/or openings are provided on this machine front panel.

An operating element is any kind of device for actively receiving user interaction and/or for displaying status information of the washing machine. This means that the user can control the machine and/or obtain information about its status by using the operating elements, in particular via the at least one optical indicator. The operating elements preferably comprise knobs and/or buttons and/or displays and/or lights. The operating elements can thus be designed as knobs and/or buttons and/or displays or lights. For example, it can be built by modular design into a rotatable knob that can be pressed to act as a button. The knob may include a display showing, for example, the most recently selected process and/or parameter and/or its updated status and/or errors that occurred. Additionally or alternatively, the display may be touch-sensitive, allowing a program or display mode to be changed by a user touching the display.

The operating element preferably at least partially comprises a circular shape, wherein the drawer comprises a drawer front comprising a circular contour which at least partially surrounds the circular shape in the fully inserted position of the drawer.

The operating element advantageously has a substantially circular peripheral concentric piece around a vertical axis, wherein the shaped portion of the drawer front extends in a transverse direction parallel to the vertical axis.

The fully inserted position of the drawer preferably corresponds to its position during operation of the laundry treatment appliance. In the case of a washing machine, the drawer preferably comprises at least one compartment for washing and/or rinsing products which can be transported by the water flow into the washing tub. The fully inserted position is preferably defined and mechanically achieved by blocking or stop means that limit further movement of the drawer into the opening that receives it. These stop means can eg be realized by an opening having a cross-section smaller than the drawer front panel and/or any known locking means configured to stop the movement of the drawer when fully inserted into the opening.

Surrounding the operating element at least partially by a shaped portion of the drawer front means that the shaped portion at least partially follows the contour of the operating element and/or in a suitable manner allows the final aesthetic element to frame the operating element; at least partially In the case of circular operating elements (e.g. knobs), the shaped part is also shaped in a circular manner, following/surrounding/wrapping the operating element in the fully inserted position of the drawer; in the case of non-circular operating elements, following the operating The profiled portion of the element has a consequent non-circular portion.

In a preferred embodiment, a recess is provided in association with the drawer opening, this recess having a depth dimensioned such that in the fully inserted position, the drawer front is flush with the outer surface of the appliance and/or the machine front flat. Thus, the drawer front is aligned with the appliance/front, improving the visual appearance of the laundry disposal appliance.

Preferably, an aesthetic ring is provided on the appliance and/or on the machine front panel framing the operating elements, wherein the shaped portion of the drawer front panel wraps around the ring at least partially in the fully inserted position. The aesthetic ring is preferably made of plastic. It may preferably comprise printed symbols or patterns supporting the aesthetic appearance of the laundry treating appliance.

A further decorative element is preferably provided on a shaped portion of the drawer front, which can further enhance the aesthetic appearance of the appliance.

The decorative element is preferably assembled to the shaped part by snap-fitting and/or by welding and/or gluing.

In a preferred embodiment, the insert is provided on the drawer front panel. The insert may provide information about available laundry treatment programs and/or contain decorative elements or symbols. Preferably, the insert is transparent, while general information to the user is provided beneath said insert. The contour of the insert preferably conforms to the contour of the drawer front.

The insert is preferably assembled to the drawer front panel by a snap connection and/or by welding and/or gluing and/or adhesive tape.

Advantageously, the drawer front panel comprises a recess on which the insert is assembled, the depth of which is dimensioned in the fully inserted position of the drawer on the appliance and/or on the front panel allow the insert to be flush with the outer surface of the drawer front and/or the machine front. In other words, the insert is aligned with the outer surface of the drawer front and/or the appliance/machine and/or the front.

The drawer front preferably comprises a further shaped portion substantially at least partially surrounding at least a shaped portion of the appliance door adjacent the drawer front.

The drawer front advantageously includes a handle having a front recess or a front recess configured to allow the insertion of a user's fingers. By inserting a finger, the user can easily pull the drawer and at least partly withdraw it, so he/she can access the compartments of the drawer and fill the corresponding compartment with washing and/or rinsing product.

The recess is preferably placed adjacent to and below the insert, which results in an intuitive and convenient handling/handling of the drawer.

The laundry treatment appliance is preferably a front loading washer, dryer or a front loading combination washer/dryer.

The advantages of the present invention are particularly as follows. By providing a drawer front whose shape at least partially surrounds the operating elements of the appliance, dirt is prevented from collecting and entering the interior of the appliance, while preserving the interaction of the appliance with the user for its operation and the washing quality of the cleaning process The aesthetic appearance of the part.

Description of drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, made with reference to the schematic drawings and given as indicated and not for purposes of limitation.

Specifically, the accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. Together with the description, these drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the figures, corresponding features and/or components are identified with the same reference numerals. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a front loading washing machine according to a preferred embodiment with the drawer in a fully inserted position;

Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the washing machine of Figure 1 with the drawer in the withdrawn position;

Figure 3 shows the washing machine of Figure 2 with the drawer fronts, inserts, and trim elements in exploded view;

Figure 4 shows a drawer front, insert, and trim element in an exploded perspective view;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the drawer front, insert, and decorative elements in an assembled state;

Figure 6 shows a front view of the drawer front, insert, and trim element in assembled state;

FIG. 7 shows the cut through line A-A shown in FIG. 6 .

Detailed ways

In FIG. 1 , a laundry treatment appliance 2 is shown constructed as a front loading washing machine and comprises a housing or housing 6 having a preferably parallelepiped shape, comprising a front wall 10, two side walls 14, a cover plate 20 and a rear wall (not shown). The front wall 10 and side walls 14 are preferably part of a cabinet. A front door 24 is provided which can be opened for loading or unloading laundry into the washing drum through an opening 28 .

Advantageously, a washing tub is contained in the housing 6, wherein a rotatable perforated drum is contained within the washing tub. Both the washing tub and the drum have a substantially cylindrical shape. Advantageously, the barrel is suspended inside the casing 6 in a floating manner by means of a plurality of coil springs and shock absorbers. The drum is rotated by an electric motor (not shown) which transmits the rotational movement of the motor shaft to the drum, advantageously by means of a belt/pulley system. In different embodiments of the invention, the electric motor may be directly associated with the shaft of the drum. The bucket is preferably connected to the casing 6 by elastic bellows or gaskets. Alternatively, the laundry appliance may be a clothes dryer (in which case no tub is provided) or a combination washer and dryer.

The laundry treating appliance 2 comprises a machine front panel or a front panel 30 which is preferably at least partially covered by an insert 36 . An operating element 40 is provided, which in the present embodiment is configured as a button and which can be used by the user of the laundry treatment appliance 2 for selecting a washing program and/or selecting its parameters. This knob has a Concentric parameter. The operating element 40 is preferably framed by an aesthetic ring 41 surrounding a hole (not shown) provided on the front panel 30 for the passage of the operating element 40; the ring 41 is preferably made of plastic and Printed symbols or patterns that support the aesthetic appearance of the washing machine appliance 2 are preferably included. The front panel 30 has a rounded portion 46 that partially wraps around the aesthetic ring 41 . Alternatively, the operating element 40 can be configured in a different shape, ie it can have at least partially a circular shape or a non-circular shape.

The operating element 40 preferably comprises a rotary knob and/or a button and/or a display and/or a lamp. The operating control element can thus be designed as a rotary knob and/or as a button and/or as a display or as a lamp. For example, it can be constructed in combination as a rotatable knob that can be depressed to act as a button. The rotary knob may include a display showing, for example, the most recently selected handler and/or time remaining parameter and/or its updated status and/or errors that occurred. Additionally or alternatively, the display may be touch-sensitive, allowing a program or display mode to be changed by a user touching the display.

The laundry treating appliance 2 includes a drawer 56 having a drawer front panel 50 which is preferably flush or aligned with the front panel 30 in the drawer's fully inserted position. The drawer front panel 50 basically includes a cover plate or cover for a drawer 56 that can be inserted into or withdrawn from an opening 58 in the front panel 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The drawer front 50 preferably includes a handle 62 for gripping the drawer 56 . The handle 62 preferably includes a space or recess 72 configured such that a user may insert at least one finger, which allows s/he to easily pull the drawer 56 from its inserted position to the withdrawn position.

The drawer front panel 50 includes a shaped portion 52 that partially surrounds the operating element 40 . The shaped portion 52 is shaped as a circular section, in this embodiment substantially half of a circle, which is configured to enclose the operating element (knob) 40; when the operating element 40 is configured In alternative embodiments of a different shape (i.e., part circular or non-circular shape), the shaped portion 52 of the drawer front panel 50 encloses a shape having a substantially uniform shape (i.e., part circular or non-circular shape, respectively). ) operator member or operating element 40. Due to this design, dirt collection around the operating element 40 is considerably reduced and particles are prevented from entering the drawer 56 or the interior of the appliance 2 .

In the preferred embodiment shown, the front panel 30 has a width substantially equal to the width of the appliance; in this embodiment, the operating elements 40 as well as the opening 58 for inserting/extracting the drawer 56 are provided on the front panel 30 ; according to an alternative embodiment, the front panel 30 may be omitted on the appliance or may have a width substantially smaller than that of the appliance; in this case, the operating element and/or the drawer opening may be provided on one wall of the appliance, For example on the front wall 10 .

In the case of the preferred embodiment according to the above, the drawer front 50 is flush/aligned with the outer surface of the front panel 30 in the fully inserted position, the front panel 30 may preferably be provided with a recess associated with/surrounding the opening 58 31, the recess has a depth dimensioned to allow alignment/flush of the drawer front panel 50 with the outer surface of the front panel 30; in the case of an alternative embodiment where the drawer opening is provided directly on the appliance wall (see above), The drawer front has an outer shape/thickness that may be configured to be flush with the outer shape/thickness of the machine front; alternatively, the appliance wall may be provided with a recess associated with/surrounding the opening configured to Such that the drawer front is flush/aligned with the outer surface of the appliance wall in the fully inserted position of the drawer.

2 and 3 show two further perspective views of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 . Drawer front panel 50 is shown in a position where drawer 56 has been partially withdrawn from opening 58 . In this position, washing and/or rinsing products can be filled into the compartments 80 , 82 of the drawer 56 . An insert 86 is provided on the drawer front 50 , which preferably includes a shape having the same profile as the drawer front 50 . In particular, a shaped portion 92 is also included, which corresponds in its shape/form to the shaped portion 52 of the drawer front 50 .

On the preferred embodiment shown, the drawer front preferably includes a recess 68 (see FIG. 4 ) on its front surface; the recess 68 preferably has a shape substantially corresponding to that of the insert so that the insert 86 Can be wedged on the recess 68; on the preferred illustrated embodiment, the insert 86 is attached to the drawer front 50 by gluing, for example by double-sided adhesive tape; alternatively, the insert 86 can be snap-fitted (for example by providing Snap means on the insert that can be connected with engagement means provided on the drawer front, or vice versa) and/or assembled to said drawer front 50 by welding and/or gluing.

Preferably, the depth of the recess 68 provided on the drawer front 50 is dimensioned such that, once the insert 86 is in its installed position, the insert 86 engages with the outer frame of the drawer front 50 resulting in surrounding said recess 68. Flush, and/or flush with the machine front panel 30, and/or flush with the appliance wall (in the case of the drawer opening directly on the appliance wall, see the embodiments above).

As noted above, the drawer front panel 50 preferably includes a handle 62 that preferably includes a recess 72 that allows the drawer to be pulled out in a comfortable manner to access at least one of the compartments 80, 82 and move them for the operating mode of the machine. Pushed into the fully inserted position; preferably, the recess 72 is placed adjacent to and below the insert.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , a decorative element 100 is preferably provided which partially surrounds the operating element 40 in the fully inserted position of the drawer 56 . In a preferred embodiment, the decorative element 100 has a shape that substantially follows the shaped portion 52 so that in its installed position on the drawer front 50 and in the fully inserted position of the drawer 56 it at least partially surrounds the operating element 40 (and the aesthetic ring 41 on the illustrated embodiment) and extends in a transverse direction parallel to the axis defined by the circular periphery of said operating element 40 .

Alternatively, no additional decorative elements may be used, but directly from said portion 52, for example by a lip integral to the drawer front and emerging from a shaped portion of the drawer front, or by the thickness of the drawer front. The shaping results in a shaped portion 52 extending in a transverse direction parallel to the operating element axis.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the drawer front panel 50 includes a reduced thickness portion 118 on the shaped portion, which is provided by a rear recess 117 in the thickness of the shaped portion facing the appliance 2, and provided The outer recess 116 on the thickness of the shaped part facing the outer space of the appliance 2 is produced; preferably, the decorative element 100 has a radial lip 110 extending outward away from the operating element 40, wherein the lip 110 and the rear recess 117 The dimensions are preferably determined to allow insertion of the lip 110 into the recess 117; preferably, in the installed position of the decorative element 100 on the drawer front panel 50, the outer surface of the lip 110 is flush with the rear surface of the front panel facing the drawer; In the preferred embodiment shown, the radius of the decorative element corresponds substantially to the radius of the operating element 40; the lip 110 may be glued on the recess 117; alternatively, the decorative element 100 may be snap-connected (for example by providing snap means on the trim element and engagement means provided on the drawer front panel, or vice versa) and/or assembled to the shaped part 52 by welding and/or adhesive tape.

Preferably, the axial height of the ring is such that, in its installed position on the drawer front, the axially outer edge of the ring 101 is flush with the outer surface of the insert 86 in its installed position. Thus, the recess 116 is preferably defined between the trim element 100, the insert 86 and the drawer front 50; in the case of a transparent insert, except that those aesthetic symbols are ultimately shown/provided on the main aesthetic ring 41 of the appliance. Additionally, aesthetic symbols may also be provided on the recess 116 .

According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the drawer front 50 is equipped with a further shaped portion 59 (see FIG. 1 ) substantially partially enclosing the shaped portion of the door fitting 24 adjacent the drawer front.

The invention thus contemplates being subject to numerous modifications and variants, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, all materials used, as well as shapes and possibly dimensions, can be varied according to requirements, without departing from the scope of protection as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (14)

1. laundry treatment appliance (2), which includes controlling the laundry treatment appliance and/or for obtaining The operating element (40) of the status information of the laundry treatment appliance, is configured for insertion/extraction pumping at drawer (56) The opening (58) and machine front panel (30) of drawer (56),

It is characterized in that,

The drawer (56) includes drawer front panel (50), which includes shaped portion (52), which exists At least partially around the operating element (40) in the fully inserted position of the drawer (56)；And

The operating element (40) and/or the opening (58) are provided on the machine front panel (30).

2. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 1, wherein the operating element (40) include knob and/or by Button and/or display.

3. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 1, wherein the operating element (40) at least partly includes circle Shape shape, and wherein the drawer front panel (50) includes circular contour (52), and the circular contour is in the drawer (56) At least partially around the circular shape in fully inserted position.

4. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 3, wherein the operating element (40), which has, surrounds vertical axis The concentric part in substantially circular periphery, and wherein the shaped portion (52) of the drawer front panel (50) is parallel to institute Vertical axis is stated to extend in a lateral direction.

5. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein recess (31) is provided as and institute Being sized to so that in the position being fully inserted into for the depth that opening (58) are associated, and the recess (31) has is stated, The drawer front panel (50) flushes with the outer surface of the laundry treatment appliance (2) and/or the machine front panel (30).

6. wherein aesthetic element (41) is provided at according to claim 1 to laundry treatment appliance (2) described in one in 4 On the laundry treatment appliance (2) and/or on the machine front panel (30) being outlined to the operating element (40), and And wherein the shaped portion (52) of the drawer front panel (50) in fully inserted position at least partially around described Operating element (40) and/or the aesthetic element (41).

7. according to claim 1 to laundry treatment appliance (2) described in one in 4, wherein other decoration element (100) quilt It provides on the shaped portion (52) of the drawer front panel (50).

8. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 7, wherein the decoration element (100) be connected by a snap and/ Or it is assembled on the shaped portion (52) by welding and/or gluing.

9. wherein inserts (86) is provided at institute according to claim 1 to laundry treatment appliance (2) described in one in 4 It states on drawer front panel (50).

10. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 9, wherein the inserts (86) be connected by a snap and/or It is assembled on the drawer front panel (50) by welding and/or glued and/or adhesive tape.

11. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 9, wherein the drawer front panel (50) includes recess (68), The inserts (86) is assembled into the recess, and the depth of the recess is sized in the drawer (56) at it Allow the inserts when in the fully inserted position on the laundry treatment appliance (2) and/or on the front panel (30) (86) it is flushed with the outer surface of the drawer front panel (50) and/or the machine front panel (30).

12. according to claim 1 to laundry treatment appliance (2) described in one in 4, wherein the drawer front panel (50) is wrapped Other shaped portion (59) are included, the other shaped portion is substantially at least partially around the neighbouring drawer front panel At least shaped portion of appliance door (24).

13. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 9, wherein the drawer front panel (50) includes handle (62), The handle is configured to permit the finger of user to be inserted into.

14. laundry treatment appliance (2) according to claim 13, wherein the handle (62) is placed adjacent to the edge Inserts (86) and thereunder.