WO2006003535A1

WO2006003535A1 - A washer/dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2006003535A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/051882
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasemin Ozdemir; Gurhan Cetin
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2004-06-29
Filing date: 2005-06-08
Publication date: 2006-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-29
Also published as: EP1761668B1; EP1761668A1; ATE409247T1; DE602005009952D1; TR200607167T1

Abstract

A washer/dryer (1) comprising a door (4) which provides laundry to be loaded and unloaded, a locking mechanism (9) which provides the door (4) to be locked and unlocked, a control group (8) which provides operation control, a panel (2) providing aesthetics appearance and on which a control group (8) and/or components of a control group (8) are set, a drawer (3) situated on the panel (2) where cleaning agents are put and characterized by; a panel (2) comprising a handle (10) which is located in such a way that it cannot be seen from outside, and which can only be reached when the drawer (3) is removed, would be reached ergonomically by the user, and which would open the door (4) in emergency situations such as a power failure.

Description

Description A WASHER/DRYER

[001] This invention relates to a washer/dryer the locked door of which can be unlocked in case of an emergency situation such as a power failure. [002] When the external door of a washer/dryer is locked, during a power failure, electronic locks would not function; thus, the door that has been locked can not be opened and laundry that is inside can not be taken out. [003] In the current state of art, in the British Patent Document GB 1053462, a latch that is triggered by an excitation cable is described. [004] The aim of this invention is the realization a washer/dryer, the door of which can ergonomically be opened in emergency situations such as operational power failure with the help of a mechanism, which is hidden and thus cannot be seen. [005] The washer / dryer designed to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is il¬ lustrated in the attached figures where: [006] Fig 1 is a perspective view of a washer/dryer, [007] Fig 2 is a perspective view of a panel and an open drawer,

[008] Fig 3 is a front-bottom perspective view of a panel,

[009] Fig 4 is a rear perspective view of a panel, [010] Fig 5 is a perspective view of the rear part of a panel that includes a connector where the connector is attached, [011] Fig 6 is a detailed perspective view of a handle that has been pulled and a connector, which is attached to handle and spring mechanism, [012] Fig 7 is a schematic view of a handle that is located on the panel and that is in a locked state. [013] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washer/dryer

2. Panel

3. Drawer

4. Door

5. Spring mechanism

6. Hook

7. Connector

8. Control group

9. Locking mechanism

10. Handle

11. Safety extension

[014] Home appliances, preferably washer/dryers (1), comprise a door (4) which provides laundry to be loaded and unloaded, a control group (8) which provides operation control, a panel (2) providing aesthetics appearance and on which a control group (8) and/or components of a control group (8) are set, a drawer (3) situated on the panel (2) where cleaning agents are put and a locking mechanism (9) which provides the door (4) to be locked and unlocked.

[015] Panel (2) comprises a handle (10), which is located in such a way that it cannot be seen from outside, and which can only be reached ergonomically by the user when the drawer (3) is removed, and which opens the door (4) in emergency situations such as a power failure; a safety extension (11) which prevents possible electric shocks or children from reaching the control group (8) located inside; a connector (7) such as a string or cable which connects the handle (10) and locking mechanism (9) to each other and which triggers locking mechanism (9) when the handle (10) is actuated; and a spring mechanism (5) which brings the connector (7) back to its original position.

[016] Handle (10) comprises a hook (6) that enables the handle to connect to the connector (7) and thus to pull the connector (7).

[017] Safety extension (11) comprises one or more than one extension right behind the handle (10), preventing the user from reaching electrical components such as the control group (8) which is located inside the panel (2), when the user utilizes the handle (10). These extensions neither disturb the functioning of the handle (10), nor of the hook (6) and the connector (7), which are connected to the handle; although they are designed high enough to prevent the user's fingers from reaching the control group (8).

[018] In case of a power failure that occurs after the laundry is loaded and the washer/ dryer (1) starts to operate, in order to unload the laundry that is being washed or rinsed, the drawer (3) needs to be removed first. After the drawer (3) is removed, the handle (10) located at the inlet of the housing where the drawer (3) is inserted on the panel (2), is pulled outwards from the part the width of which enables only a finger to fit in. The handle (10) that is pulled pulls the connector (7) that is attached to it, moves the spring mechanism (5) on which the connector (7) is situated, and the locking mechanism (9) attached to the connector (7) unlocks the door (4). When the handle (10) is released, the stretched spring mechanism (5) forces the connector (7) to get back to its former position by turn back to its initial position. By triggering the locking mechanism (9), the door (4) is unlocked and laundry inside the washer/dryer is easily removed. After the door (4) is opened and the handle (10) that is released returned back to its former position on the panel (2), the drawer (3) is inserted back to its place.

[019] Thus, by utilizing such a handle (10) that cannot be seen or noticed from outside and that can only be reached and utilized by maintenance personnel and experienced users, the door (4) can be opened by experienced users or maintenance personnel without having any ergonomic problems.

[020] The handle (4) can be manufactured as a single piece made of the material used in the production of the panel (2) or as separate units to be assembled.

[021] With this embodiment, which is the object of the present invention, by locating the handle (10) on the panel (2) next to the drawer (3), any unintentional and erroneous use of the handle (10) is prevented. Thus, utilization of the handle (10) by children is prevented during the operation of the washer/dryer. Moreover, by the safety extension (11), unintentional access of the users or children to the control group (8) that is located behind the handle is prevented when the drawer (3) is removed.

[022] With this embodiment, which is the object of the present invention, in case of an emergency situation such as a power failure after the door (4) is locked, unlocking of the door and removing of the laundry inside the washer/dryer (1) is provided.

Claims

[001] A washer/dryer (1) comprising a door (4) which provides laundry to be loaded and unloaded, a locking mechanism (9) which provides the door (4) to be locked and unlocked, a control group (8) which provides operation control, a panel (2) providing aesthetics appearance and on which a control group (8) and/or components of a control group (8) are set, a drawer (3) situated on the panel (2) where cleaning agents are put and characterized by; a panel (2) comprising a handle (10) which is located in such a way that it cannot be seen from outside, and which can only be reached when the drawer (3) is removed, would be reached ergonomically by the user, and which would open the door (4) in emergency situations such as a power failure.

[002] A washer/dryer (1) as described in Claim 1 and characterized by; a panel (2) comprising a connector (7), which connects the handle (10) and the locking mechanism (9) to each other and which triggers when the handle (10) is actuated by pulling the handle (10) with locking mechanism (9).

[003] A washer/dryer (1) as described in Claims 1 and 2, characterized by; a panel (2) comprising a safety extension (11), which prevents possible electric shocks while using and prevents children from reaching the control group (8) located inside

[004] A washer/dryer (1) as described in Claims 1 to 3, characterized by; a panel (2) comprising a spring mechanism (5), which brings the connector (7) back to its former position.