EP3189185A1

EP3189185A1 - Laundry dryer comprising a fragrance source

Info

Publication number: EP3189185A1
Application number: EP15731918.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Murvet SARI; Ismail GERZELI; Ramazan Ridvan SEKMEN; Cumhur Ayvazoglu; Burcu YAKARTAS; Basak Arslan
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-09-05
Filing date: 2015-06-25
Publication date: 2017-07-12
Also published as: WO2016034305A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a tub (3) situated within the body (2) and wherein the items to be dried are placed; an opening (4) that is arranged on the body (2) and that provides loading/unloading of the tub (3), and a frame (5) that surrounds the opening (4) and that has a skirt (6) extending into the tub (3), comprising a fragrance source (7) that is placed onto the skirt (6).

Description

A DRYER COMPRISING A FRAGRANCE SOURCE

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer comprising a fragrance source.
In laundry dryers, the laundry to be dried lose the fragrance of the detergent and/or the softener thereon during the drying process. The reason for this is that the air that passes over the laundry during the drying process removes the fragrance on the laundry. In the state of the art, various embodiments are known for the laundry to smell good after the drying process. One of these embodiments is to place a fragrance source inside the dryer to provide fragrance. The fragrance source is positioned in the vicinity of the dryer lid or the tub opening to provide easy access for the user. In the fragrance sources, fragrance supplies comprising heavy chemical materials are used so as to provide long-term utilization and this type of fragrance sources may attract the attention of the children. Especially little children may take the fragrance sources that can be easily seen and accessed on the dryer and put it in their mouths. This situation may cause chemical poisoning.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2145997, a dryer is disclosed, comprising a fragrance source disposed on the front supporter that supports the tub from the front and whereto the user is enabled to reach easily.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dryer comprising a fragrance source that is securely placed on the body.
The dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a fragrance source that is placed onto the skirt, extending into the tub, of the frame that surrounds the opening providing access into the tub. Thus, the fragrance source is enabled to mix directly with the process air that provides drying and the fragrance source cannot be seen from the outside while the lid of the dryer is open.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance source has a surface produced from a ferromagnetic metal and is fixed onto skirt by means of a magnet disposed on the surface of the skirt. When desired to be mounted, the fragrance source is required to be inserted through the opening and moved close to the region wherein the magnet is disposed on the skirt. The magnet pulls the metal surface of the fragrance source and enables the placement of the fragrance source. Thus, the user is enabled to easily mount/dismount the fragrance source that must be placed to a region that cannot be easily seen by the user.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance is fixed onto the surface of the skirt by means of hook-and-loop fasteners that are attached onto the skirt and the fragrance source. The user adheres the fragrance source by means of the hook-and-loop fastener on the skirt. Thus, it is not required to make any structural changes in the body of the dryer for the placement of the fragrance source.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance source is placed into a housing that is arranged on the surface of the skirt. The housing may extend into the tub from the surface of the skirt as a pocket or may be in the form of a cut-out arranged on the surface of the skirt. In both embodiments, it becomes difficult for the children to mount/dismount the fragrance source into/from the housing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance source is placed so as to be at the upper half of the skirt with respect to the center of the tub. Thus, if the children accidentally put their heads into the tub, they are prevented from noticing the fragrance source.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance source comprises a casing wherein the fragrant material is placed. In this embodiment, the casing and the fragrant material are prevented from contacting the laundry and the user is prevented from physically contacting the fragrant chemical material in any way possible.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the casing has more than one hole that provides the exit of the fragrance. By means of the holes, the process air is enabled to enter into the casing and increase the diffusion of the fragrance from the fragrance source.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a cover is provided, that allows the changing of the fragrant material in the casing and that covers a surface of the casing. The user opens the cover and changes the fragrant material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a sponge, that absorbs the fragrant liquid poured thereon and that disperses the fragrance by diffusion, is provided in the casing. The user fills in the fragrant liquid into the fragrance source and the fragrant liquid absorbed by the sponge is delivered to the laundry by diffusion.
In the dryer of the present invention, the fragrance source is enabled to be placed into the dryer so as not to be noticed at first glance but so as to contact the process air and the children are prevented from easily accessing the fragrance source. Moreover, by means of the magnet provided on the skirt, the user is enabled to easily place the fragrance source.
The dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the front schematic view of a dryer.
Figure 2 – is the sideways schematic view of the dryer and the fragrance source placed onto the skirt relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the frame, the skirt and the fragrance source relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the frame, the skirt and the housing relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the frame, the skirt and the housing relating to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 – is the perspective view of the casing and the cover.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
1. Dryer
2. Body
3. Tub
4. Opening
5. Frame
6. Skirt
7. Fragrance source
8. Magnet
9. Hook-and-loop fastener
10. Housing
11. Casing
12. Hole
13. Cover
The dryer (1) comprises a body (2); a tub (3) situated within the body (2) and wherein the items to be dried are placed; an opening (4) that is arranged on the body (2) and that provides loading/unloading of the tub (3), and a frame (5) that surrounds the opening (4) and that has a skirt (6) extending into the tub (3).
In the dryer (1), the items desired to be dried are loaded into the tub (3) through the opening (4). The hot and dry process air (PA) that provides drying is delivered from the heat exchanger (not shown) onto the items desired to be dried and removes the humidity of the items. The process air (PA) that carries intensive moisture leaves the moisture by again passing over the heat exchanger and is heated to be delivered back into the tub (3).
The dryer (1) of the present invention comprises a fragrance source (7) that is placed onto the skirt (6). The frame (5) surrounds the opening (4) all around and the skirt (6) grasps the edges of the tub (3) by extending into the body (2) almost vertically. The fragrance source (7) is placed onto the surface of the skirt (6) so as to contact the process air (PA) during the drying process. The user inserts the fragrance source (7) through the opening (4) to place the former onto the surface of the skirt (6) so as not to be seen from the outside when the lid is open. The fragrance emitted from the fragrance source (7) disperses into the tub by means of the process air (PA) during the drying cycle and enables the laundry to smell good.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises a magnet (8) disposed on the skirt (6) and also the fragrance source (7) that has at least one surface produced from ferromagnetic metal that can be pulled by the magnetic force occurring between the magnet and the surface of the fragrance source (7). The user inserts the fragrance source (7) through the opening (4) and when he/she moves the former closer to the magnet on the skirt (6), the magnet (8) pulls the fragrance source (7) by magnetically interacting with the ferromagnetic surface of the fragrance source (7). In this embodiment, the magnetic force of the magnet (8) is greater than the force exerted by the process air (PA) on the fragrance source (7), thus during the drying process, the fragrance source (7) is prevented from leaving the magnet (8) and contacting the laundry in the tub (3). By means of this embodiment, the user is enabled to easily place the fragrance source (7) onto the surface of the skirt (6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises hook-and-loop fasteners (9) that are disposed on the skirt (6) and on at least one surface of the fragrance source (7) and that enables the fragrance source (7) to the skirt (6). The user adheres the fragrance source (7) onto the hook-and-loop fasteners (9) disposed on the skirt (6). By means of this embodiment, the fragrance source (7) is enabled to be easily fixed onto the surface of the skirt (6) that can be relatively hard to reach by the user.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises a housing (10) that is arranged on the skirt (6) and wherein the fragrance source (7) is placed. The housing (10) is large enough for the fragrance source (7) to tightly fit therein, thus the fragrance source (7) is prevented from being affected by the vibrations generated during the operation of the dryer (1). By placing the fragrance source (7) into a housing (10), the possibility of the laundry contacting the fragrance source (7) is decreased while the fragrance source (7) is prevented from falling/dislodging from the surface of the skirt (6) during the drying process.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (10) is shaped like a slot/pocket extending from over the skirt (6) into the tub (3). By means of this embodiment, the user is enabled to easily place the fragrance source (7) onto the skirt (6) that cannot be seen from the outside.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (10) is configured as a cut-out situated on the surface of the skirt (6). The user is enabled to easily mount/dismount the fragrance source (7) onto/from the skirt (6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance source (7) is placed onto the skirt (6) so as to be at the upper half of the skirt (6) with respect to the center of the body (2). The fragrance source (7) is prevented from contacting the laundry in the tub (3).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance source (7) comprises a casing (11) wherein fragrant chemical materials are placed. When the fragrant material is used up, the user places a new fragrant material into the casing (11) and continues to use the fragrance source (7).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the casing (11) has more than one hole (12) on at least one of the surface thereof, that provides the exit of the fragrance. The fragrance emission provided by diffusion on the fragrance source (7) is enabled to mix with the process air (PA) by means of the holes (12).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises a cover (13) that is mounted onto the casing (11) in an openable/closable manner and that allow the fragrant material to be changed. The user can access the interior of the fragrance source (7) by opening the over (13) on the fragrance source (7) and after placing the fragrant material, closes the fragrance source (7) by attaching the cover (13) onto the casing (11). By means of the cover (13), the fragrant material cannot be taken out of the fragrance source (7) without user intervention. Thus, the children are prevented from reaching the fragrant chemical material in the casing (11).
In another embodiment, the fragrance source (7) comprises a sponge (not shown in the figures) that is placed into the casing (11) and that absorbs the liquid fragrant material. The user is enabled to use liquid fragrant chemicals and thus, the need for using solid fragrant materials that contain excessive chemicals in order to provide intense fragrance. In this embodiment, the sponge can hold liquid fragrant material enough for a few uses and the diffusion of the fragrance molecules becomes more efficient in comparison to the solid fragrant materials since the fragrant material is liquid. Thus, by enabling the use of less liquid fragrant material with respect to the solid fragrant materials, the amount of chemicals used is decreased. Thus, the little children are prevented from being subjected to heavy chemical materials in case they accidentally reach the fragrance source (7).
In the dryer (1) of the present invention, the fragrance source (7) is enabled to be placed onto the skirt (6) surface that cannot be easily seen from the outside when the lid is open in a manner suitable for scenting purposes and the children are prevented from reaching the fragrance source (7).

Claims

A dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a tub (3) situated within the body (2) and wherein the items to be dried are placed; an opening (4) that is arranged on the body (2) and that provides loading/unloading of the tub (3), and a frame (5) that surrounds the opening (4) and that has a skirt (6) extending into the tub (3), characterized by a fragrance source (7) that is placed onto the skirt (6).
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a magnet (8) disposed on the skirt (6) and by the fragrance source (7) that has at least one surface produced from ferromagnetic metal that can be pulled by the magnetic force occurring between the magnet and the surface of the fragrance source (7).
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by hook-and-loop fasteners (9) that are disposed on the skirt (6) and on at least one surface of the fragrance source (7) and that enables the fragrance source (7) to the skirt (6).
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a housing (10) that is arranged on the skirt (6) and wherein the fragrance source (7) is placed.
A dryer (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the housing (10) configured as a slot/pocket extending from over the skirt (6) into the tub (3).
A dryer (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the housing (10) configured as a cut-out on the skirt (6).
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the fragrance source (7) that is placed onto the skirt (6) so as to remain at the upper half of the skirt (6) with respect to the center of the body (2).
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the fragrance source (7) that has a casing (11) wherein fragrant chemical materials are placed.
A dryer (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by more than one hole (12) arranged on at least one surface of the casing (11) and providing the exit of the fragrance.
A dryer (1) as in Claim 8 or 9, characterized by a cover (13) that is mounted onto the casing (11) in an openable/closable manner and that allow the fragrant material to be changed.
A dryer (1) as in any one of the Claims 8 to 10, characterized by a sponge that is placed into the casing (11) and that absorbs liquid fragrant material.