EP3983603B1

EP3983603B1 - A washer/dryer comprising a lock

Info

Publication number: EP3983603B1
Application number: EP20822441.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Faruk SEVEN; Onur MUHIDDIN; Furkan KIBRIS; Selcuk TABAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2019-06-14
Filing date: 2020-07-06
Publication date: 2024-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-06
Also published as: WO2020251509A3; EP3983603A4; TR201908868A2; WO2020251509A2; EP3983603A2

Description

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer comprising a lock.
In washer/dryers, the door used for loading and unloading the laundry is enabled to be kept in the closed position by means of a lock. Generally, locking is realized by the placement of a latch disposed on the door into a lock disposed on the front wall of the body. In the state of the art, the components which constitute the lock are provided in groups. The lock group is realized by entirely inserting the lock orifice where the hook enters from the rear side of the front wall through an opening arranged on the front wall and by fixing the same in this position. In order to enable the opening/closing of the door to be performed securely, the locks are provided with at least one flexing member. However, the forces acting on the components which constitute the lock as the hook engages with and separated from the lock cause deformations and malfunctions in time.
In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP1681386 , a household appliance is disclosed, comprising a locking group which is mounted in an engaged manner by being inserted into the front wall from one side and rotatably slid.
Document WO2019108514 A1 discloses a door-lock for home appliances such as washing machines and laundry dryers,
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer/dryer comprising a lock with improved safety which can be easily mounted.
The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a front wall, and an opening which is provided on the front wall and which enables the laundry to be loaded. The opening is accessed by means of a door which can be opened and closed by the user. A hole is provided on the periphery of the opening on the front wall. A lock which is mounted onto the front wall and which has a body positioned behind the hole is inserted into the hole. A hook provided on the door is inserted into a hook housing on the body by being passed through the hole, and the door is enabled to be closed by inserting the hook into the lock. A hook holder is provided on the body. By means of the hook holder, the hook holder holds the hook seated onto the lock as the door is closed, thus keeping the door in the closed position. The hook holder is positioned so as to contact at least one surface of the hook housing. At least one flexing member is provided between the hook holder and the side section of the body so as to enable the hook holder to perform the movement required for holding the hook inserted into the hook housing.
The washer/dryer of the present invention comprises a blocking member which is arranged on the body. The blocking member contacts at least one surface of the hook holder. A second flexing member which is squeezed due to the force transmitted by the hook while being inserted into the hook housing is provided at the rear side of the blocking member. The second flexing member enables the blocking member to make a rotational movement. With the movement of the blocking member, the force exerted onto the first flexing member is removed and the flexing member transmits a force onto the hook holder. Thus, the hook holder covers the hook, keeping the door in the closed position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer comprises the hook holder which has at least one angled surface contacting the blocking member.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer comprises the blocking member which has at least one angled surface contacting the hook holder.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer comprises the first flexing member in the form of a spring.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer comprises the second flexing member in the form of a spring.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer comprises the blocking member having the second flexing member which is positioned behind the end thereof contacting the hook holder.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer comprises a blocking member housing which is arranged on the body. The blocking member housing has a form suitable for receiving an end of the blocking member which does not contact the hook holder. Thereby, by means of the force exerted by the hook, the blocking member rotates about a fixed end and the hook holder is released so as to cover the hook inserted into the lock, thus keeping the door closed.
By means of the present invention, a washer/dryer comprising a lock with improved safety is realized, wherein the hook holder enables the door to be kept closed by covering the hook when the hook is inserted into the hook housing.
The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a washer/dryer.
Figure 2 - is the front view of a washer/dryer.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the lock in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the lock before the hook is inserted into the hook housing in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the lock after the hook is inserted into the hook housing in an embodiment of the present invention.

The members illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1-: Washer/dryer
2-: Front wall
3-: Drum
4-: Opening
5-: Door
6-: Hole
7-: Lock
8-: Body
9-: Hook
10-: Hook Housing
11-: Hook Holder
12-: First Flexing Member
13-: Blocking Member
14-: Second Flexing Member
15-: Blocking Member Housing
A-: First Angled Surface
B-: Second Angled Surface

The washer/dryer (1) comprises a front wall (2); an opening (4) which is arranged on the front wall (2) and which provides access into the drum (3) wherein the laundry is loaded; a door (5) which closes the opening (4); a hole (6) which is arranged on the periphery of the opening (4) on the front wall (2); a lock (7) which is mounted to the front wall (2), which is mounted into the hole (6) and which has a body (8) positioned behind the hole (6); a hook (9) which is provided on the door (5); a hook housing (10) which is arranged on the body (8) and which passes through the hole (6) when the door (5) is closed so as to enable the hook (9) to be inserted into the lock (7); a hook holder (11) which is disposed on the body (8) so as to contact at least one surface of the hook housing (10) wherein the hook (9) is inserted; and at least one first flexing member (12) which is arranged between the hook holder (11) and the side section of the body (8) and which allows the hook holder (11) to move depending on the force transmitted to the hook holder (11) with the movement of the hook (9).
The washer/dryer (1) of the present invention comprises a blocking member (13) which is arranged on the body (8). The blocking member (13) contacts at least one surface of the hook holder (11). A second flexing member (14) which is squeezed due to the force transmitted by the hook (9) while being inserted into the hook housing (10) is provided at the rear side of the blocking member (13). The second flexing member (14) enables the blocking member (13) to make a rotational movement. During the closing of the door (5), the hook (9) is inserted the hook housing (10) by means of the blocking member (13) without contacting the hook holder (11). With the movement of the blocking member (13), the force exerted onto the first flexing member (12) is removed and the first flexing member (12) transmits a force onto the hook holder (11). Thus, the hook holder (1) covers the hook (9), keeping the door (5) in the closed position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises the hook holder (11) having at least one first angled surface (A) which contacts the blocking member (13). By means of the first angled surface (A) on the hook holder (11), the hook (9) is enabled to slidably move over the blocking member (13) in a decelerating manner during the insertion of the hook (9) into the hook housing (10), thus increasing the closing duration of the door (5) and decreasing the closing noise.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises the hook holder (13) having at least one second angled surface (B) which contacts the hook holder (11). During the opening of the door (5), the hook holder (11) exerts force onto the flexing members (12, 14). During the movement, as the distance between the blocking member (13) and the hook holder (11) increases due to the second angled surface (B) on the blocking member (13), the reaction force acting against the force applied is absorbed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises the lock (7) wherein a spring is used as the first flexing member (12).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises the lock (7) wherein a spring is used as the second flexing member (14).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises the blocking member (13) having the second flexing member (14) which is positioned behind the end thereof contacting the hook holder (11). During the opening of the door (5), the hook (9) enables the hook holder (11) to be pushed onto the first flexing member (12).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises a blocking member housing (15) which is arranged on the body (8). The blocking member housing (15) has a form suitable for receiving an end of the blocking member (13) which does not contact the hook holder (11). Thereby, by means of the force exerted by the hook (9), the blocking member (13) rotates around a fixed end and the hook holder (11) is released so as to cover the hook (9) inserted into the lock (7), thus keeping the door (5) closed.
By means of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) is realized, comprising the lock (7), wherein the forces acting on the hook holder (11) and the blocking member (13) are adjusted during the opening/closing of the door (5) depending on the movement of the hook (9) inside the hook housing (10).

Claims

A washer/dryer (1) comprising a front wall (2); an opening (4) which is arranged on the front wall (2) and which provides access into the drum (3) wherein the laundry is loaded; a door (5) which closes the opening (4); a hole (6) which is arranged on the periphery of the opening (4) on the front wall (2); a lock (7) which is mounted to the front wall (2), which is mounted into the hole (6) and which has a body (8) positioned behind the hole (6); a hook (9) which is provided on the door (5); a hook housing (10) which is arranged on the body (8) and which passes through the hole (6) when the door (5) is closed so as to enable the hook (9) to be inserted into the lock (7); a hook holder (11) which is disposed on the body (8) so as to contact at least one surface of the hook housing (10) wherein the hook (9) is inserted; and at least one first flexing member (12) which is arranged between the hook holder (11) and the side section of the body (8) and which allows the hook holder (11) to move depending on the force transmitted to the hook holder (11) with the movement of the hook (9), characterized by a blocking member (13) which is arranged on the body (8), which has at least one surface that contacts the hook holder (11), which makes a rotational movement by means of a second flexing member (14) squeezed as a result of the force transmitted by the hook (9) while being inserted into the hook housing (10), and the hook holder (11) which is released as the blocking member (13) makes a rotational movement so as to enable the hook (9) to be kept in the hook housing (10) and enable the door (5) to be brought to the closed position.
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the hook holder (11) which has first angled surface (A) so as to contact the blocking member (13).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the blocking member (13) which has second angled surface (B) so as to contact the hook holder (11).
A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the first flexing member (12) which is a spring.
A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the second flexing member (14) which is a spring.
A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the blocking member (13) which has the second spring member (14) positioned behind the end thereof which contacts the hook holder (11).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by a blocking member housing (15) which is arranged on the body (8), which is suitable to receive an end of the blocking member (11) which does not contact the hook holder (11) and which allows for the rotational movement around the fixed end as a result of the force transmitted by the hook (9).