GB2065460A - Washing machine with an adjustable work surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine, e.g. a dishwashing machine, has a work surface 4 which is adjustable in respect of depth and which is capable of being fixed to the support casing 1 of the machine by a adjustable pin and slot coupling 2 and 3 at the rear and by rigid locking means, e.g. brackets 5 and screws 6, at the front, in a region between the work surface 4 and the loading door 7. The bracket 5 may be removable connected to the casing 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washing machine with an adjustable work surface The present invention relates to a domestic wash ing machine, such as a dishwashing machine, with an adjustable work surface.

It is known that most domestic dishwashing machines are normally positioned near units of kitchen furniture. This presents the aesthetic and functional opportunity to adjust the position of the work surface of the dishwashing machine (which preferably is to be disposed near to the wall at the rear) in such a way as to permit the door for loading the machine to be aligned with the front doors of the kitchen units.

To permit such adjustment of the work surface, it is known for the surface member to be fixed to the support casing of the dishwashing machine by means of a coupling arrangement of a pin and slot type in the front part and by means of a locking arrangement using screws and brackets in the rear part. With this design, installation of the machine involves positioning the work surface, at the rear, against the wall of the kitchen, adjusting the position of the casing with respect to the work surface (by means of a sliding movement of the pins in the slots) to the required extent, moving the machine out of its operative position again in order to tighten the screws to lock the work surface on the support casing, and returning the machine after such adjustment to its preselected position. The entire operation is inconvenient and laborious.

According to the present invention, there is provided a washing machine with a work surface which is adjustable in respect of depth and which is capable of being fixed to a support casing of the machine by movable coupling means of pin and slot type and by rigid locking means, the movable coupling means being disposed at the rear part of the machine, while the locking means are disposed in the front part of the machine, in a region between the work surface and a loading door of the machine.

As will be apparent from the following description the invention can provide a washing machine with an adjustable work surface, which can be rapidly and conveniently installed in the desired position.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole Figure is a partly exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.

In the Figure, the support casing 1 of the machine is provided at the top, and in its rearward part, with at least one shaped hole or slot 2, while a corres ponding pin 3 with a wide head, which projects from the bottom of the work surface 4, is capable of co operating with the at least one slot 2. Once the pin and-slot connection between the casing 1 and the work surface 4 has been made, the machine can be installed in the desired position, with the work surface adjoining the wall and with the casing adjusted in respect of depth according to requirements.

The work surface can then by directly locked with respect to the casing 1. For this purpose, the casing is provided at its top with at least one forwardly projecting bracket 5 or the like, at the upper contour of the door 7 for loading the machine. The projecting portion of the bracket 5 is provided with a hole 8 (which is preferably elongated to permit assembly tolerances) in which a screw 6 is inserted from below, when the door 7 is open, thereby to fix the work surface. The work surface may be provided on its underside with a plurality of holes 9 which are aligned in the direction of the depth of the machine and which are arranged to co-operate selectively with the screw 6, in dependence on the mutual positioning of the work surface and the casing.

Installation of the washing machine is thus extremely simple and rational and the particular position of the bracket 5 between the work surface 4 and the door 7 does not spoil the appearance, which would be unpleasant from aesthetic points of view.

When the machine is installed under a table surface (that is to say, without the work surface 4), the bracket 5 is obviously removed, and for that purpose is removably connected to the casing 1.

1. A washing machine with a work surface which is adjustable in respect of depth and which is capable of being fixed to a support casing of the machine by movable coupling means of pin and slot type and by rigid locking means, the movable coupling means being disposed at the rear part of the machine, while the locking means are disposed in the front part of the machine, in a region between the work surface and a loading door of the machine.

2. Awashing machine according to claim 1 wherein the locking means comprise at least one bracket which is removably connected to the support casing and which projects forwardly therefrom and which is provided with an elongate hole for the insertion of screws for fixing the work surface.

3. A washing machine according to claim 2 wherein the work surface is provided on its underside with holes which are aligned in the direction of the depth of the machine and which are arranged to co-operate selectively with said screws.

4. A washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Washing machine with an adjustable work surface The present invention relates to a domestic wash ing machine, such as a dishwashing machine, with an adjustable work surface. It is known that most domestic dishwashing machines are normally positioned near units of kitchen furniture. This presents the aesthetic and functional opportunity to adjust the position of the work surface of the dishwashing machine (which preferably is to be disposed near to the wall at the rear) in such a way as to permit the door for loading the machine to be aligned with the front doors of the kitchen units. To permit such adjustment of the work surface, it is known for the surface member to be fixed to the support casing of the dishwashing machine by means of a coupling arrangement of a pin and slot type in the front part and by means of a locking arrangement using screws and brackets in the rear part. With this design, installation of the machine involves positioning the work surface, at the rear, against the wall of the kitchen, adjusting the position of the casing with respect to the work surface (by means of a sliding movement of the pins in the slots) to the required extent, moving the machine out of its operative position again in order to tighten the screws to lock the work surface on the support casing, and returning the machine after such adjustment to its preselected position. The entire operation is inconvenient and laborious. According to the present invention, there is provided a washing machine with a work surface which is adjustable in respect of depth and which is capable of being fixed to a support casing of the machine by movable coupling means of pin and slot type and by rigid locking means, the movable coupling means being disposed at the rear part of the machine, while the locking means are disposed in the front part of the machine, in a region between the work surface and a loading door of the machine. As will be apparent from the following description the invention can provide a washing machine with an adjustable work surface, which can be rapidly and conveniently installed in the desired position. The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole Figure is a partly exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention. In the Figure, the support casing 1 of the machine is provided at the top, and in its rearward part, with at least one shaped hole or slot 2, while a corres ponding pin 3 with a wide head, which projects from the bottom of the work surface 4, is capable of co operating with the at least one slot 2. Once the pin and-slot connection between the casing 1 and the work surface 4 has been made, the machine can be installed in the desired position, with the work surface adjoining the wall and with the casing adjusted in respect of depth according to requirements. The work surface can then by directly locked with respect to the casing 1. For this purpose, the casing is provided at its top with at least one forwardly projecting bracket 5 or the like, at the upper contour of the door 7 for loading the machine. The projecting portion of the bracket 5 is provided with a hole 8 (which is preferably elongated to permit assembly tolerances) in which a screw 6 is inserted from below, when the door 7 is open, thereby to fix the work surface. The work surface may be provided on its underside with a plurality of holes 9 which are aligned in the direction of the depth of the machine and which are arranged to co-operate selectively with the screw 6, in dependence on the mutual positioning of the work surface and the casing. Installation of the washing machine is thus extremely simple and rational and the particular position of the bracket 5 between the work surface 4 and the door 7 does not spoil the appearance, which would be unpleasant from aesthetic points of view. When the machine is installed under a table surface (that is to say, without the work surface 4), the bracket 5 is obviously removed, and for that purpose is removably connected to the casing 1. CLAIMS

1. A washing machine with a work surface which is adjustable in respect of depth and which is capable of being fixed to a support casing of the machine by movable coupling means of pin and slot type and by rigid locking means, the movable coupling means being disposed at the rear part of the machine, while the locking means are disposed in the front part of the machine, in a region between the work surface and a loading door of the machine.

2. Awashing machine according to claim 1 wherein the locking means comprise at least one bracket which is removably connected to the support casing and which projects forwardly therefrom and which is provided with an elongate hole for the insertion of screws for fixing the work surface.

3. A washing machine according to claim 2 wherein the work surface is provided on its underside with holes which are aligned in the direction of the depth of the machine and which are arranged to co-operate selectively with said screws.

4. A washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.