GB2320507A

GB2320507A - Door for a washing machine and/or drying machine

Info

Publication number: GB2320507A
Application number: GB9725472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luciano Lorenzetti; Roberto Pezzetta
Original assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA; Electrolux Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA; Electrolux Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1996-12-02
Filing date: 1997-12-01
Publication date: 1998-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-01
Also published as: IT241577Y1; DE29721320U1; ES1038940U; FR2756575A1; FR2756575B3; GB9725472D0; ITPN960049U1; ES1038940Y; GB2320507B

Abstract

A door (10) for a washing and/or drying machine comprises a central part (11), preferably made of a transparent material, rigidly coupled to a peripheral flange (15) carrying one of the two elements of the door hinge and a hinged handle (17). A frame (20), preferably of a non-transparent material, is fixed to and extends over the flange (15) in order to conceal it from view, whilst a cover element (30) extends from the inner periphery of the frame (20), in order to cover the handle (17). This cover element (30) is characterised by an external portion (31) and a portion (32), defining a space which encloses at least a substantial part of the handle (17), protecting it and/or concealing it from view.

Description

1 2320507 MACHINE FOR WASHING AND/OR DRYING LAUNDRY The present invention

relates to a machine for washing and/or drying laundry, in particular for domestic use, with an external casing, a rotary drum accommodated in the interior of the casing and a door hinged to the casing for loading and unloading the laundry in the drum. A notable example of doors for front loading washing machines is to be found in patent application GB-A-2294698 in the name of the present applicants.

In those doors the pivotably mounted handle which is often made in one piece with the latching catch of the locking device is a critical component by virtue of being subject to damage (due to knocks, incorrect actuation and contamination with detergents) and also by virtue of the aesthetic appearance which can be not very closely coordinated with that of the other visible parts of the machine.

Recently a door structure for clothes washing machines has been introduced in which, besides the transparent central part and the peripheral flange which carries a component of the hinge for the door and the handle, there is an external frame. That frame which is disposed substantially flush with the associated surface of the external casing conceals from view more or less entirely the peripheral flange and, at least in regard to a certain portion thereof, is spaced from the flange to permit pivotal mounting of the subjacent handle - see ornamental model (British Registered Design) GB 2053307 granted on 16 April 1996 on the basis of an Italian priority of 12 July 1995 to the present applicants.

The above-mentioned frame which is produced integrally of rigid thermoplastic material is not entirely satisfactory as regards the function of covering the handle.

The aim of the present invention is to provide for a clothes washing machine a door which also comprises an external frame capable of performing all the functions envisaged, both functional and aesthetic, without serious 2 repercussions on the production cycle and on the industrial cost of the finished product.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine for washing and/or drying laundry, having an external casing which encloses a rotary drum for containing the articles to be washed and which is provided with an opening for access to the drum closeable by a hinged door, said door comprising: a central part; a peripheral flange rigidly coupled to the central part which carries one of the two elements of the hinge of the door and a hinged handle; a frame which extends over the peripheral flange to which it is fixed in such a way as to conceal it from view; and a cover element for the handle which extends from a portion of the radially more inward periphery of the frame; wherein the machine the cross-section of said cover element comprises an external portion and a portion of undercut configuration which defines a space which encloses at least a substantial part of the handle in such a way as to protect it and/or conceal it from view. In order better to illustrate features and advantages of the invention a preferred embodiment thereof will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a front loading clothes washing machine whose door is designed in accordance with the present invention; 30 Figure 2 is restricted to some details of the door of the clothes washing machine taken along section line II-II in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the same and other details of the above-mentioned door taken along section line III-III in Figure 1.

Conventionally the clothes washing machine comprises as shown in Figure 1 an external parallelepipedic casing 1 with a work top 2, a control panel 3 for rotary control members 4 and with a key pad 5, a drawer 6 for the 3 washing agents and, on the front face 7, an opening for loading and unloading the laundry in the internal rotary drum (not shown), which opening can be closed by a door identified generally by reference numeral 10.

As is particularly shown in Figure 2 the door 10 comprises a central part 11 in the form of a porthole, produced of glass or other transparent material, and peripheral flange 15 which extends around the periphery 12 of the central part 11. The periphery 12 of the central part 11 has slots (not shown) for latching fixing to projections 13 on the peripheral flange 15. The latter which is made for example of thermoplastic material is rigid, of an annular shape and of substantially flat cross-section; on the left hand side of the front face 7 of the clothes washing machine is (Figure 1), the flange carries one of the two components of the hinge system for the door 10 while on the right-hand side it carries the pin 16 of a handle 17 for opening and closing the door 10. The handle 17 is made in one piece with a catch (not shown) for latching to the safety door locking arrangement (also not shown) which is provided on the machine. All the above-described parts are completely conventional and can be understood without any difficulty by the man skilled in the art without the need to provide further details.

As shown in Figure 3 the door 10 also comprises a frame 20 of annular shape, made of an opaque rigid material, for example also thermoplastic material. The frame 20 is of a curved cross-section with a portion 21 of undercut configuration which terminates with projections 21 for latching engagement with protruding portions 18 which are provided along the radially outward periphery 19 of the peripheral flange 15. The frame 20 extends over the peripheral flange 15 in such a way as to hide it from view, leaving a free space 26 in its interior. The free space 26 permits pivotal movement of the handle 17 about the pin 16 during opening and closing of the door.

In accordance with the main feature of this patent along the portion 23 of the radially more inward periphery 24 of the frame 20 which is disposed astride the handle 17, 4 there extends a hollow cover element 30 which has the appearance of a segment of a circle when the door 10 is closed (see Figure 1). The section of the cover element 30 comprises a curved external portion 31 connected to the curved section of the frame 20, and an internal portion 32 of the undercut configuration defining a space 35 which, at a position corresponding to the handle 17, extends the free space 26 provided under the frame 20. The cover element 30 is made of a soft material (for example thermoplastic rubber) with a modulus of elasticity which is greater than the material of the frame 20 and it is fixed to the latter. An advantageous method of producing the cover element 30 is that of co-injecting it with the frame 20 or injecting it thereover (i.e. by over-injection-moulding). It is however possible to produce the frame 20 and the cover element 30 separately and subsequently join them together by a mechanical fixing or by means of glueing. Figure 3 shows by way of example a seat 33 at the end of the curved external portion 31 of the cover element 30 and an associated tongue along the portion 23 of the cover 20. Assembly of the component parts of the door is effected in such a way that the final edge 34, at the end of its internal portion 32 of undercut configuration, is held between the periphery 12 of the central part 11 and teeth 14 which are provided on the radially inward part of the peripheral flange 15. In that way the gripping portion of the handle 17 is substantially entirely enclosed in the space 35 of the cover element 30.

The advantage of this construction is that the handle 17, being entirely protected by the 'housing' f ormed by the frame 20 and the cover element 30, is less subject to soiling, surface damage etc., in particular during pivotal movement thereof (that is to say rotation about the pin 16 for opening and closing the door 10 of the clothes washing machine). In addition, in the event that it involves particular aesthetic features such as colour and/or external appearance, the cover element 30 can advantageously constitute an attractive distinctive motif or design of the machine according to the present application with respect to conventional machines, while on the contrary it can constitute a means for concealing the handle 17 from view if it is made of a non-transparent material.

Even if the above-described construction is a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be appreciated that the man skilled in the art can arrive at other structural configurations based on the same innovative principles, for example in regard to the ways of making the connection between the frame and the cover element. In particular it is possible to use systems involving mechanical fixing or glueing. It will thus be appreciated as of now that these further constructions will be protected by the present patent.

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Claims

CLAINS

1. A machine for washing and/or drying laundry, having an external casing which encloses a rotary drum for containing the articles to be washed and which is provided with an opening for access to the drum closeable by a hinged door, said door comprising: a central part; a peripheral flange rigidly coupled to the central part which carries one of the two elements of the hinge of the door and a hinged handle; a frame which extends over the peripheral flange to which it is fixed in such a way as to conceal it from view; and is a cover element for the handle which extends from a portion of the radially more inward periphery of the frame; wherein the machine the cross-section of said cover element comprises an external portion and a portion of undercut configuration which defines a space which encloses at least a substantial part of the handle in such a way as to protect it and/or conceal it from view.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said portion of undercut configuration of the cover element terminates with an edge which remains held by the region between the periphery of the central part and a peripheral flange of the door while the end of said external portion is fixed to said portion of the radially more inward periphery of the frame.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said cover element is made of a soft material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material from which said frame is made.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said cover element is made from a thermoplastic rubber blend while the frame is made from a rigid thermoplastic material.

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5. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover element is co-injected with the frame of the door.

6. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said cover element is injected over a portion of radially more inward periphery of the frame of the door.

7. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said cover element is mechanically fixed on a portion of the radially more inward periphery of the frame of the door.

8. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said cover element is glued to a portion of the radially more inward periphery of the frame of the door.

9. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central part is made of a transparent material.

10. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is made of a non-transparent material.

11. A machine for washing andlor drying laundry substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.