GB2322073A

GB2322073A - Cover for domestic appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2322073A
Application number: GB9802610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joachim Grutzke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-18
Filing date: 1998-02-06
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Also published as: GB9802610D0; ITMI980085U1; IT243778Y1; DE19706285A1

Abstract

A cover for a domestic appliance comprises a substantially planar and rectangular panel 1 and a frame 3 extending around the perimeter thereof, which frame 3 has a plurality of side members, wherein at least one side member 6 is separate from the remaining side members 4 but is attachable thereto to close the perimeter. The side members may each have a substantially U-shaped cross section defining a recess to receive the panel. The remaining side members may also be U-shaped in plan view and the attachable side member may be fastened to the free ends of the remaining side members. Typically, the remaining side members are constructed from a single strip (10, Fig. 3) which is angularly bent at triangular incisions (12, Fig. 3) formed therein to define the remaining side members. Sealing lips (18, Fig. 2) may be provided in the recess of at least the remaining members, which lips may engage with the major faces of the panel.

Description

2322073 1 COVER ELEMENT FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE The present invention

relates to a cover element for a household appliance.

A cover element for such a purpose is described in DE-A-43 42 102, which cover element consists of a planar cover plate, onto which is plugged a circumferentially closed outer profile frame. The frame is retained at the plate by means of connecting parts which interengage in a mechanically positively locking manner.

Household appliances, for example refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and the like, provided with cover plates are frequently set up in combination with other domestic fittings, such as items of kitchen furniture. As a result, or sometimes for other reasons, the need arises to match the frame, which surrounds the cover plate, in terms of colour andlor structure to the profile frames of the items of kitchen furniture present in the vicinity or possibly to further household appliances.

There remains a need for a cover element for a household appliance which may permit a desired or necessary colour andlor shape matching, or even a later change, of the visible side of the frame without undue cost.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover element for a household appliance, comprising a substantially planar cover plate and a profile frame engaging around the cover plate at the outer circumference, characterised in that at least one frame side of the profile frame is constructed as a separate part, which is attachable to the corresponding other frame sides for formation of a circumferentially closed profile frame part.

Due to the construction of at least one frame side member as a separate part, which is then arranged as the front or visible side of the frame, the cost for adaptation or change of this one frame side member is kept to a minimum. The remaining side members of the substantially rectangular frame can remain unchanged.

A particularly simple manner of fastening of the frame to the plate without separate or separately designed fastening elements can be achieved if the individual side members of the frame have a substantially U-shaped cross-section and can be pushed by their U- 2 openings or recesses onto the individual side edges of the plate. After pushing of the individual side members onto the corresponding side edges of the plate and connection of the side members into a circumferentially closed frame, the frame is fixedly connected with the plate.

The mounting of the frame on the plate is substantially simplified if three side members of the frame are constructed to form a U-shaped part frame and the side member constructed as a separate part is attached to the free ends of the two side members forming the U limbs of the part frame.

A U-shaped part frame can be formed in simple manner from a single elongate profile strip if there are provided, at the opposite limb sides of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the frame side members, mutually aligned triangular incisions with mutually perpendicular side edges, which incisions extend by their apices into the region of the part of the frame side member forming the yoke of the U shape.

A tight connection between the frame and the plate can be achieved if a sealing lip is provided at at least one inner side, which is adjacent to the plate and extends parallel to the plane thereof, of the opening or recess in the side members.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cover element embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of part of a side member of a frame of the cover element; and Fig. 3 is a view of an elongate profile strip from which side members of the frame can be made.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a cover element for a household appliance, the cover element comprising a planar, rectangular cover plate 1, the side edges 2.of which are covered by means of a rectangular profile frame 3. Of the four frame side 3 members of the frame 3, three members 4 are constructed to form a U- shaped part frame 5. The fourth side member 6 is formed as a separate part. The side members 4 and 6 each have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with an opening 7.

On joining together of the plate 1 and the frame 3, the plate 1 is pushed by its side edge portions 2 into the openings 7 of the side members 4 of the part frame 5. Thereafter, the fourth side member 6 is plugged by its opening 7 onto the single, still free side edge 2 of the plate 1. The fourth side member 6 is connected with the front ends 8 of the two parallel side members 4 by means of, for example, interengaging plug elements 9. This fourth side member 6 in use forms the visible front edge of the cover element.

The construction of the fourth frame side member 6 as a separate part offers the advantage that this part can be executed with respect to its colour, its surface structure andlor its external profile in correspondence with the respective requirements. Thus, for matching with adjoining frames or other items of domestic furniture or appliances it is only necessary for one frame side member to be differently designed and the other side members can always be the same.

The U-shaped part frame 5 can be manufactured in simple manner from a profile strip 10 having a U-shaped cross-section. As can be seen from Fig. 3, triangular incisions 12 are provided in the U-Iimbs 13 of the strip 10 at a spacing corresponding to the length 11 of a frame side member 4, thus at the intended junctions of the members. The sides 14 of the incisions 12 extend at right angles to one another. The incisions 12 extend over virtually the full depth of the limbs 13, i.e. the apex 15 of each incision adjoins the yoke 16 of the Ushaped cross-section of the strip 10. The strip 10 can thus be bent through 900 in the region of each incision 12 and thereby form the U-shaped part frame 5.

As Fig. 2 shows, sealing lips 18 are provided at the inner sides 17 of the limbs 13 bounding the openings 7. Depending on the nature of the material of the strip 10, the sealing lips 18 can be moulded onto the limbs 13 or can be mounted as separate parts. On plugging of the frame 3 onto the plate 1 the sealing lips 18 bear against the major faces of the plate 1 and seal the plate and the frame 3 relative to one another. In addition, a firm seat of the frame 3 at the plate 1 is achieved by the sealing lips 18.

4

Claims

1. A cover element for a household appliance, comprising a substantially planar and rectangular plate and a substantially rectangular frame extending around the circumference of the plate, at least one of the side members of the frame being constructed as a separate part attachable to the remaining side members of the frame to provide a circumferentially closed form.

2. A cover element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the frame side members has a substantially U-shaped cross-section defining a recess receiving a respective edge portion of the plate.

3. A cover element as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said remaining side members form a U-shaped part frame and said attachable side member is fastenable to the part frame at the free end of the U limbs thereof.

4. A cover element as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said remaining side members are formed from a single strip of U-shaped crosssection, the strip being provided at intended junctions of the side members with triangular incisions so arranged in the U limbs of the strip cross-section that the strip can be angularly bent at the incisions to define the side members.

5. A cover element as claimed in claim 2 or either one of claims 3 and 4 when dependent on claim 2, wherein a sealing lip engageable with one of the major faces of the plate is provided in the recess of each of at least said remaining side members.

6. A cover element as claimed in claim 5, wherein a further sealing lip engageable with the other one of the major faces of the plate is provided in the recess of each of at least said remaining side members

7. A cover element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A household appliance provided with a cover element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the attachable side member of the frame of the cover element being disposed at a front side of the appliance.

9. An appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the colour and the shape of the attachable side member differs from that of said remaining side members.

10. An appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the colour and shape of the attachable side member is selected from a predetermined range thereof for matching with the appearance of intended adjoining parts of an assembly of domestic fittings.