WO2010029070A2

WO2010029070A2 - A washer/dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2010029070A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/061627
Authority: WO
Inventors: Irfan Celik
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-09-09
Filing date: 2009-09-08
Publication date: 2010-03-18
Also published as: WO2010029070A3; EP2329072A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) that comprises at least two side walls (2) covering the volume from sides wherein the drum, in which the laundry is emplaced, and other machine elements are located, a front wall (3) mounted onto the side walls (2) and covering the said volume from front up to a certain height, a bracket (4) hung between the side walls (2) from a point near the upper edge of the side walls (2), and a front panel (5) which is mounted to the bracket (4), which covers the space remaining above the front wall (3) from front, and whereon elements such as buttons, display, detergent dispenser are disposed.

Description

A WASHER/DRYER

[0001] The present invention relates to a washer/dryer wherein its front panel is prevented from being detached during transportation or usage.

[0002] In washers/dryers; rear, front, side walls, worktop and front panel are fastened to each other by connecting elements such as screws, detent means and thus, the machine outer cabinet is formed. Forces coming from various directions by impacts and falls that can occur during transportation or usage act on these screws and connecting elements. In the situation that the connection points cannot resist these forces, it can be possible that the connecting elements at these areas are detached or deformations can occur. In the state of the art, various methods are used in order to prevent the damages that can occur at the connection points during transportation and to facilitate the assembly of the outer cabinet and the front panel.

[0003] In the state of the art German Patent Application No DE10101217, a washer/dryer is explained which comprises a cover panel mounted movably, and stops extending from the panel downwards and performing the function of stopping and locking by guaranteeing flush butting of the leading edge of the cover panel with the front of the switch panel.

[0004] In another state of the art embodiment, the German Patent No

DE19613320, a washer is described wherein the worksurface is secured to the switch panel by means of a spring socket located on the top edge of the switch panel and a spring clamp fitting into the socket such that it will clasp this socket from the bottom and top.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer/dryer wherein the damages that can occur during transportation are reduced and which can be easily assembled.

[0006] The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] The washer/dryer of the present invention comprises at least one detent means providing the front panel to be mounted to the bracket, at least one extension extending from the worktop downwards, at least one support member located at the lower end of the extension, extending towards the bottom of the detent means vertically to the extension, supporting the detent means from below. In the situation wherein a rotational force affects on the front panel downwards, the support member provides support from below such that it will resist the force and thus, provides the connection to be resistant.

[0008] The bracket is L-shaped and hung to the side walls such that it will cover the upper front edge of the washer/dryer. The bracket is positioned under the front panel and worktop such that one leg of the bracket will be parallel to the front panel and the other leg will be parallel to the worktop.

[0009] The extension comprises at least one housing whereto the leg of the bracket that is on the horizontal plane at least partially enters. Thus, the front panel-worktop connection is strengthened.

[0010] The detent means comprises an arm and a head located at the end of the arm, having a triangle cross-section firstly being narrow and then wide in the direction of entering the opening.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening is on the leg of the bracket that is on the vertical plane, and preferably at the upper portion thereof. When the front panel is mounted to the bracket, the detent means is passed entirely through the opening and thus, it passes to the back of the bracket.

[0012] In this embodiment, the bracket, furthermore, comprises a hole, which is located on the leg of the bracket that is on the horizontal plane, and wherein the head fits when the detent means is passed through the opening and thus, the front panel is mounted to the bracket. By means of the hole, the detent means is provided to be locked in the position it is mounted. When the head fits into the hole, the arm bears the portion of the bracket leg on the horizontal plane that remains in front of the hole from below. In other words, if the front panel is pulled backwards, the wide side of the head bears the edge of the hole, thus, prevents the detent means from being detached.

[0013] The model embodiments relating to a washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0014] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a washer/dryer. [0015] Figure 2 - is the exploded perspective view of a washer/dryer. [0016] Figure 3 - is the sideways cross-sectional view of the worktop, front panel and bracket. [0017] Figure 4 - is the exploded sideways cross-sectional view of the worktop, front panel and bracket. [0018] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washer/dryer

2. Side wall

3. Front wall

4. Bracket

5. Front panel

6. Worktop

7. Flange

8. Detent means

9. Extension

10. Housing

11. Support member

12. Arm

13. Head

14. Opening

15. Hole

[0019] The washer/dryer (1) comprises

- at least two side walls (2) covering the volume from sides wherein the drum, in which the laundry is emplaced, and other machine elements are located,

- a front wall (3) mounted onto the side walls (2) and covering the said volume from front up to a certain height,

- a bracket (4) hung between the side walls (2) from a point near the upper edge of the side walls (2),

- a front panel (5) which is mounted to the bracket (4), which covers the space remaining above the front wall (3) from front, and whereon elements such as buttons, display, detergent dispenser are disposed,

- a flange (7) extending from the upper edge of the front panel (5) towards the back and

- a worktop (6) seating onto the upper edges of the side walls (2) and onto the bracket (4), thus, covering the top of the front panel (5) and the side walls (2).

[0020] The washer/dryer (1), furthermore, comprises

- at least one opening (14) located on the bracket (4),

- at least one detent means (8) located at the end of the flange (7), providing the front panel (5) to be mounted to the bracket (4) by at least partially passing through the opening (14),

- at least one extension (9) extending from the worktop (6) downwards,

- at least one support member (11) located on the extension (9), extending towards the bottom of the detent means (8) vertically to the extension (9), supporting the detent means (8) from below.

[0021] Thus, the resistance of the detent means (8), which provides the front panel (5) to be mounted to the bracket (4), against the forces that can affect thereon during transportation and usage is improved and the front panel (5) is prevented from accidentally being detached.

[0022] The bracket (4) is L-shaped and one of its legs extends behind the front panel (5) in parallel with the front panel (5) and the other leg under the worktop (6) in parallel with the worktop (6).

[0023] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extension (9) comprises at least one housing (10) wherein the bracket (4) leg on the horizontal plane that extends in parallel with the worktop (6) will at least partially fit. Since the worktop (6) is preferably mounted slidably from back to front, while the housing (10) and the support member (11) strengthens the connection of the bracket (4) and the detent means (8), they also provide ease of assembly.

[0024] The detent means (8) comprises a thin arm (12) extending from the flange (7) and a head (13) which is located at the end of the arm (12) and wherein its end facing the opening (14) is narrow and its end joining to the arm (12) is wide such that the head (13) will be provided to enter into the opening (14) easily and to be detached with difficulty.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening (14) is on the leg of the bracket (4) that is on the vertical plane and it is located at a point near the corner where the legs are joined together. When the detent means (8) is mounted into its place, it is passed entirely through the opening (14) and thus, it passes to the back of the bracket (4).

[0026] In this embodiment, the bracket (4), furthermore, comprises a hole (15), which is located on the leg of the bracket (4) that is on the horizontal plane, and wherein the head (13) fits when the detent means (8) is passed through the opening (14). In this situation, the arm (12) bears the portion of the leg on the horizontal plane that remains in front of the hole (15) from below.

[0027] In the washer/dryer (1) of the present invention, the detent means (8) providing the assembly of the front panel (5) is supported from below by means of the support member (11) and thus, the resistance of the detent means (8) against the downward rotational forces that can affect on the front panel (5) during transportation and/or usage is improved.

[0028] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and an expert in the technique can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washer/dryer (1) comprising at least two side walls (2) covering the volume from sides wherein the drum, in which the laundry is emplaced, and other machine elements are located, a front wall (3) mounted onto the side walls (2) and covering the said volume from front up to a certain height, a bracket (4) hung between the side walls (2) from a point near the upper edge of the side walls (2), a front panel (5) which is mounted to the bracket (4), which covers the space remaining above the front wall (3) from front, and whereon elements such as buttons, display, detergent dispenser are disposed, a flange (7) extending from the upper edge of the front panel (5) towards the back, a worktop (6) seating onto the upper edges of the side walls (2) and onto the bracket (4), thus, covering the top of the front panel (5) and the side walls (2), characterized by at least one opening (14) located on the bracket (4), at least one detent means (8) located at the end of the flange (7), providing the front panel (5) to be mounted to the bracket (4) by at least partially passing through the opening (14), at least one extension (9) extending from the worktop (6) downwards, at least one support member (11) located on the extension (9), extending towards the bottom of the detent means (8) vertically to the extension (9), supporting the detent means (8) from below.

2. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized in that the bracket (4) is L-shaped, one leg of which extends behind the front panel (5) in parallel with the front panel (5) and the other leg under the worktop (6) in parallel with the worktop (6).

3. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the extension (9) comprising at least one housing (10) wherein the bracket (4) leg on the horizontal plane that extends in parallel with the worktop (6) will at least partially fit.

4. A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the detent means (8) comprising a thin arm (12) extending from the flange (7) and a head (13) which is located at the end of the arm (12) and wherein its end facing the opening (14) is narrow and its end joining to the arm (12) is wide such that the head (13) will be provided to enter into the opening (14) easily and to be detached with difficulty.

5. A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized in taht the opening (14) is on the leg of the bracket (4) that is on the vertical plane and which is located at a point near the corner where the legs are joined together.

6. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the detent means (8) is passed entirely through the opening (14) and thus, passes to the back of the bracket (4) when mounted into its place.

7. A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the Claims 4 to 6, characterized by the bracket (4) comprising a hole (15) which is located on the leg of the bracket (4) that is on the horizontal plane, and wherein the head (13) fits when the detent means (8) is passed through the opening (14), and by the arm (12) which bears the portion of the leg on the horizontal plane that remains in front of the hole (15) from below when the head (13) fits into the hole (15).