CN110656470B - Door for a household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a door (1) for a household appliance (3), the door (1) comprising a front glass (5) and a door carrier (7), wherein the front glass (5) has a front face (11) facing a front side (9) of the household appliance (3) and a rear face (13) opposite the front face (11), wherein the rear face (13) has a fastening region (15) on which the front glass (5) is fastened to the door carrier (7). The invention also relates to a household appliance having a door.

Description

Door for a household appliance

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a door for a household appliance, for closing an opening of the household appliance. The invention further relates to a household appliance having a door according to the invention for closing an opening of the household appliance.

Background

In a household appliance, in particular a laundry care appliance, the loading opening is provided with a preferably circular door, which is formed by a plurality of substantially circular portions. The technical solution provides for the outer door ring or mounting ring to fix the inner part, wherein the components are connected by welding or screwing. Possibly visible technical elements, such as, for example, latching hooks, welding points or bolts, are covered by opaque parts, such as, for example, door loops or flaps. Furthermore, the front glass, which forms the front cover of the door facing the front of the household appliance, is fastened to the door by means of a fitting ring or a molding ring. An optically responsive transition between the front glass and the household appliance is thereby achieved.

DE 10 2013 270 086 discloses an access door for a front side of a household appliance. The door includes a frame formed of a fitting ring and a trim ring, wherein the two rings secure the front glass to the door. The edge or edge region of the door is formed by a molding ring.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a door with an innovative design. The object of the invention is to provide a door which is provided to simplify the fastening of the front glass to the door. Furthermore, the door should be provided with improved possibilities for mounting the light element and achieve a significantly simplified assembly and a cost saving.

This object is achieved by a door according to the invention and by a household appliance according to the invention.

According to the invention, the door comprises a front glass and a door carrier, wherein the front glass has a front face facing the front side of the household appliance and a rear face opposite the front face, wherein the rear face has a fastening region on which the front glass is fastened to the door carrier.

The household appliance may preferably be a laundry care appliance, in particular a washing machine, a laundry dryer or a washing dryer or any other household appliance using a door. The door is preferably designed to close, in particular to close, in a watertight manner, a loading opening of a household appliance, for example an opening of a drum or of a lye container. A door of a household appliance includes a front glass and a door carrier. The door carrier is preferably a casting made of plastic, aluminum or metal alloy, wherein the door carrier is preferably opaque or colored such that the door carrier is opaque. The front glass is preferably understood to be the front-most cover glass, wherein the front glass is composed in particular of plastic or glass, in particular pressed glass. The front glass has two faces, a front face and a back face. The front face faces a front side of the household appliance, wherein the front side of the household appliance is the side on which the door is arranged. The back surface of the front glass is opposite to the front surface. The rear face has a fastening region configured for fastening the front glass to the door carrier. The fastening region is preferably arranged circumferentially around the edge of the front glass or is formed as a circumferential annular region. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening region is the only fastening between the front glass and the door carrier. Preferably, the fixing areas are arranged at a distance of 0 to 10cm, more preferably 1 to 5cm, in the channel zone between the edge of the front glass and the center of the front glass. The fastening region can be formed circumferentially and without interruption, but alternatively can also be interrupted at regular or irregular intervals, so that the fastening region is divided into a plurality of segments. Typically, the door has a door glass in addition to a door carrier and a window pane, wherein the door glass is fastened in the door carrier, so that the door glass closes the opening of the household appliance, which is provided with the sealing lip, in a watertight manner.

Preferably, the door is configured as a frameless door by means of the front glass and the door carrier. A frameless door is understood to mean that no visible frame is visible on the front side of the household appliance. Preferably, the front glass is circular or almost circular. However, in alternative embodiments, the front glass may also be oval or polygonal or at least have corners. The wall thickness of the front glass is preferably between 1 and 30mm, particularly preferably between 3 and 15 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the front glass is transparent so that a user of the household appliance can see through the door of the household appliance. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the front and rear surfaces of the front glass are two planes, which are preferably parallel or nearly parallel in configuration.

The advantage of the invention is that the freedom of design of the front glass is increased, since the surrounding frame no longer has to be considered. Furthermore, advantageous new functions can be integrated into the front glass, for example, by means of a two-component injection molding process, in particular by means of the MID (Molded Interconnected Device, in-mold network molding) process, a light conductor or a light source into the front glass. A further advantage is that a great saving potential is achieved by means of cost-effective production and a great material diversity in which plastics and composite plastics can be used. This ensures higher stiffness, hardness and improved product quality. An additional advantage is that no molding frame or mounting ring is required to secure the front glass to the door carrier. Additional assembly steps can also be saved when the fastening region is the only fastening between the front glass and the door carrier and thus no further components have to be installed. A further advantage is that a borderless door is realized at a very low cost, since the components can be produced by means of plastic injection molding and the frame for holding the front glass can be dispensed with. Furthermore, the combination of front glass and door carrier has a very high uniqueness of appearance and innovative design. A further advantage is that a very high variability or design diversity can be achieved with the front glass and furthermore that decorative or geometrically changing different elements can be easily achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the front glass covers the entire front face of the door. In other words, the projected area of the door to the plane of the front side of the household appliance is completely covered by the front glass. Furthermore, the front glass can also protrude from the door carrier, wherein an advantageous proportionality is preferably that the front glass has an area of 1 to 1.3 times the door area. Here too, a frameless door is formed. In one embodiment, the front face of the front glass is closed flush, i.e. in one plane, with the front side of the household appliance. Alternatively, the front face of the front glass may also be offset forward in parallel.

In a further preferred embodiment, the connection between the fastening region and the door carrier is implemented by means of a force-fitting connection, a form-fitting connection, a friction-fitting connection or a material-fitting connection. The connection between the fastening region and the door carrier is preferably established by means of a form fit, wherein the form fit is, for example, embodied as a clip or bayonet connection which engages in a undercut. The advantage of this embodiment is that the fastening region can be placed on the door carrier and thus the front glass can be assembled on the door carrier without an assembly tool by a simple assembly step. In an alternative embodiment, the connection of the fastening region and the door carrier is carried out by means of a force-fitting connection, wherein the force-fitting connection is preferably carried out by means of a screw or screw-like fitting. The bolts are preferably inserted into the holes of the door carrier and then into the fixing region of the front glass. In a further alternative embodiment, the connection of the fastening region of the front glass to the door carrier is established by means of a material-fitting connection. The material-fit connection is preferably a welding method, in particular a vibration welding method or a friction stir welding method, which secures the fastening region and thus the front glass to the door carrier. In a further preferred embodiment, the material-fitting connection can also be carried out by means of adhesive bonding or gluing.

Preferably, the fastening region has at least one fastening unit, which in particular comprises one or more elements formed on the rear side of the front glass. The shaping element is preferably a tab, which is arranged in the edge region of the front glass. The webs are preferably formed continuously. Alternatively, the tabs can also be interrupted at regular or irregular intervals, thereby forming a plurality of sections of the tabs. In a preferred embodiment, the molding element is produced by means of a plastic injection molding process. The front glass can be produced in one piece with the molding element. In an alternative embodiment, the molding element can be molded onto the rear side of the front glass by means of a 2K (two-component) plastic injection molding process. In this case, a front glass, for example, made of pressed glass, is preferably placed in a mold and then a molding element is injected onto the rear side of the front glass. In a further alternative embodiment, the injection molding method is divided into two steps, wherein in a first step a front glass, for example made of plastic, is injected into the mold and then the molding element is injected onto the front glass in the same process cycle. In this case, it is particularly preferred if the molding element molded by means of the 2K plastic injection molding method is composed of an opaque or colored material or of a material different from the material of the front glass. Alternatively, the fastening unit can also be connected to the fastening region by means of a material-fitting connection, for example an adhesive or form-fitting connection, for example a snap-fit connection and a force-fitting connection, for example a press-fit connection.

In a first embodiment, the fixing unit and the front glass are constructed in one piece. The fixing unit and the front glass are preferably produced by means of a plastic injection molding method, wherein the front glass and the fixing unit are produced from the same material during one production cycle of the plastic injection molding method. An advantage of this embodiment is that it can be produced easily by means of a plastic injection moulding method, since the same mould of the same component can be used multiple times. Furthermore, the assembly costs are reduced by means of a snap-fit or press-fit between the door carrier and the fastening unit, so that the front glass is mounted on the door carrier by means of the fastening unit.

In an alternative second embodiment, the fastening unit and the front glass are constructed in multiple parts, wherein the fastening unit can in turn be formed from a plurality of components. The plurality of components, in particular the front glass and the fastening unit, may be composed of different materials, in particular different plastics having different light transmission properties. Preferably, the fixing unit is molded onto the front glass by means of a two-component injection molding process, resulting in a multi-piece embodiment. Preferably, the fastening unit is formed from an opaque, dark or milky plastic having an optical effect, for example a color. Furthermore, the fixation unit may preferably receive further functional devices, such as light sources, light conductors or sensors. The further functional device is preferably likewise produced by a two-component or multicomponent injection molding method, in particular a MID plastic injection molding method. In a preferred embodiment, the front glass is manufactured from a transparent plastic and the fixing unit is composed of an opaque plastic by means of a two-component injection molding process. The fastening unit can thus be seen from the front side of the front glass through the front glass, so that the fastening unit forms a light ring, for example, on or in the vicinity of the edge of the front glass.

In a preferred embodiment, the door comprises a light source, wherein light reaches the front face of the front glass from the light source, in particular via the fixing unit. Preferably, the light source is provided as a separate member on the fixing unit. Alternatively, the fastening unit may also have a light source, wherein the light source is directly integrated into the fastening unit by means of a multicomponent injection molding process. Alternatively, the light source may also be fixed to the fixing unit by means of a multicomponent injection molding method. Preferably, the light source is annular and extends along the edge of the front glass. Alternatively, the light source may also be ring-segment-shaped, wherein the light source extends along the edge of the front glass, however with a break. In an alternative embodiment, the light source can also be embodied in the form of dots, wherein a plurality of dot-shaped light sources are arranged along the edge of the front glass. In a further alternative embodiment, the light source may be arranged as a single light spot on a fixation unit, wherein the fixation unit is in particular one of a plurality of fixation units arranged along the edge of the front glass. In an alternative embodiment, a single light source may be provided for a plurality of light conductors. In a further alternative embodiment, the light source may be designed as a strip-shaped or strip-like component, wherein the strip-shaped light source extends along the entire fastening unit. The advantage of this embodiment is that the light source can be integrated directly on or in the fastening unit and thus assembly steps can be saved. It is furthermore advantageous if information, for example the course of a process of a household appliance, can be displayed on the door by means of a plurality of point-like light sources. Furthermore, the light source is preferably arranged behind the door's shutter so that the light source cannot be seen from the front. Furthermore, each light source is preferably individually controllable. Advantageously, each individually controllable light source can display a plurality of colors. This facilitates information transfer of information of the household appliance by the color and position of the controlled spot. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the light sources can be arranged freely in terms of design. Furthermore, the light source can be arranged not only on the front glass but also on the fastening region or the fastening unit. Preferably, the light source is connected to the power supply of the household appliance by means of a wire, which is guided in particular through the hinge of the door.

Preferably, the fixing unit guides the light beam from the light source to the front surface of the front glass. Preferably, the fixing unit serves as a light conductor, wherein the light source is arranged at a distance from the front glass. Preferably, the light guide receives the tube from the light source and deflects the light beam such that it strikes the rear side of the front glass at an obtuse angle or approximately at a right angle and is thereby visible from the front side of the front glass. Preferably, the light guide can be fixed to the fixing unit as a separate member. Alternatively, however, the light conductor can also be molded onto the fixing unit by means of a multicomponent injection molding process. Preferably, the light guide is composed of a transparent plastic, which is suitable for guiding light from one point to another point with as low lumen loss as possible. This embodiment has the advantage that an increased degree of freedom of design is achieved, since the light source does not have to be arranged directly in the region of the front glass, but is preferably hidden behind the shutter of the door frame.

In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening unit is configured in the form of a ring. Annular here means, for example, elliptical, in particular circular or approximately circular. The fastening unit is preferably formed as a web on the rear side of the front glass and forms a continuous annular web in the region of the edge of the front glass. In a preferred embodiment, a undercut or recess may be provided on the inside of the tab, with which the clip may engage. Alternatively, a groove can be provided on the inner or outer side of the tab, which groove is designed to engage a clip or a catch hook of the door carrier with the groove. Alternatively, the fastening unit may also be formed by a pin or pins, which are arranged annularly in the vicinity of the edge of the front glass. In an alternative embodiment, the webs are arranged in multiple fashion on the rear side of the front glass, so that for example two webs form a fastening unit and thus a bifocal ring can be realized. Preferably, the tab has a rectangular or approximately rectangular cross section. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening unit is designed as a light conductor, wherein the fastening unit and thus the light conductor are formed in a ring shape. This produces a light ring on the front glass, since the light conductor transmits light in the form of a ring onto the front glass. The advantage of this embodiment is that a continuous visualization of the light beam and thus a visual identification of the door to the household appliance is achieved by the annular fixing unit, which is preferably embodied as a light conductor.

In a further preferred embodiment, the door carrier comprises a door frame and a flap, wherein the flap is fixed to the door frame, wherein the flap at least partially covers the door frame towards the front side of the household appliance, wherein the fixed area of the front glass is fixed to the flap or the door frame, wherein the front glass covers at least the door frame and the flap towards the front side of the household appliance. The baffle is also referred to as a baffle hereinafter. Preferably, the door carrier or the door frame can be fastened to the household appliance, preferably by means of a hinge or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the baffle is fixed to the door frame, wherein the baffle preferably at least partially covers the door frame, so that bolts or clips or the like fixed to the door frame are not visible from the outside. Furthermore, the front glass can be fastened to the screen or the door frame by means of fastening elements designed for form-fitting or force-fitting. The fixing unit of the front glass can be snapped onto the flap or the door frame in particular. Furthermore, the fastening unit is preferably designed as an annular circumferential clip, wherein the clip can be fastened to a fitting provided for this purpose on the flap or the door frame. An advantage of this embodiment is an easy assembly.

Preferably, the fixing unit comprises a cover element, wherein the cover element at least partially covers a door of the household appliance. The covering element is, for example, a chrome ring which is arranged on the door carrier or on the flap of the door carrier and forms a transition between the door carrier or flap and the fastening unit or front glass. The transition is preferably understood to mean a region which is formed on the edge of the front glass and the edge of the door frame and which is covered in particular by a covering element, so that the transition between the front glass and the door frame is not visible from the outside. Furthermore, the front glass preferably has a circumferential surface, which delimits the front glass in the radial direction. In this case, the cover element is in particular a film, a hot embossing or a printed layer or the like which is arranged on the peripheral surface of the front glass, the fastening unit and/or the door frame. In an alternative embodiment, the fixing unit, the door frame and/or the front glass have a recess in which the covering element can be placed, so that a planar surface is produced outwards. Alternatively, the covering element may be a particularly opaque plastic or a composite plastic, which forms an element for covering the peripheral surfaces of the door frame and the fixing unit. The advantage of this embodiment is that the door frame transitions seamlessly into the front glass and thus no visible edges or transitions are produced. In a preferred embodiment, the cover element can also be configured for decorating a part of the fastening unit or a part of the front glass, in particular by means of a film, a hot embossing or a printed layer. This has the advantage that the outer appearance of the fastening unit or the front glass can be changed by means of the cover element and thus the design freedom is increased. In addition, manufacturing tolerances can be reduced by the cover element, since possible gaps are covered by the cover element.

Preferably, the fixing unit has an opaque portion, wherein the opaque portion at least partially covers the peripheral surface of the door, in particular adjoining the peripheral surface. In other words, the fixation unit has a region or face portion which is composed of a further opaque material, in particular having a dark color or a further color, for example green, red, blue. The opaque partial region is configured, for example, to at least partially cover an edge surface of the door. Preferably, the opaque portion closes flat against the periphery of the door, so that a visible ring is produced on the edge of the door. Preferably, the opaque part of the fastening unit is configured as an opaque ring which extends along the edge of the front glass and thereby makes the edge of the front glass visually stand out compared to the rest of the front glass. This has the advantage that a visual illusion can be created by means of the opaque portion, which visual illusion is visually attractive to a possible user of the household appliance. Furthermore, the fastening unit is preferably completely opaque. In one embodiment of the opaque portion, the opaque portion preferably at least partially constitutes the outer side of the door, wherein the opaque portion at least partially covers the door carrier. Furthermore, separate light conductors may be provided, which are not part of the fixing unit.

In a further preferred embodiment, the baffle has a recess, wherein the fastening region can be positioned into the recess. Preferably, the recess is configured to fix the fixing unit. The baffle is preferably made of an opaque material. The retaining plate has, for example, in its outer edge region, a circumferential continuous or almost continuous recess, with which the fastening unit, preferably a circular tab, can engage. Alternatively, the baffle has a plurality of recesses in the edge region of the baffle, each individual recess of which can be fastened to a fastening unit provided for this purpose, for example an element molded on the rear side of the front glass. Particularly preferably, the recess is embodied in such a way that the fastening element can be fastened as a light conductor in the recess and light can be passed through the light conductor of the fastening element and the recess. It is furthermore preferred that the fastening unit and the flap are connected by means of a connection technique selected from the group consisting of adhesive bonding, gluing, clamping, press fitting, bayonet connection and/or snap locking.

The front glass preferably has at least one sensor which is designed to trigger the opening of the door. Preferably, the sensor is positioned on the back side of the front glass. Alternatively, however, the sensor may also be arranged in or on the front side of the front glass. Alternatively, the sensor may be glued to the front glass or integrated into the front glass by means of a multicomponent injection molding process. Preferably, the sensor has a wire which transmits information on to the control device of the door. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is configured as a touch sensor. Alternatively, however, the sensor may also be configured as a capacitive or optical sensor that reacts to the touch of the user through the front glass. The advantage of this embodiment is that the production and assembly of the front glass is significantly simplified, since the sensor can be arranged directly on the front glass or integrated directly into the front glass. Thereby significantly reducing cost and assembly time. A further advantage of this embodiment is that the number of components is reduced and the costly mechanical opening mechanism can be eliminated.

In a further preferred embodiment, the front face of the front glass is planar and/or flat. Alternatively, the front glass may also have an outward (convex) or inward (concave) curvature. The advantage of the recessed embodiment is that light is radiated, scattered into the household appliance and thus has the effect of making the interior of the household appliance look more pronounced.

Furthermore, embodiments according to the invention comprise a household appliance, in particular a laundry care appliance, comprising an opening for loading the household appliance and a door, wherein the door is configured for closing the opening. Preferably, the household appliance is a laundry care appliance having an opening for loading and unloading laundry into and from a washing drum which is arranged in the lye container. The opening can be closed by means of a door, which is constructed as described. The door preferably forms a frameless door, in particular the door and its front glass being configured such that it appears as a frameless design from the front side of the household appliance.

Preferably, the front glass is configured for displaying status information of the household appliance by means of the at least one light source. The invention relates preferably to a front glass having a fastening unit as a light conductor, wherein the light conductor transmits light from a light source onto the front glass. The light source is preferably designed such that the status information can be transmitted further to the user of the household appliance by means of an optical signal, for example, a light emission or a flashing light. The light source may preferably be an RGB-LED, which may emit light of a plurality of colors. The status information can be in particular information about the course of an executed process of the household appliance, such as a washing process or a malfunction. In a further preferred embodiment, the course of the process is displayed by means of a surrounding ring, which emits the light spots in sections. The ring is divided into X (3-15) number of segments, wherein a first segment is illuminated according to a first 1/X of the duration of the program and the other segments are illuminated corresponding to the progress of the process.

Drawings

The invention is described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings according to embodiments. In the drawings, identical or mutually corresponding elements are indicated by identical reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a commercially available door.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a commercially available door.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the household appliance.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows a front perspective view of a door according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a light source according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic front view of a door according to a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a sixth embodiment.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a seventh embodiment.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to an eighth embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 and 2 show schematic views of a door according to the prior art. The door here comprises a frame or mounting ring 62, a cover glass 64, a baffle 66, a door glass 68, and a door carrier 70 with a frame as shown in fig. 2. Here, a cover glass 64 is arranged on the door carrier 70 with the frame, which cover glass is held together with the mounting ring 62 on the door carrier 70. Cover glass 64 covers baffle 66 and door glass 68. The door carrier 70 with the frame has the function of positioning the cover glass 64 on one side, and the fitting ring 62 is arranged on the other side of the cover glass 64, which fitting ring secures the cover glass 64 to the door carrier 70, preferably by means of a form-fitting connection. The door carrier is configured to position the door glass 68. Furthermore, the door carrier 70 has a flap 66, which covers the transition between the door frame and the door glass. The frame 62 covers the cover glass 64, in particular in the outer region, so that the door is delimited in its outer shape by the frame 62. In particular, the door glass 68 is surrounded by the frame 62 and is connected to the door carrier 70 via said frame.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a household appliance, in particular a laundry care appliance, having a door 1 according to the invention, wherein the household appliance 3 has an operating zone 49 on the front side 9. An opening is provided on the front side 9, which opening is covered by the door 1 according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door 1 according to a first embodiment. The door comprises a door carrier 7 to which a door glass 47 is fixed. The transition between the door carrier 7 and the door glass 47 is covered by the flap 33. Preferably, the door carrier 7 has a door frame 31, which is connected to a baffle 33. The front glass 5 is fixed to the baffle 33. The front glass 5 has a front face 11 which is visible from the front side 9, wherein the front glass in this embodiment consists of pressed glass. Furthermore, the front glass 5 has a rear face 13 which is likewise visible, since the front glass 5 is manufactured from a transparent material. The front glass 5 has a fastening region 15 with fastening means 19, as shown here in the form of a one-piece embodiment. The fixing unit 19 is fixed to the door frame 31 by means of a connection, in this case an adhesive. The baffle 33 has a recess 35 through which the fixing unit 19 is guided. A light conductor 45 is arranged on the fixing unit 19, said light conductor extending to the light source 21. The light source 21 is fixed to the baffle 33. Furthermore, the baffle 33 covers the light guide 45 and the light source 21, so that they are not visible from the front side 9 of the household appliance. The front glass 5 has, on its front face 11, opposite the fastening region 15, a frosted region 41, on which the light beam 23 is scattered. The light beam 23 originates from the light source 21 into the light guide 45 and passes through the fixing unit 19.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a second embodiment. The door 1 in turn comprises a door carrier 7 comprising a door frame 31, and a flap 33. The front glass 5 is preferably mounted on a baffle 33. The rear side 13 of the front glass 5 has a fastening region 15 to which a fastening element 19 is fastened, in particular glued or welded. The fastening unit 19 is mounted on the door frame 31 by means of a snap or clamping connection 17, said door frame having undercuts with which the clips cooperate. Furthermore, the door frame 31 has a light source 21 which continues the light to the fixing unit. The baffle 33 has a recess 35 through which the fixing unit 19 can pass. In addition, the door frame 31 has a door glass 47. The front glass 5 is preferably made of true glass and is locked to the door carrier 7 by means of an adhesive fastening unit 19 embodied as a light guide 45. The baffle 33 has a break in the recess 35, so that the baffle 33 can be constructed as a one-piece component without a separate outer ring of the baffle 33.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective front view of the door 1 according to the second embodiment. The door here comprises a baffle 33 and a door glass 47. The front glass 5 is fixed to the baffle 33. The front glass has a fixing unit 19, which comprises a light conductor, which is arranged annularly with an interruption in the outer region of the front glass 5. The interruption 46 is necessary for fastening to the baffle and results in a slight interruption in the light ring.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a plurality of light sources 21. The light source 21 is arranged in a ring shape in sections so that it can be incorporated into the door 1 according to the invention. The light source 21 may in particular be incorporated in the door 1 according to the second embodiment. Preferably, the sectional structure of the light source 21 can be used to display the progress of a process of the household appliance or to display a similar visual signal, for example a fault signal.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of a portion of the door 1 according to the third embodiment. The door 1 comprises a door carrier 7 having a door frame 31 and a baffle 33, to which the light source 21 is fixed. Furthermore, the door frame has a cover element 25 which surrounds the periphery of the door frame and which extends from there flush with the peripheral surface of the front glass. The front glass 5 has a front face 11 and a rear face 13, wherein a fastening unit 19 is arranged on the rear face 13, said fastening unit being designed as a light conductor. The light conductor 45 is mounted on the fixing unit 19, and is fixed to the door frame 31. The light conductor 45 is designed to conduct light from the light source 21 further onto the front glass 5. This is schematically illustrated in fig. 6 by means of a light beam 23. The light guide 45 serves here to emit the light of the light source in a fan-shaped manner, so that a pleasant and divergent light is produced on the front glass 5.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door 1 according to a fourth embodiment. The front glass 5 has in this embodiment a fastening unit which is fastened to the door frame 31 by means of a clamping connection. The clamping connection is schematically shown by connection 17, in this case a snap-lock connection. The fixing unit 19 is furthermore designed as a light conductor, wherein the light of the light source 21 is conducted to the fixing unit by means of the light conductor 45. The light is refracted at the front glass 5.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door 1 according to a fifth embodiment. The front glass 5 has a fastening unit 19 which is fastened to the baffle 33 by means of a press-fit connection 17. The baffle 33 has a recess, which is designed to establish a press-fit connection 17 with the fastening unit 19. In this case, a plurality of recesses 35 are formed along the ring in the edge region of the baffle 33. The plurality of fastening units 19 are likewise configured as pins on the front glass 5 in the embodiment shown, which pins engage in the respective recesses 35. Each fixing element 19 forms a press-fit connection 17 with one recess 35. The recess 35 is preferably embodied here as a slotted cone, so that the fastening unit 19 can be pressed into the recess.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic front view of the door 1 according to the embodiment of fig. 10. The door 1 is an embodiment according to the invention, wherein the front glass 5 has a plurality of punctiform fastening units 19 arranged in the edge region of the front glass 5. By means of this arrangement, a light spot is generated on the front glass 5, which is emitted by the light source, preferably by means of a light conductor. The punctiform fixing elements are in the recesses of the baffle 33. The fixing unit is preferably likewise designed as a light conductor 45, so that a light source, which is not shown in fig. 9, can be hidden behind the baffle 33. The baffle 33 covers the transition between the door frame, not shown, and the door glass 47.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to a sixth embodiment. The front glass 5 has a fixing element 19 on its rear side 13, wherein the fixing element 19 has or consists entirely of an opaque portion 27 which appears dark or is tinted dark. The fixing unit 19 is fixed to the door frame 31. Further, the front glass 5 and the fixing unit protrude from the door frame 31 such that the peripheral surface of the front glass is spaced apart from the peripheral surface of the door frame by a gap.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door 1 according to a seventh embodiment. The front glass 5 has a fixing unit 19 on its rear face 13. The sensor 37 is fixed to the fixing unit 19. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 37 can also be fastened to the front glass 5. Furthermore, the fixing unit 19 has an opaque portion 27. The fixing unit 19 and the front glass 5 are closed flush with each other at the peripheral surface 29. Here, the peripheral surface 29 of the front glass 5 is spaced from the peripheral surface of the door frame 31 by a gap. Thus, the front glass and the fixing unit protrude from the door frame. Furthermore, a light source 21, which is only schematically shown, is provided on the door frame 31, which light source conducts light from the gap between the baffle 33 and the fixing unit 19 to the front glass.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door 1 according to an eighth embodiment. The front glass 5 has a fixing unit 19 on its rear face 13. Furthermore, the front glass 5 has a circumferential surface 29, which delimits the front glass 5 in the radial direction. The fixing unit 19 is fixed to the door frame 31. Here, a cover element 25 is provided, which closes flush with the fastening unit 19 or the peripheral surface 29. Thus, the appearance without the transition portion is constituted by the front glass 5, the fixing unit 19, and the door frame 31. Said plane in particular extends through the peripheral surface 29.

List of reference numerals

1-door

3-household appliance

5-front glass

7-door carrier

9-front side

11-front side

13-back side

15-immobilization region

17-connection

19-fastening unit

21-light source

23-Beam

25-cap element

27-opaque part

29-peripheral surface

31-door frame

33-baffle

35-notch

37-sensor

39-opening

41-sanding region

43-chromium ring

45-photoconductor

47-door glass

49-operating zone

60-door with frame

62-fitting ring

64-cover glass

66-baffle

68-door glass

70-door carrier.

Claims (16)

1. Door (1) for a household appliance (3), the door (1) comprising a front glass (5), a door glass (47) and a door carrier (7), wherein the door carrier (7) comprises a door frame (31) and a baffle (33), wherein the baffle (33) is fixed on the door frame (31) as separate component, the baffle (33) at least partially conceals the door frame (31) towards a front side (9) of the household appliance (3), the front glass (5) having a front face (11) towards the front side (9) of the household appliance (3) and a back face (13) opposite to the front face (11), wherein the back face (13) has a fixing area (15) on which the front glass (5) is fixed on the door frame (31), the door glass (47) is also fixed to the door frame (31), the fixing area (15) has at least one fixing unit (19), the door (1) comprises a light source (21), wherein light passes from the light source (21) directly through the front glass (11) to the fixing unit (19).

2. Door according to claim 1, wherein the front glass (5) covers the entire front face (11) of the door (1).

3. Door according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection (17) between the securing area (15) and the door carrier (7) is implemented by means of a force-fit connection, a form-fit connection, a friction-fit connection or a material-fit connection.

4. Door according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing unit is a piece comprising one or more elements shaped on the rear face (13) of the front glass (5).

5. Door according to claim 4, wherein the fixing unit (19) and the front glass (5) are constructed in one piece.

6. Door according to claim 4, wherein the fixing unit (19) and the front glass (5) are constructed in multiple pieces.

7. Door according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixing unit (19) directs a light beam (23) from the light source (21) to the front face (11) of the front glass (5).

8. Door according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixing unit (19) is configured annularly.

9. Door according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixing unit (19) comprises a cover element (25), wherein the cover element (25) at least partially covers the door (1) of the household appliance (3).

10. Door according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixing unit (19) has an opaque portion (27), wherein the opaque portion (27) at least partially covers the peripheral surface (29) of the door (1).

11. The door of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, wherein the front glass (5) covers at least the door frame (31) and the baffle (33) towards the front side (9) of the household appliance (3).

12. Door according to claim 11, wherein the flap (33) has a recess (35), the securing region (15) being positionable into the recess (35).

13. Door according to any of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, wherein the front glass (5) has at least one sensor (37) designed to trigger the opening of the door (1).

14. Door according to any of claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, wherein the front face (11) of the front glass (5) is planar and/or flat.

15. A household appliance comprising an opening (39) for loading the household appliance (3) and a door (1) according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein the door (1) is designed for closing the opening (39).

16. The household appliance according to claim 15, wherein the front glass (5) is designed for displaying status information of the household appliance (3) by means of at least one light source (21).