DE102017211073B3 - Laundry care device with a door opening element - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry care device (100) with a device door (103) for closing a device opening (105) of the laundry care device (100), wherein in the laundry care device (100) is a by a user of the laundry care device (100) from the laundry care device (100 ) Removable door opening element (117) can be arranged. The door opening element (117) has a holding section (119) formed as a suction cup, which can be pressed against the appliance door (103) and can be held by a negative pressure on the appliance door (103). The door opening member (117) has a gripping portion (121) connected to the holding portion (119), in which the user can engage to open the appliance door (103) held by the holding portion (119).

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with a door opening element.

In a conventional laundry care device, laundry is introduced through a device opening into a laundry drum of the laundry care device. Here, the device opening is closed by a door. In order to open the appliance door after a completed laundry care operation of the laundry care appliance, conventional laundry care appliances often have electromechanical door openers which open the appliance door by means of an electric drive. However, in the event of a power failure and associated failure of the electromechanical door opener, it may become impossible for the user of the laundry care appliance to open the appliance door.

In the DE 10 2013 223 431 B3 discloses a household appliance with an electromechanical door opening device for exerting a pushing force on the inside of a household appliance door.

In the WO 01/59197 A1 discloses a safety door lock of a household appliance with a suction clamp, which prevents opening of the door of the household appliance.

In the DE 80 31 659 U1 a door lock for household electrical appliances is described in which a suction cup is used.

It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care device with a door, which can be opened advantageously.

This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

According to one aspect, the object according to the invention is achieved by a laundry care device having a device door for closing a device opening of the laundry care device, wherein a door opening element which can be removed from the laundry care device by a user of the laundry care device can be arranged in the laundry care device, the door opening element having a holding section designed as a suction cup, which is pressable against the appliance door and is durable by a negative pressure on the appliance door, and wherein the door opening member has a gripping portion connected to the holding portion, in which the user can engage to open the appliance door held by the holding portion.

This achieves the technical advantage that the user of the laundry care appliance with the door-opening element can advantageously open the appliance door manually by hand, if e.g. due to a power failure or a defect, an automatic door opening of the appliance door should no longer be possible.

For this purpose, the user can remove the door opening element from the laundry care device. For this purpose, the door opening element has a gripping portion, in which the user can engage in order to position the door opening element removed from the laundry care appliance on an outer side of the appliance door.

Subsequently, the user presses the door opening element against the appliance door, so that the holding section of the door opening element designed as a suction cup is pressed against the appliance door. During the Anpressvorgangs the holding section designed as a suction cup is pressed at least partially inward, so that air escapes from the interior of the suction cup to the outside, and thus forms a negative pressure in the holding section formed as a suction cup. Due to the negative pressure in the suction cup, the holding section advantageously adheres to the appliance door, so that an effective attachment of the door opening element to the appliance door is ensured.

In order to then open the door manually, the user engages in the gripping portion and pulls the door to the outside. Due to the negative pressure in the suction cup, the holding section advantageously adheres to the appliance door, so that the appliance door can be opened manually.

If, in the event of a power failure, a locking element of the appliance door should continue to be activated, the user of the laundry care appliance can deactivate the locking element by activating an emergency release, in order subsequently to manually open the appliance door through the door opening element. Thus, it can be ensured even in the event of a defect or power failure that the user can remove existing laundry from the laundry care appliance after the laundry care process without the need for a customer service operation.

A laundry care appliance is understood to mean a device which is used for laundry care, such as e.g. a washing machine or a tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the holding section designed as a suction cup has a holding opening which is delimited by a circumferential sealing lip, wherein the circumferential sealing lip is designed to seal the holding section which can be pressed against the appliance door in a vacuum-tight manner.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the sealing lip ensures an effective vacuum-tight seal between the interior of the holding portion designed as a suction cup and the outer region of the door opening element. This ensures that the necessary to hold on the appliance door vacuum in the interior of the suction cup can be advantageously maintained.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the holding section formed as a suction cup is formed from an elastically deformable material, in particular an elastically deformable plastic.

This achieves the technical advantage that an elastically deformable material, such as e.g. an elastically deformable plastic, in particular an elastomer, can be deformed particularly effectively by the user in order to effectively displace the air from the interior of the suction cup, and then to provide a negative pressure in the suction cup.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the holding section formed as a suction cup has a release element which can be actuated by the user in order to release the door-opening element held on the appliance door from the appliance door.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that after opening the door, the release element can be actuated, whereby air from outside the suction cup can flow back into the interior of the suction cup and thereby compensates for the negative pressure, so that the door opening element can be separated again from the door ,

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the release element is arranged on an edge of the holding portion, wherein the edge of the holding portion defines a holding opening of the holding portion, and wherein the release element is in particular designed as a tab.

This achieves the technical advantage that the edge of the holding section resting on the appliance door can be removed, or lifted, at least in sections from the surface of the appliance door by an actuation of the release element arranged on the edge of the holding section. Through the resulting opening, air flows from the outside into the holding section and equalizes the negative pressure within the suction cup. In this case, a tab is particularly suitable since the user simply has to move the tab in a direction away from the appliance door in order to release the door-opening element from the appliance door.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the holding section formed as a suction cup has a bowl wall which delimits a bowl interior.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the Napfwandraum limiting bowl wall formed as a suction cup holding section ensures that within the suction cup, a negative pressure can be maintained advantageous.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the gripping portion has at least one gripping opening, into which the user can engage in order to open the appliance door held by the door opening element.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the user can advantageously engage with his fingers in the at least one gripping opening to open the door. In this case, the gripping portion may in particular have a plurality of gripping openings, so that the user of the laundry care device can engage with a plurality of fingers in the respective gripping openings. In particular, the gripping portion has two gripping openings.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the gripping portion has at least one gripping ring which limits the at least one gripping opening.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the user's fingers can effectively engage the respective gripping ring delimiting the gripping opening in order to open the appliance door.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the gripping portion has a first gripping ring which delimits a first gripping opening, and the gripping portion has a second gripping ring which delimits a second gripping opening, wherein the first gripping ring has a first ring portion facing the second gripping ring, wherein the gripping portion second gripping ring has a first gripping ring facing the second ring portion, and wherein the first and second ring portion are interconnected.

This achieves the technical advantage that the user with two fingers effectively in the can engage first and second gripping opening to open the door. By the first and second ring portion of the first gripping ring and the second gripping ring are connected to each other, so that there is a particularly stable arrangement of the gripping portion within the door opening element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the gripping portion has a central attachment portion which is connected to a mounting surface of the suction cup designed as a holding portion, wherein the central mounting portion is adapted to connect the gripping portion with the holding portion, and wherein the central attachment portion in particular at least one component Gripping ring is.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective attachment between the gripping portion and the holding portion is ensured by the central mounting portion of the gripping portion.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, at least one fastening rib, which is designed to stabilize the central fastening section, is arranged between the central fastening section and the fastening surface.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the at least one fastening rib a particularly effective stabilization of the fastening portion is achieved. In this case, the central fastening section may in particular have a first fastening rib which is arranged on a first side of the central fastening section between the fastening section and the fastening surface, and the central fastening section may in particular have a second fastening rib which is located on a second side of the central side opposite the first side Attachment section is arranged between the attachment portion and the attachment surface.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the gripping portion has at least one external attachment portion which is connected to a mounting surface of the suction cup formed as holding portion, and is adapted to connect the gripping portion with the holding portion, wherein the at least one external attachment portion in particular part of at least one gripping ring is.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective stabilization between the gripping portion and the holding portion is ensured by the at least one external attachment portion. Specifically, the gripping portion has two external fixing portions which are arranged on opposite sides of a central fixing portion of the gripping portion to effectively fix the gripping portion to the holding portion.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry-care appliance has a receiving opening accessible from an outside area of the laundry-care appliance, in which the door-opening element removable from the laundry-care appliance is arranged, the receiving opening being separated from the outside area, in particular by a pump flap.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the receiving opening is advantageously accessible to the user, so that the user can remove the door opening element from the laundry care device. Here, the receiving opening is arranged in particular on a front side of the laundry care device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance has a drain hose for draining washing liquid from the laundry care appliance, and the drainage hose can be connected to the gripping section, in particular a gripping ring of the gripping section, in order to fasten the door opening element to the drainage hose.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the door opening element can be effectively attached to the drain hose. In particular, the emptying hose can be guided through at least one gripping opening of the gripping section in order to connect the door opening element to the emptying hose.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts;
• 2 eine schematische Ansicht einer geöffneten Gerätetür in einem Wäschepflegegerät;
• 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E verschiedene Ansichten eines Türöffnungselements; und
• 4 eine schematische Ansicht eines an einer Gerätetür gehaltenen Türöffnungselements.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic view of a laundry care device;
• 2 a schematic view of an open door in a laundry care device;
• 3A . 3B . 3C . 3D . 3E different views of a door opening element; and
• 4 a schematic view of a device door held on a door opening element.

1 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care device 100 , such as a washing machine. The laundry care device 100 includes a reservoir 101 , which is also referred to as Einspülschale, and can be filled in the detergent or other Wäschepflegesubstanzen. The laundry care device 100 includes a door 103 for loading the laundry care device 100 with laundry. The appliance door 103 closes a device opening 105 on a front side 107 of the laundry care device 100 , A closure device 109 for closing the appliance door 103 on the front side 107 of the laundry care device 100 is in 1 shown only schematically.

2 shows a schematic view of an open door 103 in a laundry care device 100 , The appliance door 103 closes a device opening 105 on a front side 107 of the laundry care device 100 , At the device opening 105 of the laundry care device 100 is a closure device 109 for closing the appliance door 103 shown. This is accessed by the appliance door 103 arranged closure element 111 in the closure device 109 , and the closure device 109 locks the closure element 111 to the appliance door 103 in an in 2 not shown to hold closed state.

The laundry care device 100 also has an electromechanical door opener 113 on which is formed, the appliance door 103 to open. The door opener 113 has an outwardly displaceable door opening pin 115 on which is formed, the appliance door 103 push it outwards to the appliance door 103 to open.

The 3A . 3B . 3C . 3D . 3E show different views of a door opening element 117 for opening a door 103 of the laundry care device 100 , The door opening element 117 is by a user from a laundry care device, not shown 100 removable. The door opening element 117 is here in particular in a not shown, and closed, for example by a pump flap, receiving opening on a front side 107 of the laundry care device 100 arranged and by a user from the laundry care device, not shown 100 removable.

The door opening element 117 has a holding portion formed as a suction cup 119 and one with the holding section 119 connected gripping portion 121 on.

The gripping section 121 here has a first gripping ring 123-1 and a second gripping ring 123-2 on, which in each case a first gripping opening 125-1 and a second gripping opening 125-2 limited. The user of the laundry care device 100 grabs the gripping openings with his fingers 125-1 . 125-2 one to the door opening element 117 to move and operate.

The first gripping ring 123-1 has a first ring section 127-1 and the second gripping ring 123-2 has a second ring section 127-2 on, wherein the two ring sections 127-1, 127-2 are connected to the first gripping ring 123-1 and the second gripping ring 123-2 to connect with each other.

For an effective support between the gripping portion 121 and the attachment portion 119 ensure the gripping section 121 a central attachment portion 129 on, which is both part of the first gripping ring 123-1 as well as part of the second gripping ring 123-2 is, and has the gripping portion 121 two external mounting sections 131-1 . 131-2 on, which in each case part of the first gripping ring 123-1 is, or part of the second gripping ring 123-2 is.

Between the central attachment section 129 and a mounting surface 133 of the holding section 119 is for better stabilization at least one fixing rib 135 arranged.

The trained as a suction cup section 119 has a holding opening 137 on which of a circumferential sealing lip 139 is limited, which is formed on the appliance door 103 press-on holding section 119 To seal vacuum-tight. The trained as a suction cup section 119 in this case comprises an elastically deformable material, in particular an elastically deformable plastic, such as an elastomer.

To the door opening element 117 on the appliance door 103 To fix the user reaches into the gripping section 121 and presses the suction cup designed as a holding section 119 against the outside of the appliance door 103 , Due to the elastic deformability of the trained as a suction cup section 119 becomes the holding section 119 towards the outside of the appliance door 103 pressed and air is forced out of the suction cup. As a result, forms within the holding section designed as a suction cup 119 a negative pressure, which effectively holding the door opening element 117 on the appliance door 103 ensures.

Subsequently, the user at the gripping portion 121 pull and the through the holding section 119 held appliance door 103 effectively manually open by pulling in an opening direction.

Is the appliance door 103 opened, the user can by pressing a release element 141 , in particular a tab, ensure that the holding section 119 and thus the door opening element 117 again from the appliance door 103 can be solved. The release element 141 is here at an edge of the holding section 119 arranged, wherein the edge of the holding opening 137 of the holding section 119 limited. By a movement of the release element 141 becomes the edge of the holding section 119 from the appliance door 103 slightly lifted and in the suction cup penetrating air can compensate for the negative pressure in the suction cup, whereby the door opening element 117 again from the appliance door 103 can be removed.

Thus, through the door opening element 117 an effective manual opening of the appliance door 103 by the user of the laundry care device 100 be enabled, for example, if a power failure, an actuation of the electromechanical door opener 115 of the laundry care device 100 excludes.

4 shows a schematic view of a device door 103 held door opening element 117 , A device door 103 closes a device opening 105 on a front side 107 of the laundry care device 100 , On an outside of the appliance door 103 is a door opening element 117 been pressed, wherein the holding section 119 of the door opening element 117 by a negative pressure in the suction cup effectively on the door 103 is held. When the user in the grip section 121 of the door opening element 117 engages, can effectively open the door manually 103 by the user of the laundry care device 100 be enabled.

All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention, in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Laundry care device

101

reservoir

103

door

105

opening devices

107

Front of the laundry care appliance

109

closure device

111

locking element

113

Electromechanical door opener

115

Door opening pin

117

Door-opening member

119

holding section

121

cross section

123-1

First handgrip

123-2

Second gripping ring

125-1

First gripping opening

125-2

Second gripping opening

127-1

First ring section

127-2

Second ring section

129

Central attachment section

131-1

First external attachment section

131-2

Second external mounting section

133

mounting surface

135

fixing rib

137

holding opening

139

sealing lip

141

release element

Claims (14)

A laundry care device (100) having a device door (103) for closing a device opening (105) of the laundry care device (100), characterized in that in the laundry care device (100) a door opening element removable by the user of the laundry care device (100) from the laundry care device (100) (117) that the door opening element (117) has a holding section (119) designed as a suction cup, which can be pressed against the appliance door (103) and is held on the appliance door (103) by a negative pressure, and in that the door opening element (11) 117) has a gripping portion (121) connected to the holding portion (119), in which the user can engage to open the appliance door (103) held by the holding portion (119). Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the suction section designed as a holding portion (119) has a holding opening (137) which is delimited by a circumferential sealing lip (139), wherein the circumferential sealing lip (139) is formed, the on the appliance door (103) can be pressed holding portion (119) to seal vacuum-tight. Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that formed as a suction cup holding portion (119) made of an elastically deformable material, in particular an elastically deformable plastic, is formed. The laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding section (119) designed as a suction cup has a release element (141) which can be actuated by the user to hold the door opening element (117) of the appliance door (103) the appliance door (103) to solve. Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 4 characterized in that the release member (141) is disposed on an edge of the holding portion (119), wherein the edge of the holding portion (119) defines a holding opening (137) of the holding portion (119), and wherein the release member (141) is in particular as a tab is formed. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding section (119) designed as a suction cup has a bowl wall which delimits a bowl interior. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping portion (121) has at least one gripping opening (125-1, 125-2), in which the user can engage, around the appliance door held by the door opening element (117) (103) to open. Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 7 , characterized in that the gripping portion (121) has at least one gripping ring (123-1, 123-2) which delimits the at least one gripping opening (125-1, 125-2). Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 8 characterized in that the gripping portion (121) comprises a first gripping ring (123-1) defining a first gripping opening (125-1), and in that the gripping portion (121) comprises a second gripping ring (123-2) having a first gripping ring (123-2) second gripping opening (125-2) limited, wherein the first gripping ring (123-1) has a second gripping ring (123-2) facing first annular portion (127-1), wherein the second gripping ring (123-2) a the first gripping ring (123-1) facing the second ring portion (127-2), and wherein the first and second ring portions (127-1, 127-2) are interconnected. The laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping section (121) has a central attachment section (129) which is connected to a mounting surface (133) of the suction-cup holding section (119), the central attachment section (121). 129) is adapted to connect the gripping portion (121) with the holding portion (119), and wherein the central fixing portion (129) is in particular part of at least one gripping ring (123-1, 123-2). Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 10 Characterized in that at least one fixing rib (135) is disposed between the central mounting portion (129) and the mounting surface (133), which is designed to stabilize the central mounting portion (129). The laundry care apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping portion (121) has at least one external fixing portion (131-1, 131-2) connected to a fixing surface (133) of the holding portion (119) formed as a suction cup is formed, and is adapted to connect the gripping portion (121) with the holding portion (119), wherein the at least one external attachment portion (131-1, 131-2) is in particular part of at least one gripping ring (123-1, 123-2) , Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a receiving opening accessible from an outside area of the laundry care appliance (100), in which the door opening element (117) removable from the laundry care appliance (100) is arranged, wherein the receiving opening is separated in particular by a pump flap of the outer area. Laundry care appliance (100) after Claim 13 , characterized in that the laundry care device (100) has a drain hose for discharging washing liquid from the laundry care device (100), and that the drain hose with the gripping portion (121), in particular a gripping ring (123-1, 123-2) of the gripping portion ( 121) is connectable to secure the door opening member (117) to the drain hose.

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