EP1245712B1 - Top loading washer with a washing drum in the machine housing - Google Patents

Top loading washer with a washing drum in the machine housing Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1245712B1
EP1245712B1 EP02004346A EP02004346A EP1245712B1 EP 1245712 B1 EP1245712 B1 EP 1245712B1 EP 02004346 A EP02004346 A EP 02004346A EP 02004346 A EP02004346 A EP 02004346A EP 1245712 B1 EP1245712 B1 EP 1245712B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cover
control cover
catch
closed position
top loading
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02004346A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1245712A2 (en
EP1245712A3 (en
Inventor
Robert Jacob
Marc Cordes
Philippe Valton
Jean-Yves Le Gall
Adel Kassem
Fabrice Veront
Angela D'alessandro
Markus Beck
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP1245712A2 publication Critical patent/EP1245712A2/en
Publication of EP1245712A3 publication Critical patent/EP1245712A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1245712B1 publication Critical patent/EP1245712B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
    • D06F37/10—Doors; Securing means therefor

Definitions

  • the invention concerns a top loading washer with a washing drum pivoted in a machine housing.
  • the drum has a laundry opening in its lateral surface that is accessible from the top of the machine housing and closable by means of two hinged covers articulated under spring force to the axial edges of the laundry opening with latch elements which fix the two hinged covers in the closed position.
  • Such a top loading washer is disclosed in DE 79 33 138 U1. Both hinged covers are approximately the same width and extend over one-half of the width of the laundry opening. Both hinged covers latch in the area of the free edges, whereby one hinged cover must be additionally provided with a pivoted latching element. Moreover, a hinged cover such as this for the laundry opening of a top loading washer requires complicated handling, with both hands to open an close the cover.
  • US-A-5398528 discloses a top loading washer according to the preamble of claim 1. In this document it is shown an automatic opening of the two hinged covers when the lid is opened.
  • DE 1726323 U discloses a similar washer, in which one of the hinged covers has a bolt device for fixing it to the drum.
  • the one narrower catch cover in the open position is held in a catching position; that a wider control cover when moving into the closed position entrains the catch cover into the closed position, and that a release is provided for in the control cover which, when actuated, releases the latched connection between the catch cover and the control cover and with the help of the spring-loaded pivot bearings triggers the return movement into their open positions.
  • the smaller catch cover In its open position with the catching position, the smaller catch cover can extend into the area of the loading opening when in its catching position without notably hindering the loading of laundry into the washing drum.
  • To close the cover it suffices to bring the larger control cover into the closed position, which can be done with one hand.
  • the catch cover held in the defined catch position is automatically entrained into the closed position until both hinged covers reach their closed positions and the latched connection is created and held by the springs in the pivot bearings of the hinged covers.
  • To open the cover one need only actuate the release in the control cover and release the latched connection.
  • the springs of the pivot bearings force the hinged covers into their open positions.
  • the catch cover is easily entrained when closing the control cover in that the catch cover with its slide faces extends into the path of motion of the control cover, and the control cover is provided with opposing slide faces that come into contact with the slide faces during the closing movement, and in their further closing movement, through the sliding motion between the slide surfaces and counter slide surfaces, entrain the catch cover with an opposite pivoting motion into its closed position.
  • Small overlapping sections of the hinged covers are sufficient to accomplish this.
  • a sufficiently secure latching of the two hinged covers in the closed position is ensured by a hook-like latch bar on the outside of the catch cover is insertable into a locating hole in the control cover when the control cover closes, and which catches behind it in the closed position.
  • the control cover has a recess open to the outside in which a flat lever is pivoted as a release.
  • a release bar is guided through an opening in the control cover and moves the catch cover beyond the closed position when the release is lifted, thereby releasing the latched connection between the latch bar and locator hole is released.
  • the advantage of designing the release in this manner is that with the release movement the control cover is simultaneously lifted in its opening movement.
  • the hinged covers can also be opened with one hand since, after the latched connection is released, the control cover is lifted by the catch cover so that the latter is brought by means of the spring-loaded pivot bearings into the defined catching position, which is identical with its the open position.
  • the cover is integrated in the lateral surface of the washing drum in such a way that the catch cover, control cover and release are recessed below the maximum outer contour of the washing drum in the closed position.
  • the parts necessary for the cover can be made easily and economically when the catch cover and the control cover are designed and manufactured as flexible stampings made of sheet metal and the release is designed and manufactured as an injection molded part made of plastic.
  • the washing drum 10 is as usual mounted and accessed in the machine housing.
  • the laundry opening 12 of the washing drum 10 is accessible at the top of the machine housing after the opening of a hinged cover or door.
  • the drive mechanism of the washing drum 10 must ensure that the laundry opening 12 faces the hinged cover or door in the machine housing when the washing drum 10 is at rest.
  • the washing drum 10 mounted to rotate around an axis 11 in the machine housing has a laundry opening 12 in the lateral surface that is delimited by two parallel axial edges and extends over a fairly large angular area of the lateral surface of the drum.
  • the two hinged covers articulated to the parallel edges of the laundry opening 12 differ in width.
  • a narrow catch cover 20 pivots on an axis 21 with a spring 22 in the pivot bearing setting a defined open position which is the same as the catching position defined by a stop 23. In this catching position, the catch cover 20 extends into the area of the laundry opening 12 at an angle.
  • the wide control cover 30 is articulated to the lateral surface of the washing drum 10 as is shown by the pivot bearing 31 with a spring 32. The spring 32 moves the control cover 30 into open position in which it completely disengages the laundry opening 12 of the washing drum 10 on this side.
  • the width of the control cover 30 is selected such that it comes into contact with the narrow catch cover 20 while closing and forces the catch cover into the closed position as it continues to close.
  • the catch cover 20 has slide faces 25 and 26 that contact the opposing slide faces 34 and 35 of the control cover 30 and slide against them.
  • Fig. 3 clearly shows an enlarged partial view of the two contacting hinged covers with slide faces and opposing slide faces.
  • Fig. 3 also shows that the catch cover 20 has a hook-like latch bar 24 on the outside, while the control cover 30 has a slot-shaped locating hole 33. If the control cover 30 continues to pivot from the intermediate position in Fig. 3 towards the closed position, then the control cover 30 slides on the catch cover 20 and the latch bar 24 is guided into the locating hole 33. When the closed position is reached, the latch bar 24 catches behind the locating hole 33, and this latched connection and thus the closed position for the two hinged covers is in particular maintained by the spring force of the spring 22 in the pivot bearing of the catch cover 20.
  • the partial section in Fig. 4 shows the moment at which the latch bar 24 of the catch cover 20 is inserted into the locating hole 33 in the control cover 30, and the opposing slide faces 34 and 35 and the slide faces 25 and 26 come into contact and, as the closing process continues, rest and slide on each other until the two hinged covers reach the latched closed position visible in the partial section in Fig. 5.
  • a recess 37 is formed on the outside of the control cover 30 in which a flat lever is pivoted as a release 40.
  • the bearing shaft 41 is mounted in the side walls of the recess 37 as shown in Fig. 5.
  • This lever extends with a release bar 42 through an opening 36 in the control cover 30 and can, when the lever is lifted, swing the catch cover 20 out of the closed position shown in Fig. 5 and release the latch connection as illustrated in Fig 6.
  • the control cover 30 is also simultaneously swung out toward the open position and lifted by the catch cover 20.
  • the springs 22 and 32 of the pivot bearings 21 and 31 automatically return the catch cover 20 and control cover 30 into their open positions as shown in Fig. 7. In particular, this ensures that the open position of the catch cover 20 necessarily corresponds to the defined catching position.
  • the washing drum, hinged covers and release can be made of plastic, metal or combinations thereof. This also depends on the speed of the washing drum and the cost of the washer design.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)

Description

  • The invention concerns a top loading washer with a washing drum pivoted in a machine housing. The drum has a laundry opening in its lateral surface that is accessible from the top of the machine housing and closable by means of two hinged covers articulated under spring force to the axial edges of the laundry opening with latch elements which fix the two hinged covers in the closed position.
  • Such a top loading washer is disclosed in DE 79 33 138 U1. Both hinged covers are approximately the same width and extend over one-half of the width of the laundry opening. Both hinged covers latch in the area of the free edges, whereby one hinged cover must be additionally provided with a pivoted latching element. Moreover, a hinged cover such as this for the laundry opening of a top loading washer requires complicated handling, with both hands to open an close the cover.
  • As shown in DE 80 14 862 U1 and DE 80 19 180 U1, other constructions have been using hinged covers with different latching techniques have also been used; however, they have the same disadvantages as the initially-cited state of the art.
  • US-A-5398528 discloses a top loading washer according to the preamble of claim 1. In this document it is shown an automatic opening of the two hinged covers when the lid is opened. DE 1726323 U discloses a similar washer, in which one of the hinged covers has a bolt device for fixing it to the drum.
  • It is the task of the invention to provide a top loading washer of the initially-cited kind with a cover for the laundry opening of the washing drum that can be opened quickly and easily with one hand.
  • The problem is solved according to the invention in that the one narrower catch cover in the open position is held in a catching position; that a wider control cover when moving into the closed position entrains the catch cover into the closed position, and that a release is provided for in the control cover which, when actuated, releases the latched connection between the catch cover and the control cover and with the help of the spring-loaded pivot bearings triggers the return movement into their open positions.
  • In its open position with the catching position, the smaller catch cover can extend into the area of the loading opening when in its catching position without notably hindering the loading of laundry into the washing drum. To close the cover, it suffices to bring the larger control cover into the closed position, which can be done with one hand. In the process the catch cover held in the defined catch position is automatically entrained into the closed position until both hinged covers reach their closed positions and the latched connection is created and held by the springs in the pivot bearings of the hinged covers. To open the cover, one need only actuate the release in the control cover and release the latched connection. The springs of the pivot bearings force the hinged covers into their open positions.
  • According to one embodiment, the catch cover is easily entrained when closing the control cover in that the catch cover with its slide faces extends into the path of motion of the control cover, and the control cover is provided with opposing slide faces that come into contact with the slide faces during the closing movement, and in their further closing movement, through the sliding motion between the slide surfaces and counter slide surfaces, entrain the catch cover with an opposite pivoting motion into its closed position. Small overlapping sections of the hinged covers are sufficient to accomplish this.
  • A sufficiently secure latching of the two hinged covers in the closed position is ensured by a hook-like latch bar on the outside of the catch cover is insertable into a locating hole in the control cover when the control cover closes, and which catches behind it in the closed position.
  • According to another embodiment, the control cover has a recess open to the outside in which a flat lever is pivoted as a release. A release bar is guided through an opening in the control cover and moves the catch cover beyond the closed position when the release is lifted, thereby releasing the latched connection between the latch bar and locator hole is released. The advantage of designing the release in this manner is that with the release movement the control cover is simultaneously lifted in its opening movement. The hinged covers can also be opened with one hand since, after the latched connection is released, the control cover is lifted by the catch cover so that the latter is brought by means of the spring-loaded pivot bearings into the defined catching position, which is identical with its the open position.
  • In one embodiment, the cover is integrated in the lateral surface of the washing drum in such a way that the catch cover, control cover and release are recessed below the maximum outer contour of the washing drum in the closed position.
  • The parts necessary for the cover can be made easily and economically when the catch cover and the control cover are designed and manufactured as flexible stampings made of sheet metal and the release is designed and manufactured as an injection molded part made of plastic.
  • The invention will be further explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment displayed in the drawings. Shown are:
    • Fig. 1
    a perspective view of a washing drum with a hinged cover for a top loading washer with the hinged cover in the open position,
    Fig. 2
    an enlarged partial view of the washing drum from Fig. 1,
    Fig. 3
    a partial view in which the control cover which is to be brought into the closed position comes into contact with the catch cover and then forces it into the closed position,
    Fig. 4
    a partial section of the contact position of the two hinged covers from Fig. 3,
    Fig. 5
    a partial section of the two hinged covers in the closed position,
    Fig. 6
    a partial section of the released position of the release mechanism and the releasing of the latched connection,
    Fig. 7
    a partial side view of the washing drum with the hinged covers in the open positions.
  • In the present invention, the washing drum 10 is as usual mounted and accessed in the machine housing. The laundry opening 12 of the washing drum 10 is accessible at the top of the machine housing after the opening of a hinged cover or door. The drive mechanism of the washing drum 10 must ensure that the laundry opening 12 faces the hinged cover or door in the machine housing when the washing drum 10 is at rest. As an additional precaution, provision can be made that the hinged cover or door in the machine housing can only be opened or closed when the washing drum 10 is at rest or when the washer is turned off.
  • As the view in Fig. 1 shows, the washing drum 10 mounted to rotate around an axis 11 in the machine housing has a laundry opening 12 in the lateral surface that is delimited by two parallel axial edges and extends over a fairly large angular area of the lateral surface of the drum.
  • The two hinged covers articulated to the parallel edges of the laundry opening 12 differ in width. A narrow catch cover 20 pivots on an axis 21 with a spring 22 in the pivot bearing setting a defined open position which is the same as the catching position defined by a stop 23. In this catching position, the catch cover 20 extends into the area of the laundry opening 12 at an angle. On the opposite edge, the wide control cover 30 is articulated to the lateral surface of the washing drum 10 as is shown by the pivot bearing 31 with a spring 32. The spring 32 moves the control cover 30 into open position in which it completely disengages the laundry opening 12 of the washing drum 10 on this side.
  • The width of the control cover 30 is selected such that it comes into contact with the narrow catch cover 20 while closing and forces the catch cover into the closed position as it continues to close. The catch cover 20 has slide faces 25 and 26 that contact the opposing slide faces 34 and 35 of the control cover 30 and slide against them. Fig. 3 clearly shows an enlarged partial view of the two contacting hinged covers with slide faces and opposing slide faces. Fig. 3 also shows that the catch cover 20 has a hook-like latch bar 24 on the outside, while the control cover 30 has a slot-shaped locating hole 33. If the control cover 30 continues to pivot from the intermediate position in Fig. 3 towards the closed position, then the control cover 30 slides on the catch cover 20 and the latch bar 24 is guided into the locating hole 33. When the closed position is reached, the latch bar 24 catches behind the locating hole 33, and this latched connection and thus the closed position for the two hinged covers is in particular maintained by the spring force of the spring 22 in the pivot bearing of the catch cover 20.
  • The partial section in Fig. 4 shows the moment at which the latch bar 24 of the catch cover 20 is inserted into the locating hole 33 in the control cover 30, and the opposing slide faces 34 and 35 and the slide faces 25 and 26 come into contact and, as the closing process continues, rest and slide on each other until the two hinged covers reach the latched closed position visible in the partial section in Fig. 5.
  • As can be seen in Fig. 1 to 5, a recess 37 is formed on the outside of the control cover 30 in which a flat lever is pivoted as a release 40. The bearing shaft 41 is mounted in the side walls of the recess 37 as shown in Fig. 5. This lever extends with a release bar 42 through an opening 36 in the control cover 30 and can, when the lever is lifted, swing the catch cover 20 out of the closed position shown in Fig. 5 and release the latch connection as illustrated in Fig 6. Through the lifting motion of the lever the control cover 30 is also simultaneously swung out toward the open position and lifted by the catch cover 20. After the lever is released, the springs 22 and 32 of the pivot bearings 21 and 31 automatically return the catch cover 20 and control cover 30 into their open positions as shown in Fig. 7. In particular, this ensures that the open position of the catch cover 20 necessarily corresponds to the defined catching position.
  • The washing drum, hinged covers and release can be made of plastic, metal or combinations thereof. This also depends on the speed of the washing drum and the cost of the washer design.

Claims (6)

  1. A top loading washer with a washing drum (10) pivoted in the machine housing and provided with a laundry opening (12) in the lateral surface that is accessible from the top of the machine housing and can be closed by two spring-loaded hinged covers (20, 30) articulated to the axial edges of the laundry opening (12) and provided with latch elements which fix the two hinged covers (20, 30) in the closed position,
    a narrow catch cover (20) in open position being held in a catching position,
    a wide control cover (30) entraining the catch cover (20) into closed position when the control cover is moved ito closed position, characterized in that
    the control cover (30) has a recess (37) open to the outside in which a flat lever is pivoted as a release (40) that, when actuated, releases the latched connection between the catch cover (20) and the control cover (30) and returns them into their open positions by means of the spring-loaded pivot bearings.
  2. The top loading washer according to claim 1,
    characterized in that,
    on the outside of the catch cover (20) is a hook-shaped latch bar (24) which can be guided into a locating hole (33) in the control cover (33) and which hooks behind the control cover in the closed position when the control cover (30) closes.
  3. The top loading washer according to one of the claim 2,
    characterized in that the flat lever (40) comprises
    a release bar (42) that is guided through a hole (36) in the control cover (30) moves the catch cover (20) out of the closed position when the lever (40) is lifted and releases the latched connection between the latch bar (24) and the locating hole (33).
  4. The top loading washer according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
    characterized in that,
    the catch cover (20) extends with slide faces (25, 26) into the path of movement of the control cover (30), and
    the control cover (30) is provided with opposing slide faces (34, 35) which come into contact with the slide faces (25, 26) when closing, and which, as the control cover continues to close, by means of the sliding movements between the slide faces (25, 26) and opposing slide faces (34, 35) entrain the catch cover (20) with opposed pivoting movements into its closed position.
  5. The top loading washer according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
    characterized in that
    the catch cover (20), control cover (30) and lever (40) are recessed from the maximum outer contour of the washing drum (10) when they are in the closed position.
  6. The top loading washer according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
    characterized in that,
    the catch cover (20) and the control cover (30) are designed and manufactured as flexible stampings made of sheet metal, and the lever (40) is designed and manufactured as an injection-molded part made of plastic.
EP02004346A 2001-03-29 2002-03-01 Top loading washer with a washing drum in the machine housing Expired - Lifetime EP1245712B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10115400 2001-03-29
DE10115400A DE10115400B4 (en) 2001-03-29 2001-03-29 Top loading washing machine with a washing drum in the machine housing

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1245712A2 EP1245712A2 (en) 2002-10-02
EP1245712A3 EP1245712A3 (en) 2003-08-13
EP1245712B1 true EP1245712B1 (en) 2006-08-23

Family

ID=7679460

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02004346A Expired - Lifetime EP1245712B1 (en) 2001-03-29 2002-03-01 Top loading washer with a washing drum in the machine housing

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1245712B1 (en)
DE (2) DE10115400B4 (en)
ES (1) ES2269532T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1574611A1 (en) * 2004-03-11 2005-09-14 Whirlpool Corporation Top-loading clothes washing machine with two drum door flaps
ITTO20070344A1 (en) * 2007-05-16 2008-11-17 Indesit Co Spa WASHING MACHINE LOADED FROM HIGH, IN PARTICULAR A WASHING MACHINE, AND ITS OPERATING METHOD
EP2381025B1 (en) * 2010-04-21 2012-10-31 Candy S.p.A. Drum for washing machines
EP2415923A1 (en) * 2010-08-06 2012-02-08 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Plastic door for the drum of a laundry machine
EP2415922A1 (en) * 2010-08-06 2012-02-08 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Door for the drum of a laundry machine
EP2415924B9 (en) * 2010-08-06 2013-07-03 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Door for the drum of a laundry machine

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1726323U (en) * 1956-04-18 1956-07-19 Zenit G M B H WASHING MACHINE.
DE7933138U1 (en) * 1978-11-24 1980-03-06 Esswein S.A., Courbevoie (Frankreich) Washing machine or spin dryer
DE8014862U1 (en) * 1980-06-04 1980-09-04 Mayc Sa SAFETY DEVICE FOR TURN DRIVE DOOR
DE8019180U1 (en) * 1980-07-17 1980-10-16 Mayc Sa SAFETY DEVICE FOR TURN DRUM COVER FOR WASHING MACHINES
US5437168A (en) * 1994-05-02 1995-08-01 Whirlpool Corporation Top loading horizontal axis automatic washer
US5398528A (en) * 1994-05-02 1995-03-21 Whirlpool Corporation Pulley system for automatic washer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2269532T3 (en) 2007-04-01
DE60214068T2 (en) 2007-03-01
EP1245712A2 (en) 2002-10-02
DE10115400A1 (en) 2002-10-24
DE60214068D1 (en) 2006-10-05
EP1245712A3 (en) 2003-08-13
DE10115400B4 (en) 2004-12-30

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