EP1753926A1 - Plastic-based washing machine door hinge - Google Patents

Plastic-based washing machine door hinge

Info

Publication number
EP1753926A1
EP1753926A1 EP04775693A EP04775693A EP1753926A1 EP 1753926 A1 EP1753926 A1 EP 1753926A1 EP 04775693 A EP04775693 A EP 04775693A EP 04775693 A EP04775693 A EP 04775693A EP 1753926 A1 EP1753926 A1 EP 1753926A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hinge
washing machine
plastic
arm
machine door
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04775693A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sahin GÖRGÜ
Samet Elmaz
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.)
Farel Plastik Elektrik Ve Elektronik Imalat Sanayi
BSH EV Aletleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Original Assignee
FAREL PLASTIK ELEK K VE ELEKTR
Farel Plastik Elektrik ve Elektronik Imalat Sanayi AS
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 FAREL PLASTIK ELEK K VE ELEKTR, Farel Plastik Elektrik ve Elektronik Imalat Sanayi AS filed Critical FAREL PLASTIK ELEK K VE ELEKTR
Publication of EP1753926A1 publication Critical patent/EP1753926A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D9/00—Flaps or sleeves specially designed for making from particular material, e.g. hoop-iron, sheet metal, plastics
    • E05D9/005—Flaps or sleeves specially designed for making from particular material, e.g. hoop-iron, sheet metal, plastics from plastics
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D5/00—Construction of single parts, e.g. the parts for attachment
    • E05D5/02—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps
    • E05D5/06—Bent flaps
    • E05D5/065—Bent flaps specially adapted for cabinets or furniture
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/20—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furniture, e.g. cabinets
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/30—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances
    • E05Y2900/312—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances for washing machines or laundry dryers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a washing machine door hinge made of plastic-based material.
  • the invention more particularly relates to a plastic-based washing machine door hinge having ribbed components to enhance mechanical strength thereof and the hinge comprising various recesses for providing smooth water flow pattern in the vicinity of the washing machine door.
  • the present invention concerns a washing machine door hinge of the kind comprising a body immovably secured to the door housing frame and at least one arm integrated to the body.
  • a washing machine door hinge is known from the background art.
  • Known washing machine hinges are metal based and having in particular zamac body and arms (zinc aluminum metal alloy casting).
  • metal density is much higher than plastic materials, for instance zinc having 7,049 g/cc, aluminum having 2,77 g/cc whereas polyurethane having 1 g/cc and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) having 0,95 g/cc, mounting such a metal- based hinge to the washing machine inevitably increases the overall weight of the machine.
  • HDPE High Density Polyethylene
  • a washing machine hinge As a washing machine hinge is partially in contact with water in the washing machine, a m etal-based h inge i s u navoidably reacted to the water, a ctually the water is a mixture of a chemical fluid due to presence of detergent and other softening agents in the water. This would lead to vulnerability of the hinge in the presence of the corrosive effects.
  • washing machine hinges In practice, most critical parts, in the sense of mechanical tension, of washing machine hinges are the arms coupled to the body. As the hinge is exerted bending moment in typical working conditions, shear and in more immediate concern normal stresses take place in the sections of the hinge arms.
  • Known washing machine hinge arms are so formed to exhibit sufficient strength to prevent failure of the arms under the external forces and bending moments. However, providing sufficient strength to such external forces are performed through increasing section thickness which leads to both material loss and weight increase of the hinge.
  • the invention seeks to provide a washing machine door hinge rendering sufficient strength against external forces and simultaneously decreasing overall weight of the washing machine.
  • this object is accomplished in a washing machine of above kind in that the hinge is embodied by plastic injection molding and in that the arms having ribbed structure.
  • the washing machine hinge according to the present invention further comprises that the body has a ribbed structure and optionally bent i.e. having a certain radius to adapt door housing frame.
  • the hinge according to invention further comprises channels through which holes embodied to secure the body to the frame. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
  • FIG 1 illustrates washing machine door assembly by the hinge according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2a illustrates the hinge from perspective right view according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2b illustrates the hinge from perspective left view according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2c illustrates the hinge from perspective rear s ide view a ccording to the present invention.
  • Figure 3a illustrates the hinge arm in perspective view according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3b illustrates the hinge body securing housing in perspective view according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3c illustrates the hinge body securing housing in perspective view according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates washing machine door assembly by the hinge according to the present invention.
  • the hinge is placed between the washing machine d oor ( 15) a nd the front s heet ( 14) of the machine.
  • hinge body (16) is secured to door housing frame and hinge arms (8) - at least one arm - are secured to the door.
  • FIG. 2a illustrates the hinge from perspective right view according to the present invention.
  • the hinge comprises arms (8) integrated to the body (16) and the hinge is embodied by plastic injection moulding, so defining a plastic-based washing machine door hinge.
  • the arms (8) comprise a ribbed structure (1 ) to strengthen thereof against external forces and bending moments in particular.
  • outer faces of the arms (8) are moulded in a closed-form structure unlike the inner faces having ribbed structure.
  • the outer faces can have a ribbed structure optionally.
  • Figure 2c illustrates the hinge from perspective rear s ide v iew a ccording to the present invention.
  • the body (16) of the hinge optionally, can have ribbed structure (12) for both strengthening the hinge and decreasing the weight of the hinge.
  • seats (9) - At the rear face of the body (16), seats (9) - at least one seat - are provided in the vicinity of the two ends.
  • the seats (9) are foreseen for distributing the local stresses induced by attachment means, like screws, when the body (16) is secured to the housing frame.
  • Two protrusions (10) are embodied at the rear side of the body (16) for facilitating the body to arrange to the housing frame.
  • plurality of apertures (11 ,13) are formed to ease extracting the protrusions (10) from the mould.
  • the apertures (11 ,13) provides that the cross section of the body (16) remains even, through the longitudinal direction of the body (16), in the presence of the ribbed structure. Otherwise, uneven cross section would lead to stress propagation at the section transitions.
  • the arm (8) has an external radius (2) at the corner region thereof and an internal radius (3) for preventing stress propagations that are induced by the external forces.
  • Bosses (4) are placed at the two ends of the body (16), the bosses (4) are engaged to corresponding housings in the door (15).
  • the body (16) includes channels (17) at both ends, and the channels (17) comprise holes (5) through which securing means, like bolts, screws etc, are introduced for connecting the body (16) to the housing frame.
  • securing means like bolts, screws etc.
  • relatively short bolt can be utilized for connecting the body (16) to the sheet of the machine. So, bending moments that would be induced by external forces can be decreased by the decreasing bolt length.
  • connection radiuses are formed to smoothen section transitions, so minimizing stress propagations at the connection points.
  • radiuses (6) can be formed optionally.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

A hinge arranged between the washing machine door and the front sheet of the machine, comprising a body (16) and at least one arm (8) integrated to the body (16), wherein the hinge is embodied by plastic injection molding.

Description

PLASTIC-BASED WASHING MACHINE DOOR HINGE
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a washing machine door hinge made of plastic-based material. The invention more particularly relates to a plastic-based washing machine door hinge having ribbed components to enhance mechanical strength thereof and the hinge comprising various recesses for providing smooth water flow pattern in the vicinity of the washing machine door.
BACKGROUND ART
The present invention concerns a washing machine door hinge of the kind comprising a body immovably secured to the door housing frame and at least one arm integrated to the body. Such a washing machine door hinge is known from the background art. Known washing machine hinges are metal based and having in particular zamac body and arms (zinc aluminum metal alloy casting). As it is known, metal density is much higher than plastic materials, for instance zinc having 7,049 g/cc, aluminum having 2,77 g/cc whereas polyurethane having 1 g/cc and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) having 0,95 g/cc, mounting such a metal- based hinge to the washing machine inevitably increases the overall weight of the machine. Furthermore, the production processes of such metal-based hinge lead to technical disadvantages in practicing the hinge to the machine, since casting must be remained in a strictly controlled manner, otherwise material discontinuities in the core of the cast material would induce mechanical instability which eventually leads failure to preserve the integrity of the cast material due to external forces.
Moreover, in principle it is quite challenging to arrange the metal-based hinge to the door frame of the washing machine, since a metal-based hinge is not sufficiently flexible to adapt the geometric formation of the door frame to which the hinge body is secured.
As a washing machine hinge is partially in contact with water in the washing machine, a m etal-based h inge i s u navoidably reacted to the water, a ctually the water is a mixture of a chemical fluid due to presence of detergent and other softening agents in the water. This would lead to vulnerability of the hinge in the presence of the corrosive effects.
In practice, most critical parts, in the sense of mechanical tension, of washing machine hinges are the arms coupled to the body. As the hinge is exerted bending moment in typical working conditions, shear and in more immediate concern normal stresses take place in the sections of the hinge arms. Known washing machine hinge arms are so formed to exhibit sufficient strength to prevent failure of the arms under the external forces and bending moments. However, providing sufficient strength to such external forces are performed through increasing section thickness which leads to both material loss and weight increase of the hinge.
Water flow pattern is another issue when designing the hinge, since the hinge is partially introduced into the internal machine volume i.e. where the clothes are washed. The washing machine producers foresee a smooth water flow pattern in the machine volume for the most effective washing. However the present hinges comprise various sharp edges deteriorating the water flow in the machine.
BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention seeks to provide a washing machine door hinge rendering sufficient strength against external forces and simultaneously decreasing overall weight of the washing machine.
In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished in a washing machine of above kind in that the hinge is embodied by plastic injection molding and in that the arms having ribbed structure.
The washing machine hinge according to the present invention further comprises that the body has a ribbed structure and optionally bent i.e. having a certain radius to adapt door housing frame.
The hinge according to invention further comprises channels through which holes embodied to secure the body to the frame. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates washing machine door assembly by the hinge according to the present invention.
Figure 2a illustrates the hinge from perspective right view according to the present invention.
Figure 2b illustrates the hinge from perspective left view according to the present invention.
Figure 2c illustrates the hinge from perspective rear s ide view a ccording to the present invention.
Figure 3a illustrates the hinge arm in perspective view according to the present invention.
Figure 3b illustrates the hinge body securing housing in perspective view according to the present invention.
Figure 3c illustrates the hinge body securing housing in perspective view according to the present invention.
REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE COMPONENTS
1 Arm rib 8 Arm
2 Arm external radius 9 Seat
3 Arm internal radius 10 Protrusion
4 Boss 11 Aperture
5 Hole 12 Body rib
6 Body edge radius 13 Aperture
7 Arm connection radius 14 Sheet 15 Door 17 Channel
16 Body
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 illustrates washing machine door assembly by the hinge according to the present invention. As seen in the figure, the hinge is placed between the washing machine d oor ( 15) a nd the front s heet ( 14) of the machine. In particular, hinge body (16) is secured to door housing frame and hinge arms (8) - at least one arm - are secured to the door.
Figure 2a illustrates the hinge from perspective right view according to the present invention. The hinge comprises arms (8) integrated to the body (16) and the hinge is embodied by plastic injection moulding, so defining a plastic-based washing machine door hinge.
The arms (8) comprise a ribbed structure (1 ) to strengthen thereof against external forces and bending moments in particular. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, outer faces of the arms (8) are moulded in a closed-form structure unlike the inner faces having ribbed structure. However, the outer faces can have a ribbed structure optionally. I
Figure 2c illustrates the hinge from perspective rear s ide v iew a ccording to the present invention. The body (16) of the hinge, optionally, can have ribbed structure (12) for both strengthening the hinge and decreasing the weight of the hinge. At the rear face of the body (16), seats (9) - at least one seat - are provided in the vicinity of the two ends. The seats (9) are foreseen for distributing the local stresses induced by attachment means, like screws, when the body (16) is secured to the housing frame.
Two protrusions (10) are embodied at the rear side of the body (16) for facilitating the body to arrange to the housing frame. Along side the protrusions (10), plurality of apertures (11 ,13) are formed to ease extracting the protrusions (10) from the mould. Moreover, the apertures (11 ,13) provides that the cross section of the body (16) remains even, through the longitudinal direction of the body (16), in the presence of the ribbed structure. Otherwise, uneven cross section would lead to stress propagation at the section transitions.
In Figure 3a, detailed view is illustrated of the arm (8). According to the figure, the arm (8) has an external radius (2) at the corner region thereof and an internal radius (3) for preventing stress propagations that are induced by the external forces. Bosses (4) are placed at the two ends of the body (16), the bosses (4) are engaged to corresponding housings in the door (15).
As seen in Figure 3b and 3c, the body (16) includes channels (17) at both ends, and the channels (17) comprise holes (5) through which securing means, like bolts, screws etc, are introduced for connecting the body (16) to the housing frame. As the bolt head is seated in the channel (17), relatively short bolt can be utilized for connecting the body (16) to the sheet of the machine. So, bending moments that would be induced by external forces can be decreased by the decreasing bolt length.
Between the arms (8) and the body (16), connection radiuses are formed to smoothen section transitions, so minimizing stress propagations at the connection points. At the edges of the body (16), radiuses (6) can be formed optionally.

Claims

1. A hinge arranged between the washing machine door and the front sheet of the machine, comprising a body (16) and at least one arm (8) integrated to the body (16), characterized in that the hinge is embodied by plastic injection molding.
2. A hinge according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one arm (8) comprises a ribbed structure (1 ).
3. A hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (16) comprises optionally a ribbed structure (12).
4. A hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that channels (17) are provided at two ends of the body (16) and the channels (17) comprising holes (5) through which securing means being introduced.
5. A hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising plurality of apertures (11 ,13) for providing uniform stress distribution through the section of the body (16).
6. A hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least one seat (9) for uniformly distributing stresses induced by the securing means.
EP04775693A 2004-06-04 2004-06-04 Plastic-based washing machine door hinge Withdrawn EP1753926A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/TR2004/000030 WO2005118995A1 (en) 2004-06-04 2004-06-04 Plastic-based washing machine door hinge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1753926A1 true EP1753926A1 (en) 2007-02-21

Family

ID=34958420

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04775693A Withdrawn EP1753926A1 (en) 2004-06-04 2004-06-04 Plastic-based washing machine door hinge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1753926A1 (en)
CN (1) CN1965140A (en)
RU (1) RU2368749C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2005118995A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11939717B2 (en) 2021-04-22 2024-03-26 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Hinge assembly for an appliance

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008012192A1 (en) * 2008-03-03 2009-09-10 Miele & Cie. Kg Front loadable laundry treating machine and door for a front loadable laundry treating machine
EP2143861B1 (en) * 2008-07-10 2014-10-22 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Hinge part and household appliance
US8756764B2 (en) * 2011-12-07 2014-06-24 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Removable side hinge with temporary holding feature for a home appliance
US8857928B2 (en) 2012-03-08 2014-10-14 General Electric Company Appliance with a bracket for supporting a hinge
DE102015216753B3 (en) * 2015-09-02 2016-10-27 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Domestic appliance with a door and method for manufacturing a door
DE102016205873A1 (en) * 2016-04-08 2017-10-12 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Household appliance with a recessed grip
CN111621966B (en) * 2019-02-28 2022-05-20 无锡小天鹅电器有限公司 Door body assembly and clothes treatment device

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3952369A (en) * 1975-03-07 1976-04-27 General Electric Company Hinge structure
US4115901A (en) * 1977-08-04 1978-09-26 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Laundry appliance door hinge
US4914781A (en) * 1988-12-27 1990-04-10 Maytag Corporation Hinge assembly for a closure member
US6058566A (en) * 1998-08-06 2000-05-09 Miner Enterprises, Inc. Breakaway composite hinge structure

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2005118995A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11939717B2 (en) 2021-04-22 2024-03-26 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Hinge assembly for an appliance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2368749C2 (en) 2009-09-27
CN1965140A (en) 2007-05-16
WO2005118995A1 (en) 2005-12-15
RU2006143411A (en) 2008-07-20

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