EP2103729A1 - Trommelwaschmaschine - Google Patents

Trommelwaschmaschine Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2103729A1
EP2103729A1 EP09150430A EP09150430A EP2103729A1 EP 2103729 A1 EP2103729 A1 EP 2103729A1 EP 09150430 A EP09150430 A EP 09150430A EP 09150430 A EP09150430 A EP 09150430A EP 2103729 A1 EP2103729 A1 EP 2103729A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lid
washing machine
engaging
cover
lid unit
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP09150430A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2103729B1 (de
Inventor
Hiroshi Kajihara
Kazunori Maeda
Kiyonobu Yoshida
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.)
Panasonic Corp
Original Assignee
Panasonic 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 Panasonic Corp filed Critical Panasonic Corp
Publication of EP2103729A1 publication Critical patent/EP2103729A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2103729B1 publication Critical patent/EP2103729B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a drum washing machine, in which a cylindrical rotary drum having a bottom plate is placed in a water tub such that the drum is oriented from an open front toward a rear bottom with its rotary axis kept horizontally or slanting downward. Laundry is put into the drum through a lid provided to a front face of a housing of the washing machine, and the drum is driven with a motor, thereby carrying out at least one of the steps of washing, rinsing, or dehydrating.
  • a conventional drum washing machine includes a lid which is generally formed of a lid unit having a transparent window through which a user can see laundry, and a transparent lid cover fit to the front face of the lid unit for covering the lid unit.
  • a drum washing machine is disclosed in, e.g. Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication Number 2007 - 68810 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1).
  • Patent Document 1 specifically discusses a transparent cover in its associated drawing, and this cover covers the front face of a lid frame as far as near to the outer rim of the frame. This conventional structure reveals a problem, i.e.
  • Patent Document 1 thus proposes an opaque decorative plate be fitted onto an outer periphery of the transparent lid cover for exhibiting a fine appearance of the drum washing machine.
  • this decorative plate needs additional components and manufacturing steps, thereby incurring an increase in the manufacturing cost.
  • the transparence of the lid cover is actually not needed in a range not contributing to see-through the laundry, yet placement of the decorative plate loses the transparence of the lid cover at the periphery of the cover.
  • a quality look, compactness, and a fine appearance of the entire lid are spoiled, so that another problem occurs such as an increase in the cost, and degradation in the compactness as well as in the fine appearance of the drum washing machine.
  • the present invention addresses the problem discussed above, and aims to provide a drum washing machine, in which a lid cover is transparent as far as its periphery where the cover is elastically engaged with and fixed to the lid unit. Yet this drum washing machine needs no additional components or assembling steps, so that the washing machine can be inexpensive and compact. On top of that, the fixed sections are not viewed from the outside, so that the washing machine can exhibit its compactness, a quality look, and a fine appearance.
  • the drum washing machine of the present invention includes a cylindrical rotary drum having a bottom plate and placed in a water tub such that the drum is oriented from an open front toward a rear bottom while its rotary axis is kept horizontally or slanting downward.
  • Laundry is put into the drum through a lid provided to a front face of a housing of the washing machine, and the drum is driven with a motor, thereby carrying out at least one of the steps of washing, rinsing, or dehydrating.
  • the lid is formed of a lid unit having a transparent window through which a user can monitor the laundry, and a transparent lid cover placed on the front face of the lid unit for covering the lid unit.
  • Multiple engaging tabs are provided on a rear face at the periphery of the cover, and the engaging tabs protrude rearward.
  • Multiple engagement stopper holes to be mated with the engaging tabs are provided to the lid unit.
  • the holes receive the tabs into the lid unit and elastically engage the engaging tabs with engaging sections provided to the lid unit for preventing the tabs from slipping-off.
  • the tabs and the holes form multiple fixed sections which fit and fix the lid cover to the lid unit.
  • the surface of the cover corresponding at least to the fixed sections has a surface shape which at least refracts or disperses a light from the inside when the light transmits through the cover.
  • the structure discussed above allows preventing at least the wash water, rinse water, or a splash produced by a spin-dryer from leaking to the outside during the respective corresponding steps.
  • the user can monitor the laundry through the transparent lid cover and the window while the machine carries out at least one of the steps of washing, rinsing, or dehydrating.
  • the lid cover remains transparent at least in the regions corresponding to the fixed sections, the shape of the lid cover allows the light from the inside of the drum washing machine to be refracted or dispersed when the light transmits through the surface of the cover.
  • the light reflected on the fixed section is at least refracted or dispersed when the light transmits through the surface of the lid cover.
  • the foregoing structure allows the fixed sections, which are desirably not viewed from the outside, not to be exposed expressly to the human eyes without any additional components or any additional manufacturing steps.
  • a finely-embossed face referred to as a satin-finished face is not employed because the light is diffusely reflected.
  • the surface can be a rough face having a pattern of peaks and valleys instead. The transparence of the regions corresponding to the fixed sections is spoiled little or an interior structure, e.g. the fixed sections, is not exposed to the human eyes.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating an essential structure of the drum washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the drum washing machine shown in Fig. 1 .
  • Drum washing machine 1 in accordance with this embodiment includes rotary drum 2 having a bottom plate, and drum 2 is placed in water tub 3 such that drum 2 is oriented from a open front toward a rear bottom with its rotary axis kept horizontally or slanting downward.
  • a user can put laundry into drum 2 through lid 5 provided to the front section of washing machine housing 4, and rotary drum 2 is driven by motor 6, so that at least one of the steps of washing, rinsing, or dehydrating can be carried out.
  • Fig. 3A shows a sectional view in parts of the drum washing machine shown in Fig. 1 , specifically, an inlet/outlet for the laundry and a lid 5 closing the inlet/outlet.
  • Fig. 3B shows a sectional view enlarging a fixed section and its vicinity shown in Fig. 3A .
  • Fig. 4 shows a perspective view illustrating a relation between a lid cover and a front frame of the lid in the water tub of the drum washing machine shown in Fig. 1 .
  • Fig. 5 shows a partial perspective and enlarged view in parts of the front frame shown in Fig. 4 .
  • Fig. 6 shows a front view of the lid cover of the drum washing machine shown in Fig. 1 .
  • Lid 5 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is formed of lid unit 8 having transparent window 7 through which a user can see the laundry from the outside as shown in Figs. 2 and 3A , and transparent lid cover 9 fitted on the front face of lid unit 8.
  • Lid cover 9 has multiple engaging tabs 9a protruding rearward and integrally formed therewith on its rear face along its periphery as shown in Figs. 3A and 4 .
  • Lid unit 8 has multiple engagement stopper holes 8b corresponding to engaging tabs 9a. Each one of stopper holes 8b receives tab 9a as shown in Fig. 3A , elastically engages tab 9a with engaging section 8a for preventing tab 9a from slipping-off, and fits and fixes lid cover 9 to lid unit 8.
  • lid cover 9 allows lid cover 9 to fit and cover lid unit 8 on the front face, and lid cover 9 is fixed to lid unit 8.
  • Lid cover 9 has positioning projection 41 as shown in Fig. 4 for being mated with positioning hole 42 provided to lid unit 8.
  • engagement stopper hole 8b which is prepared to lid unit 8 correspondingly to multiple engaging tabs 9a, is not available only to positioning projection 41 although stopper hole 8b is available to each one of engaging tabs 9a.
  • lid cover 9 exhibits an idea about exposing a fixed section 11 formed of engaging tab 9a and engagement stopper hole 8b not expressly to the outside without losing the transparence of lid cover 9.
  • lid cover 9's surface in parts 9b respectively corresponding to at least fixed sections 11 are shaped such that the light from the inside can be at least refracted or dispersed while it transmits through lid cover 9.
  • Surface in parts 9b is shaped, e.g. as shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B , and this shape allows refracting or dispersing the light as indicated with the solid line arrow marks or broken line arrow marks in Fig. 3A .
  • lid cover 9 allows transparent lid cover 9 to fit on the front face of lid unit 8, and allows engaging elastically tabs 9a protruding rearward along the periphery of lid cover 9 with engaging sections 8a of engagement stopper holes 8b provided to lid unit 8 for fixing cover 9 to lid unit 8.
  • lid cover 9's surface in-parts 9b corresponding at least to engagement stopper holes 8b and fixed sections 11 respectively refract or disperse the light from the inside because of their shapes although they remain transparent.
  • a fine-embossed face is not employed as surface in-parts 9b because the fine-embossed face invites diffuse reflection which somewhat loses the transparence.
  • a rough face with a pattern of peaks and valleys is employed because it hides desirably-invisible structures such as engaging section 8a from the human eyes or prevents the shades thereof from being reflected.
  • the structure discussed above allows preventing the wash water, rinse water, or a splash produced by a spin-dryer from leaking to the outside during the respective corresponding steps with lid 5 closed.
  • the user can monitor the laundry through transparent lid cover 9 and window 7 while the machine carries out the steps of washing, rinsing, or dehydrating.
  • surface in- parts 9b placed along the periphery of lid cover 9 correspond to at least the locations of engaging sections 8a, and the shape of surface in- parts 9b are modified, with their transparence maintained, such that the light reflected on fixed section 11 can be refracted or dispersed.
  • the modification provided to surface in-parts 9b needs no additional components or no additional assembling steps, so that the structure discussed above incurs no increase in the manufacturing cost of the drum washing machine.
  • the modification provided to the surface includes, e.g. a rough face having a pattern of peaks and valleys, which prevents the shade of fixed sections 11 from being reflected to the outside, but excludes a fine-embossed face which incurs the diffuse reflection that loses transparence greatly enough to hide the interior structures from the human eyes.
  • Lid cover 9 with surface in-parts 9b placed along the periphery as shown in Fig. 6 and having the foregoing rough face with the pattern of peaks and valleys exhibits somewhat a decorative appearance.
  • Lid cover 9 is formed of resin, in general, such as synthetic resin. As shown in Fig. 3A and 3B , lid cover 9 extends around the outer wall of lid unit 8 and covers lid unit 8 with its extending and surrounding wall 9c. End face 9d of surrounding wall 9c includes engaging tabs 9a integrally molded with lid cover 9.
  • Lid unit 8 includes, along its periphery, projecting wall 8d projecting outward from the periphery of lid unit 8 and having stepped face 8c confronting end face 9d. Engagement stopper hole 8b extends through this projecting wall 8c from the front to the rear.
  • lid cover 9 allows transparent lid cover 9 to extend around the outer wall of lid unit 8 and covers lid unit 8, so that the human eyes along a slant line from the front-side or the front-upper into the interior can be blocked.
  • lid cover 9 extends its transparent wall uniformly to a wider area including the periphery, so that drum washing machine 1 can exhibit an appearance of better quality look.
  • Fixed section 11 comprises the following structural elements:
  • Lid unit 8 includes lid frame 20 which comprises front frame 21 and rear frame 22 made of synthetic resin, and transparent window-board 23 made of transparent synthetic resin and sandwiched between front frame 21 and rear frame 22. Front frame 21 and rear frame 22 confront each other with transparent window-board 23 sandwiched in between, thereby forming window 7.
  • lid frame 22 Projecting wall 8d of lid unit 8 is provided to front frame 21, and the surrounding wall 9c extending around the outer wall of lid unit 8 is generally flush with the outer surface of projecting wall 8d.
  • Rear frame 22 includes flange 22a facing outward at its front end for being fitted to front frame 21.
  • Flange 22a is mated with step 21a at rear inside of projecting wall 8d.
  • lid cover 9 is fitted to front frame 21 for elastically engaging with each other, and they can be fixed to each other.
  • surrounding wall 9c of lid cover 9 is generally flush with the outer face of projecting wall 8d, so that outer surface 9f of lid cover 9 extends to a wider area including a three-dimensional region and is simplified.
  • Rear frame 22 includes flange 22a facing outward at its front end for fitting to front frame 21. Flange 22a is mated with step 21a inside the rear end of projecting wall 8d.
  • An outer wall of rear frame 22 is thus located inside the outer walls of lid cover 9 and front frame 21, so that a region viewed from the outside, with lid cover 9 closed, gives a less thick image to the users.
  • This modified surface-shape can be one of the following shapes: (1) An annular or an arc shaped wrinkle grooved in a radial direction as shown with broken-line arrow marks in Fig. 3A , (2) Annular or arc wavy form grooved in the radial direction as shown with solid-line arrow marks in Fig. 3A, or (3 ) rough surface with peaks and valleys formed thereon and extending in every direction.
  • the surface in-parts 9b Use of one of the foregoing shapes on the surface in-parts 9b allows preventing the fixed section 11 including the engaging section 8a from being viewed from the outside because of the foregoing pattern which does not lose the transparence.
  • Surface in-parts 9b should not undergo a finely embossing process in order not to lose the transparence.
  • the pattern of peaks and valleys extending in every direction should have a roughness greater than a knurled pattern.
  • housing 4 of the washing machine includes uphill slant face 4a at the upper front, and round inlet/outlet 31 of laundry is formed on this slant face 4a.
  • Lid 5 is hinged to inlet 31 to open or close inlet 31 and is roundly shaped like inlet 31.
  • Front frame 21 of lid frame 20 is molded of, e.g. polypropylene
  • rear frame 22 is molded of, e.g. polypropylene having greater resistance against chemicals than the other one.
  • Window board 23 is made of, e.g. glass
  • lid cover 9 is formed of, e.g. transparent ABS resin.
  • Placement of positioning projection 41 allows identifying how to mount cover 9 to lid unit 8 with ease, so that no wrong mounting can be expected.
  • This simple mounting of cover 9 to lid unit 8 can advantageously avoid wondering which way cover 9 should be mounted, thus cover 9 can be mounted free from flaws.
  • a wider transparent area is obtained on lid cover 9 of lid 5, and yet, fixed section 11 including engaging section 8a, which engages cover 9 with lid unit 8 behind lid cover 9, is prevented from being viewed from the outside of drum washing machine 1 of which rotary drum is placed horizontally or slanting downward.
  • the drum washing machine of the present invention allows the user to watch the laundry through the transparent lid cover and window with the lid closed while washing water, rinsing water, or hydrating splash is prevented from leaking to the outside.
  • the transparent lid cover is fitted on the front face of the lid unit and elastically engaged with the lid unit, and yet, a structure desirably non-visible from the outside, such as the fixed section including the engaging section, is prevented from being viewed expressly from the outside.
  • the surface in parts of the lid cover correspond to at least respective fixed sections, and the surface in-parts are kept transparent although they are modified their surface-shape in order to allow refracting or dispersing the transmitting light reflected on the engaging section.
  • This structure allows not losing the transparence or transparent image of the lid cover, and yet not reducing the transparent area, while the interior structure can be prevented from being viewed from the outside.
  • the drum washing machine with a quality look is obtainable. No additional components or no additional manufacturing steps are needed for achieving this drum washing machine exhibiting the quality look, so that no additional manufacturing cost is expected.
  • the surface in-parts corresponding at least to the respective fixed sections avoid using finely-embossed process, which incurs the loss in the transparence due to diffusion reflection, but employ a pattern of peaks and valleys which prevents the fixed section including the engaging section from being viewed from the outside.
  • the foregoing pattern exhibits transparent image as well as a quality look, thereby providing the drum washing machine with decorative feeling and a fine appearance.
  • the drum washing machine of the present invention allows obtaining a wide transparent area on its lid cover behind which the engaging section elastically engages the lid cover with the lid unit, and yet, this engaging section can be prevented from being viewed expressly from the outside.
  • the lid can be modified as discussed above free from additional cost.
  • the drum washing machine is thus of use to the users because of its compactness and fine appearance.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
EP09150430A 2008-03-13 2009-01-13 Trommelwaschmaschine Not-in-force EP2103729B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008063475A JP2009213804A (ja) 2008-03-13 2008-03-13 ドラム式洗濯機

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2103729A1 true EP2103729A1 (de) 2009-09-23
EP2103729B1 EP2103729B1 (de) 2013-03-20

Family

ID=40627658

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09150430A Not-in-force EP2103729B1 (de) 2008-03-13 2009-01-13 Trommelwaschmaschine

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2103729B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2009213804A (de)
CN (2) CN201372375Y (de)
MY (1) MY151690A (de)
RU (1) RU2401347C1 (de)
SG (1) SG155828A1 (de)
TW (1) TW200944634A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2161364A3 (de) * 2008-09-09 2011-01-12 Panasonic Corporation Trommelwaschmaschine
EP2434046A1 (de) * 2010-09-23 2012-03-28 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Waschmaschine
CN107304514A (zh) * 2016-04-21 2017-10-31 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机上盖及洗衣机
CN113529369A (zh) * 2020-04-17 2021-10-22 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机上盖及洗衣机

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009213804A (ja) * 2008-03-13 2009-09-24 Panasonic Corp ドラム式洗濯機
KR102147824B1 (ko) 2013-09-11 2020-08-25 삼성전자주식회사 세탁기 및 세탁기 도어의 제조방법
WO2018040198A1 (zh) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-08 无锡小天鹅股份有限公司 衣物处理装置的门圈发光组件和具有其的衣物处理装置
CN106283523B (zh) * 2016-09-30 2019-05-21 无锡小天鹅股份有限公司 滚筒洗衣机

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2118580A (en) * 1982-04-16 1983-11-02 Faini Spa Window for washing machines
GB2237293A (en) * 1989-10-23 1991-05-01 Sviluppo Settori Impiego Srl Window for electrical household appliances
GB2294698A (en) * 1994-11-03 1996-05-08 Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodome Clothes washing machine with improved door
DE19515040A1 (de) * 1995-04-24 1996-10-31 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Bullaugentür für eine von vorn beschickbare Trommelwaschmaschine
US20060117813A1 (en) * 2003-12-30 2006-06-08 Lg Electronics Inc. Door for drum type washing machine and method of manufacturing door with decorative part
JP2007068810A (ja) 2005-09-08 2007-03-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd ドラム式洗濯機
JP2008253488A (ja) * 2007-04-04 2008-10-23 Toshiba Corp 洗濯機

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001129296A (ja) * 1999-11-04 2001-05-15 Hitachi Ltd 電気洗濯機
JP2003164690A (ja) * 2001-11-30 2003-06-10 Toshiba Corp ドラム式洗濯機
JP4215602B2 (ja) * 2003-05-07 2009-01-28 三洋電機株式会社 食器洗い機用扉およびこれを備えた食器洗い機
JP2009213804A (ja) * 2008-03-13 2009-09-24 Panasonic Corp ドラム式洗濯機

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2118580A (en) * 1982-04-16 1983-11-02 Faini Spa Window for washing machines
GB2237293A (en) * 1989-10-23 1991-05-01 Sviluppo Settori Impiego Srl Window for electrical household appliances
GB2294698A (en) * 1994-11-03 1996-05-08 Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodome Clothes washing machine with improved door
DE19515040A1 (de) * 1995-04-24 1996-10-31 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Bullaugentür für eine von vorn beschickbare Trommelwaschmaschine
US20060117813A1 (en) * 2003-12-30 2006-06-08 Lg Electronics Inc. Door for drum type washing machine and method of manufacturing door with decorative part
JP2007068810A (ja) 2005-09-08 2007-03-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd ドラム式洗濯機
JP2008253488A (ja) * 2007-04-04 2008-10-23 Toshiba Corp 洗濯機

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2161364A3 (de) * 2008-09-09 2011-01-12 Panasonic Corporation Trommelwaschmaschine
EP2434046A1 (de) * 2010-09-23 2012-03-28 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Waschmaschine
CN107304514A (zh) * 2016-04-21 2017-10-31 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机上盖及洗衣机
CN107304514B (zh) * 2016-04-21 2023-11-14 佛山市顺德海尔电器有限公司 一种洗衣机上盖及洗衣机
CN113529369A (zh) * 2020-04-17 2021-10-22 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机上盖及洗衣机
CN113529369B (zh) * 2020-04-17 2023-10-20 佛山市顺德海尔电器有限公司 一种洗衣机上盖及洗衣机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101532235B (zh) 2011-07-20
JP2009213804A (ja) 2009-09-24
RU2401347C1 (ru) 2010-10-10
EP2103729B1 (de) 2013-03-20
MY151690A (en) 2014-06-30
CN101532235A (zh) 2009-09-16
TW200944634A (en) 2009-11-01
CN201372375Y (zh) 2009-12-30
SG155828A1 (en) 2009-10-29

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