EP2110064B1 - Slidable fixation for the aesthetic panel on a dishwasher door - Google Patents

Slidable fixation for the aesthetic panel on a dishwasher door Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2110064B1
EP2110064B1 EP08103562A EP08103562A EP2110064B1 EP 2110064 B1 EP2110064 B1 EP 2110064B1 EP 08103562 A EP08103562 A EP 08103562A EP 08103562 A EP08103562 A EP 08103562A EP 2110064 B1 EP2110064 B1 EP 2110064B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
door
decorative panel
fixing
appliance
shaft
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.)
Active
Application number
EP08103562A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2110064A1 (en
Inventor
Uwe Staub
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
Priority to EP08103562A priority Critical patent/EP2110064B1/en
Priority to DE602008005846T priority patent/DE602008005846D1/de
Priority to PL08103562T priority patent/PL2110064T3/pl
Priority to ES08103562T priority patent/ES2363183T3/es
Publication of EP2110064A1 publication Critical patent/EP2110064A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2110064B1 publication Critical patent/EP2110064B1/en
Active 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/4251—Details of the casing
    • A47L15/4257—Details of the loading door
    • A47L15/4265—Arrangements of door covering/decoration panels or plinths, e.g. for integrated dishwashers

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a door for a household appliance, in particular for a dishwasher. More specifically, the present invention concerns a device for the fixation of a decorative panel on an appliance door, particularly suitable for a built in dishwasher door.
  • Household appliances such as dishwashers are quite popular nowadays. It is known how the market very often requires that these appliances are arranged as an integral part of the home furnishings. This choice, in fact, offers considerable advantages from the ergonomics and aesthetics of the home environment.
  • the appliance since the appliance has to be inserted in an environmental context that is different from time to time, its structure needs often to be arranged in order to properly match the surrounding furniture.
  • adjustable plinth elements or removable spacers are commonly used.
  • aesthetic door panels are often used to provide the exterior of the appliance with a design that aesthetically matches with the design lines of neighboring pieces of furniture.
  • EP-A-1529482 discloses a built in domestic appliance with decorative panel applied to the door, wherein the decorative panel is slidably connected to the door with hooks engaging corresponding slots formed into the door and also provided with a sliding insert in a door seat, moving in a vertical direction along a shaft and pushed downward by a spring.
  • some known appliances have been provided with relatively complex hinged and/or geared mechanisms to operatively connect the door and the main body of the appliance. Thanks to these mechanisms, the door can move according to a translational trajectory with respect to main body of the appliance.
  • hinged and/or geared mechanisms have proven to be relatively expensive for a production at industrial level. Further, they are relatively complex to install on the appliance with a remarkable waste of time and labour.
  • the main aim of the present invention is to provide a fixing device for the decorative panel of a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, which allows the overcoming of the above mentioned drawbacks.
  • the present invention provides a door-panel fixing device for a household appliance, according to the attached claims.
  • the fixing device comprises a sliding mechanism, to which the aesthetic/decorative door panel is connected and that is mounted on the inner door of the appliance, and preferably an additional contact part which is solidly connected to the aesthetic panel.
  • the contact part is useful to protect the door panel from damages when coming in contact with the lower structure of the appliance.
  • Said sliding means are arranged to force the door to move according to a translational trajectory with respect to the main body of the appliance.
  • the appliance structure can thus be arranged with less severe constraints, thereby obtaining an improved and easier integration with the surrounding furniture, with considerable advantages from the ergonomic and aesthetic point of view.
  • the fixing device has a simple and robust structure and it is quite easy to manufacture and install at industrial level.
  • a built-in dishwasher DW to be installed into a modular kitchen presents a door D for closing and sealing from the outside the cavity in which the kitchenware is washed.
  • the outer surface of the dishwasher presents a control panel CPN, which is not present for the models in which the controls are placed inside the machine, and a raw surface RS on which is applied a decorative panel DP that matches the aesthetics of the modular kitchen.
  • a control panel CPN which is not present for the models in which the controls are placed inside the machine
  • four seats SL in the proximities of the four corners of the door D are embedded with the door. Near each of the seats SL the door is provided with lateral openings for accessing to secure with screws or similar devices the fixing devices FD connected with the decorative panel DP, to the door D.
  • the decorative panel DP to be installed is preferably prepared with the application of four identical fixing devices FD according to the present invention, even if a lower number of devices FD can be used.
  • each of the fixing devices FD presents a housing H preferably made of plastic material, in particular POM (Polyoximethylene), and is provided with a rectangular box shape.
  • the housing H contains a shaft SH which is arranged along the longitudinal dimension of the housing.
  • a spring SP is slidably associated with the shaft SH, arranged between a wall of the housing to which the shaft is connected, and a sliding block SB which is also slidably associated with the shaft.
  • the shaft SH is connected to the opposite walls of the housing.
  • the spring force is useful to ensure a smooth sliding movements of the decorative panel and to avoid any blocking of the mechanism caused by frictions, due for instance to misalignments of the mounted panel.
  • the device FD itself can work without the springs due to the gravity force of the decorative panel DP, when connected to the door D, even if the use of a spring is preferred.
  • the slidable block SB is provided with a flat portion FP which is planar with the rectangular opening of the housing H in which it slides.
  • a flat portion FP which is planar with the rectangular opening of the housing H in which it slides.
  • four bores M are disposed through which four screws passes for coupling the slidable block SB to the decorative panel DP.
  • the flat portion of the slidable block can present different coupling means M for connecting the panel DP is compatible with the present invention.
  • the housing H presents a rear opening RO for accessing with a tool (for instance a screwdriver) to screw/drill screws into the decorative panel DP during the installation.
  • a tool for instance a screwdriver
  • the housing H of the fixing device FD presents door securing means DMS for securing the housing to the door, when fitted into the seats SL of the door D, for instance a threaded hole.
  • These means DMS are preferably embedded with the housing H.
  • some contact parts CP for instance made of low friction plastics, are applied to the lower portion of the decorative panel and glued or fixed with screws to the same panel.
  • the shape of the housing H can be different from rectangular, but must always include a shaft SH with an elongated shape.
  • the decorative panel which is mostly made of wood, is prepared for the installation by fixing the fixing devices FD to the back side of the panel by means of screws with the aim to have the best alignment of the decorative panel with the kitchen furniture when the door is closed. More specifically, their positions are determined by means of measures or by the use of specific dimes.
  • the fixing devices are disposed with their longitudinal direction according to the vertical direction of the panel disposing their slidable blocks in the lower side of the decorative panel, as described in Fig. 4 .
  • each fixing FD device After being positioned with their flat portion in contact with the decorative panel, each fixing FD device is fixed to the same panel DP by means of the coupling means M, for instance by screws threaded to the decorative panels which pass through the bores M. There is easy access to the screws thanks to the rear opening RO provided with the housing H.
  • the decorative panel DP is mounted on the dishwashing door D by inserting the housings of the fixing device into the corresponding door slots SL.
  • Each fixing device FD is then secured to the door D my means of screws or the like, inserted from the lateral side of the door D and coupled with door securing means DSM of the fixing device FD.
  • the decorative panel DP is slidably coupled to the dishwashing door D.
  • the decorative panel on the closed door is in its lower position and matches the design lines of the surrounding furniture.
  • the door and the decorative panel DP starts to rotate around the door hinge.
  • the contact part CP starts abutting the lower portion of the washing machine, the decorative panel starts to slide toward an upper position, allowing to the door to be opened without interference.
  • the optional contact parts CP are mounted on the area of the decorative panel DP which first enters in contact with the lower portion of the appliance, when the door is opened.
  • the fixing device FD of the present invention allows using long decorative panels DP to cover the anti-esthetical portions of the washing machine in its lower part, and to easily open frontally the door for loading or unloading the washing machine.
  • a second spring (not shown) can also be inserted in the shaft SH between the slidable block and the connection of the shaft to the housing, in order to further render smooth the movements.
  • the fixing device FD of the present invention to slidably connect the decorative panels to the appliance door.
  • one of these configurations includes one or two devices FD of the present invention in combination with one or more other known sliding devices applicable to the decorative panels, such as slidable hooks. All these equivalent configurations are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
EP08103562A 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Slidable fixation for the aesthetic panel on a dishwasher door Active EP2110064B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08103562A EP2110064B1 (en) 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Slidable fixation for the aesthetic panel on a dishwasher door
DE602008005846T DE602008005846D1 (de) 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Verschiebbare Befestigung für eine Dekorplatte einer Spülmaschinenklappe
PL08103562T PL2110064T3 (pl) 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Przesuwne mocowanie dla estetycznego panelu na drzwiczkach zmywarki do naczyń
ES08103562T ES2363183T3 (es) 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Fijación deslizable para el panel estético de una puerta de lavavajillas.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08103562A EP2110064B1 (en) 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Slidable fixation for the aesthetic panel on a dishwasher door

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2110064A1 EP2110064A1 (en) 2009-10-21
EP2110064B1 true EP2110064B1 (en) 2011-03-30

Family

ID=39673368

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08103562A Active EP2110064B1 (en) 2008-04-16 2008-04-16 Slidable fixation for the aesthetic panel on a dishwasher door

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2110064B1 (es)
DE (1) DE602008005846D1 (es)
ES (1) ES2363183T3 (es)
PL (1) PL2110064T3 (es)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10470641B2 (en) 2017-08-21 2019-11-12 Whirlpool Corporation Dishwasher having a decorative panel

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL3478147T3 (pl) * 2016-06-30 2021-12-13 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Zmywarka do naczyń
US10390681B2 (en) * 2017-06-29 2019-08-27 Whirlpool Corporation Dishwasher door with movable decorative cover
US20210404106A1 (en) * 2018-11-13 2021-12-30 Miele & Cie. Kg Frame assembly and system for inserting a free-standing household appliance into a wall recess
KR102607019B1 (ko) * 2018-11-15 2023-11-29 삼성전자주식회사 가전 기기
KR20210091602A (ko) * 2020-01-14 2021-07-22 엘지전자 주식회사 식기세척기

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT222647Z2 (it) * 1991-06-26 1995-04-24 Smeg Spa Dispositivo di montaggio a scorrimento -distacco del pennello di copertura sulla porta di un elettrodomestico ad incasso
IT1270918B (it) * 1993-05-04 1997-05-16 Merloni Elettrodomestici Spa Sistema di fissaggio di un pannello decorativo allo sportello di una lavastoviglie
IT1293574B1 (it) * 1997-07-07 1999-03-08 Oreste Lanzani Dispositivo di collegamento e di regolazione della disposizione spaziale di due pannelli
IT1317709B1 (it) * 2000-05-30 2003-07-15 Whirlpool Co Porta per apparecchi elettrodomestici da incasso
ATE266351T1 (de) * 2002-05-30 2004-05-15 Bonferraro Spa Einbauhaushaltsgerät mit einer an der gerätetür befestigten dekorativen platte
DE60200245T2 (de) * 2002-06-20 2005-03-10 Bonferraro S.P.A. Haushaltgerät mit einer auf der Tür aufgebrachten Dekorplatte
EP1529482B1 (en) * 2003-11-07 2006-12-27 Bonferraro S.p.A. Built-in domestic appliance with decorative panel applied to the door

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10470641B2 (en) 2017-08-21 2019-11-12 Whirlpool Corporation Dishwasher having a decorative panel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2110064A1 (en) 2009-10-21
PL2110064T3 (pl) 2011-07-29
DE602008005846D1 (de) 2011-05-12
ES2363183T3 (es) 2011-07-26

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