EP2124700B1

EP2124700B1 - A dishwasher

Info

Publication number: EP2124700B1
Application number: EP07858161.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ertugrul Kose
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2007-12-27
Publication date: 2013-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-27
Also published as: EP2124700A1; WO2008080933A1

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing tank, which is formed by joining a plastic base and a metal body.
The washing tanks of dishwashers are generally fabricated as a single piece out of plastic or metal material.
Nevertheless, in the state of the art, there are also dishwashers comprising washing tanks fabricated by putting together a base produced by plastic or plastic derivative material, which is cheap and can be easily processed and a body produced by metal. Producing the base with plastic material facilitates the shaping of the base, whereas producing the body out of metal is preferred for giving an impression of hygiene.
Fabricating washing tanks in two separate parts, plastic and metal, brings forth various problems in the joining of these two.
In the state of the art, the European Patent Application No EP0452287 describes a dishwasher that comprises a washing tank composed of two separate parts. The plastic base and the metal body composing the washing tank are joined together with screws.
In the above-mentioned application wherein the base and the body are put together with screw joints, not only the screwing process is carried out at specific intervals but also a different force may be applied for each screw. Therefore, in this application, it is impossible to bring together the base and the body in a leak-proof manner.
In the state of the art, the washing tank of the dishwasher described in the United States Patent Application No US2005/0017609 comprises a washing tank, which is composed of two separate parts, the base and the body. The said patent application explicates the use of a plastic material having an adhesive property for joining these two parts. Document WO03/041557 describes a similar type of joint in a dishwasher.
In the state of the art, the Japan Patent Application No JP2005334360 discloses a dishwasher that comprises a washing tub wherein water is not accumulated in the connection part of the washing tub.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a washing tank produced by joining a plastic base and a metal body in a non-detachable and leak-proof manner.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, and explicated in the first and the respective claims, contains a washing tank formed by bringing together a plastic base and a metal body.
The dishwasher comprises a body which contains a projection produced by bending the sidewall in "U" shape, a base equipped with a housing inside which sits the projection, and an extension which is at the bottom of the housing, that enables sealing elements to permeate between the housing and the projection once the projection sits therein.
The projection is prevented from sitting entirely inside the housing in order to enable a gradual diffusion of the sealing elements placed over the base of the housing. Leak-proofing reliability is thus increased.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher contains a locking element that fixes the projection inside the housing so as to prevent its detachment from therein.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher contains an opening, on one side of the housing that enables to insert and fix the locking element onto the base of the body. When an upward force is exerted on the body, the tip of the locking element, which is inserted in the opening leans on the edge of the opening and hence prevents the detachment of the body from the base.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises a locking element, fabricated separately from the body and the base, of which one side sits on the projection placed within the housing and the other side extends out towards the opening next to the housing, and which exerts force over the projection, preventing it to come out of the housing and clamping firmly the body and the base.
Joining together the body and the base by making use of an intermediary element i.e., the locking element enables the clamping of the body and the base in a way least exposed to shape deformation due to temperature.
The present invention prevents the leakage of water, which inside the washing tank that formed by joining the two parts, through the part of the body and the base are clamped.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking elements formed by bending one tip of the projection.
A dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated on the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is a schematic view of a dishwasher;
Figure 2 - is, the sectional view of the locking element, and the partial part of the base and the body joined together in an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 3 - is the sectional view of the locking element and the partial part of base and the body assembled together in another embodiment of the present invention
Figure 4 - is the sectional view of the partial part of the base and the body assembled together

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher

2. Washing tank

3. Body

4. Base

5. Housing

6. Sealing element

7. Extension

8. Projection

9. Locking element

10. Opening
The dishwasher (1) that comprises a washing tank (2) having a body (3) in the form of a box with open front and bottom, produced by metal, and a base (4) placed under the body (3) and joined thereto (3), produced by a polymer material such as plastic (Figure 1).
The body (3) comprises a projection (8) formed by bending, preferably in "U" shape, the side that sits upon the base (4).
The base (4) comprises a housing (5) wherein the projection (8) is seated.
The dishwasher (1) comprises one or more sealing elements (6) situated between the housing (5) wherein the projection (8) is seated and the projection (8) itself.
The base (4) also comprises an extension (7) at the bottom of the housing (5) whereupon leans on projection (8) partly, located inside the housing (5), so as to leave enough space between them for sealing elements (6). This extension (7) allows the sealing elements (6) inside the housing (5) to diffuse through both sides, enabling therefore a gradual leak proofing. (Figure 2 and Figure 3).
The dishwasher (1) also comprises a locking element (9), which helps fix the projection (8) inside the housing (5).
The top of the projection (8), which is obtained by bending the sidewall of the body (3) in "U" shape, fits onto the extension (7) in such a way that remaining enough space for sealing element (6), which is placed between them. Thus, the projection contacting the extension (7) formed at the bottom of the housing (5) by a tiny surface enables a more efficient usage of the sealing element (6) inbetween. The fact that the projection (8) contacts to the housing (5) with a narrow surface but not a great one enables the sealing element (6) placed on the base of the housing (5) to be diffused within the housing (5). Leak-proofing reliability is thus increased.
The dishwasher also comprises an opening (10), which is formed on one of the sidewalls of the housing (5), wherein the locking element (9) is fitted on.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a locking element (9), produced separately by both the body (3) and the base (4), of which one edge enters into the part of the projection (8) bent in "U" shape and the other edge extends out towards the opening (10) on one side of the housing (5).
The locking element (9) is mounted onto the base (4) in such a way that it exerts force over the projection (8) placed inside the housing (5). The edge of the locking element (9) which enters inside the projection (8) extending to the bent point of the projection (8), which is placed in housing (5), exerts force thereupon and also it enables fixing of the all surfaces of the projection (8) by leaning on the sidewalls of the housing (5). And the other edge of the locking element (9) which enters into the opening (10) prevents the projection (8) to detach from the housing (5), clamping firmly the body (3) and the base (4). In this embodiment, horizontal movement of the body (3) is prevented by leaning on the locking element (9) extending to the bent point of the projection (8) and also vertical movement of the body (3) is prevented the locking element (9) entering into the opening (10) thus a perfect clamping of the base (4) and the body (3) is maintained. (Figure 2 and Figure 3).
With this embodiment of the invention, wherein is employed a locking element (9) produced separately by both the body (3) and the base (4), a minimum exposure is ensured for the body (3) or the base (4) to shape deformations due to temperature. Also, the body (3) and the base (4) are clamped together far more firmly against any shock that may be exerted externally.
In one other embodiment of the present invention, the locking element (9) is in "L" shape.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a locking element (9) that extends out towards the opening (10) situated on the sidewall of the housing (5) and which is formed by bending the tip of the projection (8). When an upward force is exerted on the body (3), the locking element (9) enters into the opening (10), leans on the edge of the opening (10), and prevents the detachment of the body (3) from the base (4) (Figure 4).
In this embodiment, while joining the body (3) and the base (4), the projection (8) is fitted inside the housing (5) in a way to allow enough space preferably for sealing elements (6) between the housing (5) and itself. The bent tip of the projection (8) extends out towards the opening (10). Therefore, when force is exerted upon the body (3), the tip of the projection (8) leans on the edge of the opening (10) and prevents the detachment of the projection from the housing wherein it is fitted, and hence detachment of the body (3) from the base (4).
The present invention ensures clamping of the body (3) and base (4) in a robust and leak-proof manner.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a washing tank (2), formed by a body (3), which is produced by metal in the form of a box with open front and bottom and which having a projection (8) formed by bending its sidewall, is joined together with a base (4), which is produced by a polymer material and having a housing (5) into which the projection (8) is seated, and one or more sealing elements (6) placed between the housing (5) wherein is seated the projection (8) and the projection (8), and characterized by an extension (7) which is disposed at the bottom of the housing (5) and leaning on the projection (8) in that way leaving enough space for a sealing element.
A dishwasher (1), as in Claim 1, characterized by an opening (10) formed on one side of the housing (5).
A dishwasher (1), as in Claim 2, characterized by a locking element (9), produced separately by the body (3) and the base (4), of which one edge enters into the projection (8) and the other edge extends out towards the opening (10) on one side of the housing (5).
A dishwasher (1), as in Claim 3, characterized by the locking element (9) that extends to the bending point of the projection (8) which is seated inside the housing (5) and maintains leaning on the entire surface of the projection (8) to the sidewalls of the housing (5).
A dishwasher (1), as in Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterized by a locking element (9) in "L" shape.
A dishwasher (1), as in Claim 2, characterized by the locking element (9) formed by bending the tip of the projection (8).