EP2224840B1

EP2224840B1 - Sealing element for a dishwasher

Info

Publication number: EP2224840B1
Application number: EP08866316.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tugrul Basesme; Guvenc Numanoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2007-12-27
Filing date: 2008-11-27
Publication date: 2014-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-27
Also published as: EP2224840A1; PL2224840T3; WO2009083350A1

Description

The present invention relates to a front loading dishwasher.
The front loading dishwashers comprise a door for closing the loading/unloading opening of the washing chamber, openable by rotating in a horizontal axis, some portion thereof inserted into the washing chamber in the horizontal position and a strip sealing element between the door and the washing chamber, extending along the width of the door. The sealing element is mounted on the door to be movable together with the door while the door is moved.
The dishwasher door comprises an inner wall and an outer wall having the basic function of cladding for esthetic purposes. The washing chamber comprises a skirt at the portion wherein the door is beared on the body, extending towards the loading/unloading opening. A band gasket is arranged between the inner wall of the door and the washing chamber.
In the state of the art Great Britain Patent Application no GB2130479 , a sealing strip is explained that ends on the door inner wall above a certain distance from the rinsing container and the lip, being the edge thereof extending to the base when the door is closed and to the skirt when the door opens, is mounted by at least one of threaded fastening means.
In the state of the art Great Britain Patent Application no GB2130082 , the lip on the end of the door inner wall extending towards the skirt is folded along the door in a "U" shape and a sealing element is inserted in this folded portion. Thus, the sealing element is mounted on the door without requiring the use of fastening elements.
In both of the embodiments, the sealing element, moving together with the door, is subjected to vigorous deformation leading to material fatigue and besides increasing the strength for moving the door as well.
Moreover, in the implementation known in the technique, the lower side (L) of the door is first folded on itself then folded again towards the skirt of the washing chamber, configuring a "U" shaped lip. The lip formed of a size for receiving the sealing element (S) from the steel sheet material used for producing the inner wall (H) causes more steel sheet material to be used and also adds another step to the production process for folding the sheet (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3).
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a sealing element that provides effective insulation.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an inner wall configured by cutting at certain intervals and folding the lower side of the door, extending towards the washing chamber skirt when the door is closed, in the mounting direction of the sealing element, wherein the sealing element is supported from below when not supported from above and supported from above when not supported from below.
Due to this configuration of the inner wall, the support forming the unfolded portion and the flaps forming the folded portion, the inner wall, produced of steel sheet material, can be shaped easier and less sheet material is used for securing the sealing element on the inner wall. The support and the flaps follow each other consecutively.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the flap forming the folded portion clasps the sealing element from above, the support, forming the unfolded portion by remaining between the cut points, clasps the sealing element from below. In this position, the sealing element is pressed from above and below by the flap and the support and mounted on the inner wall.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a latch is disposed on the support and flap for preventing the sealing element to be separated from the inner wall.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element is prevented from separating from the inner wall by forming dents on the support and flap.
By means of the present invention, the sealing element is secured on the door inner wall by using a lesser amount of steel sheet material. This enables the production to be performed by providing savings in both costs and workmanship.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of an inner wall, support and sealing element in the prior art.
Figure 2 - is the view of detail A in Figure 1.
Figure 3 - is the view of section D in Figure 2.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the dishwasher of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the perspective view of an inner wall.
Figure 6 - is the detailed view of the inner wall before performing cutting and folding operations.
Figure 7 - is the detailed view of the inner wall before the sealing element is secured to the inner wall.
Figure 8 - is the detailed view of the inner wall after the sealing element is secured to the inner wall.
Figure 9 - is the partial perspective view of the washing chamber, inner wall and the sealing element.
Figure 10 - is the view of the section E of the support, flap and the sealing element in Figure 8.
Figure 11 - is the sectional view of the support, flap and the sealing element in another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher
2. Door
3. Washing chamber
4. Inner wall
5. Skirt
6. Sealing element
7. Flap
8. Support
9. Latch
10. Dent

The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a body (not shown in the figures), an opening (not shown in the figures) wherefrom the dishes are loaded or unloaded to the body, a washing chamber (3) disposed at the base of the body and having a skirt (5) at the lower side of the opening, a door (2) covering the opening, having an inner wall (4) on the side facing the interior of the body, with the lower side ending above a certain distance from the washing chamber (3) and a sealing element (6) situated between the door (2) and the skirt (5), secured on the lower side of the inner wall (4) (Figure 1 and Figure 9).
The dishwasher (1) furthermore comprises at least one flap (7) formed by cutting the end of the inner wall (4) extending towards the skirt (5) when the door (2) is closed at certain intervals and folding every other portion remaining between the cut points and at least one support (8) between the flaps (7) (Figure 5). The sealing element (6) is mounted between the flaps (7) and the supports (8) to be supported consecutively by one from above and by one from below.
As the flap (7) formed by folding clasps the sealing element (6) from above, the support (8), remaining between the uncut points in the unfolded portion, clasps the sealing element (6) from below. Thus, the sealing element (6) is mounted to the lower side of the inner wall (4), between the flap (7) and the support (8) by pressing from below at certain intervals and pressing from above at certain intervals.
The flap (7) is configured on the lower side of the inner wall (4) by cutting of sheet material along at least two cutting lines (C) situated at certain intervals in the mounting direction of the sealing element (6) and by folding at least one folding line (F) joining the two cutting lines (C). The unfolded portions form the support (8). The support (8) and the flap (7) pressingly clasp the sealing element (6) from above and below (Figure 6). Consequently, the sealing element (6) is secured to the inner wall (4) by placing between the support (8) and the flaps (7) extending consecutively along the width of the inner wall (4).
The cutting line (C) starts from the side of the support (8) ending in another point of the inner wall (4). The folding line (F) is a line segment joining the two points situated on two cutting lines (C).
When the door (2) inner wall (4) is produced, the lower side of the inner wall (4) is folded towards the skirt (5) of the washing chamber (3). The cutting lines (C), virtually parallel to each other, start from the inner wall (4) lower side and end approximately at the point wherein the support (8) is folded. Furthermore, a first folding line (F), again on the lower side of the inner wall (4), joins the two end points of the two adjacent and parallel cutting lines (C) and a second folding line (F), parallel to the first folding line (F) joins the two cutting lines (C) at the same level. The lower side of the inner wall (4) is folded upwards and downwards from the first folding line (F) and afterwards the second folding line (F) is folded towards the skirt (5) of the washing chamber (3) to form the flap (7) (Figure 7). As the flap (7) is formed by folding the folding line (F) joining the two cutting lines (C), the support (8) is formed from the unfolded portion. This configuration is repeated consecutively along the inner wall (4). In this position, the sealing element (6) is secured to the inner wall (4) by being pressed at certain intervals with the supports (8) from below and by the flaps (7) at certain intervals from above, without using any fastening elements (Figure 8).
When the door (2) is closed, the inner wall (4) entirely covers the opening and extends towards the skirt (5) of the washing chamber (3) with the sealing element (6) thereon. In this position, the sealing element (6) secured on the inner wall (4) by means of the support (8) and the flap (7), remains between the inner wall (4) and the skirt (5) and touches on the skirt (5) surface. The support (8) and the flap (7) not only secure the sealing element (6) on the inner wall (4) but also direct the motion of the sealing element (6) by guiding the movement of the sealing element (6) together with the door (2). While the door (2) is opened, the inner wall (4) moves together with the door (2), with the sealing element (6) thereon and turns towards the base of the washing chamber (3). In this position, the sealing element (6) touches the base of the washing chamber (3) and provides leak-proofing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises one or more latches (9) on the support (8) and the flap (7), extending towards the sealing element (6) for the purpose of preventing the sealing element (6), secured on the inner wall (4) from separating thereout by itself. The latch (9) does not hinder securing of the sealing element (6) however makes thereof difficult to separate from the inner wall (4). Accordingly, the sealing element (6) touching the washing chamber (3) base and skirt (5) by the movement of the door (2) is prevented from dislodging (Figure 7 and Figure 8).
In another version of this embodiment, the dishwasher (1) comprises one or more dents (10) on the support (8) and the flap (7) for pressing on the sealing element (6). These dents (10) press on the sealing element (6) thereby preventing thereof from separating from the inner wall (4) by itself (Figure 11).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a support (8) each is disposed at both ends of the inner wall (4) lower side. Thus, the sealing element (6) stretches from both ends during the opening motion of the door (2), thereby not hindering the movement of the door (2).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the edges of the support (8) are folded over itself so that the steel sheet material does not harm the sealing element (6). Thus, the sharp edges that may harm the sealing element (6) are rounded to be less harmful. In this embodiment of the present invention, when the distance between parallel folding lines (F) is as much as this fold, the support (8) and the flap (7) hold the sealing element (6) from above and below at the same level.
By means of the present invention, the sealing element (6) is secured to the inner wall (4) by using a lesser amount of steel sheet material. This enables the production to be performed by providing savings in both costs and workmanship.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) that comprises a body, an opening wherefrom the dishes are loaded or unloaded to the body, a washing chamber (3) disposed at the base of the body and having a skirt (5) at the lower side of the opening, a door (2) covering the opening, having an inner wall (4) on the side facing the interior of the body, with the lower side ending above a certain distance from the washing chamber (3) and a sealing element (6) situated between the door (2) and the skirt (5), secured on the lower side of the inner wall (4) and characterized by
▪ at least one flap (7) formed by cutting at certain intervals the end of the inner wall (4) extending towards the skirt (5) when the door (2) is closed, and folding every other portion remaining between the cut points,

▪ at least one support (8) between the flaps (7) and

▪ said sealing element (6) being mounted between the flaps (7) and the supports (8) such that it is supported consecutively by said flaps (7) from above and by said supports (8) from below.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the flap (7) formed by the folded portion, clasping the sealing element (6) from above and the support (8), remaining between the uncut points and forming the unfolded portion, clasping the sealing element (6) from below.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the support (8) and flap (7) that clasp the sealing element (6) from below at certain intervals and from above at certain intervals, repeating consecutively along the inner wall (4) for securing to the inner wall (4).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the support (8) each disposed at both ends of the inner wall (4) lower side.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the flap (7) and support (8) that end at the same level.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by one or more latches (9) disposed on the support (8) and/or the flap (7), extending towards the sealing element (6) for the purpose of preventing the sealing element (6), secured on the inner wall (4) from separating thereout by itself.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by one or more dents (10) disposed on the support (8) and/or the flap (7) for pressing on the sealing element (6).