EP2280625A1

EP2280625A1 - Household appliance having a height adjusting device

Info

Publication number: EP2280625A1
Application number: EP09737982A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Delle; Mathias Herrmann
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2008-04-29
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Also published as: DE102008021374A1; CN102014699A; WO2009132938A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1), particularly a freestanding or installed household appliance, comprising at least one height adjusting device (6) having at least one adjustable height base (5), comprising at least one adjustable-base contact area (22) disposed at a first end of the adjustable base (5), adjusting means for adjusting the adjustable base (5) along an adjustment axis (15) for adjusting the height, and an actuating element (25) operationally connected to the adjusting means. According to the invention, a tool can be engaged with the actuating element (25) by a foot motion in the direction of the adjusting axis (15).

Description

Household appliance with a height adjustment device

The invention relates to a household appliance according to the preamble of patent claim 1

Household appliances, e.g. Dishwashers, washing machines or the like, may be free standing household appliances or domestic appliances, e.g. e.g. inserted in a kitchenette, be placed. To compensate for uneven floors or for adjusting the height of such a kitchen appliances have height adjustment devices. They usually consist of a screw-mounted in the bottom of the device threaded shaft with a foot plate, the foot-side recesses has as a fastener for a screwdriver. The point of attack of the screwdriver lies directly in the area of the footprint, so that the rotation of the adjustable foot for height adjustment or to compensate for uneven floors is relatively power consuming and thus cumbersome. Furthermore, there is often the problem that the foot-side tool approaches by z. B. an additional floor covering on the mounting floor are not freely accessible, which further complicates the height adjustment when parked on the mounting floor appliances. In the cases just mentioned, the household appliance is thus often lifted by a person as part of the installation or installation, so that a second person can turn the adjusting foot. This is obviously time-consuming and cumbersome and requires the use of several people, and moreover, the accuracy of setting the desired height of the household appliance is difficult, so this process may need to be repeated often even. Alternative embodiments have, for example, an actuating element embodied as a setting wheel, which is arranged in the area of the foot plate, so that lifting of the household appliance for height adjustment of a setting foot can be dispensed with.

It is an object of the invention to provide a household appliance with a height adjustment available by means of or a height adjustment or adjustment of a household appliance in a simple manner is feasible. This object is achieved by a household appliance with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular household or household appliance, at least comprising a height adjustment with at least one adjustable foot, the at least one arranged at a first end of the adjustable foot Stellfuß footprint, adjusting means for adjusting the adjustable foot along an adjustment axis for height adjustment and a Having actuating element operatively connected to the adjusting means.

According to the invention, a tool can be brought into engagement with the actuating element (25) by means of a joining movement in the direction of the adjustment axis (15). This allows a surprisingly simple way to perform a height adjustment of the adjustable foot when step-shaped floor sections make access with a tool to an arranged near the foot plate actuator difficult or even impossible.

It is preferably provided that the actuating element is arranged on a second, the first end facing away from the end of the adjustable foot. In this case, the actuator can act directly without the interposition of gear-like power transmission elements on the adjustable foot. Alternatively, for example, gears having gear means may be provided which cause a power transmission and additionally reduce the required force.

For example, the actuator may act on the adjustable foot via force transmitting gear means, i. Actuator and adjustable foot are designed as separate components. Preferably, however, it is provided that the actuating element is integrally formed on the second end of the adjustable foot. Alternatively, the adjustable foot and the

Actuating a component forming are joined together. Thus, a direct, transmission-free power transmission from the actuator is given to the adjustable foot. Preferably, the actuating element has a recess for the positive reception of a tool, which is formed, for example, for actuation by means of an Allen key.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the foot surface is designed as a foot plate. In this case, the foot plate extends in the radial direction over the dimensions of the remaining portions of the adjustable foot, so that a particularly large footprint is given.

Preferably, the home appliance side, a threaded portion, in particular a female threaded portion provided, and the adjustable foot cooperating with the home appliance side threaded portion threaded portion, in particular a male threaded portion, on. By forming a co-operating thread a self-locking effect is provided which reliably prevents unintentional adjustment by the weight of the household appliance or by occurring during operation of the household appliance vibrations or vibrations.

It is further preferably provided that the actuating element has an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the female threaded portion. This allows a screwing, in which the actuator is in the screwing at the top.

Further, it is preferably provided that the threaded portion of the adjustable foot is arranged in the direction of the adjustment axis between the foot plate and the second end of the adjustable foot. This results in a particularly simple structure.

Preferably, at least one height adjustment device is arranged with at least one height-adjustable adjustable foot on a front side of the household appliance. In the case of a domestic appliance, this is the front accessible to an operator. For height adjustment arranged at the back of adjustable feet may, for example. Gear rods having facilities may be provided.

It is further preferably provided that the household appliance for each actuating element has an access opening for engaging a Tool by a joining movement along the adjustment axis, so that a comfortable accessibility of the actuators is given.

It is further preferably provided that the adjusting means causes a height adjustment of the adjusting foot by a rotational movement about the adjusting salmon. It can be provided for this cooperating thread means or other transmission means.

It is preferably provided that the actuating element is arranged to be rotatable about an actuating axis, so that a particularly simple construction results.

The structure further simplifies if, according to a preferred embodiment, the adjustment axis and the actuation axis run parallel to one another.

A further multiplication results if, in a preferred embodiment, the adjustment axis and the actuation axis coincide.

Finally, the invention includes a leveling foot for a household appliance according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing.

Show it:

1 shows schematically a perspective view of a dishwasher with a height adjustment device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows schematically a height adjustment device according to the invention

Floor pan of the dishwasher of Figure 1 with covered by a screen height adjustment device,

3 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 2 with dashed lines according to the invention height adjustment device,

4 shows the height adjustment device according to the invention with the screen removed, 5 is a schematic, enlarged detail view of a floor-side mounting bracket with screwed-in adjustable foot as height adjustment,

Fig. 6 shows schematically a relation to FIG. 5 rotated by 90 ° detail view, and

Fig. 7 shows schematically an enlarged detail view of the adjustable foot according to the invention.

In the Fig. 1 as an embodiment of a household appliance, a dishwasher 1 shown in the region of their appliance door 2 having a viewing side 3 in the lower left corner 3 and in the lower right corner 4 each have a not visible here adjustable foot 5, the height adjustment device 6 for form the dishwasher 1 and by means of which or by means of which the dishwasher 1 adjusted in the context of the installation in terms of height and thus a fine heights adjustment can be made, for. B. to compensate for uneven floors. The two feet 5, are covered by a device-side screen 7, which, as is apparent in particular from FIGS. 2 to 4, has slots 8, which are aligned with screw holes 9 of corner mounting brackets 10, which in turn to a device bottom of the dishwasher 1-forming bottom pan 11 are preferably arranged plastic, in particular molded. Once the slots 8 have been brought into their flush connection with the screw holes 9, which optionally tolerances due to the elongated hole design compensation is possible, the screen 7 can be fixed by screwing fastening screws, not shown here on the two corner mounting brackets 10, so that as shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2, the two mounting brackets 10 are covered with a decorative trim acting as a visually appealing screen 7. The installation of the screen 7 takes place during the installation of the dishwasher 1 only at the very end of the installation or assembly process, which should also be noted here that the slot design is exaggerated and possibly also realized by other means or measures in less conspicuous manner can be. In particular, instead of a screw connection, a clip connection, in particular a latching clip connection, is conceivable and possible. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIG. 5 and also with FIG. 6, the adjustable feet 5 are each screwed into an abutment forming internal thread portion 12 of the mounting brackets 10, to which the feet 5 with a threaded shaft 13th are provided with an example here over the entire threaded shaft length extending external thread 14, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 7, which shows a leveling foot according to the invention 5 in isolation.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, the internally threaded region 12 has a screw opening 16, which is essentially perpendicular to the adjustment axis 15 and thus perpendicular to the adjustment foot extension direction, into which a fixing screw, not shown here, for fixing the adjustable foot 5 in a set adjusting foot position can be screwed.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 5 to 7, the adjustable foot 5 according to the invention has, in one of the footprint 17 formed by a foot plate 17 footing 5 opposite, free Stellfußende an end-side fastener 18, the example here by a formed in the end face 19 Imbusausnehmung 20, here only an example of a hexagonal recess is formed.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, this fastening element 18 is in any case at a predetermined distance above a predetermined reference point or a predetermined reference surface, the z. B. from the mounting base 21 and may be formed by the adjustable feet footprint 22, as shown in Fig. 5 with the distance a. Basically, this distance can also be specified differently, z. B. smaller and such that z. B. the fastener is located in a lying above the female threaded portion 12 threaded shank region. As can be further seen in FIG. 5, the top side of a floor covering 23 applied to the mounting base 21 and directly adjoining the adjustable foot 5 or the fastening bracket 10 can also be predetermined as reference surfaces, so that the fastening element 18 is at a distance b from has this floor covering 23 as a reference surface. Particularly preferably, the inner threaded portion 12 is provided as a reference surface, so that the Fastener 18 seen in Stellfuß longitudinal direction of extension above the female threaded portion 12 is located. In the exemplary case of FIG. 5 given here, the distance of the fastening element 18 from the upper side of the internally threaded region c.

As this can be very well taken from Fig. 5, a corresponding hex wrench 24 can be positively inserted from the top into the freely accessible Imbusausnehmung 20 with removed screen 7 and then correspondingly by turning the adjustable foot an exact, simple height adjustment of Dishwasher 1 and thus a height adjustment of the adjustable foot 5 relative to the mounting bracket 10 and the household appliance side, fixed internal thread area 12 are made. By the frontal fastener 18 is thereby ensured that this height adjustment can be performed with less force than is the case with the base plate side tool approaches 25, which are also still present here in the example illustrated 5 feet. In particular, from Fig. 5 is also very good to see that these foot-side tool approaches 25 in the case of a mounting situation shown here with floor covering 23, which adjoins the feet 5, by means of a z. B. screwdrivers are difficult to access, with a considerable effort is required to then make a height adjustment of the adjustable foot 5 on this tool approaches 25. Accordingly, these tool approaches 25 can basically be saved.

To ensure that the Allen key 24 can be rotated over a relatively long distance, the mounting bracket 10 is provided in the upper region with a chamfer 26, as shown in particular in FIG. 5 can be seen.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 dishwasher

2 appliance door

3 left corner area

4 right corner area

5 adjustable foot

6 height adjustment device

7 screen

8 long holes

9 screw holes

10 mounting brackets

11 floor pan

12 internally threaded area

13 threaded shaft

14 external thread

15 adjustment axis

16 screw opening

17 foot plates

18 fastener

19 front side

20 Imbusausnehmung

21 mounting floor

22 Leveling footprint

23 Flooring

24 Allen keys

25 fastener

26 bevel

Claims

1. Household appliance (1), in particular household or household appliance, at least comprising a height adjustment device (6) with at least one height adjustable adjustable foot (5), the at least one at a first end of the

Stellfußes (5) arranged Stellfuß-standing surface (22), adjusting means for adjusting the adjustable foot (5) along an adjustment axis (15) for height adjustment and with the adjusting means in operative connection actuating element (25), characterized in that a tool by a Joining movement in the direction of the adjustment axis (15) with the

Actuator (25) is engageable.

2. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (25) at a second, the first end facing away from the end (19) of the adjustable foot (5) is arranged.

3. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating element (25) is integrally formed on the second end of the adjustable foot (5).

4. Household appliance according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the actuating element (25) has a recess (20) for the positive reception of a tool.

5. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adjustable stand base (22) as a foot plate (17) is formed.

6. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the appliance side, a threaded portion, in particular a female threaded portion (12) is provided, and the adjusting means of the adjustable foot (5) cooperating with the appliance-side threaded portion threaded portion, in particular a male threaded portion (14) , exhibit.

7. Household appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuating element (25) has an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the female threaded portion (12).

8. Household appliance according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the threaded portion of the adjustable foot (5) in the direction of the adjustment axis (15) between the

Foot surface and the second end (19) of the adjustable foot (5) is arranged.

9. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the household appliance has a front, in the area of at least one height adjustment device with at least one height-adjustable adjustable foot (5) is arranged.

10. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the household appliance for the at least one actuating element (25) has an access opening (26) for engaging a tool by a

Joining movement along the adjustment axis (15).

11. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the adjusting means by a rotational movement about the adjusting axis (15) causes a height adjustment of the adjustable foot (5).

12. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the actuating element (25) is arranged rotatably about an actuating axis.

13. Household appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that the adjustment axis (15) and the actuating axis parallel to each other.

14. Household appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that the adjustment axis (15) and the actuating axis coincide.

15. adjustable foot (15) for a household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 14.