EP2376704B1

EP2376704B1 - Condenser type laundry dryer

Info

Publication number: EP2376704B1
Application number: EP09797012.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ufuk Askin; Can Arslan; Canyigit Atay; Murat Goktas
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2008-12-30
Filing date: 2009-12-14
Publication date: 2015-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-14
Also published as: EP2376704A1; WO2010076180A1; PL2376704T3

Description

The present invention relates to a condenser type laundry dryer comprising a water tank.
In condenser type dryers, the condensed water is collected in a tank disposed inside the body of the dryer. The weight of a full water tank is approximately 5 - 6 kg. After the drying process is completed, the water in this tank has to be drained by being taken out of the body by the user. The tank requires to be carried carefully since it is both heavy and filled with hot water. In the case the full tank cannot be held steadily and well-balanced during the draining process, the overflowing and splashing of hot water can harm the user and the environment.
In the state of the art European Patent Applications no EP1743973 and no EP1900868 , a dryer is explained comprising a drawer type tank having a holder.
In the state of the art European Patent Application no EP0731204 , a dryer is explained comprising a top-mountable condensation water collecting tank having a handgrip.
In the state of the art European Patent Applications no EP0555723 and EP0789105 , a tank is explained which is disposed vertically in the dryer and having a handgrip.
Particularly the drawer-type tanks, movable in the horizontal plane by dragging, extend from the front to the back of the dryer. Accordingly, when the tank is full, it is difficult to carry by only holding from the handgrip at the front of the tank after being taken out of the housing. Correspondingly, the user desires the tank to be carried more easily and in a balanced manner, without having difficulties.
The object of the present invention is to design a dryer comprising a water tank which is carried in a balanced and ergonomic manner.
The dryer designed to fulfill the object of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises one or more holders, mounted foldably on the rear side of the tank, staying in the folded position on the wall of the tank while the tank is inside the housing, projecting outward from the tank by opening so that the user can hold thereof when the tank is dislodged from the housing.
Consequently, the tank can be carried safely by the user by means of the holder. The holder, since it is foldable, does not prohibit the movement of the tank inside the housing.
A hinge maintains the holders to move foldably. The holder secured on the tank by means of the hinge, moves between the open and closed positions by rotating around the axis of the hinge.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder is mounted on the tank such that it can rotate around the horizontal axis.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder is mounted on the tank such that it can rotate around the vertical axis.
The holder can rotate 90 or 180 degrees around the axis whereby it is mounted on the tank.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder is secured on the upper or side wall at the rear side of the tank.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder is secured on the upper or side wall of the tank, almost at the level of the discharge port at the rearmost end of the tank.
In another embodiment of the present invention, two holders are provided on the opposite side walls of the tank.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer comprises a recess arranged on the tank, wherein the holder is seated in the closed position such that a projection is not formed on the tank surface. Accordingly, the movement of the tank inside the housing is not prohibited since the holder does not form any projections on the tank surface in the closed position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the hinge comprises a spring that is wound around a pin that maintains the holder to automatically change from the closed position to the open position. Accordingly, the holder opens by the effect of the spring at the moment the holder is taken out from the housing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer comprises an obstruction shaped as a recess or protrusion, whereto the side of the holder bears on in the closed position so that the holder remains somewhat elevated from the surface of the tank thereby enabling the user to grip the holder more easily.
By means of the present invention, the tank full of hot water can be carried by two hands in a balanced, ergonomic and easier manner. Consequently, the possibility of spilling and splashing around the water in the tank is minimized.
The dryer designed to fulfill the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a condenser type dryer.
Figure 2 - is the view of a tank having a holder rotatable in the horizontal axis inside the housing.
Figure 3 - is the closed position view of the holder rotatable in the horizontal axis.
Figure 4 - is the open position view of the holder rotatable in the horizontal axis.
Figure 5 - is the view of a tank having a holder rotatable in the vertical axis inside the housing.
Figure 6 - is the closed position view of the holder rotatable in the vertical axis.
Figure 7 - is the open position view of the holder rotatable in the vertical axis.
Figure 8 - is the view of the holder while the tank is inside the housing.
Figure 9 - is the view of the tank while being dislodged from the housing.
Figure 10 - is the view of the tank when entirely dislodged from the housing.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dryer
2. Body
3. Housing
4. Tank
5. Handgrip
6. Holder
7. Recess
8. Hinge
9. Pin
10. Spring
11. Obstruction
12. Discharge port

The dryer (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2), a housing (3) disposed in the body (2), a drawer shaped tank (4) mounted into the housing (3) wherein the condensate water is collected, and a handgrip (5), disposed on the front face of the tank (4) so that the tank (4) can be mounted, dismounted from the housing (3) by the user (Figure 1). The housing (3) extends in the horizontal plane from the front of the body (2) up to the back. The tank (4) is of the drawer type and can move forward, backward in the horizontal plane inside the said housing (3).
The dryer (1) of the present invention comprises one or more holders (6) mounted on the rear side of the tank (4) which can open and close by rotating around the axis of mounting. The holder (6) is mounted on the top or side walls of the tank (4) such that it will remain at the rear end of the tank (4) (Figure 2 and Figure 5).
The holder (6) remains in the closed position when the tank (4) is inside the housing (3) being virtually parallel to the walls of the tank (4) (Figure 4 and Figure 8). When the tank (4) is entirely taken out of the housing (3), the holder (6) changes to the open position preferably by becoming almost vertical to the walls of the tank (4) (Figure 4 and Figure 7).
The dryer (1) comprises a hinge (8) that maintains the holder (6) to be foldably mounted from one side to the walls of the tank (4). Accordingly, the holder (6) is foldably mounted on the walls of the tank (4).
During the drying process, the moisture received from the dried laundry is condensed and the condensate water is collected in the tank (4). The water in the tank (4) has to be emptied by the user so that the dryer (1) is not damaged by the overflowing water in the tank (4) and the next drying process can be performed properly. The tank (4) comprises a discharge port (12) at its rear end, preferably on the upper wall for draining the water contained therein. While the tank (4) is inside the housing (3), the holder (6) is in the folded position on the upper or side walls of the tank (4). When the tank (4) is full, the user holds from the handgrip (5) and dislodges the tank (4) from the housing (3) by pulling toward herself. The holder (6), mounted on the wall of the tank (4) dislodged from the housing (3), is brought to the open position by rotating by means of the hinge (8) used in mounting it on the tank (4). Consequently, the user takes the tank (4) to the place where the draining process will be performed by safely holding the tank only from the holders (6) opening to the sides. The water in the tank (4) is drained from the discharge port (12) by the user and the tank is again dragged to be inserted into the housing (3) by the holder (6) being changed to the closed position thereby being mounted into the housing (3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the holder (6) is mounted on the walls of the tank (4) to be rotatable around a horizontal axis (Figure 2 to Figure 4). In this embodiment of the present invention, the holder (6) can rotate 90 or 180 degrees around the axis of mounting on the tank (4).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder (6) is mounted on the walls of the tank (4) to be rotatable around a vertical axis (Figure 5 to Figure 7). In this embodiment of the present invention, the holder (6) can rotate 90 or 180 degrees around the axis of mounting on the tank (4).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder (6) is disposed between the discharge port (12) and the handgrip (5), preferably at the level of the discharge port (12).
In another embodiment of the present invention, two holders (6) are mounted on two opposite side walls of the tank (4) such that they remain on the rear end of the tank (4).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises a recess (7) arranged on the tank (4) wall wherein the holder (6) is placed in the closed position. The holder (6), forming protrusions on the walls of the tank (4) by extending to the sides in the open position, is seated into the recess (7) when it changes to the closed position and almost no protrusions are formed on the walls of the tank (4) in the closed position. Thus, during this movement of the tank (4) inside the housing (3) which is mounted and dismounted by being dragged into the housing (3), the holders (6) are prevented from forming a protrusion on the tank (4) surface thereby getting caught on the housing (3) walls and thereby the movement of the tank (4) inside the housing (3) is not prevented..
In another embodiment of the present invention, the hinge (8) comprises a pin (9). The holder (6) rotates around the said pin (9) while changing from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position to the open position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the hinge (8) comprises a spring (10) wound around the pin (9), with one end bearing against the holder (6) and maintaining the holder (6) to change from the closed position to the open position. While the tank (4) is outside of the housing (3), the spring (10) exerts pressure on the holder (6) so that the holder (6) is kept in the open position. Accordingly, the user carries the tank (4) by holding from the holders (6). The holders (6), in the open position when outside the housing (3), impact on the walls of the housing (3) while mounting the tank (4) into the housing (3). By means of the impact force, the force applied on the holder (6) by the spring (10) is overcome and when the tank (4) is mounted into the housing (3) the holders (6) stay in the closed position with the force exerted on the holder (6) by the walls of the housing (3) (Figure 8). The handgrip (5) that is closed while the tank (4) is taken out of the housing (3) provides the holders (6) to change to the open position, by means of the spring (10) that is freed since the force exerted on the holder (6) by the walls of the tank (4) is released when the tank (4) is dislodged from the housing (3) (Figure 9 and Figure 10).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dryer (1) comprises at least one obstacle (11), shaped as a recess or projection, whereto at least one side of the holder (6) bears on in the closed position. The holder (6) remains somewhat elevated from the surface of the tank (4) by means of the obstacle (11) and the user is enabled to grip the holder (6) in the closed position more easily and change to the open position.
By means of the present invention, in condenser type dryers (1), the tank (4) wherein the condensate water is collected can be carried by the user with two hands safely and easily.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and an expert in the technique can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A dryer (1) that comprises a body (2), a housing (3) disposed in the body (2), a drawer shaped tank (4) mounted into the housing (3) wherein the condensate water is collected, and a handgrip (5), disposed on the front face of the tank (4) so that the tank (4) can be mounted, dismounted from the housing (3) by the user and characterized by one or more holders (6) mounted on the rear side of the tank (4) which can open and close by rotating around the axis of mounting.
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a holder (6) mounted on the top or side walls of the tank (4) such that it will remain at the rear end thereof.
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a holder (6) mounted on the walls of the tank (4) to be rotatable around a horizontal axis.
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a holder (6) mounted on the walls of the tank (4) to be rotatable around a vertical axis.
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a tank (4) comprising a discharge port (12) at its rear end, preferably on the upper wall for draining the water contained therein and a holder (6) disposed at the level of the discharge port (12).
A dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by two holders (6) mounted on two opposite side walls of the tank (4) such that they remain on the rear end of the tank (4).
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a holder (6) that remains in the closed position, being virtually parallel to the walls of the tank (4) when the tank (4) is inside the housing (3) and changes to the open position by becoming almost vertical to the walls of the tank (4) when the tank (4) is taken out of the housing (3).
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a hinge (8) that maintains the holder (6) to be foldably mounted from one side to the walls of the tank (4).
A dryer (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by a hinge (8) comprising a pin (9) and a spring (10) wound around the pin (9), with one end bearing against the holder (6) and maintaining the holder (6) to change from the closed position to the open position.
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a recess (7) arranged on the tank (4) wall wherein the holder (6) is placed while in the closed position.
A dryer (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one obstruction (11), shaped as a recess or projection, whereto at least one side of the holder (6) bears on in the closed position.