EP2658415B1

EP2658415B1 - A household appliance comprising a work top

Info

Publication number: EP2658415B1
Application number: EP11804510.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ismail Cem Bastuji
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2010-12-27
Filing date: 2011-12-06
Publication date: 2017-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2031-12-06
Also published as: WO2012089457A2; EP2658415A2; WO2012089457A3

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance that comprises a work top produced from metal material.
In household appliances such as dishwasher, refrigerator, deep freezer, dryer, washing machine etc., a work top is placed on the cabinet such that the top of the cabinet is covered. Forces coming from top, below and sides in case of impacts and falls that occur during transportation and usage act on the work top, therefore elements that support the work top are known. In the state of the art, the work top is generally produced from particle board and connection elements produced from plastic, or adhesive, welding etc. are used for mounting the work top and the support element to each other. If leak-proofing is not provided, the wood material swells and is deformed by absorbing water in due course.
In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE10050264 , a household machine is described which comprises the outer edge of the control panel is bonded to the adjacent edge of the top panel. The transition between top and panel is gap-free. DE10050264 discloses a household appliance according to the preamble of claim 1.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2009118309 , a washing machine is described which comprises a support element situated under the work top and placed between the opposite or adjacent edges of the work top.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2005124008 , a household appliance is described which comprises a support element extending between the side walls of the work top.
In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE19604370 , a support element, which is placed under the work top, from the middle thereof, is described. The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance that comprises a work top produced from metal material.
A household appliance according to claim 1 is realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention. The household appliance comprises a body, a chamber situated in the said body and wherein items are placed, a door providing access into the chamber and a work top placed on the body, produced from metal material and which has a top wall, two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall.
The household appliance furthermore comprises at least one first housing which extends all along between the side walls and which is situated in a portion of the work top extending onto the door so as to remain on the lower surface of the work top and at least one first support inserted into the first housing, bearing against the front wall and which supports at least the portion of the work top that remains at the level of the door against the forces in the vertical direction.
The first support, which is slid forward by being turned after being placed diagonally onto the work top, is inserted into the first housing. Thus, at least the portion situated at the level of the door is supported against the vertical forces by means of the first support. Particularly in household devices such as dishwashers wherein an empty volume remains under the work top when the cover is opened, an element which provides the support provided by the door is required.
The household appliance furthermore comprises at least one second housing which is situated on the rear wall and which extends all along between the side walls and at least one second support situated on the body, seated into the second housing and which provides the work top to be supported. The second support which is inserted into the second housing supports the work top against the forces in the vertical direction.
The first support extends all along between the side walls.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a second support which extends all along between the side walls.
The household appliance according to the invention comprises at least one skirt formed by curving the side walls from below in parallel direction to the top wall and whereon the first support stands. By means of the skirt, a channel, which at least surrounds the portion of the work top that remains at the level of the door, is obtained. The first support is inserted into the said channel. Thus the first support is inserted to the work top without using another means such as adhesive or welding etc. Thus, cost advantage is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one flange formed by bending the rear wall in parallel direction to the top wall and which provides the work top to grasp the second support. The second support which bears against the rear wall is supported by being placed on the flange. The second support, which is supported by means of the flange from its lower portion, stands immobile rigidly in the position where it is in the work top and strengthens the mechanic structure of the work top without using the method of adhesion or welding. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second support comprises an L shaped flange. The flange supports the second support from the lower portion by its surface parallel to the horizontal axis and supports the second support from the behind by the its surface parallel to the vertical axis.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a second support having a receptacle wherein the flange seats at the lower portion of the second support where it bears against the rear wall.
The household appliance according to the invention comprises a stopper situated on the skirt and which limits the movement of the first support towards the rear wall. The first support locks with the stopper and thus the first support is prevented from sliding backwards.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a rear traverse situated on the body and the flange produced as a single piece together with the rear traverse.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises an L shaped protrusion extending parallel to the side wall from the lower surface of the first support and at least one cavity situated on the body and wherein the arm of the said protrusion which is parallel to the horizontal axis is seated. The arm parallel to the horizontal axis of the L shaped protrusion, which extends parallel to the side wall, is mounted to the cavity and provides the first support and the work top to be fixed to the body without using adhesive or welding etc.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a front traverse situated under the work top and a cavity situated on the front traverse. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first support comprises a curve formed by curving the front wall downwards and at least one extension extending downwards from the first support against which the said curve bears. The user is prevented from being harmed while he/she opens the door by means of the said extension.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a dishwasher.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a refrigerator.
By means of the present invention, the first support and the second support, which increase the strength of the work top, are inserted into a work top produced from metal material without using an additional means such as welding, adhesive, local adhesive etc.
The model embodiments relating to the household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a household appliance.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a body.
Figure 3 - is the top perspective view of a work top.
Figure 4 - is the bottom perspective view of a work top.
Figure 5 - is the bottom perspective view of a work top and the first support.
Figure 6 - is the sideways cross sectional view of a body, the work top and the first support.
Figure 7 - is the view of detail A in Figure 6.
Figure 8 - is the view of detail B in Figure 6.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Household appliance
2. Body
3. Chamber
4. Door
5. Top wall
6. Side wall
7. Front wall
8. Rear wall
9. Work Top
10. First housing
11. First support
12. Second housing
13. Second support
14. Skirt
15. Flange
16. Stopper
17. Rear traverse
18. Protrusion
19. Cavity
20. Front traverse
21. Extension
22. Receptacle
23. Curve

The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2), a chamber (3) situated in the said body (2) and wherein items are placed, a door (4) providing access into the chamber (3) and a work top (9) placed on the body (2), produced from metal material and which has a top wall (5), two side walls (6), a front wall (7) and a rear wall (8).
The household appliance (1) furthermore comprises

at least one first housing (10) which extends all along between the side walls (6) and which is situated on the portion of the work top (9) extending onto the door (4) so as to remain on the lower surface of the work top (9) and
at least one first support (11) inserted into the first housing (10), bearing against the front wall (7)

The first support (11) is inserted into the first housing (10) from behind and pushed towards the front wall (7) and thus placed under the work top (9). By means of the first support (11) supporting the work top (9), the work top (9) is prevented from being deformed due to the forces that act thereon during transportation and usage. Moreover, by being produced from metal material, the work top (9) is prevented from swelling and being deformed by absorbing water (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).
The household appliance (1) furthermore comprises at least one second housing (12) which is situated on the rear wall (8) and which extends all along between the side walls (6).
The household appliance (1) furthermore comprises at least one second support (13) situated on the body (2), seated into the second housing (12) and which provides the work top (9) to be supported. The second support (13) supports the work top (9) against the forces in the vertical direction by being inserted into the second housing (12). By inserting the first support (11) into the first housing (10) and the second support (13) into the second housing (12), the strength of the work top (9) is increased (Figure 6, Figure 8).
The first support (11) extends all along between the side walls (6). The first support (11) bears against the front wall (7) from front and against the side walls (6) from sides and is disposed all along inside the first housing (10) (Figure 5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a second support (13) which extends all along between the side walls (6). The second support (13) bears against the rear wall (8) from behind and against the side walls (6) from sides and is disposed all along inside the work top (9).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one skirt (14) formed by bending the side walls (6) from below in parallel direction to the top wall (5) and whereon the first support (11) stands. By means of the skirt (14), the first support (11) stands immobile rigidly in the position where it is in the work top (9) and strengthens the mechanic structure of the work top (9) without using the method of adhesion or welding (Figure 4, Figure 5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one flange (15) formed by bending the rear wall (8) in parallel direction to the top wall (5) and which provides the work top (9) to grasp the second support (13). The second support (13) which bears against the rear wall (8) is supported by being placed on the flange (15). The second support (13), which is supported by means of the flange (15) from its lower portion, stands immobile rigidly in the position where it is in the work top (9) and strengthens the mechanic structure of the work top (9) without using the method of adhesion or welding.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises an L shaped flange (15). The second support (13) bears against the surface of the flange (15) that is parallel to the horizontal axis and the second support (13) bears against the surface thereof that is parallel to the vertical axis. Thus, the work top (9) grasps the second support (13) from top, below and sides. By means of the flange (15), the movement of the body (2) in the horizontal axis and the vertical axis is limited (Figure 6, Figure 8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the second support (13) comprises a receptacle (22) wherein the flange (15) is seated. While the second support (13) is pushed towards the rear wall (8), the surface of the receptacle (22) which is parallel to the top wall (5) bears on the surface of the L shaped flange (15) which is parallel to the top wall (5); and the surface of the receptacle (22) which is parallel to the rear wall (8) bears on the surface of the L shaped flange (15) which is parallel to the rear wall (8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a stopper (16) situated on the skirt (14) and which limits the movement of the first support (11) towards the rear wall (8). The stopper (16) prevents the first support (11), which bears against the front wall (7), from sliding backwards. The first support (11) is prevented from dislodging during transportation or usage by means of the stopper (16) (Figure 5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a rear traverse (17) situated on the body (2) and the flange (15) produced as a single piece together with the rear traverse (17).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises an L shaped protrusion (18) extending parallel to the side wall (6) from the lower surface of the first support (11) and at least one cavity (19) situated on the body (2) and wherein the arm of the said protrusion (18) which is parallel to the horizontal axis is seated. The arm parallel to the horizontal axis of the L shaped protrusion (18), which extends parallel to the side wall (6) almost partially from the point where the side surface and the lower surface of the first support (11) join, is inserted into the cavity (19) and thus provides the first support (11) and the work top (9) to be joined with the body (2) without using adhesive or welding etc.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a front traverse (20) situated under the work top (9) and a cavity (19) situated on the front traverse (20).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a curve (23) formed by curving the front wall (7) downwards and at least one extension (21) extending downwards from the first support (11) against which the said curve (23) bears. The user is prevented from being harmed while he/she opens the door (4) by means of the extension (21) (Figure 7).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a refrigerator.
By means of the present invention, the first support (11) and the second support (13), which support the work top (9) and increase the strength thereof against the forces in the vertical or horizontal direction, are provided to be inserted and fixed into the work top (9) without using an additional means. Both the usage of the metal material and the first support (11) and the second support (13) being inserted into the work top (9) without using an additional means provide cost advantage. By means of the first support (11) and the second support (13), the deformation, which occurs in the work top (9) when items are placed on the household appliances or due to the one-above-the-other placement of the products during transportation, is prevented.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art 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 household appliance (1) comprising a body (2), a chamber (3) situated in the said body (2) and wherein items are placed, a door (4) providing access into the chamber (3) and a work top (9) placed on the body (2), which has a top wall (5), two side walls (6), a front wall (7), a rear wall (8), and at least one first housing (10) which extends all along between the side walls (6), characterized by
- the work top being produced from metal material,

- the at least one first housing (10) being situated in a portion of the work top (9) extending onto the door (4) so as to remain on the lower surface of the work top (9),

- at least one first support (11) inserted into the first housing (10), bearing against the front wall (7) and which supports at least the portion of the work top (9) that remains at the level of the door (4) against the forces in the vertical direction,

- at least one skirt (14) formed by bending the side walls (6) from below in parallel direction to the top wall (5) and whereon the first support (11) stands, and

- at least one stopper (16) situated on the skirt (14) and which limits the movement of the first support (11) towards the rear wall (8).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the first support (11) extending all along between the side walls (6) and at least one second housing (12) which is situated on the rear wall (8) and which extends all along between the side walls (6).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by at least one second support (13) situated on the body (2), seated into the second housing (12) and which provides the work top (9) to be supported.
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the second support (13) extending all along between the side walls (6).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3 or 4, characterized by at least one flange (15) formed by bending the rear wall (8) in parallel direction to the top wall (5) and which provides the work top (9) to grasp the second support (13).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the L shaped flange (15).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5 or 6, characterized by the second support (13) which has a receptacle (22) wherein the flange (15) is seated.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 7, characterized by a rear traverse (17) situated on the body (2) and the flange (15) produced as a single piece together with the rear traverse (17).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by an L shaped protrusion (18) extending parallel to the side wall (6) from the lower surface of the first support (11) and at least one cavity (19) situated on the body (2) and wherein the arm of the said protrusion (18) which is parallel to the horizontal axis is seated.
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by a front traverse (20) situated under the work top (9) and the cavity (19) situated on the front traverse (20).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a curve (23) formed by curving the front wall (7) downwards and at least one extension (21) extending downwards from the first support (11) against which the curve (23) bears.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims which is a refrigerator.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims which is a dishwasher.