EP2858544A1

EP2858544A1 - A household appliance

Info

Publication number: EP2858544A1
Application number: EP13726780.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ufuk UGUS; Murat POYRAZ; Huseyin CETINKAYA
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2012-06-06
Filing date: 2013-06-03
Publication date: 2015-04-15
Also published as: WO2013182505A1

Abstract

The household appliance (1 ) of the present invention comprises a body (2) and a storage means (3) that can be placed at the bottom or upper side of the body (2). The present invention relates to the storage of the objects (E) by benefiting from the dead space on the body (2).

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a household appliance.
While using household appliances such as washing machine, dishwasher, laundry dryer, etc., users need materials such as detergent, washing agents (softener, bleach, etc.), operating manual, cleaning cloths, etc. The users generally store these materials, when not needed, in the bathroom, kitchen cupboards or on the household appliance. Storing these materials in a separate cupboard causes the problem of not easily reaching these materials when they are required to be close during the operation of the household appliance. Storing the materials on the household appliance causes aesthetic and hygienic problems.
In the state of the art, embodiments are developed for storing cleaning substances and the like on the household appliance.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1451399, a storage unit is disclosed, that provides the storage of the materials required without occupying a significant space and provides easy access to the said materials.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance that provides the effective utilization of the body thereof comprising a storage means.
The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a damping means placed into the storage means and produced from an elastic material that, when an object is placed therein, allows the object to at least partially embed therein and that regains its initial form when the object is removed. While the dead space on the body is utilized for storing objects with the storage means, by means of the damping means situated on the storage means, the objects stored are prevented from hitting the storage means and thus generating noise during the operation of the household appliance. Furthermore, vibration- and shock-related noise problems occurring in the storage means during the operation of the household appliance are prevented. The objects stored embed into the flexible storage means with their own weight, thus a storage space suitable for objects with different volumes is obtained and efficient utilization of the storage space is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the damping means is produced from elastomeric material.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one dividing wall that separates the storage means into at least two separate partitions. Thus, the user may place the objects to be stored into the storage means by classifying them.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means is produced integrated with the damping means. Thus, the amount of waste in production is decreased, providing cost advantage in production.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the damping means can be mounted to/dismounted from the storage means. Thus, when desired, the damping means can be removed to be cleaned and then mounted in its place.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a cover that covers the storage means. The storage means remains between the body and the cover.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the cover is coated with elastomeric material. Thus, during the operation of the household appliance, the objects stored in the damping means are prevented from hitting the cover and generating noise.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means moves forwards/backwards with respect to the body. By means of wheels or rails situated on the storage means, the storage means can be pulled outwards by being slid. Thus, it is facilitated to load objects into the storage means and to unload objects from the storage means.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means is shaped like a box. Thus, a better protected storage space is obtained.
By means of the present invention, the objects are provided to be stored by benefiting from the dead space on the body. The objects can be held in the damping means without generating noise during the operation of the household appliance.
A household appliance 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 a household appliance.
Figure 2 – is the cross-sectional view of a household appliance.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Household appliance
Body
Storage means
Damping means
Dividing wall
Cover

The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2) and a storage means (3) that can be placed at the bottom or upper side of the body (2).
The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises a damping means (4) placed into the storage means (3) and produced from an elastic material that, when an object (E) is placed therein, allows the object (E) to at least partially embed therein and that regains its initial form when the object (E) is removed. By means of the damping means (4), a storage space suitable for the objects (E) to be stored with variaous sizes, thus preventing formation of dead space in the storage space. While the dead space on the body (2) is utilized for storing objects (E) with the storage means (3), by means of the damping means (4), the objects (E) stored are prevented from hitting the storage means (3) and thus generating noise during the operation of the household appliance (1).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the damping means (4) is produced from elastomeric material.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one dividing wall (5) that separates the storage means (3) into at least two separate partitions. Thus, objects (E) of different type can be classified and stored in the separate partitions of the storage means (3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means (3) is produced integrated with the damping means (4). Thus, the amount of waste in production is decreased, providing cost advantage in production.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the damping means (4) can be mounted into/dismounted from the storage means (3). Thus, when desired, the damping means (4) can be removed to be cleaned and then mounted in its place.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a cover (6) that covers the storage means (3). The storage means (3) remains between the body (2) and the cover (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the cover (6) is coated with elastomeric material. Thus, during the operation of the household appliance (1), the objects (E) stored in the damping means (3) are prevented from hitting the cover (6) and generating noise.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means (3) moves forwards/backwards with respect to the body (2). By means of wheels or rails situated on the storage means (3), the storage means (3) can be pulled out of the body (2). Thus, the user can more easily reach to the storage means (3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means (3) is shaped like a box.
By means of the present invention, the objects (E) are provided to be stored by benefiting from the dead space on the body (2). Since the vibration- and shock-related noise generated during the operation of the household appliance (1) is prevented by means of the damping means (4), the objects (E) are kept in the storage means (3) in a noise-free manner.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should also be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2) and a storage means (3) that can be placed at the bottom or upper side of the body (2).

characterized by a damping means (4)

- that is placed into the storage means (3), and

- that is produced from an elastic material that, when an object (E) is placed therein, allows the object (E) to at least partially embed therein and that regains its initial form when the object (E) is removed.
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the damping means (4) that is produced from elastomeric material.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one wall (5) that separates the storage means (3) into at least two separate partitions.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the damping means (4) that is produced integrated with the storage means (3).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the damping means (4) that can be mounted to/dismounted from the storage means (3).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a cover (6) that covers the storage means (3).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the cover (6), the inner surface of which is coated with elastomeric material.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the storage means (3) that can move forwards/backwards with respect to the body (2).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims characterized by the storage means (3) that is shaped like a box.