EP3149376A1

EP3149376A1 - Drain hose holder with improved safety for use in a household appliance

Info

Publication number: EP3149376A1
Application number: EP14728524.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tugrul Basesme; Ismail Cem Bastuji; Guvenc Nayman Numanoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-06-02
Filing date: 2014-06-02
Publication date: 2017-04-05
Also published as: WO2015185097A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drain hose holder (1) for use in a water conducting household appliance (2) comprising a corrugated drain hose (3) having a plurality of sequentially and coaxially formed ridges (3a, 3a') and valleys (3b, 3b') which are circular shaped. The drain hose holder (1) comprises a support (4) for securing the corrugated drain hose (3). In the drain hose holder (1) of the present invention, the support (4) includes an arc-shaped first notch (5) into which a valley (3b') is insertable without any deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3) and an arc-shaped second notch (6) into which one or more than one ridge (3a) is insertable under elastic deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3).

Description

DRAIN HOSE HOLDER WITH IMPROVED SAFETY FOR USE IN A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a drain hose holder for use in a water conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher or a clothes washer.
A water conducting household appliance such as a dishwasher or a clothes washer generally has a drain hose for draining the washing liquid. A drain hose is usually made of relatively hard plastic and has a corrugated form which lends flexibility. Thereby, the corrugated drain hose can be almost rigidly installed into the water conducting household appliance and flexibly connected to a main drainage pipe. Conventional corrugated drain hoses come in different types. A commonly known corrugated drain hose has a plurality of sequentially and coaxially formed ridges and valleys which are circularly shaped. Another commonly known corrugated drain hose has a plurality of sequentially and helically formed ridges and valleys.
In general the corrugated drain hose is connected to a drainage pump of the water conducting household appliance. When the water conducting household appliance is taken into operation, the water being drained by the drainage pump exerts a thrust on the corrugated drain hose. To prevent the corrugated drain hose from disconnecting from the drainage pump, the corrugated drain hose is generally secured to the water conducting household appliance, among others, through a corrugated drain hose holder. The corrugated drain hose holder provides strain relief in case the corrugated drain hose is inadvertently pulled out by a user, for example, during installation of the water conducting household appliance. In general, the corrugated drain hose must be safely secured by the corrugated drain hose holder both against radial and longitudinal displacement.
US 6,409,223 B1 discloses a holder for securing a corrugated drain hose against longitudinal movement and radial movement. This conventional holder has a cut-out that is open on one side into which a valley of the corrugated drain hose is inserted under elastic deformation.
During an assembly of the corrugated drain hose with the above-mentioned conventional holder, the open side of the cut-out exerts a force onto the surface of the corrugated drain hose at its valley as the valley is being inserted into the cut-out. Thus, a drawback of the conventional holder is that if the open side of the cut out is too narrow, than the corrugated drain hose may get damaged at its valley during an insertion and give rise to leakage of the washing liquid. On the other hand, if the open side is not suffiently narrow, then the corrugated drain hose can easily move out of the cut-out under the influence of the thrust of the washing liquid and get disconnected from the drainage pump. Thus, this conventional holder has a limited safety.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a corrugated drain hose holder for use in a water conducting household appliance and a water conducting household appliance having the same which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved safety and easy assembly.
This objective has been achieved by the corrugated drain hose holder according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, and the water conducting household appliance according to the present invention as defined in claim 11. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The drain hose holder of the present invention has a support which includes an arc-shaped first notch into which a valley is insertable without any deformation of the corrugated drain hose. In the inserted state the arc-shaped first notch abuts against opposing inner surfaces of the ridges adjacent to the opposite sides of the valley so as to inhibit a longitudinal movement of the corrugated drain hose. The support of the drain hose holder further includes an arc-shaped second notch into which one or more than one ridge is insertable under elastic deformation of the corrugated drain hose. In the inserted state the arc-shaped second notch abuts against an outer surface of the respective ridge so as to inhibit a radial movement of the corrugated drain hose.
In an embodiment, the corrugated drain hose has a special shape, namely a predetermined valley and an adjacent predetermined ridge of the corrugated drain hose each has a relatively large width in a longitudinal direction compared to the other valleys and ridges. In this embodiment, the predetermined valley is inserted into the arc shaped first notch. In the inserted state, the predetermined ridge is located on an inner side of the support which is averted from the outside. In this embodiment, one or more than one ridge located on the opposite side of the predetermined ridge with respect to the predetermined valley is inserted into the arc shaped second notch.
With the present invention, in particular by virtue of the two-notch configuration of the drain hose holder, the valley of the corrugated drain hose subjected to the insertion step has been prevented from undergoing any elastic deformation during the insertion step. Thus, the elastic deformation exclusively occurs on a periphery of the corrugated drain hose, namely at the ridges which are, however, more durable against elastic deformations than the valleys. Thereby, the risk of damaging the corrugated drain hose and a leakage of the washing liquid has been effectively reduced. Moreover, the strength at which the corrugated drain hose is captivated can be easily adjusted, thus increased by increasing the number of ridges to be inserted into the arc-shaped second notch. Thus, the total captivation strength can be increased without increasing a deformation amount per ridge during the insertion step. Thereby, the corrugated drain hose can be reliably secured against radial movement. By virtue of the special shape of the corrugated drain hose, namely by virtue of the widened ridge, a strain relief against inadvertent pulling out has also been improved. Thereby, the corrugated drain hose can be reliably secured against longitudinal movements. With the present invention, the risk of disconnecting the corrugated drain hose due to external pulling forces and a leakage of the washing liquid has also been effectively reduced. With the present invention, a consumer satisfaction can be increased.
Additional advantages of the drain hose holder and the water conducting household appliance according to the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 – is a perspective view of a dishwasher which has a drain hose holder according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 2 – is an enlarged partial perspective view of the dishwasher of Fig.1,
Figure 3 – is an enlarged partial perspective view of the dishwasher prior to mounting a corrugated drain hose to the drain hose holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a lock is omitted,
Figure 4 – is a schematic front view of the dishwasher prior to mounting the corrugated drain hose to the drain hose holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the lock has been removed,
Figure 5 – is a schematic front view of the dishwasher after having mounted the corrugated drain hose to the drain hose holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the lock is omitted,
Figure 6 – is a schematic side view of the corrugated drain hose and the drain hose holder of Fig. 5, viewed from the direction A.
Figure 7 – is a schematic cross sectional view of the corrugated drain hose and the drain hose holder of Fig. 5, taken along the line B-B, wherein A and B designate the same directions.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Drain hose holder
Household appliance
Drain hose

3a. Ridge
3a´. Predetermined ridge
3b. Valley
3b´. Predetermined valley
3c. Inner surface
3d. Outer surface
4. Support
4a. Plate
4b. Reinforcement rib
5. First notch
5a. First opening
6. Second notch
6a. Second opening
6b. Flange
7. Lock
7a. Lateral side
x: Longitudinal direction
y: Radial direction
The drain hose holder (1) is suitable for use in a household appliance (2), in particular a dishwasher (Figs. 1 to 7).
The household appliance (2) comprises a corrugated drain hose (3) for draining washing liquid. The corrugated drain hose (3) has a plurality of sequentially and coaxially formed ridges (3a, 3a´) and valleys (3b, 3b´) which are circular shaped. The ridges (3a, 3a´) have a same height. Also the valleys (3b,3b´) have a same depth.
The drain hose holder (1) comprises a support (4) for securing the corrugated drain hose (3) against longitudinal movement and radial movement.
In the drain hose holder (1) of the present invention, the support (4) includes an arc-shaped first notch (5) into which a valley (3b´) is insertable without any deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3), wherein in the inserted state the arc-shaped first notch (5) abuts against opposing inner surfaces (3c) of the ridges (3a,3a´) which are respectively adjacent to the opposing ends of the valley (3b´) so as to inhibit longitudinal movement of the corrugated drain hose (3), and an arc-shaped second notch (6) into which one or more than one ridge (3a) is insertable under elastic deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3), wherein in the inserted state the arc-shaped second notch (6) abuts against an outer surface (3d) of the respective ridge (3a) so as to inhibit a radial movement of the corrugated drain hose (3).
The household appliance (2) of the present invention comprises a drain hose holder (1) according to the present invention.
In an embodiment, a diameter of the arc-shaped first notch (5) ranges between an outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the valley (3b´) and an outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the ridge (3a´). Thereby, a longitudinal movement of the corrugated drain hose (3) is inhibited. A width of a first opening (5a) of the first notch (5) is not smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the valley (3b´). Thereby the valley (3b´) is insertable into the arc-shaped first notch (5) without any deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3). A diameter of the arc-shaped second notch (6) is equal to the outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the ridge (3a). A width of a second opening (6b) of the arc-shaped second notch (6) is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the ridge (3a). Thereby, one or more than one ridge (3a) is insertable into the arc-shaped second notch (6) under elastic deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3). Also, thereby said one or more than one ridge (3a) which is inserted into the arc-shaped notch (6) is captivated and a radial movement of the corrugated drain hose (3) is inhibited.
In another embodiment, a width of the first opening (5a) of the arc-shaped first notch (5) is smaller than a diameter of the arc-shaped the first notch (5).
In another embodiment, the arc-shaped second notch (6) has a flange (6b) which has a predetermined width along a longitudinal direction (x) of the corrugated drain hose (3) so as to embrace one or more than one ridge (3a).
In another embodiment, the flange (6b) embraces about three ridges (3a) in the longitudinal direction (x). However, the present invention is not limited to any specific number of ridges (3a) to be embraced. If more ridges (3a) are embraced by the flange (6b), then the corrugated drain hose (3) is captivated with an increased strength. Thus, the predetermined width of the flange (6b) is to be determined in accordance with a specific application.
In another embodiment, the support (4) comprises a plate (4a) which has one or more than one reinforcement rib (4b).
In another embodiment, the support (4) has a snap fit portion (not shown) for deattachably attaching the same to the household appliance (2).
In another embodiment, the arc shaped first notch (5) and the arc shaped second notch (6) are coaxially formed into the support (4). The arc shaped first notch (5) and the arc shaped second notch (6) are immediately adjacent to each other.
In another embodiment, the drain hose holder comprises a lock (7) which is detachably attachable to the support (4). The lock (7) has an arc-shaped lateral side (7a) which is configured to block the first opening (5a) and the second opening (6a) in a state when the corrugated drain hose (3) is secured by the support (4) (Figs. 1 and 2).
In another embodiment, the support (4) is made from plastic material. In this embodiment, the lock (7) is also made of plastic material.
In another embodiment, the household appliance (2) is provided in form of a dishwasher (Fig. 1). The present invention can also be applied to a laundry washing machine (not shown).
In another embodiment, the corrugated drain hose (3) has a special shape, namely a predetermined valley (3b´) and an adjacent predetermined ridge (3a´) of the corrugated drain hose (3) each has a width in a longitudinal direction (x) which is wider than a width of each of the other valleys (3b) and ridges (3a) respectively (Figs. 6 and 7). The special shape of the corrugated drain hose (3) has been obtained by accordingly modifying the manufacturing process. This special shape enables an improved assemblage with the durian hose holder (1) (Figs. 6 and 7). In this embodiment, said predetermined valley (3b´) is inserted into the arc shaped first notch (5) (Figs. 6 and 7). In the inserted state, said predetermined ridge (3a´) is located on an upstream side of the adjacent predetermined valley (3b´). Thus, said predetermined ridge (3a´) is located on an inner side of the support (1). By virtue of the special shape of the corrugated drain hose (3), in particular by virtue of the enlarged width of the predetermined ridge (3a´), an improved strain relief in the longitudinal direction (x) has been attained, for example, when the corrugated drain hose (3) is pulled out. In this embodiment, one or more than one ridge (3a) which are located on the opposite site of said predetermined ridge (3a´) with respect to said predetermined valley (3b´) are inserted into the arc shaped second notch (6) (Figs. 6 and 7).
The present invention is not limited to the corrugated drain hose (3) having the above described special shape and can be applied to any type of corrugated drain hose (3) having uniform ridges (3a) and valleys (3b).
With the present invention, in particular by virtue of the two-notch configuration, the risk of damaging the corrugated drain hose (3) and leakage of the washing liquid has been effectively reduced. With the present invention, the corrugated drain hose (3) can be more reliably secured against radial movement and longitudinal movement. Thus, the risk of disconnecting the corrugated drain hose (3) and leakage of the washing liquid has also been effectively reduced. Thus, with the present invention a consumer satisfaction can be increased.

Claims

A drain hose holder (1) for use in a household appliance (2), in particular a dishwasher comprising a corrugated drain hose (3) for draining washing liquid, wherein the corrugated drain hose (3) has a plurality of sequentially and coaxially formed ridges (3a, 3a´) and valleys (3b, 3b´) which are circular shaped, the drain hose holder (1) comprising

- a support (4) for securing the corrugated drain hose (3) against longitudinal and radial movement,

- the drain hose holder (1) being characterized in that the support (4) comprising

- an arc-shaped first notch (5) into which a valley (3b´) is insertable without any deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3), wherein in the inserted state the arc-shaped first notch (5) abuts against opposing inner surfaces (3c) of the ridges (3a, 3a´) respectively adjacent to the opposing ends of the valley (3b´) so as to inhibit the longitudinal movement of the corrugated drain hose (3) and

- an arc-shaped second notch (6) into which one or more than one ridge (3a) is insertable under elastic deformation of the corrugated drain hose (3), wherein in the inserted state the arc-shaped second notch (6) abuts against an outer surface (3d) of the respective ridge (3a) so as to inhibit the radial movement of the corrugated drain hose (3).
The drain hose holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that

- a diameter of the arc-shaped the first notch (5) ranges between an outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the valley (3b´) and an outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the ridge (3a´), wherein a width of a first opening (5a) of the first notch (5) is not smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the valley (3b´) and

- a diameter of the arc-shaped the second notch (6) is equal to the outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the ridge (3a), wherein a width of a second opening (6b) of the arc-shaped second notch (6) is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated drain hose (3) at the ridge (3a).
The drain hose holder (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a width of the first opening (5a) of the arc-shaped first notch (5) is smaller than a diameter of the arc-shaped the first notch (5).
The drain hose holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the arc-shaped second notch (6) has a flange (6b) having a predetermined width along a longitudinal direction (x) of the corrugated drain hose (3) so as to embrace one or more than one ridge (3a).
The drain hose holder (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the flange (6b) embraces about three ridges (3a) in the longitudinal direction (x).
The drain hose holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support (4) comprises a plate (4a) which has one or more than one reinforcement rib (4b).
The drain hose holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support (4) has a snap fit portion for deattachably attaching the same to the household appliance (2).
The drain hose holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the arc shaped first notch (5) and the arc shaped second notch (6) are coaxially formed into the support (4), and the arc shaped first notch (5) and the arc shaped second notch (6) are immediately adjacent to each other.
The drain hose holder according to any one of claims 1 to 8, where dependent on claim 2, characterized in that a lock (7) which is detachably attachable to the support (4), wherein the lock (7) has an arc-shaped lateral side (7a) which is configured to block the first opening (5a) and the second opening (6a) in a state when the corrugated drain hose (3) is secured by the support (4).
The drain hose holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support (4) is made from plastic material.
A household appliance (2), in particular a dishwasher comprising a corrugated drain hose (3) for draining washing liquid, wherein the corrugated drain hose (3) has a plurality of sequentially and coaxially formed ridges (3a, 3a´) and valleys (3b, 3b´) which are circular shaped, characterized in that a drain hose holder (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.
The household appliance (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that a predetermined valley (3b´) and an adjacent predetermined ridge (3a´) each has a width in a longitudinal direction (x) which is wider than a width of each of the other valleys (3b) and ridges (3a) respectively, and said predetermined valley (3b´) is inserted into the arc shaped first notch (5), wherein in the inserted state, said predetermined ridge (3a´) is located on an upstream side of the adjacent predetermined valley (3b´), and wherein one or more than one ridge (3a) which is located on the opposite site of said predetermined ridge (3a´) with respect to said predetermined valley (3b´) is inserted into the arc shaped second notch (6).