EP3277876A1

EP3277876A1 - Stacking kit for two laundry treatment appliances

Info

Publication number: EP3277876A1
Application number: EP15714199.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Volkan CERKEZ; Aykun ACIL; Merve DOGAN; Onur MUHIDDIN; Mutlu TUNA
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-03-31
Filing date: 2015-03-31
Publication date: 2018-02-07
Also published as: WO2016155801A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stacking kit (1) for stacking two laundry treatment appliances such as a laundry washer (3) and a laundry dryer (2) one above the other. The stacking kit (1) comprises an attachment means (4) for securely attaching the laundry dryer (2) to the laundry washer (3) in the state where the laundry washer (3) being lower appliance bears the weight of the laundry dryer (2). The stacking kit (1) of the present invention further comprises a holding means (5) which is adapted to hold an article holder (6, 7, 8) which is suitable for holding articles of clothing or a household article (9) such as laundry basket (9), or other small items.

Description

STACKING KIT FOR TWO LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPLIANCES

The present invention relates to a stacking kit for stacking two laundry treatment appliances, in particular a laundry dryer and a laundry washer, one above the other.
Laundry treatment appliances such as laundry washers and laundry dryers are commonly known in the art. For increasing the user convenience, the laundry washers are also made available with a drying function respectively. Such a laundry washer/dryer has the advantage that the user can save valuable floor space and thus increase the utilizable floor space in the laundry at home. However, the customer may also opt for two separate appliances. In such cases, the laundry washer and the laundry dryer will together occupy a comparatively larger floor space when these are installed side-by-side. In order to enable a space-saving installation, the household-appliance manufacturers usually provide stacking kits which allow to securely stack two laundry treatment appliances one above the other. Such stacking kits are commonly known in the art. A stacking kit generally comprises an attachment means for securely attaching the laundry dryer on the top of the laundry washer in the state where the laundry washer bears the entire weight of the laundry dryer. The attachment means of the stacking kit generally safeguards the upper laundry treatment appliance, i.e., usually the laundry dryer, against moving and tilting.
A stacking kit which is suitable for stacking two laundry treatment appliances one above the other is known from WO2014101966 (A1).
In general, the user brings the articles to be washed in the laundry basket or the like into the laundry, and subsequently places the laundry basket onto the floor or, where available, onto the countertop, and then loads the articles into the laundry washer. In some households the laundry is relatively small and has limited floor place for placing the laundry basket. In such cases the laundry basket occupies useful floor space and becomes a serious obstacle also for the other occupants. After completion of the washing and the spin drying, the user transfers the clean articles into the laundry dryer which is usually located next to or on top of the laundry washer. After completion of the drying, the user removes the dry articles from the drum and puts them again into laundry basket. Thus, there is a problem that the tasks of transferring/removing the articles are laborious, in particular for the elderly users. There is also a problem that the tasks of transferring/removing the articles causes inconvenience, in particular when the laundry is relatively small and has limited floor place.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a stacking kit and an article holder which solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost effective way and which simplifies the task of loading/unloading the laundry, allows the user to save useful floor space, and enables an improved usability.
This objective has been achieved by the stacking kit as defined in claim 1, and the article holder as defined in claim 8. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The stacking kit of the present invention further comprises a holding means adapted to hold an article holder which is suitable for holding articles of clothing or a household article such as a laundry basket or other small items.
The present invention also provides an article holder for use with the stacking kit of the present invention. The article holder of the present invention comprises a counterpart holding means adapted to engage with the holding means of the stacking kit.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the user is enabled to easily load/unload the laundry treatment appliances by using the article holder of the staking kit. For instance, when loading/unloading the laundry, the user can either solely utilize the article holder which is held by the stacking kit according the present invention or utilize a conventional laundry basket which is held by the article holder according the present invention. Thereby, the user is prevented from repeatedly bending down and standing up. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the floor space in front of the laundry treatment appliances needs not to be unnecessarily occupied by the conventional laundry basket or any other article such as a detergent bottle or the like, and thus the user can gain more easily access to the floor space in front of the stacked laundry treatment appliances. Thereby, also the user and the other occupants can move more freely on the floor space in front of the stacked appliances. The stacking kit of the present invention is particularly advantageous when the laundry has a limited floor space with a narrow passage. Thus, with the present invention, useful floor space can be saved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the article holder which is held by the stacking kit of the present invention can also be used for other purposes, in particular for holding small items other than articles of clothing or the conventional laundry basket. For instance, such items could include a detergent bottle or an electrical device such as a handy or even a book.
The stacking kit and article holder can be interrelated in various different configurations. In an embodiment, the article holder is releasably held by the stacking kit. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it allows the user to carry the articles of clothing or the other items to another location. Of course, the article holders of the present invention may have grips for facilitating the transportation and/or the manipulation thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the article holder is permanently held by the stacking kit in particular rigidly or flexibly through a respective rigid link or through a respective flexible link. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it prevents the article holder from becoming lost. Thereby, the user can use the article holder only at the designated installation place of the stacked appliances.
In another embodiment, the stacking kit has a stowage for stowing the article holder. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it prevents the article holder from unnecessarily occupying useful space. With the present invention, the user has been enabled to easily stow any of the flexibly linked article holder and the releasable article holder inside the stowage. In the latter case, the releasable article holder can be prevented from getting lost and becoming a serious obstacle in the laundry and unnecessarily occupying useful floor space. Thus, the utilizable space of the laundry can be efficiently increased. With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the stowage, the users have been enabled to quickly and easily access the article holder in case of need. Thereby, the user can also be relieved from searching for the article holder in the laundry. The size and the shape of the stowage matches the size and shape of the article holder, where available, in the collapsed state such that the article holder must be collapsed for stowage. Thereby, the article holder occupies a comparatively small stowage space. According to the present invention, the stowage can be located at any suitable location on the stacking kit. In another embodiment, the stowage is located in the space between the stacked appliances. In other alternative embodiments, the stowage is located on the left side or the right side of the stacked appliances. In another embodiment, the stowage is openable and closable by means of a protective cover that is easily accessible to the user. Of course, the stacking kit can be provided without a stowage.
In another embodiment, the article holder is retractably held by the stacking kit. In this embodiment, the article holder can be retractably stowed. The user can move the article holder into or out of the stowage. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can easily move the article holder into the stowage with less effort. In the present invention, various retraction mechanisms can be used in which the article holder is moved into or out of the stowage for instance by way of pushing/pulling, rotating, lifting/lowering, folding/unfolding, telescopically driving or the like. Other mechanism known to those skilled in the art can be alternatively used. In another embodiment, the stacking unit has sliding arms which retractably hold the article holder. In another alternative embodiment, the stacking kit is provided without a retraction mechanism such that the user releases and moves the article holder into or out of the stowage purely manually without the help of any retraction mechanism. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as it obviates the need for a retraction mechanism, and thus the number of parts can be reduced.
According to the present invention, the article holder can be provided in various forms and manufactured from various suitable materials. In alternative embodiments, the article holder is provided as a basket, a tray, or a container respectively. In an embodiment, the article holder is rendered foldable. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when transporting the article holder to another location and/or stowing the article holder in the stowage of the stacking kit or elsewhere thus occupying less space. In an alternative embodiment, the article holder is rendered non-foldable.
Additional advantageous effects of the stacking kit and the article holder according to the present invention will now become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a stacking kit used for stacking a laundry dryer and a laundry washer one above the other according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail A of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 – is a schematic perspective view of a stacking kit which retractably and releasably holds a portable and foldable basket according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the portable and foldable basket has been moved out of the stowage and has been brought from the collapsed state into the unfolded state;
Figure 4 – is a schematic perspective view of a stacking kit which retractably holds a flexibly linked tray according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the tray has been moved out of the stowage;
Figure 5 – is a schematic perspective view of a stacking kit which retractably holds a flexibly linked container, i.e., a drawer according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the drawer has been moved out of the stowage.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Stacking kit
Laundry dryer
Laundry washer
Attachment means
Holding means
Article holder

6a. Basket
6b. Frame
6c. Grip
7. Article holder
7a. Tray
8. Article holder
8a. Container
8b. Handle
9. Laundry basket
10. Stowage
11. Arm
12. Lateral part
13. Support
14. Bottom
15. Top
16. Upper bracket
17. Lower bracket
18. Groove
19. Slider
20. Fixing means
21. Slider
22. Fixing means
23. Holding means
The stacking kit (1) is suitable for stacking two laundry treatment appliances one above the other, in particular a laundry washer (3) and a laundry dryer (2) respectively.
The stacking kit (1) comprises an attachment means (4) for securely attaching the upper appliance such as laundry dryer (2) to the lower appliance such as laundry washer (3) in the state where the laundry washer (3) bears the entire weight of the laundry dryer (2) (Fig. 1 to 5).
The stacking kit (1) of the present invention further comprises a holding means (5) which is adapted to hold an article holder (6, 7, 8) which is suitable for holding articles of clothing (not shown), or a household article such as laundry basket (9), or other small items (not shown).
The present invention also provides an article holder (6, 7, 8) adapted for use with the stacking kit (1). The article holder (6, 7, 8) of the present invention comprises a counterpart holding means (23) which is adapted to engage with the holding means (5) of the stacking kit (1) (Fig. 1 to 5).
In an embodiment, the holding means (5) is further adapted to releasably hold the article holder (6). In this embodiment, the article holder (6) is portable (Fig. 3).
In another embodiment, the stacking kit (1) further comprises a stowage (10) which is disposed in the space between the laundry dryer (2) and the laundry washer (3). The stowage (10) is adapted to stow the article holder (6, 7, 8). In this embodiment, the article holder (6, 7, 8) is adapted to be stowed inside the stowage (10) (Fig. 1 to 5).
In another embodiment, the holding means (5) is further adapted to retractably hold the article holder (6, 7, 8). In this embodiment, the article holder (6, 7, 8) can be moved into or out of the stowage (10).
In another embodiment, the holding means (5) comprises two sliding arms (11) which are adapted to hold the lateral parts (12) of the article holder (6, 7, 8) respectively (Fig. 1 to 5).
In another embodiment, the attachment means (4) comprises: two supports (13), one on each side, for interposing between the bottom (14) of the laundry dryer (2) and the top (15) of the laundry washer (3), four upper brackets (16), two on each side, for fixing the respective support (13) to the laundry dryer (2) and two lower brackets (17), one on each side, for fixing the respective support (13) to the laundry washer (3).
In another embodiment, each support (13) comprises a captive groove (18),); and three sliders (19, 21) which are disposed into the groove (18), wherein two of the sliders (19) each has a fixing means (20) for fixing the respective upper bracket (16), and the third slider (21) has a fixing means (22) for fixing the lower bracket (17) (Fig. 1 to 5).
In another embodiment, the article holder (6) comprises a basket (6a). In a version of this embodiment, the basket (6a) is attached to a rectangular shaped frame (6b) which has grips (6c) that are disposed onto the lateral parts (12) of the frame (6c) (Fig. 1 to 3).
In another embodiment, the basket (6a) is foldable. In this embodiment, the foldable basket (6a) is further adapted to be stowed inside the stowage (10) exclusively in the collapsed state (Fig. 1 to 3).
In another embodiment, the article holder (6, 7, 8) comprises a tray (7a). In a version of this embodiment, the tray (7a) is flat and rectangular shaped (Fig. 1, 2 and 4).
In another embodiment, the article holder (6, 7, 8) comprises a container (8a). In a version of this embodiment, the container (8a) is provided as a rectangular shaped drawer (8a) with a handle (8b) that is disposed onto the front part thereof (Fig. 1, 2 and 5).
Although the drawings show only a foldable basket (6), a tray (7) and a drawer (10), it should be appreciated that the article holder (6, 7, 8) may take any other suitable form or shape and may be produced from any suitable material. Moreover, the aforementioned features which have been generically disclosed in respect of the article holder (6, 7, 8) also specifically apply to the basket (6), the tray (7) and the drawer (8) of the present invention. Thereby, the user convenience can be further increased.
A major advantage of the present invention is that the stacking kit (1) is provided with an interrelated article holder (6, 7, 8) which serves as a means for directly holding the laundry, or for holding a conventional laundry basket (9), or other small items. Thereby, the user can easily load or unload the laundry treatment appliances (2, 3). The stacking kit (1) and the article holder (6, 7, 8) are particularly advantageous when the user has a small laundry with little floor space. Other advantageous effects of the article holder (6, 7, 8) and the stacking kit (1) can be taken from the aforementioned embodiments.

Claims

A stacking kit (1) for stacking two laundry treatment appliances one above the other, in particular a laundry washer (3) and a laundry dryer (2) respectively, the stacking kit (1) comprising an attachment means (4) for securely attaching the laundry dryer (2) to the laundry washer (3) in the state where the laundry washer (3) bears the weight of the laundry dryer (2), the stacking kit (1) being characterized in that a holding means (5) which is adapted to hold an article holder (6, 7, 8) for holding articles of clothing, or a household article such as laundry basket (9), or other small items.
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (5) is further adapted to releasably hold the article holder (6, 7, 8).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a stowage (10) which is disposed into the space between the laundry dryer (2) and the laundry washer (3), wherein the stowage (10) is adapted to stow the article holder (6, 7, 8).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding means (5) is further adapted to retractably hold the article holder (6, 7, 8) such that the article holder (6, 7, 8) can be moved into or out of the stowage (10).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding means (5) comprising two sliding arms (11) which are adapted to hold the lateral parts (12) of the article holder (6, 7, 8) respectively.
The stacking kit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the attachment means (4) comprising one or more than one support (13) for interposing between the bottom (14) of the laundry dryer (2) and the top (15) of the laundry washer (3), one or more than one upper bracket (16) for fixing the support (13) to the laundry dryer (2) and one or more than one lower bracket (17) for fixing the support (13) to the laundry washer (3).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the support (13) comprising a captive groove (18), a first slider (19) which is disposed into the groove (18), wherein the first slider (19) has a fixing means (20) for fixing the upper bracket (16) and a second slider (21) which is disposed into the groove (18), wherein the second slider (21) has a fixing means (22) for fixing the lower bracket (17).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the article holder (6, 7, 8) comprising a counterpart holding means (23) adapted to engage with the holding means (5) of the stacking kit (1).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the article holder (6, 7, 8) is releasable and portable.
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the article holder (6, 7, 8) is adapted to be stowed inside the stowage (10).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the article holder (6, 7, 8) comprising a basket (6a).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the basket (6a) is foldable, wherein the foldable basket (6a) is further adapted to be stowed inside the stowage (10) exclusively in the collapsed state.
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the article holder (6, 7, 8) comprising a tray (7a).
The stacking kit (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the article holder (6, 7, 8) comprising a container (8a).