EP3617374B1 - Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer - Google Patents
Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3617374B1 EP3617374B1 EP18191660.2A EP18191660A EP3617374B1 EP 3617374 B1 EP3617374 B1 EP 3617374B1 EP 18191660 A EP18191660 A EP 18191660A EP 3617374 B1 EP3617374 B1 EP 3617374B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- drawer
- door
- user
- compartments
- recessed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 51
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 38
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 33
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 27
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 24
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 description 19
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 18
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 11
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- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010412 laundry washing Methods 0.000 description 4
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920003051 synthetic elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005061 synthetic rubber Substances 0.000 description 2
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- 235000014676 Phragmites communis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
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- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
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Images
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to the field of laundry treatment appliances (hereinafter, concisely, "laundry appliances”), and particularly to laundry appliances for treating, e.g. washing, items (such as linen, clothes, garments, shoes, and the like), such as laundry washing appliances and laundry washing appliances also implementing laundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers). More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry appliance with an improved and user-friendly drawer.
- laundry appliances for treating, e.g. washing, items (such as linen, clothes, garments, shoes, and the like), such as laundry washing appliances and laundry washing appliances also implementing laundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers). More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry appliance with an improved and user-friendly drawer.
- a laundry appliance typically comprises a drawer having drawer compartments for containing one or more treatment agents (such as liquid and powder treatment agents), and a drawer seat for slidably housing the drawer within it.
- treatment agents such as liquid and powder treatment agents
- a typical drawer comprises one or more components that can be actuated by the user (hereinafter, actuatable components).
- actuatable components of the drawer are a detach component for allowing a drawer handle to be detached from a drawer body, one or more adapter components each one configured to be reversibly inserted into a respective drawer compartment for adapting it to liquid or powder treatment agents, an extraction component for reversibly extracting the drawer from the drawer seat, one or more access components (e.g., doors) for selectively accessing respective drawer compartment(s), and one or more plug components for selectively plugging or unplugging emptying holes of respective drawer compartments.
- access components e.g., doors
- the access components typically comprises a number of doors each one associated with a respective drawer compartment.
- the drawers of currently marketed laundry appliances especially of high quality laundry appliances, comprise each one a relatively high number of drawer compartments, and hence a relatively high number of doors associated threwith.
- EP3243952 discloses a washing machine including a detergent supply device to supply a detergent together with water to a tub.
- the detergent supply device includes a detergent housing installed within the main body and a detergent accommodation box movably installed within the detergent housing, and the detergent accommodation box is divided into automatic detergent accommodation parts to accommodate a detergent to be supplied automatically and manual detergent accommodation parts to accommodate a detergent to be supplied manually, and the detergent supply device supplies the detergents through an automatic detergent supply method and a manual detergent supply method.
- CN103757861 discloses a washing machine detergent automatic put system with a spray and put function.
- the detergent automatic put system fixed to a washing machine box body comprises a drawer component, a shell body and a drawing component.
- the drawer component is inserted in the shell body and the drawing component in a freely push-and-pull mode through a clamping groove, the shell body and the drawing component are vertically fastened and assembled mainly by a water diversion cover and a water diversion plate through a clamping buckle and the shell body, alarm device magnets which are not arranged in place and reed switches are arranged at the matched inserting position of the drawer component and the shell body and the matched inserting position of the drawer component and the drawing component, and if inserted mounting is not carried out in place, an alarm is given to remind a user to mount the drawer component in place.
- EP3293303 discloses a washing machine including a cabinet defining a housing with internal components of a conventional automated clothes washer, a door mounted to the cabinet to selectively open/close the opening to the cabinet, and a dispenser in the form of a drawer having at least one cup in which doses of treating chemistry can be received.
- the dispenser includes a door pivotally mounted to the housing for pivoting movement between closed and opened positions.
- the dispenser drawer is pivotally mounted to the dispenser door and slidably mounted to the housing such that pivotal movement of the dispenser door between the closed and opened position effects a corresponding sliding movement of the at least one dispenser cup between the extended and retracted position.
- the Applicant has realized that a high number of doors in a drawer, besides being not very gratifying for the user in terms of aesthetics, may also negatively affect user experience when the user interacts with it.
- a drawer having a relatively high number of doors may be discouraging for the user, in that the user has to remember associations between the doors and the respective drawer compartments. This could cause risks of confusion that could be frustrating for the user.
- relatively frequent undesired actuations of the doors in the attempt to identify a desired drawer compartment may lead to a premature wear of the doors.
- a relatively high number of doors makes drawer aesthetics not at all pleasant, rather the resulting drawer aesthetics could instead give to the user a feeling of low attention to detail: in fact, a relatively high number of doors typically results in differences in heights among the doors (due to unavoidable manufacturing tolerances), and in an excessive number of unaesthetic door contour lines (due to the gaps, between the doors and the rest of the drawer, allowing actuation of the doors) which could be in contrast with a fine and minimal appearance of the rest of the drawer. Therefore, user perception of the laundry appliance (and hence customer loyalty towards the laundry appliance manufacturer) may be negatively affected.
- An aspect of the present invention relates to a drawer for a laundry treatment appliance.
- the drawer comprises a drawer body having at least two compartments each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective laundry treatment agent for performing multiple laundry treatment cycles.
- the drawer also comprises, associated with the at least two compartments, at least two access openings each one for accessing a respective one of said at least two compartments for laundry treatment agent loading.
- the drawer further comprises a single door associated with the at least two access openings; the door is actuatable between open and closed positions for uncovering and covering, respectively, said at least two access openings jointly.
- the drawer further comprises a drawer cover for covering the drawer body; preferably, the door is coupled or coupleable to the drawer cover at said at least two access openings.
- the drawer comprises a recessed area being recessed with respect to a top profile of the drawer cover; said at least two openings are preferably formed in said recessed area.
- the door fits said recessed area and is preferably flush with the top profile of the drawer body when the door is in the closed position.
- the door comprises a sealing member.
- the sealing member is overmolded to a body of said door.
- said sealing member has an appearance feature standing out from a generally uniform appearance of the drawer.
- said appearance feature comprises a color.
- the recessed area comprises first and second recessed side portions of the drawer body, the first and second recessed side portions of the drawer body preferably opening to respective side edge portions of the drawer body.
- the recessed area comprises a recessed area of the drawer cover;
- the recessed area of the drawer cover preferably comprises a rim region that at least partially surrounds said at least two access openings;
- the door advantageously comprises an abutment portion that, when the door is in the closed position, abuts on a portion of the rim region, preferably a front portion of the rim region (in use, the front portion of the rim region being for example proximal to a drawer handle).
- the sealing member preferably comprises said abutment portion.
- the door comprises at least one grip portion for actuating the door.
- each one of said at least one grip portion faces a respective one of said recessed side portions of the drawer body when the door is in the closed position.
- the at least one grip portion is formed in a single piece with the abutment portion.
- the abutment portion has a first thickness and the grip portion has a second thickness, the second thickness being preferably lower than the first thickness.
- each one of said at least one grip portion is flush with the top profile of said side edge portions of the drawer body when the door is in the closed position.
- each one of said at least one grip portion and the respective faced recessed side portion of the drawer body are spaced apart from each other by a gap that advantageously allows the user to grasp said at least one grip portion.
- each one of said at least one grip portion faces a respective side portion of the rim region when the door is in the closed position.
- each side portion of the rim region opens to a respective side edge portion of the drawer cover; each one of said at least one grip portion is preferably flush with the respective side edge portion of the drawer cover when the door is in the closed position.
- each one of said at least one grip portion and the respective faced side portion of the rim region are spaced apart from each other by a gap that advantageously allows the user to grasp said at least one grip portion.
- the at least one grip portion is formed in a single piece with the abutment portion.
- the door has a first surface that, when the door is in the closed condition, faces the at least two compartments, and a second surface; the second surface is preferably opposite the first surface.
- the door preferably comprises, on at least one between the first and second surfaces, at least two function indicators for allowing the user to recognize a function, preferably a function of said at least two compartments.
- At least one of said function indicators comprises at least one among textual and/or sign indicators.
- the drawer further comprises at least one further drawer compartment formed in the drawer body for containing a single dose of a respective laundry treatment agent.
- the drawer also comprises at least one access mouth for accessing said at least one further drawer compartment for laundry treatment agent loading.
- the at least two access openings are preferably formed, along a sliding direction of the drawer into a drawer seat of the laundry treatment appliance, at such a distance from the at least one access mouth that a free region is defined in the drawer cover; the free region is advantageously, but not exclusively, adapted to contain one or more pieces of information for the user.
- At least one of said access openings comprises, preferably at an inner part thereof, an indicator of a level of laundry treatment agent that is recommended to be loaded in the respective compartment.
- said door is a flap door pivotally coupled to the drawer cover.
- Another aspect of the present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance comprising said drawer.
- FIGS 1A and 1B show perspective views of a laundry appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the laundry appliance 100 is a washing machine.
- the present invention applies to other types of laundry appliances (for example combined washers/dryers, i.e. washing machines also having laundry drying functions).
- the laundry appliance 100 comprises a (e.g., parallepiped-shaped) cabinet 105, which preferably accommodates a treatment chamber (i.e., a laundry washing chamber in the example herein considered of a washing machine) for performing a laundry treatment cycle on items housed therein ( i.e., a washing cycle on a laundry load in the example herein considered of a washing machine).
- a treatment chamber i.e., a laundry washing chamber in the example herein considered of a washing machine
- the laundry washing chamber comprises a washing tub (not shown) and, within it, a (e.g., rotatable) washing basket or drum (not shown) adapted to contain the laundry load to be washed.
- a cabinet front has a loading opening providing access to the drum for loading/unloading the laundry load, a door 110 (shown in a closed position in Figures 1A and 1B ) being provided for sealably closing the loading opening during the operation of the laundry appliance 100.
- the laundry appliance 100 also comprises, enclosed in the cabinet 105, electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components for the operation of the laundry appliance 100 (such as for example motor, electromechanical valves, pumps and impellers of the hydraulic apparatus, one or more heating elements for heating water/treatment agents/air).
- electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components for the operation of the laundry appliance 100 (such as for example motor, electromechanical valves, pumps and impellers of the hydraulic apparatus, one or more heating elements for heating water/treatment agents/air).
- the laundry appliance 100 further comprises a drawer 115 for containing one or more laundry treatment agents (or, concisely, treatment agents), such as liquid and powder treatment agents including, but not limited to, washing detergents, rinsing detergents, bleaches and softeners.
- the laundry appliance 100 also comprises a drawer seat 120 for housing the drawer 115, the drawer 115 being advantageously configured to slide into the drawer seat 120, along a longitudinal or sliding direction X, between an extracted position (shown in Figure 1A as having a partially extracted position) and a retracted position (shown in Figure 1B ).
- the drawer seat 120 is preferably provided on a top part of a cabinet front.
- the laundry appliance 100 further comprises a user interface 125, the user interface 125 being preferably provided on the top part of the cabinet front, more preferably next to the drawer seat 120 along a transversal direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X.
- the user interface 125 comprises a display unit, not shown, for visually displaying one or more pieces of information; the display unit may for example be a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diode display.
- the display unit may for example be a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diode display.
- the user interface 125 preferably comprises one or more control elements (e.g., selection buttons and/or knobs) for allowing the user to select a washing cycle and to control one or more operating parameters of the selected washing cycle (including, but not limited to, temperature, laundry load dirt level, spin speed, start time delay, drawer compartment selection, treatment agent selection).
- control elements e.g., selection buttons and/or knobs
- operating parameters of the selected washing cycle including, but not limited to, temperature, laundry load dirt level, spin speed, start time delay, drawer compartment selection, treatment agent selection.
- the user interface 125 preferably comprises one or more status indicators for indicating to the user a status of the laundry appliance 100; for example, the status indicators may be configured to indicate the status of one or more components of the laundry appliances 100 (for example, or one or more drawer components that can be actuated by the user, as better discussed in the following) and/or a status of the washing cycle (including, but not limited to, information about a residual time to the end of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or information about a current phase of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected parameters for the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected drawer compartment, and/or selected treatment agent).
- the status indicators may be configured to indicate the status of one or more components of the laundry appliances 100 (for example, or one or more drawer components that can be actuated by the user, as better discussed in the following) and/or a status of the washing cycle (including, but not limited to, information about a residual time to the end of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or information about a current phase of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected parameters for
- Figure 2A shows perspective views of the drawer 115 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 2A will be discussed jointly with Figure 2B , which shows a perspective exploded view of the drawer 115, with Figure 2C , which shows a perspective exploded view of a drawer cover and of a door associated therewith, and with Figure 2D , which shows a perspective and partially exploded view from behind of the drawer 115.
- the drawer 115 is generally made of a single plastic material, exception made for some parts thereof which advantageously comprise materials conveniently different from the plastic material of most of the drawer 115 (as detailed below while discussing embodiments of the present invention).
- the drawer 115 preferably comprises a drawer handle 205 allowing the user to slidably move the drawer 115 between the extracted position and the retracted position when it is fitted into the drawer seat 120, and a drawer body 210 to which the drawer handle 205 is adapted to be mounted (advantageously, in a removable or reversible way, as better discussed in the following).
- the drawer 115 preferably comprises two or more (two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments 220 1 ,220 2 each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective treatment agent for performing multiple washing cycles, hereinafter referred to as multi-dose compartments: therefore, the exemplary considered laundry appliance 100 is configured to implement an auto-dosing functionality in which, at each washing cycle (and when the auto-dosing functionality is enabled), a predetermined amount of treatment agent is automatically taken ( e.g., by means of a pump, preferably a peristaltic pump, not shown) from one or both of the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 .
- a pump preferably a peristaltic pump, not shown
- the multi-dose compartment 220i may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid washing detergent, whereas the multi-dose compartment 220 2 may be arranged to contain a multiple doses of a liquid softener.
- the drawer 115 also comprises, associated with the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 , two or more access openings; more preferably each access opening allows accessing a respective one of the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 for treatment agent loading.
- the drawer body 210 preferably comprises one or more (two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments 215 1 ,215 2 each one adapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent for performing a single washing cycle, hereinafter referred to as mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 ; just as an example, the mono-dose compartment 215i may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid washing detergent, whereas the mono-dose compartment 215 2 may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid or pearl softener.
- the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 are formed side by side along the transversal direction Y; more preferably, the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 are formed in an area of the drawer body 210 that, when the drawer handle 205 is mounted on the drawer body 210, is proximal to the drawer handle 205 (hereinafter referred to as front area of the drawer body 210 ).
- each mono-dose compartment 215 1 ,215 2 extends in depth ( i.e., along a vertical direction Z orthogonal to the longitudinal X and transversal Y directions) from a top of the drawer body 210 that identifies a respective access mouth for allowing treatment agent loading from above.
- the drawer 115 also comprises one or more adapter components each one configured to be inserted into or removed from a respective mono-dose compartment 215 1 ,215 2 for adapting it to, respectively, liquid or powder treatment agents.
- a single adapter component is provided, namely an adapter component (globally denoted by the number reference 215 1,AD ) configured to be reversibly housed into the mono-dose compartment 215 1
- the adapter component 215 1,AD comprises a container (for example, a cup-shaped container) C 1,AD adapted to be reversibly housed into the mono-dose compartment 215 1 when a liquid treatment agent is intended to be loaded.
- the adapter component 215 1,AD advantageously comprises a siphon pipe SP 1,AD (preferably, formed in a single piece with the container C 1,AD ) to induce a siphon phenomenon, and a siphon cap SC 1,AD coupled (or adapted to be coupled) to the siphon pipe SP 1,AD : when the liquid washing detergent in the container C 1,AD exceeds a limit level, a siphon phenomenon occurs, whereby the liquid washing agent to be supplied during the washing cycle is previously discharged through the siphon pipe SP 1,AD into the drawer seat 120 and then into the washing tub.
- a siphon pipe SP 1,AD preferably, formed in a single piece with the container C 1,AD
- a siphon cap SC 1,AD coupled (or adapted to be coupled) to the siphon pipe SP 1,AD : when the liquid washing detergent in the container C 1,AD exceeds a limit level, a siphon phenomenon occurs, whereby the liquid washing agent to be supplied during the washing cycle is previously discharged through the siphon pipe SP 1,AD into the drawer seat 120 and then into the washing tub.
- the container C 1,AD fits the access mouth of the mono-dose compartment 215 1 , exception made for an inclined edge IE 1,AD of the container C 1,AD .
- a gap is defined between the mono-dose compartment 215 1 ( e.g., a corner of the substantially square-like shape of its access mouth) and the inclined edge IE 1,AD of the container C 1,AD , whereby the inclined edge IE 1,AD of the container C 1,AD defines a grip portion adapted to be grasped for easily actuating (e.g.
- the container C 1,AD inserting into and removing from the mono-dose compartment 215 1 ) the container C 1,AD (or, more generally, the adapter component 215 1,AD ).
- at least part of the inclined edge IE 1,AD e.g., the top edge part that, when the drawer 115 is fitted into the drawer seat 120, is visible by as user looking at the drawer 115
- the material of the inclined edge IE 1,AD may for example comprise a synthetic rubber or a thermoplastic material, e.g. formed by overmolding or co-molding techniques.
- a container for example, a cup-shaped container
- a siphon pipe (not visible, and preferably formed in a single piece with the container C 2,AD ) to induce a siphon phenomenon
- the container C 2,AD may also comprise a grip portion ( e.g., similar to the grip portion of the container C 1,AD ) to allow insertion and removal thereof into and from, respectively, the mono-dose compartment 215 2 .
- the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 are formed side by side along the transversal direction Y. More preferably, the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 are formed in an area of the drawer body 210 (hereinafter referred to as rear area of the drawer body 210 ) that, along the sliding direction X, is rearward with respect to the front area of the drawer body 210 ( i.e., the area of the drawer body 210 where the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 are provided).
- the front and rear areas of the drawer body 210 are properly different in size, and particularly the rear area of the drawer body 210 is larger than the front area of the drawer body 210 ( e.g., the rear area of the drawer body 210 being for example from 2 to 4 times larger than the front area of the drawer body 210 ); when, as herein exemplary considered, same extensions in depth of the mono-dose 215 1 ,215 2 and multi-dose 220 1 ,220 2 compartments are assumed, having the rear area of the drawer body 210 larger than the front area of the drawer body 210 translates into correspondingly different capacities of the mono-dose 215 1 ,215 2 and multi-dose 220 1 ,220 2 compartments (with the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 that are sized to store larger amounts of treatment agent as compared to the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 ).
- Forming the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 behind the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 is advantageous in that a low or relatively low extraction of the drawer 115 is required for allowing the user to load the treatment agents in the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 (on the contrary, forming the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 behind the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 would dramatically impair the mechanical stability of the drawer 115, for example when extracting the drawer 115 to load the treatment agent in the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 and a certain amount of treatment agent is still stored in one or more of the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 ).
- one or more emptying holes each one associated with a respective multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 are preferably provided in the drawer body 210 for emptying the respective multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 , i.e. for discharging it from the treatment agent contained therein ( e.g. for maintenance or cleaning of the drawer 115 ).
- emptying holes 210 H1 ,210 H2 are provided in the drawer body 210, the emptying hole 210 H1 being associated with the multi-dose compartment 220i and the emptying hole 210 H2 being associated with the multi-dose compartment 220 2 - however, in further embodiments of the present invention (not shown), emptying holes associated with the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 may be provided additionally or alternatively to the emptying holes 210 H1 ,210 H2
- each emptying hole 210 H1 ,210 H2 comprises a circular opening located on a respective side of the drawer body 210 (preferably, a bottom part thereof), i.e. the side of the drawer body 210 that delimits the respective multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 along the transversal direction Y.
- Each emptying hole 210 H1 ,210 H2 is advantageously closable or pluggable by means of a selectively removable plug component (or, concisely, plug) 210 P1 ,210 P2 (the plugs 210 P1 ,210 P2 being both visible in Figure 2B detached or removed from the respective emptying holes 210 H1 ,210 H2 , whereas a plug covering the respective emptying hole, such as the plug 210 P1 covering the emptying hole 210 H1 , is visible in Figure 2A ).
- a selectively removable plug component or, concisely, plug
- each emptying hole 210 H1 ,210 H2 is located, along the sliding direction X, in an advanced position of the drawer body 210 ( i.e., towards the drawer handle 205 ); therefore, when the drawer 115 is sufficiently extracted or pulled out, the plugs 210 P1 ,210 P2 become accessible and can be removed to free the emptying holes 210 H1 ,210 H2 . Therefore, upon sufficient extraction or pulling out of the drawer 115 and removal of the plug(s) 210 P1 ,210 P2 , the treatment agent(s) in the multi-dose compartment(s) 220 1 ,220 2 is caused to flow outside through the respective emptying hole(s) 210 H1 ,210 H2 , e.g.
- attachment or connection or coupling or fitting of the drawer 115 is preferably releasable (so as to detach or disconnect or decouple or unfit the drawer 115 from the drawer seat 120 ) by means of an extraction component (only a part thereof being visible in Figure 2D and globally denoted by the number reference 210 E ).
- the extraction component 210 E is preferably coupled or coupleable to the drawer seat 120 (advantageously, on a front part thereof that, in use, faces the drawer handle 205 ). More preferably, the extraction component 210 E comprises a releasable locking element 210 E,LOC for locking the extraction component 210 E in a slot 120s of the drawer seat 120 (thus firmly securing the extraction component 210 E to the drawer seat 120 during actuation of the extraction component 210 E ).
- the extraction component 210 E further comprises an extraction actuator 210 E,ACT (visible in Figure 2D ) actuatable by the user in order to decouple the drawer 115 from the drawer seat 120.
- the extraction component 210 E comprises a catch portion 210 E,CAT adapted to engage a blocking portion (not shown) of the drawer body 210; more preferably, the extraction actuator 210 E,ACT is mechanically coupled to the catch portion 210 E,CAT for operating the extraction component 210 E between a first condition in which the catch portion 210 E,CAT engages the blocking portion thereby preventing extraction of the drawer 115 from the drawer seat 120 and a second condition in which the catch portion 210 E,CAT disengages the blocking portion thereby allowing extraction of the drawer 115 from the drawer seat 120 (with the extraction component 210 E that, when the drawer 115 is extracted from the drawer seat 120, is firmly coupled to the drawer seat 120 by means of the locking element 210 E,LOC being fitted in the slot 120s ).
- the drawer 115 also comprises a drawer cover 225 for covering the drawer body 210. More preferably, the drawer cover 225 is configured to cover the rear area of the drawer body 210, thus leaving uncovered the front area of the drawer body 210, and hence the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 ; the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 can therefore be directly accessed from above ( i.e., through the respective access mouths) for loading the treatment agents therein.
- the drawer cover 225 comprises the above mentioned access openings associated with the multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 for loading the treatment agent; in the example at issue in which the drawer body 210 comprises two multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 , two access openings 230 1 ,230 2 are provided in the drawer cover 225.
- the drawer 115 comprises no drawer cover 225; in this case, similarly to the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 , the top of the drawer body 210 at each multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 identifies a respective access mouth of that multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 for allowing treatment agent loading from above (in the following, any considerations about the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 and interactions thereof with other drawer parts or components are intended to equivalently apply to the access mouths associated with the multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 when no drawer cover 225 is provided).
- the drawer cover 225 may be configured to cover also the front area of the drawer body 210; in this case, the drawer cover 225 may comprise access openings associated with the mono-dose compartment 215 1 ,215 2 for loading the treatment agent; in the example at issue in which the drawer body 210 comprises two mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 , two access openings may be provided in the drawer cover 225.
- One or more of the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 (preferably, each one of the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 ) comprises, at an inner part thereof, a level indicator for indicating a level of treatment agent that is recommended to be loaded in the respective multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 .
- a level indicator for indicating a level of treatment agent that is recommended to be loaded in the respective multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 .
- only one level indicator is assumed, for example the level indicator associated with the access opening 230i (visible in Figures 2B and 2C and denoted by the number reference 230 1L ).
- Each level indicator such as the level indicator 230 1L , may for example be in the form of a horizontally projecting fin preferably formed at a proper inner wall of the respective access opening ( e.g., in a single piece with it), more preferably at a corner of the substantially square-like shape of the respective access opening.
- the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 are formed in the drawer cover 225 side by side along the transversal direction Y.
- the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 are advantageously formed in an area 225 A of the drawer cover 225 that, when the drawer cover 225 is mounted on the drawer body 210, is proximal to the front area of the drawer body 210 ( i.e., the area of the drawer body 210 where the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 are provided), or substantially proximal thereto (as detailed here below): therefore, a low or relatively low extraction of the drawer 115 is required for allowing the user to load the treatment agents in the multi-dose-compartments 220 1 ,220 2 (an excessive extraction of the drawer 115 would instead impair the mechanical stability of the drawer 115, essentially due to its elongated shape and/or to its relatively heavy weight, especially when treatment agents are contained therein).
- the area 225 A of the drawer cover 225, and hence the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 are formed at such a distance (along the longitudinal direction X ) from the access mouths of the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 (or the access openings associated with the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 , when provided) that a free region 240 is defined in the drawer cover 225 preferably adapted to contain one or more pieces of information for the user.
- Exemplary pieces of information that may be contained in the free region 240 are information about correct dosages of the treatment agents according to treatments agents and/or water chemical parameters, and/or general indications or instructions about a correct operation or setting of the auto-dosing functionality.
- the area 225 A of the drawer cover 225 in which the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 are formed is a recessed area 225 A , the recessed area 225 A being recessed (along the vertical direction Z ) with respect to a top profile of the drawer cover 225.
- the recessed area 225 A preferably comprises a rim region 225 AR that substantially (or at least partially) surrounds the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 .
- the rim region 225 AR preferably comprises a front portion 225 AR,F (in use, the front portion 225 AR,F being for example proximal to the drawer handle 205 or, when provided, to the free region 240 ), and side portions 225 AR,S1 ,225 AR,S2 .
- each side portion 225 AR,S1 ,225 AR,S2 of the rim region 225 AR opens to a respective side edge portion 225 S1 ,225 S2 of the drawer cover 225 (in order to house a respective grip portion, as discussed below); in other words, the top profile of the drawer cover 225, and particularly the side edge portion thereof, stops in correspondence of each side portion 225 AR,S1 ,225 AR,S2 of the rim region 225 AR .
- a recessed area is advantageously provided in the drawer body 210; preferably, as illustrated, the recessed area of the drawer body 210 comprises two opposite recessed side portions 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 that open to respective side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 of the drawer body 210 (in order to house the respective grip portion, as discussed below); in other words, the recessed side portions 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 are recessed, along the vertical direction Z, with respect to a top profile of the side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 of the drawer body 210 (or, otherwise stated, the top profile of the side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 of the drawer body 210 stops in correspondence of each recessed portion side 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 ).
- the side edge portions 225 S1 ,225 S2 of the drawer cover 225 are, along the transversal direction Y, adjacent (e.g., inwardly adjacent) and preferably in contact to the side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 of the drawer body 210.
- the top profiles of the side edge portions 225 S1 ,225 S2 of the drawer cover 225 and of the side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 of the drawer body 210 are flush to each other along the vertical direction Y, and the side portions 225 AR,S1 ,225 AR,S2 of the rim region 225 AR are flush, along the vertical direction Y, with the recessed portion side 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 .
- the top profiles of the side edge portions 225 S1 ,225 S2 , of the drawer cover 225, and of the side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 are flush to each other along the vertical direction Y and define, as a whole, a top profile of the drawer 115.
- the laundry appliance 100 preferably comprises an access component associated with the drawer 115 (and, particularly, to the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 ) for selectively covering and uncovering the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 thereby respectively preventing and allowing access to the respective multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 (in the exemplary considered embodiment, no access components are provided for selectively covering and uncovering the access mouths of the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 , however this should not be construed as a limitation).
- the access component may for example be a door 245, the door being advantageously coupled or coupleable to the drawer cover 225 at the respective access opening 230 1 ,230 2 .
- the door 245 is a flap door pivotally coupled to the drawer cover 225 so as to be actuatable by the user between an open position (shown in the bottom drawing of Figure 2A ) and a closed position (shown in the top drawing of Figure 2A ) for jointly uncovering and covering, respectively, both the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 .
- a single door 245 associated with both access openings 230 1 ,230 2 is provided. Having a single door 245 for covering and uncovering both the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 jointly ( i.e. , concurrently) makes user experience extremely simple; in fact, in doing so, no associations between doors and access openings have to be remembered by the user, thus avoiding risks of confusion that could be frustrating for the user.
- having a single door 245 for jointly covering and uncovering both the access openings 230 1 ,230 2 makes the drawer aesthetics more pleasant, and capable of giving to the user a feeling of attention to detail and refinement: in fact, having a single door 245 instead of two or more adjacent doors avoids differences in heights among the doors (due to unavoidable manufacturing tolerances), and an excessive number of unaesthetic door contour lines which would be in contrast with a fine and minimal appearance of the rest of the drawer.
- the door 245 fits the recessed area 225 A of the drawer cover 225 and, preferably, the recessed area of the drawer body 210 ( i.e., the recessed side portions 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 ) and is flush with the top profile of the drawer 115 when the door 245 is in the closed position.
- the door 245 is advantageously shaped to fit the recessed area of the drawer body 210 ( i.e., the recessed side portions 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 ) and to be flush with the top profile of the drawer body 210 ( i.e., of the side edge portions 210 S1 ,210 S2 thereof) when the door 245 is in the closed position.
- the door 245 preferably comprises an abutment portion 245 AB that, when the door 245 is in the closed position, abuts on the rim region 225 AR (preferably on a portion thereof, and more preferably on the front portion 225 AR,F thereof).
- the abutment portion 245 AB is preferably part of a sealing member of the door 245, the sealing member being for example made of synthetic rubber or thermoplastic materials, or other materials having sufficiently resilient properties to ensure good adherence when coming in contact with the rim region 225 AR ( i.e., when the door 245 in the closed position).
- the sealing member is advantageously overmolded to a body 245 B of the door 245, the body 245 B of the door 245 being for example made of same or similar plastic material of most of the drawer 115 (for example, a plastic rigid material).
- the door 245 further comprises one or more grip portions for actuating the door 245.
- the door 245 comprises two grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 , each one facing a respective side portion 245 AR,S1 ,245 AR,S2 of the rim region 245 AR when the door 245 is in the closed position.
- the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 are preferably formed in a single piece with the abutment portion 245 AB , the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 being therefore part of the sealing member. More preferably, the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 are designed such that, when the door 245 is in the closed position, each grip portion 245 G1 ,245 G2 is flush (along the vertical direction Z ) with the respective side edge portion 210 S1 ,210 S2 of the drawer body 210 (and, when the drawer cover 225 is provided, with the respective side edge portion 225 S1 ,225 S2 thereof).
- the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 are designed such that, when the door 245 is in the closed position, each grip portion 245 G1 ,245 G2 is spaced apart from the multi-dose compartment 220 1 ,220 2 along the vertical direction Z.
- each grip portion 245 G1 ,245 G2 has a thickness lower than the thickness of the abutment portion 245 AB , such that, when the door 245 is in the closed position (and the abutment portion 245 AB abuts the front portion 245 AR,F of the rim region 245 AR , when provided) each grip portion 245 G1 ,245 G2 and the respective faced recessed side portion 210 AR,S1 ,210 AR,S2 (and eventually the respective faced side portion 225 AR,S1 ,225 AR,S2 of the rim region 245 AR , when provided) are spaced apart from each other (along the vertical direction Z ) by a gap (visible in the top drawing of Figure 2A ) that allows the user to grasp the grip portion 245 G1 ,245 G2 .
- the door 245 is a marked component, i.e. it has a respective marker.
- the marker is provided in the sealing member. More preferably, the marker is provided on one or more of (preferably both) the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 (so that the user can quickly identify the portion(s) of the door 245 to be grasped for its opening). Additionally or alternatively, the marker is preferably provided on the abutment portion 245 AB (so that the user can quickly identify the door 245, and, in the example at issue, quickly understand that a single door is provided for jointly covering two distinct multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 ).
- this marker comprises an appearance feature standing out from a generally uniform appearance of the drawer 115.
- the appearance feature may comprise a color, more preferably a color that stands out from a generally uniform color of the drawer 115; just as an example, in case that the drawer 115 has a generally uniform (e.g., white) color (as in most of currently marketed laundry appliances), the color of the sealing member may be a color different from the generally uniform color of the drawer 115, the color of the sealing member being for example sufficiently different from the generally uniform color of the drawer 115 to allow the user to visually detecting the sealing member at a first glance; just as an example, the color of the sealing member may be red, blue, green, black, yellow, or pink (or even a combination thereof and/or of other known colors).
- the color of the sealing member may be selected, among the group of any known colors, as a color that, even from daily experience of other aspects of the human life, is already a signifier in itself and therefore that any user is induced to associate with a condition requiring and attracting his/her attention; examples of these colors are red, which is commonly used to indicate dangers or prohibitions ( e.g. , in road signs), and/or blue (which, for example, in road signs indicate obligation).
- the markers are generally represented as a uniform grey color of the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 and of the abutment portion 245 AB to which the marker is preferably (although not exclusively) applied.
- the appearance feature may comprise one or more graphical effects able to attract the attention of the user due to their aesthetical appeal and/or to their unaccustomed use in the laundry appliance field.
- these graphical effects comprise color shades or tones (for example, in case of a drawer having a generally uniform color, the graphical effect may comprise a warmer tone of the same color), mirror effects, chromed effects, satin finishes, and the like.
- the appearance feature may comprises one or more tactile effects.
- these tactile effects comprise rough or knurled surfaces, e.g. as opposed to a generally uniform smooth surface of the drawer 115.
- the marker preferably comprises a function indicator allowing the user to recognize a function of the door 245 (or of a drawer part associated therewith).
- Each function indicator may for example be a textual indicator and/or sign indicator.
- the textual indicator may comprise a term indicating the function of the respective component (for example, "door"), or an abbreviation thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the textual indicator may comprise a term indicating the action to be taken by the user for actuating the respective component (for example, "lift” associated with the access component 245 and particularly to the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 ). Additionally or alternatively, the textual indicator may comprise a letter (for example, as illustrated in Figures 2A-2C , the letters "A" and "B” provided on the door 245 and respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 220 2 covered or uncovered by the door 245 ).
- the sign indicator may comprise a symbol, preferably in a self-explanatory form, such as the common symbols of washing detergent and softener respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 220 2 (as visible in Figures 2A-2C ), or symbols explaining or suggesting the action to be taken by the user for actuating the respective component (for example, an upwards circular arrow for suggesting the user the lifting movement necessary to actuate the door 245 ).
- a symbol preferably in a self-explanatory form, such as the common symbols of washing detergent and softener respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 220 2 (as visible in Figures 2A-2C ), or symbols explaining or suggesting the action to be taken by the user for actuating the respective component (for example, an upwards circular arrow for suggesting the user the lifting movement necessary to actuate the door 245 ).
- the function indicators may be formed at any convenient part of the door 245, or even in a proximity of it (for example, in case of function indicators including relatively detailed instructions); just as an example, as visible in Figures 2A-2C , the functional indicators associated with the multi-dose-compartments 220 1 ,220 2 are advantageously provided on a surface of the door 245 opposite to an inner surface of the door 245 that, when the door 245 is in the closed condition, faces the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 (alternatively, the functional indicators may be provided on the inner surface or on both inner and outer surfaces thereof).
- the user interface 125 comprises one or more control elements for allowing the user to select a washing cycle and to control one or more operating parameters of the selected washing cycle, and one or more status indicators for indicating to the user a status of the laundry appliance 100.
- one or more of the operating parameter(s) and the status indicator(s) is associated each one with a respective one of said markers.
- the marker comprises the function indicator (e.g. , in the form of textual indicator and/or sign indicator) allowing the user to recognize a function of the door 245, the same function indicator may be provided on the user interface 125 and associated with one or more of the operating parameters or of the status indicators.
- the textual indicator comprising the letters "A" and "B" provided on the door 245 and respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 220 2 may also be provided on the user interface 125 (and particularly on the control elements, such as the selection buttons for allowing the user to select the desired multi-dose compartment).
- the marker comprises a sign indicator in the form of a symbol
- the same symbol of the component or of the function e.g. , washing detergent and softener
- the control elements e.g. , selection buttons
- the drawer 115 can be moved between the extracted and retracted positions by acting on the drawer handle 205 .
- the drawer handle 205 may be reversibly coupled or connected to the drawer body 210, for example by means of a coupling arrangement associated with the drawer 115.
- the coupling arrangement comprises sliding means (such as the rail elements 210 R1 ,210 R2 visible in Figure 2B ) arranged on the drawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y (which identifies a coupling direction between the drawer handle 205 and the drawer body 210 ) and sliding means (such as rail elements 205 R1 ,205 R2 visible in Figure 2D ) arranged on the drawer handle 225 along the transversal direction Y.
- the rail elements 210 R1 ,210 R2 of the drawer body 210 are adapted to slidably engage with the rail elements 205 R1 ,205 R2 of the drawer handle 205 for allowing the drawer handle 205 to move with respect to the drawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y.
- the coupling arrangement also comprises a detach component 250 configured to selectively prevent or allow the movement of the drawer handle 205 with respect to the drawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y (whereby when such a movement is allowed, detachment or decoupling between the drawer handle 205 and the drawer body 210 can be obtained).
- the detach component 250 is a detent element located on an inner face of the drawer handle 205 and configured to be switched between a locked configuration, in which the detent element 250 engages a corresponding detent region 255 (e.g. a window, preferably a rectangular window, visible in Figure 2B ) in a front wall of the drawer body 210, and an unlocked configuration, in which the detent element 250 is disengaged from the detent region 255 thereby allowing the movement of the drawer handle 205 with respect to the drawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y.
- a locked configuration in which the detent element 250 engages a corresponding detent region 255 (e.g. a window, preferably a rectangular window, visible in Figure 2B ) in a front wall of the drawer body 210
- an unlocked configuration in which the detent element 250 is disengaged from the detent region 255 thereby allowing the movement of the drawer handle 205 with respect to the drawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y.
- the detach component 250 comprises a detach actuator 250 ACT actuatable for switching the detach component 250 between the locked and unlocked configurations.
- the detach actuator 250 ACT may be provided in the drawer body 210 instead of in the drawer handle 205, or the detach actuator 250 ACT may be "distributed" between the drawer body 210 and the drawer handle 205.
- the marked components comprise, in addition to the door 245, one or more among the detach component 250, the adapter component 215 1,AD , the extraction component 210 E and the plug components 210 P1 ,210 P2 .
- the marked components comprise all among the detach component 250, the adapter component 215 1,AD , the extraction component 210 E and the plug components 210 P1 ,210 P2 , so as to allow the user to visually identify all (or a relevant number of) the components associated with the drawer 115 that can be manually actuated by the user while interacting with the drawer 115 (hereinafter referred to as a whole as actuatable components).
- the appearance feature of the marker of the door 245 (i.e., of the sealing member thereof) is common (thus referred to as common appearance feature in the following) to the marker of the door 245 and to the marker(s) of the other marked component(s).
- the markers of the detach 250, adapter 215 1,AD , extraction 210 E and plug 210 P1 ,210 P2 components are generally represented as a same uniform grey color (similarly to the general representation of the marker on the grip portions 245 G1 ,245 G2 and of the abutment portion 245 AB of the door 245 ).
- the detach component 250 is preferably marked; the marker is preferably (but not exclusively) provided on the detach actuator 250 ACT (so that the user can quickly identify the portion of the detach component 250 onto which push action has to be exerted for detaching the drawer handle 205 from the drawer body 210 ).
- the adapter component 215 1,AD is preferably marked; the marker is preferably (but not exclusively) provided on the inclined edge IE 1,AD (so that the user can quickly identify the portion of the adapter component 215 1,AD to be grasped for insertion and removal thereof into and from the mono-dose compartment 215 1 ).
- the extraction component 210 E is preferably marked; the marker is preferably (but not exclusively) provided on the extraction actuator 210 E,ACT (so that the user can quickly identify the portion of the extraction component 210 E onto which push action has to be exerted for extracting the drawer 115 from the drawer seat 120 ).
- One or more of the plug components 210 P1 ,210 P2 are preferably marked, the markers are preferably provided on exposed surfaces of the plug components 210 P1 ,210 P2 that, when the plug components 210 P1 ,210 P2 plug the respective emptying holes 210 H1 ,210 H2 , are visible by the user (so that the user can quickly identify the plug components 210 P1 ,210 P2 ).
- further components (or groups of further components) of the drawer 115 may be marked in order to improve their identifiability.
- the further components (or groups of further components) do not necessarily need to be actuatable components.
- each one of these further components (or groups of further components) may have a respective further marker, different from the marker associated with the actuatable components discussed above.
- the further markers may be provided on portions of the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 in order to better identify them and, for example, distinguish them from the multi-dose compartments 220 1 ,220 2 .
- the further markers may for example have a one or more further common appearance features different from the common appearance feature discussed above and, preferably, from the generally uniform appearance of most of the drawer 115.
- the mono-dose compartments 215 1 ,215 2 and particularly the access mouths thereof, may have a color different from the color associated with the markers and from the color of most of the drawer 115.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
- Drawers Of Furniture (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
Description
- The present invention generally relates to the field of laundry treatment appliances (hereinafter, concisely, "laundry appliances"), and particularly to laundry appliances for treating, e.g. washing, items (such as linen, clothes, garments, shoes, and the like), such as laundry washing appliances and laundry washing appliances also implementing laundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers). More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry appliance with an improved and user-friendly drawer.
- A laundry appliance typically comprises a drawer having drawer compartments for containing one or more treatment agents (such as liquid and powder treatment agents), and a drawer seat for slidably housing the drawer within it.
- A typical drawer comprises one or more components that can be actuated by the user (hereinafter, actuatable components). Examples of actuatable components of the drawer are a detach component for allowing a drawer handle to be detached from a drawer body, one or more adapter components each one configured to be reversibly inserted into a respective drawer compartment for adapting it to liquid or powder treatment agents, an extraction component for reversibly extracting the drawer from the drawer seat, one or more access components (e.g., doors) for selectively accessing respective drawer compartment(s), and one or more plug components for selectively plugging or unplugging emptying holes of respective drawer compartments.
- With particular reference to the access components, the access components typically comprises a number of doors each one associated with a respective drawer compartment. The drawers of currently marketed laundry appliances, especially of high quality laundry appliances, comprise each one a relatively high number of drawer compartments, and hence a relatively high number of doors associated threwith.
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EP3243952 discloses a washing machine including a detergent supply device to supply a detergent together with water to a tub. The detergent supply device includes a detergent housing installed within the main body and a detergent accommodation box movably installed within the detergent housing, and the detergent accommodation box is divided into automatic detergent accommodation parts to accommodate a detergent to be supplied automatically and manual detergent accommodation parts to accommodate a detergent to be supplied manually, and the detergent supply device supplies the detergents through an automatic detergent supply method and a manual detergent supply method. -
CN103757861 discloses a washing machine detergent automatic put system with a spray and put function. The detergent automatic put system fixed to a washing machine box body comprises a drawer component, a shell body and a drawing component. The drawer component is inserted in the shell body and the drawing component in a freely push-and-pull mode through a clamping groove, the shell body and the drawing component are vertically fastened and assembled mainly by a water diversion cover and a water diversion plate through a clamping buckle and the shell body, alarm device magnets which are not arranged in place and reed switches are arranged at the matched inserting position of the drawer component and the shell body and the matched inserting position of the drawer component and the drawing component, and if inserted mounting is not carried out in place, an alarm is given to remind a user to mount the drawer component in place. -
EP3293303 discloses a washing machine including a cabinet defining a housing with internal components of a conventional automated clothes washer, a door mounted to the cabinet to selectively open/close the opening to the cabinet, and a dispenser in the form of a drawer having at least one cup in which doses of treating chemistry can be received. The dispenser includes a door pivotally mounted to the housing for pivoting movement between closed and opened positions. The dispenser drawer is pivotally mounted to the dispenser door and slidably mounted to the housing such that pivotal movement of the dispenser door between the closed and opened position effects a corresponding sliding movement of the at least one dispenser cup between the extended and retracted position. - The Applicant has realized that a high number of doors in a drawer, besides being not very gratifying for the user in terms of aesthetics, may also negatively affect user experience when the user interacts with it.
- Indeed, the Applicant has ascertained that a drawer having a relatively high number of doors may be discouraging for the user, in that the user has to remember associations between the doors and the respective drawer compartments. This could cause risks of confusion that could be frustrating for the user. Moreover, relatively frequent undesired actuations of the doors in the attempt to identify a desired drawer compartment may lead to a premature wear of the doors.
- The Applicant has also ascertained that a relatively high number of doors makes drawer aesthetics not at all pleasant, rather the resulting drawer aesthetics could instead give to the user a feeling of low attention to detail: in fact, a relatively high number of doors typically results in differences in heights among the doors (due to unavoidable manufacturing tolerances), and in an excessive number of unaesthetic door contour lines (due to the gaps, between the doors and the rest of the drawer, allowing actuation of the doors) which could be in contrast with a fine and minimal appearance of the rest of the drawer. Therefore, user perception of the laundry appliance (and hence customer loyalty towards the laundry appliance manufacturer) may be negatively affected.
- In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry appliance able to overcome these, as well as other, drawbacks, and particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry appliance having a simple, pleasant and user-friendly drawer.
- One or more aspects of the present invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same invention that are indicated in the dependent claims.
- An aspect of the present invention relates to a drawer for a laundry treatment appliance. The drawer comprises a drawer body having at least two compartments each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective laundry treatment agent for performing multiple laundry treatment cycles. The drawer also comprises, associated with the at least two compartments, at least two access openings each one for accessing a respective one of said at least two compartments for laundry treatment agent loading. The drawer further comprises a single door associated with the at least two access openings; the door is actuatable between open and closed positions for uncovering and covering, respectively, said at least two access openings jointly.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer further comprises a drawer cover for covering the drawer body; preferably, the door is coupled or coupleable to the drawer cover at said at least two access openings.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer comprises a recessed area being recessed with respect to a top profile of the drawer cover; said at least two openings are preferably formed in said recessed area.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the door fits said recessed area and is preferably flush with the top profile of the drawer body when the door is in the closed position.
- According to the present invention, the door comprises a sealing member.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member is overmolded to a body of said door.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, said sealing member has an appearance feature standing out from a generally uniform appearance of the drawer. Preferably, said appearance feature comprises a color.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed area comprises first and second recessed side portions of the drawer body, the first and second recessed side portions of the drawer body preferably opening to respective side edge portions of the drawer body.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recessed area comprises a recessed area of the drawer cover; the recessed area of the drawer cover preferably comprises a rim region that at least partially surrounds said at least two access openings; the door advantageously comprises an abutment portion that, when the door is in the closed position, abuts on a portion of the rim region, preferably a front portion of the rim region (in use, the front portion of the rim region being for example proximal to a drawer handle).
- The sealing member preferably comprises said abutment portion.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the door comprises at least one grip portion for actuating the door.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, each one of said at least one grip portion faces a respective one of said recessed side portions of the drawer body when the door is in the closed position.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one grip portion is formed in a single piece with the abutment portion.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the abutment portion has a first thickness and the grip portion has a second thickness, the second thickness being preferably lower than the first thickness.
- Preferably, each one of said at least one grip portion is flush with the top profile of said side edge portions of the drawer body when the door is in the closed position.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the door is in the closed position, each one of said at least one grip portion and the respective faced recessed side portion of the drawer body are spaced apart from each other by a gap that advantageously allows the user to grasp said at least one grip portion.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, each one of said at least one grip portion faces a respective side portion of the rim region when the door is in the closed position.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, each side portion of the rim region opens to a respective side edge portion of the drawer cover; each one of said at least one grip portion is preferably flush with the respective side edge portion of the drawer cover when the door is in the closed position.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the door is in the closed position, each one of said at least one grip portion and the respective faced side portion of the rim region are spaced apart from each other by a gap that advantageously allows the user to grasp said at least one grip portion.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one grip portion is formed in a single piece with the abutment portion.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the door has a first surface that, when the door is in the closed condition, faces the at least two compartments, and a second surface; the second surface is preferably opposite the first surface. The door preferably comprises, on at least one between the first and second surfaces, at least two function indicators for allowing the user to recognize a function, preferably a function of said at least two compartments.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of said function indicators comprises at least one among textual and/or sign indicators.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer further comprises at least one further drawer compartment formed in the drawer body for containing a single dose of a respective laundry treatment agent. Preferably, the drawer also comprises at least one access mouth for accessing said at least one further drawer compartment for laundry treatment agent loading. The at least two access openings are preferably formed, along a sliding direction of the drawer into a drawer seat of the laundry treatment appliance, at such a distance from the at least one access mouth that a free region is defined in the drawer cover; the free region is advantageously, but not exclusively, adapted to contain one or more pieces of information for the user.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of said access openings comprises, preferably at an inner part thereof, an indicator of a level of laundry treatment agent that is recommended to be loaded in the respective compartment.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, said door is a flap door pivotally coupled to the drawer cover.
- Another aspect of the present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance comprising said drawer.
- These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following description of some exemplary and non-limitative embodiments thereof; for its better intelligibility, the following description should be read making reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
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Figures 1A and1B show perspective views of a laundry appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 2A shows perspective views of a drawer of the laundry appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 2B shows a perspective exploded view of the drawer ofFigure 2A according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 2C shows a perspective exploded view of a drawer cover and of a door associated therewith according to an embodiment of the present invention, and -
Figure 2D shows a perspective and partially exploded view from behind of the drawer ofFigure 2A according to an embodiment of the present invention. - With reference to the drawings,
Figures 1A and1B show perspective views of alaundry appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the exemplary, not limiting, embodiment herein considered, thelaundry appliance 100 is a washing machine. In any case, although in the following description explicit reference will be made to a washing machine, this should not to be construed as a limitation; indeed, the present invention applies to other types of laundry appliances (for example combined washers/dryers, i.e. washing machines also having laundry drying functions). - The
laundry appliance 100 comprises a (e.g., parallepiped-shaped)cabinet 105, which preferably accommodates a treatment chamber (i.e., a laundry washing chamber in the example herein considered of a washing machine) for performing a laundry treatment cycle on items housed therein (i.e., a washing cycle on a laundry load in the example herein considered of a washing machine). - The laundry washing chamber comprises a washing tub (not shown) and, within it, a (e.g., rotatable) washing basket or drum (not shown) adapted to contain the laundry load to be washed. A cabinet front has a loading opening providing access to the drum for loading/unloading the laundry load, a door 110 (shown in a closed position in
Figures 1A and1B ) being provided for sealably closing the loading opening during the operation of thelaundry appliance 100. - Although not shown, the
laundry appliance 100 also comprises, enclosed in thecabinet 105, electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components for the operation of the laundry appliance 100 (such as for example motor, electromechanical valves, pumps and impellers of the hydraulic apparatus, one or more heating elements for heating water/treatment agents/air). - The
laundry appliance 100 further comprises adrawer 115 for containing one or more laundry treatment agents (or, concisely, treatment agents), such as liquid and powder treatment agents including, but not limited to, washing detergents, rinsing detergents, bleaches and softeners. Thelaundry appliance 100 also comprises adrawer seat 120 for housing thedrawer 115, thedrawer 115 being advantageously configured to slide into thedrawer seat 120, along a longitudinal or sliding direction X, between an extracted position (shown inFigure 1A as having a partially extracted position) and a retracted position (shown inFigure 1B ). Thedrawer seat 120 is preferably provided on a top part of a cabinet front. - Preferably, the
laundry appliance 100 further comprises auser interface 125, theuser interface 125 being preferably provided on the top part of the cabinet front, more preferably next to thedrawer seat 120 along a transversal direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X. - Preferably, although not necessarily, the
user interface 125 comprises a display unit, not shown, for visually displaying one or more pieces of information; the display unit may for example be a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diode display. - The
user interface 125 preferably comprises one or more control elements (e.g., selection buttons and/or knobs) for allowing the user to select a washing cycle and to control one or more operating parameters of the selected washing cycle (including, but not limited to, temperature, laundry load dirt level, spin speed, start time delay, drawer compartment selection, treatment agent selection). Additionally, as herein exemplary assumed, or alternatively, theuser interface 125 preferably comprises one or more status indicators for indicating to the user a status of thelaundry appliance 100; for example, the status indicators may be configured to indicate the status of one or more components of the laundry appliances 100 (for example, or one or more drawer components that can be actuated by the user, as better discussed in the following) and/or a status of the washing cycle (including, but not limited to, information about a residual time to the end of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or information about a current phase of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected parameters for the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected drawer compartment, and/or selected treatment agent). - With reference now to
Figure 2A , it shows perspective views of thedrawer 115 according to an embodiment of the present invention. For ease of description,Figure 2A will be discussed jointly withFigure 2B , which shows a perspective exploded view of thedrawer 115, withFigure 2C , which shows a perspective exploded view of a drawer cover and of a door associated therewith, and withFigure 2D , which shows a perspective and partially exploded view from behind of thedrawer 115. - Preferably, the
drawer 115 is generally made of a single plastic material, exception made for some parts thereof which advantageously comprise materials conveniently different from the plastic material of most of the drawer 115 (as detailed below while discussing embodiments of the present invention). - As visible in
Figure 2B , thedrawer 115 preferably comprises adrawer handle 205 allowing the user to slidably move thedrawer 115 between the extracted position and the retracted position when it is fitted into thedrawer seat 120, and adrawer body 210 to which thedrawer handle 205 is adapted to be mounted (advantageously, in a removable or reversible way, as better discussed in the following). - The
drawer 115 preferably comprises two or more (two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments 2201,2202 each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective treatment agent for performing multiple washing cycles, hereinafter referred to as multi-dose compartments: therefore, the exemplary consideredlaundry appliance 100 is configured to implement an auto-dosing functionality in which, at each washing cycle (and when the auto-dosing functionality is enabled), a predetermined amount of treatment agent is automatically taken (e.g., by means of a pump, preferably a peristaltic pump, not shown) from one or both of the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202. Just as an example, the multi-dose compartment 220i may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid washing detergent, whereas the multi-dose compartment 2202 may be arranged to contain a multiple doses of a liquid softener. Preferably, thedrawer 115 also comprises, associated with the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202, two or more access openings; more preferably each access opening allows accessing a respective one of the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 for treatment agent loading. - Additionally, as herein exemplary assumed, the
drawer body 210 preferably comprises one or more (two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments 2151,2152 each one adapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent for performing a single washing cycle, hereinafter referred to as mono-dose compartments 2151,2152; just as an example, the mono-dose compartment 215i may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid washing detergent, whereas the mono-dose compartment 2152 may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid or pearl softener. Preferably, although not necessarily, the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 are formed side by side along the transversal direction Y; more preferably, the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 are formed in an area of thedrawer body 210 that, when thedrawer handle 205 is mounted on thedrawer body 210, is proximal to the drawer handle 205 (hereinafter referred to as front area of the drawer body 210). Preferably, herein assumed, each mono-dose compartment 2151,2152 extends in depth (i.e., along a vertical direction Z orthogonal to the longitudinal X and transversal Y directions) from a top of thedrawer body 210 that identifies a respective access mouth for allowing treatment agent loading from above. - Preferably, as visible in
Figure 2B , thedrawer 115 also comprises one or more adapter components each one configured to be inserted into or removed from a respective mono-dose compartment 2151,2152 for adapting it to, respectively, liquid or powder treatment agents. In the example at issue, a single adapter component is provided, namely an adapter component (globally denoted by the number reference 2151,AD ) configured to be reversibly housed into the mono-dose compartment 2151 - In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the adapter component 2151,AD comprises a container (for example, a cup-shaped container) C1,AD adapted to be reversibly housed into the mono-dose compartment 2151 when a liquid treatment agent is intended to be loaded. The adapter component 2151,AD advantageously comprises a siphon pipe SP1,AD (preferably, formed in a single piece with the container C1,AD) to induce a siphon phenomenon, and a siphon cap SC1,AD coupled (or adapted to be coupled) to the siphon pipe SP1,AD: when the liquid washing detergent in the container C1,AD exceeds a limit level, a siphon phenomenon occurs, whereby the liquid washing agent to be supplied during the washing cycle is previously discharged through the siphon pipe SP1,AD into the
drawer seat 120 and then into the washing tub. - Preferably, as visible in
Figure 2B , the container C1,AD fits the access mouth of the mono-dose compartment 2151, exception made for an inclined edge IE1,AD of the container C1,AD. When the container C1,AD is housed in the mono-dose compartment 2151, a gap is defined between the mono-dose compartment 2151 (e.g., a corner of the substantially square-like shape of its access mouth) and the inclined edge IE1,AD of the container C1,AD, whereby the inclined edge IE1,AD of the container C1,AD defines a grip portion adapted to be grasped for easily actuating (e.g., inserting into and removing from the mono-dose compartment 2151) the container C1,AD (or, more generally, the adapter component 2151,AD). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least part of the inclined edge IE1,AD (e.g., the top edge part that, when thedrawer 115 is fitted into thedrawer seat 120, is visible by as user looking at the drawer 115) is made of a material different from the plastic material of most of thedrawer 115. The material of the inclined edge IE1,AD (or of part thereof) may for example comprise a synthetic rubber or a thermoplastic material, e.g. formed by overmolding or co-molding techniques. - In the example illustrated embodiment, a container (for example, a cup-shaped container) C2,AD having a siphon pipe (not visible, and preferably formed in a single piece with the container C2,AD ) to induce a siphon phenomenon is associated with the mono-dose compartment 2152. Although not shown, the container C2,AD may also comprise a grip portion (e.g., similar to the grip portion of the container C1,AD ) to allow insertion and removal thereof into and from, respectively, the mono-dose compartment 2152.
- Preferably, although not necessarily, the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 are formed side by side along the transversal direction Y. More preferably, the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 are formed in an area of the drawer body 210 (hereinafter referred to as rear area of the drawer body 210) that, along the sliding direction X, is rearward with respect to the front area of the drawer body 210 (i.e., the area of the
drawer body 210 where the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 are provided). Even more preferably, as visible in the figures, the front and rear areas of thedrawer body 210 are properly different in size, and particularly the rear area of thedrawer body 210 is larger than the front area of the drawer body 210 (e.g., the rear area of thedrawer body 210 being for example from 2 to 4 times larger than the front area of the drawer body 210); when, as herein exemplary considered, same extensions in depth of the mono-dose 2151,2152 and multi-dose 2201,2202 compartments are assumed, having the rear area of thedrawer body 210 larger than the front area of thedrawer body 210 translates into correspondingly different capacities of the mono-dose 2151,2152 and multi-dose 2201,2202 compartments (with the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 that are sized to store larger amounts of treatment agent as compared to the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 ). - Forming the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 behind the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 is advantageous in that a low or relatively low extraction of the
drawer 115 is required for allowing the user to load the treatment agents in the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 (on the contrary, forming the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 behind the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 would dramatically impair the mechanical stability of thedrawer 115, for example when extracting thedrawer 115 to load the treatment agent in the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 and a certain amount of treatment agent is still stored in one or more of the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 ). - As visible in
Figure 2B , one or more emptying holes each one associated with a respective multi-dose compartment 2201,2202 are preferably provided in thedrawer body 210 for emptying the respective multi-dose compartment 2201,2202, i.e. for discharging it from the treatment agent contained therein (e.g. for maintenance or cleaning of the drawer 115). In the example at issue, two emptyingholes drawer body 210, the emptyinghole 210H1 being associated with the multi-dose compartment 220i and the emptyinghole 210H2 being associated with the multi-dose compartment 2202 - however, in further embodiments of the present invention (not shown), emptying holes associated with the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 may be provided additionally or alternatively to the emptying holes 210H1,210H2 - In the exemplary considered embodiment, each emptying
hole drawer body 210 that delimits the respective multi-dose compartment 2201,2202 along the transversal direction Y. Each emptyinghole plugs Figure 2B detached or removed from the respective emptyingholes plug 210P1 covering theemptying hole 210H1, is visible inFigure 2A ). Advantageously, each emptyinghole drawer 115 is sufficiently extracted or pulled out, theplugs drawer 115 and removal of the plug(s) 210P1,210P2, the treatment agent(s) in the multi-dose compartment(s) 2201,2202 is caused to flow outside through the respective emptying hole(s) 210H1,210H2, e.g. for being collected in a proper gathering container placed under the drawer 115 (the flowing of the treatment agent outside the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 through the emptying holes 210H1,210H2 being for example promoted by a proper slanting or other draining shape of a bottom wall of the drawer body 210). - By extraction or pulling out of the
drawer 115 it is herein intended the actuation along the sliding direction X of thedrawer 115 within the drawer seat 120 (i.e., with thedrawer 115 that is attached to or connected to or coupled to or fitted into the drawer seat 120); attachment or connection or coupling or fitting of thedrawer 115 is preferably releasable (so as to detach or disconnect or decouple or unfit thedrawer 115 from the drawer seat 120) by means of an extraction component (only a part thereof being visible inFigure 2D and globally denoted by the number reference 210E ). - For the purposes of the present disclosure, the
extraction component 210E is preferably coupled or coupleable to the drawer seat 120 (advantageously, on a front part thereof that, in use, faces the drawer handle 205). More preferably, theextraction component 210E comprises a releasable lockingelement 210E,LOC for locking theextraction component 210E in aslot 120s of the drawer seat 120 (thus firmly securing theextraction component 210E to thedrawer seat 120 during actuation of the extraction component 210E ). - Preferably, the
extraction component 210E further comprises an extraction actuator 210E,ACT (visible inFigure 2D ) actuatable by the user in order to decouple thedrawer 115 from thedrawer seat 120. Preferably, theextraction component 210E comprises acatch portion 210E,CAT adapted to engage a blocking portion (not shown) of thedrawer body 210; more preferably, theextraction actuator 210E,ACT is mechanically coupled to thecatch portion 210E,CAT for operating theextraction component 210E between a first condition in which thecatch portion 210E,CAT engages the blocking portion thereby preventing extraction of thedrawer 115 from thedrawer seat 120 and a second condition in which thecatch portion 210E,CAT disengages the blocking portion thereby allowing extraction of thedrawer 115 from the drawer seat 120 (with theextraction component 210E that, when thedrawer 115 is extracted from thedrawer seat 120, is firmly coupled to thedrawer seat 120 by means of thelocking element 210E,LOC being fitted in theslot 120s). A more detailed description of the extraction component 210E (and of embodiments thereof) can be found inEP2876197 . - Preferably, the
drawer 115 also comprises adrawer cover 225 for covering thedrawer body 210. More preferably, thedrawer cover 225 is configured to cover the rear area of thedrawer body 210, thus leaving uncovered the front area of thedrawer body 210, and hence the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152; the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 can therefore be directly accessed from above (i.e., through the respective access mouths) for loading the treatment agents therein. Even more preferably, thedrawer cover 225 comprises the above mentioned access openings associated with the multi-dose compartment 2201,2202 for loading the treatment agent; in the example at issue in which thedrawer body 210 comprises two multi-dose compartments 2201,2202, two access openings 2301,2302 are provided in thedrawer cover 225. - However, embodiments of the present invention may be provided in which the
drawer 115 comprises nodrawer cover 225; in this case, similarly to the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152, the top of thedrawer body 210 at each multi-dose compartment 2201,2202 identifies a respective access mouth of that multi-dose compartment 2201,2202 for allowing treatment agent loading from above (in the following, any considerations about the access openings 2301,2302 and interactions thereof with other drawer parts or components are intended to equivalently apply to the access mouths associated with the multi-dose compartment 2201,2202 when nodrawer cover 225 is provided). Alternatively, thedrawer cover 225 may be configured to cover also the front area of thedrawer body 210; in this case, thedrawer cover 225 may comprise access openings associated with the mono-dose compartment 2151,2152 for loading the treatment agent; in the example at issue in which thedrawer body 210 comprises two mono-dose compartments 2151,2152, two access openings may be provided in thedrawer cover 225. - One or more of the access openings 2301,2302 (preferably, each one of the access openings 2301,2302 ) comprises, at an inner part thereof, a level indicator for indicating a level of treatment agent that is recommended to be loaded in the respective multi-dose compartment 2201,2202. In the considered embodiment, only one level indicator is assumed, for example the level indicator associated with the access opening 230i (visible in
Figures 2B and2C and denoted by the number reference 2301L ). Each level indicator, such as the level indicator 2301L, may for example be in the form of a horizontally projecting fin preferably formed at a proper inner wall of the respective access opening (e.g., in a single piece with it), more preferably at a corner of the substantially square-like shape of the respective access opening. - Preferably, although not necessarily, the access openings 2301,2302 are formed in the
drawer cover 225 side by side along the transversal direction Y. - The access openings 2301,2302 are advantageously formed in an
area 225A of thedrawer cover 225 that, when thedrawer cover 225 is mounted on thedrawer body 210, is proximal to the front area of the drawer body 210 (i.e., the area of thedrawer body 210 where the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 are provided), or substantially proximal thereto (as detailed here below): therefore, a low or relatively low extraction of thedrawer 115 is required for allowing the user to load the treatment agents in the multi-dose-compartments 2201,2202 (an excessive extraction of thedrawer 115 would instead impair the mechanical stability of thedrawer 115, essentially due to its elongated shape and/or to its relatively heavy weight, especially when treatment agents are contained therein). - Advantageously, the
area 225A of thedrawer cover 225, and hence the access openings 2301,2302, are formed at such a distance (along the longitudinal direction X) from the access mouths of the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 (or the access openings associated with the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152, when provided) that afree region 240 is defined in thedrawer cover 225 preferably adapted to contain one or more pieces of information for the user. Exemplary pieces of information that may be contained in thefree region 240 are information about correct dosages of the treatment agents according to treatments agents and/or water chemical parameters, and/or general indications or instructions about a correct operation or setting of the auto-dosing functionality. - According to the exemplary, not limiting, embodiment of the present invention, the
area 225A of thedrawer cover 225 in which the access openings 2301,2302 are formed is a recessedarea 225A, the recessedarea 225A being recessed (along the vertical direction Z) with respect to a top profile of thedrawer cover 225. - As better visible in
Figure 2C , the recessedarea 225A preferably comprises arim region 225AR that substantially (or at least partially) surrounds the access openings 2301,2302. Therim region 225AR preferably comprises a front portion 225AR,F (in use, thefront portion 225AR,F being for example proximal to the drawer handle 205 or, when provided, to the free region 240), andside portions side portion rim region 225AR, or at least a relevant part thereof, opens to a respectiveside edge portion drawer cover 225, and particularly the side edge portion thereof, stops in correspondence of eachside portion rim region 225AR. - As exemplary illustrated in
Figures 2A and2B , additionally to the recessedarea 225A of thedrawer cover 225, a recessed area is advantageously provided in thedrawer body 210; preferably, as illustrated, the recessed area of thedrawer body 210 comprises two opposite recessedside portions side edge portions side portions side edge portions side edge portions drawer body 210 stops in correspondence of each recessedportion side 210AR,S1,210AR,S2). - Advantageously, as visible in
Figure 2A , upon mounting of thedrawer cover 225 onto thedrawer body 210, theside edge portions drawer cover 225 are, along the transversal direction Y, adjacent (e.g., inwardly adjacent) and preferably in contact to theside edge portions drawer body 210. Even more advantageously, upon mounting of thedrawer cover 225 onto thedrawer body 210, the top profiles of theside edge portions drawer cover 225 and of theside edge portions drawer body 210 are flush to each other along the vertical direction Y, and theside portions rim region 225AR are flush, along the vertical direction Y, with the recessedportion side side edge portions drawer cover 225, and of theside edge portions drawer 115. - According to the present invention, as visible in
Figures 2A ,2B and2C , thelaundry appliance 100 preferably comprises an access component associated with the drawer 115 (and, particularly, to the access openings 2301,2302 ) for selectively covering and uncovering the access openings 2301,2302 thereby respectively preventing and allowing access to the respective multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 (in the exemplary considered embodiment, no access components are provided for selectively covering and uncovering the access mouths of the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152, however this should not be construed as a limitation). - The access component may for example be a
door 245, the door being advantageously coupled or coupleable to thedrawer cover 225 at the respective access opening 2301,2302. According to the advantageous embodiment herein considered and illustrated, thedoor 245 is a flap door pivotally coupled to thedrawer cover 225 so as to be actuatable by the user between an open position (shown in the bottom drawing ofFigure 2A ) and a closed position (shown in the top drawing ofFigure 2A ) for jointly uncovering and covering, respectively, both the access openings 2301,2302. - In other words, according to the present invention, a
single door 245 associated with both access openings 2301,2302 is provided. Having asingle door 245 for covering and uncovering both the access openings 2301,2302 jointly (i.e., concurrently) makes user experience extremely simple; in fact, in doing so, no associations between doors and access openings have to be remembered by the user, thus avoiding risks of confusion that could be frustrating for the user. Moreover, having asingle door 245 for jointly covering and uncovering both the access openings 2301,2302 makes the drawer aesthetics more pleasant, and capable of giving to the user a feeling of attention to detail and refinement: in fact, having asingle door 245 instead of two or more adjacent doors avoids differences in heights among the doors (due to unavoidable manufacturing tolerances), and an excessive number of unaesthetic door contour lines which would be in contrast with a fine and minimal appearance of the rest of the drawer. - Preferably, as illustrated, the
door 245 fits the recessedarea 225A of thedrawer cover 225 and, preferably, the recessed area of the drawer body 210 (i.e., the recessedside portions 210AR,S1,210AR,S2 ) and is flush with the top profile of thedrawer 115 when thedoor 245 is in the closed position. However, same considerations apply for alternative embodiments of the present invention in which thedrawer 115 comprises nodrawer cover 225 in correspondence of thedoor 245; in these embodiments, thedoor 245 is advantageously shaped to fit the recessed area of the drawer body 210 (i.e., the recessedside portions 210AR,S1,210AR,S2 ) and to be flush with the top profile of the drawer body 210 (i.e., of theside edge portions door 245 is in the closed position. - The
door 245 preferably comprises anabutment portion 245AB that, when thedoor 245 is in the closed position, abuts on the rim region 225AR (preferably on a portion thereof, and more preferably on thefront portion 225AR,F thereof). Theabutment portion 245AB is preferably part of a sealing member of thedoor 245, the sealing member being for example made of synthetic rubber or thermoplastic materials, or other materials having sufficiently resilient properties to ensure good adherence when coming in contact with the rim region 225AR (i.e., when thedoor 245 in the closed position). The sealing member is advantageously overmolded to abody 245B of thedoor 245, thebody 245B of thedoor 245 being for example made of same or similar plastic material of most of the drawer 115 (for example, a plastic rigid material). - According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
door 245 further comprises one or more grip portions for actuating thedoor 245. Preferably, as illustrated, thedoor 245 comprises twogrip portions respective side portion rim region 245AR when thedoor 245 is in the closed position. - The
grip portions abutment portion 245AB, thegrip portions grip portions door 245 is in the closed position, eachgrip portion side edge portion drawer cover 225 is provided, with the respectiveside edge portion grip portions door 245 is in the closed position, eachgrip portion grip portion abutment portion 245AB, such that, when thedoor 245 is in the closed position (and theabutment portion 245AB abuts thefront portion 245AR,F of therim region 245AR, when provided) eachgrip portion side portion 210AR,S1,210AR,S2 (and eventually the respectivefaced side portion rim region 245AR, when provided) are spaced apart from each other (along the vertical direction Z) by a gap (visible in the top drawing ofFigure 2A ) that allows the user to grasp thegrip portion - Having a
single door 245 for jointly covering and uncovering both the access openings 2301,2302, and having twogrip portions door 245 makes user experience extremely simple; in fact, in doing so, no association between doors, access openings and grip portions have to be remembered by the user, thus avoiding risks of confusion that could be frustrating for the user. - According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
door 245 is a marked component, i.e. it has a respective marker. Preferably, the marker is provided in the sealing member. More preferably, the marker is provided on one or more of (preferably both) thegrip portions 245G1,245G2 (so that the user can quickly identify the portion(s) of thedoor 245 to be grasped for its opening). Additionally or alternatively, the marker is preferably provided on the abutment portion 245AB (so that the user can quickly identify thedoor 245, and, in the example at issue, quickly understand that a single door is provided for jointly covering two distinct multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 ). - Preferably, this marker comprises an appearance feature standing out from a generally uniform appearance of the
drawer 115. For example, the appearance feature may comprise a color, more preferably a color that stands out from a generally uniform color of thedrawer 115; just as an example, in case that thedrawer 115 has a generally uniform (e.g., white) color (as in most of currently marketed laundry appliances), the color of the sealing member may be a color different from the generally uniform color of thedrawer 115, the color of the sealing member being for example sufficiently different from the generally uniform color of thedrawer 115 to allow the user to visually detecting the sealing member at a first glance; just as an example, the color of the sealing member may be red, blue, green, black, yellow, or pink (or even a combination thereof and/or of other known colors). Even more preferably, the color of the sealing member may be selected, among the group of any known colors, as a color that, even from daily experience of other aspects of the human life, is already a signifier in itself and therefore that any user is induced to associate with a condition requiring and attracting his/her attention; examples of these colors are red, which is commonly used to indicate dangers or prohibitions (e.g., in road signs), and/or blue (which, for example, in road signs indicate obligation). For ease of representation, inFigures 2A- 2D the markers are generally represented as a uniform grey color of thegrip portions abutment portion 245AB to which the marker is preferably (although not exclusively) applied. - Additionally or alternatively to the color, the appearance feature may comprise one or more graphical effects able to attract the attention of the user due to their aesthetical appeal and/or to their unaccustomed use in the laundry appliance field. Examples of these graphical effects comprise color shades or tones (for example, in case of a drawer having a generally uniform color, the graphical effect may comprise a warmer tone of the same color), mirror effects, chromed effects, satin finishes, and the like.
- Additionally or alternatively to the color and/or to the graphical effect(s), the appearance feature may comprises one or more tactile effects. Examples of these tactile effects comprise rough or knurled surfaces, e.g. as opposed to a generally uniform smooth surface of the
drawer 115. - Alternatively or, as herein assumed, additionally to the appearance features of the marker, the marker preferably comprises a function indicator allowing the user to recognize a function of the door 245 (or of a drawer part associated therewith). Each function indicator may for example be a textual indicator and/or sign indicator.
- Just as an example, the textual indicator may comprise a term indicating the function of the respective component (for example, "door"), or an abbreviation thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the textual indicator may comprise a term indicating the action to be taken by the user for actuating the respective component (for example, "lift" associated with the
access component 245 and particularly to thegrip portions 245G1,245G2 ). Additionally or alternatively, the textual indicator may comprise a letter (for example, as illustrated inFigures 2A-2C , the letters "A" and "B" provided on thedoor 245 and respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 2202 covered or uncovered by the door 245). - Just as an example, the sign indicator may comprise a symbol, preferably in a self-explanatory form, such as the common symbols of washing detergent and softener respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 2202 (as visible in
Figures 2A-2C ), or symbols explaining or suggesting the action to be taken by the user for actuating the respective component (for example, an upwards circular arrow for suggesting the user the lifting movement necessary to actuate the door 245). - The function indicators may be formed at any convenient part of the
door 245, or even in a proximity of it (for example, in case of function indicators including relatively detailed instructions); just as an example, as visible inFigures 2A-2C , the functional indicators associated with the multi-dose-compartments 2201,2202 are advantageously provided on a surface of thedoor 245 opposite to an inner surface of thedoor 245 that, when thedoor 245 is in the closed condition, faces the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202 (alternatively, the functional indicators may be provided on the inner surface or on both inner and outer surfaces thereof). - As discussed above, in the example at issue the
user interface 125 comprises one or more control elements for allowing the user to select a washing cycle and to control one or more operating parameters of the selected washing cycle, and one or more status indicators for indicating to the user a status of thelaundry appliance 100. According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the operating parameter(s) and the status indicator(s) is associated each one with a respective one of said markers. In particular, when the marker comprises the function indicator (e.g., in the form of textual indicator and/or sign indicator) allowing the user to recognize a function of thedoor 245, the same function indicator may be provided on theuser interface 125 and associated with one or more of the operating parameters or of the status indicators. Just as an example, the textual indicator comprising the letters "A" and "B" provided on thedoor 245 and respectively associated with the multi-dose compartments 220i and 2202 may also be provided on the user interface 125 (and particularly on the control elements, such as the selection buttons for allowing the user to select the desired multi-dose compartment). Just as another example, when the marker comprises a sign indicator in the form of a symbol, the same symbol of the component or of the function (e.g., washing detergent and softener) is also provided on the user interface 125 (and, particularly, on the control elements (e.g., selection buttons) for selecting the desired function or on the status indicator for allowing to check the status of the respective component). - As mentioned above, the
drawer 115 can be moved between the extracted and retracted positions by acting on thedrawer handle 205. - According to an exemplary, not limiting embodiment of the present invention, the drawer handle 205 may be reversibly coupled or connected to the
drawer body 210, for example by means of a coupling arrangement associated with thedrawer 115. Preferably, although not necessarily, the coupling arrangement comprises sliding means (such as therail elements Figure 2B ) arranged on thedrawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y (which identifies a coupling direction between thedrawer handle 205 and the drawer body 210) and sliding means (such asrail elements Figure 2D ) arranged on the drawer handle 225 along the transversal direction Y. Therail elements drawer body 210 are adapted to slidably engage with therail elements drawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y. Preferably, in order to provide the reversible coupling of the drawer handle 205 to the drawer body 210 (e.g., for easily carrying out cleaning or maintenance operations on the drawer 115), the coupling arrangement also comprises a detachcomponent 250 configured to selectively prevent or allow the movement of the drawer handle 205 with respect to thedrawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y (whereby when such a movement is allowed, detachment or decoupling between thedrawer handle 205 and thedrawer body 210 can be obtained). - According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detach
component 250 is a detent element located on an inner face of thedrawer handle 205 and configured to be switched between a locked configuration, in which thedetent element 250 engages a corresponding detent region 255 (e.g. a window, preferably a rectangular window, visible inFigure 2B ) in a front wall of thedrawer body 210, and an unlocked configuration, in which thedetent element 250 is disengaged from thedetent region 255 thereby allowing the movement of the drawer handle 205 with respect to thedrawer body 210 along the transversal direction Y. Preferably, as visible inFigures 2B and2D , the detachcomponent 250 comprises a detachactuator 250ACT actuatable for switching the detachcomponent 250 between the locked and unlocked configurations. According to an alternative embodiments of the present invention, the detachactuator 250ACT may be provided in thedrawer body 210 instead of in thedrawer handle 205, or the detachactuator 250ACT may be "distributed" between thedrawer body 210 and thedrawer handle 205. - According to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the
door 245, one or more other marked components are provided. Preferably, the marked components comprise, in addition to thedoor 245, one or more among the detachcomponent 250, the adapter component 2151,AD, theextraction component 210E and theplug components component 250, the adapter component 2151,AD, theextraction component 210E and theplug components drawer 115 that can be manually actuated by the user while interacting with the drawer 115 (hereinafter referred to as a whole as actuatable components). - According to an embodiment of the present invention, the appearance feature of the marker of the door 245 (i.e., of the sealing member thereof) is common (thus referred to as common appearance feature in the following) to the marker of the
door 245 and to the marker(s) of the other marked component(s). - In
Figures 2A-2D the markers of the detach 250, adapter 2151,AD,extraction 210E and plug 210P1,210P2 components (or of the portions thereof to which the markers are preferably, although not exclusively, applied) are generally represented as a same uniform grey color (similarly to the general representation of the marker on thegrip portions abutment portion 245AB of the door 245). - The detach
component 250 is preferably marked; the marker is preferably (but not exclusively) provided on the detach actuator 250ACT (so that the user can quickly identify the portion of the detachcomponent 250 onto which push action has to be exerted for detaching the drawer handle 205 from the drawer body 210). - The adapter component 2151,AD is preferably marked; the marker is preferably (but not exclusively) provided on the inclined edge IE1,AD (so that the user can quickly identify the portion of the adapter component 2151,AD to be grasped for insertion and removal thereof into and from the mono-dose compartment 2151 ).
- The
extraction component 210E is preferably marked; the marker is preferably (but not exclusively) provided on the extraction actuator 210E,ACT (so that the user can quickly identify the portion of theextraction component 210E onto which push action has to be exerted for extracting thedrawer 115 from the drawer seat 120). - One or more of the
plug components plug components plug components holes plug components 210P1,210P2 ). - As should be readily understood, further components (or groups of further components) of the
drawer 115 may be marked in order to improve their identifiability. The further components (or groups of further components) do not necessarily need to be actuatable components. Moreover, each one of these further components (or groups of further components) may have a respective further marker, different from the marker associated with the actuatable components discussed above. According to an embodiment of the present invention, not shown, the further markers may be provided on portions of the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152 in order to better identify them and, for example, distinguish them from the multi-dose compartments 2201,2202. The further markers may for example have a one or more further common appearance features different from the common appearance feature discussed above and, preferably, from the generally uniform appearance of most of thedrawer 115. Just as an example the mono-dose compartments 2151,2152, and particularly the access mouths thereof, may have a color different from the color associated with the markers and from the color of most of thedrawer 115. - Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the invention described above many logical and/or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the invention may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars.
Claims (14)
- Drawer (115) for a laundry treatment appliance (100), wherein the drawer (115) comprises:a drawer body (210) having at least two compartments (2201,2202) each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective laundry treatment agent for performing multiple laundry treatment cycles,associated with the at least two compartments (2201,2202), at least two access openings (2301,2302) each one for accessing a respective one of said at least two compartments (2201,2202) for laundry treatment agent loading, anda single door (245) associated with the at least two access openings (2301,2302), the door (245) being actuatable between open and closed positions for uncovering and covering, respectively, said at least two access openings jointly (2301,2302),characterized in that the door (245) comprises a sealing member.
- The drawer (115) according to claim 1, further comprising a drawer cover (225) for covering at least partially the drawer body (210), the door (245) being coupled or coupleable to the drawer cover (225) at said at least two access openings (2301,2302).
- The drawer (115) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a recessed area (225A; 210AR,S1,210AR,S2) being recessed with respect to a top profile of the drawer (115), said at least two openings (2301,2302) being formed in said recessed area (225A; 210AR,S1,210AR,S2).
- The drawer (115) according to claim 3, wherein the door (245) fits said recessed area (225A; 210AR,S1,210AR,S2) and is preferably flush with the top profile of the drawer (115) when the door (245) is in the closed position.
- The drawer (115) according any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing member is overmolded to a body of said door (245).
- The drawer (115) according to any of the claims 3 or 4, wherein the recessed area (225A; 210AR,S1,210AR,S2) comprises first (210AR,S1) and second (210AR,S2) recessed side portions of the drawer body (210) that open to respective side edge portions (210S1,210S2) of the drawer body (210).
- The drawer (115) according to any of the claims 3 or 4 or 6 when depending on claim 2, wherein the recessed area (225A; 210AR,S1,210AR,S2) comprises a recessed area (225A) of the drawer cover (225), and wherein the recessed area (225A) of the drawer cover (225) comprises a rim region (225AR) that at least partially surrounds said at least two access openings (2301,2302), the door (245) comprising an abutment portion (245AB) that, when the door (245) is in the closed position, abuts on a portion (225AR,F) of the rim region (225AR).
- The drawer (115) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the door (245) comprises at least one grip portion (245G1,245G2) for actuating the door (245).
- The drawer (115) according to claim 8 when depending directly or indirectly on claim 6, wherein each one of said at least one grip portion (245G1,245G2) faces a respective one of said recessed side portions (210AR,S1,210AR,S2) of the drawer body (210) when the door (245) is in the closed position.
- The drawer (115) according to claim 9, wherein said at least one grip portion (245G1,245G2) is flush with the top profile of said side edge portions (210S1,210S2) of the drawer body (210) when the door (245) is in the closed position.
- The drawer (115) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, when the door (245) is in the closed position, each one of said at least one grip portion (245G1,245G2) and the respective faced recessed side portion (210AR,S1,210AR,S2) of the drawer body (210) are spaced apart from each other by a gap that allows the user to grasp said at least one grip portion (245G1,245G2).
- The drawer (115) according to any claim from 8 to 11 when depending directly or indirectly on claim 7, wherein each one of said at least one grip portion (245G1,245G2) faces a respective side portion (225AR,S1,225AR,S2) of the rim region (225AR) when the door (245) is in the closed position.
- The drawer (115) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the door (245) has a first surface that, when the door (245) is in the closed condition, faces the at least two compartments (2201,2202), and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the door (245) comprises, on at least one between the first and second surfaces, at least two function indicators for allowing the user to recognize a function of said at least two compartments (2201,2202).
- The drawer (115) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one further drawer compartment (2151,2152) formed in the drawer body (210) for containing a single dose of a respective laundry treatment agent, and at least one access mouth for accessing said at least one further drawer compartment (2151,2152) for laundry treatment agent loading, wherein the at least two access openings (2301,2302) are formed, along a sliding direction (X) of the drawer (115) into a drawer seat (120) of the laundry treatment appliance (100), at such a distance from the at least one access mouth that a free region (240) is defined in the drawer cover (225) especially adapted to contain one or more pieces of information for the user.
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL18191660T PL3617374T3 (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2018-08-30 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
EP18191660.2A EP3617374B1 (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2018-08-30 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
PCT/EP2019/072616 WO2020043624A1 (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2019-08-23 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
US17/266,696 US20210301453A1 (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2019-08-23 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
CN201980055365.5A CN112601852A (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2019-08-23 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP18191660.2A EP3617374B1 (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2018-08-30 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3617374A1 EP3617374A1 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
EP3617374B1 true EP3617374B1 (en) | 2021-10-06 |
Family
ID=63449342
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP18191660.2A Active EP3617374B1 (en) | 2018-08-30 | 2018-08-30 | Laundry appliance with user-friendly drawer |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20210301453A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3617374B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN112601852A (en) |
PL (1) | PL3617374T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020043624A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6105403A (en) * | 1999-01-14 | 2000-08-22 | Whirlpool Corporation | Lid seal for an automatic washer |
US20040200243A1 (en) * | 2003-04-10 | 2004-10-14 | Maytag Corp. | Washing machine inner lid attachment |
US7313933B2 (en) * | 2004-02-18 | 2008-01-01 | Whirlpool Corporation | Laundry appliance utility shelf |
ITTO20060258A1 (en) * | 2006-04-07 | 2007-10-08 | Iar Siltal Spa | WASHING MACHINE WITH A DETERGENT AND SIMILAR DEVICE FOR DOSING AND OR DISTRIBUTION |
EP2381027B1 (en) * | 2007-06-12 | 2015-09-16 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Laundry washing machine dispenser for detergent products or similar |
PL2251481T3 (en) * | 2009-05-11 | 2019-08-30 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Laundry washing appliance |
KR20120082989A (en) * | 2011-01-17 | 2012-07-25 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Washing machine |
WO2013032224A2 (en) * | 2011-09-02 | 2013-03-07 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine |
EP2876197B1 (en) | 2013-11-25 | 2018-03-28 | Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag | Washing machine with drawer assembly |
CN103757861A (en) * | 2014-02-11 | 2014-04-30 | 惠而浦(中国)投资有限公司 | Washing machine detergent automatic put system with spray and put function |
DK2881510T3 (en) * | 2015-03-05 | 2017-07-10 | V-Zug Ag | Washing machine with detergent storage containers |
US10077526B2 (en) * | 2016-09-13 | 2018-09-18 | Whirlpool Corporation | Laundry treating appliance and dispenser |
-
2018
- 2018-08-30 EP EP18191660.2A patent/EP3617374B1/en active Active
- 2018-08-30 PL PL18191660T patent/PL3617374T3/en unknown
-
2019
- 2019-08-23 CN CN201980055365.5A patent/CN112601852A/en active Pending
- 2019-08-23 US US17/266,696 patent/US20210301453A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2019-08-23 WO PCT/EP2019/072616 patent/WO2020043624A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
PL3617374T3 (en) | 2022-02-14 |
WO2020043624A1 (en) | 2020-03-05 |
CN112601852A (en) | 2021-04-02 |
EP3617374A1 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
US20210301453A1 (en) | 2021-09-30 |
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