FR2731720A1 - Washing machine and wash hand-basin assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly consists of a single frame (1) housing a front-loading washing machine (40) and a hand basin (16). The washing machine is fitted beneath a horizontal surface (13), and the hand-basin is fitted so that it lies flush with the work surface. The two are connected to a single drain pipe with vertical (21a) and near horizontal (21b) sections, situated beneath the hand basin. The drain pipe can be made, e.g., from PVC. The washing machine is fitted into a frame cabinet on a low-friction base which enables it to be slid in and out; the base is made, for example, from a plastic such as polyester or nylon. The cabinet beneath the wash hand basin can be used to house a laundry basket or an extending step (48) for persons of small stature.

Description

LAUNDRY WASHER SET
The present invention relates to a washing machine assembly or combination comprising a wash basin and a washing machine of the rotary drum type which can be installed at any desired location on a floor or floor which does not have restrictions on the position of a water drain opening
A linen cabinet and a washing machine are installed separately in a conventional manner in the same room or in different rooms in many houses and apartments. However, since they are usually used in a bathroom, it would be advantageous to combine them into one piece of equipment. Such a combination is usually called a "washing machine assembly". When the washing machine assembly is installed in a bathroom, for example, it is placed in a location determined by the position of a drainage opening provided in the floor. or the ground. In terms of ease of use and interior design, however, many users need to install the washer assembly in their preferred location, and conventional washer assemblies cannot satisfy such requests. This is due to the fact that conventional washing machine assemblies must be placed in such a way that their discharge tubes, which are fixed to the frame of the assembly, are positioned on a floor or floor substantially immediately above the discharge opening.

In addition to the contribution of the combination of a linen cabinet and a washing machine to save space in a room, the general design of a washing machine set in the form of furniture interior and its practicality as an ease of service, are important. First, a washing machine table top extending from the area of a sink bowl to the area of a washing machine is preferably flat, as users would have a bad impression about their appearance and their ease of use if the table top formed a step or a step between the area of the sink bowl and the area of the washing machine. However, such structural requirements can make the positioning of a washing machine difficult in some cases, because some washing machines may have dimensions too large to be accommodated or mounted in the space available below a table top. In addition, the washing machine is inevitably a rotary drum washing machine which has a drum which rotates about a horizontal axis for washing and drying articles such as clothing, etc., (these articles will be referred to under denomination "the articles to be washed") and which has an opening on a front surface of the washing machine with a cover capable of being closed in a watertight manner and which is capable of being opened horizontally, due the existence of a table top covering the washing machine. The latter must therefore be easily capable of being mounted in the linen cabinet at the time of its installation and must also be easily capable of being removed from the cabinet for its inspection and repair,
If necessary.

 Currently, because washing machines of the rotary drum type tend to vibrate during the washing operation in the event of incorrect positioning, they tend to move on the floor if their support legs are not fixed to the floor or the ground. However, the fixing of the support legs of the washing machine of the rotary drum type to the floor is not possible in the linen cabinet since the machine of the rotary drum type must be able to be easily mounted in the linen cabinet after the washing machine assembly has been installed on the floor or the floor and must also be able to be easily removed from this assembly if inspection or repairs are necessary. Consequently, the washing machine assembly must include means for stationary positioning of the machine to wash the rotary drum type in a space below the table top.

 In addition, since the table top of the washing machine assembly which is substantially flat from the sink bowl area to the washing machine area must be high enough to accommodate a machine washing machine of the rotary drum type in a space provided below, some children and some women may have the impression that the table top is too high. In such a case, the washing machine assembly must include means allowing people of small size to intervene on the table top.

 Consequently, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine assembly which can be installed in any location which is not subject to restrictions due to the position of the drainage opening provided in a floor or a floor.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine assembly comprising a washing machine of the rotary drum type and which can be easily mounted inside the laundry cabinet and removed from this furniture if an inspection or repairs are necessary.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry set that a person of any size can use comfortably.

 As a result of research carried out with a view to satisfying the objects set out above, it has been found that by forming an evacuation tube making it possible to receive the evacuation of a washbasin bowl and a washing machine and by discharging this tube outlet in a drainage opening in a floor or soil, so that the outlet tube has a substantially vertical portion having an upper opening for receiving the flexible tubes for evacuating the wash basin and the washing machine, and which is capable of rotating around a vertical axis of this straight part, and comprises a substantially horizontal and slightly sloping part connected to a lower end of the vertical part and having an outlet opening at its end lower, and making the direction and the length of the part substantially horizontal and slightly sloping, adjustable so that the opening d e outlet of the horizontal part is mounted in a drainage opening of a floor or floor, it is possible to install the washing machine assembly at any desired location on a floor provided that this assembly covers the drainage opening, and to have a large space in the laundry cabinet above the evacuation tube and which can contain the items to be washed or if necessary, washed items and / or other items for washing or laundry.

The washing machine assembly thus comprises, according to the present invention: a) a substantially single piece of linen furniture frame comprising at least two
elements arranged horizontally; b) a substantially flat table top extending horizontally above
at least said two elements; c) a hollow part arranged in a first element below said plate
table for receiving a washing machine of the rotary drum type; d) a washbasin bowl mounted in one piece on the frame of the washing machine assembly
with its upper edge substantially coplanar with the table top
in a second element; and e) a drainage or evacuation tube comprising:
(i) a substantially vertical part having an upper orifice and
capable of rotating around its vertical axis, and
(ii) a substantially horizontal and slightly sloping part connected to an ex
lower end of the vertical part and having a drai orifice
swims at its lower end, the direction and length of the part
horizontal being determined so that the outlet of the part
substantially horizontal and slightly sloping is engaged in a
drainage of a floor or soil, the drainage tube receiving
a flexible tube for draining the washing machine and a flexible tube for
draining the sink bowl through the top hole to allow
drain the washing machine and the wash basin
flow into the drainage hole.

Other objects, advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the description of various modes of the invention, given without limitation and with reference to the appended drawing in which:
FIG. 1 represents a perspective view partially with cutaway,
showing a washing machine assembly according to one embodiment of this
invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the washing machine assembly of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a partially cross-sectional view, taken along the line
AA in Figure 1;
Figure 4 (a) is a plan view showing the discharge tube before it is cut to the
correct length;
Figure 4 (b) is a plan view showing the discharge tube which is cut at the
length to fit in the drainage or discharge opening ;;
Figure 4 (c) is a plan view showing the drainage or discharge tube which
is mounted and adjusted in the drainage hole;
Figure 5 (a) is a left view with cutaway of the washing machine assembly
in which a stool is mounted below the linen cabinet;
Figure 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure
5 (a);
Figure 6 (a) is a left view with cutaway of the washing machine assembly
in which the stool is pulled outside;
Figure 6 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Figure
6 (a);
Figure 7 is a plan view of the positioning plate on which a machine
washing machine of the rotary drum type is placed and is capable of sliding at
the outside; and
Figure 8 is a right view with cutaway of the washing machine assembly in the
which the rotary drum type washing machine is partially removed from
linen cabinet.

 The washing machine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 3. The washing machine assembly comprises a frame 1 of a linen cabinet having a first element 1 Oa provided a hollow part 11 and a second element 10b in which a sink basin 16 and a drainage or evacuation system 2 are installed.

 The frame 1 of the assembly is constituted by a vertical rear wall 12 extending in the horizontal direction between the right and left faces and extending upwards from the upper surfaces of the first and second loua, lb elements to support : a mirror 12a and a shelf 12b, a substantially flat table top 13 extending horizontally between the right and left sides above the first element i Oa and the second element i Ob, side walls on the right and left 14 extending from the table top 13 to the bottom of the common frame or assembly 1, a front door 15 mounted on the assembly frame 1 in the first element i 0b and a separation plate 17 s extending vertically and fixed to the furniture frame 1 between the first element 10a and the second element 10b and having a hole or opening 17a near a rear wall of the furniture frame 1.

The furniture frame 1 further comprises a horizontal and raised bottom plate 18 fixed to the side wall 14 and to the partition plate 17, at a relatively low height so that a space defined by the horizontal plate 18, the side wall 14 and the partition plate 17 can receive the horizontal part 21b of the drainage tube 21 as described in detail below. Monoblock mounted on the table top 13 above the second element lOb, a sink basin is provided
16 with its substantially coplanar upper rim with an upper surface of the table top 13. The sink basin 16 may include a tap 16a, a shower 16b and other equipment (not shown).

 A washing machine of the rotary drum type 40 is installed in the hollow part 11 of the furniture frame 1 in the first element 10a with a clearance or gap 19 between an exterior surface of the washing machine of the drum type 40; and the inner surface of the hollow part 11.

 As appears from FIGS. 1 and 3, a drainage system 2 comprises a drainage tube 21 comprising a vertical part 21 a and a substantially horizontal and slightly sloping part (simply called "honzontal part") 21b connected to one end inside of the vertical part 21 a and extending to a drainage orifice 25 at a lower end of the vertical part and, a flexible drainage tube 22 having an upper end connected to a lower orifice of the wash basin 16 and a lower end inserted into the vertical part 21a of the drainage tube 21, and a flexible drainage tube 23, one end of which is mounted in a drainage orifice 40a of the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40 and whose other end is inserted in the vertical part 21 a of the drainage tube 21. This drainage tube 21 can be made of plastic material such as po chloride lyvinyle and which is durable and easy to use. I1 is provided a pump (not shown) mounted on the washing machine 40 to force the water discharged from the washing machine 40 to flow through the flexible drainage tube 23 into the drainage tube 21. The flexible tube drainage 23 can pass through hole 17a.

 A water supply system 3 installed in the second element 10b comprises a water distributor tap 31 to which are connected a flexible tube 31 a leading to a mixer (not shown) connected to the tap 16a and to the shower 16b and a tube hose 31b leading to a water inlet 11a of the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40, and a hot water dispensing tap 32 to which are connected a flexible tube 32a leading to the mixer connected to the tap 16a and to the shower 16b and a flexible tube 31 b leading to a hot water inlet il b of the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40. The temperature of the water flowing from the tap 1 6a and from the shower 1 6b is controlled by the mixer to adjust the flow rates of hot and cold water supplied by the flexible tubes 31a, 32a. The flexible tubes 31b, 32b pass through the hole 1 7a of the separation plate 17. The valves or taps 31, 32 pass through the rear wall of the furniture frame 1 and are connected to tubes 35a, 35b which are in turn connected to water supplies (not shown).

 As shown in Figures 1 and 5 (a), the fact that the horizontal part 21b of the drainage tube 21 extends below the horizontal plate 18 and the fact that the vertical part 21 a of the drainage tube 21 and the water supply system 3 are positioned near the vertical wall 12, the second element 10b has a large space 42, in which a basket or container 44 can be placed for the articles to be washed, etc. For the purposes of inspection or repair of the drainage tube 21, it is preferable that the horizontal plate 18 is removable relative to the washing machine assembly, which can be achieved using known means (not shown ).

 FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show how the configuration of the drainage tube 21 is determined as a function of the position of a drainage orifice 25 on a floor or a floor. First of all, the washing machine assembly 1 is placed in a position such that the drainage orifice 25 is exposed or open towards the second element 10b, as shown in FIG. 4a The vertical part 21a of the drainage tube 21 is likely to rotate around its vertical axis. The length of the horizontal part 21b of the drainage tube 21 is determined in such a way that the circle made during the rotation of the horizontal part 21b can cover the drainage orifice 25. Then, the horizontal part 21b is rotated to orient it in the direction of a line L connecting the vertical axis of the vertical part 21a to the center of the drainage orifice 25, as shown in Figure 4 (b). The horizontal part 21b is then cut to a length slightly less than that of line L, as shown by line D in Figure 4 (b). Finally, a bent tube 21c is fixed to the end of the horizontal part 21b and a lower end of the bent tube 21c is mounted in the drainage orifice 25, as shown in Figure 4 (c). of the drainage tube 21, the capacity for adapting the positioning of the washing machine assembly is considerably increased. As a result, a customer can install the washing machine assembly in a position such that the customer is satisfied with his preference with regard to the interior design of the room.

 In particular, in the case of a modification, it is not necessary to know in advance the location where there is a drainage opening of a floor or a floor below the existing linen unit , due to the positioning capacity which has just been exposed. The new location of the washing machine assembly is advantageously not subject to any restriction due to the position of the drainage orifice. Because the implementation of the drainage tube 21 is easily carried out, it is not necessary to use a highly qualified worker.

 When a child or a relatively small person uses the laundry cabinet, they may not be able to reach the sink bowl 16 and the tap 16a, etc. without difficulty. In such a case, it can use a retractable stool 48, that is to say one which is capable of sliding to enter and exit on the floor or the floor and which is received in a space below the horizontal plate 18. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the stool 48 has a box shape slightly shorter than the height of the horizontal plate 18 and slightly narrower than the width of the second element 10b and which is composed of an upper plate 48a, a front plate 48b, and side plates 48c, having an inverted U cross-sectional shape. FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show that the upper plate 48a is positioned between the horizontal plate 18 and the horizontal part 21b of the drainage tube 21 when the stool 48 is inserted into the space below the horizontal plate 18. The state drawn outside the stool 48 outside the washing machine assembly is shown in Figures 6 (a ) and 6 (b).

 When the washing machine 40 of the rotary drum type installed in the hollow part 1 1 of the first element 1 0a of the washing machine assembly is operating, a clearance or gap 19 must exist between the interior wall of the first element 1 0a and the outer surface of the washing machine 40, so that if the drum type washing machine 40 vibrates, it does not come into contact with the inner wall of the first element 10a For this purpose, the washing machine of the drum type 40 should be kept in its original position, even if it vibrates significantly during operation.

 The position of the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40 is maintained by means of a positioning plate, as shown by way of example in FIG. 7. The positioning plate 50 comprises: two grooves 51a, 51b which each extend from a front end 52 to a certain point close to a rear end 53 in the depth direction, a lateral cavity 54 extending along the front end 52, and two notches or notches 55a, 55b which are each arranged at the rear end 53. The groove 51a, 51b and of the lateral cavity 54 is chosen relative to the height of the support legs 41 of the drum type washing machine rotatable 40, so that the support legs 41 can slide easily backwards and forwards in the grooves 51 a, 51 b. The width of the grooves 51a, 51b must be slightly greater than the diameter of the support legs 41 to such an extent that the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40 does not come into contact with the internal wall of the hollow part 11 of the first element 1 0a, even when the washing machine of the rotary drum type vibrates during its operation. With such a structure of the positioning plate 50, when the washing machine of the drum type 40 is completely enclosed in the hollow part 1 1 of the first element 10a, the support legs 41 are positioned as shown in FIG. 7. If necessary, a stop plate 56 can be combined with the positioning plate 50. When the support legs 41 are positioned in the grooves 51 a, 51 b, the washing machine 40 of the rotary drum type does not move during its operation.

 The notches 55a, 55b can serve as passages for the water supply tubes and the drainage tubes. The shapes and positions of the grooves 51a, 51b and the notches 55a, 55b can be modified according to the design of the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40.

 Figure 8 shows a state in which the washing machine of the rotary drum type 40 is slidably mounted in the washing machine assembly and can be removed from this washing machine assembly. Because the positioning plate 50 is made of a low friction material, for example plastic, such as polyesters, nylons, etc., it is easy to slide the support legs 41 of the washing machine from the rotary drum type 40 in the grooves 51a, 51b of the positioning plate 50. Thus, due to the lateral sliding system, the removal and insertion of the washing machine of the lateral drum type 40 can also be implemented easily.

 Many variations of the embodiments shown are possible.

For example, the washing machine assembly may have three or more elements, if desired, although only two elements have been described with reference to the drawing.

 The term "substantially flat table top" does not mean that the table top is completely flat, but means that the table top may locally have a small step or step on its upper surface if such a step or step is desirable. For example, you can provide a small bleacher around the upper edge of the sink bowl. In such a case, it can be said that the upper rim of the sink bowl is substantially coplanar with the table top. Because there is no sensitive tier between the first and second elements, users can advantageously use the table top for various purposes, in particular as a worktop.

Although the drainage tube and flexible tube described above do not include
no hatch or access openings, note that a hatch can be attached to one
any of the drainage tube and flexible tube, if necessary. In place of
hatches, a filter could be provided for the drainage tube and the flexible tube.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above but it is susceptible of numerous variants, accessible to
a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (6)

 1.- Washing machine assembly, comprising: a) a substantially monobloc frame (1) of a linen cabinet, having at least  two elements (lOa, lOb) arranged horizontally; b) a substantially flat table top (13) extending horizontally above  said at least two elements; c) a hollow part (11) arranged in a first element (10a) below the  said table top (13) for receiving a washing machine of the drum type  rotary (40); d) a sink basin (16) mounted in one piece on said frame (1) of the assembly  washing machine with its upper edge substantially coplanar with said tray  table (13) in a second element (13b); and e) an evacuation or drainage tube (21) comprising:  (i) a substantially vertical part (21a) provided with an upper orifice and  likely to rotate around its vertical axis, and  (ii) a substantially horizontal and slightly sloping part (21b) connected to  a lower end of said vertical part (21a) and extending  up to a drainage opening (25) at its lower end, the direction  and the length of said horizontal part (21b) being determined in such a way  so that said outlet of said horizontal portion is engaged  in a drainage orifice (25) of a floor or a ground, said tube  drainage or evacuation (21) receiving a flexible drainage tube (23)  of said washing machine and a flexible drainage tube (22) of said  sink bowl (16) through said upper port to allow  the evacuation of said washing machine and said lavatory basin from  flow into said drainage orifice (25).  2. A washing machine assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first element (10a) comprises a positioning plate (50) disposed on a floor of said first element, said positioning plate being provided with grooves (5la, 51b) for receiving support legs (41) from said washing machine (40) and extending from a front end to a point near a rear end in the direction of the bottom, such that the legs support (41) of said washing machine (40) are slidable in said grooves (51a, 51b) to a position where said washing machine (40) is fixed.  3. A washing machine assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a stop plate (56) disposed at a front end of said positioning plate (50) to prevent the support legs (41) of said washing machine ( 40) to move to the position for which said washing machine is fixed.  4. A washing machine assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said frame (1) of a linen cabinet comprises a bottom plate (18) raised relative to a floor or floor surface and which extends rearward leaving a space between a rear end of said raised bottom plate (18) and a rear vertical plate (12) of said assembly frame (1) in said second member (10b), such such that said vertical portion (21a) of said drainage tube (21) is disposed in said space and that said horizontal portion (21b) of said drainage tube (21) extends below said raised bottom plate (18) .  5. A washing machine assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a stool (48) composed of an upper plate (48a), a front plate (48b) and side plates (48c), said stool having a configuration such that it is capable of moving backwards and forwards on a floor or a floor below said raised bottom plate (18), said upper plate (48a) of said stool (48) being inserted into a space between said raised bottom plate (18) and said horizontal portion (21b) of said drainage tube (21) when placed below said raised bottom portion (18).  6. A washing machine assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a container or basket (44) received in a space between said sink bowl (16) and said raised bottom plate (18) of said second segment (10b).