GB2029862A

GB2029862A - Improvements in or relating to washing machine doors

Info

Publication number: GB2029862A
Application number: GB7906456A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Balay SA
Current assignee: BSH Balay SA
Priority date: 1978-09-09
Filing date: 1979-02-23
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: BE874357A; ES238080Y; ES238080U; FR2435552A1

Abstract

A washing machine door 1, 2 has a cavity 4 therein for holding additives, such as detergents, used in the washing process. Thus, when the machine is in operation, the mouth 6 and outlet 5 of the cavity 4 communicate with the inside of the washing machine for solid additive to be flushed therethrough or a liquid additive to escape at the desired moment by a syphon device. The cavity 4 may accommodate one or a plurality of compartments or drawers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to washing machine doors The present invention relates to washing machine doors.

In a large number of the washing machines known as "super-automatic" which are on the market, detergent dispenser drawers are filled from the top of the machine. This is inconvenient when it is proposed to fit the machine between the furniture in a modern kitchen, since such furniture is generally provided with a plain top surface for increased convenience and improved appearance.

Washing machines whose detergent dispenser drawers are fitted to the front face thereof have the disadvantage that the drawers are within the reach of children, and can be opened once the washing machine has been put into operation. Also, should the wash not be performed because of lack of soap, there could be a considerable leakage of water.

According to the invention, there is provided a washing machine door provided on the outside thereof but inside a central cavity thereof, with at least one holder for an additive, each holder having an inlet and an outlet arranged to be positioned inside the washing machine when in use.

Thus, holders, for instance in the form of detergent dispenser drawers, may be located within the washing machine door, which is usually round in shape. It may therefore be possible to allow a visual check to be kept on the development of the washing process.

Use can thus be made of the space available between the innermost part of the door and the flush front face of a washing machine, and a number of divided compartments may be arranged therein for holding detergent, bleach and the like. The compartments may be provided with a top opening for a water inlet so as to allow the additive to be swilled away thereby, while at the bottom of the compartments there may be provided a small hole which does not allow the undiluted product through, for instance due to the phenomenon which is observed with acids when they will not go through a hole of a certain size, but does not prevent from going through the hole a mixture of for instance, water and detergent.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section of a preferred washing machine door having the traditional shape of such doors of automatic washing machines in the form of a round hollow or disc, wherein use is made of the cavity therein by providing a wall close to a sealing ring around the door in such a way that one or a plurality of cavities is obtained, wherein detergents or additives are placed as required for performing the washing process; Figure 2 shows the door of Fig. 1 with the outside ring removed illustrating the size of the cavity for holding detergent, for a washing machine requiring a single compartment or drawer for detergent;; Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 2, but in which the door shown is provided with a plurality of drawers or compartments wherein detergents and additives can be placed for a washing machine having a more complex washing process; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the door of Fig.

3, whereing inlet mouths can be seen after additives have been poured into the drawers or compartments, and wherein supply outlets can be placed over the inlet mouths to cause the additives to be swilled as required in accordance with the programmed cycle.

In automatic washing machines, the door or mouth is generally required to possess a specific shape in order to cover the space between the outside casing and the drum which tumbles the clothes so as to prevent the clothes from coming out of the drum. In known doors, there is an unused space that may be employed for some purpose such as housing products to be utilized in the washing process.

Because of the depth which this round hollow-shaped door possesses, the cavity defined thereby can be used to accommodate one or a pluraity of compartments or drawers, in which the additives necessary for the whole washing process are previously placed. The compartments may be provided, when in the operative, i.e. closed position, with supply outlets which furnish the water necessary for the specific cycle, so that the additive in question can be swilled away, be it either a solid or a dilution of the additive held in the compartment.

The door shown in Fig. 2 possesses a single drawer for holding detergent and may be used with washing machines performing the simplest processes among those on the market.

However, the door shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided with a plurality of containers or drawers for holding detergents and additives to be extracted therefrom and poured with water into the washing machine tub, so as to allow the relevant operations to be performed.

As may be seen from Fig. 1, the door comprises two basic parts, these being a body 1, which defines the round hollow shape, and a ring 2 which is attached and secured to the body, for instance by thermo-welding, to provide the door assembly. Fig. 1 shows a sectional view across a diameter and shows that the bottom of a cavity 4 is provided with a protruding lip which almost chokes the bottom of cavity 4. Thus, when a solid product, such as detergent, is poured into the cavity 4 through inlet openings 6, it is retained thereby until a liquid sweeps it away and into the tub of the washing machine through a channel 5.

As Fig. 1 is a section across the diameter, it can readily be seen how it could depict a door with a single cavity such as that shown in Fig.

2, or a door possessing a plurality of cavities as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Because the accompanying drawings show doors having drawers for holding solid products which are soluble in water used for washing, the drawers are shown with double bottoms. However, if liquid detergents or additives were used, it would be necessary merely to alter the arrangement of the drawer so as to be capable of holding a liquid product and not allow the liquid product to escape except at the desired moment. Such an arrangement could be constituted by a syphon device (this being a widely known system in the world of electric household appliances).

Claims

1. A washing machine door provided, on the outside thereof but inside a central cavity thereof, with at least one holder for an additive, each holder having an inlet and an outlet arranged to be positioned inside the washing machine when in use.

2. A washing machine door as claimed in Claim 1, in which the or each holder has an open upper mouth and a lower outlet comprising a double bottom, an upper wall of the double bottom being arranged to retain the additive until water from the washing machine when in use swills it away.

3. A washing machine door as claimed in Claim 1, in which the or each holder is arranged to accommodate a liquid additive and is provided with a syphon device arranged to retain the additive until the syphon device overflows as a result of water inlet flow during a washing operation.

4. A washing machine door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

5. An automatic washing machine having a door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.