GB2041414A

GB2041414A - Improvements in detergent distributors for clothes washing machines

Info

Publication number: GB2041414A
Application number: GB8003917A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1979-02-12
Filing date: 1980-02-06
Publication date: 1980-09-10
Also published as: FR2448594B3; GB2041414B; IT7934008V0; FR2448594A3

Abstract

A clothes washing machine has a detergent distributor which comprises a box-like body (6) provided with a plurality of compartments for containing detergents and additives and mounted slidably in a front opening in the machine, and a front handle (7) which is removable with respect to the box-like body and is coupled to the front part of the box-like body by hook like engagement means (11 and 12) and guide lugs (14), and a straight guide member (19) removably mounted below the box-like body (6) the length of which is at least equal to the length of the box-like body, the guide member (19) comprising a cylindrical part (20) engaged in a corresponding groove in a member (22) and a parallelipiped part (21) engaging in a groove in the body (6), Fig. 4 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in detergent distributors for clothes washing machines The invention relates to clothes washing machines having a detergent distributor.

Detergent distributors are known, which are formed by a box-like body in which the various compartments for the detergents and the additives are provided, and which can be inserted into an opening provided in the casing of the machine and in particular in the front panel of the machine.

Before the machine is set in operation, the box-like body is pulled out for the purpose of introducing the detergents and the additives into the above-mentioned compartments. For this purpose, it is necessary to use a handle which is provided in the front part of the boxlike body, being associated with the front part of the machine. The handle essentially comprises a moulded shaped member which is connected to the box-like body by means of screws or by a quick-connection system (for example of spring clip-action type).

The above-mentioned box-like body is also provided with suitable lateral guides which are arranged to permit movement thereof within the opening in the machine.

However, it has been found that, when the box-like body of the above-described distributor is moved within the associated opening, in the direction of pulling the box-like body out of the opening or introducing the box-like body thereinto, there is transverse play between the guides and the opening and consequently the box-like body is found to be difficult to operate.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clothes washing machine having a detergent distributor, the detergent distributor comprising a box-like body provided with a plurality of compartments for containing the detergents and the additives, said box-like body being slidably mounted in a front opening in the machine; a front handle which is removable with respect to the box-like body, the handle being coupled to the front part of the box-like body by means of first coupling means and second engagement means; and a straight guide member removably mounted below the box-like body, the length of the guide member being at least equal to the length of the box-like body.

As will become apparent from the description given below of a preferred embodiment, the invention can thus overcome the abovementioned disadvantage and provide a handle which is connected to the box-like body in a simpler manner than those described hereinbefore, while however being capable of making the distributor more convenient to use.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of the body of the detergent distributor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the rear of the handle of the distributor, which can be fitted to the body shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 shows the body of the distributor of Fig. 1, in section taken along line A-A, and Figure 4 shows a detail of Fig. 3, in section taken along line B-B.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the detergent distributor of a clothes washing machine comprises a box like body 6 which is provided with a plurality of compartments for containing the detergents and the additives, and a handle 7 which also serves as an aesthetically decorative component of the machine and which is connected removably to the front part 8 of the box-like body 6, as will be described hereinafter.

The resulting assembly of the body 6 and the handle 7 can thus slide in a front opening in the casing of the machine (not shown), by acting on the handle 7.

The front part 8 of the body 6 is provided with two side openings 9 and 10 capable of respectively receiving engagement means 11 and 12 of hook-like type which are provided in the handle 7, a central opening 13 for receiving guide lugs 14 provided on the handle 7, and a vertical slot 15 the function of which will be described hereinafter.

In turn, the handle 7 has a re-entrant front surface in which there is formed a rectangular opening 16 to permit the handle to be gripped and operated. Besides the engagement means 11 and 12 and the guide lugs 14 as referred to above, coupling means 17 are also integrally provided on the rear surface of the handle 7. The coupling means 17 are arranged to engage into a corresponding transverse groove 18 which is provided in the front part 8 of the box-like body 6, at the top thereof (see Fig. 3).

Reference will now be made to Figs. 3 and 4 from which it will be seen that a straight guide member 19 is mounted removably below the box-like body 6. The guide member 19 essentially comprises a cylindrical body portion 20 and a slider portion 21 of parallelepiped shape.

The cylindrical body portion 20 is at least as long as the box-like body 6 of the detergent distributor and can slide in a longitudinal direction in a corresponding guide 22 provided in the front opening in the casing of the machine within which the distributor slides.

In order for the above-described guide member to be removably fixed to the box-like body 6, the body 6 is provided with a plurality of notches 23 which are aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction of the body 6 and which are also aligned with respect to the above-mentioned vertical slot 25, and is also provided with an end stop portion 24.

The slider portion 21 is fixed to the box-like body 6 by first inserting the projection 25 into the opening formed in the end portion 24 and then resiliently forcing the member into the notches 23 and inserting the other end 26 of the slider portion 21 into the vertical slot 15.

In this way, the detergent distributor of the above-described configuration can slide within the front opening in the casing of the machine and, by virtue of the provision of the guide member 19 which is slidable in the abovedescribed guide 22, the detergent distributor can move with a movement in which transverse clearances of the distributor itself are almost nill.

In addition, the provision of the engagement means 11 and 12, the guide lugs 14 and the coupling means 17 on the handle 7 make it possible for the handle 7 to be fitted directly over the front part 8 of the box-like body, without having recourse to using tools or without carrying out complicated fitting operations.

For this purpose, it is sufficient for the engagement means 11 and 12 and the guide lugs 14 to be first inserted into the respective openings 9, 10 and 13 in the front part 8, and for the handle itself then to be fitted to the front part 8, by mutual engagement as between the coupling means 17 and the transverse groove 18 in the front part 8.

Consequently, the above-described detergent distributor can be easily assembled and dismantled and is also found to be much more convenient to use.

Claims

1. A clothes washing machine having a detergent distributor, the detergent distributor comprising a box-like body provided with a plurality of compartments for containing the detergents and the additives, said box-like body being slidably mounted in a front opening in the machine; a front handle which is removable with respect to the box-like body, the handle being coupled to the front part of the box-like body by means of first coupling means and second engagement means; and a straight guide member removably mounted below the box-like body, the length of the guide member being at least equal to the length of the box-like body.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said guide member comprises a cylindrical body portion slidable in a corresponding guide provided in the casing of the machine in a position below the detergent distributor, and a slider portion of parallelipiped shape.

3. A detergent distributor according to claim 2 wherein said slider portion can be inserted into a plurality of notches provided below said box-like body and aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction of the box-like body and with respect to a vertical slot provided in the front part of said box-like body, one end of said slider portion having a projection capable of co-operating with an end stop portion, which is also aligned with said notches, and the other end of said slider portion being insertable into said vertical slot.

4. A machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said front part has at the top a transverse groove into which said first handlecoupling means can be engaged, and a plurality of openings into which said second handleengaging means can be engaged.

5. A clothes washing machine having a detergent distributor, the detergent distributor being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.