GB2066064A

GB2066064A - A domestic dishwashing machine with adjustable plinth

Info

Publication number: GB2066064A
Application number: GB8036426A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1979-12-21
Filing date: 1980-11-13
Publication date: 1981-07-08
Also published as: DK541280A; FR2471767A3; AU6561780A; IT7934042V0; GB2066064B; SE448271B; AR230001A1; NL8006189A; FR2471767B3; SE8008931L

Abstract

A domestic dishwashing machine has a casing 1 provided on the bottom with rear support feet 3 and at least one front support foot 12, and a base plinth for mounting a front panel 11 which is adjustable in respect of depth, the front support foot 12 being fixed with respect to a bracket 4 which is fixed to the casing 1 so as to be movable in the direction of the depth of the machine and which is capable of being selectively locked by per se known means in a position in which the front foot 12 is within the length of the adjustment travel of said panel 11. The bracket 4 comprises a front vertical portion 5 having at opposite ends two legs 6, 7 which are substantially horizontal and which are fixed to said casing by a connecting means of pin-and-slot type. The front panel 11 is fixed to said bracket 4 in per se known manner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A domestic dishwashing machine with adjustable plinth The present invention relates to a domestic dishwashing machine having a plinth having a front panel which is adjustable with respect to depth, more particularly to a domestic dishwashing machine which may be installed 'free' or encased in units of kitchen furniture.

Normally, dishwashing machines which are designed for encased installation in a kitchen unit must permit fairly ample adjustment in respect of the depth (in the front to rear direction) of the front panel of the plinth of the machine, depending on the characteristics of the units with which they are from time to time associated, by varying the position of the front plate of the plinth. In contrast, dishwashing machines which are designed for free installation have a plinth which is of relatively small depth, which does not make it possible to provide for the above-indicated adjustment. On the other hand, in encased-type dishwashing machines, the front support feet, because of the greater depth of the plinth, are set back by a substantial distance from the front of the machine, which maintains the balance required only by virtue of being fixed to the kitchen unit.

The encased-type dishwashing machines cannot therefore in general also be installed as free machines, because in that case they do not satisfy the stability requirements applicable thereto. In order for them to be capable of use as a free installation, such dishwashing machines would have to be undesirably provided with substantial counterbalance weights or indeed fixed to the floor or a wall, with all the disadvantages which result therefrom.

According to the present invention, there is provided a domestic dishwashing machine having a casing provided on the bottom with rear support feet and at least one front support foot, and a base plinth for mounting a front panel which is adjustable in respect of depth, in which the or each front support foot is fixed with respect to a bracket which is fixed to the casing in a manner as to be movable in the airection of the depth of the machine and which is capable of being selectively locked in a position in which the or each front foot is within the length of the adjustment travel of said panel.

As will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, the invention can provide a domestic dishwashing machine with an adjustable plinth, which can be easily and conveniently installed either in the encased manner or in a free manner, without the necessity in the latter case for special fixing means or for excessive counterweights.

The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the Figure diagrammatically shows an exploded view from the front, one side and below of a dishwashing machine according to the invention.

The dishwashing machine comprises a supporting casing or structure 1 which, at its base, has an adjustable plinth which comprises a pedestal portion 1A of the casing and having a recessed front portion 2 and a front panel 11 which is adjustable in its depth position in the recess defined by front portion 2. Rear support feet 3 are secured to the pedestal portion 1 A on the bottom thereof. Provided in the front part is at least one bracket 4 which has at least one front transverse portion 5. The portion 5 has at opposite ends an upper leg 6 and a lower leg 7 which are both substantially horizontal. The lower leg 7 is provided with an elongate opening or slot 8 by means of which it is coupled to a pin which is fixed with respect to the casing 1 (the pin is not shown and is formed for example by a bolt which is locked in place).

Similarly, fixed with respect to the upper limb 6 is a pin (also not shown) which is connected to an elongate opening or slot 9 provided in the casing 1 at the top of the recess defined by front portion 2.

For example, the slot 9 may be provided on a plate 10 which is part of the hinge for the door 13 for loading the machine.

Finally, the bracket 4 is fixed to the casing 1 by a connecting means of the type comprising a pin and slot, and is movable so as to be able linearly to vary in depth the position of the front transverse-portion 5 which however is always disposed within recess defined by front portion 2. The portion 5 may advantageously be used as a support (for example by means of screws) for the front panel 11 for delimiting the plinth, the panel thus being easily adjustable in respect of depth, over a predetermined length of travel. In addition, a front support foot 12 is screwed to or made integral with the lower leg 7 of the bracket 4.

The dishwashing machine according to the invention preferably has two brackets 4 which can both be selectively locked (for example by screws, not shown) in a position in which the respective front feet 12 are within the length of the adjustment travel of the front panel 11.

Whenever the dishwashing machine is to be installed free, the brackets 4 with the respective support feet 12 are preferably locked in the more forwardly disposed position, giving the machine the required support base to satisfy the above-mentioned standards in respect of stability.

Alternatively, the dishwashing machine can be adequately used for an encased position, because it permits ample adjustment in respect of the depth of the base or plinth 2 by virtue of the movement of the brackets 4 and the panel 11 fixed thereto.

1. A domestic dishwashing machine having a casing provided on the bottom with rear support feet and at least one front support foot, and a base plinth The drawing(s) originally filed wasiwere informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A domestic dishwashing machine with adjustable plinth The present invention relates to a domestic dishwashing machine having a plinth having a front panel which is adjustable with respect to depth, more particularly to a domestic dishwashing machine which may be installed 'free' or encased in units of kitchen furniture. Normally, dishwashing machines which are designed for encased installation in a kitchen unit must permit fairly ample adjustment in respect of the depth (in the front to rear direction) of the front panel of the plinth of the machine, depending on the characteristics of the units with which they are from time to time associated, by varying the position of the front plate of the plinth. In contrast, dishwashing machines which are designed for free installation have a plinth which is of relatively small depth, which does not make it possible to provide for the above-indicated adjustment. On the other hand, in encased-type dishwashing machines, the front support feet, because of the greater depth of the plinth, are set back by a substantial distance from the front of the machine, which maintains the balance required only by virtue of being fixed to the kitchen unit. The encased-type dishwashing machines cannot therefore in general also be installed as free machines, because in that case they do not satisfy the stability requirements applicable thereto. In order for them to be capable of use as a free installation, such dishwashing machines would have to be undesirably provided with substantial counterbalance weights or indeed fixed to the floor or a wall, with all the disadvantages which result therefrom. According to the present invention, there is provided a domestic dishwashing machine having a casing provided on the bottom with rear support feet and at least one front support foot, and a base plinth for mounting a front panel which is adjustable in respect of depth, in which the or each front support foot is fixed with respect to a bracket which is fixed to the casing in a manner as to be movable in the airection of the depth of the machine and which is capable of being selectively locked in a position in which the or each front foot is within the length of the adjustment travel of said panel. As will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, the invention can provide a domestic dishwashing machine with an adjustable plinth, which can be easily and conveniently installed either in the encased manner or in a free manner, without the necessity in the latter case for special fixing means or for excessive counterweights. The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the Figure diagrammatically shows an exploded view from the front, one side and below of a dishwashing machine according to the invention. The dishwashing machine comprises a supporting casing or structure 1 which, at its base, has an adjustable plinth which comprises a pedestal portion 1A of the casing and having a recessed front portion 2 and a front panel 11 which is adjustable in its depth position in the recess defined by front portion 2. Rear support feet 3 are secured to the pedestal portion 1 A on the bottom thereof. Provided in the front part is at least one bracket 4 which has at least one front transverse portion 5. The portion 5 has at opposite ends an upper leg 6 and a lower leg 7 which are both substantially horizontal. The lower leg 7 is provided with an elongate opening or slot 8 by means of which it is coupled to a pin which is fixed with respect to the casing 1 (the pin is not shown and is formed for example by a bolt which is locked in place). Similarly, fixed with respect to the upper limb 6 is a pin (also not shown) which is connected to an elongate opening or slot 9 provided in the casing 1 at the top of the recess defined by front portion 2. For example, the slot 9 may be provided on a plate 10 which is part of the hinge for the door 13 for loading the machine. Finally, the bracket 4 is fixed to the casing 1 by a connecting means of the type comprising a pin and slot, and is movable so as to be able linearly to vary in depth the position of the front transverse-portion 5 which however is always disposed within recess defined by front portion 2. The portion 5 may advantageously be used as a support (for example by means of screws) for the front panel 11 for delimiting the plinth, the panel thus being easily adjustable in respect of depth, over a predetermined length of travel. In addition, a front support foot 12 is screwed to or made integral with the lower leg 7 of the bracket 4. The dishwashing machine according to the invention preferably has two brackets 4 which can both be selectively locked (for example by screws, not shown) in a position in which the respective front feet 12 are within the length of the adjustment travel of the front panel 11. Whenever the dishwashing machine is to be installed free, the brackets 4 with the respective support feet 12 are preferably locked in the more forwardly disposed position, giving the machine the required support base to satisfy the above-mentioned standards in respect of stability. Alternatively, the dishwashing machine can be adequately used for an encased position, because it permits ample adjustment in respect of the depth of the base or plinth 2 by virtue of the movement of the brackets 4 and the panel 11 fixed thereto. CLAIMS

1. A domestic dishwashing machine having a casing provided on the bottom with rear support feet and at least one front support foot, and a base plinth The drawing(s) originally filed wasiwere informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy. for mounting a front panel which is adjustable in respect of depth, in which the or each front support foot is fixed with respect to a bracket which is fixed to the casing in a manner as to be movable in the direction of the depth of the machine and which is capable of being selectively locked in a position in which the or each front foot is within the length of the adjustment travel of said panel.

2. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein the bracket comprises a front vertical portion having at opposite ends two legs which are substantially horizontal and which are fixed to said casing by a connecting means of pin-and-slot type.

3. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein the front panel is fixed to the bracket in per se known manner.

4. A dishwashing machine constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.