GB2164552A

GB2164552A - Extension piece for washing machines and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2164552A
Application number: GB08523281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger James Parsons
Original assignee: Hotpoint Ltd
Current assignee: Hotpoint Ltd
Priority date: 1984-09-21
Filing date: 1985-09-20
Publication date: 1986-03-26
Also published as: GB2164552B; GB8523281D0; GB8423950D0

Abstract

An extension piece E for extending the top T of the cabinet C of an appliance such as a washing machine, tumble dryer, refrigerator or freezer is provided separated from the cabinet and includes means for ready attachment thereto on installation. The extension piece may be formed in two or more separate sections 1,21 which may be stowed in the appliance itself during transport. The attachment means may comprise holes (7,27) in the downwardly extending flanges (6,26) of section 1,21, by which the sections are attached to points on the cabinet (Figs. 4,5). Alternatively, sections 1,21 are attached by snap-fastening elements to the cabinet and/or to each other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washing machines and the like This invention relatesto washing machines,tumbler dryers, refrigerators, freezers and like appliances of the kind comprising acabinethaving a generallyflat top, commonly referred to asa table top orworktop.

Such table tops orworktopsarenow commonly used for example in appliances where access to the product in its normal working modevia the top ofthe appliance is not required, e.g. front-loading washing machines. In such appliances it is often arranged for the table top toextend beyond the rear ofthe actual cabinet structure so as to provide coverforthe gap which would otherwise be present between the rear of the cabinet andthe adjacentsurface-usuallyawall, the gap being necessary to accommodate protruding rear cover, mains cable, hoses and the like associated with appliance. However, it has been found in practice that such an extension is especially proneto damage because of itsvulnerability when the appliance concerned is in transit.

In the case of refrigerators and freezers it has been a common practice to provide a separate extension piece which serves the same purpose as the table top extension, the extension piece being perforated or slotted to provide ventilation forthe rear mounted heat excha nger associated with such a product.

However, the fitting of such extension pieces during manufacture has the disadvantage thatthey can still suffer damage during transit.

According, therefore, to one aspect ofthe invention, an extension piece for an appliance ofthe kind referred to is provided separated from the cabinet, and includes meansforready attachmenttothe rearofthe cabinetto provide an extension of the table top on installation.

The extension piece may be slotted to improve its appearance and/or to reduce costs, and also to ensure adequate circulation ofair at the rear of the appliance.

In order to provide ease oftransportthe extension piece is preferably formed in two or more separate sections which can be fittedtogether and secured to the rear of the respective appliance to provide the complete extension. The extension piece sections are preferably of a generally rectangular shape, and arranged to be fitted together end to end. Then in the disassembled condition the sections are shorter than the assembled extension piece.

For ease oftransporttwo or more such sections may then be stowed withinthe respective appliance itself, for example in the case of a washing machinewithin the wash drum, thereby reducing the risk of damage thereto duringtransit, and also enabling the overall sIze of a carton into which theappliance is packed to be reduced.

One embodiment of the invention as applied two a washing machinewill now bedescribed byway of examplewith reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Figure 1 representsdiagrammatically in outline form the washing machine cabinet having an extension piece in accordance with the invention fitted to the rearthereof, Figures 2 and 3 represent plan views of the right and left hand sections of the extension piece, Figures 4 and 5 represent rear views of the two sections, Figures 6 and 7 show underneath views of parts of the two sections, and Figure 8 showsthe inner end of the left hand section, on an enlarged scale.

Thus referring to Figure 1, the washing machine cabinet C has a table top Ttothe rear of which is fitted an extension piece E formed astwo separate sections 1,21. The two sections areformed as plastics mouldings, desirably of high impact polystyrene, and are almost identical apart from the complementary fixing arrangement between them. Thus each section 1,21 comprises an upper slotted part, 2,22 the upper surface of which is arranged to form a continuation of the surface of the table top T, and a downwardly depending rim R.Integral ribs,three referenced 3,4,5 on the left hand section 1, (as it would appear from the front ofthe cabinet), and two referenced 23,24 on the right hand section 21 serve to provide a support between the cabinet wall and the slotted part 2, 22, the outer rib of each section joining with a downwardly depending flange 6,26forming an extension of the rim Rat the front edge ofthe section, the flanges each having a hole 7,27 by which the section can be attached to a respective fixing point on the cabinet. A support channel S (Figs 4 to 7) is provided between twofurther ribs 8,9 and 28,29 respectively on each of the sections 1,21 to provide local reinforcement at these positions.

The joining together ofthetwo halves 1,21 of the extension E. which is carried out before the fitting of the extension to the appliance, is achieved by the provision of five protrusions 10, on the right hand section 21 of the extension, which engage in corres pondingly positioned slots 30 in the left hand section 1, a supporting extension 31 at the inner end ofthe left hand section 1 being securedtothe underside 11 of the adjacentend of the right hand section 21, screws (not shown) being arranged to be fitted into two holes 12,32 provided for this purpose.

Fortransit purposesthetwo sections ofthe exten sion may be stowed separately or together in the drum of the washing machine. The installercan then, if desired, fitthe extension when the machine is being connected to water and electrical services.

It will be appreciated that variations of the embodi ment described can be madewithin the scope of the invention. Forexampletheextensionpiececan be of a different form and the method of fixing the two sections together ancto the washing-machinemay be varied.

For example the meansforsecuringthetwo sections together, and/orforsecuringthem tothe washing machinecabinet, may take theform of snap-fastening elem-ent,therebyenabling thesec tionsto be readily clipped together and/orto the cabinet Moreover, although it may be more convenientto attach thesectionstogetherbeforesecuring them to the cabinet, the sections can in some cases be arranged to befitted to the cabinet independently, so thatwhen fixed in their appropriate positions they constitutetogetherthe complete extension.

Whilst the invention is mainly concerned with washing machines, dishwashers and tumblerdryers it could alsofndapplication in refrigerators and freezers.

Accordingthereforeto another aspect ofthe-inven- tion-a washing machine, dishwasher,tumbler dryer, refrigeratororfreezercomprising a cabinet having a generallyflattop has a separate extension piece arranged to be fitted tothe cabinetto provide an extensiontothetop ofthe cabinet.

Claims

f. An extension piece for an applianceofthe kind referred to separated from the cabinet and including meansfor ready attachmenttothe rear ofthe cabinet to provide an extension of the tabletop on installation.
2. An extension piece according to Claim 1 which is formed with slots.
3. An extension.piece accordingto Claim 1 or 2 wherein the extension piece is formed in two or more separate sections, arranged to befitted together and secured to the rear ofthe applianceto provide the complete extension.
4. An extension piece according to Claim 3 whereinthe extension piece sections are of generally rectangularshape and are arranged to be fitted together endtd end.
5. An extension piece according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein each section ofthe extension piece isformed as plastics mouldings.
6. An extension piece according to Claim 5 where in each section ofthe extension pieceisformedof high impact polystyrene.
7. An extension pieceaccordingto Claim4fora washing machine ortumble dryer in which the extension piece sections are of a length capable of being transported within the drum ofthewashing machine ortumble dryer
8. Awashing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, refrigeratororfreezercomprising a cabinetwith a generallyflattop and an extension piece according to any preceding Claim.
9. An extension pieceforan appliancewith a generallyflattop substantiallyas shown in and as hereinbefore described with referenceto Figures 1 to 8 ofthe accompanying drawings.
10. A method of transporting the extension piece sections ofawashing machine or tumble dryer according to Claim 8, in which the individual extension piece sections are of shorterlength than the length ofthe drum ofthe washing machine ortumble dryer and, priorto assembly, aretransported within the drum,