GB2165747A

GB2165747A - Work top arrangement for domestic electrical appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2165747A
Application number: GB08525710A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Piero Durazzani
Original assignee: Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1984-10-24
Filing date: 1985-10-18
Publication date: 1986-04-23
Also published as: ES289760U; DE8529673U1; IT8434065V0; GB2165747B; GB8525710D0; FR2571946A3; ES289760Y; FR2571946B3

Abstract

A work top arrangement for domestic electrical appliances is formed by a rigid panel (5) of chipboard covered with plastics material and enclosed by a frame of injection-moulded thermoplastic material. The frame is formed by two substantially square C-shaped elements (6, 6') provided with ends (7, 7'; 8, 8') which can be respectively coupled with sliding insertion, said panel (5) being fixed to the lower edge of the two frame elements (6, 6') by stapling clinching means (9). Each of the two frame elements (6, 6') is provided at one end with a tongue portion (7 end 7' respectively) and at the other end with a guide (8, 8' respectively), said tongue portions and said guides being respectively positioned and dimensioned in such a way as to provide for a coupling effect with sliding insertion in order to join the two frame elements (6, 6'). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Work top arrangementfor domestic electrical appliances The invention relates to a worktop arrangement for forming the top surface of domestic electrical appliances, for example clothes washing machines, dish washing machines and refrigerators.

Work top arrangements are known, which are formed buy a panel of rigid material (generally chipboard covered with a layer of plastics material) fitted into a peripheral frame ortrim (of metal or plastics material).

The peripheral frames may be produced by extrusion or by injection moulding and, to permit the panel to befitted thereinto, they are open atone side (generally the rear side) which is subsequently closed byafurtherframeelement.

Alternatively, the frames are formed by a single flexible shaped memberwhich is bent around the edges ofthe panel, after which the ends may be suitably connected together (usually with joints).

Those types ofworktop arrangements sufferfrom a number of substantial disadvantages.

First fall, they give rise to a certain amount of difficulty in regard to mounting the panel and in regard to ensuring correct closure of the edges of the frame of the panel. In addition, they require suitable connecting elements for connecting the various components, which involves complicated and expensive working operations.

According to the invention, there is provided a work top arrangement for domestic electrical appliances formed by a rigid panel of chipboard covered with plastics material and enclosed by a frame of injectionmoulded thermoplastic material, the frame being formed by two substantially square-C-shaped elements provided with ends which can be respectively coupled with sliding insertion,saidpanelbeingfixed to the lower edge ofthetwoframe As will become apparentfrom the following description the illustrated embodiment of the invention providesaworktoparrangementwhich is simple and economic and which is formed buy a limited number of components which permit rapid assembly and substantial dimensional adaptability.

The features and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa exploded perspectiveviewfrom below of the work top arrangement, and Figure 2 is a viewfrom below of the assembled work top arrangement shown in Figure 1, with the details of the coupling between two frame elements on an enlarged scale.

The work top arrangement according to the inven tion is formed by a panel ofchipboard,which is covered at least on itstopsurface by a layer of plastics material which is resistantto mechanical and chemical actions (for example melamine or pheno lic resins), and two frame elements 6,6' made of injectionmouldedthermoplastic material (such as polystyrene or ABS).

The frame elements 6 and 6' are substantially square C-shaped and the two endsthereof have respective configurations which can be connected by a coupling of male-female type. Forthat purpose, one end of each shaped member 6 and 6' is provided with a tongue portion 7 (and 7' respectively) which can be inserted into a guide 8' (and 8 respectively) atthe oppositely disposed end of the other shaped member.

Itwill be appreciated thatthe shaped frame members 6 and 6' may be of various sections, with strenghthening ribs and seatsfortheelementsfor fixing the worktop to the upper edge of the domestic electrical appliance; such details are not described herein as they are commonly known and present in worktop arrangements which have been produced hitherto.

Anotherfeatu re ofthe worktop arrangement is however represented by the fact that the panel 5, after having been enclosed by the shaped frame elements 6 and 6', is simply fixed to the loweredges ofthe latter bystapling or clinching means 9 (Figure 2). That assembly configuration is extremely simple and convenient, also because it can permit complete automation ofthe process for the production of the work top arrangements, with a consequential reduction in times and costs involved.In the more widespread situation in which the work top arrangement hasasquare surface, the construction according to the invention has the further advantagethat it is possible to adopt a single shapedframe element, insofar as the shaped elements 6 and 6' are precisely identical,with a substantial saving in moulding costs and times.

Moreover, the worktop arrangements with the structural features according to the invention are advantageous even when work top arrangements of different sizes are to be produced. Indeed, work top arrangements may be required which are of greater depth and which also havetherearwardedge extended and possibly fitted with a grill, to form a spacer element which also bears againstthe wall of the surroundings.

In those cases, while the arrangement requires two shaped elements 6 and 6' of mutually different dimensions, the system for connecting the shaped members together and the system forfixing the panel to the shaped members by means of stapling still have the same purposes in accordance with the present invention, with the advantages already described above.

1. Aworktop arrangement for domesitc electrical appliances formed by a rigid panel ofchipboard covered with plastics material and enclosed bya frame of injection-moulded thermoplastic material, the frame being formed bytwosubstantiallysquare- C-shaped elements provided with ends which can be respectively coupled with sliding insertion, said panel being fixed to the lower edge of thetwoframe elements by stapling means orclinching means.

2. Aworktop arrangement accordingtoclaim 1 wherein each of the two frame elements is providedat one end with a tongue portion and at the other wend with a guide, said tongue portions and said guides being respectively positioned and dimensioned in

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Work top arrangementfor domestic electrical appliances The invention relates to a worktop arrangement for forming the top surface of domestic electrical appliances, for example clothes washing machines, dish washing machines and refrigerators. Work top arrangements are known, which are formed buy a panel of rigid material (generally chipboard covered with a layer of plastics material) fitted into a peripheral frame ortrim (of metal or plastics material). The peripheral frames may be produced by extrusion or by injection moulding and, to permit the panel to befitted thereinto, they are open atone side (generally the rear side) which is subsequently closed byafurtherframeelement. Alternatively, the frames are formed by a single flexible shaped memberwhich is bent around the edges ofthe panel, after which the ends may be suitably connected together (usually with joints). Those types ofworktop arrangements sufferfrom a number of substantial disadvantages. First fall, they give rise to a certain amount of difficulty in regard to mounting the panel and in regard to ensuring correct closure of the edges of the frame of the panel. In addition, they require suitable connecting elements for connecting the various components, which involves complicated and expensive working operations. According to the invention, there is provided a work top arrangement for domestic electrical appliances formed by a rigid panel of chipboard covered with plastics material and enclosed by a frame of injectionmoulded thermoplastic material, the frame being formed by two substantially square-C-shaped elements provided with ends which can be respectively coupled with sliding insertion,saidpanelbeingfixed to the lower edge ofthetwoframe As will become apparentfrom the following description the illustrated embodiment of the invention providesaworktoparrangementwhich is simple and economic and which is formed buy a limited number of components which permit rapid assembly and substantial dimensional adaptability. The features and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa exploded perspectiveviewfrom below of the work top arrangement, and Figure 2 is a viewfrom below of the assembled work top arrangement shown in Figure 1, with the details of the coupling between two frame elements on an enlarged scale. The work top arrangement according to the inven tion is formed by a panel ofchipboard,which is covered at least on itstopsurface by a layer of plastics material which is resistantto mechanical and chemical actions (for example melamine or pheno lic resins), and two frame elements 6,6' made of injectionmouldedthermoplastic material (such as polystyrene or ABS). The frame elements 6 and 6' are substantially square C-shaped and the two endsthereof have respective configurations which can be connected by a coupling of male-female type. Forthat purpose, one end of each shaped member 6 and 6' is provided with a tongue portion 7 (and 7' respectively) which can be inserted into a guide 8' (and 8 respectively) atthe oppositely disposed end of the other shaped member. Itwill be appreciated thatthe shaped frame members 6 and 6' may be of various sections, with strenghthening ribs and seatsfortheelementsfor fixing the worktop to the upper edge of the domestic electrical appliance; such details are not described herein as they are commonly known and present in worktop arrangements which have been produced hitherto. Anotherfeatu re ofthe worktop arrangement is however represented by the fact that the panel 5, after having been enclosed by the shaped frame elements 6 and 6', is simply fixed to the loweredges ofthe latter bystapling or clinching means 9 (Figure 2). That assembly configuration is extremely simple and convenient, also because it can permit complete automation ofthe process for the production of the work top arrangements, with a consequential reduction in times and costs involved.In the more widespread situation in which the work top arrangement hasasquare surface, the construction according to the invention has the further advantagethat it is possible to adopt a single shapedframe element, insofar as the shaped elements 6 and 6' are precisely identical,with a substantial saving in moulding costs and times. Moreover, the worktop arrangements with the structural features according to the invention are advantageous even when work top arrangements of different sizes are to be produced. Indeed, work top arrangements may be required which are of greater depth and which also havetherearwardedge extended and possibly fitted with a grill, to form a spacer element which also bears againstthe wall of the surroundings. In those cases, while the arrangement requires two shaped elements 6 and 6' of mutually different dimensions, the system for connecting the shaped members together and the system forfixing the panel to the shaped members by means of stapling still have the same purposes in accordance with the present invention, with the advantages already described above. CLAIMS

2. Aworktop arrangement accordingtoclaim 1 wherein each of the two frame elements is providedat one end with a tongue portion and at the other wend with a guide, said tongue portions and said guides being respectively positioned and dimensioned in such a way as to provide for a coupling effectwith sliding insertion in order to join the two frame elements.

3. A work top arrangementsubstantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A domestic appliancefitted with a work top arrangement according to claim 1,2 or3.