GB2193883A

GB2193883A - Inset dishwasher

Info

Publication number: GB2193883A
Application number: GB08619852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Willetts
Original assignee: SERVIS GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: SERVIS GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1986-08-14
Filing date: 1986-08-14
Publication date: 1988-02-24
Also published as: GB8619852D0

Abstract

A domestic appliance, such as a clothes washing machine or dishwashing machine, has an upper part (13) and a lower part (14), the upper part (13) being adapted to be substantially flush or extend slightly above a work surface (10), the lower part (14) of the domestic appliance extending below the work surface (10) and support means (18,19,29) having supporting means (25,26) to co-operate with the domestic appliance or other fixing means, i.e. screws (28,29), whereby they may be connected to the domestic appliance, the support means (18,19,20) having co-operating means (33,34,35) that co-operate with a work surface (10) so as to support the domestic appliance relative to the work surface. The arrangement of domestic appliance and support means enables the appliance to be secured in a position, in a fitted kitchen for example, where access is not readily available thus using otherwise inaccessible space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mounting of domestic appliances Description of Invention The present invention relates to domestic appliances and apparatus for, and methods of, mounting same in an 'in use' position.

The invention is concerned with machines to which a supply of water thereto and/or drain means therefrom together with a supply of electricity is necessary such as clothes washing machines and dishwashing machines, all such machines hereinafter being referred to as machines of the type described. Sch machines are primarily for use in a domestic environment.

It is usual for such machines to be freestanding and in more recent machines it is possible that the front panel of the machine may itself designed, or may have a panel affixed thereto, so that it blends in with the remainder of the environment so as to look a part of a "fitted kitchen" for example.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved domestic appliance of the type described.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a domestic appliance of the type described, said appliance comprising an upper part and a lower part, said upper part being adapted to be substantially flush with, or extend above, a substantially planar and horizontal surface, said lower part extending from said upper part and below said surface and wherein support means are provided to enable said appliance to be supported from said surface.

Access to said domestic appliance will be provided in said upper part and conveniently an access door may be proved which is removable or is hinged about a substantially horizontal axis so that when said access door is in its closed position it lies in a plane substantially parallel to said surface.

The domestic appliance of the present invention enables a washing machine, dishwasher or the like to be mounted in an aperture provided in a kitchen work surface for example which provides significant and unexpected advantages.

Since the appliance is mainly hidden from view, the necessity of having aesthetically acceptable side walls is obviated and furthermore, since such appliances will need a certain amount of plumbing, access of hot and cold water for example, and also drain means, pipe work for providing same may be completely hidden from view.

A further significant advantage is obtained in that since access to the machine is through an upper surface, the appliance may be accommodated in a corner of a room and, as is often the case, cupboards or other appliances extend along both walls meeting at the corner then access to a normal domestic appliance would not be possible and the corner space is often wasted. The novel appliance of the present invention permits of full utilisation of such space.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new or improved mounting means for a domestic appliance.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide mounting means for us with a domestic appliance of the type described, said mounting means comprising a first part adapted for securing to or bearing on a surface part, said surface part being provided with an aperture through which said domestic appliance extends, said mounting means comprising a second part adapted to support or be otherwise connected to said domestic appliance to secure said appliance to said surface part.

Preferably said mounting means may comprise two or more elements each having a first part and a second part whereby the domestic appliance may be securely affixed to a substantially horizontal surface part.

Conveniently, said mounting means may comprise a further element adapted to surround at least a substantial part of an aperture provided in a surface and through which said domestic appliance extends, said further element having an aesthetically attractive appearance and being adapted in size or configuration to conceal any part of the mounting means extending above said surface and which would otherwise be visible.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method of mounting a domestic appliance of the type described.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, we provide a new or improved method of mounting a domestic appliance of the type described comprising the steps of forming an aperture in a member providing a work surface, securing mounting means to said domestic appliance and passing a substantial part of said domestic appliance through said aperture, and whereby said mounting means affords a surface adapted to engage the upper surface of said work surface to support said domestic appliance in an 'in use' position.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an illustration of a domestic appliance together with mounting means about to be lowered to an 'in use' position; Figure 2 shows the domestic appliance installed in a working position.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a domestic work surface 10 which is provided on top of cupboards or the like, such as the cupboard shown at 11 and a drawer unit 12 and is of a form very often found in a domestic environment.

The domestic appliance which may for example comprise a clothes washing machine or a dishwashing machine comprises an upper part 13 and a lower part 14.

The upper part 13 has provided therein# a door 15 giving access to the interior of the domestic appliance and control means 16 and 17 are also provided in the upper surface adjacent the access door 15.

Mounting means for mounting the domestic appliance in a work surface 10 are provided, the mounting means comprising a pair of front elements 18 and 19, a rear element 20 and a cover assembly 21a, 21b.

The cover assembly 21a and 21b comprises a plastics moulding for example of aesthetically pleasing appearance and which is placed in position around the domestic appliance. The cover assembly 21a, 21b is of a size, or is cut to a size, so that it will substantially surround an aperture 22 provided in the work surface 10.

The front elements 18 and 19 are secured to front corners 23 and 24 respectively of the appliance, the front elements each being provided with a lower flange 25 and 26 respectively which engage with the lower surface 27 of the appliance and which may be secured thereto by means of threaded fasteners 28 and 29 respectively which pass through apertures 30 and 31 into the lower surface 27 of the appliance.

The front elements are also provided with outwardly projecting flanges 33 and 34 which, when the domestic appliance is installed in its 'in use' position, will lie in contact with the upper work surface 10.

The rear element 20 comprises an angular member having a first part 35 adapted to engage and rest against the upper surface of the work surface 10 and a second part 36 provided with apertures 37 through which threaded fasteners may pass and into the domestic appliance so as to secure the member 20 thereto.

When the front elements 18 and 19 and the rear elements 20 have been secured to the domestic appliance it may be lowered through the aperture 22 until the flanges 33, 34 and 35 abut the upper surface of the work surface 10. The decorative strip 21 not only closes any gap between the edge of the aperture 22 and the work surface 10 and the domestic appliance but it also covers the flanges 33, 34 and 35 so that they are hidden from view.

The mounting means of the present invention enables the domestic appliance to be eas ily secured in an 'in use' position and also has the additional advantage that the appliance may be readily removed from its secured position for servicing or the like.

Any necessary plumbing to the appliance and supply of electricity may be connected to the appliance before it is inserted in position, providing of course the necessary pipes are sufficiently long and flexible or if access is not a problem, such pipes and electricity cable may be connected after the appliance has been placed in position.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the appliance shown in Fig. 1 is mounted in its 'in use position and a hot water supply 40, cold water supply 41 and supply of electricity 42 is shown connected thereto. A drain 43 is also provided.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A domestic appliance of the type described comprising an upper part and a lower part, said upper part being adapted to be substantially flush with or extend above a substantially planar and horizontal surface, said lower part extending from said upper part and below said surface and wherein support means are provided to enable said appliance to be supported from said surface.

2. A domestic appliance according to Claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said domestic appliance is provided with an access door.

3. A domestic appliance according to Claim 2 wherein said access door is hinged about a substantially horizontal axis.

4. A domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting means comprises a first part adapted for securing to or bearing on said substantially planar and horizontal surface and a second part adapted to support or otherwise be connected to said domestic appliance to secure said appliance to said surface part.

5. A domestic appliance according to Claim 4 wherein said mounting means comprises two or more elements each having a first part and a second part.

6. A domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting means comprises a further element adapted to surround at least a substantial part of said aperture, said further element having aesthetically attractive appearance and being adapted in size or configuration to conceal any part of said mounting means extending above said surface and which would otherwise be visible.

7. A domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting means compnses-at least one angu lar member adapted to be secured to said domestic appliance and having a bearing sur face adapted to bear on said surface so as to support said domestic appliance relative to said surface.

8. A domestic appliance according to Claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises at least two of said angular members.

9. A domestic appliance according to Claim 8 wherein said mounting means comprises at least three of said members.

10. A domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of elongate angular members having a lower surface part extending substantially at right angles to the elongate axis of said angular members, said lower surface being adapted to co-operate with or be otherwise secured to the lower surface of said domestic appliance, each of said elongate members being provided with one or more upper parts extending substantially at right angles to the elongate axis of said angular members, said upper surface being adapted to bear on said supporting surface.

11. A domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting means comprises an elongate angular member having a first part capable of cooperating with or being otherwise secured to said domestic appliance such that the elongate axis of said angular member is substantially horizontal and a second part adapted to bear on said supporting surface so as to support said domestic appliance therefrom.

12. A domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said domestic appliance comprises a dishwashing machine.

13. A domestic appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein said appliance comprises a clothes washing machine.

14. Mounting means for use with a domestic appliance of the type described, said mounting means comprising a first part adapted for securing to or bearing on a surface part, said surface part being provided with an aperture through which said domestic appliance extends, said mounting means comprising a second part adapted to support or be otherwise connected to said domestic appliance to secure said appliance to said surface part.

15. Mounting means according to Claim 14 wherein said mounting means comprises two or more elements each having a first part and a second part whereby the domestic appliance may be securely fixed to a substantially horizontal surface part.

16. Mounting means according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 and comprising a further element adapted t surround at least a substantial part of an aperture provided in a surface and through which said domestic appliance extends, said further element having an aesthetically attractive appearance and being adapted in size or configuration to conceal any part of the mounting means extending above said surface and which would otherwise be visible.

17. A method of mounting a domestic appliance of the type described comprising the steps of forming an aperture in a member providing a work surface, securing mounting means to said domestic appliance and passing a substantial part of said domestic appliance through said aperture, and whereby said mounting means affords a surface adapted to engage the upper surface of said work surface to support said domestic appliance in an in use position.

18. A domestic appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19. Mounting means in or for a domestic appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of mounting a domestic appliance of the type described substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

21. A domestic appliance including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.

22. Mounting means in or for a domestic appliance including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of mounting a domestic appliance including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.