GB2238468A

GB2238468A - Built-in domestic washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2238468A
Application number: GB9024297A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sergio Tassotti
Original assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1989-11-24
Filing date: 1990-11-08
Publication date: 1991-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-08
Also published as: ES1015661Y; ES1015661U; IT8934085V0; GB9024297D0; FR2654915B3; GB2238468B; IT8934085U1; FR2654915A1; DE9015806U1; IT221380Z2

Abstract

A domestic built-in dishwashing machine comprises a casing on which a front loading door 4 is hingedly mounted, the outside surface of the door being substantially covered by a rigid panel 8 to which the door is fixedly connected; the door and panel are connected together only at three fixing points 8 which are at the vertices of a triangle. This arrangement avoids possible distortion of the door by the panel should the panel become warped over time. <IMAGE>

Description

BUILT-IN DOMESTIC DISHWASHING MACHINE The present invention relates to a domestic dishwashing machine of the type designed to be built into items of kitchen furniture, as in so called "fitted" kitchen units.

Dishwashing machines of the type referred to are known in which the front loading door which is hingedly mounted at the lower edge to the casing or frame structure of the machine is substantially covered on the outside by a rigid decorative panel.

The panel for covering the door is preferably made of wood in order to be aesthetically adapted to the adjacent items of kitchen furniture and is rigidly fixed to the front surface of the door at at least four points which are normally adjacent to the four corners thereof, as described for example in Italian patent number 1149569.

That construction provides that the door of the dishwashing machine is covered by the decorative panel except at the location of a control panel for the control devices, which in substantially conventional manner is fixed to the door in the upper part thereof, in line with the panel itself.

However, although the rigid connection between the decorative panel and the door is advantageously simple and rational, it can give rise to a series of disadvantages. It is known in fact that the panel can become warped with the passage of time, also similarly deforming the door of the dishwashing machine to which it is rigidly fixed. With the panel being fixed at at least four points, as referred to above, even the possible adoption of known connecting systems with return springs does not prevent the panel from transferring to the door at least a part of its own distortion.

Deformation of the door prevents the sealing member associated with the door from sealingly closing the loading opening of the dishwashing machine, so that vapours and/or washing liquid can escape from the washing tub of the machine in the course of operation thereof. Consequently the control panel of the machine and/or the adjacent furniture items suffer from damage. In addition failing sealing integrity of the sealing member associated with the door substantially reduces the sound-proofing of the entire dishwashing machine.

The aim of the present invention is that of providing a built-in domestic dishwashing machine having a loading door covered by a rigidly fixed decorative panel, the possible distortion of which does not substantially alter the shape of the door and the sealing integrity of the sealing member associated therewith.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a domestic built-in dishwashing machine comprising a casing on which a front loading door is hingedly mounted, the outside surface of the door being substantially covered by a rigid panel to which the door is fixedly connected, wherein said door and said panel are connected together only at three fixing points.

The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a preferred embodiment of the dishwashing machine according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the dishwashing machine shown in figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the domestic dishwashing machine according to the invention primarily comprises a casing 3 in which there is disposed a washing tub (not shown) to which it is possible to gain access by way of a front loading door 3. At a position at the lower part thereof the door 4 is hingedly mounted to the casing 3 at 5.

In known manner the door 4 is capable of sealingly closing the washing tub by means of an associated sealing member (not shown for the sake of simplicity) and is provided in its upper part with a control panel 6 for the control devices of the dishwashing machine. Also in known manner the outside surface of the door 4 is substantially covered by a rigid decorative panel 7, for example, of solid wood and preferably disposed in line with the control panel 6.

The panel 7 is rigidly connected to the door 4, preferably by means of latching devices 8 associated with suitable spacers 9 for maintaining a space 10 of a few millimetres between the adjacent surfaces of the door 4 and the panel 7.

The function of the space 10 is to permit a certain natural ventilation of the adjacent surfaces of the door and the panel in order to avoid stagnation in terms of moisture and heat.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, by means of the latching devices 8 (for example, bolts or the like) the panel 7 is fixed to the door 4 only at three points which are disposed with respect to the adjacent surfaces of the panel and the door like the vertices of an imaginary triangle 11 shown in broken lines in figure 1.

Preferably the triangle 11 is an equilateral or isosceles triangle and two of the connecting points 8 are adjacent to the upper edge of the panel 7. The third connecting point 8 is however preferably adjacent to the lower edge of the door 4.

The present arrangement makes it possible to provide in a simplified fashion for an effective rigid connection between the panel 7 and the door 4 but above all it makes it possible to avoid possible distortion of the panel causing corresponding deformation of the door 4.

That is because, at whatever point of the panel 7 distortion occurs, it is transmitted mechanically along the structure of the panel itself, manifesting relative movements above all in the zone around the lower connecting point 8; in that zone in fact the fixing 8 of the panel 7 does not constitute a mechanical constraint in relation to the rotary movements due to the distortion effect and the space 10 permits such rotary movements even inwardly of the machine.

Another important fact is that any distortion of the panel 7 does not become apparent at the upper edge of the panel itself, which is the zone in which any inaccuracy in alignment would be more easily noticed by viewing it in relation to the position of the control panel 6.

It will be appreciated that the dishwashing machine described may be the subject of many modifications falling within the scope of the invention. For example, the three connecting points 8 may be disposed in accordance with a different configuration from the virtual triangle 11, or the panel 7 may completely cover the door 4 if the control panel is provided on the upper edge of the door itself, as described in Australian patent number 552168.

In addition the rigid connecting means 8 between the door and the panel 7 may be of any other type suitable for the purpose involved.

Claims

1. A domestic built-in dishwashing machine comprising a casing on which a front loading door is hingedly mounted, the outside surface of the door being substantially covered by a rigid panel to which the door is fixedly connected, wherein said door and said panel are connected together only at three fixing points.

2. A domestic dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein provided at said three fixing points are spacer means for forming a space between the mutually facing surfaces of the door and the panel.

3. A domestic dishwashing machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said three fixing points are disposed in relation to the mutually facing surfaces of the door and the panel as the vertices of an equilateral or isosceles triangle.

4. A domestic dishwashing machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein two of said fixing points are adjacent to the upper edge of the panel while the remaining fixing point is adjacent to the lower edge of the door.

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