GB2397095A

GB2397095A - Retracting striker for a door of an electric household machine

Info

Publication number: GB2397095A
Application number: GB0328754A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fabrizio Promutico; Pont Paolo Da
Original assignee: Bitron SpA
Current assignee: Bitron SpA
Priority date: 2002-12-12
Filing date: 2003-12-11
Publication date: 2004-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-11
Also published as: DE10358013A1; ITTO20021080A1; GB0328754D0; GB2397095B

Abstract

The striker (10) is intended to be fixed to a door (3) and comprises a support structure (11; 12, 14) to which a striker member (19) for co-operating with fastening members (4, 5) of a stationary part of an electric household appliance (WM) is connected. The striker (10) further comprises a kinematic transmission mechanism (17) mounted in the support structure (11) and having two opposed arms (17a, 17b) having respective predetermined lengths; the striker member (19) is associated with a first arm (17a) and is mounted so as to be movable in the support structure (11) between a retracted position and a projecting position; a push-button member (22) is associated with a second arm (17b) and is movable in the support structure (11) between a rest position and a working position in which it projects from the support structure (11) to a greater extent and to a lesser extent, respectively. A movement of the push-button member (22) from the rest position to the working position can bring about, by means of the kinematic transmission mechanism (17), the movement of the striker member (19) from the retracted position to the projecting position.

Description

2397095 COUPLING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A DOOR

OF AN ELECTRIC HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a coupling device for a first part or structure, such as a door or the like, which can be coupled with retaining means of a second part or structure, such as an electric household appliance, for example, a washing machine.

More specifically, the subject of the invention is a coupling device of the type comprising a support structure to which a coupler member for cooperating with the retaining means is connected.

Coupling devices for washing-machine doors are known, in which the coupler member is fixed to the door or hatch of the machine, or at most is connected thereto so as to be pivotable to a limited extent, but in any case projects from the door.

This solution is not generally aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, the projecting coupler member may cause injuries or wounds if a user should knock against it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device of the type specified above which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the devices of the prior art.

This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a coupling device the essential characteristics of which are defined in appended claim I. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description which is given purely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view which shows a washing machine with a door provided with a coupling device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a section taken on the line Il-II of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, Figure 3 is a section similar to that of Figure 2 and shows the coupling device in a different operative condition, r fir Figure 4 is a partially-sectioned, perspective view and shows the coupling device in an intermediate condition between those shown in Figures 2 and 3, and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling device shown in the preceding drawings.

In Figure 1, a washing machine of a known type is generally indicated WM. In the embodiment shown, the machine WM is of the front-loading type and has an opening 1 for access to the washing chamber 2 with an associated door 3 which is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis.

The door 3 is provided with a coupling device according to the present invention, generally indicated 10.

In the embodiment shown by way of example, the coupling device 10 is mounted inside the door 3 and protrudes from the face of the door which is intended to face the opening 1 of the machine WM.

Adjacent the opening 1, the washing machine WM has a door-locking device which is generally indicated 4 and shown partially in broken outline. The door-locking device is of known type and comprises a seat or inlet opening 5 for the insertion of a coupler member of the device 10 which will be described further below.

With reference now more specifically to Figures 2 to 5, a coupling device 10 according to the present invention comprises a support structure, generally indicated 11. In the embodiment shown, the structure 11 comprises basically a shaped hollow casing or body 12 having, on one side, an opening 13 which is closed by a front element or cover 14.

A through-hole 15 and a slot 16 are formed in the cover 14.

A rocker, generally indicated 17, is mounted pivotably in the support casing 12. The rocker has an intermediate portion 18 which acts as a fulcrum and which is positioned between opposed appendages or protuberances of the base wall of the casing 12 and of the cover 14, respectively.

The rocker 17 has two arms 17a and 17b having respective predetermined, preferably unequal, lengths. In the embodiment shown, both of the arms have forked end configurations.

A coupler member, generally indicated 19, is mounted in the structure 11 so as to be translatable along an axis substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the rocker 17. In the embodiment shown, the coupler member 19 comprises a square, annular end portion 20 which acts as the actual coupler, and a substantially cylindrical end portion 21 the intermediate part 21 a of which has a smaller diameter.

As can best be appreciated from Figures 2 to 4, the forked end of the arm 17a of the rocker 17 extends around or embraces the smaller-diameter intermediate portion 21 a of the end 21 of the coupler member 19.

A push-button member, generally indicated 22 in Figures 2 to 5, is also mounted so as to be movable in the support structure 11 along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of movement of the coupler member 19.

In the embodiment shown, the push-button member 22 has an end portion or head 22a which can project from the support casing 11 through the hole 15 in the cover 14.

The opposite end 22b of the push-button member 22 has a substantially tubular configuration and is guided in a recess, also of tubular shape, provided in the base wall of the support casing 12, in alignment with the hole 15 in the cover 14.

A helical spring 23 interposed between the push-button member 22 and an annular reaction surface provided in the support casing 12 tends to urge the push-button member 22 into a rest position and to hold it therein; this rest position, in which the head portion 22a of the push-button member 22 projects markedly from the cover 14, is shown in particular in Figure 2.

In its intermediate portion, the push-button member 22 has a pair of annular, angularly spaced-apart projections 22c between which the branches or prongs of the forked end of the arm 17b of the rocker 17 engage.

The coupling of the rocker 17 with the coupler member 19 at one end and with the push-button member 22 at the other end is such that, when the push-button member 22 is in the rest position shown in Figure 2, the coupler member 19 is arranged in a retracted position in which it does not project substantially from the support structure 11.

However, the push-button member 22 is movable from the rest position of Figure 2 towards a working position shown in Figure 3 in which its head portion 22a projects from the cover 14 to a reduced extent (or even not at all). In this position, the rocker 17 arranges the coupler member 19 in a projecting position in which its annular portion 20 extends out of the support casing of the device.

As mentioned above, the arm 1 7b of the rocker 17 is preferably shorter than its arm 17a.

By virtue of this characteristic, the length of the portion 22a of the push-button member 22 which projects at rest can be arranged so as to be definitely limited and, in particular, clearly less than the length of the portion of the coupler member 19 which projects from the support casing 11 in the operative, working position shown in Figure 3.

By virtue of this arrangement, the portion of the push-button member which projects from the device at rest can be extremely small and this renders this member aesthetically inconspicuous and reduces the risks to the user.

In variants, a kinematic transmission mechanism other than a simple rocker may be interposed between the push-button member and the coupler member of the device; however, the rocker seems preferable (at least at present), in view of its extreme simplicity.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, means of known type may be associated with the push-button member and/or with the coupler member for stabilizing it in the projecting or retracted position.

Moreover, also in a manner not shown, indicator means may be associated with the push-button member 22, with the coupler member 19, or even with the rocker 17, for providing a perceptible indication, in particular an optical or acoustic indication, when the coupler member 19 is in a predetermined position, in particular, in the projecting position.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A coupling device (10) for a first part or structure (3) such as a door or the like, which can be coupled with retaining means (4, 5) of a second part or structure (WM) such as an electric household appliance, comprising a support structure (11; 12, 14) to which a coupler member (19) for co-operating with the retaining means (4, 5) is connected, the coupling device (10) being characterized in that it comprises: a kinematic transmission mechanism (17) mounted in the support structure (11) and having two opposed arms (17a, 17b) having respective predetermined lengths, the coupler member (19) being associated with a first arm (17a) of the kinematic transmission mechanism (17) and being mounted so as to be movable in the support structure (11) between a retracted position and a projecting position, a push-button member (22) being associated with a second arm (I 7b) of the kinematic transmission mechanism (17) and likewise being mounted so as to be movable in the support structure (11) between a rest position and a working position in which it projects from the support structure (11) to a greater extent and to a lesser extent, respectively, the arrangement being such that a movement of the push-button member (22) from the rest position to the working position can bring about, by means of the kinematic transmission mechanism (17), the movement of the coupler member (19) from the retracted position to the projecting position, biasing means (23) being provided and tending to keep the push-button member (22) in the rest position and/or the coupler member (19) in the retracted position.

2. A coupling device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the kinematic transmission mechanism comprises a rocker (17) mounted pivotably in the support structure (I 1).

3. A coupling device according to claim I or Claim 2, characterized in that the coupler member (19) and the push-button member (22) are mounted so as to be translatable in the support structure (11).

4. A coupling device according to Claim 2 and Claim 3, characterized in that the coupler member (19) and the push-button member (22) are translatable in the support structure on opposite sides of the axis or fulcrum ( 18) of the rocker ( 17).

5. A coupling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first arm (17a) ofthe rocker (17) has a greater length than the second arm (17b).

6. A coupling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biasing means comprise resilient means (23).

7. A coupling device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the biasing means comprise a spring (23) associated with the push-button member (22).

8. A coupling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises indicator means for providing a perceptible indication when the coupler member (19) is in a predetermined position, in particular in the projecting position.

9. A coupling device substantially as herein described with reference to, or as illustrated in, the appended drawings.