GB2464107A

GB2464107A - Laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2464107A
Application number: GB0817993A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Martin Reason
Original assignee: Andrew Reason Ltd
Current assignee: Andrew Reason Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-02
Filing date: 2008-10-02
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Also published as: GB0817993D0

Abstract

The laundry appliance 1 loading/unloading arrangement includes, in combination, laundry appliance door 7 which is operable to open and close a loading/unloading opening 9 of the appliance and a receptacle 13 for items to be loaded into, or unloaded from, the laundry appliance via the opening 9. The receptacle 13 and laundry appliance door 7 are provided with respective engagement formations 12 & 10 enabling the receptacle to be removably supported on the door. The appliance door may move translationally from a closed position to an open position.

Description

Laundry Appliance LoadinglUnloadifl2 The present invention relates to a technique and apparatus for laundry appliance loading and/or unloading, and in particular to a technique and apparatus for facilitating easier laundiy appliance unloading and loading.

Laundry appliances (such as tumble driers, washing machines and the like) are typically loaded by ransferring items between a carrier receptacle (such as a basket) and the appliance internal drum. In so doing the carrier receptacle is typically placed on the floor.

As a consequence any individual loading or unloading the appliance is forced to stoop placing strain on the back.

An improved arrangement has now been devised.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement comprising in combination: a laundry appliance door which is operable to open and close a loading/unloading opening of the appliance; a receptacle for items to be loaded into, or unloaded from, the laundry appliance via the loading/unloading opening of the appliance; wherein the receptacle and laundry appliance door are provided with respective engagement formations, the receptacle being mounted to be supported on the door whilst the door is in an open position, the receptacle being demountable from the laundry appliance door.

It is preferred that the appliance door moves translationally from a closed position to an open position.

It is preferred that the appliance door moves between the closed position and the open position without pivoting. The appliance door is beneficially mounted to a drum for receiving the items in the appliance. The drum preferably moves from a position internally of the appliance when the door is closed, to a position at least partially extended outside of the appliance when the door is in the open position. Preferably the drum moves in the direction of its axis.

Beneficially, the drum has an upper open top for loading/unloading of the items into/out of the drum.

In a preferred embodiment, the door comprises a perimeter which has an upper portion arranged to retain a portion of the demountable receptacle. In apreferred realisation, the door has an upper lip portion preferably inclined in an outward and upward direction relative to the door, the upper lip portion arranged to retain a portion of the demountable receptacle.

The demountable receptacle may comprise a channel formation or hook formation arranged to cooperate with a formation of the door (such as the upper lip formation) to enable the receptacle to be hung on the door.

Beneficially, when mounted to the door, the receptacle hangs from an upper portion of the receptacle mounted to an upper portion of the door.

It is preferred that the mounting formations of the receptacle and the door are such that the receptacle can be supported from the door in both the door open and the door closed positions.

In one embodiment the receptacle may comprise an open topped basket.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of loading and/or unloading a laundry apparatus, the method comprising configuring the appliance such that the laundry appliance door is open, to permit access via a loading/unloading opening of the appliance; and with the door in the open position, a receptacle for items to be loaded into, or unloaded from, the laundiy appliance via the loading/unloading opening of the appliance is mounted on the appliance door, permitting transfer of items between the receptacle and the appliance whilst the receptacle is mounted on the appliance door.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement in accordance with the invention, in a first, door open configuration; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the arrangement of figure 1, in a second, door closed configuration; and Figure 3 is a schematic side view similar to figure 2 without the receptacle mounted to the appliance door.

Referring to the drawings there is shown laundry apparatus 1 in the form of a washing machine for laundry use.

Washing machine 1 has a main washing machine cabinet 2 including an internal cavity 3 within which is received a washing machine drum 4. The drum 4 contains the clothes for washing and is typically of metallic sheet material provided with draining apparatus through its surface.

The washing machine is of a type having a pull out drum 4 and is shown with the drum 4 in the extended position in figure 1 and the closed position in figure 2 (and figure 3). The washing machine type is as is generally described in W02000/14322. A closure door 7 is mounted at the forward end of drum 4. A seal 8 is provided on the internal face of door 7 adjacent the drum 4. The drum 4 is provided with a top opening 9 in order that laundry can be loaded into the drum and/or removed from the drum. Typically the opening 9 is provided with a slideable closure or cover.

The washing machine has the drum 4 mounted for movement (in the direction of arrow A) on support runners 5 in order that the drum and door can move from the closed position of figure 2 (and 3) to the open position of figure 1.

In use, the drum 4 and door 7 assembly is moved in the axial direction of the drum 4 from the closed position of figure 2 to the open position figure 1 for loading and unloading of the drum and subsequently moved to the closed position before being operated to wash the items of clothing.

In accordance with the present invention, the door 7 is provided with an upper lip 10 (shown most clearly in figure 3) which is inclined to extend outwardly and upwardly with respect to the remainder of the door 7 and the cabinet 2.

The shape configuration and dimensions of this lip are arranged to co-operatively engage with a channel formation 12 provided about the periphery of basket 13 which is thereby arranged to be suspended from the upwardly and outwardly extending lip portion 10 of the door 7. The channel formation may be a local formation at one side only of the basket, or, alternatively may extend about the entire periphery (or the majority of the periphery).

Typically the basket 13 comprises a plastics basket and the peripheral channel 12 will extend entirely about the periphery of the basket 13 forming an out turned peripheral lip 15. In an alternative embodiment a hook formation may be provided for securing the basket 13 to the upper lip 10 of the door 7.

The arrangement is such that the basket 13 can remain suspended from its top edge hanging downwardly preferably such that the lower portion 1 3a of the basket rests against the outer surface of the door 7. Additionally, the basket 13 can remain suspended from the door 7 whilst the door 7 is in both the open configuration (figure 1) and the closed configuration (figure 2).

The arrangement as described provides significant advantage over the use of an arrangement according to the invention with the traditional pivoting laundry appliance door. This is because with a drum and door of the pull-out, non-pivoting type, the suspended basket 13 will not move to contact the cabinet 2 of the appliance as would be the case for use of a system of the invention in connection with a pivoting appliance door.

Furthermore, the arrangement enables convenient loading and unloading between the spended basket 13 and the top opening 9 of the drum 4 whilst the drum and door are in the extended/open position as shown in figure 1. This enables the user to load and unload without stooping to the level of a basket resting on the floor.

Whilst the invention has been specifically described in relation to a washing machine appliance, it should be appreciated that the invention has applicability to other appliance arrangements, such as for example tumble dryer appliances. -6-.

Claims

Claims: 1. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement comprising in combination: a laundry appliance door which is operable to open and close a loading/unloading opening of the appliance; a receptacle for items to be loaded into, or unloaded from, the laundy appliance via the loading/unloading opening of the appliance; wherein the receptacle and laundry appliance door are provided with respective engagement formations enabling the receptacle to be mounted to be supported on the door whilst the door is in an open position, the receptacle being demountable from the laundry appliance door.
2. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the appliance door moves translationally from a closed position to an open position.
3. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the door moves between the closed position and the open position without pivoting.
4. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the appliance door is mounted to a drum for receiving the items in the appliance, the drum moving from a position internally of the appliance when the door is closed, to a position at least partially extended outside of the appliance when the door is in the open position.
5. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the drum has an upper open top for loading/unloading of the items into/out of the drum.
6. A laundiy appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the door comprises a perimeter which has an upper portion arranged to retain a portion of the demountable receptacle.
7. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to any precding claim, wherein the door has an upper lip portion inclined in an outward and upward direction relative to the door, the upper lip portion arranged to retain a portion of the demountable receptacle.
8. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the demountable receptacle comprises a channel formation or hook arranged to cooperate with a formation of the door to enable the receptacle to be hung on the door.
9. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein when mounted to the door, the receptacle hangs from an upper portion of the receptacle mounted to an upper portion of the door.
10. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle can be supported from the door in both the door open and the door closed position.
11. A laundry appliance loading/unloading arrangement according to any precedng claim, wherein the receptacle comprises an open topped basket.
12. A method of loading and/or unloading a laundry apparatus, the method comprising configuring the appliance such that the laundry appliance door is open, to permit acess via a loading/unloading opening of the appliance; and with the door in the open position a receptacle for items to be loaded into, or unloaded from, the laundy appliance via the loading/unloading opening of the appliance is mounted on the appliance door, permitting transfer of items between the receptacle and the appliance whilst the receptacle is mounted on the appliance door.