WO2008081493A2

WO2008081493A2 - Multi-functional support base for washing machines, washer dryers and dryers

Info

Publication number: WO2008081493A2
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simone Pardini; Giuseppe Perticara'
Original assignee: Meccanica Generale S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-12-28
Filing date: 2007-12-20
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: ITMC20060180A1; SI2126185T1; WO2008081493A3; EP2126185A2; EP2126185B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-functional support base (48) made of plastic materials for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers, dryers or similar appliances, with box-shaped structure, provided with a drawer (51) and fixing means for the appliance.

Description

Multi-functional support base for washing machines, washer dryers and dryers.

The present invention relates to a multi-functional support base for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers, dryers and similar appliances.

Although support bases of the aforementioned type are known and largely used on the market, they are impaired by some disadvantages.

Support bases for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers and dryers, are positioned under the household appliance to hold it in raised position and ensure better ergonomics when loading or unloading the laundry and during maintenance operations. In particular, state-of-the-art support bases with parallelepiped, cubic or similar shape are made of metal materials and used to raise the height of the household appliance that is positioned on the support base.

The household appliances that are normally used with the said support bases are very heavy, being for instance washing machines, washer dryers, dryers or similar machines; moreover, in the case of washing machines, household appliances are subjected to operating stress, typically vibrations, applied to the support base that supports the weight of the machine.

The stress suffered by the support base is basically of two types: static stress caused by the weight of the household appliance that rests on the support base and dynamic stress caused by vibrations during the operation of the household appliance.

For this reason, the support bases of the known art are always made of metal materials that, in spite of the high cost and weight, are the only materials able to withstand the said dynamic and static stress. Nevertheless, the use of support bases made of metal materials is characterised by a series of inconveniences.

In the known applications, the support base made of metal materials is normally characterised by high cost and high weight. Aluminium or light alloys should be used to obtain support bases with considerably lower weight, although with an extremely high cost.

Therefore the known support bases are typically made of steel. This results in the high weight of the support base, which negatively affects the transportation and installation of the support base, with a series of inconveniences for the user and the operator in charge of positioning the support base.

Another inconvenience of the known support bases is represented by the fact that they are not provided with fixing systems for the household appliance. The household appliance is simply positioned on the support base, and the stable position of both support base and household appliance is simply determined by the weight of the appliance.

However, due to the dynamic stress caused by vibrations during operation (such as, for instance, during spinning in a washing machine), the appliance is frequently moved from its position, with the risk of falling from the support base. Moreover, the appliance must be re-positioned correctly in the centre of the support base in order to ensure the correct operation.

Alternatively, the support bases of the known art are provided with fixing systems for the household appliance that are strictly related with the dimensions of the specific appliance: for each type and brand of household appliance, the support base is provided with a fixing system used to maintain only that specific type and brand of household appliance in the correct position. This requires specific construction and dimensioning, with higher cost, forcing the user to change or adapt the support base every time the household appliance is changed.

Another inconvenience of the support bases of the known art refers to the displacement of the support base, including when it supports the household appliance. In the existing types of support bases, the support base is provided with a certain number of feet, typically four in each parallelepiped or cubic support base, which are normally made of rubber to increase friction between support base and ground, or floor, and avoid accidental displacements of the support base.

When the user needs to move the household appliance from the initial position, for cleaning or maintenance reasons, for example, this operation is extremely difficult and burdensome, due to the high weight of the household appliance: in fact, the user must move the household appliance and the support base by dragging them on the floor; in addition to the weight of the appliance, this operation is impaired by the fact that the feet are normally made of anti-slip rubber, with consequent high friction caused by the support base and the appliance on the floor. The displacement operation is quite difficult and not very safe with support bases of the known art.

The present invention relates to a multi-functional support base for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers, dryers and similar appliances, which comprises at least one upper side that is used to support and fix the appliance, at least one lower side that rests on the ground and at least one, preferably more than one, lateral side that is used to connect the first and the second side, the said support base used to support the weight of the household appliance being able to remedy the aforementioned problems of the known types of support bases. The aforementioned purposes are achieved by the invention by means of a multi-functional support base for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers, dryers or similar appliances, that comprises at least one upper side that is used to support or fix the appliance, at least one lower side that rests on the ground and at least one, preferably more than one, lateral side that is used to connect the first and the second side, the said support base being able to support the weight of the household appliance, in which the support base is made of non-metal materials, preferably plastic materials, it being provided with at least one, preferably more than one stiffening ribs in at least one of the lateral sides and/or in the lower side and/or in the upper side.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support base is provided with at least one, preferably more than one stiffening ribs obtained in such a way that the non-metal support base of the present invention is able to withstand the static and dynamic stress typical of a household appliance, such as washing machines, washer dryers, dryers or similar appliances. So far, plastic materials were not used for this type of applications, and metal materials were preferred, because plastic materials were not considered able to support and withstand the weight and vibrations of the household appliance supported by the support base. As mentioned above, the weight of this type of household appliances is high and is entirely discharged on the support base that must be characterised by high strength and rigidity. Moreover, plastic materials were not used because of the vibrations on the upper side of the support base, which create severe stress on the contact surface between appliance and support base.

The said problems are remedied by the present invention with the presence of special stiffening ribs obtained on the lateral sides and/or on the upper side and/or on the lower side of the support base and/or on the contact surfaces between appliance and support base.

The presence of the stiffening ribs as described below, their arrangement and realisation method allow to use plastic materials for the production of the said support base, preferably low-cost thermoplastic materials that have the additional advantage of being produced with moulding technology, with low production cost, especially when compared to the steel support bases of the known art.

In order not to impair the structural resistance of the plastic support base, specific geometrical and structural principles have been studied to provide benefits in terms of quantity of raw materials, processing costs and structural resistance. The geometries of the stiffening ribs preferably face the external sides of the support base, while the internal cavity of the support base is provided with basically smooth walls (without stiffening ribs), in order not to show the anti-aesthetical structural reinforcement means on the external surface of the support base.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the specific structural measures include the fact that the feet are joined on the lower side by means of a mesh of ribs, preferably with "angular" arrangement in the connection of internal walls with external walls on the three sides of the two lateral sides and the rear side, being the said arrangement preferred to a mesh of ribs in "perpendicular" or "undulated" position, since the "angular" connection geometry is the best geometry, with the same X, Y and S dimensions, because of the lower development of the rib section, in the connection of two parallel walls, and also to provide a more uniform distribution of the stress induced by the forces transmitted both in left-right and front-rear directions.

Moreover, stiffening ribs are added parallel to the long side of the beam in the lower side, in the connection beam of the two front feet, with housing for the lever in central position, together with a mesh of ribs with angular crossing for the connection of the central circular housing of the lever towards the right and left-hand side of the support base, and for the connection of the internal and external wall, in order to provide the most direct connection of the central stress point towards the furthest sides, and being the stiffening ribs the most suitable ones to withstand the "F" flexural forces induced by the actuation of the lever. On both lateral sides of the support base, the mesh of ribs with "angular crossing" has a higher density in the positions used to fix the household appliance, where forces are transmitted for the first time to the support base. Being the vertical load the dominant component on this side, three vertical ribs are obtained under each fixing point, together with the ribs with "angular crossing" arrangement, this being the most suitable arrangement to withstand the vertical load induced by the household appliance supported by the support base.

On the upper side of the support base, the connection between the two positions of the front fixing points is obtained by means of a mesh of stiffening ribs composed of two rectilinear parallel walls connected with "angular" ribs, the said mesh being necessary to structurally counterbalance the disconnection in the front side of the right and left-hand side with the cavity used to insert the drawer.

Some advantageous structural measures have been applied on the upper side with the four fixing points for the household appliance: being the most critical points because of the concentrated load caused by the lower area of the fixing element, the front points are structured to develop a lager diameter of the washer and relevant rubber piece, thus providing a larger distribution of the vertical load from the machine; moreover, in view of the fact that the said diameter must be provided at different positions available in the spacing distance, the support plane is higher than the main plane, and the mutual connection by means of walls in addition to the circumferential wall of the slot with spacing distance K provides a box-shaped geometrical structure with higher structural resistance than the solution with only one reinforced plane with perpendicular walls. Triangular ribs are used to connect the box- shaped structure to the surrounding body and ensure a better distribution of loads.

The contact surface between the rubber and the housing of the support base is provided with cusp-shaped reliefs in perpendicular position to the length of the slot, in order to prevent the free movement of the assembly during the operation of the household appliance. The rear fixing points have a larger contact surface between the connection brackets between the appliance and support base.

This allows to obtain the support plane of the bracket on the main upper surface, by stiffening the bracket in the connection with the internal wall by means of a higher number of ribs between the perimeter of the internal wall and the upper support structure.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the support base comprises means used to fix the appliance to the support base that are able to fix or couple the appliance to the support base in non- permanent mode. The advantageous peculiarity of the said fixing means is that they are "universal" means, it being possible to adjust their position to fix any type or brand of appliances to the support base by simply adjusting the mutual position of the fixing means. The fixing means according to the present invention are advantageously obtained in such a way that different types of household appliances with different dimensions can be fixed to the support base: household appliances, such as washing machines, washer dryers, dryers, are typically provided with at least four points for ground or floor support, normally obtained by means of rubber feet screwed on the bottom of the household appliance. The arrangement of the four support points differs according to different brands, types and models of household appliances. The fixing means according to the present invention can be advantageously adjusted so that the support base provided with them can be coupled or fixed to any type of household appliance, by simply adjusting the position of the fixing means of the present invention.

The support base of the invention is rigidly fixed to the household appliance to prevent the free movements of the appliance on the support base. Advantageously, the fixing means use the presence of pre-existing holes on the bottom of the household appliance that are normally used to insert supports covered with plastic materials or rubber (normally defined as "feet") and can be adapted to any spacing distance of the holes in washing machines, washer dryers and dryers of any dimensions. In particular, the application of the fixing means to washing machines, washer dryers and dryers with standard dimensions is especially advantageous. By standard dimensions we typically mean a cabinet with 590 to 600 mm width and 460 to 600 mm depth. The special advantage is related to the fact that in this case the support base has a standard dimension and can be applied to washing machines, washer dryers and dryers with standard dimension without excessive projection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the universality of the fixing means is obtained through the following solutions: in the front part, to replace the feet of the household appliance, fastening means with a screw for rigid fastening of the household appliance are inserted; according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the said fastening means are provided with a metal washer to use the largest surface possible of the bottom of the household appliance, and provide a more uniform distribution of the load of the machine on the rubber piece mounted on the pin joined to the screw at the opposite end, being the only element placed between the support base and the appliance. The rubber piece placed between the two rigid components, i.e. household appliance and support base, advantageously absorbs the vibrations and noise caused by the operation of the household appliance.

The housing for the rubber piece on the support base is obtained as a slot preferably, for illustrative, not limiting purposes, arranged along the width (right-left, when looking at the support base from the front), with such dimensions as to house different measures of different spacing distances of different models of household appliances. The internal walls of the slot and the top of the support base around the slot are provided with multiple lines that provide additional resistance against the sliding movement of the rubber piece inserted in the slot and the forces transmitted by the household appliance during operation.

In the rear part, to replace the two feet of the household appliance, suitable screws, preferably metal screws with collar are inserted: the collar is a smooth area without thread situated between the base of the threaded pin and the head of the screw. Moreover, two metal brackets are inserted between the head of the screws and the bottom of the cabinet of the household appliance through a suitable opening in the bracket.

Once inserted, the bracket is free to move within a preferred spacing distance that preferably and advantageously corresponds to different depth measures of different spacing distances of different models of household appliances.

From the installation point of view, once the appliance has been positioned on the support base, the brackets are pushed towards the inside of the appliance until they touch with the borders with slotted holes having the same spacing distance of the fixing slot in the front part, used to insert the screws that rigidly fix the brackets in the specific housings on the support base. Once it has reached the end of the travel on the support base, the head of the bracket is inserted into a suitable housing provided on the support base. In view of the above, the appliance on the support base is rigidly fixed to the support base and is advantageously characterised by the same safety and stability as in the case of an appliance that is positioned on the floor.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the support base is advantageously provided with a rolling system, that is to say means used to lift/move the support base with or without the household appliance.

The support base according to the present invention comprises at least three, preferably four or more feet for stable ground or floor support, designed to guarantee the stability before and during the operation of the household appliance.

The rolling system advantageously comprises lifting/moving means that, according to a preferred embodiment, consist in a lever that rigidly houses a pin on which a wheel is mounted. In idle position, the assembly formed of support base and appliance rests with all the feet on the floor to permit the normal operation of the appliance. In this case the lever is in idle position and the wheel associated with the lever does not rotate.

The lifting/moving means advantageously comprise the presence of at least one, preferably more than one wheel, roll, bearing or similar element, provided in the ending section of the lateral wall and/or the bottom in opposite position to the lateral wall or bottom with the lever.

To move the support base and/or the support base with appliance, the lever is used to lift the support base by means of an arm that transmits the rotation to a circular tubular housing, which contains two suitable reference elements in external position on the corresponding circular body of the lever designed to force and move on an angular circular plane.

Through rotation, for instance 90° rotation, of the lever, the movement of the fixed points on the lever assembly, on the circular angular planes in the housing of the support base, causes a lifting movement that makes the wheel of the lever come out and engage with the floor or ground. The simultaneous inclination of the support base allows to engage the other wheels or rolls or similar elements with the ground, in such a way to eliminate the contact of the four feet of the support base with the floor and create contact with the three wheels of the rolling system.

The preferred executive embodiments described above and illustrated below can be used independently or alternatively combined to increase the advantages obtained by means of the present invention.

Further advantageous characteristics are the subject of the enclosed claims and subclaims.

The present invention will be better understood in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, whereby: fig. 1 is a view of a steel support base according to the known art; figs. 2 to 36 refer to the support base of the invention; fig. 2 is an exploded view of the support base assembly; fig. 3 is an isometric view of the support base assembly in mounted configuration; fig. 4 illustrates a detail of the rear fixing system; fig. 5 illustrates a detail of the rear fixing system tightened in position on the support base; fig. 6 is an isometric top view of the rear fixing bracket; fig. 7 illustrates a detail of the rear fixing bracket; fig. 8 illustrates a detail of the screw used for rear fixing; fig. 9 illustrates a detail of the front fixing system with the appliance; fig. 10 is an exploded view of the front fixing system; fig. 11 is an isometric lower view of the support base; fig. 12 illustrates a detail of the housing of the rolling system and closing hook; fig. 13 is an isometric lower view of the support base; fig. 14 illustrates a detail of the housing of the rolling system; fig. 15 is an exploded view of the rolling system; fig. 16 is a side view of the support base; fig. 17 is a side view of the support base assembly on the floor; fig. 18 is a side view of the support base in lifted position; fig. 19 is a front view of the support base; fig. 20 is a front view of the support base assembly without drawer; fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the support base assembly with completely pulled-out drawer; fig. 22 illustrates a detail of the "soft closing" device in the drawer guide element; fig. 23 illustrates a detail of the "soft closing" device in the support base element; fig. 24 illustrates a cross-sectional detail of the housing of the lever in the support base; fig. 25 is a lower view of the support base; fig. 26 illustrates a detail of the housing of the rolling system from the lower view of the support base; fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view; fig. 28 illustrates a detail of the housing of the rolling system; fig. 29 illustrates a cross-sectional detail of the housing of the sliding wheel of the sliding drawer; fig. 30 is an isometric upper-rear view; fig. 31 illustrates a detail of the housing for front fixing; fig. 32 illustrates a detail of the housing for rear fixing; fig. 33 is an upper view of the support base assembly; fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view of the support base assembly; fig. 35 illustrates a cross-sectional detail of the housing of the sliding guide of the drawer; fig. 36 illustrates a diagram for the arrangement of the "meshes" of stiffening ribs.

Fig. 1 shows a model of support base according to the known art, typically made of steel, with parallelepiped shape, used to hold washing machines, washer dryers, dryers or similar appliances in raised position. According to the present invention, figure 2 shows a multi-functional support base (48) for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers, dryers and similar appliances, which comprises at least a first upper side that is used to support or fix the appliance, at least a second lower side that rests on the ground and at least one, preferably more than one, lateral side that" is used to connect the first and the second side, the said support base being able to support the weight of the household appliance. According to the illustrated embodiment, the support base (48) is made of non-metal materials, being preferably made of plastic materials and provided with one, preferably more than one, stiffening ribs on at least one lateral wall and/or lower or upper side.

The lateral walls surround an opening or internal compartment or internal cavity preferably designed to house a drawer (51 ) provided with a handle area (52) and are covered with lateral panels (50).

The support base assembly is composed of the following elements that are illustrated in the enclosed drawings: a support base (48), two lateral panels (50), a drawer (51 ), a handle (52), possibly a closing hook (55) for the drawer, a rolling system (37).

According to the illustrated embodiment, the rolling system (37) is composed of: a lever (151) rigidly fixed to a wheel (153) with rotation pin (152), two rear wheels (39).

Moreover, the support base comprises four feet (38), two front fixing systems for the appliance (40), two special screws (41 ) and two rear fixing brackets (42), two drawer guides (43) and various metal parts that are necessary to fix the components.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the stiffening ribs illustrated in figs. 11 , 13, 16, 25, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 36 are all obtained towards the external sides of the support base, with the internal cavity that houses the drawer (51 ) being provided with basically smooth walls, that is to say without stiffening ribs, in order to hide the presence of the anti- aesthetical structural reinforcement means.

As shown in fig. 3, once the support base is mounted: - only the panels (50) are immediately visible on the sides;

- only the handle (52) is visible from the front when the drawer is closed, and the internal compartment of the support base and the drawer are visible when the drawer is open;

- the upper side is hidden by the presence of the appliance;

- the lower side is hidden by the floor;

- the rear side is normally hidden by the wall of the room where the appliance is installed, and is only visible when the support base with the appliance is moved.

With reference to fig. 25 on the lower side, the four feet in the corners of the support base are joined by means of meshes of ribs, preferably with angular arrangement in the connection of the internal walls (117, 118 and 119) with the external walls (112, 113 e 114) in the three sides of the two lateral sides and of the rear side of the support base (48).

The meshes of ribs create beams along the external perimeter border of the parallelepiped of the support base.

The arrangement of the stiffening ribs (111 ) in meshes is preferred to the arrangement of stiffening ribs in perpendicular or undulated configuration illustrated in fig. 36, although the latter types of meshes can be advantageously used.

In case of angular stiffening ribs (111) the geometry of the angular connection with zig-zag configuration, with the same dimensions, is the most suitable one due to the lower development of the rib section, in the connection of two parallel walls, because of the lower development of the rib section, in the connection of two parallel walls, and also to provide a more uniform distribution of the stress induced by the forces transmitted both in left-right and front-rear directions. With reference to fig. 24 on the lower side, the beam or mesh of stiffening ribs that connects the two front feet, together with the arrangement of meshes of ribs with "angular crossings" (120), for the connection of the internal wall (122) with the external wall (123) of the beam, is also provided with ribs in parallel direction to the long side of the beam (121 ), in order to provide the most direct connection of the central stress point towards the furthest sides, and being these stiffening ribs the most suitable ones to withstand the ¹¹F" flexural force as shown in fig. 20 induced by the actuation of the lever for the rolling system.

As shown in figs. 13 and 16, on both lateral sides of the support base, the mesh of ribs with "angular crossing" has a higher density in the positions used to fix the household appliance, where forces are transmitted for the first time to the support base.

Being the vertical load the dominant component on this side, three vertical ribs (124 and 125) are obtained under each fixing point, together with the ribs with "angular crossing", this being the most suitable arrangement to withstand the vertical load induced by the household appliance support by the support base.

As shown in fig. 33, on the upper side of the support base, the connection between the two positions of the front fixing points is obtained by means of a mesh of stiffening ribs composed of two rectilinear parallel walls (126) connected with "angular" ribs (127), the said mesh being necessary to structurally counterbalance the disconnection in the front side of the right and left-hand side with the cavity used to insert the drawer.

Additional structural measures are applied on the upper side in the support plane of the four fixing points for the household appliance.

The front points are the most critical points in view of the concentrated load caused by the lower area of the fixing element: in the front points illustrated in fig. 7, the diameter 0 is the area where the weight force of the appliance is discharged, and in the rear points described below and illustrated in fig. 10, the area WxZ is the area where the weight of the appliance is discharged. Advantageously, the front fixing points have a larger structure: in order to develop the larger diameter of the washer and relevant rubber piece shown in fig. 9, and allow a better distribution of the vertical load caused by the appliance, and in view of the fact that this diameter must be provided at different positions available in the spacing distance K, the support plane (233) is higher than the main plane (234), as shown in fig. 31 ; moreover, the two planes (233 and 234) are mutually connected by means of walls (236), and with the circumferential wall of the slot with spacing distance K a box- shaped structure is obtained, which advantageously offers a higher structural resistance than the solution with only one reinforced plane with perpendicular walls.

Moreover, triangular ribs (237 and 238) are used to connect the box- shaped structure to the surrounding body and ensure a better distribution of loads, as shown in fig. 31.

With reference to fig. 32, the upper fixing points have a larger contact surface between the connection brackets between the appliance, as shown in figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, and support base because this connection mainly regulates the locking of the depth dimension, as illustrated below.

This allows to obtain the support plane of the bracket on the main surface (234), by stiffening the bracket in the connection with the internal wall by means of a higher number of ribs (312) between the perimeter of the internal wall (313) and the upper support structure identified by the plane (234).

As shown in figs. 4 and 5, once the bracket is blocked in position by tightening the screw (44) in the housing (311) of the support base, the bracket is contained in vertical direction through the insertion of a projection (61 ), as shown in fig. 6, into the housing (310) preferably obtained during moulding directly through a lateral opening (315), in which an insert joined to the "jaw" of the mould is inserted, which makes a lateral movement to obtain the entire structure of the lateral side (291).

According to an advantageous executive embodiment of the present invention, the support base (48) comprises means used to fix the appliance to the support base that are designed to fix or couple the appliance to the support base in non-permanent mode.

The advantageous peculiarity of the fixing means is that they are

"universal" means, it being possible to adjust their position to fix any type of washing machine, washer dryer with front loading or similar appliances to the support base, by simply adjusting the mutual position of the fixing means of the present invention.

According to an executive embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the front fixing means are composed as follows: special parts (40) are inserted to replace the feet of the household appliance, being provided with: at least a screw (46) for rigid fastening to the household appliance, at least a metal washer (47) to use the largest surface possible of the bottom for a more uniform distribution of the load of the machine on the rubber piece (45) mounted on the pin joined to the screw at the opposite end, being the only element placed between the support base and the appliance, when the appliance is positioned on the support base.

Advantageously, the rubber piece placed between the two rigid components of the appliance cabinet and the support base, absorbs the vibrations and noise caused by the operation of the household appliance.

As shown in fig. 31 , the housing for the rubber piece on the support base is obtained as a slot preferably arranged along the width (right-left, when looking at the support base from the front), with dimension K so that it can house different measures of different spacing distances of different models of household appliances.

The internal walls of the slot and the top of the support base around the slot are provided with multiple lines or cusp-shaped reliefs that provide additional resistance to the sliding movement of the rubber piece inserted in the slot and to the forces transmitted by the household appliance during operation.

The contact surface between the rubber and the housing of the support base is provided with cusp-shaped reliefs (232 and 235) in perpendicular position to the length of the slot, in order to additionally prevent the free movement during the operation of the household appliance.

According to the executive embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the rear fixing means are composed as follows: to replace the two feet of the household appliance, suitable metal screws (49) are inserted, as illustrated in fig. 8, provided with collar (82), that is to say an unthreaded area between the base of the threaded pin (81 ) and the head (83).

The rear fixing means also comprise two metal brackets (42) as shown in figs. 6 and 7, which are inserted between the head of the screws and the bottom of the cabinet of the household appliance through the opening with dimension "0a2" of fig. 6.

The bracket moves freely because the dimensions "0a4" and "Sp2" of fig. 6 are respectively larger than "ømin" of fig. 8 and smaller than "Sp" of fig. 8; the free movement is limited within a spacing distance "N" illustrated in fig.

5, which preferably corresponds to different depth measures of different spacing distances of different models of appliances.

In other words, the bracket is inserted as shown in fig. 4 after fixing the bracket under the appliance. The screw (49) slides inside the bracket because of the collar (82) that allows for the simultaneous tightening of the screw in the place of the foot of the appliance.

Once the appliance is positioned on the support base, the brackets are pushed towards the inside of the appliance, as shown in fig. 7, until they touch with the borders (71 ) provided with slotted holes (K2) preferably, for illustrative, not limiting purposes, having the same spacing distance as the fixing slot (K) in the front part, used to insert the screws (44) that rigidly fix the brackets in the specific housings (311 ) on the support base.

Once it has reached the end of the travel on the support base, the head of the bracket (61) is inserted into a suitable housing provided on the support base (310) that, together with the fixing screw (44) allows to better contain the bracket in vertical direction.

In view of the above, advantageously, the appliance on the support base is rigidly fixed to the support base and has the same safety and stability as in the case of a washing machine that is positioned on the floor. Another advantageous characteristic of the present invention refers to the fact that the support base is provided with a rolling system, that is to say means used to lift/move the support base with or without the household appliance.

With reference to figures 11 , 12, 14, 15, 17, and 18, the rolling system consists in a lever (37) that rigidly houses a pin with a wheel.

Fig. 17 shows the support base in idle position, when the assembly rests on the floor with four feet for the normal operation of the appliance supported by the support base.

Fig. 18 shows the support base in handling condition, in which the tree wheels provided in the preferred illustrated executive embodiment rest on the ground or floor. As shown in figs. 14 and 15, the lever allows to lift the support base in the handling position shown in fig. 18 by means of an arm (151) that transmits the rotation to a circular tubular housing shown in figs. 26 and 28, which contains two suitable reference elements (154) in external position on the corresponding circular body of the lever assembly (155) designed to force and move in an angular circular plane (141 ).

Through rotation, for instance a 90° rotation, of the lever, the movement of the fixed points of the lever assembly (154), on the circular angular planes (141) in the housing of the support base allows a lifting movement to eliminate the contact of the four feet of the support base with the floor and create contact with the three wheels (39 and 153) of the rolling system.

In this way the support base is only supported by the wheels and can be moved easily, in spite of the weight of the household appliance. According to a preferred illustrated embodiment, the lever is arranged along the width of the support base assembly, and hidden on top under the front part of the support base.

According to other advantageous characteristics of the present invention, the drawer inserted in the cavity of the support base is provided in the front with a preferably one-piece hook (55) between the handle (52) and the body of the drawer (51), being provided with a head that is inserted in a hole of the handle, visible and accessed by means of a tool or a coin inserted in a slot obtained in the head of the hook to rotate around a pin joined to the drawer, in order to insert or remove the hook into/from a suitable "window" in the support base (261 ), and consequently block the sliding movement of the drawer.

This characteristic increases the safety of the drawer, because it allows to store dangerous products in the drawer, in spite of the reduced height that is "in reach" of children.

For instance, the drawer can be used to store detergents, chlorine bleaches or similar substances that are necessary to operate the appliance, while the safety close device prevents children from opening the said drawer and come in contact with the said products.

Another advantageous characteristic of the present invention refers to the drawer sliding guide that is partially integrated in the wall of the support base.

With reference to figs. 20, 21 and 22, the drawer guide is designed to laterally guide and contain the sliding movement of the drawer inside the compartment or cavity obtained in the support base.

A wheel guide for drawers is normally composed of two elements: one element is fixed to the drawer and the other element is fixed to the side of the compartment that houses the drawer. In this executive embodiment, the guide element with wheel fixed to the drawer (43) is maintained, and the other element of the guide obtained in lateral position in the compartment of cavity of the support base with the drawer is eliminated.

The front entrance is provided with a wheel on each side (54) that counterbalances the other wheel (53) on the drawer to maintain the position of the drawer and favour its sliding movement.

The sliding housing of the wheel on the side of the support base is obtained by means of a C-shaped cavity illustrated in fig. 29, and the walls (281 , 282 and 283) are directly contiguous with the lateral wall of the support base, not being obtained as ribs perpendicular to the wall, in order to increase the structural resistance of the housing to withstand the vertical load of the weight of the drawer and the stored products.

Similarly to the wheel guide of the drawer, also the contrast part above the wheel is obtained with C-shaped structure for the walls (283, 284 and 285) in order to prevent the free vertical movement of the wheel, and consequently of the drawer, to maintain the continuity in the lateral side, with structural value higher than the solution with ribs perpendicular to the lateral side.

A small projection (286) is provided in the internal side of the upper part of the wheel guide, being designed to contain the wheel against the free horizontal movement towards the lateral sides of the support base. In order to develop the "soft closing" system of the drawer, that is to say the almost automatic closing of the drawer starting from the open position that is common for drawer guides made up of two parts, in order to oppose the change of plane on the guide fixed to the drawer shown in fig. 22, the necessary change of plane shown in fig. 23 is also provided on the guide for the wheel on the lateral side of the support base.

The latter geometry involves a complication in the injection moulding system, being an "undercut" in the movement direction of the punch that forms the internal cavity of the support base, and the die that holds the entire external side of the support base. The aforementioned "undercut" problem is solved by means of an opening on the back of the support base (221 ), as shown in figs. 29 and 30, obtained through the presence in the plastic injection mould of plug joined with the side that forms the external side of the back (231) as shown in fig. 30, that copies the housing of the wheel guide formed by the punch of the mould used to make the entire cavity of the housing for the drawer of the support base; this solution is cheaper and more reliable from the functional viewpoint than any other solution, such as the provision of plane change by means of a lateral movement mechanism directly inserted in the punch, which works in front-back direction.

Claims

1. Multi-functional support base for household appliances, in particular washing machines, washer dryers, dryers and similar appliances, which comprises at least a first upper side that is used to support and fix the appliance, at least a second lower side that rests on the ground and at least one, preferably more than one, lateral side that is used to connect the first and the second side, the said support base being able to support the weight of the appliance. characterised by the fact that: the support base is made of non-metal materials, being preferably made of plastic materials and provided with one, preferably more than one, stiffening ribs on at least one lateral wall and/or lower or upper side.

2. Support base as claimed in the preceding claim characterised by the fact that the support base has a basically parallelepiped, cubic or similar shape. 3. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the first upper side that is used to support or fix the appliance, and at least the second lower side that rests on the ground and at least one, preferably more than one, lateral connection walls define and create an internal cavity inside the support base. 4. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that stiffening ribs are obtained as meshes of ribs that create beams along at least the external perimeter border of the parallelepiped formed by the support base and/or along the lateral walls, as a whole or in part, and/or the upper and/or lower side. 5. Support base as one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that at least one, preferably all stiffening ribs are obtained towards the external sides of the support panel.

6. Support base as one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the wall surfaces of the housing cavity are smooth and face the inside of the said cavity.

7. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the second lower side that rests on the ground is provided in the corners with at least four feet for ground support, the said feet being joined by means of meshes of ribs or beams.

8. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the meshes of ribs that connect the four feet are provided with ribs with preferably angular, that is to say zig-zag arrangement, in the connection of the internal walls (117, 118 and 119) with the external walls (112, 113 and 114) in the three sides of the two lateral sides and the back side of the support base (48). 9. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the second lower side that rests on the ground is basically provided in two corners, that is to say the front corners that correspond to the opening of the housing cavity, with at least two feet for ground support, the said feet being connected by the said beam or mesh of zig-zag or angular ribs, and in combination with one, preferably more than one ribs parallel to the long side of the beam or mesh (121).

10. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that in the lateral sides or perimeter borders of the said lateral wall/s that connect/s the first and second side, in particular in the corner areas, the mesh with angular crossing has a higher density, that is to say is provided with denser meshes of ribs, in the fixing points for the appliance.

11. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that in the fixing points for the appliance, in combination with the ribs with angular crossing or zig-zag configuration, at least one or preferably more than one, in particular three vertical ribs (124, 125) are provided for each fixing point.

12. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the first upper side is basically provided in two corners, that is to say the front corners that correspond to the opening of the housing cavity, with at least two housings for the front fixing means used to fix the appliance, the said fixing means being connected by a mesh of stiffening ribs composed of two rectilinear parallel walls (126) connected by angular or zig-zag ribs (127).

13. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said front fixing means provide for the presence of the support plane (223) of the appliance in higher position that the main plane (234), the said main plane being formed by the first upper side.

14. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said support plane and main plane (233 and 234) are mutually connected by means of walls (236) in box-shaped structure.

15. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said box-shaped structure is mechanically associated or connected to the support base by means of one, preferably more than one triangular ribs (237 and 238).

16. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the first upper side is basically provided in two corners, that is to say the rear corners opposite the opening of the housing cavity, with at least two housings for the rear fixing means used to fix the appliance, each housing being obtained at least partially directly on the main plane (234).

17. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the housing for the fixing means is stiffened in the connection with the internal part by means of a larger number of ribs (312) between the perimeter of the internal wall (313) and the upper support structure formed by the plane (234).

18. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the housing (311 ) is provided with a projection (61 ) that engages the end of the rear fixing means. 19. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the support base is also provided in the connection wall between the first and the second side with at least one, preferably more than one coating panels (50) applied to the lateral wall.

20. Support base as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the support base is provided with a drawer inserted in the said cavity with basically identical dimensions as the housing cavity, the said drawer being provided in the front area, that is to say in the area that corresponds to the opening of the cavity with a handle area (52) that closes the opening of the said cavity.

21. Support base as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by the fact that it comprises means used to fix the appliance to the support base that are able to fix or couple the appliance to the support base in non-permanent mode.

22. Support base as claimed in the preceding claim characterised by the fact that the position of the fixing means for the appliance can be adjusted.

23. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 22, characterised by the fact that the said fixing means are first fixing means, or front fixing means, and second fixing means, or rear fixing means.

24. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 23 characterised by the fact that the front fixing means comprise fixing elements (40) with: at least a screw (46), at least a preferably metal washer (47) and at least a rubber piece (45), the said rubber piece being mounted on the pin joined to the screw at the opposite end, the said fixing elements being designed to replace the front support feet of the appliance.

25. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 24, characterised by the fact that the support base is provided with housings for the front fixing means, the said front housing being designed as a slot preferably in the width direction with dimension (K) in order to house different measures of different spacing distances of different models of appliances.

26. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 25 characterised by the fact that the rubber piece is engaged in the corresponding slot in non-permanent mode. 27. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 26, characterised by the fact that the internal walls of the slot and/or the top of the support base around the slot are provided with multiple lines or cusp- shaped reliefs.

28. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 27, characterised by the fact that the wedge or cusp-shaped reliefs (232, 235) are arranged in perpendicular direction to the length of the slot. 29. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 28 characterised by the fact that the rear fixing means comprise at least: screws, preferably metal screws (49) provided with collar (82), that is to say an unthreaded area between the base of the threaded pin (81 ) and the head (83) of the screw, the said screws (49) being designed to replace the rear support feet of the household appliance.

30. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 29 characterised by the fact that the rear fixing means also comprise at least: a bracket, preferably a metal bracket (42) designed to be inserted between the head of the screws and the bottom of the cabinet of the household appliance through the opening (0a2).

31. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 30 characterised by the fact that the said bracket is provided with a slide guide with a predefined spacing distance (N) for the mutual sliding with the screw (49) with some freedom of movement, the said spacing distance (N) corresponding to different depth measures of different spacing distances of different models of household appliances.

32. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 31 characterised by the fact that the bracket is also provided with a border (71 ) with at least a slotted hole (K2), preferably having the same spacing distance as the slot (K) of the front fixing means.

33. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 21 to 32 characterised by the fact that it is provided in combination with one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 2 to 20.

34. Support base as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by the fact that it comprises a rolling system, that is to say means used to lift/move the support base with or without the household appliance.

35. Support base as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the rolling system, that is to say means used to lift/move the support base comprise: at least a lever (37) that rigidly houses a pin on which a wheel is mounted, a bearing or similar element, at least one, preferably more than one wheel (153) provided in association with the said support base in fixed position.

36. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 35 characterised by the fact that the support base is provided with multiple feet, preferably four, for ground or floor support.

37. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 36, characterised by the fact that in idle position the support base rests on the floor with all the said feet, the said wheels (153) mounted in fixed position not being engaged with the floor or ground or being slightly in contact with it.

38. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 37, characterised by the fact when the support base is being handled, the three wheels rest on the ground or floor, the said feet being raised from the ground, not in contact with it.

39. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 38 characterised by the fact that the lever comprises an arm (151) designed to transmit the rotation of the lever in a circular tubular housing provided in the support base.

40. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 39 characterised by the fact that the circular tubular housing provided in the support base comprises an angular circular plane (141).

41. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 40, characterised by the fact that the lever comprises at least one, preferably two external references or fixed points (154) of the corresponding circular body of the lever (155), the said external references or fixed points (154) being designed to move on the angular circular plane (141) following to the rotation of the lever. 42. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 41 , characterised by the fact that the rotation generates the movement of the said fixed points of the lever (154) on angular circular planes (141 ) in the housing of the support base, causing the rotation and the ground support of the wheel joined to the lever, allowing for inclination and simultaneous lifting of the support base in such a way to eliminate the contact of the four feet of the support base with the floor and create contact with the two wheels (39, 153).

43. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 42, characterised by the fact that the lever is arranged along the width of the support base, that is to say in parallel position to the opening of the cavity and hidden in the top under the front part of the support base. 44. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 34 to 43, characterised by the fact that it comprises, alternatively or in combination, one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 2 to 20 and/or one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 21 to 33.

45. Support base as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the said support base comprises a housing cavity for a drawer, the said cavity having the opening in the front area of the support base.

46. Support base as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the drawer (51 ) is provided in the front with a handle area (52).

47. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 45 to 46, characterised by the fact that a hook is provided in the area between the handle (52) and the body of the drawer (51 ).

48. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 45 to 47, characterised by the fact that the hook is preferably made of a single piece (55), with head inserted in a hole of the said handle. 49. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 45 to 48 characterised by the fact that the head of the hook is provided with a slot for an opening tool and/or coin.

50. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 45 to 49, characterised by the fact that the hook is associated with possibility of rotation to a pin joined to the drawer.

51. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 45 to 50 characterised by the fact that the said support base comprises a window (261 ).

52. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 45 to 51 , characterised by the fact that the hook is designed to engage/disengage with the said window (261 ) by rotating around the pin. 53. Support base as claimed in one or more claims 45 to 52 characterised by the fact that it comprises, alternatively or in combination, one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 2 to 20 and/or one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 21 to 33 and/or one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 34 to 44. 55. Support base as claimed in claim 1 characterised by the fact that the said support base comprises a cavity designed to house a drawer, the said cavity being provided with the opening in the front area of the support base and the said drawer being a sliding drawer designed to be opened/closed by means of sliding translation for opening/closing. 56. Support base as claimed in the preceding claim characterised by the fact that the said support base and drawer are operatively associated by means of a sliding guide.

57. Support base as claimed in one or more claims 55 to 56 characterised by the fact that the sliding guide of the drawer is partially integrated directly on the wall of the support base.

58. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 55 to 57 characterised by the fact that the sliding guide is formed of two parts, a first part joined to the drawer and a second part joined to the support base, the second part of the sliding guide being joined to the support base and obtained in lateral position in the cavity of the support base that houses the drawer.

59. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 55 to 58 characterised by the fact that the sliding guide comprises a first wheel (54) for each side of the drawer, and a second wheel (53) on the drawer. 60. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 55 to 59 characterised by the fact that the housing of the sliding guide of the wheel joined to the support base on the side of the support base is obtained by means of a C-shaped cavity, the walls (281 , 282 and 283) being directly contiguous with the lateral wall of the support base.

61. Support base as claimed in one or more claims 55 to 60 characterised by the fact that part of the upper contrast guide of the wheel is obtained by means of a C-shaped cavity, with reference to the walls (283, 284 and 285).

62. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 55 to 61 characterised by the fact a projection (286) is provided in the internal side of the upper part of the wheel guide. 63. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 55 to 62 characterised by the fact that it is provided with a soft closing device designed to simplify the closing of the drawer.

64. Support base as claimed in one or more of claims 55 to 62 characterised by the fact that the soft closing device is designed to change the sliding plane of the drawer wheel.

65. Support base as claimed in one or more claims 55 to 62 characterised by the fact that it comprises, alternatively or in combination, one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 2 to 20 and/or one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 21 to 33 and/or one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 34 to 44 and/or one or more of the characteristics claimed in claims 45 to 54.