WO2012084470A1

WO2012084470A1 - A household appliance comprising a foot support

Info

Publication number: WO2012084470A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/071738
Authority: WO
Inventors: Osman Kilic; Ferhan Ercin
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2010-12-24
Filing date: 2011-12-05
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: EP2654542A1; EP2654542B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body, a door (2), a tub (3) wherein the washing process is performed, two front feet (4) that carry the body on the floor, two rear feet, a metal frame (5) connected to the tub (3) and supporting the tub (3) at a certain height from the floor such that elements like the pump, salt chamber, discharge hose can fit at the underside of the tub (3), formed of vertical arms extending from left and right of the tub (3) to the floor and horizontal arms connecting the vertical arms, a foot support (6) produced from plastic, mounted to the frame (5), extending from one side to the other as a single block at the lower side of the door (2), whereon the front feet (4) are mounted.

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING A FOOT SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a foot support to which the front feet carrying the body thereof on the floor are mounted.

In household appliances, particularly in dishwashers, the tub wherein the washing process is performed, is produced from stainless steel or plastic and is generally mounted to a metal frame seated on the feet that tread on the floor. The weight of the tub, the pump, salt chamber and all the other components and the forces that act during transportation and utilization are counterbalanced by the metal frame. In some embodiments, the tub is placed on a box shaped base support, produced from plastic material, seated on the feet treading on the floor and supporting the tub all around from its lower sides. The weight of the tub and the other components is supported by the said plastic base support. In short, in their place of utilization, the dishwashers are supported on the floor by base supports produced from metal or plastic. During the use of dishwashers, the forces that act especially while the front door is opened and closed should be counterbalanced and the forward tilting of the dishwasher should be prevented. Therefore, the feet at the front are mounted to the foot supports that extend forwards from the front – lower part of the dishwasher body and that are mounted to the base support as a separate piece later on. The distance between the front feet and the rear feet is increased by means of the forward extending foot supports, the dishwasher is placed on the floor in a more stable and balanced manner and particularly the forward tilting motion is prevented. In dishwashers wherein the base support is produced from metal, the foot support is also produced from metal. The desired rigidity is provided when the base support and the foot support, both metal, are mounted to one another however mounting multiple number of metal pieces to one another by screwing causes the labor and material costs to increase. In dishwashers wherein the base support is produced from plastic, the foot support is also produced from plastic. The base support and the foot support, both plastic, are mounted to one another by using flexible fastening methods like snap-fitting however not only the desired rigidity and strength cannot be provided but the costs of this type of constructions are also high.

The state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2217756 relates to a base support supporting a household appliance, particularly a dishwasher, on the floor and a foot support fastened to the base support with a flexible tension element.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance wherein the plastic foot support grouping the front feet is mounted to the metal frame supporting the tub with a rigid connection.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a frame that supports the tub on the floor, a foot support produced from plastic, extending from one side to the other as a block at the underside of the door and whereon the front feet are mounted and a locking member providing the foot support to be mounted to the frame.

In the household appliance, apertures are disposed at the lower section of the frame whereto the foot support is mounted and holes on the fastening tabs that overlap with the apertures, extending from the plastic foot support to the frame. The locking member provides the foot support to be secured to the frame by means of its legs being inserted from the apertures and the holes.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking member is produced from plastic material and has a square or rectangular shaped plate and four legs that extend vertically from four corners of the plate.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking member has extensions at the end portions of the legs that extend outwards perpendicularly to the legs.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking member has ribs arranged on the plate that reinforce its structure and grooves disposed on the legs that increase the strength of the legs.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the locking member has a screw hole providing it to be fastened to the frame by means of a screw.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the frame with U shaped transverse cross-section and the locking member is disposed between the U shaped walls of the frame by being guided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises hanger that extend outwards from the rear surface of the foot support and side apertures disposed on the surface of the frame facing the foot support through which the hangers are inserted.

In the household appliance of the present invention, the foot support produced from plastic material is fastened rigidly to the frame, produced from metal material, by means of locking members produced from plastic material, contrary to the flexible connection in conventional technique, thus strength is increased and furthermore cost advantage is provided by decreasing the number of components used.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a household appliance.

Figure 2 – is the exploded view of the tub, frame and foot support disposed in the household appliance.

Figure 3 – is the detailed view of the foot support, the frame and the locking member before being assembled.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of a locking member.

Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the locking member from another angle.

Figure 6 – is the detailed view of the foot support, the frame and the locking member after being assembled.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Household appliance
Door
Tub
Front foot
Frame
Foot support
Fastening tab
Hole
Aperture
Leg
Locking member
Plate
Rib
Groove
Screw hole
Extension
Hanger
Side aperture
Cover

The household appliance (1), particularly the dishwasher, comprises a body, a door (2), a tub (3) wherein the washing process is performed, two front feet (4) that carry the body on the floor, two rear feet (not shown in the figures), a metal frame (5) connected to the tub (3) and supporting the tub (3) at a certain height from the floor such that elements like the pump, salt chamber, discharge hose can fit in underside of the tub (3), formed of vertical arms extending from left and right of the tub (3) to the floor and horizontal arms connecting the vertical arms, a foot support (6) produced from plastic, mounted to the frame (5), extending from one side to the other as a single block at the underside of the door (2), whereon the front feet (4) are mounted and a cover (19) mounted to the lower side of the door (2), in front of the foot support (6) and providing visual integrity in terms of decoration.

The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises

-at least one fastening tab (7), disposed on the rear surface of the foot support (6) and extending towards the frame (5) and bearing against it,

-at least one hole (8) located on the fastening tab (7),

-at least one aperture (9) disposed on the frame (5) that overlaps with the hole (8) when the foot support (6) is joined with the frame (5) for securing during assembly and

-a locking member (11) having at least one leg (10) that fastens the fastening tab (7) and thus the foot support (6) to the frame (5) by being inserted through the aperture (9) and the hole (8).

While the foot support (6) is mounted to the body during the production of the household appliance (1), the fastening tabs (7) bear against the vertical arms of the frame (5) disposed at the right and left, from their inner sides, the locking members (11) are mounted to the frame (5) from the sides and the legs (10) are inserted inwards from the sides into the frame (5) and the fastening tabs (7).

The foot support (6) is fastened to the frame (5) by means of two locking members (11). While the foot support (6) is mounted, the fastening tabs (7) bear against the frame (5), the apertures (9) and the holes (8) are positioned oppositely. Afterwards, the locking members (11) are mounted by inserting the legs (10) through the apertures (9) and the holes (8) and thus secure the fastening tabs (7), hence the foot support (6) to the frame (5). The legs (10) of the locking member (11) extend vertical to the direction wherein the foot support (6) is joined with the frame (5) by pushing, in other words from right to left in the horizontal direction, thus the foot support (6) is almost entirely prevented from moving forwards/backwards by means of the legs (10) after being mounted to the frame (5) and the foot support (6) produced from plastic material is provided to be rigidly fastened to the frame (5) produced from metal material.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking member (11) is produced from plastic and comprises a rectangle, square or circular disc shaped plate (12) and four legs (10) that extend from the corners of the plate (12) vertically to the plane of the plate (12) (Figure 4, Figure 5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking member (11) comprises at least one rib (13), disposed on the plate (12) and providing its structure to be reinforced, at least one groove (14) disposed on the legs (10), increasing flexibility and strength of the legs (10) and a screw hole (15) providing the locking member (11) to be fastened to the frame (5) by means of a screw (Figure 4, Figure 5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking member (11) comprises at least one extension (16), disposed at the end portions of the legs (10), extending outwards from the legs (10) in parallel direction to the plate (12) and vertically to the legs (10), mounted to the fastening tab (7) by being inserted through the apertures (9) and the holes (8) during the assembly (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5). While the locking member (11) is mounted, the legs (10) are inserted through the apertures (9) on the frame (5) and the holes (8) on the fastening tab (7), the extensions (16) are mounted to the fastening tab (7) after passing through the holes (8) thus preventing the locking member (11) and hence the foot support (6) from moving to the right or left in the horizontal direction. The legs (10) and the extensions (16) vertical to the legs (10) are configured rigidly thus stretching is not required while inserting them through the apertures (9) and the holes (8).

The locking member (11) prevents the foot support (6) from moving forwards-backwards and upwards-downwards by means of the legs (10) after being mounted to the frame (5) and prevents right or left movement by means of the extensions (16) at the end of the legs (10) thus a rigid foot support (6) – frame (5) connection having high strength is provided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the transverse cross-section of the frame (5) is U shaped and the locking member (11) is mounted between the walls that form the U shape of the frame (5) by being guided by the walls of the frame (5) (Figure 6). Thus, the locking members (11) do not protrude from the frame (5) to the side portions, the empty volume between the walls of the U shaped frame (5) is utilized by disposing the locking member (11) therein and ease of assembly is provided since the walls of the frame (5) serve as guides while the locking member (11) is mounted.

The household appliance (1) furthermore comprises at least one hanger (17) extending outwards from the rear surface of the foot support (6) and disposed near the fastening tabs (7) and at least one side aperture (18) disposed on the side wall of the frame (5) whereto the hanger (17) is mounted during assembly (Figure 3). The hanger (17) and the side aperture (18) provide the foot support (6) to be mounted to the frame (5) in the right position and safely.

In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the foot support (6) produced from plastic material is rigidly fastened to the frame (5) produced from metal material by means of the locking members (11) which are also produced from plastic material, providing high strength and advantage in terms of labor and material costs by decreasing the number of pieces used.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a body, a door (2), a tub (3) wherein the washing process is performed, two front feet (4), a metal frame (5) connected to the tub (3) and supporting the tub (3) at a certain height from the floor, formed of vertical arms extending from left and right of the tub (3) to the floor and horizontal arms connecting the vertical arms and a foot support (6) produced from plastic, mounted to the frame (5), extending from one side to the other as a single block below the door (2), whereon the front feet (4) are mounted,

characterized by

- at least one fastening tab (7), extending from the foot support (6) towards the frame (5) and bearing against it,

- at least one hole (8) located on the fastening tab (7),

- at least one aperture (9) disposed on the frame (5) that overlaps with the hole (8) when the foot support (6) is joined with the frame (5) and

- a locking member (11) having at least one leg (10) that fastens the fastening tab (7) to the frame (5) by being inserted through the aperture (9) and the hole (8).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the locking member (11) produced from plastic and comprising a plate (12) and four legs (10) that extend from the corners of the plate (12) vertically to the plane of the plate (12).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the locking member (11) comprising at least one extension (16), disposed at the end portions of the legs (10), extending outwards from the legs (10) and perpendicularly to the legs (10), mounted to the fastening tab (7) by being inserted through the apertures (9) and the holes (8) during assembly.
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized by the locking member (11) comprising at least one rib (13) disposed on the plate (12) and at least one groove (14) disposed on the legs (10).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the locking member (11) comprising a screw hole (15) providing it to be fastened to the frame (5) by means of a screw.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the frame (5), the transverse cross-section of which is U shaped, and the locking member (11) disposed between the walls of the frame (5) by being guided by the walls of the frame (5).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one hanger (17) extending outwards from the rear surface of the foot support (6) and disposed near the fixing tabs (7) and at least one side aperture (18) disposed on the side wall of the frame (5) whereto the hanger (17) is mounted during assembly.
A dishwasher characterized by the foot support (6) that is mounted by using a locking member (11) as in any one of the above Claims.