WO2017174781A1

WO2017174781A1 - A household appliance with improved safety

Info

Publication number: WO2017174781A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/058377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bugra CETINKAYA; Ergin METIN; Salih YILDIRIM; Servet CATALTEPE
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-04-08
Filing date: 2017-04-07
Publication date: 2017-10-12

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a cabin (2); a door (3) providing access into the cabin (2); a locking gap (4) arranged on the cabin (2), a latch (5) that is disposed on the body (3) and that enters the locking gap (4) when the door (3) is closed so as to keep the door (3) in the closed position, and a safety member (6) that is detachably mounted onto the latch (5) and that inhibits the closing of the door (3) by preventing the latch (5) from being seated into the locking gap (5).

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE WITH IMPROVED SAFETY

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a door, in particular to a laundry washing and/or drying machine.

In household appliances such as laundry washing machine, laundry drying machine, dishwasher, etc., open or closed state of the door is checked by means of a control unit and due to safety reasons, the user is allowed to start an operation mode only after the door is closed. However, children can easily reach the control panel and the door so as to close the door and operate the household appliance. In these cases, in addition to problems of unnecessarily operating the household appliances, changing the user-specific settings, etc., fatal home accidents may occur. In the state of the art, various child locks composed of key combinations or passwords are used so as to prevent the children from closing the door and activate an operational mode. However, since the door cannot be prevented from being closed with these embodiments, the accidents such as living things being locked in the cabin cannot be eliminated.

In the state of the art Korean Patent No. KR101128538, a stopping member is disclosed, that prevents the door from being closed by being engaged with a locking catch disposed on the door of the washing machine.

In the state of the art Korean patent application no. KR1020100081234, another stopping member is disclosed, that prevents the door of the washing machine from being closed. The stopping member comprises a lid-shaped portion that is engaged with the locking catch.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance wherein the door thereof is prevented from being closed when not in use.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims comprises a cabin; a door providing access into the cabin; a latch disposed on the door; a locking gap arranged on the cabin and wherein the latch enters when the door is closed, and a safety member that can be attached to/detached from the latch by the user and that prevents the latch from entering the locking gap. Thus, the door of the household appliance cannot be closed without removing the safety member from the latch and the household appliance is prevented from being operated without the control of the user.

In the household appliance of the present invention, the safety member comprises a body; an opening disposed on the body and wherein the latch is inserted; a bolt that is movably disposed into the body, that extends into the opening, that is pushed backwards from the opening by means of the latch by contacting the latch when the latch is inserted into the opening and the body is moved in a plane parallel to the door, and that returns to the position where the bolt extends into the opening so as to retain the end of the latch in the body by passing over the end of the latch, and a catch that is slidably mounted onto the body, that is connected to the bolt so as to move together with the bolt and that enables the bolt to be pulled back out of the opening when slid over the body by the user and enables the latch to be freed from the body. Thus, by making the dismounting of the safety member difficult, the safety of the household appliance is improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the end of the latch is in the form of a hook and a housing is arranged in the body, wherein the end of the latch enters after the bolt passes over the end of the latch. Thus, the latch is tightly seated into the body and the safety member is stably kept on the latch.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the latch is in the form of a straight protrusion extending perpendicularly to the door and has a hole thereon. When the latch is fitted into the opening and the body is moved parallel to the door, the bolt passes over the end of the latch and passes through the hole to return to its position where the bolt extends into the opening. Thus, the safety member is locked on the latch, providing an effective safety.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the bolt is connected to the body by means of a first spring. When in the balanced position, the first spring pushes the bolt towards the opening and is compressed when the bolt contacts the latch to be pushed into the body. Thus, by itself the bolt can return to the position where the bolt extends into the opening when the pushing force acting on the bolt is removed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the bolt contacting the latchwhile the body is moved parallel to the door during the mounting of the safety member onto the latch is inclined. Thus, the bolt can be pushed by the latch in a balanced manner.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the safety member has a support that is movably attached to the body so that at least one portion thereof remains between the body and the door, and at least one two spring that is disposed between the support and the body. When the safety member is mounted onto the latch, the support bears against the door and the second spring compresses and pushes the body away from the door. Thus, the safety member is kept on the latch in a stable manner and is prevented from dislodging.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the safety member comprises a damping means that is produced from a soft material and that is disposed on the base of the body so as to be squeezed between the door and the body when the safety member is mounted on the latch. Thus, the safety member is prevented from damaging the door.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the body facing the cabin when the safety member is mounted onto the latch is produced from soft material. Thus, the safety member is prevented from hitting and damaging the cabin wall when the door is tried to be closed.

By means of the present invention, the dismounting of the safety member is made difficult and the children are prevented from dislodging the safety member from the latch and thus from closing the door.

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 front perspective view of the household appliance related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the partial perspective view of the door related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the safety member related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 - is the top partial schematic view of the safety member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the partial perspective view of the safety member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 - is the exploded view of the safety member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the partial view of the cross-section of the door and the safety member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 - is the top partial schematic view of the safety member and the latch related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 - is the top partial schematic view of the safety member and the latch related to another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Household appliance
Cabin
Door
Locking gap
Latch
Safety member
Body
Opening
Bolt
Catch
Housing
Hole
First spring
Support
Second spring
Damping means

The household appliance (1) comprises a cabin (2); a door (3) providing access into the cabin (2); a locking gap (4) arranged on the cabin (2), a latch (5) that is disposed on the body (3) and that enters the locking gap (4) when the door (3) is closed so as to keep the door (3) in the closed position, and a safety member (6) that is detachably mounted onto the latch (5) and that inhibits the closing of the door (3) by preventing the latch (5) from being seated into the locking gap (5). The user mounts the safety member (6) onto the latch (5) when the household appliance (1) is not in use.

The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises the safety member (6) that has a body (7); an opening (8) disposed on the body (7) and wherein the latch (5) is inserted; a bolt (9) disposed into the body (7), that extends into the opening (8), that is pushed backwards from the opening (8) by rubbing against the latch (5) when the latch (5) is inserted into the opening (8) and the body (7) is moved in an axis perpendicular to the door (3), and that returns to the position before being moved so as to prevent the latch (5) from leaving the body (7) by passing over the end of the latch (5), and a catch (10) that is movably mounted onto the body (7), that is connected to the bolt (9) so as to transfer the movement applied thereon to the bolt (9) and that enables the bolt (9) to be pulled back out of the opening (8) by the user so as to take the latch (5) out of the body (7). While the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5), the latch (5) is inserted into the opening (8) and the body (7) is moved in an axis parallel to the door (3). Thus, the latch (5) contacts the bolt (9) and pushes the bolt (9) backwards so that the end of the bolt (9) is almost completely taken out of the opening (8). Consequently, the end of the latch (5) passes over the bolt (9) and enters the body (7), and the bolt (9) returns to the position where the bolt (9) extends into the opening (8) so as to keep the end of the latch (5) in the body (7). In this case, when the body (7) is tried to be moved in an axis parallel to the door (3), the latch (5) cannot push the bolt (9) and the safety member (6 ) cannot be pulled and detached from the latch (5). When the user wants to detach the safety member (6) from the latch (5), he/she slides the catch (10) and enables the bolt (9) to move backwards from the opening (8), and then enables the latch (5) to be re-inserted into the opening (8) by moving the body (7) in an axis parallel to the door (3), in a direction opposite to the mounting direction. Thus, the safety member (6) can be detached from the latch (5). Consequently, by making the dismounting process difficult, the children are prevented from detaching the safety member (6) from the latch (5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the latch (5) with hook-shaped end and a housing (11) that is arranged in the body (7) and wherein the latch (5) is seated when the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5). While the body (7) is moved in an axis perpendicular to the latch (5), the latch (5) pushes the bolt (9) and the end of the latch (5) passes over the bolt (9) and enters the housing (11).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the latch (5) that has a straight form so as to extend perpendicularly to the door (3), and a hole (12) that is arranged on the latch (5) and through which the bolt (9) passes after passing over the end of the latch (5) so as to allow the bolt (9) to return to its initial position without being moved. While the body (7) is moved in an axis perpendicular to the latch (5), the latch (5) pushes the bolt (9) and the bolt (9) passes over the end of the latch (5) and enters the hole (12). The hole (12) enables the bolt (9) to pass therethrough so as to return to the position where the bolt (9) extends into the opening (8). Thus, the safety member (6) is efficiently fixed onto the latch (5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the body (7) comprises a first spring (13) therein that is connected to the bolt (9) and that enables the bolt (9) to return to its initial position before being moved when the force acting on the bolt (9) is removed. The bolt (9) is connected to the body (7) by means of the first spring (13). The first spring (13) is compressed with the actuation of the catch (10) so as to enable the bolt (9) to be pushed through the opening (8) into the body (7) and returns to the balanced position as the force acting on the catch (10) is removed so as to enable the bolt (9) and the catch (10) to return the positions before being moved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the bolt (9) rubbing against the latch (5) is inclined. When the body (7) is moved in an axis perpendicular to the latch (5) as the latch (5) is fitted into the opening (8), the bolt (9) contacts the inclined surface of the latch (5) and the bolt (9) is enabled to be gradually pushed backwards from the opening (8).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the safety member (6) comprises a support (14) that is movably connected onto the body (7), and at least one second spring (15) that is disposed between the body (7) and the support (14) and that, when the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5), is compressed so as to enable the support (14) to bear against the door (3) and the body (7) to be pushed away from the door (3). The support (14) is connected to the body (7) from below so that at least a portion of the support (14) remains between the door (3) and the body (7) when the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5). When in the free position, the second spring (15) pushes the support (14) away from the body (7) and enables the support (14) to bear against the door (3) when the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5). While the latch (5) is fitted into the opening (8), the body (7) is pressed towards the door (3) and the second spring (15) is compressed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the body (7) comprises a damping means (16) that is produced from a soft material and that is disposed on the bottom side of the body (7) so as to be squeezed between the door (3) and the body (7) when the safety member (6) is mounted on the latch (5). The damping means (16) prevents the body (7) from bearing against the door (3) when the body (7) is pressed towards the door (3) and prevents the body (7) from damaging the door (3).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the safety member (6) has the body (7) of which the surface contacts the cabin (2) wall so as to prevent the door (3) from being closed is produced from soft material. The upper side of the body (7) is produced from a soft material such as rubber, etc. Thus, the body (7) hitting the cabin (2) is prevented from getting abraded and broken.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a laundry washing and/or drying machine.

By means of the present invention, the movement of the catch (10) is made difficult by means of the pushing force applied by the first spring (13) to the bolt (9) and the children are prevented from detaching the safety member (6) from the latch (5). Thus, a safety member (6) is realized, that can be dismounted only by adults. Moreover, by means of the damping means (16) disposed at the base of the body (7), the impact is dampened when the door (3) is tried to be closed fast and the safety member (6) is prevented from damaging the cabin (2) wall.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a cabin (2); a door (3) providing access into the cabin (2); a locking gap (4) arranged on the cabin (2), a latch (5) that is disposed on the body (3) and that enters the locking gap (4) when the door (3) is closed so as to keep the door (3) in the closed position, and a safety member (6) that is detachably mounted onto the latch (5) and that inhibits the closing of the door (3) by preventing the latch (5) from being seated into the locking gap (5), characterized by the safety member (6) that has

- a body (7);

- an opening (8) disposed on the body (7) and wherein the latch (5) is inserted;

- a bolt (9) disposed into the body (7), that extends into the opening (8), that is pushed backwards from the opening (8) by rubbing against the latch (5) when the latch (5) is inserted into the opening (8) and the body (7) is moved in an axis perpendicular to the door (5), and that returns to the position before being moved so as to prevent the latch (5) from leaving the body (7) by passing over the end of the latch (5), and

- a catch (10) that is movably mounted onto the body (7), that is connected to the bolt (9) so as to transfer the movement applied thereon to the bolt (9) and that enables the bolt (9) to be pulled back out of the opening (8) by the user so as to take the latch (5) out of the body (7).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the latch (5) with hook-shaped end and a housing (11) that is arranged in the body (7) and wherein the latch (5) is seated when the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the latch (5) that has a straight form so as to extend perpendicularly to the door (3), and a hole (12) that is arranged on the latch (5) and through which the bolt (9) passes after passing over the end of the latch (5) so as to allow the bolt (9) to return to its initial position without being moved.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a first spring (13) that is disposed in the body (7) and that is connected to the bolt (9) and that enables the bolt (9) to return to its initial position before being moved when the force acting on the bolt (9) is removed.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the bolt (9) of which the surface rubbing against the latch (5) is inclined.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a support (14) that is movably connected onto the body (7), and at least one second spring (15) that is disposed between the body (7) and the support (14) and that, when the safety member (6) is mounted onto the latch (5), is compressed so as to enable the support (14) to bear against the door (3) and the body (7) to be pushed away from the door (3).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by a damping means (16) that is produced from a soft material and that is disposed on the bottom side of the body (7) so as to be remain between the door (3) and the body (7) when the safety member (6) is mounted on the latch (5).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the body (7) of which the surface contacts the cabin (2) wall so as to prevent the door (3) from being closed is produced from soft material.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a laundry washing and/or laundry drying machine.