WO2017194090A1

WO2017194090A1 - Laundry dryer with an improved kick panel assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2017194090A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/060326
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volkan CERKEZ; Adem KAYTAZ; Merve DOGAN; Cem SELCUK; Mutlu TUNA
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-05-09
Filing date: 2016-05-09
Publication date: 2017-11-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising: a kick panel assembly (3) including: an openable/closable first kick panel (4); a second kick panel (5) which is next to the first kick panel (4) and not openable.

Description

LAUNDRY DRYER WITH AN IMPROVED KICK PANEL ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance, in particular to a laundry dryer or a laundry washer-and-dryer.

Laundry treatment appliances such as laundry dryers and laundry washer-and-dryers are commonly known in the art. Several techniques have been devised for drying the wet laundry. The heat-pump type laundry dryers as well as the condenser type laundry dryers are commonly known in the art.

Fig. 1 shows a laundry dryer (1’) which is known from the prior art. The laundry dryer (1’) comprises: a main body (2’) which includes: a drum (not shown) for receiving the laundry to be dried, and a drying unit (not shown) for drying the laundry by means of heated process air; and a kick panel assembly (3’) which has: a first kick panel (4’) for at least partly accessing the drying unit, in particular the lint filter or the condenser, wherein the first kick panel (4’) is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2’); and a second kick panel (5’) which is next to the first kick panel (4’) and not openable, wherein the second kick panel (5’) has a perforated area (6’); a fan (not shown) for cooling at least part of the drying unit, in particular the condenser or the compressor, wherein the fan is disposed behind the second kick panel (5’); a locking means (not shown) for locking/unlocking the first kick panel (4’) in the closed state, wherein the locking means is disposed onto the backside of the first kick panel (4’); and a button (5a’) for actuating the locking means, wherein the button (5a’) is disposed onto the second kick panel (5’).

US2016/0053426 A1 discloses a laundry dryer.

A problem with the prior art laundry dryer (1’) is that the locking means and the button (5a’) together restrict the perforated area (6’) of the second kick panel (5’), and thus the flow is adversely affected. Consequently, the compressor or the condenser cannot be effectively cooled, and thus the laundry drying performance is reduced. Moreover, the locking means and the button (5a’) incur additional costs both in labor and material.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a laundry dryer which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved ventilation performance and an improved laundry drying performance.

This objective has been achieved by the laundry dryer as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

The laundry dryer of the present invention has no locking means but a fastening means for fastening the first kick panel in the closed state. In the laundry dryer of the present invention, the fastening means comprises a latch and a catch, wherein one of the latch and the catch is disposed onto the back side of the first kick panel and the other one is disposed onto the periphery of the second kick panel, wherein the fastening means is concealed and not visible from the outside when the first kick panel is in the closed state, and wherein the second kick panel is adapted to move inwardly when it is pressed by the user, up to a predetermined amount whereat the latch and the catch resiliently disengage.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the need for using a lock mechanism behind the second kick panel has been obviated. Thereby, the production costs can be saved both in labor and material. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned adverse effect on the flow induced by the fan has been eliminated or reduced as much as possible, and thus the second kick panel can be provided with additional perforations on the area which had been blocked by the locking means and the button, and thus the cooling performance can be comparatively improved. Thereby, the laundry drying performance can also be improved. Moreover, a fan with a higher flow rate can be effectively deployed behind the perforated area of the second kick panel. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned restriction on the perforated area has been removed, and thus the perforated area can be further uniformly widened towards the periphery of the second kick panel. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the appearance of the laundry dryer has been rendered unsophisticated and smooth as the fastening means is concealed by the first kick panel in the closed state, and also the need for the button has been obviated. With the present invention, the user satisfaction can be further increased.

In an embodiment, the second kick panel is pivotably disposed onto the main body and it is pivotably movable inwardly when it is pressed by the user.

In a further embodiment the second kick panel is spring-loaded. In this embodiment, the pivotal outward movement of the second kick panel is restricted through a retainer. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the second kick panel smoothly moves inwardly when it is pressed by the user. In this embodiment, the kick panel assembly comprises one or more spring elements which are arranged to push the second kick panel. In particular in a version of this embodiment the spring elements are arranged distanced from the pivotal axis.

Alternatively the second kick panel may be provided with a flexible hinge.

In another embodiment, the catch is provided as a projection having a chamfered head. And the latch is provided has a gripper. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the fastening means is reliable and cost effective.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the laundry dryer of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a laundry dryer according to the prior art;

Figure 2 – is a schematic perspective view of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first kick panel is an open state;

Figure 3 – is a schematic perspective view of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first kick panel is in the closed state;

Figure 4 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer of Fig.3, taken along the line A-A;

Figure 5 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer of Fig.3, taken along the line B-B in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer of Fig.3, taken along the line C-C in Fig. 4;

Figure 7 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail D of Fig. 5;

Figure 8 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail E of Fig. 6;

Figure 9 – is a schematic perspective view of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first kick panel is in an open state;

Figure 10 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer of Fig.9, taken along the line F-F;

Figure 11 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer of Fig.9, taken along the line G-G in Fig. 10;

Figure 12 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer of Fig.9, taken along the line H-H in Fig. 10;

Figure 13 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail I of Fig. 11;

Figure 14 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail J of Fig. 12.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Laundry dryer
Main body
Kick panel assembly
First kick panel
Second kick panel
Perforated area
Fastening means
Latch
Catch
Spring element
Retainer
Projection
Chamfered head
Gripper
Claw
Slot
Centering pin
First perimetral side
Second perimetral side

The laundry dryer (1) comprises: a main body (2); a drum (not shown) for receiving the laundry to be dried, a drying unit (not shown) for drying the laundry by means of heated process air; a kick panel assembly (3) which includes: a first kick panel (4) for at least partly accessing the drying unit, wherein the first kick panel (4) is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2); and a second kick panel (5) which is next to the first kick panel (4) and not openable, wherein the second kick panel (5) has a perforated area (6); a fan (not shown) for cooling at least part of the drying unit, wherein the fan is disposed behind the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 2).

The laundry dryer (1) of the present invention further comprises a fastening means (7) for fastening the first kick panel (4) in the closed state (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). The fastening means (7) comprises a latch (8) and a catch (9), wherein one of the latch (8) and the catch (9) is disposed onto the back side of the first kick panel (4), and wherein the other one of the latch (8) and the catch (9) is disposed onto the periphery of the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 2). The fastening means (7) is concealed and not visible nor directly accessible from the outside when the first kick panel (4) is in the closed state (Fig. 3). The second kick panel (5) is adapted to move inwardly when it is pressed by the user, up to a predetermined amount whereat the latch (8) and the catch (9) resiliently disengage (Fig. 12 and Fig. 13).

In an embodiment, the second kick panel (5) is pivotably disposed onto the main body (2) so as to pivotably move about a pivotal axis (Z1) (Fig. 4 and Fig. 10). In this embodiment the second kick panel (5) is adapted to move inwardly when it is pressed by the user by rotating around the pivotal axis (Z1).

According to an embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the pivotal axis (Z1) is advantageously a vertical pivotal axis (Z1) and it is close to a lateral side of the main body (2).

In a further embodiment, the kick panel assembly (3) further includes: one or more spring elements (10) which are arranged to push the second kick panel (5) outwards about the pivotal axis (Z1); and a retainer (11) which is adapted to restrict the pivotal outward movement of the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 6, Fig. 8 and Fig. 14).

According to an embodiment, the spring elements (10) are arranged on the second kick panel (5) and they act against the main body (2). More in detail, in a version of this embodiment, the spring elements (10) are mounted on centering pins (17) which are formed on the second kick panel (5) and abut against the main body (2).

In an embodiment, the spring elements (10) are distant from the pivotal axis (Z1).

In a further embodiment, the second kick panel (5) comprises a first perimetral side (18) on which it is pivotably connected to the main body (2) about the pivotal axis (Z1) and a second perimetral side (19), opposite to the first perimetral side (18), on which the one or more spring elements (10) are arranged. In particular, in a version of this embodiment, the first perimetral side (18) of the second kick panel (5) and hence the pivotal axis (Z1) are close to a first lateral side of the main body (2) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 12), in particular the right lateral side according to the attached drawings, and the second perimetral side (19) of the second kick panel (5), along which the spring elements (10) are arranged, is adjacent to the first kick panel (4).

According to a further version of this embodiment, the second kick panel (5) has a square or rectangular shape, as for instance illustrated in the attached figures, and it is pivotably connected to the main body (2) about a vertical pivotal axis (Z1) along one of its lateral sides while the spring elements (10) are arranged on its opposite lateral side.

In another embodiment, the catch (9) comprises a projection (12) having a chamfered head (13); and the latch (8) comprises a gripper (14) which is adapted to grip the chamfered head (13) (Fig. 7 and Fig. 13). In a further embodiment, the projection (12) has substantially a mushroom shape with an enlarged chamfered head (13).

In another embodiment, the gripper (14) comprises two or more flexible clips, suitable to be elastically deformed by the head (13) of the projection (12), when the latter is moved with respect to the gripper (14) being forced to pass among the clips.

In an embodiment, the catch (9) is formed on the back side of the first kick panel (4). In this embodiment, the latch (8) is formed onto the periphery of the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 2).

In another embodiment, the projection (12) having the chamfered head (13) is formed onto the back side of the first kick panel (4). In this embodiment, the gripper (14) is formed onto the periphery of the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 2).

In another embodiment, the first kick panel (4) is pivotably disposed onto the main body (2) so as to pivotably move about a vertical axis (Z2) which is close to a second lateral side of the main body (2) (Fig. 4 and Fig. 10), in particular the left lateral side according to the attached drawings.

In another embodiment, the retainer (11) has one or more claws (15) which are formed on the second kick panel (5) and engaged with slots (16) provided on the main body (2) (Fig. 8 and Fig. 14).

In the subsequent description, the use of the kick panel assembly (3) will be briefly explained by way of example.

First, the second kick panel (5) is moved inwardly by pressing it at a position close to the first kick panel (4) until the latch (8) and the catch (9) resiliently disengage. In particular the gripper (14) resiliently rides over the chamfered head (13) which is, for instance, stopped by abutting against the main body (2) (Fig. 7, Fig. 11 and Fig. 13). Thereby, the first kick panel (4) becomes unfastened, and can be pivoted to the open state (Fig. 2). Meanwhile the second kick panel (5) returns to its initial position under the action of the spring elements (10). After the drying unit, in particular the lint filter or the condenser has been serviced; the user can pivot the first kick panel (4) to the closed state, and push the first kick panel (4) until the latch (8) and the catch (9) resiliently engage. Thereby, the first kick panel (4) becomes fastened again.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the need for using a lock mechanism behind the second kick panel (5) has been obviated. Thereby, the production costs can be saved both in labor and material. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned adverse effect on the flow induced by the fan has been eliminated or reduced as much as possible, and thus the second kick panel (5) can be provided with additional perforations on the area which had been blocked by the locking means and the button (5a’), and thus the cooling performance can be comparatively improved. Thereby, the laundry drying performance can also be further improved. Moreover, a fan with a higher flow rate can be effectively deployed behind the perforated area (6) of the second kick panel (5a). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned restriction on the perforated area (6) has been removed, and thus the perforated area (6) can be further uniformly widened towards the periphery of the second kick panel (6). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the appearance of the laundry dryer (1) has been rendered unsophisticated and smooth as the fastening means (7) is concealed by the first kick panel (4) in the closed state, and also the need for the a button (5a’) has been obviated. With the present invention, the user satisfaction can be further increased. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above-described embodiments.

Claims

A laundry dryer (1) comprising: a main body (2); and a drying unit for drying the laundry by means of heated process air; a kick panel assembly (3) which includes: a first kick panel (4) which is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2) so as to at least partly access the drying unit; and a second kick panel (5) which is next to the first kick panel (4) and not openable, wherein the second kick panel (5) has a perforated area (6) for ventilating at least part of the drying unit, characterized by further comprising a fastening means (7) for fastening the first kick panel (4) in the closed state, which fastening means (7) comprises a latch (8) and a catch (9), wherein one of the latch (8) and the catch (9) is disposed onto the back side of the first kick panel (4) and the other one is disposed onto the periphery of the second kick panel (5), wherein the fastening means (7) is concealed and not visible from the outside when the first kick panel (4) is in the closed state, and wherein the second kick panel (5) is adapted to move inwardly when it is pressed by the user, up to a predetermined amount whereat the latch (8) and the catch (9) resiliently disengage.
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second kick panel (5) is pivotably disposed onto the main body (2) about a pivotal axis (Z1) and it is adapted to move inwardly when it is pressed by the user by rotating around the pivotal axis (Z1).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the kick panel assembly (3) further includes: one or more spring elements (10) which are arranged to push the second kick panel (5) outwards about the pivotal axis (Z1); and a retainer (11) which is adapted to restrict the pivotal outward movement of the second kick panel (5).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the one or more spring elements (10) are arranged on the second kick panel (5) and they abut against the main body (2).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the one or more spring elements (10) are arranged distanced from the pivotal axis (Z1).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the second kick panel (5) comprises a first perimetral side (18) on which it is pivotably connected to the main body (2) about the pivotal axis (Z1) and a second perimetral side (19), opposite to the first perimetral side (18), on which the one or more spring elements (10) are arranged.
The laundry dryer (1) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the catch (9) comprises a projection (12) having a chamfered head (13); and the latch (8) comprises a gripper (14) which is adapted to grip the chamfered head (13).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the gripper (14) comprises two or more flexible clips.