WO2018188928A1

WO2018188928A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2018188928A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/057279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Onur MUHIDDIN; Isik Ozyaka; Can Sar; Ulas GUNCAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-04-10
Filing date: 2018-03-22
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-10
Also published as: TR201705294A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a body (2); a door (3) providing access into the body (2), and a hinge (4) that provides the connection between the door (3) and the body (2) and that enables the door (3) to be opened/closed by being rotated around its rotation axis.

Description

A WASHING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a hinge that provides the connection between the door and the body.

In washing machines, the interior of the body is generally accessed by means of a door that opens left or right by being rotated around a vertical rotation axis. Nowadays, in response to the increasing demand for functionality, the use of washing machines wherein the opening direction of the door can be changed according to the user needs is becoming increasingly widespread. When the direction of the door is being changed, the hinge connecting the door to the body is detached from the body and after the direction of the door is reversed, the hinge is attached to a new position on the body after being moved from left to right or right to left. However, on the surfaces where the hinge contacts the body, especially when both the body and the hinge are made from metallic material, defects such as wearing, scratches and abrasions on the paint may occur. After changing the opening direction of the door, all of these defects previously hidden by the hinge become visible and adversely affect the appearance and decrease the quality perception of the user since.

In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. CN101440838, a bolt structure is disclosed, that prevents the formation of scratches on the washing machine.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein visual defects are decreased.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a hinge that is fixed onto the body and whereon the door is mounted so as to rotate around its rotation axis. On the hinge at least one rib is provided, that presses onto the body when the hinge is mounted on the body. By means of the rib, the surface of the hinge that faces the body is prevented from bearing against the body and the contact surface between the hinge and the body is reduced. Thus, the deformations that may occur on the body during the mounting and dismounting of the hinge are decreased in a simple and effective manner and the user dissatisfaction as a result of the visual defects is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rib is in the form of a continuous line extending on the rear surface of the hinge. Thus, by increasing the contact surface between the rib and the body, the pressure exerted onto the body is reduced and the rib is prevented from damaging the body.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the rib is in the form of a frame following the contour of the rear surface of the hinge so as to almost completely surround the entire rear surface of the hinge. Thus, the hinge is enabled to press on the body in a balanced and firm manner.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the corner sections of the rib following the corners of the hinge are curved. Thus, deformations such as abrasions and scratches on the paint that may occur due to the corners of the rib bearing the body are prevented.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the edges of the surface of the rib that press on the body are filleted. Thus, especially in cases when the screw that connects the hinge to the body is over-tightened and the hinge presses excessively onto the body, the defects that may occur in regions where the rib bears against the body are prevented.

By means of the present invention, the deformations caused by the hinge on the body are almost completely prevented without compromising the sturdiness of the connection between the hinge and the body.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where

Figure 1 – is the top view of the washing machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the view of the hinge related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the view of detail A in Figure 2.

Figure 4 – is the partial view of the washing machine related to another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Washing machine
Body
Door
Hinge
Rear surface
Rib
Loading opening
Hole
Support portion

The washing machine (1) comprises a body (2); a door (3) providing access into the body (2), and a hinge (4) that provides the connection between the door (3) and the body (2) and that enables the door (3) to be opened/closed by being rotated around its rotation axis. The door (3) covers a loading opening (7) that enables the laundry to be placed into the body (2). The hinge (4) is fixed onto the body (2) by means of fixing elements such as screws and bolts, and enables the door (3) to be opened/closed by being rotated around a vertical rotation axis. When the opening direction of the door (3) is desired to be changed, the fixing elements are removed and the hinge (4) is detached from the body (2), and after the door (3) is reversed, the hinge (4) is moved from the left to the right or from the right to the left relative to the loading opening (7) and attached back onto the body (2). The washing machine (1) can be a laundry washing machine, a laundry drying machine or a laundry washing-drying machine.

The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises at least one rib (6) that is disposed on the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) facing the body (2) and that bears against the body (2) so that there is a predetermined distance between the rear surface (5) and the body (2) when the hinge (4) is attached onto the body (2). The rib (6) extends towards the body (2) from the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) facing the body (2) so as to contact the body (2) when the hinge (4) is attached onto the body (2). Thus, by moving the rear surface of the hinge (4) away from the body (2), the hinge (4) is prevented from contacting the body (2) and the contact surface between the hinge (4) and the body (2) is reduced. Thereby, while the hinge (4) is being detached from the body (2) and attached back onto the body (2), damages such as dents and abrasions caused by the surfaces of the hinge (4) that contact the body (2) are minimized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one rib (6) is in the form of a line extending on the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4). The ribs (6) are in the form of a narrow line extending on the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) and form an almost completely closed contour that at least partially surrounds the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4). Thus, by enabling the hinge (4) to press on the body (2) in a balanced and firm manner, the hinge (4) is prevented from being displaced.

In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one rib (6) extends along the contour of the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) so as to almost completely surround the rear surface (5). The ribs (6) are in the form of a continuous line following the contour of the rear surface (5) so as to almost completely surround the rear surface (5). Thus, the gap between the hinge (4) and the body (2) is prevented from being visible from outside and the regions where the hinge (4) is fixed onto the body (2) are concealed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a distance of at least 0.2 mm is provided between the rib (6) and the contour of the rear surface (5). The rib (6) extends at least partially along the edge of the rear surface (5) so that there is a distance of 0.2 mm between the rib (6) and the contour of the rear surface (5). Thus, the line where the rib (6) and the body (2) contact each other is advantageously concealed behind the hinge (4) and deformations such as scratches and abrasions that may occur when the hinge (4) is slid over the body (2) during the mounting and dismounting processes are enabled to be covered by the rear surface (5). Moreover, by means of this embodiment, the sharpness of the edges of the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) is maintained and the visual quality is prevented from being adversely affected.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the rib (6) enables a distance of at least 0.3 mm to be left between the rear surface (5) and the body (2). The height of the rib (6) relative to the rear surface (5) is at least 0.3 mm. Thus, an ideal distance is enabled to be left between the body (2) and the rear surface (5). Consequently, surface defects such as roughs and burrs that may occur on the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) during production are prevented from contacting the body (2) and causing deformations.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the corners of the rib (6) are curved. The part of the rib (6) following the corners of the rear surface (5) is curved. Thus, during the attachment of the hinge (4) onto the body (2), the sharp corners of the rib (6) are prevented from hitting the body (2) and causing scratches.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the surface of the rib (6) that bears against the body (2) is rounded. The edges of the surface of the rib (6) pressing on the body (2) are rounded by beveling. Thus, the sharp edges of the rib (6) are prevented from causing deformations on the body (2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the radius of the rounded edge of the rib (6) is at least 0.3 mm. Thus, the edges of the rib (6) that bears against the body (2) are enabled to be sufficiently rounded and the rib (6) is prevented from causing defects on the body (2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the rear surface (5) has at least one support portion (9) that bears against the body (2) so as to be flush with the rib (6), and on the support portion (9) at least one hole (8) is provided, through which the fixing element (not shown in figures) that enables the hinge (4) to be attached to the body (2) is passed. The hinge (4) is fixed onto the body (2) by means of a fixing element such as a screw or a bolt that is passed through the hole (8). By providing the hole (8) on the support portion (9) that bears against the body (2), the gap between the body (2) and the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) is prevented from adversely affecting the robustness of the connection.

By means of the present invention, the formation of defects caused by the hinge (4) produced from metal on the body (2) produced from sheet metal are almost completely prevented and said defects are enabled to be concealed in a simple manner without the need for an additional element for covering the mounting region. Thus, the user satisfaction is increased in a cost effective and simple manner.

Claims

A washing machine (1) comprising a body (2); a door (3) providing access into the body (2), and a hinge (4) that provides the connection between the door (3) and the body (2) and that enables the door (3) to be opened/closed by being rotated around its rotation axis, characterized by at least one rib (6) that is disposed on the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) facing the body (2) and that bears against the body (2) so that there is a predetermined distance between the rear surface (5) and the body (2) when the hinge (4) is attached onto the body (2).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one rib (6) that is in the form of a line extending on the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized by at least one rib (6) that extends along the contour of the rear surface (5) of the hinge (4) so as to almost completely surround the rear surface (5).
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the rib (6) that is positioned at a distance of at least 0.2 mm from the contour of the rear surface (5).
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the rib (6) that enables a distance of at least 0.3 mm to be left between the rear surface (5) and the body (2).
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the rib (6) with curved corners.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the rib (6) of which the edge bearing against the body (2) is rounded.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the rib (6) of which the diameter of the rounded edge is at least 0.3 mm.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the rear surface (5) that has at least one support portion (9) that bears against the body (2) so as to be flush with the rib (6), and at least one hole (8) that is provided on the support portion (9) and through which the fixing element that enables the hinge (4) to be attached to the body (2) is passed.