Lid Assembly

A lid assembly (10) for a washing machine having a frame formed by a frame bottom (3) and a frame top (2) attached to the frame bottom and top section (1) attached to the frame top. The top section of the lid assembly can be varied so that the appearance of the lid assembly can be easily altered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Australian Application 2015268668 filed Dec. 11, 2015 which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine. In particular the present disclosure relates to a lid assembly for a washing machine.

BACKGROUND

Washing machines are provided with lids. The lids can be formed in many different designs. In some designs the lid can have a transparent section. For top loaded washing machines the lid can be formed, at least partly by a glass material. For example WO2014/120739 describes a lid for a washing machine with glass.

There is a constant desire to improve the design of a washing machine. Hence, there is a need for a washing machine having an improved lid assembly.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved washing machine. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved washing machine with an improved lid assembly.

As has been realized there is a demand for different designs of a washing machine. One element of the washing machine that can be used to alter the design of a washing machine is the design of the lid of a washing machine. Hence it would be advantageous if, during assembly of the lid, the appearance of the lid could be altered with minimum effort and with few different components to reduce the number of items used to at the same time provide a large number of different designs. To accomplish such an assembly a supporting frame that can receive many different top sections can be provided.

In accordance with one embodiment a lid assembly for a washing machine is provided. The lid assembly comprises a frame and top section. The frame is formed by a frame bottom and a frame top attached to the frame bottom and top section attached to the frame top. Hereby a lid assembly in which the top section of the lid assembly can be varied so that the appearance of the lid assembly can be easily altered.

In accordance with one embodiment the frame top has an inner surface adapted to fit with the top section.

In accordance with one embodiment the frame top is screwed to the frame bottom. In accordance with one embodiment the frame top is snap fit to the frame bottom.

In accordance with one embodiment the top section is attached to the frame top by glue or adhesive.

In accordance with one embodiment at least one elastic member is provided in a central area between the underside of the top section and the frame bottom.

The invention also extends to a washing machine lid and to a washer machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following a lid assembly for a washing machine will be described. In the figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures. It will be appreciated that these figures are for illustration only and are not in any way restricting the scope of the invention. Also it is possible to combine features from different described embodiments to meet specific implementation needs.

InFIG. 1an exploded view of a lid assembly10for a washing machine is shown. The lid assembly10comprises a top section1, a lid frame top2and a lid frame bottom3. The top section1is secured to the lid frame top2. The frame top2has an inner surface adapted to the thickness and size of the top section1such that the top section1can be received by the top frame2and fit in the frame top2. The lid frame2is secured to the lid frame bottom3. The lid frame top2can for example be snap fit onto the lid frame bottom3. Alternatively or in addition to the snap fit connection, the lid frame top2can be screwed onto the lid frame bottom3using screws4. In addition the lid assembly10may or may not comprise a door hook5.

The top section1can be secured to the frame, in this embodiment formed by the lid frame top2and lid frame bottom3, by glue or some adhesive. The design with a frame formed by a frame top3and frame bottom3where a top section is attached to the frame top enables a modular design of the lid assembly. In particular it is made possible to provide a large variety of designs of the lid assembly using very few assembly parts. This is because the top section1can be given any design and be made from any material as long as the outer measurements fits in the frame top. IN particular the top section1can be made from different materials. In accordance with one embodiment the top section1is made of a glass material. In accordance with one embodiment the top section1l made from a plastics material. In accordance with one embodiment the top section1is made from a metal material.

In order to reduce the risk of breaking the top section1when formed by glass or some other fragile material when using the washing machine onto which the lid assembly10can be mounted, elastic members6or at least one elastic member6can be located under the top section1. In particular the elastic members6can be located in a central area well inside the periphery of the top section1. For example the elastic members6can be located in the range of 5-30 cm from the periphery of the top section1. In particular an elastic member can be located at least 10 cm from the periphery of the top section1. In accordance with one embodiment a number of elastic members6are provided. In particular at least two elastic members6are provided. The elastic member(s)6can be formed by an elastomer pads or rubber pads. In an alternative embodiment the elastic member(s) are formed by an elastomer sheet or a rubber sheet.

In accordance with one embodiment the elastic member(s)6supplement an elastic material located at the periphery under the top section1. Hence, in such an embodiment the top section will be supported by an elastic material both at its periphery and in a central area when resting on a lid frame.

By providing elastic member(s)6under the central area of the top section1made by glass a number of advantages can be achieved. For example, the risk of breaking the glass will be reduced since the glass top section1is supported not only at the periphery of the glass top section1by an elastic material provided under the periphery of the glass top section1, but also under the central area of the glass top section1. Because the risk of breaking the glass is reduced, the thickness of the glass top section can be reduced, which in turn reduces the weight of the lid assembly10and thereby makes it easier to handle the lid of the washing machine. Also, there is a reduced risk of scratching the glass top section from underneath should the lid be handled carelessly and a heavy impact is forced onto the glass top section.

InFIG. 2a partial sectional view from the side of an assembled lid assembly10is shown. Two different embodiments are shown inFIG. 2. An assembly10where the top frame2is fixed to the bottom frame3with screws5is shown in the bottom view. An assembly10where the top frame2is fixed to the bottom frame3with snap fit is shown in the top view. The top section1, which can be made from any suitable material is attached with glue or adhesive at7.

The washing machine having a lid assembly as described herein makes it possible to produce a lid which can have a varying design and at the same time be produced with few components.