Cabinet for household appliance, particularly for washing machine

Abstract: The present invention refers to a cabinet for a household appliance, particularly for a washing machine, comprising a main part (1) and a basement (2); the main feature of the cabinet in that its main part is aesthetically finished on the four sides and that the basement has a structure which allows to get out at least one of the pipes (9,10) for the supply and the drain of the washing liquids in a position preferably approached to a wall of the room where the household appliance is located, whichever is the cabinet side approached to the wall in the use of the household appliance.

Description: The present invention refers to a washing machine, of the type described in the preamble of the annexed claim 1. Known household appliances, particularly washing machines, have an usually box-shaped cabinet, made out of enamelled metal sheet; for instance it may be obtained bending the sheet like an U, so to realize three vertical walls (one at the front and two on the sides); the rear wall may be made out of metal sheet too, or out of a different material, and fastened later to the other walls by means of screws; the cabinet has also a top platform, usable as a table, which, in the case of top loading washing machines, opens as a lid in order to allow the access to the inside of the machine. The designer of household appliance cabinets, particularly for washing machines, has many problems to face, in order to conciliate functional and aesthetical needs as well as the manufacturing cost, which of course shall be the lowest possible. Among functional problems there is the necessity to allow the appliance to be installed in different positions, still allowing to get out supply and drain pipes at the most convenient side, which may change from case to case, due to different environment particularities; in any case the rear side of the machine must leave a gap towards the room wall in order to allow the pipes to pass. Among aesthetic problems there is the necessity to match the heights of the machine and adjoining cabinets (or other appliances), as well as the heights of relevant basements, and the problem to avoid assembly screws to be seen. Among cost problems there is the necessity to reduce the cost of tools, sharing it on the highest possible number of pieces; and to reduce the storage cost of the components to be assembled later. From FR-A-2549868 a washing machine is known, having a substantially box shaped cabinet comprising an upper part and a lower part, said lower part having at least two opposite sides recessed in respect of the corresponding sides of the upper part; in this machine. From IT-U-199 505 a front loading washing machine is also known, comprising in the inside of its cabinet an upper tube and a lower tube being connected respectively to the supply and drain devices of the machine; each tube has a first and a second pipe fitting corresponding to the lateral sides of the cabinet, and a third intermediate pipe fitting corresponding to the rear side of the cabinet; in the above sides of the cabinet, apertures are present, which allow for the selection of the most convenient pipe fittings, according to the installation requirements of the machine; the apertures which are not used are closed by appropriate covers. This solution is however unsatisfactory, for instance in that the sides of the appliance are not finished and integer (due to the presence of the above apertures and/or covers on the upper part of the lateral sides), in that the supply/drain pipes and the electric supply cable cannot be hidden and guided; the presence of the cited two internal tubes also makes the machine complicated and costly, while the presence of the above cited apertures weakens the structure of the cabinet itself. In addition, under certain circumstances, the machine according to IT-U-199 505 cannot be installed almost adjacent to a wall or other pieces of furniture. From FR-A-2 623 825 a top loading washing machine is also known; in order to allow flexibility of installation, the upper lid of the machine can be hinged to the cabinet, upon choice, along a first or a second of two perpendicular sides of the lid itself. This solution also presents however aesthetical problems, in that the supply/drain pipes and the electric supply cable have to pass in the space defined between the bottom of the cabinet and the floor, which is in view. It is an object of the present invention to indicate a cabinet for a household appliance, particularly for a washing machine, which permits to optimize the above said often conflicting necessities, functional, aesthetical, and of cost. To obtain the said object, the subject of present invention is a washing machine, having the characterizing features of the annexed claim 1. Further improvements and embodiments of the invention are then described in the dependent claims 2 to 15. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the detailed description which follows and from the attached drawings, which are supplied only as an explanatory and not limiting example, wherein: figure 1 shows a view of the washing machine comprising the cabinet according to the invention; figure 2 shows a top view of four possible arrangements for a cabinet according to the invention; figure 3 shows a view of the opening/closing system of the lid according to the invention; figure 4 shows a section of the hooking system for the closure of the lid; figure 5 shows a section of a first embodiment of the control panel of the household appliance according to the invention; figure 6 shows three different views of a second embodiment of the control panel of the washing machine according to the invention; figure 7 shows a top view of the exits of the supply and drain pipes and the electric supply cable according to the invention; figure 8 shows a section of an arrangement of the supply and drain pipes and the electric supply cable according to the invention; figure 9 shows a variant of the invention where the basement of a cabinet is visible in plan; figure 10 shows a plan of a second possible embodiment of the basement of a cabinet, according to a variant of the invention. In figure 1, which shows a view of a washing machine comprising the cabinet according to the invention, reference number 1 indicates the main part of the cabinet, while reference number 2 indicates the basement. Cabinet 1 is made out of enamelled or pre-enamelled metal sheet and is aesthetically finished on the four sides. Cabinet 1 is obtained for example by assembling two identical L shaped elements of enamelled metal sheet, without the use of visible screws, as described in EP-A-0 380 991 filed by the same applicant. On the other hand, basement 2 can be made out of plastic material, and the main part 1 of the cabinet is screewed to it. Basement 2 has also the function to support some mechanical devices of the machine. Basement 2 is recessed in respect of the main part 1 at least along the shorter sides of the parallelipiped which forms the plan of the cabinet, so to allow the passage of the pipes to be connected to the machine, which get out for example through an aperture 6 or 7. The upper part of the cabinet 1 comprise three elements: a panel 3 including the household controls, a squared lid 4 for the access to the inside of the machine, particularly for a top loading washing machine, for the load of the laundry to be washed, and a dispenser 5 for the detergent, provided with a small lid. Basement 2, on the other hand, provides a couple of opposite apertures 6 and 7 for the exits of the electric supply cable 8 and the supply and drain pipes 9 and 10; the one of such exits which is not utilized during the practical use of the machine is closed by a cover, as in the described case of the aperture 6. Such apertures 6 and 7 are obtained in the shorter sides of the basement 2, near to two consecutive corners, so that an axis passing through them is parallel to the longest side of the basement 2. Basement 2 also presents an aperture 11 in the longest side closer to the apertures 6 and 7, which can be closed by a snap-in-cover lid 12. Such aperture 11 is used during the installation of the machine to operate the connection of the supply and drain pipes respectively to the input electric valve and to the drain pump which are located inside the basement 2. Figure 2 shows four possible arrangements of the household appliance, which can be realized according to the principles inherent to the present invention. Arrangements 13 and 16 provide two sides in contact with the wall 17, while a side only is involved in the arrangements 14 and 15. As shown in the cases 13 and 14, exits 7 will be used for pipes 9, 10 and cable 8, which could slide in the gap between wall 17 and basement 2, while the aperture 6 will be closed with an appropriate cover for aesthetical reasons. In the arrangements 15 and 16, on the contrary, it can be indifferently used one of the two apertures while the other one will be closed with the cover; in any case, for aesthetical reasons, in case 16 it is more convenient the use of exit 7, while exit 6 can be used only if the same is covered for instance by a piece of furniture, in order to avoid the pipes and cables which exit from the front of the machine to be seen. Great importance, according to the invention, has the lid 4, which, as shown in figure 3, can be open in two different manners. In case 18 lid 4 rotates, by means of hinges 20, along the shortest side of the machine, while in case 19 it rotates along the longest one, always by means of hinges 21. In case 19 the rotation axis is always towards the longest side of the machine where there is also obtained the aperture 11. Figures 1 and 2 have described a machine having a determined arrangement of the exits of pipes 9 and 10 and cable 8 and, in the specific case of figure 2, it can be noticed that for the arrangements 15 and 16 the user of the household appliance will have, to open the lid 4, on his left the control panel 3 and on its right the dispenser 5. This explicative description, nevertheless, does not exlude the possibility to realize the household appliance in a specular way in respect of the one here described; this fact is visible in figure 3, case 19, where the user will have on his left the dispenser 5 and on its right the control panel 3; the supply and drain pipes 9 and 10 and the cable 8 will be of course always positioned on the rear. With reference number 22 there is shown in figure 4 the hooking system for the lid closure, of which figure 4 is a particular view, in cross section. With 24, positioned underneath the door 4 along one of its edges, it is shown a male element, corresponding to the elements indicated with 23 and 40 in figure 3, which is inserted in the hollow 25 of a sleeve 38 fixed to cabinet 1; said element 24 hooking to the cabinet by means of a spring 26 in an appropriate recess 27. The just described use of lid 4, i.e. double aperture possibility, can be realized in the two following ways: lid 4 is square shaped and is in position 18; in this case in closed position the hooks 23 and 40 are inserted respectively in the safety-provided closure system 22, and in the dead hole 41; in open position, and only when the machine is off, it can be unhooked from the closure system 22. On the contrary, when the lid has to be used in position 19, it is withdrawn from hinges 20 to be inserted by rotation of 90° in hinges 21. In this new position hook 23 will be accomodated in a dead hole 42 obtained in the machine, like hole 41, while hook 40 will be inserted in the closure system 22; lid 4 has a rectangular shape and covers the dispenser 5 so avoiding the use of a special lid for the dispenser 5; alternatively it has the same squared shape and is hinged so to be raised in the both ways without the need to withdraw it from the hinges and rotate it; in this case only one closure system will be used with only a hook. To allow the lid to be open rotating along perpendicular axes, the hinges will be arranged on the opposite sides of the aperture and only the ones selected by the user will be operating. The hinges can also be made out in a way similar to the hooking system shown in figure 4. Figures 5 and 6 show how it is possible to realize the control panel making it ergonomic for the use and aesthetically agreeable at the same time. Control panel 28, according to the invention, with reference to figure 5, can be positioned parallel to plate 30, or inclined in the position indicated with 29, so to allow to the user an easier view of the control panel, when the washing machine is adjacent to the wall along its longest side; from this section of the particular it is possible to notice the difference of the levels: panel 30, door 31, cabinet 32 and the clamping holes 43 for the various positions. Positioning of the panel 3 can be realized in various manners, as for instance using springs, elastic wings, knobs, screws and hacks, which pivot said panel 3 in clamping points 43 which can be set according the user wishes on one or the other long side of the dishwashing machine. On the other hand from figure 6 it can be noticed a different embodiment of the control panel; in this case there is realized a panel 3 divided in three parts indicated in figure 6 with reference numbers 45, 46 and 47. The main characteristic is that their shape always allows the user to have an easy view of all controls. To allow so, every elements is inclined in the direction of the user and can be rotated of 90° to better position it depending on the arrangement of the washing machine. By figure 6 it can be noticed that reference 48 indicates an elevation view, from the short rear side of the control panel, which shows the two possible arrangements 49 and 50 of the elements 45, 46 and 47, indicating respectively that said elements are inclined towards the long side, the right one in this case, and inclined towards the lid 4 (in this case there are also shown the rear zones of the elements). Reference 51 shows the washing machine with a top view of the controls where it can be noticed that in this way the elements 45, 46 and 47 of the control panel 3 are positioned as indicated with the above said reference number 50 and the elements have the function tb contain respectively the control keys and the relevant warning lights 52, the thermostat and/or other operating devices, for instance for the drying of the laundry and the programmer of the washing cycle (timer) 54. Reference 55 indicates a particular of the washing programmer (timer) 54, which has a selection knob 56, a series of wirings 57 to the control box 58. From such particular 55 it can be noticed how it is possible to rotate each element of the control panel 3. In fact even being each element, in section, preferably square shaped, it can rotate, after that it has been a little raised (see arrow) on a cylindric base. This operation grants by means of a clamping, by release for instance, to position the elements 45,46 and 47 one independently from the other and allows timer wires 57 to tolerate without any drawback the rotation of element 57. With reference to figure 7 there is visible the system for the exit of the load and drain pipes 9 and 10 respectively connected to an electric valve 33 and to a drain pump 34. The connexion of the pipes has a great importance as only when the household appliance is installed there is the possibility to know if said pipes 9 and 10 have to get out through the aperture 6 o through the aperture 7; for this reason the aperture 11 is obtained in the basement 2, which allow in this way the installer to realize the desired connexions with the simple removal of the small cover 12. Figure 8 shows in view and in section the already indicated elements of figure 7, where there is shown that the electric valve 33 and the drain pump 34 are arranged one underneath the other. In this last figure there are also shown a foot 35 and the electric supply cable 8 with small teeth 39 obtained in the cabinet to keep it clear from the floor. The characteristics of the described system are clear from the given description and from the attached drawings. Also clear are the advantages of the appliance cabinet according to the invention. Particularly they are represented by: possibility to install and/or orient the machine in different ways, mantaining an agreeable aesthetic appearance; connexion flexibility to the existing piping for the supplying and the draining of the water; easy use of panel controls, by means of the inclination of the whole panel, in a sole piece or separate parts; easy access to the inside of the machine cabinet, for the laundry loading and unloading operations, whatever is the position of the machine. It is clear that many variations to the cabinet described as an example are possible for the man skilled in the art, without departing from the novelty principles inherent to the invention. It is possible to realize a washing machine with a basement provided with several exits disposed on more sides, so to use the more convenient exit close to the electric and hydraulic connexions which get out from the wall of the room; or having two exits arranged on the same side of the basement, or four, two on a side and two on the opposite one. It is possible to realize a basement which provides, besides the recesses on the short side, also recesses on the long side, or which has a groove on said longer sides, which is obtained on the same basement or inside it, so to allow the electric cable and/or the pipes to slide in it. As variant there is also the possibility to realize a basement 2 with a 45° chamfered corner, indicated with 36 in figure 9, from which the supply and drain pipes and the electric supply cable (indicated for simplicity with number 37) get out through appropriate holes; such particular 36 allows the pipes and the cable 37 to be easily directed towards left or towards right, as indicated by the arrows, so to use the two sides adjacent to the chamfered corner 36 to cover said pipes and cable against a wall of the room, also in force of the presence of the cited recess, indicated with reference number 44, on the longer side. Further possible variant to the invention is those illustrated in figure 10, which represents a plan of the basement of a cabinet according to the invention, in an embodiment different from the one of figure 9; as shown, obtaining four equal chamfers on the basement 2, one on each corner of the basement 2, it is possible to obtain the best flexibility of installation; each chamfer has in fact a series of holes for said piping, normally closed, but one, with removable plugs. The embodiments can be considered making part of the same above described inventive idea, which have a number of chamfered corners and respective holes for the piping different from the number cited in the description, given as explanatory and not limiting example.

Claims: Washing machine, having a substantially box shaped cabinet (1,2), a plurality of electrical and/or mechanical devices (33,34) being provided within said cabinet (1,2), among which a water supply device (33) and a water drain device (34), to which an external supply pipe (9) and an external drain pipe (10) are respectively connected, whereby the cabinet (1,2) is provided with a plurality of holes for allowing the connection of said pipes (9,10) with said water supply device (33) and said water drain device (34), at least two opposite sides of the cabinet (1,2) being provided with at least one of said holes, characterized in that said cabinet (1,2) has in the lower part (2) thereof at least two opposite sides recessed with respect to the corresponding sides of the upper part (1), and that holes (6,7) are provided in said opposite recessed sides of the lower part (2), for entering at least a portion of said supply pipe (9) and of said drain pipe (10) in one or both of said opposite recessed sides of the lower part (2) of the cabinet (1,2). Washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said holes are also provided for the exit of an electric supply cable (8), from a preferred recessed sides of said lower part (2). Washing machine, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said lower part is realized by a basement (2) in plastic material. Washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower part (2) comprises an inspection aperture (11), with a relevant cover (12), said supply device (33) and said water drain device (34) being fixed within the cabinet proximate to said aperture (11), for facilitating the connection of said pipes (9,10) to said water supply device (33) and said water drain device (34). Washing machine, according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said lower part or basement (2) comprises at least a seat for said pipes (9,10) and/or said cable (8). Washing machine, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cabinet (1,2) is parallelepiped shaped, in that said recessed sides of said lower part or basement (2) are the shorter ones and in that said holes (6,7) are proximate to two consecutive corners of the lower part or basement (2). Washing machine, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower part or basement (2) has chamfers of 45° on at least one (36) of its four corners, whereby holes are present on said chamfer (36), for said supply and/or drain pipes (9,10) and/or said cable (8). Washing machine, according to at least one of the previous claim, characterized in that covers are provided, for the closure of the holes (6,7) which are not used for the passage of said cable and said pipes (8-10). Washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that hinge means (20-21) are provided which allows a top access lid (4) of the machine to be hinged in two alternative manners, i.e. along a shorter side (18) or a longer side (19) of the cabinet. Washing machine, according to claim 8, characterized in that said access lid (4) has a substantially squared or rectangular shape. Washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that a control panel (3) is provided on the upper face of said upper part of the cabinet (1), first means (43) being provided for fixing said control panel (3) in at least two alternative positions, particularly a horizontal position (28) and an inclined position (29). Washing machine, according to claim 11, characterized in that said first means (43) comprises clamping means (43) for securing said control panel (3) in the horizontal or the inclined position. Washing machine, according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said control panel (3) comprise separate elements (45.46,47) which contain control keys and/or the relevant warning lights (52), a thermostat and/or an electric programmer (54) of the machine. Washing machine, according to claim 13, characterized in that second means are provided for inclining said separate elements of the control panel (45,46,47) towards a preferred position, said second means allowing in particu!ar to rotate independently said separate elements (45,46,47) of 90°. Washing machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said supply device (33) and said drain device (34) are arranged side by side or one underneath the other.

Inventors: DEZI ALBERTO, DEZI, ALBERTO
Applicants: MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI SPA, MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI S.P.A.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: D06F39
IPC codes: D06F39