[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry washing and/or drying machine, in particular
of the front loading type.
[0002] It is well known that machines of this kind presuppose the use of washing agents,
for instance in the form of powdered or liquid detergents, bleaches, softeners, etcetera.
In some cases, the aforesaid washing agents must be preventively dosed prior to their
placement in the machine, by means of appropriate dosing cups; in other cases, the
quantity of detergent needed to complete a wash cycle is placed in a hollow spherical
container, which is then positioned directly inside the drum of the machine, among
the laundry to be washed. The containers of the various washing agents, be they in
the form of bottles, boxes, pouches, etcetera, and/or the aforesaid dosing devices
or spherical containers should opportunely be stored near the machine, for obvious
reasons of convenience of use.
[0003] Bases or pedestals have been proposed, with the aim of raising the cabinet of a laundry
washing machine relative to the ground and thereby facilitate, from the viewpoint
of ergonomics, the operations of loading/unloading the laundry relative to the machine;
in some case, within the base a housing is defined for a container or a drawer, in
which objects of various nature can be stowed; examples of bases of this kind are
found, for instance, in DE-A-19 83 8630 and EP-A-1 205 129.
[0004] Additionally, the document US-A-2,786,730 discloses a laundry washing machine with
a cabinet in whose front wall a door is present, in addition to the one normally provided
to allow loading and unloading the laundry; the additional door is mounted in an opening
of the front wall, which allows to access an inner compartment of the cabinet, in
which various kinds of products and objects can be stowed.
[0005] In view of the aforementioned state of the art, a first aim of the present invention
is to provide a novel laundry washing and/or drying machine of simple and economical
construction, which can be equipped with a container suitable for containing objects
of various kinds, particularly advantageous to use from the ergonomic viewpoint.
[0006] A second aim of the present invention is to provide a novel laundry washing and/or
drying machine of simple and economical construction, whose structure allows to define
a closable housing for an easy to use container in which objects of various kinds
can be stowed.
[0007] These and other aims are achieved, according to the present invention, by a laundry
washing and/or drying machine having the characteristics of the appended claims, which
are an integral part of the present description.
[0008] Additional aims, characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall become
readily apparent from the detailed description that follows and from the accompanying
drawings, provided purely by way of explanatory and non limiting example, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a front loading laundry washing machine
according to the invention, in a first configuration of use;
- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, with a respective
container removed;
- Figure 3 is a schematic partially sectioned lateral view of the machine of Figure
2;
- Figure 4 is a schematic section view according to the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
- Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a front loading laundry washing machine
according to the invention, in a second configuration of use;
- Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the machine of Figure 5, with a respective
container removed;
- Figure 7 is a partially sectioned schematic lateral view of the machine of Figure
6;
- Figure 8 is a schematic section view according to the line VIII-VIB of Figure 7;
- Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of the machine of Figure 5, with a respective
frontal covering element partially opened;
- Figure 10 is a partial and schematic perspective view of the machine of Figure 9,
with a respective container in the extraction phase and in a first condition of use;
- Figure 11 is a partial and schematic perspective view in enlarged scale of the machine
of Figure 10, with the container extracted and in a second condition of use.
[0009] In the figures, the reference number 1 globally designates a front loading laundry
washing machine according to the invention. The machine 1 comprises a cabinet 2, for
instance made of metal plate, which delimits a substantially closed space S, for housing
functional members of the machine. Within the space S a so called oscillating assembly
is mounted, comprising a washing tub 3, in which a drum for the laundry is housed,
designated by the number 4 in Figure 3, rotatable around a respective axis. In the
exemplified case, the tub 3 is mounted in such a way that the axis of rotation of
the drum 4, designated as A, is slightly inclined; the machine 1 could in any case
be of the traditional type, i.e. with the drum rotating according to a horizontal
axis. As shown in Figure 3, the aforesaid oscillating assembly further comprises an
electrical motor 5, fastened inferiorly to the tub 3, in the rear area thereof; as
in the prior art, the actuation produced by the shaft of the motor 5 is transmitted
to the drum 4 through a belt and a pulley, not shown.
[0010] The oscillating assembly further comprises a first and a second counterweight, designated
respectively as 6 and 7 in Figure 3, which develop lengthwise substantially in a circumference
arc; the counterweight 6 is fastened superiorly to the tub 3, in the rear area thereof,
whilst the counterweight 7 is fastened inferiorly to the tub, in the front area thereof.
The oscillating assembly is supported from below by means of four load-bearing feet
8, i.e. support devices that integrate within them both a spring and a braking element;
each foot 8 has a lower end, anchored to a respective support 8A integral with the
lower bottom of the cabinet 2, and an upper end anchored to the tub 3. Alternatively,
the load-bearing feet 8 could be replaced with classic damping elements, in the form
of friction dampers, with the tub assembly hung superiorly to two springs anchored
at one end to the tub 3 and at the other end to respective attachments of the cabinet
2; Figure 1 shows a possible position of such possible springs, designated by the
number 9. The dampers 8, and any springs, are inclined relative to the vertical, to
converge from the respective attachment point to the cabinet 2 or to the support 8A
towards the tub 3.
[0011] The cabinet 2 has a front opening, whereat a door is positioned, designated by the
number 10 in Figures 1 and 2, comprising a respective frame 10A and a transparent
central part 10B, for instance made of glass. The door 10 is provided with means for
hinging to the cabinet 2 and with a locking/releasing mechanism, which elements are
not shown. The opening of the cabinet 2 in which the door 10 is operative faces a
homologous opening present in the front wall of the tub 3; the latter in turn faces
a corresponding opening defined in the front part of the drum 4; between the front
wall of the cabinet 2 and the opening of the tub 3 suitable sealing means are provided,
constituted for instance by a bellows gasket 11 having substantially annular and/or
tapered shape, with ends at the opening of the drum 4.
[0012] Within the space S delimited by the walls of the cabinet 2 a dispenser of washing
agents 12 is also provided, which can be fed with water. The dispenser 12 is positioned
in proximity to the lower edge of the opening present in the front wall of the cabinet
2 and is fastened thereto; the dispenser 12 is thus positioned within the annular
space delimited by the gasket 11; in this way the water-washing agent mixture released
by the dispenser 12 can arrive directly and quickly in contact with the laundry to
be washed, guided by the gasket 11 which extends between the opening of the cabinet
2 and the mouth of the drum 4. The position of the dispenser 12 is also advantageous
from the ergonomic viewpoint.
[0013] On the lower bottom of the cabinet 2 a discharge pump 13 and a sensor 14 of an anti-flooding
safety device are present, known in themselves and shown only schematically in Figure
3. Other usual functional components of the machine 1 internal to the space S, such
as a filter, a programmer, hydraulic conduits, electrical cables, etcetera are not
shown in the figures. In Figures 1 and 2, the references 15A and 15B designate an
information display and some control pushbuttons of the machine 1, which can be mounted
on the frame 10A of the door 10 or on the cabinet 2. To the bottom of the cabinet
2, lastly, height-adjustable support feet P are associated, for instance of the type
with threaded stem screwed in a respective nut screw present in the bottom itself.
[0014] In Figure 1, the reference 16A designates a movable covering element, provided to
allow access to a compartment in which a container is housed suited to receive objects
of various kinds, such as packages of washing agents, measuring cups, rags, cloths,
etcetera. The covering element 16A, hereinafter also called additional door, is preferably
a part of the aforesaid container, the latter being designated by the reference 16
and globally having the shape of a trolley provided with wheels which bear on the
floor of the space where the machine is installed; the wheels of the trolley 16 are
schematically shown in Figure 3, where they are designated by the reference 16B.
[0015] As can be seen in Figure 2, where the trolley 16 is not shown, the bottom of the
cabinet is so shaped as to have a niche or recess 17 open towards the exterior of
the cabinet in two directions, substantially orthogonal to each other, designated
as X and Y in Figures 2 and 3; within the recess or indentation 17 at least part of
the trolley 16 can be housed. The recess 17 is delimited by outer surfaces of walls
which are part of the bottom of the cabinet 2 as a whole, so that, in fact, the trolley
16 is positioned outside the space S. In the exemplified case, the recess 17 is delimited
by two opposite vertical walls 17A, an upper wall 17B and a rear wall 17C of the bottom.
The recess 17 is thus completely open on two substantially orthogonal faces of the
cabinet 2, and in particular the front and lower faces.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower bottom of the cabinet 2 is
formed by a single component made of plastic material, such as polypropylene with
the addition of structural inert charge, designated by the reference F in Figures
2, 3 and 4, whereto distinct panels are fastened in known manners (for example by
means of screws), which form the vertical walls of the cabinet 2. Said plastic bottom
can advantageously incorporate the supports 8A and other anchoring/support elements
for inner components of the machine 2, such as the pump 13 and the sensor 14. In a
possible, though less advantageous, variant, one or more walls 17A, 17B and 17C could
be obtained by suitably bending a respective panel which forms a vertical wall of
the cabinet 2, with the contiguous edges of the walls belonging to different panels
being welded, saddle joined, or otherwise joined to each other, in known manners.
[0017] When in the recess 17 the trolley 16 is housed, as in Figure 1, a front part of the
trolley, which forms the additional door 16A, is substantially flush with the front
wall of the cabinet 2; therein a depression 19 is conveniently formed at the upper
edge of the recess 17, to allow an easy grip of the front wall 16A of the trolley
16.
[0018] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, between the wall 17C which delimits the recess 17 to
the rear and the rear wall of the cabinet or of the bottom F, designated as F1, a
portion of the space S extends, in which the pump 13 and the sensor 14 are positioned;
between the walls 17A which laterally delimit the recess 17 and the respective lateral
walls 2A of the cabinet 2 or of the bottom F, designated as F2, two parallel portions
of the space S are defined, in which the front dampers 8 and the respective supports
extend. Figure 3 also shows that the wall 17B which superiorly delimits the recess
17 is slightly inclined towards the rear part of the cabinet 2. This arrangement allows
to convey any water leaks towards the sensor 14, so that the latter can detect them
rapidly and consequently can inhibit any further inflow of water into the machine
and/or the power supply to the machine, in manners that are known in themselves.
[0019] To improve the ergonomics of the machine 1 according to the invention, to the machine
a respective pedestal or basement can be associated, designated in Figures 5 through
8 by the reference 20, for instance made of metallic material. As shown in Figures
6 and 8, the basement 20 has a box structure with substantially C shaped section,
so that within it a respective cavity 21 is formed, open to the front, open upwards,
i.e. towards the overlying machine 1 and open downwards, i.e. towards the floor. The
aforesaid cavity 21 is delimited by two opposite lateral walls 21A and a rear wall
21C of the base.
[0020] The machine is fastened on the base 20 by known means, for instance by means of screws,
after removing from the cabinet 2 the respective lower feet P; the latter can advantageously
be transferred to the basement 20, whose bottom wall shall be provided with respective
nut screws; alternatively, the basement 20 can be provided with its own feet with
adjustable height.
[0021] As shown in Figure 6, as a result of the superposition of the cabinet 2 onto the
basement 20, the recess 17 overlies the cavity 21, in such a way as to form a suitable
seat to house a movable container, designated by the number 22 in Figure 5, having
greater dimensions than the container previously designated by the reference 16, and
in particular having a containment volume that is substantially equal to that of the
drum 4 of the machine 1. In view of the above, the container 22 can advantageously
be used to store the laundry to be washed in the machine 1.
[0022] The trolley 22 also comprises a respective front part, which forms a covering element
or additional door 22A suitable to remain substantially flush with the front surface
of the cabinet 2, and wheel designated by the reference 22B in Figure 7, able to bear
directly on the floor of the space where the machine is installed. The basement 21,
too, preferably has such external dimensions as to remain substantially flush relative
to the walls of the cabinet 2, when the cabinet is superposed to the base.
[0023] As shown in Figure 8, the width of the cavity 21, i.e. the distance between the respective
walls 21A, is substantially equal to the width of the recess 17, whilst the lengthwise
development of the cavity 21 is greater than that of the recess 17, as shown in Figure
7; for this reason, the container 22 can comprise an upper section 22', able to occupy
the recess 17 of the cabinet 2, and a longer lower section 22", able to occupy the
cavity 21 of the basement 20.
[0024] In Figure 9, the machine 1 provided with the basement 20 is shown with the additional
door 22A partially open; in this figure, as in Figures 10 and 11, the trolley 22 is
shown, taking it for granted that the trolley 16 may be similarly formed, although
with smaller dimensions.
[0025] In the exemplified case, the trolley 22 comprises a containment portion 23 formed
by a net structure defining a bottom wall, two lateral walls and a rear wall; the
structure of the containment portion 23 comprises an upper frame 24, two front uprights
25 and two rear uprights 26. The covering element or additional door 22A is articulated
to the structure of the trolley 22 in such a way that it can be flipped forward, in
the position shown in Figure 9, to provide access to the containment portion 23 without
having to extract the dolly 22 from the respective housing.
[0026] For this purpose, the additional door 22A can conveniently be articulated in its
lower area to the front uprights 25, by known means, to/be moved angularly around
a substantially horizontal axis. Preferably, between the structure of the trolley
22 and the additional door 22A an elastic element is fastened, such as a spring, not
shown in the figures, operative to stress the door itself in the respective closed
position, i.e. adjacent to the front uprights 25. If, after partially opening the
additional door 22A as in Figure 9, a forward traction is exerted, the trolley 22
can be extracted from the respective housing, for example in the position shown in
Figure 10. At this point, releasing the additional door 22A, the latter is free to
return to the respective resting position, under the action of the aforesaid elastic
element. The trolley 22 is preferably maintained in a predefined position within the
housing formed by the union between the cavities 16 and 21, for example by means of
guides not shown herein, or elastic or snap-on latches, or resilient lateral elements;
in said predefined position, as previously mentioned, the additional door 22A is substantially
flush with the front wall of the cabinet 2.
[0027] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the trolley 22 comprises a frame for
supporting the containment portion 23, foldable and in particular capable of assuming
a lowered configuration and a raised configuration. In the case exemplified in the
figures, the aforesaid frame comprises a base frame, designated by the reference 27
in Figures 10 and 11, having overall U shape, whereto the wheels 22B are associated.
To the front area of the frame 27 the first ends of two parallel arms or levers are
articulated with known means, whereof one is designated by the reference 28 in Figure
11; the second ends of the levers 28 are instead articulated to the rear uprights
26 of the containment portion 23.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the trolley 22 is further provided with at least a gas
spring or similar actuator, to determine the automatic rise of the containment portion
23 from the position shown in Figure 10 to the one shown in Figure 11; in this light,
for example, the aforementioned gas spring, not shown in the figures, is operative
to cause the automatic rotation of the levers 28 at the respective articulations to
the frame 27, and the trolley 22 is provided with a latching/releasing device, known
in itself, able to be switched between a first and a second condition; in the first,
latched, condition, the device maintains the frame in the respective lowered or folded
configuration, as shown in Figure 10, against the action of the gas spring; in the
second condition of the device, i.e. the release condition, the gas spring instead
is free to extend in order to cause the angular motion of the levers 28 and thus the
rise of the containment portion 23 to the position visible in Figure 11. The aforesaid
device can be, for example, of the push-pull type: with the trolley 22 in the lowered
position, shown in Figure 10, the device is released by a slight downwards thrust
of the containment portion 23, with the consequent rise thereof by virtue of the action
of the gas spring; to bring the dolly back to the position of Figure 10, it is sufficient
to thrust downwards the containment portion 23, overcoming the action of the gas spring,
until producing the re-latching of the device.
[0029] As an alternative to the use of a gas spring or of a similar actuator, the containment
portion 23 could be raised manually, though still providing a bistable latching/releasing
device, known in itself, operative to lock the containment portion 23 in the raised
position, instead of in the lowered position; in view of this, the containment portion
23 may be freely raised until causing the device to switch to the respective latched
condition; the release of the device will then be obtained by slightly raising the
containment portion 23, in order subsequently to be able to re-lower the containment
portion.
[0030] The provision of the trolley 22 with containment portion 23 able to be raised clearly
allows considerably to enhance the functionality and ergonomics of use of the machine
1 of the invention. As mentioned above, the trolley 16 or 22 can be advantageously
used to contain commonly used objects in combination with the machine 1; advantageously,
the trolley can be exploited for the progressive accumulation of the laundry to be
washed, simply by partially opening the additional door 16A, 22A, without necessarily
having to extract the trolley itself (Figure 9) from its housing. For the purposes
of the subsequent transfer of the laundry items to be washed into the drum 4, a user
need do no more than to extract the trolley 22 (Figure 10) and then cause its shift
to the respective raised configuration (Figure 11). In this condition, the containment
portion 23 is at an optimal height to facilitate the move, by the user, of the laundry
items from the portion itself into the drum 4.
[0031] It is clear that numerous variants are possible to the laundry washing machine described
by way of example, without thereby departing from the novelty scope inherent in the
inventive idea, and it is also clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention,
shapes, dimensions, materials and components used could be different from those indicated
previously by way of example, and replaced with technically equivalent elements.
[0032] The base 20 could incorporate a carriage device of a known kind, provided to facilitate
the displacement of the assembly constituted by the base itself and by the machine
1; such a device associated to the base could comprise wheels or rollers and a respective
mechanism to move the latter from an inoperative position, in which the wheels are
retracted, to an operative position, in which the wheels are lowered to raise the
base from the floor and thus allow its easy displacement.
[0033] The front part or additional door 16A, 22A of the trolleyl6, 22 could be angularly
movable according to a substantially vertical axis, or be linearly slidable in the
vertical or of the rolling gate type, whilst still being supported by the trolley
itself, instead of by the cabinet 2 of the machine.
[0034] The trolley 16, 22, instead of being provided with wheels which bear on the floor
could comprise lateral wheels engaged in guide rails associated to the walls which
laterally delimit its housing, or vice versa, with a translation and guide system
similar to that of a drawer or of the rack of a dishwasher.
[0035] The containment portion 23, which need not necessarily be a net, could comprise a
bowl or the like, removable from the trolley 22.
1. A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1), in particular of the front loading type,
comprising
- a cabinet (2) within which a tub (3) is located, housing a drum (4) able to rotate
about a respective axis (A), a door (10) being associated to the cabinet (2) for access
to the drum (4),
- a container (16; 22) suitable for containing objects, the container (16; 22) being
able to be housed at least partially in a compartment (17; 17, 21) defined at least
in part by the cabinet (2) inferiorly to the door (10) and/or to the tub (3),
characterised in that the container (16; 22) comprises an upper containment portion (23) sustained by a
respective support structure (27, 28) which is capable of assuming
- a lowered configuration, in which the container (16; 22) can be inserted into and
extracted from the compartment (17; 17, 21) and the containment portion (23) lies
at a first distance from the door (10), and
- a raised configuration in which, with the container (16; 22) extracted from the
compartment (17; 17, 21), the containment portion (23) lies at a second distance from
the door (10).
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a covering element (16A; 22A) movable between an open position, in which
the compartment (17; 17, 21) is accessible, and a closed position, in which the compartment
(17; 17, 21) is inaccessible, the covering element (16A; 22A) being associated to
the container (16; 22) and supported thereby, where in particular, in the respective
open position of the covering element (16A; 22A), the containment portion (23) is
also accessible with the container (16; 22) inserted in the respective compartment
(17; 17, 21).
3. A machine as claimed in claim 1,
characterised in that the container (16; 22) comprises at least one of:
- actuating means, such as a gas spring, to achieve a servo-assisted shift of the
support structure (27, 28) from the lowered configuration to the raised configuration,
- a locking/releasing system, able to be switched between a first and a second condition,
in the first condition the device stably maintaining the support structure (27, 28)
in one between said lowered and raised configuration and in the second condition the
device allowing the support structure (27, 28) to shift from the lowered configuration
to the raised configuration or vice versa.
4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the support structure (27, 28) comprises a base frame (27) whereto the first end
of at least a lever (28) capable of moving angularly is articulated, the second end
of the lever (28) being articulated to the containment portion (23).
5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that wheels (18B, 22B) are associated to the support structure (27, 28), able to bear
on the floor of the space in which the machine (1) is installed.
6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 5,
characterised in that the cabinet (2) has a respective lower bottom (F) in which a recess (17) is formed,
the recess (17) being open towards the exterior of the cabinet (2) in two directions,
substantially orthogonal to each other (X, Y) and forming at least part (17) of the
compartment (17; 17, 21), where in particular:
- the recess (17) extends between the bottom (F) and a front face of the cabinet (2)
and it is delimited by surfaces of the bottom (F) facing towards the exterior of the
cabinet (2), and/or
- at least the portion of the bottom (F) in which the recess (17) is defined is part
of a component made of plastic material (F), in particular polypropylene.
7. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cabinet (2) is able to be fastened above a basement (20) defining a respective
cavity (21), which forms at least part (21) of the compartment (17; 21), where in
particular the cavity (21) is open towards the exterior of the basement (20) in at
least two directions, substantially orthogonal to each other (X, Y), the basement
(20) having in particular an overall C shape.
8. A laundry washing and/or drying machine (1), in particular of the front loading type,
comprising
- a cabinet (2) within which a tub (3) is located, housing a drum (4) able to rotate
about a respective axis (A),
- a door (10) for access to the drum (4),
- a container (16; 22) having a containment portion (23) suitable for containing objects,
the container (16; 22) being able to be housed at least partially in a compartment
(17; 17, 21) defined at least in part by the cabinet (2) inferiorly to the door (10)
and/or to the tub (3),
- a covering element (16A; 22A) movable between an open position, in which the compartment
(17; 17, 21) is accessible, and a closed position, in which the compartment (17; 17,
21) is inaccessible,
characterised in that the covering element (16A; 22A) is supported by the container (16; 22) and
in that, in the open position of the covering element (16A; 22A), the containment portion
(23) is also accessible with the container (17; 17, 21) inserted in the compartment
(17; 17, 21), where in particular the covering element (16A; 22A) is articulated to
the container (16; 22), preferably in a lower area thereof, to be movable angularly
around a respective, substantially horizontal axis.
9. A machine as claimed in claim 8,
characterised in that, the container (16; 22) comprises a support structure (27, 28) of the containment
portion (23), which is capable of assuming
- a lowered configuration, in which the container (16; 22) can be inserted into and
extracted from the compartment (17; 17, 21) and the containment portion (23) lies
at a first distance from the door (10), and
- a raised configuration in which, with the container (16; 22) extracted from the
compartment (17; 17, 21), the containment portion (23) lies at a second distance from
the door (10),
where in particular the container (16; 22) comprises at least one of:
- actuating means, such as a gas spring, to achieve a servo-assisted shift of the
support structure (27, 28) from the lowered configuration to the raised configuration,
- a locking/releasing system, able to be switched between a first and a second condition,
in the first condition the device stably maintaining the support structure (27, 28)
in one between said lowered and raised configuration and in the second condition the
device allowing the support structure (27, 28) to shift from the lowered configuration
to the raised configuration, or vice versa.
10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the support structure (27, 28) comprises a base frame (27) whereto the first end
of at least a lever (28) capable of moving angularly is articulated, the second end
of the lever (28) being articulated to the containment portion (23).
11. A machine as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that wheels (18B, 22B) are associated to the support structure (27, 28), able to bear
on the floor of the space in which the machine (1) is installed.
12. A machine as claimed in claim 8 or 11,
characterised in that the cabinet (2) has a respective lower bottom (F) in which a recess (17) is formed,
the recess (17) being open towards the exterior of the cabinet (2) in two directions,
substantially orthogonal to each other (X, Y) and forming at least part (17) of the
compartment (17; 17, 21), where in particular:
- the recess (17) extends between the bottom (F) and a front face of the cabinet (2)
and it is delimited by surfaces of the bottom (F) oriented towards the exterior of
the cabinet (2), and/or
- at least the portion of the bottom (F) in which the recess (17) is defined is part
of a component made of plastic material (F), in particular polypropylene.
13. A machine as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the cabinet (2) is able to be fastened above a basement (20) defining a respective
cavity (21), which forms at least part (21) of the compartment (17; 21), where in
particular the cavity (21) is open towards the exterior of the basement (20) in at
least two directions, substantially orthogonal to each other (X, Y), the basement
(20) having in particular an overall C shape.
14. A container (16; 22) comprising an upper containment portion (23) sustained by a respective
support structure (27, 28), as claimed in one or more of the previous claims.