[0001] The present invention relates to a drum for a washing machine of the top-loading
type particularly intended for domestic use.
[0002] The drum of a washing machine of this type is rotatable about a horizontal axis and
is provided with an opening for the introduction and discharge of the laundry, said
opening being formed in the peripheral wall of the drum and normally closed by means
of two door flaps resiliently hinged on the drum and adapted to be brought into mutual
locking engagement for ensuring the closure of the drum during operation of the machine.
[0003] In particular, the hinge of each door flap is provided by forming the respective
transverse edge portions of the door flap and of the opening of the drum to the shape
for instance of a rectangularly crenellated profile, so that they can be joined in
an interdigitated manner, and by subsequently forming a bore extending along the hinge
axis through the above desribed edge portions for the introduction of a hinge rod
provided with a suitable torsion spring.
[0004] Although a hinge of the above described type provides for an efficient connection
of the door flaps to the drum, it is structurally complicated and requires a considerable
number of working steps for its formation.
[0005] As the edge portions of the opening and the door flaps are formed with a non-linear
profile, there is in addition the danger that the laundry contained within the drum
gets caught in the spaces, however small, existing between the said edge portions.,
so that the laundry itself is in danger of being damaged.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above noted deficiencies
by the employ of a hinge of simple construction and uncomplicated operation, in which
the respective edge portions of the door flap and of the opening of the drum are formed
with rectilinear profiles so as to exclude any possibility of the laundry contained
in the drum getting caught between the edge portions.
[0007] These and other objects are attained according to the invention by a drum for a washing
machine, particularly of the top-loading type, provided with a peripheral access opening
for the introduction and extraction of the laundry, and with door flaps hinged at
one end on respective opposite lateral edge portions of said opening and adapted to
be lockingly engaged with one another with their free ends. A drum of the above noted
type is characterized according to the invention in that adjacent the hinged connection
the lateral edge portion of each door flap is of a rounded shape adapted to be rotatably
received in a correspondingly rounded portion of a hinge element fixedly attached
along the respective lateral edge portion of said opening of the drum, resilient means
being connected between the edge portion of said door flap and said hinge element
for biasing said door flap towards its open position.
[0008] The characteristics of the invbntion will become more clearly evident from the following
description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
fig. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a drum according to the invention,
fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view of a hinge of the drum shown in fig. 1, and
fig. 3 shows apartial perspective view of the drum shown in fig. 1.
[0009] With reference to fig. 1, there is shown part of a drum 4 mounted for rotation about
a horizontal axis within a conventional laundry washing machine of the top-loading
type (not shown) .Drum 4 is formed with a peripheral access opening 5 for the introduction
and extraction of the laundry, two door flaps 6 and 7 being resiliently hinged with
one of their ends to respective lateral edge portions 8 and 9 of access opening 5,
the free end portions of door flaps 6 and 7 being provided with hooks 10 and holes
11, respectively, or similar means adapted to be brought into mutual engagement for
securing the door flaps in a partially overlapping closed position.
[0010] Shown in figs. 2 and 3 is the construction of the hinge connection for the door flaps,
in the example shown of door flap 6 with the respective lateral edge portion of access
opening 5. In the example shown, a hinge 12 comprises a hinge element 13 provided
with a planar portion 14 fixedly attached along the edge portion 8 of the access opening,
and with a rounded portion 15 of substantially semicircular cross- section projecting
partially into the opening.
[0011] On the other hand, the lateral edge portion 16 of door flap 6 is formed to a rounded
shape corresponding to that of the rounded portion 15 of hinge element 13, so that
said edge portion is adapted to be received therein for free pivotal movement over
a limited range, permitting door flap 6 to be pivoted about the axis of the thus formed
hinge connection.
[0012] Hinge 12 is further provided with at least one torsion spring 17 located adjacent
at least one lateral end of the hinge itself between hinge element 13 and rounded
edge portion 16 of door flap 6 so as to bias the latter continuously towards its open
position to the outside of drum 4.
[0013] In comparison to conventional hinges provided with crenellated transverse edges,
the rounded portion 15 and edge portion 16 of door flap 6 of the described hinge present
rectilinear lateral profiles practically excluding the possibility of the laundry
being caught therebetween and being damaged in the process, thus rendering the hinge
more useful and efficient.
[0014] In addition, the hinge connection rods,used in conventional hinges are eliminated,
which permits the employ of torsion springs having a reduced number of windings, whereby
the construction of the drum is simplified and a saving of material achieved.
1. A drum for a washing machine of the top-loading type particularly for domestic
use, provided with a peripheral access opening for the introduction and extraction
of the laundry, and with closure door flaps having one of their ends hinged to respective
ones of opposite lateral edges of said opening and adapted to be lockingly engaged
with one another at their free ends, characterized in that adjacent the hinge connection
the lateral edge portion (16) of each door flap (6, 7) is formed to a rounded shape
adapted to be rotatably received in a correspondingly rounded portion (15) of a hinge
element (13) fixedly attached along the respective lateral edge portion (8, 9) of
said opening (5) of the drum (4) resilient means (17) being connected between said
edge portion of said door flap and said hinge element for biasing said door flap towards
its open position.
2. A drum for a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said rounded
portion (15) of said hinge element (13) and said lateral edge portion (16) of said
door flap (6, 7) each present a rectilinear profile.