A door-release for front-loading washing machines

Abstract

 A door lock for front-loading washing machines comprises a support body (6) associated with the structure of the machine (1) and a lever (14) articulated to the body and having an end opposite the articulated end which is connected to a flexible operating cable (C). A slide (12) is articulated to the lever and has a lateral edge surface situated adjacent an aperture (7) in the body (6), which is provided for the passage of a catch member (8) connected to the door (2) of the machine (1). The lateral edge surface of the slide also has a cut-out portion (13) for enabling the catch member (8) to be released, and consequently the door (2) to be opened, when the slide (12) slides.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a door lock for front-loading washing machines and driers, comprising a support body adapted to be fixed to the structure of the machine, locking means which are movable relative to the body and adapted to cooperate with a retaining member attached to the door to prevent or enable its opening, and safety means adapted to keep the locking means in an operative condition when the machine is in operation.

[0002] The object of the present invention is to provide a door release which is simple and cheap to produce and which enables the door to be opened by means of a push-button situated on the control panel of the machine and connected by means of a cable to the movable locking means associated with the support body of the lock.

[0003] In order to achieve this object, the device according to the invention is characterised in that the locking means comprise a lever member having a first end articulated to the support body and a second end connected to an operating cable, the safety means preventing the pivoting of the lever member when the machine is in operation.

[0004] By virtue of these characteristics, the force needed for the opening operation is reduced considerably and the travel of the lever mechanisms is shortened.

[0005] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawings provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front-loading washing machine,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the door lock with which the machine of Figure 1 is provided,

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of a first embodiment of the door catch in an inoperative configuration,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 which shows the lock in an operative configuration for the release of the door,

Figure 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of the door lock, in a rest configuration,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, which shows the lock in an operative release configuration,

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a front view of a third embodiment of the door lock in a rest configuration,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the device in an operative release configuration,

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line X-X of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of the door lock in a rest configuration, and

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line XII-XII of Figure 11.

[0006] With reference to the drawings, a front-loading washing machine is generally indicated 1 and is provided with a front loading door 2 which can pivot about a vertical axis. The machine includes a washing chamber 3 in which a drum 4 is mounted for rotation. A lock 5, associated with the door 2, is carried by the structure of the washing machine and can hold the door closed when the washing machine is in operation.

[0007] The lock 5 includes a support body 6 fixed to the structure of the washing machine and having an aperture 7 for the passage of a hooked lever or catch member 8 articulated at 9 to a lateral edge of the door 2 with the interposition of a torsion spring 10 arranged to keep the catch member 8 in a position substantially perpendicular to the median plane of the door 2. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2-4, the support body 6 has a vertical guide 11 in which a rod-like slide 12 is slidable, the slide having a cut-out portion 13 in its lateral edge surface 12a whose width corresponds substantially to the width of the catch member 8. The sliding of the slide 12 in the guide 11 is driven by a lever 14 perpendicular to the slide and having a first end 14a articulated at 15 to the body 5 and a second end 14b to which the end of an operating cable C is connected. The lever 14 has a central horizontal slot 16 in which a pin 17, connected to one end 12b of the slide 12, is slidable in order to enable the slide itself to slide as a result of the rotation of the lever 14 about the fulcrum 15. Near its second end 14b, the lever 14 has a side arm 18 with a hooked end 18a for cooperating with an abutment 19 which is adapted to project, in known manner, from the body 6 of the lock 5 when the machine is operating and to be flush with the support body 6 when the machine has stopped. A helical tension spring 20 is interposed between the lever 14 and the body 6 for biassing the lever 14 to a substantially horizontal position.

[0008] In this position (Figure 3), by virtue of the presence of the spring 10, the introduction of the catch member 8 into the aperture 7 causes the snap-engagement of the hooked end 8a of the catch with the edge 12a of the slide 12 beside the aperture 7. The door 2 is thus held closed and the washing machine can start its operating cycle. During this cycle, the abutment 19 projects from the support body 6 and prevents the lever 14 from being pivoted by means of the operation of the cable C connected to a push-button situated on a control panel T of the machine 1. When the machine has completed its cycle, the user, through the control panel T, rotates the lever 14 about its fulcrum 15, against the action of the helical spring 20, sliding the slide 12 in its guide 11 until the cut-out 13 is brought into correspondence with the catch member 8 (Figure 4). In this configuration, the door 2 is free to pivot and can be opened to the configuration shown in Figure 1.

[0009] Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the device in which elements similar to those shown in Figures 3 and 4 have the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, a first end 21a of a lever 21, provided with a second end 21b for connection to an operating cable, is pivoted at 15 on the support body 6. The lever 21 has an auxiliary side arm 22 with a pin 23 arranged to slide in a vertical slot 24 in a horizontal slide 25, parallel to the lever 21. The slide 25 is slidable in a horizontal guide 26 in the body 6 and has a first end 25a situated in correspondence with the aperture 7 for the passage of the locking catch 8 and a second end 25b provided with a lateral appendage 27 for cooperating with the abutment 19.

[0010] Figure 5 shows the machine with the door closed as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 3. The operation of the lever 21 by means of its end 21b causes the pin 23 connected to the auxiliary lateral arm 22 to pivot about the fulcrum 15 and to slide in the vertical slot 24 causing the horizontal sliding of the slide 25 and the release of the locking catch 8 from the end 25a of the slide. When the machine is in operation, the abutment 19 prevents the slide 25 from sliding by reacting against its lateral appendage 27.

[0011] Figures 8, 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the lock in which similar elements are indicated in the drawings by the same reference numerals as those used in Figures 1-7. In this third embodiment, a first end 28a of a lever 28 is pivoted at 15 on the support body 6, the lever having a second end 28b for connection to an operating cable. The lever 28 has a first side arm 29 near the first end 28a and a second side arm 30 situated between the first arm 29 and the second end 28b.

[0012] The first side arm 29 has an L-shaped free end 31 situated in correspondence with the aperture 7 for the passage of a retaining hook 32 which is fixed rigidly to the door 2 and has an end 32a which defines a shoulder 32b for cooperating with the end 31 of the first arm 29 of the lever 28. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 8, the L-shaped end 31 prevents the release of the hook 32. In this configuration, moreover, it is possible to close the door 2 by virtue of the resilience of the side arm 9 which enables the shoulder 32b of the hook 32 to snap engage with the end 31 of the arm. In this embodiment, therefore, it is possible to use a rigid hook instead of the articulated catch shown in the preceding embodiments. The lever 28 can be pivoted by action on its end 28b to cause the disengagement of the hook 32 from the end 31 of the first side arm 29 and allow the door to be opened. When the machine is operating, the abutment 19 cooperates with the second side arm 30 to prevent the lever 28 from pivoting and hence the door from opening.

[0013] Figures 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the lock which is similar to that shown in Figures 8 and 9. In Figures 11 and 12, similar elements are indicated by the same reference numerals as those used for Figures 1-10. In this embodiment, a rotary abutment member 33 is articulated on a vertical pin 34 of the support body 6 about an axis X-X perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the lever 28. The abutment element 33 has an engagement tooth 33a for cooperation with the catch member 8, a recess 33b for cooperating with the free end 31 of the lever 28 and a cam surface 33c. In the configuration illustrated in the drawings, the engagement of the end 31 of the lever 28 with the recess 33b prevents the element 33 from rotating and the door 2 from opening by virtue of the engagement of the catch member 8 with the engagement tooth 33a. In this configuration, moreover, it is possible to close the door 2, by virtue of the pivoting of the catch member 8 upon its resilient snap-engagement with the engagement tooth 33a.

[0014] The lever 28 can be pivoted by action on its end 28b to disengage the end 31 of the lever 28 from the recess 33b in the rotatable member 33. The latter can therefore pivot on the pin 34 to allow the release of the catch member 8 from the engagement tooth 33a and the consequent opening of the door. A torsion spring is interposed between the pin 34 and the rotatable abutment member 33 for biassing this member into the configuration illustrated in Figure 12, the cam surface 33c enabling the resilient snap repositioning of the end 31 of the lever 28 in the recess 33b. The solution described above has the advantage of requiring a small operating force for disengaging the rotatable abutment member 33 enabling the use, for example, of a relay operated from the control panel T.

[0015] It is clear that the lever of the lock may be operated by devices different from those described.

Claims

1. A door lock for front-loading washing machines and driers, comprising
- a support body adapted to be fixed to the structure of the machine,
- locking means which are movable relative to this body and adapted to cooperate with a retaining member attached to the door to prevent or enable its opening,
- safety means arranged to keep the locking means in the locked position when the machine is in operation, characterised in that the locking means comprise a lever member (14, 21, 28) having a first end (14a, 21a, 28a) articulated to the support body (6) and a second end (14b, 21b, 28b) connected to an operating cable, the safety means (19) preventing the pivoting of the lever member (14, 21, 28) when the machine (1) is in operation.

2. A lock according to Claim 1, of the type in which the safety means include an abutment (19) arranged to project laterally from the support body (6) when the machine (1) is in operation and in which the retaining member is constituted by a catch member (8) articulated to the door (2) and held in a position substantially perpendicular to the door by resilient means (10), characterised in that it further includes a slide (12, 25) slidably supported by the body (6) and articulated by the lever member (14, 21), the slide being able to cooperate in a first position with the catch member (8) to keep the door (2) closed and in a second position to enable the opening of the door (2).

3. A lock according to Claim 2, characterised in that the slide (12) is disposed substantially perpendicular to the lever member (14) and has a lateral edge (12a) which is situated adjacent an aperture (7) provided in the body (6) for the passage of the catch member (8), the edge (12a) being arranged to snap engage the catch member (8) to keep the door (2) closed and also having a cut-out portion (13) for enabling the release of the catch member (8) from the slide (12) when the latter is forced to slide by the lever member (14).

4. A lock according to Claim 3, characterised in that the lever member (14) has a lateral retaining arm (18) arranged to cooperate with the abutment (19) which projects from the body (6) to prevent the lever member (14) from pivoting when the machine is in operation.

5. A lock according to Claim 2, characterised in that the slide (25) is arranged substantially parallel to the lever member (21) and is operated thereby by means of a lateral arm (22) which is firmly fixed to the lever member (21) and articulated to the slide (25), the latter having an end (25a) adjacent an aperture (7) in the body (6) for the passage of the catch member (8) and adapted to engage the latter to keep the door (2) closed, the sliding of the slide (25) driven by the lateral arm (22) of the lever member (21) allowing the release of the catch member (8) from the slide (25a, 25).

6. A lock according to Claim 5, characterised in that the slide (25) has a retaining portion (27) for cooperating with the abutment (19) which projects from the body (6) to prevent it from sliding when the machine (1) is in operation.

7. A lock according to Claim 1, characterised in that the lever member (28) has a side arm (29) situated adjacent the first end (28a) of the lever member (28) and provided with an end (31) situated adjacent an aperture (7) in the body (6) provided for the passage of the retaining member (32, 32a), the end (31) being arranged to cooperate with the retaining member (32) to keep the door (2) closed, and the pivoting of the lever member (28) causing the disengagement of the lateral arm (29) from the retaining member (32) and the consequent opening of the door (2).

8. A lock according to Claim 7, of the type in which the safety means comprise an abutment (19) which projects laterally from the support body (6) when the machine is in operation, characterised in that adjacent its second end (28b), the lever member (28) has an auxiliary side arm (30) arranged to cooperate with the abutment (19) to prevent the lever member (28) from pivoting.

9. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tension spring (20) is interposed between the support body (6) and the lever member (14, 21, 28) for retaining the lever member (14, 21, 28) in the configuration corresponding to the closed condition of the door (2).

10. A lock according to Claim 7, characterised in that an abutment member (33) is interposed between the end (31) and the retaining member (8) and is supported for rotation by the support body (6), the abutment element (33) having an engagement tooth (33a) for cooperating with the retaining member (8) to keep the door (2) closed and a recess (33b) for cooperating with the end (31) to prevent the abutment element (33) from rotating when the lever member (28) is in the rest configuration.

Drawing