Washing machine with door-covering panel

Abstract

 A washing machine includes a decorative panel P hinged along a vertical side of the base W of the machine so as to cover completely the front part of the latter thus hiding the porthole door D, the control panel C and the load drawer L, said panel P having a substantially increased thickness with respect to conventional decorative panels, indicatively at least 8 cm, and being provided with an internal recess R in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves S suitable to receive the items required to operate the washing machine such as the packages of detergent, softener or other additives, floor cloths and sponges, the instruction booklet, etc. In this way, the user has everything at hand and the presence of panel P is no longer a disturbance to the access to an adjacent piece of furniture containing said items, and furthermore the washing machine can be arranged as a stand-alone appliance, without any necessity to arrange external shelves and/or pieces of furniture.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to washing machines with the door covered by a decorative panel, and in particular to a washing machine in which such a panel also acts as a container. Reference will be made hereafter specifically to a washing machine while it is clear that what is said applies to any other domestic appliance with a similar panel hinged along a vertical side, e.g. a washer/dryer.

[0002] This type of decorative panels is known to be used to camouflage a washing machine so that it blends with the kitchen furniture, if it is arranged in a kitchen, or merely to embellish the machine by hiding the porthole door and the control panel. This is achieved by applying to the washing machine, by various means, a panel having the same appearance of the other doors so that there is no visible element allowing to distinguish the washing machine from the other members which make up the kitchen, its controls being accessible only when the door is open.

[0003] The function of such a panel is purely decorative, and its presence implies a greater cost of the machine without providing any practical utility to the user, who on the contrary may be disturbed by the covering panel during the operations on the machine. In fact, the panel may prevent an easy access to an adjacent piece of furniture or shelf where the user stores the detergent and/or additive bottles to be used in the loading phase, or other items that may be useful such as a floor cloth to dry up possible leaks.

[0004] Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a decorative panel that overcomes the aforementioned drawback.

[0005] This object is achieved by means of a washing machine in which the panel has an increased thickness and is provided with internal shelves that can receive the items required to operate the washing machine, such as for example the packages of detergent, softener or other additives, floor cloths and sponges, the instruction booklet, etc.

[0006] The main advantage of the washing machine with the panel according to the present invention is the twofold function of the latter acting both as a decorative cover and as a container, so that the user has everything at hand and the presence of the panel is no longer a nuisance.

[0007] A further advantage of the present washing machine is that it can be arranged as a stand-alone appliance, without the necessity to arrange external shelves and/or pieces of furniture that are unaesthetic and cumbersome.

[0008] Still another advantage of this washing machine stems from the fact that the change of the covering panel is structurally very simple, which makes said change cheap and reliable.

[0009] These and other advantages and features of the washing machine according to the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the only drawing, attached as fig.1, that shows a perspective front view of the washing machine with the panel in the open position.

[0010] With reference to said figure, there is seen that a washing machine according to the present invention conventionally includes a decorative panel P hinged along a vertical side of the base W of the machine so as to cover completely the front part of the latter, thus hiding the porthole door D, the control panel C and the load drawer L.

[0011] The novel aspect of the present invention resides in the particular structure of panel P that has a substantially increased thickness with respect to the thickness required for the merely decorative function, indicatively at least 8 cm, and is provided with an internal recess R in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves S suitable to receive the above-mentioned items required to operate the washing machine.

[0012] It is obvious that the room provided by recess R can be exploited also by means of elements different from the illustrated six shelves S, e.g. full-width shelves possibly provided with hinged transparent lids.

[0013] It is therefore clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention is just an example susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the shape and extension of recess R as well as the number, type and arrangement of shelves S may be freely changed according to specific needs.

Claims

1. A domestic appliance provided with a decorative panel (P) hinged along a vertical side of the base (W) of said domestic appliance, characterized in that said decorative panel (P) has an increased thickness with respect to the thickness required for the merely decorative function and is provided with an internal recess (R) in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves (S).

2. A domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the panel (P) is at least 8 cm.

3. A domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shelves (S) are provided with hinged transparent lids.

Drawing