Technical Field
[0001] This invention is related with the height-adjustable foot connections of household
appliances such as a dishwasher or a washing machine.
Prior Art
[0002] Height-adjustable feet are used to level household applications on the floor. These
feet are installed to the bottom of the appliance and thanks to the screw-threaded
connection on them; they enable both adjusting the height of such appliances by a
certain extend and leveling them on the floor. The mentioned feet may either be directly
installed on the bottom base of the appliance or they can also be installed by means
of certain interconnection components.
[0003] In the prior art, various adjustable foot systems have been developed for household
appliances. For example, the published patent no.
DE3225502 illustrates an interconnection unit screwed to the bottom of a household appliance,
and a height-adjustable foot attached to that unit. However, the installation of the
mentioned interconnection unit requires multiple screws, therefore, the operations
of mounting and dismounting the component is time consuming.
Brief Description of the Invention
[0004] The foot connection system according to the invention includes a sole plate of a
household appliance, an interconnection component installed to at least one installation
channel on the sole plate, and the foot installed on that component. On the interconnection
component, there is a slide bedded in the installation channel; and a guide on at
least one lateral edge of the slide. On the installation channel, there is a clearance
on one side of the channel where the slide enters longitudinally in single direction,
and there is a guide on at least one side of the clearance along the channel. There,
the mentioned guides are interlacing, and the component is longitudinally bedded in
the channel. On one side of the interconnection component, there is a foot installation
socket in which the foot is installed. Screw thread is provided in that socket and
on the foot pivot; and the foot is installed to the interconnection piece by turning,
and thus the height of the foot can be adjusted.
Aim of the Invention
[0005] The aim of the invention is to ensure that height-adjustable feet are installed to
the sole plate components of household appliance by means of interconnection components.
[0006] Another aim of the invention is to ensure that the interconnection components are
installed to the sole plate component in a fast and practical manner.
[0007] Another aim of the invention is to ensure firm fixation of the interconnection components
to the sole plate component.
[0008] Another aim of the invention is to ensure fast and handy installation of height-adjustable
feet to the interconnection component.
[0009] A further aim of the invention is to ensure the installation of interconnection components
and height adjustable feet to the sole plate component, and to level the household
appliances on the floor.
Description of Figures
[0010] A sample foot connection system of the present invention is shown in the appended
figures, and
Figure 1. is the top perspective elevation of the household appliance sole plate.
Figure 2. is the bottom perspective elevation of the household appliance sole plate.
Figure 3. is the detailed perspective elevation of the installation channel on the
sole plate.
Figure 4. is the perspective elevation of the interconnection component.
Figure 5. is another perspective elevation of the interconnection component.
Figure 6. is the perspective elevation of the sole plate, interconnection component
and foot as installed.
[0011] The pieces in the figures are individually numbered and the following items are represented
by the corresponding numbers.
Sole plate (1)
Installation channel (2)
Channel guides (3)
Slope surface (4)
Centering clearance (5)
Interconnection component (6)
Connection guides (7)
Clamp (8)
Foot installation socket (9)
Foot (10)
Centering pin (11)
Clearance (12)
Tie piece (13)
Slide (14)
Foot pivot (15)
Screw thread (16)
Screw thread (17)
Description of the Invention
[0012] In Figure 1-2, the perspective elevations of the sole plate of a household appliance
are given. The foot connection system according to the invention includes this sole
plate (1); the interconnection component (6) installed to the installation channel
(2) on the sole plate (figure 4-6) and the foot (10) installed to the interconnection
component (6) (figure 6).
[0013] Figure 3 shows the detailed perspective elevation of the installation channel (2)
on the sole plate (2). In the installation channel (2), there is a clearance (12)
on one side of the interconnection component (6) to allow for single-directional linear
entry. There is a guide (3) on at least one side of the clearance (12) along the channel
(2). Each channel guide (3) is constructed as compatible with the connection guide
(7) (figure 5) on the interconnection component (6) to be installed in the channel
(2). These guides (3, 7) form interlacing indents and projections and enable the back
and forth movement of the inter-connection component (6) in the channel (2) only on
single direction. In other words, by means of these guides (3, 7), the interconnection
component (6) should be bedded in the channel (2) linearly (the sample guides (3,
7) on the figures are shown in dovetail form).
[0014] On the opposite side of the mentioned clearance (12), and at the end of the channel
(2), there is a slope surface (4). While the interconnection component (6) is advanced
in the channel (2), when at least one clamp (8) on the component (6) (figure 5) leans
on this surface (8), it flexes and then flexes back and it is installed on the tie
piece (13) on the top part of the channel (2). The slope surface enables bending of
the clamp (8) outwards. On one side of the mentioned clearance (12) there is a central
gap (5) strengthening the connection of the interconnection component (6) to the sole
plate (1). A centering pivot (11) on the interconnection piece (6) enters this centering
clearance (5).
[0015] Figure 4-5 shows the perspective elevations of the interconnection component (6).
The interconnection component (6) is bedded linearly in the channel (2) as mentioned
above. Therefore, a slide section (14) is created on the component (6). A connection
guide (7) on at least one side of the slide (14) is associated with a channel guide
(3). When the connection component (6) is installed to the channel (2) from the clearance
(12) side by means of a slide (14); as also mentioned above, the guides (3, 7) interlace
and the interconnection component (6) is bedded only on single direction in the channel
(2). On the top part of the slide (14), there is at least one clamp (8) with flexing
properties. While the interconnection component (6) is installed to the channel (2),
that clamp (8) contacts to the slope surface (4) and flexes outward, the clamp (8)
flexes back at the end of the surface (4) and is installed on the tie piece (13) on
top of the slope surface (4). So, the separation of interconnection component (6)
from the sole plate (1) by mistake is prevented. In order to separate the interconnection
component (6) from the sole plate (1), the clamp (8) is flexed outwards and freed
from the tie piece; then the connection component is pulled back and removed from
the channel (2). So, the mantling and dismantling of the interconnection component
(6) to the sole plate (1) can be realized quickly.
[0016] On the bottom section of the slide (14), there is a centering pivot (11) formed to
enter the centering clearance (5). When the interconnection component (6) is completely
fitted in the channel (2), the pivot (11) fits in the clearance (5). Both the placement
of the slide (14) into the channel (2) and the placement of the pivot (11) into the
clearance (5) solidify the installation of the interconnection component (6) to the
sole plate (1).
[0017] On one side of the interconnection component (6), there is a foot installation socket
(9) created to install the foot (10). There is a screw thread (16) in that installation
socket (9) which allows for attaching the foot (10) by twisting action. Therefore,
(as shown in figure 6), a screw thread (17) has been provided on the pivot (15) which
is located on the foot (10). Therefore, the height adjustment of the leg (10) can
be made.
1. A foot connection system including a sole plate (1) of a household appliance;
at least one assembly channel (2) installed to the interconnection component (6) on
the sole plate (1), and the foot (10) installed to that component (6), characterized in that it comprises
a slide (14) on the interconnection component (6) which is bedded linearly in the
installation channel (2);
a clearance (12) on one side of the installation channel (2) where the slide (14)
enters longitudinally in one direction;
a channel guide (3) with indents and projections along the channel (2) on at least
one side of the clearance (12);
a dovetail connection guide (7) located on at least one side of the slide (14) and
interlacing with the channel guide (3).
on one side of the interconnection component (6), a foot installation socket (9) formed
to install the foot (10).
2. A connection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one clamp (8) with flexing properties on the top part the slide
(14).
3. A connection system according to Claim 2 characterized in that while the interconnection component (6) advances in the channel (2), it comprises
a slope surface (4) for flexing of the clamp (8) outwards on the opposite side of
the clearance (12) and at the end of the channel (2).
4. A connection system according to Claim 3 characterized in that when the interconnection component (6) is installed to the channel (2), the clamp
(8) is attached; and the channel includes a tie piece (13) on top.
5. A connection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a centering clearance (5) on one side of the clearance (12), and a centering
pivot (11) on the bottom of the slide (14) which fits in that clearance (5) when the interconnection component (6) is installed to the channel
(2).
6. A connection system according to Claim 1; and characterized in that it comprises a screw thread (16) in the installation socket (9).
7. A connection system according to Claim 6; and characterized in that for the installation of the foot (10) to the mentioned installation socket (9) by
twisting, it comprises a foot pivot (15) with screw thread (17).
8. A connection system according to Claim 1; and characterized in that the guides (3, 7) are dovetailed.