A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance wherein the height is adjusted by leveling the feet supporting the body.

[0002] In household appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machine or the refrigerator, the feet that support the body are height adjustable. The household appliance is balanced by leveling the feet. Particularly the built-in household appliances are brought to a height accommodating with the cabin height after emplacing in a cabin, and the height of the household appliance is adjusted by means of the feet. Reaching the rear feet is almost impossible after the built-in household appliance is emplaced in the cabin. Consequently, the movement of the rear feet is provided by the mechanisms controlled from the front side. By means of these mechanisms, the height adjustment of the rear feet can be made by an adjustment rod extending backward from a point at the front of the household appliance which is easily accessible by the user or the service personnel. The height adjustment of the front feet can be made by rotating the foot around its axis by means of a wrench. Under different conditions of utilization, reaching the front feet can also be problematic in the household appliance, for example if the household appliance is at a very low position then working with a wrench becomes difficult in the narrow gap between the base of the body and the floor and the household appliance body needs to be lifted up a little. In a built-in household appliance, since the upper side is also closed generally, lifting in situ is not possible either.

[0003] In the patent document no DE4410554, leveling members used in a built-in domestic appliance, particularly in domestic refrigerators, are explained. The leveling members include a rotatable rod, operable from the front side of the domestic appliance body and a gearing formed of a worm screw and worm wheel actuated by the rod and as a result the leveling of the rear feet of the domestic appliance can be affected from the front side.

[0004] In the patent application no WO2005/115199 a leveling system for a piece of furniture is explained. Document DE 91 12 657 describes a height adjustment mechanism for a household appliance comprising a rotatable shaft underneath the body of the household appliance for levelling the front and rear foot separately. Documents DE 33 36 375 and WO 2004/107914 describe height adjustment mechanisms for household appliances comprising a rotatable shaft whereby only one of the feet can be adjusted in height while the other foot remains fixedly.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to realize a household appliance comprising a height adjustment mechanism that can level the front and the rear feet.

[0006] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] The household appliance of the present invention comprises a height adjustment mechanism that allows leveling of the front and rear feet from a single point and independently from each other. The height adjustment mechanism comprises a height adjustment shaft underneath the body, extending horizontally from the front surface of the body towards the rear; the shaft can be brought to two different positions by moving in the axial direction and in the first position of the shaft, the height adjustment of the front foot is made and in the second position of the shaft, the height adjustment of the rear foot is made.

[0008] The height adjustment mechanism comprises two seats that house the shaft from the front side and allows for the axial movement between the positions of the shaft and at the same time whereto the front and rear feet are secured, two worm screws and two worm wheels that transfer the rotational motion of the shaft to the front foot and the rear foot.

[0009] The first worm screw functions together with the worm wheel connected to the front foot in the first position wherein the height adjustment of the first foot is made and in the second position of the shaft it is separated from the worm wheel and runs idle.

[0010] The second worm screw functions together with the worm wheel connected to the rear foot in the second position wherein the height adjustment of the rear foot is made and in the first position of the shaft it is separated from the worm wheel and runs idle.

[0011] In the household appliance of the present invention, the distance between the first and second worm screws is different from the distance between the feet so that the height adjustment of the front and rear feet can be made independently from each other.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is brought to the first position by pushing into the body in the axial direction and is brought to the second position by pulling out of the body in the axial direction.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is pulled out of the body in the axial direction to bring to the first position and is pushed into the body in the axial direction to bring to the second position.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, a stopper is used in the height adjustment mechanism which is fitted to the shaft and affixes the shaft in the axial direction by bearing against the body at the positions the shaft is changed to and allowing rotation around its axis at the set position. In this embodiment, two stopper channels are provided on the shaft that shows the user the first and the second adjustment positions whereto the shaft will be brought.

[0015] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a household appliance.

Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a height adjustment mechanism.

Figure 3 - is the exploded view of a height adjustment mechanism.

Figure 4 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the first position wherein the front foot of the household appliance is adjusted.

Figure 5 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the second position wherein the rear foot of the household appliance is adjusted.

Figure 6 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the first position wherein the front foot of the household appliance is adjusted in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the second position wherein the rear foot of the household appliance is adjusted in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1.

Household appliance

2.

Body

3.

103. Foot

4.

Shaft

5.

Height adjustment mechanism

6.

Head

7. 107.

Seat

8. 108.

Worm wheel

9. 109.

Worm screw

10.

Stopper

11.

Stopper channel

[0017] The household appliance (1) of the present invention, preferably a built-in household appliance (1), comprises a body (2), more than one front feet (3) and more than one rear feet (103) situated on the base of the body (2), respectively at the front and at the rear sides, having screw threads (D) on the outer surface for mounting thereof under the body (2) and for adjusting the height.

[0018] The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises a height adjustment mechanism (5):

• having a shaft (4) underneath the body (2), extending horizontally from the front surface of the body (2) towards the rear and which is movably changeable to two positions (I, II),
• allowing leveling of the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and
• allowing leveling of the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4).

[0019] The height adjustment mechanism (5) comprises a head (6) connected to the shaft (4), extending from the front of the body (2) towards the outside, enabling the shaft (4) to be rotated by a hand tool such as a screwdriver etc., a front seat (7) that houses the shaft (4) from the front side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the front foot (3) is fastened by screwing, a rear seat (107) that houses the shaft (4) from the rear side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the rear foot (103) is fastened by screwing, two worm screws (9, 109) and two worm wheels (8, 108) that transfer the rotational motion of the shaft (4) to the front foot (3) or the rear foot (103).

[0020] The first worm screw (9) functions together with the worm wheel (8) secured to the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made, and separates from the worm wheel (8) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) and runs idle (Figures 4 - 7).

[0021] The second worm screw (109) functions together with the worm wheel (108) secured to the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made, and separates from the worm wheel (108) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and runs idle (Figures 4 - 7).

[0022] In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, when height adjustment is to be made, the height adjustment mechanism (5) is moved forward or backward by means of the head (6) situated at the front side of the body (2) and when the shaft (4) is axially in the suitable position for adjusting the front foot (3), it is kept stationary at the set position, and is rotated around its axis for adjusting the height of only the front foot (3). When the shaft (4) is brought to the suitable position axially for adjusting the rear foot (103), it is again kept stationary at the set position and this time only the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made by rotating around its axis.

[0023] In the height adjustment mechanism (5), the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) and the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) is different and when the first worm screw (9) is aligned with the front foot (3), the second worm screw (109) and the rear foot (103) are not aligned, similarly when the second worm screw (109) and the rear foot (103) are aligned, the first worm screw (9) and the front foot (3) are not aligned, thus the height adjustment of only the front foot (3) or only the rear foot (103) can be made at each position of the shaft (4).

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft (4) is pushed into the body (2) in the axial direction for changing to the first position (I) and the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made (Figure 4), and brought to the second position (II) by pulling out of the body (2) in the axial direction and the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made (Figure 5). In this embodiment, the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is greater than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) (L1>L2).

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shaft (4) is pulled out of the body (2) in the axial direction for bringing to the first position (I) (Figure 6) and the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made, and brought to the second position (II) by pushing into the body (2) in the axial direction (Figure 7) and the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made. In this embodiment, the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is less than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) (L1<L2).

[0026] In another embodiment of the present invention, the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprises more than one stopper (10), fitted over the shaft (4), affixing the shaft (4) in the axial direction when the shaft (4) is brought to the first position (I) and the second position (II) by bearing against the body (2) and allowing thereof to rotate around its axis in that set position.

[0027] In this embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism (5) furthermore comprises two stopper channels (11), arranged on the shaft (4), whereon the stopper (10) is fitted, showing the user the first and second adjustment positions (I, II) whereto the shaft (4) will be brought (Figures 3 -7).

[0028] In this embodiment, when the shaft (4) is brought to the first adjustment position (I), one of the two stopper channels (11) comes near the wall of the body (2) and the movement of the shaft (4) in the axial direction is prevented by fitting the stopper (10). When the shaft (4) is brought to the second adjustment position (II), this time the other stopper channel (11) comes near the wall of the body (2) and the movement of the shaft (4) in the axial direction is prevented by fitting the stopper (10) thereon.

[0029] In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the height adjustment of both the front foot (3) and the rear foot (103) can be made from a single point at the front side of the body (2) by means of the height adjustment mechanism (5). The height adjustment of the front and rear feet (3, 103) can be made independently from each other. It is no longer necessary to work in the narrow gap between the floor and the underside of the body (2) in order to make the height adjustment of the front foot (3). In order to produce the height adjustment mechanism (5) of the present invention, a simple addition to the known mechanism used for adjustment of the rear foot (103) is sufficient.

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) that comprises a body (2), more than one front feet (3) and more than one rear feet (103) situated on the base of the body (2), respectively at the front and at the rear sides, having screw threads (D) on their outer surfaces for mounting thereof under the body (2) and adjusting the height, and a height adjustment mechanism (5): - having a shaft (4) underneath the body (2), extending horizontally from the front surface of the body (2) towards the rear and which is movably changeable to two positions (I, II), - allowing levelling of the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and - allowing levelling of the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4),
characterized in that the household appliance (1) comprises one or more stoppers (10) to be fitted over the shaft (4), for affixing the shaft (4) in the axial direction when the shaft (4) is brought to the first position (I) and the second position (II) by bearing against the body (2) and allowing thereof to rotate around its axis in that fixed position.

2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising a front seat (7) that houses the shaft (4) from the front side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the front foot (3) is fastened by screwing, a rear seat (107) that houses the shaft (4) from the rear side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the rear foot (103) is fastened by screwing, two worm screws (9, 109) and two worm wheels (8, 108) that transfer the rotational motion of the shaft (4) to the front foot (3) or the rear foot (103).

3. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising a first worm screw (9) functioning together with the worm wheel (8) secured to the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made, which separates from the worm wheel (8) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) and runs idle and a second worm screw (109) functioning together with the worm wheel (108) secured to the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made, which separates from the worm wheel (108) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and runs idle.

4. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) wherein the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) and the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) is different.

5. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized in that the shaft (4) that is pushed into the body (2) in the axial direction and changed to the first position (I) and brought to the second position (II) by pulling out of the body (2) in the axial direction.

6. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) wherein the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is greater than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103).

7. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising the shaft (4) that is pulled out of the body (2) in the axial direction and changed to the first position (I) and brought to the second position (II) by pushing into the body (2) in the axial direction.

8. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 7, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) wherein the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is less than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103).

9. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising two stopper channels (11), arranged on the shaft (4), whereon the stopper (10) is fitted, showing the user the first and the second adjustment positions (I, II) whereto the shaft (4) will be brought.

Ansprüche

1. Haushaltsgerät (1), umfassend einen Gehäusekörper (2), mehrere Vorderfüße (3) und mehrere Hinterfüße (103), die jeweils auf der Vorder- und Rückseite an der Basis des Gehäusekörpers (2) angeordnet sind und Schraubgewinde (D) an ihren Außenflächen aufweisen, um sie unter dem Gehäusekörper (2) anzubringen und die Höhe einzustellen, und einen Höheneinstellmechanismus (5): - mit einer Welle (4) unter dem Gehäusekörper (2), die sich horizontal von der Vorderfläche des Gehäusekörpers (2) zur Rückseite erstreckt und beweglich zwischen zwei Positionen (I, II) veränderbar ist, - und ein Nivellieren des Vorderfußes (3) in der ersten Position (I) der Welle (4) zulässt und - ein Nivellieren des Hinterfußes (103) in der zweiten Position (II) der Welle (4) zulässt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Haushaltsgerät (1) einen oder mehrere Anschläge (10) zum Aufsetzen auf die Welle (4) umfasst, um die Welle (4) in der axialen Richtung zu fixieren, wenn die Welle (4) in die erste Position (I) und die zweite Position (II) gebracht wird, indem sie am Gehäusekörper (2) anliegen und es ihm ermöglichen, sich in dieser fixierten Position um seine Achse zu drehen.

2. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) einen vorderen Sitz (7), der die Welle (4) von der Vorderseite aufnimmt und die axiale Bewegung der Welle (4) zwischen der ersten Position (I) und der zweiten Position (II) zulässt und an dem der Vorderfuß (3) durch Schrauben befestigt ist, einen hinteren Sitz (107), der die Welle (4) von der Rückseite aufnimmt und die axiale Bewegung der Welle (4) zwischen der ersten Position (I) und der zweiten Position (II) zulässt und an dem der Hinterfuß (103) durch Schrauben befestigt ist, zwei Schneckenschrauben (9, 109) und zwei Schneckenräder (8, 108) umfasst, die die Drehbewegung der Welle (4) auf den Vorderfuß (3) oder den Hinterfuß (103) übertragen.

3. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) eine erste Schneckenschraube (9), die in der ersten Position (I) der Welle (4) mit dem Schneckenrad (8) zusammenwirkt, das an dem Vorderfuß (3) gesichert ist, wobei eine Höheneinstellung des Vorderfußes (3) erfolgt, und die sich in der zweiten Position (II) der Welle (4) von dem Schneckenrad (8) trennt und leerläuft, und eine zweite Schneckenschraube (109) umfasst, die in der zweiten Position (II) der Welle (4) mit dem Schneckenrad (108) zusammenwirkt, das am Hinterfuß (103) gesichert ist, wobei eine Höheneinstellung des Hinterfußes (103) erfolgt, und die sich in der ersten Position (I) der Welle (4) von dem Schneckenrad (108) trennt und leerläuft.

4. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass bei dem Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) der Abstand (L1) zwischen der ersten und zweiten Schneckenschraube (9, 109) und der Abstand (L2) zwischen den Füßen (3, 103) unterschiedlich ist.

5. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Welle (4) in der axialen Richtung in den Gehäusekörper (2) geschoben wird und in die erste Position (I) geändert wird, und in die zweite Position (II) gebracht wird, indem sie in der axialen Richtung aus dem Gehäusekörper (2) herausgezogen wird.

6. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass bei dem Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) der Abstand (L1) zwischen der ersten und zweiten Schneckenschraube (9, 109) größer als der Abstand (L2) zwischen den Füßen (3, 103) ist.

7. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) die Welle (4) umfasst, die in der axialen Richtung aus dem Gehäusekörper (2) gezogen wird und in die erste Position (I) geändert wird, und in die zweite Position (II) gebracht wird, indem sie in der axialen Richtung in den Gehäusekörper (2) geschoben wird.

8. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass bei dem Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) der Abstand (L1) zwischen der ersten und zweiten Schneckenschraube (9, 109) größer als der Abstand (L2) zwischen den Füßen (3, 103) ist.

9. Haushaltsgerät (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Höheneinstellmechanismus (5) zwei Anschlagkanäle (11) umfasst, die an der Welle (4) angeordnet sind, und mit denen der Anschlag (10) zusammengesetzt ist, und die dem Benutzer die erste und die zweite Einstellungsposition (I, II) zeigen, in die die Welle (4) gebracht wird.

Revendications

1. Un électroménager (1) qui comprend un corps (2), plus d'un pied avant (3) et plus d'un pied arrière (103) qui sont situés sur la base du corps (2), au côté avant et à l'arrière respectivement et qui présentent des filetage de vis (D) sur leurs surfaces extérieures pour les monter sous le corps (2) et pour ajuster leurs hauteurs, et un mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) - présentant un arbre (4) au-dessous du corps (2), qui s'étend horizontalement à partir de la surface frontale du corps (2) vers l'arrère et qui peut être passé à deux positions (I, II) de manière mobile, - permettant au pied avant (3) d'être placé au même niveau que la première position (I) de l'arbre (4) et - permettant au pied arrière (103) d'être placé au même niveau que la deuxième position (II) de l'arbre (4),
caractérisé en ce que l'électroménager (1) comprend une ou plusieurs butées (10) destinées à être montées sur l'arbre (4) pour fixer l'arbre (4) dans la direction axiale lorsque l'arbre (4) est changé à la première position (I) et à la deuxième position (II) en s'appuyant sur le corps (2) et lui permettant de tourner autour de son axe dans cette position fixe.

2. Un électroménager (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) comprend un siège avant (7) qui loge l'arbre (4) à partir du côté avant et permet le mouvement axial de l'arbre (4) entre la première position (I) et la deuxième position (II) et auquel le pied avant (3) est fixé par vissage, un siège arrière (107) qui loge l'arbre (4) à partir du côté arrière et permet le mouvement axial de l'arbre (4) entre la première position (I) et la deuxième position (II) et auquel le pied arrière (103) est fixé par vissage, deux vis sans fin (9, 109) et deux roues à vis sans fin (8, 108) qui transfèrent le mouvement rotationnel de l'arbre (4) au pied avant (3) ou au pied arrière (103).

3. Un électroménager (1) selon la Revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) comprend une première vis sans fin (9) fonctionnant conjointement avec la roue à vis sans fin (8) fixée au pied avant (3) dans la première position (I) de l'arbre (4) où la hauteur du pied avant (3) est ajustée, qui sépare de la roue à vis sans fin (8) à la deuxième position (II) de l'arbre (4) et tourne à vide et une deuxième vis sans fins (109) fonctionnant conjointement avec la roue à vis sans fin (108) fixée au pied arrière (103) dans la deuxième position (II) de l'arbre (4) où la hauteur du pied arrière (103) est ajustée, qui sépare de la roue à vis sans fin (108) dans la première position (I) de l'arbre (4) et tourne à vide.

4. Un électroménager (1) selon la Revendication 3, caractérisé par le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) où la distance (L1) entre les première et deuxième vis sans fin (9, 109) et la distance (L2) entre les pieds (3, 103) sont différentes.

5. Un électroménager (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'arbre (4) est poussé dans le corps (2) dans la direction axiale et passé à la première position (I) et changé à la deuxième position (II) en le tirant hors du corps (2) dans la direction axiale.

6. Un électroménager (1) selon la Revendication 5, caractérisé par le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) où la distance (L1) entre les première et deuxième vis sans fin (9, 109) et la distance (L2) entre les pieds (3, 103) sont différentes.

7. Un électroménager (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) comprend l'arbre (4) qui est tiré hors du corps (2) dans la direction axiale et passé à la première position (I) et changé à la deuxième position (II) en le poussant dans le corps (2) dans la direction axiale.

8. Un électroménager (1) selon la Revendication 7, caractérisé par le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) où la distance (L1) entre les première et deuxième vis sans fin (9, 109) est inférieure à la distance (L2) entre les pieds (3, 103).

9. Un électroménager (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de réglage en hauteur (5) comprend deux canaux de butée (11) qui sont arrangés sur l'arbre (4), dans lesquels la butée (10) est placée, montrant à l'utilisateur les première et deuxième positions d'ajustement (I, II) auxquelles l'arbre (4) sera changé.

Drawing