Door for the drum of a laundry machine

Abstract

 A top-loading laundry machine comprises a cabinet (105) housing a rotatable drum (120) having an access opening (205) with associated therewith a door (210), the door (210) comprising a first and a second door wings (210a,210b) hinged to the drum (120) in correspondence of said access opening (205) and being movable between an open position and a closed position, a door retaining/opening device (325) being associated with one among the first and second door wings (210a,210b) for selectively retaining and allowing the opening of the door (210). The door retaining/opening device comprises a pushbutton (330) associated with and movable with respect to said one among the first and second door wings (210a,210b), the pushbutton (330) comprising a seat configured to be engageable by an engaging element (225) provided on the other door wing (210a) in the closed position, for preventing the door (210) from opening.

Description

Background of the invention

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of household appliances, and in particular to laundry machines. More specifically, the present invention relates to a door for the drum of a laundry machine, particularly for a top-loading laundry machine. The top-loading laundry machine may be for example a washing machine, a top-loading laundry dryer or a top-loading washer/drier.

Overview of the related art

[0002] Doors for the drums of top-loading laundry washing machines are often made of stainless steel.

[0003] For example, in EP 1992728 a top-loading laundry washing machine is disclosed, with a tub having a top opening, a drum fitted in a manner such that it can rotate about a substantially horizontal axis inside the tub, at least one door secured to said drum for allowing access to the inside of the drum. In the overview of the prior art provided in that document it is stated that known doors comprise a pair of doors, each secured to the drum on one side of said access opening, in particular through spring-loaded hinges. The free portions of the doors, in particular the portions located on the side opposite to the spring-loaded hinges, are fitted with a closing system which comprises a plurality of hooks arranged on a first door and a plurality of slots arranged on a second door, the open ends of the hooks facing the outer portion of the drum. The springs of the hinges tend to open said first and second doors outwards; consequently, when the elements of the closing system are engaged, the hooks of the first door are pushed into the slots of the second door. In order to open the doors, it is necessary to exert direct pressure onto said first and second doors towards the inside of the drum.

Summary of the invention

[0004] The Applicant tackled the problem of providing a door for the drum of a laundry machine, particularly for a top-loading laundry machine (e.g. a washing machine, a drier or a washer/drier), which is simple to manufacture and thereby can be produced with a reduced cost, which is lightweight but nevertheless robust enough to sustain the relatively high stresses to which the door is subjected during the machine operation, and which has a safe and easy-to-use closure mechanism.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a top-loading laundry washer comprising a cabinet housing a rotatable drum having an access opening with associated therewith a door, the door comprising a first and a second door wings hinged to the drum in correspondence of said access opening and being movable between an open position and a closed position, a door retaining/opening device being associated with one among the first and second door wings for selectively retaining and allowing the opening of the door. The door retaining/opening device comprises a pushbutton associated with and movable with respect to said one among the first and second door wings, the pushbutton comprising a seat configured to be engageable by an engaging element provided on the other door wing in the closed position, for preventing the door from opening.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, said seat of the pushbutton has an edge that, when the door is closed, surmounts the engaging element.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the pushbutton is internally hollow and the pushbutton seat for the engaging element is the internally hollow space of the pushbutton.

[0008] In particular, said engaging element may comprise a projection of said other door wing.

[0009] The pushbutton is in particular movable, with respect to said one among the first and second door wings, between a first, door blocking position, and a second, door unblocking position, the pushbutton comprising elastic biasing means for biasing the pushbutton towards the first position.

[0010] The elastic biasing means are preferably in a single piece with the pushbutton.

[0011] The elastic biasing means may in particular comprise at least one flexible tongue.

[0012] The pushbutton may in particular be pivotable with respect to said one among the first and second door wings.

[0013] In particular, the pushbutton may be pivotably received in a seat for pushbutton formed in said one among the first and second door wings.

[0014] In order to be pivotable, the pushbutton may be provided with pivoting means comprising pins adapted to being received in corresponding recesses formed in the seat for pushbutton, so as to allow a pivoting movement of the pushbutton with respect to the seat for pushbutton.

Brief description of the drawings

[0015] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of exemplary and non-limitative embodiments thereof, description that for better intelligibility should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 schematically shows, in cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane, and with parts not represented for clarity, a top-loading laundry washing machine with a drum door according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2A and 2B show only the drum of the washing machine of Figure 1, with the drum door closed and open, respectively;

Figures 3A, 3B and 3B are sectional views along a plane orthogonal to the drum axis with the drum door in open (Figure 3A), intermediate (Figure 3B) and closed (Figure 3C) positions;

Figure 4 is a detail in enlarged scale of Figure 3C;

Figure 5 is a top view of the drum door;

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C are sectional views along the lines VI_A- VI_A, VI_B - VI_B and VI_C-VI_C in Figure 5;

Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E are sectional views along the lines VII_A- VII_A, VII_B - VII_B, VII_C VII_C, VII_D - VII_D and VII_E - VII_E in Figure 5;

Figures 8 and 9 are exploded views of the drum door from above and below, respectively;
and

Figure 10 shows the assembled drum door in perspective from below (on the left) and from above (on the right).

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0016] Making reference to the drawings, in Figure 1 there is schematically shown a top-loading laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] It is underlined that the expression laundry machine may indicate as well a top-loading washing machine, a top-loading drier and a top-loading washer/drier.

[0018] For example in the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures the laundry machine is a top-loading washing machine, globally denoted as 100, comprises a cabinet 105 with a top opening 110 closable by a cabinet door 115 hinged to the cabinet 105.

[0019] The cabinet 105 accommodates a washing tub, having a top opening (corresponding to the opening 110 of the cabinet 105) which is closable preferably by the door 115.

[0020] Clearly if the laundry machine is a drier the washing tub may be not provided.

[0021] A laundry drum 120 is rotatably accommodated within the washing tub (or within the cabinet if the tub, as in a drier, is not provided), with a preferably horizontal rotation axis. The drum 120, better visible in Figures 2A and 2B, preferably made of stainless steel, is generically cylindrical in shape, is closed at the two opposite bases, and has a perforated peripheral wall provided with an opening 205, for the loading/unloading of the laundry.

[0022] A drum door 210 is provided in association with the drum opening 205. The drum door 210 comprises a first and a second door wings 210a and 210b, at least one of which (preferably both of them) is made of plastic material, preferably in reinforced polyolefin, more preferably completely and exclusively made of plastic material (i.e. without metallic parts), and is for example made by injection molding.

[0023] Each one of the two wings 210a and 210b of the drum door 210 is hinged at one end 215a, 215b thereof to one of two circumferentially opposite sides of the drum opening 205. The two door wings 210a and 210b can be pivoted from a position in which the drum door 210 is open and leaves the drum opening 205 accessible, called open position (Figures 1, 2A and 3A), to a position in which the drum door 210 is closed and closes the drum opening 205, called closed position (Figures 2B and 3C).

[0024] For the hinging to the drum 120, at least one between the first and second door wings 210a and 210b (preferably both of them) comprises a plurality of hinging elements.

[0025] Preferably the hinging elements provided on at least one, preferably both of the two door wings 210a and 210b for the hinging to the drum 120 are totally and exclusively made of plastic material, without any reinforcing part in metal; preferably, the hinging elements totally and exclusively made of plastic material are in a single piece (i.e. integrally formed) with the remaining of the respective door wing, and are for example obtained by properly shaping the mold for the injection molding of the door wings.

[0026] Preferably the hinging elements comprises a plurality of eyelets 505, integrally formed along the ends 215a and 215b of the respective door wing, which mesh with corresponding hinging elements, for example corresponding eyelets formed along the sides of the drum opening 205 and through which, preferably, hinge pins 303 pass. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the eyelets 505 of a door wing comprise standard-width eyelets 505a, having a first width (along a direction transversal to the door wings) and enhanced-width eyelets 505b having a second width which is higher (preferably double) than the first width of the standard-width eyelets; each double-width eyelet 505b is preferably arranged between two standard-width eyelets 505a, in a position which will be explained afterwards.

[0027] Preferably, the hinging elements provided on the first and/or second door wings 210a and 210b (for example the plurality of eyelets 505 of the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures) are completely made of plastic material (i.e. they don't comprise metal parts). Advantageously, the eyelets 505a and 505b are so shaped as to form reinforcing ribs 507 on their external surface, for example two reinforcing ribs for the standard-width eyelets 505a and three reinforcing ribs for the double-width eyelets 505b; the reinforcing ribs contribute to strengthening the eyelets, and thus the hinging elements.

[0028] Advantageously, elastic means, for example torsion springs, not illustrated are provided at the hinges of the door wings 210a and 210b for biasing the door wings 210a and 210b towards the open position. In order to bring the door wings 210a and 210b to the closed position, the user has to push the door wings down against the action of the springs.

[0029] Advantageously, the second door wing 210b comprises at least one retaining element; for example, in the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings the free end portion 220b of the second door wing 210b is advantageously shaped so as to define at least one retaining element, for example a hook or a succession of hooks 310 like in the shown embodiment (alternatively, a single hook extending for part or all of the width of the free end portion 220b of the second door wing 210b may be provided); advantageously, the hooks 310 are totally made of plastic material, without any part of metal. Preferably the at least one retaining element formed in the second door wing 210b (e.g. the hooks 310 of the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings) is formed as a single piece with the second door wing 210b; for example the second door wing 210b may be totally and exclusively made of plastic material (i.e. it does not comprise metallic parts), and the retaining elements formed in the second door wing 210b may be formed in a single piece (e.g. they are obtained during the molding of the second door wing) with the second door wing 210b. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the hooks 310 are formed in a single piece construction with the second door wing 210b.

[0030] Preferably, but not necessarily, the hooks 310 are box-shaped and hollow.

[0031] Advantageously the first door wing 210a comprises at least one retaining element adapted to engage and cooperate with the retaining element of the second door wing 210b; for example, in the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings the free end portion 220a of the first door wing 210a is shaped so as to define a retaining element, for example comprising a counter-hook 315, adapted to engage and cooperate with the retaining element of the second door wing 210b for keeping the drum door 210 closed (e.g. the counter-hook 315 may form a seat adapted to be engaged by the hook or hooks 310 of the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures); advantageously, the counter-hook 315 may extend for essentially all the width of the free end portion 220a of the first door wing 210a, as in the shown embodiment, or for just part of it, or two or more counter-hooks may be provided in succession in positions corresponding to the hooks 310.The retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a, e.g. the counter-hook 315 (i.e. the seat for the hooks 310) is preferably totally made of plastic material (i.e. it doesn't comprise metallic parts). Preferably, but not necessarily, the at least one retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a, or part of it (e.g. the counter hooks 315 of the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings), is formed as a single piece with the first door wing 210a.

[0032] Preferably, the retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a, e.g. the counter-hook 315 (i.e. the seat for the hooks 310) is only present on the bottom side of the door wing 210a (i.e. the side that faces the interior of the drum when the door wings are in the closed position) and advantageously does not extend to the upper surface of the door wing 201a; in other words the retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a is arranged in such a way that when the door 210 is in the closed position, with the retaining element of the first door wing 210a engaging the retaining element of the second door wing 210a, the retaining element of the second door wing 210b (e.g. the hooks 310) is not accessible (or does not protrude) from the outer side of the drum door 210 (i.e. the side that faces the exterior of the drum when the door wings are in the closed position); this fact avoids, for example, that when the door 210 is closed, a user can be harmed by the hooks 310 when touching the door wing 210a.

[0033] Preferably, as in the shown embodiment, the retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a comprises a reinforcement bar 320, made of a suitably stiff and robust material, for example in metal, preferably steel, which is provided in correspondence of the counter-hook 315, for instance extending for essentially the all width of the free end portion 220a, passing through eyelets 903 (see Fig. 9) which are preferably totally made of plastic without any metal part and are preferably so shaped as to define reinforcing ribs on their external surface (alternatively, the bar 320 may be embedded in the first door wing 210a by placing the bar 320 in the injection mould).

[0034] In a further embodiment the reinforcement bar may be made of plastic material, and it can be obtained in a single-piece construction with the counter-hooks 315, for example during the molding of the door wing 210a.

[0035] When the two door wings 210a and 210b are pushed down and brought to the closed position, the retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a (e.g. the counter-hook 315) engages the retaining element formed in the second door wing 210b (e.g. the hooks 310), and the latter retains the retaining element formed in the first door wing 210a (e.g. the counter-hook 315); for example, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the hooks 310 engage the seat defined by the counter-hook 315, and, when in this condition, the action of the hooks 310 is exerted on the bar 320, which is retained by the hooks 310 and thus prevents the drum door 210 from opening against the bias of the springs.

[0036] A door retaining/opening device 325 is provided for selectively retaining and allowing the opening of the drum door 210. The door retaining/opening device 325 is mounted preferably to the second door wing 210b. The retaining/opening device 325 comprises a pushbutton 330 that is preferably housed in a seat formed advantageously in the top of the second door wing 210b. The pushbutton 330 is preferably hollow and frontally open, and it is adapted to be pivoted to the respective door wing 210b (and in the example disclosed in the enclosed figures pivoted to the pushbutton seat) by suitable pivoting means comprising, for example, two rounded projections 335, formed preferably at the bottom of the two lateral walls of the pushbutton, that form pins being received in corresponding rounded recesses 340 formed in the pushbutton seat, so as to allow a pivoting movement of the pushbutton 330 with respect to the pushbutton seat.

[0037] The pushbutton 330 advantageously comprises a biasing element adapted for biasing the pushbutton 330 to project outwards from the pushbutton seat in a blocking position, illustrated for example in Figures 3C and 4, in which, when the drum door 210 is closed, an upper edge 405 of the front aperture of the pushbutton 330 surmounts an engaging element of the first door wing 210a, for example a projection 225 of the counter-hook 315 which, in the closed position, protrudes into the pushbutton 330 through the front aperture thereof, so as to prevent, as will be better explained in the following, the unintentional opening of the drum door 210. In the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the biasing element advantageously comprises resilient tongues 345, e.g. formed in a single piece with the pushbutton 330, extending rearwardly therefrom, and which, by abutting against a wall 350 of the second door wing 210b, bias the pushbutton 330 to project towards the external of the pushbutton seat in the above mentioned blocking position.

[0038] With reference to the attached drawings, in order to open the drum door 210, the user has to push the pushbutton 330 down against the action of the biasing resilient tongues 345. By doing this, the pushbutton 330 rotates backwards and the upper edge 405 of the pushbutton 330 moves slightly rearward, up to an unblocking position of the pushbutton 330 (illustrated for example in Figure 3B) in which it no longer surmounts the counter-hook projection 225. When the pushbutton 330 has been completely pushed down into the respective seat, the further pushing by the user causes the second door wing 210b to rotate downwards around its hinge, and in this way the hook 310 escapes from the counter-hook 315 (Figure 3B); under the bias of the torsion spring biasing the first door wing 210a towards the open position, the first door wing 210a rotates to the fully open position, and the same occurs to the second door wing 210b, under the action of the associated torsion spring. When the door wings are in the closed position and the pushbutton 330 is not pressed down, the upper edge 405 surmounting the projection 225 of the counter-hook 315 prevents the first door wing 210a from rotating downwards of such an extent which is sufficient for the hooks 310 to escape from the counter-hook 315, and in this way the unintentional opening of the drum door 210 is prevented.

[0039] Advantageously at least one of the two door wings 210a and 210b, preferably both of them, has preferably an essentially hollow structure, so as to be lightweight. Preferably, at least the second door wing 210b, having the retaining element formed therewith, has an essentially hollow structure.

[0040] Preferably, but not necessarily, for the purpose of having door wings 210a and 210b that are lightweight and at the same time robust, especially in respect of the stresses that the drum door 210 experiences during a spinning phase of the washing cycle, at least one of, but preferably both, the first and second door wings 210a and 210b is shaped so that, on the inner side thereof (the side which, when the door wings are mounted to the drum and in the closed position, faces the drum interior), an internally hollow, box-shaped central rib 705 is defined, having side walls 710a and an upper wall 710b, extending longitudinally to the door wing, and which per-se also forms longitudinal reinforcing ribs. Longitudinal reinforcement ribs 715 are also preferably formed in the hollow space internal to the box-shaped central rib 705. More preferably, in addition to the box-shaped central rib 705, at least one of the door wings 210a and 210b, preferably both of them is also shaped so as to define a pair of further longitudinal hollow ribs 720, for example located at the two opposite sides of the respective door wing. The hollow ribs 705 and 720 are useful to keep the door wing structure lightweight and at the same time, extending longitudinally, strengthen the door wings structure against stresses that, in use (for example, during the drum spinning phase), act longitudinally to the drum door wings and tend to cause the drum door 210 to open.

[0041] In a further embodiment, not illustrated, one or both the door wings comprises a different number of box shaped ribs extending longitudinally to the door wing, and which per-se also forms longitudinal reinforcing ribs.

[0042] The lateral walls delimiting laterally the box-shaped ribs (in the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed drawings the lateral walls 710a delimiting laterally the central box-shaped ribs 705) are preferably located in correspondence of the standard-width eyelets 505a of the pluralities of eyelets 505 which form the hinging elements of the door wings 210a and 210b, whereas the enhanced-width eyelets 505b are preferably located where the lateral walls 710a are not present; the reason for this choice is that the hinge is an area of major stress for the door wings, so that the eyelets (to which the stress of the hinge is transmitted) need to be sufficiently robust. Where the lateral walls 710a are present, they act as reinforcement ribs so that there the door wing structure, and particularly the hinge area, is strengthened, and standard-width eyelets 505a are sufficient, whereas where the lateral walls 710a are not present, the door wing structure is less robust and the enhanced-width eyelets 505b are preferable, in order to strengthen the hinge.

[0043] Advantageously in at least one of, but preferably both, the two door wings 210a and 210b, a pair of depressions forming chambers 905 are defined between the box-shaped central rib 705 and either one of the further longitudinal hollow ribs 720; preferably the generic one of the chambers 905 is delimited between the faced side walls of two contiguous box-shaped ribs (in the example of the enclosed figures by one of the side walls 710 of the box-shaped central rib 705 and an inner wall 725 of the respective further longitudinal hollow rib 720). In use, the chambers 905 advantageously collect water/washing liquid from the bottom of the washing tub (when, during the drum rotation, the drum angular position is such that the drum door 210 is located at the bottom of the washing tub) and lift the water/washing liquid up, for its successive fall down when the drum door 210 moves toward the top of the machine; this helps improving the effectiveness of the laundry washing action.

[0044] Preferably, in a position corresponding to the enhanced-width eyelets 505b, reinforcement ribs 915 are formed which preferably, starting from the ends 215a, 215b, degrades within the chambers 905.

[0045] Advantageously, the second door wing 210b has a protrusion 805, preferably arc-shaped, on the inner side thereof in correspondence of the hooks 310, and the protrusion 805, in operation, acts as one of the lifters usually provided inside the drum 120 in circumferential succession along the peripheral wall for lifting the laundry being washed. Preferably, the arc-shaped protrusion 805 has a surface defined by several transversal and longitudinal reinforcing ribs 907 crossing each other; for contributing to keep the door wing structure lightweight and at the same time strong; preferably, the ribs 907 are formed essentially only proximate to the free end of the second door wing 210b (preferably exception made for the central region of the door wing 210b), so that when the drum rotates in the direction of arrow A in Figure 9, the flow of air (opposite to the drum rotation sense) encounters less resistance.

[0046] The structure of one or both the door wings 210a and 210b is further strengthened by the provision in one or both of them of one or more transversal hollow chambers 605, preferably, but not necessarily, in correspondence or proximate to the free ends 220a and 220b, i.e. where the retaining elements (e.g. the hooks 310 and counter-hooks 315) are formed. The walls defining the chambers 605 act as transversal reinforcing ribs that help increasing the strength of the door wings structure; this is particularly advantageous in correspondence of the area where the first and second door wings 210a and 210b engage one with the other when the drum door 210 is closed, since this area is subject to significant stresses when in use the drum is rotated.

[0047] Preferably, although not necessarily, internal ribs may be formed inside the chambers 605, for further strengthening such area of the door wings. The transversal hollow chambers 605 may or not communicate with the interior of the box-shaped central ribs 705.

[0048] The door retaining/opening device according to the present invention facilitates the operation of opening of the drum door by the user, and at the same time ensures that unintentional opening of the drum door does not take place.

[0049] Advantageously, one or both the door wings 210a and 210b are formed as single pieces of plastic, for example obtained by injection molding into respective moulds.

[0050] The fact that the door wings 210a and 210b are entirely in plastic material makes them more suitable to being handled and touched by the user compared to metal door wings; another advantage is that the door wings can be formed in various shapes and colors. Also, plastic material is less subject to corrosion than metal.

[0051] The present invention has been here described making reference to an exemplary embodiment thereof. Those skilled in the art will of course be able to devise several modifications to the described embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the invention, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0052] For example, the retaining means provided on the first and second door wings might, in alternative invention embodiments, not be present, and the closure of the drum door be ensured by the door retaining/opening device only.

Claims

1. A top-loading laundry machine comprising a cabinet (105) housing a rotatable drum (120) having an access opening (205) with associated therewith a door (210), the door comprising a first and a second door wings (210a,210b) hinged to the drum in correspondence of said access opening and being movable between an open position and a closed position, a door retaining/opening device (325) being associated with one (210b) among the first and second door wings for selectively retaining and allowing the opening of the door, characterized in that the door opening device comprises a pushbutton associated with and movable with respect to said one among the first and second door wings, the pushbutton comprising a seat configured to be engageable by an engaging element (225) provided on the other door wing (210a) in the closed position, for preventing the door from opening.

2. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein said seat of the pushbutton has an edge (405) that, when the door is closed, surmounts the engaging element (225).

3. The laundry machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pushbutton is internally hollow and the pushbutton seat for the engaging element is the internally hollow space of the pushbutton.

4. The laundry machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said engaging element comprises a projection (225) of said other door wing.

5. The laundry machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pushbutton is movable, with respect to said one among the first and second door wings, between a first, door blocking position, and a second, door unblocking position, the pushbutton comprising elastic biasing means (345) for biasing the pushbutton towards the first position.

6. The laundry machine according to claim 5, wherein the elastic biasing means are in a single piece with the pushbutton.

7. The laundry machine according to claim 6, wherein the elastic biasing means comprise at least one flexible tongue.

8. The laundry machine according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the pushbutton is pivotable with respect to said one among the first and second door wings.

9. The laundry machine according to claim 8, wherein the pushbutton is pivotably received in a seat for pushbutton formed in said one among the first and second door wings.

10. The laundry machine according to claim 9, wherein, in order to be pivotable, the pushbutton is provided with pivoting means comprising pins adapted to being received in corresponding recesses formed in the seat for pushbutton, so as to allow a pivoting movement of the pushbutton with respect to the seat for pushbutton.

Drawing