(19)
(11) EP 2 610 390 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
03.07.2013 Bulletin 2013/27

(21) Application number: 12195637.9

(22) Date of filing: 05.12.2012
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
D06F 39/12(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30) Priority: 29.12.2011 TR 201113240

(71) Applicant: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
45030 Manisa (TR)

(72) Inventors:
  • Isik, Mujdat
    35600 Izmir (TR)
  • Ugurlu, Murat
    35350 Izmir (TR)

(74) Representative: Cayli, Hülya 
Paragon Consultancy Inc. Koza Sokak No: 63/2 GOP
06540 Ankara
06540 Ankara (TR)

   


(54) A washing and/or drying device comprising a panel


(57) A washing and/or drying device (C) of the present invention comprises at least one body (G); at least one panel (P) engaged to said body (G); at least one inclined surface (1) provided in the lower part of the panel (P); and at least one slot (2) which is positioned on said inclined surface (1) and to which at least one connection element (3) fixing the panel (P) to the body (G) is engaged. Thanks to the device (C) of the invention, the assembly of the panel (P) to the body (G) is able to be performed practically and easily without using any external part. Moreover, with the device (C) of the present invention, the slot (2), in which the connection element (3) is engaged, is not seen when looked from the opposite, and thus aesthetic view of the device (C) is improved.




Description

Technical Field



[0001] The present invention relates to panel assemblies of washing and/or drying devices.

Prior Art



[0002] The washing and/or drying devices in the state of the art comprises a body and a panel which is engaged to said body. There are various embodiments for assembling said panels, which are generally described as frontal panel, to the body. The patent documents no EP1424429A1, GB2071706A and US2006254320A1 of the state of the art disclose some of the embodiments developed for fixing the frontal panel to the body. However in said embodiments, since the structures used for the assembly of the panel are complicated, the process of production and assembly can be extended. Moreover, since the connection elements which assemble the panel to the body are seen, aesthetic view of the device is deteriorated.

Brief Description of the Invention



[0003] A washing and/or drying device of the present invention comprises at least one body; at least one panel engaged to said body; at least one inclined surface provided in the lower part of the panel; and at least one slot which is positioned on said inclined surface and to which at least one connection element fixing the panel to the body is engaged.

[0004] Thanks to the device of the invention, the assembly of the panel to the body is able to be performed practically and easily without using any external part. Moreover, with the device of the present invention, the slot, in which the connection element is engaged, is not seen when looked from the opposite, and thus aesthetic view of the device is improved.

Objectives of the Invention



[0005] An aim of the invention is to develop a washing and/or drying device comprising a panel having an inclined surface.

[0006] The other aim of the invention is to develop a washing and/or drying device comprising a panel which is able to be assembled easily thanks to the inclined surface therein.

[0007] Another aim of the invention is to develop a washing and/or drying device, an aesthetic view of which is improved.

[0008] A further aim of the invention is to develop a handy washing and/or drying device which is easy to produce and assemble.

Description of the Drawings



[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the washing and/or drying device of the present invention are shown in attached drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the washing and/or drying device in a demounted state.

Figure 2 is a frontal view of the washing and/or drying device.

Figure 3 is a view of "E" detail shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of "E" detail shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side sectional view of "E" detail shown in Figure 2.



[0010] The parts in figures are individually enumerated and the corresponding terms of reference numbers are given as follows:
Washing and/or drying device (C)
Body (G)
Panel (P)
Inclined surface (1)
Slot (2)
Connection element (3)

Description of the Invention



[0011] Washing and/or drying machines comprise panels which are engaged to a body of the device. Said panels, described as front panel generally, are engaged to the device body by means of various connection elements from the lower part of the body. However in this case, when assembling the panel to the body, the device should be inclined a little in order to be reached to the lower part of the device. Therefore, production and assembly process of the device is extended for an amount, and various problems are faced in technical service after the production. The present invention discloses a washing and/or drying device developed for solving said problems.

[0012] The washing and/or drying device (C) of the present invention, an exemplary view of which is shown in figure 1, comprises at least one body (G), and at least one panel (P) engaged to the body (G). The panel (P), which is preferably a frontal panel of the device (C) and detailed views of which are shown in figures 2 - 5, comprises at least one inclined surface (1) provided in the lower part (skirt area) of the panel (P), and at least one slot (2) which is positioned on said inclined surface (1) and to which at least one connection element (3) fixing the panel (P) to the body (G) is engaged.

[0013] While the panel (P) is being assembled to the body (G), the panel is placed to the area where the panel (P) is to be fixed, and is assembled to the body by means of engaging the connection element (3), which is preferably a screw, to the body (G) by passing through a hole (not shown in figures) provided in said slot (2). Said inclined surface (1) has an inclination with respect to the base where the device (C) is placed, which does not allow the slot (2) to be seen when looked to the device (C) from opposite but allows for the engagement of the connection element (3) without needing inclination of the device (C). Therefore, while the production and assembly process of the device (C) is quickened, the aesthetic view of the device (C) is improved at the same time since the connection element (3) and the slot (2) are not seen when looked from the opposite.


Claims

1. A washing and/or drying device (C) comprising at least one body (G) and at least one panel (P) engaged to said body (G) characterized by comprising at least one inclined surface (1) provided in the lower part of the panel (P), and at least one slot (2) which is positioned on said inclined surface (1) and to which at least one connection element (3) fixing the panel (P) to the body (G) is engaged.
 
2. A washing and/or drying device (C) according to claim 1 characterized in that the inclined surface (1) has an inclination with respect to the base where the device (C) is placed, which does not allow the slot (2) to be seen when looked to the device (C) from opposite but allows for the engagement of the connection element (3) without needing inclination of the device (C).
 
3. A washing and/or drying device (C) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the inclined surface (1) is positioned on the skirt area of the panel (P).
 
4. A washing and/or drying device (C) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said connection element (3) is a screw.
 
5. A washing and/or drying device (C) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said panel (P) is a frontal panel.
 
6. A washing and/or drying device (C) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by comprising at least one hole which is provided in the slot (2) and through which the connection element (3) is passed.
 




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Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description