DRIP TRAY FOR GATHERING LIQUID FROM A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

(19)

(11)

EP 4 563 921 A1

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43)	Date of publication:
	04.06.2025 Bulletin 2025/23

(21)	Application number: 24215120.7

(22)	Date of filing: 25.11.2024

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

F25D 21/14^(2006.01)
D06F 39/08^(2006.01)
D06F 103/58^(2020.01)

A47L 15/42^(2006.01)
F25D 21/00^(2006.01)

(52)	Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
	D06F 2103/58; D06F 39/081; F25D 21/14; A47L 15/4212; F25D 2321/1442; F25D 2323/0011; F25D 2400/38; F25D 2500/02

(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 ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
	Designated Extension States:
	BA
	Designated Validation States:
	GE KH MA MD TN

(30)

Priority:

28.11.2023 SE 2351362

(71)	Applicant: Tollco AB
	741 71 Knivsta (SE)

(72)	Inventor:
	GERGER, Patrik 741 45 KNIVSTA (SE)

(74)	Representative: Brann AB
	P.O. Box 3690 Sveavägen 63 103 59 Stockholm 103 59 Stockholm (SE)

(54)	DRIP TRAY FOR GATHERING LIQUID FROM A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

(57) The present invention relates to a drip tray (1) comprising a base (10), a first and a second sidewall (21, 22) connected to the base (10), and a front barrier (30) extending along a front edge (12) of the base (10) and connected to an end of the first sidewall (21) and the second sidewall (22), wherein the front barrier (30) extends at least partly in a forward direction (F) away from the base (10) to an outer barrier edge (34), said outer barrier edge (34) having a height (h) of 1.5 mm - 6.5 mm over the bottom surface (16) of the base (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a drip tray for gathering liquid from a household appliance such as a fridge, freezer or dishwasher.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Household appliances that use water or where condensate can arise, such as fridges, freezers or dishwashers, may cause liquid to drip underneath the appliance. This in turn may cause water damage that is difficult to detect.

[0003] To remedy this and to prevent water damage from arising, a drip tray may be placed on the floor underneath the household appliance. Typically, the drip tray is placed on the floor and the appliance is pushed or rolled into place on top so that a receiving portion of the drip tray can receive any leakage or dripping condensate.

[0004] In order to prevent the captured liquid from propagating onto the floor beside the drip tray or even underneath the drip tray due to capillary force as the liquid reaches the floor at the edge of the drip tray, walls or barriers are provided on the edges of the drip tray. The liquid is thereby gathered and securely held on the drip tray.

[0005] However, one problem associated with drip trays is the risk of damage to the drip tray as the household appliance is pushed or rolled onto the drip tray. A fridge or freezer in particular is typically too heavy to be lifted into place and the operator mounting the appliance may not be sufficiently mindful of the consequences of misalignment or damage to the drip tray during mounting. Once in place, the household appliance is typically not moved again for many years, thereby efficiently hiding the damage and the resulting water damage.

[0006] There is therefore a need for an improved drip tray that is able to ensure a stable and reliable capture of liquid underneath a household appliance, and in particular that minimizes the risk of damage or misalignment of the drip tray during mounting.

SUMMARY

[0007] The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least to minimize the problems discussed above. This is achieved by a drip tray according to the appended independent claim.

[0008] The drip tray for gathering liquid from a household appliance comprises a base with a receiving portion for receiving liquid dripping from a household appliance, the base having a front edge, a rear edge and two opposing side edges and also having a bottom surface facing a floor when the drip tray is mounted underneath a household appliance. The drip tray also comprises a first and a second sidewall connected to the base, each of said side walls being arranged along a side edge and extending at least partially upwards from the base, and a front barrier extending along the front edge from a first barrier end to a second barrier end and also extending at least partially upwards, the front barrier comprising a first side section at the first barrier end, a second side section at the second barrier end, and a middle section between the first side section and the second side section, said first barrier end being connected to an end of the first sidewall and said second barrier end being connected to an end of the second sidewall. Furthermore, the front barrier at the first side section and the second side section also extends at least partly in a forward direction away from the base to an outer barrier edge, said outer barrier edge having a height of 1.5 mm - 6.5 mm over the bottom surface of the base.

[0009] By the front barrier extending in the forward direction and having a height in this range, a household appliance that is pushed or rolled into place on top of the drip tray will push the front barrier down towards the floor. This efficiently avoids the risk of the front barrier instead being pushed upwards to fold on top of the drip tray and getting stuck under the legs or rollers of the appliance, thereby bending the front barrier and preventing efficient liquid retainment on the drip tray. The height of the outer barrier edge also prevents leakage of liquid across the front barrier after mounting of the household appliance when the front barrier has resumed its original position. It is particularly advantageous that the height of the outer barrier edge is low enough to fit under conventional rollers used on appliances and prevent the rollers from getting stuck against the outer barrier edge or folding it upwards as mentioned above. That the rollers are able to push the outer barrier edge downwards and proceed to roll on top of the front barrier also minimizes the risk of the drip tray moving or shifting position when the appliance is pushed into place.

[0010] The design of the drip tray according to the invention thereby enables efficient mounting so that risk of damage or misalignment of the drip tray is minimized or even eliminated entirely.

[0011] Suitably, the outer barrier edge has a height of 3 mm - 5.5 mm, preferably 4.5 mm. This is particularly advantageous in ensuring the downwards movement of the front barrier and the passing of the rollers or levelling legs of the household appliance across the front barrier without damaging the front barrier.

[0012] Also, the first side section and the second side section suitably extend a section length from the first barrier and the second barrier end, respectively, and said section length is at least 3 cm, preferably at least 5 cm and more preferably at least 10 cm. Thereby, the front barrier is formed to enable stable and secure mounting of the household appliance in particular in those parts of the front barrier where the rollers or levelling legs of the appliance will pass.

[0013] The front barrier in the first side section and the second side section may comprise an inner portion and an outer portion, said inner portion being connected to the front edge and extending at least partially upwards, and said outer portion being a lip that extends at least partially downwards from the inner portion to the outer barrier edge. Thereby, leakage from the drip tray over the front barrier is efficiently prevented and the mounting of the household appliance is particularly improved by the lip being flattened onto the floor as the rollers or levelling legs pass across the front barrier.

[0014] Suitably, the drip tray may further comprise a groove extending underneath the front barrier along the front edge for enabling the front barrier to bend when subjected to a force from above. This improves the bending of the front barrier towards the floor as the rollers or levelling legs pass across the front barrier.

[0015] Alternatively, at least a part of the inner portion of the front barrier at the front edge may have a thickness of less than half, preferably less than one fourth, and more preferably less than one tenth of a thickness of the base at the front edge. This is advantageous in improving the bending of the front barrier towards the floor as the rollers or levelling legs pass across the front barrier.

[0016] The outer portion of the front barrier suitably forms a lip angle with the inner portion of the front barrier, said lip angle being 116 -156 °, preferably 126 -146 °, more preferably 131 -141 ° and even more preferably 136 °. This is particularly advantageous in ensuring that the outer portion of the front barrier is moved down rather than up by a levelling leg or roller that moves against the outer portion. Since the lip angle is in this suitable range, the risk of bending upwards is minimized or even eliminated. The present inventor has found that the beneficial effect is to be found in this range but tests have shown that the most suitable embodiment has the lip angle of 136 °.

[0017] Also, the inner portion of the front barrier may form a barrier angle with the base, said barrier angle being 138 - 178 °, preferably 148 - 168 °, more preferably 153 - 163 ° and even more preferably 158 °. This is particularly advantageous in ensuring that the front barrier extends upwards from the base to be able to retain liquid in an efficient way while at the same time enabling the downwards movement of the front barrier underneath the roller or levelling leg of the household appliance. The present inventor has found that this range provides the beneficial effect and tests show that the most suitable embodiment has the barrier angle of 158 °.

[0018] Suitably, the front barrier and preferably also the sidewalls is/are integrated with the base. Thereby, the drip tray can be manufactured in a cost effective and easy manner in one piece, and the risk of malfunction or leakage from the drip tray is minimized.

[0019] In some embodiments, at least the front barrier and the sidewalls comprise a stiff material that is not elastically deformable. Thereby, the risk of deformation by rollers or levelling legs passing across the front barrier is minimized. Since the household appliances are typically very heavy, a material that is soft enough to be elastically deformable risks a permanent alteration of its shape or at least of the orientation of the front barrier and the sidewalls in relation to the base, due to damage. Since the sidewalls are attached to or integrated with the front barrier, providing elastically deformable sidewalls could otherwise hinder the front barrier from resuming its original position after mounting of the household appliance.

[0020] Suitably, the front barrier forms connections with the sidewalls at the first barrier end and the second barrier end, said connections being curved. Thereby, a downward movement of the front barrier is facilitated by the curved connections being able to bend. This in turn enables pressing the front barrier towards the floor without elastic deformation of the front barrier or sidewall at the first and second barrier ends.

[0021] The front barrier suitably has a thickness of the inner portion at the front edge of 0.1 - 0.9 mm, preferably 0.3 - 0.7 mm, more preferably 0.5 mm. This is advantageous in improving the bending of the front barrier towards the floor as the rollers or levelling legs pass across the front barrier.

[0022] Also, the front barrier suitably extends upwards from the base to a top portion where the outer portion meets the inner portion, said top portion having a height from the base of 0.4 - 7.4 mm, preferably 1.9 mm - 4.9 mm, more preferably 2.9 - 3.9 mm, and even more preferably 3.4 mm. This ensures that water is retained on the drip tray while at the same time facilitating movement of the front barrier down towards the floor rather than bending back towards the base when in contact with a roller or levelling leg of the household appliance.

[0023] Suitably, the front barrier extends 3 mm - 23 mm, preferably 8 mm - 18 mm, more preferably 13 mm in a direction forwards from the base that is perpendicular to the front edge. Thereby, the front barrier extends away from the base far enough that a contact with the roller or levelling leg causes a movement downwards to the floor.

[0024] The inner portion of the front barrier may extend 1 mm - 19 mm, preferably 7 mm - 14 mm, more preferably 10 mm in the direction forwards from the base. Thereby, the inner portion of the front barrier extends away from the base far enough that a contact with the roller or levelling leg causes a movement downwards to the floor.

[0025] Suitably, the drip tray is made from a polymer material, preferably PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). These materials are stiff and sturdy to ensure that deformation of the drip tray is avoided or at least minimized, while also being cost effective and suitable from a manufacturing standpoint.

[0026] Also, the drip tray is suitably made from a material with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more. This ensures that deformation is minimized and that the front barrier is stiff enough to resume its original position after the household appliance is mounted.

[0027] The drip tray suitably also comprises at least one adhesive portion on the bottom surface of the base for fastening the drip tray to a floor, further preferably comprising a removable protective cover for each adhesive portion. Thereby, the drip tray can be attached to the floor by the adhesive before the household appliance is mounted. This further decreases the risk of movement or misalignment of the drip tray.

[0028] Also, the drip tray suitably comprises a sensor arranged on the drip tray for detecting moisture. Thereby, moisture or liquid present on the drip tray can be detected in a reliable manner. There may also be at least one detection element that is operatively connected to the sensor so that a signal may pass from the detection element to the sensor. Furthermore, said detection element may be arranged on the receiving portion, on the bottom surface, or both.

[0029] It is to be noted that the main benefit of the present invention, i.e. that the front barrier is able to bend downwards when subjected to a force from a roller or levelling leg of a household appliance, is achieved by the features in the appended independent claim. This benefit is however enhanced by the features present in the dependent claims, so that an even more suitable drip tray is achieved by embodiments also including features of the dependent claims alone or in combination to form particularly advantageous embodiments.

[0030] Many additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by the skilled person in view of the detailed description below.

DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1a: discloses a drip tray according to a first embodiment in a planar view from above;
Fig. 1b: discloses the drip tray of Fig. 1 in a perspective view;
Fig. 1c: discloses the drip tray of Fig. 1 in a planar view from the side;
Fig. 2: discloses a front barrier according to a second embodiment in a perspective view from the side;
Fig. 3: discloses a front barrier according to a third embodiment in a perspective view from the side;
Fig. 4: discloses a front barrier according to the first embodiment in a perspective view from the side;
Fig. 5: discloses an enlarged perspective view of a part of Fig. 1b marked with A and showing the front barrier and the first side wall at the first barrier end;
Fig. 6a: discloses three positions of a roller moving across the front barrier of the drip tray according to the third embodiment, in a planar view from above; and
Fig. 6b: discloses the three positions of Fig. 6a in a planar view from the side at the line B-B.

[0032] All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the respective embodiments, whereas other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Any reference number appearing in multiple drawings refers to the same object or feature throughout the drawings, unless otherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] A drip tray 1 according to the invention will now be described in detail, followed by detailed disclosure of three main designs of a front barrier 30 in a first, second and third embodiment. It is to be understood that all of the embodiments described herein can be combined with each other except when explicitly stated otherwise or when a combination would not be technically feasible. In particular, the design of the front barrier 30 according to the three main embodiments can be combined with any of the embodiments for the drip tray 1 as a whole.

[0034] It is to be noted that where measurements or dimensions of the drip tray 1 are given herein as a particular value or a range, they are to be understood as being the given value or range within manufacturing tolerances, or at least not differing from the given value or range more than 10 %. Also, when the term "substantially" is used herein, as in "substantially straight", this is also to be understood as being within manufacturing tolerances.

[0035] It is also to be noted that when measurements or dimensions of the drip tray 1 are given herein as a particular value or a range, e.g. when a height is within a given range, this is to be understood as the height having a value that is within the range and not as the height fluctuating from one end of the range to the other. For instance, where it is stated that an outer barrier edge 34 has a height of 1.5 mm - 6.5 mm over a bottom surface 16 of a base 10, this is to be understood as the height of the outer barrier edge 34 having a height taken from the range and varying only within manufacturing tolerances or at least not more than 10 %. In the following, the term "roller" or "levelling leg" or "leg" will be used to refer to those parts of a household appliance that is in contact with the floor and that are passed onto the drip tray 1 during mounting. It is to be noted, however that other designs of legs are also to be included in these terms, such as e.g. bevelled slide surfaces.

[0036] Fig. 1a-1c disclose the drip tray 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The drip tray 1 comprises a base 10 with a receiving portion 11 on a side facing upwards when placed on a floor, and with an opposing bottom surface 16 facing down towards the floor. The base 10 has a front edge 12, an opposing rear edge 13, and a first side edge 12 extending along a side of the base 10 from the rear edge 13 to the front edge 12. The base 10 also comprises a second side edge 13 extending along a side opposite to the first side edge 12, from the rear edge 13 to the front edge 12. When the drip tray 1 is placed on a floor, the receiving portion 11 has the purpose of receiving liquid dripping from above to prevent said liquid from contacting the floor directly. In some embodiments, the receiving portion 11 can extend across the entire base 10 and be delimited by the front edge 12, rear edge 13 and side edges 14, 15. On other embodiments, the receiving portion 11 can instead be only a part of the base 10.

[0037] The drip tray 1 further comprises a first side wall 21 that is connected to the base 10 along the first side edge 14 and a second side wall 22 that is connected to the base 10 along the second side edge 15. Each of the side walls 21, 22 extend at least partly upwards from the base 10, i.e. in a direction that faces away from the bottom surface 16. Furthermore, along the front edge 12 there is a front barrier 30 that is connected to the first side wall 21 at a first barrier end 30A and to the second side wall 22 at a second barrier end 30B.

[0038] That the front barrier 30 is connected to the side walls 21, 22 may in some embodiments mean that the front barrier 30 is joined to the side walls 21, 22 by a joining material such as an adhesive or corner portions that attach to both the front barrier 30 and the side walls 21, 22. In other embodiments, it may instead mean that the front barrier 30 is integrated with the side walls 21, 22 such that they are made in one piece. Also, the front barrier 30 and the side walls 21, 22 may in some embodiments be connected to the base 10 by a joint formed by fusing, melting or gluing them together, or by attaching them in some other suitable way. Alternatively, it may mean that the front barrier 30 and the side walls 21, 22 are integrated with the base 10 so that the drip tray 1 is made in one piece, or at least that the base 10 and at least one of the front barrier 30 and the first side wall 21 and second side wall 22 are integrated. In some embodiments, some of these parts are integrated whereas others are attached or joined to them.

[0039] In some embodiments, there is also a rear wall 23 along the rear edge 13, said rear wall 23 extending at least partly upwards. Thereby, the rear wall 23, the first and second side walls 21, 22 and the front barrier 30 cooperate to hold liquid on the drip tray 1 and avoid leakage to the surrounding floor. In some embodiments, the base 10 itself may have a shape so that the receiving portion 11 is bordered on at least a side facing the rear edge 13 by an elevation in the base, or alternatively the receiving portion 11 may be set into the base 10 so that leakage in at least a rear direction opposite to the forward direction F is prevented.

[0040] The front barrier 30 extends at least partly upwards from the base 10, and it comprises a first side section 31 at the first barrier end 30A and a second side section 32 at the second barrier end 30B. Between the first side section 31 and the second side section 32 is a middle section 33 to ensure that the front barrier 30 extends along the entire front edge 12. In some embodiments, the first and second side sections 31, 32 extend only part of the front barrier 30, but in other embodiments they meet in the middle so that the middle section is very short or only a connection between the first and second side sections 31, 32. Also, in some embodiments the middle section may have the same shape as the first or second side sections 31, 32. The first side section 31 and the second section 32 thus each extend a section length L from the first barrier end 30 A towards the middle section 33 or from the second barrier end 30B towards the middle section 33, respectively. Said section length L is in the first embodiment at least 3 cm, but preferably at least 5 cm or more preferably at least 10 cm. Depending on a distance between rollers or levelling legs of the household appliance with which the drip tray 1 is to be used, different section lengths L may be required to ensure that the rollers or levelling legs pass across the first and second sections 31, 32 rather than across the middle section 33. With some household appliances, the shortest section length L of 3 cm will ensure that the rollers or levelling legs pass in this desired way, but with other household appliances a longer section length L may be required. It is advantageous to provide the section length L at least 10 cm, since this ensures that the rollers or levelling legs or all standard types of household appliances pass as desired over the first and second sections 31, 32. However, in some embodiments, it may even be desirable to provide the first and second sections 31, 32 all the way to a midpoint formed by the middle section 33.

[0041] The first side section 31 and the second side section 32 extend at least partly in a forward direction F away from the base 10, said forward direction F being a direction that is perpendicular to at least a portion of the front edge 12 of the base 10. The front barrier 30 ends in an outer barrier edge 34 at the first and second side sections 31, 32 (see Fig. 2-4). Essential to the invention is that the outer barrier edge 34 has a height h of 1.5 mm - 6.5 mm over the bottom surface 16 of the base 10. Thereby, the outer barrier edge 34 is high enough from the bottom surface 16 of the base to ensure that liquid is efficiently retained on the drip tray 1 and leakage across the front barrier 30 is prevented. At the same time, the outer barrier edge 34 is low enough that a levelling leg or a roller of a household appliance can push the front barrier 30 downwards rather than folding it backwards towards the base 10. This is central to the invention, since the forward extension of the front edge together with the height h of the outer barrier edge 34 ensures that the rolling or pushing of a household appliance into place will take place without the front barrier 30 hindering the mounting and without the front barrier 30 being folded towards the base 10 where it could get stuck underneath the levelling leg or the roller and thereby be prevented from performing its function of preventing leakage. Also, by ensuring that the front barrier is pushed down towards the floor, it is able to resume its original position when the levelling leg or roller has passed so that the advantageous shape enables an efficient retention of liquid. The height h of the outer barrier edge 34 in the range 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm ensures that conventional rollers used for all kinds of household appliances are able to push the outer barrier edge 34 downwards by the outer barrier edge 34 being lower than a center of rotation of the rollers, and this in turn ensures that the roller can only push the outer barrier edge downwards.

[0042] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the outer barrier edge 34 has a height h in the range 3 mm - 5.5 mm. This further improves the combined function of being able to retain liquid while at the same time avoiding the risk of hindering the levelling leg or roller or of being pushed upwards and/or folded backwards by the levelling leg or roller. The present inventor has discovered through extensive tests that a height h of the outer barrier edge 34 of 4.5 mm is particularly advantageous. Drip tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer barrier edge (34) has a height h of 3 mm - 5.5 mm, preferably 4.5 mm.

[0043] Fig. 2 discloses a second embodiment of the front barrier 30, where the front barrier extends from the front edge 12 of the base to the outer barrier edge 34 without deviating substantially either upwards or downwards. Thus, the front barrier 30 forms a straight line or substantially straight line from the front edge 12 to the outer barrier edge 34. (When the term substantially straight is used herein, this is to be understood as straight within manufacturing and/or mounting tolerances.) This second embodiment is a basic embodiment that fulfils the main objectives of the invention and that is able to achieve the technical effect of ensuring that the roller or levelling legs move across the front barrier 30 without deforming or misaligning the front barrier 30. Figs. 2-4 show a roller R of a household appliance to explain the relationship between the front barrier 30 and such a roller R. It is to be noted, however, that the roller R shown is not be taken as the only possible size or alignment of a roller suitable to pass across the front barrier 30, but merely as an example for aid in understanding the invention.

[0044] The front barrier 30 forms a barrier angle BA with the base 10, and said barrier angle BA is in the range 138 - 178 °. This provides a suitable alignment of the front barrier 30 with respect to the base 10. Even more suitable is a barrier angle BA in the range 148 - 168 °, more preferably 153 - 163 ° since this further improves the function of the front barrier 30 of retaining liquid on the drip tray 1 while also being able to fold downwards when hit or pushed by a roller or levelling leg. The inventor has found, through extensive tests, that providing the barrier angle BA at 158 ° is particularly advantageous in achieving these aims.

[0045] A front barrier length L of the front barrier 30 from the front edge 12 to the outer barrier end 34 is in the range 3 mm - 23 mm for the second embodiment of Fig. 2. That the front barrier 30 extends in the forward direction F is advantageous in enabling the front barrier to pivot downwards to the floor when subjected to a force from above, rather than remaining in position and risking being deformed by the roller or levelling leg passing across it. Preferably, the front barrier length L is 8 mm - 18 mm, and the present inventor has found through testing that the front barrier length L of 13 mm is particularly advantageous.

[0046] Fig. 3 discloses a third embodiment of the invention that differs from the second embodiment in the front barrier 30 being curved upwards from the front edge 12 of the base 10 to the outer barrier edge 34. This provides an alternative shape of the front barrier 30 that has a sharper rise closer to the outer barrier edge 34, and that is advantageous in ensuring that the front barrier 30 rises again after being pushed down by the roller or levelling leg.

[0047] Fig. 4 discloses the first embodiment of the invention that differs from the second and third embodiment in the front barrier 30 comprising an inner portion 35 connected to the front edge 12 of the base 10, and also comprising an outer portion 36 that is connected to the inner portion 35 and forms a lip that extends at least partially downwards from the inner portion 35 to the outer barrier edge 34. The first embodiment is particularly advantageous since the provision of the outer portion 36 enables a maximum height h_max at a top portion 37 of the front barrier 30 that is larger than the height h of the outer barrier end 34. Thereby, retaining liquid on the drip tray 1 is rendered even more efficient, while at the same time ensuring that the front barrier 30 is pushed downwards by the roller or levelling leg of the household appliance.

[0048] The top portion 37 is a portion where the outer portion 36 is connected to the inner portion 35, and the top portion 37 of the first embodiment has a maximum height h_max from the bottom surface 16 of the base 10 of 0.4 - 7.4 mm. Preferably, the maximum height h_max is in the range 1.9 mm - 4.9 mm, more preferably 2.9 - 3.9 mm, and the present inventor has found through testing that a very advantageous maximum height h_max of the top portion 37 is 3.4 mm.

[0049] The inner portion 35 of the front barrier 30 suitably extends 1 mm - 19 mm in the forward direction F. More preferably, the front barrier 30 extends preferably 7 mm - 14 mm, more preferably 10 mm in the direction forwards from the base.

[0050] The outer portion 36 forms a lip angle LA with the inner portion 35, and said lip angle LA is in the range 116 -156 ° to render it highly suitable for being pushed downwards without causing a hinder to the roller or levelling leg or causing the front barrier 30 to be folded upwards or backwards towards the base 10. Suitably, the lip angle LA is in the range 126 -146 °, more preferably 131 -141 °. The present inventor has found through testing that a lip angle LA of 136 ° is particularly advantageous for the first embodiment. The orientation of the outer portion 36 at this lip angle LA to the inner portion 35 allows for a larger maximum height h_max of the top portion 37 than would otherwise be possible in order to achieve the technical effect of pushing the front barrier 30 down rather than up when meeting a roller or levelling leg.

[0051] The barrier angle BA of the first embodiment is suitably the same as for the first embodiment disclosed above.

[0052] Furthermore, the first embodiment comprises a groove 17 underneath the front barrier 30 where it is connected to the front edge 12. The groove 17 serves to facilitate bending of the front barrier 30 downwards when subjected to a force from a roller or levelling leg. Alternatively, this can be achieved by a part of the inner portion 35 at or close to the front edge 12 having a thickness of less than half, preferably less than one fourth, and more preferably less than one tenth of a thickness of the base 10 at the front edge 12. The inner portion 24 then preferably has a thickness at the front edge 12 of 0.1 - 0.9 mm, preferably 0.3 - 0.7 mm, more preferably 0.5 mm. By thus providing either a groove 17 or a thin part of the inner portion 35, the pivoting of the front barrier 30 in relation to the base 10 is facilitated.

[0053] The groove 17 or thin part of the inner portion 35 may also be provided in the second or third embodiments disclosed above, or indeed in any embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In any or all of the embodiments disclosed herein, at least one adhesive portion 19 may be provided on the bottom surface 16 of the base 10 in order to attach the drip tray 1 to the floor. There may also be a removable protective cover 19 on each such adhesive portion 18 to prevent the adhesive from being damaged before use.

[0055] Fig. 5 discloses an enlarged view of the drip tray 1 of the first embodiment showing the first side wall 21 and the first portion 31 of the front barrier 30. The first side wall 21 is connected to the front barrier 30 at the first barrier end 30A by a connection 23 that in this embodiment is curved. The shape of the connection 23 facilitates movement of the front barrier 30 when subjected to a force from the roller or levelling leg, since the first side wall 21 is configured by the curved connection 23 to bend slightly so that the front barrier 30 in turn is able to bend towards the floor without stretching or deforming the front barrier 30 or the curved connection 23. This is particularly advantageous in that it enables the desired movement of the front barrier 30 while at the same time allowing for the drip tray 1 to be made from a stiff material that is not deformable and that resumes its original position when the force from the roller or levelling leg ceases. The curved connection 23 may have any curved shape as long as it is able to bend towards the front barrier 30 to facilitate the movement of the front barrier 30 itself.

[0056] Fig. 6a and 6b disclose the movement of the front barrier 30 when a roller of a household appliance is moved onto the drip tray 1. In the image to the right, the roller R approaches and contacts the outer barrier end 34, and when moving to the image in the middle the roller R has pushed the front barrier 30 towards the floor so that the front barrier 30 lies down. The pivoting movement downwards is facilitated by the groove 17 and also by the curved connections 23 between the front barrier 30 and the side walls 21, 22. In the image to the left, the roller R has moved onto the base 10 and the front barrier 30 has risen to its original position.

[0057] When mounting the drip tray 1 on a floor, protective covers 19 covering any adhesive portions 18 are removed and the drip tray 1 is then placed on the floor in a desired position. When adhesive portions 18 are provided, they serve to firmly attach the drip tray 1 to the floor. When no adhesive portions are provided, separate adhesive or adhesive tape may be used, or alternatively the drip tray 1 may just be placed in the desired position. When the household appliance has been put into place, as shown in the image to the left of Fig. 6a and 6b, the weight of the household appliance will ensure that the drip tray is not moved from its position.

[0058] Advantageously, the drip tray 1 according to any embodiment of the invention is made from a stiff material that is not elastically deformable. Such a material has the benefit of being able to hold its position regardless of varying temperature or humidity, and also of withstanding the force from a roller or levelling leg of the household appliance so that deformation is avoided. The material should advantageously have a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and suitable materials include PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Other materials may also be used as long as the material for at least the front barrier is able to function as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the drip tray 1 may also be manufactured from more than one material that are mixed or where some parts of the drip tray 1 are made from one material and some from another.

[0059] Returning now to Fig. 1a-1b, the drip tray 1 according to the first embodiment also comprises a sensor 40 for detecting a moisture or liquid, and at least one detection element 41 that is distributed on the drip tray 1 on either the receiving portion 11, the bottom surface 16, or both. The detection element 41 may be any suitable strip or wire of material that reacts to the presence of liquid or moisture, such as a metal wire, a moisture sensitive adhesive tape, or any other suitable element. The detection element 41 is preferably distributed on the drip tray 1 to be able to detect moisture where it is most likely to gather, such as where legs or rollers of the household appliance will be placed. The detection element 41 may also pass from the receiving portion 11 to the bottom surface 16 by extending over or through at least one of a sidewall or rear wall, or may alternatively pass through any opening 42 provided in the drip tray 1. Alternatively, at least one detection element 41 may be provided on the bottom surface 16 and at least one detection element 41 on the receiving portion 11. The detection element 41 may be attached to the drip tray by adhesive, by fastening elements or by being cast or welded into the drip tray 1 during or after manufacture.

[0060] The detection element 41 is operatively connected to the sensor 40 in such a way that a signal may pass from the detection element 41 to the sensor 40, such as by the detection element 41 being in physical contact with the sensor 40 or by wireless transfer of signals.

[0061] It is advantageous to distribute the detection element 41 along at least one edge of the drip tray 1 and preferably along both a side and a rear or front edge. Also, it is advantageous in particular on the bottom surface 16 to distribute the detection element 41 close to edges of the drip tray 1, since liquid will most likely enter at the edge through capillary force between the drip tray 1 and the floor. In one embodiment, the detection element 41 is arranged in a loop along both the front and rear edges as well as the side edges.

[0062] The sensor 40 may be equipped with an alarm function that causes an alarm signal when moisture or liquid is detected, or may alternatively communicate with a remote unit that in turn monitors the drip tray 1 and is configured to generate alarm signals or provide output for a user regarding presence of moisture or liquid.

[0063] It is to be noted that features from the various embodiments described herein may freely be combined, unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination would be unsuitable.

Claims

1. Drip tray (1) for gathering liquid from a household appliance, the drip tray comprising

- a base (10) with a receiving portion (11) for receiving liquid dripping from a household appliance, the base having a front edge (12), a rear edge (13) and two opposing side edges (14, 15) and also having a bottom surface (16) facing a floor when the drip tray is mounted underneath a household appliance,

- a first and a second sidewall (21, 22) connected to the base (10), each of said side walls (21, 22) being arranged along a side edge (14, 15) and extending at least partially upwards from the base (10), and

- a front barrier (30) extending along the front edge (12) from a first barrier end (30A) to a second barrier end (30B) and also extending at least partially upwards, the front barrier (30) comprising a first side section (31) at the first barrier end (30A), a second side section (32) at the second barrier end (30B), and a middle section (33) between the first side section (31) and the second side section (32), said first barrier end (30A) being connected to an end of the first sidewall (21) and said second barrier end (30B) being connected to an end of the second sidewall (22),

- wherein the front barrier (30) at the first side section (31) and the second side section (32) also extends at least partly in a forward direction (F) away from the base (10) to an outer barrier edge (34), said outer barrier edge (34) having a height (h) of 1.5 mm - 6.5 mm over the bottom surface (16) of the base (10).

2. Drip tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer barrier edge (34) has a height of 3 mm - 5.5 mm, preferably 4.5 mm.

3. Drip tray (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first side section (31) and the second side section (32) extend a section length (L) from the first barrier end (30A) and the second barrier end (30B), respectively, and wherein said section length (L) is at least 3 cm, preferably at least 5 cm and more preferably at least 10 cm.

4. Drip tray (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the front barrier (30) in the first side section (31) and the second side section (32) comprises an inner portion (35) and an outer portion (36), said inner portion (35) being connected to the front edge (12) and extending at least partially upwards, and said outer portion (36) being a lip that extends at least partially downwards from the inner portion (35) to the outer barrier edge (34), and wherein the outer portion of the front barrier forms a lip angle with the inner portion of the front barrier, said lip angle being 116 -156 °, preferably 126 -146 °, more preferably 131 -141 ° and even more preferably 136 °.

5. Drip tray (1) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the drip tray (1) further comprises a groove (17) extending underneath the front barrier (30) along the front edge (12).

6. Drip tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a part of the inner portion (35) of the front barrier (30) at the front edge (12) has a thickness of less than half, preferably less than one fourth, and more preferably less than one tenth of a thickness of the base (10) at the front edge (12).

7. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein the inner portion of the front barrier forms a barrier angle with the base, said barrier angle being 138 - 178 °, preferably 148 - 168 °, more preferably 153 - 163 ° and even more preferably 158 °.

8. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein at least the front barrier and the sidewalls comprise a stiff material that is not elastically deformable.

9. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein the front barrier forms connections with the sidewalls at the first barrier end and the second barrier end, said connections being curved.

10. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein the front barrier extends upwards from the base to a top portion where the outer portion meets the inner portion, said top portion having a height from the base of 0.4 - 7.4 mm, preferably 1.9 mm - 4.9 mm, more preferably 2.9 - 3.9 mm, and even more preferably 3.4 mm.

11. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein the front barrier extends 3 mm - 23 mm, preferably 8 mm - 18 mm, more preferably 13 mm in a direction forwards from the base that is perpendicular to the front edge.

12. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein the inner portion of the front barrier extends 1 mm - 19 mm, preferably 7 mm - 14 mm, more preferably 10 mm in the direction forwards from the base.

13. Drip tray according to any previous claim, wherein the drip tray is made from a polymer material, preferably PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or wherein the drip tray is made from a material with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more.

14. Drip tray according to any previous claim, further comprising at least one adhesive portion on the bottom surface (16) of the base for fastening the drip tray to a floor, further preferably comprising a removable protective cover for each adhesive portion.

15. Drip tray according to any previous claim, further comprising a sensor (40) arranged on the drip tray for detecting moisture and also comprising at least one detection element (41) on the drip tray, said at least one detection element (41) being operatively connected to the sensor (40).

16. Drip tray according to claim 15, wherein the at least one detection element (41) is arranged on at least one of the receiving portion (11) and the bottom surface (16).

Drawing

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