[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure of a rotary drum laundry treating
appliance, such as a laundry washing machine, a laundry washing-drying machine or
a laundry drier, and to a rotary drum laundry treating appliance including said support
structure.
[0002] Laundry washing machines, laundry washing-drying machines and laundry driers share
some structural features as well as some technical issues, due to the very similar
overall architecture, based on a rotary drum mounted in a support structure. For this
reason, these machines are sometimes referred to as rotary drum laundry treating appliances,
when it is intended to refer to any of these three types of machines, like in the
present specification.
[0003] A rotary drum laundry treating appliance is made with a support structure that has
the task of supporting the rotary drum and all the parts and elements of the appliance,
either directly or indirectly, and of transferring the weight of the appliance and
all stresses generated during operation to the floor on which the appliance is laid.
Normally, the support structure includes a front wall and a rear wall of the appliance,
as well as elements that structurally connect these two walls, at different heights
so as to ensure that the support structure is sufficiently strong. By the expression
"structurally connect" it is meant here that these elements are strong enough to bear
mechanical stresses that go well beyond those merely implied by these elements themselves
(such as their weight, or the forces necessary to fix them to the walls), so as to
be able to transfer significant stresses between the walls, such as stresses due to
the rotation of the drum, even at high speed or with somehow unbalanced loads. An
example of such support structure is disclosed in
GB 2 278 128 A.
[0004] In a first known solution, the supporting structure includes a base portion that
connects a front and a rear wall at the bottom of the appliance, and one or more metal
beams that connect the two walls at the top of the appliance. A front panel and further
two side panels having decorative purpose only cover the machine supporting structure.
Such a structure is disclosed in
EP 1783266 A1.
[0005] This first solution is used and substantially meets the basic need of structural
strength of the appliance. However, it requires specific assembling steps when manufacturing
the appliance, and specific disassembling/assembling steps when working on a used
appliance that requires maintenance and/or repair of parts that are not readily accessible
because of the beams; moreover, the beams -being made of metal- are relatively heavy.
[0006] According to a further known arrangement, the metal beams of the machine support
structure are replaced by a single top structure, just beneath the top cover, connected
to the front and rear walls and extending from one side to the other of the appliance,
thereby interconnecting also the side walls of the appliance. In such a structure,
with the exception of the front and rear wall, all the other walls defining the laundry
treating machine box-like cabinet, which encloses the operational components provided
for carrying out a treatment on laundry, are made 'structural', i.e. they are designed
to support mechanical stresses due to the machine operation. In other words, by removing
a 'structural' wall the machine stability and operational integrity are compromised,
or even absent. Also this solution substantially meets the basic need of structural
strength of the appliance. However, it requires a rather complex and heavy top structure,
which, again, becomes an obstacle during maintenance/repair of the appliance. In fact,
in case a maintenance/repair intervention is needed, the removal of single top structure
or of one side wall of the machine cabinet affects the structural stability of the
entire machine. In addition, from the dimensional point of view, a single top structure
has to be specifically designed for a single appliance cabinet model, thereby reducing
flexibility of the machine support structure to be adapted to different machine models.
[0007] Therefore, there is still a need to improve the support structure of these appliances,
not only from the strength point of view but also by improving its dimensional flexibility
so as to be adapted to different appliance models. The aim of the present invention
is thus to overcome or at least reduce the drawbacks noted above with reference to
the prior art appliances. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a support
structure is thus defined in claim 1; preferred features of the support structure
are set forth in dependent claims.
[0008] According to the invention, a support structure of a rotary drum laundry treating
appliance comprises a base portion, a front wall connected to the base portion, a
rear wall connected to the base portion, at least two beam elements independently
mounted on the front wall and the rear wall for structurally connecting the front
wall and the rear wall together, at an upper region of the support structure, characterized
in that one of the beam elements comprises at least a reinforced portion of an upper
hopper of the rotary drum laundry treating appliance.
[0009] The upper hopper is an element that is present in any appliance of this kind; in
case of a laundry washing machine or of a laundry washing-drying machine, the upper
hopper is a detergent distributor device or a part thereof, while in case of a laundry
drier the upper hopper is a housing portion of a condensed moisture containing tank.
The upper hopper is arranged to convey liquid towards a drum in a laundry machine
able to carry out a washing process, or towards a liquid receptacle in a laundry machine
able to carry out a drying process. The upper hopper may be configured for receiving,
preferably in a slidable manner, a water bearing device such as a detergent drawer
having chambers to receive water and mix such water with a detergent substance, or
a condensed moisture water tank. In known appliances, the upper hopper is a non-structural
element, i.e. an element whose strength is not enough to bear any stresses other than
those strictly related to the hopper itself, i.e., in practice, stresses due to the
forces by which the hopper is fixed to an appliance support structure; stresses due
to the rotation of the drum and weight of operational components of the appliance
are not transferred to the hopper of known type, which could not bear them.
[0010] By providing that a portion of the upper hopper is structured so as to form a beam
element that becomes a part of the support structure, able to transfer stresses between
the front and rear wall, the necessary strength of the support structure is ensured
in an easier way with respect to the prior art. There is, in fact, no need for mounting
a great number of components, nor for a special top structure, therefore, both manufacturing
and maintenance/repair are made easier. In addition the support structure may be adapted
to appliance models having different overall dimensions. Besides, an overall reduction
of weight can be easily achieved. Also, the reinforced portion of the upper hopper
can be made by the same polymeric material of which the upper hopper is made; this
allows to make a wider use of recycled material when manufacturing the appliance,
and also to improve recyclability of the parts of the appliance when it is disposed.
[0011] Preferably, the upper hopper comprises also non-reinforced portions having a mechanical
strength that is negligible compared to that of the reinforced portion, in relation
to the structural connection of the front wall to the rear wall. Indeed, it is not
necessary that the whole upper hopper is involved in transferring stresses between
the front and rear walls. In this way, the risk that the upper hopper is somehow deformed
by the stresses is confined to the reinforced portion; the rest of the upper hopper
is substantially non involved in the transfer of stresses, and therefore the reciprocal
coupling of sliding parts within the upper hopper is not affected by the fact that
the reinforced portion of the upper hopper is part of the support structure of the
appliance.
[0012] Normally, the upper hopper is provided at a side upper region of the rotary drum
laundry treating appliance. The reinforced portion can be provided in different positions
in the upper hopper, provided it can reach both the front and the rear walls of the
support structure. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, one of said at least a reinforced
portion of the upper hopper is provided at a first side of the upper hopper, at a
side of the support structure, the beam element thus resulting provided at a side
upper region of the support structure. Alternatively, or in addition, one of said
at least a reinforced portion of the upper hopper is provided at a second side of
the upper hopper at a central upper region of the support structure, the beam element
resulting provided at a central upper region of the support structure. In both cases,
structural connection between the front and rear walls is obtained at a top location
of the appliance, thus well supplementing the structural connection obtained at the
bottom by the base portion; according to the specific structural needs of the appliance,
one position or the other can be selected, or both. A further beam element, other
than the reinforced portion of the upper hopper, is also provided to enhance the strength
of the support structure, e.g. at a side upper region remote from the upper hopper.
[0013] The reinforced portion can be made in different ways within the upper hopper.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, said at least a reinforced portion comprises two vertical
main walls solidly connected by an upper bridge, said at least a reinforced portion
having thus a U-shaped cross section in a vertical plane parallel to the front and
the rear walls. By "solidly connected", in the present text, a permanent connection
is meant, that makes the connected parts as if they are made of one piece, from one
and the same material; obviously, in this expression the case is also included in
which the parts are actually made of one piece. Preferably, said at least a reinforced
portion comprises a plurality of parallel vertical fins, solidly connected to said
vertical main walls and to said bridge. The U-shaped cross section allows to easily
obtain a strong structure even by using a polymeric material used for upper hoppers,
also without the need for particularly thick walls; this is even more the case if
the vertical walls are connected by fins.
[0015] In another preferred embodiment, said at least a reinforced portion comprises a vertical
main wall solidly connected to an upper bracket, said at least a reinforced portion
having thus an inverted L-shaped cross section in a vertical plane parallel to the
front and the rear walls. Preferably, said at least a reinforced portion comprises
a plurality of parallel vertical fins, solidly connected to said vertical main wall
and to said upper bracket. The L-shaped cross section also allows to easily obtain
a strong structure even by using a polymeric material used for upper hoppers, also
without the need for particularly thick walls; this is even more the case if the vertical
wall and the bracket are connected by fins.
[0016] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, a laundry treating machine comprising
a support structure is claimed. In particular, the laundry treating machine may be
embodied as a laundry washing machine, a laundry drier or a washing and drying machine.
[0017] Further features and advantages of a support structure of a rotary drum laundry treating
appliance according to the present invention will be clearer from the detailed description
of a preferred embodiment thereof, provided by way of non limiting example, with reference
to the annexed drawings, in which:
- fig. 1 is a front-right perspective view of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance
according to the invention, in particular a laundry drier, without a top cover;
- fig. 2 is a front-right perspective view of the laundry drier of fig. 1, without external
panels and elements, to better show the support structure;
- fig. 3 is a front-left perspective view of part of the laundry drier of fig. 1;
- fig. 4 is a front-left perspective view of the upper hopper of the laundry drier of
fig. 1;
- fig. 5 is a rear-right perspective view of the upper hopper of the laundry drier of
fig. 1;
- fig. 6 is a partially sectioned front-left perspective view of part of the laundry
drier of fig. 1;
- fig. 7 is a section view of part of the laundry drier of fig. 1;
- fig. 8 is a front-right perspective view of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance
according to the invention, in particular a washing machine (or washing-drying machine);
- fig. 9 is a section view of part of the washing machine of fig. 8.
[0018] In the following, the support structure of the invention will be mainly described
with reference to a laundry drier, as shown in figures 1 to 7, being it clear that
the described support structure can be included in a washing machine or in a washing-drying
machine; a washing machine is shown in figures 8 and 9.
[0019] With reference to figures 1-7, a laundry drier
100 is shown that includes a support structure
110 on which all the remaining parts and elements of the appliance are mounted, directly
or indirectly. The support structure 110 comprises a base portion
111 and two walls, a front wall
112 and a rear wall
113, structurally connected to the base portion 111 at the bottom of the laundry drier
100. It is to be noted that, in the following text, reference is made to the position
of the appliance as shown in figure 1, so that expressions like up, down, front, rear,
left, right, etc. are to be taken according to the position of figure 1.
[0020] The support structure 110 also comprises beam elements, structurally connecting the
front wall 112 to the rear wall 113 at an upper location on the support structure
110.
[0021] A first beam element
120 and a second beam element
130 are reinforced portions of a same upper hopper
114. The upper hopper 114, that in the case of the laundry drier 100 forms a housing
for a condensed moisture containing tank not shown in the drawings, is provided at
a left side upper region of the laundry drier 100, and includes a main body
115 between said two beam elements 120 and 130.
[0022] The reinforced portion that forms the first beam element 120 is provided at a left
side region of the upper hopper 114, so that the first beam element 120 results provided
at an upper left side region of the support structure 110. The reinforced portion
that forms the first beam element 120 comprises two vertical main walls
121 and
122, parallel to each other and extended from the front wall 112 to the rear wall 113
of the support structure 110; the two main walls 121 and 122 are solidly connected
by an upper bridge
123, so that this reinforced portion has a U-shaped cross section, in a vertical plane
parallel to the front wall 112 and the rear wall 113. Besides, the reinforced portion
that forms the first beam element 120 also comprises vertical fins
124, solidly connected to the vertical main walls 121 and 122 and to the upper bridge
123. Thus, the first beam element 120 has a box-like structure, open downwards, that
ensures the required mechanical strength.
[0023] The reinforced portion that forms the second beam element 130 is provided at a right
side region of the upper hopper 114, so that the second beam element 130 results provided
at a central upper region of the support structure 110. The reinforced portion that
forms the second beam element 130 comprises a vertical main wall
131 and an upper bracket
133, both extended from the front wall 112 to the rear wall 113 of the support structure
110; the main wall 131 and the bracket 133 are solidly connected to each other, so
that this reinforced portion has an L-shaped cross section, in a vertical plane parallel
to the front wall 112 and the rear wall 113. Besides, the reinforced portion that
forms the second beam element 130 also comprises vertical fins
134, solidly connected to the vertical main wall 131 and to the upper bracket 133. Thus,
the second beam element 130 has a semi-box structure, open downwards and to the right,
that ensures the required mechanical strength.
[0024] The main body 115 is a non-reinforced portion of the upper hopper 114. This means
that the mechanical strength of the main body 115 is negligible compared to that of
the reinforced portions that form the two beam elements 120 and 130, as far as the
structural connection of the front wall 112 to the rear wall 113 is concerned.
[0025] Preferably, the entire upper hopper, including the reinforced portions that form
the beam elements 120 and 130 and the non-reinforced portion that form the main body
115, are obtained by injection molding of a suitable polymeric material, such as polypropylene.
[0026] A third beam element
140 is provided at an upper right side region of the support structure 110. The third
beam element 140 can be made of metal, or preferably of the same mold injected polymeric
material as the upper hopper 114. The third beam element 140 can be mounted/dismounted
to/from the front wall 112 and the rear wall 113 independently from the first and
second beam elements 120 and 130, i.e. the third beam element 140 is a separate, independent
piece from the first and second beam elements 120, 130. This arrangement advantageously
allows the use of the same beam elements to provide support structures 110 for appliance
having different overall dimensions.
[0027] As mentioned above, the support structure 110 -made by the base portion 111, the
front wall 112, the rear wall 113, the first beam element 120, the second beam element
130 and the third beam element 140- rests on a floor and supports all remaining parts
and elements of the laundry drier
100. These parts and elements include in particular a front panel
150, left and right side panels
151 and
152, an electric motor
161, a rotary drum
162 comprising a laundry treatment chamber
163 for receiving laundry to be treated by the appliance, the drum being driven by the
electric motor
161. The front and side panels 150, 151 and 152 are mounted to the front and rear walls
112 and 113, but are not involved in the structural connection between these two walls,
that is fully achieved by the base portion 111 and the beam elements 120, 130, 140.
The front and side panels 150, 151 and 152 are decorative panels. Therefore, in particular,
side panels 151 and 152 have a mechanical strength that is negligible compared to
that of the reinforced portions of the upper hopper 114 that form the beam elements
120 and 130. The front panel 150 has an opening
164 giving access to the laundry treating chamber 163. Such opening 164 is aligned with
a corresponding opening
166 formed on the front wall 112, and both openings 164, 166 are closed by a pivotable
door
165.
[0028] The front wall 112 comprises an air duct
167 provided for conveying air thought the laundry treating chamber 163 so as to dry
wet laundry.
[0029] Other parts and elements of the laundry drier 100 are not mentioned in detail here,
but many of them are shown in the drawings.
[0030] In figures 8 and 9, a washing machine
200 is shown that includes a support structure
210 on which all the remaining parts and elements are mounted, directly or indirectly.
The support structure 210 is substantially the same as the support structure 110 of
the laundry drier 100 described above, and will not be described nor shown in detail.
Therefore, the support structure 210 comprises a base portion
211, a front wall
212, a rear wall
213, first and second beam elements
220,
230. A third beam element (not visible in figure 8) is arranged in an upper region of
the support structure 210 in a position which is opposite relative to the first beam
element 220. As already described with reference to figures 1 to 7, the third beam
element is an independent, separate piece from the first and second mean elements
220, 230. Beam elements 220 and 230 are reinforced portions of an upper hopper
214, which in this case is a component of a detergent distributor device and the upper
hopper 214 further includes also a main body
215 that is not reinforced. Beam element 220 comprises two vertical main walls
221 and
222, an upper bridge
223 and vertical fins
224. Beam element 230 comprises a vertical main wall
231, a bracket
233 and vertical fins
234. The washing machine 200 includes also a front panel
250, a left side panel
251 and a right side panel
252, a tub
262, a drum
262 rotatably mounted within a tub (not shown) adapted to contain a washing liquor. Rotary
drum 262 is provided with pass-through apertures
270 for allowing the washing liquor contained in the tub to access a laundry treatment
chamber
263 defined by the inner region of the drum 262. The front panel 250 has an opening
264 giving access to the laundry treating chamber 263, the opening
264 is aligned with a corresponding opening
266 formed on the front wall 212, and both openings 264, 266 are closed by a pivotable
door
265.
[0031] The characteristics and properties of these elements and parts are the same as those
of the corresponding parts and elements of the laundry drier 100.
1. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
such as a washing machine, a washing-drying machine or a laundry drier, comprising
a base portion (111; 211), a front wall (112; 212) connected to the base portion (111;
211), a rear wall (113; 213) connected to the base portion (111; 211), at least two
beam elements (120, 130, 140; 220, 230) independently mounted on the front wall (112;
212) and the rear wall (113; 213) for structurally connecting such walls together
at an upper region of the support structure (110; 210), characterized in that one of said beam elements (120, 130; 220, 230) comprises at least a reinforced portion
of an upper hopper (114; 214) of the rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100;
200).
2. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to claim 1, wherein the upper hopper (114; 214) comprises non-reinforced
portions (115; 215) having a mechanical strength that is negligible compared to that
of the reinforced portion, in relation to the structural connection of the front wall
(112; 212) to the rear wall (113; 213).
3. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper hopper (114; 214) is provided at a side
upper region of the rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200), one of said
at least a reinforced portion of the upper hopper (114; 214) is provided at a first
side of the upper hopper (114; 214) at a side of the support structure (110; 210),
the beam element (120; 220) comprising the reinforced portion thus resulting provided
at a side upper region of the support structure (110; 210).
4. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper hopper (114; 214) is provided
at a side upper region of the rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200), one
of said at least a reinforced portion of the upper hopper (114; 214) is provided at
a second side of the upper hopper (114; 214) at a central upper region of the support
structure (110; 210), the beam element (130; 230) comprising the reinforced portion
resulting provided at a central upper region of the support structure (110; 210).
5. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to any preceding claim, wherein said at least a reinforced portion comprises
two vertical main walls (121, 122; 221, 222) solidly connected by an upper bridge
(123; 223), said at least a reinforced portion having thus a U-shaped cross section
in a vertical plane parallel to the front (112; 212) and the rear walls (113; 213).
6. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to claim 5, wherein said at least a reinforced portion comprises a plurality
of parallel vertical fins (124; 224), solidly connected to said vertical main walls
(121, 122; 221, 222) and to said bridge (123; 223).
7. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to any preceding claim, wherein said at least a reinforced portion comprises
a vertical main wall (131, 231) solidly connected to an upper bracket (133; 233),
said at least a reinforced portion having thus an inverted L-shaped cross section
in a vertical plane parallel to the front (112; 212) and the rear walls (113; 213).
8. Support structure (110; 210) of a rotary drum laundry treating appliance (100; 200)
according to claim 7, wherein said at least a reinforced portion comprises a plurality
of parallel vertical fins (134; 234), solidly connected to said vertical main wall
(131; 231) and to said upper bracket (133; 233).
9. Laundry treating appliance comprising a support structure (110; 210) according to
any preceding claim wherein said upper hopper (114; 214) is a component of a detergent
distributor device or a housing portion of a condensed moisture containing tank.
10. Laundry treating appliance according to claim 9 wherein the front and rear walls (112,
113; 212, 213) extend from a top portion of the appliance to said base portion (111;
211) and the front wall (112, 212) is covered by a decorative, non-structural wall
(150, 250).
11. Laundry treating appliance according to claim 9 or 10 having a rotatable drum (162;
262) comprising a laundry treating chamber (163; 263) wherein the front wall (112;
212) has an opening (166; 266) for accessing the laundry treating chamber (163; 263).
12. Laundry treating appliance according to any claim 9 to 11 wherein the front wall (112)
comprises an air duct (167).
13. Laundry treating appliance according to any claim 9 to 12 wherein a drawer-like water
bearing device is slidably received in the upper hopper (114; 214).
14. Laundry treating appliance according to any claim 9 to 13 wherein a couple of side
panels (151, 152; 251, 252) are connected to the support structure (110; 210) so as
to extend perpendicularly to the front and rear walls (112, 113; 212, 213), said side
panels (151, 152; 251, 252) having a mechanical strength that is negligible compared
to that of said at least a reinforced portion of the upper hopper (114, 214).
1. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel, beispielsweise einer Waschmaschine, eines Waschtrockners oder eines Wäschetrockners,
die einen Sockelabschnitt (111; 211), eine mit dem Sockelabschnitt (111; 211) verbundene
Vorderwand (112; 212), eine mit dem Sockelabschnitt (111, 211) verbundene Rückwand
(113; 213), wenigstens zwei Balkenelemente (120, 130, 140; 220, 230), die unabhängig
voneinander an der Vorderwand (112; 212) und der Rückwand (113; 213) montiert sind,
um diese Wände in einem oberen Bereich der Stützstruktur (110; 210) baulich miteinander
zu verbinden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eines der Balkenelemente (120, 130; 220, 230) wenigstens einen verstärkten Abschnitt
eines oberen Einfülltrichters (114; 214) der Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200)
mit rotierender Trommel umfasst.
2. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach dem Anspruch 1, wobei der obere Einfülltrichter (114; 214) unverstärkte
Abschnitte (115; 215) mit einer mechanischen Festigkeit, die verglichen mit der des
verstärkten Abschnitts vernachlässigbar ist, umfasst, die in Beziehung zur baulichen
Verbindung der Vorderwand (112; 212) mit der Rückwand (113; 213) stehen.
3. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach dem Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der obere Einfülltrichter (114; 214) in
einem oberen Seitenbereich der Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel bereitgestellt wird, einer des wenigstens einen verstärkten Abschnitts des
oberen Einfülltrichters (114; 214) auf einer ersten Seite des oberen Einfülltrichters
(114; 214) an einer Seite der Stützstruktur (110; 210) bereitgestellt wird und das
den verstärkten Abschnitt umfassende Balkenelement (120; 220) somit in einem oberen
Seitenbereich der Stützstruktur (110; 210) bereitgestellt wird.
4. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach einem beliebigen der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der obere Einfülltrichter
(114; 214) in einem oberen Seitenbereich der Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200)
mit rotierender Trommel bereitgestellt wird, einer des wenigstens einen verstärkten
Abschnitts des oberen Einfülltrichters (114; 214) auf einer zweiten Seite des oberen
Einfülltrichters (114; 214) in einem oberen Mittenbereich der Stützstruktur (110;
210) bereitgestellt wird und das den verstärkten Abschnitt umfassende Balkenelement
(130; 230) somit in einem oberen Mittenbereich der Stützstruktur (110; 210) bereitgestellt
wird.
5. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach einem beliebigen der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der wenigstens eine
verstärkte Abschnitt zwei senkrechte Hauptwände (121, 122; 221, 222) umfasst, die
mittels eines oberen Stegs (123; 223) stabil verbunden sind und der wenigstens eine
verstärkte Abschnitt somit einen U-förmigen Querschnitt in einer zu der Vorder-(112;
212) und der Rückwand (113; 213) parallelen senkrechten Ebene aufweist.
6. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach dem Anspruch 5, wobei der wenigstens eine verstärkte Abschnitt eine Vielzahl
an parallelen senkrechten Rippen (124; 224) aufweist, die mit den senkrechten Hauptwänden
(121, 122; 221, 222) und dem Steg (123; 223) stabil verbunden sind.
7. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach einem beliebigen der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der wenigstens eine
verstärkte Abschnitt eine senkrechte Hauptwand (131; 231) umfasst, die mit einer oberen
Halterung (133; 233) stabil verbunden ist, und der wenigstens eine verstärkte Abschnitt
somit einen umgedreht L-förmigen Querschnitt in einer zu der Vorder-(112; 212) und
der Rückwand (113; 213) parallelen senkrechten Ebene aufweist.
8. Stützstruktur (110; 210) einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine (100; 200) mit rotierender
Trommel nach dem Anspruch 7, wobei der wenigstens eine verstärkte Abschnitt eine Vielzahl
an parallelen senkrechten Rippen (134; 234) aufweist, die mit der senkrechten Hauptwand
(131; 231) und der oberen Halterung (133; 233) stabil verbunden sind.
9. Eine Stützstruktur (110, 210) umfassende Wäschebehandlungsmaschine nach einem beliebigen
der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der obere Einfülltrichter (114; 214) ein Bestandteil
einer Waschmittelverteilungsvorrichtung oder eines Gehäuseabschnitts eines kondensierte
Feuchtigkeit enthaltenden Behälters ist.
10. Wäschebehandlungsmaschine nach dem Anspruch 9, wobei die Vorder- und die Rückwand
(112, 113; 212, 213) sich von einem oberen Abschnitt der Maschine bis zum Sockelabschnitt
(111; 211) erstrecken und die Vorderwand (112, 212) durch eine dekorative, nicht-tragende
Wand (150, 250) abgedeckt wird.
11. Wäschebehandlungsmaschine nach dem Anspruch 9 oder 10 mit einer rotierbaren Trommel
(162; 262), die eine Wäschebehandlungskammer (163; 263) umfasst, wobei die Vorderwand
(112; 212) eine Öffnung (166; 266) zum Zugriff auf die Wäschebehandlungskammer (163;
263) aufweist.
12. Wäschebehandlungsmaschine nach einem beliebigen der Ansprüche 9 bis 11, wobei die
Vorderwand (112) einen Luftführungskanal (167) umfasst.
13. Wäschebehandlungsmaschine nach einem beliebigen der Ansprüche 9 bis 12, wobei eine
schubladenähnliche Wasser vorhaltende Vorrichtung im oberen Einfülltrichter (114;
214) gleitend aufgenommen wird.
14. Wäschebehandlungsmaschine nach einem beliebigen der Ansprüche 9 bis 13, wobei zwei
Seitenpanele (151, 152; 251, 252) mit der Stützstruktur (110; 210) derart verbunden
sind, dass sie sich zu der Vorder- und Rückwand (112, 113; 212, 213) rechtwinklig
erstrecken, wobei die Seitenpanele (151, 152; 251, 252) eine mechanische Festigkeit
aufweisen, die im Vergleich zu der des wenigstens einen verstärkten Abschnitts des
oberen Einfülltrichters (114, 214) vernachlässigbar ist.
1. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) tel qu'un lave-linge, un lave-linge séchant ou un sèche-linge, comprenant
une partie base (111 ; 211), une paroi avant (112 ; 212) raccordée à la partie base
(111 ; 211), une paroi arrière (113 ; 213) raccordée à la partie base (111 ; 211),
au moins deux éléments formant traverses (120, 130, 140 ; 220, 230) montés indépendamment
sur la paroi avant (112 ; 212) et la paroi arrière (113 ; 213) afin de raccorder structurellement
ces parois l'une à l'autre au niveau d'une région supérieure de la structure de support
(110 ; 210), caractérisée en ce qu'un desdits éléments formant traverses (120, 130 ; 220, 230) comprend au moins une
partie renforcée d'une trémie supérieure (114 ; 214) de l'appareil de traitement de
linge à tambour rotatif (100 ; 200).
2. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la trémie supérieure (114 ; 214)
comprend des parties non renforcées (115 ; 215) présentant une résistance mécanique
négligeable par comparaison avec celle de la partie renforcée, en ce qui concerne
le raccordement structurel de la paroi avant (112 ; 212) à la paroi arrière (113 ;
213).
3. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle la trémie supérieure (114
; 214) est placée au niveau d'une région latérale supérieure de l'appareil de traitement
de linge à tambour rotatif (100 ; 200), ladite ou une desdites parties renforcées
de la trémie supérieure (114 ; 214) est placée au niveau d'un premier côté de la trémie
supérieure (114 ; 214), au niveau d'un côté de la structure de support (110 ; 210),
l'élément formant traverse (120 ; 220) comprenant la partie renforcée étant ainsi
placé au niveau d'une région latérale supérieure de la structure de support (110 ;
210).
4. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la
trémie supérieure (114 ; 214) est placée au niveau d'une région latérale supérieure
de l'appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif (100 ; 200), ladite ou une
desdites parties renforcées de la trémie supérieure (114 ; 214) est placée au niveau
d'un second côté de la trémie supérieure (114 ; 214), au niveau d'une région centrale
supérieure de la structure de support (110 ; 210), l'élément formant traverse (130
; 230) comprenant la partie renforcée étant ainsi placé au niveau d'une région centrale
supérieure de la structure de support (110 ; 210).
5. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite
ou lesdites parties renforcées comprend deux parois principales verticales (121, 122
; 221, 222) raccordées solidement par un élément de liaison supérieur (123 ; 223),
ladite ou lesdites parties renforcées présentant ainsi une section transversale en
forme de U dans un plan vertical parallèle aux parois avant (112 ; 212) et arrière
(113 ; 213).
6. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon la revendication, dans laquelle ladite ou lesdites parties renforcées
comprend une pluralité d'ailettes verticales parallèles (124 ; 224), raccordées solidement
auxdites parois principales verticales (121, 122 ; 221, 222) et audit élément de liaison
(123 ; 223).
7. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite
ou lesdites parties renforcées comprend une paroi principale verticale (131, 231)
raccordée solidement à un support supérieur (133 ; 233), ladite ou lesdites parties
renforcées présentant ainsi une section transversale en forme de L inversé dans un
plan vertical parallèle aux parois avant (112 ; 212) et arrière (113 ; 213).
8. Structure de support (110 ; 210) d'un appareil de traitement de linge à tambour rotatif
(100 ; 200) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle ladite ou lesdites parties renforcées
comprend une pluralité d'ailettes verticales parallèles (134 ; 234), raccordées solidement
à ladite paroi principale verticale (131 ; 231) et audit support supérieur (133 ;
233).
9. Appareil de traitement de linge comprenant une structure de support (110 ; 210) selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite trémie supérieure
(114 ; 214) est un composant d'un dispositif de distribution de détergent ou une partie
logement d'un réservoir contenant l'humidité condensée.
10. Appareil de traitement de linge selon la revendication 9, dans lequel les parois avant
et arrière (112, 113 ; 212, 213) s'étendent d'une partie supérieure de l'appareil
à ladite partie base (111 ; 211) et la paroi avant (112, 212) est recouverte par une
paroi décorative, non structurelle (150, 250).
11. Appareil de traitement de linge selon la revendication 9 ou 10, comportant un tambour
rotatif (162 ; 262) comprenant une chambre de traitement de linge (163 ; 263), dans
lequel la paroi avant (112 ; 212) comporte une ouverture (166 ; 266) permettant d'accéder
à la chambre de traitement de linge (163 ; 263).
12. Appareil de traitement de linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 11,
dans lequel la paroi avant (112) comprend un conduit à air (167).
13. Appareil de traitement de linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 12,
dans lequel un dispositif de stockage d'eau de type tiroir est reçu à coulissement
dans la trémie supérieure (114 ; 214).
14. Appareil de traitement de linge selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 13,
dans lequel une paire de panneaux latéraux (151, 152 ; 251, 252) sont raccordés à
la structure de support (110 ; 210) de façon à s'étendre perpendiculairement aux parois
avant et arrière (112, 113 ; 212, 213), lesdits panneaux latéraux (151, 152 ; 251,
252) présentant une résistance mécanique qui est négligeable par comparaison avec
celle de ladite ou desdites parties renforcées de la trémie supérieure (114, 214).