EP1741822A1 - Washing machine with door-covering panel - Google Patents

Washing machine with door-covering panel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1741822A1
EP1741822A1 EP05425487A EP05425487A EP1741822A1 EP 1741822 A1 EP1741822 A1 EP 1741822A1 EP 05425487 A EP05425487 A EP 05425487A EP 05425487 A EP05425487 A EP 05425487A EP 1741822 A1 EP1741822 A1 EP 1741822A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
washing machine
panel
shelves
door
furniture
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05425487A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Franco Balestrazzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bonferraro SpA
Original Assignee
Bonferraro SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bonferraro SpA filed Critical Bonferraro SpA
Priority to EP05425487A priority Critical patent/EP1741822A1/en
Publication of EP1741822A1 publication Critical patent/EP1741822A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to washing machines with the door covered by a decorative panel, and in particular to a washing machine in which such a panel also acts as a container.
  • a washing machine in which such a panel also acts as a container.
  • This type of decorative panels is known to be used to camouflage a washing machine so that it blends with the kitchen furniture, if it is arranged in a kitchen, or merely to embellish the machine by hiding the porthole door and the control panel. This is achieved by applying to the washing machine, by various means, a panel having the same appearance of the other doors so that there is no visible element allowing to distinguish the washing machine from the other members which make up the kitchen, its controls being accessible only when the door is open.
  • the function of such a panel is purely decorative, and its presence implies a greater cost of the machine without providing any practical utility to the user, who on the contrary may be disturbed by the covering panel during the operations on the machine.
  • the panel may prevent an easy access to an adjacent piece of furniture or shelf where the user stores the detergent and/or additive bottles to be used in the loading phase, or other items that may be useful such as a floor cloth to dry up possible leaks.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a decorative panel that overcomes the aforementioned drawback.
  • This object is achieved by means of a washing machine in which the panel has an increased thickness and is provided with internal shelves that can receive the items required to operate the washing machine, such as for example the packages of detergent, softener or other additives, floor cloths and sponges, the instruction booklet, etc.
  • the main advantage of the washing machine with the panel according to the present invention is the twofold function of the latter acting both as a decorative cover and as a container, so that the user has everything at hand and the presence of the panel is no longer a nuisance.
  • a further advantage of the present washing machine is that it can be arranged as a stand-alone appliance, without the necessity to arrange external shelves and/or pieces of furniture that are unaesthetic and cumbersome.
  • Still another advantage of this washing machine stems from the fact that the change of the covering panel is structurally very simple, which makes said change cheap and reliable.
  • a washing machine conventionally includes a decorative panel P hinged along a vertical side of the base W of the machine so as to cover completely the front part of the latter, thus hiding the porthole door D, the control panel C and the load drawer L.
  • the novel aspect of the present invention resides in the particular structure of panel P that has a substantially increased thickness with respect to the thickness required for the merely decorative function, indicatively at least 8 cm, and is provided with an internal recess R in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves S suitable to receive the above-mentioned items required to operate the washing machine.
  • recess R can be exploited also by means of elements different from the illustrated six shelves S, e.g. full-width shelves possibly provided with hinged transparent lids.

Abstract

A washing machine includes a decorative panel P hinged along a vertical side of the base W of the machine so as to cover completely the front part of the latter thus hiding the porthole door D, the control panel C and the load drawer L, said panel P having a substantially increased thickness with respect to conventional decorative panels, indicatively at least 8 cm, and being provided with an internal recess R in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves S suitable to receive the items required to operate the washing machine such as the packages of detergent, softener or other additives, floor cloths and sponges, the instruction booklet, etc. In this way, the user has everything at hand and the presence of panel P is no longer a disturbance to the access to an adjacent piece of furniture containing said items, and furthermore the washing machine can be arranged as a stand-alone appliance, without any necessity to arrange external shelves and/or pieces of furniture.

Description

  • The present invention relates to washing machines with the door covered by a decorative panel, and in particular to a washing machine in which such a panel also acts as a container. Reference will be made hereafter specifically to a washing machine while it is clear that what is said applies to any other domestic appliance with a similar panel hinged along a vertical side, e.g. a washer/dryer.
  • This type of decorative panels is known to be used to camouflage a washing machine so that it blends with the kitchen furniture, if it is arranged in a kitchen, or merely to embellish the machine by hiding the porthole door and the control panel. This is achieved by applying to the washing machine, by various means, a panel having the same appearance of the other doors so that there is no visible element allowing to distinguish the washing machine from the other members which make up the kitchen, its controls being accessible only when the door is open.
  • The function of such a panel is purely decorative, and its presence implies a greater cost of the machine without providing any practical utility to the user, who on the contrary may be disturbed by the covering panel during the operations on the machine. In fact, the panel may prevent an easy access to an adjacent piece of furniture or shelf where the user stores the detergent and/or additive bottles to be used in the loading phase, or other items that may be useful such as a floor cloth to dry up possible leaks.
  • Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a decorative panel that overcomes the aforementioned drawback.
  • This object is achieved by means of a washing machine in which the panel has an increased thickness and is provided with internal shelves that can receive the items required to operate the washing machine, such as for example the packages of detergent, softener or other additives, floor cloths and sponges, the instruction booklet, etc.
  • The main advantage of the washing machine with the panel according to the present invention is the twofold function of the latter acting both as a decorative cover and as a container, so that the user has everything at hand and the presence of the panel is no longer a nuisance.
  • A further advantage of the present washing machine is that it can be arranged as a stand-alone appliance, without the necessity to arrange external shelves and/or pieces of furniture that are unaesthetic and cumbersome.
  • Still another advantage of this washing machine stems from the fact that the change of the covering panel is structurally very simple, which makes said change cheap and reliable.
  • These and other advantages and features of the washing machine according to the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the only drawing, attached as fig.1, that shows a perspective front view of the washing machine with the panel in the open position.
  • With reference to said figure, there is seen that a washing machine according to the present invention conventionally includes a decorative panel P hinged along a vertical side of the base W of the machine so as to cover completely the front part of the latter, thus hiding the porthole door D, the control panel C and the load drawer L.
  • The novel aspect of the present invention resides in the particular structure of panel P that has a substantially increased thickness with respect to the thickness required for the merely decorative function, indicatively at least 8 cm, and is provided with an internal recess R in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves S suitable to receive the above-mentioned items required to operate the washing machine.
  • It is obvious that the room provided by recess R can be exploited also by means of elements different from the illustrated six shelves S, e.g. full-width shelves possibly provided with hinged transparent lids.
  • It is therefore clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention is just an example susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the shape and extension of recess R as well as the number, type and arrangement of shelves S may be freely changed according to specific needs.

Claims (3)

  1. A domestic appliance provided with a decorative panel (P) hinged along a vertical side of the base (W) of said domestic appliance, characterized in that said decorative panel (P) has an increased thickness with respect to the thickness required for the merely decorative function and is provided with an internal recess (R) in which there are arranged a plurality of shelves (S).
  2. A domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the panel (P) is at least 8 cm.
  3. A domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shelves (S) are provided with hinged transparent lids.
EP05425487A 2005-07-08 2005-07-08 Washing machine with door-covering panel Withdrawn EP1741822A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425487A EP1741822A1 (en) 2005-07-08 2005-07-08 Washing machine with door-covering panel

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425487A EP1741822A1 (en) 2005-07-08 2005-07-08 Washing machine with door-covering panel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1741822A1 true EP1741822A1 (en) 2007-01-10

Family

ID=35285641

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05425487A Withdrawn EP1741822A1 (en) 2005-07-08 2005-07-08 Washing machine with door-covering panel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1741822A1 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009083403A1 (en) 2007-12-31 2009-07-09 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A washer/dryer
CN101629372B (en) * 2008-07-14 2012-09-12 Lg电子株式会社 Laundry machine and method of controlling operation thereof
JP2017051216A (en) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
JP2017051217A (en) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
JP2017051220A (en) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
WO2017133782A1 (en) 2016-02-05 2017-08-10 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Hinge assembly for use in a laundry treatment appliance
CN109306607A (en) * 2017-07-26 2019-02-05 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 A kind of embedded clothes treatment device
JP2019177225A (en) * 2019-07-19 2019-10-17 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
USD909694S1 (en) 2019-03-08 2021-02-02 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric care appliance
US20220042233A1 (en) * 2018-10-19 2022-02-10 Whirlpool Corporation User interface solutions for accessing appliance control through cosmetic outer cabinet

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2034871A1 (en) * 1970-07-07 1972-01-20 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh Enclosed washing machine
FR2171084A1 (en) * 1972-02-04 1973-09-21 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh
DE2530561A1 (en) * 1975-07-09 1977-04-21 Licentia Gmbh Small storage compartments for domestic appliances - conveniently stores maintenance handbooks, guarantee certificates etc. to avoid misplacing
DE3301596A1 (en) * 1983-01-19 1984-07-19 Wilhelm Dr.-Ing. 5340 Bad Honnef Lepper Container, in particular washing container

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2034871A1 (en) * 1970-07-07 1972-01-20 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh Enclosed washing machine
FR2171084A1 (en) * 1972-02-04 1973-09-21 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh
DE2530561A1 (en) * 1975-07-09 1977-04-21 Licentia Gmbh Small storage compartments for domestic appliances - conveniently stores maintenance handbooks, guarantee certificates etc. to avoid misplacing
DE3301596A1 (en) * 1983-01-19 1984-07-19 Wilhelm Dr.-Ing. 5340 Bad Honnef Lepper Container, in particular washing container

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009083403A1 (en) 2007-12-31 2009-07-09 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A washer/dryer
US8499592B2 (en) 2007-12-31 2013-08-06 Eyup Gokceimam Washer/dryer
US8959962B2 (en) 2007-12-31 2015-02-24 Eyup Gokceimam Washer/dryer
CN101629372B (en) * 2008-07-14 2012-09-12 Lg电子株式会社 Laundry machine and method of controlling operation thereof
US8499391B2 (en) 2008-07-14 2013-08-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Laundry machine and method of controlling operation thereof
JP2017051216A (en) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
JP2017051217A (en) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
JP2017051220A (en) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine
WO2017133782A1 (en) 2016-02-05 2017-08-10 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Hinge assembly for use in a laundry treatment appliance
CN109306607A (en) * 2017-07-26 2019-02-05 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 A kind of embedded clothes treatment device
CN109306607B (en) * 2017-07-26 2021-03-30 青岛海尔洗涤电器有限公司 Embedded clothes treatment equipment
US20220042233A1 (en) * 2018-10-19 2022-02-10 Whirlpool Corporation User interface solutions for accessing appliance control through cosmetic outer cabinet
USD909694S1 (en) 2019-03-08 2021-02-02 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric care appliance
USD938110S1 (en) 2019-03-08 2021-12-07 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric care appliance
USD957766S1 (en) 2019-03-08 2022-07-12 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric care appliance
JP2019177225A (en) * 2019-07-19 2019-10-17 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Drum-type washing machine

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