DE102009046682A1 - Door for a laundry treating appliance and method of making such a laundry - Google Patents

Abstract

The door 3 for a laundry treatment appliance W has a viewing window 2 made of glass and at least one holding ring 1 carrying the viewing window 2, the viewing window 2 being held by means of a single retaining ring 1. The method is used to manufacture a door 3 for a laundry treatment appliance, the method comprising at least the following step: attaching a viewing window 2 to exactly one retaining ring 1.

Description

The invention relates to a door for a laundry treatment appliance, for. As a washing machine or a clothes dryer, comprising a glass window and at least one window carrying the retaining ring. The invention further relates to a method for producing a door for a laundry treatment appliance.

In a conventional washing machine or conventional dryer, a loading or drum opening is typically closed with a door having a viewing window. The viewing window can be made of a transparent plastic or glass. Since a viewing window made of glass due to its production has large tolerances and is difficult to handle, a glass window is usually trapped between two plastic rings, which are interconnected, for. B. screwed, welded or locked. The rings also serve to receive a door hinge and a door lock. This arrangement has the disadvantage that it is relatively expensive to produce and requires high accuracy in its assembly.

The state of the art with regard to a door for a laundry treatment appliance, its construction and its manufacture is referred to the documents EP 1 334 228 B1 and WO 2008/000592 A1 ,

It is the object of the present invention to provide a door for a laundry treatment appliance with a viewing window made of glass, which is particularly easy to manufacture.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are in particular the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a door for a laundry treatment appliance, z. As a washing machine or a clothes dryer, comprising a glass window and at least one window carrying the retaining ring. The viewing window is held by a single retaining ring. A second ring for supporting or attaching the viewing window is not required, which simplifies the assembly on a connection of only two parts. Also tolerances (manufacturing tolerances, assembly tolerances, etc.) of only two components to be considered.

It is a preferred embodiment of the invention that the viewing window is held in a form-fitting manner on the retaining ring. As a result, a clearance between the retaining ring and the viewing window can be allowed, which takes into account the tolerances of the viewing window made of glass in a simple manner.

It is an additional or alternative preferred embodiment of the invention that the viewing window is held frictionally on the retaining ring. As a result, movement of the viewing window after assembly can be prevented particularly reliably.

The positive retention and the frictional mounting of the viewing window can be achieved by various types of attachment.

It is a particularly preferred embodiment that the retaining ring has at least two retaining elements at least partially encompassing the viewing window. Thereby, the viewing window can be easily connected to the retaining ring, and the holding elements allow depending on their configuration (position with respect to the viewing window, type of support, etc.) a positive retention and / or a frictional mounting of the viewing window.

It is also a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention that the holding elements are plastic rivets. These are easily integrally produced from a plastic column, z. B. by hot caulking or welding. This creates a stable connection that can be made without screws. The tolerances of the viewing window made of glass can be compensated, in particular since it is easily possible to design the dome or rivet heads when heated so that a thickness variance and / or a diameter variance of the viewing window are taken into account.

It is also a preferred embodiment of the invention that the viewing window has at least one recess for at least partially receiving one of the holding elements. As a result, a rotation of the viewing window can be prevented and a secure and selectively positioned seat of the viewing window can be achieved.

The at least one recess can be introduced into a peripheral region of the viewing window, z. B. in the form of several introduced in an outer edge, laterally accessible recesses.

The recesses may be fully curved to suppress cracking in the glass, e.g. B. in the form of a circular section, in particular a semicircle, are present.

It is an additional or alternative preferred embodiment of the invention that the viewing window is glued to the retaining ring. This can to a processing of the retaining ring and the viewing window after they are brought together, for. B. by heating plastic columns to rivets, are dispensed with.

It is also a preferred embodiment of the invention that it consists retaining ring made of a resistant to aggressive detergent, low-priced plastic, in particular polypropylene.

It is also a preferred embodiment of the invention that the door has a retaining ring at least on the front overlapping or covering ornamental ring. By the ornamental ring connecting elements such as molten dome can be covered, so that a viewer z. B. an optically clean flat surface is presented, in particular on a peripheral edge of the door. The retaining ring may, in particular, be a rear ring, which, with the door closed, essentially faces the laundry treatment appliance, and the decorative ring may be a front ring, which essentially faces an outer side.

The trim ring is preferably made of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer). ABS is particularly suitable for coating with metals and polymers and, among other things, can therefore be matched simply and inexpensively to a design of the household appliance. The use of ABS becomes possible because the trim ring does not support the viewing window.

The trim ring can cover or cover the retaining ring on the inside (to the loading opening), so that the trim ring also allows lateral privacy.

The trim ring can be locked for easy attachment to the door with the retaining ring, z. B. be clipped to the retaining ring.

It is still a preferred embodiment of the invention that the viewing window is made of window glass. This inexpensive design is possible because the high tolerances compared to special glass can be easily compensated by the present device.

It is still a further preferred embodiment of the invention that the door further comprises at least one door hinge, which is fastened in the same way to the retaining ring as the viewing window, in particular by plastic rivets. As a result, a uniform fastening method can be selected for at least these two elements to be fastened to the retaining ring, which further simplifies production.

In general, the door may have a door lock.

The object is also achieved by a method for producing a door for a laundry treatment appliance, in particular a door as described above, wherein the method comprises at least the following step: attaching a viewing window to exactly one retaining ring.

This also eliminates the need for a second ring for supporting or attaching the viewing window, which simplifies the assembly to a connection of only two parts. Also tolerances (manufacturing tolerances, assembly tolerances, etc.) of only two components to be considered.

It is a preferred development of the invention that the method further comprises the following step: attaching a decorative ring at least on the retaining ring. Through the ornamental ring inner elements, such. B. connecting elements such as molten dome are covered, so that a viewer on the door edge is presented a visually clean flat surface.

It is still a preferred development of the invention that the method further comprises the following step: attaching a door hinge to the retaining ring by means of the same manner as in the attachment of the viewing window, in particular by plastic rivets. As a result, a uniform fastening method can be selected for at least these two elements to be fastened to the retaining ring, which further simplifies production.

It is also a preferred development of the invention that the step of attaching the viewing window to the retaining ring comprises the following sub-steps: applying the viewing window on the retaining ring, so that the viewing window is disposed adjacent to at least one plastic column of the retaining ring, in particular so that the plastic column is at least partially in a recess of the viewing window; and subsequently heating the plastic column so that a rivet head formed by the heating projects laterally beyond the viewing window. The viewing window can be inserted into the retaining ring so that it is fixed. The rivet heads or dome hold the viewing window in place.

The heating can, for. B. be performed by a hot caulking or welding.

In the following figures, the invention will be described schematically with reference to an embodiment schematically. In this case, the same or equivalent elements may be provided with the same reference numerals for clarity.

1 shows a sectional side view of a section of a retaining ring and to be fastened with the retaining ring viewing window;

2 shows the section 1 attached to the retaining ring with the viewing window; and

3 shows the section 2 as a sectional view through a sectional plane AA 2 from above.

1 shows a sectional view in side view of a section of a retaining ring 1 and one on the retaining ring 1 still to be fastened window 2 made of window glass, which parts of a door 3 represent for a laundry treatment device W. The door 3 separates in a feed opening of the laundry treatment device W closing position a laundry treatment room B against an outside or environment U from.

In the shown, not yet assembled state of retaining ring 1 and viewing window 2 has the retaining ring 1 , which is made of PP, several forwardly, ie in the direction of the environment U, directed circular cylindrical plastic columns 4 on. The plastic columns 4 are positioned so that they play with little clearance or clearance in marginal, semi-circular recesses 5 of the viewing window 2 fit when this from the front on the retaining ring 1 is placed, as indicated by the mounting direction M.

2 shows the section 1 with the viewing window 2 on the retaining ring 1 attached. In this position, the viewing window is located 2 with an outer annular support area 6 on the retaining ring 1 so on, that the recesses 5 the viewing window 2 secure against rotation and also determine its orientation, z. B. by a circumferentially asymmetric arrangement.

An attachment along the mounting direction M is achieved in that the free ends of the plastic columns 4 be heated and become a dome or rivet head 7 widen, with the rivet head 7 in the direction of the viewing window 2 spread and can contact this with sufficient heating time. After a subsequent cooling, the plastic columns are 4 to firm plastic rivets 8th reshaped, whose rivet heads 7 the viewing window 2 hold, as they now side over the window 2 protrude. The heating can be carried out, for example, by means of welding or hot caulking. The hot caulking has the advantage that during heating the rivet head 7 with a defined force on the viewing window 2 can be pressed. The connection of retaining ring and viewing window 2 Can be done without other parts like screws etc.

On the retaining ring 1 is a decorative ring 9 snapped, which the retaining ring 1 in a view from the front or from the environment U and from the side of the viewing window 2 opposite side (the outer peripheral edge of the door 3 ) and thus provides a privacy. The ornamental ring 9 rests on the retaining ring 1 and on the viewing window 2 , however, carries the viewing window 2 Not. The viewing window 2 is only by the retaining ring 1 carried. To the diverse optical design, the trim ring 9 a base material made of ABS, which z. B. may be painted or coated.

3 shows the section 2 as a sectional view through a sectional plane AA 2 from above as a quarter sector.

The viewing window 2 indicates at its edge 10 the semicircular recesses 5 arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction. Purely for clarity, the upper recess 5 without a plastic rivet shown, the lower recess 5 only with the plastic column 4 of the plastic rivet 8th shown and at the middle recess 5 the whole plastic rivet 8th with his rivet head 7 shown.

Not shown, but available, is a door hinge, which is also in one too 2 analogous to the viewing window 2 with plastic rivets on the retaining ring 1 is attached, as well as a door lock. The door lock can also be like the viewing window 2 and the hinge be attached with plastic rivets.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.

Thus, the recesses in the window can also take another form, eg. B. angular, or circumferentially completely surrounded by the glass.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

retaining ring

2

window

3

door

4

Plastic column

5

Recess of the viewing window

6

support area

7

rivet head

8th

plastic rivet

9

decorative ring

10

edge

B

Laundry treatment space

M

mounting direction

W

Laundry treatment device

U

Surroundings

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1334228 B1 [0003]
• WO 2008/000592 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Door ( 3 ) for a laundry treatment appliance (W), comprising a viewing window ( 2 ) of glass and at least one of the viewing window ( 2 ) supporting retaining ring ( 1 ), whereby the viewing window ( 2 ) by means of a single retaining ring ( 1 ) is held. Door ( 3 ) according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window ( 2 ) is held positively on the retaining ring. Door ( 3 ) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the viewing window ( 2 ) on the retaining ring ( 1 ) is held non-positively Door ( 3 ) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the retaining ring ( 1 ) at least two the viewing window ( 2 ) at least partially embracing holding elements ( 8th ) having. Door ( 3 ) according to claim 4, wherein the retaining elements ( 8th ) Plastic rivets are. Door ( 3 ) according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the viewing window ( 2 ) at least one recess ( 5 ) for at least partially receiving one of the holding elements ( 8th ) having. Door ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the viewing window ( 2 ) with the retaining ring ( 1 ) is glued. Door ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining ring ( 1 ) consists of polypropylene. Door ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a retaining ring ( 1 ) at least on the front covering ornamental ring ( 9 ) made of ABS. Door ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the viewing window ( 2 ) consists of window glass. Door ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the door ( 3 ) further comprises at least one door hinge which in the same way on the retaining ring ( 1 ) is attached like the viewing window. Method for producing a door ( 3 ) for a laundry treatment appliance, the process comprising at least the following step: - fixing a viewing window ( 2 ) on exactly one retaining ring ( 1 ). The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the step of: - attaching a decorative ring ( 9 ) at least on the retaining ring ( 1 ), in particular by latching. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the method further comprises the following step: - attaching a door hinge to the retaining ring ( 1 ) by means of the same manner as in the mounting of the viewing window ( 2 ). Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the step of attaching the viewing window to the retaining ring ( 1 ) comprises the following substeps: - creating the viewing window ( 2 ) on the retaining ring ( 1 ), so that the viewing window ( 2 ) adjacent to at least one plastic column ( 4 ) of the retaining ring ( 1 ) is arranged, in particular so that the plastic column ( 4 ) at least partially in a recess of the viewing window ( 2 ) is located; and following - heating the plastic column ( 4 ) such that a rivet head formed by the heating ( 7 ) the viewing window ( 2 ) surmounted laterally.

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