EP1493357B1 - Household appliance and support foot for a household appliance, in particular a washing machine or a spin dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

An upright base stand (1) has a floor space (FS) (2) for rising up and retaining devices (3) to link the FS to a domestic washing-machine/spin-drier. The FS has a cushioning effect on the machine's movement during its operation. The FS splits into two sub-areas (21,22) each with a different design regarding their cushioning properties. An independent claim is also included for a upright base stand for a domestic washing-machine or spin-drier with a floor space split into two sub-areas so as to improve the positioning of the machine on a floor area.

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular washing machine or spin dryer, according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a base for a household appliance according to claim 10. For the storage or installation of household machines, especially in washing machines or spin dryers, it is known this be supported by a stand against the ground, the base of the appliance should have the property to store the appliance skid-proof and at the same time to dampen movements of the appliance. In addition, they also serve to compensate for unevenness of the ground.

For this purpose, the known household machines are provided with feet, which are equipped with a base, with which they stand up on the ground, the feet have holding means that connects a footprint of the base with the appliance. The holding means are provided with a thread, with the help of which they can be variously screwed into the household appliance. The thread is used in addition to the attachment of the base itself to compensate for unevenness of the ground.

The footprint of the known feet consists of a rubber-like material, the o. G. Owns properties. However, the known feet have the disadvantage that the rubber material used mostly the floor space is formed relatively hard, whereby its damping effect is limited. This leads, for example, that washing machines shake so much during spin that they move laterally over the ground or perform a kind of rotational movement. This behavior is very disadvantageous because it makes it possible for washing machines, for example, to strike against a wall during operation and, as a result of the shaking movements during spin, hit the wall repeatedly. This must be prevented because it can lead to damage in the environment of the household appliance. The power supply, water supply and water drainage can be damaged. In addition, it is very difficult to store items on the washing machine, as they can be dropped by the washing machine during operation.

The US 4,979,786 discloses a two-piece base for a washing machine. Via a screw, an elastic foot part is connected to a fixed foot part attached to the washing machine and at the same time attached to the bottom of the washing machine. The elastic foot part is made of a material having a uniform coefficient of elasticity. The central region of the elastic foot part has a recess for receiving the screw. In one embodiment, the background of the side facing the base of the elastic foot part on a plurality of recesses, which are formed stepwise from the outside to the inside.

Object of the present invention is to form a household appliance, in particular washing machine or spin dryer, such that the movements or vibrations that occur, for example, when spinning or other operations are reduced so that there is no risk that the washing machine or example a spin-dryer leaves its position on the stand space assigned to it during operation. Furthermore, to be achieved with the help of the invention that the appliance runs smoothly and transmits as few vibrations on their footprint. Furthermore, a base is to be proposed, with the help of a household machine can be positioned very securely and damped on a substrate.

This object is achieved by a base for a household appliance with the features of claim 1 and by a household appliance according to the features of claim 5.

Due to the inventive design of the household machine is achieved that the operation of the household machine, this safely and reliably gets up on its assigned background and does not leave their position, even in the spinning state. The known hiking is effectively suppressed in a washing machine according to the invention. In addition, the transmitted to the ground vibrations are reduced.

Due to the inventive design, wherein the footprint of the stand or the feet has at least two faces, which are designed differently with respect. Their damping properties, it is achieved that the stand permanently and safely gets up on the ground, thus always has contact with the ground. Furthermore, in particular different vibration directions of the domestic appliance are advantageously damped by the differently configured partial surfaces.

Due to the design with two partial surfaces it is achieved that it is possible to achieve good damping properties with vertical vibrations by means of a hard partial surface. At the same time, the other part surface, due to its greater elasticity or softness, can cover larger deformation paths, so that this part of the part surface does not lose contact with the ground even when the household machine vibrates vertically. That's it Particularly simple and safe possible that even horizontal vibrations of the appliance can be damped, even if this already oscillates in the vertical direction. At the same time it can be prevented that the household machine moves or offset on its ground during operation.

According to the invention it is provided that at least one of the partial surfaces is acted upon by an elastic element which acts on the partial surface in the direction of the substrate. This ensures that with vertical movements of the household machine, this sub-area does not stand out from the ground or always retains contact with the ground. Since a vertical offset of the household machine is compensated for by the fact that the elastic element presses or tracks the partial surface in the vertical movement of the household machine in the direction of the substrate, the Stand surface of the stand always on the ground. This makes it possible that even vertical vibrations can be damped, since this partial surface rests on the ground with a load.

Due to the design with an elastic element, it is also possible to use a harder material in this area of the partial area, since the elasticity of the element, the lack of deformability of a harder material can be compensated to keep the sub-surface on the ground. According to the invention, the elastic element is configured as a leaf or spiral spring or as a gas spring.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one of the faces of the stand used in the household appliance according to the invention, designed as an annular surface, wherein the annular surface may be circular or in the form of a square or triangle. The other partial surface is then arranged correspondingly within such an area.

By designing the size of the respective annular surface, the desired properties of the base can be realized, which, moreover, of course, can also be carried out with the size of the surface and the various materials. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the substantially designed as a circular surface inside partial surface of the base as a material has a softer material, which usually also has a higher deformability, as the annular surface surrounding this partial surface.

Due to the configuration of the base according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to suitable feet for Household machines to provide so that the home appliances can have the desired properties in terms of stability and stability.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is to design the household machine with at least three, preferably four feet, in which case at least two feet are equipped with faces. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least two partial surfaces of a different hard material are formed to implement the desired properties. By selecting favorable material properties, different damping effects can be realized and also the property that at least one partial surface always keeps in contact with the substrate. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the partial surfaces are formed so far apart that they can also move against each other.

In the following the invention will be explained with reference to a drawing. This shows a base according to the invention in section.

The illustrated in section in accordance with the invention configured base 1 can not only absorb and dampen the usual vibrations, but he is further able by its particular embodiment of the invention to improve the damping of vibrations, especially of vibrations that are horizontal, ie parallel to the ground 6, run. An inventively designed household appliance (not shown) has a secure footing and avoids the disadvantages of the known household appliances.

The inventive design of the base 2 of the base 1 has two faces 21, 22, which have to achieve a better damping effect, have special properties. The partial surface 22, which surrounds the partial surface 21 annular, consists of an elastomer, d. H. from a rubbery material, either a rubber or for example a polyurethane, which is attached to an example metallic support 32 by vulcanization. The carrier 32 is fixedly connected to the holding means 3, so that by turning the carrier 32 via the thread 31, the above-mentioned height adjustment of the household machine can be performed.

In the interior of the partial surface 22, the partial surface 21 is arranged, which in the embodiment axially over the partial surface 22nd also available. This embodiment has the particular advantage that by placing the appliance on the ground due to the weight of the household machine, the partial surface 21 is pressed in the direction of the holding means 3, whereby the elastic element 5 is put under tension. In this state, the household machine with its base so on the floor space, that both the partial surface 22 and the partial surface 21 have firm contact with the ground. In this state, the footprint 2 of the partial surface 21 and the partial surface 22 lie in one plane.

The base 1, as shown in the drawing, is also able to dampen vibrations of the household machine, for example, during the spin, due to imbalance in the machine, this has lifted off the ground 6 due to strong vertical movements. This condition is outlined by the graphic representation. While by the vertical movement temporarily the footprint 4 of the part surface 22 lifts from the ground 6, the base surface 4 of the part surface 21 still remains in contact with the substrate 6. This is a consequence of the fact that the elastic member 5, the part surface 21 by their bias in Direction to the ground 6 presses. The elastic element receives its bias by the partial surface 21 is moved by the weight of the household machine in a position (not shown), in which the partial surface 21 and the partial surface 22 come to rest in a plane. This is done in each case when setting up the machine.

The axial displacement of the partial surface 21 in the direction of the holding means 3 has the consequence that the elastic element 5 is deformed and thus pre-tensioned, in order then to counteract a lifting of the partial surface 21 as required, as shown in FIG graphic representation is disclosed. In an embodiment not shown, instead of the elastic element 5, the material of the partial surface 21 can be chosen so that it is itself able to absorb such deformations. If necessary, the partial surface relaxes then correspond to the extent that the part surface 21, even in case of strong vibration of the household machine, remains in contact with the substrate.

In the exemplary embodiment, a softer rubber-like material is used as the material for the partial surface 21 than for the partial surface 22. This further supports the effect of the elastic element, since the softer material has a more favorable behavior with regard to its deformability. In addition, the material used can be adapted to the desired properties, for example as regards the sliding behavior in relation to the respective substrate. Likewise, the design of the size of the base 2, or the partial surfaces 21 and 22, the desired damping behavior of the household machine or the base are determined.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

stand

2

footprint

3

holding means

21, 22

subareas

31

thread

32

metallic carrier

33

axis

4

ring surface

41

circular area

5

elastic element

6

underground

Claims (11)

1. Supporting foot (1) for a domestic appliance, in particular for a washing machine or a spin-drier, wherein the supporting foot (1) has a supporting surface (2) to support a domestic appliance on a base, wherein the supporting surface (2) consists of a resilient and damping material, for example a rubber-like material, and the supporting foot (1) has holding means (3), by means of which the supporting surface (2) can be connected to a domestic appliance, wherein the supporting surface (2) consists of at least two part surfaces (21, 22) having different properties with regard to their damping effect, characterised in that one of the part surfaces (21, 22) is exposed to a flat spring, coil spring or pneumatic spring as the resilient spring element (5) in the direction of the base.
2. Supporting foot (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring element (5) is supported on the part surface (21) on the one side and on the holding means (3) on the other side.
3. supporting foot (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the part surfaces (21, 22) consist of a material having different hardness and/or thickness.
4. Supporting foot (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the hardness of the softer material is in the range between 20 Shore and 25 Shore softer than that of the harder material.
5. Domestic appliance, in particular washing machine or spin-drier, with unbalanced masses having an effect on the quiet standing of the domestic appliance in operation, wherein the domestic appliance has at least one supporting foot according to one of claims 1 to 4, and wherein the supporting surface (2) has a damping effect on the movement of the domestic appliance in operation for quiet standing of the domestic appliance on the base.
6. Domestic appliance according to claim 5, characterised in that the domestic appliance has at least three supporting feet (1), of which at least two are furnished with part surfaces (21, 22).
7. Domestic appliance according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the part surfaces (21, 22), seen transversely to the supporting surface (2), are designed at a distance from one another to facilitate a movement relative to one another.
8. Domestic appliance according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that one of the part surfaces (21) transversely to the supporting surface (2), for equal loading of the supporting foot, has a greater deformability than the other part surface (22), so that for movements of the domestic appliance transversely to the supporting surface, the one part surface (21) still has contact with the base, whereas the other part surface (22) is raised essentially from the base.
9. Domestic appliance according to one or more of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the one part surface of the supporting foot (1) is designed as a ring surface (4) and the other part surface is designed as a circular surface (41) arranged within the ring surface (4).
10. Domestic appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the circular surface (41) consists of a material having greater deformability than the ring surface (4).
11. Domestic appliance according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the circular surface (41) is exposed to a spring element (5) in the direction of the base.

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