EP3181750B1

EP3181750B1 - Laundry treatment device with door assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3181750B1
Application number: EP17151156.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Danny Buso; Marco Clara; Paolo Olivaro
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2012-12-06
Filing date: 2012-12-06
Publication date: 2019-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-06
Also published as: EP2740833B1; EP2740833A1; EP3181750A1

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment device, in particular to a washing machine, a dryer or a washer/dryer, i.e. a washing machine having also dryer functions, comprising a door assembly. The door assembly is so construed to have an appealing aesthetical appearance and to minimize noise and vibrations during the device's functioning.

Background of the invention

Conventionally, laundry treatment devices include a casing within which a laundry treatment chamber, such as a drum, is located. In the casing, an opening is realized, to allow the user to accede to the treatment chamber in order to load or unload the laundry before and after the washing and/or drying cycle(s). A door assembly, also called porthole, is rotatably fixed, for example hinged, to the casing and it is apt to open and close the mentioned opening.
In order to avoid accidental burns of the user during high temperature cycles caused by the user's contact with a hot surface present in the laundry treatment device, the door assembly generally includes a door glass and a door cover separated by a gap, so as to form an air spacing which avoids overheating of the door cover which can be touched by the user.
However, it is also known that the aesthetical appearance of the laundry treatment device is important and represents a characteristic that might determine the device's choice by the user. Among the preferred aesthetic characteristics, a smooth, even and glossy door assembly is particularly important. In order to improve the aesthetical appearance of the door assembly, in the prior art it is known to provide the door assembly with a cover ring element, generally shaped as a ring, for protecting and/or decorating the door assembly and hiding joints or connecting elements.
DE 10 2006 030 024 A1 discloses a door assembly for a washing machine, which is rotatable mounted at a washing machine housing for closing and opening a laundry loading opening of the machine. The door assembly comprises a door deco connected to an outer surface of a front frame, a door cover, a door glass and a rear frame facing the washing machine housing. When the elements of the door assembly are connected to each other the door deco is provisionally attached to the front frame by means of engaging elements of the door deco which are adapted to engage with hook holes of the front frame. Screws are inserted through holes in the rear frame and in the front frame and are screwed into the door deco to permanently assemble the door assembly.
Chinese utility model application number CN 200920119861.6 discloses a door structure and a rotary drum washing machine utilizing the same. The door structure comprises a transparent window cover, a door decorative frame, a door, a door rear panel and window glass, wherein the window glass is mounted between the door and the door rear panel, the transparent window cover is mounted on the door, and the door decorative frame is fixed on the transparent wind cover. The door decorative frame directly fixed on the transparent window cover can be detached conveniently and replaced with other door decorative frames with different appearances and colors at any time.
Chinese patent application CN 201021473 describes another example of known drum type washing machine provided with a door.
Document US 2011/025178 A1 discloses a door assembly respectively comprising a frontal cover ring, a door cover, a door frontal frame, a door glass and a door rear frame; the frontal cover ring and the door rear frame are connected each other by screws, assembling in a sandwich-manner the door cover, the door frontal frame and the door glass.
Document US 2007/051012 A1 discloses a door for an household appliance comprising a frontal frame and a rear frame; on the frontal frame a front glass and a ring are assembled; on the rear frame a view guide is assembled through snap connections, blocking a rear glass between the rear frame and the view guide.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment device including a door assembly wherein with "laundry treatment device" a washing machine, a laundry dryer or a combined washer/dryer machine is indicated.
Applicants have considered the washing machine of CN 201021473 .
The above mentioned prior art washing machine comprises a casing in which an aperture is built to accede to a treatment chamber in which the laundry is located in order to be washed. Additionally, the washing machine includes a door assembly capable of closing and opening, when needed, such an aperture formed in the casing.
The door assembly includes a frame in which a door opening is formed, opening that is closed by a cover element made in a transparent material. Frame defines a rear and a front surface facing, respectively, the treatment chamber and the exterior of the casing, when the door assembly is mounted and closed on the aperture of the casing.
Door assembly includes additionally a cover ring attached to the frame and having a ring opening corresponding, in size and location, substantially to the opening formed on the door frame.
Door assembly further includes a door cover interposed between the door frame and the cover ring so as to close the opening(s) formed in the frame and in the cover ring. In particular, the "sandwich" between the frame and cover ring within which the door cover is located is formed in correspondence of an outer edge of the door cover.
Applicants have realized that such a "sandwich" between the door cover and the frame and cover ring allows an easy construction of the door assembly having also an aesthetically appealing layout, however the door cover can easily vibrate between the two elements, i.e. the frame and the cover ring, creating unpleasant noise and possible damage (e.g. cracking of the door cover and/or of the ring due to the vibrations' stress) to the washing machine, during for example the spinning of the drum during a washing cycle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment device having a door assembly which can be assembled in an easy and reliable manner.
Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry treatment device having a door assembly which components, once the door is assembled, do not vibrate (or vibrate negligibly) one with respect to the others, in particular during the usage of the device.
Additionally, a further object is to provide a laundry treatment device the aesthetical appearance of which is improved.
Applicants have realized that, in order to obtain the above mentioned objects of the invention, a blocking element located on the cover ring, and/or on the frame and/or on the door cover, blocking, or at least minimizing, the relative movements between the door cover and the "sandwich" formed by the cover ring and the frame so as to compensate for any gap or tolerances in the door assembly and to ensure a stable and robust connection, is to be provided in the laundry treatment device.
In addition, the aforementioned invention applies not only to washing machines as described in the prior art, but also to dryers and to combined washer/dryers without substantially modifications, being the construction of the door assembly substantially similar in all the named appliances.
According to a preferred embodiment, the blocking element has also the function of a forcing element urging, i.e. pushing, pulling or pressing, the door cover toward the cover ring and/or toward the frame.
Above objects are solved, in particular, by a laundry treatment device comprising:

a casing containing a treatment chamber for receiving a load to be treated, said casing including an aperture for accessing said treatment chamber;
a door assembly associated to said casing for opening and closing said aperture, said door assembly comprising:
- ∘ a door frame having a door opening defining a door opening inner edge;
- ∘ a cover ring having a ring opening defining a cover ring inner edge, said cover ring being attached to said door frame in such a way that said ring opening substantially corresponds to said door opening;
- ∘ a door cover closing said door opening and said ring opening, said door cover having an outer edge, wherein a portion of said door cover outer edge is interposed between a peripheral portion of said frame around said door opening inner edge and a peripheral portion of said cover ring around said ring opening inner edge;
wherein said door assembly further comprises at least a blocking element located on said door cover and/or on said door frame and/or on said cover ring in order to minimize relative movements of said door cover with respect to said frame and/or said cover ring.

It is to be understood that the blocking element minimizes relative movements of the door cover with respect to the door frame and/or to the cover ring and it can also minimize relative movements of the cover ring with respect to the frame, being the door cover substantially clamped between the ring and the frame.
The provision of the blocking element does not increase the complexity of the manufacture of the door assembly. This additional element is easily formed and assembled.
By the provision of the blocking element, the connection between the door cover and the other parts of the door assembly is more stable and vibrations and noise are minimized. Indeed, noise is often due to relative movements of the door cover with respect to the door's frame or ring.
Preferably, the blocking element is formed of a resilient material. In this case, in addition to the blocking effect, the blocking element exerts a biasing force on the door cover to push (or pull) the same toward the frame or the ring.
According to the invention, the blocking element is located on said portion of said door cover interposed between said door frame and said cover ring; and/or on said peripheral portion of said frame around said door opening inner edge; and/or on said peripheral portion of said cover ring around said ring opening inner edge. Conveniently, therefore, the blocking element is located in the "sandwich zone", where the door cover is interposed (or "clamped") between the frame and the ring. In this overlapping zone, the door cover is blocked in correspondence of the peripheral portion of the frame or of the ring in the proximity of the door opening or ring opening, respectively.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blocking element includes an elastic protrusion formed in the proximity of said outer edge apt to block or minimize movements of said door cover with respect to said cover ring and/or to said frame. In other words, the blocking element is active, i.e. in this case it exerts a biasing force, in correspondence of the outer edge of the door cover. As mentioned, the elastic protrusion can be located in any of the frame and/or the cover ring and/or the door cover. For example, the elastic protrusion can be integral with the frame and/or cover ring and/or door cover. In this preferred case therefore no additional separated elements are present in the door assembly with respect to the prior art.
Advantageously, the elastic protrusion can include a loop-shaped element comprising a loop of the material forming the frame and/or cover ring and/or door cover. When the loop is in abutment to a surface, the loop deforms squeezing its inner hole of an amount that depends of the exerted pressure. More in general, the elastic protrusion is put into contact with the door cover (which can also mean that the door cover itself bears the protrusion) and "compressed" by the sandwich formed by the frame, the door cover and the cover ring. Due to its elasticity, the protrusion "blocks" the door cover minimizing movements of the latter, and at the same time it presses the same toward the frame and/or the cover ring creating a sort of "dampening effect", reducing the stress on the door cover and minimizing the vibrations thereof.
According to an alternative preferred embodiment, which can also be used in combination with the above mentioned one, said blocking element includes a tooth-like element apt to block said door cover, preferably in the proximity of said outer edge, with respect to said cover ring and/or to said frame. The tooth-like element is located preferably substantially in an analogous way as the elastic protrusion above described, i.e. it is located on said portion of said door cover interposed between said door frame and said cover ring; and/or on said peripheral portion of said frame around said door opening inner edge; and/or on said peripheral portion of said cover ring around said ring opening inner edge.
More preferably, said tooth-like element etches said door cover, so that the door cover includes an etch on one of its surfaces. Alternatively, in case the door cover bears the tooth-like element, the etch is formed on a surface of the cover ring or frame facing the door cover. In this embodiment, the tooth-like element not only produces a dampening effect due to the fact that includes an elastic material urged against the door cover, but also it has a function of an additional fastening element between the door cover and the frame or between the door cover and the cover ring due to the etch. For this purpose, the tooth-like element includes for example a "hard tip" which creates an etch formation on the door cover or on said cover ring or on said frame. Advantageously, the tooth-like element includes a wedge. The so formed etch blocks the tooth-like element in the position in which the etch is formed, blocking in turn the door cover and thus minimizing the movements of the same. The height of the tooth-like element may be reduced of an amount that depends of the pressure exerted by the frame on the door cover or by the cover ring on the door cover, similarly to the elastic protrusion.
According to a further preferred embodiment, said blocking element includes a snap fitting connection, preferably located in the proximity of said outer edge of the door cover, apt to block said door cover with respect to said cover ring or to said frame.
More preferably, said snap fitting connection includes a hook formed in said door cover or in said cover ring or in said frame and a seat formed in another of said door cover or said cover ring or said frame where the hook is apt to engage. In this way, due to the snap-fitting connection, as in the case of the tooth-like element, the blocking element not only blocks the door cover with respect to the frame or to the cover ring, but also urges the same in the reached position towards the frame or the cover ring, having thus the function of a dampening and fastening element. Again, vibrations are minimized by the blocking function and also by the resilient fastening achieved.
According to a further embodiment, the entire perimetral extension of the outer edge of said door cover is interposed between said peripheral portion of said frame around said inner edge of said door opening and said peripheral portion of said ring cover around said inner edge of said ring opening. Indeed, the connection between the door cover and the frame and/or the ring is optimized if the entire perimeter of the outer edge of the door cover is sandwiched between frame and cover ring.
Advantageously, said door cover includes a flange along at least a portion of its perimeter, said outer edge being then the edge of said flange. The door cover can have any shape, therefore in turn also the flange can have any geometry. Preferably, the flange follows the entire perimeter of the door cover. The flange improves the connection between the door cover and the frame and cover ring.
Preferably, said frame or said cover ring includes a step-like recess. The step-like recess is formed in a surface of said cover ring or in a surface of said frame which is facing said door cover when said door assembly is assembled. More specifically, the step-like recess is formed along a portion of the inner edge of said door opening or along a portion of said inner edge of said ring opening, respectively. Preferably the step-like recess is formed along the entire perimetral extension of the inner edge of said door opening or of said ring opening. When said door assembly is in an assembled configuration, the portion of the outer edge of the door cover which is "sandwiched" between said frame and said ring is in abutment on said step-like recess. This configuration is particularly preferred in case the door cover includes a flange around its outer perimeter. Indeed, preferably, the flange and the step-like recess are so dimensioned that the flange can abut for its entire surface extension onto the recess and radial movements of the door cover are substantially minimized not only by the blocking element but also by the presence of the step contouring the recess.
According to an additional embodiment of the invention, a plurality of blocking elements are formed along said outer edge of said door cover and/or along said peripheral portion of said frame around said inner edge of said door opening and/or along said peripheral portion of said ring cover around said inner edge of said ring opening. In other words, the blocking action exerted by the blocking elements on the door cover is applied not only on a single location, but on a plurality of different locations, improving the blocking and/or dampening effect and the distribution of stress on the door cover.
More preferably, said plurality of blocking elements are evenly distributed along the peripheral portion of said frame around said inner edge of said door opening and/or along said peripheral portion of said ring cover around said inner edge of said ring opening and/or along said outer edge of said door cover. For example, in case of a substantially round door cover and round door and ring apertures, the blocking elements are located at equidistant angular positions along the frame and/or cover ring and/or door cover.
According to a preferred embodiment, said cover ring is attached to said frame via a snap fitting connection. Preferably, such a snap fitting connection is the only connection between the frame and the cover ring.
Preferably, the door cover is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material in order to allow the user to view the laundry while the treatment cycles performed by the laundry treatment device are ongoing.
Advantageously, said door assembly includes a door glass and said frame includes a front frame and a rear frame having a first door opening and a second door opening, said door glass being fixed between said first and second frame and covering said first and second door openings. The connection between the front and rear frame can be arbitrary, for example via screws and bolts, or also via a snap fitting connection. The resulting door assembly includes three elements having three substantially superimposed apertures, i.e. first door opening, second door opening and ring opening, which are closed by the door glass and the door cover. Door glass is preferably made of transparent or semi-transparent material, such as glass.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will better appear from the following description of some exemplary and non-limitative embodiments, to be read with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1A is a frontal view, with door assembly in an open configuration, of a laundry treatment device realized according to the invention;
Fig. 1B is a frontal view of the laundry treatment device of fig. 1A with the door assembly in a closed configuration;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the door assembly of the laundry treating device of figs. 1A and 1B;
Fig. 3 is a sectional lateral view of a first embodiment of a door assembly according to the invention;
Fig. 3A is an enlarged detail of fig. 3;
Fig. 4 is a sectional lateral view of the door assembly of fig. 3, before assembly;
Fig. 4A is an enlarged detail of fig. 4;
Fig. 5 is a sectional lateral view of a second embodiment of a door assembly according to the invention;
Fig. 5A is an enlarged detail of fig. 5;
Fig. 6 is a sectional lateral view of the door assembly of fig. 5, before assembly;
Fig. 6A is an enlarged detail of fig. 6;
Fig. 7A is a partial sectional lateral view of a third embodiment of a door according to the invention before assembly;
Fig. 7B is a partial sectional lateral view of the door assembly of fig. 7A, partially assembled;
Fig. 7C is a partial sectional lateral view of the door assembly of fig. 7A and 7B, after assembly;
Fig. 8A is an enlarged detail of fig. 7A;
Fig. 8B is an enlarged detail of fig. 7B;
Fig. 8C is an enlarged detail of fig. 7C;
Fig. 9A is a partial sectional lateral view of a fourth embodiment of a door according to the invention before assembly;
Fig. 9B is a partial sectional lateral view of the door assembly of fig. 9A, partially assembled;
Fig. 9C is a partial sectional lateral view of the door assembly of fig. 9A and 9B, after assembly;
Fig. 10A is an enlarged detail of fig. 9A;
Fig. 10B is an enlarged detail of fig. 9B;
Fig. 10C is an enlarged detail of fig. 9C.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

With initial reference to figs. 1A and 1B, a laundry treatment device realized according to the present invention is globally indicated with 1. In this preferred embodiment, the laundry treatment device 1 includes a washing machine.
Laundry treatment device 1 comprises an outer box casing 2, preferably but not necessarily parallelepiped-shaped, and a treatment chamber, such as a drum 3, for example having the shape of a hollow cylinder, for housing the laundry and in general the clothes and garments to be washed and/or dried. The drum 3 is preferably contained into the casing. In a preferred embodiment, drum 3 can rotate around a preferably horizontal axis (in alternative embodiments, rotation axis may be vertical or tilted). Access to the drum 3 is achieved for example via an aperture 2a formed on the casing itself. Aperture 2a preferably faces drum 3 and it is apt to be closed - or even sealed - by a door assembly 3a.
The door assembly 3a is adapted to alternatively open and close the laundry loading aperture 2a of the laundry treatment device 1 and is advantageously pivotally mounted, for example hinged, and thus supported at the casing 2 of the device 1. Door assembly 3a can be operated, preferably, by a handle 12 attached to itself.
More in detail, casing 2 generally includes a front panel 50 to which the door assembly 3a is pivotally mounted, a rear wall panel (not visible in the appended drawings) and two sidewall panels 51, 52. Panels 50, 51, 52, and rear wall panel can be of any suitable material.
Laundry treatment device 1 also comprises an electrical motor (not shown) assembly for rotating, on command, revolving drum 3 along its axis inside casing. Casing 2, revolving drum 3 and electrical motor are common parts in the technical field and are considered to be known; therefore they will not be described further in details.
With now reference to figs. 2 and 3, door assembly 3a includes a frame, which in turn includes two "half frames", a rear frame 4 and a front frame 5, one attached to the other. Moreover, door assembly 3a comprises a door glass 6, a cover ring 7 and a door cover 8.
The wording "rear frame" 4 is indicating in the following the portion of the frame of door assembly 3a a surface of which is substantially in contact with casing 2 when the door is closed (as shown in fig. 1B), while the front frame 5 is defined as the portion of the frame of door assembly 3a a surface of which is mainly facing the exterior when the door assembly 3a is closed onto casing 2. Preferably, front frame 5 includes a front surface 5c and a rear surface 5b, the second one being in contact with the rear frame 4 when the door assembly is in an assembled configuration, while the first one is opposite to it and faces the exterior to casing 2. Analogously, rear frame 4 includes a front surface 4c which is apt to be in contact with rear surface 5b of front frame 5 when the door assembly 3a is mounted, and a rear surface 4b in contact with the casing 2 when door assembly 3a is mounted and closed on casing 2 (as in fig. 1B).
Preferably rear and front frame 4,5 are made of plastic, more preferably each of them is formed as an integral piece of plastic, for example by injection molding.
Front and rear frame 4,5 of door assembly 3a are advantageously ring shaped, with respective central door openings 4a, 5a, so as to form a substantially round door assembly 3a, as depicted in fig. 2. However, the shape of door assembly 3a, and thus of front and rear frame 5,4, is arbitrary, for example the door assembly 3a can be substantially rectangular, quadratic, or elliptic when a front view of the same is considered. In any case, the presence of an opening in the frame of door assembly 3a is preferred so that an user can view the laundry from outside the casing 2 during the treatment cycles. In turns, this implies that an opening 4a,5a, called in the following first and second door opening, in both rear and front frame 4,5, is preferably formed. Front and rear frame are therefore so mounted that the two openings 4a,5a overlap, at least partially. Preferably, the openings 4a,5a have an arbitrary geometrical shape and they are advantageously closed or covered by a transparent or quasi-transparent material, as detailed below.
In the preferred embodiment in which a door opening 4a,5a is present in door frame 4,5, an inner edge or border 14, 15 is consequently defined in the frame itself as the edge of the door opening. With reference to the rear and front frames 4,5, a first and second inner edge 14, 15 is thus defined as the edge delimiting the first and the second door opening 4a,5a, respectively.
Preferably, door glass 6 is made of transparent glass capable of withstanding high temperatures and/or the chemicals which can be present in the laundry treatment device 1 during washing and/or drying cycles. The door glass 6 is assembled together with front and rear frame 5,6 so as to close apertures 4a,5a, preferably in an air-tight manner, so that no fluid can exits laundry treatment device 1 during operation. Preferably, door glass 6 includes a flange 6a protruding in a radial direction around its periphery, and more preferably the flange 6a encircles the entire perimeter of the door glass 6. Flange 6a is preferably interposed between front and rear frame 4,5 when the door assembly 3a is in an assembled configuration, as shown in fig. 3. Preferably, flange 6a is sandwiched between rear surface 5b of front frame 5 and front surface 4c of rear frame 4, however a different connection of door glass 6 to the frame is encompassed by the present invention. The door glass 6 is thus fixed to the front and rear frame 5,4 for example via bosses and bolts in any of the manner known in the art. Alternatively, a snap-fitting connection between the front and rear frame 4,5 is envisaged, blocking door glass 6 therebetween, or a combination of snap-fitting connection and screws can be used as well. Preferably but not necessary, door glass 6 has a concave shape, and more specifically it is concaved toward drum 3, with the concave portion protruding inwards toward the drum 3 through door opening 4a formed in the rear frame 4.
With now reference to figs. 4 and 4A, where the door assembly is depicted in a disassembled configuration, on the front surface 5c of front frame 5, the cover ring 7 is attachable or attached. Cover ring 7 has preferably a ring shape, but any geometry is possible and does not change the teaching of the invention. The shape of the cover ring 7 preferably substantially corresponds to the shape of the front frame, so that cover ring 7 can be attached to front surface 5c of front frame 5 substantially following the contour of the same. Cover ring 7 is preferably made of plastic material.
Cover ring 7 includes a ring opening 7a, preferably having a shape and dimension substantially similar to first and second openings 4a and 5a of rear and front frame 4,5. Ring opening 7a defines an inner edge 17 of cover ring 7. When cover ring 7 is attached to front frame 5, preferably ring opening 7a is superimposed to first and second openings 4a and 5a so that a substantially single opening is visible to the user from the outside of casing 2, such as depicted in fig. 2.
Cover ring 7 is attached to front frame 5 by any means. Preferably, cover ring is attached to front frame by a snap fitting connection. For example, a snap-fit connector 38 may comprise a cantilever with a hook assigned to one of the cover ring or front frame and a corresponding recess or seat 20 assigned to the other of cover ring or front frame, which is adapted to engage with the hook. The at least one snap-fit connector comprises at least one first engaging element, e.g. a hook, which is arranged at the cover ring or front frame of the door assembly and at least one second engaging element, e.g. a recess, a ledge or a second hook, which is arranged at a the cover ring or front frame of the door assembly. The at least one second engaging element is adapted to engage with the at least one first engaging element to attach the cover ring to the front frame, i.e. to assemble the two components. Advantageously, the snap-fit connector may be the only connecting means necessary to permanently assemble the cover ring and front frame, i.e. it may be not necessary to provide additional fixing means like screws (however also one or more screws can be provided for further fixing the first and second component).
Preferably, a plurality of engaging hooks 38 is provided in the cover ring 7 for fixing it to the front frame 5 and or rear frame 4. The front frame 5 preferably comprises correspondingly arranged hook receptacles which comprise seats 20 for the respective hooks 38.
In this preferred embodiment, when the cover ring 7 is attached to the front frame 5, the hooks 38 are inserted into their associated receptacle or recess where the seats 20 are arranged. The insertion process is continued until each hook 38 engages with its seat 20.
Alternatively, cover ring 7 can be fixed to rear frame 4, for example by means of the same snap fitting connection as described above, wherein the seats 20 are located along the rear frame.
According to the invention, door assembly 3a also includes a door cover 8, the purpose of it might be either aesthetical to improve the overall appearance of the laundry treatment device 1, for example hiding the various screws and attaching means, and/or protective to protect areas of the frame which can be easily damaged.
Door cover 8 is preferably made of plastic material and more preferably the plastic material is also transparent or semi-transparent to allow the user to inspect the laundry during the drying and/or washing cycles of the laundry treatment device 1. Door cover 8 is preferably substantially planar and defines an outer edge 18. It is fixable or fixed to the door assembly 3a by interposition of at least a portion of its outer edge 18 between the front frame 5 and the cover ring 7. In other words, at least a portion of the outer edge 18 of the door cover 8 is sandwiched between outer frame 5 and cover ring 7. More preferably, the sandwich of the outer edge 18 of the door cover 8 between the front frame 5 and cover ring 7 takes place in proximity of the inner edge 15, 17 of the front frame 5 and cover ring 7, respectively, e.g. the door cover 8 closes the openings 7a,5a formed in the cover ring 7 and front frame 5, and at least a portion of its outer edge 18 is hidden by the cover ring 7. Preferably, the entire perimetral extension of the outer edge 18 of the door cover 8 is interposed between the front frame 5 and the ring cover 7, so that the outer edge 18 of door cover 8 is hidden beneath cover ring 7 in its entirety.
Preferably, the shape of the door cover 8 is similar to that of the ring opening 7a and/or door opening 5a, so that door cover 8 can close any of the openings 7a,5a completely in an easy manner. In case for example of a circular opening 7a and/or 5a, the door cover 8 has a circular shape, when a front view is considered; alternatively, in case of a rectangular shape of openings 5a/7a, the front view of the door cover 8 also includes a rectangle.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the door cover 8 includes a flange 60 realized along at least a portion of its outer edge 18, preferably along the entire perimetral extension of the outer edge 18. The flange 60 preferably is the only portion of the door cover 8 which is then sandwiched between the cover ring 7 and the front frame 5, when the door assembly 3a is mounted, the rest of the door cover 8 remaining thus visible. Preferably, the flange 60 is sandwiched in its entirety between cover ring 7 and frame 5.
In order to limit the movements of the door cover 8 when sandwiched between the front frame 5 and the cover ring 7, on the front frame front surface 5c in contact with the door cover 8 or, alternatively, on the cover ring 7 surface in contact with the door cover 8, a step-like recess 70 is formed around the inner edge 15/17 of door opening 5a or ring opening 7a, respectively. Preferably the step-like recess 70 is realized along the entire perimeter of the inner edge 15/17 of door opening 5a or ring opening 7a. In the appended drawings the step-like recess 70 is visible on the front surface 5c of front frame 5 surrounding door opening 5a. The step-like recess 70 includes a recessed area 71 delimited on one side by the opening 7a or 5a and on the other side by a step 72, thus forming a recessed area on front surface 5c or on a rear surface 7b of cover ring 7 around the opening itself 5a or 7a. The dimensions of the step-like recess 60 are such that, when the door cover 8 is in abutment to the front surface 5c of front frame 5 (or to cover ring 7), the flange 60 fits into the recessed surface 71 preferably completely. Advantageously, the radial gap between the end of the flange 60 and the step 72 of the step-like recess 70 is limited, i.e. minimized, to limit the door cover 8 movements or vibrations.
According to the invention, the door assembly 3a further includes a blocking element 100 realized on said door cover 8 and/or on said frame 4,5 and/or on said cover ring 7 in order to block relative movements of said door cover 8 with respect to said frame 4,5 and/or to said cover ring 7. In fig. 3 such a blocking element is not depicted for sake of clarity in order to show the various details of the laundry treatment device 1, however different preferred embodiments of the forcing element 100 are shown with reference to the embodiments of fig. 4A-4D, 5A-5D, 6, and 7A-7B, detailed below.
In the embodiment depicted in figs. 3, 3A, 4 and 4A, the blocking element 100 is located on the cover ring 7 and it can be integral to the same, or attached to the cover ring 7 as a separated piece. The blocking element 100 is realized advantageously on a portion of the surface of the cover ring 7 facing the portion of door cover 8 which is interposed between the front frame 5 and the cover ring 7 in an assembled configuration. As visible in fig. 4C, blocking element 100 includes a tooth-like element 101 which, when the door is assembled, is in contact with the door cover 8 surface and presses the same toward the front frame 5. Advantageously, the tooth-like element 101 is located in correspondence to the inner edge 17 of cover ring 7. The tooth-like element 101 can be compressed and expanded, i.e. its height can be varied, depending on the clamping forces exerted between front frame 5 and cover ring 7 onto door cover 8. The tooth-like element 101, better visible in the enlarged views of Fig. 4A, blocks and presses the door cover 8 in a single point and preferably additionally forms an etch on the same. The possible etch, due to its small dimensions, is not visible in the appended drawings, however it corresponds to the position of the tip of the tooth-like element 101. The tooth-like element, preferably a wedge, remains inside the etch when the door is in an assembled configuration therefore acting as a fastening means for the door cover 8 and as a "dampening" element.
Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of figs. 5, 5a, 6, 6A, in which the only difference with respect to the embodiment represented in figs. 3-4A is the different location of the blocking element 100, the blocking element 100 (wedge 101) can be located on the door cover 8 itself, and preferably and advantageously on the flange 60 of the same. The optional etch formed by the tooth-like element 101 is in this case thus formed on the cover ring 7, in particular in correspondence to the inner edge 17 of the same, but the effect of the blocking element 100 is analogous to that described with reference to figs. 3-4A.
Alternatively, according to a preferred embodiment not shown in the drawings, the tooth-like element 101 can be located on the front frame 5 and more preferably in correspondence of the step-like recess 70, i.e. on recessed surface 71, blocking and pressing as described door cover 8 onto cover ring 7.
Although in the drawings 3-4A and 5-6A a single element 100 is depicted, it is to be understood that more than a blocking element 100 can be realized in the door assembly 3a. In particular, for example, a plurality of tooth-like elements 101 realized circumferentially around the door and/or ring opening 5a,7a can be advantageously realized in order to uniformly block and press the door cover 8 toward frame 4,5 or cover ring 7. Moreover, in the same door assembly 3a some blocking elements 100 can be located on the door cover 8, and/or others on the front frame 5 and/or on the cover ring 7.
In figs. 7A to 8C, an embodiment of the blocking element 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The different figures 7A,7B, and 7C (and 8A-8C, which are enlarged details of the previous ones) represent the same door assembly 3a in different configurations: disassembled, partially assembled and assembled, respectively. In the appended drawings 7A-8C, the blocking element 100 includes a first snap-fit connection, in this case between the door cover 8 and the front frame 5, as well as an optional second snap-fit connection between the cover ring 7 and the front frame 5. The first snap-fit connection includes a hook 103 realized on the door cover 8, and preferably extending from the flange 60 toward the drum 3 when the door assembly 3a is closed (as in fig. 1A), i.e. substantially perpendicularly to flange 60 itself. Hook 103 interferes with a corresponding recess or seat 104 in the front frame 5. In figs. 7A and 8A these components are separated in order to better identify hook 103 and seat 104, the connection among the two elements is shown in figs. 7C and 8C. As described above, although a single hook 103 is depicted in figs. 7A-8C, a plurality of hooks can be arranged around the outer edge 18 of door cover 8 and a corresponding number of recesses or seats 104 may be in this case formed on the front frame 5. Preferably hook 103 includes a protruding nose 106 having an inclined surface 107 with respect to the inserting direction I of the hook 103 (see in detail fig. 8A where the inserting direction is depicted using an arrow I), and the hook is inserted till the protruding nose 106 interferes with the seat 104 blocking the protruding nose (see fig. 8C, where the hook 103 is inserted in seat 104).
Optionally, as mentioned, or alternatively, the blocking element 100 includes a second snap-fit connection located on the cover ring 7 and on the front frame 5. More in particular, the cover ring 7 may advantageously include one (or more) hooks 109 formed on the inner edge 17 of the cover ring 7 which interferes with recess(es) (in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7A-8C, these recessed corresponds to recessed 104) realized on the front frame 5. Hook(s) 109 and corresponding recess(es) can be realized in a manner similar to the hooks 103 realized on the door cover 8 and seats 104 formed on front frame 5.
Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment not depicted in the drawings, the blocking element 100 can include a snap-fit connection realized between the door cover 8 and the cover ring 7, for example including hook(s) protruding from the outer edge 18 of the door cover 8 which interferes with corresponding recess(es) located in correspondence to the inner edge 17 of ring cover 7. The position of hooks and recesses can be reversed, the recesses being positioned on the door cover 8 and the hooks on the cover ring 7.
In all the described embodiments, due to the snap-fit connection, the door cover 8 is blocked and preferably also pressed against either the cover ring 7 or the front frame 5 (or both) preventing or at least minimizing vibrations of the door cover 8.
The snap-fit connection can be elastic and in this case the stress is distributed on the door cover, without a stress concentration in a single point which can cause damages on the door cover 8.
With now reference to figs. 9A, 9B and 9C (and also 10A, 10B, 10C, which are enlarged details of the previous ones), an additional embodiment of the blocking element 100 is depicted. The different figures 8A, 8B and 8C represent the same door assembly 3a in different configurations: disassembled, partially assembled and assembled, respectively. In this preferred embodiment, the blocking element 100 includes an elastic protrusion 102 located in correspondence of the inner edge 17 of cover ring 7, preferably on the surface 7b of the cover ring 7 in contact with door cover 8 when the door is assembled. The elastic protrusion 102 is elastically deformable, it can indeed be squeezed so as to reach various sizes or thicknesses during the mounting of the door assembly 3a. In particular, protrusion 102 is squeezed between the cover ring 7 itself and the door cover 8. Preferably, the elastic protrusion 102 may advantageously have a loop shape, including an aperture 111 the size of which is variable and depends on the pressure applied in the mounting of door assembly 3a. In detail, the elastic protrusion 102 protrudes from the rear surface 7b of elastic ring 7 which is then in contact with door cover 8 and it is squeezed by the latter. Elastic protrusion 102 is preferably integral with cover ring 7, i.e. it is formed of the same material and even more preferably molded together.
Due to its "squeezability", the protrusion 102 offers a dampening to vibrations and functions as an additional fastening element to hold the door cover 8 in place.
According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of elastic protrusions 102 are located around the entire perimetral extension of the inner edge 17 of the ring cover 7 so that the compression exerted by such elastic protrusions 102 onto the door cover 8 is substantially uniform.
Alternatively, elastic protrusion 102 can be located on the door cover 8 itself, in proximity of its outer edge 18 and preferably more than one elastic protrusion is realized around the entire perimetral extension of outer edge 18 of door cover 8.
According to an additional embodiment, not depicted, elastic protrusions 102 are located on frame 5, in particular in correspondence to the outer surface of outer frame 5 which is adjacent to the door cover 8 when the door assembly 3a is in an assembled configuration. Alternatively, protrusions 102 can be located both in door cover 8 and in frame 5 or/and in cover ring 7.
The step-like recess 70 in the embodiment of figs. 9A-10C is realized on cover ring 7 in order to form an abutment to flange 60 realized on door cover 8. The function of the step-like recess 70 on the cover ring 7 is the same as the step-like recess realized on the frame 5 described in the previous embodiments, i.e. to block possible movements the door cover 8.
In figs. 9A and 10B, the protrusions 102 are visible in section: the gap visible between the most protruding portion of protrusion 102 and cover ring 7 is the aperture 111 of the loop. The gap is then compressed by the interposition of door cover 8 when door assembly 3a is assembled (see figs. 9C, 10C).
Wherever they are realized (i.e. on the door cover 8, on the cover ring 7 and/or on the front frame 5), the protrusion 102 presses the door cover 8 toward the cover ring 7 and/or toward the frame 5, dampening possible vibrations and firmly fixing the door cover 8 itself.

Claims

A laundry treatment device (1) comprising:
• a casing (2) containing a treatment chamber (3) for receiving a load to be treated, said casing including an aperture (2a) for accessing said treatment chamber (3);

• a door assembly (3a) associated to said casing (2) for opening and closing said aperture (2a), said door assembly comprising:
∘ a door frame (4,5) having a door opening (4a,5a) defining a door opening inner edge (14,15);

∘ a cover ring (7) having a ring opening (7a) defining a cover ring inner edge (17), said cover ring being attached to said door frame (4,5) in such a way that said ring opening (7a) substantially corresponds to said door opening (4a,5a);

∘ a door cover (8) closing said door opening (4a,5a) and said ring opening (7a), said door cover (8) having an outer edge (18), wherein a portion of said door cover outer edge (18) is interposed between a peripheral portion of said frame (4,5) around said door opening inner edge (14,15) and a peripheral portion of said cover ring (7) around said ring opening inner edge (17);

• wherein said door assembly (3a) further comprises at least a blocking element (100) located on said door cover (8) and/or on said frame (4,5) and/or on said cover ring (7) in order to minimize relative movements of said door cover (8) with respect to said frame (4,5) and/or said cover ring (7),
characterized in that
said blocking element (100) includes a snap-fitting connection apt to block said door cover (8) in correspondence of said outer edge (18) with respect to said cover ring (7) and/or to said frame (5), and in that said blocking element (100) is located

• on said portion of said door cover outer edge (18) interposed between said frame (4,5) and said cover ring (7); and/or

• on said peripheral portion of said frame (4,5) around said door opening inner edge (14,15); and/or

• on said peripheral portion of said cover ring (7) around said ring opening inner edge (17).
The laundry treatment device (1) of claim 1, wherein said blocking element (100) is formed of a resilient material for exerting a biasing force on the door cover (8) to push or pull said door cover (8) toward the frame (4,5) or the cover ring (7).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said snap-fitting connection includes a hook (103,109) located in said door cover (8) and/or in said cover ring (7) and/or in said frame (4,5) and a seat (104) located in another of said door cover (8) and/or said cover ring (7) or said frame (4,5) where the hook (103,109) is apt to be engaged.
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least a blocking element (100) includes a first snap-fit connection between the door cover (8) and the front frame (5).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to claim 4 wherein said at least a blocking element (100) includes a second snap-fit connection between the cover ring (7) and the front frame (5).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the entire perimetral extension of said outer edge (18) of said door cover (8) is interposed between said peripheral portion of said frame (4,5) around said door opening inner edge (14,15) and said peripheral portion of said ring cover (7) around said ring opening inner edge (17).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said door cover (8) includes a flange (60) formed along its outer perimeter.
The laundry treatment device (1) according to claim 7 wherein said snap-fitting connection includes a hook (103) realized on the door cover (8) extending from the flange 60 toward the drum (3) when the door assembly (3a) is closed.
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said frame (4,5) and/or said cover ring (7) includes a step-like recess (70) formed along the inner edge (14,15) of said door opening (4a,5a) or along said inner edge (17) of said ring opening (7a), respectively, said outer edge (18) of said door cover (8) abutting on said step-like recess (70) when said door assembly (3a) is in an assembled configuration.
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of blocking elements (100) are located along said outer edge (18) of said door cover (8) and/or along said peripheral portion of said frame (4,5) around said door opening inner edge (14,15) and/or along said peripheral portion of said ring cover (7) around said ring opening inner edge (17).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of blocking elements (100) are evenly distributed along said outer edge (18) of said door cover (8) and/or along said peripheral portion of said frame (4,5) around said door opening inner edge (14,15) and/or along said peripheral portion of said ring cover (7) around said ring opening inner edge (17).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cover ring (7) is attached to said frame (4,5) via a snap-fitting connection (38,20).
The laundry treatment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said door assembly (3a) includes a door glass (6) and said frame (4,5) includes a rear frame (4) and a front frame (5) having a first door opening (4a) and a second door opening (5a), said door glass (6) being fixed between said rear and front frame (4,5) and covering said first and second door openings (4a,5a).