WO2010020633A1

WO2010020633A1 - A household appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2010020633A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/060662
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guvenc Numanoglu; Salih Goksu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-08-18
Filing date: 2009-08-18
Publication date: 2010-02-25
Also published as: EP2326232A1; EP2326232B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) that comprises a body (2), more than one front feet (3) and more than one rear feet (103) situated on the base of the body (2) at the front and at the rear sides, having screw threads (D) on the outer surface for mounting thereof under the body (2) and adjusting the height and a height adjustment mechanism (5) having a shaft (4) underneath the body (2), extending horizontally from the front surface of the body (2) towards the rear and the shaft (4) being movably changeable to two separate positions, enabling leveling of the front foot (3) and the rear foot (103) by means of the shaft (4).

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance wherein the height is adjusted by leveling the feet supporting the body.

[0002] In household appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machine or the refrigerator, the feet that support the body are height adjustable. The household appliance is balanced by leveling the feet. Particularly the built-in household appliances are brought to a height accommodating with the cabin height after emplacing in a cabin, and the height of the household appliance is adjusted by means of the feet. Reaching the rear feet is almost impossible after the built-in household appliance is emplaced in the cabin. Consequently, the movement of the rear feet is provided by the mechanisms controlled from the front side. By means of these mechanisms, the height adjustment of the rear feet can be made by an adjustment rod extending backward from a point at the front of the household appliance which is easily accessible by the user or the service personnel. The height adjustment of the front feet can be made by rotating the foot around its axis by means of a wrench. Under different conditions of utilization, reaching the front feet can also be problematic in the household appliance, for example if the household appliance is at a very low position then working with a wrench becomes difficult in the narrow gap between the base of the body and the floor and the household appliance body needs to be lifted up a little. In a built-in household appliance, since the upper side is also closed generally, lifting in situ is not possible either.

[0003] In the patent document no DE4410554, leveling members used in a built-in domestic appliance, particularly in domestic refrigerators, are explained. The leveling members include a rotatable rod, operable from the front side of the domestic appliance body and a gearing formed of a worm screw and worm wheel actuated by the rod and as a result the leveling of the rear feet of the domestic appliance can be affected from the front side.

[0004] In the patent application no WO2005/115199 a leveling system for a piece of furniture is explained.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to realize a household appliance comprising a height adjustment mechanism that can level the front and the rear feet.

[0006] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] The household appliance of the present invention comprises a height adjustment mechanism that allows leveling of the front and rear feet from a single point and independently from each other. The height adjustment mechanism comprises a height adjustment shaft underneath the body, extending horizontally from the front surface of the body towards the rear; the shaft can be brought to two different positions by moving in the axial direction and in the first position of the shaft, the height adjustment of the front foot is made and in the second position of the shaft, the height adjustment of the rear foot is made.

[0008] The height adjustment mechanism comprises two seats that house the shaft from the front side and allows for the axial movement between the positions of the shaft and at the same time whereto the front and rear feet are secured, two worm screws and two worm wheels that transfer the rotational motion of the shaft to the front foot and the rear foot.

[0009] The first worm screw functions together with the worm wheel connected to the front foot in the first position wherein the height adjustment of the first foot is made and in the second position of the shaft it is separated from the worm wheel and runs idle.

[0010] The second worm screw functions together with the worm wheel connected to the rear foot in the second position wherein the height adjustment of the rear foot is made and in the first position of the shaft it is separated from the worm wheel and runs idle.

[0011] In the household appliance of the present invention, the distance between the first and second worm screws is different from the distance between the feet so that the height adjustment of the front and rear feet can be made independently from each other.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is brought to the first position by pushing into the body in the axial direction and is brought to the second position by pulling out of the body in the axial direction.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is pulled out of the body in the axial direction to bring to the first position and is pushed into the body in the axial direction to bring to the second position.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, a stopper is used in the height adjustment mechanism which is fitted to the shaft and affixes the shaft in the axial direction by bearing against the body at the positions the shaft is changed to and allowing rotation around its axis at the set position. In this embodiment, two stopper channels are provided on the shaft that shows the user the first and the second adjustment positions whereto the shaft will be brought.

[0015] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0016] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a household appliance.

[0017] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a height adjustment mechanism.

[0018] Figure 3 - is the exploded view of a height adjustment mechanism.

[0019] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the first position wherein the front foot of the household appliance is adjusted.

[0020] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the second position wherein the rear foot of the household appliance is adjusted.

[0021] Figure 6 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the first position wherein the front foot of the household appliance is adjusted in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 - is the schematic view of the height adjustment mechanism at the second position wherein the rear foot of the household appliance is adjusted in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Household appliance

2. Body

3. 103. Foot 4. Shaft

5. Height adjustment mechanism

6. Head

7. 107. Seat

8. 108. Worm wheel

9. 109. Worm screw

10. Stopper

11. Stopper channel

[0024] The household appliance (1) of the present invention, preferably a built-in household appliance (1), comprises a body (2), more than one front feet (3) and more than one rear feet (103) situated on the base of the body (2), respectively at the front and at the rear sides, having screw threads (D) on the outer surface for mounting thereof under the body (2) and for adjusting the height.

[0025] The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises a height adjustment mechanism (5):

- having a shaft (4) underneath the body (2), extending horizontally from the front surface of the body (2) towards the rear and which is movably changeable to two positions (I, II),

- allowing leveling of the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and

- allowing leveling of the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4).

[0026] The height adjustment mechanism (5) comprises a head (6) connected to the shaft (4), extending from the front of the body (2) towards the outside, enabling the shaft (4) to be rotated by a hand tool such as a screwdriver etc., a front seat (7) that houses the shaft (4) from the front side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the front foot (3) is fastened by screwing, a rear seat (107) that houses the shaft (4) from the rear side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the rear foot (103) is fastened by screwing, two worm screws (9, 109) and two worm wheels (8, 108) that transfer the rotational motion of the shaft (4) to the front foot (3) or the rear foot (103).

[0027] The first worm screw (9) functions together with the worm wheel (8) secured to the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made, and separates from the worm wheel (8) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) and runs idle (Figures 4 - 7).

[0028] The second worm screw (109) functions together with the worm wheel

(108) secured to the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made, and separates from the worm wheel (108) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and runs idle (Figures 4 - 7).

[0029] In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, when height adjustment is to be made, the height adjustment mechanism (5) is moved forward or backward by means of the head (6) situated at the front side of the body (2) and when the shaft (4) is axially in the suitable position for adjusting the front foot (3), it is kept stationary at the set position, and is rotated around its axis for adjusting the height of only the front foot (3). When the shaft (4) is brought to the suitable position axially for adjusting the rear foot (103), it is again kept stationary at the set position and this time only the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made by rotating around its axis.

[0030] In the height adjustment mechanism (5), the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) and the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) is different and when the first worm screw (9) is aligned with the front foot (3), the second worm screw (109) and the rear foot (103) are not aligned, similarly when the second worm screw (109) and the rear foot (103) are aligned, the first worm screw (9) and the front foot (3) are not aligned, thus the height adjustment of only the front foot (3) or only the rear foot (103) can be made at each position of the shaft (4).

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft (4) is pushed into the body (2) in the axial direction for changing to the first position (I) and the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made (Figure 4), and brought to the second position (II) by pulling out of the body (2) in the axial direction and the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made (Figure 5). In this embodiment, the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is greater than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) (L1 >L2).

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the shaft (4) is pulled out of the body (2) in the axial direction for bringing to the first position (I) (Figure 6) and the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made, and brought to the second position (II) by pushing into the body (2) in the axial direction (Figure 7) and the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made. In this embodiment, the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is less than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) (LKL2).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprises more than one stopper (10), fitted over the shaft (4), affixing the shaft (4) in the axial direction when the shaft (4) is brought to the first position (I) and the second position (II) by bearing against the body (2) and allowing thereof to rotate around its axis in that set position.

[0034] In this embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism (5) furthermore comprises two stopper channels (11), arranged on the shaft (4), whereon the stopper (10) is fitted, showing the user the first and second adjustment positions (I, II) whereto the shaft (4) will be brought (Figures 3 -7).

[0035] In this embodiment, when the shaft (4) is brought to the first adjustment position (I), one of the two stopper channels (11) comes near the wall of the body (2) and the movement of the shaft (4) in the axial direction is prevented by fitting the stopper (10). When the shaft (4) is brought to the second adjustment position (II), this time the other stopper channel (11) comes near the wall of the body (2) and the movement of the shaft (4) in the axial direction is prevented by fitting the stopper (10) thereon.

[0036] In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the height adjustment of both the front foot (3) and the rear foot (103) can be made from a single point at the front side of the body (2) by means of the height adjustment mechanism (5). The height adjustment of the front and rear feet (3, 103) can be made independently from each other. It is no longer necessary to work in the narrow gap between the floor and the underside of the body (2) in order to make the height adjustment of the front foot (3). In order to produce the height adjustment mechanism (5) of the present invention, a simple addition to the known mechanism used for adjustment of the rear foot (103) is sufficient.

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) that comprises a body (2), more than one front feet (3) and more than one rear feet (103) situated on the base of the body (2), respectively at the front and at the rear sides, having screw threads (D) on their outer surfaces for mounting thereof under the body (2) and adjusting the height and characterized by a height adjustment mechanism (5): - having a shaft (4) underneath the body (2), extending horizontally from the front surface of the body (2) towards the rear and which is movably changeable to two positions (I, II), - allowing leveling of the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and - allowing leveling of the rear foot (103) at the second position (ll) of the shaft (4).

2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising a front seat (7) that houses the shaft (4) from the front side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the front foot (3) is fastened by screwing, a rear seat (107) that houses the shaft (4) from the rear side and allows the axial motion of the shaft (4) between the first position (I) and the second position (II) and whereto the rear foot (103) is fastened by screwing, two worm screws (9, 109) and two worm wheels (8, 108) that transfer the rotational motion of the shaft (4) to the front foot (3) or the rear foot (103).

3. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising a first worm screw (9) functioning together with the worm wheel (8) secured to the front foot (3) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the front foot (3) is made, which separates from the worm wheel (8) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) and runs idle and a second worm screw (109) functioning together with the worm wheel (108) secured to the rear foot (103) at the second position (II) of the shaft (4) wherein the height adjustment of the rear foot (103) is made, which separates from the worm wheel (108) at the first position (I) of the shaft (4) and runs idle.

4. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) wherein the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) and the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103) is different.

5. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the shaft (4) that is pushed into the body (2) in the axial direction and changed to the first position (I) and brought to the second position (II) by pulling out of the body (2) in the axial direction.

6. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) wherein the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is greater than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103).

7. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising the shaft (4) that is pulled out of the body (2) in the axial direction and changed to the first position (I) and brought to the second position (II) by pushing into the body (2) in the axial direction.

8. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) wherein the distance (L1) between the first and second worm screws (9, 109) is less than the distance (L2) between the feet (3, 103).

9. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by one or more stoppers (10) fitted over the shaft (4), affixing the shaft (4) in the axial direction when the shaft (4) is brought to the first position (I) and the second position (II) by bearing against the body (2) and allowing thereof to rotate around its axis in that fixed position.

10. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by the height adjustment mechanism (5) comprising two stopper channels (11), arranged on the shaft (4), whereon the stopper (10) is fitted, showing the user the first and the second adjustment positions (I, II) whereto the shaft (4) will be brought.