Household machine for washing or drying laundry

• US 20040093913A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Kleinlein, Herbert, Bolduan, Edwin, Wiemer, Horst
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

Usually disposed in the top region of a household laundry machine is a drawer that is intended for accommodating detergents or condensate and is connected to a three-dimensional grip plate at the front. During operation of the machine, the grip plate is inserted in a recess of an operating panel, which is disposed at least more or less flush with the surface of the front side of the machine. For childproof locking, a latching edge is provided on the frame of the recess, and a catch, which is retained in the latching position by a spring, is disposed in the rear cavity of the grip plate. By virtue of an arresting device, the catch can be retained outside the latching position if an arresting slide is located in an arresting position.

Claims

1. A household laundry machine for at least one of washing and drying laundry, comprising:

a machine housing having;

a front side having a surface;

an operating panel defining a recess with a frame, said operating panel being disposed approximately flush with said surface of said front side; and

a latching edge disposed on said frame of said recess and defining a catch edge; and

a drawer slidably disposed in said recess for accommodating detergents or condensate therein, said drawer having;

an insertion direction and a removal direction;

a front;

a bias device;

a three-dimensional grip plate fastened at said front, said grip plate having;

a front side defining a grip hollow;

a latching position; and

a rear cavity;

a catch disposed in said rear cavity and having an unlocked position and a locked position, said bias device retaining said catch in said locked position, said catch gripping behind said catch edge with respect to said insertion direction in said locked position;

an arresting device having an arresting slide moveably disposed into and out from an arresting position, said arresting device retaining said catch out of said locked position when said arresting slide is in said arresting position;

during operation of the machine;

said grip plate being inserted in said recess; and

said catch interacting with said latching edge to hold said grip plate in said recess; and

said grip hollow permitting access by a user for actuating said catch from outside said drawer.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said catch has a handle projecting through said grip hollow to said front side of said grip plate.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein a handle is firmly connected to said catch and said handle projects away from said catch.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said catch has an integral handle projecting away from said catch for providing access by the user to said handle through said grip hollow.

5. The machine according to claim 1, wherein:

said arresting slide has a mating catch; and

said catch has a retaining latching element engaging said mating catch when said catch is in said unlocked position and said arresting slide is in said arresting position.

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein:

said grip plate has an abutment;

said catch is of plastic;

said bias device is a part of said catch; and

a portion of said catch has a length, is supported on said abutment, and is elastic along said length.

7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said bias device is a spring.

8. In a household laundry machine for at least one of washing and drying laundry, the machine having a housing with a front side having a surface, an operating panel defining a recess with a frame, the operating panel being disposed approximately flush with the surface of the front side, and a latching edge disposed on the frame of the recess and defining a catch edge, a detergent holder comprising:

a drawer slidably disposed in the recess for accommodating detergents or condensate therein, said drawer having;

an insertion direction and a removal direction;

a front;

a bias device;

a three-dimensional grip plate fastened at said front, said grip plate having;

a front side defining a grip hollow;

a latching position; and

a rear cavity;

a catch disposed in said rear cavity and having an unlocked position and a locked position, said bias device retaining said catch in said locked position, said catch adapted to grip behind the catch edge with respect to said insertion direction in said locked position;

an arresting device having an arresting slide moveably disposed into and out from an arresting position, said arresting device retaining said catch out of said locked position when said arresting slide is in said arresting position;

said grip plate adapted to being inserted in the recess during operation of the machine;

said catch adapted to interact with the latching edge to hold said grip plate in the recess; and

said grip hollow permitting access by a user for actuating said catch from outside said drawer.

9. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said catch has a handle projecting through said grip hollow to said front side of said grip plate.

10. The machine according to claim 8, wherein a handle is firmly connected to said catch and said handle projects away from said catch.

11. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said catch has an integral handle projecting away from said catch for providing access by the user to said handle through said grip hollow.

12. The machine according to claim 8, wherein:

said arresting slide has a mating catch; and

said catch has a retaining latching element engaging said mating catch when said catch is in said unlocked position and said arresting slide is in said arresting position.

13. The machine according to claim 8, wherein:

said grip plate has an abutment;

said catch is of plastic;

said bias device is a part of said catch; and

a portion of said catch has a length, is supported on said abutment, and is elastic along said length.

14. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said bias device is a spring.

15. A household laundry machine for at least one of washing and drying laundry, comprising:

a machine housing defining a recess and having a latching edge disposed in said recess; and

a drawer slidably disposed in said recess for accommodating detergents or condensate therein, said drawer having;

a bias device;

a three-dimensional grip plate being inserted in said recess during operation of the machine and having;

a front side defining a grip hollow;

a latching position; and

a body defining a rear cavity;

a catch disposed in said rear cavity and having an unlocked position and a locked position, said bias device retaining said catch in said locked position, said catch gripping said latching edge in said locked position and preventing said drawer from being removed from said recess, said catch interacting with said latching edge to hold said grip plate in said recess when said grip plate is inserted in said recess;

an arresting device moveably disposed into and out from an arresting position, said arresting device retaining said catch out of said locked position when said arresting device is in said arresting position; and

said grip hollow permitting access by a user for actuating said catch from outside said drawer.

16. The machine according to claim 15, wherein said catch has a handle projecting through said grip hollow to said front side of said grip plate.

17. The machine according to claim 15, wherein a handle is firmly connected to said catch and said handle projects away from said catch.

18. The machine according to claim 15, wherein said catch has an integral handle projecting away from said catch for providing access by the user to said handle through said grip hollow.

19. The machine according to claim 15, wherein:

said arresting device has a mating catch; and

said catch has a retaining latching element engaging said mating catch when said catch is in said unlocked position and said arresting device is in said arresting position.

20. The machine according to claim 15, wherein:

said grip plate has an abutment;

said catch is of plastic;

said bias device is a part of said catch; and

a portion of said catch has a length, is supported on said abutment, and is elastic along said length.

21. The machine according to claim 15, wherein said bias device is a spring.