Appliance integrated noise attenuator with kick panel

• US 20060254854A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Inventors: Atali, Mohamed Salah, Banks, Kendrick William, Houser, Marvin Joseph, Johnson, Joel T., Herrera, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4209 Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated noise attenuator and kick panel are provided for attenuating noise emanating from an appliance such as a dishwasher, washer, dryer, or refrigerator. The kick panel includes an elongated panel member having side flaps which are biased laterally against cabinets or other structures disposed on each side of the appliance. The elongated panel member is also provided with a textured noise attenuating surface on the back thereof which, along with the side flaps, attenuates and absorbs the sound and vibration emanating from the appliance.

Claims

1. A kick panel for an appliance, comprising:

an elongated panel member adapted to be mounted to a front surface of an appliance; and

at least one flexible side flap extending from an end of said panel member, said flexible side flap being adapted to flex outward to engage a structure next to the appliance.

2. The kick panel according to claim 1, further comprising a textured noise attenuating surface provided on a back surface of said elongated panel member or integrated rigid sub-structure.

3. The kick panel according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible side flap includes a pair of flexible side flaps extending from opposite ends of said panel member.

5. The kick panel according to claim 1, wherein said flexible side flap extends generally rearward relative to a front face of said panel member.

6. The kick panel according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible side flap extends angularly from said panel member.

7. The kick panel according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible side flap includes a rear flap extending angularly from a rearward end thereof.

8. The kick panel according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible apron portion extending from a top portion of said panel member and adapted to be mounted to a door of said appliance.

9. The kick panel according to claim 8, wherein said at least one side flap extends vertically above said top portion of said panel member.

10. The kick panel according to claim 8, wherein said apron portion includes a retaining portion extending along an upper edge thereof.

11. The kick panel according to claim 10, wherein said retaining portion includes a bead portion having a diameter greater than a thickness of said apron portion.

12. The kick panel according to claim 10, wherein said retaining portion includes a retaining barb.

13. The kick panel according to claim 1, wherein said elongated panel member and at least one flexible side flap are made from an elastomeric or thermoplastic elastomer material.

14. A kick panel for an appliance, comprising:

an elongated panel member adapted to be mounted to a front surface of an appliance;

a flexible apron portion extending from a top portion of said panel member and adapted to be mounted to a door of said appliance.

15. The kick panel according to claim 14, wherein said apron portion includes a retaining portion extending along an upper edge thereof.

16. The kick panel according to claim 15, wherein said retaining portion includes a bead portion having a diameter greater than a thickness of said apron portion.

17. The kick panel according to claim 14, wherein said retaining portion includes a retaining barb.

18. An appliance, comprising:

a housing; and

a kick panel including an elongated panel member adapted to be mounted to a front surface of said housing, and at least one flexible side flap extending from an end of said panel member, said flexible side flap being adapted to flex laterally outward from said housing.

19. The appliance according to claim 18, wherein said at least one flexible side flap includes a pair of flexible side flaps extending from opposite ends of said panel member.

20. The appliance according to claim 18, wherein said flexible side flap extends generally rearward relative to a front face of said panel member.

21. The appliance according to claim 18, wherein said at least one flexible side flap extends angularly from said panel member.

22. The appliance according to claim 18, wherein said flexible side flap includes a rear flap extending angularly from a rearward end thereof.

23. An appliance, comprising:

a housing;

a door pivotally attached to said housing; and

a kick panel including an elongated panel member adapted to be mounted to a front surface of said housing, and a flexible apron portion extending from a top portion of said panel member and mounted to said door.

24. The appliance according to claim 23, wherein said apron portion includes a retaining portion extending along an upper edge thereof and attached to said door.