Household appliance with a front door featuring a panel

Abstract

Household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, with at least one door (3) arranged on a front (V) of the household appliance (1) facing the user, wherein the door (3) is multi-part and has an inner door (7) facing essentially an interior of the household appliance, an outer door (8) connected thereto and facing forward, and a cover (11) in the upper area which is sealed against the inner door (7), characterized in that at least one sealing strip (12) is provided for sealing the cover (11) against the inner door (7), which is held floatingly in a receiving channel (13) and secured in a form-fitting manner and has a slight undersize of a few tenths of millimeters relative to the receiving channel (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, with at least one door arranged on a front of the household appliance facing the user, wherein the door is multi-part and comprises an inner door facing essentially an interior of the household appliance, an outer door connected thereto and pointing forward, and a panel in the upper area which is sealed against the inner door, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is known to provide a substantially horizontal and transverse seal between the inner door and the front panel to prevent, as far as possible, the ingress of liquid or even moisture into the door – particularly into electrical and electronic components that are usually covered by the front panel and which can be operated by the user via controls that extend through the panel or which control displays embedded in the panel. Without such a seal, for example, liquid could run behind the front panel if it is spilled on a kitchen worktop above a built-in appliance. Even with a door that swings open forward and is then approximately horizontal, there is a risk that liquid could run into the gap between the inner door and the front panel and thereby damage electrical or electronic components.

[0003] It is therefore common practice to insert a continuous seal into the back of the door frame, on the side facing the inner door. High precision during installation is crucial to ensure a tight seal over time. Silicone or EPDM seals are commonly used for this purpose, but they are thick and complex to install. Furthermore, such seals can stretch and exhibit unsatisfactory force-displacement characteristics, meaning that during installation, their inherent rigidity can deform the thin-walled inner door, which is particularly problematic as it is a visible area for the customer. Often, these seals are also glued in place, a process that is both complex and expensive.Furthermore, such sealing strands are often delivered components that are already slightly twisted in their delivery state and are therefore difficult to bring into a correctly and securely fitted mounted position in a receiving channel.

[0004] DE 10 2008 055 027 A1 discloses a sealing strand mounted in a channel on the rear of the aperture. This strand consists of several components and is clamped between an upper aperture roof on the top side and a multitude of support ribs on the underside. To enable this clamping, the support ribs each have stepped openings that are complementary to the stepped shape of a rigid portion of the sealing strand. Such a design requires a very precise fit of the sealing strand and a high degree of rigidity in the rear portion. The effort required to manufacture such a necessarily multi-component sealing strand is therefore very high.Likewise, the installation must be carried out with particular precision, as the steps of the sealing component must fit exactly onto the multiple steps of the openings; due to the clamping of the sealing strip, subsequent repositioning is not possible, but rather the seal, once installed, would have to be completely removed and then reinstalled in the new position for any lateral repositioning; because the sealing strip hangs freely between the ribs, the tension of the sealing strip in these areas must be maintained precisely to completely prevent sagging of the sealing strip between these ribs; due to the dimensional stability of the rear sealing component, there is also a risk that the ribs of the bezel could be deformed during installation.

[0005] The invention is based on the problem of facilitating the assembly of seals of the aforementioned type while still achieving a sufficiently accurate fit in series production despite slightly different delivery conditions of sealing strands.

[0006] The invention solves this problem by means of a household appliance with the features of claim 1 and / or claim 2. Further advantages and features as well as further developments of the invention are specified in claims 3 to 15, the features of which can each be realized individually or in combination with one another.

[0007] The invention, as implemented according to claim 1, significantly simplifies assembly by holding the sealing strand floating within the receiving channel. It is no longer necessary to correct any slight twisting of the sealing strand present upon delivery to ensure proper assembly. This makes assembly insensitive to tolerances, quick to perform, and requires no special knowledge or skills from the installer. Furthermore, the positive locking mechanism of the sealing strand ensures that it is securely fixed against movement out of the receiving channel.

[0008] The embodiment according to claim 2 also offers the aforementioned advantages regarding assembly. Here, too, the sealing strand is secured at its ends behind a retaining element in the receiving channel, thus ensuring its position is retained. In this case, the seal does not need to be in direct contact with the retaining elements, so that a positive fit according to this embodiment is not required, but can be.

[0009] In both cases, the floating mounting of the sealing string can be ensured by designing the sealing string with a slight undersize of, for example, 1 to 3 tenths of a millimeter relative to the receiving channel.

[0010] Regardless of whether a true positive fit exists, it is advantageous for the mounting and facilitates secure installation if the sealing strip is inserted into the receiving channel along its longitudinal axis in such a way that, in the installed position, it engages behind the retaining elements. This prevents deformation of the sealing strip during installation; it can simply be advanced longitudinally without being compressed. Inserting the ends of the sealing strip laterally outwards behind the retaining elements is particularly easy if the retaining elements each have a guide for sliding the sealing strip behind them at their ends facing the transverse center of the door. This guide can be advantageously designed as a chamfered area.

[0011] Provided the receiving channel is essentially C-shaped and the retaining elements partially narrow the cross-section of the receiving channel, they form a reliable barrier against the seal unintentionally falling out or moving forward before the inner door is installed. This ensures that the seal is correctly and completely held in the receiving channel.

[0012] In particular, when the door is closed, the retaining elements protrude from below into the cross-section of the receiving channel, so that an edge area of ​​the inner door can overlap this retaining element upwards and come into contact with the seal undisturbed.

[0013] For a smooth surface installation of the inner door, it is also advantageous to arrange the retaining means flush with the back of the panel, so that they do not protrude from the panel in the direction of the inner door.

[0014] If the receiving channel runs horizontally and perpendicular to the front of the door, and the retaining elements have a transverse extension of only a few millimeters, particularly 3 to 7 millimeters, a secure hold of the seal is achieved, while free access to the elastically deformable sealing strip is not significantly restricted. Such retaining elements can, for example, be integrally molded onto the cover and formed by the tooling, so that, for instance, injection molding effort is not increased and cycle time is not negatively affected.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if the sealing strip is not only pushed transversely behind the retaining device on the outside, but is also secured in the transverse central area by at least one rear detent in the receiving channel.

[0016] The sealing strip can be pressed over at least one rear detent for assembly, so that lengthy threading is not required and in the middle area during assembly the securing is achieved by simply pressing the sealing strip into the receiving channel.

[0017] The locking mechanism(s) are, in order to create equal conditions on both transverse sides, located axially symmetrically to a transverse center of the door. For example, one locking mechanism can be arranged in the transverse center of the door, with two additional locking mechanisms to the left and right of it. However, the transverse center can also remain unoccupied, so that, for example, two locking mechanisms are located on either side of the transverse center.

[0018] In particular, a dishwasher is designed according to the invention.

[0019] Further advantages and features will result from exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention shown in the drawing and described below.

[0020] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A schematically represented household appliance, here designed as a dishwasher, in a perspective view from a slightly oblique rear angle with the door closed at its front and with a drawn-in - actually not visible - seal between the protective panel and the inner door, Fig. 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of the aperture with a seal inserted into a rear receiving channel, Fig. 3 a cover plate viewed from its rear side facing the inner door with transverse external retaining means for an inserted seal, Fig. 4 a section enlargement, approximately corresponding to detail IV in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 a similar view to Fig. 4, however in a perspective view from a slightly elevated angle, Fig. 6 a schematic view of three schemes for the distribution of the restraint means and the rear detent(s) for securing the inserted seal.

[0021] Elements with the same function and mode of operation are each provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0022] The in Fig. The schematic representation of household appliance 1 here serves as an example of a dishwasher. Other household appliances, particularly large appliances, are also suitable for an embodiment according to the invention.

[0023] The dishwasher 1 shown schematically here is a household dishwasher and has a wash tub 2 for holding items to be washed, such as dishes, pots, cutlery, glasses, cooking utensils, etc. The wash tub 2 can have a basic rectangular shape with a front face V facing the user in the operating position.

[0024] The wash tank 2 can be completely or partially enclosed (depending on the installation situation) by a housing 4 and can be closed for loading and unloading at its front V facing the user by a movable door 3. This door 3 is in Fig. Door 3 is shown in the closed position and can be pivoted, for example, around a lower horizontal axis in the direction of arrow 5. Other opening movements, other than pivoting, are also possible. In its open position, door 3 can lie approximately horizontally, allowing the dishwashing baskets located in the wash tub 2 to be pulled forward over the open door 3. In this position, liquid can, for example, run onto the open door 3. Similarly, when door 3 is closed, liquid can flow onto it from above, for example, from a kitchen worktop.

[0025] The door 3 is multi-part and comprises an inner door 7, which faces essentially an interior space – and thus, in this case, the washing tub 2 – of the appliance 1. This inner door 7 is made, for example, primarily of a thin stainless steel sheet. It is connected to an outer door 8, which adjoins the front V. Both the outer door 8 and the inner door 7 are flat, with the outer door typically having a thickness of 0.5 to 0.8 millimeters and the inner door typically having a thickness of approximately 0.4 millimeters.

[0026] The door 3 also has display and / or operating devices on a front 9 and / or upper outer area 6, for which a sub-area 10, comprising electrical and / or electronic components and connected to these devices, is provided inside the door 3. This sub-area is shielded at least by a cover 11, which is often also referred to as a control panel.

[0027] The panel 11 can cover the upper door area on the front (9) and sides, as well as on an upper end edge (6). If the door 3 is fully integrated into the fronts of a kitchen unit, it can also be fitted with an outer panel extending over the entire height of the door 3 – not shown here.

[0028] To seal the cover 11 against the inner door 7, at least one sealing strip 12 is provided, which is held floatingly in a receiving channel 13. The receiving channel 13 is located on the rear side of the receiving structure for electrical or electronic components, referred to overall as the cover 11, in the upper area of ​​the door 3. The seal 12 provides a seal between the cover 11 and the inwardly facing (inwardly facing) door 7. Fig. 1 (adjoining to the right), to the rinsing container 2 (adjoining inner door 7) against moisture and liquid.

[0029] The floating mounting of at least one sealing strand 12 means that it has a slight undersize of a few tenths of a millimeter compared to the receiving channel 13, which lies horizontally and perpendicular to the front face V. In this case, the undersize is specifically two tenths of a millimeter.

[0030] Within the scope of the invention, with regard to directional terms such as "lying transversely" or "extending transversely" for the position of the sealing strip and / or sealing bed or receiving channel, an orientation is preferably understood that runs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the surface normal of the front surface of the cover, approximately parallel to its front surface. In particular, the sealing strip and / or the sealing bed or the receiving channel extends in the width direction of the cover when viewed from a position in front of the household appliance that an operator would typically assume for its intended use. Fig. 2 The transverse direction is indicated by an arrow Q perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

[0031] The sealing element 12 is nevertheless securely held in its position, whereby this securing can be achieved by positive locking, in that the seal 12 is secured by retaining means 14 and / or detents 15. Both the retaining means 14 and the detents 15 can bear directly against the sealing element 12, so that a true positive locking is achieved, or they can at least partially have a small gap (for example, tenths of a millimeter) from the seal 12.

[0032] According to the illustrated embodiment, a sealing strip 12 is provided to seal the cover against the inner door. This sealing strip is secured at its outwardly projecting end regions 16 behind a retaining element 14 in the receiving channel 13. The securing is achieved by inserting the sealing strip with these end regions 16 into the receiving channel 13 in the direction of its longitudinal extension, i.e., transversely to the front face V, so that in the installed position it engages behind the retaining elements 14. The central section of the sealing strip 12 can still be pressed into the cover 11 from behind without requiring any sliding action. The retaining elements 14 themselves have only a short longitudinal extension within the receiving channel 13 and are also only minimally separated from its end faces 17, so that the sliding force required for the seal 12 is very low.

[0033] Outside the retaining means 14 (and the rear detents 15 described in more detail below), the receiving channel is essentially C-shaped and has the full width of its cross-section for insertion. The retaining means 14, on the other hand, partially narrow the cross-section of the receiving channel 13, but have a very low height of perhaps 0.8 to 2.5 millimeters.

[0034] With the door closed and standing upright, 3 protrude, as in Fig. 4 clearly visible, the retaining means 14 from below into the cross-section of the receiving channel 13, so that they are covered by a rolled or otherwise thickened upper edge of the inner door 7 and this upper edge can lie undisturbed against the seal 12 in the mounted state of the inner door 7.

[0035] For example, in Fig. Figure 5 clearly shows that the retaining elements 14 are flush with the back of the panel 11, i.e., they do not protrude inwards towards the wash tank 2. The inner door 7 can therefore remain unchanged without colliding in any way with the retaining elements, which can also be described as upwardly projecting ribs.

[0036] The retaining elements 14 also extend only a few millimeters in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the receiving channel 13, i.e., horizontally and perpendicular to the front V of the door 3, for example, from 3 to 7 millimeters. This means that during installation, only a very short end section 16 of the seal 12 needs to be "threaded in," while the vast majority of the seal 12 can be pressed into the cover 11 from the rear, as before. Installation of the seal 12 is therefore simpler and faster than before, since, due to its undersized dimensions and floating mounting, there is no need to worry about slight twisting of the seal 12 or its transverse lateral contact with the end faces 17 of the receiving channel 13.

[0037] To facilitate the insertion of the seal 12, the retaining elements 14 each have a guide 19 at their ends facing the transverse center 18 of the door for pushing the sealing strip 12 behind it. This is designed here as a chamfered area, as in Fig. 5 is indicated, i.e. as a beveled recess in the rib-like projection 14, which extends from bottom to top.

[0038] In the exemplary embodiment, the sealing strand 12 is secured in the receiving channel 13 by at least one rear detent 15 in addition to the described lateral retaining means 14. Fig. 6 shows three different arrangements of these structures, which are significantly flatter than the restraints 14 and rounded in the contact area with the seal 12: According to the upper version, a (here drawn as a triangle apex) rear locking mechanism 15 is provided in the transverse center 18 of the door 3 and the receiving channel 13; according to the middle version, two such rear locking mechanisms 15 are arranged, in particular axially symmetrically to the transverse center 18; according to the lower version, a rear locking mechanism 15 in the transverse center is flanked by two rear locking mechanisms 15 located axially symmetrically to the side of it.

[0039] Unlike threading the sealing strip 12 behind the retaining means 14, the sealing strip 12 is pressed over at least one rear detent 15 for installation, i.e., pressed into the cover 11 from behind without any further effort. This can be done manually and requires no special measures, so the installation effort is not increased here either.

[0040] Overall, the invention ensures that the seal 12 is positioned in the intended location and remains there. The tooling concept of the aperture 11 is designed such that all contours provided for this purpose (in particular the retaining means 14 and the detents 15) are integral to the tooling and no increase in cycle time is required. Reference symbol list: 1 household appliance, 2 washing containers, 3 doors, 4 cases, 5. Door opening direction, 6 Top of the aperture, 7 Interior door, 8 Exterior door, 9 Front of the aperture, 10 Sub-area for electronic and / or electrical components, 11 aperture, 12 sealing strands, 13 recording channels, 14 containment devices, 15 rear resting positions, 16 end areas, 17 frontal boundaries 18 Cross center, 19 Enema aid, V Front

Claims

[1] Household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, with at least one door (3) arranged on a front (V) of the household appliance (1) facing the user, wherein the door (3) is multi-part and has an inner door (7) facing substantially into an interior of the household appliance, an outer door (8) connected thereto and facing forward, and a cover (11) in the upper area which is sealed against the inner door (7), characterized by , that for sealing the cover (11) against the inner door (7) at least one sealing strip (12) is provided which is held floating in a receiving channel (13) and secured in a form-fitting manner and has a slight undersize of a few tenths of millimeters relative to the receiving channel (13). [2] Household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, with at least one door (3) arranged on a front (V) of the household appliance (1) facing the user, wherein the door (3) is multi-part and has an inner door (7) facing substantially into an interior of the household appliance, an outer door (8) connected thereto and facing forward, and a cover (11) in the upper area which is sealed against the inner door (7), in particular according to claim 1, characterized by , that for sealing the cover (11) against the inner door (7) at least one sealing strand (12) is provided, which is held floating in a receiving channel (13) and is secured at its end regions (16) each behind a retaining means (14) in the receiving channel (13) and has a slight undersize of a few tenths of millimeters relative to the receiving channel (13). [3] Household appliance (1) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the sealing strand (12) is inserted into the receiving channel (13) in the direction of its longitudinal extension in such a way that, in the assembled position, it engages behind the retaining means (14). [4] Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by , that the receiving channel (13) is essentially C-shaped and the retention means (14) partially narrow the cross-section of the receiving channel. [5] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by , that the restraint means (14) protrude from below into the cross-section of the receiving channel (13) in the closed door position (3). [6] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by that the retaining means (14) are flush with the back of the aperture (11). [7] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by, that the receiving channel (13) runs horizontally and transversely to the front (V) of the door (3) and the retaining means (14) have an extension of a few millimeters in the transverse direction of the door (3). [8] Household appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the restraint means (14) have an extension of 3 to 7 millimeters in the transverse direction of the door (3). [9] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized by , that the retaining means (14) each have at their ends facing a transverse center (18) of the door (3) an inlet aid (19) for pushing behind the sealing strand (12). [10] Household appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the enema aid (19) is designed as a chamfered area. [11] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by, that the sealing strand (12) is designed with an undersize of 1 to 3 tenths of a millimeter compared to the receiving channel (13). [12] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the sealing strand (12) is secured in the receiving channel (13) by at least one rear detent (15). [13] Household appliance (1) according to claim 12, characterized by , that the sealing strand (12) is pressed over at least one rear detent (15) for its assembly. [14] Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 12 to 13, characterized by that the rear detent(s) (15) is or are axially symmetric to a transverse center (18) of the door (3). [15] Household appliance (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized by , that one to three rear detents (15) are provided on the receiving channel (13).

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