Laundry care appliance comprising a thermal insulation element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance (100) with an appliance housing (103) which defines an interior space (105) and which has a housing opening (109), and an appliance door (107) which is designed to close the housing opening (109) in a closed state, wherein the appliance door (107) has an interior door area (113) which, in the closed state of the appliance door (107), extends through the housing opening (109) into the interior space (105), and wherein the appliance door (107) has an exterior door surface (111) which defines the exterior of the appliance door (107), wherein the exterior door surface (111) and the interior door surface (113) define a receiving area (115) arranged within the appliance door (107), and wherein the exterior door surface (111) has a pivotable opening area (117) to allow a user of the laundry care appliance (100) To allow access to the admissions area (115).The laundry care appliance (100) has a storage container (118) for storing laundry care substance, wherein the storage container (118) is arranged in the receiving area (115), and the storage container (118) has at least one thermal insulation element (119) which is designed to reduce heat flow from the inside of the door (113) to the storage container (118) in order to prevent excessive heating of the laundry care substance received in the storage container (118).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance with a thermal insulation element.

[0002] In conventional laundry care appliances, the appliance door has a curved interior door area which, when the appliance door is closed, extends through the housing opening into the appliance interior. Between the interior door area and an exterior door side, there is a cavity which is not typically used in conventional laundry care appliances, even though the cavity has a sufficiently large volume to store, for example, laundry care substance in a storage container accommodated in the cavity. However, for storing, for example, laundry care substance in the storage container, it is crucial that the temperature in the storage container does not rise too much to avoid damaging the laundry care substance stored in the storage container.

[0003] EP 3 502 335 A1 discloses a washing machine with a plurality of containers in a door.

[0004] It is the object underlying the invention to provide a laundry care appliance in which an advantageous storage of laundry care substance can be achieved in an interior of the appliance door of the laundry care appliance.

[0005] This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a laundry care appliance comprising an appliance housing which delimits an interior space of the appliance and which has a housing opening, and an appliance door which is designed to close the housing opening when closed, wherein the appliance door has an interior door region which, when the appliance door is closed, extends through the housing opening into the interior space of the appliance, and wherein the appliance door has an exterior door side which delimits the exterior of the appliance door, wherein the exterior door side and the interior door region delimit a receiving area arranged within the appliance door, and wherein the exterior door side has a pivotable opening area to allow a user of the laundry care appliance access to the receiving area, wherein the laundry care appliance has a storage container for storing laundry care substance,wherein the storage container is arranged in the receiving area, and wherein the storage container has at least one thermal insulation element which is designed to reduce a heat flow from the door interior to the storage container in order to prevent excessive heating of the laundry care substance received in the storage container.

[0007] This achieves the technical advantage of preventing excessive heating of the laundry care substance contained in the storage container, even if the laundry care appliance carries out a laundry care program at a high temperature, for example 90°C.

[0008] If the washing liquid in the laundry care appliance is heated to a high temperature during the laundry care program, for example, 90°C, the washing liquid comes into contact with the interior of the appliance door, causing the interior of the door to heat up. A correspondingly heated interior of the door, which defines the receiving space within the appliance door, also heats the storage container located within the receiving space. The thermal insulation element of the storage container reduces heat flow from the interior of the door to the storage container, preventing the laundry care substance contained in the storage container from heating up to such an extent that it is damaged.

[0009] In particular, the thermal insulation element is designed to space the storage container from the interior of the appliance door in order to achieve effective thermal insulation between the storage container and the interior of the appliance door. By spacing the two components apart, air is present at least in some areas between the interior of the appliance door and the storage container, which improves the thermal insulation effect.

[0010] A laundry care appliance is a device used for laundry care, such as a washing machine or a washer-dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is a household laundry care appliance. That is, a laundry care appliance used in household management and used to treat laundry in normal household quantities.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the door inner region extending through the housing opening into the device interior has a vertically extending inner region wall, and the storage container has a rear container wall facing the inner region wall, wherein the thermal insulation element is arranged on the rear container wall in order to reduce a heat flow from the inner region wall of the door inner region to the storage container.

[0012] This achieves the technical advantage that the thermal insulation element arranged on the rear wall of the container ensures effective thermal insulation.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the thermal insulation element comprises a rib which surrounds the rear container wall at least in sections and which is designed to space the rear container wall of the storage container from the inner region wall of the door inner region.

[0014] This achieves the technical advantage that the rib arranged at least in sections around the rear wall of the container achieves an effective spacing and thus thermal insulation between the storage container and the interior of the door.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the thermal insulation element comprises elevations arranged on the rear container wall, which are designed to space the rear container wall of the storage container from the inner region wall of the door inner region.

[0016] This achieves the technical advantage that the elevations arranged on the rear wall of the container also achieve effective thermal insulation between the storage container and the interior of the door due to the effective spacing.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the door inner region has a further inner region wall which surrounds the vertically extending inner region wall, and the storage container has a lateral-side container wall which faces the further inner region wall, wherein the thermal insulation element is arranged on the lateral-side container wall in order to reduce a heat flow from the further inner region wall of the door inner region to the storage container.

[0018] This achieves the technical advantage that a thermal insulation element arranged laterally on the storage container also enables effective thermal insulation to the interior of the door.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the thermal insulation element comprises elevations arranged on the lateral-side container wall, which are designed to space the lateral-side container wall of the storage container from the further inner region wall of the door inner region.

[0020] This achieves the technical advantage that the elevations also achieve an effective lateral spacing of the storage container from the further interior wall.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage container has at least one container compartment, wherein the thermal insulation element comprises an insert which is inserted in the at least one container compartment, and wherein the insert consists in particular of a plastic with reduced thermal conduction properties, in particular silicone.

[0022] This achieves the technical advantage that a corresponding insert, in particular made of silicone, provides effective thermal insulation for the laundry care substance contained in the insert.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the thermal insulation element consists of a plastic with reduced thermal conductivity properties, in particular silicone.

[0024] This provides the technical advantage that effective thermal insulation is achieved through the appropriate material.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment, the outside of the door has at least one air exchange opening which is designed to achieve an air exchange between the receiving area arranged inside the appliance door and an outer area of ​​the appliance door.

[0026] This achieves the technical advantage that the air exchange between the receiving area and the outside area of ​​the appliance door allows heat to be dissipated from the receiving area and thus the storage container accommodated in the receiving area also heats up less.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, the outside of the door has at least two air exchange openings, wherein at least one of the two air exchange openings is designed to achieve an inflow of air from the outside of the appliance door into the receiving area, and wherein at least one other of the two air exchange openings is designed to achieve an outflow of air from the receiving area into the outside of the appliance door.

[0028] This provides the technical advantage of ensuring effective heat dissipation from the receiving area.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage container has an open container top, and the open container top is delimited on the outside by a container flange that surrounds the storage container at least in sections, wherein the container flange is designed to space the storage container from the door interior region.

[0030] This achieves the technical advantage that the container flange achieves an effective spacing of the storage container from the interior of the door.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage container has at least one fastening area, in particular on a lateral container wall of the storage container, which is fastened to the outside of the appliance door by a fastening element.

[0032] This provides the technical advantage of ensuring that the storage container is positioned in a stable manner in the receiving area of ​​the appliance door.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage container has a plurality of container compartments, in particular container compartments open on a container top side, which are each separated from one another by a partition wall.

[0034] This provides the technical advantage that different types of laundry care substances can be filled into the different container compartments.

[0035] In an advantageous embodiment, the pivotable opening area can be converted from the closed state into an open state by rotation along a horizontal axis of rotation extending through the outside of the door.

[0036] This provides the technical advantage of effectively opening the pivoting opening area.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment, the pivotable opening area has a rotary hinge which extends along the horizontal axis of rotation.

[0038] This achieves the technical advantage that the rotary hinge ensures easy opening of the pivoting opening area.

[0039] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

[0040] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry care appliance; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the Fig. 2 illustrated storage container; Fig. 4 a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a second embodiment; Fig. 5 a schematic view of the in Fig. 4 illustrated storage container; Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a third embodiment; Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a third embodiment; and Figs. 8, 9 show temperature measurements inside an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to an embodiment.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises a dispenser tray 101, into which laundry care substance, in particular detergent or other liquid substances, can be poured. The laundry care appliance 100 has a device housing 103, which has a Fig. 1 The laundry care appliance 100 has a door 107 which is shown in the diagrammatically Fig. 1 shown closed state closes a housing opening 109 for loading the laundry care appliance 100 with laundry.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a first embodiment;

[0043] The Fig. 2 The appliance door 107 shown in a closed state has a Fig. 2 non-visible door outer side 111, which limits the appliance door 107 on the outside, wherein the door outer side 111 is limited by a surrounding door frame 112. A hinge 114 is arranged on the door frame 112, which enables the appliance door 107 to be fastened to a Fig. 2 not shown device housing 103 of the laundry care device 100.

[0044] The appliance door 107 has a Fig. 2 visible door interior area 113, which is in the closed state of the appliance door 107 through the Fig. 2 not shown housing opening 109 in the Fig. 2 not shown interior compartment 105 of the laundry care appliance 100. The door interior area 113 is designed as a curved door interior area 113, which has a vertically extending interior area wall 113-1 on the rear side, and which has a further interior area wall 113-2, which surrounds the vertically extending interior area wall 113-1, ie as in the Fig. 2 is shown, is arranged between the vertically extending interior wall 113-1 and the door frame 112.

[0045] The door outer side 111 and the door inner area 113 delimit a receiving area 115 arranged within the appliance door 107, in which a storage container 118 for storing laundry care substance is arranged.

[0046] In order to allow the user of the laundry care appliance 100 access to the receiving area 115, for example to introduce laundry care substance into the storage container 118 for storage, or to remove it from the storage container 118 for use, the door outer side 111 has a Fig. 2 pivotable opening area 117, which is only shown schematically.

[0047] The present invention has for its object to prevent excessive heating of laundry care substance accommodated in the storage container 118 for storage in order to avoid a reduction in the effect of the stored laundry care substance.

[0048] This is particularly relevant when the laundry care appliance 100 carries out corresponding laundry care programs at high temperatures, for example at 90°C, since in this case the inner door region 113 arranged in the appliance interior 105 also heats up considerably and the heat is transferred to the storage container 118 accommodated within the appliance door 107 and as a result the laundry care substance accommodated in the storage container 118 is also heated, which is precisely what the present invention is intended to avoid.

[0049] For this reason, the storage container 118 has at least one thermal insulation element 119, which in the illustration of the Fig. 2 is at least partially concealed by the door interior region 113. The thermal insulation element 119 is designed to reduce heat flow from the door interior region 113 to the storage container 118 in order to prevent excessive heating of the laundry care substance contained in the storage container 118.

[0050] As explained below with regard to the Fig. 3 As shown in further detail, according to the first embodiment, the thermal insulation element 119 is designed as a rib 121 which spaces the storage container 118 from the vertically extending inner region wall 113-1 of the door inner region 113 in order to reduce heat flow from the door inner region 113 to the storage container 118.

[0051] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the Fig. 2 storage container shown.

[0052] As from the Fig. 3 As can be seen, the storage container 118 has a rear container wall 123, which corresponds to the Fig. 3 not shown, faces the vertically extending inner wall 113-1 of the door inner region 113 of the appliance door 107. The thermal insulation element 119, designed as a rib 121, is arranged on the rear container wall 123 in order to reduce heat flow from the inner wall 113-1 of the door inner region 113 to the storage container 118 by spacing the two elements apart.

[0053] In this case, the thermal insulation element 119 comprises in particular a rib 121 which runs at least partially around the rear container wall 123 and which is designed to space the rear container wall 123 of the storage container 118 from the inner region wall 113-1 of the door inner region 113.

[0054] The Fig. 3 The storage container 118 shown here has an open container top side 125, wherein the open container top side 125 is delimited on the outside by a container flange 127 which surrounds the storage container 118 at least in sections, wherein the container flange 127 is designed to space the storage container 118 from the door inner region 113.

[0055] The storage container 118 further comprises, in particular on a lateral container wall 129 of the storage container 118, at least one fastening region 131, which is formed by a Fig. 3 fastening element not shown, such as a screw, on which Fig. 3 not shown outside door 111 of the appliance door 107.

[0056] As from the Fig. 3 As can also be seen, the storage container 118 has a plurality of, in particular two, container compartments 133, in particular container compartments 133 which are open on the container top side 125 and which are each separated from one another by a partition wall 135, so that, for example, different types of laundry care substance can be stored in the different container compartments 133.

[0057] Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a second embodiment.

[0058] The Fig. 4 The storage container 118 according to the second embodiment shown differs from that shown in the Figuren 2 and 3 illustrated storage container 118 according to the first embodiment in that in the Fig. 4 the thermal insulation element 119 is not formed as a rib 121.

[0059] In the Fig. 4 In the embodiment shown, the thermal insulation element 119 comprises elevations 137 arranged on the rear container wall 123, which are designed to space the rear container wall 123 of the storage container 118 from the inner region wall 113-1 of the door inner region 113.

[0060] In addition, the Fig. 4 illustrated thermal insulation element 119 has elevations 137 arranged on the lateral-side container wall 129, which are designed to space the lateral-side container wall 129 of the storage container 118 from the further inner region wall 113-2 of the door inner region 113.

[0061] Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the Fig. 4 storage container shown.

[0062] As already mentioned in relation to the Fig. 4 As described, elevations 137 are arranged on both the rear container wall 123 and the lateral container wall 129 of the storage container 118, which space the storage container 118 from the door interior region 113.

[0063] Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a third embodiment.

[0064] As from the Fig. 6 can be removed, the thermal insulation element 119 comprises an insert 139, which is inserted into the at least one container compartment 133, and wherein the thermal insulation element 119 consists in particular of a plastic with reduced thermal conductivity properties, in particular silicone. Thus, the insert 139 can protect the laundry care substance contained in the insert 139, in particular tablets 141, from excessive heating.

[0065] The Fig. 6 The third embodiment shown can be combined with the first or second embodiment.

[0066] Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to a fourth embodiment.

[0067] The appliance door 107 has at least one air exchange opening 143 in the door outer side 111, which is designed to achieve an air exchange between the receiving area 115 arranged inside the appliance door 107 and an outer area of ​​the appliance door 107, so that warm air can be discharged from the receiving area 115, and thus overheating of the laundry care substance received in the receiving container 118 is prevented.

[0068] The door outer side 111 has three air exchange openings 143, two air exchange openings 143 being designed to achieve an inflow 145 of air from the outer region of the appliance door 107 into the receiving area 115, and the other of the three air exchange openings 143 being designed to achieve an outflow 147 of air from the receiving area 115 into the outer region of the appliance door 107.

[0069] In the Fig. 7 Also shown is an unlocking and opening element 149, by means of which the pivotable opening area 117 of the door's outer side 111 can be opened by a user. The pivotable opening area 117 has a rotary hinge 151 extending along a horizontal axis of rotation, so that the pivotable opening area 117 can be effectively opened forward.

[0070] The Figuren 8 and 9show temperature measurements inside an appliance door of a laundry care appliance with a storage container according to one embodiment.

[0071] Both in Fig. 8 as well as in Fig. 9 the interior area 113 of the appliance door 107 has a temperature of 90°C.

[0072] In the Fig. 8 as well as in the Fig. 9 The temperature measured by a temperature sensor in the storage container 118 is shown along the ordinate axis 153 as a function of time, which is plotted along the abscissa axis 155.

[0073] Both the Fig. 8 as well as in Fig. 9 The first curve 157 shown and marked by circles shows, in the case without the use of a thermal insulation element 119 according to the invention, a temperature (at the peak) of 65°C in the storage container

[0074] The Fig. 8 The second curve 159 marked by triangles shows the embodiment according to the invention with a rib 121 or with elevations 137 as a thermal insulation element 119. As a result, a significantly reduced temperature (at the peak) of 48°C could be measured in the storage container 118.

[0075] The Fig. 8 The third curve 161 marked by squares shows the embodiment according to the invention with a rib 121 or with elevations 137 in combination with a silicone insert 139 as a thermal insulation element 119. As a result, a significantly reduced temperature (at the peak) of 47°C could be measured in the storage container 118.

[0076] The Fig. 9 The fourth curve 163 marked by triangles shows the embodiment according to the invention with a rib 121 or with elevations 137 as a thermal insulation element 119 in combination with a silicone insert 139 and corresponding air exchange openings 143. As a result, a significantly reduced temperature (at the peak) of 34°C could be measured in the storage container 118.

[0077] The Fig. 9 The fifth curve 165 marked by squares shows the embodiment according to the invention with a rib 121 or with elevations 137 as a thermal insulation element 119 in combination with corresponding air exchange openings 143. As a result, a significantly reduced temperature (at the peak) of 35°C could be measured in the storage container 118.

[0078] All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the subject matter according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

[0079] The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures. Bezugszeichenliste

[0080] 100 Laundry care appliance 101 Dispensing tray 103 Appliance housing 105 Appliance interior 107 Appliance door 109 Housing opening 111 Door exterior 112 Surrounding door frame 113 Door interior 113-1 Vertically extending interior wall 113-2 Additional interior wall 114 Hinge 115 Receptacle area 117 Pivoting opening area 118 Storage container 119 Thermal insulation element 121 Rib 123 Rear container wall 125 Open container top 127 Container flange 129 Lateral container wall 131 Fastening area 133 Container compartment 135 Partition wall 137 Raised section 139 Insert 141 Tab 143 Air exchange opening 145 Inflow of Air 147Air outflow 149Release and opening element 151Rotary hinge 153Ordinate axis 155Abscissa axis 157First curve 159Second curve 161Third curve 163Fourth curve 165Fifth curve

Claims

1. A laundry care appliance (100) comprising an appliance housing (103) which delimits an interior space (105) of the appliance and which has a housing opening (109), and an appliance door (107) which is designed to close the housing opening (109) in a closed state, wherein the appliance door (107) has an interior region (113) which, in the closed state of the appliance door (107), extends through the housing opening (109) into the interior space (105), and wherein the appliance door (107) has an exterior side (111) which delimits the exterior of the appliance door (107), wherein the exterior side (111) and the interior region (113) delimit a receiving region (115) arranged within the appliance door (107), and wherein the exterior side (111) has a pivotable opening region (117) in order to provide a user of the laundry care appliance (100) to provide access to the receiving area (115), characterized in thatthe laundry care appliance (100) has a storage container (118) for storing laundry care substance, wherein the storage container (118) is arranged in the receiving area (115), and in that the storage container (118) has at least one thermal insulation element (119) which is designed to reduce a heat flow from the door inner area (113) to the storage container (118) in order to prevent excessive heating of the laundry care substance received in the storage container (118).

2. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe door inner region (113) extending through the housing opening (109) into the device interior (105) has a vertically extending inner region wall (113-1), and that the storage container (118) has a rear container wall (123) which faces the inner region wall (113-1), wherein the thermal insulation element (119) is arranged on the rear container wall (123) in order to reduce a heat flow from the inner region wall (113-1) of the door inner region (113) to the storage container (118).

3. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the thermal insulation element (119) comprises a rib (121) which runs at least partially around the rear container wall (123) and which is designed to space the rear container wall (123) of the storage container (118) from the inner region wall (113-1) of the door inner region (113).

4. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the thermal insulation element (119) comprises elevations (137) arranged on the rear container wall (123), which are designed to space the rear container wall (123) of the storage container (118) from the inner region wall (113-1) of the door inner region (113).

5. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The door inner region (113) has a further inner region wall (113-2) which runs around the vertically extending inner region wall (113-1), and the storage container (118) has a lateral-side container wall (129) which faces the further inner region wall (113-2), wherein the thermal insulation element (119) is arranged on the lateral-side container wall (129) in order to reduce a heat flow from the further inner region wall (113-2) of the door inner region (113) to the storage container (118).

6. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the thermal insulation element (119) comprises elevations (137) arranged on the lateral-side container wall (129), which elevations are designed to space the lateral-side container wall (129) of the storage container (118) from the further inner region wall (113-2) of the door inner region (113).

7. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage container (118) has at least one container compartment (133), wherein the thermal insulation element (119) comprises an insert (139) which is inserted into the at least one container compartment (133), and wherein the insert (139) consists in particular of a plastic with reduced thermal conduction properties, in particular silicone.

8. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal insulation element (119) consists of a plastic with reduced thermal conduction properties, in particular silicone.

9. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door outer side (111) has at least one air exchange opening (143) which is designed to achieve an air exchange between the receiving area (115) arranged inside the appliance door (107) and an outer area of the appliance door (107).

10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the door outer side (111) has at least two air exchange openings (143), wherein at least one of the two air exchange openings (143) is designed to achieve an inflow (145) of air from the outer region of the appliance door (107) into the receiving region (115), and wherein at least one other of the two air exchange openings (143) is designed to achieve an outflow (147) of air from the receiving region (115) into the outer region of the appliance door (107).

11. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe storage container (118) has an open container top side (125), and wherein the open container top side (125) is delimited on the outside by a container flange (127) which surrounds the storage container (118) at least in sections, wherein the container flange (127) is designed to space the storage container (118) from the door inner region (113).

12. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage container (118), in particular on a lateral container wall (129) of the storage container (118), has at least one fastening area (131) which is fastened to the outside (111) of the appliance door (107) by a fastening element.

13. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe storage container (118) has a plurality of container compartments (133), in particular open container compartments (133) on a container top side (125), which are each separated from one another by a partition wall (135).

14. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivotable opening area (117) can be converted from the closed state into an open state by rotation along a horizontal rotation axis (123) extending through the door outer side (111).

15. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that the pivotable opening area (117) has a rotary hinge (151) which extends along the horizontal axis of rotation (123).

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