A laundry washing machine comprising a fixing bracket

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine (1) which is suitable to be placed on a laundry drying machine (20) having a casing (21) and a plurality of feet (22) fixed to the underside of the casing (21) and supporting the casing (21), and which comprises a body (2) and a top plate (3) which is provided on the body (2) and which at least partially covers the upper part of the body (2).

Description

[0001] A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A FIXING BRACKET

[0002] The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine comprising a fixing bracket which enables a laundry drying machine to be fixed onto the laundry washing machine.

[0003] Use of a separate laundry drying appliance beside a laundry washing appliance requires additional space for accommodating the additional machine. It can become an important issue to the extent that people intending to buy a drying appliance may not do so simply because he / she has no available place in the room planned for this purpose. Generally, this problem is tried to be solved by stacking the laundry drying machines onto the laundry washing machines. However, the machine at the top must be fixed to the machine at the bottom so as not to move during the operation and so as to maintain balance. There are fixing kits available for this purpose. Said fixing kits are quite complex and difficult to be assembled by the users. Therefore, said kits are generally installed by the service staff. This solution is expensive and quite troublesome for the users.

[0004] In the state of the art Great Britain Patent Application No. GB817788A, a stacking kit is disclosed, which enables the laundry drying machine to be fixed onto the laundry washing machine.

[0005] In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE3827790A1, a stacking kit is disclosed, which enables the laundry drying machine to be fixed onto the laundry washing machine.

[0006] In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE3329615A1, a stacking kit is disclosed, which enables the laundry drying machine to be fixed onto the laundry washing machine.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a laundry washing machine which allows a laundry drying machine to be fixed thereon in a safe and easy manner.

[0008] The laundry washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, is suitable to be placed on a laundry drying machine having a casing and a plurality of feet fixed to the underside of the casing and supporting the casing, and to be used together with said laundry drying machine; the laundry washing machine comprising a body; a top plate which is provided on the body and which at least partially covers the upper part of the body; at least one housing which is provided on the top plate; a fixing bracket which has a closed position wherein the fixing bracket covers the housing and an open position wherein the fixing bracket extends from the housing onto the top of the top plate and which is suitable to be fixed to the housing in the open position or in the closed position by means of a fixing member; and a holding part which is provided on the fixing bracket and which is configured to at least partially grasp the foot when the fixing bracket is in the open position. Thus, the laundry drying machine placed on the laundry washing machine is enabled to be fixed to the laundry washing machine in an easy and simple manner without using any additional fixing apparatus. Consequently, the stacked laundry washing and drying machines are enabled to be installed and used in an easy and safe manner.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, when shifted to the closed position, the fixing bracket becomes flush with the top plate. Thus, when shifted in the closed position, the fixing bracket appears as a whole with the top plate and does not create an inconvenient appearance for the users.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one support part is provided on the fixing bracket, and on the housing, there is a first support against which the support part bears when the fixing bracket is in the open position. The support part bears against the first support and enables the fixing bracket to hold onto the housing better. Thus, the vibrations generated by the laundry drying machine during the operation are dampened, ensuring a more stable operation.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, on the housing, there is a second support against which the support part bears when the fixing bracket is in the closed position. Thus, the fixing bracket sits more firmly on the housing when shifted to the closed position. In another embodiment of the present invention, the top plate has an upper surface and at least two lateral surfaces surrounding the upper surface and extending from the upper surface to the body, and there is at least one housing on each lateral surface. Thus, the feet of the laundry drying machine that face each other or positioned diagonally with respect to each other are held with the fixing bracket. Consequently, the laundry drying machine is fixed to the laundry washing machine in a more balanced and safe manner.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, there are two housings positioned opposite each other on each lateral surface of the top plate. Thus, all four feet of the laundry drying machine are grasped by fixing bracket and fixed to the laundry washing machine in a safer and more robust manner.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the holding part has a semicircular recess. Thus, the holding part can be attached to the feet more easily, providing ease of assembly.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, on the fixing bracket, there is at least one connection hole which is positioned so as to be close to the top plate when the fixing bracket is shifted to the closed position, and on the top plate, there is at least one fixing member which passes through the connection hole and enables the fixing bracket to be fixed to the housing. Thus, when shifted from the closed position to the open position, the fixing bracket makes an eccentric movement and the holding part can extend further over the top plate and grasp the foot at a higher point. Consequently, the holding part can grasp the foot more easily and safely.

[0015] By means of the present invention, the laundry drying machine stacked on the laundry washing machine can be fixed to the laundry washing machine in a simple, easy and fast manner.

[0016] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: Figure 1 - is the view of the fixing bracket in the closed position when the laundry drying machine is placed on the laundry washing machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 - is the view of the fixing bracket in the open position when the laundry drying machine is placed on the laundry washing machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 - is the view of the fixing bracket in the closed position related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 - is the exploded view of the fixing bracket related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 - is the partial view of the top plate, the housing, the foot and the fixing bracket in the open position related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the housing and the foot related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0023] 1. Laundry washing machine

[0024] 2. Body

[0025] 3. Top plate

[0026] 4. Upper surface

[0027] 5. Lateral surface

[0028] 6. Housing

[0029] 7. Fixing bracket

[0030] 8. Holding part

[0031] 9. Recess

[0032] 10. Connection hole

[0033] 11. Support part 12. Fixing member

[0034] 13. Connection part

[0035] 14. First support

[0036] 15. Second support

[0037] 20. Laundry drying machine

[0038] 21. Casing

[0039] 22. Foot

[0040] The laundry washing machine (1) is suitable to be placed on a laundry drying machine (20) having a casing (21) and a plurality of feet (22) fixed to the underside of the casing (21) and supporting the casing (21), and comprises a body (2) and a top plate (3) which is provided on the body (2) and which at least partially covers the upper part of the body (2). When used by being stacked on the laundry washing machine (1), the laundry drying machine (20) must be fixed on the top plate (3) by means of the feet (22) thereof in order to prevent vibrations which may occur during operation.

[0041] The laundry washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises at least one housing (6) which is provided on the top plate (3); a fixing bracket (7) which has a closed position wherein the fixing bracket (7) covers the housing (6) and an open position wherein the fixing bracket (7) extends from the housing (6) onto the top of the top plate (3) and which is suitable to be fixed to the housing (6) in the open position or in the closed position by means of a fixing member (12); and a holding part (8) which is provided on the fixing bracket (7) and which is configured to at least partially grasp the foot (22) when the fixing bracket (7) is in the open position. The housing (6) is in the form of a cavity on the top plate (3), and the fixing bracket (7) covers the housing (6) when in the closed position. The holding part (8) provided on the fixing bracket (7) remains in the housing (6) in the closed position, and in the open position, extends towards the foot (22) of the laundry drying machine (20) so as to remain between the top plate (3) and the casing (21) of the laundry drying machine (20) and to grasp the foot (22). Thus, the laundry drying machine (20) is enabled to be fixed to the laundry washing machine (1).

[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, when brought to the closed position, the fixing bracket (7) becomes flush with the top plate (3). Thus, when in the closed position, the fixing bracket (7) appears as a whole together with the top plate (3), and dust and dirt are prevented from entering the housing (6).

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one support part (11) is provided on the fixing bracket (7), and on the housing (6), there is a first support (14) against which the support part (11) bears when the fixing bracket (7) is in the open position. When the fixing bracket (7) is brought to the open position, the support part

[0044] (11) bears against the first support (14) and enables the fixing bracket (7) to hold the housing (6) more securely.

[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, on the housing (6), there is a second support (15) against which the support part (11) bears when the fixing bracket (7) is in the closed position. When the fixing bracket (7) is brought to the closed position, the support part (11) bears against the second support (15) and enables the fixing member

[0046] (12) to be mounted more easily into the housing (6). The second support (15) is preferably designed to be parallel to the first support (14).

[0047] In another embodiment of the present invention, the top plate (3) has an upper surface (4) and at least two lateral surfaces (5) surrounding the upper surface (4) and extending from the upper surface (4) to the body (2), and there is at least one housing (6) on each lateral surface (5). Thus, the fixing bracket (7) is prevented from occupying extra space on the top plate (3). Moreover, the fixing brackets (7) hold the feet (22) in a more balanced manner from both sides so as to ensure the safe operation of the laundry drying machine (20).

[0048] In another embodiment of the present invention, there are two housings (6) positioned opposite each other on each lateral surface (5) of the top plate (3). Thus, the fixing brackets (7) grasp the feet (22) from four opposite points and enable the laundry drying machine (20) to be fixed in a more balanced and safe manner. In another embodiment of the present invention, the holding part (8) has a semicircular recess (9). The recess (9) is in the form of a clamp wide enough to grasp the feet (22). Thus, the holding part (8) can grasp the feet (22) more easily and tightly, ensuring a safe fixing.

[0049] In another embodiment of the present invention, on the fixing bracket (7), there is at least one connection hole (10) which is positioned so as to be close to the top plate (3) when the fixing bracket (7) is shifted to the closed position, and on the top plate (3), there is at least one fixing member (12) which passes through the connection hole (10) and enables the fixing bracket (7) to be fixed to the housing (6). When the fixing bracket (7) is brought to the closed position, the holding part (8) is hidden in the housing (6), and when the fixing bracket (7) is shifted to the open position, the holding part (8) extends over the top plate (3) and can reach the feet (22) more easily.

[0050] The laundry washing-drying system of the present invention comprises the laundry washing machine (1) of the present invention described above and a laundry drying machine (20) placed on the laundry washing machine (1). The laundry drying machine (20) is fixed on the laundry washing machine (1) by means of the fixing bracket (7). Thus, an easy-to-install laundry washing-drying system is realized.

[0051] By means of the present invention, the laundry drying machine (20) is enabled to be fixed on the laundry washing machine (1) in a simple, cheap and easy manner without requiring the use of any additional components.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A laundry washing machine (1), suitable to be placed on a laundry drying machine (20) having a casing (21) and a plurality of feet (22) fixed to the underside of the casing (21) and supporting the casing (21), comprising a body(2) and a top plate (3) which is provided on the body (2) and which at least partially covers the upper part of the body (2), characterized by at least one housing (6) which is provided on the top plate (3); a fixing bracket (7) which has a closed position wherein the fixing bracket (7) covers the housing (6) and an open position wherein the fixing bracket (7) extends from the housing (6) onto the top of the top plate (3) and which is suitable to be fixed to the housing (6) in the open position or in the closed position by means of a fixing member (12); and a holding part (8) which is provided on the fixing bracket (7) and which is configured to at least partially grasp the foot (22) when the fixing bracket (7) is in the open position.

2. A laundry washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the fixing bracket (7) which becomes flush with the top plate(3) when brought to the closed position.

3. A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by at least one support part (11) which is provided on the fixing bracket (7), and a first support (14) which is provided on the housing (6) and against which the support part (11) bears when the fixing bracket (7) is in the open position.

4. A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 3, characterized by a second support (15) which is provided on the housing (6) and against which the support part (11) bears when the fixing bracket (7) is in the closed position.

5. A laundry washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the top plate (3) which has an upper surface (4) and at least two lateral surfaces (5) surrounding the upper surface (4) and extending from the upper surface (4) to the body (2), and at least one housing (6) on each lateral surface (5).

6. A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by two housings (6) positioned opposite each other on each lateral surface (5) of the top plate (3).

7. A laundry washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the holding part (8) has a semicircular recess (9).

8. A laundry washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one connection hole (10) which is provided on the fixing bracket (7) and which is positioned so as to be close to the top plate (3) when the fixing bracket (7) is brought to the closed position, and at least one fixing member (12) which is provided on the top plate (3) and which passes through the connection hole (10) and enables the fixing bracket (7) to be fixed to the housing (6).

9. A laundry washing-drying system characterized by a laundry washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims and a laundry drying machine (20) placed onto the laundry washing machine (1).

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