A household appliance comprising an electrical box
The electrical box design for household appliances addresses the fire risk associated with user intervention by ensuring the lid remains permanently attached, utilizing safety lugs and insulation to enhance safety and reduce fire risks.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/TR2024/050750
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing electrical boxes in household appliances pose a fire risk due to user intervention, as they often require complete removal of the lid for access, leading to potential misalignment or loss of the lid.
The electrical box design features a lid that remains permanently attached to the housing from one side, utilizing safety lugs and a closing surface to ensure secure attachment and prevent dislodging, while also incorporating insulation and abutment surfaces to enhance safety.
This design significantly reduces the risk of fire by ensuring the lid is always closed, preventing assembly errors, and maintaining the electrical box's isolation from the external environment.
Smart Images

Figure TR2024050750_10042025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING AN ELECTRICAL BOX
[0002] The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising an electrical box.
[0003] Almost all household appliances used daily need electrical energy to operate. Electrical energy is generally supplied to the household appliances by inserting plugs into sockets in homes. Plug and socket structures may vary depending on countries and regions around the world. This may cause difficulty in using the household appliances. However, today, there are important developments in smart home systems and most connections become invisible. Some homes do not have sockets, both due to aesthetic concerns and to increase security, especially in homes with children. The household appliances can be connected directly to electricity from the mains via cable. The household appliances having this type of connection usually have electrical boxes in areas which are easier to access. By means of the cable or socket connections provided on said electrical boxes, the household appliance is connected to the mains. The electrical boxes are components where security measures are high since electrical connections are made here. There are various standards to ensure that the electrical boxes are safe. Almost all electrical boxes are designed with high level of measures against fire risk. However, the risk of fire increases when user intervention occurs while the electrical box is located on the household appliance. The state of the art electrical boxes are generally composed of a box and a lid mounted together. The lid is usually attached to the box by means of a screw. When it is desired to access the electrical connection, the lid is completely removed from the box, and after the electrical connection is made, the lid is fixed again by means of a screw. However, this causes problems such as failing to attach the lid, forgetting to mount the same, or losing the lid. Failing to mount the lid greatly increases the risk of fire.
[0004] In the state of the art Patent Application Document No. US2021369078, a dishwasher is disclosed, comprising an electrical box.
[0005] The aim of present invention is the realization of a dishwasher which provides ease of utilization, ease of production and product safety. The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; a process chamber which is provided in the body; a control unit which enables the process chamber to be controlled; and an electrical box which energizes the control unit. The electrical box provides the supplying of the electrical energy received from the mains to the household appliance. The electrical box comprises a lid and a housing. The electrical connection is located in the housing. The housing is isolated from the external environment by means of the lid. Thus, the safety of the electrical connection is ensured.
[0006] The household appliance of the present invention comprises the electrical box having an opening provided on the housing and an extension which passes through the opening so as to enable the lid to be mounted on the housing. The opening is provided on one side of the housing, and the extension passes through the opening so as to enable the lid to be attached to the housing from one side.
[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the electrical box having at least two safety lugs which are provided on both sides of the extension and which prevent the lid from dislodging from the housing. The total length of the extension, including the safety lugs on both sides of the extension, is greater than the length of the opening. Therefore, when the extension passes through the opening, the lid is attached to the housing in an undetachable manner. The lid remains permanently attached from one side to the housing.
[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the electrical box containing the safety lugs which can be folded onto the extension when the extension passes through the opening. By means of the folding of the safety lugs, the extension cannot be removed through the opening. Thus, the mounting of the lid on the housing is strengthened and safety is improved.
[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises an electrical box having a closing surface which is provided between the extension and the lid and which extends almost parallel to the edge of the housing where the opening is arranged. The closing surface ensures that the lid surface is at least partially further inward than the peripheral edge surface of the housing. Thus, the lid completely enters the housing, and a partial gap remains on the housing after the lid surface.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises an electrical box having an insulation material which is seated on the closing surface when the lid is attached onto the housing. Thus, the safety is improved.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises one or more than one abutment surface which is provided on the housing, on the opposite side of the opening. When the lid is attached onto the housing, the extension passes through the opening from one side and bears against the abutment surfaces from the other side. Thus, the assembly of the lid is provided. The abutment surfaces also create a circumferential barrier in the housing. The user is prevented from placing insulation material into the housing without closing the lid.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the electrical box having one or more than one mounting hole provided on the lid so as to align with the abutment surfaces when the lid is attached onto the housing. The lid can be fixed to the abutment surfaces by means of screws via the mounting holes. Thus, the electrical box is completely isolated from the external environment.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the electrical box having an open position where access is provided into the housing as the lid rotates on the edge where the extension passes through the opening, and a closed position where the housing is isolated from the external environment.
[0014] By means of the present invention, a household appliance is realized, comprising an electrical box with improved safety.
[0015] A household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
[0016] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the household appliance.
[0017] Figure 2 - the partial view of the household appliance and the electrical box.
[0018] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the housing. Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the electrical box.
[0019] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows.
[0020] 1- Household appliance
[0021] 2- Body
[0022] 3- Processing chamber
[0023] 4- Control unit
[0024] 5- Housing
[0025] 6- Electrical connection
[0026] 7- Lid
[0027] 8- Electrical box
[0028] 9- Opening
[0029] 10- Extension
[0030] 11- Safety lug
[0031] 12- Closing surface
[0032] 13 - Insulation member
[0033] 14- Abutment surface
[0034] 15- Mounting hole
[0035] The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2); a process chamber (3) which is provided in the body (2) and wherein the process is performed; a control unit (4) which enables the processes performed in the process chamber (3) to be controlled; and an electrical box (8) which enables the control unit (4) to be energized with the energy received from the mains and which has a housing (5), an electrical connection (6) provided in the housing (5), and a lid (7) covering the housing (5). By means of the electrical box (8), the electrical connection (6) of the household appliance (1) is provided. Thus, electrical energy is transmitted to the control unit (4) and the operation of the household appliance (1) is ensured. The electrical box (8) provides the supplying of the electrical energy received from the mains to the household appliance (1). The electrical box (8) comprises a lid (7) and a housing (5). The electrical connection (6) is located in the housing (5). The housing (5) is isolated from the external environment by means of the lid (7). Thus, the safety of the electrical connection (6) is ensured.
[0036] The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises the electrical box (8) having an opening (9) provided on the housing (5), and an extension which is provided on the lid (7) and which passes through the opening (9) so as to enable the lid (7) to be mounted on the housing (5). The extension (10) provided on one side of the lid (7) is passed through the opening (9) provided on the housing (5). Thus, the lid (7) and the housing (5) are attached to each other from one side. Since the lid (7) can be attached to the housing (5) from one side, the need for completely removing the lid (7) from the housing (5) when the electrical box (8) is opened for the electrical connection (6) is eliminated. Thus, it is ensured that the lid (7) is closed at all times.
[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the electrical box (8) having at least two safety lugs (11) which are provided on both sides of the extension (10) and which prevent the lid (7) from dislodging from the housing (5). The total length of the extension (10), including the safety lugs (11) on both sides of the extension (10), is greater than the length of the opening (9). Therefore, the extension (10), together with the safety lugs (11), is passed through the opening (9) by first passing one lug (11), then sliding the same a little and passing the other lug (11). By means of the safety lugs (11), the extension (10) is prevented from dislodging from the opening (9). Thus, the housing (5) and the lid (7) are completely joined over one side. It is ensured that the lid (7) remains on the housing (5) in all cases and is closed to complete the assembly.
[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the electrical box (8) having the safety lugs (11) which fold over the extension (10) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5) so as to prevent the extension (10) from passing through the opening (9). After the extension (10) and the safety lugs (11) are passed through the opening (9), the safety lugs (11) are folded onto the extension (10). The surfaces of the extension (10) and the safety lugs (11) are folded so as to form an angle of almost 90 degrees with respect to each other. Thus, the extension (10) is prevented from dislodging from the opening (9) in an uncontrolled manner. The mounting of the lid (7) on the housing (5) is strengthened and safety is improved.
[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the electrical box (8) a closing surface (12) which is provided between the extension (10) and the lid (7) and which extends almost parallel to the edge of the housing (5) so as to ensure that the lid (7) is at least partially inside with respect to the edge of the housing (5). The closing surface (12) is provided between the extension (10) and the lid (7). By means of the closing surface (12), it is ensured that the lid (7) completely enters the housing (5) and the electrical box (8) is isolated from the external environment. Thus, even if there is any flame at the electrical connection (6), it is ensured that flames remain inside the electrical box (8). Consequently, safety is improved.
[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises an insulation member (13) which is positioned outside the lid (7) by being seated on the closing surface (12) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5). The insulation member (13) is placed onto the closing surface (12). Although the insulation member (13) is fire-retardant, fireproof felt is preferably used. The closing surface (12) ensures that a smaller space remains inside the housing (5) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5). Thus, it is ensured that the insulation member (13) cannot be placed without completely closing the lid (7) on the housing (5). The insulation member (13) can be placed after the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5). Thus, the safety of the electrical box (8) is improved.
[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the electrical box (8) having one or more than one abutment surface (14) provided on the housing (5), on the edge opposite to the edge whereon the opening (9) is arranged, and against which the lid (7) bears. The abutment surface (14) is positioned on the opposite edge after the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5) from one side. Thus, the lid (7) is connected to the housing (5) from two opposite edges. The abutment surfaces (14) also create a circumferential barrier in the housing (59. The user is prevented from placing the insulation member (13) into the housing (5) without closing the lid (7). In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the electrical box (8) having one or more than one mounting hole (15) provided on the lid (7) so as to align with the abutment surfaces (14) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5). The lid (7) can be fixed to the abutment surfaces (14) by means of screws via the mounting holes (15). Thus, it is ensured that the lid (7) is fixed on the housing (5) and the electrical box (8) is completely isolated from the external environment.
[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the electrical box (8) having the lid (7) with an open position where access is provided into the housing (5) as the lid (7) rotates around the edge whereon the extension (10) is provided when the extension (10) is passed through the opening (9), and a closed position wherein the housing (5) is completely isolated from the external environment. While shifting to the open position, the lid rotates on a surface without taking the extension (10) out of the opening (9). Thus, the need for completely removing the lid (7) from the housing (5) is eliminated. Since the lid (7) is not completely removed from the housing (5), problems such as forgetting to attach the lid (7) or attaching the same incorrectly are prevented. Moreover, it becomes impossible to continue the installation before shifting the lid (7) to the closed position. Thus, assembly errors are prevented and safety is improved.
[0043] By means of the present invention, a household appliance (1) is realized, comprising an electrical box (8) having a lid (7) which remains permanently attached to the housing (5) from one edge. Thus, ease of use is provided in the open and closed positions of the lid (7) and safety is improved by preventing assembly errors. Furthermore, the electrical box (8) is completely isolated from the external environment, thus reducing fire risks.
Claims
CLAIMS1- A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a process chamber (3) which is provided in the body (2) and wherein the process is performed; a control unit(4) which enables the processes performed in the process chamber (3) to be controlled; and an electrical box (8) which enables the control unit (4) to be energized with the energy received from the mains and which has a housing (5), an electrical connection (6) provided in the housing (5), and a lid (7) covering the housing (5), characterized by the electrical box (8) having an opening (9) provided on the housing (5), and an extension which is provided on the lid (7) and which passes through the opening (9) so as to enable the lid (7) to be mounted on the housing (5).2- A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the electrical box (8) having at least two safety lugs (11) which are provided on both sides of the extension (10) and which prevent the lid (7) from dislodging from the housing(5).3- A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the electrical box (8) having the safety lugs (11) which fold over the extension (10) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5) so as to prevent the extension (10) from passing through the opening (9).4- A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the electrical box (8) a closing surface (12) which is provided between the extension (10) and the lid (7) and which extends almost parallel to the edge of the housing (5) so as to ensure that the lid (7) is at least partially inside with respect to the edge of the housing (5).5- A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by an insulation member (13) which is positioned outside the lid (7) by being seated on the closing surface (12) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5).6- A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the electrical box (8) having one or more than one abutment surface (14)provided on the housing (5), on the edge opposite to the edge whereon the opening (9) is arranged, and against which the lid (7) bears.7- A household appliance (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the electrical box (8) having one or more than one mounting hole (15) provided on the lid (7) so as to align with the abutment surfaces (14) when the lid (7) is attached onto the housing (5).8- A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the electrical box (8) having the lid (7) with an open position where access is provided into the housing (5) as the lid (7) rotates around the edge whereon the extension (10) is provided when the extension (10) is passed through the opening (9), and a closed position wherein the housing (5) is completely isolated from the external environment.
Citation Information
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