Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing device comprising a mounting element for mounting and fixing a base portion and a body.

Background of the Invention

Currently, washing devices such as dishwashers that save both time and energy are widely used. Said washing devices conventionally comprise at least one inner compartment; at least one body with at least one opening for accessing into the inner compartment, and which comprises at least one rear wall located opposite said opening, at least two opposing side walls each connected with one of the two opposing sides of the rear wall, and at least one bottom wall connected with the sides of the rear wall and side walls and forming a closed chamber structure, together with said rear wall and side walls, on which the opening is provided (the bottom wall is preferably in the form of a tub for collecting and removing the liquids in the inner compartment); at least one base portion at a lower part of the body, which is connected to the side walls, preferably to the sides of the side walls in contact with the bottom wall. According to the state of the art, the washing devices are in general fully integrated with the base portion of the body. In this case, when the base portion is replaced (for example, in cases where the base portion is damaged as a result of impact), the base portion cannot be replaced without damaging the body, so the body must be replaced together with the base portion. This increases part and labor costs.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, washing devices are produced with the floor section being connected to the side walls and the rear wall by means of at least one connecting element so as to cover the sides of the side walls and the rear wall. However, today’s washing devices have a base portion with a form that does not completely cover the side walls, such that the bottom wall can be removed from the rear part. However, according to the washing devices included in the state of the art, the base portion cannot be mounted securely enough, which increases the risk of experiencing situations that break the connection between the base portion and the body, such as deformation and breakage during transportation and use. Therefore, it is of great importance that the base portion is securely mounted to the side walls and thus to the body, during the production, transportation and usage stages.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention provides a washing device comprising at least one inner compartment; at least one body with at least one opening for accessing into the inner compartment, and which comprises at least one rear wall located opposite said opening, at least two opposing side walls each connected with one of the two opposing sides of the rear wall, and at least one bottom wall connected with the sides of the rear wall and side walls and forming a closed chamber structure, together with said rear wall and side walls, on which the opening is provided; at least one base portion at a lower part of the body, which contacts at least one part of the side walls, characterized by comprising: at least one connecting portion located in the base portion so as to be on a side of the base portion facing a side of the side walls close to the rear wall, the connecting portion comprising at least one connection slot and at least a first mounting hole; at least one mounting element having on one side at least one protrusion extending outward from a surface thereof, and at least a second mounting hole located on the protrusion, wherein the mounting element is mounted, from another surface thereof, to the surfaces of the side walls not facing the inner compartment so as to extend from a side of the side wall in connection with the bottom wall towards the bottom portion, wherein when the body is placed on the base portion, the mounting element is inserted through the connection slot from the side extending towards the base portion, so that it is placed in the connecting portion; at least one connecting element inserted through the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole for mounting the mounting element and the connecting portion.

Thanks to the washing device according to the present invention, base portion can be mounted to the body in a secure manner. Thanks to the mounting element, the base portion is mounted to the body not only from the lower sides of the side walls. Instead, the assembly is also supported from the regions where the mounting element is mounted on the side wall. Since the recess in the connecting portion and the protrusion on the mounting element are overlapped, there is no gap between the first mounting hole and second mounting hole. This prevents the connecting element from wobbling between the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole and strengthens the assembly of the connecting element.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing device with a mounting element for mounting and fixing the base portion and the body in a secure manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing device with a mounting element for connecting base portion and side walls of the body from a side close to the rear wall.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing device with a mounting element that increases the rigidity of the connection between the base portion and the body.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washing device with a mounting element that provides ergonomically ease of assembly and serviceability.

Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the washing device according to the present invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the washing device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the washing device according to the invention in a disassembled state.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the assembly of the base portion and the body of the washing device according to the invention. Figure 4 is a side view of the assembly of the base portion of the washing device according to the invention, by means of the mounting element.

Figure 5 is a side view of the base portion of the washing device according to the invention, before assembly of the connecting element while mounting the base portion with the mounting element.

Figure 6 is a top sectional view of the assembly of the base portion of the washing device with the mounting element.

Figure 7 is another cross-sectional view of the assembly of the base portion of the washing device with the mounting element.

Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the mounting element of the washing device according to the invention.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

Washing device (Y)

Body (G)

Side walls (G1)

Bottom wall (G2)

Base portion (T)

Connecting portion (1)

Connection slot (1a)

First mounting hole (1b)

Recess (1c)

Guiding element (1d)

Mounting element (2)

Protrusion (2a)

Second mounting hole (2b)

Connecting element (3) ption of the Invention

Washing devices such as dishwashers that save both time and energy conventionally comprise at least one inner compartment; at least one body with at least one opening for accessing into the inner compartment, and which comprises at least one rear wall located opposite said opening, at least two opposing side walls each connected with one of the two opposing sides of the rear wall, and at least one bottom wall connected with the sides of the rear wall and side walls and forming a closed chamber structure, together with said rear wall and side walls, on which the opening is provided; at least one base portion at a lower part of the body, which is connected to the side walls. Current washing devices have a base portion with a form that does not completely cover the side walls, such that the bottom wall can be removed from the rear part. However, according to the washing devices included in the state of the art, the base portion cannot be mounted securely enough, which increases the risk of experiencing situations that break the connection between the base portion and the body, such as deformation and breakage during transportation and use. Therefore, the present invention provides a washing device with a mounting element in order to solve said problem.

The washing device (Y) according to the present invention, as illustrated in figure 1 - 8, comprises at least one inner compartment; at least one body (G) with at least one opening for accessing into the inner compartment, and which comprises at least one rear wall located opposite said opening, at least two opposing side walls (G1) each connected with one of the two opposing sides of the rear wall, and at least one bottom wall (G2) connected with the sides of the rear wall and side walls (G1) and forming a closed chamber structure, together with said rear wall and side walls (G1), on which the opening is provided (the bottom wall (G2) is preferably in the form of a tub for collecting and removing the liquids in the inner compartment); at least one base portion (T) at a lower part of the body (G), which contacts at least one part of the side walls (G1), and has a form not covering the entire side walls (G1). The washing device (Y) also comprises: at least one connecting portion (1) located in the base portion (T) (preferably on opposite sides of the base portion (T)) (preferably on two opposite side corners) so as to be on a side of the base portion (T) facing a side of the side walls (G1) close to the rear wall (i.e. at the rear side of the base portion (T)), the connecting portion (1) comprising at least one connection slot (1a) and at least a first mounting hole (1b); at least one mounting element (2) preferably in the form of a rectangular bar with a length longer than the length of the side walls (G1), and having on one side at least one protrusion (2a) extending outward from a surface thereof, and at least a second mounting hole (2b) located on the protrusion (2a), wherein the mounting element (2) is mounted, from another surface thereof (i.e., from the surface opposite to the surface accommodating the protrusion (2a)), to the surfaces of the side walls (G1) not facing the inner compartment so as to extend from a side of the side wall (G1) in connection with the bottom wall (G2) towards the bottom portion (T) (i.e., downwards), wherein when the body (G) is placed on the base portion (T), the mounting element (2) is inserted through the connection slot (1a) from the side extending towards the base portion (T), so that it is placed in the connecting portion (1); at least one connecting element (3) inserted through the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b) for mounting the mounting element (2) and the connecting portion (1).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two mounting elements (2) are provided to be mounted individually on each side wall (G1). Since the mounting element (2) is mounted to the connecting portion (1) located in the base portion (T), the bottom portion (T) is also mounted and fixed from the rear side of the side walls (G1) of the body (G). Said assembly is further supported thanks to the additional mounting elements (2) other than the side walls (G1).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, during assembly of a washing device (Y), e.g. a dishwasher, the body (G) and the base portion (T) are mounted after completing the assembly of the body (G). Here, before the assembly of the base portion (T), the mounting element (2) is mounted on the side wall (G1) of the body (G), especially on a surface of the side wall (G1) not facing the inner compartment (e.g. an outer surface thereof), so as to be on a side of the side wall (G1) close to the rear wall, such that the protrusion (2a) faces outwards (i.e. not facing the surface of the side wall (G1) and extends downwards from the lower sides of the side wall (G1). Then, the body (G) is positioned on the base portion (T) such that the ends of the mounting element (2) extending down from the side wall (G1) are inserted into the connection slot (1a) located in the connecting portion (1). As the end of the mounting element (2) extending down from the side wall (G1) is inserted into the connection slot (1a), first mounting hole (1b) and second mounting hole (2b) on the protrusion (2a) are aligned, and the connecting element (3) passes through the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b), respectively, to complete the assembly between the body (G) and base portion (T). Thanks to the mounting element (2), assembly of the base portion (T) to the body (G) is supported and a more secure assembly is provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion (1) comprises at least one recess (1c) extending into the connection slot (1a), having the first mounting hole (1b) thereon, and contacting said protrusion (2a) when the mounting element (2) is inserted into the connection slot (1a), so that the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b) are overlapped. Thanks to the recess (1c), when the mounting element (2) is inserted into the connection slot (1a), there will be no gaps between the protrusion (2a) and a surface of the connecting portion (1) (in other words, between the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b)). This prevents the connecting element (3) from wobbling between the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b) and strengthens the assembly of the connecting piece (3). In addition, an end of the connecting element (3) on the side of the connecting portion (1) (in other words, the head part) that is inserted into the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b) is prevented from making an elevation from the surface of the connecting portion (1).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting element (3) is engaged into the second mounting hole (2b) by interference fit. In this way, surface of the connecting portion (1) is not eroded.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting element (2) is mounted on the side walls (G1), on a side of the side walls (G1) near the rear wall, so as to be aligned with the connection slots (1a). Therefore, alignment of the mounting element (2) and the connecting portion (1) is ensured. Thus, ease of assembly is provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the mounting element (2) is fitted in the connecting portion (1), the second mounting hole (2b) and the first mounting hole (1b) become concentric. Therefore, after insertion of the connecting element (3) through the first mounting hole (1b), it can directly pass through the second mounting hole (2b). This prevents damage to the surface of the protrusion (2a) where the second mounting hole (2b) is located and to the sides of the second mounting hole (2b) during assembly of the connecting element (3). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion (1) comprises at least one guiding element (1d) in an inclined form, which guides the mounting element (2) inserted into the connection slot (1a) and the connection element (3) inserted into the first mounting hole (1b). Thus, said guiding element (1d) provides ease of assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting element (2) is symmetrical. In other words, protrusion (2a) and second mounting hole (2b) are located at the same position at both ends of the mounting element (2). In this way, incorrect assembly issues are not experienced, such as the mounting element (2) being inserted into the connection slot (1a) from the wrong side. This both shortens the assembly period and prevents the mounting element (2) from being damaged by incorrect assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the side walls (G1) comprises at least one mounting surface for mounting the mounting element (2). Said mounting element (2) is mounted on mounting surfaces by methods such as welding and riveting. Thanks to the mounting surface, side walls (G1) are not damaged while mounting the mounting element (2) to the side walls (G1).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting element (2) is made of a metal material (preferably a sheet metal). Said mounting element (2) may also be made of a plastic or a wood material.

Thanks to the washing device (Y) according to the present invention, base portion (T) can be mounted to the body (G) in a secure manner. Thanks to the mounting element (2), the base portion (T) is mounted to the body (G) not only from the lower sides of the side walls (G1). Instead, the assembly is also supported from the regions where the mounting element (2) is mounted on the side wall (G1). Since the recess (1c) in the connecting portion (1) and the protrusion (2a) on the mounting element (2) are overlapped, there is no gap between the first mounting hole (1b) and second mounting hole (2b). This prevents the connecting element (3) from wobbling between the first mounting hole (1b) and the second mounting hole (2b) and strengthens the assembly of the connecting element (3).