TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, dryers and/or similar household appliances. In particular, the present invention relates to a closing and opening device, in particular for hatches, doors or the like, for example of household appliances of the aforesaid type. In detail, the present invention relates to a device of the aforesaid type adapted to be mounted on and/or fastened to a household appliance of the aforesaid type according to procedures which are simple, immediate, and quick to implement or actuate. The present invention also relates to a household appliance (for example a washing machine or dryer or similar household appliance) equipped with a device and/or system of the aforesaid type. BACKGROUND ART

The most common and widespread closing and opening devices and/or systems employed for household appliances such as, for example, washing machines and/or similar household appliances essentially comprise a true closing (and opening) unit, usually applied to the casing or frame of the household appliance, in particular on the rear side of the front panel of a household appliance in which the access opening is obtained in the household appliance, for example to the drum in the case of a washing machine, wherein said front panel supports the closing hatch of said access opening.

The closing and opening devices according to the prior art particularly comprise a main body which contains the locking and unlocking mechanism of a latch firmly carried by the hatch, in conjunction with an engagement portion which extends from the main body and defines an engagement opening intended to be engaged by said latch (usually hook-shaped).

The opening and closing devices of the known type are also mounted on the front panel of the household appliance so that the engagement portion is accessible from the exterior of the household appliance [and therefore, engageable by the latch by switching (usually by rotation) the hatch into closing position], wherein, contrarily, the main body is positioned on the rear or inner side of said front panel. For this purpose, the mounting operations of the closing devices according to the prior art request that an operator inserts said engagement portion, from the rear or inner side of the front panel, through a corresponding opening of said front panel, finally fastening the main body of the device on the inner side of said front panel by screws, elastic straps or alternately, by adhesives and/or welding.

However, the closing devices and/or systems of the known type and the related mounting operations described above have drawbacks and/or disadvantages that the Applicant of the present Patent Application intends overcoming or at least minimizing by means of the present invention.

A first drawback is related to the use of screws and/or elastic straps involving the preparation of corresponding holes and/or openings (at least two) intended to be engaged by said screws or elastic straps, both in the closing and opening device (in the main body, in particular) and on the panel on which the device is mounted (often the front panel).

The use of screws and corresponding engagement holes may however have a negative impact on the final appearance of the household appliance, since said holes are visible from the exterior of the device because, as mentioned, they are often obtained on the front panel of the household appliance.

Moreover, the need to provide the aforesaid engagement openings for the screws, as well as the screws themselves, results in design and layout constraints for the device, which result in constraints for the arrangement of the component parts, in particular of the locking and unlocking mechanism.

Moreover, the tightness of the mounting screws may be compromised during the operation of the household appliance (for example due to vibrations) with the risk of undesired movements, as well as even detachment of the device.

And again, the use of screws necessarily results in a non-perfectly repeatable positioning of the device, with the risk that the engagement opening may not be adequately engaged by the latch in the case of discrepancies which are greater than the tolerance limits.

Finally, the use of screws results in excessive mounting times which often are not compatible with those of the other assembly operations of the household appliance, wherein said mounting times result in excessive production costs which are not compatible with the needs of the market.

Therefore, it is the main object of the present invention to overcome or at least minimize the problems summarized above, found in the closing devices and/or systems according to the prior art.

In particular, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a closing and opening device adapted to be mounted on and disassembled from a household appliance, in particular to be fastened to a panel (for example the front one) of said household appliance and to be removed from said panel by procedures which are simple, immediate, and quick to implement or actuate.

It is also one of the objects of the present invention to provide a closing and opening device, the mounting of which on a household appliance may be carried out without the use of screws, elastic straps, adhesives and/or similar fastening means, in particular without the use of welds and/or similar procedures.

Moreover, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a closing and opening device adapted to be mounted on a household appliance by procedures which ensure the repeatable positioning of the device, thus substantially eliminating even the minimum positioning tolerances.

Finally, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a closing and opening device which ensures a reliable and long-lasting fastening to the household appliance, thus eliminating the risk of undesired movements of the device throughout the period of use of the device, and therefore eliminating the risk of accidental detachment of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is based on the general consideration that the above preset objects may be achieved, and in particular the drawbacks found in the mounting operations of the devices according to the prior art may be overcome, by means of a device which includes a fastening solution which allows to fasten the device with the engagement portion arranged through the corresponding opening of the household appliance by means of a simple movement of the device itself, said device further preventing the risk of accidental and undesired movements of the device from said fastening position.

In consideration of the above objects, as well as of the drawbacks found in the closing and opening devices according to the prior art, the present invention according to a first embodiment relates to a closing and opening device for doors and/or hatches of household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and similar household appliances, said device comprising a main body from which an engagement portion extends, adapted to be engaged by a latch carried by a hatch of said device and to be introduced through and removed from a through opening of a wall or panel of said household appliance, said through opening being delimited by a first substantially rectilinear edge and a second substantially rectilinear edge which is parallel to said first edge, wherein said engagement portion comprises an intermediate portion which extends from said main body and an end portion which extends from said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being externally delimited by a first engagement surface and a second end surface which are opposite and parallel to the extension direction of said end portion from which a first contact surface and a second contact surface, respectively, of said end portion extend substantially perpendicular to said extension direction of said intermediate portion and to said first engagement surface and second end surface, and wherein said device comprises a slider which can translate with respect to said intermediate portion; wherein said slider can translate with respect to said intermediate portion along a translation direction which is substantially perpendicular to said first engagement surface and second end surface of said intermediate portion, between a first end position and a second end position.

According to an embodiment, said slider comprises an own end surface which is parallel to both said first engagement surface and second end surface of said intermediate portion, wherein with said slider in said first end position, said own end surface of said slider is placed at a first distance from said first engagement surface of said intermediate portion, and wherein with said slider in said second end position, said own end surface of said slider is placed at a second distance from said first engagement surface of said intermediate portion which is greater than said first distance.

According to an embodiment, said slider is U-shaped and comprises a first prong and a second prong which is parallel to said first prong, said first and second prongs being mutually connected by means of a connecting portion, wherein said own end surface of said slider is defined by said connecting portion, wherein said slider can translate from said first end position into said second end position by thrusting against the end portion of at least one of said first prong and second prong, and wherein said slider can translate from said second end position into said first end position by thrusting against said own end surface.

According to an embodiment, said first prong and second prong are housed in a first guide and a second guide, respectively, of said intermediate portion of said engagement portion.

According to an embodiment, said first prong comprises an abutment projection, wherein said first housing guide of said first prong comprises a first notch or groove, and wherein said first notch or groove is engaged by said abutment projection with said slider in said first end position.

According to an embodiment, said first housing guide of said first prong comprises a second notch or groove, wherein said second notch or groove is engaged by said abutment projection with said slider in said second end position.

According to an embodiment, said engagement portion defines an engagement opening adapted to be engaged by a latch rigidly fastened to said door or hatch of said household appliance.

According to an embodiment, a locking and unlocking mechanism is housed in said main body of said device, said locking and unlocking mechanism being adapted to lock said latch when inserted through said engagement opening and to free said latch so that said latch can be extracted from said engagement opening, respectively.

According to an embodiment, said device comprises locking and unlocking means adapted to lock said slider in said second end position and to unlock said slider, respectively, so that said slider can be translated from said second end position to said first end position.

According to an embodiment, said locking and unlocking means comprise a locking and unlocking lever which can be switched by translation between a first locking position and a second unlocking position along a direction which is perpendicular to the translation direction of said slider.

According to an embodiment, in said locking position, said locking and unlocking lever is positioned between said second end surface of said intermediate portion and said connecting portion of said slider.

According to an embodiment, said device comprises repositioning means for manually repositioning said locking and unlocking lever in said unlocking position, in which said slider may be switched by translation from said second end position into said first end position.

The present invention also relates to a household appliance such as a washing machine, dishwasher, or similar household appliance, said household appliance comprising a wall or panel in which a through opening is obtained, delimited by a first substantially rectilinear edge and a second substantially rectilinear edge which is parallel to said first edge, said household appliance comprising a closing and opening device according to one of the embodiments of the present invention, said device therefore comprising a main body from which an engagement portion extends, adapted to be engaged by a latch carried by a hatch of said household appliance, and to be introduced through and removed from said through opening of said wall or panel of said household appliance, wherein said engagement portion comprises an intermediate portion which extends from said main body and an end portion which extends from said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being externally delimited by a first engagement surface and a second end surface which are opposite and parallel to the extension direction of said end portion from which a first contact surface and a second end surface, respectively, of said end portion extend substantially perpendicular to said first engagement surface and second end surface, wherein said device comprises a slider positioned at said intermediate portion and which can translate with respect to said intermediate portion between a first end position and a second end position, wherein said intermediate and end portions of said engagement portion are shaped and sized so that said device may be translated along a direction which is perpendicular to said wall and to said first engagement surface and second end surface of said intermediate portion, with said intermediate portion positioned through said through opening, wherein with said intermediate portion positioned through said through opening, said main body is placed in contact with a first main surface of said wall, said second contact surface of said end portion is placed in contact with a second portion adjacent to said second edge of a second main surface of said wall opposite to said first main surface, said own end surface of said slider is abuttingly placed against said second edge, and wherein with said intermediate portion positioned through said through opening, the translation of said device along said direction perpendicular to said wall results in the translation of said slider from said first end position to said second end position, in the positioning of said first engagement surface abutting against said first edge, and in the positioning of said first contact surface in contact with a first portion adjacent to said first edge of said second surface of said wall opposite to said first surface. According to an embodiment, with said intermediate portion positioned through said through opening, the translation of said device along said direction which is perpendicular to said wall results in the automatic switching of said locking and unlocking lever into said locking position, and in the automatic positioning of said locking lever between said second end surface of said intermediate portion and said connecting portion of said slider.

According to an embodiment, the manual actuation of said repositioning means results in the repositioning of said locking and unlocking lever in said unlocking position, in which said slider may be switched by translation from said second end position into said first end position.

Any further embodiments of the present invention are defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further clarified below by means of the following detailed description of possible embodiments depicted in the drawings in which features and/or corresponding or equivalent component parts of the present invention are identified by the same reference numerals. In any case, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the following and depicted in the drawings; contrarily, all the variations and/or changes to the embodiments described below and depicted in the accompanying drawings, which will become clear and apparent to those skilled in the art, fall within the scope of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1A and 1 B and 1C show perspective views of a closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2A and 2B show a perspective view of a fastening panel for the device according to the present invention, and a partial front transparency view of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively, fastened to said panel;

Figures 3A to 3C show a first step of the mounting process of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 4A to 4C show a second step of the mounting process of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5A to 5C show a third step of the mounting process of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6A and 6B show a perspective view and a sectional view of a detail of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a detail of said device in the final mounting position, respectively;

Figures 7A and 7B show perspective views of a detail of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 8A and 8B show a step of the disassembly process of the closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 9A and 9B show perspective views of a slider of a closing and opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention and of the device, respectively, where said slider is emphasized. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is particularly applicable in the field of household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, dryers and similar household appliances, this being the reason why, here below, the present invention will be described with particular reference to the applications thereof in the field of household appliances, in particular of dryers.

Nonetheless, it must be highlighted that the possible applications of the present invention are not limited to those described below. Contrarily, the present invention is conveniently applied in all those cases where it is necessary or at least convenient to optimize the fastening operations of an element or component to a panel provided with an opening through which said element or component may be at least partially positioned.

In the drawings, in particular in Figures 1A to 1C, 2A and 2B, the device according to the present invention is identified by reference numeral 100 and comprises a main body 110 from which an engagement portion 120 defining an engagement opening 129 extends. In the main body 110, there are housed components of a locking and unlocking mechanism of a latch, which usually is hook-shaped, for example carried by a hatch of a household appliance such as, for example a washing machine or dryer. Said locking and unlocking mechanism comprises mechanical components (such as, for example, an abutment cam adapted to be engaged by said latch and to be switched into a position in which it locks said latch, and therefore the hatch, in a closing position), as well as electrical and/or electromechanical components which are substantially known, and therefore are not described in detail for reasons of brevity. The locking and unlocking methods of the latch by the locking and unlocking mechanism are also not described in detail because they are substantially known, wherein for the objects of the present invention, it is useful to remember that the insertion of the latch (not shown in the drawings) into opening 129 results in the automatic switching (usually but not exclusively by rotation) of the locking cam into the locking position, and therefore in the locking of the hatch in closing position. It therefore is to be considered that the device 100 is mounted on a panel of a household appliance (according to methods clarified and described in greater detail later), in particular on the panel (usually the front one) which rotatably supports the hatch of the household appliance, and therefore in a position in which the engagement portion 120 is accessible from the exterior, and therefore is adapted to be engaged by the latch of the hatch by switching the hatch from the opening position (in which access to the interior of the household appliance is possible, for example to the laundry drum of a washing machine and/or a dryer), into the closing position in which, contrarily, access to the interior of the household appliance is not possible.

Again as depicted, the engagement portion 120 has a rectangular plan shape, the shape and sizes (width and length) of the engagement portion 120 substantially corresponding to those of a mounting through opening 1002 of a panel 1001 (Figure 2A) to which the device 100 is intended to be fastened (according to methods clarified in detail later) with the engagement portion 120 arranged through said opening 1002, wherein the opening 1002 is delimited by a first rectilinear edge 1003 and a second rectilinear edge 1004, which is parallel and opposite to said first rectilinear edge 1003. The engagement portion 120 comprises an intermediate portion 121 (Figures 5B, 6A and 6B) which extends from the main body 110 along an extension direction which is substantially perpendicular to the main body 110; it will be apparent from the following description that the extension direction of the intermediate portion 121 , with the device 100 in mounting position, and therefore with the intermediate portion 121 positioned through the opening 1002 of panel 1001 , corresponds to the direction which is perpendicular to panel 1001 , in particular to each of the main opposite and parallel surfaces 1010 and 1011 (Figure 3C) of panel 1001. Again as depicted, see in particular Figures 3A to 3C, the intermediate portion 121 is externally delimited by two opposite and parallel surfaces, in particular by a first engagement surface 123 and a second end surface 124, wherein the two surfaces 123 and 124 extend perpendicular to the main body 110, and therefore parallel to the extension direction of the intermediate portion 121 , and in particular wherein, with device 100 fastened to panel 1001 in completed mounting position, the first engagement surface 123 and the second end surface 124 are positioned perpendicular to panel 1001 , in particular to the two opposite main surfaces (perpendicular to the thickness) 1010 and 1011 of panel 1001. The first engagement surface 123 and the second end surface 124 are also positioned at a smaller mutual distance than the mutual distance between the first edge 1003 and the second edge 1004 which internally delimit the opening 1002 of panel 1001.

A first contact surface 125 of the end portion 122 extends from the engagement surface 123, said first contact surface 125 being perpendicular to said first engagement surface 123. Likewise, a second contact surface 126 of the end portion 122 extends from the end surface 124, said second contact surface 126 being perpendicular to said second end surface 124. As depicted in Figures 9A, 9B and 1A, device 100 comprises a U-shaped slider 200, and therefore including two parallel prongs, in particular a first prong 203 and a second prong 204, said first prong 203 and second prong 204 being joined by a transverse connection 202 which is perpendicular to both said first prong 203 and second prong 204. Said slider 200 is positioned at the intermediate portion 121 of device 100, in particular between the main body 110 and the end portion 122, wherein said first prong 203 and second prong 204 are positioned along the parallel and opposite walls of the intermediate portion 121 which join said first engagement surface 123 and second end surface 124. In detail, said first prong 203 and second prong 204 are housed in a first guide and second guide, respectively, each obtained in one of the surfaces of portion 121 which join said first engagement surface 123 and second end surface 124, wherein the connecting portion 202 is positioned in position adjacent to said second end surface 124.

Moreover, at least one of said first prong 203, second prong 204 and connection 202 comprises an abutment ridge 205 (in particular, a projection) adapted to engage a first and second groove or notch according to methods clarified in detail later.

Slider 200 is further adapted to be switched by translation along two opposite translation directions parallel to said first prong 203 and second prong 204, the translation direction of slider 200 therefore being perpendicular to both said first engagement surface 123 and second end surface 124. The connecting portion 202 of slider 200 defines an engagement surface 201 of slider 200, wherein slider

200 can translate between a first end position in which the engagement surface

201 of slider 200 and the first engagement surface 123 of the intermediate portion 121 are positioned at a first preset mutual distance (with the connecting portion

202 adjacent to and practically in contact with the second end surface 124 of portion 121 and with ridge 205 engaged in a first notch or groove), and a second end position in which the engagement surface 201 of slider 200 and the first engagement surface 123 of the intermediate portion 121 are positioned at a second preset mutual distance which is greater than said first distance (with the connecting portion 202 placed at a distance from the second end surface and with ridge 205 engaged in the second notch or groove). In particular, slider 200 can translate from said first end position into said second end position by thrusting against one or both the end portions of said first prong 203 and second prong 204, which are opposite to the connecting portion 202, the translation of slider 200 from said second end position into said first end position being possible by thrusting against the connecting portion 202, in particular against the engagement surface 201 of slider 200.

Further details and features of the device according to the present invention are depicted in Figures 7 A and 7B, which show that device 100 comprises a locking lever 300 which can be switched by translation along a translation direction perpendicular to the translation direction of slider 200 (as indicated by the double arrow in Figures 7a and 7B). In particular, with slider 200 in the second end position, the locking lever 300 is automatically switched into a first position, in which it is arranged between the connecting portion 202 and the intermediate portion 121 , in particular between connection 202 and the second end surface 124 of the intermediate portion 121 , thereby locking slider 200 and avoiding accidental switching of slider 200 from the second end position thereof into said first end position thereof.

The switching of slider 200 from its own second end position into its own first end position is therefore possible by switching the locking lever 300 from its own first end position (Figure 7A) into its own second end position (Figure 7B) in which lever 300 is positioned outside the transverse projection of the connecting portion 202, and therefore in which the portion 202 of slider 200 is released from the locking lever 300. The switching of slider 200 from its own first end position into its own second end position results in the automatic switching of the locking lever 300 from its own second end position into its own first end position (locking position of slider 200), while contrarily, the switching of the locking lever 300 from its own first end position into its own second end position (of unlocking slider 200) is possible by thrusting against a pusher 400 along a direction which is parallel to the translation direction of the locking lever 300.

The fastening methods of device 100 to panel 1001 may be summarized as follows, with reference to Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C and 5A, 5B and 5C. During a first step of the mounting process (not shown), device 100 is moved close to panel 1001 and inclined with respect to panel 1001 so that the engagement portion 120 may be partially inserted through the opening 1002 of panel 1001. During the successive step (Figures 3A to 3C), with the engagement portion 120 partially positioned through opening 1002, the engagement surface 201 of slider

200 (positioned in its own first end position) is positioned engaged against edge 1004 of opening 1002 and device 100 is rotated (clockwise with respect to Figure 3B) up to reaching the intermediate position in Figure 4B in which: the engagement portion 120 is completely inserted through opening 1002, the surface

201 of slider 200 is still engaged (abutting) against edge 1004, and the first engagement surface 123 of the intermediate portion 121 is placed at the edge 1003 of opening 1002 at a predefined distance from edge 1003). Moreover, in said intermediate position, the main body 110 is placed in contact with the surface 1011 of panel 1001 , and the contact surface 126 is placed in contact with a corresponding portion of the surface 1010 of panel 1001 , opposite to surface 1011. In this position, the contact surface 125 of the end portion 122 is not placed in contact with any portion or surface of panel 1001. Contrarily, the end portions of said first prong 203 and second prong 204 are placed at and substantially in contact with the first edge 1003 of opening 1001.

Then during the successive (final) step of the mounting process (Figures 5A to 5C), device 100 is translated with respect to panel 1001 (from left to right with reference to Figure 5B), wherein the translation of device 100 results in a thrust exerted by edge 1003 against the ends of said first prong 203 and second prong 204 opposite to the connecting portion 202, therefore in a translation of the intermediate portion 121 with respect to slider 200, and therefore in a repositioning of slider 200 from the first end position into the second end position (in which it is locked by ridge 205). Upon the completion of this step, the first engagement surface 123 of the intermediate portion 121 and the engagement surface 201 of slider 200 are engaged by the first edge 1003 and by the second edge 1004, respectively, of the through opening 1001 , any further translation of device 100 along the translation direction of slider 200 perpendicular to the surfaces 123 and 124 of the intermediate portion 121 being therefore impossible. Moreover, in said final position of Figure 5B and Figure 6B, the main body 110 is still placed in contact with the surface 1011 of panel 1001 , the contact surface 126 is placed in contact with a corresponding portion of the surface 1010 of panel 1001 , opposite to surface 1011 , and the contact surface 125 of the end portion 122 is also placed in contact with a corresponding portion of the surface 1010 of panel 1001 opposite to surface 1011 , thereby any movement of device 100 transversely to panel 1001 being impossible, the device 100 being therefore firmly fastened to panel 1001 in a reliable manner.

Finally, as mentioned, with the device in the position of Figure 6B, the locking lever is positioned in its own first end position (Figure 7 A) in which it locks slider 200.

To disassemble device 100 (Figures 8A and 8B), it is necessary and sufficient to switch slider 200 from its own second end position, translating device 100 in the second switching direction (from right to left with respect to Figures 2B and from 3 to 6), wherein it is necessary, for the purpose, to unlock slider 200 beforehand by switching the locking lever 300 from its own first end position into its own second end position by thrusting on pusher 400 and manually keeping such a thrust until slider 200 is in its own first end position. Once slider 200 has been switched into its own first end position, the engagement portion 120 may be extracted from opening 1001. It has therefore been demonstrated by means of the preceding detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention depicted in the drawings, that the present invention allows the desired results to be achieved and the drawbacks found in the prior art to be overcome or at least limited. In particular, a closing and opening device is provided according to the present invention, which: may be mounted on and be disassembled from a household appliance, in particular to be fastened to and removed from a panel (for example, the front one) of said household appliance by means of procedures which are simple, immediate, and quick to implement or actuate; may be mounted on a household appliance without the use of screws, adhesives and/or similar fastening means, in particular without the use of welds and/or similar procedures; may be mounted on a household appliance by procedures which ensure the repeatable positioning of the device, thus substantially eliminating even the minimum positioning tolerances; ensures a reliable and long-lasting fastening to the household appliance, thus eliminating the risk of undesired movements of the device throughout the period of use of the device, and therefore eliminating the risk of accidental detachment of the device.

Although the present invention was clarified above by means of the detailed description of the embodiments depicted in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and depicted in the drawings; contrarily, all those variants and/or modifications of the embodiments described below and depicted in the accompanying drawings which are apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art fall within the scope of the present invention.

The scope of protection of the present invention is thus defined by the claims.