[002] In household appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers, in order to control the temperature, in addition to water-proof thermostats utilized whereby the temperature of the washing fluid or of the medium where washing is performed is sensed by direct contact, thermostats attached to the outer surfaces of the components such as the washing tank or the chambers where water is collected and the components of which are in contact with the washing fluid may be preferred because of cost advantage. The latter type of thermostats are generally in cylindrical form wherein the bottom surface sits on the surface where the temperature is sensed and the upper surface hosts electric connection terminals. In order for the thermostats to sense the temperature correctly, they should be mounted in such a way that enables them to be in full contact with the surface and to apply a pressure to the mentioned surface. In the applications of the current state of the art, while mounting the thermostats onto a surface usually connection members with screws and springs are utilized to push the said thermostat to the surface where the temperature is to be sensed; however, in this case, it is necessary to use insulating and fireproof materials because of the increased probability of a contact between the mentioned auxiliary components and the electric connection ends of the thermostat.

[003] In the United States Patent Document US 3870858, the thermostat which senses the temperature in a dishwasher is mounted to the outer portion of the plastic washing tank by screwing the arms extending along both sides of the thermostat body to the projections positioned at the wall of the washing tank.

[004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance wherein it is made possible to fix the thermostats used to control the temperature while increasing the electrical safety and to sense the temperature more correctly.

[005] The household appliance realized in order to attain above mentioned aim of the invention is illustrated in the attached figures where: [006] Fig. 1-is a perspective view of a thermostat holder.

[007] Fig. 2-is a perspective view of a thermostat.

[008] Fig. 3-is a perspective view of a thermostat wherein it is not attached to a thermostat holder.

[009] Fig. 4-is a perspective view of a thermostat wherein it is attached to a thermostat holder.

[010] Fig. 5-is a schematic representation of a household appliance wherein a thermostat is attached by means of a thermostat holder.

[011] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered individually as follows: 1. Household appliance 2. Surface to be sensed 3. Thermostat holder 4. Contact surface 5. Lateral surface 6. Countersink 7. Terminal 8. Upper Surface 9. Holding arm 10. Projection 11. Handle 12. Recess 13. Connection Leg 14. Thermostat 15. Chamfered surface 16. Bottom surface [012] Household appliances (1) such as dishwashers or washing machines comprise a thermostat (14) utilized to control the temperature, a surface to be sensed (2) such as a door or a body sheet metal which is in contact with the washing fluids or the medium where the said washing fluids are circulating in, wherein the temperature changes and the temperature of which is to be sensed, a thermostat holder (3) whereby the thermostat (14) is attached to the surface to be sensed (2) and one or more projections (10) positioned on the surface to be sensed (2) which prevent the thermostat (14) from sliding to the sides.

[013] The thermostat (14) comprises a contact surface (4) which senses the temperature, a lateral surface (5) preferably in cylindrical form, a countersink (6) which is placed on the lateral surface (5) and used to fit the thermostat (14) properly, two terminals es- tablishing the electric connection and an upper surface (8).

[014] The thermostat holder (3) comprises two flexible holding arms (9) which prevent the thermostat (14) that sits on the surface to be sensed (2) from moving in all horizontal and vertical directions by grasping it at the lateral surface (5), which allow the rotational motion of the thermostat (14) in order to facilitate the terminal (7) connections and whereby the thermostat (14) applies a pressure to the surface to be sensed (2) via the vertical component of the pressure force applied perpendicularly to the surface of the countersink (6) by applying a pressure to the surface of the countersink (6), and thereby to sense the temperature more correctly.

[015] The holding arm (9) comprises a chamfered surface (15) wherein the holding arms (9) bend and open to the sides while placing the thermostat (14) by pushing from the top, a bottom surface (16) which prevents the thermostat (14) from detaching by bearing to the countersink (6) after the placing, one or more handles (11) reinforcing the structure, one or more recesses (12) which facilitate the bending of the said arm and one or more connection legs (13) whereby the holding arms (9) are fastened to the surface to be sensed (2) and are positioned at a distance to the terminals (7) in accordance with the standards.

[016] In the application according to the present invention, the thermostat (14) is pushed from the upper surface (8) while positioning between the holding arms (9) and by bearing to the chamfered surfaces (15) it opens the holding arms (9) to the sides. The thermostat (14) is placed on the surface to be sensed (2) by passing between the holding arms (9) such that the contact surface (4) is at the bottom. The holding arms (9) become free and grasp the lateral surface (5) while the bottom surfaces (16) bear up to the countersink (6). Thereby the thermostat (14) is fixed and thus it does not detach easily. Since the surface of the countersink (6) is inclined, the vertical component of the pressure force applied perpendicularly to the surface of the countersink (6) while the holding arms (9) push to the lateral surface (5) of the thermostat (14) provides that the contact surface (4) of the thermostat (14) sits on the surface to be sensed (2) by applying a certain pressure. The holding arms (9) are in contact only with the lateral surface (5) of the thermostat (14) and the distance between the holding arms (9) and the terminals (7) positioned near the upper surface (8) of the thermostat (14) does not change, in accordance with some standards such as VDE, even when the thermostat (14) performs rotational motion while fixed to the afore-mentioned position.

[017] By means of the thermostat holder (3) the thermostat (14) is kept fixed on the surface to be sensed (2) and also it applies a certain pressure force to the mentioned surface by just utilizing the flexible property and the structure of the holding arms (9) without the need of other auxiliary components such as a screw or a spring and thereby the temperature sensing function is carried out in a more efficient manner.

[018] Since the distance between the holding arms (9) and the terminals (7) does not change even when the thermostat (14) performs rotational motion, it is not necessary to manufacture the holding arms (9) from an insulating and fireproof material which in turn brings a considerable cost advantage.