The present invention concerns the field of laundry treating techniques.

In particular, the present invention refers to a laundry treating machine, preferably a laundry washing machine, equipped with a holding system for a draining line.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, laundry treating machines comprise an external casing, or cabinet, within which a laundry treatment chamber is located. An opening gives access to the treatment chamber to load or unload the laundry before and after the treating cycle.

Known laundry treating machines comprise laundry washing machines, or combined laundry washing/drying machines, provided with a washing tub which contains a rotatable perforated drum, or treatment chamber, where the laundry is placed in order to be washed with water and proper treating agents (i.e. detergent, softener, rinse conditioner, etc.).

Water for washing the laundry is directly conveyed into the tub by means of a water supply unit or by making the water flowing through a dispenser containing the treating agents.

Laundry washing machines are then provided with a draining device for draining liquid, produced by the washing process, outside the cabinet to a drainage point arranged outside the machine and which is generally located nearby the place where the machine will be installed. The draining device is preferably constituted of a draining pump and a draining hose connected to a draining outlet of the draining pump. The draining hose is preferably realized as a single hose that has an inner portion extending inside the cabinet and an outer portion protruding outside the cabinet. The draining hose is connected to the pump outlet during manufacturing/assembling process of the machine and passed through a hole in the cabinet to protrude from it. The outer portion of the hose extending outside the cabinet is then available for the installation and connection to the drainage point.

Other known laundry treating machines comprise laundry drying machines provided with a drying tub, or treatment chamber, where the laundry is placed to be dried.

Laundry drying machines are then provided with a draining device for draining liquid, i.e. condensed water produced by the drying process, outside the cabinet to a drainage point arranged outside the machine.

Analogously to laundry washing machines also know laundry drying machines have a draining device constituted of a draining pump and a draining hose connected to a draining outlet of the draining pump. Here again, the draining hose is preferably realized as a single hose that has an inner portion extending inside the cabinet and an outer portion protruding outside the cabinet. The draining hose is connected to the pump outlet during manufacturing/assembling process of the machine and passed through a hole in the cabinet to protrude from it. The outer portion extending outside the cabinet of the hose is then available for the installation and connection to the drainage point where the machine will be installed.

However, the laundry treating machines equipped with a draining device of the known art pose some drawbacks.

A first drawback posed by the known draining device is constituted by the complexity of the maintenance operations in case of failure which may affect the draining hose. For example, the substitution of a broken draining hose requires the access to the inner side of the machine, typically by dismounting a side wall of the cabinet, disconnecting the hose from the pump outlet and removing the draining hose through the hole in the side wall from where it protrudes. Installation of the new draining hose will require then the operations of connecting the hose to the pump outlet and its re-insertion through the hole in the side wall of the cabinet.

Another drawback posed by the known draining device is constituted by the complexity of mounting operation during manufacturing steps. Assembling of the draining device requires to keep the draining hose in position in order not to interfere with the assembling of other components inside the cabinet.

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks posed by the known techniques.

It is an object of the invention to provide a laundry treating machine equipped with a draining device which simplifies the maintenance compared to laundry treating machines of known type.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a laundry treating machine equipped with a draining device which simplifies the assembling operations of the machine compared to laundry treating machines of known type. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The applicant has found that by providing a laundry treating machine comprising a draining device for draining liquid produced by the treating process outside the machine, wherein said draining device comprises a draining pump having a draining outlet and a draining line comprising a first duct having a first end connected to the draining pump and a second end, and by providing a holding system for holding the draining line, wherein the holding system comprises a connection device configured to be fastened to one wall of the cabinet and apt to receive the second end of the first duct and a supporting member, forming a single piece with the connection device and being configured for supporting the first duct inside the cabinet, it is possible to simplify maintenance operations and/or assembling operations compared to laundry treating machines of known type.

The present invention relates, therefore, to a laundry treating machine comprising:

- a cabinet comprising one or more side walls separating the inner side of said cabinet from the outer side of said cabinet;

- a treating container received in said inner side of said cabinet and apt to receive laundry to be treated through a treating process;

- a draining device for draining liquid produced by said treating process outside said cabinet to a drainage point arranged outside said machine, said draining device comprising:

- a draining pump having a draining outlet, and

- a draining line comprising a first duct having a first end and a second end, said first end being apt to be operatively connected to said draining outlet of said draining pump; wherein said machine further comprises a holding system for holding said draining line, said holding system comprising:

- a connection device configured to be fastened to one wall of said side walls of said cabinet, said connection device comprising a first portion facing said inner side of said cabinet and apt to receive said second end of said first duct, and a second portion facing said outer side of said cabinet and apt to receive an end of a second duct apt to be connected to said drainage point; and

- a supporting member for supporting said first duct, said supporting member forming a single piece with said connection device, said supporting member extending from said connection device towards said inner side of said cabinet and comprising one or more holding elements apt to hold at least a portion of said first duct to prevent said first duct from moving.

Advantageously, the holding system holds in position the first duct so that it does not interfere with movements of operators or assembling automatic machines eventually used to facilitate the mounting operations.

With “liquid produced by the treating process” it is meant any liquid that necessitate to be expelled from the machine during a selected treating program, as for example water and detergent after a washing cycle or water extracted during a spinning cycle in case of a laundry washing machine or the condensed water extracted during a drying cycle in case of a laundry drying machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting member is configured to be fastened to one wall of the side walls of the cabinet.

Preferably, the side walls comprise: a base wall suitable to lay on the ground, a roof wall and lateral side walls connecting the base wall and the roof wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting member is fastened to the base wall of the cabinet, preferably by means of a snap-fit connection.

Advantageously, the supporting member is firmly fastened to the cabinet of the machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said one or more holding elements are grasping elements comprising a flexible clip with an aperture for receiving a respective portion of said first duct.

Advantageously, the first duct is easily and/or quickly inserted into the holding element thorough said apertures.

Preferably, the connection device is positioned in an upper part of said one wall and the supporting member extends from the connection device up to the base wall of the cabinet.

Advantageously, the supporting member holds the first duct for almost all its length.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting member is also configured to receive and hold one or more cables, preferably electrical cables.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting member and the connection device form a single piece of plastic material, preferably a single piece obtained by moulding, more preferably a single piece obtained by injection moulding.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second portion of the connection device externally protrudes from said one wall.

Preferably, the connection device is associated to an aperture of said one wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection device is configured to be removable fastened to said one wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first portion of the connection device extends along a first axis and the second portion of the connection device extends along a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis preferably form a 90° angle therebetween.

Preferably, the machine further comprises a retaining device configured to fasten the second end of the first duct to the first portion of the connection device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retaining device is removably mounted to the first portion of the connection device, said retaining device meshing the external surface of the second end of the first duct.

Advantageously, the retaining device avoids the second end of the first duct from coming loose from the first portion of the connection device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine further comprises the second duct.

Preferably, the laundry treating machine is a laundry washing machine. The treating container then preferably comprises a rotatable drum and the machine further comprises a washing tub externally arranged with respect to the rotatable drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the laundry washing machine further comprises a water supply unit suited to supply water inside the washing tub for washing the laundry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, provided with reference to the enclosed drawings.

In such drawings:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective front view of a laundry washing machine equipped with a draining device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 shows the machine of Figure 1 with some side walls removed therefrom;

- Figure 3 shows an inner view of the casing of the machine of Figure 2 with a draining device and a holding system according to the invention;

- Figure 4 shows a rear view of the casing of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged detail of the holding system of Figure 3;

- Figure 6 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 3;

- Figure 7 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 4 with a component removed therefrom;

- Figure 8 shows the holding system of Figure 3 isolated from the rest with inner and outer hoses associated therewith;

- Figure 9 shows the holding system of Figure 8 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 10 shows the holding system of Figure 9 from another point of view;

- Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a detail of the holding system of the invention ;

- Figure 12 shows the particular of Figure 11 from another point of view;

- Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the detail of Figure 11 from a further point of view;

- Figure 14 is a sectional plan view of Figure 13;

- Figure 15 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 5;

- Figure 16 is a sectional plan view of Figure 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to laundry washing machines, as described below. It should in any case be underlined that the present invention is not limited to laundry washing machines. On the contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied to laundry washing-drying machines (i.e. laundry washing machines which can also dry laundry) or also to laundry drying machines (i.e. machines which exclusively dry the laundry).

In the present description, then, the term “laundry washing machine” will refer to both simple laundry washing machines and laundry washing-drying machines.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a laundry washing machine 1 equipped with a holding system 40 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is described.

The laundry washing machine 1 comprises an external casing or cabinet 2, in which a washing tub 4 is externally arranged with respect to a perforated washing drum 6 where the laundry to be treated/washed can be loaded. The cabinet 2 is provided with a loading/unloading door 8 which allows access to the drum 6.

The external cabinet 2 preferably comprises a base wall 2a suitable to lay on the ground, a roof wall 2b, a vertical front side wall 2c, a vertical rear side wall 2d and two vertical lateral side walls 2e, 2f, said side walls 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f connecting the base wall 2a and the roof wall 2b.

The walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f separate the inner side of the cabinet 2 and the outer side of the cabinet 2.

The laundry washing machine 1 preferably comprises a treating agents dispenser 10 to supply one or more treating agents into the washing tub 4 during a washing cycle. Treating agents may comprise, for example, detergents, rinse additives, fabric softeners or fabric conditioners, waterproofing agents, fabric enhancers, rinse sanitization additives, chlorine-based additives, etc. The treating agents dispenser preferably comprises a drawer 11 apt to receive the treating agents therein.

Also, preferably, a water supply unit 12, partially visible in Figure 2, is arranged in the upper part of the laundry washing machine 1 and fixedly associated to the cabinet 2. The water supply unit 12 is suited to control the adduction of water coming from an external supply line, or water main, inside the washing tub 4.

The water supply unit of a laundry washing machine is well known in the art, and therefore it will not be described in detail.

In a preferred embodiment, the water is supplied into the washing tub 4 by the water supply unit 12 by making it flow through the treating agents dispenser 10 and then through a supply pipe, not shown.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a further separate water supply pipe can be provided, which supplies exclusively clean water into the washing tub from the external water supply line.

Laundry washing machine 1 preferably comprises a draining device 20 suitable for draining liquid produced by the washing process outside the cabinet 2 to a drainage point P (not shown) arranged outside the machine 1, typically a standpipe at a wall of the room where the machine 1 is installed.

With “liquid produced by the washing process” it is meant any liquid that necessitate to be expelled from the washing tub during the selected washing program, as for example dirty water and detergent after a washing cycle or water extracted during a spinning cycle.

The draining device 20 preferably comprises a draining pump 22 having a draining inlet 24 and a draining outlet 26. The draining inlet 24 is apt to preferably communicate with the bottom of the washing tub 4 where the liquid produced by the washing process is collected.

Preferably, the draining pump 22 further comprises a filtering device 9 which is adapted to retain all the undesirable bodies (for example buttons that have come off the laundry, coins erroneously introduced into the laundry washing machine, etc.). The filtering device 9 can preferably be removed, and then cleaned, through a gate 13 placed advantageously on the front wall 2c of the cabinet 2 of the laundry washing machine 1 , as illustrated in Figure 1.

The draining device 20 then preferably comprises a draining line 30 (see Figure 3) comprising a first duct 32, or inner hose, having a first end 34 and a second end 36, wherein the first end 34 is operatively connected to the draining outlet 26 of the draining pump 22.

The laundry washing machine may further preferably comprise other recirculation circuits which are adapted to drain liquid from a bottom region of the washing tub and to re-admit such a liquid into the washing tub, as known in the art.

According to an aspect of the invention, the machine 1 preferably comprises a holding system 40 for holding the draining line 30, more in particular for holding the first duct 32 of the draining line 30 and preventing it from moving, as shown in Figure 5.

The holding system 40 preferably comprises a connection device 50 and a supporting member 60 for supporting the first duct 32, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 8.

The connection device 50 is configured to be fastened to one of the walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the cabinet 2, preferably to the vertical rear side wall 2d of the cabinet 2. More preferably, the connection device 50 is fastened to the upper part of the vertical rear side wall 2d.

The connection device 50 preferably comprises a first portion 52 and a second portion 54: the first portion 52 faces the inner side of the cabinet 2 and is apt to receive the second end 36 of the first duct 32 and the second portion 54 faces the outer side of the cabinet 2 and is apt to receive an end 92 of a second duct 90, or outer hose. The second duct 90 is apt to be connected to the drainage point P.

The supporting member 60 preferably extends from the connection device 50 towards the inner side of the cabinet 2 and comprises one or more holding elements 62 apt to hold at least a portion of the first duct 32.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the supporting member 60 forms a single piece with the connection device 50. Preferably, the supporting member 60 and the connection device 50 form a single piece of plastic material, preferably a single piece obtained by moulding, more preferably a single piece obtained by injection moulding.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the supporting member 60 is also placed against one of the walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the cabinet 2, preferably against to the right vertical lateral side wall 2f, as shown in Figure 5. The supporting member 60, therefore, rests on the right vertical lateral side wall 2f.

The supporting member 60 preferably comprises a bar 66 that extends downwardly from the connection device 50.

Preferably, the supporting member 60 preferably rests on the right vertical lateral side wall 2f in a plurality of contacting points.

In a preferred embodiment, the supporting member 60 rests on the right vertical lateral side wall 2f at said contacting points by means of respective tongues 64 that protrude from the bar 66.

According to a preferred embodiment, said tongues 64 are further preferably configured to receive and hold one or more cables, preferably electrical cables (not shown) installed inside the machine 1.

More preferably, the tongues 64 are preferably configured to receive and hold one or more cables at their free ends.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the Figures, furthermore, the supporting member 60 is preferably fastened to the base wall 2a of the cabinet 2, as illustrated in Figures 15 and 16.

Preferably, the lower part 65 of the supporting member 60 is fastened to the base wall 2a of the cabinet 2 through a snap-fit connection.

More preferably, the supporting member 60 is snapped at a support portion 7 of the base wall 2a. In particular, the support portion 7 comprises slots 7 a, 7b wherein respective protrusions 65a, 65b of the supporting member 60 are received in a snap-fit manner, as illustrated in Figure 16.

It is clear that in different embodiments equivalent fastening devices may be provided for the connection of the supporting member 60 to the support portion of the base wall 2, for example through screws.

The supporting member 60 is therefore advantageously firmly fastened to the cabinet 2 of the machine 1.

Going back to the holding elements 62 of the supporting member, they are preferably constituted of respective grasping elements apt to encircling the outer surface of the first duct 32.

Each holding element 62 preferably comprises a flexible clip 62a with an aperture 62b for receiving a respective portion of the first duct 32.

The first duct 32 is easily and/or quickly inserted into the holding elements 62 through said apertures 62b.

The supporting member 60 advantageously holds the first duct 32 substantially from its first end 34, which is close to the draining outlet 26 of the draining pump 22, up to its second end 36, i.e. for almost all its length.

Advantageously, the holding effect helps to keep the first duct 32 in position and preventing it from moving, in particular during assembling process of the machine 1.

The mounting operations of the components at the inner side of the cabinet 2, for example the washing tub 4, the drum 6, the draining pump 22 etc, are therefore facilitated being the first duct 32 held in position and hence it does not interfere with movements of operators or assembling automatic machines eventually used to facilitate the mounting operations.

Going back to the connection device 50, the first portion 52 lays at the inner side of the cabinet 2 and the second portion 54 lays at the outer side of the cabinet 2. Preferably the second portion 54 preferably externally protrudes from the rear side wall 2d of the cabinet 2, as illustrated in Figure 7.

The first portion 52 of the connection device 50 preferably extends along a first axis XI and the second portion 54 of the connection device 50 preferably extends along a second axis X2.

The first axis XI of the first portion 52 is preferably parallel to the rear side wall 2d of the cabinet 2, being the rear side wall 2d defined by a substantially planar wall. The second axis X2 of the second portion 54 is preferably perpendicular to the rear side wall 2d of the cabinet 2. The first axis XI and said second axis X2, preferably, form an angle therebetween of 90°.

In different embodiments, nevertheless, the two portions 52, 54 are arranged so that the two axis XI, X2 may form different angles than 90° therebetween.

The first portion 52 of the connection device 50 is preferably configured to receive the second end 36 of the first duct 32 and the second portion 54 of the connection device 50 is configured to receive the end 92 of the second duct 90, as shown in Figures 4 and 8.

The first portion 52 of the connection device 50 preferably comprises a tubular portion 52a configured to receive the second end 36 of the first duct 32. The tubular portion 52a preferably encircles the outer surface of the second end 36 of the first duct 32. The tubular portion 52a preferably extends along said first axis XI.

The first portion 52 of the connection device 50 preferably comprises a flanged portion 70 apt to abut the inner surface of rear side wall 2d.

The second portion 54 of the connection device 50 preferably comprises a male pipe fitting so that it advantageously receives the end 92 of the second duct 90. The end 92 of the second duct 90 is then preferably fixed to the second portion 54 of the connection device 50 in known manner, for example through a worm gear hose clamp (not shown).

Preferably, a retaining device 80 is associate to the first portion 52 of the connection device 50 to avoid the second end 36 of the first duct 32 from coming loose from the first portion 52 of the connection device 50, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

The retaining device 80 preferably meshes the external surface of the second end 36 of the first duct 32.

Preferably, the retaining device 80 comprises a spring element 82, for example a U-shaped spring element 82, which is received in the first portion 52 of the connection device 50 and that engages an undercut 84 provided at the second end 36 of the first duct 32 (see Figure 14).

Preferably, the second end 36 of the first duct 32 comprises a connector having an external shaped corrugated profile. The undercut 84 is hence preferably defined by a groove of said corrugated profile.

Sealing elements 85, such as plastic O-rings, are then preferably interposed between the first portion 52 of the connection device 50 and the external surface of the second end 36 of the first duct 32. Preferably, sealing elements 85 are arranged in respective grooves of the corrugated profile.

The connection device 50 is preferably associated to an aperture 72 of the vertical rear side wall 2d.

Furthermore, the connection device 50 is preferably configured to be removable fastened to the vertical rear side wall 2d. At this purpose, the connection device 50 preferably comprises an L-shaped plug 74 which is inserted in a slot 76 of the vertical rear side wall 2d. The plug 74 is preferably realized in the flanged portion 70 of the first portion 52 of the connection device 50.

Fastening of the connection device 50 to the vertical rear side wall 2d firstly requires insertion of the second portion 54 through the aperture 72 of the vertical rear side wall 2d and insertion of the plug 54 through the slot 76 of the vertical rear side wall 2d. The connection device 50 is then rotated until the L-shaped plug 74 is blocked in the slot 76, as shown in Figure 7.

A screw 78 preferably finally fixes the connection device 50 to the vertical rear side wall 2d of the cabinet 2.

The fastening screw 78 advantageously engages a respective hole 86 provided in the connection device 50. The fixing hole 78 is preferably defined in the flanged portion 70 of the connection device 50.

It is clear that in different embodiments equivalent fastening devices may be provided.

According to the invention, as described above, the draining line 30 is provided with a first duct 32, or inner hose, arranged in the inner side of the cabinet 2 and connecting the draining pump 22 to the connection device 50 and a second duct 90, outer hose, connecting the connection device 50 to the drainage point P.

Advantageously, in the presence of a failure/breaking of the outer hose 90 maintenance operations simply require the substitution of the outer hose 90 with a new hose. No one dismounting process of the cabinet 2 is therefore required, as it happens in the known machines, thus simplifying maintenance operations.

At the same time, advantageously, the holding system 40 of the invention allows to simplify the assembling operations of the draining device by keeping the first duct 32 in position during operations, as explained above.

It has thus been shown that the present invention allows all the set objects to be achieved. In particular, it makes possible to simplify maintenance operations and/or assembling operations compared to laundry treating machines of known type.

It is underlined that the holding system of the invention has been described with reference to a laundry washing machine illustrated; however, the holding system according to the invention can be applied as well to a laundry drying machine. In this case, the draining device may preferably comprise a draining pump having a draining inlet and a draining outlet, wherein the draining inlet is apt to preferably communicate with a collecting tray, or a tank, apt to collect the condensed water produced by the drying process.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described herein; on the contrary, further variants of the embodiment described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims.