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EP-4736730-A1 - A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE HAVING IMPROVED HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE FEET

EP4736730A1EP 4736730 A1EP4736730 A1EP 4736730A1EP-4736730-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a processing chamber (3) which is disposed in the body (2); a casing (4) which is disposed under the processing chamber (3) and whereon the components are grouped; at least one foot (5) which is disposed on the casing (4) and having a gear thereon for providing height adjustment as needed; a horizontal gear (6) which is connected to the gear on the foot (5); and at least one adjustment shaft (7) which enables the horizontal gear (6) to be rotated so as to ensure the adjustment of the foot (5).

Inventors

  • BASESME, TUGRUL
  • UNAL, Emin
  • KAYHAN, Taner

Assignees

  • Arçelik Anonim Sirketi

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250630

Claims (14)

  1. A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a processing chamber (3) which is disposed in the body (2); a casing (4) which is disposed under the processing chamber (3) and whereon the components are grouped; at least one foot (5) which is disposed on the casing (4) and having a gear thereon for providing height adjustment as needed; a horizontal gear (6) which is connected to the gear on the foot (5); and at least one adjustment shaft (7) which enables the horizontal gear (6) to be rotated so as to ensure the adjustment of the foot (5), characterized by a housing (8) which is provided on the casing (4); a first mounting member (9) which is attached to the housing (8); a second mounting member (10) which enables the adjustment shaft (7) to be rotated from the opposite edge of the casing (4), and a movement mechanism (11) which enables the adjustment shaft (7) to be rotated at an angle by angularly connecting the first mounting member (9) and the second mounting member (10) to each other.
  2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least two channels (12) which are provided oppositely on the first mounting member (9), a protrusion (13) which is provided on the second mounting member (10) and the two ends of which engage with the channels (12); and the movement mechanism (11) which enables the protrusions (13) to move in opposite directions along the channels (12) when the second mounting member (10) is rotated by means of the first mounting member (9).
  3. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) having a nearly annular opening which is provided on the second mounting member (10) and which enables the protrusions (13) to be seated in the channels (12).
  4. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the housing (8) having a mounting chamber (15) wherein the first mounting member (9) and the second mounting member (10) are attached to each other, and a connection chamber (16) wherein the first mounting member (9) is attached to the housing (8).
  5. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) having a stepped opening (17) which is provided on the wall through which the first mounting member (9) enters the mounting chamber (15) and a circular channel (18) which is provided on the first mounting member (9) and which, when mounted onto the housing (8), forms a screw mechanism together with the stepped opening (17) so as to provide locking.
  6. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) having a plurality of claws (19) which are provided on the first mounting member (9) and which can stretch sideways and a plurality of cut-outs (20) which are provided on the walls of the connection chamber (16) so as to receive the claws (19).
  7. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) having a seating surface (21) which is provided on the housing (8) and which enables the second mounting member (10) to be attached to the housing (8).
  8. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) having a connection member (22) which enables the adjustment shaft (7) to be connected to the horizontal gear (6) and a gap (23) provided between the connection member (22) and the adjustment shaft (7).
  9. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) having a rotation knob (24) provided on the first mounting member (9).
  10. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by the movement mechanism (11) wherein the first mounting member (9) moves by rotating when the rotation knob (24) is rotated, the protrusions (13) move linearly along the channels (12) while the rotating first mounting member (9) rotates the second mounting member (10) whereto the first mounting member (9) is connected, hence, the adjustment shaft (7), which is positioned at an angle on the casing (4), rotates thereon so as to rotate the horizontal gear (6) provided at the opposite edge and the foot (5) is enabled to move in the vertical plane.
  11. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a dishwasher.
  12. A household appliance (1) as in any one of Claim 1 to 10, which is a washing machine.
  13. A household appliance (1) as in any one of Claim 1 to 10, which is a refrigerator.
  14. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 10, which is a cooking device.

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance wherein the height is adjusted by adjusting the feet thereof supporting the body thereof. In household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines or refrigerators, the height of the feet which carry and support the body of the appliance may require to be adjusted. The household appliance is balanced by adjusting the height of the feet. Particularly, built-in household appliances may require height adjustment after being placed in a cabin. The height adjustment of the feet can be made by rotating the foot around its axis by means of a wrench. In most cases, the height adjustment of the rear feet is enough to adjust the height of the appliance. For example, when the height of the appliance needs to be adjusted due to relocation, repair, or maintenance, removing multiple bearings and working on the housing may take more time than necessary for the service personnel. Therefore a practical, quick and effective process of height adjustment is required for avoiding longer maintenance times. Therefore, adjustment mechanisms are provided in the state of the art, where the rear feet can be adjusted from the front of the household appliance. The rear feet are enabled to be adjusted by means of the adjustment shaft extending from the front of the household appliance toward the rear foot. However, in the case of feet located in the middle, the shaft extending from front to rear narrows the space allocated for components mounted on the casing or restricts the movement of the shaft. This creates arrangement problems. In the state of the art Patent Document No. WO2011080230 A1, a household appliance is disclosed, comprising a height adjustment mechanism providing the height of the feet at the rear to be adjusted from a point at the front side of the body and having an adapter shaft that provides the foot to move by being rotated. The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance wherein the adjustment of the feet is performed without narrowing the casing volume. The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the first and the respective claims thereof comprises a body; a processing chamber which is disposed in the body; a casing which is disposed under the processing chamber; at least one foot which is disposed on the casing; a horizontal gear which enables the foot to move; and an adjustment shaft which is connected to the horizontal gear. The adjustment shaft rotates the horizontal gear, and the horizontal gear enables the foot to move in the vertical direction. The household appliance of the present invention comprises a housing which is provided on the casing; a first mounting member which is attached to the housing; a second mounting member which is attached to the first mounting member and which enables the adjustment shaft to be rotated from the opposite edge of the casing; and a movement mechanism which enables the adjustment shaft to be rotated at an angle by means of the first mounting member and the second mounting member moving within one another. The first mounting member and the second mounting member move by rotating within one another such that the adjustment shaft can be positioned at an angle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least two channels which are arranged oppositely on the first mounting member and a protrusion which is provided on the second mounting member and which has two ends fitted into the opposing channels. When the first mounting member rotates, the rotational motion is transmitted to the second mounting member, and while one end of the protrusion moves downward in the channel, the other moves upward. At each half turn, the ends of the protrusion switch positions within the channel. Thus, by means of the rotational motion, the adjustment shaft is enabled to be positioned at an angle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises an annular opening which is arranged on the second mounting member and which enables the protrusions to pass therethrough to be seated into the channels. The ends of the protrusion pass through the annular opening and are seated into the channels as a result of the rotational motion. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a mounting chamber and a connection chamber which are provided on the housing. The first mounting member and the second mounting member are connected to each other on the mounting chamber. The first mounting member is attached to the connection chamber and extends toward the mounting chamber. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a stepped opening which is provided on the mounting chamber as the first mounting member passes from the connection chamber into the mounting chamber and a circular channel which is provided on the first mounting member and whi