Modular system for drums of laundry care devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506179-B2
Application number	US-30884507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2007
Priority date	Jun 27, 2006
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A modular system for drums of laundry care devices including at least one of washing machines and driers, the modular system including at least two similarly configured base bodies for securing to a respective drum, wherein the at least two similarly configured base bodies are configured for mounted receipt of at least two different functional parts, with the at least two different functional parts being interchangeable on a respective one of the at least two different base bodies.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular system of laundry care devices including washing machines and/or driers, the modular system comprising:
a plurality of drums, the plurality of drums including a first drum and a second drum;
a plurality of different functional parts, each functional part having a different function, the plurality of different functional parts including:
a first functional part having a first function and a second functional part having a second function,
wherein each functional part is selected from a group of functional part types consisting of agitators, damping bodies, measuring sensors, components of a fluid system, components of a washing agent and additive dosing system, and components of a treatment air system,
wherein the first functional part is a different type of functional part than the second functional part, and each functional part includes:
a base body configured to be removably attached to a respective drum of a laundry care device, each base body being identically configured and interchangeable on the drums with the other base bodies; and
a functional portion to provide the function of the respective functional part,

wherein each functional portion has a specific laundry function that is different from a laundry function of the other functional portions,
wherein the base body of the first functional part is removably attached to the first drum, and the base body of the second functional part is removably attached to the second drum,
wherein each identically configured interchangeable base body while being attached to a respective drum of a laundry care device is configured for individual mounted receipt of each functional portion, with each functional portion being interchangeable on a respective one of the identically configured interchangeable base bodies while the respective identically configured interchangeable base body is attached to the respective drum,
wherein the functional portion of the first functional part is detachably mounted on the base body of the first functional part, and the functional portion of the second functional part is detachably mounted on the base body of the second functional part, and
wherein the specific laundry function of each functional portion causes a respective functional part, when attached to a respective drum of a laundry care device, to function differently than the other functional parts would function when attached to respective drums of laundry care devices, during operation of the laundry care device.

2. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the functional portion of the first functional part includes:
a molded body which is configured to be installed on a first base body of the identically configured interchangeable base bodies; and
at least one insertion part which is configured to be installed on the molded body,
wherein the at least one insertion part is a component part of a set of insertion parts.

3. The modular system according to claim 2 , wherein the molded body primarily determines at least one of a first geometry and the first function of the first functional part, and the at least one insertion part is primarily designed to enhance an appearance of the first functional part and/or to identify a model of a laundry care device.

4. The modular system according to claim 2 , wherein an edge region of the molded body lying on a drum casing of the respective drum is formed with a lip-shaped narrowing region.

5. The modular system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one insertion part fits flush with the molded body at edges of the molded body.

6. The modular system of claim 1 , wherein the first functional part is an agitator, and wherein an insertion part is insertable in the agitator.

7. The modular system of claim 2 , wherein the molded body determines the first function of the first functional part.

8. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein each functional portion has a connection portion to connect to the identically configured interchangeable base bodies.

9. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the identically configured interchangeable base bodies are configured to be removably attached to the respective drum via a fastener.

10. The modular system according to claim 9 , wherein each functional portion includes a connection portion to connect to the identically configured interchangeable base bodies independently of the fastener.

11. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the functional portion of the first functional part includes a molded body.

12. The modular system according to claim 11 , wherein the functional portion of the first functional part includes an insertion part to be inserted into a respective molded body.

13. The modular system according to claim 11 , wherein the molded body forms at least part of an agitator.

14. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the functional portion of the first functional part includes a convex portion.

15. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the functional portion of the first functional part includes a curved crest line on an agitator.

16. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the first functional part is an agitator, and the second functional part is a damping body, a measuring sensor, a component of a fluid system, a component of a washing agent and additive dosing system, or a component of a treatment air system.

17. A modular system of laundry care devices including washing machines and/or driers, the modular system comprising:
a plurality of drums, the plurality of drums including a first drum and a second drum;
a plurality of different agitators, each agitator having a different function, the plurality of different agitators including:
a first agitator having a first function and a second agitator having a second function different than the first function,
wherein each agitator includes:
a base body configured to be removably attached to a respective drum of a laundry care device, each base body being identically configured and interchangeable on the drums with the other base bodies; and
a functional portion to provide the function of the respective agitator,

wherein each functional portion has a geometrical form that is different from a geometrical form of the other functional portions,
wherein the base body of the first agitator is removably attached to the first drum, and the base body of the second agitator is removably attached to the second drum,
wherein each identically configured interchangeable base body while being attached to a respective drum of a laundry care device is configured for individual mounted receipt of each functional portion, with each functional portion being interchangeable on a respective one of the identically configured interchangeable base bodies while the respective identically configured interchangeable base body is attached to the respective drum, and
wherein the functional portion of the first agitator is detachably mounted on the base body of the first agitator, and the functional portion of the second agitator is detachably mounted on the base body of the second agitator,
wherein the geometrical form of each functional portion is configured to cause a respective agitator, when attached to a respective drum of a laundry care device, to function differently than the other agitators would function when attached to respective drums of laundry care devices, during operation of the laundry care device.

18. The modular system according to claim 17 , wherein th

Assignees

• Geyer Johannes
• Ratfisch Uwe
• Wildung Wilfried
• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Geyer Johannes
• Ratfisch Uwe
• Wildung Wilfried

Classifications

• D06F25/00

  Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air  (control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00) · CPC title

• D06F37/04

  adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis · CPC title

• D06F37/06 Primary

  Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle · CPC title

• D06F58/04

  Details  (controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00) · CPC title

• D06F2103/32

  Temperature · CPC title