Door and Hinge for a Laundry Machine

Abstract

A door ( 1 ) for a laundry machine includes an outer cover ( 2 ) ( 1 ), an inner cover ( 6 ), a frame element ( 4 ) arranged between the outer and inner cover ( 2, 6 ) and adapted to support the outer and inner cover, and a hinge ( 8 ) adapted to pivotable support the door ( 1 ) on a laundry machine. The hinge ( 8 ) has a body-side bearing element ( 10 ) adapted to be mounted at a body of a laundry machine, at least one door-side bearing element ( 40, 92 ) and at least one pivot element ( 12 ) pivotably connecting the body-side bearing element ( 10 ) and the at least one door-side bearing element ( 40, 94 ). A hinge reinforcement element ( 42 ) is mounted on the frame element ( 4 ) and includes at least one of the door-side bearing elements ( 40 ).

1 . A door for a laundry machine, comprising:
 an outer cover of the door,   an inner cover of the door,   a frame element arranged between the outer and inner cover and adapted to support the outer and inner cover, and   a hinge adapted to pivotable support the door on a laundry machine,   wherein the hinge comprises:   a body-side bearing element adapted to be mounted at a body of a laundry machine,   at least one door-side bearing element, and   at least one pivot element pivotably connecting the body-side bearing element and the at least one door-side bearing element;   wherein, a hinge reinforcement element is mounted on the frame element and comprises at least one of said door-side bearing elements.   
     
     
         2 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame element is made of a first material and said hinge reinforcement element is made of a second material, wherein the second material is mechanically more stable than the first material. 
     
     
         3 . A door according to  claim 2 , wherein the first material is plastic and the second material is metal. 
     
     
         4 . A door according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second materials are plastic and the second plastic is more stable than the first plastic. 
     
     
         5 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said door-side bearing elements provided at the hinge reinforcement element is provided at an arm extending from said hinge reinforcement element. 
     
     
         6 . A door according to  claim 5 , wherein said hinge reinforcement element is U- or C-shaped having two of said arms as C- or U-brackets. 
     
     
         7 . A door according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one arm extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the pivot axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         8 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame element comprises an outer frame member and the radial extension of the outer frame member towards the center of the frame element is greater in a hinge mounting section of the frame element than the radial extension of the outer frame member in other sections thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge reinforcement element comprises a base plate or base block for fixing the hinge reinforcement element to the frame element, wherein the base plate or base block extends radially inward toward the frame element center with respect to a pivot axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         10 . A door according to  9 , wherein the base plate or base block has a substantial portion arranged offset to the pivoting axis of the hinge towards the center of the frame element. 
     
     
         11 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one stop element is provided at said hinge reinforcement element and is adapted to limit a pivoting range of the hinge at a predetermined opening angle. 
     
     
         12 . A door according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said stop elements is arranged at an arm of said hinge reinforcement element. 
     
     
         13 . A door hinge according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said stop elements is formed integrally or monolithically with the hinge reinforcement element. 
     
     
         14 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein a sleeve is inserted into a pivot hole of at least one of said at least one door-side bearing elements and/or into at least one pivot element receiver provided at said body-side bearing element, wherein preferably said sleeve is adapted to receive a corresponding one of said pivot elements free of clearance and/or in a locking manner and/or in a friction fit manner. 
     
     
         15 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said door-side bearing elements is provided by the frame element and wherein at least one of said door-side bearing elements is provided by said hinge reinforcement element. 
     
     
         16 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge reinforcement element and/or the frame element has at least two of said door-side bearing elements arranged in an axially spaced relationship with respect to the pivoting axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         17 . A door according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one door-side bearing elements provided by the hinge reinforcement element is arranged axially aligned and in close proximity to the at least one of said door-side bearing elements provided by the frame element. 
     
     
         18 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge reinforcement element is formed of a metal plate having at least one bent arm each forming or comprising one of said door-side bearing elements. 
     
     
         19 . A door according to  claim 18 , wherein said stop element is arranged at said bent arm, said stop element being formed of a bent protrusion extending from said bent arm. 
     
     
         20 . A door according to  claim 19 , wherein said stop element is arranged close to said door-side bearing element. 
     
     
         21 . A door according to  claim 1 , wherein the body-side bearing element comprises at least two bearing members arranged coaxial to each other and axially spaced from each other, said bearing members being connected by a rib or bar. 
     
     
         22 . A laundry treating machine having a door according to  claim 1 , wherein the body-side bearing element is mounted at a loading opening frame of the laundry machine. 
     
     
         23 . A laundry treating machine having a door according to  claim 22 , wherein the door is a front loading door of the laundry machine.