Laundry Treating Appliance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine or a machine having laundry drying functions; a laundry treating appliance according to the invention comprises a cabinet assembly ( 1 ) including a front wall ( 3 ), a rear wall ( 4 ), side panels ( 31, 32 ) arranged between the front and rear walls ( 3, 4 ) and one or more beam elements ( 10 ) for structurally connecting the front and rear walls ( 3, 4 ), the cabinet assembly ( 1 ) accommodating operational components which are required for carrying out a treatment on laundry and a control unit device designed to control the operational components, the appliance having one of the beam elements ( 10 ) made of an electrical insulating material and formed as a box member ( 6 ) having an interior housing ( 50 ) for accommodating the control unit device therein.

1 . A laundry treating appliance comprising a cabinet assembly ( 1 ) including a front wall ( 3 ), a rear wall ( 4 ), side panels ( 31 ,  32 ) arranged between the front and rear walls ( 3 ,  4 ) and one or more beam elements ( 10 ) for structurally connecting the front and rear walls ( 3 ,  4 ), the cabinet assembly ( 1 ) accommodating operational components which are required for carrying out a treatment on laundry and a control unit device designed to control the operational components, the appliance being characterized in that one of the beam elements ( 10 ) is made of an electrical insulating material and is formed as a box member ( 6 ) having an interior housing ( 50 ) for accommodating the control unit device therein. 
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  having a drum ( 16 ) for receiving laundry to be treated, wherein the beam element ( 10 ) formed as a box member ( 6 ) comprises an elongated plate ( 8 ), the control unit device being arranged over the elongated plate ( 8 ) so as to be placed between the elongated plate ( 8 ) and the drum ( 16 ). 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the beam element ( 10 ) formed as a box member ( 6 ) comprises an elongated plate ( 8 ) connected to the front and rear walls ( 3 ,  4 ) and a cover ( 7 ) for closing the interior housing ( 50 ) accommodating the control unit device. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 3  wherein the cover ( 7 ) is pivotally connected to said elongated plate ( 8 ), fastening devices ( 9 ) being provided for fastening the cover ( 7 ) onto the elongated plate ( 8 ) so as to close the interior housing ( 50 ). 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein the elongated plate ( 8 ) and the cover ( 7 ) are formed as a single, unitary piece. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 5  wherein the cover ( 7 ) is pivotally connected to said elongated plate ( 8 ) by means of a pliable surface portion ( 14 ) arranged between the cover ( 7 ) and the elongated plate ( 8 ). 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating appliance of any  claims 3  to  6  wherein the cover ( 7 ) can be applied onto the box member interior housing ( 50 ) independently from said cabinet side panels ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein the box member ( 6 ) comprises one or more fastening devices ( 51 ) to hold the control unit device. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein the beam element ( 10 ) formed as a box member ( 6 ) comprises strengthening and stiffening ribs ( 13 ) arranged on an opposite side of the beam element ( 10 ) formed as a box member ( 6 ) relative to the interior housing ( 50 ) accommodating the control unit device. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim having a drum ( 16 ) for receiving laundry to be treated, wherein the box member ( 6 ) is formed on said beam element ( 10 ) by walls ( 26 ) protruding from an elongated plate ( 8 ) towards the drum ( 16 ). 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein the cover ( 7 ) has a seat ( 55 ) for receiving at least a part of the control unit device. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein one of said cabinet side panels ( 31 ,  32 ) is applied onto a first side of the beam element ( 10 ) formed as a box member ( 6 ) and the control unit device is arranged on a second side of said beam element ( 10 ) which is opposite to the first side. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein the box member ( 6 ) comprises apertures ( 21 ,  56 ). 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein the front wall ( 3 ) of the cabinet assembly ( 1 ) is covered by a decorative, non-structural panel ( 30 ). 
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein a control panel ( 41 ) for operating the appliance is arranged on the front wall ( 3 ).