HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE SUPPORT BASE

Abstract

Household appliance rectangular support base for supporting at least one household appliance. The support base includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side and a rear side. The support base also includes first and second support parts that is each configured to support at least part of an opposite side of a base of the household appliance. In addition, the support base is formed by a plastic conformable upper sheet having the upper surface and a plastic conformable lower sheet having the lower surface. Each of the first and second support parts includes a plurality of reinforcement columns respectively distributed along the first and second lateral sides and surrounded by air, each extending between the upper surface and the lower surface.

Claims

1. A household appliance rectangular support base configured to support a household appliance, the support base comprising: an upper surface; a lower surface; a first lateral side; a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side; a front side; a rear side opposite to the front side; a first axis dividing the support base into a first and second lateral halves, the first lateral half being located on a first side of the first axis, the second lateral half being located on a second side of the first axis, the first lateral half including the first lateral side that is arranged parallel to the first axis, the second lateral half including the second lateral side that is arranged parallel to the first axis; a second axis which is transverse to the first axis and which divides the support base into a front half on a first side of the second axis and a rear half on a second side of the second axis, the front half including the front side that is arranged parallel to the second axis, the second half including the rear side that is arranged parallel to the second axis; a first support part in the first lateral half of the support base which is delimited between the upper surface and the lower surface; the first support part being closer to the first lateral side of the support base than to the first axis, the first support part being configured to support at least a part of a first lateral side of a base of the household appliance; a second support part in the second lateral half of the support base which is delimited between the upper surface and the lower surface, the second support part being closer to the second lateral side than to the first axis, the second support part being configured to support at least a part of a second lateral side of the base of the household appliance; the support base being formed by a plastic conformable upper sheet comprising the upper surface and a plastic conformable lower sheet comprising the lower surface, the first support part including a first plurality of reinforcement columns, the second support part including a second plurality of reinforcement columns; and the support base further comprising an air chamber located between the plastic conformable upper sheet and the plastic conformable lower sheet, at least one of the first and second plurality of reinforcement columns being arranged in the air chamber.

2. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, further comprising a third support part that is arranged in the front half of the support base, the third support part being arranged closer to the front side of the support base than to the second axis, the third support part being delimited between the upper surface and the lower surface, and configured to support at least part of a front half of the base of the household appliance, the support base including a third plurality of reinforcement columns in the third support part.

3. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, further comprising a third support part that is arranged in the rear half of the support base, the third support part being arranged closer to the rear side of the support base than to the second axis, the third support part being delimited between the upper surface and the lower surface, and configured to support at least part of a rear half of the base of the household appliance, the support base including a third plurality of reinforcement columns in the third support part.

4. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 2, further comprising a fourth support part that is arranged in the rear half of the support base, the fourth support part being arranged closer to the rear side of the support base than to the second axis, the fourth support part being delimited between the upper surface and the lower surface, and configured to support at least part of a rear half of the base of the household appliance, the support base including a fourth plurality of reinforcement columns in the fourth support part.

5. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second plurality of reinforcement columns comprises at least one depression in at least one of the surfaces of the support base, each of the plastic conformable upper sheet and plastic conformable lower sheet being in contact with each other in each of the first and second plurality of reinforcement column.

6. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 4, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth plurality of reinforcement columns comprises at least one depression in at least one of the surfaces of the support base, each of the plastic conformable upper sheet and plastic conformable lower sheet being in contact with each other in each of the first, second, third and fourth plurality of reinforcement column.

7. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 5, wherein each of the first and second plurality of reinforcement columns comprises a first depression extending from the upper surface, and a second depression facing the first depression and extending from the lower surface, the plastic conformable upper sheet extending into the first depression and the plastic conformable lower sheet extending into the second depression.

8. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 6, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth plurality of reinforcement columns comprises a first depression extending from the upper surface, and a second depression facing the first depression and extending from the lower surface, the plastic conformable upper sheet extending into the first depression and the plastic conformable lower sheet extending into the second depression.

9. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein all of the first and second plurality of reinforcement columns are arranged in the air chamber (6).

10. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 4, wherein all of the first, second, third and fourth plurality of reinforcement columns are arranged in the air chamber.

11. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of reinforcing columns is aligned parallel to the first lateral side and spaced equidistant from each other, and the second plurality of reinforcing columns is aligned parallel to the second lateral side and spaced equidistant from each other.

12. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein the support base comprises four quadrants delimited by the first axis and the second axis, each quadrant comprising a cushioning air chamber between the plastic conformable upper sheet and the plastic conformable lower sheet, each of the plastic conformable upper sheet and plastic conformable lower sheet being joined together around a contour of the cushioning air chamber, each cushioning air chamber being arranged symmetrically with respect to the cushioning air chamber of the adjacent quadrants, and an upper surface of each cushioning air chamber protruding upwardly beyond an upper surface of a remaining part of the quadrant, the cushioning air chambers being configured to support the household appliance.

13. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 12, wherein the upper surface of each cushioning air chamber comprises a conical shape.

14. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, further comprising first, second, third and fourth corner protectors respectively located at first, second, third and fourth corners of the support base, each of the first, second, third and fourth corner protectors being respectively configured to support a first, second, third and fourth edge protector protecting first, second, third and fourth vertical edges of the household appliance, each of the first, second, third and fourth corner protectors comprising a corner air chamber between the plastic conformable upper sheet and the plastic conformable lower sheet.

15. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 14, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth corner protectors comprises therein a plurality of reinforcement walls that form a column.

16. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 15, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth corner protectors comprises an L-shaped depression.

17. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein the plastic conformable lower sheet or the plastic conformable upper sheet comprises a channel extending parallel to the first axis from the front side to the rear side of the support base or parallel to the second axis from the first lateral side to the second lateral side of the support base.

18. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein each of the plastic conformable upper sheet and the plastic conformable lower sheet is thermoconformed.

19. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein each of the plastic conformable upper sheet and the plastic conformable lower sheet is a thermoconformed that are heat sealed together.

20. The household appliance rectangular support base according to claim 1, wherein the plastic conformable upper sheet and the plastic conformable lower sheet have a thickness ranging from 0.3 millimeters to 2.0 millimeters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a household appliance support base according to one embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the support base of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the support base of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along a cut line B-B of FIG. 3.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view along a cut line A-A of FIG. 3.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a detailed front sectional view of FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support base of FIG. 1 in use supporting a household appliance.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a household appliance rectangular support base according to another embodiment, showing in detail the corner protector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIGS. 1 to 7 show a household appliance rectangular support base 100 for supporting at least one household appliance E, according to one embodiment.

[0026] The support base 100 of the invention is capable of supporting at least one household appliance E or several household appliances E stacked on top of each other. Although the household appliance E could be any household appliance, in particular the support base 100 is configured to support a medium or large household appliance E whose weight is greater than 20 kilograms and which has a rectangular base, such as for example a washing machine, a refrigerator or the like. The support base 100 will have a rectangular shape equal to or larger than the base of the household appliance E it supports. The example support base 100 shown in the figures is a support base for supporting at least one washing machine.

[0027] The support base 100 comprises an upper surface S1, a lower surface S2, and four sides corresponding to a first lateral side L1, a second lateral side L2 opposite the first lateral side L1, a front side L3, and a rear side LA opposite the front side L3. Preferably, each side L1, L2, L3 and LA of the support base 100 is configured to coincide with the corresponding lateral, front or rear side of the supported household appliance E, as shown in the FIG. 7.

[0028] However, in another embodiment (not shown in the figures) each side of the support base could be configured to coincide with any of the sides of the supported household appliance.

[0029] The upper surface S1 of the support base 100 is a surface configured to be in contact with the base of the household appliance E, and the lower surface S2 of the support base 100 is a surface opposite the upper surface S1.

[0030] A longitudinal first axis Y of the support base 100 divides the support base 100 into a first lateral half at one side of the first Y axis, comprising the first lateral side L1 parallel to the first axis Y, and a second lateral half at the other side of the first Y axis, comprising the second lateral side L2 parallel to the Y first axis. A second axis X of the support base 100, which is transverse to the first axis Y, divides the support base 100 into a front half at one side of the second axis X, comprising the front side L3 parallel to the second axis X, and a rear half at the other side of the second axis X, comprising the rear side LA parallel to the second axis X.

[0031] The support base 100 comprises a first support part 10 in the first lateral half and a second support part 20 in the second lateral half. The first support part 10 is delimited between the upper surface S1 and the lower surface S2 and is closer to the first lateral side L1 of the support base 100 than to the first axis Y. Similarly, the second support part 20 is delimited between the upper surface S1 and the lower surface S2 and is closer to the second lateral side L2 than to the first axis Y. Each of said support parts 10 and 20 is configured to support at least part of an opposite side of the base of the household appliance E. In this way, a straightened seating of the household appliance E on the first and second support parts 10 and 20 is achieved (see FIG. 7).

[0032] Further, the support base 100 is formed by a plastic conformable upper sheet 101 comprising the upper surface S1 and a plastic conformable lower sheet 102 comprising the lower surface S2, and comprises a plurality of reinforcement columns 5 in each support part 10 and 20. Each reinforcement column 5 extends between the upper surface S1 and the lower surface S2, and the reinforcement columns 5 of each support part 10 and 20 are distributed along the corresponding lateral side L1 or L2 and are surrounded by air. Thus, the reinforcement columns 5, as well as the entire support base 100, are formed by the two sheets 101 and 102.

[0033] In the context of the invention, a reinforcement column 5 is a support with a height preferably greater than its cross-section S, the outer contour of the cross-section S delimiting an enclosed area, to help withstand vertical stresses, whether static such as the weight of the household appliance E or dynamic such as those due to impacts.

[0034] The reinforcement column 5 is preferably vertical and its cross-section S is circular.

[0035] A plastic conformable sheet in the context of the invention is a sheet capable of conforming and of plastic material of a certain thickness greater than that of a bubble packaging film and therefore of a non-foamed plastic material or with very small percentages of air.

[0036] In this way, as previously explained, the support base 100 of the invention is capable of supporting the weight of at least one household appliance E and cushioning impacts, recovering to a large extent the shape after the impact and making it possible to obtain the support base 100 with a lower environmental impact than the support bases of the prior art.

[0037] In one embodiment, the first support part 10 and the second support part 20 are close to, but separate from the corresponding L1 or L2 side of the support base 100, and therefore the reinforcement columns 5 of each support part 10 and 20 are internal to the support base 100.

[0038] According to one embodiment the support parts 10 and 20 are elongated and identical to each other and are arranged parallel and symmetrically with respect to the first Y-axis, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This ensures a balanced distribution of the weight of the household appliance E between the first and second support parts 10 and 20.

[0039] Preferably the support base 100 comprises at least one additional support part 30 or 40 which is arranged in the front half or in the rear half. The additional support part 30 or 40 is arranged closer to the side L3 or L4 of the support base 100 corresponding to said half than to the second axis X, is delimited between the upper surface S1 and the lower surface S2, and is configured to support at least part of a front half or a rear half of the base of the household appliance E. Additionally, the support base 100 comprises a plurality of reinforcement columns 5 in said additional support part 30 or 40.

[0040] In this way, supporting on three reinforced support parts each with reinforcement columns 5, a more secure upright seating of the household appliance E and a better distribution of the vertical forces to better support the weight of the household appliance E is achieved.

[0041] According to one embodiment the support base 100 comprises a first additional support part 30 which is arranged in the front half and a second additional support part 40 which is arranged in the rear half, as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 3. Thus, the support base 100 comprises four support parts 10, 20, 30 and 40 each reinforced with a plurality of reinforcement columns 5 distributed along each side L1, L2, L3 and L4. In this way, it is ensured that all sides of the base of the household appliance E are supported on support parts 10, 20, 30 and 40 reinforced with said reinforcement columns 5.

[0042] The support base 100 may comprise depressions R1, R2, R3 and R4 in the upper surface S1 configured to accommodate legs of the household appliance E and protrusions M1, M2, M3 and M4 defining at least in part a frame configured to fit the base of the household appliance E, each protrusion M1, M2, M3 and M4 being arranged along each side L1, L2, L3 and L4 of the support base 100 outside an area of the upper surface S1 below the base of the household appliance E.

[0043] Each support part 10, 20, 30 and 40 may be arranged between a pair of depressions R1, R2, R3 and R4 close to the ends of the corresponding side L1, L2, L3 or L4 of the support base 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this way, a good positioning of the household appliance base E on the support parts 10, 20, 30 and 40 is achieved.

[0044] Alternatively or additionally, in order to achieve a good positioning of the household appliance base E on the support parts 10, 20, 30 and 40, each support part 10, 20, 30 and 40 may be adjacent to the protrusion M1, M2, M3 and M4 arranged along the corresponding side L1, L2, L3 and L4 of the support base 100, as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0045] Preferably each reinforcement column 5 comprises at least one depression 51 or 52 in at least one of the surfaces S1 and S2 of the support base 100, both sheets 101 and 102 being in contact with each other in each reinforcement column 5 (at the base or top of the depression 51, 52). Thus, the reinforcement column 5 is hollow and the walls of the depression 51 and 52 are the ones that support the vertical forces. Thus, very little plastic material is required to form the reinforcement column 5 and it is very easy to form the reinforcement columns 5 with the two sheets 101 and 102, it is sufficient for example to conform one of the sheets 101 or 102 with a depression 51 or 52 that comes into contact with the other sheet 101 or 102.

[0046] According to one embodiment, each reinforcement column 5 comprises a first depression 51 extending from the upper surface S1 and a second depression 52 facing the first depression 51 and extending from the lower surface S2, both depressions 51, 52 extending until both sheets 101 and 102 contact with each other, as shown in the FIGS. 4 and 6. In this way, it is easier to achieve a more rigid reinforcement column 5, for example, by conforming each sheet 101 and 102 with a thicker and more uniform wall depression 51 and 52 than if only one of the two sheets 101 and 102 is conformed with a depression 51 and 52 to form the reinforcement column 5.

[0047] According to ne embodiment, the wall of each depression 51 and 52 is shaped as a cylindrical or conical column to facilitate the conforming of the depression 51 and 52, both sheets 101 and 102, in addition to contacting with each other, are joined together to make the reinforcement column 5 more rigid (preferably by heat sealing), and both depressions 51 and 52 comprise the same height (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0048] However, in other embodiments (not shown in the figures) both sheets 101 and 102 need not be joined together, they may contact at any height of the support base 100 and the depression wall 51 or 52 may have another shape.

[0049] The support base 100 comprises between the upper sheet 101 and the lower sheet 102 an air chamber 6, the reinforcement columns 5 of at least one support part 10, 20, 30 or 40 being arranged in said air chamber 6. The air chamber 6 is a chamber in which air is confined and is formed by the same two sheets 101 and 102 that form the rest of the support base 100, the air in said air chamber 6 being the air surrounding each of said reinforcement columns 5, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. In this way, the elasticity of the support parts 10, 20, 30 and 40 is improved and the support base 100 is able to better cushion the possible impacts caused during the transport and distribution of the household appliance E such as, for example, those caused in a free fall of the household appliance E from a height of about 0.3 meters by recovering the shape to a large extent.

[0050] Preferably, all the reinforcement columns 5 are arranged in the air chamber 6. This simplifies the manufacture of the support base 100 with a single main air chamber 6 with the reinforcement columns 5 that is capable of better supporting and cushioning the vertical forces.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the air chamber 6 is formed by joining the sheets 101 and 102 in each side L1, L2, L3 and L4 of the support base 100, as shown in the FIGS. 4 to 6. In this way, the air confined between them surrounds each of the reinforcement columns 5.

[0052] Preferably, the reinforcement columns 5 of at least the first and second support parts 10 and 20 are aligned parallel to the corresponding side L1 or L2 of the support base 100 and spaced equidistantly from each other. In this way, the reinforcement columns 5 are advantageously arranged to achieve homogeneous vertical stress bearing along said sides.

[0053] According to one embodiment, in addition to the reinforcement columns 5 of the first and second support part 10 and 20, the reinforcement columns 5 of the additional support part 30 of the front half of the support base 100 are also arranged in the aforementioned advantageous manner, as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0054] Preferably, the support base 100 comprises four quadrants delimited by the first axis Y and the second axis X, each quadrant comprising a cushioning air chamber 8 between the upper sheet 101 and the lower sheet 102, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Both sheets 101 and 102 are joined together around the contour of the cushioning air chamber 8 (more preferably around the entire contour). Each cushioning air chamber 8 is arranged symmetrically with respect to the cushioning air chamber 8 of adjacent quadrants, and a part 81 of the upper surface S1 of each cushioning air chamber 8 protrudes from the rest of the upper surface S1 of the corresponding quadrant that supports the household appliance E. Thus, the cushioning air chamber 8 is airtight and the part 81 of the upper surface S1 of each cushioning air chamber 8 protrudes from the rest of the upper surface S1 of the corresponding quadrant that supports the household appliance E, i.e. it also protrudes from the part of the upper surface S1 of the support parts 10 and 20. In this way, greater cushioning is achieved because in use the household appliance E first rests on the four sealed cushioning air chambers 8 which deform by equally pressurizing the air in said cushioning air chambers 8 in order to better cushion the dynamic vertical forces in case of impact and then rests on the support parts 10, 20 supporting the static vertical forces thanks to the reinforcement columns 5.

[0055] Preferably, the part 81 of each cushioning air chamber 8 protruding from the rest of the upper surface S1 of the corresponding quadrant comprises a conical shape. In this way, said part 81 works like a disk spring and is more easily deformed when the household appliance E rests on it to pressurize the air in the cushioning air chamber 8.

[0056] In addition, a part 82 of each cushioning air chamber 8 that does not protrude from the rest of the upper surface S1 of the corresponding quadrant may comprise a cylindrical column shape to help support static vertical stresses, as is the case in the preferred embodiment.

[0057] The support base 100 may also comprise further auxiliary cushioning air chambers 11 in another form and in another specific areas of the support base 100, around the contour of which both sheets 101 and 102 are bonded together to achieve further cushioning in that area, as shown in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the cushioning air chambers 8 and the auxiliary cushioning air chambers 11 are surrounded by the air chamber 6 in which the reinforcement columns 5 are arranged, i.e. they are surrounded by the main air chamber 6. The cushioning air chambers 8 and 11, although being airtight, may comprise an orifice 83 communicating with the air chamber 6 in which the reinforcement columns 5 are arranged to prevent an excessive pressurization due to a large impact may break the cushioning air chambers 8 and 11, as shown in the FIG. 5.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the support base 100 comprises a corner protector 90 at each corner of the support base 100 to support an edge protector 200 which protects a vertical edge of the household appliance E, each corner protector 90 comprising a corner air chamber 9 between the upper sheet 101 and the lower sheet 102 (see FIG. 5). The corner protector 90 must support only the edge protector 200, so that the household appliance E does not rest on them, as shown in FIG. 7. In this way, the corner protector 90 are formed by the same two sheets 101 and 102 that form the rest of the support base 100 and cushion the impacts received in the corners of the support base 100.

[0060] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the support base 100 is like the preferred embodiment described above, except that the corner protector 90 of the support base 100 comprises a plurality of reinforcement walls 92, said reinforcement walls 92 being arranged in the corner air chamber 9. In this way, the corner protector 90 is also reinforced to withstand the vertical forces transmitted through the edge protector 200. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for those household appliances E which do not withstand stacking and at least part of the vertical forces caused by the stacking of household appliances E have to be transmitted through the cage-like structure formed with the edge protectors 200.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcement wall 92 forms an open semi-circular cross-section in plan and partly delimitates the corner air camber 9. This results in a high density of reinforcement walls 92 delimiting the corner air chamber 9.

[0062] However, in another embodiment (not shown in the figures) each reinforcement wall 92 forms a column as the reinforcement column 5 of the support parts of the support base 100. In this way, the internal reinforcement columns of the corner air chamber 9 better withstand the vertical forces.

[0063] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 each corner protector 90 comprises a depression 91 in the upper surface S1, which in plan is L-shaped to accommodate part of the edge protector 200, and the reinforcement walls 92 of each corner protector 90 extend from the lower surface S2 to contact the depression 91 and are distributed below the depression 91 along the same. In this way, the reinforcement walls 92 are strategically distributed just below the edge protector 200 to better withstand the vertical stresses transmitted through the edge protector 200.

[0064] Preferably, the lower sheet 102 or the upper sheet 101 comprises a channel 12 extending parallel to the first axis Y from the front side L3 to the rear side LA of the support base 100 or parallel to the second axis X from the first lateral side L1 to the second lateral side L2 of the support base 100 (see FIG. 2). In this way, the channel 12 stiffens the base in the direction parallel to the X or Y axis along which it runs, preventing it from bending.

[0065] Preferably the upper sheet 101 and the lower sheet 102 are thermoconformed sheets, both sheets 101 and 102 being joined together. In this way, it is very easy to obtain the base support 100 comprising such complex shapes as reinforcement columns 5 with only two sheets 101 and 102 by means of such a conforming process which requires relatively little energy in comparison with the processes for generating bases comprising solid blocks of foamed plastic (which are thermal expansion processes). Usually, the thermoconformed sheets are made of thermoplastic material, due to the high conformability that thermoplastic sheets acquire with temperature, it is very easy to conform with this material and by heating the material it can be re-conformed or recycled. Preferably, the thermoconformed sheet is made of polypropylene or a thermoplastic with similar characteristics of lightness and mechanical strength.

[0066] More preferably both sheets 101 and 102 are heat-sealed together.

[0067] Preferably the upper sheet 101 and the lower sheet 102 have a thickness between 0.3 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 1 mm. This ensures that the sheets 101 and 102 have sufficient mechanical strength to support the weight of a medium or large household appliance E. Within such a range the thickness may vary from point to point of the sheet 101 or 102, for example, the more highly conformed part of the sheet 101 or 102 will have less thickness than the less highly conformed part of the sheet 101 or 102.