Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02330236 2001-08-10
REVERSIBLE APPLIANCE CABINET AND METHOD FOR USING SAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reversible
appliance cabinet and method for using same.
On many occasions appliances are positioned in
pairs in side-by-side relationship. Such an example is
a washer-dryer combination wherein the washer and dryer
are positioned side-by-side with respect to one
another.
The ultimate user of a washer-dryer combination
may, for personal preference, or for convenience of the
particular location in which the appliances are used,
want to reverse the left and right positions of the
washer-dryer.
Therefore a primary object of the present
invention is the provision of a reversible appliance
cabinet which includes a back panel having a curved top
wall and which is reversible when placed in side-by-
side relation with a similar appliance.
A further object of the present invention is the
provision of a side-by-side washer-dryer combination
wherein the back panels of the washer and dryer include
top walls that are curved and combine to provide a
smooth continuous singular surface.
A further object of the present invention is the
provision of an improved washer-dryer combination
wherein the top walls of the back panels combine to
provide a smooth continuous single surface regardless
of whether or not the side-by-side positions of the
washer-dryer set are reversed.
A further object of the present invention is the
provision of an improved reversible appliance cabinet
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and method for using the same which are efficient in
operation, which provide an attractive appearance, and
which are economical to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects may be achieved by an
appliance having an appliance cabinet including a top
wall, left and right side walls, and a front wall. One
of the top and front walls includes a door opening
therein. A door is mounted to the appliance for hinged
movement from a closed position in covering relation
over the door opening to an open position exposing the
door opening for access to the interior of the
appliance cabinet.
A back panel is mounted on the top wall of the
cabinet. The back panel includes a back panel front
wall, a back panel rear wall, a back panel left side
wall, a back panel right side wall, and a back panel
top wall. The back panel top wall includes a convex
curved surface facing upwardly and the back panel left
and right side walls are identical in shape and size
with respect to one another.
According to one feature of the invention the back
panel top wall includes opposite top wall ends and a
top wall center located midway between the top wall
ends. The convex curved surface of the back panel top
wall is positioned off-center with respect to the top
wall center.
According to another feature of the invention the
back panel left and right side walls lie in
approximately the same vertical planes as the appliance
left and right side walls respectively.
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According to another feature of the invention, two
appliances of the above construction are positioned in
a first side-by-side position wherein the right panel
end wall of the first appliance faces and registers
with the left panel end wall of the second appliance.
The first and second appliances are movable to a second
side-by-side position reversed from the first side-by-
side position and wherein the left panel end wall of
the first appliance faces and registers with the right
panel end wall of the second appliance.
A method of the present invention comprises
positioning first and second appliances in their first
side-by-side position and then reversing the positions
of the first and second appliances to their second
side-by-side position. In the second side-by-side
position the top panel walls of the first and second
back panels combine to form a substantially smooth
continuous surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washer and
dryer positioned in their first side-by-side position.
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but
showing the washer and dryer in a reversed side-by-side
position from that shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevational view taken from the
left side of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the right
side of the washing machine 10 of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1 a washing machine 10 and a
dryer 12 are shown in a first side-by-side position.
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Washing machine 10 includes a washing machine cabinet
14 having a top wall 16 and a front wall 18. Front
wall 18 includes an angled portion 20 and a vertical
portion 22. The angled portion 20 may be part of
either the top wall 16 or the front wall 18, but for
purposes of reference the angled portion 20 is referred
to as part of the front wall 18. Washing machine
cabinet 14 also includes a left side wall 24 (Figure 3)
and a right side wall 26 (Figure 4), as well as a back
wall 28. Within front wall 18 is a door opening 30 and
a door 32 is hinged over the door opening 30 for hinged
movement about hinges 34 which are on the left-hand
side of the door opening 30. The door opening may be
positioned in any of a number of positions in the
cabinet without detracting from the invention. For
example, it could be part of the top wall instead of
part of the front wall, or it could overlap portions of
both the top and front walls.
Attached to the top wall 16 and extending upwardly
therefrom is a back panel 36. Back panel 36 includes a
front wall 38, a left end wall 40, a right end wall 42,
a top wall 44 and a back wall 46. Embedded within the
front wall 38 is an oval control panel 48.
Top wall 44 of back panel 36 includes a convex
surface extending upwardly and having its highest point
located at the numeral 50. Top wall 44 of back panel
36 also has a first width adjacent the left and right
end walls 40, 42 and a second width adjacent the top
point 50 which is less than the first distance. In
other words the top wall 44 of back panel 36 tapers
inwardly so as to have a thinner portion intermediate
the opposite ends thereof. The highest point 50 of the
convex surface is shown positioned off-center from the
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mid-point between the left and right end walls 40, 42.
However, this highest point may be positioned anywhere
along the length of the top wall 44.
Dryer 12 is substantially identical i_n
configuration to washing machine 10, and corresponding
numerals are used to identify similar parts. However,
it should be noted that hinges 34 are positioned on the
right-hand side of the door 32 whereas the hinges 34
are positioned on the left-hand side of the door 32 in
washing machine 10.
Referring to Figure 2, the washer 10 and the dryer
12 are shown in a reversed position from that shown in
Figure 1. In Figure 1 the washer 10 is to the left of
the dryer 12, but in Figure 2 the washer 10 is
positioned to the right of dryer 12. However, as can
be seen by comparison of Figure 1 and Figure 2, the two
top walls 44 of the back panels 36 combine to form a
single continuous curved surface in both the position
shown in Figure 1 and the reversed position shown in
Figure 2. This is possible because the end walls 40,
42 of both the back panels in appliances 10 and 12 are
identical in shape and size. In Figure l, the right
end wall 42 of the appliance 10 is facing and
registered with the left end wall 40 of the appliance
12. In Figure 2 with the washer and dryer reversed,
the right-hand end wall 42 of back panel 36 in the
dryer 12 is positioned adjacent and registered with the
left end wall 40 of the washing machine 10. This is
possible because all the end panels 40, 42 of both of
the appliances 10, 12 are identical in shape and size.
Similarly the opposite ends of the top wall 44 are
identical in width to one another in both of the
appliances 10, 12. Thus the two top walls 44 easily
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combine to form a smooth single continuous surface in
both the position of the appliances shown in Figure 1
and the position of the appliances shown in Figure 2.
In the drawings and specification there has been
set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and
although specific terms are employed, these are used in
a generic and descriptive sense only and not for
purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the
proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of
equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may
suggest or render expedient without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in
the following claims.
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