# US 2014/0150281 A1 · Laundry dryer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150281 A1 - Document ID: US20140150281A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,556 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-31 - Assignees: Electrolux Home Products, Inc. - Applicants: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. - Inventors: Luciano Sartor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150281A1 ## CPC - D06F 58/04: Details (controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00) - D06F 58/02: having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract The present invention refers to a laundry dryer having a removable front casing panel (1). A laundry dryer according to the invention comprises a front casing panel (1) and a frame structure (4) for accommodating a tub (5) and operational component parts (6) which are required for drying laundry, said frame structure (4) comprises a front supporting member (12) having means (21) for removably mounting said front casing panel (1). The laundry dryer is characterised in that said front supporting member (12) comprises a portion (13) that forms a component part of said tub (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laundry dryer comprising: a frame structure (4) for accommodating a drum and operational component parts (6) which are required for drying laundry, said frame structure (4) comprising a front supporting member (12) having means (21) for removably mounting a front casing panel (1), wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises connecting members (17a, 17b) integrally formed therewith to associate the front supporting member (12) to a base portion (7) of said frame structure (4). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A laundry dryer according to claim 1, wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises a portion (13) that forms a component part of the drum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A laundry dryer according to claim 2, wherein the portion (13) comprises an annular element (14) adapted to be connected to the drum so as to form a mouthpiece through which laundry to be dried can be introduced, said annular element (14) comprising air conveying means (15) for guiding air from or to said drum. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A laundry dryer according to claim 3, wherein the air conveying means (15) is a single piece with the annular element (14). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A laundry dryer according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure (4) comprises a rear wall (8) associated to the base portion (7), thereby forming an L-shaped assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A laundry dryer according to claim 5, wherein said frame structure (4) further comprises lateral bars (9a, 9b) disposed on an upper region of said rear wall (8). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A laundry dryer according to claim 6, wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises further connecting members (16a, 16b) associating the front supporting member (12) to said bars (9a, 9b). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A laundry dryer according to claim 1, wherein said frame structure (12) comprises means for removably mounting casing panels forming an outer casing of said dryer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A laundry dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit (2) configured to operate the dryer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein said control unit (2) and said front casing panel (1) are made in a single piece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A laundry dryer according to claim 9, wherein said control unit (2) is a separate piece mounted on the front casing panel (1). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A laundry dryer according to claim 1, wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A laundry dryer according to claim 1, wherein said front casing panel (1) comprises an opening (3) configured to provide access to said drum when the front casing panel (1) is mounted on said front supporting member (12). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A laundry dryer according to claim 13, wherein the front casing panel (1) comprises mounts for pivotally attaching a door for closing the opening (3). ### Claim 15 A laundry dryer comprising: a frame structure (4) for accommodating a drum and operational component parts (6) which are required for drying laundry, said frame structure (4) comprising a front supporting member (12) having means (21) for removably mounting a front casing panel (1), wherein the front supporting member (12) comprises connecting members (17a, 17b) associating the front supporting member (12) to a base portion (7) of the frame structure (4), the connecting members (17a, 17b) having a male portion (19) that is received in a corresponding seat (20) formed on the base portion (7). ### Claim 16 A laundry dryer comprising: a drum; operational component parts (6) which are required for drying laundry; and a frame structure (4) accommodating the drum and operational component parts (6), said frame structure (4) comprising a base portion (7) and a front supporting member (12); and a front casing panel (1) removably mounted to the frame structure (4) wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises a first connecting member (17a) and a second connecting member (17b) connecting the front supporting member (12) to the base portion (7). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A laundry dryer according to claim 16, wherein the front supporting member (12) comprises an annular element (14) adapted to be connected to the drum, said annular element (14) being provided with air conveying means (15) for guiding air from or to said drum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A laundry dryer according to claim 17, wherein the air conveying means (15) is a single piece with the annular element (14). ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A laundry dryer according to claim 16, wherein the front casing panel (1) is supported by the front supporting member (12). ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A laundry dryer according to claim 16, wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises means (21) for removably mounting the front casing panel (1). ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A laundry dryer according to claim 16, wherein the first connecting member (17a) and the second connecting member (17b) each comprise a male portion (19) that is received within a corresponding seat (20) formed on the base portion (7). ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A laundry dryer according to claim 16, wherein the frame structure (4) comprises a rear wall (8) connected to the base portion (7), thereby forming an L-shaped assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A laundry dryer according to claim 22, wherein said frame structure (4) further comprises lateral bars (9a, 9b) disposed on a upper region of said rear wall (8) and extending substantially parallel to said base portion (7). ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A laundry dryer according to claim 23, wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises a third connecting member (16a) and a fourth connecting member (16b) connecting the front supporting member (12) to said bars (9a, 9b). ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) A laundry dryer according to claim 22, wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises a portion (13) that forms a component part of the drum. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A laundry dryer according to claim 25, wherein said frame structure (4) further comprises a ceiling portion extending substantially parallel to said base portion (7), the rear wall (8) connecting said base portion (7) and said ceiling portion, further wherein said front supporting member (12) comprises a third connecting member (16a) and a fourth connecting member (16b) connecting the front supporting member (12) to the ceiling portion such that the front supporting member (12) connects the base portion (7) to the ceiling portion.