Upper plinth or top panel cover for domestic appliance

A removable upper plinth or top panel structure for a domestic appliance, comprising:

• an elongated plate-shaped cover for covering an access area at a top portion of the domestic appliance;
• a plurality of attachment members disposed on the elongated plate-shaped cover for detachably mounting various components to the elongated plate-shaped cover and for detachably securing the elongated plate-shaped cover to the domestic appliance;
• and
• a single tether to keep the elongated plate-shaped cover from swinging down uncontrollably on one side on condition that the elongated plate-shaped cover is detached from the domestic appliance.

A domestic appliance, comprising:

• an outer casing forming a housing;
• a front frame disposed on a front portion of the housing;
• at least one door mounted to the front portion of the housing;
• and
• a removable upper plinth or top panel structure disposed above the front frame on the domestic appliance, the removable upper plinth or top panel structure comprising:
• an elongated plate-shaped cover for covering an access area above the front frame of the domestic appliance;
• a plurality of attachment members disposed on the elongated plate-shaped cover to detachably mount various components to the elongated plate-shaped cover and for detachably securing the elongated plate-shaped cover to the domestic appliance;
• and
• at least one tether connected to the domestic appliance and also connected to the elongated plate-shaped cover, such that on condition that the elongated plate-shaped cover is detached from the domestic appliance to expose the access area, the elongated plate-shaped cover is tethered to the domestic appliance by the at least one tether.

A removable upper plinth for a domestic appliance, comprising:

• an elongated plate-shaped cover for covering an access area at a top portion of the domestic appliance;
• a plurality of attachment members disposed on the elongated plate-shaped cover for detachably securing the elongated plate-shaped cover to the domestic appliance;
• and
• at least one tether connected to the domestic appliance and also connected to the elongated plate-shaped cover, such that on condition that the elongated plate-shaped cover is detached from the domestic appliance to expose the access area, the elongated plate-shaped cover is tethered to the domestic appliance by the at least one tether.