U.S. patent application number 10/808324 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kim, Jin-Doo.
Application Number | 20040244435 10/808324 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33297379 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040244435 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Jin-Doo |
December 9, 2004 |
Washing machine
Abstract
A washing machine includes a door locking unit which has a
simple construction and is smoothly and reliably operated. The
door-locking unit includes a handle which is supported by a first
hinge unit, a latch which is supported by a second hinge unit, and
an elastic unit which provides an elastic force to the latch. By a
rotation of the handle and the elastic force of the elastic unit,
the latch is rotated. The handle includes first and second lever
parts which are integrated with each other to be rotated around the
first hinge unit. The latch includes third and fourth lever parts
which are integrated with each other. The third lever part is
rotated around the second hinge unit, and is in contact with the
second lever part. The fourth lever part is placed toward an
interior of the cabinet. Thus, when the first lever part of the
handle is pulled, the second lever part pushes the third lever
part, compressing the elastic unit. At that time, the fourth lever
part is removed from a hook hole of the cabinet to open the
door.
Inventors: |
Kim, Jin-Doo; (Suwon-City,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-Si
KR
|
Family ID: |
33297379 |
Appl. No.: |
10/808324 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.26 ;
68/142; 68/24; 68/58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 34/20 20200201;
D06F 39/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/012.26 ;
068/024; 068/058; 068/142 |
International
Class: |
D06F 037/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2003 |
JP |
2003-36581 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A washing machine, comprising: a cabinet having an opening at a
first portion of the cabinet; a door which opens and closes the
opening of the cabinet; and a door-locking unit which locks and
unlocks the door to and from the cabinet, the door-locking unit
including: a handle hinged to a first hinge unit which is provided
on a first position of the door, a latch hinged to a second hinge
unit which is provided on a second position of the door, the latch
being rotated by an operation of the handle to lock and unlock the
door to and from the cabinet, and an elastic unit on the second
hinge unit which elastically biases the latch in a direction where
the latch is locked to the cabinet.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the handle
includes first and second lever parts which are integrated with
each other and rotatable around the first hinge unit, wherein the
latch includes third and fourth lever parts which are integrated
with each other and rotatable around the second hinge unit, the
third lever part being in contact with the second lever part and
the fourth lever part being positioned toward an interior of the
cabinet, and wherein when the first lever part of the handle is
pulled, the elastic unit is compressed and the second lever part of
the handle pushes the third lever part of the latch, allowing the
fourth lever part of the latch to be unlocked from the cabinet.
3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the fourth
lever part has a hook at a first end thereof, and the cabinet has a
hook hole at a first position thereof to receive the hook of the
fourth lever part, allowing the hook to be removably locked to the
cabinet.
4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the first
lever part of the handle has a longer length than the second lever
part of the handle, providing mechanical advantage when the first
lever part is pulled.
5. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the door
comprises: a transparent part which allows a user to see an
interior of the cabinet; and a frame mounted to an edge of the
transparent part, the frame being open at a central portion thereof
to allow the user to reach the first lever part of the handle, the
first and second hinge units disposed on an inner surface of the
frame spaced apart from each other by a first interval, supporting
the handle and the latch in a hinging configuration.
6. The washing machine according to claim 5, further comprising a
through hole at a first portion of the transparent part to
correspond to the hook hole of the cabinet, allowing the fourth
lever part of the latch to pass through the through hole to face
the hook hole.
7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the handle
further comprises a first hinge shaft which is integrated with the
first and second lever parts, the first hinge shaft latitudinally
extending at a position between the first and second lever parts,
and wherein the first hinge unit comprises first and second seats
which are spaced apart from each other by a second interval,
allowing opposite sides of the first hinge shaft to be seated in
the first and second seats, respectively.
8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein each of the
first and second seats comprises: a stopper which stops an end of
the first hinge shaft so that the first hinge shaft is held in both
the first and second seats; and a plurality of support projections
at respective positions of the frame inside the stopper, each of
the plurality of support projections having an opening at a center
thereof to rotatably support the first hinge shaft.
9. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the second
hinge unit includes first and second support members which project
from the frame spaced apart from each other by a third interval
which is wider than a width of the latch, rotatably supporting a
hub of the latch between the third and fourth lever parts.
10. The washing machine according to claim 9, further comprising: a
second hinge shaft around which the latch is rotatable; and a hinge
hole at a position of the hub of the latch to allow the second
hinge shaft to pass through the hub of the latch, with opposite
ends of the second hinge shaft being respectively supported by the
first and second support members, allowing the latch to be
rotatably supported on the frame.
11. The washing machine according to claim 10, further comprising
first and second brackets provided on opposite sides of the through
hole of the transparent part, each of the first and second brackets
having a hole to allow the second hinge shaft to pass through the
first and second brackets, allowing the latch to be mounted to the
transparent part by passing the second hinge shaft through the
holes of the first and second brackets and the hinge hole of the
hub of the latch while the hub of the latch is placed between the
first and second brackets.
12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the elastic
unit comprises: first and second coil parts, the first coil part
between the hub of the latch and the first bracket, and the second
coil part between the hub of the latch and the second bracket; and
a connecting part which connects the first coil part to the second
coil part, the connecting part disposed on the third lever part of
the latch to be rotated by a rotation of the third lever part, the
first and second coil parts being compressed or restored to
original states thereof by a rotation of the connecting part,
providing an elastic force to the latch.
13. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the
door-locking unit is disposed between the transparent part and the
frame and includes the handle and the latch, and wherein the latch
is rotatable by operating the handle to lock and unlock the door to
the cabinet.
14. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the first
lever part is wider and longer than the second lever part.
15. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the first
hinge shaft is rotatably supported in the openings of the support
projections while being held in the first and second seats by the
stopper.
16. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the hub is
supported by the second hinge shaft and forms a center of rotation
of the latch.
17. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the third
lever part extends from the hub horizontally to the transparent
part and the frame, and wherein the fourth lever part extends from
the hub to the interior of the cabinet perpendicularly to the
transparent part and the frame.
18. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the third
lever part of the latch is in contact with an inner surface of the
second lever part of the handle, and wherein the third lever part
of the latch is pushed by the second lever part of the handle when
the first lever part of the handle is pulled.
19. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein: the fourth
lever part is perpendicular to the third lever part, the fourth
lever part has a hook at one end, the hook being perpendicular to
the fourth lever part, the fourth lever part extends outwardly from
the through hole of the transparent part facing the cabinet, and
the door is locked to the cabinet when the fourth lever part is
inserted into the hook hole of the cabinet, making the hook locked
by the hook hole.
20. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein: the first
and second coil parts are disposed at opposite sides of the hub of
the latch, the connecting part of the elastic unit is in contact
with the third lever part of the latch, the hub of the latch is
disposed between the first and second brackets of the transparent
part, and the second hinge shaft passes through the holes of the
first and second brackets and the hinge hole of the latch.
21. The washing machine according to claim 20, wherein: the fourth
lever part extends from the through hole of the transparent part
toward the cabinet perpendicularly to the transparent part, and the
third lever part of the latch extends toward a center of the
transparent part parallel to the transparent part.
22. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein: the first
and second support members are spaced apart from each other and
supporting opposite ends of the second hinge shaft, and the second
hinge shaft is held in the first and second support members.
23. The washing machine according to claim 22, wherein: the second
hinge shaft is disposed between the first and second support
members of the second hinge unit, the latch is mounted to the
transparent part by the second hinge shaft, and the hub of the
latch is supported by the frame and is rotatably seated between the
first and second support members and the second hinge unit.
24. The washing machine according to claim 22, wherein: the latch
is disposed in the second hinge unit of the frame, the third lever
part of the latch contacts the second lever part of the handle, and
the third lever part of the latch is rotated by an operation of the
handle.
25. A door-locking mechanism which locks and unlocks a door to and
from a cabinet, comprising: first and second hinge units disposed
at first and second positions of the door, respectively; a handle
hinged to the first hinge unit; a latch hinged to the second hinge
unit, the latch being rotatable by an operation of the handle to
lock and unlock the door to and from the cabinet; and an elastic
unit on the second hinge unit which elastically biases the latch in
a direction where the latch is locked to the cabinet.
26. The door-locking mechanism according to claim 25, wherein the
handle comprises: first and second lever parts which are integrated
with each other and rotatable around the first hinge unit.
27. The door-locking mechanism according to claim 26, wherein the
latch comprises: third and fourth lever parts which are integrated
with each other and rotatable around the second hinge unit, the
third lever part being in contact with the second lever part and
the fourth lever part being positioned toward an interior of the
cabinet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2003-36581, filed Jun. 7, 2003 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to washing machines and, more
particularly, to a washing machine which has a door-locking unit
that smoothly and reliably locks and unlocks a door to a cabinet of
the washing machine.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, washing machines have been typically classified
into vertical shaft type washing machines in which a rotary tub is
installed in a cabinet along a vertical axis, and drum type washing
machines in which a rotary tub is installed in a cabinet along a
horizontal axis. In the vertical shaft type washing machines, a
pulsator is arranged in the rotary tub and is rotated around the
vertical axis of the cabinet in opposite directions, thus producing
forced water currents which wash laundry. The cabinet is open at
its top. A door is mounted to an open top of the cabinet, thus
allowing a user to place and remove laundry into and from the
rotary tub.
[0006] Meanwhile, the drum type washing machines are designed such
that the rotary tub is horizontally set in the cabinet and is
rotated around a horizontal axis of the cabinet in opposite
directions. The washing machine repeatedly moves the laundry upward
by being seated on the internal surface of the rotary tub and
allows the laundry to fall from the top to the bottom inside the
rotary tub due to gravity, thus washing the laundry.
[0007] In the drum type washing machines, the rotary tub is
rotatably set in a water tub which contains water, and is rotated
by a drive motor. The cabinet is open in front to form an opening.
A door is rotatably mounted to the open front of the cabinet, thus
allowing a user to place and remove laundry into and from the
rotary tub.
[0008] The door is hinged at an end to an edge of the opening of
the cabinet. A door-locking unit is provided at a free end which is
opposite to the hinged end of the door, so as to lock and unlock
the door to and from the cabinet, thus keeping the door locked to
the cabinet during an operation of the drum type washing machine,
and allowing the door to be unlocked from the cabinet when the
operation of the drum type washing machine has been completed.
[0009] However, since the conventional door-locking unit has an
excessively complicated construction, it takes a long time to
assemble the door-locking unit, thus reducing productivity. Due to
the complicated construction, the door-locking unit is not reliably
and smoothly operated to lock and unlock the door to and from the
cabinet of the washing machine. Further, it is difficult to check
out and repair the door-locking unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a washing machine having a door-locking unit which has a
simple construction, and is smoothly and reliably operated to lock
and unlock a door to a cabinet of the washing machine.
[0011] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
of the invention.
[0012] The above and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a
washing machine, including a cabinet, a door, and a door-locking
unit. The cabinet has an opening at a portion thereof. The door
opens and closes the opening of the cabinet. The door-locking unit
is operated to lock and unlock the door to the cabinet, and
includes a handle, a latch, and an elastic unit. The handle is
hinged to a first hinge unit which is provided on a position of the
door. The latch is hinged to a second hinge unit which is provided
on a position of the door, and is rotated by an operation of the
handle to lock and unlock the door to the cabinet. The elastic unit
is placed on the second hinge unit to elastically bias the latch in
a direction where the latch is locked to the cabinet.
[0013] The handle may include first and second lever parts which
are integrated with each other to be rotated around the first hinge
unit. The latch may include third and fourth lever parts which are
integrated with each other to be rotated around the second hinge
unit. The third lever part may be placed in contact with the second
lever part, and the fourth lever part may be positioned toward an
interior of the cabinet. Thus, when the first lever part of the
handle is pulled, the elastic unit may be compressed and the second
lever part of the handle may push the third lever part of the
latch, thus allowing the fourth lever part of the latch to be
unlocked from the cabinet.
[0014] The fourth lever part may have a hook at an end, and the
cabinet may have a hook hole at a position to receive the hook of
the fourth lever part, thus allowing the hook to be removably
locked to the cabinet.
[0015] The first lever part of the handle may have a longer length
than the second lever part of the handle, thus allowing the first
lever part of the handle to be pulled with a small force.
[0016] The door may include a transparent part which allows a user
to see the interior of the cabinet, and a frame which is mounted to
an edge of the transparent part. The frame may be open at a central
portion to allow the user to reach the first lever part of the
handle. The first and second hinge units may be provided on an
inner surface of the frame spaced apart from each other by an
interval, thus supporting the handle and the latch in a hinging
method.
[0017] A through hole may be provided at a portion of the
transparent part to correspond to the hook hole of the cabinet,
thus allowing the fourth lever part of the latch to pass through
the through hole to face the hook hole.
[0018] The handle may further include a first hinge shaft which is
integrated with the first and second lever parts while
latitudinally extending at a position between the first and second
lever parts. The first hinge unit may include first and second
seats which are spaced apart from each other by an interval, thus
allowing opposite sides of the first hinge shaft to be seated in
the first and second seats, respectively.
[0019] Each of the first and second seats may include a stopper
which stops an end of the first hinge shaft so that the first hinge
shaft is held in the first and second seats, and support
projections which are placed at various positions of the frame
inside the stopper. Each of the support projections may have an
opening at their centers to rotatably support the first hinge
shaft.
[0020] The second hinge unit may include first and second support
members which project from the frame spaced apart from each other
by an interval which is wider than a width of the latch, thus
rotatably supporting a hub of the latch provided between the third
and fourth lever parts.
[0021] A hinge hole may be provided at a position of the hub of the
latch to allow a second hinge shaft, around which the latch is
rotated, to pass through the hub of the latch. Opposite ends of the
second hinge shaft may be respectively supported by the first and
second support members, thus allowing the latch to be rotatably
supported on the frame.
[0022] First and second brackets may be provided on opposite sides
of the through hole of the transparent part, and each of the first
and second brackets may have a hole to allow the second hinge shaft
to pass through the first and second brackets, thus allowing the
latch to be mounted to the transparent part by passing the second
hinge shaft through the holes of the first and second brackets and
the hinge hole of the hub of the latch while the hub of the latch
is placed between the first and second brackets.
[0023] The elastic unit may include first and second coil parts,
and a connecting part. The first coil part may be provided between
the hub of the latch and the first bracket, and the second coil
part may be provided between the hub of the latch and the second
bracket. The connecting part may connect the first coil part to the
second coil part, and may be placed on the third lever part of the
latch to be rotated by a rotation of the third lever part. Thus,
the first and second coil parts are compressed or restored to their
original states by a rotation of the connecting part, thus
providing an elastic force to the latch.
[0024] Additional aspects and/or other advantages of the invention
will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in
part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the following embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drum type washing machine
having a door-locking unit, according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door-locking
unit of FIG. 1, with the door-locking unit installed in a door;
[0028] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view to show a handle of
the door-locking unit of FIG. 2, which is coupled to a first hinge
unit provided on an inner surface of the door;
[0029] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view to show a latch of
the door-locking unit of FIG. 2, which is coupled to a second hinge
unit provided on the inner surface of the door;
[0030] FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the line II-II
of FIG. 2, in which FIG. 5 shows the door locked to a cabinet by
the door-locking unit of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 shows the door unlocked
from the cabinet by the door-locking unit of FIG. 2; and
[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a latch of a door-locking
unit, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in
which an elastic unit that is provided on the latch to elastically
bias the latch is positioned in a manner different from the first
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drum type washing machine
having a door-locking unit 10, according to a first embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the drum type washing
machine includes a box-shaped cabinet 1. The cabinet 1 has an
opening 2 at its front to allow a user to place and remove laundry
into and from, respectively, the cabinet 1. A water tub (not shown)
and a rotary tub 3 are set in the cabinet 1 along a horizontal
axis. A door 4 is mounted to a position of the cabinet 1 to open
and close the opening 2 of the cabinet 1.
[0034] The door 4 is rotatably hinged to the cabinet 1 by a hinge
unit 5 which is mounted to an end of the door 4. Thus, when the
washing machine is not operated, the door 4 is opened to allow the
laundry to be put into or taken out from the cabinet 1. Conversely,
when the washing machine is operated, the door 4 is closed, thus
allowing the laundry to be washed.
[0035] A door-locking unit 10 is mounted to an end of the door 4,
which is opposite to the end having the hinge unit 5. The
door-locking unit 10 functions to keep the door 4 locked to the
cabinet 1, during an operation of the washing machine. Meanwhile,
when the washing machine is stopped, the door-locking unit 10
functions to unlock the door 4 from the cabinet 1. To allow the
door-locking unit 10 to be locked to and unlocked from the cabinet
1, a hook hole 6 having a particular size is provided on a
predetermined portion of the cabinet 1. The hook hole 6 has an
inclined surface.
[0036] The construction and operation of the door-locking unit 10,
according to the first embodiment of the present invention, will be
described in the following with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.
[0037] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door-locking
unit 10 installed in the door 4. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective
view to show a handle 20 of the door-locking unit 10, which is
coupled to a first hinge unit 40 provided on an inner surface of
the door 4. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view to show a latch
30 of the door-locking unit 10, which is coupled to a second hinge
unit 45 provided on the inner surface of the door 4. FIG. 5 is a
sectional view to show the door 4 locked to the cabinet 1 by the
door-locking unit 10, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view to show the
door 4 unlocked from the cabinet 1 by the door-locking unit 10.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the door 4 includes a transparent part
4a and a frame 4b. The transparent part 4a has a central portion
which is made of a transparent material, thus allowing the user to
see an interior of the cabinet 1 (see FIG. 1). The frame 4b is
screwed to an edge of the transparent part 4a by screws 7, and has
an opening 8 at a central portion of the frame.
[0039] The door-locking unit 10 is provided between the transparent
part 4a and the frame 4b of the door 4, and provided with the
handle 20 and the latch 30. The user manipulates the handle 20
through the opening 8 of the frame 4b. The latch 30 is rotated by
an operation of the handle 20 to lock and unlock the door 4 to and
from the cabinet 1.
[0040] The first and second hinge units 40 and 45 are provided on
the inner surface of the frame 4b to be spaced apart from each
other by an interval so that the handle 20 is rotatably mounted to
the first hinge unit 40, and the latch 30 is rotatably mounted to
the second hinge unit 45. Further, a through hole 9 is provided at
a portion of the transparent part 4a. Such a construction allows
the latch 30 of the door-locking unit 10 to engage with a hook hole
6 which is provided at a position of the cabinet 1.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 20 is positioned on the inner
surface of the frame 4b to face the inner surface, and includes a
first hinge shaft 21 which is extended latitudinally. First and
second lever parts 22 and 23 extend from the first hinge shaft 21
in opposite directions and are integrated with each other. The
first lever part 22 has a wider width and a longer length than the
second lever part 23, thus allowing the user to easily manipulate
the handle 20.
[0042] The first hinge unit 40 includes first and second seats 41
and 42 which are spaced apart from each other by an interval, thus
rotatably supporting the first hinge shaft 21. Each of the first
and second seats 41 and 42 includes a stopper 43 and a plurality of
support projections 44. The stopper 43 functions to stop an end of
the first hinge shaft 21 so that the first hinge shaft 21 is held
in the first and second seats 41 and 42. The plurality of support
projections 44 are placed at positions of the frame 4b inside the
stopper 43. Each of the support projections 44 has an opening 44a
at its center to rotatably support the first hinge shaft 21.
[0043] Thus, when opposite ends of the first hinge shaft 21 of the
handle 20 are respectively seated in the first and second seats 41
and 42 of the first hinge unit 40, the first hinge shaft 21 is
rotatably supported in the openings 44a of the plurality of support
projections 44 while being held in the first and second seats 41
and 42 by the stoppers 43.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the latch 30 includes a hub 31 and third
and fourth lever parts 32 and 33 which are integrated with each
other. The hub 31 is supported by the second hinge unit 45, and
forms a center of a rotation of the latch 30. The third lever part
32 extends from the hub 31 to be horizontal relative to the
transparent part 4a and the frame 4b. The fourth lever part 33
extends from the hub 31 to the interior of the cabinet 1 while
being perpendicular to the transparent part 4a and the frame
4b.
[0045] A hinge hole 35 is axially formed through the hub 31, and a
second hinge shaft 34 passes through the hinge hole 35. Such a
construction allows the latch 30 to be rotated around the second
hinge shaft 34.
[0046] First and second brackets 36 each having a hole 37 project
vertically from the transparent part 4a at opposite sides of the
through hole 9, and rotatably support the latch 30 on the
transparent part 4a by the second hinge shaft 34 between first and
second support members 46 and 47 of the second hinge unit 45.
[0047] The third lever part 32 of the latch 30 is placed in contact
with an inner surface of the second lever part 23 of the handle 20
(see FIGS. 5 and 6). Thus, when the first lever part 22 of the
handle 20 is pulled, the third lever part 32 of the latch 30 is
pushed by the second lever part 23.
[0048] The fourth lever part 33 is arranged to be perpendicular to
the third lever part 32. A hook 33a is provided at an end of the
fourth lever part 33 perpendicular to the fourth lever part 33. The
fourth lever part 33 having the hook 33a outwardly extends from the
through hole 9 of the transparent part 4a to face the cabinet 1.
Thus, when the fourth lever part 33 is inserted into the hook hole
6 of the cabinet 1 to make the hook 33a locked by the hook hole 6,
the door 4 is locked to the cabinet 1. Conversely, when the hook
33a is removed from the hook hole 6, the door 4 is unlocked from
the cabinet 1.
[0049] Further, an elastic unit 50 is provided on the latch 30.
When the latch 30 is rotated by the handle 20, the elastic unit 50
is rotated along with the latch 30 to be compressed. Meanwhile,
when a force applied to the handle 20 is removed, the latch 30 and
the handle 20 are restored to their original positions by the
elastic unit 50.
[0050] The elastic unit 50 includes first and second coil parts 51
and 52 through which the second hinge shaft 34 passes. The first
and second coil parts 51 and 52 are compressed by the rotation of
the latch 30, and provide an elastic force to the latch 30
sufficient to elastically restore the latch 30 to its original
position. A connecting part 53 connects the first coil part 51 to
the second coil part 52. First and second free ends 54 and 55
respectively extend from the first and second coil parts 51 and
52.
[0051] After the first and second coil parts 51 and 52 of the
elastic unit 50 are respectively positioned at opposite sides of
the hub 31 of the latch 30, and the connecting part 53 of the
elastic unit 50 is placed in contact with the third lever part 32
of the latch 30, the hub 31 of the latch 30 is arranged between the
first and second brackets 36 of the transparent part 4a.
Thereafter, the second hinge shaft 34 is passed through the holes
37 of the first and second brackets 36 and the hinge hole 35 of the
hub 31 of the latch 30. In this way, the latch 30 and the elastic
unit 50 are assembled with the transparent part 4a. In this case,
the fourth lever part 33 of the latch 30 extends from the through
hole 9 of the transparent part 4a toward the cabinet 1 while being
perpendicular to the transparent part 4a. The third lever part 32
of the latch 30 extends toward a center of the transparent part 4a
while being parallel to the transparent part 4a.
[0052] The second hinge unit 45 includes the first and second
support members 46 and 47 which project from the frame 4b while
being perpendicular to the inner surface of the frame 4b. The first
and second support members 46 and 47 are spaced apart from each
other to support opposite ends of the second hinge shaft 34 so that
the second hinge shaft 34 is held in the first and second support
members 46 and 47.
[0053] Thus, when the second hinge shaft 34 is placed between the
first and second support members 46 and 47 of the second hinge unit
45 after the latch 30 having the elastic unit 50 is mounted to the
transparent part 4a by the second hinge shaft 34, the hub 31 of the
latch 30 is supported by the frame 4b while being rotatably seated
between the first and second support members 46 and 47 of the
second hinge unit 45.
[0054] Further, when the latch 30 is placed in the second hinge
unit 45 of the frame 4b, the third lever part 32 of the latch 30
contacts the second lever part 23 of the handle 20. Thus, the third
lever part 32 of the latch 30 is rotated by the operation of the
handle 20.
[0055] The operation of the door-locking unit 10, according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, will be described in the
following with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, when the door 4 is locked to the cabinet
1 by the door-locking unit 10, the first hinge shaft 21 of the
handle 20 is seated in the first and second seats 41 and 42 of the
first hinge unit 40 (see FIG. 3). At this time, the first and
second lever parts 22 and 23 of the handle 20 are placed parallel
to the transparent part 4a and the frame 4b between the transparent
part 4a and the frame 4b. Further, the hub 31 of the latch 30 and
the elastic unit 50 are supported between the first and second
support members 46 and 47 of the second hinge unit 45 (see FIG. 4),
while the third lever part 32 of the latch 30 is placed on the
second lever part 23 of the handle 20 parallel to the transparent
part 4a and the frame 4b. The fourth lever part 33 of the latch 30
passes through the through hole 9 of the transparent part 4a and
the hook hole 6 of the cabinet 1 so that the hook 33a provided at
the end of the fourth lever part 33 is locked by the cabinet 1,
thus allowing the door 4 to be kept closed.
[0057] The first coil part 51 of the elastic unit 50 is wound
around the second hinge shaft 34 between the first bracket 36 and
the hub 31 of the latch 30 while not being compressed. Further, the
second coil part 52 of the elastic unit 50 is wound around the
second hinge shaft 34 between the second bracket 36 and the hub 31
of the latch 30 while not being compressed. The connecting part 53
of the elastic unit 50 is provided between the third lever part 32
of the latch 30 and the second lever part 23 of the handle 20. The
first and second free ends 54 and 55 of the elastic unit 50 are in
contact with the inner surface of the frame 4b (see FIG. 4).
[0058] An actuating part 56 of a locking sensor is provided inside
the hook hole 6 of the cabinet 1. The actuating part 56 is pushed
by the hook 33a, and elastically restores an original position of
the hook 33a when the hook 33a does not impose a pushing force on
the actuating part 56, thus detecting whether the door 4 is locked
to the cabinet 1 or not. When the door 4 is locked to the cabinet 1
by the door-locking unit 10, the washing machine is operated to
wash the laundry.
[0059] In a state where the door 4 is locked to the cabinet 1, when
the user desires to place or remove laundry into or from the
cabinet 1, the user puts a hand in the opening 8 of the frame 4b to
pull the first lever part 22 of the handle 20, as shown in FIG. 6.
At this time, the first hinge shaft 21 is rotated so that the first
and second lever parts 22 and 23 are rotated counterclockwise.
Simultaneously, the second lever part 23 pushes the third lever
part 32 of the latch 30 toward the cabinet 1.
[0060] In this case, the hub 31 of the latch 30 is rotated around
the second hinge shaft 34, so that the third and fourth lever parts
32 and 33 are rotated clockwise, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the hook
33a of the fourth lever part 33 is moved to a position which is
easily removed from the hook hole 6 of the cabinet 1. Further, the
connecting part 53 of the elastic unit 50 is rotated along with the
third lever part 32, thus compressing the first and second coil
parts 51 and 52.
[0061] In a state where the first lever part 22 of the handle 20 is
pulled as described above, the frame 4b is pulled forward. At this
time, the fourth lever part 33 of the latch 30 is removed from the
hook hole 6, thus allowing the door 4 to be opened. Further, the
actuating part 56 of the locking sensor elastically restores the
original position of the locking sensor, thus detecting the opening
of the door 4.
[0062] Meanwhile, when the user releases the handle 20, the latch
30 is rotated counterclockwise by the elastic force of the elastic
unit 50, and simultaneously the handle 20 is rotated clockwise,
thus allowing the door-locking unit 10 to be restored to its
original position.
[0063] When the user pushes the opened door 4 toward the cabinet 1,
the hook 33a enters the hook hole 6 of the cabinet 1. At this time,
the fourth lever part 33 of the latch 30 is moved along the
inclined surface of the hook hole 6 and rotated clockwise. After
the hook 33a enters the hook hole 6, the fourth lever part 33 is
elastically rotated counterclockwise. Thus, the door 4 is locked to
the cabinet 1, as shown in FIG. 5, thus allowing the washing
machine to be operated.
[0064] FIG. 7 shows a door-locking unit, according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. The general construction of
the door-locking unit of the second embodiment remains the same as
the door-locking unit 10 of the first embodiment, except that an
elastic unit 50a is placed in a manner different from the elastic
unit 50 of the door-locking unit 10 of the first embodiment.
[0065] According to the second embodiment, the elastic unit 50a
includes first and second coil parts 51 and 52 which are placed on
opposite sides of the hub 31 of the latch 30. A connecting part 53
is provided on an inner surface of the third lever part 32 of the
latch 30, and connects the first coil part 51 to the second coil
part 52. First and second free ends 54 and 55 extend upwardly from
the first and second coil parts 51 and 52, respectively. Thus, when
the third lever part 32 of the latch 30 is rotated clockwise, the
connecting part 53 is also rotated, thus compressing the first and
second coil parts 51 and 52. Meanwhile, when a force applied to the
handle 20 is removed, the latch 30 is rotated counterclockwise by a
restoring force of the first and second coil parts 51 and 52.
[0066] Since the construction and operation of the door-locking
unit of the second embodiment is similar to the door-locking unit
of the first embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the
door-locking unit of the second embodiment will not be described
herein in detail.
[0067] According to the above-discussed embodiments of the present
invention, the door-locking unit is applied to the drum type
washing machine. However, without being limited to these
embodiments, the door-locking unit may be applied to devices other
than the drum type washing machine, to lock and unlock a door. For
example, when the door-locking unit of the present invention is
applied to vertical shaft type washing machines with a heater to
wash laundry using hot water, in which a rotary tub is installed in
a cabinet along a vertical axis, and a pulsator is arranged in the
rotary tub and is rotated around the vertical axis of the cabinet
in opposite directions, thus producing water currents to wash the
laundry, the vertical shaft type washing machines are safely
operated.
[0068] As is apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides a washing machine having a door-locking unit
which includes a handle rotated around a first hinge unit, a latch
rotated around a second hinge unit by the operation of the handle,
and an elastic unit to provide an elastic force to the latch. The
door-locking unit is easily mounted to a door, thus enhancing
productivity, and allows the door to be smoothly and reliably
locked to and unlocked from a cabinet, thus having beneficial
qualities.
[0069] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *