U.S. patent application number 10/844515 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for washing machine having legs absorbing impact.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ryu, Doo Young, Song, Chang Min.
Application Number | 20050081577 10/844515 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34386789 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050081577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Song, Chang Min ; et
al. |
April 21, 2005 |
Washing machine having legs absorbing impact
Abstract
A washing machine includes legs provided on a lower portion of a
washing machine contacting with a support surface, thus supporting
the washing machine and absorbing a vibration of the washing
machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet, and legs which
support the cabinet on a support surface. Each of the legs includes
first and second vibration absorbing parts. The first vibration
absorbing part contacts, on a bottom surface thereof, with the
support surface, and has elasticity to have a higher contracting
strain as a weight applied thereto increases. A bottom surface of
the second vibration absorbing part is placed higher than the
bottom surface of the first vibration absorbing part by a
predetermined height, thus contacting with or being spaced apart
from the support surface according to the contracting strain of the
first vibration absorbing part.
Inventors: |
Song, Chang Min; (Suwon-Si,
KR) ; Ryu, Doo Young; (Suwon-Si, 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: |
34386789 |
Appl. No.: |
10/844515 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/23.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/125
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/023.1 |
International
Class: |
D06F 035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 21, 2003 |
KR |
2003-73332 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A washing machine on a support surface, including: a cabinet;
and at least one leg to support the cabinet on the support surface,
the at least one leg comprising: a first vibration absorbing part
to contact, on a bottom surface thereof, with the support surface,
the first vibration absorbing part having elasticity to have a
higher contracting strain as a weight applied thereto increases;
and a second vibration absorbing part of which a bottom surface is
placed higher than the bottom surface of the first vibration
absorbing part by a predetermined height, thus contacting or being
spaced apart from the support surface according to the contracting
strain of the first vibration absorbing part.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first
vibration absorbing part comprises soft rubber, and the second
vibration absorbing part comprises hard rubber.
3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second vibration absorbing parts are integrated with each other
into a single structure.
4. The washing machine according to claim 3, further comprising a
groove of a predetermined depth, which provided between the first
and second vibration absorbing parts, minimizing an interference
between the first and second vibration absorbing parts.
5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a
fastening unit to support the first and second vibration absorbing
parts at predetermined portions thereof and fastening the leg to
the cabinet.
6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the fastening
unit further comprises a reinforcing part to reinforce a strength
of one of the first and second vibration absorbing parts.
7. A support leg comprising: a fastening unit fastening the leg to
a cabinet; a head formed at an end of said fastening unit; and a
vibration absorbing unit surrounding a portion of said head,
wherein said absorbing unit comprises first and second vibration
absorbing parts separated by grooves.
8. The support leg according to claim 7, wherein said first
vibration absorbing part contacts, on a bottom surface thereof, a
support surface, the first vibration absorbing part having high
elasticity, and said second vibration absorbing part having a
bottom surface placed higher than the bottom surface of the first
vibration absorbing part by a predetermined height, thus contacting
or being spaced apart from the support surface according to a
contracting strain of the first vibration absorbing part.
9. The support leg according to claim 7, wherein the first
vibration absorbing part comprises soft rubber, and the second
vibration absorbing part comprises hard rubber.
10. The support leg according to claim 7, wherein the first and
second vibration absorbing parts are integrated with each other
into a single structure.
11. The support leg according to claim 9, further comprising a
groove of a predetermined depth, provided between the first and
second vibration absorbing parts, minimizing an interference
between the first and second vibration absorbing parts.
12. The support leg according to claim 7, wherein the head further
comprises a reinforcing part to reinforce strength of one of the
first and second vibration absorbing parts.
13. The support leg according to claim 7, wherein the first and
second vibration absorbing parts have different characteristic
frequencies.
14. The support leg according to claim 13, wherein the
characteristic frequency of the first vibration absorbing part is
lower than the characteristic frequency of the second vibration
absorbing part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2003-73332, filed Oct. 21, 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, in general, to washing
machines and, more particularly, to legs provided on a lower
portion of a washing machine to contact a support surface, thus
supporting the washing machine and absorbing impact when the
washing machine vibrates.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a machine driven by fossil fuels or electricity,
sets in motion internal components thereof using power generated
from a drive unit, such as an engine or a motor. In this case, as
the machine operates, vibrations of various frequencies are
generated, because frictions occur among the internal components of
the drive unit when the drive unit rotates.
[0006] Therefore, a vibration frequency generated during an
operation of the machine is called an operation frequency.
Furthermore, various machines have respective characteristic
frequencies based on physical properties of internal components
thereof. There is a strong correlation between the operation
frequency and the characteristic frequency and noise generated in
the machine. Particularly, when the characteristic frequency is
equal to the operation frequency, resonance occurs. When resonance
occurs, vibration is remarkably increased. Therefore, it is
desirable to prevent the resonance from occurring.
[0007] In conventional washing machines, legs thereof are made of a
material having a low characteristic frequency, such as soft
rubber, which absorbs a vibration of a high frequency. However, the
conventional washing machines have a problem in that a vibration
absorbing capacity of the soft rubber is reduced, because there is
little difference between a characteristic frequency of the soft
rubber and an operation frequency when a frequency of a vibration
which is transmitted from a cabinet to the leg, is low. The
conventional washing machines have another problem in that plastic
deformation of the soft rubber may occur due to weights of the
washing machine and water, when the soft rubber has been used for a
lengthy period of time. The conventional washing machines have a
further problem in that the soft rubber may undesirably weaken,
because the soft rubber has a low resistance to heat or
chemicals.
[0008] Meanwhile, although hard rubber is used, when the frequency
of the vibration which is transmitted from the cabinet to the legs
is high, there is little difference between a characteristic
frequency of the hard rubber and the operation frequency. The
vibration absorbing capacity of the hard rubber is thus
reduced.
[0009] The above-mentioned problems occur more remarkably when the
washing machine is placed on an uneven support surface, because
loads applied to the legs are not uniform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a washing machine having legs contacting a support surface
each comprising parts having different characteristic frequencies,
thus allowing the legs to efficiently absorb a vibration even when
a wide range of operation vibrations are generated.
[0011] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine which is constructed such that soft and hard parts
of the legs simultaneously contact the support surface, thus
preventing the soft part from being plastically deformed due to a
load of the washing machine or from weakening due to heat or
chemicals.
[0012] It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine having legs each comprising parts having different
characteristic frequencies, which are integrated with each other
into a single structure, thus simplifying manufacturing and
assembling processes, therefore increasing productivity.
[0013] 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.
[0014] The above and/or other aspects are achieved by a washing
machine, which includes a cabinet, and a leg to support the cabinet
on a support surface. The leg includes first and second vibration
absorbing parts. The first vibration absorbing part contacts, on a
bottom surface thereof, the support surface, and has elasticity
allowing a higher contracting strain as a weight applied thereto
increases. A bottom surface of the second vibration absorbing part
is placed higher than the bottom surface of the first vibration
absorbing part by a predetermined height, thus contacting with or
being spaced apart from the support surface according to the
contracting strain of the first vibration absorbing part.
[0015] According to an aspect of the invention, the first and
second vibration absorbing parts may have different characteristic
frequencies.
[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the
characteristic frequency of the first vibration absorbing part may
be lower than the characteristic frequency of the second vibration
absorbing part.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the first
vibration absorbing part may comprise soft rubber, and the second
vibration absorbing part may comprise hard rubber.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the first and
second vibration absorbing parts may be integrated with each other
into a single structure.
[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, a groove of a
predetermined depth may be provided between the first and second
vibration absorbing parts, thus minimizing interference between the
first and second vibration absorbing parts.
[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, the washing
machine may further include a fastening unit to support the first
and second vibration absorbing parts at predetermined portions
thereof and fasten the leg to the cabinet.
[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the fastening
unit may further include a reinforcing part to reinforce strength
of one of the first and second vibration absorbing parts.
[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, a leg may be
constructed so that parts thereof having different characteristic
frequencies are integrated with each other into a single structure
to contact with the support surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a leg included in a washing
machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the leg of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views showing the leg of FIG.
1 mounted to a cabinet of the washing machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the 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.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a leg included in a washing
machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a sectional view of the leg of FIG. 1.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine according to
an embodiment of the present invention includes the leg 1 which has
a fastening unit 10 fastened to a cabinet 2 (see, FIGS. 3A and 3B),
and a vibration absorbing unit 20 to absorb a vibration.
[0030] The fastening unit 10 is made of metal, and includes a
threaded part 11 and a head part 13 which is provided at an end of
the threaded part 11. The threaded part 11 has a cylindrical shape,
and is fastened to the cabinet 2. The head part 13 is surrounded by
the vibration absorbing unit 20 which will be described later
herein. A reinforcing part 15 is provided along an edge of the head
part 13 to be downwardly bent. Thus, a central portion of a lower
surface of the head part 13 of the fastening unit 10 is formed to
be concave, and a step is formed on a central portion of an upper
surface of the head part 13.
[0031] The vibration absorbing unit 20 is made of rubber, and
includes first and second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21,
respectively which are integrated with each other into a single
structure. The second vibration absorbing part 25 surrounds the
reinforcing part 15, while the first vibration absorbing part 25
surrounds the concave central portion of the head part 13. In this
case, the second vibration absorbing part 21 may be made of hard
rubber, and the first vibration absorbing part 25 may be made of
soft rubber. Because the head part 13 is formed to have a concave
step on the lower surface thereof, a distance between a bottom
surface of the first vibration absorbing part 25 and the lower
surface of the head part 13 is longer than a distance between a
bottom surface of the second vibration absorbing part 21 and the
lower surface of the head part 13. Thus, although the first and
second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21 are made of the same
rubber, the first vibration absorbing part 25 has higher elasticity
than the second vibration absorbing part 21, and thereby the first
and second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21 have different
vibration characteristics.
[0032] The reinforcing part 15 is embedded in the second vibration
absorbing part 21, thus functioning to reinforce strength of the
second vibration absorbing part 21. Conversely, when the first
vibration absorbing part 25 is made of the hard rubber and the
second vibration absorbing part 21 is made of the soft rubber, the
reinforcing part 15 may be constructed to reinforce strength of the
first vibration absorbing part 25. Such a construction increases a
difference of a vibration characteristic between the soft and hard
rubbers.
[0033] A groove 27 is provided along a junction between the first
and second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21. The bottom surface
of the first vibration absorbing part 25 is placed lower than the
bottom surface of the second vibration absorbing part 21, by a
height H, so that the first and second vibration absorbing parts 25
and 21 form a step. Further, the groove 27 is formed along the
junction between the first and second vibration absorbing parts 25
and 21, so that the first and second vibration absorbing parts 25
and 21 are spaced apart from each other, thus minimizing an
interference between the first and second vibration absorbing parts
25 and 21. The first vibration absorbing part 25 is placed at the
central portion of the lower surface of the head part 13 and the
second vibration absorbing part 21 is placed along the edge of the
head part 13, thus effectively preventing the first vibration
absorbing part 25 from being damaged due to light, heat, chemicals,
etc.
[0034] FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of the leg 1 mounted to
the cabinet 2 of the washing machine. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the
washing machine is placed on the support surface, the first and
second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21 simultaneously contact
the support surface. Although the bottom surface of the first
vibration absorbing part 25 is placed lower than the bottom surface
of the second vibration absorbing part 21, the first vibration
absorbing part 25 is more elastically deformed than the second
vibration absorbing part 21, thus making the first and second
vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21 simultaneously contact the
support surface. Because the first vibration absorbing part 25,
having a lower characteristic frequency and the second vibration
absorbing part 21, having a higher characteristic frequency,
simultaneously contact the support surface, the first vibration
absorbing part 25 absorbs the vibration when a frequency of the
vibration transmitted from the cabinet 2 to the legs 1 is high.
Further, when the frequency of the vibration transmitted from the
cabinet 2 to the legs 1 is low, the second vibration absorbing part
21 absorbs the vibration.
[0035] Meanwhile, when the washing machine operates, the weight of
water as well as the weight of the cabinet 2 is applied to the legs
1. In this case, the weight applied to the legs 1 is varied
according to washing operations, such as a water supply operation
and a water drain operation. Generally, when the washing machine is
filled with water, a load applied to a drive unit (not shown) is
increased. Thus, the frequency of the vibration acting on the legs
1 is reduced. Conversely, when water is completely discharged from
the washing machine, the load applied to the drive unit is reduced,
the frequency of the vibration acting on the legs 1 is increased.
When the weight acting on the legs 1 is large, the frequency of the
vibration is reduced. Conversely, when the weight acting on the
legs 1 is small, the frequency of the vibration is increased.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 3A, when the weight acting on the legs 1 is
small, only the first vibration absorbing part 25 contacts with the
support surface, and the second vibration absorbing part 21 is
spaced apart from the support surface.
[0037] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the weight
acting on the legs 1 is large, the elastic deformation of the first
vibration absorbing part 25 is increased, so that the first and
second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21 simultaneously contact
with the support surface. Therefore, when the frequency of the
vibration action on the legs 1 is high, only the first vibration
absorbing part 25 contacts the support surface. On the other hand,
when the frequency of the vibration acting on the legs 1 is low,
the first and second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21
simultaneously contact the support surface, thus enhancing
vibration absorbing efficiency. Further, when the frequency of the
vibration acting on the legs 1 is low, a contracting strain of the
vibration absorbing unit 20 is increased. In this case, supposing
that the cabinet 2 is supported by only the first vibration
absorbing part 25, the first vibration absorbing part 25 may be
easily plastically deformed. However, according to the present
invention, the legs 1 of the washing machine are constructed so
that the first and second vibration absorbing parts 25 and 21
simultaneously contact with the support surface. Thus, even when
the frequency is low and the contracting strain of the vibration
absorbing unit 20 is increased, the second vibration absorbing part
21 prevents the first vibration absorbing part 25 from being
plastically deformed. Further, when the frequency is high, the
contracting strain of the vibration absorbing unit 20 is reduced.
Thus, although the cabinet 2 is supported by only the first
vibration absorbing part 25, the contracting strain of the
vibration absorbing unit 20 is not increased so that the first
vibration absorbing part 25 is not plastically deformed.
[0038] From the above description, the present invention provides a
washing machine having legs contacting a support surface wherein
each leg comprises parts having different characteristic
frequencies, thus allowing the legs to efficiently absorb a
vibration even when a wide range of operation vibration is
generated.
[0039] The washing machine of the present invention is constructed
so that vibration absorbing parts of the legs having soft and hard
parts simultaneously contact the support surface, thus preventing
the soft part from being plastically deformed due to a load of the
washing machine or from weakening due to heat or chemicals.
[0040] Further, in the washing machine of the present invention,
each leg comprises parts having different characteristic
frequencies, which are integrated with each other into a single
structure, thus simplifying manufacturing and assembling processes,
therefore increasing productivity.
[0041] In the washing machine according to the present invention,
the soft part is placed at a center of each of the legs and the
hard part is placed along an edge of the leg, thus protecting the
soft part against light, heat, and chemicals.
[0042] Further, according to the washing machine of the present
invention, each of the legs is constructed so that a fastening unit
thereof has a step having different characteristic frequencies,
thus allowing the vibration absorbing parts having different
characteristic frequencies to respectively contact with the support
surface although the vibration absorbing parts are made of a same
material.
[0043] In the washing machine of the present invention, the soft
and hard parts of the legs form a step, thus allowing the soft part
from being elastically deformed to some extent even when the
support surface is uneven, therefore allowing the washing machine
to be stably placed on the support surface.
[0044] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been
shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *