U.S. patent application number 10/892489 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-19 for washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Kim, Dong Yoon.
Application Number | 20050103061 10/892489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34567641 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050103061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Dong Yoon |
May 19, 2005 |
Washing machine
Abstract
A washing machine, in which a coupling between a top cover and a
control panel is enhanced, is disclosed. The washing machine
includes a top cover having an opening, through which a laundry is
inserted into the washing machine via the opening, a control panel
provided at a rear end portion of the top cover, a fixing part
provided at a portion of the top cover in a rear of the opening,
and a hook provided to a lower front end of the control panel, the
hook securely engaging with the fixing part for eliminating a gap
between the top cover and the control panel.
Inventors: |
Kim, Dong Yoon; (Sacheon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
34567641 |
Appl. No.: |
10/892489 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/5E ; 312/228;
68/5R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/005.00E ;
068/005.00R; 312/228 |
International
Class: |
D06F 037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2003 |
KR |
P 2003-72238 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A washing machine comprising: a top cover having an opening,
wherein a laundry is inserted into the washing machine via the
opening; a control panel provided at a rear end portion of the top
cover; a fixing part provided at a portion of the top cover in a
rear of the opening; and a hook provided to a lower front end of
the control panel, the hook securely engaging with the fixing part
for eliminating a gap between the top cover and the control
panel.
2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fixing part
comprises: a fitting portion having an end extended backward that
securely fits with the hook; and a support portion provided in a
rear of the fitting portion to support a rear side of the hook.
3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein an elongated groove is
formed along the hook to have the end of the fitting portion
inserted therein.
4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein a sealing member is
provided to an inner side of the elongated groove to prevent water
inflow.
5. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the fitting portion and
the support portion are provided to upper ends of extension members
extending upward, respectively.
6. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the fitting portion has
a slip-fit connection with the fixing part.
7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fixing part
comprises: a fitting portion having an end extended forward that
securely fits with the hook; and a support portion provided in a
rear of the fitting portion to support a front side of the
hook.
8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein an elongated groove is
formed along the hook to have the end of the fitting portion
inserted therein.
9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein a sealing member is
provided to an inner side of the elongated groove to prevent water
inflow.
10. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the fitting portion and
the support portion are provided to upper ends of extension members
extending upward, respectively.
11. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the fitting portion has
a slip-fit connection with the fixing part.
12. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fixing part is
formed in a lateral direction of the control panel, and wherein the
hook is formed to correspond to the fixing part.
13. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the
fixing parts is provided in a lateral direction of the control
panel and is equally spaced apart, and wherein a plurality of the
hooks is provided to correspond to the plurality of fixing
parts.
14. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the opening has a
substantially circular shape, and wherein the fixing part forms an
arc along a rim of the opening.
15. A washing machine comprising: a top cover having an opening,
wherein a laundry is inserted into the washing machine via the
opening; a control panel provided to a rear end portion of the top
cover; an extension member extending upward from a portion of the
top cover in a rear of the opening to have a predetermined height;
a fixing part provided to an upper end of the extension member; and
a hook provided to a lower front end of the control panel, the hook
securely engaging with the fixing part for eliminating a gap
between the top cover and the control panel.
16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the fixing part
comprises: a fitting portion having an end extending forward that
securely fits with the hook; and a support portion provided in a
rear of the fitting portion to support a front side of the
hook.
17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein an elongated groove is
formed along the hook to have the end of the fitting portion
inserted therein, and wherein a sealing member is provided to an
inner side of the elongated groove to prevent water inflow.
18. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the extension member
has a length substantially equal to a lateral length of the control
panel.
19. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the opening has a
substantially circular shape, and wherein the extension member
forms an arc along a rim of the opening.
20. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the fixing part is
formed of an elastic material.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
No. P2003-072238, filed on Oct. 16, 2003, which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a washing machine, in which
the coupling between a top cover and a control panel is
enhanced.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus for eliminating
various filth and particles attached to the laundry such as
clothes, lint, linen, etc. using chemical reaction of detergent,
friction of current according to rotation of wash vanes, shocks
applied to the laundry by pulsator, and so on. And, the washing
machine washes a laundry by performing washing, rinsing, and
dewatering sequentially or selectively.
[0006] A general washing machine is explained by referring to the
attached drawing as follows.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a washing machine
according to a related art. Referring to FIG. 1, a washing machine
according to a related art consists of a case 1 forming an
exterior, a tub (not shown) installed within the case 1, and a drum
(not shown) rotatably installed within the tub. A top cover 2 is
provided to a top of the case 1. And, an opening 3 is formed in the
top cover 2 so that a laundry is inserted into the tub. A water
supply device (not shown) turned on/off by a solenoid valve is
installed in rear of the top cover 2. A lid 5 is provided to the
opening 3 to close or open. And, the lid 5 is rotatably installed
centering around a hinge provided to a rear rim of the opening
3.
[0008] Also, a control panel 4 is provided to an upper rear end
portion of the top cover 2. Various circuit parts for controlling
the washing machine are loaded in the control panel 4. Moreover,
both lower ends in rear of the top cover 2 are fixed to the top
cover 2 via a coupling member.
[0009] However, the related art washing machine has the following
problems or disadvantages.
[0010] First of all, it is difficult to assemble the control panel
to the topside of the top cover precisely. Additionally, when the
top cover is bent over due to long-term use, a gap is generated
between the top cover and the control panel. Water may flow through
the gap to cause damage to the circuit parts loaded in the control
panel. Finally, if the rear end portion of the top cover is
distorted, the hinge working as a rotational center of the lid may
be broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing
machine that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due
to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a washing
machine, by which a control panel is more stably assembled to a top
cover.
[0013] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination
of the following or may be learned from a practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the subject matter particularly
pointed out in the specification and claims hereof as well as in
the appended drawings.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance
with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described
herein, a washing machine includes a top cover having an opening,
wherein a laundry is inserted into the washing machine via the
opening, a control panel provided at a rear end portion of the top
cover, a fixing part provided at a portion of the top cover in a
rear of the opening, and a hook provided to a lower front end of
the control panel, the hook securely engaging with the fixing part
for eliminating a gap between the top cover and the control
panel.
[0015] In an example of the present invention, the fixing part may
include a fitting portion having an end extended backward that
securely fits with the hook, and a support portion provided in a
rear of the fitting portion to support a rear side of the hook.
[0016] Preferably, an elongated groove is formed along the hook to
have the end of the fitting portion inserted therein. A sealing
member is provided to an inner side of the elongated groove to
prevent water inflow. The fitting portion and the support portion
are provided to upper ends of extension members extending upward,
respectively. And, the fitting portion has a slip-fit connection
with the fixing part.
[0017] Herein, the fixing part may include a fitting portion having
an end extended forward that securely fits with the hook, and a
support portion provided in a rear of the fitting portion to
support a front side of the hook.
[0018] Preferably, an elongated groove is formed along the hook to
have the end of the fitting portion inserted therein. A sealing
member is provided to an inner side of the elongated groove to
prevent water inflow. The fitting portion and the support portion
are provided to ends of extension members extending upward,
respectively. The fitting portion has a slip-fit connection with
the fixing part.
[0019] Preferably, the fixing part is formed in a lateral direction
of the control panel, and the hook is formed to correspond to the
fixing part. A plurality of the fixing parts is provided in a
lateral direction of the control panel and is equally spaced apart,
and a plurality of the hooks is provided to correspond to the
plurality of fixing parts.
[0020] Preferably, the opening has a substantially circular shape,
and the fixing part forms an arc along a rim of the opening.
[0021] In another aspect of the present invention, a washing
machine includes a top cover having an opening, wherein a laundry
is inserted into the washing machine via the opening, a control
panel provided to a rear end portion of the top cover, an extension
member extending upward from a portion of the top cover in a rear
of the opening to have a predetermined height, a fixing part
provided to an upper end of the extension member, and a hook
provided to a lower front end of the control panel, the hook
securely engaging with the fixing part for eliminating a gap
between the top cover and the control panel.
[0022] Herein, the fixing part may include a fitting portion having
an end extending forward that securely fits with the hook, and a
support portion provided in a rear of the fitting portion to
support a front side of the hook.
[0023] Preferably, an elongated groove is formed along the hook to
have the end of the fitting portion inserted therein, and a sealing
member is provided to an inner side of the elongated groove to
prevent water inflow. The extension member has a length
substantially equal to a lateral length of the control panel. The
opening has a substantially circular shape, and the extension
member forms an arc along a rim of the opening. And, the fixing
part is formed of an elastic material.
[0024] It is to be understood that both the foregoing explanation
and the following detailed description of the present invention are
exemplary and illustrative and are intended to provide further
explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a washing machine
according to a related art;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling
structure between a top cover and a control panel according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top cover to which an
external force is applied;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling
structure between a top cover and a control panel according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a magnified view of a part `A` indicated by a
circle in FIG. 4;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling
structure between a top cover and a control panel according to a
further embodiment of the present invention; and
[0032] FIG. 7 is a magnified view of a part `B` indicated by a
circle in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings,
like elements are indicated using the same or similar reference
designations where possible.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling
structure between a top cover and a control panel according to one
embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective
view of a top cover to which an external force is applied.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, an extension member 2a is formed at an
upper rear side of a top cover 2 to prevent water from flowing
toward a rear side of a control panel 4. And, the extension member
2a is contacted with a lower front end 4a of the control panel 4.
And, a user interface unit 6 enabling a user to select a
predetermined function arbitrarily is provided to a front side of
the control panel 4.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, once an external force is applied to
the top cover 2 on moving the washing machine, the top cover 2 is
distorted and bent downward. In doing so, a gap `t` is generated
between the top cover 2 and the control panel 4 so that water may
flow in the gap `t`. In order to solve such a problem, one
embodiment according to the present invention is provided as
follows.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling
structure between a top cover and a control panel according to
another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a
magnified view of a part `A` indicated by a circle in FIG. 4.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, a top cover 21 having an opening 22,
through which a laundry is inserted, is provided to a topside of a
washing machine. A control panel 24 is provided to a rear end
portion of the top cover 21 and various user interface units 26
enabling a user to control an operation of the washing machine are
loaded in the control panel 24.
[0039] A fixing part 27 is provided to a rear end portion of the
top cover 21 and a hook 28 is formed at a lower front end of the
control panel 24. Once the hook 28 is coupled to the fixing part
27, it is able to eliminate a gap between the coupled portion
between the top cover 21 and the control panel 24. And, it is also
able to prevent the top cover 21 and control panel 24 from being
distorted by an external force applied thereto while the washing
machine is carried or moved.
[0040] A lower rear end of the control panel 24 is coupled to a
rear end portion of the top cover 21 by a coupling member such a
bolt and the like, and a lower front end of the control panel 24 is
coupled to the top cover 21 by a coupling of a hook 28.
[0041] Meanwhile, a fixing part 27 of the top cover 21 has a length
extending in a lateral direction of the control panel 24, while the
hook 28 has a length corresponding to the fixing part 27. In this
case, a plurality of fixing parts 27 can be provided along a lower
front side of the control panel 24 to leave a predetermined
interval from each other and the hook 28 can be formed at a
location corresponding to each of a plurality of the fixing parts
27.
[0042] In case that the opening 22 provided to the top cover 21 is
formed to have a circular shape, it is preferable that the fixing
part 27 is provided to form an arc shape along a rim of the opening
22. Hence, the lower front end of the control panel 24 is formed to
have an arc shape as well as the hook 28.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 5, the fixing part 27 includes a fitting
portion 27a and a support portion 27b. An end of the fitting
portion 27a is extended backward so as to lock (or securely fit
with) the hook 28. And, the support portion 27b is provided in a
rear of the fitting portion 27a so as to support a rear side of the
hook 28. Hence, the support portion 27b prevents the hook from
being released from the fitting portion 27a.
[0044] Preferably, the fitting portion 27a and the support portion
27b are provided to upper ends of extension members 27a' and 27b'
extending upward from the top cover 21, respectively. Namely, water
is primarily prevented from flowing in a rear end portion of the
top cover by the extension members 27a' and 27b' and is secondarily
prevented from flowing in the control panel 24 by the locking
between the fixing part 27 and the hook 28.
[0045] Meanwhile, the fitting portion 27a and the support portion
27b are formed to confront each other so that a space in which the
hook 28 is inserted is provided between them. Thus, the hook 28
slides in a lower side of the fitting portion 27a to be locked by
the fitting portion 27a.
[0046] Moreover, an elongated groove 28a in which an end of the
fitting portion 27a is inserted is formed at the hook 28. Hence,
the fitting portion 27a is firstly fitted into the elongated groove
28a to be locked by the hook 28. Preferably, the fitting and
support portions 27a and 27b are formed of an elastic member.
[0047] Besides, a sealing member 40 is provided within the
elongated groove 28a to prevent water inflow. And, the sealing
member 40 is preferably formed of rubber and the like. Therefore,
even if an external force is applied to the top cover 21, the top
cover 21 is locked by the hook 28 of the control panel 24 to be
prevented from being distorted.
[0048] A coupling structure between a top cover and control panel
according to another embodiment of the present invention is
explained as follows.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling
structure between a top cover and a control panel according to a
further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a
magnified view of a part `B` indicated by a circle in FIG. 6.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a fixing part 37 includes a
fitting portion 37a and a support portion 37b. An end of the
fitting portion 37a extends forward to lock a hook 38. And, the
support portion 37b is provided in front of the fitting portion 37a
to leave a predetermined distance and supports a front side of the
hook 38. Hence, the support portion 37b prevents the hook, which is
pushed forward, from being released from the fitting portion 37a.
As the hook 38 is locked by the fitting portion 37a to prevent a
top cover 21 from being detached from a control panel 24 despite an
external force applied thereto.
[0051] And, the fitting portion 37a and the support portion 37b are
provided to upper ends of extension members 37a' and 37b' extending
upward from the top cover 21, respectively. Hence, water is
primarily prevented from flowing in a rear side of the control
panel 24 by the extension members 37a' and 37b'.
[0052] Moreover, an elongated groove 38a in which an end of the
fitting portion 37a is inserted is formed at the hook 38. And, a
sealing member 41 is provided to the elongated groove 38a to
prevent water inflow.
[0053] Besides, a plurality of fixing parts 37 can be provided
along a lower front side of the control panel 24 to leave a
predetermined interval from each other and the hook 38 can be
formed at a location corresponding to each of a plurality of the
fixing parts 37.
[0054] The coupling structure according to another embodiment of
the present invention has the same constitution of the one
embodiment of the present invention except that the coupling
direction between the fixing part 37 and the hook 38 is
reversed.
[0055] Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiments according to
the present invention, it is apparent that the hook can be provided
to an upper rear end portion of the top cover and that the fixing
part is provided to a lower end of the control panel.
[0056] An operation between the top cover and the control panel is
explained as follows.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, after the top cover 21 has been
fixed to an upper part of the case, the hook 28 of the control
panel 24 is inserted in the fixing part 27. The lower rear end of
the control panel 24 is then fixed to the top cover 21 by the
locking member, such as a bolt and the like.
[0058] In doing so, the hook 28 of the control panel 24 is locked
by the fixing part 27 f the top cover 21. Hence, the top cover 21
fails to be bent downward even if a heavy stud is put on the lid
(`25` in FIG. 2) or an external force works on the washing machine
that is being carried. Namely, the hook 28 and the fixing part 27
reinforce rigidity of the rear end portion of the top cover 21.
[0059] Hence, the gap fails to occur between the top cover 21 and
the control panel 24. Moreover, the control panel 24 has a box
shape to reinforce the rigidity of the rear end portion of the top
cover 21 as well.
[0060] Accordingly, the top cover and control panel of the washing
machine according to the present invention provide the following
advantages of effects.
[0061] First of all, the top cover is prevented from being bent,
whereby the gap fails to occur between the topside of the top cover
and the lower end of the control panel. Therefore, the present
invention improves an exterior of the washing machine as well as
prevents water from flowing in the control panel.
[0062] Furthermore, the top cover is prevented from being bent,
whereby it is able to prevent the hinge part of the lid provided to
the top cover from being broken.
[0063] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications
and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *