U.S. patent application number 11/476933 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for casing of laundry handling device.
Invention is credited to Young Soo Kim.
Application Number | 20070052332 11/476933 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37775959 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070052332 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Young Soo |
March 8, 2007 |
Casing of laundry handling device
Abstract
A casing 50 of a laundry handling device according to the
present invention has a cabinet 100 having a front surface 101
formed with an entrance hole 102 of laundry, and a left and right
surfaces 102, 103 formed integrally with one another. And, a back
cover 110 is mounted on a rear end of the left and right surfaces
102, 103 of the cabinet 100 to cover the rear surface of the
cabinet 100. The cabinet 100 and back cover 110 are mounted to a
base 130, and a top plate 120 is mounted to the cabinet 100 and
back cover 110. There exists no gap between the left and right
surfaces 106, 107 and front surface 101 of the casing 50, this
making it possible to eliminate beauty spoiling and deterioration
of stability and cleanliness which can occur if there exists any
gap, and the number of parts is increased, this making it possible
to minimize the number of connecting members and simplify
assembling process.
Inventors: |
Kim; Young Soo;
(Changwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLESHNER & KIM, LLP
P.O. BOX 221200
CHANTILLY
VA
20153
US
|
Family ID: |
37775959 |
Appl. No.: |
11/476933 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/228 |
International
Class: |
A47B 77/06 20060101
A47B077/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0058123 |
Jun 30, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0058124 |
Claims
1. A casing of a laundry handling device comprising: a cabinet
having a front surface and a left and right surfaces formed
integrally with one another, the front surface 101 formed with an
entrance hole of laundry; and a back cover mounted on a rear end of
the left and right surfaces of the cabinet.
2. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the cabinet has a door pivotally installed on the front surface to
open and close the entrance hole of laundry.
3. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the cabinet has a control panel mounting part for mounting a
control panel of controlling operation of the laundry handling
device on a top side of the front surface.
4. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 3, wherein
the cabinet is formed so that a height of the front surface is
lower than a height of the left and right surfaces.
5. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the cabinet has a holder mounting hole of mounting a pump holder on
a lower side of the front surface.
6. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the back cover has a structure to cover the overall rear surface of
the cabinet.
7. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the back cover is formed with at least one hole through which parts
of the laundry handling device are penetrated.
8. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 7, wherein
the back cover is formed with a water supply valve hole through
which a water supply valve is penetrated.
9. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 7, wherein
the back cover is formed with a power code hole through which a
power code is penetrated.
10. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 7, wherein
the back cover is formed with a draining hose hole through which a
draining hose is penetrated.
11. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 7, wherein
the back cover is formed with a tranzi bolt hole through which a
tranzi bolt is penetrated.
12. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the back cover is mounted in a front and rear direction at a rear
side of the cabinet.
13. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, further
comprising: a base on which the cabinet and back cover are
mounted.
14. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 13, wherein
the base comprises, a base pan 132, a left base bracket installed
on a left and top surface of the base pan and connected to a left
damper supporting a left side of the tub, and a right base bracket
installed on a right and top surface of the base pan and connected
to a right damper supporting a right side of the tub.
15. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, further
comprising: a top plate mounted on a top side of the cabinet and
back cover.
16. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 1, wherein
the laundry handling device is a drum type washing machine.
17. A casing of a laundry handling device comprising: a base; a
cabinet mounted on a top side of the base, having a front surface
and a left and right surfaces formed integrally with one another,
the front surface formed with an entrance hole of laundry; a back
cover mounted on a rear end of the left and right surfaces of the
cabinet and the base to cover the overall rear surface of the
cabinet; and a top plate mounted on a top side of the cabinet and
back cover.
18. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 17, wherein
the cabinet is formed so that a height of the front surface is
lower than a height of the left and right surfaces to mount a
control panel of controlling operation of the laundry handling
device on a top side of the front surface.
19. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 17, wherein
the back cover is formed with at least one hole through which parts
of the laundry handling device are penetrated.
20. The casing of the laundry handling device of claim 17, wherein
the laundry handling device is a drum type washing machine.
Description
[0001] This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a) on Patent Application No. 10-2005-0058123
filed in Korea on Jun. 30, 2005, and Patent Application No.
10-2005-0058124 filed in Korea on Jun. 30, 2005, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a casing of a laundry
handling device, and more particularly, to a casing of a laundry
handling device, which does not require a separate cabinet cover
since the front surface, and left and right surfaces of the laundry
handling device are integrally formed, and has the minimized number
of parts.
[0004] 2. Description of the Conventional Art
[0005] In general, a laundry handling device is a device to wash or
dehydrate laundry contained in a drum by rotating the drum, and
this may be classified depending on its function as follows: a
washing machine of decontaminating dirt on clothes or bedding
(hereinafter, referred to as `laundry`) by mechanical interaction
together with water and detergent, a dryer of drying wet laundry
from mechanical interaction and heated dry wind, and a washing
machine with dryer having both of washing function and drying
function.
[0006] On the other hand, the laundry handling device is classified
into a front loading type, which loads laundry in the front side,
and a top loading type, which loads laundry in the top side,
depending on the direction of placing laundry.
[0007] And, the washing machine is largely divided into an agitator
type, a pulsator type, and drum type.
[0008] The agitator type washing machine washes laundry by rotating
a washing rod elevated from its center, the pulsator type by
rotating a rotation wing formed at the lower side of washing tank
in a circular plate form and using friction between water flow and
laundry, and the drum type by rotating a drum containing washing
water, detergent and laundry, which is arranged in a tub having a
lifter protruded therein to be rotatable.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a prospective view of illustrating a drum type
washing machine according to a prior art, FIG. 2 is a sectional
view of illustrating an internal construction of a drum type
washing machine according to a prior art, and FIG. 3 is a exploded
prospective view of illustrating a casing in a drum type washing
machine according to a prior art.
[0010] The drum type washing machine according to the prior art, as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a casing 2 forming its
appearance, a tub 20 installed inside the casing 2, a drum 25
rotatably provided inside the tub 20, a motor 30 of rotating the
drum 25, a water supplier 35 of supplying water mixed with
detergent and the like to the inside of the tub 20, and a drainer
40 of draining contaminated water in the tub 20 to the outside of
the casing.
[0011] The casing 2, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a base 4 having
a leg 3 on its bottom surface, a cabinet 9 arranged on a top side
of the base 4, whose left surface 5 and right surface 6 are bended
toward at both ends of its rear surface 7 and whose rear surface 7
has a service hole 8 in its center, a back cover 10 installed in
the rear surface 7 of the cabinet 9 to cover the service hole 8, a
cabinet cover 11 installed to be arranged between line ends of the
left surface 5 and right surface 6, and a top cover 12 installed on
a top side of the cabinet 9.
[0012] A damper bracket is formed in the base 4 connected to a
damper for shock-absorbably supporting the tub 20.
[0013] The cabinet cover 11 is formed in a rectangular plate body
form of covering the front surface of the cabinet 9.
[0014] A control panel 13 is mounted on a top side of the cabinet
cover 11 to control operation of the drum type washing machine.
[0015] The casing 2 of the drum type washing machine according to
the prior art, however, has a gap 18 between the left and right
surfaces 5, 6 of the cabinet 8 and left and right ends of the
cabinet cover 11; therefore, water may be penetrated through the
gap 18, lowering stability, unwanted material such as dust may
enter the gap 18, making unclean, and an overall sense of integrity
can not be obtained from the casing 2 due to the gap 18, spoiling
the beauty.
[0016] Moreover, since the casing 2 of the drum type washing
machine according to the prior art comprises the cabinet 9
consisting of the left and right side surfaces 5, 6, and the rear
surface 7, the service hole 8 formed on the cabinet 9, and the back
cover 10 of covering the service hole 8, the number of parts and
assembling processes is increased, and the number of connecting
member is also increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention is designed to solve the problems of
prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present invention
to provide a casing of a laundry handling device capable of
improving stability and cleanliness as well as beauty of a front
surface of the laundry handling device.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
casing of a laundry handling device capable of simplifying
assembling process through minimizing the number of parts, and
minimizing the number of connecting members.
[0019] To accomplish the above objects, a casing of a laundry
handling device according to the present invention comprises a
cabinet 100 having a front surface 101 and a left and right
surfaces 102, 103 formed integrally with one another, the front
surface 101 formed with an entrance hole 102 of laundry; and a back
cover 110 mounted on a rear end of the left and right surfaces 102,
103 of the cabinet 100.
[0020] The cabinet has a door pivotally installed on the front
surface to open and close the entrance hole of laundry.
[0021] The cabinet is formed so that a height of the front surface
is lower than a height of the left and right surfaces to mount a
control panel of controlling operation of the laundry handling
device on a top side of the front surface.
[0022] The cabinet has a holder mounting hole of mounting a pump
holder on a lower side of the front surface.
[0023] The back cover is formed with at least one hole through
which parts of the laundry handling device are penetrated including
a water supply valve hole through which a water supply valve is
penetrated, a power code hole through which a power code is
penetrated, a draining hose hole through which a draining hose is
penetrated, and a tranzi bolt hole through which a tranzi bolt is
penetrated.
[0024] The back cover is mounted in a front and rear direction at a
rear side of the cabinet.
[0025] The casing of the laundry handling device further comprises
a base on which the cabinet and back cover are mounted.
[0026] The base comprises a base pan, a left base bracket installed
on a left and top surface of the base pan and connected to a left
damper supporting a left side of the tub, and a right base bracket
installed on a right and top surface of the base pan and connected
to a right damper supporting a right side of the tub.
[0027] The casing of the laundry handling device further comprises
a top plate mounted on a top side of the cabinet and back
cover.
[0028] The laundry handling device is a drum type washing
machine.
[0029] As mentioned above, in the casing of the laundry handling
device according to the present invention configured as above, the
front surface, left and right surfaces are integrally formed on the
cabinet, and therefore, there exists no gap between the left and
right surfaces and front surface, this making it possible to
eliminate beauty spoiling and deterioration of stability and
cleanliness which can occur if there exists any gap.
[0030] In addition, in the casing of the laundry handling device
according to the present invention, the cabinet and back cover
mounted at the rear end of the cabinet replace the cabinet, cabinet
cover, and back cover of the casing of the drum type washing
machine according to the prior art, and therefore the number of
parts is decreased, this making it possible to minimize the number
of connecting members and simplifying assembling process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0031] The invention will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings in which like numerals refer to like
elements.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a prospective view of illustrating a drum type
washing machine according to the prior art.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of illustrating an internal
construction of a drum type washing machine according to the prior
art.
[0034] FIG. 3 is an exploded prospective view of illustrating a
casing of a drum type washing machine according to the prior
art.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a prospective view of a drum type washing machine
to which an embodiment of a casing of a laundry handling device
according to the present invention is applied.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of illustrating the internal
construction of the drum type washing machine shown in FIG. 4.
[0037] FIG. 6 is an exploded prospective view of the casing shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a front view of the cabinet shown in FIG. 6 before
the left and right surfaces are bent from the front surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] Now, a preferred embodiment of a casing of a drum type
washing machine according to the present invention will be
hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a prospective view of a drum type washing machine
to which an embodiment of a casing of a laundry handling device
according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 is a
sectional view of illustrating the internal construction of the
drum type washing machine shown in FIG. 4.
[0041] The drum type washing machine shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
comprises a casing 50 forming its appearance, a tub 20 installed
inside the casing 2 shock-absorbly by a suspension such as spring,
damper and the like, a drum 25 rotatably provided inside the tub
20, a motor 30 of rotating the drum 25, a water supplier 35 of
supplying water mixed with detergent and the like to the inside of
the tub 20, and a drainer 42 of draining contaminated water in the
tub 20 to the outside of the casing 50.
[0042] The casing 50 comprises a cabinet 100 integrally formed with
a front surface 101 and a left and right surfaces 106, 107 of the
drum type washing machine, a back cover 110 of covering the overall
rear surface of the cabinet 100, a top plate 120 arranged on a top
side of the cabinet 100 and back cover 110 to cover a top surface
of the cabinet 100, and a base 130 mounted with the cabinet 100 and
back cover 110.
[0043] The back cover 110 is mounted on each rear end of the left
and right surfaces 106, 107 of the cabinet 100 by screws and the
like.
[0044] Here, the top plate 120 in the casing 50 may be integrally
formed with either of the cabinet 100 or back cover 110, and it may
also be manufactured separately and combined with each other by
screw and the like. The following description will be confined in a
case where the top plate 120 is manufactured separately from the
cabinet 100 and back cover 100 and then placed and mounted on the
cabinet 100 and back cover 110.
[0045] The top plate 120 is placed over the cabinet 100 and back
cover 110, and mounted with them by screw and the like.
[0046] And, the casing 50 may be configured only with the cabinet
100, back cover 110, and top plate 120 without the base 130. The
following description, however, will be confined in a case where
the base 130 is manufactured separately from the cabinet 100 and
back cover 110, and the cabinet 100 and back cover 110 are
connected by screw and the like so that the damper, which will be
described later, may be readily connected.
[0047] The tub 20, which is a container positioned horizontally or
inclinedly, includes a water supply hole connected to the water
supplier 35 at its upper side and an overflow connected to the
drainer 42 at its lower side.
[0048] The drum 25, which is a container positioned horizontally or
inclinedly, is formed with perforations on its surrounding thorough
which water may pass and is mounted with a lifter in its inner
periphery which serves to lift and drop laundry.
[0049] The motor 30 is mounted at the rear surface of the tub 20,
and arranged so that the rotation axis of rotating the drum 25 is
horizontal or inclined.
[0050] The water supplier 35 comprises a water supply valve 36
through which water fed from an external source passes, a water
supply hose 37 of guiding water having passed through the water
supply valve 36, a dispenser 39 including a detergent container 38
to be capable of mixing detergent, softener, bleach, and the like
with water guided by the water supply hose 37, and a water supply
bellows 40 of guiding water having passed through the dispenser 39
and mixed with detergent and the like, or pure water mixed with no
detergent.
[0051] The water supply valve 36 is installed to partially
penetrate the back cover 110
[0052] The water drainer 42 comprises a draining bellows 43 of
guiding contaminated water in the tub 20, a pump 44 of pumping
water having passed through the draining bellows 43, and a draining
hose 45 of guiding water pumped in the pump 55 to the outside of
the casing 50.
[0053] The draining hose 45 penetrates the back cover 110 and
extends in the rear side of the back cover 110.
[0054] The pump 44 comprises a pump case 45 detachably provided
with a filter, a pump motor 46 installed in the pump case 45 and
pumping water in the pump case 45, and a pump holder 47 of mounting
the pump case 45.
[0055] The pump holder 47 is installed on the front surface 101 of
the casing 50, especially, the cabinet 100.
[0056] A pump cap 48 is installed on the pump holder 47 to
open/close the front surface of the pump holder 47.
[0057] FIG. 6 is an exploded prospective view of the casing shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0058] The cabinet 100 is generally configured so that its section
is in the shape of and its left surface 106 is bent to face the
right surface 107.
[0059] The casing 50 has an entrance hole of laundry; the entrance
hole is formed at the front surface of the casing 50, in case of a
front loading type, and at the top surface, in case of a top
loading type. The following description will be confined in a case
of the front loading type laundry handling device.
[0060] The entrance hole 102 of laundry 102 is formed on the front
surface 101 of the cabinet 100, and a door 103 for opening/closing
the entrance hole 102 of laundry is pivotably connected
thereto.
[0061] The cabinet 100 is mounted with a control panel 140 of
controlling the operation of the drum type washing machine, and the
control panel mounting part 104 is formed on the top side of the
front surface 101.
[0062] The control panel mounting part 104 comprises a front and
top bending part 104A bent in the top end of the front surface 101,
on which the control panel 140 is placed, a left bending part 104B
bent from the top side of the line end of the left surface 106
toward the top side of the line end of the right surface 106, on
which the left side of the control panel 140 is mounted by a
connecting member such as hook or screw, and a right bending part
104C bent from the top side of the line end of the right surface
107 toward the top side of the line end of the left surface 107, on
which the right side of the control panel 140 is mounted by a
connecting member such as hook or screw.
[0063] A height H1 of the front surface 101 in the cabinet 100 is
formed lower than a height H2 of the left and right surfaces 106,
107 by a height H3 of the control panel 140, so that the control
panel 140, when mounted on the control panel mounting part 104,
does not form a step with the left and right surfaces 106, 107.
[0064] Here, the cabinet 100, considering a front and rear width W
of the control panel 140, is formed so that the overall left and
right surfaces 106, 107 are not higher than the front surface 101
in height, the front parts 106A, 107A of the left and right
surfaces 106, 107 are equal to the front surface 101 by H1 in
height, and the parts other than the front parts 106A, 107A are
higher than the front surface 101 by the height H3 of the control
panel 140.
[0065] That is, the left and right surfaces 106, 107 in the cabinet
100 are formed in the left and right direction and partially in a
stepwise manner.
[0066] On the other hand, a holder mounting hole 105 of mounting
the pump holder 47 is formed in the lower side of the front surface
101.
[0067] In the cabinet 100, a left top bracket 100A is mounted on
the top end of the left surface 106 to complement assembling
stiffness with the top plate 120 and suspend the tub 20 by spring,
and a left and top end bending part 106B bent from the top end of
the left surface 106 toward the top end of the right surface is
formed so that the left top bracket 100A may be connected by screw
and the like.
[0068] In the cabinet 100, a right top bracket 100B is mounted on
the top end of the right surface 107 to complement assembling
stiffness with the top plate 120 and suspend the tub 20 by spring,
and a right and top end bending part 107B bent from the top end of
the right surface 107 toward the top end of the left surface is
formed so that the right top bracket 100B may be connected by screw
and the like.
[0069] The cabinet 100 has a panel frame 100C arranged
longitudinally in the left and right direction on the top end of
the left surface 106 and top end of the right surface 107, on which
the control panel 140 is mounted by screw and the like.
[0070] The cabinet 100 has a left and rear end bending part 106D
bent toward the rear end of the right surface 107 so that the left
part of the back cover 110 may be connected on the rear end of the
left surface 106 by a connecting member such as screw and the
like.
[0071] The cabinet 100 has a right and rear end bending part 107D
bent toward the rear end of the left surface 106 so that the right
part of the back cover 110 may be connected on the rear end of the
right surface 107 by a connecting member such as screw and the
like.
[0072] FIG. 7 is a front view of the cabinet shown in FIG. 6 before
the left and right surfaces are bent from the front surface.
[0073] When the cabinet 100 is manufactured, a center part 101' and
left and right parts 106', 108' are generally formed in one plate
body form as shown in FIG. 7 and then the left and right parts 106'
108' are bent from the center part 101', thus forming the left and
right surfaces 106, 108 and front surface 101 perpendicular to the
left and right surfaces 106, 108.
[0074] On the other hand, the back cover 110, which is a structure
of covering the overall open rear surface of the cabinet 100, is
generally formed in a rectangular plate body form, as shown in FIG.
6.
[0075] The back cover 110 is mounted in the front and rear
direction at the rear side of the cabinet 100 for the motor 40 and
the like, and covers the open rear surface of the cabinet 100; its
left part is connected and mounted by screw and the like to the
left and rear end bending part 106D bendingly formed on the rear
end of the left surface 106 in the cabinet 100, and its right part
is connected and mounted by screw and the like to the right and
rear end bending part 107D bendingly formed on the rear end of the
right surface 107 in the cabinet 100.
[0076] The back cover 110 is formed with at least one penetration
hole 111, 112, 113, 114, through which parts of the drum type
washing machine are penetrated.
[0077] The back cover 110 is formed with a water supply valve hole
111, through which the water supply valve 36 is penetrated.
[0078] The back cover 110 is formed with a power code hole 112,
through which a power code (not shown) of supplying external power
to the inside of the drum type washing machine is penetrated.
[0079] The back cover 110 is formed with a draining hose hole 113,
through which the draining hose 45 is penetrated.
[0080] The back cover 110 is formed with a tranzi bolt hole 114,
through which a tranzi bolt (not shown) of fastening the tub 20 to
the back cover 110 so that the tub 20 is not crashed against the
back cover 110 is penetrated.
[0081] The base 130 has a leg spaced from ground.
[0082] The base 130 comprises a base pan 132 in a plate body form
configuring the bottom surface of the drum type washing machine, a
left base bracket 134 installed on the left and top surface of the
base pan 132 and connected to the left damper of supporting the
left side of the tub 20, and a right base bracket 136 installed on
the right and top surface of the base pan 132 and connected to the
right damper of supporting the right side of the tub 20.
[0083] The casing of the laundry handling device according to the
present invention configured as above has effects as follows.
[0084] In the casing of the laundry handling device according to
the present invention configured as above, the front surface, on
which the entrance hole of laundry is formed, and left and right
surfaces are integrally formed, and therefore, there exists no gap
between the left and right surfaces and front surface, this making
it possible to eliminate beauty spoiling and deterioration of
stability and cleanliness which can occur if there exists any
gap.
[0085] In addition, in the casing of the laundry handling device
according to the present invention, the cabinet and back cover
mounted at the rear end of the cabinet replace the cabinet, cabinet
cover, and back cover of the casing of the laundry handling device
according to the prior art, and therefore the number of parts is
decreased, this making it possible to minimize the number of
connecting members and simplifying assembling process.
[0086] In addition, in the casing of the laundry handling device
according to the present invention, the front surface in the
cabinet is formed lower in height than the left and right surfaces,
and therefore, the control panel mounting part is provided on the
top side of the cabinet, this allowing the control panel to be
installed not higher than the left and right surfaces.
[0087] In addition, in the casing of the laundry handling device
according to the present invention, the back cover is mounted to
completely cover the rear surface of the cabinet, and therefore, if
the back cover is removed during maintenance work of the inside of
the drum type washing machine, the rear surface of the drum type
washing machine is completely open, this making it possible to
facilitate customer service for motor and the like.
[0088] In addition, in the casing of the laundry handling device
according to the present invention, the back cover is integrally
formed with a plurality of holes through which parts such as the
water supply valve, draining hose, power code and tranzi bolt are
penetrated, this making it possible to perform a customer service
for the water supply and the like by removing only the back cover
without removing the top plate during the customer service.
* * * * *