U.S. patent application number 11/476915 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for washing machine.
Invention is credited to Sung Gi Hwang.
Application Number | 20070125132 11/476915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37650502 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070125132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang; Sung Gi |
June 7, 2007 |
Washing machine
Abstract
A door assembly of a washing machine is disclosed, which opens
and closes an inlet of the laundry. In a washing machine comprising
a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front
surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door
assembly provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and
close the inlet, the door assembly comprises an outer frame, a door
deco connected with one surface of the outer frame, and a fitting
portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to and from
the outer frame. Since the door deco is easily fixed to the outer
frame, it is possible to improve assembly performance of the door
assembly. Also, the door deco can firmly be fixed to the outer
frame without the space environment where the washing machine is
arranged.
Inventors: |
Hwang; Sung Gi;
(Changwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Family ID: |
37650502 |
Appl. No.: |
11/476915 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/3R ;
68/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/003.00R ;
068/139 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/00 20060101
D06F037/00; D06F 25/00 20060101 D06F025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0057822 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the
drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw
the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front
surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, wherein the
door assembly comprises: an outer frame; a door deco connected with
one surface of the outer frame; and a fitting portion selectively
fixing and detaching the door deco to and from the outer frame.
2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
frame is further connected with an inner frame on its other
surface, and the fitting portion simultaneously connects the inner
frame, the outer frame and the door deco with one another through a
screw.
3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fitting
portion includes: a fitting boss formed in the door deco, having a
through hole; an insertion boss formed in the outer frame, into
which the fitting boss is inserted; and a screw inserted into the
through hole of the fitting boss.
4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner
frame includes a fitting hole at a corner.
5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fitting
portion includes: a fitting boss formed in the door deco, having a
through hole; an insertion boss formed in the outer frame, into
which the fitting boss is inserted; and a screw inserted into the
through hole of the fitting boss by passing through the fitting
hole of the inner frame.
6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer
frame further includes a through hole corresponding to the fitting
hole.
7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fitting
portion includes: a fitting boss formed in the door deco, passing
though the through hole; and a screw inserted into the through hole
of the fitting boss by passing through the fitting hole formed in
the inner frame.
8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door deco
further includes a hook, and the outer frame further includes a
hook hole into which the hook is fitted.
9. A washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the
drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw
the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front
surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, wherein the
door assembly comprises: an outer frame provided with a hook hole;
a door deco provided with a hook inserted into the hook hole of the
outer frame; and an inner frame fixed to the outer frame by a
screw.
10. A door assembly of a washing machine, comprising: an outer
frame; a door deco connected with one side of the outer frame; and
a fitting portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to
and from the outer frame.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
No. 10-2005-0057822, filed on Jun. 30, 2005, which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a door assembly of a washing machine, which opens
and closes an inlet of the laundry.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a washer executing washing and dehydrating
strokes, a drier executing a drying stroke, and a washer with a
drying function executing washing and drying strokes are generally
designated as a washing machine. Examples of the washing machine
include a drum washing machine and a pulsator type washing
machine.
[0006] The drum washing machine is to remove contaminants of the
laundry using a frictional force generated between the laundry and
washing water. To this end, the drum washing machine is constructed
to supply the washing water and detergents contained in a detergent
box into a drum after throwing the laundry into the drum, rotate
the drum axially fixed to a motor in forward and reverse directions
depending on a rotational force of the motor to lift up the
laundry, and drop the laundry due to self-load of the laundry to
generate the frictional force.
[0007] Consumer demand of the drum washing machine is on an
increasing trend owing to its advantages of little entanglement of
laundries and excellent washing function.
[0008] Hereinafter, a related art drum washing machine will be
described with reference to FIG. 1.
[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the related art drum washing machine 1
includes a main body 2 provided with an inlet formed on a front
surface, a drum (not shown) rotatably provided inside the main body
2, and a door 3 rotatably provided on the front surface of the main
body 2 to open and close the inlet.
[0010] Although not shown, the main body 1 includes a tub and a
motor therein. The tub surrounds the drum and receives washing
water therein, and the motor is provided on a rear surface of the
tub to rotate the drum.
[0011] Meanwhile, FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view
of the door 3. The door 3 includes a ring shaped outer frame 31
positioned at the outside of the door 3, a door deco 32 of a
stainless material adhered to a front surface of the outer frame 31
through an adhesive means such as a double-sided tape, a door cover
33 provided on a rear surface of the outer frame 31, a door glass
34 closely adhered to a rear surface of the door cover 33, and an
inner frame 35 supporting the door cover 33 and the door glass 34
to prevent them from being detached from the outer frame 31.
[0012] However, the related art drum washing machine has several
problems.
[0013] First, if the door deco 32 is adhered to the outer frame 31
using a double-sided tape or an adhesive, adhesive strength may be
deteriorated depending on the condition of the external
environment, whereby the door deco 32 may be detached from the
outer frame 31.
[0014] Particularly, when considering an arrangement place of the
drum washing machine 1, the drum washing machine 1 is generally
arranged in a bathroom or a veranda provided with a drain outlet.
Since such a place is humid, adhesive strength of the double-sided
tape or the adhesive becomes weak as time passes. For this reason,
the door deco 32 may be detached from the outer frame 31.
[0015] In addition, the number of process steps increases due to
the process step of adhering the double-sided tape to the outer
frame 31 or the door deco 32. If something is wrong with such
adhesion, an inconvenient process step of newly adhering a new
double-sided tape to the outer frame or the door deco may
repeatedly be required. This could lead to deterioration of
productivity.
[0016] Finally, since the door deco 32 is made of a stainless
material, the production cost is expensive, whereby the cost of the
finished product increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing
machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0018] An object of the present invention is to provide a washing
machine provided with a door assembly, in which a door deco can
firmly be fixed to an outer frame during a door assembly process
and process steps can be reduced to enhance productivity.
[0019] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0020] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, in a washing machine comprising a drum, a
cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of
the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door assembly
provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and close the
inlet, the door assembly comprises an outer frame, a door deco
connected with one surface of the outer frame, and a fitting
portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to and from
the outer frame.
[0021] Preferably, the outer frame is connected with an inner frame
on its other surface, and the fitting portion simultaneously
connects the inner frame, the outer frame and the door deco with
one another through a screw.
[0022] Preferably, the fitting portion includes a fitting boss
formed in the door deco, having a through hole, an insertion boss
formed in the outer frame, into which the fitting boss is inserted,
and a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss.
[0023] Preferably, the inner frame includes a fitting hole at a
corner, the fitting portion includes a fitting boss formed in the
door deco, having a through hole, an insertion boss formed in the
outer frame, into which the fitting boss is inserted, and a screw
inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss by passing
through the fitting hole of the inner frame.
[0024] Preferably, the outer frame further includes a through hole
corresponding to the fitting hole, and the fitting portion includes
a fitting boss formed in the door deco, passing though the through
hole, and a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting
boss by passing through the fitting hole formed in the inner
frame.
[0025] Also, the door deco further includes a hook, and the outer
frame further includes a hook hole into which the hook is
fitted.
[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, in a washing
machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet
formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in
and out, and a door assembly provided on a front surface of the
cabinet to open and close the inlet, wherein the door assembly
comprises an outer frame provided with a hook hole, a door deco
provided with a hook inserted into the hook hole of the outer
frame, and an inner frame fixed to the outer frame by a screw.
[0027] In other aspect of the present invention, a door assembly of
a washing machine comprises an outer frame, a door deco connected
with one side of the outer frame, and a fitting portion selectively
fixing and detaching the door deco to and from the outer frame.
[0028] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] 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 embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a related art drum
washing machine;
[0031] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door
assembly provided in a related art drum washing machine;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a door assembly
provided in a related art drum washing machine;
[0033] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door
assembly provided in a drum washing machine according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a door assembly
provided in a drum washing machine according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a hook fitting
structure of a door assembly of a drum washing machine according to
the first embodiment of the present invention; and
[0036] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a door assembly of a
drum washing machine according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0038] A door assembly of a drum washing machine according to the
first embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 4, a door assembly 40 includes a ring
shaped outer frame 41 rotatably arranged at the front of a drum
washing machine 1 (see FIG. 1) and provided with a plurality of
insertion bosses 411, a door deco 42 provided with a plurality of
fitting bosses 421 inserted into the insertion bosses 411 to be
fixed to a front surface of the outer frame 41, a door cover 43
covering a central hole 412 of the outer frame 41 fixed to the door
deco 42 from a rear surface of the outer frame 41, a door glass 44
closely adhered to a corner of the door cover 43, and an inner
frame 45 fixed to the outer frame 41 at the rear of the door glass
44 so as not to avoid detachment of the door glass 44.
[0040] Preferably, the corner of the door deco 42 is provided with
a plurality of hooks 422, and the outer frame 41 is provided with
hook holes 413 so that the hooks 422 can be hooked in the hook
holes 413.
[0041] Meanwhile, each of the insertion bosses 411 of the outer
frame 41 includes a guide 411a guiding the fitting bosses 421
formed in the door deco 42, and a through hole 411b formed at the
end of the guide 411a.
[0042] Furthermore, the door deco 42 is preferably made of a
synthetic resin material, and the fitting bosses 421 are formed on
the rear surface of the outer frame 41 to correspond to the
insertion bosses 411 of the outer frame 41.
[0043] Furthermore, the door cover 43 is preferably made of a
transparent material to check an inner state of a drier.
[0044] Furthermore, it is preferable that the door glass 44 is
provided with a flange 44 along its outer circumference and has a
recessed vessel shape. In the same manner as the door cover 43, the
door glass 44 is preferably made of a transparent material to check
the inner state of the drier.
[0045] At this time, door glass 44 is more preferably made of a
transparent glass to endure a high temperature inside the
drier.
[0046] The inner frame 45 has a ring shape corresponding to the
rear surface of the outer frame 41, and is provided with a fitting
hole 451 at the corner, wherein the fitting hole 451 is formed so
that the fitting boss 421 of the door deco 42 corresponds to the
through hole 411b of the outer frame 41.
[0047] Meanwhile, a gasket 46 is preferably interposed between the
door glass 44 and the inner frame 45 to enhance adhesive
strength.
[0048] The assembly process of the aforementioned door assembly 40
according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be
described below.
[0049] First, the fitting bosses 421 of the door deco 42 are
inserted into the insertion bosses 411 of the outer frame 41. At
this time, the door deco 42 is provisionally fitted into the outer
frame 41 as a hook 322 formed in the door deco 42 is fitted into a
hook hole 413 of the outer frame 41.
[0050] At this time, a screw hole 421a of each fitting boss 421 is
coincident with the through hole 411b of each insertion boss 411.
Afterwards, a worker can conveniently connect the outer frame 41
with the inner frame 45, wherein the door deco 42 is fixed to the
outer frame 41.
[0051] The structure that the hook 422 of the door deco 42 is
hooked in the hook hole 413 of the outer frame 41 can be used for
the provisional assembly of the door deco 42 and the outer frame
41, and also can be used as a single coupling structure excluding a
screw coupling structure.
[0052] Meanwhile, the door cover 43 covers the central hole 412
from the rear surface of the outer frame 41, wherein the central
hole 412 is formed at the center of the outer frame 41.
[0053] Also, the flange 44a of the door glass 44 is closely adhered
to the corner of the door cover 43.
[0054] The gasket 46 is fitted along the corner of the flange 44a,
and the inner frame 45 matches the fitting hole 451 with the
through hole 411b of the outer frame 41 while closely adhering the
gasket 46 to the flange 44a.
[0055] Next, the fitting hole 451 of the inner frame 45 matches
with the through hole 411b of the outer frame 41 and the fitting
boss 421 of the door deco 42. The fitting hole 451 is assembled by
a screw so that the assembly process of the door assembly 40 is
completed.
[0056] While the screw coupling structure of the door deco 42, the
outer frame 41 and the inner frame 45 has been described, the
assembly process of the door assembly 40 may be completed even
though the door deco 42 is fixed to the inner frame 45. The
coupling structure of the door deco 42 and the inner frame 45 is
suggested as the second embodiment of the present invention and
will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
[0057] In the door assembly 40 according to the second embodiment
of the present invention, the outer frame 41 is provided with a
plurality of through holes 41a, and the door deco 42 is provided
with a plurality of fitting bosses 421 inserted through the through
holes 41a. Also, the inner frame 45 is provided with a plurality of
fitting holes 451 corresponding to the fitting bosses 421.
[0058] In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, the fitting bosses 421
of the door deco 42 match with the fitting holes 451 of the inner
frame 45 by passing through the through holes 411b formed in the
outer frame 41. In this structure, the outer frame 41 does not
provide a separate coupling structure but is interposed between the
door deco 42 and the inner frame 45.
[0059] The aforementioned coupling structure according to the
second embodiment of the present invention simplifies the assembly
process of the door assembly 40 to improve assembly
performance.
[0060] As described above, the washing machine according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following
advantages.
[0061] Since the door deco is fixed to the outer frame by the screw
and/or the hook, the number of the process steps of the door
assembly is reduced, and the washing machine can be arranged
without limitation according to the space environment.
[0062] 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 inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *