U.S. patent application number 12/399758 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-10 for drum type washing machine.
Invention is credited to Jong Hee Han, Ho Il Jeon, Myung Shik Kim.
Application Number | 20090223255 12/399758 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40412315 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090223255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Myung Shik ; et
al. |
September 10, 2009 |
DRUM TYPE WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine
having a control panel assembly which can make, not only an
exterior of the drum type washing machine beautiful, but also
enable the user to operate the drum type washing machine, easily.
The drum type washing machine includes a body which forms an
exterior of the drum type washing machine, a front plate secured to
a front of the body, having a door mounted thereto, and a touch
switch mounted to the front plate for applying a washing
course.
Inventors: |
Kim; Myung Shik;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Jeon; Ho Il;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Han; Jong Hee;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
40412315 |
Appl. No.: |
12/399758 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 34/28 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/12.23 |
International
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20060101
D06F033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 10, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0022042 |
Claims
1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a body which forms an
exterior of the drum type washing machine; a front plate secured to
a front of the body, having a door mounted thereto; and a touch
switch actuated by a user's contact for inputting a washing
course.
2. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
touch switch is plural and mounted to the front plate.
3. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
touch switches are arranged on a line in a width direction of the
front plate.
4. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
touch switches are arranged in zigzag in a width direction of the
front plate.
5. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 3 or 4,
wherein the touch switch includes a name of the washing course
which is applicable by using the touch switch displayed
thereon.
6. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 5, further
comprising a plurality of light emitting units provided matched to
the touch switches such that the light emitting unit emits a light
when the touch switch matched to the light emitting unit is
pressed.
7. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a display unit for displaying information on the washing
course and the detail setting applied to the touch switches.
8. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a distance from the door to a top edge of the front
plate equal to a distance from the door to either side edge of the
cabinet.
9. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
door is formed at a position higher than a center of the cabinet.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Patent Korean
Application No. 10-2008-0022042, filed on Mar. 10, 2008, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The present invention relates to drum type washing machines,
and, more particularly, to a drum type washing machine having a
control panel assembly which can make, not only an exterior of the
drum type washing machine beautiful, but also enable the user to
operate the drum type washing machine, easily.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] In general, the drum type washing machine washes laundry by
using friction between the laundry and a drum which rotates by
driving power from a motor in a state detergent, washing water and
the laundry are introduced to the drum. The drum type washing
machine is advantageous in that almost no laundry damage takes
place, and the laundry does not entangle.
[0006] The drum type washing machine is provided with a cabinet
which forms an exterior thereof, and a control panel assembly which
enables a user to apply a washing course to the washing
machine.
[0007] The control panel assembly is provided with a rotary switch
and buttons mounted thereto for applying the washing course to the
drum type washing machine.
[0008] The control panel assembly of the related art is provided
with a control panel which forms an exterior of the control panel
assembly, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) in the control panel having
various electric components mounted thereon, and a rotary switch
projected forward from the control panel for enabling the user to
apply a washing course to the drum type washing machine.
[0009] The rotary switch has a rotation shaft one side of which is
connected to the PCB.
[0010] The rotary switch also has a step held on a rear of the
control panel, and a step guide for bringing the step into close
contact with the rear of the control panel.
[0011] The operation of the related art control panel assembly in
the drum type washing machine will be described.
[0012] When the user turns the rotary switch, the step rotates
while keeping surface to surface contact to the rear of the control
panel, and as the rotation shaft at the rotary switch rotates, the
user can select a washing course.
[0013] However, the control panel assembly of the related art in
the drum type washing machine has problems in that noise is
generated at the time of rotation of the rotary switch caused by
friction of the surface to surface contact between the step and the
rear of the control panel and the rotation of the rotary switch is
not smooth.
[0014] The operation both of the rotary switch along with a
plurality of buttons required for the user in selection of the
washing course of the drum type washing machine is complicate.
[0015] The plurality of buttons and the rotary switch mounted to a
front of the control panel assembly make the exterior of the drum
type washing machine not beautiful.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0016] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum
type washing machine.
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type
washing machine which can make an exterior of a control panel
assembly on a front of the drum type washing machine beautiful.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum
type washing machine which enables a user to operate a control
panel assembly easily, and understand a selected washing course
easily.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum
type washing machine which can eliminate noise generated at the
time the user operate the control panel assembly, and improve
feeling of touch at the time of operation.
[0020] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
disclosure 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.
[0021] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a drum type washing machine includes a
body which forms an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a
front plate secured to a front of the body, having a door mounted
thereto, and a touch switch actuated by a user's contact for
inputting a washing course.
[0022] The touch switch may be plural and mounted to the front
plate.
[0023] The touch switches may be arranged on a line in a width
direction of the front plate.
[0024] Or, alternatively, the touch switches may be arranged in
zigzag in a width direction of the front plate.
[0025] The touch switch may include a name of the washing course
which is applicable by using the touch switch displayed
thereon.
[0026] The drum type washing machine may further include a
plurality of light emitting units provided matched to the touch
switches such that the light emitting unit emits a light when the
touch switch matched to the light emitting unit is pressed.
[0027] In the meantime, the drum type washing machine may further
include a display unit for displaying information on the washing
course and the detail setting applied to the touch switches.
[0028] The drum type washing machine may further include a distance
from the door to a top edge of the front plate equal to a distance
from the door to either side edge of the cabinet.
[0029] In this case, the door is formed at a position higher than a
center of the cabinet.
[0030] 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
[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings:
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a drum type washing
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a drum type washing machine
in FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a drum type washing
machine in FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a section of a control panel assembly in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific
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.
[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a drum type washing
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a drum type washing
machine in FIG. 1.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum type washing machine
includes a cabinet 110 which forms an exterior of the drum type
washing machine, a tub 120 (See FIG. 2) in the cabinet 110 for
holding washing water, a drum 130 (See FIG. 2) rotatably mounted in
the tub 120, and a motor 160 (See FIG. 2) for driving the drum
130.
[0039] The cabinet 110 includes a body 111 which forms sides, rear
and bottom of the drum type washing machine, a front plate 112
which forms a front of the cabinet 110, and a top plate 113 joined
to a top of the body 111 to form a top of the cabinet.
[0040] The front plate 112 which forms a front of the cabinet 110
has a laundry opening 112a formed therein for introduction of
laundry, opened/closed by a door 115 rotatably mounted to the
cabinet 110.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, the tub 120 is positioned in the
cabinet by hanging springs 121 and dampers 122 for holding the
washing water.
[0042] The hanging spring 121 has one side connected to the top
plate 133, and the other side connected to a top side of the
tub.
[0043] In the meantime, the damper 122 under the tub 120 attenuates
vibration generated at the time the drum rotates at a high
speed.
[0044] The drum 130 has lifters 131 on an inside circumferential
surface for lifting the laundry in the drum 130 to a predetermined
height.
[0045] The drum 130 also has a plurality of pass through holes 132
in an inside circumferential surface for discharging the washing
water from the laundry to the tub 120 in a process of a washing
course, such as spinning.
[0046] On an upper side of the tub 120, there is a water supply
hose 140 for supplying water to the tub 120 from an outside of the
cabinet.
[0047] The water supply hose 140 may include a water supply valve
141 for controlling water supply, and a detergent supply device 142
for making the water supplied through the water supply hose 140 to
be introduced into the tub 120 together with the detergent.
[0048] In the meantime, it is preferable that a drain hose 150 and
a drain pump 151 are provided on a lower side of the tub 120 for
draining the water used for the washing course to an outside of the
washing machine.
[0049] On a rear of the tub 120, there is the motor 160 for
rotating the drum, including a rotation shaft 165 passed through
the rear of the tub 120.
[0050] The motor 160 includes a stator 161 fixedly secured to the
rear of the tub 120, and a rotor 162 rotated by electro-magnetic
interaction with the stator 161.
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a drum type washing
machine in FIG. 1.
[0052] A control panel assembly 200 will be described with
reference to FIG. 3.
[0053] The control panel assembly 200 is mounted to an upper side
of the front of the cabinet 110 for enabling the user to input a
washing course to the drum type washing machine and notice
operation of the washing machine.
[0054] The control panel assembly 200 may include an operation unit
210 and a display unit 250.
[0055] The operation unit 210 may be arranged in a width W
direction of the front plate 112 for enabling the user to apply the
washing course.
[0056] The operation unit 210 may include a washing course
operation button 211 and a detail setting operation button 212.
[0057] The washing course operation button 211 enables the user to
apply the washing course to the drum type washing machine, and the
detail setting operation button 212 enables the user to apply a
temperature of the washing water, a washing time period, and so on
to the drum type washing machine additionally once the washing
course is set with the washing course setting button. However, the
sorting of the buttons into the washing course operation button 211
and the detail setting operation button 212 is only for convenience
of description of the drum type washing machine of the present
invention, but not for limiting the operation unit to the operation
buttons.
[0058] In the meantime, the washing course operation button 211 and
the detail setting operation button 212 may be arranged on a line
in the width direction W of the front plate or in zigzag.
[0059] Or, the washing course operation button 211 may be arranged
in zigzag in the width direction W of the front plate and the
detail setting operation button 212 may be arranged on a line in
the width direction W of the front plate.
[0060] The washing course operation button 211 and the detail
setting operation button 212 may have character portions 213 on
surfaces thereof having the washing courses and the detail settings
the user can apply represented with characters, and it is
preferable that the character portions 213 are formed such that the
character portions 213 are not erased even if the user press down
the character portions 213.
[0061] The washing course operation button 211 and the detail
setting operation button 212 may be touch switches 223 (See FIG.
4).
[0062] The touch switch enables the user to input a signal for the
washing course or the detail setting to the drum type washing
machine by means of user's finger touch, finger contact or finger
pressure.
[0063] According to this, the feeling of touch of the user can be
improved when the user operates the touch switch.
[0064] FIG. 4 illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG. 3
showing a control panel assembly in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] The operation unit 210 and the display unit 250 will be
described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.
[0066] The operation unit 210 includes a PCB 220 having various
circuit components mounted thereon, an LED 221 secured to the PCB
220 for emitting a light, an LED supporter 222 for supporting the
LED 221, and a touch switch 223 mounted on a front of the LED
supporter 222.
[0067] If the touch switches are arranged in zigzag, a transparent
window 225 may be provided in space between rows of the touch
switches for transmission of the light from the LED 221.
[0068] When the user presses the touch switch, the LED 221 for the
touch switch is turned on, and the light from the LED transmits
through the transparent window 225 to an outside of the control
panel assembly.
[0069] According to this, the user can notice the washing course or
the detail setting applied by the user easily by means of the
LED.
[0070] In the meantime, the drum type washing machine of the
present invention may include the display unit 250,
additionally.
[0071] The display unit will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
The display unit 250 displays information on the washing course or
the like the user applies to the touch switch for easy recognition
of the information by the user, and may be provided to an
additional panel mounted to an upper side of the front plate
112.
[0072] It is preferable that the display unit 250 is constructed of
a display panel of organic EL (Organic Light Emitting Diodes).
[0073] The display unit 250 constructed of a display panel of
organic EL makes an exterior of the display unit 250 beautiful, and
enables to reduce power consumption.
[0074] Thus, the drum type washing machine of the present invention
has, no rotary switch mounted thereto, but only operation buttons
211 and 212 in forms of touch switches.
[0075] The washing course and the detail setting are progressed
following pressing of the washing course operation button 211 and
the detail setting operation button 212 provided in forms of touch
switches.
[0076] According to this, user's application of the washing course
or the detail setting is easy, the feeling of touch of the user is
good, and the control panel assembly 200 becomes to have a
beautiful exterior.
[0077] The mounting of the touch switch which enables sensing of
the finger touch of the user for inputting of the washing course or
the detail setting prevents noise from generating.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 3, it is preferable that a center C2 of
the door 115 formed in the front plate 112 of the drum type washing
machine of the present invention are provided at a position higher
than a center C1 of the cabinet 110.
[0079] If the door 115 is provided at a position higher than the
center of the cabinet 110, it is advantageous in that the user is
permitted to bent her(him)self forward only a little for taking the
laundry out of the drum type washing machine.
[0080] Moreover, it is preferable that the drum type washing
machine of the present invention has the door 115 at a position
where a distance from the door 115 to a top edge of the front plate
112 is equal to a distance from the door 115 to either side edge of
the cabinet 110, substantially.
[0081] This is because as the higher the door is positioned than
the center of the cabinet, the more beautiful the drum type washing
machine appears.
[0082] As has been described, the drum type washing machine of the
present invention has the following advantages.
[0083] The only mounting of the touch switches arranged in a width
direction of the front plate makes an exterior of the drum type
washing machine beautiful.
[0084] Operation of the drum type washing machine only with the
touch switches permits easy operation of the drum type washing
machine.
[0085] The exclusion of the rotary switch which is in contact with
the control panel assembly permits to prevent noise from taking
place at the time the rotary switch is turned.
[0086] 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.
* * * * *