U.S. patent application number 14/518255 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-28 for clothes treating apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sam Young JANG, Wun Seok JEONG, Jin Il JUNG, Sang Bin LEE.
Application Number | 20150145388 14/518255 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53182063 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150145388 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JUNG; Jin Il ; et
al. |
May 28, 2015 |
CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS
Abstract
A clothes treating apparatus having an improved coupling
structure of an upper cover and a cabinet is provided. The clothes
treating apparatus may include a cabinet; an upper cover coupled to
an upper part of the cabinet; a panel coupled between the upper
cover and the cabinet so as to mediate coupling of the upper cover
and the cabinet; a coupling portion provided at at least a portion
of the panel; and an accommodation portion that is provided at at
least a portion of the upper cover and accommodates at least a
portion of the coupling portion, wherein the upper cover and the
cabinet may be coupled to each other by coupling of the coupling
portion and the accommodation portion. A coupling structure of an
upper cover and a cabinet is improved so that a step between the
upper cover and the cabinet can be prevented from being formed and
thus the upper cover can be prevented from escaping (detaching)
from the cabinet. Furthermore, owing to the improved coupling
structure of the upper cover and the cabinet, the number of
separate fastening member could reduce so that a material cost can
be reduced and a production process can be reduced.
Inventors: |
JUNG; Jin Il; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; LEE; Sang Bin; (Suwon-si, KR) ; JANG;
Sam Young; (Yongin-si, KR) ; JEONG; Wun Seok;
(Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
53182063 |
Appl. No.: |
14/518255 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/12 20130101;
D06F 37/264 20130101; D06F 37/267 20130101; D06F 58/02 20130101;
D06F 39/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/228 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/26 20060101
D06F037/26; D06F 39/14 20060101 D06F039/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0142784 |
Claims
1. A clothes treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet; an upper
cover coupled to an upper part of the cabinet; a panel coupled
between the upper cover and the cabinet so as to mediate coupling
of the upper cover and the cabinet; a coupling portion provided at
at least a portion of the panel; and an accommodation portion that
is provided at at least a portion of the upper cover and
accommodates at least a portion of the coupling portion, wherein
the upper cover and the cabinet are coupled to each other by
coupling of the coupling portion and the accommodation portion.
2. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel
comprises a first panel coupled to a front side of the cabinet and
second panels coupled to sides of the cabinet.
3. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the
second panels is coupled to the cabinet, and the first panel is
coupled to the second panels so that at least a portion of the
first panel is configured to overlap second panels.
4. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the
second panels comprises a bent portion that is bent so that the
second panels are configured to be coupled to at least a portion of
a rear side of the cabinet.
5. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one
fastening member coupling portion protrudes from the bent portion
of each of the second panels so that a separate fastening member
through which the upper cover and the second panels are coupled, is
configured to be coupled to the at least one fastening member
coupling portion.
6. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein a rib is
provided at the bent portion of each of the second panels so as to
protrude toward an outer side of the cabinet to prevent the upper
cover from detaching from the cabinet.
7. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one
coupling portion is provided at the first panel.
8. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein the upper
cover slides in a direction of an outer side of the cabinet and is
coupled to the first panel.
9. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a
fastening member coupling portion provided to protrude from a rear
side of the cabinet so that a separate fastening member through
which the rear side of the cabinet and a rear side of the upper
cover are coupled to each other, is configured to be coupled to the
fastening member coupling portion.
10. A clothes treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet; an upper
cover coupled to an upper part of the cabinet; and a panel coupled
to a top surface of the cabinet so as to mediate coupling of the
upper cover and the cabinet, wherein the panel comprises: a first
panel coupled to a front side of the cabinet; and second panels
coupled to both sides of the cabinet.
11. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein a coupling
portion provided at at least a portion of the first panel and an
accommodation portion provided at at least a portion of the upper
cover are coupled to each other so that the upper cover and the
cabinet are configured to be coupled to each other.
12. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the upper
cover slides in a direction of an outer side of the cabinet so that
the accommodation portion and the coupling portion are configured
to be insert-coupled to each other.
13. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first
panel and the second panels are coupled to the cabinet, and at
least a portion of the first panel is coupled to top surfaces of
the second panels.
14. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein: each of
the second panels comprises a bent portion that is bent so that the
second panels are configured to be coupled to at least a portion of
a rear side of the cabinet, and at least one fastening member
coupling portion protrudes from the bent portion of each of the
second panels so that a separate fastening member through which the
upper cover and the second panels are coupled to each other, is
configured to be coupled to the at least one fastening member
coupling portion.
15. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein a rib is
provided at the bent portion of each of the second panels so as to
protrude toward an outer side of the cabinet to prevent the upper
cover from detaching from the cabinet.
16. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 10, further comprising
a fastening member coupling portion provided to extend from the
cabinet so that a separate fastening member through which the
cabinet and the upper cover are coupled to each other, is
configured to be coupled to the fastening member coupling
portion.
17. A clothes treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet comprising a
front frame placed at a front side of the cabinet, side frames
placed at both sides of the cabinet, and a rear frame placed at a
rear side of the cabinet; a main body that is placed in the cabinet
and accommodates clothes; an upper cover coupled to an upper part
of the cabinet; and at least one panel coupled to at least a
portion of a top surface of the cabinet so as to mediate
insert-coupling of the upper cover and the cabinet.
18. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at
least one panel comprises: a first panel coupled to the front side
of the cabinet; and at least one second panel coupled to the both
sides of the cabinet.
19. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein a
protrusion is provided at at least a portion of the first panel so
as to be coupled to the upper cover, and the protrusion is
insert-coupled to an accommodation portion of the upper cover.
20. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein: the at
least one second panel comprises a bent portion that is bent so
that the at least one second panel is configured to be coupled to
at least a portion of the rear side of the cabinet, and at least
one fastening member coupling portion protrudes from the bent
portion of the at least one second panel so that a separate
fastening member through which the upper cover and the at least one
second panel are coupled to each other, is configured to be coupled
to the at least one fastening member coupling portion.
21. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cabinet
further comprises a fastening member coupling portion provided to
protrude from the rear side of the cabinet so that a separate
fastening member through which the rear side of the cabinet and a
rear side of the upper cover are coupled to each other, is
configured to be coupled to the fastening member coupling
portion.
22. A clothes treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet comprising a
front frame placed at a front side of the cabinet, side frames
placed at both sides of the cabinet, and a rear frame placed at a
rear side of the cabinet; a main body that is placed in the cabinet
and accommodates clothes; an upper cover coupled to an upper part
of the cabinet; and a panel coupled to at least a portion of a top
surface of the cabinet so as to mediate insert-coupling of the
upper cover and the cabinet, wherein the panel comprises a bent
portion that is bent so that the panel is configured to be coupled
to at least a portion of the rear side of the cabinet, and wherein
a rib is provided at the bent portion of the panel so as to
protrude toward an outer edge of the cabinet to prevent the upper
cover from detaching from the cabinet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2013-0142784, filed on Nov. 22, 2013 in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments relate to a clothes treating apparatus, and more
particularly, to a clothes treating apparatus having an improved
coupling structure of an upper cover and a cabinet.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, clothes treating apparatuses are apparatuses
that wash or dry laundry, such as clothes, and examples of clothes
treating apparatuses include washing machines and clothes drying
machines.
[0006] Among these clothes treating apparatuses, washing machines
are machines that remove dust and foreign substances on the laundry
caused by an emulsification action of detergent and contact between
washing water and the laundry. Also, clothes drying machines are
machines that dry the laundry within a short time by supplying
high-temperature hot wind to the laundry of which washing is
completed and that are usually used in drying of a small amount of
laundry.
[0007] A clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet that
constitutes an exterior and an opening which is formed in the
clothes treating apparatus and through which the laundry is put
into or taken out from the clothes treating apparatus. A separate
upper cover may be coupled to an upper part of the cabinet.
[0008] The cabinet and the upper cover are coupled using a separate
fastening member. Thus, a step between the cabinet and the upper
cover is formed such that the upper cover may escape (become
detached) from the cabinet when the clothes treating apparatus is
transported.
SUMMARY
[0009] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
clothes treating apparatus having an improved coupling structure of
an upper cover and a cabinet so as to prevent the upper cover from
detaching from the cabinet.
[0010] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
clothes treating apparatus which may include a cabinet; an upper
cover coupled to an upper part of the cabinet; a panel coupled
between the upper cover and the cabinet so as to mediate coupling
of the upper cover and the cabinet; a coupling portion provided at
at least a portion of the panel; and an accommodation portion that
is provided at at least a portion of the upper cover and
accommodates at least a portion of the coupling portion, wherein
the upper cover and the cabinet may be coupled to each other by
coupling of the coupling portion and the accommodation portion.
[0011] The panel may include a first panel coupled to a front side
of the cabinet and second panels coupled to sides of the
cabinet.
[0012] Each of the second panels may be coupled to the cabinet, and
the first panel may be coupled to the second panels so that at
least a portion of the first panel may be configured to overlap the
second panels.
[0013] Each of the second panels may include a bent portion that is
bent so that the second panels can be coupled to at least a portion
of a rear side of the cabinet.
[0014] At least one fastening member coupling portion may protrude
from the bent portion of each of the second panels so that a
separate fastening member through which the upper cover and the
second panels are coupled, can be coupled to the at least one
fastening member coupling portion.
[0015] A rib may be provided at the bent portion of each of the
second panels so as to protrude toward an outer side of the cabinet
to prevent the upper cover from detaching from the cabinet.
[0016] At least one coupling portion may be provided at the first
panel.
[0017] The upper cover may slide in a direction of an outer side of
the cabinet and may be coupled to the first panel.
[0018] The clothes treating apparatus may further include a
fastening member coupling portion provided to protrude from a rear
side of the cabinet so that a separate fastening member through
which a rear side of the cabinet and the rear side of the upper
cover are coupled to each other, can be coupled to the fastening
member coupling portion.
[0019] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
clothes treating apparatus including: a cabinet; an upper cover
coupled to an upper part of the cabinet; and a panel coupled to a
top surface of the cabinet so as to mediate coupling of the upper
cover and the cabinet, wherein the panel may include a first panel
coupled to a front side of the cabinet; and second panels coupled
to both sides of the cabinet.
[0020] A coupling portion provided at at least a portion of the
first panel and an accommodation portion provided at at least a
portion of the upper cover may be coupled to each other so that the
upper cover and the cabinet can be coupled to each other.
[0021] The upper cover may slide in a direction of an outer side of
the cabinet so that the accommodation portion and the coupling
portion can be insert-coupled to each other.
[0022] The first panel and each of the second panels may be coupled
to the cabinet, and at least a portion of the first panel may be
coupled to top surfaces of the second panels.
[0023] Each of the second panels may include a bent portion that is
bent so that the second panels can be coupled to at least a portion
of a rear side of the cabinet, and at least one fastening member
coupling portion may protrude from the bent portion of each of the
second panels so that a separate fastening member through which the
upper cover and the second panels are coupled to each other, can be
coupled to the at least one fastening member coupling portion.
[0024] A rib may be provided at the bent portion of each of the
second panels so as to protrude toward an outer side of the cabinet
to prevent the upper cover from detaching from the cabinet.
[0025] The clothes treating apparatus may further include a
fastening member coupling portion provided to extend from the
cabinet so that a separate fastening member through which the
cabinet and the upper cover are coupled to each other, can be
coupled to the fastening member coupling portion.
[0026] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
clothes treating apparatus including: a cabinet including a front
frame placed at a front side of the cabinet, side frames placed at
both sides of the cabinet, and a rear frame placed at a rear side
of the cabinet; a main body that is placed in the cabinet and
accommodates clothes; an upper cover coupled to an upper part of
the cabinet; and at least one panel coupled to at least a portion
of a top surface of the cabinet so as to mediate insert-coupling of
the upper cover and the cabinet.
[0027] The at least one panel may include: a first panel coupled to
the front side of the cabinet; and at least one second panel
coupled to the both sides of the cabinet.
[0028] A protrusion may be provided at at least a portion of the
first panel so as to be coupled to the upper cover, and the
protrusion may be insert-coupled to an accommodation portion of the
upper cover.
[0029] The at least one second panel may include a bent portion
that is bent so that the at least one second panel can be coupled
to at least a portion of the rear side of the cabinet, and at least
one fastening member coupling portion may protrude from the bent
portion of the at least one second panel so that a separate
fastening member through which the upper cover and the at least one
second panel are coupled to each other, can be coupled to the at
least one fastening member coupling portion.
[0030] The cabinet may further include a fastening member coupling
portion provided to protrude from the rear side of the cabinet so
that a separate fastening member through which the rear side of the
cabinet and a rear side of the upper cover are coupled to each
other, can be coupled to the fastening member coupling portion.
[0031] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
clothes treating apparatus including a cabinet comprising a front
frame placed at a front side of the cabinet, side frames placed at
both sides of the cabinet, and a rear frame placed at a rear side
of the cabinet; a main body that is placed in the cabinet and
accommodates clothes; an upper cover coupled to an upper part of
the cabinet; and a panel coupled to at least a portion of a top
surface of the cabinet so as to mediate insert-coupling of the
upper cover and the cabinet, wherein the panel comprises a bent
portion that is bent so that the panel is configured to be coupled
to at least a portion of the rear side of the cabinet, and wherein
a rib is provided at the bent portion of the panel so as to
protrude toward an outer edge of the cabinet to prevent the upper
cover from detaching from the cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus
according to an embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-section of the clothes treating apparatus illustrated in FIG.
1;
[0035] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an upper cover of the clothes
treating apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the clothes treating apparatus
of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a first panel of the clothes treating
apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates second panels of the clothes treating
apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the first panel and the
second panels of the clothes treating apparatus of FIG. 1 are
coupled;
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which the first panel is
coupled to the upper cover of the clothes treating apparatus of
FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' of
FIG. 8;
[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates a state in which the second panels are
coupled to the upper cover of the clothes treating apparatus of
FIG. 1;
[0043] FIG. 11 illustrates the state in which the second panels are
coupled to the upper cover of the clothes treating apparatus of
FIG. 1, at a different angle; and
[0044] FIG. 12 is a rear side view of a cabinet of a clothes
treating apparatus according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
Hereinafter, a clothes drying machine is described as an example of
a clothes treating apparatus. However, embodiments are not limited
thereto, and embodiments may also be applied to a washing
machine.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus
according to an embodiment.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a clothes treating apparatus 100
may include a cabinet 10 that constitutes an exterior, and a main
body 30 that is installed in the cabinet 10 and accommodates
laundry.
[0048] A top surface of the cabinet 10 may be opened, and an upper
cover 50 may be coupled to the opened top surface of the cabinet
10. An opening may be formed in a front side of the cabinet 10. A
door assembly 35 may be coupled into the opening. A user may take
out laundry from an internal space of the cabinet 10 through the
opening.
[0049] A control panel (not shown) may be provided at the front
side of the cabinet 10 so as to control the clothes treating
apparatus 100. Various button portions to which a desired washing
mode may be inputted from the user, and a display portion for
displaying an operation state of the clothes treating machine 100
and the user's manipulation state may be placed at a front portion
of the control panel (not shown). A circuit board (not shown) may
be placed at a rear portion of the control panel (not shown) so as
to control an operation of the clothes treating apparatus 100
according to manipulation of the button portions.
[0050] An electronic product accommodation portion at which various
electronic products relating to the operation of the clothes
treating apparatus 100 are installed, may be provided at a rear
portion of the cabinet 10. The electronic product accommodation
portion may be configured in a shape in which it is recessed into
the rear portion of the cabinet 10 so that electronic products,
such as a controller, a water supply valve, and the like, can be
installed at the electronic product accommodation portion.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
cross-section of the clothes treating apparatus illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the clothes treating apparatus 100
includes the cabinet 10 that constitutes the exterior, the main
body 30 that is rotatably installed in the cabinet 10, a driving
unit 40 that rotates the main body 30, inlet flow paths 12 and 13
for air circulation into the main body 30, an exhaust flow path 20,
and a blower unit 28.
[0053] The main body 30 is provided to include a cylindrical
portion 33 and a rear side portion 32. The cylindrical portion 33
has a cylindrical shape in which front and rear sides of the
cylindrical portion 33 are opened. A front side portion 31 is
coupled to the front side of the cylindrical portion 33, and the
rear side portion 32 is installed at the rear side of the
cylindrical portion 33.
[0054] An opening 31a through which the laundry may be put into or
taken out from the main body 30, is formed in the front side of the
cabinet 10 and the front side portion 31, and a door assembly 35
for opening/closing the opening 31a is installed.
[0055] The driving unit 40 includes a driving motor 41 installed at
a lower part of an internal space of the cabinet 10, a pulley 42
that transfers driving force of the driving motor 41 to the main
body 30, and a rotary belt 43. The rotary belt 43 is installed to
be wound around an outer surface of the main body 30 and the pulley
42 coupled to a shaft of the driving motor 41.
[0056] The inlet flow paths 12 and 13 guide introduction of
external air into the main body 30.
[0057] The inlet flow paths 12 and 13 includes an inhalation port
13 that inhales air from the main body 30, and a first duct 12 in
which a discharge port 14 for discharging air toward the main body
30 is provided. The first duct 12 may be coupled to the rear side
portion 32 of the main body 30. Also, the inlet flow paths 12 and
13 may include a heating duct 11 that is installed at a lower part
of the main body 30 and is coupled to the first duct 12. A heater
22 is installed in the heating duct 11 so as to heat the inhaled
air.
[0058] The exhaust flow path 20 guides discharge of air introduced
into the main body 30. The exhaust flow path 20 includes a front
duct 24 that connects a lower part of the front side portion 31 and
an inlet of the blower unit 28 installed at a lower part of the
main body 30, and a second duct 25 installed at a lower side of the
cabinet 10 so that an outlet of the blower unit 28 and an outer
side of a rear side of the cabinet 10 communicate with each
other.
[0059] The blower unit 28 includes a blower unit housing 28b and a
blower fan 28a placed at an inner side of the blower unit housing
28b. As the blower fan 28a operates, humid air may be discharged
from an inner side of the main body 30 or moved to the heater
22.
[0060] A filter member 26 is installed at the front duct 24 so as
to filter dust or foreign substances such as lint contained in hot
wind discharged from the main body 30. A handle portion 27 may be
provided at an upper side of the filter member 26 in such a way
that the user can easily detach the filter member 26 from the front
duct 24 by applying force.
[0061] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an upper cover of the clothes
treating apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the
clothes treating apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0062] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, at least one or more panels
61 and 62 may be coupled between the cabinet 10 and the upper cover
50 so as to mediate coupling of the cabinet 10 and the upper cover
50. According to an embodiment, a first panel 61 coupled to the
front side of the cabinet 10 and second panels 62 coupled to both
sides of the cabinet 10 may be coupled to the top surface of the
cabinet 10.
[0063] The cabinet 10 may include a front frame 10a placed at a
front side of the cabinet 10, side frames 10b placed at both sides
of the cabinet 10, and a rear frame 10c placed at a rear side of
the cabinet 10. According to an embodiment, the rear frame 10c and
both side frames 10b are formed as an integrally part. However,
embodiments are not limited thereto. According to an embodiment,
the first panel 61 may be coupled to the front frame 10a, and the
second panels 62 may be coupled to both side frames 10b.
[0064] The first panel 61 may be coupled to the second panels 62 so
that at least a portion of the first panel 61 overlaps the second
panels 62. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the
second panels 62 may be coupled to a top surface of the first panel
61.
[0065] A coupling portion 61a for coupling the upper cover 50 and
the cabinet 10 may be provided at at least portions of the first
and second panels 61 and 62. According to an embodiment, the
coupling portion 61a may be provided at the first panel 61, and an
accommodation portion (50a, see FIG. 9) for accommodating the
coupling portion 61a may be provided at the upper cover 50. Thus,
the coupling portion 61a of the first panel 61 may be accommodated
in the accommodation portion 50a so that the front side of the
cabinet 10 and a front side of the upper cover 50 can be coupled
without using a separate fastening member. This will be described
later.
[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates a first panel of the clothes treating
apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 illustrates second panels of the
clothes treating apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 illustrates a
state in which the first panel and the second panels of the clothes
treating apparatus of FIG. 1 are coupled.
[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the coupling portion
61a for coupling the upper cover 50 and the cabinet 10 may be
provided at at least a portion of the first panel 61. The coupling
portion 61a may be provided to protrude upward. A groove may be
provided in the accommodation portion 50a so as to accommodate the
coupling portion 61a. Thus, the coupling portion 61a may be coupled
to the accommodation portion 50a using a hook and may couple the
front frame 10a of the cabinet 10 and the front side of the upper
cover 50. According to an embodiment, two coupling portions 61a are
provided at the first panel 61. However, embodiments are not
limited thereto.
[0068] A support portion 61b for supporting the upper cover 50 when
the upper cover 50 and the first panel 61 are coupled to each
other, may be provided at the first panel 61. The support portion
61b may be provided adjacent to the coupling portion 61a. According
to an embodiment, the support portion 61b is provided at edges of
an inside of the first panel 61. A second panel coupling portion
61c may be provided at the first panel 61 so that the first panel
61 overlaps the second panels 62.
[0069] Each of the second panels 62 may include a bent portion 62a
of which at least a portion is bent so that the second panels 62
may be coupled to the rear frame 10c of the cabinet 10. At least
one fastening member coupling portion 62b may protrude from the
bent portion 62a so that a separate fastening member (not shown)
through which the upper cover 50 and the second panels 62 are
coupled to each other, can be coupled to the at least one fastening
member coupling portion 62b. According to an embodiment, the at
least one fastening member coupling portion 62b may be provided to
extend to top surfaces of the second panels 62. Thus, the fastening
member (not shown) may penetrate a hole 62c formed in the at least
one fastening member coupling portion 62b at an outer side of the
upper cover 50 so that the second panels 62 and a rear side of the
upper cover 50 can be coupled to each other. This will be described
later.
[0070] Also, a rib 62d may be provided at the bent portion 62a of
each of the second panels 62 so as to protrude toward an outer side
of the cabinet 10 to prevent the upper cover 50 from escaping
(detaching) from the cabinet 10. The rib 62d may be provided to
extend from each second panel 62 so as to protrude toward the outer
side of the cabinet 10.
[0071] Also, a first panel coupling portion 62e through which the
second panels 62 are coupled to the first panel 61, may be provided
at the second panels 62.
[0072] The first panel 61 and the second panels 62 may be coupled
to each other so that their at least portions overlap each other.
The first panel 61 may include the second panel coupling portion
61c through which the first panel 61 is coupled to the second
panels 62, and each of the second panels 62 may include the first
panel coupling portion 62e through which the second panels 62 are
coupled to the first panel 61. According to an embodiment, a
protrusion 62f may be provided at the first panel coupling portion
62e of each second panel 62 so that the first panel coupling
portion 62e of each second panel 62 can be coupled to the second
panel coupling portion 61c of the first panel 61. A protrusion
accommodation groove 61d for accommodating the protrusion 62f may
be provided at the second panel coupling portion 61c of the first
panel 61. The protrusion 62f may be coupled to the protrusion
accommodation groove 61d using a hook so that the first panel 61
and the second panels 62 can be coupled to each other.
[0073] FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which the first panel is
coupled to the upper cover of the clothes treating apparatus of
FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA'
of FIG. 8.
[0074] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first panel 61 mediates
coupling of the front frame 10a of the cabinet 10 and the upper
cover 50. The upper cover 50 slides from a direction of the outer
side of the cabinet 10 to a direction of the cabinet 10 in a state
in which the first panel 61 is coupled to the front frame 10a of
the cabinet 10 so that the coupling portion 61a of the first panel
61 can be accommodated in the accommodation portion 50a of the
upper cover 50. Thus, the first panel 61 and the upper cover 50 may
be coupled to each other. No separate fastening member is required
to couple the front frame 10a of the cabinet 10 and the front side
of the upper cover 50. Also, since the coupling portion 61a of the
first panel 61 is coupled to the accommodation portion 50a of the
upper cover 50 without using a separate fastening member, a step
between the first panel 61 and the upper cover 50 can be prevented
from being formed so that the upper cover 50 can be prevented from
escaping (detaching) from the cabinet 10.
[0075] FIG. 10 illustrates a state in which the second panels are
coupled to the upper cover of the clothes treating apparatus of
FIG. 1, and FIG. 11 illustrates the state in which the second
panels are coupled to the upper cover of the clothes treating
apparatus of FIG. 1, at a different angle.
[0076] As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the second panels 62 may
be coupled to both sides of the upper cover 50. The rib 62d may be
provided to protrude toward the outer side of the upper cover 50.
The fastening member coupling portion 62b may be provided to
contact the rear side of the upper cover 50. Thus, a fastening
member 90 may be inserted into the hole 62c of the fastening member
coupling portion 62b so as to fix the upper cover 50 and the
fastening member coupling portion 62b. Thus, the cabinet 10 to
which the second panels 62 are coupled, and the upper cover 50 can
be fixed.
[0077] In this way, according to an embodiment, the number of
couplings of fastening members can be reduced so that a
manufacturing time can be reduced. Also, a step between the cabinet
10 and the upper cover 50 can be reduced so that the upper cover 50
can be prevented from escaping (detaching) from the cabinet 10.
[0078] FIG. 12 is a rear side view of a cabinet of a clothes
treating apparatus according to an embodiment.
[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 12, a fastening member coupling
portion 201 having a hole 202 to receive a fastening member 70 may
be formed integrally with a cabinet 200. According to an
embodiment, the fastening member coupling portion 201 may be formed
when at least a portion of a rear frame 200c of the cabinet 200
extends upward. The fastening member coupling portion 201 may be
provided with a hole 202. In this case, the fastening member 70
passes through the hole 202 formed on the fastening member coupling
portion 201 from the outside of the cabinet 200, thereby coupling
the upper cover 50 to the cabinet 200 without an additional
panel.
[0080] As described above, according to embodiments, a coupling
structure of an upper cover and a cabinet is improved so that a
step between the upper cover and the cabinet can be prevented from
being formed and thus the upper cover can be prevented from
escaping (detaching) from the cabinet.
[0081] Furthermore, owing to the improved coupling structure of the
upper cover and the cabinet, the number of fastening member could
reduce so that a material cost can be reduced and a production
process can be reduced.
[0082] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may
be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles
and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the
claims and their equivalents.
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