U.S. patent application number 15/115244 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-05 for opening and closing structure, component having opening and closing structure and washing machine having component.
This patent application is currently assigned to HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jungo KATSUKI, Takeshi KAWAKAMI, Katzumi OE, Takaaki YONEZAWA.
Application Number | 20170002493 15/115244 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53756221 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170002493 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KATSUKI; Jungo ; et
al. |
January 5, 2017 |
OPENING AND CLOSING STRUCTURE, COMPONENT HAVING OPENING AND CLOSING
STRUCTURE AND WASHING MACHINE HAVING COMPONENT
Abstract
Provided are an opening and closing structure, a component, and
a washing machine. The opening and closing structure includes: a
supporting body formed with an opening part; and the lid supported
by the supporting body in a free rotation manner. An elastic
deformation part forming a rotation center and a periphery of the
lid has flexibility. One of the supporting body and the elastic
deformation part is provided with a shaft forming the rotation
center of the lid, and the other is provided with a hole insertable
by the shaft. One of the supporting body and the elastic
deformation part is provided with a pin, and the other is provided
with a recess receivable to the pin with a clearance during opening
and closing of the lid. The recess gradually becomes shallower as
the lid goes from an open position to an opposite side of a closed
position.
Inventors: |
KATSUKI; Jungo; (Osaka,
JP) ; KAWAKAMI; Takeshi; (Osaka, JP) ; OE;
Katzumi; (Osaka, JP) ; YONEZAWA; Takaaki;
(Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD. |
Osaka
Shandong |
|
JP
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO.,
LTD.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
53756221 |
Appl. No.: |
15/115244 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
December 31, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2014/095738 |
371 Date: |
July 28, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/022 20130101;
D06F 23/04 20130101; D06F 37/18 20130101; D06F 37/267 20130101;
D06F 37/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/18 20060101
D06F037/18; D06F 39/02 20060101 D06F039/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2014 |
JP |
2014-014722 |
Claims
1. An opening and closing structure, comprising: a supporting body,
which is formed with an opening part; a lid, which is supported by
the supporting body in a free rotation manner, and is capable of
being opened and closed between an open position at which the
opening part is opened and a closed position at which the opening
part is closed; an elastic deformation part, which forms a rotation
center and a periphery of the lid and has flexibility; a shaft,
which is provided on one of the supporting body and the elastic
deformation part, and is formed as the rotation center of the lid;
a hole, which is provided on the other of the supporting body and
the elastic deformation part which is not provided with the shaft,
and is insertable by the shaft; a pin, which is provided on one of
the supporting body and the elastic deformation part; and a recess,
which is provided on the other of the supporting body and the
elastic deformation part which is not provided with the pin, and is
receivable to the pin with a clearance during opening and closing
of the lid, wherein the recess gradually becomes shallower as the
lid goes from the open position to an opposite side of the closed
position, so as to push the pin out.
2. The opening and closing structure according to claim 1,
comprising a slit, which is formed at the lid and is configured to
bend the elastic deformation part.
3. A component, comprising the an opening and closing structure
including: a supporting body, which is formed with an opening part;
a lid, which is supported by the supporting body in a free rotation
manner, and is capable of being opened and closed between an open
position at which the opening part is opened and a closed position
at which the opening part is closed; an elastic deformation part,
which forms a rotation center and a periphery of the lid and has
flexibility; a shaft, which is provided on one of the supporting
body and the elastic deformation part, and is formed as the
rotation center of the lid; a hole, which is provided on the other
of the supporting body and the elastic deformation part which is
not provided with the shaft, and is insertable by the shaft; a pin,
which is provided on one of the supporting body and the elastic
deformation part; and a recess, which is provided on the other of
the supporting body and the elastic deformation part which is not
provided with the pin, and is receivable to the pin with a
clearance during opening and closing of the lid, wherein the recess
gradually becomes shallower as the lid goes from the open position
to an opposite side of the closed position, so as to push the pin
out.
4. A washing machine, comprising a component, including: a
supporting body, which is formed with an opening part; a lid, which
is supported by the supporting body in a free rotation manner, and
is capable of being opened and closed between an open position at
which the opening part is opened and a closed position at which the
opening part is closed; an elastic deformation part, which forms a
rotation center and a periphery of the lid and has flexibility; a
shaft, which is provided on one of the supporting body and the
elastic deformation part, and is formed as the rotation center of
the lid; a hole, which is provided on the other of the supporting
body and the elastic deformation part which is not provided with
the shaft, and is insertable by the shaft; a pin, which is provided
on one of the supporting body and the elastic deformation part; and
a recess, which is provided on the other of the supporting body and
the elastic deformation part which is not provided with the pin,
and is receivable to the pin with a clearance during opening and
closing of the lid, wherein the recess gradually becomes shallower
as the lid goes from the open position to an opposite side of the
closed position, so as to push the pin out; and the opening part is
a feeding port for feeding any of detergent, softener and
bleach.
5. The component according to claim 3, comprising a slit, which is
formed at the lid and is configured to bend the elastic deformation
part.
6. The washing machine according to claim 4, comprising a slit,
which is formed at the lid and is configured to bend the elastic
deformation part.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a National Stage of International Patent
Application No. PCT/CN2014/095738 filed on Dec. 31, 2014, which
claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-014722,
filed on Jan. 29, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated entirely herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an opening and closing
structure, a component having the opening and closing structure,
and a washing machine having the component.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A washing machine disclosed in patent document 1 below
includes a detergent feeding pipeline installed on an inner
circumferential face of a laundry dewatering tank. The detergent
feeding pipeline has a detergent feeding port at an upper portion,
and the detergent feeding port is opened and closed by a lid. The
lid rotates in such a way that it is turned to an inner side of the
laundry dewatering tank, thereby opening the detergent feeding
port.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0004] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2007-44229
SUMMARY
[0005] In patent document 1, when such a force is applied to
further open the lid in a fully open state, it may be necessary to
replace the lid since a rotation shaft of the lid is broken off so
that the lid is damaged.
[0006] The present disclosure is made in consideration of this
circumstance, and it is an object thereof to provide an opening and
closing structure capable of preventing a lid from being damaged, a
component having the opening and closing structure, and a washing
machine having the component.
[0007] The present disclosure relates to an opening and closing
structure, including: a supporting body, which is formed with an
opening part; a lid, which is supported by the supporting body in a
free rotation manner, and is capable of being opened and closed
between an open position at which the opening part is opened and a
closed position at which the opening part is closed; an elastic
deformation part, which forms a rotation center and a periphery of
the lid and has flexibility; a shaft, which is provided on one of
the supporting body and the elastic deformation part, and is formed
as the rotation center of the lid; a hole, which is provided on the
other of the supporting body and the elastic deformation part which
is not provided with the shaft, and is insertable by the shaft; a
pin, which is provided on one of the supporting body and the
elastic deformation part; and a recess, which is provided on the
other of the supporting body and the elastic deformation part which
is not provided with the pin, and is receivable to the pin with a
clearance during opening and closing of the lid, where the recess
gradually becomes shallower as the lid goes from the open position
to an opposite side of the closed position, so as to push the pin
out.
[0008] Furthermore, the opening and closing structure of the
present disclosure includes a slit, which is formed at the lid and
is configured to bend the elastic deformation part.
[0009] In addition, the present disclosure relates to a component,
including the opening and closing structure.
[0010] Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a washing
machine, including the component, where the opening part is a
feeding port for feeding any of detergent, softener and bleach.
[0011] According to the present disclosure, the elastic deformation
part forming the rotation center and the periphery of the lid which
is supported by the supporting body in a free rotation manner has
flexibility. The shaft provided on one of the supporting body and
the elastic deformation part is inserted into the hole provided on
the other of the supporting body and the elastic deformation part
which is not provided with the shaft. The lid rotates with the
shaft as a center in a state that the shaft is inserted into the
hole, so as to be capable of being opened and closed between the
open position at which the opening part of the supporting body is
opened and the closed position at which the opening part is
closed.
[0012] The pin provided on either of the supporting body and the
elastic deformation part can be received by the recess provided on
the other of the supporting body and the elastic deformation part
which is not provided with the pin. The recess receives the pin
with a clearance during opening and closing of the lid. Thus,
during opening and closing of the lid, smooth opening and closing
of the lid would not be hindered since the pin does not interfere
with a wall face of the recess.
[0013] When the lid between a fully open position and the open
position rotates in such a way that it goes from the open position
to an opposite side of the closed position, the pin is pushed out
of the recess by means of a bottom face of the recess gradually
shallower toward the opposite side. Consequently, the shaft is
naturally pulled out of the hole since the elastic deformation part
having flexibility bends and is separated from the supporting body.
Therefore, even if it is intended to further open the fully opened
lid, the lid can be prevented from being damaged since the shaft is
not broken.
[0014] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, in the
case of intending to further open the fully opened lid, the elastic
deformation part further bends by means of the slit formed in the
lid, so that the lid can be reliably prevented from being damaged
since the shaft can be reliably pulled out of the hole.
[0015] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, in the
component including the above opening and closing structure, the
lid can be prevented from being damaged.
[0016] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, in the
washing machine including the above component, the lid can be
prevented from being damaged.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a stereogram representing a component 2 including
an opening and closing structure 1 of an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an stereo exploded view representing the component
2;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top sectional view representing the component 2
when the lid 4 is in a closed position;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a top sectional view representing the component 2
when the lid 4 is in an open position;
[0021] FIG. 5(a) is a schematic sectional view seen at a position
in the component 2 where overall recess 11 can be seen when the lid
4 is in the closed position, FIG. 5(b) is a schematic sectional
view seen at a position in the component 2 where overall recess 11
can be seen when the lid 4 is in the open position, FIG. 5(c) is a
schematic sectional view seen at a position in the component 2
where both a hole 10 and a recess 11 can be seen when the lid 4 is
in the closed position, and FIG. 5(d) is a schematic sectional view
seen at a position in the component 2 where both the hole 10 and
the recess 11 can be seen when the lid 4 is further opened from the
open position;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a view representing that a first variant
embodiment is applied on FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a view representing that a second variant
embodiment is applied on FIG. 5;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a view representing that a third variant
embodiment is applied on FIG. 5;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a stereogram representing the lid 4 in a fourth
variant embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a schematic view representing part of an internal
structure of a washing machine 50 as an example of a device
including the component 2 in section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in
detail below with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a stereogram representing a component 2 including
an opening and closing structure 1 of an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 1 represents an actual posture of the component 2 in a
state that it is assembled on another device, and is described
below by taking an up-down direction X and a left-right direction Y
in FIG. 1 as benchmarks. In the up-down direction X, an upward
direction is referred as an upward direction X1, and a downward
direction is referred as a downward direction X2. In the left-right
direction Y, a leftward direction is referred as a leftward
direction Y1, and a rightward direction is referred as a rightward
direction Y2.
[0030] The component 2 including the opening and closing structure
1 is made of resin, and has a long dimension in the up-down
direction X. The opening and closing structure 1 includes a
supporting body 3 and a lid 4.
[0031] The supporting body 3 is plate-shaped and has a long
dimension in the up-down direction X. In the supporting body 3, as
can be seen in FIG. 1, a largest face is a surface 3A of the
supporting body 3, and a face on an opposite side of the surface 3A
is a back face 3B of the supporting body 3. The surface 3A and the
back face 3B may be flat faces respectively, and can also partially
include curved faces. A direction from the surface 3A to the back
face 3B is referred as a far side Z1, and a direction from the back
face 3B to the surface 3A is referred as a near side Z2. The far
side Z1 and the near side Z2 are collectively referred as a depth
direction Z. An upper end portion and both left and right end
portions of the supporting body 3 are flange portions 5 bent toward
the far side Z1.
[0032] An upper end portion of the surface 3A of the supporting
body 3 is formed with an opening part 6, which is formed in a
substantially rectangular shape, and approximately occupies a
region as one-third of an upper side of the upper surface 3A. A
central portion 6A in the left-right direction Y of an upper edge
of the opening part 6 protrudes towards the upward direction X1 to
form a convex. The supporting body 3 has side walls 7 extending
from edges of the opening part 6, other than a lower edge of the
opening part 6, to the far side Z1. The side walls 7 include: an
upper side wall 7A for trimming the upper edge of the opening part
6 and extending in the left-right direction Y; a left side wall 7B
for trimming a left edge of the opening part 6 and extending in the
up-down direction X; and a right side wall 7C for trimming a right
edge of the opening part 6 and extending in the up-down direction
X. The left side wall 7B and the right side wall 7C are oppositely
disposed at an interval in the left-right direction Y, and the
upper side wall 7A is erected between upper edges of the left side
wall 7B and the right side wall 7C.
[0033] The supporting body 3 includes a bottom wall 8 expanding in
the up-down direction X and the left-right direction Y. The bottom
wall 8 is approximately erected within a region between middle and
upper sides at two-thirds of end portions of the left side wall 7B
and the right side wall 7C on the far side Z1, and is also
connected to an end portion of the upper side wall 7A on the far
side Z1. By means of the side walls 7 and the bottom wall 8, a
recess 9 recessed from the opening part 6 to the far side Z1 is
formed in the supporting body 3. A bottom of the recess 9 is closed
by the bottom wall 8 in a region of approximately two-thirds of an
upper side, and is opened approximately in a region of one-third of
an lower side.
[0034] FIG. 2 is an stereo exploded view representing the component
2.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, lower end portions of opposite faces of
the left side wall 7B and the right side wall 7C are respectively
provided with a hole 10 and a recess 11. The holes 10 of the left
side wall 7B and the right side wall 7C are respectively located in
same positions in the up-down direction X and the depth direction
Z. The recesses 11 of the left side wall 7B and the right side wall
7C are respectively located in same positions in the up-down
direction X and the depth direction Z. Circular holes 10 are
respectively formed in the left side wall 7B and the right side
wall 7C, and as an example, the recess 11 is formed towards the
upward direction X1 and in shape of a convex arc by taking a circle
center of the hole 10 as a center of curvature. As an example, the
hole 10 is a recess having a bottom face 10A, and may also be a
through hole penetrating through the side wall 7. The recess 11 is
a recess having a bottom face 11A rather than a through hole.
[0036] The lid 4, as viewed from the near side Z2, is formed in a
substantially rectangular shape for closing the opening part 6.
Taking a posture of FIG. 2 as a benchmark, the lid 4 has side walls
12 extending from edges, other than a lower edge, to the far side
Z1. The side walls 12 include: an upper side wall 12A for trimming
an upper edge of the lid 4 and extending in the left-right
direction Y; a left side wall 12B for trimming a left edge of the
lid 4 and extending in the up-down direction X; and a right side
wall 12C for trimming a right edge of the lid 4 and extending in
the up-down direction X. The left side wall 12B and the right side
wall 12C are oppositely disposed at an interval in the left-right
direction Y, and the upper side wall 12A is erected between upper
edges of the left side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C. In a
center of an upper surface of the upper side wall 12A in the
left-right direction Y, an arc-shaped depression 13 is formed
towards the downward direction X2. In the respective left side wall
12B and right side wall 12C, at least end portions thereof are
formed as thin plate-shaped, so as to constitute an elastic
deformation part 14 having flexibility in the left-right direction
Y.
[0037] A left side face of the elastic deformation part 14 on the
left side wall 12B and a right side face of the elastic deformation
part 14 on the right side wall 12C are each provided with a shaft
15 and a pin 16. In the respective left side wall 12B and right
side wall 12C, the pin 16 is in the shape of a cylinder with a
diameter smaller than that of the shaft 15, and is disposed from
the upward direction X1 relative to the shaft 15 in a mutually
adjacent manner. A spacing between adjacent pin 16 and shaft 15 is
substantially as same as a spacing between adjacent hole 10 and
recess 11. The shaft 15 and the pin 16 of the left side wall 12B
protrude from the left side face of the elastic deformation part 14
on the left side wall 12B to left side, and the shaft 15 and the
pin 16 of the right side wall 12C protrude from the right side face
of the elastic deformation part 14 on the right side wall 12C to
right side.
[0038] The shaft 15 of the left side wall 12B is inserted from the
rightward direction Y2 into the hole 10 of the left side wall 7B of
the supporting body 3, and the shaft 15 of the right side wall 12C
is inserted from the leftward direction Y1 into the hole 10 of the
right side wall 7C of the supporting body 3. The pin 16 of the left
side wall 12B is inserted from the rightward direction Y2 into the
recess 11 of the left side wall 7B, and the pin 16 of the right
side wall 12C is inserted from the leftward direction Y1 into the
recess 11 of the right side wall 7C. Consequently, the lid 4 takes
shafts 15 on left and right as a rotation center, and is supported
by the supporting body 3 in a free rotation manner. The elastic
deformation parts 14 provided with the shafts 15 respectively on
the left side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C of the lid 4
constitutes the rotation center of the lid 4 and a periphery
thereof. In addition, the recess 11 of each of the left side wall
7B and the right side wall 7C is formed in shape of an arc
extending along as rotation trajectory of the lid 4. However, if
each of the recesses 11 is a recess internally containing a
movement trajectory of the pin 16 moving along the rotation
trajectory of the lid 4, the recess 11, when viewed from a depth
direction of the recess 11, may not be arc-shaped, for example, may
be formed as a square.
[0039] As shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, the lid 4 can be opened
and closed by rotating between a closed position at which the
opening part 6 of the supporting body 3 is closed and an open
position inclined further towards the near side Z2 than the closed
position at which the opening part 6 is opened to the near side Z2
(see FIG. 1). In the case of opening the lid 4 in the closed
position, a user inserts a finger into a lower face of the central
portion 6A of the upper edge of the opening part 6 of the
supporting body 3, and the finger is hooked to the depression 13 of
the upper side wall 12A of the lid 4 such that the lid 4 is pulled
toward the near side Z2. When the lid 4 in the open position is
rotated to the far side Z1, the lid 4 returns to the closed
position. In other words, the far side Z1 is consistent with a
closed position side, and the near side Z2 is consistent with an
open position side.
[0040] During opening and closing of the lid 4, pins 16 on left and
right are always received with a clearance by the recesses 11 on a
same side of the supporting body 3 in the left-right direction Y.
Therefore, during opening and closing of the lid 4, the pins 16 do
not interfere with wall faces of the recesses 11, and thus smooth
opening and closing of the lid 4 would not be hindered.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a top sectional view representing the component 2
when the lid 4 is in a closed position. FIG. 4 is a top sectional
view representing the component 2 when the lid 4 is in an open
position. Furthermore, FIGS. 3 and 4 show parts surrounded by
circles of doubled-dashed lines by zooming in. In addition, since
positions of top sections in FIGS. 3 and 4 are slightly different,
shapes of details containing the recesses 11 are illustrated in
slightly different ways.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, when the lid 4 is in the closed
position, pins 16 on left and right are respectively located at far
side end portions 17 as end portions of the recess 11 on the far
side Z1. As shown in FIG. 4, when the lid 4 is in the open
position, pins 16 on left and right are respectively located at
near side end portions 18 as end portions of the recess 11 on the
near side Z2. However, when the lid 4 is in the open position,
compared with the pins 16 located at the near side end portions 18,
the recesses 11 are also presented on the near side Z2.
[0043] FIG. 5(a) is a schematic sectional view seen at a position
in the component 2 where overall recess 11 can be seen when the lid
4 is in the closed position. FIG. 5(b) is a schematic sectional
view seen at a position in the component 2 where overall recess 11
can be seen when the lid 4 is in the open position. In other words,
FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate sections along an arc of the recess
11.
[0044] FIG. 5(c) is a schematic sectional view seen at a position
in the component 2 where both a hole 10 and a recess 11 can be seen
when the lid 4 is in the closed position. FIG. 5(d) is a schematic
sectional view seen at a position in the component 2 where both the
hole 10 and the recess 11 can be seen when the lid 4 is further
opened from the open position.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and (b), a depth of the recess 11 of
each of the left side wall 7B and the right side wall 7C of the
supporting body 3 is constant between the far side end portion 17
and the near side end portion 18, and gradually becomes shallower
from the near side end portion 18 to the near side Z2. Therefore,
the bottom face 11A of the recess 11 includes: a flat face 19 which
flatly extends in the depth direction Z between the far side end
portion 17 and the near side end portion 18, and an inclining face
20 which is inclined continuously from the flat face 19 to the near
side Z2. The inclining face 20 of the recess 11 of the left side
wall 7B is inclined toward the near side Z2 and toward the
rightward direction Y2, and the inclining face 20 of the recess 11
of the right side wall 7C is inclined toward the near side Z2 and
toward the leftward direction Y1.
[0046] In the case that the lid 4 is in the open position and the
closed position and therebetween, in each of the left side wall 7B
and the right side wall 7C of the supporting body 3, the shafts 15
are respectively embedded into a bottom face 10A side of the holes
10, and the pins 16 are in a state that they are embedded into a
bottom face 11A side of the recesses 11 (see FIG. 5(c)).
[0047] When the user pulls the lid 4 in the closed position toward
the near side Z2 and makes the lid 4 rotate to the open position,
as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5(b), in each of the left side wall
7B and the right side wall 7C, front end portions 16A of the pins
16 are respectively located in the near side end portions 18 of the
recesses 11 and come into contact with the inclining faces 20 from
the far side Z1. Consequently, the lid 4 can no longer be rotated
from the open position to the near side Z2. Furthermore, for
convenience of explanation, even in the case of making contact with
the inclining faces 20, the pins 16 are also illustrated as
slightly separated from the inclining faces 20.
[0048] Here, the lid 4 between a fully open position and the open
position is rotated in such a way that it goes from the open
position to an opposite side of the closed position by applying an
excessive force on the lid 4 toward the near side Z2. As a
condition that an excessive force is applied on the lid 4 toward
the near side Z2, it is assumed that the user wrongly further opens
the lid 4 in the open position, or a weight is unexpectedly placed
on the lid 4 in the open position. When the lid 4 rotates toward
the opposite side, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5(b), the pins
16 respectively moves toward the near side Z2 in each of the left
side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C; at this time, the pins
16 are pushed out to outside of the recesses 11 by means of the
inclining faces 20 of the bottom faces 11A of the recesses 11. In
other words, the recess 11 gradually becomes shallower so as to
push the pin 16 out as the lid 4 goes from the open position to the
near side Z2 opposite to the closed position.
[0049] In response to the pins 16 being pushed out to the outside
of the recesses 11, the elastic deformation part 14 provided with
the pins 16 and having flexibility in the lid 4 bends, and is
separated from the respective one of the left side wall 7B and the
right side wall 7C. In other words, the elastic deformation part 14
provided with the left pin 16 bends so as to be separated from the
left side wall 7B to the rightward direction Y2, and the elastic
deformation part 14 provided with the right pin 16 bends so as to
be separated from the right side wall 7C to the leftward direction
Y1. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the shaft 15 provided on
the elastic deformation part 14 along with the pin 16 is naturally
pulled out of the hole 10, and the lid 4 is naturally disengaged
from the supporting body 3. Therefore, even if it is intended to
further open the fully opened lid 4, the lid 4 can be prevented
from being damaged in the component 2 including the opening and
closing structure 1 since the shafts 15 would not be broken.
[0050] Furthermore, when the pins 16 are pushed to outside of the
recesses 11 by means of the inclining faces 20, it is not necessary
for the pins 16 to be wholly pushed to the outside of the recesses
11, and the front end portions 16A of the pins 16 may be in a state
that they are embedded into the recesses 11. Similarly, when the
pins 16 are pushed to the outside of the recesses 11 by means of
the inclining faces 20, it is not necessary for the shafts 15 to be
wholly pulled out of the holes 10, and a front end portions 15A of
the shafts 15 may be in a state that they are embedded into the
holes 10. If only a portion of the shaft 15 and the pin 16 is
embedded in the hole 10 and the recess 11, the lid 4 then would be
naturally disengaged from the supporting body 3 without damaging
the shaft 15 and the pin 16.
[0051] In the above, the holes 10 and the recesses 11 are arranged
in the supporting body 3, and the opening and closing structure 1
which is composed of the elastic deformation part 14 of the lid 4
provided with the shafts 15 and the pins 16 is described. It can be
randomly selected to respectively arrange the holes 10, the
recesses 11, the shafts 15 and the pins 16 on any of the supporting
body 3 and the elastic deformation part 14. That is to say, as long
as the shafts 15 are provided on one of the supporting body 3 and
the elastic deformation part 14, the holes 10 are provided on the
other of the supporting body 3 and the elastic deformation part 14
which is not provided with the shafts 15. Then, as long as the pins
16 are provided on one of the supporting body 3 and the elastic
deformation part 14, the recesses 11 are provided on the other of
the supporting body 3 and the elastic deformation part 14 which is
not provided with the pins 16. Hereinafter, as other variant
embodiments, a first variant embodiment to a third variant
embodiment are enumerated.
[0052] FIG. 6 is a view representing that a first variant
embodiment is applied on FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a view representing that
a second variant embodiment is applied on FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a view
representing that a third variant embodiment is applied on FIG. 5.
FIG. 6(a), FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 8(a) are equivalent to FIG. 5(a), and
FIG. 6(b), FIG. 7(b) and FIG. 8(b) are equivalent to FIG. 5(b).
FIG. 6(c), FIG. 7(c) and FIG. 8(c) are equivalent to FIG. 5(c), and
FIG. 6(d), FIG. 7(d) and FIG. 8(d) are equivalent to FIG. 5(d).
[0053] In the case of the first variant embodiment as shown in FIG.
6, the hole 10 and the pin 16 are provided on the supporting body
3, and the recess 11 and the shaft 15 are provided on the elastic
deformation part 14 (see FIG. 6(c)). In the case that the recess 11
is provided on the elastic deformation part 14, the inclining face
20 is located closer to far side Z1 as compared with the flat face
19 in the bottom face 11A of the recess 11. When it is intended to
further open the lid 4 in the open position toward the near side
Z2, the pin 16 presses the inclining face 20 of the bottom face 11A
of the recess 11, so that the elastic deformation part 14 bends
(see the dashed part of FIG. 6(b)), and the shaft 15 is pulled out
of the hole 10 as shown in FIG. 6(d).
[0054] In the case of the second variant embodiment as shown in
FIG. 7, the shaft 15 and the pin 16 are provided on the supporting
body 3, and the hole 10 and the recess 11 are provided on the
elastic deformation part 14 (see FIG. 7(c)). When it is intended to
further open the lid 4 in the open position toward the near side
Z2, the pin 16 presses the inclining face 20 of the bottom face 11A
of the recess 11, so that the elastic deformation part 14 bends
(see the dashed part of FIG. 7(b)), and the shaft 15 is pulled out
of the hole 10 as shown in FIG. 7(d).
[0055] In the case of the third variant embodiment as shown in FIG.
8, the recess 11 and the shaft 15 are provided on the supporting
body 3, and the hole 10 and the pin 16 are provided on the elastic
deformation part 14 (see FIG. 8(c)). When it is intended to further
open the lid 4 in the open position toward the near side Z2, the
pin 16 is pushed out to the outside of the recess 11 by means of
the inclining face 20 of the bottom face 11A of the recess 11, so
that the elastic deformation part 14 bends (see the dashed part of
FIG. 8(b)), and the shaft 15 is pulled out of the hole 10 as shown
in FIG. 8(d).
[0056] In addition, any one configuration of FIGS. 5-8 can be
commonly applied to both the left side wall 12B and the right side
wall 12C of the lid 4. In other words, the configuration of the
holes 10, recesses 11, the shafts 15 and the pins 16 of both the
left side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C may also be shared
in any of FIGS. 5-8. Of course, it is also possible to apply any
one configuration of FIGS. 5-8 to one of the left side wall 12B and
the right side wall 12C, and to apply a configuration of FIGS. 5-8
different from the configuration applied to the one of the left
side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C to the other thereof.
[0057] FIG. 9 is a stereogram representing the lid 4 in a fourth
variant embodiment.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 9, in each of the left side wall 12B and
the right side wall 12C of the lid 4, the elastic deformation part
14 and a boundary portion of an upper side portion of the elastic
deformation part 14 may also respectively formed with a slit 21.
The slit 21 can cut off the boundary portion, and may also be in
shape of a groove formed at the surface of the boundary portion. By
forming the slit 21, the elastic deformation part 14 is easier to
bend. Consequently, in the case of intending to further open the
fully opened lid 4, since the elastic deformation part 14 is
further bent by the slit 21 formed in the lid 4, the shaft 15 can
be reliably pulled out of the hole 10, thereby the lid 4 can be
reliably prevented from being damaged.
[0059] In the above embodiments including the first to fourth
variant embodiments, the shafts 15 and the pins 16 are disposed on
both the left side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C of the lid
4; however, the shaft 15 and the pin 16 may be disposed only on
either of the left side wall 12B and the right side wall 12C.
[0060] Next, a washing machine 30 as an example of a device
including the above component 2 with the opening and closing
structure 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. In the
description of the washing machine 30, the up-down direction X and
the depth direction Z are used. Furthermore, the washing machine 30
also includes a laundry dryer with a clothes drying function.
[0061] The washing machine 30 includes a housing 31, a water tank
32, a washing tank 33 and a motor 34.
[0062] The housing 31 is formed in a box shape. The housing 31
abuts against a floor 35 from top via legs 31A provided at a lower
end thereof, so as to be disposed on the floor 35.
[0063] The water tank 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a
bottom. The water tank 32 has: a circumferential wall 32B in a
substantially cylindrical shape and having an opening part 32A at
an upper end, and a bottom wall 32C in a circular plate shape for
blocking a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 32B from the
downward direction X2. The opening part 32A is opened and closed by
a lid 36 connected to the circumferential wall 32B. Water such as
tap water, bath water and a liquid dissolved with detergents are
accumulated in the water tank 32.
[0064] The washing tank 33 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a
bottom and is slightly smaller than the water tank 32. The washing
tank 33 has: a circumferential wall 33B in a substantially
cylindrical shape and having an access port 33A at an upper end,
and a bottom wall 33C in a circular plate shape for blocking a
hollow portion of the circumferential wall 33B from the downward
direction X2. The washing tank 33 is coaxially housed within the
water tank 32. The washing tank 33 housed within the water tank 32
can rotate with a central axis 37 as a center, which the central
axis 37 extends in the up-down direction X as an axis of the
washing tank 33. Consequently, the washing machine 30 is a vertical
washing machine with a vertically arranged washing tank 33.
[0065] The access port 33A is in communication with the opening
part 32A from the downward direction X2, and the opening part 32A
and the access port 33A are both opened and closed by the lid 36. A
user of the washing machine 50 can take/put laundry out of/into the
washing tank 33 via the opened access port 33A. A through hole 33D
is formed in the bottom wall 33C, and water in the water tank 32
can circulate between the water tank 32 and the washing tank 33
through the through hole 33D.
[0066] An annular balancer 38 is mounted at an upper end portion of
an inner circumferential face of the circumferential wall 33B. The
balancer 38 reduces vibration of the washing tank 33 during
rotating, and a liquid for helping to reduce vibration is housed in
a cavity 38A inside the balancer 38.
[0067] The motor 34 is disposed at the downward direction X2 of the
bottom wall 32C of the water tank 32 in the housing 31. An output
shaft 34A of the motor 34 extends toward the upward direction X1,
and sequentially passes through a circle center of the bottom wall
32C and a circle center of the bottom wall 33C of the washing tank
33. The output shaft 34A has a flange portion 34B protruding in
form of a flange between the bottom wall 32C and the bottom wall
33C, and is fixed to the bottom wall 33C via the flange portion 34B
so as to be joined to the washing tank 33. The washing tank 33
rotates when driven by the motor 34.
[0068] A rotary wing 39 is mounted on an upper end portion of the
output shaft 34A exposed toward the upward direction X1 further
than the bottom wall 33C. The rotary wing 39 is a so-called
impeller. The rotary wing 39 is formed in a disk shape, and the
upper end portion of the output shaft 34A is mounted at a circle
center thereof. An upper surface of the rotary wing 39 is provided
with a plurality of stirring vanes 39A radially arranged, and a
lower surface of the rotary wing 39 is provided with a plurality of
pumping vanes 39B radially arranged. The rotary wing 39 rotates
when driven by the motor 34, and laundry in the washing tank 33 is
stirred by the stirring vanes 39A.
[0069] The inner circumferential face 33B of the circumferential
wall 33B of the washing tank 33 is mounted with a pumping pipeline
40 and the component 2. The pumping pipeline 40 and the component 2
are arranged at an interval in a circumferential direction in the
inner circumferential face of the circumferential wall 33B.
[0070] The pumping pipeline 40 is in a plate shape with a longer
dimension in the up-down direction X, and is erected between the
balancer 38 and the bottom wall 33C of the washing tank 33. A lower
end of the pumping pipeline 40 is formed with an intake port 41,
and an upper end of the pumping pipeline 40 is formed with a water
spout 42. A pumping path 46 extending in the up-down direction X is
defined between the pumping pipeline 40 and the inner
circumferential face of the circumferential wall 33B. When the
rotary wing 39 rotates, water accumulated in the washing tank 33 is
pressed into the intake port 41 via the pumping vanes 39B of the
rotary wing 39. The water pressed into the intake port 41 raises up
in pumping path 46 and wets laundry in the washing tank 33 from the
water spout 42. Consequently, washing can be performed with a small
amount of water.
[0071] Like the pumping pipeline 40, the component 2 constitutes a
detergent feeding pipeline which is erected between the balancer 38
and the bottom wall 33C of the washing tank 33. In the component 2,
a lower end of the supporting body 3 is formed with a first opening
43, and a second opening 44 is formed at a location of the surface
3A of the supporting body 3, where the location is more close to
the upward direction X1 than the first opening 43 and is more close
to the downward direction X2 than the opening part 6 (also see FIG.
1). The component 2 defines a detergent supply path 45 extending in
the up-down direction X between the inner circumferential face of
the circumferential wall 33B and the back face 3B of the supporting
body 3.
[0072] Prior to washing, the user pulls the lid 4 toward the near
side Z2 to open the lid 4 to the open position (see the lid 4 in
dashed lines), and feeds detergents into the detergent supply path
45 from the opening part 6. In other words, the opening part 6 is a
feeding port used for feeding detergents. Furthermore, the
detergents here contain at least one of general detergent, softener
and bleach. The detergents fed into the detergent supply path 45
fall in the detergent supply path 45 and pass through the first
opening 43, and are dissolved in water accumulated in the washing
tank 33. Furthermore, when the rotary wing 39 rotates, water and
detergents accumulated in the washing tank 33 are pressed into the
first opening 43 by the pumping vanes 39B of the rotary wing 39,
detergents remained in the detergent supply path 45 are dissolved
while rising, and wet laundry in washing tank 33 from the second
opening 44. Consequently, washing of laundry is performed by using
detergents.
[0073] In the washing machine 30 including the component 2, when it
is intended to further open the fully opened lid 4, the lid 4 can
be prevented from being damaged since the shaft 15 is naturally
pulled out of the hole 10.
[0074] In addition, the component 2 and the pumping pipeline 40 can
also function as a baffle for stirring laundry inside the washing
tank 33 when the washing tank 33 rotates.
[0075] A case that the present disclosure is implemented for the
washing machine 30 is described hereinabove, but the present
disclosure is not limited thereto. As long as the lid is mounted at
the opening part in a free rotation manner, the opening and closing
structure 1 of the present disclosure can be used.
[0076] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the
embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made
within the scope of the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0077] 1: Opening and closing structure; 2: Component; 3:
Supporting body; 4: Lid; 6: Opening part; 10: Hole; 11: Recess; 14:
Elastic deformation part; 15: Shaft; 16: Pin; 21: Slit; 30: Washing
machine.
* * * * *