U.S. patent application number 15/119123 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-23 for washing machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Jin Doo Kim, Jin Ho Lee.
Application Number | 20170051446 15/119123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53800355 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170051446 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Jin Ho ; et
al. |
February 23, 2017 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
The present disclosure is related to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a washing machine having an improved structure
including a laundry-escape prevention unit for preventing laundry
from escaping. The washing machine includes a cabinet having an
opening for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface of
the cabinet, a tub having an opening part corresponding to an
opening of the cabinet at a front surface of the tub, and disposed
inside the cabinet, a drum having an opening part corresponding to
an opening part of the tub at a front surface of the drum, and
rotatably installed inside the tub, and a guide member configured
to include one side coupled to a front surface portion of the tub
and the other side having a shape protruding toward a center of the
opening of the cabinet.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jin Ho; (Seoul, KR)
; Kim; Jin Doo; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
53800355 |
Appl. No.: |
15/119123 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
February 10, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2015/001331 |
371 Date: |
August 15, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/267 20130101;
D06F 37/06 20130101; D06F 23/02 20130101; D06F 37/266 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/06 20060101
D06F037/06; D06F 37/26 20060101 D06F037/26; D06F 23/02 20060101
D06F023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 13, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0016511 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet configured to include an
opening for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface of
the cabinet; a tub configured to include an opening part
corresponding to an opening of the cabinet at a front surface of
the tub, and disposed inside the cabinet; a drum configured to
include an opening part corresponding to an opening part of the tub
at a front surface of the drum, and rotatably installed inside the
tub; and a guide member configured to include one side coupled to a
front surface portion of the tub and an other side having a shape
protruding toward a center of the opening of the cabinet.
2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the guide member
includes: a first guide configured to extend from the tub toward
the center of the opening; and a second guide configured to extend
from one side of the first guide in an inward direction of the
drum.
3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the guide member is
provided at a position separated leftward from an upper portion of
the opening part of the tub by a first angle when viewed from the
center of the opening.
4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the first angle is
provided as an acute angle.
5. The washing machine of claim 4, further comprising: a controller
configured to control rotation of the drum, wherein the controller
controls the drum to rotate in a counterclockwise direction during
a spin-dry cycle when viewed from a front side of the drum.
6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the guide member
includes: a first guide member disposed at a position separated
leftward from an upper portion of the opening part of the tub by a
first angle when viewed from the center of the opening; and a
second member disposed at a position separated rightward from the
upper portion of the opening part of the tub by a second angle when
viewed from the center of the opening.
7. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the first angle and the
second angle are provided as acute angles.
8. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the first guide includes
an upper surface, a first inclined surface forming a first incline
angle with the upper surface and extending from one side of the
upper surface, and a second inclined surface forming a second
incline angle with the upper surface and extending from the other
side of the upper surface, and the first incline angle is provided
as greater than the second incline angle.
9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the first inclined
surface of the first guide is disposed to a right side of the upper
surface when viewed from the center of the opening.
10. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the second guide has a
shape in which a distance between both side surfaces of the second
guide narrow from the one side of the first guide in the inward
direction of the drum.
11. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising: a diaphragm
configured to seal a gap between the tub and the cabinet by
connecting one side of the diaphragm to the opening part of the tub
and connecting the other side of the diaphragm to the opening of
the cabinet, wherein the guide member includes a material having
strength greater than that of the diaphragm.
12. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet configured to include
an opening for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface
of the cabinet; a tub configured to include an opening part
corresponding to an opening of the cabinet at a front surface of
the tub, and disposed inside the cabinet; a drum configured to
include an opening part corresponding to an opening part of the tub
at a front surface of the drum, and rotatably installed inside the
tub; a diaphragm configured to seal a gap between the tub and the
cabinet by connecting one side of the diaphragm to the tub and
connecting the other side of the diaphragm to the cabinet; and a
bracket configured to include a protrusion protruding toward a
center of the opening between a front surface portion of the drum
and the diaphragm.
13. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the protrusion of the
bracket has a shape protruding more toward the center of the
opening than the front surface portion of the drum.
14. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the protrusion of the
bracket has a shape protruding more toward the center of the
opening than the diaphragm.
15. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the bracket is
provided to couple to one side of a front surface portion of the
tub.
16. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet configured to include
an opening for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface
of the cabinet; a tub configured to include an opening part
corresponding to an opening of the cabinet at a front surface of
the tub, and disposed inside the cabinet; a drum configured to
include an opening part corresponding to an opening part of the tub
at a front surface of the drum, and rotatably disposed inside the
tub; a diaphragm configured to seal a gap between the tub and the
cabinet by connecting one side of the diaphragm to the tub and
connecting the other side of the diaphragm to the cabinet; and a
laundry-escape prevention unit configured to prevent the laundry
from escaping from an inside of the drum, and coupled to the drum,
wherein the laundry-escape prevention unit includes a guide member
configured to include one side coupled to a front surface portion
of the tub and the other side having a shape protruding toward a
center of the opening.
17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the guide member
includes: a first guide configured to extend from the tub toward
the center of the opening; and a second guide configured to extend
from one side of the first guide in an inward direction of the
drum.
18.-23. (canceled)
24. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the laundry-escape
prevention unit includes a bracket having a protrusion protruding
toward the center of the opening between a front surface portion of
the drum and the diaphragm.
25. The washing machine of claim 24, wherein the protrusion of the
bracket is disposed behind the first guide.
26. The washing machine of claim 25, wherein the protrusion of the
bracket has a shape protruding more toward the center of the
opening than the front surface portion of the drum.
27. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing
machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine with an
improved structure including a laundry-escape prevention unit for
preventing laundry from escaping.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a washing machine is a device for washing laundry
using water and detergent, and includes a cabinet, a tub for
holding wash water used for washing inside the cabinet, a drum
rotatably installed inside the tub, and a drive device for
rotationally driving the drum.
[0003] Kinds of such a washing machine includes a drum washing
machine in which a drum is horizontally disposed to wash laundry by
lifting the laundry along an inner circumference of a tub and
dropping the laundry when the drum rotates in forward and reverse
directions with respect to a horizontal axis, and a vertical axis
washing machine in which a drum provided with a pulsator therein is
vertically disposed to wash laundry using streams of water
generated by the pulsator when the drum rotates in forward and
reverse directions with respect to a vertical axis.
[0004] In the drum washing machine, laundry may escape into an
outer side of a drum in a spin-dry cycle. In order to prevent the
laundry from escaping, a blocking preventer formed integrally with
a diaphragm is provided, but there are problems in that a damage
possibility may be high because the diaphragm includes a material
having low strength and escaping of the laundry is not completely
prevented.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0005] Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present
disclosure, a washing machine is provided to include a
laundry-escape prevention unit for preventing laundry from escaping
into an external side of a drum during a spin-dry cycle.
[0006] Also, in accordance with another aspect of the present
disclosure, a washing machine is provided to have an improved
structure which prevents damage to a diaphragm due to rotation of a
drum while laundry is being spin-dried.
Technical Solution
[0007] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,
a washing machine includes a cabinet configured to have an opening
for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface of the
cabinet, a tub configured to have an opening part corresponding to
an opening of the cabinet at a front surface of the tub, and
disposed inside the cabinet, a drum configured to have an opening
part corresponding to an opening part of the tub at a front surface
of the drum, and rotatably installed inside the tub, and a guide
member configured to include one side coupled to a front surface
portion of the tub and the other side having a shape protruding
toward a center of the opening of the cabinet.
[0008] The guide member may include a first guide configured to
extend from the tub toward the center of the opening, and a second
guide configured to extend from one side of the first guide in an
inward direction of the drum.
[0009] The guide member may be provided at a position separated
leftward from an upper portion of the opening part of the tub by a
first angle when viewed from the center of the opening.
[0010] The first angle may be provided as an acute angle.
[0011] The washing machine may further include a controller
configured to control rotation of the drum, wherein the controller
may control the drum to rotate in a counterclockwise direction
during a spin-dry cycle when viewed from a front side of the
drum.
[0012] The guide member may include a first guide member disposed
at a position separated leftward from an upper portion of the
opening part of the tub by a first angle when viewed from the
center of the opening, and a second member disposed at a position
separated rightward from the upper portion of the opening part of
the tub by a second angle when viewed from the center of the
opening.
[0013] The first angle and the second angle may be provided as an
acute angle.
[0014] The first guide may include an upper surface, a first
inclined surface forming a first incline angle with the upper
surface and extending from one side of the upper surface, and a
second inclined surface forming a second incline angle with the
upper surface and extending from the other side of the upper
surface, and the first incline angle may be provided as greater
than the second inclined angle.
[0015] The first inclined surface of the first guide may be
disposed to the right of the upper surface when viewed from the
center of the opening.
[0016] The second guide may have a shape in which a distance
between both side surfaces of the second guide narrow from the one
side of the first guide in the inward direction of the drum.
[0017] The washing machine may further include a diaphragm
configured to seal a gap between the tub and the cabinet by
connecting one side of the diaphragm to the opening part of the tub
and connecting the other side of the diaphragm to the opening of
the cabinet, wherein the guide member may include a material having
strength greater than that of the diaphragm.
[0018] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet configured to have
an opening for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface
of the cabinet, a tub configured to have an opening part
corresponding to the opening of the cabinet at a front surface of
the tub, and disposed inside the cabinet, a drum configured to have
an opening part corresponding to the opening part of the tub at a
front surface of the drum, and rotatably installed inside the tub,
a diaphragm configured to seal a gap between the tub and the
cabinet by connecting one side of the diaphragm to the tub and
connecting the other side of the diaphragm to the cabinet, and a
bracket configured to have a protrusion protruding toward a center
of the opening between a front surface portion of the drum and the
diaphragm.
[0019] The protrusion of the bracket may have a shape protruding
more toward the center of the opening than the front surface
portion of the drum.
[0020] The protrusion of the bracket may have a shape protruding
more toward the center of the opening than the diaphragm.
[0021] The bracket may be provided to couple to one side of a front
surface portion of the tub.
[0022] In accordance with still another embodiment of the present
disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet configured to have
an opening for loading and retrieving laundry at one side surface
of the cabinet, a tub configured to have an opening part
corresponding to the opening of the cabinet at a front surface of
the tub, and disposed inside the cabinet, a drum configured to have
an opening part corresponding to the opening part of the tub at a
front surface of the drum, and rotatably installed inside the tub,
a diaphragm configured to seal a gap between the tub and the
cabinet by connecting one side of the diaphragm to the tub and
connecting the other side of the diaphragm to the cabinet, and a
laundry-escape prevention unit configured to prevent the laundry
from escaping from an inside of the drum, and coupled to the drum,
wherein the laundry-escape prevention unit includes a guide member
configured to include one side coupled to a front surface portion
of the tub and the other side having a shape protruding toward a
center of the opening.
[0023] The guide member may include a first guide configured to
extend from the tub toward the center of the opening, and a second
guide configured to extend from one side of the first guide in an
inward direction of the drum.
[0024] The guide member may be disposed at a position separated
leftward from an upper portion of the opening part of the tub by a
first angle when viewed from the center of the opening.
[0025] The washing machine may further include a controller
configured to control rotation of the drum, wherein the controller
may control the drum to rotate in a counterclockwise direction when
viewed from a front side of the drum.
[0026] The first guide may include an upper surface, a first
inclined surface forming a first incline angle with the upper
surface and extending from one side of the upper surface, and a
second inclined surface forming a second incline angle with the
upper surface and extending from the other side of the upper
surface, and the first incline angle may be provided as greater
than the second incline angle.
[0027] The first inclined surface of the first guide may be
disposed at the right of the upper surface when viewed from the
center of the opening.
[0028] The second guide may have a shape in which a distance
between both side surfaces of the second guide narrow from one side
of the first guide in the inward direction of the drum.
[0029] The guide member may include a material having strength
greater than that of the diaphragm.
[0030] The laundry-escape prevention unit may include a bracket
having a protrusion protruding toward a center of the opening
between a front surface portion of the drum and the diaphragm.
[0031] The protrusion of the bracket may be disposed behind the
first guide.
[0032] The protrusion of the bracket may have a shape protruding
more toward the center of the opening than the front surface
portion of the drum.
[0033] The bracket may be provided to couple to one side of the
front surface portion of the tub.
Advantageous Effects
[0034] The washing machine according to the present disclosure may
prevent laundry from escaping into outside of a drum while the
laundry is being spin-dried.
[0035] Also, the washing machine according to the present
disclosure may prevent damage to a diaphragm due to rotation of the
drum while the laundry is being spin-dried.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
configuration in which one embodiment of a laundry-escape
prevention unit is coupled in the washing machine of FIG. 1
according to the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a front view of the laundry-escape prevention unit
of FIG. 2.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross
section of the coupled laundry-escape prevention unit of FIG.
2.
[0040] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating a configuration in
which a guide member of FIG. 2 is coupled.
[0041] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a first guide of the
guide member of FIG. 5.
[0042] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating a second guide of
the guide member of FIG. 5.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bracket of FIG. 2.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a first modified example of
the guide member of FIG. 1.
[0045] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a second modified example of
the guide member of FIG. 1.
[0046] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a first modified example of
the laundry-escape prevention unit of FIG. 1.
MODES OF THE INVENTION
[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0049] With reference to FIG. 1, a washing machine 1 includes a
cabinet 10, a tub 20, a drum 30, a diaphragm 40, a drive device 50,
a controller (not shown), and a laundry-escape prevention unit
100.
[0050] The cabinet 10 forms an external appearance of the washing
machine 1. The cabinet 10 includes a plurality of frames 10a, 10b,
and 10c, and the plurality of frames 10a, 10b, and 10c are
comprised of a front surface frame 10a forming a front surface of
the cabinet 10, a side surface frame 10b forming side surfaces and
a rear surface thereof, and a lower surface frame 10c forming a
lower surface thereof.
[0051] An opening 11 is provided at a front surface portion of the
cabinet 10 to enable laundry to be loaded into and retrieved from
the drum 30. The opening 11 is opened and closed by a door 15
installed at the front surface of the cabinet 10. One side of the
door 15 may be fixedly installed at the cabinet 10 and the door 15
may rotate centering on the one side thereof to open and close the
opening 11.
[0052] A control panel (not shown) may be provided at a front upper
portion of the cabinet 10. The control panel (not shown) may be
provided to control a wash cycle, a rinse cycle, a spin-dry cycle,
and the like. In addition, the control panel (not shown) may
display information regarding a wash time, a wash course, and the
like so as to enable a user to recognize them.
[0053] The tub 20 is disposed inside the cabinet 10. The tub 20 may
be elastically supported by the cabinet 10. The tub 20 may be
supported by the cabinet 10 through an elastic member (not shown)
and a damping member 22. The elastic member (not shown) and the
damping member 22 may reduce delivery of vibration and impact
caused by the tub 20 to the cabinet 10. The elastic member (not
shown) may be comprised of a member including a spring, and the
damping member 22 may be comprised of a member including an oil
damper.
[0054] The tub 20 may be provided in a cylindrical shape having an
inner space. An opening part 21 corresponding to the opening 11 of
the cabinet 10 may be provided at a front surface portion of the
tub 20. The opening part 21 provided at the front surface portion
of the tub 20 may be disposed behind of the opening 11 of the
cabinet 10.
[0055] A water supply tube 23 is provided at an upper portion of
the tub 20 to supply washing water thereto. One side of the water
supply tube 23 is connected to an external water source (not
shown), and the other side thereof is connected to a detergent
supply device 24.
[0056] The detergent supply device 24 is connected to the tub 20
through a connection tube 25. Water supplied from the water supply
tube 23 is provided inside the tub 20 together with detergent via
the detergent supply device 24.
[0057] A drain pump 26 and a drain tube 27 are disposed at a lower
portion of the tub 20 to discharge water inside the cabinet 10 to
an external side thereof.
[0058] The drum 30 is disposed inside the tub 20. The drum 30
includes a cylinder 31, a front surface plate 32 disposed in front
of the cylinder 31, and a rear surface plate 33 disposed behind of
the cylinder 31. An opening part 34 for loading and retrieving
laundry is formed at the front surface plate 32, and a drive shaft
51 is formed at the rear surface plate 33 to deliver power from the
drive device 50.
[0059] The drum 30 is rotatably provided inside the tub 20. The
drum 30 may be supported by the tub 20 to alternately rotate in
clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The drum 30 may rotate
at a variable rotation speed.
[0060] The opening part 34 of the drum 30 is provided to correspond
to the opening part 21 of the tub 20. The opening part 34 of the
drum 30 may be disposed behind of the opening part 21 of the tub
20.
[0061] A plurality of through holes 35 for circulating washing
water are formed at the drum 30. An inner space of the drum 30 may
be in communication with the inner space of the tub 20 through the
through holes 35.
[0062] A plurality of lifters 36 are provided at an inner
circumference of the drum 30 so as to lift and drop laundry when
the drum 30 rotates.
[0063] The diaphragm 40 is disposed between the cabinet 10 and the
tub 20. One side of the diaphragm 40 is connected to the opening
part 21 of the tub 20, and the other side thereof is connected to
the opening 11 of the cabinet 10. The diaphragm 40 seals a gap
between the opening 11 of the cabinet 10 and the opening part 21 of
the tub 20. The diaphragm 40 prevents washing water inside the tub
20 from leaking to the external side of the cabinet 10.
[0064] The diaphragm 40 may be provided with a material having
properties of high elasticity and superior expansion and
contraction. The diaphragm 40 may include ethylene propylene diene
monomer (EPDM). Consequently, the diaphragm 40 may reduce vibration
being delivered to the cabinet 10 when the drum 30 rotates.
[0065] The drive shaft 51 is disposed between the drum 30 and the
drive device 50. One end of the drive shaft 51 is connected to the
rear surface plate 33 of the drum 30, and the other end thereof
extends to an external side of a rear wall of the tub 20. When the
drive device 50 drives the drive shaft 51, the drum 30 connected to
the drive shaft 51 rotates centering thereon.
[0066] A bearing housing 52 is disposed at the rear wall of the tub
20 to rotatably support the drive shaft 51. The bearing housing 52
may be made of an aluminum alloy, and may be inserted into the rear
wall of the tub 20 when the tub 20 is injection molded. A plurality
of bearings 53 are disposed between the bearing housing 52 and the
drive shaft 51 so that the driving shaft 51 may rotate
smoothly.
[0067] During a wash cycle, the drive device 50 rotates the drum 30
at a low speed in forward and reverse directions, and laundry is
repeatedly lifted and dropped in the drum 30 to eliminate
contaminants from the laundry.
[0068] During a spin-dry cycle, the drive device 50 rotates the
drum 30 at a high speed in one direction to separate water from the
laundry by means of a centrifugal force applied thereto.
[0069] Hereinafter, the laundry-escape prevention unit 100
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described. The laundry-escape prevention unit 100 may prevent
laundry from escaping to an external side of the drum 30 during the
spin-dry cycle.
[0070] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
configuration in which one embodiment of a laundry-escape
prevention unit is coupled in the washing machine of FIG. 1, FIG. 3
is a front view of the laundry-escape prevention unit of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section of
the coupled laundry-escape prevention unit of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is
an enlarged view illustrating a configuration in which a guide
member of FIG. 2 is coupled.
[0071] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the laundry-escape
prevention unit 100 according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a guide member 110 and a bracket 120.
[0072] According to one example, one side of the guide member 110
may be coupled to one side of the front surface portion of the tub
20, and the other side thereof may have a shape protruding toward
the center of the opening 11 of the cabinet 10.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 3, the guide member 110 may be disposed at
a position separated leftward from an upper portion of the opening
part 21 of the tub 20 by a first angle .alpha. when viewed from a
center of the opening 11. The first angle .alpha. may be provided
as an acute angle. According to one example, the first angle
.alpha. may be provided to be in the range of 45.degree. to
60.degree..
[0074] According to one example, the guide member 110 may include a
first guide 111 and a second guide 112.
[0075] The first guide 111 may be provided to extend from the tub
20 in a central direction of the opening 11 of the cabinet 10. As
shown in FIG. 4, the first guide 111 may have a shape extending
more toward the center of the opening 11 by as much as a third
distance d3 than a front surface portion 30a of the drum 30.
According to one example, the third distance d3 may be provided to
be in the range of 15 to 20 mm.
[0076] One side of the first guide 111 may be provided to be
coupled to an outer surface of the front surface portion of the tub
20. The first guide 111 may be fixedly coupled to the outer surface
of the front surface portion of the tub 20 through a screw coupler
116.
[0077] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a first guide of the guide
member of FIG. 5.
[0078] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, the first guide 111 may
include an upper surface 113, a first inclined surface 114 forming
a first incline angle .theta.1 with the upper surface 113 and
extending from one side thereof, and a second inclined surface 115
forming a second incline angle .theta.2 with the upper surface 113
and extending from the other side thereof.
[0079] Hereinafter, the upper surface 113 of the first guide 111 is
defined as a surface facing the center of the opening 11. According
to one example, the first inclined surface 114 may be disposed at a
right side of the upper surface 113 when viewed from the center of
the opening 11. The first incline angle .theta.1 formed between the
upper surface 113 and the first inclined surface 114 may be
provided as greater than the second incline angle .theta.2 formed
between the upper surface 113 and the second inclined surface. In
particular, the first incline angle .theta.1 may be provided to be
140.degree..
[0080] According to one example, the second inclined surface 115
may be disposed at a left side of the upper surface 113 when viewed
from the center of the opening. The second angle .theta.2 formed
between the upper surface 113 and the second inclined surface 115
may be provided as less than the first angle .theta.1 formed
between the upper surface 113 and the first inclined surface 114.
At this point, the second angle .theta.2 formed between the upper
surface 113 and the second inclined surface 115 may be provided to
be 110.degree..
[0081] On the other hand, although not shown in the drawings, the
first angle .theta.1 of the first guide 111 may be provided as less
than the second angle .theta.2 of the second guide 112. Also, the
guide member 110 may be disposed at a position separated rightward
from the upper portion of the opening part 21 of the tub 20 by the
first angle .theta.1 when viewed from the center of the opening 11.
In this case, during the spin-dry cycle, the controller (not shown)
may control the drum 30 to rotate in the clockwise direction when
viewed from the front side of the drum 30.
[0082] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a second guide of the guide
member of FIG. 5.
[0083] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, the second guide 112 may be
provided to extend from one side of the first guide 111 in an
inward direction of the drum 30. According to one example, the
second guide 112 may extends to a position at which some portions
are overlapped with the opening part 34 of the drum 30 when viewed
from the center of the opening 11. In particular, the second guide
112 may have a shape extending from the front surface portion 30a
of the drum 30 in a rear direction thereof by as much as a fourth
distance d4 when viewed from the center of the opening 11.
According to one example, the fourth distance d4 may be provided to
be 10 mm.
[0084] According to one example, the second guide 112 may have a
shape in which a distance between both side surfaces of the second
guide 112 narrow from the one side of the first guide 111 in the
inward direction of the drum 30. A left surface of the second guide
112 may be provided to form a third angle .theta.3 with the first
guide 111, and a right surface thereof may be provided to form a
fourth angle .theta.4 with the first guide 111. At this point, the
third angle .theta.3 and the fourth angle .theta.4 may be provided
to be identical to each other. According to one example, the third
angle .theta.3 and the fourth angle .theta.4 may be provided to be
130.degree..
[0085] In the washing machine 1 including the guide member 110
described above, the controller (not shown) may control the drum 30
to rotate in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the
front side of the drum 30 during the spin-dry cycle.
[0086] According to one example, the guide member 110 may include a
material having strength greater than that of the diaphragm 40. The
guide member 110 may include a material having strength which
maintains a certain shape even while in contact with rotating
laundry during the spin-dry cycle.
[0087] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bracket of FIG. 2.
[0088] With reference FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIG. 8, the bracket 120
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be
provided in a ring shape having a hollow. The bracket 120 may be
coupled to and installed at one side of the tub 20. The bracket 120
may be coupled to and installed at a rear side of the front surface
of the tub 20.
[0089] According to one example, the bracket 120 includes a
protrusion 121. As shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 121 may have a
shape protruding toward the center of the opening 11 between the
front surface portion 30a of the drum 30 and the diaphragm 40.
[0090] According to one example, the protrusion 121 may be provided
in a shape extending more toward the center of the opening 11 by as
much as the first distance d1 than the front surface portion 30a of
the drum 30. At this point, the first distance d1 may be provided
be 3 mm or less.
[0091] According to one example, the protrusion 121 may be disposed
in front of the front surface portion 30a of the drum 30 by the
second distance d2. The second distance d2 may be provided to be in
the range of 3 to 6 mm. The protrusion 121 may be provided to
maintain a gap by as much as the second distance d2 between the
drum 30 and the protrusion 121 during the wash cycle or the
spin-dry cycle. Consequently, the bracket 120 may prevent the
diaphragm 40 and the drum 30 from coming in contact with each other
when the drum 30 rotates.
[0092] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a first modified example of
the guide member of FIG. 1.
[0093] With reference to FIG. 9, a guide member 130 may include a
first guide 131 and a second guide 132. In comparison with the
guide member 110 of FIG. 3, the guide member 130 has a different
configuration only regarding the first guide 131.
[0094] Hereinafter, a difference compared to the guide member 110
of FIG. 3 will be focused on and described.
[0095] The first guide 131 may include an upper surface 133, a
first inclined surface 134, and a second inclined surface 135.
According to one example, the first inclined surface 134 may form a
fifth incline angle .theta.5 with the upper surface 133 and may
have a shape extending from one side of the upper surface 133. In
addition, the second inclined surface 135 may form the fifth
incline angle .theta.5 with the upper surface 133 and may have a
shape extending from the other side of the upper surface 133.
Unlike the guide member 110 of FIG. 3, the first guide 131 may be
provided so that both sides of the inclined surfaces of the upper
surface 133 have the same incline angle.
[0096] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a second modified example of
the guide member of FIG. 1.
[0097] With reference to FIG. 10, a guide member 71 may be
integrally provided with a tub 70. According to one example, the
tub 70 may be manufactured in a shape including the guide member 71
at one side of a front surface portion of the tub 70. Therefore,
unlike the guide member 110 of FIG. 3, the guide member 71 may be
provided at a predetermined position without being coupled through
a screw and the like.
[0098] Besides the difference described above, a shape, a position,
and a function of the guide member 71 are the same as those of the
guide member 110 of FIG. 3 such that a description thereof will be
omitted.
[0099] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a first modified example of
the laundry-escape prevention unit of FIG. 1.
[0100] With reference to FIG. 11, the laundry-escape prevention
unit includes guide members 110 and 140 and the bracket 120.
[0101] According to one example, a plurality of the guide members
110 and 140 may be provided. The guide members 110 and 140 may
include the first guide member 110 and a second guide member 140.
The first guide member 110 is the same as the guide member 110 of
FIG. 3 such that a description thereof will be omitted.
[0102] The second guide member 140 may be disposed at a position
separated rightward from the upper portion of the opening part 21
of the tub 20 by a second angle .beta. when viewed from the center
of the opening 11. The second angle .beta. may be provided as an
acute angle. The second angle .beta. may be provided to be in the
range of 45.degree. to 60.degree.. Alternatively, the second angle
.beta. may be provided to be the same as the first angle
.alpha..
[0103] Hereinafter, a process for preventing laundry from escaping
during a spin-dry cycle in the washing machine 1 including the
laundry-escape prevention unit 100 according to one embodiment of
the present disclosure will be described.
[0104] The washing machine 1 performs a spin-dry cycle after a wash
cycle is completed. Before performing the spin-dry cycle, the drum
30 rotates at a low speed by alternating a direction in clockwise
and counterclockwise directions. At this point, when some of
laundry is moved to the outer side of the drum 30 while the laundry
is rotated, the laundry-escape prevention unit 100 may come in
contact with the laundry to prevent the laundry from escaping to
the outer side of the drum 30.
[0105] The drum 30 rotates at a high speed in one direction to
perform the spin-dry cycle. In the washing machine 1 described
above, since the guide member 110 is disposed at the position
separated leftward from the upper portion of the opening part of
the tub 20 when viewed from the center of the opening 11, the drum
30 may rotate in the counterclockwise direction to spin-dry the
laundry.
[0106] During the spin-dry cycle, some of the laundry may be moved
in front of the opening part of the drum 30. The laundry placed at
the opening part of the drum 30 is rotated together therewith to
come in contact with the guide member 110. In particular, the
laundry comes in contact with the first guide 111 of the guide
member 110 and then sequentially comes in contact with the first
inclined surface 114 and the second guide 112. At this point, the
laundry is moved inside the drum 30 due to impacts from the first
guide 111 and the second guide 112. Here, the first inclined
surface 114 of the first guide 111 forms the first incline angle
.theta.1 with the upper surface 113, such that it may more
effectively prevent the laundry from being moved outside of the
drum 30.
[0107] Also, in a course of spin-drying the laundry in the
counterclockwise direction, the laundry may come in contact with
the guide member 110 in a separated state from an internal surface
of the drum 30 due to gravity when passing the upper portion of the
drum 30. As a result, this may effectively prevent the laundry from
being moved outside the drum 30 to move the laundry therein.
[0108] In addition, the protrusion 121 of the bracket 120 may
prevent laundry, which has a volume less than that of the laundry
prevented by the guide member 110 described above, from being moved
in front of the opening part of the drum 30. In particular, while
the laundry is rotated together with the drum 30, some of the
laundry may be moved outside of the opening part of the drum 30 to
come in contact with the protrusion 121 of the bracket 120 fixedly
installed at the tub 20. When the rotating laundry is in contact
with the protrusion 121 of the bracket 120 which is stopped, the
laundry is moved inside the drum 30 due to an impact caused by the
contact.
[0109] As described above, the laundry-escape prevention unit 100
may effectively prevent the laundry from being moved outside of the
opening part of the drum 30 during the spin-dry cycle using the
guide member 110 and the bracket 120.
[0110] Although the embodiments have been described with reference
to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be
understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be
devised by those skilled in the art that fall within the spirit and
scope of the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments
disclosed herein, therefore, are not to be taken in a sense of
limiting the technical concept of the present invention but as an
explanation thereof, and the range of the technical concept is not
limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention
should be construed by the appended claims, along with the full
range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
* * * * *