U.S. patent application number 15/255384 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for laundry treating apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jinwoong Kim, Sungryong Kim, Youngmin Kim, Byeongheon Kwak, Hyunseok Seo.
Application Number | 20170067198 15/255384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56853507 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170067198 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jinwoong ; et
al. |
March 9, 2017 |
LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a laundry treating apparatus capable of
sufficiently wetting laundry in a drum by spraying wash water in a
tub on the laundry, without a motor. The laundry treating apparatus
includes a tub configured to accommodate wash water, a drum
rotatably disposed in the tub, and configured to accommodate
laundry, and a lifter disposed in the drum, to tumble the laundry
using rotary power of the drum, wherein the drum has a drum hole
communicating with an inner space of the lifter, and the lifter has
a lifter hole through which the wash water, introduced into the
inner space from the tub through the drum hole, is sprayed on the
laundry at a predetermined position to which the drum rotates.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jinwoong; (Seoul,
KR) ; Kim; Sungryong; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim;
Youngmin; (Seoul, KR) ; Kwak; Byeongheon;
(Seoul, KR) ; Seo; Hyunseok; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
56853507 |
Appl. No.: |
15/255384 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/065
20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/06 20060101
D06F037/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0125747 |
Claims
1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a tub to accommodate
wash water; a drum, rotatably disposed in the tub, to accommodate
laundry; and a lifter disposed in the drum, to tumble the laundry
as the drum rotates, wherein the drum has a drum hole communicating
with an inner space of the lifter, and the lifter has a plurality
of lifter holes through which wash water, introduced into the inner
space from the tub through the drum hole, is sprayed on the laundry
at a predetermined rotation position of the drum.
2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drum
further comprises: a scoop formed at one side of the drum hole so
as to guide the wash water in the tub to the drum hole.
3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the scoop has
a shape that is concave at an outside of the drum and is convex at
an inside thereof.
4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the scoop
guides the wash water to the drum hole when the drum rotates in one
direction.
5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lifter
hole is formed in a direction perpendicular to a tangent line of
the drum.
6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the lifter
comprises: a round surface protruding maximally inward from the
drum, a first inclined surface disposed at one side of the round
surface in one direction of rotation of the drum, and a second
inclined surface disposed at the other side of the round surface in
the other direction of rotation of the drum; and the plurality of
lifter holes are formed in the round surface and the first inclined
surface.
7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality
of lifter holes comprise lifter holes spaced apart from each other
at regular intervals throughout the first inclined surface, and
lifter holes formed in a portion of the round surface so as to
corresponding to the lifter holes formed in the first inclined
surface.
8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality
of lifter holes comprise lifter holes formed so as to be spaced
apart from each other at regular intervals throughout the round
surface and the first inclined surface.
9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the lifter
comprises: a round surface protruding maximally inward from the
drum, a first inclined surface disposed at one side of the round
surface in one direction of rotation of the drum, and a second
inclined surface disposed at the other side of the round surface in
the other direction of rotation of the drum; and the plurality of
lifter holes are formed in the first inclined surface.
10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the
plurality of lifter holes comprise lifter holes formed so as to be
spaced apart from each other at regular intervals throughout the
first inclined surface.
11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first
inclined surface has an axially asymmetrical shape.
12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the lifter
comprises: a round surface protruding maximally inward from the
drum, a first inclined surface disposed at one side of the round
surface in one direction of rotation of the drum, and a second
inclined surface disposed at the other side of the round surface in
the other direction of rotation of the drum; and the plurality of
lifter holes are formed in the round surface.
13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the lifter
comprises: a round surface protruding maximally inward from the
drum, a first inclined surface disposed at one side of the round
surface in one direction of rotation of the drum, and a second
inclined surface disposed at the other side of the round surface in
the other direction of rotation of the drum; and the first inclined
surface is formed such that an inner angle between the first
inclined surface and an inner surface of the drum is a first angle,
and the second inclined surface is formed such that an inner angle
between the second inclined surface and the inner surface of the
drum is a second angle larger than the first angle.
14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drum
further comprises: a first sliding hole in communication with the
inner space of the lifter; a second sliding hole extending from the
first sliding hole and spaced apart from the drum hole in one
direction, the second sliding hole having a width perpendicular to
an axial direction thereof, the width being smaller than that of
the first sliding hole; and a fastening hole spaced apart from the
drum hole in a direction opposite to the one direction, and wherein
the lifter further comprises: a sliding protrusion coupled to the
drum by sliding to the second sliding hole from the first sliding
hole; and a fastening portion into which a fastening member is
inserted and fastened through the fastening hole.
15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drum
further comprises: a first sliding hole in communication with the
inner space of the lifter; a second sliding hole extending from the
first sliding hole and spaced apart from the drum hole in one
direction, the second sliding hole having a width perpendicular to
an axial direction thereof, the width being smaller than that of
the first sliding hole; a third sliding hole; and a fourth sliding
hole extending from the third sliding hole and spaced apart from
the drum hole in a direction opposite to the one direction, the
fourth sliding hole having a width perpendicular to an axial
direction thereof, the width being smaller than that of the third
sliding hole, and wherein the lifter further comprises: a first
sliding protrusion coupled to the drum by sliding to the second
sliding hole from the first sliding hole; a second sliding
protrusion coupled to the drum by sliding to the fourth sliding
hole from the third sliding hole; and a shield wall for shielding
the third sliding hole when the second sliding protrusion is
located in the fourth sliding hole.
16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, wherein: the drum
further comprises a fastening hole; and the lifter further
comprises a fastening portion into which a fastening member is
inserted and fastened through the fastening hole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2015-0125747, filed on Sep. 4, 2015 in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a laundry treating
apparatus, and more particularly to a laundry treating apparatus
which performs washing by tumbling laundry.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, washing machines are classified into a
top-loading washing machine, which performs washing using the
rotational stream of wash water, and a drum washing machine which
performs washing by tumbling laundry.
[0006] That is, the top-loading washing machine has a structure in
which an inner vessel, serving as a washing vessel, is disposed so
as to rotate about a direction perpendicular to the ground, and a
pulsator provided on the bottom of the inner vessel rotates to
generate a water stream, so as to perform washing through the
friction between laundry and the water stream and by applying
impacts to laundry by the pulsator. On the other hand, the drum
washing machine has a structure in which an inner vessel, serving
as a washing vessel, is disposed so as to rotate about a direction
parallel to the ground, so as to perform washing through the
friction between laundry and the inner wall surface of the inner
vessel and by dropping laundry while the inner vessel rotates.
[0007] The drum washing machine is equipped with a lifter for
tumbling (lifting and dropping) laundry when the inner vessel,
which is a drum, rotates. The lifter consists of a plurality of
lifters installed inside the drum so as to be spaced apart from
each other in a circumferential direction which is the direction of
rotation of the drum, and the lifters rotate along with the
drum.
[0008] Each of the lifters protrudes inward from the drum to a
predetermined height, at which the lifter does not lift laundry
when the drum rotates at a low speed but lifts laundry when the
drum rotates at a high speed. That is, the lifter tumbles the
laundry accommodated in the drum using the rotary power of the drum
only when the drum rotates at a predetermined speed.
[0009] Meanwhile, the drum is rotatably disposed in a tub, serving
as a reservoir. Wash water collects in the bottom of the tub up to
the level at which the water may flow into the bottom of the drum,
in order to wet the laundry accommodated in the drum.
[0010] However, when a large amount of laundry is in the drum, only
a portion of the laundry, namely that portion which is near the
bottom of the drum, is wet. Accordingly, in order to sufficiently
wet all of the laundry accommodated in the drum, the drum washing
machine must be equipped with a motor for lifting the wash water,
which collects in the tub, in the upward direction of the drum to
spray the water on laundry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to
provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of sufficiently
wetting laundry in a drum by spraying wash water in a tub on the
laundry.
[0012] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention.
[0013] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the
above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a
laundry treating apparatus including a tub configured to
accommodate wash water, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, and
configured to accommodate laundry, and a lifter disposed in the
drum, to tumble the laundry using rotary power of the drum, wherein
the drum has a drum hole communicating with an inner space of the
lifter, and the lifter has a lifter hole through which the wash
water, introduced into the inner space from the tub through the
drum hole, is sprayed on the laundry at a predetermined position to
which the drum rotates.
[0014] The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be
realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in
the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a drum, lifters, and a
tub illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a view of the outside of the drum and the lifters
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one of the lifters
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lifter illustrated
in FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of one of the lifters
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a lifter of a laundry treating
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a lifter of a laundry treating
apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view illustrating a lifter of
a laundry treating apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a back perspective view illustrating the lifter
of the laundry treating apparatus according to the fourth
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0026] FIG. 11 is a back view illustrating the lifter of the
laundry treating apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The
present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.
Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like
parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the present
invention.
[0028] Hereinafter, a laundry treating apparatus according to
exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in
more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] The laundry treating apparatus according to exemplary
embodiments of the present invention includes all apparatuses for
treating laundry. Specifically, the laundry treating apparatus
includes washing machines that remove contaminants from laundry
using wash water, and washing machines that perform both washing
and drying.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the laundry treating apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention may
include a cabinet 2 and a control panel 4 installed on the cabinet
2.
[0032] The cabinet 2 may be a case that defines the external
appearance of the laundry treating apparatus. The cabinet 2 may
have a laundry entry port 3 for the insertion and removal of
laundry into and from the cabinet 2. A tub 30 (see FIG. 2) for
accommodating wash water may be installed in the cabinet 2.
[0033] A drum 40 for accommodating laundry may be rotatably
installed in the tub. A motor (not shown) for rotating the drum 40
may be installed in the cabinet 2.
[0034] The cabinet 2 may be configured by bending a single member
many times, or may be configured by coupling a large number of
members to each other. The cabinet 2 may include a base fan (not
shown), a cabinet body 8, which is installed at the base fan and
has a space for accommodating the tub, a cabinet cover 10, which is
disposed in front of the cabinet body 8 and has the laundry entry
port 3 formed thereon, and a top cover 12 disposed at the upper
portion of the cabinet body 8.
[0035] The cabinet body 8 may be configured of a single member or a
plurality of members. The cabinet body 8 may include a left cover
disposed at the left upper portion of the base fan, a right cover
disposed at the right upper portion of the base fan, and a rear
cover disposed at the rear upper portion of the base fan. Of
course, the cabinet 2 may be configured as a combination of a
plurality of members, and may be changed in various forms.
[0036] The cabinet 2 may be equipped with a door 14 for opening and
closing the laundry entry port 3. The door 14 may be rotatably or
slidably connected to the cabinet 2 so as to open and close the
laundry entry port 3. The door 14 may be connected to the cabinet 2
by a hinge mechanism in order to open and close the laundry entry
port 3 while rotating about the hinge mechanism.
[0037] The control panel 4 may include an operation unit for
operating the laundry treating apparatus. The control panel 4 may
include a display unit for displaying information about the laundry
treating apparatus. The control panel 4 may include the operation
unit and the display unit together. The control panel 4 may be
installed on the cabinet 2. The control panel 4 may be disposed on
the upper portion of the cabinet cover 10. The control panel 4 may
be located on the front upper portion of the cabinet 2, and may
define a portion of the external appearance of the laundry treating
apparatus.
[0038] The control panel 4 may include a control panel body 20. The
control panel body 20 may define the external appearance of the
control panel 4. The control panel body 20 may be located above the
cabinet cover 10, and may be provided with the operation unit which
is operated by a user, and the display unit which displays various
types of information about the laundry treating apparatus to the
outside.
[0039] The control panel 4 may include a rotary knob 50 which is
gripped and operated by the user's hand. The rotary knob 50 may be
installed to select various courses of the laundry treating
apparatus, and the user may grip and turn the rotary knob 50 in
order to select various courses of the laundry treating apparatus.
The control panel body 20 may have an opening 22 which is larger
than the rotary knob 50. The rotary knob 50 may be disposed such
that the front portion thereof is located in front of the opening
22.
[0040] The control panel 4 may include a knob decoration 56 located
around the rotary knob 50. The knob decoration 56 may be located
between the outer circumference of the rotary knob 50 and the
opening 22. The knob decoration 56 may realize a high-quality
external appearance around the rotary knob 50, and may have the
same color as the outer surface of the control panel body 20.
[0041] The control panel 4 may further include a window 82 which is
disposed to surround the outer circumference of the rotary knob 50.
The laundry treating apparatus may further include a light source
which irradiates the window with light. Light incident on the
window 82 may penetrate the window 82, and the user may recognize
various types of information about the laundry treating apparatus
by checking the shape or location of light radiated to the window
82. A portion of the window 82 may be exposed outward between the
knob decoration 56 and the opening 22, and light may be radiated
through the exposed portion of the window 82.
[0042] A lifter 45 may be installed in the drum 40. The lifter 45
may consist of a plurality of lifters which are installed so as to
be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals along the
inner peripheral surface of the drum 40. The lifters 45 may rotate
along with the drum 40 when the drum 40 rotates. The lifters 45 may
tumble the laundry accommodated in the drum 40 using the rotary
power of the drum 40, thereby enabling the laundry to be washed.
The lifters 45 may not lift the laundry accommodated in the drum 40
when the drum 40 rotates at a low speed, but may lift and drop the
laundry accommodated in the drum 40 when the drum 40 rotates at a
high speed.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drum, the lifters,
and the tub illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view of the outside
of the drum and the lifters illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the drum 40 may have a drum hole
41, through which the wash water accommodated in the tub 30 is
guided to the inner space in each of the lifters 45. The drum hole
41 may consist of three drum holes which are spaced apart from each
other at regular intervals in the direction of axial rotation of
the drum 40 (hereinafter, referred to as an "axial direction"). The
drum holes 41 preferably communicate with the inner spaces of the
lifters 45 such that the wash water accommodated in the tub 30 may
flow into the inner spaces of the lifters 45 through the drum holes
41. The number of drum holes 41 is not limited to three, but one or
more drum holes may be formed at positions corresponding to the
inner spaces of the lifters 45.
[0045] The drum 40 may further have a scoop 42 which is formed at
one side of each of the drum holes 41. The scoop 42 may have a
shape that is concave at the outside of the drum 40 and is convex
at the inside thereof. The scoop 42 is preferably formed at one
side of the drum hole 41 such that the wash water in the tub 30 may
be guided to the drum hole 41 only when the drum 40 rotates in one
direction. Here, the one direction in which the drum 40 rotates is
a clockwise direction. When the drum 40 rotates clockwise, the
scoop 42 is preferably disposed in front of the drum hole 41 in the
clockwise direction. That is, only when the drum 40 rotates
clockwise, the scoop 42 guides the wash water in the tub 30 to the
drum hole 41 so that the wash water may flow into the inner space
in each of the lifters 45 through the associated drum hole 41.
[0046] The lifter 45 has a lifter hole 45a through which the wash
water introduced into the inner space from the tub 30 through the
drum hole 41 is sprayed on laundry at a predetermined position to
which the drum 40 rotates. That is, the wash water, which is
introduced into the inner space of the lifter 45 through the drum
hole 41 at position A, illustrated in FIG. 2, is sprayed on laundry
through the lifter hole 45a at position B, illustrated in FIG. 2.
In order to spray the wash water, which is introduced into the
inner space of the lifter 45, on laundry, the lifter hole 45a is
formed in a direction perpendicular to the tangent line of the drum
40. Position A, illustrated in FIG. 2, is the position at which the
lifter 45 passes the bottom of the tub 30 and at which wash water
collects in the tub 30.
[0047] The lifter 45 may consist of three lifters which are
circumferentially arranged at a distance of 120.degree. on the
inner peripheral surface of the drum 40. That is, the distance
between position A and position B, illustrated in FIG. 2, is a
distance of 120.degree.. In the embodiment, the wash water
introduced into the inner space of the lifter 45 through the drum
hole 41 at position A may be sprayed on laundry through the lifter
hole 45a at position B to which the drum 40 rotates at an angle of
120.degree.. Of course, the number of lifters 45 is not limited to
three.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one of the lifters
illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the
lifter illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lifter 45 is axially
elongated. The lifter 45 includes a round surface 46 which
protrudes maximally inward from the drum 40, a first inclined
surface 47 which is disposed at one side of the round surface 46 in
one direction of rotation (in the clockwise direction) of the drum
40, a second inclined surface 48 which is disposed at the other
side of the round surface 46 in the other direction of rotation of
the drum 40, a front surface 49 which extends from the front ends
of the round surface 46, the first inclined surface 47, and the
second inclined surface 48, and a rear surface (not shown) which
extends from the rear ends of the round surface 46, the first
inclined surface 47, and the second inclined surface 48.
[0050] The round surface 46 is a curved surface that is convex
toward the center of the drum 40. Each of the first and second
inclined surfaces 47 and 48 is inclined at a predetermined angle
relative to the inner surface of the drum 40, and generally has a
flat shape. The inner angle (a) between the first inclined surface
47 and the inner surface of the drum 40 is defined as a first
angle, and the inner angle (b) between the second inclined surface
48 and the inner surface of the drum 40 is defined as a second
angle. In the embodiment, the first angle is an angle of
48.degree..
[0051] One end of each of the first and second inclined surfaces 47
and 48 extends from the round surface 46, and the other end thereof
may be coupled to the drum 40.
[0052] The lifter hole 45a is formed in the round surface 46 and
the first inclined surface 47, but is not formed in the second
inclined surface 48. The lifter hole 45a may consist of a plurality
of lifter holes which are spaced apart from each other at regular
intervals throughout the first inclined surface 47, and may consist
of a plurality of lifter holes which are formed in a portion of the
round surface 46 so as to corresponding to the lifter holes 45a
formed in the first inclined surface 47. The lifter holes 45a
formed in the round surface 46 are arranged in one row, and the
lifter holes 45a formed in the first inclined surface 47 are
arranged in a plurality of rows.
[0053] In the embodiment, the lifter has a hole ratio of 0.8. The
hole ratio is a value obtained by dividing a sum of lengths
occupied by lifter holes 45a by a remaining length, in a
rectilinear length (L) to the tip end of the first inclined surface
47 from the center of a lifter hole 45a closest to the center of
the drum 40.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of one of the lifters
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, fastening structures for
mounting the lifter 45 to the drum 40 are formed on the back
surface of the lifter 45 and the drum 40. The fastening structures
includes first and second sliding holes 43a and 43b and a fastening
hole 44 which are formed in the drum 40, and a sliding protrusion
45b and a fastening portion 45c which are formed on each lifter
45.
[0056] The first and second sliding holes 43a and 43b are formed so
as to be spaced apart from each of the drum holes 41 in one
direction, and the fastening hole 44 is formed so as to be spaced
apart from the drum hole 41 in a direction opposite to the
direction.
[0057] The first sliding hole 43a is axially elongated, and has a
width perpendicular to the axial direction thereof, the width being
greater than that of the second sliding hole 43b. The second
sliding hole 43b extends from the first sliding hole 43a so as to
be axially elongated, and has a width perpendicular to the axial
direction thereof, the width being smaller than that of the first
sliding hole 43a.
[0058] The sliding protrusion 45b is axially elongated. The sliding
protrusion 45b is formed on one side in the lifter 45, and in more
detail, is formed on the first inclined surface 47. The fastening
portion 45c is formed on the other side in the lifter 45, and in
more detail, is formed on the second inclined surface 48.
[0059] After the sliding protrusion 45b is inserted into the first
sliding hole 43a formed in the drum 40, the lifter 45 is coupled to
the drum 40 by the sliding of the sliding protrusion 45b from the
first sliding hole 43a to the second sliding hole 43b. When the
sliding protrusion 45b is located in the second sliding hole 43b
and the lifter 45 is coupled to the drum 40, the first sliding hole
43a communicates with the inner space of the lifter 45.
Accordingly, when the drum 40 rotates in one direction, the wash
water in the tub 30 may flow into the inner space of the lifter 45
through the drum hole 41, and may also flow into the inner space of
the lifter 45 through the first sliding hole 43a.
[0060] The sliding protrusion 45b preferably has a length and a
width corresponding to those of the second sliding hole 43b such
that it may be pressed against the second sliding hole 43b and the
lifter 45 may be coupled to the drum 40.
[0061] The lifter 45 is coupled to the drum 40 by inserting a
screw, serving as a fastening member, into the fastening portion
45c. That is, the screw is inserted and coupled into the fastening
portion 45c through the fastening hole in the outside of the drum
40, thereby allowing the other side of the lifter 45 to be coupled
to the drum 40.
[0062] As described above, only one side of the lifter 45, which is
in one direction of rotation of the drum 40, slides and is coupled
to the drum 40 through the sliding protrusion 45b, and the other
side thereof is coupled to the drum 40 through the fastening
portion 45c. Thus, when the drum 40 rotates in one direction, the
wash water in the tub 30 flows into the inner space of the lifter
45 through the drum hole 41 and the first sliding hole 43a, and the
wash water introduced into the inner space is not discharged
through the other side of the lifter 45. Therefore, the wash water
introduced into the lifter 45 may be sprayed on laundry through the
lifter hole 45a at a predetermined position to which the drum 40
rotates.
[0063] After one side of the lifter 45 is first coupled to the drum
40 by coupling the sliding protrusion 45b to the second sliding
hole 43b, the other side of the lifter 45 is coupled to the drum 40
by inserting the screw into the fastening hole 44 and the fastening
portion 45c. Consequently, the process in which the lifter 45 is
mounted to the drum 40 may be completed.
[0064] The lifter 45 has an open surface which comes into contact
with the inner surface of the drum 40. The lifter 45 has a
plurality of partition walls 45d for partitioning the inner space
into a plurality of regions. Each of the partition walls 45d may be
formed so as to extend from the round surface 46 and the first and
second inclined surfaces 47 and 48. The partition wall 45d has a
recessed portion 45e formed by depressing a portion of the
partition wall 45d toward the inner surface of the drum 40. The
recessed portion 45e is disposed at a position corresponding to the
drum hole 41 and the scoop 42 formed in the drum 40. The wash water
introduced into the inner space of the lifter 45 through the drum
hole 41 may axially flow through the recessed portion 45e in the
lifter 45. A portion of the partition wall 45d, which extends from
the second inclined surface 48, may extend from the fastening
portion 45c.
[0065] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a lifter of a laundry treating
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention. In the second embodiment, like reference numerals refer
to the same components as those of the first embodiment, and a
detailed description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, only
differences from the first embodiment will be described.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the lifter, which
is designated by reference numeral 145, of the laundry treating
apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present
invention differs from the lifter 45 of the first embodiment. That
is, in the first embodiment, the lifter holes 45a are formed so as
to be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals throughout
the first inclined surface 47, and the lifter holes 45a are formed
in a portion of the round surface 46 so as to correspond to the
lifter holes 45a formed in the first inclined surface 47. However,
the second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment in that
a plurality of lifter holes 45a is formed so as to be spaced apart
from each other at regular intervals throughout a first inclined
surface 47, but the second embodiment differs from the first
embodiment in that a plurality of lifter holes 45a is formed so as
to be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals throughout
a round surface 46. In the second embodiment, the lifter holes 45a
formed in the round surface 46 are arranged in three rows.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a lifter of a laundry treating
apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the third embodiment, like reference numerals refer to the same
components as those of the first embodiment, and a detailed
description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, only differences
from the first embodiment will be described.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the lifter, which
is designated by reference numeral 245, of the laundry treating
apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present
invention differs from the lifter 45 of the first embodiment. That
is, in the first embodiment, the lifter holes 45a are formed so as
to be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals throughout
the first inclined surface 47, and the lifter holes 45a are formed
in a portion of the round surface 46 so as to correspond to the
lifter holes 45a formed in the first inclined surface 47. However,
the third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment in that a
plurality of lifter holes 45a is formed so as to be spaced apart
from each other at regular intervals throughout a first inclined
surface 47, but the third embodiment differs from the first
embodiment in that no lifter holes are formed in a round surface
46.
[0069] In addition, in the lifter 245 of the third embodiment, the
first inclined surface 47 formed with the lifter holes 45a has an
axially asymmetrical shape. Accordingly, when the drum 40 rotates
in one direction, the lifter 245 may move to a predetermined
position in the state in which wash water collects in the inner
space of the lifter 245.
[0070] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view illustrating a lifter of
a laundry treating apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 10 is a back perspective view
illustrating the lifter of the laundry treating apparatus according
to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a
back view illustrating the lifter of the laundry treating apparatus
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the
fourth embodiment, like reference numerals refer to the same
components as those of the first embodiment, and a detailed
description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, only differences
from the first embodiment will be described.
[0071] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, it can be seen that the lifter,
which is designated by reference numeral 345, of the laundry
treating apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the
present invention differs from the lifter 45 of the first
embodiment. That is, in the lifter of the first embodiment, the
lifter holes 45a are formed in the round surface 46 and the first
inclined surface 47. However, in the lifter 345 of the fourth
embodiment, a plurality of lifter holes 45a is formed only in a
round surface 46. The lifter holes 45a formed in the lifter 345 of
the fourth embodiment are arranged in one row in the round surface
46.
[0072] In addition, in the drum 40 of the first embodiment, the
first and second sliding holes 43a and 43b are formed so as to be
spaced apart from the drum hole 41 in one direction, and the
fastening hole 44 is formed so as to be spaced apart from the drum
hole 41 in a direction opposite to the direction. However, the
fourth embodiment is identical to the first embodiment in that
first and second sliding holes 43a and 43b are formed so as to be
spaced apart from the drum hole 41 in one direction in the drum 40,
but the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that
third and fourth sliding holes 44a and 44b are formed so as to be
spaced apart from the drum hole in a direction opposite to the
direction. Here, the third sliding hole 44a has the same structure
and function as the first sliding hole 43a, and the fourth sliding
hole 44b has the same structure and function as the second sliding
hole 43b.
[0073] In the lifter 45 of the first embodiment, the sliding
protrusion 45b is formed only on the first inclined surface 47, and
the fastening portion 45c is formed on the second inclined surface
48. However, in the fourth embodiment, sliding protrusions 45b and
45f are formed on both first and second inclined surfaces 47 and
48. That is, the sliding protrusions 45b and 45f include a first
sliding protrusion 45b which is coupled by sliding to the second
sliding hole 43b from the first sliding hole 43a, and a second
sliding protrusion 45f which is coupled by sliding to the fourth
sliding hole 44b from the third sliding hole 44a.
[0074] When the first sliding protrusion 45b is located in the
second sliding hole 43b, the first sliding hole 43a is opened.
Thus, when the drum 40 rotates in one direction, the wash water in
the tub 30 may be introduced into the inner space of the lifter 345
through the drum hole 41 and the first sliding hole 43a.
[0075] Meanwhile, the second sliding protrusion 45f further has a
shield wall 45g formed at one side thereof. The shield wall 45g
shields the third sliding hole 44a when the second sliding
protrusion 45f is located in the fourth sliding hole 44b.
Therefore, when the drum 40 rotates in one direction, it is
possible to prevent the wash water accommodated in the inner space
of the lifter 345 from flowing out through the third sliding hole
44a.
[0076] In addition, the drum 40 of the fourth embodiment may
further have fastening holes 44 which are formed as components
corresponding to the fastening hole 44 of the first embodiment. One
of the fastening holes 44 may be formed in a portion corresponding
to the front portion of the lifter 345, and the remaining one may
be formed in a portion corresponding to the rear portion of the
lifter 345.
[0077] The lifter 345 may have a fastening portion 45c which is
formed as a component corresponding to the fastening portion 45c of
the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the lifter
345 may be coupled to the drum 40 by inserting a screw, serving as
a fastening member, into the fastening portion 45c. That is, the
screw is inserted and coupled into the fastening portion 45c
through the fastening hole 44 in the outside of the drum 40,
thereby allowing the lifter 345 to be securely coupled to the drum
40.
[0078] As described above, in the laundry treating apparatus
according to the embodiments of the present invention, the wash
water in the tub 30 is introduced into the inner space of the
lifter 45, 145, 245, or 345 through the drum hole 41, and is then
sprayed on laundry through the lifter holes 45a at a predetermined
position to which the drum 40 rotates. Therefore, the laundry
treating apparatus can eliminate a motor for lifting the wash water
in the tub 30 in the upward direction of the drum 40, whereby it
can reduce costs, weight, and noise and save electricity.
[0079] As is apparent from the above description, a laundry
treating apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the
present invention has effects of reducing costs, weight, and noise
and saving electricity since it can eliminate a motor for lifting
the wash water in a tub in the upward direction of a drum.
[0080] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
effects, and other effects thereof will be clearly understood by
those skilled in the art from the above description and the
following claims.
[0081] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and applications may be devised
by those skilled in the art that will fall within the intrinsic
aspects of the embodiments. More particularly, various variations
and modifications are possible in concrete constituent elements of
the embodiments. In addition, it is to be understood that
differences relevant to the variations and modifications fall
within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure defined in
the appended claims.
* * * * *