AU732433B2 - Suspension for full automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): LG Electronics Inc.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: Suspension for full automatic washing machine The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- P:\OPER\KATU\LG2.SPE JULY 9, 1997

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine. The suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine may in use be provided at the top of a body of a full automatic washing machine for supporting a suspension.

Discussion of the Related Art In general, a full automatic washing machine includes a body, an outer tub and an inner tub(washing tub) each rotatably mounted in the body, a pulsator mounted in the inner tub and a motor for rotating the pulsator. The outer and inner tubs are supported by being suspended by a suspension. That is, the suspension is provided between the body and the outer tub to support the outer tub and the inner tub.

A conventional suspension for a full automatic washing machine will be explained with i reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 illustrates a vertical section of a full automatic washing •machine, showing a suspension coupled to a body of the full automatic washing machine, and S"Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing suspension supporting members coupled to the 20 body.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there are a snubber base 26 at a lower part of outside of the outer tub 16 and a suspension supporting member 40 at each corner of top of the body 10. The suspension is coupled between the snubber base 26 and the suspension supporting member 40 for supporting the outer tub 16 and the inner tub 18.

S.i :25 The suspension includes a hanger 20 and a damping mechanism. The hanger 20 has a snubber bar 22 and a hanger pivot 24 coupled to the top of the snubber bar 22, which hanger pivot 24 in turn is coupled to the suspension supporting member 40. The damping mechanism has a damping spring cap 32 coupled to the snubber base 26 on an underside thereof and a P:\OPER\KAT\LG2.SPE JuLY 9, 1997 -2damping spring 30 in the damping spring cap 32. The lower end of the snubber bar 22 passes through the damping spring 30 which of course serves to absorb and attenuate vibration.

The conventional suspension supporting member will be explained with reference to Fig.

1.

The suspension supporting member 40 includes a receiving portion 44 having the hanger pivot 24 received therein, and a connecting portion 42 extending from one side of the top of the receiving portion 44 and coupled to the top 14 of the body 10. The suspension supporting member 40 is formed of steel and coupled to the top of the body by welding, caulking, or Zbending. The outer tub 16, inner tab 18, washing water and laundries, everything except the body of the washing machine, are supported by the suspension supporting member through the suspension. Vibration coming from the motor(not shown) during operation of the washing machine is absorbed to some extent by the damping spring 30 in the suspension.

However, the aforementioned conventional suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine has the following problems.

First, the lack of supporting strength of the suspension supporting member 40 has caused distortion, such as sagging of the suspension supporting member 40 and breakage of the suspension supporting member 40 at the connecting portions 42 between the body 10 and receiving portion of the suspension supporting member 40, that shortens the lifetime of the washing machine.

20 Second, the apparatuses, such as welding apparatus, required for jointing the suspension oo•• supporting member 40 and the body has caused the jointing job to be cumbersome and to exhibit a high production cost.

Third, the high dependency of the jointing work quality on worker's skill has caused difficulty in obtaining a uniform quality of the products.

.o S. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine, the suspension supporting member comprising: P:\OPERKAT\LG2.SPE JULY 9, 1997 -3a receiving portion for receiving a hanger pivot of a suspension; a connecting portion formed at one side of the top of the receiving portion, for coupling to the top of a washing machine body; and, a supporting portion formed at the underside of one side of the receiving portion, for making a close contact with a side of the inside of the washing machine body.

The connecting portion in the suspension supporting member is preferably coupled to the washing machine body with screws, and the connecting portion preferably has a plurality of projections formed at the underside of the connecting portion.

Preferably, a damping member is closely provided between an end of the supporting portion and side of the body for absorbing vibration.

The suspension supporting member is preferably plastic injection molded, wherein an upwardly projecting reinforcing rib is preferably formed at a transition portion of the connecting portion and the receiving portion for limiting tendency of the connecting portion of the suspension supporting member from being distorted due to a difference of cooling down rates during cooling down of the plastic.

Suspension supporting members may be formed in accordance with the invention and which reduce sagging and damage of the suspension supporting member. These supporting members may absorb and attenuate vibration produced during operation of the washing machine, and may simplify the coupling between a suspension supporting member and the washing 20 machine body so as to lead to reduced production cost and obtaining the products of uniform quality.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

S. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate P:\OPER\KAT\LG2.SPE JULY 9, 1997 -4embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention: In the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates a vertical section of a general full automatic washing machine showing a suspension coupled to a body of the full automatic washing machine; Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing conventional suspension supporting members coupled to a body of the full automatic washing machine; Fig. 3 illustrates a vertical section of a suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, Fig. 4 illustrates a plan view of a suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 3 illustrates a S. vertical section of a suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 illustrates a plan :view of a suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine in accordance S•with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numbers as the 20 conventional art will be used for the elements of the present invention that are substantially identical to the conventional art, and explanations for the same will be omitted.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the suspension supporting member 100 for a full automatic washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes, at large, a receiving portion 120 for receiving a hanger pivot 24, a connecting portion 110 S. 25 formed one side of the top of the receiving part 120, and a supporting portion 130 formed at the underside of one side of the receiving portion 120.

The connecting portion 110 has a plurality of assembly holes for passage therethrough of screws 114 and a plurality of projections 112 on the underside of the connecting portion 110.

P:\OPER\KAT\LG2.SPE JULY 9, 1997 Of course, other assembly holes corresponding to the assembly holes in the connecting portion 110, and recesses for insertion of the projections 112 on the connecting portion 110, are provided in the top 14 of the body 10. The supporting portion 130 has a plurality of transverse supporting portions 132 formed substantially parallel to a side 12 of the body 10 and ribs 134 formed between the transverse supporting portions 132 for reinforcing. A damping member 160 formed of rubber or foam is closely inserted between an end of the supporting portion 130 and the inside of side 12 of the body 10. This closely engages both the supporting portion 130 and the inside of side 12, which are closely spaced, and in use absorbs vibration produced during operation of the washing machine.

The functions and advantages of the aforementioned suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine as just described will be explained.

Once the projections 112 on the suspension supporting member 140 are inserted into the recesses in the body 10 in coupling the suspension supporting member 140 to the body 10, an exact coupling position of the suspension supporting member 140 can be assured. In addition to this, the final coupling of the suspension supporting member 140 by means of the screws 114 S: to the body 10 of the washing machine allows the assembly work according to the present °.embodiment to be very simple, with an improved workability compared to conventional coupling work, such as coupling by welding. Distortions of the suspension supporting member 140, such as sagging, can be effectively prevented by means of the supporting part 130, and vibration 20 produced during operation of the washing machine can be absorbed by the damping member 160, e..

whereby the lifetime of the washing machine can be prolonged, and noise can be reduced and damage to the body 10 can be minimised because the damping member 160 absorbs the vibration.

In the meantime, as the resistance against sagging of the suspension supporting member 140 is made greater according to the present embodiment, the suspension supporting member 130 25 may be plastic injection molded instead of fabricated of steel. In this instance, because of differences of cooling down rates between the portions of the suspension supporting member 140, which leads differences of shrinkage rates between the portions of the suspension supporting member 140, the connection portion 110 is liable to bend upwards, as the outer portion of the P:\opersb2W9425-97res doc.-22/02/ -6transition portion between the receiving portion 120 and the connecting portion 110 will be cooled down faster than the inner portion of the transition portion. It is necessary to prevent such an upward bend, lest a gap between the suspension supporting member 140 and the body 10 should be formed on assembly of the suspension supporting member 140 to the body 10. In order to solve this problem, the present embodiment provides a reinforcing rib 150 projecting upwardly at the transition portion between the receiving o portion 120 and the connecting portion 110, for prevention of the distortion in the cooling down. Accordingly, the present embodiment facilitates prevention of formation of the gap between the body 10 and the connecting portion 110, allowing a firm coupling of the 1,0 suspension supporting member 140 to the body It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and 15 variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims

SOS.

and their equivalents.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group 20 of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or 0• 0 steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (7)

1. A suspension supporting member for a full automatic washing machine, the suspension supporting member comprising: a receiving portion for receiving a hanger pivot of a suspension; a connecting portion formed at one side of the top of the receiving portion, for coupling to the top of a washing machine body; and, a supporting portion formed at the underside of one side of the receiving portion, for making a close contact with a side of the inside of the washing machine body.

2. A suspension supporting member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the suspension supporting member includes a plurality of through holes for screw coupling, and a plurality of projections formed at the underside of the connecting portion.

3. A suspension supporting member as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a damping member is closely provided between an end of the supporting portion and a side of the body, for absorbing vibration.

4. A suspension supporting member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the suspension supporting member is plastic injection molded. o .oo* A suspension supporting member as claimed in claim 4, wherein a reinforcing rib projects upwardly is formed at a transition portion of the connecting portion and the receiving portion, for limiting tendency of the connecting portion from being distorted during the plastic injection 25 molding.

6. A full automatic washing machine having a body and an outer tub and an inner tub, a pulsator mounted in the inner tub, and a motor for rotating the pulsator, wherein the outer and P:\OPER\KAT\LG2.SPE JULY 9, 1997 -8- inner tubs are supported by a hanger and a damping mechanism, the hanger being coupled to the body by a suspension supporting member as claimed in any preceding claim, the suspension supporting member being coupled to the body at the top thereof.

7. A suspension supporting member, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A full automatic washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. DATED this TWENTY SECOND day of JULY 1997 LG ELECTRONICS, INC. 15 By its Patent Attorneys Davies Collison Cave .e 4 4