KR101435836B1 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a washing machine comprising an apparatus providing additional functions. The present invention relates to a tub for storing wash water; A drum provided in the tub, the drum receiving laundry; A first cabinet providing a first space for accommodating devices for washing laundry such as the tub and the drum; A second cabinet providing a second space for receiving an apparatus for additional functions, the cabinet being formed integrally with the first cabinet; And a single partition wall provided between the first and second cabinets for isolating the second space from the first space, wherein opposite facing ends of the side walls of the first and second cabinets are connected to a single boundary line Thereby providing a washing machine as a whole.

Washing machine, cabinet

Description

Washing machine {WASHING MACHINE}

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a cabinet of the washing machine.

Generally, a washing machine is a device for washing laundry using detergent and mechanical friction. Such a washing machine can be used with auxiliary devices of a predetermined size so that the user can conveniently use the washing machine.

The auxiliary device may be provided on the upper or lower portion of the washing machine, and provides various additional functions to the user. However, the auxiliary devices are designed and manufactured as an independent device for the washing machine. Therefore, installing such an independent auxiliary device in a washing machine requires a lot of work. In addition, the washing machine equipped with the auxiliary device generally does not have a good appearance.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine having a high productivity and an improved appearance.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a washing machine comprising: a tub for storing washing water; A drum provided in the tub, the drum receiving laundry; A first cabinet providing a first space for accommodating devices for washing laundry such as the tub and the drum; A second cabinet providing a second space for receiving an apparatus for additional functions, the cabinet being formed integrally with the first cabinet; And a single partition wall provided between the first and second cabinets for isolating the second space from the first space, wherein opposite facing ends of the side walls of the first and second cabinets are connected to a single boundary line Thereby providing a washing machine as a whole.

The end surfaces of the side walls of the first and second cabinets facing each other and the upper surface of the single partition wall are disposed on substantially the same plane.

The second cabinet includes a flange extending from a side wall thereof to support the single partition, the flange being recessed to a predetermined depth from an upper end of the side wall. In addition, the predetermined depth is formed to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the partition wall.

The second cabinet has a cover provided on the side wall and covering end portions of the fastening members fastened to the single partition, and the cover can be continuously extended from the flange.

More specifically, the cover includes a first cover extending horizontally and covering the bottom of the fastening member, and a second cover extending vertically from the first cover to cover the side of the fastening member end.

The first and second cabinets integrated in the present invention can provide additional functions to the user and substantially reduce the materials and processes required for the washing machine. Also, the facing ends of the first and second cabinets form a single boundary line through a structural change. Therefore, the productivity is improved when the washing machine is manufactured, and the finished washing machine has an improved appearance.

An example of a washing machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, the present invention will be described with reference to a front loading washing machine in which a door is installed in a front portion of a washing machine. However, the same technical idea to be described can be applied to a top loading washing machine in which a door is installed at the upper end of the washing machine.

1 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view showing a cabinet of the washing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the components of the cabinet shown in FIG.

1-2B, the washing machine 1 according to the present invention has a first cabinet 100 forming a main body. The first cabinet 100 includes a body 110 having a side panel and a rear panel integrally formed with each other and the body 110 has a first space (100a). In this first space 100a, devices configured to wash laundry are accommodated. For example, a tub is installed in the first space 100a to receive the washing water. In the tub, a drum is rotatably installed to receive laundry and perform washing, and power devices are installed behind or below the tub to rotate the drum.

1, a front panel 120 is mounted on a front portion of the body 110, and a door 120a is installed on the front panel 120. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, a panel frame 111 is installed on a front portion of the body 110, and a control panel 140 shown in FIG. 1 is installed on the panel frame 110. 2A, a lower frame 112 is mounted on a lower portion of a front portion of the body 110, and peripheral devices such as a pump are installed on the lower frame 112. As shown in FIG. 1, a top panel 130 is installed on the upper part of the body 110, and a cover 130a of a detergent box is installed on the top panel 130. As shown in FIG.

In addition, the washing machine 1 of the present invention has a second cabinet 200 disposed adjacent to the first cabinet 100. The second cabinet 200 forms a predetermined second space 200a therein, and devices for additional functions can be accommodated in the second space 200a. The second cabinet 200 may receive a drawer 250, which forms a predetermined storage space for additional functions, as shown in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, guide rails 251 may be installed on both side walls of the second cabinet 200 for easy withdrawal of the drawer 250.

For example, the second space 200a may receive an accessory, i.e., a tool for repairing a washing machine, a manual, a detergent, a bleach, etc., 200a. If the drawer 250 is installed in the second space 200a, the accessories are received in the drawer 250 and the user can store the accessories more conveniently. On the other hand, the second space 200a may be configured to receive the auxiliary washing devices. These auxiliary laundry devices are configured to wash laundry of small size, such as handkerchiefs, socks, and baby clothes. More specifically, the auxiliary washing apparatus may include an auxiliary tub for storing wash water and an auxiliary drum for receiving laundry, and may have another configuration for allowing washing of small laundry. As with the main washing apparatuses in the first cabinet 100, such an auxiliary washing apparatus can perform all processes required for washing and drying small laundry items, i.e., washing, rinsing, dewatering and drying processes. If the auxiliary tub and the auxiliary drum are laid down so that their inlets face the front portion of the washing machine, a door for inputting the laundry into the auxiliary drum may be installed in the front portion of the second cabinet 200. If the auxiliary tub and the drum are installed upright, the auxiliary tub and the drum may be accommodated in the drawer 250. In this case, when the user pulls out the drawer 250, the entrance of the erected auxiliary drum is exposed, and the laundry can be inserted into the auxiliary drum through the exposed entrance. Thereafter, the user may push the drawer 250 into the second cabinet 200 and perform a predetermined washing process for small laundry. The above-described auxiliary washing apparatus can simultaneously wash laundry of a relatively small size while the main laundry in the first cabinet 100 is washing large laundry. Accordingly, the auxiliary washing apparatus can substantially increase the washing capacity of the washing machine and increase the washing efficiency. On the other hand, the second space 200a can accommodate shoes or washed clothes, and hot air can be supplied to the second space 200a by a separately attached device. As described above, the shoe or washed garments may also conveniently be received within the drawer 250. Therefore, shoes or clothes can be dried and refreshed by the supplied hot air.

The second cabinet 200 may be provided at any portion of the first cabinet 100 including the upper or lower end (i.e., the bottom) of the first cabinet 100. However, when the second cabinet 200 is disposed below the bottom portion of the first cabinet 100, the second cabinet 200 may be moved to the first cabinet 100 at a predetermined height Raising can act as a pedestal. Also, in this case, a leg 260 may be installed at the bottom of the second cabinet to support the washing machine.

The second cabinet 200 accommodates an auxiliary device for substantially providing additional functions to the user, as described above. If the second cabinet 200 forms an independent apparatus, many steps are required to manufacture the second cabinet 200 and to install the second cabinet 200 in the first cabinet 100 again. For this reason, the second cabinet 200 is integrated with the first cabinet 100, as shown. Thus, the integrated first and second cabinets 100 and 200 enable the washing machine to provide the user with additional functions while at the same time reducing the material and process required for such a washing machine. In addition, when the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 are manufactured as part of independent apparatuses, the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 have legs installed at the lower part thereof, respectively. For example, when the first cabinet 100 is stacked on the upper portion of the second cabinet 200, the legs of the first cabinet 100 are not required and the first and second cabinets 100 and 200, As shown in Fig. However, as mentioned above, when the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 are integrated with each other, the height of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 stacked by the unnecessary legs is not increased but becomes substantially compact.

On the other hand, since the first and second spaces 100a and 200a accommodate devices functioning differently from each other, despite the structural integration of the first and second cabinets described above, To avoid this, you need to be separated from each other. On the other hand, the bottom portion of the first cabinet 100 and the top portion of the second cabinet 200 are adjacent to each other by the integration of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200. In this structure, when two separate members are provided at the upper end of the second cabinet 200 and the bottom of the first cabinet 100, the first and second spaces 100a and 200a, And the improved structural strength and stiffness of the washing machine may be obtained. However, such a configuration is undesirable because it leads to an increase in weight of materials, processes, and washing machines, which is a drawback that is greater than expected benefits. For this reason, a single partition wall 300 is provided between the first and second cabinets 100, 200.

The single partition 300 basically separates the second space 200a from the first space 100a so that the first and second spaces can perform the intended function without interference. In addition, since there is no additional partition between the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 structurally, the partition 300 covers the bottom of the first cabinet 100, and at the same time, Cover the top. Accordingly, the barrier ribs 300 directly face the first and second spaces 100a and 200a. That is, the partition 300 forms a part of the first cabinet 100 and forms a part of the second cabinet 200. Such a single barrier rib 300 prevents an unnecessary material and process from being increased in separating the spaces 100a and 200a while simultaneously imparting appropriate structural strength and rigidity to the washing machine. Furthermore, substantial integration of the first and second cabinets 100, 200 is achieved by sharing of the partitions 300 by the first and second cabinets 100, 200.

In addition, the partition wall 300 is configured to mount accessory required for the washing machine in addition to separation of the first and second spaces 100a and 200a, proper structural strength and rigidity. 2A, the partition wall 300 has a platform 310 protruding at a predetermined height, and a flange-shaped edge portion 320 is formed at an edge of the platform 310 . Due to the formation of the platform 310, the partition 300 includes many bends that increase its section modulus, thereby increasing the structural strength.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a plurality of brackets and holders 330 and 340 are installed on the platform 310, and other members other than the illustrated members 330 and 340 may be additionally installed. First, the bracket 330 mounts the tub on the partition 300. More precisely, the bracket 330 is engaged with a damper for attenuating vibration of the tub. In addition, the holder 340 is configured to fix various accessories, for example, electric wires, terminals, etc. inside the washing machine can be fixed to the holder 330. 3, the holder 340 includes a base 341 fixed to the partition 300 and a pair of first and second arms 342 and 343 extending upward from the base 341 . Attachments such as the wires are arranged between the first and second arms 342 and 343 and rest on a seating portion 341a formed on the base 341. [ In addition, the first and second arms 342, 343 have hooks formed at the upper end thereof, which prevent the accessory devices disposed between the first and second arms 342, 343 from detaching therefrom. On the one hand, the electrical wire may be wound on the first and second arms 342, 343 and an accessory device having a predetermined volume, such as a terminal, may be attached to the first and second arms 342, 343, . In addition, the partition 300 may further include a recess 311 formed at the center of the platform 310, as clearly shown in FIG. 2A. The recess 311 is configured to preliminarily store wash water leaking from the tub or drum to prevent leakage of the wash water to the outside of the washing machine. In addition, a device capable of detecting the leaked washing water may be installed in the recess 311.

In addition, the partition 300 may have a structure for mounting a leg supporting the first cabinet 100. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, a fastening hole 350 may be formed at each corner of the partition 300, and the legs may be fastened to the fastening hole 350. By having such a leg mounting structure, the partition wall 300 can be applied to a conventional washing machine having only the first cabinet 100 without the second cabinet 200, which leads to sharing of parts for improving productivity.

While the above-described embodiments illustrate and describe first and second cabinets 100 and 200 having separate side walls and / or rear walls, the cabinets 100 and 200 may be integrally formed with side walls and / Lt; / RTI > That is, the cabinets 100 and 200 may have only a single side wall and / or a rear wall. Thus, as with the single partition 300, the first and second cabinets 100, 200 are more substantially integrated by sharing a single sidewall and / or rear wall, and the assembly process and material / component reduction are also achieved .

Figures 4a-4b are perspective views of the assemblies of each of the assembly steps of the first and second cabinets and show the assemblies viewed from different angles for each assembly step. The cabinet assembly process of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to these drawings.

First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the partition 300 is coupled to the upper end of the second cabinet 200. More specifically, the partition 300 is first raised to the upper end of the second cabinet 200. The edges of the edge portion 320 of the partition 300 and the edge of the upper end of the second cabinet 200 are fixed by the fastening member 10. The partition wall 300 may be first coupled to the bottom of the first cabinet 100, not from the upper end of the second cabinet 200, from a structural point of view. However, the first cabinet 100 has a much larger volume as compared to the second cabinet 200. If the partition 300 forms a preliminary assembly with the first cabinet 100, such preassembly is inconvenient for the operator to handle due to the increased volume and weight. Therefore, as described above, it is more advantageous to consider the convenience of the operator that the second cabinet 200 and the partition 300 form a preliminary assembly.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, both the first cabinet 100 and the preliminary assemblies 200 and 300 are disposed in an inverted state. More specifically, after the first cabinet 100 is first inverted, the preliminary assemblies 200, 300, which are similarly inverted on the bottom of the inverted first cabinet 100, are placed. According to a typical assembly method, the first cabinet 100 is raised for assembly on the upper surface of the preassembly 200, 300 without turning over the first cabinet 100 and the preassembly 200, 300. In this case, the fastening member engages the first cabinet 100 and the preassembly 200, 300 along the direction A, as indicated by the arrow. However, since the first cabinet 100 has a substantially large height A side wall, it is inconvenient for the operator to fasten the fastening member using the tool. On the other hand, the preassembly 200, 300 has a height B smaller than the height A, and thus is easy for a worker to work with a tool. For this reason, it is convenient for the operator to fasten them to each other such that both the first cabinet 100 and the preliminary assemblies 200, 300 are turned upside down.

4C, the first cabinet 100 and the preliminary assemblies 200 and 300 are fastened to each other by using the fastening member 10 and the first cabinet 100 and the preliminary assemblies 200 and 300, . Actually, as shown in FIG. 4B, the preassembly 200, 300 is fastened to a flange 100a formed at the edge of the bottom of the first cabinet 100. As shown in FIG. More specifically, as previously mentioned, the fastening member 10 engages the first cabinet 100 and the preassemblies 200, 300 along direction B. That is, the coupling member 10 passes through the second cabinet 200, the partition wall 300, and the first cabinet 100 in this order. Thereafter, the first cabinet 100 and the assemblies 200, 300 coupled to each other are again turned over and other devices are mounted in this completed cabinet structure.

As described above, the assembling method according to Figs. 4A to 4C allows the operator to conveniently and easily assemble the cabinet, thereby substantially increasing the productivity in manufacturing the washing machine.

On the other hand, in the integrated first and second cabinets 100 and 200, if a gap exists between the side walls of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200, foreign matter may get caught in the gap, You can go inside. In addition, the gap may deteriorate the appearance of the washing machine, and the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 may be made to be separated from each other. Thus, the first and second cabinets 100, 200 are additionally designed to eliminate this spacing, and the related structure is shown in Figures 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A is a partial perspective view taken along line I-I of FIG. 2B, and FIG. 5B is a partial enlarged view of portion A shown by a dotted line in FIG. 5A.

As described above, since the partition wall 300 is interposed between the first and second cabinets 100 and 200, the partition wall 300 can be formed without any structural change, Inevitably occurs. Accordingly, in order not to generate a gap between the side walls, it is possible to accommodate the interposed barrier rib 300 and the thickness of the edge portion 320, which is at least the coupling portion, in any one of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 Structure. Although both of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 may have structures partially accommodating the thickness of the partition 300, this is undesirable because it leads to an increase in the production process. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the second cabinet 200 and the partition 300 are coupled to each other prior to coupling with the first cabinet 100 to form a preassembly. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of the assembling process that the structure for accommodating the thickness of the partition wall 300 is formed in the second cabinet 200.

More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5B with such a receiving structure, the second cabinet 200 has a flange 241 extending inward from the side wall thereof. The flange 241 supports the partition 300, more precisely the edge 320. The flange 241 is recessed downward from the upper end of the side wall of the second cabinet 200 to a predetermined depth, that is, a depth equal to or greater than the thickness of the partition 300. The upper surface of the partition 300, more precisely the edge portion 320, does not protrude from the upper end of the side wall of the second cabinet 200 by being mounted on the flange 241. That is, due to the absorption of the thickness of the partition 300 by the flange 241, the upper surface of the partition 300 is disposed below the upper end of the side wall of the second cabinet 200, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > The first cabinet 100 has a flange 110a extending from a lower end of a side wall of the first cabinet 100 and coupled with the partition 300 and the second cabinet 200. Therefore, the upper surface of the partition 300, more precisely the upper surface of the edge portion 320, is the same as the upper end of the sidewall of the second cabinet 200 in order to stably support the flange 110a without further structural modification It is preferably arranged on a plane. Further, in this state, when the flange 110a is mounted on the partition 300, the end surfaces of the side walls of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 and the upper end surfaces of the partition 300, Are arranged on a common plane S shown by a dotted line in Fig. 5B. That is, the upper surface of the edge portion 320 of the partition wall is disposed on the same plane S as the lower end surface of the side wall of the first cabinet 100 and the upper surface of the side wall of the second cabinet 200. As a result, the opposite ends of the side walls of the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 are in contact with each other so that no gap is interposed therebetween. That is, only a single boundary included in the same plane S is formed between the side walls of the cabinets 100 and 200. Therefore, foreign matter can not be trapped between the first and second cabinets 100 and 200 or can not enter the inside of the washing machine due to the removal of the gap. In addition, a single perimeter enhances the appearance of the washer, and may allow the user to substantially perceive that the washer has a single cabinet.

In addition to the flange 241, the side wall of the second cabinet 200 has a cover 242 that covers the ends of the fastening members 20, as shown in FIG. 5B. The fastening members 20 are used to fasten attachment devices such as the bracket 330 and the holder 340 described above to the partition 300. More specifically, the cover 242 comprises first and second covers 242a and 242b. The first cover 242a extends horizontally and covers the bottom surface of the end portion of the fastening member 20. [ The first cover 242a may extend directly from the side wall of the second cabinet 200, but it is preferable to continuously extend the flange 241 from the side wall of the second cabinet 200 in order to reduce the production process and material. The second cover 242b extends upward from the first cover 242a and covers the side of the end of the fastening member 20. With such cover 242, the operator or user may not be hurt by the exposed end of the fastening member 242.

1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view showing a cabinet of the washing machine of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a cabinet of the washing machine of the present invention; FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing a holder mounted on a partition wall of a cabinet of a washing machine;

4A to 4C are perspective views illustrating a process of assembling the cabinet of the washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a partial perspective view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2B; FIG. And

Fig. 5B is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 5A. Fig.

Claims (13)

A tub for storing washing water; A drum provided in the tub, the drum receiving laundry; A first cabinet providing a first space for accommodating devices for washing laundry such as the tub and the drum; A second cabinet providing a second space for receiving an apparatus for additional functions, the cabinet being formed integrally with the first cabinet; And And a single partition wall provided between the first and second cabinets to isolate the second space from the first space, wherein opposite facing ends of the sidewalls of the first and second cabinets form a single boundary line The washing machine being in contact with the washing machine. The method according to claim 1, And the upper surface of the single partition wall does not project from the upper end of the side wall of the second cabinet. The method according to claim 1, And the upper surface of the single partition is positioned below the upper end of the side wall of the second cabinet. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the upper surface of the single partition is positioned coplanar with the upper end of the side wall of the second cabinet. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the end surfaces of the side walls of the first and second cabinets facing each other and the upper surface of the single partition wall are disposed on the same plane. 6. The method of claim 5, Wherein the end surfaces comprise a lower end surface of a side wall of the first cabinet and a top surface of a side wall of the second cabinet. 6. The method of claim 5, And an upper surface of the edge portion of the single partition is disposed coplanar with the end surfaces. The method according to claim 1, And the second cabinet includes a flange extending from a side wall thereof to support the single partition wall. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the flange is recessed to a predetermined depth from an upper end of the side wall. 10. The method of claim 9, Wherein the predetermined depth is equal to or greater than the thickness of the partition wall. The method according to claim 1 or 8, Wherein the second cabinet has a cover provided on the side wall and covering the end portions of the fastening members fastened to the single partition wall. 12. The method of claim 11, Wherein the cover extends continuously from the flange. 12. The method of claim 11, The cover includes: A first cover extending horizontally and covering the bottom of the fastening member end; And And a second cover vertically extending from the first cover and covering a side portion of the fastening member end portion.

Images