US20080190806A1

US20080190806A1 - Protection Pad for Home Appliances

Info

Publication number: US20080190806A1
Application number: US11/908,393
Authority: US
Inventors: Bong-Sik Shin
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2005-03-11
Filing date: 2006-02-24
Publication date: 2008-08-14
Also published as: KR20070108240A; MX2007011191A; AU2006221255A1; DE112006000577T5; KR100877619B1; CN101137554A; AU2006221255A2; CN100593008C; AU2006221255B2; WO2006095967A1; BRPI0608417A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protection pad for home appliances. A protection pad of the present invention comprises at least two flat protection plates 30 and 30′ with a predetermined size, a connection unit 31 for connecting the protection plates 30 and 30′ to each other so that various angles can be defined between the protection plates 30 and 30′, and magnets 38 provided in the protection plates 30 and 30′ so that the protection plates 30 and 30′ can be attached to an outer surface of a home appliance. Each of the protection plates 30 and 30′ comprises a plate-shaped core 32 with predetermined hardness, and a cover 36 for enclosing the core 32. The use of the protection pad of the present invention constructed as above prevents damage to an outer surface of a home appliance when the home appliance is moved in an unpacked state. In particular, the protection pad can be more easily attached to the outer surface of the home appliance.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to home appliances, and more particularly, to a protection pad for protecting the appearance of a home appliance when the home appliance is moved.

BACKGROUND ART

Even the same kind of home appliances have various sizes depending on their use. For example, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners may have various capacities and different sizes depending on their capacities. In particular, refrigerators and indoor units of air conditioners are placed at locations easily found by persons. Thus, such home appliances preferably have more aesthetic appearances. Accordingly, it is important to protect the home appliances against any damage to their appearances. The following description will be given by way of example in connection with a refrigerator.
FIG. 1 shows a state where a conventional refrigerator is moved to an indoor space. That is, a home appliance such as a refrigerator 10 generally has a limitation on its size due to the size of a doorframe 20 that gives a passage into a room of a building. That is, an allowable maximum width of the refrigerator 10 may not be greater than the width of the doorframe 20. However, even though the height of the refrigerator 10 is greater than the height of the doorframe 20, the refrigerator can pass through the doorframe 20 in an inclined state.
However, the conventional refrigerator has the following problems.
That is, if the refrigerator 10 is a large-sized refrigerator, it cannot be carried by only a single worker, and it should be handled with much attention. In particular, since the worker cannot grasp all circumstances around the refrigerator 10 at a glance, an outer surface of the refrigerator 10 may be damaged due to surrounding articles.
In addition, even though the refrigerator 10 is designed to have a size passing through the doorframe 20, the outer surface of the refrigerator 10 may be indented or scratched due to articles attached to or installed around the doorframe 20 if a worker pays less attention.
In order to prevent such problems, a corrugated cardboard box or the like is sometimes temporarily attached to the outer surface of the refrigerator 10 using an adhesive tape. However, it is cumbersome to attach such a corrugated cardboard box to the refrigerator, and such a corrugated cardboard box and an adhesive tape should be always prepared.

DISCLOSURE

[Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the problems in the prior art. An object of the invention is to provide a protection pad for protecting the appearance of a home appliance when the home appliance is moved.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a protection pad that can be attached to an outer surface of a home appliance without an additional component.

[Technical Solution]

According to the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a protection pad comprising at least two flat protection plates with a predetermined size, a connection unit for connecting the protection plates to each other so that various angles can be defined between the protection plates, and magnets provided in the protection plates so that the protection plates can be attached to an outer surface of a home appliance.
Each of the protection plates may comprise a plate-shaped core with predetermined hardness, and a cover for enclosing the core.
The core may comprise an inner board made of a hard synthetic resin, and a sheath made of polystyrene to enclose a surface of the inner board.
Preferably, the cover is made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
The connection unit may be formed by fusing the same material as the cover defining an appearance of the protection plate so that the connection unit can have a thickness relatively smaller than that of the protection plate.
The magnet may be exposed to at least one side of the core provided in the protection plate, and shielded by the cover defining the appearance of the protection plate.
The magnet may be made of a soft material and provided to be exposed to a surface of the cover defining the appearance of the protection plate.
The magnet may be formed by magnetizing a portion of the surface of the protection plate.

[Advantageous Effects]

According to the protection pad for a home appliance according to the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.
When the protection pad of the present invention is used, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a home appliance from being damaged by surrounding articles while the home appliance is moved. Thus, a home appliance can be installed more safely.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state where a conventional refrigerator is moved to an indoor space;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a protection pad for home appliances according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the protection pad according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 2, showing the inner structure of the protection pad according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a used state where a home appliance is moved using the protection pad according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a protection pad for home appliances according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a front view showing the protection pad according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the inner structure of the protection pad according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in these figures, the protection pad of the present invention comprises protection plates 30 and 30′. The protection plates 30 and 30′ function to protect the appearance of a home appliance from an external impact. In this embodiment, the protection plates 30 and 30′ includes a first protection plate 30 and a second protection plate 30′, which take the shape of a rectangular plate, and the protection plates 30 and 30′ are connected to each other by means of a connection unit 31. However, the protection pad may comprise one protection plate or at least two protection plates.
Although the first and second protection plates 30 and 30′ are shown as having the same size in this embodiment, they are not necessarily limited thereto but may have different sizes. Although the first and second protection plates 30 and 30′ are shown as taking the shape of a quadrangular plate, particularly a rectangular plate in this embodiment, they may have various shapes such as a square plate and a circular plate.
The connection unit 31 is made of the same material as a cover 36 that will be described later, and the connection unit can be easily flexed. The connection unit 31 is formed to have a predetermined thickness by fusing a portion of the cover 36 located between the first and second protection plates 30 and 30′. Here, the connection unit 31 preferably has a thickness smaller than that of the protection plates 30 and 30′.
The connection unit 31 is formed to be flexible so that the first and second protection plates 30 and 30′ can be folded at various angles. The connection unit 31 can be flexed to allow the first and second protection units 30 and 30′ to be put one above another or to be completely spread out.
As for the inner structure of the protection plates 30 and 30′, each of the protection plates 30 and 30′ roughly comprises a core 32 and a cover 36. The core 32 is made of a material with certain hardness to form the skeleton of each of the protection plates 30 and 30′. The core 32 takes the shape of a quadrangular plate. The core 32 comprises a quadrangular inner board 33 and a sheath 34 enclosing an outer surface of the inner board 33. The inner board 33 substantially forms the core 32 and is made of a material capable of meeting characteristics of the core 32. For example, the inner board 33 is made of a hard synthetic resin.
The sheath 34 functions to protect the inner board 33 and, for example, is made of polystyrene (PS). Here, it is preferred that the sheath 34 be formed to have certain hardness.
The cover 36 defines the appearance of the protection plates 30 and 30′. That is, the cover 36 encloses the core 32 so that the core 32 cannot be exposed to the outside. The cover 36 is preferably made of a flexible material. For example, soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used.
Meanwhile, a plurality of magnets 38 are provided in the cover 36. The magnets 38 are shielded by the cover 36 so that they cannot be seen from the outside. The magnets 38 exert magnetic forces so that the protection plates 30 and 30′ can be attached to an outer surface of a home appliance. In this embodiment, the magnets 38 are arranged in a zigzag pattern in each of the protection plates 30 and 30′. However, the number and arrangement of the magnets 38 may be variously changed according to design conditions such as the sizes and weights of the protection plates 30 and 30′.
The protection plates 30 and 30′ can be attached only to an outer surface of a home appliance of which an outer surface is made of a magnetic material such as metal. In this embodiment, the magnets 38 are designed to penetrate through the core 32. Accordingly, both sides of each of the protection plates 30 and 30′ can be easily attached to an outer surface of an electronic product. However, in a case where that the magnets 38 are installed to be exposed to only one side of the core 32, corresponding surfaces of the protection plates 30 and 30′ should be attached to an outer surface of a home appliance. In this case, the other sides of the protection plates to which the magnets 38 are not exposed may be occasionally attached to an outer surface of an electronic product depending on the intensity of magnetic forces of the magnets.
In addition, the magnets 38 may be installed to be exposed out of the surface of the cover 36. In this case, the protection plates may be attached to an outer surface of an electronic product by using the magnets 38 with relatively weak magnetic forces. Since the magnets 38 are exposed out of the cover 36 in this case, they can maximally exhibit magnetic forces. If the magnets 38 are installed to be exposed out of the surface of the cover 36, the magnets 38 may be made of a resilient material. This is to prevent an outer surface of an electronic product from being damaged by the magnets attached directly to the outer surface of the electronic product.
In addition, the magnets 38 may be formed in certain portions on the surface of the cover 36. That is, some portions of the cover 36 are made of a magnetizable material, and the portions may be magnetized to serve as the magnets 38.

[Mode for Invention]

Hereinafter, the operation of the protection pad for home appliances according to the present invention constructed as above will be described in detail.
FIG. 5 shows a state where a refrigerator is moved while the appearance of the refrigerator is protected using the protection pad according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the protection plates 30 and 30′ of the protection pad are respectively attached to adjacent outer surfaces of the refrigerator 10, and the connection unit 31 is positioned along an outer edge of the refrigerator 10. A plurality of protection pads of the present invention may be used when one refrigerator 10 is moved. For example, in a case of a hexahedral product such as the refrigerator 10, a total of four protection pads may be used while being installed at respective side edges.
If the outer surface of the refrigerator 10 is made of a magnetic material such as metal, the protection plates 30 and 30′ are attached by means of magnetic forces of the magnets 38. The protection pad cannot be used if the outer surface of the refrigerator 10 is not made of a magnetic material.
Furthermore, the first and second protection plates 30 and 30′ are not necessarily attached to adjacent outer surfaces. That is, the first and second protection plates 30 and 30′ may be attached to the same surface of the refrigerator 10.
Meanwhile, the attached positions of the protection plates 30 and 30′ are changed depending on the height of an article placed on a path along which the refrigerator 10 is moved for installation. In a case where two workers carry a large-sized refrigerator 10, the workers generally grip top and bottom of the refrigerator 10 after inclining the refrigerator 10 forward or backward. In this case, the protection pad is preferably attached to a middle portion of the refrigerator that is out of their reach or sight.
Further, in a case where one worker carries the large-sized refrigerator 10, the worker moves the refrigerator in an inclined state such that a side of the refrigerator is leaned on the back of the worker. In this case, the protection pads are preferably used to protect a side of the refrigerator opposite to the side brought into contact with the back of the worker, and both sides adjacent to the opposite side.
When the protection pad is used as mentioned above, the hard cores 32 of the protection plates 30 and 30′ prevent damage to the appearance of the refrigerator 10 even though the refrigerator collides with surrounding articles. In addition, since the cover 36 has some flexibility, it prevents the refrigerator 10 from being damaged while the protection plates 30 and 30′ are attached to the outer surface of the refrigerator 10.
The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but is defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can made various changes and modifications thereto within the scope of the present invention defined by the claims.
For example, the protection pad of the present invention does not necessarily comprise two protection plates 30 and 30′. That is, more than two protection plates may be used to cover a wider range and thence several sides at a time. In this case, the number of the connection units 31 connecting the protection plates is smaller by one than the number of the protection plates.
In addition, as described above, the protection pad may comprise only one protection plate. That is, one protection plate with magnets is separately prepared and then attached to each of outer surfaces of a home appliance. In this case, two separate protection plates can be used to protect adjacent orthogonal outer surfaces of a home appliance shown in the figure.
Even when only one protection plate is used, the protection plate itself may be folded to simultaneously protect adjacent outer surfaces of a home appliance.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In particular, since the protection pad of the present invention is attached to an outer surface of a home appliance by means of magnetic forces of magnets, the protection pad can be mounted without using an additional part or tool. Thus, the protection pad can be more easily mounted.

Claims

1. A protection pad for home appliances, comprising:

a protection plate with a predetermined size for protecting an outer surface of a home appliance; and

a magnet provided in the protection plate so that the protection plate can be attached to the outer surface of the home appliance.

2. The protection pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protection pad comprises two or more protection plates, and the protection plates are connected to each other by means of a connection unit so that various angles can be defined between the protection plates.

3. The protection pad as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the protection plates comprises a plate-shaped core with predetermined hardness, and a cover for enclosing the core.

4. The protection pad as claimed in claim 3, wherein the core comprises an inner board made of a hard synthetic resin, and a sheath made of polystyrene to enclose a surface of the inner board.

5. The protection pad as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover is made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

6. The protection pad as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection unit is formed by fusing the same material as the cover defining an appearance of the protection plate so that the connection unit can have a thickness relatively smaller than that of the protection plate.

7. The protection pad as claimed in claim 6, wherein the magnet is exposed to at least one side of the core provided in the protection plate, and shielded by the cover defining the appearance of the protection plate.

8. The protection pad as claimed in claim 6, wherein the magnet is made of a soft material and provided to be exposed to a surface of the cover defining the appearance of the protection plate.

9. The protection pas as claimed in claim 6, wherein the magnet is formed by magnetizing a portion of the surface of the protection plate.

10. The protection pad as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cover is made of a soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC).