US20070125132A1

US20070125132A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US20070125132A1
Application number: US11/476,915
Authority: US
Inventors: Sung Hwang
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-06-07
Also published as: KR20070002336A; KR101138697B1; DE102006030024A1; DE102006030024B4

Abstract

A door assembly of a washing machine is disclosed, which opens and closes an inlet of the laundry. In a washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, the door assembly comprises an outer frame, a door deco connected with one surface of the outer frame, and a fitting portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to and from the outer frame. Since the door deco is easily fixed to the outer frame, it is possible to improve assembly performance of the door assembly. Also, the door deco can firmly be fixed to the outer frame without the space environment where the washing machine is arranged.

Description

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2005-0057822, filed on Jun. 30, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a door assembly of a washing machine, which opens and closes an inlet of the laundry.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a washer executing washing and dehydrating strokes, a drier executing a drying stroke, and a washer with a drying function executing washing and drying strokes are generally designated as a washing machine. Examples of the washing machine include a drum washing machine and a pulsator type washing machine.
The drum washing machine is to remove contaminants of the laundry using a frictional force generated between the laundry and washing water. To this end, the drum washing machine is constructed to supply the washing water and detergents contained in a detergent box into a drum after throwing the laundry into the drum, rotate the drum axially fixed to a motor in forward and reverse directions depending on a rotational force of the motor to lift up the laundry, and drop the laundry due to self-load of the laundry to generate the frictional force.
Consumer demand of the drum washing machine is on an increasing trend owing to its advantages of little entanglement of laundries and excellent washing function.
Hereinafter, a related art drum washing machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the related art drum washing machine 1 includes a main body 2 provided with an inlet formed on a front surface, a drum (not shown) rotatably provided inside the main body 2, and a door 3 rotatably provided on the front surface of the main body 2 to open and close the inlet.
Although not shown, the main body 1 includes a tub and a motor therein. The tub surrounds the drum and receives washing water therein, and the motor is provided on a rear surface of the tub to rotate the drum.
Meanwhile, FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the door 3. The door 3 includes a ring shaped outer frame 31 positioned at the outside of the door 3, a door deco 32 of a stainless material adhered to a front surface of the outer frame 31 through an adhesive means such as a double-sided tape, a door cover 33 provided on a rear surface of the outer frame 31, a door glass 34 closely adhered to a rear surface of the door cover 33, and an inner frame 35 supporting the door cover 33 and the door glass 34 to prevent them from being detached from the outer frame 31.
However, the related art drum washing machine has several problems.
First, if the door deco 32 is adhered to the outer frame 31 using a double-sided tape or an adhesive, adhesive strength may be deteriorated depending on the condition of the external environment, whereby the door deco 32 may be detached from the outer frame 31.
Particularly, when considering an arrangement place of the drum washing machine 1, the drum washing machine 1 is generally arranged in a bathroom or a veranda provided with a drain outlet. Since such a place is humid, adhesive strength of the double-sided tape or the adhesive becomes weak as time passes. For this reason, the door deco 32 may be detached from the outer frame 31.
In addition, the number of process steps increases due to the process step of adhering the double-sided tape to the outer frame 31 or the door deco 32. If something is wrong with such adhesion, an inconvenient process step of newly adhering a new double-sided tape to the outer frame or the door deco may repeatedly be required. This could lead to deterioration of productivity.
Finally, since the door deco 32 is made of a stainless material, the production cost is expensive, whereby the cost of the finished product increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine provided with a door assembly, in which a door deco can firmly be fixed to an outer frame during a door assembly process and process steps can be reduced to enhance productivity.
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. 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.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, in a washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, the door assembly comprises an outer frame, a door deco connected with one surface of the outer frame, and a fitting portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to and from the outer frame.
Preferably, the outer frame is connected with an inner frame on its other surface, and the fitting portion simultaneously connects the inner frame, the outer frame and the door deco with one another through a screw.
Preferably, the fitting portion includes a fitting boss formed in the door deco, having a through hole, an insertion boss formed in the outer frame, into which the fitting boss is inserted, and a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss.
Preferably, the inner frame includes a fitting hole at a corner, the fitting portion includes a fitting boss formed in the door deco, having a through hole, an insertion boss formed in the outer frame, into which the fitting boss is inserted, and a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss by passing through the fitting hole of the inner frame.
Preferably, the outer frame further includes a through hole corresponding to the fitting hole, and the fitting portion includes a fitting boss formed in the door deco, passing though the through hole, and a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss by passing through the fitting hole formed in the inner frame.
Also, the door deco further includes a hook, and the outer frame further includes a hook hole into which the hook is fitted.
In another aspect of the present invention, in a washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, wherein the door assembly comprises an outer frame provided with a hook hole, a door deco provided with a hook inserted into the hook hole of the outer frame, and an inner frame fixed to the outer frame by a screw.
In other aspect of the present invention, a door assembly of a washing machine comprises an outer frame, a door deco connected with one side of the outer frame, and a fitting portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to and from the outer frame.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

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 application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a related art drum washing machine;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door assembly provided in a related art drum washing machine;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a door assembly provided in a related art drum washing machine;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door assembly provided in a drum washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a door assembly provided in a drum washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a hook fitting structure of a door assembly of a drum washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a door assembly of a drum washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
A door assembly of a drum washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 4, a door assembly 40 includes a ring shaped outer frame 41 rotatably arranged at the front of a drum washing machine 1 (see FIG. 1) and provided with a plurality of insertion bosses 411, a door deco 42 provided with a plurality of fitting bosses 421 inserted into the insertion bosses 411 to be fixed to a front surface of the outer frame 41, a door cover 43 covering a central hole 412 of the outer frame 41 fixed to the door deco 42 from a rear surface of the outer frame 41, a door glass 44 closely adhered to a corner of the door cover 43, and an inner frame 45 fixed to the outer frame 41 at the rear of the door glass 44 so as not to avoid detachment of the door glass 44.
Preferably, the corner of the door deco 42 is provided with a plurality of hooks 422, and the outer frame 41 is provided with hook holes 413 so that the hooks 422 can be hooked in the hook holes 413.
Meanwhile, each of the insertion bosses 411 of the outer frame 41 includes a guide 411 a guiding the fitting bosses 421 formed in the door deco 42, and a through hole 411 b formed at the end of the guide 411 a.
Furthermore, the door deco 42 is preferably made of a synthetic resin material, and the fitting bosses 421 are formed on the rear surface of the outer frame 41 to correspond to the insertion bosses 411 of the outer frame 41.
Furthermore, the door cover 43 is preferably made of a transparent material to check an inner state of a drier.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the door glass 44 is provided with a flange 44 along its outer circumference and has a recessed vessel shape. In the same manner as the door cover 43, the door glass 44 is preferably made of a transparent material to check the inner state of the drier.
At this time, door glass 44 is more preferably made of a transparent glass to endure a high temperature inside the drier.
The inner frame 45 has a ring shape corresponding to the rear surface of the outer frame 41, and is provided with a fitting hole 451 at the corner, wherein the fitting hole 451 is formed so that the fitting boss 421 of the door deco 42 corresponds to the through hole 411 b of the outer frame 41.
Meanwhile, a gasket 46 is preferably interposed between the door glass 44 and the inner frame 45 to enhance adhesive strength.
The assembly process of the aforementioned door assembly 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
First, the fitting bosses 421 of the door deco 42 are inserted into the insertion bosses 411 of the outer frame 41. At this time, the door deco 42 is provisionally fitted into the outer frame 41 as a hook 322 formed in the door deco 42 is fitted into a hook hole 413 of the outer frame 41.
At this time, a screw hole 421 a of each fitting boss 421 is coincident with the through hole 411 b of each insertion boss 411. Afterwards, a worker can conveniently connect the outer frame 41 with the inner frame 45, wherein the door deco 42 is fixed to the outer frame 41.
The structure that the hook 422 of the door deco 42 is hooked in the hook hole 413 of the outer frame 41 can be used for the provisional assembly of the door deco 42 and the outer frame 41, and also can be used as a single coupling structure excluding a screw coupling structure.
Meanwhile, the door cover 43 covers the central hole 412 from the rear surface of the outer frame 41, wherein the central hole 412 is formed at the center of the outer frame 41.
Also, the flange 44 a of the door glass 44 is closely adhered to the corner of the door cover 43.
The gasket 46 is fitted along the corner of the flange 44 a, and the inner frame 45 matches the fitting hole 451 with the through hole 411 b of the outer frame 41 while closely adhering the gasket 46 to the flange 44 a.
Next, the fitting hole 451 of the inner frame 45 matches with the through hole 411 b of the outer frame 41 and the fitting boss 421 of the door deco 42. The fitting hole 451 is assembled by a screw so that the assembly process of the door assembly 40 is completed.
While the screw coupling structure of the door deco 42, the outer frame 41 and the inner frame 45 has been described, the assembly process of the door assembly 40 may be completed even though the door deco 42 is fixed to the inner frame 45. The coupling structure of the door deco 42 and the inner frame 45 is suggested as the second embodiment of the present invention and will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
In the door assembly 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the outer frame 41 is provided with a plurality of through holes 41 a, and the door deco 42 is provided with a plurality of fitting bosses 421 inserted through the through holes 41 a. Also, the inner frame 45 is provided with a plurality of fitting holes 451 corresponding to the fitting bosses 421.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, the fitting bosses 421 of the door deco 42 match with the fitting holes 451 of the inner frame 45 by passing through the through holes 411 b formed in the outer frame 41. In this structure, the outer frame 41 does not provide a separate coupling structure but is interposed between the door deco 42 and the inner frame 45.
The aforementioned coupling structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention simplifies the assembly process of the door assembly 40 to improve assembly performance.
As described above, the washing machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.
Since the door deco is fixed to the outer frame by the screw and/or the hook, the number of the process steps of the door assembly is reduced, and the washing machine can be arranged without limitation according to the space environment.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, wherein the door assembly comprises:

an outer frame;

a door deco connected with one surface of the outer frame; and

a fitting portion selectively fixing and detaching the door deco to and from the outer frame.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer frame is further connected with an inner frame on its other surface, and the fitting portion simultaneously connects the inner frame, the outer frame and the door deco with one another through a screw.

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fitting portion includes:

a fitting boss formed in the door deco, having a through hole;

an insertion boss formed in the outer frame, into which the fitting boss is inserted; and

a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss.

4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner frame includes a fitting hole at a corner.

5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fitting portion includes:

a fitting boss formed in the door deco, having a through hole;

a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss by passing through the fitting hole of the inner frame.

6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer frame further includes a through hole corresponding to the fitting hole.

7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fitting portion includes:

a fitting boss formed in the door deco, passing though the through hole; and

a screw inserted into the through hole of the fitting boss by passing through the fitting hole formed in the inner frame.

8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door deco further includes a hook, and the outer frame further includes a hook hole into which the hook is fitted.

9. A washing machine comprising a drum, a cabinet protecting the drum, an inlet formed on a front surface of the cabinet to throw the laundry in and out, and a door assembly provided on a front surface of the cabinet to open and close the inlet, wherein the door assembly comprises:

an outer frame provided with a hook hole;

a door deco provided with a hook inserted into the hook hole of the outer frame; and

an inner frame fixed to the outer frame by a screw.

10. A door assembly of a washing machine, comprising:

an outer frame;

a door deco connected with one side of the outer frame; and