Patent Publication Number: US-7712338-B2

Title: Electric washing machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electric washing machine such as a drum-type washing machine. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There have been conventionally known electric washing machines which are configured to supply ozone into a laundry containing tub which contains laundry and clean the laundry in the laundry containing tub with the use of the supplied ozone (see, for example, JP-A1-2005-334636). 
     A drum-type washing machine disclosed in JP-A1-2005-334636 includes a tub (laundry containing tub), an odor sensor which detects the odor of air in the tub, a fragrance supplying device which generates fragrance, and an ozone generating device which generates ozone. In the drum-type washing machine, a laundry deodorizing process is performed independently of a washing process by supplying ozone to the laundry when the odor sensor detects the air odor in the tub, i.e., unpleasant odor of the laundry. Unless the odor sensor detects the air odor in the tub, it is judged that the laundry has no unpleasant odor, and a fragrance imparting process is performed on the laundry by supplying the fragrance to the laundry. 
     In the drum-type washing machine disclosed in JP-A1-2005-334636, it is necessary to sufficiently prevent the ozone, the fragrance and other gases from leaking to the outside. Particularly, if an opening of the tub through which the laundry is loaded and unloaded is closed by a door with the laundry protruding out of the tub through the opening, the protruding laundry is caught between the peripheral edge of the opening and the door to form a gap between the peripheral edge of the opening and the door. Therefore, the gases are liable to leak to the outside. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric washing machine which is configured so that a gas to be used for performing a specific process (decontamination process) on laundry is prevented from leaking to the outside. 
     An electric washing machine according to the present invention comprises: a housing; a cover member defining a front wall of the housing and having an access opening through which laundry is loaded and unloaded into and out of the housing; a laundry containing tub disposed in the housing and having a tub opening provided in association with the access opening so that the laundry is loaded therein through the access opening and the tub opening to be contained therein; a door which opens and closes the access opening and the tub opening; and a packing which covers a peripheral edge of the tub opening and is brought into intimate contact with the door for sealing a gap defined between the door and the peripheral edge of the tub opening when the door is closed, the packing being opposed to the access opening with a space defined between a lower edge portion of the access opening and the packing. 
     The cover member may have a plurality of ribs provided adjacent the lower edge portion of the access opening thereof as extending downward and arranged at intervals smaller than the size of a coin along the space defined between the lower edge portion of the access opening and the packing. 
     The door may have a guide wall extending toward the space. 
     The electric washing machine may further comprise an inclined wall disposed below the space and inclined forwardly downward to be connected to the cover member. 
     The packing may have a shutter portion which covers the space when the door is opened, and uncovers the space when the door is closed. 
     The cover member may have a first engagement portion provided adjacent the lower edge portion of the access opening, and the door may have a second engagement portion to be engaged with the first engagement portion when the door is closed. 
     According to the present invention, the cover member defining the front wall of the housing of the electric washing machine has the access opening through which the laundry is loaded and unloaded into and out of the housing. The laundry containing tub provided in the housing has the tub opening in association with the access opening of the cover member. The laundry can be loaded into the laundry containing tub from the front side of the electric washing machine through the access opening and the tub opening. Further, the access opening and the tub opening are opened and closed by the door. 
     The electric washing machine includes the packing which covers the peripheral edge of the tub opening of the laundry containing tub and is brought into intimate contact with the door to seal the gap defined between the door and the peripheral edge of the tub opening when the door is closed. This ensures the gas-tightness of the laundry containing tub around the tub opening when the door is closed. 
     The lower edge portion of the access opening of the cover member is a portion through which the laundry is most liable to protrude out of the laundry containing tub. If the door is closed with the laundry protruding out of the laundry containing tub, the protruding laundry is caught between the door and the packing. Therefore, a part of the packing is not brought into intimate contact with the door around the lower edge portion of the access opening. If a gas to be used for performing a specific process (decontamination process) on the laundry is supplied into the laundry containing tub, the gas flows toward the access opening of the cover member through a gap between the door and the packing at which the laundry is caught. Since the packing is opposed to the access opening with the space defined between the packing and the lower edge portion of the access opening, the gas flowing toward the access opening of the cover member flows into the space to be thereby retained in the housing. That is, the gas is prevented from reaching the access opening to leak through the access opening to the outside. 
     Where a greater proportion of the laundry protrudes through the access opening of the cover member, for example, it is impossible to close the door. In such a case, a user eliminates the protrusion of the laundry to prevent the laundry from being caught between the door and the packing. Further, a sensor for detecting an opening/closing state of the door, for example, may be provided. In this case, when a door unclosed state is detected by the sensor, the user is notified of the door unclosed state, and the operation of the laundry washing machine is interrupted until the protrusion of the laundry is eliminated. 
     Where a smaller proportion of the laundry protrudes such as to permit the door to be closed or such as not to be detected by the sensor, however, it is difficult for the user to recognize the protrusion of the laundry. In the present invention, even if the laundry is inevitably caught between the door and the packing, it is possible to prevent the leak of the gas which may otherwise occur due to the caught laundry. 
     Since the cover member has the plurality of ribs provided adjacent the lower edge portion of the access opening thereof as extending downward and arranged at intervals smaller than the size of a coin along the space defined between the lower edge portion of the access opening and the packing, small articles such as a coin are prevented from dropping into the inner side of the housing through the space. 
     Further, the door has the guide wall extending toward the space defined between the packing and the lower edge portion of the access opening of the cover member. With this arrangement, even if the gas flows toward the access opening from the laundry containing tub when the laundry protruding through the lower edge portion of the access opening is caught between the closed door and the packing as described above, the gas is guided by the guide wall to smoothly flow toward the space. This reliably prevents the gas from reaching the access opening to leak through the access opening to the outside. 
     The inclined wall is disposed below the space between the packing and the lower edge portion of the access opening of the cover member as being inclined forwardly downward to be connected to the cover member. If foreign matter intrudes into the space, the foreign matter is liable to drop into the housing through the space. If the foreign matter is water, an electrical component such as a board located below the space would be splashed with the water to suffer from malfunction without the provision of the inclined wall. With the provision of the inclined wall below the space, however, the water intruding into the space is guided forwardly downward along the inclined wall. This prevents the component located below the space in the housing from being splashed with the water. Of course, foreign matter other than the water is also prevented from hitting against the component located below the space to damage the component. Since a trapping recess is defined by the cover member and the inclined wall which is inclined forwardly downward to be connected to the cover member, the foreign matter intruding into the space is trapped by the trapping recess. Therefore, the foreign matter trapped by the trapping recess can be removed by detaching the cover member from the housing. 
     The packing has the shutter portion which covers the space between the packing and the lower edge portion of the access opening of the cover member when the door is opened, and uncovers the space when the door is closed. With this arrangement, the space is covered with the shutter portion when the door is opened, so that the appearance of the periphery of the access opening is improved. Further, the space is uncovered with the shutter portion when the door is closed, so that the gas is caused to flow into the space. Therefore, the gas is prevented from leaking to the outside. 
     The cover member has the first engagement portion provided adjacent the lower edge portion of the access opening, and the door has a second engagement portion to be engaged with the first engagement portion when the door is closed. When the laundry protrudes out of the laundry containing tub to the lower edge portion of the access opening, the protruding laundry is located between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. Therefore, the second engagement portion cannot be completely engaged with the first engagement portion, making it impossible to close the door. This causes the user to recognize the protrusion of the laundry, and prompts the user to eliminate the protrusion. Thus, the laundry is prevented from being caught between the door and the cover member. Therefore, the gas is prevented from leaking to the outside. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an electric washing machine  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the electric washing machine  10  as seen from the right side with a door  12  being closed. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the electric washing machine  10  as seen from the right side with the door  12  being opened. 
         FIG. 4  is a decontamination circulation pipeline diagram illustrating a circulation water passage through which water is circulated in the electric washing machine  10  described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , and an ozone supply passage through which ozone-containing air is supplied. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a frame  103  of the door  12 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a front frame  141 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a cover  101 . 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of major portions provided in a front portion of a housing  11  as seen from the right side with the door  12  being opened. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram corresponding to  FIG. 8  with the door  12  being closed. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view seen in an arrow direction A-A in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating Modification 1 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating Modification 1 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating Modification 2 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating Modification 2 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Overall Construction of Electric Washing Machine 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an electric washing machine  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Reference will be made to directional arrows shown in  FIG. 1  for directional notation (this holds true for the other figures). Here, the front side is equivalent to the forward side, and the rear side is equivalent to the rearward side. 
     The electric washing machine  10  includes a housing  11  which defines an outer shell of the electric washing machine  10  and has a vertically elongated and generally rectangular shape as seen from the front side. A washing tub (to be described later) is disposed in an upper portion of the housing  11 , and a water storage tank (to be described later) is disposed in a lower portion of the housing  11 . 
     The housing  11  has a housing opening  14  provided as an access opening in an upper front face portion thereof. A door  12  is provided on the housing opening  14  for opening and closing the housing opening  14  and an outer tub opening  118  (to be described later). Laundry is loaded and unloaded into and out of the housing  11  through the housing opening  14 . The door  12  has a major face formed of a transparent reinforced glass, for example, so that the laundry in the washing tub in the housing  11  can be observed through the door  12 . 
     An operation/display portion  13  is disposed above the door  12  on the upper front face portion of the housing  11 . A plurality of operation keys and a display device are arranged on the operation/display portion  13 . Various information on processes to be performed by the electric washing machine  10  is displayed on the display device. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the electric washing machine  10  as seen from the right side with the door  12  being closed.  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the electric washing machine  10  as seen from the right side with the door  12  being opened. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a washing tub  20  capable of containing the laundry is provided in the housing  11  of the electric washing machine  10 . The washing tub  20  includes an outer tub  21  and a cylindrical drum  24  provided in the outer tub  21 . A DD motor  22  is attached to a rear face of the outer tub  21 . The drum  24  is rotated in the outer tub  21  by the DD motor  22 . The electric washing machine  10  has a so-called tilted drum structure in which the drum  24  has a rotation shaft tilted forwardly upward with respect to a horizontal axis. The outer tub  21  is attached to a bottom of the housing  11  by a plurality of dampers (not shown). 
     A water supply unit  25  is provided on an upper left side of the outer tub  21 . The water supply unit  25  is a unit through which water is supplied into the outer tub  21  for a washing process and a rinsing process. A detergent container  47  (see  FIG. 4 ) is provided in the unit  25 . The supplied water flows into the detergent container  47 , and supplied together with a detergent or without the detergent. 
     The electric washing machine  10  can use bath water for the washing process and the rinsing process. For this purpose, a bath water pump  26  (see  FIG. 4 ) is provided adjacent the water supply unit  25  on a right side of the water supply unit  25  for pumping up the bath water. 
     In addition to the washing process and the rinsing process, a drying process is performed in the washing tub  20 . For this purpose, a drying air duct  28  (see  FIG. 4 ) is connected to a right rear portion of the outer tub  21 . While humid air flowing out of the outer tub  21 , for example, from a rear lower portion of the outer tub  21  is guided upward through the drying air duct  28 , the air is dehumidified. A blower unit  29  is connected to an upper portion of the drying air duct  28  through a connection hose  60  (see  FIG. 4 ). The air guided through the drying air duct  28  and dehumidified in the drying air duct  28  is fed into the outer tub  21  by the blower unit  29 . A heater (not shown) for heating the air to be fed into the outer tub  21  is provided in the blower unit  29 . 
     The electric washing machine  10  further includes an ozone generating unit  30  (see  FIG. 4 ) provided adjacent the blower unit  29 . As will be described later, the ozone generating unit  30  functions as water decontamination means, and also serves for sterilization and deodorization of laundry being dried and for sterilization and deodorization of the laundry contained in the washing tub  20  by generating ozone in the drying process and an air-washing process. The air-washing process is herein defined as a process which is performed independently of the washing process and the drying process to kill bacteria adhering to the laundry and deodorize the laundry by applying ozone-containing air to the laundry contained in the drum  24 . The applicant of the present invention refers to the decontamination (sterilization and deodorization) of the laundry with ozone as “air-washing” because the laundry is sterilized and deodorized with ozone-containing air as if the laundry were washed with the air in the air-washing process. 
     The electric washing machine  10  includes a water storage tank  40  provided below the washing tub  20 . The water storage tank  40  serves to store water drained from the outer tub  21  and bath water pumped up by the bath water pump  26  (see  FIG. 4 ). A circulation pump  41  for pumping up water from the water storage tank  40  is provided adjacent the water storage tank  40 . 
     The electric washing machine  10  includes a multiplicity of hoses for transferring water and ozone-containing air between the outer tub  21 , the water supply unit  25 , the drying air duct  28  (see  FIG. 4 ), the water storage tank  40  and the like. 
       FIG. 4  is a decontamination circulation pipeline diagram illustrating a circulation water passage through which water is circulated in the electric washing machine  10  described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , and an ozone supply passage through which ozone-containing air is supplied. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , tap water supplied from a water faucet  43  is supplied into the washing tub  20  through the water supply unit  25  and a connection hose  45  by controlling the opening and closing of a water supply valve  44 . At this time, the water supply valve  44  is switched to cause the tap water to flow into the detergent container  47  provided in the water supply unit  25  through a first flow passage  46  or to flow into a softener container  49  provided in the water supply unit  25  through a second flow passage  48 . 
     The water contained in the washing tub  20  (the outer tub  21 ) is drained by controlling the opening and closing of a drain valve  51  provided in a drain pipe  50 . A filter unit  53  is connected to the drain valve  51  through an intermediate hose  52 . The filter unit  53  traps lint and other foreign matter contained in the water drained from the outer tub  21 . The water entering the filter unit  53  passes through a drain pipe  54  and a valve  83  to be drained out of the housing  11  through a drain hose  55 . Outside the housing  11 , the water is drained, for example, to a drain trap  57  through an external drain hose  56 . 
     When the electric washing machine  10  performs the washing process or the rinsing process by using the tap water without exercising a water saving function, the water is supplied in the aforesaid manner. 
     In the drying process, a blower (not shown) of the blower unit  29  is actuated to cause the air to flow out of the washing tub  20  into the drying air duct  28  and then through the connection hose  60 . Then, the air is heated in the blower unit  29 , and fed back into the washing tub  20  through a connection hose  61 . Hot and humid air flowing out of the washing tub  20  is dehumidified in the drying air duct  28  by heat exchange. For the dehumidification, the opening and closing of the water supply valve  44  is controlled to cause the tap water supplied from the water faucet  43  to flow into the drying air duct  28  through a water supply hose  62 . 
     When the ozone generating unit  30  is actuated with the blower unit  29  being active, ozone generated by the ozone generating unit  30  is introduced into the blower unit  29  through an air hose  64  by a negative pressure generated by the blower unit  29 . The introduced ozone is supplied into the washing tub  20  through the connection hose  61  for the sterilization and deodorization of the laundry contained in the drum  24 . 
     When the electric washing machine  10  performs the drying process without exercising the water saving function, the water and the air are supplied in the aforesaid manner. 
     As described above, the electric washing machine  10  according to this embodiment can perform the washing process and the rinsing process by using the bath water. For this purpose, the bath water pump  26  is provided. A bath water hose  67  through which the bath water is pumped up from a bath tub  66  is connectable to the bath water pump  26 . The bath water pump  26  is a self-priming pump, and a priming water passage  70  for supplying priming water is connected to the bath water pump  26 . When the tap water supplied from the water faucet  43  is supplied into the water supply unit  25  by controlling the opening and closing of the water supply valve  44 , a part of the tap water is supplied into the bath water pump  26  through the priming water passage  70 . The supplied priming water causes the bath water pump  26  to pump up the bath water. The bath water pumped up through the bath water hose  67  flows through a water supply hose  71  connected to an outlet of the bath water pump  26  and further through a circulation valve  72 , an ejector  73  and a connection hose  74 , and is stored in the water storage tank  40 . 
     If the ozone generating unit  30  is energized when the bath water passes through the ejector  73 , the ozone generated by the ozone generating unit  30  is supplied to the ejector  73  through an air hose  75 . The ozone is introduced into the ejector  73  from the air hose  75  by a negative pressure generated by the flow of the bath water, and mixed with the bath water. Thus, the bath water to be stored in the water storage tank  40  is mixed with the ozone to be subjected to a primary decontamination process during the supply thereof to the water storage tank  40 . The primary decontamination process is performed when the bath water flows into the water storage tank  40 . 
     The water storage tank  40  is connected to one end of a connection hose  77  through which the bath water stored in the water storage tank  40  is pumped up. The other end of the connection hose  77  is connected to a suction port of the circulation pump  41 . The circulation pump  41  is also a self-priming pump, and priming water is supplied to the circulation pump  41  through a water supply hose  78 . When the tap water supplied from the water faucet  43  is supplied to the water supply unit  25  by controlling the opening and closing of the supply valve  44 , a part of the tap water is supplied to the bath water pump  26  through the priming water passage  70  as described above. At the same time, the tap water is supplied to the circulation pump  41  through the water supply hose  78 . 
     The circulation valve  72  is connected to an outlet of the circulation pump  41 . The circulation valve  72  is a five-way valve. The connection hose  74  is connected to a first outlet of the circulation valve  72  through the ejector  73 , so that the water pumped up from the water storage tank  40  through the connection hose  77  can be circulated. By pumping up the water from the water storage tank  40  and circulating the water through the ejector  73 , the water is mixed with the ozone generated by the ozone generating unit  30  when passing through the ejector  73 . Thus, the bath water stored in the water storage tank  40  is subjected to a secondary decontamination process by using the ozone. The second decontamination process is performed by circulating the bath water stored in the water storage tank  40 . 
     A water supply hose  80  is connected to a second outlet of the circulation valve  72 . Thus, the water stored in the water storage tank  40  is supplied into the water supply unit  25  through the water supply hose  80 , and further supplied into the washing tub  20  from the water supply unit  25  through the connection hose  45 . 
     A connection hose  81  is connected to a third outlet of the circulation valve  72  at one end thereof, and the other end of the connection hose  81  opens in a chamber (not shown) in the drying air duct  28 . Thus, the water discharged from the circulation pump  41  is cause to fall into the drying air duct  28  from the chamber to be used for the heat exchange in the water storage tank  40  [in the drying air duct  28 ]. A part of the water not used for the heat exchange flows back into the water storage tank  40  from the chamber through a connection hose  63 . 
     A connection hose  82  is connected to a fourth outlet of the circulation valve  72  at one end thereof, and the other end of the connection hose  82  is connected to the drain pipe  54  through the valve  83 . Thus, the water in the water storage tank  40  is drained to the outside through the drain hose  55  by switching the circulation valve  72  and controlling the opening and closing of the valve  83 . 
     The electric washing machine  10  is adapted not only to store the bath water in the water storage tank  40  and decontaminate the bath water but also to store the water drained from the washing tub  20  after having been used for the washing process and the rinsing process. For this purpose, the filter unit  53  has an outlet connected to one end of an intermediate hose  85  in addition to an outlet connected to the drain pipe  54 . The other end of the intermediate hose  85  communicates with the water storage tank  40  through a valve  86 . Therefore, the water drained from the outer tub  21  is allowed to flow through the drain pipe  50 , the drain valve  51 , the intermediate hose  52 , the filter unit  53 , the intermediate hose  85  and the valve  86  to be stored in the water storage tank  40  by controlling the switching of the valve  83  and the valve  86 . 
     The used water stored in the water storage tank  40  may also be circulated through a circulation passage including the connection hose  77 , the circulation pump  41 , the circulation valve  72 , the ejector  73  and the connection hose  74  so as to be decontaminated with the use of the ozone. 
     An overflow hose  88  is connected to the outer tub  21  at one end thereof, and the other end of the overflow hose  88  is connected to one end of an overflow hose  89 . The other end of the overflow hose  89  is connected to the valve  83 . When the water contained in the outer tub  21  reaches a predetermined water level to overflow, the overflowing water is drained through the overflow hoses  88  and  89 . At this time, the internal pressure of the outer tub  21  should be equal to the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, a connection portion between the overflow hoses  88  and  89  is connected to an inlet of the filter unit  53  through an air hose  90 , so that the internal pressure of the outer tub  21  is equal to the atmospheric pressure. 
     An overflow hose  91  is provided for the water storage tank  40 . The overflow hose  91  is connected to the drain hose  55  through the valve  83 . 
     For detection of the water level in the washing tub  20 , an air trap hose  92  is connected to the drain pipe  50  at its lower end, and a water level sensor  93  is provided at an upper end of the air trap hose  92 . The water level in the washing tub  20  can be checked by the water level sensor  93 . 
     An air trap hose  94  and a water level sensor  95  are provided for the water storage tank  40 , so that the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank  40  can be detected. 
     The water storage tank  40  is provided with a manually openable drain hose  96 , so that a maintenance operation can be performed on the water storage tank  40  after all the water is drained from the water storage tank  40 . 
     The electric washing machine  10  further includes a water supply hose  98  which connects the water supply valve  44  to the outer tub  21 . The tap water supplied from the water faucet  43  can be directly supplied into the washing tub  20  through the water supply hose  98  by controlling the switching and the opening and closing of the water supply valve  44 . The tap water supplied into the washing tub  20  is applied in a shower form to the laundry contained in the drum  24 . That is, a so-called shower rinsing process can be performed by supplying the tap water into the washing tub  20  through the water supply hose  98 . 
     Characteristic components of the electric washing machine  10  will hereinafter be described. 
     Door and Cover Member 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a frame  103  of the door  12 .  FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a front frame  141 .  FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a cover  101 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , a front portion of the housing  11  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the door  12  includes a glass portion  102  composed of the aforesaid reinforced glass (see  FIG. 2 ) and a frame  103  supporting the glass portion  102 . The glass portion  102  has a generally truncated cone shape which is gradually tapered rearward with the door  12  being closed (see  FIG. 2 ). The glass portion  102  will be described in detail later. The frame  103  has a rectangular shape having round corners as seen from the front side (see  FIG. 1 ). The frame  103  has a recess  104  provided in a center portion of a rear face thereof as being indented forward and having a round shape as seen from the rear side. The glass portion  102  (see  FIG. 2 ) is attached to the frame  103  with its front edge fitted in the recess  104 . The frame  103  has two door hinge attachment portions  105  provided in vertically spaced relation in a left edge portion of the rear surface thereof, and an engagement portion  106  provided at a generally vertically middle position in a right edge portion of the rear surface thereof. The door hinge attachment portions  105  and the engagement portion  106  will be described in detail later. A plurality of door projections  107  are provided on a rear surface portion of the frame  103  adjacent to a lower peripheral edge portion of the recess  104  as being arranged equidistantly along the lower peripheral edge portion of the recess  104 . The door projections  107  are located slightly below the lower peripheral edge portion of the recess  104  as vertically extending and projecting rearward. With the provision of these door projections  107 , recesses (door recesses  134 ) are defined between adjacent door projections  107 . The door projections  107  and the door recesses  134  serve as a second engagement portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the front wall of the housing  11  is divided at a generally vertically middle position into two front wall portions, which are independently detachable from the housing  11 . An upper half front wall portion of the housing  11  is herein referred to as a cover member  142 . The cover member  142  includes the front frame  141  serving as a skeletal structure (see  FIG. 6 ), and a decorative face member  143  covering the front frame  141  from the front side. The front frame  141  has an elongated rectangular frame shape as seen from the front side, and integrally includes an inclined wall  131  provided at a generally laterally intermediate position on the lowermost frame portion thereof as extending obliquely upwardly rearward (see  FIG. 6 ). The inclined wall  131  will be described in detail later. 
     The decorative face member  143  is vertically divided into an upper portion in which the operation/display portion  13  is located and a lower portion below the operation/display portion  13 . The upper and lower portions of the decorative face member  143  are detachable from the front frame  141  (see  FIG. 6 ). The lower portion of the decorative face member  143  below the operation/display portion  13  is herein referred to as a cover  101 . With the cover  101  attached to the front frame  141 , a rear surface of the cover  101  is exposed rearward from the front frame  141 . 
     Alternatively, the cover member  142  may include the front frame  141  and the decorative face member  143  as a unitary member. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the cover  101  is a vertically elongated rectangular thin plate of a resin as seen from the front side, and is slightly inclined upwardly rearward. The cover  101  includes a door placement portion  108  provided in an upwardly offset position thereof. The door placement portion  108  has a generally rectangular shape which is conformal to the contour of the frame  103  (see  FIG. 5 ) as seen from the front side, and is recessed rearward. The aforementioned housing opening  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) is provided in a generally center portion of the innermost portion  109  of the door attachment portion  108  as seen from the front side. More specifically, the housing opening  14  is of a round shape as seen from the front side, and extends anteroposteriorly through the cover  101 . The cover  101  has two cover hinge through-holes  110  provided in vertically spaced relation along a left edge of the innermost portion  109  thereof as extending therethrough, and an engagement portion  111  provided at a generally vertically middle position in a right edge portion of the innermost portion  109  thereof on a front surface of the innermost portion  109  thereof. The cover hinge through-holes  110  and the engagement portion  111  will be described in detail later. A plurality of cover projections  112  are provided on a front surface portion of the innermost portion  109  adjacent to a lower peripheral edge portion of the housing opening  14  as being arranged equidistantly along the lower peripheral edge portion of the housing opening  14 . The cover projections  112  are located slightly below the lower peripheral edge portion of the housing opening  14  as vertically extending and projecting forward. With the provision of these cover projections  112 , recesses (cover recesses  113 ) are defined between adjacent cover projections  112 . A rear face structure of the cover  101  will be described in detail later. The cover projections  112  and the cover recesses  113  serve as a first engagement portion. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of major portions provided in a front portion of the housing  11  as seen from the right side with the door  12  being opened. In  FIG. 8 , the door projections  107 , the door recesses  134 , the cover projections  112  and the cover recesses  113  are not shown for convenience of explanation.  FIG. 9  is a diagram corresponding to  FIG. 8  with the door  12  being closed.  FIG. 10  is a sectional view seen in an arrow direction A-A in  FIG. 9 . In  FIG. 10 , the door projections  107 , the door recesses  134 , the cover projections  112  and the cover recesses  113  not shown in  FIG. 8 and 9  are shown. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , one edge portion of a hinge  114  is attached to a lower one of the door hinge attachment portions  105  of the frame  103  of the door  12 . The other edge portion of the hinge  114  extends through a lower one of the cover hinge through-holes  110  of the innermost portion  109  of the cover  101 . Though not shown, the other edge portion of the hinge  114  is attached to a packing support portion  121  to be described later. The packing support portion  121  is a metal plate which extends between transversely opposite side walls of the housing  11  to impart the front portion of the housing  11  with sufficient rigidity. Thus, the lower door hinge attachment portion  105  is connected to the packing support portion  121  via the hinge  114 . Similarly, the upper door hinge attachment portion  105  of the flame  103  (see  FIG. 5 ) is connected to the packing support portion  121  via another hinge  114 . Thus, the door  12  is supported pivotally about axes of the hinges  114  by the packing support portion  121 , so that the door  12  can be opened and closed as described above. 
     Packing 
     Other components of the washing machine  20  will hereinafter be described and, particularly, a packing  120  will be described in detail. 
     The drum  24  includes a front edge portion (drum projection portion)  115  having a reduced diameter and projecting forward, and the drum projection portion  115  has a round opening (inner tub opening)  116  as seen from the front side. An annular balance box  136  is attached to the periphery of the drum projection portion  115 . The balance box  136  is composed of, for example, a resin, and serves to prevent eccentric rotation of the drum  24 . 
     Like the drum  24 , the outer tub  21  includes a front edge portion (outer tub projection portion)  117  having a reduced diameter and projecting forward, and the outer tub projection portion  117  has a round outer tub opening  118  as seen from the front side. The outer tub opening  118  is located in association with the housing opening  14 . More specifically, the outer tub opening  118  is opposed to the housing opening  14  from the rear side. The inner tub opening  116  is located on a radially inner side of the outer tub opening  118 . In the electric washing machine  10 , the laundry is loaded into the drum  24  through the housing opening  14 , the outer tub opening  118  and the inner tub opening  116  from the front side. 
     An attachment groove  119  is provided in a front edge portion of an outer peripheral surface of the outer tub projection portion  117  as extending continuously circumferentially thereof and recessed toward the center of the round outer tub opening  118 . A packing  120  is attached to the outer tub projection portion  117 . 
     The packing  120  is composed of, for example, a rubber, and covers a peripheral edge of the outer tub opening  118 . The packing  120  includes a tubular tube portion  137  having substantially the same diameter as the inner tub opening  116 . A first projection  122 , a second projection  123  and a third projection  124  are integrally provided in this order from the rear side to the front side on an outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  137 . 
     The first projection  122  is continuous circumferentially along the entire outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  137 , and meanders radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  137  and projects rearward. A distal edge of the first projection  122  is fitted in the attachment groove  119  of the outer tub projection portion  117 . 
     The second projection  123  is continuous circumferentially along the entire outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  137 , and extends straight radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  137 . 
     The third projection  124  is continuous circumferentially along the entire front peripheral edge of the tube portion  137 , and includes an inner projection portion  125  and an outer projection portion  126 . The inner projection portion  125  is slightly inclined rearward and radially inward of the tube portion  137  from a front edge of the tube portion  137  and slightly bent rearward. The outer projection portion  126  slightly extends radially outward of the tube portion  137  from the front edge of the tube portion  137  to be bent rearward, and is bent again just short of the second projection  123  to extend radially outward along the second projection  123 . The packing  120  has a generally L-shaped gap  127  defined between the outer projection portion  126 , the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion  137  and the second projection  123  as seen circumferentially of the tube portion  137 . 
     The packing support portion  121  is a metal plate disposed on a front side of the outer tub opening  118  as extending between the transversely opposite side walls of the housing  11 , and has a round hole provided in a transversely intermediate portion thereof as having a greater diameter than the tube portion  137 . The packing support portion  121  includes a peripheral edge portion bent forward around the round hole, and a forwardly bulged circumferential portion located radially outward of the round hole. 
     The peripheral edge portion of the packing support portion  121  is fitted in the L-shaped gap  127 . As described above, the distal edge of the first projection  122  is fitted in the attachment groove  119  of the outer tub projection portion  117 . Thus, the packing  120  is fixed to the outer tub  21 . In this state, a rear peripheral edge of the packing  120  is anteroposteriorly opposed to and spaced a very small distance from the peripheral edge of the inner tub opening  116 . A front peripheral edge of the packing  120  is anteroposteriorly opposed to the peripheral edge of the housing opening  14  of the cover  101  of the cover member  142  with a predetermined space  129  (e.g., at least about 3 mm) defined between the front peripheral edge of the packing  120  and the lower peripheral edge portion of the housing opening  14 . Since the outer projection portion  126  of the third projection  124  of the packing  120  is located outward of the peripheral edge of the housing opening  14 , the outer peripheral edge of the front portion of the packing  120  is hidden by the cover  101  as seen from the front side. This improves the appearance of the periphery of the housing opening  14 . 
     A plurality of ribs  130  are provided on a rear surface of the cover  101  of the cover member  142  as being equidistantly arranged along a generally lower half of the peripheral edge of the housing opening  14 . A distance between each two adjacent ribs  130  is set smaller than the size of a coin. The ribs  130  project to a lower side of the outer projection portion  126  of the third projection  124  below the space  129  to be located below the front portion of the packing  120 . In other words, the ribs  130  extend downward along the space  129  defined between the lower edge portion of the housing opening  14  and the packing  120  opposed to each other. The provision of the ribs  130  prevents small articles such as a coin from dropping into the inner side of the housing  11  through the space  129 . 
     The inclined wall  131  of the front frame  141  is disposed behind the cover  101  of the cover member  142 . More specifically, the inclined wall  131  is disposed below the space  129 , and is inclined forwardly downward to be connected to a rear surface portion of the cover  101  below the door placement portion  108 . Therefore, the inclined wall  131  is seen below the space  129  when the space  129  is looked down from the upper side. 
     Where foreign matter intrudes into the space  129 , for example, the foreign matter is liable to drop into the housing  11  through the space  129 . Here, a board case  135  (see  FIG. 3 ) which accommodates a board as an electrical component is disposed below the space  129  in the housing  11 . If the foreign matter is water, the board case  135  would be splashed with water to suffer from malfunction without the provision of the inclined wall  131 . With the provision of the inclined wall  131  below the space  129 , however, the water intruding into the space  129  is guided forwardly downward along the inclined wall  131 , so that the board case  135  is prevented from being splashed with the water. Of course, the inclined wall  131  also prevents damage to the board case  135  which may otherwise occur when foreign matter other than the water hits against the board case  135 . Further, a trapping recess  140  is defined by the cover member  142  and the inclined wall  131  inclined forwardly downward to be connected to the cover  101  of the cover member  142 , so that the foreign matter intruding into the space  129  is trapped in the trapping recess  140 . Therefore, the foreign matter trapped in the trapping recess  140  can be removed by detaching the cover member  142  from the housing  11 . 
     When the door  12  is closed, the glass portion  102  of the door  12  is fitted within the packing  120  as shown in  FIG. 9 . An outer periphery (door inclined portion)  132  of the glass portion  102  has a diameter progressively increasing toward the front side with the door  12  being closed. The glass portion  102  has a door guide portion  133  which is sharply bent to extend toward the space  129  with the door inclined portion  132  being located in opposed relation to the third projection  124  at the front portion of the packing  120 . Therefore, with the door  12  being closed, the inner projection portion  125  of the third projection  124  of the packing  120  is entirely kept in press contact with the door inclined portion  132  of the glass portion  102  on the rear side of the door guide portion  133 . Thus, the front peripheral edge of the packing  120  is brought into intimate contact with the glass portion  102  of the door  12 , so that the inside of the packing  120  on the rear side of a press-contact portion between the door inclined portion  132  and the inner projection portion  125  is isolated from the housing opening  14 . Since a gap defined between the door  12  and a front peripheral edge of the outer tub opening  118  is sealed with the packing  120 , the inside of the outer tub  21  is also isolated from the housing opening  14 , i.e., from the outside. By thus providing the packing  120 , the gas-tightness of the inside of the outer tub  21  around the outer tub opening  118  is ensured with the door  12  being closed. 
     The lower edge portion of the housing opening  14  of the cover  101  of the cover member  142  is a portion through which the laundry is most liable to protrude out of the outer tub  21 . If the door  12  is closed with the laundry protruding out of the outer tub  21 , the protruding laundry is caught between the door  12  and the packing  120  (the inner projection portion  125  of the third projection  124 ). Therefore, a part of the packing  120  is not brought into intimate contact with the door  12  around the lower edge portion of the housing opening  14 . If ozone is supplied as a laundry decontaminating gas into the outer tub  21 , the ozone flows out toward the housing opening  14  through a gap between the door  12  and the packing  120  at which the laundry is caught (as indicated by a broken-line arrow X in  FIG. 9 ). Since the packing  120  is opposed to the housing opening  14  with the space  129  defined between the lower edge portion of the housing opening  14  and the packing  120 , the ozone flowing toward the housing opening  14  flows into the space  129  (as indicated by the broken-line arrow X in  FIG. 9 ) to be retained in the housing  11 . That is, the ozone is prevented from reaching the housing opening  14  to leak from the housing opening  14  to the outside. The ozone flowing into the space  129  naturally dies out in the housing  11 . 
     Where a greater proportion of the laundry protrudes through the housing opening  14 , for example, it is impossible to close the door  12 . In this case, a user eliminates the protrusion of the laundry to prevent the laundry from being caught between the door  12  and the packing  120 . Further, a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the door  12 , for example, may be provided. In this case, when a door unclosed state is detected by the sensor, the user is notified of the door unclosed state, and the operation of the washing machine is interrupted until the user eliminates the protrusion of the laundry. 
     Where a smaller proportion of the laundry protrudes such as to permit the closing of the door  12  or such as not to be detected by the sensor, however, it is difficult for the user to recognize the protrusion of the laundry. Even if the laundry is inevitably caught between the door  12  and the packing  120 , the provision of the space  129  prevents the leak of the ozone which may otherwise occur due to the caught laundry. 
     As described above, the door  12  has the door guide portion  133  extending toward the space  129 . Even if the ozone flows toward the housing opening  14  from the outer tub  21  when the laundry protruding through the lower edge portion of the housing opening  14  is caught between the door  12  and the packing  120 , the ozone is guided by the door guide portion  133  to be deflected to smoothly flow toward the space  129 . This reliably prevents the ozone from reaching the housing opening  14  to leak to the outside through the housing opening  14 . 
     With the door being closed, the engagement portion  106  of the frame  103  of the door  12  (see  FIG. 5 ) is engaged with the engagement portion  111  of the cover  101  of the cover member  142  (see  FIG. 7 ), whereby the door  12  is maintained in the closed state. Further, the door projections  107  on the frame  103  of the door  12  are engaged with the corresponding cover recesses  113  on the cover  101 , and the cover projections  112  on the cover  101  are engagement with the corresponding door recesses  134  on the frame  103  of the door  12 . 
     Where the laundry protrudes to the front lower edge portion of the housing opening  14  (see  FIG. 7 ) from the outer tub  21 , the protruding laundry is present between the cover projections  112  and the door recesses  134  and between the cover recesses  113  and the door projections  107 . This prevents complete engagement between the door recesses  134  and the cover projections  112  and between the door projections  107  and the cover recesses  113 , making it impossible to close the door  12 . This causes the user to recognize the protrusion of the laundry, and prompts the user to eliminate the protrusion. Thus, the laundry is prevented from being caught between the door  12  and the cover  101  of the cover member  142 . Therefore, the ozone is prevented from leaking to the outside. 
     Modification 1 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating Modification 1 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating Modification 1 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     In Modification 1, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a shutter portion  138  is provided integrally with the front portion of the inner projection portion  125  of the third projection  124  of the packing  120  as being inclined radially outward and forward of the packing  120 . The shutter portion  138  is at least located in association with the space  129 . 
     With the door  12  being opened, the shutter portion  138  covers the space  129  from the upper side. This improves the appearance of the periphery of the housing opening  14 . 
     With the door  12  being closed, on the other hand, the shutter portion  138  is pushed rearward by the door guide portion  133  of the glass portion  102  of the door  12 , whereby the space  129  is exposed to the upper side. As in the embodiment described above, the ozone is caused to flow into the space  129  (as indicated by a broken-line arrow X in  FIG. 12 ) to be thereby prevented from leaking to the outside. 
     Modification 2 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating Modification 2 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating Modification 2 of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Although the cover projections  112  and the cover recesses  113  are provided on the cover  101  of the cover member  142  (see  FIG. 7 ) in the embodiment described above, cover slots  139  may be provided as the first engagement portion instead of the cover recesses  113  of the cover  101 . The cover slots  139  are dimensioned such as to receive the door projections  107  on the door  12  (see  FIG. 5 ). Therefore, the door projections  107  on the door  12  are engaged with the corresponding cover slits  139  of the cover  101 , as shown in  FIG. 14 , with the door  12  being closed. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims. 
     This Application corresponds to Japanese Patent Application Ser. No. 2007-015361 filed on Jan. 25, 2007 with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.