Patent Publication Number: US-8109121-B2

Title: Drum type washing machine with gasket drain

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2007-0093297 and 10-2007-0093298, both of which were filed in Korea on Sep. 13, 2007, which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, more particularly, to a drum type washing machine having a means for removing washing water or foreign materials remaining at a gasket of the drum type washing machine. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a washing machine serves to wash laundry through washing, rinsing and dehydrating processes using water in which detergent is dissolved or clean water so as to remove pollutants remaining at laundry such as clothes, bedclothes. 
     The washing machine in the related art includes a cabinet having an opening through which laundry is introduced into, a door by which the opening is opened/closed, a tub installed to be attenuatable in the cabinet so as to contain washing water, a water supply device including a water supply valve so as to supply washing water to the tub, a drain device including a drain pump so as to drain polluted washing water in the tub, a drum rotatably installed in the tub so as to contain laundry, a motor installed at the tub so as to rotate the drum and a door switch by which the door is locked/unlocked. And, a gasket is installed at a periphery of the opening so as to seal a gap between the opening and the tub. 
     However, since the drum type washing machine in the related art is not provided with an additional device or configuration for removing washing water still remaining at the gasket after completing a washing or dehydrating process for the laundry, the washing water remaining at the gasket comes to be polluted as time elapses, and accordingly foreign materials such as mold or odor may be generated, which causes a user to be unpleasant and unsanitary. 
     Also, the laundry is stained with the foreign materials such as mold caused by washing water remaining at the gasket or be permeated with odor, accordingly a washing performance of the washing machine may be deteriorated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a drum type washing machine which is capable of naturally draining moisture remaining at a gasket by forming a drain portion and a drain hole at the gasket installed between a door and an opening. 
     And, another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which is capable of forcibly draining moisture remaining at a gasket by additionally forming a compulsory drain means at an outer side of a lower portion of a drain portion or a drain hole of the gasket. 
     And, still another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which is capable of effectively inducing moisture remaining at a gasket to be introduced into a drain portion formed at a lower portion of the gasket by forming a blower and a blower guide portion at an upper portion of the gasket. 
     And, yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which is capable of evaporating moisture remaining at a gasket by heating the gasket by installing a heating member at the gasket. 
     To achieve the aforementioned objects, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet having an opening through which laundry is introduced into, a door installed at the cabinet, by which the opening is opened/closed, a tub installed in the cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the tub and a gasket installed between the opening of the cabinet and the tub so as to seal a gap between the door and the tub, wherein a drain portion is formed at a middle portion of a lower end of the gasket so as to prevent moisture from remaining thereat. 
     Here, the drain portion is concavely formed at a lower end portion of the gasket. By concavely forming the drain portion, it is capable of enhancing a collection efficiency on washing water. In addition, if the drain portion is inclinedly formed, the collection efficiency may be more enhanced. 
     And, the drain portion may be further provided with a drain hole. In case that only the drain portion is formed, the washing water collected in the drain portion can be removed only in an air dry or evaporative manner. Meanwhile, in case of additionally forming the drain hole at the drain portion, since washing water collected in the drain portion can be smoothly drained through the drain hole, it is capable of enhancing a removal efficiency on the washing water. 
     Meanwhile, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine including a compulsory drain means for removing moisture collected in the drain portion at the gasket. As such, by additionally installing the compulsory drain means together with the drain portion, it is capable of more enhancing a drainage efficiency on washing water. 
     Here, the compulsory drain means is implemented as a drain pump installed at a lower portion of the cabinet so as to outwardly drain washing water. The drain pump is connected to the drain hole formed at the drain portion, preferably. That is, the washing water collected in the drain portion can be drained by using the pre-installed drain pump without installation of the additional compulsory drain means. 
     And, connection pipes communicated with the compulsory drain means may be mounted at the drain hole, thereby being capable of smoothly guiding washing water collected in the drain portion toward the compulsory drain means. The drain portion is concavely formed so that the washing water can be naturally drained through the drain hole. 
     Here, the compulsory drain means may be implemented as a separate suction fan installed between the drain pump installed at the lower portion of the cabinet so as to outwardly drain washing water and the drain portion, so as to suck residual water collected in the drain portion. It is effective that the suction fan is implemented as a fan motor in which a fan and a motor are integrally formed and is waterproofed. 
     By additionally installing the suction fan as the compulsory drain means in addition to the drain pump, it is capable of draining washing water that is not naturally drained. 
     Also, preferably, the suction fan is implemented as an axial fan so as to be advantageous to form a flow path through which washing water flows. That is, the flow path has only to be formed in back and forth directions of the axial fan, accordingly it is capable of simplifying a structure of the flow path. 
     Meanwhile, a blower by which air blows so as to collect residual water existing on a surface of the gasket to the drain portion may be further provided at one side of the upper portion of the gasket. Accordingly, the washing water not having flown toward the drain portion formed at the lower portion of the gasket can be introduced to the drain portion. 
     Here, it is more effective that at least one blower guide portion is formed at the gasket connected to an outlet end of the blower so that air blown by the blower can blow along the surface of the gasket. If there is no the blower guide portion, the air from the blower may be introduced into the drum without blowing along the surface of the gasket. 
     And, preferably, the blower is operated in a state that the door is closed. If the blower is operated in a state that the door is open, washing water remaining at the gasket may be naturally dried while air blows in and out. 
     Meanwhile, the blower is disposed to be face the drain portion so that air may uniformly blows on the entire surface of the gasket. 
     And, a check valve may be installed at the connection pipes or may be formed between the compulsory drain means and the drain pump. When operating the drain pump so as to drain the polluted washing water from the tub after completing a normal washing course, washing water collected in the drain portion of the gasket should not be introduced into the drain pump. By installing the check valve, it is capable of preventing the washing water collected in the drain portion from being introduced into the drain pump when draining washing water from the tub after completing the washing course. 
     Meanwhile, the drain portion may be coated with an antibiotic material such as lactic-acid of fermented kimchi, accordingly it is capable of preventing the gasket from being polluted by foreign materials such as mold. 
     Further, in accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine including a heating member for removing moisture existing at the gasket. 
     Accordingly, it is capable of preventing washing water or moisture from existing at a middle portion of a lower end of an inner side surface of the gasket. That&#39;s because the washing water or moisture is evaporated by the heating member heating the middle portion of the lower end of the inner side surface of the gasket. Here, the heating member is mounted in the gasket. Accordingly, it is capable of increasing the amount of heat conducted to the surface of the gasket from the heating member. 
     And, the heating member may be installed at the lower portion of the gasket with being spaced from the lower end portion of an inner side surface of the gasket or be attached onto an outer side surface of the lower end portion of the gasket. 
     In case that it is difficult to mount the heating member in the gasket since the gasket is thin, the heating member may be installed at the lower portion of the gasket with being spaced from the lower end portion of the gasket or be attached onto the outer side surface of the lower end portion of the gasket. Here, the heating member may be installed on an inner side surface of the lower end portion of the gasket. In this case, it is effective that the heating member is waterproofed. 
     The heating member is implemented as a heater or heat lines. Here, in case that the heating member is attached onto the inner side surface or the outer side surface of the lower end portion of the gasket, it is effective that the heating member is implemented as adhesive sticker type heat lines. 
     Also, the heater or the heat lines are formed in a strip type that is curved several times so as to maximize a heating value thereof, preferably. 
     Here, the heating member is configured to heat a portion corresponding to ⅓ to ½ of the entire length of the gasket. Since moisture is mainly collected at a periphery of the gasket including a lowermost end portion thereof, the heating member has only to be installed at the corresponding portion. 
     Meanwhile, the heating member is operated in a state that the door is closed. Air may be introduced into the drum when the door is open, thus washing water or moisture existing at the gasket may be naturally evaporated. In this case, it is not required to operate the heating member. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a gasket of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged section view showing “A” portion in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a suction fan of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view showing a state that a blower is mounted at a gasket in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view showing a drum type washing machine in accordance, with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a gasket of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged section view showing “B” portion in  FIG. 7 , which shows a gasket and a heating member according to one aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged section view showing “C” portion in  FIG. 9 , which shows a process for mounting the heating member; and 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged section view showing “B” portion in  FIG. 7 , which shows a gasket and a heating member according to another aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Description will now be given in detail of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a section view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the drum type washing machine  1  in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet  10  having an opening  11  through which laundry is introduced into, a door  40  by which the opening  11  is opened/closed, a tub  20  installed to be attenuatable in the cabinet  10  so as to contain washing water, a water supply device  24  including a water supply valve  22  so as to supply washing water to the tub  20 , a drain device including a drain pump  26  for draining polluted washing water in the tub  20  and a drain hose  27  for draining the polluted washing water to an outside of the washing machine  1 , a drum  30  rotatably installed in the tub  20  so as to contain laundry, a motor  32  installed at the tub  20  so as to rotate the drum  30  and a door switch  50  by which the door  40  is locked/unlocked. And, a gasket  60  is installed along a peripheral portion of the opening  11  so as to seal a gap between the opening  11  and the tub  20 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the gasket  60  is illustrated in a ring or loop shape having a specific height. And, the gasket  60  has a folded middle portion to overlap each other. Hereafter, it will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 4  that is an enlarged section view showing “A” portion in  FIG. 2 . 
     Here, a drain portion  60   a  is formed at a middle of a lower end of an inner side surface of the gasket  60  so as to prevent washing water from remaining at the gasket  60 . In the meantime, a drain means is provided so as to drain the washing water collected in the drain portion  60   a  to the outside of the washing machine  1 . The drain means may include connection pipes  63 ,  64  and  65  connecting the drain pump  26  and the drain portion  60   a  to each other and a compulsory drain means  80  or a check valve  70  installed at the connection pipes  63 ,  64  and  65 . 
     With such configuration, it is capable of collecting washing water or moisture remaining at the gasket  60  after completing a washing course of the drum type washing machine  1  and then draining the washing water or moisture, thereby being capable of reducing odor generated at the gasket  60 . And, a blower  90  may be provided at an uppermost end portion of the gasket  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , at least one drain portion  60   a  or  60   b  is formed to be concave at a lower end portion of the gasket  60 . The gasket  60  has the folded middle portion to overlap each other. The drain portion can be formed at least one of the relatively upper or lower portion in the overlapping portion.  FIG. 3  shows the gasket  60  provided with two drain portions  60   a ,  60   b.    
     As the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  are concavely formed, it is capable of enhancing a collection efficiency on washing water. In addition, as the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  have edge portions formed to be inclined, it may be capable of more enhancing the collection efficiency on washing water. 
     And, drain holes  61 ,  62  may be further formed at the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b . In case that only drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  are formed, the washing water collected in the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  can be removed only in an air dry or evaporative manner. Meanwhile, in case of further forming the drain holes  61 ,  62  at the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b , since washing water collected in the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  can be smoothly drained through the drain holes  61 ,  62 , it is capable of enhancing a removal efficiency on the washing water. 
     Here, the drain holes  61 ,  62  of the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  are respectively connected to first connection pipes  63   a ,  63   b  among the connection pipes  63 ,  64 ,  65 . The first connection pipes  63   a ,  63   b  may be connected to the drain hose  27  after being combined with each other or in a respectively diverging status. 
     So far, explained was a method for naturally draining washing water remaining at the gasket  60  by forming the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b , the drain holes  61 ,  62 , the first connection pipe  63 , the check valve  70  and the second connection pipe  64 . However, in order to enhance the drainage efficiency, a compulsory drain means may be further provided. 
     Here, the compulsory drain means may be implemented as the drain pump  26  installed at the lower portion of the cabinet  60  so as to outwardly drain washing water from the tub  20 . The drain pump  26  is connected to the drain hole  61  formed at the drain portion  60   a , preferably. That is, there is no need to additionally install the compulsory drain means. The pre-installed drain pump  26  can be used to drain washing water collected in the drain portion  60   a.    
     And, referring to  FIG. 2 , the check valve  70  may be further installed at the first connection pipe  63 . In case that the drain pump  26  is operated to drain polluted washing water from the tub  20  after completing a general washing course, by closing the first connection pipe  63  using the check valve  70 , it is capable of preventing the washing water collected in the drain portions  60   a ,  60   b  from being introduced into the drain pump  26 . 
     If the washing water remaining at the gasket  60  is introduced into the drain pump  26  through the first connection pipe  63   a  even when the drain pump  26  is operated to drain polluted washing water from the tub  20  after completing the washing course, a normal drainage efficiency may be deteriorated. 
     In case that the check valve  70  is provided, it is advantageous that the check valve  70  is connected to the drain holes  61 ,  62  by the first connection pipe  63  and is also connected to the drain pump  26  by the second connection pipe  64  so as to form a flow path. 
     Meanwhile, the compulsory drain means may be implemented as an additional device instead of the drain pump  26 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a suction fan  80  installed between the drain pump  26  and the drain portion  60   a  and serving to suck washing water or residual water collected in the drain portion  60   a  may be used as the compulsory drain means. 
     As such, by additionally installing the suction fan  80  as the compulsory means in addition to the drain pump  26 , it is capable of draining washing water that is not naturally drained. Here, the suction fan  80  is installed at the second connection pipe  64 , preferably. That is, the suction fan  80  is installed between the check valve  70  and the drain pump  26 . In this case, the check valve  70  is connected to the suction fan  80  by the second connection pipe  64  and the suction fan  80  is connected to the drain pump  26  by the third connection pipe  65 . 
     Here, the check valve  70  may be installed between the drain portion  60   a  and the suction fan  80  and also be installed between the suction fan  80  and the drain pump  26 . That is, if only the check valve  70  is installed in front of the drain pump  26 , it can be installed at either a front side of the suction fan  80  or a rear side thereof. 
     Meanwhile, the third connection pipe  65  connected to an outlet of the suction fan  80  may be directly connected to the drain hose  27  without connecting to the drain pump  26 . That is, it may be configured to drain residual washing water from the suction fan  80  directly through the drain hose  27  without passing through the drain pump  26 . In such configuration, residual washing water collected in the drain portion  60   a  of the gasket  60  is not introduced into the drain pump  26 , accordingly it is not required to install the check valve  70 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a suction fan in  FIG. 2 . The suction fan  80  includes a suction opening  81  through which washing water is introduced, a motor  82  for driving a fan (not shown) and drain openings  84  through which the sucked washing water can be drained. Unexplained reference numeral “ 83 ” denotes a rotary shaft of the fan. Here, the suction fan  80  is implemented as a fan motor in which the fan and the motor  82  are integrally formed. And, it is effective that the suction fan  80  is waterproofed. Since the washing water collected in the drain portion  60   a  of the gasket  60  flows in the suction fan  80 , if the suction fan  80  is not waterproofed, there may be a possibility of a short-circuit. 
     And, preferably, the suction fan  80  is implemented as an axial fan because it is advantageous to form the flow path through which washing water flows. That is, since the flow path is formed in back and forth directions of the axial fan, it is capable of simplifying a structure of the flow path. 
     Meanwhile, an additional configuration for inducing washing water or residual water remaining on a surface of the gasket  60  to be introduced into the drain portion  60   a  may be further provided. It will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a section view showing a state that a blower is mounted at a gasket of the drum type washing machine of  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the blower  90  by which air blows along the gasket  60  may be additionally provided at one side of an upper portion of the gasket  60 . Accordingly, the washing water not having flown toward the drain portion  60   a  formed at the lower portion of the gasket  60  can be introduced to the drain portion  60   a.    
     Preferably, the blower  90  includes a nozzle  92  penetratingly mounted at the gasket  60  and a blower fan  91  generating air ejected through the nozzle  92 . Here, the gasket  60  at which an outlet end of the nozzle  92  of the blower  90  is mounted may be provided with at least one blower guide portion  66  for inducing air blown by the blower  90  to blow along the surface of the gasket  60 . 
     If there is no the blower guide portion  66 , the air from the blower  90  may be introduced into the drum  20  without blowing along the surface of the gasket  60 . 
     And, preferably, the blower  90  is operated in a state that the door  40  of the washing machine  1  is closed. If the blower  90  is operated in a state that the door  40  is open, washing water remaining at the gasket  60  may be naturally dried while air blows in and out. 
     Meanwhile, the blower  90  is disposed to face the drain portion  60   a  so as to increase the amount of air blowing on the entire surface of the gasket  60 . 
     The drain portion  60   a  may be coated with an antibiotic material such as lactic-acid of fermented kimchi, accordingly it is capable of preventing the gasket  60  from being polluted by foreign materials such as mold. 
     The lactic-acid of fermented kimchi is produced through a fermentation process of kimchi, a Korean traditional food. The fermentation process of kimchi is as follows. First, radishes, cabbages and cucumbers are salted down. And, the salted radishes, cabbages and cucumbers are ripened as lactic-acid is generated. Alternately, after the salted things are spiced with red pepper, garlic, leeks, ginger and salted fish, they are ripened as lactic-acid is generated. And then, they are fermented at low temperature. The lactic-acid of fermented kimchi is known as a natural antibiotic material characterized that it is safe as people have eaten it for a long time, it is easily obtained and economical, and it has a great antibiotic susceptibility and a broad antibiotic spectrum. 
     The aforementioned compulsory drain means  26 ,  80 , the blower  90  or the check valve  70  may be automatically operated after completing the washing course of the washing machine or be manually operated by a user&#39;s selection. That is, supposing that a button for a gasket drying function or an odor removing function is provided in a control panel (not shown), the user can operate the compulsory drain means  26 ,  80 , the blower  90  or the check valve  70  by pressing the button. 
     Meanwhile, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a heating member may be installed in a gasket or at a periphery of the gasket so as to remove moisture remaining at the gasket, which will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 11 . The another embodiment will be explained with separate reference numerals for explanatory convenience. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a drum type washing machine  100  in accordance with the another embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet  101  having an opening  102  through which laundry is introduced into, a door  130  by which the opening  102  is opened/closed, a tub  110  installed to be attenuatable in the cabinet  101  so as to contain washing water, a water supply device  104  including a water supply valve  103  so as to supply washing water to the tub  110 , a drain device  106  including a drain pump  105  for draining polluted washing water in the tub  110 , a drum  120  rotatably installed in the tub  120  so as to contain laundry, a motor  107  installed at the tub  110  so as to rotate the drum  120  and a door switch  131  by which the door  130  is locked/unlocked. And, a gasket  150  is installed along a peripheral portion of the opening  102  so as to seal a gap between the opening  102  and the tub  110 . 
     Here, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the gasket  150  is formed in a ring or loop shape having a specific height. And, the gasket  150  has a folded middle portion overlapping each other. The gasket  150  encompassing the door  130  is folded to be overlapped with each other. 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged section view showing “B” portion in  FIG. 7 , which shows a gasket and a heating member according to one aspect of the present invention, and  FIG. 10  is an enlarged section view showing “C” portion in  FIG. 9 , which shows a process for mounting the heating member. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a heating member  160  is formed so as to remove moisture existing at a middle portion of a lower end of an inner side surface  151  of the gasket  150 . Heating the middle portion of the lower end of the inner side surface  151  of the gasket  150  using the heating member  160 , the moisture existing at the middle portion of the lower end of the inner side surface of the gasket  150  can be evaporated. 
     Here, the heating member  160  may be mounted in a lower end portion of the gasket  150 , accordingly it is capable of increasing the amount of heat conducted to the surface of the gasket  150  from the heating member  160 . 
     The gasket  150  is formed of a rubber material in an injection molding manner. Thus, it is effective that the heating member  160  is also mounted in the gasket  150  in the injection molding manner. 
       FIG. 10  sequentially shows a process that the gasket  150  is molded in the injection manner with mounting the heating member  160  therein. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the gasket  150  is composed of an upper injection molded body  150   a  and a lower injection molded body  150   b . Here, the upper injection molded body  150   a  of the gasket  150  is provided with a heating member receiving portion for receiving the heating member  160 . When molding the upper injection molded body  150   a  of the gasket  150  in the injection manner, a mold (not shown) is configured to have a structure for forming the heating member receiving portion. 
     First, after molding the upper injection molded body  150   a  in the injection manner (a in  FIG. 10 ), the heating member  160  is received in the heating member receiving portion (b in  FIG. 10 ) and then the lower injection molded body  150   b  is molded in the injection manner (c in  FIG. 10 ), accordingly it is capable of obtaining the gasket  150  in which the heating member  160  is mounted. Here, it is effective that a gap is generated between the heating member  160  and the heating member receiving portion resulting from forming the heating member receiving portion to be larger than the heating member  160 . When the gap between the heating member  160  and the heating member receiving portion is filled with the lower injection molded body  150   b , the heating member  160  is firmly mounted in the upper injection molded body  150   a  and the lower injection molded body  150   b . An unexplained reference numeral  151  denotes an inner side surface of the gasket and another unexplained reference numeral  152  denotes an outer side surface of the gasket. 
     Meanwhile, the heating member  160  has a circular shaped section. And the heating member  160  is composed of a heating body  162  formed by a resistive substance so as to emit heat and an insulation body  161  encompassing the heating body  162 . Here, a power supply line (not shown) is connected to the heating body  162  so as to supply power. And, since the gasket  150 , is formed of the rubber material, the heating body  162  can be mounted in the gasket  150  without the additional insulation body  161 . 
     And, in case that it is difficult to mount the insulation body  161  in the gasket  150  because the gasket  150  is thin, only the heating body  162  can be mounted in the gasket  150  without the insulation body  161 . In this case, the heating member receiving portion may be smaller according to a size of the heating body  162 . Here, the heating member  160  or the heating body  162  may be implemented as a heater or heat lines, preferably. 
     Meanwhile, the heating member can be installed another position, which will be explained with reference to a drawing. 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged section view showing “B” portion in  FIG. 7 , which shows a gasket and a heating member according to another aspect of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 11 , a heating member  170  may be attached onto the outer side surface  152  of the lower end portion of the gasket  150 , or be installed at the lower portion of the gasket  150  with being spaced from the lower end portion of the inner side surface  151  of the gasket  150 . 
     In case that it is difficult to mount the heating member  170  in the gasket  150  because the gasket  150 , is thin, the heating member  170  may be installed at the lower portion of the gasket  150  with being spaced from the lower end portion of the gasket  150  or be attached onto the outer side surface  152  of the lower end portion of the gasket  150 . 
     Here, in case that the heating member  170  is attached onto the inner side surface  151  or outer side surface  152  of the lower end portion of the gasket  150 , it is effective that the heating member  170  is implemented as adhesive sticker type heat lines. That is, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the heating member  170  implemented as the adhesive sticker type heat lines having a specific area and formed to be thin may be attached onto the inner side surface  151  or the outer side surface  152  of the gasket  150 . 
     Here, in case that the heating member  170  implemented as the adhesive sticker type heat lines is installed at the inner side surface  151  of the lower end portion of the gasket  150 , it is effective that the heating member  170  is waterproofed. Because most of the washing water or moisture is collected at the inner side surface  151  of the lower end portion of the gasket  150 , the heating member  170  had better be waterproofed so as to prevent the user from being in danger caused by a short circuit. 
     Meanwhile, preferably, the heating members  160 ,  170  implemented as the heater or heat lines are formed in a strip type that is curved several times so as to maximize a heating value thereof. By mounting the heat lines curved in a zigzag format in the gasket  150  or disposing the adhesive sticker type heat lines in the zigzag format, more heat lines can be mounted in the gasket  150  or on the surface thereof. 
     Here, preferably, a maximum heating temperature of the heating members  160 ,  170  does not exceed 150° C. by adjusting a resistance value of a heating body of each heating member  160 ,  170 . If the maximum heating temperature exceeds 150° C., the gasket may be melted. 
     And, preferably, each heating member  160 ,  170  is configured to heat a portion corresponding to ⅓ to ½ of the entire length of the gasket  150 . That is, each heating member  160 ,  170  has only to be configured to heat the portion corresponding to ⅓ to ½ of the entire circumstance of the gasket  150  on the basis of a lowermost end portion of the gasket  150 . Since the washing water or moisture is mainly collected at the peripheral portion of the gasket  150  including the lowermost end portion thereof, the heating member has only to be installed at the corresponding portion. 
     Meanwhile, it is effective that each heating member  160 ,  170  is operated in a state that the door  130  is closed. Air may be introduced into the drum  120  when the door  130  is open, thus washing water or moisture existing at the gasket  150  may be naturally dried/evaporated. In this case, it is not required to operate each heating member  160 ,  170 . 
     Also, each heating member  160 ,  170  is operated automatically or manually during the washing course. That is, it is configured to supply power to each heating member  160 ,  170  only when the user selects or every last step of the washing course. Here, a time for supplying the power to each heating member  160 ,  170  may be pre-set, accordingly it is capable of preventing each heating member  160 ,  170  from being overheated. 
     The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. 
     As the present inventive features may be embodied in several forms, without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.