Patent Publication Number: US-11384474-B2

Title: Washing machine having pin member with separation prevention portion

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage Application which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2017/012743 filed on Nov. 10, 2017, which claims foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0178576 filed on Dec. 23, 2016 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a coupling of a top cover of a washing machine. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus configured to perform washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying cycles to wash laundry. 
     Washing machines are classified into pulsator type washing machines in which a flow of water generated as rotating blades with small blades attached thereto rotate in a lower portion of a washing tub imparts force on laundry to wash the laundry, agitator type washing machines in which a rotational direction of large stirring blades with blades attached thereto at a center of a washing tub is regularly reversed to generate a flow of water so as to wash laundry, and drum type washing machines in which laundry is put in a drum and washed due to the detergency of a detergent and a force generated by the rising and falling of the laundry as the drum rotates. 
     In the case of the pulsator type, a top cover including a door of a washing machine is disposed at an upper side of the body, and when a force is applied to the washing machine due to abnormal rotation occurring during operation of the washing machine, the top cover may become separated from the body. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     The present disclosure is directed to providing a washing machine of which a top cover is stably supported without becoming separated from a cabinet of the washing machine even when an impact or vibration is applied to the washing machine. 
     Technical Solution 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine may include a cabinet, a pin member disposed on an upper side of the cabinet, a top cover including a through hole through which the pin member passes and coupled to the upper side of the cabinet, and the pin member may include a coupling portion coupled to the cabinet, a separation prevention portion obliquely extending upward from the coupling portion to restrict movement of the top cover. 
     And the cabinet includes an upper flange bent from an upper end portion of the cabinet, and the upper flange includes a coupling hole into which the coupling portion is inserted. 
     And when the top cover is coupled to the upper flange, the through hole is located at a first location, and when the through hole is moved from the first location, the separation prevention portion comes into contact with at least a part of the through hole to restrict the movement of the top cover. 
     And an inclination angle of the separation prevention portion with respect to the upper flange is 35° or less. 
     And the washing machine further includes a fixing bracket coupled to the coupling portion below the upper flange to fix the coupling portion inserted into the coupling hole. 
     And the fixing bracket includes a fixing groove incised in one direction of the fixing bracket, and the fixing groove is coupled to the coupling portion in a lateral direction of the cabinet. 
     And the fixing bracket includes an auxiliary coupling hole to be vertically screw-coupled with the upper flange. 
     And the pin member extends downward from the coupling portion and further includes a binder configured to bind the fixing bracket to prevent the fixing bracket from becoming separated from the coupling portion, and a diameter of one side of the binder is provided to correspond to or be larger than a diameter of one side of the coupling portion. 
     And the pin member further includes a guide portion extending from the separation prevention portion in an upward direction of the cabinet so that the through hole is guided to be moved along the pin member. 
     And the pin member is located at a front portion of the upper flange. 
     And the washing machine further includes a hook member provided in a front portion of the fixing bracket and hook-coupled to the top cover. 
     And the washing machine further includes a screw coupling member disposed on a rear surface of the cabinet and configured to screw-couple the cabinet and the top cover. 
     And the through hole includes a long hole having a long side extending in a direction corresponding to a direction to which the separation prevention portion extends. 
     And the through hole is movable up to a second location configured to come into contact with at least one side of the separation prevention portion when moved from the first location, and when the through hole is located at the second location, the through hole is moved by the at least one side of the separation prevention portion so that the through hole returns to the first location. 
     And the pin member further includes a first location at which the through hole is located and a second location located above the first location, and a bent portion in which the second location is located obliquely upward from the first location so that the through hole is moved within a separation prevention distance defined as a lateral distance between the first location and the second location when the top cover becomes separated from the cabinet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine may include a cabinet, a top cover coupled to the upper side of the cabinet, and a pin member passed a through hole disposed inside of the top cover to prevent the top cover from becoming separated from the cabinet and including a first location at which the through hole is located, a second location located above the first location, and a bent portion in which the second location is located obliquely upward from the first location so that the through hole is moved within a separation prevention distance defined as a lateral distance between the first location and the second when the top cover becomes separated from the cabinet. 
     And the cabinet includes an upper flange bent from an upper end portion of the cabinet, and the pin member further includes a coupling portion extending downward from the bent portion and engaged with the upper flange. 
     And the washing machine further includes a fixing bracket coupled to the coupling portion below the upper flange to fix the coupling portion engaged with the upper flange. 
     And the pin member further includes a guide portion extending from the second location in an upward direction of the cabinet so that the through hole is guided to be moved along the pin member. 
     And an inclination angle of the bent portion with respect to the horizontal direction of the cabinet is 35 degrees. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine may include a cabinet having an upper flange bent from an upper end portion of the cabinet, a top cover disposed upper side of the upper flange, a pin member engaged with the upper flange to restrict movement of the top cover, and a fixing bracket coupled to the pin member below the upper flange to fix the pin member engaged with the upper flange, and the fixing bracket includes fixing groove incised in a side direction of the cabinet so that the pin member is inserted in the side direction of the cabinet, and a coupling hole formed in a vertical direction of the cabinet to engaged with the upper flange. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     Even when an impact or vibration is applied to a washing machine, since a top cover includes a pin member to be disposed on an upper portion of a cabinet, includes a through hole through which the pin member passes, and is coupled to the upper portion of the cabinet, the top cover can be prevented from becoming separated from the cabinet and can be stably supported. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side sectional view taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a front side of a cabinet of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an upper rear view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view taken along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fin member of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a fixing bracket of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing a state in which a through hole of a washing machine does not pass through a pin member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a state in which a through hole of a washing machine starts to separate from a pin member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a state in which the through hole of the washing machine is restricted when the fan member is detached according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     MODES OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments described in the specification and configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary examples of the present disclosure, and various modifications may replace the embodiments and the drawings of the present disclosure at the time of filing of the present application. 
     Further, identical symbols or numbers in the drawings of the present disclosure denote components or elements configured to perform substantially identical functions. 
     Further, terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit to the present disclosure. The singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “include,” “including,” “have,” and/or “having” specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Further, it should be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, the elements are not limited by the terms, and the terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The term “and/or” includes combinations of one or all of a plurality of associated listed items. 
     Further, the terms “upper side,” “upward direction,” “lower side,” “downward direction” used herein are related to a vertical direction of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure shown in  FIG. 1 . That is, in  FIG. 1 , a side at which a door of the washing machine is disposed refers to the upper side, and a side opposite the upper side refers to the lower side. 
     Further, in the case of the terms “frontward direction,” “rearward direction,” “front surface side,” “rear surface side” used herein, a direction in front of the washing machine in  FIG. 1  refers to the frontward direction and a direction opposite the direction refers to the rearward direction. 
     Further, when viewed from the front, the left side of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 1  refers to a left surface, and the right side thereof refers to a right surface. 
     Further, it is apparent that the washing machine according to the spirit of the present disclosure may be applied not only to a washing machine including an auxiliary washing space according to one embodiment, but also to a general washing machine that does not include an auxiliary washing space. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 2  is a side sectional view taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a washing machine  1  includes a cabinet  10  forming an exterior thereof, a fixed tub  11  disposed inside the cabinet  10  and configured to accommodate washing water, a rotating tub  12  rotatably disposed inside the fixed tub  11 , and a pulsator  50  disposed inside the rotating tub  12  and configured to generate a flow of water. 
     An opening  24  is formed in an upper portion of the cabinet  10  so that laundry may be put in the rotating tub  12  therethrough. The opening  24  may be opened or closed by a door  101  of a top cover  100  installed in the cabinet  10 . The fixed tub  11  may be supported by a suspension device  15  in the cabinet  10 . 
     A water supply pipe  17  configured to supply washing water to the fixed tub  11  is installed above the fixed tub  11 . One side of the water supply pipe  17  is connected to an external water supply source, and the other side of the water supply pipe  17  is connected to a detergent supply device  16 . Water supplied through the water supply pipe  17  is supplied into the fixed tub  11  with detergent via the detergent supply device  16 . A water supply valve  18  is installed in the water supply pipe  17  to control a supply of water. 
     The rotating tub  12  is provided in a cylindrical shape and has an open upper portion, and a plurality of dehydration holes  13  are formed in a side surface thereof. A balancer  14  may be mounted on the rotating tub  12  so that the rotating tub  12  may stably rotate at a high speed. 
     A motor  25 , configured to generate a driving force to rotate the rotating tub  12  and the pulsator  50 , and a power switching device  26 , configured to transmit the driving force generated by the motor  25  to one of or both the rotating tub  12  and the pulsator  50 , are installed outside a lower side of the fixed tub  11 . 
     A hollow type dehydration shaft  29  may be coupled to the rotating tub  12 , and a washing shaft  27  installed in a hollow portion of the dehydration shaft  29  may be coupled to the pulsator  50  by a washing shaft coupling portion  28 . The motor  25  may transmit the driving force to one of or both the rotating tub  12  and the pulsator  50  according to a lifting operation of the power switching device  26 . 
     A power switching device  26  may include an actuator  30  configured to generate a driving force for switching power, a loader  31  configured to linearly move according to operation of the actuator  30 , and a clutch  32  connected to the loader  31  and configured to rotate according to operation of the loader  31 . 
     A water discharge port  20  is formed in a bottom of the fixed tub  12  to discharge washing water accommodated in the fixed tub  12 , and a first water discharge pipe  21  is connected to the water discharge port  20 . A water discharge valve  22  configured to control water discharge may be installed in the first water discharge pipe  21 . An exit of the water discharge valve  22  may be connected to a second water discharge pipe  34  configured to discharge washing water outward. 
     The opening  24  is provided with a top cover  100  configured to fully cover the opening  24  from above, with the door  101  of the top cover  100 , and with an auxiliary washing unit  110  provided under the door  101 . The door  101  is provided at an opening provided in a central portion of the top cover  100  to open and close the opening of the top cover  100  and the opening  24  of the cabinet  10 . A transparent member may be provided at the door  101  so that an inside of the washing machine  1  may be viewed from the outside even when the door  101  has closed the opening  24 . 
     The auxiliary washing unit  110  includes an auxiliary washing space  110   a  to be capable of separately performing hand-washing. The auxiliary washing space  110   a  is provided to wash laundry separately from a main washing space  11   a  formed by the fixed tub  11  and the rotating tub  12 . 
     Since the main washing space  11   a  and the auxiliary washing space  110   a  are separated, washing may be separately performed in each of the spaces. Further, washing in the main washing space  11   a  and the auxiliary washing space  110   a  may be simultaneously or separately performed. 
     The auxiliary washing unit  110  may be provided at an inner side of the door  100  to be rotatable around one side of the door  101 . The auxiliary washing unit  110  may be provided to be coaxial with a rotary shaft of the door  100 . 
     A water supply device  160  may be provided to supply water to the main washing space  11   a  and the auxiliary washing space  120   a.    
     The water supply device  160  may include a water supply pipe  162 , a main water supply pipe  164 , an auxiliary water supply pipe  166 , and a switching unit  168 . 
     One end of the water supply pipe  162  may be connected to the water supply valve  18 , and the other end of the water supply pipe  162  may be connected to the switching unit  168 . The water supply pipe  162  is provided to transfer washing water supplied by the water supply valve  18  to the switching unit  168 . 
     The main water supply pipe  164  may be provided to supply water to the main washing space  11   a . One end of the main water supply pipe  164  may be connected to the detergent supply device  16 , and the other end of the main water supply pipe  164  may be connected to the switching unit  168 . 
     The auxiliary water supply pipe  166  may be provided to supply water to the auxiliary washing space  110   a  of the auxiliary washing unit  110 . One end of the auxiliary water supply pipe  166  may be connected to the auxiliary water supply port  60 , and the other end of the auxiliary water supply pipe  166  may be connected to the switching unit  168 . 
     The switching unit  168  is provided to supply the washing water delivered from the water supply pipe  162  to any one of the main water supply pipe  164  and the auxiliary water supply pipe  166 . That is, by controlling the switching unit  168 , the washing water is supplied to the washing spaces through at least one of the main water supply pipe  164  and the auxiliary water supply pipe  166 . 
     Unlike that shown in the drawings, the washing machine  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may not include the auxiliary washing unit  110 . That is, the top cover  100  is disposed above the cabinet  10 , and when the door  101  provided in the top cover  100  is opened, the opening  24  and the opening of the top cover  100  are directly connected and a user may put laundry in the rotating tub  12 . 
     That is, due to pin members  200  which will be described below, the washing machine  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may easily prevent the top cover  100  from becoming separated from the washing machine  1 , regardless of whether the auxiliary washing unit  100  is disposed in the washing machine  1 . 
     Hereinafter, a configuration in which the top cover  100  is coupled to an upper portion of the cabinet  10  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a front portion of a cabinet of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 5  is a rear surface view of an upper portion of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As described above, the top cover  100  covers the upper portion of the cabinet  10  having the opening  24 , and may selectively open the opening  24  via the door  101 . 
     The cabinet  10  may include an upper flange  19  laterally bent at an upper end of the cabinet  10 . The top cover  100  may be seated on the upper flange  19  and coupled to the cabinet  10 . 
     In detail, as shown in  FIG. 4 , hook coupling members  210  coupled to a front portion of the top cover  100  may be provided on the a front portion of the upper flange  19 . The hook coupling member  210  may include at least one hook  211  bent upward. 
     The hook  211  may be formed of an elastic material, and may include a first surface  211   a  of a predetermined length protruding upward from the upper flange  19  and include a second surface  211   b  of a predetermined length bent from the first surface  211   a  and extending downward. A distance between the first surface  211   a  and the second surface  211   b  is gradually increased from upper sides of the first surface  211   a  and the second surface  211   b  toward lower sides thereof, and thus the hook  211  may include side surfaces forming a triangular shape and protruding upward. 
     The top cover  100  may include hook holes  102  disposed in a lower portion of the top cover  100  and hook-coupled to the hooks  211 . When the top cover  100  is disposed to correspond to the upper flange  19 , the hook hole  102  may be provided at a location corresponding to the hook  211 . 
     During a process of a user assembling the top cover  100 , the top cover  100  may be disposed to correspond to the upper flange  19 , and the hook  211 , which faces upward when pressurized in a longitudinal direction, may pass through and be hook-coupled to the hook hole  102 . 
     That is, the hook hole  110  may include a hole having a smaller width than a planar area formed by the separation of lower sides of the first surface  211   a  and the second surface  211   b . Accordingly, the hook  211  applies an elastic force to the lower sides of the first surface  211   a  and the second surface  211   b  by pressurizing the lower sides while passing through the hook hole  102 , and then the hook hole  102  and one of the first surface  211   a  and the second surface  211   b  are elastically returned to original locations thereof, and thus the hook  211  may be hook-coupled to the hook hole  102 . 
     Further, when the top cover  100  is coupled to the upper flange  19 , a guide member  220  may be provided on the front portion of the upper flange  19  to guide the top cover  100  so that the top cover  100  is disposed at the correct location. 
     The guide members  220  may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other on a side or rear portion of the upper flange  19  along the upper flange  19  as well as disposed on the front portion of the upper flange  19 . The guide member  220  is provided in a protrusion form protruding upward and having a predetermined length, and although not shown in the drawings, the guide member  220  may be coupled to a guide groove  103  disposed in the lower portion of the top cover  100  so that the top cover  100  may be disposed at the correct location. 
     Since the guide member  220  is provided in a cylindrical shape in which a diameter thereof is gradually decreased in a direction in which the guide member  220  protrudes, a user may easily couple the guide member  220  to the guide groove  103  in the assembly process of the top cover  100 . 
     A user may easily couple the hook  211  to the hook hole  102  along the guide member  220 . 
     That is, the front portion of the top cover  100  may be hook-coupled to the upper flange  19  by the hook coupling member  210  disposed on the upper portion of the upper flange  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a rear portion of the top cover  100  may be coupled to the cabinet  10  by screw coupling members  230  formed on rear surfaces of the top cover  100  and the cabinet  10 . 
     After the front portion of the top cover  100  is coupled to the hook coupling members  210 , the screw coupling members  230  may be disposed on the rear surface of the cabinet  10  to improve coupling between the top cover  100  and the cabinet  10 . 
     The screw coupling member  230  may include a screw bracket  231  extending between the rear surfaces of the top cover  100  and the cabinet  10 . In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the screw bracket  231  may be provided to extend from the rear surface of the top cover  100  toward the rear surface of the cabinet  10 . 
     However, the screw coupling member  230  is not limited thereto, and may be provided to extend between the rear surfaces of the top cover  100  and the cabinet  10  as a component separate from the top cover  100 . 
     The screw bracket  231  may include screw coupling hole  232  at a location corresponding to the rear surface of the cabinet  10  which will be screw-coupled with the screw bracket  231 . The screw coupling member  230  is coupled with the screw coupling hole  232 , and thus the rear portion of top cover  100  may be coupled to the screw coupling member  230 . 
     However, when the screw bracket  231  is formed of a separate material from the top cover  100 , two screw coupling holes  232  may be provided to correspond to the rear surfaces of the top cover  100  and the cabinet  10 . 
     That is, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , since the front portion of the top cover  100  is coupled to hook coupling member  210  and the rear portion of the top cover  100  is coupled to the screw coupling member  230 , both the front and rear portion of the top cover  100  may be coupled to the cabinet  10 . 
     In a top cover of a conventional washing machine, like in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the top cover is coupled to a cabinet by screw coupling at a front portion of the top cover. As shown in one embodiment of the present disclosure, although screw coupling the top cover and the cabinet is more advantageous for improved coupling than hook-coupling, a screw-coupling structure is exposed when viewed from the front or above, and thus an aesthetic exterior of the washing machine is degraded. 
     Further, when the top cover is injection-molded using a metal material instead of plastic, since forming a screw coupling hole for screw coupling in a front portion of the top cover formed of the metal material is difficult in a manufacturing process, washing machine manufacturability is reduced. 
     Accordingly, in the conventional washing machine, a rear side of the washing machine not visible to a user is screw-coupled as shown in one embodiment of the present disclosure, and a front side of the washing machine visible to the user is coupled by a hook coupling member configured to couple the top cover to the cabinet at an inner side of the top cover. 
     In this case, in the above-described top cover coupling method, when an impact is applied from an outside of the washing machine or a force is applied upward to the washing machine due to abnormal vibration in the washing tub, a hook becomes separated from hook-coupling between the top cover and the cabinet, and the top cover becomes separated from an upper side of the cabinet. 
     Since the washing machine  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure further includes the pin members  200  provided on the upper side of the cabinet  10  to prevent the top cover  100  from becoming separated from the cabinet  10 , the pin members  200  may prevent the top cover  100  from becoming separated from the cabinet  10 . 
     Hereinafter, the pin members  200  configured to prevent separation of the top cover  100  and fixing brackets  300  configured to fix the pin members  200  in the upper flange  19  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of B-B′ in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a pin member of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a fixing bracket of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , the pin members  200  may be disposed on the upper side of the cabinet  10 . In detail, the pin members  200  may be inserted into the upper flange  19  and supported on the cabinet  10 . 
     Since the upper flange  19  includes a coupling hole  19   a  to which the pin member  200  is inserted and coupled, the pin member  200  may be inserted into the upper flange  19 . The pin member  200  may have a shape configured to protrude approximately upward, pass through the through hole  104  disposed in the top cover  100 , and be disposed on the cabinet  10 . 
     Since the through hole  104  is provided in the top cover  100  like the hook hole  102  and the guide groove  103 , specifically in a flange bent at a lower end portion of the top cover  100  and extending in a lateral direction, the through hole  104  may not be exposed to the outside when the top cover  100  is coupled to the cabinet  10 . 
     When the top cover  100  is coupled to the cabinet  10 , the through holes  104  may first fit onto the pin members  200  to dispose the top cover  100  on the upper flange  19 , and then, as described above, the top cover  100  may be coupled to the cabinet  10  by the hook coupling member  210  and the screw coupling member  230 . 
     A separation prevention portion  204  obliquely extending from the pin member  200  which will be described below may pass through the through hole  104 , and the through hole  104  may be located at a first location A of the fixing bracket  300  facing the upper flange  19  and disposed parallel to the upper flange  19 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the pin member  200  may include a coupling portion  201  inserted into the coupling hole  19   a  of the upper flange  19 , a through portion  202  extending upward from the coupling portion  201  and located to correspond to the first location A at which the through hole  104  is located, a bent portion  203  extending upward from the through portion  202  and configured to bend the pin member  200  so that the pin member  200  extends toward a front portion of the cabinet  10 , the separation prevention portion  204  obliquely extending upward from the bent portion  203  toward the front portion of the cabinet  10 , and a guide portion  205  bent upward from the separation prevention portion  204  and extending toward an upper portion of the cabinet  10 . 
     Further, the pin member  200  may further include a restrainer  206  extending downward from the coupling portion  201  and configured to restrain the fixing bracket  300  when the fixing bracket  300 , which will be described below, is coupled to the coupling portion  201 . 
     As described above, the coupling portion  201  may be a part of the pin member  200  inserted into the coupling hole  19   a  of the upper flange  19 . The coupling portion  201  and the restrainer  26  extending downward from the coupling portion  201  may be inserted into the coupling hole  19   a  and disposed at a lower level than the upper flange  19 . 
     Each of the coupling portion  201  and the binder  206  may have a diameter smaller than or corresponding to a diameter of the coupling hole  19   a  to be inserted into the coupling hole  19   a.    
     The coupling portion  201  may include one side having a fixing surface  201   a  fixed by the fixing bracket  300  which will be described below. A pair of fixing surfaces  201   a  may be provided to be disposed in parallel in a lateral direction of the cabinet  10 . 
     Due to the fixing surface  201   a  of the coupling portion  201 , a diameter of at least a portion of the coupling portion  201  may be provided to be smaller than a diameter of at least a portion of the binder  206 . Accordingly, since an outer circumferential surface of the binder  206  further protrudes outward than the fixing surface  201   a , the fixing bracket  300 , which will be described below, may be prevented from hanging downward. This case will be described in detail below. 
     The through portion  202  may extend upward from the coupling portion  201 . The through portion  202  may be a part of pin member  200  and may correspond to the first location A at which the through hole  104  is disposed when the top cover  100  is coupled to the cabinet  10 . 
     The through portion  202  may be provided to have a larger diameter than the coupling hole  19   a . Accordingly, the through portion  202  may serve as a stopper to prevent the pin member  200  from separating into the coupling hole  19   a.    
     The bent portion  203  may be provided to be positioned upward from the through portion  202 . The bent portion  203  may bend a part of the pin member  200  so that the pin member  200  extending upward obliquely extends upward toward the front portion of the cabinet  10 . 
     The separation prevention portion  204  may be provided in a part of the pin member  200  extending toward the front portion of the cabinet  10  due to the bent portion  203 . The separation prevention portion  204  is the part of the pin member  200  obliquely extending upward from the coupling portion  201  and may prevent the through hole  104  from decoupling from the pin member  200 . This will be described in detail below. 
     The guide portion  205  extending in a direction corresponding to a direction to which the coupling portion  201  extends may be provided on the separation prevention portion  204 . That is, the guide portion  205  may be a part of the pin member  200  bent to extend in a direction perpendicular to the cabinet  10  from an upper end of the obliquely extending separation prevention portion  204 . 
     When a user couples the top cover  100  to the cabinet  10 , the guide portion  205  may extend in a direction corresponding to a direction in which the user couples the top cover  100  to the cabinet  10  so that the through hole  104  may easily fit onto the pin member  200 . That is, although the user may vertically couple the top cover  100  to the cabinet  10 , when one end portion of the pin member  200  is formed in an obliquely upward direction like the separation prevention portion  204 , the through hole  104  is coupled to the pin member  200  in a direction different from the direction in which the top cover  100  is coupled to the cabinet  10 , and thus it may be difficult for the user to fit the through hole  104  onto the pin member  200 . 
     To prevent the above difficulty, the guide portion  205  may be provided in a direction perpendicular to the cabinet  10  and the user may easily fit the through hole  104  onto the pin member  200 . 
     The washing machine  1  may further include the fixing brackets  300  configured to fix the coupling portion  201  and disposed below the upper flange  19  to support the coupling portion  201  inserted into the coupling holes  19   a.    
     The fixing bracket  300  may be provided in a bar shape including a long side  301 , and may include a fixing groove  310  incised in one direction of the fixing bracket  300  and coupled to the coupling surface  201   a  of the coupling portion  201  so as to fix the coupling portion  201 . 
     The fixing groove  310  may be provided to be incised in the one direction of the fixing bracket  300  so as to have a   shape. Since fixing surfaces  311  are formed at both ends of the fixing groove  310  and the coupling surfaces  201   a  of the coupling portion  201  are inserted into the fixing grooves  310 , the fixing surfaces  311  may come into contact with the coupling surfaces  201   a.    
     That is, since the fixing bracket  300  may be coupled to the coupling portion  201  below the upper flange  19  in the lateral direction of the cabinet  10 , the coupling portion  201  is inserted into the fixing groove  310  incised in one direction of the fixing bracket  300 , and the fixing bracket  300  may fix the coupling portion  201  to the upper flange  19 . 
     Further, as described above, when the coupling portion  201  is coupled to the fixing bracket  300 , the restrainer  206  extending downward from the coupling portion  201  may restrain a lower portion of the fixing bracket  300  to prevent separation of the fixing bracket  300 . 
     In addition, auxiliary coupling holes  320  may be provided in the fixing bracket  300  to couple the fixing bracket  300  to a lower portion of the upper flange  19 . The auxiliary coupling holes  320  may be coupled to screw members configured to pass through the upper flange  19  and vertically couple the upper flange  19  to the fixing bracket  300 . Accordingly, the fixing bracket  300  may be stably supported on the lower portion of the upper flange  19 . 
     The pin members  200  may be easily and stably supported by the fixing bracket  300 . Conventional components corresponding to pin members are engaged with the upper flange  19  via a screw coupling method, but the pin members  200  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure are provided in a shape obliquely extending in one direction instead of in a vertically extending pin shape and thus may be difficult to be screw-coupled. 
     Accordingly, although workability of coupling the pin members  200  to the upper flange  19  may be lowered, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, workability can be improved by a method of simply coupling the fixing bracket  300  in the lateral direction of the cabinet  10 . 
     Further, as described above, the fixing bracket  300  may be formed in a bar shape including the long side  301 , and thus, when the fixing bracket  300  is coupled to the lower portion of the upper flange  19 , since the fixing bracket  300  may serve to reinforce the strength of the upper flange  19 , the strength of the upper flange  19  is improved by the fixing bracket  300  and the upper flange  19  is not damaged even upon receiving an impact due to an external force, and thus the coupling between the upper flange  19  and the top cover  100  may be prevented from being decoupled by damage to the upper flange  19 . 
     Hereinafter, the separation prevention portion  204  will be described in detail. 
     As described above, the separation prevention portion  204  is the part of the pin member  200  obliquely extending upward from the bent portion  203 . 
     When an impact is applied to the washing machine  1  or abnormal rotation occurs due to a non-uniform arrangement of laundry being cleaned in the rotating tub  12 , and when a force is applied in an upper portion of the cabinet  10 , the top cover  100  may receive the force in an upward direction and be separated upward from the cabinet  10 . When the top cover  100  starts to separate upward from the cabinet  10 , the separation prevention portion  204  may become linked with the top cover  100  to restrict movement of the through hole  104  being moved upward so as to restrict the top cover  100  from becoming separated in an upward direction from the cabinet  10 . 
     In detail, since the rear portion of the top cover  100  is stably coupled to the cabinet  10  by the screw coupling member  230  but the front portion of the top cover  100  is coupled to the cabinet  10  by the hook coupling member  210 , when the top cover  100  is pressurized in an upward direction, the hook-coupling between the hook  211  and the hook hole  102  becomes decoupled, the hook hole  102  is moved from the hook  211 , and thus the front portion of the top cover  100  may become separated from the cabinet  10 . 
     To prevent the above separation, when the front portion of the top cover  100  starts to separate upward from the cabinet  10 , a moving distance of the through hole  104  may be restricted to a predetermined distance to prevent the top cover  100  from becoming completely separated from the cabinet  10 . 
     That is, the separation prevention portion  204  may obliquely extend upward from the bent portion  203  at an angle of approximately 25° to 35°. Accordingly, when the through hole  104  and the top cover  100  are moved upward from the first location A, since the through hole  104  comes into contact with a separation prevention surface  204   a  forming an outer circumferential surface of the separation prevention portion  204 , the through hole  104  may be restricted to being moved up to a second location B of the upper end of the separation prevention portion  204 , and may drop and return to the first location A due to gravity. 
     In other words, since the through hole  104  may be moved only from the first location A to the second location B due to the separation prevention portion  204 , the through hole  104  may be restricted from being moved upward beyond the second location B, preventing the top cover  100  from becoming completely separated from the cabinet  10 . 
     When a lateral distance from the first location A to the second location B is defined as a separation prevention distance X, the through hole  104  is provided to be movable within the separation prevention distance X to prevent separation of the top cover  100 . That is, since the separation prevention portion  204  is obliquely formed, the separation prevention portion  204  may secure the separation prevention distance X of a predetermined distance and may prevent the through hole  104  from becoming separated from the pin member  200 . 
     As described above, an inclination angle Θ of the bent portion  203  may be preferably formed at 25° to 35°. When the inclination angle Θ is 25° or less, the separation prevention distance X may increase and the through hole  104  may be more stably prevented from becoming separated from the pin member  200 , but, since the inclination angle Θ is too low, the through hole  104  is difficult to pass through the pin member  200 , and thus assembly therebetween may be difficult. 
     Further, when the inclination angle Θ is provided to be 35° or more, since the separation prevention distance X decreases and the through hole  104  may be located outside the separation prevention distance X, the through hole  104  may become separated from the pin member  200 , and accordingly, the top cover  100  may become separated from the cabinet  10 . 
     Accordingly, the inclination angle Θ is preferably provided to be in a range of 25° to 35°. 
     Hereinafter, the through hole  104  configured to fit onto the pin member  200  and a way in which the through hole is moved along the pin member  200  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 9  is a view of a through hole of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure before fitting onto a pin member,  FIG. 10  is a view of a state in which the through hole of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure starts to become separated from the pin member, and  FIG. 11  is a view of a state in which the through hole of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure becomes restricted when upon separating from the pin member. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the top cover  100  is coupled to the cabinet  10 , the top cover  100  may be vertically coupled to the upper side of the cabinet  10 . Accordingly, as described above, the through hole  104  provided in the cabinet  10  may fit onto the pin member  200  first. 
     In this case, the through hole  104  may easily fit onto the pin member  200  along the guide portion  205  provided in the upper portion of the pin member  200  and configured to easily fit the through hole  104  onto the pin member  200 . 
     The through hole  104  moved along the guide portion  205  may be moved along the separation prevention portion  204  and the bent portion  203  and located at the through portion  202  corresponding to the first location A. When the through hole  104  is located at the through portion  202 , the front portion of the top cover  100  is coupled to the hook coupling members  210 , and the rear portion of the top cover  100  may be coupled to the screw coupling member  230 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 10 , when the top cover  100  receives a force in the upward direction, the top cover  100  may be moved upward, and accordingly, the through hole  104  may be moved upward. As described above, since the rear portion of the top cover  100  is coupled to the screw coupling member  230 , the front portion of the top cover  100  may be moved upward first. 
     Accordingly, the through hole  104  may be moved upward as a whole so that a front side thereof becomes further upwardly oblique. The through hole  104  may be moved upward and come into contact with the separation prevention surface  204   a  of the separation prevention portion  204 . 
     In detail, one side of the through hole  204  comes into contact with a contact point  204   b  at the separation prevention surface  204   a , and accordingly, the through hole  204  may be restricted from being moved upward beyond the contact point  204   b.    
     That is, the contact point  204   b  may move the through hole  204  in a downward direction to prevent the through hole  204  from being moved upward. The contact point  204   b  may be formed at the separation prevention surface  204   a  formed between the first location A and the second location B and may prevent the through hole  204  from being moved upward beyond the second location B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , since the through hole  104  may be moved along only the separation prevention portion  204  even when the rear portion of the top cover  100  instead of the front portion of the top cover  100  is pressurized in the upward direction, the top cover  100  may be prevented from becoming completely separated from the cabinet  10 . 
     That is, since the through hole  104  may be provided to come into contact with the separation prevention surface  204   a  even when the rear portion of the top cover  100  is moved upward, the contact point  204   b  may be located at a front side of the separation prevention surface  204   a , and, although not shown in the drawings, when the through hole  104  is moved further upward, since the separation prevention surface  204   a  may come into contact with the through hole  104 , the contact point  204   b  may be located at a rear side of the separation prevention surface  204   a.    
     Accordingly, the through hole  104  may not become separated from the separation prevention portion  204  even when moved upward in any direction. Further, since the through hole  104  may be moved within the separation prevention distance X and may not be moved upward beyond the second location B, the top cover  100  may be moved by a predetermined distance with respect to the cabinet  10 , but the movement of the through hole  104  is restricted by the pin member  200  so that the top cover  100  may not become separated from the cabinet  10  and may return to an original location after being moved by the predetermined distance. Therefore, the top cover  100  may be stably coupled to the cabinet  10 . 
     Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined in the claims and their equivalents.