Patent Publication Number: US-2009229319-A1

Title: Filter assembly of washer

Description:
This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0022976, filed on Mar. 12, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a filter, and more particularly, to a filter assembly of a washer. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for filtering water in a washer that filters and circulates water within a wash tub. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washer according to a related art. In the following description, a related art washer is explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a washer according to a related art consists of a main body  5  of the washer, a water storing tub  70  provided within the main body  5  to accommodate water therein, a dewatering tub  80  provided inside the water string tub  70  to perform washing and dewatering on laundry, a pulsator provided under the dewatering tub  80  to wash to laundry by rotating to generate water current, and a drive assembly  50  for rotating the pulsator  20 . 
     And, a water supply assembly is installed over the water storing tub  70 . Water supplied from the water supply assembly  10  is supplied to the water storing tub  70  and is then stored therein. 
     A drain assembly  10  is installed under the water storing tub  70  to discharge the water from the water storing tub  70  after completion of washing. 
     A passage  80   a  is provided inside the dewatering tub  80  to enable the water stored in the dewatering tub  80  to ascend over the dewatering tub  80  according to the rotation of the pulsator  20 . 
     An injection hole  80   b  is provided to an upper part of the passage  80  to introduce the water having ascended along the passage  80   a  into the dewatering tub  80  again. 
     A mesh net  40  is further provided to the injection hole  80   b  to filter off particles contained in the water. 
     In the above-configured washer of the related art, if the pulsator  20  rotates, the water stored within the wash tub ascends along the passage  80   a , passes through the injection hole  80   b  and the mesh net  40  to filter of particles, and is then supplied within the dewatering tub  80 . 
     However, in the related art washer, the mesh net  40  is projected from an inner wall of the washer in part. Therefore, while laundry is washed, the laundry and the mesh net  40  collide with each other to abrade or tear the mesh net  50 . If the mesh net  40  is torn, particles filtered off by the mesh net  40  may be re-introduced into the dewatering tub  80 . And, the laundry is caught on the mesh net  40  to be damaged. 
     Moreover, the mesh net  40  is capable of filter off particles contained in the water only but is unable to inject water on laundry. Therefore, the mesh net  40  has the configuration failing to implement a function of raising wash efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a filter assembly of a washer that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly, by which the filter assembly for filtering water is not projected from a wash tub. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly, by which wash performance can be enhanced in a manner of filtering water and injecting the filtered water on laundry. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a filter assembly of a washer, which includes an inner wall having an outlet and a circulation passage to enable water to circulate to the outlet from a wash tub, according to the present invention includes a closed-type filter unit filtering off particles from the water discharged from the outlet, a cap having an injection hole to enable the water through the closed-type filter unit to be injected into the wash tub, and a locking means for fixing the closed-type filter unit and the cap to the inner wall, the locking means provided between the cap and the closed-type filter unit. 
     Preferably, the locking means includes a locking part and a fitting ring. In this case, one side of the locking part is assembled with the cap, the other side of the locking part is detachably attached to the outlet, and the fitting ring is configured to extend from the locking part to receive the closed-type filter unit therein. 
     More preferably, the locking part detachably attached to the outlet includes a hook. 
     In this case, the hook includes a pressurizing portion enabling a user to apply pressurization thereto and an insertion portion extending from the pressurizing portion to be inserted in the outlet. 
     And, prominence and depression is provided to a topside of the pressurizing portion. 
     More preferably, the fitting ring is formed of a flexible material. 
     In this case, a multitude of projections are provided to an outer circumference of the fitting ring by being spaced from each other with a predetermined gap. 
     Meanwhile, the cap includes a cap body having an injection hole and a cap rib configured to extend by being bent from an edge of the cap body. And, the closed-type filter unit is inserted in the cap rib. 
     In this case, the cap body is configured to be rounded. The cap rib further includes an insertion recess enabling the locking part to be inserted therein and a holding sill provided to a lower part of the insertion to limit a movement of the pressurizing portion. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washer having a mesh net according to a related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washer having a filter assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram of a filter assembly according to the present invention, in which a state of the filter assembly prior to being assembled to a washer is shown; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective diagram of a closed-type filter unit; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective diagram of a closed-type filter unit, in which an open state of the closed-type filter unit is shown; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a cap and closed-type filter unit of a filter assembly according to the present invention, in which a state prior to assembling the cap and the closed-type filter unit together is shown; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of a cap of a filter assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective diagram of the cap shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram for a locking device assembled to a cap of a filter assembly according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of a backside of a filter assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     The present invention is applicable to a washer. In this case, the washer can have one of various types including a vertical shaft type for rotating a pulsator or a wash tub and the like. In this disclosure, a vertical-shaft type washer having a rotated pulsator is taken as an example for the description of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washer having a filter assembly according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a configuration of a washer  100  of the present invention is explained as follows. 
     First of all, a washer of the present invention includes a main body  50  configuring an exterior, a wash tub  800  provided within the main body  50  to wash laundry by rotating centering on a vertical axis, and a water storing tub  700  provided outside the wash tub  800  to accommodate water therein. 
     A pulsator  120  is provided to an inner bottom of the wash tub  800 . And, the wash tub  800  and the pulsator  120  are rotated by drive and shaft assemblies  500  and  600  provided under the water storing tub  700 . 
     If the wash tub  800  is rotated by the drive and shaft assemblies  500  and  600 , the water stored on the bottom of the wash tub  800  is able to flow to an upper part of the wash tub by the corresponding rotational force. Preferably, the wash tub includes a circulation passage  800   a  enabling the water to flow. 
     In this case, the circulation passage  800   a  can include a space constructed with an inner wall configured to extend from the pulsator  120  and the wash tub  800 . 
     And, an outlet  820  is provided to the inner wall  810  to enable the water having ascended via the circulation passage  800   a  to be introduced into the wash tub  800 . 
     Meanwhile, a water supply assembly ( 150 ) for supplying water to the water storing tub  700  can be provided over the water storing tub  700  by being connected to an external water supply source of the washer. 
     In the following description, a filter assembly provided to the above-configured washer of the present invention is explained. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective diagram of a filter assembly according to the present invention, in which a separated configuration of the filter assembly prior to being assembled to a washer is shown. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a washer  100  of the present invention includes a filter assembly  400  enabling water, which ascends the circulation passage  800   a  and introduced into the outlet  820 , to be filtered and injected. 
     The filter assembly  400  can be detachably provided to the outlet  820  provided to the inner wall  810 . Preferably, the filter assembly  400  is inserted in the inner wall  810  to configure the same plane of a plane configured by the inner wall  810 . 
     This is to prevent laundry from being damaged by friction generated between the laundry and the filter assembly  400  when the laundry is washed through the rotation of the wash tub. 
     For this, the inner wall  810  is preferably configured to have a recess for enabling the filter assembly  400  to be accommodated therein. 
     The filter assembly  400  includes a cap  200  for injecting water into the wash tub  800  and a closed-type filter unit  300  detachably assembled with the cap  200  to filter the water introduced from the outlet  820 . 
     And, the filter assembly  400  according to the present invention can further include a locking device  250  enabling the cap  200  and the closed type filter unit  300  to be assembled to the outlet  820  provided to the inner wall  810  of the washer. 
     The locking device  250  can be built in one body of the cap  200 . Alternatively, the locking device  250  can be provided separate from the cap  200  to enable both of the cap  200  and the closed-type filter unit  300  to be detachably assembled to the inner wall  810 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective diagram of a cap and closed-type filter unit of a washer filter assembly according to the present invention, in which a front-view state of the washer filter assembly prior to assembling the cap and the closed-type filter unit together is shown. 
     A configuration and shape of the cap  200  are explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 5  as follows. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the cap  200  is preferably configured to enable the closed-type filter unit  300  to be accommodated in its backside. 
     Therefore, the cap  200  is able to include a cap body  214  having a circular shape and a cap rib  216  configured to extend backward along an outer circumference of the cap body  214 . 
     A multitude of injection holes  210  can be included in the cap body  214 . This configuration is provided to enable the water, which was filtered via the closed-type filter unit  300 , to be injected into the wash tub  800 . 
     In particular, the water filtered by the closed-type filter unit  300  to circulate into the wash tub  800  is made to pass through the narrow passage, thereby being injected onto the laundry within the wash tub  800 . 
     Therefore, according to the filer unit of the washer of the present invention, since the water circulating into the wash tub  800  is injected on the laundry, the effect of beating and washing the laundry can be caused to enhance wash performance. 
     The cap rib  216  provides a space for accommodating the closed-type filter unit  300  with the configuration that bent on an outer circumference of the cap body  214 . And, the cap rib  216  is configured to be assembled with the locking device  250 . 
     Therefore, it is preferable that the cap rib  216  is provided with an insertion recess  205  for receiving the locking device  250  therein. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of a cap of a filter assembly according to the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a perspective diagram for a backside view of the cap shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the cap  200  can further include an insertion recess  205 , a holding sill  207  and a projection  235 . 
     The insertion recess  205  is configured to be bent along a length direction of the cap rib  216  and is provided for receiving a locking part  240  of the locking device  250  therein. 
     The holding sill  207  is configured to restrict a motion of the locking part  240  if the locking part  240  of the locking device  250  is pressurized by the user. 
     The locking part  240  (cf.  FIG. 8 ) includes a pressurizing portion  243  (cf.  FIG. 8 ) enabling a user to pressurize it for attaching/detaching the filter assembly of the present invention. 
     Therefore, the holding sill  207  is configured to limit a distance for the locking part  240  to move in a radial direction of the cap when a user pressurizes the pressurizing portion  243 . 
     This is to enhance overall durability of the washer of the present invention by preventing the pressurizing portion  243  from being excessively transformed. 
     The fixing projection  225  shown in  FIG. 7  is configured to determine a locking position of the closed-type filter unit  300  when the closed-type filter unit  300  is accommodated in the cap  200 . And, the fixing projection  225  is also configured to maintain the holding force between the cap  200  and the closed-type filter unit  300 . 
     Meanwhile, a plurality of the fixing projections  225  can be provided to the backside of the cap  200 . In  FIG. 7 , two pairs of the fixing projections  225  are provided for example. 
     The fixing projections of each pair are preferably provided to symmetric positions. And, a guide rib  327  (explained later) of the closed-type filter unit  300  can be inserted in a space provided by a pair of the fixing projections  225 , which will be explained in detail later. 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective diagram of a closed-type filter unit. And,  FIG. 4B  is a perspective diagram of a closed-type filter unit, in which an open state of the filter unit is shown. 
     In the following description, a configuration of the closed-type filter unit  300  of the present invention is explained. 
     First of all, the closed-type filter unit  300  includes a front cover  320  for separating particles contained in water and a rear cover  340  assembled to the front cover  320 . 
     The front cover  320  and the rear cover  340  can be provided in an open/close configuration for facilitating assembly. This can be implemented by engaging a hinge member  330  between the front cover  320  and the rear cover  340 . 
     Preferably, a front side of the front cover  320  includes a mesh  322  to filter off particles contained in water when the water passes through the front cover  320 . 
     Moreover, a first rib  324  can be configured to backward extend along a circumference of the front cover  320 . 
     And, a guide rib  327  can be further included in an outer circumference of the first rib  324 . 
     Preferably, the guide rib  327  is configured to extend outward from the first rib  324  in a radial direction of the closed-type filter unit  300 . More preferably, at least two guide ribs  327  are provided. 
     The guide rib  327  is configured to facilitate the assembly of the closed-type filter unit  300  and the cap  200  in a manner of being fitted in a space formed by the fixing projections  225  provided to the backside of the cap  200 . 
     Therefore, a length or shape of the guide rib  327  is configured enough to correspond to a dimension of the space provided by the fixing projections  225 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of a cap and closed-type filter unit of a filter assembly according to the present invention, in which a state prior to assembling the cap and the closed-type filter unit together is shown. 
     An assembled state of a cap and a closed type filter unit is explained with reference to  FIG. 5  as follows. 
     First of all, when the cap  200  and the closed-type filter unit  300  are assembled together, a backside of the cap  200  assembled to an upper part of the front cover  320  is preferably able to maintain a prescribed space from the mesh  322 . 
     In particular, if the cap  200  and the closed-type filter unit  300  are assembled together, an outer circumference of the first rib  324  of the front cover  320  is inserted in the cap rib  216  of the cap  200 . 
     Preferably, a prescribed space is maintained between the cap backside and the mesh in a manner that a length (cf. ‘L 1 ’ in  FIG. 5 ) of the cap rib  216  is set greater than a length (cf. ‘L 2 ’ in  FIG. 5 ) of the first rib  324 . 
     If the prescribed space is not maintained between the backside of the cap and the mesh, the water having passed through the mesh partially collides with the backside portion of the cap which is not provided with the injection hole  210 . Therefore, a pressure between the cap and the front cover is raised to possibly separate the cap and the closed-type filter unit from each other. 
     If the prescribed space is maintained between the backside of the cap and the mesh, the water passing through the mesh can be smoothly injected into the wash tub via the injection hole  210 . 
     In the following description, the rear cover  340  is explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 4B . 
     First of all, the rear cover  340  is configured to guide water introduced via the outlet  820  and can include an inlet  342 , a second rib  344  and a passage rib  343 . 
     The inlet  342  can be provided to a central part of the rear cover  340  to correspond to the outlet  820  provided to the inner wall  810 . 
     The second rib  344  is configured to extend forward along a circumference of the rear cover  340  and is also configured to be fitted in the first rib  324 . 
     Once the front cover and the rear cover  340  are assembled together, the second rib  344  is assembled with the first rib  324  by coming into contact with the first rib  324 . Therefore, a sealed space is provided to prevent the water introduced from the outlet from entering outer parts except the mesh  322 . 
     In particular, once the front cover  320  and the rear cover  340  are assembled together, the first rib  324  provided to the front cover  320  covers the second rib  344  provided to the rear cover  340  so that circumferential parts of the front and rear covers  320  and  340  can be completely sealed. Therefore, particles accommodated within the closed-type filter unit  300  according to the mesh  322  are prevented from being discharged outside the closed-type filter unit  300 . 
     The passage rib  343  is provided to a circumference of the inlet  342  provided to the rear cover  340 . 
     And, the passage rib  343  can be configured to extend forward a front side of the rear cover  340  with a prescribed inclination. 
     Moreover, the passage rib  343  is configured to guide the water introduced into the closed-type filter unit  400  from the outlet  820  via the inlet  342 . 
     In particular, the passage rib  343  extends toward the front side of the rear cover  340  to enable the introduced water to be directly introduced into the mesh  322  of the front cover  320 . 
     And, the passage rib  343  is configured to have the prescribed inclination in order to prevent the water introduced into the closed-type filter unit  300  from flowing backward in a direction of the inlet  342 . 
     In the following description, the locking device  250  provided between an inner circumference of the cap and the closed-type filter unit is explained with reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram for a locking device assembled to a cap of a filter assembly according to the present invention, and  FIG. 9  is a diagram for a backside of a filter assembly according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the locking device  250  includes the locking part  240 . In this case, one side of the locking part  240  is inserted in the insertion recess (cf. ‘ 205 ’ in  FIG. 7 ) of the cap rib  216 , while the other side of the locking part  240  is detachably attached to the inner wall  810  of the filter assembly  400 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the locking device  250  includes a fitting ring  230  configured to extend from the locking part  240 . In this case, an outer circumference of the fitting ring  230  is fitted in the backside of the cap  200 , while the closed-type filter unit is inserted in an inner circumference of the fitting ring  230 . 
     The locking part  240  is explained with reference to  FIG. 8  as follows. 
     First of all, the locking part  240  is configured to enable a user to detachably attach the filter assembly  400  to the outlet  820 . The locking part  240  can include one of various device configurations. In particular, the washer filter assembly  400  according to the present invention can include a hook device as the locking part  240 . 
     In this case, the locking part  240  can include a pressurizing portion  243  and an insertion portion  245  configured to extend from the pressurizing portion  243  to be inserted in the locking recess  825  provided to the outlet  820 . 
     In order to attach/detach the filter assembly  400  installed at the outlet  820  to/from the inner wall  810 , a user pressurizes the pressurizing portion  243  in a vertical direction (up/down). 
     Preferably, a multitude of prominences and depressions  243   a  are provided to a topside of the pressurizing portion  243  to prevent a slippery surface against user&#39;s pressurization applied to the pressurizing portion  243 . 
     The insertion portion  245  is configured to extend from the pressurizing portion  243 . And, the insertion portion  245  is provided to be inserted in the locking recess (cf. ‘ 825 ’ in  FIG. 3 ) provided to the inner wall  810 . 
     Therefore, in order to facilitate the insertion portion  245  to be inserted in the locking recess  825 , an outer circumference of the insertion portion  245  is rounded. 
     Meanwhile, the holding sill  207  is preferably provided to a lower part of the insertion recess  205  provided to the cap rib  216 . The holding sill  207  is provided to limit a movement of the pressurizing portion  243  if a user applies a force to the pressurizing portion  243 . 
     Therefore, the user is able to fix the cap and the closed-type filter unit to the inner wall of the wash tub  800  in a manner of inserting the insertion portion  245  in the locking recess  825  provided to the inner wall  810 . 
     Moreover, the user is able to separate the cap and the closed-type filter unit from the inner wall of the wash tub  800  in a manner of separating the insertion portion  245  from the locking recess  825  provided to the inner wall  810  by pressurizing the pressurizing portion  243 . 
     In the following description, the fitting ring  230  is explained with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     First of all, the fitting ring  230  has a ring-type configuration for connecting two locking parts  240  in-between. 
     An outer circumference of the fitting ring  230  is contacted with an inner circumference of the cap  200 . And, the closed-type filter unit  300  is inserted in an inner circumference of the fitting ring  230 . 
     In particular, the fitting ring  230  is provided between the inner circumference of the cap  200  and the outer circumference of the closed-type filter unit  300 , thereby enabling both of the cap  200  and the closed-type filter unit  300  to be fixed in one body to the inner wall  810 . 
     Preferably, the fitting ring  230  is formed of such a flexible material as rubber, plastic, etc. 
     If the fitting ring  230  is formed of the flexible material, it is able to fix the closed-type filter unit  300  by shrink fit. 
     Moreover, since the outer circumference of the fitting ring  230  can be fixed to the inner circumference of the cap by the shrink fit, it is able to assemble the cap and the closed-type filter unit together within a separate locking or assembling member. 
     Meanwhile, in order to raise the attachment force between the inner circumference of the cap and the closed-type filter unit, a plurality of projections  235  can be further provided to the outer circumference of the fitting ring  230 . In this case, a plurality of the projections  235  are spaced apart from each other with a prescribed gap. 
     In the following description, a process for filtering water in the above-configured water filter assembly  400  is explained. 
     First of all, in performing a washing or rinsing cycle, the pulsator  120  is rotated by the drive assembly  500 . 
     Once the pulsator  120  is rotated, a strong water current is radially generated from water by a corresponding rotational force of the pulsator  120  so that the water can flow upward along the circulation passage  800   a  from a lower part of the wash tub  800 . 
     Subsequently, the water is introduced into the wash tub  800  via the outlet  820  provided to the circulation passage  800  and the filer assembly  400  provided to the outlet  820 . 
     In doing so, the water having passed through the outlet  820  is introduced into the closed-type filter unit  300  via the inlet  342  provided to the rear cover  340  of the closed-type filter unit  300 . 
     And, particles contained in the water introduced into the closed-type filter unit  300  are filtered off by the mesh  322  provided to the front cover  320 . 
     In this case, since the circumferences of the front and rear covers  320  and  340  configuring the closed-type filter unit  300  are sealed by the first rib  324  provided to the front cover  320  and the second rib  344  provided to the rear cover  340 , the particles filtered off by the mesh  322  are not discharged from the closed-type filter unit  300 . 
     Moreover, the inclining passage rib  343  is provided around the inlet  342  to guide the water introduced into the closed-type filter unit  300  and to prevent the water from flowing backward in a direction of the inlet  342 . 
     Meanwhile, the water having passed through the closed-type filter unit  300  is injected into the wash tub via the injection hole  210  provided to the cap  200 . 
     In this case, a multitude of injection holes  210  are provided to the cap so that the water through the closed-type filter unit can be introduced into the wash tub  800  via narrow holes. Thus, it is able to provide the water with a strong injection pressure. 
     Therefore, the water through the injection holes is sprayed onto the laundry stored in the wash tub, whereby washing or rinsing efficiency can be raised. 
     Moreover, the filter assembly  400  of the washer according to the present invention is provided not to be projected from the inner wall  810 , thereby preventing laundry from being damaged by the contact in-between in the course of a washing process. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.