Patent Publication Number: US-5421175-A

Title: Stocking washing machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a washing machine specifically designed for washing stockings and socks. 
     A variety of washing machines have been disclosed for washing clothes, and have appeared on the market. These washing machines are commonly bulk and not economic for washing stockings only. Because stockings and socks may cause contamination, people tend to wash them by hand. However, it is labor-consuming to wash stockings and socks by hand. Therefore, there is a heavy demand for an automatic washing machine which is practical and economical for washing stockings and socks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the aforesaid circumstances. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stocking washing machine which washes stockings and socks automatically. It is another object of the present invention to provide a stocking washing machine which is inexpensive and suitable for personal use. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stocking washing machine which is compact and can be mounted on the wall. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stocking washing machine which provides the functions of washing, rinsing, and spinning. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a stocking washing machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view in perspective of the stocking washing machine shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view in perspective of the stocking washing machine shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the stocking washing machine shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 shows the stocking washing machine operated under the mode of DRAIN; 
     FIG. 6 shows the stocking washing machine operated under the mode of WASH; 
     FIG. 7 shows the stocking washing machine operated under the mode of CLEAN; and 
     FIG. 8 shows the stocking washing machine operated under the mode of SPINNING. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the housing, referenced by 1, comprises an axle hole 210 at one side, an endless flange 501 surrounding the axle hole 210, a dispenser slot 12 at the top, a liftable lid 121 covered on the dispenser slot 12, a water intake port 127 at one side by the dispenser slot 12 for connecting to the water outlet of a water supply pipe, an elongated hole 17 marked with &#34;WASH&#34; and &#34;DRAIN&#34; at two opposite ends, a front opening (not shown) at an opposite side, and a gear shaft 323 disposed on the outside near the axle hole 210. A drum 2 is received inside the housing 1, having a drum shaft 21 at one end and a plurality of drain holes 20 around the periphery and an opening 22 at an opposite end. The drum shaft 21 of the drum 2 is inserted through a washer 21 and extended out of the housing 1 through the axle hole 210. A seal ring 212 is fastened to the axle hole 210 around the drum shaft 21 to seal the gap. A motor cover 5 which has radiation fins 50 is mounted on the endless flange 501 of the housing 1 to hold a motor 4. The motor 4 has a pinion 324 mounted on the output shaft 41 thereof. A driven gear 321 is mounted on the drum shaft 21 of the drum 2. A stepped transmission gear 322 is mounted on the gear shaft 323 and meshed between the pinion 324 and the driven gear 321. An inner locating ring 10 is fastened within the front opening of the housing 1. An outer locating ring 101 is fastened to the inner locating ring 10 by screws R, having an annular flange 101 inserted into the opening 22 of the drum 2. A door 11 is hinged to the outer locating ring 101 by a hinge 113 to seal the opening 22 of the drum 2. The door 11 has a glass cover face 111, through which the inside of the drum 2 is viewed. A lock 112 is made on the door 11 to lock it in the closed position. A control panel 6 is mounted on the motor cover 5, having a timer switch 61 and an indicator lamp 62 respectively and electrically connected to the electric circuit of the motor 4. A detergent dispenser 122 is installed inside the housing 1 below the dispenser slot 12. The detergent dispenser 122 is shaped like a rectangular box divided into two chambers, namely the detergent dispensing chamber 126 and the water intake chamber 123. The detergent dispensing chamber 126 has a plurality of dispensing holes 125 at the bottom. The water intake chamber 123 has a water inlet hole 124 at the bottom aimed at the water intake port 127, and holes (not shown) communicated between the chambers 126; 123. A link 71 is inserted through the elongated hole 17 on the housing 1, having a drain control switch 72 at the top extended out of the housing 1 and a hole 73 in the middle and fastened to a hole 730 on a front drain panel 9 by a screw R1 and a hole 74 at the bottom fastened to a hole 740 on a drain control shutter 8 by a screw R2. The drain control shutter 8 comprises two elongated horizontal holes 81 arranged at the top, and drain holes 80 arranged in a line at the bottom. The front drain panel 9 comprises a plurality of overflow outlets 92 arranged in a line at the top, a plurality of drain holes 90 arranged in a line at the bottom corresponding to the drain holes 80 on the drain control shutter 8, and a plurality of screw holes 91 respectively connected to the elongated horizontal holes 81 by screws R3 permitting the drain control shutter 8 to be moved back and forth horizontally. A back drain panel 93 and a back cover 94 are respectively fastened to the housing 1 at the back to hold the front drain panel 9 in place. The back drain panel 93 and the back cover 94 have screw holes 930; 940 respectively fastened to respective screw holes (not shown) on the back of the housing 1 by screws 941 and water seal rings 14. When installed, the detergent dispenser 122 is supported above the front drain panel 9 and retained within mounting ribs 13 on the housing 1. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the stocking washing machine can be fastened to the wall and conveniently operated by turning the timer switch 61 on the control panel 6 above the motor cover 5. When the stocking washing machine is operated, the indicator lamp 62 gives light. When the lid 121 is lifted, a detergent can be put into the detergent dispenser 122 through the dispenser slot 12. The drain control switch 72 may be moved in either direction so as to control the act of draining. The door 11 can be opened so that stockings and socks can be put into the drum 2 for washing. When the door 11 is closed, the user can monitor the washing of the stocking washing machine through the glass face cover 111. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, when the drain control switch 72 is moved toward the right, the link 71 is turned about the screw R1 causing the drain control shutter 8 moved toward the left (OFF position), and therefore the drain holes 80 on the drain control shutter 8 are moved away from the drain holes 90 on the front drain panel 9 and water is stopped from passing through the drain holes 80. On the contrary, when the drain control switch 72 is moved toward the left (ON position), the link 71 is turned about the screw R1 causing the drain control shutter 8 moved toward the right, and therefore the drain holes 80 on the drain control shutter 8 are respectively aligned with the drain holes 90 on the front drain panel 9 permitting water to flow out of the housing 1 through a drain port 15 at the bottom of the housing 1. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, when the stockings or socks G to be washed have been put into the drum 2, the door 11 is closed, then the drain control switch 72 is moved to OFF position, then a proper amount of the detergent is put into the detergent dispenser 122 and water is guided into the drum 2 through the water intake port 127, and then the timer switch 61 is turned to the desired setting time causing the motor 4 to turn the drum 2. When water is guided into the water intake port 127, it flows through the water intake chamber 123 into the drum 2, and at the same time part of water flows from the water intake chamber 123 into the detergent dispensing chamber 126 to mix with the detergent and then to carry the detergent out of the detergent dispenser 122 into the drum 2 through the dispensing holes 125. When the drum 2 is being turned round and round, the stockings G are rubbed in water and cleaned by the detergent. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, after washing, cleaning water is continuously guided into the drum 2 while the supply of the detergent is stopped. When water level is increasing, the overflow of water flows through the overflow outlets 92 out of the housing 1 via the drain port 15. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, after cleaning, water is stopped from being sent into the drum 2, then the drain control switch 72 is moved to ON position, and then the timer switch 61 is turned to the desired setting time causing the drum 2 to spin, and therefore a centrifugal effect is produced to remove water from the stockings G permitting water to be expelled out of the housing 1 through the drain holes 90 and the drain port 15.