Patent Publication Number: US-8979141-B2

Title: Door of washing machine and assembling structure and assembling method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0110754, filed on Nov. 10, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a door, which opens and closes a main body of a washing machine, and an assembling structure and assembling method thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, washing machines are apparatuses, which remove dirt or contaminants from laundry through chemical decomposition and mechanical impact. Among these washing machines, a drum washing machine has an increased washing capacity as well as a reduced total height and scarcely generates problems, such as the entanglement of laundry, compared with a pulsator washing machine, in which an inner tub, i.e., a drum, is rotated while facing upward, thus being increasingly in great demand. 
     In such a drum washing machine, an opening, through which the laundry is put into the washing machine, is formed through the front surface of the main body, and a door to open and close the opening is rotatably installed at one side of the front surface of the main body. 
     The door includes a front panel and a rear panel forming the external appearance of the door, a door handle disposed between the front panel and the rear panel to allow a user to grip the door handle, and a door opening and closing device to open and close the door in connection with the operation of the door handle. 
     In the washing machine, when the user applies pressure to the door handle, the door opening and closing device is operated in connection with the door handle due to the application of pressure, and when the pressure applied to the door handle is released, the door handle and the door opening and closing device are returned to their original states. 
     In order to return the door handle and the door opening and closing device to their original states when the pressure applied to the door handle is released, as described above, the door opening and closing device includes an elastic member. 
     In a conventional assembling method of a door of a washing machine, the door is assembled by fixing one side of an elastic member to a door handle and fixing the other side of the elastic member to the rear surface of a front panel by pressure when the front panel is assembled with a rear panel. 
     However, the above conventional assembling method may cause mis-assembly between the elastic member and the front panel when the door is assembled, and when the elastic member and the front panel are mis-assembled, the door handle may move. 
     Further, an assembly time required to accurately assemble the front panel and the elastic member is increased, and thereby productivity of the washing machine is lowered and price competitiveness of the washing machine is deteriorated. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a door of a washing machine, in which assembly efficiency of the door is improved, and an assembling structure and assembling method thereof. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a door of a washing machine, into which a front panel and a rear panel are assembled after a mounting position of an elastic member of a door opening and closing device is fixed, and an assembling structure and assembling method thereof. 
     In accordance with one aspect, the present disclosure provides a door of a washing machine including a front panel forming the front surface of the door; a rear panel forming the rear surface of the door; a door handle mounted on the rear panel; fixing parts provided on the rear panel; a hook member operated in connection with the operation of the door handle; and an elastic member provided with one side fixed to the fixing parts and the other side fixed to the door handle to provide elastic force to the hook member and the door handle. 
     The rear panel may include a holder member to receive the door handle; and the fixing parts may be provided on the holder member. 
     The holder member may be formed integrally with the rear panel. 
     The door may further include a pin member to connect the door handle and the hook member, and the rear panel may include support parts to support the pin member. The fixing parts may be respectively provided on the support parts. 
     In accordance with another aspect, the present disclosure provides an assembling structure of a door of a washing machine including a front panel forming the front surface of the door; a rear panel connected to the front panel and forming the rear surface of the door; a door handle rotatably disposed between the rear panel and the front panel; a hook member operated in connection with the operation of the door handle; and an elastic member to provide elastic force to the hook member and the door handle, wherein fixing parts to fix one side of the elastic member are provided on the rear panel; and the front panel and the rear panel are connected, after the elastic member is fixed to the fixing parts. 
     The rear panel may include a holder member to receive the door handle; and the fixing parts may be provided on the holder member. 
     In accordance with a further aspect, the present disclosure provides an assembling method of a door of a washing machine, which has a door handle, and a door opening and closing device to open and close the door in connection with the operation of the door handle, including mounting the door opening and closing device on a rear panel forming the rear surface of the door; fixing free terminals of an elastic member of the door opening and closing device to the rear panel; and connecting a front panel forming the front surface of the door to the rear panel. 
     The rear panel may include a holder member to receive the door handle; and in the fixation of the free terminals of the elastic member to the rear panel, the free terminals may be fixed to the holder member. 
     Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure in a state in which a door is opened; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the door of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are views illustrating a process of assembling a door handle and a door opening and closing device of the door in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an assembling operation of a front panel of the door of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating an assembling operation of a door handle and a door opening and closing device of a door of a washing machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective view of an essential portion of the door in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a process of assembling a door handle and a door opening, and closing device of the door including a holder member formed integrally with the rear panel of the door in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a door of a washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure and an assembling structure and assembling method thereof will be described. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure in a state in which the door is opened, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the door of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are views illustrating a process of assembling a door handle and a door opening and closing device of the door in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an assembling operation of a front panel of the door of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The washing machine in accordance with the present disclosure, as shown in  FIG. 1 , may include, for example, a main body  10  having an approximately box shape and provided with an opening  11  formed through the front surface of the main body  10  such that laundry is put into or taken out of the main body  10  through the opening  11 , a tub (not shown) and a drum  12  installed in the main body  10  in the horizontal direction, and a door  20  to open and close the opening  11  of the main body  10 . 
     The door  20  is rotatably connected to the main body  10  by a hinge member  13  installed at one side end of the door  20 . 
     When the operation of the washing machine is stopped or completed, a user opens the door  20  so that laundry may be put into or taken out of the main body  10 , and when the washing machine is operated, the user closes the door  20  such that washing of the laundry is carried out in the closed state of the opening  11 . 
     A control panel  14  to control the washing machine is provided on the upper portion of the front surface of the main body  10 , and a detergent box  15  is installed at one side of the control panel  14 . 
     Further, a hook coupling part  16  having a designated size, which connects with or separates from a hook member  70  of a door opening and closing device  60 , which will be described later, to or from the main body  10 , is formed on the main body  10 . 
     The door  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , includes a front panel  30  forming the external appearance of the front surface of the door  20 , a rear panel  40  connected with the front panel  30 , a door handle  50  provided at the other side end of the door  20  opposite from the hinge member  13  to facilitate the opening and closing of the door  20 , and the door opening and closing device  60  (not shown) to lock the door  20  with the main body  10  and release the locking of the door  20  with the main body  10  in connection with the operation of the door handle  50 . 
     The front panel  30  is formed in a ring shape, the central portion of which is open to form an orifice. A first hinge coupling part  31  is provided at one side end of the front panel  30  to connect the hinge member  13  to the door  20 . 
     The shape of the rear panel  40  corresponds to the shape of the front panel  30  and forms the external appearance of the rear surface of the door  20 . A second hinge coupling part  41  corresponds to the first hinge coupling part  31  to connect the hinge member  13  to the door  20 . The second hinge coupling part  41  is provided at one side end of the rear panel  40 , and a mounting part  42  is provided at the other side end of the rear panel  40  opposite the second hinge coupling part  41 . The mounting part  42  is provided for mounting of door handle  50 . 
     A pair of support parts  43  to rotatably support the door handle  50  is provided on the mounting part  42 , and a first pin hole  44 , into which a pin member  80  is inserted, is formed through each of the support parts  43 . The pin member  80  will be described in greater detail below. 
     The door handle  50  is provided between the front panel  30  and the rear panel  40  such that a user may easily grip the door handle  50  and apply pressure to the door handle  50 . 
     The door handle  50  includes a grip part  51  to allow the user to grip the door handle  50 , and a coupling part  52  extended from the grip part  51  to rotatably mount the door handle  50  on the rear panel  40 . 
     The grip part  51  has a curved plate shape, which is elongated approximately in the lengthwise direction, so as not to be exposed from the inner circumferential surface of the door  20 . 
     The coupling part  52  is extended outward from the center of the grip part  51 , and a pair of second pin holes  53 , into which the pin member  80  is inserted, is formed at a position of the coupling part  52  corresponding to the first pin holes  44  of the support parts  43 . 
     Therefore, the door handle  50  is connected to the rear panel  40  so that the door handle  50  is rotated forward and backward, by disposing the coupling part  52  between the pair of the support parts  43  of the rear panel  40  while communicating the first and second pin holes  44  and  53  with each other and then inserting the pin member  80  into the first and second pin holes  44  and  53 . 
     A first fixing part  54 , to fix a connection part  92  of an elastic member  90 , which will be described later, is formed on the coupling part  52 . A reception part  55 , to receive a rotational center part  71  of a hook member  70 , which will be described later, is formed between the pair of the second pin holes  53  formed at both sides of the coupling part  52 . 
     The door  20  further includes a transparent member  21  connected to the inner circumferential surface of the rear panel  20  such that the inside of the drum  12  is seen from the outside. Here, the rear panel  40  further includes a holder member  45  to mount the transparent member  21  on the rear panel  40 . 
     The holder member  45  may be formed integrally, e.g., of one-piece construction with the rear panel  40 , as shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Alternatively, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the holder member  45  is formed separately from the rear panel  40  and thus the rear panel  40  further includes the holder member  45  detachably mounted on the rear panel  40 . 
     The holder member  45  is mounted on the rear panel  40  through hook coupling, and one side of the edge of the transparent member  21  is inserted into a separation space between the holder member  45  and the rear panel  40 . 
     Further, a handle reception part  46 , in which the door handle  50  is mounted, is formed on the holder member  45 , and the door handle  50  is mounted on the rear panel  40  within the handle reception part  46  such that the door handle  50  is rotated forward and backward. 
     The door opening and closing device  60  includes the hook member  70  operated in connection with the operation of the door handle  50 , the pin member  80  to rotatably mount the hook member  70  and the door handle  50  on the rear panel  40 , and the elastic member  90  to return the hook member  70  and the door handle  50  to their original positions when the force applied to the door handle  50  is removed. 
     The hook member  70  includes the rotational center part  71  connected with the pin member  80 , a lever part  72  protruding from one side of the rotational center part  71  to receive the rotary force of the door handle  50 , and a hook part  73  formed at the front end of the lever part  72  to lock the door  20  with the main body  10 . 
     A lever hole  48  having a designated size, through which the lever part  72  may be protruded to the outside of the rear panel  40 , is formed through the rear panel  40 . 
     Further, the hook coupling part  16 , into which the hook part  73  may be inserted, is formed on the main body  10  at a position corresponding to the hook part  73 . 
     The elastic member  90 , which returns the door handle  50  and the hook member  70  to their original positions when the force applied to the grip part  51  by a user is removed, is provided on the pin member  80  to connect the door handle  50  and the rear panel  40 . 
     The elastic member  90  may include a variety of springs, such as a torsional spring, to which a torsional stress in the rotational direction to the axis line is applied. This embodiment exemplarily describes a double torsional spring with two symmetrical terminals. 
     The elastic member  90  includes a pair of coil parts  91 , a connection part  92  formed at the inner parts of the coil parts  91  to connect the coil parts  91 , and a pair of free terminals  93  formed at the outer ends of the coil parts  91  and protruding from the coil parts  91 . 
     The pair of the coil parts  91  is formed such that the pin member  80  is inserted into the coil parts  91 , and the connection part  92  connecting the coil parts  91  is inserted into the first fixing part  54  of the door handle  50 , and the free terminals  93  are fixed to the holder member  45 . 
     Second fixing parts  47  to fix the pair of the free terminals  93  of the elastic member  90  are provided on the holder member  45 . The second fixing parts  47  are formed in a pair corresponding to the pair of the free terminals  93 , and thus the free terminals  93  are respectively fixed to the corresponding second fixing parts  47 . 
     After the free terminals  93  of the elastic member  90  are fixed to the second fixing parts  47 , as described above, the front panel  30  is assembled with the rear panel  40 . 
     Therefore, in this embodiment, both sides of the elastic member  90  are fixed prior to the assembly of the front panel  30  and the rear panel  40 , and then the front panel  30  is assembled with the rear panel  40 , thereby preventing mis-assembly between the elastic member  90  and the front panel  30  and shortening an assembly time, compared with the conventional method that one end of an elastic member is fixed to the rear surface of a front panel by pressure when the front panel is assembled with a rear panel, and thus being capable of improving productivity and reducing production costs. 
     Hereinafter, an assembling method of the door of the washing machine in accordance with this embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the transparent member  21  is fixed to the rear panel  40 , and then the holder member  45  is mounted on the rear panel  40 . 
     Alternately, the holder member  45  may be mounted on the rear panel  40 , and then the transparent member  21  may be interposed between the rear panel  40  and the holder member  45 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the connection part  92  of the elastic member  90  is fixed to the first fixing part  54  of the door handle  50 , and the rotational center part  71  of the hook member  70  is located in a space between the pair of the coil parts  91  of the elastic member  90  so that the second pin holes  53  of the coupling part  52  of the door handle  50 , the coil parts  91  of the elastic member  90 , and the rotational center part  71  of the hook member  70  are communicated with one another. 
     Thereafter, the pin member  80  is inserted into the first pin holes  44  of the support parts  43  so that the pin member  80  passes through the second pin holes  53 , the coil parts  91 , and the rotational center part  71 , communicated with the first pin holes  44 , thereby rotatably connecting the door handle  50  and the hook member  70  between the support parts  43  of the rear panel  40 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the free terminals  93  at the other end of the elastic member  90  are fixed to the second fixing parts  47  of the holder member  45  by pressure, thereby completing the mounting of the elastic member  90  on the rear panel  40 . 
     Thereafter, the front panel  30  is connected to the front surface of the rear panel  40  provided with the above-described various parts mounted thereon, thereby completing the assembly of the door. 
     Hereinafter, a door of a washing machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure and an assembling structure and assembling method thereof will be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating an assembling operation of a door handle and a door opening and closing device of the door of the washing machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective view of an essential portion of the door in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The following embodiment may have the same configuration as that of the former embodiment except for the structure of a rear panel. 
     Hereinafter, elements in this embodiment, which may be substantially the same as those in the former embodiment, are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted. Therefore, only those elements in the following embodiment that are different from those in the former embodiment will be described. 
     The door  20  in accordance with this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , includes a front panel  30  forming the external appearance of the front surface of the door  20 , a rear panel  40 ′ connected with the front panel  30 , a door handle  50  provided at the other side end of the door  20  opposite to a hinge member  13  of the door  20  to facilitate the opening and closing of the door  20 , and a door opening and closing device  60  to lock the door  20  with the main body  10  and release the locking of the door  20  with the main body  10  in connection with the operation of the door handle  50 . 
     A mounting part  42  to mount the door handle  50  is provided on the rear panel  40 ′. 
     A pair of support parts  43 ′ to rotatably support the door handle  50  is provided on the mounting part  42 , and a first pin hole  44 ′, into which a pin member  80  is inserted, is formed through each of the support parts  43 ′. 
     The door opening and closing device  60  includes a hook member  70  operated in connection with the operation of the door handle  50 , the pin member  80  to rotatably mount the hook member  70  and the door handle  50  on the rear panel  40 , and an elastic member  90  to return the hook member  70  and the door handle  50  to their original positions when the force applied to the door handle  50  is removed. 
     A connection part  92  of the elastic member  90  is fixed to a first fixing part  54  of the door handle  50  in the same manner as the former embodiment. 
     Free terminals  93  of the elastic member  90  are fixed to the rear panel  40 ′. Second fixing parts  47 ′, which are respectively formed integrally with the support parts  43 ′ to fix the free terminals  93 , are formed on the rear panel  40 , and the free terminals  93  of the elastic member  90  are fixed to the second fixing parts  47 ′. 
     Here, although this embodiment illustrates that the support parts  43 ′ and the second fixing parts  47 ′ are formed integrally, second fixing parts may be respectively provided on the rear panel  40 ′ at positions separated from the support parts  43 ′. 
     Although the second fixing parts  47 ′ are illustrated as formed in the shape of a hole, the second fixing parts  47 ′ may alternatively be formed in a loop or clasp shape, in the same manner as the former embodiment. 
     Further, although this embodiment omits a holder member, the holder member may be provided in the same manner as the former embodiment. 
     After the free terminals  93  of the elastic member  90  are fixed to the second fixing parts  47 ′, as described above, the front panel  30  is assembled with the rear panel  40 . 
     Therefore, in this embodiment, both sides of the elastic member  90  are fixed prior to the assembly of the front panel  30  and the rear panel  40 , and then the front panel  30  is assembled with the rear panel  40 , thereby preventing mis-assembly between the elastic member  90  and the front panel  30  and shortening an assembly time, compared with the conventional method that one end of an elastic member is fixed to the rear surface of a front panel by pressure when the front panel is assembled with a rear panel, and thus being capable of improving productivity and reducing production costs. 
     As is apparent from the above description, in the door of the washing machine and the assembling structure and assembling method thereof in accordance with the present disclosure, the elastic member of the door opening and closing device is fixed prior to the assembly of the front panel and the rear panel, and thus the assembly efficiency of the door is improved. 
     Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.