Patent Publication Number: US-11384476-B2

Title: Laundry treating apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date and the right of priority to Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2019-0014062, filed in Korea on Feb. 1, 2019, and No. 10-2019-0124783, filed in Korea on Oct. 8, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     A laundry treating apparatus having a door for opening and closing a laundry inlet port is disclosed herein. 
     2. Background 
     In general, a laundry treating apparatus may include an apparatus having a function of washing or drying laundry. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus may be configured to have both a washing function and a drying function of the laundry. 
     A laundry treating apparatus may include a main body having a laundry inlet port, a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet port, and a drum rotatably provided inside of the main body to accommodate laundry therein. 
     Recently, consumers tend to prefer a larger size of the door with respect to a same capacity and size of a washing machine. To accomplish this, a center of the door should move below a center of the laundry inlet port to enlarge a size (diameter) of the door with the door protruding from a front panel of the main body. 
     In addition, consumers prefer to have a wide field of view with regard to an inner space of the drum so as to look into the drum through the door. In order to satisfy the needs of consumers, a circular front glass is installed on a front surface of the door in order to give a luxurious touch to the laundry treating apparatus while letting the consumers see inside of the laundry inlet port. 
     However, when the circular front glass is provided on the front surface of the door, due to a nature of the glass material, the front glass is easily broken, making it difficult to install or attach the handle to the front glass. Further, there is not enough area to install the handle to an outer frame, as a front surface of the outer frame is covered by the front glass. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a door in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the door in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view illustrating a state in which a handle is installed on a rear surface of the door in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a handle is inclined backward on a door by adjusting a thickness of an inner frame, taken along line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a handle is inclined backward on a door by adjusting a thickness of the handle in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a protrusion is provided to prevent hands from slipping on a handle in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a groove is provided to prevent hands from slipping on a handle in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an elastic structure is provided to prevent hands from slipping on a handle in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a door is mounted to a front panel of a main body to close a laundry inlet port, taken along line X-X in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of the door of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view illustrating a state in which a recess is recessed into a front panel to surround a laundry inlet port in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a portion “XIII” in  FIG. 10 , in which a contact portion is in contact with a recess of a main body; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a portion “XIV” in  FIG. 10 , in which a non-contact portion is spaced apart from the recess of the main body; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view illustrating a hook coupling structure between an outer frame and an inner frame, taken along line XV-XV in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic view illustrating a hook coupling structure between the outer frame and a handle, taken along line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic view illustrating a state in which a hook is partially disposed on the handle, when the inner frame of  FIG. 11  is viewed from the front. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are designated with the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant description has been omitted. The suffixes “module” and “unit” for components or elements used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease in creating specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles. In describing embodiments, if a detailed explanation for a related known technology or construction is considered to unnecessarily divert the gist, such explanation has been omitted but would be understood by those skilled in the art. Also, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings are merely illustrated to easily explain the concept, and therefore, they should not be construed to limit the technological concept disclosed herein by the accompanying drawings, and the concept should be construed as being extended to all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the concept and technological scope. 
     Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used merely for the purpose to distinguish an element from another element. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected with” another element, the element can be directly connected with the other element or intervening elements may also be present. On the contrary, in case where an element is “directly connected” or “directly linked” to another element, it should be understood that any other element is not existed therebetween. 
     Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     Terms “include” or “has” used herein should be understood that they are intended to indicate the existence of a feature, a number, a step, a constituent element, a component or a combination thereof disclosed in the specification, and it may also be understood that the existence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, elements, components or combinations thereof are not excluded in advance. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment. The laundry treating apparatus disclosed herein may include a main body  10 , a laundry accommodating portion, and a door  12 . The main body  10  may define an outer shape or appearance of the laundry treating apparatus. The main body  10  may be defined in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. 
     The main body  10  may include a front panel  101 , a rear panel, side panels, an upper panel, and a lower panel. The front panel  101  may define a front surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The rear panel may define a rear surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The side panels may define left and right or lateral sides of the laundry treating apparatus, respectively. The upper panel may define an upper surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The lower panel may define a lower surface of the laundry treating apparatus. A laundry inlet port  106  (see  FIG. 10 ) may be formed in the front panel  101 . The rear panel and the side panels may be defined in a “ ” shape by bending one rectangular plate, thereby improving a structural rigidity of the main body  10 . 
     The laundry inlet port  106  formed in a circular shape may be provided at the front panel  101 . The door  12  may be rotatably coupled to the front panel  101  by a hinge  25  (see  FIG. 3 ), so as to open and close the laundry inlet port  106 . 
     A laundry accommodating portion may be provided inside of the main body  10 . The laundry accommodating portion may be provided with a drum to perform a drying function. The laundry accommodating portion may include a tub and a drum to perform washing and drying functions together. 
     For example, in order to perform the washing and drying functions together, a tub and a drum may be provided inside of the main body  10 . The tub may be defined in a cylindrical shape. The tub may be disposed such that a central axis of the tub is horizontal or inclined at a predetermined angle in a lengthwise direction of the tub. 
     Wash water may be stored inside of the tub. 
     A gasket may be provided at a front end portion or end of the tub to communicate with the laundry inlet port  106 , thereby preventing the wash water stored inside of the tub from leaking into an accommodation space of the main body  10 . 
     The drum may be provided in the tub to be rotatable with respect to the tub. A front portion of the drum may be open to be in communication with the laundry inlet port  106 , and laundry may be introduced inside of the drum through the laundry inlet port  106 . 
     A drive motor may be installed on a rear surface of the tub. The drive motor may be connected to the rear surface of the drum by a rotational shaft. As the drive motor is driven, power of the drive motor may be transmitted to the drum through the rotational shaft, thereby rotating the drum. 
     The drum may be provided with a plurality of lifters therein to rotate laundry accommodated inside of the drum, thereby performing washing and drying functions. For example, when the plurality of lifters rotate along with the drum so as to spin the laundry from a bottom to a top of the drum along an inner circumferential surface of the drum, the laundry may fall to the bottom of the drum due to gravity, thereby acquiring an effect of washing dirty laundry by beating the laundry with a paddle. 
     A plurality of through holes may be formed through a circumferential surface of the drum to allow a fluid, such as wash water, to flow into and out of the drum through the plurality of through holes. 
     A controller  11  is configured to display information related to operations of the laundry treating apparatus to a user and to receive the user&#39;s input. The controller  11  may include a display for displaying visual information. The controller  11  may also include a circular knob and a plurality of buttons for receiving the user&#39;s input, for example. 
     The controller  11  may be provided on the main body  10  or provided on the door  12 . In this embodiment, controller  11  is located on an upper portion of the front panel  101  of the main body  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the door  12  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the door  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
     The door  12  may include a door frame  13 , a door window  23 , a front glass  20 , a hinge unit  24 , and a locking unit  30 . The door frame  13  may have a ring shape. 
     The door frame  13  may include an outer frame  14  and an inner frame  19 . The outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may be made of a synthetic resin material, such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, or a polycarbonate (PC) material, for example. Each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may be manufactured by injection molding, for example, when made of a synthetic resin material. 
     The outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may each have a ring shape, each having a diameter that corresponds to each other, and coupled to each other in an overlapping manner in a frontward-rearward direction. Each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may be provided with a hook  36  (see  FIG. 13 ) at an outer circumference thereof to be engaged with each other by, for example, an interference or snap fit. 
     The outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  are named as such as the outer frame  14  is disposed toward or faces an outside of the main body  10  and the inner frame  19  is disposed toward or faces an inside of the main body  10  based on a state in which the door  12  is closed. The outer frame  14  may be referred to as a “first frame”, and the inner frame  19  may be referred to as a “second frame”. 
     A circular opening  18  may be formed inside of each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . The openings  18  may be eccentrically positioned from centers of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 , respectively. For example, a center of the opening  18  may be positioned above the center of each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . 
     According to this embodiment, each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may vary in width along a circumferential direction. In other words, a distance (width) between an outer diameter and an inner diameter (the opening  18  diameter) of each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may increase (widen) from a top end to a bottom end. 
     A center of the drum may be disposed higher than a center of a height (½) of the main body  10 . The drum may be fixed in a heightwise direction of the main body  10  aside from minute vibration due to rotation. 
     Consumers tend to prefer a larger size of the door  12  to a same capacity and size of the washing machine when looking at the body  10  from the front. In addition, consumers are able to look into the drum through the door  12 , and if possible, prefer to have a wide field of view with regard to an inner space of the drum. 
     In order to satisfy the needs of the above-mentioned consumers, the door  12  must be enlarged downward to increase the size of the door  12  while a position of the drum is fixed. A center of the door frame  13  must move below a center of the laundry inlet port  106  or the opening  18 . Similarly, the center of the door frame  13  may move downward with respect to the door window  23  positioned to correspond to the opening  18 . 
     In addition, in order to enlarge the size of the door  12 , a portion of the door  12  may protrude outward from the recess  103 , and a diameter of the door  12  may be large. For example, a portion of the door protruding outward from the recess  103  may include a portion of a mounting guide, a flat portion, and a curved portion, which are part of the outer frame  14 . 
     The front glass  20  may be defined in a complete circular shape having a predetermined radius. The front glass  20  may be made of a glass material. Further, the front glass  20  may have flat front and rear surfaces. 
     The front glass  20  may have a disc shape having a predetermined thickness, without bending, when viewed from any direction, up, down, left, or right. As described above, the front and rear surfaces of the front glass  20  made of a glass material may have a flat complete circular shape, thereby enhancing a quality grade of the door  12 , compared to a door cover in the related art made of a synthetic resin material and having a convex front surface in an incomplete circular shape. 
     The front glass  20  may cover the opening  18  of the door frame  13 . The front glass  20  may be bonded to a front surface of the outer frame  14  by a sealant or an adhesive, for example. 
     Due to a nature of the glass material, it is easy to break when a fastening hole is drilled in the front glass  20 , and thus, the front glass  20  may be attached to the outer frame  14  using an adhesive, for example, to prevent the glass from being broken. On the other hand, the front glass  20  made of a glass material occupies a relatively large load compared to a total load of the door  12 . In order to support the load of the front glass  20 , a mounting guide  34  to mount the front glass  20  may be provided on a front surface of the outer frame  14 . 
     In particular, the front glass  20  may be made of tempered glass. Due to a nature of tempered glass, front and rear surfaces of the front glass  20  have a high strength, but a circular outer circumferential surface, which is a side surface of the front glass  20 , has a low strength. To compensate for this, the mounting guide  34  may be disposed to protrude forward from a front outer circumferential end of the outer frame  14  to surround an outer circumferential surface of the front glass  20 , to support the load of the front glass  20  as well as to protect a side or outer circumferential surface of the front glass  20  from an external shock or impact. 
     A protruding length of the mounting guide  34  may cover at least ⅔ of the thickness of the front glass  20 . This is because an external impact may be applied to the outer circumferential surface of the front glass  20  and the load of the front glass  20  may not be sufficiently supported when the protruding length of the mounting guide  34  is too short. 
     For example, a straight portion  202  and a plurality of curved portions  201 ,  203  may be defined on the outer circumferential surface of the front glass  20 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . The plurality of curved portions  201 ,  203  may include first curved portion  201  connected to a front surface of the front glass  20  and second curved portion  203  connected to a rear surface of the front glass  20 . The straight portion  202  may extend between the first and second curved portions  201 ,  203  and be connected to the plurality of curved portions  201 ,  203 , respectively. Each of the first curved portion  201 , the straight portion  202 , and the second curved portion  203  may be ⅓ of the thickness of the front glass  20 . 
     The mounting guide  34  may cover the second curved portion  203  and the straight portion  202  of the front glass  20 . The mounting guide  34  may protrude from a front edge portion or edge of the outer frame  14 . The mounting guide  34  may extend in a ring shape to define a space in which the front glass  20  may be accommodated. 
     The mounting guide  34  may surround the outer circumferential surface of the front glass  20 . The mounting guide  34  may have a predetermined inner diameter and be completely circular. An inner diameter of the mounting guide  34  may correspond to an outer diameter of the front glass  20 . 
     A transparent region  21  and a non-transparent region  22  may be disposed at inner and outer sides of the front glass  20 , respectively. The transparent region  21  denotes a region configured to transmit at least a portion of light so that an opposite side or the inside of the laundry accommodating portion may be viewed by the user. 
     Therefore, the transparent region  21  may include a translucent region  21 . 
     The transparent region  21  may correspond to the opening  18  of the outer frame  14 , the opening  18  of the inner frame  19 , and the door window  23 . Therefore, when the door  12  is closed, the user may look into the laundry accommodating portion through the transparent region  21 . 
     A center of the transparent region  21  may be located at a position corresponding to a center of the opening  18  of each of the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . The corresponding position may include not only perfect alignment of the center, but also, alignment in an eccentric direction of the center. In other words, the center of the transparent region  21  and the center of the opening  18  may coincide, or the eccentric direction of the transparent region  21  may be the same as the eccentric direction of the opening  18 . 
     In embodiments disclosed herein, the center of the opening  18  is eccentrically located from the center of the door frame  13  to an upper side (12 o&#39;clock direction), and correspondingly, the center of the transparent region  21  is also eccentrically located from the center of the front glass  20  to the upper side (12 o&#39;clock direction). The center of the transparent region  21  and the center of the opening  18  may alternatively coincide with each other. 
     The non-transparent region  22  may surround the transparent region  21 . Also, the non-transparent region  22  does not transmit light therethrough, and thus, the glass itself may appear black in the non-transparent region  18 . 
     The non-transparent region  22  may be a remaining portion except for the opening  18  of the door frame  13 . A boundary line between the transparent region  21  and the non-transparent region  22  surrounding the transparent region  21  may be distinguished by the non-transparent region  22 . 
     Alternatively, the boundary between the transparent region  21  and the non-transparent region  22  may be blurred through a halftone technique, thereby allowing a visual transition from the transparent region  21  to the non-transparent region  22 . The non-transparent region  22  may include a plurality of shielding dots arranged around the transparent region  21 , and the plurality of shielding dots may be arranged to have a lower density toward the transparent region  21 . 
     The outer frame  14  may include a flat portion  15  and a curved portion  16 . The flat portion  15  may be in contact with the rear surface of the front glass  20 , and a portion of the flat portion  15  may overlap with the non-transparent region  22 . An adhesive may be applied to the flat portion  15  so that the front glass  20  may be adhered to the flat portion  15 . 
     An adhesive groove  37  may be formed concave in a ring shape in a front surface of the flat portion  15  facing the front glass  20 , so that an adhesive may be filled therein. The rear surface of the front glass  20  may be adhered to the flat portion  15  by the adhesive. 
     The adhesive may overflow to outside or inside of the adhesive groove  37  when the adhesive is filled in the adhesive groove  37 . In order to accommodate the adhesive overflowing from the adhesive groove  37 , adhesive overflow grooves  38  may be formed in a ring shape at an inside and an outside of the adhesive groove  37 , respectively. 
     The adhesive groove  37  and the adhesive overflow grooves  38  may be radially formed at an outer side of the flat portion  15 . The non-transparent region  22  of the front glass  20  may cover the adhesive groove  37  and the adhesive overflow grooves  38 . 
     A plurality of drain holes  39  may be formed through a lower side of the flat portion  15  in a thickness direction of the flat portion  15 . Accordingly, water or moisture (liquid) generated between the rear surface of the front glass  20  and a front surface of the outer frame  14  may be discharged to outside through the plurality of drain holes  39 . 
     The curved portion  16  may be curved in an arc shape having a predetermined curvature toward an outer circumference of the opening  18  formed in the inner frame  19  from an inner end of the flat portion  15 . The curved portion  16  may overlap an outer edge portion or edge of the transparent region  21 . The opening  18  may be located at an inner side of the curved portion  16  in a radial direction. 
     The mounting guide  34  may be formed on an outermost portion of the flat portion  15  in the circumferential direction to protrude more than the flat portion  15 . An outer circumferential portion of the outer frame  14  may surround an outer edge of the front glass  20 , thereby preventing the outer edge of the front glass  20  from being released radially outward from the flat portion  15  of the outer frame  14 . 
     A chromium layer  17  may be disposed on front and outer circumferential surfaces of the outer frame  14  by chromium (or chrome) plating, for example. The outer frame  14  may be completely immersed in a chromium plating solution, followed by the chromium plating, so that the chromium layer  17  may be formed on an entire surface of the outer frame  14 . 
     The chromium layer  17  may coat the outer frame  14  with a silver polished metal color. The chromium layer  17  may obtain an effect that it looks like bright silver circular droplets. In addition, the chromium layer  17  may give a luxurious look or feel when viewed with the naked eye. 
     The door window  23  may correspond to the laundry input port  106  when the door  12  is closed. The door window  23  may be mounted to the door frame  13  to correspond to the opening  18  of the inner frame  19 . 
     The door window  23  may be made of a transparent material, for example, a synthetic resin material having a light transmitting property, so that an inner space of the laundry accommodating portion, such as the drum, may be viewed through the door window  23 . The door window  23  may not be necessarily limited to such synthetic material but may alternatively be made of a glass material. 
     An outer edge portion or edge  231  of the door window  23  may be inserted and coupled between the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . The outer edge portion  231  of the door window  23  may have a flat shape, and may be fixedly disposed between a rear end of the curved portion  16  of the outer frame  14  and an inner end of the inner frame  19 . 
     The door  12  may be rotatably provided with respect to the main body  10  by the hinge unit  24 . The hinge unit  24  may include a hinge  25 , a hinge holder  28 , and a bush  29 . 
     The hinge  25  may be fixed to the main body  10 , and rotatably coupled to the door frame  13 . The hinge  25  may include a plate-shaped base portion  26  coupled to the main body  10 , and a rotation coupling portion  27  that protrudes from the base portion  26  and rotatably coupled to the door frame  13 . A plurality of the rotation coupling portion  27  may be provided spaced apart from each other in an upward-downward direction. 
     The hinge holder  28  may be coupled to the door frame  13  to support the rotation coupling portions  27  to prevent the rotation coupling portions  27  from being released from the door frame  13 . The bush  29  may be inserted into a rotational shaft of each rotation coupling portion  27  to smoothly rotate the rotational shaft. 
     The hinge unit  24  may be mounted at one or a first side of the door  12 , and a locking unit  30  may be provided at another or a second side of the door  12 . The locking unit  30  may be configured to lock or unlock the door  12  to or from the main body  10 . 
     The locking unit  30  may include a shaft  31 , a door latch  32 , and a spring  33 . The shaft  31  may pass through the door latch  32 , and be mounted on the door frame  13 . The spring  33  has an elastic force to be retractable during rotation of the door latch  32 . The door latch  32  may be configured to be rotatable and restorable (or resilient) with respect to the door frame  13  so as to lock or unlock the door  12  with respect to the main body  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view illustrating a state in which the handle  40  is installed on a rear surface of the door  12  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a state in which the handle  40  is inclined backward with respect to a rear of the door  12  by adjusting a thickness of the inner frame  19 . 
     The handle  40  may be disposed at a rear surface of the door frame  13 . 
     The handle  40  may be disposed at one side of a rear surface of the inner frame  19 . The handle  40  may be disposed in a direction opposite to the front glass  20 . 
     The handle  40  may have an arcuate shape. A length of the handle  40  may be 1/36 to ¼ of a total circumferential length of the door  12 . 
     The handle  40  may be made of a rubber material, for example, to block heat transfer to the handle  40  from the outer frame  14  on which the chromium layer  17  is formed. This prevents the handle  40  from transferring cold. Accordingly, cold of the chromium layer  17 , in which chromium is plated onto an outer surface of the outer frame  14 , may not be transferred to the user. 
     The handle  40  made of the rubber material may give a soft feeling without giving any uncomfortable feeling to the user, and give a better grip. However, the handle  40  is not limited to the rubber material. 
     The rear surface of the inner frame  19  may be convex backward in a curved shape. A handle mounting portion  42  may be provided on or at one side of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  to be recessed forward, allowing the handle  40  to be mounted on the handle mounting portion  42 . An adhesive surface may be formed inside of the handle mounting portion  42  as a flat surface, allowing the handle  40  to be attached to the handle mounting portion  42 . 
     The handle mounting portion  42  may be disposed on or at an upper left side of the inner frame  19 , when viewed from the rear of the door  12 . The handle mounting portion  42  may be recessed in a shape corresponding to the handle  40 , so as to surround an outer edge surface of the handle  40 . The handle  40  may be attached to the handle mounting portion  42  with an adhesive, for example. A depressed portion  43  may be formed to be wider in both circumferential directions at both ends of the handle mounting portion  42 , allowing the handle  40  to be easily installed. 
     The user may open the door  12  by pulling the handle  40 . The handle  40  may be configured to prevent a hand from sliding outward on the rear surface of the door  12 . 
     The handle  40  may be inclined backward with respect to a vertical plane of the front glass  20 . This increases a sliding resistance of the handle  40 , thereby preventing the hand from sliding radially outward on the rear surface of the door  12 . 
     The handle  40  may be in the form of a plate having a constant thickness. The handle  40  may be provided with a side wall at opposite ends thereof, respectively, along the circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of side walls may be inclined or rounded. In this embodiment, the side walls are rounded. 
     The handle mounting portion  42 , which is a portion of the inner frame  19 , may be thinner in the frontward-to-backward direction of the door  12  compared to other parts of the inner frame  19 . The handle mounting portion  42  may be inclined along the radial direction of the inner frame  19 , so as to be thicker or increase in thickness from an inside toward an outside thereof in the radial direction. An inclination angle  9  may be, for example, 3 degrees. Even if a thickness of the handle  40  is constant, the handle  40  may be inclined backward with respect to the vertical plane of the door  12  by an inclined surface of the handle mounting portion  42 . 
     In order to prevent a hand from slipping on the handle  40 , it is also possible to make the handle mounting portion  42  to have a constant thickness without making the handle  40  inclined. However, due to the nature of the rubber material, it is difficult to manage the rubber as it gets thicker. Therefore, it is possible to prevent handle slippage by making the handle  40  made of the rubber material to have a constant thickness, and the handle mounting portion  42  to which the handle  40  is attached inclined. The handle mounting portion  42  may be made of a synthetic resin material the same as the inner frame  19 . 
     The outer frame  14  may further include a protruding portion  14   a  that protrudes from a rear surface of an outer circumferential portion to surround an outer edge of the handle mounting portion  42  and the handle  40 , respectively, so that the handle mounting portion  42  and the handle  40  are closed (or covered) by the outer circumferential portion of the frame  14 . The protruding portion  14   a  may protrude backward from the rear surface of the outer circumferential portion of the outer frame  14 , so that the outer circumferential portion of the handle  40  may be prevented from being radially separated outward from the handle mounting portion  42 . 
     A tapered portion  41  may be formed to be radially tapered at an outer end portion of the rear surface of the handle  40  (the surface that comes in contact with a hand). The tapered portion  41  may be thinner or decrease in thickness from an inside toward an outside of the inner frame  19  in the radial direction, and an outer end of the tapered portion  41  may correspond to a rear end portion of the protruding portion  14   a.    
     With this structure, a step between the protruding portion  14   a  of the outer frame  14  and the outer end of the tapered portion  41  of the handle  40  may be eliminated, which allows the user to put fingers into the rear surface of the handle  40  easier for pulling the handle  40 . Further, a simpler appearance of the outer frame  10  and the handle  40  of the inner frame  19  may be achieved. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the handle  140  is inclined on the rear of the door  12  by adjusting a thickness of the handle  140  according to another embodiment. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment of  FIG. 5  in that the rear surface of the handle  140  is inclined by adjusting the thickness of the handle  140 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the handle  140  is inclined on the rear of the door  12  by adjusting the thickness of the inner frame  19  (the handle mounting portion  142 ). In this embodiment, the handle mounting portion  142  may have a constant (or uniform) thickness, and the handle  140  may be inclined on the rear of the door  12 , thereby preventing a hand from sliding off the handle  140 . 
     The other components are the same as/like those of the foregoing embodiment of  FIG. 5 . Thus, detailed description thereof has been omitted. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a protrusion  244  is provided to prevent a hand from slipping on a handle  240  according to another embodiment. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment of  FIG. 5  in that a plurality of protrusions  244  is formed on the handle  240 . In this embodiment, the protrusion  244  is formed in a stripe pattern having a narrow width and a long length, but the shape is not limited to this. It may have an embossed shape in various patterns, such as a square, or a circle, for example. 
     The plurality of protrusions  244  may prevent the hand from sliding off the handle  240 . The other components are the same as/like as those of the previous embodiment of  FIG. 5 , and thus, detailed description thereof has been omitted. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a groove  344  is provided to prevent a hand from sliding off a handle  340  according to another embodiment. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment of  FIG. 5  in that a plurality of grooves  344  is formed in the handle  340 . 
     In this embodiment, a shape of the groove  344  is formed as a stripe pattern having a narrow width and a long length, but the shape is not limited to this. It may have an intaglio shape in various patterns, such as a rectangle, or a circle, for example. The other components are the same as/like those of the previous embodiment of  FIG. 5 , and thus, detailed description thereof has been omitted. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an elastic structure is provided to prevent a hand from sliding off a handle according to another embodiment. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in that the handle  440  is integrally formed with the inner frame  19 . 
     In this embodiment, the handle  440  may be disposed such that one or a first side thereof is connected to the handle mounting portion  42  and the other or a second side is spaced rearward from the handle mounting portion  42 . The handle  440  may include a first portion  441  that protrudes backward from an outer end portion or end in the radial direction of the handle mounting portion  42 , a second portion  442  tapered from the first portion  441 , and an elastic pressing portion  443  radially extending inward from the second portion  442 . 
     The first portion  441  and the second portion  442  may be connected to the handle mounting portion  42  to support the elastic pressing portion  443 . The second portion  442  may connect the first portion  441  and one side of the elastic pressing portion  443 , and be inclined in a direction spaced apart from the handle mounting portion  42 . 
     The elastic pressing portion  443  may be elastically bent toward the front glass  20  in a direction to the handle mounting portion  42 , when pressed by the hand. When the elastic pressing portion  443  is pressed, it is bent toward the handle mounting portion  42 , thereby preventing the hand from slipping off the handle  440 . When a force applied to the elastic pressing portion  443  is released, the elastic pressing portion  443  may be returned to its original position. A plurality of grooves  445  may be formed in the elastic pressing portion  443 , thereby maximizing the effect of preventing the hand from slipping on the handle  440 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line X-X in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the door  12  mounted on the front panel  101  of the main body  10  to close the laundry inlet port  106 .  FIG. 11  is a rear view of the door in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 12  is a front view illustrating that the recess  103  is recessed in the front panel  101  to surround the laundry inlet port  106  in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portion “XIII” in  FIG. 10 , illustrating that a contact portion  191  is in contact with the recess  103  of the main body.  FIG. 14  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portion “XIV” in  FIG. 10 , illustrating that a non-contact portion  192  is spaced apart from the recess  103  of the main body  10 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a state in which the controller  11  of  FIG. 1  is removed from an upper side of the front panel  101 . A plurality of ribs  102  may protrude upward from an upper end portion or end of the front panel  101 . The controller  11  may be mounted on the upper end portion of the front panel  101 . A rear surface of the controller  11  and the plurality of ribs  102  may be coupled by coupling elements, such as screws. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a handle  35  may be formed in a manner of recessing a rear upper side of the inner frame  19 , so that the user may open the door  12  by pulling the handle  35 . The rear surface of the inner frame  19  may be convex rearward in an arcuate shape. 
     The handle  35  may be provided on the door  12  for the user to open and close the door  12 . In the related art, the handle is generally provided on a front side of the door. However, in embodiments disclosed herein, as the front glass  20  is provided to cover the front surface of the door  12 , it is difficult to provide the handle  35  on the front glass  20 . Thus, the handle  35  is not provided on the front surface of the door  12  due to the front glass  20 , but rather, may be provided on the rear surface of the door  12 . The handle  35  may be provided on the inner frame  19 . 
     In addition, the handle  35  may be provided at an upper portion of the door  12  for the user to easily pull the door  12 . This is because, when the handle  35  is provided at a lower portion of the door  12 , the user has to bend his or her waist and knees more to pull the handle  35 . 
     Moreover, as the hinge unit  24  and the locking unit  30  are respectively provided at lateral sides of the door frame  13 , respectively, along a horizontal center line CL-CL that horizontally passes through the center of the door frame  13  in a radial direction, they are positioned higher than the horizontal center line. In addition, the handle  35  is disposed on the upper side of the door frame  13  to be higher than the locking unit  30  in order to open and close the door  12  with less force. 
     The handle  35  may be disposed on the upper side of the rear surface of the inner frame  19 . More specifically, when the door  12  is closed, the handle  35  may be located at a right upper portion, namely, between one o&#39;clock and three o&#39;clock, when viewed from the front of the main body  10 . 
     The handle  35  may be recessed into the convex rear surface of the inner frame  19  toward the outer frame  14 . The handle  35  may be formed in an arcuate shape on the rear surface of the inner frame  19  along a partial section of the rear surface in a circumferential direction. 
     The handle  35  may be thin and flat compared to an outer circumference of the inner frame  19  (a portion of the inner frame except the handle  35 ). When the door  12  is closed by the user, the handle  35  is recessed forward in the flat shape, compared with the outer circumference on the rear surface of the inner frame  19 , when viewed from the front of the main body  10 , thereby facilitating insertion of the user&#39;s hand into the handle  35  as well as facilitating identification of a position of the handle  35  in the closed state of the door  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the recess  103  may be provided on the front panel  101  of the main body  10 . The recess  103  may accommodate a portion of the door  12 , more particularly, a portion of the door frame  13 , more particularly, a portion of the inner frame  19 . The recess  103  may include a recessed portion  1031 , and a flat portion  1032 . 
     The recessed portion  1031  may be recessed rearward into the front surface of the front panel  101  toward the inside of the main body  10 . The recessed portion  1031  may have a larger diameter than the laundry inlet port  106  and may be formed in a curved shape along the circumferential direction. 
     The recessed portion  1031  may be formed in a circular shape to surround an outer circumference of the flat portion  1032 . The recessed portion  1031  may have sides connected to the front surface of the front panel  101  and the flat portion  1032 , so that the flat portion  1032  is stepped toward the inside of the main body  10  with respect to the front surface of the front panel  101 . The recessed portion  1031  may be bent backward from the front surface of the front panel  101 . 
     The recessed portion  1031  may be inclined while its diameter gradually decreases from a front end to a rear end thereof. The flat portion  1032  may be disposed toward the inside of the main body  10  more rearward than the front surface of the front panel  101 . 
     The flat portion  1032  may extend perpendicularly in the form of a flat plate, and the laundry inlet port  106  may penetrate through the inside of the flat portion  1032  in a thickness direction. The flat portion  1032  may be defined in a ring shape. 
     The laundry inlet port  106  may be formed eccentrically from a center of the recess  103 . For example, a center of the laundry inlet port  106  may be located higher than the center of the recess  103 . As a result, a width (a radial distance) of the flat portion  1032  becomes wider (longer) from an upper portion to a lower portion of the flat portion  1032 . 
     A hinge portion  104  to couple with the hinge unit  24  may be provided at a left or first side of the flat portion  1032 , so that the hinge unit  24  may be hinged to the hinge portion  104 . A locking portion  105  to couple with the locking unit  30  may be provided at a right or a second side of the flat portion  1032 , so that the locking unit  30  may be coupled to the locking portion  105 . 
     The door  12  may be fixed to lateral sides of the flat portion  1032  by the hinge unit  24  and the locking unit  30  when the laundry inlet port  106  is closed. The hinge portion  104  and the locking portion  105  may be disposed on the horizontal center line CL-CL horizontally passing the center of the flat portion  1032  in the radial direction, when looking at the circular flat portion  1032  from the front of the main body  10 . 
     A curling portion may be formed on an inner end of the flat portion  1032 . The curling portion may have a form in which an end of the flat portion  1032  is curled into a rounded shape, thereby removing a sharp portion of the inner end of the flat portion  1032 . Damage to laundry due to friction with the inner end of the flat portion  1032  may be prevented when the laundry is loaded or unloaded through the laundry inlet port  106  located at the inner end of the flat portion  1032 , and injury to a hand, for example, which may be caused due to a contact with the inner end of the flat portion  1032  may be avoided. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the door window  23  may include outer edge portion  231  formed in a circular shape on a front end thereof, and a protruding portion  232  that protrudes toward the inside of the drum from the outer edge portion  231 . The protruding portion  232  may have a curved shape. The protruding portion  232  may have an upper surface, side surfaces, a lower surface, and a rear surface. Both the side surfaces and the rear surface of the protruding portion  232  may be configured to connect the upper and lower surfaces of the protruding portion  232 . 
     The upper and lower surfaces of the protruding portion  232  may be formed asymmetrically. For example, the upper surface of the protruding portion  232  may be inclined smoothly relative to the lower surface of the protruding portion  232 , and the lower surface of the protruding portion  232  may be inclined sharply relative to the upper surface of the protruding portion  232 . The rear surface of the protruding portion  232  may be formed almost in a perpendicularly flat surface. With this configuration, the door window  23  may cover the opening  18  of the inner frame  19 , and the protruding portion  232  may protrude into the drum through the laundry inlet port  106  when the door  12  is closed. 
     When a large quantity of laundry is loaded into the drum, the laundry may collide with the door window  23  protruding into the drum while rotating along the inner circumferential surface of the drum. Embodiments disclosed herein prevent the door  12  from being lifted towards the outside of the main body  10  due to the collision between the laundry and the door window  23 . 
     A contact portion (pivot portion)  191  may be provided on the rear surface of the door frame  13 . The contact portion  191  may be brought into contact with the main body  10  when the door  12  is closed. The contact portion  191  may be formed integrally with the rear surface of the inner frame  19 . The contact portion (pivot portion)  191  may function as a pivot about which the door may pivot upon application of an internal force to the door. 
     The contact portion  191  may be in contact with a front end of the front panel  101 , a front end of the recess  103 , or a boundary portion between the front panel  101  and the recess  103 . The boundary portion between the front panel  101  and the recess  103  is a portion where the recess  103  starts to be recessed. 
     The recessed portion  1031  may be understood as including the portion where the recess  103  starts to be recessed. The contact portion  191  may be brought into contact with the recessed portion  1031  of the recess  103 . When the contact portion  191  is in contact with the recessed portion  1031  of the recess  103 , a contact area between the contact portion  191  and the main body  10  may be minimized. Further, when the contact portion  191  is in contact with the recessed portion  1031  of the recess  103 , the contact portion  191  may be smoothly connected in a curved shape to the rear surface of the inner frame  19  without protruding. 
     In embodiments disclosed herein, the rear surface of the inner frame  19  may have an arcuate cross section and may be convex toward the front surface of the front panel  101  and the flat portion  1032 . The rear surface of the inner frame  19  may have an arcuate cross section. 
     The rear surface of the inner frame  19  may be asymmetric at upper and lower portions. The inner frame  19  may be formed such that an upper portion of the rear surface has a greater curvature than the lower portion of the rear surface. 
     The rear surface of the inner frame  19  may face the front panel  101  or the flat portion  1032 . The upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  denotes a portion of the rear surface located above the horizontal center line CL-CL horizontally passing through the center of the inner frame  19  in the radial direction, when looking at the rear surface of the inner frame  19  from the rear side. 
     The lower portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  denotes a portion of the rear surface located below the horizontal center line CL-CL. The contact portion  191  may be located on the upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19 , so as to allow the upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  to be in contact with the recessed portion  1031  of the main body  10 . 
     The contact portion  191  may curved on the upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19 . The contact portion  191  may have a curved shape having a greater curvature than that of the lower portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19 . 
     The contact portion  191  may have an arcuate shape from the rear surface of the inner frame  19  toward the recessed portion  1031 . The contact portion  191  may circumferentially extend from the upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  so as to have an arcuate cross section. In this case, the contact portion  191  may have a circumferential length which is ½ of or shorter than an entire circumference of the inner frame  19  along the circumferential direction of the inner frame  19 . For example, when an outer diameter of the inner frame  19  is D (mm), the contact portion  191  may be πD/2 or shorter. 
     The contact portion  191  may be formed at one side of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  or a plurality of contact portions  191  may be formed spaced apart from the upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  in the circumferential direction. In embodiments disclosed herein, the single contact portion  191  having the arcuate cross section extends from the upper portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19  along the circumferential direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the recessed portion  1031  may be inclined downward toward the flat portion  1032  with respect to the perpendicularly-formed front surface of the front panel  101 . An outer side of the front end of the recessed portion  1031  connected to the front surface of the front panel  101  may be rounded. The outer side of the front end of the recessed portion  1031  may be formed to have a radius of curvature which is significantly smaller than a radius of curvature of the contact portion  191 . 
     A radius of an arc formed by the contact portion  191  may be much larger than a radius of an arc formed by the outer side of the front end of the recessed portion  1031 . The arc of the contact portion  191  and the arc formed by the outer side of the front end of the recessed portion  1031  may be disposed to be adjacent to each other. 
     The contact portion  191  may be in contact with the outer side of the front end of the recessed portion  1031  when the door  12  is closed, and the contact between the contact portion  191  and the outer side of the front end of the recessed portion  1031  may be made on a curved surface of the arcs externally brought into contact with each other. With this configuration, the contact portion  191  formed on the rear surface of the door frame  13  may be in contact with one side of the main body  10 , namely, the outer side (rounded portion) of the front end of the recessed portion  1031  formed at the front panel  101 , when the door  12  is closed. In this case, the contact portion  191  may be in point contact or line contact with the one side of the main body  10 . 
     A first portion of the door frame  13  may protrude forward from the outer side of the recess  103  based on the contact portion  191 . A second portion of the door frame  13  may be accommodated in the recess  103 . 
     A non-contact portion  192  may be provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the inner frame  19 . The non-contact portion  192  may be formed with a curvature smaller than that of the contact portion  191 . The non-contact portion  192  may be inclined smoothly relative to the contact portion  191 . Thus, the non-contact portion  192  may be spaced forward apart from the lower side of the recessed portion  1031  of the recess  103 . 
     Therefore, according to embodiments disclosed herein, the contact portion  191  may be provided at the upper portion on the rear surface of the door frame  131 , and may be brought into contact with the recessed portion  1031  of the recess  103  of the main body  10  when the door  12  is closed, so that lifting of the door  12  may be prevented even if laundry spinning along the inner circumferential surface of the drum collides with the door window  23  when the laundry is loaded in a large quantity. 
     More specifically, when a large quantity of laundry is accommodated in the drum, the laundry may be moved down to a bottom of the drum due to gravity and centrifugal force in a state of being wet with water, and hit the lower portion of the door window  23  during spinning. When an impact is applied to the door window  23  due to the spinning of the laundry, the lower portion of the rear surface of the door frame  13  is pressed from the inside of the drum. 
     In a state in which the hinge unit  24  and the locking unit  30  respectively disposed at the lateral sides on the rear surface of the door frame  13  are fixed to the flat portion  1032 , the contact portion  191  provided at the upper portion on the rear surface of the door frame  13  may be brought into contact with the recessed portion  1031  formed in the front panel  101  of the main body  10 , so as to resist lifting of the door  12 , thereby preventing vibration or shaking of the door  12  even if an impact is applied to the lower portion of the door frame  13 . In addition, the contact portion  191  extends in an arcuate curved shape along the circumferential direction of the door frame  13 . The contact portion  191  may not protrude from one side of the rear surface of the door frame  13 , but rather, may form a curved surface smoothly connected to its adjacent portions without a bent portion, thereby allowing the door to have a beautiful appearance. 
     In particular, the rear surface of the door  12  may be brought into contact with the recessed portion  1031  where the recess  103  starts to be recessed, by the contact portion  191 . The contact portion  191  may cover the inside of the recess  103 . Therefore, the door window  23  protruding from the rear surface of the door to the inner space of the main body  10  may be covered, thereby improving an appearance of the door  12 . 
     In addition, the contact portion  191  of the door  12  may not protrude from the rear surface of the door  12 , but rather, may be brought into contact with the recessed portion  1031  where the recess  103  starts to be recessed, without being in contact with the flat portion  1032  of the recess  103 , thereby preventing an increase in unnecessary material costs due to an increase in size of the contact portion  191 . 
     Also, the contact portion  191  may be curved toward the front panel  101  or the recess  103  to have a cross section in an arcuate shape, so as to be in point contact or line contact with the recessed portion  1031 , thereby minimizing a contact area of the contact portion  191  when the door  12  is closed. Accordingly, an impact applied to the main body  10  may be dispersed along the circumferential direction of the recess  103  when the main body  10  is brought into contact with the contact portion  191  due to rotation of the door  123 , resulting in minimizing the impact applied to the main body  10 . 
     A contact state between the contact portion  191  and the main body  10  may be maintained after the door  12  is closed, and thus, vibration and noise occurring between the door  12  and the main body  10  may be minimized even though an impact is repetitively applied from the laundry accommodated in the drum through the door window  23 . In addition, even if the lower portion of the door frame  13  is lifted inside of the drum due to the impact applied to the door window  23 , lateral sides of the door  12  and an upper end of the door  12  may be supported at a plurality of points on the front panel  101 . For example, the plurality of points may include at least three support points, each a vertex of a triangle. Both left and right or lateral support points of the three support points may be formed as the hinge unit  24  and the locking unit  30  of the door  12  are coupled to the main body  10 . The upper support point of the three support points may be formed by the contact between the contact portion  191  and the main body  10 . Thus, a suppression force against vibration or shaking of the door  12  may be improved significantly. 
     In addition, as the arcuate curved surface of the contact portion  191  and the arcuate curved surface of the recessed portion  1031  where the door  12  and the main body  10  are in contact with each other may realize a point contact or a line contact with each other, thereby minimizing friction between the mutual contact surfaces. Moreover, even if the lifting of the door  12  occurs, the contact point between the door frame  13  and the recess  103  moves on the arcuate curved surface, so as to prevent the contact portion  191  of the door frame  13  from being spaced apart from the main body  10 , thereby achieving stable contact. 
     In addition, an impact transferred from the inside of the drum through the door window  23  may be alleviated by virtue of stable contact between the contact portion  191  of the door frame  13  and the recess  103  of the main body  10 . Accordingly, neither a separate buffer member between the door  12  and the main body  10  nor an installation space of the buffer member are needed, thereby accommodating more of the door  12  in the recess  103 , resulting in implementing a compact arrangement of the door  12 . 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic illustrating a hook coupling structure between an outer frame and an inner frame, taken along line XV-XV in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 16  is a schematic view illustrating a hook coupling structure between the outer frame  14  and the handle  35 , taken along line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 17  is a schematic view illustrating a state in which a hook is partially disposed on the handle  35 , when the inner frame of  FIG. 11  is viewed from the front. 
     In order to couple the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  to each other, hooks  51 ,  52  may be provided on the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 , respectively. The hooks  51 ,  52  may include first hook  51  provided on the outer frame  14  and second hook  52  provided on the inner frame  19 . Each of the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  may have a ring shape along the circumferential direction. The first and second hooks  51 ,  52  may be coupled to each other by an interference or snap fit to couple the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 , as discussed herein below. 
     The first hook  51  may protrude from the outer frame  14  toward the inner frame  19 . The first hook  51  may be disposed outside of the radial direction of the mounting guide  34  to surround an outer circumferential portion of the inner frame  19 . The first hook  51  may be disposed outside of the mounting guide  34  when viewed from the front of the main body  10 . 
     The mounting guide  34  and the first hook  51  may be integrally connected by extension portion  341 . The extension portion  341  may extend from the mounting guide  34  to the first hook  51 . The extension portion  341  may extend from the mounting guide  34  to the first hook  51  to gradually increase in diameter. The extension portion  341  may have a curved shape. 
     Each of the mounting guide  34 , the first hook  51 , and the extension portion  341  may extend along the circumferential direction of the outer frame  14 . According to this embodiment, the mounting guide  34 , the extension portion  341 , and the first hook  51  may define an outer circumferential surface of the outer frame  14  in one curved shape to cover the inner frame  19 , so as to cover up the main body  10  when viewed the front of the main body  10 , thereby enhancing and beautifying an appearance of the door  12 . Each of the mounting guide  34 , the extension portion  341 , and the first hook  51  may have a curved or inclined surface shape without wrinkles or steps, so that a diameter thereof gradually increases from the mounting guide  34  to the first hook  51 . 
     The first hook  51  and the second hook  52  may be disposed to radially overlap with each other. The first hook  51  may have a larger diameter than the second hook  52 , and the second hook  52  may be inserted into the first hook  51 . 
     A mounting groove  183  may be disposed between an outer circumferential end of the inner frame  19  and the second hook  52  along the circumferential direction. The second hook  52  may be disposed in a stepped manner radially inward from the outer circumferential end of the inner frame  19 . A radial height of the mounting groove  193  may be the same or similar to a thickness of the first hook  51 . 
     After the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  are coupled to each other, a step may be eliminated between an outer circumferential end of the first hook  51  and the outer circumferential end of the inner frame  19 , thereby beautifying the appearance of the door  12 . The first hook  51  may protrude backward from an outer circumferential portion of the outer frame  14  toward the inner frame  19 . A hook protrusion  511  may protrude radially inward toward the second hook  52  from an inner circumferential surface of the first hook  51 . 
     The second hook  52  may protrude forward from an outer circumferential portion of the inner frame  19  toward the outer frame  14 . A hook protrusion  521  may protrude radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the second hook  52  toward the first hook  51 . The hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  and the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  may protrude parallel to each other in the radial direction. 
     The hook protrusion  511  and the hook protrusion and  512  may be defined in a wedge shape at respective end portions of the first hook  51  and the second hook  52 . The hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  and the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  may overlap with each other in the axial direction. The hook protrusions  511  and  512  allow the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  to be easily engaged with each other, but may not allow the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  from being released from each other in opposite directions. 
     Each of the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  and the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  may be configured as a first inclined surface in contact with each other prior to fastening and a second inclined surface disposed to be inclined on an opposite side of the first inclined surface to be in contact with each other subsequent to fastening. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface of each hook protrusion  511 ,  521  may be inclined in opposite directions with respect to a vertex of each hook protrusion  511 ,  521 . 
     Slopes of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface may be different from each other. The first inclined surface of each hook protrusion  511 ,  521  facing each other prior to fastening may be less inclined than the second inclined surface of each hook protrusion  511 ,  521  facing each other subsequent to fastening. In other words, the second inclined surface of each hook protrusion  511 ,  521  facing each other subsequent to fastening may be more sharply inclined than the first inclined surface of the hook protrusion  511  and  521  facing each other prior to fastening. 
     The first hook  51  and the second hook  52  may move toward each other in the axial direction so that the hook protrusion  511  and the hook protrusion  521  are engaged with each other, allowing the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  to be coupled to each other. Moreover, the hook protrusions  511  and  521  may facilitate engagement between the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  toward each other but prevent them from being released from each other in opposite directions as long as there is no damage to the first hook  51  or the second hook  52 . That is, when the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  move toward each other in the axial direction to fasten the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 , a movement resistance between the hook protrusion  511  and the hook protrusion  521  prior to fastening may be reduced, and the hook protrusions  511  and  521  may be restricted from moving in a direction of being released from each other while the second inclined surfaces are brought into contact with each other subsequent to fastening the first hook  51  and the second hook  52 . 
     The outer frame  14  may be provided with an elastic groove  53  and a pressing portion to support the heavy load of the front glass  20  and to firmly maintain a hook fastening structure between the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . The pressing portion may include a plurality of pressing ribs  54 , connecting ribs  55 , and support ribs  56 . 
     An elastic groove  53  may be disposed radially inward from the first hook  51  on the rear surface of the outer frame  14 . The elastic groove  53  may be concave in the thickness direction of the flat portion  15  on the rear surface of the flat portion  15  of the outer frame  14 . The elastic groove  53  may be more concave in the thickness direction of the flat portion  15  at an inner side of the first hook  51 , so as to reduce a thickness of the first hook  51 , thereby allowing the first hook  51  to be elastically deformed radially outward. 
     When the second hook  52  enters an inside of the first hook  51  in the axial direction, the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  may spread outward in the radial direction while the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  and the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  are brought into contact with each other, thereby facilitating the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  to enter an inside of the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51 . In addition, as a radial pressing force between the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  and the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  is released while the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  passes through a highest point of the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51 , the first hook  51  is restored to its original position from the deformed position, thereby allowing the hook protrusion  511  of the first hook  51  and the hook protrusion  521  of the second hook  52  to be engaged with each other. 
     The plurality of pressing ribs  54  may be provided on the rear surface of the flat portion  15 . The plurality of pressing ribs  54  may protrude from the rear surface of the flat portion  15  to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the second hook  52 , so as to press the second hook  52  when fastening the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  together. The plurality of pressing ribs  54  may be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the flat portion  15 . 
     The plurality of pressing ribs  54  presses the inner circumferential surface of the second hook  52  radially outward when the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  are fastened to each other. Accordingly, as the second hook  52  is not pushed inward in the radial direction, a fastening state between the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may be firmly maintained without being axially released from each other after the hook protrusion  511 ,  521  of each of the first hook  51  and the second hook  52  are fastened to each other. In addition, the plurality of pressing ribs  54  may press the second hook  52 , thereby enhancing a coupling force between the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . The plurality of pressing ribs  54  may be located radially inward from the elastic grooves  53  on a rear surface of the outer frame  14 . 
     An entry guide surface  541  may be formed to be inclined toward the elastic groove  53  on a rear surface of pressing rib  54 . The entry guide surface  541  may guide movement of the second hook  52  so that the second hook  52  is inserted between the pressing rib  54  and the first hook  51 . The entry guide surface  541  may facilitate entry of second hook  52  into first hook  51 , thereby improving assemblability. 
     The interference or snap fit of the first and second hooks  51 ,  52  may function as follows. The first inclined surface of the hook protrusions  511 ,  521 , then the second inclined surfaces of the hook protrusions  511 ,  521  interact as the second hook  52  enters into the first hook  51 , the first hook  51  flexing to accommodate the second hook  52  and the entry guide surface  541  facilitating entry of the second hook  52  into the first hook  51 . Once the second hook  52  has entered or been coupled to the first hook  51 , the second inclined surfaces as well as the plurality of pressing ribs function to maintain the coupling between the first hook  51  and the second hook  52 , and thus, the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19 . 
     The connecting rib  55  may protrude in a rearward direction from the rear surface of the outer frame  14 , and may extend along the circumferential direction in a ring shape. The connecting rib  55  may connect the plurality of pressing ribs  54 . 
     The connecting rib  55  may protrude from an opposite side of first adhesive overflow groove  381  toward the inner frame  19  on the rear surface of the flat portion  15 . Some or all of the connecting rib  55  may overlap in the thickness direction the first adhesive overflow groove  381  and the flat portion  15 . Accordingly, the connecting rib  55  may reinforce a reduction in rigidity caused by a smaller thickness of one side of the flat portion  15  due to the adhesive overflow groove  381 . 
     The elastic groove  53  may be disposed between the connecting rib  55  and the first hook  51 . The elastic groove  53  may have an inner inclined surface formed to be inclined so that the thickness of the flat portion  15  gradually decreases toward the first hook  51  from the connecting rib  55 . 
     The plurality of support ribs  56  may protrude from the rear surface of the outer frame  14 . The plurality of support ribs  56  may have a trapezoidal plate structure to vertically extend in the radial direction. 
     The plurality of support ribs  56  may be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. One or a first side of each of the plurality of support ribs  56  may be integrally connected to the rear surface of the flat portion  15 . An outer surface perpendicular to one side of the support ribs  56  may be integrally connected to the connection rib  55 , and thus, the plurality of support ribs  56  may be connected to one another by the connection rib  55 . The other side or a second of the support rib  56  positioned on a side opposite to the first side of the support rib  56  may be disposed in parallel to the flat portion  15 . The plurality of support ribs  56  may be integrally arranged to be in direct contact with an inner surface of the connecting rib  55  and the flat portion  15  so as to firmly support the connecting rib  55  and the pressing ribs  54 . 
     The plurality of pressing ribs  54  and the plurality of support ribs  56  may be disposed at inner and outer sides of the connecting rib  55  to face each other in the radial direction with the connection rib  55  interposed therebetween. 
     The plurality of support ribs  56  may overlap with each other in the thickness direction of the adhesive groove  37  and the flat portion  15  on the rear surface of the flat portion  15 . The support ribs  56  may compensate for weakening of the rigidity of the flat portion  15  due to the adhesive groove  37 . 
     A reinforcing rib  57  may protrude from an opposite side of second adhesive overflow groove  382  disposed at an inner side of the adhesive groove  37  on the rear surface of the flat portion  15 . The reinforcing rib  57  may overlap with the second adhesive overflow groove  382  in the thickness direction of the flat portion  15 . The support ribs  57  may compensate for weakening of the rigidity of the flat portion  15  due to the adhesive overflow grooves  381 , 382 . 
     The handle  35 , which is part of the inner frame  19 , may be thinner than other portions of an outer edge of the inner frame  19  (portions other than the handle  35 ). The handle  35  does not axially cover an outer surface of the first hook  51  of the outer frame  14 . 
     The handle  35  may have a plate shape. The handle  35  may be inclined to be thicker from an inner side toward an outer side of the inner frame  19  in the radial direction. The handle  35  may be inclined to be thicker from an inner side toward an outer side of the handle  35  in the radial direction, preventing fingers from sliding outward on the rear surface of the handle  35 , when the user pulls the handle  35 . 
     A handle pad  351  may be attached to the rear surface of the handle  35 . The handle pad  351  may have a constant thickness. The handle pad  351  may be made of a rubber material, for example. The handle pad  351  may prevent a user&#39;s hand from slipping. 
     A tapered portion may be formed to be inclined at an outer side of the handle pad  351  in the radial direction. An end portion or end of the tapered portion may correspond to a rear end portion or end of first hook  61 . A step between the first hook  61  of the outer frame  14  and the tapered portion of the handle pad  351  may be eliminated, allowing the user to put fingers into the rear surface of the handle  35  easier for pulling the handle  35 . Further, a simpler appearance of the outer frame  14  and the handle  35  may be achieved. 
     A hook coupling structure between the handle  35  and the outer frame  14  is somewhat different from the hook coupling structure between the inner frame  19  and the outer frame  14 . A plurality of second hooks  62  of the handle  35  may be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the handle  35 . Each of the plurality of second hooks  62  provided on the handle  35  may have different lengths in the circumferential direction. 
     The first hook  61  of the outer frame  14  and the second hook  62  of the handle  35  may protrude in parallel to each other in the radial direction. The first hook  61  of the outer frame  14  may protrude radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame  14 , and the second hook  62  of the handle  35  may protrude radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the handle  35 . The first hook  61  of the outer frame  14  and the second hook  62  of the handle  35  may overlap in a thickness direction of the handle  35  to engage with each other in the thickness direction when the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  are coupled to each other in an engaged manner. 
     A chamfer  611  may be formed at an edge of one or a first side of the first hook  61  to be inclined at a predetermined angle. A contact portion  612  may be disposed substantially vertically at the other or a second side of the first hook  61 . 
     A chamfer  621  may be formed at an edge of one or a first side of the second hook  62  of the handle  35  to be inclined at a predetermined angle. The contact portion  622  may be formed substantially vertically at the other or a second side of the second hook  62  of the handle  35 . 
     When the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  are coupled to each other in a frontward-rearward direction (axial direction), the chamfers  611 ,  612  are in contact with each other, thereby facilitating the second hook  62  of the handle  35  to enter an inside of the first hook  61  of the outer frame  14 . 
     In addition, subsequent to coupling the outer frame  14  and the handle  35 , the first and second contact portions  612  and  622  of each of the first hook  61  of the outer frame  14  and the second hook  62  of the handle  35  are in contact with each other substantially vertically, thereby preventing them from being released from each other. 
     The elastic groove  53  may be concave in the thickness direction on the rear surface of the flat portion  15  of the outer frame  14 , and thus, the first hook  61  may be elastically deformable radially outward by the elastic groove  53  when the first hook  61  is inserted into and coupled to an inside of the second hook  62 . Moreover, the second hook  62  may easily enter an inside of the first hook  61  by the chamfers  611  and  621 , and the first hook  61  and the second hook  62  may be prevented from being released from each other by the contact portions  612  and  622 . 
     The reinforcing rib  60  may protrude toward the first adhesive overflow groove  381  at one side of the handle  35 . The reinforcing rib  60  may be disposed to be in contact with an opposite side of the first adhesive overflow groove  381 . The reinforcing rib  60  of the handle  35  may compensate for weakening of a strength of the flat portion  15  caused by a smaller thickness of the flat portion  15  due to the second adhesive overflow groove  382 . 
     In addition, the reinforcing rib  60  may serve as a spacer for maintaining a constant gap between the handle  35  and the flat portion  15 , thereby reducing the thickness of the handle  35 . Moreover, the reinforcing rib  60  may not only reinforce the strength of the handle  35  even when the thickness of the handle  35  is reduced, but also maintain a contact state between the contact portion  612  of the first hook  61  and the contact portion  622  of the second hook  62 . Accordingly, coupling and assembly performance between the outer frame  14  and the inner frame  19  may be improved by a coupling structure between the first hook  61  of the outer frame  14  and the second hook  62  of the handle  35 . 
     Embodiments disclosed herein solve those problems of the related art. Embodiments disclosed herein provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of enlarging a size of a door by moving a center of the door below a center of a laundry inlet port. Embodiments disclosed herein also provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of installing a handle while a front glass is attached to a front surface of a door frame. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein provide a laundry treating apparatus that may include a main body provided with a front panel having a laundry inlet port and a recess part or recess recessed into the front panel to surround the laundry inlet port, and a door rotatably mounted to the front panel to open and close the laundry inlet port, and having part thereof protruding forward from the recess part. The door may include an outer frame disposed toward an outer side of the recess part, a front glass attached to a front surface of the outer frame, an inner frame coupled to a rear surface of the outer frame, and disposed toward an inner side of the recess part, and a handle recessed into a rear surface of the inner frame so as to face a portion where the recess part starts to be recessed. 
     The outer frame and the inner frame may have a same diameter to correspond to each other, and have a ring shape. Each of the outer frame and the inner frame may have a diameter greater than that of the portion where the recess part starts to be recessed, and the outer frame may have an outer circumferential portion spaced forward apart from the recess part. 
     A contact portion may be formed on the rear surface of the inner frame to be located higher than a horizontal center line passing through a center of the door. The contract portion may extend in a curved shape toward the inner side of the recess part from an outer circumferential portion of the outer frame, so as to be in contact with the portion where the recess part starts to be recessed. A center of each of the outer frame and the inner frame may be positioned lower than a center of the laundry inlet port. 
     The outer frame may include a flat portion having a ring shape and having an adhesive surface for attaching the front glass, a mounting guide that protrudes from an outer side of the flat portion to cover the front glass, and a curved portion extending in a curved shape from an inner side of the flat portion toward an inner end of the inner frame. A handle may be provided on the rear surface of the inner frame to be located higher than a horizontal center line passing through a center of the door in a radial direction. 
     The handle may be disposed in a spaced manner to face the portion where the recess part starts to be recessed, have a flat surface, and have an arcuate shape. The handle may be further provided with a handle pad attached in a direction facing the recess part to prevent a hand from slipping. 
     The handle may be inclined to be thicker from an inner side toward an outer side of the handle in a radial direction. Further, the handle may be positioned on a right or first side of the rear surface of the inner frame with respect to a horizontal center line passing through a center of the door in a radial direction, when viewing an inside of the door from an outside of the door. 
     A hook that protrudes from an outer circumferential portion of the outer frame to cover a side surface of the handle, and a hook coupling portion that protrudes from a side surface of the handle so as to be hooked into the hook may be further provided. The handle may be recessed into a partial arcuate section of the rear surface of the inner frame along a circumferential direction. 
     A hook protrusion may protrude toward the side surface of the handle from an end portion or end of the hook, a first chamfer part or chamfer may be formed at an edge of one or a first side of the hook protrusion in an inclined manner, and a first contact portion may be formed vertically on another or second side of the hook protrusion. The handle may be disposed inside of the hook, and recessed deep enough to be located between the first chamfer portion and the first contact portion. 
     A reinforcing rib that protrudes from one surface of the handle to come in contact with the rear surface of the outer frame may be further provided. A combined thickness of the handle and the reinforcing rib may be shorter than a protruding length of the hook protruding from the outer frame. 
     A handle pad attached to cover a rear surface of the handle may be further provided. A combined thickness of the reinforcing rib, the handle, and the handle pad may correspond to a protruding length of the hook. 
     With embodiments disclosed herein, a size of a door with respect to the same capacity and size of a drum may be increased as a portion of the door protrudes from a recess part or recess provided on a front panel of a main body. The door may be enlarged while a position of the drum is fixed in a heightwise direction of the main body by increasing a diameter of the door downward to make a center of a door frame positioned below a center of a laundry inlet port in a direction of gravity. Even if a front glass is attached to a front surface of an outer frame, a handle may be attached to the door frame as the handle may provided at a rear surface of an inner frame in a recessed manner. 
     The handle may have a flat surface, an arcuate shape, and be inclined to be thicker from an inner side toward an outer side of the handle in a radial direction, thereby preventing a hand from sliding outward on a rear surface of the door. A handle pad made of a rubber material may be attached to the handle, thereby giving a soft feeling without giving any uncomfortable feeling to users, and giving a better grip. 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “lower”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is tuned over, elements described as “lower” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “upper” relative to the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the disclosure. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.