Patent Publication Number: US-11035068-B2

Title: Washing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 365 to International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2015/008383 filed Aug. 11, 2015, entitled “WASHING MACHINE”, and, through International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2015/008383, to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0118853 filed Sep. 5, 2014, each of which are incorporated herein by reference into the present disclosure as if fully set forth herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine from which a diaphragm is removed. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A washing machine is an apparatus removing contaminants from laundry by using a detergent and water. Washing machines are classified into three types according to their washing method, agitator-type washing machines, vortex-type washing machines, and drum-type washing machines. In the agitator-type washing machines, clothes are washed by rotating an agitator protruding from the center of the bottom of a wash tub clockwise and counterclockwise. In the vortex-type washing machines, clothes are washed by using friction between the clothes and a water stream generated by rotating a disc-shaped pulsator mounted on the bottom of a rotary tub clockwise and counter-clockwise. In the drum-type washing machines, clothes are washed by adding water, a detergent, and the clothes into a drum having a plurality of lifters protruding from the inner circumferential surface thereof and rotating the drum. 
     Washing machines are also classified into top-loading washing machines and front-loading washing machines according to their shape. The top-loading washing machine is a washing machine into which laundry is put through an inlet provided at the top surface of the washing machine. The front-loading washing machine is a washing machine into which laundry is put through an inlet provided at the front surface of the washing machine. In general, the agitator-type and vortex-type washing machines are top-loading washing machines, and the drum-type washing machines are front-loading washing machines. 
     A drum-type washing machine may include a cabinet forming an external appearance of the washing machine, a tub disposed in the cabinet to contain wash water, and a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the tub. An inlet for insertion and removal of laundry is formed at a front side of the cabinet, and the inlet is opened and closed by a door coupled to the front side of the cabinet. 
     In general, a diaphragm that absorbs vibration of the tub and seals a gap between the tub and the cabinet is disposed between the tub and the cabinet. However, the diaphragm may get moldy since remaining wash water and foreign matter are introduced thereinto. 
     In addition, when the diaphragm is removed, a gap is formed between the tub and the cabinet, and thus laundry may fall into the gap between the tub and the cabinet during insertion and removal of the laundry. Also, the removal of the diaphragm may cause leakage of water and result in marring of the external appearance of the washing machine. When the tub and the cabinet are disposed to be in contact with each other to remove the gap therebetween, the vibration of the tub may be transferred to the cabinet. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine from which a diaphragm is removed and in which sealing members are provided at a door and a main body. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine having an attractive appearance appealing to a user by applying a decorative panel to a front surface of a front panel. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a washing machine including a cabinet, a front panel configured to form an appearance of a front surface of the cabinet, a tub disposed in the cabinet to contain wash water, a tub seal installed to prevent leakage of the wash water contained in the tub, and a decorative panel fixed to the front panel to prevent exposure of the tub seal through the front surface of the cabinet. 
     At least one portion of the decorative panel may be configured to cover the tub seal. 
     The tub seal may be disposed between the front panel and the tub. 
     The front panel may include an inlet for insertion and removal of laundry, and the washing machine may further include a door to open and close the inlet. 
     The decorative panel may be disposed between the front panel and the door. 
     The decorative panel may be formed along a circumference of the inlet. 
     The door may be rotatably coupled with the front panel and include a door seal fixed to the door to be rotated with the door. 
     The door seal may be pressed by the decorative panel to seal a gap between the front panel and the door. 
     The door may include a door seal configured to seal a gap between the front panel and the door. 
     The decorative panel may be disposed between the tub seal and the door seal. 
     When the door closes the inlet, the decorative panel may not be exposed through the front surface of the cabinet. 
     When the door opens the inlet, the decorative panel may form the appearance of the front surface of the cabinet. 
     The decorative panel may be mounted on the front surface of the front panel. 
     The front panel may include an inlet for insertion and removal of laundry, and the tub seal may be disposed at a circumference of the inlet. 
     One end of the decorative panel may be bent toward the inlet to prevent exposure of the tub seal through the front surface of the cabinet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a washing machine including a cabinet, a front panel disposed at one side of the cabinet and including an inlet, a door installed at the cabinet to open and close the inlet, and a decorative panel disposed between the front panel and the door and formed along a circumference of the inlet. 
     The decorative panel may be mounted on the front panel. 
     One end of the decorative panel adjacent to the inlet may be formed to be bent toward the inlet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a washing machine including a cabinet, a front panel configured to form one side of the cabinet and including an inlet, a door installed at the front panel to open and close the inlet, and a door seal installed at the door to seal a gap between the door and the front panel. 
     The washing machine may further include a tub disposed in the cabinet and a tub seal installed between the tub and the front panel. 
     The door seal and the tub seal may have separate sealing structures. 
     The door seal and the tub seal may be disposed not to be in contact with each other. 
     The door may be rotatably coupled to the front panel with the door seal, and the tub seal may be fixed between the tub and the front panel. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     The washing machine according to the present disclosure may have an attractive appearance appealing to a user by mounting a decorative panel on the front surface thereof to prevent exposure of a sealing structure. 
     In addition, remaining of wash water and fur and growth of mold caused thereby may be prevented by removing a diaphragm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in which a door is rotated; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view illustrating a part of  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustrating a washing machine in which a door is separated from a main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view illustrating a door of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view illustrating a main body of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating a main body of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in which a door is rotated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a washing machine  1  includes a cabinet  10  that forms an external appearance of the washing machine  1 . 
     In addition, the washing machine  1  may include a front panel  11  disposed at one side of the cabinet  10 . The front panel  11  may be disposed at the front surface of the cabinet  10  forming an appearance of the front surface of the washing machine  1 . The front panel  11  may include an inlet  12  for insertion and removal of laundry. 
     In addition, the front panel  11  may include a power button  13 , a manipulation unit  14 , and a display unit  15 . A user may turn on and off the washing machine  1  by using the power button  13 . The manipulation unit  14  may have various forms such that the user selects a variety of modes of the washing machine  1 . The display unit  15  may display an operation selected via the power button  13  and the manipulation unit  14  such that the user recognizes the selected operation. 
     The front panel  11  may further include a detergent compartment  16  through which a detergent is introduced by the user. The detergent compartment  16  may have a detergent compartment grip portion  17  at the front side thereof such that the user easily moves the detergent compartment  16 . 
     In addition, the washing machine  1  may include a door  20  to open and close the inlet  12 . The door  20  may be coupled to the cabinet  10  to open and close the inlet  12 . Particularly, the door  20  may be disposed at one side of the front panel  11  having the inlet  12 . The door  20  may be formed of a transparent material such that the user identifies the inside of the washing machine  1 . 
     The door  20  may be rotatably coupled to the front panel  11  for easy insertion and removal of the laundry through the inlet  12  by the user. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the door  20  may be rotatable at a predetermined angle with respect to the front panel  11 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the door  20  that closes the inlet  12 , and  FIG. 2  illustrates the door  20  that opens the inlet  12 . 
     The door  20  may be rotatably coupled with the front panel  11  via a hinge member  21 . The hinge member  21  may be installed to couple the front panel  11  with the door  20 . That is, the hinge member  21  may be configured to rotatably couple the door  20  with the front panel  11 . The hinge member  21  may be fixed to the front panel  11  and rotatably coupled to one side of the door  20 . 
     The hinge member  21  may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, and engineering plastics. The front panel  11  may include a fixing bracket (not shown) such that the hinge member  21  is stably fixed to the front panel  11 . However,  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the shape of the hinge member  21 , and the hinge member  21  may have various other shapes. 
     The door  20  may have a hand grip portion  22  which may be gripped by the user to rotate the door  20 . The hand grip portion  22  may be disposed at the opposite side of the door to the hinge member  21 . Thus, the user may easily open and close the inlet  12  by rotating the door  20  while gripping the hand grip portion  22 . 
     The door  20  may include door lock devices  18  and  23  to prevent the inlet  12  from being opened while performing a washing operation. The door lock devices  18  and  23  may be provided to fix the door  20  and the front panel  11 . The door lock devices  18  and  23  may be disposed at the opposite side of the door  20  to the hinge member  21 . 
     That is, the door lock devices  18  and  23  may be disposed adjacent to the hand grip portion  22 . In this case, the hand grip portion  22  may be disposed at the front surface of the inlet  12  to open and close the inlet  12 , and the door lock devices  18  and  23  may be disposed at the rear surface of the door  20  to be fixed to the front panel  11 . 
     The door lock devices  18  and  23  may include a hook  23  installed at the door  20  and a hook recess  18  disposed at the front panel  11 . The hook  23  may be installed in an elastically movable manner and detachably coupled to the hook recess  18 . When a washing operation is started, the door  20  may be fixed to the front panel  11  by fixing the hook  23  to the hook recess  18 . 
     In addition, a sealing structure to prevent leakage of water may be provided between the door  20  and the front panel  11 . This will be described in more detail later. 
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  schematically illustrates constituent elements of the washing machine for descriptive purpose. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the constituent elements of the washing machine will be briefly described. 
     The washing machine  1  may include a tub  30  disposed in the cabinet  10 . The tub  30  may be installed to contain wash water. 
     In addition, a rotary tub  40  may be rotatably disposed in the tub  30 . Laundry is introduced into the rotary tub  40  and washed. The rotary tub  40  may have a plurality of through holes  41  through which wash water flows. In addition, a plurality of lifters  42 , by which laundry is raised and dropped when the rotary tub  40  is rotated, may be installed at the inner circumference thereof. 
     A water supply pipe  2  to supply wash water to the tub  30  is installed at an upper portion of the tub  30 . One end of the water supply pipe  2  may be connected to an external water source (not shown), and the other end of the water supply pipe  2  may be connected to the detergent compartment  16 . A water supply valve  3  may be installed at the water supply pipe  2  to control supply of water. 
     The detergent compartment  16  may be connected to the tub  30  via a connection pipe  4 . Thus, water supplied through the water supply pipe  2  is supplied into the tub  30  along the connection pipe  4  together with the detergent via the detergent compartment  16 . 
     A drain pump  5  and a drain pipe  6  to discharge water contained in the tub  30  out of the cabinet  10  are installed at a lower portion of the tub  30 . 
     A damping member  7  that elastically supports the tub  30  may be disposed under the tub  30 . The damping member  7  may be installed to connect an inner surface of the bottom of the cabinet  10  with an outer surface of the bottom of the tub  30 . The damping member  7  may also be installed at an upper portion of the tub  30  to connect an inner surface of the top of the cabinet  10  with an outer surface of the top of the tub  30 . 
     A motor  44  to rotate the rotary tub  40  may be installed at the rear surface of the tub  30 . The motor  44  may be mounted on the rotary tub  40 , and a drive shaft  45  of the motor  44  may be connected to the rotary tub  40 . When the drive shaft  45  is driven by the motor  44 , the rotary tub  40  connected to the drive shaft  45  is rotated about the drive shaft  45 . 
     At the rear surface of the tub  30  is installed a bearing housing  46  to rotatably support the drive shaft  45 . The bearing housing  46  may be formed of an aluminum alloy and may be inserted into a rear wall of the tub  30  when the tub  30  is injection molded. Bearings  45  may be installed between the bearing housing  46  and the drive shaft  45  to smoothly rotate the drive shaft  42 . 
     During a washing cycle, the motor  44  rotates the rotary tub  40  in alternating directions at low speed. As a result, laundry contained in the rotary tub  40  is repeatedly raised and dropped thereby removing contaminants from the laundry. In a spin-dry cycle, the motor  44  rotates the rotary tub  40  in one direction at high speed thereby separating water from the laundry by centrifugal force applied to the laundry. 
     In this washing operation, wash water contained in the tub  30  may leak from the tub  30 . The leakage of wash water may cause inconvenience to the user and damage components inside the washing machine  1 . Furthermore, stagnant wash water therein may cause growth of mold, and the like. Thus, the washing machine  1  includes a sealing structure to prevent leakage of wash water. 
     The sealing structure may be provided at the tub  30  and the door  20 , respectively. A sealing structure installed at the tub  30  is referred to as a tub seal  35 , and a sealing structure installed at the door  20  is referred to as a door seal  60 . That is, the door seal  60  and the tub seal  35  may have different sealing structures. 
     The tub seal  35  and the door seal  60  may have a ring shape with an open center. The tub seal  35  and the door seal  60  may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber and may be partially deformed to prevent leakage of wash water. 
     The tub seal  35  may be installed to prevent leakage of wash water contained in the tub  30 . Particularly, the tub seal  35  may be disposed between the front panel  11  and the tub  30 . The tub seal  35  may be formed along a circumference of the inlet  12  to seal a gap between the front panel  11  and the tub  30 . 
     Also, the door seal  60  may be formed such that the door  20  closely contact with the front panel  11  to close the inlet  12 . Particularly, the door seal  60  may be disposed between the front panel  11  and the door  20 . The door seal  60  may be formed along a circumference of the inlet  12  to seal a gap between the front panel  11  and the door  20 . 
     When the inlet  12  is opened by rotating the door  20 , the tub seal  35  may be exposed at the front surface of the cabinet  10  resulting in marring of the external appearance of the washing machine  1 . Thus, the washing machine  1  may include a decorative panel  50  to prevent exposure of the tub seal  35  through the front surface of the cabinet  10 . When the inlet  12  is opened as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the decorative panel  50  may faun a front external appearance of the cabinet  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view illustrating a portion ‘A’ of  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the door seal  60 , the tub seal  35 , and the decorative panel  50  will be described in more detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the decorative panel  50  may be disposed on the front panel  11 . Particularly, the decorative panel  50  may be disposed between the front panel  11  and the door  20 . Thus, when the door  20  closes the inlet  12 , the decorative panel  50  may not be exposed through the front surface of the cabinet  10 . When the door  20  opens the inlet  12 , the decorative panel  50  may form the front external appearance of the cabinet  10 . 
     The decorative panel  50  may be fixedly mounted on the front surface of the front panel. The decorative panel  50  may also be detachably mounted on the front panel  11  or separably installed thereon by using a screw, or the like. 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the tub seal  35  may be disposed between the decorative panel  50  and the tub  30 . One end of the tub seal  35  may be fixed to the tub  30 , and the other end thereof may be fixed to the front panel  11 . The tub seal  35  may be pressed by the decorative panel  50  to prevent leakage of wash water contained in the tub  30 . 
     At least one portion of the decorative panel  50  may cover the tub seal  35 . Accordingly, the tub seal  35  may be pressed thereby as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In addition, the decorative panel  50  may be disposed to be spaced apart from the tub seal  35 . 
     The decorative panel  50  may have a ring shape formed along the circumference of the inlet  12 . In addition, one end of the decorative panel  50  may be bent toward the inside of the inlet  12 , thereby preventing exposure of the tub seal  35  through the front surface of the cabinet  10 . 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the door seal  60  may be disposed between the door  20  and the decorative panel  50 . One end of the door seal  60  may be fixed to the door  20  and may rotate together with the door  20 . The door seal  60  may be pressed by the decorative panel  50 , thereby sealing the inlet  12 . 
     That is, the decorative panel  50  may be disposed between the tub seal  35  and the door seal  60 . The door seal  60  and the tub seal  35  may be disposed not to be in contact with each other by the decorative panel  50 . However,  FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the shapes of the tub seal  35  and the door seal  60 , and they may have various other shapes. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustrating a washing machine in which a door is separated from a main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the other part of the washing machine except for the door is referred to as the main body.  FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the door, and  FIGS. 7 and 8  are exploded views of the main body. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view illustrating the door of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The door  20  may include door glasses  24  and  29 , an inner frame  25 , and an outer frame  28  connected to the inner frame  25 . The inner frame  25  may be disposed adjacent to the front panel  11 . The door glasses  24  and  29  may include a front glass  24  and a rear glass  29  and may be formed of a transparent material. 
     The outer frame  28  and the inner frame  25  may be disposed to form an opening at the centers thereof. The front glass  24  is coupled to a front surface of the outer frame  28 , and one side of the rear glass  29  may be coupled between the outer frame  28  and the inner frame  25 . 
     The user may identify a state of the inside of the washing machine  1  while washing laundry through the opening formed by the outer frame  28  and the inner frame  25  and the door glasses  24  and  29  formed of the transparent material. 
     A hook  23  may be installed at one side of the inner frame  25 . A hinge coupling groove  63  coupled with the hinge member  21  may be disposed at the opposite side thereof to the hook  23 . One end of the hinge member  21  may be coupled to the hinge coupling groove  63 . 
     The circumference of the rear glass  29  may be fixed between the inner frame  25  and the outer frame  28 . A sealing fixing member  26  may be disposed along the circumference of the fixed rear glass  29 . The sealing fixing member  26  may be integrally formed with the inner frame  25 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the sealing fixing member  26  may be coupled to the inner frame  25  by using a screw  27  to be fixed thereto. 
     The door seal  60  may be coupled to the sealing fixing member  26  to be fixed to the door  20 . The door seal  60  may include at least one door seal protrusion  61  inserted into and coupled to the sealing fixing member  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a plurality of the door seal protrusions  61  may protrude toward the sealing fixing member  26 . 
     As described above, the door seal  60  moves with the door  20  in a fixed state to the door  20 . The door  20  may efficiently close the inlet  12  by using the door seal  60 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view illustrating a main body of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7  illustrates that the decorative panel is separated from the main body illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The front panel  11  may have a decorative panel mounting unit  19  on which the decorative panel  50  is mounted. The decorative panel mounting unit  19  may be disposed at a circumference of the inlet  12  to be recessed inward. The decorative panel mounting unit  19  may be integrally formed with the front panel  11 . Thus, there are limitations on the shape of the decorative panel mounting unit  19 , and the decorative panel mounting unit  19  may have an uneven surface caused during a manufacturing process. 
     When exposed to the outside, the decorative panel mounting unit  19  result in marring of the external appearance of the washing machine. Thus, the decorative panel  50  may be disposed on the front surface of the decorative panel mounting unit  19  thereby improving the external appearance of the washing machine  1 . 
     The decorative panel  50  may be separably mounted on the decorative panel mounting unit  19  by using a screw, or the like. In addition, a structure corresponding to the decorative panel mounting unit  19  may be disposed at the rear surface of the decorative panel  50  such that the decorative panel  50  may be inserted into the decorative panel mounting unit  19 . 
     The decorative panel  50  may have a ring shape and include a bent portion  51  at one end thereof adjacent to the inlet  12 . The bent portion  51  may be bent toward the inlet  12 . The bent portion  51  may be disposed such that the tub seal  35  disposed at a circumference of the inlet  12  is not exposed to the outside. That is, the bent portion  51  may be disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the tub seal  35 . 
     In addition, the decorative panel  50  may have a hinge passing hole  53  through which the hinge member  21  passes. Thus, one end of the hinge member  21  may be fixed to the front panel  11 , and the other end thereof may pass through the hinge passing hole  53  to be coupled to the door  20 . Also, the decorative panel  50  may have a shape that passing the hinge member  21  without having the hinge passing hole  53   
     The decorative panel  50  may also have a hook passing hole  52  through which the hook  23  passes. Thus, one end of the hook  23  may be fixed to the door  20 , and the other end thereof may pass through the hook passing hole  52  to be couple to the hook recess  18 . In addition, the decorative panel  50  may have a shape that does passing the hook recess without having the hook passing hole  52 . 
     Thus,  FIG. 7  illustrates an example of the shape of the decorative panel  50 , and the decorative panel  50  may also have various other shapes. Also, the decorative panel  50  may have various shapes with various materials improving the external appearance of the washing machine. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating a main body of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  illustrates that the tub seal is separated from the main body from which the decorative panel is removed. 
     When the decorative panel  50  is separated from the main body as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the tub seal  35  may be exposed to the outside. The tub seal  35  may be disposed at a circumference of the inlet  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , one end of the tub seal  35  is fixed to the tub  30 , and the other end thereof is fixed to the front panel  11 . 
     The tub seal  35  is inserted and coupled between the tub  30  and the front panel  11 . One end of each of the tub  30  and the front panel  11  is bent such that the tub seal  35  may be stably coupled to the tub  30  and the front panel  11 . 
     In addition, the tub seal  35  may include at least one tub seal protrusion  36  inserted into the front panel  11  to be coupled thereto. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a plurality of tub seal protrusions  36  are disposed at a predetermined angle to protrude in one direction. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.