Patent Publication Number: US-7716957-B2

Title: Drum type washing machine with door ring

Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10/992,673 filed on Nov. 22, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, and, more particularly, to a drum type washing machine having a door ring mounted at a cabinet around a door for increasing the strength of the cabinet while improving the appearance of a structure around the door. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, a washing machine is a machine that is capable of removing pollutants from laundry through mechanical actions carried out by electric power. A drum type washing machine is a kind of washing machine. The drum type washing machine performs a washing operation using friction between a horizontally-mounted drum, which is rotated by a driving force of a motor, and laundry put in the drum under the condition that detergent and wash water are also put in the drum. The drum type washing machine has various effects in that damage to the laundry is minimized, the laundry is not entangled, and the laundry is struck and rubbed. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a conventional drum type washing machine,  FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the conventional drum type washing machine, and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the conventional drum type washing machine seen from line A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the conventional drum type washing machine comprises: a cabinet  2  forming the external appearance of the washing machine; a tub  4  mounted in the cabinet while being suspended by a spring  3 ; a drum  5  mounted in the tub  4  for receiving laundry; lifters  6  attached to the inner side surface of the drum  5  for lifting the laundry to a predetermined height such that the laundry falls due to gravity from the predetermined height; a motor  7  mounted at the rear of the tub  4  for generating a rotating force; a cabinet cover  17  mounted at the front of the cabinet  2 , the cabinet cover  17  having a laundry inlet/outlet hole  18  formed at the center thereof for allowing laundry to be put into or removed from the drum  5  therethrough; and a door  20  hingedly connected to the cabinet cover  17  for closing the laundry inlet/outlet hole  18  to prevent the laundry from being removed from the drum  5  through the laundry inlet/outlet hole  18 . 
   Between the tub  4  and the door  20  is mounted a gasket  8  for diminishing impacts generated when the drum  5  is rotated. Also, the gasket  8  serves as a packing for preventing wash water from leaking from the tub  4 . 
   At the top and bottom parts of the drum type washing machine are mounted a top plate  9 , which forms a top surface of the washing machine, and a base  10 , which forms a bottom surface of the washing machine, respectively. Under the tub  4  are mounted a draining pump  11  and a draining hose  12 , which are used to circulate or drain the wash water. Under the top plate  9  are mounted a water supply hose  13  and a water supply valve  14 , which are used to supply wash water into the tub  4 , and a detergent box  15 , which is used to supply detergent into the tub  4 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the door  20  of the conventional drum type washing machine comprises: a ring-shaped door frame  21  hingedly connected to the cabinet cover  17 ; a door hinge  24 , having opposite ends mounted at the door frame  21  and the cabinet cover  17 , respectively, for hingedly supporting the door frame  21 ; and a door glass  25  mounted at an open center hole  21   a  formed at the door frame  21  for allowing a user to look into the drum  5  therethrough. 
   The door frame  21  is a common injection-molded plastic member. The door frame  21  comprises: a front door frame  22  forming the front part of the door frame  21 , the front door frame  22  having a grip  29  formed at one side thereof; and a rear door frame  23  disposed at the rear of the front door frame  22  for forming the rear part of the door frame  21 . One end of the door hinge  24  is mounted at the rear door frame  23 . From one side of the rear door frame  23  is protruded a hook  27 , and the cabinet cover  17  has a hook hole  28 , into which the hook  27  is engaged. 
   The edge of the door glass  25  is fixed between the front door frame  22  and the rear door frame  23  such that the center hole  21   a  of the door frame  21  is sealed. 
   Recently, design of products has been increasingly focused on marketability in addition to performance and durability of the products. For this reason, appearance, color, and texture of new products are carefully considered, when the products are developed, to satisfy aesthetic desires of consumers. 
   In the conventional drum type washing machine, however, the door frame  21  is the injection-molded plastic member as described above. As a result, the conventional drum type washing machine does not have a luxurious appearance, and therefore, the marketability of the conventional drum type washing machine is lowered. 
   In addition, drum type washing machines have become increasingly large. In this case, the sizes of the laundry inlet/outlet hole  18  and the door  20  are increased. Consequently, it is necessary that the door frame  21  have sufficient strength to support load of the enlarged door glass  25 . However, the door frame  21  is the injection-molded plastic member, and therefore, it is difficult to increase the strength of the door frame  21 . 
   In order to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide the drum type washing machine with a luxurious appearance, the door frame  21  may be made of a metallic material having excellent strength. In this case, however, the material costs are increased, the total weight of the door is increased, and surface treatment for texture improvement is very difficult. 
   The door  20  is hingedly connected to the cabinet cover  17 , which constitutes the cabinet  2 , such that the door  20  can be opened or closed. However, no additional reinforcing member is disposed around the laundry inlet/outlet hole  18  of the cabinet cover  17 . Consequently, the large-sized door  20  is not sufficiently supported by the cabinet cover  17  of the conventional drum type washing machine. 
   Furthermore, the front surface of the cabinet cover  17  is formed in a single plane structure, and therefore, improvement in appearance of the front part of the drum type washing machine is limited. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a drum type washing machine having a door ring mounted around a door for increasing the strength of a structure around the door while providing the drum type washing machine with a more pleasing appearance. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a drum type washing machine having a front member attached to a door frame for increasing the strength of the door frame, the front member being easily and conveniently replaced if necessary. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a drum type washing machine having a decorative part disposed at the front surface of a door frame or a front member for improving the overall appearance of the door. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a drum type washing machine comprising: a door including a door frame hingedly connected to a cabinet, a door glass supported by the door frame, and a front member attached to the front surface of the door frame; and a door ring mounted at the cabinet cover, the door ring being disposed along the outer circumference of the door. 
   Preferably, the door is formed in the shape of a circle, and the door ring is formed in the shape of a circular ring. 
   Preferably, the door ring is convexly protruded outward from the cabinet. 
   Preferably, the door ring has a plating layer formed at the outer surface thereof. 
   Preferably, the door ring is formed by injection molding. 
   Preferably, the door ring is securely fixed to the cabinet. 
   Preferably, the door ring has fixing members, which are formed in the shape of a hook, the fixing members being inserted in fixing holes formed at the cabinet, respectively. Alternatively, the door ring may be securely attached to the cabinet by means of an adhesive member. 
   Also preferably, the door ring is integrally formed at the cabinet by bending the cabinet. 
   According to the present invention, the front member is attached to the front surface of the door frame. Consequently, the strength of the door frame is considerably increased without forming the door frame of a metallic material or another special material. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a door including a door frame hingedly connected to a cabinet, a door glass supported by the door frame, and a decorative part disposed at the front surface of the door frame; and a door ring mounted at the cabinet cover, the door ring being disposed along the outer circumference of the door. 
   Preferably, the door is formed in the shape of a circle, and the door ring is formed in the shape of a circular ring. 
   Preferably, the door ring is convexly protruded outward from the cabinet. 
   Preferably, the door ring has a plating layer formed at the outer surface thereof. 
   Preferably, the door ring is formed by injection molding. 
   Preferably, the door ring is securely fixed to the cabinet. 
   Preferably, the door ring has fixing members, which are formed in the shape of a hook, the fixing members being inserted in fixing holes formed at the cabinet, respectively. Alternatively, the door ring may be securely attached to the cabinet by means of an adhesive member. 
   Also preferably, the door ring is integrally formed at the cabinet by bending the cabinet. 
   According to the present invention, the decorative part is formed at the front member of the door frame or is directly formed at the door frame. Consequently, the appearance of the door is improved. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a door including a door frame hingedly connected to a cabinet and a door glass supported by the door frame; and a door ring mounted at the cabinet cover, the door ring being disposed along the outer circumference of the door. 
   Preferably, the door is formed in the shape of a circle, and the door ring is formed in the shape of a circular ring. Also preferably, the door ring is convexly protruded outward from the cabinet. 
   Preferably, the door ring is formed by injection molding, and the door ring has a plating layer formed at the outer surface thereof. 
   Preferably, the door ring is securely fixed to the cabinet. 
   Preferably, the door ring has fixing members, which are formed in the shape of a hook, the fixing members being inserted in fixing holes formed at the cabinet, respectively. Alternatively, the door ring may be securely attached to the cabinet by means of an adhesive member. 
   Also preferably, the door ring is integrally formed at the cabinet by bending the cabinet. 
   According to the present invention, the door ring is mounted at the cabinet around the door. Consequently, the strength of a structure around the door is increased while the appearance of the front surface of the washing machine is improved. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a conventional drum type washing machine; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the conventional drum type washing machine; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the conventional drum type washing machine seen from line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine with a door ring according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention seen from line B-B of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a door of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing the door and the door ring of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a door and a door ring of the drum type washing machine according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a door and a door ring of the drum type washing machine according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine with a door ring according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention seen from line C-C of  FIG. 10 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine with a door ring according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention seen from line B-B of  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a door of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing the door and the door ring of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention has a door  60  hingedly connected to a cabinet cover  62 , which forms the front surface of a cabinet  52 , for opening and closing a laundry inlet/outlet hole  64 . At the cabinet cover  62  is mounted a door ring  200 , which is disposed along the outer circumference of the door  60 . 
   Reference numeral  53  in  FIG. 4  indicates a base for supporting the cabinet  52 . 
   The door  60  and the door ring  200  of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the door  60  comprises: a ring-shaped door frame  70  hingedly connected to the cabinet cover  62 , at which the laundry inlet/outlet hole  64  is formed; a door hinge  80 , having opposite ends mounted at the door frame  70  and the cabinet cover  62 , respectively, for hingedly supporting the door frame  70 ; a door glass  90  mounted at an open center hole  70   a  formed at the door frame  70  for allowing a user to look into a drum (not shown) therethrough; and a front member  100  attached to the front surface of the door frame  70  for providing the door  60  with a luxurious texture or increasing the strength of the door  60 . Preferably, the front member  100  has a sheet structure. 
   The door frame  70  comprises: a front door frame  72  forming the front part of the door frame  70 , the front door frame  72  having a grip  76  formed at one side thereof; and a rear door frame  74  disposed at the rear of the front door frame  72  for forming the rear part of the door frame  70 . One end of the door hinge  80  is mounted at the rear door frame  74 . 
   From one side of the rear surface of the rear door frame  74  is protruded a hook  77 , and the cabinet cover  62  has a hook hole  78 , which corresponds to the hook  77 . The door  60  is held at the laundry inlet/outlet hole  64  by securely engaging the hook  77  into the hook hole  78 . 
   Preferably, the front door frame  72  and the rear door frame  74  are made of a nonmetallic material, which is light and has excellent injection moldability, such as plastic. 
   The edge of the door glass  90  is disposed between the front door frame  72  and the rear door frame  74 . The center hole  70   a  of the door frame  70  is sealed by coupling the front door frame  72  with the rear door frame  74 . 
   The front member  100  has a decorative part, which provides a luxurious texture to the front surface of the front member  100 . The decorative part consists of multiple ring-shaped hairlines H. The front member  100  is securely fitted in a fitting groove  92  formed at the front surface of the door frame  70 . 
   Specifically, the fitting groove  92 , in which the front member  100  is fitted, is formed at the front surface of the front door frame  72 . The fitting groove  92  is disposed along the front door frame  72  in a ring-shaped structure. 
   The front member  100  is a ring-shaped thin panel. The front member  100  is made of stainless steel. The decorative part, which consists of multiple ring-shaped hairlines H, is formed at the front surface of the front member  100  to provide a luxurious texture to the front member  100 . 
   The front member  100  may be cut from a stainless steel plate in the shape of a single ring. Alternatively, a plurality of ring pieces may be cut from the stainless steel plate, and then, the ring pieces may be connected to one another to form the front member  100 . 
   The multiple hairlines H are very thin lines obtained by scratching the front surface of the front member  100  with a sharp tool. The multiple hairlines H are coaxially formed at the ring-shaped front member  100 . 
   The front member  100  is forcibly fitted in the fitting groove  92  of the front door frame  72 . For this reason, the front member  100  is manufactured such that the front member  100  can be forcibly fitted in the fitting groove  92 . 
   Preferably, the front member  100  is securely fixed in the fitting groove  92  of the front door frame  72  by means of an adhesive member  94 . 
   The adhesive member  94  may be a bonding agent or a double-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive member  94  is applied to the bottom surface of the fitting groove  92  before the front member  100  is fitted into the fitting groove  92 . When the front member  100  is fitted into the fitting groove  92 , the front member  100  is fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the fitting groove  92  by the adhesive member  94 . As a result, the front member is securely fixed in the fitting groove  92 . 
   Consequently, the strength of the door  60  is increased by virtue of the front member  100 , which is made of a metallic material, and the door  60  has a luxurious texture by virtue of the hairlines H of the front member  100 . At this time, the surface of the front door frame  72  is preferably plated with a material or color similar to the front member  100  to improve the appearance of the door  60 . 
   The door ring  200  is formed in the shape of a circular ring. The door ring  200  is mounted at the cabinet cover  62  around the door  60  while being convexly protruded outward from the front surface of the cabinet cover  62 . 
   Specifically, the door ring  200  has a ring body  201 , which is convexly protruded to have a semicircular section. 
   At the cabinet cover  62  are formed a plurality of fixing holes  63 , which are disposed around the door  60  at a predetermined interval. Correspondingly, the door ring  200  is provided at the rear surface of the ring body  201  with a plurality of fixing members  205 , which are formed in the shape of a hook. The fixing members  205  are disposed in a predetermined interval such that the fixing members  205  can be inserted in the fixing holes  63  of the cabinet cover  62 , respectively. 
   The door ring  200  is securely fixed to the cabinet cover  62  by inserting the fixing members  205  into the corresponding fixing holes  63  of the cabinet cover  62 . 
   Preferably, the door ring  200  is made of an injection-molded synthetic resin material. A plating layer  203 , such as a metal plating layer, is formed at the surface of the door ring  200 . 
   Preferably, the ring body  201  and the fixing members  205  of the door ring  200  may be integrally formed of the same material. Alternatively, the ring body  201  and the fixing members  205  of the door ring  200  may be separately manufactured, and then, the fixing member  205  may be securely fixed to the ring body  201  by means of various fixing units. 
   The plating layer  203  may be formed in the same color as or a contrasting color as the cabinet cover  62  or the decorative part  100  of the door  60 . 
   After the door ring  200  is mounted around the door  60 , the door ring  200  improves the appearance of the door of the washing machine and its circumference together with the decorative part  100  of the door  60 . Consequently, the whole pleasing appearance of the washing machine is accomplished. 
   Furthermore, the door ring  200  is additionally mounted at the cabinet cover  62 , which is usually made of a steel plate, around the laundry inlet/outlet hole  64 , to which load is significantly applied due to the door  60 , and therefore, the cabinet cover  62  has strength sufficient to support the door although the capacity of the washing machine is largely increased. 
     FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a door and a door ring of the drum type washing machine according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Components of the drum type washing machine according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which are identical or similar in construction to those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, are indicated by the same reference numerals as those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will not be given. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the drum type washing machine according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a decorative part  120 , which is plated with a metallic material, is integrally formed at the front surface of the door frame  70  and that a door ring  210  is attached to the front surface of the cabinet cover  62 . Other components of the drum type washing machine according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention are identical or similar in construction to those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Specifically, the decorative part  120  consists of multiple ring-shaped hairlines H, which are formed at the front surface of the front door frame  72 . The decorative part  120  is integrally formed at the front surface of the front door frame  72  when the front door frame  72  is formed by injection molding. 
   At the surface of the front door frame  72 , on which the hairlines H are disposed, is formed a chrome plating layer  122 . 
   The door ring  210  is disposed along the outer circumference of the door  60  in the same fashion as the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the door ring  210  is attached to the cabinet cover  62  by means of an adhesive member  215 . 
   At the surface of a ring body  211  of the door ring  210  is formed a metal plating layer  213 . 
   According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door ring  210  is securely attached to the cabinet cover  62  by means of the adhesive member  215 . Consequently, the door ring  210  can be easily and conveniently attached to the cabinet cover  62  without modifying the cabinet cover  62 , and therefore, the strength of a structure around the door is increased while the appearance of the structure is improved. 
     FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a door and a door ring of the drum type washing machine according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Components of the drum type washing machine according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, which are identical or similar in construction to those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, are indicated by the same reference numerals as those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will not be given. 
   The drum type washing machine according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is identical in construction to the drum type washing machine according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention except that a door ring  220  is integrally formed at the cabinet cover  62 . 
   Specifically, the door ring  220  is integrally formed around a predetermined position of the cabinet cover  62  where the door is mounted. The door ring  220  is convexly protruded in the shape of a rib. 
   At the outer surface of the door ring  220  may be formed a metal plating layer  223 . 
   According to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door ring  220  is integrally formed at the cabinet cover  62 . Consequently, the appearance of the door and a structure around the door is improved without attaching an additional member to the cabinet cover  62  while the strength of the structure around the door is increased. 
     FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine with a door ring according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention seen from line C-C of  FIG. 10 . 
   Components of the drum type washing machine according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which are identical or similar in construction to those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, are indicated by the same reference numerals as those of the drum type washing machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will not be given. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the drum type washing machine according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a decorative part consisting of hairlines is not formed at the door frame  70  and that the door ring  200  is disposed along the outer circumference of the door  60 . 
   The door  60  comprises a front door frame  72 , a rear door frame  74 , and a door glass  90  disposed between the front door frame  72  and the rear door frame  74 . 
   At the cabinet cover  62 , to which the door  60  is hingedly connected, is mounted a door ring  200 , which is the same as the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Specifically, the door ring  200  comprises: a ring body  210 ; and a plurality of fixing members  205 , which are protruded rearward from the ring body  201 . The fixing members  205  of the door ring  200  are inserted in fixing holes  63  formed at the cabinet cover  62 , respectively. 
   Alternatively, the door ring  200  may be attached to the cabinet cover  62  by means of an adhesive member as in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention or may be integrally formed at the cabinet cover  62  as in the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   According to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door ring  200  is disposed around the door  60 , and therefore, the strength of a structure around the door is increased while the appearance of the structure around the door is improved. 
   In the illustrated embodiments, the decorative part consists of hairlines, although the decorative part may consist of other various patterns. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the plating layer is formed at the outer surface of the door ring, although a transparent material may be coated at the outer surface of the door ring according to circumstances. Furthermore, various reflective/nonreflective patterns or embossed/depressed patterns may be formed at the outer surface of the door ring. 
   As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. 
   The front member is attached to the front surface of the door frame. Consequently, the strength of the door frame is considerably increased without forming the door frame of a metallic material or another special material. 
   Also, the decorative part is formed at the front member of the door frame or is directly formed at the door frame. Consequently, the appearance of the door is improved. 
   Furthermore, the door ring is mounted at the cabinet around the door. Consequently, the strength of a structure around the door is increased while the appearance of the front surface of the washing machine is improved. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.