Patent Abstract:
A damper assembly and washing machine using the same, by which a damper pin configured to facilitate assembly is provided and by which a damper pin is configured to avoid breaking, are disclosed. The damper assembly includes a base having a first connecting portion, a damper having a second connecting portion at one end and attenuating a vibration transferred to the base, and a damper pin penetrating the first and second connecting portions to secure them, the damper pin having a slip-fit connection with the first and second connecting portions.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2004-012603, filed on Feb. 25, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a damper assembly and a washing machine using the same, in which a damper pin configured to facilitate assembly is provided. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Generally, in a washing machine, a tub holds water and detergent inside and a laundry is put in a drum installed within the tub. And the drum is rotated to perform washing, rinsing, and dewatering. The washing machine is an apparatus for removing filth or dirt attached to the laundry using the detergent and mechanical energy applied thereto appropriately. Specifically, a drum, which is horizontally installed within a drum type washing machine, holds detergent, water, and laundry therein and is then rotated by a drive force of a motor to remove filth or dirt attached the laundry. Such a drum type washing machine avoids causing damage or ravel to the laundry, consumes less water, and brings about a washing effect of beating and rubbing. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a general drum type washing machine consists of a cabinet  10  forming an overall exterior, a tub  20  provided within the cabinet  10  to store water therein, and a cylindrical drum  30  rotatably installed within the tub  20  to hold a laundry therein. In this case, a control panel provided with buttons and switches to input an operational condition of the washing machine and a detergent box connected to a water supply device, which supplies water to the drum, to supply a detergent together with the water are provided to the cabinet. The above-constructed washing machine according to a related art performs washing on a laundry using chemical reaction of the detergent, water current generated from a rotation of the drum, and friction thereof. 
   Meanwhile, a damper assembly  60  is installed between the tub  20  and a base plate  11  of the cabinet to attenuate vibration appearing on the tub while the drum rotates. The damper assembly  60  consists of a damper  61  attenuating vibration transferred to the cabinet  10  from the tub  20  and a damper connecting part  62  connecting the damper  61  between the tub  20  and the base plate  11  of the cabinet  10 . The damper connecting part  62  consists of a pair of first connecting portions  62   a  built in one body of both ends of the damper  61 , respectively, and a pair of second connecting portions  62   b  built in one body of the tub  20  and the base plate  11  of the cabinet to be connected to the first connecting portions  62   a  by damper pins  63 , respectively. 
   The first connecting portion  62   a  is inserted in the second connecting portion  62   b  so that both sides of the first connecting portion  62   a  is supported by the second connecting portion  62   b . And, a pair of perforated holes is formed at the first and second connecting portions  62   a  and  62   b , respectively, so that the damper pin  63  is fitted in the perforated holes, respectively. The damper pin needs to be easily assembled and should avoid being easily broken. Hence, many efforts are made to develop a damper assembly having the damper pin that is configured to facilitate assembly and avoid being broken. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a damper assembly and a washing machine using the same that substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
   An object of the present invention, which has been devised to solve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a damper assembly and a washing machine using the same, in which a damper pin configured to facilitate assembly is provided. 
   Another object of the present invention, which has been devised to solve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a damper assembly and a washing machine using the same, by which a damper pin is configured to avoid being broken is provided. 
   Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from a practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the subject matter particularly pointed out in the specification and claims hereof as well as in the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a damper assembly includes a base having a first connecting portion, a damper having a second connecting portion at one end and attenuating a vibration transferred to the base, and a damper pin penetrating the first and second connecting portions to secure them, the damper pin having a slip-fit connection with the first and second connecting portions. 
   The damper pin may include a detent, wherein the detent is elastically transformed in a central axis direction of the damper pin by the damper connecting part when the damper pin penetrates through the connecting portions, and wherein the detent restores to be locked on a lateral side of the connecting portions after thoroughly penetrating (or passing through) the connecting portions. Herein, the detent may include a front portion connected in one body to a lateral outside of the damper pin, a rear portion protruding outward from the damper pin, and a tilted surface between the front and rear portions to be tilted in a length direction of the damper pin. 
   A cross-sectional area of the front portion of the detent vertical to the length direction of the damper pin may be smaller than that of another portion of the detent. Herein, a hole may be formed in a portion of the damper pin where the detent is connected to the lateral outside of the damper pin. The hole may have one of a circle shape and an oval shape. Also, a hollow may be formed in the damper pin, and wherein the detent is formed by cutting a lateral side of the damper pin. Herein, the hole may extend to a front end of the damper pin. 
   A recess may be formed in a concave shape toward a center of the front portion on at least one of both sides of the front portion of the detent. Herein, a rim of the recess may be curved. A front-to-rear length of the detent may be at least 1.5 time greater than a width of the detent. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, a washing machine includes a cabinet forming an exterior of the washing machine, a tub provided within the cabinet to accommodate water therein, a drum rotatably provided within the tub to perform washing on a laundry therein, and a damper assembly provided between the tub and the cabinet to attenuate a vibration, wherein the damper assembly may include a damper attenuating a vibration transferred to the cabinet, wherein the cabinet has a first connecting portion and the damper has a second connecting portion at one end, and a damper pin penetrating the first and second connecting portions to secure them, the damper pin having a slip-fit connection with the first and second connecting portions. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing explanation and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and illustrative and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram of a damper assembly of a washing machine according to a related art; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing machine provided with a damper assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram of a damper assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4A  is a layout of a damper pin provided to a damper assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional diagram of the damper pin taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4A ; 
       FIG. 5A  is a layout of a damper pin provided to a damper assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional diagram of the damper pin taken along line line B-B of  FIG. 5A ; 
       FIG. 6A  is a layout of a damper pin provided to a damper assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional diagram of the damper pin taken along line C-C of  FIG. 6A ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a layout of a damper pin provided to a damper assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like elements are indicated using the same or similar reference designations where possible. 
     FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing machine provided with a damper assembly according to the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram of a damper assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet  100  forming an exterior, a tub  200  provided within the cabinet  100 , a drum  300  rotatably provided within the tub  200 , and a rotating means  400  for rotating the drum  300 . The cabinet  100  includes a base plate  110  provided to a bottom side, a pair of side plates (not shown) provided to both sides of the base plate  110 , respectively, a rear plate  120  provided to rear sides of the base plate  110  and side plates, a front plate  130  provided to front sides of the base plate  110  and side plates, and a top plate  140  provided to topsides of the rear plate  120 , side plates and front plate  130 . 
   An opening (not shown) is formed at a center of the front plate  130  so that a laundry is put/pulled in/out via the opening. And, a door  131  for preventing the laundry from escaping via the opening is provided to the front plate  130  to open/close the opening. Moreover, a control panel  500  for controlling an operation of the drum type washing machine is installed on a topside of the front plate  130 . The tub  200  is supported by an elastic means  220  such as a spring and a damper assembly  600  to attenuate vibration generated from operation of the drum type washing machine. And, a tub entrance (not shown) is formed at a front end of the tub  200  to confront the opening of the cabinet  100 . The drum  300  has a cylindrical shape, and a multitude of perforated holes  310  are formed thereon to let water pass through. At least one or more lifters  320  are provided to an inner wall of the drum  300  to lift a laundry up to a predetermined height. Once the drum  300  is rotated, the laundry held within the drum  300  is repeatedly lifted upward to fall by gravity to perform washing on the laundry. 
   A circular drum entrance (not shown) confronting the tub entrance is formed at a front end of the drum  300 . Hence, the drum entrance, the tub entrance, and the opening of the cabinet  100  construct a laundry entrance/exit part via which the laundry goes in or comes out of the drum  300 . The rotating means  400  can include an induction motor or BLDC motor provided in rear of the tub  200 . A rotational shaft of the motor is connected to a rear end center of the drum  300  to perform forward or reverse rotation of the drum  300 . And, a drain pump  230  and drain hose  240  for discharging water are installed under the tub  200 . Moreover, an inlet device  250  for supplying water to the tub  200  and a detergent box  260  connected to the inlet device  250  to supply a detergent together with the water are provided over the tub  200 . 
   A damper assembly provided to a washing machine according to the present invention is explained by referring to  FIG. 3  as follows. A damper assembly  600  includes a damper  610  attenuating vibration transferred from the tub  200  and a damper connecting part  620 . And, the damper connecting part  620  includes a pair of first connecting portions  621  built in one body of both ends of the damper  610 , respectively, a pair of second connecting portions  622  built in one body of the tub  200  and the base plate  110  of the cabinet to be connected to the first connecting portions, respectively, and a pair of damper pins  630  each of which penetrates both of the corresponding first and second connecting portions  621  and  622  to prevent separation. In this case, pin holes (not shown) are formed in the first and second connecting portions  621  and  622 , respectively, so that the damper pin  630  can be inserted in the corresponding pin holes. And, the first connecting portion  621  is received in the corresponding second connecting portion  622  to be coupled. 
   Damper pins provided to the damper assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention are explained by referring to  FIGS. 4A to 7  as follows.  FIG. 4A  is a layout of a damper pin provided to the damper assembly  600  according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional diagram of the damper pin taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4A . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a pin head  631  is formed at a rear part of the damper pin  630  to have an outside diameter greater than each inside diameter of the pin holes. Preferably, a front part of the damper pin  630  gradually decreases in diameter toward its front end to facilitate the damper pin  630  to be inserted in the pin holes of the damper connecting part  620 . A hollow  632  is formed in the damper pin  630  and one side of the damper pin  630  is cut in a length direction of the damper pin  630 . Hence, the damper pin  630  becomes elastic. Specifically, the damper pin  630  includes a detent  633 . And, the detent  633  includes a front portion  633   a  connected to an outer circumference  634  of the damper pin  630  in one body and a rear portion  633   b  protruding from the damper pin  630 . Hence, a tilted surface  633   c  is formed between the front and rear portions  633   a  and  633   b  of the detent  633  in the length direction of the damper pin  630 . 
   When the damper pin  630  is being passed through the damper connecting part  620 , the detent  633  is pressed by an inner wall of the corresponding pin hole of the damper connecting part  620  to be elastically transformed in a central axis direction of the damper pin  630  centering on the front portion  633   a  of the detent  633 . The detent  633  is restored after having passed a predetermined distance to be caught on the damper connecting part  620 , and more particularly, on a lateral outside of the second connecting portion  622 , thereby preventing the damper pin  630  from coming out. Preferably, the detent  633  is formed by cutting a lateral side of the damper pin  630  to provide a ‘           ’ shape. Preferably, a length between front and rear ends of the detent  633  is formed at least 1.5 times greater than a length between both lateral sides of the detent  633  to minimize a bending force applied to the front portion  633   a  of the detent  633  by the transformation generated when the damper pin  630  is being passed through the corresponding pin holes.
     FIG. 5A  is a layout of a damper pin  640  provided to a damper assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional diagram of the damper pin taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5A . Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , like the first embodiment of the present invention, a pin head  641  is formed at a rear part of the damper pin  640  to have an outside diameter greater than each inside diameter of the pin holes. A front part of the damper pin  640  gradually decreases in diameter toward its front end to facilitate the damper pin  640  to be inserted in the pin holes of the damper connecting part  620 . A hollow  642  is formed in the damper pin  640  and one side of the damper pin  640  is cut in a length direction of the damper pin  640 . Hence, the damper pin  640  becomes elastic. 
   And, the damper pin  640  includes a detent  643  formed by cutting a lateral side of the damper pin  640  to provide a ‘           ’ shape. Specifically, the detent  643  includes a front portion  643   a  connected to an outer circumference  644  of the damper pin  640  in one body and a rear portion  643   b  protruding from the damper pin  640 . Hence, a tilted surface  643   c  is formed between the front and rear portions  643   a  and  643   b  of the detent  643  in the length direction of the damper pin  640 .
   In the second embodiment of the present invention, a cross-sectional area of the front portion  643   a  of the detent  643  in a vertical direction to the length direction of the damper pin  640  is formed smaller than that of the rest portion of the detent  643  except the front portion  643   a  to enhance flexibility of the detent  643 . For this, a hole  645  is formed in a portion where the detent  643  is connected to the lateral side of the damper pin  630 . The hole  645 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , has a square shape. Yet, a shape of the hole  645  can be variously modified into circle, oval, and the like. And, a width of the hole  645  is about a quarter (¼) to a half (½) of the width of the front portion  643   a  of the detent  643 . By the above configuration, the damper pin  640  enables to be smoothly passed through the pin holes of the damper connecting part  620  and the elasticity of the detent  643  is enhanced to prevent the breakage thereof. 
     FIG. 6A  is a layout of a damper pin  650  provided to a damper assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional diagram of the damper pin taken along line C-C of  FIG. 6A . Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , like the second embodiment of the present invention, a pin head  651  is formed at a rear part of the damper pin  650  to have an outside diameter greater than each inside diameter of the pin holes. A front part of the damper pin  650  gradually decreases in diameter toward its front end to facilitate the damper pin  650  to be inserted in the pin holes of the damper connecting part  620 . A hollow  652  is formed in the damper pin  650  and one side of the damper pin  650  is cut in a length direction of the damper pin  650 . Hence, the damper pin  650  becomes elastic. 
   And, the damper pin  650  includes a detent  653  formed by cutting a lateral side of the damper pin  650  to provide a ‘           ’ shape. Specifically, the detent  653  includes a front portion  653   a  connected to an outer circumference  654  of the damper pin  650  in one body and a rear portion  653   b  protruding from the damper pin  650 . Hence, a tilted surface  653   c  is formed between the front and rear portions  653   a  and  653   b  of the detent  653  in the length direction of the damper pin  650 . A hole  655  is formed in a portion where the detent  653  is connected to the lateral side of the damper pin  650 . The hole  655  extends to the front end of the damper pin  650  to enhance elasticity of the detent  653  and the damper pin  650  and to facilitate to manufacture the damper pin  650 .
     FIG. 7  is a layout of a damper pin  660  provided to a damper assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , like the second embodiment of the present invention, a pin head  661  is formed at a rear part of the damper pin  660  to have an outside diameter greater than each inside diameter of the pin holes. A front part of the damper pin  660  gradually decreases in diameter toward its front end to facilitate the damper pin  660  to be inserted in the pin holes of the damper connecting part  620 . A hollow (not shown) is formed in the damper pin  660  and one side of the damper pin  660  is cut in a length direction of the damper pin  660 . Hence, the damper pin  660  becomes elastic. 
   And, the damper pin  660  includes a detent  663  formed by cutting a lateral side of the damper pin  660  to provide a ‘           ’ shape. Specifically, the detent  663  includes a front portion  663   a  connected to an outer circumference  664  of the damper pin  660  in one body and a rear portion  663   b  protruding from the damper pin  660 . Hence, a tilted surface  663   c  is formed between the front and rear portions  663   a  and  663   b  of the detent  663  in the length direction of the damper pin  660 . A recess  665  is formed in at least one of both sides of the front portion  663   a  of the detent  663  to be concave toward a center of the front portion  663   a . In doing so, a rim of the recess  665  can be curved.
   Meanwhile, as mentioned in the foregoing description of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that the length between front and rear ends of the detent of the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention can be formed at least 1.5 times greater than a length between both lateral sides of the detent. 
   An assembling process of the above-constructed damper assembly  600  according to the present invention is explained as follows. First of all, a pair of the first connecting portions  621  built in one body of both of the ends of the damper  610  are inserted in a pair of the second connecting portions  622  built in one body of the cabinet  100  and the tub  200  to be coupled thereto, respectively. 
   Subsequently, the damper pin  630 ,  640 ,  650  or  660  is inserted in the pin holes of the damper connecting part  620 . When the damper pin  630 ,  640 ,  650  or  660  is being passed through the damper connecting part  620 , the detent  633 ,  643 ,  653  or  663  is pressed by an inner wall of the corresponding pin hole of the damper connecting part  620  to be elastically transformed in a central axis direction of the corresponding damper pin centering on the front portion  633   a ,  643   a ,  653   a  or  663   a  of the corresponding detent. The corresponding detent  633 ,  643 ,  653  or  663  is restored after having passed a predetermined distance to be caught on the damper connecting part  620 , and more particularly, on a lateral outside of the second connecting portion  622 , thereby preventing the corresponding damper pin  630 ,  640 ,  650  or  660  from coming out of the damper connecting part  620 . 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides the following advantages or effects. First of all, the detent preventing the separation of the damper pin is provided to the lateral side of the damper pin, whereby the damper assembly is facilitated to be assembled. Secondly, the length of the detent of the damper pin is formed at least 1.5 times longer than the width of the detent, whereby elasticity is enhanced. Moreover, the damper pin is prevented from being broken when assembled to the damper connecting part. 
   Thirdly, the cross-sectional area of the front portion of the detent in a vertical direction to the length direction of the damper pin is formed smaller than that of the rest portion of the detent except the front portion to enhance elasticity or flexibility of the detent. Moreover, the damper pin is prevented from being broken when assembled to the damper connecting part. Finally, the hole extending to the front end of the damper pin from the front portion of the detent is provided to the damper pin, thereby enhancing the overall elasticity of the damper pin and facilitating to manufacture the damper pin. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5