Patent Abstract:
A laundry machine is disclosed. The laundry machine includes a cabinet defining a first receiving space to receive laundry to be treated, a plurality of legs each of which comprises a leg head located at an installation surface and a leg body configured to connect the leg head to the cabinet, a sub cabinet defining a second receiving space having a volume less than the first receiving space, the sub cabinet being coupled to a bottom of the cabinet, and a plurality of coupling members configured to detachably couple the sub cabinet to the cabinet. According to this laundry machine, it is possible to easily achieve the coupling and separation between the cabinet and the sub cabinet.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0017859, filed on Feb. 27, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a laundry machine, and more particularly, to a laundry machine constructed in a structure in which a cabinet and a subcabinet are easily coupled to and separated from each other. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, based on a laundry loading method, a laundry machine may be classified as a top loading type laundry machine or a front loading type laundry machine. In recent years, there has been developed a laundry machine equipped with a sub cabinet that is capable of keeping laundry to be treated in addition to a cabinet. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a laundry machine  1  including a sub cabinet  20 . In the laundry machine  1 , the sub cabinet  20  is normally located below a cabinet  10 . The cabinet  10  and the sub cabinet  20  may be coupled to each other by connection devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine which does not need additional connection devices when a cabinet and a sub cabinet are connected to each other. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine constructed in a structure in which a cabinet and a subcabinet are easily coupled to and separated from each other. 
         [0010]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0011]    To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry machine includes a cabinet defining a first receiving space to receive laundry to be treated, a plurality of legs each of which comprises a leg head located at an installation surface and a leg body configured to connect the leg head to the cabinet, a sub cabinet defining a second receiving space having a volume less than the first receiving space, the sub cabinet being coupled to a bottom of the cabinet, and a plurality of coupling members configured to detachably couple the sub cabinet to the cabinet. 
         [0012]    Each of the coupling members may include a leg bracket coupled to a bottom of the cabinet and a fixing bracket coupled to a top of the sub cabinet such that the fixing bracket is detachably fastened to the leg bracket. 
         [0013]    The leg bracket may include a bracket body coupled to the cabinet and a leg insertion hole formed through the bracket body for allowing the corresponding leg body to be inserted therethrough. 
         [0014]    The leg bracket may further include a support part formed along a circumference of the leg insertion hole, such that the support part protrudes downward toward the fixing bracket, for supporting the corresponding leg. 
         [0015]    The fixing bracket may include a location part in which the corresponding leg head is located. 
         [0016]    The location part may be formed in a shape corresponding to that of the corresponding leg head. 
         [0017]    The leg bracket may further include a fastening part extending from the bracket body such that the fastening part is detachably connected to the fixing bracket. 
         [0018]    The fixing bracket may further include a connection part formed in a shape corresponding to that of the fastening part such that the fastening part is coupled to the connection part. 
         [0019]    The fastening part may extend downward from one side of the bracket body toward the connection part. 
         [0020]    The connection part may have a shape corresponding to that of the fastening part. 
         [0021]    The leg bracket may further include a plurality of fastening holes formed such that the leg bracket is coupled to the cabinet. 
         [0022]    The fixing bracket may include a plurality of coupling holes formed such that the fixing bracket is coupled to the sub cabinet. 
         [0023]    The leg bracket may further include a leg insertion hole is provided at a position corresponding to the leg body of the corresponding leg disposed at a corresponding bottom corner of the cabinet. 
         [0024]    The leg bracket may further include a location groove in which a cabinet bracket coupled to the bottom of the cabinet for supporting the leg body is located. 
         [0025]    The location part may be formed at a position corresponding to that of the leg head in a state in which the leg bracket is coupled to the cabinet. 
         [0026]    In another aspect of the present invention, a laundry machine includes a cabinet defining a first receiving space to receive laundry to be treated, a plurality of legs each of which comprises a leg head located at an installation surface and a leg body configured to connect the leg head to the cabinet, a sub cabinet defining a second receiving space having a volume less than the first receiving space, the sub cabinet being coupled to a bottom of the cabinet, and a plurality of coupling members configured to interconnect the cabinet and the sub cabinet to support the legs, each of the coupling members including a leg bracket coupled to the cabinet and a fixing bracket coupled to the sub cabinet such that the fixing bracket is detachably fastened to the leg bracket. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    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 embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional laundry machine including a cabinet and a sub cabinet; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a laundry machine including a cabinet and a sub cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet and the sub cabinet being coupled to each other; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a laundry machine including a cabinet and a sub cabinet according to another embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet and the sub cabinet being coupled to each other; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a leg bracket of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a laundry machine including a cabinet  10  and a sub cabinet  20  according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet and the sub cabinet being coupled to each other by connection devices. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the cabinet  10  and the sub cabinet  20  are coupled to each other by coupling members  30 . Specifically, each coupling member  30  is provided at corresponding sides of the cabinet  10  and the sub cabinet  20 . Each coupling member  30  is connected to the cabinet  20  by an adhesive and to the sub cabinet  20  by screws  32 . 
         [0036]    Another type of coupling members, which will be described hereinafter, may be applied to achieve easier coupling and separation between the coupling members  30 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a laundry machine  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention, a cabinet  110  and a sub cabinet  120  being coupled to each other. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the laundry machine  100  includes a cabinet  110  configured to receive laundry to be treated, a sub cabinet  120  coupled to the bottom of the cabinet  110 , and coupling members  130  configured to be detachably connected between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  to couple the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  to each other. 
         [0039]    The coupling members  130  couple the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  to each other. The coupling members  130  are detachably connected between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120 . Since the coupling members  130  are detachably connected between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120 , it is possible to repeatedly achieve the coupling and separation between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member  130  disassembled from the laundry machine shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the coupling member  130  includes a fixing bracket  140  disposed at the top of the sub cabinet  120  (see  FIG. 3 ) and a leg bracket  160  disposed at the bottom of the cabinet  110  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0042]    A leg  112  of the cabinet  110  includes a leg head  112   a  located at an installation surface and a leg body  112   b  connected to the leg head  112   a.    
         [0043]    Since the leg  112  is generally located adjacent to a corresponding corner at the lower part of the cabinet  110 , it is preferable for the leg bracket  160  to be located adjacent to a corresponding corner at the bottom of the cabinet  110 . 
         [0044]    The leg bracket  160  is connected to the fixing bracket  140  disposed at the top of the sub cabinet  120 , with the result that the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  are detachably connected to each other. When the separation between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  12  is required, therefore, it is possible to easily separate the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  12  from each other only by the separation between the leg bracket  160  and the fixing bracket  140 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating only the leg bracket  160  of  FIG. 4  when viewed from the bottom of the leg bracket  160 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the leg bracket  160  is disposed at the bottom of the cabinet  110  to support the leg  112  of the cabinet  110 . The leg bracket  160  is detachably connected to the fixing bracket  140  disposed at the top of the sub cabinet  120 . 
         [0047]    The leg bracket  160  includes a bracket body  162  configured to be fastened to a cabinet bracket  114  coupled to the bottom of the cabinet  110 , a leg insertion hole  162   a  through which the leg body  112  is inserted, a support part  163  protruding along the circumference of the leg insertion hole  162   a,  a plurality of fastening holes  164  through which screws are inserted to fasten the leg bracket  160  to the cabinet  110 , and a location groove  168  in which the cabinet bracket  114  is located. Also, the leg bracket  160  further includes a fastening part  166  configured to detachably connect the leg bracket  160  to the fixing bracket  140 . 
         [0048]    The bracket body  162  forms a body of the leg bracket  160 . The bracket body  162  is disposed at the bottom of the cabinet  110  to support the leg  112  of the cabinet  110 . (Exactly, the leg is supported by the support part formed at the bracket body.) 
         [0049]    The bracket body  162  is located adjacent to a corresponding corner at the bottom of the cabinet  110 . Therefore, it is preferable for the bracket body  162  to be formed approximately in the shape of L. The leg insertion hole  162   a,  through which the leg body  112   b  is inserted, is formed through the bracket body  162  at one side thereof. It is preferable for the leg insertion hole  162   a  to be formed at a position corresponding to that of the leg body  112   b  in a shape corresponding to that of the leg body  112   b.    
         [0050]    One or more fastening holes  164  are formed at the bracket body  162 . Screws are coupled the lower part of the cabinet  110  through the fastening holes  164  to connect the leg bracket  160  to the cabinet  110 . 
         [0051]    The fastening part  166 , configured to be connected to the fixing bracket  140 , is formed at one side of the bracket body  162 . The fastening part extends vertically downward from one side of the bracket body  162  toward the fixing bracket  140 . That is, the fastening part  166  is bent downward from one side of the bracket body  162 . 
         [0052]    It is preferable for the fastening part  166  to be formed integrally with the bracket body  162 , although the fastening part  166  may be formed of an additional member. One or more fastening parts  166  may be formed. When the bracket body  162  is coupled to the cabinet  110 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , it is preferable for a pair of fastening parts  166  to be formed along regions, of the bracket body  162 , exposed to the outside. 
         [0053]    In a structure in which the fastening parts  166  are formed at the exposed regions of the bracket body  162 , as described above, it is possible for a worker to easily fasten the fastening parts  166  to connection parts  146 , which will be described later, of the fixing bracket  140  from the outside. 
         [0054]    Meanwhile, referring back to  FIG. 4 , the fixing bracket  140  is disposed at the top of the sub cabinet  120  (see  FIG. 3 ). The fixing bracket  140  may be formed integrally with the sub cabinet  120 . Alternatively, the fixing bracket  140  may be formed of an additional member. Since the fixing bracket  140  is connected to the leg bracket  160  described above, it is preferable for the fixing bracket  140  to be located adjacent to a corresponding corner at the top of the sub cabinet  120 . Also, in a case in which the fixing bracket  140  is formed of an additional member, the fixing bracket  140  may be fixed to the top of the sub cabinet  120  by screws. 
         [0055]    The fixing bracket  140  includes a location part  142  in which the leg head  112   a  is located and connection parts  146  configured to be connected to the fastening parts  166  of the leg bracket  160 . 
         [0056]    The location part  142  defines a space in which the leg head  112   a  of the cabinet  110  is located. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the location part  142  is provided with a depression  143  having a shape and size corresponding to those of the leg head  112   a.    
         [0057]    Consequently, when the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  are coupled to each other, the leg head  112   a  of the cabinet  110  is located in the depression  143  defined in the location part  142 . Also, the depression  143  is formed with a shape and size corresponding to those of the leg  112 , and therefore, the movement of the leg  112  of the cabinet  110  is prevented when the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  are coupled to each other. 
         [0058]    Meanwhile, the connection parts  146  receive the corresponding fastening parts  166  of the leg bracket  160  and are coupled to the corresponding fastening parts  166 , with the result that the leg bracket  160  is coupled to the sub cabinet  120 . Consequently, each connection part  146  has a shape corresponding to that of each fastening part  166 . For example, each connection part  146  may be a depression having a shape corresponding to that of each fastening part  166 . 
         [0059]    Consequently, when the fastening parts  166  are connected to the corresponding connection parts  146 , the fastening parts  166  are inserted into the corresponding connection parts  146  to prevent the movement of the leg bracket  160 . 
         [0060]    The connection between the fastening parts  166  and the corresponding connection parts  146  may be achieved by various methods. In this embodiment, the connection between the fastening parts  166  and the corresponding connection parts  146  is achieved by screws, to which, however, the present invention is not limited. 
         [0061]    Since the connection parts  146  and the corresponding fastening parts  166  are detachably connected to each other, it is possible to easily achieve the coupling and separation between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120 . 
         [0062]    In the laundry machine according to this embodiment as described above, the coupling between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120  is achieved using the leg bracket  160  configured to support the leg  112  of the cabinet  110  without using an additional member. Consequently, it is possible to easily achieve the coupling between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120 , and, in addition, it is possible to repeatedly achieve the coupling and separation between the cabinet  110  and the sub cabinet  120 . 
         [0063]    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 inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3