Patent Abstract:
A drum-type washing machine, by which an enhanced assembly of a top plate can be provided, is disclosed. The top plate for a washing machine includes a board covering a top of the washing machine, a front frame provided to a front side edge of the board to enhance a structural strength of the board, a rear frame provided to a rear side edge of the board to enhance the structural strength of the board, at least one connecting member provided to adjoining portions of the front and rear frames to secure the adjoining portions together, and at least one fixing guide spaced apart from the at least one connecting member, the at least one fixing guide providing a slip-fit connection between the front and rear frames.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2004-009701, filed on Feb. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine, by which an enhanced assembly of a top plate can be provided.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, a drum-type washing system performs washing within a drum rotated by a drive force of a motor using friction between water and laundry. In performing washing by the drum-type washing system, the laundry is hardly damaged and is not entangled with each other. And, the drum-type washing system provides such a washing effect as beating, rubbing, and the like.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing machine according to a related art. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an outer case  1  of a drum-type washing machine consists of a cabinet  2 , a cabinet cover  14 , and a top plate  18 . The cabinet  2  covers rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine, and the cabinet cover  14  is provided to its front side. An opening is formed at a central part of the cabinet  2  so that a laundry is put/pulled in/from the washing machine via the opening. And, a door  16  is installed at a rim of the opening to open/close the opening.  
         [0007]     A control panel  22  is provided over the cabinet cover  14 , and various circuit elements controlling an operation of the washing machine are loaded on the control panel  22 . A topside of the drum-type washing machine is covered with the top plate  18 , and a base  20  is provided to a bottom side of the cabinet  2 .  
         [0008]     A tub (not shown) storing water therein is provided within the outer case  1 , and a drum is rotatably provided within the tub. A plurality of lifters  8  is provided on an inner circumference of the drum  6  to lift a laundry up to a predetermined height to fall. Specifically, a plurality of the lifters  8  is provided on the inner circumference of the drum  6  in a circumferential direction to leave a predetermined distance from each other. Moreover, a motor is provided in rear of the tub to transfer a rotational force to the drum  6 .  
         [0009]     Meanwhile, an object may be put on a topside of the top plate of the related art drum-type washing machine. However, the weight of the object works on the topside of the top plate so that the top plate can be bent or distorted. Moreover, a bending force applied to the top plate in moving or carrying the washing machine to another place may cause damage to the top plate.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum-type washing machine that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0011]     An object of the present invention, which has been devised to solve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a drum-type washing machine, by which an enhanced assembly of a top plate can be provided.  
         [0012]     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.  
         [0013]     To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a top plate for a washing machine includes a board covering a top of the washing machine, a front frame provided to a front side edge of the board to enhance a structural strength of the board, a rear frame provided to a rear side edge of the board to enhance the structural strength of the board, at least one connecting member provided to adjoining portions of the front and rear frames to secure the adjoining portions together, and at least one fixing guide spaced apart from the at least one connecting member, the at least one fixing guide providing a slip-fit connection between the front and rear frames.  
         [0014]     The fixing guide may include a first guide extending from one of the front and rear frames and having a coupling part protruding from a tip of the first guide, a recess provided to the other one of the front and rear frames to have the first guide inserted therein, and a second guide provided to a side of the recess to guide an insertion of the first guide, the second guide having a protruding part which securely engages with the coupling part of the first guide.  
         [0015]     A tilted portion may be provided to a surface of the coupling part confronting the second guide, the tilted portion being tilted in a direction of the insertion of the first guide. And, a tilted guide surface may be provided to the protruding part of the second guide to have the tilted portion of the coupling part slid thereon. Herein, the first guide may be formed of an elastic member.  
         [0016]     The first guide and the one of the front and rear frames may be formed as a first single body, and the second guide and the other one of the front and rear frames may be formed as a second single body. A width of the first guide may decrease toward the tip of the first guide.  
         [0017]     An insertion part may be provided to an inside edge of each of the front and rear frames to have the board inserted therein. And, the connecting member and the fixing guide may be provided to both side edges of the adjoining portions of the front and rear frames, respectively.  
         [0018]     In another aspect of the present invention, a drum-type washing machine includes a cabinet forming an exterior of the drum-type washing machine, a tub provided within the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, and a top plate covering a top of the cabinet, wherein the top plate includes a board, a front frame provided to a front side edge of the board to enhance a structural strength of the board, a rear frame provided to a rear side edge of the board to enhance the structural strength of the board, at least one connecting member provided to adjoining portions of the front and rear frames to secure the adjoining portions together, and at least one fixing guide spaced apart from the at least one connecting member, the at least one fixing guide providing a slip-fit connection between the front and rear frames.  
         [0019]     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  
       [0020]     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:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram of a general drum-type washing machine;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of a drum-type washing machine according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a layout of a bottom side of a top plate of a drum-type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a magnified diagram of a top plat according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a layout of a bottom side of a top plate of a drum-type washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective diagram of a top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     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.  
         [0028]     First of all, a drum-type washing machine according to the present invention is explained in detail by referring to FIGS.  2  to  6  as follows.  FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of a drum-type washing machine according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , an outer case  1  of a drum-type washing machine according to the present invention includes a cabinet  2 , a cabinet cover  14 , and a top plate  29 . The cabinet cover  14  is provided to a front side of the cabinet  2 , and an opening is formed in a central part of the cabinet cover  14 . And, a door  16  is provided to a rim of the opening to open/close the opening.  
         [0029]     A tub  4  is provided within the outer case  1 , and a drum  6  is rotatably provided within the tub  4 . At least one lifter  8  is provided on an inner circumference of the drum  6  to lift a laundry to fall by gravity. And, a bearing housing  10  is provided in rear of the tub  4 . Moreover, a motor is loaded in the bearing housing  10  to rotate the drum  6 . Meanwhile, a plurality of holes  29   a  is formed at a bottom side of the top plate  29 , and a plurality of holders  2   a  is provided to an upper end of the cabinet  2 . By inserting the holders  2   a  to the corresponding holes  29   a , respectively, the top plate  18  is fixed to a topside of the cabinet  2 .  
         [0030]     A control panel  22  controlling an operation of the washing machine is provided over the cabinet cover  14 . An inlet hose  22 , inlet valve, and detergent box  26  for supplying water or detergent to the tub  4  are provided in rear of the control panel  22 . A base  20  is provided to a bottom side of the washing machine. And, a drain pump (not shown) and drain hose (not shown) are provided on the base  20  to discharge the water. Meanwhile, a topside of the washing machine is covered with the top plate  29 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a layout of a bottom side of a top plate of a drum-type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the top plate  29  includes a top plate board  30 , a front frame  32 , and a rear frame  34 . The front frame  32  is provided to a front side edge of the top plate board  30 , and the rear frame  34  is provided to a rear side edge of the top plate board  30 . In order to reinforce rigidity (or enhance the structural strength) of the top plate board  30 , the front and rear frames  32  and  34  protrude in a bottom direction of the top plate board  30 . In this case, the front and rear frames  32  and  34  are formed of a synthetic resin based material by injection molding.  
         [0032]     Meanwhile, both ends of the front frame  32  are connected to both ends of the rear frame  34  by a pair of connecting members  36 , respectively. Preferably, the connecting member  36  is a staple. Namely, both of the confronting ends of the front and rear frames  32  and  34  are connected to each other by a pair of the connecting members  36 , respectively. Thus, the front and rear frames  32  and  34  are fixed to each other by the connecting members  36  and are then loaded on the bottom side of the top plate board  30 . Thereafter, the top plate  29  is loaded on a topside of the washing machine.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a magnified diagram of a top plat according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the front and rear frames  32  and  34  are connected by the connecting member  36 . Each of the front and rear frames  32  and  34  contracts or expands according to a temperature of a cold-resistant or heat-resistant test. Each of the front and rear frames  32  and  34  has a predetermined width in right-to-left direction, whereas the connecting member  36  is one-sided to connect the front and rear frames  32  and  34 . Hence, the front and rear frames  32  and  34  asymmetrically contract or expand in the connected portions, respectively, whereby a gap takes place between the connected portions of the front and rear frames  32  and  34 .  
         [0034]     The connected portions of the first and second frames  32  and  34  cannot be completely fixed to each other by the connecting member  36 . The farther the connected portions are left part from the connecting member  36 , the wider the gap ‘A’ increases. In order to suppress the occurrence of the gap ‘A’, a loading position of the connecting member  36  can be moved to a central part. Yet, the gap ‘A’ still occurs due to an amount of the expansion or contraction occurring in a location outward distant from the connecting member  36 . Thus, the gap ‘A’ ruins an exterior of the rum type washing machine  1  and fails to meet user&#39;s satisfaction. Such a problem can be solved by another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a bottom side of a top plate of a drum-type washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the top plate  50  covers a topside of the drum-type washing machine  1 . And, the top plate  50  includes a top plate board  60 , a front frame  70 , and a rear frame  80 . Each of the front and rear frames  70  and  80  has a channel shape to enclose edges of the top plate board  60 . Namely, the front frame  70  is provided to a front side edge of the top plate board  60  and the rear frame  80  is provided to a rear side edge of the top plate board  60 . In this case, the front and rear frames  70  and  80  are formed of a synthetic resin based material by injection molding.  
         [0036]     Meanwhile, both ends of the front frame  70  are connected to both ends of the rear frame  80  by a pair of connecting members  90 , respectively. Namely, both of the confronting ends of the front and rear frames  70  and  80  are connected to each other by a pair of the connecting members  90 , respectively. Simultaneously, a pair of the connecting members  90  fixes the frames  70  and  80  to the top plate board  60  as well. Preferably, the connecting member  36  is a staple.  
         [0037]     Referring to the magnified diagram in  FIG. 5 , a fixing guide  100  is provided to a location leaving a predetermined distance from the corresponding connecting member  90  to fix the corresponding ends of the frames  70  and  80  to each other and to guide a corresponding assembly.  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is a perspective diagram of a top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , insertion parts  72  and  82  are provided to inside edges of the front and rear frames  70  and  80  to have the top plate board  60  inserted therein. While the top plate board  60  is inserted in the insertion parts  72  and  78 , the connecting member  90  is installed. In doing so, the front frame  70 , rear frame  80 , and top plate board  60  are simultaneously fixed to each other by the connecting member  90 .  
         [0039]     The fixing guide includes a first guide  92  and a second guide  94 . The first guide  92  protrudes from one of the frames  70  and  80 , and the second guide  94  provided to the other frame is coupled to the first guide  92 . In doing so, the first guide  92  is inserted in a recess  95  formed on a lateral side of the second guide  94  and is then held by the second guide  94  to be fixed thereto.  
         [0040]     In this case, a tilted part  92   b  and a coupling part  92   a  are provided to the first guide  92 . The coupling part  92   a  protrudes from a tip of the first guide  92  in a direction confronting the second guide  94 . The tilted part  92   b  is formed at a portion of the coupling part  92   a  confronting the second guide  94  to be tilted in an inserting direction. The coupling part  92   a  is inserted in the recess  95  along the second guide  94  and is then held by a protruding part  94   a  formed at the second guide  94  to be fixed thereto.  
         [0041]     Namely, the second guide  94  is formed to confront the first guide  92 . And, the protruding part  94   a  is formed at a tip of the second guide  94  to hold the coupling part  92   a  of the first guide  92 . In this case, the first guide  92  has a shape decreasing in width toward its tip to be easily inserted in the recess  95 .  
         [0042]     A guide surface  94   b , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is formed at the protruding part  94   a  to be contacted with the tilted part  92   b  of the first guide  92 . When the first guide  92  is inserted in the recess  95 , the tilted part  92   b  slides along the guide surface  94   b . After the coupling part  92   a  has been moved over the protruding part  94   a , the coupling part  92   a  is held by the protruding part  94   a  to be fixed thereto. In doing so, the elastic transformation of the first guide  92  enables the coupling part  92   a  passes through the protruding part  94   a . Once the first guide  92  is restored from the elastic transformation, the coupling part  92   a  is finally held by the protruding part  94   a . Preferably, the first guide  92  is built in one body of one of the front and rear frames  70  and  80  and the second guide  94  is built in one body of the rest frame.  
         [0043]     An assembly process of the top plate of the drum-type washing machine according to the present invention is explained in detail as follows.  
         [0044]     First of all, a front side rim of the top plate board  60  is inserted in the insertion part  72  of the front frame  70  and a rear side rim of the top plate board  60  is inserted in the insertion part  82  of the rear frame  80 . In doing so, the first guide  92  provided to one frame  70  or  80  is inserted in the recess  95  formed at the other frame  80  or  70 . And, the front and rear frames  70  are guided by the first and second guides  92  and  94  to be loaded on the correct positions, respectively.  
         [0045]     Meanwhile, once the first guide  92  is fully inserted in the recess  95  formed in the vicinity of the second guide  94 , the coupling part  92   a  of the second guide  92  is held by the protruding part  94   a  provided to the second guide  94  to be fixed thereto. In this case, both ends of the front frame  70  coupled to the top plate board  60  are contacted with both ends of the rear frame  80  coupled to the top plate board  60 , respectively. The connecting members  90  are provided to both of the contacted ends of the front and rear frames  70  and  80  to fix to each other, respectively. Each of the connecting members is coupled to the top plate board  60  as well as connects the corresponding contacted ends of the front and rear frames  70  and  80 . Hence, the front and rear frames  70  and  80  are concretely fixed to the edges or rim of the top plate board  60  by the connecting members  90  and the fixing guides  100 .  
         [0046]     Besides, in order to fix the frames  70  and  80  to the edges of the top plate board  60  more stably, a plurality of auxiliary connecting members can be coupled to the frames. 70  and  80  except their contacted ends. Thus, both of the contacted ends of the front and rear frames  70  and  80  are stably fixed to each other by the connecting members  90  and the fixing guides  100 , respectively. Even if the front and rear frames  70  and  80  contract or extract according to a temperature change during a cold-resistant or heat-resistant test, the gap is prevented from occurring between the connected portions of the frames  70  and  80 .  
         [0047]     Preferably, the connecting member  90  leaves a maximum distance from the fixing guide  100  in a right-to-left direction of the connected portions of the front and rear frames  70  and  80 . Hence, the connecting member  90  fixes one side of the connected portions and the fixing guide  100  fixes the other side of the connected portions, whereby the gap occurrence can be highly prevented.  
         [0048]     Accordingly, the present invention has the following advantages or effects.  
         [0049]     First of all, the frames for rigidity reinforcement of the edges of the top plate are provided to prevent the top plate from being broken or distorted by an external force. Secondly, the connected or contacted portions of the frames are coupled to each other by the corresponding connecting member and fixing guide, whereby the gap is prevented from occurring between the connected portions of the frames due to the transformation caused by the cold-resistant or heat-resistant test. Therefore, it is able to meet the consumer&#39;s satisfaction for the product. Finally, the frames are guided by the fixing guide to be coupled to each other, whereby the corresponding assembly is facilitated.  
         [0050]     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): 3