Patent Abstract:
Provided is a washing machine including: a console including at least one hole and provided at a predetermined portion of the washing machine; a control panel provided at a rear of the console, for controlling and displaying operation state of the washing machine; and a decoration panel including at least one protrusion formed at a rear surface of the decoration panel radiation and fixedly inserted into the hole of the console such that the decoration panel is coupled with a front surface of the console.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2004-35809 filed on May 20, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine that can be easily assembled.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus to get laundry such as clothes clean by a chemical interaction of detergent and friction between the laundry and washing water. The washing machine performs washing, rinsing and squeezing.  
         [0006]     The washing machine includes a drum disposed inside a cabinet forming the exterior of the washing machine and receiving laundry therein. The washing machine is generally classified into a drum type washing machine, an agitator type washing machine and a pulsator type washing machine.  
         [0007]     The drum type washing machine includes a plurality of lifters protruded from an inner circumference of a drum rotatably installed with respect to a horizontal axis in parallel with a floor. The lifters lift and drop the laundry received in the drum while the drum rotates. At this time, the laundry is washed by the friction between generated water stream and the laundry.  
         [0008]     Also, the agitator type washing machine performs washing by rotating a wing-shaped agitator protruded toward a center of a drum rotatably provided with respect to an axis normal to a floor in a left and right direction.  
         [0009]     In addition, the pulsator type washing machine performs washing using water stream generated when a circular plate-shaped pulsator rotates.  
         [0010]     Meanwhile, a control panel for displaying and controlling operation of the washing machine is disposed at an upper side of the cabinet and a decoration panel is coupled to the control panel in front of the control panel. The decoration panel improves the appearance of the washing machine and also prevents the control panel from being fractured or damaged due to an impact applied to the control panel.  
         [0011]     However, in the related art washing machines, since the control panel is coupled with the decoration panel by a plurality of screws, it is problematic that the costs for manufacturing the washing machines increase and the assembling time increases. Also, the screws screwed in front of the decoration panel deteriorate the appearance of the washing machine.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine and method for assembling the same that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0013]     An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having an easy coupling structure between a control panel and a decoration panel.  
         [0014]     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.  
         [0015]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a washing machine comprising: a console including at least one hole and provided at a predetermined portion of the washing machine; a control panel provided at a rear of the console, for controlling and displaying operation state of the washing machine; and a decoration panel including at least one protrusion provided at a rear surface of the decoration panel radiation and fixedly inserted into the hole of the console such that the decoration panel is coupled with a front surface of the console.  
         [0016]     The protrusion inserted into the hole has one end bent and fixed. The decoration panel is made of metal material and the protrusion is formed integrally with the decoration panel.  
         [0017]     The decoration panel has an opening formed at a center portion thereof and communicating with the control panel and an extending portion formed outside the opening and outwardly protruded. The protrusion is provided at an end of the extending portion. The console has a groove formed at a front thereof, through which the extending portion is inserted. The hole is formed inside the groove. Preferably, the washing machine further includes a sealing member disposed between the extending portion and the groove. The extending portion is continuously provided along a circumference of the opening.  
         [0018]     Meanwhile, the decoration panel comprises: a first bent portion bent backward from an upper edge; a second bent portion bent downward from the first bent portion; and an upper fixing protrusion protruded downward from the second bent portion. The console has an upper fixing hole formed at an upper portion of the console and through which the upper fixing protrusion is inserted.  
         [0019]     The protrusion has a length greater than a depth of the hole and also has a corner processed in a round shape.  
         [0020]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising: a console including at least one hole and at least one groove and provided at a predetermined portion of the washing machine; a control panel provided at a rear of the console, for controlling and displaying operation state of the washing machine; at least one extending portion protruded backward to be inserted into the groove; and a decoration panel including at least one protrusion provided at the extending portion such that an end of the protrusion is inserted into and fixed in the hole.  
         [0021]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a washing machine, the method comprising the steps of: inserting an upper fixing protrusion formed at a decoration panel into an upper fixing hole formed at a console, and rotating the decoration panel by a predetermined angle to load the decoration panel into an upper surface of the console; inserting a protrusion formed at a rear surface of the decoration panel into a hole formed at the console; bending and fixing an end of the protrusion inserted into the hole; and assembling the console fixedly coupled with the decoration panel at a predetermined portion of the washing machine.  
         [0022]     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  
       [0023]     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:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a decoration panel according to the present invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a console into which a decoration panel of the present invention is assembled. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [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. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0028]     An exemplary embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the washing machine  1  includes a cabinet  2 , a tub  5 , a drum  4 , and a control panel  8 .  
         [0031]     The cabinet  2  forms the exterior of the washing machine  1  and the tub  5  for receiving washing water is disposed inside the cabinet  2 . The drum  4  for receiving laundry is rotatably disposed inside the tub  5 . A driving motor (not shown) for providing the drum  4  with a rotational force is installed at an inner rear portion of the cabinet  2 .  
         [0032]     The drum  4  has a plurality of perforated holes  6  through which the washing water received in the tub  5  passes. A drain hose  10  for draining washing water is disposed at a predetermined portion of the lower side of the cabinet  2 , and a feed hose  9  for feeding washing water is disposed at a predetermined portion of the rear of the cabinet  2 .  
         [0033]     A top cover  7  is disposed at an upper side of the cabinet  2 . The top cover  7  includes an opening  11  for loading or unloading laundry, and a door  12  rotatably installed at an edge thereof, for opening and closing the opening  11 . Between the door  12  and the top cover  7 , a rubber packing for damping impact generated by opening and closing the door  12  and preventing leakage of washing water is preferably disposed. To effectively absorb the impact, it is preferable that the rubber packing is disposed at an edge of the opening  11  formed at the top cover  7  contacting the door  12 .  
         [0034]     Meanwhile, the control panel  8  is disposed at a rear of the top cover  7  to display and control the operation of the washing machine. A console  13  where the control panel  8  is installed is disposed in front of the control panel  8 .  
         [0035]     Hereinafter, the operation of the washing machine will be described.  
         [0036]     First, a user opens the door  12  and loads detergent and laundry into the drum  4  through the opening  11 . After that, as the user manipulates the control panel  8  to operate the washing machine  1 , washing water is fed to the inside of the tub  5  through the feed hose  9 . The fed washing water is introduced into the inside of the drum  4  through the perforated holes of the drum  4 .  
         [0037]     Thereafter, the driving motor operates to rotate the drum  4  clockwise and counterclockwise so that the laundry is rubbed with water stream to wash the laundry. After the washing of the laundry is completed, the washing water is drained to an outside of the washing machine  1  through the drain hose  10 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a decoration panel according to the present invention and  FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a console into which a decoration panel of the present invention is assembled.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the decoration panel  14  includes a main panel  20 , a first bent portion  21  bent backward from an upper side of the main panel  20 , and a second bent portion  22  bent downward from an edge of the first bent portion  21 . The decoration panel  14  further includes at least one upper fixing protrusion  23  protruded from an end of the second bent portion  22 .  
         [0040]     In addition, the decoration panel  14  includes a first extending portion  24  protruded backward along the edge of the decoration panel  14 . It is preferable that the first extending portion  24  is formed by bending the edge of the decoration panel  14 . At least one lower fixing protrusion  25  is formed below the first extending portion  24 .  
         [0041]     Further, the decoration panel  14  includes an opening  14   a  formed at a rear inner portion of the main panel  20 , a second extending portion  26  protruded backward formed in the edge of the opening  14   a , and at least one inner fixing protrusion  27  protruded backward along the second extending portion  26 .  
         [0042]     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the control panel  8  is installed at a center portion of the console  13 . To prevent washing water from permeating into the control panel  8 , the decoration panel  14  is coupled with the console  13  at a front of the console  13 .  
         [0043]     The console  13  includes a first groove  15  formed along an outer edge of the control panel  8 , through which the first extending portion  24  is inserted. At least one upper fixing hole  16  is formed at an upper portion of the first groove  15 , and at least one lower fixing hole  17  is formed at a lower portion of the first groove  15 .  
         [0044]     Also, a second groove  18  is formed along an outer edge of the control panel  8  at an inner portion of the console  13 . The second groove  18  includes at least one coupling groove  19 .  
         [0045]     The coupling between the console  13  and the decoration panel  14  will now be described.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first extending portion  24  and the second extending portion  26  formed at the rear surface of the decoration panel  14  are inserted and coupled with the first groove  15  and the second groove  18 . To prevent washing water from permeating into the rear surface of the decoration panel  14 , it is preferable that the first and second grooves  15  and  18  are continuously formed along the outer edge of the control panel  8  on the front of the console  13 . Similarly, the first and second extending portions  24  and  26  are continuously provided along an outer circumference of the opening formed at the decoration panel  14 . Also, it is preferable that a sealing member for preventing leakage of washing water is provided between the first and second extending portions  24  and  26  and the first and second grooves  15  and  18 .  
         [0047]     The upper fixing protrusion  23  is inserted into the upper fixing hole  16  and the lower fixing protrusion  25  is inserted into the lower fixing hole  17 . Also, the inner fixing protrusion  27  is inserted into and fixed in the coupling hole  19  formed in the second groove  18 .  
         [0048]     To couple the decoration panel  14  to the console  13  and at the same time fix the decoration panel  14 , it is preferable that the upper fixing hole  16 , the lower fixing hole  17 , and the coupling hole  19  are formed on the first groove  15  and the second groove  18 .  
         [0049]     In addition, to protect the console  13  and the control panel  8  and improve the appearance, it is preferable that the decoration panel  14  is made of metal material.  
         [0050]     Also, it is preferable that the lower fixing protrusion  25  and the inner fixing protrusion  27  are made thin or made of a material having ductility such that the lower fixing protrusion  25  and the inner fixing protrusion  27  are inserted into the corresponding lower fixing hole  17  and the corresponding coupling hole  19  and then bent by a predetermined angle.  
         [0051]     It is preferable that one end of each of the lower fixing protrusion  25  and the inner fixing protrusion  27  should be protruded perforating the holes  17  and  19 . Accordingly, it is preferable that each of the lower fixing protrusion  25  and the upper fixing protrusion  27  has a length greater than a depth of each of the corresponding holes  17  and  19 .  
         [0052]     Also, it is preferable that an end corner of each of the upper fixing protrusion  23 , the lower fixing protrusion  25 , and the inner fixing protrusion  27  is rounded to be easily inserted into the corresponding hole.  
         [0053]     The procedure for coupling the decoration panel  14  to the console  13  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0054]     First, the second bent portion  22  is inserted into the first groove  15 . At this time, the upper fixing protrusion  23  is inserted into the upper fixing hole  16 . Thereafter, the decoration panel  14  is rotated by a predetermined angle centering on the upper fixing protrusion  23  inserted into the upper fixing hole  16 , and is then loaded into the front surface of the console  13 .  
         [0055]     Herein, the first extending portion  24  is inserted into the first groove  15  and the second extending portion  26  is inserted into the second groove  16 . The lower fixing protrusion  25  is inserted into the lower fixing hole  17  and the inner fixing protrusion  27  is inserted into the coupling hole  19 .  
         [0056]     By doing so, the decoration panel  14  is loaded into the front surface of the console  13 . After that, an end of each of the lower fixing protrusion  25  and the inner fixing protrusion  27  protruded backward is bent by a predetermined angle. By doing so, the decoration panel  14  is stably fixed to the console  13  by the lower fixing protrusion  25  and inner fixing protrusion  27 .  
         [0057]     For more effective fixing of the decoration panel  14 , it is possible to insert the upper fixing protrusion  23  into the console  13  to be protruded backward from the console  13  and bent the protruded end portion of the upper fixing protrusion  23  by a predetermined angle, thereby fixing the decoration panel  14 . At this time, it is preferable that the upper fixing protrusion  23  is made of a material having ductility such that the upper fixing protrusion  23  is inserted into the upper fixing hole  16  and is then bent.  
         [0058]     Also, it is preferable that the length of the upper fixing protrusion  23  is greater than the depth of the corresponding upper fixing hole  16  such that one end of the upper fixing protrusion  23  perforates the upper fixing hole  16  and is protruded toward a backward direction of the console  13 .  
         [0059]     Meanwhile, the console  13  into which the decoration panel  14  is assembled is coupled to an upper rear portion of the washing machine.  
         [0060]     As described above, according to the washing machine of the present invention, since the decoration panel is coupled to the console without a separate fixing member such as a screw, the number of parts is reduced, thereby saving the manufacturing cost.  
         [0061]     Also, since the protrusions formed in the decoration panel are inserted into the corresponding holes and then bent and fixed, it is possible to fix the decoration panel to the console easily. By doing so, the assembling time of the decoration panel and the console can be shortened.  
         [0062]     In addition, since the portions fixing the decoration panel are not exposed to an outside, the appearance of the washing machine can be improved.  
         [0063]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. 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