Patent Description:
A dishwasher is an appliance for washing off waste such as food residues on dishes, cooking tools, etc. (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a 'washing material') with a detergent and washing water.

Generally, the dishwasher includes a tub providing a washing space, a door provided on a front side of the tub to open and close the washing space, a dish rack included in the tub and accommodating a washing material therein, a spray arm for spraying washing water toward the dish rack, a sump storing washing water, and a supply flow path for supplying the washing water stored in the sump to the spray arm.

Meanwhile, the door of the dishwasher rotates with respect to a hinge provided at the lower end to open and close the washing space. Therefore, a gap is made between the door and the bottom of the tub, and washing water may leak out through the gap when a washing process is performed.

A dishwasher having a rinsing container, a door, and a door seal provided between the lower region of the door and the rinsing container is described in <CIT>and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a dishwasher in which a front opening part of the washing tank is openably and closably covered with a lid and water sealing members are mounted on the lateral walls of the opening part. <CIT> discloses a cavity for a dishwasher that can be easily assembled via flanges.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dishwasher according to claim <NUM>. Embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The second flange may include a first hole, and the second sealing portion may include a second hole formed at a location corresponding to the first hole.

The first sealing portion may include: a first seal formed to extend along the second flange, and coupleable to one side of the second flange; and a second seal formed to extend from one end of the first seal to face the first flange, and including a guide rib adhered to another side of the second flange.

An opening to accommodate an end of the side panel may be formed at an upper end of the first cover portion.

The first cover portion may include: a first plate; a second plate formed to face the first plate; and a third plate provided between the first plate and the second plate.

The first flange may include a coupling hole, and a protrusion for coupling with the coupling hole may be formed on a surface of the second cover portion, the surface formed to face the first flange.

The second cover portion may include a protrusion rib formed to be inserted and fixed between the first sealing portion and the second flange while the first sealing portion is coupled to the second flange.

The body portion may include: a first body member formed to be inserted between the first flange and the second flange; and a second body member having a narrower width than the first body member, and spaced a preset distance from the second flange.

The second cover portion may include a flexible material.

The second cover portion may be connected to one end of the body portion, and while connected form a preset angle with respect to the body portion.

The second cover portion may be connected to one end of the body portion, and while connected may extend in parallel to the body portion.

The cover member may further include an elastic member formed at a portion at which the second cover portion is connected to the body portion, wherein the second cover portion is maintained in parallel to the body portion by the elastic member.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the invention, and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples are possible.

Also, like reference numerals or symbols denoted in the drawings of the present specification represent members or components that perform the substantially same functions.

Also, the terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe embodiments, and are not intended to restrict and/or limit the disclosure. It will be understood that when the terms "includes," "comprises," "including," and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first", "second", etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component could be termed a second component, and, similarly, a second component could be termed a first component, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

It is an aspect of the invention to provide a dishwasher capable of preventing leakage of a tub.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a dishwasher capable of preventing water from leaking out through a gap between a door and a tub.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a closed state of a door, in a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the invention, <FIG> is a perspective view showing an opened state of a door, in a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the dishwasher shown in <FIG>, taken along line K-K'.

As shown in <FIG>, a dishwasher <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> forming an outer appearance, a tub <NUM> provided inside the main body <NUM>, and a door <NUM> for opening and closing the tub <NUM>.

The tub <NUM> may be substantially in a shape of a box having an open front side through which dishes are put into or taken out of the tub <NUM>. A front opening of the tub <NUM> may be opened or closed by the door <NUM>.

The tub <NUM> includes a bottom plate <NUM>, side walls, a upper wall <NUM>, and a rear wall <NUM>. The side walls may include a right wall (not shown) and a left wall <NUM>.

The door <NUM> may be rotatably mounted on the main body <NUM> to open or close the tub <NUM>. More specifically, the door <NUM> may be rotatably mounted on the main body <NUM> to open or close the open front side of the tub <NUM>. The door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM> by a door bracket <NUM>. Preferably, the door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM> by a pair of door brackets <NUM>.

The door <NUM> may include an outer door <NUM> forming a front outer appearance of the dishwasher <NUM>, and an inner door <NUM> coupled with the outer door <NUM> in such a way as to face the tub <NUM>. That is, the inner door <NUM> may be coupled with an inner surface of the outer door <NUM>.

The dishwasher <NUM> may further include a plurality of baskets <NUM> provided inside the tub <NUM> to accommodate dishes. The plurality of baskets <NUM> may be a wire rack made of wires that pass washing water without collecting the washing water therein.

The plurality of baskets <NUM> may be detachably installed inside the tub <NUM>. The plurality of baskets <NUM> may include a upper basket <NUM> positioned in an upper space of the tub <NUM>, and a lower basket <NUM> positioned in a lower space of the tub <NUM>.

The dishwasher <NUM> may further include a plurality of spray nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for spraying washing water. The plurality of spray nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may spray washing water at high pressure to wash dishes. The plurality of spray nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a upper rotating nozzle <NUM> provided in the upper space of the tub <NUM>, a middle rotating nozzle <NUM> provided in a center space of the tub <NUM>, and a fixed nozzle <NUM> provided in the lower space of the tub <NUM>.

The upper rotating nozzle <NUM> may be provided above the upper basket <NUM>, and spray washing water downward while rotating by water pressure. To spray washing water downward, a plurality of spray holes 52a may be formed in a lower end of the upper rotating nozzle <NUM>. The upper rotating nozzle <NUM> may directly spray washing water toward dishes accommodated in the upper basket <NUM>.

The middle rotating nozzle <NUM> may be positioned between the upper basket <NUM> and the lower basket <NUM>, and spray washing water in an up-down direction while rotating by water pressure. To spray washing water in the up-down direction, a plurality of spray holes 52a may be formed in each of upper and lower ends of the middle rotating nozzle <NUM>. The middle rotating nozzle <NUM> may directly spray washing water toward dishes accommodated in the upper basket <NUM> and the lower basket <NUM>.

The fixed nozzle <NUM> may be immovable unlike the upper rotating nozzle <NUM> and the middle rotating nozzle <NUM>, and fixed to one side of the tub <NUM>. The fixed nozzle <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the rear wall <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to spray washing water toward a front direction of the tub <NUM>. Accordingly, washing water sprayed from the fixed nozzle <NUM> may not directly head toward dishes.

The washing water sprayed from the fixed nozzle <NUM> may be reflected toward the dishes by a vein <NUM>. The fixed nozzle <NUM> may be positioned below the lower basket <NUM>, and the vein <NUM> may reflect washing water sprayed from the fixed nozzle <NUM> upward. That is, washing water sprayed from the fixed nozzle <NUM> may be reflected toward dishes accommodated in the lower basket <NUM> by the vein <NUM>.

The fixed nozzle <NUM> may have a plurality of spray holes 53a aligned in a left-right direction of the tub <NUM>. The plurality of spray holes 53a may spray washing water toward the front direction.

The upper rotating nozzle <NUM> and the middle rotating nozzle <NUM> may be coupled with and fixed to the fixing nozzle <NUM>.

The dishwasher <NUM> may further include the vein <NUM> moving inside the tub <NUM> and reflecting washing water toward the dishes, and a driving device <NUM> for driving the vein <NUM>.

The vein <NUM> may extend in the left-right direction of the tub <NUM> to reflect all washing water sprayed from the plurality of spray holes 53a of the fixed nozzle <NUM>. That is, one end in longitudinal direction of the vein <NUM> may be adjacent to the left wall <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and the other end in longitudinal direction of the vein <NUM> may be adjacent to the right wall of the tub <NUM>.

The vein <NUM> may perform a linear reciprocating motion in a spray direction of washing water sprayed from the fixed nozzle <NUM>. That is, the vein <NUM> may perform a linear reciprocating motion in a front-back direction of the tub <NUM>. Accordingly, a linear spray structure including the fixed nozzle <NUM> and the vein <NUM> may wash the entire inside space of the tub <NUM> without making a blind spot.

The dishwasher <NUM> may further include a sump <NUM> storing washing water, a circulating pump <NUM> for pumping the washing water stored in the sump <NUM> to supply the pumped washing water to the plurality of spray nozzles <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and a drain pump <NUM> for discharging washing water collected in the sump <NUM> to outside of the main body <NUM> together with wastes.

The dishwasher <NUM> may further include a gasket <NUM> installed between the tub <NUM> and the door <NUM> to prevent leakage of washing water. That is, the dishwasher <NUM> may further include the gasket <NUM> for covering a gap between the tub <NUM> and the door <NUM> to prevent leakage of washing water. The gasket <NUM> may be made of an elastic material. For example, the elastic material may include rubber, silicon, and the like.

The gasket <NUM> includes a sealing member <NUM> positioned between a lower end of the door <NUM> and a lower end of the tub <NUM> to cover a gap between the lower end of the door <NUM> and the lower end of the tub <NUM>. That is, the sealing member <NUM> is positioned between the lower end of the door <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to cover the gap between the lower end of the door <NUM> and the lower end of the tub <NUM>. Details about the sealing member <NUM> will be described below.

The gasket <NUM> may further include a packing member <NUM> installed to cover a gap between the door <NUM> and the tub <NUM>, together with the sealing member <NUM>. The packing member <NUM> may be installed on the tub <NUM> to cover the gap between the door <NUM> and the tub <NUM>. More specifically, the packing member <NUM> may include a first packing member <NUM> installed on the side walls of the tub <NUM> to cover gaps between side ends of the door <NUM> and side ends of the tub <NUM>, and a second packing member (not shown) installed on the upper wall <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to cover a gap between an upper end of the door <NUM> and a upper end of the tub <NUM>.

Preferably, the first packing member <NUM> may extend from the side walls of the tub <NUM> to a portion of the bottom plate <NUM> being adjacent to the side walls of the tub <NUM>. Preferably, the first packing member <NUM> and the second packing member may be integrated into one body. However, the first packing member <NUM> and the second packing member may be not integrated into one body as long as the first packing member <NUM> is connected to the second packing member. The first packing member <NUM> and the second packing member may be manufactured separately, and then the first packing member <NUM> may be coupled with the second packing member.

The dishwasher <NUM> further includes a cover member <NUM> for covering a gap between a lower end of the inner door <NUM> and the lower end of the tub <NUM> according to whether the inner door <NUM> is opened or closed, to prevent washing water from leaking out. The cover member <NUM> may complement the function of the gasket <NUM>.

More specifically, the cover member <NUM> may prevent washing water moving in an unexpected direction while the dishwasher <NUM> operates from leaking out of the dishwasher <NUM>.

Particularly, the cover member <NUM> may prevent leakage of washing water at a portion at which leakage of washing water is not prevented by the sealing member <NUM>. For example, the cover member <NUM> may prevent washing water from leaking out between a side portion of the inner door <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> may be coupled with the sealing member <NUM> and move together with the sealing member <NUM>.

Preferably, the cover member <NUM> may be made of a flexible material. More preferably, the cover member <NUM> may be made of a flexible, elastic material. For example, the cover member <NUM> may be made of rubber, silicon, etc. The cover member <NUM> made of a flexible material may be easily adhered to the tub <NUM>, and accordingly, the cover member <NUM> may effectively prevent washing water from leaking out of the dishwasher <NUM> according to closing of the door <NUM>.

However, the material of the cover member <NUM> is not limited to the above-mentioned example as long as the cover member <NUM> is capable of covering the gap between the lower end of the inner door <NUM> and the lower end of the tub <NUM>. For example, the cover member <NUM> may be made of a hard plastic material. Details about the cover member <NUM> will be described below.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a door, a bottom plate of a tub, a sealing member, and a cover member, in a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure of the door, the bottom plate of the tub, the sealing member, and the cover member of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the dishwasher <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention, the door <NUM> opens and closes the tub <NUM>, and the inner door <NUM> is positioned inside the tub <NUM> upon closing of the tub <NUM> by the door <NUM>. In this case, the sealing member <NUM> is positioned at the lower end of the door <NUM> to seal between the inner door <NUM> and the bottom (the bottom plate <NUM>) of the tub <NUM> and thereby prevent washing water stored in the tub <NUM> from leaking between the inner door <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

Furthermore, the cover member <NUM> additionally covers the gap between the inner door <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to prevent leakage at a portion not sealed by the sealing member <NUM>. In addition, the cover member <NUM> may cover a gap between the sealing member <NUM> and the lower end of the inner door <NUM> to effectively prevent washing water from leaking out.

More specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the lower end of the inner door <NUM> includes a side panel <NUM>, a first flange <NUM>, and a second flange <NUM>.

In a state in which the tub <NUM> is closed by the inner door <NUM>, the side panel <NUM> faces the side surface of the tub <NUM>, and the first flange <NUM> extends along the lower end of the door <NUM> to face the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>. Also, the second flange <NUM> extends upward from the first flange <NUM>. In this case, the first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> may be integrated into one body, or may be manufactured separately and then coupled with each other.

In the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> is formed, and the sealing member <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> is coupled with the first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> to prevent washing water from leaking out.

The first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> is used to be coupled with the sealing member <NUM> and the cover member <NUM>, wherein the sealing member <NUM> is coupled with the first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> to prevent leakage between the lower end of the inner door <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and the cover member <NUM> is coupled with the first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> or positioned in a space formed by the first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> to prevent leakage through a gap between the lower end of the inner door <NUM> and the sealing member <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a first hole <NUM> with which the sealing member <NUM> is coupled may be formed at one side of the second flange <NUM>, and the first hole <NUM> will be described below.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover member of <FIG> is coupled with the door, <FIG> and <FIG> are enlarged perspective views showing the cover member of <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view showing a state in which a sealing member is coupled with a door coupled with the cover member of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> may be coupled with or located at a side portion (the side panel <NUM>) of the lower end of the inner door <NUM> before the sealing member <NUM> is coupled with the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, and the sealing member <NUM> may be coupled with the second flange <NUM> after the cover member <NUM> is coupled with or located at the lower end of the inner door <NUM>.

In this case, the cover member <NUM> may be accommodated between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> while being coupled with the side panel <NUM> of the inner door <NUM> to cover a space between the side surface of the inner door <NUM> and the lower end of the inner door <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> includes a body portion <NUM>, a first cover portion <NUM>, and a second cover portion <NUM>, wherein the body portion <NUM>, the first cover portion <NUM>, and the second cover portion <NUM> may be integrated into one body.

The body portion <NUM> is positioned between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM>. The first cover portion <NUM> is connected to the body portion <NUM>, extend upward from the body portion <NUM>, and is be- coupled with the side panel <NUM>. In this case, the side panel <NUM> forms the side surface of the inner door <NUM>, and be located at a preset height from the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to form a space in which the first cover member <NUM> is coupled with the side panel <NUM>.

Meanwhile, at an upper end of the first cover member <NUM>, an opening <NUM> with which an end of the side panel <NUM> is coupled may be formed to accommodate the end of the side panel <NUM>. More specifically, the first cover portion <NUM> may include, as shown in <FIG>, a first plate <NUM>, a second plate <NUM> facing the first plate <NUM>, and a third plate <NUM> provided between the first plate <NUM> and the second plate <NUM>. Accordingly, at the upper end of the first cover portion <NUM>, the opening <NUM> may be formed by the first plate <NUM>, the second plate <NUM>, and the third plate <NUM>.

As described above, the body portion <NUM> is accommodated between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> formed in the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, and the first cover portion <NUM> is coupled with the side panel <NUM> of the door <NUM> to completely prevent washing water flowing along the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> from leaking between the first and second flanges <NUM> and <NUM> and the side surface of the inner door <NUM>. Particularly, the body portion <NUM> may be inserted between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> and fixed to prevent the cover member <NUM> from being separated from the lower end of the inner door <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the second cover portion <NUM> is connected to one side of the body portion <NUM>, and formed at a lower portion of the body portion <NUM>. The second cover portion <NUM> is coupled with the first flange <NUM> in a case in which the body portion <NUM> is positioned between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> as described above. That is, in a case in which the body portion <NUM> is positioned on one surface of the first flange <NUM>, the second cover portion <NUM> is coupled with the other surface of the first flange <NUM>.

In this case, the first flange <NUM> may form a coupling hole <NUM>, and the second cover portion <NUM> may form a protrusion <NUM> for coupling with the coupling hole <NUM> on a surface facing the first flange <NUM>. The second cover portion <NUM> may be coupled with the first flange <NUM> by passing the protrusion <NUM> through the coupling hole <NUM> formed in the other surface of the first flange <NUM>. In this case, the second cover portion <NUM> may be positioned between the first flange <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to cover a gap between the first flange <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the second cover member <NUM> may be, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, connected to an end of the body portion <NUM>, and extend downward from the body portion <NUM> in such a way as to form a preset angle with respect to the body portion <NUM>. In this state, the second cover portion <NUM> may move upward to be coupled with the first flange <NUM>.

In this case, the second cover portion <NUM> may include a material having flexibility to easily move.

Also, the second cover portion <NUM> may include a protrusion rib <NUM> extending upward at one end, as shown in the drawings, and the protrusion rib <NUM> will be described below.

As described above, after the cover member <NUM> is coupled with or located at the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM> may be coupled with or located at the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The sealing member <NUM> may be provided in the lower end of the inner door <NUM> in such a way as to be in contact with the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, to prevent washing water from moving toward the lower end of the inner door <NUM> from the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> may include a first sealing portion <NUM> and a second sealing portion <NUM>.

The first sealing portion <NUM> may have a cross section in a shape of '¬', include a plastic material, and be coupled with the second flange <NUM>. In this case, the second flange <NUM> may include the first hole <NUM>, and the first sealing portion <NUM> may include a second hole <NUM> corresponding to the first hole <NUM>. By overlapping the first hole <NUM> and the second hole <NUM> with each other and then passing a mechanical coupling member such as a rivet through the first hole <NUM> and the second hole <NUM>, the first sealing portion <NUM> may be coupled with the second flange <NUM>.

Meanwhile, such mechanical coupling between the first sealing portion <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> may be performed after the cover member <NUM> is accommodated between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM>. At this time, the first hole <NUM> of the second flange <NUM> may be formed at a portion being adjacent to the accommodated cover member <NUM>, and to pass the mechanical coupling member through the first hole <NUM>, the first hole <NUM> may be spaced a preset distance from the cover member <NUM> to form a space for mechanical coupling.

Accordingly, again referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the body portion <NUM> may include a first body member <NUM> inserted between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM>, and a second body member <NUM> having a narrower width than the first body member <NUM> and spaced a preset distance from the second flange <NUM>. That is, the second body member <NUM> may be positioned between the first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> to form an empty space, and accordingly, the mechanical coupling member may pass through the second hole <NUM> of the first sealing portion <NUM> and the first hole <NUM> of the second flange <NUM> to be positioned in the empty space.

Meanwhile, more specifically, the first sealing portion <NUM> may include a first seal <NUM> and a second seal <NUM>.

The first seal <NUM> may extend along the second flange <NUM> and be coupled with one side of the second flange <NUM>. That is, the first seal <NUM> may include the first hole <NUM> and be coupled with the second hole <NUM> of the second flange <NUM> through the mechanical coupling member.

The second seal <NUM> may extend from one end of the first seal <NUM> to face the first flange <NUM>. The second seal <NUM> may include a guide rib <NUM> protruding on a surface facing the first flange <NUM>. The second flange <NUM> may be inserted between the first seal <NUM> and the guide rib <NUM>, and the first sealing portion <NUM> may be coupled with the inner door <NUM>. That is, the first seal <NUM> may be coupled with one side of the second flange <NUM>, and the guide rib <NUM> may be adhered to the other side of the second flange <NUM> to stably couple the first sealing portion <NUM> with the inner door <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the second sealing portion <NUM> may be bent upward from one end of the first seal <NUM> to seal a gap between the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and the second flange <NUM>.

That is, as shown in <FIG>, the second sealing portion <NUM> may seal a gap between the second flange <NUM> and a portion bent upward from the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and accordingly, washing water moving along the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM> may be prevented from leaking out above the bent portion.

Furthermore, the second sealing portion <NUM> may be made of a rubber material, and accordingly, the second sealing portion <NUM> may be adhered to the bottom plate <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, thereby performing sealing.

Meanwhile, in a case in which the sealing member <NUM> is coupled with the inner door <NUM> coupled with the cover member <NUM>, as described above, the protrusion rib <NUM> of the second cover portion <NUM> may be inserted between the first seal <NUM> of the first sealing portion <NUM> and the second flange <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. That is, the protrusion rib <NUM> may extend upward from one side of the second cover portion <NUM>, as described above, and may be insertion-coupled between the first seal <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> to more stably couple the cover member <NUM> with the lower end of the inner door <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a cover member in a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a cover member <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may have the same configuration as the cover member <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, except that a second cover portion <NUM> is parallel to a body portion.

The second cover portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> may be connected to an end of the body portion and extend parallel to the body portion. Also, the cover member <NUM> may include an elastic member <NUM> having elasticity, wherein the elastic member <NUM> is formed between the second cover portion <NUM> and the body portion at a portion at which the second cover portion <NUM> is connected to the body portion.

Therefore, to couple the sealing member <NUM> with the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM> may be coupled with the lower end of the inner door <NUM> after the second cover portion <NUM> moves downward, and after the sealing member <NUM> is coupled with the lower end of the inner door <NUM>, the second cover portion <NUM> may again move upward to couple the protrusion <NUM> with the first flange <NUM>. In this case, the second cover portion <NUM> may be maintained in parallel to the body portion by the elastic member <NUM> to easily couple the second cover portion <NUM> with the first flange <NUM>.

The dishwasher according to a concept of the invention may prevent leakage by covering the gap between the inner door and the bottom of the tub.

Also, the dishwasher may prevent leakage at a portion that is not prevented from leakage by the sealing member by covering the gap between the inner door and the sealing member.

Claim 1:
A dishwasher comprising:
a main body (<NUM>);
a tub (<NUM>) provided inside the main body to form a washing space;
a door (<NUM>) configured to open and close the tub, and including an inner door (<NUM>) located inside the tub while the tub is closed by the door;
a sealing member (<NUM>) provided at a lower end of the inner door, and configured to prevent leakage from occurring between a bottom plate of the tub and the inner door; and
a cover member (<NUM>) coupled with or located at the lower end of the inner door and to cover a gap between the lower end of the inner door and the tub,
wherein the lower end of the inner door comprises:
a side panel (<NUM>) formed to face a side surface of the tub;
a first flange (<NUM>) formed to face the bottom plate of the tub; and
a second flange (<NUM>) formed to extend upward from the first flange when the door is closed, and the cover member is coupleable to the side panel,
wherein the sealing member comprises:
a first sealing portion (<NUM>) coupleable to the second flange; and
a second sealing portion (<NUM>) formed to be bent upward from the first sealing portion when the door is closed, and to seal a gap between the bottom plate of the tub and the second flange, and
characterised in that the cover member comprises:
a body portion (<NUM>) to be positioned between the first flange and the second flange;
a first cover portion (<NUM>) to be connected to the body portion, formed to extend upward, and coupleable to the side panel; and
a second cover portion (<NUM>) to be connected to one side of the body portion, coupleable to the first flange, and positioned between the bottom plate of the tub and the first flange.