Patent Description:
In washing machines, the laundry is loaded into a drum disposed in a washing tub supplied with detergent-water mixture and is washed in the drum which is rotated. During the washing process, fibers separated from the laundry subjected to both mechanical and chemical effects are discharged, together with teh water discharged at the end of the washing process, to the waste water line whereto the washing machine is connected. In traditional washing machines, each washing process causes approximately <NUM> milligram of fibers to be discharged to the waste water line. It is determined that more than half of microplastic accumulation in the nature is caused by waste waters originating from washing machines. Especially, taking into account the damage caused by synthetic fibers and particles in the nature, it is observed that waste waters originating from washing machines causes a critical environmental pollution. Therefore, the use of filtering members which filter the washing water is becoming widespread. One of the problems caused by the state of the art filtering members is that the user cannot frequently check the clogging status of the filter if access to the filtering member is difficult and easily handle the filtering member when the filter is clogged. Therefore, the producers places the filtering member at the frequently-used and easily-accessible visible parts of the washing machine so as to be easily visible in daily usage, thus providing ease of use. However, another problem caused by the state of the art filters is that the fibers are accumulated in the course of time and dry up, thus causing an unpleasant appearance. This appearance result in a perception of dirtiness and a decrease in the perceived quality.

In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. <CIT>, a washing machine is disclosed, comprising a filter which is positioned under the detergent dispenser.

In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. <CIT>, a washing machine is disclosed, comprising a filter which is disposed into the detergent compartment.

In the state of the art European Patent No. <CIT>, a washing machine having a filter that can be selectively extracted together with the drawer is disclosed.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. <CIT>, a method and a device for removing particles, preferably microfibers, from waste water is disclosed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine which provides ease of use without causing a dirty appearance for the filter.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a housing which is arranged on the front surface of the body; a dispenser which is placed into the housing; at least one detergent compartment which can be accessed when the dispenser is pulled out of the housing to be partially opened and wherein cleaning agents such as detergent, softener, etc. are loaded; a circulation line which extends between the tub and the housing and which supplies the water received from the tub to the housing; and a filtering member which is disposed at the rear side of the dispenser so as to be accessed when the dispenser is completely opened in a manner to almost completely extend out of the housing and which has at least one filter for filtering the water coming through the circulation line. The filtering member is disposed on the dispenser so as to be positioned out of the detergent compartment and behind the detergent compartment. Thus, since the user does not need to completely open the dispenser to load cleaning agents, the filtering member is efficiently concealed behind the dispenser until requiring user intervention, and the user can easily access the filtering member by completely opening the dispenser when required.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the detergent compartment and the filtering member are separated from each other so as to provide separate a water flow for each such that the separate water flows do not mix with each other. Thus, the particles and fibers are prevented from reaching the detergent compartment in case of clogging, overflowing, etc..

In another embodiment of the present invention, the filtering member has a receptacle in the form of an enclosed casing wherein the filter is confined, having a water inlet which faces the end of the circulation line opening to the housing and which receives the water to be filtered and a water outlet which discharges the filtered water. Thus, the filtered fibers and particles are retained and collected in the receptacle, and the accumulation on the filter is concealed.

In the present invention, behind the dispenser, a partition is provided, which supports the filtering member and wherein the filtering member is detachably attached. Thus, the user can easily attach/detach the filtering member to/from the dispenser.

In another embodiment of the present invention, fixing means which enable the filtering member to be snap-fittingly fixed to the partition are provided on the partition and the filtering member. Thus, the filtering member is prevented from dislodging while the dispenser is opened/closed and the dispenser is taken out of the housing, and the user is enabled to correctly and easily mount the filtering member into the partition.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the filtering member has a fine filter which filters the microparticles, and a coarse filter which filters larger particles before the water is passed through the fine filter. Thus, since particles in different sizes are separately filtered, the economic life of the filtering member is increased, and the filtering member is enabled to be used for a long time without requiring intervention. Thus, ease of use is further improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the coarse filter and the fine filter have a matching prismatic shape, and is disposed in a nested manner. This embodiment is advantageous due to the limited space on the dispenser such that the filtering member is provided with a compact structure and is prevented from occupying much space on the dispenser.

By means of the present invention, a washing machine is realized, wherein the filtering member is rendered easily accessible and the filtered fibers and particles are prevented from being visible during the daily use of the washing machine. Thus, while the use of the filtering member is facilitated, aesthetic concerns originating from particle/fiber accumulation are eliminated.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:.

The washing machine (<NUM>) comprises a body (<NUM>); a tub (<NUM>) which is disposed in the body (<NUM>) and wherein the washing process is performed; a housing (<NUM>) which is arranged on the body (<NUM>) and which is in fluid communication with the tub (<NUM>); a circulation line (<NUM>) which enables the water received from the tub (<NUM>) to be delivered to the housing (<NUM>); a dispenser (<NUM>) which is disposed into the housing (<NUM>); at least one detergent compartment (<NUM>) which is arranged on the dispenser (<NUM>) and wherein cleaning agents are loaded; and a filtering member (<NUM>) having at least one filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) through which the water coming through the circulation line (<NUM>) is passed and which filters the particles in the water. The filtering member (<NUM>) is disposable, and the filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) can be replaced with a new one by the use when full. The circulation water delivered onto the filtering member (<NUM>) is passed through the filter (<NUM>, <NUM>), and the filtered circulation water is sent back to the tub (<NUM>) or out of the body (<NUM>) so as to be discharged by means of a delivery line (<NUM>).

The washing machine (<NUM>) of the present invention comprises the filtering member (<NUM>) which is disposed at the rear side of the dispenser (<NUM>) so as to be positioned behind the detergent compartment (<NUM>) in the closing direction where the dispenser (<NUM>) is brought from an open position wherein the dispenser (<NUM>) extends out of the body (<NUM>) from the housing (<NUM>) to a closed position wherein the dispenser (<NUM>) is almost completely positioned in the body (<NUM>). The filtering member (<NUM>) is disposed on the dispenser (<NUM>) so as to be separated from the detergent dispenser and to be positioned behind the detergent compartment (<NUM>). In order to load cleaning agents, the dispenser (<NUM>) is pulled out of the housing (<NUM>) so as to be brought to a partially open position wherein the detergent compartment (<NUM>) is almost completely out of the housing (<NUM>) and the filtering member (<NUM>) is almost completely inside the housing (<NUM>). Thus, The filtering member (<NUM>) at the rear side of the half-open dispenser (<NUM>) is concealed in the housing (<NUM>) while detergent is loaded into the detergent compartment (<NUM>) positioned at the front side of the dispenser (<NUM>), and the user is prevented from seeing the filtered fibers and particles. If the user desires the check the fullness of the filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) or replace the filtering member (<NUM>), he/she simply opens the dispenser (<NUM>) completely or takes the same out of the housing (<NUM>) so as to have access to the filtering member (<NUM>). Thus, the filtering member (<NUM>) can be easily accessed, providing ease of use. Moreover, since the filtering member (<NUM>) is concealed in the housing (<NUM>), ease of placement is provided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the filtering member (<NUM>) is fluidly separated from the detergent compartment (<NUM>) such that there is no liquid passage between the filtering member (<NUM>) and the detergent compartment (<NUM>). A separate water flow is provided for each of the filtering member (<NUM>) and the detergent compartment (<NUM>). While the circulation water is passed through the filtering member (<NUM>), preferably clean water is passed through the detergent compartment (<NUM>). The filtering member (<NUM>) is fluidly separated from the detergent compartment (<NUM>) such that water passage from the filtering member (<NUM>) to the detergent compartment (<NUM>) is prevented. Thus, the detergent compartment (<NUM>) and the filtering member (<NUM>) are completely isolated from each other. Consequently, the transfer of fibers and particles to the detergent compartment (<NUM>) due to liquid passage between the detergent compartment (<NUM>) and the filtering member (<NUM>) is prevented, avoiding fiber accumulation in the detergent compartment (<NUM>).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the filtering member (<NUM>) has a box-shaped receptacle (<NUM>) wherein the filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) is disposed, having a water inlet (<NUM>) which receives the water coming through the circulation line (<NUM>) and a water outlet (<NUM>) which discharges the filtered water. The receptacle (<NUM>) is in the form of a box wherein the filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) is confided and the filtered fibers and particles are collected. Thus, the accumulation on the filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) is concealed.

In the present invention, on the dispenser (<NUM>), a partition (<NUM>) is provided, which matches the shape of the filtering member (<NUM>) such that the filtering member (<NUM>) is seated therein. The partition (<NUM>) is in the form of an opening which is arranged at the rear side of the dispenser (<NUM>) and wherein the filtering member (<NUM>) is seated so as to completely surround and support the filtering member (<NUM>). By means of the partition (<NUM>), the filtering member (<NUM>) can be easily placed onto the dispenser (<NUM>).

In another embodiment of the present invention, on the filtering member (<NUM>) and the partition (<NUM>), fixing means (<NUM>) are provided, which engage with each other when the filtering member (<NUM>) is seated into the partition (<NUM>) so as to fix the filtering member (<NUM>) in the partition (<NUM>). The fixing means (<NUM>) preferably comprise a claw (<NUM>) which is provided on the filtering member (<NUM>) and a recess (<NUM>) which is provided on the partition (<NUM>) and with which the claw (<NUM>) engages. When the filtering member (<NUM>) is placed into the partition (<NUM>); the claw (<NUM>) engages with the recess (<NUM>) and enables the filtering member (<NUM>) to be fixed to the partition (<NUM>). When the filtering member (<NUM>) is desired to be taken out of the partition (<NUM>), the claw (<NUM>) is stretched and separated from the recess (<NUM>). By means of the fixing means (<NUM>), the filtering member (<NUM>) is prevented from hitting the walls of the partition (<NUM>) and causing noise due to vibrations generated during the operation of the washing machine (<NUM>).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the filtering member (<NUM>) has a coarse filter (<NUM>) and a fine filter (<NUM>) which is disposed after the coarse filter (<NUM>) in the direction of the water flow and which filters the particles not filtered by the coarse filter (<NUM>). The filtering member (<NUM>) comprises two filters (<NUM>, <NUM>) with different pore sizes, that is a fine filter (<NUM>) with relatively smaller pores and a coarse filter (<NUM>) with relatively larger pores. The circulation water taken into the filtering member (<NUM>) is passed first through the coarse filter (<NUM>) and large fibers are filtered by the coarse filter (<NUM>). The water cleansed of fibers is passed through the fine filter (<NUM>) such that smaller particles in the water are filtered and the circulation water is completely cleansed. By means of the two-step filtering, the filtering member (<NUM>) can be used for a longer time without requiring intervention. Thus, the use of the filtering member (<NUM>) is further facilitated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the fine filter (<NUM>) and the coarse filter (<NUM>) are placed in a nested manner. The fine filter (<NUM>) and the coarse filter (<NUM>) are disposed such that one encloses the other. Thus, the filters (<NUM>, <NUM>) are prevented from occupying much space, and the size of the filtering member (<NUM>) is decreased. Consequently, the filtering member (<NUM>) is prevented from occupying much space on the dispenser (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
A washing machine (<NUM>) comprising a body (<NUM>); a tub (<NUM>) which is disposed in the body (<NUM>) and wherein the washing process is performed; a housing (<NUM>) which is arranged on the body (<NUM>) and which is in fluid communication with the tub (<NUM>); a circulation line (<NUM>) which enables the water received from the tub (<NUM>) to be delivered to the housing (<NUM>); a dispenser (<NUM>) which is disposed into the housing (<NUM>); at least one detergent compartment (<NUM>) which is arranged on the dispenser (<NUM>) and wherein cleaning agents are loaded; and a filtering member (<NUM>) having at least one filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) through which the water coming through the circulation line (<NUM>) is passed and which filters the particles in the water, the filtering member (<NUM>) which is disposed at the rear side of the dispenser (<NUM>) so as to be positioned out of and behind each detergent compartment (<NUM>) in the closing direction where the dispenser (<NUM>) is brought from an open position wherein the dispenser (<NUM>) extends out of the body (<NUM>) from the housing (<NUM>) to a closed position wherein the dispenser (<NUM>) is almost completely positioned in the body (<NUM>) characterized by a partition (<NUM>) which is integrally provided on the dispenser (<NUM>) and which matches the shape of the filtering member (<NUM>) such that the filtering member (<NUM>) is seated therein.