Patent Description:
A laundry treatment apparatus comprising the features of the preamble portion of claim <NUM> is known from <CIT>.

In this type of prior art laundry treatment apparatus, a washing tub is located in a drawer and is pulled out from a housing along with the drawer. If the door of the washing tub is accidentally opened during washing, a door of the washing tub is blocked by an upper edge of the housing in pulling directly the drawer. So the drawer may not be smoothly pulled out. If an excessive force is applied, the door of the washing tub may be damaged, and it is repaired by extensive disassembly of the device.

<CIT> teaches a spring actuated roller, which is arranged on the housing of the laundry treatment apparatus for urging the door cover of the washing tub down and thus closed, when the drawer, washing tub and door cover are moved relative to said housing and roller.

<CIT> discloses a laundry treatment apparatus, which includes a housing, provided with an opening; a drawer being pulled out from the housing through the opening; a through hole being penetrated through an upper surface of the drawer; a washing tub disposed inside the drawer and providing a space for storing water, and a feeding opening is penetrated through an upper surface of the washing tub and located below the through hole. A drum is rotatably disposed inside the washing tub and used for accommodating the laundry supplied by the feeding opening. A door is disposed on the drawer or the washing tub and used for opening and closing the feeding opening. A guide member is used for preventing the door from being interfered with by the opening when the drawer is pulled out from the housing. The guide member may be formed by at least one roller rotatably arranged inside the housing. In this case, a distance H2 between the upper surface of the drawer and the lowermost end of the roller is preferably shorter than a distance H1 between the upper surface of the drawer and the opening. In this patent, the drawer is smoothly pulled out by the arrangement of the roller in the inside of the housing. However, due to the limitation by the stroke of the drum and the internal structure of the housing, a part of the opened door cover outside the stroke of the roller is still scratched when the door panel is opened at a very large angle. If the stroke of the roller is large enough, the manufacturing cost is greatly increased.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for preventing blocking of the drawer by the door cover of the washing tub.

This technical problem is solved by laundry treatment apparatus comprising the features of claim <NUM>.

A guide member is disposed between an upper edge of a housing opening and a side wall of a housing opposite to the housing opening. If the door cover of a washing tub in a drawer is accidentally opened, the door cover can be moved out of the housing opening along the guide member. So, the drawer may be smoothly pulled out of the housing without damaging the door cover or leaving scratches on the door cover, thereby achieving a good guiding effect and low manufacturing cost.

Further, the guide member has a slope inclined relative to the door cover, and is extended obliquely upward from the upper edge of the housing opening towards the side wall of the housing opposite to the housing opening. The guide member is used for taking a force for pressing downward when the door cover in an opened state is moved out from the housing.

By the above technical solutions, the laundry treatment apparatus has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art.

According to the drawer type laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, the guide member is disposed between the upper edge of the housing opening and the side wall of the housing opposite to the housing opening. If the door cover inside the housing is accidentally opened, the door cover can be guided to move out from the housing opening by the guide member. So, the drawer can be smoothly pulled out from the housing without damaging the door cover or leaving scratches on the door cover, thereby achieving a good guiding effect and low manufacturing cost.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The drawings serve as a part of the present invention to further understand the present invention, and illustrative embodiments of the present invention and the description thereof are used to explain the present invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation on the present invention. Apparently, the drawings in the following description are merely some embodiments, and those of ordinary skill in the art can obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:.

In the <FIG>, housing; <NUM>, housing opening; <NUM>, drawer; <NUM>, drawer opening; <NUM>, washing tub; <NUM>, tub opening; <NUM>, door cover; <NUM>, groove; <NUM>, end surface; <NUM>, auxiliary guide member; <NUM>, roller; <NUM>, rolling shaft; <NUM>, guide member; <NUM>, inclined partition plate; <NUM>, first folding edge; <NUM>, plug-in groove; <NUM>, second folding edge; <NUM>, stiffener; <NUM>, plug-in tongue; <NUM>, washing tub cover.

It is to be noted that these drawings and description are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are intended to illustrate the present invention for those skilled in the art with reference to specific embodiments.

In order to make objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the solutions in the embodiments are clearly and completely described as follows in combination with accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. The following embodiments are used for illustrating the present invention, rather than limiting the scope of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by such terms as "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner" and "outer" is the orientation or positional relationship based on the accompanying drawings. Such terms are merely used for conveniently and simplified describing the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must be located in a certain orientation or must be constructed or operated in a certain orientation. Therefore, the terms cannot be understood as a limitation to the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stipulated and defined definitely, such terms as "installed", "connected" and "in connection" should be understood in their broad sense, e.g., the connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection or an integral connection; can be mechanical connection or electrical connection; and can be direct connection or can be indirect connection through an intermediate. For those skilled in the art, specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific conditions.

As shown in <FIG>, a laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention includes a housing <NUM>, a drawer <NUM>, a washing tub <NUM>, and a door cover <NUM>.

A housing opening <NUM> is formed in one side of the housing <NUM>. The drawer <NUM> is configured to be inserted into or pulled out from the housing <NUM> through the housing opening <NUM>. A drawer opening <NUM> is formed in an upper side of the drawer <NUM>. The washing tub <NUM> is located inside the drawer opening <NUM> and used for storing washing water. A tub opening <NUM> is formed in an upper side of the washing tub <NUM>. The front edge of door cover <NUM> is capable of being open or close, and the door cover <NUM> is disposed in a pivotal rotation manner and is used for opening or closing the tub opening <NUM>.

The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a guide member <NUM> that is disposed above the door cover <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> is extended from an upper edge of the housing opening <NUM> towards a side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the housing opening <NUM>, and is used for guiding the door cover <NUM> of the washing tub <NUM> in the drawer <NUM> to be moved out from the housing opening <NUM>.

According to the drawer type laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, the guide member <NUM> is disposed between the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM> and the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the housing opening <NUM>. The door cover <NUM> can be guided to move out from the housing opening <NUM> by the guide member <NUM> when the door cover <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> is accidentally opened, such that the drawer <NUM> can be smoothly pulled out of the housing <NUM> without damaging the door cover or leaving scratches on the door cover. Thereby it is achieved a good guiding effect and low manufacturing cost.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is a drawer type washing machine. The laundry treatment apparatus may be a single drawer type washing machine, or may also be a combined washing machine formed by combination of a drawer type washing machine and other types of washing machines. For example, in a combined washing machine, a drum washing machine is located on an upper side, and a drawer type washing machine is located on a lower side. Or in a combined washing machine, a drum type laundry dryer is located on an upper side, and a drawer type washing machine is located on a lower side.

As shown in <FIG>, the guide member <NUM> has a slope, the slope is inclined relative to the door cover <NUM>, and is extended obliquely upward from the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM> towards the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the housing opening <NUM>. When the door cover <NUM> is moved out from the housing <NUM> in an opened state, the guide member <NUM> is used for providing an acting force for pressing downward and guiding the door cover <NUM> to be moved out of the housing opening <NUM>.

Preferably, the guide member <NUM> is extended obliquely upward from the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM> towards the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the housing opening <NUM>.

If the door cover <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> is accidentally opened, the door cover <NUM> moves toward the side having the housing opening <NUM> and abuts with the slope of the guide member <NUM> when the drawer <NUM> needs to be pulled out from the housing <NUM>. The door cover <NUM> is gradually closed under the downward force acted by the slope during continuing being pulled to move to the housing opening <NUM> along the slope. Finally the door cover <NUM> is pulled out of the housing opening <NUM>, and the drawer <NUM> is smoothly pulled out of the housing <NUM>.

There is smooth transition between the slope of the guide member <NUM> and the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM> to facilitate smooth pulling of the door cover <NUM> from the housing <NUM>.

One end of the guide member <NUM> is flush with and attached to the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM>. The door cover <NUM> is guided to move into the housing opening <NUM>, and then moves out of the housing <NUM> by the guiding member <NUM>. Or, the guide member abuts with the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM>. The door cover <NUM> is guided to move out of the housing <NUM> directly along the guide member <NUM>.

Preferably, the laundry treatment apparatus further includes a washing tub cover <NUM> formed on an upper surface of the washing tub <NUM>. The washing tub cover <NUM> includes a feeding opening for communicating the washing tub <NUM> with the outside of washing tub <NUM>. The door cover <NUM> is mounted on the feeding opening and used for opening/closing the feeding opening. The door cover <NUM> is hinged to the washing tub cover <NUM>, and the front edge of the door panel <NUM> is rotatable around a hinge axis.

Particularly, the guide member <NUM> includes an inclined partition plate <NUM> that is extended obliquely upward from the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM> to the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the housing opening <NUM>. A lower surface of the inclined partition plate <NUM> is the slope. A first folding edge <NUM> extending upward is disposed at one end of the inclined partition plate <NUM>. The first folding edge <NUM> is connected to the side wall of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>. A second folding edge <NUM> extending upward is disposed at the other end of the inclined partition plate <NUM>. The second folding edge <NUM> is connected to the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the side wall of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>.

Preferably, the first folding edge <NUM> is attached to the side wall of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>, and the second folding edge <NUM> is attached to the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the side wall of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>.

Preferably, the guide member <NUM> is a metal or plastic piece. The inclined partition plate <NUM> is a rectangular plate.

The first folding edge <NUM> and the second folding edge <NUM> is arranged at two ends of the inclined partition plate <NUM> separately, the first folding edge <NUM> is connected with the side wall of the housing <NUM> above the housing opening <NUM>, the second folding edge <NUM> is connected with the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the side wall of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>, thereby the mounting strength of the guide member <NUM> on the housing <NUM> is improved and the guide member <NUM> is prevented from falling.

Preferably, the first folding edge <NUM> and the second folding edge <NUM> are screwed or bolted to the housing <NUM>.

Preferably, the inclined partition plate <NUM> smoothly transitions with the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM>.

The first folding edge <NUM> is disposed at one end of the inclined partition plate <NUM>. The one end of the inclined partition plate <NUM> is attached to the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM>, and the slope of the lower surface of the inclined partition plate <NUM> is flush with the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM>.

Alternatively, the one end of the inclined partition plate <NUM> is extended into the housing opening <NUM> and attached to the upper edge of the inside of the housing opening <NUM>.

A stiffener <NUM> is disposed on the side wall of the housing <NUM> above the housing opening <NUM>, and the first folding edge <NUM> of the guide member <NUM> is mounted on the stiffener <NUM>. The supporting strength at the position above the housing opening <NUM> is improved to ensure the mounting stability of the guide member <NUM>, by arranging the stiffener <NUM> on the side wall of the housing <NUM> above the housing opening <NUM> and mounting the first folding edge <NUM> of the guide member <NUM> on the stiffener <NUM>.

Preferably, the stiffener <NUM> is also be arranged on the side wall of the housing <NUM> opposite to the side wall of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>, and the second folding edge <NUM> is mounted on the stiffener <NUM>.

The stiffener <NUM> is attached to the side wall of the housing <NUM>. The stiffener <NUM> is a reinforcing plate with rectangular shape, and reinforcing ribs are disposed on the stiffener <NUM> for increasing the strength of the stiffener <NUM>. The stiffener <NUM> is a metal piece.

Further, the stiffener <NUM> is provided with a protrusion <NUM>, and the first folding edge <NUM> is provided with a groove <NUM> matched with the protrusion <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> is mounted on the protrusion <NUM> through the groove <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is disposed vertically on the stiffener <NUM>, to facilitate to the mount and position the guide member <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> is arranged on the stiffener <NUM>, the groove <NUM> matched with the protrusion <NUM> is arranged on the first folding edge <NUM>, and the groove <NUM> of the guide member <NUM> is mounted on the protrusion <NUM>, so that the support strength for mounting the guide member <NUM> is improved and the guide member <NUM> is also positioned and mounted.

Further, an included angle α between the slope and the door cover <NUM> is in a range of <NUM>° < α < <NUM>°. The included angle α is an included angle between the slope and the door cover <NUM> in a closed state of the door cover <NUM>. The smaller included angle α saves more space within the housing <NUM> of the laundry treatment apparatus. The door cannot be open the door due to the included angle α greater than <NUM>°.

In a preferable solution, the included angle α between the slope and the door panel <NUM> is in a range of <NUM>° ≤ α ≤ <NUM>°. More preferably, the included angle is <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>° or <NUM>°. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes an auxiliary guide member <NUM> disposed on a front end of the door cover <NUM>. The front end of the door cover <NUM> is opposite to the side wall having the housing opening <NUM>. The auxiliary guide member <NUM> is moved out of the housing opening <NUM> along the guide member <NUM>, which makes the drawer <NUM> move out of the housing <NUM> more smoothly. The guide member <NUM> is disposed correspondingly to the auxiliary guide member <NUM>.

If the door cover <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> is accidentally opened, the auxiliary guide member <NUM> moves toward the side having the housing opening <NUM> and abuts with the slope of the guide member <NUM> when the drawer <NUM> needs to be pulled out from the housing <NUM>. The door cover <NUM> is gradually closed under the downward force acted by the slope during continuing moving to the housing opening <NUM> along the slope. Finally the door cover <NUM> is pulled out of the housing opening <NUM>, and the drawer <NUM> is smoothly pulled out of the housing <NUM>.

In a solution, as shown in <FIG>, the front edge of the door panel <NUM> has an end surface <NUM> extending downward. The auxiliary guide member <NUM> is disposed at the junction of the front edge and the end surface <NUM> of the door cover <NUM>, and has a circular arc surface protruding from the upper surface and the end surface <NUM> of the door cover <NUM>. The circular arc surface is capable of moving along the guide member <NUM> to prevent the front edge of the door cover from being scratched with the guide member. So, the speed of the door cover moving outward is increased, and the drawer is pulled out of the housing more smoothly.

In another solution, as shown in <FIG>, the front edge of the door cover <NUM> is provided with a groove <NUM>. The auxiliary guide member <NUM> includes a roller <NUM> that is rotatably mounted in the groove <NUM>. The front edge of the door cover <NUM> is relative to the side of the housing <NUM> provided with the housing opening <NUM>. In this solution, the guide member <NUM> is disposed above the housing opening <NUM> and is not be disposed on the upper edge of the housing opening <NUM>.

The front edge of the door cover <NUM> is opened upward due to accidental opening of the door cover <NUM> when the drawer <NUM> is located in the housing <NUM>. When the drawer <NUM> is pulled, the drawer <NUM> moves forward to drive the front edge of the door cover <NUM> to move forward. The roller <NUM> on the front edge of the door cover <NUM> abuts with the guide member <NUM>, such that the door cover <NUM> is guided by the guide member <NUM> to move out of the housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the groove <NUM> is formed in the front edge of the door cover <NUM>. The auxiliary guide member <NUM> further includes a rolling shaft <NUM> through which the roller <NUM> is mounted in the groove <NUM>. A rotation direction of the roller <NUM> is the same as an opening and closing direction of the door cover <NUM>. The roller <NUM> rolls along the guide member <NUM>.

Alternatively, the front edge of the door cover <NUM> is provided with a groove <NUM>, and the roller <NUM> is confined in the groove <NUM> and is configured to freely rotate in the groove <NUM>.

The front edge of the door cover <NUM> has an end surface <NUM> extending downward. The groove <NUM> is formed in the junction of the upper surface and the end surface <NUM> of the door cover <NUM>. The roller <NUM> protrudes from the upper surface and the end surface <NUM> of the door cover <NUM>. The roller <NUM> easily comes into contact with the guide member <NUM> by the arrangement of the roller <NUM> protruding from the upper surface and the end surface <NUM> of the door cover <NUM>, and further the door cover <NUM> is guided to move out of the housing <NUM> by the guide member <NUM>.

Preferably, the door panel <NUM> is provided with two sets of auxiliary guide members <NUM> matched with the guide member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A laundry treatment apparatus, including:
a housing (<NUM>), provided with a housing opening (<NUM>) in one side wall;
a drawer (<NUM>), being capable to be inserted into or pulled out of the housing (<NUM>) through the housing opening (<NUM>), and provided with a drawer opening (<NUM>) in an upper side;
a washing tub (<NUM>), located inside the drawer opening (<NUM>), used for storing washing water, and provided with a tub opening in an upper side;
a door cover (<NUM>), disposed in a pivotal rotation manner, and used for opening or closing the tub opening; and
a guide member (<NUM>) is disposed above the door cover (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the guide member (<NUM>) extends from an upper edge of the housing opening (<NUM>) to a side wall of the housing (<NUM>) opposite to the housing opening (<NUM>), and is configured to guide the door cover (<NUM>) of the washing tub (<NUM>) to be moved out from the housing opening,
wherein, a surface of the guide member (<NUM>) has a slope inclined relative to the door cover (<NUM>) and is extended obliquely upward from the upper edge of the housing opening (<NUM>) towards the side wall of the housing opposite to the housing opening (<NUM>), and configured for taking a force for pressing downward on the door cover (<NUM>) during moving out of the housing (<NUM>) in an opened state.