Patent Description:
Generally, a washing machine is a device for washing laundry by rotating a cylindrical rotary tub containing the laundry and washing water. As a type of washing machine, there are a drum washing machine in which laundry is washed by falling down after being lifted upward along an inner circumferential surface of a rotary tub as the rotary tub, which is disposed substantially horizontally, rotates in the forward and reverse directions with respect to a horizontal axis, and a vertical axis washing machine in which laundry is washed using a water current generated by a pulsator disposed inside a rotary tub as the rotary tub, which is disposed substantially vertically, rotates in the forward and reverse directions with respect to a vertical axis.

A drum washing machine includes a cabinet forming an outer appearance, a drum rotated by a rotational force of a motor inside the cabinet, a tub disposed between the drum and the cabinet to store washing water, a front panel mounted on a front side of the cabinet and formed with an opening in the center thereof such that laundry may be put into or drawn out, and a door installed on the front panel to open and close the opening and to prevent the laundry from escaping.

Recently, in order to give a drum washing machine a luxurious image, an appearance of the drum washing machine, that is, it is a trend to change the material of the cabinet from powder coating (EGI) to PCM, VCM steel plate, etc..

<CIT> discloses a housing of a household appliance such as a washing machine and others. In order to compensate for tolerances of the parts to be mounted, the front panel is provided at both of its left and the right bottom with a corner element comprising a bearing into which a rotatable eccentric adjusting member is inserted. The adjusting member protrudes rearwards and is inserted into an opening provided in the base module.

As this type of cabinet becomes thin, strength reinforcement due to vibration and falling may be required.

It is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a washing machine capable of reinforcing strength against vibration and falling by including a reinforcement member for improving strength.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a washing machine capable of preventing deformation of a corner of a front panel through a reinforcement member.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a washing machine capable of preventing corner peeling of the front panel and covering a sharp edge.

The invention provides a washing machine as defined in claim <NUM>. In accordance with the present invention, a washing machine includes a cabinet forming an outer appearance, a base disposed at a bottom of the cabinet, a front panel disposed at a front side of the cabinet, and reinforcement members mounted on an inner surface of the front panel to reinforce strength of the front panel, wherein each of the reinforcement members includes a protrusion portion disposed at a lower corner of the front panel and protruding such that at least a portion thereof is connected to the base.

The front panel includes a first surface formed in a plate shape to form a front surface, first side surface and second side surface extending from opposite sides of the first surface to a rear to form side surfaces of the front panel, respectively, a bottom surface extending rearward from a lower end of the first surface, a first support surface and a second support surface formed by bending in a center direction from ends of the first side surface and the second side surface, respectively, and a third support surface extending downward from an end of the bottom surface.

The reinforcement member includes a cover portion to cover a side edge of the third support surface.

The front panel may include reinforcement member accommodating portions formed between an inner surface of the first surface and the first support surface and between the inner surface of the first surface and the second support surface to accommodate the reinforcement members, respectively.

The reinforcement member may include a reinforcement member body rested on the reinforcement member accommodating portion to form an outer appearance, and the protrusion portion may protrude from one surface of the reinforcement member.

The protrusion portion may include a cylindrical rib.

The base may include a lower frame configured to cover a lower side of the cabinet and a lower reinforcement frame formed by bending upward from a front end of the lower frame.

The base may include a reinforcement member hole to which the protrusion portion is coupled.

The reinforcement member hole may be formed on the lower reinforcement frame.

The reinforcement member may include a coupling portion coupled to the front panel.

The reinforcement member may include a coupling protrusion protruding from a lower side of the reinforcement member body to be coupled to the front panel, and the reinforcement member accommodating portion may include a reinforcement member coupling hole corresponding to the coupling protrusion.

The reinforcement member coupling hole may be formed on the bottom surface.

The washing machine may further include a cover member disposed between the front panel and the reinforcement member to cover the lower corner of the front panel.

The cover member may be coupled to a corner of the first surface such that at least a portion thereof is exposed.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet forming an outer appearance, a front panel disposed at a front side of the cabinet, a base disposed at a bottom of the cabinet, and reinforcement members mounted on an inner surface of the front panel to reinforce strength of the front panel, wherein each of the reinforcement members comprises a protrusion portion disposed at a lower corner of the front panel be connected to the base and a cover portion configured to cover at least a portion of the front panel.

The front panel may include a first surface formed in a plate shape to form a front surface, first side surface and second side surface extending from opposite sides of the first surface to a rear to form side surfaces of the front panel, respectively, a bottom surface extending rearward from a lower end of the first surface, a first support surface and a second support surface formed by bending in a center direction from ends of the first side surface and the second side surface, respectively, and a third support surface extending downward from an end of the bottom surface.

The base may include a lower frame configured to cover a lower side of the cabinet and a lower reinforcement frame formed by bending upward from a front end of the lower frame, and the protrusion portion may be connected to the lower frame.

The cover portion may be configured to cover an edge of the third support surface.

The washing machine may further include a cover member disposed between the front panel and the reinforcement member to cover the lower corner of the front panel, wherein at least a portion of the cover member may be exposed.

As is apparent from the above, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a reinforcement member capable of improving strength is provided, so that strength against vibration and falling can be reinforced.

Further, through the reinforcement member, corner deformation and corner peeling of a front panel can be prevented, and a sharp edge can be covered.

Further, through the reinforcement member, thicknesses of the front panel and a cabinet can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost.

Configurations shown in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification, are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Like reference numbers or signs in the various drawings of the application represent parts or components that perform substantially the same functions.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to restrict and/or to limit the disclosure. For example, the singular expressions herein may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the terms "comprises" and "has" are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms 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, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. The term "and/or" includes any combination of a plurality of related items or any one of a plurality of related items.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a washing machine <NUM> includes a cabinet <NUM> forming an outer appearance and accommodating various components therein, a tub <NUM> disposed inside the cabinet <NUM> to store mixed water in which washing water and detergent are mixed, a drum <NUM> rotatably disposed inside the tub <NUM> to receive laundry, and a driving device <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM>.

The cabinet <NUM> may be formed in a substantially hexahedral shape. The cabinet <NUM> may be formed in a box shape with an open front side. The cabinet <NUM> may include a rear plate 11d and opposite side plates 11b and 11c disposed on one side and the other side in front of the rear plate 11d. The embodiment of the disclosure illustrates, for example, that the rear plate and the opposite side plates of the cabinet are integrally formed, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The cabinet <NUM> includes a front panel <NUM> disposed on the open front side, a base <NUM> disposed on a bottom, and may include a top cover 11a disposed on a top.

On the front side of the cabinet <NUM>, a control panel <NUM> including an input 16a to receive an operation command from a user and a display 16b to display operation information of the washing machine <NUM> may be disposed.

The base <NUM> may include a lower frame <NUM> covering a lower portion of the cabinet <NUM> and a lower reinforcement frame <NUM> extending from the lower frame <NUM>. The lower reinforcement frame <NUM> may extend upward from a front end of the lower frame <NUM>.

An opening <NUM> may be formed on the front panel <NUM> such that laundry may be put into or drawn out the drum <NUM>. Openings are formed on the tub <NUM> and the drum <NUM>, respectively, such that laundry may be put into or drawn out through the cabinet <NUM>, and the openings of the tub <NUM> and the drum <NUM> may be positioned to correspond to the opening <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> formed on the front panel <NUM> may be opened and closed by the door <NUM>. The door <NUM> may be rotatably mounted on the front panel <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> by a hinge member (not shown). The door <NUM> may include a door frame <NUM> and a door glass <NUM>. The door glass <NUM> may be formed of transparent tempered glass such that the inside of the cabinet <NUM> may be seen through.

Water supply valves 14b and water supply pipes 14a for controlling water supply, and a detergent supply device <NUM> for supplying detergent into the tub <NUM> in a water supply process may be disposed above the tub <NUM>.

The detergent supply device <NUM> may be connected to the tub <NUM> through a supply pipe <NUM>. Washing water supplied through the water supply pipe 14a is mixed with the detergent through the detergent supply device <NUM>, and the mixed water in which the washing water and detergent are mixed may be supplied into the tub <NUM>.

The driving device <NUM> may be positioned on a rear side of the drum <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> configured to rotate the drum <NUM> may rotate the drum <NUM> by transmitting a driving force generated by a motor <NUM> to a rotation shaft <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> is composed of a fixed stator <NUM> and a rotor <NUM> rotated by electromagnetic interaction with the stator <NUM> to convert an electrical force into a mechanical rotational force.

The tub <NUM> stores mixed water in which washing water and detergent are mixed, and may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The tub <NUM> may be fixed inside the cabinet <NUM>. The opening <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> and the tub <NUM> may be connected by a diaphragm <NUM>.

A spray nozzle <NUM> connected to a circulation hose to spray the mixed water circulating into the drum <NUM> may be disposed on one side of the diaphragm <NUM>. The spray nozzle <NUM> is configured to spray the mixed water evenly over the entire laundry accommodated in the drum <NUM>. The circulation hose may be connected to a circulation pump <NUM> configured to pump the mixed water stored in a lower portion of the tub <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> may perform washing by lifting and falling laundry while rotating inside the tub <NUM>. A plurality of lifters <NUM> may be disposed on an inner surface of the drum <NUM>.

A drain device (not shown) including a drain pipe (not shown) and a drain valve (not shown) for draining water inside the tub <NUM> may be disposed below the tub <NUM>.

The tub <NUM> may be elastically supported in the cabinet <NUM> by springs (not shown) positioned above the tub <NUM> and dampers <NUM> positioned below the tub <NUM>. That is, the springs and the dampers <NUM> may attenuate vibration transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> ty absorbing vibration energy between the tub <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> when the vibration generated by the rotation of the drum <NUM> is transmitted to the tub <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>.

The vibration generated when the drum <NUM> rotates may be transmitted to the tub <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>. A reinforcement member <NUM> configured to reinforce strength to reduce vibration transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> is disposed on the front panel <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a front panel of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a perspective view of the front panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> illustrates a cabinet equipped with a reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> is configured to protect the components inside the cabinet <NUM> and form the overall appearance of the washing machine <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> includes the reinforcement member <NUM> for reinforcing strength to reduce vibration in the washing machine <NUM>.

In general, the front panel <NUM> may be integrally manufactured by pressing and bending a single steel sheet.

The front panel <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> forming a front surface, a first side surface <NUM> and a second side surface <NUM> extending from side surfaces of the first surface <NUM>, respectively, to form the side surfaces of the front panel <NUM>, and a bottom surface <NUM> extending from a lower end of the first surface <NUM> to form a bottom of the front panel <NUM>.

The first surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> is formed in a plate shape, and the opening <NUM> may be formed in the center thereof. The first side surface <NUM> extending rearward from one side of the first surface <NUM> includes a first support surface 111a. The first support surface 111a is formed by bending inward from an end of the first side surface <NUM>. The first support surface 111a may be disposed to face the first surface <NUM>. The first support surface 111a may be coupled to the side plate 11b of the cabinet <NUM>. The second side surface <NUM> extending rearward from the other side of the first surface <NUM> includes a second support surface 111b. The second support surface 111b is formed by bending inward from an end of the second side surface <NUM>. The second support surface 111b may be disposed to face the first surface <NUM>. The second support surface 111b may be coupled to the side plate 11c of the cabinet <NUM>.

The first support surface 111a and the second support surface 111b of the front panel <NUM> are formed by bending toward the inner center from the ends of the first side surface <NUM> and the second side surface <NUM>, respectively. The first surface <NUM>, the first side surface <NUM>, and the first support surface 111a of the front panel <NUM> may be formed such that a cross section thereof has a C shape. The first surface <NUM>, the second side surface <NUM>, and the second support surface 111b of the front panel <NUM> may be formed such that a cross section thereof has a C shape.

The bottom surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> extends rearward from the lower end of the first surface <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> includes a third support surface <NUM>. The third support surface <NUM> is formed by bending outward from an end of the bottom surface <NUM>. The third support surface <NUM> is formed by bending downward from an end of the bottom surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. The third support surface <NUM> may be formed vertically from the bottom surface <NUM>. The third support surface <NUM> may be coupled to the base <NUM>. The third support surface <NUM> may include a base coupling hole <NUM> to be coupled to the base <NUM>. The base coupling hole <NUM> may allow the front panel <NUM> to be coupled to the base <NUM>. A plurality of the base coupling holes <NUM> may be formed on the third support surface <NUM>. The third support surface <NUM> may allow the front panel <NUM> to be coupled to the base <NUM> from front to rear.

The third support surface <NUM> includes a cut portion <NUM> formed by cutting at least a portion of the bottom surface <NUM>. The cut portion <NUM> includes a first cut portion 114a formed on one side of the third support surface <NUM> and a second cut portion 114b formed on the other side of the third support surface <NUM>. The first cut portion 114a may be formed by cutting from one end of the third support surface <NUM> to a lower end of the first support surface 111a. The second cut portion 114b may be formed by cutting from the other end of the third supporting surface <NUM> to a lower end of the second supporting surface 111b. A first edge 113a is formed on the third support surface <NUM> by the first cut portion 114a. A second edge 113b is formed on the third support surface <NUM> by the second cut portion 114b. The first edge 113a and the second edge 113b may be formed at the opposite ends of the third support surface <NUM>. A first corner 102a may be formed on one lower side of the front panel <NUM> by the first cut portion 114a. The first corner 102a may be formed at a connection portion where the first side surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> meet. The first corner 102a may be formed by cutting at least a portion of the first side surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> by the first cut portion 114a. The first corner 102a may be formed in a curved surface having a predetermined curvature.

A second corner 102b may be formed on the other lower side of the front panel <NUM> by the second cut portion 114b. The second corner 102b may be formed at a connection portion where the second side surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> meet. The second corner 102b may be formed by cutting at least a portion of the second side surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> by the second cut portion 114b. The second corner 102b may be formed in a curved surface having a predetermined curvature.

A reinforcement member accommodating portion <NUM> for accommodating the reinforcement member <NUM> may be formed at an inner lower side of the front panel <NUM>. The reinforcement member accommodating portion <NUM> may include a first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a disposed on one side of the front panel <NUM> and a second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b disposed on the other side of the front panel <NUM>.

The first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a and the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b may be formed at lower left and right sides of the front panel <NUM>, respectively. The first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a and the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b may be symmetrically disposed on the left and right sides of the front panel <NUM>.

The first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a may be formed by the first surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>, the first side surface <NUM>, the first support surface 111a, and the bottom surface <NUM>. The second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b may be formed by the first surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>, the second side surface <NUM>, the second support surface 111b, and the bottom surface <NUM>.

The first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a may be formed on the first corner 102a of the front panel <NUM>, and the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b may be formed on the second corner 102b of the front panel <NUM>.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, because the first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a and the reinforcement member <NUM> installed in the first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a include the same structures as the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b and the reinforcement member <NUM> installed in the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b, redundant description is omitted.

The first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a includes a reinforcement member installation surface <NUM> for installing the reinforcement member <NUM>. The reinforcement member installation surface <NUM> may be formed on the bottom surface <NUM>. A reinforcement member installation hole <NUM> may be formed on the reinforcement member installation surface <NUM>.

By the reinforcement members <NUM> installed in the first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a and the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b, respectively, strength of the front panel <NUM> is reinforced and vibration may be reduced. In addition, the reinforcement members <NUM> reinforce the strength of opposite corners of the front panel <NUM> where high stresses are concentrated, so that the strength against falling may be reinforced when the washing machine <NUM> is dropped.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a bottom perspective view of the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of a portion A in <FIG>, illustrating the cabinet equipped with the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> illustrates the reinforcement member and a cover member mounted on the cabinet according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' in <FIG>, illustrating the reinforcement member mounted on the front panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a bottom view of the cabinet equipped with the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the reinforcement member <NUM> includes a reinforcement member body <NUM> forming an outer appearance.

The reinforcement member <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the reinforcement member accommodating portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> may include a protrusion portion <NUM> protruding to be connected to the base <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> may include a coupling portion <NUM> formed to be connected to the front panel <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> includes a cover portion <NUM> to cover at least a portion of the third support surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>.

The reinforcement member body <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the reinforcement member accommodating portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. At least a portion of the reinforcement member body <NUM> may include an inclined surface <NUM> formed as a curved surface to correspond to the first corner 102a of the reinforcement member accommodating portion <NUM>.

The reinforcement member body <NUM> include the protrusion portion <NUM> protruding to be connected to the base <NUM>. The reinforcement member body <NUM> may include the coupling portion <NUM> formed to be connected to the front panel <NUM>. The reinforcement member body <NUM> includes the cover portion <NUM> to cover a side edge 113a of the third support surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>.

The reinforcement member body <NUM> includes a front surface facing the front of the washing machine <NUM> and a rear surface facing the rear of the washing machine <NUM>, and the protrusion portion <NUM> may protrude from the rear surface of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> may protrude to the rear of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> may be formed in a cylindrical shape. The protrusion portion <NUM> may include a cylindrical rib. The protrusion portion <NUM> may be connected to the base <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> may be connected to the lower reinforcement frame <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> is connected to the base <NUM> to secure the fixation between the front panel <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>, thereby improving strength and reducing vibration. A reinforcement member hole <NUM> may be formed on the lower reinforcement frame <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The reinforcement member hole <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape to correspond to the protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM>. Although the embodiment of the disclosure illustrates that the reinforcement member hole <NUM> is formed in a circular shape to correspond to the protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM>, the disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the reinforcement member hole <NUM> may be formed in various shapes.

The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> is tightly fitted to the base <NUM> so that a gap between the front panel <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> may be minimized when the front panel <NUM> is coupled to the cabinet <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> is fitted into the reinforcement member hole <NUM> of the base <NUM> so that the front panel <NUM> may be tightly coupled to the base <NUM>.

The coupling portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> may be formed on one side of the rear surface of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The coupling portion <NUM> may be configured to fix the reinforcement member <NUM> to the front panel <NUM>. A reinforcement member coupling hole <NUM> may be formed on the first support surface 111a of the front panel <NUM> to fix the reinforcement member <NUM>. The coupling portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> may be formed to correspond to the reinforcement member coupling hole <NUM> of the first support surface 111a. A fastening member <NUM> may penetrate the reinforcement member coupling hole <NUM> of the first support surface 111a to be fastened to the coupling portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM>. The fastening member <NUM> may fix the reinforcement member <NUM> to the front panel <NUM> through the first support surface 111a.

The reinforcement member body <NUM> may include a coupling protrusion <NUM> for installation on the front panel <NUM>. The coupling protrusion <NUM> may protrude from a bottom surface of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The coupling protrusion <NUM> may include a protrusion <NUM> and a head portion <NUM> extending from the protrusion <NUM>. The head portion <NUM> of the coupling protrusion <NUM> may be formed to have a wider width than the protrusion <NUM>. The coupling protrusion <NUM> may be inserted into and coupled to the reinforcement member installation hole <NUM> formed on the reinforcement member accommodating portion <NUM>.

The reinforcement member installation hole <NUM> may be formed on the reinforcement member installation surface <NUM> of the bottom surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. The reinforcement member installation hole <NUM> may include a first hole 131a formed to allow the head portion <NUM> of the coupling protrusion <NUM> to be inserted, and a second hole 131b connected to the first hole 131a. The second hole 131b is formed to have a size corresponding to the protrusion <NUM> of the coupling protrusion <NUM>.

Therefore, when the reinforcement member <NUM> is installed on the front panel <NUM>, the head portion <NUM> of the coupling protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the first hole 131a and the protrusion <NUM> of the coupling protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the second holes 131b, so that the reinforcement member <NUM> may be fixed to the front panel <NUM>. Because the head portion <NUM> is formed larger than the second hole 131b, the reinforcement member <NUM> may be stably coupled to the front panel <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> may be coupled by moving from the center of the front panel <NUM> in an outward direction. For example, one of the reinforcement members <NUM> is installed by moving from the center of the front panel <NUM> to the left, and the other of the reinforcement member <NUM> is installed by moving from the center of the front panel <NUM> to the right. The first hole 131a of the reinforcement member installation hole <NUM> formed on the first reinforcement member accommodating portion 130a may be formed outside the second hole 131b, and the first hole 131a of the reinforcement member installation hole <NUM> formed on the second reinforcement member accommodating portion 130b may be formed outside the second hole 131b.

The cover portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> may be formed at a lower portion of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> may protrude rearward from the lower portion of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> may cover at least a portion of the front panel <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> may be disposed to correspond to the first edge 113a of the third support surface <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> covers the first edge 113a of the third support surface <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> may be formed such that the first edge 113a is not exposed from the outside of the first edge 113a of the third support surface <NUM>. Although the embodiment of the disclosure illustrates that the cover portion <NUM> is a rib protruding to a lower side of the reinforcement member body <NUM>, the disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the cover portion <NUM> may include various shapes capable of covering a sharp portion of the front panel <NUM>.

The inclined surface <NUM> of the reinforcement member body <NUM> may include a cover member support portion <NUM> formed in a shape corresponding to the first corner 102a of the front panel <NUM>. The cover member support portion <NUM> is configured to support at least a portion of a cover member <NUM>, which will be described later. The cover member support portion <NUM> may be formed at one lower end of the reinforcement member body <NUM>. The cover member support portion <NUM> may be formed in a fan shape.

The cover member <NUM> disposed between the front panel <NUM> and the reinforcement member <NUM> to cover at least a portion of the front panel <NUM> may be further provided. The cover member <NUM> may be provided on the first corner 102a and the second corner 102b of the first surface <NUM>, respectively. The cover member <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the first corner 102a and the second corner 102b. The cover member <NUM> may cover at least portions of the first corner 102a and the second corner 102b. The cover member <NUM> may cover the first corner 102a and the second corner 102b. The cover member <NUM> may be formed such that at least a portion thereof is exposed to the outside of the front panel <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> may include a first cover body <NUM> and a second cover body <NUM> extending from the first cover body <NUM>. The first cover body <NUM> may be formed to be fitted to the first corner 102a and the second corner of the front panel <NUM>. The second cover body <NUM> may be formed in a plate shape. The first cover body <NUM> may be formed to protrude outward from the second cover body <NUM>. The second cover body <NUM> may be disposed at an inner side of the front panel <NUM>. The first cover body <NUM> may be formed such that a portion thereof is exposed to the outside of the front panel <NUM>. The second cover body <NUM> may be supported by the cover member support portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> may be supported between the front panel <NUM> and the reinforcement member <NUM> by the second cover body <NUM> to cover the first corner 102a and the second corner 102b of the front panel <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> may prevent a user from coming into contact with a sharp portion of the front panel <NUM> by covering the first corner 102a and the second corner 102b of the front panel <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates coupling of the front panel and a base equipped with the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C' in <FIG>, illustrating the coupling of the front panel and the base equipped with the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> illustrates the coupling of the front panel and the base equipped with the reinforcement member according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the reinforcement member <NUM> may be disposed at the opposite lower corners of the front panel <NUM> to reduce vibration of the washing machine <NUM> and improve the strength of the corners of the front panel <NUM>.

The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> protrudes to a rear side of the front panel <NUM>. The base <NUM> coupled to the front panel <NUM> may be connected to the protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM>. The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> serves as a guide when the front panel <NUM> is assembled to the base <NUM>, thereby facilitating assembly work.

The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> may be connected to the base <NUM> such that the front panel <NUM> and the base <NUM> form a uniform appearance, thereby improving a sense of beauty.

The protrusion portion <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM> may be inserted into the reinforcement member hole <NUM> formed on the lower reinforcement frame <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

The front panel <NUM> may be fixed from the front to the rear of the washing machine <NUM> by a fixing member such as a screw <NUM> through the base coupling hole <NUM> formed on the third support surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. The working efficiency may be improved by the method of assembling the front panel <NUM> and the base <NUM> from the front to the rear as described above.

Claim 1:
A washing machine (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) forming an outer appearance of the washing machine (<NUM>);
a base (<NUM>) disposed at a bottom of the cabinet (<NUM>);
a front panel (<NUM>) disposed at a front side of the cabinet (<NUM>); and
at least one reinforcement member (<NUM>) mounted on an inner surface of the front panel (<NUM>) to reinforce strength of the front panel (<NUM>),
wherein each reinforcement member (<NUM>) of the at least one reinforcement member (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion portion (<NUM>), disposed at a lower corner of the front panel (<NUM>), that protrudes from the reinforcement member (<NUM>) and is connected to the base (<NUM>),
wherein the front panel (<NUM>) comprises:
a first surface (<NUM>) formed in a plate shape to form a front surface,
a first side surface (<NUM>) and a second side surface (<NUM>) extending rearward from opposite sides of the first surface (<NUM>) to form side surfaces of the front panel (<NUM>), respectively, and
a bottom surface (<NUM>) extending rearward from a lower end of the first surface (<NUM>), and
a first support surface (111a) and a second support surface (111b) formed by bending in a center direction from ends of the first side surface (<NUM>) and the second side surface (<NUM>), respectively,
characterized in that
the front panel (<NUM>) further comprises a third support surface (<NUM>) extending downward from an end of the bottom surface (<NUM>), and
the reinforcement member (<NUM>) comprises a cover portion (<NUM>) to cover a side edge (<NUM>) of the third support surface (<NUM>).