Patent Description:
A device that is often called a drawer guide or a draw to slide is the means that facilitates the retracting of a drawer with respect to a cabinet provided in an electronic appliance. Such a device is used in the furniture such as a desk or a closet. A conventional drawer guide may include a fixed body fixed to a cabinet; and an operation body coupled to the drawer, with an extendable structure configured to be withdrawable from the fixed body.

The conventional drawer guide having the above-mentioned structure is able to withdraw or insert the drawer from or in the cabinet by using the external force applied by a user. In case the drawer is inserted in the cabinet, different from the case in that facilitates the withdrawing of the drawer from the cabinet, an excessive external force might be applied to the drawer enough to cause the collision between the drawer and the cabinet and the cabinet or drawer might damage disadvantageously.

Moreover, the conventional drawer guide has another disadvantage that the drawer might be withdrawn by the vibration generated in the drawer even unless the user applies an external force to the drawer.

Specific examples of conventional drawer guides are known from <CIT> and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a slide assembly. The slide assembly comprises: a stationary rail with a rail trough; a sliding rail connected to the stationary rail in a slidable manner; a sliding member slidably disposed in the rail trough of the stationary rail; a fixture secured to the end of the stationary rail; a pair of first elastic members connecting the fixture and the sliding member; an engaging plate connected to the sliding member through a pivot; an engaging rod provided in the engaging plate; a locator including a recess and a second inclined plane; a guiding member disposed inside the sliding rail, comprising a first inclined plane and protuberances; and a magnet disposed between the fixture and the sliding member. <CIT> discloses a laundry treatment apparatus. The laundry treatment apparatus comprises a cabinet with an entrance opening; a drawer configured to be discharged from the cabinet; a tub disposed in the drawer; and a drum configured to accommodate laundry therein.

To overcome the disadvantages, an object of the present invention is to address the above-noted and other problems and provide a drawer guide that is able to generate a force used in moving the drawer towards the inside of a cabinet, when a drawer is spontaneously moved a preset reference distance towards a cabinet a laundry treatment apparatus having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawer guide that supplies a preset force to keep the inside of the cabinet in a pressed state so as to enable a drawer to be withdrawn from the cabinet only when a preset reference external force or more is applied to the drawer and a laundry treatment apparatus having the same.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the embodiments, as embodied and broadly described herein, a drawer guide comprises a fixed body; an operation body that is withdrawable from the fixed body; base provided in the fixed body; a base slit comprising a linear portion provided along the same direction with the moving direction of the operation body; and a curved portion upwardly or downwardly extended from a front end of the linear portion located in a withdrawing direction of the operation body, the base slit provided in the base; first and second slides movably coupled to the base to be movable along the base and to be movable in communication with each other; a slide slit provided to penetrate the second slide; a first transfer unit having one end movably coupled to the base slit and the other end inserted in the slide slit to penetrate the second slide; a second transfer unit provided in the operation body and detachably coupled to the first transfer unit, the second transfer unit configured to move the first transfer unit to the curved portion from the linear portion when the operation body is moved towards the withdrawing direction from the fixed body and the first transfer unit to the linear portion from the curved portion when the operation body is moved towards the inserting direction in the fixed body; a spring provided to connect the base and the first slide with each other and move the first slide towards a rear end of the linear portion wen the first transfer unit is moved to the linear portion from the curved portion; and an attractive power supply unit configured to supply a power to the second slide to move the second slide towards a rear end of the linear portion.

A period in which the second slide is supplied the power by the first slide and a period in which the second slide is supplied the other by the attractive power supply unit may be overlapped with each other.

A period in which the second slide is supplied the power by the first slide and a period in which the second slide is supplied the other by the attractive power supply unit may not be overlapped with each other.

The attractive power supply unit may be configured to supply an attractive power to the second slide at the moment when the second slide is moved a preset reference distance or more with respect to a front end of the linear portion.

The reference distance may be set as a <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> or more of the length of the linear portion with respect to the front end of the liner portion.

The first slide may comprise a first body; a first connection portion provided to movably couple the first body to the base, and the second slide may comprise a second body located in a rear area of the first body towards the rear end of the linear portion; and a second connection portion movably couple the second body to the base and located in a rear area of the first connection, and the slide slit penetrates the second body along a crossing direction with respect to the moving direction of the second body.

The first slide may comprise a first body; a first connection portion provided in each of the upper and lower ends of the first body and configured to movably couple the first body to the base; and a slide through-hole provided to penetrate the first body, and the second slide may comprise a second body located in a rear end of the first body towards a rear end of the linear portion; a second connection portion provided in each of the upper and lower ends of the second body and configured to movably couple the second body to the base while being located in a rear end of the first connection portion; an extended body extended towards a front end of the first body from the second body to cover the slide through-hole and having the slide slit provided therein; and a projected body provided in the extended body and configured to define a space for accommodating a front end of the first body.

The slide slit penetrates the second body along a crossing direction with respect to the moving direction of the second body.

The attractive power supply unit may comprise a permanent magnet fixed to the second body or the base; and a conductive material fixed to the other one of the second body and base.

The drawer guide of claim <NUM>, wherein the attractive power supply unit may comprise a first permanent magnet fixed to the second body to expose a magnetic pole of N-pole or S-pole; and a second permanent magnet fixed to the base to expose the other magnetic pole of the N-pole and the S-pole.

The attractive power supply unit may comprise a bar rotatably coupled to the base; and a bar spring provided to connect the bar and the base with each other, and the bar spring is configured to supply a force for pressing one end of the first transfer unit moved along the base slit to a rear end of the linear portion.

The base slit may further comprise a second curved portion upwardly or downwardly curved from a rear end of the linear portion.

The curved portion may be upwardly inclined from a front end of the linear portion and the second curved portion may be downwardly inclined from the rear end of the linear portion.

The second transfer unit may comprise a transfer body secured to the operation body; and a transfer unit slit provided to penetrate the transfer body to provide a moving passage of the first transfer unit, and the transfer unit may comprise an inserting hole provided in a rear end of the transfer body; and an inclined portion connected with the inserting hole and downwardly from the inserting hole.

The attractive power supply unit comprise a bar rotatably coupled to the base; and a bar spring provided to connect the bar and the base with each other to supply an elastic force to the bar, and the bar spring may supply a power for moving the first transfer unit to the second curved portion the first transfer unit moved to the rear end of the linear portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a laundry treatment apparatus comprises a cabinet comprising an introduction opening; a drawer provided in the cabinet; a tub provided in drawer and configured to hold water; a drum rotatably provided in the tub and configured to hold clothes; a drawer guide configured to connect the drawer and the cabinet with each other to facilitate the drawer to be withdrawn outside the cabinet via the introduction opening, wherein the drawer guide comprise a fixed body fixed to the cabinet or the drawer; an operation body that is withdrawable from the fixed body; base provided in the fixed body; a slit comprising a linear portion provided in parallel with the moving direction of the operation body; and a curved portion upwardly or downwardly extended from a front end of the linear portion located in a withdrawing direction of the operation body, the slit provided in the base; a first slide movably coupled to the base to be movable along the base; a second slide movable along the base and movable towards a rear end of the linear portion by the first slide; a slide slit provided to penetrate the second slide; a first transfer unit having one end movably coupled to the base slit and the other end inserted in the slide slit to penetrate the second slide; a second transfer unit provided in the operation body and detachably coupled to the first transfer unit, the second transfer unit configured to move the first transfer unit to the curved portion from the linear portion when the operation body is moved towards the withdrawing direction from the fixed body and the first transfer unit to the linear portion from the curved portion when the operation body is moved towards the inserting direction in the fixed body; a spring provided to connect the base and the first slide with each other and move the first slide towards a rear end of the linear portion wen the first transfer unit is moved to the linear portion from the curved portion; and an attractive power supply unit configured to supply a power to the second slide to move the second slide towards a rear end of the linear portion.

Accordingly, the embodiments have following advantageous effects.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a drawer guide that is able to generate a force used in moving the drawer towards the inside of a cabinet, when a drawer is spontaneously moved a preset reference distance towards a cabinet a laundry treatment apparatus having the same.

Furthermore, the drawer guide that supplies a preset force to keep the inside of the cabinet in a pressed state so as to enable a drawer to be withdrawn from the cabinet only when a preset reference external force or more is applied to the drawer and a laundry treatment apparatus having the same.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

A drawer guide <NUM> in accordance with the present invention may be broadly applied to not only electric appliances such as a laundry treatment apparatus and a refrigerator but also furniture such as a desk or a closet. Hereinafter, the drawer guide <NUM> in accordance with the present invention may be provided in the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> to describe embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating one example of a drawer guide in accordance with the present invention and a laundry treatment apparatus having the drawer guide is a diagram illustrating an exterior design of a laundry treating apparatus. As shown in <FIG>, the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> includes a cabinet <NUM> having a front surface <NUM> in which a laundry introduction opening <NUM> is provided; a drawer <NUM> disposed in the cabinet <NUM>; and a drawer guide <NUM> configured to facilitate the withdrawing of the drawer <NUM> outside the cabinet <NUM> via the introduction opening <NUM>.

The drawer guide <NUM> may be provided in both lateral surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> which face each other, respectively. In other words, the drawer guide <NUM> may include a first drawer guide provided in a first lateral surface <NUM> and a second drawer guide provided in a second lateral surface <NUM>.

The drawer <NUM> may include a drawer body <NUM> disposed in the cabinet <NUM>; and a drawer panel <NUM> configured to be located outside the cabinet. The drawer body <NUM> may be provided in any shapes that are inserted in the cabinet <NUM> via the introduction opening <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the drawer body <NUM> is provided in a cube shape as one example. A top surface <NUM> (hereinafter, the drawer cover) has a first through-hole <NUM> and a second through-hole <NUM>, of which functions will be described later.

The drawer panel <NUM> may be provided to keep a state of being exposed outside the cabinet <NUM> even when the drawer body <NUM> is completely inserted in the cabinet <NUM>. The state where the drawer body <NUM> is completely inserted in the cabinet <NUM> may be defined as a state where the introduction opening <NUM> is closed by the drawer panel <NUM>.

The drawer panel <NUM> keeps the exposed state to the outside of the cabinet <NUM> and it is preferred that a control panel <NUM> is provided in the drawer panel <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> may include an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user and a display unit configured to display information related with the control to the user.

As shown in <FIG>, the drawer <NUM> may include a tub <NUM> provided in the drawer and configured to define a space for holding water; and a drum rotatably provided in the tub <NUM> and configured to define a space for holding clothes.

The tub <NUM> may be fixed to the drawer body <NUM> by a tub support portion <NUM> and includes an opening <NUM> formed in a top surface (<NUM>, hereinafter, a tub cover) to enable communication with the tub inside with the tub outside. The opening <NUM> is closable by a door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the top surface of the tub. In this instance, the door <NUM> may be located under the first through hole <NUM>. That is to allow the door <NUM> to rotatably move from the top surface <NUM> of the tub towards the outside of the drawer <NUM>.

The tub mentioned above may receive water via a water supply unit and discharge the water held in the tub <NUM> outside the cabinet.

The water supply unit may include a water supply pipe <NUM> provided to connect the tub <NUM> with the water supply source; and a water supply valve <NUM> provided to open and close the water supply pipe. In this instance, a water supply hole <NUM> may be provided in the tub cover <NUM> to draw the water supplied via the water supply pipe to the tub <NUM>. The water supply pipe <NUM> may be provided as a corrugated pipe that is extendible towards a direction in which the drawer is withdrawn (X-direction).

The water discharge unit may include a water discharge pump <NUM> fixed to the drawer body <NUM>; a first water discharge pipe <NUM> provided to connect the tub <NUM> with the water discharge pump; and a second water discharge pipe <NUM> provided to guide the water discharged from the water discharge pump outside the cabinet. The second water discharge pipe <NUM> may be configured to pass a higher point than the highest water level set in the tub and provided as a corrugated pipe that is extendible towards the direction of the withdrawing drawer.

The drum <NUM> may include a drum body <NUM> formed in a cylinder shape with an empty space; and a drum opening <NUM> provided in a top surface of the drum body and configured to draw the clothes loaded via the introduction opening <NUM> into the inside of the drum body. A plurality of communication holes <NUM> may be provided in a circumferential surface and a bottom surface of the drum body <NUM> to communicate the internal space of the drum with the internal space of the tub.

The drum body <NUM> may be rotatable by a drum drive unit <NUM> configured of a stator, a rotor and a shaft <NUM> provided to connect the rotor with the drum body while penetrating tub.

The drawer <NUM> having the above-noted structure may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> via the drawer guides <NUM> provided in the first and second lateral surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the cabinet. The drawer guides provided in the first lateral surface <NUM> and the second lateral surface <NUM> of the cabinet, respectively, may have the same structure. Hereinafter, only the structure of the drawer guide <NUM> provided coupled to the first lateral surface <NUM>, referring to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the drawer guide <NUM> in accordance with the present invention may include the fixed body <NUM> fixed to the cabinet or the drawer; a connection body C that is withdrawable towards the introduction opening <NUM> from the fixed body <NUM>; an operation body <NUM> that is withdrawable from the connection body towards the introduction opening <NUM> (an X-axis direction) and coupled to the other one of the cabinet and the drawer; and a body control unit A provided in the fixed body <NUM> and configured to provide a power for moving the operation body <NUM> in a direction where the drawer is inserted (the X-axis direction) spontaneously.

Different from the example shown in <FIG>, the drawer guide <NUM> in accordance with the present invention may include a fixed body <NUM> fixed to the cabinet or the drawer; an operation body <NUM> fixed to the other one of the cabinet and the drawer and provided to be withdrawable from the fixed body towards the introduction opening <NUM>; and a body control unit A provided in the fixed body <NUM>. For easy explanation of the present invention, the drawer guide including the fixed body <NUM>, the connection body C, the operation body <NUM> and the body control unit A will be applied.

The fixed body <NUM> may include a first frame <NUM> provided along the direction in which the drawer is withdrawn (the X-axis direction); and a second frame <NUM> and a third frame <NUM> that are provided to face an upper and a lower end of the first frame <NUM> to provide a mounting space of the operation body <NUM>.

The connection body C may be located in the mounting space and withdrawn along the X-axis direction from the fixed body <NUM>. The operation body <NUM> may be withdrawn from the connection body C along the X-axis direction.

The connection body C may be formed in any shapes only if it is mounted in the mounting space. As shown in <FIG>, the connection body C may include a first connection body frame; and second and third connection body frames that are projected towards the drawer (the Y-axis direction) from the top and lower ends of the first connection body.

The operation body <NUM> may be formed in any shapes only if it is able to be mounted in the mounting space defined by the three frames of the connection body. <FIG> illustrates that the operation body <NUM> includes a first operation body frame fixed to the drawer body <NUM>; and second and third operation body frames that are projected towards the connection body C from upper and lower ends of the first operation body frame as one example.

The connection body C may move along the X-axis in a state of being coupled to the fixed body <NUM> by using a first bearing and the operation body <NUM> may move along the X-axis in a state of being coupled to the connection body C by using a second bearing <NUM>.

The first bearings <NUM> may be provided in a space formed between the first frame <NUM> and the first connection body frame and a space formed between the second frame <NUM> and the second connection body frame, respectively. Similarly, the second bearings <NUM> may be provided in a space formed between the first connection body frame and the first operation body frame and a space formed between the second connection body and the second operation body frame, respectively.

The body control unit A provided in the drawer guide <NUM> may include one example of a structure shown in <FIG>. In other words, the body control unit A may include a base <NUM> detachably secured to the fixed body <NUM> or integrally formed with the fixed body; a slide S secured to the base and configured to reciprocate along the direction in which the drawer is withdrawn; and a transfer unit <NUM> and <NUM> detachably coupled to the slide S along the position of the drawer <NUM>.

The base <NUM> includes a base body <NUM> fixed to the fixed body <NUM>; and a base slit <NUM> penetrating the base body. The length of the base slit <NUM> in parallel with the withdrawing direction of the drawer (the X-axis direction) is longer than the longitudinal length of the drawer (the Z-axis direction).

First and second rails 531a and 531b for providing moving passages of the slide S may be provided in upper and lower end of the base body <NUM>, respectively. The first rail 531a may be projected from the upper end of the base body <NUM> upwardly (the Z-axis direction) and the second rail 531b may be projected from the lower end of the base body <NUM> downwardly (the Z-axis direction).

Referring to <FIG>, the structure of the slit <NUM> will be described in detail. The base slit <NUM> may be provided as the means for providing the moving passage of the transfer unit <NUM> and <NUM> which will be described later. The base slit <NUM> may include a linear portion 533a provided along the same direction with the moving direction of the drawer <NUM>, and a curved portion (533b, the first curved portion) provided in a front end of the linear portion. The first curved portion 533b may be upwardly inclined or downwardly inclined with respect to the front end of the linear portion 533a. <FIG> illustrates the former case as one example. The description that the linear portion 533a is provided along the same direction with the moving direction of the drawer <NUM> may mean that the linear portion 533a is provided in parallel with the moving direction of the drawer (the motion of the operation body) and that the it is inclined with respect to the moving direction of the drawer.

The slide S may include a first slide <NUM> and a second slide <NUM> that are coupled to the base <NUM> and movable along the base, in communication with each other. the fact that the first slide <NUM> and the second slide <NUM> are movable in communication with each other may mean that the second slide <NUM> is moved to a rear end of the linear portion by the first slide <NUM> when the first slide <NUM> is moved towards a rear end of the linear portion 533a (that is, moved towards the X-axis direction) and that the first slide <NUM> is moved towards the first curved portion by the second slide <NUM> when the second slide <NUM> is moved towards the first curved portion 533b (that is, moved towards the X-axis direction).

The first slide <NUM> includes a first body <NUM>; and a first connection portion <NUM> and <NUM> provided to connect the first body <NUM> with the base body <NUM>. The first connection portion may include a first rail accommodating area (<NUM>, the first body first rail accommodating area) provided to connect the first body <NUM> with the first rail 531a provided in the upper end of the base body; and a second rail accommodating area (<NUM>, a first body second rail accommodating area) provided to connect the first body <NUM> with the second rail 531b provided in a lower end of the base body.

The first rail accommodating area <NUM> may include an accommodation body provided in an upper end of the first body <NUM>, with a short length than the first rail; and a groove provided in the accommodation body to insert the first rail therein. Similarly, the second rail accommodating area <NUM> may include an accommodation body provided in a lower end of the first body <NUM>, with a shorter length than the length of the second rail 531b; and a groove provided in the accommodation body to insert the second rail therein. Accordingly, the first body <NUM> is able to move along the longitudinal direction of the base body <NUM> by the two rails 531a and 531b and the two rail accommodating areas <NUM> and <NUM>.

The first rail accommodating rail <NUM> may be projected towards a direction in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the first rail from the upper end of the first body <NUM>. The second rail accommodating area <NUM> may be projected towards a direction in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the second rail 531b from the lower end of the first body <NUM>. In this instance, a slide through-hole <NUM> may be formed between the first rail accommodating area <NUM> and the second rail accommodating area.

The first slide <NUM> having the above-noted structure may be supplied the power needed in moving from the front area to the rear area of the base body <NUM> by using a spring <NUM> (the power for moving along the X-axis). One end of each spring <NUM> and <NUM> may be secured to the first body <NUM> and the other end may be provided as a tensile spring secured to the base body <NUM>. The tensile spring mean a spring that is extended by an external force and then restitutes to have the original length when the external force is removed. <FIG> illustrates that the spring includes the first spring <NUM> and the second spring <NUM>.

One end of the first spring <NUM> may be secured to a first first-spring securing area <NUM> provided in an upper end of the base body and the other end thereof may be secured to a second first-spring securing area <NUM> provided in an upper end of the first body <NUM> (that is, an upper end of the first rail accommodating area). One end of the second spring <NUM> may be secured to a first second-spring securing area <NUM> provided in a lower end of the base body and the other end thereof may be secured to the second second-spring securing area <NUM> provided in the lower end of the first body <NUM> (the lower end of the second rail accommodating area).

Considering the easy assembling of the springs <NUM> and <NUM>, it is preferred that the spring securing areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are formed in a cylinder shape having one surface that is open toward the width direction of the drawer.

Different from what is shown in the drawings, the first and second springs may be compression springs. The compression spring refers to all types of springs that have a structure for getting shorter by an external force and returning to its original length when the external force is removed. In this instance, the first first-spring securing area <NUM> and the first second-spring securing area <NUM> may be provided in a front area of the base body <NUM>. The first and second springs <NUM> and <NUM> may be compressed when the first slide <NUM> is moved towards the front of the base body (that is the X-axis direction).

The second slide <NUM> may include a second body <NUM>; a second connection portion <NUM> and <NUM> provided to movably connect the second body <NUM> to the base body <NUM>; and a body coupling portion <NUM> and <NUM> provided to connect the second body <NUM> with the first body <NUM>.

The second body <NUM> may be supplied the power needed in moving by the first body <NUM>, when moving towards the rear of the base body <NUM> and the transfer unit <NUM> and <NUM> which will be described later, when moving towards the front of the base body <NUM>. The first body <NUM> may move towards the front area of the base body <NUM> together with the second body <NUM>, when the second body <NUM> moves towards the front area of the base body <NUM>. For that, the second body <NUM> may be located in a rear end of the first body <NUM> (one surface of the first body towards the rear end of the linear portion) as one example.

The second connection portion may include a first second-body rail accommodating area <NUM> provided in an upper end of the second body <NUM>, with a shorter length than the first rail 531a, and coupled to the first rail 531a; and a second second-body rail accommodating area <NUM> provided in a lower end of the second body <NUM>, with a shorter length than the second rail 531b, and coupled to the second rail 531b.

The first second-body rail accommodating area <NUM> may include an accommodation body that is shorter than the first rail 531a; and a groove provided in the accommodation body and configured to insert the first rail 531a therein. The second second-body rail accommodating area <NUM> may include an accommodation body shorter than the second rail 531b; and a groove provided in the accommodation body and configured to insert the second rail therein.

In addition, the first second-body rail accommodating area <NUM> may be located in a rear portion of the first first-body rail accommodating area <NUM> and the second second-body rail accommodating area <NUM> may be located in a rear portion of the second first-body rail accommodating area <NUM>.

The body coupling portion may include an extended body <NUM> extended towards a front end of the first body <NUM> (one surface of the first body towards the introduction opening); and a projected body <NUM> projected towards the base body <NUM> from the extended body554. The extended body <NUM> may be provided to cover the slide through-hole <NUM> provided in the first slide. In this instance, the first body <NUM> may be coupled to the second body <NUM> by being inserted in the space defined between the projected body <NUM> and the second connection area <NUM> and <NUM>.

The slide S having the above-noted structure may reciprocate along the longitudinal direction (the X-axis direction) of the base by <NUM> by the transfer unit <NUM> and <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the transfer unit may include a first transfer unit <NUM> that is movable along the base slit <NUM>, and a second transfer unit <NUM> that is provided in the operation body <NUM> and movable together with the drawer <NUM>.

One end of the first transfer unit <NUM> may be secured to the base <NUM> to be movable along the base slit <NUM> and the other end (the free end) thereof may be provided as a connection bar <NUM> connected with the second slide <NUM>. A first projection <NUM> and a second projection <NUM> may be provided in a circumferential surface of the connection bar <NUM>, spaced a preset distance apart from each other.

As shown in <FIG>, the base slit <NUM> may be inserted in a base slit coupling groove <NUM> formed between the first and second projections <NUM> and <NUM> such that the connection bar <NUM> can move along the moving passage provided by the base slit <NUM>. The projections <NUM> and <NUM> capable of realizing the above-noted function may be provided in other shapes from the shape shown in the drawing.

To couple the first transfer unit <NUM> to the base slit <NUM>, a first transfer unit inserting hole 533d having a larger diameter than a diameter of the second projection <NUM> may be further provided in a rear end of the linear portion 533a.

In addition, a first transfer unit stopper 533d may be further provided in the base body <NUM> to prevent the first transfer unit <NUM> coupled to the base slit <NUM> from being moved to the first transfer unit inserting hole 533d from the linear portion 533a. The first transfer unit stopper 533e may be formed in a shape of a projection upwardly inclined as getting farther from the first transfer unit inserting hole 533d.

As shown in <FIG>, the free end of the connection is exposed outside the second slide <NUM> after penetrating the slide through-hole <NUM> provided in the first slide and the slide slit <NUM> provided in the second slide <NUM>. The slide slit <NUM> may penetrate the first body <NUM> or the extended body <NUM>. The drawing shows that the slide slit <NUM> penetrates the extended body <NUM> as one example.

As shown in <FIG>, the slide slit <NUM> has the length crossing the linear portion 533a of the base slit (or the direction crossing the linear portion) that is longer than the length in parallel with the linear portion (the X-axis direction length). When the first transfer unit <NUM> is moved to the first curved portion 533b from the linear portion 533a or to the linear portion 533a from the first curved portion 533b, the free end of the connection bar <NUM> will move along the direction crossing the linear portion.

The slide through-hole <NUM> may have one open surface that is open towards the rear end of the linear portion 533a. That is to prevent the horizontal motion of the connection bar <NUM> from being restricted by the slide through-hole <NUM>.

The first transfer unit <NUM> may be movable along the base slit <NUM> by the second transfer unit <NUM> provided in the operation body <NUM>. The second transfer unit <NUM> may be provided as means for moving the connection bar <NUM> to the curved portion 533b from the linear portion 533a, when the operation body <NUM> is moved towards the direction in which it is withdrawn from the fixed body <NUM> (that is, towards the direction in which the drawer is withdrawn from the cabinet), and moving the connection bar <NUM> to the linear portion 533a from the curved portion 533b, when the operation body <NUM> is moved towards the direction in which the operation body <NUM> is inserted in the fixed body <NUM>.

The second transfer unit <NUM> may be coupled to the free end of the connection bar <NUM>, when the operation body <NUM> is inserted in the fixed body <NUM>, and separated from the free end of the connection bar <NUM>, when the connection bar <NUM> is inserted in the first curved portion 533b during the process of withdrawing the operation body <NUM> from the fixed body <NUM>.

For that, the second transfer unit <NUM> may include a transfer body <NUM> secured to the operation body <NUM>; and a transfer unit slit <NUM> penetrating the transfer body and providing a passage of the moving connection bar <NUM>. The transfer slit <NUM> may include an inserting hole 572a provided in a rear end of the transfer body <NUM>; and an inclined portion 572b connected with the inserting hole 572a.

The inclination direction of the inclined portion 572b becomes different based on the inclined direction of the first curved portion 533b provided in the base slit <NUM>. In other words, when the first curved portion 533b is upwardly inclined towards the moving direction of the withdrawn drawer from the front end of the linear portion 533a as shown in <FIG>, the inclined portion 572b has to be downwardly inclined from the inserting hole 572a. In this case, the second transfer unit <NUM> is able to move the connection bar <NUM> from the linear portion 533a to the first curved portion 533b and from the first curved portion 533b to the linear portion 533a.

With the same reason, when the first curved portion 533b is downwardly inclined from the front end of the linear portion 533a, the inclined portion 572b has to be upwardly inclined from the inserting hole 572a. A connection bar guide <NUM> may be further provided to guide the free end of the connection bar <NUM> to the inserting hole 572a.

A stopper for restricting the moving distance of the slide S when the slide S is moved towards the rear end of the linear portion 533a may be further provided in the base body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> as one example, the stopper includes a first stopper <NUM> for restricting the moving distance of the first slide <NUM>; and a second stopper <NUM> for restricting the moving distance of the second slide <NUM>.

The first stopper <NUM> may be provided in an upper end or lower end of the rear surface composing the base body <NUM> and the second stopper <NUM> may be at least one or more of the upper and lower ends of the base body <NUM>.

The second stopper <NUM> may be located behind the first stopper <NUM> and the distance between the first and second stoppers <NUM> and <NUM> may be longer than the length of the second connection portion <NUM> and <NUM> (the X-axis direction length). That is to allow the second slide <NUM> to move towards the second stopper <NUM>, even when the motion of the first slide <NUM> is restricted by the first stopper <NUM>.

The drawer guide <NUM> having the above-noted structure may realize an effect of moving the drawer <NUM> into the cabinet <NUM> spontaneously when the drawer <NUM> is moved to a preset coupling position (a position in which the second transfer unit is coupled to the first transfer unit) towards the inside of the cabinet <NUM>.

The body control unit A may further include an attractive power supply unit <NUM> configured to supply a power needed in moving the second slide <NUM> towards the rear end of the linear portion 533a or the power for keeping a state where the second slide <NUM> is pressed towards the rear end of the linear portion 533a.

As shown in <FIG> as one example, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> may include a permanent magnet <NUM> fixed to the second body <NUM>; and a magnetic material <NUM> fixed to a position towards the direction in which the permanent magnet <NUM> is located in the space defined by the base body <NUM>. Different from what is shown in the drawing, the magnetic material <NUM> may be fixed to the second body <NUM> and the permanent magnet <NUM> may be fixed to the base body <NUM>.

Accordingly, the power that keeps the pressed state of the drawer <NUM> towards the inside of the cabinet <NUM> to the drawer <NUM> may be continuously supplied to the drawer <NUM> such that an effect can be realized that the drawer <NUM> may be withdrawn from the cabinet <NUM> only if a preset reference external force or more is applied to the drawer <NUM>.

Different from what is shown in <FIG>, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> may include a permanent magnet <NUM> fixed to the second body <NUM>; and a permanent magnet fixed to the base body <NUM>. In this instance, the two permanent magnets have to be arranged with different poles facing each other.

The permanent magnet provided in the attractive power supply unit <NUM> mentioned above may be replaced by electromagnets. In this instance, considering the easy current supply, it is preferred that the electromagnet is fixed to the base body <NUM>. In other words, the attractive power supply unit may include a magnetic material or permanent magnet fixed to the second body; and an electromagnet fixed to the base body.

The attractive power supply unit <NUM> including the permanent magnet <NUM> and the magnetic material <NUM>, the two permanent magnets, the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, and the magnetic material and the electromagnet may be configured to supply the attractive power to the second slide <NUM> continuously or once the second slide <NUM> is moved the preset reference distance along the linear portion 533a.

When using the permanent magnet having a high magnetic power, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> is able to supply the attractive power to the second slide <NUM> even when the second slide <NUM> is fixed to a fixed position, because the first transfer <NUM> is located in the first curved portion 533b. In this instance, the slide S may be supplied both the restoring force of the spring <NUM> and <NUM> and the attractive power of the attractive power of the attractive power supply unit <NUM>, such that the heavy drawer <NUM> may be moved into the cabinet <NUM> easily.

Meanwhile, when the permanent magnet provided in the attractive power supply unit <NUM> has a relatively small magnetic force, the attractive power supply unit <NUM>, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> may supply the power for moving the slide <NUM> towards the rear end of the linear portion 533a once moved the reference distance along the linear portion 533a.

The reference distance may be set as a point that is corresponding to <NUM>/<NUM> of the length of the linear portion 533a with respect to the front end of the linear portion 533a (that is, the point that is located within <NUM>/<NUM> of the linear portion with respect to the rear end of the linear portion). The reference distance may be equal to the position of the first stopper <NUM> or it may be located in front of the first stopper <NUM>. Or, the reference distance may be set as a point located between the first and second stoppers <NUM> and <NUM>.

When the reference distance is set as the point in front of the first stopper <NUM>, the period in which the first slide is supplied the power by the spring <NUM> and <NUM> may be overlapped with the period in which the second slide <NUM> is supplied the power by the attractive power supply unit <NUM>. In other words, the period in which the second slide <NUM> is supplied the power by the first slide <NUM> may be overlapped with the period in which the second slide <NUM> is supplied the power by the attractive power supply unit <NUM>. In this instance, it is effective to move the heavy drawer from the cabinet.

When the reference distance is set as the same position with the position of the first stopper <NUM> or the position located between the first and second stoppers <NUM> and <NUM>, the period in which the second slide <NUM> is supplied the power by the first slide <NUM> may not be overlapped with the period in which it is supplied the power by the attractive power supply unit <NUM>.

When first slide <NUM> contacts with the first stopper <NUM> whatever the reference distance is set as, the second slide <NUM> is moved to the second stopper <NUM> only by the attractive power supplied by the attractive power supply unit <NUM> to keep the contact with the second state or the pressed state towards the second stopper <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the drawer <NUM> is inserted in the cabinet <NUM>, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> may be employed as the means for generating the power (e.g., a pre-load) that prevents the drawer <NUM> from being withdraw from the cabinet.

The spring <NUM><NUM> may be designed to have a length displacement of <NUM> when the first slide <NUM> contacts with the first stopper <NUM> or keep the extended state even when the first slide <NUM> contacts with the first stopper <NUM>. In the latter case, the pre-load can be set to be larger advantageously.

Hereinafter, referring to <FIG>, the operation process of the drawer guide <NUM> having the above-noted structure will be described.

<FIG> illustrates that the second transfer unit <NUM> is coupled to the first transfer unit <NUM> once the drawer <NUM> is moved to the coupling position into the cabinet <NUM> by the external force applied by the user. <FIG> illustrates that the drawer <NUM> is moved the reference distance into the cabinet <NUM> by the spring <NUM> and <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the attractive power supply unit <NUM> presses the first transfer unit <NUM> and the second slide <NUM> towards the direction in which the second stopper <NUM> is located.

As shown in <FIG>, when the user pushes the drawer <NUM> into the cabinet <NUM>, the connection body C and the operation body <NUM> that are secured to the drawer may be moved behind the fixed body <NUM> in which the body control unit A is located. In this process, the second transfer unit <NUM> secured to the operation body <NUM> may be coupled to the first transfer unit <NUM>.

Once the first transfer unit <NUM> is coupled to the second transfer unit <NUM>, the transfer unit slit <NUM> provided in the second transfer unit <NUM> may move the first transfer unit <NUM> to the linear portion 533a from the first curved portion 533b. As shown in <FIG>, the first transfer unit <NUM> is moved to the linear portion 533a from the first curved portion 533b and then the first slide <NUM> is moved even to the first stopper <NUM> by the spring <NUM> and <NUM>.

The second slide <NUM> located between the first slide <NUM> and the first stopper <NUM> may be moved by the first slide <NUM> and the first transfer unit <NUM> may be moved by the second slide <NUM> and the second transfer unit <NUM> may be moved by the first transfer unit <NUM> towards the position of the first stopper <NUM>.

When the first slide <NUM> contacts with the first stopper <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> the second slide <NUM> is pressed in the direction in which the second stopper <NUM> is located by the attractive power supply unit <NUM>. The fact that the second slide <NUM> is pressed in the direction towards the second stopper <NUM> may mean that the second slide <NUM> is moved until it contacts with the second stopper <NUM> and also that it is supplied the attractive power toward the second stopper <NUM> by the attractive power supply unit <NUM>.

The first and second slides <NUM> and <NUM> are connected with each other via the body coupling unit <NUM> and <NUM>. When the first slide 54contacts with the first stopper <NUM>, the second slide <NUM> has to also stop the movement.

However, the tolerance reflected in the design and generated in the actual manufacturing process of the slides are likely to move the second slide <NUM> towards the second stopper <NUM> even after the first slide <NUM> is stopped. Once the second slide <NUM> is pressed in the direction towards the second stopper <NUM>, the first transfer unit <NUM> connected with the second slide <NUM>, the second transfer unit <NUM> coupled to the first transfer unit and the operation body <NUM> secured to the second transfer unit <NUM> may be pressure towards the second stopper <NUM> such that the present invention cam provide the pre-load to the drawer <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the spring <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided to actuate the pre-load to the first slide <NUM>. The spring <NUM> and <NUM> may supply a less amount of the power to the first slide <NUM> as the first slide <NUM> becomes closer to the first stopper <NUM>. While, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> may supply a more power to the second slide <NUM> as the first slide <NUM> becomes closer to the first stopper <NUM>. Accordingly, when the spring <NUM> and <NUM> is provided to apply the pre-load to the first slide <NUM>, the power supplied to the first slide by the attractive power supply unit and the power supplied to the first slide by the spring may overlapped with each other to increase the pre-load supplied to the drawer in a state of <FIG>.

When the user withdraws the drawer <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM> in the state of <FIG>, the first transfer unit <NUM> is moved towards the first curved portion 533b along the linear portion 533a. In this process, the second slide <NUM> may be moved by the first transfer unit <NUM> and the first slide <NUM> may be moved by the second slide <NUM> to the position in front of the base body <NUM>.

When the first transfer unit <NUM> is inserted in the first curved portion 533b, the second transfer unit <NUM> is separated from the first transfer unit 56and the spring <NUM> and <NUM> is in an extended state. The first transfer unit <NUM>, the first slide <NUM> and the second slide <NUM> may be secured to the base body <NUM> (see <FIG>).

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a second embodiment of the drawer guide <NUM>. The present embodiment is equal to the drawer guide <NUM> mentioned in references to <FIG>, except the structure of the attractive power supply unit <NUM>. Hereinafter, the structure of the attractive power supply unit <NUM> will be described in detail for easy explanation.

As shown in <FIG>, the attractive power supply unit <NUM> in accordance with the present embodiment may include a bar <NUM> provided between the base <NUM> and the fixed body <NUM>; a shaft <NUM> forming a rotational center of the bar <NUM>; and a bar spring <NUM> provided to supply an elastic power to the bar <NUM>.

The shaft <NUM> may be provided in the base <NUM> or the fixed body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> as one example the shaft <NUM> is provided in a rear surface of the base body <NUM> (that is, one surface of the base body towards the fixed body).

The bar <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the base body <NUM> via the shaft <NUM>. One end of the bar <NUM> may be projected towards a front area of the base body <NUM> and the other end thereof is projected towards a rear area of the base body <NUM>.

A free end of the bar <NUM> (the area projected towards the front area of the base body <NUM> has to be located higher than the linear portion 533a. also, a free end of the bar <NUM> has to be located between the first curved portion 533b and a rear end of the linear portion 533a.

One end of the bar spring <NUM> may be secured to the bar <NUM> projected towards a rear area of the base body <NUM> and the other end thereof may be secured to the base body <NUM>. The bar spring <NUM> is provided to apply a force for rotating the free end of the bar <NUM> towards the linear portion 533a.

Moreover, a bar inclined surface <NUM> may be further provided in the free end of the bar <NUM> and the bar inclined surface <NUM> may be downwardly inclined as coming closer to the shaft <NUM>. That is to prevent the bar <NUM> from interfering in the first transfer unit <NUM> moving to the rear end of the linear portion 533a along the linear portion 533a.

The reference distance preset by the body control unit A for the attractive power supply unit <NUM> to apply the power to the second slide <NUM> may be set as a distance from the front end of the linear portion 533a to the free end of the bar <NUM>.

When the first transfer unit <NUM> is moved the reference distance, the second projection <NUM> provided in the first transfer unit may press the bar inclined surface in a clockwise direction. Once the second projection <NUM> passes the bar inclined surface <NUM>, the free end of the bar <NUM> moves the second projection <NUM> to the rear end of the linear portion 533a while being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the bar spring <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a third embodiment of the drawer guide <NUM>. This embodiment is equal to the embodiment of <FIG>, except the shape of the base slit <NUM> and the shape of the bar spring <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the base slit <NUM> provided in the drawer guide in accordance with the present embodiment includes a linear portion 533a; a first curved portion 533b upwardly or downwardly inclined towards the withdrawing direction of the drawer from the front end of the linear portion 533a; and a second curved portion 533c extended from a rear end of the linear portion and inclined in the reverse direction of the inclination of the first curved portion 533b.

Specifically, in case the first curved portion 533b is upwardly inclined from the front end of the linear portion 533a (see <FIG>), the second curved portion 533c has to be downwardly inclined from the rear end of the linear portion 533a.

However, in case the first curved portion 533b is downwardly inclined towards a direction which is getting farther from the front end of the linear portion 533a, the second curved portion 533c has to be upwardly inclined from the rear end of the linear portion 533a. In this instance, the inclination direction of the inclined portion 572b provided in the second transfer unit <NUM> has to be corrected. The reason why the inclination direction has to be corrected and the inclination direction are mentioned above and detail description thereof will be omitted accordingly.

One end of the bar spring <NUM> may be secured to the bar <NUM> and the other end thereof may be provided as a tensile spring secured to the base body <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the operation process of the drawer guide <NUM> in accordance with the present embodiment will be described, referring to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates the moment when the second transfer unit <NUM> is coupled to the first transfer unit <NUM> after the drawer <NUM> is moved to the coupling position towards the inside of the cabinet <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the drawer <NUM> is moved into the cabinet <NUM> by the spring <NUM> and <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the attractive power supply unit <NUM> moves the first transfer unit <NUM> to the second curved portion 533c.

As shown in <FIG>, when the user pushes the drawer <NUM> into the cabinet <NUM>, the connection body C and the operation body that are secured to the drawer may be moved behind the fixed body <NUM> where the body control unit A is located. During this process, the second transfer unit <NUM> secured to the operation body <NUM> is coupled to the first transfer unit <NUM>.

Once the second transfer unit <NUM> is coupled to the first transfer unit <NUM>, the transfer unit slit <NUM> provided in the second transfer unit may move the first transfer unit <NUM> to the linear portion 533a from the first curved portion 533b. As shown in <FIG>, the first transfer unit <NUM> and then the first slide <NUM> is moved to the first stopper <NUM> by the spring <NUM> and <NUM>.

The second slide located between the first slide <NUM> and the first stopper <NUM> and the first transfer unit <NUM> may be moved to the position of first stopper <NUM> (the reference position) by the first slide <NUM> and the second slide <NUM>, respectively.

When the first slide <NUM> reaches the first stopper <NUM>, the second projection <NUM> of the first transfer unit may rotate the bar <NUM> in the clockwise direction by pressing the bar inclined surface <NUM>.

However, once the second projection <NUM> penetrates the bar inclined surface <NUM>, the free end of the bar <NUM> presses the second projection <NUM> towards the second curved portion 533c while being rotated in the counter-clockwise direction by the bar spring <NUM>.

The fact that the second projection <NUM> is pressed towards the second curved portion 533c may mean that the second projection <NUM> is moved until it contacts with the end of the second curved portion 533c (see <FIG>) and that the second projection <NUM> is supplied the force towards the last end of the second curved portion 533c by the attractive power supply unit <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, when the drawer <NUM> is completely inserted in the cabinet <NUM>, the first transfer unit <NUM> may be located in the second curved portion 533c and then the pre-load for securing the drawer <NUM> in the cabinet <NUM> may be enhanced advantageously.

Meanwhile, when the user withdraws the drawer <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM> in the state of <FIG>, the second projection <NUM> provided in the first transfer unit <NUM> is moved to the linear portion 533a from the second curved portion 533c while rotating the bar <NUM> in the clock-wise direction.

The first transfer unit <NUM> is moved to the first curved portion 533b along the linear portion 533a. During this process, the second slide <NUM> is moved by the first transfer unit <NUM> and the first slide <NUM> is moved by the second slide <NUM>. At this time, the slides are moved towards the front area of the base body <NUM>.

Meanwhile, when the first transfer unit <NUM> is inserted in the first curved portion 533b, the second transfer unit <NUM> may be separated from the first transfer unit <NUM> and the spring <NUM> and <NUM> may become tensed. The first transfer unit <NUM>, the first slide <NUM> and the second slide <NUM> may be secured to the base body <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The above-noted description is made based on the laundry treatment apparatus for washing clothes. The drawer guide in accordance with the present invention may be applied to the laundry treatment apparatus for drying clothes. In this instance, the drawer <NUM> may include a drying chamber (not shown) for providing a space for holding clothes; and a hot air supply unit (not shown) configured to supply heated air to the drying chamber.

Claim 1:
A drawer guide (<NUM>) comprising:
a fixed body (<NUM>);
an operation body (<NUM>) that is withdrawable from the fixed body (<NUM>);
a base (<NUM>) provided in the fixed body (<NUM>);
a base slit (<NUM>) comprising a linear portion (533a) provided along the same direction with the moving direction of the operation body (<NUM>); and a curved portion (533b) upwardly or downwardly extended from a front end of the linear portion located in a withdrawing direction of the operation body (<NUM>), the base slit (<NUM>) provided in the base (<NUM>);
a first slide (<NUM>) movably coupled to the base (<NUM>) to be movable along the base (<NUM>);
a second slide (<NUM>) movable along the base (<NUM>) and movable rearward by the first slide (<NUM>);
a slide slit (<NUM>) provided to penetrate the second slide (<NUM>);
a first transfer unit (<NUM>) having one end movably coupled to the base slit (<NUM>) and the other end inserted in the slide slit (<NUM>) to penetrate the second slide (<NUM>);
a second transfer unit (<NUM>) provided in the operation body (<NUM>) and detachably coupled to the first transfer unit (<NUM>), the second transfer unit (<NUM>) configured to move the first transfer unit (<NUM>) to the curved portion (533b) from the linear portion (533a) when the operation body (<NUM>) is moved towards the withdrawing direction from the fixed body (<NUM>) and the first transfer unit (<NUM>) to the linear portion (533a) from the curved portion (533b) when the operation body (<NUM>) is moved towards the inserting direction in the fixed body (<NUM>);
a spring (<NUM>) provided to connect the base (<NUM>) and the first slide (<NUM>) with each other and move the first slide (<NUM>) towards rearward when the first transfer unit (<NUM>) is moved to the linear portion (533a) from the curved portion (533b); and
an attractive power supply unit (<NUM>) configured to supply a power to the second slide (<NUM>) to move the second slide (<NUM>) rearward.