Patent Document

[0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Application Nos. P2004-039498 filed on Jun. 1, 2004, P2004-039499 filed on Jun. 1, 2004 and P2004-039500 filed on Jun. 1, 2004, which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a drum washer, and more particularly to, a door of a drum washer and an assembling method for the same, in which a structure of the door is improved to facilitate assembly of the door and make appearance of the drum washer good.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, a washer uses an electric motor as a main power and performs washing, rinsing and dehydrating operations to remove dirt on the laundry using action of detergents and water. The washer includes a mechanical portion transferring energy to a power unit, such as an electric motor, and the laundry, a controller controlling washing steps and a water supply and a drainage supplying and draining water.  
         [0006]     Also, the washer is divided into a cylinder type, an agitator type, and a pulsator type depending on a washing type.  
         [0007]     The agitator type is to wash the laundry by rotating a wing shaped agitator at the center of a washing tub in left and right directions. The pulsator type is to wash the laundry using swift flow generated by rotating a circular plate shaped pulsator. The cylinder type is to wash the laundry by impact generated when the laundry is lifted and dropped by a plurality of projections provided at a drum as the drum is horizontally rotated at low speed after putting water, detergents and the laundry inside the drum.  
         [0008]     The cylinder type is on an increasing trend because damage of the laundry little occurs and a small amount of water is required.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a related art drum washer.  
         [0010]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a related art drum washer  10  includes a cabinet  11  constituting appearance, a door  20  provided at the center of the front of the cabinet  11 , a detergent box  12  formed at the upper portion of the front of the washer  10  to receive detergents, and a controller  13  controlling the operation of the washer  10 .  
         [0011]     In more detail, the door  20  includes a door frame  21  constituting appearance, a deco band  22  formed at the rim of the front of the door frame  21 , and a door glass  23  recessed in the deco band  22  and projected into the washer.  
         [0012]     The door glass  23  is recessed into the washer and is made of a transparent material to allow a user to directly recognize the rotation state of the laundry inside the drum.  
         [0013]     The aforementioned drum washer  10  is operated in such a manner that a user fills detergents in the detergent box  12 , puts the laundry into the drum, and manipulates a power button provided at the controller  13  and a dial controlling a washing level.  
         [0014]     Meanwhile, if the washing operation ends, a drying operation is performed. If the drying operation of the laundry ends, the drum inside the washer  100  is stopped.  
         [0015]     In the door of the related art drum washer, it is general that the door frame is formed in a single body with the deco band. The door frame and the deco band are integrally lustrous or lusterless. In this case, it is difficult to distinguish the deco band from the door frame and exert a comparison effect between a lustrous portion and a semi-lustrous portion. This could lead to undesirable appearance of the washer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a door of a drum washer and an assembling method for the same that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0017]     An object of the present invention is to provide a door of a drum washer and an assembling method for the same in which a structure of a door is improved to facilitate assembly of the door.  
         [0018]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a door of a drum washer and an assembling method for the same in which a structure of a door is improved to make appearance of the drum washer good.  
         [0019]     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0020]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a door of a drum washer includes an upper cover having a hollow, a central portion downwardly tapered at a predetermined angle and a main boss formed at a predetermined length outside the rear, a center cover connected to an lower portion of the upper cover, having an connecting boss coupled to the main boss, and a lower cover connected to an lower portion of the center cover, having an connecting boss groove corresponding to the connecting boss.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the door of a drum washer further includes a fitting member penetrating the connecting boss and the connecting boss groove and being inserted into the main boss. The connecting boss groove includes a fitting member penetrating hole at the center.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the upper cover includes at least one hook at the rim while the center cover includes a hook fitting groove corresponding to the hook at the rim.  
         [0023]     Preferably, the hook includes an inner hook formed in the inner circumference at the rim of the upper cover and an outer hook formed in the outer circumference at the rim of the upper cover. Specifically, the hook has a vertical end with elasticity.  
         [0024]     Preferably, the center cover includes a center rib downwardly extended in the inner circumference at the rim and the lower cover includes a lower rib formed in the inner circumference at the rim to correspond to the center rib.  
         [0025]     Preferably, the center rib includes a center undercut projected at the outer circumference and the lower rib includes a lower undercut coupled to the center undercut.  
         [0026]     Preferably, the upper cover includes a center boss downwardly extended from the rear and the center cover includes a center boss groove corresponding to the center boss. Preferably, the door of a drum washer further includes a fitting member penetrating the center boss groove and being inserted into the center boss.  
         [0027]     Preferably, the center boss groove includes a fitting member penetrating hole formed stepwise with the center boss groove.  
         [0028]     Preferably, the center cover includes at least one bottom hook groove formed with a predetermined width at the inner rim, and the lower cover includes a bottom hook corresponding to the bottom hook groove.  
         [0029]     Preferably, the door of a drum washer further includes a door glass inserted between the upper cover and the lower cover.  
         [0030]     Preferably, at least one of the upper cover, the center cover and the lower cover includes a grip portion for placing a grip of the door therein. Further, at least one of the upper cover, the center cover and the lower cover includes a door hinge groove for placing a door hinge that connects the door to a main body of the drum washer.  
         [0031]     Preferably, at least one of the upper cover, the center cover and the lower cover is formed by injection molding. The upper cover and the center cover are surface-treated to have luster different from each other.  
         [0032]     In another aspect, an assembling method for a door of a drum washer comprising connecting an upper cover provided with a main boss to a center cover provided with an connecting boss corresponding to the main boss, inserting a door glass to a lower portion at an inner circumference of the upper cover, and connecting a lower cover provided with an connecting boss groove corresponding to the connecting boss of the center cover to a lower portion of the center cover.  
         [0033]     Preferably, the assembling method further includes fixing a fitting member into the main boss through an inner portion of the connecting boss and the connecting boss groove.  
         [0034]     Preferably, the step of connecting the upper cover to the center cover includes fixing a hook formed in the upper cover to a hook groove formed in the center cover.  
         [0035]     Preferably, the step of connecting the center cover to the lower cover includes coupling a center undercut formed in the center cover to a lower undercut formed in the lower cover.  
         [0036]     Preferably, the step of connecting the upper cover to the center cover includes coupling a center boss formed in the upper cover to a center boss groove formed in the center cover.  
         [0037]     Preferably, the step of connecting the upper cover to the center cover further includes fixing a fitting member into the center boss through the center boss groove.  
         [0038]     Preferably, the step of connecting the center cover to the lower cover further includes fixing a bottom hook groove formed in the center cover to a bottom hook formed in the lower cover.  
         [0039]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0040]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a related art drum washer;  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a drum washer according to the present invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door frame according to the present invention;  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view illustrating an upper cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view illustrating a center cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view illustrating a center cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view illustrating a lower cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that an upper cover and a center cover are connected to each other in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that an upper cover, a center cover, and a lower cover are connected to one another in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0050]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view illustrating an upper cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view illustrating a center cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0052]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view illustrating a lower cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0053]      FIG. 13  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that an upper cover and a center cover are connected to each other in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0054]      FIG. 14  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that an upper cover, a center cover, and a lower cover are connected to one another in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0055]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0056]     An example of a drum washer according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0057]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a drum washer according to the present invention.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a drum washer  100  of the present invention includes a cabinet  110  constituting appearance, a top cover  150  built in an upper end of the cabinet  110  to shield the inside of the cabinet  110 , and a front cover  140  built in the front of the cabinet  110 .  
         [0059]     In more detail, a door  200  is provided at the center of the front cover  140  to put the laundry into a drum therethrough. The door  200  includes a door frame constituting appearance and a door glass  240  shielded by the door frame and recessed into the drum washer. The door glass  240  is made of a transparent material to allow a user to directly recognize the state inside the drum washer. A control panel  130  is provided at the upper portion of the front cover  140 . A detergent box  120  and a controller  131  are provided at one side of the control panel  130 . The detergent box  120  receives detergents while the controller  131  controls the operation of the washer and inputs washing conditions.  
         [0060]     The operation of the aforementioned drum washer according to the present invention will now be described.  
         [0061]     First, a user opens the detergent box  120  and fills detergents therein. Then, the user opens the door  200  to put the laundry into the washer. Afterwards, the user pushes a power button provided at the controller  131  and an input button for washing conditions to drive the washer.  
         [0062]     If the above steps end, washing, rinsing and drying steps are performed depending on the input washing conditions.  
         [0063]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the door frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0064]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the door frame according to the present invention includes an upper cover  210  constituting the front, a center cover  220  built at the lower portion of the upper cover  210  and connected to the upper cover, and a lower cover  230  built at the lower portion of the center cover  220 , constituting the bottom.  
         [0065]     The respective covers of the door frame are separately formed by injection molding and are fixed to one another by a fitting member.  
         [0066]     In more detail, the upper cover  210  and the center cover  220  have luster different from each other to be distinguished from each other when viewed from the front side of the washer.  
         [0067]     For example, the upper cover  210  absorbs light to constitute a lusterless portion and the center cover  220  reflects light to constitute a lustrous portion. Thus, the upper cover  210  and the center cover  220  can be formed by injection molding to give esthetic appreciation when viewed from the outside.  
         [0068]     Therefore, since the upper cover  210 , the center cover  220  and the lower cover  230  are separately assembled, surfaces of the respective covers can separately designed and made.  
         [0069]     The respective covers will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 7 .  
         [0070]     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the upper cover  210  has a circular band shape and constitutes a curve recessed toward the inner side.  
         [0071]     In more detail, the upper cover  210  includes an outer hook  211  formed at the rim of the outer circumference to be connected to the center cover  220  and an inner hook  212  formed at the rim of the inner circumference to be fixed to the center cover  220 .  
         [0072]     A main boss  213  is formed outside the rear side of the upper cover at a predetermined length in a vertical direction. The main boss  213  is connected to the center cover  220  and the lower cover  230 .  
         [0073]     Meanwhile, a grip portion  214  for placing a grip therein is formed at one side of the inner circumference of the upper cover to allow a user to open and close the door.  
         [0074]     A door hinge groove  215  is formed at a side opposite to the grip portion  214  to place a door hinge therein. The door hinge allows the door  200  to be rotatably provided in the washer  100 .  
         [0075]     As described above, the upper cover  210  constitutes the front of the door  200 , and appearance of the washer depends on luster or texture of the upper cover  210 .  
         [0076]     For example, the upper cover  210  may be coated with a material reflecting light or its upper surface may be treated with hairline. Alternatively, the upper cover  210  may be coated with a material absorbing light, such as chrome plating, to feel weight.  
         [0077]     Referring to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 7 , the center cover  220  is connected to the lower portion of the upper cover  210 .  
         [0078]     The center cover  220  includes a recess portion  226  recessed in a circular band shape with a predetermined width and depth and at least one connecting boss  223  formed at the center of the recess portion and downwardly extended at a predetermined length.  
         [0079]     In more detail, the connecting boss  223  is formed with a diameter and depth into which the main boss  213  can be inserted. A groove is formed at the bottom of the connecting boss to pass a fitting member therethrough.  
         [0080]     Further, an outer hook groove  221  is formed at the outer side of the recess portion  226  to insert the outer hook  211  formed at the outer circumference of the upper cover  210  therein. An inner hook groove  222  is formed at the rim of the inner circumference of the center cover to hook the inner hook  212  formed at the rim of the inner circumference of the upper cover  210 .  
         [0081]     Meanwhile, a grip portion  224  and a door hinge groove  225  are formed in the same manner as the upper cover  210 .  
         [0082]     The assembly steps of connecting the upper cover  210  to the center cover  220  will now be described.  
         [0083]     The main boss  213  is inserted into an inner groove of the connecting boss  223 . The upper cover  210  is pressurized so that the outer hook  211  and the inner hook  212  are respectively inserted into the outer hook groove  221  and the inner hook groove  222 .  
         [0084]     Once the outer hook  211  and the inner hook  212  are respectively inserted into their grooves, they are not likely to be removed from their grooves.  
         [0085]     The center cover  220  includes a center rib  228  formed at the rim of the inner circumference to be downwardly extended in a vertical direction and a band shaped center undercut  228   a  projected at a certain height at the outer circumference of the center rib  228 .  
         [0086]     Specifically, the center undercut  228   a  is engaged with a lower undercut  238   a  formed in the lower cover  230  so that the center cover  220  is tightly coupled to the lower cover  230 .  
         [0087]     The lower cover  230  includes an connecting boss groove  231  for inserting the connecting boss  223  projected from the rear side of the center cover  220  and a fitting member penetrating hole  232  formed at the center of the connecting boss groove  231  to pass through the fitting member.  
         [0088]     In the same manner as the upper cover  210  and the center cover  220 , a door hinge groove  234  and a grip portion  233  are formed to oppose each other.  
         [0089]     The lower cover  230  further includes a lower rib  238  spaced apart from the inner circumference of the lower cover  230  at a predetermined distance and the lower undercut  238   a  surrounding the outer circumference of the lower rib  238  in a band shape.  
         [0090]     In more detail, the lower undercut  238   a  is coupled to the center undercut  228   a  formed in the center cover  220  so that the center cover  220  is tightly fixed to the lower cover  230 .  
         [0091]      FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that the upper cover is connected to the center cover in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0092]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the upper cover  210  and the center cover  220  are fixed to each other by a hook.  
         [0093]     As described above, at least one outer hook  211  downwardly formed in a vertical direction at the rim of the outer circumference of the upper cover  210  is inserted into the outer hook groove  221  formed outside the rim of the center cover  220 .  
         [0094]     The inner hook  212  projected in a horizontal direction at the rim of the inner circumference of the upper cover  210  is hooked over the inner hook groove  222  formed at the rim of the inner circumference of the center cover  220 .  
         [0095]     The order of fixing the hooks  211  and  212  is as follows.  
         [0096]     First, the inner hook  212  is hooked over the inner hook groove  222 . The upper portion of the upper cover  210  is downwardly pressurized so that the outer hook  211  is inserted into the outer hook groove  221 .  
         [0097]     Specifically, as shown, the outer hook  211  is projected in a horizontal direction at a predetermined length and is pointed toward the lower portion.  
         [0098]     Furthermore, since a vertical end  211   a  of the hook  211  is formed with elasticity, it is inwardly bent when the pointed portion of the hook  211  descends along the rim of the center cover. If the hook  211  is fully inserted into the outer hook groove  221 , the vertical end  211   a  of the hook  211  returns to the original position so that the hook  211  is not removed from the hook groove  221 .  
         [0099]     Meanwhile, the main boss  213  is inserted into a groove formed at the center of the connecting boss  223 . Accordingly, it is preferable that the inner groove of the connecting boss  223  has a diameter equal to an outer diameter of the main boss  213 .  
         [0100]      FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that the upper cover, the center cover and the lower cover are connected to one another.  
         [0101]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in a state that the main boss  213  is inserted into the connecting boss  223 , a coupling body of the upper cover  210  and the center cover  220  is fixed to the lower cover  230 . That is, the connecting boss  223  is fixed to the connecting boss groove  231  formed at the bottom of the lower cover  230 .  
         [0102]     At this time, the lower undercut  238   a  formed in the lower cover  230  ascends along the center undercut  228   a  formed in the center cover  220  and pressurizes the lower cover  230  so that the lower undercut  238   a  is positioned above the center undercut  228   a  formed in the center cover  220 .  
         [0103]     A fitting member  250  is provided to pass the center of the main boss  213  and the connecting boss  223  through the fitting member penetrating hole  232  from the bottom of the lower cover  230 .  
         [0104]     By undergoing the above steps, the upper cover  210 , the center cover  220  and the lower cover  230  are connected to one another in a single body by the fitting member  250 .  
         [0105]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view illustrating an upper cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 11  is a front perspective view illustrating a center cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 12  is a front perspective view illustrating a lower cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0106]     Referring to  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12 , the upper cover  210  includes a center boss  216  formed at one side of the rear and extended at a predetermined length.  
         [0107]     In more detail, the center boss  216  is to connect the upper cover  210  to the center cover  220 . The center boss  216  may be formed near the inner rim of the upper cover  210 .  
         [0108]     In the same manner as the first embodiment of the present invention, the upper cover  210  includes an outer hook  211  and an inner hook  212 . The upper cover  210  is fixed to the center cover  220  by the hooks  211  and  212 .  
         [0109]     Meanwhile, the center cover  220  includes a center boss groove  229  for inserting the center boss  216  formed in the upper cover  210  and a fitting member penetrating hole  229   a  positioned at the center of the center boss groove  229 . Specifically, the center boss groove  229  is formed at the inner rim of the center cover  220  to insert the center boss  216  therein.  
         [0110]     Therefore, as described above, after the center boss  216  is inserted into the center boss groove  229 , a fitting member is fixed into the center boss  216  through the fitting member penetrating hole  229   a.    
         [0111]     Furthermore, at least one bottom hook groove  227  with a predetermined width is formed at the inner rim of the center cover  220 .  
         [0112]     The bottom hook groove  227  is to insert a bottom hook  237  formed in the lower cover  230  therein. At least one bottom hook  237  is formed at one side of the upper portion of the lower cover at a predetermined height. The bottom hook  237  is inserted into the bottom hook groove  227  so that the center cover  220  is tightly fixed to the lower cover  230 .  
         [0113]     Therefore, the lower cover  230  is primarily connected to the center cover  220  by the main boss  213  and the fitting member and is secondarily fixed to the center cover  220  by the bottom hook  237 .  
         [0114]     Since the bottom hook  237  has the same function as the hooks  211  and  212  formed in the upper cover  210 , its detailed description will be omitted.  
         [0115]      FIG. 13  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that the upper cover and the center cover are connected to each other in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 14  is a partial sectional view illustrating the state that the upper cover, the center cover, and the lower cover are connected to one another in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0116]     Referring to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , after the center boss  216  formed in the upper cover  210  is inserted into the center boss groove  229  of the center cover  220 , a fitting member  250   a  is tightened to be inserted into the center boss  216  from the bottom of the center cover  220 .  
         [0117]     The lower cover  230  or the center cover  220  is pressurized so that the bottom hook  237  projected at the lower cover  230  is inserted into the bottom hook groove  227  formed in the center cover  220 . Before the upper cover  210 , the center cover  220  and the lower cover  230  are completely connected to one another, the upper end of the door glass  240  is inserted between the lower end of the upper cover  210  and the upper side of the inner rim of the lower cover  230 .  
         [0118]     As described above, the door of the drum washer according to the present invention has the following advantages.  
         [0119]     The upper cover, the center cover and the lower cover are easily assembled, and it is possible to facilitate the process steps of differing texture of the front portion of the door frame from texture of side portions of the door frame.  
         [0120]     In addition, the door frame having fine and high-quality appearance can be obtained.  
         [0121]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 6