Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100457-B2
Application number	US-201615147147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2016
Priority date	May 8, 2015
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A washing machine includes a cabinet that defines a first introduction port. The washing machine further includes a tub that is located in the cabinet and that defines a second introduction port that is concentrically positioned relative to the first introduction port. The washing machine further includes a cabinet door that is connected to the cabinet and that is configured to open and close the first introduction port. The washing machine further includes a tub door that is hingedly coupled to the tub, that is configured to open and close the second introduction port, and that includes an upper portion that is inclined toward the tub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a cabinet that defines a first introduction port;
a tub that is located in the cabinet and that defines a second introduction port that is concentrically positioned relative to the first introduction port;
a rim that is located around the second introduction port and that extends from the tub in a forward direction;
a weight balancer that is located on an outer circumferential surface of the rim and that is configured to increase a weight of the tub;
a water supply unit that is connected at the outer circumferential surface of the rim and that is configured to supply washing water to the tub;
a cabinet door that is connected to the cabinet and that is configured to open and close the first introduction port;
a tub door that is hingedly coupled to the tub, that is configured to open and close the second introduction port, and that includes an upper portion that is inclined toward the tub; and
a cover member that is located between the first introduction port and a front surface of the tub, that is configured that is configured to cover the weight balancer and the water supply unit, and that is configured to prevent the front surface of the tub from being exposed through the first introduction port based on being coupled to the weight balancer.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the tub is obliquely positioned and includes a front portion that is inclined upward, and the cabinet includes a front cabinet that includes an upper portion that is inclined rearward at a predetermined angle.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the tub is inclined upward at an angle of 5-15 degrees relative to a bottom of the washing machine.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the tub is inclined upward at an angle of 10 degrees relative to the bottom of the washing machine.

5. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the tub includes a rim that extends from the second introduction port to the first introduction port.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein an upper portion of the rim extends beyond a lower portion of the rim.

7. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the cabinet door is obliquely positioned and includes an upper portion that is inclined rearward at an angle of 1.5-3.5 degrees relative to a front of the washing machine.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the cabinet door is inclined rearward at an angle of 2.5 degrees relative to the front of the washing machine.

9. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the tub door is obliquely positioned and includes an upper portion that is inclined rearward at an angle of 1.5-3.5 degrees relative to a front of the washing machine.

10. The washing machine according to claim 9 , wherein the tub door is inclined rearward at an angle of 2.5 degrees relative to the front of the washing machine.

11. The washing machine according to claim 10 , further comprising a lock-releasing device that is configured to unlock the tub door based on the cabinet door opening.

12. The washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the lock-releasing device comprises:
a release lever that is located at a handle of the cabinet door;
a release switch that is configured to detect an action of opening of the cabinet door in response to detecting an action of the release lever; and
a tub door lock releaser that is configured to unlock the tub door lock in response to detecting an action of the release switch.

13. The washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the lock-releasing device comprises:
a release lever that is located at a handle of the cabinet door;
a release switch that is configured to detect an action of opening of the cabinet door in response to detecting an action of the release lever; and
a tub door lock that is configured to unlock the tub door in response to detecting an action of opening by the release switch.

14. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cabinet door includes a front hinge unit, and the tub door includes a second hinge unit that includes a rotating shaft that is spaced apart from the first hinge unit.

15. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cover member includes one or more cover submembers that each cover a respective portion of the front surface of the tub.

16. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cover member is connected to the rim and is configured to cover the front surface of the tub outside the rim.

17. The washing machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an air supply unit that is located at the outer circumferential surface of the rim and that is configured to supply dry air to the tub,
wherein the cover member is configured to cover the air supply unit.

18. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the tub door is elastically supported in a direction that the second introduction port opens.

19. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cabinet door is configured to open based on opening the tub door.

20. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the tub door is configured to close based on closing the cabinet door.

21. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes a cabinet door lock that is configured to lock the cabinet door, and the tub includes a tub door lock that is configured to lock the tub door.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jo Mingyu
• Park Seungchul
• Kim Dongwon

Classifications

• D06F37/265

  Counterweights mounted to the tub; Mountings therefor · CPC title

• D06F37/04

  adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis · CPC title

• D06F37/28

  Doors; Security means therefor · CPC title

• D06F39/14 Primary

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• D06F37/22 Primary

  in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis · CPC title