Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11859335-B2
Application number	US-202218046114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A washing machine includes: a cabinet having a first opening and a washing space formed therein; and a door assembly provided to open and close the first opening, wherein the door assembly includes: a door body having a second opening and corresponding to the first opening and provided to rotate relative to the cabinet; door glass having a glass hole communicating with the inside of the cabinet and coupled with the rear surface of the door body; a guide duct that connects the second opening and the glass hole; and a sealing member. The sealing member can prevent washing water or internal air from escaping from the door assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a cabinet having a first opening and a washing space formed therein; and
a door assembly provided to open and close the first opening,
wherein the door assembly includes:
a door body having a second opening into which laundry is inserted,
a door glass including a glass body protruding to a rear of the door body, a hole formed by opening of one side of the glass body, and a glass hole formed in the glass body, and
a guide duct enclosing a connection between the second opening and the glass hole and inclining downward from the second opening to the glass hole, wherein the glass body includes a surface inclining downward toward the rear, and wherein the glass hole is formed in the surface.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the door glass further includes a glass flange provided at an end of the glass body and formed along a perimeter of the hole.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein the glass flange is provided in a flange shape and configured to be coupled to the door body.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member configured to couple the glass hole and the guide duct.

5. The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein the sealing member is arranged around a perimeter of the glass hole.

6. The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein the sealing member includes a sealing cap having one end connected with one end of the guide duct and another end connected with the glass hole.

7. The washing machine of claim 6 , wherein the sealing member further includes a sealing agent configured to attach the sealing cap to the door glass.

8. The washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the sealing member further includes a contact surface which faces the door glass.

9. The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member includes a contact rib at an outer edge of the contact surface and protruding in a direction perpendicular from the contact surface.

10. The washing machine of claim 9 , wherein the contact rib protrudes farther from the outer edge of the contact surface of the sealing cap than the contact surface of the sealing cap to prevent the sealing agent from being leaked.

11. The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein:
the sealing member includes a catcher extending from the sealing member along its circumference;
the catcher includes a catching groove; and
the guide duct includes a catching protrusion protruding from one end of the guide duct along an outer circumferential surface thereof to catch the catching groove.

12. The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein the sealing member includes a sealing ring having a ring shape and located between a coupling groove and a coupling protrusion.

13. The washing machine of claim 6 , wherein:
the guide duct includes a coupling protrusion protruding from an end of the guide duct; and
the sealing cap includes a first cap covering an inner circumferential surface of the coupling protrusion.

14. The washing machine of claim 13 , wherein the sealing cap further includes a second cap connected with the guide duct.

15. The washing machine of claim 13 , wherein the sealing member further includes a coupling groove along its circumference into which the coupling protrusion of the guide duct is inserted to couple the guide duct to the door glass.

16. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the hole of the door glass is bigger than the glass hole.

17. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the hole of the door glass is connected to the door body.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park jang hoon
• Choi Min Jea
• Kim Jae Young
• Kim Zoo Hyeong
• Park Nae Young
• Chun Kwang Min

Classifications

• D06F37/28 Primary

  Doors; Security means therefor · CPC title

• D06F37/266

  Gaskets mounted between tub and casing around the loading opening · CPC title

• D06F39/14

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title