Dishwasher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035869-B2
Application number	US-202017431805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2020
Priority date	Feb 18, 2019
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub, a base in a lower side of the tub, a door, a cover panel that covers the door and the base, and a link module connected to the door and the cover panel and configured to move the cover panel in a length direction of the door. The link module includes a first link having a first link-bracket connection portion connected to the door and spaced apart from a door rotating shaft, a second link disposed in a rear of the first link and rotatably connected to the first link and the tub, and a third link disposed in front of the first link and rotatably connected to the first link and the cover panel. When the door is opened, the first link-bracket connection portion moves from a rear of the door rotating shaft to a front upper side of the door rotating shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher comprising:
a tub defining a space, and an opening at a front side;
a base disposed at a lower side of the tub and separating the tub from a floor surface of the dishwasher by a first predefined gap;
a door configured to open and close the opening of the tub;
a door bracket coupled to the door, rotatably connected to the tub, and configured to rotate the door based on a door rotating shaft;
a cover panel covering the door and detachably mounted at the door; and
a link module connected to the door and the cover panel respectively and configured to, based on the door being rotated, move the cover panel in a length direction of the door;
wherein the link module comprises:
a first link defining a first link-bracket connection portion connected to the door bracket at a position spaced apart from the door rotating shaft by a second predefined gap;
a second link disposed at a rear side of the first link and rotatably connected to the first link and the tub respectively; and
a third link disposed at a front side of the first link and having both ends rotatably connected to the first link and the cover panel respectively,
wherein, based on the door being closed, a center of the first link-bracket connection portion is disposed vertically lower than the door rotating shaft,
wherein, based on the door being opened from a closed position, the center of the first link-bracket connection portion is configured to rotate relative to the door rotating shaft and is positioned above the door rotating shaft.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the first link-bracket connection portion is rotatably connected to the door bracket.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein the first link-bracket connection portion is connected to the door bracket so as to be disposed in a rear in a thickness direction of the door from the door rotating shaft.

4. The dishwasher of claim 2 , further comprising a tub bracket coupled to the tub and the base and rotatably connected to the door bracket.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 , wherein the tub bracket comprises:
a door connection portion to which the door bracket is rotatably connected;
a tub fastening portion extending to an upper side of the door connection portion and coupled to the tub; and
a base fastening portion extending to a lower side at a rear of the door connection portion and coupled to the base.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 , wherein the link module further comprises a link bracket connecting the second link and the tub bracket,
wherein the link bracket is connected to a first end of the second link at the rear side of the door rotating shaft.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 , wherein, based on the door being closed, the first link-bracket connection portion is disposed between the door rotating shaft and the first end of the second link connected to the link bracket.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein a length of a virtual straight line extending from the first link-bracket connection portion to a first end of the first link connected to the third link is longer than a length of a virtual straight line extending from the first link-bracket connection portion to a second end of the first link connected to the second link.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein a virtual straight line extending from the first link-bracket connection portion to a first end of the first link connected to the third link and a virtual straight line extending from the first link-bracket connection portion to a second end of the first link connected to the second link form an inclination angle.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the door comprises:
an inner door contacting a front surface of the tub and configured to close the opening of the tub;
a first outer door coupled to the inner door at a front side of the inner door; and
a second outer door disposed at an upper portion of the first outer door and coupled to the inner door.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 , wherein the door bracket comprises:
a first door bracket coupled to the first outer door and rotatably connected to the tub; and
a second door bracket connected to the first door bracket and coupled to the inner door.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 , wherein the first door bracket comprises:
a tub connection portion rotatably connected to the tub;
a door fastening portion extending from the tub connection portion and coupled to the inner door; and
a link connection portion rotatably connected to the first link-bracket connection portion,
wherein the link connection portion is disposed in a rear of thickness direction of the door from the tub connection portion.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 , further comprising a door fixing portion configured to, based on the door being opened, maintain a disposition of the door by applying a force to the door in a direction opposite to a load acting on the door,
wherein the first door bracket further comprises a door fixing portion-connection portion extending from the tub connection portion to the rear of thickness direction of the door and connected to the door fixing portion.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the link module further comprises a link holder connecting the third link and the cover panel, and
wherein the link holder extends to a lower side of the length direction of the door from a first end connected to the third link and connected to the cover panel at a lower end of the length direction of the door.

15. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein, based on the door being closed, a virtual straight line extending from the first link-bracket connection portion to a first end of the first link connected to the third link and a virtual straight line extending from a first end of the third link to a second-end form an angle of 45 degrees or less.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ko Myungwon

Classifications

• E05Y2900/304

  for dishwashers · CPC title

• E05Y2201/686

  Rods, links · CPC title

• E05Y2201/682

  Pins · CPC title

• E05D3/06

  with two or more pins (E05D7/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L15/4265

  Arrangements of door covering/decoration panels or plinths, e.g. for integrated dishwashers · CPC title