Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9428853-B2
Application number	US-201213483361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2012
Priority date	May 30, 2011
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A washing machine having an improved structure which increases washing capacity without increasing the size of the washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet including an outer part and a cylindrical inner part connected to the outer part, a spin basket rotatably disposed in the inner part and including a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the spin basket, a motor provided under the spin basket, a clutch to selectively transmit power of the motor to the spin basket or the pulsator, a base plate to fix the clutch and the motor, and suspension members connecting the base plate to the upper portion of the cabinet. Wash water is stored within the spin basket and is not stored outside the spin basket during a washing cycle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a cabinet including an outer part forming the external appearance of the washing machine, and an inner part connected to the inner surface of the outer part, the outer part having a rectangular tubular shape and the inner part having an inverted truncated conical shape, a width or length of the outer part being approximately equal to a diameter of the top of the inner part;
a spin basket rotatably disposed in the inner part and including a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom so as to be inclined such that the diameter of the side wall increases;
a pulsator rotatably disposed in the spin basket;
a motor provided under the spin basket;
a clutch to selectively transmit power of the motor to the spin basket or the pulsator;
a base plate to fix the clutch and the motor; and
suspension members configured to directly connect the base plate to the upper portion of the cabinet to absorb vibration generated by the spin basket,
wherein wash water is stored within the spin basket and is not stored outside the spin basket during a washing cycle.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the inner part contacts the inner surface of at least a portion of the outer part.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the outer part and the inner part are integrally formed.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the side wall includes at least one through hole formed at the upper portion thereof so as to discharge the wash water to the outside of the spin basket during rotation of the spin basket.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the inner part includes:
a drain groove bending inwards from the lower end of the inner part along the circumference of the inner part to collect wash water dropped through the at least one through hole; and
at least one first drain hole formed at one side of the drain groove to guide the wash water collected in the drain groove to the outside of the drain groove.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein the spin basket includes a guide rib extending from the lower portion of the side wall to a designated length to guide the wash water discharged through the at least one through hole to the drain groove.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6 , wherein:
the drain groove includes a first bending part bending from the lower end of the inner part to the center of the inner part, and a second bending part bending from the end of the first bending part in a direction vertical to the ground; and
the guide rib is located between the second bending part and the inner circumferential surface of the inner part.

8. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein:
the clutch includes a housing and a drive shaft rotatably supported by bearings connected to the inside of the housing; and
a flange member connecting the drive shaft and the spin basket to transmit rotary force of the drive shaft to the spin basket is connected to the lower portion of the housing.

9. The washing machine according to claim 8 , wherein the flange member includes:
a first through hole formed through the center of the flange member so as to be connected to the drive shaft; and
at least one second through hole formed around the first through hole to guide the wash water stored in the spin basket to the outside of the spin basket.

10. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein:
the inner part is provided with a division plane extending from the end of the drain groove to the center of the inner part; and
the spin basket and the base plate are respectively disposed above and below the division plane.

11. The washing machine according to claim 10 , wherein the division plane is configured such that the center thereof is higher than the edge thereof so that wash water, flowing down along the side wall of the spin basket or from the bottom of the spin basket, flows to the drain groove by gravity.

12. The washing machine according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one connection bracket connecting the base plate and the suspension members,
wherein the at least one connection bracket is provided with an evasion groove to prevent interference with the drain groove during operation of the washing machine.

13. The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the base plate includes an accommodation groove to accommodate wash water discharged through the at least one through hole.

14. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the inner part is separated from at least one portion of the outer part.

Assignees

• Kim Hyun Mook
• Kim Doo Pil
• Min Je Hong
• Jun Kalo Jin
• Park Yong Jong
• Park Jae Ryong
• Seo Dong Pil
• Lee Sang Hyeok
• Jang In Cheol
• Pyo Sang Yeon
• Lee Jung Hee
• Choi Ji Hoon
• Kim Seung Oh
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Hyun Mook
• Kim Doo Pil
• Min Je Hong
• Jun Kalo Jin
• Park Yong Jong
• Park Jae Ryong
• Seo Dong Pil
• Lee Sang Hyeok
• Jang In Cheol
• Pyo Sang Yeon
• Lee Jung Hee
• Choi Ji Hoon
• Kim Seung Oh

Classifications

• D06F23/04 Primary

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title