Laundry treating apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9650737-B2
Application number	US-201514857608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2015
Priority date	Sep 17, 2014
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a door, a first hinge including a first shaft and a first shaft receiving unit, a second hinge including a second shaft and a third shaft configured to rotatably fix the second shaft to the cabinet and to define a second rotational axis of the door, a third hinge including a fourth shaft and a fourth shaft receiving unit such that the fourth shaft is detachably received in the fourth shaft receiving unit, a first switching unit provided in the door, a second switching unit provided in the door, the second switching unit being configured to close the fourth shaft receiving unit, and a withdrawal prevention unit configured to detachably couple second switching unit to the third hinge when the second switching unit closes the fourth shaft receiving unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
a cabinet having an introduction port;
a laundry receiving unit located in the cabinet to receive laundry introduced through the introduction port;
a door configured to open and close the introduction port;
a first hinge comprising a first shaft provided at either one selected from between the cabinet and the door to define a first rotational axis of the door and a first shaft receiving unit provided at the other one selected from between the cabinet and the door such that the first shaft is detachably received in the first shaft receiving unit;
a second hinge comprising a second shaft coupled to the door to define the first rotational axis together with the first shaft and a third shaft configured to rotatably fix the second shaft to the cabinet and to define a second rotational axis of the door;
a third hinge comprising a fourth shaft provided at either one selected from between the cabinet and the door to define the second rotational axis together with the third shaft and a fourth shaft receiving unit provided at the other one selected from between the cabinet and the door such that the fourth shaft is detachably received in the fourth shaft receiving unit;
a first switching unit provided in the door in a reciprocating fashion to open and close the first shaft receiving unit;
a second switching unit provided in the door in a reciprocating fashion to open and close the fourth shaft receiving unit, the second switching unit being configured to close the fourth shaft receiving unit when the first switching unit moves in a direction in which the first shaft receiving unit is opened; and
a withdrawal prevention unit configured to detachably couple the second switching unit to the third hinge when the second switching unit closes the fourth shaft receiving unit.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the third hinge further comprises a switching unit receiving unit, into which a free end of the second switching unit to close the fourth shaft receiving unit is inserted, and
the withdrawal prevention unit comprises: a first withdrawal prevention unit provided at either one selected from between the second switching unit and the switching unit receiving unit and a second withdrawal prevention unit provided at the other one selected from between the second switching unit and the switching unit receiving unit such that the second withdrawal prevention unit is detachably coupled to the first withdrawal prevention unit.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the first withdrawal prevention unit is configured as a groove formed in an outer circumference of the second switching unit, and
the second withdrawal prevention unit is configured as a protrusion, which is inserted into the groove.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a manipulation unit configured to move the first switching unit;
a first lock configured to fix a position of the first switching unit when the door opens the introduction port; and
a second lock configured to fix a position of the second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the second lock is configured to be separated from the second switching unit when the door closes the introduction port and to be coupled to the second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second lock comprises:
a second lock body configured to reciprocate in the door in a thickness direction of the door;
a second lock transfer unit configured to move the second lock body in a direction in which the second lock body becomes more distant from the introduction port when the door closes the introduction port;
a second lock support unit configured to elastically support the second lock body such that the second lock body is pushed toward the introduction port; and
a second lock fastening unit configured to separate the second lock body from the second switching unit when the door closes the introduction port and to connect the second lock body to the second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second lock fastening unit comprises:
a first fastening unit provided at the second switching unit; and
a second fastening unit provided at the second lock body such that the second fastening unit is coupled to the first fastening unit.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second lock fastening unit comprises:
a first fastening unit and a second fastening unit provided at the second switching unit, the first fastening unit and the second fastening unit being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction in which the second switching unit is moved;
a second lock flange protruding from the second lock body toward the second switching unit; and
a third fastening unit provided at the second lock flange such that the third fastening unit is coupled to either one selected from between the first fastening unit and the second fastening unit based on a position of the second switching unit.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first lock comprises:
a first lock body configured to reciprocate in a width direction of the door, the first lock body being detachably provided at the manipulation unit;
a first lock support unit configured to elastically support the first lock body; and
a first lock transfer unit configured to separate the first lock body from the manipulation unit when the door closes the introduction port and to couple the first lock body to the manipulation unit when the door opens the introduction port.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first lock comprises:
a first lock body configured to reciprocate in the door in a thickness direction of the door;
a second lock transfer unit configured to move the first lock body in a direction in which the first lock body becomes more distant from the introduction port while contacting the cabinet when the door closes the introduction port;
a first lock support unit configured to elastically support the first lock body such that the first lock body is pushed toward the introduction port;
a first fixing unit and a second fixing unit spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction in which the first switching unit is moved;
a first lock flange provided at the first lock body; and
a third fixing unit provided at the first lock flange such that the third fixing unit is coupled to either one selected from between the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit based on a position of the first switching unit.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Aram
• Park Soowon
• Lee Hyuntae

Classifications

• E05D7/02

  for use on the right-hand as well as the left-hand side; Convertible right-hand or left-hand hinges · CPC title

• D06F37/28 Primary

  Doors; Security means therefor · CPC title

• E05D7/1055

  with snap-fitted pins · CPC title

• D06F39/14 Primary

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title