Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725841-B2
Application number	US-201514959583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A washing machine including a cabinet with an opening, a door that opens and closes to uncover and cover the opening, respectively, and a door locking device that selectively restrains a motion of the door when the door is closed. This configuration may be used to prevent the door from opening when, for example, the washing machine is in operation. In addition, a structure of a front portion of the opening may facilitate loading and unloading of laundry.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a cabinet;
an upper frame disposed at an upper portion of the cabinet, and including an opening and an opening flange formed around the opening, wherein the opening flange comprises a through-hole and a mounting part around the through-hole;
a door rotatably disposed at the upper frame to open and close, wherein a closed door covers the opening and an opened door uncovers the opening;
a locking member provided at the door, wherein the locking member is configured to be inserted into the upper frame when the door is closed; and
a door locking device disposed to be supported by the upper frame, and configured to selectively restrain the locking member in the upper frame when the door is closed, wherein the door locking device comprises a locking switch configured to restrain the locking member, and a mounting unit in which a first side is coupled to the mounting part, and a second side is coupled to the locking switch.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein:
the locking member is provided at a center portion of a front portion of the door; and
the door locking device is disposed at a corresponding center portion of a front portion of the upper frame.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit comprises:
an upper unit disposed above the mounting part and having an accommodation hole configured to correspond to the through-hole, wherein the accommodation hole is capable of receiving the locking member; and
a lower unit disposed below the mounting part.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein:
the upper unit and the lower unit are configured to be coupled to the opening flange with the mounting part therebetween; and
the locking switch is coupled to the lower unit and mounted on a lower portion of the opening flange by coupling between the upper unit and the lower unit.

5. The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein a first one of the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a locking protrusion, and a second one of the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a coupling hole that couples to the locking protrusion.

6. The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the mounting unit comprises a flip cover configured to cover and uncover the accommodation hole.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6 , wherein the mounting unit comprises a closing member configured to force the flip cover upward to cover the accommodation hole, wherein the flip cover is configured to be pushed open by the locking member as the door is closed.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the lower unit comprises the flip cover and the closing member.

9. The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein:
the upper unit and the lower unit are coupled to the opening flange while having the mounting part therebetween;
the locking switch is coupled to the lower unit;
the lower unit comprises a coupling flange to be coupled to the upper frame; and
the coupling flange is fixed in the upper frame by screw coupling or a hook structure to mount the locking switch on a lower portion of the opening flange.

10. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the locking switch comprises a sliding member that is configured to be selectively inserted into the locking member, wherein the sliding member slides in the upper frame.

11. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit comprises a coupling flange configured to be coupled to the upper frame.

12. The washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the coupling flange is welded to the upper frame.

13. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the opening flange comprises:
a front flange disposed in front of the opening;
side flanges formed at both sides of the opening, and provided to face each other; and
a rear flange provided at a rear of the opening, facing the front flange, and connected to the side flanges, and
the door locking device is disposed at a center portion of the front flange.

14. The washing machine according to claim 13 , wherein the front flange comprises:
a front inclined surface inclined downward toward a front of the upper frame;
a rear inclined surface inclined downward toward the opening; and
a door seating part formed between the front inclined surface and the rear inclined surface, wherein a forward portion of the door is seated on a door seating frame when the door is closed.

15. The washing machine according to claim 14 , wherein an angle between the front inclined surface and a reference ground surface is smaller than an angle between the side flanges and the reference ground surface.

16. The washing machine according to claim 14 , wherein the front inclined surface, the rear inclined surface, and the door seating part are formed as one curved surface.

17. The washing machine according to claim 13 , wherein the opening flange is formed to be gradually sloped downward from a rear of the opening flange toward a front of the opening flange.

18. The washing machine according to claim 13 , wherein a height from a reference ground surface to an upper portion of the front flange is less than a height from the reference ground surface to upper portions of the side flanges.

19. A washing machine comprising:
a cabinet;
an upper frame disposed at an upper portion of the cabinet, and including an opening and an opening flange formed around the opening;
a door rotatably disposed at the upper frame to open and close, wherein a closed door covers the opening and an opened door uncovers the opening;
a locking member provided at the door, wherein the locking member is configured to be inserted into the upper frame when the door is closed; and
a door locking device disposed to be supported by the upper frame, and configured to selectively restrain the locking member in the upper frame when the door is closed,
wherein the door locking device comprises:
a locking switch configured to restrain the locking member;
an upper unit disposed above the opening flange and having an accommodation hole configured to be capable of accommodating the locking member; and
a lower unit disposed below the opening flange, and having a first side of the lower unit coupled to the upper unit and a second side of the lower unit coupled to the locking switch.

20. The washing machine according to claim 19 , wherein a first one of the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a locking protrusion, and a second one of the upper unit and the lower unit comprises a coupling hole that couples to the locking protrusion.

21. The washing machine according to claim 19 , wherein the locking switch comprises a sliding member that is configured to be selectively inserted into the locking member.

22. The washing machine according to claim 19 , wherein the upper unit comprises a flip cover configured to cover and uncover the accommodation hole.

23. The washing machine according to claim 22 , wherein the upper unit comprises a closing member configured to force the flip cover upward to cover the accommodation hole, wherein the flip cover is configured to be pushed open by the locking member as the door is closed.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Do Yun
• Kim Sang Wook

Classifications

• E05Y2900/312

  for washing machines or laundry dryers · CPC title

• E05B65/00

  Locks {or fastenings} for special use · CPC title

• D06F37/28

  Doors; Security means therefor · CPC title

• D06F37/18 Primary

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• D06F39/14

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title