LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS AND DOOR THEREOF

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus and a door thereof.

Laundry treatment apparatuses include a washing apparatus for washing laundry, and a drying apparatus for drying laundry that has been washed in a washing apparatus.

When a laundry treatment apparatus is embodied as a washing apparatus, the laundry treatment apparatus may include a cabinet which defines the external appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus, a tub which is provided inside the cabinet and is configured to accommodate wash water, a drum which is rotatably provided inside the cabinet and is configured to accommodate laundry, and a door which is provided over a portion of the front surface of the cabinet to enable the introduction and discharge of laundry.

In addition, the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a control panel unit which controls the laundry treatment apparatus upon receiving user input and displays the cycles of the laundry treatment apparatus.

In a conventional laundry treatment apparatus, the control panel unit is not provided on the door, but is provided on a portion of the top surface of the cabinet or on a front cover unit, which is provided on a portion of the front surface of the cabinet.

Such a construction complicates the fabrication process and causes inconvenience in user manipulation. In addition, in a case where the control panel unit develops a fault and needs to be repaired, the conventional laundry treatment apparatus inconveniently requires that the front cover unit be dismantled, or that the control panel unit, provided on a portion of the top surface or the front cover unit, be dismantled.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry treatment apparatus and a door thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus and a door thereof, which ensure simplified manufacture and convenient user manipulation because a control panel unit is provided on the door.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus and a door thereof, which ensure simplified repair of a control panel unit without dismantling the control panel unit in a case where the control panel unit develops a fault and needs to be repaired.

Additional advantages, objects, and features will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice. The objectives and other advantages may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

The objects are solved by the independent claim. The dependent claims relate to further aspects of the invention.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet defining an external appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus, a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet to accommodate laundry, and a door assembly pivotably provided at the cabinet to open or close an opening in the drum, wherein the door assembly includes a door body configured to open or close the cabinet, a control panel provided on an inner surface of the door body to receive an input related to operation from a user and to display operation of the laundry treatment apparatus, and a control panel cover separably provided on a rear surface of the control panel to define a rear surface of the door assembly, and wherein the control panel includes an input unit configured to receive the input related to operation from the user, a display unit configured to display the input received from the input unit, and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to control the control panel.

In addition, the control panel cover may have at least one through-hole therein.

In addition, the control panel and the control panel cover may be separably coupled to each other using a fastening member that penetrates the through-hole.

In addition, the input unit may include a knob rotatably protruding from the control panel so as to receive the input from the user.

In addition, the display unit may include an LED configured to display an operating state of the laundry treatment apparatus.

In addition, the control panel cover may be formed as a case accommodating the control panel.

In addition, the fastening member may be formed as a pole protruding from the inner surface of the door body so as to be inserted into the through-hole.

In addition, the door body may have a body hole having a circular shape, the body hole being covered with a transparent material, and the control panel cover may have a curved recess formed at a lower end thereof so as to correspond to the body hole.

In addition, the cabinet may include a top cover unit defining a top surface of the external appearance, and the top cover unit may include a top cover body forming a main body, a drawer part configured to be pulled out of or pushed into the top cover body or configured to be pivotable, and a detergent box part provided at an underside of the top cover body and the drawer part.

In addition, the drawer part may include a first rib provided at one end thereof and a second rib provided at a remaining end thereof.

In addition, the top cover body may include a first extension configured to be slidably coupled to the first rib and a second extension configured to be slidably coupled to the second rib, such that the drawer is pulled out of or pushed into the top cover body by sliding thereof.

In addition, the detergent box part may include coupling portions to allow the first rib and the second rib to be pivotably coupled thereto.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the present invention. In the drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a top cover unit of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a front exploded perspective view illustrating a door assembly of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention; and
• FIG. 4 is a rear exploded perspective view illustrating the door assembly of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a cabinet 10 which provides an accommodation space, a drum (not illustrated) which is rotatably provided inside the cabinet 10 and is configured to accommodate laundry therein, a motor (not illustrated) which rotates the drum, a shaft (not illustrated) which has one side integrated with the motor (not illustrated) so as to be integrally rotatable along with the motor (not illustrated) and a remaining side configured to be integrally rotatable with the drum (not illustrated), the shaft (not illustrated) transmitting torque of the motor (not illustrated) to the drum (not illustrated) so as to rotate the drum (not illustrated), and a door assembly 130 which is pivotably provided on a portion of the front surface of the cabinet 10 to enable the introduction and discharge of laundry.

The above-described case pertains to a case in which the laundry treatment apparatus is used as a drying apparatus. In a case where the laundry treatment apparatus is used as a washing apparatus, the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a tub (not illustrated) which is provided inside the cabinet 10 and is configured to accommodate wash water therein.

The cabinet 10 may include a front cover unit 100 provided on the front surface of the cabinet 10, a top cover unit 200 provided on the top of the cabinet 10 so as to define the top surface of the cabinet 10, and a rear cover 300 and side covers 400 provided on the rear side and lateral sides of the cabinet 10 so as to define the rear surface and side surfaces of the cabinet 10.

The rear cover 300 and the side covers 400 may be integrally provided, or may be formed as separate members so as to be fastened to one another.

The rear cover 300 and the side covers 400 may be integrally formed with one another in the interest of simplifying manufacture and reducing material costs.

Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, the front cover unit 100 may include a front cover body 110, the door assembly 130 pivotably provided on the front surface of the front cover body 110, and a control panel 150 provided on the door assembly 130 so as to receive user input.

The control panel 150 may include an input unit (not illustrated), which protrudes from the control panel 150 and is rotatably provided to receive user input, a display unit (not illustrated), which receives user input related to operation and displays the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus, and a printed circuit board (PCB) to control the control panel 150.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the top cover unit of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

The input unit (not illustrated) may include a knob 157, which protrudes from the control panel 150 and is rotatably provided, and the display unit (not illustrated) may include LEDs 159. The top cover unit 200 may include a drawer part 210, which may be pulled outward or pushed inward, and a top cover body 250, which includes extensions 251 and 253 protruding forward from the top cover unit 200 and defines a main body of the top cover unit 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, the top cover unit 200 may include the drawer part 210, the top cover body 250, and a detergent box part 230, which is provided at the underside of the drawer part 210 and is configured to accommodate a detergent box (not illustrated) or to form an opening of the detergent box (not illustrated).

The drawer part 210 may include an upper body 211, which may be pulled out of or pushed into the top cover body 250 and a lower body 213 provided at the underside of the upper body 211.

Although the drawer part 210 may be provided so as to be pulled outward or pushed inward, the drawer part 210 may be provided, as needed, so as to be pivotable about coupling portions 2301 at which a first rib 2111 and a second rib 2113, provided at both ends of the upper body 211, and the detergent box part 230 are coupled to each other.

At this time, although not illustrated, the first rib 2111 and the second rib 2113 may be provided with bosses, and the coupling portions 2301 may be provided with through-holes or slots, into which the bosses are fitted to enable the pivoting of the drawer part 210.

The detergent box part 230 may include a detergent box body 235 and a first opening 231 and a second opening 233 formed in the detergent box body 235, the first opening 231 being used for the input of detergent and the second opening 233 being used for the input of, for example, fabric softener.

Although the present embodiment has described the two openings including the first opening 231 and the second opening 233 by way of example, the number of the openings formed in the detergent box part 230 may be changed as needed.

The top cover body 250 may include the first extension 251, which protrudes forward from the right side, and the second extension 253, which protrudes forward from the right side. Here, the right side and the left side are based on a case where the user views the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention from the front side thereof.

Although not illustrated, the drawer part 210 may be pulled out of or pushed into the upper cover body 250 as the first rib 2111 is slidably coupled to the first extension 251 and the second rib 2113 is slidably coupled to the second extension 253.

That is, the first extension 251 may have a first rail to guide the first rib 2111 so as to slide thereon, and the second extension 253 may have a second rail to guide the second rib 2113 so as to slide thereon.

Described briefly, the first and second ribs 2111 and 2113 and the coupling portions 2301 or the first and second extensions 251 and 253 may have any of various shapes, so long as the drawer part 210 may be pulled outward or pushed inward, or may be pivotable when the user attempts to introduce the detergent into the opening in the detergent box part 230, so as to allow the detergent box part 230 to be exposed to the user.

At this time, when the drawer part 210 may be pulled out of or pushed into the upper cover body 250, or may be pivotable, the width of the drawer part 210 may be equal to or less than the width of the upper cover body 250.

The length of the first extension 251 and the second extension 253 may be equal to or greater than the width of both side surfaces of the drawer part 210 because the width of the drawer part 210 may be less than the width of the upper cover body 250.

More specifically, the length of the first extension 251 and the second extension 253 may be greater than the width of the side surfaces of the drawer part 210 so that distal ends of the first extension 251 and the second extension 253 are coupled to the front cover unit 100.

FIG. 3 is a front exploded perspective view illustrating the door assembly of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the door assembly 130 may include door bodies 131 and 133 configured to open or close the cabinet 10. The door bodies may include an inner body 131 to open or close the cabinet 10, an outer body 133 provided on the front surface of the inner body 131, and an outer cover 135 provided on the front side of the outer body 133.

The inner body 131 may include a first body hole 1311 having a circular shape, and a door cover 137, which is provided inside the first body hole 1311 and is formed of a transparent material to allow the user to observe the interior of the drum (not illustrated) from the outside.

The outer body 133 may include a knob penetration hole 1333 to enable the penetration of the knob 157, an LED penetration hole 1335 to enable the penetration of the LEDs 159, and a second body hole 1337 to allow the user to observe the interior of the drum (not illustrated).

The outer cover 135 provided on the front surface of the outer body 133 may be formed of a transparent material.

That is, the user may visually check the laundry inside the drum (not illustrated) through the transparent outer cover 135 and the transparent door cover 137.

The outer body 133 may further include the control panel 150 detachably attached to the outer body 133.

The control panel 150 serves to control the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention upon receiving user input, and may display the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, as described above.

The control panel 150 may include a PCB 151, a PCB support member 155 provided to support the PCB 151, a control panel cover 153 provided on the rear surface of the PCB support member 155 so as to protect the PCB 151, the knob 157 to receive user input, and the LEDs 159 to display the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

The user may input a command to operate the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention using the knob 157, and judge, based on the LEDs 159, whether or not the laundry treatment apparatus is operating in response to the input command.

The door assembly 130 may be pivotably provided on the front cover unit 110 as described above.

Accordingly, the door assembly 130 may further include a hinge mechanism 170 separably coupled to the door assembly 130 and the front cover unit 110.

The hinge mechanism 170 is coupled to one side of the door assembly 130 and is provided at one side of the front cover unit 110.

In this way, the hinge mechanism 170 serves to pivotably couple the door assembly 130 to the front cover unit 110.

The hinge mechanism 170 may include a hinge body 171, one or more protrusions 173 protruding forward from the hinge body 171, hinge shafts 175 rotatably provided between the respective protrusions 173, and a spring 177 provided around the outer circumferential surface of each hinge shaft 175 so as to provide counterforce required to prevent the door assembly 130 from being opened or closed by the weight thereof.

The spring 177 may be a torsional spring.

FIG. 4 is a rear exploded perspective view illustrating the door assembly of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, as described above, the inner body 131 and the outer body 133 are couple to each other, and the door cover 137 is provided to protrude from the inner body 131 toward the drum (not illustrated).

The control panel 150 is coupled to the inner body 131, and the control panel cover 153 is coupled to the rear surface of the control panel 150.

The control panel cover 153 may be formed as a case, one side of which is open.

Although the control panel cover 153 may take the form of a rectangular cuboid having one open side, it may have any other shape so long as it can protect the PCB 151 in all directions.

The control panel cover 153 needs to accommodate the PCB 151 and to be perfectly sealed.

This is because the control panel 150 is provided on the inner body 131 of the door assembly 130, and therefore the PCB 151 is at risk of being exposed to wash water leaking from the drum (not illustrated).

To this end, fastening members 134 to be coupled to the control panel cover 153 may be provided at on the rear surface of the inner body 131.

The fastening members 134 may be formed as poles protruding from the rear surface of the inner body 131 and may be provided in plural number so as to be spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance along the top surface of a rear portion of the door cover 137.

At this time, the control panel cover 153 may have one or more through-holes 1531, and the fastening members 134 may be inserted into the through-holes 1531 so as to fasten the control panel cover 153 and the inner body 131 to each other.

Each of the fastening members 134 may centrally have a hole 1341 so as to be fastened to the control panel cover 153 using fastening means such as, for example, a bolt and a nut.

In addition, the control panel cover 153 may be provided at the lower end thereof with a curved recess 1532 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the first body hole 1311.

The curved recess 1532 may allow the control panel cover 153 to be more closely coupled to the inner body 131 while accommodating the PCB 151.

In addition, the curved recess 1532 prevents the control panel cover 153 from covering the first body hole 1311 even if the control panel cover 153 is coupled to the inner body 131, thereby ensuring the field of view of the user.

As described above, the control panel unit provided in the conventional laundry treatment apparatus is configured to be directly coupled to the cabinet 10 or to the front cover unit 100, which is inconvenient because the cabinet 10 of the laundry treatment apparatus must be dismantled when the control panel unit develops a fault.

However, in a case where the control panel cover 153 is coupled to the inner body 131 of the door assembly 130 using the fastening members 134 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4, only the control panel cover 153 needs to be disassembled, without dismantling the cabinet 10, and consequently the PCB 151 alone may be easily replaced or repaired.

As is apparent from the above description, the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention may ensure simplified manufacture and convenient user manipulation, as a result of positioning a control panel unit on the door.

In addition, with the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, in a case where the control panel unit develops a fault and needs to be repaired, simplified repair of the control panel unit may be implemented without dismantling the control panel unit.

Although the exemplary embodiments have been illustrated and described as above, of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments are provided to assist understanding of the present invention and the present invention is not limited to the above described particular embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the modifications and variations should not be understood individually from the viewpoint or scope of the present invention.