Washing machine having detergent supply apparatus

• US 20030172690A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Young-Ki, Kim, Jae-Myong
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

A washing machine includes a detergent supply apparatus having a detachable partition member. The detergent supply apparatus includes a casing which defines an outer appearance of the detergent supply apparatus, and a detergent/fabric softener container slidably set in the casing. The detergent/fabric softener container includes a fixed partition member which partitions the detergent/fabric softener container into a detergent chamber and a fabric softener chamber, and the detachable partition member is removably mounted in the detergent chamber, so as to partition the detergent chamber into a secondary detergent storing section and a main detergent storing section. The detergent chamber is entirely used as the main detergent storing section in response to removal of the detachable partition member from the detergent chamber.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a housing which defines an outer appearance of the washing machine;

a tub provided in the housing to receive laundry therein; and

a detergent supply apparatus, wherein the detergent supply apparatus comprises;

a casing which defines an outer appearance of the detergent supply apparatus,

a detergent/fabric softener container slidably set in the casing,

a fixed partition member which partitions the detergent/fabric softener container into a detergent chamber and a fabric softener chamber, and

a detachable partition member detachably mounted in the detergent chamber so as to partition the detergent chamber to include a secondary detergent storing section and a main detergent storing section, wherein the detergent chamber is used as the main detergent storing section in response to removal of the detachable partition member from the detergent chamber.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the detergent/fabric softener container is made of a flexible material, and

the detachable partition member has a plate shape of a predetermined thickness, and is detachably and vertically set in the detergent chamber of the detergent/fabric softener container.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the detergent supply apparatus further comprises a horizontal support member which is provided at a rear portion of the detergent chamber, and supports a rear end of the detachable partition member.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the detergent supply apparatus further comprises a holding unit which is provided on an interior bottom surface of the detergent chamber and removably holds the detachable partition member, and

the detachable partition member has a plate shape of a predetermined thickness, and is fitted into the holding unit to be set in the detergent chamber.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the holding unit is provided on each of front and rear ends of the interior bottom surface of the detergent chamber.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein:

each of the holding units comprises two projecting ribs spaced apart from each other at a regular interval to form a holding slit, and

the detachable partition member is detachably inserted and held in the holding slit.

7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the detachable partition member comprises two sidewalls having a distance therebetween, and a bottom wall which connects the two sidewalls and is detachably seated on an interior bottom surface of the detergent chamber.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the detergent chamber includes a holding protrusion which removably holds the detachable partition member, and is formed at a position spaced from a sidewall of the detergent chamber by a width of the detachable partition member.

9. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein an inner channel area of the detachable partition member forms a section used as the secondary detergent storing section.

10. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the detergent supply apparatus further comprises a water supply cover which forms a top portion of the casing, and includes water supply chambers having drain holes which supply wash water to corresponding areas of the detergent/fabric softener container.

11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein:

the water supply chambers include first, second and third water supply chambers corresponding to the secondary detergent storing chamber, the main detergent storing chamber and the fabric softener chamber, and

the inner channel area of detachable partition member has a width equal to or greater than that of the first water supply chamber.

12. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary detergent storing section has a selectable detergent capacity according to placement of the detachable partition member in the detergent chamber.

13. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the detergent supply apparatus further comprises a water supply cover which forms a top portion of the casing, and includes water supply chambers having drain holes which supply wash water to corresponding areas of the detergent/fabric softener container.

14. A washing machine comprising:

a housing which defines an outer appearance of the washing machine;

a tub provided in the housing to receive laundry therein; and

a detergent supply apparatus, wherein the detergent supply apparatus comprises;

a casing which defines an outer appearance of the detergent supply apparatus,

a detergent/fabric softener container slidably set in the casing,

a fixed partition member which partitions the detergent/fabric softener container into a detergent chamber and a fabric softener chamber, and

an adjustable partition member arranged in the detergent chamber which partitions the detergent chamber to include a secondary detergent storing section and a main detergent storing section, and otherwise provides the detergent chamber as the main detergent storing section.

15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the adjustable partition member has an edge pivotally secured in the detergent chamber, allows the detergent chamber to include the secondary and main detergent storing sections in response to being vertically set in the detergent chamber, and provides the detergent chamber as the main detergent storing section in response to being folded down.

16. The washing machine according to claim 15, wherein the detergent supply apparatus further comprises a locking unit provided in the detergent chamber which removably holds the vertically set adjustable partition member.

17. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the adjustable partition member has a plate shape of predetermined thickness, and is vertically and slidably arranged in the detergent chamber.

18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the adjustable partition member allows the detergent chamber to include the secondary and main detergent storing sections in response to being slid in between two sidewalls of the detergent chamber, and provides the detergent chamber as the main detergent storing section in response to being slid to contact either of the two sidewalls of the detergent chamber.

19. A detergent supply apparatus which supplies detergent to a washing machine, comprising:

a casing which defines an outer appearance of the detergent supply apparatus;

a detergent/fabric softener container slidably set in the casing;

a fixed partition member which partitions the detergent/fabric softener container into a detergent chamber and a fabric softener chamber; and

a detachable partition member detachably mounted in the detergent chamber so as to partition the detergent chamber to include a secondary detergent storing section and a main detergent storing section, wherein the detergent chamber is used as the main detergent storing section in response to removal of the detachable partition member from the detergent chamber.

20. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:

the detergent supply apparatus further comprises a holding unit which is provided on an interior bottom surface of the detergent chamber and removably holds the detachable partition member, and

the detachable partition member has a plate shape of a predetermined thickness, and is fitted into the holding unit to be set in the detergent chamber.

21. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the detachable partition member comprises two sidewalls having a distance therebetween, and a bottom wall which connects the two sidewalls and is detachably seated on an interior bottom surface of the detergent chamber.

22. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the detergent chamber includes a holding protrusion which removably holds the detachable partition member, and is formed at a position spaced from a sidewall of the detergent chamber by a width of the detachable partition member.

23. A detergent supply apparatus which supplies detergent to a washing machine, comprising:

a casing which defines an outer appearance of the detergent supply apparatus;

a detergent/fabric softener container slidably set in the casing;

a fixed partition member which partitions the detergent/fabric softener container into a detergent chamber and a fabric softener chamber; and

an adjustable partition member arranged in the detergent chamber which partitions the detergent chamber to include a secondary detergent storing section and a main detergent storing section, and otherwise provides the detergent chamber as the main detergent storing section.

24. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the adjustable partition member has an edge pivotally secured in the detergent chamber, allows the detergent chamber to include the secondary and main detergent storing sections in response to being vertically set in the detergent chamber, and provides the detergent chamber as the main detergent storing section in response to being folded down.

25. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the adjustable partition member has a plate shape of predetermined thickness, and is vertically and slidably arranged in the detergent chamber.

26. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the adjustable partition member allows the detergent chamber to include the secondary and main detergent storing sections in response to being slid in between two sidewalls of the detergent chamber, and provides the detergent chamber as the main detergent storing section in response to being slid to contact either of the two sidewalls of the detergent chamber.