Control panel assembly for washing machine

• US 20050178164A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Yu Beom, Hur, Chi Wan, Kim, Jae Kyum, Je, Sang Man, Kim, Geon
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/3.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A control panel assembly for a washing machine, where the control panel can be easily assembled to the washing machine. The control panel includes a recess provided to an outer case of the washing machine and a control panel mounted in the recess. The control panel includes a first fixing part caught on an upper part of the recess and a second fixing part sliding along a bottom surface of the recess while the first fixing part is caught on the upper part of the recess.

Claims

1. A control panel assembly for a washing machine, comprising:

a recess provided to an outer case of the washing machine; and

a control panel mounted in the recess, the control panel comprising;

a first fixing part caught on an upper part of the recess; and

a second fixing part sliding along a bottom surface of the recess to be fitted thereon while the first fixing part is still caught on the upper part of the recess.

2. The control panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess comprises an L-shaped portion provided to an upper front side of the washing machine.

3. The control panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the first fixing part is caught on an upper part of the L-shaped portion and wherein the second fixing part is fitted to a bottom side of the L-shaped portion.

4. The control panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the first fixing part comprises:

at least one first extension extending from the control panel to be caught on an upper rear side of the L-shaped portion; and

at least one second extension extending from the control panel to penetrate an upper part of the L-shaped portion to be fitted therein.

5. The control panel assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one first extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel.

6. The control panel assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one second extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel and is bent backward.

7. The control panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the L-shaped portion comprises:

at least one first aperture provided to an upper part of the L-shaped portion to be penetrated by a portion of the at least one first fixing part; and

at least one second aperture provided to a bottom side of the L-shaped portion to have the at least one second fixing part fitted therein.

8. The control panel assembly of claim 7, wherein the L-shaped portion further comprises a stepped portion provided to the upper part to step forward, wherein the at least one first aperture is formed on the stepped portion.

9. The control panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the second fixing part comprises at least one protrusion protruding downward from a bottom side of the control panel.

10. The control panel assembly of claim 9, wherein the protrusion has a tilted surface to smoothly slide along the bottom surface of the recess.

11. A control panel assembly for a washing machine, comprising:

a front cover forming a front side of a case;

a front panel provided above the front cover and in rear of a front side of the front cover to be fixed to the case; and

a control panel comprising;

a first fixing part caught on an upper part of the front panel; and

a second fixing part sliding along a topside of the front cover to be fitted thereon while the first fixing part is caught on the upper part of the front panel.

12. The control panel assembly of claim 11, wherein the first fixing part comprises:

at least one first extension extending from the control panel to be caught on an upper rear side of the front panel; and

at least one second extension extending from the control panel to penetrate an upper part of the front panel to be fitted therein.

13. The control panel assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one first extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel.

14. The control panel assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one second extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel and is bent backward.

15. The control panel assembly of claim 11, wherein the front panel comprises at least one first aperture provided to an upper part of the first panel to be penetrated by a portion of the first fixing part.

16. The control panel assembly of claim 15, wherein the front panel further comprises a stepped portion provided to the upper part to step forward, wherein the at least one first aperture is formed on the stepped portion.

17. The control panel assembly of claim 11, wherein the front cover comprises at least one second aperture provided to the topside to have the second fixing part fitted therein.

18. The control panel assembly of claim 11, wherein the second fixing part comprises at least one protrusion protruding downward from a bottom side of the control panel.

19. The control panel assembly of claim 18, wherein the protrusion has a tilted surface to smoothly slide along the topside of the front cover.

20. A washing machine, comprising:

an outer case comprising;

a front cover forming a front side of the case and having at least one second aperture formed on a topside of the front cover; and

a front panel provided above the front cover and in rear of a front side of the front cover and having at least one first aperture;

a control panel comprising;

a first fixing part caught on an upper part of the front panel; and

a second fixing part sliding along a topside of the front cover to be fitted thereon while the first fixing part is caught on the upper part of the front panel;

a drum rotatably provided within the outer case;

a water supply system supplying water to the drum; and

a drain system draining the water within the drum.

21. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the first fixing part comprises:

at least one first extension extending from the control panel to be caught on an upper rear side of the front panel; and

at least one second extension extending from the control panel to penetrate an upper part of the front panel to be fitted therein.

22. The washing machine of claim 21, wherein the at least one second extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel and is bent backward.

23. The washing machine of claim 21, the front panel further comprising a stepped portion provided to the upper part to step forward, wherein the at least one first aperture is formed in the stepped portion.

24. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the second fixing part comprises at least one protrusion protruding downward from a bottom side of the control panel and having a tilted surface to smoothly slide along the topside of the front cover.

25. A control panel assembly for a washing machine, comprising:

a control panel for controlling operation of the washing machine;

a first fixing part projected from an upper part of the control panel, the first fixing part being provisionally caught on an outer case of the washing machine; and

a second fixing part projected from a lower part of the control panel, the second fixing part being securely fitted to the outer case by rotating the control panel about the first fixing part while the first fixing part is provisionally caught on the outer case.

26. The control panel assembly of claim 25, wherein the first fixing part is securely fitted to the outer case after the second fixing part is fitted to the outer case.

27. The control panel assembly of claim 25, wherein the first fixing part comprises:

at least one first extension extending from the control panel to be caught on an upper rear side of the outer case; and

at least one second extension extending from the control panel to penetrate the upper part of the outer case to be fitted therein.

28. The control panel assembly of claim 25, wherein the at least one first extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel.

29. The control panel assembly of claim 25, wherein the at least one second extension extends downward from an upper rear side of the control panel and is bent backward.

30. A method of mounting a control panel to an outer case of a washing machine, the method comprising:

provisionally hanging a first fixing part projected from an upper part of the control panel on the outer case of the washing machine so that the control panel is suspended from the outer case;

rotating the control panel about the first fixing part; and

securely fitting a second fixing part projected from a lower part of the control panel to the outer case while the control panel is rotated.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the securely fitting a second fixing part to the outer case comprises:

sliding the second fixing part with respect to a surface of the outer case; and

inserting the second fixing part into an aperture provided on the outer case.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first fixing part is securely fitted to the outer case after the second fixing part is fitted to the outer case.