Washing machine

• US 20060053842A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Je, Byoung Soo
• Application Number:
  US11/219,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine which has a detergent supply part formed in a door. The detergent supply part is formed in the door and has a function of containing detergent and supplying detergent into a tub through the door. The washing machine has an advantage of considerable space saving compared with the washing machine having the detergent supply part formed in an inner space thereof, thereby minimizing the volume and the number of components of the washing machine.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet having a laundry entrance formed therein;

a door for opening/closing the laundry entrance;

a tub installed within the cabinet;

a drum rotatably disposed within the tub for containing laundry; and

a detergent supply part formed in the door.

2. The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detergent supply part has an inlet formed on a front side of the door, and an outlet formed on a rear side of the door.

3. The washing machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the door is provided with a shutter for opening/closing the inlet.

4. The washing machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein the shutter is hingably connected at a lower end to the door such that an upper portion of the shutter is opened in front of the door about the lower end.

5. The washing machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the door comprises a front panel having the inlet of the detergent supply part formed at one side, and a rear panel coupled to a rear side of the front panel and having the outlet of the detergent supply part formed therein.

6. The washing machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rear side of the door has a central portion protruded towards an inner portion of the drum, and the outlet is formed at the central portion of the rear side of the door.

7. The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detergent supply part has an inlet and an outlet formed on a rear side of the door.

8. The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the door comprises a front panel, and a rear panel coupled to a rear side of the front panel, the rear panel having an inlet of the detergent supply part formed at an upper portion of the rear panel and an outlet of the detergent supply part formed at a lower portion of the rear panel.

9. The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the door comprises a door frame having the detergent supply part and a hole formed therein, and a door glass mounted to the hole and convexly formed towards an inner portion of the drum.

10. The washing machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein the door frame comprises a front panel having an inlet of the detergent supply part formed at an upper portion of the front panel, and a rear panel coupled to a rear side of the front panel and having an outlet of the detergent supply part formed at a lower portion of the rear panel.

11. The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a water supply device disposed therein so as to communicate with the detergent supply part when the door is closed.

12. The washing machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the cabinet is formed with a through-hole through which a portion of the water supply device passes.

13. The washing machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the door is formed with an insertion hole through which a portion of the water supply device is introduced into the detergent supply part when the door is closed.

14. The washing machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the water supply device comprises a water supply valve for controlling water supply through an external hose, and a water supply hose disposed to guide water passing through the water supply valve to the detergent supply part when the door is closed.

15. The washing machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the detergent supply part comprises a detergent containing portion having a predetermined space defined to allow the detergent input through the inlet to be contained therein, and a siphon port through which the detergent in the detergent containing portion is discharged along with supplied water to the outlet.

16. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet having a laundry entrance formed therein;

a door for opening/closing the laundry entrance, and having a detergent supply part formed therein such that detergent is supplied into the washing machine through the door;

a tub installed within the cabinet;

a drum rotatably disposed within the tub for containing laundry; and

a water supply device disposed to communicate with the detergent supply part when the door is closed in order to supply water to the detergent supply part,

wherein the door comprises a front panel having an inlet of the detergent supply part formed at one side of the front panel, and a rear panel coupled to a rear side of the front panel and having an outlet of the detergent supply part formed in the rear panel.

17. The washing machine as set forth in claim 16, wherein the door is provided with a shutter for opening/closing the inlet.

18. The washing machine as set forth in claim 16, wherein the detergent supply part comprises a detergent containing portion having a predetermined space defined to allow the detergent input through the inlet to be contained therein, and a siphon port through which the detergent in the detergent containing portion is discharged along with supplied water to the outlet.

19. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet having a laundry entrance formed therein;

a door for opening/closing the laundry entrance, and having a detergent supply part formed therein such that detergent is supplied into the washing machine through the door;

a tub installed within the cabinet;

a drum rotatably disposed within the tub for containing laundry; and

a water supply device disposed to communicate with the detergent supply part when the door is closed in order to supply water to the detergent supply part,

wherein the door comprises a front panel, and a rear panel coupled to a rear side of the front panel, the rear panel having an inlet of the detergent supply part formed at an upper portion of the rear panel and an outlet of the detergent supply part formed at a lower portion of the rear panel.

20. The washing machine as set forth in claim 19, wherein the detergent supply part comprises a detergent containing portion having a predetermined space defined to allow the detergent input through the inlet to be contained therein, and a siphon port through which the detergent in the detergent containing portion is discharged along with supplied water to the outlet.