Detergent supply apparatus of washing machine

• US 20070125134A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Seon
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,964 B2
• 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

Abstract

In a detergent supply apparatus of a drum-type washing machine according to the present invention, detergent supplying units and a softener supplying unit are partitioned and provided in a detergent box and the softener supplying unit is provided with a siphon tube, a siphon cap having an outlet path formed between the siphon tube and the siphon cap is provided with a softener supplying unit, and the softener injecting unit 286 is opened and closed by a softener lid, making it possible to prevent detergent from infiltrating into the inside of the softener supplying unit through the softener supplying unit.

Claims

1. A detergent supply apparatus, comprising:

a detergent box in which a detergent supplying unit and a softener supplying unit are partitioned and formed, the softener supplying unit being provided with a siphon tube;

a siphon cap having an outlet path between the siphon tube and the siphon cap and provided with a detergent injecting unit; and

a softener lid opening and closing the softener injecting unit.

2. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detergent box is formed so that the detergent supplying unit includes a main detergent supplying unit and a preliminary detergent supplying unit, and the softener supplying unit is positioned between the main detergent supplying unit and the preliminary detergent supplying unit.

3. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the siphon cap includes a cover covering the whole top of the softener supplying unit and a cap unit protruded from the bottom surface of the cover to surround the siphon tube.

4. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover is provided with a water supplying unit for supplying water to the softener supplying unit.

5. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cap unit of the siphon cap is protruded in a position between the softener injecting unit and the water supplying unit.

6. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the softener lid is hinge-connected to the siphon cap.

7. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a hinge axis is provided on one side of the softener lid and the siphon cap, and an axis supporting unit for rotatably supporting the hinge axis is provided on the other side thereof.

8. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the softener lid is provided with a handle.

9. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rib is provided on one side of the softener lid and the siphon cap, and a detachable unit inserting and drawing the rib is provided on the other side thereof.

10. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rib is protrudingly provided on the softener lid, and the detachable unit is provided on the top of the siphon cap.

11. The detergent supply apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the siphon cap is provided with a handle groove around the detachable unit in order for a user to easily grasp the surroundings of the rib by his own hand.

12. A detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine, comprising:

a detergent box in which a detergent supplying unit and a softener supplying unit are partitioned and formed, the softener supplying unit being provided with a siphon tube;

a siphon cap having an outlet path formed between the siphon tube and the siphon cap;

a softener cover covering the top of the softener supplying unit and provided with a softener injecting unit and a water supplying unit; and

a softener lid opening and closing the softener injecting unit.

13. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the softener cover is provided with a water supplying unit.

14. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the softener cover is hinge-connected to the softener cover.

15. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein a rib is provided on one side of the softener lid and the softener cover, and a detachable unit inserting and drawing the rib is provided on the other side thereof.

16. A detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine, comprising:

a detergent box in which a detergent supplying unit and a softener supplying unit are partitioned and formed, the softener supplying unit being provided with a siphon tube;

a siphon cap having an outlet path formed between the siphon tube and the siphon cap; and

a softener lid opening and closing a gap between the top of the softener supplying unit and the top of the siphon cap.

17. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 16, the siphon cap includes a cover covering a part of the top of the softener supplying unit;

and a cap unit protruded from the bottom surface of the cover to surround the siphon tube.

18. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cover is provided with a water supplying unit.

19. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the softener lid is hinge-connected to any one of the siphon cap and the detergent box.

20. The detergent supply apparatus of a washing machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein a rib is provided on one side of the softener lid and the siphon cap, and a detachable unit inserting and drawing the rib is provided on the other side thereof.