Washer having a partial washing apparatus, and washing apparatus

• US 6,886,371 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hiramoto, Rie, Takagi, Shinya, Ohshima, Ichirou, Arai, Nobushige, Yoshikawa, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/087,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20020134117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 312/228, 312/228.1, 68/3.SS, 68/3.R, 68/13.R, 68/5.A, 68/13.A, 682/00, 682/05.R, 682/13, 682/35, 134/64.R, 134/122.R, 134/184
• US Class Current: 68/3.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 19/00 Washing machines using vibrations for washing purposes

Abstract

A washing machine has a partial washing apparatus, which has a supersonic resonator, which is driven by an oscillator to generate supersonic vibration and a supersonic vibration horn. A washing liquid is fed to the partial washing apparatus so as to be agitated by supersonic waves, which are then fed to an article to be washed to achieve partial washing of the article. The partial washing apparatus is detachably fitted to the washing machine proper at approximately the center of a lid of the washing machine proper. The partial washing apparatus may be used as a handy-type partial washing apparatus when held at a grip portion of the partial washing apparatus.

Claims

1. A washing machine having a washing tub in which to put an article to be washed and comprising:

a partial washing apparatus that removes dirt from the article to be washed by means of supersonic vibration,

wherein the partial washing apparatus comprises;

a supersonic resonator for generating supersonic vibration; and

a supersonic vibration horn for amplifying the supersonic vibration, the supersonic vibration horn being arranged with a tip thereof placed near the article to be washed, wherein the washing machine proper has a lid that is opened by being folded in two portions, of which the portion that lies in front permits the partial washing apparatus to be fitted thereon approximately at a lateral center thereof.

2. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the partial washing apparatus has a cover that is movable between a position in which it exposes the supersonic vibration horn and a position in which it covers the supersonic vibration horn.

3. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the cover has an end surface at a tip thereof subjected to a friction reduction process.

4. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a bracket member that is detachably attachable to the washing machine proper,

wherein the partial washing apparatus is fitted to the washing machine proper with the bracket member.

5. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a washing liquid is fed to a portion of the partial washing apparatus where the article to be washed is washed.

6. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a case is provided that covers the supersonic vibration horn and that has an opening formed in a portion thereof corresponding to the tip of the supersonic vibration horn so that the tip of the supersonic vibration horn protrudes out through the opening.

7. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the partial washing apparatus is fitted to the washing machine proper so as to be movable between an in-use position above the washing machine in which the partial washing apparatus is placed when in use and a not-in-use position, different from the in-use position, in which the partial washing apparatus is placed when not in use.

8. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a holding member is provided that is pivotably supported in a peripheral portion of the washing machine at one end and that has the partial washing apparatus fitted at another end so that, as the holding member is pivoted, the partial washing apparatus is moved between the in-use position and the not-in-use position.

9. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a slit into which to insert the particle to be washed is provided below the supersonic vibration horn.

10. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein a case is provided so as to cover the supersonic vibration horn, and the slit is formed in a lower portion of the case so as to be perpendicular to the tip of the supersonic vibration horn.

11. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 10,

wherein the slit is formed by an upper cover and a lower cover that together constitute the case.

12. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 11,

wherein an opening is formed in the upper cover, and the tip of the supersonic vibration horn is arranged so as to point to the opening.

13. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 12,

wherein an opening communicating with a drain outlet is formed in a lower cover in which the slit is formed, right below the supersonic vibration horn.

14. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein a washing liquid is fed to the slit.

15. A washing machine having a washing tub in which to put an article to be washed and comprising:

a partial washing apparatus that removes dirt from the article to be washed by means of supersonic vibration,

wherein the partial washing apparatus comprises;

a supersonic resonator for generating supersonic vibration;

a supersonic vibration horn for amplifying the supersonic vibration, the supersonic vibration horn being arranged with a tip thereof placed near the article to be washed; and

a liquid-feed tank for storing the washing liquid, which is fed therefrom to the tip of the supersonic vibration horn.

16. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the liquid-feed tank has a recessed portion, in which the supersonic resonator is arranged.

17. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a case that covers the partial washing apparatus and that has a slit formed therein in which the article to be washed is inserted,

wherein the washing liquid is fed to the slit.

18. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the partial washing apparatus has an upper cover and a lower cover arranged below the upper cover, and the article to be washed inserted in the slit is placed between the upper and lower covers,

wherein the upper cover is so curved as to be convex downward, with an opening formed at a bottom, and the washing liquid is fed to an inner portion of the upper cover,

wherein the lower cover is so curved as to be convex upward, with an opening formed at a top, and

wherein the tip of the supersonic vibration horn is arranged in the opening of the upper cover at a level identical with or lower than that opening.

19. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 18,

wherein the partial washing apparatus has a solid soap chamber for storing a cake of solid soap with a lower end thereof exposed,

wherein the solid soap chamber has a pressing portion for pressing the solid soap downward so as to keep the lower end of the solid soap at a level approximately identical with the tip of the supersonic vibration horn.

20. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the partial washing apparatus has a solid soap chamber for storing a cake of solid soap with a part thereof exposed, and the solid soap is applied to the article to be washed when water is fed to the article to be washed.

21. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the liquid-feed tank permits a plurality of washing liquids to be stored separately so that one of the washing liquids can be selectively fed to the article to be washed.

22. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21,

wherein the partial washing apparatus comprises:

the liquid-feed tank having a plurality of reservoirs;

a pumping device for feeding a washing liquid from the reservoirs to the article to be washed;

a plurality of valves provided one between each of the reservoirs and the pumping device;

an input device that issues an instruction that one of the valves be selectively opened; and

a controller that opens one of the valves in accordance with the instruction from the input device and that then drives the pumping device.

23. A washing machine having a partial washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21,

wherein the liquid-feed tank is composed of a plurality of liquid-feed tanks of which one is selectively fitted to the partial washing apparatus.

24. A washing apparatus comprising:

a supersonic wave generator;

a supersonic vibration horn for amplifying supersonic vibration, the supersonic vibration horn having a slit formed in a lower portion thereof so as to permit an article to be washed by the washing apparatus to be inserted in the slit wherein a case is provided so as to cover the supersonic vibration horn, and the slit is formed in a lower portion of the case so as to be perpendicular to the tip of the supersonic vibration horn.

25. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 24,

wherein a gap is formed by an upper cover and a lower cover that together constitute the case.

26. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 25,

wherein an opening is formed in the upper cover, and the tip of the supersonic vibration horn is arranged so as to point to the opening.

27. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 26,

wherein an opening communicating with a drain outlet is formed in a lower wall surface in which the slit is formed, right below the supersonic vibration horn.