Detergent container of washing machine

• US 7,428,831 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Jung Hoon, Kim, Jong Min, No, Yang Hwan, Cho, Han Ki, Kang, Dong Hoon, Jang, Ho Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/104,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20050235704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 134/93, 68/17.R, 682/07
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

A detergent container of a washing machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a powdered detergent chamber to store powdered detergent, an outlet to discharge powdered detergent mixed with water in the powdered detergent chamber, a subsidiary detergent chamber to store bleach or fabric softner, a drain passage to guide powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the outlet, and a bypass passage to allow powdered detergent mixed with water to bypass from the powdered detergent chamber to the drain passage. Even though an excessive volume of powdered detergent is placed in the powdered detergent chamber and the drain passage is clogged, powdered detergent mixed with water can be drained from the detergent container through the bypass passage, thus powdered detergent can be supplied to a tub of the washing machine without a hitch.

Claims

1. A detergent container of a washing machine comprising:

a powdered detergent chamber to store powdered detergent;

an outlet to discharge powdered detergent mixed with water supplied to the powdered detergent chamber;

at least one subsidiary detergent chamber to store bleach or fabric softener,

a drain passage to guide powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the outlet;

a partition plate installed in front of the subsidiary detergent chamber; and

a bypass passage configured between the partition plate and an outside wall of the subsidiary detergent chamber to allow powdered detergent mixed with water to bypass to the drain passage from the powdered detergent chamber,

wherein the partition plate has a plurality of holes formed at its upper part to flow the powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the bypass passage,

wherein a bottom side of the partition plate has an opening to connect the powdered detergent chamber and the drain passage, and

wherein the opening is smaller than the drain passage.

2. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partition plate is installed apart from the subsidiary detergent chamber by a predetermined distance toward the powdered detergent chamber.

3. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partition plate is separated from a bottom of the detergent container by a predetermined distance.

4. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partition plate is vertically set in the detergent container, and at least one of both sides of the partition plate is fixed to one side of the detergent container.

5. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein a top of the partition plate is placed lower than a top of the subsidiary detergent chamber and a top of the detergent container.

6. The detergent container as set forth in claim 5, wherein a bottom of the partition plate is placed lower than a bottom of the subsidiary detergent chamber.

7. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the powdered detergent chamber is partitioned into a main detergent storing section and a preliminary detergent storing section, and the partition plate is mounted in at least one either between the main detergent storing section and the subsidiary detergent chamber or between the preliminary detergent storing section and the subsidiary detergent chamber.

8. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drain passage is configured between a bottom of the detergent container and a bottom of the subsidiary detergent chamber, and the bypass passage is configured between the powdered detergent chamber and the subsidiary detergent chamber, said subsidiary detergent chamber being configured in a rear portion of the powdered detergent chamber.

9. The detergent container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partition plate includes a first partition plate and a second partition plate.

10. The detergent container as set forth in claim 9, wherein the partition wall is provided between the first partition plate and the second partition plate.

11. A detergent container of a washing machine comprising:

a powdered detergent chamber to store powdered detergent;

a partition wall disposed in the powdered detergent chamber to divide the powdered detergent chamber into a main detergent storing section and a preliminary detergent storing section;

an outlet to discharge powdered detergent mixed with water supplied to the powdered detergent chamber;

at least one subsidiary detergent chamber to store bleach or fabric softener;

a drain passage to guide powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the outlet;

a partition plate installed in front of the subsidiary detergent chamber; and

a bypass passage configured between the partition plate and an outside wall of the subsidiary detergent chamber to allow powdered detergent mixed with water to bypass to the drain passage from the powdered detergent chamber,

wherein the partition plate has a plurality of holes formed at an upper part thereof to flow the powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the bypass passage,

wherein the partition plate comprises a first partition plate disposed between a side wall of the main detergent storing section and the partition wall, and a second partition plate disposed between a side wall of the preliminary detergent storing section and the partition wall, and

wherein a bottom side of the first partition plate has an opening of which a width is smaller than a width of the main detergent storing section, and a bottom side of the second partition plate has an opening of which a width is smaller than a width of the preliminary detergent storing section.