Heater-combining structure of washing machine

• US 7,963,130 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Byung Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin; Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTERHOUT, BENJAMIN LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/628,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• Field of Search: 68/121.5, 68/15, 68/3.R
• US Class Current: 68/15
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/04 Heating arrangements

Abstract

A washing machine includes a water-storing tub for storing washing water, a heater having a heat-generating unit disposed in the water-storing tub and a terminal unit formed on first and second ends of the heat-generating unit, a heater cover covering the heater, a clamp fastening the heat-generating unit, a thermostat associated with the clamp to detect a temperature of the heater, and a water infiltration protecting cover for protecting the terminal unit.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a water-storing tub for storing washing water, the water-storing tub having a heater insertion slot;

a heater comprising a heat-generating unit disposed in the water-storing tub, a terminal unit formed on first and second ends of the heat generating unit, and a sealing case that covers the heater insertion slot to prevent the washing water from leaking through the heater insertion slot;

a heater cover covering the heater;

a clamp fastening the heat-generating unit;

a thermostat associated with the clamp to detect a temperature of the heater; and

a water infiltration protecting cover coupled to an outside of the water-storing tub to prevent the washing water from being infiltrated into the terminal unit,

wherein the water infiltration protecting cover entirely covers and protects the terminal unit, the water infiltration protecting cover including a sealing case contacting member in contact with the sealing case and at least one terminal protecting cover formed on the sealing case contacting member to enclose the terminal unit.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the heater is disposed above an inner bottom surface of the water-storing tub while the heater cover covers an upper portion of the heater.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the thermostat is directly coupled to the bottom surface of the water-storing tub and a first end of the clamp is bonded on the thermostat.

4. A washing machine comprising:

a water-storing tub for storing washing water;

a washing tub rotatably located in the water-storing tub to accommodate laundry;

a heater-receiving cavity depressed on a bottom surface of the water-storing tub;

a heater mounted on the heater-receiving cavity to heat the washing water; and

a heater cover disposed within the water storing tub and configured to cover the heater and the heater receiving cavity, the heater cover including;

a washing water introduction slot through which the washing water is introduced into the heater-receiving cavity; and

a washing water discharge slot through which the washing water is discharged out of the heater-receiving cavity,

wherein the heater-receiving cavity is provided at a bottom surface with at least one heater cover coupling boss,

the heater cover is provided with at least one coupling hole through which a coupling member penetrates,

the heater cover covers the heater in a state where the heater cover is located between an outer side of the washing tub and an inner side of the water-storing tub, and

the heater cover is in contact with the water-storing tub and is spaced apart from the washing tub.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a peripheral portion defining the washing water introduction slot is depressed downward from a surface of the heater cover.

6. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a peripheral portion defining the washing water discharge slot is depressed upward from a surface of the heater cover.

7. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a spacing between a portion of the outer side of the washing tub and a portion of the inner side of the water-storing tub is substantially equal to a spacing between the heater cover and another portion of the outer side of the washing tub opposite the heater cover.

8. A washing machine comprising:

a water-storing tub for storing washing water;

a heater comprising a heat-generating unit disposed above a bottom surface of the water-storing tub to generate heat and a terminal unit formed on opposite ends of the heat-generating unit;

a clamp fastening the heat-generating unit; and

a thermostat inserted in and directly coupled to the bottom surface of the water-storing tub and having a first end bonded to the clamp to detect a temperature of the heater,

wherein the clamp is bonded to an upper surface of the first end, the entire surface of the clamp being spaced apart from the bottom surface of the water-storing tub,

the thermostat is coupled to the bottom surface of the water-storing tub after the entire clamp is inserted in the water-storing tub, and

the thermostat supports the clamp in a state where the thermostat is coupled to the bottom surface of the water-storing tub.

9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the heat-generating unit comprises:

a first bent portion distant from a first end of the heat generating unit at a predetermined length, a second bent portion distant from the first bent portion at a predetermined length, and a third bent portion distant from the second bent portion at a predetermined length, the first and second bent portions are symmetrically disposed with reference to the second bent portion.

10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein inner curvature surfaces of the first and third bent portions are inserted in the clamp.

11. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the clamp has a first end bonded to the thermostat and at least one curved portion.

12. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the clamp comprises a first curved portion bent at a portion distant from a point bonded to the claim by a predetermined length in a horizontal direction and a second curved portion defined by a plurality of bending portions, the first and second curved portions being symmetrically formed.

13. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the heat-generating unit comprises a straight section interconnecting the first and second bent portions, the straight section being fitted in the first curved portion.

14. The washing machine according to claim 12, where the heat-generating unit comprises a straight section interconnecting the second and third bent portions, the straight section being fitted in the second curved portion.