Laundry machine

• US 7,987,616 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Dong Hyun, Bae, Sang Hun, Son, Young Bok, Kim, Heung Jae, Son, Chang Woo, Choi, Chul Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/980,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20080141554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 34/68, 346/01, 346/02, 346/06, 346/10, 68/18.R, 68/5.R, 815/8, 815/9, 705/14, 134/130, 134/132, 510/101, 510/349, 219/389
• US Class Current: 34/601
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry machine. The laundry machine includes a drum rotatably mounted in a cabinet, a hot air heater to heat air and supply hot air into the drum, a steam generator to supply steam into the drum, a water supply source detachably mounted in the cabinet to supply water into the steam generator, and a water leakage preventing unit to prevent water leakage when the water supply source is detachably mounted.

Claims

1. A laundry machine comprising:

a drum rotatably mounted in a cabinet;

a hot air heater to heat air and supply hot air into the drum;

a steam generator to supply steam into the drum;

a water supply source detachably mounted in the cabinet to supply water into the steam generator;

a pump to supply water into the steam generator, the water supply source detachably connected to the pump;

a water leakage preventing unit to prevent water leakage when the water supply source is mounted, the water leakage preventing unit preventing water leakage from a connection portion between the water supply source and the pump,

wherein the water leakage preventing unit includes opening/closing members provided in the water supply source and the pump, the opening/closing members selectively passing water to prevent water leakage,

wherein the opening/closing members include a first opening/closing member connected to the water supply source, and a second opening/closing member connected to the pump,

wherein the first opening/closing member selectively communicates with an exterior to discharge water from the water supply source, and the second opening/closing member is selectively connected to the first opening/closing member to supply water from the water supply source to the pump; and

wherein the first opening/closing member includes a first flow passage to communicate an interior of the water supply source with an exterior, and a first pin to selectively open and close the first flow passage.

2. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the first pin selectively opens and closes the first flow passage by a first elastic member.

3. The laundry machine according to claim 2, wherein the second opening/closing member includes a second flow passage connected to the pump, and a second pin to selectively open and close the second flow passage.

4. The laundry machine according to claim 3, wherein the second pin selectively opens and closes the second flow passage by a second elastic member.

5. The laundry machine according to claim 4, wherein when the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member are connected to each other, the first pin and the second pin pushes each other in an opposite direction to open the first flow passage and the second flow passage.

6. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the water leakage preventing unit further includes a sealing member formed at any one of the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member.

7. The laundry machine according to claim 6, wherein the sealing member is formed at an end portion of the first opening/closing member.

8. The laundry machine according to claim 7, wherein the sealing member extends perpendicular to the end portion of the first opening/closing member while having a predetermined thickness, and

when the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member are connected to each other, an end portion of the sealing member is bent by being contacted with an inner surface of the second opening/closing member.

9. The laundry machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guide member mounted to any one of the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member to guide coupling of the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member.

10. The laundry machine according to claim 9, wherein the guide member is mounted to an end portion of the second opening/closing member.

11. The laundry machine according to claim 10, wherein the guide member has an expanded tube shape which is increased in diameter toward an end portion of the first opening/closing member.

12. A laundry machine comprising:

a drum rotatably mounted in a cabinet;

a hot air heater to heat air and supply hot air into the drum;

a steam generator to supply steam into the drum;

a water supply source filled with water to be supplied into the steam generator and detachably mounted in the cabinet; and

a water leakage preventing unit to prevent water leakage when the water supply source is mounted

wherein the water supply source is detachably connected to a pump.

13. The laundry machine according to claim 12, wherein the leakage preventing unit prevents water leakage from a connecting portion between the water supply source and the pump.

14. The laundry machine according to claim 13, wherein the water leakage preventing unit includes:

a first opening/closing member selectively communicates with an exterior of the water supply source to discharge water from the water supply source; and

a second opening/closing member selectively connected to the first/opening/closing member to supply water from the water supply source to the pump.

15. The laundry machine according claim 14, further comprising:

a guide member mounted to any one of the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member to guide coupling of the first opening/closing member and the second opening/closing member.