Door for washing machine

• US 8,151,603 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Min-Gu, Lee, Kyu-Chul, Son, Chang-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US12/385,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 681/96, 134/200
• US Class Current: 68/196
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

A door for a washing machine is disclosed. A door for a washing machine includes an inner frame having an opening with a predetermined size, an outer frame provided at a front surface of the inner frame, having an opening in communication with the opening of the inner frame, a glass member fitted between the inner and outer frames, covering the openings of the inner and outer frames, a decorative member provided at a front surface of the outer frame, having an opening in communication with the openings, and a front cover fitted between the decorative member and the outer frame, covering the openings of the inner and outer frames and the decorative member, the front cover having a positioning portion determining a position of the front cover coupled to the outer frame.

Claims

1. A door for a washing machine comprising:

an inner frame having an opening with a predetermined size;

an outer frame provided at a front surface of the inner frame, having an opening in communication with the opening of the inner frame;

a glass member fitted between the inner and outer frames, covering the openings of the inner and outer frames;

a decorative member provided at a front surface of the outer frame, having an opening in communication with the openings; and

a front cover fitted between the decorative member and the outer frame, covering the openings of the inner and outer frames and the decorative member, the front cover having a positioning portion determining a position of the front cover coupled to the outer frame,

wherein the positioning portion comprises a pocket member seated in the positioning portion and allowing user'"'"'s fingers to be inserted therein.

2. The door of claim 1, wherein the positioning portion is a handle of a door where a user'"'"'s hand is inserted.

3. The door of claim 1, wherein the positioning portion comprises a recess formed at a side of the front cover.

4. The door of claim 1, wherein the outer frame comprises a seating portion where the positioning portion is inserted.

5. The door of claim 4, wherein the seating portion comprises a recess formed at a side of the outer frame.

6. The door of claim 1, wherein the pocket member comprises a positioning projection extending therefrom and the outer frame comprises a positioning groove receiving the positioning projection.

7. The door of claim 1, wherein the decorative member comprises at least one hook extended toward the outer frame, the hook engaged to the outer frame.

8. The door of claim 1, wherein the decorative member is directly coupled to the inner frame to couple the front cover and outer frame to the inner frame simultaneously.

9. The door of claim 1, wherein the decorative member comprises a boss extended from a rear surface thereof, the boss secured to the inner frame directly.

10. The door of claim 1, wherein the decorative member comprises a boss directly secured to the inner frame, passing through the outer frame.

11. The door of claim 1, wherein the decorative member is configured to couple the front cover to the outer frame.

12. The door of claim 1, wherein the front cover comprises a flange formed at an outer circumference thereof, the flange inserted between the decorative member and the outer frame.

13. The door of claim 12, wherein an insulation member is attached to the flange to prevent vibration transmitted to the front cover.

14. The door of claim 12, wherein a surface of the flange is corroded to have a substantially large surface roughness.

15. The door of claim 1, wherein the inner frame comprises a positioning groove formed at an outer circumference of the opening and the glass member comprises a positioning projection formed at an outer circumference thereof, the positioning projection received in the positioning groove.

16. The door of claim 1, wherein the inner frame comprises a positioning projection formed at an outer circumference of the opening and the glass member comprises a positioning groove formed at an outer circumference thereof, the positioning groove receiving the positioning.

17. The door of claim 16, wherein the positioning groove is formed at the flange of the glass member inserted between the inner and the outer frame.

18. The door of claim 17, wherein the positioning projection is formed at a flange of the inner frame formed at an outer circumference of the opening of the inner frame, the flange of the inner frame supporting the flange of the glass member.

19. The door of claim 1, wherein the inner frame, outer frame, decorative member and front cover have a rectangular shape, respectively.