Washing machine with detergent supply path

• US 8,584,492 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Seo, Dong Pil, Pyo, Sang Yeon, Kim, Hyun Sook, Park, Jae Ryong, Yang, Byoung Yull
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US12/585,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3.R, 68/13.R, 68/17.R, 682/07
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a detergent supply path which guides detergent stored in a lower part of a main body of the washing machine to an upper part of the main body. The washing machine includes a main body; a support base removably mounted to the main body; a detergent storage unit mounted at a lower part of the main body to be moved in and out of the main body; a detergent supply path guiding the detergent stored in the detergent storage unit that is in the lower part of the main body, to an upper part of the main body; and a guide unit guiding movement of the detergent supply path according to the movement in and out of the detergent storage unit.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a main body;

a support base removably mounted to the main body and including a case and a receiving member configured to be moved in and out of the case;

a detergent supply path to guide the detergent stored in the receiving member to the main body; and

a guide unit to guide movement of the detergent supply path according to in and out operations of the receiving member,

wherein the guide unit includes a first link member and a second link member connected thereto that is bendable and stretchable,

wherein the first link member comprises a first connection part connected to a rear surface of the receiving member at a position biased to one side from a center of a width direction of the receiving member, and the second link member comprises a second connection part connected to an inner surface of the case at a position biased to one side from a center of a width direction of the case.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit is provided to be bendable and stretchable in the width direction of the receiving member.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the guide unit is provided to allow the first link member and the second link member to form an obtuse angle with each other, in a state in which the receiving member is taken out of the case.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the guide unit is provided to have a length smaller than a width of the inner surface of the case so as to be received within the case in a state in which the receiving member is completely inserted in the case.

5. A washing machine, comprising:

a main body;

a case mounted below the main body;

a receiving member configured to be moved in and out of the case;

a detergent supply path to guide the detergent stored in the receiving member to the main body; and

a guide unit to guide movement of the detergent supply path according to in and out operations of the receiving member,

wherein the guide unit includes a first link member and a second link member connected thereto that is bendable and stretchable, and

wherein the first link member comprises a first connection part connected to a rear surface of the receiving member at a position biased to one side from a center of a width direction of the receiving member, and the second link member comprises a second connection part connected to an inner surface of the case at a position biased to one side from a center of a width direction of the case, and

wherein the guide unit is provided to allow the first link member and the second link member to form an obtuse angle with each other, in a state in which the receiving member is taken out of the case.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the guide unit is provided to be bendable and stretchable in the width direction of the receiving member.

7. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the guide unit is provided to have a length smaller than a width of the inner surface of the case so as to be received within the case in a state in which the receiving member is completely inserted in the case.

8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein:

the first link member is provided to have a length corresponding to a distance between the position, to which the first connection part is connected, and one of both side surfaces of the receiving member that is close to the position; and

the second link member has a length corresponding to a width of the receiving member.