Lid hinge having piston and cam members for a laundry treatment machine
First Claim
1. A laundry treatment machine comprising:
- a main body having an opening for loading laundry;
a lid provided over the opening to open and close the opening; and
at least one hinge that supports the lid with respect to the main body, the hinge includinga hinge housing filled with a fluid having a prescribed viscosity,an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing,a pair of cams disposed in the housing, wherein at least one of the cams moves in linkage with the lid and the elastic member, wherein the cams include contact surfaces that are inclined relative to each other in an axial direction of the cams, and when a contact surface of one of the cams slides along a contact surface of the other cam, the at least one of the cams is moved in a linear direction, anda piston disposed between the moving cam and the elastic member to deform the elastic member according to a displacement of the moving cam, wherein the piston divides a cavity inside the hinge housing into a first space in which the elastic member is disposed and a second space in which the pair of cams are disposed, wherein a passage is formed inside the piston such that the fluid flows between the first space and the second space through the passage when the moving cam is moved in the linear direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a laundry treatment machine. The laundry treatment machine may include a main body, a lid, and at least one hinge that supports the lid. The hinge may include a hinge housing filled with a fluid having a prescribed viscosity, an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing, and a pair of cams disposed in the housing to move in linkage with the lid and the elastic member. A piston may be disposed between the moving cam and the elastic member to deform the elastic member according to a displacement of the moving cam. The piston may divide a cavity inside the hinge housing into a first space in which the elastic member is disposed and a second space in which the pair of cams are disposed. The piston may include a passage for the fluid to flow between the first space and the second space.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A laundry treatment machine comprising:
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a main body having an opening for loading laundry; a lid provided over the opening to open and close the opening; and at least one hinge that supports the lid with respect to the main body, the hinge including a hinge housing filled with a fluid having a prescribed viscosity, an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing, a pair of cams disposed in the housing, wherein at least one of the cams moves in linkage with the lid and the elastic member, wherein the cams include contact surfaces that are inclined relative to each other in an axial direction of the cams, and when a contact surface of one of the cams slides along a contact surface of the other cam, the at least one of the cams is moved in a linear direction, and a piston disposed between the moving cam and the elastic member to deform the elastic member according to a displacement of the moving cam, wherein the piston divides a cavity inside the hinge housing into a first space in which the elastic member is disposed and a second space in which the pair of cams are disposed, wherein a passage is formed inside the piston such that the fluid flows between the first space and the second space through the passage when the moving cam is moved in the linear direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A laundry treatment machine comprising:
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a main body having an opening for loading laundry; a lid provided over the opening to open and close the opening; and at least one hinge that supports the lid with respect to the main body, the hinge including a hinge housing filled with a fluid having a prescribed viscosity, an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing, and a pair of cams disposed in the housing, wherein at least one of the cams moves in linkage with the lid and the elastic member, wherein the cams include contact surfaces that are inclined relative to each other in an axial direction of the cams, and when a contact surface of a first one of the cams slides along a contact surface of a second one of the cams, the second cam is moved in a linear direction, wherein the second cam divides a cavity inside the hinge housing into a first space in which the elastic member is disposed and a second space in which the first cam is disposed, wherein a passage is formed inside the second cam such that the fluid flows between the first and the second space through the passage when the second cam is moved in the linear direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification