CLOTHING-PROCESSING DEVICE

Abstract

 In a clothing-processing device including a casing (41) having an opening (40) into and from which clothing is brought on a front surface, a lid body (52) covering the opening (40), and a hinge (87) for opening and closing the lid body (52), the hinge (87) is provided with substantially L shape coupling members (86) having first parts (86a) protruding forward with one ends fixed to an opening edge of the casing (41), and second parts (86b) protruding outward on the side from the other ends of the first parts (86a), the second parts (86b) turnably supporting an end edge of the lid body (52) at front ends, cutouts (88) are formed in the end edge of the lid body (52), the front ends of the second parts (86b) of the coupling members (86) are positioned in the cutouts (88), and the second parts (86b) are accommodated in the cutouts (88) when the lid body (52) is closed. Thereby, a gap between the end edge of the lid body (52) and the casing (41) can be reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a clothing-processing device in which a lid body is opened and closed from the front surface of a casing and a process (such as a washing process and a drying process) is performed to clothing accommodated in the casing.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, there is for example a drum-type washing machine as this type of the clothing-processing device. In the conventional drum-type washing machine, a configuration that a lid body and a washing machine main body are coupled by a hinge so that the lid body is openable and closable is proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the conventional drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 1, and Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of major parts in which the lid body of the same drum-type washing machine is in an opened state.

[0004] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in the conventional drum-type washing machine, one ends of a pair of coupling members 135, 136 are turnably attached as hinges to a rotation shaft 134 of a bearing 133 which is attached to a washing machine main body 132. Further, the other ends of the pair of coupling members 135, 136 are fixed to an end edge of a lid body 139. Thereby, the lid body 139 is coupled to the washing machine main body 132 via the hinges, so that an opening 131 provided on a front surface of the washing machine main body 132 is openably and closably covered by the lid body 139. The pair of coupling members 135, 136 has a substantially arc shape about the rotation shaft 134, and the lid body 139 has a circular shape. Therefore, the more distant from each other the pair of coupling members 135, 136 is arranged, the larger an arc radius of a substantially arc shape becomes.

Patent Document(s)

[0005] Patent Document 1: JP 2005-65909 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problems to be solved by the Invention

[0006] With such a configuration of the conventional drum-type washing machine, when the lid body 139 is closed, a gap between the washing machine main body 132 and the lid body 139 is required to be reduced as far as possible for an outer appearance or the like, and when the lid body 139 is opened, an opening angle of the lid body 139 is required to be increased as far as possible for handleability or the like.

[0007] In order to more stably support the circular lid body 139 by the pair of coupling members 135, 136, there is a need for arranging the pair of coupling members 135, 136 so as to be distant from each other to some extent. Meanwhile, as described above, the pair of coupling members 135, 136 is formed in a substantially arc shape about the rotation shaft 134, and the more distant from each other the coupling members are, the larger the arc radius of the substantially arc shape becomes. Therefore, a large gap is generated between the end edge of the lid body 139 on the side of the rotation shaft 134 and the washing machine main body 132. With such a configuration, there is a possibility that a user or an accompanying person such as a child places fingers in the gap. There is a problem that particularly movement of the lid body 139 in the direction in which the lid body is opened to maximum is very dangerous as the fingers are caught. There is a problem that closing of the lid body 139 is similarly dangerous as the fingers are caught.

[0008] Such problems in the conventional drum-type washing machine are common problems to a clothes dryer having an openable and closable lid body on a front surface.

[0009] The present invention is to solve the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a clothing-processing device with a simple configuration for turnably supporting a lid body with a hinge, the clothing-processing device being safe and convenient for a user or an accompanying person such a child.

Means to Solve the Problems

[0010] In order to solve the above conventional problems, a clothing-processing device of the present invention comprises:

a casing having an opening into and from which clothing is brought on a front surface;

a lid body covering the opening of the casing; and

a hinge for opening and closing the lid body, wherein

the hinge is provided with a substantially L shape coupling member having a first part protruding forward with one end fixed to an opening edge of the casing, and a second part protruding outward on the side from the other end of the first part, the second part turnably supporting an end edge of the lid body at a front end,

a recess shape cutout is formed in the end edge of the lid body,

the front end of the second part of the coupling member is positioned in the cutout, and the second part is accommodated in the cutout when the lid body is closed.

[0011] Thereby, without a complicated lid body supporting structure, fingers of a user or an accompanying person such as a child can be prevented from being placed and caught in a gap. At the same time, when the lid body is closed, the lid body is not largely bulged from the casing. Since the lid body can be opened by a larger opening angle, clothing is easily brought in and taken out, so that handleability is improved.

Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the clothing-processing device of the present invention, without complicating a configuration for turnably supporting the lid body with the hinge, a risk that the fingers of the user or the accompanying person such as the child are placed and caught in the gap between the lid body and the casing can be reduced. Further, the lid body can be opened by a large angle. Therefore, safety and the handleability of the clothing-processing device are improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These aspects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description concerning a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertically sectional view of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the drum-type washing machine in the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of major parts of the drum-type washing machine in the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of major parts in which a lid body of the drum-type washing machine in the embodiment is in a closed state.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of major parts in which the lid body of the drum-type washing machine in the embodiment is in an opened state.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional drum-type washing machine.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of major parts in which a lid body of the conventional drum-type washing machine is in an opened state.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0014] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a clothing-processing device, comprising:

a casing having an opening into and from which clothing is brought on a front surface;

a lid body covering the opening of the casing; and

a hinge for opening and closing the lid body, wherein

the hinge is provided with a substantially L shape coupling member having a first part protruding forward with one end fixed to an opening edge of the casing, and a second part protruding outward on the side from the other end of the first part, the second part turnably supporting an end edge of the lid body at a front end,

a recess shape cutout is formed in the end edge of the lid body,

the front end of the second part of the coupling member is positioned in the cutout, and the second part is accommodated in the cutout when the lid body is closed.

[0015] With such a configuration, the one end of the substantially L shape coupling member provided in the hinge (one end of the first part) is fixed to the opening edge of the casing, and the end edge of the lid body is turnably supported at the other end (front end of the second part). Further, the front end of the second part of the coupling member is positioned in the recess shape cutout formed in the end edge of the lid body, and the second part is accommodated in the cutout when the lid body is closed. Thereby, a turn axis of the end edge of the lid body can be arranged so as to be close to the opening edge of the casing, so that a gap between the end edge of the lid body and the casing can be reduced. Therefore, without a complicated lid body support structure, fingers of a user or an accompanying person such as a child can be prevented from being placed and caught in the gap, so that safety is improved. At the same time, when the lid body is closed, the lid body is not largely bulged from the casing, and the lid body can be opened by a large angle. Therefore, the clothing is easily brought in and taken out through the opening of the casing, so that handleability of the clothing-processing device is improved.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided the clothing-processing device according to the first aspect, wherein
the lid body is further provided with a claw formed in an outer end on the side of the cutout,
a hole is formed in the second part of the coupling member, and
when the lid body is opened, the claw is freely fitted into the hole thereby regulating an opening angle of the lid body.

[0017] With such a configuration, the claw is formed in an outer edge on the side of the cutout formed in the lid body. Thus, the user or the accompanying person such as the child can be prevented from placing the fingers in the cutout by error. Further, when the lid body is opened, the claw is freely fitted to the hole of the second part, and the opening angle of the lid body can be regulated. Thus, the handleability of the clothing-processing device is improved.

[0018] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the clothing-processing device according to the first or second aspect, wherein when the lid body is closed, the claw protrudes from the outer end on the side of the cutout toward the casing in such a manner that a gap between the outer end on the side of the cutout of the lid body and the opening edge of the casing is reduced.

[0019] With such a configuration, the gap between the outer end on the side of the cutout of the lid body and the opening edge of the casing is reduced by the claw. Thus, the fingers of the user or the accompanying person such as the child can be prevented from being placed and caught in the gap, so that the safety is improved.

[0020] The clothing-processing device of the first to third aspects may be a washing machine or may be a clothes dryer.

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment)

[0022] In the embodiment of the present invention, a drum-type washing machine will be described as one example of the clothing-processing device of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a vertically sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] In the drum-type washing machine of Fig. 1, a water tank 42 is oscillatably arranged in an interior of a casing 41, and a rotary drum 43 is rotatably arranged in the water tank 42. A rotation shaft (rotation center axis) 44 is provided in the horizontal direction in a rotation center of the rotary drum 43, and a motor 45 attached to the vicinity of the back surface side of the water tank 42 is coupled to the rotation shaft 44 via a belt 46. Thereby, rotation drive force of the motor 45 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 44 via the belt 46, so that the rotary drum 43 is driven and rotated in the forward direction or in the reverse direction. On an inner wall surface of the rotary drum 43, several protuberances (baffles) 47 for agitating a load (clothing) are provided. On the entire surface of an inner wall surface of the rotary drum 43, a large number of water passage holes 48 passing through an interior and an exterior of the rotary drum 43 are provided.

[0024] A water tank unit 49 of a vibration system includes the water tank 42, the rotary drum 43, the motor 45, and the like. This water tank unit 49 is supported by a plurality of spring bodies 50 from an upper part of the casing 41 and anti-vibration supported by a plurality of anti-vibration dampers 51 from a lower part of the casing 41. Thereby, a transmission amount of vibration generated in the water tank unit 49 to the casing 41 is suppressed.

[0025] The casing 41 has an opening 40 (for example, of a circular shape) into and from which the clothing is brought on a front surface, and this opening 40 is openably and closably covered by a lid body 52 (for example, of a circular shape). Between a front surface of the water tank 42 and an opening edge of the opening 40 of the casing 41, a seal packing 82 for coupling the both and playing a role of anti-vibration and water sealing is provided. The lid body 52 can seal or open the opening 40 via this seal packing 82. By opening this lid body 52, the clothing can be brought in and taken out between an exterior of the casing 41 and the interior of the rotary drum 43 through a clothing outlet/inlet 53 formed on a front surface of the rotary drum 43. It should be noted that in Fig. 1, the left side in the figure is the front surface side of the casing 41, and the right side in the figure is the back surface (rear surface) side.

[0026] This drum-type washing machine has a function of automatically controlling the motor 45, a water supply passage 54, a drainage passage 55, and a water circulation passage 56 in accordance with mode setting and a control program, so as to perform at least a wash step, a rinsing step, and a water removal step.

[0027] The water supply passage 54 is a passage for supplying water supplied from a water source in an exterior of the drum-type washing machine to an interior of the water tank 42. In the water supply passage 54, a first water supply hose 59 and a second water supply hose 60 connected to the water source are connected to a detergent accommodating portion 61 accommodating a drawer portion (not shown) storing detergent and softener, the drawer portion to be freely pulled out from the exterior in an interior. A first electromagnetic valve 57 (first water supply portion) is provided in the first water supply hose 59, and a second electromagnetic valve 58 (second water supply portion) is provided in the second water supply hose 60. The detergent accommodating portion 61 is connected to the interior of the water tank 42 through the water supply passage 62. By opening the first electromagnetic valve 57 or the second electromagnetic valve 58, the water supplied from the water source is supplied into the detergent accommodating portion 61 through the first water supply hose 59 or the second water supply hose 60. The water supplied to the interior of the detergent accommodating portion 61 is supplied into the water tank 42 through the water supply passage 62 at a proper time.

[0028] The drainage passage 55 is a passage for draining the water in the water tank 42 to the exterior of the drum-type washing machine. In the drainage passage 55, a drainage tube 64 is connected to a bottom part of the water tank 42, and a drainage pump 63 is connected on the downstream side of the drainage tube 64 via a drainage filter 65 for collecting lint, the drainage filter being removable from the exterior. A drainage hose 66 arranged from the interior of the casing 41 to the upper side of the exterior is connected to the discharge side of the drainage pump 63. When required such as a time of finishing the wash step and a time of finishing the rinsing step, by drive of the drainage pump 63, the water in the water tank 42 flows into the drainage filter 65 via the drainage tube 64 connected to the bottom part of the water tank 42. After passing through the drainage filter 65, the water is drained to the exterior of the drum-type washing machine through the drainage pump 63 and the drainage hose 66.

[0029] The water circulation passage 56 is a passage for circulating the water in the water tank 42 in order to circulate the water in the water tank 42 in accordance with need such as a time of a pre-wash step, the time of the wash step, and the time of the rinsing step, so as to prevent early dissolution or leaning of the detergent and improve functions of wash and rinsing.

[0030] In this water circulation passage 56, the drainage tube 64 and the drainage filter 65 also used for the drainage passage 55 are connected to an inflow side passage 68 of a circulation pump 67. A discharge side passage 69 of the circulation pump 67 communicates with the interior of the water tank 42 at jet ports 70 on the inner side of the front surface of the water tank 42. By driving the circulation pump 67, the water (washing water) in the water tank 42 is guided to the inflow side passage 68 going toward the circulation pump 67 through the drainage tube 64 and the drainage filter 65. After that, the washing water is discharged into the rotary drum 43 as circulated water from the jet ports 70 in the direction shown by a solid arrow through the circulation pump 67 and the discharge side passage 69. The circulated water discharged into the rotary drum 43 is utilized as the washing water, and circulated again in the water circulation passage 56. It should be noted that as well as the circular opening 40 of the casing 41, the water tank 42 has the circular opening on the front surface, the plurality of jet ports 70 is provided along a circumference of this opening edge, and the circulated water is discharged into the rotary drum 43 from all directions of the circumference of the opening edge.

[0031] A hot water heater (heating portion) 72 for heating the washing water is arranged in a recessed portion 71 formed in the bottom part of the water tank 42. For example, a sheathed heater or the like is used as such a hot water heater 72 and arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction in the recessed portion 71. By discharging the washing water in the water tank 42 heated by this hot water heater 72 into the rotary drum 43 through the plurality of jet ports 70 as described above, the washing water is sprinkled on the clothing, and this washing water is circulated again. Thereby, since the heated washing water is sprinkled on the clothing, activation of the detergent is increased in accordance with an increase in molecule activities of the washing water. Thus, a washing ability can be increased and wash non-uniformity can be reduced. In the vicinity of the hot water heater 72, a temperature detection portion 73 for detecting a water temperature such as a thermistor is provided.

[0032] An air trap 74 communicating with the drainage tube 64 is provided on a side wall on the rear side of an outer periphery of the bottom part of the water tank 42. An air tube 75 is connected to this air trap 74, and a water level detector 76 such as a pressure sensor or the like is provided on the inner side of the upper part of the casing 41 so as to be connected to the air trap 74 via the air tube 75. The water level detector 76 can detect a plurality of water levels by water pressure of the water supplied to the interior of the water tank 42.

[0033] An upper part on a rear surface of the detergent accommodating portion 61 provided on the inner side of the upper part of the casing 41 and an upper part of the water tank 42 are connected by a coupling hose 77. The coupling hose 77 has a role of evacuating the air in the water tank 42 pressurized by a step operation action.

[0034] In a rear part on an upper surface of the water tank 42, a vibration detector 78 for detecting vibration of the water tank unit 49 is arranged. For example, a multiaxis acceleration sensor is used as the vibration detector 78, and detects not acceleration in one direction but vibration in the three-axis directions of the front and rear direction (X axis direction), the left and right direction (Y axis direction), and the up and down direction (Z axis direction) when seen from the front surface side of the drum-type washing machine, so as to control an operation of the drum-type washing machine. This is because actual vibration of the water tank unit 49 cannot always be limited to one direction, and thus the multiaxis acceleration sensor is used for detection with high precision.

[0035] A user selects modes such as an operation course and various functions in the operation of the drum-type washing machine by making an input to an input setting portion 80 from an operation panel 79 provided in the upper part of the front surface of the casing 41. A control device 81 is arranged on the inner side of the upper part of the casing 41, and the control device 81 displays a display corresponding to information inputted through the input setting portion 80 on a display portion 83 (refer to Fig. 2) on the operation panel 79 so as to notify the user.

[0036] Fig. 2 is a front view of the drum-type washing machine in the present embodiment.

[0037] In Fig. 2, the lid body 52 is supported on the casing 41 via a hinge turnably on a turn axis 85 arranged in the vertical direction in an end edge on the left side. When a hand is placed on a lid handle 84 provided in an end edge on the right side of the lid body 52 so as to open the lid body, the lid body 52 is turned on the turn axis 85 and opened. It should be noted that a configuration of the hinge will be described later.

[0038] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of major parts of the drum-type washing machine in the present embodiment. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of major parts in which the lid body 52 of the drum-type washing machine in the present embodiment is in a closed state, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of major parts in which the lid body 52 is in an opened state. With reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the configuration of the hinge for openably and closably supporting the lid body 52 will be described. It should be noted that in Figs. 4 and 5, the left and right direction in the figures is the side direction, the downward direction in the figure is the forward direction, and the upward direction in the figure is the rearward direction.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 3, a hinge 87 for openably and closably supporting the lid body 52 is fixed to an end edge (opening edge) of the opening 40 of the casing 41. The hinge 87 is provided with a pair of L shape coupling members 86 arranged in the up and down direction. It should be noted that a shape of the coupling members 86 is not necessarily a precisely-90 degree L shape but may be a shape of a substantially L shape. The L shape coupling member 86 has a first part 86a protruding forward with one end fixed to an opening edge of the casing 41, and a second part 86b protruding outward on the side from the other end of the first part 86a. The turn axis 85 is arranged in front ends of the second parts 86b of the coupling members 86, so as to turnably support the end edge of the lid body 52.

[0040] Substantially U shape (or substantially recess shape) cutouts 88 opened outward on the side are formed in the end edge of the lid body 52 at positions respectively corresponding to the second parts 86b of the L shape coupling members 86. The front ends of the second parts 86b of the coupling members 86 are positioned in the cutouts 88. Further, when the lid body 52 is closed, the second parts 86b of the coupling members 86 are accommodated in the cutouts 88. The coupling members 86 have an L shape, the second parts 86b protrude outward on the side, and the front ends of the second parts 86b turnably support the lid body 52 at positions close to outer ends on the side in the cutouts 88 of the lid body 52. Therefore, when the lid body 52 is opened, an opening angle of the lid body 52 can be increased. A square hole (or round hole) 89 passing through in the horizontally front and rear direction is formed in the second part 86b of the L shape coupling member 86. When the lid body 52 is opened, inner surfaces of the square holes 89 function as stoppers, so that the opening angle of the lid body 52 is regulated. A detail will be described later with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

[0041] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lid body 52 includes a substantially circular inner lid 91, a substantially circular outer lid 92, a substantially annular (substantially ring shape) lid frame 90 arranged in end edges of the inner lid 91 and the outer lid 92, and a lid cover 93 arranged so as to cover an outer end edge of the outer lid 92. The lid frame 90 arranged in the inner end edge of the lid 52 is turnably supported at front ends of the pair of coupling members 86.

[0042] The inner lid 91 is formed of a hard transparent material, and the end edge of the inner lid 91 is retained at the inner end edge of the substantially annular lid frame 90. When the lid body 52 is closed, the seal packing 82 is abutted with this inner lid 91, so that a watertight state is maintained. The substantially U shape cutouts 88 opened outward on the side are formed in this lid frame 90.

[0043] The outer lid 92 is formed of a transparent material so as to cover the entire outer part of the lid frame 90, and the substantially annular lid cover 93 is attached so as to cover the outer end edge of the outer lid 92. In the outer end edge of the outer lid 92, that is, at the outer ends on the side of the cutouts 88, a pair of claws 94 directing toward the casing 41 protrudes in a state that the lid body 52 is closed.

[0044] As described above, in order to increase the opening angle of the lid body 52, the cutouts 88 opened outward on the side are formed in the end edge of the lid body 52. When the cutouts 88 are only simply opened and formed in such a way, there is a fear that fingers are placed in the cutouts 88 when the lid body 52 is closed, and the fingers are caught when the lid body 52 is opened. However, in the present embodiment, the claws 94 protruding toward the casing 41 are provided in the outer ends on the side of the cutouts 88. Thereby, a gap a between the outer ends on the side of the cutouts 88 and the opening edge of the casing 41 can be reduced more than a case where the claws 94 are not provided. Therefore, the fingers of the user or the accompanying person such as the child can be prevented from being placed and caught in the gap a, so that the safety is improved.

[0045] When the lid body 52 is opened, the claws 94 are respectively freely fitted to the square holes 89 formed in the second parts 86b of the L shape coupling members 86 of the hinge 87. That is, when the lid body 52 is turned so as to be opened, the claws 94 are turned on the turn axis 85, so that the claws 94 are inserted into the square holes 89 from the rear side toward the front side. The inserted claws 94 are abutted with inner surface abutment portions 95 of the square holes 89, so that turn of the lid body 52 is regulated. That is, the claws 94 and the square holes 89 function as stoppers for regulating the opening angle of the lid body 52. It should be noted that a turn action of the lid body 52 is regulated when the lid body is opened by substantially 150 degrees or more.

[0046] As described above, with the configuration of the present embodiment, the one ends of the substantially L shape coupling members 86 provided in the hinge 87 (one ends of the first parts 86a) are fixed to the opening edge of the casing 41, and the end edge of the lid body 52 is turnably supported at the other ends (front ends of the second parts 86b). Further, the front ends of the second parts 86b of the coupling members 86 are positioned in the cutouts 88 formed in the end edge of the lid body 52, and the second parts 86b are accommodated in the cutouts 88 when the lid body 52 is closed Firstly, since the turn axis 85 is arranged in the end edge of the lid body 52, a moving distance of the end edge of the lid body 52 can be reduced at the time of opening and closing the lid body 52. Further, the turn axis 85 of the end edge of the lid body 52 can be arranged so as to be close to the opening edge of the casing 41, so that the gap between the end edge of the lid body 52 and the casing 41 can be reduced. Therefore, without a complicated lid body support structure, the fingers of the user or the accompanying person such as the child can be prevented from being placed and caught in the gap, so that the safety is improved. At the same time, when the lid body 52 is closed, the lid body 52 is not largely bulged from the casing 41, and the lid body 52 can be opened by a large opening angle. Therefore, the clothing is easily brought in and taken out through the opening 40 of the casing 41, so that the handleability of the drum-type washing machine is improved.

[0047] Since the claws 94 are formed in outer edges on the side of the cutouts 88 formed in the lid body 52, the gap between the lid body 52 and the casing 41 can be reduced. Therefore, the user or the accompanying person such as the child can be prevented from placing the fingers in the cutouts 88 by error. Further, when the lid body 52 is opened, the claws 94 are freely fitted to the square holes 89 of the second parts 86b, and the opening angle of the lid body 52 can be regulated. Thus, the handleability of the drum-type washing machine is improved.

[0048] It should be noted that the configuration that the second parts 86b of the coupling members 86 are accommodated in the cutouts 88 formed in the end edge of the lid body 52 when the lid body 52 is closed is described. However, as shown in Fig. 4, all or part of the first parts 86a of the coupling members 86 may be further accommodated. In such a way, the gap between the lid body 52 and the casing 41 can be further reduced.

[0049] The configuration that the rotation center of the rotary drum 43 is arranged in the horizontal direction in the drum-type washing machine is described above as an example. However, a configuration that the rotation center of the rotary drum 43 is arranged while being inclined may be adopted.

[0050] The open/close structure of the lid body using the hinge is described above taking the drum-type washing machine as one example of the clothing-processing device. However, such an open/close structure of the lid body can also be adopted for a clothes dryer. Such a clothes dryer is provided with a casing having an opening on a front surface, and a hinge with one end fixed to an opening edge of the casing and the other end turnably supporting an end edge of a lid body. The clothes dryer is also provided with a hot air circulation portion having a heating device for generating the hot air for drying the clothing and a fan in place of a water circulation portion.

[0051] It is to be noted that, by properly combining the arbitrary embodiments of the aforementioned various embodiments, the effects possessed by them can be produced.

[0052] Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

[0053] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-036748 filed on February 23, 2011 including specification, drawings, and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Industrial Applicability

[0054] As described above, according to the clothing-processing device of the present invention, the fingers of the user or the accompanying person such as the child can be prevented from being placed and caught in the gap between the lid body and the casing, so that the safety can be improved and the handleability can also be improved. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a use for various devices having a lid body turnably supported on a casing via a hinge, particularly a clothing-processing device.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0055] 

40

Opening

41

Casing

42

Water tank

43

Rotary drum

52

Lid body

85

Turn axis

86

L shape coupling member (substantially L shape coupling member)

87

Hinge

88

Cutout

89

Square hole (hole)

90

Lid frame

91

Inner lid

92

Outer lid

93

Lid cover

94

Claw

95

Inner surface abutment portion

Claims

1. A clothing-processing device, comprising:

a casing having an opening into and from which clothing is brought on a front surface;

a lid body covering the opening of the casing; and

a hinge for opening and closing the lid body, wherein

the hinge is provided with a substantially L shape coupling member having a first part protruding forward with one end fixed to an opening edge of the casing, and a second part protruding outward on the side from the other end of the first part, the second part turnably supporting an end edge of the lid body at a front end,

a recess shape cutout is formed in the end edge of the lid body,

the front end of the second part of the coupling member is positioned in the cutout, and the second part is accommodated in the cutout when the lid body is closed.

2. The clothing-processing device according to claim 1, wherein
the lid body is further provided with a claw formed in an outer end on the side of the cutout,
a hole is formed in the second part of the coupling member, and when the lid body is opened, the claw is freely fitted into the hole thereby regulating an opening angle of the lid body.

3. The clothing-processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the lid body is closed, the claw protrudes from the outer end on the side of the cutout toward the casing in such a manner that a gap between the outer end on the side of the cutout of the lid body and the opening edge of the casing is reduced.

4. The clothing-processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the clothing-processing device is a washing machine.

5. The clothing-processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the clothing-processing device is a clothes dryer.

Drawing